Running in Fear: Ghost Warrior (10 page)

Nikola stepped forward, but Lissa grabbed his arm, and shook her head. “No, I’ll answer this Nikola.” She smiled at him, and turned her attention to King Christopher.

“I don’t control the plants, Sir. The plants come when I need help, or when I, or anyone I care about, is in distress. As you can see now, the plants outside the windows are trying to get in. So as for letting others know of my powers…” Lissa shrugged her shoulders. “I’m sure they would have found out soon enough. It seems they have been but one step behind us, anyway.”

Nikola smiled and squeezed Lissa’s hand. He was so proud of her. He couldn’t wait till tonight when they all would claim her. She squeezed his hand, and once again King Christopher asked a question, but it was centered at him.

“I see you are here, standing here as her mate, but yet you have not claimed her, why? You have claimed all of your other mates by blood. Is there a reason why you have not taken this woman under your protection, and guidance? Maybe if you would have claimed her already, and laid down the law, this would not have happened.”

Nikola didn’t get to say a word. The windows busted open, plants he didn’t recognize spewed into the dining room and converged on King Christopher, until Lissa raised her hand, and all movement stopped. She stepped forward. “For one, no one lays the law down on me, and I resent that. Two, what we do in our personal circle, has no reflection on you, or anyone else in this room.”

Nikola pulled her back, and moved her into Castor’s arms. “I have killed men for less, so be warned King Christopher, you are here for the trial, nothing more. I won’t have my mate attacked, or your abuse put upon her. What we do in our lives is no one’s business but ours.”

He turned to Dominic. “I have agreed with this chat, when it related to matters at hand, but I will not have my mate stand here and be insulted by one of your kings. I did not agree to this.”

Dominic stood, and nodded to Nikola, making his way to their sides. He stopped in front of Lissa, and smiled. “I’m proud of you. You have done well Lissa.”

The other three kings rose and moved towards them, smiling. “I’m sorry. I had to say those things to you Lissa, but in our world, anyone with such a huge gift has to be tested. We have to know they can control the gift, and that they are worthy of such a gift. With the death of Kimberly, the only way we could make sure was to test you.” King Christopher announced, eyeing all three of them.

Slowly the plants drew back outside, and Nikola fixed the windows. “So this was all a test? Does this mean there will be no trial?” Nikola grinned down at Lissa, who moved between him and Castor.

Dominic shook his head. “There will be no trial. I have explained what happened that day, to my friends and colleagues. They were a little worried about her powers, so I agreed to the test, and for that I am sorry Lissa, but we had to make sure, especially now, in your condition.”

Lissa smirked. “I’m pregnant Dominic, nothing more. Even that does not feel real, but I’m sure as the day’s progress, it will. But I would never use my gift to hurt an innocent, especially with what I’ve been through.” She turned and smiled at him.

“Oh, what about Kimberly’s parents?” Lissa frowned, and questioned Dominic. “I’m sure they are going to be unhappy with the outcome here and I thought her father was going to the Bloods?”

Christopher shook his head. “Don’t worry about them, we have men watching their ever move. I will personally see them off this island tonight,” King Christopher said. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’ll do just that. Then I believe all of us need to chat about what is to come.”

Lissa glanced up at Nikola and sighed. “I guess the run is off, isn’t it?”

He cupped her cheek and kissed her lips softly. “Why don’t you go spend some time with Leda? When we are done talking we’ll come and get you? If it’s not too late, I don’t see why we can’t go for that run. It’s still very early, anyway.”

Lissa glanced at her watch and laughed. “I swear with everything going on, it seems like it should be later than five thirty in the afternoon.” She reached up and kissed him, and then Castor. “I’ll send in Pierre and Adonis. Don’t be too long.”

Nikola watched her walk to the door, his cock throbbing in his pants. “There will be no more waiting.” He whispered and she turned her head, as she opened the doors to the dining room.

“I hope not, or I just might have to find another fae, who is willing to fill your spot.” She laughed, and ran out the door, as he snarled, and pretended to go after her.

“Yes, tonight we will be whole.” He turned to see Castor’s eyes a deep red. “And you my mate, will finally be all of mine.” Nikola kissed Castor hard, when all he wanted to do was drag him away, and bury his cock into his ass.

