by Heidi Skarie
Everything was a daze for Toemeka after Erling death. Koriann’s stepparents, Embrosa and Dr. Leyran, came to the palace. Embrosa, the former Kameet resistance leader, took over the situation as easily as she’d organized the Kameets. She stayed with Koriann, who refused to leave Erling’s bedside or allow his body to be removed, and asked her husband to take care of Toemeka.
Dr. Leyran walked with a limp as he accompanied Toemeka to her bedchamber. In shock, she curled up on the bed, feeling small and broken, with no energy to fight her despair.
“Where is Michio?” she asked, yearning for her husband’s loving presence.
“He’s leading the defense of Jaipar.”
“Does he know about Erling?”
“He’s been contacted.”
“He shouldn’t have been told. He’s got enough to worry about.” Her heart ached for her husband, wanting to share their mutual grief. She knew how hard it must be for him to be responsible for Jaipar’s protection while Koriann was too distraught to concern herself with the affairs of the country.
Dr. Leyran picked up a kaya off a food tray on the bedside table. “You should try to eat something, child.” He held out the orange-colored fruit to her. Toemeka shook her head, refusing to eat. “Think of the baby you’re carrying. You must be strong for it.”
“How can I bring a baby into such a cruel world? Everyone I love keeps getting taken from me. Life plays a hideous game. Everything seems so secure, so permanent. Then just when things seem to be going well, life laughs at you and takes it all away.”
“It’s just your grief speaking. You know death is an illusion. You are an Initiate and can cross over into the Inner Worlds to see him.”
“He hadn’t finished his destiny for this lifetime. I want Michio. I don’t want to live if he’s taken from me as well.” Toemeka clutched the gold locket he’d given her and began sobbing.
On Haklute, the aircar parked itself by their spacecraft. They all got out and Onolyn hugged Hendora. “I hope you’re in time to save Erling
Hendora stiffened in her embrace. “I hope the vial Seetva gave us actually contains the antidote. Find out what you can about King Zanton’s military activities without attracting attention to yourself. Report in daily.”
“We will,” Zac said. When Jaipar was an occupied country, he’d been in the Kameet Resistance and worked undercover at General Bhandar’s military base. He didn’t think spying on King Zanton would be too hard compared to that.
Zac flew the aircar toward the Galaxy Hotel in the royal city where they had reservations. He liked flying and hadn’t programed the car to drive itself. Onolyn rode in the front seat this time. Zac noticed she sat rigidly and was unusually quiet as she looked out at the heavy traffic. “You worried about Erling?”
“Yeah, Seetva can’t be trusted and yet we’re relying on the potion she gave us to save him. And I’m uneasy about being in Haklute. Before losing consciousness, Erling was trying to warn me about something. He was incoherent, but I know it was important.”
“What did he say?”
“Something about danger and coming to me in the Inner Worlds. He said to protect my Soul with the Light and Sound.”
“Erling was delirious. I wouldn’t put too much weight on what he said,” Zac replied, though the warning made him uneasy as well.
“I don’t know . . . still, being here . . . I am aware of a strong negative force. Maybe he saw something and was trying to warn us.”
“He couldn’t know the future. He doesn’t have prophetic abilities.” Zac turned the steering wheel sharply, barely missing another vehicle.
“Slow down!” Onolyn gasped. “We want to get to the hotel in one piece.” She returned to their conversation. “Erling may not have prophetic abilities and yet he saw something in the future. Maybe he tapped into the future time track. Maybe he was warning us about Seetva? Why did she give us the antidote?”
“For the jewelry.”
Onolyn shook her head, causing her strawberry-blond curls to bounce. “She didn’t do it just for jewelry. She’s evil and had some ulterior motive.”
“She might have an ulterior motive, but I don’t think she’s evil.”
“She’s evil all right; couldn’t you tell? I hope we never meet up with her again.”
“I’d like to,” he said, just to annoy her.
“Zac!”
He was pleased by her reaction. “I think you’re jealous.”
