A Hidden Element (16 page)

Adrian stood once more before the elders. They stared at him with stones in their thoughts to cast him out. This day had to come. Too many of his flock were fleeing. The night of free love he gave them had opened a crevice that now grew wider and wider, with Tollen aiding. His people wanted the freedom to make their own choices. The freedom to become part of human society and be like them.

Stupid beings.

They were crushing the future of their new planet. Why had they come here if to fail? They only saw their own pleasure. They would be the downfall of Elyon and Destroyers. Could they not see that they needed to unite together and stand as one to rule Earth? He had looked into the future and now saw his people blended with humans as equals. Laura was still there but a mere shadow by his side. His sons were gone.

And he alone knew the reason why their females had gone missing. If they discovered the reason he would be the next stoning victim. His people accepted his brutal ways that abided by the law, but he had acted outside the law. His crimes must be kept hidden.

"Brother Adrian, the time has come to name another leader," Tollen said.

Adrian stared at him, feeling the animosity roll off his senior elder who coveted his place.

"Our flock is leaving," Tollen continued. "More have disappeared into the night. Men this time, too. You let this happen with your festival and night of free love. You gave them too much and now they want more. They won't listen and won't follow the rules of breeding. They don't respect you, Madroc."

"You mean
you
don't respect me," Adrian said between clenched teeth. Tollen stared at him. The other elders remained silent, watching him. "We hunt down the ones who have fled and lobotomize them. They will falter in cloaking their whereabouts at some point and then we break them with fear. And we implement our new community in the human world. It's time. Great success comes with great sacrifice. We must reinforce this with our people."

"It's too late. Our future is unpredictable now," Tollen said. "And we can't kill or lobotomize everyone. Soon there will be none left. Who's next? Me? Caleb?" He pointed at Caleb who stood in the corner with his arms crossed, expressionless. "Or perhaps your
new
son?"

The other elders spoke in agreement with Tollen. Their voices rose louder, in protest. Adrian thought fast. He could not lose his power. Not now when Charlie had just arrived and Laura so near.

"I name Charlie as sole leader," Adrian said.

Silence fell in the room. The fire popped and hissed as the wind raged down the chimney.

"The boy?" Tollen laughed. Anger burned inside. The fire spit sparks out on the floor as if fueled by his rage.

"Charlie is Elyon's new hope. He's my brother's grandson. My twin who was sent here to begin a new world for Elyon and—"

"And he failed."

"But he left behind his prodigy to spread his seed. And this prodigy has been raised by humans with the Destroyer in him we need to succeed. He can help us assimilate into human society and use them for our needs until they are under our power. They will then have no choice but be dominated by us. I have seen him perform with the promise of this, right, Caleb?"

Caleb stepped forward. "Yes. I'm training him."

Another elder spoke up. "And he has proven himself?"

"Yes," Caleb said. "He is a willing Destroyer. And eager to learn."

"Even killing?"

Caleb nodded. "Yes."

"A small animal he killed, I hear," Tollen said, waving his hand as if he were already in charge. "What about humans? Can he mind bend and kill humans if ordered?"

"He will soon enough, Adrian replied." Caleb glanced at him, a puzzled look on his face.

"When?" Tollen questioned in a mocking tone.

"Within the day. Trust me. I have planned it. He is my blood. And his mother is on her way. She will help Charlie lead."

"And what if this female doesn't want to be part of our community?"

"Then she will die."

The wind rattled the windows. Cold had blown in, chasing the warmth away that teased them for a day. Snow threatened now.

"And he is to be bonded with the female, Leah, tomorrow?" an elder finally said.

"Yes," Adrian said. "Today they perform for the community. Tomorrow they will be one and Charlie will be one of us. Let him show his true colors. If he does what I think he can do—let him rule. The people are drawn to him."

Adrian let the elders talk amongst themselves.

"Name Charlie as leader," Caleb appealed to the elders. "Do it at the bonding ceremony. It will be a double message to the community. And my father will guide the boy. Elyons are eager for change. And Charlie is their new hope."

"It's true," spoke up another elder. "They flock to him. Haven't you seen? They touch him as if they believe he is their new savior come to lead them into our promised land."

