Phobia (Interracial Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria) (32 page)

“
Did we lose it?” Garfield asked when they paused to catch their breath.

The stone guard stopped in
front of the entryway and peered in it.

Mov
ing away, Wisteria and Garfield headed up the steps.

Abruptly,
another compartment opened next to them. A smaller version of the rock monster marched out, sword pointed at them.

“
Crap.” Garfield turned and ran up the stairs.

Wisteria raced up
the steps in complete darkness until she collided into a brick wall. Feeling her way around, she prayed to find a way through, but the wall was entirely solid. “Can’t we ever get a break?” She thumped the wall hard.

The thuds from the smaller stone guard became heavier as it neared
them.

“
We have to stand and fight.” She lifted up her sword as the light from the stone creature shone around the corner. “And pray that somehow we get
help
.”

“
Hello daughter of Seth and granddaughter of Eve,” a young woman stated plainly through the darkness. “How can I help you?”

“
What?” Wisteria exclaimed. “Who are you?”

“
I’m Robinia. You summoned me,” the soft voice continued. “Was I incorrect to presume that you wanted help, Mistress?”

“
We need your help,” Wisteria pleaded.

“
I’m here to help you navigate the archive,” Robinia continued. “What assistance to you require?”

“
Stop that rock thing?” Garfield pleaded.

Robinia didn
’t respond.

“
Robinia, can you stop the stone-killer-robot-whatever it is?” Wisteria hollered.

“
Yes, I can. Would you like me to stop the sentry?” Robinia asked.

The thuds came louder
.

“
Yes,” Wisteria called back desperately. “Hurry, Robinia please.”

The stone guard stopped
in its tracks.

“
It is done,” Robinia replied.

The thuds stopped.

“Thank you.” Wisteria exhaled heavily as she sank to the ground. “Thank you so much.”

“
You do not need to thank me. I am here to serve you. Do you require anything else?” Robinia enquired.

“
Lights please?” Wisteria asked.

A trail of round ball
s lit up overhead.

Wisteria felt
alarmed to see the stone creature stood with two of its swords inches away from Garfield’s face and its third scraping against his chest.

“Are you okay?” Wisteria reached for him.

He nodded and
shimmied away from the blades. “You?”

“
Yeah,” Wisteria said.

“
Are you sure we’re safe Robinia?” Garfield asked.

Robinia didn’t answer.

“Robinia, where are you?” Wisteria looked around for the girl who’d helped them.

“
Archive 486,” Robinia answered. “Or as the locals have come to call it, the Hall of Ages.”

“
Are you watching us?” Garfield looked around.

No answer.

“How come you can see us and help us?” Wisteria searched for cameras or a monitoring device. “Where exactly are you?”

“
I live here,” she informed them.

“
How did you get in here? How long have you lived in the Hall of Ages?” Garfield inquired.

S
ilence.

“
I don’t think she wants to talk to you,” Wisteria remarked in a teasing voice. “Robinia, how long have you lived here?”

“
Since I was ten,” the girl answered.

Several small stones rolled toward Wisteria. They gathered together into a pile as more tiny pebble
s rolled out.

“
What are you doing now?” Fearing this might be another stone sentry, Wisteria tried to scatter the stones with her sword—with no effect.

“
You might find it easier to speak to my avatar.” The tiny rocks melded together to form a girl of solid black rock, from the book.

“
You are like those?” Wisteria pointed to the stone attacker. Walking up, she examined the stone girl.

Like
the other larger stone creatures, Robinia hadn’t any facial features, but unlike them, Robinia was barely taller than Wisteria.

“
No, I’m not a sentry. They were installed to protect the archive should anyone break in or if any member of the First Pillar were forced to open the doors. They have successfully subdued the three Bru who forced you here,” Robinia revealed. “I, on the other hand, am here to help you navigate the seventy-eight million different artifacts, codices, books, scrolls and maps located in this one archive. I can also assist you with locating the other archives if—”

“
What are Bru?” Wisteria questioned.

“
The people who came with you,” Robinia replied.

“
You mean the Family.” Wisteria paused. “Wait, those stone sentries are still attacking our friends? You have to stop them too.”

