The Peacekeeper kept his eyes on the ground.
“She won’t bother you now.” Triena stepped out of the cell and paused next to the man. “She’ll sleep until we arrive. A necessary action I had to take because you can’t do your job.”
“Ma’am,” he mumbled.
“Stand up straight!” she yelled at him.
He responded straight away, eyes forward, and shoulders back. He was obviously afraid of her and what she’d do.
“Take your friend away. Leave the prisoner to me, and if she escapes, I’ll have your life,” Triena lowered her voice. The fury of Arkina rippled through her and she felt that the Queen would chastise the man more. No. She pushed the Queen’s energy down just a little. I’m in control.
Triena walked away. Her entire body trembled. She expected any second that the man would realize who she really was and raise his gun then fire.
But it didn’t happen and she was out of the prison cell. A Peacekeeper walked past her. He kept his eyes cast down. So far, so good. Triena allowed Arkina’s energy to dominate hers a little in order to find her way around the ship.
The ship was well-fitted out, new, clean and very different from the Petal. Another Peacekeeper walked towards her. Triena forced herself to keep her shoulders square, and looked ahead. Walk like a Queen. The man stepped aside, bowing his head respectfully.
She continued walking down the corridor. She breathed out slowly. They wouldn’t expect her to be anyone else other than a Queen, but she couldn’t relax knowing that any moment she might be found out.
An elevator took her to the upper level. The longer she was out here, exposed, the harder she found it to breathe. The movement of changing floors quickly caused the nausea to return. She clutched her stomach as she walked from the elevator.
“Ma’am, are you all right?” A Peacekeeper approached her.
Triena waved him away. “I’m fine.”
“I can assist you to your room.” He stopped next to her. His expression was genuine with concern for her, but it was too risky. He had stripes on his shoulder and if anyone were going to recognize an impostor it would be one of the higher ranked officers. I have to get away.
“I am fine and my room is nearby, thank you.” She stiffened her pose and continued walking.
“Ma’am.”
She tried not to hurry, but walk on calmly. Her stomach contracted and twisted and her mind turned with dizziness. She wanted to get out of sight. She paused at the door to Arkina’s room and looked back at the Peacekeeper who had continued down the corridor. “How long until we arrive?”
“Tomorrow.” He turned back at her. “We’re on time, ma’am.”
“Good.” With a trembling hand, Triena swiped a card over the door. She could feel him watching her, looking closely. “Is there a problem?” Triena glared at him.
He lowered his eyes. “No ma’am.”
Triena detected hesitation in his voice. I was stupid to think that this could work. She held her body rigid, hoping an air of confidence emanated, the sort of assurance expected of a Queen. “Then get on with your work and stop wasting time.”
He bobbed his head in acknowledgement. “Yes ma’am.”
Triena watched him walk away, before she stepped inside the room. The door clicked behind her. She made sure it was locked manually from the inside to stop anyone from disturbing her.
“Lights.” A soft orange glow came on from the lights above, revealing a soft lounge, large bed with plenty of pillows and a table with a cheese platter ready for her. For Arkina. But Triena didn’t care who this food was really for, she picked off a grape and slipped it into her mouth. It’s good to have a bit of luxury again. The sweetness of the grape burst over her tongue and she took another.
She pushed Arkina’s energy back down within hers, but it was like pushing a balloon into water and the woman’s energy kept bobbing back up to the surface. The tension of posing as a Queen buzzed around her aura, making it difficult for her to concentrate.
She spied a kettle. There must be some tea around here. She looked through the cupboards and found a small box containing a few basic teas. Nothing that would help her with a reading or to slip into the Energy Field. She grabbed the quem tea which she put to her nose and inhaled deeply. The sharp smell eased the space sickness. She began making herself a strong cup of the tea.
She kicked off the slipper-like shoes and sat at the table, picking at the food and drinking the tea. She wanted to relax but couldn’t. Images kept forming in her third eye. The energy from the Field pulled her towards it, but she resisted. There was no way she could go there right now. She had to be ready. She needed to weave a cloak to make her imprint like Arkina’s.
