Come Fill Me (The Prophecy) (25 page)

Zeke knew how he felt but pretended to have it all together. “I know this is a difficult time. However, I give you my word, I won’t let anyone down. Don’t either of you do that to me. Someone’s guarding the entrance, correct?”

Both men nodded.

“Where’s Jacob?” Zeke asked. He hadn’t seen his brother since they’d argued in the hall with Kele hearing them. That was hours ago. Thankfully, Jacob hadn’t tried to return to his bedroom and Liz.

“The last I saw him, he was outside with the children,” Aaron said, then made a face. “He kept looking around like he was expecting someone to sucker punch him.”

Kele, no doubt. Jacob must have heeded Zeke’s earlier advice and spoken with her. “Have either of you seen Kele?”

“I haven’t since breakfast,” Aaron offered. “You?” he asked Ike.

The man’s face flushed.

His reaction reminded Zeke of when they were boys and Ike had been sweet on one of the girls in their class. It also brought back the time their fourth-grade teacher had caught Ike cheating on a test.

“Have you been with Kele today?” Zeke asked.

Ike looked offended. “Excuse me?”

“Have you talked with her?” he amended. Maybe Kele had gone to Ike for comfort after Jacob had told her the score.

“Only to make a date for tonight,” he said.

Aaron blurted, “You and Kele? Together?”

No shit. That was exactly what Zeke was thinking. Kele couldn’t have moved on that quickly. It didn’t make sense.

“Yeah, her and me,” Ike growled at Aaron. “You got a problem with that?”

“Hey man, don’t get pissed at me. I thought she was tight with Jacob.”

Zeke left them arguing in the hall. Once he delivered the snacks to Liz, he’d locate Kele and find out what she was up to. Something wasn’t right. He sensed it.

Could feel it.

The vision came without warning as they always did, stopping him outside the door to Jacob’s room.

Noises receded beneath a steady hiss. Colors faded next, the gleaming wood walls turning gray, then white.

It was as though he’d floated up to the ceiling and was looking down on himself. His body faced the closed door—at least where it’d been before fading away—however, his attention remained to the left. It was nothing but blinding light.

The hiss increased.

Zeke watched his hands flying up, the bags of food hitting the sides of his face as he covered his ears. The absence of color made the white unbearable. He saw himself turning his face away, not wanting to look, afraid to know.

He hated his gift. It brought him nothing but pain.

This time was no different.

He was no longer outside himself, looking down. Instead, he was deep into his mind. Within it, images flashed super-fast, reminiscent of hyper music videos aimed at teens. He saw the tunnel’s entrance, the first of several vehicles approaching it, tires stirring up dust. Next, a woman’s hand filled his thoughts.

Liz?

No. Couldn’t be. A man’s hand held the woman’s, pressing her palm to the control panel outside. Zeke stared, trying to see faces, but his vision wouldn’t allow it, taking away the images in a flash of white, replaced by a deep red color.

He blinked at the blood. It was everywhere, dripping from the stronghold’s ceiling and walls. More of it pooled on the floors.

His men bolted down the hall, firing at something behind…someone who chased them. Zeke strained to see details but couldn’t. With each round fired, bright light burst from the weapons’ muzzles.

One of his men fell, the round hitting him in his leg. The others reached for him, but the continuing gunfire drove them back. Bullets ripped into the floor and walls, splintering the wood, leaving gouges in the stone.

Zeke stared at the man who lay face down on the floor. Another bullet tore through his shoulder. The next through his back. Blood poured from the wounds, dirtying his hair. He wore it longer than the other men, as long as—

Jacob!

Liz.
Zeke’s mind screamed her name. She didn’t hear. Her back was to Zeke as she faced Carreon. Not here, but in the man’s stronghold. He and Liz were in the same room Zeke had seen in his previous visions. They stood near a fireplace he’d tried to describe to her but couldn’t. He saw its conical shape now. Its beige color.

