The strange lady shrieked, grabbed a knife in both hands, and charged the E'mani rushing toward us.
They held their weapons uncertainly. One withdrew and darted back inside. The rest stopped and glanced among themselves.
She landed in the mass, and the group fell into a tumble of limbs and gray cloth.
When she rolled up, she had one of their blasters in her hand which she proceeded to use with great efficiency. One went down immediately with a shot to the head. Blood sprayed the building behind her.
Another took aim and then hesitated. She shot him directly in the chest. No remorse. A one-woman killing crew. Who was this lady?
She spun in a circle and shot each and every E'mani coming out the door. The E'mani seemed reluctant to engage her, and indeed, the rest of the clones ran back inside as soon as she turned to glance at us in the tree line. “Are you two going to help?”
Huh.
I exchanged a glance with Marin and sheathed my own weapons. “We're good.”
The woman grinned and spread her arms, taking in the carnage. “You missed the fun.”
“Well, I can tell we have the same enemies.” At least that she liked killing the same people I did.
“Yes, we do and we need to head back to town. There is only a small group here. Ten at most, but more will arrive. They always do. Come now.” The stranger motioned us forward.
I pulled a face. “I’m not going anywhere until I know what’s going on.”
Marin placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “She is right. We should head back.”
“Are we really going to take her back to Center?”
“She already knows where Center is located. She mentioned the place by name.”
“And that doesn't strike you as odd?”
Marin shrugged and glanced her way with a concerned look on his face, controlled and measuring. He'd better not be checking her out. “I think there is something familiar about her.”
I gasped. “Me too and I can't place my finger on it.”
“What about your finger?” Marin wiggled his eyebrows.
I rolled my eyes in response.
“Who are you?” I asked the stranger.
“It really is amazing. When you talk, the world melts away, does it not?”
I flushed. “You didn't answer my question.”
“And I will not until we are well away from here. Unless you plan on finishing off the rest of the clones and wait for Xade to become reacquainted.”
I shuddered and clenched my fists. “No.” Not ready for that battle yet, but... “We are looking for a friend. He was taken a few weeks ago.”
“He is not here. This is a staging facility only. No labs.”
“How do you know that?”
“I have been studying the E’mani for a lot longer than you have, little girl.”
“I am not a little girl.” I started toward her with my fists clenched.
Marin stared at the sky above us and stepped in front of me, his hands going to my shoulders. “We need to go.”
“That is what I have been trying to tell you two.”
I growled and went to dart around him. He held onto my shoulders. “She is right. We need to leave now.”
I shrugged off his hands. “Fine.”
We walked for several minutes in silence until out of nowhere she spoke again. “I am Selmay, in case you did not hear me before the fun.”
I expected the name to mean something to me but it didn't. From the way Marin jerked at my side, it meant something to him though.
“Impossible,” he said.
“Do you doubt what is before you? We are not so different.” She pointed to her slit eyes and matching tattoos.
“Who is Selmay?” I tugged on Marin's arm.
Selmay smiled and fine lines fanned out from the corners of her eyes. “Tell her.”
“I will tell you in a moment.” Marin addressed this to me before facing her. “Prove it.”
“How can I do that, little leader?”
“The Selmay I know of could sing brighter than a thousand suns.”
Selmay's smile faltered. “I have not sung in a long time. There was not much to sing about during my time with the E'mani.”
I stopped on a dime. “Wait, you were held by the E'mani too?”
“Yes, and we need to move. Once we are far enough away, cover yourselves in the ashes. The clones’ eyesight is poor.”
“How do you know that?”
“Xade kept me much longer than he kept you, little girl. Now we must run.”
“What, why?”
Selmay pointed to the sky. “Do you see that? That distortion in the air? How the clouds move apart? A ship is coming. Xade would dearly love to have a reunion with both of us. I am not ready for that yet and neither are you.”
I gasped and turned to look where she indicated. “Do you think Finn would be there?”
Marin gripped my shoulders and turned me back on the path out of the area. “No. Xade has him locked up somewhere.”
“Did you say Finn?” Selmay asked.
Marin nodded at her. “Yes, your Finn.”
“Her Finn? I am so confused.” And a little bit annoyed. Finn was my ex before Marin. It bugged me a wee bit to hear him referred to as someone else's, I admit it. Not that he was mine anymore either. Still. It bothered me.
And there was something so damn familiar about her. It kept niggling at me. There was something in her profile.
Hmm.
I stepped toward her.
Marin dragged me back. “Wait.”
No.
I shrugged off his hand and walked closer. She was shorter than I by the merest bit and so damn familiar. That face. I reached out and she flinched back. “What are you doing?”
“I need to see something.” I turned her chin left, so her hair covered her scarred cheek, leaving her in silhouette.
Now I remembered.
Xade caressed the picture before him, his thumb slowly drawn down the woman’s visage. I swore he had tears in his eyes, but crocodiles didn't cry, right? He was a predator. Not prey. I would not feel sorry for his ass. Yet, this could be a weakness.
“Who is she?” I asked, and then cringed, expecting pain.
