Flower Queen (Flower Readings Book 3)

by Lilliana Rose

  Hurry up. Get to the reading room. The rabbit went over to Rangit. Don’t be so doom and gloom. We’re not done yet. He sank his teeth into Rangit’s ankle.

  Rangit howled. The rabbit was quick, and bounced out the way before Rangit could kick him.

  “Fine, then.” Triena helped Braklen up. “Come on, back to the reading room.”

  “How the hell is that going to help?”

  Triena shrugged her shoulders. For once she’d decided to listen to the rabbit. She was spent, exhausted from coming back from the Field so rapidly. She didn’t think that the chances of them getting out of this were good. If I can get some of the special blend, that will help. She didn’t want to take it, not really, though if she took it now, it would help her to be alert. And she needed to be alert because if a chance came along to alter the balance in their favour she needed to be ready.

  Get moving.

  Triena pushed Braklen through the door. “We’ve got supplies to fetch.”

  “I don’t really want to go back to that room,” said Braklen.

  Rangit pushed past them. He went along the corridor in the opposite direction. “Supplies, I’ll be back soon.”

  “I could do with some help,” said Triena. Rangit kept moving away from her. “Thanks.” She helped Braklen into the reading room. Her mouth watered knowing that soon she’d finally drink the special blend.

  Braklen stood by the table. “I won’t be drinking any more tea.” He folded his arms across his chest.

  “Whatever you say.” Triena wanted to make the special blend, now, right now, but her mind kept slipping towards the stocks of dried flower buds.

  “What about escape pods?” asked Braklen. “You’ve got to have escape pods. Every ship is meant to have escape pods.”

  “We don’t.” Rangit walked into the room carrying half a dozen weapons. “You ready?” He looked at Triena, his face shadowed with fear.

  She nodded. “As much as I can be.” I’ll be better after some tea.

  “They haven’t got us yet.” He placed the particle guns on the table. “Pick your weapon.”

  Triena looked at the various models. She picked up one she’d used before, or at least one she’d thought she’d used before. Particle guns weren’t something that she knew much about.

  “I don’t think you should have this.” Braklen took the gun away from her. “You really aren’t much of a crack shot.”

  “Neither are you.”

  “At least I hit the enemy.” Braklen held the gun out of her reach, forcing her to lean over him in order to try to snatch it back.

  “It was the pressure.” Triena missed the gun. Her hands opened ready to grab again.

  “Yeah, right.”

  Rangit grabbed the gun from Braklen. “She needs to be armed.” He handed the weapon to Triena. “Please don’t hit me with it.”

  Triena swallowed. She didn’t want to even fire the weapon. “I won’t.”

  “Don’t believe her,” said Braklen. “She’s a mean shot, for all the wrong reasons.”

  “As long as she is firing at them, holding them back, that’s all we need.” Rangit began checking the firearms, making sure that they were loaded and working. He handed another particle gun to Triena. “One for each hand.”

  “This really isn’t a good idea.” Braklen picked up a gun. “You know if we had escape pods at least we would have been well out of here by now.”

  “Well, we don’t, so get over it,” grumbled Rangit. He put an extra gun in the back of his belt. “Arm up, the longer we can keep shooting the longer we are going to survive.”

  So, escape is no longer an option, thought Triena.

  If we fight long enough then an escape option might come up for us, answered Rangit.

  “What is that noise in my head?” Braklen shook his head as if an insect had crawled into his ear and he was trying to get it out.

  “Something for you to ignore for now.” Triena placed the guns through her belt at her hips. The ship jolted and she stumbled into Rangit, who caught her, then pushed her back on her feet. She glanced at Braklen and detected a wave of jealousy in his aura. It caused her to smile. Good to know he still wants me.

  They are here. The rabbit hopped into the reading room. Triena felt his energy radiating with panic, which didn’t help the queasiness she felt. The rabbit had only been this stressed when she’d cut off his ears.

