T. A. Chase

They Walk Among Us

They Walk Among Us copyright c. 2012 T.A. Chase

Part Sixty-Two:

Zach-

I didn’t move from where I sat. If the Opalites didn’t like the fact Raven and I were lovers, then they would have to deal with it. I never really hid who I was back on Earth, and I wasn’t going to start now, just because we were on a different planet.

Andrel stepped into the room. It was still a slight shock to me when I saw the Opalite since I was used to them looking just like humans. Yet here on Opal, there was no need for them to disguise themselves. Andrel was as big as Raven, but in a way, he seemed softer than my lover.

Maybe it was because he’d never had to live in a world where people were out to kill him. Living in constant danger can put an edge on anyone’s personality.

“I’m glad to see you’re awake, Raven Pacieler. Your sauria has been very worried about you.”

I looked at Raven. “I thought your name was Sanderson.”

Raven shrugged. “It is.”

“No. It’s the name of the humans who raised you, but your true family name is Pacieler,” Andrel corrected him.

“What is a sauria?” Raven didn’t seem inclined to argue with the other Opalite.

“It’s what we call a group of connected Opalites. All of you who came through the gate aren’t all connected by blood, but your bonds for each other are stronger because of your experiences. They have all claimed you as their leader.” Andrel gestured to the chair a few feet from the bed. “May I sit?”

Raven nodded, and I shifted, pressing closer to his side while not taking my gaze off Andrel. Just because this place had always been Raven’s dream didn’t mean it was totally safe. I wasn’t ready to drop my guard completely, and I’d do whatever I had to keep Raven unharmed.

Andrel sat and folded his hands in his laps. He studied us, seeming as intrigued by us as we were by him. The silence continued to build, yet I wasn’t going to break it. I’d learned whoever speaks first in a stand-off like this was the loser.

Finally, Andrel sighed and dropped his gaze to the floor. “Now that you’re awake, the Head Council would like to see and talk to you.”

“Why?” Raven asked.

“Because you are the first of the Lost Ones to return home. We’re hoping to learn from your experience to find a way to bring the others back.”

“Who are the Lost Ones? Where did they go and why can’t you get them back?”

Raven patted my knee, trying to stop me from bombarding Andrel with even more questions. I bit my tongue, wanting to continue, but knowing I had to let him answer.

Andrel chuckled, though sadness formed a backdrop in his dark eyes. “Are all humans so curious?”

I grimaced, and Raven laughed.

“This one happens to be.” Raven winked at me and I rolled my eyes.

“The Lost Ones are our great sorrow. There were four saurias-or groups as you would call them-sent out. They were chosen from among our most brilliant scientists and warriors. Not all of them went, but enough volunteered, we thought we couldn’t fail.” Andrel looked at the wall behind us, his gaze seeing the distant future.

“Were you alive when they left?” I couldn’t judge the Opalite’s age, though he felt older than Raven to me.

“I was just a baby when the saurias were sent on their missions, but I remember the anguish the entire population felt when we realized we couldn’t retrieve or even get in touch with them once they passed through the gates.”

Andrel shot to his feet and started to pace. The room wasn’t big enough for a full-grown Opalite to move around, plus a bed with a human and another Opalite on it. I crawled entirely on the bed, sitting cross-legged as close to Raven as I could get.

Raven rested his hand on my shoulder, and the tension in my body eased. Nothing looked insurmountable with him by my side, and since I wasn’t planning on leaving him any time soon, I figured we’d be fine.

“Why would anyone think sending them out like that was a good idea? We had no knowledge of the planets they were visiting. They could have been hostile, like Earth proved to be, or uninhabitable.” Andrel waved his arms around in agitation.

“Wait. You said there wasn’t any way to retrieve the saurias once they left. But we had a jewel to use, and it worked,” Raven pointed out.

Andrel whirled to glare at Raven. “You were lucky. Councilman Pacieler was one of our most intelligent scientists. She left nothing to chance, yet it was only after your sauria left, we found the notes she’d made about the jewel. She said she’d trusted the knowledge of the stones to one member of the five saurias.”

“And none of them have come back before this,” I murmured before turning to Raven. “How did you know about the jewel and how to use it?”

