Lucie knelt at a raised garden bed, knees on a cushion. Approximately three months pregnant, her stomach only had a modest bulge. The way her men acted, you’d think she had ballooned to enormous proportions, unable to move under the weight of her belly. Honestly, Amber’s gut had been bigger after eating a burrito or two from Senor Salsa.
Burritos, mmm. Chicken that just fell apart on the tongue, creamy beans and the tang of salsa—
She needed to stop thinking about what she couldn’t have and focus on what she could.
“How’s the injured guy?” Amber asked, sitting down next to Lucie. She didn’t mind the dirt or the bits of grass that stuck to her sweaty skin. Baths were plentiful.
“Who got hurt? Oh.” Lucie set down her trowel and wiped her hands on the thighs of her pants. “It didn’t go well, apparently. The heartstone broke.”
“So that guy is…” Amber searched for the correct word. Not sick. Not injured. “Asleep?”
“Basically. He can’t be revived without a heartstone.”
Amber brushed her hand across the top of the grass, letting the blades tickle her palms. “That sucks.” She didn’t know why she asked about the unconscious valo from yesterday, or why the failure to revive him disappointed her. “I found another bug this morning. Sarsen wanted me to tell him if I found more.”
Lucie grimaced. “Those things are nasty.”
“What are they?” They weren’t natural. Amber could tell that much. They glowed; smoldered, really.
“Some type of ferix. A pest when they’re little but dangerous if they get big.”
The large guy next to Lucie shifted on his feet. He tapped her on the shoulder and gestured with his hands.
“Oh. He wants to know how many you saw,” Lucie said.
“Just the one today.”
The big guy—Ertale—didn’t look pleased.
“The day before yesterday I found one crawling up the wall near my bed. It’s gross. They poop charcoal dust or something. Isn’t there something we can do? Does anything eat them?” Amber asked.
Ertale made another noise and more gestures. Amber knew he spoke a type of sign language. While her implanted translator—thanks, prison—did all the heavy lifting and taught her the valos’ spoken language, it didn’t do much for signed communication. Lucie paled.
“What? What did he say?”
“Nothing eats the ferix. They’re unclean.” She pressed her lips together, clearly struggling to say nothing more.
“Let me guess. They eat us,” Amber said tartly.
“Basically.” Lucie turned her attention back to the raised flower bed.
Of course they ate people. Everything on this crappy planet ate humans.
Pel
Pel and Mishal stayed by Flin’s side in the Forge all through the night. Mishal occupied his hands by fashioning a delicate chain and bell cap from an ingot of durable steel. He referenced Flin’s fractured heartstone several times while crafting, leaving little doubt in Pel’s mind that the chain and pendant was meant for the heartstone. Pel had little to do other than think. His mission had failed, and he searched for a new purpose. He could occupy himself trying to repair Flin’s heartstone, but he knew his limits. He was a soldier and knew nothing of the secrets of the Creator’s designs. He could only sit and keep watch as Mishal worked.
“You like the human female called Amber,” Mishal said.
“You do, too.”
Mishal nodded and continued his delicate work. Pel had never really studied how the Builder manipulated the core of the material, bending it with the heat in his fingers and working the pliable material until it reflected his vision.
Pel knew what he wanted. He wanted the human commander in a way that kindled the fire in his belly. He entertained a notion of marching up to her and demanding that he and Mishal be allowed to prove themselves worthy of being her mate. Asche’s words echoed back to him: “Humans are different.”
The valo way might not be the human way.
He needed instructions. His instinct urged him to consult with Sarsen, his superior officer, but as the night wore on and Mishal’s ornamental chain grew longer, Pel could not forget that Sarsen had given the orders that delivered Flin directly into the Ventos’ trap. Yes, Pel understood logically that it had been a trap. Yes, there had been little recourse but to leave him behind. Yes, Pel had felt little remorse or grief at the time, but now his resentment simmered.
Sarsen did this to him. Sarsen woke him from, perhaps not peace, but rest with little thought as to what he wanted. Sarsen brought Pel and Mishal back. They were free, but they were incomplete. Their restored heartstones made sure Pel felt every twist of grief, and he just couldn’t bring himself to forgive Sarsen for that, superior officer or not. He didn’t want to ask Sarsen for anything more than necessary and hesitated to ask Asche or Ertale, fearing they would tattle to Sarsen.
Humans now lived in the City in the Caldera. He could ask any of them for guidance.
He and Mishal moved Flin to an alcove and arranged him into a seated position so he looked as if he meditated, instead of unconscious and lost to the world. Mishal continued to work on his project. Pel did not tell his triad brother to rest as it would be pointless. Mishal knew his own mind. He’d rest when he finished his task. Until then, Pel needed to give his report to Sarsen.
He found the commander not far from the Forge, pacing the length of the causeway that separated the lake of magma from the City. The stone appeared to be in good repair and resistant to the incredible heat below. Pel never appreciated the raw heat of the lake before.
“The volcano had been dormant before Sheenika came,” Sarsen said. He crouched at the edge and peered over. “Do you remember that?”
