Draco took a deep breath. He needed to tread delicately in this area. His race was known for staying well away from the chaos the universe contained. “That, dear Serra, is a long story.”
“But one I’m sure you’ll share with us, right?” Maddelyn’s voice had a slight edge to it. Draco was certain she was aware of more than she let on. But that discussion needed to be held away from small ears.
As he opened his mouth to reply, a loud siren belted through the air, rattling the items in the room briefly. He cocked a questioning eyebrow in Maddelyn’s direction.
“The start of the rations. Everyone not at the factory right now has to divvy up the food for themselves and the others.” She cast a brief look at Serra. “Not that there’s much to divide.”
Draco moved toward the door in determination. “Let me help.”
“NO!” The female voices shouted in unison, startling him into inaction.
Maddelyn laid a hand lightly on his arm. “You need to stay out of sight. If anyone saw you, they would surely alert the Raknorg, and that would not be a good thing.”
She had a point. His concern with repaying his debt to them had clouded his judgment for a moment. Draco looked down at where Maddelyn’s hand rested on his bicep. Despite the obvious hardships her life contained, her touch was delicate. The muscles of his arm flexed involuntarily and that annoying hum flashed in his head again. She quickly removed her hand and took a step backward, staring at her palm in confusion.
“As you wish,” he conceded evenly. Just the touch of her hand had stirred something within him. Something primal and unfamiliar. Quite unexpected.
The siren blared again, and Maddelyn took a deep breath. “I have to go, or there won’t be any food to be had.” She beckoned toward Serra. “Come on, sweetie. The faster we get this done, the faster we get back.”
Serra rolled her eyes. “It’s so hot and boring there. Why can’t I just stay here? Mr. Draco can take care of me, can’t you, Mr. Draco?” The child walked over to him and slipped her tiny hand into his oversized palm, her little face full of hope.
Draco grinned at the little girl before turning his attention back to Maddelyn. “Serra can remain here with me. I will protect the child in your absence, Maddelyn.”
Maddelyn blew out a heavy breath as her gaze bounced between the both of them. The conflict was more than evident in her eyes. And could he really blame her? She had just met him. “Serra, I think it would be best if—”
“Please, Maddie? Pretty, pretty please? I will be fine right here.” Serra’s batted her blue eyes as she begged to stay.
Maddelyn shot Draco an uncertain look. He locked eyes with her for a moment before he gave a small bow. “I am in your debt, so let me assist you. I can assure you Serra will be safe in my care. I give you my word.”
A few strained seconds ticked by before Maddelyn gave a curt nod of her own. “Fine. I won’t be gone long, and the heat of the day isn’t good for your lungs.” She stepped over to Serra and kissed the top of the child’s head. “Please behave. And perhaps take a nap for me?”
Serra screwed up her face in protest as Maddelyn hurried to the door and slung one last speculative glance over her shoulder. “Keep out of sight. For our sakes as well as your own.” As Draco gave a brief nod, she disappeared through the door into the bright flash of sunlight outside.
He turned his attention to the little girl at his side. The gray pallor of her skin was a sharp contrast to the youthful sparkle in her pale blue eyes. The material of her faded brown pants and pink t-shirt hung from her body like they were too large, making her seem even smaller than she was. What sort of disease had its claws deeply embedded in her frail body?
“What are we going to do until Maddie gets back?”
Draco cocked an eyebrow at her. What, indeed? The care of children was not exactly his forte. Still, he needed to do something to repay Maddelyn for her kindness. “Well, it sounded like Maddelyn wanted you to take a nap.”
The little girl wrinkled her nose. “She always wants me to take a nap. She worries too much.” Serra cleared her throat, and a barrage of dry coughs wracked her chest. When her eyes met Draco’s, he could clearly see behind the brave front Serra put forth. A painful battle raged within her little body every second.
