by Sara Page
“How do I come to you?” I ask, almost vomiting the words they make me feel so sick.
He trails his fingers down my cheek, dragging them down my neck, then brushes the hair back on Esha’s head. She makes an annoyed grunting noise between swallows.
“You will use an escape pod. I’ll open a wormhole and guide you home.”
“To Terrea?”
“Yes,” he grins, looking pleased.
“And then?”
“And then we will join. Together we will breed—“
“You’re sick,” I cut him off, unable to stomach another word of his ‘plan’.
“Perhaps,” he concedes, pulling his hand back.
“If you think I’ll—I’ll…” I can’t even get the word past my lips, it’s too sick. Is that what he meant about being reborn? That he can function like a man again?
My fingers wrap around Warrick’s horn, gripping it, and I consider making my move now.
“You’ll do whatever I tell you to do, Ameia, if you want to protect the ones you love,” he grins.
I shake my head.
“If you want to protect Ellany and Esha.”
He begins to straighten and I just know he’s going to go to Ellany. To do something to her.
The door swishes open and he turns his head in surprise.
Without hesitation I act. Gripping Warrick’s horn tightly in my hand, I bring it up and swing, connecting with a crack against the back of Vis’ head.
Vis’ body crumbles to the floor.
Chapter Eighteen
“Princess?” Grogan asks from the doorway, his mouth going slack with shock.
“Quick!” I implore. “Find something to tie him up with!”
Grogan hesitates, looking between Vis and the horn I’m still holding. I open my fingers and the horn drops to the mattress.
“Grogan, please!” I cry out as I work my way to the edge of the bed.
Finally grasping the gravity of the situation, Grogan’s eyes frantically search the room.
“What should I use?” he asks.
Jumping up from the bed, I clutch Esha tightly to my chest and give the room a quick glance. “I don’t know!” I snap in desperation.
He could wake up at any second…
“The sheets!”
Grogan nods and rushes forward. He yanks on the top sheet, snapping threads.
“Hurry,” I urge, rushing over to Ellany’s crib.
She peeks up at me, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Grogan grunts as he rolls Vis onto his stomach. Using the sheet, he begins to bind Vis’ hands by winding the sheet around his wrists.
“What did he do?” he asks as he works, winding and twisting the white fabric around and around.
“He’s possessed,” I half-sob, half-choke.
Grogan shoots me a look of alarm. “Possessed?”
I nod my head and squeeze my eyes shut, fighting back tears. There’s no damn time for tears.
I have to be strong.
I have to be calm.
“By the Devourer.”
“Are you sure?”
I peek my eyes open to see Grogan scowling down at Vis, looking uncertain.
“Yes. He spoke to me.”
“What did he say?”
Vis’ hands and arms are now completely bound behind his back. Grogan leans back, admiring his work.
“Do his feet as well,” I plead. I don’t even know if the sheet will hold him but it’s better than nothing.
Grogan nods and yanks the other sheet off the bed.
“What did he say?” Grogan asks again as he gets to work.
Ellany smiles up at me and her hands reach for me. Carefully, I reach down and pick her up, cradling her in my arm.
“He’s threatening to kill everyone aboard the ship if I don’t go to him.”
I look down at my daughters. They’re so beautiful. So perfect.
Two little angels.
“Princess,” Grogan says sharply with alarm. “We must inform King Ros and Prince Drek at once.”
“No,” I say firmly. “We must not.”
“But—“
“No, buts, Grogan,” I say, injecting as much authority into my voice that I can muster. “We can’t tell them.”
“But—“
I look up and frown at Grogan. “We can’t, and that’s an order.”
Grogan stiffens, his spine going rigid.
I know I’ve offended him.
“Please,” I say more softly. I need his help, he’s the only one that can help me right now. “If we do, we’ll just get everyone killed.”
He shakes his head slowly back and forth then yanks on the sheet, securing the knot with a snap. It’s plain he doesn’t agree with me but he doesn’t have to, I just need him to understand…
“What do you plan to do, princess?” he asks, getting to his feet. “They’ll be back soon and they’ll want to know what happened to Vis.”
I take a deep breath.
Don’t cry. Don’t you freakin’ cry, Ameia.
“I have a plan.”
Grogan arches one of his bushy brows. “What’s your plan?”
You can do this.
I take one step forward then another.
You have to do this.
I walk up to Grogan and stand in front of him. He looks down at me in confusion.
For them.
“You must protect them, Grogan.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Now hold out your arms.”
Grogan obeys even if his eyes relay his uneasiness with this situation.
“Swear to me that you’ll protect Esha as much as Ellany,” I say, my voice cracking as I start to hand them over. “Protect her as if she’s your Calling.”
“Princess—“ he starts again.
“Swear it!” I demand.
I have no time to argue about this or time to listen to him to try to reason with me. Everything hangs in the balance. My home. My family. My mates and my children.
