Unnaturals (12 page)

Tashia ignored the debris, her eyes on the mass of energy tearing the club apart.

Lilly grabbed her arm. `Tashia, let's go!'

`Flee, child.' She let her power surge. Repressed for centuries, it hungered to be free. `You will die if you stay.' Tashia felt her body begin to grow.

`Goddess, protect us.' Lilly turned and ran.

Tashia released her true form as Lilly disappeared up the stairs. She looked down at the ball of energy and smiled. `Trust you to break all the rules my little Huntress.'

Tashia reached out and touched the energy ball. `Time for you to behave.' She focused as the blue energy raced up her arms. `Back you go, back to your family.'

The energy quivered and tore slabs of concrete off the walls. She staggered under its power.

`Yes.' Tashia let the ancient black energy of her gift wash out of her. `You're stronger than me, but I have the discipline.'

She snarled at the challenge burning in her hands, `BEHAVE!'

Darkness exploded from her and the blue energy shrank back to its source.

`Hmm,' Tashia looked down as static lingered on Mason and Renee. `No more surprises, please, you two.' She staggered and let her body flow back into her preferred shape. `I don't think I can handle any more tonight.'

`You're unharmed.' Lilly appeared beside her. `I've never seen… whatever that was.'

`Hmm,' Tashia nodded and looked around the empty club. `Last to leave and the first back in. Wouldn't have picked you for such a courageous one.'

`We have to move. The humans will come and ask questions about them. Even I know who he is and they will too.' Lilly pointed at Mason.

`You always so organised?' Tashia went over to Renee, touching her with great care.

Lilly squatted beside her, taking care to not touch Mason. `They did this?'

`Yes, child.' Tashia slipped her arms under Renee and lifted her, cradling her. `Bring Ruth with you and come back for Nikki . I will handle Mason.'

`Yes, Tashia.' She edged away from Mason and went to Ruth and Nikki. `His wife is very beautiful.'

Tashia smiled as Lilly picked Ruth up. `I suspect in more ways than one. Come.' Tashia moved outside quickly, with Lilly close behind, slipping unseen past confused patrons and the injured. Fire flickered ahead through the trees and Tashia slowed, ignoring the stares of gathered Darkells.

`Here, take her.' Tashia slipped Renee into Miekia's arms. `We'll be back.' She turned, scanning the sea of faces.

Ivy sat on the sand with Rose tending to her. She nodded. `I will heal. Go.'

Lilly put Ruth down near Ivy. `I'm ready.'

`Come, then.' Tashia ran, stopping at the tree line.

`We're too late,' Lilly gasped beside her. `They're going into the club.'

Tashia took her hand. `Move with me — don't let go until we're inside.' She called a gift she had not used for a very long time. It took great focus for her, to make her pocket of the world slow.

Lilly's hand tightened in hers. `How is this possible?'

Tashia moved towards the club entrance, past the frozen crowd. `Don't touch anyone. It will pull them out of it.'

`Understood,' Lilly muttered, sliding around a security guard.

Inside the club, two firemen were checking Mason and Nikki.

`What will happen when we pick them up? Will we be revealed?' Lilly asked.

`Yes.' Tashia took a deep breath. Her body ached from the energy she was using. `I am taxed Lilly, far too much. You will need to create a diversion to cover our exit.' She squatted, eyeing Mason's bulk. `Can you do this for me, Lilly?'

Lilly nodded. `I can. Thank you for trusting me.'

Tashia nodded as her body screamed at her. `Do it now. I cannot hold them anymore.' She took Mason's arm and the world moved around her.

`What?' a voice stuttered behind her.

`Sorry about this,' Lilly said.

`Who...?'

Tashia looked up at Lilly's eyes, filled with white energy. The girl's mouth opened and the air shattered.

Tashia just managed to shield her ears as the firemen fell beside her. Lilly's energy filled the club and then vanished into a cool, welcoming darkness.

`We've got a few minutes before they wake up.' Lilly scooped Nikki up.

`A Sonik?' Tashia strained as she lifted Mason, his weight far more than expected. `Curse it, he's unnaturally heavy. Still being stubborn even while unconscious.'

Ivy appeared beside her. `Let me help. You're exhausted.' She put Mason's arm over her shoulder and Tashia sighed in relief as she shared the weight.

`Blessing to you, Ivy.'

`Ready.' Lilly, with Nikki in her arms, joined them.

`Well done, Sister Lilly.' Ivy nodded at her as they moved off. `You've surpassed Rose tonight.'

