Escapement (The Neumarian Chronicles)

by Ciara Knight

  “Calm down. W-we’re expecting Uncle.” Raeth jumped from her bed and let him in. Bendar trailed behind, holding a round cake.

  “I know day bad, but celebrate with cake.” Dimples creased his cheeks, while his nose was red with excitement.

  A cake and celebration was the last thing I wanted. But looking around the room, it appeared to bring the others a little bit of joy. Besides, I hadn’t tasted a real cake in over four years.

  “Thank you. That was very kind,” I managed after a few long breaths.

  Bendar’s crooked teeth gleamed as he placed the white cake on the desk. Letters scribbled on top read, hapy birthday my litle princess. My father wrote that on my cake every year. Tears began to stream down my face. I choked out, “Thank you.”

  Bendar pulled a single candle from his belt and lit it.

  “Happy Birthday to you,” they sang softly as I blew out the candle. For the first time in years I had a family birthday party. They might not be my family by birth, but in this moment, they were in my heart. As for the future, maybe somehow, someway, I could stay with them. Maybe these foreigners wouldn’t see me as a Slag princess if I stayed long enough.

  No, I couldn’t. Not after what I’d done. No one would forgive me.

  “Uncle, how are w-we going to make it to th-that ship?” Raeth asked. “And even if w-we do, how do we f-find it buried under all th-that sand?”

  He looked at me. “With our walking metal detector,” Fallon said.

  What the turbine engines was he talking about?

  “Semara, you have the gift of altering metal, correct?”

  Gift. Still a word I needed to get used to when it felt like a curse. “Yes.”

  “If someone can alter something, they can find it.”

  We looked at Fallon with wide eyes. At least I wasn’t the only one out of the loop for once.

  “Ryder, how do you think you found your sister out on the sandy planes at the edge of town?”

  Ryder shrugged his shoulders.

  “When they ejected her from the craft, her body was failing. Your gift is to take and give life force.”

  My stomach churned with his words. I stole a quick glance at Raeth who shook her head in warning. Why did she protect me? I didn’t deserve it.

  “Each life force has a different signature. You found her because of your gift.”

  Finally, I understood how Raeth had survived that day. All these years, I’d fantasized about her living, but I’d known it was impossible and was filled with guilt. Now, I understood. By rolling her out of the ship where we had, Bendar and I really had saved her. I glanced at Bendar and saw his knowing smile. Ah, so that was why he’d chosen where to push her from the ship. He’d known Fallon and about Ryder’s gift, but why hadn’t he told me?

  Spotting the vein on the side of Ryder’s temple throbbing again, I realized he didn’t like talking about what happened to his sister.

  I wanted to fall on the floor and beg their forgiveness, but how could I apologize if they didn’t even know? What would happen when he found out the truth?

  “Why didn’t you explain that before?” Ryder snapped. He clutched his hair and paced, his gaze wondering. “Power can be used to help,” he mumbled.

  “Because you would’ve gone off and tried to save every Neumarian lost in the sand. You can’t save everyone, Ryder.”

  A loud gong sounded from outside.

  “Bendar and I have to go. A mandatory curfew has been imposed on the town. They still believe the princess was kidnapped from the ship and Neumarian slaves have her. This could get ugly in a few days.”

  My hands shook. I remembered what happened to the Agriculture Territory when the queen ate a bad piece of fruit. Steam rose from my skin. “I can’t be the reason your people suffer.”

  “Semara, you are one of us now. You might not fully understand or accept it, but you need to start thinking as if you are.” Fallon paused in the doorway. “Don’t believe for a minute that if you sacrifice yourself it will save our people. I assure you, that wouldn’t be the case. She searches for more than just you.”

  He closed the door before I could ask what he meant. Could he be speaking the truth? Yes. Yes, he was. The last thing Mother wanted was to have me back safe and sound. Should the council discover she had a parasite for a daughter, her crown would be challenged.

