Defiance Rising (Book I of the Rising Trilogy)

by Miles, Amy

  I bound down a small slope, leaving the aliens scrambling up the other side. The earth unsettles around me and I ride it like a wave to the bottom. Misjudging the distance, I face-plant into the ground, choking on a mixture of snow and dirt.

  “Over here! She’s hit the ravine!” A voice calls from the top of the hill.

  “Crap,” I grunt as I push to my feet and stumble through the woods. My heart thunders in my ears as I gasp for breath. I can’t outrun them.

  Glancing back over my shoulder, I watch as a handful of Squaddies spill over the hill, only a few seconds behind me. I sprint through a small clearing and halt by the tree line.

  I spin, pull the rifle up to my eye and fire off a few rounds. The shots fly wide but I manage to send three aliens crashing to the ground as the bullets zing past. I inhale deeply, hold it for a couple seconds and then release a long, slow breath. I take aim, zeroing in on a tree branch hanging directly above the aliens.

  The blast shoves my shoulder back, jarring it in its socket. The bullet slams into a branch, burrowing deep into the flesh but it remains firmly attached to the tree. I grit my teeth and take aim again, knowing my window of opportunity is rapidly narrowing. With a second jolt to my shoulder, the bullet sends it tumbling to the ground.

  I hear shouts but don’t wait around to see if I hit anyone. Slinging the gun back over my shoulder, I turn and sprint into the trees, leaping over raised tree roots and fallen logs. Shadows kiss the far horizon as I burrow into the eastern forest, heading in the opposite direction of my camp. If I run much further, I will risk hitting the outskirts of the City.

  I collapse against a tree trunk, sucking in great gulps of air. The stich in my side flares into an agonizing spasm among my ribs. A chill seeps through my clothing as the temperatures continue to plummet with the fading light. Trickles of freezing rain drip down my neck, snaking down my spine.

  The forest only partially shields me from the elements. Gusts of winds whip through the tall trees with ferocious vengeance. I hunch my shoulders and brush wet strands out of my face. I glance around, listening for the sound of boots on the packed dirt floor.

  I lean my head back and look up through the trees that tower high overhead like naked arrows pointing to the darkened sky. Only a squirrel can climb high enough to reach those branches. Climbing is definitely not an option.

  Dropping my gaze to the ground, I survey the landscape around me. In the fading light, it’s hard to make out much more than clumps of rotting leaves whipped around by the winds, snagging in the hovels of gnarled tree roots. I can see a few bramble bushes scattered among the trees but nothing useful for hiding.

  I’m going to have to keep running. This thought leaves me weary before I even take my first step. I hunch over to fill my lungs, praying the cold air will restore some of my former energy.

  A grim thought sinks in as I realize I can barely see my hands propped on my knees. Dusk has arrived. There will be no one sent to search for me. I’m on my own, in unfamiliar territory. This night can’t possibly get any worse.

  Resolved to begin my run, I stand up but immediately freeze. A lone soldier stands less than ten feet from me. A mask is pulled up over his face to hide his features. I have no idea how he snuck up on me. My senses may be slightly dull from exhaustion, but I am far from careless.

  His laser gun hums, glowing a beautiful shade of emerald. He must know who I am.

  “Don’t try to run. If you do I will be forced to shoot.” I tilt my head at the musical lilt to the alien’s voice. It exudes peace and calm, a sore contradiction for the weapon he has targeted on my heart.

  I can’t help but stare into his eyes. In the dim light, they seem to glow from within. When he blinks, sparks appear to ignite around his pupilsbeautiful and terrifying at the same time.

  He reaches up and pulls his face covering away. I stifle a gasp as my gaze falls over the smooth planes of his face. Shoulder length hair, as white as a frozen lake in the depths of winter, flows over his broad shoulders.

  His sheer beauty steals my breath away. My eyes narrow as my fingers ache to reach for my gun. “Get out of my way.”

  He shakes his head. “Afraid I can’t do that. I’ve got orders.”

  “I’m sure you do.” I take a step away from the tree and he mirrors my movements, not allowing me any advantage.

