Mated To An Enemy

The Valkyrie lunged at Ashleigh. She tried to dive out of the way, but her move was anticipated. The Valkyrie turned and slammed her elbow into Ashleigh’s face.

Ashleigh fell hard. She panted on the ground, feeling exhausted and weak.

“The time is near,” the Valkyrie said. “You do not have the will to defeat me.”

“Shut up…” Ashleigh growled.

“Your body fights the poison, but the poison is winning.”

Ashleigh pushed herself off the ground, stumbling back to her feet.

“I said shut up!”

She ran at the Valkyrie. Dropping to her knees, she threw her fist at full force into the creature’s thigh. The Valkyrie let out a grunt and fell forward to one knee. Ashleigh took the opportunity to climb on her back and tried to get a firm hold on the Valkyrie’s head.

Unfortunately, she was tired.

The Valkyrie grabbed her arm, gripping so hard that Ashleigh cried out in pain. She flung her forward while keeping hold of her arm, Ashleigh’s body slammed against the ground and a lightning bolt of pain shot through her spine.

Ashleigh screamed.

“Ashleigh!!” Caleb screamed as he flew forward in his bed.

“Whoa, whoa… it’s ok, honey, it’s ok!” Fiona called out, grabbing hold of Caleb as he thrashed on the bed.

Caleb took in deep painful breaths. He was covered in sweat and his heart was racing.

“It was a dream, baby, just a dream,” Fiona whispered, rubbing his back gently.

“Mom?” Caleb said, looking up at her. His eyes widened. He reached up and grabbed her shoulders. “Did you find her?!”

Fiona’s eyes fell, she clenched her jaw and shook her head.

Caleb sighed. He gripped his hair between his fingers and pulled tightly.

“Argh!!” he shouted. Then, getting up from the bed, he paced around the room.

“Caleb, I know it’s hard but you gotta try to calm down.”

“I can’t do this… I can’t just sit here and do nothing!” Caleb shouted.

“Caleb, you can’t go find her without any clues… you’re worn out, you barely sleep. And when is the last time you ate?” Fiona demanded.

Caleb didn’t answer, he just continued to pace.

“I am not telling you to forget her or give up the search,” Fiona said, standing from the bed. “But, you aren’t doing this alone, Caleb. We all want to find her. There are teams searching in every

direction. We will find her, I promise you that.”

‘Caleb…please… find me.’ Her voice echoed in his mind.

Caleb fell back on his couch. Holding his head between his hands. He was scared, worried, angry. Where was she? Why couldn’t he find her? Why couldn’t anyone find her?!

He stood up, grabbing the coffee table and flipping it against the wall with a roar.

“Caleb!” Fiona shouted.

“Where is she!” Caleb shouted.

He moved to the small bar, pushing it over, sending the bottles crashing to the ground.

“Caleb!” Fiona shouted again.

Caleb looked at his mother, he was angry, he was tired. He was beside himself with fear. How could she be so calm? How could she just stand there? Why wasn’t she out looking for Ashleigh? Why wouldn’t she let him look for her?

“You don’t want me to find her…” he snarled. “You hate her… you tortured her with that game! Put her in the hospital!”

“Caleb…” Fiona said calmly. Feeling the pressure in the room rising. Caleb was drawing energy; she wasn’t sure he even realized it.

Fiona quickly touched her palm, in a repeated pattern.

“I love Ashleigh,” Fiona said. “I didn’t torture her, I was testing her, helping her find her way into her role as Luna. I accepted her, Caleb. I want her back too.”

Caleb growled. Baring his teeth, his eyes were filled with something sinister and dark.

“Caleb, there’s something wrong with you,” Fiona said softly. “Come with me to the medical center, let’s get you checked out, alright?”

“Where is she?” Caleb growled. “Where is Ashleigh?”

“I don’t know, Caleb, we are doing everything we can to find her.”

Caleb grabbed the chair and tossed it against the wall with a loud roar, the leg splintering.

The door burst open; Galen charged in. He surveyed the room. The shattered table, broken bottles, and broken chair. He looked at Fiona, who quickly nodded toward Caleb.

Galen looked at Caleb, who still stood staring at Fiona with eyes of rage.

“Caleb,” Galen called.

Caleb’s eyes widened. He turned to Galen, and the rage intensified.

“You…” Caleb growled.

Galen took a step back. He had never seen this look in Caleb’s eyes before, this level of anger.

“You were supposed to make sure she was safe!” Caleb howled. “I trusted you!”

“Caleb!” Fiona shouted. “This isn’t Galen’s fault!”

“You didn’t even know!” Caleb shouted before charging at Galen.

Galen prepared for the impact. He tried to hold his ground, but Caleb wasn’t holding back.

The pain of his back slamming into the wall shot through his entire body, he let out a groan. Caleb snarled at him and pulled back to hit him. Galen barely managed to move his head out of the way. Caleb’s fist connected with wall, splintering the wood.

Caleb growled and roared. He pulled back again, his fist bloodied. Before he had a chance to follow through on this next hit, he was struck hard at the back of his head.

He let out a groan and teetered back, letting go of Galen.

Galen looked up to see Fiona changed into her armor and holding her batons at the ready.

“Call the medics,” Fiona said.

“You call, I’ll take care of Caleb,” Galen said.

“I won’t have my boys fighting, go.”

Caleb let out a low growl, he turned toward Galen.

Fiona rushed him, Caleb was barely able to block the flurry of blows she launched at him.

“Don’t ignore your mother!” Fiona shouted as she continued to swing at him. “I taught you better than that young man!”

Caleb was being held back, barely.

Galen stepped out of the room, he called for a medic then rushed back into the room. He came just in time to catch Fiona as she was flung across the room after Caleb had gotten tired of her attack.

“Why is everyone trying to keep her from me!” Caleb shouted. “Give her back!”

Caleb charged at them both; Galen pressed the pin on his shoulder. The cords shot out and darted over his body.

Before the armor was finished forming, Galen quickly touched his chest. The black material spread over his arm and then dropped down with speed until it hit the ground. Then, it rushed back up and widened, forming a large shield.

Galen held firmly to the shield before the two of them as Caleb slammed against it, almost moving them back with the force of his impact.

“What happened to him?” Galen asked.

“I don’t know,” Fiona said. “He woke up from a nightmare and then he just started acting strange, aggressive.”

“Cowards!” Caleb snarled hitting the shield with his bloody fist. “Give her back!!”

“Galen!” a voice called from the hall.

“Go, I’ll hold him back,” Galen said.

Fiona nodded and ran to the door.

Caleb glanced up as she left the room, but to his eyes, she looked like something else. Like the creature that attacked Ashleigh in his dreams. The one that stabbed her!

“No!!!” he roared.

Drawing the energy from around him, Caleb pulled back and slammed his fist into Galen’s shield, cracking it.

Galen gasped.

Caleb drew back again, hitting the shield once again, this time, the shield could take no more. It fell away, leaving Galen open to receive the attack.

The blow landed against his shoulder with such force that he was thrown back against the couch. Caleb was taking ragged breaths now. He turned towards the door just in time to see Fiona pointing a dart gun at him.

She shot him four times in the chest and he looked down. His vision swirled.