by Crystal Dawn
Keelan nodded although he looked far from convinced. “You said we had choices, but gave me only one.”
“If you chose to go elsewhere, Zeus will look for another compound that we’ve been given for you and others who don’t wish to go to Olympus.”
Keelan smiled, it made him look almost beautiful, angelic. “You jest. Olympus? You named your home for the home of the true Greek gods?”
Hades smiled back, he just couldn’t help it. “We did indeed because it had no name besides Origin headquarters and we couldn’t leave it as such.”
The radio buzzed. “Hades.”
“We took out the two tracking your mate but she is hiding from us. She can’t be far but she is a wily prey.”
“She knows you Nikias. Let her know it’s you and not Origin on her heels.”
“We’ve tried, I fear she may have hurt her head or be confused.”
Keelan broke in, “We can meet them on the snowmobiles. The ones in the basement are fitted specially to move with or without snow.”
“We’ll meet you, Nikias. Three of us come on snowmobiles.”
“Roger and out.”
“Tell me how you knew they had a basement floor or they kept transportation there.”
“They’ve hunted us down when we’ve tried to escape. The last who tried was executed in front of us. I swear they grow crueler day by day.”
“I hurt for you, brother,” Hades said as they walked quickly to the elevator. The button for the basement was unlabeled. He pressed it certain it would take them there. The basement was a treasure trove that Pedro would find exciting. Hades swore the mercenary lived for finds like these. He probably preferred them to sex.
The snowmobiles sat in a corner near what appeared to be a tunnel. A way to escape once the facility fell to the enemy? He radioed for Argos to send him a tracker to go with him. After he explained about the basement and what was down there, he was off the radio and looking for the proper supplies. He found the helmets and Argos sent Jase, one of the younger gods with weapons.
Hades picked out his snowmobile and let the other two fight for what they wanted. He found a supply of field rations, bottled water, and a med kit which he threw in the box on his Hunter KRX snowmobile. Hunter snowmobiles were specially made to order to suit the task and this one was made to carry big men with lots of equipment, it would be going home with him. The others were on their Hunters so he started his and led the way down the tunnel. It was about a mile long and ended at what looked like a garage door. There was a set of buttons painted green or red. Could it be so simple?
He pushed green, the door slid open, and they rode out into the night, their headlights showing the way. Hades slowed and motioned for Jase to take the lead since he was the tracker. He was a good one according to Argos who never gave praise easily.
They would make good time and should catch up to Nikias in thirty minutes if they were able to keep up their high speed. His palm itched and he knew it was the need for his mate combined with the knowledge that he was headed toward her that caused the odd sensation. He wanted to touch her, hold her, and kiss her right now, but he knew he would have to wait. At least everything was going well for Argos who was in charge of the facility in his absence. He knew that because his radio was silent and Argos would call if anything bad happened.
They rode over the frozen earth heading southwest of where they were. She was a warrior who was bent on escaping an enemy that no longer hunted her. What was in her mind, how badly had she been damaged, and would she recognize her mate when she saw him? They flat out flew across the empty countryside going as fast as they could without risking damage to themselves or their rides. He was almost insane with worry and the two gods with him were fully aware of what a mate would mean to any of them. They kept up with him so he wouldn’t have to worry about anything but getting there.
When they finally made it, their arrival was anticlimactic. Nikias had found her but she was unconscious. She had a head wound but no other wounds were visible. Hades got on his snowmobile and they tied her tightly to him. There was no other way to get her there quickly. Jase headed out first with one of the trackers on behind him riding fast so they would be prepared for her arrival. Once Hades drove off, Keelan followed with Nikias on behind him, making sure he kept just in view of them while searching the night for any possible dangers.
Chapter 4
Keelan
He was just in view of Hades and his mate. The female’s beauty had been impressive and she was a doctor so she had to be smart. She had outmaneuvered Origin and even the god’s trackers for hours while wounded. Hades had found himself a female to be proud of. Keelan wondered if he would ever find one nearly so worthy. He didn’t bother to envy Hades, if ever a god deserved something kind and loving in his life it was Hades who was cursed with such a dangerous power.
His brother, Lander had found a mate but one that disgraced them all. It was part of why he had been so horrified when he thought Hades had mated with one from Origin. It was because that was what his brother had done. Lander had mated the she devil scientist that Origin had sent to test them and to torture them. It was true that she didn’t do it herself, but she knew what they did without doing anything to stop it. He would kill her himself, but he feared Lander would follow her to death. He hurt when he was away from her and the look of devotion on his face when he saw her brought tears to Keelan’s eyes.
It made no sense that he hated Lander’s mate, felt sorry for his brother’s choice of mate, but at the same time felt jealous of the closeness that the couple shared. He wanted to find his own mate with an undeniable need, but at the same time he feared who it might be and what she might be like. He hit an uneven spot or maybe a small rock and he was jolted back to the here and now. Hades was making excellent time, it was no surprise since he had sensed Hades’s fear for her welfare. Hades was a top level leader, Keelan was a second level. He had been bred to lead the second generation of gods, those that like him were mid twenties. Lander was the only survivor that they knew of from the last group of gods or demons making him the youngest god they knew of and in his early twenties.