  His gaze shifts down to my chest where the strap for my rifle crosses, lying against my breastbone. “Remove your weapon and toss it to the side.”

  “Not gonna happen.”

  “I’m not asking.” His gun buzzes as he fingers the trigger. Sparks shoot out from the cannon, fizzling out a couple feet from me.

  I stare down the alien as I pull the shoulder strap over my head and toss the gun out in front of me. “Further.”

  It takes three steps to reach my gun. Only two more will put me nose to nose with the alien. His watches my foot as I loop it under the gun and toss it to the side. “No, don’t-”

  I drop and sweep my leg around to knock him off his feet. He lands on his tailbone as I roll to my knees, elbowing him in the chest. With a flash of silver, I whip out my dagger, slice through the laser strap that runs across his chest and scramble away.

  I crumple to the ground as he yanks my foot. My forehead slams into the ground and a wad of dirt fills my mouth as he claws up my back for the laser. I buck under him, trying to resist, but I can feel the gun slip from my fingers.

  I roll away and leap to my feet, far more unsteady this time. He doesn’t give me a chance to recover before he tackles me back to the ground. I gasp for breath as I beat against his back, scratching at the exposed flesh of his neck.

  Sparring with Eamon could never have prepared me for this. The alien’s reflexes are lightning fast and well executed, unlike Eamon’s more cautious attacks.

  It’s not until he has me pinned me to the ground that I realize he’s not actually trying to hurt me. He’s merely restraining me.

  “Stop fighting. You can’t win.” His voice is low, non-threatening.

  “Watch me,” I growl, spitting up into his face.

  The instant he breaks eye contact, I toss my weight to the side and elbow him in the ribs. I roll over him and scramble to my feet. He grunts and effortlessly leaps up onto his feet, blocking my escape.

  “Either fight me or let me go,” I demand.

  He slowly circles around me, watching. I counter his actions, easily sinking into my training. “Kyan insisted you be brought to him.”

  I pause mid-step. “You know Kyan?”

  He rises from his slightly crouched position, puffing out his chest with obvious pride. “He was my trainer.”

  “Why are you hunting me?” I ask, wiping sweat from my brow.

  “He needs to speak with you.”

  “Nice way to send an invitation,” I growl, as I cast a glance toward my rifle. It’s too far out of reach but maybe I can get him to move a bit to the right so I can dive for it. “I’m not going with you.”

  He rises to his full height, planting his feet. “Kyan warned me you would say that.”

  I search his eyes for any sign of fear, even a trickle of apprehension, but all I see staring back at me is stark resolution. I have no doubt this man will beat me unconscious just to follow orders.

  I dive for my gun and pray that if I miss, death will come quickly.

  Chapter 10

  One second my fingers are around the barrel of my gun and the next I’m flat on my back, staring straight into the alien’s glowing laser. The heat radiating from the core drives back the cold night air.

  “How did you do that?” I gasp, clutching my ribs, which are no doubt already forming a bruise from that blow.

  The alien stares down at me. “You ask a lot of questions.”

  I snort as I glare up at him. “At least I’m not the one who’s too chicken to pull the trigger.” He frowns and the gun whirs to life

  Smooth, real smooth, I silently rant as I struggle to rise to my feet
. I stare him down, unwilling to blink for fear of giving him another advantage. The gun rises with me, steady in his hand. A strange tingling ripples along my shoulders as I hold my ground, but I ignore it.

  “So what now?” I challenge.

  His uncertainty plays visibly across his face. I take a step forward but freeze as the laser core flares from emerald to scarlet. I raise my hands. Fair enough. I’ve pushed my limits.

  “You’re going to have to kill me, you know,” I say with as much bravery as I can muster. “I refuse to go back.”

  He opens his mouth to speak but jerks his attention to the side as three Squaddies approach at a run. “There she is!”

  Kyan’s lapdog steps back, allowing room for his kinsmen to take over. I glare up at him as the aliens knock me to the ground. “Good work,” one of them calls over his shoulder. My captor nods and steps further back.

  Cold metallic clamps close around my wrists. “No!”

