Chapter 5

Once again, I found myself in the too small kitchen surrounded by too many large bodies. I’d been listening to the plan, but hadn’t caught all the details. I was getting details this time. I held up my hand. “Okay, so they come over and then what?”

“You’re asking a lot of questions.” The big brown-eyed one said.

I pointed at him. “Look,” I tried to remember his name.

“Quinton.” He supplied.

I gave an abrupt nod. “Quinton,” I waved my hand around in a very exaggerated way, “this whole,” I wanted to say mess, “situation is because I didn’t ask questions. I just stupidly took lunatics at their word and did it.” I pointed at him again. “I’m getting details this time.” I lowered my hand and looked around, no one seemed to object. I paused on Leone, who stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, and hadn’t said a word in quite a while. His brown eyes moved over me, but he said nothing. I looked at Michael. “Then what?’

He nodded slowly, “we’ll be cloaked, so only you and Leone will be visible…”

“Cloaked?” I stopped him.

“Yes.” Clairee stepped forward and moved her hand down over the nearest body, Arius. He vanished from my sight.

I shoved by Michael; my eyes wide as Arius came back when she did it again. “So is that like a chant spell thing, or is the power in your hand?”

She gave me a small smile, “mostly a spell.” She looked at my hands. “Yours isn’t a spell?”

I shook my head and held up my hand, sparks moved over it. “No. I think it, and there it is.”

“Fascinating.” She took my hand and turned it over and looked at it. Then looked back at me. “What you did to Leone’s,” she hesitantly glanced at him, “mind. How did you do that? We couldn’t break it or find a trace.”

I huffed out a breath. “Not easily. I’ll tell you that much.” I lifted my hand then shook my head. “I can’t explain how I do it, it takes more focus than just thinking,” I rolled my eyes. “Like a lot more focus. I think I lost ten pounds with the energy I used up…”

“As much as all of this intrigues me,” Victor said with a haughty tone, “perhaps we can share later and get back to the plan?”

I felt all eyes on me. “Sorry.” Nodding I looked back to Michael. “Is everyone going to be… cloaked outside or in here?”

He looked to Victor and then Clairee.

She thought for a moment. “I could do one, maybe two inside, but if more than one mage comes with Davis, they could sense them.”

I looked around at all the men. “What about one hiding in the shower, cloaked?” I shrugged, “that’s at least one close at hand.”

Victor nodded and looked to Clairee.

“Yes, I can hide one for sure.” She paused and glanced around and then zeroed in on Chase. He nodded, looking quite pleased she’d selected him.

His twin, Troy, shook his head and then Chase held up his hand. “Your skill will be better outside, brother, if they bring others you can get inside their heads,” he shrugged, “or cut them off, I’m not particular on how you disable them.”

Troy smirked. “It will be my pleasure.”

A chill went down my spine at their tones.

“Bethany is transported out as soon as they arrive.” Leone said in a quiet tone.

I spun and looked at him. “What? Hell no, I’m helping.”

He gave me a hard look and started to say something, I held up my hand and then focused on the cup on the counter, flicking my hand down and open, the cup shattered in a flash of red sparks. I looked back to him. “I’m staying.”

I could see his jaw clenching as his eyes held mine. He looked to Michael and then gave a slight nod.

“Fire without flames!” Crissy said loudly.

I turned and looked at her, she looked so happy.

“I’ll be damned.” Quinton grinned, “So it is.”

All eyes were on me again and I had no idea what was going on. I connected with the tall woman, Chase’s wife I think, Alona, she smiled at me.

“You get used to it.”

I snorted. “So everyone keeps telling me, about everything.”

“I’m hungry.” Rafael said out of the blue. “I say we leave Romulus and a few guards here to do his thing and go back and eat.”

There were several nods of agreement and then everyone looked at me, again, no idea why.

“I’m…” I was going to say I’d stay right here, when Leone grabbed my elbow.

“Coming with us.” His tone left no room for argument.

