Pieces of Three Read online

  “What’s wrong on your island?” Medical aid needed to be taken under special consideration no matter if they were friend or foe.

  Neither shifter answered.

  “If you don’t tell me, we can’t help you.” She softened her voice.

  “We caught you doing what you do best.” Secretary Girard tossed his pen aside and let out a low chuckle. “Rather than getting medicine, we think you were here to spread disease and disaster again.”

  He put his hands up and took a step back. Porter stood as well.

  Alyssa pressed her lips together, refusing to let the words she wanted to spew out escape. There had to be more, many more of the Lykans, and if they were ill, their duty to provide aid superseded everything else.

  “Your kind of poison is not allowed here, we tried it before to disasterous results.” The Secretary pushed his chair back and got up. “You think you can blend in and as you call it mate with our females when you know it is a death sentence designed to eliminate every species but your own.”

  Around the room the Aktrosian guards nodded, but she couldn’t help but shake her head.

  The story of the ill fated daughter of their Prime Minister marrying the leader of their Lykans only to end in her death had taken on fable-like proportions over the years with the Lykans being the villain.

  “Do you even know what happened during that union? How do you know the malfunction wasn’t on the human end?” Julian pounded his fist on his leg.

  “The human died, the Lykan lived.”

  Julian glanced at her, almost daring her to speak.

  “Maybe if we help the Lykans we can find out what happened before.” With the words out she covered her mouth with her hand One day she would learn to wait.

  “Miss Wilkinson, your opinion is not needed!” Secretary Girard pointed at her. “Whatever is happening on their so-call island has nothing to do with what happened before.”

  The guards closed in on them.

  “I thought she was your Liaison, isn’t her opinion the one that matters?” Julian turned back to the guard. “Maybe they can’t be mistaken for one of you, but they are still watching, controlling you even though you think you’re the leaders. Should I make it easier for you?” He thrust his hand out.

  The room stilled.

  Julian’s hand changed, his fingers lengthening, his nails turning to claws, black fur covered his skin..

  She only witnessed a true shifting a handful of times. Nothing compared to being only a few feet away, watching the metamorphosis trail up his arm, turning everything up to his elbow into something distinctly wild. “Wolf.”

  Two more guards surrounded them, each changing as well, the bear emerging. In an instant their hands became huge paws, their faces covered in hair, snouts elongated with sharp teeth.

  A flash of silver caught her eye. One of the guards had already prepared a syringe. “No,” she gasped.

  “Julian.” Porter reached over and took hold of Julian’s upper arm. “Stop it.”

  With a shake of his head, Julian jerked his arm away from Porter and his arm returned to that of a human.

  “Guards.” Secretary Girard pointed.

  The Aktrosians retreated back to their normal state.

  “Miss Wilkinson, will you please enlighten these criminals as to what happens when they break Code 843 on Anthros?” The Secretary returned to his chair. “From what I hear this is the second time.”

  “Code 843?” Julian shoved his hand into his pocket.

  Without a word, Secretary Girard rocked his chair back.

  She swallowed and recited the law trying to keep her voice even. “Shifting on the mainland is prohibited, punishable by chemical inhibition.”

  Porter glanced around the room, pausing at her. “You’re so brainwashed you have your laws memorized.”

  He might as well have thrown boiling water on her. His words burned through her the same.

  “What about your grizzlies?” Porter inched closer to Julian.

  “They aren’t the instigators here, they are protecting us.” Secretary Girard motioned for the guards. “We are going to abide by to our laws, something foreign to you. You will be inhibited and taken off our island by tonight.”

  The guards inched ever closer. She wrapped her arms around her shoulders and shuddered. Along with watching transformations she also watched the administration of the Antiamorphis injection that would temporarily prevent any changes. The various species here, lizard, bear, all of them, would know the horrors, yet they didn’t move. “Sir.” She gathered the strength to raise her hand.

  “With the position of our Ambassador vacant, Ms. Wilkinson will accompany you to ensure things move smoothly.” Secretary Girard pushed himself back from the desk. “As our intruders made it clear, you know the protocol better than anyone. This is something your father would have done with pride. “

  Julian lifted his chin at her and Porter turned away as the guards led them out a separate exit.

  When the door closed she raised her hand. “Excuse me.” The horror stories associated with chemical inhibition were well documented.

  “Is there any question on what your duties are, Ms. Wilkinson?” Secretary Girard stood. “If you want to be an Ambassador it’s time you finally get off this Island and actually saw the Archipelago.”

  Yells of pain rang through the walls.

  The injection must have been administered.

  She pressed her hand to her chest. No one should be tortured. They said they only came for medical supplies. What if they really needed help? The one shifter had looked back at her.

  “Ms. Wilkinson, is there a problem?”

  Another deep wail, almost howl drove right through her.

  Not one person in the room flinched, not even the shifters.

  Tears heated her eyes, but she swallowed them back. “No sir, I understand.”

  Chapter Two

  The ramp leading to the large sailboat may as well have been a gangplank to drop them in the middle of the ocean. Thunder rumbled off in the distance and grey clouds hid the setting sun. A perfect time to get rid of two errant wolfs trying to save the few left of their kind. Porter tried to lift his head, but at the moment it took every bit of effort he possessed to continue walking. The least the poison could have done was let him remain in his hallucination. Unfortunately he was lucid enough to realize what was happening to them.

