VulcansWoman Read online

  She gobbled down the last berry in the bowl and sighed while she set it aside. She knew what she had to do and she needed to act during the first opportunity. Hopefully before Ivy became too cozy with Bronto. Maybe that wasn’t the proper word, because if she got any cozier, she’d be sitting on his lap. Better acquainted, perhaps? Or infatuated.

  He’d be returning to Earth with Vulcan. Why set her up for a broken heart too? It hurt. She’d not wish the heartache on her own sister.

  Ivy hiccupped then clasped a hand over her mouth and giggled.

  Vulcan chuckled. “Ready for that swim?” he asked, assisting Wisteria to her feet by the hand.

  Bronto offered the same courtesy to Ivy but she bounced off his chest and stumbled backward. He caught her before she fell then he lifted her into his arms and carried her like an infant.

  Vulcan took the long route and guided them leisurely through the meadow to the forest. It was probably best to have walked slowly so Ivy wouldn’t get too jostled and vomit. Bronto didn’t seem to mind carrying her, displaying a constant smile. Well, Wisteria noticed a smile every time she glanced over her shoulder. She couldn’t hear their discussion but Ivy wouldn’t stop laughing.

  It’d been a long time since Wisteria heard the pleasant sound. There wasn’t much to laugh about at home with their clan. Ever since the Flesh Eaters had chased them from their original habitat, most seemed to have lost the desire to carry on with their daily lives. Their new area lacked color and they slept in cold, gloomy caves but at least they had a place to call home.

  “Ack.”

  Wisteria stopped and turned around. Birmon had grown tired and lagged behind. “Sorry, little guy. I wasn’t paying attention,” she said. She picked him up and carried him the remaining way.

  The moonlight cascaded along the lake, illuminating the yellow underbelly. A golden hue shimmered around the entire embankment and water surface, reaching toward the sky. She stopped and admired the breathtaking view. It glowed as if they’d stepped into daylight. It was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.

  Beneath the crystal water, red, yellow and purple feathery plants swayed in the gentle current. The multicolored rocks sparkled as if the rays shined directly upon them. It was so clear, even the tiniest grains of sand were visible.

  She couldn’t believe the brightness of the surroundings. It was as if the daylight had unfolded.

  She crossed the stepping-stones and laid Birmon beneath her favorite tree then she entered the water in the knee-deep section where Bronto lowered Ivy to her feet.

  “Eek,” Ivy shrieked. She giggled while dunking her hands in the lake then she splashed Bronto, saturating his face and furs.

  He laughed and lunged forward, scooping her in his arms before he dunked her completely under.

  Poor Ivy. The water seemed colder than normal and it pierced Wisteria’s flesh as she walked in deeper. Chills raced up her spine and her skin thickened with gooseflesh. After a quick brush to her arms she kicked her heels off the underbelly and dove forward, submerging herself completely.

  She swam fast, kicking her feet and stroking her arms to the deep section. She treaded water while watching Vulcan disappear beneath the surface near the shore.

  “Stop! Stop it,” Ivy screeched in laughter as Bronto lifted her and dunked her again.

  Wisteria was so intrigued by their play she hadn’t noticed Vulcan approach until he appeared directly beside her. He pulled her into his arms with her back facing his chest. She closed her eyes and slowly reopened them. Colorful fish were swimming around their feet. She’d swum with them enough to know they wouldn’t bite or nibble on her toes. They seemed as intrigued with her as she was with them.

  She rested her head against Vulcan’s chest and again closed her eyes while he swayed his arms and legs to keep them above water. It was a beautiful, peaceful evening surrounded by moonlight and its illuminating rays reflecting off the lake. She could remain floating in Vulcan’s arms in her paradise for an eternity.

  A familiar caress of soft scales brushed across her shins.

  Her eyes popped open and she looked beneath the water. The two-headed snake was circling their legs. “Loo-La,” she called, reaching beneath the surface to skim her fingers along its back.

  “You’ve named the serpent?” Vulcan asked, sounding surprised.

  “How else will it know I’m talking to it?” she asked as if he were dense.

  His arm tightened around her waist. “It listens?”

  Why wouldn’t it? “Of course it does.”

  Just then it rose in front of Wisteria, blinking and bobbing both heads before they sprang past her to investigate Vulcan up close.

