“Chief Jack, why do you invite him to come along?” Kalen slipped beside Jack and tried to keep his voice low.
“Didn’t Loren say that we are expecting another warrior to join us? Maybe it’s him.” Jack smirked at Kalen as he tossed the Elf a long bow.
“Yes, she said we are to expect another, and we are also to search out Allister the Griffin as well. We have made no efforts to do so.”
“Maybe because she sent us looking for these.” Jack held up a shield and tossed it to Kalen. “If she weren’t so busy sending us on errands, we could accomplish something.”
Kalen sighed heavily and leaned against the wall of the cavern. He pinched at the bridge of his nose then turned to the Guardian. “My apologies, friend. I do not know your name.”
“I have no name. I am simply the Guardian. I have never needed a name.”
“And calling you Nephilim seems impersonal.” Kalen rubbed at his chin.
Brooke nudged the Elf. “How about just Phil?”
“If you like.” The Guardian bowed slightly.
“Very well. Phil, if you would be willing to accompany us on our mission, we could most certainly use your help.”
“He’s coming.” Jack brushed past Kalen and approached Azrael. “You back in fighting shape?”
Azrael flexed his hands a few times and nodded. “The effects were short lived.”
“Pick your poison. I want to bug out ASAP.”
Kalen stared after him a moment then turned back to the Guardian. “I apologize for our leader. He’s gruff, but he means well.”
“Pay no mind.” The Guardian slipped down from the ledge and chose a sword and shield from the pile. The whip handle hung from a rudimentary belt at his waist. “He seems adamant.”
“Once he sets his mind to something, yes.” Kalen sifted through some of the weapons and came up empty. “I see no quiver or arrows.”
“Your bow requires none.” The Guardian held out his hand and Kalen slipped the bow from his shoulder. As the Guardian pulled the bow string back an arrow materialized, perfectly nocked and ready to fly. He slowly let the string back and the arrow fell to the ground with a metallic clang.
“Impressive.” Kalen bent and retrieved the arrow. “It’s so light.” He tried to bend the arrow and found that he couldn’t.
“It is a holy weapon. You won’t break it.” The Guardian handed the bow back to him and watched as Kalen tried to find a place to stash the arrow. “There’s no need. As long as your intentions are good, the bow will supply you. You shan’t run out.”
Jack reached for the arrow. “If his intentions are good?”
The Guardian nodded. “Holy weapons cannot be used for evil. They will…not allow it.”
“Yet you were able to use the whip against Azrael.” Jack raised a brow.
The Guardian nodded. “It did not kill him. That was why I was willing to allow you to leave.”
“You mean that whip should have been deadly?” Jack took a half step back, his eyes narrowing on the Nephilim.
The Guardian nodded again. “Had his intentions been less than honorable, yes. It would have cleaved him in half. The energy surge would have set him aflame if nothing else.”
Jack held up the crossbow. “And this?”
“Destroys your enemies from within.” The Guardian put his hands together than quickly spread them apart, mimicking an explosion.
Jack rubbed at the back of his neck and tried to take in the power of the weapons. “Fine. Let’s get these stacked up and ready to go. Kalen, open the door and let me out so I can call in transportation for the rest of these.”
The Guardian stood to his full height and stepped between Jack and the weapons. “You claimed you wanted to arm your people.”
Jack held his hands up and took a half step back. “Easy there, big guy. I do want to arm my people, but most of them are back at our base.”
The Guardian shook his head. “You may not take them all.” He crossed his arms and planted his feet. “You may only arm the warriors you brought with you.”
Kalen stepped between the two. “He is right, Chief Jack. The others will not be needing the weapons, only we six.”
“Now just hold on a goddam minute.” Jack shoved a finger in Kalen’s face. “This is news to me. I thought the whole point of us coming here was to arm up the squads.”
Kalen shook his head. “No, Chief Jack, we are to arm ourselves so that we may face the threat. The others will not be needed other than to cover our backs as we do our job.”
Jack narrowed his gaze on Kalen. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Kalen shook his head. “That is all I know! I swear it!”
Brooke stepped between the two and patted Jack’s shoulder. “I’m armed. That’s all that matters.” Jack glanced at her and noted the crossed swords on her back and the numerous knives she had strapped to herself. She carried a small metallic handle that extended into a bow staff.
Jack sighed and threw his hands into the air. “Fine! Grab what you can carry and use. Apparently we’re going this one alone.”
“What is the task?” The Guardian picked up his weapons again and approached Jack.
Jack shook his head. “We still don’t know. But apparently we’re going to have to have angel weapons to do it.”
*****
“Crystal, darling.” Jim reached a hand out toward the woman as she entered his hospital room. “Would you be a dear and do me a favor?”
She reached for his hand and kissed his knuckles. “Of course, my love. Anything you want.”
“Back at the house, in my top dresser drawer, there’s a small photo album. Could you bring it here for me, please?” He gave her a loving smile and she melted inside.
“Of course.” She kissed his hand again then stood. “May I ask what you need it for?”
“I just wanted to go over some family photos with Laura before she has to leave. That’s all.” He gave her a wink as she turned to leave.