Lissa grabbed Leda’s hand, and was about to take her to her room, when Suzanne, and the other women came in carrying pumpkins. “Hey, you two want to help? We’re going to carve some pumpkins, roast pumpkin seeds, and decorate the big hall for Halloween,” Jaycee asked, carrying three small pumpkins.

Lissa laughed, and looked at Leda, who nodded. “Let’s go for it. Since I can’t be with my kids, might as well have some fun.”

“Okay, let’s go, and carve some pumpkins, but where did you get all the pumpkins?” Lissa asked as they made their way to the great hall that she had only seen once.

“We asked a few of Nikola’s warriors if they would bring us some pumpkins. Oh my, you should see the big one they brought us to work on. I swear it’s going to take one of us to crawl in it to get all the gook out.” Suzanne laughed, and glanced at her.

“Lissa I want to apologize for what they did in there. I couldn’t figure out why Temmra was so mad. She kept hissing inside my head, and believe me that can be a distraction. Damn it, that hurt Temmra.” Suzanne rubbed her arm where a bright red splotch appeared.

“Anyway, she told me what the men had planned finally, and both of us were furious. Needless to say, we told the other women, and they have all agreed. We needed to have some down time, some fun. I think all of us are on the verge of killing somebody, and with all of us pregnant, what better way to relax then a dance?” Jaycee announced, and pushed into the great hall.

Lissa just about fell over, when she saw the big pumpkin. “Oh my god, that thing is huge. You weren’t kidding when you said one of us would have to get inside, but I want some of the seeds from it to grow outside.” She ran her hand along the side of the pumpkin, and stared up at the huge thing.

“I was thinking the same thing. We can dry some of the gourd seeds also, so we’ll have them.” Suzanne handed her a knife. “We thought you and Leda would like to tackle the big one.”

Lissa laughed. “That’s not right, but yep, we’ll have a ball doing it.” Leda bent over laughing, at her choice of words.

“Okay enough. We need music, candles, and the smell of outside.” Jaycee said with her hands on her hip.

“Well, I can help with the smell.” Lissa went over, and opened the large double sliding glass doors. “How’s that?” The fresh scent of the wood floated into the room, and Jaycee smiled.

Marsha waved her hand, and candles lit up the room, Jaycee flicked her wrist, and music started playing in the back ground. “Now this is more like it.”

Leda and Lissa climbed up on top of the pumpkin, laughing as they got on top. Cider, and small pumpkin cakes, flowed freely around the room as everyone worked on their pumpkins. The song
Monster Mash
came on, and they all sang the song, smiling.

“Here we go.” Leda plunged her knife in two more times, and the top was now carved out. Lissa glanced down to see one of Nikola’s warriors helping Jaycee with a decoration. “Hey Jaycee, when you’re done with him, we need him here to lift this lid off.”

All of a sudden, the lid came floating off, and onto the floor below them. “Is that better?” Marsha grinned, and scooted the wheel barrel over to the side of the pumpkin.

Lissa shook her head and laughed. “I keep forgetting you are part fae. Nikola would like to talk with you at some time, tomorrow?” She told Marsha, as her and Leda, took shovels, and started to scoop out the insides of the pumpkin.

“Well, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon,” Marsha said, as Lissa jumped down off the pumpkin, and moved to the open doors. She glanced outside towards the woods, and rubbed her arms.

“What? You’re white as a ghost, did you forget to eat again?” Suzanne slid next to her and she smiled.

“Yep sure did, but that isn’t it. Something’s out there and I don’t know what it is. Jaycee can you tell?”

Jaycee moved slowly over to them, her belly there before her. “You’re right. There is something out there, animal, but not.” She glanced at her, and they both nodded.

“Maybe, this new realm is creating new animals, like it did with the plants.” Suzanne whispered and all of them jumped when an eerie scream pierced the night.

“Okay, I’m so not going out there. I might like to be in the woods, but whatever that was sounded too close for me.” Lissa glanced at Leda, who had now moved behind her, and nodded.

“I’m with you. I think we should shut the doors now.” Cecil reached for the door when something ran past the door and screamed.

All six of them screamed, matching that of the creatures, but louder. Lissa pushed Jaycee back, and slammed the doors as the men came running into the room, Nikola appeared at her side running his hands over her.

“Are you hurt? What happened?” He asked as the rest of her mates surrounded her.

