Anna tilted her head, her brows tight as if searching for something she could not see.
“Do you remember when your father fell ill with the fever and the snows came, all but burying your family alive?”
“Yes,” she whispered, beleaguered by memories once thought forgotten.
“Your family was starving, yet a barrel of flour, sugar and a fully dressed moose magically appeared…”
“And when my mother opened the door,” Anna whispered hauntingly, “the snow had been shoveled away, a stack of firewood by the jamb.” She raised a hand to her cheek. “You did that?” she whispered, searching his face. “Why?”
“I didn’t have a choice, Anna, don’t you see, I couldn’t chance losing you, so don’t say it was just lust for it was so much more. I have loved you forever.”
Flushed, she dropped her head. “I’m truly grateful for what you did but at this point in my life, all I can think of is my granddaughter and the horrors to come.”
“I understand,” but after this is done and she is safe, nothing will stop me. I will pursue you, Anna, unto my dying breath.”
“I expected as much when I came back here,” she breathed.
“I’m sorry, but I have no choice…”
“No choice?” she interrupted, “we are all living and dying with the choices we make, so to say you have no choice…”
“It is a truth we both must face,” he said stalling her words. “You have taken from me, not once, but twice, what was not mine to give, and believe me, facing that damage a second time, I’m no longer willing, nor do I have the strength to walk away.”
Anna raised her hand to warm his cheek. “I’m sorry, Antonio, but in this life, some things are a given. I see the fire in your eyes, and it warms my heart, but you must realize that it matters not what you or I want. My life was prophesized years ago by a Midewiwin and chances are good I won’t survive this encounter.”
“You will, my love,” he whispered, “but if by chance you don’t, fear not for we will walk hand in hand to meet the almighty.”
“You would do that?” she asked as a silver tear streaked her cheek.
Milos, a Russian Sirun riding up front with Torin, turned to face them, blonde mane framing his face. “Excuse me, Antonio,” he blurted with a thick Russian accent.
Antonio pulled his eyes from Anna and met his gaze.
Milos smiled with teeth so white they sparkled. “Not to interrupt, but I’m still not convinced that this Seventh Miigis truly exist.”
“He does,” Antonio retorted.
“And for the sake of conversation, let’s just say you’re right. What’s our strategy?”
“Well, first and foremost, you have to understand that he dwells within Zaroc, therefore we must anger him enough to pull him out and then, once they are separated we fight to kill, but don’t underestimate him. He will be a formidable foe.”
“Huh! Twenty of my best Affiliates on one Miigis. He won’t stand a chance,” Milos said with a glint in his eyes.
“I urge you to be cautious.”
“Phft!” he sputtered. “My Affiliates are some of the most powerful killing machines on earth.”
“I have no doubt of your Affiliates, Milos, but again, be wary.
“Fine, so he’s a bad ass, I get it. So how do we lure him from his symbiont?”
“Anna will be the bait,” Torin chimed in. “We offer her up, let him get a whiff of her essence, then take her away. He’ll come with hell’s fury in his eyes.”
“Do you think so?” Milos asked.
“It’s a fact and don’t pretend you don’t smell her,” Torin scoffed.
Milos’ lips curled, broadening into a smile that encompassed his face. “No lies, I do smell her, it’s impossible to miss and if I wasn’t already a Sirun, I’d kill every damn one of you and take her for my own.”
“And the seventh will feel the same,” Torin said.
“And it’s killing me that she’ll be in danger,” Antonio snapped. “I don’t like it one damn bit.”
“Yes, Antonio, I understand but you and Milos can turn invisible,” Torin said, meeting his gaze in the rear-view mirror. “The two of you can hide, undetected at her side to protect her.”
“And what of you, Torin?” Milos queried. “What is your part in all this?”
“Just to find my woman and get her to safety.”
“Ahhh, a woman,” he laughed. “Seems there’s always one at the heart of every battle. You get a taste of ’em and they set you on fire…hmm. Now I understand the constant flow of adrenaline surging your veins, Mancini.”
Torin was about to respond but before he could speak Anna chimed in. “And she’s pregnant with his child.”