Tashia tried to smile but her face was numb. Her legs ached as they climbed the stairs, stepping over prone bodies.

`Let me go first in case some remain conscious.' Lilly moved past them and disappeared from sight.

`Hmm, the night is full of surprises,' Tashia said, panting.

`Yes.' Ivy shouldered more of Mason's weight and Tashia sagged against the wall. `He's heavy because of his strong connection with Gaia?'

`Perhaps. I don't know why.' She winced as Lilly unleashed her Sonik gift a second time. `
She
is powerful.'

`A surprise to me as well. She has never displayed such strength before.'

`All clear. Come on.' Lilly waved them up.

`Go, child, we will follow,' Ivy said sagging under Mason's weight. Tashia braced herself as they moved.

`Have you still the skills to fight, Ivy, using your gifts?'

`Such things have not been done for centuries.'

`I feel such times are upon us again.' Tashia moved quicker as they reached the trees. Sirens and shouting erupted in the resort.

Ivy nodded at Mason. `Has he brought the danger to our shores?'

`Not sure, but he has the ability to defend his family against our enemy, the Bloodells.' Tashia could see the fire ahead. `Do I have your support, sister? If my Magi does not awaken before the ceremony, in time to speak, I believe the Douglases are meant to attend. Some will not agree.'

`You ask a lot.' Ivy slowed down and Tashia matched her pace. `I have never agreed with the House of Eleanor's politics.' Ivy lugged Mason onto her shoulder. `Yet here I stand with Butcher on my shoulder and you by my side, as it was in the wars.'

`Hmm. The words of an old warrior from the House of Flowers.' Tashia grinned at her. `You feel it too? A fight is coming.'

`Stop smiling. You already know the answer.' Ivy shook her head. `You have my support.'

`You brought him here?' Rose met them at the edge of the clearing. `A monster!'

`Shut up and get out of the way,' Ivy snapped.

`This is insane.' Rose stepped aside and followed. `We should not have him here.'

`That is not for you to decide, child.' Tashia lowered Mason beside Renee. Her legs were burning and the ache dug into her back.

`Fuck this!' A pink glow began to form around Rose's hands, then lashed out at Mason.

Tashia turned. `Stop, you fool!'

Too late. She fell back with Ivy as blue energy streamed out of Mason, responding to Rose's attack.

`Rose. No!' Lilly shouted as Rose was hurled, screaming, into the darkness.

`Go help her, Lilly,' Ivy said, looking towards the cry of agony coming from the trees. `Make sure she's calmed down before you bring her here. Sonik her if you have to.'

`Yes, sister.' Lilly grinned and vanished into the night.

`I like her more and more,' Tashia said, turning to Miekia as she hugged her.

`I was so worried about you.' Miekia's firm hug made Tashia wince.

`Easy, little one. I'm sore.'

`You're hurt, then?' She ran a hand over Tashia's arms and back.

`Not really. Relax. I simply haven't used some gifts for so long I'm unaccustomed to their drain.'

`And you call me old.' Ivy squatted beside Nikki, touching her face. `They're unharmed.'

`I couldn't awaken them.' Miekia joined Ivy. `It's like they're cloaked in some thick energy that doesn't respond to our gifts.'

`Cushioned in Gaia's touch,' Tashia said, looking down on them. `A strange mix, this Huntress and her Hunter.'

`What?' Ivy stood up and stepped back. `That's not possible. Tell me there's not an alpha here on the island as well.'

Tashia frowned. How could she have forgotten that? Damn it. She reached out, seeking the mind of an alpha.

`None here.' She relaxed. `That's all we would need tonight.'

`They're waking!' Miekia leapt up and backed away.

Tashia moved between her and the four on the sand. The others shuffled back, fear tainting the air.

Deep down, Tashia found her powers again. Her hands tingled with an ancient defensive gift.

Just in case.

 

Mason could smell a campfire. He moved and the warm darkness that cloaked him began to melt away. He felt soft sand under him.

Traces of strawberries and spice swirled in his mouth. Renee. She'd kissed him.

`Mason?' Hands rested on his arm. Ruth.

`Uh-huh,' he drawled. Eyes still closed, he didn't try to move. He could hear many heartbeats so close. Renee's beat loud beside him. `What happened?'

`You kissed Renee.' Ruth squeezed his arm again. He heard the worry in her voice but her heartbeat said she was excited. `Are you okay?'

Mason pushed his sense of hearing down so the cacophony of heartbeats faded.

