Waves of Change (World Above Water, Book 1) (17 page)

Chris was dumbfounded at what was revealed. Several Ver-Rist Tokos gathered to follow the instructions of someone named Grant. He explained they were to abduct Alicia next week, and they needed to scan her while she concentrated on various tasks.

To his complete and utter disbelief, Chris watched as this Grant explained that Alicia might possess the resonance necessary to activate the
Halai-ah Kyindi Ehl
.
“Advisor?”

“We must call a meeting at once. Be ready in one hour. Both of you.”
The advisor’s thoughts were filled with warning.

Chris acknowledged the order and continued his extraction until he had uncovered every single detail. Having no other use for the man, he ended his life. Getting rid of the target did nothing to lower his level of agitation, and he paced around the man’s body. “Daniel!”

“I saw it.”

“What do you think King Philip will do?”

“I don’t know. I don’t like this.”

Chris could feel Daniel’s apprehension through the water he levitated next to his temple. He felt the same way, and he racked his brain for answers. “No wonder they’ve been after her. They want to use her to gain power.”

“I will kill every one of them myself before I let them take her.”

“Do you really think she can create the resonance?” Such a thing was unheard of, and Chris wondered how it was even possible.

“I have no idea. I never even considered it as a possibility. All I know is I need to get her somewhere safe.”

“I agree. We’ll come up with a plan after we speak to the advisor.”

“Chris, I’m moving her now. There is no way I will wait another second. I’ll bring enough water with me to hear the advisor. But for now, I am packing our things and we’re leaving.”

“Let me help you, Daniel. You don’t have to go it alone, not now, not after all we’ve been through.”

“It’s okay. I know where we can go.”

Daniel’s emotions transmitted through the water, and Chris could feel his desperation. He would do anything to be there for Daniel.
Don’t shut me out.
“Contact me from the car when you can. I mean it, Daniel. I’m always here for you, for both of you; you know that.”

“I know. Thank you for everything, Chris.”

It was an uneasy feeling to hear Daniel speak like that, and Chris felt like his muscles burned, filled with the need to propel him to act on his friend’s behalf. The thought of saying good-bye to his best friend left a sour taste in his mouth, and he struggled to stay calm. “Don’t make it sound so final. What’s going on? What exactly are you thinking?”

“Besides the obvious?”

“Well, yeah.”

“I don’t know and that’s what bothers me.”

* * * *

Back at the house, Daniel packed two bags and put them in his SUV. After lowering the backseats, he placed blankets and pillows in an effort to make a comfortable, albeit rudimentary bed. He went back into the house and lifted Alicia’s sleeping body gently, cradling her in his arms, and then carried her down the stairs and out of the house. He slowly lowered her onto the blankets and tucked them around her.

He watched her for a few moments and made sure she was as comfortable as he could make her before he closed the door and got behind the wheel.

He started the engine and drove in silence as worry and fear permeated every fiber of his being. He gripped the wheel as visions of their possible future played in his mind, and he clenched his teeth at the thought of the Ver-Rist Tokos taking her away from him. He didn’t have a destination in mind; he just drove. He glanced in his rearview mirror from time to time to see if Alicia slept comfortably, and his heart ached as the target’s memories and revelation played on an endless loop inside his head.
Nothing can happen to her.
Enki,
please!

When the time came for the meeting, Daniel pulled over to the side of the road. He unscrewed the cap on his bottled water, extracted the water from it, formed a globe, and placed both hands on the surface.

“Daniel. Chris.” It was King Philip himself.

“Your Highness.”

Chris and Daniel spoke their greeting in unison. Daniel was surprised they were speaking to the king directly. It was equal parts unexpected and unnerving.
If he is speaking to us himself, this has to be serious.

King Philip didn’t waste any time. “The advisor has relayed this troubling news to me, and I am disturbed. I never thought Davidus would go this far, but clearly I was mistaken. If Alicia possesses the ability to create a resonance the
Halai-ah Kyindi Ehl
responds to, then the Ver-Rist Tokos would have a weapon they could use that would render us all helpless. Our lives would be changed forever if she were to activate it.” The king paused for several moments before he continued.

