We all gathered around it. Derek touched the screen several times, but nothing happened. He grunted, somewhat dissatisfied by the lack of answers and increasing number of questions we had at that point.
“This doesn’t make sense,” he muttered.
“They’re completely sealed. No crevice or nook… Nothing. There’s probably some access code or key,” Lucas replied, crossing his arms. “This is, as you said yourself, an intelligent computer system. I’m guessing that whatever is inside these pods is heavily protected, probably to stop unknowing passersby such as ourselves from pressing the wrong button and compromising everything.”
“Or everyone,” Corrine said. “These are definitely big enough for people.”
“Yeah, but what kind of people?” Cameron asked, raising an eyebrow.
Derek sighed. “We don’t have any tools or information to study this place further, that’s for sure,” he said. “I suggest we all go back to the resort and either reach out to the kids or just prep an interplanetary spell and go fetch what we need before we come back here.”
Corrine nodded slowly. “Some civilizations employ a variety of technologies to preserve their people,” she said. “The purposes vary, from rescuing an entire species to waiting out some natural or biological disaster under safe and contained conditions. Either way, we shouldn’t—”
Something popped, followed by a low hiss that echoed through the entire chamber.
Only then did I notice Claudia just two pods over to the left, as she shot to her feet with the guiltiest expression I’d ever seen. My blood ran cold when I saw the loose end of a cable in her hands.
“Oh, crap, Claudia, what did you do?” Yuri stared at her.
“I swear, I had no idea it would come off so easily,” she managed, pale as a sheet of paper.
The hissing continued—akin to the sound of a cabin losing pressure or air.
“You pulled that out of a pod?” Derek replied, absolutely stunned.
“I just tugged at it,” Claudia replied, shrugging. “I didn’t know or even think it would pop right out the way it did… Sorry.”
Yuri pinched the bridge of his nose, while Claudia and Ibrahim moved around the maybe-damaged pod, trying to figure out if there was anything they could do. In hindsight, I should’ve seen this coming. Claudia always did have a knack for getting herself into unnecessary trouble.
“I don’t know what to say,” Corrine said, unable to hide her concern. The hissing stopped. “The screen isn’t lighting up. There’s no beeping or alarm blaring or whatever. Maybe there’s nothing inside the pod, or maybe removing the cable didn’t affect it. I don’t know.”
“I’m really sorry, guys,” Claudia murmured, pouting.
“You didn’t mean it. It’s okay,” I replied. “Or, at least, I hope it’s okay,” I added, looking at Corrine and Ibrahim. Both replied with baffled shrugs.
Derek cleared his throat. “Okay, here’s what we’re going to do now,” he replied. “We’re going back to the resort. We’re going to have dinner, plan our departure for the morning and talk about returning with some tools and resources. I’m dying to know what’s inside these things, but I don’t want to risk compromising them in any way. Does that make sense to everyone?”
We all nodded in agreement.
“We should bring Lumi with us when we come back. Her swamp witch magic might be needed,” Corrine suggested. “It’s endemic to the In-Between; it might help. This is definitely not just technology at work here. There’s some magic involved. We don’t know what’s powering the system. There aren’t any solar panels or anything remotely similar in this entire area. It could be crystal-powered, and therefore magic. Or something else. That’s all I can say at this point.”
“We should bring a sentry back with us, too,” I said. “Someone who can look inside the pods and see past that mainframe panel. Phoenix and Jovi will definitely have some useful equipment for this. I’m thinking ultrasound scanners, soil-sampling tools, and so on.”
“I recommend bringing a Daughter along, too,” Ibrahim chimed in. “Corrine and I can definitely do our best in making sure the contents of the pods aren’t compromised once we get them open, but our craft might not be enough. We need a controlled environment.”
“I agree,” Derek replied. “We shouldn’t do this alone.”
“So, let’s not touch anything anymore, okay?” Lucas shot back, scowling at Claudia, whose cheeks turned red almost instantly.
