To Catch A Warrior [Unearthly World Book 5] (11 page)

They both turned startled when a loud bellow sounded and was cut short. The warrior had been snatched off his feet when the shark plunged out of the water wall, 3D fashion, closed its massive teeth over him, and pulled back.

“
Cy
,” Titus bellowed.

Cy was thrashing in the water wall fighting for his life as the shark swung its head back and forth trying to snap the warriors back in half. Titus didn’t hesitate. He jumped in after Cy followed by three more warriors. It was anarchy.

Titus could see Zabbie screaming, her howls filtered by the water wall, a warrior was holding her back. Titus could only hear muffled howls from his warriors within the water and Cy. Titus grabbed the shark by its jaw top and bottom and pulled with all his might while Tane gripped its tail to keep it from taking Cy further away. Cy was loose and dragged back from the water wall exploding onto dry ground with another warrior where they backed up crab style—fast.

Fists pounded into the shark embedding fist prints into its hard body, razor claws dug ragged gashes down its torso shredding it.
Nothing
was allowed to touch Titus’s warriors. The shark broke Titus’s hold and lunged for him. Zabbie screamed loud enough for him to hear her.

“You can’t touch him, you ugly bastard,” she howled. “Die, damn you,
die.
”

The beast changed course last second and swam straight up. Faster and faster it raced leaving a trail of blood its body a silver bullet. High into the air it went breaking from the water wall almost beyond their sight. Titus shoved through the wall diving for Zabbie as the shark came crashing down to earth where it hit the ground making them tremble. The ground moved beneath them and they rocked, trying to keep their footing. The shark bounced. Its insides blew up sending raw pieces over all of them.

“What the fuck?” a warrior said in amazement, pulling chunks from his flowing hair.

“Spontaneous combustion?” Tane asked, he shook bloody meat from a foot.

Cy was staring at Zabbie, an arm was wrapped around his middle, but when he pulled his hand away there was no blood and no damage. Titus was a little surprised, it appeared Cy was too. Zabbie threw herself into Titus’s arms. She was shaking, her breath was ragged. There was no doubt in Titus’s mind what or rather who was responsible for the death of the creature. Zabbie would kill to keep him safe. If one of his warriors were stupid enough to question his judgment, if he were to play fight and she stumbled on them by accident, his mate could kill. She had no clue. The sooner he got Zabbie to Finn the better. Perhaps his healer could help her understand the power she possessed. More important, he needed to help her get it under control.

With a few adjustments and strategic cuts, Zabbie had a long hooded fur coat and wrap-around fur leggings and boots. She was ready for the frozen tundra. Beyond the wall standing a foot in front of her were freezing temperatures, snow and ice. She wore fur around her hands tied on at the wrists. With one step, a frozen blast of air assaulted her lungs and she gasped. A strong arm touched her and she relaxed.

The cold brought too many memories of loneliness and sadness to mind. She inhaled the fear associated with the frigid unknown. Off in the distance were massive mounds of ice. Zabbie set out for them. Light flakes of snow fell around them, the sky was grey. Past the wall of winter the summer seemed to beckon her return.

“Is your planet cold like this?” Zabbie asked Titus. The warriors didn’t seem to mind the change in temperature as they plodded along.

“In parts it can get very blustery, but where I’m from it’s a rarity to see snow.”

Zabbie was glad of that; if she never saw snow again it would be too soon. She had to remind herself there wasn’t a wall of ice or fire surrounding her every turn. The snow mounds had crevices leading below ground. Zabbie slipped through a crack with ease. The warriors struggled through. Down they went into the bowels of the frozen earth. All around were small landings or steps to aid in their descent. When they dipped well below thirty feet, they came to a large opening. The icy walls were a bright blue lighting the dark corridor ceiling and the ground they traveled. Zabbie stopped and faced the warriors.

“This area is dangerous,” she warned. “Do not touch the walls. What appears to be a wall of ice is deceptive. There are places you can slip into. The wall will freeze you once you’re on the other side. There’s no coming back. It
will
kill you.
No one
wants that to happen.”

With grim determination she led them to a farther corner. Titus swore and a few warriors growled when they stared into a wall of ice. On the other side was a frozen man, his face a mask of terror frozen in time.

