Blaze Page 24

  Crouching down I pluck a ripe Mato from the vine and bring it to my nose. Its sweet smell washes over my senses as I rise again. From the corner of my eye, I see a large golden beast moving through the bushes behind the field. Two years ago, Baby went on a trip with Crowley. They'd gone to collect supplies from the underground. Baby met a lioness on the way back. She's huge and wild. Shortly after, they had their first litter. Five beautiful beasts were born, each of them as wild as their mother. The smallest, Justin, visits now and then. He isn't like Baby but he's safe to have around. The sight of his fur brings on a longing to see my boy, but he rarely comes to see me anymore. His protection is no longer needed, he's free now.

  The heat from the sun high in the sky draws beads of sweat on my brow and the light breeze cools the droplets of liquid. I lift my face to the sky. Closing my eyes, I take a big calming breath. Today is the day. Exactly seven years ago, my life changed forever. All our lives did.

  "We fight for what was taken from us… our freedom!" Pain. Unimaginable agony tears through my entire body as it flies through the air. I land in a heap, the smell of burning flesh making me gag. Opening my eyes, once again I'm surrounded by fire, death and pain.

  Seventy Advanced died that day. Many more were injured. Taking a bite of the mato, I savour the tangy sweet taste as more memories assault me.

  "Kayla!"

  The sound of Crow screaming my name finally makes me focus. "I'm here. I'm ok! Where is everyone?" Wails of agony sound from all directions. I push myself off the steaming ground and look around me. Bodies, limbs and chunks of flesh litter the area where we were standing just moments ago.

  "Kay!" Crowley's face appears before mine, blocking the gruesome sight. "Fuck, are you ok?" I nod numbly, unable to process what just happened.

  "Help!"

  "Oh god, my legs!"

  "Help me! Help me!"

  "Mummy?"

  The screams of the injured will forever be branded into my mind. Every year on this day, we hold a gathering to celebrate and mourn. I turn on my heel and slowly make my way back to the house, finishing off the bright red mato. Stretching out a hand to open the door, another flashback takes my breath away.

  "Fuck! Oh god. No!" I scream while standing over Chris. Before I can react though, a body smashes into me from behind. "Argh! Umph."

  "I will kill you!" The man on my back manoeuvres to pin my body to the ground while he grabs my hair in one hand and slashes a blade into my back with the other. A battle cry rings out and then suddenly the weight is lifted from me. Planting my hands in the bloody dirt beneath me, I stand and seek out my attacker. The move makes my back sing with agony.

  "You traitorous bastard! I should have killed you years ago! Good for nothing clone!" Keeper yells at Connor. Spittle flies from his lips as he says the hateful words. Connor charges his father, a long sword in his hand. Just as he reaches the foul man Connor jerks to a stop, a thud draws all our eyes to the ground.

  Fire bursts from my skin and I throw myself at Keeper. My arms go around his waist as I tackle him, and we land in a tangled mess. I straddle the evillest man on our Island as flames lick down my arms and set fire to the material on his torso.

  "Argh! You bitch!" He bucks and sends me crashing down, landing on my shoulder. White hot pain lances through my arm as the sound of a bone snapping reaches my ears.

  "Shit!" Before Keeper can manage to get his arse back up, I flip from my back and land on my feet. My arm dangles at my side, floppy and useless. Ouch. "You will pay for your crimes, Keeper."

  "No, I won't, you little freak! Wanna know why?" His bright red face turns a charming shade of purple as he shouts, "These people love me. I'm their king and they’re loyal to me." That's when the sounds of war filters into my mind. When I turn, I'm greeted with horrors that will give me nightmares for the rest of my life. The rebels have arrived, but so have an army of Advanced.

  I let my hand drop from the handle and turn back to the field of vines. So much blood was shed in the city that day. It took an age for the rain to wash it away. The sea of matos before me reminds me of how the streets ran red. Advanced's, Rebels', Scraps', my men’s, and mine. Our blood turned the nearby river red.

