Crimson Rain

by Jaye Roycraft

  He showed her the security panel for the bay and the house and how to activate and de-activate the system. He started to explain the use of the skimmer and hovercraft, but she cut him off.

  “I know how the operate them,” she said coldly.

  He smiled and wrote down the codes for her instead. He’d forgotten how accomplished his Hellfire was. Heaven help any opponent who ever underestimated her.

  It was time. He opened the bay door and put his hands on either side of her face, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes. This time there was no crying, no cuffs, and no complaining, just a quiet submission that gave him no satisfaction. He’d take her impassioned curses and prickly mind probes any day over her resigned acceptance of what she believed to be his lies. “No ploy, Dina. I will be back, I promise.” He didn’t know what more to say to convince her that his feelings and words were honest. He tilted her chin up and kissed her one last time, then powered up the cruiser and thrust the vehicle into the heat of the River Maze.

  She hadn’t said a word more in parting.

  No matter. He wouldn’t give up on her. Destiny had arrived this day in the form of three ships. By day’s end, Duguerra and Vaizya would be dead. And if the B’haratans interfered, they’d be dead as well. Destiny would not be denied, and neither would he.

  “SPEED OF THE Gods,” Dina whispered, but he was already gone. She closed the bay door, reset the security alarm, and went inside. Fresh food had been delivered earlier in the morning, but she wasn’t hungry. She wandered the house, curious now about the rooms she’d shunned last night. Perhaps she’d find some clues to the mystery that was Klyariz in his possessions. But she found little.

  Oh, the mansion was old and grand and brimming with riches to please the senses. The furniture was all in neutral shades—cream and ivory and beige, but the floors were inlaid with colorful mosaic designs of regal birds with huge wings and powerful talons, and the ceiling boasted skylights of stained glass in the same designs. When the sunlight poured in, the rooms exploded with light and color, and the birds seemed to come alive. There were also collections of art and artifacts, but she knew not from where or when they came, so they had little meaning for her.

  All in all, the house bespoke money and a well-traveled owner, but she uncovered no personal items to tell her more than that. She found the bed Kyl had slept in the night before in a room on the second level, and she curled up on it. She’d slept poorly, and she hoped a nap might revive her spirits.

  She closed her eyes and let herself float on the edge of consciousness, wondering if she’d ever see Kyl again. Suddenly she was wide awake. At first she thought some noise had startled her. She raised her head and listened, but there was no sound, not even the wind. Perhaps it had just been an insect whirring around her head, or some small creature that had made the house its home in Kyl’s long absence.

  Then again, maybe the intruder was human. Gods knew Kyl had enough enemies. Maybe one of them had already learned he was back. Her long-ago training not forgotten, she got up and crept down the curved staircase into the solarium. She paused to listen and look around her, but there was nothing. Dust particles floated in the colored shafts of light from the skylights high above, giving the feeling that the house had been undisturbed for ages. But the sense that something had awakened her persisted, and she entered the hangar bay, listening carefully.

  She checked the security system, but it was still activated. Even so, she tested the doors, then cleared the room painstakingly from end-to-end, looking behind the vehicles, maintenance rigs and spare parts containers. Nothing. She returned to the house and glanced at the comm panel. No calls were waiting. She went back upstairs and tried again to rest, but it was harder this time to drift off. Something had startled her, and she didn’t know what. It was a mystery, like Kyl, and she didn’t like mysteries. But it seemed neither would be solved at this moment, and eventually exhaustion relaxed her mind.

  She awoke after three hours, and this time the only sound was the rumbling of her stomach. She ate some of the fresh bread that had been delivered, then wandered back to the bay. She’d go stir crazy cooped up inside. He hadn’t said anything about not leaving the house. Maybe a ride on the skimmer would . . .

  It touched her again. Something shattered the calm, but there was no sound. Just like when I first arrived at the spacedock over Aeternus, she thought. When Rayn . . .