“The first and only lesson we needed,” Zabbie said quietly.

“Is there no help for him?” Cy asked. He raised his fists about to pound at the wall but Titus stopped him, grabbing his wrist and yanking him back, when Zabbie shrieked a horrified “No!”

“Damn you, Cy. Do you never listen? She has said don’t touch the wall. She said not to go near the water and look what happened. She told you not to engage the shadow beasts and you and three others could have been killed. What else will it take before you listen to her? If you warriors can’t take Zabbie at her word then take mine.
Do not
touch the fucking walls.” Titus glared at Cy and included the others in his anger. Cy looked furious.

“I find it odd every time your mate tells us not to do something we get a clear I told you so like naughty children when we disobey.” Cy was glaring as he said this and a few warriors shuffled their feet with embarrassment. “I was only attempting to break the human free.”

“He’s a fucking ice block, Cy. And we can discuss your thoughts about my mate and how she saved your sorry ass when we are alone.” Titus looked furious, the threat was unmistakable. Titus then turned to Zabbie. “My eyes can melt him loose, but dead is dead.”

“You can’t melt him. We tried. When the ice melts it becomes more dangerous. It’s like the walls become hands that grasp at you. The entire length wiggles and ripples as though awakening. Icy fingers form to reach out to grab at clothing from top, middle and bottom. We almost lost another when we tried to save Eddy.” Zabbie shivered. “Eddy’s arms and hands moved through the wall covered in thick ice. He’s gone, the wall claimed him. The tunnel won’t last long, just keep away from the ice. Follow me.”

“What the hell?” Titus said and whistled.

The cave they entered was twenty feet in height. Furniture and furs were sparse. Their hearts hadn’t been into building a new home, they were inclined to survive. Zabbie was dismayed to see it was empty, but she still had hope. In the cave were many walls, each sporting a different scene. She went to a wall of water, took off a mitt and dipped a hand in bringing it to her parched lips.

“The water is fresh and so far as we know only small fish live in this water wall. This and that scene over here are the only two walls you can enter and return here to.”

Zabbie went to another wall. She stuck her face through, half of her disappearing until Titus yanked her back.

“Do not do that,” his words were stern and strangled. Zabbie thought he looked creeped out.

“I was looking for any survivors. This wall is safe. The problem with the other walls is once you step through you can’t come back. When you merely touch the wall you…”

“
Shiiiittt
,” came a yell.

Titus growled in fury as Cy’s hand was claimed by the summer season and he was yanked through when he touched a wall. The warrior stood on the other side and waved his arms around looking for entry. Titus strode over and growled at him.

“You never learn, do you dumbass?”

“He’ll be fine. He can’t see or hear you. You have to find the winter season again and come through that way. He’ll eventually figure it out. I have no clue why you can go into the water wall, wash, and come out. That was found by accident when a man, a very restless sleeper, rolled into the water wall and as quickly came out. The fire wall over there is a no brainer, touch it and be incinerated. The winter wall is safe but again once through you have to find your way back through the mound of snow and ice up top.”

Titus strolled back over to Zabbie and put his hand through the wall she had recently ducked her head into. He waved his fingers and pulled his hand out.

“If I were to go in there could I see you and this wall?” Titus asked.

“Yes.”

“Um, Titus?” a warrior said.

Titus turned to look at him. The warrior pointed at Cy who was still flailing his arms around and stomping like a fool trying to find the wall. He tossed his head back and she could tell he was bellowing. Zabbie hid a giggle. Franken poodle was pissed. That particular warrior drove her to distraction. She also wasn’t pleased by his previous comment, he had hurt her feelings. She had no powers, she wasn’t crazy. Served him right to be punished as he claimed, like a naughty child.

“Tane, can you go get Cy and take him back through the winter area?” Titus said.

Tane shrugged and stuck his hand through the wall; he was yanked into the summer season with Cy. Zabbie and the others watched as both warriors became animated. Tane pointed to an area behind him and waved and smiled. Cy grew red in the face and Titus laughed. So did Zabbie, the embarrassing red of Cy’s face complimented his pink coloring. The warriors soon turned and began walking away.