“Is there anything else from the house I can get you while I’m there?” She grabbed her purse from the back of the chair and reached for the door again.
“No, ma’am.” He gave her a cockeyed smile. “But I may have a little something for you when you get back.”
Crystal smiled and shook her head. “Not even if they gave you a room with a locking door, my love.”
“That wasn’t what I meant.” Jim smirked as she walked out.
Laura watched the banter and studied her dad. “You really love her, don’t you, Daddy?”
Jim lowered his gaze to her sitting in the chair opposite him and nodded. “I have for a long time, Punk.”
“Why didn’t you just marry her then? I would have come to terms with it eventually.”
“It just didn’t seem right if my kids weren’t on board.” Jim pushed himself upright and pulled the rolling table closer. “I thought maybe it was too soon after your mother…” He paused and stared off into the shadows. “God rest her.”
Laura stood and went to be by his side. “She knew you loved her.” She gripped his hand tightly.
“You remind me so much of her sometimes.” He stared at her with rummy eyes. “It scares me. I almost called you Margaret a number of times while you were growing up.”
Laura tried to hide her smile. “It wouldn’t have hurt my feelings.”
“Oh, it was usually when you were testing my patience.” Jim patted her arm. He glanced around then checked the door. “So, tell me more about this ‘cure’ of yours, Punk.”
“You know the side effects, right, Daddy?”
“Yeah. And if I take the bitter black pills, the biggest one won’t happen. But I’ll get edgy around the full moon.” He tried his best to read her face, just to see if she was pulling his leg.
“Does that mean you want to do this?” She tried not to sound hopeful.
Jim nodded almost imperceptibly. “Yeah, Punk, I think so.”
“You need to know so.” She lifted the
vials and set them on the table. There’s no changing your mind once we start this.”
“Let’s see. It will cure me. I won’t age. I’ll get my libido back…”
“I didn’t say that.” Laura poked him with her finger.
“You didn’t say I wouldn’t either.” Jim reached around and pulled the port from his IV around so she could access it. “I’m positive Punk. If this will give me the opportunity to live to see my grandkids, then hell yeah.”
“It will let you live to marry Crystal.” Laura pulled the syringe from her bag and drew fifteen CCs from the vial. She tapped at the body of the syringe to knock the air bubbles to the top and vented them. “Last chance.”
Jim smiled at her and squeezed her arm. “Hit me, Punkin.”
Laura stabbed the needle into the port and injected the serum. Jim watched the port drip the solution into the tube feeding his arm. He stared as the saline changed color slightly and fed to his wrist then into his body. He took a deep breath and stared at his daughter wide eyed. He waited for something to happen. A pain to wrack his body. An explosion of energy. An electric jolt to shoot through him.
Nothing happened.
Laura packed away the vial and dropped the syringe into the sharps container in his room. “There ya go. Step one.”
“Step one?” Jim looked at his arm and lifted his sheet to see if he was growing hair in any funny places. “I don’t feel any different.”
“You won’t. Not for a little while. You have to give it time.” Laura glanced at her watch then patted her dad’s leg. “I have to make a call. You rest, and I’ll be back in a moment.”
“You mean I sent Crystal on a wild goose chase for nothing?”
Laura shook her head. “How would you explain your daughter having a ‘cure’ in her bag? It was for the best that you sent her on her way.” She opened the door then leaned back into the room. “I’ll be right back. I just need to call…my boyfriend, and tell him how things are going.”
“You do that,” Jim shouted after her, “and tell him I want grandkids!”
*****
Mitchell escorted Jenny through the lower levels of the base and hesitated as they stood outside the solid steel door. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
She clung to his arm and tightened her grip, her eyes glued to the dull silver door before them. Slowly she nodded her head. Her voice was a hoarse whisper as she spoke. “Not really.” She turned and he saw the fear in her eyes. “But I have to, Matt. I have to break through this fear that’s…buried deep inside me.”
“We can do this later.” Mitchell pulled her aside and held her tightly. “You don’t want to overdo it too soon. Sensory overload and all that.”
Jenny trembled in his arms but pushed away slightly. “I need to. I walked through the entire place and met the people. They’re truly lovely.”
“Lovely?” Matt chuckled and shook his head. “I can think of a hundred different ways to describe the people who work for me and lovely just isn’t one of the words I think I’d choose.”
She punched him lightly for teasing her. “You know what I mean. They treated me with respect and kindness. Not at all what I…” She trailed off, her eyes falling on the door again.
“I understand, Jen.” Matt slipped from beside her and entered the code in the keypad next to the door. “Just remember that, if at any time you want to leave, say the word.”
She nodded fearfully and stepped forward, squaring her shoulders and screwing up her courage. “I’m ready.”
Mitchell pulled the door open and stood to the side. Lights came on automatically overhead and Jennifer stood once again in the place where her nightmares originated. She stared wide eyed at the equipment that had once been her icy prison. The machines, now silent sat quietly in the dim light, the cameras no longer blinking, the monitors all shut down. She stepped closer and ran a hand along the cooling lines that had once fed the machine that kept her frozen. They weren’t cold and it surprised her.