I was handled like a suitcase and gently shoved toward Michael. When I turned to give Leone a piece of my mind, he walked out the door and vanished as soon as he cleared the barrier.

Michael’s expression was almost apologetic, but there was something else, too. He guided me out the door and then after a few feet stopped and looked down at me. “This time, close your eyes and take a deep breath.”

“Crap.” I squeezed my eyes shut and sucked in a breath as he pulled me against his chest.

Despite his preparation tips, my stomach completely bottomed out and then bounced back up to stop in my throat. I squatted down and moaned. “That,” I lifted a hand, not even knowing if Michael still stood there, “is much cooler in theory.”

Someone held a cup of something near my face, just the aroma helped. I looked up to see Leone offering it to me. With shaking legs, I stood slowly and took the cup, holding it under my nose and inhaling. He stepped back and a sweet, red-headed lady stood there smiling at me. She motioned. and I saw a chair beside me, and sat down quickly.

When my stomach was back down where it belonged, I looked up to see I was sitting at the biggest table I’d ever seen in my life. The little red-haired lady came out with a tray and then set it down. There were several other trays spread out already. Michael was sitting on my left side, six, I counted, chairs away from me and Leone on the right, just as many chairs away. There were a lot of chairs. They sat there looking at each other. Not speaking, but facial expressions kept changing like they were.

As the others started to file in, I was invisible. They all sat and as the woman brought more food out, started eating. The three women glanced at me, looks ranging from curiosity to sympathy.

The twins came in one after the other. Troy held up his hand. “We’ve gotten the message. Noon tomorrow. Also have a chambermaid in the cells.” I watched as he set the vial of blood on the table in front of Leone.

Leone picked it up and then he glared down the table at me.

“It wasn’t me.” I offered.

“I know.” He said in a low lethal tone and set it back down on the table.

The woman was back and headed in my direction.

She smiled, a real smile. “Can I get you something, love?”

I shook my head. “I’m good.”

“You need to eat.” Leone stated.

“I’m…”

“You will eat, to keep up your strength.” He enunciated each word slowly and then looked at the woman. “She’ll have some fruit, Mitz.”

Mitz nodded and turned back to the kitchen.

I scowled at him.

He glared back at me. “You’re eating because after we have, you’re going to prove your little sparks can defend you if needed.” He looked to Michael. “If she’s staying in the house, we don’t have time to babysit her.”

Everyone gave Leone an odd look, then turned and looked at me slowly.

“Guess you’re coming to practice, sparky.” Chase said with an amused look.

I didn’t reply. I was too busy trying not to blast half the stuff off the table. Between each bite, Leone looked down to me. Each time the expression in his eyes was different.

I did eat some of the fruit Mitz had brought, all while trying to decide if these men were this size because of the vast amount of food they were shoveling in, or if the amount of food was needed because of their size. Whichever it was, I had honestly not seen this much food at once in my life.

“We should get her a change of clothes.” The blonde suggested.

“We can’t, Daxx, she mentioned to Davis she had no other clothes.” Michael said between bites.

Daxx looked down at me. “She can change back tomorrow.” She waved her fork around. “I dare any one of you to walk half of Alterealm for three days and stay in the same clothes.”

Many paused and looked at me.

“We’ll show her the closet before practice,” Alona said and smiled down the table at me.

The closet was ten times the size of the closet I slept in at home. Inside it were stores worth of clothes, in every size and color. I stood there trying to decide what to pick.

Alona came in and held out a plastic bag. “Just put your clothes in this and you can put them back on tomorrow.”

I took the bag. “Thanks.” I couldn’t help noticing the ink on her arm. A woman of her class and grace with a sleeve tattoo was unusual.

She sighed. “I can feel the gauntlet of emotions your feeling, and let me just say, from one who not long ago was in your position,” she waved her hand around, “well, not exactly the circumstance you are, but new to all of this.” She took a deep breath. “It does honestly get better.”

I looked at her for a moment. “We’re in another realm.”

She smirked. “Yes, it is hard to grasp at first.”

