“They’re here.”
“Yes, I know. We have time. Will you do me a favor?”
Frowning, Tana stared at the floor. “What?”
“Turn around.”
“Why?”
“Because I find it easier to talk with you when I can see your eyes.”
“Oh. Sure.” She wasn’t about to confess that it was harder to think when she was looking at him. Facing forward, she wasn’t surprised at the instantaneous pull she’d felt last night. More so, now that she could see him fully. It felt like a huge magnet had attached to her bones and would suck her right through the bars. She fought to keep her feet planted firmly in one spot. His smile was devastating.
“That’s better. Can I ask you a question?”
Tana snorted and tried to act nonchalant. “Sure. Why not? You don’t seem to like answering mine.” Geez, that dimple was going to be the death of her.
“What’s your name?”
Unable to control the push of laughter from her throat, Tana felt her shoulders drop a notch. “You know, that might’ve helped in getting us off to a better start. It’s Tana.”
She shivered when his sensuously accented voice repeated her name—like he was savoring it against his tongue. She swallowed hard.
“Uh, yeah. Tana Jameson. What’s yours?”
His gaze flicked over to the right and then back to hers when their meal arrived. She couldn’t tell if the furrowing of his brow was from the interruption or just the sight of their captors. Tana barely heard his whispered words above the clanging of bars slipping aside and trays scraping against the floor.
“Lucien Tarquinius.”
Chapter 9
Lucien felt Sotarios pushing hard against his barriers. He knew what he was going to say, but allowed him in anyway.
He heard you. Thought his eyes were going to pop from his head. Why did you tell her the truth? Basilius was none the wiser. Now he’s pacing the cell like a caged beast.
Lucien sat on the floor next to the bars and leaned against the wall. He stared at the food tray resting on his lap and wondered the same thing.
I couldn’t lie to her. I don’t know why, but I needed her to know my true name. It doesn’t matter, anyway. Basilius won’t use it against me. Ulixes clued him to the fact and Calpion won’t let him do something stupid. Lucien could sense Sotarios’s disbelief.
I don’t think he listens very well. Pray he’s got some reasoning left and understands the severity of his situation is the same as yours, my emperor.
One can only hope.
Sotarios grunted and slipped from his mind.
Lucien watched as Tana retrieved her tray and sat on the floor across from him. She picked at the food for several minutes and settled for eating the sweet berries. He was surprised when she glanced over to him.
“So, Lucien, your human side is Greek?” She quickly looked back to her tray. “That sounded stupid. Forget I asked.”
Lucien tapped his cup against a bar to get her attention. “No. It’s not stupid. You’re correct. The original ancestors were from Greece. The Nubis, our energy side, blended with their essence and the Insedi were formed. We retain the physical structure of a human, yet we can still reshape into our pure energy form at will.” Her eyes narrowed and she set her tray aside.
“So, I can assume that part’s broken or you would’ve been long gone by now. What happened?”
Lucien smiled. She was a smart one. “Yes. We’d be looking at a totally different outcome if this planet hadn’t thwarted that capability. I’m not sure why we can’t reform, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll find another way to get free.”
Tana laid her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. “Yeah, good luck with that. I’ve been here a month and still haven’t found a way around these goons. That damn rod works wonders for keeping you on the straight and narrow.” She opened her eyes and clicked her wrist bands together. “Not easy to fight when you’re trussed up either. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
Stunned by the instantaneous anger that shot through his body at the reminder, Lucien looked away and forced himself to calm. “Yes. I’m well aware of your efforts. Tell me, do you fight them each time they return you to the cell? One day you may not be so lucky. He looked like he was ready to kill you. He tried to crack your head open with the floor and would’ve succeeded if I hadn’t caught it. Promise me you won’t do that again. I was furious that I couldn’t stop his brutal treatment.”
When she didn’t respond, he glanced over and was surprised by her wide eyes and slightly parted lips. “What?”
