But it’s Elder Glennev who replies. I hadn’t realized he was listening to our conversation. “I’m so very sorry, Alinthia, but it’s far too dangerous. The first place the government will look for you is Eaton Lake. They still have plenty of undercover operatives based in the town. We can’t risk recapture.”
“Please. Just a fleeting visit.” Enough time for me to hug her close. To smell the familiar scent of strawberries in her hair. For her to whisper assurances in my ear. To tell me I’m strong enough to do this. For me to tell her how much I love and miss her.
Compassion and understanding flash across his face. “I wish we could, but we can’t. However, I promise, as soon as it’s safe, that I will bring you to her, and you will have means of safely contacting her once we reach our Egyptian base.”
I want to protest but I can’t. I know what he says is the truth, and I also know I can’t put my own selfishness above my mother’s safety. “Is it safe for her to stay there? What if the government takes her and my aunt as a form of blackmail?” My voice is thick with emotion as I contemplate how very real that scenario could be.
Daniel and Elder Glennev share a knowing look. Daniel clears his throat and reaches over, taking my hand. “We’re worried about that too, but your mother refuses to move from the farmhouse.”
“I need a cell. Let me talk to her. I’ll make her see sense.”
“You can talk to her securely once we reach the warehouse,” the elder replies. “Just hang tight until then.”
It takes another forty minutes to reach the warehouse, and I’m lost in thought the entire time. Worry for Mom and my boys consumes me. Now that I’m out, I’m itching to rescue the guys. Chomping at the bit to confront Arantu and his despicable daughter. I won’t sleep easy until I know the guys are safe. Until they are back in my arms.
We quietly exit the truck once the driver brings it to a halt in front of two mammoth, wide-open doors. The warehouse is huge with a few large platforms in the middle surrounded by a multitude of stacked boxes and crates on both sides. A couple of military vehicles lie idle at the front of the space, and I watch as our driver pulls the truck into an empty slot alongside them.
The elder leads me to a small office at the far end of the warehouse. Handing me a cell, he smiles softly. “This is a protected line, so you can call your mom. You have five minutes before we leave.”
“Thank you.” I punch in her number, chewing on the inside of my mouth as I wait for her to pick up.
“Hello?”
“Mom?”
“Victoria! Oh my God, Victoria, are you okay? I’ve been sick with worry.”
“I’m okay, Mom. They didn’t hurt me, and I’m out now.”
“Thank the Lord. I don’t know how I would’ve survived if anything had happened to you too.”
“Mom, I have to leave because it’s not safe for me to stay in Eaton Lake, but I want you to come with me. You and Aunt May.” The elder didn’t exactly say they could come with, but if Mom has to leave town then she should be able to leave with me.
“Sweetheart. I know you need to leave to keep you safe and that’s the right thing to do but I can’t leave the farmhouse. It’s the only home I’ve ever known.”
“Mom. It’s not safe for you to stay there. Others will use you to get to me. I can’t bear the thought of anything happening to you either.”
“Honey, as much as I want to stay by your side, I know this is something you need to do by yourself. Since those boys showed up, and we knew everything was going to come out, I’ve prepared myself for this. I need to let you do what you need to do, and you need to let me continue to live my life here. This house, this farm, it’s all I have left of your father and I can’t bear to leave it behind. No one is going to force me out of my home. Not the aliens. Not the government. Please try and understand, Victoria. This is the best decision for all of us.”
“Mom, please.”
“I’ll be fine, Victoria. Daniel is going to look after me and that nice new principal from the school is sending a few of his men to pose as farmhands.”
Only Mom could refer to the alien leader of a very secret society as “that nice new principal.” God, how I miss her and her honest-to-goodness manner.
“They will stay on the farm for added protection,” she continues. “And I’ll be perfectly safe. Safer than traipsing halfway around the world with you. And I don’t want to be a burden. If I go with you, you’ll be distracted by my presence. Leave me here, where I’m protected, and you go do what you have to do, sweetheart. Do not worry about me.”
“I miss you so much,” I half-sob.
“Oh, honey, I miss you too, but you were destined for great things, and I won’t stand in the way of that. Go rescue those boys, Victoria, and stop that horrible Arantu before he kills everyone.”
I snort-laugh at how blasé she sounds. As if we’re discussing the most mundane thing not how her daughter is expected to fight the greatest general the galaxy has ever known.
“I know you’re scared,” she continues, as if she’s a direct hotline to my mind. “But I believe in you, and the boys believe in you, and I know once you’re all reunited that you’ll do what you need to do. And then you can come home, and I’ll cook a nice pot roast, the one Maddox enjoys so much.”
Her insistence at keeping this low-key and acting as normal as possible has relaxed me a lot. “I love you, Mom, and it’s so good to hear your voice.” I spot the elder approaching from the corner of my eye, and I know my time is up. “I’ll come visit as soon as I can, and I’ll be in touch once I reach my destination.” Elder Glennev had previously warned me not to admit anything about my location to anyone at any time. Protecting the society’s location is of paramount importance, and everyone is sworn to secrecy before they are permitted to travel to the base.
