Origins (10 page)

“How did they get you?” Ive whispered.

“They didn’t. Where are you tied up?” Joy barely moved her lips.

No one paid them any attention, but she didn’t want to push her luck. The minute she used magic the shaman would show up and she needed to hold off as long as possible.

“Just our hands right now. We haven’t put up a fight so they’ve mostly left us alone. Djimon was hit, but seems to be okay.” Ive kept her voice low.

“Shit. Sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” Ive drew her brows together.

“It was my fault. I did a spirit walk and ended up here. The magic wielder must have sensed my presence. It’ll be okay. Zareb will get Dji free then we can be off. Have you seen your brother or
Pete
r?”

“No. Why?”

“Well, fuck me. Damn it, I saw them around here and figured they would be here held prisoner or—”

No way could she finish that sentence. She may think Ive was an ice queen with no emotions to speak of and not like her much, but Grey was her brother.

“Grey is
not
dead, I would know.” Ive was firm on that point.

“This could be a good thing then. Hopefully when all hell breaks loose they’ll charge in. I’m ready to go home, how about you?”

“God, yes. We stink and if I have to sit here in my own filth for much longer I’m going to go crazy.”

Joy looked over to see that Zareb had finished untying Dji, but she couldn’t tell how the other man was holding up.

“Ive, how is Dji?”

“He’s getting stronger, I think, but I don’t know about his magic. He hasn’t tested it.”

“Well, he’s not going to have a choice here real soon. See that guy walking over this way? That’s the shaman. We can’t let him cut off our magic or we’re screwed. The guy with him is Kir. He’s supposed to be on our side. Let’s hope he doesn’t double-cross us.”

“I’m ready. What do you need me to do?”

“Fight if you have to. If you see your brother and Peter run to them. I hope we can wrap this up with some simple magic, but you never know. It’s important that we do this fast.”

“What have we here? Kir says he has the Vessel. If that is the case I no longer need any of you
—
not your souls anyway. Djimon, I’m sure Dmitri is ready to come home now. What do you think?” the shaman taunted.

Joy didn’t even have time to blink before Dji rose up and up, his feet no longer on the ground. His eyes were red and he snarled. His held his hand in front of him as he released lightning into the shaman.

Joy didn’t waste time and tackled Kir to the ground so he wouldn’t get hit with the backlash.

From the ground, Joy saw Ive rush to Dji. She was on one side and Zareb on the other. While they were taking care of Dji she took care of Kir and formed a shield over them. Explosions rocked the camp. Out of the corner of her eye she saw
Pete
r and Grey racing over. That might not end well. Ive would have a hard time being mated Dji if he accidentally killed her brother. Joy dragged Kir with her, rushing to get to Grey and
Pete
r before they exploded in a ball of flames from the lightening being tossed around.

“Hit the deck!” she shouted. The two wolves immediately dropped. Joy pushed Kir towards them and expanded the magical protection.

“What the hell is going on? We were watching the camp, waiting for the right time to make our move and things started going
boom
.” Grey looked at Joy.

“I’m happy you guys waited. Please tell me you have a way out of here.”

“Yes, we have a plane about a day’s walk, maybe half a day if we shifted and ran. Now answer Grey. What happened?”

“Long story short, the plane crashed, Ive and Dji were captured and Zareb and I took care of the Vessel. We came here to save the day—yada, yada, yada.”

“Who’s this guy?” Grey pointed to Kir.

“He’s on our side,” Joy assured them.

“Thank you, Joy.”

“Well, Kir, you proved yourself today.”

The noise was dying down. No more muted screams and the flashes of light had stopped.

“Joy, you can bring everyone out now. The situation is under control,” Ive called.

Dji was on the ground sobbing, with Ive wrapped around him trying to comfort and soothe him. Joy ran to Zareb.

“What happened?” Joy asked.

“He broke. When the shaman told him he would be repossessed by Dmitri he went mad. There was no way he would let that happen again.”

“Did you tell him that isn’t going to happen? That we took care of the Vessel?”

“I think that is what finally got through to him.” Zareb hugged Joy tight.

“I found the guys.” Joy pointed behind her. “They have a plane not too far from here.”

“We cannot leave yet.” Zareb looked worried.

“What do you mean we can’t leave?” Joy backed away, sure she hadn’t heard correctly.

“Djimon needs to see the place we buried the Vessel. He has to have that closure or we may never bring him fully back. That was one of the reasons he came with us.”

Joy understood, but she wasn’t happy about it.

“Can he even make it? It took us a whole day to get there the last time. That would make it two days until we get to the plane and I need a bath, bad. Is there a stream we can use around here somewhere?” Joy was sweating and the stench from the camp couldn’t even compete with the smell coming off her body.