She blinked a few times then swallowed hard. “Uh. Nothing. Thanks, I mean…for caring.” Her gaze dropped to the floor and she batted her hand in the air. “Uh. No. I usually don’t fight them and I haven’t been down here in the cells for a while now.” Her creamy skin flushed and she glanced back up. “I kinda got caught trying to sneak into one of the containers. I know. It was stupid, but I had a chance and I took it.”
Lucien rose to his feet and grabbed the bars. He couldn’t seem to restrain the gravelly tone of his words. “What was in the container that would make you risk your life like that?”
Surprise, then anger, washed over her face, and she stood. “Hey! No need to go all barbarian on me. I was trying to get to the guns. You said you’re going to find a way to get free. Well, I thought I’d found mine. I’m tired of being their goddamn slave. I would rather shoot as many as I can and take a chance out in the wilderness than spend another day washing their clothes and cooking their meals. I’m on my own here, buddy. A girl has to do what she can to survive.”
Lucien watched her body tremble with anger. Her eyes were sparkling emeralds holding back all the frustration and stress of what she’d had to endure. Something shifted inside his chest at her show of strength and determination. He didn’t recognize his own voice even as the words rumbled from his chest.
“You’re not alone, mellis. I’m here now. You will not put yourself in danger any longer. I will…we will protect you. Promise that you will look to me before doing anything rash. Promise me.” Lucien knew he was in trouble the second her brows drew together and her hands slammed down on her hips.
“Look at you. All puffed up and ready to bite something. How in the hell do you think you can protect me? You’re glaring at me through bars. That should be your first clue. They could come in here right now and zap me to oblivion and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. So, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll keep my options open.”
Lucien pushed away from the bars and yelled to the ceiling. “Fuck!” Now he realized why the people of Earth liked this expression. It had much more impact than he expected. One easy syllable and a rush of anxiety and frustration fled from his body. It was a powerful word. He took a deep, cleansing breath and waited until his shoulders relaxed before he attempted to look up. When he did, he wasn’t surprised to see her arms crossed and one brow perched high on her forehead.
“Feel better now?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” She stepped forward and gripped the bars. “Look, I’m sorry. You were just trying to be nice to me. I get it. I’m just as frustrated as you are. I think we should look out for each other, if we can. I’ll not turn away any help if you offer again.”
Lucien felt comforted by her words. “Thank you. I’m sorry that I reacted as I did. I’ve not been myself, but that’s no excuse. You have every right to defend yourself and to ensure your survival. If we can, we’ll find a way out of this. For some reason I have an overwhelming urge to make sure that you’re not in harm’s way. I’m sure it’s due to my race’s history. The bastard two cells down had all of our females murdered. We’re very protective of the fairer sex, so I hope that you can forgive my aggression.”
Tana’s lips parted on a gasp. “That’s horrible, Lucien. I’m sorry that happened to you. There’s nothing to forgive. I understand.”
Nodding, Lucien looked down to his boots as a wa
ve of sadness washed over him. It was not just his. The warriors had ridden his thoughts, yet remained silent. He willed his barriers in place as he tried to find Junia’s lovely face within his memories. He came away with nothing more than a faded image from their last meeting. He’d begged her to stay at the palace and spend time with Drusus instead of making another trip to see her cousin. The time between her palace visits were becoming marked by years instead of months. Her refusal had them parting in anger. He knew full well the guilt that rode him like a second skin lay in his last words. You are no mate to me and no mother to our son. My love for you fades with each passing day. She’d died the following morning. Tana’s voice pulled him from his walking nightmare.
“Did you hear me? You seemed to be somewhere far away.”
Brows furrowed, Lucien shoved the sad memory back into the darkness reserved for regret and swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. What?” Her smile helped ease the pain that lingered in his heart.
“There you are. Yeah. You kept saying ‘we’ earlier. How many are there?”
Lucien approached the bars. Her smile was infectious. He allowed the warriors back into his thoughts. “Nine. I’ll have them say hello. Ulixes? You were close enough to hear the conversation.”
Ulixes’s voice was laced with sadness. Lucien expected no less after the reveal of the Insedi fate.