"Even if that land is a desert with no water?" Tollen frowned at the elder.

Caleb held up his hands. "They would drink the sand then. They don't know the difference. They are blind. They need us to lead them." The elders turned to him. "I say, let Charlie be named the new leader of our community."

"He
is
the rightful heir to the mission that came before us," another elder said. "It's a sign. We can look into the future once he's ruler and see how he'll change our fate for the better."

The others joined in. "Fate." "Destiny." "Meant to be."

"My father began our great community," Caleb said. "You would all be in hiding back on our dying planet if it weren't for him. Now Charlie is the one to help us move into our next phase. The people will listen to him and, with us shaping him, it's a win-win situation."

Adrian nodded at his son. But could he trust him? He had lain with the female. Something he hadn't done in years, and he was training Charlie properly. But Caleb had no desire to lead himself. He was too weak in mind and heart. Perhaps he wanted the boy to lead to move the responsibility of leadership away from himself. Charlie's heart was full of dark. And dark was what they needed to steward them into a new world.

"Aye," one elder said. More echoed the same. Tollen had not won this time. He nodded and gave his blessing. For how long, Adrian couldn't know.

Tollen would only win over his dead body.

And that would never happen.

Caleb knocked on Charlie's door. Time to take him to the sanctuary ceremony with Leah. The boy answered with a hopeful face, but his smile fell when he saw who it was. Jealousy reared its head again as Caleb thought of Charlie bedding Leah. He had to remind himself that his anger was for Adrian and not for this innocent boy taken from his home and molded in his father's likeness.

"It's time. You and Leah are to perform."

Charlie nodded and stepped out into the corridor. They walked slowly to the sanctuary through deserted halls. Caleb had precious little time to speak with Charlie alone. The entire community waited for them.

"Charlie, you're meant to be here. You know this, right?"

Charlie looked at his feet as they walked. "I belong here."

"My father wants you to lead."

"I know."

"Do you know what this means?"

Charlie looked at him. "Adrian said that being a leader comes with hard choices to make."

They stepped out into the courtyard to cross to the sanctuary, but Caleb put a hand on him to hold him back. "And sometimes those hard choices can change if you choose." A chill had settled in the air. It snaked its way into his robe, filling his insides with dread.

Charlie stared at him. "What do you mean?"

Caleb looked around to make sure they were still alone. "You don't have to give in to your dark side to rule. There are many who believe otherwise. Many who want to live a human life. A life of love and free will. A life where they can blend in peacefully."

"But the kids back home call me a freak. I
am
a freak." He thrust his hands out. "No one there looks like this. No one there has the power to do what I can do except my mom and she hides it. And no one there likes me like Leah does. No girl ever will."

Caleb thought of Leah instructing Charlie in the ways of breeding and bile rose in his throat. The boy didn't know what he must do with her when their bond was complete. He would then become a man. Ceremony music drifted across the courtyard.

"You can be powerful without giving into hate and evil. And just because you have power doesn't mean you should use it."

"Why not?" Charlie's voice rose. "I like it. I'm good at it. Others like me for it. I belong. Maybe it's you who doesn't belong. I mean, why doesn't your father choose you to lead with him? Huh? Maybe you're not so powerful. Maybe you're really not a Madroc."

Caleb grabbed his arm. "True power is giving yours up to help the greater good. True power is in helping others. My father doesn't understand this but I do."

Charlie jerked away from him. "Yeah, well no one has helped me until now. Not my mom or my dad. Adrian and Leah helped me. I thought you wanted to help me, too. You showed me how to use my real powers. Why show me if I'm not to use it?"

"Adrian's way is not the only way. We can change things. You and I. Some doubt my father's leadership. Now is the time to make a change."

"I don't want things to change. My whole life I didn't fit in. I like fitting in."

The music grew louder. "We must go. They are expecting us. Don't say a word of this conversation to anyone."

Charlie frowned as if debating the wisdom of all that Caleb had revealed.

"Promise me, Charlie."

"Why should I?"

"I can show you more powers."

Charlie was silent. The music grew faster in its tempo calling to them. "Leah's waiting for me.
She
wants me to be what I am."

"I do, too, in a different way. I can show you."

