Void Born

by R. J. Metcalf

  Zak was right. She didn’t like it. Jade didn’t look up, purposefully intent to not look at Brandon. Her blood father. She took a shallow sip of air in through her mouth, and blew it out her nose.

  Brandon stepped closer, and his crimson sword came into view. How he was allowed to keep that on him, she couldn’t understand, and just the sight of it filled her with revulsion. She could feel his eyes on her, and his sword clanked as he shifted awkwardly. She swallowed, and shifted her gaze to the far wall. Zak was here. She was fine. She would be fine.

  “I’m leaving,” Brandon stated finally, breaking the tense silence.

  “That’s great.”

  “I’m sorry for everything that happened.”

  “I know.” Jade resisted the urge to look at him. Of course he was sorry. She’d seen the portraits. She’d heard the stories. She looked like his wife, her birth mother. He was sorry that he’d almost killed the reminder of what he’d lost. He wasn’t sorry that he’d hurt her, really. No. He was sorry because Sapphire was dead, and Jade was the closest replacement to what family he’d lost.

  He could learn to deal with disappointment. She had a mother: Samantha. She’d had a father: Slate. Jade could accept Brandon for what she’d been raised to think of him as: her uncle. Deranged, clearly, but that was a title she could live with. Fathers didn’t try to slice their daughters open from shoulder to hip.

  Brandon side-stepped into her view, and she dropped her gaze to the floor. “I need time to heal.” He gestured to the sword on his belt. “I need to learn how to control ...this. Myself.”

  Jade’s hands clenched. “Yes, you do.”

  “The least you could do is try to be understanding,” Brandon snapped. He stomped closer before stopping suddenly.

  She whipped her head up to see Zak’s arm across Brandon’s chest as her father scowled down at her. The madness that haunted her dreams from that night danced in his eyes. Her chest panged with the remembered pain. Brandon crossed his arms, tucking his fists under his armpits.

  “I think you’ve said enough, sir,” Zak ground out.

  Brandon snarled, and Zak jerked him back.

  The motion seemed to shake Brandon, and he blinked. Then he stepped further from Jade, his eyes dilated, his breaths heavy as he stared down at her. He shook his head mutely.

  Jade didn’t dare move, watching Brandon as closely as he watched her. Zak didn’t look away from the former berserker.

  Brandon finally blew out a long breath, and the darkness in his eyes lessened. “I’m ...sorry. I need to go.” He reached out to Jade as if he was going to touch her head, but Zak cleared his throat and shifted to completely block Brandon. Brandon dropped his hand. “Be well ...Jade.”

  Air whispered over Jade’s cheek as Brandon left. It took three heartbeats before her hands started shaking. Why did he have to come by? She’d missed seeing the people she cared about, and her no-good father had to be the last one to talk to her.

  A hand touched her shoulder, and leather creaked as Zak knelt in front of her. He reached out and thumbed away a tear on her cheek. “Are you going to be okay?”

  Jade sniffed. “I don’t know.”

  Zak pulled Jade to her feet and enveloped her in a gentle hug. She clung to him, soaking in his calm strength. She inhaled deeply, basking in the spicy scent that was so unique to Zak. Home. He smelled of home. Zak ran a hand over her loose hair and smiled down at her. “Were you able to say goodbye to any of the crew?”

  “Only Ben.” She sniffled. She’d missed Kerlee. And Ash. And Geist. She leaned back in his hold and lifted her necklace for Zak to see. “He got me a goodbye gift, so I wouldn’t forget who he thinks of me as.”

  Zak’s cheek dimpled. “I know. He asked me if he was overstepping by giving it to you.” His chest rumbled with his chuckle and he pressed his lips to her forehead, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I know he’s no threat to us.”

  Jade closed her eyes, emotions brimming at Zak’s tender gesture and implicit trust in her. Even when there were so many uncertainties about her future, he knew he had her heart. “Thanks.”

  “Of course, love.” Zak tensed then, as if he hadn’t meant to say the term of endearment aloud. He cleared his throat with a cough as he backed up a half-step, not fully meeting her eyes, and she could feel the invisible wall rising around him. He’d shown more affection than he felt he should, and now he was going to cool it down. She swallowed the sorrow as he held out his hand, palm up in a courtly gesture, his eyes gentle, but echoing the sorrow she felt. “Come on. Zandra said she’d bring the kids over, and Zedd wanted to show you his newest carving.”

