The Falcon Prince (21 page)

K
ristor shifted on the hard bench. They had forced him into the back of the hot stuffy van. An agent was in the back with him, the one called Jack. The guy looked nervous. Why, Kristor didn’t know.

Maybe because he was young and oozed inexperience. The older agent seemed to enjoy Jack’s discomfiture when he’d told Jack that he would be riding in the back with the prisoner.

Kristor glanced around, weighing his options. He could mentally unlock the restraints, but they had his hands bound behind his back. He had to be able to look at them to unlock them.

“So, where you from?” the young agent asked, trying for the voice of authority.

It came out more of a squeak. He might intimidate women and children, but not Kristor. He had a feeling the young agent knew that, too.

Was it a trick question? Was the young man only acting nervous? He studied him for a moment. Jack’s expression only showed curiosity.

“Not from here,” Kristor finally said.

“Yeah, I can’t really blame you for not talking.” He nodded his head toward the front of the van. The only thing separating them from the two men up front was a glass panel. “Adam can be an ass.”

“Adam?”

“He’s the lead agent. Been one for about twenty-five years. Gung-ho and all that. Agent Adam Richards.” He snickered. “He thinks you’re an alien from another planet. Can you believe the guy? I think he might be doing drugs on the side.”

“He told you he thinks I’m an alien?”

“Not in so many words, but on the way down here, he told us that was what our mission was about. To make sure you weren’t an alien. Crazy, I know.”

“Yeah, crazy.”

“So, what do you lift?”

Why did everyone wonder what he could lift? “Anything I want.” It seemed to satisfy the guys he’d played flag football with that day.

“Yeah, I kind of figured that. I’m not much for weights, but I’m a fast runner.”

And for the next hour, Agent Jack talked about running, working out, and what it meant to be an agent, and how proud his family was of him. Kristor had a feeling he could talk long enough that a prisoner would be willing to give away all his country’s secrets just so Jack would shut up.

Kristor’s eyes narrowed on the man sitting in the front seat as Jack droned on. The lead agent. Adam Richards knew Kristor was an alien. Kristor had seen it in the man’s eyes when he saw Kristor’s birthmark.

The other two thought their leader was a little crazy to think aliens might exist. He’d seen that in their body language, and the way they’d cast knowing looks at each other. But that knowledge would do Kristor no good. They obeyed their leader, and would follow his command. He respected them for that, but it didn’t help his situation.

With his wrists bound by metal shackles, it was too late for him to shift. His only hope was Rianna. But could she set him free before they found out the truth? She’d been more distraught than determined when they shoved him into the back of the van, and pulled away from her house.

There was always her father. He had come across as an intelligent man. She might be able to enlist her father’s help. He would know what to do. As they left town, Kristor knew it would be impossible if they didn’t know where he was being taken.

The glass that separated him from the front slid open and Adam shifted in his seat. His grin was mocking. “You two nice and cozy?”

“It’s hotter than Hades back here,” Jack said.

“Where are you taking me?” Kristor asked, before the other man could say anything to Jack.

Adam looked at him. “Somewhere we can question you properly. We don’t want any of those country yokels interfering with our interrogation.”

“You don’t have to scare him, Adam,” Jack said.

Adam glared at the other man. “Yeah, well we don’t know exactly what he is, now do we? I’ve been in this business a lot longer than you, boy, and I’ve seen things that would make you think twice about whether aliens exist or not.”

The man stiffened. “My name is Jack, not ‘boy,’ if you don’t mind.”

“Whatever.” Adam slid the glass closed and turned around in his seat, facing front again.

“Might as well make yourself comfortable. It’s going to be a long ride,” Jack said.

Kristor didn’t like the sound of that. There was no way Rianna would ever find him, even if she could help. His mission was in jeopardy of completely failing and his identity becoming known.

Or it could be worse. He’d heard of the secret testing they did. It was whispered throughout the galaxy that aliens from other planets had been captured and no one ever saw them again. He had thought the rumors false, a way to scare children into completing their daily tasks.