  Wisteria glanced over her shoulder. “It won’t hurt you. Or they won’t,” she corrected herself.

  “I’m not scared,” he said, glaring into the snake’s eyes.

  “Don’t they have beautiful colors?”

  “Yes they do.”

  Presumably bored with Vulcan, Loo-La returned to Wisteria and lapped her cheeks with both tongues. She giggled and covered her face. “Okay, that’s enough.”

  “Wisty!” Ivy shrieked.

  Wisteria’s gaze shot to Ivy, who stood in the ankle-deep section, facing the forest. Something had definitely sobered her up, whether it was the cold water or whatever had caught her attention.

  “Look,” she shrieked again, pointing toward the feather tree. “Oh my gosh. Come quick.”

  Wisteria followed the direction of Ivy’s finger. Boar and Dahlia were strolling hand in hand from the forest, their faces tilted toward the grass. They didn’t seem to acknowledge Ivy, nor did they look up during her outburst of excitement. “Vulcan, it’s my brother. Loo-La, take us to shore,” Wisteria urged.

  The serpent darted underwater and settled between her and Vulcan’s thighs. When Wisteria wrapped her arm around Loo-La’s necks, the snake zigzagged to the embankment. Rather than retreat into the lake as usual, it slithered along the ground near Wisteria.

  Ivy gasped and jumped behind Bronto, pulling him backward until her feet hit dry land.

  “Don’t be frightened, Ivy, Loo-La won’t hurt you.”

  “Wha-what is the infatuation be-between you and odd animals?” Ivy stuttered, her teeth chattering.

  Wisteria smiled and looked at her brother and Dahlia. As they passed the feather tree and approached the embankment, neither acknowledged them. Birmon flapped his wings in a frenzy and squawked. He slightly lifted off the ground then fell, then lifted again and fell. Each attempt brought him closer to Wisteria. “Boar?” she said, bending down to lift Birmon.

  Loo-La poised to strike. “Sssssss.”

  “Loo-La, that isn’t nice,” Wisteria scolded. “That’s my brother.”

  The serpent didn’t move.

  “Boar?” Ivy repeated. “It’s Ivy and Wisteria. Where have you been?”

  He didn’t respond, nor did he appear to notice her. Not until he and Dahlia reached the surrounding rows of flowers where they froze as if afraid to touch them. “It’s Ivy and Wisteria,” his emotionless voice mocked. “Where have you been?”

  “We’ve been so worried,” Ivy said. She stepped forward but Bronto grabbed her by the arm.

  “Something isn’t right,” Wisteria murmured. “Look at them. They’re acting strange and are unresponsive.”

  Loo-La coiled around Wisteria’s feet and reclaimed the striking position, hissing and exposing its fangs.

  “You’re right,” Vulcan agreed. “Stay back.” He took hold of Wisteria’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Wisteria, do you remember the mutant that walked into the camp, and our prior conversation?”

  She nodded.

  “Look at their legs.”

  She reluctantly lowered her gaze. Gray scales covered the outside of their thighs and calves. Her heart deflated. “It’s true,” she whispered in dread.

  “How is that possible?” Ivy yelped, visually assessing their bodies. “Boar, what’s wrong? What happened to you
?”

  “Boar, what’s wrong?” he repeated. “What happened to you?”

  Just then Loo-La struck. Neither Boar nor Dahlia tried deflecting the snake, nor did they flinch when its teeth sank into their flesh.

  Green, gooey liquid spurted from the gouges in their throats. Ivy screamed and covered her face. Wisteria gasped and clasped a hand over her mouth. When the serpent sprang back it slithered into the lake.

  Vulcan and Bronto exchanged glances.

  “Ladies, go with Bronto,” Vulcan stated. “He’ll walk you back to the huts.”

  “We can’t leave him,” Ivy protested.

  Bronto took hold of Ivy’s arm and turned her in the direction of the camp. “That isn’t your brother, Ivy. What you see is not human. I’m sorry you had to witness this. Come with me. Vulcan will catch up.”

  Wisteria preferred to stay but she suspected Vulcan planned on destroying them as he had the man from the flesh-eating tribe. She couldn’t witness the demise of something that looked like Boar even if it wasn’t her brother.

  But was it?

  No, it couldn’t be. Humans didn’t have scaly skin and green blood. No, that was not Boar. It wasn’t.

