by Lisa Lace
Christine put down her backpack and followed me.
“Head up the stairs next to the parlor and wait for me in the second room to your right,” I whispered as we slipped back out into the dark hallway. I locked the cellar door behind us. “I need to take care of something. And remember one thing.”
“I know, don’t make a sound.” Christine seemed irritable. “I heard you the first time.”
The lights turned on without warning. “Stop! I have a weapon, and I’m not afraid to use it.” My father barged into the hallway from the parlor carrying a sword. His crazed eyes still looked bloodshot from lack of sleep. He slashed through the air at an invisible assailant, robe coming loose in his vigor. I wished he had worn underwear. Christine took a step back and looked off into space.
“Moiru, it’s Axl,” I crooned, rushing to his side.
“Axl?” My father repeated loudly, turning toward me. I leaped aside, dodging the keen edge of his blade. “Who is that with you?”
“First, let’s put down your sword.” I eased the handle of the melee weapon out of his fingers, but he grabbed it again and bounded forward without warning.
“How dare you bring a stranger into our home!” He waved the sword at Christine and lifted his nose, sniffing. “It’s a human. What are you thinking?”
“Settle down, Moiru.” I grabbed his arm firmly and forced the blade out of his hands. “She’s a client of Magnum. All hotels are either closed down or fully booked, so she has to stay with us tonight. I’ll set up a cot for her down in the cellar.”
“The cellar?” My father paused and scratched his chin. I took the opportunity to reach around him and pull his robes over the swinging appendage between his legs. “I do not like this at all.”
“It’s only for one night. She’ll be gone by tomorrow morning. Noon, at the latest. Get back in your chair, Father, and I will make you a cup of tea.”
He gave us another scathing look before returning to his seat, clutching the amulet around his neck and muttering to himself. “Onya, my love, our son is at it again. He is reckless and adventurous, a trait I’m sure he inherited from your side of the family.”
I cleared my throat and tossed the key to Christine, motioning to the cellar door with my chin.
“Go ahead. I’ll be right with you.”
Chapter Eighteen
CHRISTINE
If I carefully leaned against the door frame, I could just see through the gap of the cellar door. I watched Axl put out the flames in the kitchen fire pit and carried a tray to his father’s side. He knelt down next to him and laid the tray in front of the old Urwanian.
I could not make out what they were saying. Even if I overheard the conversation, I would not have understood it. Some holdouts refused to learn Standard, and my knowledge of the Urwanian language was elementary at best. The father seemed to be speaking a local dialect. Although I couldn’t hear the words, the scene playing out in front of me spoke volumes.
Axl pulled up a chair across from his father. He looked even bulkier than normal as he slumped forward in the seat, long legs spread awkwardly on the short stool. As Axl’s dad lifted a spoon to his mouth with a shaky hand, splashing bits of soup on the table, he cried out in exasperation.
Axl retrieved a clean rag from the kitchen and mopped up the mess. He climbed back onto his stool and started all over from the beginning, scooping up another spoonful of soup to feed his father. It was hypnotizing to see the soft, compassionate side of the fiery alien. If it didn’t happen in front of me, I would never have believed this side of him existed. I didn’t detect a hint of vexation or obligation on Axl’s face as he tended to his father.
“Mmmph.”
I turned around. Akuza had managed to hoist himself up to his feet and stood flat against the post. The sight of him completely disrupted my train of my thoughts. What was I going to do with him? I walked around the top landing of the stairs, glancing back at the mewling Makroid.
“Mmmph!”
He wasn’t much of a conversationalist. “Pipe down, will you? Isn’t one black eye enough for you?” I started to move down the steps carefully.
“Mmmph.” Akuza softened his voice considerably, looking at the gag with his eyes and back at me pleadingly.
I stared at him. “Fine. I’ll take off your gag, but if you make me regret my decision, I will knock you out so hard that you won’t even remember your name. Do we understand each other?”
“Mmmph.”
