Kimber

by Sarah Denier

  I refuse to hear him, blocking out words that cause my stomach to ache. “I don’t care, with or without you, I will save him.”

  He shakes his head and turns to walk away but stops unexpectedly. “His blood, it ties you together. Force him to hear you and he won’t have a choice.” I nod. “And Kimber, his family keeps a private jet at Clearwater Airport. I’ll call ahead to let the pilot know you’re coming. When you get there tell the desk clerk you’d like the Sunday special.”

  “Sunday special?”

  “They call the plane Sunday and special refers to you being part of the family. It’s been set up that way for years. Trust me, it’ll get you on the plane no questions asked.”

  It isn’t the help I thought he’d give me but for someone in his tight predicament, it’s every ounce he has. I rush up to him, tossing my arms around his neck.

  “See Switzerland, you could be one of the good guys.”

  Chapter Twenty Five

  MIKE WAS RIGHT. When I request the Sunday special, I’m ushered to a really nice Learjet already gassed and ready to circle the tarmac.

  After a fourteen hour flight and a seven hour time difference, I land at Cairo Airport. I hail a taxi and after fifteen minutes and a language barrier, I arrive at Lena’s Hilton hotel room in Giza. I find it odd that there is something so American as a Hilton in Egypt. Then again, I didn’t expect the city to be modern either.

  I’m relieved to see Lena. Despite sleep deprivation and frazzled nerves, she hasn’t a scratch on her. She gathers me in her arms.

  “He’s going to hate me when he knows I’ve dragged you into this.”

  “If it means finding him, let him.” I assure her. “When you last saw Leo, where were you?”

  “The compound. It’s on secluded ground outside city limits. Akil, Alexandria’s father, uses it to train Half bloods.”

  “Only Half bloods?” I ask finding it suspicious.

  “This time around, yes.”

  “What happened the day you left?”

  “I had a bad allergic reaction to something I ate. Akil had his driver bring Leo and I to the hospital in the city. Alexandria wasn’t producing what she promised so I told Leo we should use the opportunity to leave. He agreed. He rented this hotel room after I was discharged. He went back to the compound to get our bags. I haven’t seen him since. Kimber, I’ve run through a hundred different scenarios. I’ve meditated for hours trying to get a vision. There’s only one conclusion I’ve come up with. Ambush.”

  I don’t want to believe it. I’d put my money on Alexandria. She is as dangerous as she is gorgeous. For weeks, she had Leo where she wanted him. I wouldn’t expect her to give him up so easily. But it doesn’t make sense. If she could get what she wanted with Leo’s help, she stood to gain nothing without him. Unlike Mike D., Leo’s insurmountable pride and need to stay true to his word surpassed what his family wanted. Losing Leo meant losing what her family was fighting to gain.

  “It makes sense,” Lena pause as the picture in her head takes shape, “a whole camp of fledgling half blooded Nephs in training. Nephs not under the protection of the Grigori. Why not take them and turn them?”

  “But you said it was secluded.”

  “It is. But it doesn’t strike you as odd that it would get raided when one of the most powerful pure blooded Nephs is there?”

  “Wait a minute.” I hold my hands out, gesturing for her to calm down. “You don’t sound like you’re speculating anymore.”

  Her face falls into her hands as she slumps down in the chair next to her. “I don’t know what to think. I failed him. I couldn’t see the danger, and now…”

  I kneel down in front of her, caressing her hand. “It doesn’t end like this. He’ll fight and so will we.” I don’t know how I pull the words out of me because right now, I’ve never been more scared. Suddenly it hits me. “I can find him! My—his blood.” I say looking down at my wrist. I jump up on the bed and position myself in the middle.

  “How?”

  “I can contact him through his blood. Since the transfusion he’s heard my thoughts. Mike said if I forced him to hear me, he’d have no choice.”

  “Your heart.” Lena says jumping on the proverbial bandwagon of hope. “It’s something Leo first mentioned when he left. It’s happens when Nephilims find their consort. Their hearts synchronize so no matter where they are they can follow the beat back to one another.”

