ALL NOVEL I Missed You
177. I Missed You
Juliet
The midwife examining me wasn’t using any tools, only her fingers. She closed her white eyes, concentrating. A black shadow contrasted with bright veins flowed over my pelvis. “Hmmm, the baby is strong. It is too early to know what it is. Healthy. Heartbeat steady. No problems anywhere.”
Her hands lifted off me, and I pulled my pants back up. Charlene was wringing her hands. “Would we even be able to know this early?” The woman stretched out an arm for Charlene to get comfortable. “Would you be able to know if it is a Vamp or Dheka?”
The midwife and I laughed lightly. “There is nothing you can do about it, Chars.” I took her hand in mine. “If you have unprotected sex, the outcome is usually a child.” She squeezed my fingers.
The woman’s hands rubbed over Charlene’s stomach area. She felt every nook and cranny with her shadow and white eyes, prodding and assessing. A slow, wide smile formed on her mouth. It had to be Romero’s. She lifted Charlene’s legs and pushed them open. Charlene put her hands under her bum and braced for the pain to follow. I looked away when four fingers pulled Charlene apart like they were a speculum. Neither of us had felt a thing. Regardless, was that what she had done to me? I widened my eyes at Charlene, biting my teeth together.
“And?” Charlene couldn’t take it anymore.
“Both.”
“WHAT!?” We said at the same time.
“How could that possibly happen?”
The woman’s hair hung long and dreaded down her back. Jewels hung from some of the tips. They jingled as she let Charlene go and sat up to wash her hands. She was more my mom’s age or even older. “I do not know. But one sac has a shadow, and the other doesn’t. Charlene fell back onto the cushions, covering her eyes with an arm.
“It’s not a bad thing. What’s wrong? We know where you are… Kubra will be ecstatic… This is like the best thing ever.”
“Pushing out two babies. Are you insane?”
“With their voodoo, you won’t feel a thing.” Charlene seemed optimistic.
The midwife shook her head slightly. “Not allowed. Need the body to do its work… Can heal and close wounds… There will be no complications. We have never lost a baby. But not the pain... I am sorry.”
“I want an epidural. How can they not be able to stop the pain.”
“Well, if you can’t travel drugged. How will you push out a baby drunk?”
Charlene hit me in the shoulder. “You’re loving this too much. Unfair.”
“Oh, no.” I lifted up three fingers. “This is my third time.”
“You actually wanted kids,” Charlene said without thinking.
I rubbed her arm. “Neither of us thought about it nor cared about it when we slept around. It’s not like I pushed Chris into the car to have a kid.”
Charlene, at least, gave me a little laugh. “I’m going on Rodrigo’s magic birth control after this.”
The two men were waiting outside like some mid-century birthing chamber. Charlene had told me how they were about the sexes. The midwife had left the tent, and we heard the cheers before anything else. When we stepped out, Romero was being congratulated with the broadest smile on his face. I instantly missed Louis. Romero was her Louis… I longed to see him smiling like that. It did bring back all the feelings of guilt I had been carrying around, remembering what Michael said. Louis once had that smile only thinking about a child. I never really believed that a baby would cause such a stir. We should’ve rocked paper scissors it. My hand instinctively went to my tummy, stroking over my midsection. Romero picked Charlene up and kissed her. Romero and Marcus were the happiest guys alive. We never thought about them being so old and how long they had waited to have a family, follow traditions and cultures… I was still selfish… I had gotten on Michael and traveled with the idea of taking a short trip, not even thinking about the consequences. Marcus might miss the pregnancy and the birth if we could not get home. I glanced up. Michael’s eyes were on me. I couldn’t go to him to enjoy the moment, so I turned around and left.
***
“This is the worst bus terminal I’ve ever waited at,” I grumbled.
“Wait till we’re inside with no inflight entertainment,” Charlene commented.
“It will not be long now,” Romero said.
