by Debbie Behan
‘Sweetie please, just stay where you are! I’ll come over to you when I can.’ He gripped the sides of the chair with his hands, his knuckles almost white.
The session with Woody had exhausted her so she drifted off to sleep the minute her head hit the pillow. It was early morning when she woke and found Axon still in the chair asleep. She tossed aside the cover, crept over and curled up in his lap.
‘Are you all right now?’
He kissed her passionately. ‘I love you like crazy anyway beautiful, so add that to that extra boost of goddessy thing you had going on, and be blowed if I’m letting you go any time soon.’
She wiggled out of his grip, laughing. ‘Go get under a cold shower Romeo, we have things to do today and pre-wedding hanky panky isn’t one of them.’
‘Honey, can’t you bend the rules – for me?’
‘Axon, shower now!’
He got up and grumbled all the way to the bathroom. The sound of her singing to herself eased his disappointment. With the knowledge she would soon be his, he turned on the taps and whistled the same tune she sang. His mind imagined what their first time would be like. He couldn’t wait to make her feel his love, for him to feel her innocence, and to make her his forever.
****
After a hearty breakfast, Kayden and Woody drove them to a quiet location for some fun while they trained. When they arrived at a beachfront, the guys went ballistic, hurtled out of the cars and wrestled each other to make it to the water first. As they were about to hit the salty waves, the sound of Woody’s sharp bellow stopped them in their tracks. ‘We aren’t there yet. Get in the boat and stop mucking about.’
Finally the boat stopped next to a jetty.
‘For those unaware, this is Thevenard Island and even though it looks enticing with its lovely beach and those waves, I want the gear unpacked first.’ Woody instructed.
‘Ladies, you are welcome to join us,’ he said as he turned to them, ‘Or you can enjoy a few hours on the beach. Maybe relax, sunbake, swim, whatever you feel like.’
‘Without rods,’ Kayden chimed in.
‘Count me in then,’ Bree insisted, ‘and Cassie.’
‘I’m sunbaking.’ Caitlin started to undress, down to her bathers.
Kayden glanced at Axon who stood tense, his eyebrows furrowed in a frown. ‘She’s fine. We have the island to ourselves. We’re only going around to the other side where it’s deeper.’
‘Hey, I’m staying. You won’t get me handling no smelly fish.’ Lisha moved over to Caitlin and swung an arm around her. ‘I don’t feel like sunbaking either but will keep an eye on her.’ She grinned. ‘Me start fire, protector.’
Axon turned and viewed the area. ‘Good, just make sure you collect the wood near the tree line so you’re close. Over the years I have learned one thing. Trust only what you can see.’
Axon had made such a fuss and now she had to be baby sat! Caitlin eventually settled down on the sand and ignored Lisha’s terrible singing voice as she belted out a tune while traipsing up the beach to gather firewood. She rubbed vigorously and spread the foamy lotion over her legs and watched as the others squeezed into the small fishing boat. Lisha and the boat disappeared from sight at the same time, leaving her at last in peace to enjoy some alone time. The sun was bright but not hot, just right for her tender-aged skin. She heard Lisha call out, ‘the wood’s damp here, so I’ll have to go inland.’
Caitlin waved in acknowledgement and lay back, bunched a towel up to form a pillow, her mind elsewhere. She had Jett on her mind. He’d said he would ring today and she kept her ear pod on in the hope it would work in this remote area.
As if he heard her thoughts, a call came through. She touched the pod and rolled on to her stomach to have a chat. He sounded his usual chirpy self until he heard the water lapping the beachfront.
‘We’ve come to Earth and I’m on a beach sunbaking.’
‘Alone?’ He sounded strange.
‘The guys are fishing and Lisha is collecting wood so I guess you could say I am. Why?’ The connection severed and Caitlin rolled over, annoyed the satellites had lost the signal and she couldn’t finish her conversation. There was so much more she wanted to tell him. A shadow over the sand had her turn and expect it to be Lisha back to annoy her. Her hand went up to shade her eyes to see.
‘Jett!’ She sat up and leaned on her elbows.