Her head began to hurt. She rubbed her temples. She kept thinking of a package. Thoughts swam around in her head in no particular order, as the tea worked at clearing her mind. Arkina standing in her clothes. A dead guard. Dried buds of flowers crumbling in the wind. Special blend. Flowers blossoming. A small brown paper package. One that had important dried buds inside. Her package. She suddenly stood up. I know where it is.
She went over to the other side of the room, opened the cupboard and took out a locked black box. Using Arkina’s energy she easily unlocked the box and opened it. Her energy rose as she took out her package. Now I can have a real cup of tea. There were ten important buds and she hid them in the sleeves of her robe.
She suppressed a yawn. The pull of the Energy took her by surprise, and she grabbed onto the back of the lounge as if the act would hold onto her essence and stop her awareness from being sucked into the Field. She held her breath dragging herself away. Sweat eased from the pores in her skin from the effort of stopping the processes. I can’t afford to go in right now. She had to be prepared.
The tension suddenly broke and she fell back, landing hard on her backside. Fuck the Queens. She breathed heavily from the exertion. What she wanted to do now was to rest, sleep and increase her strength, but that was going to leave her vulnerable. The Queens are probably calling Arkina wanting an update. And since she had the echoes of Arkina’s essence the Queens were targeting her.
She pulled herself up and sat on the lounge. Better get this over with. She closed her eyes and began taking deep breaths, oxygenating her body. Instead of slipping into the Energy Field, she stayed aware of her essence, and that which was Arkina’s. She visualized a crotchet hook in her mind’s eye and allowed Arkina’s energy to surface around her. Triena moved the hook, dipping it into the current of Arkina’s energy and pulled up a thread. With a flick she twisted the thread and formed a knot. Triena pulled the thread taut, and used this knot as the bases. The tension of the yarn was kept tight, leaving small gaps between the holes, providing a natural shield to hide behind when in the Energy Field.
Triena continued to loop the energy yarn, pulling and twisting it around forming a series of knots. Gradually a cloak began to form. She kept the hook moving, slipping it into the loops until she had made a cloak big enough to wear. Triena let go of the hook and it dissolved away into the Field. She held up the red cloak.
Will it be enough? The doubt made her pause. Then there was a tug from the Field and Triena had barely enough time to pull the cloak around her before she was sucked in.
Where have you been?
Surrounded by blackness, Triena tried to work out where she was in the Energy Field. The cloak was tight around her essence. The constriction was unfamiliar and fear welled inside of her, leaking out. She tried to push her vibration of fear deeper inside of her essence.
Arkina, stop ignoring us. The same woman sent her thoughts to Triena.
I’m here. She looked closely around her. She sensed them, standing around her. The other Queens were here and they weren’t happy with Arkina. Jealousy stabbed at her through the darkness.
You better not harm the woman, or use her energy for yourself.
The surroundings sharpened into focus. They were standing in a semi-cir
cle, lit by a few torches hung on the rock carved wall. The flames highlighted the detail of the castle’s catacombs. Triena felt the similarities between this place and the image she had seen after she’d killed Arkina. Careful, she warned herself and strengthened the etheric walls around the essence of herself so that the others wouldn’t be able to hear her inner thoughts.
You should’ve arrived by now. What took you so long?
I thought you wanted me to be careful with her, thought Triena. You want me to deliver her intact, don’t you? She sent her thoughts through the knots of the cloak masking her true identity.
Yes, but you don’t need to be taking so long.
A cold blast of chilling air flooded over Triena. She pulled the cloak closer and held on tight so it wouldn’t blow away. When the gust around her settled, she moved to make Arkina’s energy appear larger. I arrive tomorrow.
You should’ve been here yesterday.
Triena held her tongue. The finely twisted gold band sat on top of the Queen’s head. It was best to stop arguing. She tried to edge her thoughts with remorse. Yes, I should have.