Michael was strangely quiet and calm. Where he would usually be fidgeting, he wasn’t anymore. His eyes were glued to my face, thinking. His long hair draped over the side of his head. One arm rested on a knee with his thumb on his lips. I didn’t know what he and Romero had discussed before dinner… It had changed him. Michael had done a one-eighty. There was no anger behind his features anymore. The previous night, he had held me while I fell asleep in his arms, drunk as I was. The way we used to be on the farm. I was still resigned to giving him the space he didn’t really ask for. His words were so cutting that day. He didn’t even want his night with me. I was bugging him to be something he didn’t want to be. So, I was determined not to ask him one question… At least I would be safe with Charlene and Romero there, who could subdue him if he felt the urge to get physical. Sitting on the ground, surrounded by primitive people, it felt like we were back on Zoreah when Michael and I were there for weeks, all alone. I just didn’t have a friend anymore.
“Michael, your turn.” Romero’s voice broke through to him.
The familiar sound of the next pod coming down the tunnel droned through the doors. The guards stood ready to push them open. Romero had let us see how it worked with the previous one. It would take a few minutes.
“I… love… you….” Michael mouthed before he got up.
I knew I had a frown across my brow, and the words “I love you too” didn’t come. Michael had not told me he loved me a lot. I could have counted it on one hand before the last two days. He said he didn’t want that type of relationship with me… Where everything was out in the open or maybe where you let someone see right through you… It went against everything my little heart could handle. Where he had his life, and I would have mine. The silent knowing of a fifties marriage. It didn’t really fit in with our family… No, it didn’t fit in with what I wanted. I had never been the type to hold back. Not even with Jerry. Michael was so different before he manifested. He had set a precedent for us, which I had held onto. One where he was honest, and only the truth between us was enough. I didn’t think I could do it. I told him I could. So many times, he said that I should not grow up and change. Everything our relationship was built on had drifted out the window. I didn’t even notice him get up until the doors closed again. I turned my face away and braced for the wind and swirl that hit us every time. “You okay?” Charlene asked.
I took her hand in mine and kissed it. “I missed you so much. We’ve walked a long road together. Thank You for not leaving.”
“We have to thank Rodrigo. If you weren’t sick and your parents were not out of town that week. I don’t think we would’ve made it.”
“Maybe not.” Charlene squeezed my hand.
Romero stretched out an arm. “You two are next. I’ll follow soon.”
He helped us both up, and we waited. Our pod landed in the mesh. The doors opened slowly. Romero supported me as I navigated the gap between the ground and the ball. He kissed Charlene, lingering on her lips. His hands cupped her face, and he whispered something in her ear. She closed her eyes and bobbed her head. Romero took her hand, and she sat between my legs. “See you at the next stop.”
The wind launched us forward. I gripped Charlene tightly around the waist. It was nerve-wracking, hoping the pod would not hit the wall and spin out of control. As soon as we stabilized, we had a lot of talking to do. I had to tell her everything that had happened. She had filled me in on all she had found out.
“So why do you think Michael can’t teleport off Mirach?”
“I don’t know? Maybe he’s tired. It is very draining to travel so far… That thing they hooked him onto might have done a little damage to his system.”
“You’re right.” More bouts of guilt hit me. I really didn’t understand him anymore or wanted to. “How do you feel knowing you are pregnant?” I asked.
“I don’t feel pregnant.” We both chuckled.
“Not yet… We will be having another pair of kids close together. It is the best news… Are you really okay with being stuck here?”
“Yes! You kidding. Have you seen this place… I’m sure Kubra won’t mind coming and going. We have so much time left… I will live longer than any of you... I don’t have to worry about that anymore… Kubra could still work… I don’t think he would want to sit and do nothing anyway… Kubra isn’t the type.”
“No… But neither are you…” Charlene didn’t say anything. “Would you mind having a relationship like your parents?”
“I think it would be okay if one of my husbands were like that. Romero and I don’t have a choice. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.”
I sighed heavily. “I’m really happy for you. Romero is great with you. I don’t know him, and he has a funny personality.”
“I want to take you to that room. Their dark city… Well, I suppose it’s my dark city, too. Maybe if you slept with Soren there, he would be unable to leave. You would have one husband that has to stay.”
We both chuckled. “No… I try not to think about him. You forget about Chris…” She laughed. “Anyway, we can still do all of it... I want to see everything. What about Sammy and Miné? We will definitely move here.”
“You can follow me for a change.”