“If they take her, there wouldn’t be anything we could do to stop them. She has no training or understanding of how to use the
Halai-ah Kyindi Ehl
. She could wreak havoc while the Ver-Rist Tokos use her to figure out its capabilities. As protector, I must not allow any threat to the
Halai-ah Kyindi Ehl
. It was with a heavy heart that we have decided we must not allow Alicia to be abducted. The only way to eliminate the threat is to eliminate her.”

Daniel was in shock, and words failed him as he replayed the king’s words.

“Your Highness, she is an innocent!” Chris pleaded into the water, and Daniel could feel the fear and anger in his friend’s thoughts. “Our people have never harmed an innocent. It is one of our oldest laws. It’s one of the first things we learn as enforcers.”

“I am aware of this, Chris. But in this case, it was agreed upon. We must break the law in order to preserve everything we hold dear. The Ver-Rist Tokos must never be allowed to access the
Halai-ah Kyindi Ehl
. You know this.”

“Your Highness, she is my
Dau-Hael
, my wife. She’s…” Daniel paused. His emotions were getting the better of him, and he needed to get himself under control so he could continue. “Your Highness, she’s pregnant.”

King Philip’s heartbreak filtered into his thoughts, and Daniel could feel his turmoil.
He doesn’t want to do this. Please don’t do this!

“I’m sorry, Daniel. If there was any other way, I’d take it, but there isn’t. She must be sacrificed for the good of all.”

Chris’ fear was rapidly being replaced by rage and resentment, and Daniel felt every ounce of his emotion. “Your Highness, I cannot accept this. You would kill two innocents to stop a catastrophe that could possibly be prevented. It may never even happen. We can still protect them, keep them safe where the Ver-Rist Tokos can’t find them. Please, Your Highness, don’t give me an order I can’t carry out.”

“Chris, I understand your pain, but do not forget your place. I am your king, and you are bound to my word.”

Daniel’s muscles began to spasm, and his head fell back against the headrest. “Your Highness, we have carried out your orders without question. We have risked our lives time and time again. Please do not ask me to do this.” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and he was wholly unprepared to consider alternatives for this scenario.

“We must eliminate this threat. This is my order. I want the memories of her…” King Philip paused. It was as if he had difficulty saying the next words. “I want the memories of her death in four days.”

“Your Highness, please. I beg you, reconsider!” Chris was frantic as he pleaded one last time. “I can’t do this; how can you demand this?”

“If you cannot complete the task, others will be sent.”

The connection ended, and both Chris and Daniel screamed into the night.

*

Alicia woke with a start when she heard Daniel scream.
Why are we in the car? Where are we going?
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” She made her way to his seat and pulled her eyebrows down when she saw the water floating in front of his face. His phone rang in the background, but he made no move to answer it.

“Beautiful…” His hands trembled, and shudders moved though his body.

“What is it, Daniel?”

“Beautiful, they want… They want…”

She had never seen him like this, and it terrified her.
“If you can’t say it, show it to me. Tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to hear it again!” Daniel shook his head and avoided looking at her. She could sense his anger and helplessness, and her stomach heaved in protest, but she swallowed it down.

“Danny, you’re scaring me. I wake up in the car to you screaming at the top of your lungs. I’m entitled to an explanation. Just tell me.”

Daniel began to pound his head on the steering wheel as he chanted, “No, no, no, no, no, no, no!”

Without hesitation and ignoring her fatigue, she held his head and climbed into his lap. She wrapped her arms around him and tried to tamp down her need to react to what she felt from him.
“Daniel, I’m here. Let me in. Show me what happened.”

Daniel’s phone continued to ring, and she picked it up. She was going to shut it off until she saw the number. “Chris, what the hell is going on?”

“Alicia? I’m so sorry!”

“Sorry about what? What’s happening?”

“He hasn’t told you?”

“No, he’s barely able to speak. Just tell me what this is about, Chris. I am losing my mind here.”

“Alicia, put his hand in some water and touch him. I’ll show you what happened.”

Alicia scooped out a cupful of water from one of the floating globes and placed Daniel’s hand into the liquid. When she held his free hand in hers, she let Chris know she was ready. Chris instantly sent a rush of images through Daniel, and her eyes widened.
What the hell?
“Chris, I’ve got to call you back.”