“Before my parents sent me away with my human family, my mother implanted the information in my brain. It wasn’t until a year ago that I was able to access it. Maybe it had to do with my age or something.” Raven motioned for me to get off the bed. “It’s time to go and talk to Rissa and Gregory, plus see how the others are doing.”

“You must go see the Head Council as well,” Andrel reminded Raven.

He nodded. “I’ll do that after I check on my people. They trusted me enough to follow me through a gate to an entirely different world. I need to make sure they’re okay before I do anything else.”

Andrel looked like he wanted to argue, but Raven grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room. Andrel conceded defeat, shooting past us to lead the way out of the hospital. I hadn’t left Raven’s room since they carried him there. While we’d had to go outside to get from the gatehouse to the hospital, I hadn’t really been paying attention to the scenery.

When we stepped through the door, we both froze in surprise. It was almost like we’d never left Earth. The sky was the bluest I’d ever seen, and the trees surrounding the hospital were tall and so very green. It was like my home planet, but painted with a much brighter brush. Even the air felt different as I breathed. I wavered, and Raven cupped my elbow, supporting me.

“Be careful. Our air seems to make humans lightheaded for a few minutes until you get used to breathing it.” Andrel tilted his head, studying me. “Maybe it’s more pure than yours.”

“It’s possible. We’ve spent centuries polluting ours.”

We continued to walk along a gravel path, and I thought of how strange Opal was. An odd mixture of city conveniences and rural living. Modern buildings and even advanced sciences hidden amongst towering trees or beautiful grasslands. It was like the best of every world I could hope for.

As we topped a hill, I drew in a sharp breath and Raven stopped beside me. He slid his arm around my waist while we stared down at the expanse of brilliant blue water flowing out in front of us. Everything looked perfect, though I knew better than to believe there weren’t problems on Opal.

“Do you think you could live here with me?” Raven stared down into my eyes.

“I can live anywhere as long as you’re with me.”

I reached up and pulled his face down to mine. Our lips met in a soft promise to love each other, no matter where we were or what our lives threw at us.

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They Walk Among Us

They Walk Among Us copyright c. 2012 T.A. Chase

Part Sixty-One

After taking a deep breath, I lifted the jewel while letting my wings unfurl. My power surged through me, revealing my true form in its entirety. Black scales covered my body, yet my wings weren’t leathery. They were compromised of black feathers, and the bottom tips brushed the ground.

Moonlight hit the jewel and blue light bathed all of us. I closed my eyes, centered myself, and allowed the energy to pour from me into the stone I held. I heard someone gasp, but soon I couldn’t hear anything. The light surrounded me, yet I heard another voice inside my head.

The voice told me the words I had to speak to start the portal opening. I forced the spell out from between my clenched teeth while I struggled keeping my control. I feared I shake apart or the gate would absorb my essence, leaving me an empty shell.

As the echoes of the words faded, I felt a subtle shift in the energy. The portal was opening, and it drained even more of my power.

“Open your eyes, Raven.” A new voice commanded me.

I did, and surprise filled my heart. Another Opalite stood in the gateway. He held a matching jewel in his hands.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for our wanderers to return. You are welcome here.” He gazed beyond me, and somehow I knew he stared at Zach and Gregory. “Even those who are not of our race.”

“Thank you.” I stepped to one side and looked at my group. “Go through the gate one at a time. I’ll stay on this side to anchor it here while this Opalite will anchor it from the other side.”

I could tell they were afraid by the way they hesitated, yet what waited beyond the gate wasn’t any more dangerous to us then what the humans would do if they caught us. Finally, Rissa walked forward with Gregory at her side and they entered the portal. When nothing happened, and they appeared, unharmed, on the other side, the others lined up to go through.

Zach moved to stand by me. He didn’t touch me, and I was glad. It was becoming harder and harder to keep my hold on the gate, and any distraction could have made me lose it.

“Everyone else is through,” the other Opalite said. “Send this human through, and then you may come as well.”

I nodded at Zach, and he smiled up at me.

“See you on the other side,” he whispered as he stepped over the threshold into the Opalite world.

“Once you lower the jewel, you’ll only have a few seconds at most to get through the gate before it closes,” the stranger warned me.

“All right.”

I took a deep breath, lowered the stone, and dove for the gate. I felt the energy rush back into me as the gate closed, but I managed to get through without any major problems. Blackness overcame my vision and I lost consciousness when I reabsorbed my power.