  Jade nodded, her heart tugging at his words. His niece and nephews were wonderful, and she’d hoped to someday call them her own official family. Maybe, someday, she would. She held back a soft sigh. Slid her hand in his. Forced a bright smile that she knew would turn real soon enough. “Lead on.”

  Chapter Seven

  Ben

  Ben swayed with the streamtrans as it bounced down the center of the busy road. Finn sat in the front of the vehicle, talking with Brandon in a voice too low to hear over the rumble of the vehicle. Ezekial stared out the window on his side of the trans, while Ash stretched out in the seat opposite, head tipped back, snoring. Geist and Kerlee pored over a map together, pointing at various parts and discussing them.

  That left Raine to sit on the same long bench as Ben in the back. He rubbed at his jaw and glanced over to see how close she was before he stretched his arm out. Brushing her arm by accident right now would probably be a bad start to this trip. She caught his eye and pressed her lips together, eyes sparkling in amusement.

  Ben froze. “What?”

  “It’s a good thing Zak didn’t see that back there.” A grin grew on Raine’s face as Ben blinked in confusion. “In the palace, with Jade?” she prompted.

  Oh, that. Ben snorted. “She reminds me of Sara, that’s all. He knows that.” Ben leaned his head back against the wood headboard, then thought twice about the idea when the steamtrans bumped again. “He and I have talked about it before. We’re good.”

  Raine raised a dark eyebrow and brushed her long braid over her shoulder. “Right.”

  “Really.” Ben laughed.

  The steamtrans started to slow before he could say anything else, and Raine popped out of her seat the moment it stopped moving. He grabbed his pack and followed her off.

  Madame Ellie Stohner met them at the gate of her shipping yards, the mid-morning sun brightening her deep red dress. Ellie hugged Finn, tears sparkling in her eyes. She gripped Finn’s hands, her voice trembling. “Find him. Avenge my boy.”

  Finn bowed over their joined hands. “You know I’ll do all I can.”

  “That’s all I can ask for.” Ellie let go of Finn, then reached out to Ben. She patted his cheek with all the warmth of a grandmother. “Take care of yourself. Fight hard.”

  Ben nodded, unsure of what to say. Give condolences about Slate again? Apologize for Jade’s injuries? Thank her and leave it at that? She turned away to talk to Geist, and Ben took the distraction to follow Raine onboard the Phoenix.

  She was similar to the Sapphire in terms of shape, but while the Sapphire was predominantly wood with metal and pipes scattered across the hull, the Phoenix looked to be made completely of metal. He rapped the side. Instead of the hollow echo he was expecting, it was solid. How had he missed that detail last time he’d been onboard? Oh. Right. He’d been panicking about Jade the whole time.

  “She’s a wood ship, like you’re used to.” The voice sounded from above Ben, and he looked up to see Samantha’s sister, Rebecca, leaning over the rail. She ran a hand along the rail lovingly. “She’s just wrapped in aluminum. Terrors aren’t as fond of shiny things.”

  Ben looked back at the outer wall and whistled. “Sounds like a great idea. Why doesn’t the Sapphire have something like this?”

  Rebecca came down the stairs to join Ben. She shrugged. “It’s expensive to ad
d on, it’s only useful on sunny days, and some cities aren’t too happy to have bright, blinding airships flying overhead. It just wasn’t high on Slate’s list for the Sapphire.”

  She nodded to Finn as he came aboard. “You’re leading this expedition, sir. Where to?”

  Finn set his bag down on the deck. “Antius.”

  Ben froze, mind churning. “Antius?” The name slipped out between his lips before he could seal them. That was the place Lance had warned him about, wasn’t it? The nation that hated and feared Void Born, and had means to uncover them. That was where they were going?

  Rebecca threw a salute, and her grin stretched the four terror-claw scars on her cheek. “Liftoff in fifteen.”

  Finn picked up his bag, and Ben forced himself to follow Finn below deck. Ben’s eyes adjusted to the lack of sunlight, and he saw it was very similar in layout to the Sapphire, the main exceptions being a larger capstan drop zone, the med-room was downstairs, and there was no room add-on for the ladies.

