The Soldier Queen

Chapter 13 - Plan B

We had to walk to our destination and when we got there Darrel took up on the roof across the street from the shop and Christian mingled into the crowd but not roaming too far.

“Ready, darling?” Ek asked.

“Sure am,” I said hooking my arm with his as we enter the store to find Tarquinn and Evalynn.

“Nadezhda,” (Hope) I called out hoping that wherever they were hiding they would hear it.

“Thola?” A tiny voice called out.

“Yes, its me Evalynn. Where is your brother?” I asked getting nervous that he wasn’t the one that answered me. He seems almost as protective of his sister as Malechai is.

“I’m here,” he said coming out from the back with two bags.

‘Phew, I was worried that he wasn’t the one to respond to us,’ I said to Sunny.

‘These kids, they have magic,’ she replied in awe.

‘You mean they’re witches?’ I asked.

‘Yes, very powerful ones at that!’ She exclaimed back.

“Alright you two are you ready to go?” I said, leaving the conversation with Sunny for another time.

“LT, you got company coming to the front door,” I heard Darrel say as I look to Ek and I see him tense.

“s**t! Thanks guys. You better get out of there. We will head out the back. Plan B!” I said.

“Gross,” Christian muttered as I chuckled at Ekkehard’s confused face.

‘That’s f*****g adorable,’ Sunny comments as we gather the kids and head to the back door.

“Tarquinn, is there a sewer near by? We need to lose them and we need to do it quick.” I said.

To my surprise he looks to Evalynn who smirks and states, “He doesn’t know, But I do. About 3 blocks away there is a manhole we can go down.”

We head off in that direction as gunshots ring out. Ekkehard takes the rear with the kids in between us.

“GRENADE EK! GET THE f**k DOWN!” I screamed.

“In here,” Eva said leading us down an alley just in time to escape the blast.

“f**k! You able to get eyes on these guys cause they’re not playing?” I asked Darrel and Christian as we continued to follow Evalynn.

“Yeah. They’re still behind you guys. When you get near the hole let me know, we will distract them so they can’t see where you are. Oh, and make sure you circle the block,” Darrel said.

“Alright. Let’s hurry and get the hell out of here, yeah?” I asked the kids who nodded vigorously causing Ek to chuckle.

“It’s around this corner,” Eva said.

“Alright Darrel, we’re going to need that distraction now! Like right now,” I said as we circled back around just in time to see the drone take flight.

“Baby is up,” he chuckled. “Time to test the claw that I installed into her before we left.”

“I can literally hear your smile Darrel. You’re like a big kid,” I laughed warily, concerned about what he is about to do.

“Get in the hole, LT! 5...4....3...”

I lift the cover as Ekkehard watches around the corner for anyone who might have followed us. I deposit the kids down below just in time to hear “2....1” and just Darrel finished his count down a huge explosion went off causing me to fall down the hole.

Ek looked down, concerned until he saw I was okay. With an amused expression he follows us down, making sure to recover so that they don’t know where we went.

“Really, Darrel, I appreciate the distraction and all but did the explosion have to be that big?” I asked him.

“Aww, c’mon LT, I told you I wanted to test it out. I’m packing up now,” he laughed.

“Alright D, you meet up with Chris and head back to base. Check in once you get there we might be a bit alright?” I order.

“Yes LT,” they both said and went silent.

Walking through the sewer system following Evalynn, I can see Ek cringing at the smell. I chuckle knowing that his senses are way better then ours, but I am suddenly reminded by Sunny about the kids.

“Hey Tarquinn?” I asked.

“Yes Thola?”

“You guys are special aren’t you?” I ask, abruptly. Ek looks shocked and Eva stops instantly while Tarquin pales and steps in front of his sister protectively.

‘She is much stronger than her brother,’ Sunny states.

“S-Stay away from her!” Tarquinn says getting in a fighting stance causing Ek to step up, sensing the danger as their magic seeps through the air.

“It’s okay Ek,” I smile, stepping forward and willing my wings out. Careful not to exude the power that Sunny wanted to let out I argue with her in my head.

‘Sunny, stop! We are not trying to intimidate the poor kids. We are trying to show them that we are no threat to them. They’re scared enough as it is.’ I explain to her.

‘Sorry,’ she apologizes, and I can hear the sincerity in her voice.

“Don’t worry you two I am not here for that reason,” I said, understanding now that people had come to claim their powers. Just like they had with me.

