Shattered Skies - Night Waves (4 page)

       Walker hadn’t lost his ability to explain things in a matter of fact way. He didn't care that he had once again
kept things from all of us. He didn't care that he was telling us once again that everything he raised us to believe wasn’t true. How many more surprises could he possibly have in store for us? A more pointed question was, how many more of his surprises would we have to deal with before we started questioning whether or not Walker was someone that could be trusted?

       “So she is one of them? That is another good reason she shouldn’t be here Walker, but you still haven’t explained why Cat acted that way when that freak touched her.” Apparently Darien wasn’t impressed with the fact that he was sitting across the table from Dominus royalty. But before Walker could answer Darien’s question, the freak across the table spoke up.

       “May I please answer? I think the explanation for Cat’s reaction to my touch would be a little less harsh if it comes from me.” When Walker nodded approval she began. “It is quite simple, really. It is because Cat and I are soul mates.” Her voice grew soft and intimate as she tenderly spoke her reason. She was so embarrassed by her words that she blushed.

             
I had heard enough, I had to get out of the room and away from everyone in it or I was going to go mad.  It was bad enough that Walker was treating this Kira like she was one of us, giving her the right to talk after telling us that he was in charge. But worse than that, he should have been defending me instead of letting this stranger say the things she was saying.

       How did he not understand how much she was humiliating me? Even more, how did he not get how bad she was hurting me? The fact that Walker was sitting there looking at Kira so sympathetically just added fuel to my fire.  I had to say something.

       “Look I am flattered and all but I am not gay, I have no gay tendencies or urges, and I am sure I have outgrown those teen years of experimentation that men get wet dreams about. I don't know what sick twisted game you are playing here Kira, but if you are trying to get a date, just ask. I will tell you No, but asking straight out would be a lot less trouble.” OK, maybe I was being harsh, but who did this woman think she was?

             
“I had no interest in girls either Cat…. until Akia kissed you. You see, I have known about you my entire life, and I have never felt anything towards you but a morbid curiosity, but then he kissed you and I dreamt it was me in that hotel room. I have never had even the slightest interest in females until that night. Now you are all I think about.” Kira's voice was laced with shame and for just a second, I felt sorry for her.

I didn't want to feel sorry for her. I wanted to be angry. I hated her and I hated Walker too for even thinking that introducing the two of us was a good idea. “Walker, I don't know exactly what it is that you were hoping to accomplish by throwing me into a room with this weirdo, but you’re failing. One of us has to go and at this point I am willing to be the one that leaves.” Good classic Cat move, completely ignore the problem that is pissing you off. Wickedly though, Kira either didn't know me well enough to shut up and drop it, or she didn't care what I was going to do and just wanted her voice to be heard again. Whatever the reason that drove her to it, she continued on with her story like I had never opened my mouth to object in the first place.

       “Cat, believe me, I can only imagine the thoughts that are roaming through your mind right now, but please remember that as uncomfortable as you are right now, multiply that by a thousand times and you will know how I feel telling you this.” She was looking into my eyes, begging me to understand with hers, trying to manipulate me into falling for her. “The thoughts and urges that I have had are so foreign to me that I can almost ignore them, the dreams however, are real enough to make me blush and I am anything but a naive women. I can feel you Cat, I can taste you, smell you and it gets to the point that I wake up aching for you. Can you almost imagine how much tension that makes?” She was no longer looking at me; instead she sighed and looked down at the table.

             
Wow! A Dominus just avoided eye contact with me? That was a shift in the planets. A distant part of me pulled me towards her. If it wasn’t for Darien’s hand on mine, I think I would have gone to her. I think I would have touched her face and looked in her eyes, so I could tell her everything was going to be OK.  For just a second, I thought about doing anything I could just to make her look at me again, so that I could let her know that I wasn't put off by her or the thoughts she was having towards me, but I shook that idea from my head quickly. I didn't know what to say to her. I didn't know anything about her. I wanted to be shocked. I should have been shocked, but the shade of pink that rose so invitingly to her cheeks when she admitted her feelings toward me stirred things lower in my body. Places and feelings that I thought had died when I allowed Akia to believe that my life ended that day in his cellar warmed again.