  My Gods. Shivers ran down her body, and she brought trembling hands to her face. This time there had been no mistaking the touch. It was too strong, too undeniable. And too familiar. It can’t be. It’s my imagination.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Reunion

  THE POUNDING OF her heart in her throat told her otherwise. It’s impossible, she thought, even as her feet carried her, as if they had a mind of their own, to the front service door of the bay. Her entire being knew he was out there, but her foolish heart persisted in trying to deny it.

  She opened the door and stepped out into the heat, knowing her life once more would radically change, as it had in a mine tunnel on Exodus long ago, and as it had on a small cargo ship, almost as long ago. She shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun, but the gesture wasn’t really necessary. Though two men were at the far end of the narrow road, she knew one of them was Rayn.

  She stared as they strode toward her with a gait that devoured distance with a hunger. Then, suddenly they stopped, exchanged a word, and only one man continued on, a man whose long hair fanned the sides of his face like the wings of a crow. His clothing was in shades of night, and his visage was that of a warrior.

  She felt rooted to the spot. Her mind had shattered with the realization he was here, after so long, and she could neither form thoughts nor make sense of her emotions. All she could do was watch him as he approached, slowing his gait to a saunter, as if he too were unsure of their meeting.

  His hair was shiny, but longer and darker than it had been on Exodus, flowing like black rain from either side of the sharp widow’s peak. His skin was ashen, and against it his pale brown eyes and dark brows dominated his face. He wore a black leather vest over a white T-shirt and tight leather pants tucked into worn, once-black boots. His arms were bare, displaying lean muscled biceps and forearms, and the silver rez gun on his hip cast seductive winks at her. The sparkle of light was the sole beckoning feature of his grim appearance.

  He halted a few steps from her, and, as if that were a signal, she raised her eyes from the gun to his eyes. They were not the eyes she knew, and fear wrapped her in its embrace. This was a stranger.

  “Dina.” The word was impassive.

  “I . . .” Her throat felt too tight for words, even had she known what to say.

  “You’re well?” His voice had softened, and it released her from her fear—a little.

  “Yes.” She realized they were standing in the road. “Come inside.”

  She entered the bay, and he followed, lightly pressing the pad to close the door behind them.

  She turned slowly toward him. “I can’t believe you’re here. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

  He cocked one brow. “You thought I wouldn’t come for you?”

  She moved her head from side-to-side almost imperceptibly, not wanting to acknowledge her doubt to him. “It seemed an impossible task. For anyone.”

  “Only a lack of determination renders a task impossible.”

  She began breathing hard and realized she’d been holding her breath since she’d seen him striding down the street. Her mind was a cyclone of confusion, and so many thoughts whirled in her head that she didn’t know which to voice next.

  “Rayn, I . . . how did you find me?”

  “The Roven was easy to track. He makes no secret of his identity or his deeds.”

  Somehow Rayn had made the term Roven sound like an insult. “He has a name. It’s Kylariz.
”

  “How could you, Dina?” His voice had softened even more, but the accusation in his eyes made her feel more naked than did the four words. “Don’t you know what this man is?”

  Her anger rose in defense of Kyl, but she wondered how much of the anger was her own guilt. She hadn’t believed Rayn would come. She’d slept with Kyl. Worst of all, she had feelings for Kyl she couldn’t deny. “I know exactly who he is, what he is, and what he’s done.”

  “Good. Then it shouldn’t bother you overly much when I kill him.”

  “No! Kill him, and you’ll never have me, I swear it.” The words slipped out without thought, and she quickly realized what he would think of her defense of Kyl.

  Rayn’s eyes glittered. “Then what I heard is true. You’re his woman.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut against his gaze. There was no place to go to hide from his words. She didn’t feel like Kyl’s woman, but she couldn’t deny their truth. She wouldn’t make excuses or try to defend what she had done. Any excuse would only serve to diminish what she and Rayn had once shared. She couldn’t change the past, and she couldn’t assuage the hurt she heard in Rayn’s voice. All she could do now was try to prevent more pain.

