The Scythian Trials

by Elizabeth Isaacs

  Xari stirred.

  Jax tightened his grip as he leaned close. “Did Nya do this?”

  “No.” Xari forced out a whisper like she was screaming. “They took her.”

  He brushed the hair from her eyes. “I’ll find her and bring her back. I promise.”

  Relieved, Xari’s head fell against his shoulder as her eyes rolled back in her head.

  “Let’s go.” Victor’s fingers flew over his phone screen. “Zander’s alerting the Tova now. They’re covering all roads out. And Jax. If we think there’s cause and we can find a way, he’s authorized Dak to give us the prototype.”

  Jax’s hands tightened around Xari as he quickened his steps. “About fucking time.”

  They ran to the servant’s entrance at the back of the consulate, Jax staying in the shadows while Victor took the lead.

  Victor’s phone rang again, and he growled as he swiped the screen. “I’m a little busy here, Alexandra.”

  “We have two downed warriors at the back gate and, apparently, a hurt champion. What the hell is going on?”

  Victor motioned for Jax to move and they started up the second set of steps.

  “I have no idea what happened to the guards, but Toxaris fell and hit her head. We’re taking her to the infirmary so she can be seen.” He hung up before the Chancellor could respond. “We’re getting ready to have company.”

  Jax the entered the hall leading to the infirmary. “I’m sure she’s already tracking us. The place is wired.”

  Victor swiped his phone and entered a code. The red lights above the cameras’ lenses stilled.

  “Nifty trick,” Jax said.

  “Been saving it for a rainy day. It won’t take her team long to figure it out.” He pushed open a set of double doors and turned to the guards. “No one gets in. No one.”

  The warrior touched his fist to his chest and blocked the entrance.

  They hustled into an empty room. Golden hair fanned across the pillow as Jax laid Xari on the bed. An orderly shuffled around him and started her IV. He stuck a few leads on Xari’s chest and checked the tablet he’d had tucked under his arm. Satisfied with whatever he saw, he laid the tablet on a rolling cart before he walked out the door.

  A female entered, her gun metal gray eyes a sharp contrast to her short spiked black hair. “Didn’t want to see you tonight, Doc.”

  “Dak, glad you’re here.” Victor held up the dart. “You know what they used?”

  “Hear the unit’s going dark.”

  She took it from him and held it to the light. “Not sure. We’re testing it now.”

  Jax swallowed a few times. “You think it’s lethal?”

  She placed it in her pocket. “The guards they brought in haven’t died yet, so I’d say no.” She picked up a syringe from a nearby tray and plunged the needle into Xari’s IV bag. “This should counteract most drugs. I’m keeping her overnight to make sure, though. Give it a few, and you’ll be able to talk to her.”

  “We’re burning precious time.” Jax paced at the end of the bed, torn between needing information and wanting to find his Vtachi.

  Victor’s thumbs flew across his screen again. “I’m contacting Killian and the others. They’ll be waiting by the fountain. We’ll leave as soon as we can.”

  Another text popped up and Victor scowled. “Damn.”

  “What is it?”

  “Erik and the rest of Xari’s Chosen are on their way.”

  Jax stopped pacing. “The press gets wind of this and they’ll slow us down.”

  Dak grabbed tablet from the tray. “I’m on it.”

  “Wait up. I need a minute.” Victor followed the doctor out of the room.

  “Jax ...” Xari mumbled, opening her eyes. “They’ve got Ny.”

  He grabbed her hand. “I know. Listen, your Chosen will be here soon. The Chancellor’s been informed that you hit your head, and the doctor is checking on you now.”

  Xari leaned back on her pillow and closed her eyes. “I take it this doctor is a Tova?”

  “Yes.”

  She glanced up at the camera, which was stuck in an odd position with its light off. “Got it. Now, tell me what really happened.”

  “Tranquilizer dart.”

  “Lethal?”

  “We don’t think so.”

  “Thank God. And Ny?”

  Jax’s expression became ruthless. “The Tovaris are already searching, and I head out as soon as we’re done here.”

  “But why would the Drahzda attack tonight? And why Ny?”