       Before I could push these feelings out of my head and before I could stop myself, I felt the color rush to my cheeks and I was sure I was as rose red as she was. This wasn't good. If I couldn't control my face people were going to be able to guess what I was feeling. I wanted Darien to know that I wasn't buying any of the lies this woman was telling, but if he looked at me right now, I was sure he would think the exactly the opposite. I was trying way too hard to get control of my face. The room was tense enough without me trying to wash neutral onto a face that surely was showing fifty different emotions.

“Cat I need you to listen to me more closely than you ever have before, I need you to trust me and I need you to stop plotting for two damn seconds.” Walker’s voice boomed through my embarrassment.  Good, if I looked like I was plotting as opposed to nearly panting, then maybe, just maybe, I could save this mess.

             
“I need you to believe me when I tell you that I understand what you are thinking, but Kira is not the enemy, she is on our side and I trust her with my life and yours. If I didn’t, she wouldn't be here. You are going to get on your best behavior and calm down, do you understand me Cat?” Good, the fact that Walker told me that I needed to calm down meant that everyone in the room would think the color in my face was because I was pissed. I could live with that. I said nothing and Walker took that as his cue to start talking again. “Cat, Kira, I am working on a way to stop the awkwardness that’s occurring between you. I have never heard of twins reacting this way to the same person, let alone a female twin that until this point was completely straight. This is just as awkward for me as it is for you two. If you ladies will allow me, I would like to run a few tests, to see if we can figure out what is going on. If it is something physical, maybe I can alter your DNA to see if we can fix this problem. Maybe there is an element like the one that is in your ring Cat that I could fuse to take care of this attraction.” I hated his voice, I called it his mad scientist voice and I truly believe that when he uses that voice he forgets he is dealing with real people and not lifeless test tubes. I was having none of his attitude either way.

             
“I will not allow you to poke and prod me again Walker. Like I told you after the last time, I am done playing science experiment with you.”  There, that was matter of fact; he would have to respect my position. After all, he was the one that had said that his last experiment would be the last one he ever did that had anything to do with me.

“I think you should let him do it,” Darien said. I jumped and my mouth hit the floor. I had nearly forgotten that Dar
ien was sitting so close to me.

       “Darien, seriously, even after the last time and all that happened, you are going to side with Walker? You are going to rehash things that are better left buried?” I didn't want to be angry with him, not really, but he was making it so damn easy. He was making me remember things that I had entombed deeply, so deep that I thought I would never have to worry about digging them up again.

“Cat, I won’t let you get hurt anymore,” Darien continued. You are the only thing that I have and I don't want to imagine being here without you. The closer you are to the monsters, the more that I have to face the fact that I could lose you. I am being selfish I know, but I want you here with me forever.” I didn't know how to respond to him. I was so ready to be angry with him but his words and openness set me back.

  I hated to admit it, just for the simple fact that the Cat of two years ago would have laughed at me and called me pathetic, but Darien was right. I didn't want to leave him and I didn't want to die. The truth of the matter was, though I didn’t want to leave Darien, I also didn't want Akia forever taken from me either. The memories of Akia that Kira brought with her also brought a chance to feel the rush of Akia’s touch and that was a feeling that I wanted again. I wondered if people would understand my need. As much as it hurt to remember Akia every time Kira looked my way, I wondered how empty my life would feel and whether or not it would hurt even more if she never reminded me of him again? I realized that I wasn't ready to give up the excitement and rush that Kira’s touch guaranteed and then I heard her speak.

  “I am going to have to agree with Cat on this one Walker, what if my being here just makes things worse? I don't want to spend the rest of my life wanting someone that I can't have. You have never felt anything like this Walker. The thought of not being with her physically hurts, though it’s still bearable at this point. What happens if you make it worse? I can't live with worse.” Kira sounded firmer than I had. I felt a jump in the pit of my stomach the second she had started speaking. Something about the way she said hurt made me think of going without Akia and I felt instantly sorry for making her feel as much pain as I did.

“Even worse than that Walker, what if whatever voodoo you have planned brings Akia and his people to our hideout? Haven't you lost enough of your own because of your stupid prophecy?”
Makeen’s accusation boomed through the room startling everyone and I felt that I might choke on the pure power of his voice. Makeen had to be an ancient Vampire and the older the beast the more power they had. I made a mental note that I wanted him gone. A Vampire of his age and power could take down entire cities on a whim.

