by Ciara Knight
“There isn’t much time. Remember what I told you about your parents being dead. Just cling to that.” Semara rests the device at the end of the table. Straining muscles in my neck spasm in protest, so I lie back. I can feel my body growing weaker, giving in to the infection.
Semara pulls something from her pocket. “This has to work.”
The door swooshes open and Semara gasps at the sight of the man in the doorway. Bronze snakes out from under his red jacket and twists to the back of his neck. The medals adorning his jacket clink with his approach.
Semara presses her back against the wall and heaves, her chest rising and falling at a rapid rate. Her eyes widen and she shoves her hand back into her skirt pocket.
“You wish to see me?” The man approaches Semara with hungry eyes. “How can I be of service to you?”
“General, I didn’t mean…” Semara juts out her chin and blinks.
The General snarls down at me, then looks back at Semara and continues his slow steps toward her.
“I think the prisoner should be terminated as soon as possible,” Semara manages through quick breaths.
The General licks his lips and raises his right hand to Semara’s cheek. She tenses under his touch. My stomach churns and I clear my throat, trying to distract him, but I’m of no importance.
“Why summon me here?” The General’s hand continues down to her neck.
“Because if the interrogator fails to extract the information, I believe this ship is in danger. I know what her curse is.”
Zings shoot through my body and I tremble, not just from the raging fever, but also from fear. If she knows what my power is, then everyone I love will be in danger.
“You know? How?” The General narrows his eyes and looks between us.
The place where his jawline meets his flushing cheeks twitches with a clear message. No one will be safe with him here. I know my words can’t change him, but I have to try. “No. She doesn’t—”
“Silence, you parasite.” The General lowers his fist on my wound. Searing pain erupts and extends to every nerve in my body. I choke on the tears flooding my eyes, nose, and mouth.
“No.” A whirl of red and black blurs between me and the General. And then I hear it, the slap that sends the blur of fabric across the room. He has struck Semara.
My stomach clenches tight. Is this all they know? Pain, torture, and brutality? All those times I pleaded with my brother not to judge all Slags for a few actions by the Queen have been proven wrong since I’ve been captured. They are all monsters, as Ryder told me. I wish I had listened to him, especially when he scolded me about speaking to guards in the saloon. Now, the only way to make up for my mistake is to die before they discover the truth.
“She has the ability to communicate with other parasites. We need to terminate her. She’s gathering information for them, sacrificing herself for the greater good. A god to her people.” The footsteps stop. I still grasp my leg and struggle to find my breath and sit upright, but it’s no use. My body is done. But I search the vast darkness in my mind for the truth. Is Semara leading them astray, or is this really my power?
“You know this, how?” the General’s voice booms in the small cell.
“I got her to trust me. But if the Queen finds out that she could’ve leaked information, she’ll have us all punished.”
I’m barely able to focus through the throbbing pain, but I make out the General. He’s scrubbing his face and pacing, so I can tell this threatens him.
My head rolls back and slams against the table before I can stop it. The dull ache is no comparison to the pain in my leg.
“I haven’t been on the ship long, but I know that she will strip every one of their honors if she discovers our failure to protect this ship.” Semara’s words hang in the stale air and I wonder if she is betraying or helping me. Either way, at least I’ll be free of the pain soon.
The General moves closer to Semara, cornering her. “I know I can trust my future wife. You will speak of this to no one or our…relationship…could become strained.” He grabs the back of her hair, forcing her inches from his face.
I cry out and he turns, pulling a bronze and gold gun from his belt. “I’ll end this parasite for its petulant distractions.”
He raises the gun and I look down the dark barrel, preparing myself for the end. The end that I want desperately, yet am not ready to face. My hands shake and nervous energy floods my body.
CHAPTER FIVE
Subject: Raeth Arteres
Date: March 12, 2185
Species: Neumarian
Condition: Deteriorating
Treatment: Denied
Status: Mental interrogation
Method: Neuro-alterer II
The door swooshes open and the General holsters his gun before about-facing toward it. A sharp prick draws my attention to my arm, but all I make out is Semara moving quickly away, shoving something in her skirt pocket. My eyes grow heavy.
“Did you get anything out of her?” The Queen saunters between them and stands over me with probing eyes and swaying hair. Her sheet-white face splits into two and I shut my eyes to steady myself.
“No, Mother, the General was just going to—”
“—to inform you that the interrogator has miscalculated and now this parasite is no good to us. Only a shell of an animal.” The General believes Semara, and now he wishes to end my life before the Queen discovers his error. For a moment, I think about telling the Queen of his lies. It would secure Semara’s death, but at least the General would be punished also.
It will do no good. The Queen will never listen to the ravings of an insane parasite.
The Queen faces the man by her side, who is trying to retreat. “Interrogator, does the General speak the truth? Have you terminated the prisoner before the information could be extracted?”
Can she not see that I still live? Maybe I was imagining all of this. A princess of the Slags disobeying her mother, the Queen, and the fiercest warrior in all the fleet, the General, to save me? It’s insane.
Maybe I’m already dead.
“My Queen. I know the neuro-alterer will work. It is fading fast, but we can still extract information from the prisoner before it’s too late.”
