Chris
Stones, stones, and more stones. My blistered hands ached with every step I had to take to get rocks from one spot to another. I was put to work the first day I arrived at my new home. The cut on my leg they kept ingrained into my flesh and covered by bandages with a disinfectant paste—stung—every time I moved. It had luckily never become infected. The smell? I could only imagine; I had long ago gotten used to the sweat of wet dogs and myself. Maybe I should've let it fester, so they had to let it heal completely. Losing a leg was a big fat no.
The werewolves around me carry their boulders with ease and agility, some tossing them between one another. How I missed manifesting. Teleporting. Freedom. Propper food. Beer. Cigarettes. Sex. Maybe not in that order… Although, any one of those would make me happy for a day… I laughed at myself for how sullen and sulky I was on Zoreah for fifteen years… That ship had sailed by year fifty. I was now acutely aware of how Marcus lived on the compound with a drill sergeant to make you behave. The same thing, day in and day out; get up, work, eat, sleep—repeat. I would never ever complain about how busy our lives were. How much we had to go through on a daily basis. If we ever went back there, I would embrace the drama. Create it. Screw peace and unity!
A whip sliced the air around my face and nicked my cheek ever so slightly. The spot ached nevertheless. Every little painful nick kindled anger, hatred, and rage; I was still very much alive. All of it wanted to explode every time they beat me to move faster… Many times, it cost me a good whipping.
I laughed at my hundred-year celibacy. Juliet would've added another addition by year… Hmm, maybe thirty… She would've had no problems getting some from anyone willing… Although we were stuck on a planet where the dheka couldn't sleep around and after everything, Juliet might not have chosen a wolf… What would I do if she did… sleep with the enemy? I didn't have any temptations this time around. Not allowed to even look at the women… Every last one was… Let's say occupied…
Another crack of the whip hits my shoulder blade; my skin tore open. I gritted my teeth, focusing on something else.
I was moving so slowly… I was having a bad day. It was my hundred-year mark. The counting made it all too real. What was the worst; we'd been in the same place, well sort off if you followed the wall, for a century, and no one had come for me. Found me. Or… they were all dead. Caleb and Juliet would've had to travel back from the dark city and then be met by the wolves in the village… Juliet might be doing what I was doing… Working… Poor Caleb… If that was the case, the kid had a bad start to life as a creature. What I kept myself most busy with was wondering why Juliet never did decide to go back in time… F— I wish she had. If I had been in my riphath form, I would've done it in year two, whatever the consequences. What I went through, I didn't wish on my worst enemy… Cindy's parents were in prison for two hundred years… Tied down so they couldn't commit suicide… Had the thought crossed my mind… Every day…
The whip nipped my ear, and I cursed while I spun around. The wolf lifted his hand, threatening to send another bold of lightning my way. I turned quickly, unable to go all out, and let them beat me to death…
One thing kept me alive. Juliet. Get out of there. Find her or save her. Had I tried to escape since I'd been there. Every month. It was a running joke among the werewolves. What would I try this time? When would it happen? Would I finally get further than a few miles… There was one time I reached a place, and I thought I could disappear... My captors were already waiting… The wolves had scouts, outposts, and beasts.
I bent down to pick up another rock. Firmly in my grasp, I struggled to lift the massive boulder and reached out to drop it on the surface of the wall. The rock fell to the ground with a thud. I stared at my empty hands. The wall was missing. Two furry arms grasped me around the waist and lifted me into the air, whooping joyously. Marcus came into view. Speechless, I stared at him. Whoever was behind me put me down. Marcus held my eyes, conveying every last feeling I couldn't put into words.
For a few seconds, I took it all in. Marcus moved, and when he did, I jumped on him, wrapped my legs around him, and threw my arms around his neck. Relief. It was over. My tears were sudden, and they fell in silent sobs. Marcus held me as long as I needed. I'd probably never let him go… Juliet! I dropped down and turned in a frantic circle. I wiped my eyes and couldn't see her, "Where is she?" There were a lot of people but no one of importance… Not to me. Not anymore. Jamal was the one who teleported me out… I returned to meet Marcus's eye.
"I've not seen her in a hundred years."
