Fanian planned to retire as a bounty hunter and make the necessary upgrades to his spaceship.
As he crossed the threshold and entered the lodge, cold air draped over him. The sweat dotting his skin immediately dried. He inhaled deeply of the clean air, knowing the smell would be much different when he reached the communal area.
Another hunter entered and pushed past him with a low grunt. Fanian narrowed his eyes on the hunter’s back. With the mood he was in, he could’ve ripped the hunter’s head from his shoulders. The only reason he didn’t was because of the collar and the pain it would elicit if he broke one of the rules. In Level One, hunters were not allowed to harm each other. That rule didn’t apply in subsequent Levels, not that he expected to stay in The Hunt that long. In and out, that’s what he hoped for.
Fanian quickly forgot the other hunter as the Dar’E maneuvered past him. One look at the Dar’E’s muscled frame, and Fanian knew he’d make a formidable opponent. The Dar’E didn’t glance at any of the other hunters. Normally, Fanian wouldn’t engage, but there was a matter they needed to discuss.
Fanian grabbed the Dar’E’s arm. The Dar’E stilled. The hair covering his face and neck stood on end. A warning bell went off in Fanian’s head, but he ignored it, sure the Dar’E wouldn’t want to end his night in a convulsing fit.
“I want the mother and her children,” Fanian said bluntly.
“Remove your hand from my arm.” The Dar’E’s warning came in a low rumbling voice.
The Dar’E was much larger than Fanian. The size of his arm alone was bigger than Fanian’s thigh. The Dar’E could hurt him, but killing him was a different matter entirely. Fanian doubted the Dar’E even knew what species he was. Givveks weren’t native to this galaxy, and with his remaining people scattered throughout the universe, they were few among many.
Fanian released the Dar’E’s arm as a goodwill gesture. He thumped a balled fist to the middle of his chest, a universal greeting in this galaxy. “Fanian.”
The Dar’E returned the greeting but didn’t offer his name. Some hunters worked in groups, but most were solitary and didn’t enter The Hunt to make friends or exchange names.
“You’re following the large group of prey,” Fanian said. “I have an interest in the mother and her children.”
When Az’ud had learned this round of The Hunt was filled exclusively with human prey, he’d put out a contract for a hunter to procure him one. The payday was something Fanian couldn’t pass up.
“And this matters to me, why?”
“You follow them. No other hunters can get close. The rules state we can’t poach your prey if you actively hunt them.”
The Dar’E stared at him with dark eyes that threatened a fight Fanian wouldn’t back down from if initiated. They’d both end up convulsing on the ground if it came to it.
“I’m well aware of the rules.”
“Is your plan to take them all?”
If that were the case, he might not have a choice but to kill the Dar’E after all. He would have to be quick about it, suffer the consequences afterward. The punishment, albeit painful, would be well worth the result. He would heal and recover in time to continue The Hunt tomorrow. With the Dar’E out of his way, the mother and her children would be his. They could be in the processing center by tomorrow night. Fanian liked that plan very much.
The Dar’E grunted. Fanian narrowed his eyes, letting them roam up and down the Dar’E’s formidable body. “I think you can afford it, but that would be costly.”
The Dar’E’s expensive clothes were made to protect him from the elements. The fibers in his bodysuit shielded him from the harsh sun. Everything about him screamed of wealth and credits to spend. “And greedy.”
When Fanian made a left, the Dar’E would make a right toward the executive suites. There he would have catered meals. He would shower with real water instead of relying on a sonic shower. His clothes would be laundered and plentiful, his every need taken care of.
“If I’m greedy, that’s my business,” the Dar’E growled.
This was the type of situation where Fanian would typically use his gift. Some called it a compulsion; others called it an allure. It was a little of both, but his species called it zvodny. It meant to tempt. The only problem was that it was temporary. Even if he used his gift on the Dar’E tonight and told him to move out the way allowing Fanian to claim the mother, the effects wouldn’t last until the morning.
