Broken Skies

by Kay, Theresa

  “He does look a bit ridiculous, doesn’t he?” Her smile is warm and she looks at me with something like affection, as if, were things different, she would have welcomed me into her family with open arms. It would have been nice to have a mother like her. As it is, we can only share a common desire to protect the boy we both care about.

  TWENTY FOUR

  After a quick, bland breakfast, getting ready doesn’t take long and before I know it, I’m whisked out of the apartment and through the city, following behind Stellan and Vira. Lir walks slightly behind his parents but still well separate from me.

  His father admonished him about ‘appearances’ when he tried to hold my hand. Lir opened his mouth to argue, but I shook my head and indicated for him to walk in front of me. It was quick, but Stellan shot me a grateful look, his blank face softening into worry for just a moment before he turned his head. My stomach churns with every step and, even though I can tell he’s trying to stop, waves of anxiety are flowing from Lir to me.

  We aren’t taking one of the silver pods and, though I’m curious, I don’t question why. Maybe me walking through the city, unrestrained and following meekly behind is meant to show how non-dangerous I am. Or something.

  The other aliens stare at me as we pass, their gazes skittering over me like tiny bugs, itchy and uncomfortable. It’s not… vicious, not like they want to hurt me or anything, but there’s a lot of curiosity in their eyes and maybe some of them look a little disgusted or confused. That changes when Stellan brings us to a stop in front of one of the three towers.

  The two aliens flanking the door look at me with open hostility. They’re dressed in the same bland uniform as everyone else, but like the other aliens in the clearing, their jackets are decorated with symbols. Perhaps this is how they designate members of their military? They allow us passage though, after sending a few narrow-eyed glares at me. Stellan leads the way through a large lobby area to a bank of elevators. The four of us board one of the elevators and I slink into the corner, while Lir and Stellan stand stiffly near the door.

  Seconds later, there’s a ding and the doors slide open. Stellan steps out first, then Lir who links arms with Vira. I follow behind, my head down, studying my surroundings with subtle glances from the corners of my eyes.

  Two aliens in light gray uniforms stand outside the door we are approaching, snapping to attention as our group gets nearer. The respect isn’t for me though. A simple nod from Stellan and the two soldiers relax slightly and pull open the door. Stellan motions for me to enter, in front of everyone else for the first time. As soon as I enter the large, high-ceilinged room I wish I were still in the back.

  I don’t know what I expected but it’s certainly not what I find. It’s a large atrium with seats lining the walls in staggered sections. There’s a raised dais in the center of the room with a large semi-circular table facing outward into the room. On the outer edge of the circle and just slightly elevated above the table, four chairs sit. Lir’s family members file toward the four chairs. When I move to follow, Lir shakes his head at me and motions toward a single chair sitting within and facing the semi-circle.

  I walk to the chair, but I don’t sit. No one else is in the room yet, but already my heart rate is climbing and my palms are sweaty. Once Stellan has sat, Lir and Vira follow suit, one on either side. As if on cue, the room begins to fill, aliens filing in from the sides of each row and filling the seats as they go along. Last to enter are five men who walk up to the table in the center, one sitting in the larger center chair and the other four sitting two on either side of him.

  Soon, everyone is sitting but me. I try to catch Lir’s eye, but he stoically ignores me as do Stellan and Vira. The alien in the center seat at the table, gestures for me to sit, a glint of something in his eyes that I can’t read.

  I sit and place my hands in my lap, fighting the urge to wipe my sweaty palms on my pants.

  “You have called this meeting Stellan,” says the center alien without turning around, “Please state your reason.”

  “This girl assisted my son, Vitrad” says Stellan. “She would like to make a request of us.” So formal, almost as if scripted.

  So this is Vitrad Linaud, alien military leader, Lir’s uncle and the person Vira so desperately warned me against. He doesn’t look so frightening. Tall and slim with golden hair and silver ringed pupils.

  His eyes have not moved from me. “Is that so? And bringing a human into our city was your idea?”