I ripped out the rag from Akuza’s mouth. Coughing furiously, Akuza tilted his head back, welcoming the breaths of fresh air wholeheartedly. I sat down on the last step of the stairs, resting my arms on my knees.
“I hear you’re the famous Akuza, the only son and heir to Lord Silas’ throne. You weren’t famous to me. Sorry about that.”
Akuza was no longer weeping, but he turned his head away from me.
“I’m going to take a wild guess.” I clasped my hands together and propped my chin up with my fingers as I studied him. “I see manicured nails and purely decorative rings. Your skin is pale, and you are clean-shaven. Fingers are soft but riddled with paper cuts, presumably from hours upon hours of page-turning. Questionable weapon handling ability and poor posture. Was this your first time in the field?”
Silence.
“I’m only pointing this out because I’ve been there before. I don’t know why I’m trying to comfort you, but we’ve all had a first time. I nearly wet myself when I had to draw my plasma pistol. For months, I prepared myself by spending all my free time at shooting ranges. I learned every trick in the book. I must have practiced shooting myself in the mirror about a thousand times. I thought I was hot stuff.”
Akuza said nothing but I sensed he was hanging onto my every word.
“Even so, the first time I needed to use it, I couldn’t. I froze and completely forgot how to work the pistol. It’s not complicated - point and shoot. Fortunately, I didn’t forget how to use my legs, and I was able to move out of there. It wasn’t my proudest moment, but it was a teachable one. I suppose, ultimately, it was the fear that got to me.”
Akuza finally broke his silence. “I wasn’t afraid.” He looked back at me hatefully as a swollen eyelid drooped over one of his eyes.
“Relax. There’s no need to be defensive about it. I’m nobody to you, right? I was just sharing my experience.”
“I didn’t ask to hear it.” Akuza sniffed and blew hair out of his eyes.
“Okay, then. There’s no need to be touchy either.”
“Tell me, human. What do you want from me? If you seek money, I am certain my father will be willing to pay what you like for my safe return.”
“He doesn’t want your credits.”
“I didn’t ask what he wants. I asked what you want.” Akuza lifted his head, swallowing hard.
I decided to answer truthfully. “Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. I’m just along for the ride.” Spotting the quiver in his lip, I decided to say more even though I wasn’t sure if my words were true. “I wouldn’t worry so much if I were you. He’s a little rough around the edges, but he’s a good guy. He said he wouldn’t hurt you if you cooperated with us. He’s the type to follow through on his word.”
I hoped.
“About the Urwanian. Axl, I heard you call him.” Akuza raised his hands to dab at his face, drying his damp cheeks. “He’s an acquirer, isn’t he? I’ve heard many stories about Magnum.”
“Let me stop you right there.” I held up a hand, feeling a pang of trepidation. “You’re asking too many questions.”
Akuza quieted down at once, bowing his head.
“Are you thirsty?” I pulled out a thermos from my backpack. Pouring him a cup of water, I edged toward him and offered him the drink. Akuza’s thin lips were flaky, and his scratchy voice suggested dehydration, but he moved his head away from the beverage.
“It’s totally safe. See?”
I tipped the cup’s contents into my mouth before pouring him s
ome more. This time, he grabbed the drink eagerly and downed the water in one gulp. The water that didn’t make it into his mouth sloppily dribbled down his chin. I handed him the thermos and returned to my seat on the last step of the stairs. I watched the Makroid prince chug down water like it was his first day of spring break. When he set down the thermos, he dabbed at his lips with the back of his hand.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
The door swung open behind us. When Axl’s towering form appeared in the doorway, Akuza flinched and thrashed his legs across the ground, maneuvering himself behind the post. I rose to my feet and leaned against the wall, making room for Axl as he strode down the stairs.
“What happened to his gag?”
“I took it off.” I glanced at Akuza, who was peering at us from behind the post, clicking his teeth. “He was having problems breathing with that thing in his mouth.”
“My father dozed off, so we have the chance to go upstairs again and come up with a – augh!”