I gave her a wide-eyed look.

“If we don’t get there soon, the guys are going to come looking and we don’t want that.” Daxx came walking in.

“They can wait.” Alona said. “Bethany deserves a few moments to freshen up, at least.”

Daxx also had a sleeve tattoo, I was going to ask but was interrupted.

“Victor is going to be upset with me.” Crissy said coming in, adjusting the fingerless gloves on her hands. “He told me not to get too close, but I don’t see any bad around you.” She looked at the air above my head.

I glanced up and then looked at her. “Oh, bad seems to find me, everywhere.” Now I was beyond curious, Crissy, who I swear was a schoolgirl also had a tattoo on her arm. I frowned, come to think of it their husbands did as well. Maybe it was some weird marriage thing over here.

She nodded. “But you have the flower and flameless fire, so it’s okay.” She smiled. “It’s okay.”

Giving Alona and Daxx a quick look, they both nodded. “If you say so.” I pointed to the clothes. “Does it matter what I pick?”

Daxx shook her head. “No. We’ve already taken what we want.”

Still holding the plastic bag, I went over and looked at the jeans closest. “So whose is it?”

“No ones.” Crissy said and then walked out.

“We’ll come back in a few minutes to get you.” Alona pointed across the room. “There’s a bathroom in there.”

~

After a quick sponge bath and change, I felt ten times better. Until I opened the door and Leone stood in the hall.

He didn’t say a word, just motioned down the hall.

I started walking.

“You left me a knife.” He said quietly.

I shrugged. “I didn’t know if I was going to get lost, I wanted you to have something to defend yourself if Davis came back before I found help.”

He was quiet for a minute. “I’m sorry if I was rough when I…” he exhaled slowly, “fed from you.”

“It was fine.” Not really, but it hadn’t been at all what I’d thought. “Sorry if I messed up your sobriety count, but it was kind of an emergency.”

He made an odd noise in the back of his throat. “Yes, thirty plus years and I’m back to day one again.”

I stopped, he kept walking for a few steps then turned to see I wasn’t following. “Excuse me?” I had to have heard him wrong. “Thirty years.” I looked him up and down, he looked to be around my age, just twenty-six.

He sighed, “When I was explaining the differences between our realms, I may have left out a few things.”

I nodded, “differences, yeah fangs, changing eyes… teleporting, that’s some pretty big differences.”

He nodded slowly, “we live longer too.”

“Like, what are we talking here to a hundred, hundred and ten?” I could tell by his expression I wasn’t even close. “Older?” He inclined his head slightly. “How old are you?”

“Two hundred.”

I mouthed the number and then just stood there for a moment. “You’re serious?” He nodded. Daxx came around the corner before I could say anything else.

“Thought maybe you got lost.” She stopped and looked from Leone to me. “What’s up?”

“She’s just found out how old I am.” He said quietly, still looking at me for a reaction.

“Oh.” She laughed, “Yeah, he’s just a baby.” He turned and gave her a blank look. “What? Troy’s words, but it’s the truth and you know it.”

“I’ll see you at the practice room.” He inclined his head and then walked around the corner.

Daxx came over. “It’s all weirdness from start to finish, I get it, but it’s pretty awesome once it all sinks in.”

I looked at her, like really looked at her. “You’re not two hundred or something?”

She shook her head. “I was a perfectly normal twenty-something human until I mated with Troy,” She held up her tattooed arm, “now I’ll live longer. No one explains how much longer though.”

I closed my eyes and then looked at her again. “All of this is,” I waved my hand around, not knowing what to say.

She sighed, “Yeah, it is.” She motioned to the direction Leone had gone. “Come on, beating on the guys always makes it better.”

~

We stepped into the ‘practice room’ I stopped and gaped at the wall of weapons. “Did a military bunker go out of business?”

Daxx laughed, “I know. Isn’t it awesome? Three hundred ways to beat someone.” She headed over to the others.

