Escaping El Dorado Read online

  "Do you know where we're going?" Finn asked next to me, interrupting my musings.

  "I wish I could say yes, Brother, but all I know is that she's in this direction." I sighed and focused on the slight breath of warmth within me that I knew was connected to Tessa. It was definitely pulling me in the direction we were heading, so all I could do was follow it. "Do you know what's in this direction, Dres?"

  "A town, Brightwind, is close, then the capitol city is further ahead in this general direction, but it will take days to get there," he said sounding guarded as though he was waiting for my temper to lash out.

  I simply nodded, unable to trust my words when he had such a lackluster and defeated tone to his voice. The man was grieving, I reminded myself over and over again, even though I knew none of us had seen our parents since we were chosen to become Origin world warriors. Even though we had trained on Atlantis Finn hadn't been allowed to see his family, well, his parents.

  We were all only children. I had no idea why they chose us, but that's what happened, not just with us either. All of the origin world teams were made up of men and women who were the only children their parents had. Finn and I had both lost our parents early, so we had already been in training, but Dres and Kai were taken from their families when their abilities were strong enough to gain attention.

  I took a breath as the memories of being taken from the only town I'd ever known in El Dorado to the capitol resurfaced. I didn't think about it often because there was nothing but pain there. It was a good reminder of what Dres must be feeling at that moment. I took a deep breath and said, "All I know is that she's this way and I think she's still unconscious. If any of that changes I'll tell you."

  "Shit. Still unconscious?" Finn whispered. His hand went to the back of his neck as he rubbed the skin there. It was a gesture I was familiar with, one which spoke of how worried he truly was, even if he wasn't saying it aloud.

  "I..." Dres started, his voice breaking on the single syllable. "I don't know what happened back there. I'm sorry. Tessa being gone is my fault, all because I couldn't keep my rage in check."

  I stopped and turned to face him. "You do not need to apologize. I, we, completely understand what happened and why. The only things we need to be focused on now are finding Tessa, and how to keep your brethren out of our heads. It doesn't seem like it would be a good idea for them to learn the full prophecy, does it? Not when they are taking women from fields and executing people in their beds. Sorry, that was--"

  "No. That's what happened. They were executed. We can't trust whoever took Tessa. They might think about doing the same to her, especially since they'll be able to riffle through her memories with ease."

  Dresden's words soured my stomach. They could pick and choose what they wanted out of her head as easily as though they were looking at a deck of cards. Memories, emotions, specific thoughts, it was all there for them to look at and, if they were powerful enough, to tamper with. The thought made my stomach knot around itself with worry. How would we know what they took or changed?

  A small smattering of buildings appeared in the distance, none taller than Dresden's childhood home. It was only as we got closer that we could see smoke coming from the smoldering remains of some of the houses. Dread washed through me colder than the wind that was pelting my skin. "Dres?"

  "I see it. This should be Brightwind, but it looks nothing like I remember." The other man's voice was low and careful, setting us all on edge.

  A forest lined the area on one side behind the buildings while on the other was open fields which I assumed were used at some point for farming whatever it was that the Hyperborean people ate. Maybe whatever it was, was grown and sold to other realms for food, because I couldn't see much growing in this climate.

  When we had first landed in this realm I'd thought maybe Dres's parents were old school or like the homesteaders on the origin world. Now, upon seeing a whole village filled with similar buildings, or the remains of said buildings, I was starting to wonder exactly how much of the origin world tech they used, if any.

  Cabin like structures became apparent as we drew closer. The wind whipping the smoke and ashes around, blowing it into our faces until Dres worked some of his magic to get it to move around us. The smell of the funeral pyre was still on the air, or maybe that was just the smell coming from these buildings. I wasn't sure.

  We all stopped in our tracks when we realized that what I had thought was flags waving in the wind, was actually bodies. The people of the village had been either burned or hanged. There wasn't a soul around other than the four of us. Everything was dead or destroyed, even some of the animals that people had clearly been keeping as pets or for food. It made horror flare within me at the thought that whoever did this had Tessa as well.

  3

  Tessa

  My head was killing me. Pounding ice picks felt like they were being driven into my brain. Even my eyes hurt. How is that fair? The wide dead eyes of Dres's parents flashed into my mind and I shuddered. There were some things you just couldn't unsee.

  It wasn't just my head and eyes that hurt though. As I became more aware I realized it was my whole body. I felt like I'd been run over by a semi-truck multiple times. I blinked my eyes open and saw that I was in a tent of some kind. I didn't remember any of us packing anything like that, but figured it had to have come from somewhere.

  When I tried to push myself to sit up I was jerked back down by some restraints around my arms and legs. There was no reason for the guys to restrain me. None. Which meant that this tent didn't belong to my guys. Which also meant I was in trouble.

  My heart hammered away in my chest like a hummingbird's wings at the thought of being separated from them and captured by someone else. It wasn't like people were supposed to know I was the Key, was it? See, I didn't even know if it was safe to tell people my most basic premise for being there. What the fuck was I going to do?

