Love Struck Eternal
Chapter 55 - Final Preparations.
Zeta's POV, Iraq.
"Two! Three! Four!" I was grateful to be working out in private for once. I was able to focus and go at my own pace and not feel obligated to prove anyone else different about my abilities at my age.
All I was doing were some curls and after about ten of them, I put down the weights and took a sip of water from my nearby water bottle that I had next to my gym bag. The wedding was only a few weeks out and I was starting to get butterflies. The event was going to be massive in scale due to it mainly being a public thing, but Raptor and I settled for having the ceremony itself private. Only people we invited personally would be allowed inside. Same applied to our dinner afterwards. That included friends and family and a handful of G.U.N officials that Raptor has befriended over the years. Not to mention a few other middle eastern leaders who were still part of the peace treaty we had planned in the future.
Sitting by myself in the gym, I raised my ears when I heard my phone begin to ring. Looking over and moving my hoodie out of the way, I widened my eyes to see it was Samantha. Jumping at the chance I picked up and answered it with an already nearly crying voice just due to how happy I was now.
"Hey honey."
"Hey mom. How are you holding up?" She asked me as her voice made the tears come out. She sounded so different from when she was last here with me physically. What have I missed? I wondered as I quickly responded back to her concerns in an even sadder tone of voice.
"I'm holding. It's so good to hear from you. What's going on?" A second after she begged me in her own sad voice.
"Please stop crying mom."
"I'm not crying silly. I'm just happy to hear your voice again." I told her back as I was still expecting an answer to my last question.
"I'm happy to hear yours too, but I'm okay. I just wanted to talk to you about the wedding. Is that okay?"
"Of course. Shoot. What do you wanna know?"
Not wasting any time she replied.
"A lot. Like where are you guys having the ceremony? What time is everything starting? And who's gonna be there? Do you have a honeymoon planned?"
"Oh we do, but it's really fucking stupid. Pardon my language baby, but your dad made a deal with me. He said since the wedding is all about me, he wants the honeymoon to be about him. So of course, like the idiot I am, I agreed and he's decided for the first time in his life all he wants to do is go to a stupid amusement park in the US and ride all the rides."
"Oh my god." Sam uttered back in shock which got me to start laughing out loud.
"He's going to look so fucking retarded. Cameras are going to be everywhere once people figure out he's there to ride the rides. He's going to be all over the internet. He's so lucky he never reads comments on videos about him. He'd lose his mind if he knew the amount of people that already think he's a glorified child." Sam then said as I quickly added on.
"I've read some of them…..it's not always good, but if this is what he wants then I'll gladly let him have his fun. He's never been to one ethier so that's a big reason for why this is his dream. I guess I haven't really been to one either so I guess I can try to enjoy it and see what the fuss is about."
"Oh you'll love it." Sam claimed as I then moved on to her other questions by then stating.
"The ceremony will be at Trindal's church at around two in the afternoon. Seating will start at three since we're going to have a pretty big group of people inside the church. The ceremony itself is private for security reasons, but we're going to have plenty of camera coverage to stream the event on tv. But we have a feeling the whole city will be outside celebrating, so most of the military will be on sight to keep the peace."
"Smart. Who did you guys invite to the ceremony?" She then asked specifically which got me to begin listing off names. A lot of them were family and friends that we both knew, but I started to name politicians from G.U.N and our allies that I figured I was starting to confuse her. So after a few, I finished with a much calmer voice now that I finally was able to relax around her voice.
"Even Hecan Moore will be there."
"Wow." Sam replied as I then decided to tell her about the bridesmaids she'd have alongside her.
"Now I've decided to have you, your aunt Pepper, Maggie, and my close friend Vacus, and your father's close friend Ryker; be the bridesmaids. Your father decided to have his friend Ron be his best man while also having your uncle Cody, Dom who is his friend from the rebellion days, and Marx the man who delivered you in fact. Marx is also going to be the one walking me down since my father isn't around to see this."
"Who is Ron?" I was then asked which got me to chuckle back.
"Your father's favorite bartender."
"What?" She blankly said back which again made me laugh.
"This is so much fun. Just talking to you made my day ten times better." I said to her truthfully as I was slowly urged.
"Please don't say that."
"What? It's true." I tried to tell her again, which is when she said to me sadly.
"You're not making this any easier for me to say."
Feeling my heart begin to drop, I lost all the emotion in my voice and carefully asked her back.
"I'm not making what any easier to say?"
I couldn't describe the amount of anxiety that just invaded my head and all I felt was utter sadness when she mumbled back to me in disappointment.
"I'm not going to be able to make the ceremony."
