The Trials (The Elite Series) (4 page)

Katie was free spirited, fun
, and loving on the outside, but she was as strong as anyone else if she had to be. Laren was over a hundred years old, sarcastic, but sweet, and she had opened up to Connor. They were polar opposites and yet he found himself attracted to both of them. But there was no time to make a decision. All he knew now was he was a Judge tasked with saving his race and maybe even the world.

T
hey reached Bolivia in the middle of the night. With quick good-byes to the flight crew, the three unlikely traveling companions soon found themselves bartering with a man who spoke broken English. Their topic of conversation was over the price of an old beat up Jeep with three full gas cans in the back.

“No,” Lu said
for what seemed the tenth time, “three hundred American, no more.”

The little toothless man frowned at Lu wi
th huge eyes and shook his head. “No, five hundred American, you pay.”

Lu was easily twice the size of the old man, but that didn’t seem to bot
her their little salesman. “You pay five hundred dolla, big boy.”

Realizing he wasn’t going to get anywhere with the shrewd Bolivian, Lu reluctantly dug into his wallet and handed over the money. “You’re a swindler, do you know that? You robbed me.
Do you know what robbery is? That’s what’s taking place here.”

The greedy little man counted the money with a toothless grin
, dismissing the trio with a wave. “Okay. Okay, big boy deal. Robbery.”

The
Jeep looked like it was on its last leg. Rust blended into the faded red paint until they couldn’t tell which was which, the engine sounded like it was drowning, and the tires were balder than the man they had bought the Jeep from. Still, Lu seemed happy as he threw his bag in the back and assumed the driver’s seat.

“Well let’s get going
, you two, this train isn’t going to wait forever.”

Randolph and Connor exchanged glances
, and for the first time-shared a common thought. The sun was just starting to rise over the city’s buildings and the morning noise of voices and cars was beginning.

“Well,” Randolph said to Connor
, addressing him for the first time. He gently placed his large suitcase in the back of the Jeep. “It beats walking.”

“Yeah, I guess you
’re right.”

Randolph took the backseat with the luggage while Connor hopped in the front seat
. Lu pressed on the gas, willing the Jeep to life.

Soon, buildings, paved roads
, and the noises of everyday life gave way to a much greener, more exotic scene. The sun was warm and the fresh scent of green life was everywhere. Alien noises Connor guessed were birds and other kinds of wildlife met them on either side of the small dirt road.

It wasn’t long before Connor
was reminded once again that he wasn’t in the company of the two most talkative people. Lu remained content to keep his eyes on the road, only averting his eyes now and again to look at his map. Randolph sat in the back, napping for the majority of the day, propped up against his large suitcase.

Breakfast
, lunch, and dinner were all the same: airplane meals. Lu had taken the liberty of cleaning out the jet’s pantry; water, soda, chips, sandwiches, and nuts.

The good thing
is that we have enough nuts and water to last for days. The bad thing is that we have enough nuts and water to last for days,
Connor thought as he crumpled yet another empty mixed nut wrapper in his hand.

They ate on the road and were only passed by a few vehicles throughout the day.
Every time they passed another car, unfriendly, suspicious frowns were directed their way.

Lu stopped once to refill the gas tank with one of the
three canisters of fuel in the back. It was near twilight and the sun was disappearing over the jungle’s rich green canopy. Both Connor and Randolph took this opportunity to relieve themselves, heading in opposite directions.

“Hey
, where are you two going?” Lu asked as he topped off the gas.

Randolph didn’t
even turn around as he answered. “To the lavatory, if that’s okay with you, Warden.”

Connor could hear Lu grumble something
about a painful death under his breath. Connor continued a few yards into the jungle and was content to stop when he lost sight of the other two.

It was behind a line of trees that he first caught sight of it. It was easy to spot because its white shiny exterior stood out amongst the browns and greens of the
jungle. When he was done, curiosity got the best of him and he headed toward the strange object. It was a bone of some kind, about five inches long and curved. It felt cold in his hands as he turned the object over and examined it from different directions. Under any other circumstance, Connor would have found the thing cool and even interesting, but here and now, all he felt was a sense of dread.

“Do you know what that is?”

Connor jumped as he turned to see Randolph standing a few feet behind him. Still wearing his suit minus the jacket, a line of sweat ran down the front of his shirt.

“It looks like a bone of some kind.”

“May I?” Randolph asked, extending a hand.

Connor nodded and handed the bone over to Randolph. Randolph turned the object in his hand
. “Don’t be afraid, but we are being watched right now. This bone is an Elite jaw. I’m going to hand it back to you and you must very carefully put it back.”

I
t took Connor a second to realize what Randolph said before he grasped the severity of the situation.