“Alicia, please talk to me. I need you to know I will not allow this to happen. I’d never hurt you, and I will stop anyone who tries to.”

“I’ll call you back, Chris. I need to calm him down.” Daniel had his eyes closed, and he banged the back of his head against the headrest.

“Promise me.”

“I promise I’ll call you back, Chris.”

“Thank you.”

She hung up the phone and tried to search Daniel’s face as she sat in his lap. Instinct put her into triage mode, and she thought through each part of the situation as if it were an injury needing treatment. She didn’t know where to begin, so she started with the one thing that might bring him around. “I’m pregnant?”

Her words seemed to break through, and he finally looked at her. “Yes. I sensed it in your water earlier while you slept. Your water changed, kind of like Bethany’s.” His voice was empty, completely drained of all emotion.

“And this resonance, that’s why they’re after me?”

“Yes.”

“They’ll kill me to stop this king?”

Daniel’s voice trembled as he offered his reply. “Yes.”

Alicia closed her eyes and tried to digest all the information she had received. “I’m not a part of this fight. This doesn’t have anything to do with me!”

“I know, beautiful. I’ll figure out a way to protect you, both of you.”

“How? Where will we go? These are your people we’re talking about. All you do is track down and kill your targets. This is bullshit!” Anger bloomed inside her. She thought over everything Daniel had shared with her about the abilities of the Leuk Ahnal, and she closed her eyes. Memories of the days her water was manipulated came back, and she shook her head.
I can’t fight them. They’ll find me and kill me.

“I’ll figure this out, beautiful. I just need time to think.”

“How long do you think you can exist without touching water? You know the instant you make contact with it they’ll find you.”

“I have to do something. I won’t let them kill you!” He cupped her cheek with one hand and placed the other onto her belly. “I will keep the two of you safe, no matter what I have to do, even if I have to kill them.”

“Danny…”

“Alicia, don’t. I don’t want to hear it. Just let me figure out what to do. I’ll come up with something. There has to be a place where I can protect you.”

“Where? On the moon? There’s nowhere for us to go. We can’t escape your people. They can track you anywhere.”

“Then we separate.”

“What?” Alicia could hardly believe what she was hearing, and she blinked several times in disbelief.

“They can track me; they can’t track you. If I have to leave you to keep you alive, I will.” The emptiness returned to his voice, and she even felt it through his water.

“If you do that and they take you in, how long would it take before they use the bond between us? Before they pull my location out of your water?”

“Alicia, I swear to
Enki
, I will do whatever I have to do to keep you alive. Let them take me. The king’s palace is filled with water; I can kill enough of them to get the point across.”

“You’d leave me alone with the Ver-Rist Tokos looking for me? You’d attack and kill your own people?”

“Fuck!” Daniel pulled her close and held her tight. “I’m not going to lose you. I can’t.”

She could feel the shudders in his chest when he breathed, and her mind raced.
I’ve got to figure a way out of this mess.
An idea came to her, and even though it seemed crazy, it was the only one she had.
It might work.
She squeezed him tighter before she took a deep breath. “Let them take me.”

“What?” Daniel loosened his hold on her and positioned her so he could look into her eyes.

“Let the Ver-Rist Tokos take me.”

“Are you insane?”

“No, just hear me out. I—”

“No! I will not let them get their damned hands on you. Hell no, Alicia!”

“Danny, listen to me, please. Just let me explain my idea.”

“I’m not listening to any plan that involves the Ver-Rist Tokos taking my
Dau-Hael
. You actually expect me to agree to this?”

She could see the conversation wasn’t going to go forward, so she put her hands on his shoulders and stared him down. This situation was the last thing she ever imagined, but she was pregnant now, and her emotions swelled with the need to act. Alicia moved aside, and the doctor in her moved forward. “Daniel, I am your wife, and I am going to do whatever I can to protect this family. Now you can either listen to me, or I will drug you and do what I need to do while you’re unconscious. We don’t have time to play around. This is an emergency, and we have to make a decision and act.”