Liam E-Book

Virginie T.

• Herausgeber: Tektime
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 222

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

A paranormal romance between a metamorph and a Fatel

The last instalment of the saga.

Slave was not my companion, the bond between us notwithstanding. I knew as much, but didn't understand why. Then Blood came. I marked her for my own. I'm prepared to go through hell to be with her. Only hell is likely to be the least of our worries. The end is nigh. The Guardian Angels know this. The war is rumbling. It will be either the dissidents or us and if we lose, that spells the end of the Fatels.

Leseprobe

Liam

The

Guardian Angels

Pack

Vol. 5

Virginie T.

© 2020, Virginie T.

Date of publication: October 2020

Translated in June and July 2023 by Rhys Llwyd

Prologue

Finn, the Tank alpha

The Fatel is still alive.  I’d promised not to kill her as long as she’d stay quiet and I’ve kept my word.  Beyond some bites, ─ it’s difficult to resist such delicious blood ─ I’ve left her in peace.  At last, here we are at my coronation as Alpha, the beginning of my reign.  I’m now going to procure the malleable, docile Fatel for which I’ve long wished.  This baby will be the source of my power.  A girl, at that!  All the easier to manipulate.  My plan is perfect, flawless.

The Fatel that has just given birth reaches her arms out for me to give her the infant.  What a joke!  This baby is mine.  Slave belongs to me.  She cries when I have her understand that this child is my property.  She’s getting on my nerves.  I’m going to leave the room when she starts howling.  It’s impossible to make so much noise!  Is she trying to attract all the animorphs nearby so they’ll come to her aid?  No chance.  Nobody will dare cross me.  Amongst the metamorphs, might is right and the mightiest of the Tanks is me.

— Alpha?  There’s another baby.

— What.

Two babies?  The Tank female is pulling another squirming being from the entrails of the Fatel.

— Another girl.  They are identical twins.

Twins?  I’d be tempted to keep them both.  Two Fatels means twice as many powers.  What’s more, animorph twins have a very particular connection: unconditional loyalty between them.  This may be a double-edged sword.  I’m too close to the objective for taking the risk of scuppering my plan.  I think a few moments whilst grabbing onto this second power source at the same time.  I’ve got an idea.  These girls are bound by blood.  Why not entrust her to somebody who’s bound to me by blood?  That would be a way of tying the knot and to assure I’m supported by the pack at all times.  I produce my mobile from my pocket, having returned the babes to the one to have helped put them onto this Earth.

— Hello, cousin.  Still wanna be alpha.

— ’Course I do!  Are you at last ready to tell me your secret.

— I’m going to do better still.  I’ll be giving you one part of the solution.

We work out the finishing touches and I then leave the room with my two packages: Slave and Blood.

Chapter 1

Blood

A bit of calm at last.  I’ll be able to isolate myself a little with Lili as I’ve dreamt of doing for days.

— You’re back.

She leaps into my arms and I spin her around in the air in the way she likes so much.

— I am.  I’m all yours today.

— Yeah.

Her eyes sparkle in desire.  It’s been such a long time since we’ve taken the time to play together.  She shouldn’t live like this.  She shouldn’t have had the same childhood as me.  What am I saying?  Childhood?  No; there’s no place for any of that in this pack.  No place for people like us to think about it either.  I’ve long hoped and waited for someone to come to my aid.  I’ve always known I was different.  Fletcher never hid as much from me.  On the contrary, he’d throw my Fatel pedigree in my face as if it were an insult.  Truthfully, he’s scared of me.  He has been since I was six, since my power was revealed and I risked losing him his life by freezing the blood in his veins.  Years of suffering and humiliation were the aftermath.

— What are you thinking about.

Lili's slender little doll face is looking at me innocently.  I’d give all I had for her.  I could set the world on fire or bloody it to keep her safe, even at the cost of losing my soul.  Indeed, it’s probably been done for a long time.  Fletcher saw to that.  Killing and maiming people in the name of the Ferocious has made an outcast of me, a heartless outcast to burn in hell.  As long as I’m not taking Lili with me, so be it.

— I was thinking about what we could do today.

— Might we play outside?  It’s nice and sunny out.

