22. Savin Me
Chapter twenty-two
Savin' Me
Several Years Ago
Sebastian and Talia held hands as they entered the high school. Smiling at their friends and nodding at acquaintances as they made their way to their lockers. Sebastian had bribed a freshman with promises to introduce him to Talia’s best friend, Stephanie, in order to switch lockers so that he could be next to Talia-much to Stephanie’s dismay.
Sebastian’s resolve had been crumbling a little each day. The more time he spent with Talia, the more he doubted his intentions. He no longer focused on weaving himself into her family’s fold for nefarious reasons, instead, he craved it for an entirely different reason, for their approval. They were no longer his pawns to be played with, they were the parents of the woman he loved, and he wanted their permission to do so freely and with their support.
Love?
Yes, he knew now, this was love. What a beautiful feeling. Warmth, desire, anxious butterflies encompassed all of him. He missed her when she wasn’t nearby. The melody of her voice was his favorite sound, the color of her eyes-his favorite color. There was no other human, no other being in the entirety of the universe that held his heart in the palm of their hand the way she did.
He had lost sight of his obsession with world domination. Could no longer understand the point of it all when the Earth was plenty big to share. The angry fire within that had driven him for so long had finally been extinguished. He was at peace. Happy for the first time in his extraordinarily long existence.
Now he had a new mission… Talia. Building a future with her was all that mattered and ensuring a quality connection with her family was the key to doing just that.
Sebastian shoved his backpack inside his locker and grabbed the book he needed for the first period. He closed the door and leaned against it, head tilted and heart racing as he waited for Talia.
When she shut her locker and turned to look at him, she laughed.
He grinned ear to ear. “What? What’s so funny?” He asked as he pushed off the wall of lockers.
Talia stifled her laughter and shook her head as they started to walk toward class. “You. Bass, you just had the goofiest look on your face, it was cute.”
Seeing the blush on her cheeks sent the internal butterflies into a frenzy. The thought crossed his mind that he could power the whole school with the heat energy blasting through his body.
He smiled. “You, my love, are the only one who will ever get that look out of me.”
Talia mocked bowed. “Well, it’s an honor.” She giggled as she tucked her book under one arm and grabbed his hand with the other.
He started to talk and hesitated. His hands were clammy and he felt tiny droplets of sweat beading on his forehead. Sebastian cleared his throat and tried again. “Hey, babe?”
“Hmm?”
“I think, I-umm.” He cleared his throat again and spit his words out in a rush. “I’d like to meet your parents.”
Talia squeezed his hand in shock and stopped in her tracks. “My parents? You want to meet my parents?”
“Yeah. I mean, don’t you think I should?” He blushed. “I mean, do you want me to?” He ducked his head as if scared to meet her eyes, his hope so built up he was scared of that hope being dashed and crashing to the ground.
After seconds of silence he braved to look up. Talia was bouncing on her heels and smiling so wide he could see all of her teeth.
“I would love to introduce you!” She pressed her lips to his so fast he hardly had time to savor it. “How about Saturday night? You can come over for dinner. Does that work?”
“Perfect.” He said and nearly floated to the sky on a wave of pure joy.
The adrenaline and fear Sebastian had when he was preparing to face legionaries in ancient Rome on the battlefield, had nothing on the level of terror coursing through him now in preparation of meeting Talia’s parents.
He carefully parked in Talia’s driveway, smoothed the pants of his suit, and stepped out of his car.
Talia waited for him outside, next to the perfectly manicured lawn of the grand estate. A cool breeze lightly tossed her curls and she laughed when she saw him. “Bass. Why on Earth are you wearing a suit? It’s just dinner with my parents, in our home, not dinner at a five-star restaurant.”
Sebastian rotated his shoulders and cracked his neck in an attempt to ease his tension. “I just wanted to make a good impression.”
She giggled again. “Oh, you’ll definitely be making an impression, I’m just not sure of what kind yet.” She winked at him and looped her arm through his. “Are those flowers for me?”
His heart sank.
I should have gotten two. Idiot.
“I’m sorry, love- they’re for your mom. Do you think she’ll like them?”
Talia nodded. “They’re beautiful, Bass-she’ll love them.” She leaned her head against him as they walked toward the front door.
They entered a large arched foyer with soft lighting. Two thick wood benches for seating and cubbies for shoes and jackets lined each side. In the corner there was a basket of bundled thick fluffy white socks.