  I strain against the lock until the restraints slice into my flesh. Anger splinters my thoughts as I feel a new thorn branch tattooed around my heart. I welcome the heat this time.

  “What will you do with her?” Kyan’s messenger asks.

  A large burly soldier yanks me to my feet. His dirty hands cup my cheeks, rolling my head side to side to get a good look at me. “She’s heading back to the City. I’m sure we can find something useful to occupy her time until Commander Drakon arrives.”

  My vision snaps back into crystal clarity at his words, and I spit into his face. His leer shifts into a snarl as he raises his hand. I notice three of his teeth are missing before I try to duck. His fist slams into my jaw and my world careens as I whip around and slam into a tree. I scream as he plunges his hands into my hair and slams my face into the tree trunk. Chunks of bark grind against my cheekbone, tearing my skin.

  His fingers snag in my hair, ripping strands from my scalp. I stumble back, expecting to plummet to the ground, but instead land in someone’s arms. I scream and thrash, fighting to be free.

  Flames lick across my shoulders and shoot down my arms. Anger shifts into rage, easing the pain of the raw flesh around my heart. My thoughts darken as I cling to the knowledge that when I get out of this, I will make them pay.

  “Easy.” Kyan’s friend tightens his arms around my stomach, stilling my fight. I try to resist his attempt to pacify me, but the irritation rolling off him silences my reservations as I realize it’s not directed at me.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” he growls up at the vicious alien.

  The man’s chest rises and falls as if he’d run a marathon instead of beating up a defenseless girl. He clenches his fists, popping each knuckle in turn. “Commander Drakon won’t care if she’s a little roughed up, Beus.”

  “Perhaps not, but I do. Stand down.”

  A bushy eyebrow rises as cracked lips peel back to reveal those three missing teeth. “You’ve got not authority over me, dog. Commander Drakon supersedes Kyan.”

  I hold my breath as the other two soldiers close in around us. Their guns are no longer leveled at my chest, but at the alien beside me. I watch as their guns charge, glowing crimson. The cores rotate rapidly, spiraling into a collage of red as they finger their triggers. I glance up at Beus and am surprised to find him staring at me instead of his attackers. “I am sorry,” he whispers.

  Energy erupts from my chest, flooding down the length of my body. It sizzles against my skin, warming every inch of my chilled body. The air crackles with electricity around me. Steam rises in tiny wisps as trails of freezing rain along my neck turn to vapor. From the corner of my vision, I see my hair beginning to lift from my shoulders.

  An invisible force fills me with strength and the pain from my wounds fades as my nerve endings alight. I feel powerful.

  I look up at the sound of three triggers clicking back. My vision illuminates red with the full force of the lasers. “No!”

  The shackles around my wrists snap open as I throw out my hands and knock Beus backward onto the ground. I dive on top of him and bury my head in his neck. Heat scorches the tips of my hair as I shield him with my body. The sound of splintering wood echoes around me and my chest vibrates as a tree behind us slams to the ground.

  I raise my head and stare deep into the face of my enemy. I was wrong about Beus’ eyes. They aren’t just amber, there are flecks of dark chocolate mixed in as well. He stares at me, wide-eyed with shock.

  His chest rises and falls, lifting my weight with ease. I can feel his heart racing against mine and smell the scent of his adrenaline laced sweat.

  He doesn’t speak as he turns his head to the side. I feel the hitch in his breath and turn to follow his gaze. Three bodies lie crumpled among the remains of a large evergreen that fell just to the right of us. Blood seeps from their ears and noses. I can’t tell if they are breathing.

  “What happened?” I gasp, scrambling off him.

  Beus sits up, staring at me with a mixture of fear and awe. “How did you do that?”

  “I have no ide-” I flatten to the ground as a laser fireball screams overhead, setting the trees around us ablaze. Smoke rises into the air as I cup my hands over my mouth.

  “Watch out!” Beus lands on top of me and rolls us behind a tree as a second laser scorches a line straight across the ground we just occupied. “We have to get out of here. It’s not safe for you.”

