Unnaturals (16 page)

`She stays out here.' Max pulled a pistol and aimed it at Eleanor. `You and I will go inside. If anything happens they will shoot her then burn the house. Understood?'

A sharp metallic taste filled Tashia's mouth. The man's threats meant nothing because the house had begun to moan. `Eleanor. Something's wrong.'

The air fouled. Max moved closer as Eleanor's gift reached out to her home.

Dark smoke exploded out of the windows. Glass and timber rained down around them.

Tashia called up her gift, the men outside the estate forgotten as black tendrils of energy crept up the wall of the house.

`Mason? Where is he?' Max stepped closer, pistol at Eleanor's head. Then Tashia tasted his fear. `What's happening?'

The house wailed and shook. Energy snaked down onto the grass. Tashia wet her lips as the energy fanned out, calling to her. She recognised Mason in it.

Seductive.

`Mason. He's waking.' Eleanor's voice deepened. Inky black fingers of energy stopped at her feet.

`What the fuck?' Max backed away from her. `Mason's in there with that thing?'

`No,' Tashia said. `That thing
is
Mason.'

`He's an Unnatural?' More fear. She could taste it now as Max stared at the growing darkness.

`Wait. You will see,' Eleanor said over her shoulder.

The taste of fear vanished and when Tashia looked at Max again she saw tears filling his eyes.

`This can't be happening.' He stepped back as the wall split and sandstone chunks crashed down. `Make it stop.'

`We can't…' Eleanor's words were lost in the roar of the explosion.

Tashia threw herself in front of Eleanor. A wave of heat and energy hit her so hard that bones cracked, but she did not fall. Max howled as he dived behind them both, making use of her shield. Timber and stone flew past; some tore at her flesh.

She did not care.

Eleanor was safe.

 

Mason opened his eyes. Darkness swirled around him like a thick fog. His skin itched and smoke clogged his throat. Timber floorboards creaked under his bare feet.

`You in there?' Renee's question made the darkness encasing him shimmer.

`Yeah.' He reached out and cool energy lifted off his skin. Mason could see her as the darkness slipped away. `Where are we? Where's…?' Cold pinged inside him. Ruth lay on a charred bed behind Renee.

`Everyone is fine.' Her hand pressed into his chest as he moved towards Ruth. `No one is hurt.' Her face filled his vision. Small freckles on her face creased as she smiled. `We're in our house in Sydney. See?'

He touched Ruth as he moved toward the gaping hole that had been the wall. She lay unharmed, sleeping.

Looking out he recognised the skyline. Then he looked down.

`Shit, Max.' Mason looked for a quick way down as Max waved his pistols at Tashia. He knew what was about to happen. Laser targeting flashed in the fading light.

`Go,' Renee said, touching him. `Jump, before it's too late.'

Mason didn't hesitate. The fall was short. The ground gave under his feet and the soil rippled from his impact. He had time to enjoy a flicker of surprise.
I did that.

Silence made him look up. All eyes were on him. Good.

`Holy shit, Mason.'

Red flashed all around him. Laser sights. `Stand down, Max.'

`Sir!' Max faltered.

Mason knew Max had to give the order now. `Stand down! I repeat, stand down. The Douglas is secure. For Christ's sake, stand down.'

Tashia grinned at him as the laser lights vanished. `Hmm, hello again. I like the new look.'

What the hell?
`What new look?' Mason stopped moving. He could hear the sounds of people moving all around him, in the house, outside. A lot of people.

`Sir, Mason, what the hell happened to you?'

`Not sure Max, but pull everyone back.' He paused as helicopters passed overhead — his helicopters.

`This place isn't a threat.' He caught the look on Max's face. `Damn it. What is wrong with you?'

Max edged closer. Tashia grinned while she pulled a spear of timber from her shoulder. Another woman nearby stood still, her gaze intense.

`Are you okay?' Max asked.

Mason frowned. Was the boy mad? `I'm fine.'

`Can you tell me what happened?'

`No idea. We were on the island. The next thing we were here.' Mason turned and realised the house behind him had been badly damaged. He identified the room he had been in by the yawning black hole he had jumped from. `Was there a fire?'

`No fire, just you,' Tashia said. `You managed to destroy the club on the island last night as well.'

Images flickered in his mind. Max still looked odd, twitchy. Tashia was grinning weirdly. `What's wrong?'