  The only thing following my heart is loss.

  “No. We’re not synchronized or consorts.”

  Lena searches my eyes, bewilderment on her face. “Kimber, of course it’s you. Have you ever wondered why your heart flutters? Why you suddenly feel an unwarranted emotion?” She grips my knee with her hand. “Love does not exist in a perfect world. It’s not easy and half the time it feels impossible. I don’t need to be a visionary to see your life play out with him at your side. Besides, Cybil wouldn’t have consented to your relationship if you weren’t tied together.”

  Was it really that straightforward? And if Leo and I are actually consorts wouldn’t we still be together? I know there will never come a day I won’t love him but in time we’ve fallen apart. But if Cybil, Mike and Lena all seem to think I can do it, then I will. I can find him. I will save him.

  I pull my hair back into a ponytail, close my eyes and focus on my breathing. I clear my mind of negative energy and like Leo said, I lead myself into a tranquil trance. I broaden my mind and reach out to him.

  Leo? Hear me.

  I wish I had time to fine tune the ability. Forcing all my energy out weakens my body. Something moist tickles me under my nose. I run my finger across my lip.

  “Kimber, your nose, it’s bleeding!”

  I hear what she says but if I break the trance now, I’ll be too weak to try again. I wipe my lip again, this time smelling the scent of blood as it smears across my lip. I reach out again to Leo, this time concentrating on the rhythm of my heart. If we’re linked he’ll use it.

  Don’t be stubborn. I taunt thinking I can get a rise out of him. I’m in Giza and no, I’m not leaving so help me. Help me find you. Are you in Giza?

  I wait and wait and just when I feel I can’t hold on, it happens. My heart starts hammering against my chest like a cheetah on the chase. I grab my chest.

  “What? What is it?” Lena rushes over to the bed.

  “I can feel him!”

  “Ask him if he’s underground?” Lena exclaims.

  I ask and he answers. Suddenly I’m panting, trying to gain equanimity. “Yes.”

  “That’s how. They’re blocking me. Shit! They could be anywhere!” Lena screams out in anger.

  Before I can reassure him, before I can beg him to hold on, the connection snaps back on me like an elastic band. I open my eyes as Lena hands me a damp wad of toilet paper. I can taste the blood on my lips.

  “We have to get to the compound. You have to remember where it is.” As I try to find the next step for us to take I’m strained by exhaustion.

  “I’ve tried. I’ve walked around the city asking. I would have walked through the desert if I thought I could make it.”

  “Then we start again. Repeat every move. We’ll get a driver or someone to take us out of the city.” I grab my purse and on wobbly legs, I trudge towards the door.

  Lena takes me by the back of my arm. “You’re weak. You need to rest.”

  “No.” I rub my eyes. “We can’t wait. I’ll grab an energy drink or something. I’ll be fine.”

  “Ok, but there’s something I have to tell you.”

  “Fine but can we walk and talk.” I ask impatiently motioning towards the door.

  “Just listen. Being something other than what Leo is, isn’t something he would want.”

  “What are you talking about? Turning?”

  Her shoulders rise and fall dramatically. “Exactly.”

  “Well it’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.”

  “He’d rather die.” She empha
sizes the statement like it’s a fact and suddenly I know what she’s really telling me.

  “No! Turning bad doesn’t mean it’s the end.”

  “To him it does.”

  I take a step towards her. “What he wants doesn’t matter. I won’t watch him die!”

  Anger and exhaustion have me turned upside down because I do the one thing I know better than to do. I spin on my heel, reach for the doorknob and yank it open.

  I collide immediately against another body before tumbling to the ground. I hurry to push myself up and search my chest with frantic hands. I sigh in relief that I’m ok.

  “What the hell! Ever hear of knocking or are you just some creep hanging out side our door?” I gripe.

  “Akil?” Lena asks coming out into the hallway.

  No fricken way! It’s too coincidental even for coincidence standards.