  Jax’s voice became nothing but a menacing whisper. “Because ten years ago Ike and Gia Thalestris used their daughter as bait to lure Sarkov’s son into telling them a bunch of shit about the Drahzda. Ike, conceited bastard that he is, thought he could protect her. He was wrong, and she was taken. Horrible, unspeakable things were done to her—things she couldn’t recall until recently. I’m sure by now Vtachi has remembered every second of the hell they put her through.”

  Xari struggled to sit up. “Give me five, and I’ll be ready to go.”

  “No.” Jax retook her hand. He had to tread carefully here. Xari was now a full-fledged Amazonian warrior, and it was her born right to defend her own. No Scythian male would ever disrespect a female by telling her what to do. He took a deep breath and kept his voice calm. “If you go with us, the press will have a field day which will put Nya in more danger, and there won’t be anyone at the consulate to keep tabs on things here.”

  Xari’s voice rose. “Surely the Chancellor is going to declare war. The Trials will be suspended.”

  “No alerts were sent out when the back gates were compromised.”

  Xari’s eyes widened. “You think she’s covering it up?”

  “You and I both know it’s impossible for a Drahzdan team to get on Consulate grounds. And until now they’ve never left Scythians alive.”

  Victor came back into the room and handed Jax a small glass vial.

  “Will it be missed?”

  “It officially has never been here.”

  Xari struggled to sit up. “What’s going on?”

  Victor ignored her, his intense gaze never left Jax. “Only if you trust her, and be sure she knows the consequences.”

  “Jax?” Xari’s voice grew stronger as frustration threaded through.

  “Wrap it up,” was all Victor said and he walked away.

  The mattress tipped as Jax sat down. “You and I may not agree on everything, but a common bond we share is our loyalty to Nya. The Tovaris is walking in blind on this mission—we don’t have the information we need.”

  She sat up. “How can I help.”

  Cool glass grazed her fingers as Jax slipped a vial into her hand. “This is one of the last remaining prototypes of a serum created by Chem Warfare. It’s a pharmaceutical designed to suppress the Phoenix while unlocking a soldier’s mind. The intellects and warriors tested it on Scythian volunteers. It was extremely successful in that the subjects were unable to lie and couldn’t withhold any information. Unfortunately, it was too strong for the Allos, and the researchers decided to go in a different direction. After the Chevnian riots, Zander confiscated the last case before it made its way to the incinerator.”

  Xari looked down at the small vial. “It looks like water.”

  “It has no taste, no odor, and you’ll have about thirty minutes to get information before the victim becomes unconscious. If you find a window of opportunity, use it on the Chancellor.”

  Xari’s fingers wrapped around the glass.

  “Before you agree to this, understand the consequences. If we don’t have concrete proof of any wrongdoing on the Chancellor’s part, she’ll remain in power.”

  “Which means no one will be able to help me if I’m caught.”

  “You could be executed for treason if the mission doesn’t go our way. Alexandra is brilliant in the political arena.” His voice deepened as he leaned in. “And know the effects of the prototype are stronger when
combined with alcohol. Some subjects they tested didn’t even remember what happened to them.”

  She fell back against her pillow, her eyes darting aimlessly as her mind raced. “So I need to get her drunk and then use this on her.”

  Jax smirked. “That won’t be as difficult as you think.”

  Angry male voices bled down the hall.

  “Looks like Erik’s here.” Jax stood.

  “Wait. Nya doesn’t show tomorrow the press is going to go ballistic.”

  Jax’s voice became hurried. “Vtachi isn’t feeling well and has left the ball. Tomorrow morning Dak will notice the leg injury has developed another infection. The media will be informed that she’s back in the hospital, but due to a fear of exposure only her Chosen are allowed to see her.”

  She scoffed. “The way Scythians heal, no one’s going to believe it.”

  “They will if Nya’s best friend backs up the story.”

  Xari tucked the vial in the folds of her blanket and nodded. “I can do that.”

