I Can Hear You (14 page)

Amber

Waking up much too early the next morning, Mikal was already up and dressed.  “Good morning, Mate,” he said with a huge smile on his face.  I rarely saw him smile.  It made him look younger…happier.

Wondering about his age, I asked, “How old are you?”

He smiled even more if that was possible.  “I’m turning one-hundred this year.”  One hundred, oh God!  I’ll be dead before I turn one-hundred.  I started to hyperventilate and he came to me immediately.  “Calm down, Ambriel.”

“Calm down?!  I’ll be dead before I turn one-hundred.  Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!”  I kept repeating over and over.

“You won’t.  You are part Cusas, part witch.  You’ll live a long time.  How old are you now?”

“I just turned eighteen.”  I watched his face pale slightly.  “What?”

“By Cusas standards, you are still considered a child.  Your powers are now growing by leaps and bounds.  In our society, you are not considered an adult until the age of twenty-seven.  Shit!”

I felt the tears moisten my eyes when I heard the regret in his voice, felt it in his soul.  He came to me, “I’m sorry Ambriel.  I wouldn’t change a thing.  You are my mate and we were meant to be together.”  When I felt the truth in his words, I relaxed a little.

“By human standards, eighteen is considered an adult.” 

“Well, you are human.  Maybe…I don’t know…one fourth?”  We both laughed and I felt better.  He stopped and looked at me in surprise.

“What?”  I asked.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you laugh.  I like it.”  I smiled and he grinned.  “Okay, if we don’t get started, we’ll be late and you need training.”  That caused my smile to fade.

“Agh, I don’t want to go.”  I covered my face with a pillow.  He laughed as he grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

Sitting by myself in front of Damien, he asked, “Okay Ambriel, what do you have the most trouble with right now?”

That was an easy question to answer.  “I need to figure out to keep the voices out.”

“What do you mean?”  He asked with his head cocked, studying me.

“When I’m around a large group of people, I can’t keep their thoughts out of my head.  It gives me a headache.  Can you teach me how to block them?”

“Can you hear me?” Damien asked.

“Oh course.  I also heard Chadas yesterday.  That’s how I knew he thought Mikal should just kill me.”

“What?!  No wonder he isn’t allowed near you.”

“Yeah.”

“Tell me what I’m thinking.”  He said with doubt in his voice. 
No way this human can read my mind.

“No way this human can read my mind.”  His eyes went wide.  “Can you teach me to block everyone?”

“I can try.  Chadas is more equipped to handle something like this.  Okay, let me think,” he said.

“I don’t know if it helps, but Des said to picture a big thick wall that keeps everyone out.  The only way to listen was to open a door for a specific person.”

“I’m not even going to ask how you know Desambriel.”

“He’s my father.”  I chimed in.  I felt better today and chattier than I had been in a long time.

His eyes were wide as he stared at me.  “Okay, let’s try picturing a wall.”  He grinned.

We practiced for hours, until I was unable to hear his thoughts without opening a door.  For the first time in a long time, I felt real hope.  I also felt as if I had gained a true friend.

“Okay,” he said with a grin on his face, “What’s next?”

“I don’t know.  I can sometimes see the future but I don’t know how you can help me with that.  It happens when it happens.”  I shrugged.

“You’re just full of surprises aren’t you,” he laughed.

We worked on calling and controlling my premonitions for the rest of the week as well as blocking the voices.  I spent my days with Damien and my nights in Mikal’s arms and bed.  For the first time in my life, I felt as if I belonged.  That all came to a screeching halt when I realized I had to learn to fight.  Damien taught me some basic moves and then paired me with Nanya.  Her looks and grace intimated me.  She held and wielded her sword as if it were a part of her arm.

Standing outside on the training fields, other warriors paired off.  I saw their glances and snickers each time I tried to block Nanya.  She was graceful and skilled where as I was clumsy and uncoordinated.

“Okay Ambriel, try again.”  She came at me and I barely counteracted her movements.  I wasn’t convinced she wouldn’t hurt me if she got the chance. 

I knew that Nanya didn’t care for me so I let the door in my mind open a little. 
I can’t believe I have to train a human.  What was Mikal thinking?  When I become his mate, the first thing I’ll do is kill her.

Turning to Damien, I said, “That’s it, I’m done.”

“But you haven’t mastered the sword yet.”  He retorted.

My eyes quickly darted to Nanya and back to him again, hoping he understood.  I smiled as I said, “I’m done.”

