After the Rise: Book Three
Author: Jacqueline Druga
Date: 2020-08-09 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Science Fiction
Description: For thousands of years the Ancients have been on Earth. At one time, they were all powerful ruling the land. Until they are defeated and forced in hiding and hibernation. A virus changes all that. The virus is a weakening of the human race and a doorway back to power. They battle their way back to the top of the food chain, enslaving humans. Until the resistance rises again. It will take nothing short of special warriors for the battles ahead. In Book Three, the stakes increases as the rebellion grows stronger. They are confident in a victor until a new enemy emerges–one that is darker and str

BOOK THREE

After the Rise Book Three - Jacqueline Druga

After the Rise Series - Copyright 2020 by Jacqueline Druga

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any person or persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Thank you Al and Felicia for all of your help!

Cover Art Design by

Lindsey Jayne – Dark Hearts Design Co
https://www.facebook.com/DarkHeartsDesignCo/

ONE – VALA

The wedding ring didn’t seem to just rest on my finger, it almost embedded itself in my flesh, a marking of ownership. One set in stone and blood.

What had I become?

My entire short life was a rollercoaster of information and I was led to believe one thing, only to find it to be the complete opposite.

A great plague had swept across the globe; a pandemic like none the world had ever seen. This bred fear and chaos, war and destruction. While man was buried in the ashes, they rose from the shadows, rebuilt and in essence gained control.

They were simply known to humans as the Sybaris. A being of this Earth that needed the blood of humans to exist. Not much, but enough that humans were a commodity they couldn’t chance losing again.

Our human blood kept them young and sane.

Thousands of years before, the Sybaris ruled the Earth, building golden cities with statues to the Gods of their world. They enslaved the humans, making them work, while using them as a source of food.

Wanting their freedom, the human race fled, leaving the Sybaris to starve. They sunk into the shadows, living for thousands of years hidden, catching what they could of human blood just to stay alive, while they withered into grotesque beings that dared not emerge from underground.

The humans then ruled the Earth until disease and war defeated mankind.

The Sybaris seized their chance, they fed from the dying. The plague did not affect them and the Sybaris regained their strength and their form.

Some, though, did not. Those who had starved too long became Savage beasts that even the civilized Sybaris feared.

Seizing the moment to reclaim their reign, the civilized Sybaris, called The Ancients, corrected the mistakes of their past and rebuilt towns and farmlands. They offered safe haven, shelter and life to the humans. I lived in a community called Arkana in a region known as the Esperanza Straits.

In exchange, the humans were to be a source of food.

Tired of war and suffering, scared of the Savages, many humans took this offer.

Many did not. The ones who did not enter the land of the Sybaris became the rebellion, bound and determined to take the world back.

As a child, I had experienced the vicious attacks of the Savages, those haunting memories stayed. My mother wanting only to protect me, left the rebellion and sought sanctuary with the civilized Sybaris for me and my sister.

My baby brother was the ticket in. The rite of passage. The gatekeepers accepted her offer and wasted no time devouring him. That memory stayed with me as well.

I grew up believing the civilized Sybaris were no different than the Savages. They just were prettier and dressed better. They sheltered us from the world and we learned only what they taught us and nothing more.

A part of me, still clinging to the past, knew when a human was chosen during the monthly ritual, the human was probably drained and killed as quickly as my baby brother.

I wanted to be part of the rebellion, to live the life my mother had before the world came to an end.

After fleeing my home in the Esperanza Straits, I made my way west to Angeles City where I joined the rebellion. I was gifted with many abilities and knew that the rebellion’s best chance was my infiltration of the Ancient City. I had to get in there so the rebels could invade. Once inside, however, I learned quickly that things were not what I believed or what the rebellion believed.

As the wedding ring was embedded on my finger, so was I embedded into the Ancient Sybaris world.

My original plan was to lead the rebellion into the City of the Ancients and engage in the ultimate invasion and battle. To save the life of my sister, I had to do more. I had to sacrifice my life in a different way.

Visions of war quickly escaped me. No longer could I think of ways to kill them. I couldn’t; I had to keep my sister alive. She had become a Sybaris and I was no longer the great hope of the rebellion. I became nothing more than the enemy.

TWO – TANNER

Vala looked beautiful. Although it didn’t matter to me what she was wearing or how she had her hair, seeing her in person took my breath away.

Then hearing that she had married Iry stopped my heart.

When had that become part of the plan?

Vala had escaped her home, we took her in and trained her. Then in some self-righteous move, she left us in order to push the rebellion. It was for the betterment of us all, she said. I was even told that if she didn’t return, they would kill me. Not like I cared. I didn’t. I wasn’t even worried. In my mind, in Davis’ mind and everyone else that knew her, we all believed she was doing it to help us.

So what happened? To say I felt like a fool was putting it mildly.

It broke my heart when she left. I begged her not to go. I put myself out there and was angry at first, flawed. Then after Davis told me of her supposedly chivalrous motivation, I lost the anger and only wanted to get her back.

We had two big threats: The Savages and the civilized Sybaris.

Vala was taking care of the civilized ones, so I decided to aim for the deadly ones. Taking out the ones that attacked us nightly would put us at an advantage. After all, the Civies were just as scared of the Savages as we were.

We had to find them and destroy them. They were the more deadly of the enemies. Once the Savages were gone, at least in our region, the Civies would be easy to defeat.

I followed them, searched them out and located them.

Davis, our leader, loved my plan. Granted, I was well aware that there were probably more Savage camps, but I found the one closest to us. It was huge; a city overgrown and overrun with the stench of the Savage Sybaris. It was absolutely disgusting. There had to be a thousand of them, if not more.

Marie, a great lady, once told me she believed there were close to twenty-thousand Sybaris at one point in time, before the humans defeated them. There weren't that many Civies at the close camp, though, so the ones that didn’t die turned Savage. They outnumbered us all. Not only did we need to defeat them for our own safety, we had to do it for the existence of humanity. If they kept attacking us, before long, there would be no humans left at all.

It was now time to get Vala and save her from her undercover hero work.

With Snake at my side, we went to the Straits. The hideous gatekeepers were under attack by Savages. We saved them and they granted us passage to the City of the Ancients. Even better, because we had been looking for that place for a long, long time.

The Sybaris used man’s technology, cars, airplanes and took over the golden city in the desert. It was the only city that had remained unscathed. It shimmered in the sun. The streets were clean and it was just short of paradise.

We were led to the palace of the king, which contained the civilization court. When we landed, we learned that Vala was getting married.

There was no way I could allow that to happen. Under what pretense would it be a good idea? It was a mind game or so I thought until I arrived at the door, where I was greeted by Iry and he told us they were already married.

I looked at Vala standing on the stairs in all her bridal glory. Despite her calling my name, I left.

“You’re just leaving without saying anything?” Snake asked.

“I can’t talk right now.”

“Tanner, you didn’t know her that well.”

“I knew her well enough not to think she would every marry Iry.”

“Maybe there’s more to the story. You should have stayed and found out.”

I stopped walking.

“You going back?” Snake asked.

“No. I’m ... I’m going to explore.”

“Explore Ancient City?” Snake scoffed, laughing. “How do your purpose to do that?”

“Look around.” I held out my hand. “Where are the guards? Who is watching us? No one. No one, I tell you.”

Snake looked left to right. “I’ll be damned.”

“Exactly,” I said. “I may have lost on the Vala front, but I won on another.”

“What is that?” Snake asked.

“The enemy just let us walk in their door.”

Snake reached out and grabbed ahold of my arm. “Just hold on. Before you go off all arrogant and half-cocked, let’s explore with caution.”

“There are no guards. They let us right in.”

“That they did. But they are smarter than you’re giving them credit for. While you’re wandering around freely, ask yourself why exactly would they make it so easy to do so?”

Snake had a point, which I would keep in mind while he and I took in all we could of the city. We need to gather information that could help us.

THREE – NITO

The decrepit former humanoid soaked my chest with the foul seepage from his mouth. It was the worst smell I had ever encountered. At least I didn’t die in battle, though it was not quite the welcome I expected upon my entrance to Angeles City.

Nothing was as I expected, though.

It would have been poetic justice had the Day Stalker beasts torn me limb from limb, because I was responsible for leading them and then, of course, leaving them around Angeles City. However, the gods had decisive plans for me; I could feel it. I was blessed.

Strapping men who would make wonderful chamber guards had saved me from the creatures. I was especially intrigued by the one who introduced himself as Davis.

How convenient that the leader of the actual rebellion would be there to save and greet me.

Gods shined upon me; my mission was becoming too easy.

The Davis man asked if I was injured. I was not and he gave me a protective seat away from the ensuing battle.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said, “even though you wield a mean stick."

“I do,” I said. “I am quite accomplished.”

“I’ll bet.” He nodded, then he must have gotten something in his eye before he turned, because his lid closed and his face wrinkled up briefly. I had seen my friend Burt do that, he called it a wink. But perhaps it wasn’t an eye irritation and more of a medical condition that only struck males.

I was given a cup of water. It held a foul stench. Not wanting to be rude, I waited until no one was looking and dumped it out. If anything, I was taught manners and had to show those around me such if I was going to be accepted by the rebels of Angeles.

Knowing how vulnerable I was to the Day Stalkers, I was quite impressed with the skills of the humans. I felt at ease and less in danger around them. I was curious as to how they handled the Savages. With all the skills they had gathered, I assumed they knew what they were doing. I could watch them and learn their weaknesses with such ease.

There was something about the Davis person that I could not put my finger on. He knew my name was Nito and probably much about me. He would recognize me, even in my older state, I was certain. If he spotted me, I would think of something to steer clear of his awareness.

I was crafty with my tales of ways to get myself out of trouble. Nothing was going to get in my way and no one.

FOUR – VALA

Tanner and Snake were still in the City of the Ancients and they would remain there for a little while longer, distanced from me. Iry told me of that news because he knew I was bothered by Tanner's presence. Truth be told, it did bother me. I didn’t understand why I was looked at by him as if I were a traitor. Why did he look at me with hurt? If only he would have stayed a little while longer in my presence, I could have spoken to him, cleared the air. However, he and Snake left shortly after their visit.

It did not take long for the after-ceremony festivities to turn full-fledged. So many Ancients were in the hall. They were laughing and smiling like I had never seen them do before. There were plenty of fruits and vegetables for them and even real food like meat. Surprisingly, there were many people there. A few of the elders from my village who knew me since I was a child were in attendance, garnished with flowers.

“You will be so happy,” one said. “This was a wise choice.”

Did they not understand my reasoning for the marriage to Iry? In a sense, I was forced into it. I had no choice in the matter. My sister’s life hung in the balance, wavering. She was now one of them and the only way to ensure that she would maintain her human qualities was if I were with her constantly.

My poor sister Sophie. While she was indeed alive, in a sense, she would never be the same. She had been turned by Nito. The only good thing to come out of it was that Nito was banished. I didn’t know where she went, but she was gone, vanquished. Iry told me it was possible that she was sent back to the time when the Ancients were starved from their home, forced into hiding. I asked for the gods to forgive me and hoped that that was where she was. My life was no longer my own because of her. The great gifts that the gods had given me were wasted. For the moment. I would figure a way out of it, once I knew what it was I had to do.

FIVE – TANNER

Maybe it wasn’t the right way to be but I couldn’t help it. I kept getting cross with Snake. He was so … how could I put it? ... giddy. Yeah, that was how Davis would describe him. Giddy like a little girl on her birthday, excited. Every few steps we took down the main street of the Ancient City, he kept saying, “Well, I’ll be damned.”

A few more steps down the road, he stopped, looked around and repeated, “Well, I’ll be damned.”

In fact, he was saying it so much that some well-intentioned Ancient, if there could be one, stopped him on the street and said, “No ... no ... we are sure nothing you have done so far in your life would cause you to be damned.”

Why do the Ancients and all those weirdoes in the Straits take everything so literally? It’s absurd. “Well, I’ll be—”

“Don’t,” I finally stopped him. “Why do you keep—”

Before I could complete my sentence, another Ancient approached him. Like we did in Angeles City, they had food carts set up all over the street, only theirs were shiny and silver and nice. It was not just food, there was also some sort of red drink, but it didn’t look like blood because it had fruit floating inside. The beverage was in a tall glass that was shaped like a woman and it had a stick poking out of its top. The Ancient gave it to Snake.

Snake accepted it. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

I wanted to tell him not to take it, but it was too late. Snake took the glass, stuck his mouth over the giant stick and began to drink. “Wow. This is good.” He extended the drink. “Want some?”

“No!” I barked. “You shouldn’t drink that either. You don’t know what it is.”

“If I remember correctly, I think it’s a daiquiri, maybe not, though. Maybe it’s a margarita. I'm not sure. But it’s tasty. Refreshing. And cold.”

“How can it be cold?” I asked. “The sun is blazing.”

“Ice.”

“Ice?”

“Oh, that’s right, you don’t know,” Snake said. “Ice.”

“What the heck is ice?”

“Frozen water shaped like little cubes or dice. They keep your drinks cold.” Snake again extended the drink me. “Try some. You'll like it."

Since snake wasn’t dead on the pavement already from some poisonous drink, I tried the concoction. Just a sip, though. Though I hated to admit it, he was right. The drink was delicious. I rushed back to the vendor and grabbed one for myself.

Snake laughed. “It may have been decades since I’ve been here, but I am surprised that not much has changed.”

“You’ve been here before?”

“Yep, lots of times. I love this place. They used to call it Sin City. People would come here to gamble, have fun and even get married.”

“Well, that part hasn’t changed,” I snapped.

“Come on,” Snake said. “Finish that drink and I bet you’ll feel better afterwards. Then we'll head over and talk to Vala again.”

“Should I?”

“Yeah, you should.”

“I didn’t behave very well last time. I stormed away.”

“With good reason. She was your girl. But I’m sure she has good reason, too.” He paused. “Now, finish that drink.”

I knew I would finish it, mostly because it was really delicious, though I wasn’t quite sure how the big drink was going to make me feel better. I finished every drop, quickly too, because I wanted to get to that ice before it melted.

SIX – NITO

There’s one thing that I will never get used to: the amount and the force in which fluid and other disturbing substances are expelled from the human body. I will never understand why the human body wastes so much of what it takes in. It makes no sense.

Why would the body consume so much nourishment it is only going to pass with a vengeance? Perhaps as time goes on I will get used to it, though hopefully I will not be in a human body for all that long.

While waiting to leave the battleground I felt the sense of urgency hit me and I excused myself from the view of others to partake in the vulgar expulsion ritual.

Finally, we left for Angeles City. I was anxious to see it, though was shocked at what I witnessed. We, as Ancients, kept our city bright and shiny. We restored it to its original valor. The humans had let nature grow beneath their structures, encasing them like a jungle, causing most structures to crumble to the ground. There is a folklore that I am reminded of, Ancients of science swear by it. They say that humankind was originally a simian race. Primitive beings with fur and a tail. They evolved into human beings, however, evolution was jumpstarted when one of our explorers visited Earth and mated with a primitive being. Of course, that is just a tale. If I did not believe in the gods and their ability to create beings, provide us with such a lush food source, I would believe the story from science, especially after seeing their current habitat. When I pursued Vala and visited Angeles City before, I did not notice how they lived.

It wasn’t all humans though. I thought of Burt and the others at Hopeland. How the underground habitat was clean and pristine. Perhaps it was how the rebels lived so they could beat whoever it was they fought. Apparently living in squalor does wonders for one’s physical being and ability to battle.

I shuddered to think of what my sleeping arrangements would be. I would only hope that they would be more comfortable, considering the fact that the humans, like with their elimination rituals, slumbered often. What I wanted to do was head back to the City of the Ancients, throw myself on the mercy of the court and beg my father for forgiveness, even offering my own human blood as a food source. If I wanted to reclaim my rightful position in the City of the Ancients, I had to prove myself. I had to earn that back.

I would.

SEVEN – VALA

The night before my wedding to Iry, during a dream that I didn’t recall, my fingernail snagged against the skin on my wrist. It bled some and was an odd injury to find upon waking. I did not think too much about it, except that it kept bleeding, showing no signs of healing. It worried me, causing me to believe that I had an illness inhibiting me from healing from a minor wound.

A few hours after our marriage ceremony and into the celebration, I felt the injury burning. I tried not to pay much attention to it. I teetered between looking out the window, waiting for Tanner’s return and watching Sophie dancing happily on the floor. Everyone seemed to be celebrating with dance and men were creating songs.  Never had I heard such beautiful music.

While I was watching my sister, Iry encouraged me to enjoy it. “Try not to look so glum, Vala, this is a celebration. Enjoy the band.”

“Band?”

“Yes, those four people with the instruments making the music. They are called a band.”

“Like Davis,” I said. “He was in a country western band.”

Iry laughed. “Country Western music is funny.”

“Are you making fun of Davis?”

“Not at all. But it is very different from this. This is more what the humans call classical.”

“Is this the type of music you like?”

“Personally, I like the music from the eighties. Bon Jovi.”

I gasped. I knew that name. “He is a God,” I said.

“Yeah, well,” Iry sipped his wine then lifted his glass, “I’m sure many women of that era felt that way.”

“What of the men? Did they not find favor in him?”

“Vala, what are you …” Iry stopped cold and looked down, then grabbed my arm. “Why are you bleeding?”

I glanced down to see the entire edge of my dress was covered in blood. “I don’t know. It is where I scratched myself in my sleep.”

“You woke with that and it still is bleeding?”

“Yes. It is odd.”

“No, not really. Come with me.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me with him.

“Where are we going?” I asked. “Where are you taking me?”

“To get answers.”

Iry moved with determination, stopping before a gentleman wearing a golden suit and sipping wine. The gentleman was scholarly looking and oddly large for an Ancient.

“Yaku,” Iry said to him. “Do you have a moment?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Please, come with me.” Iry then led me into the hall outside the celebration room.

I pulled my hand away. “Iry, what is going on?”

“You’re bleeding.”

Suddenly, it struck me and I gasped. “Oh, you want to steal some?”

“Yeah, Vala, right away. I’ll just lick it off the sleeve of your dress. Give me a break.” He turned his head, disgusted.

Yaku stepped into the hall. “What’s going on?”

“I need you to take a look at her wrist,” Iry said.

“Is he a medicine man?” I questioned.

“No, a seer,” Iry answered. He lifted my arm and pulled back my sleeve for Yaku to view.

“It’s seeping. Get me a moist cloth,” he said.

Iry raced off. I said nothing to the ‘seer’.

Iry returned and handed him the cloth. Gently, the seer cleaned the blood away. After he did, he looked at Iry.

“Would it be the sister?” Iry asked. “Isn’t she far too young? Instincts to do this would not have kicked in.”

The seer shook his head. “These are throng marks.  Notice the distance between both marks. They aren’t healing, which tells me it is a throng.”

“That’s a very ancient means,” Iry said.  “An elder?”

“Just because the means are ancient, doesn’t mean it’s an elder, merely someone who got their hands on one. They are available. Many use them for their private house—”

“Stop,” I said. “What are you talking about? What is a throng?”

“It is a tiny box, no bigger than your little finger,” Iry explained. “It’s made of gold. At the bottom are two needles that, when inserted, create a suction.”

Yaku added, “It collects just enough blood and the potion placed on the needles keeps the wound open for ease.”

“Ease of what?” I asked.

“Ease in taking your blood on a regular basis,” Iry said.

I grabbed the cloth and covered my wrist. “Who would do that?”

“You are a Mare,” Iry answered. “Anyone would want to. We just need to figure out who.”

I felt violated and vulnerable. Being a strong female, it wasn’t something I was used to. It was an insane thought. Was someone sneaking into my room and stealing my blood?

“We say nothing,” Yaku stated. “Keep this between us.”

“Why?” Iry asked.

“Because the blood of the Mare isn’t a one dose wonder. Whoever did this, knows this and intends to keep the wound open to get more. They are counting on her ignorance and yours. Just wait and trap them, because they’ll be back for more.”

EIGHT – TANNER

Snake called himself a tourist, although I wasn’t really sure what that meant. Another one of those terms that were around before I was old enough to know what it meant. I learned a lot of them in our stroll.

He said a tourist is someone who visits different places to look around.

What was the point in that? Aside from terms, I learned that people did a lot of strange things for no good reason.

Like walking.

What the heck? How big was the City of the Ancients? Nine miles? And that wasn’t including what Snake called Down Town, although one of the Civies overheard us and said that was where a lot of the human housemen lived and to go there at our own risk.

That made me curious.

We walked, nine miles up a concrete road and back down again.  My shoes nearly melted and that wasn’t an exaggeration. We didn’t go in any of the buildings. We did see a volcano; it wasn’t real. I think the best reaction from Snake was when he saw the triangular building. He laughed and said it figured. A pyramid.

The pyramid building was sandwiched between the princess castle and the place they told us we could stay. I hated to admit it, but it was pretty awesome. Like being somewhere far away, a beach resort that only existed in pictures at the museum. A place in the world that was never touched by war or plague.

By the time we made our way back to the king’s palace, I had consumed two of the fruit beverages. Snake was right, the drinks gave me courage.

“I think we should take them up on their offer,” Snake said. “Stay another day or two before we head back.”

“So you can be a tourist?” I asked.

“That and see what all we have to take on. We’re here, Tanner. We are in the City of the Ancients. We didn’t know where this place was and now we do. Which means there is no reason for Vala to stay.”

“So we can take her?”

“If she wants to go.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Look around.” Snake held out his hand. “This place is clean, beautiful and buzzing with life. Nothing like Angeles City or the Straits. Would you leave here?”

“It’s not what I imagined,” I admitted.

“Me either. I kind of thought the Ancients would live dark and sinister.”

“I thought it would be sandy.”

Snake looked at me curiously.

“Seriously. The pyramids, their past ...”

“Well they did return to the desert,” Snake said. “They hate large bodies of water. Funny considering …”

“What?”

“Holy crap.” Snake smacked himself in the head. “Holy crap!”

“What!”

“The city has power. You’ll see tonight. It gets its power from the Hoover Dam.”

“Alright.”

“A dam, bright boy, is a huge concrete wall that holds back a huge body of water. They live one explosion away from being flooded into oblivion.”

“This place could be flooded?”

“Well, not flooded, but the pressure of the water would crush them."

“So we can win the war against the Ancients without losing a human life. Why don’t we blow this dam up now?”

“Because it’s not that simple and there are people here, lots of humans. We don’t want to risk their lives. Flooding the Ancients will come after we remove the Savages. That is our bigger threat. These people aren’t.”

“How can you say that?”

“They live in comfort. They like the pampered life. More than just flooding them must occur, we just have to starve them. To do that, history must repeat itself.”

“How do we do that?”

“Get Vala to be what she is supposed to be. She is the new Moses and we will have her lead the people out of this place. Then maybe we’ll flood it.”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe. This could very well be a great new home. For now.” He peered ahead. “Right now we have a party to get to, Vala to speak with and more drinks to be had. We shouldn't dawdle.”

He placed a firm hand on my back and we started walking toward the palace. The fruit drinks had calmed me and it was time to face Vala again. Only this time more rationally.

NINE – NITO

If the leader Davis had been an Ancient, I would have guessed him to be a mature four thousand years old. It took a little over a hundred Earth years for an Ancient to show a year’s worth of aging. An Ancient could be either born or made. On Earth, many Ancients raised human children, watched them grow up much faster and then turned them when they reached an age of maturity and never before.