She sputtered and gasped, the coughs bringing her to her knees. Concern flared within him as he bent toward her, her frail body contorted in pain. He gently patted her back, awkward in his attempt to comfort her. He had little experience with children, and even less with sickness.
When the attack finally ceased, she glanced up at him, the shadows under her eyes even darker. Small drops of blood dotted her lips, which she wiped away with the back of her hand. This child was beyond sick. She was dying. And from the looks of it, soon.
Serra blinked at him, her fatigue snatching the light from her eyes. “Please don’t tell Maddie, Mr. Draco. I don’t want her to worry any more than she already does about me.” She pleaded, her voice trembling with exertion.
Against his better judgment, Draco nodded his agreement. Far be it from him to deny a dying child her request. Even so, he had a suspicion that Maddelyn already realized full well just how sick Serra was.
He scooped the child into his arms and plopped her gently on the tiny bed against the wall. “If I agree to tell you a story, will you at least try to rest?”
Serra peered up at him and nodded weakly. She stretched out on the bed and burrowed under the covers. Draco pulled a wooden chair over from the crooked table and settled beside the bed, a story at the ready.
“Eons ago, before there was life as we know it, all that existed was the sun. The orb of light was massive, and it ripped the darkness of space wide open with its golden glow. But space was vast and endless, and the sun was lonely. So it drew to itself other bodies—planets, moons, asteroids. It reached beyond the veil and gathered them all close. Soon, the sun had its own family, which danced an orderly gait around it, ending the loneliness.” Draco stopped to take a breath, Serra’s face rapt with attention.
“But then everyone got bored and tired of the limitless darkness of space. So, the sun took a handful of sparks from its surface and scattered them across the universe, the small dots of light taking root in the sky.”
“Stars,” Serra whispered in a hushed voice.
Draco nodded. “That is right, small one, they were stars. Tiny points of light that decorated the sky. After that, everyone lived in harmony for awhile, enjoying the twinkling lights as they traveled their designated paths around the sun.” He leaned forward. “But then, the sun grew restless once again.”
Serra’s eyes opened wide. “What happened next?”
“Well, the sun was aware that the universe was vast, and longed to see its great expanse. But it couldn’t go anywhere without turning the family it had worked to create into chaos and destruction.” Draco straightened in his chair. “And so, the sun cultivated pieces of itself, embers of its very power. Some even say they were fragments of its soul.”
Serra pulled the covers up to her chin. “I didn’t know the sun had a soul.”
Draco smiled at Serra’s comment. “It is just a story, Serra. But who knows what the sun does or does not have? When was the last time you were able to talk to one?”
Serra raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “They talk, too?”
Draco chuckled softly. “Do you want me to finish the story?”
She nodded and waited for him to continue. “Very well. The sun gathered an immense amount of power, working very slowly in order to ensure the safety of its established family. And when the time was right, it sent the embers far away in the hopes that they would reach beyond what anyone could ever imagine. Perhaps they would even take root somewhere and create new families.”
“And what happened to the embers?” Serra yawned softly as her fatigue apparently caught up with her.
“No one knows for sure, but it has been told that some did indeed start other galaxies, in ot
her parts of the universe. Others talk of embers that were found and guarded as a seed of life itself. And one story mentions a race of people who evolved from one of the embers, lonely angels of the universe who have existed longer than any race known.”
Serra yawned again and her eyelids fluttered as she attempted to remain awake. “Which one do you believe is true?”
Draco leaned forward and brushed a lock of blond hair from her forehead. “I think each one is possible, but does it really matter? It is only a story, after all.”
“Only a story,” Serra murmured as her eyelids shut.
Draco stood quietly and moved the chair back to the table.
“That’s what you are.”
Serra’s sleepy voice startled him and he turned back to the bed where she lay. “What was that?” His mouth had turned to cotton, so dry he could barely speak.