“I’m fine, but I think we have a new animal on the island.” Lissa swallowed, and pointed to the door.

Sitting at the door, on the other side of the glass, was the strangest animal she had ever seen. It was at least 4 feet high, its dark purple eyes glanced around the room, and then it turned its gaze on her. “Okay, I don’t think I like having this gift anymore. Why is that thing staring at me?” Lissa backed up into Castor’s arms, as Nikola moved forward slowly with Remi, and Dominic. The rest of men stayed in front of the women, shielding them with their bodies.

Nikola glanced back at her. “Can you connect with it at all?”

“What? Connect with that? It has six inch fangs hanging out of its mouth, purple eyes and a tongue…” Lissa shook, as the green tongue at least a foot in length wiped across its fangs.

“Lissa, you have fangs, and it’s a creature no matter what it looks like. How about you Jaycee?” Nikola turned towards Jaycee.

Lissa yanked out of Castor’s arms, and the creature screamed again, standing up on its four feet as she slowly approached it.
Can you hear me?

The thing cocked his head to the side, and studied her. Lissa could almost sense as if the creature needed something from her.
What do you need? Why me?

The animal had green, plant-like skin, and it now paced back and forth, as she got closer. Nikola grabbed onto her arm. “That’s close enough.”

Lissa yanked her arm out of his. “You wanted me to connect with it. I’m doing that, so back off.” Lissa snapped, shocking him, and her mates, but she moved forward ignoring them.

Will you hurt me? I carry little ones in my belly. They can’t be harmed.
Lissa knew the thing understood, but she still couldn’t understand it.

“Lissa, I’m not playing games, don’t you open that door.” Nikola pushed her back, and at once the creature hissed at Nikola, sending some kind of fluid out of its mouth, onto the window.

“I don’t think it’s too happy you touched me, and pushed me back.” Lissa peaked around Nikola’s body, to see the creature scrapping at the door where the green like substance squirted out of its mouth.

“You might want to get back, because that thing just broke through the glass.” Lissa shouted, as it crashed through, and landed in one sweep on top of her legs as her ass hit the ground with a thud.

“Damn, you’re heavy. You know I told you I had babies inside me.” Lissa laughed as the thing started to lick her hands, and exposed belly. Her mates, slowly circled her, and the creature hissed again.

“Lissa, this is not funny. Talk to that thing now.” Nikola snapped, and Lissa rolled her eyes.

“Okay, what should we call you? You are male, if that thing is any clue. Wow, for an animal, you sure are big.” Lissa laughed, when Nikola swore. The animal’s cock was growing larger by the minute.

“So help me, if that creature starts to hump you, I’m going to fry it.” Nikola snarled his, long metal sword now in his hand.

“I’m getting there. We have to find a name for it, and put that stupid sword away. I know, we can call you…” Lissa didn’t get a word out, as Dominic moved up to the creature turning part dragon, and scared it.

“Hey, that wasn’t nice.” Lissa frowned, as the thing whimpered in the corner away from Dominic. Suzanne moved up to him, and slapped the back of his head.

“What is wrong with you? Can’t you morons see that Lissa is somehow connected to it.” Suzanne snapped, as Nikola reached down, and picked her up.

“Are you okay?” he glanced down at her stomach.

“I’m fine, Nikola. He didn’t hurt me. Now move, so I can see if he’s okay.” She frowned at Nikola when he shook his head.

“No, you are not going anywhere near that thing, until we know it’s not going to hurt you. Whatever he sprayed on that glass melted it. Imagine what that could do to your skin, if it got on it.” Nikola held onto her waist and refused to let her go.

“The animal will not harm her. If anything, the creature is her familiar, and you are stopping the bonding process.” Gaia announced, as she and Empusa appeared in the room.

“You will be able to understand it, once it takes a small amount of your blood. It was waiting for you to offer.” Gaia walked over, and pet the creature, and it calmed instantly.

Nikola grunted, but released her. “How were we supposed to know?”

Gaia laughed, as the animal slowly made its way back to her. “You’ll feel her connections, and a small part of her gift, once you are bonded to Lissa.”

“Can we please not discuss my bonding, which is a little private? At least I would like to keep it that way. Please.” Lissa frowned, and offered her wrist to the animal, but it took her finger into its mouth and poked it with an inside smaller tooth.

