The Quo

  “What’s going on?” Marcus asks.

  “We’ve just received word from our source; the Sage isn’t willing to admit defeat just because we rescued a few thousand Angels.”

  “Let me guess, it pissed him off even more,” Rage says.

  “Yes.”

  “What is he up to?” Ameana asks.

  “He’s gathered Quo from every part of the world and formed an army. He’s using the powers of the Three Sisters to enhance each Quo’s ability.”

  “How many Quo are we talking about?” Marcus demands.

  “Last count a hundred thousand. This is the army that will rid the world of Angels for good,” Nipoe informs us.

  The team exchange a look of dread amongst each other.

  “Where are they now?”

  “They are in the United Kingdom waiting for the Sage to figure a way around the Whirlwind we have built here in Cree. It’s only a matter of days before they find a way in here.”

  “We need to set up another Whirlwind,” Jay suggests.

  “No, we have to face them. We can’t run forever,” Marcus says firmly.

  “There are only a few thousand of us left.” Rio points.

  “We aren’t being given a choice.”

  “We need Wolf. He can gather what’s left of the Paras.”

  “Anything happens, you just pull out the ‘Wolf’ card,” Rage says as an aside.

  Ameana gives him a warning look. Rage wisely remains silent.

  “Your Paras are powerful but not enough. We may be able to help you,” Nipoe says.

  “How?”

  “We have an army. It is not as large as the Sage’s but they are skillful.”

  “Where did you get an army?”

  “We have made friends throughout the world. Many believe like us, that the Sage is not to be trusted. We had an agreement with other nations that should we be under attack, we would help each other in any way possible.”

  “How many are we talking about?” Jay asks.

  “Fifty thousand.”

  “It’s not enough but what we lack in numbers we will have to make up for in strategy,” Marcus tells the team.

  “We don’t care for the idea of Quo fighting against Quo,” a Foundation member admits.

  “We can’t leave the Angels without any aid,” Nipoe replies.

  “We really appreciate your help. How can we repay you?”

  “It is my sincere hope that we do not war at all. It may be that the Sage’s army backs down after we show them the Angels are not alone. No Quo wants to fight another Quo. This war may not happen.”

  “That would be great but we have to proceed as if it will,” Marcus says firmly.

  “Before you begin plans for blood, let us first seek plans for peace,” Nipoe implores him.

  “You want us to send the Sage flowers?” Rage quips.

  “No, Akon. We will have our source inform the Sage that we have an army. It may be enough to get him to rethink attacking us. At the very least it may get him to the table to talk things over.” The team and I exchange a look. We all silently agree that the Sage will never talk. He wants power and he will do anything to get it. But Marcus tries to be diplomatic. He tells Nipoe he will give her until sunrise to see if her plan to scare off the Sage works.

  After the meeting, the team gathers to discuss their next move. Everyone agrees the Sage will probably not back down.

  “But there maybe something to what Nipoe said about the Quo not wanting to fight each other,” Miku says.

  “We have to be ready in case he doesn’t back down,” Marcus replies.

  “I’ll get in touch with Wolf. They’re still searching for missing family members and friends. But I’ll see if he can spare a few Paras,” Rio says.

  “Wolf is useless in a battle,” Rage mocks.

  “I bet he could beat yo ass,” Jay counters.

  “You have something to say to me, speedy?”

  “Oh, you wanna bring it, bring it!” Jay says, ready to attack Rage.

  “Enough!” Marcus shouts.

  Everyone falls silent. However, Jay and Rage are still glaring at each other.

  “Jay, go help the Foundation,” Marcus orders. Jay takes one last angry look at Rage then heads back downstairs.

  “The Twins can go find Wolf. Let him know what’s going on.” The Twins take off into the air. Marcus turns to Rage and his girl.

  “Ameana, you need to control him.”

  “Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” Rage demands.

  Marcus is fuming. He’s about to reply but he forces himself to stay calm.

