ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 33

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• Luna •

Before letting go, Selena hugged Zander. Walking around him, she patted his rear. "Nothing better happen while you're gone. They don't want to fuck with me."

"That's my girl," he said while kissing her.

Zander's glance startled Luna's spirit, but Selena faced them. "Hey, BARDA staff—the ones ushering this war to begin sooner than expected—I've had some awful experiences with them."

Luna and Amir glanced at one another. "Could you explain?" he asked.

Selena breathed deeply. "My brother dated a prime minister's son. Diego accidentally entered a meeting where his boyfriend's country had numerous Trojans ready to activate."

"Oh, God," Luna whispered.

"They killed Diego to hide it," Selena continued. "They tried to kill me because he told me what he heard."

"Damn," Greer commented. "Which country?"

Luna noticed Selena shaking and trembling. She struggled to describe this painful ordeal.

"It's okay. We took care of it." Zain's words made Luna shudder. "BARDA wants to see what each person can do once their powers are awakened, knowing not everyone can unleash them. Some Tethered Souls are inactive."

"Zander was meant to trigger any powers I'm supposed to develop, but that failed for whatever reason, which meant he was tasked with killing me later on." Selena inhaled deeply. "But he couldn't. He protected me. Based on what we know, it felt like the mafia trying to silence us."

"What do you know?" Luna asked.

"My brother made video diaries of things he and Alejandro found," she explained. "Project Trinity was classified, and it was an act to restrict the powers of selected people."

"That . . . that sounds fucked up," Greer said. "I've never heard of anything like that."

"Think of it as the biblical rapture," Zain said. "Chosen."

Luna and Amir gasped.

Selena nodded. "Trinity Project was intended to repopulate Earth with pure humans. BARDA wanted even more power over humanity since it was easy to detect anyone pure. They used hybrids and planned this for years. To locate newborns and determine whether or not they will tether. Instead of finding young children, it was about raising people in a new world with only three regions on Earth. The name 'Trinity' came from that."

"BARDA is ridiculous," Zain said, balling his fist. "We researched and found they were seeking people like your parents, Amir."

He scowled. "What about them?"

"They're in their sixties, correct?" Zain asked, and Amir nodded. "And their abilities weren't activated?" he continued while Amir nodded again. "Their genetics are useful. BARDA can copy almost everything. Their DNA, blood type, hair, fingerprints, etcetera."

"Similar to cloning?" Luna asked, glancing at her husband.

Selena moistened her lips. "No, nothing like that. They can treat diseases with the Khan's and other genetically pure DNA. It's about finding and maintaining Pure Souls."

Luna gasped, "Holy crap."

"We knew they were bad, but damn, this goes so much further," Amir replied.

"We wanted to stop them," Selena continued, "but we have more pressing issues in our hands."

"There's a bounty on our heads," Zander clarified. "I unintentionally waged a war with BARDA, several superhumans, the US, and other governments. We barely escaped them."

"Helping you all with this would . . . well, it's better than doing nothing." Luna realized then that Selena was Zander's motivation. The brunette faced Amir. "We're like you—we don't trust easily. But if you hurt Zander, I'll kill you. Understand?"

Amir exhaled. "Zander poses no threat."

"Great," Selena said. "I'd like him to come back to me."

Luna liked her.

Zander smiled. "Come on, folks. It's not far." He began walking and stopped at a street light three feet from their car. "Welcome."

Luna frowned when she saw nothing. "Are we supposed to spin until it gets us somewhere?"

Zander stared.

"What?" she gaped. "I don't see how a light can help us in finding the others."

"No, Luna." Zain laughed softly. "Twirling on a street light? That's what made it . . . forget it."

"Oh, come on, guys. Get your mind out of the gutter." Luna smirked.

"Okay." Zander motioned to her feet. "We're dropping six feet."

Before lifting the heavy metal, Luna noticed a drain cover. They were literally on their way below the surface.

"That's the way to Enzo?" Greer asked.

Zander nodded, smiling tightly. "Why? Did you expect a magical door to appear and take you away? That spoils the trip."

"We've never been here," Amir noted, staring at the hole. "It makes sense that you like airports considering your history."

"I was really hoping we could keep our truce."

Amir smiled. "Earn it."

Zander replied, "You seriously have to work on your ego."

Luna swiftly tied her hair into a ponytail without rolling her eyes. Greer crept to the edge, saluted to everyone, and descended the ladder. A few seconds later, his voice rang out. "Are gas masks available? It stinks to high heaven."

Zander laughed and yelled, "What did you expect? Lavender and herbs?"

Fabulous, she thought. This meeting ought to be fascinating.

They went down quickly, and Greer wasn't lying. Fungus and raw sewage filled the poorly lit tunnel.

Zander dropped last. He mentioned that as a child, he had slid down the ladder like a water slide. As if that influenced their mission.