  “The two of you will be going down below.” The guard shoved Julian.

  Julian stumbled and fell, taking Porter down as well. They hit the deck of the boat with a thud and dull pain vibrated through him, like someone strumming on a tightly wound string. The ache took over his entire body.

  “Porter.” Julian let out a low growl and pulled at the shackles binding them together.

  “Don’t fight it now.” He shut his eyes to stop his head from spinning.

  “We’re not on our ship,” Julian whispered.

  At least his cohort gained a bit of coherence and lost some of his confidence. One day Julian would face reality and learn to simply survive like the rest of them. All the speeches in the world wouldn’t help them. “No, we’re not. Try and focus.”

  “Shut up and get up!” The guard kicked him, catching him right in the stomach.

  With the blow he swore he heard the pain. He doubled over, his face scraping on the wood dock, his ears ringing.

  “I’m going to kill you.” Julian fought to get up, but fell back.

  “Are you, tough one?” The guard stepped forward. “I said stand up.”

  “Give us a minute.” A light rain fell down upon them, light, cool sprinkles his body needed. Porter raised his face, letting the droplets hit him and cleanse the dirt off his face from the holding cell they threw them in after their dose of medicine. The thought of being stuck in the stagnant hold of a ship for at least three days twisted his stomach. If he had anything left to vomit it would have ended up right on the deck.

  If he could shift, his cl
aws would have sliced the talking toy into several neat portions. He ground his teeth, longing to give in to the other side of his DNA. With transformation not an option, he needed to keep his wits about him.

  “Beg me, and maybe I’ll throw you a bone.” The guard smiled. “Or maybe you would like a little more juice.” He lifted the oversized case which no doubt contained more poison. If he could only get hold of one of the vials he might be able to figure out the antidote.

  “I thought she was coming with us.” Julian managed to sit up and offered his hand.

  The girl. Of course Julian noticed the girl because she caught his attention with a few simple sentances, but it was enough to have Julian think she was some sort of ally. Damn, if he didn’t think it as well. Most likely she was only trying to better herself, all humans were selfish and spiteless.

  “She’s not here and she didn’t help us.” He took Julian’s offering.

  “It doesn’t matter.” Julian shook his head.

  “Unless you want me to lead you down by a leash, I would get going.” The guard pulled a baton out of his belt loop.

  “All right.” He glanced around the deck. Several other Aktrosian guards as well as humans in uniform gathered around to gawk. He took a breath, trying to fill his lungs with a last blast of cool night air before they were quarantined to the bowels of the ship. No one on their island would search for them, not with the illness running rampant.

  “Now are we going to stand or do I have to get you down there myself?” The guard lifted his baton.

  “Stop!” A woman’s voice yelled behind him.

  He turned. The girl stood on the far end of the ramp leading to the ship waving some papers above her head and holding a large suitcase.

  “She’s here.”

  Julian glanced over his shoulder. “What is she doing?”

  He wanted to ask the same question. She continued to stand at the edge of the ramp with her papers while peering off to one side and then the other. More than once she lifted her foot as if to board the ship, but stopped mid air and put her foot back down.

  “Sit pretty for the official, and maybe I’ll pour you some kibble.” The guard swung the baton and stomped toward her.

  Porter wiped his brow thankful for the moment to take a breath. Humans chose odd specimens for enforcement. On any other day neither of them would even have to shift to break every bone in the big galoot’s body.

  “I’m going to get sick again,” Julian groaned.

  “Don’t touch me.” She fanned her papers at the guard.

  Porter tensed, the girl’s words wanting to send him into action. She must have had the same effect on Julian. For the first time since the administration of the human’s special elixir, he straightened up.

  “Are you coming aboard?” The guard bowed and reached for her bag. “Let me help you.”

  “I’m coming aboard, but not until you step back and keep your mouth shut.” She pulled her suitcase closer to her.

  A lone, sick laugh escaped Julian’s throat.

  The guard moved aside, bowing once more.

  “He needs to die,” Julian mumbled.

  “Yes.” Killing the guard would be fun for the three seconds it would take, but gratifying for years afterward.

  Once again, the girl glanced over the sides of the ramp and raised her foot.

  Porter found himself holding his breath. Would she make the move or not? What was wrong?

  “Are there life vests on board?” She crumpled the papers in her fist.

  “Help us all.” He let loose a chuckle masking it with a cough. His chest ached from the exertion. Water, she was afraid of the water. Not convenient for a girl who lived on an island.

  The guard nodded.

  “Don’t tell me I caught you abusing the Lykans.”

  “Ms. Wilkinson.” In an instant, the guard slipped his baton back into the holder on his belt. “They are not cooperating.”

  “Don’t you see they are ill?” She motioned toward them.

  Please, no. Porter pressed his fingers to his temple to stop the pounding. Maybe he was still delirious, he didn’t want to remember the last female who took on such an attitude, it was better left in his memory. They couldn’t have the girl defend them when they couldn’t return the favor. In all likelihood, they would have to get rid of her once they made a plan.