`He doesn't realise,' the motionless woman said.

`Sir, look at your hands.'

Mason looked, stared — at the black scales that covered his hands. He felt them on his chest and face. Scales covered his entire body.

`Suits you,' Tashia said, still grinning. `Odd, but suits you.'

Words failed him. Colours moved within the scales. Panic murmured through his mind. What was he?

`We need to get you to our medical facility right now.' Max's eyes were wide, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed. And swallowed again.

`No,' Eleanor's commanding tone rang through Mason, making him look up. `We can help, here. The science of humans will not understand this, or accept what has happened.'

Mason touched his face again, testing the delicate sensation of scales rasping on each other.

`Hmm, I agree, Eleanor, we need to move inside,' Tashia said, looking towards the sound of sirens in the distance. `Many unwelcome eyes will be here soon.'

`
Ruth and Wilson are awake.
'

Mason stiffened. The presence touched his mind again.

It's me — turn around.'
He spun on his heel. Renee waved to him from the hole in the house.

`
None of us are hurt. We'll meet you downstairs. Let Mother know we're okay.
'

`Mother?'

`Yes.'
She put hands on hips as he watched her look down at him.
`Remember we're people like you. We have parents.'

Mason swallowed. Her reprimand had been sharp.
`
Tashia?'

`No.'
She threw her hands up at him.
`Tashia doesn't even look like us. Eleanor, you idiot.'

She disappeared into the house and he let a smile crease his face. It felt good to hear her in his mind.

`Everyone is okay in the house,' he told those around him. `Renee wanted me to let you know,' he said, looking back at Eleanor, feeling slightly embarrassed.

`Thank you,' she said, nodding back. `Yes, I am her mother. I am Eleanor, Priestess of this House.'

`You heard us?' Heat filled his face.

`No,' she said, smiling just like Nikki did. `But most people struggle to see Renee as my child. And her hand signals are a dead giveaway when she's explaining who I am to someone new in her life.'

`Mason?' Max edged closer.

`I'm fine.' He smiled further, enjoying how it felt. His fear retreated with the touch of Renee's mind in his.

`Yes, but what do you want me to do?'

Mason nodded at him. Max needed direction, orders, some sense of normality. `Secure the area. Although, you've probably done that. No one comes in. Okay?'

`Sir.' Max snapped to attention. Mason could see him already working out how to secure the area better.
That's my Max
.

`We will stay here,' said Mason. 'Until we have a better understanding of what's happened. Make sure the Fund is aware of this. The Darkells and their kin are no threat. You need to send staff to the island, fix whatever needs repairing. Help any injured — you understand?'

`Yes, sir.' Max nodded and typed madly into his comms tablet. `What about Sally? Wasn't she on the island?' He looked up, shamefaced. `Since Wilson and she… I make sure we know her whereabouts at all times as well now, sir.'

`Shit!' How could he forget? `Get people there fast. Find Sally. Report back to me.' Sirens were approaching. `Max, thanks for looking out for Sally. Good call. Now, you know what to do. Take care of it, and Max.'

`Yes, sir?'

`Stop calling me sir. And it's good to have you here.' Mason grabbed his hand and shook it.

`Glad to be here. Mason.' Max stared at his hand. `What do you want me to tell Sir Robert?'

`Tell him the truth,' Eleanor touched Max. Mason saw a small pulse of energy travel up his arm. `Mason is alive and unharmed.'

`Understood,' Max smiled, suddenly relaxed. `Never a dull day working with you. I'll contact you when everything's sorted.' He strode off towards the front gate.

`You trust him a great deal,' Eleanor said, walking with Mason towards the house. Her hand rested on his arm and he found he enjoyed her touch.

`I'm trusting him with our lives. And yours it seems.' Mason stopped at the top of the steps, unsure of what he could sense within the house. Tashia bumped into him. `I'm not good in crowds — of people like you.'

`Hmm. Nothing's changed there, I see.' Tashia brushed past and pushed the huge timber doors open.

`This is my home, Mason.' Eleanor stepped past him. `Here you are my guest and I welcome you. My word is law here. None will harm you or your family. Darla's treaty with you, and with our house, is binding.'

`He is still suspicious, Priestess.' Tashia stood in the doorway, unhurt and unflinching. Her wounds had healed over. She was not afraid.