  She opened her eyes. “Rayn . . . think the worst of me. Hate me. But don’t kill him, please. If I ever meant anything to you, promise me. Promise me you won’t kill him.”

  He glanced around the bay and was silent for long moments, not letting her see his eyes. Finally he ran his hands down his face, shook his head slowly and turned to look at her. “I didn’t think it possible, but it appears there’s something left in me stronger than my hate for him, after all. Very well. But if he strikes at me, I’ll do my damnedest to bring him down. And if I die, my friends will exact his life in payment.”

  She closed her eyes. Gods, vengeance and death. It never changes. But he’d promised. Hadn’t he? She wearily opened her eyes and faced his.

  “But you won’t harm him otherwise?”

  “I believe that’s what I just said. Gods, you Glacians and your obsession with words . . .”

  Dina bristled, but held her anger in check. “I know ‘thank you’ means nothing to you, but thank you anyway.”

  He shook his head. “Not meaningless, just unnecessary,” he said quietly.

  The softness in his voice threatened to overwhelm her with memories, and she fought to keep her control. “He should be back soon. You shouldn’t be here when he arrives.”

  Rayn raised his voice. “I didn’t come across the galaxy to walk away, from you or him. Where is he?”

  She saw there was no help for it. All she could do was to try to keep the two men from killing each other. She sighed. “I don’t know. He left for Terminus hours ago. I’m afraid if you want to kill him you’ll have to take a number and wait in line.”

  “And you don’t wonder why that is? Dina, he’s a brutal creature. There’s good reason so many want him dead.”

  She ignored that. It was a boorish statement that didn’t deserve a response. “When he returns I’ll speak with him. I’ll want his assurance as well that he won’t harm you.”

  “The word of a Roven. How reassuring.”

  The sarcastic words irritated Dina. “The word of a Roven is at least as good as that of a dens, I’m sure.”

  “I’ll wait.”

  “He won’t want you in his house.”

  Rayn laughed, long and hard, and it was the most bitter sound she’d ever heard. “He stole you from me, Dina—stole you and brainwashed you. You think I give a damn if he’s annoyed that I’m in his house?” He pulled his gun and fired it at the wall. Stone exploded, showering the bay with rubble. “I should level this entire rat’s hole to a pile of rocks.”

  She’d never before heard him lose control, either of his spoken voice or his actions. She struggled to keep from wincing, but the pain in her heart was harder to fight, and her anger with herself and her own guilt translated itself to the words she directed at Rayn.

  “Then make yourself at home,” she ground out, in the most unwelcoming tone she could muster. She went inside to the solarium, where a comfortable circle of padded chairs surrounded a low table. Rayn followed her. Stately potted plants draped languid fronds over the grouping, and she vaguely wondered who cared for the plants while Kyl was gone, then wanted to cry for that and every other insane thought that filled her mind.

  “Wait here. I’ll bring some water,” she added, glad for an excuse to leave the room. She couldn’t stand bandying hurtful words with Rayn. Once inside the kitchen, she bent over the sink, unable to breathe. She gasped for air and forced herself to take slow, deep breaths. After a moment her breathing steadied, but both her head and stomach still swam, and she thought she was going to be sick. For months she’d prayed Rayn would come for her. By some miracle that she still couldn’t fathom, he had. But his arrival hadn’t gone at all like their reunion in her dreams. She couldn’t blame him for his anger. He’d travelled the galaxy only to find her with another man. Could he forgive her? Hell, she didn’t even know if she could forgive herself.

  She didn’t know if she wanted Kyl to return soon or not. She dreaded the confrontation between the two men, yet she didn’t know how she could sit alone with Rayn and bear the pain and anger he carried. She filled a silver pitcher with cold water, took a deep breath, and headed back. She prayed Kyl would be more amenable to peaceful discussion than Rayn seemed to be.