             
“What does he mean Walker?” Jaden demanded. I hated the fact that Jaden sounded pissed again. I didn’t know why hearing anger in Jaden's voice made everything seem far worse, but it did.

  
   “Makeen, we discussed how the issue you speak of was classified on a need to know basis and right now they have no reason to know,” Walker spat back in the direction of Makeen. The hair on the back of my neck bristled sharply; rising levels of struggle and strength were vibrating through the air. I saw two full-fledged Vampires barely being able to control their anger and it was frightening me. Walker was old, but he wasn't old enough to have a power battle with Makeen. Whatever it was that Walker was trying to cover up must have been really important to him.

“What does he mean Walker; I thought we agreed no secrets?” Jaden's voice was rising too, letting everyone know that he may just be a human but he was done being ignored. I never thought that out of the three of us that were left that Jaden was even close to being in charge, but the fact that he stood up to the man that we should all be able to trust, made me look at him in a whole new light. Jaden was calm, cool and collected until you messed with something that he loved. I gained
untold respect for Jaden in that brief moment.

“I am not hiding any
thing from any of you. When the time is right I am sure the issue will be discussed and not until then.” There it was, the fatherly tone, the one that said the issue was done and dropped because we were just stupid kids that could never understand. His routine was getting old and I was almost done thinking of him as my father.

       From the way that Jaden had been confronting Walker, I knew that I wasn't the only one that was ready to close out that chapter of our lives and move on. That being said, I knew our new view of Walker had nothing to do with the fact that he no longer looked like the old man that raised us. Instead, our new view had to do with respect and this man had done nothing to earn our respect lately. From here on out he would be a companion and a team mate and nothing more.

Chapter Seven

       “I’ll tell you what,” I said. “I am guessing since the velvet teddy bear over there mentioned the Prophecy, I’m thinking his statement was directed at me and I think that I have every right to know what it is that he was talking about.” I was pissed. I could throw my voice around just like the rest of them. I wasn't the least bit impressed with the frenzied power struggle that the two Vampires were engaged in. Jaden had stood up to them and I was not going to leave him standing there alone; that was for sure.

“I will not be spoken down to by a human!”
Makeen growled viciously in my direction.

“Calm down there big boy, take it as a compliment cause that is how I meant it” That was more of a sign of respect than I cared to give him but I guess I was feeling generous. “Talk,
Walker! Or I am out of here.” I glared at Walker knowing that the ball was truly in his court. I couldn't make him talk; I knew that all too well, but hopefully if looks could kill, I could scare the story out of him.

       I don't know what possesses me sometimes. The
man sitting across from me could tear out my throat with one savage bite, and yet out of everyone in the room Makeen was the one that I chose to piss off. Old fashion shrinks would have had a field day with me. Makeen was glaring back, clenching and unclenching his fists. Walker, on the other hand, was just staring off into space with no intention of telling us what he and Makeen had been talking about... Sometimes I wanted to just shake him.

“Fine. Neither of you want to talk, I am out of here.” I got up to leave and then Walker's voice stopped me at the door.

“Look at your watch Cat. It’s after dark. You aren't going anywhere.” The smugness in his voice struck a chord in my body that put me in spiteful mode. In that mode, I’m always tempted to do one more worse thing, even if it means the world might stop. I didn’t care. Get me spiteful and I
would
stop the world, just for the satisfaction of watching the people fly off. That mode was kind of scary, even to me.

       I turned and looked right at Walker. I wasn't staying; there was no way I was going to let him win this one. I really thought that he knew me better than that. Frankly, I was disappointed in Walker. He wasn’t getting the message.

       “You know all too well that I will leave Walker, and I am not playing who has a bigger dick with you, so forget it.” I made a flourish of reaching for the door, milling my arms in the air. I needed him to see that I, unlike he, would prove to be good on my word but before I could reach the door, Kira took the bait.

      
“You can't let her go out there. What is wrong with you? They will tear her apart and you know that.” Kira was taking up for me and I hated her for it. I didn't want her to want anything to do with me. I wanted her to be too ashamed and disgusted to look at me, let alone care about me. I wanted her to feel what I was feeling and it pissed me off that she didn't.