Pel shook his head. Memories of the time before the Creators came were lost to him. He had vague notions of what was and was not but little actual memory.
“Our people made their home at the foot of the sleeping volcano. The fires inside had cooled completely, and we mined the rich minerals,” Sarsen said.
“That seems familiar,” Pel admitted. The image of holding a chunk of raw stone they used to make the glowing stones came to the front of his mind.
“Sheenika stole life from the valos and resurrected a dead volcano. I wonder how long the caldera can hold it.” Sarsen stood.
The massive monument to Sheenika’s ego and hubris surrounded them. She used brute force and the purloined labor of others, but she carved out a wonderous city unlike any on Sonhadra. Pel found the price too steep, knowing that it was his tribe that paid in blood.
No tears, though. Covetous, greedy Sheenika had stolen those, too.
Now all that remained of his people’s forced labor was a dying city with the stench of death in the air, a growing ferix infestation and rising lava that would finally swallow the entire cursed place.
“Enough pointless worrying. What can you tell me of the Ventos?” Sarsen asked.
Against his will, Pel’s body snapped to attention. Despite the resentment and anger he felt toward his commander, centuries of discipline took over. “They have a human. I believe she is their mate.”
“A human? Just one?”
“I only saw the one. Nothing in their city led me to believe there were more humans in hiding.”
Sarsen stroked his chin. “Humans are difficult to contain. They tend to take over and leave their mark.”
Images of cold campfires and discarded waste flashed in his mind. “We discovered evidence of more humans on our journey, but they chose to remain hidden from us.”
“And the Ventos? Their numbers?”
“Hard to say. I only spoke to two. One…judged me.” Pel frowned, recalling how the Vento plundered his mind to determine his true motivation. “They have their heartstones again.”
“Heartstones and a human,” Sarsen said, tone pondering. “Did the Ventos appear to harbor a desire for war? Or hold a grudge?”
“They released Flin. If they desired conflict,
they would not help to strengthen the opposition,” Pel said.
Sarsen nodded. “Did they ask about our tribe?”
“No.”
“Did they ask if we had any humans?”
Pel considered his response. “They did not ask but we did not seem overly curious about their human.”
“By failing to ask, you disclosed that you’ve seen at least one,” Sarsen said, completing the thought. “I imagine that humans are everywhere by now. Thank you. That is all.”
Dismissed, Pel sought out the humans. They flocked together in the upper levels of the City, above the heat.
His human, Amber, spoke with Sarsen, Asche, and Ertale’s mate. From their stiff backs and the clipped tones of their voices, they were not happy with each other. They spoke in that guttural human tongue of theirs, all rolling, rhotic noises that sounded as if they swallowed words rather than spoke.
Pel stayed at the fringe of the terraced garden, with two other human females who chatted amiably as they watered the crops.
“Do you mind?” The female with the brown complexion and curling hair appeared to be waiting for a response from him.
“About?”
She lifted a water can. “Can you fill this? And the others? They’re too heavy for me to carry on my own.”
Pel nodded. He helped the female—Brandi—carry water from the well at the far end of the terrace back to the crops. She bubbled over with excitement about everything she saw and commented on anything that caught her eye. Pel said nothing, his attention focused on Amber and Lucie.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you checking Amber out.”
“Checking her out of what?” he asked. Human speech, even when they spoke the same language, confused him.
“Checking out her butt, I suppose.” Brandi ran a hand through her curls before rotating her shoulders.
“You injured yourself,” he said. Human frailty baffled him.
“Just stiff. Work is the best remedy.”
Pel followed Brandi as she watered the plants, carrying the heavy buckets of water. His gaze drifted back to Amber, deep in conversation with Lucie. “Is her butt noteworthy?” he mused.
Brandi laughed. “Well, she is a hardass.”
“Is that good?”
“She kept us alive, so yeah. I’d call that a good thing,” she said, voice growing somber. “But if you’re interested, you should make your move. Life is short. Don’t waste it being too afraid to go for it.”
The human was mistaken. Life was not short. His life had been long and tedious to the point of torturous. Still, her words of encouragement were not lost on him. “How do I go for it? How do humans court mates? Is there a display? A ritual gift? Must I seek permission from an elder relation?” His mind dredged up hazy memories of life before the Creators, when his greatest concern had been the pretty females in the village. He knew he had been in a triad with Mishal and Flin even then, but they had yet to successfully woo a mate.
“Nothing so serious. Bring her flowers. You can’t give her a box of chocolates, but maybe something sweet? Flowers and candy is a classic move,” Brandi said. Pel nodded at her words, committing them to memory.
“If I present her with the offering of flowers and candy, then she will be my mate?”
“First, it’s a gift, not an offering, and you’re not buying her with flowers and candy. That’s just to let her know you’re interested.”
“Can I not just say that I find her attractive and I’m interested in being her mate?”
“Sure, if you want her to ignore you like the other guys who tried that.”
Indistinct anger bubbled up in him. Other males tried to gain Amber’s attention. He had competition. He needed to make his move now. “Who did such a thing? I will challenge them for the right to court Amber.”
“Hold up there,” Brandi said, waving a hand at him. “That macho display doesn’t really work for Earth ladies. Just start with flowers, okay?”