"What?" My voice was hollow and breaking as my daughter even went silent for a moment before telling me back slowly.
"I got too much going on right now and with things looking that way I can't see myself making the ceremony. I'm still going to come, I just won't see you and dad kiss and all that. I'll either get back in time for the afterparty, or later that night."
Tears began to come out from my eyes silently as I asked her back in disbelief.
"So….you won't be there?"
"Not in time for the ceremony, no. I'm so sorry mom. I know what this meant to you. I'll find a way to make it up to you." She replied back confidently now.
This was all I wanted in life. To have her there for this moment and now I was left with a crushed hope and a burning down dream. I couldn't help but start to cry and that broke her as she begged me in tears of her own,
"Please stop crying. I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say."
"You can say you're gonna drop whatever you have going on and get here in time! This was supposed to be about us! Not just me Samantha!" I shouted out as Raptor came walking in to see what was going on with Maggie at his side looking just as confused.
She fell silent now as I screamed at her.
"I had only two hopes in life and that was to have you and have you grow up big enough to stand by my side when I decided to get married! That's all I wanted with my life and your…and you're ruining it by doing this!"
Raptor figured out that this had to be his daughter on the phone with me and from behind he carefully called my name.
"Zeta? Zeta, calm down. Don't….?"
"What could be so important to you to miss this?"
Sam wasn't able to say anything back as I continued to cry.
"Just don't come then." The words came out of my mouth so easily I was almost shocked I even managed to say that just now to her. Raptor and Maggie on the other hand both widened their eyes in shock of their own. Jumping at me, Raptor shouted.
"Zeta!"
"Just don't fucking come if your going to do this to me. Just….?" Raptor attempted to grab the phone while ordering me.
"Don't talk to her that way! You're her mother!"
"She's breaking my heart!" I screamed back at him as we locked eyes and I officially broke down. Raptor kept his hands on my phone as I cried viciously at him.
"She's breaking my heart!"
I let go of the phone and with it walked my way past Maggie and to the door.
Raptor's POV.
Zeta walked out of the room with her whole heart shattered into pieces as she did. I've never seen her that upset and to talk to her daughter like that required a lot. More than I could ever give her. Maggie was visibly upset as well as I refocused and put her phone to my ears to ask softly.
"Sam?"
"Yeah?" She said back as I knew for a fact that broke her as well. Sam was crying and was doing her best to keep it together as I begged her as a proud father.
"Don't listen to your mother. Come. Now what's going on?"
"I can't make the ceremony." She replied as I nodded and asked her back calmly.
"Why?"
"I have a lot going on right now and I can't make the ceremony on time. I tried to tell her that I'd still make the afterparty or worst case I'd get back home at night. But she….?"
"She's hurting hun. You called her right? You knew this wasn't going to be easy to say, but I'm proud you did it. But your mother needs time now to herself to process this. Give me a day or two and I'll have her back on your side. She didn't mean what she said. Come regardless. I don't care when. I just want you here. Understand?"
"I know." She sobbed as I then urged her.
"Take a second. Breathe honey. You did the right thing."
"It doesn't feel like it." She replied as I decided to try and switch the subject off this by asking her.
"How's everything else going?"
"It's going good. I'm getting a lot done and I'm happy. Despite this."
"That's awesome. You make any friends yet?"
"Yeah." She now chuckled back which made my heart so warm to hear.
"Kinda like one of them too." She admitted which got me to ask.
"Does he or she know who exactly you are? Or are you kinda keeping that to yourself?"
"No he doesn't know, but it's been a bit since we last saw one another; so it's not really a thing that's on my mind as of right now."
"Anyone else?" I then asked her which earned me back a happier response.
"Actually, yes, but dad? I'm not really in the mood to talk about all of this right now after that. I probably won't talk to mom until I get back but just so you know I'm gonna try to make it to the afterparty. Where are you guys having it? Oh I also heard you invited Hecan Moore to the ceremony. Does that mean Ajex Marano will be there?"
"Ajex? No he couldn't make it, but Hecan has been a friend of mine for a long time and he's always wanted to be there for this. The dinner will be at Mocatellis. The Italian restaurant on main street. You know the place right? By the way if you know when you're gonna land at the airport I can have someone pick you up."
"Could you just leave a car for me? I'd rather drive myself. Shoot me a text with the location?"
"Sure baby. If that's what you want. Give me time and I'll get back to you. Go relax. I love you, okay? I'll see you soon."
"Love you to dad. Tell mom….?" Sam hesitated but I knew what she was going to say so I said it for her in a happy voice.
"I'll tell her. Don't worry. Stay safe baby."
