In His Alien Hands (11 page)

As the bones turned to ash, Dacquel picked Meadow up and tossed her over his shoulder. The sickly smell of burnt flesh hung in the air as they exited the corridor. Meadow gasped, her head throbbing in agony. Somehow she had killed that creature. Her.
How?
And more importantly, could she use this battle skill on her captor?

* * * *

Both Meadow and Neola had been stolen by a megalodon. Arax had no idea how or why. There should have been no way Meadow could have left the safety of his territory. Dacquel was leader of a far band of ancient sharks. Cruel creatures who hunted for sport. Arax had to move fast, Dacquel was an evil bastard. On land or sea, the leader had no mercy. His gang of predators stole females for sport, sometimes leaving them pregnant. Arax had no idea what would happen to Meadow if she were to bear a megalodon half-breed. If the child were male, Dacquel would accept it once it was old enough. But was it even possible? Arax’s head ached with the thought of anyone touching
his
Meadow. No matter if the child were half-human, the dark side of the fierce shark had proven to be too strong for both the shark people and Arax’s. Even Crash hated the species, it was why they’d put their differences aside for the time being.

Arax knew what he had to do, he would have to humble himself and ask Crash for his help. It would take both their warriors to go after the megalodon. He hoped Meadow would remain calm. He wondered if the bastard had thought to tell her he wouldn’t eat her. It was doubtful; Dacquel lived to strike terror into others.

The only consolation Arax had was that Dacquel would allow nothing else to touch her, except his warriors, and only if they were careful. Even that beast would know there could be no breeding of his species with her.
Please, he has to know.
There was no way a human female could withstand the force of a megalodon copulating, it would kill her. Dacquel had to understand she was more important to him alive. He mustn’t touch her. Arax clung to this theory. There had never been any report on the megalodon ever mating any species in its water form; it was too powerful, too brutal. Fear leapt into Arax’s heart of the few disturbing disappearances of shark people, females, who were never found. There was speculation about what had happened to them and it’d been nothing good.

Arax wondered if Meadow had ever heard of the supposedly extinct massive shark, at least it was said to be extinct on Earth, but not so on Arax’s planet. It was a mystery how Dacquel had learned of Meadow, or perhaps he had simply been hunting for a female to play with and came across them. Either way it did not bode well. Dacquel wouldn’t dare harm Neola. Arax and his people would never stop hunting them. Crash would never stop hunting him, you do not kill children, but it was a mystery why he had taken her. Dacquel had no use for children.

“Trax,” Arax bellowed.

His brother came into the room. Trax had been wayward for some time. Arax wasn’t positive what his brother had been up to, but had his suspicions. He felt it time Trax was introduced to his sister-in-law and niece. Arax was happy to have him home, but the introduction would have to wait until he found his family.

“Trax, has there been any sighting of the child?”

“No. But anything could have happened to her if he left her alone.”

It was true. If the shark people found her she would be fine, but other beings on their planet weren’t good with children of any kind. If unsupervised she could have slipped or crawled into a pool of water and drowned. A water portal could leave her anywhere. Even on another planet. The worry was eating him up inside.

“I need to see Crash,” Arax said. He took Trax by the shoulders. “Your female friend, will she help us locate him?”

Trax seemed surprised. Arax had known for a long time his brother had a not-so-secret crush on a shark female. For a second Trax looked like he would deny everything until he hung his head and nodded.

“I’ll go ask her now.” Trax took off at a fast pace.

He returned shortly with Crash and his sister Reef. Reef hung back behind her older brother, peeking at Arax. She was pretty for a shark, dainty. She looked nothing like her arrogant, ugly brother.

“Your brother got the looks in your family,” Crash said.

“That’s funny, I was just thinking the same of your sister,” Arax replied.

“Arax, Reef has learned of something. Something you’re not going to want to hear. She’s afraid of telling you since there has been so much distrust. I believe her, and I think you need to listen,” Trax said.

Arax glanced at Reef who stood wringing her hands. She was paler than many of her species, her silver was more dominant, and Arax took a closer look. It hit him then, the little female was a mix of water warrior and shark warrior people. Half-sister to Crash.

“You are of mixed blood,” Arax said.

“Yes,” she replied. “I have the same father as Crash but my mother is, or was, of your kind.”