I didn’t know how long I’d been out when I woke up next. I stared up at a light blue ceiling and blinked, trying to make the swirls in the pain stop moving. Or at least I tried, until I realized they really were moving and it wasn’t just my vision. I grunted as I tried to sit up.

“Oh, you’re awake.”

Turning, I spotted Zach sitting in a chair next to my bed. It was then I noticed the room I was in, and my mind supplied the thought that it was probably a hospital.

“Where am I?”

Some doubt inside me tried to tell me everything I’d done was a dream. My fellow Opalites and I hadn’t escaped from Earth and the humans who hunted us. I was still stuck in the hospital after getting beaten by the agents who’d taken Rissa.

After standing, Zach came over to me and took my hand in his. “You’re in the hospital.”

“Where’s Rissa, Gregory, and the others?” I pushed back the panic. If something was wrong, I didn’t think Zach would be so calm about it.

“After getting checked out by the doctors here, they’ve been fostered out to different Opalite families, so they can adjust to living on the home planet.” Zach glanced at the square object on the wall. It had odd symbols on it that I couldn’t read. “In fact, Rissa and Gregory should be showing up soon. They’ve been stopping by several times a day to check on you.”

“We made it then? We really are back on Opal?”

Zach squeezed my hand and grinned. “Yes, we made it, Raven, and it’s all because of you. Without your strength and determination, none of you might have returned home.”

“What happened? Why did I pass out?” I struggled to sit up, and Zach pushed pillows behind my back to support me.

“The Opalite who helped you with the gate said its backlash. Because you weren’t formally trained in making a portal, you didn’t know how to control the energy coming back into you, so it overwhelmed you and you passed out.”

That made sense.

“When I can talk to him or anyone else in charge?”

“Now that you’re awake, I’m sure they’ll have a lot of questions for you.” Zach sat on the edge of the bed. “I have to say they’ve been very kind to Gregory and me. Those Opalites I’ve met have also been extremely excited about you returning. They keep calling you the lost ones.”

Relief rocketed through me. I was happy to hear they were willing to accept us. My biggest fear was we would come back to Opal, and those who still lived here wouldn’t want us. We would have been in trouble then because we had no place else to go.

“The Lost Ones?”

Before Zach could answer, a knock on the door drew our attention and I shouted for whoever it was to come in.

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They Walk Among Us

They Walk Among Us copyright c. 2012 T.A. Chase

Part Sixty-

“Where are we going?”

“Someplace a little less crowded. I want to do another healing on you before we go through the portal.”

He didn’t say anything, just went with me quietly. I was amazed by his trust, considering the generation before him decided we were evil and dangerous just from our arriving from outer space.

We found a spot away from the main crowd, and I sat beneath an oak tree. I patted my lap.

“Curl up on my lap. I just need to be able to touch your shoulder where you were shot.”

Again Zach didn’t protest, simply did as I said. I sighed when he settled across my thighs. The warmth from his body eased any anxiety I’d been feeling. Not sure why aside from the fact that I loved him, and I’d been so worried about his being shot while helping me. Having him in my arms helped remind me he was all right.

Zach rested his head on my shoulder, and I wrapped my arms around him, making sure to place one of my hands on his shoulder. There was still some heat coming from the wound, but I’d done a pretty good job getting it to stop bleeding and his body needed a small boost to protect against any infection.

“What do you think will happen when you open the portal?”

I shrugged. “I don’t have any idea. I know exactly how to use the jewel and get the portal open, but what happens after we step into it, I don’t know.”

“How do you know Gregory and I will survive the journey?”

It was a valid question, but unfortunately, I didn’t have a good answer for him.

“I don’t know, and if you don’t want to take the chance, I understand. I asked you to go with me because I love you, and I don’t want to leave you. Yet I’m responsible for all of them as well.” I nodded toward the group in the middle of the clearing. “I can’t abandon them either.”

Zach leaned back enough for me to see his face, and he smiled. “I know, and I’m not asking you to do that. I love you as well, Raven, and I’ll follow you wherever you’re going, no matter what kind of dangers there are.”

I pressed our lips together, loving how his mouth felt beneath mine. I wanted to do more than kiss him, but I knew we didn’t have time for anything more. I eased us apart before lying down. Zach used me as a mattress.

“We should rest. I don’t know what will be waiting for us on the other side of the portal, but we’ll need all the strength we have to survive the first couple of days.”