  Lir speaks up. “No, that was my doing.”

  I fidget under Vitrad’s heavy gaze, meeting his eyes and quickly looking away. There’s a subtle gold ring around the flashing silver of his eyes that I hadn’t noticed before. As those hard eyes drill me to my chair Vira’s fears seem much more understandable. Whatever else is going on, Vitrad is not on my side.

  “But why?” His voice is mocking. “I still do not see any logical reason for her presence here.”

  “When I was…left behind, the unit I was with took her brother prisoner. She is requesting that he be returned,” says Lir, his voice faltering slightly.

  “Are you referring to the human we have in custody? The one who killed Teskov, your friend and my daughter’s bondmate? The one who has admitted to knowledge of a forthcoming human attack?” What is he talking about? Flint said Dane had plans, but not that anything was going to happen soon…

  Lir’s eyes dart to me for just a second before he answers. “Yes.” The simple syllable sends murmurs throughout the room.

  A slimy smile crawls across Vitrad’s face and triumph flashes in his eyes. “And yet you bring one of them here…Did it ever cross your mind that she might be a spy?”

  Lir gapes for a moment and his brow furrows in confusion, just enough to shatter the illusion of his confidence. It appears Vitrad has gone off script. Not only was Lir not expecting that ambush, he’d never actually taken that idea into consideration and he has no possible response. Not without revealing the bond between us at least.

  My eyes shoot back and forth between Lir, who is still just standing there and Stellan, who is slowly going pale while watching the exchange. When my gaze lands on Vira, I give her a subtle nod, permission to tell my secret to protect her son.

  Vira rises and sends me a reassuring smile. “Vitrad there is more to this situation than my husband and son have already stated. It is our belief that the girl is not fully human.”

  Vitrad tilts his head and narrows his eyes at her. “Then what is she?”

  “She is a hybrid. E’rikon and human.” Another, louder murmur travels through the room. Vitrad is the only one who looks unaffected.

  One alien stands up in the back of the room. “That is impossible. That program is a known failure.” Voices of agreement sound throughout the room, many others standing up to voice their concerns.

  Vitrad waves them all off and waits for the noise in the room to die down before speaking again. “Explain yourself, Sister,” he says. “That is not a statement we can afford to take lightly.”

  Vira looks to me, but I don’t know what she’s asking now. “Her hair is one thing, but the main reason is what’s inside her, what she can do.”

  “What she can do?” Vitrad tilts his head again and studies me.

  “She can link to my daughter.”

  More voices sound out in surprise, the whole room growing noisy. A new light grows behind Vitrad’s eyes and a sinister smile crawls across his face. The look is quick, gone almost before I notice it, but a cold feeling of dread curls in my stomach. What’s worse is that Vitrad never, not for one second, looked even remotely surprised. He knew. He knows. His eyes meet mine and he looks at me as if he’s a hunter and I’m his prey.

  “Not possible,” says Vitrad, waving Vira off. His expression closes off, a mask of disinterest falling into place.

  Lir speaks up next, ignoring the not so subtle grip his mother has on his shoulder. “It’s quite possible uncle.” Lir pulls up his sleeve and holds out his ar
m, putting his kitu on display. “I was hit with a pulse, my kitu non functional. Without her I could not possibly have survived.”

  These aliens sure like to mutter in surprise. Or maybe this has just been a very interesting day for them. Vitrad waves his hand again. What is with this hand waving thing? The room quiets and Vitrad stands for the first time.

  “Let us test this theory of yours then.” He walks around the table and approaches my chair, his face closed and nonchalant. When he draws closer he leans down until he’s staring directly into my face. “Well?”

  Wide-eyed and unsure, I just sit there. “I don’t know what you want me to do,” I stammer.

  Vitrad straightens and walks back to the table. “You are wrong, she is nothing but an ordinary human.”

  “But—” Lir shoots to his feet. The two guards come up on either side of him and pull him back down.

  Vitrad spins around to face Lir and his family, the first time he’s really looked at them since he entered the room. “You, Steliro, are a traitor. Bringing this human here.” He stalks closer. “And you Stellan and Vira, I expected more from you. Harboring her?”