Pel nodded. “What is the step after that?”
“Spend time together. A woman needs to feel like you’re interested in her as an individual, that you want her for more than sex.”
“But I am interested in sex.”
Brandi scrubbed a hand across her face. “I can’t believe you actually said that.”
“Is honesty not an attractive quality in human mates?”
“What? Yes, of course. Look, just tell her about yourself. Ask about her. Find out what she likes. Don’t just go in there all hot, trying to get in her pants. That shit won’t fly.”
Pel rubbed the back of his neck, letting his thoughts settle. “Thank you. You have given me much to consider.”
As he left, he sent Maar to help Brandi with her labors. The male slapped Pel’s shoulder. “The human you desire is much coveted,” he said.
“And you are an expert in human mating now?” Pel had also enjoyed Maar’s company, but if the male had designs on Amber, Pel would challenge him now.
“I have spoken to her several times, but she does not kindle my fires,” he admitted.
Pel narrowed his eyes. “You only say that to appease me.”
“Worried about competing against my charm? Do not fear. I have my eyes set on another.” Maar gave him another hearty slap before joining Brandi.
Chapter Five
Amber
Groans accompanied by the wet sounds of flesh slapping flesh filled the air. Crystal and Evan were going at it again.
Amber buried her head under the pillow and screamed into the mattress. Those two were machines. Fucking machines. And no, she wasn’t jealous. Crystal could have Evan all to herself. His too-hard and brittle personality rubbed her the wrong way. Still, he was literally the only man around, sex was still sex, and Amber hadn’t had any of that in a long while.
Frustrated, she’d only had her hand for companionship for too long. She wanted dick, just not Evan’s. She wanted to get fucked, royally reamed, pounded so hard she couldn’t walk, filled to the point she’d worry about internal organ damage, and then fucked so hard she was left a boneless, quivering mass on the floor.
Yeah. She needed to get laid, and listening to Crystal and Evan going down to bone town wasn’t doing it for her.
Amber washed her face and dressed quickly. The Fire Valos set her up in a comfortable apartment. At night, a cool breeze swept in and she soaked in a cold bath. It was heaven. During the day, the temperature would rise with the sun, and it was better to be outside the City. The stone walls amplified every sound, including coughs, farts, and Crystal and Evan’s constant screwing.
Amber set a kettle onto the stove-type surface to boil. She didn’t know how the glossy black surface heated, but it worked like a stove top, and that was good enough for her. She added tea leaves to the pot and waited. So far, she’d worked her way through most of the dried tea leaves the valos provided. The tea had been earthy and tangy. Not unpleasant, but it wasn’t exactly a cup of black coffee, either. With enough honey stirred in, Amber could pretend she drank coffee. Sort of.
That day, Amber volunteered to help Joi collect medicinal herbs. If they were going to live on this planet—and, honestly, what was the alternative?—she needed to know what to do when they got sick. She had basic first aid knowledge, and Kira had been a surgical nurse, a genuine medical professional. With Joi’s knowledge of what to take for a headache and Kira’s training, they could survive a basic cold or flu. Then again, Kira didn’t look so good. She never looked good.
Amber knew it was heat. The experiments on the Concord left her susceptible to high temperatures. Kira spent most of her time hiding away in the coolest parts of the city.
She didn’t like that what happened to her friend made her sick and Amber really didn’t like that it kept her isolated from the rest of the tribe.
“Oh, who’s banging who?” Crystal asked, nudging Amber with her shoulder.
“I thought it was you and Evan,” Amber said dryly, pouring water into her mug. A famili
ar earthy aroma wafted upwards.
“We don’t sound like that.” Crystal helped herself to the bowl of fruit on the table. “Do we?”
“You mean when you’re shouting spank me, Daddy? Nah. Nothing like that.”
Crystal blushed. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Amber shrugged. “Who am I to judge? Life is short. Daddy needs to spank his naughty girl.” Crystal’s blush deepened to an alarming scarlet. Amber drained her mug. “You find out who it is?”
“No!” Crystal covered her mouth in shock. Then, “Okay. I have to know, but I don’t want to spy on an intimate moment.”
Crystal was a better person than Amber because respecting the privacy of the happy couple did not cross her mind at all. If they wanted privacy, they could have gone somewhere else to have loud sex. “Fine. You stay here.”
Amber didn’t have to travel far. The valos kept the humans together, and all their apartments were clustered close on the highest level of the City. Amber just had to follow the moans.
She pressed her ear to the door to listen, picking out Brandi’s familiar voice. The lower tones of a male voice said something, answered by another man, and followed by Brandi’s giggle.
Another man added to the conversation. Amber recognized his voice. Suddenly she knew who was in there with Brandi and it was… hot. Really, really hot. Brandi, cheery, sunny Brandi, had three guys thoroughly enthralled with her earthly charms.
She couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Well?” Crystal asked, trotting up.
“Brandi and Maar.”
“Oh. I saw them talking in the gardens yesterday.”
“And Krenik.”
“No.”
“And one other dude. I didn’t recognize his voice.”
Inferno Page 4