He walked straight ahead, glancing behind his shoulder. "I hope everyone used the restroom before coming to the airport. We've got a long way to go."

"A long way to go" was nearly fifty miles to him. Despite the tanzanite's adrenaline rush, Luna's legs ached as they walked for what seemed like forever in the silent underground. She was happy that she did use the restroom earlier. Small multicolored tents between the tunnels began to stink. While she was looking at them and their holes, Zander appeared in front of her. Shocked, Luna staggered.

Red eyes met hers. "Don't freak out. I'm not defective. Darkness affects my eye color."

"Oh," Luna whispered.

"BARDA does that to people. Genetically alter anyone." Zander proceeded and she gasped. "I wouldn't explore those tents. They aren't empty. Agents captured those people. Torched them. Nobody had a chance to run. You get my drift?"

Luna's stomach dropped while nodding. After witnessing so much needless destruction and death, she needed time to breathe. They entered a large walkway lit by torches wedged into wall shafts through a wooden door that seemed to have been closed for decades. Zander stopped before a circular steel door.

She bit her lower lip, sensing danger. As if the air was stagnant, she strained to breathe. Like a thousand small insects, nervousness crawled over her.

Amir paused next to Luna, one arm stretched and head cocked. He stiffened. "I feel them. Engineered Souls."

Zander beamed at the group. "I warned you. Enzo's army is big."

Luna stared. "How many is in there? These are poor living conditions."

"You'd accept anything to survive." The Soul knocked. "They created a society down here, Pee-wee."

The unusual nickname distracted her. She never expected to be called "Pee-wee."

But it was original and funny. Luna allowed it.

"Enzo and his team have spent years building these underground cities with the help of his allies. They roam above ground but always return." Zander grabbed the large lever. "They live freely, so what you're about to see—"

"Will likely require my seeing a psychiatrist?" Biting her lower lip, Luna grinned. "Let it rain."

Looking around, Zander raised one lip. "Just checking—are you sure you want to proceed?"

Luna nodded at everyone. "We came here for a reason," she said.

"Let's get this out of the way," Amir said. She didn't mind him squeezing her hand. His touch soothed her.

She knew what they were about to see and do was highly dangerous, but they would do it together. "Do you sense them, Greer?" Luna glanced at him.

He nodded. "I'm ignoring their voices in my head. I'll wait until we get further along."

When Zander opened the door, his biceps flexed, signaling he didn't want to be there. The chamber stood out. Sheetrock covered wooden walls. Celtic-looped totems held candles. Renaissance fair-style wooden archways completed the main hall.

"I should clarify," Zander said to her. "You've been activated. Not entirely, but close. I and others sense it. Keep it under control."

Nodding, Luna blinked.

The party entered a hallway, and before they could reach the door, another one of Zander emerged and pushed it open, clattering against the wall.

The other looked like Zander and Zain, but she thought he also resembled a fisherman. And not even Disneyland's likable model.

This brother emitted hatred. He stared at Zander before scanning the room. A puffy white cloud formed when she took a breath. She shuddered.

"You have a death wish," the brother said. His words were like snowflakes. "Especially with an active Trojan down here."

Zander cocked his head. "Zeke, I didn't ask for your opinion."

Zeke glared at Zander and laughed. "Enzo is not going to like this."

"Luna Khan is not a threat," Zander explained. "She's virtually . . . defective."

Zander's polar opposite chuckled, then shook his head. "Nice knowing you."

Once Zeke left, Amir tensed up like he was going to fight to open the door. So did Luna. After Zander described Enzo earlier, her suspicion reached epic proportions.

"What did you mean by defective?" she asked Zander, who was an inch ahead of them.

He faced her. "Somehow, your activation malfunctioned, throwing you off track. See that as a good thing."

Luna swallowed and nodded, not wanting to talk about becoming a killer.

Greer emerged on her other side, and the three of them followed Zander inside. What she witnessed was unprecedented.

An underground civilization? He wasn't lying.

They were in another world. Even though she knew they were underground, there was no overhead. The huge bunker has endless wooden balconies. Thick, bristly doors and fences were on the lower levels. The entire set-up gave her the feeling of being in a wooden fortress.

Lord forbid someone accidentally set their oven on fire—the nearest manhole was over forty blocks away.

Moving down the center of the room opened Luna's eyes. Cabinets and adorned tables surrounded tall and wide closets. Cans, napkins, and mixed beverages were visible.

"I've never seen anything like this," she whispered.

Amir nodded. "And this is deep beneath the city of Chicago. They even have tunnels reaching Lake Michigan."

Turning, Zander chuckled. "Imagine many civilizations like this worldwide. Captivity has its benefits."

"I've been to underground facilities," said Greer, "but nothing like this. I didn't know any of this existed."