‘Hi Glow.’
‘How did you find me? I never told you where I was!’ She was surprised, yet happy to see him.
‘I have ways and means of finding you little red riding girl.’
‘A friend in wolf’s clothing. Do you have big teeth too?’
‘No, but I have big ears that hear you and a nose that knows your scent my dear.’
‘Then next time I go anywhere I will insist you wear ear and nose plugs.’ She giggled.
With a grin from ear to ear, he positioned himself beside her on the sand. ‘I was worried you were lying on the beach alone and then when the connection broke, imagined bodybuilders sniffing around you, or even something more sinister and thought, Damn that, she’s my girl – and came for a look.’
She laughed and pushed him, making him laugh more. ‘Really.’ She shook her head.
‘True. It really tripped me out that they might have been sleazed up to you while Axon was fishing. He needs to take more care,’ he huffed. ‘Leaving you here alone. I should take you the hell from him.’
Caitlin slapped his arm. ‘You’re so full of it! Now what is the real reason you’re here?’
‘Truth!’
‘Yes.’
‘I ring you and here I am surrounded by ice on my planet and you’re sunbathing here on a beach. It was a spur of the moment thing. You were having too much fun so I figured I’d come and spoil it for you.’
‘You’re a mad friend.’ She grinned. ‘Okay, it looks like I’m not getting any truth from you today so either join me or get back to your godly duties while I go hit the waves and maybe do some snorkelling.’
He glanced up along the beach and screwed up his face. ‘Well, no chicks worth perving on, so I’m out of here.’ He stood up and brushed the sand from his pants, ready to leave.
‘Hey, what’s the rush roadrunner? Rest your chook legs here for a second and stay for a bit. I didn’t mean for you to leave right this minute.’
He laughed. ‘Give you chook legs. I’m definitely leaving now.’
She fell back on the sand laughing at his indignant face.
‘If I didn’t like you so much, I’d so hate you right now!’ he growled with a grin and checked his pocket time-reader. ‘Anyway as much as I’d love to stay and drown you…’ He made her laugh harder. ‘I really have to head back as those brothers of mine can’t be trusted.’ He pulled her up, giving her a hug. ‘Wish I could stay too. A dose of you is what was needed and I’m happy to now head back. I’m glad I got to see where you are and that you are in no immediate danger.’ His serious tone unnerved her.
‘What do you mean? Is there a problem?’
‘No! Just me being over-cautious where you’re concerned.’ He faded from her sight and his disappearance left a question as to why he worried for her now she was well again. Both he and Axon needed a reality check. She could look after herself.
****
After Jett’s visit, Caitlin’s mind hung on every word he said. Was there a meaning to them? She went for a swim and after, curled up under a tree to sleep. Axon woke her, dripping wet as he flicked water over her. ‘What have you been up to sleepy head?’ He plonked down beside her and kissed her forehead.
‘Jett dropped in for a visit.’ She thought nothing of telling all about Jett now they had become friends. ‘Don’t ask me how he found me. I was just talking to him on the phone telling him you had brought me to a little beach on Earth and within a few minutes the conversation cut short from bad communication on this island, and he was here.’
Axon frowned. ‘Kayden’s not going to be happy he tra
cked you to one of his private spots.’
‘Really – I never considered that a problem as my mind was too full of what he said and the way he said them, but you’re right. I’m a security risk if he can track me so easily, but you also know what a good friend he is to me? He would never disclose my location to his family, you know that don’t you? He just mucked around with me having a bit of fun and said he was glad he got to see where I was and that I was in no immediate danger.’
‘That seems a strange comment.’
‘Yes, that’s what I concentrated on most but came to the conclusion he might have meant because I was here on Earth and not up there fighting.’
‘Or have they got something planned for Earth and he was checking you were far enough away from the danger?’ With the strangeness of his words, Axon felt very unsure about his reason now for the visit.
‘I’ll have to report this to Kayden. I trust Jett with your life Cait, but that’s as far as my loyalty goes. Remember the stories about Cassie and her father. He protected her but still did sneaky things to the rest of the team. He even used magic potions to break them up so he could have her for himself.’