“I got it!” She groaned, rolling her eyes. “I told you, I had no idea the cable would come off so easily.”
“Well, think about it this way,” Cameron replied, bitterly amused. “Best-case scenario, there’s nothing in these things, or you just ruined a century’s worth of fruit preserve. Worst-case scenario, you killed one of the surviving members of some nearly extinct species. No biggie.”
“Gee, thanks. That’s reassuring.” Claudia scoffed.
I stifled a chuckle, then pointed toward the exit. “Let’s get out of here, then, and get ready for the morning,” I said.
Derek took the lead again, and we followed.
On our way back to the resort, we went over all possible scenarios, some more ludicrous than others. The conclusion was always pretty much the same: there was probably something inside those pods that had been deemed worthy of preservation or protection. They were all connected to a computer and powered by something.
They’d been hidden inside that cave system for their safety. Someone must’ve assumed at some point that others would come to Strava, either on purpose or accidentally. The pods were secluded and out of sight, meaning that their maker didn’t want them to be found.
That was pretty much all we had to go on, but it was enough to pique our interest.
Our Stravian vacation had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.
Elonora
(Daughter of Ash and Ruby)
Where training was concerned, Varga was my go-to guy. However, he’d just been told he was going to be assigned to Neraka for a few months and had begun special training of his own with some of the daemons that had been transferred to The Shade.
In his absence, I stuck with Harper and Avril. We’d practically grown up together, even in my Nevertide days, and they knew my strengths and all my weaknesses. Harper, in particular, was adept at pointing out my openings and helping me work on them for better combat performance.
We met regularly at our GASP base on Mount Zur. I’d just been temporarily stationed on Calliope, and I was looking forward to my first missions. I’d carried out several team operations in the human world, but they mostly involved capturing and rehabilitating rogue werewolves and lost vampires. Nothing too heavy, in my opinion.
Eritopia and Neraka were where the real action happened. Both worlds had survived devastating wars and required local GASP interventions to help maintain peace. While the major rebel factions had been either neutralized or brought into the fold, there were still rogue entities out there doing damage to small farming communities—most of them on Purgaris and Calliope. There were even rumors of Sluaghs surviving and hiding out somewhere on Persea. I was especially interested in wiping them out, after their unforgivable treachery.
Another reason I preferred training and spending time with Avril and Harper was that, like Kailani, they knew my history well. They understood what I’d gone through during my college years. They’d even related to my early desire to integrate in the human world, prior to the Connor debacle.
“Have you heard about Connor’s recent… troubles?” Avril asked.
We were in one of the training halls, sharpening our swords with diamond stones. We were doing live weapons exercises today, which were highly dangerous but necessary. Nothing taught a GASP fighter more about combat wounds than the cut of a real sword. Had we been human, our superiors would’ve made us stick to wooden swords, but this was just one of the perks of being a vampire.
“You mean his expulsion from college and subseque
nt attempt to make something happen in Los Angeles?” I replied, then chuckled as I ran the diamond stone along the edge of my steel blade.
Harper grinned. “Who said there’s no such thing as karma, huh?”
“To be honest, I thought I’d be more pleased about it, but I don’t really care,” I said.
“Connor relentlessly courted you for a whole year,” Avril replied. “He made you fall for him, and then he subjected you to that horrible, downright dumbass prank. I would’ve chopped his head off. It’s a miracle Varga didn’t obliterate him.
“Oho, he did try!” I chuckled.
“Frankly, I’m glad he’s having trouble. I hope there’s more ahead for him,” Avril said.
I exhaled. “I agree. But I don’t know, I guess I just… I guess I got over it.”
“I remember how you used to swoon over him,” Harper said. “Your eyes lit up whenever his name came up. The dashing human prodigy boy of the Vale.”
