Soul Mates

Chapter 21

Jason

I woke up to music playing around me. My body was killing me but I needed to get up for my training with Private Raphael. More meditation for me. When I tried to get up, I couldn't. My body was tied to the bed I was currently sleeping on. "What the..." Why am I tied up. I tried struggling to free myself, or maybe loosen the bonds enough to allow me to wiggle out.

Bad idea.

You ever been to a rock concert where the bass of the song is actually felt through the body after said body has been electrocuted. Yeah that's what my body felt like, right about now.

I couldn't let pain hold me down. I needed to get free of these restraints. This thing of always waking up with a kidnaping issue to solve is starting to bore me. I heard leather tear which gave me hope so I kept on wiggling my body until I was free of the bed and the restraints. Time to get out of here. Clothes first.

After getting dressed I got out of the room I was put in. Which looks to be in the medical wing. Did I get too beaten up, when I challenged that warrior to teach me how to fight? Whatever. I'll go again and he can re-teach me until I know how to fight, which is better than meditation. Maybe I could get him to do it on the sly. Meet me after hours so it does not conflict with both our schedules and will keep everyone happy and off my back.

I made my way to the gym to meet Private Raphael. When I got there he wasn't there. As a matter of fact, no-one was here. I didn't pass anyone on my way to the gym. Did they clear the compound and forget they tied me to the bed in the med bay?

Pissed now I made my way to General Sifiso's office. If he is not there, when I meet him next he will get a pounding. I will find a way to paint his face on the ground. I turned the corner to his office and heard voices, I stopped so I don't alert them to the fact that I am here and listened in.

"Sir, How can we control what he did in the clearing. He almost killed that warrior with no provocation." I heard pacing in the room.

"I don't know. We need our clan's ancient books. Those books will help us." Is that my dad.

**I see my dad through a green haze and he is in a clearing with a big wind storm behind him**

"How do we keep everyone safe from him until those books are retrieved?"

"We dont. We will take our cues from him. Then when the books gets here, we act."

**Sipho jumps in front of me with his hands held up in surrender as if trying to placate me.**

"and since he is unconscious now, we still have time to formulate a plan on how to deal with him."

"Who have you sent to go to the Jackson Clan to retrieve the books on how to batter handle him and his powers."

"I've sent Sergeant Tristan Mbebe with a small squad of warriors to the Jackson clan. They have the special amulets of the royal guards to be able to pass through the barrier safely. They are also instructed to get the protector to come with them as well. As I understand, only the protector would be able to match him in combat training."

My vision went red and green. What is happening to me? I shook my head and my vision cleared.

Okay I need to go for a walk, to clear my head and better think about what I just overheard in that office.

I walked for some time trying to remember what happened for them to think I am a danger to the men who kidnaped me and brought me here against my will. Hahaha, that's classic, a danger to my kidnapers. After some time I pick my head up to see that my feet had actually taken me to clearing where the warriors where training before, and the place looked destroyed.

The earth was now uneven, roots from the surrounding trees popping up in random places on the field. Tree branches scattered all around the clearing. Someone really did a number on this place. As I moved around the clearing I heard fighting sounds and swords clanging in the distance so I followed the sound. I reached another clearing to see the warriors were training here now, and they had set up a new obstacle course, that the warriors were using. As I made my way towards the obstacle course. The noise in the field quieted.

I looked around while still walking to the obstacle course. Everyone was quiet and looking at me and if I'm not mistaken that was panic in the faces. What happened yesterday to make everyone afraid of me.

"Hello warriors" I said trying to break the tension in this place.

"Sir. What can we do for you?" That was Private Musa, but this time he did not come any closer to me. that was weird.

"Nothing. I just want to check out your obstacle course. Are you okay with that?" I said and kept on moving towards it. The beginning had 4 swinging boulder like wood beams, that criss crossed, so you had to get your timing and speed right just to pass it. I watched as 3 warriors tried to pass but got catapulted to the side by the boulder beams. The second part had you crawling in the mud, trying to avoid the electric fence on top of you. There were some warriors who where blocking the way there because they passed out from being electrocuted I guess.

Then the was this big wall that looked 10 feet tall and smooth, that means it was hard to climb. meaning you needed claws to be able to go up. Then a free fall from the 10ft tall wall into mud you had to trek through to get to the next obstacle. After that looks like you have to change in to a wolf and speed run around some cones. Then do a 5 mile run in wolf form, go up a ramp, to jump from stone to stone avoiding the water. Change back and climb to the top of the wall while using a knotted rope to get up, then slid down but before you reach the bottom of the slide, you have to jump from it and secure yourself on the monkey bars like thing, and swing yourself to the finish line which looks to be a ways out. You'd feel the burn on your arms for that last one.

This obstacle course looked very good and got me pumped up to try it. "Son. How are you doing?" I looked behind me to see my father standing in the clearing with General Sifiso behind him, not looking as confident as before standing in front of me.

"Guess I wasn't hallucinating your voice." I said not taking a step towards him like I would have done before.

"You not gonna give your old man a hug son." He said opening his arms and stepping closer to me.

Yeah not yet. "What are you doing here old man? I don't remember you being kidnaped as well." I said looking at General Sifiso hiding behind my dad. "Now you involving my parents too? That's a bad call man." I said and took a step towards the General.

