Earth Blend (13 page)

Crysa remained silent.

Percone walked over to her and placed an arm
around her shoulder. “Do I need to make you tell me?” He whispered
in her ear.

Crysa closed her eyes and tried to resist
the pull that Percone was using on her.

He turned her toward him and touched her
face. “What are your plans?”

Crysa felt tears fall down her face, she was
unable to stop herself from telling him what he wanted to know. “He
is going to take the girl away.”

“
What girl? Away from
whom?”

“
She use to go by the name Laney, now
she goes by Julie. Away from Eli and Austin.”

Percone thought for a moment and smiled as
he remembered the girl he had teased in the forest. “The Blend, I
remember her. Eli will be punished for helping her. Of course it
would involve Eli.” Percone frowned. “Who is this Austin?”

Crysa fought to regain control of her mind
but Percone's connection was too strong. “My... son.”

Percone jumped back from her as if he had
been stung. “A son? What are you saying? It's impossible for us to
create life.”

Crysa collapsed on the ground and began
sobbing.

Percone pulled her back up. “Tell me how
this happened! How were you able to create life?”

“
I...I let the human parts become
active. I couldn't let him die.” Crysa was near
hysteria.

“
It should not have been possible. Who
is the boy's father?” Percone released Crysa. “It couldn't have
been a human. Could it.... no, it's not possible.” He began to pace
trying to put it together.

Crysa tried to slip away but Percone stopped
her. Placing his hands on her face, he demanded, “Who is the
father?”

“
Jacob.”

“
What is he?”

“
A Blend.”

“
The child... what is he? How did he
survive?”

“
He is part Blend and part
Earthling.”

“
Does he have abilities?”

“
Yes.” Crysa's voice was getting
weaker.

“
Does he have Earthling
abilities?”

“
Yes.”

“
And Blend?”

“
Yes.” Crysa could not stay conscious
and fell to the ground when Percone released her.

“
Stupid.”

When Crysa regained consciousness, she
looked for Percone, but he was nowhere around. She crawled over to
a nearby tree and sent a thought out to him.

Crysa: Percone! Where are you?

Percone: Where do you think?

Crysa: Leave him alone!

Percone: What do you think Suron would do if
he found out about him?

Crysa: Percone, please. Have you no
compassion in you whatsoever?

Percone: None.

Crysa: Don't do this to me.

Percone: Don't do what? How do you know what
I'm going to do?

Crysa: What are you going to do?

Percone: I'm not sure yet. I'll let you
know.

Crysa realized that Percone had disconnect
their thoughts and her frustration level rose. She didn't know what
Percone planned to do with the knowledge about Austin. The only
thing she could do was to follow through with her plans for Julie
and hope Percone did not do anything foolish.

10. Luke's Story

Luke smirked as the vines closed, sealing
him inside the cave. He didn't know how long he had been locked
inside the cave; the first few days were a bit of a blur as he
recovered from the hard rescue. The vague reason the female
Earthling gave for saving him from a fiery death did not sound
plausible, but he did not let it bother him. All that mattered to
him was he was alive and he had been able to grab the bag of money
as Crysa rescued him seconds before the helicopter hit the ground
and exploded. All that was left for him to do now was to wait until
Crysa had Laney's schedule down so he could reclaim her and life
could resume as normal. He was anxious to get back to his life. He
went over in his mind what he learned about Laney. The Earthling
mentioned something about Laney not being from Earth. He thought
back to when he first met Laney.

He was raised by his mother, although
raised was not an accurate description. His mother was a drug
addict who cared very little for anything else except her next
high. Any man that stayed at the house was either a supplier of his
mother's drugs or a user themselves. His mother always had bruises
all over her body, some self -inflicted from needles, others from
the company she kept. He witnessed a few of the beatings, the men
made him watch telling him this was how a woman should be treated.
He began to believe his mother actually enjoyed the beatings, as
the next day she would be all
affectionate
toward the man who almost killed her the night
before. At seventeen, he beat up a girl at a party he crashed
because she ignored him; she later died. He ran away before the
police could arrest him. To survive on the streets you had to do
one of two things, sell drugs or sell your body. He chose the drugs
and began dealing, and eventually hooked up with a group of
individuals who had ties to organized crime. Once he earned their
trust
by
helping to execute a
dealer who was stealing from them, they brought
him to the main house.

He was impressed at the size of the
mansion that housed the group. After meeting a few of the upper
level management people, he knew he found his niche. It was there
he was assigned a task that at first aggravated him. He was told to
watch over a young child. This was when he first set eyes on Laney.
The girl appeared to be around eleven years old and Luke had just
turned eighteen. She was sitting in a chair in the library room,
her legs folded up under her.
She was so engrossed in the book she was reading,
she appeared not even to be aware there was anyone else in the
room.
All he
was told was that she was special, not how or why. He was left
alone with her and was told to get to know her. Not happy with his
latest assignment, he approached her quickly and ripped the book
from her hands. Her head snapped up and she stared wide-eyed at him
as he looked at the book, it was a medical dictionary. He tossed it
on the floor. “What the hell are you reading that crap
for?”

“
That wasn't very nice.” She said and
folded her arms.

“
I'm not a nice person, so get used to
it.”

“
You should treat people how you want
to be treated.”

He placed his hands on the arms of her chair
and leaned in close to her. “What are you doing here?”

“
I was reading until you took the book
from me.”

“
Listen up little girl, I don't like
kids, especially smart mouth ones like you. You are going to do
what I say when I say it, got it?”

