Running in Fear: New Beginnings Jubilee (6 page)

“Your Highness, this is Paddy. He grew up west to our home,” Norris said as Paddy offered his hand to him.

“It’s good to see the both of you.” The coffee table changed and became a large oval conference table. “Gentlemen this is your assignment if you choose to take it, but I am warning you here now. Any women freed will not be taken back to the mountains unless she consents and is a mate to one of our men. I will not have these women hurt anymore. Let it be known, if any man enters another’s home stealing that man’s wife, he will be executed on the spot.”

He held up his hand to Paddy’s argument. “Paddy, if your men want and need women, then have them enlist.” He pointed to one of the locations and glanced at Leda. “How many women are being held? Do you know?”

Leda shook her head. “I know.” Lisa moved next to him and he slid his arms around her nodding.

“Gentlemen, this is my mate Lissa, your soon to-be-queen, and another one of my mates, Castor. You’ll meet my two other mates next week. Go on Lissa, tell them what you know.”

“Um, Nikola can you lower the table a little please.” She grinned up at him. “I’m not a giant like you three.”

The table lowered and he nibbled the side of her neck. “I like you just how you are.”

Ignoring him, Lissa pointed to three of the smaller houses. “The regular houses will only hold about twenty five women, while the larger ones, like these, could hold up to a hundred.” She frowned down at the map and then turned to glance at Suzanne.

Suzanne stood just as the ground around them shook, and a loud piercing sound filled the air, shattering glass all around them. Nikola pulled Lissa down, covering her body, as did the other men, protecting their mates.

“Paddy, Norris, men!” At once, shouting men, and gunfire could be heard outside. Five of his warriors showed up, taking their friends to the palace, as Nikola took Lissa. “Nikola, what happened? I thought they couldn’t get in?”

“It seems they found a way in, and until we figure out what the hell is going on, we stay here.” Nikola glanced at Blair and Clayton. “There are plenty of rooms, we are safe here in the palace. No one can penetrate the walls and the magic. I’ve already sent for Remi, Jaycee and the babies. They are not safe right now until we find out how this happened.”

The men nodded, but Nikola could see their anger and feel it as it matched his.

Dominic stood behind Suzanne as Remi stood behind Jaycee and glanced around the large table at the palace, which was under Nikola’s control, even though it wouldn’t be official for another three days.

Queen Isabel sat at the head of the table, tears slid down her face as Goddess Empusa and Gaia stood behind her. “It as you predicted Gaia, our world is dying. The new world is now slowly killing ours.”

Nikola slammed his fist into the wall, sending out a cloud of plaster. “All of this wouldn’t have happened if the attack hadn’t come from here, but they knew of the hole and how to use it. Now our people will have to give up everything they have known, because of a few who wanted more.”

“Those that attacked our home are dead. It didn’t take long before they fell to the ground. It should be safe for us to go back. We need to prepare new homes for your people, Nikola.” Lissa shook her head as she fussed over Nikola’s hand.

“Stop already, Lissa, don’t you think I know this.” He moved away from her, but at once knew his mistake. “Lissa, please forgive me. I just don’t know how they got by us.” He glanced back and held out his hand for her, but she held back.

“No Nikola, this is the second time you have embarrassed me in front of others when I’m only trying to help you. I think it’s time for you to decide what the hell you want, because if you keep snapping at me, I’m gone!” Lissa disappeared from the room and Nikola stood there.

“Well, are you going after her, or are you going to stand there like a jackass?” Queen Isabel yelled. “Honestly, Nikola you have never behaved so poorly.”

Goddess Empusa moved around him, as did Gaia. “Something isn’t right.” Both of them turned and glanced at him. “Come here Dominic, Remi, and Clayton,” Empusa motioned each of them forward.

“It’s not affecting them, but…” Once again Empusa, then Gaia, moved around the Nikola.

“Why do I suddenly feel like a specimen in a bottle?” Nikola asked, glancing at him, then at Gaia as she lifted his arm and turned it over.

“What happened here?” Dominic moved closer and saw a blue circle surrounded by a purple one.

King Landon hissed, and at once Dominic knew what to do. “Someone old has been to the outer planets. Do you remember how you got bitten?” He asked Nikola, taking his arm. “This is going to hurt, but I’m afraid Ledon says it’s the only way to stop the infestation once you have been injected with the parasite.”

Nikola snarled. “It was Gelna. I thought at first it was one of the plants, but now that I think about it, she wasn’t the same and she smelled different. What do you mean infestation? Can it spread to my other mates?”

