by Angela White
Full of thoughts he was afraid to face, Marc went to his tent to toss and grumble before his shift as her morning shadow.
6
Hours later, all the Eagles were out of the QZ, including Angela. John had cleared her right after them, claiming they needed to have a doctor on that side of the tape, too. She hadn’t argued.
After a shower and a fast meal, Angela found herself drawn to the off-limits area. She was allowed to be there now, but if it were already crowded, she would keep going.
The training tent was indeed full of Eagles.
Angela darted behind it and scaled the nearest moldy tree, finally stopping when she had a clear view of not only the area below her, but also the sprawling refugee camp. Her actions tonight had her seeking isolation so she could think and she’d had no trouble evading her rookie sentry.
Angela inhaled deeply, pushing away the urge to try again to make Marc understand how badly she needed this. Eventually, he would accept it, right? If he could hang on a bit longer, they could even be together. That thought sent chills into her stomach and she felt her anger fade back into that calm peace that had come immediately after proving herself to Adrian.
The sky above her was endless black, the grit almost impossible to view against it, and she studied the camp from her vantage point. Some of their magic had begun to create a thin bubble of protection that dimmed and glowed according to the mood of the people…of their leader. It was fascinating to witness and she wondered if anyone else could see it.
The dome flashed suddenly with bright red streaks, making her frown in concentration. Was something wrong? She hadn’t matched all the colors to the emotions yet, though bright shades were definitely better than dark. Right now, half the bubble had crimson streaks moving toward where she was, but there wasn’t an alarm so she waited.
Magic flashed out, a green and gold that was spellbinding. It calmed the crimson into a pale orange and Angela shivered. It was so vivid, so real!
He shrinks it tightly around you.
You spend too much time in his dreams, Angela told the Witch sharply.
And what dreams. How high he’d place you!
Stop.
The witch fell silent and Angela was glad. Mental arguments were distracting and she wanted to figure out a color or two if she could. She already knew three. Light blue was calm and peaceful, content. Red was a problem or worry. And that crimson-killing green and gold? That was Adrian.
“Right about here…”
The three guards on the ground were rookies-in-training, her real protection detail now settled into their own hiding places, and Angela kept quiet. She didn’t feel the need to add to the trouble they were already in for losing sight of her, by calling attention to their lack of awareness. All they had to do was follow the training she was certain included the perimeter above them, too.
“Sometimes, a lady wants to be alone, guys.”
Samantha’s voice, so nearby, startled Angela into drawing her gun.
Her finger let go of the trigger with not much room to spare and she heard the storm tracker’s gasp.
Angela forced herself to put the .357 in its holster, heart thumping. “Clearly, I didn’t see you.”
Samantha expression said she was impressed, but also uneasy about a woman being so fast with a gun.
“Sorry. I sort of thought you might…already know I was here.”
“Try looking up next time, rookie! You ever spot a Raven on the ground?” The senior males below faded into the darkness, muttering and hiding snickers.
The two women let the silence hang for a bit, sharing smiles each time one of the bewildered rookies below craned their heads up to verify they were okay.
Sam hadn’t planned to be in the training area and wasn’t sure if they might now tell her to get inside the perimeter. This was an off-limits area, but she’d been having the feeling someone was staring at her and climbed up to spy on those below in an attempt to verify that impression. No one had shown themselves, and once high enough, the vivid colors of the camp had kept her mesmerized.
“He’s very protective.” Samantha commented when two more rookies joined the patrol below.
“Good reason to be.” Needing the woman to know she understood, Angela let a bit of her own worries out. “They’re coming soon. We have to help him.”
“I want to, but other than…some forewarnings, I can’t do what you’re doing.”
Angela raised a brow. “Bull. You and I both know there’s more to your skills than have been used.”
Sam flushed, but didn’t deny it. “If they find out…”
Her whisper was laced with bitterness and longing in equal amounts. “I want it, too, but they’ll burn us. This herd will panic and we’ll be caught in the stampede.”
“So you worry about getting hurt again?” Angela asked softly, sure Samantha had been through the same hells and worse.
“No.” Samantha’s voice was broken. “I worry I’ll get these people hurt.”
Angela shrugged. “That’s a worthy argument, but don’t forget to weigh how much difference we can make when he has all of this in place.”
“I have. And I’m paying attention, identifying areas where I can help.”
“Me too. The Eagles are another way to do that, you know.”
Samantha snorted, drawing attention again, and her voice lowered. “Me? Just can’t imagine that happening.”
“But you’ve thought about it or you’d be hiding in a tree somewhere else. Like the rest of us, you’re drawn to it.”
“Yes. I want what you’re building, what he’s about to offer to all the women here.”
“Good. Watch what I have to go through and get ready for it. Jeremy and Neil will help you.”
“And Adrian? Won’t he want to handpick the females who do this?”
“We pick ourselves, Sam. If you want it, grab it. Let him know you’re ready for the chance and he’ll handle it personally.”
The man now standing below them pushed the button on his mike. “All levels to the tent.”