I stood there thinking that she and I didn’t quite connect in that conversation. Everyone turned and looked at me. Yeah this is a bad idea, I thought. Sighing, I walked over. At least none of them were in head-to-toe leather and armed with swords longer then my body. That was good, right?

I stopped so there was at least ten feet between me and the nearest giant. Something caught my attention in the corner of my eye. Turning, I watched Crissy going up the rope as fast as most would climb stairs. No one else seemed concerned, so I left it at that.

A few of the men held poles, I didn’t see any real pointy weapons though, so that was good too.

Leone stepped out from behind a few of them, his hard expression was back. Gone was the soft-spoken guy in the hallway. Maybe he had a split personality. He motioned for me to come closer.

“Let’s see how your sparks are going to save your ass if they bring backup.” His tone was low and even.

I gaped at him; he’d watched me try to blast through the barrier. How could he not know how much force they could have? He had been drugged up then though, I sighed and then shrugged. “What do you want me to hit?”

He gave me a cold look. “You think this is target practice? They’re not going to be offering you options, Bethany. This is life or death, make no mistake about that.”

I walked closer. “You watched me try to break the barrier, you know this isn’t pretty sparkles.”

He sent me a look, “show me.” He motioned to his own body.

“You want me to hit you?” I shook my head. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

He sneered at me, “that didn’t stop you from fucking around in my head…”

I stepped close enough, so I was in his face, or at least below it, “I did nothing to endanger you. When you needed to focus, I muted my voice, so you could focus.” I growled at him.

He leaned down so our faces were much closer, his eyes were turning red. “Show. Me.”

“Maybe we should…” Michael stepped up, both Leone and I glared at him. Raising his hands, he backed away again.

I snapped back to glare at Leone. “Okay cupcake, you asked for it.”

I turned around and walked a few feet back. I stood there, trying to calm down a bit.

Daxx leaned closer to Troy. “Does this look familiar?”

“Eerily so.” He nodded and leaned down to kiss the top her head.

“Now.” Leone barked. “They’re not going to let you meditate on it.”

Eyes huge, I flipped my hands forward and my fire whacked him in the chest.

He stepped back a foot and then sneered at me. “Is that all you’ve got?”

I raised my hands above my head, making sure all could see the arc of bright energy flowing between my hands. Gritting my teeth, I sent it at him, he was knocked back, but caught his balance again. Baring my teeth at him I flung all I had.

Michael stepped in front of him and then went flying back when it connected.

Covering my mouth, I stumbled forward. “I’m sorry. Shit.” I fell to my knees beside him. “Are you okay?” I looked up and glared at Leone. “Happy now, jerk?”

He crossed his arms and stood there snarling at me.

“I thought I’d be on fire.” Michael said still lying flat on his back, “but it’s cold.” He touched his chest where I’d hit him. Giving his brother a blank look, “I think she’ll manage to hold her own if they come at her.”

Leone sighed and his whole demeanor changed. Holding his hand out to Michael, he pulled him to his feet. “Stupid move, brother, stepping in the way.”

Michael rubbed his chest. “I thought maybe you weren’t noticing the anger pouring off her. We just got you back, I didn’t want you hurt.”

I got up slowly and stumbled back a step. Rafael caught me by my arm. I offered him a meek smile. “Thanks. Using it has a price.”

“I have cookies.” Crissy called and then dropped down by a cable to land in front of me. “Cookies will help.” She nodded and pointed to her backpack.

Someone started clapping. I turned to see Chase looking very amused.

“That was a showstopper, sparky.” He turned and held up his pole. “Who can I beat today?”

Quinton laughed and waved his. “Let’s see you try, brother.”

I looked at Rafael.

“They won’t really.”

He motioned to Crissy’s backpack. “Let’s get you something to drink and a cookie.”

I nodded and was glad for his hand to keep me on my feet. I’d used a lot more than I’d intended, which always happened when I let emotions override my control. Leone stood near the wall of Daxx’s beating tools, holding a large wooden sword. Michael was beside him talking, but I don’t think Leone was listening. His demeanor was changing again.