Zach nestled close, his head under my chin. After closing my eyes, I ran my hands up and down his back, using my power to push healing energy into his body. I wanted Zach at full strength when we left Earth. I wasn’t really using any of my power, just absorbing it from the dirt under me and channeling it into Zach.

We must have slept for an hour or so. When I woke up, Gregory crouched next to us, his hand on my shoulder. I blinked and he grinned.

“The last group just arrived,” he informed me.

Zach rolled off me and stood before offering me his hand. I let him help me to my feet. While I stretched, I looked over our large group, happy to see every Opalite that I’d know of was there. Linda and Fatima stood together, and I smiled at them. Justin stood a little behind them, but I didn’t worry about it. If he wanted, he could come with us.

I grabbed the box off the ground where I’d set it before we fell asleep. With Gregory and Zach walking behind me, I went to the middle of the clearing. I opened the box and pulled the jewel out, holding it aloft for all of them to see.

“Behold our way home.”

As I lifted it, the jewel began to glow, blue-white light bathing everyone in its wake. The jewel itself was a round stone of some mineral I’d never seen before, and figured it probably came from Opal with our parents.

“It has been a long time coming, but now the moment is here when we return to our own planet, and learning to live there. I can’t promise our lives will be easier. There may be problems we must face when we get there, but at least we will be among our own kind. Though even that doesn’t guarantee us a safe journey.”

I paused and glanced over at Zach and Gregory.

“The path from Earth to Opal itself might not be safe. I know only how to open the portal. I have no knowledge of what is beyond it. If any of you chose to stay behind, I understand. The risks here are known and can be avoided if careful. The risks we head toward might not be avoidable.”

Zach stepped up next to me and took my hand. “I’ll follow you. You’ve earned my trust.”

Gregory moved to stand with Rissa. “There’s no one waiting for me to come back. Maybe the future on Opal will be better than the past here on Earth.”

I saw my sister edge closer to Gregory, and contentment settled deep inside me. Together we would deal with whatever waited for us on the other side.

None of the others backed out, so I accepted the mantle of leadership from them.

“It’s time. Zach, please go and stand by Rissa and Gregory. No matter what, don’t try to enter the circle I’ll be placing around me. I won’t be hurt, but the energy needed to open the gate is immense, and I don’t want you to be hurt.”

“All right.” Zach stood on his toes, and brushed a kiss over my cheek before he went to join my sister.

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They Walk Among Us

They Walk Among Us copyright c. 2012 T.A. Chase

Part Fifty-Nine-

He would heal the rest of the way slowly because I couldn’t take the time to focus all my attention on him. Yet when they reached the meeting place, I would be able to help out a little more.

“Rest,” Zach whispered and I nodded.

We all needed to sleep, and I hoped once we got to the home planet, we would have time to rest before anything else happened. After facing forward, I closed my eyes and breathed deep.

“Gregory, keep on this road for another hour. After you pass through Harlington, there’s a road on the left named Roseville. Turn on it and wake me up. I’ll direct us in from there.” I snorted. “There might be a line of cars heading in that direction, for all I know. The rest are on their way to meet up with us.”

“All right.”

::Where did you meet Gregory?::

::We met when I was younger. He’s from the same little town I grew up in. Somehow he figured out Rissa and I were different. We became friends, though I think he likes Rissa more than me.::

::Ah, so are you going to ask him if he wants to go with us when we leave?::

I hadn’t really thought about it, but something told me I should. ::I probably should. I do think Rissa might have a certain liking for him.:

::Why not have Rissa ask him if he’d like to come with us? Does he have any family here?::

::Good idea. I’ll do that when we get to where we’re going. No, he’s alone in the world.::

I felt Zach drift off, and I let my mind go blank. It wasn’t the deep sleep I needed, but it helped. The energy pulsing from the jewel worked with my own to recharge my power.

“Raven, I’m turning onto Roseville.”

Gregory’s voice burst through my mediation, and I stretched as I opened my eyes. I glanced around to see Rissa and Zach were moving as well.

“Did you see any other vehicles?”

Nodding, Gregory looked into the rearview window. “About three cars turned right after us. Should we be worried?”

I shook my head. “No. Those are all our people.”

::Rissa, you should ask Gregory if he’d like to go with us.::

Her surprise washed over me.