It? That’s what I am to them, an animal to run tests on. Well, I won’t let them win.
“Proceed. But, I warn you, if she dies, you will be terminated.” The Queen speaks with no sign of mercy.
For a second, I feel sorry for the poor man, but if he dies, maybe my secret will die with him.
The grey coat approaches with the neuro-alterer rattling in his hands. My heartbeat quickens with each step until the device is firmly placed on my head and the screws squeal, drilling into my skull. My heartbeat slows. The beat comes steady and calm despite the torture I’m about to face. Static sounds in my ears. I blink until the silver and bronze colors churn into pale pink and blue. The waves slow and an image clears.
Dark hair, brown eyes, and a pale green shirt. “Pa?”
The man looks to his side and there stands my beautiful mother, dressed in her favorite pale pink dress. They smile at me with love. Was this death? “Ma? Is it really you?”
“Yes.”
I scan the small room and find the coffee table on which I once cracked my head open when my brother and I were chasing each other. The brown chair with the afghan Ma made me for Christmas. Warmth envelops my body with a sense of peace and happiness—something I have not felt in years. The scent of cinnamon wafts through the air and I glance into the kitchen to find my favorite pastry, shemal cakes, piled high on a plate on the counter. My mouth waters at the sight. The last time I had one was…before the war, before my parents were executed.
My heartbeat grows even slower and my muscles release all tension.
“What’s going on? If it dies—” The Queen’s voice breaks my perfect world, and even though I know it is only an image she has created in my head, I long to stay.
T
he image fades away from my mind. I want to fight to stay in my family home, but everything vanishes.
“We are losing it.”
I hear scrambling and metal scraping against metal. A dinging sound from one of the monitors completely shatters the fictitious world in which I ache to remain, but I don’t return to the airship. At least, I can’t see anyone. My eyes are sealed shut, my arms won’t move.
Nothing is responding.
“You idiot! You have killed her. Guards!”
Shuffling, ticking…but this time the clock does not report the time of my death. It is counting down for the interrogator.
“No. It wasn’t my fault. I—” The interrogator’s pleas fade down the hall.
I can’t hear my own heartbeat. Am I dead, my spirit forced to remain inside my body, or did Semara’s plan work?
“You’ve had a trying day, Mother. I can see the lines of frustration on your face. Why don’t I see to the guards removing this parasite?”
“Lines? What lines?” I hear the Queen’s voice quake for the first time. “Yes, I believe my assistant is waiting for me in the infirmary. General, the council must be informed of the interrogator’s failure. Call a meeting and inform them of his inadequacy. Demand that a new interrogator be available when we dock in Acadia.”
“Acadia?” Princess Semara sounds worried.
“Yes, I believe it is time to introduce my daughter to society.” The Queen thumps from the room. I try to open my eyes, to discover if I’m alone, but still my body does not respond. I do not feel the pain in my leg. I am trapped inside my own body, unable to move. Unable to swallow, scream, or cry out.
I strain harder and focus on my arm, but still, I can’t even move a finger.
“Don’t worry, Raeth. You’re going to be okay, now. I only have to move you to the engine room, and then I can give you medicine to heal your leg. The drug I gave you should be wearing off soon, but try to remain still. Remember, you’re dead.” Her voice is only a whisper in my ear.
“Princess Semara, we must remove this parasite’s body immediately.”
“What?” Semara shrieks.
“General’s orders. We are to incinerate that thing now.”
A zap runs through me and I know it is fear, but it stops abruptly. Burned alive?
“I will take care of it.” Semara sounds shaky.
“No, the General said we were to spare you such a demeaning task. We are to summon him if there is any trouble.”
The familiar squeaking of gurney wheels sends a shiver down the back of my neck, but I don’t move.
“No! I’m alive!” I try to yell, but I can’t move my lips to form the words. I wait for Semara’s argument, but it doesn’t come.
My body is lifted and I can almost feel the hand slide out from under me as they drop me onto the gurney like wood for a fire. If only there was more time. The bottom of my left foot tingles and I focus on wiggling my toes. Nothing.
My body jostles about as they push me down several halls. I hear a dinging sound and my body floats for a second. I’m on an elevator. An elevator to the engine room, where I will be burned.
The door slides open. My tongue brushes the back of my teeth. If I only had a few more minutes, I could speak.
“Why you two guards here?” a strange voice demands, coming to my side.
“Beat it, engine rat. We have orders from the General to dispose of this parasite.”
“Parasite too big. We bury her?” The man’s voice is now near my ear. How tall is he? Is he sitting on something?
“You’ve been inhaling too many engine fumes. Where do you think we can dig a hole on an airship?”
“We land.”
Who is he? I don’t care, as long as he stops them from burning me. Being buried alive has to be a better way to go. Maybe a sermechtapede will end me quick.
“Get out of my way, freak.”
My body jerks and I hear a bang. I don’t need eyes to see that the guard has used the gurney to knock the engine rat down.
I struggle to open my mouth, and the edge of my lip quivers. Then I realize my choice. Even if I could speak, should I? The torture would begin again, and there is a good chance I won’t be able to hold out this time.