“Is he all right?” I asked quietly.

Rafael looked over to Leone, not needing clarification. He sighed. “He will be. We all knew what it meant to have you feed him, but there was no time to wait.”

I stopped and looked at him. “I’m sorry.”

Rafael smiled down at me. “Just don’t call me Tarzan again.”

I laughed.

A screech like a wounded animal echoed through the large room. Jolting, I turned to see Leone charging at Chase. Moving fast, Chase spun and blocked the large sword. Leone turned on Quinton and swung at him. That brother also blocked it.

Rafael leaned down, “he’ll burn off the frustration then be the chill Leone again.” He walked to the wall and grabbed a long sword.

I nodded, not taking my eyes off the brothers that were jumping in to allow their sibling to work through his issues.

Crissy appeared next to me and held out a cookie and bottle of water. I took them and nodded my thanks, then looked back to the men. I sat, eating the cookie, trying not to let the emotions threatening to overtake me in.

“If you’re not used to being in a family environment, you’re in for some difficult moments of adjustment.”

I looked to see Alona sitting next to me. “It’s ah…” I looked back to the men. Quinton stood off to the side now, leaning on his pole. His eyes followed Leone’s every move.

“It’s called unconditional love.” She said quietly.

“I feel responsible.” I whispered.

“You’re not.” She leaned closer. “I’m an empath, by the way, so I feel the turmoil inside you.”

Daxx came over and sat down. “I can’t compete with that.”

We all watched Michael back away shaking his head. There were now three brothers having to rest.

Daxx leaned over and looked at me. “You can stop this.” She tilted her head. “At least I think you have that power.”

“Oh, hmm.” Alona said looking at her.

I raised my eyes. “I think I’m the cause of it.”

Daxx smirked. “Exactly.”

Shaking my head, I turned to watch. Leone’s swing connected with Chase’s pole with such an impact, Chase hit the mat. Leone didn’t even stop to see if he was all right, just spun and went for the next closest body. The look on his face was pain. Pure heart-wrenching pain. “How do I stop it?”

Daxx looked from me to the wall. “Do you have any weapons skill?”

I shook my head. “My hands are my weapon.”

She gave me a careful look. “Can you use that again so soon?”

I took a deep breath, “probably not much, but maybe enough to stop him from killing one of his own brothers.”

Alona nodded. “I think she should try.”

Sighing, I stood up, pausing to see if I was steady enough. Looking down at my hands, I checked all was functional. With a slight nod, “wish me luck,” I whispered and walked toward the commotion on the mat.

Leone was down to two brothers now. Arius and Victor were trying all they could to keep up with his anger. I waited until his back was to me and then sent enough fire to hit his back. He spun around, swinging. I’d gotten his attention.

“Are you finished bashing your brothers around?”

Arius and Victor stopped and stood there, staying out of it. They were both panting, trying to catch their breath.

“I’m not hurting anyone.” Leone said, as breathless as his siblings.

“Not physically.” I motioned to my body. “It’s my fault, take it out on me.” I held my hands up, hoping I had enough if he took me up on it.

He cocked his head to the side and stared at me, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “You know I won’t.”

I raised one eyebrow. “Do I? You have every right to.”

Taking a ragged breath, he dropped the sword to the mat, but continued to stand there and stare me down. Spinning on his heel he stomped the other way and went out the door on the far side.

Michael dropped his weapon and gave me a quick nod, then ran after him.

I exhaled the breath I’d been holding and my shoulders slumped forward. “I’m sorry,” I said to no one in particular.

Victor looked at me. “Intriguing.” With that he held out his hand to Crissy. She ran over and they walked out.

My head was spinning, so I sat right where I was. Rafael came over and sat beside me. “Thank you.” He huffed out a breath. “As soon as I catch my breath, we’ll go get you some juice or whatever you require.”

I just wanted to curl up and pretend it was a month ago, and none of this was real. I shrugged, defeated. “Sure.”