Talia pointed. “We’re a shoes free home. You’re welcome to a pair of socks if you’d like.”
Talia sat down to remove her canvas shoes and Sebastian copied her. Talia grabbed his hand and led them down a marbled hallway that opened into an expansive sitting room. A wall of windows greeted them with a pristine view of La Jolla beach, a fireplace crackled in the corner warming the room, and light classical music sprinkled down on them from somewhere up above.
A man with silver speckled black curly hair sat with his back to them on one of the spacious leather sofas, legs crossed, arms rested, and ice clinking in his whiskey glass.
Sebastian had never seen Talia fidget before. She swallowed before speaking. “Ahem, daddy, our guest is here.”
A gruff sound of disapproval filtered to his ears. The man downed the rest of his drink in one gulp, and roughly set the crystal glass down. If a person could stand strongly, that would be how Sebastian would describe this moment.
Talia’s father sucked all the power out of the room, as if the space were covered with a giant black cloth of electricity that was pulled up and towards the man as he stood. This person didn’t have control, he created control with the energy of his presence. In all of Sebastian’s years on this planet, he had only ever encountered this type of energy a handful of times. Stalin, Vlad, Hussein, Ivan the terrible, the only types of men who were ever of any consequence in the heat of battle. It was clear that this man was genetically programmed with the instinct to conquer, and conquer he would, he was already on his path to victory which was one of the reasons Sebastian had chosen him as a target to begin with.
In a snap, Sebastian was no longer craving the approval of his girlfriend's father, he was on high alert, staring at a high value asset that must be eliminated. His fingertips pulsed with energy begging to be expelled. Tunnel vision took over blurring out everything except the man walking towards him.
Talia’s voice was distant, nothing more than a fly buzzing near his ears. “Daddy, may I introduce you to Sebastian Thompson.”
Bass extended his hand, containing the baritone of his voice, jaw set, eyes narrowed, and forced smile exposing his teeth. “Mister Speaker, it’s an honor to meet you sir.”
The energy in the room sizzled and sparked. Talia’s father grunted in reply for only a millisecond before his base nature sensed, much in the same way that wolves sense danger, that Sebastian was not just any boy trying to get into his daughter's pants. Undoubtedly his very practiced politician demeanor kicked into high gear. Mask falling over his face to hide any vulnerabilities.
I’ve got your number fucker.
“Sebastian!” The man’s voice was full of deceitful welcoming warmth. “Good to finally meet you, Son. Talia doesn’t talk of much else these days.”
Sebastian felt the smoothness of his hand as he returned the shake.
No calluses, he has others do his dirty work, pathetic.
Sebastian relaxed the tension in his body and widened his smile. “Only good things I hope!” He forced a chuckle.
The tunnel vision receded as Sebastian eased into the situation he had stepped into. Talia was beaming on her tiptoes, apparently very pleased with how introductions were going.
The man patted Bass on the shoulder. “Come on Son, have a drink with me,” he winked as if knowingly breaking the law by giving a minor alcohol would make them friends, “and feel free to call me Mr. Garcia, I’m at home, Son, not at work.” He had a slight southern twang to his voice, not unlike the cartels of the past that Bass would toy with for fun.
This is going to be easier than I thought.
Sebastian laughed to himself as they made their way over to a drink cart in the corner.
“We’ll take it easy on you, how about a little soda pop in your whiskey?” Mr. Garcia gripped Bass’s shoulders giving him a little shake of solidarity.
“Sounds good, sir, thank you.”
Mr. Garcia mixed their drinks as he spoke. “My wife should be down shortly,” he paused, “she’s been having headaches that leave her bedridden lately.” He laughed. “You know, women, probably just the pain of having an empty nest soon, won’t know what to do with herself.” He winked.
Barf, this guy is toxic.
Sebastian smiled and took the offered drink, then followed Talia’s father to the sitting area. Bass took a seat next to Talia on a loveseat across from the sofa Mr. Garcia sat on.
Mr. Garcia loosened the tie he was wearing and undid the top button of his collared shirt. “So, Sebastian, it’s senior year, what are your plans for after graduation?”
Bass swallowed. “I have a full scholarship to Georgetown University, and I’ve secured a congressional internship, sir.”
Mr. Garcia’s eyes widened. “Impressive, young man.” He looked at Talia. “My daughter failed to mention your accomplishments off the football field.”