  “One other thing.” He glanced at the door as the voices got louder. “When we go, you’ll be the only one at the consulate who knows what really happened. Bide your time and try to get the information we need. If all hell breaks loose contact the Tovaris. I’ll text you Zander’s number. Whatever you do, stay safe and don’t be reckless. If you can’t find an opportunity to use the prototype, don’t risk it. We’ll find another way.”

  “By God, I’ll have someone’s head if you don’t let us in!” Erik’s voice bled through the door.

  Xari hooked her pinky around Jax’s. “Staratsa.”

  He squeezed her finger before letting go. “Staratsa.”

  The door burst open, and Erik bolted in, followed closely by four others. “What the hell are you doing here, and what happened to my champion?”

  “I’m sure Xari will explain everything. If you will excuse me.”

  The males barely acknowledged Jax as they rushed around the bed, each wanting to make sure their Champion was all right.

  The cameras whizzed back to life.

  “Dr. Nickius?” Xari’s voice made it over the grumblings of the warriors surrounding her.

  Jax stopped and looked over his shoulder.

  “Tell Ny I hope she gets to feeling better. I’ll be busy all day tomorrow, but I’ll try and stop by if I get a chance.”

  “I’m sure she’d appreciate it,” Jax said just before he closed the door.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Nya stirred, her head pounded, and her mouth felt like it had been stuffed with cotton. Disoriented and pissed off, she grumbled as the hard floor beneath her jostled and swayed. Someone had placed a thick wool blanket over her, and she wrapped it around her shoulders and sat up, resting her cheek against a cool wall, trying to ignore the queasiness rolling through her.

  Dread washed over her as she took in her glass-paneled prison. Judging from the toggle bolts lining the sides and top, the walls were several inches thick and most likely bulletproof. A few feet beyond stood corrugated steel.

  A train whistle screamed from somewhere in front of her. She was trapped in a glass cage on a freight car in the middle of who-the-hell knew where.

  She searched the four glass walls. Wait ... where was the door?

  Her heart sank as she glanced up. Hovering overhead was a steel hatch, a vent for circulation, and a hole that held a hose.

  God only knew what they planned to do with that.

  Red lights blinked in the boxcar’s upper right-hand corner as a camera whirred to life.

  “I see you’re up,” a deep Russian voice rumbled from a speaker above.

  “Who are you?” She tucked her knees against her chest and grazed her palms over her thighs, hating she wasn’t wearing her leathers.

  “It’s disheartening to think you could forget me so easily, Ana Sarkov. After all the time we spent together.”

  “You must have me confused with someone else. The name’s Anya Thalestris.”

  “You’ll soon remember your true identity, I’m sure.” He chuckled. “In the meantime, we’ll be switching rails in a few hours. I’ll bring you some food then, and if you need to use the restroom, we’ll lower down a bucket. I apologize for the crude conditions, but it can’t be helped.”

  “You’re fucking kidding me.”

  “It won’t be for long, you have my word. And then I’ll protect you until you arrive home safely. Unfortunately, the castle has not been fully restored, but we’ve been working round the clock to make sure your suite is fully prepared.”

  Her eyes raced from corner to corner, trying to find some weakness. What castle? “How long until we get to there?”

  “Ah.” The man chuckled. “I’ll be sure to let Penn know you are anxious to see him. I spoke to him earlier, you know. While he is overjoyed to finally have you back, he’s distressed at the thought of any Scythian male touching you inappropriately. Shame on you, Ana. It is unbecoming of the Tsar’s future wife. He feels it necessary to remind you of the consequences of such betrayal.”

  A chill ran down her spine.

  “Don’t worry, Ana. It’ll be over soon. And then we’ll put this unpleasantness behind us. Until then, Penn has asked you enjoy a little music.”

  She slammed her eyes closed, rocking back and forth. “No, please...”

  “Rest well, Ana Sarkov.”

  A hundred deep Russian voices echoed off the steel walls. In an instant, a dam broke in Nya’s mind, and her blood turned to liquid fire. Horrid memories combined with the blaze, and she threw her head back and screamed.

  Light bled from the monitors, each sharing a different story. Some told of late night trysts in darkened stairwells, others of warriors socializing in open areas. But what held Alexandra’s undivided attention were the three monitors on the bottom row that recorded the front of the consulate’s drive.