::Really? Do you think he’d come?::

Turning away, I hid my smile. ::I’m pretty sure if you asked, he would. He hasn’t been helping me out just because he’s my friend.::

::All right. I’ll do that once we get ready to cross over.::

“Gregory, turn at the next right.” I gestured ahead of us.

“Who does the property belong to?” Zach leaned between the seats, eagerly trying to catch sight of our destination.

I shrugged. “I have no idea. These are the coordinates that appeared in my head several months ago. It was what made me realize it was time to start looking for the jewel.”

“No one else has these coordinates, do they?”

Shaking my head, I said, “Not that I know of. We should be safe, and once everyone is here, I’ll work on opening the portal.”

“How many are still on their way?” Gregory asked as he stopped.

The road dead-ended at a wall of trees. The other cars halted behind us, and I stepped out, letting my wings unfurled in the headlights of the other vehicles. It was important for the others to see me, and know it wasn’t a trap.

Gregory, Rissa, and Zach climbed out after me, and stood behind me. I handed the box to Zach before holding up my hands, motioning to my fellow Opalites to join me. I knew there were already others waiting for us in a clearing at the exact coordinates.

“Join us, my friends. It’s time for us to return home, and leave this hostile world behind us.”

The car doors opened, and young Opalites poured out, their voices filling my head. I winced, but didn’t back away from them. They circled us, and I touched each one on the shoulder, letting them know I saw each of them. I learned their names and ages.

“All right, everyone. We need to go. There are others waiting for us, and a few more will be joining us before we can go home.”

After turning around, I took Zach’s hand and led the way into the trees. I didn’t need a map or anything to find the clearing. A picture of it had been in my head since I began this journey.

When we got to the clearing, there were another twenty Opalites waiting for us. I greeted the ones who were all ready there, and we settled down to talk. I wanted to know where they’d all come from, and if they had any trouble.

Zach and Gregory didn’t intrude, though I kept Zach close to me. I wanted all of the others to know he was mine, and I wouldn’t tolerate anyone treating him badly. Rissa talked quietly with Gregory, and I spied him nodding his head.

::Is he coming with us?::

::Yes.:: Rissa sounded happy.

::Good.::

I smiled at Zach, and he grinned back at me. Maybe having Gregory with us will help Rissa slowly recover from what was done to her. She would always have scars and emotional damage, but Rissa was strong, and over time I believed she would overcome everything.

“Rest now. The last group is about an hour out. When they get here, I’ll open the portal and we’ll go home. I have no idea what it’s like on Opal, but together, we can make it a better place for us than living on Earth has been.”

They nodded, and separated into small groups, talking amongst themselves. It was odd to watch them since I was the only one who could talk aloud, yet with hand gestures and facial expressions, I could tell they were chatting.

I turned to Zach and took his hand. “Come with me, love.”

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They Walk Among Us

They Walk Among Us copyright c. 2012 T.A. Chase

Part Fifty-Eight

Raven-

At the sound of a horn, I looked up and saw a truck heading straight toward us. Squinting, I could see Zach sitting behind the wheel, and I snarled. He shouldn’t have been driving with his injury. I knew it had to be hurting him.

I grabbed Gregory’s arm, dragging him along in my path. The agents parted for us like the Red Sea in front of Moses. It didn’t matter that they had weapons and we didn’t. We outweighed them all, and stood taller than all of them. I could take several bullets without them stopping me, but I didn’t want Gregory to take one.

“Are they coming for us?” Gregory asked while punching an agent in the face.

“Yes. It’s Zach and Rissa, though neither one of them should be driving.” I snarled when one of my enemies built up the courage to grab my arm to try and pull me to a halt.

“You’re right. The little guy shouldn’t be driving. That bullet in his shoulder is probably causing him a lot of pain.”

I growled. “I can’t believe you let him get shot.”

Before Gregory could answer me, the truck slammed into the crowd. I winced as a few of the agents went flying. The passenger door swung open, and I tossed Gregory into the cab. He scrambled into the back, giving me room to climb in as well.

“Drive, Zach. We’ll discuss this whole rescuing us while wounded later,” I ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

Zach stepped on the gas pedal, pushing all of us back against the seats as we accelerated. We raced out of the parking lot, leaving a trail of downed agents in our wake.