  I brush myself off as Lena helps the eccentric old man up off the floor. I stay back, leery of Alexandria’s father. There’s something not right about him. Or maybe I’m just mentally insensitive. I can’t think straight or stop yawning.

  His green and white Baja hoodie is as filthy as the man wearing it. His pants look as though they might have been kaki before a role in the mud. His open toed sandals are worn and torn by miles of walking. He’s old by gray hair standards.

  Lena guides Akil into the room and pours him a glass of water. He holds it between two shaky hands and gulps it down. Lena quickly refills his glass.

  “Akil, what’s happened?” She asks.

  His dry accent peaks between syllables. “They burned the compound down. They took those who did not die. You must help me find her.”

  “Who, Alexandria? She’s missing?”

  “Yes. Leo must help me find her.”

  Lena looks from me to Akil. “We can’t find Leo, Akil, he’s gone missing too.”

  “How’d you find us?” I ask. Something with this situation doesn’t fit.

  He studies my face, either unaware of who I am or maybe I still have blood under my nose.

  “The dead deserve to be buried. Once it was finished, I came to the city looking for Leo. Once I located the right hotel, I waited. I thought it might be a trap. I don’t know what they were after.”

  The longer I stand here the more aware I am of precious seconds passing by. Seconds of agonizing torment for Leo. Balanced delicately between who he is and turning.

  “Whoever attacked accomplished what they wanted. Our focus is Leo not Alexandria.”

  “Kimber!” Lena scolds in a harsh tone. “Forgive my niece. We’re all a little on edge. All we know is that Leo is underground. Chances are Alexandria is with him.”

  “The tunnels under the city are endless. They were used by Pharaohs to enslaved prisoners. Most have fallen in but one comes to mind. There is a family of Nephilims, the Rameses. They have threatened to attack us for months. If they are responsible, We’ll find Alexandria and Leo in the Sacred Temples, ten miles east of here.”

  Chapter Twenty Six

  WE HEAD TOWARDS the unknown with eager attitudes and foolish hopes. There is no backup plan. All we have is what are blood is made of and Lena’s visions, which happened to be on the fritz. I know in my mind that, realistically, I don’t stand a chance against pure and half blooded Nephs, who oppose Leo’s ethical lifestyle.

  “Don’t look defeated. It’s not over yet.” Lena whispers next to me in the back seat.

  “Are you sure?” I know she can’t answer the question, not honestly. “I’m trying so hard to find strength.” I look back out the window so I won’t see her wavering fortitude.

  The driver stops the taxi in the middle of what looks like an abandoned town. I step out of the car and as I turn to my left, I see it. A pyramid both beautiful and frightening. I imagine the history it holds, events that have played out within its walls and how after today no one will know we were ever here.

  Akil leads us towards the temple.

  The sun scolds us from above and cooks us in a wave of fiery heat. I wish I had water and sun screen instead of the generic energy drink I bought in the hotel gift shop. It didn’t cure my exhaustion but at least I’m able to keep my eyes open and my mind running.

  When we reach the pyramid that incases the temple, it’s unworldly. It’s mind boggling how such large stones where carved with makeshift tools and the blood, sweat and tears involved in that process.

  I glide my fingers across hieroglyphics etched into the bottom of the stones. With no visible entrance, we follow Akil. We walk a hundred yards, give or take, behind the pyramid when Akil turns to face us.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  “We are here.” Akil responds.

  “Where? There’s nothing here.” I look from Akil to Lena.

  “Under you. A secret entrance.”

  I look down to my feet and shuffle the sand around with my Converse. I assume I should be looking for a latch of some sort. On the other hand, a large green neon arrow reading, Secret layer this way, would be helpful. I do a three sixty and turn back to Akil, tossing my hands up in aggravation. If he knows about a secret entrance why hasn’t he found it? He meets my gaze with cold dark eyes and a sardonic smile. Dread rips my chest open, stealing my breath.

  “The day of your death is at hand.”

  His words are like sharp arrows causing a laborious attempt at every breath I can’t seem to draw in.

  How could I have been so naive?

  Lost in befuddlement I imagine Lena’s silence speaks for her.