At once the connection was instant. “His name is Sal-van-ger, but since I have no idea what that is, we can call him Sal. His kind mate for life, and they feed off, well you guessed it blood. They don’t kill their prey.” Lissa laughed.

“I guess they are sort of like us, and that green liquid would have warmed our skin, but it wouldn’t have hurt us. Its plant matter, and only meant to paralyze its victim.” Lissa turned to Nikola and grinned.

“It seems Sal wants to connect with you, since you tried to protect me. He knows you can communicate with the other males.” Lissa moved out of the way and stared at the door. “We’re going to need a new door, and something that can withstand the new world that is forming out there. Is it going to be safe to take our run later?”

Nikola grunted as Sal sliced his finger, and sucked his blood. “We’re going to have to know our new world anyway. Maybe Sal can come with us when we run. That way he can point out anything new.” Nikola glanced at Remi. “I know Jaycee can’t run, but maybe some of you might want to come to check things out. I don’t know about flying, with the air turning still.”

Lissa moved the step ladder once more next to the pumpkin, and she climbed back up on top with Leda. She ignored everyone around her, and went to work on the pumpkin with her friend.

“You’re pissed.” Leda glanced down at Nikola, and then back up at her.

“No, now come on, let’s get this pumpkin done.” Lissa glanced down to see Sal eating the insides they had scooped up. “No Sal, don’t eat the seeds. We need those.” Lissa shook her head, and grabbed the shovel as her men watched her, but discussed matters with Gaia, and Goddess Empusa.

The other women went back to work, as the men stayed in the room to watch over them, but continued to chat. She glanced over at Jared, and saw him watching Leda. “I might be wrong, but I think someone likes you.” Lissa teased her friend, who was now waist deep in pumpkin guts, as she jumped inside the pumpkin.

“Who? Damn it Lissa, you know I can’t see anyone from in here, and this stuff is just down right yuck. It’s going to take us an hour to get this crap out of our hair alone.” She laughed throwing a clump of goo at her, as Lissa jumped in after her.

“Hey, that’s no fair.” Lissa laughed, and started throwing the guck at her friend. The both of them were having so much fun, they didn’t notice Nikola, and Jared at the top watching them, until a plop of gunk hit her from a top. She turned and glanced up to see them laughing at her.

Lissa turned to glance at Leda who smiled, and flung a hand full of guck at the men above, but Leda wasn’t the only one. She grabbed hands full, and started throwing too. One glob landed on Nikola’s shoulder, another landed on his chest, while Jared got a full force, frontal attack. His whole head was now covered in pumpkin guts.

Leda and she laughed so hard they fell on their asses, staring up at them when Leda patted her arm. “Okay, who did I just hit in the face with this stuff.”

Lissa stood, and reached up as, Nikola grabbed onto her hand and pulled her up. Jared pulled Leda up. “Leda, may I introduce you to King Jared FourFold.”

Leda glanced up at him, then to her. “Oh my god, I’m going to die. I flung goop all over a king.”

* * * *

Nikola glanced down at the ground as all four of them climbed off the pumpkin. Leda was horrified; she had just flung pumpkin guts on Jared.

“Oh please.” Lissa laughed. “He was just as guilty as you were. You know how many times he hit me with that stuff? Relax Leda; no one is going to hurt you. I’d sick Sal on them if they did.” The strange creature lifted its head, and ran to them. Immediately it started licking all the gook off of them.

“Exactly, what did you want to do with this pumpkin, Lissa?” Nikola studied it, then he turned to see her grinning at it.

“Well, I was kind of hoping we could carve a scary face on it, and have lights inside it, for the dance this weekend. I also want to keep the seeds, so I can plant them this summer wherever we settle down. We’re keeping the gourd seeds too.”

Nikola nodded, and tapped his finger on his chin. “Something like this?”

Lissa swatted him on the arm. “Nikola we’re supposed to do this all natural, you know with knives and such. It’s a way to keep our minds from wandering.” Lissa glanced around the room. “The Goddesses are gone?”

Nikola nodded, and pushed them both toward Castor and Pierre. “Go, both of you are a mess. And Lissa, there is no need for clothes when you are finished with your shower.” Nikola grinned as Lissa’s face turned pink.

“You just had to embarrass me in front of Leda, didn’t you?” She hissed, but he could tell she was holding back the laugh.