“Which direction should I go in?”

“This is the right way. We’ll keep going for several miles until I determine no one is following us.”

Gregory grunted. “I swear I didn’t lead anyone here. I doubled back, and kept an eye on my back the entire time.”

::Do you believe him?:: Zach didn’t take his eyes off the road.

::Yes. I’m not sure how they found us so quickly, but Gregory wouldn’t betray me, Zach.::

Zach sighed, but didn’t say anything else. A thought hit me, and I glanced back at my sister and Gregory.

“Hand me the bag,” I asked.

Rissa tossed me the bag the jewel was in, and I tore it open. After pulling the box out, I hissed as energy surged through me. The jewel recognized me, and it demanded I use it right then. Yet I couldn’t do it, not there and not without the rest of my fellow Opalites.

Along with the low level thrumming of energy connected to me, there was a discordant hum traveling with it. I closed my eyes, and focused on where the other noise originated.

“Ah ha!” I slid one of my claws along the seam at the bottom of the box.

“You found something?”

Gregory and Rissa peered over the seats to watch as I popped open the false bottom and exposed the tracking device hiding in there. Zach rolled down the window for me, and I tossed it out onto the side of the road.

“That’s how they found us. They didn’t need to follow Gregory or even have Bartlett call them. They knew when we stopped and since we didn’t immediately start moving again, they were sure we’d be at the truck stop for a while.” I shook my head. “I should have checked everything before we went too far from the compound.”

No one said anything for a few moments. Finally, Zach downshifted and pulled off the road into a deserted parking lot. I studied him, and saw how pale he was.

“Shit! I’m sorry, Zach. I wanted to get the tracking device out of the box first.”

“How did you know there’d be one?” Zach inquired, resting his head back against the seat and closing his eyes.

“It just hit me that might have been how they showed up so quickly. They were probably following us once we left the compound.”

I tucked the box back into the bag and handed it off to Rissa. After sliding closer to Zach, I rested my hand on his right shoulder. He grimaced at my touch, and I murmured softly while I unwrapped the bandage.

The wound still bled sluggishly. I pushed my power into his body, and found the bullet. He moaned as I began to work it out through the damaged flesh. I fixed the torn blood vessels and muscle as I went, not wanting to have to go back in and heal him afterward.

It took longer that way, but I also knew the pain would be less if I did it all at once. I wasn’t sure how long we’d been at it before the bullet emerged from Zach’s shoulder, falling to the floor. Zach sighed and passed out.

I brushed my fingers over his forehead, then looked at the others. “We’re going to do some rearranging. Rissa, you’ll sit in back with Zach while Gregory drives. I have to keep an eye out for where we need to turn off the highway.”

“All right.”

No one argued with me, and they switched seats without comment. Rissa made Zach comfortable in the back seat with her. Before we left, I jumped out of the cab and put some clothes on. The jeans fit my larger frame, but I didn’t worry about putting on a T-shirt. My wings would tear it the moment I unfurled them.

Within an hour, we were on the road again. I placed my hand on top of the box, absorbing the power leaking from the jewel. I sent out another message to all the Opalites coming to meet me. I let them know when we’d be arriving, and that I wanted everyone there to greet us.

I no longer had any urge to stay on Earth. Even though I’d grown up here, it wasn’t my home.

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They Walked Among Us

They Walk Among Us copyright c. 2012 T.A. Chase

Part Fifty-Seven-

“You Zach?”

Gregory’s voice sounded like an earthquake rumbling in his chest. I cringed inside, but managed to keep walking confidently toward him.

“Yes.”

“Here are the clothes Raven requested. I’ll be waiting while he and Rissa get dressed. But we have to hurry.” Gregory glanced over his shoulder at the truck stop. “I think the enemy is closing in, and I want to be on the road before they show up here. I’d hate to have to fight our way free.”

I took the bag from him, and turned to head back to the clearing.

“Wait. I’ll take the bag you’re carrying. No point in you hauling it back and forth the entire time.”

He reached for the backpack, and I stepped away. I waited for Raven to tell me what to do. Should I give Gregory the jewel or should I keep it in my possession? Every instinct I had screamed not to give it up to anyone except Raven, but if my lover trusted Gregory to help us, why wouldn’t he trust the man to hold on to the jewel for us?

Gregory leaned closer to me, and whispered, “Run.”

