Unnaturals (57 page)

`So, you want the reporter?' Pete stood looking at him, serious again.

`Yes,' Mason said, realising Darla was standing beside him.

`Be right back.' Pete turned and moved off.

`I have to leave,' Darla said, her voice low.

`To stay is dangerous,' Eleanor said, taking Darla's hands. `Will you come to us again, to share a day?'

`Soon.' Darla tilted her head and smiled, making Mason's scales shiver. `I will be back for the weddings.'

Mason blinked. Darla was gone but her words lingered.

`Weddings?'

Mason started. The voice was rich, full of female curiosity, and excited. Most of all it was a voice he did not know.

Pete stood behind them with a small mousy-haired woman who was fiddling with the microphone in her hand and trying to look everywhere at once.

Straightaway Mason could see how uncomfortable she made the big man.

`This is Vanessa, and Frank here is her camera crew,' Pete said, his tone losing some of its edge.

`She's not his mate, but he likes her a lot,' Scarla said, almost skipping towards Ralph. `And
she
asks a lot of questions.'

A blush crept across Pete's face and Mason made the decision to let his armour fade. Pete trusted this woman.

`What sort of questions?' Renee snapped at Scarla, her distrust flaring up.

Vanessa's eyes widened and her microphone stopped moving. Mason wanted to yell at them but restrained himself. He could smell the reporter's excitement

`You want the story or not?'

Vanessa wet her lips. `All of it? I mean, the backstory as well.'

`No, just today to start with. Then, if you do it right the rest will come.'

`What if I just decide to go with what I already have?'

Mason gave her points for being gutsy. Dangerous.

`You really want to piss us off?' Ruth said moving closer to her, but without letting go of his hand.

`We're not like other people.' Renee's hair flowed and Huntress hardened into being. `Our story needs to be heard and if you want to twist it, then we will find another to tell it.'

Mason bit his lip, trying to not laugh at the look on Vanessa's face as she stared at Renee.

`Right,' she said, looking back to him. Mason raised an eyebrow at her. `So how do you want to work this?'

`Wil, can you connect their camera to SATCOM via the comms in the ATV?'

`The shit will hit the fan when we override the satellites but too bad, eh, Dad?' Wilson opened the rear door of the ATV beside them.

Mason grinned at Vanessa. Wil was back to sounding like a normal kid again. One with one-and-a-half girlfriends.

`You can do that?' Vanessa asked, while Frank and Wilson worked with the camera.

`Sure,' Wilson said, digging around until he found a cable to plug into the camera. `Helps when you own half of them.'

`It's working,' Frank said nervously. `We're connecting to a satellite feed. Sound is good to roll.'

`You ready, then?'

A sheen of sweat now covered her face. `So it will just be you, then?' She looked around and Mason nodded. `Okay, then, what are you going say?'

`The truth and facts of what happened today and what we are.'

`Oh.'

He heard more police arrive. The tension began to build but he wanted to get his message out.

`Once I'm done we're leaving, so get everyone close. Even our dead.'

`Okay. Love you.'

Mason blinked.

`You're supposed say it back.'
Renee nudged him and left.

`Yes,'
he swallowed. `
Love you too.'
Ruth looked at him with an expression he had never seen. Could she hear him and Renee?

`Mr Douglas?' Vanessa said moving closer. `You okay?'

`Fine.' He managed to swallow again and focused. `Ready.' He nodded. `How about that live feed, Wil?'

`Full network access. Global. As soon as I activate the override, most stations will get the live feed.'

`We're right to go then?' Mason asked Vanessa.

`Well, I think so. It's my first live interview.'

`Your
first
live interview?'

` Yes, but, we can get the message across. Ready when you are.' She looked even more nervous. `Are we really live worldwide? You can do that?'

`Yes.' Mason waited for her to make eye contact as she nodded slowly. `Wilson will count us in and then, Vanessa, we're into your area of expertise. Ready?'

`As I will ever be,' she muttered, microphone held tight.

`In three, two, one. We're live.' Wilson flicked the uplink and Mason heard the generators kick in. Hello world.

A microphone was thrust towards Mason.

`So. Mason Douglas, what the bloody hell happened today?'