"Son. No-one kidnapped me. I came here to see how your training was going." say what old man? "You gave me quite the welcome yesterday." My dad said, and he had stopped advancing towards me. but he still showed no fear of me like the others were showing.

"What welcome are you talking about? What are you doing here dad." I'm started to get agitated with this back and forth.

"Son. Can you follow me to Sifiso's office. We have a lot to talk about. And I need to explain everything to you." Good move on his part, because that did get me to start moving towards him to follow him, because I did want answers and these yahoos where not giving me any.

When I got closer to him he stopped, looked at me and hugged me. "It's good to see you son." Well he is my dad, so of course I hugged him back.

"You too dad." I said then patted his back and resumed walking. I wanted those answers, but... "How are mom, Hlelo and Amanda doing?" I asked suddenly missing my whole family.

"They are all good. You can catch up with them after we talk." That made me pause. Mom was here. Oh man this is bad.

"Don't worry boy, she's good. Now lets go." Mom is force like no other. Dad may be the disciplinarian of the family, but he is just the smoking gun. While mom is the trigger. A gun can't fire without the trigger, and if mom was here. things would get worse for me before they turned good.

I remember when I little, I wanted the newest  PlayStation on the market. And I negotiated with dad to do certain chores and he would buy it form me. When dad bought it for me. Mom was so angry at the both of us. Me for 'tricking' dad into buying me a useless and expensive toy. And dad for making me do his chores. I didn't get to play with my game console for 3 months after that. And dad had baby duty, and I do mean doodi for 3 months. Anytime Hlelo made a mess or Amanda's diaper needed changing, dad would have to clean it up. That's why I'm not comfortable with mom being here.

As we made it to the office, I wasn't surprised to find mom sitting on General Sifiso's chair. "Ma'am, this office is-" I grabbed the stupid General before he made things worse for us all. He looked surprised that I grabbed him, looked to my mom, swallowed and went back behind dad.

"Jason!" Mom got up and came to hug me. "My beautiful boy. How are you doing?" This said as she pokes and prods me. "Are they treating you right?" This she said sending a fierce look to General Sifiso. Yep he's dead. "Are you eating?" She hooked her arm through mine and brought me further into the office. "Come tell me everything that's happened to you since you left home."

Left home. Like I left voluntarily. Forgot to say, my mom can be on the mental side.

*shh... don't tell her I said that.*

"Too many things mom, but I'm good." I sat down where she directed me and looked to my dad, while mom kept petting me like I would leave any minute. "So dad. Can you clue me in to what is happening here?"

My dad sat on the closest to me, with mom standing behind me like a sentinel. "Well son, I had hoped we would get a few more years with you before having to tell you this." He took a deep breath and moms hands tightened on my shoulders. "Lets go back to the beginning of the supernatural creatures. Your story begins there. We were created by seven gods working together to protect their perfect creations. The humans. Then when we supernatural creature showed to have a longer life than the humans and were procreating more the same gods decided to have ruling families that would garven their respective species. Our spices had the Langa Royal family. Their rule was just and fair, and not many would complain because the royal family was loved by all." As he kept on talking, I was hating it wanting to interrupt because I did not ask for a history lesson. Just what was happening now to me.

"About a thousand years ago, a faction against the royal families of the world came out. They called themselves the followers of Hades. They believed that the royal families should not be in power and everyone should bow down to one god. The god of death. In fear of this new threat the royal families changed their names and relocated to different parts of their respective continents, to still be able to help their people."

I shifted in my chair. "Dad, thanx for the history lesson, but what has that got to do with me now."

"I'm getting there son. Bear with me a little." He cleared his throat and continued. Wished I could tune him out. "About 15 years ago. The shifter royal family was attacked. They had been living with a pack in the forest not venturing out a lot. But when a royal gets blood bonded to a pack. Whether the royal member is Alpha or not. That pack gets extra abilities. And since the royals didn't go out much they did not know that. They lived with this pack for close to a thousand years under the name Jackson." My ears perked up at that. I remember dreaming about that name.

"For a thousand years the Jacksons rose up to be the leaders of that pack. Thus making it the royal pack, and 15 years ago they were attacked. The whole family was and a large potion of the pack killed, but 2 protects where able to escape with the royal heir, and protected him. After months of living on the run. The protectors decided to find a way to contact the royal clan to bring back the royal heir, but learnt that the royal clan was gone. And when they tried to investigate how the royals could have been taken out. they discovered that the royal family was not just killed. But was erased from history. No-one in this day and age Believes we shifters ever had a royal family, and those who do are quiet about it in fear for their lives as that means they were part of the royal clan to be able to remember."

"So what? Are we from that royal pack or something?"

Mom's hands twitched on my shoulders. "Yes son we are." She answered. Thats cool, maybe it explains why I can change at will.

"Awesome, so what happened to the royal heir and his protectors..." Dread filled me after that question. These people are calling me the Royal Commander, and my freak out about the Jackson Royals. Oh goddess. "Tell me dad." I said because he was quiet and just looking at me with sad eyes.

"You are the Royal heir, son. You are the last of the Royal Jackson line."