His mother had told him more than once that people from Earth would come get him if he didn’t clean his room. When he was young, he’d believed her but, of course, as he’d gotten older, he realized Earth wasn’t nearly as advanced as New Symtaria.

But now he began to wonder. Maybe Adam was the monster from his childhood after all.

“O
h, Ria!” Carly ran to her friend and threw her arms around her neck and sobbed.

Heath cleared his throat. “Maggie, Ron, you know they have some pretty decent doctors in Dallas who can help your girl. John Ratcliff took his son over there, you know. The one that’s a little touched and would throw things all the time. He’s a lot calmer now. They said the doctors were a blessing. I bet they could help Ria.”

Maggie squared her shoulders. “I beg your pardon, Heath, but our daughter is not touched. She’s only part alien. It’s not even close to being the same thing.”

“Mom, we can’t blame them for not believing.” Ria untangled herself from Carly, who then threw herself into Neil’s arms. A much better fit, Ria thought. “I don’t have time to go into a lengthy explanation. I need to follow them to see where they’re taking Kristor.”

“Are you sure, baby girl?” her father asked.

She nodded. “I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.” Then she silently prayed she could follow through with her bold statement.

Woo-hoo! We’re going to shift! Finally!

Ria ignored Shintara for now. If she hurried, and didn’t think about what she was about to do, then she might not get scared and back out at the last second.

She took a deep breath and stepped away from everyone. “Okay, you’ll see a thick fog. Don’t worry about it. Then, if everything works out right, I’ll shift into a hawk.”

“Oh, Ria.” Carly raised her head from Neil’s shoulder and sniffed loudly.

Neil pulled a hankie out of his back pocket and handed it to Carly. She wiped her eyes, then delicately blew her nose.

“Quiet. I need to concentrate.” Ria looked at each one of them, registering their expressions. Heath looked as though he was ready to call for the men in white coats. Neil looked confused. Her mother looked worried, her father full of pride that she was facing her fears, and Carly was just plain old scared. When Ria saw her reflection in the mirror over the sofa, she saw determination.

Yeah, well, she might be determined, but she was also scared silly.

You can do this. We can save Kristor. Ria, we’re his only hope.

I know. Just don’t fly into a tree or anything.

Pffft, as if that would ever happen. Just watch and see what I can do!

That was exactly why Ria was afraid. But Shintara was right. Ria was Kristor’s only hope, and she wouldn’t fail him now.

Ria closed her eyes tight.
Think animal guide
.

She swallowed past the sick feeling at the back of her throat.

Think hawk
.

Something was starting to happen. She grit her teeth.

“What is that?” Carly asked.

“Just the fog, dear,” Ria’s mother explained. “Remember, she told everyone there would be a fog.”

Ria heard their words as if from a distance as the burning pain grabbed hold. She groaned, slipping to the floor.

“Think hawk,” she murmured.

“Ria, where are you?” Heath’s voice bounced off the walls.

“I don’t think she can hear you. She’s too busy shifting into a hawk,” Ria’s mother told him. “I’ve always told everyone that our daughter was special. And she is. Certainly better than Vickie Jo’s daughter who is just a pharmacist. Ria’s a shapeshifting alien. Just watch and see.”

The voices faded. Ria stretched her arms and feet out. They drew back as the shift began. Beak, talons, and feathers replaced her human form.

I can feel it,
Shintara’s thoughts came to her.
Ohmygod, this is what it feels like to be me. I think I might cry.

Did hawks cry? Ria didn’t care as she was engulfed in the transformation. Her breathing became ragged. She heard the cry of a hawk. Fog swirled around her.

The burning eased.

Ria blinked, and looked through the eyes of a hawk, then quickly closed them tight.

I’m alive!
Shintara spread her wings.

I’m frightened.

Don’t be scared, Ria. Open your eyes and see through mine. Now we are truly connected.

Ria tentatively opened her eyes as the fog began to lift. For the first time Ria felt the strength of Shintara’s emotions as they flooded her entire being. She finally realized the pain Shintara had felt being unable to shift into her true form.

“Ria?” Carly asked.

