Predator

Chapter 56

They appeared in Riddick’s chambers and he rushed his unconscious mate to the medical table in the bathing room. He gently laid her down and ripped her gown down the center. “Ian, why isn’t she healing?” He said with worry as he inspected her shoulder wound. “Even at her weakest, these wounds would at least slowly begin to knit closed.”

Her First grabbed a towel and tore it in half. He pressed it against the steady blood flow from the jagged hole that the knife left behind. “These people were Agents of the Abyss, Riddick. The Abyss is an entity that is the polar opposite of the Phoenix. The weapons they used were designed to damage Alexandra.” He threw the bloody rag aside and replaced it with a fresh one. “They might even be able to kill her.”

“Tyr, get over here and see if you can heal this wound!” Riddick made space for the Nietzchean to stand beside her and lay his hands over her shoulder. “She has another injury that crosses her back and it is worse than this one.” He watched the glow emit from Tyr’s hands.

The Nietzchean closed his eyes in concentration. “It isn’t working, Riddick.” Tyr opened his eyes and glanced up at the others. “I cannot staunch the blood flow.”

“Dorian, try to contact your sister!” Riddick yelled out in complete horror. “You have to find out if she is okay!” His son placed his hands on the sides of Alex’s stomach and closed his eyes. “Ian, why the hell is this happening now? How can we heal her if she and Tyr can’t do it?”

“The Abyss is choosing a time when Alexandra is at her most vulnerable to attack.” He threw another blood soaked rag to the floor and tore another towel. “We all know that she will heal if she dies but that is not an option while she carries your daughter.” He applied pressure to her wound and looked up at Riddick. “If this battle is coming, we are going to need her at her best.”

“What the fuck are you saying, Ian?” Riddick asked in stunned confusion.

“I’m saying that the Phoenix in her full capacity of power is going to have to face the Abyss. The power I gave to the rest of you will have to be returned to her. She will have to assume her full potential to defeat this enemy.” He turned away from Riddick’s shock-filled eyes. “Dorian, you need to explain all of this to Dawn. She will understand.”

“Yes, sir.” Riddick’s son nodded his head and concentrated on his connection to his sister.

“We need her conscious! I need every one of us that has telepathic abilities in here now!” Ian yelled out. “Athena, I need Ioan and Ronon in here immediately!”

“I will collect them now, my Lord.” She bowed her head and vanished from the room.

“Ian…” Riddick spoke through a throat constricted with emotion. “Are you telling me that my daughter has to die so we can allow Alex to pass on and heal?”

“No, my friend.” He glanced into the silver orbs that were filling with tears. “That is not what I am saying at all.”

~*~

Athena materialized in Ioan’s quarters and was surprised to find the young Phoenix waiting for her. His arms were crossed over his chest and his eyes looked as tortured as his father’s. “The end is coming soon, isn’t it?”

“I cannot say, my Lord.” Athena answered in a shaken voice. “I would assume that is a question only your mother can answer.”

“I know the key to the prophecy, Athena.” He glanced down at the floor for a second before he turned his tear-filled eyes to the Goddess’ face. “In order for Riddick’s daughter to gain her birthright, either my mother, my father, or myself must die.” He shook his head and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “You know damn well that my father will not allow his love to perish.”

“It is well known that your father has always tried to spare your mother the pain of her many deaths, Ioan.” She cupped his bearded cheek in her palm and gazed at him with glistening emerald eyes. “He would never allow anything to happen to you either, my Lord.”

“And my mother will not allow any harm to befall either myself or my father. So where does that leave us?” He said brokenly. “I know my father is going behind her back and intends to sacrifice himself. I know my mother will fight to her last breath to prevent that from happening. No matter what happens I end up losing one of my parents.”

“I do not have the answers you seek, Ioan.” Tears began to trickle down her cheeks and her heart broke when she saw the pain reflected in his eyes. “I do know that right now we are on the verge of losing both your mother and her child. Your father needs you and Ronon to help reach her mind.”

