Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Last Bearers ❯ Chapter 25 ( Chapter 25 )

We barely made it into the forest in time. Bryan pressed me against a tree, our lips suctioned together. I no longer cared; I wanted him as much as he wanted me. Bryan growled lustfully and dragged me along deeper into the forest. He and I had explored every inch of the forest when we were kids, without our parents ever knowing. There was a small clearing tucked away in the forest that we had spent hours playing in without ever being found.

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Chapter 25

Several days later, Caelyn was released from the Medical Facility with Rian. He was escorted back to the dormitory, which seemed even emptier than usual with Aidan gone. According to the young Bearer named Dan, Aidan was still in confinement because he was refusing to answer John's questions. Other than Dan answering Caelyn's question, the rest of the Bearers ignored Caelyn, treating him as though he didn't exist. Caelyn sighed softly and sat on his bed, Rian in his carrier next to him.

A guard entered the room. “Breakfast time.” He looked at Caelyn. “You as well. You've been ordered to go to breakfast with the others like normal and after breakfast, you're to report to John's office.”

Normally, Bearers who had just given birth were separated from the others for the first four months following the birth.

Obviously, I'm not afforded the same luxury seeing as I broke The Institute's most sacred rule. Caelyn thought bitterly.

He rose, took the handle of Rian's carrier, and followed the other Bearers to the cafeteria. Daire looked incredibly surprised to see Caelyn there.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Aren't you supposed to be staying in the dormitories?”

“Obviously those who break the rules aren't afforded the same luxuries as the rest of the population.” Caelyn laughed bitterly. “Daire honey, the only reason I'm not in confinement is because I just gave birth. They were kind enough to take that into consideration at least.”

“I'll go and get us some food,” Daire said. “Go have a seat.”

“All right.” Caelyn nodded.

He took Rian to their usual table and sat down. It was so lonely without Aidan there. He blinked back tears. This was all his fault. Aidan was in confinement because of him.

Daire came over sometime later and put two trays on the table. Caelyn didn't feel particularly hungry. Daire sat down and started on his own breakfast. Caelyn picked at his food for a while before finally taking a couple bites. He had to keep his strength up or else he wouldn't be able to nurse Rian. He forced himself to eat and didn't stop until his plate was empty. Daire looked pleased that Caelyn had eaten everything off his plate as he took his and Caelyn's trays away. Caelyn got up and grabbed Rian's carrier. Daire walked back over to him.

“I'm going with you,” he said softly. Caelyn looked at him questioningly. “John called Aelskei and me to his office too.”

“Oh,” Caelyn replied faintly. He didn't want Daire and Aleksei to get punished for his mistake.

His apprehension must have been apparent because Daire smiled.

“Don't worry Caelyn. Aleksei and I aren't afraid of getting in trouble for your sake. Both of us agreed that we're going to stand by your side no matter what.”

“Daire…” Caelyn murmured, his eyes filling with tears yet again.

He had been so weepy lately. He blamed hormones. A wailing sound brought him out of his thoughts. Rian had woken up and was very fussy.

“It sounds like he's hungry,” Daire smiled.

“Yes,” Caelyn agreed. “Let's go back to the dormitory so I can nurse him.”

“They didn't give you a room where you can nurse Rian privately?” Daire asked.

“No.” Caelyn shook his head.

“That's not right,” Daire murmured.

“I know honey, but there's nothing we can do about it.” Caelyn's voice was sad. “Come on, let's go.”

They walked back to the dormitory. Caelyn sat down on the edge of his bed and started unbuttoning his shirt.

“Daire, can you get Rian for me?” he asked.

“Sure thing.” Daire nodded.

He reached down and expertly picked the fussing Rian up. He waited until Caelyn had opened his shirt before handing him over. Caelyn gently pressed Rian to his breast and helped him start suckling. Caelyn took a deep breath and tried to relax.

“You're doing great,” Daire said soothingly.

“It's a bit weird,” Caelyn admitted. “This whole nursing thing.”

“Yeah,” Daire agreed. “You'll get the hang of it after a while.”

“I hope so,” Caelyn murmured.

He and Daire were silent until Rian had finished nursing. Caelyn burped him and then handed him over to Daire while he buttoned up his shirt.

“Can you put him in his carrier for me please?” Caelyn asked.

“Yes of course,” Daire answered.

“Thank you.” Caelyn sounded extremely worn out.

“It's no problem.” Daire smiled.

He gently placed Rian is carrier. Caelyn stood up without hitting his head on the other bunk and picked up the carrier. Silently, he and Daire left the dormitory. There were guards waiting outside for them.

“We're going to escort you to the Director's office,” one of them said.

“Okay.” Daire nodded. “We're coming.”

He and Caelyn stuck close together as they went to John's office. Aidan was already there, handcuffed, along with Aleksei. Daire immediately moved to his mate's side while Caelyn hurried to Aidan's side.

“Are you all right?” Caelyn asked, his aquamarine eyes filled with worry.

