Viper (Second Wave Book 1) (20 page)

“It’s protecting her while helping
her through the expansion of her brain connections. The power that it radiates
is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Whatever you do, don’t attempt to touch
her, the damage it could do might be irreversible.” Amun said, looking around
at everyone warningly before settling his gaze on Viper.

“How the hell could you not know
this was among us?” Grai asked Ratoka angrily.

Viper looked around the room at his
fellow warriors, and it didn’t take the heightened senses of his beast to tell
him everyone was afraid. Even if none of them had outright admitted it.

He was a little stunned by the way
the others had slowly drifted farther away from David and Lara. Except for
Traze, who stubbornly remained by the side of his unwilling mentor, obviously
feeling the tension in the room.

Viper stepped closer to the others.
“Hey! Let’s stop placing blame here. Since when do the Beast species turn on
their own? We need to learn about our brethren before we relegate it to an
enemy."”

As much as it choked him to say it,
Viper continued. “All its done so far, is protect her the same way our own
beasts would protect us.”

Grai looked like he’d been slapped
and looked around the room, noticing for the first time the fearful stances of
some of their teams and the way they had gravitated into a huddle away from
what they perceived to be the danger. It didn’t help the situation that they
couldn’t communicate with their beasts, who could have helped them access the
Prime.

It killed him to think the other
infected humans, his own Tricia, would be subjected to this kind of reaction.
Not including the fact that he couldn’t allow something like this to divide
their forces. The mission to save their people and this planet from the
Relian’s was too important.

Grai moved to stand in front of the
Tezarian’s, Lara and David, his hands placed threateningly over the handles of
the weapons strapped to his thighs.

“I’m going to say this one time,
and I will leave it up to you to ensure that the word gets around. If something
like this can disturb you so greatly that you will question your loyalty to
your team members and our mission, then you need to leave now.”

“Viper is right, Prime or Beast
does not matter; it is Brethren, and we do not turn on our own. So either stand
firm, and remember the true reason you are here, or leave now. Personally, I
will wait until she is out of danger and try to learn more about the impressive
new addition to our beast clans… and our war.”

Grai said the last with a wicked
grin. One that seemed to spread among the others, their attitudes changing the
more they considered Grai’s words.

“Yo Dude you are not allowed to
smack me anymore if you unleash super beast.” Traze said to David, whose eyes
gleamed dangerously at him.

“Tell him Grai, that’s an unfair
advantage.” Traze whined to his brother with pleading eyes, while David stared
at him.

David turned to Ratoka with a
fiendish smile. “How do I get this thing activated?” 

“Oh hell no!” Traze said running
behind Grai.

*****

Lara’s mind sped through the
memories as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button until it reached the
part where she, and Jacordan had decided to get closer to the asteroid. She
looked around the inside of the ship that had stopped as if the pause button
had been pressed.

“The end will not create a new
beginning. Only you can choose to do that.”  

Lara flinched at the voice that
boomed in her head. What the fuck? She thought, looking around the ship for the
source of the voice.

“Who are you?” Lara asked when she
didn’t see anyone else on the ship with her.

“I am Prime. I am Chunataia. I am
Crainea peh Magorn, Keeper of Light, and you are my vessel. I am here to help
you and guide you.” As the voice echoed through her head, she could see images
and memories that she knew weren’t her own.

Lara knew it was the voice showing
her its story. She felt no fear as she watched the visions unfold in her mind
of how the beast ended up inside of her head. The fate of its kind, how it
began and why she was chosen as its host and the necessity of her secrecy.

Her body felt bathed in golden
light as she merged with the energy of the beast, allowing it to teach her its
power and how to use it. Knowledge and energy flooded her mind and body, and
the pressure became overwhelming before slowly retreating and eventually
disappearing.

“The responsibility of such power
will not be your sole burden to bear. I will help you when the time comes.” As
strange as it was, the voice in her mind comforted Lara. It felt as if she had
been missing it her whole life and just now realized it.

“What do I call you?” Lara asked
the voice in her mind.