I didn’t ask why or even from whom. After whirling around, I took off and didn’t look back. I didn’t know who I was running from or why. All I knew was I needed to get back to Raven. He was the only person I trusted in this entirely fucked up situation.

“Zach,” Raven roared as he burst from the trees, wings unfurling.

Something banged behind me, and I slammed to the ground with a blossoming pain in my shoulder. The air had disappeared from my lungs, but I wasn’t going to risk getting taken or worse, so I pushed to my feet and started running again.

“Get to Rissa,” Raven ordered as he rushed past me.

As much as I wanted to protest and beg him to come with me, the fury in his eyes told me he wouldn’t have listened to me. Pain radiated from my chest and my shoulder, but I was determined not to give Raven anything else to worry about.

It was bad enough that Gregory seemed to have betrayed him, Raven didn’t need me disobeying him and running into even more danger. I crashed into the first line of trees and cried out when Rissa caught me before I hit the ground.

“Is Raven okay?”

Rissa snorted, and gestured for me to look. Grimacing, I rearranged myself to face the parking lot. There was a crowd of black-clad men surrounding Raven and Gregory, but it looked like Raven and his friend were holding their own.

“So he didn’t betray Raven,” I murmured.

::We can’t be sure about that, but it does look like they either followed Gregory here, or they were already here when he got here.::

“What can we do to help them?”

She shot me a skeptical glance. ::You’re injured, and I’m not nearly close to full strength. Exactly what do you think we can do?::

“First, you need to get dressed. I assume Gregory brought you clothes as well. You probably don’t want to wear what you have on.” I gestured vaguely at the baggy sweats she wore.

::You’re right.:: She took the bag from me and rummaged through.

I closed my eyes while she changed. She touched my shoulder to let me know she was done. Opening my eyes, I grunted when I noticed the number of government men seemed to have gotten smaller, and there were more bodies lying on the ground. Yet it didn’t matter. Backup would be coming any minute, and Raven was at risk of getting seriously injured.

“Next, I need you to bind my wound. We don’t have time to worry about it at the moment.”

I directed her on how to make a pad and then tie the shirt around my shoulder to stop the bleeding. I assumed I’d been shot, and the bullet was probably still inside me. We’d have to stop at some point and take it out. There simply wasn’t time yet.

While she was doing that, I studied the activity in front of me, and I spied a truck not far from the fighting. It appeared to be running. It was big enough for all of us, and I nudged Rissa before I pointed to it.

“Do you think we can make it to that vehicle without anyone noticing us?”

She checked the distance, and I waited while she assessed the entire problem. Finally, she nodded.

::Once we’re at the truck, what do you plan on doing?::

“Running anyone who gets in our way over and rescuing your brother and his friend.”

Rissa looked suitably impressed. I might have let Raven lead us, but I was entirely capable of looking after myself when things got tough. I motioned for her to follow me, and we slowly crept along the edge of the woods until we were straight across from the truck.

“Keep your eyes and ears open. Head straight toward the truck, and don’t stop. I’ll be right behind you,” I promised.

She nodded once more before taking off. Even in her weakened state, she was faster than me. I’d only covered half the distance by the time she’d reached the truck. She grabbed my hand and jerked me into the cab. I cried out as pain shot through my shoulder and entire body.

I landed in the passenger seat while she stared at the steering wheel. After I caught my breath, I laughed.

“Climb into the back seat. I’ll drive.”

We sorted ourselves out, and I settled behind the steering wheel. I put it in gear, gritting my teeth each time I had to shift. Nothing mattered except saving Raven, and getting our asses as far away from here as possible.

::Raven, we’re coming for you.::

I warned him. I saw his head pop up and he glanced around, his eyes widening when he spied the truck barreling down on him. I sounded the horn as we got closer. I didn’t really want to run anyone over if I could help it, but if they didn’t get out of the way, I would do it in a heartbeat to save Raven.

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They Walk Among Us

They Walk Among Us copyright c. 2012 T.A. Chase

Part Fifty-Six:

After our lips parted, I whispered, “I love you too.”

::Stop with the mushy stuff. You’re going to make me sick.::

We both looked at Rissa, who stared at us. I saw the exhaustion in her eyes, but there was also determination that told me she would survive. Maybe she would even be stronger than she had been before.