Aidan gave him a tired smile. “Yes, I'm fine.”

John cleared his throat from his desk. “I am sure you're all aware of why you're here. I have called all of you here today because there's a little…scandal going on. I know you know the truth of what's going on. The baby…” he gestured to Rian's carrier “…looks just like Aidan and nothing like Caelyn's mate, his former mate that is. I know the reason. I am not an idiot. The baby had to have been fathered by Aidan. There's no point in hiding this fact. I already know,. What I don't know is why this occurred. That is why I have called all of you here today. Although Caelyn and Aidan were the ones who were directly involved in this matter, you are their best friend, Daire, and I know they would confide in you. So tell me, Daire. Is this true?”

Daire stood, refusing to say a word. “Why do you hold your tongue, Daire? Come on, it's all right. You don't have to be afraid.” Daire refused to say a word. :You know that if you refuse to speak, you'll be punished, right?”

“I know,” Daire finally said.

“Then why stay silent?” John asked. “Why are you willing to get in trouble for them?”

“They are my friends,” Daire answered.

“So you do know something?” John asked.

“I'm not saying a word.” Daire's voice was extremely calm.

John turned to Aleksei. “What about you? What do you know?”

“I am not saying anything either,” Aleksei answered.

“So you know?”

“Even if I know, I'm not about to tell you.”

John scowled and rose. “I am ordering you to tell me! I am not giving you any choice in the matter. Tell me or else you will be severely punished.”

None of them spoke a word. Rian started fussing. Caelyn bent over and picked him up. He tried to quiet him down. After a few moments, Rian was calm again.

“This is your last chance,” John warned. “Speak or else you'll be severely punished.”

They remained stubbornly silent.

John turned to the guards in the room. “Take them to confinement. Take the kid away too.”

The guards nodded and moved forward. Aidan was led to the door. About ten guards tried to force Aleksei and Daire apart with limited success. Another guard stepped forward and reached for Rian. Caelyn resisted.

“Come on. Please. I won't hurt him,” the guard said softly.

Caelyn shook his head. “Leave me alone! Don't take him away from me! I'm begging you!”

The guard looked pained. “I'm sorry.”

He forced Rian out of Caelyn's arms.

“Rian! Give him back! Give my son back to me!” Caelyn screamed.

At the sound of Caelyn's agonized cry, Aidan's head shot up. His face twisted into a scowl and before anyone knew what was going on, Aidan had knocked the guards surrounding him to the ground and lunged forward, determined to get at John. What he'd be able to do was unclear because he was still handcuffed, but John must have felt he was a credible threat because he pulled a gun out from within his desk.

Aidan didn't stop. John pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger. Aidan groaned and crashed to the ground. Daire and Caelyn screamed at the same time. Aleksei just stared. Aidan lay motionless on the ground, a small pool of blood building around his body. Everyone was still, even the guards.

“What have you done?” the guard holding Rian breathed.

“He's not dead,” John said in a detached voice. “I made sure to miss his vital organs. But at any rate, take him to the Medical Facility.”

Aidan was rushed out of the room, Aidan following close behind. The guards were left with Caelyn, Daire, and Aleksei.

Aleksei had broken away from the guards who had been trying to restrain him and now stood protectively in front of his mate, his expression terrifying. The guards decided that they really didn't want to mess with him at the moment. It wasn't a hard decision to come to.

Even in a good mood, Aleksei was a force to be reckoned with. The guards had worked with him before. They knew what he was capable of, especially when angered. And now that he had Daire, he was even more protective and was angered much easier.

Aleksei ignored the guards and turned to Daire.

“Are you all right?” he asked in an anxious voice.

“I'm fine,” Daire answered. “I'm more worried about Caelyn right now.”

He glanced over at Caelyn who stood a fair distance away, sobbing.

Daire turned to the guards. “Give him his son back.”

The guard holding Rian hesitated slightly.

“For god's sake, just give the kid back!” another guard snapped.

The guard holding Rian nodded and gently pressed the baby back into Caelyn's arms.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered.

Caelyn fell to his knees after his son was safely back in his arms, weeping quietly. After a while, he managed to get himself together and got to his feet. Rian was crying.

“Shh Rian,” Caelyn murmured, gently rocking the baby. After a while, Rian fell asleep.

“What now?” Daire asked, worried.

“Go,” the guard said softly. “Leave.”

“What if John starts asking questions?” Aleksei asked.

The guard gave him a crooked smile. “We don't know a thing. You knocked us out and disappeared on your own.”

“I see…” Aleksei murmured. He thought for a moment. “So you aren't loyal to John?”

“Shh,” the guard warned. “You don't know anything and we don't know anything, right?”

Aleksei seemed to catch on. “Right.”

The guard hastily looked around the room before stepping forward.