‘But I don’t believe he would ever deliberately hurt you or me.’
Axon sighed. ‘I know honey, please don’t fret. I believe in him too, and in your judgement. But the others don’t know him and Kayden has his own rules to protect his team and I have to follow them while we are here.’
Axon left Caitlin on the beach. Aware now that her friendship with Jett would endanger others she worried for them and wished she had never taken the call. Stressed she had ruined everyone’s time here, Caitlin stood up and walked over to the water’s edge. Her sickened stomach rumbled. How could she have been so stupid? Her body shuddered with fright to imagine everyone was now in danger. Fear gripped her so badly she screamed out in pain. Axon had her in his arms within seconds of her call and sat with her on the beach. He tried to calm her as rants of what a bad person she was for endangering everyone’s lives, had her cry and grip her stomach in pain.
Woody knelt down beside her. ‘Something is about to happen. You’ll have to let me have her so I can relax enough for her to see what it is.’
Axon picked her up and laid her under a tree in the cool. Woody stroked her forehead gently, used his magic to take away the vile episode and covered her eyes.
‘Caitlin, use your senses. What can you hear?’ he whispered quietly.
‘I can hear branches rustling in the wind, and waves slapping the shore line.’
‘Deeper!’ he urged.
‘I can hear hearts beating and breathing.’
‘Deeper!’ he whispered so quietly Caitlin could hardly hear him. That’s when the vision appeared.
‘It’s a meteor, heading for Kayden’s barn.’ Her breathing quickened as she whispered, ‘My horse! Our horses are all in the barn. I have to save them.’
Her eyes were as wide as saucers. ‘They’re all going to die if we don’t get back there now!’ The last few words came out in a shriek. ‘Woody, hurry, pull me out of this trance. We need Axon to transport us there immediately or it’ll be too late.’ She was unable to move until he released the grip that bound her tightly to him.
Woody took his hand from her eyes and snapped his fingers above them. Her eyelids shot open and with a quick roll and push off the ground she was on her feet with an eager hand out to Axon. Kayden had tuned in and listened to all being said and had already retrieved Cassie to help. Both ran from the water to them. And the men exchanged a worried glance, with Axon.
‘I’ll come back for the rest of you as soon as I can,’ Axon said to Kayden.
‘I’ll get everyone ready,’ he assured Axon as instantaneously Caitlin, Cassie and Axon faded from sight, with Kayden’s barn now in view. They only just made it. The meteor was in sight; the sphere of fire had not broken up or slowed even slightly as it entered Earth’s atmosphere.
‘Caitlin, hold my hand.’ Cassie put her arm out and the two held each other firmly.
Caitlin could feel Cassie’s power run through her own, as if a switch was turned on inside giving her a sudden burst of power.
‘Hurry girls.’ Axon was anxious as he felt the heat from the gas exploding fire ball close in on them. He was ready to swoop in and take the girls away if they couldn’t create the energy needed to blast it from the sky.
The instant Cassie said now, Caitlin let her go and both threw the electrical charge towards the rapid moving asteroid and hit it so hard it smashed to powder.
Caitlin’s head spun around towards the barn, ‘Axon, I’m still feeling the danger. The horses; we have to get them out of the stables. Hurry, go get Kayden to help. He can communicate with the horses and move them to safety quicker than us. Cassie and I can open up the stalls while you’re gone and at least start to move them out.’
Both girls ran in, opening up the doors and began shooing the stallions and mares out of the barn. There was only one stall left to open when Caitlin called to Cassie, ‘Go get the others as far away as you can. I’ll get the last one out and meet you over by the old gum tree to the left of the house.’
‘Is that far enough away Cait?’
‘I think so. Can’t tell how bad this explosion will be, but it’s nasty.’
‘Hell Cait, I can’t pick up anything. How are you doing this? There is nothing coming from the sky. Are you sure there’s more?’
‘I’m sure, now please go!’ Caitlin had tears streaming down her face. Cassie knew the look and turned, whistled and clapped her hands to move the horses that had stopped.
