Enigma:What Lies Beneath (Enigma Series Book 1) (22 page)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Abbie followed closely behind Naura, down a hall wide enough a car could pass through without touching the sides. “How much farther.”

“Not long now. Are you well enough to continue on? I could carry you, if necessary.”

“I’ll be fine. Are you sure Hauke is going to be okay? I still can’t feel him.”

With pity swimming in her eyes, Naura glanced down at Abbie from her greater height. “You must prepare yourself for what is to come.”

Abbie’s heart kicked up a beat. “What does that mean?”

“He has been slashed every day for three moons and has not had time to heal. It will not be a sight that you will soon forget.”

Anger quickly began to replace Abbie’s fear. “How could his own father do that to him? It’s barbaric.”

Naura continued moving forward, her gaze straight ahead. “Our father is the king. He puts Aukrabah’s needs ahead of his own. All Bracadytes are regarded equally when it comes to the laws.”

“Then the laws need to be changed. Hauke didn’t murder anyone, Naura. He came back to help me, his mate and the mother of his unborn child. Surely the king could have taken that into consideration.”

“I cannot speak for my father,” Naura muttered in a low voice. “I can only tell you that I agree with you in this. Had it been my mother running for her life, I have no doubt the king would have braved the surface to rescue her.”

They arrived at a set of uneven steps leading down to a door nestled at the bottom of a dimly lit cavern.

“You must not alert anyone of our presence,” Naura insisted, descending the steps with Abbie right on her heels.

“There should be no more than one guard in the dungeon with Hauke, and he has expressed an interest in me. I do not foresee a problem with him. If he refuses our request to see my brother, do not attempt to fight him. It will not bode well for either of us.”

Abbie nodded, placing her hand in the center of Naura’s shoulder as a signal to move forward. “I got it. Just please hurry.”

Naura pushed the heavy wooden door open, and the two of them stepped inside.

The chamber was filled with various weapons. Spears, knives, and whips hung along the walls from hooks that were fashioned from what appeared to be steel. A toilet of sorts, similar to the one in Hauke’s bedroom, rested in an alcove in the corner.

Several questions sprang to Abbie’s mind, but they could wait. Hauke was her main concern at the moment. And no matter what his sister said, if the guard refused to let them in to see him, he would have a fight on his hands.

“Naura?” The guard jumped from his position on a stone bench. “Why have you come?”

Abbie’s gaze immediately scanned the cells in the room until she spotted Hauke.

Naura continued speaking with the guard, but Abbie was no longer listening. The love of her life, her mate, stood with his back to her, his arms spread wide along a wooden beam and cuffed to it by his wrists.

A cry wrenched from her at the sight of his back. Dried blood outlined dozens of crisscrossed slashes running from his shoulders to his hips.

“Hauke?” She sobbed, running toward his small prison. “Hauke, baby, it’s me.”

His head slowly lifted, but the beam prevented him from turning toward her.

“Abbie,” he rasped, pulling on his bonds. “My mate…”

“She cannot be in here,” Maulkryth insisted, pushing past Naura to get to Abbie. “The king has threatened to punish me in the same fashion as Hauke if I allow the human inside his cell.”

Naura quickly jumped in his path. “What harm can she do? She is merely a tiny human female. It will not hurt anything for her to see to her mate.”

Maulkryth shook his head, panic seeping from his pores. He shifted his gaze between the two females, his hand going to the knife at his side. “I will not go against the king’s wishes on this one, Naura. He will have my head.”

Abbie took advantage of his attention on Hauke’s sister and snatched the key hanging from his belt.

All hell suddenly broke loose. Maulkryth swung his arm in a wide arc, barely missing Abbie’s chin. She raced to the door and frantically unlocked it as Naura instantly sprang onto Maulkryth’s unsuspecting back.

Hauke’s rage became suffocating, seeping into Abbie with a force that took her breath. “Maulkryth, he snarled, struggling against his bonds. “I will kill you.”