  Yeah I know, answered Braklen.

  Hey, you can hear me?

  “Where should we hide?” asked Braklen.

  The rabbit thumped his foot on the ground. You can hear me?

  “His skill seems to be coming and going,” said Triena.

  Great that’s not what we need right now. The rabbit hopped over to the side table where the dried flowers were kept. There’s no place to hide.

  There must be, answered Braklen.

  This is going to annoy me.

  “Triena?” Braklen grabbed her arm. “Where do we hide?”

  “It’s too late for that.” She looked into his eyes. “We can fight here, and hope that we gain some ground with them.”

  I still think we could hide, thought Braklen.

  We can’t. They’ll find us using the Energy, thought the rabbit. It’s best that we fight. He stretched his body upwards sniffing at the boxes as if trying to find something. I think I can smell Jesleuma. Open the cupboard, Braklen. Quickly.

  “That rabbit is ignoring me. You’re more interested in food,” said Braklen to the animal. “Your belly is really quite something.”

  Tell him not to use the Energy to speak if he can’t hear me, thought the rabbit to Triena. And open the cupboard, there’s some Jesleuma. If he drinks it he might be able to use the Energy more reliably.

  “Try not to use the Energy to speak, Braklen.” Triena opened the cupboard. Using the Energy, she ran her hands over the boxes, feeling for the Jesleuma. Vibrations in the ship unbalanced her, making it difficult for her to feel the Energy. But she forced herself. She had to. To help Braklen. Lighting shot into her hand. She jumped. She removed the box and lifted out the jar.

  “Why is this what you wanted me to do?” He looked genuinely surprised. “I just don’t get you. You want me to use the Energy, you don’t want me to use the Energy. You want to hide, you don’t want to hide. You love me, you hate me. Which is it?”

  Triena turned around. She stepped up to Braklen and kissed him hard on the lips. His rant stopped.

  We don’t have time for that, you two, thought the rabbit.

  Triena nudged the rabbit to push him away. We do. She enjoyed the salty taste of Braklen’s mouth, and moved her lips over his, slipping in her tongue. Her energy folded around his and they began to fuse their auras. Her vibration raised his, taking away his fear and pushing it aside with love. Her love.

  The sort of love she’d held down deep in her heart too scared to share. Too fearful to even acknowledge it was there. She’d been blind. Tempted by the power of the Queens. But, the love had been there, waiting for her to find it once more.

  Now that she had she wasn’t going to let it go. Not matter what happened. The outside world began to slip away. She felt in his vibrations that he feared for her. He didn’t want to lose her.

  Rangit cleared his throat.

  Triena pulled gently away from Braklen. “We’ll finish that later. But now, I need you to be at my side. Okay?”

  He brushed his finger down the side of her cheek. His touch caused her skin to prickle. “Okay,” he whispered.

  “Good. Trust me.” She pulled away reluctantly and started to make some tea.

  “Tea at a time like this?” Fear began to resurface within Braklen.

  “It will help you use the Energy.” Triena got down cups for herself and Rangit and began making the special blend, adding in an extra amount of quem leaves in her cup to stop the space sickness that twisted her gut into a thousand knots. Plus, she was getting fidgety the longer she left making up the special bl
end. Captain Ri had all the ingredients here for her to make up the tea.

  “But didn’t I?”

  “You’re slipping in and out without realizing what you’re doing. I need you to be able to use it properly.”

  Get the dried flowers out now, thought the rabbit.

  Settle down. Triena picked up the small package of dried flowers and slipped it under her belt in a hidden pocket.

  She handed the tea to Braklen. He took a long time smelling the tea before he tentatively took a sip. “Tastes a little strong.”

  “Better that way.” Triena leaned against the side table and drank her tea. The tension eased gently inside of her.

  You could’ve gotten me some, thought the rabbit.

  She reached behind her and sprinkled some dried leaves in front of the rabbit. Knock yourself out.