“My real name can never be spoken. However,
you may refer to me as Abexis, as I am the first to achieve consciousness with
their host on this planet.” The voice answered affectionately.

“What of Viper?” Lara asked,
looking around at the ship she was still in.

“What of your mate?” Abexis asked,
his curiosity easily readable to Lara.

“How do I tell him we can’t be
together?” Lara asked, choking on the emotions she felt for Viper, not only
from the past, but the present.

“
Carendia Ragnan
, beloved
vessel, you do not need to give up that which you love most. There is nothing
more that I wish for you, than your happiness.”

“Our purpose here does not mean
that you cannot share your life with Viper and have many children and
happiness. In fact, I encourage you to do so. I would be honored to share that
with you.” Abexis said honestly.

Lara looked around the ship, Jacordan
still strapped motionlessly in his seat, everything still on pause. She now
understood why.

“It’s time to move forward again.
We… I can’t stay here. In the past. There’s nothing more to learn here.” Lara
said, looking sadly at her brother.

“No, there is nothing more to learn
here. However, there is much to learn about our younger beast brethren and how
they can aid our cause.” Abexis told her.

“I don’t know much about them. I
found Viper by accident.” Lara said honestly, watching as the ship and her
brother faded around them leaving her in a bare golden room.

“It was no accident that you found
him. Mates are always drawn to one another; it is up to you if you want to
ignore the pull or not. Even if you hadn’t found Viper, you would have been
drawn to his people. Brethren always find one another.” Abexis explained.

“Are you truly more powerful than
their beasts?” Lara asked curiously.

“It is not power that makes me seem
stronger; it is knowledge. Their beasts are young and have much to learn. Once
the Chunataia have risen from the darkness, we will teach them.” Abexis told
Lara honestly.

There was very little that he could
do without the assistance of his own clan. Which is why he would begin the
transitions of the other humans here, before sending out the first call. To
war. It was time his clan awakened; he thought.

“They won’t be harmed will they?”
Lara asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it anyway.

“Beast do not harm their own, no
matter the differences in knowledge, origin or state of evolution. Our clans
have grown beyond the arrogance and ignorance that allow a species to commit
genocide.”

“We are here to assist the young beast
clans and the humans. We will do no harm other than what is necessary to accomplish
what we have been tasked to do. You are well aware of what will be required. Once
you are ready, we will return and begin.” Abexis said gently, understanding why
his human host was a little nervous.

Lara’s mind ran through what Abexis
had shown her, the knowledge of what was to come. A part of her felt crushing
sadness at the loss of life she knew would happen, while another part of her
felt joy at the thought of what would remain when it was all over. If they won.

“How do we start?” Lara asked,
trying to strengthen her determination.

Abexis sent gentle waves of
strength and affection through his host, calming her nerves and her senses. “We
go back, when you are ready, and we help the other humans to bring forth my
brethren.”

“The other humans?” Lara asked
curiously.

“Yes, I have found that there are
other humans at our current location that are hosts to some of my brethren. I
think it would be best to begin their awakenings. Once we are stronger, we will
begin the call to the others.” Abexis said.

Lara grinned broadly. “I’m not the
only freak huh? Who else?”

“A scan of the leader tells me the
one is named Lt. David Jacobs, one is his mate Tricia and another woman is very
vague, but her name is Maggie.”

“There are also several other
humans that are close enough to have felt the ripples of my awakening and are
unconsciously coming here for assistance. We will assume the responsibility of
doing so until our
laustio
, our hunters, can be awakened.” Abexis
replied.

Lara grinned. “It doesn’t surprise
me that the damn Seal has one. What are the hunters?”

Abexis was pleased with his host’s
curiosity regarding his brethren. It would be very helpful to their mission for
her to understand his species better.

“The
laustio
, hunters, are
unique in their ability to scent our kind from long distances. They can also
scent and track evil. They will be very useful to our cause.”

“So all we have to do is go back?”
Lara asked, a little nervous about returning. She couldn’t imagine what Viper
must be thinking of her. Or the others.