Adrian faded into the background, able to feel her indecision. Would she show?
“They don’t want you there, right? Because you’re female?” Samantha asked.
“Yes. They detect only my weaknesses, but that will change,” Angela promised, emboldened by Adrian’s presence.
She came down the tree and stiffly entered the training tent, flanked by Kyle and then Neil.
The crash of silence was instant.
Adrian came in behind them, walked toward the front of the tent. It was all part of the plan.
“Come morning, I’m officially opening Eagle tryouts to females.”
There were hardening countenances, but no response and his set tone warned them to choose carefully. He motioned toward the rear of the tent. “Our first female rookie has been chosen.”
Angela flushed under all the appraising, hostile glares, and raised her chin. How many of them could have made that shot tonight?
“Those who would speak against it, I’d hear now.”
Nearly every head turned toward Kenn, who had fallen into his customary spot on Adrian’s right. Only Angela noticed Marc’s grimace from the corner.
Kenn wanted to speak up, but knew his place would be gone the second he opened his mouth. Hands clenched, the Marine stared impassively, while horrible thoughts crashed like waves.
Adrian softened his tone a bit. “Imagine the camp’s women armed and sure of how to use those weapons...”
There were a few snorts and Adrian let a grin crack his hard face. “Yes, pissing them off will have more…serious consequences.”
There was laughter to break the tension and Adrian used his magic, pushing it out to influence. “We need them trained and ready to fight alongside us.” He found Angela again in the rear of the tent. “You’ll start with her.”
Flushing darker, Angela unknowingly sent out her own wave when she smiled hopefully. “I’m all yours, gentle
men.”
There were more snorts and snickers, but no one spoke against it. What Adrian wanted from these men, he got.
7
“I won’t do it.” Zack’s voice was loud and whining. “I don’t care how good she shoots. I ain’t helping with no lesson that she’s a part of.”
They were still in the training tent, roughly half the Eagles now getting things set up for the next scheduled events.
“Not even if it’s what your boss wants?” Seth inquired, always hoping for an excuse to get the trucker tossed out of the Eagles.
“My boss says she belongs in the mess or babysitting,” Zack retorted, drawing protests from everyone listening.
“Kenn is not in charge here,” Neil stated harshly, coming through the tent flap from a check-in. “In fact, he may not even be a member of this camp much longer, so be sure and tell him that while you’re filling him in later.”
The trooper moved toward the hayroom. “I suggest switching your loyalties, Zack, or maybe you’ll be with Kenn when he goes.”
Zack’s face tightened. “I don’t take orders from you, O’Neil, and I won’t do it. Someone trade me?”
The men mostly wanted to, not eager to have any woman under Zack’s thumb for a lesson, but before one of them could volunteer, Marc’s voice echoed from the far corner.
“I’ll do it if you’re so worried about serving with a female.” The tone was full of contempt. “Some Eagle you are.”
Zack spun around, but stopped at the sight of Marc standing up straight, hoping he’d drawn a reaction.
“She doesn’t belong here!” Zack protested, expecting a few of the men to agree, but there was only silence.
“Neither do you, shithead.”
Marc was tense, ready for the fight, and Zack flushed, but didn’t push. After Marc taking Kenn out so easily, the trucker wasn’t about to issue a challenge.
“I won’t do it,” Zack repeated, tensing as Marc came within lunging distance. He was unprepared for the response.
“It’s probably for the best anyway, Zack. She’d feel bad for killing you.”
The tent exploded with laughter.
Marc motioned to Kyle as he appeared in the flap. “The coward here just switched me for tomorrow’s gun class.”
Kyle nodded eagerly as he stepped inside. “I’ll let the boss know.”
Zack paled, despite his brave words of only following Kenn, and the men grinned. Word would get to Adrian about it and there would be a punishment for the trucker, even if it was one that he didn’t recognize as a correction. Probably he’d end up babysitting or escorting the elderly.
“Yeah, run to Adrian whenever something doesn’t go your way,” Zack sneered, hoping Lee or Jeff would come in and support him.
One of those men was close enough to have done so, but Lee was too distracted by the thoughts that had been running in his head for the last few days. They were about his missing wife and Angela’s abilities.
“I’m covered,” Zack continued to insist. “I ain’t switched shifts with anyone the whole time I’ve been here. Pretty sure that’ll give me the right.”
The trucker’s boast was true, but none of the hard profiles glowering at him relented.
“If you don’t think Adrian will know the real reason, you’re dumber than you look,” Kyle observed. “And if you think he won’t make you pay for it, then you’re too stupid to be one of us.”
Zack reddened in anger at Kyle’s unforgiving words and the mobster veered toward the hay-ring, where Neil was lounging in the doorway. “Come on, guys. Let’s get things set up for tomorrow.”
They ignored Zack’s protests, moving around him to unpack the gear, and the tension grew when Kenn entered the tent a minute later.
Kenn had been around the side, listening the whole time, but his blank expression indicated otherwise and Zack got the hint to make his report later. Zack and Kenn hadn’t known the others had discovered he was spying for the camp XO.