“Hello, Tana. I will defend you with all my capability. You can be assured of this.”
Tana’s lips parted to respond, only to clamp shut when more solemn voices took their turn echoing down the long corridor.
“I am Baruch. I will protect you to my dying breath.”
“Eryx. I look forward to meeting you, Tana. My life is yours.”
“I am known as Makar. I will fly you from this madness when we escape. I am yours to bid.”
“Altair. I stand with my brothers to ensure your safety. I am yours.”
“Haemon. No more harm will come to you if it is in my power. I am yours as well.”
“Keos here. If I am able, the blue bastards will feel the sting of my wrath if they attempt to hurt you. I surrender my life over to you.”
“Sotarios. Consider me yours, Tana. I like your spunk. The bastards are all dead. They just don’t know it yet. This is my solemn vow.”
“I am called Geleon. Your sweet voice soothes me. I will return the kindness as I eliminate this blue scourge from your life. You have my allegiance.”
Lucien had never felt more proud of his warriors than he did in this moment. They represented the core morality, determination, and loyalty of the Insedi breed. Their vows to Tana would mark time in his heart for the remainder of his days. Her eyes glittered with unshed tears as she looked his way. Her bottom lip trembled slightly as she spoke on a whisper.
“Lucien. This is…it’s so…I’m honored.” Turning to peer down the corridor, her throat worked on a hard swallow. “Insedi. I’m proud to call you my friends. You have my vow that I will try to stay out of trouble so you don’t have to die for me. I don’t know if I could live with myself if anything happened to you because of my stupid decisions. Believe me when I say that if any of those blue fuckers try to hurt you, I’m going to kick their asses.”
The Insedi battle cry reverberated off the cell walls and sealed their collective thoughts. She was a worthy female.
Basilius had to ruin it.
“How quaint. The big, bad warriors are willing to die for you, Tana. Sad that they were only empty words. They cannot protect you. I have proven they are unable to even assist their own. You are nothing to them. Save yourself the trouble.”
Sotarios’s words slid as liquid menace across the corridor. “Seal your lips, Basilius. Your words only move up the date of your death.”
Basilius’s hearty laugher spilled unchecked at the statement. Lucien was astounded at the lengths to which the idiot would go to antagonize a seasoned warrior. He knew now, without any hesitation, that Foemina Mortem was conducted with nothing but dumb luck on the mad man’s part.
“You cannot touch me and you know it, Sotarios. You are a prisoner as much as I am. I understand my fate now. It gives me great pleasure knowing that you all are lost to your people as I am to mine. So, snarl all you want. You are nothing but a pest. I laugh at your empty threats.”
Sotarios’s chuckle foretold of Basilius’s upcoming smack down, yet his lowered tone prophesied vengeance. Lucien wasn’t disappointed.
“Would you laugh at me if I were nothing but the darkness of the night, Basilius? Why does your face pale? Oh, wait. I know. I’ve seen how you skirt the edge of the shadows and pretend bravery. You think I sleep, but you are very wrong. It’s fascinating to watch you hug the bars until the blackness creeps forward and consumes you. I hear you crawling in weakness to cower upon your mattress until you can be saved by the light of day. Don’t think that I can’t hear your muffled whimpers when every innocent sound becomes fingers of death to take you away. I find it ironic that the one bringing so much darkness to the universe is the one most afraid of it. Remember this if nothing else, Basilius. When you die, they will place your body in a small box and close the lid tight. You will be forever encased within the inky blackness you dread. Even as your body decays to dust, your nightmare will own you forever.”
The corridor remained eerily silent. Even the Nawiens failed to utter a sound. Perhaps they understood that a verbal reckoning was occurring and lay quiet so it could find its home. They were not wrong. Lucien heard the shuffling of boots and the sound of a body lying heavily upon a mattress. Sotarios confirmed what he envisioned.
“That’s right, Basilius. Lie down and rest. I’ll not take slight that you’ve turned your back to me. You must slumber in haste. The sun dips in the sky with every breath. Sleep well while you can, mad king, for I pray my beautiful mother and a thousand others come to pull the light from your dreams.”