“I swear,” he says angrily and his eyes flash.
The relief that hits me is like a punch to the gut and I have to take in a gulp of air to keep from cracking.
I can do this.
“Thank you,” I say sincerely, staring into his eyes as he accepts Esha and Ellany into his arms.
My hands linger, and I know that he has them secured. They’re safe and I can let go now but I just can’t step away yet.
Bending down, I breathe in their sweet hair then I kiss their soft cheeks. Burning them into my memory.
My heart squeezes painfully and my throat tightens.
Straightening, I clear my throat and tell Grogan, “Esha has eaten but Ellany hasn’t. I don’t have time…”
Already, I feel like I’m failing them.
Grogan nods his head. “I developed a formula just in case a situation like this arose…”
I nod, grateful that he thought to do that.
Turn, Ameia. You must turn away. The first step is always the hardest.
Vis groans and thumps against the floor.
Lifting my chin into the air, to keep the tears back, I spin on my heel and stalk over to him.
Kneeling down beside him, I grab Vis by the ears and turn his face to me.
His eyes blink then gleam black.
“Ameia,” he groans and then his eyes narrow. He struggles against the sheets, twisting and flopping, but thankfully they hold him. “What have you done? Free me at once.”
I shake my head and he growls.
“If you don’t free me, I’ll—“
I pull on his ears and tell him to, “Shut up and listen.”
He blinks at me in surprise then opens his mouth again.
I yank on his ears before he starts speaking. “If you don’t want me to throw myself out of the airlock, you will do everything I have to say.”
He stares at me, unblinking. Slowly his mouth closes, lips pressing together.
“I know you
need me. Whatever plans you have, whatever horrible, awful things you want to do involve me. Without me, your plans go to shit, yes?”
I yank on his ears when he doesn’t answer. If he wasn’t possessing Vis, if Vis wouldn’t suffer the consequences, I’d yank the damn ears right off his head.
He finally growls, “Yes.”
I hide my relief. I wasn’t entirely sure I was paramount to all of his plans, and I’m grateful that I have something to bargain with.
“If you want me, you can have me. I’ll come to you by my own free will, but you do not get my daughters. And you do not get to remain in Vis. Do you understand?”
He snorts and blinks his eyes.
“I’m going to take that as a yes.”
His mouth twists into a snarl.
“If you want me, you won’t possess another soul on this ship. Do you understand?”
He snorts again so I yank on his ears. “I would rather end myself than allow you to have my daughters. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he snaps. “I understand.”
“Good,” I say and relax my hold on his ears. “Now that we understand each other, you can get the hell out of Vis.”
The look on his face is downright murderous and his eyes are so cold, so dark as he says, “You’re going to pay for this, Ameia.”
I nod my head and lean back on my heels. “I don’t doubt it. Now get out!”
With a snarl his body stills. His dark eyes close, lifeless.
Seconds tick by.
I feel the weight of time.
I have so little of it.
I glance nervously towards Grogan. He’s not even looking at me. He’s looking down in awe at the two little girls he holds in his arms.
I hope the seriousness of his vow is hitting him.
With a shrill gasp, Vis’ body shudders then his eyes fly open.
“Ameia?” he croaks with pained confusion.
“Vis,” I smile and stroke his cheek. “Welcome back.”
“What happened?” his asks, his voice raw, cracking.
I shake my head and lean forward, pressing my forehead against his forehead. “There’s no time to explain. I must go, but I want you to know I love you.”
“What? Where are you going?” He struggles against his bonds. “Why am I tied up?”
I press a quick, hard kiss against his lips. I put all of my love, all of my feelings for all of them into the kiss then break away. “Take care of them.”
Getting my feet under me, I stand.
“Ameia? What are you doing?” Vis asks, his voice becoming more demanding. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
I feel like an asshole for not explaining anything to him but there isn’t time. I simply can’t.
Spine stiffening, I point my chin up again and wrap my resolve around myself like a comforting blanket.
Focus on the goal and you can survive this.
I turn towards Grogan and the girls, my eyes drinking their image in one last time.
You can do anything for them, they’re worth it.
At least I get to say the one thing my own mother never got to say to me…
“Goodbye.”
I hope one day we’ll meet again.
Chapter Nineteen
The hallways of the Siren are empty, deserted. There are not enough Ravagers aboard to fill them, and those that are here are most likely in the meeting. Preparing for… whatever.
It makes my task easier. There’s no one to stop me. There’s no one in my way.
No one to ask me what the hell I’m doing.
What am I doing? It’s insane…
But there’s no other way. I’ve run through all the scenarios and this is the only one that has a chance of working.
I know what to do; I read the books.
If I don’t do this everyone I love will die.
The walk to the escape pods is quick and easy.
Too easy.
I follow the emergency evacuation signs and pause outside the pod door. Unlike the pod I crashed in, this one is shaped more like a miniature ship with wings and a window to view the outside.