“There is nothing to be embarrassed
or nervous about, your mate and your friends have been very concerned for you.
I am encouraged about our coalition with them, by their level of worry for your
well-being.” Abexis said honestly.

Lara sighed. “They are good people.
All of them. The things Grai has done for his people is nothing short of
miraculous.”

“Then let us return.” Abexis said.

The lights swirled around Lara in a
fierce tornado before the world seemed to stop on a dime. As the world righted
itself in her vision, Lara blinked her eyes several times and looked around the
room at the amazed and shocked faces that stared at her raptly.

Chapter Nineteen

Viper stared in joy and fear as the
eerie golden glow left Lara’s eyes and her normal light brown eyes looked
around her nervously. As if unsure of her welcome.   

“Lara?” Viper choked out, taking a
hesitant step towards her.

Lara had no idea why, but for some
reason, the concern in his face and the fear she could hear in his voice broke
her. Standing up quickly, Lara let the tears flow as she launched herself into
Viper’s open arms.

“I was so worried… don’t scare me
like that again.” Viper choked out, before deciding that talking wasn’t his
strong point at the moment.

Instead, he fought not to crush her
to him, his emotions bleeding through his energy to the others until they moved
away to give them some privacy.

Lara couldn’t believe how much
different it felt just to hold Viper. It wasn’t so much that his body felt
different to her; everything else did. What Abexis had shown her in her mind
was nothing compared with the reality of what she could now do.

By manipulating the energy, as
Abexis had shown her, she could feel every part of Viper’s emotions and those
of his beast. It surprised her that she could do the same thing with Abexis.

“Are you all right?” Viper asked in
a whisper near her ear.

Lara wiped her tears and nodded her
head. “I’m fine. Are you ok?”  

Viper leaned back enough to look at
her eyes. He could clearly see shimmering golden flecks dotting the light-brown
color and was surprised at how beautiful they looked; like stars were placed in
her eyes.

“I will be fine as long as you are
well. Amun?” Viper asked the doctor, stepping back slightly from Lara, but
refusing to let go of her hands.

Amun came closer to the couple and
ran his scans again. “I see nothing physically wrong with her. I would like for
you to come to the MedLab tomorrow, after you have rested. There are other
tests that I need to run.” Amun stared curiously at Lara as he spoke, giving
Lara a creepy feeling.

“Why do I need more tests if there
is nothing wrong?” Lara asked the doctor.

The room went silent as all eyes
turned to Lara and stared at her like she’d lost her mind. Oh what the fuck
now? She thought to herself.

“What?” Lara asked defensively.

The fle’ te’ Trugh brothers looked
at one another with panicked expressions while Grai stepped forward. “Do you
not know what just happened? Do you remember the Prime?”

“Yes. Abexis and I spoke. Is there
a problem?” Lara asked, not understanding the reactions of the people around
her, including Viper and his brothers. So she had a beast too, what was the
deal?

Grai looked at Lara as if trying to
judge her seriousness, before replying. “There is no problem as long as you are
well. We have never encountered the species of beast that you are bonded with
and the tests are only to determine your health and well-being and to learn
what we can about your beast in case medical care is required.”

Lara laughed. “And you’re curious
about him, which is understandable. But, your answers won’t be found in a scan.
I will go to MedLab, if it makes you feel better.”

Grai watched Lara’s every move like
a hawk, not missing any detail, hoping for a clue to the mystery of the Prime.
“Yes, it would make me feel much better. Under the circumstances, with others
here that are hosts to other Prime beasts, I believe any information would be
welcome to ease their minds. Your assistance and cooperation are very much
appreciated.”

Lara turned to David and gave him a
warm smile, before turning back to Grai. “You have a point. David, Maggie and
Tricia are more than welcome to be there, and if they cannot be there, then
feel free to release any information to them that you feel would help ease
their minds.”

Grai looked surprised at the offer,
but quickly hid it. “Thank you. Now I’m sure you’re exhausted. We were on our
way back to Dillon.” Grai gestured to the portal.

