“Be safe,” she whispered to the hole he’d left, feeling the loneliness all the way to her soul.
What was he going to do when he found Liv’s brothers and their leader? Zavir considered his options. He’d honor his promise to Liv. He’d send them back to Lenkarda for their memory deletion before someone else found and killed them, and life would go on. Without Liv. The thought ripped his heart out, but he’d rather go through his days an unhappy bastard than having her tears. That was what she wanted. Freedom. It had been on the tip of his tongue to grant her wish before Anita had interrupted them. He rubbed at the aching spot in his chest. Was this what the bond felt like? Like your insides were minced and you couldn’t do anything but stand by and let it be trampled because the happiness of someone else was more important than your shriveling life? That life stretched out in front of him, eternal and colorless. After Liv, everything would seem bland. Only one thing was left–the only thing he knew. Fighting.
Pushing the door to Korum’s invention lab open, he passed through the scanners and reported at reception. After clearing the unscheduled visit with Korum, the receptionist showed him to Korum’s office without delay. The Council member didn’t look happy.
“It’s on the news,” Korum said.
“I know.”
“I can’t give you the month you asked for. Public relations are too explosive.”
“I’m aware of that, too. I’m here to offer a deal.”
Korum raised a brow. “You? A deal? That’ll be a first.”
“I’ll find your Keith. I’ll hand him over before the end of the week in exchange for Liv’s freedom.”
Korum crossed his arms behind his back, studying Zavir with a contemplative look. “You’ll denounce her as your charl?”
“I want you to guarantee her safety and that you’ll let her walk free if I give you our traitor.”
“You realize she’ll have to stay here in Lenkarda or go to Krina?”
“Yes.” With her new immortality, they couldn’t send her back into her own world. He understood that.
“Another Krinar may take her as charl.”
“Yes.” He clenched his jaw so hard it felt like snapping. “I’m aware.” The day that happened, he’d be moving to another galaxy. He wouldn’t be able to witness Liv in the arms of another man. He’d rather die.
“What about her brothers and their leader?”
“I’ll deliver them for memory deletion and rehabilitation as originally agreed. No harm is to come to them.”
“The Council won’t like it.”
“It’s the same as our original agreement, except there’s an added bonus. Now, you’ll also get your traitor.”
“You seem sure of finding him.”
“I am.”
“What new information do you have?”
“I have a lead to follow up.”
“I want to know everything you do, down to the minutest detail.”
“You will, in time, but for now I have to ask you to trust me.”
“You ask a lot.”
“As you said, I’m sure of finding the Keith. If I bring down the traitor, I want his identity to be revealed.” He couldn’t help his bitter tone. “The public must know the truth. If they know Liv wasn’t involved in the escape, that she’s not a double agent, it will take the target off her back, enough for her to be released without her life being in danger.”
The Keith would be captured and the last of the Resistance squashed, eliminating that danger, and Krinar would know for sure she was on their side.
“You want me to release her?”
“In a day’s time.”
“She’ll go when you bring me my traitor, not a day before.”
“Fair enough. With one condition. If I don’t return, you will see to it yourself that she’s freed and safe.”
Korum wiped a hand over his jaw. “You drive a hard bargain.”
“It’s my first and only bargain.” He smiled wryly. “I have to make it count.”
“Fine,” Korum said slowly. “Your team saved my life when Saret tried to get me killed in the arena. I haven’t forgotten. You have a deal.”
Zavir nodded curtly. “Thank you. I’ll report back in a day’s time.”
In the bay area, he created a pod and programmed his destination. The quicker he could get to South Africa, the quicker he could find Hans and the twins, interrogate them, and find out who was working for them on the inside.
The house connected Liv to Anita, but she had no news from Zavir or where he was headed. Neither did Wian. Wherever he’d gone, it was secret. Of course, it was. He was heading into another fight, and she was trapped here, worried sick. About him. About Karl and Erik. She couldn’t stand it any longer. She hated being kept in the dark.
Absorbed in her worries, she jumped when the entrance opened to let Xita into the room.
“What are you doing here?” Liv asked.
Xita gave her a sugary smile. “Good day to you, too.”
“I mean, did Zavir let you in?”
“No. I stole the access code.”
“You did what?”
“That’s why I came over the other day.” She held up her hand, flashing a silver ring. “Stole the code with this while he was ordering me a drink.”
“With a ring?”
“It can copy the codes from his personal house computer.” She waved a hand. “It’s complicated.”
“Why? What do you want?”
“It’s your lucky day. I’m your knight in shining armor.”
“My what?”
“Isn’t that how you say on Earth? I’m here to help you escape.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Where are you taking me?” Liv asked.
She sat next to Xita in a pod, flying in invisible mode low over the sea. After Xita had erased the trackers in Liv’s body, she’d taken her to the hidden pod and manipulated the technology that tracked every departure from and arrival into Lenkarda. This way, their escape wouldn’t be on the radar. No one would know until it was too late.
Xita adjusted the controls. “As I said, to your brothers.”
When Xita had said she was there to help Liv escape, Liv had hesitated, knowing the extent of Zavir’s wrath and worried he’d come after her. Only after Xita had told her she’d be taking her to her brothers did she agree.
