In The Beginning, Chapter 107
“CHARLIE! Where do you think you are going?” She demanded, as I walked back to the house. She sounded like my mother more than my aunt.
“I don’t think heels and a skirt are idea when attempting a rescue!” I replied dryly.
“You cannot go after him! That is what Hermes wants! That is why he took him!” She argued as she followed me.
“And I will make him regret that decision!” I screamed back, losing my patience with her wasting precious time.
“He touched another!” Theia fumed, and though her voice was low, I knew everyone in the house heard it.
“He was under her spell, her powers, she was a succubus, the mother of all succubae if she is to be believed!” I bit back, just as menacing.
“Did it hurt any less?” She asked, with a raised eyebrow.
“It wasn’t his fault.” I insisted as I bit back tears. I started up the stairs, hoping to end the conversation.
“I can still see the pain he is causing you.” Theia called after me, I froze on the stairs, before chuckling humourlessly, and turning to face her.
“How can you be millions of years old and not know that loving someone is pain? Every second, because you know how precious and rare it is, how easy it is to lose. Loving someone means giving them the power to make you feel bliss, serenity, and overwhelming joy, and the ability to devastate you by taking it all away. That’s the price, the balance that you lot are so hell bent on protecting.” I scoffed, turning on my heel and continuing up the stairs. I stripped my clothes quickly, throwing on jeans and a sweater, and grabbing my sneakers, and shoving them on over the stockings I had worn to work, and neglected to remove.
“Charlie?” Maria called from outside the bedroom as I tied my shoe.
“Yeah?” I replied as I stood.
“Can I come in?” She asked softly.
“I’m almost done, I’ll be coming out in a second!” I called back as I checked I had everything I needed, the door creaked open a few inches.
“Charlie?” She asked softly, I opened the door wider.
“I need to get to him before they feed on him.” I said shakily, hoping to covey as quickly as possible that I didn’t have time for a big heart to heart.
“Be careful.” She said, as she nodded, and stroked my arm.
“He’s on a big cargo ship called The Talaria, it’s in the Gulf of Mexica, just off the coast of Texas. Tell Ben to go to Alpha Beau for help if I'm not back by tonight.” I rushed, teleporting quickly before I allowed her to talk me out of it. I could just make out Theia calling my name to stop me as I floated away. I landed on the ship, or in the ship, as I realised, I was not where I intended, and I had no idea where I was. I reached out through the link to Daniel, hoping it would be enough to lead me to him, but he didn’t respond. I focused my power on the bond, remembering how strong it felt when his wolf marked me. It wasn’t a pull, so much as an instinct to move in one direction or another, but I let it guide me, stopping every few feet to send a small portion of my power out to scan for vampires, though none appeared to be this deep into the ship. I followed a winding corridor, all made of metal, until I reached an open area, with several heavy metal doors blocking my path. I sent my power out first, to check I was alone, then focused again on the bond, following it to a thick steel door with a hand crank in the centre of it. I tried turning it, but it screeched in protest, I froze, praying no one heard, or came to investigate. After several tense minutes, when I was sure no one was coming, I decided to use my powers. I thought about teleporting, but that could be dangerous without knowing what was on the other side, and I wasn’t having the best luck with my aim, so I decided to drain it of the electrical charge that held its atoms together, disintegrating it. Also risky, anyone who came along this area would know something was up, but it was still my best option. I placed my palms on the door, and let my power draw in the charge, until the door was gone, and I had to scramble to catch the crank before it hit the ground. Inside was another corridor, I checked again I was alone, before moving forward, the corridor was long, but straight, and led me to a dead end. I checked out my surroundings, before focusing on the bond, it was definitely stronger. “Daniel?” I tried the link again.
“Charlie? Need ta leave, trap!” He groaned, slurring like he’d been drugged. Fairly certain, or maybe just a tad hysterical, that Daniel was on the other side of the wall, I drew out its charge. On the other side was a small cargo area of some kind, with crates stacked sporadically along all four walls, and Daniel, in a large cage, his hands cuffed to the top, his toes barely touching the bottom. He was beaten severely and more than once by the state of wounds, dried blood was caked in places where he had healed on his bare chest and legs, having stripped him of all his clothing but his underwear. I didn’t check around us, I didn’t think, I just ran to him, taking the charge from two of the bars in seconds, I slipped inside.
“Daniel? I’m here, stay awake for me, okay? While I figure out how to get you down.” I cried into his stomach.
“Gotta get outta here.” He groaned back.