Charlie shook his head. "I want to be what Adrian wants me to be. He doesn't think I'm a freak. He's the dad I should have had."

He strode away from Caleb and stood at the sanctuary door. He hesitated then pulled the door open. Music and light blared. Leah waited for Charlie at the altar. His father stood at the podium above her and the community waited for their new leader.

In Charlie's final words hope dimmed in Caleb that together they could change their world. Hope for the boy. For his sons. For his very life.

Another day in the woods got them closer to Charlie. They had to be close now. They spent another night in the cold, this time Laura had the knife in her hand and the gun by her side. She kept jerking herself awake, afraid of waking to Ben pinning her down with a monster in his eyes. She shook with exhaustion as they trudged along, her energy almost depleted. The baby took any reserves she had left. She swayed on her feet and Ben grabbed her arm then took in a sharp breath.

A shot of adrenalin rushed through her as a building thrust itself before them, forbidding in its immense octagonal shape. They stopped and huddled behind a massive oak tree. Music floated to them. It moved slow in tempo then rose in a frenzied pounding. Chanting voices clamored with it. Laura gripped her knife in one hand and Adrian's whip in the other and closed her eyes.

What she saw sickened her. Images of Charlie mind bending, slashing and healing, then killing a poor rabbit. Worse was that her son enjoyed it. Then a crowd flowed around him. Touching him. Wanting him. Her heart ached. A pretty girl kissed Charlie, and a great stone plunged deep into Laura's heart. This was the girl Adrian had chosen for him.
No. Not my son.

But these weren't the memories of this whip. These were images Adrian showed her now. He knew they were here. She closed off her mind with the desperate regret she had ever let it open.

"Sounds like a church ceremony," Ben whispered.

"It is. The whole community is in there but a few guards around the perimeter." She opened her eyes. "Adrian has chosen a girl for Charlie."

"A girl?"

"To bond with. To breed with."

"Oh my God. He's only fourteen." He pulled out his cell phone. Still no signal. "Damn."

"There's no one to call, and they know we're coming."

"Our one chance is to shoot our way in. We use your powers to fight them off, steal one of their vehicles, grab Charlie, and get away before they catch us."

Bolts of pain smashed through her head. Laura dropped the whip and knife and clutched her head. Adrian was inside her, tormenting her. She tried to fight it off, but the pain grew too great.

Ben shook her shoulders. "Laura, what is it?"

"They're here."

She opened her eyes and cried out. The dull gray light pierced her with blinding torment. She fell to her knees and looked up.

Ben leaned over her. "Laura!"

Shadows crossed over them. They grabbed Ben. Ben yelled and fought them off as he held on to her. Then his hands disappeared. In her darkness she saw him struggle, but she couldn't move. Adrian had paralyzed her. She felt herself being lifted up. Many hands carried her. They gripped her flesh tight. Her baby quaked inside her. The pain wracked her head like a tight fist slamming into her.

They took her to her new master.
Yes,
take me instead.

I intend to, Laura.

Please, let my son go. Let Ben go.

Your son is mine. As you are. Together we will rule. And Ben's time on Earth is done.

No!

She tried to fight him off but the darkness took her again.

Music beat in Ben's head, thumping painfully alongside the throbbing in his body. His eyelids were weighed down. He couldn't make the connection on how to open them. Or how to move his arms and legs.
Laura. Charlie.
Where were they?

He pushed the boulders up from his eyes. Excruciating light poured into his brain. Gray forms swayed around him. He tried to focus. They came into view. Hundreds of people filled an enormous room that arched up in a round ceiling. Candles lined the walls with flickering flames straining to be free from the cold wax imprisoning them. Like him. He wasn't tied down then remembered the needle being jammed into his leg. Drugged.

Charlie stood at a wooden altar covered in red cloth. A woman stood before him. They pressed their palms together. The music yielded to a murmuring ballad. Their voices pierced the church with words of obedience and duty. They moved in a sensual dance. And behind them stood a monstrous man with raised arms. Pale, like Charlie, but fierce looking. Adrian. The people around him floated like lifeless specters in submission to their earthly master.

The music stopped. The woman and Charlie kissed. They turned to face their audience, holding hands. Damn it. He was powerless to rescue his family. This had all gone wrong so fast. It was a blur. The woods. Attacking Laura. Being taken.

