Healing
September 15th
1
“You guys did a good job,” Marc praised, scanning the newly gated stairs leading up to Zone C. With the sun sinking, it was perfect timing for a test of visibility. “Very good.”
They’d been driving up to deliver supplies and test the sullen refugees, but now the Eagles could go up the stairs in protection. The gate was electronic and there were multiple doors for people to go through so they would be separated from anyone else. It wouldn’t stop a bullet, but it would prevent a riot from easily entering Safe Haven. Intruders would have to go over top of the ten-foot, barbed wire that was patrolled day and night. Marc was satisfied that they now had a basic defensive setup in place, but he planned more. The towers were still going up, aided by all the lumber that Shane’s team had collected and Marc planned to put small bunkers in next–stocked with water and weapons.
“When will we tell them?” Zack asked, still studying the Zone C people as they scurried through the open gate and vanished down the hill in the loud gas-guzzlers. They had no schedule for gathering supplies, and people came and went during both gate opening times.
“Soon, I think,” Marc stated. “They should have been gone already, but plans changed.”
Becoming aware that he was discussing a magic issue with someone who wasn’t a descendant, Marc chose not to close off. He dug into Zack’s mind instead, searching for trouble.
“No need for that,” Zack stated, not resisting. “I’m not happy with her. I may never be, but I know she didn’t want Crista to die. I’m trying to accept the rest.”
Marc was relieved to discover that was the truth and he indicated toward the training tent. “Want to go spend a few minutes making the rookies look bad?”
Zack chuckled. The new men and women were easy to rile and slow to think–like most of them had been upon first joining Adrian or the service. “Sure.”
The two men headed for the noisy tent and Angela approved. She was on her way to the mess to have a snack, get updates, and then go to bed. Marc had things covered.
Angela grabbed a cold coke from the barrel, remembering to fasten the lid to keep it that way, and took a seat at the empty center table.
“Can I get you a tray?”
Angela shook her head at Tara, frowning. “Li brings them out. Thank you.”
Tara shrugged awkwardly. “Sorry. I didn’t know that.”
Angela scanned the woman and then Missy, who was humming happily at a rear table with crayons and a coloring book. “You guys okay?”
Tara took a breath. “As much as we can be. She didn’t need to witness the action today.”
“She said she did,” Angela refuted.
“She’s just a baby!” Tara snapped. “She needs her mother to make those choices.”
“Maybe,” Angela compromised. Li Sing sat a foil-covered tray in front of her, frowning at Tara.
“Are you on duty right now?” Angela asked.
Tara lifted her broom resignedly. “Sweeping, getting trays for the old people, helping with the kiddies.”
Angela recognized the tones, but didn’t comment on the unhappiness. If Tara wanted a different job, she would have to ask for it.
“Let me know if I can get something for you,” Tara offered, returning to her half-hearted sweeping.
“Uh-huh,” Angela murmured. She wanted to take time to talk with Tara, to dig down and figure out what her problem was, but she didn’t have the spare hours.
Greg dropped down across from her and Angela signaled for him to get started.
“Doctor said it is Cholera and he’s requesting permission to stay another 24 hours. He asked that we tell his sons they have a newborn and he’s trying to save it.”
“Fine, but 24 hours is my limit,” she conceded. “He can bring the child here, where we can help.”
“Good. All crews have finished their first missions and have left for the second half. We’re working on the 12-volt setups in the caves now–the LEDS are up and running–and all of the pipes will go in today and overnight. Tell the camp to expect constant noise for the next two days and then we’ll have the kitchen in place. The bathrooms and showers will be last to go in and we’ll need a large amount of water for the first fills and to check for leaks.”
“We’ll find it,” Angela promised, thinking of Neil’s run. “Go on.”
“Vents and fans are running and the smell is fading. We have detectors and extinguishers on every level, and the battery banks are being put in tomorrow. We had a delay with the cords, but they have all they need now, from Kyle’s run. The store they found was stocked and their relief is already loading crates.” Greg scanned his list. “Oh, and the den mothers need their next lists.”