With an unsure smile on her lips, she lifts her little begging eyes towards me.  I hate taking her outside.  I can’t help it; it’s a visceral thing.  I’m doing my best to avert her from the sight of the pack’s metamorphs.  Sneaky, these hyenas.  I wouldn’t want him to suddenly urge one of them to take my daughter.  The alpha has other plans for Lili, this much I know and always have, from the day she was born.  Simply, to jealously keep me for his own good pleasure, he provoked discontent amongst his own ranks.  Some of the members have already tried ousting him, but as he’s the only one to drink my blood, he’s almost invincible.  Nobody has dared challenge him in years.

— Please.

— Alright, alright.

How do you want me to resist that loving face?

She reaches the door well before me, jumping impatiently on the spot.  I can’t help but smile in the face of her enthusiasm.  She is just so adorable!  My good mood wanes a little in the face of the landscape offered to us.  In the guise of my daughter’s playground, it’s nothing more than a prison.  Our little chalet is surrounded by an oversized barbed-wire fence.  Nobody is to leave without Fletcher’s permission.  There is one advantage to this: nobody can enter without his permission, which he never gives.  My handlers stay outwith the enclosure, always.  My daughter’s safe as long as I obey.  I'll never give the alpha any reason to go after my own flesh and blood.

— Maw, make me a toboggan.

Lili only has a few toys.  She’s understood for a long time that her life was particular.  I’ve taught her the minimum for her survival.  As for everything else, we’re taking each day at a time.

In all honesty, my daughter has an extraordinary capacity to adapt.  Therefore, I do everything to keep her happy.  A toboggan she wants, a toboggan she’ll get.  I concentrate a second to lower the temperature in the designated area.  Little by little, ice springs forth from the ground to take the form of a shiny, smooth slide.  I finish off by moulding four low steps for Lili to climb to the top.  Now that my daughter’s not bouncing around like a kangaroo, she’s just stamping her feet on the spot and clapping her hands.

— Yippee!  Thanks, Mammy!  It’s perfect.  Can I go on it, d’ye think.

I smile at her candour.

— Sure you can.  Go on, love.

I love watching her play.  I get the impression I’m leading a normal life for a mother when both of us are together.  I’d like to be able to offer her a future full of joy and nothing to worry about.  Still, I don’t know if this will be possible.  The fateful day’s approaching fast.  I’ll do everything to keep her safe.  In spite of everything, I won’t be able to do anything if Fletcher decides to take her.  Just my luck: he wants me to train her.  Don’t make me laugh!

From what I’ve understood, the children don’t necessarily have the same power as their parent.  For my part, I’ve learnt by practice, on my own.  All I could do is to compel her to control herself as best she can.  All of what’s at stake is there.  For a start, she must not kill animorphs in a bout of rage, lest she be executed without warning.  I can not lose her.  I won’t be able to bear the loss of another child.  I clench my fists until my knuckles whiten at the very memory.  Fletcher and his smirk concealing an evil part of him had looked me right in the eyes, daring me to try something.  My heart still bleeds for this loss.  The only satisfaction I’ve had is the fact he’s never had the opportunity to hurt me as much again.  Never again am I going to let him have such influence over me.

— Maw, stop it!  You’re bleeding.

I blink a few times to come back to this present moment.  Lili is just in front of me, worried.

— What’s that, hen.

— You’ve got blood in your hand.

God.  I must’ve pierced my hand with my talons.  Although … When I open my fist, it’s not three small wounds in the hollow of my palm, but a deep cut running through my hand in a continuous straight line on the inside.

— What’s wrong with you, Maw.

Lili’s stress skyrockets.  Small tears form in the corners of her beautiful sea-blue eyes.  The problem is that, at the same time, small sharp claws emerge from the end of her fingers.  I must reassure her for nothing untoward to happen.

— Shhh!  Everything’s okay, Lili.  I’ve just cut myself, that’s all.

A cut from I don’t know what at all.  Still, now’s not the time to be thinking about it.  The important thing is Lili’s sadness.  Strong emotion is dangerous for a Fatel, particularly one living amidst a pack of metamorphs.  I quickly bring my power to the index on my left hand, then gently passing it over the wound on my palm.  A thin layer of frost closed my wound immediately, stopping the blood flowing out.

— Lili, look.

I show her my healed palm.

— You see?  Not there any more.

She dries her eyes with the back of her sleeve.

— D’ye want a magic kiss.

— I’d love one.  Be careful, though; you know it’s going to be cold.

She delicately placed her lips on my poorly hand to kiss it better.

— There y’are.  You’re not poorly now.

— You’re right.  My hand is brand-new.

— It was cold, like when you eat an ice cream.

— Would that be a way of telling you’re hungry.

— Oh yeah!  Just a little ice cream, though.