“Her ancient enemy has finally decided to engage her in battle.” Ioan turned his back on Athena and sighed heavily. “All she ever wanted was to be loved and her power made that nearly impossible. All she holds dear finally surrounds her and her ridiculous prophecy is going to tear that apart. Now the Abyss has to show up and try to destroy everything she created.”

“I have no doubts in my mind that your mother will prevent that from occurring.” She walked up behind him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. “The question I have is are you going to help her or not? She is bleeding to death at this very moment, Ioan. We do not have time for you to go through this crisis of faith right now. Your sister’s life depends on you and your family.”

“I stand by mother in all things, Athena.” He turned to her and subconsciously straightened his posture. “I would rather die than let her down. Go retrieve, Ronon. I will be by her side.”

~*~

When Ioan appeared in the bathing room, he found himself surrounded by chaos. His mother lay on the medical table on her right side. She was unconscious and bleeding profusely from 2 very serious wounds.

Her Nietzchean mates had retrieved some medical supplies and were attempting to laser suture her torn flesh. Ioan could see that they were having no success in their endeavors. Every time they knitted a part of her damaged skin and moved on, the tissue they just repaired would reopen.

Dorian knelt beside the table and held her pregnant belly between his palms. His eyes were clenched and sweat beaded his forehead. Ioan did not have to be told that he was trying to telepathically reach his sister’s consciousness within their mother’s body.

Ares and Duncan were pacing in the background. Ioan could feel the helplessness that coursed through their minds and the terror that gripped their hearts. Neither one of them were in a position to assist her in any way other than being there for her.

The young Necromonger, Vaako, stood close by. He was dripping water all over the floor. He kept a close eye on every one in the room but his attention was riveted to Riddick and the form of Ioan’s mother.

Riddick was holding Alex’s hand and whispering nonsensical things in her ear. Tears of blue energy flowed freely from the Furyan’s eyes as he stared at the unresponsive Alex. Ioan knew that the pain Riddick was suffering from rivaled his own. They both stood to lose everything that meant the world to them. For Ioan it was his mother or his father. For Riddick it was his mate, his child, or both.

His father stood at the head of the table with his hands on Alex’s temples. Their eyes met and in that instant Ioan knew his suspicions about his father’s plans were correct. Ian’s conviction was there, reflecting back at Ioan in his amber eyes. He knew his father would not and could not be dissuaded from his intended plan. “Are we the only ones who know, father?”

“No, Ioan. We are not the only ones who know.” Ian glanced around the room and noticed the rapt attention of everyone except Riddick and Dorian. “It would appear that Dawn discovered the key to your mother’s salvation and imparted that knowledge to her brother. Of course, he told his father.”

“I am sure you informed Ronon as well since he is the Deliverer.” Ioan said as he glanced down at his mother. “For all of her knowledge and insight, I bet mom is the only one amongst us that doesn’t know.”

Rhade glanced up from his work on Alex’s back injury at the mention of his son’s name. “What are you talking about?” He looked between Ian and Ioan as son glared at father. He turned to glance at the virtually delusional Riddick and then the meditative form of Dorian. “What do you know and what does my son have to do with this?”

~*~

The Goddess of War materialized in the Sitting Room of Ronon’s quarters and marched into his bedroom. She was so engrossed in her mission to retrieve the young Lord that she didn’t remember that this was his honeymoon. The memory of that fact instantly hit her when she found the newly mated Ronon taking Kyra from behind.

“By the Gods!” Athena gasped out in embarrassment and averted her eyes.

Ronon looked over his shoulder at the Goddess with a chest heaving from his pent up desire. His eyes cleared and focused on Athena. “Is there something I can do for you, Goddess?” Kyra squealed when she discovered the intrusion and dove under a blanket while Ronon turned to regard her. He was a true Nietzchean and they were not uncomfortable with nudity.

“Lord Ronon, I apologize for the intrusion but you are needed in your mother’s room immediately.” Athena said as she kept her eyes glued to his as he approached her.

“What happened?” He said in a demanding tone. He knew his bonding with Kyra would never be disrupted unless it was of the utmost importance. “Has something happened to Alex?”

“She was attacked, my Lord.” Athena said as her tears ran anew. “Agents of the Abyss took her by surprise at the lake. She has been badly injured and her body’s natural healing ability is not rectifying the situation.”