  I crawled under the light blanket and relaxed my head against the soft pillow. Raeth turned off the lights and I could hear the other beds squeak. Sounds of foot soldiers in the street, people mulling about in the common area, but no hum of an engine, or clanking footsteps from the hall. I’d even gotten used to Raeth’s leg. Her light weight created a different sound than Mother’s when she walked. Then again, it thumped against the wooden floor rather than clanking against the hard ship corridors.

  Closing my eyes, I tried to sleep. Images of my father in the Resort Territory filled my head. Walking on the beach near the lake, teaching me to swim, and reading in bed drew me further away from harsh realities. A flicker of something shone on a table. I raised my hand and the object shook. My father stood on the other side of the table, his silver eyes gleamed with pride. He smiled and ran to me, lifting me into one of his rib squishing hugs.

  As if ripped from his arms, my eyes fluttered open to sun peeking through the window. The whine of a ship landing filtered through and I bolted upright.

  A squeak drew my attention to Ryder’s bed. He paced, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “She’s back. So much for having to be in Acadia.”

  I shuffled to the window, a sting of apprehension coursing through my veins. I clutched the lace curtains.

  The bay door lowered. Council members and guards began to pour out onto the viewing seats. Humans gathered, curiosity etched on their deep lined, sun-kissed faces. Slaves scrambled, but guards herded them back to the main strip. My breath quickened and I clutched my chest in an attempt to relieve the ache. “Why’s she back?” I mumbled.

  Scanning the street, there was no sign of Fallon. Hopefully he remained in the saloon, not that two swinging doors would protect him from my mother’s wrath if she caught wind of his involvement in hiding me.

  The tip of her bronze foot scooted into view.

  Raeth cleared her throat. “W-what is it?”

  “Not sure,” I managed, without tearing my eyes from the events unfolding only a few meters away. Why had she returned? She never kept the council waiting. Especially with the mumblings of there no longer being a need for a supreme ruler. Of course, my mother never spoke of these things. I’d heard them in hushed conversations outside my room, or in the infirmary when the medics believed me asleep.

  Ryder lifted the window then sat on the edge of the bed, his forehead resting against his clasped fingers. I knelt next to the small desk by the window, my fingers protecting my chin from its hard surface.

  The crowd quieted as Mother descended the ramp. My heart pounded against my ribs, as if in protest at the sight of my mother’s commands for respect.

  Esmada stepped from around the seating area and addressed the crowd. “Her gracious majesty has returned on urgent business, the protection of all the inhabitants of the Mining Territory.” She turned and bowed to my mother, as did the rest of the crowd.

  “Bet she isn’t here for a tea party,” Ryder scoffed.

  I lowered my hands to my side and leaned into the hot wind blowing through the small opening. Licking my lips to relieve the sting, I held my breath as Mother lifted her hand for all to rise. Slowly, each head popped up, followed by their bodies. A wave of brown and grey clothed slaves shuffled away from the ship, but guards only shoved them back in place.

  Her gaze traveled over the Neumarians to the humans along the boardwalk. “The gravest of circumstances have caused my return, despite urgent business in Acadia. My loyalty and commitment to all territories is as important to me as any royal business.”

  “Lažnivec!”

  “Shh,” I snapped. I hung on every
raspy word, waiting for the inevitable fallout. Even though I knew it was a lie, a small part of me clung to the delusion that she spoke of true concern for all.

  “There are never any secrets among my people. All of you have been a great wealth of information over these trying years. It’s because of your commitment that we’ve begun to rebuild and replenish all that was lost during the war. The years that innocent humans were murdered in their sleep by parasites claiming to have special abilities are over. The war has ended, but we can never forget that these parasites sucked the life out of your loved ones and tortured the rest.”

  “Freaks of nature,” a man with no collar shouted from the boardwalk.

  “We thank your royal highness for all of her compassion and protection,” a guard called out. Yeah, like he wasn’t coerced into participating in the ‘I love the queen’ song and dance.

  Once again, Mother raised a hand to silence the crowd, and out of fear, they immediately obeyed. “I will continue to protect you, even when there is a traitor among you.”