Angela opened her book and read, “Carpeting, dividers hung, beds and mats brought in, bedrolls and all the spare blankets. Racks and baskets of the goods we use every day. Tell them to get it ready to be lived in.”
“You got it,” Greg said, writing it down word for word. “Cynthia’s got a final copy ready.”
He handed her the four-page paper with a slight frown, not sure if Angela would care for the underlying tone of rebellion that Cynthia’s words held.
“I’ll go over it today and let her know by morning,” Angela said, putting it in her book. “What else?”
“Kendle’s class starts tonight. She has a full roster of women. No males.”
“I’ll add a few people to it over the next week,” Angela replied. “They have to comprehend that she’s serious before the men will take any instruction from her.”
“We drafted a new crew for the oil refinery run. Leaving any time now.”
“Good.”
“Okay. That’s it from me for now. I’m about to make rounds of the topside, then hit the caves for fresh news.”
“Marc has Point,” Angela told him. “I have a bedroll calling my name.”
Greg spotted Samantha coming and doubted Angela would get to answer it anytime soon.
Angela sighed, noticing the newest disturbance. “Okay, I’ll be here for a bit yet.”
Greg smiled his sympathy and left the two women alone.
“Yes, Samantha?”
“I got a call that said he has joined the crew and is working.”
Her team had chosen to stay late and Adrian showing up was a surprise.
Angela shrugged. “So?”
Samantha frowned. “So, what’s he doing there?”
“Sounds like he’s working,” Angela replied, digging into her tray. “When are you going back down?”
“Now,” Samantha answered, still frowning. “We don’t want him there. The little sleaze is bad enough.”
Angela looked up, frowning. “If it weren’t for second chances, Sam, you wouldn’t be here right now to complain about my choices.”
Understanding she wasn’t going to get what she wanted, Samantha stomped from the mess.
Angela tried not to snicker, not wanting it to get back to Samantha that she was enjoying this. Because I’m not, Angela consoled herself. I just happen to find her hypocrisy amusing.
Angela spotted Seth coming her way and the good feeling faded as quickly as it had come. Seth wasn’t going to be put off by a few sharp words. He wanted answers about Becky and she would have to provide them or he would make up his own.
“Sit down, Seth, and listen to me very closely.”
2
“She’s pissed,” Candy commented as they watched Samantha manhandle the truck down the hill toward them.
“Boss must have said no,” Cynthia guessed. They’d chosen to ask Angela to transfer Conner from their crew, but when Adrian had shown up and took a place on sniper patrol, Samantha had torn out to confront Angela about it instead of waiting until tonight as they’d agreed on. Conner wasn’t causing problems, but the awkwardness was hard to toil through. Having Adrian here had actually been helpful, as it had kept the boy from staring at Candy on their breaks.
Candy looked down in time to find Conner standing nearby, gaping at her chest. Again.
Angered, she spun around and bent over.
Pffttt!
Conner froze at the sound, but the smell hit him like a slap and tears welled, as he fought not to breath in more of the noxious fumes.
He ducked his head, hoping for clear air and got a fresh blast in the face as Candy farted again.
Conner rolled away and flipped off the tailgate, retching and gasping.
Candy stood up, patting her enlarging stomach. “That’s my babies.”
The rest of the crew had busted out laughing, including Adrian.
Arriving in time to witness it, Samantha was slightly mollified and gestured to the next wreck. “Let’s get to it.”
Adrian studied the landscape and his son, shaking his head at the boy whenever he got too close to the women. Conner had hormones running rampant, but no self-control and it worried Adrian. I need to pull him in, Adrian thought, and immediately began making plans to do so. Angela would be quicker to forgive him if he was able to save his son.
3
Late afternoon faded into dusk and Kendle repeated her motions for the class, though she’d already made the fire several times. Some of her students had caught on quickly and were now watching in complete boredom. The rest were struggling with the difference between tinder and wood.