Liv’s heart started beating faster. “Where are they?”
“At your safe house in Johannesburg.”
“I’ve never been to a safe house in Johannesburg.”
“Your brothers have, when they first met with the Resistance. It’s run by Keiths, although, after the last attack there aren’t many Keiths left. The place is deserted now.”
“How did they get there? How did they manage to escape?”
Xita flashed her a smile. “How do you think?”
“You helped them like you’re helping me.”
“Right answer.”
“Why?”
Xita’s smile turned broader. “I have my reasons.”
“What about their memories?”
“The holiday idea didn’t work. There were too many inconsistencies. It was an interesting experiment, but a failure.”
Liv winced at the experiment part, as if her brothers were nothing more than test subjects.
“Anyway,” Xita continued, “if I was going to help them escape, they needed their full memories, which is why I reversed the process before it became permanent.”
Even if she was grateful for the escape and her brothers’ memories, Liv didn’t trust the woman’s intentions. She had nothing concrete to base her judgment on, except for a feeling in her gut that told her Zavir was at the crux of Xita’s motivation.
“You want me away from Zavir,” Liv said. “Is that it?”
“Does it matter why I did it? You’re out of Lenkarda. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Yes, that was what she’d wanted, but the idea of Xita with Zavir didn’t sit right with
her. She couldn’t stomach the notion, never mind conjure the image. It was more than just jealousy talking, because her heart hadn’t stopped aching since Zavir left.
“Do you have news from him?” Liv asked carefully.
“I sent him on a–How do you say?–wild goose chase. I gave him a false location of the safe house.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I needed to create a diversion to get you alone. It was the quickest way to get Zavir to leave.” Seatbelts appeared from the thin air, snapping around their upper bodies. “Hold on. The next part is going to be fast.”
“Wait a minute. What if he finds–?”
Her words were cut off when the pod shot forward, pushing her back into her seat. Light exploded around them in rainbow shards as they zipped through the sky. It was only when the pod descended a few minutes later that Liv could lift her hands from where she’d gripped the armrests.
“Sorry about the rough ride,” Xita said. “The pod is outdated, but at least no one back in Lenkarda will miss it.”
“Why didn’t you just make one?”
“I don’t have a powerful enough fabricator. It’s not a tool required for my occupation.”
Liv looked around. They’d landed on what seemed like an abandoned industrial site surrounded by vast fields.
“This is it?”
Their safety belts drifted away. “Come on. Your brothers are waiting.”
They made their way inside the building. Plaster and brick rubble littered the floor. Through a gap where a wall used to be, two silos were visible. It had to have been a flour or seed plant. Graffiti marred the walls. They trudged over the debris and climbed a flight of stairs. The upstairs level consisted of a single space, like a huge warehouse or office floor. Three-quarters of the walls were missing. Only the pillars kept the roof up. Sunlight filtered in from three sides. In a far corner, under the shady protection of the peeling ceiling, stood a desk with several monitors on it. Behind it, stood two men.
Liv’s breath caught. She rushed forward, happy tears filling her eyes. “Erik! Karl!” Embracing first the one, then the other, she stood back to take them in. They seemed healthy. Normal. Not like they’d been shot, and their minds tampered with. “Are you all right?”
Karl’s face softened. “The more important question is how are you?”
“I’m fine.” She wiped at the tears on her cheek. “Great, actually, now that I’m seeing you. I was worried sick.”
Xita reached them, stopping with her hands on her hips. “A happy reunion, I’d say.”
“Thank you,” Liv whispered. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“The pleasure is all mine.”
Liv gripped Karl’s hands. “How long have you been hiding out here?”
“Since Xita brought us.”
“What about your memory? Your gunshot? How do you feel?”
“The gunshots were treated with nano-healers,” Erik replied. “We remember everything. There’s nothing to be concerned about.”
Thank God for that. Xita hadn’t lied. She glanced around. “Where’s Hans?” Her throat tightened as she asked the question. Could she face him? Could she forgive him?
“I’m here,” a voice said from behind.
She twirled to see a figure emerging from the shadows. Hans. He was as tall and imposing as ever, dressed in his military combat attire. She studied his face as he entered the light. His eyes were harder. Colder.
“Well, well.” He barely disguised his sneer with a smile. “Look who’s here. If it isn’t the Krinar’s informant. Or shall I say pet? It seems you forgot your leash and collar.”
Liv pulled back her arm and swung her fist. Hans ducked to the left but was too late to escape the blow. The full force hit him on the nose. Cartilage crunched. Blood spattered.
He stumbled a step sideways before righting himself, touching his nose. When he brought his bloodstained fingers to the light, his expression turned thunderous.
“You bitch.”
As Hans reached for her, Karl grabbed his arm, holding him back. “You deserved that.”
“And this.” Liv pulled back again, put her full weight into the momentum, and planted her fist in Hans’ stomach, just like Erik had taught her.
Hans bent over, wheezing. Xita chuckled.
“That was for calling me a pet,” Liv said.