‘Get out of here! Caitlin yelled and helped her scare them enough to have the few horses left bolt quickly out of the barn doors. ‘You, right now, Cassie. You know how important our horses are. Save them, please.’
She nodded. ‘Hurry Cait, you’re scaring me.’
‘I’ll ride it out, don’t worry I’m right behind you.’
Back inside, Caitlin opened the door to the last stall and using the pen, climbed up the rails and on to the horse. ‘Move it.’ She dug her heels into the mare. The stubborn horse stood firm. ‘You must be sure used to your rider but if you don’t move it we are dead and don’t think about feeling him on your back again buddy.’
She wasn’t sure if the horse understood or felt the looming terror but with a snort and a shake of its head, it bolted out with her holding on tight to its mane. The thing bucked and tried to get her off.
‘I scared you. Good.’ She growled at it. ‘Just get us the hell out of here.’
Her anger and need to rush this mare and get it out quickly came from deep within her, urging her to flee quickly. With a sudden jerk that almost threw her off, the horse stopped and stomped its hoof as if in a tantrum. ‘Move it you stupid stubborn horse,’ she yelled, and this time gave it a swift jab of her feet into its ribs. It was cranky now and if they got out alive it would hate her always, but she’d sooner that than leave it to die. The head flew up, nostrils flared and this time there was no mucking around, it bolted. However, just as they hit the stable doors, there was a sound of grinding cogs, silence, and a shockwave that sucked at them. She knew the blast was all that was left; the final stage of a bomb that was about to tear them and everything around her apart.
‘Move!’ she screamed at the mare, knowing already it was too late. The whole barn exploded, the inferno gulfing the barn, and she was thrown into the air.
Dealings with Evil
Axon transported back to the house with Kayden and Woody as the barn exploded into flames. Shargan had seen Caitlin in trouble and broke from the pack to protect her. The shard of steel that headed for Caitlin hit her instead and she collapsed and fell on her side whickering in pain.
Caitlin took the rest of the impact on her back as it blew her off the horse and through the air. The black smoke consumed them quickly and the blast was so strong, Axon and the others were propelled back a couple of metres. Crashing against the house, Axon used it as
leverage and gripped firmly to the veranda posts. Kayden and Woody were thrown out wide and both slammed into a tree. The aftershock easing, they jumped up, squinting through the black residue and flames that still burned fierce, getting a fix on where Caitlin had ended up. They raced to her side. Cassie was kneeling, holding Caitlin’s lifeless body, and screamed with frustration her magic didn’t work. She was heartbroken when she realised Caitlin was dead.
It was a while before Axon realised he now had hold of her and it was him that screamed and cursed the evil that had taken his Caitlin. He couldn’t feel her pulse or hear her heartbeat no matter how much CPR he did.
He blamed Jett immediately, ‘I’m going to kill that bastard.’ He could feel vengeance and hate build inside him. ‘A life for a life!’ he mumbled as he rocked her, his incoherent rant unable to be distinguished as he broke into an ancient dialect.
Woody was like a crazy tornado as he worked around Axon trying to use his magic, but nothing worked, she was gone.
‘Caitlin can heal herself. I know firsthand how powerful her gifts are,’ Woody insisted and checked again for a pulse. ‘This is ridiculous. We can’t just lose her like this. It doesn’t make sense. Between us here, we have all the powers we should need. The universe has an agenda, it’s not letting us fix her.’
His words finally broke through Axon’s distress and he allowed Woody more space to work with her. Tears of rage threatened to run down his face as nothing seemed to be working.
‘Please, heavenly angels, help him work a miracle. This can’t be the end of such a young spirited soul.’
He held one of her burnt hands. ‘Please don’t leave us beautiful,’ he whispered to the lifeless love of his life.
Woody talked to her and Axon listened to take his mind off the heartache he felt.
‘Caitlin.’ Woody shook her. ‘I know you can hear me, and your work here isn’t complete. I want you to fight for your life and heat yourself up. I know you can do this. You’re strong and I’m strong. Together we’ll mend your broken body, do you hear me Cait? Your work here is not yet done! Now concentrate.’