“Of her? You’ve got to be kidding. Why would I be jealous of a witch? Besides, why would I care who you’re interested in?”
“You care.” He hoped she did care.
“Not likely!”
“You don’t believe what Hendora said about me, do you?” he asked, bothered by her flippant remark.
“You mean that you’re shallow?”
He nodded.
“No, I don’t think that. I don’t know why Hendora said it. She doesn’t seem to think much of men. It’s hard to get to know her. She’s private and never says anything about her past. It’s unusual for a person of the Feniod race to leave their people and set out on their own. They’re a clannish race. I wonder what caused her to leave the Gorn Terra base to work at the Coalition Headquarters.”
“It’s hard to know.” Zac switched his full attention back to flying. Once he found a break in traffic, he flew the aircar down several grids and landed on the road. He pulled a lever by the steering wheel and drove the rest of the way to the hotel.
At the tall, cylinder-shaped Galaxy Hotel, Zac drove into the underground parking garage. Once parked, Zac retrieved their travel bags from the trunk.
A uniformed android doorman opened the door for them and they walked into the hotel lobby. Its high ceiling was painted to look like outer space with constellations against a black background.
“You know I don’t care what Hendora thinks about me,” Zac said, “but I don’t want you to think badly of me.”
“You know I think highly of you for joining the Coalition and for the undercover work you did on Jaipar to save your people.” She approached the front desk.
“I think highly of you, too. Let’s get one room.”
Onolyn scowled at him, then said to the android on duty. “We have reservations for two rooms.” Once they’d checked in, they took an elevator to the fifth floor. “What would you have done if I requested one room?” Onolyn asked, cocking her head inquisitively.
“I don’t know . . . risen to the occasion, I guess.” Zac grinned, pleased at his double entendre.
“You’re in quite the mood today.” The elevator stopped, they got out and started down the hall.
At the door to her room, Onolyn searched her pocket for the room key card. Zac stood facing her, leaning down with one arm braced against the wall behind her. She was almost as tall as he was, but so slender he could probably span her waist with his hands. Being this close to her, he could smell her fragrant perfume. He hadn’t noticed her wearing any before, but then they were usually in uniform on base where women wanted to be accepted as equals and not draw attention to their femininity.
“Here it is.” She pulled out the key card. “I knew I couldn’t lose it that quickly.” She looked up, her head almost hitting his. She jerked back as if flustered by his closeness.
“Going to invite me in?” he asked suggestively.
“Maybe Hendora’s right about men.”
Zac laughed. “You can’t blame a guy for trying.” He brushed a wayward strand of hair out of her pretty face, wishing he had the nerve to kiss her. “Good night, Onolyn.”
Later, Zac lay on his airbed with his fingers interlaced behind his head and gazed up at the ceiling painted to look like the night sky. He reflected back on his conversation with Onolyn, wondering what she would have done if he’d kissed her. Would she have been angry or kissed him back?
He drifted off to sleep. In the dream worlds he found himself back in the swamp. Seetva appeared out of the mist. “Come to me. You promised
to give me what I want. I want you.”
Onolyn appeared beside him. “No, Zac, she’s evil. We must get away from her.” She moved away from him into the fog. He turned to go after her, calling her name.
“Stay, you are mine.” Seetva said in a haunting voice.
“No! Onolyn don’t leave me!” Zac ran after Onolyn. He couldn’t find her anywhere. He searched blindly through the murky fog.
Seetva appeared before him again. “You can’t escape me.” Her voice was husky, compelling.
He swallowed past the lump in his throat, wanting to flee. He sensed her dark power trying to take ahold of him. “What do you want?” he asked, trying to keep fear out of his voice.
“I want you.”
“No!”
“I will give you pleasure.” Her unearthly loveliness contrasted with the negativity surrounding her. Part of him desired her while another part fought the hold she had on him. He woke up in a sweat.