Hans went for her again, but Erik grabbed his other arm. “That’s enough. Calm down, Hans.”
He jerked free, his hateful eyes on her. Gripping his nose, he forced it straight. “You broke my fucking nose.”
“That,” Liv said, putting her face in his, “was for torturing me.”
He gave her a frosty, half-smile. “You deserved more than you got.”
“If Zavir hadn’t showed up, I would’ve been dead.”
“You should’ve been.”
“Hans,” Erik said with a warning in his voice. “I said that’s enough.”
Erik was right. They didn’t have time to waste. “We need to talk about what we’re going to do.” Every Krinar and Earth law enforcement organization would be looking for them, not to mention Zavir.
“I think you’ve had enough fun,” Xita said, aiming a weapon at Liv.
Liv took a step back, her heart slamming into her ribs.
“What are you doing?” Karl exclaimed. “She’s one of us.”
“No.” Xita’s finger tightened on the trigger. “She’s one of them.”
Chapter Twenty
Liv woke in semi-darkness. Her body ached, and she couldn’t feel her left arm. She was lying on her side, trapping it under the weight of her body. Rolling onto her back, she managed to free it. Life came back with pins and needles. She was alive. There was enough light filtering through a high window to recognize Erik and Karl lying next to her. They weren’t tied up.
She scrambled onto her knees. “Karl,” she whispered, slapping his cheek. “Wake up.”
He mumbled a protest before jack-knifing into a sitting position. “Where are we?”
“I don’t know.”
Judging from the graffiti on the walls, they were still in the factory.
She crawled to Erik and shook his shoulder. “We have to get out of here.”
“What happened?” Erik asked grumpily, getting up onto his elbows.
“Xita darted us,” Karl said. “I don’t know what she’s up to, but Hans is in on it.”
Erik’s tone was bitter. “We’ve been betrayed.”
Getting to her feet, Liv felt the door handle. The door was locked. She judged the distance to the window. It was too high to reach, even if they stood on each other’s shoulders. The walls were too smooth to find a grip.
“I think we’re in one of the silos,” she said.
A sound came from the other side of the wall, like metal scraping over metal, and then the door opened. She rushed forward, her brothers close behind, but a security gate blocked the exit. Xita and Hans stood on the other side.
She gripped the bars. “What are you doing?”
“Haven’t you figured it out?” Xita asked.
“Zavir will find us.”
“Oh, he will, but first, he’ll pay handsomely to have his precious little pet back.”
“You’re doing this for money?” Karl bit out.
“You, too, Hans?” Erik asked, his eyes accusing.
“Zavir will bring the ransom in exchange for Liv,” Hans said, “but when he comes, we’ll be ready for him.”
“It’s a trap,” Liv exclaimed.
“Of course.” Xita shrugged as if the admission carried no significance.
“Why?” Liv forced through dry lips. “I thought you wanted him for yourself.”
“The only thing I want from Zavir,” Xita said, “is his head on a spike.”
Liv’s heart twisted. Her insides went cold. “What can you possibly gain from killing him?”
“Hans wants the money.” Xita crossed her arms. “I want the power.”
/> “I don’t understand,” Liv said.
Xita brought her face closer to the bars. “Do you know what it feels like to always be overlooked, to always have someone else promoted above you? I’ve done everything the Council has asked of me better than anyone, but did they turn to me when it was time to announce our presence on Earth? No, they trusted the task to Korum. Korum,” she spat.
“You’re a scientist,” Liv pointed out.
“I’m a strategist. I’ve been one longer than Korum has been an inventor, until they decided my strategy for Earth was of no use to them.”
Karl pushed forward. “Your strategy?”
“Get rid of the weak,” Hans said, “and keep the strong.”
“This is what you believe?” Erik asked, sounding incredulous. “This is what we’ve been fighting for?”
“Look around you.” Hans said. “The weak are dragging the rest of us down. We want to start a new colony where sick and poor won’t exist.”
“What exactly are your plans for this so-called colony?” Karl asked.
“We want our own government and our own laws,” Xita said. “We’ve already established how Earth should be divided.”
“Let me guess,” Erik said wryly. “You get to be the ruler.”
Xita smiled. “Exactly.”
“What does that make you, Hans?” Erik asked. “Her lapdog?”
Hans pointed through the bars. “Shut up or get your teeth kicked out.”
“He’s second-in-command,” Xita said. “I make the rules, and he’s there to make sure they get executed.”
Liv shook her head. “If you divide the Earth, some people will be separated from their families. We’re living in a global world. You can’t just draw a line from east to west.”
“That’s exactly what we intend to do,” Xita replied.
“How are you going to weed out the weak?” Karl looked between Xita and Hans. “Kill them off?”
“Everyone gets a fair chance,” she answered.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re going to hold gladiator games?”
“Not quite. The Krinar have always been hunters. I’m one of many who believe we should go back to our natural state, to the way nature intended us to be. Our laws will allow hunting. It’ll be a natural way of superior selection. Only the strongest will survive, as always in nature. Ignoring this fundamental law by nurturing the weak and sick will only upset the balance of evolution and lead to overbreeding.”
The Krinar's Informant Page 15