  “This is great stuff,” said Rangit. “Where did you learn this blend?”

  “Best not to ask.” Triena drained her cup of tea. She could feel the effects already. Her mind was extra alert, the tiredness had gone. “I’m ready.”

  “Me too,” said Rangit.

  “Who is going to look after the rabbit?” asked Braklen.

  “I am,” said Triena. You make sure you help me, she thought to the rabbit.

  I always do.

  “Come on,” said Rangit, standing. “I reckon we have just enough time to make it down to the cargo bay.”

  “That’s where they are?” asked Triena.

  Rangit nodded.

  “Let’s go then.” Triena started to follow Rangit out of the room.

  Braklen caught her arm and pulled her close. He kissed her softly on the lips. She shivered under his touch. “Stay safe. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  “You too.” She kissed him back wishing they could stay like this. Then they wouldn’t have to face a fight with the Peacekeepers, and whatever came after that. It was likely to be death, whether that was now or after the Queens used her in a reading.

  Chapter 11

  “They should come through there.” Rangit pointed to the small door to the right. Triena walked down the metal steps into the cargo bay behind Rangit. She held the rabbit close to her chest. Her pulse rapid, mind alert she was on edge, ready to finally face the Queens. This wasn’t where she was hoping to meet them. It would’ve been better to have made it to Earth.

  They will want to take you alive. Braklen too. You two are important to them.

  What about Rangit? Triena didn’t like the idea of being used in the reading.

  Disposable.

  And yourself?

  Edible.

  She buried her face in his black fur. I don’t know what I’ll do without you.

  You managed just fine when you lost me in the pub.

  Trust you to remind me of that at a time like this.

  Braklen pulled out a crate to offer them some protection. “Better than nothing.” He knelt down and held up a particle gun at the door. “So, the plan is to shoot at anything that comes through the door.”

  “Years of Peacekeeping training coming in handy, huh?” Rangit positioned himself behind a crate.

  “Glad to be here to offer it,” answered Braklen.

  “This is serious.” Triena didn’t know how they could joke at a time like this. She stood back from them and reluctantly put the rabbit on the floor. You stay safe. I want you to be by my side leading the new generation of Energy Readers.

  I can look after myself. You just concentrate on not getting caught. He bounced away into the shadows of the crates before Triena could pick him up and cuddle him one more time.

  She took a deep breath to loosen her awareness from her body. Her skin tingled as her etheric form eased along the path to the Energy Field. They were close. Be safe. She sent the prayer to both the rabbit and Braklen, then tried not to think of what her life would be like without them.

  Stop being so dramatic. Get into the Field and help out. The rabbit’s thought jolted her. She’d done it before, brought in energy from the Field into the physical world. She adjusted her balance, keeping half of her essence in the physical realm and the other half in the astral plane, making her body a conduit.

  A loud sound caused Triena to jump, and she nearly lost her equilibrium. The door shook. The vibrations extended out through the metal of the ship. Triena felt Braklen shiver, but he held strong.

  You have to disconnect from him to be able to do this, thought the rabbit. Get ready to do your part. And that’s not with the particle gun.

  Triena pulled in metallic-like energy from the Field, bringing it across and sent it to the door to strengthen it, buying them more time.

  There still could be a way out of this, reminded the rabbit. Be ready.

  The next thud on the door wasn’t as intense, but the shockwaves rippled through Triena, hitting her like a rock. She lost her hold of the energy she’d just brought in.

  Fuck the Queens. She stumbled backwards, unable to hold her balance or the energy. Her back hit the metal railing behind her pushing the wind out of her lungs. More pain shot through her body.

  And we’ve barely started, thought the rabbit. You’re a walking mess already.

  Braklen glanced back of her. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, they’ll be through the door next hit.” She held her stomach.

  “Get ready to shoot them,” said Rangit.

  “Try not to shoot me,” said Braklen to Triena. “Again.”