I laughed lightly. “It will be my pleasure, Queen… What is your surname now?”
“I have no idea,” Charlene laughed. “What about Carl? How is he doing?”
“He is taking being a watcher seriously. He is turning twenty-three in a few months. If he was in the army, he would be in his prime. So with his background and his extensive training… I think he is enjoying it. Their unit has a lot of responsibilities and knowledge the other Watchers don’t even know about… Maybe leave Kubra and Carl to do what they want. You can always finish your studies.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to make your mistakes.”
I squeezed her shoulders. “Who would have thought we both would have more than one husband? When we were in school, having one boyfriend was a challenge. Whatever happened to the good old days of Lincoln?”
“I have to admit… I didn’t think Kubra really loved me. Or me him. Knowing does change everything, doesn’t it… I changed overnight.”
I could see the change in Charlene. She was more open to possibilities and ready for adventure. I don’t know if I would’ve asked Michael to do it if I knew his change for the worse.
“You’re like all my husbands… Except for Louis… Hey, if Carl changes when he does it? What do you think will happen?”
“No! I can’t even think about that…. I don’t even know if I really love him. We’ve been friends for so long. And I love him anyway… But like that? I don’t know.”
“You haven’t changed at all.”
***
Marcus
My alarm went off, and I sat up and immediately looked over at Juliet’s bed. Louis and Chris were also up and shook their heads. They had not come back. Chris threw his feet off the bed and slid open the door. I could hear him walking down the corridor. The day before, I had left Juliet and Michael in the lane. Later they were gone, and we decided to leave them be, thinking Juliet did take him down into those tunnels. Our best guess was that they were in Las Vegas to get married like she wanted to.
“They are not in his room,” Chris’s voice came from outside. He knocked on another door. “What’s up, boss.” I heard Jessy say as Louis and I approached the two men.
“Where is our feed?” Chris asked.
“It’s in the tunnels.”
“Go right now and check if Michael’s are active. And tell me where the hell he was that day.” Chris spat.
“I already know where he was. He teleported his bike out to your old neighborhood and drove around for a while…. After, he went to the diner and sat there for the rest of the day.”
“What was he doing?” Chris questioned.
“He was watching a waitress….” Louis said softly. “The infamous Stevie.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“There was no time, Chris. You told me, and I followed up… And that night, we beat him… Michael had a lot of thoughts.”
Chris’s shoulders raised a little. “Like what?”
“He wanted to cheat on her in the club already… Thought about it. The other day, with the waitress. He ensured the one woman in his past wasn’t a real problem.”
“And!”
“He came back, didn’t he. He cut me out after that… Michael is the best at it.”
“What else?” I asked.
“He is still where he was that night he changed… About killing her. And it’s a lot worse now because of her personality. They are clashing.”
“You’re joking, Louis?” I yelled. “They are gone, and Michael still has thoughts about killing Juliet.”
Louis turned around. “I’m getting dressed. We got to get to En-gannim… Marcus, we cannot get wrapped up in family matters again. Juliet said it herself. She would rather know where she stands with him. And she is sick of it!” Louis said as he stomped off. “And I am beyond that point. He is not distracting us again.”
I drew in a breath and lifted my eyes to the roof. Louis was right. She left me in charge, and I needed to do what I was supposed to do. I nudged Chris, and we went into our rooms. The three of us bustled around to get ready. By the time we were done, Jessy was waiting. “His feed is off. He is not on one of the planets.”
Selena and Jamal came out of their rooms dressed for the day. “You three find my wife. I want to know where she is. If we all die… It’s Louis’s fault.”
Jessy always jumped into Selena’s arms. She was teleporting everywhere she had to go, practicing every chance she got. The three disappeared in an instant. Chris watched them leave with longing in his eyes. “It seems like you also have someone you need to decide about.”
Chris turned to me and raised his voice. “It’s not Selena...” His tone lowered again. “I’m not in love with her! It’s the ability… I could have just traveled and been by Juliet’s side in a second. Know exactly where she is… If I regret anything, it’s that. It’s the one thing we had.”
“If they can take it out. We can put it back.” I said as the three of us got into a car. Of all the creatures, vampires seemed the most useless.