       “Walker, you can't let her walk out of here. They will shred her as soon as they get close enough to smell her.” Kira was pleading with Walker
now, begging him to tell me what I needed to know. Part of me wanted to thank her for being the only one to speak up against Walker, but a bigger part of me wanted nothing more than to end her life and all the grief and turmoil that she brought with her. I knew that a decision was coming that I would one day have to make but today wasn't that day.

“Yeah really and after the “velvet teddy bear” remark I think that I should have first dibs at that pretty little neck,” said
Makeen dreamily. Great, the dude was going to hold grudges, once a vamp always a vamp, I suppose.

 
“You get anywhere close to her and I swear to god I will kill you with my own hands.” Darien sounded so sure that he could do it, I almost believed him. Makeen laughed a big booming sarcastic laugh, letting everyone in the room know that to him Darien was nothing more than a lowly bug, easily squashed under the heel of his boot.

    “And if he can't do it alone I will help him.” Jaden was standing now too, facing off with the powerful Vampire across the table. They truly were my family. If I had ever doubted it before, they just gave me reason to never doubt it again.

“She isn't going to go anywhere, she knows better.” Walker sounded so certain that I could have drop kicked him right on the spot.
Instead I put my hand on the door and started to twist the knob. I would die before I gave him the satisfaction of winning this one. Power was going to change hands or I would be gone. Live or die, I didn’t care either way. This way of life was about to end.

“Cat, it wasn't your fault that your brothers and sisters were found that night,” Said Kira softly. I turned around and looked in her eyes, ignoring the feeling of arousal that pulsed through me.

  Just hearing her mention the family that I still mourned made me sick to my stomach “What is she talking about Walker?” I wasn't ready to talk directly to her yet. I was really hoping that I would never have to talk to her.

“She is talking about nothing at all, and I suggest that you Kira, learn your place on this team and stop putting your nose where it doesn't belong.” Walker was truly upset and angry. It had been a long time since I had seen him that way.

Electricity was filling the air. There were way too many monsters in the room. Seating this many raged filled creatures in such a small space had been a mistake. I looked from Jaden to Darien hoping that one of them would have a plan or at least make eye contact so I would know that things were OK. Instead, I realized that everyone was in survival mode; no one would take their eyes off whomever it was they perceived as the biggest threat in the room. Damn this was bad.

“Putting my nose where it doesn't belong? Are you kidding me? I agreed to come here to help her, not anyone else. I owe you nothing Walker, and I surely am not going to sit here and let you degrade me in front of everyone.” Girl had nerve; I guess I had to give her credit for that at least.

What was happening that I needed my own Dominus protection brigade though? I should have been worried, but I was too angry to worry. Anger always wins. It is the strongest emotion a person can feel.

“The doctor here was trying to reach out and find me using your anger that night.” Kira didn't give him time to interrupt her. “He was using the signals and pheromones that you, being upset, were throwing around. He was trying to check in to see how I was reacting to them. But the Dominus smelled your emotions in the air. They would have never smelled your anger, but since he was playing with the charge
s you were giving off, your pheromones were greatly enhanced and they could smell them.” She was so upset that she was shaking.

  My mouth hit the floor. Darien was as white and shocked as I was, so was Jaden. I knew that they had nothing to do with that night. Walker had acted alone; it was his decision
s and his actions, only his, that had taken our family from us.

  “Is what this Freak is saying true?” Darien's voice was cold. There was only one emotion in it and that was hate. He had decided that Kira was the enemy and he hated her, and there was nothing she could do at this point to change
his view, though whether or not she cared, I wasn’t sure.

“Yes it is true,” said Walker. Scientific and plain as always, meaning that
he didn't think that we were worth more of an explanation than he had already offered.

       “What is wrong with you? I lost my twin because of you and this entire time you let Cat live with the weight of all of their deaths on her shoulders? You can't play with people like that Walker, we are not lab rats.
We might just be rodents to you, but we are not yours to play with.” Jaden sounded more hurt than angry.

  I however, was having the exact opposite reaction to the man that had screwed me over more than anyone else ever had. I don't think I ever felt like an orphan before that moment, but now I knew my father was officially dead. If I ever trusted Walker as a teammate again we would see, but it wasn't looking at all promising.

“I can't deal with this right now. It would be best if you don't follow me Walker. I know that I can't kill you but I can make the rest of your eternity a living hell.”