  I rise, viewing the world in slow motion. I can see the fear on Beus’ face, but I don’t feel it myself. Energy courses through my veins, electrifying my senses. “No.”

  Instead of running further into the woods, I step out from behind the tree and plant my feet. The large bulbous head of a spider drone rotates as a triple barrel cannon locks onto me. It stands nearly fifteen feet high, its eight legs buried deep in the frozen earth. It’s hard to make out the contours of its hull in the dark of night, but there is no mistaking the deadly laser aimed straight at me.

  Logically I know I’m facing down death, but I can’t explain why I’m unafraid. No, I am more than that. I am mysteriously confident.

  The large cannon heats up, swirling with far more ferocity than the guns the Squaddies carry. The laser blows back my hair as I take another step forward, challenging the metal beast.

  “No, don’t!” I ignore Beus’ warning.

  Blinding light spirals down the barrel of the gun and torpedoes toward me. “Stop!” I shout, without flinching.

  Like a bomb detonating, a shockwave bursts from my hands, creating snow tornados as it races out from me. The invisible force barrels through the forest, bowing limbs and uprooting buried tree roots as it goes.

  Heat clusters around me as I hold the laser beam aloft with my mind. A trickle of sweat winds down from my brow, but I show no other signs of effort. Beus steps out from behind the tree, amazement deeply etched into his features. It’s not the red orb hovering over my head that he stares at, but me. “It is true.”

  “What is?”

  He steps closer, reaching out his hand, as if he wants to touch me, but pulls back instead. His lips purse as his gaze flits over my face. “You don’t know who you are, do you?”

  “Does it look like I do?” I grunt, feeling the laser drop an inch. The longer I hold it aloft, the heavier it begins to feel.

  “Kyan was right,” Beus mutters to himself. I can feel the weight of his gaze. “Just look at what you’ve done. I’ve never seen anyone with such control.”

  “What the heck is happening to me?” I shift my weight and the laser orb moves with me.

  He drops to his knees. “You’re becoming the Shadow Walker.”

  “You’re telling me I really am one of you?” I dart a glance at him, vowing to launch this laser at him if he doesn’t start giving me some answers.

  “Yes,” he begins to wring his hands. “Your birthright happened sooner than we expected. Kyan needs to speak to you before it’s too late.”

  His eyes widen with fright as he stares up at the awestruck alien leaning ov
er the console in the spider drone. I can see his hands holding some sort of device to his ear as his lips move rapidly.

  It’s only a matter of time until the entire City pours out into these woods. I’ll have every alien on my trail.

  “They can’t be allowed to find you. Not like this. You have to leave.” Beus’ voice trembles.

  I snort. “You think?”

  “No, it’s not just the machines you have to worry about. It’s everyone. You can’t trust any of my kind.”

  “News flash, dude, I don’t trust you.” I turn to face the spider, but keep Beus in the corner of my eye.

  I feel something shift within me, a new presence in my mind that I’ve never felt before. Something dark and sinister slithers slowly through my thoughts. Whispers of revenge, of death, breathe in my ear.

  “What will they do with me when they find me?” I ask.

  “Drakon will unleash you. You will massacre hundreds, thousands of your kind. You have no idea how powerful you are.” Beus pales. “You’re the weapon Drakon has been searching for, the tool to wipe your race off the face of your planet for good.”

  Illyria. I blink as a male voice penetrates my thoughts. Don’t give in to the Shadows. They will destroy you.

  “How do you know my name?” I shout, glaring at Beus. “And why the heck can I hear you in my head?”

  The corners of his lips twitch. “It’s not me.”

  I frown. “What’s going on?”

  He shrugs. “Try talking back.”

  Who are you?

  You already know the answer to that.

  “Kyan,” I hiss aloud.

  Beus’ eyebrows rise. “That’s not possible. His reach isn’t that great.”

  It is because your mind connected to my mind, Illyria. You have summoned me, not the other way around.

  A chill settles over my limbs and I feel the weight of the laser for the first time. An ache begins in my shoulders, pressing down on me.

  I can help you and your friends, Kyan whispers.

  What do my friends have to do with this?