In a trancelike state, he dressed and left the hotel in the rental aircar. He could feel her drawing him, pulling him into her web. He tried to resist but the urge to go to her was too strong. He parked in the same place they had earlier in the day and walked slowly toward the house. He felt as if he were on a planet with dense gravity that made taking each step an effort. He passed twisted trees on the way to the house
He knocked on the front door, and when it opened Seetva stood there. “You promised me anything I want,” she said. “I want you.”
A chill washed over him. She said the same words in his dream. I want you. Conflicting emotions struggled within him. She was so beautiful; surely someone who was so beautiful couldn’t be evil. Yet what power did she have over him? How had she drawn him to her?
“Come inside, I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I . . . I can’t, Onolyn will wonder where I am and it’s not safe to leave her alone.”
“Don’t concern yourself with her. You need a woman. I’ll teach you and give you pleasure.” She gave him an unnerving smile as he entered the house.
Once inside he could see her more clearly. Her bronze colored hair was fastened to her head with jewels and her green dress had a pattern of skulls on it.
“You’re a very desirable woman,” he stammered, disconcerted by her low-cut dress that exposed the tops of her breast and clung alluringly to her body. “But it wouldn’t be right. I . . . I don’t even know you.”
“Are you afraid to become a man?”
“No, of course not,” Zac said defensively, feeling young and inexperienced. “I mean I want you, but well, it wouldn’t be right.”
“You are mine, now. I’ll decide what’s right for you.” She put her hand on his chest and fire burned into his heart.
“No!” He backed into the wall. She drew him close and her lips captured his, taking from him, poisoning him. His desire to resist faded and he kissed her back, his lust aroused. He wanted her in a purely physical way.
She lured him into her bedchamber and lay on a large bed. Carved serpents curled around the columns that stood at each corner of the bed. Seetva reached out enticingly and fear made his throat tighten. He knew he had to fight the spell she wove around him. She wasn’t what she appeared to be. Her perfect face and body were deceiving. What was it Onolyn said? Something about protecting your Soul. His thoughts were cut off by her words.
“Come to me. I’ll make you a man.” She drew him onto the bed and started kissing him again—demandingly, draining, yet kindling his blood, his passion. In spite of his uneasiness, he found himself wanting her with an uncontrollable burning desire and he kissed her back hungrily.
She bit his lip hard and laughed when he drew his head back, tasting blood on his lip. Her hands felt electric as they ran up his sides. He knew he was coming more and more under her power, but it no longer mattered. He had to have her, to dominate her, possess her.
Yet a higher part of himself stood outside his body, observing and warning him to escape.
Seetva laughed, sending a chill to the very core of his being. With helpless dread, he knew he had to break away from her. She unfastened his belt and lust surged through him. He gave in to his desire to take her, no matter what the cost.
Onolyn awoke when her wrist communicator started playing a cheerful tune. She sleepily pushed the “answer” button.
“Hello,” she said, holding the watch close to her mouth and pressing a finger into her ear so she could hear.
“Onolyn, this is Hendora. I’m sorry to awaken you. I’m afraid I have bad news.” She paused, then said in an unsteady voice. “Erling’s dead.”
“Oh God,” Onolyn gasped, her chest constricting. “I’d hoped you’d gotten the antidote to him in time.”
“I’m sorry, Onolyn, I know he was your friend.”
“He was your friend, too. Are you all right?”
“It hurts more than I expected. He annoyed me with his teasing and I didn’t like his easy way with woman, but I trusted him as I do few men. I knew I could count on him. He risked his life for me more than once.”
“He was a good man.”
“But a reckless fool. What was he doing fighting a duel anyway?”
Onolyn heard the hurt and anger in Hendora’s voice. “It wasn’t a duel. King Zanton attacked him.”
“What happened isn’t important now. There’s more I need to tell you. Samrat Condor’s air fleet attacked Jaipar. Find out what you can about King Zanton’s plans.”
“So it’s begun,” Onolyn said. “I’d better go tell Zac.”
She hung up and went through the door adjoining her room to Zac’s. He wasn’t in his bed. She glanced toward the bathroom and saw it was empty. “Oh no,” she exclaimed, knowing instinctively that Seetva had lured him away.