She turned slowly, her eyes taking everything in at once. “It’s much larger than I remember.”
“The power was out when you were here last.” Mitchell tried to inflect as much compassion as he could in his voice. “And I’m sure you were still in a state of shock.”
She nodded almost imperceptibly as she walked around the chamber that had held her for nearly a decade. She shivered involuntarily and lifted her eyes to his. “I-it’s not as scary as I thought it would be.”
Mitchell gave her a weak smile. “Yes it is.” He stepped forward and took her hand. “You’re scared to death right now. I can feel it.”
Instinctively she leaned into him. “I was so angry for so long…”
Mitchell nodded, completely understanding. “I wanted to let you go so many times. They wouldn’t let me.”
Jenny sniffed back her tears and turned her face into his chest. “I’m ready to go now. I don’t ever want to come back here.”
“You never will. I promise.” He stroked her hair and withdrew her from the cryo unit. He found his own hands trembling as he pushed the door shut. Once it clanged shut and he entered the code to lock it he turned and found her staring at him. “Are you okay?”
“I will be. I just need to get away from here.” She wrapped her arms around his middle, and he walked her to the elevators. “I have to admit something.”
“Something tells me that I’m not going to like this.”
She pulled him closer and they slowed their approach to the elevator. “The anger I felt toward you? The mixed emotions? The lack of trust? All of that disappeared once we mated. I don’t know exactly what caused that, but I’m really glad it did.”
Mitchell held her close and kissed her. “Me too.”
*****
“You will stand down until further notice, do you understand me?” Walter Simmons growled through the phone.
Bigby leaned back in his chair and pinched at the bridge of his nose, a headache forming behind his eyes. “And why is that, sir?”
“I just got word that my daughter is inside their compound and she is mated to their leader! You are to take no action until I can get you more backup. I want her safety ensured above all else, do you understand?”
Bigby sighed heavily and slumped in his chair. “Understood, sir.” He glanced out the window at the men doing hand to hand training and dry fire drills. “What are we supposed to do until you can procure backup?”
“I’m wiring you money. You said something about needing supplies? Use it to get them. And if you have plans for that building that they’re in, build a mock-up. I want those men to know every inch of it.”
“A mock-up? Seriously?” Bigby groaned. “Do you have any idea how long that will take?”
“I don’t care! Until I am guaranteed of her safety, you are essentially shut down, do you hear me?” Simmons was practically screaming over the line.
Bigby stared out at the men and measured the odds of successfully taking the hangar with the crew on hand. If he ignored Simmons’ orders and went ahead as planned, he could avenge Sheridan and take out the damned Monster Squad once and for all. Having to make special arrangements to save the girl? It might be too much.
Bigby opened his mouth to protest but found another thought forming as he spoke. “As you wish, sir. We’ll begin building the mock-up as soon as we can get the supplies. How soon until the backups arrive?” His mouth said one thing, his mind raced in another direction. Who says they had to make every effort to save the girl? Collateral damage and all that. It happens all the time. And if she was truly mated to Mitchell, then she may well be the easiest way to cut the head from the snake.
“I’ll get on the phone as soon as we hang up. I’ll have them en route to you as soon as possible. I may have to buy mercenaries for this. Are you okay working with hired killers?”
Bigby chuckled. “I’m used to hired killers, sir. I know them best.”
“Excellent. Just sit tight then, and I’ll get back
to you as soon as I have something solid.”
Bigby nodded into the phone. “Standing by, sir.”
He hung up the phone and stared out at the men training in the warehouse. Bigby stood and slipped Sheridan’s beret on once more. It was time to fill Martinez in on the turn of events.
*****
Thorn slipped up the slope and rolled in the tall grass to settle in next to the chain link fence. The sun had just set and the ground still radiated it’s warmth as he lifted the binoculars to his eyes and scanned the old auto manufacturing facility. He dropped a hand behind him and waved the rest of his party forward.
Foster slithered in beside his brother and lifted his own set of binoculars to his eyes. “Anything?”
“Not yet. But there are a lot of vehicles parked around the perimeter for this to be abandoned.”
“Agreed.” Foster scooted further to the side then tapped Thorn on the shoulder. “At the corner. In the shadows.”
Rufus redirected his gaze and noted the two men standing near a steel door, their eyes scanning the parking lots. “Why would an abandoned building need guards?”
“Especially guards who weren’t in uniform.” Foster slithered back down the slope then stood, dusting off his clothes. “I think it’s time we got a closer look.”
“I can almost assure you that Lilith has been made whole, brother.” Rufus slipped his binoculars into the case he wore on his belt. “But you’re right. We need to know for sure before we contact the human hunters.”
Foster planted his hands on his hips and stared at his brother. “I don’t suppose you would trust this part of the mission to some of the enforcers?”
Thorn shook his head forlornly. “As if they would know what to look for.”
Foster sighed heavily. “True enough.” He cast a doubtful look back toward the building. “Our best bet is to come in at the roof and hope for a skylight.”
“And if there isn’t one, we drop down on the guards and kill them.” Rufus motioned to Foster. “After you.”
Paul grimaced. “Of course.”
*****
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