“Was?”

“She died after I was born. There was no fault, she was injured and unable to get to the healer.”

“A lie and you know it,” Crash thundered. Reef winced. “Your
healer
refused to aid Reef’s mother because she gave birth to a mixed child. He left Reef alone to die, thinking the mix not good for his people or for
you
.”

Arax was stunned. “But he is a healer. It’s not up to him who lives or dies.”

“You should have mentioned that to him sooner,” Crash spat.

A cold chill washed over Arax. “What do you mean?”

“It was the healer who lured Meadow out for Dacquel,” Reef said. “He showed you what the human woman Bertha went through, her memories, but not all of her memories. He decided all humans were bad if they could treat their own so cruelly. He set Meadow up so she ran. I followed, but Dacquel was too close.”

“How do you know this?” Arax demanded.

Reef stepped beside her brother. “I am privy to your portals and ours.”

“You opened the portal for your brother.”

“Yes. Dacquel is too strong. I couldn’t help your daughter or your mate. Dacquel took them away, but as far as I know he let them live. I went right to Crash. We were on our way here when Trax came for me.”

“Why would you help?”

Trax stepped beside Reef and held her hand. “Because I love Reef. She will be aunt to Neola and sister-in-law to Meadow. The healer will never get his hands on her or any offspring we have. Crash has agreed to accept me if you won’t.”

There was defiance in his brother. Arax had known his brother loved a female, but a mixed female? Now he declared he wanted her as a mate? When had his baby brother grown up? It occurred to him his baby brother grew up long before Arax gained maturity. Now he knew why Trax had been away for so long. It pained him to think his brother would switch sides. Sighing, Arax took responsibility. His little brother shouldn’t have had to go elsewhere for acceptance.

“Lock the healer up. Reef, I would be grateful if you would take me to my mate and my daughter.”

“We’re all going,” Crash said. “Your brother will be family. Dacquel needs to be stopped. We’re going to need a strong hold for that prick.”

“I have the perfect place for that son of a bitch and his followers,” Arax said. “Have no doubt, he will be caught. If he’s hurt my family, I’ll kill the bastard.”

Chapter 8

Meadow sat inside a massive underwater cave on a ledge where she could breathe air, watching Dacquel warily. She understood better what it meant to mind battle, but too late because Dacquel had her in a place where she couldn’t kill him. She would be trapped. She would never reach the surface alone without aid. Dacquel had taken her deep into the ocean while her brain recovered from the assault the being had inflicted. She was also making some interesting discoveries from said battle. Her newfound enhanced brain was trying to deal with the knowledge she didn’t know she could possess.

Regardless of the enhancements, she couldn’t strike out on her own. Drowning wasn’t an option. But she could enjoy some sport as she got her images under control. A big ass lightning bolt came to mind. As Dacquel approached she mind zapped him and he stumbled back.

“You will cease or the child will be harmed.”

“Neola isn’t down here, and I have no clue if she’s alive. Why would I do anything you say until I had proof?” She remained as calm as possible, but there was a niggling in her mind the baby was safe. She didn’t know how she knew, but she did. She wondered how much the alien had altered her brain.

When Dacquel swore in a strange language Meadow was surprised she understood him. Dacquel stood and sneered, but she tossed him back again.

“She is alive but won’t be for long, you bitch. You will tire, I know it. Arax will never find you.”

“We can play this game all day. Arax is leader of the water warriors. Do you really think you can keep me hidden in the ocean? No wonder you can’t mind battle, you are a dumb ass. Bring me my daughter, unharmed, or the floor and your ass will have a love affair like no other.”

“You bitch.”

“You have no idea. And we’ve covered that quality in me.”

Meadow enjoyed her new talent and smashed Dacquel up against a rock. She yawned. Her temples began to throb, and she wondered how long she could keep him at bay. When he changed into a megalodon beast she crept into a crevice and hummed. His overwhelming size took up a great deal of space in the cave. The idea of blasting out of his mouth wasn’t pleasant. Avoidance seemed to be called for.

“Come out,” Dacquel exploded. His booming shark voice ricocheted off the walls. She waited for the echo to cease.

“Nope.”

“You will do as I say.”

“Nope.”

“I will kill the child.”