“You have to catch the tinder on fire, and use it to make a larger fire,” Kendle repeated for the two women staring at the piles of material as if they were foreign objects. Would the men be this clueless too? Kendle thought they would. Adrian and Angela had been doing everything for these people except teaching them how to survive on their own. Kendle was determined to change that.
“Kendle to the main gate,” her radio crackled.
“Copy,” Kendle answered, frowning. “That’s it for tonight, ladies. We’ll meet again tomorrow, same place, same time.”
Kendle left them to clean up, certain that they wouldn’t, and marched to the main gate. She couldn’t find a reason to be called and it kept a scowl on her face as she passed fires and trashcans that were supposed to keep the darkness at bay. To Kendle, it added a gloomy, smoky air to the mostly empty areas. The herd was in the caves, enjoying the natural temperatures and avoiding the cold wind that was now biting into Kendle’s exposed cheeks. Winter was definitely coming and it made Pitcairn seem even further away.
“I’m here,” Kendle announced to the gate guards. “What’s up?”
“Someone needs your help.” Marc came from the shadows. “I’d like you to give it.”
Kendle narrowed in on the vehicle flying up to Adrian’s locale. “She wants it, you mean.”
“Yes. She’s very close to Kyle,” Marc stated, watching Kendle’s reactions flash across her face. “Will you use your gift and help him?”
“I don’t trust him,” Kendle argued. “I still think he’s wrong for what he did to her.”
Marc rotated toward the shadows. “Ask Jennifer what he did to her before you make up your mind. That’s not asking too much, is it?”
No, it’s not, Kendle agreed silently. She didn’t mind the thought of healing Kyle. It was carrying out Angela’s orders like a flunky that rankled.
“Then resign from her team,” Marc warned, leaning against the gate where he could study things unobserved. “Resign and go live with him.”
Kandle had already considered that. “I can’t. He’s not you!”
Kendle stomped to the gate that led by Zone C and her annoyance with each stop to go through a gate was clear in her mutters. She didn’t respond to the drunken shouts that came from the secured gates of the refugees. She stormed by them and disappeared into the tree line that surrounded Adrian’s camp.
Marc was relieved. He also cared for Kyle and they needed his strength here. He hadn’t been happy to hear about the accident, but he had been glad for the report on Dog. Knowing the wolf was still alive was a comfort. Marc still had hopes he would return.
4
“She won’t come,” Jennifer stated. “She hates me. I’ll ask Conner when they get here.”
“Conner chose to stay and guard the girls,” Adrian informed them, coming through the trees. “Samantha wanted to get an early start in the morning.”
Jennifer frowned. “We’ll go down to him.”
“No,” Kyle ground out, leaning against the hot hood of the station wagon. “I don’t want it from them.”
“Kyle!” Jennifer scolded. “Don’t be that way. You need help.”
“Not from them,” Kyle insisted, dripping sweat. “Traitors!”
“That, we are,” Adrian agreed, dropping down by the dead fire ring to build a fresh blaze. “The reasons why don’t matter.”
“I didn’t come for your excuses!” Kyle swore, avoiding Jennifer’s calming hand. “You betrayed us.”
Adrian kept building the fire as he replied, “It worked out pretty well for you. Got the high place, the respect, the girl, and the job you asked for.”
“I earned all of that!” Kyle shouted.
His face twisted at the agony from the strain and Jennifer slapped him on the arm. “Shut up!”
Surprised, both men fell silent.
“Get out here and help him!” Jennifer shouted. “I know you’re listening. Come out!”
Kendle stepped from the shadows to Adrian’s right and none of them could read her expression.
Kendle tried hard to keep it that way as she approached Kyle. Jennifer, she ignored.
Kyle tensed as Kendle’s hand curled around his wrist and then his body arched as her light shot into him with the force of a train. It lit him up in a shiny blue glow that glinted brightly enough to cause even Kyle to shut his lids.