My eyes scan over the evacuation poster posted on the door. Everything I need to do is illustrated in easy to follow step-by-step instructions.
Hit the big red button to open the door. Strap yourself in the safety harness and hit the big red button inside. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
I can do this. This time it will be different, I’ll have more control, I tell myself. This time I know what I’m doing.
I take a deep breath and hit the big red button. The door slides open with a swoosh.
I break out in a nervous sweat and force my body to move forward. I can’t go back, I can’t, and I have to hurry.
If only there was more time.
I step inside the pod and hit the button by the door. The door slides shut with a quiet click and the computer screen lights up with life.
I eye the safety seat before strapping myself in it.
Suddenly, the air has thickened and it’s become harder and harder to breathe.
Black dots flash in front of my eyes.
Stop hyperventilating, dammit.
Gulping in a mouthful of air, I throw myself into the seat and start strapping myself in before my brain catches up to my body. Left strap over left shoulder, right strap over right. Lap belt in place, I tighten everything then turn to the computer screen.
I hit the big red button.
A red light begins flashing overhead and the sound of air releasing echoes inside the little chamber.
A computer voice tells me to, “Please fasten your safety harness and remain seated.”
The computer screen blinks.
System check_
Please standby_
I try to ignore the weight of the safety harness strapped over my chest as I wait for the check to complete. Looking through the window, I focus on watching the empty hallway outside.
Hurry, I urge the computer, tempted to give it a little kick. I don’t care about safety or system checks. If the Siren was about to explode or something, I’d already be crispy fried.
System check complete_
Engaging boosters_
The pod shudders and the clamps holding it in place release.
“Please remain seated,” the computer voice reminds me.
The pod begins to drift backwards. A loud siren begins to wail and lights flash in the hallway.
The computer voice announces loudly, “This is the emergency response system. Emergency evacuation procedures have been activated.”
Shit. Everyone on the ship is going to know what’s going on now, but hopefully it’s too late for them to stop me.
“Boosters engaged,” the computer voice announces.
With a jerk, the ship begins to race backwards.
My hands find and latch onto the safety harness. My stomach falls to my feet.
You’re not going to die, you’re not going to die, I repeat as the g-forces hit me, pushing me forward.
I grit my teeth and close my eyes, enduring the intense speed. For several minutes the ship is boosted backwards, away from the Siren. Accelerating out of blast range.
An eternity passes before the ship begins to slow.
The weight pushing down on my chest begins to ease.
I peek my eyes open and lean back. My body is no longer being pushed forward as the pod settles into a more sustainable speed.
Outside the window I can see space. In the distance, the Siren is a grey blip, growing smaller and smaller. My hands relax around the safety harness and I flex my fingers.
I should be relieved, I made it. No one stopped me.
But maybe a little part of me was hoping someone would stop me. That someone save me from me…
The Computer screen blinks at me.
Please enter your destination_
For the hell of it I type in: the other side
Destination invalid_
D
amn. I guess that was too much to hope for. Let’s try this again.
I type in: Terrea
The screen flashes.
Charting destination_
Please standby_
I hold my breath, waiting to see if it will declare this destination invalid as well.
Destination path complete_
Expected arrival 23 days_
Do you wish to continue_
Sighing with relief, I immediately type in: Yes.
I lean back and close my eyes for a moment as the ship changes direction.
“System status,” I say, hoping the ship is equipped with voice recognition software.
“All systems are functional,” the computer voice responds.
“Destination.”
“Destination, Terrea. Estimated arrival, 23 cycles.”
I can’t even imagine being stuck inside this pod for that long. In fact, I’m almost grateful that the Devourer is going to open up a wormhole for me. But until then, I suppose I have nothing to do but settle in and wait.
Opening my eyes, I peer through the window. Watching the Siren grow smaller and smaller until it’s a tiny dot my eyes strain to see.
“Incoming transmission,” the computer voice announces suddenly. “Would you like to accept?”
“Who is hailing us?”
“Captain Drek Ros Karmada of the Siren,” the computer responds without emotion.
My heart leaps with a mixture of fear and excitement at his name.
“Incoming transmission,” the computer repeats. “Would you like to accept?”
“Negative,” I tell the computer and stare out into space.
If Beast is aware that I’m out here in the escape pod, will he be able to catch up with me?
I’m almost certain of it… but he’ll have to find me.
“Computer, disable the Universal Positioning System.”
“Disabling the Universal Positioning System is not advised,” the computer warns as if I don’t know what I’m doing. “Do you wish to proceed?”
“Yes, proceed,” I snap impatiently.
“Universal Positioning System disabled.”
Seconds tick by and my heart continues to race. I’m a sitting duck out here. It’s only a matter of minutes before the Siren will be able to catch up with me.
“Incoming transmission,” the computer announces. “Would you like to accept?”