  When he draws his attention behind me I know it isn’t just a threat. I turn to see the inevitable manpower he’s brought. Even though the sight of these men cannot trump the realization that I won’t find Leo in time.

  As I turn I hear the pumping of a gun. Suddenly the left side of my ribs screams with pain. I barely register the first blow before I hear the chamber reloaded and cocked. The impact of the second shot violates my left leg and I go down like a Floridian trying to ice skate. Sand erupts around me. Pain explodes within me. I can’t feel the blood but as the gun is cocked again I fear I will die here in this desert. The shot rings out and Lena’s body falls beside me like a limp leaf.

  Hysteria annihilates my breath forcing the pain to grow. Darkness swells around me. I feel the touch of a hand on my shoulder and everything disappears.

  My ears ring. My head swims in confusion. A raw ache of pain flows through the left side of my body. My eyes, blurred by the throbbing behind them, adjust to the dim light provided by torches mounted on the rock wall.

  I can’t shake the ceremonious feel given by the two carved entryways before me. I’d imagine the darkness they hold is a bad thing. I know I’m somewhere under the tunnel, maybe in a tomb. I know diddly crap about tombs except there’s usually one dedicated to sacrifices.

  Aw hell!

  I feel a hard board against my back. I try sliding off the board but something is wrong. I’m strapped in! I try to wiggle but then I realize, I can’t feel or move any part of me. It can’t be! There has to be an explanation. I can’t be… paralyzed?

  “Cowards!” I holler into the dark. My voice echoes back to me.

  Akil was right. If this was to be the hour of my death there wouldn’t be a single damn thing I could do about it. This would be how it all ends. Leo would not be saved. Lena, if still alive, would be tortured and used against her will for her visions. And I…I have no value.

  How had it come to this? Everything I have been through should have hardened me. Molded me into a logical, self-preserving, badass, but it didn’t.

  As enraged as I am, fear muffles my screams as dark figures shuffle through the arched entryways before me. There are four of them all dressed in black hooded cloaks. One after another they bring in two limp bodies.

  The first body is dragged off to the right of me. To my over whelming relief, its Lena. They tie her at the ankles and wrists to a chair. Her body is limp, possibly paralyzed like me and she seems to be unconscious.
I look to my centered left where the other body is placed in a chair. I suck back a sob as I realize it’s Leo. The enigmatic reason why they do not bind him to the chair like Lena quickly answers itself. It’s too late. I’m too late.

  If seeing Leo and Lena in their condition wasn’t a sure staple in killing me than the sight of Alexandria and her father Akil as they enter the room finishes the job.

  I wouldn’t have pegged her as the mastermind but her air of confidence says it all. I doubt my death would be a victory for her but just because it’ll be easy doesn’t’ mean I won’t fight like a junk yard dog.

  “Those bean bags pack one hell of a punch, huh?” She circles me. “How are you feeling?” Alexandria asks lacking genuine concern.

  “Let me loose and we’ll find out.” I hiss through clenched teeth. Antagonizing her might not be my best idea, paralyzed and all.

  She laughs in my face. “Cute. Even at your best my grandmother could take you.”

  “You’re such a bitch.”

  “Is that meant to hurt my feelings?” She huffs. “Have you forgotten who I am?”

  “No, I haven’t. You’re the bitch no one will give the time of day to. Your whole family is crazy and pathetic and if you were half a women you’d face me like one!”

  Her eyes grow two sizes too big, angered by what I’ve declared as the truth. I steal a glance at Leo. He’s disheveled and spaced out.

  “You never cared about face time with the Chamber’s council. It was never about that.”

  “Of course it wasn’t. I don’t need the council. I need one of their own.”

  “To turn?”

  “Precisely! I will avenge my heritage by resurrecting it. There aren’t enough of us left. Not as powerful as Leo and I.” She moves to my left, stands behind Leo and caresses his cheek with the back her hand. I’d give anything to smack her away. “It’ll be quick and painless, I promise.” She whispers in his ear before kissing it softly.