"Bye." She replied as I let out a sigh to say back.
"Bye."
With the call over and done with, I looked back at Maggie to see her looking at me with concern in her eyes for Zeta who I knew was heartbroken. Before saying anything about it, I collected her things from the bench and urged the white wolf standing with me.
"I know your job is to stay at my side, but for once honey I'm gonna need a few minutes alone with her. She's hurting and I need to be the one to talk to her about this."
"Is Sam really not coming?" She asked me as I nodded my head once before replying.
"She said she can't make the ceremony, but she'll be back in time for the party. Worst case scenario; she might not be home till later that night, but she's coming and that's all I care about. Zeta was rough, but it was to be expected with news like that."
"That's not right." Maggie somewhat growled under her breath which got me to beg her.
"Don't get mad at her for this. She's going through a lot and I'm sure there is shit going on we don't even know about. We need to be understanding hun."
"That's her mother though." Maggie suddenly raised her tone an octave which got me to again urge her as calmly as I could.
"Calm down. I don't want any of you fighting over this. If she can't make the ceremony, then she can't. I don't care. I just want her home. Don't you?"
This wolf was usually the one keeping me calm and relaxed, but I knew Maggie loved Zeta like she was her actual mother so this was hard for even her to process. Yet she listened to me because much like Zeta, I was considered her father now and she loved me as such. Giving me a slow sigh and nod of her head, she mumbled back in disappointment.
"I'm sorry."
"You're fine pup." I replied as I took her into a small hug. She chuckled and hugged back and after that I took a step back and ordered her with a small smile.
"Go wait in my office. I shouldn't be long. If Yoga asks anything you tell him the truth. He'll understand."
"Okay." She replied as I watched her turn around.
Maggie was the same height as Sam and in a way when she had her back towards me I forgot who she was and pictured Sam herself wearing that uniform. The white fur of course made that fantasy quickly come crashing down, but my mind enjoyed the idea of my daughter following in my footsteps. If she did I'd help her every step of the way to become whatever she wanted to be in the service. I knew however that dream was one that would never happen.
Maggie on the other hand made me proud to have as my second child and my heart grew warm again as she left the room despite still being upset with Samantha. I knew the second those two got together they would have words. Maggie would have to go easy on her though, because the last thing that needed to happen to me was seeing her get hurt over this. Not that I expected them to fight physically, but it was always possible with wolves. One starts barking and soon they all are.
Left with Zeta's phone in my hands, I prepared myself to talk to her about this. I didn't know where to start or how to make her feel any better. I'd just have to hope I could pull something out of my ass.
Tika's POV, Two weeks later, Moscow.
One bunker to the next it seems we went. From Iran to Moscow; we found ourselves buried underground, only this time we didn't have the luxurious interior that came with the original base. No mess hall to eat in, no gym to blow off steam, no wonderful elevator. Just stairs, a cramped tunnel system and a few rooms where we had beds for everyone to sleep in.
Plan was simple and that was for me to stay here at all times while the guys went out and made what money and connections they could. So far everything was going slow, but that was to be expected. It's been a few years since any of the teams came to Moscow to put in real work.
A plus side was that I had Ace back with me full time and with my lockdown official he would be taking on most of the stress revolving around the operation. I was just going to be here to give him my approval and advice. It wasn't intended to put him in charge, but I figured now would be a good time to train him how to be an upper. So far he's doing very well, but again I expected that. He was always a step above everyone else and that's what we were looking for in leadership. I was proud and lucky to have him.
"Vrrr. Vrrr." Reaching for my phone, I widened my eyes when I saw it was Anpu. Picking up the line I said to her in joy.
"About time I heard from you. How are things going in Libya? You keeping your head down?"
Giving me a chuckle, she replied back.
"Not at all. Been doing a lot actually, but that's not why I called. I got money for you…..a lot of money."
"How much are we talking about?" I curiously asked her as I sat up in my cot to listen as she replied back a moment after.
"Enough that I can't be walking around with it."
"Can I get an estimate then?" I wondered as she calmly took a breath before replying.
"Twenty."
"Twenty…thousand?" I questioned back blankly.
"Twenty million. Roughly."
"What!?" I screamed out which got the attention of the boys who were just down the hall.
Anpu began to laugh as I questioned.
"How the fuck?!"
"They pay well over here for good work. What can I say?" She wondered happily as I stormed out of my bed to reply.
"You can say your a fucking lifesaver! We need to meet! Now!"