She returned to her room and dressed, muttering to herself. “I knew she was after you. I felt her hold on you. Better that I shared your bed than allow this to happen. What am I going to do? I can’t fight a witch. I just hope I’m not too late.”
She ran downstairs with her mind still racing. Why hadn’t she done something when she sensed the danger Zac was in? Why hadn’t she trusted her feelings? She checked the lot for the rental aircar and saw it was gone, then ran into the street and hailed an airtaxi. On the ride over, she wondered what Seetva wanted with Zac. To control him certainly, but why?
Onolyn welcomed the android driver’s fast maneuvering as it flew through city traffic. The tall buildings were lit up and the nightlife was nearly as busy as it was during the day. The driver dropped her off at the edge of the dark woods near Seetva’s home and she wondered what to do now that she was here. Dread pulsed through her as she made her way across Seetva’s lawn, going from tree to tree. When she got closer, she saw the dark form of a man standing in front of the cottage. It looked like Zac. Perhaps she wasn’t too late. She hurried toward him.
“Onolyn, you came,” Zac said upon seeing her. There was something strange, unnatural about his voice.
She paused, uncertain, and he walked over to her. She couldn’t see his face clearly in the dark. “Zac? Are you all right?” she asked
His fist swung toward her temple.
“No!” she screamed as her head exploded in pain. Everything turned black as she crumpled to the ground.
Michio walked into his bedchamber, tense from the battle and from hearing the news of Erling’s death.
He found Leyran reading in a chair. Toemeka was asleep on the bed, covered with an afghan. Leyran rose and put his right index finger to his lips, signaling him to not say anything. They went into the adjacent sitting room.
“How did the battle go?” Leyran asked, worry wrinkling his brow.
“Samrat Condor’s space fleet retreated. Intelligence says they’re waiting for reinforcements. Most of Condor’s starships are still in Alandra. How’s Toemeka?”
“She’s finally sleeping. She took Erling’s death hard. It brought to the surface memories from her past. She must have lost someone else she was very
close to.”
“Her family was killed right in front of her seven years ago.”
Leyran nodded. “I gathered that from what she said.”
“How is Koriann?”
“Embrosa is with her. I’ll go check on her now that you’re back. I stayed with Toemeka in case she awakened. I didn’t think it would be good for her to be alone right now. I’m glad you’re here; she refused to eat anything and was worried you’d be killed. She must be exhausted from being up all night and fell asleep just a short time ago. I didn’t give her a sedative since she’s pregnant.”
“Thank you for looking after her,” Michio said, grateful Leyran had stayed with Toemeka.
Leyran left and Michio returned to the sleeping area and lay down on the bed next to Toemeka. Her cheeks were tear-stained. He wanted to talk to her and hold her in his arms, but knew she needed sleep. He closed his eyes and tried to relax; he’d been awake more than forty hours.
He was drifting off when Toemeka moaned, “No, no, don’t die, Baymond, Dad.”
“Wake up, sweetheart. You’re having a nightmare.”
She opened her unseeing eyes. “Mother! Don’t hurt her!” she sobbed.
“Toemeka, it’s me, Michio.”
“Michio?” She looked at him in confusion. Her confusion faded and she put her arms around him. “Michio, thank God, you’re here. Hold me—Erling’s dead.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I know you two were close.”
Toemeka’s eyes welled up with tears and she began to cry in his arms. Michio felt a lump in his throat, his emotional control dissolving now that he was free to express his feelings. He would miss Erling’s friendship.
Toemeka continued to sob, her whole body shaking. The depth of her pain wrenched his heart. After awhile he was afraid she would make herself ill from being so distraught.
“Don’t weep so,” he said gently. “Erling’s in the Inner Worlds, in a place filled with light and happiness. I took Koriann to see him.”
“I . . . I miss him,” Toemeka said, sniffing back her tears. “He’s been my best friend since my family was killed. Poor Koriann, she loved him so deeply. Why did he have to die?”