  “I need you two to get your hands on as many weapons as you can.” Ameana pulls Rage along and they take off into the air.

  It’s just me and Marcus now. Marcus looks preoccupied and distressed.

  “Um…” I say, not really knowing where to start.

  “Oh yeah, you should get some rest. If we need you, we’ll wake you.”

  “Okay, but that’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

  “Oh, what is it?” he asks impatiently.

  I’ve missed you. I love you and I want to be with you, but I’m scared you’ll hurt me again. I’mscared that I’m not strong enough to survive this love. But I do love you; I love you so much…

  “Emmy, what is it?” he barks.

  “It’s about you and me--”

  “--I can’t do this right now.”

  “But I—”

  He walks off and doesn’t look back.

  I try to sleep. I toss and turn but I can’t shut my mind off. Between the video, Marcus, and the threat of war, sleeping is impossible. Finally I give up, grab my jeans, put on the nearest shirt, and head outside.

  Things are pretty quiet. I spot a few Foundation members and Angels keeping watch on all the entrances. A small crowd of Angels gather a few floors above us drinking coy and talking politics. I find the Twins taking their turn at manning the entrances.

  I don’t see Bianca, but I hear her. Her laughter is pitch perfect. It’s like a complicated melody. It’s so unfair that she should be so beautiful, but I’m used to that thing by now. What I’m not used to is her rubbing Marcus’s upper arm as she laughs carelessly.

  Why is she touching him?

  Because he’s a single guy, Emmy.

  Oh, yeah…

  They are a few yards away from me. I move in closer to hear what’s being said. At this point I don’t even care about being called a snoop. She was touching his arm; she has some nerve.

  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know: He’s single. Blah, blah, blah.

  She says something I missed and he laughs. Then the wicked witch does something so scandalous, I want to rip her head off: She leans in to kiss him!

  Seriously???

  Marcus pulls away.

  “Let’s not…” he says gently.

  “I thought you and the human weren’t together anymore.”

  “We’re not.”

  “Could it be that you’re not attracted to me?” she says with a mix of innocent flirtation and sex kitten.

  “No, you’re gorgeous.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But I’m not…”

  “Interested.”

  “It’s just that I have something on my mind.”

  “Is ‘something’ code for ‘someone?’”

  “Yeah, I guess it is.”

  “We’re on the verge of war and she’s the only thing your mind? She must be incredible.”

  “She just makes me so damn crazy! What kind of person yells at you for ensuring their safety?”

  “Sounds kind of crazy.”

  “Yes! That’s what it is; she’s crazy. And she’s trying to make me crazy, too.”

  “What did she do?”

  “One minute she begs me to hold her; the next minute, she’s throwing me out of her room. She’s just so...ARGH!” he shouts.

  “Wow, sounds like a fun girl.”

  He sighs heavily and runs h
is hands through his hair. That’s always been his way of saying ‘I’m feeling in-over-my-head.’

  “Does she always have this effect on you?”

  “Usually,” he says sardonically.

  “How about for the next few minutes we make this a ‘human-free zone.’ That way there’s no one around to make you crazy,” she offers.

  “That’s just it, I miss the crazy. I miss…her.”

  “Why did you two break up?”

  “I lied to her to save her life. But my lie killed her. She was walking, breathing, and everything, but she was dead inside. I did that.”

  “And that alone keeps you up at night? I think I’m a little in love with you,” she says as she stands close to him. Too close.

  “We were arguing a few hours ago and she said that I destroyed everything. It wasn’t until after I left her room that I realized she was right.”

  “How so?”

  “When I first met her, she had this light in her eyes. Since our first meeting she’s been tortured, she’s lost loved ones, you name it. Her light was still there. Then a few months ago, I did something stupid and the light in her eyes just went away.