Naura landed on her back on the stone floor as Abbie jerked the cell door open and rushed inside.

An arm came around her from behind, lifting her off her feet. “Put me down, you Neanderthal!” Abbie shouted, lifting her arms and raking her nails down the guard’s face.

A hiss burst from his lips, and Maulkryth tossed her through the open cell door to land in a heap against the bench he’d recently vacated. He ran after her.

The straps holding Hauke’s wrists instantly snapped like paper, releasing him from his prison. He shot out of his cell and slammed into the guard with the power of a truck.

Blood sprayed through the air with the first connection of Hauke’s fist on Maulkryth’s nose.

Straddling him, Hauke slammed his knuckles against his face repeatedly until Maulkryth stopped resisting, his arms went limp, and his head lolled to the side. Still, Hauke beat him.

“Stop, brother. You are killing him,” Naura pleaded, attempting to latch onto Hauke’s powerfully swinging arm.

More blood sprayed across Abbie’s chest as she crawled toward her mate in desperation. If she didn’t do something quick and the guard died, Hauke would face something far worse than the strap. “Hauke? Help me.”

Hauke jerked back as if slapped, his eyes wild and unseeing. He seemed to look right through her.

She tried again. “I need you right now, my mate. Please.”

He blinked several times as if clearing his vision and pushed away from the guard’s unconscious form.

“Abbie?” he breathed, scrambling toward her. “Are you injured? Please tell me that you are not hurt.” His hands began running up and down her arms, checking her for injuries.

“I am not hurt, but you are. Oh God, what have they done to you?”

“It is not as bad as it looks,” he assured her, dropping his hand to the floor to keep from falling over.

“Like hell it’s not. You can barely hold yourself up.” She peered up at Hauke’s sister. “Help me get him back to the room.”

“But father will— ”

“I don’t give a shit what the king will do. I’m taking my mate out of this place. He needs a healer, not excuses for his father.”

“You think my actions need to be excused?” the king asked, stepping into the room.

Abbie slowly got to her feet, thankful the dizziness wasn’t present.

Hauke’s father had to be the most intimidating man she’d ever seen, from his regal stance to his piercing jade-green eyes.

His black hair rested freely over his shoulders to flow down the sides of the long gray cloak he wore.

Hauke’s mother stood at his side, beautiful and serene with her hands folded in front of her. The dress she wore looked to be made from the same type of sharkskin her daughter dressed in.

Abbie faced the king. “I think your actions are irresponsible and cruel. If you want to punish someone, then punish me, for I am the reason your son broke the law to begin with.”

“Abbie…” Hauke began as he staggered to his feet.

The king held up his hand for silence and slowly closed the distance between Hauke’s mate and himself. His gaze flicked to Maulkryth on the floor before settling on Hauke. “Are you responsible for this?”

“I am,” Hauke shot back without flinching. “He put his hands on my mate. He deserves to die.”

Hauke’s father turned his attention to Abbie. “Are you harmed?”

Naura stepped up. “He threw her against the wall across the room. She is with child.”

“I believe I was speaking to the human female,” the king persisted, pinning Abbie with an intimidating look.

“Although it hurt like hell and could have caused more damage than it did, I walked away with a skinned knee and elbow. As for him?” She nodded toward the guard. “He deserved what he got, and if the roles had been reversed, I would have done the same thing if not something worse.”

The booming laughter that burst from the king startled Abbie. She could only stare as he continued to chuckle for several seconds.

“You have a fire inside you that I have not seen in many moons. You will give me a fine grandson.”

He extended his arm, a smile still playing on his lips. “I am Klause, and the beauty standing near the door is Hauke’s mother, Laurel.”

Abbie accepted his outstretched hand. “My name is Abbigail Sutherland, but most call me Abbie.”

Laurel strode over and wrapped Abbie in a hug. “How fares the child?”

“According to your healer, he is healthy and strong.” Pulling back, Abbie took hold of Hauke’s hand. “I would love to get to know both of you, but my mate is in pain. I request permission to take him to our room where the healer can see to him.”