Ronon saw the truth of the situation in Athena’s eyes. “Is she dying?” He whispered in shock.

“If we cannot wake her soon, we will lose her and the baby will die with the Creator’s rebirth.” Athena grabbed the young man’s shoulders to draw his attention when he appeared to slip into a state of shock. “She needs you by her side now. Do you understand?”

“He understands, Athena.” Kyra said with a strong but assuring voice. She took Ronon’s arm and turned him to face her. “I know you’re frightened but you need to get your shit together and go to her now. Next to your mother and Riddick, you are the strongest person I know. Okay, baby?”

He tamped down his tears and nodded his head at his mate.

~*~

Ronon, Kyra, and Athena teleported into the room just as Rhade had yelled out his question to Ian. “What do you know and what does my son have to do with this?” His eyes turned to his son the instant Ronon walked forward to look at his mother. “Ronon, what are they talking about? What secret have you, Riddick, Ian, and Dorian kept from the rest of us?”

Ronon remained quiet. His eyes ran over the bloody body of the most precious being in his life. The room around him reeked of pain and suffering but he could not sense anything from his mother. He glanced at the blood that had pooled on the table, the run off on the floor, and the stack of soaked rags. His gaze settled on the injuries she had sustained in battle.

“They figured out how to save Alex from the prophecy.” He whispered as he laid his hand on his mother’s waist. “She doesn’t have to die when the time comes to pass the Phoenix force on to Dawn.”

“And what brilliant plan did they come up with to avert this tragedy, Ronon?” Ares asked with an angry tone.

“They want me to kill Ian instead.” He responded numbly.

Ares’ head snapped around to glare at her First. “Ian, what the fuck are you thinking?” He bellowed in part rage and part grief. “You can’t do this! There has to be another way!”

“What am I thinking, Ares?” Ian whirled around to face the God of War and screamed in his face from inches away. “I am thinking about saving the life of the woman I have loved since the beginning of creation! The only way to fulfill the prophecy is for a Phoenix to die! I will not allow Alex to lose her life now that she is finally happy and I will not sacrifice my son! I am doing this and nothing any of you say will deter me! Am I understood?”

Silence reigned in the room for several moments until Dorian staggered away from his mother and collapsed on the floor. He scooted back against a wall and pulled his knees to his chest. “Dorian, did you get through to her?” Riddick asked as he knelt beside his son.

“Yes.” He nodded his head wearily.

“Dorian, did you explain to her what has to happen in order for Alexandra to heal?” Ian asked as he went to the boy’s side. “Did you tell her about the coming battle with the Abyss?”

“Yes.”

“What did she tell you, Dorian?” Riddick asked in a calm voice to soothe his distraught son.

“She’s coming.”

Fear struck Riddick in the heart and his brow furrowed in a mixture of concern and confusion. “What do you mean she’s coming, Dorian?”

“I mean she is coming, Dad.” He gazed wide-eyed at his father. “She has accelerated her growth again so that she can be born.”

“We need to bring Alexandra out of this now!” Ian said as he returned to the head of the table. “I need all telepaths over here now! We have to wake her up so she can give birth to this child!”

Riddick helped Dorian to his feet and joined Ioan and Ronon at the table. “What do you want us to do, dad?”

“I need you all to concentrate on reaching Alexandra’s mind.” Ian said as he gently rolled his mate on to her back. “I don’t know why she shut herself off but we have got to get through to her. Riddick, place your hand over her heart. Dorian, take her left hand. Ronon, take her right.” Ian’s eyes met the desolate brown eyes of Ioan. “I need you here with me, son.”

Ioan stood next to his father and they each placed a palm on either side of Alex’s head. As soon as each of them touched her, a glow of light surrounded her body and they were pulled into the black expanse of her mind. ‘We need to stay together in here. If one of us gets lost, there is a chance you won’t make it back out.’ Ian said to the others as they looked around.

‘Where the hell are we, Ian?’ Riddick asked and heard his thoughts echo in the darkness.

‘We are inside her psyche.’ Ronon answered. ‘This is the astral plane.’

