∞ The Tethered Ones ∞

Chapter 21

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• Luna •

Crack.

The sound of thunder caused Luna to wake from a deep sleep. Half-conscious, she wiggled her arm free from Amir's death grip and gradually eased herself off the bed.

Glancing at the clock, it said 5:27.

She hadn't slept much throughout the night, and her mind was heavy with her upcoming meeting with Ethan. Neither she nor Amir knew how it would go, and she was determined to not let him get to her. Holding back information about her in-laws was not okay, and she wanted to rip into him until he revealed where they were.

After making her way down to the kitchen, she walked to the window and watched as rain came down and saw three guards monitoring the area.

A few minutes passed, and then she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Spinning quickly, a huge smile crossed her face when her eyes locked on Cami, and she immediately threw her arms around her. 

Both of them stood next to the stove in the cabin and hugged it out. She thought only Cami could pull off wearing head-to-toe polka dots and still look ravishing. Her glorious light brown curls bounced around her face, and her sparkling hazel eyes illuminated from the light. Even in an oversized shirt that was too big for her, Luna felt dull with her puffy eyes and nappy hair tied in a ponytail. 

Finally letting go, Cami picked up her wooded spatula and continued her morning cooking. "I was in the middle of making scrambled eggs and suddenly felt the need to see my sister," she said, stirring her food.

"I'm glad. I couldn't sleep." Luna's eyes trailed the kitchen and saw the counter filled with all types of food. "You're up early." 

Cami grinned. "Well, Faisal will wake soon for his morning prayers and I want to have something prepared for him. And Sarah wakes around six-thirty to watch cartoons. So, I figured I'd surprise everyone with breakfast. We all take turns around here making the meals and doing security." 

She scraped out a few eggs onto a plate and threw away the half-burned section into the trash. Her eyes traveled toward the corner and noticed a few boxes marked with 'Seven-Day Meal Supply.'

"Max and the guys boxed our food. We have a few months' worths," she mentioned. 

"Where are you guys going?" Luna kept forgetting that she can't know much about their plans.

Grabbing a glass and filling it with orange juice, she gulped a big sip, then faced her. "We're coming to get you." Cami ambled toward a small table and sat down, then Luna joined her. "As soon as everyone arrives, we'll be on our way." 

The cabin's country-style interior had her feeling a homey essence, and it made her miss her home. She wished this stupid war the world was going through would end so everyone could go back to their lives, but that was a pipe dream. Power and corruption lead some people's hearts.

"How many are coming?"

Cami leaned forward and took a huge bite of her eggs. "We aren't sure the exact number. But I know we have Cyrus, Gabi, Enya, Fe'ya, Mila, Raj, and a few others who are tethered. They're all willing to do what they can to rescue you and Amir. Our ally, Cassidy Kwan, is from Taiwan and she's arranging flight details for us to fly to a safe location. We'll let her know when to get us once we're all together." 

She looked down and cleared her throat. "Do you think that's a good idea? Everybody putting themselves on the line like that?" 

"Shouldn't they decide what they want to do with their life?"

Luna nodded. "Yeah, but this is risky. They could get caught." 

"We started a revolution, and they want to stand up for what they believe in." Cami sipped her juice and grabbed her hand. "It's okay to be worried. Even I am."

Luna sighed. "Have you heard from your family in Nigeria and Iceland?"

She shuddered and a tear slid down her cheek. "Most of Nigeria are wiped out. Gone. There are only twenty-nine percent of the population left and the only place habitable is Lagos." She stopped for a moment and caught her breath. "The other day, the organization stormed through Iceland. Not only bombs and grenades were dropped, but they released Chemnisol into the air. It had spread quickly."

"Oh, God."

"Yeah . . ."

"Cami, I'm so sorry. Your people were affected on both ends. Now, I get why you acted the way you did yesterday. I didn't realize."

She looked at her and wiped her tears. "I was running off of anger, Luna. You were shot. Right after Faisal had told me that, I blew up. I grabbed the keys to Max's Durango and got halfway to Dallas before Max stopped me in an Impala. We're eight hours away from you and I needed to see you. I was so scared. I didn't want to lose my sister."

She squeezed Cami's hand. "You didn't."

"But I could have, Luna."

"I'm fine now, Cam."