"And it must stay that way," Zander stressed. "Enzo's sanctuary is for everyone, even though I don't like him. No matter what, you cannot share this information. Ever."

"We won't," Greer guaranteed. "These settlements shouldn't be revealed."

Zander smiled. "Perfect."

"Titus knows about these communities?" Luna asked.

He nodded. "Our Hybrid of the Century established London's underground in the 1970s before moving to America. Most survivors on that side are there."

"Interesting," she murmured.

"I know both of you have heard it a thousand times, but your national television scene unlocked the floodgates. The world changed, along with BARDA," Zander resumed as Luna sighed. "I'll talk. Amir, don't talk. Seriously."

Amir grumbled. "Thank you for your vote of confidence." When Luna frowned, he groaned. "Okay, fine. I'm mute."

Greer laughed at him.

"There's more," Zander said.

"What?" Amir asked.

"Not only are there Hybrids and Engineered Souls down here, but also other BARDA creations seeking shelter," he stated, following the three of them. "Defective ones."

"What the hell?" Greer fumed. "You brought us down here with the enemy?"

Zander replied, "Hey, hey," raising his palms as both men charged at him. "They're harmless. Like you, they hate BARDA."

"Why didn't you say anything before we walked down here?" Amir growled when he grabbed Zander's collar.

While removing Amir's fingers from his shirt, Zander stitched his brows. "I'll start by saying they're not a problem. Second, if I told you, would you have changed your mind?"

Luna opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. He had a point. They would not have returned to the base even if they had known their enemies were underground. Talking to Enzo was their top priority.

"You're right," she said. "We'd have come down."

"Exactly my point," Zander replied, and Amir finally moved away from him.

"Tell us next time," he said. "Nobody better mess with any of us. I'll kill them."

Zander turned and gestured. "Come."

Luna heard chanting and thumping after exiting a chamber and entering a passageway. She braced herself when Zander opened the door.

Defectives and Engineered Souls were everywhere. They sat at round tables. Amir gripped her hand tighter.

The room fell silent. Others went upstairs. Some had heavy steel containers halfway up their mouths. Women carried swaddled babies. Their eyes were wide. Most of them had jet-black hair that contrasted with their creamy white skin. Some people had platinum blond or punk yellow and pink hair.

Everyone watched as Luna and her group slowly walked through the center of the room.

When she felt cold fingers on her spine, her hair raised.

"You've got to be kidding me." A loud voice bellowed behind them. "Zander. You're dead."

She gasped, turning. Two dining halls had wide wooden balconies. Walking those narrow stairs would break her neck.

Luna could tell the seated man was Chewbacca-sized. His chest, shoulders, and thighs were large. He sat upright with his magnificent amethyst eyes focused.

The man was strangely attractive. He had high cheekbones, expressive lips, and a straight nose. His brows were brown, his skin dark, and his head full of long, black braids. With a yellow wine glass in his right hand, he stared at the gathering.

Titus called him the Grand Papa. Luna was captivated.

When she thoroughly scanned what Enzo was seated on, which she recognized it to be a throne made of . . .

Holy crap, she wanted to run for the hills. Unusual human skulls. They possessed a subtle, luminous white sheen, were thinner, and appeared more flexible, like cartilage that could be molded and reshaped.

Oh, no.

They were superhuman skulls.

What the—

"Enzo. You know what's happening," Zander started but didn't get far. "BARDA—"

"I know exactly what they're doing," Enzo remarked, sipping his drink. "Agents have kidnapped, tortured, and killed thousands of people. So what? That doesn't explain why you brought the assholes they're after to me."

Luna gasped when Zander opened his mouth but closed it.

"Unless you're bringing substances." Enzo smiled, his teeth were unusually bright and keen. "I want their powers before I kill them."

"That is not why we have come," Amir said, his voice as dark as the room. "I'd rather us stay alive if that's okay. We need your assistance ending the war with BARDA."

Luna smiled, delighted with her husband's explanation. Amir spoke with confidence and no sarcasm.

Enzo appeared to choke on his drink. "You want help?"

Her heart bounced when the walls echoed laughter.

"Yes." Amir nodded with his chin up. "Support. It's simple. I can give you the definition of it if you don't know what it means."

And there went the snarky Amir.

In Enzo's hand, the glass shattered.

Glass pieces on the floor caught Amir's attention. "And that's why the world is a disaster."

Luna stifled her laugh out of fear that Enzo might shed their skin.

She sensed the Engineered Souls moving from their seats behind them and closing in during their silence. Her body felt heavy and the air became frigid.

Zeke paused at the bottom of the stairs when she locked eyes with him. "What do you want us to do with them?" When he looked eerily at Luna, his eagerness terrified her.

Enzo sneered. "Cut out their tongues and bring me their skulls."

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