‘Ronon is correct. This is the place that all telepaths tap into when they use their abilities. It just so happens to exist within the psyche of Alexandra.’

‘Why is it so dark, Ian?’

‘I believe it is a result of the attack from the Abyss. The wounds his Agents inflicted on her have infected her mind and damaged the astral plane.’

‘Why is she stuck in here and how do we find her?’

‘It imprisoned her within her own mind so she would be unable to heal her body. If her body bleeds to death, your child will die and when she rises her grief will cripple her. Do you understand the nature of the beast she is destined to destroy? It will do anything to achieve its goals, Riddick. I think the only way to reach her is if you call out to her.’

‘Me?’

‘She is bound to you on the deepest level imaginable. Your child is in danger. Call out for her, Riddick. Get her to come to you!’

Riddick let out a nervous breath before he mentally screamed at the top of his lungs. ‘ALEX!’ Her name echoed all around them. ‘Baby, our daughter is in danger! I need you to come to me, Alex! We will lead you back to the light!’

‘Richard…’ They heard a distant whisper. ‘Why am I so weak?’ Her voice sounded tiny in the darkness. ‘My strength has failed me and I can barely move, my love.’ Fear flooded their minds when they heard her desolate tone. ‘Why is it so dark within me? Richard, I’m so scared. What is happening to me?’

‘Tell her, Riddick.’ Ian whispered in a choked voice when he heard his beloved sob in the distance. ‘It will fire her anger and give her the strength she needs to get to us.’

‘Alex, you were attacked by the Abyss.’ He took a shaky breath and continued to call out to her. ‘Your injuries are not healing while you’re locked away in here. Baby, you’re…dying.’

‘No.’

‘Alex, we can’t stop it. We tried to heal you but it didn’t work. The only way you’re gonna heal is to pass on.’

‘But Dawn…’

‘Alex, you’re dying. I had Dorian connect with Dawn. He told her what is happening, baby. She knows you are going to die. She knows about the Abyss. She knows that you need to be at full strength to fight it. She is coming now, Alex. You need to wake up and give birth to our daughter or she will die in the fire of your resurrection.’

‘Richard…’

‘NOW ALEXANDRA! You’re dying and so is our baby! We are running out of time!’

‘NNNOOO!!!’ A bright flash of light split the darkness that embedded itself in the astral plane. The light turned to fire. The fire ate away the black until not a trace of it remained. For a split second, they could see her standing there engulfed in flames before she cast them out of her mind. When their consciousness returned to their bodies, they were shocked back to their senses by the sound of her vocal screams. “NNNOOO!!!”

“Its okay, baby.” Riddick held her still so she would not fall from the table. “Alex, you’re back. We’ve got you.”

“Richard, she’s coming now.” She gritted out between clenched teeth. “I can feel her. She’s tearing me apart.”

He picked her up in his arms and gently carried her out to the bed. “I’m sure it just feels that way, baby. Its perfectly normal.” He glanced over his shoulder at Tyr for reassurance and received a nod in response. “Our resident Nietzchean concurs on my theory so I’m sure everything is fine.” He placed her in the center of the bed and sat beside her.

“So who is delivering my little demon?” She glanced around at her family and her eyes fixed on Tyr. “You are nominated. Get a mitt and get ready.”

“Very funny, baby.” Tyr laughed as he settled between her legs. “I guess I am the logical choice but please refrain from kicking me through the wall when the contractions hit.” He bent her legs at the knee and turned his head to the side. “Ares, you and Rhade need to hold her feet down. I wasn’t kidding about the kicking.”

Ares moved to sit beside her right leg and wrapped his hands around her calf. “You are such a wuss, Tyr.” A sharp pain struck his mate as her first contraction hit and her legs pulled the Olympian and Nietzchean off balance. “I stand corrected.” He said as he struggled to maintain his hold on one of her legs.

Rhade dug his bone blades into the mattress to give him leverage and held her ankle firmly in his grasp. “Alexandra, control your breathing and work your way past the pain.”

“Oh control this, Rhade!” She began to make a lewd gesture when Riddick grabbed her hands after he settled behind her. “What are you doing, Richard?”