Kendle let go of the connection, panting a bit. She’d shoved it in him quick and hard, and it had drained her to do it so fast.
Adrian gently helped Kendle to stand up straight and kept an arm around her waist when she trembled. “You can stay here tonight.”
Kendle didn’t argue. She let him lead her into his tent and lay down on his bed, inhaling deeply of his scent. Angela was right. It was intoxicating.
Adrian secured the flap without glancing at any of them, including Kyle, who was quickly recovering his strength.
Adrian pushed off his boots and socks, and then dropped his shirt in the corner before joining Kendle on the bed. He heard their company leave, and didn’t care.
Kendle felt the power in the air, the need and the concern, and she lifted her arms to him, unable to fight it any longer. She needed to feel alive and Adrian could give that to her.
Adrian slid into her hot arms with a groan as their skin met and he lowered his mouth to hers. He sent his hands and his magic over her willing body and she arched beneath him in pleasure.
Kendle hung on as Adrian’s mouth lowered to deliver a dizzying numbness that sent her flying through the clouds. Each cloud she blew through refilled her energy and life force until she was so full she felt like she might burst.
Adrian pushed deeper, groaning as she climaxed around him. “Yes, yes!”
They came down the hill of light together and Adrian kissed her gently, wishing it were someone else.
Kendle kissed him and then shoved him off her before things could restart. “I can’t take that again yet.”
Adrian gathered her against his heat before covering them up. “You’ll come to crave that feeling.”
Kendle didn’t doubt it. Sex with Luke had been satisfying. This was…indescribable.
Adrian lay quietly until she was snoring lightly, and then slowly ran a hand over her stomach. He didn’t need a child right now and the spell would keep her from catching pregnant. It wouldn’t succeed every time, but it would on first use. After this, he would have to be more careful.
Adrian thought of Marc’s words about bringing Angela to him and felt his flesh respond, but his heart cried out in denial. Angela wouldn’t allow Marc to bring her here and she certainly wouldn’t submit to his touch. It would never happen.
5
“Don’t ever make that suggestion again!”
Marc winced at the shrill snap. He’d told her Adrian was expecting a visit and she’d gotten so angry that Marc had felt the need to take a step back. He hadn’t, of course, but the urge had been there.
“Why are you pushing me?” she asked suddenly.
“I want the baby. I witness Neil and Jeremy making it work, and I think about the future, and you’ll need–”
“Stop.”
Marc did. He wished she wasn’t pregnant now, though. It was endangering her and that was terrifying.
“For me, too, but I need a few more days, Marc and then I can take a break,” she confessed. “Just a few days.”
She doesn’t have one, the witch claimed, ignoring Angela’s protests. It’s her or the child.
“No!” Angela was sorry she couldn’t quit shouting. “I have another option.”
Angela sat down in the chair. “Have Conner and Kendle meet me in the doctor’s tent in the morning. He’ll still be gone, so we’ll have privacy.”
Marc realized she had opted to try the healing before the baby came and forced himself to agree. “They’ll be there.”
“It might succeed. They’re both very gifted.”
“Yes,” Marc said, suddenly scared. What if he lost Angie and the baby?
“Have Hilda there,” Angela instructed.
Marc would also bring Adrian. He owed Angela for all the hell she’d suffered and if he could help, Marc would insist that Angela let him. Once things were underway, it would be hard for her to refuse.
Angela missed Marc’s thoughts, busy worrying over the choice she’d made. This baby already meant too much to her to lose.
6
“Which one do we want?”
Vlad’s question was met with silence as Melinda considered. They were atop the cliffs, spying on Safe Haven and Melinda was using her gift to determine who the best hostage would be.
Vlad waited impatiently, kicking at mud and flies. He wasn’t worried about noise carrying down the mountain today. The wind was long and loud, and it would cover anything other than an explosion. They’d considered a number of plans and narrowed it down to two. One would have to wait for the weather to cooperate. The other depended on a hostage.