“Then claim who you want and get on with it. Some of us have business arrangements to fulfill. My buyer doesn’t care what Level I acquire his mate. His only requirement is that she be able to provide him with children. The mother is a perfect choice.”
“You’re a contracted hunter,” the Dar’E sneered.
Fanian didn’t mind how the Dar’E viewed him. Some people thought contracted hunters were worse than the opportunistic hunters. Opportunistic hunters were just as their name implied. They went into The Hunt, blindly, as scavengers, seeking out the weaker and easy prey. Prey they could easily capture in Level One, the cheapest round of the game. The prey caught there were mostly used as domestic help, lower level mates, or pets.
Contracted hunters worked for individuals who couldn’t participate in The Hunt themselves and only cared about one thing. Credits. They would do anything to keep the credits flowing into their accounts. Lie, cheat, steal. Nothing was considered off-limits. Not even hunting a mother and her children
Fanian ignored the disdain in the Dar’E’s voice and the disgusted look on his face. “You don’t want Level One prey. I know your type.” Fanian smirked. “You’re looking for someone valuable. Level Three prey. Move out the way so I can claim the mother. Not all of us have power, prestige, and credits handed down to us. Some of us have to work hard for each scrap we’re given.”
The Dar’E snarled, “Do I know you?”
Fanian could’ve mentioned that the elusive owners of Turolois were Dar’E. Which family he didn’t know, but it didn’t pass his notice that the Dar’E standing before him shared the same species. Coincidence? Fanian didn’t believe in coincidences.
Hm. Maybe a relative? A friend? Someone who could bend the strict rules?
The Dar’E took one step back and glared at one of the other hunters walking by. It was apparent the Dar’E didn’t like the direction the conversation had turned.
Fanian could’ve pressed the Dar’E about Turolois. With the power of his voice, the Dar’E would tell Fanian everything he wished to know.
Another hunter sauntered by. Close enough to hear what Fanian discussed. Too many listening ears.
No. Any information gathered today would not be shared with others. This conversation would continue another day. Fanian smirked. “No. I don’t know you at all, Dar’E.”
Without another word, Fanian turned on his heels and left.
Chapter Two
Miranda eyed Ben through half-lidded eyes. She’d been pretending to be asleep for hours now, willing her breaths to come out steady and slow, which was hard since her heart hammered painfully against her ribs.
Finally, Ben’s head lolled to one side, and a light snore came from the back of his throat. Experience told her she didn’t have long to enact her plan. Ben only slept a few sporadic hours a night. She didn’t know how he then had the energy to stay awake and alert all day to take them on miles-long walks through a sweltering jungle.
With watchful eyes on Ben, she quietly and quickly pushed herself up on one arm and gathered Adam, Lexi, and Lexi’s diaper bag close to her breast with the other. Ben was sitting—never laying—with his back against a tree. Even in sleep, he didn’t seem relaxed. Any noise from the surrounding trees and he would wake, be on his feet and ready to fight within seconds.
Then there was Esme. Miranda let her gaze roam to the right where Esme slept, protecting her kids from the other side. A week ago, Esme hadn’t known Miranda or her kids, but she’d helped to protect them too. Both Ben and Esme would defend her kids
with their lives.
And that’s why she had to leave them.
It was for their own good. That alien Esme met had said as much.
If Ben and Esme stayed with her, they would never escape from this planet and return to Earth. Miranda didn’t need that on her conscious. She had to give them a chance to survive. Even if it meant doing the unthinkable. Trying to survive this on her own.
Miranda pushed the pod icon on her comlink. The ground slid back. She braced her children against her, squeezed her eyes shut, and suppressed a yelp as weightlessness took over. Her shoulder and hip slammed onto the bottom of the pod. The sleeping bag didn’t help to soften the fall at all. She looked up in time to see the top of the pod closing and the ground sliding back into place.
Miranda blinked, letting her eyes adjust from the world’s darkness above to the bright lights along the system of tracks. Everything was visible through the see-through pod. Before she could second guess her decision to leave and what it meant for her and her family, the pod lurched forward.
Too late to turn back.