The Tower was full of our relatives. Everyone evacuated as soon as we told them about the imminent war. The people on some of the islands were also being brought into Nahrima. As many as we could manage. Those who wanted to stay home stayed. I wasn’t going to start taking prisoners or kill innocent people who didn’t know what was going on. That war would change En-gannim for good, even if it took us half a life.
“Ian copied almost all the coordinates of En-gannim… If they get together and set up base on Palmyra, we’re screwed.” Soren said as we walked into the office.
“Where is Rana? She wasn’t here yesterday either?” Louis asked. “We need her here to know what’s going on.”
Soren’s eyes met mine... As if he wanted to say something.
“What? Spit it out.”
“Should I speak in front of everyone?”
“What do you mean?”
“I went to their house after I left. I went to talk to Isla and found out what I had already told you. Rana came back after Michael manhandled her. She started spewing out everything.”
I waited. Louis and Chris listened. “She told me about that night….” Frown lines formed on my brow. “The night Juliet met Ahasuerus.”
“What about it?! Get to the point!”
“She said you wanted her! Got on top of her and wanted to kiss her. Rana said your chest started hurting like it was on fire. Everyone needed to come in and help you… That’s why she was here. She thought if you once considered it, maybe you would again.”
I chuckled. If that were true… The boy didn’t know I’d be dead. Juliet killing herself and running off into a gorge ran through my mind. Even me wanting anyone else would tear us apart. What the hell was Rana thinking, lying about that? Soren fell for it… No! “What the hell did you tell her? You were angry… Did you give anything away?”
Soren didn’t say anything. His eyes flickered over my shoulder to the two men behind me. “I told her about you all being in a harem. Juliet’s harem.”
“Oh, Soren…” Louis admonished. “You are so naïve.”
“What?”
“No one knows about the brandings! No one!” Louis said, irritated. They are trying to figure out what is going on. Must have heard something somewhere about the men going into a sleep and pain cycle. And you gave them a huge clue.”
“You know how easy it was for me to find out what happened thousands of years ago….” I chipped in. “We don’t need more Fahan’s against us.”
“Fahan could tell Avrio’s son… Avrio could have told any number of vamps… You cannot think that there is anyone on this pink sludge hole that loves one another? What does it matter if they know.”
“That was not for you to decide!” I pointed a finger at the boy. “It cannot get out… In the future, keep your mouth shut. There are humans on En-gannim as well… Rana was lying to you. I never touched her! She wasn’t in my room...” I paused… Going through that night, hoping I wasn’t drugged after all. Regardless, I remember that night clearly. I came home and sat down and read Juliet’s journal. Qadir died sometime later, and then... I slept with Juliet. But I never saw Rana again. I didn’t even know what she looked like until Soren brought her that first morning.
“No, Marcus, I would have known by now… The worst case is they find out that we will all die when one of us goes… The only one left who knew was Lucius. And I don’t think he would have told anyone. The rest of the elders from Earth will keep their mouths shut.” Louis elaborated.
“We don’t have time for this….” I had to stay focused. Louis’s words repeated in my mind. No more family issues. “Caleb, are you ready?”
“Without Michael?!”
“We have no choice. Those five have to go. Today. Right now!”
He nodded. “It’s you and me.” I took off the stone and hung it around Louis’s neck. I didn’t understand the rocks yet. Ahasuerus didn’t toss it to her for no reason. The vamps were not submitted because of it. We had the proof.
Caleb and I got dressed. We put on armor, only one short blade at our sides, and a gun. Wrapped around a leg was a holder for a net gun. It had to happen as quietly as possible. In the dead of night, even if we had to wait if the time didn’t align.
***
Chris came over to Caleb in front of the teleporter. “Are you sure? Absolutely sure you’ll be able to go through with it. You’ve never killed anyone. There can’t be one second of hesitation, Caleb… It’s not the same as killing a beast for eating.”
Caleb laughed nervously, wanting to say something. “I have… Mom and I killed a woman. Stevie someone… The one Michael went to see…. She made me do it.” Troubled eyes glanced at each other around the room. I swore loudly.
“What is it?” Caleb asked.