Dominick shook his head. “No, the only way to transfer it is to be injected into the blood by the insect itself. You’re mates are safe. Sorry, but this will be painful, only the breath of the dragon has killed these creatures.” He didn’t waste any time and bit down into Nikola’s arm, releasing his breath into his blood stream.

Dominic stepped back as Remi grabbed Nikola around the waist, holding him up. “Adonis, take him to your quarters. He’s going to have to rest for a while until the parasites die.” At once, Adonis and Pierre disappeared with Nikola.

“I better go find Lissa. She doesn’t know what’s going on.” Suzanne stood, but Castor shook his head.

“No, daughter, you stay. I know where she is, I’ll go. I do suggest that maybe the five of you take a fly over the new lands. We’re going to need maps of the new lands in order to set up new homes.”

His mate snorted. “Like I’m your daughter, please. Hell, Lissa is younger than me.”

He grinned as he stared at Suzanne, remembering this morning. Oh yes, his mate learned it wasn’t too wise to tease a man about his age. Dominic reached down and adjusted his pants, his cock once more growing hard at the thought of her cute round red butt.

“Dominic!” He turned to see Goddess Empusa shake her head. “There is time for that later, right now I need your concentration on this.” At once the table became a living map.

Mountains grew, rivers, oceans, and valleys were all represented. Everyone moved around the table as they watched the land masses grow. “As you can see, your realm is growing every day. Right now, it’s twice the size of this realm and fast approaching to becoming a planet itself, which is a possibility that each of you must consider. If this happens, you will also have to consider other species’ coming to visit and how to deal with them.” Empusa moved to one side of the table and pointed to a large ridge. “It might already be starting. What do you think Gaia? You witnessed Earth’s birth.”

Gaia frowned, moving to the side of the table and nodded her head. “This makes more sense. In a realm the others could easily slip in and out. Ever since the attack two days ago it has been changing. Look here, you can see how she is starting to form her own space. Now all we have to do is figure out where this new world is going to be? It’s obvious it won’t share Earth’s orbit by the color of its sky and trees.”

Dominic leaned on the edge of the table map and stared at both women. “All of this is great, but we need to know how long we have before this realm or whatever is destroyed? We have over…” he glanced at Queen Isabel. “How many are here?”

Her swollen red eyes met his. “We have over three hundred thousand, of course, that is if the new planet accepts us.”

Dominic glanced at Remi, and he shook his head. “They really have three choices, Isabel: take the chance and come over to the new land, stay and die in this realm, or take their chances on Earth.” Dominic straightened and turned towards his Goddess, who held up her hand, stopping his question.

“No, there is only the one realm and that was formed because Isabel is our sister. She wanted a place where her kind could relax, a place to call their own. Also, I believe the coronation should wait until everyone is where they should be. There is no time for a grand celebration. You could do it perhaps at your Christmas celebration, a new beginning.”

Gaia put her hand onto Isabel’s shoulder. “I think it’s time for you and your mate to come home, Isabel. You’ve done all you can here.”

Isabel nodded and stood, but not before she closed her eyes and sent out her last message to everyone in her kingdom, even those in the room with her.

It is with great sorrow I call to all of you, one last time. We have no choice now, our life as we know it is changing. King Nikola is now in power. He, Dominic Hazelfield and Remi LeBlathe will help all of you make the move to this new beautiful world. For those of you who wish to go to Earth, go, but stay safe. I have tried to guide you as best as I know how, may your lives be filled with peace and love.

Dominic listened to the queen’s message with a heavy heart. So many lives rested on their shoulders, not only the fae would be sharing their new home. He stretched and glanced at Suzanne, who sat next to Jaycee, holding one of the triplets in her arms.
“Soon you’ll hold our babies in your arms.”

He whispered to her as Suzanne lifted her gaze to meet his. She smiled. “
Don’t think I don’t know you are worried about the others coming over. When do you leave to bring them here?”

The map before them grew larger and Dominic moved around the corner of the table. “Blair, I know your brothers and your family just came over, but can the three of you fly over to this area here?” Dominic pointed to a large mountain range that was far enough from everyone.

“There is no need to fly there. We can take you there. Are you thinking of giving this land to some of your followers?” Nikola appeared next to him, Lissa at his side holding onto him.

“You should be in bed?” Dominic glanced at Lissa, who shook her head.