Lucien peeled his fingers from the bars. He’d been unaware of how tightly he’d clasped them as he listened to the words that finally brought Basilius to his knees. Sotarios may not have been able to twist the pompous bastard’s neck in his meaty hands, but he’d turned simple words into razor sharp daggers and drove them home. Inside the jokester lay an exceptionally intelligent male that had spun his pain into triumph. Lucien heard Ulixes’s soft words laced with awe.
“Well done, Sotarios. Well done.”
Opening his mind, Lucien searched out the other warriors. All barriers were closed to him as he’d thought they would be. Each had lost a loved one to the bastard now shivering like a child in his cell. This would be a time of quiet reflection of memories past. Looking up, Lucien was surprised to see Tana perched on her mattress. Her knees were raised to her chest and her arms wrapped them tightly. Her wide emerald eyes held such sadness it broke his heart. Her words were hushed.
“I’m sitting here wondering how I can hate someone so badly, yet I’ve never met him. I don’t know how you can bear it. Basilius is pure evil.”
Lucien nodded. “Yes. His mind is not right. He appears as sane as the next, yet when he opens his mouth he reveals that he’s incapable of empathy or seeing the ramifications of his actions. I can’t imagine someone that thinks clearly would purposefully make the decisions that he has.”
Tana snorted in derision. “You would be surprised. On Earth, there are too many to count that hold positions of power and are complete sociopaths like Basilius. They make intelligent decisions at their jobs, have families, belong to churches, and are looked upon as leaders by their communities. Yet, buried deep inside is a part that wants ultimate power and would do anything to get it. The cause could be anything. It might be from a brain abnormality or from severe abuse. Some of them con people out of money and others kill to find their satisfaction. They’re so good at hiding their true selves, the victims never see it coming. Basilius comes from privilege and never needed to hide. He feels entitled to take what he wants, no matter the cost. Whatever their motives are, they all have one thing in common. T
hey don’t feel anything for their fellow man. It’s a blank area to them. There’s no remorse for…why are you looking at me like that?”
Lucien cocked his head. “I’m impressed, that’s all. How do you know these things?”
Tana pushed her feet back to the floor and gripped the edge of her mattress. She leaned forward and sighed.
“Before I was snatched off a ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, I studied criminal psychology. I’m—no, I was—an FBI agent.”
Chapter 10
“That’s part of your government, correct?”
Nodding, Tana rocked on the bunk and wished her bladder wasn’t trying to pickax its way out of her skin.
“We investigate things. I worked the criminal division for exports. Six months ago, containers started disappearing from cargo ships. My office put me on the one with the greatest number of thefts. The story reported was ludicrous. We got the same information every time. One minute they were there, the next…poof…gone. One guy said he saw two of them just lift into the sky and fly away. I hope they released him from psychiatric evaluation by now. I feel horrible knowing that he wasn’t actually delusional. Poor bastard.”
“So, that’s how they got you.”
“Yup. One night, I saw Beavis and Butthead wandering around the containers at the back of the ship. I found them inside one. I thought they were my culprits, but the idiots had set up a party nest.”
When Lucien’s brows drew together, she chuckled.
“They had a stash of alcohol, girlie magazines, chairs, cots, and a portable TV. They’d actually been smoking inside a weapons container. Can you believe that? They hid there when they were supposed to be working. I was inside making them gather up their stuff when my world turned sideways. Literally. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I’m just thankful the doors slammed shut. We bounced around for several hours then were pulled up into their ship. I tried to load some of the weapons, but the damn thing wouldn’t stay still long enough for me to pry any of the boxes open. The blue bastards looked surprised when they found us. I was still trying to figure out what the hell they were when they threw us on the floor, shoved some tubes down our throats, and dragged us over to a vat of clear liquid. I woke up in a cell covered in goo and trying not to cough up a lung. I checked my watch before they replaced it with my new bracelets. If it was accurate, I’d been out for over a month. The rest you know.”
Fueled by Lust: Lucien (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 8