“Michael might be in love with this woman… And he still wants to kill your mother… If he finds out?” I glanced at Chris. His head lowered to the floor, and his hands ran over his face. “If Juliet had killed Selena, what would you have done, Chris.”
His eyes slowly came up to mine, and he glanced at Louis. “The problem is she didn’t!” Chris whispered.
“Marcus said he would prepare me and train me... We have been busy every second we have available. He took me to kill more… I… have eaten… someone.” Caleb said, changing the subject.
Chris glanced at me. “Where the hell do you guys get time for everything? All of you are more in my kids’ lives than me?”
“Chris… They are both our kids… I’ve got this. I won’t let anything happen to him. His foundations are solid… You taught him well on Zoreah. He’s fast. His teleporting coupled with the invisibility… I can not tell you… He will be the next Silvanus and more. Look at him.” I clapped Caleb on the shoulder. “He’s enormous… He’s got Ira’s genes. Not yours.”
Caleb and Chris grabbed each other by the elbow and rested their foreheads against the others. “Come back safe. That is all that matters. I love you.”
I pushed a small plate into my pocket and handed Caleb one. Both had all ten coordinates on. If we had to escape. We each had a communicator as well. “This will happen fast and quick, Chris. Do not leave for anything. Bring us back.” I glanced over to Louis. { Be careful. Full steam ahead. Kubra knows what to do } Louis nodded, and I shook all their hands.
Chris gripped mine a little longer. “I am sorry… About everything I did. I never meant for our friendship to suffer… Wasn’t really thinking straight.”
“I am too… It is all my fault anyway… We good?”
Chris bobbed his head. Caleb walked in, and I clutched his upper arm. Chris pressed the button, and we were off.
***
The palace platform was deserted. Caleb led me to a back room where all the mechanical components were to make the teleporters work. I was sure Avrio prepared Fahan to build more. It was already activated with Chris’s ability. We both stood motionless, staring at the primary component that made it all work… The slight droning vibrated on the walls. I drew in another breath.
“They are one step further than we thought,” Caleb said as he led the way to where the scientists work. I never had a chance to take in all of Palmyra or get a sense of the place. Losing it was a significant setback for us and one of the reasons I wanted to leave Michael there... Our future was now more uncertain.
The five men were still there. I wondered what happened between Avrio’s son and Fahan. I hoped they hadn’t met yet. We had some time before the men would go to sleep. “Let’s go see where everyone is at. We need to make sure about the guards and their numbers.”
Jade was in Brylee’s old room. I hated it. She was living where Juliet and I slept together. Made a baby together. “If I kill her… They all disappear.”
Caleb’s eyes met mine. “Aries?”
“He will be fine, remember… It’s only those on the planet that are in danger.”
“So we believe. Chris was bluffing, wasn’t he?” It was frustrating not to have all the facts. If only the Chadari on the home planet die, there would be no point in killing them all. But we would have Chris’s power back.
We walked around the garden and the other rooms. A few guards were patrolling outside Jade’s doors, coming and going. “This is a lot of security. I don’t think it’s a good idea. He won’t let her out of his sight. Look, she’s locked away… Let’s stay focused.” Caleb suggested. The boy was right. I wanted it all over in a second. There really was no way to get close to her without failing to complete our mission.
“This might be to our advantage.” I met Caleb’s eye. “They won’t even consider us coming for the scientists. Let’s see if they are guarded as well as his wife.”
We made sure we knew where Dimitrios was. He came and went a few times. Crossed our path as we made our way through the palace. We couldn’t find Fahan. “Where is he? Do you know of any other places?”
“The platform… You don’t think?”
My head tilted, “Would we be that lucky?”
Caleb teleported us from the palace to the platform. We walked out and saw the three men sitting at a table. I gripped Caleb’s arm. It was James and Ian. Ian! I dismissed him because he had no respect for my grandmother. He stayed nonetheless because he was Avrio’s son… So much for being Samuels’s main man! James? What was he thinking? I trusted him… But I didn’t keep tabs on anyone. Had not done my job. He must have jumped ship when Fahan came through the first time. Knew we would find out eventually. No wonder Ahasuerus didn’t do anything to him after he came to find me on Zoreah. We all thought everyone would accept the new management.