  “They did it to themselves.” Again, the guard offered his hand.

  “I saw you with the syringe.” She swiped his hand aside. “I asked you to back away.”

  No matter how sick, Porter swore he would find the strength to get rid of the guard if he touched the girl.

  Julian panted, no doubt trying to prime his body to react as well.

  “You are getting wet.” The guard retreated. “Come aboard and I will personally make sure you stay warm and dry.”

  Porter ground his teeth together.

  “I assure you I can take care of myself.” She looked at the sails, over the side one more time, and rushed across the ramp.

  He tensed as she neared them, her heels clicking on the wood, but she ground to a halt on her own, only taking an extra step when her suitcase hit her in the back of the leg. She reminded him of an unorganized whirlwind.

  “Looks like you need a little help.” The guard joined her. “I was just taking these two dogs down below and then I’ll see where else I can be of service.”

  He pushed himself up on his knees, as did Julian.

  Like the storm she was, the girl twisted around, almost losing her footing, before supporting herself on the suitcase. “I told you not to say another word. These two males may have come illegally, but they are sentient, advanced beings and abuse will not be tolerated.”

  With the aches subsiding and the rain acting to cleanse him, he took the time to study her. Technically, her appearance and her knowledge were correct, but something about her was off. She was different, disheveled and a disaster. Her dark hair was combed back straight and secured with a barrette and pins, but it seemed as if it wanted to be let loose to curl and wave as it saw fit, frame her face. Unlike Lykan females, her features were tiny, almost breakable, matching her shorter stature. What didn’t match was the sharp makeup she caked on in contrast to her loose fitting shirt and pants. Strange, interesting, intriguing.

  He pulled his stare away from the girl and got a glimpse of Julian. The way he gazed at her, Porter would have thought she was the cure to the well-guarded swill they injected into the two of them.

  “Do you understand?” She lifted her head and stared down the bear. “I will not tolerate any further abuse.”

  “Yes ma’am.” The guard lowered his head.

  The boat moved.

  “Oh my God.” She lunged forward, right toward them.

  Reflex caused him to put his free arm out, but rather than catching her, she collided with one of the masts.

  “Ms. Wilkinson?” The guard shrugged.

  She dug her nails into the wood as if trying to grab on. “Are we expecting rough seas?”

  “It’s a little choppy, but once we go to our quarters we’ll be fine.” The guard winked at them. “We’ve sailed through worse storms.”

  Porter balled his hand into a fist.

  The boat rocked again. She pressed her forehead to the mast, squeezing her eyes shut. “I will be going down below with the Lykans.”

  Julian made a noise.

  “We have quarters on deck.”

  She opened one eye.

  Porter leaned back into her line of sight.

  “I never thought I would be able to meet a true Lykan. I want to continue my research.” She pushed away from the mast and held her arms out if she were trying to balance. “I will go with them.”

  “It’s not often we get to be with a dignitary.” The guard moved in front of her.

  “My father was the dignitary.” She took her suitcase and stuffed her papers under her arm. “Maybe it will be less choppy below.”

  The guard mo
tioned in the direction for her to take.

  As she walked past them the sea breeze blew her damp shirt tight against her, showing off the curves she apparently tried to hide. Sweat broke out over his body, chilling his skin, but his core heated. Both he and Julian wiped their brows.

  He glanced up at the sky, but there were too many clouds to see the moon. No matter, he felt the pull, more powerful than the poison. Maybe she shouldn’t go down below with them.

  * * * *

  “I will be coming with you to make sure the prisoners behave.” The guard bumped into Alyssa as she made her way down the last step.

  She shuddered at having any part of his body touch hers and faced him. “I’m fine, they are chained and weak.”

  “I can’t leave you alone with them.” He crossed his arms.

  “You will inhibit my research.” She held up a paper. “There are laws governing interfering with my work.”

  He leaned forward, touched her hair and smiled. “I said I can’t leave you alone with them.”

  “I said I can handle myself.” She pushed his hand away, swallowing away the sour taste in her mouth at his touch, his breath, him in general. “I am asking you to leave, and I don’t want to be disturbed.”

  “Fine.” He straightened up. “They will get their second dose in three hours. We can’t have animals on the boat.”

  “Best you remember that as well.” She narrowed her eyes. While almost every person on Anthros seemed enamored with the bears, they always made her uneasy. They seemed to seep into every corner of the island watching everything. “As long as humans are aboard, our vessel is considered an extension of Anthros and there will be no shifting.”

  He took a breath. “Once you’re through maybe we can have a drink or something.”

  Without acknowledging the vile sentence that spewed out of the bear’s equally vile mouth, she closed the door and turned. The two males sat on a cot on far wall chained together, pale and slumped down. The only issue was the far wall wasn’t all that far away.

  In fact, as she got a good glimpse of the tiny space, nothing could ever be considered any distance away from her. “It is rather tight in here.” The two of them seemed to take up over half the available square footage alone. With her, her suitcase and her papers, there truly wasn’t any open space remaining. She lifted her hand to her mouth and fought the urge to bite down on one of her nails.