“Her.”
Melinda pointed toward a lone vehicle rolling away from Safe Haven.
Vlad narrowed in to discover two men with their target. “Good. Follow them and grab her when you can. Kill the men and bring their heads as proof. We’ll have pike’s ready for them.”
Kranten and Melinda left immediately, both eager to have something to do. Neither of them was good at waiting.
Vlad thought to ask why she’d chosen that girl, but decided to wait until they held the girl hostage, instead of following them to find out. If the girl’s gifts were useful, he would have to have another plan ready so they could exploit her afterwards. As of right now, the hostage died and Vlad began working on a secondary idea. With their numbers so low, they would need all the help they could steal with Jay’s Alpha power. Being like his father was handy out here, and the boy was too young to know he was being used.
Vlad peered down at Safe Haven, trying to spot Missy or Tara. They were also vital to the plan, but he had no way to contact them.
“Won’t matter,” Vlad told himself, handing a kit of food to the bald man whose name he still hadn’t asked for. When the rest of their people in town found out about the train slaughter, they would come, and Vlad planned to send the bald man to tell them as soon as it was light enough to travel by. After that, all Vlad had to do was hold the right advantage when they arrived, and Safe Haven would cease to exist.
7
“Get ready!”
Jennifer had already told them of their tail and Kyle had spotted the truck in the distance, but they had all hoped it was one of their people following them after the brief stop in camp. Jennifer had grabbed the baby and the males had grabbed fresh supplies.
Bang!
The gunshot pinging off the hood declared that it wasn’t one of their people and Jennifer shouted, “Ram them! She’ll flinch!”
Whitney didn’t want to play chicken on the winding, one-lane road at night, but he obediently hit the gas, hoping Jennifer was right.
The two vehicles sped towards each other, passengers shouting and screaming, and then they were nose to nose and Melinda jerked the wheel, taking her car over the edge.
“Look out!” Kyle yelled as they hit the tree.
Jennifer wrapped herself around the baby seat as glass shattered, and the station wagon absorbed most of the impact.
She wiped the debris away from the crying baby, checking for injuries.
“She okay?” Kyle asked, coming around to help them out.
“I think so,” Jennifer answered, taking the baby into her arms.
“What about you?” Kyle asked Whitney.
“I’m good,” Whitney grunted. “But tired of accidents, I’ve got to tell you.”
Kyle understood completely. “Come on. There’s a cabin at the top of this hill.”
The trio walked up the damp road without peering down at the wreckage. The smoke and noises coming up said no one could have survived the hundred-foot fall.
And then Kyle heard a footstep.
“Down!” Kyle shouted, spinning around to fire.
Jennifer hit the ground as another slug flew over her shoulder, barely missing the baby.
Kyle fired again and they watched a man fall over the cliff this time, instead of his vehicle.
Kyle ran to the edge to verify the threat was over and Jennifer calmed the screaming baby who, thankfully, hadn’t been hurt.
Whitney stared in shock at the scene, unable to believe how fast things could go wrong now.
“Must have jumped when the car went over,” Kyle said, joining Jennifer. “You guys okay?”
“Yes,” Jennifer said. “You saved her.”
Kyle gently turned her toward the cabin, not liking being out in the open. “Let’s get under cover.”
Whitney followed after he grabbed their kits from the smoking car. “Another one bites our dust.”
He kicked the wheel as he came around, thinking they would come down tomorrow and drain the fuel.
The trio cautiously eased into the lobby of the filthy Timber Hills cabin rental lodge. The office was covered in moldy papers that had been exposed to the rain for months and the entire place stank.
Kyle reluctantly erected his tent near the broken windows. It smelled too rotten to explore the inner rooms. “We’ll go further up in the morning and get something nice.”
Jennifer was getting used to having her life endangered. “Whatever you say.”