The way Talia’s father looked at her was like a man angry at a secretary for failing to inform him of a morning meeting. As if she had left him vulnerable and let him down by not giving him all of the information. That look… made Sebastian’s blood boil.
Asshole, I’m going to kill you slow.
A light airy sound tinkled from down the hallway. Talia’s mother wore a chiming pendant, had long brown hair, was still in her pajamas and wearing a silk robe. She flitted down the hallway without a bother in the world. “Darlings-” she dragged the word out, “hope you haven’t been waiting long.” She said it in a way that made it clear she did not care how long they had been waiting. Her eyes were empty of liveliness, and her body language aloof, as if she were drugged, numbing herself to the limit.
Talia hurried over to her mother and whispered into her ears in a panic. “Mama, you promised you’d be on your best behavior.”
Talia’s mother brushed her off. “Oh honey, you worry too much.” She wobbled over to the drink cart and poured herself a glass of wine as she spoke. “Besides, I’m sure this boy will be enraptured with you despite the state of your mother .” She spat the last word and twirled to look at Sebastian for the first time. Her body stiffened; eyes wide with shock. “On second thought.” She took a long swig of her wine and set the glass back down. “I think a good one on one interrogation may be in order-afterall, you are my only child.” She looked pointedly at Bass, turned on a heel and walked back down the hall.
“Ah, Son,” Mr. Garcia gestured to the bouquet in Bass’s lap, “now may be a good time for those flowers.” Sebastian nodded. He placed a kiss on Talia’s forehead before he followed Mrs. Garcia, already out of sight, down the long hallway.
He found her sitting in a small alcove with two chairs, hands placed perfectly on her knees, waiting. Sebastian took a seat.
She leaned in close, eyes full of fire and spoke with controlled veracity. “ I know what you are, and you are not welcome in my home.”
Sebastian leaned back, brow furrowed. “Excuse me?”
She pulled away with a maniacal laugh. “Oh don’t fuck with me! I know. You will break up with my daughter, any excuse is fine, and you will never step foot near my family again.”
“Ma’am-”
“Don’t ma’am me-” A sharp intake of breath, her hand across her mouth, eyes wide. “Stathos-1? Is that you?”
Sebastian’s mind raced. How could she possibly know that? He focused on his hive mind, searching for a connection to this woman sitting in front of him. There was nothing.
“How?”He asked.
Mrs. Garcia relaxed minutely. “Well, that answers that. You don’t truly love my daughter, or you would know how.”
He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
She laughed, something sharp and shrill. “Of course you don’t! You’re pure evil. Always have been. Why do you think so many of our kind have been abandoning ship? Did you think that many are dying in their human forms? You really think we’re so careless?”
Bass narrowed his eyes. “ Who are you?”
She scoffed. “You’d forget your partner so easily?”
His pulse ticked up a notch, breathing short and fast. “Stathos-2?”
She held his gaze, a curt nod.
“I…I-thought you died.”
“Of course you did. You single minded fool. If you stopped, for just a moment, and took notice of the beauty that humans could behold, then perhaps you’d see this planet for more than a simple thing to be conquered.”
Bass shook his head in disbelief. “I still don’t understand, why don’t I have a mental connection to you?”
She sighed deeply, letting her air out slowly. “Because, Stathos-1, you will never know love, and because of that, you will never win.” Something akin to sympathy flitted over her eyes, “Although, I can’t deny the change in you, a shift has happened…” She seemed to be having an internal debate before she continued. “It’s love, Stathos-1, true love. It’s the key to everything. Our species has searched for autonomy, independence from the hive mind, for freedom; and love is the answer.” She paused again. “If you really love my daughter, you’ll let her go. Abandon this mission and never come back.”
The cogs in his mind worked overtime, analyzing her words, turning them over and over until he finally understood.
“True love with a human, breaks the connection to the hive?”
She nodded, her lips were pressed so tight together they appeared as one straight line, as if she regretted the words that she had spoken, regretted sharing her secret.
He sat there processing this new information, and how it related to him and Talia. If he was still connected to the hive, did he really love Talia? He must. He’d never felt anything like this before. This feeling that she inspired in him. The curve of her lips, the smile in her eyes, the compassion in her heart. He loved her. Despite what Stathos-2 was telling him. A light bulb sparked in his memory.
