by Selina Rosen
"Stop him!" Facto screamed and pointed his finger—at whom, no one was quite sure. There was a loud hissing noise and the Queen fell to the ground. The assassin was now obvious, and having lost all hope of going undetected, he started to fire another shot at his target. Facto ran across the room and tackled him, and his weapon went spinning across the floor.
Drew lay still on the ground. Stasha leaned over her, shaking her and crying.
"Drew, Drew can you hear me?"
Drewcila coughed, "I see a light, a bright light and someone is calling me." She coughed again.
"What are they saying?" Stasha asked through her tears.
"They're saying . . ." She coughed, and her body was racked with spasms. "They're saying 'come into the light, Drew, join us.'"
"Don't listen, Drew," Stasha cried. "Don't go into the light."
Van Gar made a face. "Give it a rest, won't ya?"
"My sister's dying, you beast!" Stasha screamed back.
"I wasn't talking to you." He kicked Drew. "Come on, asshole, get up."
Drew sat bolt upright, and Stasha grabbed at her chest and gasped in shock. Drew leaned over and kissed Stasha on the cheek. In response, Stasha slapped Drew on the shoulder so hard that she rocked backwards.
"Geeze! Learn to take a joke, sis . . . So, who was it?" Drew asked.
"Fitz," Van Gar said in disbelief. He looked at Facto. "I really owe you an apology."
Facto shrugged.
"Why?" Drew asked Fitz. "I thought you liked me."
"You're destroying the dignity and beauty of our kingdom. You've turned this country into a festering heap of dung, where pageantry and honor have no place . . ."
"I disagree." Zarco walked into the room.
"Oh, Honey, you're home!" Drew skipped up to him and hugged his neck. He hugged her back, tightly. "So, can we eat now?"
Later, they all stood around Margot's bed.
"So, why did he try to kill Margot?" Stasha asked.
"I thought I saw him walk out of the archway, but I immediately dismissed it because Fitz rarely goes into the courtyard. He has violent allergies," Margot said.
"He knew Drew hadn't seen him, but he couldn't be sure that Margot hadn't, and he couldn't take any chances," Facto said.
"He must have known I'd seen him," Margot said, shaking. "I'll never forget his expression when he held that bag over my face. He looked more scared than hateful."
"Well, I for one refuse to feel sorry for him." Zarco gave Drew's shoulders a squeeze.
"Please don't misunderstand, but I want to know why the laser shot didn't hit you. He couldn't have fired it from more than six inches away." Facto said.
"Oh, it hit me. At least it would have, but I figured there would be an attempt at the banquet. Too many people were pulling for it besides Fitz—including yourself. And since everyone kept insisting that the force behind the assassin must be a member of the nobility, I figured that walking into a room full of them unprotected would have launched me right into the stupid category. That's where my old friend Jack Knife came in. As you undoubtedly know, sometimes the best offense is a good defense. Jack has weapons of all types—even the defensive ones. I had him hook up a system keyed to my body chemistry. As long as I was in the banquet room, I was protected by my own personal force field."
"The workmen Fitz was so excited about! The lights . . ."
"There never were any new lights. It was all part of the security system," Drew said.
"My King," Facto said. "It is good to have you back. And may I say that you look none the worse for wear."
"My captors were very good to me," he said.
"Do you have any idea who they were?" Facto asked.
"No, I never saw their faces. They weren't a bad lot, they just wanted change. I guess Taralin gave them something I couldn't."
Van Gar crept quietly from the room. He started down the long hall, feeling very much like a fifth wheel.
Drew looked around and noticed Van Gar was gone. She pushed away from Zarco and started for the door.
"Where are you going?" Zarco asked.
"Give me a break. I've got to go to the can, if that's all right with you."
"The bathroom," Facto interpreted.
Drew nodded and was gone.
"I think we'd all better leave and let Margot get some rest," Stasha said.
"I've been asleep for weeks," Margot protested. "I think I've had enough rest."
"Even so, I have to agree with Stasha," Zarco said. "Come on, we can talk in my office."
"About your office, Sire." Facto began yet another explanation.
Drew caught up with Van Gar.
"Van!" He stopped and turned to face her. "Where are you going?"
"I don't know, Drew. Why don't you tell me?"
"Boy, you're in a mood."
"Give me a ship, Drew. I think you owe me that for putting up with all this palace shit and being your step and fetchem boy."
Drew had an angry retort poised on the tip of her tongue, but swallowed it. "I got you a ship," she bit out.
"One that flies—now. I'm tired of being a pawn in your waiting game."
"The ship is ready for take-off, and the pilot is on board."
"Why didn't you say so?"
"I was hoping you'd want to stay here with me."
"Why? For what reason?" Van Gar looked at her in disbelief.
"I was hoping that you could answer that."
"There is nothing for me here, Drew," Van Gar said. "I just want to go."
"Vista Port, dock 19." She hugged him and stood back. "Good luck."
"You, too . . . Taralin." He hugged her tight, then let her go and walked toward the exit.
Zarco looked around his office and made a face. Beer stains on the walls and carpet. Cigar burns in all the furniture. Papers stacked haphazardly everywhere. He sat down in his chair and stretched. "There's no place like home."
"It's good to have you back . . . but . . . well, I hope I'm not out of line, Sire, and don't tell Drew I said this, but . . . well, the country's healthy. I don't approve of her methods. But while she would never admit to it, she has a genuine care for the people, and she knows how to get things done. I hope you'll listen carefully to her council in future."
"Facto, if I have learned anything from my experience, it is not to take anything lightly. Drew got the job done because she didn't care whose toes she stepped on to do it."
Zarco looked up as Drewcila walked into the room. "What's wrong?
"Van Gar left. I'm gonna hit the sack. It's been a long day," Drew left, and Zarco felt his heart sink. She had let him stay in a cell for three months, and life had gone on. But the alien was leaving and she looked as if she had been crushed.
"Well, I'm looking forward to my own bed." Zarco tried to keep the disappointment from his voice. "I think I'll get a shower and turn in as well. It's good to see you all again. Good night."
Zarco went to his room. After showering and shaving he lay down on his bed—alone. He stared at the ceiling, hoping against hope that Taralin would want to spend this night with him. Just as he was prepared to give up, the adjoining door opened, and she walked in—still in the black pants and red shirt she'd worn to the banquet. She turned the lights down.
"You know something, Zarco? I wish I did remember you. Your love is the purest thing I've ever known. I've never had anything like that in my life." She walked seductively over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Show me, Zarco. Show me how to love. Make me remember what it was like."
She had watched her sister walk through the adjoining door, and knew it was time for her to go. She walked out the door and started down the hall with her bag in her hand.
"Stasha," a voice called after her. She turned around to face Facto, and he took a step back. "Where . . . Where are you going?"
"I think it would be best . . . well, if I wasn't around for awhile."
Facto nodded. "Perhaps. Well, I, for one, will miss you."
"Good-bye, and good journey."
THE END
For more great books visit
http://www.webscription.net
Queen of Denial
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17