Unlike Ancients, once a human was turned, they did not age. Ever. Turning them before maturity cursed them or damned them to live in youth.

However, there was a way out and it was one of the reasons I felt my punishment was far too harsh. Just as easily as my father banished me, he could return the child to her human form if she didn’t die in the turning process. Vala’s sister didn’t. I supposed keeping her that way, as a child, kept the Mare with them. He should have been thanking me.

So until the time I could earn my return passage to the City I was stuck with peasants.

None of them dressed in attire that was presentable. They were only mildly clean, which was unnerving. The people of Hopeland spoiled my vision of what humans were like outside the Straits.

When I returned to power, Hopeland would be my pet secret. Burt would be my main houseman. Although Davis was strikingly handsome for a human. As pleasing to the eye as he appeared, I quickly learned he was a ruthless leader, a tyrant who commanded his way. Once I arrived in Angeles City, to my surprise, he told another man with regards to me, “Give me a second to get things situated then bring her in to me.”

After he left, I asked the man, “Why are you taking me to him?”

“He needs to know whether or not to bunker you.”

I wasn’t familiar with the term, ‘bunker’ but I was certain, knowing human men, it wasn’t a pleasant experience. In fact, I was convinced that he wanted me alone to have his way with me. Even with an aging human appearance, according to Burt, I was desirable.

Being led to the chambers of Davis worried me some, but I would stay firm. He was seated behind a desk when I walked in and held out his hand, pointing to a chair. “Have a seat.”

I sat apprehensively.

“You know why I wanted to see you, right?” he asked.

“I think so.”

“Good. This will be easier as long as you fully cooperate. It will be done quickly.”

I gasped.

“What’s wrong?”

“I know what you want from me.”

“And how is that a bad thing?”

“Arrogance does not become you.”

“How is getting all I can from you arrogant?”

“You would think that.”

“Excuse me?”

“No, I will not.”

He tossed up his writing utensil. “What am I missing?”

“Manners.”

“If you want me to ask you for it, I am.”

“No, you are not. You are demanding. It shouldn’t be an option.”

“Look, toots,” he said, “It’s not an option. Either you give it to me or you don’t. Everyone goes through this process.”

“Even men?”

“Men, women, doesn’t matter. Everyone has to—”

“Beast. I came here to help the cause. Not bow down subserviently to your primal needs.”

“What?”

I sat up in the chair boldly. “I am spoken for. Burt would not like it.”

“What the hell …?” He held up his hand. “Wait. Do you think you have to be … intimate with me?”

“Isn’t that what you want from me?”

“No. I want your background story, not your body.”

“So it is only male bodies?” I asked.

“No! What is wrong with you, lady? Geez.” He shook his head. “Why would you even think that?”

“I was told you would be deciding whether or not to bunker me.”

“Bunker you. Not bunk with you.  Bunker you means to put you in a bunker and process you. Some people need to learn what it is like to be human again. Be reintroduced to civilization. You know, the old world before it all went to pot and to the Sybaris.”

I cringed. Sybaris was such an ugly word. I had to pretend it didn’t bother me. Plus, he was wasting his time. While I wasn’t ‘truly’ human, I was very in tune with the humans.

“Well,” I told him with confidence, “I am quite sure you will find I do not need to be bunkered.”

“Good. Let’s see.” He grabbed his pen. “Will you answer questions now or is there another type of misunderstanding we need to go through first?”

“Ask away.”

“What is your name?”

I couldn’t blurt out ‘Nito’ certainly.  “Madge,” I said. “I think I told you that.”

“You did. Okay, Madge what?”

“Madge from … another place.”

“No, I mean your last name.”

“My previous name before Madge.” I grew worried. How did he know?

“Oh my God. No, I mean. My name is Blake Davis. You are Madge … who?”

I stared.

“Your second name. Last name.”

I shook my head. “Just Madge.”

“You don’t have a last name or you don’t remember your last name?”

“I don’t have one.”

“You have to have one.”

"Why would you ask me if I forgot it, if having one wasn’t an option?”

"We’ll move on ... just Madge.” He wrote something down. “Where do you come from?”

“Before I got here?”

“Yes.”

“I cannot tell.  I will not tell. They are a hidden band of people who are kind and want to remain hidden. They are human, though.”

“There’s another group of humans alive close by?”

“Yes. And they are clean and civilized.”

“We are too.”

I shook my head. “Oh, no, you may think that. But when you see Burt and his people, you will know otherwise.”

“Okay. So you lived in this clean place?”

“No, I stayed there. I lived elsewhere.”

“Now, we’re on to something. Where? I’m gonna guess … the Straits.”

“Yes.”

“Esperanza?”

Just on the chance he would ask if I knew the Mare, I chose another location. “No. Tekana.”

“There’s another strait called Tekana?”

“Oh, yes. A beautiful area beyond Esperanza.”

“I never knew that.”

“Now you do.”

“And you came from there to find us. Why?”

“I told you, to join the rebellion. Now, have I proven that I don’t need bunkering?”

He hummed and bobbed his head. “Maybe. You’re a little off, but … okay. Tell me five things you miss about the old world.”

“What I miss about the old world?”

He nodded.

I took a moment to think. I was reaching back to my childhood, but to me, childhoods were all similar. “Oh, I know. I miss being fanned.”

“Excuse me?”

“The days of my mother fanning me when it was too hot to function. I know …” I waved out my hand with a smile, knowing he was probably judging my mother. After all, what good mother fans her child instead of having the servants do it? “It’s odd. But it was a great bonding ritual. She would fan me. I’d giggle.”

“Fanning. Okay, what else?”

“Well, I miss the days when the smell of hay in the morning would flow through my drapes. Fresh bundled hay, moist and …”

“Stop.”

“Did I pass?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“So, you’re convinced?”

“More than ever. Yes. I am convinced.” Davis nodded. “If you want to be a part of Angeles City, for sure you go in the Bunker.”

TEN – VALA

I was surprised to find out how long the celebration would last. Even if I were happy about the marriage, there was no way I would want to celebrate into the deep evening hours. I stayed back, of out the spotlight, rarely communicating with others. I watch the gala. I especially watched my sister Sophie.

Susan had arrived in the late afternoon celebration. She had been at the ceremony but left for a short spell.

“Don’t look so glum,” she said, approaching me.

“I’m not,” I said, “I’m just observing.”

“Are you concerned about tonight?” Susan asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I know that you are not mentally prepared for your wedding night.”

“What is so special about the wedding night?”

“Come now, you are not that naïve,” Susan said with a bashful smile. “Are you?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Okay, you were a big fan of I Love Lucy. Ricky and Lucy were married,” Susan said. “They celebrate the wedding night, they spend the night as husband-and-wife.”

“Ah,” I said. “Yes, that will be uncomfortable if I’m asleep in the same room as Iry. But at least, like Ricky and Lucy, we will have separate beds.”

“But the Tanners did not,” Susan said, referencing ALF.

I knew the show ALF very well. And I knew the Tanners. I gasped and my eyes widened. “I cannot sleep in the same bed as Iry.”

“That’s not all. I believe you know where babies come from. That is something that is expected on the wedding night. To try to create a baby,” she said, watching me carefully.

I did not know. I mean, nobody really explained all that to me, except for Marie. She explained the painful facts of life. I must have looked horrified.

“No worries,” Susan said gently. “Your husband is not that way. He will not push you into anything. I see by the look on your face, that you were not prepared for that yet. I kind of knew that.”

“What if he asks?”

“If he asks,” Susan said, “then you explain to him. He will …”

Susan’s eyes moved across the room and the words just trailed to a murmur.

I looked up to see what had caught her attention and saw who entered the room.

Both Tanner and Snake entered together, escorted by Iry, who brought them over to me. Tanner looked nervous and like he had been crying. His eyes were glossy and he swayed a little.

Snake looked at me. “Looks like a feast is laid out. Mind if I help myself?”

“Please, do,” I replied, fixed on Tanner.

“Thanks.” Snake smiled, stepped away and returned. “By the way, Vala, you look beautiful.”

Bashfulness swept over me and I mumbled thanks to Snake. Then I shifted my eyes to Tanner.

Iry said, “I’ll leave you be.” He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek.

Tanner groaned.

“What?” I asked.

“Your husband is not a bad guy,” Tanner said sarcastically.

“Why are you so angry?”

Tanner forced a laugh. “Seriously?”

“Yes, why would I not be serious if I asked you if you were angry?”

“I am mad,” Tanner said with an edge to his voice, “because you married the guy.”

“I had my reasons.”

“There are no reasons good enough.” He lowered his voice. “You came here to spy, Vala. You didn’t come here to sell your soul.”

“I said I had my reasons.”

“Well let me give you my reasoning,” Tanner said. “I came here now to look around. I will find a way to destroy every single one of the Ancients.”

“You can’t do that.”

“You don’t think? Why are you even here? I wonder,” Tanner said. “I will finish what you started. I will bring them all down.”

“If you do that,” I whispered, “you will destroy my sister. That is why I got married. That is why I am here. Thanks to Nito, my sister is now one of them.”

ELEVEN – TANNER

I was certain that they were listening to our conversation. Even though no one was near us, the Sybaris had that weird ability. At least I thought so. I really didn’t know much about them and Vala was the closest source of information I had.

Finding out about her sister threw me through a loop. It was not what I expected. I thought her sister was dead, since Vala had told me she was carried off.

I didn’t know how to react. It now made total sense why she had decided to remain there.

“Promise me,” I said to her softly, “while you are here, you will not give yourself to him.”

“I will not give myself to him.”

“Good.”

“Tanner, there are expectations of me. In exchange for taking care of my sister and ensuring that she will be all mine, I must eventually produce an heir.”

“No,” Tanner said. “Listen, I will figure a way out of this. I promise you. Vala, I like you. I really like you. I wouldn’t have come all this way for you if I didn’t. Please, believe me.”

“Tanner, I don’t know what to do.”

I grabbed her hand and lowered my lips to it. I held my kiss there with my eyes closed for a long time. When I lifted my head she too had her eyes closed. “Believe me.”

I looked around for Snake and spotted him enjoying the food at the table. As I passed the table, I noticed that the food did look really good and I grabbed what looked like a huge leg of lamb.  I walked up to Snake and we headed to the door. Once more I glanced back at Vala, trying to convey my reassurance to her. I would do what I had to do. I wanted her in my life. I found her and I wasn’t going to lose her. I would get her out of there.

She may have left to save the human race and defeat the Sybaris. However, now, in a sense, she was trapped and it was up to me to continue and be successful in that task.

TWELVE – NITO

It was decided I was to be placed in a bunker for reconditioning. Davis told me it was in order for me to reconnect with my human self. I wondered how well that would go and the thought of it made me laugh. However, I was curious as to what this reconditioning process entailed.

I was taken into a building and waited for what seemed like an eternity in an uncomfortable wooden chair set in the center of a hollow galley. I did not know what Davis was up to; perhaps he was watching me from afar. He had that look in his eye. Eventually he led me down these hallways filled with human history. Dramatic music flowed through in an attempt to draw emotions. I conveyed my interest and pretended that I remembered events that I had no idea about.

We descended into the basement. As soon as we entered the dingy place, I was sure I was going to be tortured as part of my reconditioning process. The more I took in the room, the more I realized that they had made a vain attempt to make it pleasant enough. Across the room was a large fluffy chair in front of a black box. I recognized that large black box, Burt had told me they had them in Hopeland and used them to watch movies once a week. I was not familiar with what a movie was, but I pretended well. If anything, I was a wonderful theatrical performer.

Davis left me alone in that dismal chamber and then returned shortly.

“Well,” Davis said, lifting his hands and dropping them. “You’re stuck with me down here. People think you’re just too weird to deal with.”

“I don’t know what that means.” I said. “What is weird?”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will. After you finish the process,” Davis said. “Have a seat in the big chair.”

“Are you going to torture me?” I asked.

“It depends what your definition of torture is. If television reruns are your definition of torture, then yes.” Again, another term I wasn’t familiar with and I was certain I wasn’t going to like it. I didn’t like the idea of being at the mercy of Davis, despite how attractive a man he was.

“Explain?” I asked. “Being stuck down here with you?”

“Well, the entire process sometimes takes days or weeks.” Davis explained. “Depends how fast you return to normal.”

“I am normal.”

“I doubt that. I doubt you were this way before.”

“Before what?”

“Before, well, you know, everything went to shit.”

“I will assume I know what you’re talking about.”

Davis whistled. “Man, you’re really bad. Tell you what, it’s afternoon. I bet you’re hungry.”

“I am famished.”

“Good.” Davis clapped his hands together once. “Have a seat, relax, just do nothing, touch nothing and I’ll be back.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to get us lunch,” Davis said. He walked to the main door. It was a big rusty, metal thing that took a lot of strength to open. When he slid it closed after leaving, I could hear that he secured it.

“Dastardly.”

So I was a prisoner. I wonder what vile things he was going to do to me. I reconciled in my mind all the horrible things I have done to humans and a part of me thought maybe it was my turn to receive. Payback of sorts.

I wandered around the chambers. It was simple enough. I didn’t see anything that would harm me. After several long moments, Davis returned.

“I brought us lunch,” he said, carrying a tray in. He closed the door with one hand and then walked over. “You can eat this at the table or while you watch TV.”

“TV?”

“Oh my God. The big black box. You are not that far gone, are you?”

“No. Not at all. I thought you said … eat and watch me pee.”

“You thought I told you to eat while you watch me pee?”

“Yes. That’s why I was so stunned.”

“Well whatever you prefer to do. Other than watch me pee.”

“That would be obscene.”

“There are worse things,” he said. “I’m gonna eat mine over at the desk.”

“Why are you seated at a desk?”

“I’m your bunker monitor. I get a desk.”

I took my seat in the big fluffy chair and Davis placed my lunch in front of me on the table. It included an apple, some sort of meat substance and a beverage in a glass. I examined it. “What is this white substance in the glass?”

“Milk.”

“Milk?” I asked. “Mother’s milk?”

“Geez, lady. Why in the world would I give you mother’s milk? You’re worse than I thought. No wonder no one wants to be down here with you. This is tedious.” Davis walked over to the black box, the television set. “We start at the beginning.”

“The beginning of what?”

“Television.” He turned on the power, then pushed a button in the box above the television, then walked over towards his desk. “Enjoy the show.”

Images appeared on the television box and I gasped, enthralled at the technology. It would be interesting. At the very least, I would get to know the culture of the human race. Admittedly it was something I needed to know. And I was looking forward to having my lunch, although I was not convinced the white substance called milk was not mother’s milk. Why Davis found that so offensive, I don’t know. It had the most nutrients. I dived into my lunch and into the human culture. Why this process would be considered torturous as Davis had said, I wasn’t sure, but I was ready. I was strong. I could take anything they threw at me.

THIRTEEN – VALA

“Will we live here always?” Sophie asked as she helped me undress that evening.

“I don’t know.”

“Do you think Mother will like it here? Why did she not come to the wedding?”

“What is with all the questions, Sophie?”

“I don’t know. It seems strange. Mother should be here. Was that not the plan? Were we not all supposed to be here if one of us were chosen?”

“Yes, that was the plan,” I sighed.

“Why don’t I remember being chosen or you being chosen?”

“Because …” Iry’s voice entered my bedroom, “you were asleep, Little One. It was a rare nighttime choosing.” Iry smiled.

Sophie acted delighted to see him, as if she hadn’t seen him all day. She raced over to Iry and embraced him.

“Now, you know you must rest,” Iry told her.

“I don’t feel tired,” Sophie said. “Not at all.”

“You’re just excited.  Go on. Susan is waiting for you.” He leaned down to accept a kiss to his cheek, then Sophie ran up and kissed me as well.

“Goodnight,” she called as she ran out.

Iry waited until she was gone and closed the door.

“Seeing how Ancients do not sleep,” I said, “how is it she is going to rest?”

“If she is still long enough, she will fall into a trance of sorts, time will pass. Can you imagine the boredom if we were unable to do that?”

“Do you?” I asked.

Iry walked to the table by the door and poured a glass of wine. “No, I find other things to keep me busy. When I sleep you will know.”

“Oh, that’s right you sleep for long periods of time.” I turned toward the window.

“My wife …”

I spun to face him.

“Is that not what you are?”

“I am not a prize.”

“Ah, but you are. Will you please be nice to me?”

“In which way do you mean?”

“I mean talk. Smile. Have fun. Would you like to walk the street and see the lights?”

While our home was quite a distance on the road from everything, I could still see the lights, how they lined the streets, blinking in full colors.

“It’s fun out there,” Iry said. “So much to do.”

“I see many out there,” I said. “Do they just wander?”

“Some. They also party.”

“Do the Ancients not work?” I asked. “I know you do. You are an educator. But the rest?”

“Oh, without a doubt. Some are medicine workers, some keep this city running. They are servants.”

It shocked me to hear. “Ancient servants?”

“Not all can be wealthy and not all can be of royal blood. Some must be the support. The vein of human existence does not come cheaply.”

“Don’t I know it?”

“Vala,” he moved closer, “I am not expecting anything of you other than your company and companionship this evening. Anything else will come in time.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“Because despite what you say, there’s something there. There’s something between us.”

I wanted to say ‘yes, my sister’. My sister was the reason I had stayed, married him. There was no hatred toward Iry, not disgust like there use to be. And I would admit that I didn’t dislike him. In my mind, however, a marriage had to be based on more than just tolerability and family obligation.

My sister was my obligation. Her existence in a new form baffled me and I hadn’t yet figured out how that would all play out. She was an Ancient and she would forever be a child. She would, by all purposes, outlive me. She would live beyond the years that I could care for her, unless, I too, became an Ancient.

I stared out into the bright lights of the Ancient City. Tanner said he would find answers that I didn’t know.

I didn’t even know where he was. All I knew was he was out there, in the City of the Ancients, searching. More than likely, he was miserable and lost.

FOURTEEN – TANNER

I couldn’t recall the last time I laughed so hard. When those in charge told me and Snake that we’d have an escort, I was offended. They didn’t trust us. Of course, I was on a spying mission. Snake seemed to be on what he called a vacation. I wasn’t really sure what that was, but he was having fun and kept telling me to lighten up.

Really? We came to get Vala, which was a bust. Her mission was shot because she was stuck getting married to protect her sister.

But the whole point of Vala going to Angeles City was to bring down the Sybaris. I knew how to bring down the Savages. Destroying them would surely bring a victory in the war against the Sybaris. In actuality, there was no need to fight the Sybaris. We could starve them by showing those under their rule the true light of freedom. Lead them from bondage, like Moses did and starve out the Sybaris.

Although they had loads of those weird communities like Vala came from, there were tons of humans living happily in the City of the Ancients. Some had transitioned into being Sybaris, though others just lived and worked there.

I didn’t understand it.

And if I didn’t know him better, I could have sworn Snake would have been happy to become a new Ancient City resident. He was having a good time.

I started having a better time once our private Sybaris started tagging us. I expected some stuffy elder to lead us around, but he wasn’t. His name was too long and complicated to say all the time, so we called him Talky. He was young or at least looked young. I think he said he was something like two thousand years old. He had the typical wide, deep eyes of the Sybaris and browner skin.  He told us he was born of a human mother, which explained his personality. Surprisingly, he was a lot like me.

Bataqua Shay Nu was the name he gave us and Snake immediately shortened it to ‘Talky’.

“Mind if we call you that?” Snake asked politely.

I expected him to scoff, but surprisingly, he said, “Sure, if it’s easier. I like it. Talky. That’s me.”

He was talky.

He talked about everyone but in a fun, joking way. He drank tons of those big drinks and walked a little more erratically and laughed more as the night moved on.

The best moment was when he approached a barely dressed human woman on the street to get her to join us and she said he couldn’t afford her.

“Vegas ones were high priced in my day, too,” Snake said.

“Vegas what?” I asked.

“Party girls.”

“Oh,” I said. “We don’t need a girl to party, we can have fun on our own. We’re having fun. Right, Talky?”

“I’m having a ton of fun.” He finished his big drink, placed the container in a round receptacle and then grabbed another off a vendor as soon as he saw one.

We visited places where people ate, danced and some tossed plastic chips on a table and cheered when a number came up on a wheel. It was odd and there was an air of excitement.

“So, your job is to follow us, hang with us?” I asked.

‘Yes,” Talky answered. “I’m to show you around the city. Show you we aren’t as bad as you think.”

“Yeah, but you treat humans like they are livestock.”

“They are rewarded.”

“By death, by draining their blood.”

“What? Do you think they are hooked up to a machine constantly?” he asked. “Every human you see on these streets donates a tube of blood once a week. It is a small price to pay for living so grandly. I would do it instead of working at the fruit vendor. This isn’t my job, escorting you. My uncle is head of security, that is why I got this detail.”

“But when you are done with them, then what?” I asked.

“We don’t kill them, if that’s what you think.”

Snake snickered. “Yeah, it is.”

“What do you think we are? Savages?” He shuddered. “Those are beasts not even we wish to deal with. Yes, I admit, we use them for game, but our warriors destroy them.”

“Okay, Ancient City people are happy,.” I said. “What about the ones in the Straits?”

“What about them?”

“You think they’re happy?”

“You don’t think they are?”

“No,” I argued. “They’re prisoners.”

“By whose account?” Talky asked.

“We get at least two or three a month in our camp. They flee the Straits.”

“Yes, they leave,” Talky explained. “They are not held captive. You see several a month out of tens of thousands. I’d say those are pretty good odds people are happy. What makes you think they don’t want to live there? They have food, medical care and a safe environment. For some reason the rebellion seems to think we are evil.”

I was sipping my own drink and nearly choked. “Dude, not like you aren’t cool or anything, but for the most part, yeah, you guys are evil.”

“No, we aren’t.”

“Uh …” I hummed out with sarcasm, “Nito maybe? That woman is—”

“Banished,” he cut in firmly.

“Whoa. Hey. Wait, what?” Snake stooped walking. “Banished?”

“Oh, yeah, it is big news, even though most don’t know the reason. We guess it’s because she turned a child and that is a big no-no. Plus there was talk that she led the Savages into the Straits. Bigger no-no. We promise the humans protection from the Savages. You know, we provide for humans and we do it well. We need humans, so why treat them badly?”

Nito was banished? It took me a second to register it and I still was not clear what it meant. “So they kicked her out? Sent her somewhere?”

“No one knows exactly what happens in a banishment,” Talky replied. “No one has ever returned. My mother witnessed one, she said the Ancient simply vanished into some sort of mist. I think they are sent back to the Dark Ages.”

“Sick.” I smiled and nodded my head. “The evil witch is dead.”

“Banished,” he corrected and started walking again.

“Same difference,” I replied. “She is gone.”

FIFTEEN – NITO

Reruns.

A television show runs, then they show it again. A re … run. Once I figured that out, I was simply enamored. One of the things we as Ancients enjoyed most was having performances. Musicians, actors, they would put on a show. If I enjoyed it, I wanted to see it again, often it wasn’t the same way the second time.

With the television that wasn’t the case. If I enjoyed what I saw, I watched it again to make it even better. Davis showed me the arrows and I could hear a song or a spoken line again and again.

He explained that each person going through the process found one show that they related to or liked. Davis told me I took it to extremes and I did something called binge-watching, meaning I binged on episodes. I couldn’t help it, I fell in love and saw a remarkable kinship to Nellie on Little House on the Prairie.

It reminded me of my days as a child. I found myself yelling at the television box, “No, Nellie, don’t say it. They’ll misunderstand you.”