She was still busy making sure the baby wasn’t hurt and Kyle let her go, even when Autumn began to protest. Being a mother wasn’t easy.
As night fell, they ate around a small fire that Kyle had built in the lodge fireplace, all of them glad for the feature. The warmth it provided drove the cold back and helped dry out the room–which helped with the smell. By midnight, the odor was mostly gone and all of them settled down for sleep. Tomorrow, they would set up a perimeter and call into base to explain what had happened, but tonight, they needed to rest.
It had been a long couple of days, and all four of them were sound asleep a short time later, missing their newest problem as it arrived.
Whitney and the baby slept soundly in his sleeping bag on the lobby couch. Neither of them woke when the footsteps came, or hands slowly drugged the canteens. It was a shame that Melinda hadn’t survived the accident, but Kranten preferred to work alone anyway. His dream charm was almost as strong as Jack’s, and taking them this way would be much safer than trying to fight the gifted teenager now sleeping on her man’s chest. When any of them woke, they would eat or drink something, and then be defenseless against whatever he chose to do.
The Italian man had shot him, but Kranten always dressed in vests for moments like this and he marched to the sleeping baby with barely a limp.
8
“Should we go check that out?”
Samantha didn’t want to, but they’d witnessed the flash and heard the gunshots, and that meant it was close to Safe Haven.
“Call base and find out if any of ours are making noise in that grid,” Samantha instructed.
Cynthia handled the call and they all waited uneasily for Angela’s answer.
Conner and David were on the opposite side of the fire from Samantha and her girls, and he’d been careful to not even be caught glancing at them. David, on the other hand, made eye contact with Cynthia as much as he could. He liked a little shot of mocha in his women.
“Boss said that vicinity crawls with trouble for us, to be quick and careful,” the radio crackled with Kenn’s grouchy voice.
Samantha immediately got up and began preparing for war.
The others followed more slowly until the radio crackled again.
“She also says three of ours are in the line of fire.”
That got everyone moving and they rolled up the winding road in two trucks a few minutes later.
9
Jennifer struggled to waken, sensing there was a problem. The fog was thick over her mind and she shoved at it weakly. “Kyle!”
She hoped she was yelling, but couldn’t be certain as she managed to push a layer of the blurriness from her mind.
“That’s it. Drink up.”
The voice was chilling and Jennifer jerked herself upright and tried to focus on the tent wall. Who was that?
“Good, huh? It’s a special brew I made for weak humans. A quick death can be handy.”
Jennifer spotted Kyle on the mattress; eyes open but not alert and realized they’d been drugged. She tried to call out to Angela, but the fog in her mind prevented her from uncovering the door.
“Ah, she’s awake. I knew she’d be strong.”
The sound of a light struggle came and then a man appeared in the tent flap, holding a glassy-eyed baby.
“Hello, Jennifer.”
Jennifer screamed her rage at the sight of her child in a stranger’s grip, but the drugs overwhelmed her and she dropped to her knees, gasping for breath. This wasn’t like the drugs Donner had used. This was fire in her veins–poison. “Give me…my baby!”
“She’s perfect leverage,” Kranten smirked. “Your leader will give me anything I want in exchange.”
“What do you want?” Jennifer forced out, fighting with all her will to remain awake.
“Lives,” Kranten answered. “Hers, yours, and many more.”
“You won’t get them!” Samantha informed him, swinging as hard as she could.
Kranten had no time to duck the gun butt and he slumped forward over Kyle’s body, dropping the baby onto Kyle’s lap.
Samantha hurried forward and hit the stranger again, then once more. Blood ran from his nose and Samantha stepped aside to allow Conner inside the tent to heal the damage from the poison before it could kill Kyle or Jennifer.
“Stop!” Tracy shouted from outside the tent, unable to get Whitney to stop drinking from the poisoned canteen.
Samantha instinctively knew what would free him from the spell and fired a bullet into Kranten’s brain.