  It was a mutant.

  She tried covering her ears but it didn’t block the sound of air swooshing when Vulcan unsheathed and began swinging his knife. No screams of pain. Please, no screams of pain. It would signify they were human. What if something evil possessed them? What if they were cast under a temporary spell by poisonous berries? “No screams. No screams,” she quietly begged but the reigning silence proved Vulcan was right.

  Her tummy was in knots by the time Bronto walked them into camp. Men bustled back and forth to the cooking pot while Jade replenished eating utensils and set a stack of bowls on a bench near the fire.

  Wisteria grabbed Ivy’s hand and led her to an area not as congested near the forest. She sat down by her sister, settling Birmon on her lap as Bronto headed back into the forest, presumably to help Vulcan.

  “Wisty, I don’t understand what’s happening,” Ivy whispered. “How could those people look exactly like Boar and Dahlia, yet not be human?”

  “They are mutants, but no one can explain how or why it happened.”

  “What are mutants? How did they get scaly skin? Did they get bitten by a fish or a snake?”

  Wisteria shook her head. “That isn’t possible. A poisonous bite would kill them or make them very sick, not turn them into a creature.” She hoped that were true. “Mutants are strange things, sort of like Birmon.”

  “Then where is our real brother and Dahlia? Why haven’t they returned home?”

  Wisteria glanced in Ivy’s eyes but decided not to relay the vague information Vulcan had told her. “Maybe they have while you’ve been away.”

  Ivy wrapped her arms around Wisteria’s elbow and rested her head on Wisteria’s shoulder. “I’m scared,” Ivy confessed.

  “You don’t need to be.” Not yet anyhow. Not until they abandoned Vulcan’s and the Barbarians’ protection to return home. Unfortunately that would take place sooner than expected. The thought of Vulcan leaving was getting harder and harder to digest.

  “Where’s Tyran?” a man shouted.

  Wisteria glanced upward at the sound of Vulcan’s voice. Ivy lifted her head.

  Jade walked from the supply hut. “In his hut, sir,” she replied impishly. “Taking notes.”

  Wisteria lifted Birmon and stood, capturing Vulcan’s eye. He waved her on and waited until she approached before they headed toward the row of huts. Tyran lived near the end and when they stood outside his doorway she realized it sat next to Jade’s. “Tyran, I need a word with you,” Vulcan stated through the doorway.

  “Come in,” Tyran replied.

  Vulcan pushed the flap aside and entered, pulling Wisteria in behind him.

  Tyran sat near his fire pit with a stick and a white square in his hands.

  “I need to know what’s going on,” Vulcan said, his voice demanding but controlled.

  Wisteria cowered, lowering her eyes to the ground, and petted Birmon’s back.

  “Regarding?” Tyran asked.

  “These wandering mutants.”

  Tyran set the objects aside and rose to his feet. “I’m not sure, sir. I can only confirm a mutation of human DNA so far in the previous specimens I’ve collected. The egg samples I retrieved earlier lacked any living organisms, so it’s impossible to match to said specimen. I’m currently at a loss. We need to confiscate an egg from that litter.”

  “Have you talked to Sumner?”

  “Yes. He’s aware.”

  “We’ve just encountered two more. All characteristics are the same. Green blood, dark eyes and scaly skin. They were two of Wisteria’s people.”

  “You’re sure?” Tyran’s eyes widened as he stepped around the fire and approached Vulcan.

  Wisteria nodded. “My brother and a young woman.”

  “Damn it. I’m sorry,” Tyran rattled under his breath. “Do you have time now to speak with the commander, sir? I think the sooner, the better. He needs to hear this and you need to know what we’re dealing with. Unfortunately I’m not at liberty to disclose any details.”

  “So you’ve known all along?” Vulcan asked, raising a brow.

  Tyran nodded then pulled back the flap. “Yes. I’ll tell you this much. If I had embryonic samples from those dinosaur eggs, I bet I could identify the unusual genetics in the mutant’s specimen. This way please.”

  As they passed through the camp to the forest, Wisteria spotted Bronto and Ivy. They’d moved beside the supply hut and were sitting alone near the back. They appeared content and pleased with each other’s company. She wished she had the option to join them rather than scurry in silence to the weapons shelter where the men planned on talking with the commander.