She couldn’t hear me.

How I wish we Ancients ruled the world in that timeframe. Nellie would have been my friend. And they lived quite like the people in the Straits.

By far my favorite episode was Season Six, Episode two. I loved it.

“It must be very hard tracing all your relatives. Names and everything. Having to spend all that time in the forest or wherever it is you're from,” Nellie said to Laura.

I giggled like a child. I could see myself saying that. Rewind.

“It must be very hard tracing all your relatives. Names and everything. Having to spend all that time in the forest or wherever it is you're from.”

It was too funny.

Again.

“It must be very hard tracing all your relatives. Names and everything. Having to spend all that time in the forest or wherever it is you're from.”

I laughed and aimed the control for another round.

“Enough,” Davis said, taking the control from my hand. “No more. Just watch it.”

“But I think she is funny.”

“You’re the only one. No one watches that much Little House on the Prairie.” He handed back the control. “Please, stop rewinding Nellie.”

“She reminds me of myself.”

Davis drew a quirky look. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

“I’m prettier though.”

“Um … yeah.”

“You remind me of the man Charles.”

“Thanks.”

“In an older, wiser way.”

“He’s … I’m …” Davis grunted and walked away. “Keep annoying me with that and I’ll hide all the disks.”

“It’s my reconditioning. Shan’t I choose what suits me best?”

“As long as it doesn’t drive me crazy,” Davis took his seat at his desk.

“What doesn’t drive you crazy?”

Davis stood in a huff. “Wanna know?”

“Yes.”

He walked over to the big cabinet, opened it and pulled out a small case.

I gasped when he turned off Little House and replaced it. He grabbed the controller and aimed it. “This doesn’t drive me crazy.”

I watched the words on the screen. “What is this … Bon an za?”

“Bonanza and you wanted to know what didn’t drive me crazy. You may like this. It’s the same theme.”

“Ah, I see. Oh look! There you are again.” I pointed to the man on the screen. “Even younger. Your double gets around.”

He tossed me the controller and walked off. I didn’t know what was more enjoyable, the television reruns or annoying the leader of the rebellion.

SIXTEEN – VALA

Their skin somehow had a shine of moisture that reflected the moonlight. My dream was lucid. I felt strongly that I had been transported against my will. However, it could not have been real. I stood on top of the stone no taller than half my height, staring out into a sea of Savages. I did not recognize the location, although it would be hard to tell if I did know any of the former cities. I was set in the midst of ruins, a city burned down to nothing. Blackened and broken remains covered with vicious Savages. They feasted. Blood and guts sprayed forth from their mouths with each snarl, every bite. The dined on the innards of animals and even humans remains scattered about. It was so real I could smell things. It wasn't like the last Savage I had discovered when following my sister Sophie. This one was large. It wasn't hundreds of Savages or even thousands. There were far too many to count because they were spread as far as the eye could see.

“Mare,” a deep male voice echoed over the Savages. They paid no mind to the call. “Mare.”

With a flash of lightning and it appeared.

I was certain it was male and he stood taller than all the Savages. He had the head of a Savage and was upright with a human body. His skin tone was the leathery black of the Savages. In his left hand he held a staff and raised it high. When he did, another larger Savage joined him. She wore a thin cloth, like a dress. She was similar to him, though perhaps not as humanistic.

“Join us,” he said.

I felt a deep pain in my wrist and looked down to see a Savage biting on it. Quickly I snatched it back and that was when I woke.

It wasn’t a dream, I had been transporting and had returned too quickly. I was unable to breathe correctly but was still with it enough to see what happened.

Across the darkness I heard a snarl. It rumbled into a growl and through the corner of my eye I saw something move quickly, just before the banging against the wall. Scooting over, frightened, I turned on the electric lantern.

Not only was my wrist bleeding, but I saw Iry on the side of the bed. My immediate thought was he had done it to me until I saw him stand, enraged and he lifted Susan from the floor.

She tried to flee, but with a simple push from him, she slammed back into the wall.

I had never seen Iry angry, yet he was boiling with emotions.

“Stop, please,” Susan held up her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.’

“What are you doing?” Iry grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet.  “Vala, wash and bandage that wrist now.”

Still holding Susan, Iry bent down and lifted something from the floor. “The throng,” he said. “Where did you get it?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t tell or won’t tell?”

It took a second and then I realized it was Susan. Susan was drawing my blood?

Iry shook the throng. “You know her blood does nothing for you, right?’

“Yes,” Susan answered emotionally.

“Then why take it?”

“It wasn’t for me.”

“Who?”

Susan shook her head.

“Who!” Iry roared.

After a few breath filled sobs Susan replied, “The queen.”

<><><><>

The palace was quite a distance from Iry’s home. It was a challenge to walk after such an exhausting day. However, it was nothing compared to the wait inside the palace to see the king. The longer the minutes clicked, the more irritated my new husband was. Actually, I’d say infuriated. And Susan became more and more indignant, almost cocky. That told me she knew something. Did the king? Did she feel a sense of being protected or was she actually doing this for the palace? Who was the queen? I assumed it was Nito, it was not her. In all of my years, I had never heard a queen mentioned, nor had I seen one.

“What do you suppose the king will do?” I asked Iry.

“It depends,” said he replied. “It depends on whether or not the king knows about this.”

“Who’s the queen?”

“I haven’t a clue. I have never met the queen. No, that’s wrong, I suppose I met her when I was a mere baby,” Iry said. “But I’ve not seen her in thousands of years.”

Iry tapped his foot in irritation and wrung in his hands. I reached over and placed my hand over his. “You are nervous.”

“Not nervous. Infuriated, angry, mad, you name it.”

“That is an abundance of negative emotions.”

“I just don’t know what’s going on,” Iry said. “This is exactly why so many Ancients have fled and just lived out in this world amongst the humans.”

“How is that possible?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, live amongst the humans? Surely that is not possible. Plus you cannot be hidden, you look different.”

“Slightly different,” Iry stated. “But is it inconceivable to you that we live amongst you in peace? As brothers and sisters?”

I laughed. “Yes.”

“Then you have not learned anything of us in your time here, Vala. Many of us can coexist with humans very well. Only those of us who are pure, one hundred percent Ancient are those that look slightly different.”

<><><><>

Finally, after hours of waiting and the sun had already risen, the court guard open the door for us.

“The king shall see you now.”

We stood up from our chairs in the hallway and that was when I noticed the look on Susan’s face.

“Why do you look so smug?” I asked.

“It’s not smug. It is confidence,” Susan said. “Because I am certain that the king will understand my intentions.”

Iry was bothered by her response and it added even more annoyance to his mood. He gripped her arm tightly even though he didn’t need to all the way to the king’s chambers.

We stepped into the court of the king where he sat on his throne.

“What is it that beckons my attention, educator?” he asked.

“Iry pushed Susan forward. “This human has—”

“This human, if she has done anything,” said the king, “is your business. She is from your house. You should handle it, not me. What could she have done that has made you disturb me?”

“This.” Iry held out my arm exposing my fresh wound marks still bleeding on my wrist.

The king stood from his throne. “She draws her blood?” he asked. “This is unheard of. It means nothing from one human to another.”

“Exactly,” Iry said. “This is the second time she has done it. But it is not that she has done it, it’s why she has done it that I bring her to you.”

“Why?”

Susan answered “I did it for the queen.”

“What queen?” the king asked.

“Your queen,” Susan replied.

“That is absurd. My queen was lost many years ago during the Starvation period”

“No!” Susan said strongly. “She is alive.”

“You lie. Guards! Take care! Take her for treason and for taking from a food source.” Two guards hurried forward both taking hold of Susan and dragging her back.

“No!” she screamed out. “No! I’m not lying. She’s alive. Ask Vala. She is seeing her.”

Hearing her accuse me of something like that, of seeing someone I did not know existed, threw me a little. I looked at the king and shook my head. “No, I am not.”

“Yes!” Susan screamed from the room. “They brought you to them!”

The king looked at me. “What is she speaking of?  Has someone transported you?’

“Not that I …” I paused. I remember. My dream. “Unless it was a dream.”

“What dream?” the king asked. “Did you have an ejecting dream?”

“Tonight. When I was awakened, yes. With all that was happening with Susan, it slipped my mind. But I was cut from it very quickly.”

“What was the dream?” the king asked.

“Savages. Many, many of them. Too many to count. This thing stood up right in the middle of them. He was a man from what I could tell. My eyes shifted from Iry to the king. And then to Susan who had been halted by the door. “He was a large, tall man with a human body, his skin was black as tar. Yet he had the head of a Savage beast.”

“Anubis.” Iry looked up to the king. “It sounds like Anubis.”

“I will agree. I should have known. He would lead the Savages,” the king said.

“Who is Anubis?” I asked.

“He is the god of the dead,” Iry told me. “The world in between the suffering and the damned.”

“He would have the power to pull you through, past any blockader guard you have of your dreams,” the king said. “But this does not mean you have seen the queen.”

“Was your queen not a Savage at one time?” Susan spoke up.

The king looked as if he wanted to kill her.  “How do you know these things?”

“Your daughter told me. She told me that the queen was transformed and never returned from the Great Starvation. But she is turning. She’s turning with the Mare’s blood. Don’t you want your wife back? Don’t you want to see her human again?”

The king looked at me. “Did you see a female?”

I nodded. “Yes. She was still in mostly Savage form, but she did stand upright.”

“I told you,” Susan said. “Save her. Give her the blood of the Mare. If you do not, she will continue working with Anubis and the Savages.”

The king threw out his hand again and pointed at the guards. “Take her away.”

Susan screamed and cried, fighting the guards as they dragged her away. “You will regret this! You will. They’re coming! All of them! For the humans. The Ancients. No one stands a chance. It will be a Savage world!”

SEVENTEEN – TANNER

Just as the sun began to lighten the sky, a car arrived for me and Snake. Snake hadn’t been asleep at all. But I had fallen asleep for about an hour so, enough for my body to feel the effects of all the alcohol I consumed the night before.

My God, if I didn’t know any better, I would swear I had a killer flu. Or maybe they had poisoned us. My head pounded, my mouth was dry, my throat was itchy and my stomach felt like it was doing a dance of a thousand nights. I wanted to vomit.

Talky gave us some bread and fruit and some juice. After we ate, we took off. To my surprise, we didn’t take an airplane like we did the last time. They told us “we’ll get you to a point and you’ll be able to get home just fine.”

Without flying, I didn’t see how that was possible. Although, I wasn’t quite sure how far from Angeles City we were. I would assume quite a distance.

<><><><>

We drove for about two hours and finally they just pulled over, stopped the car, said good luck and waited for us to get out.

“You’re joking, right?” I asked the driver with a chuckle.

“No I’m not,” he said. “You should be just fine from here.”

I looked out. There was nothing there. Nothing but rock and desert. From what I could tell, we were nowhere near Angeles City. How in the heck were we supposed to get home?

“Just get out,” Snake said. “Say nothing. Apparently they either don’t have any geographical instincts or this is their way of killing us.”

The driver peered into the mirror to check us out after that remark. He merely shook his head and said nothing.

I opened my door and grabbed my bag, as did Snake. No sooner had we stepped out and shut the door than the driver took off. He took off so fast he left us in a trail of sandy dust.

“Great. Just great.” I looked around again. There was nothing for as far as the eye could see.

“Well, we can stand here,” Snake said. “Or we could start walking.”

“Walk where?”

“Well,” Snake looked up to the sky, “there’s the sun. It sets in the west. Home is west. We’ll follow that.”

“That’s the big plan? Follow the sun?” I shook my head. “We’re going die here. We have no provisions whatsoever.”

“We’re alive,” Snake said. “And we had a heck of a vacation.”

“Vacation? That’s the way you look at it?”

“You could’ve had a good time too if you hadn’t been sulking the whole time.”

“Sulking? Of course I was sulking,” I said. “I chased Vala out here by telling her we found the Savage camp and there was no reason for her to stay and then she got married.”

“Yes, she did.”

“And her sister was made into one of those things, which was the reason she had to get married.”

“If that’s what you believe.”

“What do you mean?”

“That’s what she told you. Right?”

“Yes. Why would she lie?”

“To spare your feelings.”

“Please,” I snorted.

“She looked pretty happy with that—”

“Stop. If you’re trying to irritate me, you are. I’m on the verge of death, walking in this desert, in this heat, can I at least die less angry?”

“With the way you been, not enjoying your vacation, your food or anything, I don’t see any way you’re going to die a happy man. Let alone less angry.”

“Gee, thanks.” I didn’t say much after that. I wanted to save my breath and keep my mouth moist. They didn’t give us any water or anything. We walked for a while, then in the distance I spotted a small wooden shack. It was the tiniest little building I had ever seen. Maybe 8’ x 8’. A little distance from it was another small, open, wooden structure. Did someone live out there? Were they out in the open, with the Savages flying around at night?

“Look ahead,” Snake said, pointing outward.

“I see it.”

“I think that’s what they meant, by us being able to get home from here.”

“Maybe they know someone is here and that person can give us provisions.”

“Funny how they just left us out here without any protection whatsoever. Can’t be alive. No way. Savages would tear that place apart.”

“We are awfully close to the Ancient City,” I said. “Maybe the Savages don’t come out this far.”

We walked further towards the shack, expecting nothing and were surprised when a man appeared from the building.

He stood there in the distance, not moving. Watching us. As if he were expecting us.

He lifted his hand high in the air when we drew closer.

“Did they call him?” I asked in a whisper to Snake.

“How do you propose they would do that? This isn’t one of your sitcoms or even a pre-vamp world. There’s no way to call.”

We kept walking, focusing on the man, an older fellow as I could tell the closer we got to him.

He finally moved when we were at a good twenty feet away. He jogged our way with a big smile on his face. He extended his hand to Snake first. “Hey there,” he said. “Nice to see you. My name is Burt.”

“Did you know we were coming?” I asked.

“How in the heck would I know you were coming?” Burt asked. “I came out to enjoy the sun, even though it’s hot as hell and then I saw you.”

“You saw us?” I asked.

“Thought maybe you were a mirage of first.” Burt laughed at his own joke. “Just kidding. I saw you, heard you. Voices carry in the quiet. What in the blazes are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere? You don’t talk like one of those street people.”

“We aren’t,” Snake answered. “We were in the City of the Ancients. We went there searching for one of our own. We found her, but she is staying there. The Ancients dropped us off here and told us that we could get home from here. But we don’t know where here is.”

“Well, here is a place that I swore the Ancients didn’t know about,” Burt said. “I thought we only knew about them.” He chuckled. “But they were right, you can get home from here.”

“Are we that close to Angeles City?” I asked.

“No.” He shook his head. “Over one hundred miles away. At least.”

“Then how are we getting home from here?”

“We can help you,” he replied.

He said ‘we’, plural, implying there were more than just him. I found it hard to believe. Here we were in the middle of nowhere with one shack, one even smaller half shack and a middle-aged man. We? I thought for a moment he had lost his mind. I suppose he saw the look on my face.

“Don’t believe me?” he said. “That’s okay. We don’t have to help you.”

Snake reached back and smacked me in the gut. “Way to show your lack of appreciation … again.” Snake turned to the man. “We will gladly and humbly, along with being appreciative, accept your help.” He then gave a side eyed look at me.

Was Snake playing into this man’s delusion? Or did he actually believe this man that there were people around. People? What, they were all shoved in that little building? Because we were headed that way.

With the wave of his hand the man let us into the shack. The building was a single room with a bed, a desk, a dresser and a tiny table. Once inside, Burt shut the door.

“Welcome to Hopeland,” he said.

I placed my hands on my hips and nodded in a pacifying, yet polite manner. “Wow. It is very nice, this hope land.”

Burt laughed and shook his head. “Aren’t you just a little sarcastic pip?” He walked to the corner of the room where there was a door that looked like a closet. “This ain’t Hopeland,” Burt said. “It’s below.” He opened the door and exposed a stairwell. “Elevator’s one flight down. Let’s go. Close the door behind you.”

I was hesitant in moving. Not because I was fearful, but because I was in shock.

Again, Snake nudged me. “There you go. Mr. Negativity. Let’s go. You should feel ashamed of yourself, for thinking the man was whack.” I stood on the top landing that led down a concrete encased stairwell.

I was more than ashamed for not believing Burt, I was in awe. My entire existence had been spent in the ruins of what once was a grand city, planning and plotting the demise of the beings that sought to destroy our world. I was as one track minded as everyone else. And unlike everyone else, I was fast learning and absorbing the fact that there was actually more to the world than just Angeles City.

EIGHTEEN – NITO

Television was an addiction, of that I was certain. I knew addiction. A problem in the Ancient City was many Ancients would sell their soul for a drop of honey, which gave them a euphoric high. Dabbling and trying honey once or twice in a lifetime was normal, but it was highly addictive and in large doses was deadly to an Ancient.

Very few things were deadly to us.

Ancients didn’t catch the common cold that humans caught and I wasn’t looking forward to that in my human body. We did, however, have our own viruses that caused not only weakness, but deformity. We could be slain, if wounded in the correct manner.

Horse blood brought a painful death … and honey in high doses.

Human dealers hoarded honey. Many Ancients looked for it in old markets because they heard it did not go bad. But the savvy humans knew of the Ancients’ love for the quick and intense high. They pushed it and so many Ancients were on the streets, pathetic and trembling because they developed a need for it.

“Do you have any? Do you have any honey? Just a drop.”

It was insane.

I felt that same drive and addiction toward the television and the programs I enjoyed. Davis said I was stuck in the seventies. I didn’t know what that meant, but I was quite content to be there. Until he started playing that magical instrument.

Not only did he create a beautiful sound, his voice was magnetic, drawing me in. I started singing along, even though I didn’t know the words. I always had a lovely voice. I hummed and hit high notes and stayed in a neutral pattern of melodic, doo, doo doo until Davis stopped me. Was he … laughing?

“What is so funny?” I asked. “I was singing with you.”

“Is that what you were doing? Singing?”

“Yes.”

“Stop.”

I gasped. “Why? I have been told I have a lovely voice.”

“A strange voice. Ever hear of cats?”

“Yes. They are a strange delicacy, enjoyed by many back in the day.”

“Back in the day?” he placed down his instrument, a guitar he called it. “What day? None that I know of.”

“Well, the starving days,” I said, quickly trying to cover. “When the world went to … disarray.”

“People ate cats?” Davis shook his head and lifted his guitar. “That’s just sick.”

“You have a wonderful voice. You should be an entertainer.”

He chuckled. “I was.”

“Are.”

“Am, but I was a really big one at one time.”

“Like David Cassidy?”

“Uh, yeah, something like that. If I didn’t see you watching The Partridge Family so much, I’d wonder how you knew that.”

“That Danny Partridge,” I said. “He is something. Very misunderstood.”

“You like the antagonists I noticed,” he said. “Nelly Oleson, Danny Partridge, Mrs. Kravitz.”

I giggled. “Is she not charming?”

“No,” Davis said.

“I feel a kinship to them,” I said.

“I bet.”

“Endora reminds me of my own mother.”

“Endora?”

“The mother of the Bewitched person. She watches out for her daughter.”

“So your mother wasn’t a nice person?”

“She could be.” I pulled a chair closer to Davis. “Play some more.”

“You need to learn.”

“I am. What song do you want me to learn?”

“That’s not what I mean,” he said. “At the rate you’re grasping things, we’ll be down in this bunker for months.”

Months? Months below with this Davis person? I wondered if I could draw him in, bond him with my charms.

I tilted my head and smiled. “Would you like that?”

“What? Being down here for months with you?”

“Yes.” I felt my face flush.

“Um … no.” He shook his head.

What was that feeling? A lump. Yes, it felt like a lump. It made a flip in my chest and sunk to my gut. Suddenly I felt sad, as if I wanted to run from the room. “Why not?”

He started to reply, but stopped and asked, “Did you hit your head?”

“When?”

“A while back?”

“I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“Because you have no recollection of life before the Events. Not to sound insulting, but the Events only happened fifteen years ago. You should have been old enough to remember everything.”

“Old enough?”

“Yeah, not saying you’re old but you aren’t young.”

I heaved in a huge breath. “Old? How old do you think I look?”

“Um, late forties.”

I screamed.

He cringed.

“I’m an elder. Oh my Gods!” I stood. “I am at the age to be placed out into Ancient Pasture.”

He smiled. “Killed.”

“What?”

“They kill the elders.”

“They do not. They take them to a nice place to live out their existence.”

“That’s what they tell you folks at the Straits. But the Ancients kill the old people.”

I gasped loudly. “An elder, whether Ancient or human, deserves respect. Human Elders are not killed. They are taken care of. Placed in a nice home.”

Davis shook his head. “You are so naïve.”

“How dare you? You are naïve to believe the Ancients kill the elders.”

“I know.”

“How?”

“I’ve been told.”

“Yes, well I have seen the place. It’s in the Ancient City, a beautiful complex …” It was at that second I realized my error and knew my mind had better start thinking.

Davis slowly lifted his eyes to me. “You’ve seen the place?”

I lifted my head and cleared my throat. “Yes.”

“In the Ancient City?”

“Yes.”

“You were there?”

“I … I was a house maiden for years.”

“So you know where it is?”

“Of course.”

He set down his guitar and jumped up. “Yes!” Then Davis charged my way.

Admittedly, I was frightened, I backed up until he grabbed on to me and embraced me.

“Madge!” he said excitedly. “You are fast becoming my favorite person. Do you know how long we have been searching for Ancient City?”

I wanted to pull back, but instantly, I realized how good the embrace felt. He clutched tight and I took advantage of my position, my arms went tight around his waist, I placed my cheek against his firm chest and closed my eyes with what I would guess was the silliest of grins. But I didn’t care. I liked it.

In his arms, something came over me. A spell of sorts, because before I knew it, I was spewing forth, “If that made you happy, wait until you hear what else I know.”

And sadly I was a victim, helpless and like one of those honey addicts. I would do or say anything to get a bit more of Davis.

NINETEEN – VALA

Transportation was provided and Iry and I were taken back to his home. No more was said, only that the king would be with us shortly.

Iry insisted that I rest and he would ensure my safety. I didn’t feel tired at all, even though I knew I had been up for two days.

Finally, while waiting on the king to arrive, I fell fast asleep.

Sophie woke me in a few hours and gave me some of that brown substance Susan use to make.

Susan.

How I had trusted her. Iry had trusted her. For how long did she do Nito’s dirty work? Was it a new thing? A promise perhaps that she made the former princess?

Admittedly, I was a bit edgy and snippy with Iry. I did not understand why Susan had said that we would be attacked, I tell of my vision and then suddenly nothing more was said.

“He has a plan,” Iry stated.

“The king? Please, Iry. He shuffled us out. Susan takes my blood, I tell of what I saw, she speaks of an attack and the king—”

“Shuffles us along?” Iry finished my sentence. “I believe he is digesting it.”

“I believe he is coming up with a cover tale.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Because he knows. This was not news to him.”

“You are right …” the king’s voice entered our dining hall, “and wrong.”

Iry stood and the king held out a hand to still him and then he joined us at the table.

“Which part am I right and which part am I wrong?” I asked.

Iry gave me a scolding look, as if I had spoken out of turn.

“I knew of the queen being a Savage,” the king said, “but I thought she had long died or was killed. Savage’s life spans are not that long without food and oftentimes they eat spoiled food and die. I thought she had died.”

Iry asked, “So she never reverted during the Starvation?”

The king shook his head.