Trying not to seem obvious
, he scanned their surroundings as he took the bone back and placed it were he had found it. There was nothing. He couldn’t see more than a few yards into the thick jungle undergrowth.

“Let’s go
, Connor. Nice and easy, like nothing’s wrong, back to the Jeep.”

He had to fight not to run or ask questions
, but he followed Randolph quickly.

“There you two are,” Lu said as he jumped back into the driver’s seat
, winking at Connor. “I thought Randolph had killed you for a second.”

“Lupus
, we are being watched, “Randolph said in a quiet but controlled voice. “Please start the engine and let’s be on our way.”

The grin
disappearing from his tanned face, Lupus ignited the engine and headed down the dirt road.

“
What’s going on?” Connor asked, twisting in his seat to have a better look at Randolph.

Randolph ignored his qu
estion and instead addressed Lu. “Lupus, how far are we from the dragon’s domain?”

“Still an hour or two out. Close enough now to be in their
protected area.”

“Whose domain?” Connor raised his voice a little louder now, frustrated about being the only one out of the loop
, and then he remembered the Elite tribe Morrigan had mentioned, the tribe that was tasked with protecting the dragons.

“It seems Lupus has refrained from telling you that the dragons have remained safe and undiscovered all these years
not due to their own resourcefulness, but because they are protected by a tribe of Elite warriors.”

“Morrigan said something about them before I left.
” Connor looked at Lu for confirmation.

“Fancy pants is right
, Connor. I was going to tell you as we got closer, but I guess this is as good enough a time as any. Randolph, would you care to clue in our friend, since you’re the one dressed to give a lecture, anyway?”

Randolph ignored the last remark
, smoothing down his wrinkled dress pants and instead turned his bright blue eyes on Connor. “There is a tribe of Elites that have taken it upon themselves to guard the existence of the last remaining dragon species from mankind. Not much is known about them except that they come from the same lineage as our esteemed Council member Thema. For the most part, we have remained content to let them be. Those who have chosen to venture into the Amazon seeking to make contact with either the tribe or the dragons are never heard from again.”

Connor had to make a mental note not
to let his mouth drop open as the Jeep bounced down the dirt road, every second bringing them closer to obvious danger. 

“And you guys just decided to tell me now?”

Lu shrugged as he turned on the Jeep’s headlights. “Hey, man, at least I’m here with you now. I thought you had enough on your plate, you know, with being the savior Judge and all—oh, and your love triangle with Katie and my sister.”

Randolph frowned and shook his head
. “Sorry, Connor, I’m just along for the ride.”

Connor sat back
, processing all of the newfound information, not about the Elite tribe that guarded the last remaining dragons, but the ‘love triangle’ comment from Lu. He had thrown it out there so casually it made Connor wonder how many other people knew. It made him wonder how much longer it would last before he was forced to make a decision. The situation he was in with Katie and Laren wasn’t fair to any of them, and whether he decided to do something about it now or not, he had a sinking suspicion it would be resolved on its own and there was no doubt someone would end up getting hurt.

The sun had completely set now and L
u was forced to drive slower on the uneven road. The dirt path was twisting and weaving. The once wide road seemed to be narrowing every mile and soon the jungle was so close around them branches and leaves slapped the Jeep on either side as they passed.

Noises Connor couldn’t place emitted from the dark jungle in sporadic bursts and Connor
had to force his imagination to behave. Behemoths, demons, and trolls of his own creating would be looming out of the night if he allowed them. Soon the path became so narrow they had to stop.

“Well
, I guess this is it,” Lu said, killing the engine. He hopped out of the Jeep. “We’re on foot from here.”

Randolph and Connor followed, wit
h suitcase and backpack in hand. “So what’s our plan now?” Connor asked Lu.

“We head deeper into the
jungle until the dragons or the Elite tribe guarding them finds us.”

“Brilliant.”

Lu led the way into the darkness, flashlight in hand. Connor was in the middle and Randolph brought up the rear, still holding his large suitcase.

“What’s in that
, anyway?” Connor asked.

“It’s something we may need a
-”

“Shhhhhhhh…” Lu said
, halting and assuming a crouching stance. The other two followed suit, and as Lu switched off the flashlight, they sat in silence.

Connor strained to hear
what Lu had picked up. Focusing and remembering the lessons Morrigan and Laren had given him, he strained his ears past all the normal noises and forced himself to hear the unfamiliar. Insects, animal noises, and the rustling of wind was all Connor could hear no matter how hard he tried. Time passed slowly until Connor was ready to give up and ask Lu what had made him stop. Suddenly he heard it. It was a soft patter, like bare feet gently slapping against the hard-packed dirt of the jungle floor.