“What’s being set up in here?” Kenn asked tonelessly, studying his clipboard. He already knew by the size of the crates they were opening, but he’d wanted to make sure Angela wasn’t in here celebrating.
“Field Trip day,” Neil answered, waving at the smaller beams and mats being unloaded.
After a fast look around the canvas, the Marine checked it off his list and exited the tent. As he let the flap drop behind him, the real hatred was visible to those on duty. Kenn’s countenance said he was planning something Adrian wouldn’t like.
8
By 2 am, there was a camp of silence, the new arrivals settled and waiting for word on Missa, who had survived the operation, but only by a thread. The Eagles were also settling for the night and Adrian was making rounds of the QZ, listening to their thoughts on the mission. He wasn’t disappointed and went to her newest hiding place with a feeling of peace that was rare for him.
Angela peered down, holding out the smoldering joint. “I thought you’d be by.”
She sounds like John, Adrian thought, taking the weed without touching her. She was in the shadows of the medical tent, reclined in the fork of a low tree. He studied her, thinking about how each day now started with a fast search for her, then normal rounds. It was so different…so excitingly miserable.
Angela was walled-in by her experience, the guilt-relieving rescue fully under her evaluation now, and Adrian let her go over it while he waited.
“They wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t been there. What about the next run?”
Adrian was impressed again. He had been expecting a complaint or doubt about her actions, not the considerations of the future.
“We’ve had to face it a few times, leave people behind. The war has caused trust to be given only under dire circumstances.”
“I’d go on them all!” she stated forcefully.
“It’s not our duty to save them all,” Adrian soothed. “You told me that.”
Angela sighed, hating it. “I know, but what can we do about it?”
The pain in her voice called to him and Adrian allowed his own horror at the situation to bleed through as he answered, “Keep trying and keep losing those who won’t trust.”
Angela’s heart clenched. So many!
Knowing there was finally someone who felt it the way he did caused Adrian to give her more openness than he ever did the others. “It’s them I dream of at night.”
His voice lowered into despair. “Sometimes I send the Eagles back anyway.”
“And they’re dead?” she guessed from the abject sadness that had engulfed him.
“Always.”
Adrian drew air into a chest that felt like it was made of lead. “Their ghosts haunt me. They say I should have dragged them here against their will. Most of them would have stayed.”
“But you didn’t, because you believe in freedom too strongly.”
She stubbed out the roach on the tree and the witch was awful to hear and yet right, too.
Those people wouldn’t have survived anyway, be it here or alone. Fear rules them, not Change. Those who are here deserve to be.
Picking up the observation, Adrian shelved his true feelings. “Yes, they do.”
He moved toward the Com truck with a lighter pace and Angela realized it was true. They would save as many as they could.
And that number will increase, she thought. Now that I’m in his Army.
The guilt faded, letting successes rise again. He’d known exactly what she needed–a moment of personal trust. America’s survival meant more to him than a successful leadership. It was everything he was now. If this camp fell, Adrian would likely join the other relics of the old world.
Her instant scowl at the thought had guards in the area sweeping for trouble. Learning to use her like an alarm was already becoming a habit for them.
Adrian’s death couldn’t be allowed to happen and Angela vowed to do whatever she could to stop his fall.
Even when his secret comes out? the witch asked
ominously.
Yes. If he falls, we all fall.
The demon’s tone was curious.
Such a fast bond with this man, the demon pointed out curiously. Perhaps that should be examined as well.
Those whispered words were ignored.
9
“You look as tired as we feel.”
Aware of the dawn coming and still in the shadows of the medical tent, Angela didn’t open her lids. She had mentioned to Charlie that she’d been officially accepted into the Eagles, and instead of the support that she’d assumed he would give, her son had blown up and stomped off. She’d spent the hour since rethinking, making certain she had the strength to do this.
“Have a seat.”
The two Eagles took up places in nearby branches, exchanging glances.
“He knew it was there.” Angela gave them what she thought they’d come for. “I didn’t save his life.”
Neither of them spoke. Adrian knowing didn’t matter. It had happened in front of the Eagles. That did.
“How much will this change?” she asked.
“A lot,” Neil admitted, settling into the fork carefully. Using trees for cover was something they’d been doing for a while, but as seats or sentry spots had only begun recently, when two of their members had started climbing them for privacy and unknowingly rubbed it off on everyone else. “The camp will be converted, minus a few.”
“The Eagles, too, the ones who understand Adrian’s dream,” Kyle stated.
Angela sighed tiredly. “But not enough, right?”
“No.” Kyle’s tone wasn’t firm. “It will buy some time, weeks if we’re careful with it, and then they’ll call his bluff.”
“He’s not bluffing,” Neil stated. “And it’ll cost him everything if you can’t keep up.”
There was a thick silence and they could feel her determination not to let that happen.
“Work me hard?”
They both nodded and Neil met her eye with a sincerity she understood to be an apology. “Sometimes, if the people are…determined enough, Adrian will give special lessons.”
“Didn’t he agree to give me that?”