The demons were all older because once Origin saw what they deemed mistakes, they bred no more and destroyed some of the less attractive ones. Devil, the original leader of the demons, had been too much like Cronos to be allowed to live. They had poisoned him as a toddler because he inspired too much fear from them. That was how Lucifer had learned to be charming and seem harmless when in truth, he was anything but. He was probably more dangerous than any of them except possibly Hades whose gift would make others run screaming if they knew what he could do.
They were almost back to the lab that the guards always called base. He supposed that meant exactly that, it was where they stayed and where they always returned. Argos had told him Hades had been forced to use his gift and most of the guards had died a horrible death. If he was the sensitive type which a few of his brothers, like Lander, were, he would feel guilty for being so happy about that. He wasn’t sensitive and he was happy enough that he wanted to celebrate. His life had sucked up to now and the guards had played a big part in that but he wanted to believe what Argos and Hades had said about being in control of their own lives now.
He wanted a hot meal and to be buried in a hotter woman because lately they hadn’t been fed well and they hadn’t seen a woman in a year or more. They pulled up to the garage style door they had exited and stopped. He wasn’t surprised to see it open right away since Hades’s guys were soldiers. They prepared for every possibility and he had heard them talk about Hades’s mate and they all seemed to like her. They thought Zeus’s mate sexiest, Hades’s mate smartest, and Hermes’s mate was the kindest. Most of them didn’t know much about Darius’s mate because he kept her away from them. A good idea since the other god’s mates were all warriors to some extent but she wasn’t.
They moved quickly down the tunnel followed by the god who had opened it. They drove as close
to the elevator as they possibly could. He pulled in next to Hades and jumped off his seat to immediately help untie her so Hades could carry her to medical. He was careful to touch her as little as possible because Hades growled ferociously each time he did. When she was free, Hades moved her into his arms, turned, and ran to the elevator. Keelan ran to keep up, sliding into the elevator just as the door closed.
Hades seemed to know where he was going so Keelan fell in step behind him. He made his way unerringly to medical where an Origin doctor waited. It was her, of course, since she was the only doctor here. Lander’s mate was being trusted to see to the welfare of Hades’s female. This was the time to speak up because if anything went wrong that could have been avoided, he wouldn’t forgive himself.
“Hades,” Keelan almost whispered after he cleared his thought. Hades looked at him questioningly. “I need to talk to you outside the room.”
Hades looked over where the doctor and her two assistants worked feverishly hooking up medical gadgets and an IV at Doc’s wrist. He had to realize he was only in the way for now. He nodded and moved out the door which no one had bothered to close. Keelan had noticed many of his men walking by trying to get a look at the female that Hades had claimed. Their only experience with a mate had been with Lander’s and none of them trusted her except Lander.
Hades turned to face him as he closed the door. “The doctor, she’s Lander’s mate but we don’t trust her. She’s caused us a lot of pain never trying to help. Lander believes in her but it could just be the desire talking. I can’t deny she’s beautiful, I just don’t think she’ll be loyal to him or us.”
Hades gave him a long look, his eyes full of knowledge. “There are many right reasons to do things that are wrong, just as there are wrong reasons to do something right.”
Keelan shook his head to clear it. “What the hell does that mean?”
“When you were sent out on missions by Origin, did you ever suspect or maybe even know that what you did was wrong? That you were hurting people that didn’t deserve it but you had no choice?”
“I’m not sure Origin ever did anything that was right, regardless of the reasons.”
“What if you had been caught? What would people have thought of you?”
“I guess that I was one evil bastard.”
“We don’t really choose our mates or they us. We just choose whether to put up a losing battle or give in to what is inevitable. So far, all the mates we’ve found have been good and true. It’s easy to see what is on the surface but maybe you need to look below it.”
“You know something I don’t. What is it?”
“Not my story to tell. I think if you open up to her a little, she may tell you.”
Keelan hoped Hades was right, but how could it be that all of them except Lander failed to see the truth? Maybe it was because they were all broken, miserable, and bitter. Who better to blame than one who caused them pain? When he found out the whole truth, would he feel ashamed? He had a really bad feeling in the pit of his stomach that said he would.
Hades headed back into the room his mate was in and Keelan followed him in. His eyes examined Doc full of curiosity about this female Hades’s men spoke so highly of. She was a doctor too but unlike the others in their life she healed with a soft compassionate touch even though she was known to be a tough warrior also. The delicate, fragile woman on the bed covered in wires and an IV didn’t look strong enough to fight her way out of a wet paper bag right now. He heard the term head trauma whispered as Rachel, Lander’s mate, spoke softly to Hades. He would swear the look on her face was pained, as if someone she cared for were suffering and not just the mate of a god.
He looked at her with new eyes, as he tried to remember his dealings with her in the past. He couldn’t really remember her being intentionally cruel, just cold and distant. Lander trusted her, Lander loved her without reservation. It wouldn’t be so easy to forget all the distrust and welcome her into the family. He needed some proof, some way to be sure that she was as Hades thought she was.