“Hello, Shintara.” Ria’s mother knelt in front of them.

The hawk screeched a hello.

“Shintara?” Neil asked.

“Her animal guide. They coexist,” her father explained.

“The voice she talks to,” Heath said. “All these years it was real.” He nudged his cowboy hat higher on his forehead. “I’ll be damned. And the naked man in the woods that day was Kristor. Everything she said was the truth. Aliens do exist.”

Carly moved closer. “You’re part alien.”

We need to leave, Ria.

Ria’s stomach churned.
Then let’s do it.

Shintara flapped over to the screen door. Her father opened it. Once out on the porch, Ria had second thoughts.

No turning back.
Shintara stretched her wings. The span was impressive, to say the least, and she took off. It was more like a dodge-and-wobble takeoff, though.

I thought you said you could fly!

All hawks can fly, but you have to remember this is my first flight. It will take a little getting used to.

Getting used to! Shintara hadn’t said anything about having to get used to flying. Oh, God, Ria was going to be sick. She looked up as a large object appeared in front of them.

Tree!

I see it. Calm down.

Branches!

I see those, too

Could hawks vomit? Why the hell hadn’t she read up on them? Anyone with half a brain would have googled hawks if that was their animal guide. But noooo, she’d never thought she would have to shift into one.

She could feel the wind on her face. That wasn’t bad. Kind of like when she went running. She glanced down as they flew over the town. Oh, God, she was going to die!

Drama queen. You’re not going to die. And if looking down bothers you, then don’t freaking look down.

You’ve really copped an attitude lately, you know.

And you’ve let something that happened when you were a child consume you with fear. All your life, it’s held you prisoner. Now we’re both free.

She was right.

Of course, I’m right.

You heard my thoughts?

You didn’t block them.

I can do that?

Sometimes,
Shintara reluctantly admitted.

Ria would file that away for future reference. She didn’t want Shintara knowing everything she was thinking.

There’s the van,
Shintara said. She swooped down closer, flying near the window on the driver’s side.

Truck!
Ria’s mind screamed.

Shintara swooped up and out of the way with barely a feather being ruffled.
I saw it. Remember, my eyesight is superb.

I’d just as soon not play chicken with oncoming traffic if you don’t mind.

I’m a hawk, not a chicken.

Whatever. But she was glad Shintara had found Kristor. Now she would be able to free the man she loved. Well, as soon as she figured out how she would go about doing it.

Kristor thought about Rianna, wondering if he would ever see her again. She was special. His family would like her—that is, if she decided to make the journey to New Symtaria. A deep throbbing pain ripped through him. He couldn’t imagine life without her.

Adam turned slightly in his seat, glancing back at Kristor. Kristor returned his gaze with stoic indifference. Adam’s eyes narrowed before he faced front again.

The man was taunting him. It was a maneuver meant to intimidate the opponent. Kristor had used it. By the time they arrived at their destination, he was supposed to be ready to tell them whatever they wanted to know. Adam’s ploy wouldn’t work. Not this time.

According to the clock on the dash, they’d been in the van two-and-a-half hours. Kristor shifted on the bench, but no position helped ease his discomfort. Jack looked even less comfortable and had already loosened the tie around his neck and removed his jacket.

They passed a sign that said Dallas was twenty-five miles away. He’d been there when he searched for Rianna. It was big. Much bigger than any town on New Symtaria. Would Rianna or her father be able to find him among so populated a place?

But they turned off the main road a few minutes later. Jack sat straighter.

“This isn’t the way to the office.”

A tingle of worry crept up Kristor’s spine.

Jack tapped on the glass. Adam turned, sliding the partition open.

“Did you make a wrong turn?”

“We’re not going to the office. Like I said, I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve seen a lot more than you have.”

“So where are we going?” Jack asked.

“You’ll see.”

Kristor knew he would have a better chance of escaping from a place with fewer people. They’d just made it easier for him. But ten minutes later, he wasn’t quite as sure as they drove up to a small building with glass windows surrounded by a twelve-foot fence.