"You haven't…? But you were in the village! She—"
"Juliet never made it… Charlene pulled her out."
"Juliet was there?! In the city…"
"Yes."
My vision blurred… The light drifted in and out. Darkness followed.
***
"He's been asleep for three days."
"Leave the guy alone… He looks worse than he did when he gave away his power."
"How's the wound on his leg?"
"Good and healing well… Maybe in a week he'll be able to manifest."
"Unless we can find a dheka to help."
"Where do you want to find one."
"We take him back to Al'reth."
"Go all the way back the way we came? Are you insane… We are headed north for a reason, remember."
"We'll be safe there."
I opened my eyes; Marcus was the only one looking at me. "Out!" he ordered.
It was quiet in the tent, "Thank You."
"Chris." "Marcus." We said at the same time.
"You go first," Marcus said.
"I… Who?" My voice flailed, even thinking about how many of us died.
Marcus climbed onto the bed and pulled me into his arms, "I know. And I don't know."
"How do I get through this?"
He tightened his hold on me, "We get you back to Earth. Back with your family. Freedom. One day at a time… You don't have to get over it now… Once you manifest, everything will fall into place."
I fell asleep in his arms.
***
The next time I woke up, it was because my body rocked back and forth. Jamal looked down, "We couldn't sit still. I've been carrying you since we found you."
"Thanks. How are you?"
"Not too bad. I look better than you."
"Where are we headed?"
"Towards Charlene and Romero."
"How long till we get there?"
"Ten years or more." I laughed nervously. "I'm not kidding… We only found you by pure frickin luck… While the others walk from one spot to another, Selena and I teleport in different directions, scouting out different cities or small towns. We've been doing that for seven days since the last big city we were in. The Queen told us Juliet might be coming this way, so we're working extra hard to make sure not to miss them. I got a whiff of the wolves and, yeah, had to scout out the village they created… I was so happy when I saw you… It also helped that you weren't in a settled city… We scouted for a day to make sure it was only the one camp of traveling wolves… They're building a barrier to an area… Marcus figures they will take over like that. Not all the places have water."
I knew all too well how many times we moved from location to location. The wolves at least taught me the mirachian language and their own. The few cities they were surrounding were close to the ocean. After each battle, I listened to the stories they told. Wolves had no mercy on the locals without any soldiers to ward them off. They were clearing a whole section of fertile land for themselves, establishing in small towns.
"I don't want to be mean, but I think all the work you did was useless. Romero is moving from place to place and annihilating the wolves."
"How long will it take him if he's not done it in the last hundred years."
"If Juliet can get to Charlene a fraction of the time…"
"What do you mean?"
"The stone around Ahasuerus's neck takes away manifestations… Juliet and Caleb did it in the city where Liv was, and Romero killed them all after they were human."
"Good! I don't care about the wall… I'd rather see them dying slowly… I don't feel guilty anymore either for wiping them off Zoreah… They would've killed us all."
"Ira will be glad to hear you've finally come around."
"He's another five hundred years older… Wonder if he's given up hope this time… If we can just find Michael."
"Yeah. I don't know where else they could've taken him… Juliet was on her way west. We're headed north."
"Have you not found any dheka in three days?"
"Selena has been doing all the work, and no, we're in a bit of a desert stretch right now… At night, Selena and I teleport you guys as far as possible for as long as possible. We're going to settle down soon for a sleep."
I looked up to the clear sky, hot on my skin; the sun was a quarter over the sky. Still early; they probably tried to stay out of the midday glare. I don't know who had it worse? Endlessly walking with no reprieve or working every day. Marcus was at the front of the line of people. The whole group looked like a desert wandering sci-fi flick, with their bodies totally covered and their heads wrapped and draped in long pieces of fabric.
Selena appeared next to us out of thin air. I swore loudly, clutching Jamal's fur. He laughed at me. Was this how it felt? When others teleported in suddenly. I wasn't even used to it anymore. It was the first time I took a good look at her. Even her manifestation seemed foreign. She probably got over me a long time ago.
"I found a town."
Jamal howled into the air and lowered me down. He and Selena came back to human while the others caught up to us; I wasn't walking far anytime soon.