“I love you too, honey, and I’m very proud of you. Always and every day. Never forget that. And make sure to eat well and get plenty of rest. You’ll need all your reserves to kick Arantu’s evil butt into a black hole he can’t crawl out of.”
I splutter, tears mingling with laughter at how strange it is to hear my mother talking like this. She’s so good with weird. We say our goodbyes, and I hang up as the elder steps into the room.
“Ready?” he inquires, cocking his head to the side.
“No,” I honestly admit. “But let’s do this.”
He smiles, offering his arm, and I loop mine through his. Kylie bursts into the room, blocking the doorway, slightly out of breath. Tears roll freely down her face. “Tori, you’re my best friend, and I hate what I’ve done to you. You couldn’t hate me any more than I hate myself. Please find it in your heart to forgive me,” she blurts. “I’m begging you. I promise to do everything I can to make it up to you just don’t shut me out. Please,” she whispers at the end.
“I can’t make any promises, Kylie. You have hurt me more than you know. Every memory I have of us is tarnished now. Everything feels like a lie.”
Her eyes plead with me. “Everything was real, Tor. You’re my best friend and I love you. I never faked anything.”
“No. You just concealed the truth.”
“Will you ever be able to forgive me?”
“I don’t know. It hurts too much now to even consider it.”
“I’m so sorry, Tori. Genuinely, I am.”
“I can see that, Kylie, and I wish it was enough.” Maybe in time it will be, but right now, I just can’t get past her betrayal. Every time I think of it, it slices through me like a knife tearing through sinew and muscle and bone, gutting me to my core.
Her lower lip trembles, but she steps back, slowly nodding. “Okay. I get it, but I just didn’t want you to leave without knowing how truly sorry I am for messing everything up. For making the wrong call. I miss you, Tor, and if you can’t find it in your heart to forgive me, I’ll always regret destroying our friendship. Stay safe and take care. I hope you get the guys back and that they’re okay.”
I ca
n’t speak over the lump wedged in my throat so I just nod. The elder steers me out of the room, keeping a tight hold on my arm. “She was foolish, but I believe she spoke the truth.”
“I know.” I sigh as we walk across the vast warehouse. “But I just don’t know if it’s enough.”
He pats my hand. “You’ll figure it out.”
I hope he’s right.
He leads me to the center of the warehouse and up onto an elevated circular dais. “What is this?” I glance all around me. Faint white circular lights illuminate the shiny floor of the dais. Several soldiers are standing in their own white circles, and then they disappear, popping out one at a time as they teleport away. Others quickly take their place.
“This is a communal teleporter. It’s the fastest way of teleporting in big groups as we can set the coordinates to our destination and the materials under our feet are conductors. It means we can teleport faster than normal and expend less energy than ordinary teleporting.”
“Cool.” I grin at him, leaning into his chest when he opens his arms for me.
“I take it you are familiar with the process?” he inquires.
I nod. “I’ve teleported with the guys, but never over long distances.”
“Trust me, this won’t feel any different even if we are traveling through several time zones and continents. This device is the product of thousands of hours’ work by our main research team. There is no technology better in the entire galaxy.” Pride laces his words, and my curiosity is piqued, but I hold my tongue for now, shuttering my eyes and clinging to him as the familiar lurch in my tummy indicates we are already on the move.
CHAPTER 20
It’s as the elder stated, and in next to no time, we arrive on the other side—in a totally different country. My limbs are a little wobbly and my head a bit fuzzy but that’s the only indication we’ve actually traveled from one place to another.
The platform we are on is identical to the one back in Indiana, except for the vast control room in front of us and the multitude of busy heads manning desks. The drone of hushed conversation, and sense of urgency almost palpable in the air, lends gravity to the situation, reminding me how serious my predicament is. Reconfirming how much responsibility is weighing on my shoulders.
“Are you feeling okay?” the elder asks, offering me his hand which I gratefully accept.
“A little disoriented, but fine.”
Several inquisitive heads turn in our direction as we walk through the control room, but at least no one is dropping to their feet here. It makes a welcome change.
The elder bends his head, talking quietly in my ear. “Only very few are aware of your real identity in the facility,” he explains. “We felt it was best to protect your discovery and your real identity until you arrived and decided how you wanted to proceed.” He guides me out into a corridor buzzing with people. Many of them nod reverentially at the elder, but other than that, no one pays much attention to me, and I like it. I like it a lot. It’s a long time since I’ve felt invisible. Normal. And I realize how much I miss that.
“Where exactly are we?” I ask.
“Have you heard of the Valley of the Queens?”
I search my mind for what I learned in AP World History class. “It’s the place where the wives of pharaohs were buried in ancient times.”
“Correct. We purposely chose to build our underground base underneath the Valley of the Queens. Hiding in plain sight, as the humans like to say,” he adds with a cheeky wink. It’s so weird looking at my old principal with his youthful good looks and his casual manner knowing he is head of the secret society we’d been searching for. A society that has existed for thousands of years in secret. A society whose real purpose has been maintained for that whole time.