My hope rose in my breast. Their meeting afforded us the perfect opportunity. It was already late, and they were nowhere near done talking. “We have to go back.” I rushed Caleb.
“Shouldn’t we hear what they’re saying?”
“We’re not waiting. If one of the scientists leaves with Ian, we would have nothing. We have to kill them… These two boys won’t have the ability to figure out coordinates.”
Me [ Louis. Ransack James’s house and take anyone in custody. Make sure to get anything he has. Catch them off guard. Now. Tell Samuel! He can give you more names ]
We went back to the palace, ready to fulfill our mission. “We need to split them up. Do it somewhere no one would hear anything. Any ideas?”
“Do it slowly. One at a time. Throw the bodies in the water.” Caleb suggested.
The space they worked in had many corridors. Only four guards. Two were patrolling. One in the room and one outside. I let go of Caleb. “What are you doing?”
“Watch the door.”
Caleb hurried over. “You have one minute.”
I pressed some buttons. I might have been making a mistake… I did something to the teleporter to make it shut down. The same thing I wanted to do on En-gannim.
If Ian gave Fahan a plate, it would be useless. Caleb and I would rely on Chris… The droning stopped abruptly. That alone would bring one of them down there.
Caleb’s chest was rising and falling. I tried to steady him with a look. The man’s steps were calm down the stairs. It became louder. Caleb was fast and brutal. The vamp didn’t even have time to say anything. Caleb’s hand stretched out and cut into his throat so there would be no screeching. He pushed his blade into his skull. It all happened in two swift motions, and two wide, dead eyes stared up at us. Caleb looked at me. I nodded. “Good. Let’s clean this up and carry him out.” There were a few moments we would be visible. My gaze flickered around for scouts. “The next man would smell the blood. We would have to get him earlier in one of the walkways.” Caleb’s heart was racing. I took it as a good sign. “Where do you think your mother is?” I tried keeping his mind on why we were there.
“I just hope she’s okay… She didn’t even think about what it would do to kill Stevie. I hope she doesn’t tell Michael… I went down there this morning… There were two outfits on the stage. One was torn.”
My hand tightened around his upper arm. We didn’t even know if Michael had taken her by force. Juliet tried to warn me about him. What was I thinking, leaving them alone? “You’re really involved in everything. She’s lucky to have you. I hope that your brother will be half the man you are.”
Our heads snapped up. “Here he comes,” Caleb whispered.
“No blood this time.”
The second man walked right past us. We waited till his nose caught up. His eyes darted around. I didn’t think they knew how to fight. I let go of Caleb and appeared before the guy. He wanted to open his mouth. Caleb was already behind him, his arms wrapped around the vamp’s head, snapping his neck. We did the same thing and tossed him over the balustrade of the bridge, watching his body disappear into the deep, dark water. “Okay, the next move will have to happen in one shot. All three at once. No matter who comes through the door.”
Caleb and I climbed the stairs two at a time and rushed into the main room. The other three men were around the table. One guard at the door with a helmet. “This will be tricky… I’ll get his helmet off and kill him. You keep your weapon on the three men and shoot Blondie. After, I’ll take the dark-haired guy. You shoot the last one running towards us.”
Caleb pointed his gun at the three men around the table. “On three.”
I let go of Caleb, creating an instant buzz in the room. I pushed my gun into the base of the Chadari’s skull. We both fired. I lifted my gun and shot my vamp between the eyes. Caleb had missed his shot. The bullet had hit the opposite wall. The two remaining vamps fell to the floor, scrambling in under the table.
“Again.” My voice was calm.
Behind me, the other Chadari was trying to open the door. I pushed against it, bracing as the red tip of his sword stabbed through the wood. Caleb kept it together, walked around the table, and took his shot. I could hear the guy drop. I rushed closer and touched Caleb. The Chadari burst through the door, his red sword glowing. His head lifted into the air, he pouted his lips and made an awful sound. There was a stampede coming towards the room, blocking the entrance to the palace. The last scientist was under the table, moving towards us. The giant dragon stepped slowly through the room, wielding his sword through the air. Caleb dropped down out of my grip. He shot again. I grabbed him and pulled him up. We ran for it.