"I know that," she said, and they took a peek outside of Luna's window, the rain dripping from the roof. "I followed Max back here, and then Faisal and I discussed more about bringing you guys here." She sniffed, and her shoulders slumped. "And yesterday, we were told that Ethan knows where Amir's family is. But he won't say anything unless he gets something in return. Typical asshole."

"He is, but what can we do? Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices to get what we want."

"Now, you're sounding like Vikram."

They both laughed.

"You've heard about India haven't you?" Luna shook her head, and Cami continued. "Tethered Souls in the southern region of Asia has either been captured or killed. Agents have searched every state, city, district, and village looking for Pure Souls. The entire area is filled with them, and the organization knew it."

"Jesus."

Cami nodded, and then added, "Sid and Mila took their family and Vikram's to a private bunker in Mumbai. India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have now closed their borders. No one goes in or out."

"How are people going to survive?"

She pressed her lips into a thin line. "That's what I'm saying."

"So, Pure Souls have been living in India?"

"Yeah. And not just there. Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bhutan. Other areas around the world have Pure Souls, but those countries have the majority of them."

"That's . . ."

"It's hard to believe, I know. Vikram said when he sees his family again, he was going to have their DNA tested."

Luna sniffed and kept her eyes on her. "Does he think he might have been born from them?"

"We don't know. We know at least one of his parents is tethered. Otherwise, he wouldn't be tethered."

"Right," Luna whispered.

"He said he left India right after Javier had passed and never got a chance to check anything out about his genetics."

Luna narrowed her eyes, a loss for words.

"When they tried to warn us in the Hummer that if we exposed ourselves," Cami began, "I didn't realize the consequences we were dealing with. We didn't know there were secret agencies studying superhumans and their abilities. We knew about St. Matthew's, but none of the others. Everyone is in hiding, and sometimes, I wish we could go back so I could tell myself to not expose our species. It would be a bad idea."

"I know. But unfortunately, we can't go back in time," Luna said.

"Unless there is a Tethered Soul out there who has that kind of power?"

Both of them shivered at that thought.

"I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry," Cami whispered, peering her gaze down to her plate.

"For what?"

"For the way I acted. I didn't mean to go into Bitch Mode and talk to you like that."

"It's okay, Cami. I was feeling that way, too. I couldn't express it."

"No. Stop trying to be soft and sweet to me." She stood up and threw her arms across her chest. "What's going on now doesn't give me a reason to become a homicidal maniac. I don't trust Ethan Trent, and I have a bad feeling about working with him."

Luna hopped to her feet and stood an inch away from Cami's face. "I don't trust him either, but we have no choice. The only way we'll get the answers we want is by following through with his demands. He's in control. Not us."

"It's hard to believe we're dealing with engineered souls, defectives, BARDA, Sergeant Trent, and anyone else out to get us," she murmured.

"I know. It turns out that I'm their property," Luna replied, looking away.

"You're no one's property, Luna. You'll get away from them and we'll hide you. All three of you."

She nodded, holding Cami's hand.

When noise was heard from the cabin's doorway, Luna turned and watched a petite woman with long brown hair and olive skin stroll in with a tall Asian man. She gave them a gentle wave and smiled back. 

"Guys, this is Luna," Cami said, introducing them. "Luna, this is Maria and Zan who are paired with Sloan."

"Hey," she said, glancing between Maria and Zan as she prepared herself a cup of coffee.

Luna saw her once, but they'd never officially met until now. She could sense that Zan wasn't there physically and was using his ability, which was dangerous for them.

Turning to Cami, Luna asked, "Is it safe for everyone to use their telepathy?" 

Maria snorted after taking a sip. "Max can kiss my ass. My girlfriend is held against her will, and my boyfriend is on the other side of the world. So I'll see both of them before I lose my damn mind."

Zan wrapped his arms around her waist and laid his chin on her shoulder. "We're okay," he murmured into her ear. He then turned his gaze toward the ladies and ushered Maria down the hall. "It's nice to formally meet you, Luna, but it's a difficult time. So, please excuse us. Dylan told me that Sloan was given two rounds of shock therapy today at St. Matthew's, and we have a headache."

"That's horrible," she said, her eyes pooling in tears.

He nodded and walked with Maria out of the room.

"This is what they've been dealing with since Sloan was brought to Louisiana," Cami said. "Zan only pops by with information. Dylan is his eyes and ears in the hospital, and he is Dylan's for China." 