"That's good because I'm already in Moscow to drop off. I just need to know where to meet one of you guys. My contact in the network already got me the money and we just got done counting it. All I need is someone to come pick us up." She informed me back as I looked towards the entrance of the room to find Sikes and Byron looking in on my excited state.
"I'm sending Byron and Sikes! Where are you?!"
"Lotte hotel on the third floor, room twelve."
"They're on the way!"
Hanging up the phone and pointing at the men, I ordered them happily.
"The Lotte Hotel, room twelve on the third floor! Go! Go! Anpu is waiting for you! Bring a truck!"
"Gotcha!" Byron shouted back as he grabbed Sikes and pulled him out of the doorway.
Sam's POV.
"You told her twenty?" Minky asked me curiously as I finished zipping up his bag of the take for him. Handing it off to the cat, I then grabbed two stacks of my own cut and handed it to the two network operators who were in charge of escorting this amount of money to me. They thanked me before leaving and once they were gone I replied to Minky.
"I'm keeping half for myself. Just in case, you know?"
Minky chuckled as I zipped up my bag and handed it to him along with his own.
"I'm trusting you to offload this for me. The other bag is for you."
"Thank you." He replied back with a smile as I let out a sigh and took another glance at the bed to stare at six more duffels filled to the brim with American money.
"You look great by the way." Minky complimented which got me to wonder while looking back at him.
"You too. How is everything?"
"Good. It's been quiet up until now. Everytime we meet you bring gifts."
"Gotta keep your mouth shut." I jokingly chuckled back which got him to join in.
"Yeah cause I really have an urge to sell you out. Especially after this."
"You're funny." I laughed back as he then said to me in a more serious tone of voice.
"Actually though you should know that the network is paying contractors big money to locate you or Tika. If I were you I'd drop this off to her and move back out. Things need to die down and you're not really good at doing jobs that are less…safe. You draw a lot of heat and in Moscow there isn't room to fuck around in open conflict like you've grown accustomed to. Operations here are closed ones that are very well organized. Give yourself a break now that you're here. Let some time pass and let the heat die back down before making any other moves."
"I will. I plan to actually. How's my file looking, by the way?" I asked back.
"Well if you weren't black listed you'd have every contractor in the world hunting you down. Not to mention G.U.N would be personally sending operators. Probably the same for the M.E.A.F. The network was tasked by both of them to find you, but thanks to yours truly, we've kept that operation down."
"No one's paid to see the black list?" I questioned as he shook his head.
"There are over two hundred people on that list and unless they know for a fact you're there they won't be paying two million a pop to see each of them. Not to mention you have a friend on the inside who is paid….very well to keep your secrets. You're still safe so long as no one suspects you're working with us."
I nodded silently as he then informed me.
"They only know the mask Sam. They don't even know you're a woman. So long as you keep doing what you're doing and stay off any more cameras; you should be safe for a long time. Speaking of which, if you don't mind me asking, are you going to your parent's wedding? It's a week out."
Giving him a single nod back as I reached over for my bag, I replied while taking out a small amount of coke.
"Yeah I'm going, but thanks to all those cameras I'm gonna miss the ceremony by choice."
"You tell them that?" The cat then asked which earned him a simple sad answer back.
"It broke my mother's heart."
Minky knew that I was hurt internally from that fact so he didn't push the conversation any further as I slowly took a line down my nose. Keeping my head down, I endured the dose and did my best to relax. After some time I said to him as happily as I could.
"But I have a lot of things to try and cover up while I'm there as you would expect. I got most of it down and put together, but I don't know how to act emotionally around them. You know? Like I'm sick Mink. I'm a fucking terrorist and I love it! I'm a killer! I…..I enjoy hurting people, Minky. I….?"
Minky was wide eyed and worried as my words had gone from happy to sick in a split second. It had to be the coke talking, but it didn't make what I said seem any less evil. I was fucked up. Breaking eye contact with the man, I looked towards the floor to mumble with the urge to also cry.
"I'm fucked. Who am I? What…what am I?" Tears began to force their way out from my eyes as I felt there was no other way to handle my pain then with more drugs. The cat watched me with worry as I began to shove line after line up my nose. I wasn't going to stop, but that's when I felt him grab me and push me back in my chair. He didn't have to say anything because I was now crying uncontrollably. With my eyes staring into his, I cried to him in a broken voice.
"I'm fucked! I'm fucking fucked!"
"You're okay Sam!" He tried to tell me. Getting in my face the cat told me with more care than I expected him to have for me.
"You're okay. You're safe and stable, but you won't be if you keep snorting this shit. Take a second and breathe. You're not fucked. Not whatsoever. We made sure of that. And your family doesn't have to know shit. Just go back and be yourself. Don't act. Be real with them. Your mom loves you. She has too. This isn't going to break you apart from her. It isn't."