  “And just awhile ago she tried to tell me something but I brushed her aside because I felt guilty looking in her eyes. She had light. Then she met me and…everything got darker. I thought this mission was the worst thing that could have happened to Emmy. But no, the worst thing was me.”

  Defeated, he lowers his head, puts his hands in his pockets, and walks away. He heads toward the exit nearest to the beach.

  CHAPTER TWENTY:

  THE CONVERSATION

  The moon takes up most of the sky. It sends a soft glow that causes the waves to glisten as they reach the shore. The spring breeze blows gently against my skin as I make my way towards him.

  I follow his footsteps and find myself at the entrance of a cave, lit only by the moon above us.

  He doesn’t realize I’m here. I study him. He stands along the wall, head lowered in deep contemplation. His wings are low to the ground, almost dragging; his hands rest at his side, feet slightly apart. He looks like an Angel who’s asked Omnis for something and been denied.

  He looks up to find me standing before him. In this moment there’s only one thing I know for sure: I want to make love to Marcus. He watches silently as I make my way over to him. I move in so close, there is no space between our bodies. He looks down at me slowly, as if he’s trying to take in the moment.

  “If you hold me, I won’t ask you to let go,” I vow.

  He leans in and caresses my face gently with his hand. He tenderly showers me with kisses. His lips brush against my eyelashes and the tip of nose. He nuzzles my ear and gently sucks on my earlobe. I bite my lower lip to stop from gasping. He feels so good against me; I can’t bear the thought of him pulling away.

  When he grazes the nape of my neck with his lips then travels the same path with his tongue, it generates a trail of sparks down my spine and makes me shiver. By the time his lips seek mine, I have trouble controlling my breathing.

  I kiss him back with just as much need. The more we get of each other, the more we crave. I need him in a way I have never needed anyone. I stand on the tips of my toes and wrap my arms around him. I pull him towards me.

  I need more.

  I need more.

  I need more.

  Then he pulls away from me.

  No! No! No!

  “W-W-Why?” I stammer.

  He points to a small vial about six inches long. He pulls it down from the air and drinks it. I want to ask how it appeared before us but at the moment, I don’t care. I just want to get back to where we were. Marcus feels the same way because as soon as he downs the Tam, we are fervently kissing again.

  As we devour each other, Marcus’s hand slides down the front of my flower-print blouse. He begins to undo the first button. My pulse races but it’s not from pleasure, it’s from fear. I try to focus on how good his lips feel but by the time he unhooks my bra and slides it off my shoulders, I’m in full panic mode.

  I immediately place my hands across my chest to cover my breasts. It’s such a natural reaction I didn’t even realize I had done it until he asked if I was okay. I shrug, not sure what to say. I was warned not to do the self-doubt thing but I can’t help it.

  Marcus Cane is about to see me naked. What if he doesn’t like what he sees? What if my breastsare too small? What if he thinks I’m boney? What if…

  He reads the growing terror on my face. He leans in and whispers in my ear.

  “This isn’t me judging you; this is me admiring you.”

  I think I’m doing this with the right guy.

  I slowly take my hands away and reveal my bare breasts to him. At first I look away, not sure what his reaction is going to be.

  “Wow…” he says in awe. He’s almost beside himself.

  Yeah, I’m definitely doing this with the right guy.

  I can feel my cheeks getting red. I smile and watch as he gently explores my breasts. He fondles them with such care, it’s like he’s touching something priceless. And he moves slowly as if to imprint this moment in his mind forever.

  I’m amazed at how my body responds to his touch. He grazes my nipples with his thumbs and soon they are standing stiff and begging for more of his attention. He gladly complies. It’s like our bodies are having a private conversation.

  I reach over and take off his shirt. I’m not surprised he looks perfect. I’m just surprised this is really happening. I kiss him all over his chest. He sighs softly. I explore his washboard abs with my lips and soon gain enough courage to use my tongue.