 

Tashia stood with Eleanor, well away from Mason and the reporter. Michelle lay crumpled in Eleanor's arms.

`He let her live,' Tashia said quietly.

Eleanor touched Michelle's pulse again.

`He's learnt some control, then.' Tashia watched Mason speaking to the camera. `But now he's trying to explain our existence. To the world.'

`He'll cope.' Eleanor shifted with Michelle's body in her arms.

`Mmm. And if he doesn't?'

`Then the humans will suffer the Hunt as never before.'

 

Pete escorted Vanessa away.

`Will it work?' Ruth asked, hands warm on his arm.

`In time,' Mason said, slipping his arm around her. `In the meanwhile, the Fund will have its hands full controlling the information.'

`We'll never be normal again, will we?' Wilson asked from inside the ATV. Syrus hovered close by in his nanocloud. Sally's head rested on Wilson's shoulder. Lilly sat in the back, eyes closed. Was she recovering, or was it the complexity of her feelings for Wilson making her so quiet? Either way, Mason finally let himself feel the relief of having them all safe.

`I don't care.' Ruth reached up and squeezed his hand. `You're still my Wil.'

`Goddess!' Nikki threw her hands up. `How are we supposed to live now? With everyone knowing.'

Mason turned. `We'll survive because the Fund will have thousands of people managing the information about us. We will be marketed to humans.'

`Marketed?' Renee finally spoke. `We're not something you buy in a shop.'

`No, but that's how we'll handle the whole reveal. Acceptance will be slow, but it will come. We will survive.'

`The suits have arrived,' Max announced, face tight and drawn. `Sir, we have to leave. Staying is too much of a risk.'

Ralph arrived right behind him. `Scarla's people are in shock and we have wounded.' He stopped and stared at the men in suits pushing their way through the crowd. `More trouble.'

`Agreed,' Mason said. He felt Wilson's hand on his shoulder. `Ralph, we're leaving. Everyone gather close. Physical contact. Same goes for our special forces guys, Max. Wounded. And our dead.'

`Understood,' Max dashed off to gather his men.

Ralph looked at Mason. `When you say leaving?'

`Yes.'

 

`Something happening,' Frank whispered, flicking the camera back on.

`They're all holding hands,' Vanessa said, watching the flurry of activity around Mason. `That's weird. But kinda nice to—'

Cold rippled over her and the world went black for a split second.

`Fuck me!' The car park was empty. Mason had disappeared. The dangerous-looking guys with the big guns had gone. Everyone had gone. Even the ATV. `Frankie, tell me you taped every second of that.'

`Yep. You want me to keep rolling?' Frankie said, turning the camera on her as she spun around.

She thumbed the microphone back on. `This is Vanessa Cruickshank continuing from Bondi beach. It appears Mason Douglas has the ability to — teleport. Umm, everyone. That's his entire family and his armed support. Where have they gone? Your guess is as good as ours. His statement earlier tonight seemed open and genuine and straight from the heart but now we have so many questions. The ramifications of what happened tonight will be the cause of much debate though the world. Gods and goddesses. Unnaturals. Teleportation.'

Her voice rose to a squeak. She stopped. Cleared her throat. Keep it together, she thought. Don't screw it up now.

`But I, personally, have only one question.' She stepped in closer to the camera. `Before we started our interview, I was party to a brief conversation and, what I want to know is: Who or what is getting married?'

 

Mason fell, the cold of the teleport burning into his body. Legs and arms were useless as he crashed onto the warehouse car park. Chaos roiled around him. People yelled. The liquid pops of morphing Wolves echoed in the enclosed space.

`Mason, you idiot!' Nikki yelled at him. Hands fumbled over him. `Breathe.'

`Dad!' He was rolled onto his back and, through vision blurred into a kaleidoscope of colours and faces, he recognised Wilson.

`Honey,' Ruth whispered close by. `Stay with us.'

`You're insane.' Renee's hair lay gently across his forehead. `But I love you.'

Darkness clawed at him. He struggled to remain conscious. Many hands touched him, some to carry him, some to rest briefly on his shoulder, or head, or heart.

Finally, softness soothed against his bare skin and a cool hand rested on his forehead.

`Rest, you fool,' Eleanor breathed into his ear. `My grandchildren need their father and my daughters need their weddings.'

