Tit For Tat

Fahan

The following day, after my communications with Avrio, I got teleported off my planet onto En-gannim. A short and stocky man was waiting for me. Vampires were the most useless species, "Avrio?" I asked, disgusted that I needed to work with someone so meaningless.

"Fahan. Come, let us sit down. I need to show you everything that has happened." 

He waved a black tube into the air. Pictures played out before us in the air. It was short scenes of different events and didn't take very long. "What is happening? Why are they holding her down?"

"Wait for it."

I stood up when the human turned into all three. "I will need one of those nets. We will need a lure."

"What net are you talking about? But anyway, before we get to the logistics… I want you to consider something." Avrio said.

I sat down. The chairs were too small for our form. It barely held me up. 

"Does your mate… love you? And do you love her?" Our faces were set in one emotion. The skin we had did not allow feelings to show on the outside. But Avrio knew how to read my eyes. I understood from his reference that he wanted to know if Jade and I cared for each other. "If you do… You should consider what they did to that female… If you do and it works… He will come to you alone… It will be almost instantaneous. Although our world is ruled by the one that holds the emblem… The brandings go beyond En-gannim. I still don't understand why Ahasuerus gave it away… But he did, and we can do nothing without help to fight the Riphaths."

"You want them to come to my planet."

"It is a level playing field there," Avrio said. "Beatrice was not incentive enough… But maybe with this man, we might provoke them to a fight.

"I understand. We know nothing of the process… You will need to get us that orange flames they use." He chuckled and lifted a hand into the air. Another man dressed in black came in with a large sack on his shoulders. Avrio handed me a square box. "Everything you will need is in there. The scientists will know what to do… We do not have fire on En-gannim… But the bag and the case are what you will need to make it." 

It felt strange. Our whole future lay in a bag. Almost too good to be true. 

"We don't know if it will work. Or what fire would do to Jade's skin, but if she is willing… Remember to do it in a public place with your swords drawn, ready to cut him so he will be useless." I stood to leave and picked up our future. "Have your army ready, Fahan. They will come for him… It will be our chance."

"Is Raas busy with our helmets?"

"Yes, soon, give him one more day... Wait until tomorrow... Let them lower their guard and think they have won."

***

"Jade," I said, dropping the bag on the floor of the cave. 

"I am in here." She was watching me. "What is that?"

"I have something to show you." 

"Yes?" 

We both sat down on our bed. I took the babe from her. "Have you thought of a name?" Jade rested her head on my shoulder. "How do you feel?"

"Better. Do not worry about me… Come show me."

I took out the little black tube of tech I did not understand. The Vampires might be useless in their shape and size, but in other areas, they excelled and held all the power. All I had to do was wave my hand into the air. 

"What are they doing?"

"Some ritual… that I have never even heard about… It is for mates and creates a special bond."

"Supernaturally?"

"Yes… like our swords… it must be connected to whoever does it."

"Like hitting the material against a surface."

I nodded. "It seems painful. But look what he turned into." 

She finished the pictures. "So, what do you plan on doing about it? Is it because he is so powerful… Then you must capture him." 

I turned to her. "That is one option."

"What is the other option?"

"Well… It is only for mates who care deeply for each other. Avrio called it love… Do you love me?" 

I know she would have smiled if she could. Jade hit me on the shoulder in a playful way. "Who else would?" But then the idea sunk in. "You want to do that? Try their bonding process? Would it work?"

"Would you consider it?"

"Of course. I am not the most feared woman in the city for no reason."

"I know you are strong… But you would go through a lot of pain. Be apart from the babe for three days… Where would we leave him? Who would we trust?"

"I love you… forever… Our family is much more important than a moment of pain. And Aries will be well with my sister." 

I put my hand behind her neck and drew her closer, rubbing my cheek against hers. "Aries?"

"It is a good name. What do you think?"

"It is a fine name… Jade… I have never loved anyone like you… You please me."

"I will follow you wherever you lead."

***

I had to explain to my men what would happen, and they all seemed as pleased as Jade about the process, ready for a battle after they had infiltrated our home. Dimitrios and I made our way to the five men living in the cave next to ours. I placed the bag in front of them, and Dimitrios handed the leader the box with the tools to create a fire. "Avrio said it would be better if we tried a branding." 

They seemed pleased. One of them picked up the gun. "Why do you have that, and what is it?"

"It is one of those nets they used on us. We will use it on the human."

We were preparing the space, clearing out any rubble, and building a pit for the fire. I still had to make an emblem and had chosen a sword for the tattoo. It was hard to imagine that it would work at all. Our skin was too rough, and after? Would you even be able to see it? Would anything happen to me if I did it?