  Antius. How would he get around there without calling attention to himself? What did the alarms even look like? How could he avoid what he didn’t know?

  Geist poked his head out a door and waved at them. Finn angled toward the tracker and walked in without hesitation, Ben on his heels.

  Ash stretched out the top of one of three bunk beds, and Kerlee unpacked his bag in a trunk at one side of the bed. Geist pointed at a bunk on the opposite of the room. “Brandon hasn’t come down here yet, so those are up for grabs.”

  “Thank you, lad.” Finn pointed to a bottom bunk, claiming it. “And yes, Ben, Antius. I mentioned it to the queen this morning. I suspect that if Lucio and Victor are in league with each other, they’ll need to re-energize the bloodstone. If that’s true, there’s an ancient site of power I know Lucio would prefer to use that’s in Antius.” Finn settled his leather medical satchel at the foot of the bed and let his personal bag bounce once on the mattress. “We just need to get there first.”

  Right into the lion’s den, then. Ben closed his eyes and pressed his lips together, shaking his head. Too late now. He’d just have to be careful. Somehow.

  Geist leaned against the bed frame. “What could happen if they get there before us?”

  Finn’s face darkled. “We’d be in even more trouble than we already are.”

  ***

  Ben slipped out of bed, landing on his bare feet, cautious to not make any sound that would disturb his sleeping roommates. He’d forgotten how much drier the air was when traveling up high, and it was thirst that drove him from his bunk, up the stairs, and to the galley. Tomorrow night, he’d play it smart and fill his flask with water.

  A dim blue glow shone from the open kitchen doorway, illuminating the dark hall with an eerie, otherworldly light. Ben hesitated, glancing over his shoulder to the starlit night sky visible on the main deck, then looked back to the light. Maybe Maggie, the kitchen chef, had left a light on?

  His skin tingled as he tiptoed closer, remembering the bandit attack on the Sapphire months ago. And here he was, no weapons, barefoot, dressed only in sleep shorts. He was probably imagining things. Psyching himself out over a night light. A ragged sob broke the quiet, and Ben jumped, biting back an oath.

  He turned the corner and threw his hand in front of his face to shield him from the harsh blue glare of a luminary crystal sitting on the cleared-off workstation. An empty wine bottle sat next to the light, and another choked-off cry spurred Ben to look in the corner.

  Brandon.

  He was nearly unrecognizable, his hair flat on one side and sticking straight out on the other. His eyes were puffy with tears that glistened in the blue glow. He clutched a different wine bottle that sloshed as he lifted it to his mouth and tipped it back. Dark dribbles splashed on his wrinkled shirt. He looked at Ben, his eyes empty, as if not aware that Ben was there.

  “Brandon.” Ben stepped closer, cautious. This was a side of the man that made him nervous. Would drunk Brandon stay weepy, or would he snap and flare? “Hey, are you okay?”

  Brandon whimpered and curled in on himself, wrapping his arm around his legs, the bottle exposed to Ben. “No.”

  Ben squatted by a barrel and leaned against it, keeping his voice gentle as he quickly scanned the galley for close-by weapons. “What’s wrong?”

  “Jade.”

  Well, that topic could go many directions. Ben grimaced. “What about her?”

  “She hatesh me!” Brandon wailed, his words slurred. He took another swig from his bottle and closed his eyes. “My temper. I can’tsh—I can’tsh control myshelf. And I—” The bottle fell from Brandon’s grasp as he pulled at his hair, tears streaming down his face. “Everyshing I do pushesh her away.”

  Ben plucked the empty bottle from the floor. Had Brandon really had close to two bottles of wine? How was he still talking?

  “I’m sure you can work things out eventually,” Ben said after a long pause. He tucked the bottle behind the barrel, out of Brandon’s sight. “How about—”

  “It’sh all hish fault.”

  Ben froze, wary at the hate dripping in Brandon’s voice. Ben moved his hand closer to the bottle in case he needed it for defense.

  “Schlate. The murderer.” Brandon’s R’s rolled as he smacked his fist against the floor. “Him, and that Jaxshton. They ruined me.” His nostrils flared, and he gave Ben a demented grin. “I killed Jaxshton good.”