Weddings?
Were they
all
obsessed with weddings? Women!

He carried the question with him into unconsciousness.

He groaned. Hot flecks itched and burnt under his eyelids. Real pain flashed when he tried to open them.

`Mmm. So you have returned.'

He rolled over and spat out a mouthful of bile.

`Slowly does it, Mason.' Long, cool fingers touched his face.

`Water, please.' Mason blinked hard. Everything was blurred. Bones ached. His muscles were stiff.

A glass touched his swollen lips and cold water flowed into his parched mouth. A cool hand held his head up while he drank. The room felt unnaturally quiet.

`What happened?' He flopped back onto the soft, sweet scented bed. Christ, he hurt
.

`Mmm. You did a very brave and foolish thing.' She spoke close to his ear, running a hand though his hair.

`The teleport?'

`Oh. Yes.' Tashia rested her hand on his forehead. `Mmm. It is very dangerous to do one so big with no training. Very dangerous.'

Then, he remembered. `Ruth! The babies!' He struggled to sit up but was held down. He relaxed, letting the cool energy of her hand flow into him.

`They're fine. They are all are. The children have been silent since the jump, but that is because the threat is no more. They have grown quickly because of it.'

`I need to see them.'

Again, she held him down. `Mmm, we need to talk first.'

Mason stopped struggling. `Okay, but make it quick.'

`You defeated Bemeon.'

Mason felt a naked body stretch against him and held his imagination in check. `There's a really big
but
coming isn't there?'

`Bemeon is only part of the picture. There is much more to consider. You are perfect for the battle — strong, fast and good at strategy. But that is not what I am concerned about.' She sighed. `I was a butcher. Like you, once. Thousands died at my hands, human and Bloodells alike.'

Mason felt her regret, her voice full of pain.

`It cost me the ones I loved most. It cost me my sanity. Almost.' She moved against him. `Forewarned is forearmed. You cannot make the same mistake. Forsake the darkness, the call to Hunt unfettered. Let your family be the strongest desire in your life. I have had centuries to reflect on my mistakes. You may not have that luxury.'

Mason's heart almost stilled at the images Tashia had created in him. He struggled to breathe.

‘Good. You are listening for a change.' She sighed, caressing his chest. ‘The world has changed forever, and not just for you, Mason. The women who love you wait with your children downstairs, mmm, but many more who wait to see you are not sure of you. You have changed worlds, ours and theirs, in one night. It will not be easy to live among the humans for a time. Perhaps for a long time.'

`Our lives haven't been normal since my parents' funeral. And Gaia,' he croaked. `What has changed more than that?'

`Mmm. I am the oldest of my kind. I can tell you it has been centuries since the gifted came together with Wolves. We have always been hidden. Now we are — out there. Change has swept the world and you're in the hot seat. Humans will learn to live with us, of that I'm sure.' She touched her lips to his ear. `But if you ever lose control of the Hunt, it shall be I who comes for you.'

`Not going to happen.' He felt her lips move against his ear. Smiling, he hoped.

`Good. Mmm. I like you. But this little chat is to remain between you and me,' she growled. `I do not wish all three wives to come a-hunting me.'

`Three?'

She chuckled. `Poor Mason. You must accept that what humans consider a family is limited. Nikki and Renee must be wed to you, and to Ruth, before any children are born. Children of our kind need a solid family structure.'

`But, um, three wives? How?'

She laughed. `I am pleased you anticipate the complexities of such a wedding. So, when you come downstairs, it will be Mason Douglas, father, husband and lover who greets those below?'

`Of course.'

`Excellent.' She slid away from him, reminding him of her nakedness.

`How long before I can see again?' He touched the irritated corners of his eyes.

`About ten seconds after I'm dressed.'

`You're doing this?'

`Old habits die hard. I don't like men seeing me, mmm, naked.'

`Okay,' he muttered, listening to the soft rustle of clothes.

She laughed. `My healing gift works best with the most skin on skin contact I can manage.'

Her hand touched his face and the burning in his eyes disappeared to reveal Tashia's face millimetres from his. `You are not to speak of this conversation to anyone, understood?'

Mason blinked away the last of the sand in his eyes and looked at the face that he could now see held a hint of something alien.