`Here you stand Mason, at the doorway to a great house much older than your own. Welcomed by Eleanor, its mother and priestess. And mother of the two who have opened your eyes, the two who risked their lives by believing you were more than just a monster. Eleanor is the one who should be suspicious. It is her children who will be lost if they are wrong about you, Mason.'

Tashia's words pushed everything away. `Renee and Nikki—' He swallowed; humility showed in his face and he looked to Eleanor. `They are true people, not things. I see that.'

`Thank you.' Eleanor touched his arm again. `But I need to hear you speak the vow: None will be harmed by Butcher while under my roof.'

She was right. He was the monster here. `You have my word. None will be harmed by Butcher while under your roof.'

`Let's go into the study, then.' Tashia moved aside.

`Come,' Eleanor said, waving him in.

Dazed by events he may have been, but he didn't miss the wink Tashia gave him as they stepped inside.

`Wake up.' Strong hands squeezed her arms. `Ruth, get up. I need you to help me.'

Green eyes greeted her through the haze. Such a beautiful green, she found herself thinking. Smoke flavoured her senses. The room around her was charred. `What happened?' She sat up with Renee's help.

`Darla did something to all of us on the island,' Renee said, letting her go. `We're in Sydney in our home and all this,' she waved at the wrecked room, `happened when Mason awakened. Wilson and Nikki are fine but I need you to help me wake them.'

`Where's Mason?' Ruth swung her legs off the bed, not sure if they'd hold her. She saw Wilson on the far side of the room.

`Outside. The Fund is here and a tall blonde man was going to shoot Mother and Tashia. Mason intervened.' Renee was looking through the space where the wall had been.

`Max is here then.' How come you're awake?' Ruth asked, as she went to Wilson, relieved to find him warm and breathing.

`No idea.' Renee turned to Nikki who was sprawled on a bed. `Be gentle with your son. He's not gifted, so I'm not sure how he will wake. I thought you'd be best to do it.'

Ruth touched Wilson all over. `Not a mark on him.'

Renee sat beside Nikki, who was still unmoving. Quiet filled the room. The world outside retreated as Ruth studied Renee. What was she to Mason? In all the years they'd been married, he had never kissed another woman.

`I don't kiss just any man, either.'

Ruth flinched. Renee stood close to her and she hadn't even seen her move. Her mouth went dry as Renee's eyes changed colour to Mason's jet black.

`In fact, he was the first man who ever got to kiss me.' She flexed her hand and the nails blackened and grew to razor sharp points a hand's breadth from Ruth's face. `And live, that is.'

Goosebumps raced across Ruth as Renee squatted, resting a hot hand on Ruth's knee. `I do not know you, or you me, and our quiet time here is short.'

Ruth moved, unsure. She glanced at Renee's hand, scorching her knee.

`I am nothing like my sister.' Renee ran a nail lightly across Ruth's skin. Fine, pointed teeth peeked out from behind her lips.

`Everything is changing around us. You have Nikki.' She moved closer so their noses almost touched. `I will have Mason.'

Ruth could see flecks of green swirl in the inkiness of Renee's eyes. Anger shifted inside her but she pushed it down. Renee wasn't threatening her, just telling the truth as she saw it.

`Talk to me as Renee,' Ruth said, touching the girl's face.

Renee's eyes widened, her skin softened and the darkness fled. `I'm sorry.' Renee moved and her nails receded. `I don't know why I did that.' A sweet scent came to Ruth as Renee stood up, flustered, then went to her sister.

`You're very passionate.' Ruth stroked Wilson's hair and watched Renee. The girl reeked of it. `There's a lot I don't understand about you and Mason.' The dryness in her mouth returned. Renee was like him. Could Renee understand that dark side of him more than she could?

`It is clear to me,' Renee said, eyes bright. `I want him so much it hurts. Mason is the one I have been looking for, the only one who can hold me, kiss me and not suffer for it.' She looked back to her sister. `I have not known the caress and love of another as my sister has. And now that I can, I'm afraid he won't because he loves you so much.'

Renee looked back at her and Ruth's breath caught in her throat. `He said that?'

She shook her head. `He doesn't have to. It's stamped all over him.' Renee hung her head as she stroked Nikki's hand. `When I realised you shared your bed with other women, I had hoped he did as well.'