She finally took a deep breath.
Yes, she thought to herself. Snap out of it. You can’t just roll over and die.
She nodded up at him.
“That’s more like it. And don’t you dare try opening a portal to get away. I have orders to knock you unconscious the second you try anything…witchy.”
She didn’t doubt him. “Who are you? Where did you come from that you got here so fast?”
“I’m Commander Holmstrom. My men call me Pernicious.” He grinned and stretched to his full height, looking quite imposing. “I’m from this region originally – not one of you Kota prudes, but this land belongs to my kin too. I’m commander of a security base stationed not far down the coast. We’ve guarded this region for years, keeping an eye on you Kota and making sure no one ever finds this place.”
She felt a flush of anger. “Were you the ones who killed the men who left the village?”
“That was part of the job, sure.” He looked back at her without shame.
“And was butchering them part of the job?”
Here he smiled. “No. I was hungry.”
“Oh, god…” She took a step back from him. But there was no point running.
“Any other questions, princess?”
Thousands, she thought.
She pointed at the village behind her. “Did you and your men do this to my people?”
“We deactivated the wall from our base, sure. Since then, the factors did all this. Some of the villagers probably got infected from the inside, and factors from the outside-”
“What?” Then she realized the obvious. “When did Thurston stop giving them the DRK treatment?”
“Right after your sons were born.” The big man shook blowing hair out of his face. “Our orders were to continue slaying anyone leaving the village, but only a few more boatloads tried to escape before the factors overran this place. Lately, we’ve just been sitting at the base going crazy with boredom.”
Why would Thurston do this? she thought. All of our people! Has he gone mad? …I will make him pay.
Clenching her fists, Vedanleé closed her eyes and screamed. And screamed. And screamed. She felt a wave of power leave her body, and she opened her eyes to see sand blowing like a tornado around her. Pernicious had taken a few steps back and was looking at her in surprise.
She stopped screaming and sucked in air. She felt her power recede, and the sand dropped to the ground in a small ring around her.
Pernicious took a moment, now looking down at her with curiosity. “What would you be willing to do to get away from the Lord High Commander?”
She swallowed and looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“Are you really as powerful as they say?” He crossed his arms. “I watched this village for years, don’t forget. I’ve seen what you womenfolk were capable of. And I’ve heard rumors from Dominion sources that your power has grown. Is it all true?”
“Did you not see what just happened?” She motioned to the sand around her feet. “What do you want?”
He paused and looked out to sea. “I want you to owe me a favor. A big favor. Someday, my men and I might need your assistance. I think your power might be just our ticket out of here.”
She squinted at him. “Are you in some kind of trouble? Have you crossed Thurston somehow too?”
“Let’s just say he and I have never seen eye-to-eye about what I have the ability to command.” He looked down at her with the full focus of his dark eyes. “If I let you escape, you have to swear to me by whatever magic you hold sacred that you’ll help me someday if I call upon you. Do we have a deal?”
“What about my sons? Is there any way you can-”
He laughed at her. “No chance in hell. I’m taking a gamble by letting you go – I’m not going to take his own heirs from him.”
She accepted this and paused in debate.
Pernicious, she thought. He’s earned the name. He killed Halvar. And others. He let this village… But what choice do I have? What other ally do I have?
She closed her eyes and breathed in the wind’s aroma of sea, beach, and pine. A flood of memories came over her, and she nearly started crying again. But she was done with that now.
Opening her eyes, she took a step to the giant and put her hand on his chest. Looking up in his face, she said, “I swear by the power of the void. Wherever I am, this bond will allow you to call for my assistance.” She looked at her hand on his chest. “Meminon. Thidackin. Rosinoa.” She felt her gift flow to bond with his heart.
Pernicious took a breath and looked down at his chest. He’d felt it. Then he grabbed her right wrist and with his other hand pulled out a knife.
“What are you doing?” She tried to pull back from him.
“Hold still.” He carefully made an incision in her palm.
It hurt like hell, but she now understood what he was doing.
After a minute or two, he used the tip of the knife to poke inside her palm and lift out her ID tag. He dropped the small metal chip and stomped on it with his boot, grinding it into the sand.
She caressed her bleeding hand and accepted the strip of cloth he offered. “Now what?”
“My suggestion? Use your portals to go to the other Kota community. Maybe they’ll take you in and keep you safe.”
She gaped at this. “What other Kota community? There are more Kota? Where?”
“Well, the Dominion’s hunted down and executed most of your people.” He tilted his head toward the village to make his point. “But some on the Northern Continent have banded together in secret camps. Supposedly there’s a man who can jump portals, and he’s been helping them.”
The man who jumps portals! she thought. He’s helping Kota? This whole time Thurston had me helping him hunt down the remaining Kota?
She took a breath, controlling her rage for now.
“Last I heard,” Pernicious went on, “they’re in the northern part of the Northern Continent. If you go there, you might be able to find them for yourself.”
I’ve never been to that region, she thought. Blindly crossing the void to somewhere new will be dangerous. But I have to try.
Nodding at Pernicious, she stretched out her hand to open a portal. Pernicious took a noticeable step back. She tried to ignore him and focus on the empty beach.
Oh, she realized. I didn’t remember anything when I crossed the void this time. If that happens again, I might run right into Dominion soldiers again.
