After some searching, Caleb and Kiera found the barracks for the Valkyrie agents. The large room reminded Caleb of the barracks from any boot camp scene in most military movies.
Kiera found Veronica’s bunk and locker. After some rummaging around she pulled out a of pair leather pants, black tank top, heavyweight leather jacket, and a pair of flat soled knee-high leather boots.
She pulled off the linen shift and heard Caleb say, “I’m going to fucking kill him.” Then she felt his warm hands touch her back, “Here let me heal some of these.”
Kiera sat down on the bed with Caleb sitting behind her where he placed his hands on her back. She felt his hands warm up then he began to chant softly in Gaelic.
The warmth from his hands slowly spread from his fingers into her body towards every wound both inside and out. She found that her breathing became steadier and the muscle aches and pains faded.
Then just as fast as the warmth spread throughout her body it retreated. “There, that should help. I can do some more once we are from this place,” Caleb offered.
“Thanks let me get dressed then we can see about getting out of here,” Kiera replied.
The Commanderie was rocked by a series of explosions as Kiera joined Caleb at the door.
“We need to get out of here,” Caleb stated.
Kiera gave him that ‘No Shit’ look as she pulled a pistol out from behind her back and racked the slide chambering a round. “Ok, but you should put the illusion back up. No one is going to think you’re a priest.”
Caleb nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. The air around him appeared to ripple like heat waves before Kiera as his features changed to that of an elderly Orthodox priest.
They left the barracks with Kiera taking point and leading Caleb throughout the compound. The two soon found themselves near an exit.
“I’m not sure where this goes,” Kiera offered.
“We can’t wait around for them to find us either,” Caleb replied.
Explosions continued to assault the facility, but now they could also hear gunfire and the clash of blades.
The door opened onto a courtyard of sorts giving them a clear view of the main entrance that had been breached by the delivery truck that Caleb had been riding in on his way to the island compound. He noticed that Baltar was wielding a submachine gun in one hand and a rather nasty looking short sword in the other.
Taking Kiera’s hand in his Caleb began to lead her around the skirmish when suddenly, they were surrounded by a score of Brotherhood troopers in their blue-grey urban camo. Following behind the troopers were a dozen Brotherhood Furies, their elite soldiers along with a man in ornate robes that caused Kiera to gasp and tighten her grip on Caleb’s hand.
Looking around, Caleb asked, “What is it?”
“That’s him, Paul, the one who…” She trailed off while training her pistol at the troopers and keeping Caleb between herself and the Mystic, Paul.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here? Is this the reason you have forsaken your oath?” The Mystic, Paul asked.
“If you mean the man I fell in love with, then yes, it is. Now let us go, we don’t want any more trouble from the Brotherhood,” Kiera stated.
Caleb noticed that his hands had begun to spark with lightning.
“We can’t allow a Hellspawn such as him roam free. You know that child. Now throw down your weapons, and I promise to make it painless,” Paul commanded.
“Painless? You mean like what you did to Kiera? I’m afraid I’ll take my chances with your troopers,” Caleb said as he took up a defensive stance and raising his left hand towards the Mystic while keeping in touch with Kiera with his right side.
Paul gave them a wry smile, “Have it your way then. Kill them!”
Just as the troopers began to fire, Caleb shouted, ‘Scaith’ the Gaelic word for shield. The bullets from the assault rifles all hit an invisible barrier that suddenly appeared between the troopers and the young couple.
Fury erupted from Paul’s features before he began chanting and the Furies all drew their swords.
“Caleb, what are we going to do? We can’t stay here, even you don’t have that kind of stamina to withstand all of these attacks,” Kiera was saying with around the perimeter of Caleb’s dome shield the air began to shimmer in heat waves just like when Caleb used his illusion.
Then a man appeared next to Caleb and Kiera. He placed a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “Don’t worry my friend. We will take care of them for you.”
“Azizl, what are you doing here?” Caleb asked.
“You kept your word and didn’t take your father’s place and allowed us to remain free to choose our own path. For that, we are in your debt. Today we begin to repay that debt.” Azizl stepped past them and walked through Caleb’s shield towards Paul and his Fury guards.
Kiera noticed that the shimmers materialized into over two score half naked perfect male bodies. It was like Chippendale’s had shown up to save them. That was until their visages changed and leathery wings grew from their backs and talons sprouted from their fingernails before they rushed the Brotherhood forces.
Caleb dropped his dome shield and began leading Kiera away when glanced back to see Azizl’s form shift. Feathery black wings sprouted from well-muscled back before drawing a blade that was so black it sucked in the light around it.
The last thing Caleb saw before he left the Commanderie was Paul, the Mystic running from Azizl and his fellows.
Baltar helped them through the breached main entrance. “This is her then, I take it?”
Caleb grinned at the dwarf, “Yes, it is. Baltar this is Kiera. Kiera this is Baltar. He and his people rescued me from the crash site and agreed to help me in my crazy rescue of you.”
Kiera shook Baltar’s hand, “Thank you for saving Mo Chroí for me.”
Baltar placed his hand over his heart and replied, “Tá fáilte romhat.”
A few days later found Caleb and Kiera standing in front of Sorel with the whole of the camp in attendance. They were gathered in one of the large tents used for meals and celebrations.
Sorel smiled warmly at the young couple, “You’re sure you want this?”
Caleb looked into Kiera’s green eyes before returning his gaze back to Sorel. “It’s the only thing I’m sure of. She’s mine, and I’m hers.”
Sorel nodded then turned her attention to Kiera, “And you?”
Kiera turned her attention to the tall young man next to her. “He’s my mo chroí, my heart. I didn’t even know I was missing it until I met him.” Blushing she turned her attention back to Sorel.
Sorel clapped her hands together and smiled broadly. “This is wonderful news, and I will be more than happy to marry you two.”
After the Elven marriage ceremony, the entire had an enormous feast. The supernatural residents celebrated not only Caleb and Kiera’s marriage but also the fact that Azizl and his demons did a number on the Brotherhood Commanderie to the point that they abandoned the compound. This resulted in the Supernaturals that were being held as slaves to turn on the Humans who had been the slave masters. The encampment began to grow in numbers as the now freed supernaturals made their way out of the city.
It was almost a week to the day after Caleb and Kiera’s wedding that Baltar had taken the couple to the port. He had arranged for a cargo ship to transport them to Japan. The Captain was an elf, and his crew was explicitly supernaturals and had promised Baltar that he could smuggle the couple into Japan without anyone being the wiser.
Caleb and Kiera were still wanted by the Brotherhood, and they had no idea what had happened to Paul, Veronica, and the rest of Kiera’s former sisters. Caleb’s mother, The Morrigan was still out hunting for them as well.
One thing was for sure for Caleb and Kiera whatever the future brought them they would face it together.
The End For Now