  "Kayla?"

  The sound of my name makes me jump while simultaneously spinning around, my hand outstretched to strike.

  "Easy, darlin. It's just me." Crowley catches my fist before it makes contact with his handsome face.

  "I'm sorry, I…"

  "I know, I know." He pulls me to him and wraps his huge arms around me. "Today is hard for all of us."

  "They'll all die, and their blood will be on your hands, bitch!" Keeper throws his body at me once again. This time I see it coming and just manage to sidestep. He falls to the blackened dirt with an umph. As I take a step towards him my boot hits something, sending it skittering across the ground. Faster than an old man like him should be able to move, Keeper flips around and sits up. His hand flashes out and before I can blink, he’s risen, the blade pressed against my throat.

  "Now it's time to die, human." He moves to slash the steel across my throat, but I manage to get a hand up and tear the blade away. I then duck my chin and bite into his palm. He immediately lets me go and I use the opportunity to dash away from him. Hot blood rolls down the front of my body from my neck, the wound pumping my life from within me.

  The front of Keeper's body is burnt, the material melted to his blackened skin. One side of his face is destroyed. Bone and teeth poke through what little flesh is left. The air shifts behind me and my instincts roar to life. I spin only to be met with a wall of muscle. Crow.

  "Let's finish this, darlin."

  A leather-bound hilt is inserted into my palm and in one smooth move, I spin.

  I'll never forget the sound of Keeper's head hitting the ground. A dull, wet thud. And just like that, the fighting behind me stopped. Weapons clanged as they were dropped. Silence enveloped me as I stood there looking down at Keeper's war-torn body.

  "It's ok, love. We’re here." Charlie's soothing voice wraps around my cold heart. Warming it from the outside. The door bangs shut behind him as he takes me in his arms. He plants a kiss to the top of my head and holds me tight.

  The gates weren’t opened immediately. We spent the next year putting together a council. Three members from each faction. Scraps, Advanced, Hands, New Panda like Chris and Evo’s. And people like me, we named ourselves Mists. There are more like us, each having unique powers. One has the ability to move things with his mind, another controls earth; she can grow things using her blood. It's amazing to watch. We each have one thing in common. We all have golden hair.

  Charlie, a woman named Kath and a man called Lance are our council members. My guys tried to convince me I should be on the council, but that's not something I've ever wanted. To be in charge. When the gates were finally opened many Advanced left the City, some started their own small communities, some just disappeared. Others objected to the new way of things. Where everything is voted on, where every faction gets their own say. Those people were forced to leave. I don't know where they went, but I'm sure we'll see them again.

  "Are you hungry? Dinner's ready, let's go inside." Charlie's breath tickles my ear as he speaks. His hand playing with the ends of my arse length hair.

  "Ok." I pull away from him just enough so we can walk side by side into the house.

  "There you are. Did you get the matos?" Chris calls from the kitchen. His handsome face peeks around the wall and smiles at me. The black around his eyes never faded, despite the fact he's no longer a full Panda. What he is now is hard to explain. A hybrid, Charlie calls him. Half Panda, half human, he’s the Alpha Panda on the council, many of his brethren now living within the city, accepted as part of the people. The City scientists developed a vaccine with my blood. It was decided most Panda were far too gone to save and it would be cruel to cure them. Instead teams were put together to brave the wastes and give them mercy. Chris and his people are now tre
ated well, mostly.

  "I forgot, sorry," my reply is soft.

  "That's ok, Connor got some." As Chris says his name, Connor comes rushing into the room, a small child on his shoulders.

  "Look who I found creeping around the farm, Kay. Little Daisy decided to pay us a visit." The golden-haired girl giggles and hides behind her hands.

  "Oh, did she now? Hmm. Does your mummy know you're here, sweetie?" Crowley strides towards Connor and plucks the little girl from him. She lets out a shrill scream as he lifts her through the air.

  "I'm fwying!" Her voice loud as she throws her arms out.