“Sorry.” I glanced at my watch. “I think our escort should be showing up soon, if they get here when you said they would.”

Raven pushed to his feet, and I couldn’t help but ogle his body, displayed as it was in its full glory. He caught me looking, and winked. Rissa snorted.

::You should probably put on some kind of clothes, brother mine. It’s bad enough you stand out as is, but if you go anywhere naked, people are going to faint in your wake.::

“True. I’m not if the clothes I packed in the bag will fit me, so I told Gregory to bring me some new things.”

Raven studied the position of the sun in the sky. Then he tilted his head like he was listening to something. A smile flashed in his eyes. He gestured to us to join him.

“Gregory’s here. We need to get moving. We only have a short lead over the agents. I’m afraid they’ll figure out where we’re headed before we can get there and meet everyone else.”

After standing, I offered Rissa my hand. We got her on her feet, but I blinked when the realization she was naked really hit me. I opened the bag I held and dug through it, ignoring the box snuggled in the midst of the clothes. I pulled out a T-shirt and a pair of sweats.

“These aren’t great, but they’re better than nothing,” I said when I handed them to her.

::Thanks. You’re right. Neither Raven nor I should be wandering around nude. It does make one stand out.::

I nodded, and turned my back on her, so she could get dressed in some kind of privacy. Her mirth came out in a strangled chuckle.

::Thank you for being a gentleman, but you didn’t have to do that. You’re gay, so you’re not going to be checking me out. Though being a doctor might mean you were making sure I was okay.::

“I can tell you’re better just by the way you’re moving. You’re not as stiff.”

Raven glanced back at us. “I healed her as best as I could. She needs another session as soon as we get to the rendezvous place. We’ll need to wait another day or so for everyone to arrive. Luckily, I’d sent out the call as soon as you disappeared, Rissa. Those who weren’t being held by the government have been on the move since then.”

::From the moment I was taken, you knew we’d find the jewel and try to go home?::

“There’s no trying, Rissa. We will make it home without leaving anyone behind.” Raven’s eyes bore into mine. “Yes, I knew. Every instinct in me told me the time was near to open the portal and go back to where we really belong.”

“What do you think will be on the other side of the portal?” I couldn’t help but ask, even though I was pretty sure Raven had no clue what the Opalite home world looked like.

My love shrugged his massive shoulders. “I have no idea. For some reason our parents and elders didn’t pass on that information on to use. Only the history of Opalites themselves, not the world they came from.”

A horn sounded from the other side of the trees. Two short blasts followed closely by a long one. Raven motioned in that direction.

“That will be Gregory.”

I started to hand him the bag with the jewel, and he shook his head.

“I don’t want it until it’s time to use it.”

Something in the tone of his voice caught my attention. “Are you afraid someone might try to take it, if they know what’s in the bag?”

“I would hate to believe one of my fellow Opalites would do that, but I’m not taking any chances. No one would believe I’m allowing a human to hold on to the jewel for me.”

I froze in place. “Will your people get upset when I show up with you?”

Raven came to my side, cupping my face with his hands. He peered into my eyes and I saw the sheer enormity of his love for me.

“It doesn’t matter whether they like you or not, Zach. You are mine, and I dare any of them to challenge my right to have my lover at my side.”

Rissa rested her hand on my shoulder, and I found myself surrounded by their warmth. Raven’s sister’s approval poured into me through our connection. I blinked, trying to get rid of the tears in my eyes.

Somehow, without even trying, I’d found myself a family, and nothing was going to separate me from them. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded and straightened my shoulders. I was ready to face whoever waited for us outside of the clearing.

Together, we strolled down the path toward the parking lot. Right before the edge, Raven stopped us.

“Zach, you go out and get the clothes Gregory bought for me. I let him know who you were, and that you were coming.”

Again, I nodded, slinging the backpack I carried over one shoulder and emerged from the trees like I didn’t have anything to worry about. The large blue SUV parked as close to the trees as possible looked like the vehicle I needed, so I headed in that direction.

The man who emerged from the SUV almost stopped me in my tracks. If I hadn’t known Raven was only a few feet away, and more than capable to take this man out, I’d have turned and run. He towered over the side of the SUV, and if he was a human, he was the biggest one I’d ever seen. I didn’t know if Opalites grew as big as he was, though Raven, in his Opalite form, was as tall as Gregory.

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