“Look, some of us guards have seen the things John has done and we aren't happy about it,” he said in a low voice. “The truth is, John's grip is starting to get weaker. The Breeders are getting harder and harder to control. He thinks he's able to control them, but he can't. There's no way in hell all of them can be controlled. One of these days, they're going to completely snap and things will go to hell. The Institute isn't going to last much longer. I suggest you start looking for a way out of here so you don't get caught in all of this. It's going to turn real ugly.”

“How long do you think we have?” Aleksei asked.

“It's hard to say. This new incident won't sit well with them. I can tell you already that they will not be happy to learn about what happened to Aidan. Honestly, they don't care about the whole mate thing. They don't care who they have sex with as long as they get it. And most of them don't. So they don't care as much as the Bearers do about Caelyn and Aidan sleeping together. As soon as word gets out that John shot Aidan without any remorse, they'll be hunting for blood. It's hard to say how long it'll take them to snap. It could be days, maybe a couple weeks if we get lucky, but I seriously doubt it.”

Aleksei nodded. “Thank you.”

“I don't know anything, remember?” the guard smiled. “Now get your asses out of here before John comes back.”

Aleksei nodded and turned to Daire. “Come on. Let's go.” He looked over at Caelyn. “You too.”

Caelyn nodded weakly and followed Daire and Aleksei out of John's office. They went to the Bearers' dormitory.

“I'll be back,” Daire murmured to Aleksei, who was forced to wait outside.

Aleksei nodded and gave Daire a quick kiss on the lips. Daire turned and walked into the dormitory with Caelyn. The other Bearers were there, although they didn't looked pleased to see Caelyn there.

“Slut,” some of them whispered as Caelyn passed.

“This is all his fault. If he'd kept his legs closed…”

It was loud enough for them to hear, which was the point. Caelyn felt more tears in his eyes. Daire turned around.

“Shut the fuck up and leave him the fuck alone, will you?” he growled. The other Bearers looked at each other in surprise. “You don't understand anything, do you? Caelyn and Aidan loved each other. They. Loved. Each. Other. It doesn't matter that they weren't mates. That's not important at all. Why can't you guys see that it's more about following orders and loving whomever you're told to?”

“I'm surprised,” a Bearer named Karayan said.

“Why's that?” Daire asked coldly.

“I'm just surprised that you would stand up for someone like him,” Karayan sneered. “A slut.”

Daire glared at him. “I stand up for Caelyn because he is like my brother. I would never betray him.”

“That makes you weak.”

“Fuck you,” Daire growled.

“I'm sure you'd love to try,” Karayan said coldly.

Daire made a rude gesture that involved the use of his middle finger. He didn't wait for a response from Karayan. He turned around and led Caelyn to his bunk.

“Here, give Rian to me and I'll put him in his bed, okay?” he said softly.

Caelyn nodded and handed Rian over to Daire. Daire forced him to lay down in his bunk. Caelyn watched as Daire gently tucked Rian into his crib and then came back to his bunk.

“Can you…stay for a while?” Caelyn asked faintly.

“Of course Caelyn.” Daire smiled and took a seat by Caelyn's side.

Daire reached out and started gently stroking the older boy's hair. He continued doing this until the blond was asleep. He stood up and covered Caelyn with a blanket.

“I'll be back later,” he said softly.

He crossed the dormitory, glaring at the other Bearers as he went. Outside the dormitory, Aleksei was waiting for him.

“How is Caelyn doing?” he inquired.

Daire sighed softly. “He's suffering badly from this.”

“Then we have to hurry,” Aleksei murmured.

“Yes,” Daire agreed. “But what can we do?”

“It's like that guard said,” Aleksei replied. “We have to get out.”

“But how?” Daire asked.

Aleksei frowned. “I'm not really sure. I'm going to talk to Bryan and see what he thinks.”

“All right, but I'm coming with you.”

“It's going to be dangerous,” Aleksei warned. “The Breeders can't be completely controlled and there's no telling what may happen when you go in there.”

“I'm not afraid,” Daire whispered.

“All right. Let's go then.” Aleksei smiled.

They headed for the Breeders' dormitory.

To be continued…

Notes: -face goes dramatically pale- Um…don't kill me? Please? -runs and locks self in reinforced steel bunker-

Daire: Hi there. The author asked me to do this and gave me her notes before running off to barricade herself in her bunker. She says…it was necessary for Aidan to get shot.

Aidan: Oh thanks.

Daire: -glares- You are supposed to be injured. Go away.

Aidan: -grumbles under breath and leaves-

Daire: Anyway, Aidan had to get short or else things couldn't go the way she planned. She being the author of course. It was an important plot mover. She can't spoil the plot, but there is a reason. So trust her, okay? And…don't kill me.

Caelyn: Daire honey, why would they kill you?

Daire: Haven't you ever heard the phrase “shoot the messenger” or something like that?

Caelyn: It rings a bell.

Daire: That's what worries me.

Caelyn: Don't worry. The readers are more mature than that…I hope.

Daire: That isn't very reassuring. -under breath- I should have made the author let me do the review replies instead of Aleksei and Bryan.