  One thing I knew would help me was a better handle on my surroundings, so I began to look around and take in everything I could. I needed to know what could be a weapon and what could be an exit if I were given the opportunity.

  The more I looked though, the more I felt like I had traveled back in time. The canvas colored tent with wood poles reminded me of a yurt that I'd stayed in when I'd done study abroad. The floor was covered in dried grasses and reeds by the door and blankets further in, while the walls were occasionally decorated with tapestries woven in blues and silvers. There was a central part with a stove and a low fire along with a section of the top of the tent that was more open directly above it. On the opposite side of the yurt was another bed and a folding screen that gave the area a modicum of privacy. There was even a small desk and chair just next to it between the trunks that lined the rest of the walls.

  My best hope for a weapon was the cooking area or the desk, while the only entrance or exit was the flaps of material that covered the doorway. In fact, the only reason I knew it was a doorway and not just another tapestry section was because of the way the material fluttered whenever the wind gusted, which was alarmingly frequent considering the gentle breeze that I had felt when I'd been with the guys.

  As though my thoughts had drawn too much attention the door flaps were flung open and Dres strode in. Relief washed through me, but I didn't understand why he was wearing armor.

  "Dres?" I whispered, my relief coalescing into dread.

  "No. I'm Commander Scirocco. You were found in a field a little way from here, care to tell me how you got there?" His voice was low, but slightly nasally unlike Dres's.

  "Not really. Can you release me?"

  "Not really." He walked toward me and as the light hit his face once more I saw a slight smirk twisting his lips. More than that I could clearly see that he wasn't Dres, he just looked a hell of a lot like him or would if it weren’t for the scar that crossed his face. The similarity was striking enough that if I defocused my eyes then I couldn't tell they were two different people.

&nbs
p; Dresden had never mentioned a sibling or cousin, but that wasn't surprising since the man barely mentioned anything. Ever. He was locked up tighter than classified documents in the Pentagon.

  "What harm do you think a woman such as myself could do?" I asked innocently.

  "Plenty. Especially given that you're from the origin world and not Hyperborea itself. Even more if I take into account your four protectors, two of which are your lovers, although you wish all four were, don't you Tessa? The longing and desire leaking from your mind is already making my men restless. If I let you out to wander among them? Havoc is the only word that comes to mind."

  "How did you..." The words slipped from my lips as nerves gathered in my belly.

  "I'm sure... Dres, was it? Well, I'm sure Dres has told you that our people are talented with psychic gifts, some, like myself, more so than others. Also, you project very clearly."

  I was so fucked.

  "Not yet, but that can be arranged if you want," Scirocco said.

  "Please don't do that," I whispered, unsure what else to say to the man in armor who was standing over me like he was death itself.

  "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm taking you to the queen. What happens to you after that is up to her."

  The fact that we had no idea how sane the queen was and if she was the one killing people who had traitorous thoughts made me want to try and escape immediately, if only I could get a hand free.

  "Stop right there. You're not going to be able to get a hand free, those are lightning merchant knots, and even if you did as soon as you leave this tent everyone would know. You wouldn't make it ten minutes before one of my men tracked you down, and I wouldn't be responsible for what happens to you then."

  "Stop reading my mind!" I shouted, my frustration overwhelming me for a moment.

  "Stop projecting your thoughts. And as for the queen, I think you'll find that things are much different here than you expected." He turned toward the food area and took a lid off a pot that had been sitting over the fire. I hadn't thought there was anything in it, but as soon as he removed the lid the smell of the stew that I could see inside wafted out to me and my stomach responded with a very loud growl.

  Without saying a word the commander was filling up a bowl that I was hoping was for me. When he came back over the knots that he'd made sound impossible to untie came loose with a flick of his wrist. He moved one arm so that it was tied to the other and untied one of my legs so he could sit me up before he started to offer me the bowl of soup.

  If it was hot enough I could use it against him, hell, if he gave me an opening with the spoon I'd use that if I could. Anything to get out of there. I had to try even if it was just for ten minutes of freedom. At least then I'd have a chance to get to the guys.

  He sighed heavily and put the bowl out of my reach before grabbing a stool from the corner and sitting it in front of me. "I guess I'll feed you since you can't be trusted," he groused.

  I wanted to curse and scream at him to tell him exactly what I thought of being tied up by someone who wasn't a lover, which only made his cheeks flush slightly. Before he sat he hung the cape that he'd been wearing up, along with unlatching the piece of armor covering his chest.

  Underneath was a silver doublet that made him look like he should be at a Renaissance festival or something. The fabric hugged his broad chest and had a short collar that parted right by his Adam's apple. It ended just past his hips, parting over navy colored pants. He was very striking, just like Dres. The ebony hair and dark eyes were only enhanced by the light colors of his clothing.

  Finally, he sat down opposite me and filled the spoon with the soup, raising it to my mouth. The steam rising off it made me realize exactly how cold I was. My fingers were on the verge of being numb and I was starting to lose sensation in my toes as well.