  Tyran was already inside, presumably lighting torches since soft light glowed halfway up the steps. Vulcan walked in ahead of Wisteria, holding a hand on her hip while she cautiously lowered her feet to the stairs one at a time.

  When she reached the ground Tyran pulled the chair aside and sat down in front of the computer. Before he’d pushed the button to turn it on, a loud boom-boom echoed over their heads.

  “What the” Tyran stated, glancing at the vibrating shelves.

  “Shhh.” Vulcan glanced upward. Then they heard it again. Boom-boom. A slight pause. Boom-boom.

  People screamed and shouted.

  “Let’s go!” Vulcan ordered.

  Tyran ran up the ladder first, then Wisteria, followed by Vulcan. When they reached the top, Zypher was running toward them, knocking branches aside. “Vulcan, sir!” he hollered. “Come quick. We’ve got trouble.”

  Wisteria held tightly to Vulcan’s hand while he pulled her in the direction of the camp. She had Birmon tucked under her arm and held on to him so he wouldn’t bounce free. Zypher and Tyran raced ahead and squatted behind a huge tree on the outskirts.

  The closer Wisteria and Vulcan drew, the clearer she heard a horrendous, eerie roar. It was louder than Birmon’s mom’s squall. High-pitched. Scarier. Women were screaming and men shouting. Somewhere within the commotion was her sister.

  “Vulcan, wh-what is it?” she gasped, drawing air into her chest as another roar shattered the air. “Ivy is in there.”

  “I don’t know,” he replied, speeding their pace. Just as they neared Zypher and Tyran, Vulcan halted and sank to his knees, pulling her down beside him. “Don’t move.”

  “Can you see?” She set Birmon down and placed her hands on Vulcan’s back, trying to look over his shoulders. “What is it? Where’s Ivy?” she shrieked. Her heartbeat thumped. Her chest hurt. “Can you see her?”

  She rose higher and peered through a small space she’d found between branches in a sheltering pine tree. She distinctively saw tribesmen carrying torches and inching toward the forest opposite the huts, swinging the flames side to side.

  “Ack.”

  “Birmon, hush
,” she whispered, swooshing her hand. He waddled near her feet then dashed beneath the trees and into the yard.

  “Rrrrraaaaggghhh!”

  Suddenly a loud boom-boom, boom-boom of footsteps echoed. The ground vibrated. The tribesmen began shouting, some tossing their torches and running off as an enormous monster stomped into the yard.

  Wisteria’s mouth dropped open and her eyes bulged. She couldn’t hear Birmon squawking through the roar as he shuffled toward the huts. Wisteria gasped, throwing her hands over her ears to block the horrific sound.

  The enormous brownish-gray-colored creature stood on two muscular legs with clawed feet. Its massive head leveled at the treetops. Short limbs extended near its chest beneath a thick neck. Its tail stood straight and stiff, narrowing to a point. From the distance its skin looked scaly and bumpy.

  When it spotted Birmon it took a large step forward, its jaws open, exposing tall, sharp teeth.

  Wisteria swallowed and ducked behind Vulcan, holding her breath while suppressing a scream. Run, Birmon. Run!

  Birmon dropped to his belly and hid beneath his wings.

  “Holy shit,” Vulcan murmured in disbelief. “It’s a fucking T-Rex.”

  “Do something,” she squealed.

  “Caw-caw.”

  She glanced skyward. Birmon’s mom circled the trees above their heads, her huge wingspan casting shadows over the yard. All of a sudden she dove at the monster, batting it with her wing. Other than twisting its head, the monster hardly moved. With an ear-piercing squaw she swooped low, swatting him again, but it only made the creature mad. It roared, swinging around, trying to whack her with its tail. She ascended in flight, barely escaping its wrath.

  Wisteria slapped a hand over her mouth and her eyes widened in horror as its jaws snapped at air. Jaws nearly the size of her body. Its head lowered slightly. Though its nostrils didn’t reach the ground, it was sniffing and heading toward Birmon.

  Birmon’s mom dove, scooped Birmon into her mouth and flew toward the sky. The monster lurched, its snout lifted into the air, nearly snapping her talons.

  Tyran yanked the bowed weapon off his shoulder.

  “Don’t do it,” Vulcan warned. “That arrow won’t do shit besides piss it off further.”