The Alphas Wonder Land Phoenix Mountain Book 9

DAMICA

“Hey, I think I got something.” Gerome came into the lab with a book from our historical library.

He drops the old book on the table in front of me and opens it.

He flips through the pages and stops. “Read it.”

I read the page and look at the illustrations.

The book is a very old mythology book. “Is this supposed to be what I think it is?”

Gerome smirks. “If this is right, Damica, we found it.”

My eyes widen. “The lost prison? No.” I look at the page again. The iron box with crosses built into the middle of the bars all the way around.

He leans on the table beside me. “Zeus’ prison. Lost over a millennia ago supposedly stolen and hidden by the Fates in Tartarus.” He points to the page. “If this is a piece of that prison, this proves without a doubt that the Greek mythology was not only real, but there’s actual evidence of it out there.”

I read the page. “This says it was created by Janus, God of the Future. Also known as the guardian?”

Gerome nods. “Supposedly, Janus saw the future and feared Zeus would one day destroy the world, so he created the prison. The Fates stole the prison and hid it. Protecting Zeus. Then it was stolen. Said to have been destroyed and spread across the lands.”

I point to the piece. “If this is what this book says it is, that means there’s more out there.”

Gerome grins. “Yep. There is.”

I pick up the piece. “The question is, where do we even start?”

“I don’t know, but I know who to ask.” He stands up. He grabs the book and walks to the door. “I have to make a call. I’ll see you for dinner?”

I nod. “Yep. I’m just going to finish up here.”

“Ok. Don’t be too late.” He warns.

“I won’t.” I smile.

Once he leaves, I open my laptop. I’m searching for more on Zeus' prison.

I’m clicking through links when I hear my name.

“Damica.” It sounds eerie, but I’m tired.

“What, Gerome?” I don’t even lift my head.

“Damica.” Again it sounds kind of creepy, but it could be Gerome trying to screw with me.

“What do you want?” I say with a bit of frustration.

Then a sound stops me in my tracks.

“Twinkle, twinkle little star.” The voice sent a deep shiver down my spine. It was spoken in a low, slow malicious way.

I swallowed as I grabbed my purse. I reached for my pills. Taking two, I bite my lip. “You’re not real.”

“How I’ve wondered where you are.”

The voice makes my skin tremble and tears well in my eyes. “You’re not real.” I repeat. I get up and slowly walk to the door.

“Twinkle, Twinkle little star.” The deep man’s voice got louder as it said the words in a menacing tone.

I step through the doorway with my eyes to the floor. A tear falls from eye. “You’re not real.”

“You can’t get very far.”

My body shakes as I turn my head to the voice. The heavy steps on the floor walk slowly toward me.

Fear fills my face as my eyes meet dark, angry ones. “You are not real!” I choke.

“I’m real, Damica. Time for you to come with me.” An evil smirk crosses his lips. He takes more steps to me.

“NO!” I take off down the hall.

“You can’t run from us, Damica!!” He yells as he chases after me.

I hit the stairwell and start to climb the steps. My chest is heaving in breathlessness and panic. My eyes wild as I desperately pull myself up the stairs by the railing as quick as I can.

“Damica!!”

I start to whine and cry as I climb the steps. I burst through the door into the museum. The halls fill with laugher all around me.

“No! You can’t be real!!” I cry.

I was almost at the hall to the main lobby when I skidded to a stop. Another set of evil eyes met mine. “We're real, sweetheart.” He growls with a coy grin. He muscular chest flexes as he runs his large hand through his short blonde hair.

I scream and run the other way, turning down another hallway. Thinking of a way out.

I turn down another hall and jump into the Cro-Magnon man display. Hiding in the cave I make myself as small as mouse and cover my mouth.

I'm shaking horribly and tears are flowing down my cheeks as I try to quiet my breathing. They can hear you breathe.

I close my eyes tight. It’s not real. It’s not real. I suck in a hitched breath as I stifle my crying.

I hear footsteps walk by and I hold my breath. I’m sweating bad and my fear has taken hold of my heart.

“We just want to play, Damica.”

Cackles came from every where.

“Don’t you remember the games we played?” The deep voice from the muscular giant assaulted my ears.

“You had fun right?” His voice got closer.

With my hand over my mouth, a little whine escaped as I shook my head.

“It’s been a long time. Way longer than we wanted, Damica. It’s time to come back.”

This makes me cry even more. Another whine escaped me.

Then a blonde head popped into the mouth of the cave. “Got ya!”

I screamed and knocked him over. I grabbed the club from the caveman’s hand and swung with everything I had. Hitting second man in the head and sending him to the floor.

I jump out of the display and turn. The large dark haired man stalks toward me. “Damica we're trying to be nice here. Come with us.”

I shake my head. “No. Not again!”

I spin on my heels and run as fast as I can. “Help me!!” I cry out to the empty halls.