"I will have the gun," I said to Dimitrios, making plans as I thought about what could happen.

"You can not," Dimitrios answered. "What if you become like the other men in the other pictures." He held out his hand, and I put it down in his palm. 

"You will be in charge. I do not want to wake up, and it had all been in vain." 

"Do you trust me at all?"

"I do." We clasped arms and shook on it.

*** 

The fire was blazing. We gave all the men a chance to inspect it for a moment. We tested our skin on the heat it emanated, resting our hands in the warmth, yet felt nothing. No one had seen anything like it. The Scientist showed us what would happen to their skin. 

Jade bent down on the ground. I was proud of her for not showing any fear, but I had to consider that even if it did not hurt her skin, it might still be a painful process.

"I will walk you through it. Follow my directions." 

I nodded at the scientist at my side. Jade's sister left with Aries in her arms. Some men formed a large circle around us to cover a vast area. The rest of the army stood in formation for battle. I lifted my hand, and at the command, swords were drawn and feet planted in a ready stance for a war I might instigate. I swiftly lowered my hand. The men hit their swords on rocks, and the clang resonated into the air, creating a red glow that started on one side until it lit up a ring of what looked like red fire.

"We are good to go. Once you pick it up… Do it immediately. Keep it there until I tell you to release." 

I hunched over and grabbed the hilt of the poker on its stand. My fingers flexed around the steel. I waited until it was quiet around me, lifted it up, and pressed it against Jade's skin. 

***

Juliet

I couldn't believe I was pregnant again. Rodrigo's formula for the fertility of interspecies pregnancies was as effective as the birth control he fed to the Werewolves for generations. Kubra and Charlene were visiting me in the hospital. "We have to sort this out once and for all, you two," I said. More to Kubra than to Charlene. 

"I don't think you get to decide about this," Kubra said flatly. He had been different lately. I had not seen him many times… but when I did… Kubra was stiff around the shoulders. His tone was a little cold. 

"I'm not deciding, but you're also not saying no. If you want to say no. Then, follow through on the decision. And Charlene? Are you sure you want to stop studying?"

She had so many years to go. If she did it… She would not be allowed back onto Earth for some time… If at all… And the chances that she would finish her degree if she did turn into all three was never going to happen. I shuddered at another Michael in the mix. Yet another baby to raise and coddle. 

"When I'm better… I'll finish my studies here. I have been thinking about it a lot. Doing my course there is a bit redundant… Earth's medicine would be influenced by all your technology… We are half the same, so the advancements here are so far beyond ours."

"Yes…. Merging knowledge is going to change everything… Kubra? You want her to connect to you and lead a normal human life… And she wants to change."

"Her connecting to Kubra is not a permanent solution," Carl said from the side.

"I agree," said Charlene.

"Carl? What do you think?" He took a deep breath. "Will you take care of them after?"

Michael came into the hospital room, taking in the scene. "What are you guys talking about. Don't tell me you still want Kubra to brand you, Charlene?" 

"I do… But it seems that he doesn't really love me. Or he's afraid that I don't and it won't work." 

Kubra's back stiffened immediately. 

"I'll do it," Carl said out of the blue. "If it's about loving each other. I could've done it to Juliet, and it would've worked. We all love each other, don't we?"

Michael sat down next to me, taking my hand and kissing it. He rested his elbows on the bed, smiling. "I don't think that's how it works," Michael said. "I think… Kubra has cause to be wary, but it isn't about not loving Charlene… It's about loving her too much. He doesn't want to hurt her. Put her through that… If we had known what would happen. I don't know if we would have done it." Michael's eyes drifted to Charlene. 

"I'll do it," Kubra said with a hint of irritation. He was leaning forward in his chair, eyes fixed on the floor. I was worried for them. A year ago, I would've said they were on their way to a happy relationship. But it all changed when we moved off the compound. When I was too busy with finding Chris...

"Didn't we warn you enough to not go dabbling into supernatural power?" Beatrice's voice came from the other side of the room. Michael got up to go to her. He called a doctor, and they came rushing in. They took off the bandages from her eyes. Slowly, she blinked several times and smiled, stroking away some tears a moment later. "I didn't think I would ever be able to see again." 

She took in the room. Michael helped her sit up. It took a while for her to put all the voices with the faces. "You okay? How do you feel?"

"I'm fine. Drained but okay."

"Do you know if Charlene would change, Beatrice," Michael asked her. 

"Have no idea, but I'd like to be there."