He slowly moved his head to the left. Laura sat a few feet away from him. Her head lolled to the left. Her enormous belly rose, a tender protrusion vulnerable to their captors. Had they drugged her, too? And their child. He screamed inside, thrashing his body about in his mind but it would not bend to his will. He looked at Laura sending his thoughts to her.
Wake up, Laura. I can't do this without you. Help me save our son.

Laura lifted her head. Her eyes caught his. Together they turned to watch their son who stared at them without recognition.

Had Charlie become what he was meant to be? A Destroyer?

Charlie looked out at the Elyons who witnessed the ceremony.

His heartbeat quickened as their intense acceptance of him enveloped him, as did his yearning for Leah. It grew into a great ball of want that rolled through him, filling him up. And now Adrian had announced his leadership of the community as his rightful heir. Power swept inside him like a river of lust. Lust to be loved by the community—and by Leah.

Across from the sanctuary his mom and dad watched. They had come to witness his transformation. Pride surged alongside power. His mother accepted him, like she had her own brother. And his dad would now see how powerful he had become and see he wasn't a freak here.

Adrian touched his shoulder from behind. A thrill crashed through him like thunder in his veins. His true father.
Time now, Charlie, for your human dad to pay for all those years he didn't accept you.

Yes, Adrian was right.

"You must prove yourself to our people, Charlie." Adrian's hand pressed heavy into his shoulder, transmitting his omnipotence to him. "We have an outsider here. One who does not belong. One who must die today."

Hundreds of heads turned toward his dad. Revenge and love twisted inside him.
Can you accept your duty and the hard choices that come with today?
Adrian's words came back to him.

Once they called him a freak. Pod man. Not anymore. Not here. His eyes swept past Caleb who frowned at him, his jaw jerking back and forth.

"You've been trained to kill," Adrian said. "Here in this place, before all, can you do what you were born to do, Charlie Madroc?"

Charlie looked at his mom and dad. They sat there staring at him. They didn't protest. Conflict hung on the edges of his mind. But he was born to do this. His dad has just been a weak human necessary for his creation. The hard choice now faced him.

Leah gripped his hand tighter and nodded her approval.

The crowd pulsed before him, urging him on.

Adrian smiled at him.
I am your father now, Charlie.

And in his dark hidden heart a righteous power raged.

He knew what he must do.

Fury and loss raged in Laura. She could not move or speak. The drugs they'd given her rendered her powers near useless, but she did sense the thoughts of those around her—and of Charlie. His feelings burst inside like a disease shifting in feverish waves from revenge to love to godly self-empowerment.
Do the right thing, Charlie. Help us turn the people against Adrian.

She had to save her first born. He had been turned against her and Ben and was now announced as leader of this Elyon flock with the devil as his mentor. Her uncle.

The one she saw so long ago on a faraway dying planet. The one who pleaded for her, with kindness in his eyes, to help them assimilate into human society once they reached Earth in their final mission. The one whose true mission lay in being a Destroyer to wipe out humanity.

Ben sat near her, paralyzed as well. His presence provided her with small comfort in their desperate situation. And Charlie just stared at her as if he had forgotten her.
What had they done to him?
Her child. Her sweet boy who had given his whole heart to her when young. He had shared his hurts with her as a teenager. Tears of despair fell from her. She could not wipe them away as she had once wiped her son's tears away when he hurt. Had he truly become like her brother had been? Remorseless and full of hate? It was a stake that pierced her heart and severed her son grievously from her.

Charlie placed his hands on his head and closed his eyes.

No, Charlie!

The crowd stopped swaying. Silence hung in the church like a gun aimed, ready to shoot.

Ben shuddered in his chair. His head flopped down. His body convulsed. She felt pain radiate around him like blazing fire. Like when her twin had tried to mind-kill him long ago. Ben didn't die then. He couldn't die now. Laura refused to believe this could be his destiny. Fate would not be realigned. She closed her eyes and sent her life force and healing into him. She willed him to live. But she was so weak. The drugs had dulled her powers.

She battled with her son who was killing the one man she had ever loved.

His dad.