  Redness creeps up Lir’s necks and into his cheeks. “I am no traitor. There’s a reason—”

  “Silence!” Vitrad bears down on Lir, stopping when he towers over Lir’s seated form. “This is my room, you are here as a courtesy. I suggest you hold your tongue.”

  Stellan rises until he is eye to eye with Vitrad. “This may be your room Vitrad, but you do not rule here.”

  “And neither do you,” says Vitrad. Stellan glowers, but doesn’t respond and Vitrad turns his attention back to me. “Take the girl into custody.”

  My stomach twists and ice water trickles into my veins. The two aliens flanking Lir, move around the table and take position on either side of me.

  Lir stands up quickly. “There’s no need for that.”

  “Now Steliro,” says Vitrad, a cold grin forming on his face. “This is for the best. We know the humans are preparing to attack. It is only logical that we take her into custody so she cannot warn them we know they are coming.”

  Lir tries to step to me, but is blocked by a guard. He steps up to Vitrad instead. “No. This is not what we agreed upon. I forbid it.”

  What they agreed upon?

  Vitrad’ eyes flick down to Lir’s wrist and he sneers. “I think your issue has made you confused. Perhaps you should head down to the medical section and get your head back on straight.” The sick glee in his eyes makes me shudder when he turns them to me. “Take her.”

  “There is no need for this,” says Lir, his voice beginning to rise. “She is contained here. She is no danger to us.”

  “That’s what you don’t understand. Contained or not, she is a danger to us all.” Vitrad motions to the guards. “Besides, was not the human initiative your proposal? Were you not the one that advocated the obliteration of the human race? I seem to recall it was your vehemence to bring Teskov’s killer to justice that has lead us here today.”

  The obliteration of the human race? What? My head jerks toward Lir. Betrayal, ice cold and complete, coils in my stomach when he won’t meet my eyes.

  The two guards grab my arms and pull me back. I send out frantic signals, trying to make it work, prove what I am. But nothing works. I don’t know how to access the link and I’ve never hated that fact more. My feet kick out and I get one arm free. I pull against the other hand on my wrist and I can feel my breath coming faster. Blackness crawls on the edges of my vision and I’m helpless to stop it. My heart pounds against my ribs, but not even the adrenaline is enough to free me. As my body shuts down, I see Lir struggling against two other guards with one hand out, calling my name.

  TWENTY FIVE

  When the world returns, I’m nearly blinded by the stark white of the room I’m in. White walls. White ceiling. White sheets on a white bed. My head pounds behind my eyes and I raise my arm to rub my temples. It only gets about halfway up before it’s stopped by what can only be a restraint. I wiggle my feet, but they’re locked down too. As my breath speeds up again, I close my eyes and focus on calming myself. I do not have time for another break down.

  Besides me, the room is empty. And cold. Goosebumps rise on my arms and trickle down my body. Except for the light sheet, I’m naked. Although the thought concerns me, I don’t focus on it, instead studying the room around me.

  The walls are circular and a large mirror takes up nearly half the wall space. Must be a one way mirror. Now my nakedness bothers me. The thought of a bunch of aliens studying me on the other side of the mirror… I shudder.

  Time passes slowly and I have nothing to occupy my racing mind. Thoughts and ideas bounce around and I sing softly to myself in an effort to stay calm. My effort is failing though. The longer I lie here alone and restrained the more my heart beat increases and the faster my breaths come. I squeeze my eyes shut. Maybe if I can shut out that glaring white it will get better. Gritting my teeth I chant to myself to calm down in my head.

  I don’t know how long I lie there, but a portion of the wall slides away and a gowned, gloved and masked alien enters. His pale blue eyes hold no kindness for me and I cower away from him as he approaches the bed. I don’t notice the ring shaped object in his hands until he starts sliding it over my head and fitting it in place over my temples. He shakes it, I assume to make sure it’s secure, and then nods towards the mirror. There are definitely people watching me.

