Unnaturals (15 page)

`An insurance policy, I believe.' The gates opened but none of the men moved. The armoured vehicles remained stationed at the gate after it closed behind the string of vehicles.

She turned, touching his arm again. `I need you to be yourself today and not let the past cloud your mind. Can you do that for me? For Renee?' She waited, looking up at him, watching him process the request into a frown. `Can you be that scruffy surfer boy who appeared in my house years ago?'

He shrugged but she saw humour reach his eyes. The memory had worked. `I didn't just appear. Renee invited me over.'

`Yes, good. Let's move.' Eleanor didn't wait, shifting down the stairs. She opened the huge front doors as Miekia's SUV stopped at the steps. Cold fingers of fear touched at her when Tashia climbed out of the SUV.

`We have them.' Tashia looked odd, unsettled. `His men did not follow, but—'

`They will wait.' Eleanor opened the passenger door. Her hands shook as she reached in for Nikki. `My child.' She unclipped Nikki, lifting her out of the SUV. Eleanor studied her closely and then looked to her youngest daughter.

`They are all like this,' Tashia said waving the other cars in the driveway to go around the back. `Renee is a challenge. She can be unruly, even when unconscious, if she is separated from him. And she is more than she was.'

`Let me help.'

Eleanor stepped back, surprised. `Ivy?' It had been decades since they had spoken. And to see her now so... soiled.

`Hello Eleanor,' Ivy said, rubbing at her eyes. `Yes, I'm tired. Yes, I'm dirty and yes, we once again have a treaty between our houses, thanks to Nikki.'

Ivy nodded at two young girls who joined her. `And this is Rose and Lilly. We're here to help.'

`Take the boy,' Tashia ordered the girls as she opened the rear of the SUV. Eleanor blinked as Rose and Lilly's faces lit up. Then they manhandled a tall, good-looking young man out of the SUV. Wilson, she supposed. The girls were bloodied and dirty but oddly excited.

`Don't ask,' Ivy muttered as she took Ruth from Tashia's arms. `The island was an initiation unlike one I've seen before.'

`Hmm, yes,' Tashia said, and opened the other side door. `Much has happened but we must get everyone inside before we speak of it. Miekia, you will have to take Renee, and I will handle Mason.'

`I'll take Renee.'

Eleanor fixed her eyes on Ralph while Tashia rounded on him.

`What are you doing here?' she hissed.

Ralph's jaw clenched and Eleanor wondered if he would stay the surfer boy.

`I was invited,' he said. `To help.'

`We don't need your help.' Tashia stood across the SUV door, arms crossed.

Eleanor said nothing, thinking that old wounds needed to heal without her help.

`Stop it,' Miekia pulled at Tashia's arm. `Ralph's okay, you know that. Besides, he might be able to lift Mason.'

`Who's Mason?' Ralph peered around Tashia into the SUV. `Renee!' He stepped closer and Tashia made a warning sound.

Miekia pulled her aside. `Let him help, Tash! Let the past be past. We need to get them inside.'

`Jesus, Renee,' Ralph reached in to touch her. `Oh, shit!' He backpedalled, gagging, and Eleanor felt everyone tense.

`We'll go inside.' Ivy bumped her and glanced at the Flowers girls standing wide-eyed as they held Wilson.

`Upstairs to the healing rooms.'

`I remember.' Ivy moved off with the girls following.

`What's wrong?' Miekia let Tashia go and looked into the SUV.

`You can't smell that?' Ralph screwed his nose up and shook his head.

`Obviously not.' Tashia uncrossed her arms.

`Take my word, it's not good.' He stepped closer, taking shallow breaths. `What the hell happened on the island? He reeks of… And Renee is, is different.'

`Whatever, boy,' Tashia said gathering Renee into her arms. `We have to move them now. Can you take Mason Douglas?'

`I'd rather take Renee,' he said, reaching for her.

Tashia stepped back. `I don't think that would be wise, boy.'

`What is your problem? I would never hurt her!'

Miekia touched him. `We're not sure what has happened and Renee is, like you said, different. Touching her might not be a good idea. She's been exposed to a lot of our energy. You understand?'

`Maybe.' He glanced at Eleanor who nodded encouragement, holding Nikki tight against her.
Work with her, Ralph
.