A guard stepped from the building as they approached. The driver of the van slowed, then stopped, his window sliding silently down.

Adam leaned forward. “Agent Adam Richards,” he said, then handed his identification to the guard.

His words were muffled on the other side of the glass partition, but Kristor could understand what was being said.

“One moment, sir,” the guard told him.

He went inside the building. Kristor watched as the man raised a phone to his ear and spoke. He put down the phone and returned to the van, handing Adam his identification.

“Once inside, turn to the right. The buildings are lettered. You’ll be going to C Building. Someone will meet you there.” He went back inside. The metal arm rose in front of them to let them through.

Kristor looked at the buildings as they drove past: cold, stark-gray buildings. They pulled in front of Building C and parked. Maybe he could make a run for it. Woods surrounded the perimeter. If he could get loose of the metal bindings, he could shift, then escape.

But when the back doors of the van opened, Kristor saw that two guards stood on either side of the doors. Jack grabbed Kristor’s arm, and one of the guards grabbed the other. They didn’t let go after he jumped to the ground. As they walked inside, Jack moved away and the other guard took his place. They didn’t say a word.

“There’s a cafeteria down at the end of the hall,” Adam said as they went inside.

“Where are you taking him?” Jack asked, nervously looking at Kristor.

“It’s classified,” Adam said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Someday you’ll get to play with the big boys.”

“Ass,” Jack mumbled, but Kristor thought he was probably the only one who heard. He agreed with Jack.

Adam, Kristor, and the two guards turned and walked down the corridor opposite to where the other men were going.

“What do you think you’ll find out about me? I’m nothing special,” Kristor said.

“I don’t
think
I’ll find something, I know I will. Oh, yeah, I know exactly who and what you are.”

They put him in a small room with a tiny window in the door. Chains were bolted into the back wall.

“Chain him,” Adam said.

“You would treat me like an animal?” Kristor jerked away from the guards.

“But isn’t that what you are—Symtarian?” Adam cast a fierce glance toward the guards. “I said chain him!”

Kristor fought against the men, but he was handcuffed and they were two to his one. Still, he managed to kick one on the shin. He would have felt a lot better if it had been Adam instead of the guard, who was only following orders.

His efforts were futile as two more guards came running at Adam’s command. They managed to chain each wrist and both ankles to the wall. But they didn’t do so without taking some bumps and bruises. At least they didn’t look quite so stiff and stoic, and they were panting.

As soon as Kristor was secure, Adam waved the guards from the room and stepped in front of him.

“You might as well have just let us chain you, alien. What did you get for your effort? Pain?”

“I am a warrior.” He stood tall. “That was not so much pain as it was gratification.”

“I’m glad the thought of pain doesn’t seem to bother you. Over the next few weeks, you’ll have a chance to experience much more than what the guards gave you.”

Kristor would not let Adam see that his words bothered him. He would find a way to escape. They could not hold him.

“Aren’t you even curious to know how I guessed you’re Symtarian?”

People like Adam enjoyed bragging about how much they knew. Kristor understood his kind well. They liked to push weaker men around, or men in chains. But when it came to real fighting, they were the first to run away.

Still, he wanted to know if there were more Symtarians caged. So he asked the question. “How did you know?”

Adam fairly glowed with anticipation. “I knew as soon as I met you that you were alien. The mark on your ass when the towel came loose proved it. You’re Symtarian. All Symtarians have the same rose symbol, different from a tattoo.” He laughed. “It will give you away every time.”

“And how many Symtarians have you found?”

His chest puffed out. “My fair share.” He frowned. “Some of them didn’t know they were Symtarians. I thought that was strange at first. But then I figured that out, too. Your people dumped them here so they could breed with people from Earth.” His lip curled in distaste. “Is that why you’re here? To breed with that slut you were shacked up with?”

Kristor tightened his fists. He wanted to kill this man like he had never wanted to kill another person. But he couldn’t. Not right now. He had to keep Ria safe.

“Get her with child? I think not. I am a prince. She is not worthy to carry my seed. But she did give me some relief, no matter how distasteful it was to relieve myself by using her body.”