“Get ready!”
Lupus roared. Turning his head, Connor saw his eyes glimmer in the light of the half moon. Yellow orbs caught the light and Connor had to remind himself not to be terrified; this was his new normal.

He concentrated, trying to find that power inside, that power Connor was only beginning to understand as an Elite. He grabbed onto the rage, the will, the raw muscle that told him he could be something more than what he was. His vision turned red and fangs sprouted from his teeth as the first arrow whistled past his head, then another came through the night, then dozens.

L
u, Randolph, and Connor tried to find cover, but they were surrounded. Arrows flew through the night sky like rain. Connor felt the first one puncture the left side of his chest and another one stick in his right leg, forcing him to the ground. The pain was agonizing. Connor fought to control his fear. He reminded himself that these wounds were not life threatening, that as an Elite, he had nothing to fear from either arrows or bullets except for pain. His chest heaved as he searched the dark jungle for something upon which to release his anger. The beast inside him demanded an outlet. He searched his surroundings. There was nothing but arrows and pain.

Connor gripped the arrow shaft and pulled the
slender piece of wood from his leg. A roar ripped its way from deep inside his chest. His roar was soon answered by another and another as their attackers closed in.

Connor stood
, searching the forest scene for either friend or foe. He couldn’t see anything. Somehow he must have been separated from Lu and Randolph. He heard roars and shouts all around him but he didn’t have time to formulate a plan as figures emerged from the foliage.

They were large and intimidating
. Ebony-skinned, their bright orange eyes squinted with anger and blood rage. Without any signal, they converged on him. Connor sidestepped his first attacker, clubbing him over the head with a vicious right hand. The next attacker tried for a tackle but Connor lifted him up like he was a pillow and threw him into another fast approaching figure. There were too many of them, and with Connor’s limited training, he had no idea how to turn the tide of the fight. The animal inside him strained at its leash, arguing that Connor should stop trying to control his beast within and let it run free.

Connor consented to the urge and
reached for more of the power. His beast within answered gladly, adding rage to his punches and strength to his cause. But still his adversaries came. First one at a time, then in groups, there seemed to be no end to the Elites. Connor was grappling with two large men the size of Lu who were snarling as they dragged him to the ground. The last thing Connor remembered was the end of a spear aimed at his temple, then blinding pain, then nothing at all.

“I think the little one is awake.”

Connor blinked, forcing his blood-crusted eyes open. The pain in his head was excruciating. He lifted his throbbing skull and tried to move his arm to wipe the blood off his face. As cobwebs cleared from his thoughts, he realized he was chained to a wall. He slumped, his feet in the dirt. His head and torso were kept in the air only because his arms were secured behind him in a Y shape.

“Who are you
, boy?” The voice was female, strong with a native accent. Connor looked around the small, sparsely decorated room. On either side of him hung Lu and Randolph, both chained like he was and both still unconscious. Their bodies were bloodied and Lu looked like he had lost enough blood to kill any man twice over.

“She asked you a question!”

In front of Connor stood two tall women with bright violet eyes. One was older with a tall, slim, yet commanding physique and the other was young, toned, and clearly no stranger to a tough warrior’s life.

Connor didn’t know what to do. Answer and tell them why he was here?
Make up some story about being lost?

“Don’t give them anything
,” Lu said, raising his bloody head and looking at the two women through his long brown hair. “Don’t tell them a word.”

Closing the gap between them in a few long strides
, the younger of the two women struck Lu across the jaw, in the stomach, and the jaw again with hard, quick punches.

“Enough!”
the tall woman said, clearly aggravated.

Lu looked at her
, masking the pain he must be feeling. “You hit like a girl.”

The younger woman narrowed her eyes and glared at them
, but obeyed and took a step back. “I’ll take that as a compliment, coming from someone who has nicer hair than I do.”

The older woman addressed Connor, “I’m not sure who you think we are
, but you were trespassing on our land. If you do not cooperate, I cannot help you and things will go very badly for you and your friends.”

Connor heard the rattling of chain
s beside him. Lu’s eyes had transitioned from green to yellow as he clenched his sharp canine-like teeth and struggled against the chains.

“Ha!”
the younger woman laughed. “Save your strength, puppy. Those chains are enchanted to hold our kind, you cannot break them.”

“Wanna bet
, sweetheart?” Lu snapped his teeth. Muscles bulging, he pulled against his restraints and dug his feet in the ground, but despite his best efforts, the chains held. He was soon exhausted.

“What to do with you three?”
the older woman muttered to herself, tapping a sandaled foot against the floor. “Miyanda, bring your grandmother, please.”

“
There is no need, Mother. She is here.”

Right
on cue, the wooden door to the small room opened and a hunched figure supported by a cane entered.