“Are you ready to get some rest?”
Viper asked, looking down at Lara tenderly.

Lara gave him a bright smile. “I’m
ready to go back.” She didn’t want to admit that she wasn’t the least bit
tired. If anything, she felt invigorated.

Lara could feel the nervousness and
curiosity among everyone in the room. She didn’t blame them. If the situation
had been reversed, she would have run screaming by now. However, she knew that
no matter what she said to ease their minds, they wouldn’t believe it until
they had proof of some kind. Through deed and word was the only way to help them;
she thought, knowing the words came from Abexis.

When no one made a move towards the
portal, Lara did a brief scan of the others and realized they were waiting for
her to go through first. Some even expected her combust or something when she
did. Of course, that was Traze, she thought with a grin. The boy was
incorrigible, but a good soul.

Looking up at Viper, Lara squeezed
his hand and gave him a wink. “Let’s go.”

Viper grinned at the mischievous
glint in Lara’s eyes and allowed her to pull him up to the portal and through
it to Dillon. Drago, Dread and David immediately followed behind them.

They were shocked when they hit Dillon
and it looked like a hundred people were waiting for them on the other side.
Lara could feel a massive wave of fear, curiosity and shock rolling through the
room.

Viper had instinctively pulled her
behind him, while the others held their positions at the couple’s back, Lara
sandwiched between them.

The moment the transition had been
completed, Abexis had receded and allowed Lara to awaken. When he did, he
released his energy hold on the beasts in the room with her.

The Shengari’ lit up like a Times
Square Christmas display with their communications. Apparently, everyone with a
beast knew about Lara and her Prime beast; Viper thought, looking around the room
at all the people.

Lara actually flinched at Grai’s
booming voice from behind them. He came through the portal right behind David.
“I know you are all curious, but they need rest and peace right now. I expect
all of you to respect that. We will have answers later.”

Lara couldn’t leave them like this,
but she also didn’t want to have to explain everything right now either.
Gathering her energy, she waited until she felt the ball form in the pit of her
stomach. She continued to manipulate the ball until it was the size of her
entire torso. 

She placed her hands on her stomach
and gathered the energy in her hands before splaying her palms outward,
releasing her energy to those in the room. It had only taken seconds, but
seemed like forever when Lara finally felt the fear, and nervousness subside
until only the mildest of curiosity remained among those present.

Grai looked at her with narrowed
eyes when the room cleared quickly, as everyone went back to what they had been
doing before they knew of the Prime. Lara just winked at him and headed out of
the portal room, Viper’s hand firmly in her own.

She couldn’t help but grin when she
heard Grai’s call to Viper through the Shengari’ that he wanted a briefing by
Lara, the Prime or someone tomorrow before she went to MedLab. That man was no
fool, she thought, he knew she had done something to everyone in the room.

When they hit the parking lot,
David finally felt they were safe enough to leave them, but Lara stopped him.
“I believe that Viper has an extra bed that you can use.”

Lara sent just enough of a
compliant compulsion to everyone, for David to just nod his head and get in the
second SUV they had in the parking lot.

“Why?” Viper asked curiously as he
helped settle her in the back with him while Dread drove.

“To begin his transition, he needs
to be near. And he will have questions that only Abexis can answer. It would be
cruel to leave him like this after all he did back there to watch our rear when
everyone panicked.” Lara said honestly.

Lara could see Dread watching her
in the rear-view mirror and turned to face Viper. “There is nothing to worry
about. I am fine. Abexis is nothing more than another beast, not much different
than your own.”

Lara turned a frown to Dread when
he choked and began coughing. She could hear his sarcastic comment to Viper
through their private path on the Shengari’. “Our beasts can’t shut down an
entire room of beast bonded warriors.”  

“No, your beasts can’t.” Lara said,
shocking Dread so badly he slammed on the brakes, and they skidded to a stop on
the shoulder of the road near their cabin.