“Yup. But then he orchestrated my hazing during the Mount Rushmore trip, which nearly got me killed, since they snatched me from my room and tied me to a pillar till sunrise,” I replied. “I could feel my skin warm up right before dawn. Sure, Sarah Willoughby and her jerk clique were close by, ready to cover me and get me out, since they only wanted to scare me, but still… I didn’t even know it was Connor who’d organized it all, until I caught him making out with Sarah later, and she let the whole thing slip. So, like I said, I don’t care what happens to him, as long as I don’t ever see him again.”
“He’s lucky he’s still breathing,” Avril said. “To this day I remember how he wept and groveled before Varga, begging for his life.”
“Well, I told Varga not to get involved at the time, but, hey, we both inherited our stubbornness from dad, so… You know, not easy to unhook my brother off his prey once he goes into kill-mode,” I replied.
“Someone had to get involved from our side!” Harper replied. “The humans in the Vale didn’t even know that Connor had been the one behind your hazing. I mean, it’s one thing to do this kind of stuff when you’re ten and stupid, and something else entirely when you’re a human adult living in The Shade. We have rules, and we protect them fiercely. Like Avril said, Connor’s lucky to still be alive. Heck, he’s lucky you didn’t press charges.”
“I didn’t get hurt. And, frankly, after it was all over, I just wanted him out of my life.”
I shrugged, then put the diamond stone away and wiped my blade with a silk cloth. I checked it carefully and concluded it was ready for a sparring session.
“It feels like such a long time ago,” I breathed.
“I think it’s been three years now. It ruined college for you. I get that you grew up in Nevertide before turning vamp, but still… It spoiled the whole experience for you. It put you off your plans of living in the human world,” Harper replied. “You loved the idea of living in New Orleans, remember? Doesn’t it bug you that Connor’s crap made you choose a different path? I’d be pissed!”
“I was angry for a while,” I said.
“And quiet. And closed off. We barely got you out of your room when you came back to the treehouses,” Avril said. “Lenny, what Connor did changed you forever.”
“True. And I like who I am now. I like what I’m doing,” I replied. “Not that I believe in the whole ‘everything happens for a reason’ crap, but I certainly think I’m on a better path now. GASP is where I belong.”
Harper walked over to one of the large, floor-to-ceiling windows that gave us a stunning view of Luceria and the night sky. She then turned around to face me, grinning like the Cheshire cat.
“I’ll bet. Is that why you asked to be transferred to Calliope? Because you like GASP? Or because you’re into Dmitri?” she asked.
My face was on fire. I’d completely forgotten about that little white lie I’d told, just so Nevis wouldn’t have the satisfaction of rejecting me—in the context of a potential coupling I hadn’t even asked to be a part of. That was the trouble with large Shade gatherings: it was the perfect opportunity for some to pair people off and encourage relationships and lovey-dovey feelings. It just wasn’t my thing, and it put me in awkward circumstances.
I groaned, then rolled my eyes and let out a long, tortured sigh.
“I lied, okay?” I replied. “I didn’t like how you guys were basically throwing me into Nevis’s arms. I didn’t like how he acted all mature and superior. I didn’t like how he made it sound like I was unfit for his greatness—which, by the way, epic load of crap. So, I lied. I have no interest in Dmitri whatsoever.”
Avril and Harper looked at each other for a moment. Avril then burst into laughter, while Harper pursed her lips, looking somewhat disappointed. I was confused.
“What?” I asked.
“I told Harper you made the Dmitri stuff up just to save face, and she didn’t believe me,” Avril replied, giggling.
“You knew?” I shot back.
“Yeah, it didn’t take a scientist, since you and Dmitri are practically like brother and sister. Besides, wolf-boy knows better than to go after Varga’s sister,” Avril said. “But there was definitely something between you and Nevis, whether you admit it or not.”
I shot to my feet, clutching my sword in one had. “There’s nothing! Why do you keep bringing it up?”
“Because it’s there!” Avril replied, then gave me a warm smile. “But don’t worry, I won’t tell Nevis anything about it. He’ll figure it out for himself, soon enough.”
