Resort Debauch

by Roxanne Smolen

Anneliese wriggled, trying to get away, clawing the broken carton beneath her. Her hands filled with packing material, and she threw the dusty fibers into his eyes. Then her fingers closed about something solid. She pulled the object free, carrying the motion over her head and down upon Cade's shoulder.

  He roared, rearing back. Anneliese scrambled over the fallen boxes, lurching stiffly to her feet. Still holding her club, she turned to face him.

  "Come on!” she taunted. “You thought to defeat me?"

  Cade staggered, one arm hanging low. Reaching into the debris, he picked up a jagged shard of the crate. Anneliese glanced at the object in her hand: a figurine of an unclothed woman carved of wood, perhaps two feet long. She looked at Cade, smiling grimly.

  He came at her suddenly, yelling as he descended the fallen wall, waving the piece of plastic as he would a sword. She darted back, her club taking the brunt of the blow. Swinging again, he sliced her arm. She felt the shock of acknowledgment, a gush of liquid warmth. But no pain.

  You can't hurt me anymore.

  With a heavy, downward chop, she snapped his sword in two. Cade blinked as if surprised, then lunged, stabbing at her—but Anneliese spun to the side and again brought the club against his shoulder.

  She heard a satisfying snap. Cade cried out, dropping to his knees. Anneliese cocked the club back and, with summoned strength, struck the back of his skull.

  The impact shivered up her arms—and for a moment, she was back in the cage, swinging the malpais pendant at Harmadeur's head. Fury exploded, unrestrained. She brought the wooden figurine down again.

  "Bastard! Do you know what you've taken from me? Do you understand what kind of woman I've become?” Screaming, she rained blows upon his prone body.

  Suddenly, light flooded the alley. Anneliese staggered back, blinking against unbearable brightness. A police cruiser hovered overhead. She saw a line of guards rush up the alley.

  Coming to stop her.

  No! she raged inwardly, then gasped, aghast at her emotions. She stared at the bloodied club, dropped it to the ground, set her jaw firmly as she stood before the advancing guards....

  And, incredibly, found a familiar face.

  "Father?” She took a step forward.

  He spoke, but she couldn't hear him over the roar of the aircraft. Then she sensed movement.

  Anneliese spun about. Cade stood behind her, eyes wild in his blood-streaked face. The box shard flashed like a knife overhead, stabbing down at her.

  But at the last moment, a hand grabbed Cade's wrist, arresting the movement. Anneliese screamed belatedly, fingers over her mouth. She looked to her savior.

  It was Sayer-Kihn.

  Dear God! What was Sayer doing here? What was going on? Her eyes dropped to her blood encrusted hands. To have him see her like this.

  But he was not looking at her. Sayer's eyes were locked upon Cade's, his face rigid with a fierce protectiveness she realized was meant for her—and something swelled inside as she heard his words again: you are safe with me.

  Abruptly, the guards jerked Cade from Sayer's grasp. Anneliese looked up into the chiliarch's face.

  Her father came between them, wrapping her in a rough embrace. “Thank God,” he murmured. “Thank God you're alive."

  Anneliese laughed through sudden tears. She hugged her father tightly. Above them, the cruiser pulled away, floodlights dancing with the darkness.

  A deputy appeared. “You are under arrest,” he said to Cade.

  "For beating my wife?” Cade sneered.

  "Your marriage to Miss Thielman was annulled two days ago. In any case, you are accused of a much more pressing crime. You are charged with willful and malicious destruction to the property of the Resort Debauch."

  Cade's face went slack. “That's absurd! You can't prove it!"

  The deputy said, “You led an intricate dance, I'll give you that. Nearly everyone involved in the explosion is dead. Not, however, the trader who sold you the tetryl."

  Anneliese nodded. “And not me,” she whispered.

  Her father drew her away. “I never gave up."

  "How did you find me?” she asked.

  "Your friend.” Her father motioned with his chin.

  Anneliese looked toward Sayer-Kihn. “You brought him?” Her head whirled. “But, I thought you were trying to keep us apart...."

  "When Wathe-Taln told me what you said about the stranger.... “Sayer bowed his head. “Anneliese, forgive me. I had no idea."

  Anneliese leaned away from her father's support. Relief washed over her in waves—and she realized it no longer mattered what happened to Cade. Sayer hadn't lied to her.

  Roughly, the guards led Cade away. He grunted, limping.

  The deputy laughed. “Next time, you should choose your victims more wisely.” He walked over to her father and clasped his hand. “It's been a pleasure working with you, sir. If you will come to the station, we can make the additional charges of attempted murder and misappropriating funds."

  "My daughter is in need of medical attention. For the moment, I'll take her back to my yacht,” Mortar Thielman said.

  Sayer took a step forward. “Anneliese, come home."

  "Now, just one moment, young man."

  "Father, wait.” Anneliese's heart beat like the wings of a bird.

  Sayer said, “I have no wish to come between you and your father. But is there not room in your life for both?” He stretched out his hand. “Anneliese, please. I am empty without you."

  She looked into his high-planed face, his golden alien eyes. “I will not serve you."

  "Nor I you. Come home with me."

  Smiling, Anneliese folded her fingers over his. She lifted her face, and as Sayer's lips touched hers, Anneliese's heart took flight.

  * * *

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