The mind boggles.
I’m not sure what expression is on my face, but it’s enough to raise a chuckle from the elder.
“We’re underground?” I ask, amazed at his statement. Looking at the sleek, clean, sophisticated passageways we are walking through, combined with the cool, controlled air, one would never guess we were beneath one of the world’s most fascinating tourist attractions.
“Yes. Our facility stretches for miles in every direction, and we have over four hundred descendants of the original founding members working here.”
“Wow. Tav mentioned … wait, where are my friends?” I inquire, suddenly remembering them. They had teleported from the platform before me.
“Don’t panic. Tav and Ellya arrived before you did, and they are being escorted to their living quarters right now. I took the liberty of housing you all in the same section. I presumed you would want to keep them close.”
“Thank you.”
“What were you going to ask me?” He ushers me around the corner and through a smaller, less crowded passageway.
“Tav mentioned the society moves around a lot and that you’d been in Egypt previously, so, how long have you been back?”
“We returned to Earth, to Egypt, the same time you were sent here, and we’ve been preparing ever since.”
“How did you know I was sent here when no one else could find me?”
We reach the end of the hallway, stopping in front of a frosted glass door. A small screen drops from the ceiling, and a red light emits from the device, scanning the elders face. A tiny bell sounds, and the door snicks open. “We will process all security measures in the morning for you and your friends,” he says, answering my unspoken question. “And I will give you a full tour of the facility and explain everything, but, for now, I think you need to rest. I know you have a lot of questions, and I will do my very best to answer them all, but it’s been a long, arduous day, and you need to recharge your batteries.”
A wave of exhaustion washes over me with his words, and I suddenly feel dead on my feet. A yawn slips out of my mouth. “I can’t argue with that.”
We are silent as we make the rest of our journey. The elder points out a few notable things as we stride through the compound, but, otherwise, conversation is nonexistent. It’s not awkward though. More of a companionable silence.
This side of the compound houses the residential quarters, and it’s eerily quiet as we make our way forward. The elder stops in front of a glossy white door, and the same screen descends from above. Tapping the side of the screen, he releases a small keypad, instantly punching in some instructions. “Stand in front of the screen and hold your face still,” he instructs, and I do as I’m told. A red light flickers across my face as I try not to move.
SECURITY PROTOCAL ENACTED. An automated voice confirms the process has been successful and the door slides open, revealing a small, compact space. The walls and floor are white. The furniture a muted gray color. There is a small living area with a couch and coffee table and a bijou kitchen area.
“All meals are catered in one of three dining halls,” he advises. “You can pull up a map of the compound on your screen.” He points to a wall-mounted TV. “Your training plan will be sent to you tomorrow and there is a ton of other information available at the press of the button.”
“Okay, thanks,” I say, kicking off my shoes and sitting down on the couch to pull off my socks.
“Your bedroom and en suite bathroom are through that door.”
I glance over my shoulder in the direction he’s pointing. “Got it. Thanks.”
“No one can get into this room without you or your permission.” He gestures me toward a small keypad attached to the wall beside the door. “If someone comes to visit, press this button and you will get a visual of who it is. Press the star button to grant them access. Press the hash key to seek help if you need it. Don’t allow anyone into your chambers unless you are acquainted with them.”
All the tiny hairs prickle on the back of my neck. “I thought you said I was safe here?”
“You are.” He pats my arm. “I don’t wish to alarm you, and I have no reason to believe we have any traitors in the compound, but I will not take any ri
sks when it comes to your welfare, and you shouldn’t either.”
I nod. “Okay.” My shoulders relax. “And thank you. For rescuing me and my friends.”
“It’s my absolute pleasure.” His smile is warm and genuine. “I’ve waited a long time to meet you, Alinthia, and you are already everything I had hoped for and more.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that so I just smile instead.
“I look forward to working with you,” he adds.
“Me too. And there is no time to waste. I need to rescue my protectors asap, and I’d like to start my training immediately.”
He bows. “As you wish. I will send Donovan to escort you to my private chambers for breakfast in the morning. We can talk over breakfast and then your training will commence. From what Donovan tells me, your powers are considerable, and you are making great progress.”
I didn’t realize Donovan was keeping such a close eye on me, but I guess it makes sense now. “Is he a member of the society? Is he one of us?”
“Donovan is one of a carefully selected group of humans we trust whom we have chosen to work with us.”
“Like Daniel?”
He nods. “Yes, like Daniel.” He presses a button on the keypad and the door unlocks. “Rest, Alinthia. I will tell you everything you need to know in the morning.”
The door closes, and I get up, stripping off my clothes as I wander into the bathroom. I take a shower, quickly blow dry my hair and then pad to my closet to find something to sleep in. Like back in the government compound, the closet is stocked with various items of clothing all in my size. It’s beyond creepy but I’ll let it pass for now. I select a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top to sleep in and then crawl into bed.
Even though I’m exhausted, I try to connect with Cooper one final time. Mercifully, he drops his shields, letting me through.
The Warrior Princess: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance Page 15