“Do you think there could be any humans in the fall wall?” Titus asked.

“It’s possible,” Zabbie said. “But again, looks are deceiving. It’s not just the fall.”

“What’s in there?” Titus asked.

“The fall behind this wall and the real fall don’t connect. They’re separate, I don’t know why. Before we go in you need to understand time is different in there. What’s in there can make your hair stand on end, but don’t let anything get to you.”

“Why would humans go in if it’s that strange?” Titus asked.

“We could get wood for fire and fruits and dig up vegetables. It was a place we could take off these furs for a while.”

“Then why didn’t you stay in there?” Titus asked.

“There’s a creature in there. The shadow beasts can be dangerous but this creature is like nothing I’ve ever encountered.”

“Why doesn’t the creature come in here?” a warrior asked.

“All of these separate walls are a certain height and width. The creature is too big and broad.”

“How big is this creature?” Titus asked.

“I’m not sure. Grey and white smoke prelude its appearance. It’s kinda like a bunch of skulls but with smoky flesh, bald, huge pointed rows of teeth. No arms or legs I’ve ever seen. It zips around like a ghost around the trees and through the woods, vacant eyes. Scary as hell. It’s made a noise like a moan but nothing more.”

“Has it killed anyone?”

“Maybe,” she muttered. “Just keep your eyes open and stay alert.”

“I think you should stay here,” Titus said.

“You need a guide. And the humans will be afraid of you if we find any.” Zabbie was beginning to lose hope they would find anyone. Her loss settled into her belly before she straightened her shoulders. There was only one way to find out. Being chicken wasn’t one of them.

This woman ain’t no wallflower.

Zabbie stepped through the wall before Titus could stop her.

* * * *

“Tammin, stay here and wait for Cy and Tane,” Titus said. “Leave the meat. I want our hands free in there.”

Titus didn’t wait for his warrior to respond as he stepped through the wall. The rest of his warriors followed. The air was different; the smell was crisp, sweet. Trees sported red round objects and odd shaped green objects. Zabbie went to a tree grabbed a green object and bit into it.

“These are pears. The red fruit are apples. Watch for the orange pumpkins. They aren’t edible.”

Titus saw the orange round objects on the ground. As they passed, the things turned and lit; their faces were carved, some eerie, some smiling, all wore different expressions. Dark skulls with red eyes lined a field to their right. Tiny furry creatures rustled amidst the foliage unafraid of their approach.

“Zabbie, did you hunt here?”

“No, these creatures aren’t real, well not entirely. It may be the reason the ghost can’t come through the wall. If you kill them they incinerate, their bodies break into molecules and fly away. If you try and bring them into the cave the same thing happens.”

“Then they can’t hurt you?” Titus asked.

“Yes, they can bite. You can hurt yourself in here.”

“Zabbie, has this place always been here?” Titus asked.

“It was here when we came underground.”

Everywhere Titus looked seemed dream-like. Odd shaped trees, shadow colors, oblong images. The things he touched had substance. Tree bark was hard or rubbery. The rabbits allowed his warriors to pick them up.

“Is this area large?” Titus asked.

“No,” Zabbie said. “It takes only an hour, I suppose, to travel the length.”

Zabbie stopped and stood still. She yelled, ‘hello,’ as loud as she could, her words were echoed. They all waited for a response. There was nothing. She gazed at him sadly. Dark green eyes filled with loss, her lip trembled. Titus could see she was heartbroken.

“No one is left. They must have all been taken.”

“I’m sorry, Zabbie. It has been a long time. If the Gorgano were topside they may have taken the last of the survivors,” Titus said.

“But the ship blew up,” Zabbie said, she sounded horrified.

Titus placed his hands on her shoulders. “We can’t know if any were killed in the explosion.”

“
Titus
,” a warrior bellowed.

A massive amount of mist began to swirl in waves through the forest trees. A low moan sounded. A hideous powdery grey face raced with many hollow sunken eyes and more eerie faces swished forward. Titus grabbed Zabbie in his arms and began running.

“They’re coming for me,” Zabbie screamed. “Their ghosts.”

“Zabbie, this has to stop,” Titus yelled. “Make it stop.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” she cried out.