  She entered the doorway to the solarium and cried out. “No!” The pitcher slipped from her numb fingers and clanged against the stone floor like the sounding of a gong.

  Rayn stood with his arm outstretched and the long rez gun pointed right at Kyl’s skull. Kyl, his body bladed and feet wide apart, aimed his rupter at Rayn’s head. Neither had flinched when the pitcher rang against the floor.

  “Kyl, give me your word,” she pleaded. “Your word you won’t hurt him. He made me the same promise regarding you.”

  He ignored her. “I would welcome you, dens, but I see you’ve already made yourself at home.”

  “The lady bade me enter and was kind enough to offer her hospitality. A strange welcome you offer, Roven, armed to the teeth with weapons both of us know you don’t need.”

  “I leave myself defenseless against no man.”

  She had to stop this, somehow. “Kyl, please, he just wants to talk. He promised me he wouldn’t hurt you.”

  “If he made this promise to you, he’s either a fool or a liar. But if he does try anything against either of us, I’ll do whatever I have to do.”

  She moved to a spot halfway between the two men, but out of the line of fire. Sweat broke out on her forehead, and her stomach still lurched. “Please, Kyl. This is Rayn D’anthara, the man I was to meet on B’harata.”

  “I know who he is. What do you want, dens?”

  “First, Roven, just so we understand each other, be aware that from some time now I’ve known exactly what you are. That knowledge hasn’t stopped me from wanting vengeance for what you’ve done, even though I’ve no doubt you could destroy me easily. Tell me, have you ever carried a desire for revenge so powerful it rules your every thought and action? Have you ever carried a parasite you can’t rid yourself of? A beast that invades your soul and feeds from you until you’re only a shell of a man?”

  Though he still trained his weapon on Rayn, Kyl’s gaze slid to Dina. Beyond cold, his eyes were almost accusing. Accusing her of what? She knew the pain the beast of vengeance had inflicted on Kyl, but she hadn’t been the cause of that.

  The questioning eyes bore into her a moment longer and, with a blink, slipped back to Rayn’s. “Yes, I know the beast you refer to quite well,” he replied softly.

  “And tell me, how do you sate its hunger?”

  “It can never be truly sated. Life, death, and rebirth. And someday,
perhaps an end.”

  Dina watched in confusion. What were they talking about? A silent exchange seemed to pass between the men, and Rayn nodded, almost to himself. “Well, I pray the particular beast I carry can be released, somehow, because I promised the lady I wouldn’t fight you, and I told her true,” said Rayn.

  “That’s good, because any move on your part would only serve to bring your own end, dens, for I would have to kill you, and that would be a pity, for the lady exacts the same promise from me.”

  “Let me introduce you to my beast,” said Rayn. “I’m familiar with many of your past deeds. I know you’re a criminal, and I know you’ve littered the galaxy with bodies. As have I. The men I killed all deserved it. I’m sure those you killed had it coming as well. Someday we’ll be judged and punished for those sins by the Gods. But what you did to this woman . . . abducting her off the Palladia, holding her against her will . . . she didn’t deserve any of that. Dina has more integrity and strength of character than you’ll ever know, and she has the purest soul of any being I’ve ever encountered. For what you did to her, for the pain and suffering you put her through, you deserve to die. That’s what I’ve lived with for every moment of two hundred and seventy-two days and nights.”

  “I’m only too aware of what I’ve done. No matter. If the lady so wishes it, to her I will give my life, but not to you.”

  Dina could bear no more. “Stop it, both of you! I don’t want either of you harmed. Can’t you understand that? All this talk of vengeance and killing is pointless. Why can’t you see that?”

  “Come to the heart of it, then, dens,” said Kyl.

  “I want Dina.”

  “And once again, what you want doesn’t matter. It’s not your decision, is it?”

  “Nor yours.”