“We have a bathing area that can be used,” Kir offered up.

She was beginning to really like that man.

“It’s settled. Let’s rest for a bit and get cleaned up, then we can make the trek.” Joy crossed her arms over her chest, daring anyone to suggest something different.

“Ladies first,” Ive backed her up. She looked hesitant to leave Dji, but Zareb was taking care of them and they really did need to get cleaned up.

Kir led them to a river. It didn’t look safe, but Joy was beyond caring.

“Fuck.”

“What?” Ive looked over at her.

“I don’t have anything clean to wear.”

“Our backpacks are around here somewhere. They went through them when we arrived. I think I saw some of your things that Zareb threw in the bag before we were taken.”

“Kir, can you find it?”

“I’m sure I can. When I do I’ll leave it here by this rock for you.”

“Thank God.” Joy didn’t even wait for him to leave. She shed her clothes and headed for the water.

“Here.” Ive tossed her something.

“Soap, I almost forgot what that was. Where did you get it?” Joy looked around.

“I spotted it on the way to the bathing area, on a rock.”

Joy gratefully sank into the water. She would have to wait until she had the proper supplies to deal with her hair. No way could she risk getting it wet now. But at least the rest of her would be clean. She made quick work of washing and gave Ive back the soap. How she envied Ive’s ability to wash and go.

This trip could not be over soon enough for her. She followed Ive out of the water and back towards the rock. Kir was as good as his word. There was also some cloth there to dry off with and a brush. If it wouldn’t have made her dirty again, Joy would have fallen to her knees and kissed the ground.

As it was she took the brush before Ive could get it and managed to get her hair brushed back into some semblance of order. She dried off and dressed. It didn’t look like all the clothes were hers, but they would do. Now for a toothbrush, or paste…or something. Hell, even a mint would do at this point.

They headed back to the camp to find the men pacing. Dji had calmed down. Ive went to him and whispered in his ear. Joy continued on to where Zareb stood.

“Why don’t you guys help Djimon down to the water? Ive and I will search the camp to see if there is anything we need. Then we can head to the burial site.”

Zareb nodded and the men took their turn bathing.

“I’ll go this way and you go that way. We’ll meet on the other side.” Ive pointed out the route she’d picked. Too tired to argue over who was in charge, she walked around the site to see if they could use anything to take with them.

It was odd, but the campsite had been set up in a circular fashion. Joy wondered what Religious symbolism the tribe followed.

By the time they’d finished checking the shelters, the men were back. Neither of them had found much, a few canteens that would come in handy and Joy had found one of the satchels, but not much was left in it. There was one more bag that was in the middle of the camp. All their supplies were now accounted for so it was time to go. Kir once again took the lead and Joy was happy to trail behind. She brought up the rear with Zareb by her side.
Pete
r and Grey were behind Kir, Ive and Dji were in front of her and Zereb. She didn’t know about the others, but she didn’t want to leave Zareb’s side.

Not that anything else should go wrong, but she was on her guard. Too much shit had gone down for her to just hop along her merry way.

“Be at ease, my siel.”

“Not until we’re at home.”

“Deal.”

Joy smiled. She liked agreeable Zareb.

Chapter Seven

Zareb could bask in Joy’s smile for days. He was as anxious to get home to
America
as she was and locking them in his house sounded better and better as the days ran together.

Most of his life he’d dreamed of coming back to Africa to stay and now that he was here he wanted to leave and never come back. There was nothing left for him here. The time of living in the past was over—the future beckoned to him.

The group had talked of shifting to make the trip go faster, but they were worried about Djimon, not that Zareb blamed them. Dji was still a mess and Ive supported him the best she could. Grey had fallen back to help her.
Pete
r kept an eye on Kir, but kept glancing back at Grey. Something was going on with between
Pete
r and Grey. He’d been so lost in his own problems he’d failed to see that
Pete
r might have finally found his mate.

If anyone deserved to be happy it was
Pete
r. He’d been through hell with his birth family when they kicked him out for being gay. He’d wondered around aimlessly until coming to the Masters pack to search for a distant relative. He’d only recently begun to join the pack when they gathered for meals.

If Grey was anything like his sister then
Pete
r had a good man. He knew Joy had issues with Ive, but he thought that was because Joy had never seen the true Ive. Ancients be praised, everyone was settling down, just like they had foretold. He shouldn’t be surprised. They had always known things would work out—the trials along the way just made people stronger.

The Masters pack was due a break and he hoped the Ancients would allow them the breather to get back on track.

“We are here,” Kir announced.

Everyone paused and looked at Zareb for direction.

“I think it best if Dji, Kir and I enter the circle together. The rest of you wait here. We’ll only be a moment. Then we can head for the plane.”