  When he tightens the restraints and steps away from the bed and just watches, I panic. I don’t have time to fear for long.

  Bright light screams into my head and I close my eyes, trying to shut it out. But it’s not really there and closing my eyes does not bring any welcome darkness. The light sharpens, burning across my brain and shooting pain through my entire body. When it darkens, I start to breathe out in relief, but almost as quickly it pulses brighter, even more painful than before. I hold out against the pain, biting my tongue and willing it away. On the third pulse, the brightest yet, I can’t hold back my screams anymore.

  I lose count after the fourth pulse and am almost thankful for the restraints as they keep me from clawing my eyes out. The room fades back into place and I have tears running down my face. The alien still stands observing me and I turn to him. My voice, hoarse from screaming who knows how long, doesn’t even sound like me.

  “Please.” It’s the only word I can say.

  He steps forward and hope rises in my chest. His hands pull my eyelids back and he shines a small flashlight into them. When he reaches for my wrist, my hope dies a slow death. There’s no pity— no humanity— in his face, he’s just taking my vital signs. My stomach drops when he steps back from the bed and nods to the mirror again. I don’t bother trying to hold anything back and start screaming immediately this time.

  Each pulse of light smashes against the narrow pathway of the link like a hammer. Each clang of the blunt tool they’re using to smash their way into my mind reverberates through my entire body, brewing and churning with heat. The light is too hot for my fear, but my anger thrives on it, growing and expanding until my veins are filled with molten lava. There’s no outlet for it though, so I burn from the inside out.

  Ages later the pounding in my head stops and my eyes struggle to readjust to the room, the normal illumination seeming closer to darkness to my overstimulated brain. My face is wet, not just tears either, though those do drip down my temples and into my hair and ears. There’s a warmer liquid trailing out of my nose— and my ears— thicker and coppery as swiping my tongue over my upper lip determines. Blood then.

  I’m alone again, silence surrounding me like a blanket. Exhaustion settles into my limbs and I can’t even bring myself to turn my head when the door slides open again. What does it matter? I’m never getting out of here.

  “I see you fight the kiun just like your brother,” says a voice that skitters down my spine and settles into my stomach. Vitrad. His face appears in my vision, leaning
over me with a cold smile. It takes all my effort to make sense of his words. “Resisting it has not done him any good.”

  Words scrape past my dry throat. “Hasn’t done you much good either I imagine.” There’s some fight left in me after all, if only in reaction to his cold, satisfied smirk.

  He snorts. “I suppose you are correct, but this process will go so much smoother if you would only cooperate.”

  “And what would my cooperation get me?”

  “Your life.”

  “A life as a lab rat? No thanks, I’ll pass.”

  “I am certain I can think of something to entice you. Until then, please enjoy you accommodations Miss Mitchell. I shall see you again soon.” The brisk click of his boots echoes around the room. As the door begins to slide shut behind him, he leaves me with an even worse thought than the return of the kiun. “I certainly hope you are not depending on your bondmate to save you.”

  Vitrad knows about the bond. How? Was it Lir or Stellan? An attempt to save me or to condemn me? Lir made an agreement with Vitrad. What could he have possibly agreed to? Does it even matter now that it resulted in me being strapped down in this room of nightmares?

  A sound works its way up my throat. It starts as a puff of air and evolves into a chuckle. Not really a funny situation, but something has to come out, slide past that pressure valve in my brain, and I’m about screamed out. The burning anger has steeped and brewed into something else and every pulse of light just drove it deeper, slicing into my very core until a dark hatred has started congealing deep inside me.

  Sometime later, I find a restless sleep.

  * * * * * * *

  The nightmares are back. Held at bay for too long, they’re even worse than before. What was scattered images has become a reenactment in which I am both observer and participant. My body flows through the same motions as it did that day…

  Water sloshes against the edges of the laundry tub and wets my bare legs. With a huff, I turn off the pump and toss the pile of clothes into the water. I add soap and scrub a shirt against the washboard.