“He isn’t about to rest with so much to do.” Lissa cuddled closer to him. “Thank you for doing what you did, Dominic.”

Nodding, he pointed to the mountains. “I believe that would be a perfect place for the few demons’ that want to come here.”

“The ones that saved me?” Lissa asked and he nodded.

“There are about two thousand that are waiting. I figure if we can bring them here, they can also help with getting your people settled since there are so many.” Dominic pointed to where Castor’s home was on the map. “Are you going to use Castor’s home as the new Palace?”

Shaking his head, Nikola moved to the center of the table and pointed to a spot about fifty miles away near one of the new oceans. “If it’s okay with the rest of you, I thought this would be perfect. It has the mountains for our people, but also the warmer climate for those who choose it.” Nikola glanced around the palace, then at Queen Isabel.

“This place is wonderful and it’s part of our history, but I don’t see it having a place in our new world. I believe we need a common place for all of us, Dominic. Some place we can all come together. I’ve been thinking about this.” A large pointing stick appeared in his hand and he pointed to a large open area in the middle of everything.

“This area here seems to be the center point of the whole planet. We have the warm waters all around it, but a strip of land that connects it to the main land. From what I gather, there is about two hundred acres here. Why not build a place where all of us can meet and discuss business? We could have offices here, so it keeps the business part of our lives away from our family life.”

Remi and Clayton moved around the table and nodded. “I like that idea, Nikola. Too many times the council would interfere in our lives. This would be perfect. We can still get there when we need to, and it’s far enough from our homes that it wouldn’t interfere.” Remi glanced at him. “What do you think? Will your people agree with this? Having one place where we can come together and discuss issues? You and Nikola will have more people here then we will.”

The smell of orange drifted to him and he glanced down at Suzanne, who stood next to him with little Marcia in her arms. “I think this would be a wonderful idea, Dominic. I know only one of the other kings are coming over, but he already has given up his position to you.” She nodded to Leda and he grinned as Nikola’s man Tor and King Jarred talked, while at the same time they watched every move Leda took. Yep, it looked like they had another mated pair for their new world.

Jarred glanced up to him and smiled. “Relax old man, I know who is in control.” He bowed his head and Dominic groaned.

“We’ll see, and this old man can wipe your butt anytime. Yes, I agree. We’ll use the island as our home base. I believe it should be formed as an octagon. That way we can also have our separate offices in it too.”

“There is enough space on the island so we can have great gatherings. I was thinking at least once a year. I know some won’t be able to make it, but I would like that day to be on Christmas. I want something from our old world here. We don’t have to call it Christmas. Matter fact, the women and I believe it should be called, New Beginnings Jubilee.” Jaycee stood next to Suzanne, holding the two boys.

“We need a day to remember what was and how we don’t want this war to happen again;, but we also need a day for hope.” Suzanne twined her hand into his. “This is important, Dominic. Everyone has had their lives torn apart. Let’s have a day were we can just relax and count our blessings. On this day, the only gifts to be given will be those that are made with our own two hands, no magic. Food of all kinds will be made so we don’t leave out any heritage, there will be more, but we wanted to let you know.”

Dominic snorted. “There’s always more with you.” He leaned down and kissed her head. “How long do we have before we can’t fly to Earth and the planet moves away?” Dominic turned and stared at Gaia and Empusa.

Gaia moved around the map and watched as more and more land forms were being developed, the table grew larger and larger. “From the progress I see here…” She nodded to the table. “You have about the same time this realm has to move into the new world, seven days.”

All three of them nodded as they studied the map and sighed. “I’ll get my men over here today.”

Nikola nodded. “I have over four hundred men already in this area building homes, Tor has fifty of his men up in the mountains working on their new dwellings, but I’ve already sent a warning to them. There will be no more warnings; if one thing happens then they are gone from this world. I also plan to visit up there later today to get things moving since this is our biggest area of concern.”

“Then let’s move, we have much work to do. There is one good thing about this phase in the building of this new world.” Dominic glanced down at Suzanne. “For now our women are safe here.”

All three men nodded as Queen Isabel and her mate disappeared from the room with Gaia and Empusa. Who knows if they would see her again, she looked so beaten and tired.

“That’s why it is best your duties are kept separate from our homes, Dominic. When you come home, you come home to me and, soon, our children.” Suzanne handed Marcia over to Dane as Remi took one of the boys out of Jaycee’s arms. All of them, once more going back to their homes, before they left to start the mass exodus to the new world and start their new life.