“That’s what you are, Mr. Draco. An angel. I wished and wished for someone, so that Maddie wouldn’t be alone when I’m gone, and there you were, right out of the sky.” Serra yawned again and turned on her side. “So…tired…”
Draco stood frozen as he listened to the little girl’s raspy breathing even out with sleep. How could the child have guessed so close to the truth without knowing it?
The lonely angel…
A faint burning sensation prickled in his right hand. His fingers flexed as he brought the palm up in front of his face. The sun in the center of his hand glowed faintly, a dim orange-red outline. Had this happened before? Had Maddelyn seen it? That would explain the wariness that permeated her gaze when she looked at him.
Draco closed his eyes. As he focused his mental energies, the glowing sun faded. Since he was not entirely healed yet, his control over his powers had the possibility to slip. His presence had already put these two women in danger enough. No need to add fuel to the fire.
But until I’ve fully healed, I still need their help.
Draco took a steadying breath and sat in the chair he’d pulled back up to the table. All he could do now was wait until Maddelyn returned.
Chapter Three
The sun was relentless as Maddelyn sorted the rations. Beads of perspiration dotted her brow as her hands worked to divvy up the food among what was left of her friends and neighbors. Bread and dried meat were all that was to be had. The gardens had ceased their bounties with the drastic change in weather, along with the absence of minerals in the soil. The Raknorg were bleeding them dry, slowly killing them all as they stripped the planet.
Those that did not work in the processing facility were tasked with coordinating the supplies provided by the Raknorg to feed those that remained. Since the sickness had spread like wildfire among the people of her world, not many healthy folks were left. Maddelyn often wondered why she had been spared. Perhaps the universe had the cruel intention of making her watch everyone she had ever cared about suffer and die. And after Serra was gone…
A lump of despair formed in Maddelyn’s throat. She forced herself to swallow against it and pushed the thought away. Right now, other things loomed on her horizon. Like who this Draco Taralundar person was, and where he had come from.
Even though it seemed Draco had appeared out of thin air, Maddelyn realized that had to be impossible. And the symbol on his hand…well, there had to be a realistic explanation for that, too. There was no room for such thoughts of fantasy in her life. The reality of her world made that very apparent with each excruciating day.
But still, there was something about the way Draco’s amber-colored eyes seemed to glow when he looked at her. Almost as if he could tell what she was thinking. But that, too, was impossible.
Maddelyn wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and glanced around. A few Raknorg soldiers milled about, making sure that those who were left worked as they should. The majority of the army remained at the mining facility itself. That’s where they forced all the remaining residents who were not decimated by the sickness to do their dirty work for them. Those that had to take care of children or sick family members worked here.
Though the air was filled with the sounds of people working, little or nothing was actually said by anyone. The Raknorg frowned upon socializing when they had an agenda, it seemed. Even so, Maddelyn would always try to sneak in a few words with her friend Lena, who worked by her side. Lena’s mother had been growing weaker the past few days. The sickness took loved ones from everyone.
“How’s your mother?” Maddelyn whispered and glanced over her shoulder as the soldier moved away from their area briefly.
Lena’s green eyes brimmed with tears as she met Maddelyn’s gaze and shook her head. Maddelyn’s heart broke for the woman. Death was a permanent resident here.
Maddelyn dropped the knife she had been holding to slice hunks of bread for the rations, covered Lena’s hand with hers and squeezed. Lena’s shoulders shook with silent sobs. Maddelyn felt helpless to ease her friend’s pain. So many lives had been lost, here. It wasn’t right.
The muzzle of a gun hit the wooden surface of the table in front of them. Maddelyn jumped as all the items on the table clattered with the force of the blow. Her head snapped up to find the Raknorg soldier directly in front of her, his ruby eyes blazing as a thick vein throbbed under the thin skin that covered his skull. “Work, human. Do not stop unless you are told to.”
Maddelyn’s heart lurched to her throat even as anger festered in her gut. She released Lena’s hand and took up the knife again. Her hand trembled ever so slightly, which only made her angrier. Satisfied, the soldier plodded away.