“
Why? When Talon Zyla left, he said no Famila was to ever enter as they would use the knowledge here to destroy their world,” Robinia continued.

“
Tell the sentries to stop attacking them,” Wisteria insisted.

“
I have already stopped them, but do you want the sentries to prevent them from leaving or expel them into the desert?” Robinia asked.

“
Keep them here.” Wisteria figured that way Felip and Alba would be secured. “Let’s go back to the group.”

“
Why isn’t the Family or the Bru welcome here?” Garfield asked.

“
Mistress, is there something particular you seek here?” Robinia turned toward Wisteria while again, ignoring him. “Perhaps I can help you find it more quickly?”

“
Seriously, do you just listen to her?” He huffed.

Robinia didn’t respond.

“I suppose it was because my people built it to do that.” Wisteria turned to the avatar. “Robinia, is that right?”

“
Yes, I am here to help the First Pillar access the archive. Whatever you require I will help you with, but I will record who you are and what you took. Is there something in particular you seek?”

“
Yeah, but if Garfield asks you a question, I want you to answer it,” Wisteria instructed the stone girl. “Because being his echo is doing my head in.” Wisteria felt a migraine coming on. This was the first time she’d been unwell since she’d seen Bach.

“
You all right?” Garfield noticed of her pained expression.

“
Do you require treatment for your headache?” Robinia offered. “There are chambers located in the North-West wing for you to rest while I create a treatment for you.”

“
I’m fine. Tell me about the Dy’obeths?” Wisteria inquired.

“
You don’t look that well.” Garfield placed his hand on her forehead.

“
The—we—” She slurred as she struggled to remain conscious.

“
Do you require assistance Mistress?” The avatar bent over Wisteria as she slumped to the ground.

“
Yes, she does. Do you have any way to help us?” Garfield asked her.

Still, Robinia didn
’t answer him.

“
She told you to listen to me,” he exclaimed.

“
Mistress, how can I help you?” Robinia started.

“
Robinia, help me by doing what Garfield tells you,” Wisteria whispered weakly.

“
Who is Garfield?” the stone girl asked.

Wist
eria pointed at him and it was the last thing she remembered.

A vial of prax

“Do you not understand how foolish this was?” Calmly, Bach’s mother inspected the damage he and Lluc caused to his chambers following their fight. She’d come as soon as Lluc informed her of what had happened. “Do you not see how dangerous it was to take the girl like that?”

He didn
’t answer, but sat in the shadows brooding. He found sitting in the dark helped him recover from the lingering pain of the cantus and the gut wrenching agony of losing that girl again.
We will never let that happen again,
the darkness promised him.

“
Bach, we need her alive and in one piece. Going after her when you have not gotten full control of the perfection means you might kill her,” his mother informed him. “If that happens then everything we are trying to do here will be for nothing. Do you understand?”

He glanced up at her, but didn
’t say a word. He didn’t want her or anyone reminding him how foolish he’d been because he knew full well. Now things were getting better. The darkness seemed to be thinking more and more like he did and he now felt freer.

“
Also, you do not want to feel the pain of losing a Mosroc at your own hand or someone else’s. Which I promise, High Father would make especially painful once he learns she’s your mate,” she continued.

“
She told me Oleander was dead,” Bach muttered.

“
Who is Oleander?” his mother wondered.

“
My daughter. The one Doc created in Franklin.”

“
The child who tried to murder your mate? Yes, she is dead. Wisteria’s stepfather Dr. Kuti decided that before we could get her.” His mother frowned.

“
You did not kill her?”

“
No, but perhaps I should have.”

“
Are you insane? You would have hurt my child?”

“
The child who tried to murder your Beloved?”

“
Would you do that?”

“
You and your brothers ended Yordi’s life. I am saddened, but I understand why it was done. He would have always been his father’s son—a liability like Oleander.”

Oleander was a liability
, the darkness agreed, but Bach couldn’t. “She was an innocent.”

“
No one is innocent all life is built on death, so let your weaker side mourn her. Move on and finish what we have started. Then you will have other children.”

“
Why did you not tell me Oleander was dead? How could you keep that from me?” He fumed.