I stared at him blankly with tears rolling down my cheeks. Nodding my head after giving what he said some thought, I slowly waited till he pulled himself off me to go back for the coke. Minky widened his eyes as I proceeded to take another line. That's when he said to me in anger.
"Are you even fucking listening to me? What's your problem?"
I didn't answer. With my head drifting out of my skull, I fell back in my chair and urged him with a swipe of my hand going at the door.
"Go. Please."
Grabbing his bag aggressively, the cat replied while going for the exit.
"Fine. Have fun killing yourself."
"Don't be like that." I begged him as he walked out shouting while also slamming the door.
"Fuck you!"
With the door going off like a flashbang, I looked back towards the coke and took another line before asking out loud.
"Roslin?"
He wasn't answering me. Was he mad? I had to wonder as I looked over at the money I earned. It made me proud to see, but here I was now broken like a twig. What the fuck was my problem? I asked myself as I felt the warmth rushing throughout my body from the drugs.
Climbing up to my legs, I rushed to the bathroom to stare at myself in the mirror. I'm a fucking god and here I am? What the fuck good was I? I was ugly. I was a bitch. All I fucking cared about was status, money, and my own personal gratification in killing people. I had a sick urge and one I didn't know how to control at this point.
Needing to rest, I sat down alongside the bathtub and began to laugh about this moment. It's the exact same thing I did when Roslin came to my aid the very first time back in that creepy hotel after losing Mocha. How fate loves to fuck with me.
My head began to get violent and the urge to hurt myself was coming back to me emotionally. I tried to fight it, but my hands came to wrap around my head as my claws dug into my hair. Soon I began to growl and before I knew it I was punching the tub and screaming in agony.
I had a dark purple hoodie covering my body. My claws went for my wrists, but the sleeves covered them. It made me want to cry even more as I struggled to find a way to hurt myself. Then my battle came to a halt as my mind shifted back towards that one single statement I made just a minute ago. It echoed throughout my mind.
"I'm fucked."
As the statement repeated itself over and over, I slowly rolled into a ball to begin sobbing. What was I going to do? I asked myself as I attempted to think of a solution.
Minutes passed and I couldn't think of anything. It drove me further into a hole as I suddenly heard the clink of metal falling out of the back of my pants and onto the bathroom floor.
Widening my eyes, I looked back to see my Luger staring back at me.
I didn't know what to do. How do I fix this? Do I even want to? Why am I this way? Where did I go wrong? Why is this happening to me? I don't deserve this.
Gently taking the gun into my hand, I rested my back once again onto the tub's side. With my tears blurring my vision, I could only consider one option to make this all stop hurting. I've been here once before in my life, but now I was that monster I truly was scared of becoming. I just want it all to stop.
Lifting the gun to the right side of my head, I cried harder and harder with each heavy second that passed. When I felt the metal scrap my ear, I shut my eyes and prepared myself to end this madness. But with my finger struggling to do it, I reopened my eyes to the sound of someone yelling out my name.
"Anpu!"
Upon looking up, I stared up into the scared eyes of Byron and SIkes who found me in this vulnerable position. With the gun still on my head, I listened as Sikes very carefully begged me.
"Lower the gun. Don't do this to us."
My hand was shaking as Byron was doing his best to creep into the room to get closer to me. I wasn't going to be able to do this now that they were here. The simple presence they provided me was a firm reminder of when Maggie found me with my wrists slit back when I was just a kid. However despite that my hand wasn't lowering. It felt stiff and stuck in place. As Byron was within feet now, I was urged by Sikes who remained at the door.
"It's okay. Just drop the gun. Please."
I broke out into more tears as Byron saw his chance to reach in and grab onto my hand as gently as he could; so as not to accidentally squeeze the trigger. Once it was safely out of my hand, the man took me into a deep hug as the jaguar by the door came in close to comfort me.
"It's okay. It's okay. I swear."
I cried helplessly into Byron's arms as Sikes had his hand rubbing my back. After a few moments I was asked.
"Can you move?"
I shook my head. I didn't want to go anywhere. I expected them to force me, but with my safety their utmost concern I was urged by Byron.
"That's fine. Stay right there. Sikes will go lock the door and we'll just take as long as you need. Okay?"
I nodded as Sikes got back up to get the door.
"What happened?" Byron asked into my side as Sikes returned.
I didn't know where to start or how to phrase it. I tried and it just got me to cry more as they tried to get an answer. After struggling to find the words, I replied.