He must have gotten the message as he said, “Okay.  I’ll work with you some more later on.”

“What about me?  Mikal wants me to teach her.”  Nanya said with a stern voice.

“It’s fine Nanya.  I’ll teach her.  Don’t worry about it.”  Damien said before she stomped off.

“Thank you.”  I said with sincerity.  Damien looked at me and smiled a little.

“You don’t like her.”  He stated.

I laughed and said, “She was thinking that when she became Mikal’s mate, she would kill me.”

“Why are you laughing?”

I looked at him incredulously and said, “Because I’m his mate.”

His eyes widened as he said, “But you’re human!”

I liked Damien and felt as if I could speak freely around him.  “Not really.  My mother was part witch and my father is Cusas.  I guess I’m a little human.”

He laughed as he said, “Well that explains a few things.  I’ve never known any humans that wield as much power as you do.  A witch maybe, but not a human.”

“My father says that every two thousand years or so there will be a powerful Cusas born and that’s me.”

Mikal

It had been a few weeks and it was now time to take Ambriel to the human realm with me.  To say I was a little nervous was an understatement.  I worried that taking her back would make her want to stay.  I also knew the Santiarns would be out in force.

“I’m ready,” she said as she walked out of the bathroom.  She was stunning in her black leather pants and white formed shirt.  Her hair hung down and was wild looking.  I don’t know how I resisted her for as long as I did.

“You’re beautiful.  You know that?”

She smiled.  “I like hearing you say it.”

She walked over and took my hand before gently kissing my lips.  I smiled as I took out my transport crystal.  “Are you ready?”  I asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” 

I let the warmth encase us both as the portal opened.  Hand in hand, we stepped through.

“We are in Chicago!”  She exclaimed.

I couldn’t help but laugh.  “Yes, we are.  The Santiarns are out in force here.”

“You do realize that humans can see me, right?”

“I know.  It’ll be okay.”  As we walked to the end of the alley, I said, “Close your eyes.”  As she did so I said, “I want you to feel for the enemy.  That’s how we track them.”

A short time later, she opened her eyes and let out a frustrated sigh.  “It’s not working.  I could always tell when they were near me but at a distance, I can’t feel anything.”

“It takes time, but you’ll get the hang of it.”  I closed my eyes and when they opened again they were glowing. “This way.” 

We headed down a crowded street and I spotted the one that had eluded me these past few months.  “I see him,” she said.

He weaved through the crowd until he just disappeared.  “Where did he go?”  I asked in a frustrated tone.

Ambriel looked at each person until I heard her whisper, “He’s right there.”

Following her gaze, I saw a human with his back propped up against the side of the building.  He looked normal as he people-watched.  “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m positive.”

We headed his way.  It didn’t take long until he took off running.  Trapped in a dead end alley, he stood with his hands raised in surrender.  “Please don’t hurt me.  You can have all my money…please.”

Without taking my eyes from him, I asked, “Are you sure Ambriel?”

“Yes!  How could he see you otherwise?”  She hissed out.

With my sword drawn, I slowly advanced on him.  The tip of my blade was coated in
Zeaium
and one small cut would force the Santiarn to release the human.

With the tiny trickle of blood, the human fell to the ground while the enemy stood strong.  The fight was over before it began since the he didn’t have a sword.  That was one of the drawbacks of using a human as a host.

I couldn’t believe how much easier this was with her by my side.  Where they were able to elude us before, Ambriel could not only spot them, but she could understand what they were saying.

“Have you always been able to see us?  See the Santiarns?”

“Yes, since the first time I watched you fight in the mall parking lot.”

“I remember and was puzzled at how you seem to look straight at me.”

After a successful day of hunting the enemy, Ambriel and I headed back to our rooms where I held her in my arms. 

Lying in bed with her, my lips found hers as our tongues rejoiced with the reunion once again.  They twirled together in a slow mating dance while my hands caressed every inch of her body then my mouth followed their path.  Finding her ready for me, she spread her legs to welcome me in.  Slowly rocking my hips, I caressed her cheek and I kissed her passionately.  It didn’t take long until I felt total bliss and she called out my name before we fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms

The next morning, I was up early to meet with my warriors.  I kissed Ambriel’s forehead before leaving even though she was asleep.  She deserved to sleep in.

Amber

I vaguely remember Mikal leaving and smiled to myself.  For the first time in forever, I felt like I had a home.  I nestled back into the soft covers as sleep overtook me. I was startled awake again by the sound of the door opening.