He stiffened before he spoke. “You’re hurting her.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “What?” She shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“Talia. She told me about how close she was to her mom, and how one day, her mother changed, was cold, and distant. Her heart breaks for the person her mother used to be. She misses her real mother. You stole this family. How can that possibly be love?”
She stood swiftly, anger laced her features. “That simple girl . Of course I don’t love her, I tolerate her.”
Anger thrummed through him. How dare she . Destroying the heart of the woman he loved. Tearing her mother away from her. Sebastian wasn’t evil, she was evil.
She growled out her next words. “It’s her father that I love.”
Sebastian scoffed. “That toxic piece of man-shit!? That’s who you fell in love with?” He shook his head in disbelief, laughing. “Oh Stathos-2 you always were a fool .” He paced the small alcove. “I don’t know what is breaking the connection to the hive mind, but it isn’t true love. Look at you! You’re obviously miserable. What are you taking? Hmm? Valium? I bet you’re taking, what, six a day? You could barely walk until the sight of me sobered you up! You think that’s fucking love?” His pacing increased, hands on his hips, he pointed at her. “You are the fucking problem, not me. You’ve abandoned your true family. You will die in that body, and for what? A noxious politician with a small dick!?” There was menace in his laughter. “Have fucking fun with that. ”
Stathos-2 spat in his face. “How dare you.” Fury laced her voice. “Get the fuck out of my house, now. ”
He resisted the urge to snap her neck where she stood. She must have sensed the change in his body language, she cowered. He thought of Talia. His beautiful, innocent, loving soul of a human that he would do anything for, even if that meant letting this pathetic defector before him live. He tried to think of the Stathos-2 he remembered. The powerful one. So strong, she was capable of taking down entire empires. His reliable number two, his partner.
He calmly sat down and looked at her with softness in his eyes while he waited for her to sit as well.
When she finally did, he spoke. “I’m sorry, Stathos-2. I seem to have forgotten that we were allies.”
She sighed with relief. “I didn’t exactly welcome you with open arms.” She rocked slightly in her seat. “And you were right. I fell in love with him before I realized who he was. Now I self-medicate just to avoid being near him.” She hesitated. “I don’t hate, Talia. I’m jealous of her, of his love for her and not me.”
As if a sudden desperate realization came over her, she grabbed his hands and stared wildly into his eyes. “Does Stathos-6 know?”
“Know?” He tilted his head. “Know of what?”
She gripped him tighter. “Talia. Does he know of your love for Talia?”
“What does it matter?”
She dropped her head onto their joined hands before taking a deep breath and looking back up. “You oblivious imbecile-”
“What are you talking about?”
“Stathos-1… I followed you into battle for all those years, not for a thirst of blood or power, but because I knew, deep down, that you thought you were doing the right thing. You saw the corrupt nature of man. You saw the beauty of this planet, and you decided to take it, not for yourself, but for us, for your hive. I knew there was goodness in you, perhaps buried deeply, but it was there. If this girl has brought that out of you, then you must protect it at all costs.”
She stared intently at him. “You must not return to Stathos-6.”
He furrowed his brow. “Why? Stathos-6 has always been the best of us, the most levelheaded. He always tried to convince me that we could live in harmony with the humans. I’m the one who sent us on a warpath.”
Stathos-2 released his hands, a soft laugh escaped her lips. “You beautiful idiot.” She shook her head. “Stathos-6 is in love with you, obsessed even. If he can’t have you, no one can, he will burn this world down when he discovers how far you have fallen for this girl.”
Stathos-1 jumped up as if he were shocked by a taser. “No.” He shook off an uncomfortable shiver. “No. He would never. He’ll be thrilled that I’ve finally given up the fight for Earth. He will welcome her with open arms.” He started to pace again, “You’ll see. This is the turning point. This is our fresh start.”
Stathos-2 stood, gently placing her hands on his shoulders to calm him, and whispered. “You’re wrong Stathos-1. And when you realize that, it will be too late.” She stepped back and ran a hand down her face. “I will help you. You were right about one thing. I was a fool to fall in love with this man. I’ve been by your side for a millennia, and I will stay by you until the end. We must end Stathos-6 if you want any chance at a future for yourself and for her.”
He backed away as if she had slapped him. “ End Stathos-6? Never. I will not.”
She closed the space between them, leaning in close. “Mark my words, he will be the end of you and her .”