The way Liz gestured told Zeke that she was pleading with Carreon, trying to placate him. To spare her father’s life? Carreon’s expression remained neutral, not giving away what he thought or planned.

No.
Liz, don’t. Stop!

Zeke gasped as she moved into Carreon, caressing him, running her fingers over his cheek. He smiled, stroking her hair in return. As she kissed his jaw, his hands edged up. In a flash, they were on her throat, squeezing, his face contorted with rage.

Zeke blinked rapidly, his body shuddering at what he’d seen. Jacob hit. Liz at Carreon’s stronghold. She couldn’t have gotten out of this place. Carreon’s men couldn’t be forcing her to lead them here. It was impossible.

He turned the key, unlocking the door. Liz stared at his tee, damp with sweat. She hurried across the room to him. “What’s wrong?”

Jacob was going to die. Carreon’s men were going to exterminate their clan. They were coming. He could feel it. Never before had his visions shown him a loved one dying. When he’d seen Liz’s murder, she’d been a stranger. He loved her now and yet he still saw Carreon killing her and Jacob’s death too.

“Zeke.” She grabbed his biceps, shaking him.

He dropped the snacks and grabbed her upper arm. “Come with me.”

“To where?”

“A place you’ll be safe.”

“From whom? Have you and Jacob been arguing again?”

His brother was going to die because of Zeke’s stupidity and obstinance. He’d kept Liz here when he shouldn’t have. He’d traded Jacob’s life for hers without even knowing it, without being able to save her. He had to change that.

“Zeke.”

He pulled her down the hall to a flight of stairs leading to the upper level. Taking them two at a time, Zeke forced Liz to keep up.

“Where’s Jacob?” she cried.

“This isn’t about him wanting you.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

Zeke stopped in the center of the hall, placing his hand on the wood paneling. With a subdued whoosh, it opened, revealing a small room inside. He pushed Liz into it.

She staggered back, then regained her footing and bolted toward him, blocking the door with her arm so it wouldn’t close. “What are you doing? What’s happened?”

“Carreon’s men are coming.”

Horror flooded her features. “You had a vision?”

Zeke swallowed. “You’ll be safe in here.” If he were very lucky, she wouldn’t discover the apparatus that allowed her to escape. “There’s no way for you to get out,” he lied. “Stay put until I come back for you.”

She cried, “What else did your vision show?”

“Only that Carreon’s men would get into the tunnel. That’s it,” he continued to lie. “After my men kill or capture them, we’ll be able to learn all that we can from the survivors. Without protection, Carreon won’t be a threat to my clan any longer. My people will be able to rescue your father.”

“Zeke.” Liz fisted her hand in his tee, not allowing him to go. “You’re lying. What else did you see?”

He fought for air. “Nothing.”

“Dammit, tell me!”

Guilt, sorrow, and then rage at what his actions had caused buffeted Zeke, leaving him ashamed, unable to hide the truth any longer. “I saw Jacob getting hit.”

“Oh my God,” she cried. “This is all my fault. You have to stop it. You have to let me go back now.”

“No,” he growled, twisting her wrist until she released him.

She shouted, “Let me go. Why are you doing this? Why are you putting Jacob at risk?”

“I’m not. It’s not going to happen, all right? My vision was a warning of what the future may be, not what’s absolutely going to happen. Jacob isn’t going to get hurt, nor are you and your father. Now, get in there and stay quiet.”

With one hard shove, Zeke pushed her back.

Liz’s arms flailed. She cried out as her ass hit the floor. The paneling closed, once more hiding the room’s entrance.

Zeke bolted down the hall and stairs, heading for the meeting room. As he ran inside, Paul and Ike glanced up.

“Gather the women, children and the elderly,” he said, then paused to pull in some air. “Bring them to the largest safe room.”

Both men stared.

“Now,”
Zeke ordered. “Carreon’s men are coming.”

“I’ll alert the others,” Paul said. His two-way radio was to his lips as he ran from the room.