The gurney stops abruptly and I hear the sound of feet. A door squeals and heat licks at my skin.
A whimper escapes my lips, but the one carrying me can’t hear my whimper over the roar of the engines. It’s too late to save me, but I hope whatever Semara gave me will dull the pain a little.
The fire roars in invitation and I am lifted into the air. Heat rages and I can now feel sweat pour down my back. The thin material of my dress clings to my body. My mouth twitches and I strain to open it, a response I can’t control. For the sake of my people, I’m thankful the drugs are still working or I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from thrashing like a wild beast being led to slaughter.
“Goodbye, parasite.”
CHAPTER SIX
Subject: Raeth Arteres
Date: March 12, 2185
Species: Neumarian
Condition: Deceased
Order: Disintegrate
Method: Engine Room
“Guards! The Queen summons you.” Semara’s voice floats on the surface of the oily air.
“Go. I dispose of waste.” The cryptic man draws closer and little hands touch my arm. I picture a child with a man’s voice.
“We were ordered to dispose of this parasite.”
My body whirls in the air and the little hand rakes across my skin and vanishes. “It not fit. Cut pieces so not clog our ship.”
Semara’s dress shoes click closer, only a faint tap over the sound of the engines. “The Queen is in a foul mood. I’d move quickly. Something about a breach of security.”
The arms stop for a moment, then they are gone. Air rushes up my back. My stomach lurches upward until I smack against the hard floor and my insides join me once more.
“Fine. Dispose of it quickly.” The guard’s voice grows distant with the sound of his booted feet.
The door swishes closed behind their exit. My eyes flutter, but remain sealed tight. Heat still blankets the right side of my body. A squeal echoes in the engine room and the heat subsides. Muscles in my cheeks spasm with strain until I finally force my lids open.
Two sets of small, gentle hands touch each arm. The princess and a little pug-faced man with rosy cheeks and a rusty beard fuss over me.
Semara stiffens and glares at him. “You need to go back to work.”
“I friend, no worry, bring gifts when your mother show fury. I wait in air vents, wishing to do more, but can’t.”
Semara’s eyes widen and her eyebrows stitch together in the middle. “You are the one who brings ice for my bruises when I’m punished, and leaves candy on my pillow?”
The man’s small brown eyes light up with obvious pleasure and I have a warm feeling he is kind, unlike the others on this airship. “Yes, yes, I Bendar, friend. Now help little one, before guards come back.”
Muscles on the side of my mouth twitch and I speak, but only a mumble escapes my numbed lips.
Semara gives me her warmest smile. “Don’t worry, Raeth. We’ll help you.”
Bendar leans over my legs to grasp both ankles, tickling my one real shin with his coarse beard. They struggle and nearly drop me twice, but they manage to lift me back onto the gurney. Semara surprises me with her strength.
Massive cylindrical tubes jut up from floor to ceiling. Orange light glows from a nearby iron door and the black cloud that swirled inside me begins to churn again. The flames roar inside and I feel a connection to it. But how?
“Be calm or your gift fry us. Then no need for all this fuss.”
“M-my g-gift? You know w-what it is?” Part of me longs to know what monster lurks inside me, but warning bells clang in my head and my brother’s voice echoes: No telling those Slags about your gift, or they’ll be using it against us.
“I not sure, but fir
e go berserk when take power from it.”
My mind reels, but I still can’t grasp what kind of gift, or curse, I possess. The gurney is wheeled to the other side of the bay where it is quieter. The numbness recedes down my body. As the drug retreats, my leg burns and throbs. I graze the wound with my fingertips. Pain shoots up my thigh and I stifle a cry.
Semara looks down and her nose scrunches from the stench. It’s bad, but at least dying of infection is better than being burned alive. No antibiotics or medicines will work now. Bendar’s lips droop and I know he realizes my fate, too.
“Bendar, you need to keep her hidden. I’ll go get medicine from the infirmary and we can heal her.”
Bendar pats her hand and moisture builds in his eyes. Semara snatches her hand away and begins to leave, but I grab her arm.
“I-it’s too late. P-please just stay with me. I don’t mind d-dying, I p-prefer it to living here.”
A lump moves up and down Semara’s throat and tears fall from her eyes. I realize now that she isn’t a plant, but a friend. A child lost after the Great War, just like me.
“Can I do anything?” Semara chokes out. “Or get you anything?”
My throat is so dry now that I can barely talk above a whisper. “No. I wish I c-could get off this ship before I d-die, see my home one last time, but s-since I can’t, I just w-want to be with you, my friend.”
Semara’s shoulders slump and she falls over me, hugging me close. “I should’ve saved you.”
Now tears fill my own eyes for the loss of my parents, my home, my life, and now the parting of a friend. “There was n-nothing you could do.”
A speaker crackles in the corner. “All personnel, report to your stations. We will be leaving for Acadia East momentarily.”
“So I will d-die in Slag territory, far away from my home. At least my p-people will be safe.” I find comfort in my sacrifice, but selfishly wish my family could know I’d managed to keep their secret.
“Must stay, and I know how.” Bendar hobbles over to a control panel and flips a few switches before waddling back. “We go quick.”