Heaven's Children (Earth Totem)

He cast a glance at Quinqui, thinking of Jin; together they were stronger and stood a better chance. He just wished he knew what Anna had planned. If she had made contact with the immortal children of Khaos, they needed all the help they could get.

Amidst the noise, only the twins stood in angry silence, not even Gabe and Garren could get them to talk. Andrea made her way through the crowd.

‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ Claudine muttered.

‘We should have known first, before everyone else.’ Caro added.

Andrea took a deep breath. ‘I was going to tell you, but after the bear thing, well…’ She rubbed her hand over her face wearily. ‘Where are they?’ Gabe interrupted and they all stared at him, even the twins. They had been standing close by.

‘We don’t know, but according to Hawk’s vision, if Anna has them, they’re at the old fortress.’

‘Harp.’ Garren added and Andrea nodded.

Andrea sighed – the loss of two members weakened them, especially now. As if in answer, an older collection of women from the Berkshire group approached her. Their leader, Pippa, a red-haired woman the twins had seen earlier, pushed through.

‘Join with us? Harp needs to be destroyed!’ she blurted in a no-nonsense way, before holding out her hands, palm upwards. Andrea blinked in surprise staring at the frank, round face in front of her. She turned to Claudine and Caro questioningly and they smiled.

‘Ma – ehti.’ She whispered. ‘Right and truth.’

Garren and Gabe beamed.

22

Blue mist

Seth and Nettles blinked in the darkness. They were still joined, but their human selves had become disconnected. They wobbled when they stood up, their muscles trembling. Seth stumbled sideways, his silver hair becoming rigid when he touched the edge of his cage. The frequency had a mouldy smell to it, and he whined moving away and urinating in the corner. Memories of grass, dirt and pain filled the fox side of his brain.

His mate circled him, tucking her tail between her legs, sniffing for any sign of the humans that did this to them.

As they felt the blood start to pump through their limbs, they automatically shook themselves apart, their human minds foggier than their animals.

Seth…what’s happening? Where are we? Nettles whined.

I don’t know...but man, I had the worst dream ever, and my head is killing me. He groaned putting his paw against the edge of the white pulsating floor before yelping.

What the hell? I just got electrocuted. Nettles barked, before sniffing his face.

I’m scared…my parents will be worried - do you think the others will know where we are? She whimpered.

Seth’s mind returned to their last moments before they passed out.

Don’t worry, I sent a message to Hawk. Nettles licked him gratefully, hope making her pulse quicken. She felt drained, and the urge to be free was stronger than ever. Another thought crossed her mind and her ears flattened. Seth’s animal instincts reacted to her heightened sense of fear and he mirrored her pose, his brushing the cold metal surface of the cage.

Seth, I’m tired, we shouldn’t still be joined, we need to free ourselves, have you tried?

Nettles shook her body then, her brown hair standing on end like Seth’s. It was normally quite easy to free herself from her totem, you just will it. But nothing was happening.

‘There’s no use trying, the frequency in there is high enough to keep you joined. Better get used to it.’ An accented male voice interrupted. Seth and Nettles froze, both growling in their throats at the hazy shape beyond their line of sight. The energy that surrounded them made it difficult to see anything outside properly.

‘Aww…can’t speak? Fox got your tongue?’ The unfamiliar male voice chuckled. Nettles tucked in her tail – her whining increasing.

‘Hey don’t worry, you might be saved if the exchange happens, for now just think of yourselves as our little energy bulbs.’ The voice was filtering and Seth threw himself against the energy field before bouncing back up just as quickly. The pain was immense, and he curled up on the floor whimpering.

You bastard, you almost killed him Nettles screamed, but all that came out was a high pitched barking.

‘Don’t get too worried, your new leader will be arriving soon, and you’ll soon figure out your purpose. I’ve heard she’s excellent with animals.’

Nettles pulled her mouth back, baring her teeth at the mention of the woman. The laughing made her rage, and she threw herself at the wall of light, howling in pain as she too ricocheted backwards, every inch of her body pulsating.

I will kill you…when I’m free. I will kill Nettles vowed.

‘Now then little ones, that’s against totem law isn’t it?’ Nettles’ ears twitched. The gravelly voice was familiar and she wished her eyesight would clear. The name Anna brushed at the sides of her consciousness and the thought was immediately picked up. ‘Well done, I’ve underestimated you, little one. Don’t worry, I’ve sent word to your group, and if they agree, then you’ll be free. Perhaps by then, you might prefer to join me.