Chapter 51: Single Minded

April 1999

I swallowed hard. Looking over to my wife, I noticed her staring straight at Tayla. She was poised, calm, and in complete control. She had accepted this mission, perhaps too soon. Maybe she had accepted it because she did not really understand the possible consequences to failure. Nervous did not even come close to describing my feelings of apprehension. However, Rachel, well, she had the look of someone who was determined to do what needed doing, come hell or high water. High water I could deal with.

“I will need to leave you soon. Is there anything you need to ask me?” Tayla leaned back in the chair, with her arms folded across her breasts.

My mind was racing to begin to formulate a plan. There was essential information I needed to know. Like where was Rascha going to be while I was going to be with Tayla? I needed to pinpoint his location and pin him down there. That was my purpose for the UV lights. Therefore, I told Tayla what my intelligence requirements were. I was basing my planning methods on military experience I had acquired so long ago as old habits die hard. It came back to me very quickly.

Tayla spent the remaining time she had with us that night giving us details of the gathering of the clans. She shared important information I needed to know regarding their locations, strength, and affirming how certain areas could be useful as traps. Best of all, she had already tasked Shock and Anubis with the job of making a three-dimensional map of the underground estate. This would be a great tool, thus minimizing the chances of us getting lost, as well as planning the most optimal route to the surface. We would need time to study this map. Tayla left us, bidding us goodnight and disappeared in a mist as seemed to be her usual custom. Rachel just shook her head, in a gesture stating that she would need a lot of time to get used to that. We were tired, so we decided to turn in ourselves. It was almost daylight.

As we lay in our bed, Rachel rolled over to me, and snuggled up to me. “You know, if I weren’t living through all of this, I would never believe in a million years the things I have seen, or the things you have told me. I just couldn’t. How would we ever tell our story?”

I answered back, “I don’t thing we are supposed to. I think this is all about doing the right thing, and not trying to capitalize on their existence. I don’t expect anyone to ever believe this story, so I am not going to write it.”

She looked at me, and said, “Aren’t you going to tell Lou?”

“That is a good question. Perhaps after all this is finished I will, but not now. I am not sure he would believe me, even after seeing the Dragon in action. I wish he were here right now.” Rachel giggled, saying, “You mean you would rather him be here in this bed than me?

“No silly!” After that, we both found we had some energy left for intimacy before falling asleep in each other’s arms. No doubt, Tayla was smiling in her tomb.

Awakening to the sound of our alarm clock at four in the afternoon, we were both eager to get up and get dressed before the twins came clamoring into the bedroom. I felt guilty because I thought we were not spending enough time with them. However, life is about choices. Our priority was to prepare for this battle, because if we failed, there would not be time to spend with them. I was eager to get started on our planning and training, as was Rachel.

She and I took coffee in the small dining room off from the kitchen with Moon, Leech, Anubis, and Dread. I explained my plan to them, looking for allies, as I would need all I could get. They surprised me with their receptiveness to the plan.

I did not tell them about the plan for Tayla. All they knew was this was Tayla’s battle plan to mobilize her minions to fight the Black Clan. They were loyal to their Queen as expected. I suspected that they would interfere or just refuse to cooperate if they knew what was in store regarding her.

I had made up my mind that there was just too much intrigue about this whole affair. The part about Tayla keeping things from me because Rascha could read my mind made me uncomfortable. I did not like secrets, as Rachel did not either. Rascha’s abilities made it impossible to tell the familiars the entire truth about our plans. Therefore, I could only tell them what would ensure their cooperation.

I gave a list of needed items need to Leech and Moon. The list included lots of generator-powered or battery-operated UV lighting. In addition, I would require a great deal of rock-climbing equipment such as rope, snap-links, cams, etc. This was for the contingency that we would literally have to climb our way out. They eagerly got up from the table with the shopping list I gave them, grabbed their coats, and went out to procure the items.

Next, I looked to Dread. Dread always looked at me suspicious, as if he were jealous of me. “Dread, I have to ask you something. When you were brought here, what was your impression of the Queen?”

Dread looked at me, as if he could not believe I would ask a question like that. I had certainly hit a nail on its head. He took in a deep breath, and finally let it out. Then, the truth came out. “I was totally smitten with her, Malcolm. I still am, I dare say and I can honestly say that she knows it, too. I would die for her, really, I would! When I saw you here, and how she reacted to you, responded to you, I did not like you.”

I looked at Rachel, who looked concerned, but waiting to hear the rest of the story. She sat patiently, quietly.

Dread kept talking. “I wanted so badly for you to screw up and watch her bleed you dry. She would have too, you know. However, it would have hurt her to have to harm you. I suspected she was falling in love with you. She hates to kill that which she loves.”

At this time, Rachel began to squirm in her seat. Dread knew he was speaking of confidential things but did not seem to care. “She revealed things to me about you that could only mean one thing. If she felt that way about you, she could not feel that way about me. Bottom line? Plainly, I was jealous.”

To reassure Rachel our love was still intact, I reached over, taking her hand in mine. “I think you have served your queen magnificently, Dread. She does care for you as a mother would for her young. She has plans for you. Believe me; she needs your support in this battle. She needs you to support me. Are you willing to support me, Dread? Can we work together on this?” I was looking him directly in the eye.