Chapter Thirteen
“Naura?”
The sound of Tony’s voice inside her head nearly buckled her legs in relief.
She dropped her weight into a chair and closed her eyes. “I am here, Tony.”
“I need you to listen carefully to me, okay?”
“I am listening,” she answered, her heart racing with fear and excitement.
She could feel his mental sigh before his voice once again whispered through her mind. “Henry has just finished giving the two Bracadyte males some blood. I need you to convey to them both that we are not the enemy and to obey my orders if they want to survive. Understand?”
Hope soared inside her heart. “Are they alive?”
“I don’t know, but they seem to be in the same catatonic state that Hauke was in at one time. He was revived by Abbie’s blood.”
“As I was by yours,” she hesitantly sent back.
“Exactly like that. Now, do you think you can do this?”
“Yes. I am able to communicate with my kind. Especially Braum.”
There was a long pause. “Who is he to you?”
Was that anger she detected in his voice? “A friend. His sire is my father’s second in command.”
Tony was quiet for so long she thought he’d disconnected their mental link. “I see. Just make sure he doesn’t attack. I’d hate like hell to have to kill your…friend.”
Naura felt the instant Tony pulled from her mind, leaving an emptiness behind that was deafening.
“Braum?” she mentally called out. “Braum, can you hear me?”
Vaulcron rushed into the room. “I can feel your fear, Naura. What has happened?”
“Tony has located Braum and Gryke. Henry is supplying them with blood in hopes that they will awaken. I am attempting to connect with Braum to make certain that he does not attack Tony or Abbie’s sire.”
Vaulcron nodded. “I will go to another room to try to reach Gryke. Your thoughts are distracting.” Pivoting around, he rushed out without a backward glance.
Naura moved to stretch out on the couch. She had always been able to concentrate better in a horizontal position. “Braum? It’s Naura. Please answer me.”
“Naura?” The weak reply hesitantly echoed back to her.
“Yes. You must listen carefully, Braum. You and Gryke have been taken to a military facility, and you’re being kept in holding tanks. Do you follow me thus far?”
“I follow,” he whispered through her mind.
“We have friends there to get you both out. They are giving you blood at the moment in hopes of reviving you. Do not harm them, Braum. They are our allies.”
“Allies,” he repeated.
“You must do as they say if you want to escape. Their names are Tony and Doctor Henry Sutherland.”
“They are humans,” came his reply full of disdain.
“Yes, but they are good humans. Not all land walkers are bad, Braum.”
“After what Gryke and I have suffered at their hands, I am not inclined to believe that. I will not harm them, but I cannot speak for Gryke.”
Naura broke the connection and sprang from the couch to go in search of Vaulcron. She found him sitting on the foot of a bed with his eyes closed. “Brother?”
He didn’t move or acknowledge her presence.
She tried again, nudging him this time. “Vaulcron?”
His eyes slowly opened, but he didn’t speak.
Naura cupped his face in her hands. “Were you able to contact Gryke?”
“Yes. He is brimming with rage. I attempted to explain the situation as well as the presence of Tony and Doctor Sutherland.”
“Did he agree not to harm them?”
Vaulcron stood and moved to the window, giving her his back. “No, he did not. I only hope that he controls his anger long enough for Tony to explain the situation.”
Naura’s stomach clenched. If Gryke attacked Tony, Tony would surely kill him, she thought in near panic. “Braum understands why Tony and Henry are there. Perhaps he will get through to Gryke as well.”
“Connect with Braum again,” Vaulcron ordered, turning away from the window. “Be sure that he understands the importance of Gryke’s cooperation.”
Taking a deep breath, Naura attempted to calm her emotions and once again call out to Braum. “Braum?”
“I am here, Naura.”
“Vaulcron is with me. He connected with Gryke to explain the situation, but was not successful in convincing him not to harm Tony and Henry.”
“Gryke has always had a problem with authority. You know that.”
“Please, Braum. Try to reach out to him. He will not survive without Tony’s and Henry’s help. Neither of you will.”
“I will do what I can, sweet Naura.”
“Thank you.”
She broke the connection and gazed into Vaulcron’s anxiety-filled eyes. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
* * * *
Glenn Anderson drove through the gate at Eglin and waved at the security officer manning the guard shack. He had food on the mind and needed a beer worse than he’d ever needed one before.
He glanced at Spivey’s profile. “Something troubling you, Corporal?”
Spivey shifted in his seat with a shrug before turning to stare out the window. “There was something familiar about that guy back there.”
“Which one?” Glenn made a left turn toward the beach. He couldn’t wait to down some wings and a cold beer.
“Master Sergeant Farlow. His eyes. I can’t place where I’ve seen him before, but I will never forget his eyes.”
“What’s wrong with his eyes?”
Spivey shook his head, but didn’t abandon his window gazing. “They’re strange. Dead is the only word that comes to mind. Like nobody’s home, if you get my drift.”
“You’ve been watching too many movies,” Glenn remarked. “You just need an ice-cold beverage and some sleep.”
Spivey laughed, finally meeting Glenn’s gaze. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I feel like I haven’t slept in days.”
“Neither of us have.”
Five minutes later, Glenn pulled into the parking lot of a local pub that specialized in wings.
He switched off the engine. “This is just what the doctor ordered. Tight T-shirts, short shorts, and all the suds you can handle.”
“Right on,” Spivey agreed, exiting the car and following Glenn to the double doors of the pub. “The waitresses are hot as hell in this place.”
Glenn pulled the door open, stepping back to allow Spivey to pass. “I hear that. I’ve never seen bodies as fine as the ones working here. Well, other than that female creature we brought in last year. Now that was a perfect ten if I’ve ever seen one.”
Spivey suddenly stopped. “That’s it. Now I remember where I’ve seen Farlow before.”
He turned and ran back toward the car, leaving Glenn no choice but to follow.
“What are you talking about?” Glenn demanded, digging his keys out of his pocket as he jogged along behind Spivey.
“That man is no master sergeant. He’s Anthony Vaughn.”
“Holy shit. Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”