“Wha-What are you?” Tarquinn asks as Evalynn stepped forward to take a look at my wings.

“You’re so pretty,” Evalynn whispered behind me as she reached to touch my wings, making them flutter.

Ek let out a possessive growl causing the two to cower back and me to turn to him with a look that said, ‘Do it again, I f*****g dare you.’

“Leave them. They’re no threat to me,” I said calmly to Ek. He looked down, ashamed that he just growled at a kid.

“Look you two, I know exactly how you are feeling. But, I promise you that no one will hurt you or take you away. I will keep you safe.” I said, looking at Ek knowing that he and Ely agree.

“Thank you, Thola,” I heard Evalynn and Tarquinn say, together.

“Why does Eva seem different?” I asked.

“I am a full witch born from a powerful warlock and an equally powerful witch, where as Tarquinn’s father was just human. He was the man that was just taken. My mother’s powers were repressed by my father so that she couldn’t keep him from me. He didn’t know that I can hide my powers and she was able to convince him that I was not his. But that made him keep her powers repressed instead of giving them back because he thought that she was cheating on him.” Evalynn sighed with a sad face.

‘She’s thinking it is all her fault that her mother was not able to protect herself,’ Sunny said.

“You know Evalynn, your mother did what she did to keep you safe. I’m sure she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“She wasn’t able to follow through so I promise that I will keep you and your brother safe for as long as I live.” I told her pulling her into a hug.

“Th-thank y-you,” she said as tears fell from her eyes. I briefly noticed that Tarquinn and Ekkehard were both frozen not knowing what to do with the little girl that was crying in my arms, so I pulled her back and wiped her tears with my thumbs.

“C’mon sweetie lets go and help the soldiers. And when we get back home you and Tarquinn will stay with me and my daughter. Okay?” I offered and Ekkehard looked at me with a sad look. I knew I was going to have a lot of explaining to do.

“Okay” she said and turned to continue the travel to the outskirts of the town.

After a while we hear Evalynn’s small voice “What if your daughter doesn’t like me?”

“Don’t worry sweetie she will love you!” I chuckled, noticing Ekkehard had been very quiet and the aura he was giving off was quite frightening.

“You alright, Ek?” I asked.

“Dunno,” He answered and I sighed.

“We’re here,” Tarquinn said, bringing me out of my thoughts. We were standing in front of a ladder that led to a manhole.

“Alright, you go first, Ek and I will boost the kids up to you” I ordered.

“Sounds good,” he said, sounding a little more enthusiastic.

‘Maybe because he will be away from us’ Sunny said hoarsely. I knew that she felt the heartbreak that I did thinking that our mate is going to reject us.

‘But Sunny, we didn’t know. No one told us. Maybe they will understand,’ I said back.

As I lifted Tarquinn up to Ek I met his gaze and saw pain but also love and a small spark of hope blossomed in my heart.

“Alright little lady, your turn.” I said to Evalynn and just as her feet made it up I saw a flashlight flicker in my direction, causing me to panic.

“Oh s**t, Ek get me up quick,” I said jumping up as fast as I could. Finally up on the top I hurriedly put the cover back on the manhole.

“Thola what’s happening” He said as I jumped to cover his mouth trying to ignore the sparks in his eyes.

“I saw flashlight down there,” I whispered, answering everybody’s questioning gazes. “And, it’s not Christian and Darrel...” I trailed off seeing the look of horror on the kids’ faces.

“It’s okay, I don’t think they saw us,” I said motioning toward a side street. “Let’s take cover over there, in that alley, and wait 10 minutes before we head out just to make sure,” I continued.

“Roger that,” Ek said, taking the front followed by Tarquinn and Evalynn and finally me on the rear.

We waited and no one came out of the hole or walked passed so I gave the go ahead and we made our way back to base. Finally 3 hours later and a long conversation with Sunny we got back to camp.

Once there, we introduced the kids to the rest of the team and as expected Christian knew about the kids.

“They’re special Chris,” I said. “They need to be protected.” He nodded in agreement as sleeping bags were laid out.

I noticed Ekkhard and Frederick in the corner whispering. Ek had a hurt expression while Fred looked smug like he thought something was funny.

‘I guess we really did f**k this up. Sorry Sunny, this is entirely my fault,’ I said as I helped the kids into their beds and said good night.

“Alright guys get a good sleep. Tomorrow we leave for the waterfall. The sensors are up; we will know if someone comes near us.” I said, lying down and falling into a nightmare filled sleep.