She reached into her coat’s inner pocket and asked, “Do you have any paper? I need to write myself a note.”
5
Present day
The bus jostled over a pothole in the little-used road, and Vedanleé held the bag of groceries from falling off the seat. She’d been reduced to a woman who worked in the kitchen. Being sent for supplies was, she was sure, a way for the camp to test whether she’d come back or not.
They hope I don’t, she thought.
She’d found a hidden Kota camp a few months ago, but these people were nothing like the Kota she’d always known. For one thing, men led this group. For another, they were completely modernized. And there was no use of magic. She’d noticed the lack of the gift as soon as she’d encountered these people – she hadn’t sensed the power of the void at all, in any of them.
I feel it itching inside me all the time, she thought as she looked out the bus window. My gift wants to be used. But I certainly can’t let these people find out I’m the Woman of the Void! They’d probably stone me…
It had taken several rounds of interrogation before the Kota accepted she wasn’t a threat. Thurston had by now put a price on her head so that the public was fully aware who she was, and the Kota were understandably nervous about her former associations. Trying to be as transparent as possible, she’d confessed to being the mother of Thurston’s sons, but she swore no allegiance to him. She’d confessed to her former life as a witch – their word – but swore to live by their laws and customs. They’
d at last allowed her to join their camp, but she was only tolerated, not trusted. And certainly not liked.
The bus drove into an abandoned town. Several groups of Kota had journeyed here to rendezvous, and this hiding place was a few hours from the nearest supplies. The bus’s brakes squealed as it pulled into a parking place along the main street, and once parked the bus exhaled as if exhausted from the trip. The few others aboard rose from their seats to exit, and Vedanleé joined them, keeping her head down humbly.
I have to win them over, she thought. If they kick me out, what do I have left? But this is so strange… It’s like I’m in another world.
The sun was bright overhead. The sky blue. Green trees beyond the small town rustled in a soft breeze. The dusty main street hadn’t been used by anyone but these few Kota in decades, and the buildings were coated in dust and mud splatter from years of rains.
I’m safe, she thought. At least I’m safe. Thurston is hunting these people too, but they have a benefactor watching over them… Fortunately he doesn’t seem to know too much about me – thank goodness for Bylgja’s cloaking spell all those years ago.
Looking up the street, Vedanleé saw a crowd gathered at the hotel. A few hummers had just pulled up to park here, and Kota soldiers emerged from the hummers. One of the soldiers opened a passenger door and helped a man into a wheelchair. From the other side of the hummer emerged Trok, the Kota’s portal-jumping benefactor.
Oh! she thought. Was that today?
Handing off the groceries to one of the others, Vedanleé hurried forward to join the crowd. Her shoes kicked up dust as she jogged over, and she quickly ran her hands through her hair. Then she watched with the rest as a soldier pushed the man’s wheelchair toward the hotel.
This man was the guest of honor. According to legend, this was Trok’s brother, Lee Kandoya. Together the two brothers were the Bearers of an old Kota prophecy. Trok was destined, as the immortal Interceder, to take care of the four Marked children who would save Earth from the DRK virus. Lee was destined to father the children.
No wonder these Kota are so eager to greet him, thought Vedanleé. Any hopes we have for the restoration of this world… They’re the same prophecies we had back home. The Mark Prophecy. The Warriors Prophecy. Four children…
The words of her own prophecy floated through her mind, almost unbidden.
The Woman of the Void
shall breach barriers yet unknown
and control what none thought controllable.
Children will she bear.
Each will rise to greatness,
inheriting her strength.
At the height of her power,
she shall kill an immortal.
I miss my boys, she thought. I always will. But what if I’m meant to have more children – the Marked children?
She pushed her way to stand near the door of the hotel. The sun in her eyes, she squinted to see Lee. She paid no mind to Trok – she didn’t like him or the power she felt radiating from him at all times. No, her eyes were focused on the man in the wheelchair.
Lee might be important enough to get these people to accept me, she thought. He’s my best chance for a real life now. But, Great Freyja, I’m the Woman of the Void – am I always to be tied to a man? Well, Lee can’t possibly be worse than Thurston.
Just as the soldier pushed the wheelchair to the hotel entrance, Vedanleé stepped forward and opened the door.
Lee held up his hand for the soldier pushing him to stop, and he looked up at Vedanleé. “Thank you. What’s your name?”
“Vedanleé,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you, Vedanleé,” said Lee with a charming smile. “I hope to see you again soon.”
“I’d like that.” Standing aside as the men entered the hotel lobby, Vedanleé only glanced at Trok.
We’ll see what becomes of you, immortal, she thought.
Inside, Lee looked up at Trok with a wide grin on his face. “Nice girl.”
Outside, Vedanleé blew out a breath and turned to join the woman who’d be cooking a feast in the Bearers’ honor.
One thing at a time, she thought. This is my life now. This is all I have. Time to make the best of it.
++++
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The Kota Series
Kota Shorts
Author Information
Sunshine Somerville lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She self-published her first book in college in 2004 and has been evolving The Kota Series since she was nine, basing the story on childhood fantasies derived from watching too much X-Men and Star Wars and reading too much The Chronicles of Narnia and A Wrinkle in Time.
She would like to point out that, yes, this is her real name.
For more, visit:
www.SunshineSomerville.com
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