Chapter Forty-Two
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NAZAB’S UNEASE GREW stronger after nightfall.
Monica hinted she wanted to sleep alone and he knew why.
Now that her cycle was over, she was tempted to explore their passion.
As always, the knight abided by her wishes.
He took the master bed simply because it was the only one large enough for him.
His female slept in the single bed across the hall.
Waiting until Monica’s breathing evened out, Nazab went outside to patrol.
He couldn’t sense any humans as he ran a sweep of the area.
The only animals he saw were the two black bears.
They watched him as he performed his patrol, which creeped him out a bit.
Wild animals usually fled at the sight of humans, or beings they thought were human. This pair were far bolder than usual.
He returned to the house and locked the door, knowing he would wake up if anyone tried to break in. His sleep was restless and he woke up just before dawn as usual. The house was still secure, so he waited for his female to wake up.
“I can’t wait to leave this place,” Monica said when she ambled downstairs. “Something’s not right.”
“I know what you mean, female,” Nazab agreed.
“We’ll only return long enough to retrieve our gear, then we’ll leave.
” The only reason they didn’t take their belongings and their supplies with them was in case their truck was stolen.
They didn’t want to have to search for more clothes, food, water, fuel and another generator again.
Monica drove the first shift after scoffing down some food. They didn’t find anyone at the first four places.
“We’ll need to pass through a town to reach the next location,” Monica said. She had the map on her lap and Nazab was driving. “Or we could drive about twenty miles and cut across another bridge.” A river flowed on the other side of the town and few bridges had been built to cross it.
“I’ll scout the town first,” Nazab said. “It might be deserted.”
“Or it could be full of crazy cannibals,” she said with a grimace.
He pulled over when the settlement came into view and parked in a wide ditch. Water had flowed through it in the past, but it was dry at the moment. “The truck will be harder to spot from a distance, but you won’t be able to see anyone coming,” Nazab said.
“I’m going with you again,” his female said. “I’ve been feeling like we’re in danger ever since we arrived in this area. I don’t think it’s a good idea for either of us to be alone.”
“I feel the same way,” he confessed, relieved that he wasn’t paranoid. But he was worried about the unknown danger they could both sense.
As usual, the knight carried his cambion as he moved closer to the town.
He deposited Monica on the ground when they reached its perimeter.
Sending his senses out, he detected a large number of humans spread throughout the houses.
“There has to be two hundred people with gray souls living here,” he marveled.
“One of them has a black soul,” Monica said with a scowl. “I bet they’re going to cause trouble.”
“No doubt,” Nazab agreed. “I want to take a closer look at this human.”
“I’ll wait here,” she said. “Try not to get yourself into trouble.” She offered him her delectable lips and he bent to kiss her.
“I’ll be back soon,” the warrior promised, then sprinted into the town. He came to a stop in the back yard of a house and listened to the people inside. They were having a mundane conversation about a meeting that was about to occur.
Sure enough, everyone left their houses and converged on the town hall, including the male with the black soul.
Nazab waited for them to come to a stop before he exited from the yard.
He hid behind a van with flat tires and broken windows that had been shattered by hail, judging from the dents in the roof.
“We’re here to decide who we want to lead us now that our Mayor passed away a couple of days ago,” a female said from the steps of the town hall. “You’ve all had time to choose from the list. Please put your votes in this box.”
She bent down and picked up a plain cardboard box. One by one, the humans all approached her and placed a folded-up piece of paper into the box. Nazab saw the male with a black soul smirking. He figured the man had something to do with the former mayor’s death.
“We’ll count the votes now and come out with the verdict when we’re done,” she said.
Nazab heard a noise like metal snapping and glanced up.
The sign for the town hall was now hanging by one rusty screw.
It snapped as well and the heavy sign fell.
Moving before he thought about the repercussions, the warrior zoomed over and wrapped his arms around the woman.
She screamed as he swept her out of harm’s way.
The sign clanged noisily to the ground, just missing them.
“He’s one of those evil aliens!” the guy with a black soul shouted and shouldered his gun.
Most of the humans were armed and they all panicked. Nazab was about to release the human and flee when he sensed Monica moving closer.
“Don’t shoot him!” his female shouted as she ran as fast as she could.
Everyone turned just in time to see Monica trip and fall. She hit the ground hard and rolled a few times. Her prosthesis came loose and landed a few yards away. Flopping onto her back, the cambion groaned in pain.
Nazab felt her scrapes and bruises and was kneeling beside her a moment later. “I’ve got you, my sweet,” he said, tenderly sitting her upright.
“Shoot them both!” the evil man shouted. He started pushing his way through the crowd to be the first to open fire.
“We’re not evil!” Monica called out as Nazab retrieved her prosthetic leg. “Nazab is one of the good aliens!”
Shocked murmurs swept through the townsfolk. Someone yanked the gun out of the bad dude’s hand before he could shoot at them. “We’ve all heard the Mad Prophet!” the female said. “We’re supposed to help the good aliens, not murder them!”
“You saved me again, Monica,” Nazab murmured as she put her prosthesis back on.
Monica gave him a small grin. “Watch me work my magic on these folks,” she said quietly, then he helped her to her feet.
“Everything the Mad Prophet said is true,” Monica said as the humans gathered in an arc to listen to her.
She told them about the war between the two alien factions and the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.
Everyone believed her, except for one man.
“You can’t seriously believe any of this rubbish!
” he exclaimed in disgust. “We’d have to be out of our minds to join up with other people we’ve never even met just on their say so!
” He scowled at Monica and Nazab put his hand on her shoulder protectively.
“Why the hell should we fight for the supposedly good aliens?” he demanded. “This is their war, not ours!”
“What do you think will happen to you if the good guys lose?” Monica asked.
She saw the fear on the townsfolk’s faces.
Nazab couldn’t have been prouder of her as she stood up to this pathetic human.
“The Soldiers of Chaos will send their minions out to either kill or enslave the survivors, just like the Mad Prophet’s been warning us.
Do you want to be forced to obey their orders? ”
“No!” someone shouted. “I’m with the good aliens!”
Roars of agreement came from everyone except the man with the black soul. He gave Monica a bitter look of hatred, then stormed off.
“Be wary of that man,” Nazab said when the shouts and cheering died down. “He has evil in his heart,” he warned them.
“I think he might have killed your last Mayor,” Monica said. “How did he or she die?”
“He had a heart attack, or so it seemed,” the female Nazab had saved said. “But I saw green foam on his lips, so he might have been poisoned.”
“If we see him again, we’ll shoot him,” a male said grimly.
“We need to get moving,” Monica said now that her job was done. Once again, she’d swayed the mob in her favor. “I’m sure we’ll all see each other again,” she added.
Some of the women hugged her, but the men kept their distance, since Nazab hovered near his mate protectively the whole time. They returned to their truck, then drove through the town, returning the waves from the survivors.
“I’m surprised neither of us got shot by that creepy evil dude,” Monica said in relief.
Nazab tensed up, expecting gunfire to come in their direction. “I was worried you’d jinxed us for a second there,” he said with a grin.
“So was I,” she replied, checking the mirrors to make sure they weren’t being followed.