“But Nito knew,” I said. “According to Susan, Nito knew. She wanted my blood for her mother. Nito brought the Savage attack on Arkana.”

The king nodded. “I would assume she had her mother’s help. I did not know, nor did I know Anubis was involved. It makes sense.”

“Which part?” Iry asked.

“That it is Anubis and that the queen is at his side. She was addicted to power.”

“I am a historian,” Iry said. “No one has ever seen Anubis in person, only through visions. Could this simply be a vision?”

“Perhaps, yes,” the king answered. “Only Anubis would have the ability to pull Vala in, show her things and get her past our guards. So Anubis is there and the queen could be using him to get Vala’s blood. The more she consumes, the more she will return and regain power. The blood of the Mare is very powerful. I believe this is a scare tactic.”

“A scare tactic?” I questioned.

“Yes,” the king replied, “to frighten you into either joining them or giving your blood. Scare us all with the threat of an attack.”

“So you don’t believe that there is a sea of Savages?” Iry asked. “Vala saw many.”

“The Savages are feeble minded,” the king answered. “They follow only the scent of food. They lack the comprehension to follow a leader, let alone follow instructions to go into battle. I believe they placed Vala in a vision of make believe. Rest assured, we are fine.”

Rest assured? I was unable to find peace in his words. He hadn’t been there, I was. He didn’t see it, I did. I wouldn’t be able to ‘rest assured’ because what I witnessed was far too real to be simply a vision.

I vowed to myself right there, I would not rest until I knew the truth.

TWENTY – TANNER

It wasn’t what I expected. For some reason, in my mind, if the people of Hopeland were good, then surely they lived in squalor. We discovered it was clean, crisp and high tech down below. Another world.

And I thought we had it together in Angeles City. For as much as we believed those from the Straits had been brainwashed, I started to believe perhaps I was the one who had been.

Life beyond the confines of Angeles City was different. The people of Hopeland didn’t know the struggle of the Savages. No one looked worn, beaten, scared.

Snake, of course, was in his glory.

“Good Lord, is that air hockey?” he asked.

Air Hockey? I turned to where he pointed. There were two people, a younger male and a girl about my age, who were holding palm sized paddles in their hands, shoving a slate across a table.

Snake nudged me. “That is what young people do. Have fun not go out looking to kill.”

“I have fun,” I said in my defense.

“Sure. But killing Savages and Ancients is always in the forefront.”

“Um, yeah, Snake, they’re a threat.”

“Not here,” Burt cut in. “I don’t believe we ever had a Savage attack. Too close to the Ancient City, I suppose. Or, maybe, they just don’t catch our scent.”

“So they play games all day?” I asked. “Seems counterproductive.”

“No, they have jobs. We farm down here, we keep the solar generators running. Cleaning, cooking. You name it.”

“How many people do you have down here?” Snake asked.

“One hundred fifteen,” Burt replied. “We have everything but a good seamstress. Thought we’d snagged one up, but that didn’t pan out. She …”

While I listened to Burt, my attention was on the loud fun the two people playing air hockey were having.

Burt must have noticed my attention was there. “Go on. Go introduce yourself. We don’t bite. We aren’t Savages or Ancients.” He chuckled. “Get it? Bite. Ancients? Maybe not.”

Snake laughed loudly at the really bad joke.

“I get it,” I said and made my way over to the air hockey table.  I needed to get a closer look.

“Score!” the girl shouted. “Ha!’

“You suck,” her competitor said. “Best out of five?”

“Sure …” she looked at me. “Unless the new guy wants to play.” She set down her paddle and extended her hand. “Brea.”

“I’m sorry?” I said, shaking her hand.

“Brea. That’s my name. That loser’s Josh.”

“What’s up?” Josh nodded.

“Did you want to play?” She reminded me a lot of Erin from Angeles City. Perky, cute, darker hair that was straight and came to her shoulders. Only Brea seemed, I don’t know, more tomboyish.

“No, I … I haven’t a clue what this is. This is the first time I ever saw this game.”

“Seriously?” she asked. “You been living in the Straits?”

“Nah,” Josh said. “He doesn’t look or dress like he’s been in the Straits. Maybe a rogue.”

She tightened her lips and nodded. “Yeah, makes sense. You from a rogue?”

“Okay, I am really lost now,” I said. “A rogue?”

“That’s what we call places that are maybe a farm with one or two families,” Josh explained. “Small communities.”

“No, I’m from Angeles City.”

The paddle dropped from Josh’s hand as if I had said something shocking. “For real? You’re a rebel?”

“Yeah, if that’s what you call us.”

“Wow. Pretty cool. Pleased to meet you.” He finally shook my hand.

“Thanks. Nice to meet you, too.”

“So, Rebel, instead of a game, they hand you a gun, growing up,” Brea said.

“Pretty much.”

“That sucks.”

“It’s the way of life.”

“Not really. Not for all. How about playing?”

“I told you, I don’t know this game.”

She handed me a paddle, grabbed my arm and pulled me over to the same spot at the end of the table. “How about you learn? Josh here is the perfect first opponent. He’s horrible.”

Josh laughed one of those fake exaggerated laughs and took his spot.

“I have no idea what to do,” I said.

“No worries.” Brea smiled. “I’ll teach you.” She placed her hand over mine to show me how to hold the paddle. Her hands were soft and delicate. No scars, no rough edges. No rough life.

If I weren’t so aware of how bad things were out there, Hopeland would be a great place to stay, at least from what I was seeing.

For the time being, while there, I would enjoy all it had to offer.

TWENTY-ONE – NITO

I suppose I appeared a little silly basking in the moment with Davis. I didn’t think so at first and my arms stayed tight around him, my face plastered to his chest. Then he said, “Okay, okay, that’s good.”

He removed my arms and smiled. Something changed at that moment. I believe he saw me differently. Suddenly, he wanted to spend time with me and know everything there was to know about me.

He had me wait and then he raced from the room and returned with wine and food. Surely, he had a seduction plan in mind. It must have been time for him to do that portion of the conditioning.

I was ready.

“This calls for a celebration,” he said, pouring me wine. “Do you drink?”

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“True.” He poured me a glass. “You can take a break from conditioning.”

“Tell me, why do we celebrate?”

“Because you, my new friend, have vital information. I have needs.”

“I’m glad.”

“Let’s run you dry.”

“Hmm. Then I’ll need this.” I brought the wine to my lips. “Too bad we don’t have a little honey.” I caught myself. “I jest.”

“If you want honey, I’ll get you honey.”

“Maybe later.”

He winked. “Sounds good. So ...” He downed his whole glass and then poured more. “We have established you were a housemaid in the Ancient City. Tell me a little about yourself. What do you remember? Your life.”

“You don’t think I am weird anymore?”

“Oh, no, you’re definitely out there. But I need to hear your story.”

“Why?”

“Knowing you will help me gauge the validity of what you tell me.”

Understood. Surely I couldn’t tell him my real story.  But what about human life did I know? Suddenly, I recalled all the television shows.

“Where shall I begin?”

“Do you have brothers or sisters?”

“Yes,” I replied. I didn’t really, but I had to make up something. “There were six of us. Three boys and three girls. My father was an architect.”

“Did you have a maid, too?”

“As a matter of fact—”

“I’m joking. Did you work? What did you do? Before the housemaid thing.”

Knowing I had a skill as a seamstress, I could share that. But he may not have known the term seamstress. I wracked my brain again, I answered according to what he’d know with the television shows. “Fashion designer. I was a designing woman.”

“I see. Okay, where are you from? Originally, before the Event. Before the plague and war.”

Dare I spew out, ‘Deep in the caverns of the Laurel Mountains in Pennsylvania’? No … think. Shows. Finally, I figured it out. “Green Acres.”

He sat back. “Is that near Petticoat Junction?”

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

Again, he downed his glass. “Enough of your past. If I showed you a map, could you show me where the Ancient City is?”

“I can. Anything for you.”

“Then I’ll be back.” He stood and walked to the door.

“Davis?”

He paused at the door. “Yes?”

“Just so you know, if you want, you can have your way with me.”

“Um … thanks. Maybe later.”

“I can wait.”

He flashed a hurried smile and raced out the door. His urgency was impressive. I suppose he wanted to get that map so he could eventually get to me.

Despite that he did not know I was at one time an Ancient, surely he sensed the generosity of my offering. After all, it is not every day a woman like me offers herself to someone like Davis.

TWENTY-TWO – VALA

Sophie had a coldness to her soul. That was the one thing I noticed right away. She lacked deep emotion and understanding. Granted she was only a child, but still, when I told her of our mother’s passing, she merely nodded her understanding. The Sophie I knew before would have cried. Even I shed a tear for our mother.

She needed to rest. Not that Ancients or ‘Humancients’ as I learned they were called, needed to sleep, but they did require rest. Sophie was so young, she required more. I made sure she had a lunch of fruit and then I read her a story, kissed her and left her room.

The events of the early morning were still on my mind. The king was insistent that it was a ploy, a mind game played on me by Anubis.

I needed to escape, to forget about it. I was saddened to learn that Snake and Tanner had left without saying goodbye. Did they truly harbor ill feelings toward me? The hallway was long and my destination was Iry’s hidden room. I felt the need to watch ALF.

I took four steps and the hallway, decorated with golden paper, turned dark and cold. I spun around and no longer was I in Iry’s house, I was somewhere else.

I was in a cavern of sorts, with dark, wet walls, it was damp and smelled foul. Where was I? How did I get there?

Had I fallen asleep? Wake up, I told myself. Wake up!

I reached down to pinch my arm and as I grabbed hold of the flesh between my two fingers I saw the Savage. He growled hungrily at me. I backed up.

“Mare,” a deep voice called.

I turned slowly to my right and in the distance was Anubis. He lifted his staff. “Welcome to our world.” With a slam of his staff to the ground, he cried out, “Attack!”

From behind him a wave of Savages raced my way. A herd of hundreds ran after me. The one Savage that was near me reached for my arm, scratching it with his claws.

If this was a dream or transport, surely I wasn’t waking up.

Doing the only thing I could, I spun and ran in the opposite direction. The passageway was long and dark and from what I saw, was nothing more than a dead end. I was trapped. For some reason I was faster than the Savages and when I arrived at the wall, I pounded my fists against it.

They drew closer and closer, surely I was facing the end of my time. Not wanting to see it coming, I turned and faced the wall and in desperation, I threw my hands against it. The wall crumbled and I tumbled forward into Iry’s personal chambers.

He was seated at a desk and stood in alarm. “Vala?”

I scurried to my feet, looking behind me to see only a door.

“What’s wrong?” He reached down and helped me to my feet.

“Iry,” I said breathlessly, “they pulled me through again.”

<><><><>

When we arrived at the king’s palace, I expected him to emerge with a ‘what does she want now?’ attitude, instead, he appeared scared, shaken.

“So this wasn’t a vision?” Iry asked.

“I’m afraid not,” the king replied. “I hoped it was, but after hearing this, I fear they have locked in on her.”

“Vala, pack up, grab Sophie, we are leaving Ancient City.”

“It doesn’t matter,” the king said. “They found her. They have her. Next time she may not be so lucky. This was a warning, their arrogance to let us know the power they have.”

“Is there nothing we can do?” Iry asked. “Surely, your spirit guards can—”

“They are no match for Anubis, he is a God.” The king stood from his throne.

“What do they want?” I asked.

“Your blood. Your soul.”

“What about the things that Susan said? That they want to attack We need to find this out. The Savages are mighty, I can defeat many, but the numbers I saw …”

“That has to be a delusion,” the king said. “Anubis is using them to get to you.”

“Then can I project?” I asked. “Can I travel to them? See what is real and what is not?”

“If they see your essence they will apprehend you.”

“So we’re at a loss,” Iry said. “She isn’t even safe while awake?”

“They can pull her in and we will lose her,” said the king.

“Why now?” Iry asked. “Why did they wait until now?”

“Because she married you. Marriage means an offspring. They can’t have that. A child of a Mare and purebred Ancient would be more powerful than Anubis.”

“Where’s the fight?” Iry snapped. “There has to be a way to protect her.”

After a moment of silence, the king dropped down to his throne and peered up at us from the tops of his eyes. “There is.”

“What?” Iry asked. “Anything. We need to protect her.”

“They can take her, overpower her at any time, unless …” He paused. “Unless she is with child and the child of an Ancient. The power of the child will protect her and make her too strong for them to control.”

“Will I be able to safely see what they are up to then?” I asked.

“Yes,” the king answered.

“I see.” I nodded and thanked the king. My gut swirled with feelings of trouble. I had embarked on a journey to change the world, to defeat the foe. I was fast finding out, my foe was not the Ancients after all.

TWENTY-THREE – TANNER

“I delivered game systems to restaurants, bars, you name it,” Burt said. “That was my job. I liked it.”

We sat around a table in their main room. The air hockey game was popular and folks had to write their name on a board to line up to play. It was relaxing and I wasn’t antsy, although I couldn’t wait to get back to Angeles City. Burt said they’d take us close. About a two hour walk from there.

Brea joined us at the table, though she said she couldn’t stay too late. She was a pretty cool girl. I liked her. I invited her to come to Angeles City with us and she laughed.

“We’re pretty happy here. I arrived here when I was a kid.”

I asked Burt, “How did you guys get this place?”

“Geez. Hard to remember what came first. But I got here early on. I delivered games here. That’s how I knew it existed. And the Ancients left us alone, Savages too. Pretty good living.”

“How do you get people from the Straits?” Snake asked.

“They wander to the shack above,” Burt replied. “What did you do before becoming a soldier against the Ancients?”

Snake took a drink of his whiskey. “Rocket scientist.”

We all laughed.

“Seriously,” Snake said. “I worked for NASA, fifteen years. Hydraulics. If I hadn’t been working there I would have never seen the satellite images that pushed me west.”

Burt furrowed his brow. “But west was where the war was and the virus missed.”

“The virus had an immunity factor. We didn’t escape it, we were immune. Anyone who thinks otherwise is ill informed,” said Snake. “We saw them coming. Big black movements that came out of nowhere.”

“Saw what?” I asked.

“Savages,” Snake said. “They couldn’t figure out what it was until reports from the ground came in. They were everywhere, black masses in every continent. The war story wasn’t exactly true, it was smoke and mirrors to keep the public calm. We actually thought we were gonna beat them. People were told to go west because that was the only place that didn’t show large masses well enough to be picked up by the space station. New Zealand is pretty safe from everything, from what I heard.”

“Wait. Wait. Wait.” I leaned into the table. “The hall of history, that’s fake?”

Snake shook his head. “No, those are real clippings from real news stories. No one knew. It was ugly. Very few saw the Savages invade cities.”

“We see it all the time in Angeles,” I said.

“That’s nothing,” Snake scoffed. “Imagine a wave of tar, thick and black, rolling in, that’s how many there were. Ancients may not be able to reproduce with other Ancients, but the Savages can multiply. They can turn people.”

“So China didn’t nuke us?” Burt asked.

Snake shook his head. “No, we did it to ourselves, just like they did. It was the only way to defeat the masses. They moved into a city and half of those they killed became Savages. We were praying for an act of God, a great flood. Fire hoses were a good defense, busted them right up. But the flood never came and the only way to save the human race was to force people to migrate to areas with fewer Savages.”

“Wow.” Burt swiped his hand down his face. “I never knew that.”

“If they said monsters were taking over cities, how much panic would there be?” Snake said. “It was easier this way. Then the Ancients emerged and that kept the Savages partly out of the west. We’re gonna conquer the west ones, though.” He gave a nod to me. “Tanner here found their base.”

“What’s the plan?” Burt asked.

“Don’t know yet,” I replied. “There’s too many to go hand to hand. We need to draw them out in the day.”

“Then use fire,” Snake added. “Burn them down if we can find the resources.”

“I see why you fight,” Burt said. “That’s a lot more information than we had.”

“Makes me want to be a soldier,” said Brea.

“Maybe against the Ancients,” I told her. “Yeah, they can do some odd stuff and have some power, but the Savages are brutal.”

Burt shook his head once with a smile. “Man, you hate them Ancients.”

“Doesn’t everybody?”

“They have a few nasty ones,” Burt said. “Other than that though, they are a lot like you and me.”

“Why didn’t you ever come to Angeles City?” Snake asked.

Burt shrugged. “Never had the inkling. We have all we need right here. Except a seamstress. I told you that before. She was good and it would have been priceless to have here, not to mention funny.”

I was curious. “Why is that?”

“Because of who she was,” Burt said. “I spotted you guys walking from far back. Her, she just appeared and we knew. Happened twice before. One left and one works in our winery now.”

“I’m confused,” I said. “Who was she?”

‘The high princess herself, Nito.”

At first my heart sunk to my gut and then I was hit with disbelief. He had to be wrong. “No.”

“Yeah. It was her. Recognize her anywhere. A little older, a little meatier, good breasts and funny as hell because she didn’t know how to react.”

Snake shifted his eyes to me as he went from kicked back and relaxed to sitting perfectly upright.

“She was banished,” I said. “Banished out of the Ancient City.”

“Yes, she was, put into human form. Must have done something pretty bad for them to do that.”

“How is that possible? How does an Ancient turn human?” I asked.

“They were human to begin with. She wasn’t purebred. So they could make her human again.”

“Oh my God,” I jumped up. “Who has the power to do that? I need to know.”

“The king, his counsel,” Burt replied.

“How do you know all this?” Snake asked.

“We get a lot of people from there.”

I started to leave and Snake grabbed me. “Where are you going?”

“I got to get back to Ancient City, I have to tell Vala. If Nito turned Sophie into an Ancient, the king can turn her back.”

“Aren’t we forgetting something?” Snake asked. “Nito is alive and around.”

“Ah, she’s harmless,” Burt said. “She has no abilities and is clueless.”

“And gone,” I added. “He said she left.”

“Okay,” Snake looked at Burt. “She still has the same personality. The same mean streak. Do you know where she went?”

“I do,” he answered. “Someplace where she couldn’t pull one over. A place where they’d figure her out right away. She went to Angeles City.”

I wanted to freak, to panic, I started to and then I realized Burt was right. Yes, Nito was in Angeles City, the enemy was on our home ground, but there was no way that Davis wouldn’t see through her and deal with her. More than likely, she was already dead.

TWENTY-FOUR – NITO

I had become quite accustomed to the clothing Burt had given me. Dungarees that bunched only when I sat too fast, but for the most part they were comfortable. I wondered what my divulging of the Ancient City location meant. Surely, they were not planning a mass invasion. There weren’t enough humans in Angeles City to do that. Maybe he was going for a visit. I know I was told they were the rebellion, but I saw nothing rebellious about anyone. They were all very congenial.

Davis was so smitten with me over the news about the location of Ancient City he told me he needed to get me some clothing.

“That is very sweet of you,” I told him.

“It’s not a problem.”

“Just your happiness is my reward.”

He seemed to be happy and laughed. “Good. I’ll be back.”

“I will anxiously await your return.”

After he was gone, I moved about the bunker nearly dancing and then I recalled the dance. Perhaps it was too powerful on mortal men, but it was entrancing and I longed to perform the Awalim dance of Hathor for him. Creating my own beat in my head, I geared to practice when a woman entered.

“I’m sorry,” she said upon walking in, her arms full of items. “Was I interrupting something?”

“No. Not at all.” She was a raven haired beauty. Her skin was tanned brown and her hair was sleek and flowing. I admit to feeling a sense of jealousy. “Who are you?”

“Davis asked me to bring these.”

I cocked my head in question. “Are you his servant woman?”

“Excuse me?” she walked down the stairs.

Then it dawned on me. Maybe, in a sense of jealousy, she had brought the clothing because she didn’t want Davis any more enamored with me. “Oh, I understand. You are his mate.”

“Who, Davis?” she asked, setting the clothing down.

“Yes.”

She laughed. “No. I have my own … mate. Thank you.”

“He’s quite handsome in a rugged way, do you not think?”

“If you like the country boy type, I guess.”

“Country boy. Yes. Does he have a mate?” I asked.

“Not that I know of.”

“That is good to know. Are these for me?”

“They are, Madge. Davis asked me to pick something out for you. You’ll like these. If they don’t suit you, I can—”

“No. No, these are fine. Davis is far too generous. Such a charming man and he has no mate.”

Again, she laughed at me as if I were jesting.

“No. In fact, in the ten years I have been here I have never seen him with a woman. He may be gay.”

“That is good to know. Gay is a good thing.”

“Yes.”

“A man can be gay without a woman in his life.”

“That’s usually how it works,” she said.

“I’ve no man in my life. I believe I’m gay.”

“That’s nice. I have a friend for you then. She’s a great woman.”

“Is she gay?”

“Yes.”

“Great. I would love to make more friends. We can all be gay together.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll … uh … let you change your clothing. Davis is going to be by to get you.”

“I’m leaving the dungeon?” I asked.

“Looks that way.”

Immediately, I felt giddy, I wanted to practice my dance and change my clothes. I had been conditioned and quickly too.

The clothing woman opened the door to leave and I remembered to ask her name. I wanted to remain friends with her as well. She was beautiful and full of information. I always surrounded myself with beautiful people.

Her name was Amanda.

She would be in my good graces, although I didn’t understand the clothing. It was more of those denim dungarees, only these were a bit snug. I was able to get into them but had to inhale deeply to fasten them. It would take getting used to for walking, but they did firm up my body so I liked them.

Davis arrived shortly after I was dressed.

“Ready?” he asked.

“How do I look?”

“You look good.”

I lowered my head. “Thank you. So where are we going? Someplace private? I have been practicing the Awalim Dance of Hathor for you.”

“That’s really nice. I’d like to see it sometime. Maybe later.”

“Then you shall. Am I cured? Am I considered normal? Is that why I am leaving?”

“No. You’re too far gone. There’s no turning you, so we’re just gonna have to go with the hope that eventually, you’ll adjust.”

“So where are we going?”

“Tomorrow I get you settled into your new home.”

“A home? You are giving me a home? Davis, you are being far too generous. You spoil me.”

“Um … yes. That’s tomorrow. Tonight we hit the beach.”

“The beach?” My eyes widened.

“Safest place to be. Near water, in case of Savage attack. If they come you go in.”

“No. No.” I shook my head frantically. “I cannot go in water,” I stated firmly, then paused. Could I? I was in human form. “Wait. I can.”

“So you do swim?”

“Swim? No.”

“Didn’t think so. Most of you folks from the Straits don’t swim, so I have something for you.” He must have set it down before I saw him, because I didn’t notice it. Davis lifted a thick, bright orange piece of clothing. “For you.”

“What is it?”

“A life jacket. Just put it on.”

“It has no sleeves. How can it be a jacket?” I asked.

“It’s just the name. It will keep you protected in the water should you need to go in.”

“A life … jacket. Is it yours?”

“You can say so.”

“You are giving me your life … jacket?”

“Yep.”

“Then I shall wear your life jacket proudly.”

“Good. You’ll look real cute.”

I wasn’t familiar with what ‘real cute’ meant, but I assumed it was a compliment. I felt my face grow hot and I wanted to do nothing but smile at Davis. His intentions with me were becoming more apparent. First the clothing, the release, the new home and he was sharing his life jacket with me. I was something new, but I was cured with a name like life Jacket. It definitely was symbolic and part of some sort of human commitment ritual. One I’d gladly take from Davis.

TWENTY-FIVE – VALA

My knowledge of conception was limited to the act that Marie described to me. There was nothing about what she told me that was appealing. Yet, if I wanted to be safe, to have the upper hand, I had to conceive a child with Iry.