"I hate who and what I am. I hate myself and I hate that I just feel alone and I don't know how to cope with any of it. I don't know why I'm the way I am. I just know that I am this way and I have no control over it. I want the pain to stop hurting. I shouldn't be this way. I'm a fucking monster."
"You're not a monster." Sikes told me back as I shook my head and listened as Byron added.
"You're confused. We get that better than anyone. We were all the same way Anpu. All of us."
"I had a future before all this Byron. I had a chance to be something else. Something better. Something more." I admitted which got Sikes to instantly state back to me.
"Everyone gets that chance. Most people don't even think about it when it happens. It just happens. Now that doesn't mean you won't ever not see it come around again. You're just waiting and fuck your still so young. You have so much more life to live and not all of it is gonna be spent killing people. I mean look at what you've done for yourself."
I fell silent as he went on while urging me.
"Look out on that bed and tell me you don't have a gift. You're the best contractor this world has ever seen. You've single handedly carried us on your back and you've just started."
"Plus you're an awesome person Anpu." Byron added as he smiled into my eyes. Giving me a small pat to my leg, Sikes agreed in spades.
"Damn right. You've made such an impact on us and you've barely been a part of our lives."
"Plus you saved Tika's life and now the other uppers trust you. There isn't any doubt left when it comes to if you've earned your place in this family. You may think you're alone, but you aren't. You made a family out of us because of what you've done and just like family; you're my sister now, Anpu." Byron claimed which made me smile a little.
"Mine too." Sikes stated as he held my gun in his left hand.
"Don't lose yourself to the shit out there on the table, Anpu. You're an amazing person and a beautiful woman with so much love inside you that it hurts us to imagine you dead before you can express any of it." Byron then said emotionally to me as he used his sleeve to wipe my nose off.
Handing me a towel from the nearby rack, Sikes said into my other side.
"Here. Let's get you back to the others. You can sleep this off."
"You're going through so much at such a young age, it had to have reached a boiling point. Listen to us. Let's do what he said and get you back home. You can rest for as long as you need. You'll feel a lot better after some sleep."
"Okay." I whispered back as I went to stand with their help.
"Can you walk?" Sikes then asked me as Byron went to grab some of the bags. Slowly offering me my gun, I took it from his grip while replying.
"Yeah." As I put the gun away with my clothes, I slowly gathered my things and came back to help the two of them grab some of the bags that were full of cash. Byron took two, Sikes took two, and I got one. After a minute more of them letting me catch my breath, I nodded my head to urge them to move.
Giving me smiles, the guys got the door and together we went to the truck they had parked in the parking lot just outside of the hotel. We threw the money in back and once we were all inside the car; Sikes began to drive us to wherever they were camped out at.
Byron sat with me in the backseat to show his support for what I was going though. After a few minutes and some silent tears, I reached out to take his hand. That's when the great dane took me into another hug. This time however I stayed there and drifted off to sleep.
Tika's POV, Twenty minutes later.
The boys got back with the money and Anpu at their backs. Yet my eyes noticed how they were all looking and once my eyes locked onto Byron I was given a warning just thanks to his demeanor alone. Anpu looked absolutely lost. As if she wasn't really there mentally and after dropping off her bag at my feet, Byron turned her around to urge her.
"Come with me now. I'll show you to a bed."
Anpu didn't say a word as I was now left with Sikes who waited till she was gone to inform me.
"She's not in any place to talk. Just give her time."
"What happened?" I asked as I took one look in the bag she gave me to see all the cash.
"She had a mental breakdown. Byron and I found her about to kill herself." WIdening my eyes, I questioned back.
"What?" He nodded back and that left me feeling like shit. I mean she was a god to my knowledge, but how much did that really mean to her if she really was about to end it all just a little bit ago? I guess even with all of her gifts she was still partly human. She was just a kid regardless of anything else going on in her life. All of this shit she was doing was heavy stuff, even for grown ass adults to handle. Her mind is still developing and I think I failed to take that into account up until now. She also didn't have anyone else in her life up until recently. She's alone and dealing with it all on the go. That has to change if she's going to remain a part of my family. Looking back at Sikes, I calmly urged him.
"Okay. Well let's not bother her. Let Byron handle her for now and once she's gotten some rest I want to focus our efforts on something a little different."
"Like what?" He asked me back as I grabbed the bag off the floor with my left hand.
"Like making sure that girl knows she's loved and cared for. We have the time now thanks to this." I stated as I referred to the sheer amount of money she just somehow obtained us.
"Talk to Ace and see if he's got anything between those ears that we can do to make it happen. We're a family, Sikes. We have to have each other's back during shit like this and that girl has no one other than us. So let's do something good for a change and plan accordingly. For her sake. Yeah?"