  When I graze his nipple, his wings expand and flap against the sky. He moans softly and pulls me closer to him. We both share a smile as we discover sensitive, secret spots on each other’s body. And the discoveries have just begun.

  Before he unzips my pants, he looks into my eyes in search of any fear or hesitation.

  “Are you ready?” he asks with a low growl.

  “Are you, Guardian?” I counter.

  “I think I can handle it,” he jokes.

  “Good, come here,” I order him brazenly. And much to his surprise, I take off my jeans and panties without the slightest hesitation.

  I am officially naked in front of Marcus.

  It’s beautiful.

  He gazes at me like I’m the most precious thing on Earth. I look at him and ask a very important question:

  “So why aren’t you naked yet?”

  He laughs and takes off his jeans.

  Damn, his body is beyond anything I could have imagined…

  The stellar abs, thighs, and well, let’s just say everything looks good.

  Marcus gives me this super sexy, smoldering look that could easily be a superpower. He then kisses me with such force that I have to put my right leg back to maintain my balance. I run my fingers through his hair then down his shoulders and onto his wings.

  His wings react just as readily as my nipples did. I continue to stroke them until they are flapping so wildly they create a tunnel of wind that blows around the cave and becomes a mini-sand storm.

  Marcus bites his lower lip. I guess to stop from losing control. It doesn’t work. By the time I run my fingers through the deepest layer of his feathers, he growls and calls out my name. I slow things down a little hoping it will help. It works, the storm dies down.

  But once I explore the area below his navel, there is no calming anything down, least of all Marcus. He pulls me close and takes my nipple into his mouth. I cry out from a pleasure so profound, I can’t begin to put it into words.

  He effortlessly picks me up and takes me over to where the cave curves. He gently lays me down. It’s only then I realize just how much my body is longing for him; every cell in me aches for his touch.

  My heart pounds loudly against my chest, my mind races with thoughts about what’s about to happen. I can feel sticky fluid between my legs. The anticipation has me in
a whirlwind.

  Somehow, he can sense the frenzy going on in my head and body.

  He scoops me up into a sitting position and turns me so that I am facing away from him. I lean back and feel his hard chest against my back. He whispers in my ear. At this point even the tone of his voice causes sparks inside me.

  “Taking in the soul of an Angel is one thing. Taking in the soul of a First Guardian…You need to build up a tolerance, so we’re gonna go slow, okay?”

  “I handle it.”

  I can ‘hear’ the smile in his answer: “Yeah, I know you can. But it’s not just that. I’ve waited to make love to you for so long; I don’t want to rush.”

  “Okay.”

  He kisses the nape of my neck while fondling my breasts. I exhale, lean my head back, and close my eyes. When he takes my nipple between his index finger and thumb, I can’t help but call out his name.

  “Marcus, I’m ready.”

  “Emmy, if you’re not, it could hurt you.”

  “I’m not scared.”

  “Okay, we’ll start slow,” he says as he gently parts my legs.

  I can feel him behind me. He’s ready, too.

  “I’m gonna send a piece of my soul into you; just a fraction, see how it goes.”

  “You talk too much,” I scold him.

  He gently slides his fingers between my legs. His touch is light, I’m not sure he’s doing anything. But slowly, I feel his fingers gently discovering my center. A warm sensation begins to form. It causes me to gasp slightly but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I tell him that.

  “Emmy, that’s not my soul, it’s just my finger,” he says flirtatiously.

  “Well, whatever. It feels good.”

  “Here’s the soul part,” he warns me.

  “I’m ready.”

  He skillfully navigates deep inside me with his fingers. My breathing gets a little heavier, my head spins slightly from the sensations going through me, but it’s still nothing I can’t handle.

  “No matter how much you want to, don’t stop breathing,” he cautions.

  “I told you I can—”

  Suddenly ten thousand volts go shooting straight inside me. I arch my back and scream. But it’s not from pain; it’s from the pleasure. The volts are euphoria. I tremble violently in his arms.