Surprisingly, Xade answered. “My wife.”
“You had a Fost mate?”
“Yes, but she died long ago.” Another finger slid down the frame.
The picture.
“You're Xade's wife.”
“What?” Marin turned to me, mouth open. “That I did not know.”
Selmay laughed without real humor. “I was not his wife; I was his slave, his excuse to do the things that he did. He held me up as a paragon and tore me apart to see what made me tick again and again, until I left.”
“How did you get away?”
“It did not even enter Xade's mind that I would leave him. At one time, I loved him. I would have done anything for him.” She turned her back to us at this. “When we were in school together all those moons ago, he was so idealistic. All he wanted to do was fix things. Make everything better. Save Solum. He was my world.”
“Then what happened?”
“I got sick and Xade lost his mind.” Her mouth twisted. “I escaped many times. Once I was even able to return to Groos and be with my people. But Xade always found me. He had his spies. While the magic protects the valley from direct sight, he had an in. My child was raised there, our child. He could sense her always. He agreed to leave the valley alone if I went with him. So I did. Once she was grown, I escaped again. And again, he found me. And each time it was worse. Until you. I gave up until you.”
“Why me?”
“You reminded him of me. His attention was diverted enough I could get away. I have been free for this past year because he was diverted.”
“Glad I could be of help.”
“Oh, I am sure that is not true.”
My hands clenched. “I hate him so much.”
“
As do I, little girl, as do I.”
We approached the paved road leading from the lab to Bretylyn. The pavement stood out against the creeping grass, but it did make the trek smoother. Talk after that dwindled off. I didn't know what to think.
Selmay had her own problems with the E'mani and would prove to be useful. She had her own agenda too. That was obvious. Else she would have let us know she was around earlier. She had to have been watching us for a while now.
We will see.
Chapter Three
When we arrived back home, Center, the rocks were just starting to glow as twilight set in. The gentle blue light from the theris weed wiped on the stone illuminated the path enough for us to see, but not be observed from above.
The town was located in a valley created by E'mani industry, the land raw from strip-mining.
The Fost clan figured it made sense to hide from their enemies in plain sight. The E'mani would never think to look in their own mine for us, the Fost thought, and they were right.
Rows upon rows of small box homes lined the street before circling down toward an amphitheater in the center of town.
Thorn and Zara greeted us as soon as we drew closer to the city.
“There you are, pretty. And who is this other pretty?” Thorn in all his golden blond glory sidled up to Selmay and ran his hand over her shoulder. When I first saw him months earlier, I thought he was cute. His blatant flirting had taken him down a notch in my eyes.
Zara rolled her beautiful brown eyes and turned her gaze to us. “Did you find anything?”
Marin glanced at Thorn then back to Zara. “Some E'mani.”
I tried not to see their exchange. Marin told me nothing had happened between him and Zara. I had to believe that if I wanted to reconcile.
“And did you find little brother?” Thorn circled behind Selmay, openly checking out her assets.
Selmay ignored him. “Who is little brother?”
“Finn.”
The name electrified her. “You mentioned him earlier. Where is my, er, he?”
“That is what we are trying to find out.”
Marin explained the situation. While Selmay said little and nodded, Thorn and Zara had a lot to say about Selmay’s presence.
I was tired and didn't have the patience for their arguments. I knew they would let her in. It wasn't in them not to. From the grin on Selmay's face, she knew it too.
I shrugged the backpack off my shoulders and meandered down the only street of Center to the amphitheater aka mess hall and meeting area. Non- perishable food still covered one of the tables to the left. Some fruit and nuts. I grabbed a handful of fruit and stuffed it into my bag before I wandered back to my room to see the familiar form of Ute lounging outside my door.
My steps slowed. I just wanted to get some sleep. As I walked up, I observed him. Ute never seemed to change. When he glanced up from the book he was curled up reading, the same sweet smile graced his face. Just like the day I met him. There was this twinkle in his eye like he could be a lot of fun if only he was allowed. For a librarian by nature, he had a lot of spunk. Given the time of night, I wondered why this spunky monkey was at my door.
“Hi.”
“Hi. Is Marin with you?”
“Nope. He is taking care of things with our new arrival.”
“A new person, eh? Who is it?”
“She says her name is Selmay.”
Ute surged upward and grabbed my shoulders. “Are you sure she said Selmay? Did she give any last name? What did she look like? What color were her eyes. Did she have any scars? What did she say?”
I held my hands up in surrender. “That is a lot of questions, Ute. I don't know. She said her name was Selmay. She has hair similar to mine except really curly, and a bit of an attitude. Oh, and a scar right here.” I ran my finger along my right cheek.
Ute snorted. “That sounds like Selmay.”
“Who is she to you?”
“It is less who she is to me then who she is to someone else.”
“Finn, you mean?”
“Yes.” His words trailed to a close.
A beat.
“Okay, you can tell me now.”
He’d turned away and pulled on his lip, his classic thinking pose. “What? Sorry. I have a lot to think about, Beta. Sleep well.” He scampered off before I could stop him. And well, I was too tired to care. Marin would tell me soon enough.