"I think everyone should be there. She will end up in front of Ira… and you, Jules." Carl said. 

Kubra didn't even look at Charlene once. They were seated far from each other. "I need to speak to Kubra." I got out of bed and made my way out of the room. He followed.

*** 

I sat down on my couch in my office, propping my feet up. Kubra did help me and made sure I was comfortable, not utterly devoid of feeling, yet. Not in work mode either. He joined me on Marcus's sofa across from me. 

"It took Charlene three months before she told Carl and me she was pregnant… I don't think she knew for some time, but still… She did not even tell me that they had slept together… With Ben…" 

Kubra's eyes came off the floor for the first time. "Everything seemed to be going well between you two… But what I saw in there was painful. I have the highest respect for you. You're a brother to Marcus, and I want you to be happy… If Charlene is not making you happy, you have to let her go…" 

"That is not how it works on En-gannim." He finally said. "You choose a wife, and you stay with her. You don't cheat, and how you treat her is up to you." 

"Charlene is not from En-gannim. She has no family life… If it weren't for Carl and me, she would be worse. Her father is selfish in his career. Seldom home and left Charlene with a caretaker… It is why he and Bertram got along so well."

Kubra got up and paced. "I… I… feel like she's… using me." I chuckled. He stopped and stared down at me. "Why do you think that's funny."

"It's not funny. Charlene wouldn't be with you if she didn't want to be. She might not fall in love easily or show her true emotions. Charlene is one of those who expect disappointment and usually gets it by pushing everyone away… If you let her push you away… You will only prove her right." 

He sat down again. 

"She's not strong. She pretends to be… wants to be… But not for the same reasons as you and me…." 

"Why does she repress her emotions? She is human… Isn't she supposed to be all about feelings?" He lay down on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. "The studies had made it worse… driven us apart. If I don't do anything, she doesn't either… I have to tell you that I'm getting a bit tired of it." He ran his hand over his mouth like saying it out loud made him less moral. "We don't sleep in the same room…."

I winced but sat up. "Kubra… Have you and Charlene slept together?"

He shook his head slowly. 

"But then you have to brand her… Don't you see… She hasn't slept with anyone… Charlene used to fill the void with one-night stands and drunken encounters. You know what it means when two people don't have sex."

He was confused. 

"Have you been fighting more and more?" 

He sat up and nodded. "All she talks about is the branding… All we fight about is the branding. Before the incident on Palmyra, we were still okay. Since then, she had pulled away even more, if it's at all possible."

I got up to sit next to him. My hand resting on my stomach. I still wore bandages and got tired quickly. It had only been two days since I woke up. He turned to me. "If that's what she wants… then give it to her."

"I don't want to."

"Why? What is it that has you so bent up against it." 

He stood up in a huff. "Because… I hate being a creature. I hate my life and living this long. I hate the feelings and the politics… She will come to hate it, and I would be the one that did it to her… She will be all three in one second… You know how hard Michael is taking it, and he knew everything before it happened… Like you said… She is soft and fragile. A real girl that has been forced by her parents to pretend… All she wants is to fit in… Be the same as you… And she thinks… She will magically be able to protect herself." 

"I agree… She's doing it for all the wrong reasons… But Kubra, it's the first time since I've known her that she has wanted something so bad that it has been gnawing at her for years. I hate people making decisions for me… That's all her parents ever did… that is all she has experienced all her life… Don't be the parent in this relationship. If it's a mistake, you can throw it in her face afterward."

Kubra laughed lightly. 

"She loves you… And doing everything and anything for you to walk away. Sometimes, one person in the relationship has to love more than the other. That is the card you've been dealt. If you can't make peace with it. Walk away…"

***

Later that same day, we were all in France. Earth had let us come back for a visit. No one knew we were there… I was happy that more and more people had forgiven Michael for his… trespass. We were warned to keep him close. Michael and I stood at the door, holding hands. Marcus and Kubra were in front of the fire. We had to wake Marcus up, but he didn't mind. He was a little upset that I let him sleep so long.

Charlene was bent over the coffee table. My heart was racing. Scared for my friend. Charlene was strangely calm… But not Kubra. His chest was pounding. His eyes were on me, begging me to make it all go away. It was weird being on the other side of it all, seeing what Marcus had to go through that first time… Marcus was formidable. My other hand rested on my stomach, wondering what type of baby would come out from two parents like us.