“What did you forget?”  I called out.  When nobody answered, I opened one eye and saw Nanya standing there.

“So it’s true?  He mated a human?”  She seethed.

I leaped out of bed, but before I had time to do anything, she grabbed my arm and opened the portal, pulling me through.

I didn’t recognize where we were but I did recognize the enemy that was everywhere.  “Good luck, human.”  Nanya said with a vicious smile.

I grabbed onto her as she tried to leave but she shoved me down.  Determined not to be left behind, I grabbed her leg.  She tried to kick me off but I held on as if my life depended on it…because it did.  As she kicked, I tried to grab her other leg as well and it caused her to fall.

I rolled on top of her trying to…I don’t know what I was trying to do.  I didn’t want her to leave me.  She was too strong and easily threw me off which caused me to hit my head.  Feeling a little stunned, I wasn’t quick enough when she opened the portal and left.

I spotted a knife she had dropped in the scuffle and quickly picked it up.  Wearing only my nightgown, I didn’t know where to hide it.  Trying to think quickly, I crossed my arms and hid the knife underneath them.  Hopefully I just looked cold.

Taking a good look at my surroundings, I was in an abandoned warehouse surrounded by four Santiarns.  They were just staring at me with their eerie red eyes.

“This is the one we seek.”  I heard one of them say.

“Yes.  Go tell Ornias that we have the girl.”  One of them turned and left.  That left three here with me.

I didn’t understand how Nanya could do this.  I knew she didn’t like me, but this was a death sentence in the worst way.  What if they tortured me first or forced me to help them with whatever plan they had in mind?  She wasn’t thinking about her people, this was cruel and vicious.  I closed my eyes and tried to feel Mikal, but I could only feel my overwhelming panic and fear.

A creature larger than the others came in and looked at me with victorious red eyes.  “Finally, we have her.”  He grinned which made him look even more menacing.  “We need your blood.”  He drew a large knife as he slowly advanced toward me with a vicious grin showing off his sharp teeth.  I watched it from a distance as he descended on me and pushed the knife deep inside my chest.  I tried to ignore the scene in front of me.  Des told me that I could gather information so I walked around looking for an escape route. 

Walking over to the window, I could see I was on the second floor with a trash dumpster underneath the window.  How cliché.

Shaking myself from the premonition, I thought about my training and tried to summon another one.  Damien taught me how to think about what I would do and then I could see the outcome.  Closing my eyes, I knew I didn’t have much time.

The demon creature advanced slowly toward me.  As he neared I drew my knife and stabbed him as hard as I could.  Without taking anytime to notice how hurt he was, I ran for the window and jumped.  The fall hurt but I survived.  As fast as I could, I climbed out of the dumpster and ran for my life.

I opened my eyes just to see the large Santiarn walk in.  I had seen this look twice before.  He advanced slowly toward me with a vicious grin.  As soon as he neared, I stabbed him as hard as I could in the chest and ran for the window.  With my heart pounding with fear, I never slowed down as I hurled my body through the broken window landing with a thud in the half-filled dumpster.

Jumping to my feet, I grabbed the top and pulled my body over the edge.  With a less than graceful landing, I took off in a dead run away from the building.

I didn’t recognize anything.  What I assumed was an industrial park was actually a couple of buildings on the outskirts of town.  With my thin nightgown barely covering my body, I sprinted down the road hoping to run in to other people. 

After a short time, I had to stop and catch my breath.  I looked over my shoulder for the first time and spotted two of them gaining on me.  My adrenalin surged once again and I took off running.  When I spotted a car coming, I moved to the middle of the street and waved my hands like a lunatic.  When the car slowed down, I didn’t care who was driving, I jumped in and we took off.

With my heavy breathing, I almost missed the question from the older woman driving the car.  “Are you okay?”  She asked as concern laced her voice.

“I am now!”  I heaved out.  My body wasn’t in shape for this type of activity.  “Thank you for picking me up.” 
The poor child!  I wonder if I should call the police.
  I instinctively put up my wall for now.

“Is there anywhere I can take you?”  She asked as she drove at a normal pace.

“I need clothes, and I need to know where we are.”  My breathing had almost slowed to a normal level as I tried to catch my breath.

She looked at me with worried eyes before making a sharp left.  “I was heading home after a working a midnight shift at the hospital.  I have some clothes that would probably fit you.  As for where we are, we’re right outside Phoenix.”

So I was a long way away from anywhere I knew.  When I saw Nanya again, I was going to kill the bitch!