I burst out laughing, despite my preoccupation with everything.  My daughter has to keep the soul of a child for as long as possible.  She’ll learn soon enough that a Fatel’s life is far from easy.

— You go have an ice cream.  You’ll need to brush your teeth tonight, mind.

— I promise I will, Maw.

The toboggan then disappears at the click of my fingers.  It’s no use Fletcher making disparaging comments about me spoiling Lili too much.  I’ll never be able to spoil my daughter too much; she doesn’t know a thing about the outside world around her.

Whilst Lili’s happily shovelling huge bites of ice cream in, I’m pondering this latest incident: an unexplained cut.  This isn’t the first time I’ve hurt myself, not remembering how; normally, however, these are insignificant bruises.  Who remembers where this bruise came from or that one?  I don’t.  What I often asked myself about was some appearing when I’d spent all day in bed.  This has always happened, as far back as I can remember.

Fletcher told me this didn’t matter, but the day that it would, I'd know.  What would I know exactly, though?  The best thing to do is to call Fletcher, balk at that as I do.  This was meant to be a day just for mother and daughter.  I’m going to disappoint her again.

— Do you have to go.

There’s such sadness in that question.  I can’t.  I don’t want to forsake her one more time.  Fletcher bit me this morning.  He drank my blood, assuring me that afterwards, I could spend the day peacefully with my daughter.  I won’t be letting some strange phenomenon fritter my day away.

— No.  I’m staying with you until you fall asleep.

— He’s going to hurt you for making him wait.  You have to tell him you’ve hurt yourself, don’t you?'

She's far from being stupid.  She can see too much.  She understands more still.

— Don’t worry.  Nobody’s going to hurt me or you, for that matter.  Do you remember the golden rule.

She nods a few times.

— No animorph has the right to come near me when you’re not there.

— Good.  What’s the silver rule.

— No metamorph has the right to take me from you.

— Perfect, Lili, well done.

I’ve drummed these rules into her again and again since her birth.  Even before she could speak. I was already repeating them to her.  I will let nobody reduce her to a blood packet like I am.  I’ve accepted as much for a long time.  As a Fatel, this is my destiny in this pack.  

However, I aspire to higher for my daughter’s sake and I’m going to fight to get her there.  Fletcher isn’t forever and I’m much younger than he is.  I hope his successor will be less … sadistic.  Nothing is less sure, but I can always hope.

Since Lili was born and he’s been using her as a means to pressure me into obedience, I’ve been privy to a lot of information.  Having assured himself I was docile, he let me read.  It’s mad what you can learn from books.  Before that time, the word Fatel was only an insult to me.  Through history books, I've learnt more about my people over the past five years.  I’ll teach Lili our story one of these days, although she’s as different to me and I am to Fletcher.  However, I love her infinitely as any mother would her child.

— Maw, can you plait my hair.

— Sure I can, but go wash your face first.  Your hands are sticky.

Her hair is as long as mine is short.  It goes down her back like a long, silken brown waterfall.  I love taking care of it.  It seems that wee girls love playing with dolls.  As for me, my daughter is my doll: the most beautiful doll in the world.  I brush her hair before removing all the knots and braiding her long chocolate locks.

— Here y’are, chick.

— Your turn.

I play the game myself and let her comb my hair.  I quietly grimace when she’s insistent on a knot.

— Maw, why don’t you grow your hair out like I do.

It’s because Fletcher hates having hair in his mouth when he bites me.

— I find it keeps me hot.  You know I like it cold.

— Yes.  That’s your power, the cold.  What must mine be, then.

— A surprise.

The best surprise would be for her not to have any.  After all, she isn’t fully Fatel.  However, I doubt whether fate has done me this as a favour.  It can’t be said I’ve had a lot of luck in life up to now.  Also, what would Fletcher’s reaction be if that were the case?

— Whatever it is, I’ll always love you.

— Do I maybe have my Dad’s.

I tense up hearing that word.  She hasn’t a father.  At her birth, I believed there would be this link.  Still, it’s only a long-term project for her parent.  For him, she doesn’t exist and I’ll do all I can to keep it so.  That’s why she thinks he’s died.

— Your father didn’t have any, sweetheart.  He wasn’t a Fatel.

— That’s why I’m different to you.

— That’s why you are a unique wonder.  Now, let’s get you to bed.

Chapter 2

Blood

Now that Lily’s in bed, I can’t bide my time any longer.  I’ve got to let Fletcher know.  I grab hold of my phone reluctantly and press the call button.