  "I'll get her on the radio, Connor, can you set the table, please?" Charlie asks. Connor throws up his arm.

  "I'm working with one hand here. Can't someone who has two do it?" He chuckles.

  Connor lost his arm from the elbow down when he got in the way of his father. The move meant for me severed it. Luckily Charlie healed him before he bled out, but Charlie couldn't regrow limbs. Con adapted to being handicapped quickly, even though he plays on it.

  "No! Set the f…" Charlie stops and flicks his eyes to little Daisy, "fluffy table," he finishes, ever respectful when the little ones are around. Women started getting pregnant four years after what is being called The Beginning. Scientists quickly developed contraception. Of which I took full advantage of. People started to take notice of time passing after Keeper tried to kill us all with a bomb. Today is New Year's Day. Year seven.

  With one last kiss on my cheek, Charlie bends at the waist and presses a soft kiss to my swollen belly. "Love you, Theodore."

  "Nope. Not happening," I say firmly. "He or she isn't being called that."

  "Why not?" Charlie asks for the millionth time.

  I’m days away from giving birth and we still haven't picked names. "I like it. But.. it doesn't feel right." My hands go to my very pregnant stomach as the baby inside wiggles. A sharp pain flashes through me . It almost brings me to my knees.

  "What's wrong? What is it?" Charlie's panicked voice makes me giggle.

  "I've been having these pains all morning. It's fine." I don't get to finish because another pain slices through me. This one makes me cry out.

  "Ok, Con, take Daisy back to her mum. Get the Doc and tell him Kayla’s in labour. Charlie, get material and water. Chris, get the plastic sheets from the cupboard in the baby's room. Craven," finally Crowley takes a breath as he bends to place an arm behind my knees and the other around my waist, lifting me into his arms. "Get Can and Cell. I want them on the door, protect Kaleidoscope in shifts." Bossy Crowley then stomps out of the room and up the stairs, placing me on the bed I share with my four lovers.

  "Are you ok? Of course, you're not. You're in labour. But…" He runs his hand through his short black hair. All of the guys continue to dye their hair. They often go out into the wastelands to give aid to other communities and they say it makes them a target. Not just for bad things, but also to women. "Shit. I'm freaking out here, Darlin."

  "Just breathe, Crow. It's gunna be fine. Argh!" Another wave of agony burns its way through my stomach. "Just breathe. That's it. Just keep breathing." I'm not sure who I'm talking to, him or myself. but as the pain fades I burst into laughter.

  Crowley is panting, his face bright red and he's fisting the sheets so hard it reminds me of the first time he and I had sex. He ripped the material on Charlie's bed then because I wouldn't allow him to touch me as I rode him. Now he's ripping it on our bed because I'm about to give birth.

  "Don't laugh, Darlin. The first thing I'm doing once you're healed is tying you to this bed and making you cum all over my tongue," he growls seductively. Oh my. Charlie rushes into the room. Together he and Crowley undress me, then slip a white nightie over me. Just long enough to cover my arse, that unbuttons down the front.

  "Thanks guys," I say between panting breaths, things are happening quicker than I expected. "Ah, the pain is… intense." They both wince and Crowley begins to pace in front of the window. Charlie peppers my hand with soft kisses.

  When we returned to my mother's farm, my fathers were gone. Everything was dusty and the crops were long dead. We searched the area for signs of bodies, but we found none. Either they left, or they died. I don't know. So, we rebuilt the place, adding several more buildings for Craven, Can and Cell. They call themselves my Sentinels. They never leave the property unless I do. And they follow me everywhere.

  "Argh! Fuck! Mother fucker, Charlie!" I turn my angry gaze on my husband. "You're never to touch me again, got it?" I growl, knowing full well I don't mean it. But as more agony tries to split me from the inside, I'm on the verge of kicking him in the face.

  "I'm sorry, my love. Just remember, I love you," he replies calmly. Why the fuck is he so calm? I'm being torn in two for fuck sake!