  The Chancellor had alerted the press of a breach of security in the back entrance, and like good little puppets they packed up their gear and headed out.

  She couldn’t have timed it more perfectly. The media had just left when a large passenger van rolled up and screeched to a stop. A few moments later, four of Nya’s Chosen started hauling boxes and bags out of the consulate and tossing them in the vehicle.

  She leaned back as the front doors burst open and Jax came out like a demon from hell. The others finished loading and hopped in, but Jax just stood, openly staring into the camera as if he knew she was watching.

  He pulled out his phone, his finger sliding across the screen, and the hair on the back of her neck prickled as a chime went off in her pocket.

  Alexandra cleared her throat and brought her phone to her ear. “What can I do for you, Counselor?”

  “I’ve informed Toxaris that Nya is not well. We are taking her back to the hospital as I fear she may be experiencing complications from her wound. Her Chosen have decided to stay by her side.”

  “A testament that her candidates are males of worth. And I’m sorry to hear Anya is injured again.” Alexandra’s hand shook as she reached for her cigarettes.

  Jax clenched his jaw, his intensity radiating through the screen. “Nya’s condition will not allow visitors, and so I am sure you will alert the media of the situation.”

  “Of course.”

  “One more thing. If I find out you had a hand in this, you’ll die knowing the meaning of pain.”

  Alexandra took a deep drag. Smoke billowed around her face. “Don’t threaten me, Counselor.”

  “I’m not threatening. If you took part, I will make sure you die.” He hung up the phone before she could respond.

  Alexandra turned from the monitors and headed for the liquor cabinet.

  Jax hopped in the van’s passenger seat and slammed the door.

  Victor raised a brow. “Please tell me you did not just threaten the leader of the Scythian world.”

  “No threats, just a Tova making a promise.”

  “As I thought.” Victor
smirked and started down the long gravel drive, the van’s lights flooding the darkened road. They turned onto a smaller lane, heading deeper into the forest. “Let’s hope one of her minions didn’t record the call.”

  “I don’t give a damn if they did.”

  “Threatening the life of the Chancellor is an offense punishable by death.”

  Jax shifted in his seat as he buckled his belt. “She wouldn’t be stupid enough to put me in front of a tribunal, and we both know it.”

  “I’ve got new intel.” Killian’s voice came from the back. He leaned forward, his phone’s light brought out the harsh planes of his features. “Twenty minutes ago Alexandra sent an entire squadron to an undisclosed location but allowed a slew of reporters to tag along. Apparently, they found a Drahzda cell, not fifteen kilometers from here. The Scythian News is now running a live feed, and they plan to go the traditional route and show their executions at dawn. According to my partner at the CIA, the Chancellor will be holding a press conference afterward, giving details about a failed Drahzdan terrorist attack.”

  Luka leaned over to see Killian’s screen. “She knew they were going to take her. We’re all pawns in her game.”

  Jax stared out the window at the ink-stained sky. “We may be forced to play by her rules for now, but the game is about to fucking change.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Nya seized twice before the music mercifully stopped. Hoarse from hours of screaming, she didn’t know how much longer she could take it. After the last seizure, the pain started affecting her eyesight, and a red haze now tinted the barren metal walls.

  Hideous laughter echoed in her mind as the first night on the Drahzdan ship played over and over in her head.

  “Penn. This is wrong. You know it.”

  “Shhhh, my love. It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

  Six men with thick gloves held her down while shackles were latched on her wrists. She strained as Penn came forward.

  She managed to get a foot free before the last shackle was latched on her ankle. A sickening crunch sounded as she whipped her leg, her foot smashing against the side of Penn’s face. Another soldier rushed toward her, and she thrust her heel into this throat, sending him to his knees. Wildly kicking, again and again, she struck anyone who came near while she strained to break free. Two more men dropped, but a third came from the opposite side, tackling the lower half of her body and pinning her to the wall. The others dove, scrambling to get the manacle around her ankle. Everyone smiled as they stepped away.