  Triena ignored Braklen and took out one of the guns from her belt. The door burst open and two Peacekeepers came in firing. Braklen took one out with his first shot. Another took the fallen man’s place.

  “They’ve got an entire army here to try and get us.” Braklen fired toward the door. Another man fell to the ground.

  Triena stepped backwards to construct her view. The blossoming blood on the shirt of the fallen Peacekeepers caused her stomach to contract and her mind blurred. She couldn’t afford to faint.

  Keep it together, thought the rabbit. Don’t go getting queasy now. And get the hell into the Energy to help out.

  I am. She closed her eyes to keep herself from seeing any more blood.

  She heard Rangit yell and knew straight away he’d been hit. Fatally hit. As much as the man annoyed her, she didn’t want him to die.

  Leave him, thought the rabbit. Get the fuck into the Energy.

  Triena resisted the urge to run to Rangit. I can help him in the Energy.

  No, leave him. For the sake of destroying the Queens. Read the patterns, the rabbit urged her.

  Triena forced herself back into the Energy. A whirlwind of energy from those recently killed moved in the Field. Their pain chilled her. Her own essence spiked with fear. She could feel them, hear their sadness, their screams echoed through her. They haunted her and tried to cling to her scent of life, weighing Triena down.

  Leave me. She told them with a prickly force. They moved a little away from her, but stayed nearby, swirling lost souls waiting to be absorbed. Then they began to form a message in the Field. Their ghostly shadows moved slow, but with purpose as the Energy spelled out the message.

  Triena read the patterns. Her mind alert from the tea, she looked into the Energy while the Peacekeepers stormed the cargo bay. The distant sound of guns firing reminded her of the threat. The Energy swirled around her. A pathway emerged. She reeled away from the option, but it stood clearly, unmoving. She paused. The scene changed and she saw herself in the catacombs, crowned, Braklen by her side. This is the way to get there. A surety vibrated within her essence making it easier to make the decision.

  This was what she had to do. Take the unexpected option to switch the balance to gain the upper hand over the Queens.

  There was only one thing to do now. She changed the setting of the gun, and then pointed it at Braklen. If he was out he wasn’t going to try any heroics which would cause him to be killed. I just need to knock him out, that’s all. Triena squeezed the tri
gger. Particles flashed out, and hit Braklen in the back. Time slowed down. He glanced over his shoulder at her. His eyes widened with shock. He went to mouth something, but then his body seized up, hung in the air, before toppling to the ground.

  What are you doing? The rabbit’s thought punched into her mind.

  Saving us all. Triena swung around looking for the rabbit.

  You’ve lost your mind. Triena, don’t do this.

  Particles continued to be fired in her direction. She struggled to see clearly from the smoke.

  Triena tuned herself into his thoughts, following the small disruption in the Energy in order to find him. A small tuft of black tail poked out from under the crates. She pointed, aimed quickly, and fired before she lost her nerve.

  Fuck the Queens! screamed the rabbit. Now, you want my tail?

  Damn. Triena hadn’t managed to knock him out. It was difficult to find him. The Energy shivered around her, constantly changing its form. The noise from the weapons firing distracted her. Rangit had picked up Braklen’s weapons and begun firing. They were losing. It was a fight that they were never going to win. I can save them.

  Don’t be stupid, thought the rabbit.

  Triena, you’ve got to fight against them. If they take you and Braklen you will die, after they’ve read you and used up your essence to make the manipulated Energy to serve their purposes. You don’t want that.

  No. Triena didn’t. But she didn’t want this. She fired the weapon around the general area where she’d traced back the rabbit’s thoughts. She didn’t know if she’d hit the rabbit or not. There wasn’t time to go and check, and there wasn’t time to fire again.

  She turned the gun to Rangit. He was concentrating hard, and with the help of the Energy his aim was near perfect. Peacekeepers were dropping around him. But it wasn’t going to be enough. There was an entire army of Peacekeepers ready to give up their lives for the Queens and to board their ship.