“Which is criminal under Council law since Torin didn’t petition for Donja as his consort,” Antonio remarked.
“The plot thickens,” Milos grinned, boyishly. “Someone’s in deep shit.”
“Yes, I messed up,” Torin mumbled, “but getting her pregnant may be the only thing to save her from a life with Scarface.”
“Regardless of all that,” she’s my granddaughter,” Anna declared, “and I don’t care what happens to me, gentlemen. Just save her. Please. That’s all I ask.”
Milos spun to face Anna. “You are a brave woman, Anna. I promise that I will have my Affiliates keep his army busy, and hopefully Torin can rescue the girl.” He cocked his head to Antonio. “By the way, how large is his army?”
“I suspect a thousand, he has close ties with Africa and Mexico. It will be a tough battle, but one we can win.”
Battle Stations
Twelve hours after passing the city of Whitehorse, the suburban pulled into a hollowed-out gravel pit long since abandoned. They exited the vehicles as Affiliates unloaded weapon caches from the Suburbans. Torin took a long-curved sword. “It’s too heavy, I’ll use my own thank you.”
“I have my favorite as well,” Milos said, joining his side. He raised a pearl-handled, three-foot blade over his head and bellowed, “Have no mercy and take no prisoners.”
From the shadowed terrain, Affiliates who had been patiently awaiting their arrival, topped a rocky ledge, streaking toward them.
Milos, Torin and Antonio walked among them. “Two and a half thousand Iridescents under one command,” Milos boasted, “the largest army our people have ever assembled. No power on Earth will be able to stand against such a force.”
Antonio preached battle plans. Then with the night sky submitting to dawn’s early light, they set out amid a thick, rolling fog. They ran for hours scrambling past mountains and rocky outcroppings as the sun, cloaked in a duvet of silver clouds, rose in the sky. In a gorge along the banks of the Yukon River, they swept over the rocky terrain, Anna, riding on Antonio’s back, and Torin, didn’t fail to notice the budding chemistry between them.
Hours later they emerged from the river and plowed forward. Glimpsing the log mansion which was furtively concealed by tendrils of creeping fog, Torin held up his hand to halt the progression. “This is it,” he whispered, Antonio and Milos at his side. He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat and took a breath heady with moisture. A surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins and he gripped his sword tightly.
Anna slid from Antonio’s back. Her body ached from the trip. “Don’t forget, gentlemen,” she whispered as if fearful of being heard. “Save Donja. No matter what happens to me, save her.”
Torin turned to her and they shared a look. She reached out and grasped his arm. “If things go wrong and for whatever reason I’m not around, be good to her, Torin. Love her and keep her safe, forever. Tell her I love her.”
Torin by no will of his own, pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “I promise,” he whispered.
“And you will live to see his promise fulfilled,” Antonio whispered.
Anna pulled back from Torin and faced off with Antonio. “I pray you’re right, but just remember,” she said with tears glistening in her eyes, “Donja fi
rst. Promise me, Antonio.”
“I promise,” he said, but please, no more tears. You’re killing me.”
Milos laughed. “You know,” he said, “it has always amazed me that as Iridescents we are all powerful, no man can strike fear in our hearts and yet, a single tear from a tiny female who possesses our hearts, can drop us to our knees.”
A great silence cloaked the entire throng, Iridescents dropping their heads.
“Well,” Milos smiled, “we had best get moving. I can smell his Affiliates which means he can smell ours as well.”
“Val,” Torin said. “Take five hundred men to circle from the left. Send five hundred to the right. Our main force will take the center. Once we engage the enemy, flank them and let’s end this quickly. If anyone gets a hand on Donja, try to get her and Anna out of here as fast as possible.” He cocked his head to Milos. “Time to see how tough your Affiliates are, my friend. You, me, Antonio and your men, go straight up the middle and face the bastard head on.”
Milos growled. “Bring it on!” He raised a clenched fist to the air, thick blonde mane flying. “No mercy!” he wailed as his Affiliates followed suit, fists to the air.