After a few minutes of silence, Maddelyn dared a few words again. “I’m sorry, Lena. I wish I could do something.”
Lena nodded as she wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I like to think she’s in a better place. I’m even a bit jealous.”
“You don’t mean that.” Maddelyn fought to control the volume of her voice. She didn’t need to be singled out for reprimand again. But hearing the despair in her friend’s voice was almost too much. No one should feel that death would be a welcome escape from life.
Lena shrugged as she carved bits of meat from a large hunk for the other workers to sort. “I’m tired, Maddelyn. Tired of merely existing in this life. Tired of dwelling in fear of these demons from space that wrecked our home. I’d just buried my mother and they sent a soldier to question me about some anomaly in the sky last night. Can you believe that? Not to mention telling me that I’d be assigned a position in the mining facility tomorrow.” Her voice cracked as she chanced a pained glance at Maddelyn.
Maddelyn’s mouth went completely dry. This meant everyone had been questioned about last night. Even if no one had seen anything, suspicions would be up and everyone would be on high alert. That meant she and Serra could be in even more danger than she originally thought.
The systematic pacing of the Raknorg soldier gave Maddelyn a few moments to gather her thoughts. When he stepped away again, she continued her conversation with Lena. “What’s this about an anomaly?”
Lena sighed as she turned the hunk of meat at a better angle to cut. “I’m not even sure, but the beast seemed overly concerned about something that might or might not have blazed through the sky. As if I had any urge to be outside at night.”
Maddelyn sliced a large piece of bread and passed it down the line for sorting. They were going to have to be extra careful keeping Draco hidden. It would almost serve her better to turn him in to gain favor. But she couldn’t do that. He obviously needed their help, and she just wasn’t that callous. Besides, even though she didn’t really know him, there was this little thought that nagged her deep down that he was here to save her in some way. It didn’t make sense, but it was there anyhow.
“I know sometimes you let Serra go outside for a little bit at night. Did you see anything last night?”
Lena’s question caught her by surprise. “What? Um…no. I didn’t see anything. Besides, Serra is just getting way too sick to spend
any extra time outdoors anymore.” Wow. Way to sound convincing.
Lena cocked an eyebrow as she went back to her work. Maddelyn spent the rest of the time in silence. Wind tore at the tarps that covered the tents where they worked, threatening to rip the place to shreds. The sheer lack of hope permeated the air even more every day, making it heavy and tense. These people barely kept it together. And despite the fact that the Raknorg were to blame for everything going to hell, it was also true that if they left them right now, Ternos, and all who lived here, would shrivel up and die. Necessary evil. That was the Raknorg in a nutshell. A big, ugly, rotten nutshell.
Still lost in thought, Maddelyn barely acknowledged anyone else as she grabbed the rations set aside for her and Serra. Time hardly had meaning anymore, but she figured it usually took a couple of hours for the rations to be sorted. Used to be a process that took the entire day. Hopefully, Serra had taken a nap. The kid needed the rest.
After chancing an understanding nod in Lena’s direction one last time, Maddelyn hurried down the dusty street back to the shack that served as her home. She clutched a small hunk of bread and dried meat in her hand. The rations today had been meager. In truth, they had been growing sparser each day. A telling reminder of how little the Raknorg cared about the dwindling population. When the inhabitants finally outgrew their usefulness, Maddelyn had no doubt the Raknorg would leave those left to fend for themselves. Which basically meant the population would die as the alien beasts moved on to terrorize another planet in their endless pursuit of war.
Her gait quickened as she neared the door to her house. Leaving Serra alone with Draco hadn’t been on the agenda, but her gut instinct told her that the child would be in no danger. In fact, she imagined Serra had probably talked Draco’s ears off in her absence. The girl seemed completely taken by their unannounced guest, and Maddelyn couldn’t deny her own intrigue from him and his story. Still, she was eager to lay eyes on them again for reassurance.
Burn With Me (Legend of the Sun Whisperers) Page 3