“Did you have a vision?” Ike asked.

Forcing down a swallow, Zeke nodded. “Where’s Jacob?”

“I don’t—”

Zeke shouted, “Where did you last see him?”

“Ah—in the dining area. But that was hours ago.”

“Radio down to the entrance. The settings need to be changed on the control panel so no one can get inside.”

Ike stared. “Why? No one outside our clan can get in here, Zeke. None of our people has left for weeks. We’re all here.”

“Where’s Kele? When did you last see her?”

The man’s face went slack. “What are you saying?”

“Have you seen her since you two made a date? Were you guarding the entrance when she spoke to you?” He grabbed Ike’s arm, shaking him. “Answer me.”

Ike bounced on his heels. “She told me to get lunch, that she’d keep watch for me until Paul arrived. She said she wanted to have dinner with me tonight. She said…” He stopped and moaned. “She left? She actually left here and went to Carreon? She’s bringing his men here? Why would she do that?”

She wanted Jacob at all cost, and the only way to do that was to get rid of Liz. To lead Carreon’s men to her.

“Samuel’s guarding the entrance now, right?” Zeke asked. “Or was that a lie?”

“It’s the truth. I’ll tell him to change the—”

Shouts came from the hall, drowning out Ike. Four men ran inside, heading for the back wood panel. The clan’s arsenal of weapons.

“Radio Samuel,” Zeke ordered Ike.

“Too late,” Aaron said, tears in his eyes. “He’s been hit.”

Jesus. “Carreon’s men are inside?”

“They’re using Kele as a shield so our men won’t fire,” Aaron said.

Ike bent at the waist as though he was going to retch. Zeke grabbed his two-way and radioed Paul. “Is everyone safe?”

Crackling sounds poured from the radio, followed by the man’s voice. “They’re where you wanted them to be. Some of the younger women are bitching about this, Zeke. They want to stand with us guys. What do I tell them?”

“No. All females stay put until we have no choice except to give them weapons and let them fight alongside us.”

“What? You said Carreon’s men were coming. They can’t get past the entrance.”

“They’re already inside, Paul.”

“Shit. How?”

“I can’t get into that now. Have you seen Jacob?”

“I’m right behind you,” his brother said.

Zeke turned just in time to see Jacob heading for the arsenal, taking two revolvers and two assault rifles.

“Hey,” he complained when Zeke stood in his way, not allowing him to leave the room.

“Move.”

“No.”

The other men grabbed their weapons and ran out. The rat-a-tat-tat of muted gunfire came from a distant part of the stronghold.

Jacob darted to the side, trying to get past Zeke.

He grabbed his brother’s shoulders and pushed him into the wall. “You’re not going out there.”

“Why the fuck not? Our guys are going to get slaughtered if I don’t help them. They told me Carreon’s men have Kele. She must have gone to him after I talked to her and brought them here. My God, how could she have done that? I have to fight, Zeke. This is all my fault. I have to save our people. You can’t stop me.”

“The hell I can’t.” He shoved his brother back into the wall. “I just had a vision, Jacob. I saw you die. Not any of our men. You. Only you. I’m not going to let that happen. I can’t. It would kill me to lose you.”

Jacob’s frown faded. His Adam’s apple bounced with his hard swallow. “I’ll be okay. I won’t do anything stupid, I swear. I don’t want to die any more than you want me to.” He chuckled.

It sounded young and scared.

“Please,” Zeke whispered, pulling Jacob into his arms, hugging him as hard as he could. “Don’t put yourself at risk.”

“I’m not. I won’t.” He hugged Zeke in return. “I don’t want you doing that either. You’re a prick at times, but I still like you…sort of.”

Zeke’s shoulders shook with his laughter.

“We’ll fight together,” Jacob said, pulling away from Zeke. “Side by side. That way, you can keep an eye on me. Everything will be all right…as long as you don’t force me to save you.”

“Like that’ll ever happen.” Zeke rolled his eyes and grabbed his weapons.