My heart started racing for no apparent reason. I sheathed my sword, then crossed my arms.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Avril sighed. “Babe, I’ve seen this before,” she explained. “I’ve seen it with Patrik and Scarlett. I’ve seen it with Harper and Caspian—”
“Hear, hear,” Harper murmured, looking hilariously guilty.
“Not to mention Heron and me!” Avril continued. “It’s not something you’re instantly aware of. It’s not even something you notice straightaway. Chances are you won’t realize it’s there until it’s too late and he’s literally the only thing on your mind, at all times. That’s how love works. It sneaks up on you and sabotages everything.”
I didn’t like that idea. If I were honest with myself, I would agree that Nevis was, by far, the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen. My body definitely reacted to his presence. But his holier than thou blue-blooded attitude really got on my nerves. On top of that, my heart was still healing from the damage that Connor had done. I couldn’t bring myself to trust anyone with my love. I knew it would all heal at some point, but it wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
“But I do understand why you went on the defensive,” Avril continued. “I know what heartbreak feels like, though, to be honest, I didn’t have it as bad as you, Lenny. Nevertheless, rest assured, I’m not going to poke you about Nevis again. I promise.”
“You’re still healing, I guess,” Harper added, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Just don’t close yourself off from the possibility of loving someone again. First love is a double-edged blade. Sometimes, it’s great, but then, at other times, you get the short end of the stick. You’re past that, and you’ve got a potential eternity ahead of you. And, to be honest, there’s more to Nevis than meets the eye.”
I scoffed. “Are you still trying to hook us up?”
Avril laughed, then shook her head. “No, no. She’s telling the truth, though,” she replied. “Don’t let Nevis’s obnoxiousness fool you. That’s just an outer layer he wears with everyone. He’s become one of my closest friends in the span of… wow, six months.”
“I’m not interested, but thanks,” I muttered.
The temperature dropped all of a sudden. It didn’t feel natural. Avril grinned.
“He’s here,” she said.
“What? Who?” I asked, confused.
I looked around, then froze at the sight of Nevis, freaking prince of Dhaxanians, standing in the doorway. He wore a simple bu
t elegant white tunic, with diamond and silver embroidery covering his chest and shoulders. His long white hair was braided once again, and diamond laurels rested above his slightly pointed ears. There was a certain elegance to his posture that was impossible to describe or reproduce.
No one demanded attention and admiration like Nevis did. No wonder all The Shade girls were swooning over him, even though he rejected them all on the grounds of their “natural insufficiency,” as he called it. I, too, had been deemed as such, and the worst part wasn’t that I’d taken offense, but that it had made me wonder what I could possibly do to change his mind. Of course, no one knew I’d thought about him this way.
“Nevis! What brings you here?” Harper greeted him first.
Nevis came into the training hall, walking with his hands behind his back. Chills ran down my spine as our eyes met for a brief moment.
“I’m on my way back to Neraka,” he replied. “I wanted to come say goodbye,” he added, looking at Harper and Avril and deliberately ignoring me.
That just ticked me off. Was he being a jerk on purpose, or was that just his nature? I couldn’t really ask Avril about it, though, since I’d just stated that I wasn’t interested in him. I’d lied. Again.
Just then, he turned to look at me. I felt like a deer in the headlights of a monster truck.
“How have you been, Miss Goode?” he asked me, his tone flat. “Still pining over the wolf-boy?”
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” I retorted.
“You’re the one who mentioned him in the first place,” Nevis replied. “I take it you’ve yet to gather the courage to tell him how you feel?”
“I take it you’ve yet to figure out that my personal life doesn’t concern you past the point of what I choose to disclose about myself?” I shot back.
Avril stifled a chuckle. Nevis kept his icy blue gaze fixed on me. It was nearly impossible to read his aura. There were so many colors flaring at once. How could someone be so conflicted on the inside?