There were no guarantees that the Savages were indeed gathering under the leadership of Anubis and the queen. My only assurance would be to see for myself and the only way to do that would to be with child.

It was another means of entrapment. Again, I was drawn in and captured by the Ancient world. I spent most of my life living under their thumb, absorbing the knowledge they wanted us to know, dreaming one day of making my escape and defeating them. However, it seemed the only way to save mankind was to be a part of the Ancients. It was something I was not ready for.

As a Mare I learned I had unbelievable gifts. The ability to see, to travel from my body, to fight like no other warrior. My advantage was my mind. Anubis was stronger and was controlling that. I hated that I was not in control of anything anymore.

My sister was out of my control and I was now wed to an Ancient.

Twice Anubis had pulled me from my world into his. Whether it was to taunt or mislead me, the fact remained he did accomplish it.

Real war with the Savages or not, the first battle stone was cast the moment he drew me in.

Actually, it was before that: when they took my blood. If the queen went from Savage to upright with one taste, it sickened me to think what would become of her if she had a second dose.

I had to be prepared for the fight.

Unfortunately, the best armor for me was a child I neither wanted, nor was ready for.

How to even go about it was the question. Iry seemed content to find another option. Run, escape and get somewhere far. But we were dealing with Anubis reaching to me from a different plane, it didn’t matter where I went, he would find me.

I needed advice. Before I embarked on the mating ritual with my husband, I needed to speak to someone. With my mother and Marie both dead and Susan now unequivocally an enemy, I sought out a wise soul to speak with. Someone human.

She looked full of wisdom like Marie, although she wasn’t quite as old as most elders in the elder home. I had seen her many times and she always was pleasant.

“Thank you so much for making the time to talk to me,” I told her. “I know you are busy with your work. So you know now what my dilemma is?”

“Let me see if I got this right. You want to have a child with your husband but you don’t know what to do?”

“No.”

“Has anyone talked to you?”

“My friend Marie told me things about the … the act.”

“So you haven’t consummated your marriage yet?”

“What is that?”

“The act.”

My eyes widened. “No.”

“You need to do so to conceive a child,” she said. “You obviously love your husband if you married him. Intimacy should not be a problem.”

I wanted to tell her that there was more to the story.

“Making love and being intimate can be a wonderful experience when it is with someone you care about. Think about when he kisses you. How does that make you feel?”

My mind went back to the time Iry did kiss me. It was my first kiss and I hated to admit that I enjoyed it. There was something about it that made me feel as if I were on route to some sort of better plateau.

“I ... like it.”

“Then that’s a start. I know how you feel. I was married once and I was innocent too when I got married. I didn’t know anything.”

“How did you learn?”

“My husband was patient, he talked to me. I watched movies. And … wine helps.”

“Oh, I’ll remember that, thank you,” I said.

“You do know, married to an Ancient, a bond was placed on you by the court, chances are, one time and you will conceive.”

“Oh, I can deal with one time. You have been so helpful.” I leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll let you get back to work.”

“No problem, any time. What was your name again?”

“Vala. And you are Maggie, the fruit drink street vendor.”

“Just Maggie will be fine and here …” She handed me a tall, orange beverage. “This will help you relax.”

Maggie was a kind and generous woman who not only gave me great advice, she gave me a beverage that I knew would calm my nerves. Conceiving a child was a serious commitment, but if the Savages indeed were invading in masses, then it was a commitment I had to make.

My fruit drink in hand, I headed back home. I had a lot to think about.

TWENTY-SIX – TANNER

“Are you always so angry?” Brea asked while we gathered our things preparing to leave.     “You seem like you’re always upset about something.”

“He is,” Snake answered before I could.

“Snake,” I snapped. “No. I mean, I have a lot on my mind,” I told her.

“Did you want to talk about it?”

“That …” Snake said, “is a good idea. I’m gonna go get some coffee.”

I grunted.

“There you go again,” she said. “Now, tell me what’s up?”

My hand dropped to the bag in frustration. “I don’t know what to do.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, okay, short version of the story. Vala, a girl from the Straits, arrived in Angeles City. She wanted to be part of the rebellion.”

“So you like this Vala?”

“No, yes, I mean … she has this gift. She is something called a Mare.”

“That’s a myth.”

“No, it’s real,” I said. “She can do things like you wouldn’t believe. Travel with her mind, see things, fight Savage after Savage without breaking a sweat.”

“Wow. Sounds like the perfect girl.”

“Yeah, the perfect girl decided the best way to beat the Ancients was to infiltrate them. Plus, she was threatened by Nito. Nito said she’d kill me if Vala didn’t return to be chosen. You know what that is?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Her educator had a thing for her and told her if she returned he’d choose her before Nito could.”

“Of course, because Nito wants a Mare.”

“Exactly. So Vala … poof, took off for her home. This was after the Day Stalkers hit us. All brought by Nito. Vala goes, her home is hit by Savages, her mother is killed and her sister is turned into an Ancient. Because Vala couldn’t leave her little sister, she ended up marrying the educator.’

“Ouch. I’m sorry,” Brea said. “Really? So she married the guy to be able to watch her sister?”

“Yes. I went to find her to tell her I located the Savage camp and to come back to help defeat them. But she isn’t coming back because of her sister. Now … I find out that the king can turn her sister back into a human.”

“And you want to go there?”

“I do. But I also feel I need to go home because Nito is there.”

“This makes sense. You want my advice or not?” Brea asked.

“I’ll take your advice.”

“If this girl was really into you, she would have brought her sister to Angeles City with you. Even if she didn’t see that as an option, you, Tanner, strike me as a young man with a cause. Your cause is to return humanity back to where it was.”

“It is.”

“Then follow your cause. Your fight is not in Ancient City, it is in Angeles City, in the form of Nito. Vala will still be there when it is all said and done.”

“But what if … what if she isn’t there for me anymore?”

“Then you need to examine if she was ever there in the first place.”

I stared at Brea for the longest time. It had been a while since I actually talked and listened to someone my own age. She was untainted by everything, she had no foreknowledge and she barely knew me. Her advice came from listening.

After a moment, I nodded and then zipped up my bag. “Thanks,”

“Decision made?”

“Decision made.” I grabbed my bag. “I’m going to Angeles City.”

TWENTY-SEVEN – NITO

I have never appreciated the sight of the moon as much as I did the night before. Staring out as it reflected off of a huge body of water, for some reason I wasn’t frightened of it any longer, I was in a different form.

Davis played his musical instrument and stayed by my side. He was charming and witty. There was something about him that made me forget why I was even in Angeles City.

Lost in thought, in awe of the human man, I searched for my original motivation. I was supposed to be getting back into the good graces of my father. But why send me to human form? He could have sent me back to the Starvation age or even Egypt. But he didn’t. He made me human. The only reason I could think of was because I was never good to humans. I believed I was until I lived among them and saw them for who they were.

Listening to Davis sing, to humans laughing, watching the moon, I reflected on a lot of things that I had done to humans. To Davis’s own people. I wasn’t sure, but I believed I felt an inkling of guilt.

Did my own father truly want to cause the demise of the human race? No. Ancients needed the humans and in my selfishness, I didn’t see that. If it was my father’s intention to banish me to human form to appreciate them and be good to them, it was working. I just wish it came without the leakage of substances from my body.

“So this is what you do at night?” I asked the evening before sitting on the sand.

“Typically,” Davis said. “But something isn’t right. There are no Savages.”

“Do they come every night?”

“Yeah or every other night. They haven’t been around. I thought we’d get hit big tonight.”

“Maybe they moved on.”

He laughed. “They need to eat. They didn’t move on.”

Davis was right. It was strange that the Savages had disappeared. There was an explanation, I knew. I wanted to dive into that more, but I couldn’t because I didn’t want to give away that I knew a lot about them.

“Thank you for the life jacket.”

“You’re welcome. You look good.” He continued to play his musical instrument.

“I shall treasure this token,” I told him. “In return, if you like, I’ll let you see these breasts.”

Davis stopped playing. “Um, maybe later.”

“They are in good shape for a body of this age.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” he said and continued again, playing. “It’s been a while since I have been with a woman.”

“Yes, I have heard,” I told him. “But at least you are gay, right?”

His eyes widened and his hand slipped sloppily down the strings of his instrument. “You think I’m gay?”

“You seem it to me. Or is it a front?”

“Oh, you’re probably just reading me wrong.”

It made me sad to hear and I knew he masked his loneliness well, making others believe he was merry and gay. I would change that, he was inviting me to.

I stayed on the beach until I fell asleep, something else I was still getting used to. When I woke, I was covered with a blanket and was surprised to see a woman standing above me.

“Madge?” she said. “Are you Madge, the new lady.”

I squinted. She was a shadow with the sun behind her. “I am. Who are you? Where is Davis?”

“Davis had to work, he said to get you. My name is Jenny.” She held out her hand. “I’m your new housemate.”

“Oh, Jenny, very nice to meet you.” I took her hand and she helped me to stand.

“Do you want coffee? There’s some on the boardwalk.”

“Yes.” I had grown fond of that beverage.

Jenny was a nice woman. She looked younger than me, though her name did not suit her at all. Her blonde hair was cut to the shoulders and her body was toned, as if she were a fighter.

“So we are housemates?” I asked.

“We are. Um … Amanda told me about you.”

“Oh, Amanda, lovely girl.”

“Yes, she is. She said you and I could be friends,” Jenny said.

“Yes!” I said excitedly. “You are the one that she told me about. I would love to be your friend. Back in the day I always surrounded myself with beautiful women. You are beautiful,”

“Aw, thank you. You are too.”

“Jenny, you need not return the compliment, but thank you. You make me blush.”

“I look forward to getting to know you better. Amanda said you’re a little odd, but I like odd. Come on, I’ll show you to our house and around after we get you coffee. And …” Jenny stopped walking and pointed to the life jacket, “you can take that off.”

“No, that would be rude. Davis gave this to me. It is a token of his intentions.”

“I see.” Jenny nodded. “I guess that’s one of those odd things Amanda mentioned.”

I smiled politely. I didn’t think it was an odd thing to treasure a token of affection. Perhaps Jenny hadn’t experienced anything quite like it. I made a promise to myself that, while I wouldn’t take off Davis’ life jacket, I also wouldn’t boast about it either. Although it was kind of bulky and hard to hide. The orange item just screamed, ‘I am taken by Davis!’.

TWENTY-EIGHT – VALA

For the first time in days I didn’t dream and it was nice. However, when I opened my eyes, my head was pounding, my body felt as if it had been thrown from a horse and then I realized that, not only was I naked, but Iry was on his side, staring at me.

“Morning,” he said with a smile.

I shrieked and pulled the covers up. “I feel horrible.”

“As you should.”

“Is this normal.”

“Does your head hurt? Is your stomach queasy and your body achy?”

“Yes.”

“Normal.”

“Oh my Gods.” I closed my eyes tightly. “This is the aftereffects?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“I’m sorry, Iry, I shall never do this again, if this is how it feels.”

“You just overdid it.”

“What?” I asked in shock.

“You had too much.”

“Is there such a thing?”

“Oh, sure,” he replied. “This is your body’s way of telling you that you went overboard.”

“Why don’t I recall anything? Is that part of it?”

“Yeah, when you do too much.”

“I wouldn’t think I’d be the type to overindulge.”

“You did.”

“Did it work?” I asked. “Am I with child?”

“No.”

“Are we sure?”

“Positive.”

“Then I don’t know if I can do it again, especially knowing that I feel this way. I’m sorry, Iry.”

“Not a problem.”

“I know I am your wife.”

“Vala …” He placed his finger to my lips. “I told you from the start, you need not do anything. That is not why I married you. It is my hope, my selfish hope, that one day you will feel enough for me that it won’t be a worry, but until then …”

“But last night ...”

“Vala, nothing happened last night.”

“I am naked.”

Iry raised his eyebrows a few times. “Yep, you are.”

“How did that happen?”

“You took your clothes off.”

“If I took off my clothes, then how did nothing happen?”

“Because you were drunk,” Iry said. “I did not wish to take advantage of you. I’m glad now, because after you did that seduction dance and discarded your clothes, you passed right out.”

“How did my nude body get into bed?”

“I am your husband.”

I gasped.

“Vala, there is juice on the dresser. Drink some. Get hydrated, take a shower, you will feel much better. I promise.”

“I’m sorry, Iry. I didn’t mean to get drunk. Those beverages from Maggie were wonderful and refreshing.”

“It’s fine, Vala, I’m sorry you felt the need to get intoxicated to be with me.”

“It was nerves. I was nervous.”

“It wasn’t distaste of me?” Iry asked.

“Iry …”

“Don’t answer. I thought …” He lowered his head. “I thought when we first kissed that you felt something. That you had feelings for me.”

“Iry, did … did we kiss last night?”

“Yeah, Vala, we did. You started it. And I kissed you back.”

“I don’t remember. I’m sorry. How did I respond to your kisses?”

“Like this …” Iry leaned down, softly placing his lips to mine. There was the slightest bit of pressure as he parted my lips with his. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My stomach fluttered and my heart was beating out of control. I didn’t understand why that was or what exactly was happening to me.

He trailed his finger over my bare shoulder and down my arm, slowly, ever so slowly, matching the pressure and intensity of his kiss. Both soft, teasing. He didn’t move, but I did. I found myself drawing him in, wanting his kisses to increase, wanting his lips to press harder.

What was happening? All the pain and aches I woke to suddenly dispersed and I felt as if I were cast in a pool of softness, my body floating toward something against my will. My focus was on the feeling, swept away, until I realized I was leading the kiss, my hand had moved to his lower back. Upon that revelation, I suddenly pulled back. “Stop.”

Iry did.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

Iry bit his bottom lip and shook his head with a smile.

“I need … I need to bathe.”

“Go right ahead … and drink your juice.”

I started to get out of bed then realized I was nude. “Cover your eyes.”

With a laugh, he placed his hands over his eyes.

I slipped from bed and darted to the bathroom. I glanced back and noticed he had separated his fingers.

“You’re peeking!”

“I can’t help it. You’re beautiful.”

His words made me pause in the doorway of the bathroom. I blushed and before I could be drawn in anymore, I hurriedly shut the bathroom door.

TWENTY-NINE – TANNER

It had taken days, not hours to get back to Angeles City. We were all ready to go and had made it about twenty miles into the desert when the car just died. I wanted to scream. Not only were we stuck, we had to walk back to Hopeland. By the time we got there, I was beyond dehydrated. My face was burned from the sun and my mood had worsened. Especially when I heard it was going to be another day to fix the vehicle.

“Just relax and enjoy Hopeland,” Snake told me. “Quit getting yourself so excited.”

“But Nito is in Angeles City.”

“What can she do?” Snake asked. “She has no powers.”

“Are you forgetting what she did to us? To Vala? She killed Marie.”

“I didn’t forget,” Snake said, “but I’m not letting it drive my emotions. It’s wasted energy. Go play air hockey.”

Had it not been for Brea, I probably would have started walking across the desert toward Ancient City. If I couldn’t go to Angeles City, then I would go to Vala. Brea convinced me otherwise.

More than likely I would be killed before ever reaching Ancient City. There was no shelter, no safe haven if the Savages came. Just because Hopeland didn’t see Savages, didn’t mean they weren’t out there.

Brea was right; I had to focus. I had to get back to Angeles City, find Nito, expose her, take down the Savage camp and go get Vala.

Finally, the car was fixed and we began our return trip home. They dropped us off outside of Ventura Place. We’d have to walk the rest of the way there and would reach Angeles City just before nightfall.

Traveling through Ventura, I was surprised by the amount of Day Stalker bodies. They had battled them there. Of course, I had left in the middle of it, but obviously we prevailed. I didn’t see any signs that our people had died. Then again, I didn’t see any of our people either.

I started worrying. What if Nito had done something? Caused something? She was powerless, yes, but even without supernatural powers she could be a monkey wrench.

I expressed my concerns to Snake, who didn’t seem too worried.

“It’s Nito. You heard Burt; she stood out like a sore thumb. I trust Davis. I’m sure he has figured it out. We’re rushing and worrying for nothing.”

“You think so?”

“Yes, Davis is a smart man,” Snake said. “Nito is long gone, nowhere near Angeles City, if she isn’t already dead.”

THIRTY – NITO

Jenny had the strangest reaction to my socializing with Davis. I learned something new about female human friendship. It was a strong bond, a possessive bond, filled with jealousy and control. I wasn’t sure that I liked that at all, but since I was still new to learning the female friendship ritual, I went along with it as if it were perfectly normal.

“You’re going to see him again?” Jenny asked. “We had plans for this evening.”

“I am sorry, Jenny. Davis is teaching me. I was released from reconditioning early.”

“I can teach you, Madge. Let me teach you.” She placed her hands on my shoulders.

“You were with him yesterday and the day before.”

“I made no progress.”

“That’s because it’s Davis. He’s going to give you the short version of it. He’s not thorough.”

“What am I to do? He makes me powerless.”

“You can start by taking off that life jacket.”

I gasped. “I cannot! Davis placed this on me and said to leave it on.”

“He would do that to you, knowing how naïve you are.” She threw out her hands. “Fine. Go. Get it out of your system.”

“Are you angry with me?”

“More so hurt,” Jenny said. “I wanted to be the one to bring you back. To recondition you the right way.”

“And you shall. I will tell Davis tonight that you are taking over the reconditioning.”

“Really?” Jenny smiled. “Thank you.” Then, surprising me with an aspect of human female friendship that I did not understand, she leaned forward and kissed me on the lips.

I had never seen anything like that on the television, though I didn’t get much further than Full House. So as not to appear ignorant to their practices, I pecked a kiss to her and said my goodbye.

There was much to do to get ready for the evening with Davis.

I was excited. We had gone fishing the day before and he even said he was starting to like hanging out with me. I made him laugh. Finally, it dawned on me that I, perhaps, was missing my cue. He kept telling me ‘maybe later’ when I offered myself.

Was I the one to determine the later?

It was time.

He invited me over to his place to watch what he called movies. He wanted to teach me the social customs of the more modern world but I decided I would teach him. I had taken old draperies and made a skirt that rested on my hips and used the life jacket as the covering for my breasts. I hoped he didn’t see that as a disrespect to his gift of intention.

Suffice to say, I believe Davis was taken by my dance. He stood there, not moving, transfixed upon me.

“What ... what are you doing?” he asked me.

“It is maybe later.”

“Excuse me?”

“I offer myself to you often. You always say, ‘maybe later’. I am making this maybe later.”

“Madge …”

“I am doing the dance of seduction.”

“I can see that.”

“Is it working?”

“It would work better if you took off the life jacket.”

“I cannot do that, you gave this to me.”

Davis cleared his throat. “Fine. Then I will.” He stripped me of the life jacket and I wanted to cry. He was taking away his commitment. At least I thought so, until he grabbed hold of me and took me in his arms.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been with a woman. You’re kind of different, Madge. I like different.”

There was a scent to his body that I never experienced with an Ancient man. A strong scent that engulfed us both. I awaited his next move. I had been with human men, but it was merely for sport. On my terms, what I wanted. Never had I been with one that I wanted and needed to be with.

He pulled off his shirt and wrapped his strong arms around me, flesh to flesh, pulling me against him. Then Davis brought his lips to mine with a strong passion. Just as I believed I was going to melt into his wishes and demands the moment ceased the second the young male voice called out.

“Stop! Davis, stop.”

“Damn it,” Davis whispered and turned his head. “What, Tanner?”

Tanner? I shifted my eyes and saw him. The young man. The Mare’s young hero.

“You don’t know who she is,” Tanner said.

“I’m trying to. Can you please go—”

“No. Davis, just stop. ‘Cause if I leave here you’ll end up doing a lot more than you wanted to do … with Nito.”

“What?” Davis asked.

“That’s Nito.”

Davis released me and stepped back. I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t have to. I had been exposed in more ways than one.

THIRTY-ONE – VALA

Susan was still alive and in the Ancient City. Placed in a prison that was part of the old world, her execution was set to happen in one week. I did not understand why it was a punishment to die. In my opinion, a true punishment would be to never see the light of day, breathe fresh air, be around others. Death was a gift. I believed the Gods were forgiving and Susan would find her afterworld salvation.

However, in case she feared damnation, I would give her a chance to at least redeem herself with me. Not that my forgiveness or redemption meant anything to the Gods.

Without Iry’s knowledge, I made my way to the prison. It took a lot to convince them to let me see Susan, but the guards eventually allowed it.

She seemed generally pleased and relieved to see me. On the other side of a cast iron barred door, she stood from her bed. “Vala!”

“Hello, Susan.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said. She walked to the bars and grabbed them. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I don’t know how I got to that point. All that remains in my memory is the knowledge that I took your blood. I don’t even recall turning it over to anyone.”

“What do you remember of the last night?”

“Nothing. I remember placing the throng to you and then I was here. I swear to you,” she said emotionally. “I swear to you I wouldn’t do this.”

I believed her. She was different than the night she was arrested.

“Anubis is powerful. What do you know about the queen?”

“Nothing. What queen?”

I searched her eyes for signs of deception and I found none. “When they arrested you, you were raging about an impending attack. You said that the Savages were coming to wipe out man and the Ancients. Do you remember that?”

She sobbed once and lowered her head. “No, I’m sorry. If I did, Vala, I would tell you.”

“I will speak to the king about you and ask him to spare your life.”

“You don’t need to do that,” she said. “I committed a wrong and whether I was in control or not, I am guilty.”

“I can sympathize because I know what I have been dealing with. Thank you.”

Head still lowered, Susan nodded and then as I walked away, her eyes widened and she lifted her gaze. “Vala?”

I stopped and turned to look at her.

“The Feast of the Dead,” she said sudden clarity. “The Feast of the Dead. That’s it, that’s when they come. It will be a full moon during those three days and—”

“And the Savages are more powerful then. Thank you.” I rushed from the prison, I needed to find out more and before I left, I slipped into a small room with a desk, shut the door and closed my eyes.

I couldn’t find Anubis, but I was able to travel to a place I had been before, I knew. Breathing in control, I set my destination on the Savage Camp, the one I discovered when the Savages took Sophie.

At the very least, I could see if there were more, what they were doing. It was daylight and they’d be hiding inside. The projection didn’t take long and before I knew it, I had arrived.

It was empty.

I did not see a single Savage. There were overgrown ruins of buildings, they had to be inside. Using what travel time I had remaining, I began to search. However, there were none. Nowhere I looked did I see a Savage.

They were gone.

I returned from my projection, maybe a little faster than I should have and raced from the prison building. I needed to find the king.

<><><><>

The kingdom guard blocked my way. “Your Highness, she won’t take no for an answer.”

He kept bodily stopping me and without thinking, I waved out my arm and he flew to the side.

“Mare!” the king scolded. “You shall not use your powers in this court! How dare you—”

“They’re gone, Your Highness.”

Yaku the seer was standing in front of the king’s throne. He turned around. “The Mare brings urgent news.”

The king gave a queer look to Yaku. “Really? It doesn’t take a gift to know that.”

“They are gone, Your Highness,” I said, approaching the throne. “I went to the camp and—”

“You were told not to do that,” the king said. “Anubis—”

“Not his camp, the camp of Savages I found. They’re gone, all of them. They are massing. I feel it.”

“Your Highness,” said Yaku, “this is what I have been telling you. My vision shows a black wave of death overcoming our city. I hear screams and cries, annihilation everywhere.”