So then, why the delay? The Queen wearing the gold around her head moved closer to Triena. We can all smell the fear on you. What went wrong?
Fuck the Queens, Triena thought to herself. She pushed the fear further into her own essence. They can smell me. She struggled to keep herself balanced and pulled the cloak even tighter around her etheric form. The energy of Arkina gave her the answer she needed. There was a problem with the man. Triena just managed to keep her balance, with the realization that this man was Braklen.
That shouldn’t have stopped you from coming back straight away.
It delayed us a little, that along with the fight that they put up. We lost many of the Peacekeepers. It took longer than expected to bring them back on the ship. Triena gave herself over to the remnants of Arkina’s energy, allowing it to speak for her, since she was unaware of the details.
The Queen spat. That’s what they signed on for. They are there to be lost.
It helps with morale, answered Triena through Arkina’s energy.
Is he all right then?
Triena couldn’t see the Queen through the veil that covered her face, but she knew that the woman was staring at her intensely. She held onto her resolve and kept her nerve. I thought you didn’t need him.
Not as much as her. But you do have him? Alive? There was an emphasis on the last word.
Of course. He will be healed by the time we arrive. Arkina’s energy helped with an answer.
You better speak the truth. The Queen took a deep breath. You still smell of fear. There’s something you’re not telling us.
She’s keeping Triena for herself, that’s what, thought one of the Queens. Distrust welled around in the circle as the others agreed.
Silence. The Queen snapped her head around to look at the woman who had spoken out of turn. She shot a bolt of energy at the woman, who screamed and stumbled backwards.
Only I speak, reminded the Queen with the gold band.
Yes Holy One. They chorused back.
Triena could feel Arkina’s energy itching to get the gold band for herself. It was meant to be shared between us. An equality. But she wears it most of the time, the dead woman’s energy hissed to Triena.
The Queen turned back to Triena. She pointed at her and Triena shivered, waiting for a bolt of energy to be thrown at her.
I’ll be waiting for you, thought the Queen. If you are too long then I’ll have something special in store for you.
The Queen pushed her hands towards Triena. The force hit Triena in the center of her etheric form, pushing her backwards, sending her flying rapidly back to her body. She lost hold of the cloak she’d made. It unraveled as she thudded into her body.
I have to go and see Braklen.
Chapter 13
Braklen pulled the tubes from his arm. A young nurse came running over. “Don’t you dare.”
He looked at her through swollen eyes. Every single movement hurt. Even blinking. He watched her slender figure sidle up to his bed. “I dared.” He tried to smile. My humor has helped me in the past. He’d spent enough time in makeshift hospitals during the heaviest fighting between the Queens and the Priests. This first-aid room in the ship was luxurious in comparison. But he didn’t want to stay here. I’ve got to find Triena. We’re weak when we aren’t together.
“I can see that.” She pursed her lips together and picked up the end of the tube and began reattaching it to him.
“No sense of humor, then.” Sweet-talking her wasn’t going to get him out of this room. He figured there’d be a guard at the door, at least one, so even if she did let him out he wasn’t going to get far.
“I’m to keep you alive.” She fussed over the tubes making sure there wasn’t an air bubble. “I’ll get you something to help you sleep.”
“No.” He went to grab her but the straps around his chest pulled him back on the bed with his arms stretched out his fingers only brushed against her uniform. She looked at him, eyes wide. Damn, I’ve scared her. He let his arms drop. I’m going to have to do better than this.
“Add some more straps.” She stood staring at him.
“No. I won’t hurt you.” The look she gave him wasn’t one of trust or even sympathy. “Fuck the Queens.”
“And that’s why I’m getting more straps. We don’t need traitors running loose on the ship.” She rummaged through the drawers.