“
The same reason you did not tell me you and Malcolm killed Yordi?” His mother’s mouth curled into a grin. “Because you felt in your heart it did not matter.”

“
Mother—”

“
Bach, I did not harm your child, but I do not mourn her loss.” Producing a dagger, she placed it on the arm of Bach’s chair. “If you feel I have wronged you, then slit my throat. I will not stop you.”

“
Leave me,” Bach muttered.

“
Beloved…” Her tone softened. “Nothing you would have done could have saved that child. The humans would have captured you and in your weakened state, they would have killed you, like they did Radala. Now you are strong enough to never let that happen to you or your bloodline.”

“
I said leave.”

“
Beloved, stop fighting your Dy’obeth nature and give into the rage. It will make you strong.” Kneeling in front of him, she put the blade in his hand. “Go out, take your first blood and become who you need to be.”

“
I already have taken my first blood.” That was a lie. He’d not taken a human or Famila life. He couldn’t understand why since death and destruction was all he thought about now.

“
I see.”

Grabbing the blade, he threw it
against the large glass window and it shattered. “I need to think.” He marched over to the broken glass and was about to leap out.

His mother placed a hand on his shoulder. “Where is she now?”

“
Felip and Enric took her. Felip would have never gotten her if you had allowed me to kill him. I will not make that mistake again.”

“
Do what you want with Enric, but you will not harm your cousin—yet.”

“
You expect me to let him live after he came into my den and stole what belonged to me? He was the one who twisted Oleander’s mind. No, he is mine.”

“
Bach you will not touch Felip now or Wisteria when she is finally brought here. Once you are in control you will understand why say this.”

“
I am in control. I won’t harm her. Felip is a different story.”

“
No, you will not see her until I say you are ready.”

“
I’m in control now.” His blood boiled.
I only want to hurt her a little,
the darkness whispered.
I swear Bach she will be alive when we are done
. “Fine, I will stay away.” Leaping from the window, he sailed down into the forest in order to hunt and clear his mind. Landing in the dark woods, he heard the animals scurrying away from him. He could smell three or four skrells, but hunting them had become too easy. Perhaps he’d go Sable Mountain and take down a wild Leviathan.

“
Bach of the Third Pillar.” Beraz approached him from the east. “Where have you been?”

“
He sealed himself away from us.” Maniko accompanied him. “I wonder why?”

“
You are supposed to be on Sable Mountain, making sure the sentinels gather all the humans,” Bach replied.

“
I’m going back soon, but wanted to see my sister. I heard after your adventures today, she needed to set you straight about a Terran girl,” Beraz sneered.

“
Just one girl? I heard there were a dozen,” Maniko added.

“
No, just the one.” Didan emerged from behind them. “Her name is Wisteria and I believe she was the Terran he abducted in the Moon Desert.”

“
Doesn’t the Fifth Pillar occupy the Moon Desert? And from what I’ve heard those Dogs hold Rats in high esteem?” Maniko turned to Didan. “Is that true?”

“
There are those in the Fifth Pillar who believe Terrans are equal to the Family,” Didan scoffed.

“
Dog, from where I stand there’s very little difference between a Famila and a Terran Rat,” Beraz retorted.

“
Except, we can use Dogs to round up the Rats.” Maniko pointed out. “And they make better slaves. Rats can’t carry that much.”

“
My point Eminent is Bach has communed with this Terran girl for over two years to the point of breeding a Mongrel child with her,” Didan continued. “It is disgusting to discover a Dy’obeth would do something even a Famila would consider beneath him.”

Maniko
turned pale. “Didan, your stories were funny at first, but now they’re insulting.”

“
I swear it is the truth.” Didan maintained.

“
The Dogs are so easily confused.” Bach replied.

“
A Dy’obeth could never commune with a Terran and be perfected.” Beraz scowled.

“
You were publicly shamed because of her. You chose to live among the free minded Terrans on Terra because you bonded with a
jaga
,” Didan persisted.

“
I was shamed because my mother was a Dy’obeth.” Clenching his fist, Bach stormed up to Didan and grabbed his neck. “What right do you have Dog to accuse me of anything?”

“
It is not an accusation it is the truth.” Didan croaked. “Search his chambers, you will find her there.”