Axl tripped over my backpack, quickly catching himself before he hit the ground. I wildly threw out my hands, but I didn’t have a chance to grab anything. The pillar of Galzen shot out of the unzipped opening of the spinning backpack and slid across the floor, skidding to a halt in front of the prince.
“Is that what I think it is?” Akuza’s unblinking gaze focused on the gleaming pillar. “You should have been more careful with it.”
“Damn it!” Axl grabbed the pillar and shoved it back into my backpack. “What was that bag doing in the middle of the floor?!”
“Don’t try to pin this on me, clumsy.” I slapped a hand on my forehead. “All you needed to do was look where you were walking.”
“I guess it’s settled, then. We have to kill the prince.”
Akuza looked like he was going to faint. I stuck out a hand in Akuza’s direction and clamped my fingers to my thumb, motioning for him to quit the whimpering.
“Stop being so dramatic. He doesn’t mean it.” I glanced at Axl. “Do you? Why don’t we step outside for a minute and talk this over?”
Axl glared at Akuza before storming up the stairs. I followed him out the cellar, down the hallway, and through the front door. As soon as the door closed, I flicked him hard on the forehead.
“Nice going, genius. What do we do now? And no, before you bring it up again, we’re not going to kill him.”
“He knows things now. What happens if he escapes and makes it back to Makroi?” Axl looked concerned. “It’s not a matter of if he’s going to talk. It’s a matter of when.”
“Maybe we can turn him.” I tugged on my lip thoughtfully. “I don’t know. Whatever the case, the guy’s royalty. There will be repercussions if we execute him.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Axl folded his arms. “Everyone else is at the temple for the night. I’ll send them a message in the morning. We can meet them at the palace and we will consult with the Empress. For tonight, I guess we have to watch Akuza by ourselves.”
I nodded. “I’ll take the first shift. Come on, let’s get back inside.”
Chapter Nineteen
AXL
“Stay still, Axl. We don’t want to scare it away.”
My father wiggled across the grass using his elbows to propel him. I followed his example, arms jabbing into the fresh dirt as I crept up next to my father. He flashed me a grin and pressed a finger to his mouth.
“Watch this. You won’t believe it.”
He pursed his lips into the shape of an O and made a twittering noise with the back of his throat. A lomas bird looked back at us, spreading a crown of petal-like feathers under its round chin. My father laid his finger down on the grass, addressing the bird with another friendly twitter.
“You try it. She might nip your finger for a second, but it will only tickle. She won’t draw blood.”
I set my finger down next to his. It looked tiny next to an adult’s hand. My finger was only half the size of my father’s. The curious bird hopped over to us, dragging the bright blue tuft under its chin along our fingers. I looked back at my dad for affirmation.
“That’s it, Axl. It’s getting a feel for your scent. Look. It likes you!”
The bird stepped onto my finger and tilted its head, staring up at me with bright orange eyes. Giggling, I brushed the bird’s back and under its chin as it cooed appreciatively. My father sat up slowly and patted me on the shoulder.
“Good going. The two of you are becoming fast friends.”
Balancing the bird on my finger, I pushed myself off the grass.
“Maam! Look at this!”
I cupped a finger around the bird and crawled onto the blanket spread out on the grass. My mother lowered her goblet of whippel fruit juice and lifted me onto her lap. As I snuggled up against her chest, I removed my hand and presented the bird.
“Isn’t it pretty, Maam?”
As she leaned in for a closer look, I could smell the sweet kobbler butter in her flowing, fair hair.
“Very pretty, indeed.” She brushed off my dirty elbows and kissed me on the forehead.
“Can we keep it? I promise to take good care of it. Oh, no!”
The bird prepared to take flight. It batted its wings, but I reached out and clapped my hands over the tiny critter.
“Don’t do that. You are hurting the bird.” My mother pulled my hands apart and set the bird free.
“Why did you do that, Maam?” I sounded indignant and sulked as the bird flew off, soaring into the horizon. “I was just hugging it! I wasn’t going to hurt anything!”