Adam stirred against her chest, and Lexi squirmed around.
Adam woke with a drowsy gaze. “Momma?”
“Shhh, my sweet boy.”
Miranda loosened her grip to check them over. Lexi’s small face was pinched, but her eyes remained closed. She was a hard sleeper, just like her dad. Adam was desperately trying to open droopy eyelids. In a few more minutes, he would win his battle and wake fully.
She sat up, cradling them in her lap. She pushed Adam’s hair from his forehead. “We had a little fall. Are you hurt?” she whispered so as not to wake Lexi.
Adam rubbed the side of his head. “Just my face.”
His head had slammed into her chest during the drop. Her ribs hurt with each breath she took. Thankfully, he didn’t have a bruise, but she kissed his temple anyway. “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry.”
Adam finally opened his eyes fully. “We’re in the ground? Where are we?”
“We’re continuing our adventure.” Technically she wasn’t lying to him. They were on an adventure.
The pod came to an abrupt stop, and the ceiling opened. Miranda tightened her hold on Adam and Lexi as a force of air suddenly pushed them up and out onto the ground. They rolled, with Miranda taking the brunt of the impact. They rolled until they were covered in mud, and finally slowed to a stop. She landed on her back with the kids resting on her chest. She coughed, struggling to breathe. Everything hurt.
“That was fun,” Adam squealed.
“Yeah, right. Fun,” Miranda said weakly. “Yay! We’re having so much of it.”
Adam dug his elbows in her chest and pushed away. If she weren’t currently experiencing blinding pain, she would’ve stopped him from scrambling from her grasp.
Adam sat on the ground and glanced around. “Where are Esme and Ben?”
She hadn’t figured out what to tell him. Her only thought had been to give Esme and Ben a fighting chance at survival. She didn’t want to tell Adam yet another lie. She’d told him so many since they’d gotten here.
We’re on a camping adventure. I know I said we had to wait until summer to go camping, but look. It’s summer here!
This metal collar around all of the grown-ups necks? They’re necklaces. Aren’t they pretty?
Your new wristband? I bought it for you. Do you love it?
Adam had smiled and believed every lie that spilled from her lips. What good would telling him the truth do besides worry and scare him?
Hey, sweetheart. You see that sun that’s brighter and oranger than the sun you’re used to seeing? That’s not Earth’s sun. Oh, and that pastel looking planet in the sky next to it? That isn’t Saturn. I know, I told you it was, but I lied. And the planet we’re currently on? It’s not Earth, baby. It’s called Turolois. And it only gets worse! Those people that jumped out from behind the trees and threatened to take us away aren’t men in costumes. They’re aliens, and they’re hunting us! Do you think you could not freak out while I decide how to save us from this hellhole? Awesome, baby. Mommy loves you.
No, she wouldn’t be telling her four-year-old son any of that.
She schooled her face to hide her pain. “We had to split up.”
He frowned. “But why?”
She pushed herself to sit up. By the grace of God, Lexi was still sleeping and cuddled in her lap.
“Because they have a different camping package than we do.” She pushed an icon on her wristband, er, comlink, and the sleeping bag began to fold.
Adam’s bottom lip quivered and his eyes watered. “But I like being with Ben and Esme. Ben is so tall, and he let me sit on his shoulders. I was so high up. I could see everything.”
“You’ll have to be a big boy and walk from now on.” She stored the sleeping bag in her comlink.
She hated the words even as they left her mouth. Adam was still so little. She would never be able to keep the same pace Ben had set, but she had to try. They had to keep moving. Staying in one place was just asking for trouble. They would be sitting ducks for aliens trying to capture them. Spencer and Mary Ann had decided to stay in one spot, and were never heard from again.
“This means we can take our time and do a lot more sightseeing,” she added quickly. “We’ll explore some of the natural wildlife habitats. We have an exploration camping package. Ben and Esme have to continue on their hiking package.”
“I liked hiking, though. Can we change our package?”