Whitney let go of the canteen, blinking, and then he dropped to the ground, puking and bleeding from the mouth.
Conner rushed to him, forcing his magic in between bouts of vomit, and the team watched in horror.
Jennifer and Kyle slowly recovered, but the baby being still and silent caused them great concern until they realized Conner had healed her first and then told her to go to sleep. They listened to Whitney’s battle for survival, but didn’t leave the baby.
Conner was able to get rid of the poisons enough for Whitney to become aware of what was going on. He stumbled to the door to force himself to keep vomiting and Conner went along to keep him safe and to heal him further.
Samantha waited until it seemed like Whitney would live, then gestured toward their vehicles. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Whitney let himself be loaded into their truck a few minutes later, feeling a little better, but in no condition to be alone. He would be taken to the medical bay, where he would be monitored for side effects.
Jennifer and Kyle also let themselves be herded into the truck. It obviously wasn’t a good time for them to be away.
As they entered Safe Haven and began providing updates, Marc realized Conner was now empty. There was no way he could help Angie.
10
Vlad felt Kranten’s death, as he had Melinda’s, and he ground his hand into the fire to keep from screaming his rage. They had underestimated these Safe Haven people and too many lives had been paid for that mistake.
As he glowered toward the scene of the crime, snow began to fall on Vlad. He didn’t pay attention at first, too full of vengeful desire to be alert. When he finally noticed, there was already a thin layer of white covering his camp and making the fire sizzle.
Jay and the bald man stayed out of the way as Vlad approached the noisy fire, expecting him to cover it or kick it out the rest of the way. They didn’t expect Vlad to laugh.
Vlad continued to express his amusement as the wind blew harder, bringing more snow. He’d forgotten the first rule of hunting. Use whatever was most abundant.
“Are things okay?” the bald man asked. He was about ready to flee to their town, or maybe even further. He didn’t think these Safe Haven people could be beaten.
“Fine, fine,” Vlad answered distractedly. “With the snow, will come new opportunities, my friends. We’ll reach out and grab them.”
Confused, the bald man put his head back down and tried to sleep through the cold. Maybe everyone had gone insane since the war. That would explain things.
“Get up!” Vlad ordered, kicking at the man. “You have to go to town–now.”
The man didn’t protest, leaving quickly instead. He would locate a place to hole up for the night where it was warm, and he would be away from Vlad.
He was quickly gone and the lone man by the fire cackled again. He wasn’t beaten yet, not by any means.
11
Angela slipped from Safe Haven’s safety via a weak set of fence links that she planned to have Marc reinforce. Until then, it made for a convenient escape route.
Angela slid down the embankment and then took a winding path through the trees that led her up the hillside. Conner and Kendle couldn’t help her, and she wouldn’t allow Adrian to even try. That left one solution and she’d made the choice to take it. She was already damned. There was no reason to resist now, not if it would save the baby.
She stopped in the shadows of Zone C, listening to the shouts, the hatred. This is so wrong. I can’t believe I’m doing this.
The witch remained silent, also surprised. The demon wasn’t positive that Angela would follow through, but if she did, everything would change again and forever this time.
Angela let her feet take her to the rear corner of the gated site, zeroing in on ugliness. She didn’t need to hear the conversation to know it was bad, but she listened anyway, hoping it would ease her guilt.
“They’ll open the gates in the morning and we’ll grab whoever it is.”
“They said supplies were coming in this load, so they’ll have too many guards.”
Angela came close enough to peer at the man and woman who were hunkered over a tiny fire to plan their attack.
“We have guns and ammo now, thanks to the daily runs. They won’t be expecting that.”
Angela tried to feel angry that they were plotting to kill her Eagles, but the wrongness of what she was about to do refused to fade.
“We still can’t get through their gates,” the man insisted, rubbing his scared arm. “How do we short-circuit their power?”
“If we can get the right hostage, we’ll be let in,” the woman answered.