“I won’t.” His head fell back on the pillow. I will. Braklen’s mind swirled. He felt unanchored without Triena near him. And angry. She tried to kill me again. He shifted in the bed and groaned with pain. No, that wasn’t right. His thoughts shattered. He wasn’t sure what happened. The ache in his body told him that he’d been hit with a particle gun. That he was certain of. Everything else was a blur.
Since being shot, Braklen managed to find his way into the Energy Field and then back again. He hadn’t stayed long. Something pushed him out. Since there was nothing else for him to do, he tried to go back again and again, but the same thing happened and he found himself firmly back in his physical form. That’s when he’d decided to cajole the nurse. She was young, and he thought it would be easy. So much for that plan.
The nurse returned with a guard. “This is for your own good.” She held up the straps.
“Like hell it is.” He tried to fight, but the guard pinned his arms, and the nurse quickly tied him down, attaching him to the bed. When they released him, he struggled. “Let me out.”
“No, you’re on a one-way trip to the Queens.” She held up a syringe. Liquid squirted into the air.
“No, please.” Braklen wanted to be alert, to give his mind time to put the pieces back together, to work out what happened. “You’ve strapped me down, that’s enough.”
The nurse ignored him and injected the liquid into his arm. “There, you’ll sleep pretty now.”
Braklen’s eyes felt heavy and his vision blurred. “Damn you …”
All he could see was the nurse smiling at him, a smile that chilled him, as she morphed into the Queen he’d killed. But the image didn’t change there. He saw Triena standing there by his bed.
He lifted his hand to touch her face. He imagined his hand moving, but his body had become rock solid and all he could do was look at her. Triena. She was a beauty, her long dark hair, green eyes, and thin smile, warmed his heart. He knew he’d be all right. Relief washed over him as he soaked in her image.
She leaned towards him, and planted a kiss on his forehead. Instead of the warmth he always felt with Triena, her touch was cold. He tried to recoil, but there was nowhere to go.
This won’t take long. Her breath was icy on his forehead.
Braklen realized with horror this wasn’t Triena. And that nothing good was going to come of this. Leave me. No!
Her lips landed on his forehead, froze to his skin, sucking the heat from inside of him. He thrashed in an attempt to l
oosen her grip on him, but the Queen was attached to him. Pain shot down his head from the freezing cold she generated. Lightning bolts of icy energy ripped through his mind.
Braklen tried to think of what Triena had taught him in the Energy. What to do. How to keep himself whole. But he just didn’t know what or how right now. He was trained in physical combat, not mental manipulation. Braklen lashed out at the Queen, but no matter what he told himself to do, he remained strapped to the hospital bed. And the Queen sucked at his energy, draining him, taking his essence.
The softness of the pillow began to harden behind his head. Braklen’s breath came quick and fast as he tried to work out what was going on. I’m in the hospital bed. But now he wasn’t so sure. With the help of the drugs the nurse had given him, he’d managed to slip into the Energy Field. With that realization, he did the only thing he knew.
Braklen pulled himself into a tight ball, holding on tight to his essence before it was about to freeze and shatter into a million pieces. I’ve come this far. He felt the current the Queen had created around him slow. Her surprise filtered over him.
You’ll need to do better than that. Her thought stabbed like a knife into the ball he had created.
Braklen screamed in pain. But, instead of his energy freezing and breaking apart, it held together. She was caught tight. He saw his chance. He pulled out the ice knife and sent it flying back the way it had come, straight into the Queen’s mouth.
The cold energy around him sucked backwards into the Queen, and his warmth rushed down to him. Above him, the Queen began to turn a light blue color. Her ice energy turned against her.
He opened himself to receive the remaining heat that she’d stolen from him, sealing her fate. Her image crackled as the vibration slowed and the molecules of her etheric form froze. Then half a breath later, cracks began to form in the ice and suddenly exploded, sending ice shattering outwards.
Braklen shielded himself with fiery heat. The Queen’s icy particles melted when they touched him and continued to heat until they became steam and were blown away into the Field.
Flower Queen (Flower Readings Book 3) Page 13