He lifted her upper body off of the bed and settled her back against his chest. “I want to hold you and give you support during the pain.”

“That is very sweet, baby.” She said in a calmer voice as the pain subsided. “I am awfully tired, Richard.” Her speech was slurred and her eyes began to droop.

Riddick leaned her forward and looked at his shirt. He settled her back and glanced up at Tyr. “She is bleeding like a sieve. My shirt is drenched in it.” His face contorted in pain and he shook his head in misery. “Tyr, we have to hurry. She isn’t going to last much longer.”

Tyr’s brow furrowed and he nodded at his friend before he turned to their mate. “Alexandra, you have to stay awake! Do you hear me?” Her eyes fluttered but she didn’t respond. “Alex!” He yelled and her eyes snapped open. “That’s it, baby. Keep your eyes on me and push with everything you’ve got in you when the next contraction hits.”

“Okay…Tyr.” Her breath quickened when the next jolt of pain ripped through her. Her adrenalin picked up and momentarily renewed her strength. She bore down and pushed through the contraction. “I hate you for doing this to me!” She screamed out in agony at Riddick as she dug her nails into his forearms that crossed her chest. “Son of a bitch! If any of you even think about asking me to do this again, I’ll fucking kill you!”

“You’re doing great, baby.” Tyr said as he glanced up at her. “I promise I will not ask for a child from your body again.”

“Damn it, Tyr. I’m sorry!” She yelled out in between gasps of breath. “I didn’t mean it.” She growled when she bore down again. “I don’t…think I have ever…been in this much pain before.”

“I know, baby, but you’re doing fantastic.” Riddick kissed the side of her head and glanced back at the Nietzchean. “Isn’t she, Tyr?”

“She is doing a wonderful job. Her head is coming out now, baby!” He cupped his hands beneath the tiny head emerging from her body and smiled proudly. “Keep pushing, Alex! You’re almost there!”

“Richard…aahhh…I…love…you!” She took a deep breath and pushed with every last ounce of strength she had left in her. A blood-curdling scream tore from her hoarse throat and her entire body tensed. “Please…tell…me…that I’m…done.” She gasped out in exhaustion.

“You are done, love.” Tyr smiled as he cleaned up the little one and wrapped her in a blanket. He glanced at the two men at his sides and laughed. “You can let go now.”

“Thank the Progenitor.” Rhade said as he released his grip on her ankle. “She wore me out.”

“What he said.” Ares gasped in relief.

Tyr moved off the end of the bed and sat beside the parents. “Dawn, I would like to introduce you to your mother and father.” He placed the infant in her mother’s arms and moved back. “Gentlemen, come take a look at the first girl born into the family.”

Everyone crowded around the bed with tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces. Alex and Riddick both held their daughter in their arms with a look of wonder and joy on their faces. A pair of black eyes stared up at them in curiosity. “She’s beautiful, Richard.” Alexandra spoke in a shaky voice.

“She looks just like her mother.” He replied through a throat tight with emotion. “I can’t believe we made this beautiful little life.”

“I told you…you were worthy of…love and happiness.” Alex stared into her daughter’s eyes for a moment and moved her hands to let her husband support her. “You need to take her, Richard, and get…away…from me.”

“Baby?” He knew instantly what she was referring to and extricated himself from behind her. Tyr held Alex upright until Riddick and the baby were clear and leaned her back against the pillows. “Alex…not now.”

Her eyes fought to remain open but it was a losing battle. “Ian…”

“Yes, my love.”

“I won’t go…unless you can…promise me…this won’t hurt…her.”

“She will not be harmed, love. I promise you.”

“Then…tell…the boys…to get ready.” She gasped out and her eyes began to roll up into her head. “This…one…is…gonna…hurt.”

“Alex, please don’t go.” She cracked her eyes open and gazed at her husband cradling their daughter in his arms.

“Love…you…” And then she was gone.

The very second Alex’s life signs faded, the destined Guardians of the Phoenix hit the floor in agony and Dawn made her first sound since she was born. She wailed at the top of her lungs.

~*~