"Where?" Marcus asked.
Selena pointed, "A hundred jumps that way. Water. Trees. About a hundred thousand dheka."
"Thank goodness… How do the two of you feel?"
Jamal and Selena looked at each other, "I'm okay," she answered.
"It will take us a few hours, but we can have you guys there before the sun is at its highest," Jamal sounded hopeful.
I quickly counted the group. Five vampire women, three humans, and Marcus and I. A hundred jumps there and back. "It will only take me fifty," Jamal bragged. I chuckled. "I see you working it out… If we walk it… Two to three days."
"No!" Marcus ordered. "Okay, so the four of us will go first." Marcus turned to Jack, "In a run." Jack nodded. "Stay in a straight line."
"These girls smell so bad, Jamal would get a whiff a mile away." Jack leaped into a run before the girls could get at him.
Jamal pulled my feet out from under me; my arms sprang out to wrap around his neck. It happened so fast. I wasn't used to the speed at which things ran when you could make your own decisions. All I could do was sit back and enjoy the ride. He did stumble a few times, landing on the uneven terrain or a sandy dune spiking high into the air. Jamal rallied quickly and had us there a few minutes before Selena dropped down with Marcus, which gave us time to move around and talk.
The town was anything but small. Built with clean lines, symmetry, and aesthetic appeal, the streets were bustling. A happy drum of conversation filled the air; my heart skipped an excited beat. People. Food. Clean beds. Healing. Drugs. Juliet. As soon as I could manifest, she was my first and only destination. "Selena? Has she gotten pregnant over the last hundred years? Why are you not a father yet?"
"Oh, no… I.. uhmm… Selena and I never again… After I met… Soma"
I laughed, "She's here? The vampire girl Juliet told me about?" Jamal smiled sheepishly. I couldn't believe it… "Don't tell me she got pregnant. I didn't see any kids."
"We haven't… Because of the life… Neither of us wanted to bring a kid into this mess… And she wasn't one of the women who went to Zoreah to procreate… She was there but couldn't, you know."
I laughed lightly, "Or she was already in love."
"Maybe… I'm definitely in love with her." Wide-eyed, my smile didn't want to disappear. Surprise and anticipation were a new sensation. A hundred years away from Ira had changed Jamal. "I think she's also a little jealous—that Selena and I did—in the beginning, sleep together before I met her… At the barracks, you know… On En-gannim… Everyone knew our business… So I'm kinda freaking out here."
I clapped him on the shoulder. No way did he have all these issues to deal with. He was officially human… I hope a hundred years of celibacy on their part would make the woman see reason… She reminded me of Cindy… Wanted the vampire way of commitment and one male but not the other women in the picture.
Selena and Marcus arrived. "How long?" she asked.
"You're still lazy, I see," I joked.
"You look better…" Selena came back from her manifestation. Still gorgeous. Selena would always be stunning, even without makeup. She opened her arms. I laughed, walking in and hugging her. Still too tall, though.
"Let's get you healed up." Marcus turned to the two. "We'll be at the palace."
The two disappeared. Marcus and I walked toward the entrance. A dheka male manifested, whipping his sword out of its sheath. They must've had some issues with the wolves so close. Marcus reached into his pocket and took out something. He held it up the object. The man fell on a knee. Handy. Marcus changed to mirachian and was much more fluent than I was. "Do you have a dignitary in the city?"
"Yes."
"Why did you manifest? Do you have problems with the wolves?"
"Yes, we sent word to Romero a few days ago… The wolves are moving along the border of the shore; that way and this. Our scouts noticed a few of them around the perimeter."
"Do you have any soldiers here?"
"A small number of about ten thousand."
"Good. Take us to your leader."
As we walked through the impressive entrance, the guard headed for a small stall and held out his hands to a young boy. He turned and pulled out two glasses off a shelf and handed it to the man. Marcus and I drank whatever it was in one go. Sweet but watery. Smelled nice for a change. I wiped my mouth. Did we look so tired and thirsty? A moment later, more dheka women came with bowls filled with water to clean our hands. Others gave us something to eat while we walked. "I can get used to this," I said, biting into whatever it was.