She let out a snort and ruffled the top of his head. “You liked it because your feet hardly touched the ground. Ben carried you around. Trust me. This is a way better package. We not only get to explore the wildlife, but we’ll also get to experience how the animals live too.”
Adam scrunched his face. “But I don’t recognize any of the animals on this campground. They’re so different from anything I’ve seen or read about before.”
“I know. I know. But that’s why we’re here. I wanted you to learn new animals.”
A small dark blur dashed into a thicket of bushes near them. Adam pointed toward it. “Can I learn about that animal?”
“Sure. Let’s see where it got off to.”
She pulled the infant sling from Lexi’s diaper bag and secured it around her tiny body. Then carefully, she placed Lexi inside and made her comfortable. She stood and slung the diaper bag over her shoulder while Adam crawled toward the bushes where the animal had gone.
“Maybe you should stand? It’s pretty dark out here, and we can’t see what’s on the ground.”
“Just some mud, grass, and sticks.” He growled, making animal noises.
“You can be that animal, but only if you do it softly.” According to Esme’s alien, all of the aliens returned to a lodge after the evening alarm rang, but Miranda couldn’t take any chances. She couldn’t afford to.
Adam stopped the animal noises but kept crawling. She could’ve made him stand, but what was the point? It wasn’t like he had to stay clean for a reason. She had to pick her battles and decided quickly that this wasn’t one of them.
Miranda followed Adam deeper into the thicket. The ground soon became muddier, and the grass sparse. The trees were thinner, the hanging branches intertwined together as they connected to the surrounding trees.
After a while, the sun began to rise and the jungle came alive, teeming with unfamiliar sights and sounds. Pretty soon, the morning alarm would ring, and the aliens would be on the hunt. Again.
Her knees weakened with the thought. Alien hunters would be after them soon.
And this time she would be on her own.
The terrifying thought made her lose her footing. Miranda stumbled then caught herself just as Adam glanced over his shoulder. She swallowed the lumps forming in her throat and inclined her head. “Keep moving.”
He did as told, and she followed him.
All we have to do is prove we can survive, then we’ll be able to go home.
A squawk erupted over her
head. She startled and stumbled back, tripping over a tangle of branches that had fallen from one of the trees. She landed on her butt, jostling Lexi as she sunk into the mud. Lexi let out a high pitched screech.
“Sh. Sh. Baby,” she cooed, rocking Lexi. “You’re fine.”
Adam paused and watched them. “Be quiet, Lexi. We have to be quiet animals, not loud animals.”
Lexi didn’t pay Adam any attention. Even in the low light, her face was redder than usual. Miranda nuzzled her mouth behind Lexi’s ear and made kissing noises. Something that usually calmed her down. After a few deep breaths, Lexi’s whimpers settled.
“That’s my baby girl,” Miranda sang softly. “I know this is all so terrible, but we’ll get through it together.”
“What’s this?” Adam asked. His voice sounded too far away.
Miranda’s head jerked up. No Adam. The world seemed to stop. Her breath lodged in her throat as her eyes darted in every direction.
“Adam?” She scrambled to her feet, glancing around.
“Over here,” he called.
She shuddered in relief. “Get back here. We have to stay together, remember?” She didn’t care how loud her voice was.
“I found something.”
She hurried toward the sound of his voice in less than a second, only stopping when she encountered a barricade of branches blocking her path.
“Adam, come out.” She tore some of the branches apart with one hand, holding tight to Lexi with the other. There was too much debris to clear. Her heart raced. She wished for a knife to cut through. All she had was a taser and a diaper bag with dwindling baby supplies. “I can’t see you.”
“There’s a ladder. I’m going to climb it.”
She grabbed at more of the braches and tore. “Adam, wait!”
The patter of his steps from the other side warned he was on the move again. Fear motivated her to reach him. Holding Lexi’s sling to her chest, Miranda dropped to the ground and crawled. Branches stabbed and scratched at her bare arms, catching on her hair as well.
She reached the other side and stood. To her surprise, there really was a ladder. It led up the side of the tree, and Adam had already climbed half-way up.
Hunted by the Alien Vampire Page 3