  Ben’s stomach twisted at the memory of Jaxton’s murder. Even though Ben had been under the control circlet at the time, the blood and scent had seared themselves into his subconscious. He clenched his jaw. “I know.”

  “He deserved it!” Brandon yelled. He pounded his feet on the floor, and Ben tried to remember who slept below them. Hopefully they were heavy sleepers. Brandon thrust his hand forward as if wielding a sword. “Killed him quick. I should’ve taken my time.”

  Anger flashed through Ben, eradicating the hint of nausea. “You’ve done enough damage to that crew and to Jade’s life. If you want to heal what’s between you, this isn’t going to help,” he snapped. He stood and looked down at the pathetic former prince, forcing himself to not antagonize Brandon with harsh truth. “If you care for Jade at all, you need to learn to control yourself.”

  Brandon’s expression warred between fury and consternation until he crumpled into tears again.

  Ben sighed. “For now, we need to get you to bed. A good night’s rest—”

  “I don’t want sleep!” Brandon roared, his eyes wide, manic. He swayed forward, fingers scrabbling for purchase against the cook station and floor. “I don’t need any hel—” His face contorted, and what color had been in his cheeks rapidly faded.

  Ben snatched a nearby pot and thrust it at Brandon just before he vomited.

  “Oh. Lovely.”

  Ben whirled at the sound of the female voice. He’d been so focused on Brandon that he’d been completely oblivious to anyone else being here.

  Raine stood within the door frame, arms crossed over her sleeveless sleep-shirt and her sword buckled over her pajama pants. She wrinkled her nose as Brandon gagged.

  Ben tried not to stare dumbly at her. This was definitely the least armored he’d seen her, and the loose strands of hair that escaped her braid only heightened the appeal of this relaxed side of Raine. “Uh.”

  A brief grin flashed across her face, then settled into a smirk as she pointedly let her gaze linger on him even as she nodded to Brandon. “I’m guessing you heard him, too?”

  Why would she think—heat rose to his face for a moment before Ben mirrored her pose, crossing his arms and subtly flexing his muscles. While not the first time she’d seen him shirtless, this was the first time she’d seen him in sleep shorts.

  Brandon heaved and coughed behind Ben, ruining whatever moment could have been happening.

  Amused concern crinkled the lines around her eyes. “So, what happened?”

  Ben sighed and grabbed a hand towel, handing it to Brandon. “He got
into Maggie’s cooking wines.”

  “Well, it looks like you have the situation under control.” She gave a little wave and turned away. “I’ll do you a favor and wake Maggie so she can decide how thoroughly she wants to sanitize everything.”

  “Thanks.” Ben rubbed his hand through his hair while Brandon rested his cheek against the edge of the pot. Well, he may as well get two glasses of water at this point. If he needed one, heaven knew how much Brandon would, too.

  Chapter Eight

  Jade

  “Twenty-four. Twenty-five. Twenty—”

  Jade tuned out Zak’s counting and focused on lifting the weight one more time. Sweat beaded on her forehead and moistened her blouse, and she gritted her teeth as she curled the weight up to her chin. Jelly-like muscles threatened to give out, and her arm dropped.

  Zak caught the weight before it hit the floor. “Twenty-six.” He set the weight on the metal rack in the physical therapy room, and pulled on a towel draped over the frame. He tossed it to her. “Four more than yesterday. Great job.”

  Jade wrinkled her nose at the soft towel before rubbing it against her face. Who knew she’d miss the rough towels from the Sapphire? At least those felt like they were helping get the sweat and grit off her skin, instead of this poof ball of a towel. She tossed it on a nearby bench. “What was the last thing Finn said to do?”

  “Stretch.” Zak grinned. “You know, the thing that you used to say you never had time for?”

  “Right. That.” Jade sighed and cautiously lifted her arm across her chest, pulling it close to her body. The tight muscles in her shoulder throbbed sharply, but not as bad as she’d expected. She was getting stronger. “After this, I’m goi—”

  Footsteps pounded in the hall, and Krista raced in, her tight black braids bouncing in front of her face, highlighting her wide eyes. She braced a hand against her stomach, pressing into her bodice as she breathed deeply. Her eyes bounced from Zak to Jade. “Governor Bentley’s back.”