“Not as clean as I would have hoped for. But a nice message nonetheless.”
“If he dies… I ruined everything.”
“No, Caleb. I could smell the blood and the gurgling. You must have hit a lung… They won’t know what to do with him. It’s not like they can take him to a doctor.”
We ran back down the steps and entered the mechanism room. We both tried to teleport to the platform. “Why aren’t they working?” We tried the other coordinates. My eyes darted to the teleporter that was supposed to work from there. “I don’t know?” I pushed him out of the room, trying to think what we were going to do. We were on the bridge that separated the teleporter station from the palace. “Do you think Louis and Chris cut the teleporters?”
“No! Let’s not go down that road just yet. We need to get out of here ourselves.”
“Should we jump for it?”
“Down into that water! Are you crazy? The fall alone will kill us.”
He chuckled. I was glad he was staying calm. “I mean, I can teleport us to at least some rock formation.” He pointed. “We can keep going as long as I last. That far, I might have one good push with you in my arms.”
“It’s worth a try. But after that, we will be stuck here.”
“Yes, but you know how the boats work.”
I gave him a quick smile. “All we have to do is get them to give us a window,” I said, looking up at the palace door. The Chadari were systematically moving down the stairs, swinging their swords through the air. We had no idea if it would cross the supernatural barrier, and f- it I wasn’t staying to find out.
“They are clearing the space. Searching for you.”
“Nets!” We said at the same time.
“Don’t miss… Aim properly.”
We walked closer and aimed our guns. I let go of Caleb, and we took our shots. Both dragons fell down, struggling. Their alert had called the others. Seemed that they had a noise for every situation. We only had a moment. Caleb and I jumped on the wall, balancing on the rounded surface of the stone barrier. Caleb focused on the spot he needed to get to. If we didn’t make it, we would fall in the water. Dimitrios had crouched down at the two men caught in the nets. A loud, unified noise resonated from somewhere around the palace. The sound they were making was different than the two previous ones. It was an awful sound that made me think the whole Caude would come descending… Together, their voices bellowed out and carried until the next group of Chadari made another one further away from us. It was an alarm… They were alerting Fahan on the platform in the only way they could communicate... Still, it didn’t signify. I tried to speak over the cascading waterfall that seemed to drown out my voice. “If you don’t think you can make it!”
“I can make it! Just catching my breath!”
“We trained for this... You’ve done more than that with a heavier load than me! You can be glad I’m small!”
Caleb held out his arm. I clutched around his waist with my legs like Juliet always did. It all happened in one movement. His knees bent slightly. Caleb manifested and traveled. We landed nicely on the first rock in the middle of a pool of water. Caleb traveled again to the edge of solid land. His feet slipped on the wet surface, and I dropped out of his arms. Both our heads jerked around to the walkway. Dimitrios was staring at us, pointing his sword in our direction.
“Oh no!”
“What?”
“Fahan is trapped on the platform. If we couldn’t travel. He can’t travel.” I started laughing. “What the hell did I do.”
“What do you mean? It’s a good thing!”
“Yes, but now we have to make our way to the platform.”
Caleb thought about it. “Maybe Ian will take him to En-gannim? Or send him home. If they are still there…”
“Louis! I’m going to try my communicator again. They can at least go check.”
Me [ I did something stupid ]
Chris [ What’s new ]
Me [ Funny ]
Chris [ Are you okay? ]
Me [ We’re safe. Not hurt and away from danger. But we are stuck. Our plates stopped working at the palace. I switched off your ability. Fahan might be going to En-gannim ]
Chris [ Interesting… Won’t know if he’s here. The attacks are brutal ]
Me [ Fahan is stuck on the platform with James and Ian ]
Chris [ Should we try and get them ]
Me [ If they are still there. Caleb and I will wait till tonight and catch a boat ]
Chris [ Safety first. Caleb first. The five guys? ]
Me [ Dead ]
Chris [ I’ll be waiting. No rush. Mind the killer fish ]
Me [ Have you found my wife? ]
Chris [ You’re not going to be happy. Can I tell you later? You have to focus ]
Me [ It will take us a long time to walk. Take a break. I’m setting the time on the communicator. At least five hours or more ]
Chris [ See you in five ]