  Gasps rolled over the crowd.

  She lifted her natural hand into the air with dramatic slowness. In her palm rested a slave collar. One of our altered slave collars. I gasped and clasped my hands over my mouth to stifle my screams. My pulse erupted in a tympanic echo of double time beats against my neck.

  Whooshes deafened me and the room spun. “She knows,” I managed.

  Raeth sunk by my side. “Knows w-what?”

  Ryder slammed his fist against his thigh. “That we don’t have our collars on. Our hiding in plain sight won’t work any longer. Need to get movin’.”

  I wanted to look anywhere but at Mother, but I tilted my head to watch as she threaded the collar through her fingers, before she passed it to Esmada. “These are still dangerous times we live in. A fragile system has emerged from the ashes of hatred, murder, and conflict. Yet it is only in its infancy. As your ruler, I will never allow us to return to those dark days. I will protect you at any cost. That is why I have been forced to take action. One inhabitant of the Mining Territory will be punished each hour until the parasites that stole my daughter are brought to justice. I still cling to hope that my daughter will return to me, but make no mistake, my first concern is for all of you.”

  Heads turned left and right. Slaves scooted away from the armed guards, but they had turned their back on the wrong executioner.

  My eyes barely focused on what my mother held before a blast echoed down the sandy street and back to the boarding house. The entire world fell silent. Air squeezed in my windpipe and I couldn’t breathe. I doubled over, but not before I saw a young Neumarian fly sideways, arms flailing, until his head smashed to the ground. The rest of his body hit the packed dirt, only to bounce and slide until he landed in his final resting place.

  My brain couldn’t comprehend her execution of the innocent person only a few meters away. He unwittingly gave his life to keep me in hiding.

  My hands shook. I stumbled back and landed hard on my butt. The walls closed in around me as I gasped for air.

  The boy died because of me and he wouldn’t be the last. One an hour. Mother’s words echoed in my head, but my brain couldn’t fully process them.

  Movement swirled around me, but I only saw blurs of browns and tans. I trembled as I pushed myself up. “I have to stop her. I can’t let anyone else die.”

  Strong arms shoved my back against the wall. Ryder dropped on one knee in front of me, saying something but I couldn’t hear. All I heard was the echo of the shot that had ended the boy’s life.

  “Let me go. I’m turning myself in. I’d rather be a slave to the general than cause another life to be taken.”

  Better yet, I’d rather give my life instead.

  Chapter Nine

  Ryder pressed a cool rag to my head.

  Raeth sat at my side, holding my hands tight in hers. “N-not going to happen. N-need to stick t-together.”

  Fallon straddled a chair.

  Raeth shifted. “W-what can w-we do?”

  “Unless we get her to safety, I’ll have no choice. As a council member, I have to protect this town. They’ve announced the execution schedule. We only have one hour until another Neumarian is murdered in the center of town. They’ll find a reason to execute a human next.”

  I pushed up and ignored my spinning head. “I won’t let that happen.”

  Raeth crossed her arms over her chest. “N-not happening.”

  Ryder grabbed my arm. The bright blue shock startled us both, but he didn’t let go.

  “You can’t turn yourself over to them, they’ll turn you into…a—a—”

  “Slag. Yeah, I know.”

  The whistle blew outside the Queen Enlightenment temple. Time had run out.

  Raeth shot up from the bed and stumbled to the window.

  “I’m sorry the queen—my mother did this to Raeth, to everyone.”

  Ryder cupped my cheek. “No fault of yours. Don’t let who raises you define who you are.”

  “Let’s get you guys to the tunnels. We’re trying to pull as many of us underground without any humans or guards noticing.”

  We started to follow Fallon out the door, but something made me hesitate. “How will this help? She’ll just keep killing until I’m turned over. I can’t leave all those people to die. You think when she runs out of people to shoot, she won’t search the tunnels?”

  The front door burst open. Guards flooded the downstairs and shoved people down on their knees, pointing guns at their heads.