I entered my room and closed the door, finally dropping the weight of the backpack. My shoulders ached something fierce, and my calves. I’d gained some muscle during my time with the Fost. Enough that a day like this didn't cripple me. Go me. My daddy would be proud. Or not. He never had much use for me, did he? And I was finally at a point where that didn't hurt me anymore. Again, go me.
I sat on the large cot in the corner and peeled off my shoes and socks. Rubbing my feet, I examined the skin for scrapes or bruises. Wounds festered quickly here. Not that I needed to worry over much given my rate of healing, but still. Better safe than sorry.
“I am tired of fighting.”
My words echoed in the empty room. My secret that I couldn't give in to. I still had to find Finn.
Yet every advance we made, every discovery we found, the E'mani had a counter for. I wasn't any closer today to killing them than I was a year ago when I first stumbled upon the Fost.
Dread filled me. Most nights I spent locked in nightmares and memories I wished to god were not true. I also had glimpses of the future. Finn, stuck where I’d been a year ago, locked in a lab and being experimented on.
My stomach clenched. Deliberately, I took a deep breath. Control, Beta. It is a requirement, not an option. I can do this.
It killed me to know they had Finn. Finn would give his life to protect me. He had given up his freedom to help me get away. I could see him suffering, and it crippled my mind, my heart. The longer we took to find him, to end this, the more it hurt. Plus, something warned me that we needed to get Finn back and soon. Just like when I knew I had to get to Center.
Finn had the power the E'mani hunted for so long. His particular power being the ability to shift, though the Fost’s power can take many forms. It was why the Fost and E'mani warred in the first place. Finn might be the key that they needed to harness the magic.
Damn it all. I threw my shoe across the room to smack against the wall with a satisfying thump, nearly knocking over the basin on the nightstand. It wasn't that far a distance to throw. There wasn't much furniture but for the bed, the stand, and a set of drawers with Marin's pants hanging out.
Marin. My mate, my husband. Kind of. I still didn't know what I was doing there. And he wanted to talk. I didn't know what to say. He pretended like nothing had happened. We'd been so in love. Until I dared question him, until I left him at Groos, to find Center.
I had to. The E'mani killed my baby. I'd been playing house with Marin, preparing for our child. Then they came down and ended that dream.
There would be no happily ever after for me as long as the E'mani lived. Marin wanted to be there for me, but all he talked about was more children, as if that could fill the hole left inside me and help my pain. He tried, I will give him that. He tried to pretend that things were the same. I let him think they were for a while, but I knew what I had to do. I left to find my enemies. He couldn’t come with me, not at first, but that I could leave him behind at all pissed him off.
My devotion to him had been unchanged, but his to me suffered. I was still his, but some of our previous vows such as fidelity became much more flexible...to him. He strayed. Maybe he didn't complete the act with Zara, but emotionally, he tore me up with his affections towards her when I needed him the most. If the Fost had divorce, we would have been divorced soon after he got here.
Then the E'mani came, and there was a battle. I'm pretty sure I died or came so damn close it that it didn't matter. Marin’s and my mating bands fell off, unheard of in any case but death. We were both free again, and all I could think
about when that happened was Marin. Avenging him, joining him. I did love him. I knew it. But maybe he would be better off without me.
Marin had a similar kind of epiphany. He decided he didn't want his freedom. He devoted himself to getting me back, loving me. He seemed like the same old Marin, but trust and love didn't come so easily to me.
I thought my dad loved my mother as well. Look what happened there. One day, he just up and left. I didn't find out a lot of the details until later.
He left my mother at her lowest point, after her miscarriage with my baby brother. He wanted children more than he wanted his family because, you know, I was such a disappointment to him. Good but not the best. Bright but not the brightest. Cute but not the cutest. It took him four months to find another family and only six more to have more children. Pretty sure good old Dad was working on his back-up plan a few months before my mom lost my baby brother.
I never met any of my brothers and sisters. Right after the divorce, which happened in a record seven days, my dad did try to visit with me. That was over pretty quick. When my baby sister came, I was forgotten. He had a brand new toy to play with.
My hands shaking, I washed my face in the basin on the dresser before heading back to the bed to sit.
Marin walked in and dropped his knife on the bed. We still lived together, sharing quarters, scratching each other’s itches.
“Are you all right?” Marin asked, moving up behind me to rub my shoulders.
I nodded and leaned backward for more, his fingers easing some of the knots. “Just thinking.”
“About?” He pulled me into his body, so I felt the length of his erection pressing against my back.
Laughing, I turned and pointed at his penis. “Not about that.”
“I am crushed.” He pouted before his lips drifted down to mine.
I turned my head at the last minute. His breath stirred the hair around my ear. “Ah, ah. No kissy until we talkie.”
“What? You want to talk now?” His expression brightened.
Uh. “Not about that. Tell me about Selmay.”
Marin sighed. “If she is who she says she is, then she is Finn's grandmother.”
Distant Memory: She remembered everything (Solum Series Book 3) Page 2