“What the fuck!” Dread asked,
releasing his seatbelt and turning around in his seat to stare at her. Viper
just stared at her open-mouthed, waiting for her to explain.

“Abexis can manipulate the energy
of the Shengari’. It is easy to pull a string and read the energy. The
conversation can be played back, like a tape recorder. You probably don’t know
what that is, but it’s like a recording that can be played back.”

“I didn’t intend to spy on your
conversation, it just kind of came through. I’m still learning how to do this.
I apologize. It’s strange. I went from being a freak among the humans, to
finding my home here with you guys, only to be a freak again.”

Even though Lara no longer felt the
pain she used to feel at being the odd one out, it bothered Viper.

“You are not a freak. You are my
mate and sister to my brothers. We love you, and that is all that matters.”
Viper said, his heart in his throat.

“You’re still a freak.” Dread said
teasingly as he turned around and put them back on the road to the cabin.

Lara laughed and kicked the back of
his seat. “I’m an awesome freak though!”

Lara felt the tension ease as they
pulled into the driveway. She wasn’t the least surprised when Viper acted the
perfect gentleman and helped her out of the vehicle. He kept a gentle hand on
the small of her back as Dread led them into the house where Ratoka, Drago and
David were waiting. She walked right up to David.

“You are curious and I don’t blame
you. I can tell you that once you go to sleep, Abexis will start sending his
energy to help awaken your Prime. It will not happen overnight, but over a
period of time. How long will depend on you and your acceptance of the
bonding.” Lara could feel David’s nervousness skyrocket and sent a small amount
of energy to help calm him, not enough to take over his own emotions.

“What’s it like?” David asked
curiously as he stared at the golden dots in her eyes that were expanding and
contracting.

Lara smiled as the man’s curiosity
overrode his nervousness and fear. “Like nothing I can ever explain in words.
It doesn’t hurt at all. It’s… peaceful. Like finding a part of your soul you
didn’t realize was even missing.” Lara said with a gentle smile, feeling
David’s determination expand in his energy.

David laughed sardonically. “Great.
Now I’ll be too wound up to get to sleep.”

Lara smiled and sent a private
message to Drago, Dread and Viper before hitting David with a bolt of energy.
The brothers easily caught the falling human before he hit the floor. Drago
hefted him over his shoulder and headed towards the spare bedroom.

“I’ll get him settled.” Drago
called out behind him as, he disappeared down the hallway.

“What did you do to him?” Dread
asked.

“I helped him to sleep. He will be
fine in the morning.” Lara replied.

“Speaking of sleep, I haven’t slept
in days, so I’m off to bed.” Dread said before heading off down the same
hallway as Drago and David.

Viper turned to Ratoka, who stood
silently in the living room. “Don’t look at me. I’m not leaving. I’ll take the
couch.” Ratoka said, opening the entertainment center and pulling out the spare
blankets and pillows stored at the bottom.

Viper led Lara back down the
hallway to his bedroom and held the door open for her to enter. Lara went
inside and sat down on the bed she had woken up in, just three days earlier. A
lot had happened since then, she thought.

“Are you tired? Amun thinks you
need some rest, and you probably do. I’ll find you something to wear so you can
sleep.” Viper said, unsure of what to do.

He made to turn to his closet, when
Lara grabbed his arm and stopped him. “Why don’t we lay down for a few minutes
and just talk? Unless you’re tired…” Lara said, feeling suddenly shy and
nervous.

Viper gave her a gentle smile.
“That sounds wonderful to me.”

Lara sat back down on the bed and
scooted over to the other side to make room for Viper, who hesitated only a
moment before climbing into the bed with her. Holding his arm out to his side,
Viper waited for Lara to cuddle up to his side the way she used to back on
Tezaria.

Lara gave Viper a twinkling smile,
then settled down beside him, with her head on his shoulder and her arm on his
chest. She remembered how much she had loved laying like this with him in the
past. His heartbeat pounded strongly under her ear, while his chest rose and
fell with his breath in a calming rhythm that lulled her mind and body into
relaxing.