  Charlie and I got married where his parents lived, inside a cave where the Earth gaped open. The gas that rose from the ground smelled sweet. I married Chris a year later. Crowley claims he doesn't need to marry me, that I'm irrevocably his anyway. Cheeky shit. And Connor refuses, claiming he hasn’t set right what he did under Death's control. No matter how many times we tell him it wasn't him, we forgive him and love him, he refuses to let us unite fully.

  Just as the rest of the guys burst into the room, I have an overwhelming desire to push.

  "Argh! It's coming!" I scream as I push down into my arse. Doctor Lance lifts the sheet Charlie draped over my knees.

  "Push, Kayla! That's it, girl. Yes. Keep going, keep going."

  For what feels like an age, I push and push. My body’s exhausted and my minds on the verge of breaking when finally, a baby’s cry silences us all.

  "Congratulations! It's a boy!" The doctor announces as he lifts a wiggling, screaming tiny baby into the air.

  "Oh my god!" Connor chokes out.

  "Fuck, he's beautiful," Chris follows.

  "Well done, darlin. He's adorable." Crowley's voice catches in his throat.

  Charlie's sobs come in time with my own. He reaches out his hands and takes our baby from Doc. He lays him gently on my chest, a look of awe in his eyes.

  "He's blonde!" He chuckles, tears streaming down his face. "I'm so proud of you, my love. You're a warrior!"

  "He looks just like daddy," I reply while stroking the soft golden curls on my son's head, "Oliver."

  "Yes. I love that, Oliver. My beautiful son," Charlie's reply is met with a series of agreements, sighs of relief and then a round of congratulations.

  "Welcome to the world, Oliver. Your Daddies and I can't wait to show you what we’re building. We did it for you, son." I place a soft kiss to his forehead and look at my guys surrounding us, tears in their eyes. "I love you all so much."

  Glossary of terms

  "Advanced"

  General term for those who no longer have the cancer gene & are immune to PV.

  "Alpha"

  Super intelligence. Large skulls to accommodate their huge brains.

  "Brute"

  Super strong. Very tall and brutal.

  "Evo"

  Super hearing, or speed or agility.

  "Hands"

  Farmers, immune to PV.

  "Mover"

  Immune who deliver crops to the cities and underground colonies.

  "Panda"

  Zombies. White skin, black around eyes and mouth. Crave flesh.

  "Panda virus" aka PV

  Airborne virus. Bitten or scratched turn into Panda.

  "Scraps"

  The few remaining humans now live underground. Unable to leave for fear of being infected, their numbers dwindle.

  "Seer"

  Super eyesight. Massive eyes.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you so much for reading Blaze! I loved writing this book, it has everything that I love to read as a reader. I hope you enjoyed it too!

  A special thanks to my girls. You know who you all are! Your support Is everything to me. Thank you so fucking much for believing in me. I love you ladies xo
xo

  Thank you to Elieen Troemel for your guidance, friendship and proofreading. Love ya xoxo

  Thank you, Serena Nova, for formatting this beauty. You're an amazing friend. Love ya xoxo

  To my husband and son, I love you guys so much. Always xoxo

  Also by Amelia Oliver

  The Everly Davis Chronicles

  Never Ever

  Four Ever

  Cerberus Rising: A shirt story

  About the Author

  Amelia Oliver lives at the seaside in England with her husband and son, Oliver. When she's not busy being a mum and wife, she writes. Luckily, her husband supports her 100% and helps her bring life to the characters in her head, who demands she writes their story. If there's one thing Amelia doesn't like it's to choose, and neither does her fictional women. That's why she's writing in the reverse harem genre, where her heroines will never have to choose just one guy.

  Amelia is no stranger to mental and physical health problems, so she loves writing about women who overcome struggles. Amelia is a self-proclaimed potty mouth with a naughty sense of humour. Seriously, who said "he/she said" jokes aren't funny??

  Feel free to join me on Facebook.