`I'm sorry.' He opened an eye. Ruth and Renee sat beside him, watching. Fire flickered, making the shadows move around them. He felt disorientated. `Where are we?'

`On the other side of the island,' Ruth said touching his face. `Tashia and Lilly brought us here after the explosion.'

`Explosion?' Mason sat up. `Was anyone hurt? Ah—' His head thrummed and spots appeared in his vision. He lay down again, eyes closed. A cool hand rested on his forehead. Renee's. He could tell just from her touch.

`Nothing too serious for the humans,' she said, stroking his hair. `The rest of our kind fared well. The four of us are unharmed.'

`Unharmed, eh?' The pain in his head began to fade as he rubbed his eyes. Renee's hands rested on his chest and Ruth squeezed his arm again. `The explosion? It happened when we kissed?'

`Yes,' Renee said, shifting beside him. `But the reaction was begun by Ruth and Nikki kissing.'

`Reaction?' Mason opened his eyes. Nikki stood at his feet.

`Our kisses triggered dormant energies.' She glanced at Ruth.

`But the attraction is real, Mason. Not generated by any outside influence.'

`Hmm. You overcame the prejudices within.' Tashia loomed over Nikki. `The energies cannot change the way you feel. Only cement the feeling once you accept it.'

`Clear as mud.' Mason felt his skin warm. Uncomfortable with what was being suggested, he hoped he wasn't blushing.

`What it means, Mason,' Ruth said, leaning in close, lips near his ear, `is that part of you, the bit you keep locked away when you're with me, cannot stay locked away forever. It seeps out, dangerous, violent. And it will hurt me.'

`But not me.' Mason caught the glance between Renee and Ruth. An understanding joined them, one that he hadn't seen before. Trouble poked at him.

`It's why I have changed now,' Renee said. `Like you saw. Back in the club.' She looked up for a moment, letting her hair shift into a mane and skin marble like his. `That part of you is drawn to me, Mason. It's the part of you that unlocked the Huntress inside me. And it's why there was an explosion when we kissed.'

Tashia smiled at him. `When gifted people bond, fireworks happen.'

`This is insane.' Mason stood up, his head clear. `You're all standing around chatting about this like it happens all the time.' Too many eyes stared at him. His skin itched.

`Why are we here? All this must be happening for a reason. Us and you, all being here tonight. Why?' He helped Ruth stand and Nikki went to her, brushing sand off. Renee remained seated, looking at the ground.

`We come here to reconnect with our goddess, Darla,' Ivy said, standing beside Tashia.

Mason looked at Renee, her hair hanging limp as she stared at the sand. He'd seen enough to know her hair was the first give-away of how she was feeling. Damn it. Guilt pricked him. `So, what does this entail then? You didn't all come here to pray.' He stepped over to Renee. What had he said to make her so sad? Why did he feel so guilty?

Tashia gestured around her. `Hmm, Darla's energy presence comes here, to this place.'

`And we reconnect with her,' Nikki said. `Affirm our gifts and love of Darla. Her strength has guided us away from the path of the Bloodells.'

`Right.' He hesitated, then reached down and touched Renee. `Need a hand?'

`No.' She looked away then stood up. `I'll go and do a perimeter check.' She vanished in a red blur into the trees. He stood there feeling the wrongness of what just happened.

`Hmm. Strong in flesh she is, but delicate of heart.' Tashia's hand rested on his shoulder.

`I don't really understand what's going on.' He frowned and moved with the others around the fire. `Why are there no men here?'

`Hmm, our men tend to be seduced by the bloodlust.' Tashia's voice dropped as she leaned closer. `Try to be Mason and less of Hunter. It is difficult for most of the women to have you here. Remember, they know you only as Butcher.'

`What did you say to Renee?' Ruth stood beside him and Tashia faded away. `Why has she left?'

`Doing a perimeter sweep she said.'

`Uh-huh.'

She stepped in front of him. `Are you all right Mason?'

`Yes, yes.' He hugged her, enjoying the scent of her hair. `It's just so hard to understand it all.' He caught sight of movement in the trees. `And it's about to get harder. Wil's here.'

Ruth turned as Renee reappeared in a gush of wind.

`Your boy is here.' She crossed her arms, watching Mason. `And he's pissed off with you two.'

`You spoke to him?' Ruth stepped toward the trees.

`Nope, didn't need to.' Renee tilted her head. `He's armed and smells of anger.'

Mason widened his vision until he spotted Wilson hiding in the trees, pistols in hand.