We didn't tell Ira. Chris was with him, just in case. Charlene had said the worst that could happen was she wouldn't change at all, and it would be another guy thing. I could think of a few more things that could go wrong. Our whole group could dismantle. An ugly scar was another problem. A constant lifetime reminder of what could've been. And then, of course, she could go completely nuts... And try to kill me… I chuckled. Louis's eyes were on mine, and he smiled with me. I thought about how much it had taken for him to do it and if he ever regretted it. Kubra's words reminded me of Michael one day hating me for turning him into a killing machine. Louis mouthed that he did not regret it. I missed him and said as much, begging him to come to me later. 

It was time, and I squeezed Michael's hand, trying to forget all my issues that needed to be dealt with. Almost at the exact moment Kubra pressed the poker into Charlene's flesh, Michael let go of my hand and turned to me, "Honey, I'm sorry. I should've come to you on the dance floor." And he was gone. Louis was fast to read me and jumped over the couch. I disappeared, thankful that Chris wasn't there to grab hold of me. "Juliet, no! He can take care of himself."

I was running down the road, the pain in my midsection forgotten. Already at Charlene's house, grabbing a glass plate. Louis missed me by seconds again. "Baby. No. Please! Don't do this alone. Please!"

Michael's eyes were a pit of despair... Seeing him that scared… He wasn't in control of his teleporting out… It was too much for me. I moved as fast as I could, terrified and fueled to get to him before they did anything. There was no way I would let Michael get drained for another seven months while I put the baby first or put anyone else's life at risk. We also needed to figure out how they got Beatrice in the first place. How could they pull out Michael at all? 

After Beatrice's rescue, I made sure to know where they would be taking Chris or Michael, preparing myself for the worst. Jessy helped me without anyone knowing. So, I traveled to Fahan's planet, hoping I had the correct coordinates. The air was dusty, the atmosphere grey and desolate, making it challenging to find your bearings. It was nothing but rocks and hard ground. It was already night, and although Louis had told me what they had been doing to rescue Beatrice, it wouldn't help if I needed to go searching. The coordinates they had chosen were for a spot a little outside the city where they lived. Luckily, at that moment, I heard a roar in the distance, more like a victorious battle cry. It was ongoing and from a sea of men… I couldn't run, already spent by the effort of trying to get away from Louis. My middle was hurting, and the wounds were burning. There was no way I could save Michael by strength. I calmed myself down. The last thing I needed was to pass out. 

I walked in the direction of the chatter... The blazing bonfire made me start. Saw the other aliens carry two of them in the direction of the city. The shock had immobilized me… They had pulled him out with a branding. All the implications running through my mind. Michael was not there, probably cut, and already in that thing. I started walking immediately, thankful that I could not see Charlene either. Worried that they might have both. I took another deep breath, calming myself. Saving two people was never even an option. All I could do was follow the two sleeping aliens, listening to the conversations of the men carrying them. They were placed down in a cave together on a stone slab. A bassinet carved out of rock stood next to the bed. Only some hide from some creature lining the bottom. But no baby. Vampire men came into the cave. It was the scientists. "It worked." One said.

"Yes, it did." The one alien said. 

"Did you catch the other one?"

"We did. He is in the building outside the city. We will be more vigilant. You can get to work as soon as the star rises." Relieved, I tried to control myself. Charlene wasn't there. Another woman entered behind me, who was carrying a baby. "Is my sister okay?" She asked. 

"She will be fine. Just sleeping. Make sure you keep Aries safe." 

The baby wasn't happy. At that moment, I knew what I needed to do. I would take the child and exchange him for Michael. 

I followed the woman back to her dwelling. It took a while for her to settle the child after they fed it. I waited till they were both asleep. I came back from my vanished state, picked up the baby, and cradled it in my arms. I kicked at the woman until she woke up. Her eyes shot open as she turned her head towards me in confusion. I disappeared a moment too quick before she could get up, but made sure she had seen me. She jumped, trying to grab at me, like Chris did at one time… Desperately searching the air. After a few moments, she ran out, crying loudly down the path we had walked earlier. Those aliens were giants. As big as Silvanus. The one man came running towards the woman. "What is wrong?"

"Aries is taken… I woke up, and there was someone in the room. A Vampire. She had him in her arms, and they disappeared right in front of me."

I walked away from them until I was at the spot I came out of. I didn't have much time; my mind was fussy… They were searching frantically in and out of the city, stampeding all over. I traveled back to En-gannim and came back. Louis was waiting with Chris, Ira, and Silvanus. "What did you do?"

I pushed the baby into Louis's arms and fell down. "Michael should be next to my bed when I wake up. Do an exchange."

All I heard was Louis saying, "It's Fahan's child. Jessy, find out how to send them a communication."