`So what's the deal with the old guy?' Ralph reached in to manhandle Mason out of the SUV. `He's not that heavy but, Christ, he stinks of something really weird.'

`Hmm, less talk. Move.'

Eleanor hung back, watching the three of them walk up the front steps. Nikki stirred in her arms.

`Well, my little Nik,' she whispered, moving towards the house while feeling the many eyes on her from outside the gate. `You need to wake soon. So many questions need answering.' Eleanor didn't look back as she went inside.

 

Mason stood in a clearing with pine trees clawing into the night sky above him.

`Choose.'

He winced. The voice in his mind was metallic, hard. Alien.

`Choose what?' He looked around in the darkness. `Where am I?'

`
Matters not.
'

Movement came from across the clearing. He could see a shape. A woman.

`Where is my family?' He struggled to remember what had happened. Was he still on the island?

`Safe.'
She moved closer. Colours flowed across her.

`Who are you?'

`Darla.'
She stopped not far from him.

He didn't move. Her body was covered in black scales. It was all she wore.

`Why am I here?'

`To choose.'
Colours swirled beside her. An image formed.

`Ruth.' Other images began to take shape. Children. `What are you showing me? Whose children are they?'

`Yours.'

Mason blinked hard. Ruth smiled as two girls ran to her. A boy — not Wilson — sat beside her on a chair.

`What you offer is impossible. We can't have any more children.' He crushed the spark of hope trying to ignite in him.

Darla laughed, a sibilant gurgle. `
Not I. Gaia. This is her gift.'

`Then why are you showing me this?' He reached for the images as they faded, leaving the sound of children's laughter echoing around him. Pain he had buried long ago, the desire for more children, clawed at him.

`So you understand to keep the hate controlled
—
or this.'
She moved and an image of deadly carnage sharpened.

Mason recoiled. Bile churned in his throat. `I would never hurt my family. Or so many people.'

`Not you. The evil thing in you, Butcher.'

`Not possible.' Mason stepped forward, heart pounding. `He is not me. I control him.'

`Power corrupts.'
The images faded.

Mason inhaled a deep breath of cool air and pine scent, cleansing the stink of death from his senses. `That was not a choice.' He shook his head, trying to get the images out of his mind. `I have never hurt my family.'

`
Yet a monster lives in you.
'

`One not of my making.' He clenched a fist. `Unnaturals did this. Your kind.'

`No, not my children. They do not deserve the fate you have dealt to the Bloodells. The monster within has always been there.'

She pointed at him.
`Do not lie to yourself. The darkness born in you has only been awakened.'

`If I am such a monster, why not kill me then? Stop me becoming that thing.'

`
That is not for me to do. It is your choice that matters, and your heart and will is strong.
'

`You make no sense.' His skin tingled. `Why tell me all this?'

`So you will understand.'
She reached out and rested her hand on his bare chest, over his heart. Warmth flared.

`Understand what?' He looked at her hand, hot on his chest.

`Why you need to trust again. Otherwise my treaty is lost on you.'
She stepped closer and Mason edged back.

`Treaty? What is that exactly?'

She smiled at him. Rows of sharp teeth flashed.
`You and I are bonded.'

`Bonded?' He tried to shift again but couldn't as her face grew closer. Stars moved in her eyes.

`
Yes, I gave a part of me to you and your family.
'

`I—'

`Enough.'
Her fingers touched him.

Her lips touched his and Mason bucked.

Pain and pleasure coursed through him. Hot black energy crackled on his skin as Darla's face faded. Only the darkness remained, hot and itching at his flesh as her final words seeped into him.

`
Hunter, awaken.
'

The thrum of helicopters rose above the sounds of the city. Hidden from view under the eaves of the main roof, Tashia could see the men stationed around the estate. They moved to follow the sound of the helicopters.

The time for waiting had ended.

`Hmm.' She ran a finger over a fine scar hidden between the silver lines in her skin. It had been a long time since she had fought in battle. Once-dormant Ancient strength flooded through her body, and the scar ached. `Let us hope your General has more control than you do, Mason,' she said to the air, letting the ancient lines on her body hum with energy.

Eleanor joined her. `You still talk to yourself?'

`Same as you still sneak up on people.' She gave Eleanor more room, sparing a second glance at the flowing skirt and little lace blouse the priestess now wore. Who was she expecting?