"Absolutely." He smiled back as I indeed gave him one in return.
Left with twenty million in cash, I sat back down and just stared at it all to wonder if sacrificing your mental health was what it took to obtain sums like this in today's world.
Roslin's POV, Los Angeles.
I knew this was coming and I was ready to answer for my actions up till this point.
Ironically the spot chosen was the same spot where I first interacted with Sam on a personal level. Standing right next to the spot where she first died was a five foot eight white fennec fox. Wearing the Attrition's signature dark blue cloak. Looking up from the floor where Sam once laid, I was soon greeted with two blue eyes and a happy smile. In a cheerful voice she said to me as I got within feet to stop.
"Roslin! My oh my, do you look different. It's been what? A century or two since we last saw each other?"
Keeping my tone respectful I replied.
"Little over one, I believe."
"You don't seem surprised that I'm here." She informed me as I took this as my chance to state.
"I knew sooner or later someone would come around asking questions. I didn't think it'd be you, but regardless I know why you're here."
Looking somewhat shocked, she questioned.
"Oh? Really? Then tell me, why am I here?"
With some confidence to back it up, I replied.
"For probably two reasons at least. The first? It has to be about Marcus. The second? Well I think that's about what I've done in response."
Reaching up to tap me on my chest, she smiled wide and shouted.
"Wow! You really figured that out fast!"
I just gave her a stare back now and in a moment she legitimately responded with.
"Marcus was your choice and judging from that choice it seems it was the wrong one to make. He's been pushing his luck these last few decades and for a time he was actually doing a good job, but that time seems to have passed. His demi has affected his mind greatly and he's clearly lost his way. He hasn't done a thing since he's converted him. All he's done is remain neutral and that's not what he's here to be. You know that of course."
"Our job is to lead the realm into a state of chaos until a point comes where mass extinction is inevitable. Or a nearly complete reset of life and the technology that came with the generations."
"You're in charge of culling the herd, so to speak. Keep the realm from losing balance. A realm gets too advanced? It's inevitable for it to happen and we can't lose anymore realms. Your job is the most important job out there Roslin. Or at least it was. But with the way things are going we are bound to let this realm get out of hand. That cannot happen." I was then informed by my lax superior.
"That's why I've been taking steps."
Giving me another wicked smile she again questioned.
"Did one of those steps involve falling in love with your new demi? Oh and by the way, I have to give it to you. I don't know how you're still alive. You're clearly a master of our gifts."
"My demi is better. At least twice as good as Marcus. She's adapted faster than any other demi I know of today. That includes myself and those before me. Unlike Marcus's demi, this one has the complete making of a successor to the realm."
"Tell me about the demi Marcus currently has and your own." I was instructed as the fox took another look at the ground where Sam once laid.
"Raptor Voltz is his name. A once proud father who turned war hero in his early twenties. Begged for forgiveness and for his nightmares to be taken from him after he killed his first child during an attempt on his life. Now he held a high place of power in the wars that once ravaged the land known as the middle east here in this realm. Thousands were dying and it wasn't going to stop."
"Hmm." She mumbled back as I went on to state.
"He needed Marcus's help to remain sane and Marcus of course agreed by giving him what he seeked. But later in life Raptor became more and more unhinged. He was in a position where he could have escalated the war and potentially advanced the cycle, but Marcus and him began to get a little too personal. Especially after he was granted his gifts. Marcus was letting himself get too involved in the mortal's affairs and it's had an effect on his current outlook on his position. The goal was to use Raptor Voltz to cause an all out war between the world. But due to a number of events, Marcus and him agreed that peace was the way to go. Now you have a demi who barely remembers how to use his powers due to how long he's gone without and a god who hasn't felt the urge to kill or cause chaos in two decades."
Smiling as her eyes looked back at me, I then had to ask a question of my own before talking about Sam.
"Speaking of which, Lia…..does Marcus know you're here?"
"No." She replied back as I simply nodded once before continuing the conversation.
"My new demi is Samantha Voltz. The daughter of Raptor Voltz."
Widening her eyes, Lia questioned.
"Really? Now how does that happen? Must run in the family Roslin."
"The problem with Raptor himself is the simple fact that he has ten times the life experience his daughter does. He's not easy to break and quite honestly he's a fucking idiot and that has kept him alive somehow. Samantha is young and easily malleable. She internally inherited her father's bloodlust and due to being sectioned off from her family, she's very capable of causing chaos. She's internally selfish and enjoys the thrill that comes with hurting others and sometimes herself. She has no one other than me to help her and thanks to that I can easily keep a firm watch and aid deeply in her personal development going forward. Trust me, she has no concern for saving lives. She's an animal who craves the opposite."