“
I'm not a kid, really, I just look
young. I'm older than you.”

The corner of Luke's mouth rose into a half
grin. “Sure you are.” He moved away from her. “Why me, why the hell
do I have to get stuck looking after a kid?”

“
I can look after myself.”

“
They said you are special, so what is
it that is so special about you?”

“
I'm not special.” Her voice was but a
whisper as she put her head down.

Just then another man walked into the room.
“Luke, got a job for you. Take Laney down to the corner store. Play
the lottery numbers she gives you, then go to ten other places and
do the same thing, same numbers, fifty dollars each time.” he
handed Luke the cash. “Keep an eye on her, she'll give you the slip
if you let her.” The man turned to leave then turned back around
and handed him another twenty dollar bill. “Get her something to
eat, too.”

Luke turned to face Laney, a puzzled look on
his face. “Lottery numbers?” He shook his head. “Let's go.” He
walked over to the door and turned back towards Laney. She had not
moved from her chair. “Now!” He ordered. He watched her slowly get
up and walk over to him. When she was close enough, he grabbed her
arm.. “Move faster.” He growled, and pulled her out the door.

They drove in silence to the corner store.
He parked but did not exit the car. “So how does this work? How do
you know the numbers?”

“
I just see them.” She
shrugged.

Luke shook his head and got out of the car.
Keeping the girl close, he walked into the store. He pulled her
down another aisle away from the register. “Okay, what are
they?”

“
The daily number is
2-5-8.”

“
Is that the exact order? Are you
sure?”

“
I'm sure.”

“
Stay here.” Luke left her in the
aisle and went and purchased the lottery ticket. After the purchase
he went to get Laney and she was not where he left her. His anger
and anxiety began to build until he found her a few aisles over.
She was looking at the magazines and books. “What the hell are you
doing?” He grabbed her.

“
I was just waiting over
here.”

“
I told you not to move.” He
growled.

“
Everything okay over here?” A worker
at the store had come over.

“
Mind your own business.” Luke glared
at the intruder and dragged Laney from the store.

Instead of getting in the car he pulled her
down the street and took her into an alley.

“
Where are we going?” She
asked.

He didn't answer her until they were halfway
down the alley and behind a dumpster, then he threw her against the
brick wall. “Hear this, you are never, ever to do that again. When
I tell you to stay in one spot, you glue your feet to the floor. Do
you hear me?” He yelled in her face.

“
I hear you. I bet everyone can hear
you, you are yelling so loud.”

He raised his hand and smacked her across
the face. His blow was so hard that she fell to the ground. He
grabbed her up roughly and watched as the red mark on her cheek
began to fade and then vanished. Grabbing her chin ,he turned her
face side to side. He left his question unspoken and walked with
her out of the alley. Getting into the car, they drove to the next
store. Lottery tickets were purchased and they moved onto the next.
It wasn't until after the sixth store, that Laney opened her mouth
to speak again.

“
I'm hungry. Can we get something to
eat?”

“
Don't talk unless I ask you
something.”

He parked near the next shop; it was
a bad neighborhood. Groups of men,
some of whom he knew, were
gathered here and
there. Before he had hooked up with the organization, he had been a
petty dealer on these same streets. Laney and he exited the car and
walked toward the store.

“
Luke, dude. Long time, no see.” One
of the men said, approaching them.

The two shook hands and bumped
shoulders.

“
What's up Doobie?” Luke
responded.

“
What? You're into little girls now?”
Doobie asked , looking at Laney.

“
I'm just watching her for a bit.
How's business?”

“
Slow. You disappeared ,man. What have
you been up too?”

“
Just working, the usual.” Luke never
informed his street friends that he was with the organization. “I
gotta get going, see ya around.” He steered Laney inside the store
and purchased the tickets. On the way out he whispered to her,
“Walk quickly to the car.” When they reached the car they found
Doobie and two other men leaning against the car.

“
What kind of work are you doing that
affords you nice wheels like this?” Doobie asked.

Luke was sorry he took one of the sportier
vehicles. “It's not mine.”

Luke stood his ground as Doobie stepped into
his space. “How about sharing the wealth?”

The other two men with Doobie took a
position near Laney.

Luke felt Laney reach for his hand. “You
don't want to do this, Doobie.”

“
Don't I?” Doobie asked.

Luke felt a knife pushed up against his
stomach.

Grabbing Luke by the shoulder, the man
backed him up against the wall of a building. He reached into
Luke's pocket, searching for money.

Luke smashed his elbow hard against Doobie's
chin, the impact caused him to stagger backwards. Luke's right fist
sent the final blow, knocking Doobie to the ground.

The knife clattered on the sidewalk. One of
the men with Doobie picked up the knife and jammed it into Luke's
stomach, taking him by surprise. They then picked up Doobie from
the ground and took off running down the street.

Luke grabbed at the knife and pulled it from
his stomach as he slid to the ground. Blood began to seep, soaking
the front of his shirt.

Laney was cowering near the
wall but came to
sit down
,
her hands on his arm.

Luke became aware of a strange
feeling coursing through him as the pain began to fade. There was a
tingling sensation where the knife entered him. The lightheadedness
he was feeling faded. He lifted up his shirt to look at the wound
and was amazed that only drying blood remained, no mark was
visible. He looked down at Laney,
who was whimpering and doubled over in
obvious pain.
He leaned her back up and the anguish on her face began to
soften. “What just happened? What did you do?”

“
I fixed you.” Laney said in a low
voice. “I'm tired.” She placed her head against his arm and fell
asleep.