Angela swallowed a snort. Why does everyone think I’ll negotiate? Have I been too soft?
“How about we act like we have an outbreak and lure the doctor in? You heard those sentries talking about the Cholera down in town.”
“Yeah, that might work. Who do we have that is sick enough?”
“Harvey’s boy, Joel. He had the influenza last month and still doesn’t sound healthy.”
“He isn’t,” the man agreed. “We’re still studying him for signs he’s carrying something.”
“So we can spare him,” the woman pointed out. “While they’re killing him, we’ll be grabbing their doctor.”
Angela had heard enough to ease her conscious, but she knew the guilt wasn’t going to leave her after this. If they’d had Rick trapped this way, he would have still received a fair trial.
“Why don’t you bargain with me?” Angela offered, coming from the shadows. “If you have their boss, the guards will open the gates.”
The conspirators flinched and then they recognized her. Not spotting any patrols, both of them came towards her at a fast run.
Angela waited for them to scale the fence, thinking she would have to add that to the security list.
The woman was the first one over and she dropped in front of Angela with a raised fist.
Angela sent a current of heat into the woman’s stomach that took her to the ground. She then faced the much larger, healthier male and began pulling.
Marc forced himself to remain in the shadows. He hadn’t been there for the other kills and he viewed the quick attack in uneasy disappointment. She drained both lives in seconds, not reacting to the woman’s pleas for mercy, and Marc could actually see it helping her. Skin glowing, fullness returning, even her hair was becoming the glossy black that he loved, and Marc rotated toward the hole in the fence she’d come through. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it, only that he didn’t want her to know he had witnessed it.
“Too late for that.”
Marc found her right behind him and waited for the revulsion or disgust that he expected to feel. When nothing came, he met her eye in confusion. “Why?”
“I hate him as much as you do. I’d never let him taint our child.”
Marc was a bit stunned and asked,” This won’t?”
“No,” Angela sighed unhappily. “She’s innocent. I’m the one who’s damned.”
Marc followed her, motioning to a guard who saw them come in, to have the hole in the fence fixed come dawn. He didn’t know how to handle this ruthless stranger–that was clear to him.
Angela waited for him to be close enough and then slowly reached out to take his hand. His flesh wasn’t yielding at first, but he caved quickly and let her place his hand over her stomach. There was now a small bump and Marc was immediately fascinated by the feel of it.
“Would you deny her life, to allow evil a place inside our gates?”
“Never!” Marc swore, letting himself be convinced. “Never.”
“They’re going to die,” Angela stated, glancing at the zone where the noise had yet to settle down. “This way, they’ve served a purpose.”
Marc found that hard to argue with, especially after overhearing their plotting. He didn’t disagree with Angie’s choice, only her methods.
“I have the same reservations,” Angela stated. “But I want this baby, Marc. There isn’t much I won’t do to keep her alive.”
The only life Marc valued more was hers or Charlie’s and he tugged her into his arms for a long hug. “Whatever you need, baby-cakes.”
Angela wiped her tears on his shirt, hoping he didn’t notice. He was so much better than she was. She didn’t deserve someone so good. She deserved to be with a terrible person…like Adrian.
Adrian studied the couple. Kendle was still sleeping blissfully in his tent, but Adrian had known Angela was close. It had drawn him from Kendle’s warmth in time to watch her take two life forces to heal herself. It was something he’d never thought to witness her do, and while it hurt him–he’d corrupted her–it also gave encouragement.
“She’s giving in to the dark side,” he joked to himself. “There’s hope.”
Adrian reluctantly returned to his tent, telling himself to be patient. She would try very hard to abide by the natural laws for a while now, to prove to herself that she hadn’t slipped that far. It would be a while yet before an opportunity to bond with her through these mistakes presented itself.
“I can wait,” Adrian crooned. “I’ll wait ‘til hell freezes over to have you and I won’t care if you’ve gone bad. Marc won’t take you that way, but I certainly will.”