"This is nothing… We've been in some very five-star establishments over the years."
I laughed. The guard also laughed. "You understand us?"
"Juliet lived here for a whole year… We all understand you."
Marcus and I laughed our asses off, gripping each other's shoulders and enjoying the moment of unexpected joy.
"Semaj!" He yelled. "Marcus and Chris are here."
The two of us kept laughing, our eyes meeting in mutual understanding. Juliet had never given up. Not once. And told them every little detail about us. What we looked like. Who we were to her.
Another man came running out of the massive palace at the end of the street. He took the stairs two at a time and ran the rest of the way to meet us, "What? Why is Marcus here?" He held Marcus's eyes, and his own were full of emotion while he shook his hand quickly. "Chris, I am so happy you are alive… I do not think we would have been able to get over your death."
"How in the world?"
"Your son… took away my daughter…" he waved a hand in the air. "Her other son took away my other daughter… So that makes us family!"
My hand dropped—the fruit hung at my side… "Her… other son?" I stuttered and turned to Marcus, "Naji is here? How?"
"No, Chris, Basaam."
"She slept with Louis!" Marcus burst out laughing. I had never seen him so easy. Then, I realized the constant sadness was gone. He had changed. His face was loose, and his eyes a little brighter. No scowl or fear.
"I know, it is not the way," Semaj said with a bit of unease in his voice.
Marcus just kept laughing and took the steps into the palace as if he owned the place.
I turned to the man, who smiled down at me. Freaky. Caleb had a wife. I stretched out my hand. He shook it and put his other over mine. "Caleb is a fine young man. No one better for my Kaia… Romero and Charlene came and had to talk me into—letting go of our way—for the couple… It made sense after they told me your history and all the tales and the plans for her future." He took my arm and helped me up the stairs. I must really look awful. "Caleb said he will do the right thing and take her to the dark city once they found you and Michael… Juliet promised me Caleb would not mate with her until he did."
"No…" I said with pride but missed him something fierce. "My son will never… A finer man I couldn't be myself."
"Let me order a bath for you. A meal. And a doctor." He turned to the guard. "Will you call Maroeth for me?"
The man who was still tailing us took a quick knee and ran.
"What about your other daughter? Will the four not take the route together? It's dangerous."
"You've seen our path?"
"Yes… I got to the valley… following my wife."
He looked about the room as if he was afraid someone would hear him. He leaned in, "Basaam and Nami," he whispered, "Want to travel the galaxies… She begged me to let her leave Mirach… My Nami is a little… mm, how do you say?"
"Like Juliet."
He clapped my shoulder and chuckled, "Yes. Exactly like her… Full of... Juliet called it ants in her pants." I laughed out loud. F— I missed her.
Marcus was already in a bath when I stripped down. His eyes drifted up and down my body. I did the same but was so used to seeing myself so thin… Did I look worse than I did after the machine? What will Juliet do when she sees me?
As if he was reading my thoughts, Marcus said, "Maybe we should stay for a little while."
I carefully climbed into the bath and sunk down into the water, "Yeah, I don't think seeing me like this is a good idea either… And anyway, if they are heading this way, maybe the girls will come to say hi to the parents."
"Strange, right."
"Marcus—"
"Don't! I've not given up hope… If he's dead, then we can talk about it… The thing is—how the hell do we find Michael so we're stuck here for another hundred years."
More dheka men came in with pitchers to dunk our heads and put down soap. As I spread the paste over my skin, my lip pulled up. Streaks of dirty lines covered my skin. Ewe. "I think regrouping is our best bet."
"Oh, Carl did it."
"We've got another freaking ittoqure in the mix." Marcus chuckled. "I'm glad he didn't die, but s—."
"And babies?"
"You think?"
"How would the first two years be like?" We both laughed.