“Death to humans and Ancients,” I said. “That was what we were warned about. We need to do something to prepare, to fight and to live. We need to move now.”

“When does it come is the question,” the king said. “There is no way to properly prepare or defend without any knowledge of when the attack is coming.”

“The three nights of the Feast of the Dead,” I told him

Yaku looked mortified. “That is in less than a week!”

The king sunk into his throne. “What do we do? Our warriors are mighty but not enough.”

“We join forces,” I told him. “We go to Angeles City and join forces. We humans want to save our world, now is our chance.”

THIRTY-TWO – TANNER

I wanted to vomit. It was bad enough walking in and seeing Davis in a near intimate position with someone, but to see that it was Nito? How did he not know? Then it dawned on me, he had never seen her.

“Stop!” I shouted, halting their moment and then I told him her identity.

“Well,” Snake exhaled. “Another minute and this would have really been awkward.”

“How can you joke at a time like this?” I snapped.

“What else is there to do, Tanner?”

“Hold it,” Davis said. “She’s human. Nito is an Ancient.”

“Not anymore,” I told him. “Ask her. Of course, she’ll lie.”

“Is this true?” Davis asked her.

“Yes,” Nito said. “I was banished from the Ancients and placed in human form to find redemption. What I found was—”

“I don’t care what you found,” Davis blasted. “Why did you come here?”

“Because I was human. I sought other humans.”

“She’s lying!” I yelled. “She found humans in Hopeland, another community. They brought her here because she asked to come here.”

“Probably thinking she could do some damage,” Snake surmised. “But she can’t. She’s powerless.”

“Why do you keep defending her?” I asked Snake. “She killed Marie.”

“I know she killed Marie!” Snake shouted louder than I ever heard him yell. “But she also wasn’t ‘her’.”

“This is true,” Nito said nervously. “I’m not the same.”

“Shut up,” I snapped.

“Tanner,” Davis said calmly, “what do you propose we do? Yelling gets us nowhere.”

“Kill her. Nito—”

“No!” Nito screamed. “And I am not Nito any longer. I am human. I am Madge.”

I rolled my eyes and heard Snake snort laugh. “That’s funny?”

“Yeah, I would have picked a better name.”

Finally, Davis put on his shirt. “You want me to kill her. Like this?” He picked up a gun and put it to her head. “Pull the trigger, that’s it, end of her?”

“No!” Nito held her hands over her ears. “Don’t. Please! Davis, you have gotten to know me as a woman. As Madge. You gave me your life jacket.”

“Thing is, Tanner,” Davis said, lowering the gun, “I didn’t know who she was. But now it makes sense. What she did before was horrible, but we need to ask, if she truly wants to make a change or is different, how she can help us now?”

“She won’t,” I said.

“She has,” Davis replied. “She gave me a lot of information. And now that we know who she is, we can get a lot more.”

THIRTY-THREE – NITO

Tanner looked at me with such hatred and rightfully so. He did not understand that the feelings and compulsions I had as an Ancient vanished along with my abilities. There was no way to convince him, of that I was sure.

“How are you able to be human?” Davis asked.

“She did a bad thing,” Tanner said. “And—”

“Let her speak,” Davis said. “How, Madge?”

“Well, I was once human. It was my punishment for things I had done.”

“Being transformed into human form is punishment?” Davis asked.

“I think it is a form of humility, to learn what I did not know and appreciate what I should have known because I was once human.”

“What did you do?”

I took a breath. I was never one for telling the whole truth, but I felt I needed to. “I wanted Vala. I wanted her blood. I did not want to kill or drain her, just have some of her blood.  Iry claimed and protected her and I sent a Savage attack to her village.”

“You’re able to control the Savages?” Davis asked.

“In a sense. Not many at a time and it wasn’t because I was an Ancient.”

“Then why?”

“For the same reason I needed Vala’s blood, my mother. She is a Savage, she never returned to her form after the Starvation period and I knew Vala’s blood would bring her back. The attack was not to claim lives, it was merely to get Vala. But it failed and I took the sister and killed many humans.”

“The death is the other reason you were banished?”

“Oh, no, that is all part of the Savage attack. The other reason is because I turned the child. It is against the laws to turn a child or to turn an Elder against their will. But I had to. The Savages were going to kill her. To turn her was the only way to save the child. I was not given the chance to explain that. I was banished.”

“Sophie is an Ancient now,” Tanner spat. “She’ll never grow up.”

Davis scratched his head. “Here’s what I don’t get. They made you human again. Why not just change her back?”

“My thoughts exactly,” I said. “Banish me, yes, but return the child. But I know my father. He will eventually change her after he gets all that he wants. He wants and needs Vala, a Mare, in his possession and he more than likely used the child to get her to wed Iry.”

Davis turned to Tanner. “Did you speak to Vala?”

Snake said, “She made a beautiful bride.”

Davis closed his eyes. “When were you human, Madge?”

“Many, many years ago. Before the Starvation period. My parents gave me up to protect me. Like Moses I was raised by the Pharaohs, my mother and father. They had no intention of turning me.”

“So you knew Moses?”

“Very well. Striking man. Wonderful man-scent like you, Davis. Not quite the kisser you are.” I looked over when the boy hissed.

The man Snake laughed.

“Tell me about Moses,” Davis said.

“Unlike the stories you are told, he knew he was human. He did not discover he was a Mare until he was banished and returned to bring us down. At that point I was not yet an Ancient and as I said, my parents had no intention of turning me. Then Moses started tossing out his powers left and right. He wanted to free the humans. My father tried to speak to him. I tried to speak to him, let us work together. Until they poisoned the children of Egypt. The first curse. After that, I hated him. How can a man who claimed to be so humane be so cruel to innocent people? And there were many innocent people in Egypt, not all were bad. The children … they did not need to suffer. Finally, he led his people out of Egypt, beginning the Great Starvation. Those of us humans that were raised by Ancients used all that we could of our own blood to keep the Ancients alive. It was why I turned. I had no choice. After feeding so many, I was no longer human. Soon all the humans that remained were Ancients and we vanished into the darkness until we could emerge again.”

Snake whistled. “Now we have the other side of the story. They always say there’s two sides.”

Davis stood up. “I’m at a loss.”

“Our biggest threat,” Snake said, “is not the Ancients. You know that.”

“She said she could control the Savages,” Tanner said.

“No.” I shook my head. “Not anymore. I doubt it.”

“Davis,” Tanner pleaded, “she brought the Day Stalkers. She doesn’t deserve to live. If she can control the Savages, then maybe we let her go. Banish her from here, send her back to Hopeland, they seemed to like her.”

“How do we do that?” Davis asked.

“We are destroying that Savage camp. Take her there when we do. If she controls them, it will help us, get her to lure them into daylight. If not, then she will be their last meal.”

THIRTY-FOUR – VALA

Iry was apprehensive, yet understanding, as I prepared to go to Angeles City. My escort would be Yaku, because the king felt I needed more of a spiritual protector than anything else.

“I know I cannot go. I wish I could.” Iry fiddled with my dress, straightening it.

“You need to stay here with Sophie. Please watch my sister.”

“With everything I am,” Iry said. “I just would feel so much better if one of the warriors were going.”

“I am quite the warrior, Iry.”

“That you are and you are still my wife.”

“Maybe that is the reason you don’t want her to go,” Yaku said. “You may be her husband. You may have her hand, but another there has her heart.”

Iry cringed. “That is so wrong on so many levels. I can’t believe the king entrusted you to protect her.”

“I will have you know,” he said, straightening his robe, “I was a grand warrior in my day.”

“Yes, when peacetime warriors fought with words.”

“I see this is turning into a battle of insults, I’ll just leave you two be to say your goodbyes.” Yaku lifted his bag and walked out.

“The transportation will take you all the way to Angeles City. You will contact me when you get there.”

“I will project to you, yes.”

“Find Davis. Tell him and then a plan needs to be devised.”

“I am aware. We will not be defeated. Man has great will. He emerges from the ashes.”

“So do the Ancients.”

“Iry,” I said, “if need be, you’ll flee with Sophie, right? You’ll go somewhere safe?”

“If there is such a place I will find it. Good luck. Speak soon.” He leaned forward and pressed his cheek to mine. “Be safe.”

I slowly pulled back and lifted my bag. A part of me was scared to return to Angeles City, thinking they either wouldn’t believe me or would just say let the Savages destroy the Ancients. After all, that was their original plan.

Just before leaving, I paused at the door. Iry stood in the center of the room, he looked saddened.

“I’ll return, Iry.”

“I know.”

Again, I started to leave and stopped. “Yaku said another has my heart. Before coming here, I would have said that to be true.”

“What about now?”

‘Now … things may be different.” My smile wasn’t a happy one, it was one to convey assurance.

It was time to leave. Time to go to Angeles City and prepare for the war, one neither of us expected.

THIRTY-FIVE – TANNER

We gathered a team of six, along with Nito, or Madge as she wanted to be called, and headed North to where I had discovered the huge Savage camp.

The plan was to set the explosives around the trees and have Madge deliver the explosives in the city. If she succeeded without being killed, I agreed to send her to Hopeland. If she didn’t, then oh, well, she got what she deserved.

It was the last of our prepared explosives so I hoped it was enough. The Savages would be killed by the sunlight, so once they fled their shelter, it was over.

It sounded simple enough. An easy victory. We could have done it earlier had we known where they lived. Now we did.

Madge was quiet. She didn’t say much. Once we arrived, Davis went over her task at hand.

“This is heavy. Are you sure you can lift it?”

“Really, Davis?” I barked.

“Tanner, we gave her the task. She has to be able to do it.”

“I can do it,” Madge promised. “I’ll make myself do it. I believe the Gods are with me.”

“God,” I corrected.

“Gods,” she said.

“Enough!” Davis snapped. “Madge, good luck.”

“I will not scream, so when I do not emerge, you will know they got me.”

“You’ll scream,” I said.

“Oh my God, Tanner!” Davis yelled at me.

“What? She’s a killer. I wish all you people would remember that.”

“I remember,” Madge said. “This is why I am trying to make a good difference in this mess. The Ancients never meant to hurt man. We never wanted their demise. The Savages forced you into darkness, not us.” She lifted the explosives.

“Watch the wire,” Davis instructed. “We don’t want that falling out. Get into the city, call out, get their attention, then get out.”

“It’s not that far in,” I said. “If you stay in the daylight they won’t come for you.”

“Thank you for telling me how to be safe,” Madge said.

“Only because I want the explosives set.”

Madge walked toward the wooded area. “Davis, when I return, I seek only your forgiveness, if that is possible. I treasure our time together and will do so always. You are special.”

“Thanks.”

After she entered the overgrown wooded area, I asked Davis, “What the heck happened between you two?”

“Not much.”

“So, uh, how come she has to wear that life jacket everywhere? She does know it won’t help her in the Savage camp, right?”

“I haven’t a clue why she won’t take it off.”

The wire wiggled and moved, indicating that she was walking. It stretched about as far as it would go, then stopped. I knew she made it into the city.

We waited.

A few moments went by, no sign of flying Savages, no calls or screams out. After a bit, we determined that she had been killed.

Why was Davis sad? It irked me.

“Get ready to blow this place,” he ordered. “On my call.”

“Wait!” someone shouted.

Madge was emerging from the trees and both Davis and I walked over to her.

“What’s going on?” Davis asked. “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “They’re gone. They’re all gone.”

THIRTY-SIX – NITO

I did not blame the boy, Tanner, for not believing me, but he took things to extremes. He even raced inside to see for himself. Was he a fool? For not trusting me, did he not think if I were lying that he was running into his own demise?

I followed him just to show him.

I informed Davis that there were no Savages and that I had looked in the structures and even the tower of the church that Tanner mentioned. There were none. Not even their droppings were fresh. Remains of any meals had long since rotted over and didn’t smell any longer.

Because there was no sign of Savages, they collected the explosives and we headed back to Angeles City.

“They have been gone at least a week,” I said.

“Where would they go?” Davis asked.

Madge replied, “I do not know.”

“Do you think they are looking for more food?” he asked.

“One would think there is plenty of food supply here,” Madge said. “It is odd that they left.”

“There are people in the Straits. I know they don’t attack there. Why and how is that?”

“Seers. They create a false vision. The Savages only see water. Therefore, they cannot see the people or smell them.”

“So they wouldn’t go there.”

“Even if they did, they’d have to contend with the Savage camps out that way.”

“How many?”

“Two that I know of are on this side of the country. They are bigger than this one. They fly east to get food. But I am sure they invade the territory of other Savages.”

Davis asked, “Could they have died?”

“Possible.”

“I knew it. I knew something was up when they didn’t attack.”

“If they’re gone,” Tanner said, “why don’t I feel like the threat is over?”

“It’s not,” I said. “Something is up. Davis, I can stay in Angeles City and help with this. Let me. You can place a guard on me. You can … put the boy, Tanner, as my guard. He hates me. He’ll make sure I do no wrong. Let me help.”

Davis sighed, I believe in deep thought. He was a leader and a good one. He was having an internal debate and I could tell he wanted me to stay, but he had to make a decision based on the desires of his people.

We arrived back in Angeles City and I knew something was up when Snake approached with urgency. I thought for sure it was something else. A Savage attack, maybe they found them elsewhere or Day Stalkers. I was not expecting what I heard.

“Davis!” Snake ran up to us out of breath.

“It was a bust,” Davis said. “They weren’t there.”

“I figured that,” Snake said.

“How?”

“Well, I was told they were probably gone.”

“By whom?” Davis asked.

Snake looked at me, then Tanner, then back to Davis. “Vala. She’s here.”

THIRTY-SEVEN – VALA

Snake was holding down the fort when Yaku and I arrived in Angeles City.

“My God, this is a surprise! What brings you here?” Snake asked.

“I wish it were for pleasant reasons,” I replied. “Where is Davis? I’ll tell everyone at once.”

“He’s out destroying the Savage camps.”

“That would be a waste. They are not there.”

“How do you know?”

“A feeling,” I explained. I introduced Yaku and since I didn’t feel like explaining the impending war to Snake then again to Davis, we spoke of other things. Not once did he mention any new addition to Angeles City.

When the convoy with Davis returned, I was excited. It was good to see him. Even at a distance, Tanner looked disgruntled. Then, I saw her.

A sickening feeling hit my stomach. It gnawed and twisted. It had to be a mistake. The woman just looked like Nito, who had been banished.

When she stepped forward a little closer, I knew it was her. How was it possible? Why was she with my friends? Did they even know?

“Davis!” I screamed. “Step away. Do you know who that is?”

“Vala—”

“You. How dare you?” When last I saw her she had turned my sister, caused my mother’s death and killed my friend. Our battle wasn’t finished. I was ready to continue. Only this time I would be victorious.

I had my walking stick that I used as my weapon. I pulled it from my back satchel and raced toward her.

Tanner moved out of the way.

Surprisingly, Davis halted me. “Vala, stop.”

“What is she doing here? She was banished.” I looked more closely at Nito. “And I see banishment has caused you to age.”

“She’s human now,” Davis said. “You can’t use magic on her. That is an unfair fight.”

I laughed. “Marie was human. Did that stop her?” I raised my stick and Davis snatched it from my grip.

“Enough.”

“Fine, I need no weapon. She has hurt us enough. I’ll tear her apart with my bare hands.”

Nito folded her arms defiantly. “Then you will do so without a fight from me. I will not strike you or fight. Not while you’re with child.”

Upon her words, I froze. How did she know?

THIRTY-EIGHT – TANNER

It was the final straw, the final breaking point in my journey with Vala. Not only did she marry that Iry guy, but now she was carrying his child. Unless the Ancients figured out a new way to conceive, Vala had taken her relationship to the next level.

I didn’t believe it at first when Madge said it, until Vala stopped cold. I knew by the look on her face the information was correct.

“How do you know?” Vala asked Madge.

“You carry the mark. The dark spot on your chest where you heart is, that is the mark of pregnancy. Shall I say congratulations?”

I really don’t know what Vala’s response was to that, since I left. I walked away. I left the street and walked into the headquarters’ building, plopping down in defeat onto Davis’ desk chair.

What was I thinking? Did I truly expect that Vala would be mine? How foolish did I come across?

“Tanner,” Vala called softly. “Tanner, look at me.”

“Do you know how hard it is?” I asked. “You said you married him because of your sister.”

“I did.”

I spun the chair to face her. “Then why did you give yourself to him?”

“It’s much more complicated than you think, Tanner.”

“It’s not complicated, Vala. You sleep with the guy or you don’t. You care for him or you don’t. I think I got to know you pretty well. You wouldn’t just give yourself to him if there wasn’t something there.”

“You’re right.”

“I knew it.”

“But there is more. There is a reason I had to be with child.”

“What? To feel whole? Another lame ass reason to stay with Iry.”

“Well, if that doesn’t sound like a jealous rant, I don’t know what does,” Snake’s voice echoed across the room. “Why are you giving this girl such a hard time?”

“She’s pregnant,” I said.

“What business is that of yours?” Snake asked. “She is married, Tanner. Married. Although, I never knew a pregnancy to be noticeable that soon.”

“She’s pregnant by an Ancient,” I said.

“I need to be,” Vala said. “I had to get pregnant.”

“For what reason?”

Then Madge’s voice entered the room. “Strength. She did it for strength.”

“Who asked you?” Vala snapped. “You have no right to intrude on our conversation.”

“You are not in love with Iry,” said Madge. “You let him choose you to avoid me, you married him to help your sister, you got pregnant by him to gain strength because there is no greater force or stronger than a Mare who is pregnant with an Ancient’s child. Now you are here, with child and you bring a seer. Quit playing the childish games, stop trying to spare this boy’s feelings and tell us why you are here? What is going on?”

By this time Davis also came into his office. “I’d like to know that as well.”

“It is my armor,” Vala said. “My protection. There is a war greater than any of us can imagine. It is on the horizon and we need to all join forces.”

THIRTY-NINE – NITO

I listened to the Mare describe her visions, what she felt was going to happen and it was then I realized she had no business being in the battle. She had the ability, but one key factor was missing. Experience.

Even the boy Tanner had the experience. Vala did not. She had lived sheltered all of her life, she had knowledge of what to do but did not know why. She had no historical basis for her fight. As the old saying goes, to defeat the enemy is to know the enemy.

“Then it would be safe to assume the Savage camp north of Ancient City is vacant as well,” I said.

“Could they be gathering there?” Davis asked.

I shook my head. “No, that is not big enough. She describes Savages as far as the eye can see. That is far too many to gather there. They need to be hidden during the day.”

“We’re only talking three camps,” Davis stated. “Right?”

“The East side of this country may be dead, we could include those camps as well. More than likely it is somewhere closer to whatever the first target would be.”

“They move in waves, getting bigger as they go,” Snake said. “But if they have no more people to eat or turn, they are at their max in size.”

“Man failed to stop the movement,” I said. “It opened the door for us to our abilities, but if what is described is real, then our abilities will not be strong enough. The gatekeepers at each community use their sights to veil the humans in each Strait. Same as with Ancient City. But it pushes them to the limit. Any more than one camp for each place and we’re not strong enough.”

“What about her?” Tanner asked, pointing to the Mare. “I watched her obliterate dozens with one scream.”

“Can she do the same to thousands?” I asked. “More than likely not. In her current strength she may be able to hold them back, but at what cost, her life? And yes, that is a possibility.”

Davis shook his head. “What are our choices?”

“Find them where they are and destroy them there,” Snake suggested.

“How?” Davis asked.

“They may be on another plane,” Vala said. “Maybe not on this Earth.”

“Nonsense,” I argued. “They can’t do that.”

“Even with Anubis?”

“Not even he can mass tens of thousands of Savages on another plateau. No, they are here, in this country. They can fly, but must stop every so many feet, hence why they do not fly over water. They can’t swim.”

“The water breaks them apart,” Snake said.

Davis snapped his finger. “Snake, you said they hit in waves. Do you think they’ll spread out and hit everywhere at once or will they hit one spot at a time?”

Snake shook his head.

Then Davis looked at me. “What do you think?”

Before I could answer, the Mare got defensive. “Why are you asking her? She will mislead us.”

“I will not mislead you. Why would I want the Savages to rule this Earth?”

“Because your mother is one.”

“My father is not and to answer your question, Davis, before the child rudely interrupted me, they will not separate. Like a pack of dogs, they will stick together. Separated, they stand too much of a chance to be fought and possibly defeated, together they are unstoppable.”

“What we need to do is get them all in one place, then,” Davis said. “To do that we need to either find out where they are or find out what they are up to.”

“I am safe to transport there now,” said Vala. “Before I ran the risk of Anubis grabbing me and bringing me there. But not now. I can see them.”

“Then what?” I asked. “Will you recognize where they are? You only get a few moments in projecting, even with the embryo feeding you. No, you can only see what they are doing. I can not only do that, I can find out the plan.”

Vala laughed at me. “They’ll eat you alive.”

“Not if I’m an Ancient again. We go to the Ancient City, convince my father to turn me so I can go.”

Again, the Mare laughed mockingly. “And if we believe your intentions are good, that you are doing this not to be Ancient again, what makes you think they’ll tell you anything?”

“Because one of them is my mother and I’ll also come bearing a gift.”

“What would that be?”

I smiled. “Your blood.”

FORTY – VALA

I hated her. It didn’t matter to me that she had turned human, that Nito was giving information and assistance or that she was wearing Davis’ life jacket as a symbol of her commitment. She was still Nito. She was till the same vile person who destroyed so many lives.

Yaku was finding Angeles City enjoyable and was taking in, as he said, ‘the sights’ while we planned our return trip to Ancient City. I found a moment alone to reach out to Iry.

“You’re coming back? So soon?”

“Yes. We need to speak to the king. We need his help in the plan.”

“What is the plan, Vala? Is there one?”

“We’re working on it.”

“And the other?” Iry asked.

“Other what?”

“Other plan in case that one doesn’t work?”

“I don’t know, Iry, but you are not going to like who is coming back with us.”

And then I told him. The first thing out his mouth before I was drawn back was about Sophie. If the king made Nito human, then surely he could return Sophie.

I was making sacrifices. I agreed to give my blood as a bargaining tool to Nito. I would use that, because simply, we were trying to save everyone. If it were just Angeles City, it would be easier. The king would need to see that.

I ran to the group as they were discussing plans.

“Done checking in with the husband?” Tanner asked sarcastically.

It wasn’t worthy of an answer.

“I’ll take this map with me,” Davis said. “When Madge returns from her visit with her mother, we can plot out a plan. Until then, Snake you come with us. I’ll have Boss work on boats. We get people out into the ocean. Far out. Madge, what would be a safe distance from the Savages?”

“As far out as you can. Take no chances.”

“We’re gonna need firepower,” Snake said. “A lot of it, if we’re gonna get them in one place and that is still no guarantee.”

“We need to finalize the plan. Until we know what and where it is happening, we’re at a standstill. Tanner, I need you to head back to Hopeland. Get those people out of there and recruit.”

“Won’t they be safe? They’re underground?” Tanner said.

“From one or two,” Snake answered. “When they mass, they’ll tear through the ground. I’ve seen it.”

Yaku entered the room announcing, “The transport is ready. Your village is beautiful and green.”

“Thanks,” Davis said and rolled the map. “Let’s head to Ancient City.”

“Oh, you’re gonna love it there,” Snake said. “Take a moment to enjoy it before it’s gone.”