— Blood!  What a nice surprise!  Would you be up for some company tonight.

Nausea overwhelms me at the memory of our intimate moments.  I choose to disregard his remark.

— I’ve a cut to the hand.

He answers me in his scornful tone.

— All you have to do is treat it yourself.

— It appeared just by itself.

— You sure you didn’t injure yourself playing with that little thing.

No consideration for my Lili, as ever.

— Sure.  I wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary when the gash appeared.  It’s a cut that you’d swear was made by a knife.

— Finn …’

Sorry?  Who’s Finn and what have they got to do with me?

— Keep your phone nearby and you’d best answer if I call you.

As always, he addresses me like I were a dog.  I grit my teeth and comply.

— Yes.

Fletcher hangs up without further ado and I remain immobile for a moment, the receiver still against my ear.  Even from afar, I could hear how interested he was in my phone call.  He moved from being overly casual to being intrigue and then worried.  He’s cooking up something big.  Sure enough, my mobile rings even before I’ve chance to put it down.

— Come see me at once.

The beep at the end of the call sounds without me having the time to answer whatever it was, this followed by clicking sound to warn me of the gate being unlocked.  Yes, not only is there an impassable fence, there’s an automatic gate only Fletcher can open.  Despite the alpha’s recommendations, I take a second to look into Lil’s room.

My daughter is sound asleep, breathing peacefully.  I don’t like leaving her on her own.  Unfortunately, she’s more accustomed to it than she should be at her age, this being proven by her autonomy.  She often gets ready of a morning by herself and knows how to make herself food.  Granted, they’re cold meals for my peace of mind, but there it is.

I rush outside before my phone rings, an exasperated alpha at the other end.  One jog later, I’m there in front of his house.  This house I’ve learnt to hate more than anywhere else on this patch.  I knock on the door, my trembling hand sweating, with fractured and highly unpleasant pictures taking over my mind.

— Oh, there you are(!) What time do you call this, Blood?  You do know I don’t need to wait; I’ll still want you.

I’m conscious of him only acting like this to get a rise out of me.  Nonetheless, a cold sweat comes down my spine.  I’d rather give in than relive one such incident more like I used to.  With my head bowed, I apologise as sincerely as I can.

— I’m sorry, Alpha.

Fletcher walks circles around me, letting his hand trail my shoulder as he passes.

— That’s alright … this time.  I’m going to let this go.

He continues his merry-go-round routine, looking all of me up and down.  I hate the way he’s looking at me as if a predator preparing to pounce on his prey.

— Unless you don’t want to be forgiven, of course.  I wouldn’t be opposed to a moment to relax.

I’d rather drop dead that start with his sordid little games again.  I can’t do this any more.  I can’t cope.  Lili deserves to have a mother with a healthy mind as far as possible.  However, I lose a part of my soul every time he touches me.  There’s already not much left …

— What’s urgent that needs me to be here.

He sneers, my subterfuge in changing the subject of our conversation not fooling him for a second.

— So be it.  Sit on this chair.

“Please” we say in my language(!)  To do what?  I’ve no choice.  I just have to obey.  I therefore acquiesce, praying that this story doesn’t last the whole night.  I’d like to be home by time Lili wakes up.

— I’m going to tell you a little story.  Don’t sigh, either.

Force of habit.  I feel like being everywhere else but here.

— This is going to be of as much interest to you as your fascination with your race of slaves.

Slave?  The Fatels used to be members of an extraordinary race of people before such beings as him destroyed it to exploit it!

— It’s the story of two babies born in the Tank pack.  My cousin Finn was their Alpha, having ousted his predecessor, a full-of-himself incompetent.

It’s the hospital not giving a shit about charity!  Fletcher is narcissist-level, make no mistake about that.  It’s to be believed this runs in the family.

— Don’t roll your eyes at me.  Don’t forget who I am, Bloody, or you might regret it.

A snarling Fletcher bares his teeth at me.  Sometimes, my quick temper comes to the surface, which isn’t a good idea at all.  I’m at liberty to think whatever I want, provided I don’t let it show and, in general, I’m fairly good at hiding my feelings.  I slightly and repentingly lower my head.  The alpha looks satisfied and continues his speech.

— As I was saying … two babies born in amongst the Tanks.  They were, however, not the proud and majestic children of metamorphs.  Two bastards, that’s all they were.  Or, rather, two bastards with potential that Finn saw right away.  My cousin has always been an opportunistic smartarse.