"Zan seems caring. Like Amir." 

"He is. All three of them support each other. And they date, too."

She chuckled. "You mean, like a poly relationship?" Cami nodded, then Luna said, "I'm sure their connection to each other is rather . . . hypnotic."

Cami grinned. "Well, I don't know about all of that."

Their scenes changed back to the guest house and a noise was heard upstairs.

"I guess His Highness is up?" Cami remarked, causing Luna to snicker.

"I should go back up there. He's probably missing me already."

"At least you two have each other here, you know. That's something."

Luna nodded. "Honestly, I wouldn't be able to stand it if he wasn't with me."

"Amir is your security blanket."

"Just like Faisal is to you, Miss-Soon-To-Be-Khan. I have yet to hear that story."

Cami laughed. "Faisal hasn't proposed to me if that's what you're thinking. But we've talked about marriage once we get the world back on track. I can't live without him."

Luna smiled, wiping a few tears on the back of her palm. "I know exactly what you mean. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Sure, Luna."

"I love you, Cami."

"I love you, sis."

A second passed, and Luna made no sound as she eased the door open.

Sliding through, a wicked glint in Amir's eyes peered back at her. "I'm so glad you're in the house. Don't scare me like that."

She snickered. "You were worried?"

"Of course." He brought his arms around her waist as she adjusted herself beside him. "I'm always worried."

"I was talking to Cami, and we were discussing how the world is and trusting Ethan."

His gaze searched her face, brows drawn tight. "I can understand why you're stressed about it. I don't remember him, and you do."

"What we're doing could get us in trouble, prince."

He gave her a soft smile. "It's okay to be worried. We have each other. And I'll be damned if anything happens to you."

He ran the tips of his fingers down her cheek, relaxing her body. She realized that maybe she was getting worked up over nothing. They both had powers they could unleash at the first sign of betrayal, and freaking out a little beforehand wouldn't help with her nerves. She needed to be strong enough to meet their fate head-on and not strain herself over the "what-ifs." Doing that would dampen her frame of mind, something she didn't need at the moment.

Quietly, she moved over and slid under the covers. He threw a heavy arm over her waist, securing her to his body. She curled into him, resting her head under his chin, and laid her hand over his chest. Using her fingers, she drew a small heart above his and shivered in her spot.

They lay quietly for several hours. Sometimes talking and sometimes giggling, having light pillow fights in-between. It didn't take long to calm down and feel comfortable as they kept their arms and legs tangled in each other. Other times, they kissed and the kissing . . . well, it was something they needed to hold on to as long as they could.

She enjoyed his kisses and the compassion he provided.

Before she knew it, her eyelids dropped and she finally drifted off into a deep sleep, feeling her peace. And she wasn't letting go of it.

• • •

It was late in the afternoon, and Luna and Amir were in the kitchen. He'd just come back from the main house to summon Sergeant Trent and discuss what they've decided. She hoped the man wouldn't betray them, but she had to give him a benefit of a doubt. For the sake of her family.

"You can relax," Amir said, staring at her. "I doubt BARDA will bust-up in here. They could've done that at any time."

"True. But Ethan is sketchy. We need to be prepared in case something happens."

"And we will."

She exhaled a breath. "All right."

"That's my girl." She smiled when he called her that. "Would it help if I could make you something to eat?"

Luna shook her head. "Just a coke would be fine," she said, biting her lip.

Amir nodded, then quickly passed her a drink and began making himself a cheese sandwich. Her stomach turned, even though she was hungry. It was her nerves spiraling out of control, and she couldn't stomach how the meeting would go. She just wanted to get it over with.

Angling his body over the counter, Amir stood still and decided between fries or mashed potatoes. The potatoes won. "If I suspect something is off, I'll put the fear of God in him," he said, voice low.

Putting on a brave face, she nodded and glanced at the side door. "Ethan had better not cross us. That's all I'm saying."

Not even a minute later, the wind chime rattled outside and before she could straighten up, Amir stiffened across from her. She knew right then, that wasn't the breeze that made the instrument jingle.

Shifting her gaze toward the window, spiky, bronze-tipped hair with an obvious amount of gel, stood out at the top of the shade, standing still.

Gray eyes locked on her from the other side, and her stomach lurched into her throat.

Sergeant Trent was there.

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