“I will.”

Tanner shook his head, then followed Davis and Snake out, only after he glared at me.

Then she approached me. “Vala, you and I will work together. We will battle this cause as a union.”

“Yes, we shall. Make no error, Nito. When this battle and war is finished and we are victorious …” I moved closer to her, “so help me God, by my own hand I will see to your death.”

FORTY-ONE – TANNER

“I’ll have one of those fruity drinks for you,” Snake told me before he left. “And Tanner, not having Vala isn’t the end of the world. Savages destroying us is. Think about that. And you still have that cute little number in Hopeland you can chase.”

“Who? Brea?”

“Apparently you know who I’m talking about. Good luck there.”

Good luck?

We didn’t need luck with Hopeland.  I was pretty sure they’d understand and there weren’t that many to move out. The problem was we had less than a week.

My mind was cluttered and I had to prioritize it. Vala was heavy on it and had been for quite some time. There was a resolution to that. She was having a baby with an Ancient. Even if she decided that she and Iry would not be together, she would be bound to him one way or another.

Would the child be human? Would the child be Ancient? A mixture of both?

She, too, tried to speak to me before she left. I was angry, acknowledged her words, but didn’t want to deal with her. Since I met her, I wanted to be around her. She knew how I felt and I had sworn she felt the same way.

My heartbreak had to be secondary. I was born and raised to save the world, to be a soldier against a force that took everything from us. Only I learned the enemy wasn’t exactly who I thought it was.

The Sybaris or Ancients, didn’t take our world from us. They merely thrived in a world that was destroyed by their evil relatives. They made the best of it and tried to protect what was in their scope of abilities.

Now, the abilities wouldn’t be enough.

Would anything?

I wanted to fight, but I didn’t think I would be a soldier in the battle. Something told me it was bigger than a mortal man. I just had a feeling when the war began, I would be somewhere else doing my part.

FORTY-TWO – NITO

The trip back to Ancient City was an interesting one. While we rode in comfort in the back of the vehicle, the Mare kept staring me down, as if her youthful eyes would intimidate me. I ignored her, watching the scenery roll by as I held on to my Davis life jacket. It was a sense of comfort and told her visually where my dedication was.

Admittedly, had I not met Davis, been enchanted by his charms, swept up by his lips, I would not be as focused on saving the human race. If saving them meant saving Davis, I would do what it took. Even if he chose not to have me, to take back his life jacket, I had a moment, something real and something I never felt as an Ancient.

Another thing I never felt as an Ancient was a nervous stomach. It twitched and jumped the closer we got to Ancient City. My heart raced, my breath was shallow. If I hadn’t known me better, I would believe I was experiencing … fear. The only thing I had ever feared was water and horses.

We pulled up to the front entrance of the palace and Iry rushed to the car.

“Good thing the boy is not here,” I said to Snake.

Iry opened the door.

“Gods on their clouds,” I said. “She’s not been gone one day.”

“Nito,” Iry said with distaste. “You look worse for wear. What is that thing you are wearing?”

“Jealous? It is a token of affection. One you will never receive without it being coerced.”

“Tell me, Vala,” he said. “Do you plan on destroying her?”

“I do.”

“Hatred binds them. I think my seventh husband hated me.”

“They all did,” Iry snapped.

“Seven husbands?” Davis asked, shocked.

“I’ve been around a long time,” I stepped from the vehicle and looked upon the palace.

I was home. I was fearful of going in there. I hadn’t a clue how I would be received or if my father would even acknowledge me or grant my request.

The moment was at hand.

<><><><>

“Who brings her to my court?” my father yelled. His voice echoed across the walls, bouncing back at me. It was only the Mare and I standing before him.

“Father, I—”

“Out! You have been banished!”

“Father, please. I—”

“Remove her from my sight!” he yelled. “Guards!”

Finally, Vala walked forward. “Wait. I brought her back with me.”

“You? You defy your king?”

“Begging your pardon, you are not my king,” Vala said.

It was not a smart thing to say to him.

My father’s face flashed red. “Mare!”

“Vala,” she corrected.

“How dare you disrespect me?”

“How dare you lie to me!” Vala shouted. “You led me to believe my sister was frozen in time. Condemned to live a child’s existence for the rest of her remaining years. You did so to force me to marry into the Ancient world, when in fact you have the ability to make her human again. Before you is the woman that proves my point. Is she not human now?”

My father’s jaw twitched. He said nothing.

“When I say it is not my pleasure to have her with us, I mean it,” Vala said. “There is validity in her presence. If she is true to her word, then she can aid in this impending battle. And we need all the help we can get.”

“How would she help?”

“She would go to them, speak to her mother, find out where they intend on attacking so we can build a defense or at least try. She is a very powerful source. She has the ability to not only transport mentally, but physically as well.”

“In this form?” the king snorted. “She’s lucky she can move ten feet at a good pace.”

I gasped at my father’s insult.

“And what is it that you wear around your neck?”

“It is called a life … jacket,” I replied. “It is symbol of protection and commitment when a human male finds favor with you.”

My father laughed. “A human male has found favor with you in that form?”

“Yes. And I he.”

“That form cannot take on the Savages.”

“My Ancient form can,” I said.

“No.” He shook his head.

“You must.”

He shook his head again defiantly.

“Your Highness,” Vala said, “I have given commitment to Iry, I carry his child, all so I can fight to save the lives of everyone here. But I cannot do it alone. I cannot fight if I need to do so blindly. She can be the eyes.”

“They will tell her nothing.”

“They will,” Vala insisted, “if I give her my blood to take as an offering.”

Finally, I saw my father’s look change. “You would do that?”

“I have to do that. We need to find out what is going on.”

After a moment of thought, my father stood. “Very well. I shall return you to your Ancient form. It is against my better judgment and I feel you have learned nothing.”

“Ah,” I said. “Father, you wrong. I have learned much. So much so, I ask that when this task of war is over, should I emerge alive, that you return me once again to human form.”

“You want to be human?”

“It was never intended for me to be an Ancient. The feelings that humans get, the sensations, they are not part of the Ancient world. A cold heart can tingle with emotions as an Ancient, but as a human, it melts.”

“Seriously?” Vala snapped. “Are you talking about Davis? My Davis?”

“My Davis.” I ran my hand over the life jacket.

My father walked over to me. “You may take that off. It will not suit your Ancient form.”

“Will I not still feel for Davis?”

“You will.”

“Then I shall never remove it. If I had one to give to him, I am certain he wouldn’t remove his.”

“My daughter, I believe a part of you has changed.” He placed his hands on my shoulders and leaned into me. “I return you.”

My father clasped me tight and I felt all air escape me. I gasped and wheezed for breath. Soon I was no longer in his clutches but in a whirlwind that spun me around faster than my mind could comprehend.

A thick mist formed around me and when it disappeared, I dropped to the floor.

No longer was I wearing the dungarees, but my daily Ancient attire of my off white, gold laced gown. My body was sleek and firm. I reached up to touch my face and my cheeks didn’t move. Then I saw it the life jacket was on the floor.

Instantly, I panicked, grabbed it and it placed it over my head.

“Thank you,” I said to my father and turned to Vala. “I need that blood. We’ve no time to spare.”

<><><><>

Evening had set in by the time all arguments with my father had ceased and I had been returned to my Ancient form. Once I retrieved a throng of blood from Vala, I took off.

In order for me to transport my physical form I had to run. I had to get my speed at its highest notch. It took a bit to do so and I swear I was nearly in the desert when I created enough speed that the flashes of light surrounded and transported me.

I went from a warm and bright world to a dark, damp and slimy place. I emerged standing on top of a ledge that overlooked a long and wide gaping canyon in the Earth. Behind me were trees and I felt the ground rumble.

I turned from the canyon to see thousands of Savages emerging from the trees and racing toward the canyons. I lifted my arms with the full intention of battling them should they attack, but by far, there were too many. I would not survive, but I would not go down without a fight.

The Savages did not see me, if they did, they didn’t care. The ran beyond me, taking flight as soon as they hit the edge. They poured over the sides of the canyon like a waterfall, filling every inch of the area below.

There was no end in sight.

Then his voice called out. It was so deep and resonating, I felt it in my chest.

“Nito.”

I spun around. Anubis stood there. He was not only tall but large. Bigger than any human man or Ancient male. His image and form were frightening.

He had a man’s body with the head of a Savage, while wearing the nemes of a pharaoh. His eyes were a piercing green and they had almost a glow. He walked toward me, carrying a staff.

“You were banished. Only a perfect Ancient would be given her form back so quickly.”

“A smart Ancient, my God.” Keeping a wall up in my mind, envisioning only black, I bowed to Anubis.

“What is this you wear around your neck?” he asked.

“It is a prized possession of a human. The leader of the rebellion. I have kept it as a trophy.”

“You have captured the human leader?”

“And handed him to my father.”

“What brings you here?” Anubis asked.

Before I could answer, my mother appeared from behind him. The last I saw her she was in complete Savage form. Now she was clothed and walked partially upright, like an ape. She did not speak; she slipped from behind Anubis and sniffed me like an animal.

“I come bringing a gift.” I lowered my head and held out the throng. “The blood of the Mare. She is in my control now.”

“You are indeed a dark soul. I like that.” Anubis brought his clawed hand down and took the throng. “Now my queen will be complete.”

“My mother is deserving of such an honor as to be your queen.”

“Is it true my minion has told your father of the impending attack?”

“It is true. He does not believe it.”

“Do you?” Anubis asked.

I looked around. “One would not need so many beasts if one was not building an army.”

“Ah, yes, an Army fifty thousand strong.”

“With an army of fifty thousand Savage soldiers invading our city, I shall admit defeat now and prepare to face my death.”

“Not you, my child.” He reached out and ran his finger down my face. I could feel the electricity of his touch. He was the God of Death and he made my skin crawl. “You are favored. You will live. Now come, visit with your mother and watch her reap the benefits of your gift.”

He reached out and took hold of my arm. I looked back at the Savages and then followed Anubis. I wasn’t sure where we were going or if I would even be able to return. I would give it my best. I had to. Davis was counting on me.

FORTY-THREE – VALA

Nito had left hours earlier and the night of lights had already begun in the Ancient City.

Nito had been turned back into an Ancient, taken my blood and left. She had been gone for hours.

The only positive thing was Sophie. My sister was human again. The king sent for her and when she was returned she was my sister again. She had no recollection of anything after going to bed that fateful night. I had to tell her about my marriage to Iry.

She was hungry and tired. It had been a while since Sophie ate or slept properly. After putting her to bed, I paced a lot.

“Once we hear from Madge,” Snake said from behind me, “you and I need to hit this town.”

“She’s not coming back,” I said.

“She’s coming back,” Snake insisted.

“She got her powers and she’s gone. We need to start another plan.”

The doors opened and Nito entered in her Ancient form.

“Wow, Davis, she’s hot like that. And she’s still wearing your life jacket.”

Davis stood. “Did you find out anything?”

“Yes,” Nito replied. “They are going to destroy us in four days. Grab the map, we need to speak to my father.”

The she turned and left.

<><><><>

Nito wasted no time once the king was summoned to the table. She whipped out the map, placed holders to keep it down and pointed. “Here, they are here.”

“That’s not even two hundred miles from here,” Davis said.

“They are planning to use the power of the special moon. I haven’t a clue what that means. Do you, Father?”

“No, but I will ask the stargazers.”

“The plan,” Nito said, “is to hit the Ancient City first.” She traced her finger down the map. “Once they wipe us out, they will move over Hopeland, then each area of the Straits, east to west. Angeles City follows and they finish here.” She pointed.

“Washington state? What’s there?” Davis asked.

“Apparently enough people to control. They plan not to wipe that area out. That is and will be the feeding base. The new slave camp to Anubis.”

“Even if what you say is true to you,” I said, “how do we know that they told you the truth?”

“Because,” Nito stated arrogantly, “I am that good and I am also more intelligent than anyone in this room. My mother now has your blood, Vala, running through her veins. Your blood.” She reached out and placed her hands on my arms. “Find your blood. Tap into it, search it. What do you see?”

The second she said that, I briefly thought ‘Find my blood’ and I was no longer in that room, I was staring at Anubis. He leaned toward me, opened his mouth and extended his tongue. I felt it on my neck and I snapped out and jumped back.

“What did you see?” Nito asked.

“Through your mother’s eyes.”

Nito smiled. “We’re in.”

FORTY-FOUR – TANNER

It had been decided that I would travel to Hopeland alone, but no one even thought about how I would get there. Hopeland was closer to the Ancient City and I had to cross a desert. It was going to be impossible.

Boss was a friend of Davis and they knew each other before the Event. He was in charge of finding boats. Problem was, any type of boat that remained was far from seaworthy. They had only a few days to get them ready.

Garret had a similar problem. He had to get explosives ready. What exactly we were blowing up was beyond me. We didn’t know where the Savages were or were heading first. He was told to plan on blowing up a city.

“I need to find a nuke,” Garret said.

“A nuke?” I asked. “What is that?”

“A ridiculous notion,” said Boss. “Not only will we not find a nuke, even if we did, do we need that kind of residue remaining? And who knows? Maybe the Ancients are immune to radiation. People aren’t. We need to figure out how to fire up a city.”

Boss made it sound simple. I still didn’t know what a nuke was. Going by how they spoke, I gathered it was some sort of bomb.

Since the day was already half over, I decided to wait until sunup before leaving for Hopeland. I took my guard position by the ocean, waiting on a Savage attack or even a Day Stalker attack. A part of me knew neither would come.

The peace of the evening gave me time to devise a travel plan. There was enough fuel for a vehicle to take me nearly three hours out, then I’d have to walk the rest of the way. A part of me looked forward to returning to Hopeland. It wasn’t a bad place at all.

Snake brought up Brea. I did like her, but I didn’t see her like I saw Vala. Besides, it wasn’t like there weren’t any girls to choose from, there were plenty. I just had my sights set on Vala.

That would have to change.

Everything I started to plan in my head was no longer a valid plan. Whether I liked it or not, she was on the side of those I lived my whole life believing were the enemy, another train of thought I had to recalculate.

I was just about to doze off when, surprising me, I heard Vala’s voice.

I thought maybe she had returned. Snapping my head forward, she stood before me in a vision. She was projecting.

“I thought you weren’t allowed to reach out to me,” I said.

“For this I am. I must be careful of what I say. My words may travel through the universe. Just know we are aware of the path of attack. Hopeland needs to know of the danger in four days.”

“I plan on telling them.”

“They needn’t leave, but they need to know. We need any and all firepower they can get and volunteers to help move people.”

“They don’t have that many people there.”

“I know. I have to go, Tanner.”

“I understand.”

“How are you?”

“I’m doing.”

“Be well on your journey.”

“Vala, before you go, I have to know. Did you … did you ever feel anything for me?”

“Yes, Tanner. More than you realize …”

Then she was gone.

Before she left, I saw the husband, the educator, reaching for her.

It didn’t make anything better knowing that she at one time cared, but it helped. I needed to focus. A war was on the horizon, one I had been training for my whole life.

I was ready.

FORTY-FIVE – NITO

Snake truly loved the Ancient City. He told me that at one time it was known as the city that never slept. It was still that way.

While the others slept, he drank fruity beverages tainted with alcohol and I broke down and had some honey. He and I waited through the evening alone.

“I wish we didn’t have to lose this place,” he said.

“We will rebuild.”

“You know, Madge,” he said, “you’re a pretty hot woman right now, but I liked you better in the other form. You just were more natural.”

“As did Davis.”

“Um, yeah.” Snake sipped his drink. “I just wish you hadn’t done the things you did. I want to like you. I really do.”

“I may not be able to make up for it or make it disappear from your minds, but I will try. I really will.”

We spoke through the entire night, indulging in substances that made us feel good. Snake talked much about the past human world and things that I would have loved, like the Internet and a drink stand called Starbucks. I spoke of my old world and of things I knew he would have loved, like harems of women, wine and architecture only alien worlds could deliver.

Aside from talking about the past, we spoke of the future and in our inebriated state we broke down a plan. A few sobering hours later, that drunken plan was still a good one.

We went to the king.

“It’s a pretty good plan,” Snake said.

I showed my father the map. “We need to pull every gatekeeper that is in place from the Straits and strategically put them around the city.”

“That leaves the Straits vulnerable,” My father said.

“There are no Savages to attack them right now, they are north of here. If we lose this battleground then the gatekeepers can concentrate their powers back on the Straits. But we cannot lose this battle, it happens here, in the Ancient City. We draw them in, we destroy them here.”

“How are we to draw them in if we are veiling our city?” my father asked.

“Our gatekeepers are not projecting a barren veil, they are projecting normalcy, a city that is unaware of an attack. While we evacuate, the gatekeepers will project that the city is full. In fact, let’s make it double full. The Savages will come, they will invade and we destroy them.”

“Madge said your seer, Yaku, can work like an old radio,” Davis added, “and send messages to those waiting to fight the Savages. I want to put him on Mt. Charleston. It’s west of here, but still high enough that he’ll see the wave coming.”

“How many warriors will we need inside?” my father asked.

“Four or five,” I answered. “Vala, I and three of the strongest Ancients can create a wall and battle until the explosives take hold. It will have to be fast. Once the Savages land, it will be no time at all before they realize they are attacking only projections and not people, so we need to get them into the city and move fast.”

“You realize,” my father said, “all of you inside the city could die.”

I nodded. “I do.”

Davis said, “Can we not only set explosives here, but break the dam?”

Snake laughed. “Aside from the fact that the Hoover Dam is six hundred plus feet deep of concrete and there’s not a bomb that can break it, we’re upstream, higher and water flows downstream. What I don’t get is, Moses was a Mare, right? He wasn’t pregnant by an Ancient, so he wasn’t as strong as Vala. Yet, he parted the Red Sea. Why can’t Vala just bring Lake Mead here?”

The corner of my mouth rose. “She can. But it will take more than just a wave of her hand. She will need to work on that.”

“Yes,” my father added, “Moses didn’t just lift his arms and say ‘part’. He had lots of practice.”

“One of the pyramids was never finished because of him.”

Davis scratched his head. “The Bible left that out.”

“Yes,” I said. “Moses was quite accomplished in his abilities. As my father will attest, I am one of the most powerful Ancients. I can train her. What would really be perfect is if there were another Mare. Two would not only cast protection around the projection of the gatekeepers, but that would surely assure our victory.”

My father cleared his throat and that caught all of our attention.

Davis asked, “Is there another Mare that you know of?”

“Yes.” My father stood. “As a favor, the Mare was returned to human form and granted a human life outside the Ancient City walls. The Mare is very powerful but will also need training to regain the skills.”

“Another Mare?” I smiled. “That’s wonderful. Who? Tell us. We will find the Mare.”

<><><><>

I did not think he’d be happy to see me, even in my Ancient form, but Burt grinned widely when I arrived in Hopeland.

“Madge, you must have made up for what you did wrong.”

“I did, I think. I’m trying. Burt,” I grabbed his hands. “You look wonderful.”

“Wow, this is really odd hearing this form of you talking like this. What’s up with the life jacket?”

“You’re not mad are you?” I asked. “Davis gave it to me. I know you and we sparked.”

“Not mad at all. Still holding out hope for us. You’re a knockout.”

“Burt, you flatter me. I will create many garments for your people once this is settled.”

I expected him to ask questions, but then the boy, Tanner, appeared from behind him.

“What is she doing here and that form?”

“I am here for Burt,” I said, then squeezed Burt’s hands. “You are needed. I know you were granted a fresh start, but we need you, the Ancients and the humans.”

“I’m out of shape.”

“Father will give you the shape and you will be transformed again, temporarily if you like. But it is imperative. If the boy is here, you know what awaits.”

“I do.”

“Wait. Wait.” Tanner held up his hand. “Why do you need Burt? And what is so special about him?”

“Like your Vala,” I said, “Burt is a Mare.”

FORTY-SIX – VALA

I did not think I would ever wear them again, but it felt good to pull out the clothing I wore when I lived in the Straits. The cowhide pants, thin white shirt and boots. I felt like the old Vala, the one that went to school and dreamt of leaving Arkana. Now I wondered, what if I never left? Would we have been victim to a sneak attack by Anubis, never seeing it coming?

I stood before the mirror fixing the braid in my hair.

“Are you ready for training with Nito today?” Iry asked me.

“It makes my skin craw and my stomach ache.”

“You will be fine. I am sure it will not be difficult.” He kissed my shoulder.

“The first convoy has left. Why are you not packed?” I asked him.

“I’m not going.”

“Iry, you must. You are to take Sophie to the boats in Angeles City.”

“I have a better protector for her. The king. He will see to it she is safe and should something happen to you, Davis or Tanner, if anything, he is a good father. He will keep her safe.”

“What about you?”

“I am a strong Ancient. I am staying. I will fight beside you, Vala. You are carrying my child. If something should happen to you, then it happens to my child. What reason is there for me to continue my existence?”

“Iry …”

“I am well aware that you are not on the same page as me. But one day, maybe, with the birth of our child you will be. If anything we are a great pair. We both like ALF.”

I smiled, leaned up to him and kissed him on the cheek. “I have not dreaded our moments.”

“Gee, that’s good to know.”

“Iry …”

“Go. Go say goodbye to Sophie. I am putting her on the next convoy with the king. She needs to be at a safe distance.”

“I will do that and I’ll see you after training.”

“Vala, who knows? Maybe you and Nito will be best friends after all this.”

“Please tell me you are joking.”

“I am joking.”

I left Iry to find my sister. I hated that he was not going with her, I trusted Iry with her life, but I understood why he wanted to stay behind. After I said my farewell to my sister I would head to training. Whatever that entailed, I was sure I was ready.

<><><><>

For some reason, I believed training was going to be indoors. I had no idea I would be so far from the Ancient City in a dry desert. What exactly Nito had planned, I didn’t know.

When she arrived she wasn’t dressed as she normally was in ceremonial attire. She was wearing the oddest of clothing. She had on tight cloth pants that came to just about her knees; perhaps her maiden had washed her clothes in too hot water, because her shirt exposed the skin on her belly. Thankfully, the life jacket covered her breasts.

“What are you wearing?” I asked.

She gave a flirtatious look to Davis who came to observe, then looked at me. “I asked Maggie the vendor woman what human women wore to train. She described this outfit and I made it last night. It is quite comfortable.”

“Are you aware it shows every outline of your body? Is nothing sacred? It’s nearly obscene.”

“This body will not be mine for too long, I want to flaunt it.”

“Will you please leave Davis alone?”

“Jealous?”

“No,” I answered. “I am not. Not even of your life vest.”

“Why mention it then?”

“Ladies!” Davis called out. “Are we going to train or what?”

“Where is Burt?” I asked.

“He has not been in Ancient form in years, he needs to adjust. He’ll be here,” Nito said. “Are you prepared, my young human Mare?”

“I despise you.”

“But I am the teacher. You are the student.”

“What can you teach me that Davis has not?”

Nito laughed manically. “Davis taught you? No offense to Davis, but he hasn’t a clue what you can do. Oh, yes, you can shake a stick and make fire, scream shrilly and drop a few Savages, but you are more than that. If there was one ability you wished you could have, what would it be?”

“To fly.”

“Good thing for you, that’s almost a possibility.”

“I can fly?”

“In a sense. Like I do. That skill combined with the others will come in handy.”

“Wait,” Davis said. “She can fly?”

“It’s more speed running, jumping and flinging. Watch.”