“You are bigger and stronger than the bird is.” My mother calmly handed me a cookie from the basket. “If you squeeze too tightly, it won’t be able to breathe. You could hurt it because you don’t know your strength. You have to be gentle.”
“I’m sorry, Maam. I didn’t want to harm the bird. But why did you release it?”
“It belongs in the wild, with nature. Father Zamos created all creatures to live unfettered and free. Look at how lovely that bird was. Its beauty is too much to contain to yourself.”
“Listen to your mother.” My father joined us on the blanket, sitting down next to Maam and pecking her on the lips. I stuck out my tongue at them, shielding my eyes.
“What’s the matter?” My father’s grin widened, and his eyes started to twinkle. “Now that you’ve seen your first lomas bird, I think it is time for you to study a pair of sweet lovebirds.”
“No, thank you!” I wrinkled my nose as my parents gave each another big kiss on the lips.
“I think Axl’s jealous.” My mother joined forces with my father in the attempt to kill me from embarrassment and tickled me under the arms. “Come on, Lanson. Get him!”
Before I could protest, they tackled me from both sides, smothering me with wet kisses.
“I surrender!” Laughing manically, I wriggled free and tumbled back onto the grass. A tide of warmth washed over me. I ran with it, embracing the feeling. Drawing a deep, soothing breath, I felt my body growing lighter as my aura began to escape me.
“Ah, shoot.”
My eyes snapped open and adjusted to the light. All the cupboards in the kitchen were open. A shadowy figure stood over the bottom drawer of the ice box, sweeping chipped shards of ice under the unit. I glanced at the rocking chair next to me. My father was still fast asleep and his mouth hung open.
“Christine?” I lifted myself off the floor. “What are you doing?”
She shut the ice box drawer. “Do you always sleep in a lotus position? It seems a little uncomfortable.”
“I wasn’t sleeping. And you’re not answering my question.”
“That guy has been talking my ear off for two hours down there.” Christine rolled her eyes. “He says he’s hungry.”
“So what?”
“So I’m trying to feed him. Am I supposed to let him starve?”
“Perhaps you misunderstand the situation. We are not running a bed and
breakfast. We are kidnapping someone. Get back downstairs and tell him there’s no room service here.”
“You can tell him yourself.”
Behind us, my father stirred in his rocking chair, smacking his lips in his sleep.
“Let’s take this upstairs.”
I led her up to the second floor and into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me. Christine took the opportunity to look at everything in the room while holding her hands on her hips. She circled slowly around my bed and past hovering lamps, peering at a double-tiered altar set up in the corner of the room.
“Why do you keep fighting me?”
Christine looked back at me, narrowing her eyes fiercely. “If you weren’t unreasonable, we wouldn’t have a problem.”
“I’m perfectly reasonable.”
“You heard me.” Christine put her legs apart, gazing up at me through slits in her eyes. “It’s bad enough that we’re holding someone captive. The guy is unarmed and vulnerable. He appears to be caught up in something bigger than himself. Would it kill you to treat him with a bit of decency?”
“We can’t all be bleeding hearts.” I matched her heated gaze. “One of us has to get things done around here. Why are you defending him? He had a gun pointed at you. He could have killed you.”
“But he didn’t,” Christine pointed out defiantly.
“He’s a Makroid. Even worse, he’s royalty.” Rage swelled inside me at the thought of those bastards.
“Whatever he is, he’s terrified of you. Why don’t you try a different approach and see if you can get something useful out of him? At least I’m making some progress. You’re welcome, by the way.”
“I never asked for any of that. All I wanted was someone to watch him. If you can’t follow simple instructions, we’re going to have a problem.”
The brush of a wing against my ear made me jump. I turned on one of the lamps, looking around the room. I didn’t see anything except for the two of us.
“Did you hear that?”
Christine shook her head. “I’ve had it with your stupid instructions. Here’s a tip. I don’t work for you!” Christine tossed her hands in the air and pushed her hair back aggressively. “How’s this for not following simple instructions?”