— He knew he’d definitely be able to assert his authority with one of these offspring.  Not only that, he guessed it was dangerous to keep them both in the same pack.  He then thought of me.

— He knew I was made to be an alpha.  Therefore, he gave me this very special present.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  I’m nodding off and am royally making mock of these family yarns.

— I’ve taken care of that Fatel brat from that very day.

I sit bolt upright all of a sudden on my chair, suddenly all ears.  A Fatel girl … I’m the only Fatel in this pack, I’m sure of it.

— Now I have your full attention, I see.  Perfect.  I want you to be vigilant from here on in.

After a theatrical clear of the throat, he continues:

— With Finn, we were quick to notice that the wee girls were close knit.  Although with several hundreds of kilometres separating them, one could feel the physical pain of the other.  When one of them is injured, the other is too.

I then look at my hand, the neat wound protruding from my palm.

— I see you’re beginning to understand.  The only wounds neither of you share are bites.  I must confess, as to this, I don’t know the reason, but it’s better that way, because Finn used to like sharing his power out as recompense.  Slave has many more marks than you do.

Slave?  What sort of name is that to give to a child?  What a question!  It’ll be the fault of the same person who gave me mine.

— To conclude, you’ve a sister, a twin at that, and you’re going to bring her to me.

A twin … the part of me that was missing during my entire childhood. This awareness I was lacking something died down when I had Lili, but it’s never truly disappeared. It’s like a hole in my heart that nothing could fill.

— I want you to go and look for her, wherever she may be.

There it is, I’m lost.

— Do you want me to go and take her away from your cousin at the Tanks’.

I see that hyena of his in the black of Fletcher’s eyes. His anger rubs me up the wrong way, rolling over my skin like brooding thunder before it erupts.

— No. The Tank pack is no more. We’d agreed on a signal in case there were problems. Slave was supposed to cut into her palm. Therefore, I’d been warned Finn would be in trouble. Finn was beaten to death like a dog and then cremated on his own patch. Most of its members died, the others running away like yellow-bellies. Slave disappeared.

— Clearly, she took advantage of the attack on the pack to leave, instead of defending her master as she should’ve. It must be said that this bitch has proven herself a disappointment. Her powers have never been up to my cousin’s expectations. As such, he drew the short straw.

I am sorry my sister didn’t give this psychopath total satisfaction. The drama! The thing is I don’t see for whatever obscure reason I should help Fletcher capture Slave, who had the excellent idea of breaking free. If I were her, I’d have reacted exactly the same way.

— Don’t look like you don’t want to. Slave knows nothing about the outside world. She’s seen nothing more than Tank territory. I’m sure she can’t wait to have a new master.

Oh, of course! What sound-of-mind woman wouldn’t dream of being beaten, bitten and made an object of? Luckily, there is a problem that can’t be solved.

— How would I be able to find her if you don’t know where she is?  I’m no soothsayer.

Fletcher takes me by the chin and squeezes harder than necessary.  My jaw’s hurting now.

— Enough of the arrogance, you!  I told you: you are linked by magic!  It's magic running through your veins.

He lets go of me to produce a card from the tabletop in front of me.

— Put your hand on this card.

I reluctantly comply, sure that nothing will happen, which doesn’t.  With his teeth showing, Fletcher then grabs my palm.

— Make a bit of an effort, Blood.  I told you the magic’s in your blood, so …’

Of course.  I brush away the frost covering my wound and blood starts dripping out of me, staining the map with traces of scarlet.

— You’ll see when you want to.

Before my confound eyes, the scarlet colour moves about the map, sketching its way onto the paper, finally stopping at an exact point, a good three hundred or so miles away from where we are.  The alpha leans over the map to look at this area.

— There it is.  Look, look, look!  The territory of the Guardian Angels.  They’re less altruistic than they lead you to believe.  Behind their veneer of nobility, when all’s said and done, they are as deceitful as the rest of us…’

The Guardian Angels.  I’ve heard about them vaguely.  They work for the Governor, who’s human.  This fact in and of itself is remarkable and denotes their special status.  The pack of Fierces collaborates with nobody outwith the hyena packs.  They’re even racist towards other packs of metamorphs!

— You’re going to ingratiate yourself with the Guardian Angels and bring Slave back.

— No.

Big mistake!  Why did I say that and not think?  Deep down, I know why.  It’s because had the situation been reversed, I’d want my sister to protect me.