Shouts and laughter came from the glass all around me.

“HELP ME, PLEASE!!” I cry as I get to the lobby. I skid to a stop and search for Henry. He’s not at the desk. I place my hands on it and look behind it.

“Last chance, Damica.”

My head whips around to see the two men walking fast. “Oh God.”

I run for the front door.

Reaching in my pocket, I look behind me quick. The men are coming up fast.

I enter my code quickly and ready my car keys.

The door clicks open and I shove through it just as they were getting to the first door.

I blot down the steps to the parking lot.

I cry all the way to my car, unlock my door, get in and start the car.

I slam the car into gear and speed off into the street. My tires squealing on the way out.

My breath is broken as I try and calm down. “You’re safe. You’re safe. They can’t get you. You’re safe.”

I speed down the Washington streets trying to get home as fast as I can. Weaving in and out of traffic.

I blow out a breath as I finally start to calm down.

“I see you.”

The voice in my car makes my eyes shoot to my rear view mirror. My eyes meet dark, evil ones that aren’t mine.

I scream loud and try to rip the mirror off. My car loses control, jumps the curb, flips and hits a tree.

My world goes black.

****

SAWYER

I roll a red sucker in my mouth as I click through the various ABC government agencies, looking for anything on Damica. I’m kicked back with my feet on my desk and my keyboard in my lap.

These guys are even worse than Google. It’s almost like she doesn’t exist. Besides, social and birth. The only things I could find on her were her credentials. Nothing on her kidnapping. The after effects, parents…just nothing.

I grab the white stick and pull the red ball past my lips. “Who are you?” I question to myself.

“Hey, got a minute?”

I turn my head, scowl and pop the sucker in back in my mouth. “No.” I grumble.

“It’s important.” Jake walks into my office and leans on my desk beside me. He has a file in his hand with a laptop.

I eye him and pull out my sucker. “What?”

He holds up the file and hands it to me. “A mission.”

I look at the file then back at the monitor. I hold the sucker in my cheek. “Give it to Ops 2, I’m busy.” I mumble.

He shakes his head. “We need Ops 1 on this, Sawyer. We need you. It’s about the mission.”

“Fine.” I snatch the file from him. “What do you need?”

I open the file to a large amulet. It’s sea green gem is sliced down the middle like a Ying and yang symbol.

Jake points to it. “That. Turn the page.”

I flip the paper and it’s pictures of the Prison.

He looks at me crosses his arms. “Notice anything?”

I flip back and forth from the amulet to the prison. I look up at him. “A piece?”

“Looks like it.” He nods.

“Where is it?” I ask.

He drops his laptop and opens it up. “With this guy.” He hits play.

The video shows a news conference of an archeologist and his team. He announces they have found a rare amulet from the 2nd dynasty. A piece he claims to have magical powers.

Jake hits pause. “They found it during a dig at the Great Wall. They believe the Emperor who wore it was given God like strength.”

I arch a brow. “You think it’s true?”

Jake ticks his head. “It’s a piece of the Prison. Anything’s possible. That’s why we need it out of his hands and into ours.”

I look at the prison again. “This attaches to Ash’s piece.”

“We think it’s a binding. Makes Eternity too weak to break out. Once that gets put on the door, he can’t use his strength to break out when we lock it.” Jake looks at me then to the file.

I close the file and kick his back. He moves and I sit up. “Ok. I’m in.”

Jake leans on my desk as I shut down my search. Damica will have to wait.

“Hey. You alright?” He tries to see my face.

I don’t look at him. “I’m fine.”

I spin my chair and get up. Taking the file with me.

“Ok. You seem pissy. If it’s something I did…” He watches me walk out from behind my desk.

“I said I’m fine.” I growl.

He pushes off my desk and follows me out. “Sawyer, if it’s about the occupation, all you need to do…”

I spin around and glare into his eyes. “I said…I’m fine.” I grit.

I spin back around and takes big steps out of my office.

He acts like he’d really give me what I want when we both know it’s useless.

I can work with him. Take his orders, but I won’t give him an ounce of friendship. Not while he hangs his title over mine. A title that was my birthright. He sits his little ass in my house without giving my pack a second thought. Well, he can kiss my red ass. If I’m patient enough, I’ll be kicking his later.

I just need to be patient.

Until then, we only work together, but I’ll hate his fucking guts right until the end.

As far as I’m concerned, Jake Wallace isn’t the Alpha of Phoenix. He stole that seat. A seat that was rightfully mine. I don’t care what Sage did. Sage was dick and deserved to be torn apart. I think I’ve shown more than enough loyalty to prove that I’m not Sage.

The Alliance will never acknowledge that. They’ll always treat us Reds as the criminals they think we are and suppress us under their thumb.

All I need is the right moment. The right time to turn this thing around and put Jake Wallace back on his ass where he should be.