He pushed those thoughts from his mind as he watched Hades hold the tiny pale hand in his. It was clear he was devoted to her even though his males said their mating had been rife with trouble. Keelan had to admit he wanted what Hades had. Not his mate, well she wasn’t bad, but a mate of his own and a chance at a family. He wanted that not just for himself but for all his brothers even the rare one or two that insisted females were not for them.
Aeolus was one such god but Keelan could understand his view. They had used his attachment to a female against him then killed her anyway. Most of Origin’s henchmen were cruel, but only a few were psychotic killers. Keelan struggled with the decision of where he and his males would go. He hated this place but he thought it might be better living here if they were free.
Hades’s mate moved making a moaning sound that told him she felt pain. Keelan looked at the beautiful female with the long, straight white blonde hair. She had a button nose and full sensuous lips. He couldn’t see her eyes since they were closed but he had been told they were dark chocolate brown. He would leave and another would come in to guard Hades and his mate. Keelan would come back after he had slept even though there were plenty of gods to share the duty. Maybe he was just curious but he hoped to be with them when she woke.
He headed to his sleeping area. Origin hadn’t gone all out for them, that was for sure. The rooms were basically cubicles, four gods slept in two bunk bed units per room. There was one bathroom set up community style, ten shower heads in a row with toilets on the other side set up one after the other with no wall in between. You got to know your brothers real well this way, too well sometimes.
The mattresses were thin, the blankets worn, and the pillows flat from long term use. If Origin had money left, they were using it on something other than accommodations for their “subjects”. He felt restless, full of all the information Hades and his males had given him about the new free world they now belonged to. He sent mental well wishes to Hades and Doc, it was the closest thing to religion any of them practiced since Origin had discouraged beliefs of any kind. He laid down to sleep, sleeping until he woke without trying to wake up at any particular time.
He woke rested but slightly confused until he remembered everything that had happened yesterday. Today was his first day as a free male, the world was full of possibilities and he was ready to for it.
Chapter 5
Spied On
Zeus sat at the head of the table in his usual spot with Sierra beside him. He had just announced formally that he intended to select a council to help him govern the gods. No one looked surprised, they had already been doing that informally. Hades and those who had accompanied him could hear what was being said as could a handful of those just freed gods. Keelan seemed to be the leader there and they would consider adding leaders like him to the council if they were given more facilities and kept them. Lu represented the demons, but if some of them took on a facility of their own, he wasn’t sure how things would work.
“We need to figure out how the council will work and who will be on it. Some are a no brainer, Poseidon, Hades, Apollo, Hercules, and Ares. Lu will represent the demons because they have special interests. I would like to add a couple more gods from the second tier of leadership but I want opinions on who the rest of you want to see chosen.”
It was the beginning, in his mind, of giving them all a say in their lives and how they would be run. No one had complained, they all seemed happy to let him make the decisions that determined how their lives would be, but part of that, was that his leadership had been hammered into them since they were young, obey or die. He wanted to lead because they wanted and needed him to not because Origin had chosen him.
“We will now go over matters of importance. Hermes, you and Cherish are up first.”
“Jack has contacted us on what is going on with Cherish’s security company. He found three other supermen hidden in various management positions and was able to tra
ck them back to Origin. Once he knew who was taking the money, he was able to track that too. He was able to take back around half of it because some had been spent. He has filed charges on behalf of the company and feels there is a good chance that they will be given some assets, probably land. He has the company lawyers working on it. Anything else, like land or other assets, they lose, just weakens them. The important thing, to us, is that Origin is running out of money and we just cut off a large amount they were depending on. The good thing is they have less money to hire mercs, the bad thing is they’ll be more desperate than ever.”
“Thanks, Hermes. You’re next Hades. Bring us up to date on your mission.”
There was a long pause. He knew they were concerned about Doc and he wasn’t sure what to say. “She’s still unconscious, but the doctor says there’s no reason not to hope she will just wake up. Pedro got a good group of their employees, but one of them is a mate. I’ll explain that in detail later. We haven’t gutted the place because we’re waiting to see if the government will give it to us and I think some of these guys will want to stay if they do. The numbers here on the gods were right on for a change, I think they’re running out of places to move our brothers to.”
“Thanks, Hades. I know this is hard for you. We are all hoping for her to be on her feet soon.” The gods were uncomfortable with most emotions so Zeus was glad to move on. He wondered if Origin had planned to injure or kill her if they weren’t able to capture her, but he said nothing. It would only upset those around him more and there wasn’t anything they could do. They had held the helicopters back waiting for her to wake since the doctor was against moving her in her current condition.
“Hercules, what is our next target?” They had decided to move on in the hope of recovering more gods sooner.
“Kerguelen Islands, also known as Desolation Islands because they are so remote. They are off the coast of Madagascar and claimed by France. It is something of a scientific center which is how Origin snuck in. They are using the cover provided by a French scientist who may or may not know what is going on there. The numbers are between twenty and fifty gods and demons kept there. They have both, but we can’t nail down how many of either. I suspect they may be using it as a temporary stopping point on the way to other locations. I also think they may be farming out more gods and demons to individual scientists which will make them that much harder to find.”