Klause laid a gentle hand on his son’s shoulder. “You know that I had no choice in punishing you, fili mi. It pained me greatly, but the law applies to all in Aukrabah. That includes my own flesh and blood.”

“I understand, Father.”

“Well, I don’t,” Abbie snapped. “It’s Stone Age and inhumane. But now is not the time to debate about it. I need to get Hauke back to our room and have his wounds tended to.”

“Very well,” Klause conceded. “I will release him to your care. When you are ready, come see me and we will discuss our barbaric laws.”

He turned to Hauke. “Know that I love you, fili mi.”

“I do, Father.” Hauke kissed his mother on the cheek and stumbled toward the door.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Hauke rolled to his side, careful not to wake his sleeping mate. With the child due to be birthed at any time, she needed all the sleep could she get.

He silently slid from the bed and padded across the cool floor to relieve himself.

The
restroom
, as Abbie called it, was clean and boasted of some sweet-smelling concoction she’d had Vaulcron order from Miguel.

In the months since her arrival in Aukrabah, she’d made his rooms a home and had gone as far as having a kitchen fashioned, similar to the humans’.

After washing his hands, he tiptoed into the front chamber to admire her handiwork. A stove of sorts had been carved into the wall and packed with lava rocks used to hold in heat when a fire burned inside.

A special rack had been brought in that fit inside the stove to hold the food she cooked.

She’d shown him how to make sushi, grilled salmon, and steak, which was his favorite. Most of the Bracadytes ate their food raw, but Abbie preferred a variety.

She enjoyed some of the Bracadyte dishes and had developed a hardy appetite over the past few months.

Hauke returned to the bedroom, slipping quietly beneath to covers to watch his mate sleep.

He gently rested his hand on her protruding belly and worry ate at his gut. Bracadyte children were not easy births for the women of Aukrabah. How would his mate ever push a child of his from her tiny body?

“Stop worrying, my love,” Abbie whispered, covering his hand with hers. “I’m stronger than I look.”

“If something happens to you, soul of my soul, I will not survive it.”

Abbie brought his hand to her mouth and softly kissed his fingers. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

“Perhaps I should have taken you to a human doctor before you became too far along to make the trip to the surface.”

“Have faith in me. I can do this for you, me, and our son. Any news from Miguel about the condition of the surface?”

Hauke’s face became grim. “Florida has been declared a state of emergency. It is on lockdown from the Alabama line to Miami. The lower parts of Alabama and Georgia are now under quarantine also.”

“They can’t contain it for much longer, Hauke. All it takes is for one infected person to travel north, and it’s all over with.”

“I do not know what is going to happen on the surface, my mate. I only know that I am grateful that you and my son are safely below with me.”

“
Hauke
?” His sister mentally beckoned, catching him off guard.

“
Naura? Is all well?”
he sent back.

“I do not know. I am in the hall. May I come inside?”

“Yes, of course.”

He sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed. “My sister is here.”

Abbie sat up also. “At this hour? Is something wrong?”

“I am not sure. She is on her way inside now.”

Naura stuck her head around the corner. Her face appeared pale and drawn. “Are you dressed?”

“Yes,” Abbie responded, patting the side of the bed. “Have a seat.”

Stepping hesitantly into the room, Naura trailed over to the big bed and sat next to Hauke’s mate.

“What has happened?” Hauke circled around and knelt in front of his sister.

She fidgeted with her hands before glancing from Abbie to Hauke. “I have not told you everything about my trip to the surface.”

A feeling of foreboding came over Hauke. “What is it, Naura? I am in no place to judge your actions.”

“It was me that spread the bacteria to the land walkers.”

“What?” Abbie whispered. “How?”

“After the oil well exploded, I awoke in a human dwelling. The man who found me took care of me until I became conscious. Too weak to stand, I lay there helpless while he attempted to violate my body.”