“Nope.”

At his approach Meadow scooted further back. He’d never fit, even in his massive humanoid form. A small indentation gave her a reprieve from his ugly face. Dacquel smashed again and again at the cubby she’d hidden in. The floor shook from his furious determination. Rocks crumbled first as a small cascade, building in magnitude until larger rocks fell. Meadow lifted her arms to shield her head. Her mind tossed as many of the rocks away as possible, but Dacquel was out of control. A larger boulder cracked and fell, and at the last moment she deflected most of it. Meadow was still hit and went down hard. The upper part of her body was now visible to him.

She heard Dacquel laughing. He changed back into his smaller form and reached for her, tugging on her arm before stopping short. Her last effort to throw him back onto his ass was short lived as he jumped to his feet. He was enraged. Then suddenly he left her line of vision.

Meadow closed her eyes. She was in agony. Her skull was on fire. Blood oozed between her fingers when she reached a shaky hand to touch her sodden hair, her mind growing hazy. There was too much blood. The red substance dripped down her wrist to pool on the floor. Head wounds bled a great deal, but Meadow knew there was something seriously wrong. Parts of her body stopped working. An idea formed; the only reason she was still alive and able to think was because her mind was altered. The being who’d attacked her mind, the being she had killed, had given her something that was saving her, but not for much longer.

A sudden burst of excited war play filled the air and Meadow opened her eyes, shifted slightly, and peeked out. She saw Dacquel struggling with Arax and Crash and many others. Meadow soon discovered the enormity of Arax’s power over water at his disposal. No wonder he was a water warrior, he battled with water. Meadow had seen him play games, make innocuous images, entertain Neola and her, but this was war. Deadly took on a new meaning.

Dacquel had changed back into his ancient shark form. Waves rose up to make harpoons, hammering against Dacquel’s flesh. Razor-sharp teeth formed in the cloudy white caps of the water Arax manipulated. The set of teeth latched onto Dacquel, drawing blood. Before long the others stood back when they realized rage fueled Arax, he needed no help. The massive megalodon’s head snapped back as he was pummeled. Blood dripped from his sides and oozed from his gills. Rows of his teeth were shattered and scattered across the cave floor, one landing near Meadow who marveled at the size.

Her mate, her warrior, was pissed. He unleashed his power repeatedly. Meadow was dying and yet she smiled, thinking this, his awesome skills, was definitely part of the boasting arrogance he was right about. Arax was his own hell. Dacquel didn’t stand a chance, and if he survived he would be stupid to try her mate’s patience again. Neola would be safe. In true mother form, that was the only thought that mattered to Meadow. Her eyes fluttered.

“Where is my mate?” Arax screamed, making Meadow jump. “Give her back to me or I’ll take you apart piece by fucking piece.”

Fucking? He really is pissed.

“I should have killed her when I had the chance. She won’t be as lucky next time.”

Wave after wave smashed into Dacquel until his shark form crumbled. He lay supine, drenched and half-drowned from the aggressive, repeated battering. His body wasn’t in pieces as Arax had threatened, but he was a broken being. The battle was over and Dacquel, out of his megalodon appearance, and unable to change back, was gasping in large breaths. Arax had won, and Meadow was filled with pride.

My proud water warrior, how brave you are.

“My warriors will come for me,” Dacquel said and groaned.

“Why don’t we take you to them?” Arax said. “Meadow?” he bellowed as he spun in a tight circle.

When Meadow emerged, trying to crawl from her hole, Arax took her into his arms.

“Neola?” she asked.

“She’s fine. Our beloved is fine. Meadow?”

A thought had formed in her mind that Neola was fine, perhaps she was right about the alien altering her thoughts, but it was nice to hear it confirmed.

“I’m too tired.”

“You’re injured. Meadow, my little starfish, what did he do to you?”

Meadow felt bad, he sounded so sad as he cradled her to him. She wanted to reassure him, but her mouth couldn’t form words anymore. She was safe and finally in the arms of her mate. Slowly, his image began to fade. Arax stroked her hair. Her last sight was his large hand covered in dripping blood as he changed into his warrior form. He haloed her face with bubbles before plunging them into the ocean. She felt his power as he sluiced faster than she thought possible. Finally, she gave in to the darkness.