They set out, shoulder to shoulder, hearts pumping adrenaline. The fog swirled, vision hampered. Suddenly, within the churning haze, screams penetrated the air and the dead fell. Torin stepped forward amid a surge of Affiliates, blades swinging. A sudden bloody mist colored the fog, bones cracking, skulls crushed, decapitated heads rolling.
Torin tripped on a body then scrambled to his feet, swinging. He glanced about and the dead littering the rock base, were many. He lunged forward, evading a blade so close he could feel the wind on his cheek. He evaded, parried, then swung, decapitating his foe. He wiped at his bloody face with the back of his hand, then jumped back in the nick of time, a blade slicing into his shirt. He spun to face the Affiliate who was twice his weight, their blades clashing high overhead as they locked eyes, face to face, gut to gut, growling. Torin kneed him in the groin, ducked a flying blade and slashed the giant across the gut, intestines spilling. He jumped straight up, a look of shock on the immortal’s face as Torin swung and decapitated him.
Suddenly Val and Gage were at his side. “They were waiting, it’s an ambush!” Val shouted, “We’ve already lost a lot of men!”
Torin swung, blood spraying as they plowed forward; the wails of death resounding. He gripped his blade tightly scanning the battle. In his periphery he caught the blur of flying steel. He ducked, strands of hair ripped from his scalp. He leapt like a cat, then readied a swing, eyes on an African Affiliate. From nowhere, Milos rushed in with a growl and sent the African’s head rolling, ribbons of blood behind.
“They caught us by surprise!” Milos shouted, “but what did I tell you? Easy work once we got down to it.”
Torin watched, Garret’s defenses collapsing. Iridescents overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the invading army fleeing.
“That was easy…too easy,” Torin said.
Suddenly fog lights from atop the mansion spotlighted the battlefield.
Torin and Milos, flanked by the Iridescent army, moved forward, wading among the dead. They plowed right up to the mansion, the fog swirling thick, but not enough to hide Garret, standing on the second story balcony with Donja in his arms, a dagger to her neck.
“Stop!” Torin shouted, his heart in his throat. He saw Zaroc join his father’s side.
“We had a deal, Antonio!” Garret bellowed, his voice echoing. “A Chippewa female to trade for this one. Do I cut her throat and we continue this battle or do we trade?”
From the fog Anna emerged. Torin noticed Milos was gone.
“Don’t harm her!” Anna shouted. “I’m here, Garret, willing to take her place. I can give you the child you desire.”
“Not him, me!” Zaroc shouted. He threw his head back, nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. He dropped his head with a side glance to Garret. “She’s unmarked, ripe and she’s of the Durent Clan. I must have her!”
“I can smell her,” Garrett barked. “Mancini. Give us the bitch and you can have this pregnant one back.”
“Send her down here!” Anna cried out. “I will not come or submit until I see that she is safe.” She pulled a concealed dagger from her sleeve and raised it to her chest. “Trick us or injure her and I kill myself Garret.”
“No, don’t!” Zaroc wailed lunging forward to grip the bannister.
“No way!” Garret wailed forcing Donja to dangle over the bannister.
Torin growled, but Val seized him. “Don’t get her killed, brother,” he whispered.
“This is how this works!” Garret roared. “Move all your men five hundred yards away, Antonio. I’ll do the same with mine. Zaroc will bring Donja to this other bitch once she is alone. What’s your name Chippewa?”
“Anna,” she cried.
“Anna, it is,” he chuckled.
“Do as he ask!” Anna said turning to face Antonio.
“Move it out!” Antonino commanded, “you heard him, five hundred yards.”
The Affiliates dispersed.
Anna stood alone with a ghostly fog coiling around her. At her side, Milos masked his scent, invisible.
“It’s done,” Antonio called out.”
“Move back, Antonio!” Garret roared. “I have sharp-shooters on the women. One false move and they die!”
Antonio moved a safe distance, analyzing the situation.
Zaroc, with Donja in hand, left the balcony and descended the stairs, moving slowly toward them. Nearing Anna with dense fog creeping, Donja’s face came into view. Her cheek was bruised, and her right eye was blackened and swollen tight. “You bastard, you beat her,” Anna cried.
“It wasn’t me,” Zaroc scoffed, “I never harmed her.”