"It's impressive you were able to make her a demi after losing your spot to Marcus. It's a sign that this is meant to be." Lia stated which got me to fall silent as I wasn't sure whose side she was on.
"Marcus and his demi need to be resolved."
"Do you have a solution in mind?" I asked back as she came right up to me to reply.
"You're already making the proper steps Roslin. Myself and a few others have agreed to let you continue what it is you're doing. As for permission? Well you have my authorization. Whenever you and your demi are ready, you may dispose of the other two. Once it happens you will be reinstated and left to decide when the time is right to let your demi take over. But take my advice this time, make absolutely certain she's ready before you pass the torch."
"I will." I said back confidently as she took a step back before shouting out.
"Oh!"
"What?" I asked back as she came back to take my hand. I felt the raw power she held in a nanosecond and knew she could easily kill me in a blink of an eye. Yet despite that she asked me curiously.
"I'd like to speak with your demi at some point. Do I have your permission?"
"Of course." I said back calmly as she still held my hand.
"Thank you. Now one last thing Roslin. In order for you to kill Marcus, you're going to need your original strength back. Are you ready?"
"Yes ma'am." I replied as I felt a spike of warmth radiate inside my body.
Lia's power was so beyond mine that when she gave me some of it I didn't even have to worry about any pain. It was seamless and over so fast it made me question just how weak I had become. But after a few seconds she let go of my hand and asked curiously.
"How do you feel?"
Joy was my first emotion to come as I hadn't felt this strong since I was the active ruler of the realm. I felt better in fact and I knew without a doubt that I could kill Marcus now without much trouble. I could do anything now without any trouble. My confidence was at such a high point I began to laugh in happiness. Lia knew she did her job properly, so without waiting any longer for an answer, she leaned up and kissed me on my cheek before stating.
"I'll be seeing you Roslin. As for your demi, I'll let you know when I've talked to her. I'd like to personally see her abilities though. If you claim she's the best, then I'm sure I won't be disappointed. Does that sound good to you?"
"Yes ma'am." I replied back as she disappeared within a second flat.
My eyes slowly looked back to the ground where Sam once laid and for a moment I thought about how lucky I was to have found her in the state I did. But with my mind resting I recalled her voice calling for my name not that long ago. I wasn't able to answer that request, but if she knew just how powerful Lia was she would understand full well why I can't ignore her.
Now was my time to fix that though and so I decided to jump to where she was and the first thing that happened when I performed the jump was the feeling of power I got from it. The power I had now was bringing back so many memories. Yet those thoughts faded when I found Sam asleep in a small shitty cot inside what appeared to be a bunker. In confusion, I looked around to see that we weren't alone. Sitting next to her was this dog. A great dane who was just providing my demi with company for some reason.
"What happened?" I asked myself as I decided to approach the two of them.
The second I got close the man noticed the change in temperature around him and let off a quick shiver while saying aloud.
"What the fuck is that?"
Using my new found power, I reached out to tap him on the head rendering him unconscious in a split moment. He fell back kinda hard so I quickly got him up and onto the bed and in a position more believable to others if they walked in to see him like this. After that was done, I refocused on Sam and marveled at the fact that she was for some reason sleeping. Something was wrong.
Reaching out to touch her shoulder, I looked into her memories and quickly widened my eyes when I learned what had happened. Letting her go a moment later, I was left feeling bad. Guilty even. Why would she try to do that after all this time? I asked myself as I gave her situation a little more thought. This links perfectly to what I told Lia about her. Sam was alone and without help. Sooner or later her deeds would pile up internally and something like this could indeed happen. I should have expected this, but upon looking back at the great dane I took a moment to whisper to him.
"Thank you."
If not for him and the other man, she could rightly be dead now and I don't know how I would have handled that with my heart being in love with her.
Reconsidering my course of action, I let out a sigh and used my gifts to give Sam some comfort. Much like how I used to numb her emotions in the beginning stages of our relationship, I now focused that power and used it to bring about a state of inner peace. Hopefully inside her dreams right now she would be happy and once she wakes up she'll be able to think clearly again. I should do this every once in a while to make sure her emotions never reach that point again while I'm away. At least until I'm certain she can be trusted on her own.
Rubbing my hand down her arm, I slowly leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss to the head before standing back up. Looking back at her friend, I released him from his forced state of slumber and made my exit. In about an hour he would wake back up and be none the wiser to how close he came with death itself.
mT Shadow.