“I’m working on it, just stay awake for me, then we will both get out of here.” I replied, looking around for something to spark an idea, but finding nothing. I’d never tried to manipulate something so big, plus it was technically several pieces welded and held together with bolts, so two firsts, but I couldn’t see another way. I sent my power out of me, letting it slither and grow, until the entire cage was covered, I started drawing out the charge, it was much harder than anything else I had done. I could feel the sweat beading on my forehead as I grunted with effort, just when I thought I might pass out, my power retreated. Both Daniel and I fell to our knees as the cage vapourised, panting with the exertion.
“RUN!” He cried, forcing himself to his feet and past me as men streamed into the room, seemingly appearing from behind the crates, but they hadn’t been there before I entered the room. I spun around in time to see his claws rip out the throat of one vampire, while his fangs dug into the neck of another. A third appeared behind him so quickly I almost missed it, and hit him with a cattle prod like device, Daniel’s body spasmed and hit the floor hard. Once away from the device he seemed to regain muscle control quickly, scrambling back towards me before taking a defensive pose in front of me, growling furiously. “Get out of here Charlie, they don’t want me.” He panted, he was exhausted and in agony, but still fighting for me, I doubt he had the strength to shift.
“Not without you.” I swore, reaching for him so I could teleport. He glanced back at me quickly, checking my position, before leaping backwards, grabbing my arm and pulling me into him, but rather than teleporting, we crashed into each other. “I can’t teleport.” I told him in alarm as I realised what he had been trying to tell me. “Why can’t I teleport?” I cried, fighting my fear by getting angry instead.
“I’m afraid that’s my doing.” A tall slim man in a suit chuckled as the men parted for him to approach us. “Cousin, look how lovely you are. You didn’t get that from your father, miserable cunt. And powerful!” He indicated towards the gap in the wall. “That you got from him, not that he would ever use his like you did today... I like that, so know I will feel bad for days, weeks even after I hand you over. But when my father wants something, he gets it, and it just so happens, you’re the key to me getting everything I’ve ever wanted too, so you understand the bind I’m in. But, to show you I’m not a complete monster, I will allow you to say goodbye to your... pet? I mean... cousin, tell me you don’t fuck it, it’s practically a dog, I will even allow him to leave, alive, if you beg me for his life. Or I could keep him chained up until Zeus is done with you? We may return here at some point, after you are carrying my child of course.”
“You can try and kill me Hermes, but I will take all of your men with me. And in a fight, between you, and a vengeful Charlie, my money’s on her.” Daniel snarled, his arms circling me protectively.
“Let me go, I have a plan.” I told him through the link. The entire time he had been monologuing I had been shifting through everything Theia had thought me about teleporting. “Please... please let him live, let him go, and I won’t fight.” I begged Hermes, removing Daniel’s arms from around me and stepping towards the vile creature.
“Charlie, no!” Daniel tried to stop me. “Tell me the plan.” He insisted through the link.
“Please don’t make me watch you die?” I pretended to sob into his chest. “Trust me, please?” His arms faltered but fell to his sides as he let me step forward. I wiped my face a few times. “Please let him go?” I asked Hermes again.
“I think begging should really be done while on your knees, don’t you?” He smirked, and I had to suppress my own, idiot. I nodded, sniffling, and moved to one knee, placing my hands on the floor to steady myself, before I moved my other leg underneath me.
“Please let him live, and return to his pack?” I asked, while focusing my power on the floor.
“You do look good on your knees.” He laughed, his men joining in, and despite everything I could feel Daniel fighting the urge to attack him.
“Not yet!” I told Daniel through the link, as I struggled to maintain the small area my powers were drawing from. “On the count of three, grab me.”
“But I don’t think you’re there yet... why don’t you take off your clothes? And straighten up, I want to inspect my prize.” Hermes laughed.
“One.” I linked Daniel. “What?” I asked aloud, scrambling for time.
“Take off your clothes and sit up.” Hermes ordered.
“Two.” I linked as my arms began to tremble. “Will Zeus be happy with you sampling me before he has had the chance to use me for his purposes?” I snapped.
“I thought you promised not to fight?” He asked me, the ice-cold chill in his voice betrayed the monster he really was.
“If you let Daniel live and go back to his pack. You have neither accomplished, nor promised to honour that deal.” I snarled, looking into his empty black eyes. “Three!” I screamed out loud as I felt the floor change its consistency beneath me. Daniel and Hermes lunged for me at the same time, but I felt Daniel’s hand on my shoulder a fraction of a second before the floor collapsed. We were falling into the engine room, but now we were away from the focusing crystals Hermes used to trap me, I could teleport. My back collided with Daniel’s chest as we fell, and without thinking, I teleported us to the meadow, our meadow.
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