Nito moved fast to the left, so fast she was a blur. She jumped to one rock, used it as a springboard and sailed to the next. From that she leapt again and zipped back to us.

“Like that,” she said. “Can you do that, Vala?”

“That?” I nodded. “Please, I will do it not only with ease, but better than you.”

Nito held out her hand for me to show her.

I took a breath and ran.

Maybe I should have asked for instruction or not been quite as confident in my abilities and perhaps I would not have fallen flat on my face after trying to make the first jump.

Nito laughed and walked over to me, extending her hand. I smacked it away.

“Again?” she asked. “Want to run foolishly or would you like me to tell you how it is done?”

I stood and brushed the sand from my clothing. Hating to do so, I asked for an explanation. It looked easy enough and in time I was sure it would be for me. I just hoped there was enough time.

FORTY-SEVEN – TANNER

Hopeland decided to take their chances, placing their faith in Burt and standing their ground, remaining two hundred feet below the Earth’s surface.

It made me feel good they had that much faith.

“Did you know?” I asked Brea. “That Burt was a Mare?”

“No one did. We knew he was special, not a Mare, no.”

“It’s crazy.”

“Do you have to leave, Tanner?” she asked.

“I can’t stay. Angeles City is my home, my people, just like this is for you. They’re going out on boats, going up north. I have to help move people out.”

“That’s not what you want to do, is it?” Brea asked.

“No. No it isn’t. I want to fight this fight. I want to battle. My whole life, I focused on defeating the Ancients. They were the bad guys. Then I found out that I was fighting the bad guys all along and didn’t know it.”

“I think you knew it. So why aren’t you up there with Davis?”

“This fight is not for mortal man. It’s bigger than us. And you know what sucks? The fate of humanity is in the hands of a few Ancients.”

“Why does it suck?”

“I wanted to be part of saving mankind.”

“You are,” she said. “You maybe not be blasting Savages, you may not be blowing up cities, but you are ensuring that man survives. That people live whether the Savages are victorious or not. Mankind will still be around. If that’s not saving the world, then I don’t know what is.”

More than I realized, I needed to hear Brea’s words. She was pretty cool and I was glad I got to know her. God willing, after the war, I’d get a chance to know her even better.

FORTY-EIGHT – NITO

I didn’t want to tell Vala; she didn’t need any more arrogance, but she grasped onto the leaping better than I expected. She sparred with me in practice fighting. She took it seriously and I was certain I would bruise, something that rarely happens to Ancients.

“They will come at you,” I told her. “Ten at a time bat them away, but those of us who are with you will focus on the fight. You will need to focus on the water. That is why you will be placed on the Needle Building.”

“Which one is that?” she asked.

“You will be on top of the tallest structure in the city. It looks like a needle with a hat.”

Davis laughed. “The Stratosphere? Oh wow. That’s pretty high.”

“She’ll need to be able to control the water and concentrate. Not to say they won’t try to bring her down, but she will prevail. Vala, when was your last check?”

“This morning,” she said. “Your mother was sleeping.”

“Check now.”

“It’s daylight.”

“Savages don’t sleep, my mother was only resting. Try now. Follow your—”

“Blood, I know.” Vala closed her eyes.

While she focused, I looked at Davis. Moisture was seeping from his body, a reaction to the heat. It was an attractive quality for some reason. I caught his scent and then noticed Vala. She jumped up and began to wipe her hand frantically on her body.

“What?” I asked. “What is it? What did you see?”

“Oh my God,” she wrapped her arms close to her body, turned and then vomited.

Davis stood. “How bad was it?”

“Horrible. They … they were mating.”

His eyes widened and I would have gotten sickened at the thought of my mother mating with Anubis had it not been for Burt arriving in the desert with Iry.

No longer middle aged and lumpy, Burt was now young and chiseled. His hair was full and long like a god’s and when he smiled, he had all his teeth. “You are an attractive and fit sight.”

“Yeah, this body does rock.” He ran his hand down his chest.

“You remind me of my twenty-second husband.”

“Twenty-two!” Davis barked. “You had that many husbands?”

“More,” I replied.

“That’s nothing,” Burt said. “I had thirty-four wives. Hard to keep it alive when you have infinite life. Not many can be together like the king and his wife and they were, like, thousands of years.”

My father and mother were together forever and then thinking of them made me shudder because instantly I thought of her mating with Anubis.

“Enough of marriage,” I said. “Let’s get to serious concentration training.”

“Sure,” Burt said, clapping his hands. “What are we doing?”

“See that mountain?” I pointed.

“Are we running to it?” Vala asked.

“No,” I replied. “You are moving it.”

The look on their faces was priceless. They weren’t really going to move the mountain, but in trying, they would develop the strength it would take to move a body of water. That was what was important.

FORTY-NINE – VALA

I wasn’t certain if I were more in tune or the queen’s blood pumped more viciously, but every time I closed my eyes, I was there with her, in her and seeing through her eyes. I couldn’t relax. For two days solid the visions increased, making rest impossible.

The night before the Feast of the Dead, I wandered the empty streets of the Ancient City. The lights still gleamed as if the town were filled. But it was empty, not one vendor graced a corner. Every human and Ancient had been moved.

The only ones that remained were those of us who would battle and the gatekeepers who diligently held their last post. Whether we won the war or lost, they would be victims of the battle. They needed to stand their ground, casting the visions of a populated and unaware city until the Savages saw through it. By then, it would be too late for the gatekeepers.

Unable to sleep, I took to walking. Snake was checking on the explosives he had set, strategically placed around the city.

“Hopefully, we won’t have to blow her up,” Snake said. “You can move mountains, Vala.”

“An inch,” I smiled and held my fingers a little apart.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“I am. Burt is by my side. Iry will be battling along with Gosho. He is good. We are ready.”

“And the Savages?”

“They are antsy and hungry, so they will be more driven.”

He took a breath and exhaled. “Scary thought. You gonna try to sleep?”

“My abilities make it impossible. You?”

“The bars are empty. Think I’ll go toss a few back and pass out on the blackjack table.”

I smiled and said, “You do that,” but I didn’t have a clue what he meant. I thought about Davis in my walk. Wondered what he was doing and thinking and even contemplated seeking him out when the gatekeeper stopped me.

“You should be resting child,” he said in an eerily deep voice. “Your battle is tomorrow.”

“I cannot rest. Like you, my visions keep me awake.”

“I am casting them. You are receiving them. They have increased?”

“Tenfold. Closing my eyes in peace is impossible.”

“You need to rest. Come closer.”

I didn’t want to. He was large, emitted a foul smell and looked as frightening as he sounded. When I was a mere foot from him, he placed his hand on top of my head, said, “Rest.” And that was it.

I fell asleep.

A deep sleep that I needed, one with no dreams. It wasn’t a sound that awakened me. It was a vibration. I jumped up to a sitting position and found myself in bed.

“You’re finally awake. I was worried,” Iry said. “You all right?”

“Did you feel the Earth move?”

“No. Why?”

“I just …” I closed my eyes. All I saw was movement. The Savages were stirring. “Iry, they’re coming.” I lunged from bed.

“Nonsense, Vala, it’s the middle of the day.”

No sooner had he said that than I noticed the room darkened a little. “Why did it just get dark?”

“A cloud maybe,” he suggested.

I raced to the window and looked out. “Something is up with the sky.” I ran from the room. Emerging into the hall, I saw Davis.

“Whoa. Where you headed?”

“Davis, they’re coming!”

“I tried to tell her its daylight,” Iry said. “She’s still confused from sleeping so long.”

“No, the sky is getting dark,” I argued. “Look.”

Davis walked to the hall window and looked out. “Oh my God. There’s gonna be an eclipse.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“The moon is gonna block the sun. It’ll be dark. I’d say we have an hour.”

“The special moon.” Immediately I filled with panic and spun to Iry. “Go get Gosho and Yaku, I’ll find Nito. Davis, move the gatekeepers to higher ground then … then go.” I took off running before either of them could argue.

<><><><>

“Waste no time,” Nito said. “Get to position after you make the checks. I’ll move Yaku to the mountain as quickly as I can.”

I looked up, the lights of the city came on just as the sky quickly turned dark.

“Remember,” she said. “They will sense what you are doing, they will try to bring you down. Focus on the water, nothing else. We will try to keep them from you.”

After nodding my understanding, I turned and was surprised to see both Davis and Snake still in the city.

“Davis, Snake, you have to go. Leave! There is still time.”

Davis shook his head. “I’m gonna head to the mountain to watch this. Hope for the best, because I know it will all work out.”

“Please, Davis, don’t. Get far away.”

He placed his hands on my shoulders. “Vala, if I go and run, then I am not showing my faith in you. Plus, I led the rebellion this far, I’m gonna see it home.” He kissed me on the cheek.

“Snake?” I faced him. “You?”

“I’ll be up in the Needle Building with you. I can’t detonate from thirty miles away.”

“But if you have to detonate, you’ll be killed.”

“I’ll go out in blaze of glory.”

“What if they get past me and into the building?”

“Then you didn’t do your job.” Snake winked. “I’ll be fine. Get in position. I’ll be there shortly.”

My friends were there with me. I wished they weren’t. I took a moment to tap into Tanner, to feel assured he was safe and when I saw that he was, I headed down the road.

On top of the Grand Building, Gosho was in position and Iry stood on the street. I knew he was waiting for me.

“I’ll be across the road from you,” Iry said. “I’ll do what I can to keep them from you.”

“Be safe,” I told him.

“You be safe, Vala. And if you can’t do this, if it is more powerful than you, then leave. Take off, get out, find a way. Protect my child.”

“What about you?”

“As long as you live, so shall I.” He kissed me softly on the cheek. “Thank you for what you have given me.”

“This is not the end, Iry.” I clutched his hand and with the feeling of urgency, I kissed him one last time before going to the Needle Building and taking my position.

FIFTY – NITO

By the time I delivered Yaku safely to the mountain, I saw that Davis was only halfway there. I did not want to take a chance of losing him, so whether he liked it or not, I grabbed hold of him and took him to the mountain as well.

On my return route, I knew the battle was moments away. I didn’t need to be a Mare to sense them. I could hear them coming. Fifty thousand Savages made a lot of noise.

The gatekeepers were placed on the highest floors. From what I remembered of Moses parting the Red Sea, if Vala accomplished the task of moving that lake, the buildings were not going to be strong enough to save any of us.

I prayed the Gods would show favor on us and damn Anubis back to where he came from.

The plan was simple. Gosho, Iry, Burt and I would be on top of buildings, we would protect ourselves until we saw the Savages descend upon the Ancient City to attack the visions of people. Once they landed, we’d use all that we could to keep them there until Vala brought the water or Snake released the explosions. Yaku was the means of communication for us all. Through him we could speak to each other.

When I reached my building, I was barely in position when they descended on us.

They came over the mountains, a smooth, velvet force, shiny and black, rippling our way, catching the light of the special moon as they moved.

“Arm yourselves!” I shouted and raised my arms.

The force of the incoming Savages moved the air violently, whipping my hair back and pelted sand so hard at my face it stung.

“I can’t see!” Gosho shouted. “I can’t see!”

“Use your ability, Gosho! Tap in!”

If it wasn’t for the lights of the city I would not have been able to see either. They hit us hard.

Somehow in my mind, I didn’t comprehend how many fifty thousand were. Even though I saw them at the canyon, it was a whole other experience to have them attack us in force.

I tried to see Vala and there was a circle of protection around her, an invisible force field. As high as she was, the Savages came for her, bouncing off and flinging back.

My sights on Vala were disrupted when the first Savage smacked into me, knocking me off balance.

I quickly gained my footing, spun and took him down.

“You all right, Madge?” Burt asked.

Another Savage hit me.

“Stand your ground!” Burt said. “I can’t do this alone.”

“You’re not alone,” Iry said.

“I’m trying,” I said. “I lost my staff.”

“You don’t need it.”

Left and right they came for me. My arms swung out, creating energy waves that blasted them to bits when I hit them. I found my rhythm. That was what I needed to do, find a rhythm. Once I had that, I was good to go.

Then I heard a scream.

Gosho.

I hurriedly turned and saw him in the mouth of a Savage. Another came and they fought over him, tearing him limb from limb.

“I can’t see below. Are they all in?” I asked as I fought.

“Almost,” Burt said. “Vala, get ready.”

“I’m ready. I’m focused,” Vala replied.

“Snake!” Burt called out.

“Finger on the button. Damn if this isn’t the coolest way to communicate.”

That was when I realized, I hadn’t heard from Iry.

“Iry, check in,” I ordered.

“I’m a little busy right now.”

Did he need help? We couldn’t lose another. Burt was not only battling, he was leading communication and placing the protection around Vala.

I peered ahead to Iry’s position, two buildings up. Savages encompassed him. He was fighting hard, but was having a difficult time.

Just as I thought to join him, I felt a slam to my back and I dropped to my knees.

“Almost all in,” Burt said. “Madge?”

I tried to get up and I was stomped back down.

I heard the growling squeal from behind me, drawn out and loud, almost like a form of communication. Again, I tried to get up when the force hit my spine. Using all that I had, I ejected back, flinging the beast from me.

Once I gained my bearings and momentum, I spun around prepared to fight, only to see my mother standing across the roof.

She was in a hybrid human / Savage form, nearly as big as Anubis. She cocked back her head, extended her arms and roared. She was ready to attack.

In a runner’s position, one knee still to the roof, I kept my eyes on her.

“You took me by surprise once,” I said.

She charged my way.

“It won’t happen again.” On my final word, I grabbed my staff, leapt to my feet, spun the staff to gain its power and drove it into her heart. It was not an easy deliverance. Her skin was rough and hard. It lodged in her and wouldn’t move. I couldn’t retract it and she wasn’t dying. She kept fighting, making it more difficult.

Her arms swung out and with each jolt of her body, she moved me with her as I clung to the staff. When she jerked to her left, she sent me flying and I landed on the roof.

She grabbed the staff and through the corner of my eye, I saw a Savage grab Iry.

FIFTY-ONE – VALA

I felt invincible. Nothing could touch me. The joint force of protection around me kept me safe from any Savage coming my way. I knew by the power of that force, it was more than just Burt and me. I sensed the power of the gatekeepers.

The last of the Savages poured into the city and they formed a giant moving mound below, squirming around like maggots on a carcass. A few bounced up and down, but they were all there. It would be only a matter of minutes before they realized they weren’t devouring flesh, but only visions created by the gatekeepers.

I focused east and on the body of water. I could feel the power of it, the force in which I pulled. Only briefly did I lose it when I was drawn into Nito’s mother’s eyes and saw my attack on her.

“Focus, Vala, focus!” Burt said.

It was hard. I was torn between pulling the water and seeing a rooftop battle from the eyes of the aggressor. And then that vision was gone. I felt free, it lifted from me and I knew Nito had been victorious.

Pull. Pull.

Almost there. My body trembled as I gave it my all. It felt as if I were trying to release something and it wouldn’t give. No matter how hard I tired, I would get it to a point and it just wouldn’t cross the cusp.

“Burt!” I cried out. “It’s not working!”

“Get it now, Vala! They’re gonna leave. They’re onto us!”

I looked below where the Savages stirred. Then with every drop of emotion, with everything I had, from deep within my soul I cried out as loud as I could and raised my arms high.

The ground rumbled. It rumbled so hard it shook me from my stance. I felt the release and with it was the vision of the rolling wall of water making its way over the crest of the mountains. In seconds it hit the city. Sounds of rushing water filled the air along with cries of dying Savages.

My scream of struggle was about to turn into a scream of triumph until I saw the Savage snatch hold of Iry and lift him from the building.

“No!” I raced to the edge of the railing of the Needle Building. My intention was to try to get him and I was ready to leap when I saw Nito.

She sprang forward in a flash, intercepting another Savage before it too could get Iry, then with her momentum, used a building as a springboard and in her second jump, grabbed Iry from the grip of the Savage.

He looked like a rag doll in her grip, but she didn’t let go.

She jumped on the railing before me and lowered him to the roof’s surface.

He was covered in blood. Ancient blood, which was thick and deep.

His body was mangled, yet he was still alive. He twitched and jerked, gasping for breath. I dropped beside him and pulled him to me.

“You can save him,” Nito said from the railing. “You can save him. With your blood. But it will take too much. You will turn.”

I peered up to her. “Nito! Watch out.”

Anubis flew in from behind her and Nito was ready. He grabbed hold of her and she shoved back, clinging with him as they both fell all the way down and into the rushing water below.

I lowered my head.

It was over, but not without loss.

“Vala,” Iry said weakly.

His skin began to turn black. I could see the Savage infection raging through him.

“Kill me now,” he said. “Don’t let me turn into one of those. Please.”

“Iry, I’m so sorry.” I ran my hand down his face.

“Take care of our child,” he said, his words breathy. “K … kill me now, Vala.”

“I can’t.  I did not know my father. Our child will know his.” I reached down to my thigh and to the knife I kept there, took hold of the knife and sliced my arm.

“No,” Iry said,

The black infection crept up his face. Time was running out.

“Take it. Now. Please.” I put my arm to his mouth. “Take it.”

He shook his head.

I allowed my blood to flow across his lips until he opened his mouth and I held my arm there. I was the only one with a choice at that moment, kill him or save him. I chose to let Iry live.

FIFTY-TWO – VALA

My life would be different from that moment on. The water rushed through the city for an entire day until it was safe enough to come down from the Needle Building. The sun returned after nearly an entire day of darkness.

Iry was alive. He had healed entirely and I had turned. My senses had heightened and that was the main thing that told me I was no longer human. It was a decision I made and one I wouldn’t regret. I couldn’t.

When I came down from the building and Davis arrived, he knew as soon as he looked at me I had turned.

Before he could ask how or why, he saw Iry. His clothes were still tattered and torn and Davis never broached the subject with me. I sensed he understood.

Snake lived through it and so did Burt. While we didn’t use the explosives, the Ancient City was destroyed. Uninhabitable.

It was time to move on. I was certain there were still Savages out there. We didn’t conquer them all, just our section of the world. My transformation came with a new era— Humans and Ancients living together as one and as equals. After all, we had fought for our lives as one.

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In the wake of the aftermath, with nothing left, it was time to find the others to deliver the good news. As Snake said, water flowed downstream and the vehicle placed by the mountain was safe. We needed to walk to it and the walk would do us good.

On our silent journey to the car, Snake stopped.

“What the heck? Is that a mirage?” he pointed outward.

In the distance I saw a tiny moving dot of orange. It moved in no particular direction.

“No,” Davis said. “The life jacket.”

“Can’t be,” Snake said. “Ancients can’t handle water.”

“Look at her,” Davis laughed.

“I’ll be. Our Madge put that twenty pounds back on again. Think its water weight?” Snake asked and then laughed. “Get it? Water weight.”

“How is that possible?” I asked Iry.

“She asked to be human again when the battle was done. That’s all I can think of,” Iry replied.

“Should we go help her?” Davis asked. “She looks like she’s struggling.”

After a moment of thought, I replied, “Yes.”

And like we were about to do with our lives, we changed our direction and headed toward that orange life jacket.

Much had transpired between Nito and me. Would I ever forget? Never. Forgive her? Possibly. She saved Iry, placed her life on the line for the human race and for that, I could at least look at her as human and call her by her human name of Madge.

It was the dawn of a new age and going to save her was the first real step to putting it all behind us and moving forward.

She was unsteady, stumbling as she walked. When she saw us approach, she dropped to her knees, peered at us gratefully and cried. She was confused, unsure of exactly what all had transpired. She knew only that she had battled and had fallen. When she landed, she moved with the water and ended up far from Ancient City.

Madge was certain of one thing. Davis had given her the life jacket and she repeatedly conveyed her gratitude. Then as we approached the vehicle she was certain of another.

“You have turned,” she said to me. “You are now an Ancient.”

“You were the one that told me it was what I had to do,” I said. “Do you not remember?”

She shook her head. “No. Why did I tell you that?”

I simply nodded at Iry.

“You saved your husband,” she said. “You turned for him. Well …” she smiled. “I underestimated your feelings for him.”

“We both saved him. You pulled him from the clutches of the Savages.”

Madge seemed surprised to hear that. She was different … or maybe it was me. Perhaps I saw her differently. I supposed I would view the world through Ancient eyes and a human heart. It gave me a huge advantage that I needed.

Even though we arrived at our transport, our day and struggles were far from over.

We needed not only to take Burt to Hopeland, but to find the king and have him return Burt to his human form. He didn’t want to stay Ancient.

The destination of the Ancients following the exodus was a place called Washington State. Davis was confident the Ancients were close but not there. We had to find them. They hadn’t ever been outside their city and were roaming around, lost. I could feel it.

Most of the residents of Angeles City were on boats. Tanner was with them.

I was scared to face Tanner. He harbored ill feelings for me over my marriage to Iry and our child. I could only imagine how he would feel when he found out I had turned.

There was so much to consider. We were all refugees and at the beginning of a new journey. The Straits were still populated with humans that relied heavily on the Ancients. We had to organize, regroup, prepare.

Snake commented that the king could return me to my human form. I wasn’t sure I wanted that or if being a human Mare was best. In my Ancient form I was more powerful and we needed that.

Anubis was a God. He wasn’t dead, he merely moved from this realm and more than likely would rebuild his army. He’d do it differently. He wanted this world once and he’d come for us again.

We were but one sector of the world; we conquered and secured it.

There were still millions of Savages out there and undoubtedly they weren’t giving up. Neither was Anubis.

We had to recharge, rebuild and rethink our strategy.

We had been victorious in our battle, but a single battle was all it was. One of many to come.

It wasn’t the end, it was the beginning.

The real war had just begun.

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Table of Contents

- BOOK THREE

- After the Rise Book Three - Jacqueline Druga

- ONE – VALA
- TWO – TANNER
- THREE – NITO
- FOUR – VALA
- FIVE – TANNER
- SIX – NITO
- SEVEN – VALA
- EIGHT – TANNER
- NINE – NITO
- TEN – VALA
- ELEVEN – TANNER
- TWELVE – NITO
- THIRTEEN – VALA
- FOURTEEN – TANNER
- FIFTEEN – NITO
- SIXTEEN – VALA
- SEVENTEEN – TANNER
- EIGHTEEN – NITO
- NINETEEN – VALA
- TWENTY – TANNER
- TWENTY-ONE – NITO
- TWENTY-TWO – VALA
- TWENTY-THREE – TANNER
- TWENTY-FOUR – NITO
- TWENTY-FIVE – VALA
- TWENTY-SIX – TANNER
- TWENTY-SEVEN – NITO
- TWENTY-EIGHT – VALA
- TWENTY-NINE – TANNER
- THIRTY – NITO
- THIRTY-ONE – VALA
- THIRTY-TWO – TANNER
- THIRTY-THREE – NITO
- THIRTY-FOUR – VALA
- THIRTY-FIVE – TANNER
- THIRTY-SIX – NITO
- THIRTY-SEVEN – VALA
- THIRTY-EIGHT – TANNER
- THIRTY-NINE – NITO
- FORTY – VALA
- FORTY-ONE – TANNER
- FORTY-TWO – NITO
- FORTY-THREE – VALA
- FORTY-FOUR – TANNER
- FORTY-FIVE – NITO
- FORTY-SIX – VALA
- FORTY-SEVEN – TANNER
- FORTY-EIGHT – NITO
- FORTY-NINE – VALA
- FIFTY – NITO
- FIFTY-ONE – VALA
- FIFTY-TWO – VALA