She grabbed hold of Hauke’s hand. “It was an accident, Hauke. I did not mean for it to happen. I held up my arm to defend myself against his unwanted advances, and he cut himself on the barb at my wrist.”

“He tried to rape you?” Abbie gasped. “Oh, honey. Don’t you ever feel bad for defending yourself against a prick like that. He deserved what he got.”

Tears sprang to Naura’s eyes. “That is not all of it.”

“Go on,” Hauke prompted, squeezing her fingers in his.

“I have been communicating with Abbie’s uncle Tony since the day he fed me in the bunker.”

Abbie pushed up higher on her pillows, excitement on her beautiful face. “You could have told us that. We would never judge you for something so amazing. Is he okay? Where is he? Did he make it to Mexico?”

Naura took a deep breath and resumed her fidgeting. “Your uncle is well, Abbie. But he is not in Mexico. He is here in Aukrabah.”

Hauke sprang to his feet in shock. Abbie’s uncle had returned to Aukrabah. “How long has he been here?”

“He arrived only today, Hauke. Please do not be upset with him. He brings news that concerns us all.”

“Where is he now?” Abbie asked, her voice unusually high.

“He is in my rooms, freshening up. I assured him that I would return quickly to fetch him.”

Hauke hurried to the closet to grab a shirt that Abbie had made him, speaking over his shoulder as he went. “Bring him straight away. Keep your thoughts clear and be careful not to be seen.”

Naura nodded and rushed from the room, leaving Hauke to prowl the floor in restless rage.

“You have to calm down, my love,” Abbie reprimanded, climbing from the bed. “He wouldn’t have come if it were not important.”

Hauke stopped his pacing and moved to stand in front of Abbie. “He risks us all with his presence here.”

“I know, and I’m sure he will be on his way after he says what he needs to say.”

“
May we come in?”
Naura whispered through Hauke’s mind.

“
Do not stand out in the hall. You risk being seen,”
he impatiently sent back.

Taking Abbie’s hand, he led her toward the front room. “They are coming inside now.”

Hauke could feel his mate’s excitement over seeing her uncle again. He wasn’t completely immune either, but fear for her uncle’s safety tamped down some of his enthusiasm.

Naura entered with Tony in tow. She pulled the curtain in place to hide his presence from otherwise prying eyes.

Abbie waddled across the room and wrapped her uncle in a hug. “I have been so worried about you.”

“There’s no use in worrying over me, girl. I’m like a cat with nine lives, and I still have four more left in me.”

“Let us go to the bedroom where there will be less possibility of being overheard,” Hauke murmured, guiding the trio to the bedroom and pulling back the covers for his mate.

“I can stand,” she argued as he picked her up and propped her against the pillows before tucking the blanket around her legs.

Tony’s gaze seemed to touch on everything around him. “Let me just say that I have seen pretty much everything you can imagine in my travels with the CIA, but I have never in all my life seen anything like this place.”

“Isn’t it amazing, Uncle Tony? You should see the bathhouse and the eating hall. Not to mention the throne room.”

Hauke straightened and rested his hands on his hips. “It is not my intention to sound inconsiderate, but time is of the essence. Many will be rising from slumber soon, and you must not be found down here.”

“Right.” Tony took a seat on one of the two chairs in the room and propped his elbows on his knees. “The virus running rampant through the south did not come from your people.”

“But I know where it began,” Naura rushed out. “And that man became sick and died within days.”

“The key word here is
days
. He died in days.” Tony’s gaze bored into Hauke’s sister. “Did he foam at the mouth? Become insane? Combative?”

A wrinkle formed between Naura’s brows. “No. He developed a fever and could not hold down his food. He died very quick.”

Tony leaned forward. “My sources tell me that the Center for Disease Control experimented with bacteria they had grown in a lab—human bacteria known to attack weaker strains, destroying them before they do irreparable damage. The strain used to combat the Psinum Incola virus backfired on them, creating the deadliest form of rabid psychopathy the world has ever seen.”