  Fire bubbled inside my belly and seared my lungs. Ryder grabbed my arm, tugging me back to the shadows. Coolness surged beneath my skin and steam rose from my arms.

  Screams echoed. Crying. Suffering. No matter how much I wanted to hide, I couldn’t. There was no hiding from my destiny.

  I swallowed hard and jerked my arm from Ryder. Straightening my vest, I stepped to the top of the stairs. “Spare these people. I was not a victim but a willing participant. I was curious about how others lived off the ship and chose to explore.”

  Raeth whimpered behind me, but I knew Ryder would keep her hidden.

  A guard stood at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes narrowed and he knew my altered appearance caused him to pause. “Princess, we are glad you are well. Quickly. Escort her to the ship. We will take care of these people for you.”

  “No. I will not allow them to be executed. They’ve committed no crime.”

  The officer’s eyes narrowed. “You show…compassion for these people?”

  It didn’t matter. My punishment waited no matter what the guard reported. “You question my allegiance? I’ve discovered a new mining ore that could propel our ships and assist us with developing more powerful weapons. It’s below ground and we’ll need these parasites to retrieve it. The queen would be disappointed if her resources were cut off because of a hasty decision. Now, we must all return to the queen and share the good news.”

  Did the guards believe me? The look plastered on the faces below told me they did.

  The officer didn’t move. He pressed his ear-implant and smiled.

  The front door flung open and the general stood in all his ornate glory. His gaze traveled up my robe to my cropped silver hair, a disapproving snarl arched his lip.

  A surge of pride over my little victory empowered me for a moment, but his glare indicated it would come at a great price.

  “I’m glad you are well, Princess. I wouldn’t want you to be ill for our wedding in a few days.”

  “Wedding?” I shrieked, my regal composure lost for the moment.

  “Yes, your mother set the date. Only two moons until our wedding night.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hands while his narrow black eyes scanned my body.

  Rage consumed me. “I will never marry you.”

  “You have no choice. The queen has given me permission to treat you as a hostile.” He turned to the guard. “Secure the prisoner.” The general spun on his heels and went to the
front door. “Then execute every being in this establishment. Do not spare any parasite, human, dignitary, or dwarf.” He looked back and smiled. “Queen’s orders.”

  The door banged shut behind him. A second later, the general’s speeder roared to life before it took off through town.

  One of the guards aimed his gun up the stairs. All hope drained from me, leaving only bravado. “You will seal your fate if you harm me.”

  He waved the weapon at the stairwell. I took two steps and swung at him. Before my fist could connect with his body, a hard object hammered the back of my head. It was the hilt of his gun. I fell to the floor, searing pain radiated from the back of my head. Consciousness threatened to abandon me, but bloodlust churned the energy inside my body.

  My head spun as it battled for freedom. I blinked and pushed myself up on my hands and knees. Ryder bolted to me. I reached out to grab his leg, but wasn’t fast enough. His hands clutched the guard’s face so tightly the man’s cheeks squished together.

  Darkness shot into me. The taste of decay lingered in my mouth. Ryder had sucked the life from him in less than a second.

  Shots fired. Fallon grasped his shoulder and fell to the ground.

  Ten beams of silver light streamed into Ryder’s fingertips from the bodies of the ten guards in the building. Not one Neumarian was hit. The guards collapsed dead. Steam rose from their contorted bodies and wafted around the two-story room. The air reeked of burnt clothing and skin.

  Clutching the back of my throbbing head, I stumbled forward a few steps to Ryder’s side. He stared down at his hands, face twisted in grief. People cried around us, and crawled to one another. Were they all Neumarians, or were there humans among them?

  “He’s sealed our fate,” a middle-aged woman whimpered. “We’re doomed.”

  Their fear infected my emotions. Inside, my gift fed on the panicked energy. Did I feed on people, too? Was I the monster Mother always warned me about? The life-sucking creatures who mercilessly preyed on the innocent humans, stealing their energy in their hour of need. No. I wanted to help them. Ryder wanted to help them. Neumarians weren’t monsters.