Another Life

Chapter 4 - Building the Shield

I awoke to the smell of coffee and the feel of luxurious bedding. I smiled to myself and for a moment I felt blessed. What more could I possibly ask for?

Well maybe bacon and a spa day. I yawned, stretched and reached for my phone. Three missed calls from Frank and Cath. I sent Ben a quick text, letting him know I was busy with work. I called Cathy and let her know I was busy.

I stretched and got out of bed, wondering what the day would bring.

I left the room in my shorts and top, making my way down stairs. I followed the smell of coffee into the kitchen and took my place amongst the three men already present.

"Mmm, that smells amazing. "

Danny smiled at me and handed me a coffee cup. Looking down at it I recognised the cup. It was branded Aquarius the water bearer, and I recognised it as my childhood cup.

"What are we doing?" I asked, wondering why on earth we had met here.

" I don't understand. Is there something we're working towards?"

Danny smiled and nodded to me.

"Today we are going to make a group shield. That's why we're here. To build a defence."

I swallowed and got ready to make the shield. We had moved into the barn attached to the house.

Danny raised a shield and invited us all to join it. But it wasn't easy. I brought a shield up and tried to add it to Danny's, but it seemed to reject me. We kept going trying to raise the shield.

I felt small and ridiculous. I couldn't do what was needed. The others were struggling as well. I brought my shield up again just to have it smashed into oblivion.

"Danny, you're smashing me if I try to join."

I was doing my best but if I just got smashed out I didn't see the point.

"I'm sorry, Princess. But being brutally honest, I'm hardwired to eliminate any threat and frankly you pose one."

Tentatively, Will started to build up energy and softly pushed his forming shield to join Danny's. Dan tried to relax the power he was holding. The two shields came together with an almost imperceptible hiss and intermingled. Both men held their breath for a second, then relaxed. Danny grinned and nodded at Will who stuck up his thumb in response.

Trying to follow their lead, I slowly gathered my power, allowing it to swirl lazily around me. Deliberately not making eye contact with anyone, I started to nudge my shield towards Danny. When they collided I felt a fizzing sensation and faint nausea, but I didn't get smashed out. Blinking back tears and breathing heavily, I clasped my hands in front of my mouth and waited for the fizzing to die down. After a few seconds I could relax a little into the strange sensation of having my shield intertwining with Danny's and Will's. I looked up shyly and locked eyes with Will who grinned cheekily and blew me a kiss. I giggled and Danny raised his eyebrows at me.

"Concentrate. Don't lose it now." He turned to Talon and gestured for him to join.

Talon stood up and raised his power expressionless. He poured it towards us and I felt it fizzle into our group shield and start to penetrate. I couldn't help but push back against it, it felt so foreign and invasive. With a sharp pop Talon's power separated and he was pushed back into the barn wall with an ear splitting bang. He hit the wall and collapsed in a heap on the concrete floor. Our shield abruptly disapated and we ran towards Talon as one.

"Are you OK?" I reached out towards Talon, distressed that I might have hurt him. He looked up at me, stared pointedly at my outstretched hand then finally sneered:

"As if your pathetic little power could actually hurt me. I thought we were supposed to be working together now though, so excuse me for wondering why you're attacking me?"

Danny reached his hand down to Talon, who grabbed it and pulled himself up, while I floundered, not knowing how to respond to the obviously pissed off Talon who seemed to have a bit of a hatred for me going. Danny looked at me stoically, his entire demeanor suggesting that I make this better without actually saying a word. Pushing my hair back out of my face, I turned to face Talon and desperately tried to find the right words:

"I'm sorry. I truly did not mean to do that. It just instinctively happened."

Talon's look of contempt remained unchanged. He looked me up and down, then sneered, dismissing my apology without a single word. I sniffed and dropped my eyes to the floor. I suddenly realised how important it was that I get on with these three men and that we could manage to work together. Danny said something to Will that I couldn't hear and they started to move to the other side of the barn, away from Talon and myself. My first instinct was to duck around Talon and run after them, but I stood staring at the concrete floor and wringing my hands in front of me. My mind went into total panic mode. This man was obviously pissed off and I wasn't sure how to make peace. Alarm bells rang every time I looked at him, I couldn't get rid of the uneasy feeling that he scared me, that he might hurt me.

"I really am sorry, Talon. I would never try to attack you. I know you're stronger than me. I know you can hurt me. I would never try to make you."

Not daring to look up I stood there wondering how this was going to end.

When I finally flickered my eyes up, Talon was staring down at me, broodingly. He looked lost in thought as he stroked his chin. Noticing my brief look, he stepped closer towards me and caught my chin in his hand, forcing my face upwards to look into his. I struggled to keep myself together as I stared into his eyes remembering.

A man who must have been Talon years ago in some sort of massive transport vehicle, wearing a military uniform and hurting me. Smiling maliciously as he used a knife to s***h painful cuts into my arms and legs. Pulling the scabs of cuts to make them bleed and hurt again. And I remembered the fear. Knowing that he could hurt me so much and keep me alive. Doing whatever he told me to try and escape punishment. Cowering terrified in the shadows, but knowing that he'd always find me.

A shaking motion brought me back to the present.

"Skye, stop zoning out on me."

Blinking, I caught a look of concern on Talon's face before he reverted back to completely expressionless.

"Sorry, I, well I was just remembering some stuff. Like about how we know each other. I, umm, I'm really not trying to piss you off, but I don't see how we can possibly work together this way. I mean, we'd have to trust each other and considering what I remember I don't understand how this could work?"

I snapped my mouth shut and looked back down, my face turning bright red. I started cursing my idiocy. How on earth did I expect the truth to help here? Why had I not just kept my stupid mouth shut?

Talon reached out and gently touched my arm. I jumped backwards, losing my balance and shrieking as I collapsed in a dishevelled heap on the barn floor. I heard some muffled chuckling coming from the far side of the barn and looked up to see that Talon had turned and was gesturing towards Danny and Will. They nodded and made their way out of the barn.