“Grandma?” Donja whimpered. “Oh God, is that you?”
“Yes, baby, it’s me.” She wiped at her tears with tremulous fingers then met Zaroc’s gaze. “Release her and take me,” she said, offering her hand as he moved closer. Suddenly Milos appeared and swung his fist of steel, knocking an unsuspecting Zaroc to the ground. Anna grabbed Donja just as Antonio appeared and grabbed them both. With one in each arm he turned to flee and like a bolt of lightning, zig-zagged the land, gunshots ricocheting around them.
Torin and the forces rushed to meet them. Torin grabbed Donja, his heart hammering. He kissed her cheek, her battered face forcing a growl.
“Retreat!” Antonio roared as he spun and saw Milos and his Affiliates engaging Zaroc. Milos swung, blood flying from Zaroc’s lips. From the fog, Garret and a handful of ruffians joined the fight.
Zaroc began to glow, his body evanescing between blows. Streaks of inner light penetrating his skin as he morphed into Scarface.
Seeing his best Affiliates pulverized, Milos rushed in slugging Scarface with the fury and force possessed only of Siruns. “Retreat!” Milos shouted, Affiliates falling like flies.
Scarface swung on Milos, the force hurling him through the air, crashing into fleeing Affiliates. Milos jumped to his feet and rocked his head in disbelief. “Retreat,” he shouted in Russian as he backed away. Affiliates turned to flee, some falling unto death, Scarface in pursuit.
Finding the Suburbans, cloaked in the heavy fog, Torin shoved Donja inside. He cranked the engine, Milos, Val and Gage piling inside. The front door flew open and Antonio tossed Anna inside, just as Scarface appeared from the swirling haze, seized Antonio from behind and tossed him fifty feet crashing into boulders.
Val jumped out and faced off with Scarface. Val swung and Scarface raised his hand and caught his fist. He twisted Val’s arm, snapping the bone, then seized his face and wretched Val’s head from his body. Scarface reached into the vehicle, Milos swinging his blade which bounced off his body and seized Anna. From the outside, Affiliates swarmed Scarface like bees, biting, stabbing and ripping at his skin. Unscathed, he pulled Anna to his chest, her screams reverberating as he bolted away, swallowed by the churning aby
ss. Antonio rushed to the vehicle as a couple of hundred or more of Garret’s minions, emboldened by Scarface, emerged from the silver vapor.
“Get in!” Torn wailed, “we’ll come back for her, we need reinforcements!”
Antonio got inside as Garret’s Iridescents swarmed the front Suburbans like locusts to wheat, windows shattered, body parts flying and amid the chaos, ten of the sixteen Suburbans sped away.
“I can’t leave her,” Antonio cried, opening the door on the speeding vehicle. Milos grabbed him by the arms and Antonio swung on him. They struggled, strength matched, the door wide with Donja screaming. Milos managed to pull him back as Gage leaned out the back window, perched on the side and slammed the front door. Antonio slugged Milos while trying to open the door and the battle within the vehicle intensified.
“Antonio!” Torin roared, the vehicle swerving. “We’re beaten! Listen to me! You won’t do Anna a damn bit of good if you’re dead!”
Antonio ceased his battle, his face wrought with misery.
“We should have listened to Larkspur,” Torin snapped. “Now get it together man, come on, think about it. He won’t harm her, he needs her.”
Antonio shrugged free of Milos, his eyes once more on the door.
“Damn it, Antonio, look at me!” Torin wailed.
Antonio cut a defiant side glance, his lips trembling.
“We failed, we lost hundreds of good men, and Val,” his words trailed. “He’s dead!” Torin slammed his fist to the steering wheel. “We can’t afford to lose you too.”
“So, what the fuck do we do now?” Milos blurted.
“We go home,” Torin replied, his eyes moist with misery, “we lick our wounds and gather the weapons needed, the seven Midewiwins. Then, we come back for Anna.”
Antonio dropped his head and buried his face inside his hands. “I failed her!”
“No,” Torin said, his voice all but lost in Donja’s incessant sobs. “We all failed, but we’re alive, do you hear me? Alive to fight another day.”