  I blew the soup gently, careful not to splash any on Scirocco, before I slurped it down. Being fed by someone you didn't know was super awkward. He dipped the spoon into the liquid once more before bringing it back up to my mouth. The soup, or stew, was kind of like a chicken noodle, but with something that tasted more like beef than chicken. I'd never had food before in Hyperborea though, so I didn't know what to expect. So far it was nice.

  Scirocco snorted.

  The bastard had just read my thoughts again.

  "I can't help it. It's like you're shouting them next to me."

  "How can I stop you?" I asked, genuinely curious. I tried not to let any other thought enter my head as I asked so that nothing 'projected' to him.

  "You can't." He shrugged. "I'm the second most powerful psychic in this region of Hyperborea. There's nothing you, or anyone, can do to keep me out of your head. Usually I don't pick up on thoughts so clearly though. I was wondering if it had to do with you being from the origin world, but I honestly don't know, having never been there myself."

  "How many regions are there?" I asked, determined to find out more about this realm, and if I could keep my mind busy then it would prevent me from thinking about the prophecy.

  He was quiet for a moment before he said, "Four. Northeast, northwest, west, and south. Each has their own climate and pair of founding families."

  "What happened to east?"

  "It is rare for the wind to blow from the east, so it did not get a region. We follow what the winds want."

  "I thought you followed the queen," I said, my snark escaping me before I could think better of it.

  Scirocco chuckled. "That we do, but she is guided by the winds and the founding families. Most of the time."

  "But not now?"

  "Now..." He sighed. "It's time for you to eat more soup before it gets cold. We have a long ride tomorrow; you'll need your strength."

  "Where are we going?" I asked, already feeling like I knew the answer.

  "To the palace where I can hand you off to the queen and get back to my duties."

  I couldn't help but wonder if his men had murdered Dres's parents. The sight of them with their throats slit danced across my mind's eye again as I took another mouthful of soup. If I hadn't been so hungry I probably would have stopped eating, but I didn't know where my next meal was coming from, so I needed to take advantage of what was in front of me.

  "My men had nothing to do with that. It's why we are here. People have been murdered and we are investigating." Scirocco's voice offered no solace or reprieve, just facts, cold and hard like the man himself.

  He stiffened and pulled the bowl away. I knew then that whatever casual feeling had briefly existed between us was over. He truly could read whatever he wanted out of my mind. It was enough to make me want to scream my thoughts so that anyone who was listening in could hear or maybe even Dresden if he was close enough. I didn't scream though, I just started singing Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-lot in my head, and if any of them really annoyed me then I'd switch to Disney songs. Getting those out of your head was close to impossible.

  My thoughts were still running between lyrics though. I wanted my guys. I wanted them to find me, to love me, to save me from whatever was going to happen.

  "They're not going to find you before I take you to the queen," Scirocco said quietly as he strapped his armor on once again while he walked over to me his eyes as hard as stone. "I flew you here, and I saw your Dresden try and follow us. The little man couldn't even keep up with me for more than a mile. They aren't going to save you, and you can't escape me. Get some sleep, little one."

  "I thought you said one of your men found me," I called out as he reached the flap of material that acted as a door.

  He was back in front of me before I could blink. "I did tell you that because I didn't want your sad little heart that's so desperate for love and attention to think that I cared, that you could somehow manipulate me. You are nothing more than a delivery."

  Rage was a bright fire that burned within me as he spoke. I lunged and managed to loop my hands around his neck, pulling him back onto the bed where I had been sleeping. His dark eyes flared t
o life in front of me and the cold stony exterior vanished for just a second showing the wounded child that lay at the core of his being. Everything he accused me of needing he was guilty of wanting as well.

  I tried to twist around so that I had the rope around the front of his neck instead of the back but he just let more of his weight rest on me. Slowly, breathing became more challenging as his weight began to squash my chest. Then, even though I'd thought my predicament couldn't get any worse he breathed in and it felt like the little air I had was sucked right out of my lungs.

  4

  Tessa

  The next time I woke up it was dark and I was restrained once more. The bastard had almost suffocated me! I wasn't even sure what he'd done, all I knew was that he had made it impossible to breathe. I knew I should be pissed, should be fuming mad, but as my old therapist liked to say, 'Stop should-ing on yourself!'

  His eyes. That's what was stopping me from being angry. Sure, he'd been cold and distant for the most part, and I expected that, he was a stranger after all, but I'd also seen something else, something that spoke of a bone-deep hurt. I tried to shut it out of my mind. It didn't matter what his eyes said though, what mattered was his actions, and he'd tried to kill me.

  "If I'd wanted to kill you, you'd be dead, not restrained," he said, his voice emanating from the other bed.

  "Stop listening to my thoughts!" I muttered, more to myself than anything else. I knew he couldn't stop, just like Dresden couldn't stop most of the time. The things he'd seen in my thoughts were enough to make me blush even now.

  A throat cleared across the room.

  "Sorry," I said loud enough that I knew he would hear.