I scrubbed myself from head to toe and stood so they could rinse me off. One of the servants didn't leave and held out his arm for me to take it. He discerned the confusion on my face. "You should get into clean water." I didn't look down at what they would have to clean, and he led me to another tub. I sank down again, "Ahh, this is much better. I already feel more like myself… Isn't it strange how we were apart for so long, and yet we just click immediately…"
Marcus didn't say anything. I sat up and looked over. He was hunched forward in the bath, hands over his face, his shoulders shaking. I stood, and a servant brought me a robe. Struggling, I crouched next to the tub, took his head in my hands, and pulled him into my arms, "I'm sorry, Marcus… That we brought you here. Michael and I were playing around that day as if it was just another day… Happy that the wolves had made a move."
"It's not your fault my grandfather stopped the teleportation… He would rather see billions of vamps die than have a woman on the throne… He just didn't take into account that my son would be one of them."
"How?"
"Jacklin."
"How do you know?"
"I went into the room."
"You saw all Juliet's timelines?"
He nodded, sniffling.
"Ughm." A voice cleared a throat. Marcus lifted his head, and so did I. "I don't want to interrupt this wholesome moment, but your son is alive." Marcus stumbled forward and out of the bath, "Take me to him. Please."
Michael looked down, "Like this?"
"Clothes!" The dheka scrambled. Marcus grabbed a towel. Michael took hold of his shoulders and shook him. "Hey, I'll bring him here… He doesn't want to be there anymore." Michael looked at me. "You…" His gaze drifted down my body, and slowly, he pouted his lips. "Well, f—. Looks like you had it worse than me… Anyway, get dressed. Your daughter is coming."
"Michael, wait! Juliet?"
"Hmm, let me think about it while I jump around the universe… You guys better rock paper scissors it so long."
He disappeared. Marcus and I looked at each other, meeting in the middle of our whole lives sorted out in a moment. Relieved smiles crossed our mouths. I stretched out my arms towards the servants. There was no way I could get myself dry and dressed before he returned.
"Take us to the dining room," Marcus said while he moved too quickly for me. Marcus looked over his shoulder, "He's coming, Michael nudged," his voice pitched, moved to emotion.
A second later, Michael was standing with a man in his arms. What would Caleb look like? Naji was all masculine energy. Smooth, long hair tied in the nape of his neck. Michael placed him down. The boy took two steps and threw his arms around Marcus's neck, "I look like you… They said I did."
Marcus pushed him away and took a good look at him, "I'm sorry I left you."
"You didn't really… They stole you… Agatha told me the story many times… We loved it… She and Silvanus made a whole tale of it." Naji's face was animated.
Marcus laughed, and then his smile fell, "My mother and Silvanus?"
Naji huffed a laugh, "How did you figure it out?"
"Your face says it all… Well, I'm glad you had such an excellent man there when I couldn't be," Marcus was holding back a lot of emotions, his hands trembling slightly.
"He's really good to her… She was like a mother to me… So we're more like brothers… And we have a new father."
"I like that."
Michael dropped down again, "Okay, two a day is my limit for now… I didn't even take anyone across galaxies back then."
My mouth opened in shock. Beautiful. Striking blond. Sexy yet cute face. I looked at Marcus; he was staring at Sammy and saw what I saw, "Lock her up, Chris."
She giggled and headed my way, "Father." Sammy gave me a quick hug. "I remember you a little less than the rest— Never mind, it doesn't matter… Ira said it was his fault."
I kissed her cheek, "You're sweet. Thank you… I wasn't a very good parent to you."
Sammy turned and stared at Marcus, "Marcy, you played with me the most. Always chasing me around."
Marcus opened his arms, "Sammy, I missed you… You were the sweetest little girl… After we got you to your father."
She laughed, " I heard about my terrible two's… I'm a little older now. And not so sweet anymore," she turned and headed for the table, "I hope they have alcohol. This is going to be a good night." Thrilled at the display of food, she picked up a fruit and bit into it.
Marcus and I laughed lightly. Were we ever going to stop?
Naji was moving around the room, looking at everything, "Come, let me show you where we are." Marcus led him through the dining area.
"Ohh, I want to come," Sammy followed the two. Naji took his sister's hand and pulled it through his arm.
I staggered a little—dizzy. Michael took hold of me to steady me and led me to a cushion. Through the doors came two men. Semaj and I guessed the doctor. Michael waved them over. "My leg hurts," I groaned.
The two men manifested, and I was lights out.