`One the perks of being me.' Eleanor crossed her arms as activity increased outside the estate. `The helicopters are unexpected.'

`Really?' Tashia glanced at her. `Even I know what they have at their disposal,' she said, pausing as the helicopters grew louder. `And considering that we have
him
here, I expected more.'

`So you've learnt how to use the internet?'

`Hmm, don't start. Miekia was beside herself when I asked how to do it.'

`What did you learn?'

`Humans are addicted to porn.' Tashia watched as two helicopters broke away from a third. `And the Douglas Fund is very dangerous.' She pointed at the helicopter circling around the estate. `Whoever is in that one is coming here.'

`His name is Max.' Eleanor watched the helicopter hovering high up over the driveway. `He's not exactly covert.'

`Hmm, no.' Tashia raised her eyebrows as a figure dropped from the helicopter. `Can he fly?'

`I…' Eleanor moved closer to the roof's edge as the figure plunged feet first towards the driveway. `There.' A flicker of colour gave away his secret. `You see that? He's on a rope of some sort.'

Tashia appraised the man landing in the driveway. `Tall, young, very fit and wearing some sort of armour. He is not afraid.'

`No. He isn't.' Eleanor stepped up onto the turret, wearing a smile Tashia hadn't seen for a long time.

`Hmm. No, no, girl. Don't you smile like that. He's here to kill us. And I'm wasting my breath, aren't I?' Tashia said to the space were Eleanor had been.

`You're a bad influence, Mason Douglas, a very bad influence.' She stepped off the roof and landed on the lawn beside Eleanor.

`Do not do anything rash,' Eleanor whispered as the man strode towards them.

`I'm not the one trying to make an impression by stepping off the roof of a three-storey building in a flimsy dress.'

`Where is he?' Mason's general barked.

Tashia couldn't stop it. His attitude called all her battle instincts to the surface. He was armed and thought he was in control. The sound of helicopters echoed around her.

Eleanor signalled with an airy wave of her hand. `Upstairs and unharmed.'

Tashia's senses prickled. She glanced down. Red dots covered her chest. Laser sights. Not good. That she knew.

`Scan it.' he said without taking his eyes off them.

Tashia spotted the tiny earpiece he wore even as Eleanor moved towards him. Since coming back, she had studied how the modern soldier fought.

`I was clear about this, Maxwell. We are not the Bloodells. You do not need all this.' Eleanor waved at the red dots decorating her body.

Tashia could sense no anger in her tone or attitude. Eleanor was flirting with him. Was it a distraction or was she really interested?

`Don't move again.' The man, Max, said, oblivious to Eleanor's interest. His hands rested on pistols strapped to his waist.

`Hmm, charming, isn't he?'

He glanced from Eleanor to her. She smiled.

`Is this a game to you?' He gripped the pistols tighter.

Tashia ignored Eleanor's glance.

`No. Maxwell.' His reaction to her use of his full name confirmed a thought she'd had. He wasn't really used to dialogue with the enemy. `This is very real,
Maxwell
, but one does not have to be a prick about it.'

`Tashia,' Eleanor hissed, sounding genuinely embarrassed.

`Well, he doesn't.' She shrugged and crossed her arms as Max struggled to find his voice. `If we were enemies of the Douglas clan, Mason would be dead and this meeting would never have occurred. In fact, you would not even know about our existence,
Maxwell
; yet, here we are.' Tashia tilted her head, hoping the tactic would work, that he would think instead of reacting.

`Mason is alive,' Max said, taking a hand off a pistol. `But there are many Unnatural life signs within the house.'

`That's because there are a lot of human life signs out here with machine guns.'

He stared for a moment, then his eyes slid away from her to Eleanor. `I need to see Mason, to confirm he's all right.'

`I agree. But first you need to make these go away.' Eleanor smiled and tapped at the array of red laser dots on the skin her plunging neckline revealed.

Max's eyes followed Eleanor's finger. `Stand down, team one.'

Tashia breathed nosily as the dots blinked out of existence.

`Thank you, Maxwell.' Eleanor smiled but he watched her with a guarded look.

`Take me to Mason.'

`Inside.'

Tashia cleared her throat and when Eleanor glanced around, looked down at her own chest still covered in red laser dots.