“
No Dy’obeth would ever take the word of a Dog,”
the darkness in Bach noted.

“
I am right. I have evidence to prove—” Didan began.

“
Release him.” Beraz grabbed Didan by the head.

Bach let go.

“Eminent—” Didan started.

Beraz
twisted Didan’s head sharply, breaking his neck.

Maniko
doubled over laughing as Didan’s lifeless body slid to the ground.

“
That was a joke?” Bach gaped.

Beraz
chuckled. “Sure.”

“
Why else do you think we would bring him to you?” Stepping over Didan, she strode to Bach. “We haven’t had a good laugh in a while. We didn’t mean to scare you.”

“
Do you have something to hide?” Beraz cocked an eyebrow.

“
You did not scare me, but you can search my chambers if you want. If you are wrong, I will be happy to take either one of your lives in exchange,” Bach replied.

“
You can have mine.” Clinching his forearms, Maniko licked her lips suggestively. “If you are strong enough to take it.”

“
Maniko, do not.” Bach stepped back.

“
Don’t what?” She whispered.

“
Do not touch me.” Bach shrugged her off.

“
Where?” She teased.

“
Maniko enough.” Beraz yanked her away. “Stop humiliating yourself. He clearly doesn’t want you.”

“
Perhaps he really does have a thing for Terrans?” Maniko joked, but didn’t release Bach.

Not answering
her, Bach stormed away.

“
Didan was just a Dog and was wrong to accuse a Dy’obeth.” Beraz dashed in front of Bach. “But there’s no smoke without fire. There’s something different about you.”

“
True, I was not tricked into being imprisoned in Ajana for fifteen hundred years,” Bach quipped, hoping to take the focus off his relationship and interest in the humans.

“
How dare you?” Finally stepping back, her eyes turned cold. “Trust me, Ajana is not something to joke about.”

“
You would not survive one day in there. Your whole bloodline would’ve been obliterated.” Beraz grabbed Bach’s shirt.

“
If I’d been around, the humans wouldn’t have sent my bloodline into that hell realm,” Bach retorted coldly.

“
It was not like that. It was a war.” Maniko gasped.

“
At war with who—humans? I thought no one was more powerful than Dy’obeths,” Bach reminded them.

Beraz
squinted down at Bach. “It’ll never happen again.”

“
Oh, it will not because I will not let it when I take my seat as one of the Seven.” Bach grinned.

“
You are threatening to take my seat and my mate?” Beraz scoffed and glanced at Maniko.

“
I want your seat.” Bach smirked. “Unless you want to give it up now and pledge your loyalty to me. Do that and I will allow you to live—as a nursemaid to my horses.”

Beraz
turned red. “The first time you attacked me, I was weakened from the return. Speak like that to me again and I’ll end you. Then I’ll find your Terran and teach her new kinds of pain.”

“
You are not powerful enough to touch me. Consider yourself lucky I want to spare your life today,” Bach stormed off.
Stab him in the neck. Get him out of the way,
the darkness begged. He didn’t notice when he’d picked up the dagger, but Bach knew in three minutes all that was going to be left of Beraz was a bloody stain.

“
Do it.” Maniko whispered in his ear. “Kill him and I am yours.”

Bach couldn
’t stand the sound of her voice.

Karvas
approached through the trees. “Brethren, sorry to interrupt your games, but there has been a revolt on Sable Mountain.”

“
What?” Beraz seethed.

“
Three hundred Dogs tried to attack us,” Karvas reported.

“
How did that happen? I left Kalti in charge.” Beraz growled.

“
High Father demands you explain to him why you were in Jarthan playing with your mate and not on Sable Mountain controlling the Dogs he gave you. After you and Bach get things back under control.”

Beraz
grimaced at Bach. “Why him?”

“
Maybe, he is preparing him to take over from you when Bach kills you after your rabja,” Karvas replied.

Beraz
stormed off.

“
Make it a glorious death.” Maniko kissed Bach’s cheek, biting him a little. “Beloved, once Beraz is at full strength, he’ll be almost as strong as High Father. Wait too long to take him down and you’ll never be able to.”

“
Maniko come,” Beraz screamed from the trees.