Lazet

by Arcadia Shield

  “Which is a good thing,” said Lazet. “If you straddled every hot stranger you met, I might be worried.”

  Melody’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m just surprised you’re doing this.”

  “Why wouldn’t I want to do this?”

  “Don’t feel you have to, just because I was nice to you,” said Lazet. “I don’t expect something from you. I wanted to help.”

  “Just as I want to help you,” said Melody. “I feel bad about what you told me. Your childhood was really hard.”

  “So, you decided to make me feel better by doing this?” Lazet gestured at Melody’s partially exposed breasts. “This is a pity fuck?”

  Melody ducked her head. “Isn’t it making you feel better?”

  “It was.” Lazet shifted out from underneath Melody and stood. “But I don’t take pity sex from anyone.”

  “I wasn’t offering you sex.”

  “It felt like it to me,” said Lazet.

  “It wasn’t that at all.” Melody jumped to her feet and glared at him. “I wanted us to feel better, to take our minds off this horrible situation. I thought we were getting along.”

  “We are.” Lazet ran a hand through his hair. “Well, we were. You don’t always have to move so fast, though.”

  “Why not?” asked Melody. “We’re probably going to be dead tomorrow. What’s the point of hanging about to see what might happen? You’ve thrown around so many vague promises about how we’re going to get out, but you’ve got no facts to go on as to how we’re going to do it. For all I know, you could be lying. You could say this to all the prey, in the hope they’ll roll over and let you stab them in the heart when you’re sleeping by their side after you’ve fucked them.”

  “I’d never do that,” growled Lazet. “And I don’t fuck the prey. I kill it.”

  “Maybe you charm them to death.” Melody’s cheeks blazed, and she jammed her hands on her hips. “You make them think they can trust you, and when you’ve had what you want, you slit their throats.”

  “You’re being ridiculous.”

  “I’m not,” said Melody. “Like you said, we barely know each other. This was such a mistake.”

  “You mean, me helping you not to freeze to death, you straddling me and making out with me, or us teaming up together to try to save our lives and get out of this game?”

  “All of the above,” snapped Melody. “You’re a deceitful liar. I should have seen straight through you, with your charming smile and dimples.”

  “You think I have a charming smile?” Lazet grinned at Melody, trying to break the tension between them. This was not how he expected things to go.

  “I think you’re an idiot.” She grabbed her boots and stuffed her feet into them.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting out of here and away from you.”

  “You don’t have to go.”

  “Yes, I do,” said Melody. “Because if I stay here any longer, I’m going to go after your weapons harness and use something very sharp and pointy to stick you.”

  “Calm down; don’t leave,” said Lazet. “It’s not safe out there.”

  “It’s better than being stuck in a cave with a liar.” Melody grabbed her bag and coat.

  “Melody, wait.” Lazet grabbed her arm, but she shook him off.

  “I need some space,” said Melody. “I can’t be around you, right now.” She dashed past the fire and out into the snow.

  Lazet grabbed his harness before packing his own bag and shouldering it. If the Fraken didn’t kill him in this game, his interest in this frustrating human just might.

  Chapter 14

  Melody stamped through the snow. She slipped on ice several times and cursed under her breath before slowing her pace and moving to the sparse tree line, where the route wasn’t so slippery and the Fraken wouldn’t notice her movements. There was barely any light in the game now, and if she kept under the branches of the trees, she’d be difficult to see.

  “Stupid Vorten,” she muttered to herself. He’d made her out to be some kind of easy lay, and it wasn’t the first time he’d suggested that. Why did he have to reject her? Why couldn’t he just enjoy himself? She hadn’t been asking for his hand in marriage. They should be allowed pleasure.

  Her mom had always told Melody that her looks would get her a long way, and she turned heads with her long red hair and generous curves. And at times, it had been the only asset she’d had to barter with. When the bar had been closed down on several occasions, e-credits had been tight. She’d never gone as far as selling her body, but she had used it to get free meals and drinks off willing men. But she’d never gone any further than that. Lazet had made her out to be some kind of cheap ride.

  Her cheeks burned at the idea. She had too much respect for herself to do that. But assets were assets, whether they were stored in a bank or came in the form of flesh. Her mom had used her own enviable assets when she’d needed something. She’d given birth to Melody when she was a teenager, and they were often mistaken for sisters. Her mom managed to get men to do all sorts of things for her, including stealing and lying. And she’d sometimes entertained men, and when she did, the next day, there were always more e-credits in the account because of it.

  Melody would never do that. She’d made a success of herself and the business, and she’d saved hard, ignoring all extravagances and planning for a better life. She wanted to do the same for her mom as well. It had hurt her to tell Lazet about how she’d abandoned her on Earth.

  Her mom might even be dead by now. Melody brushed hot tears from her cheeks at the blood chilling thought. She couldn’t allow herself to think about that; everything would be okay. When she got out of this game, she’d be able to get to Earth and give her mom the drugs she needed.

  There would be a lot of e-credits to be had when she became the first human to survive the games. Well, if Lazet was to be believed, she would be the second human to survive. Eloise was out there somewhere, supposedly with this Vorten warrior, Axen. But after the way Lazet had just talked to her, she wasn’t sure she could believe anything he had to say. Maybe he was lying. He could be telling her all these things to lull her into a false sense of security. Axen could be dead and so could Eloise.

  The prospect filled Melody’s stomach with its own ball of ice. Until she was out of this game and saw Eloise with her own eyes, she couldn’t pin any hope to Lazet’s smooth words. But if he had tricked her, she was going to go after him, fight him until her last breath spat out of her, and make him realize humans were not so feeble after all.

  She heard Lazet call her name several times but kept walking. The speed of her movement meant the cold hadn’t gotten back into her bones, and her feet were now warm and comfortable, thanks to Lazet’s hot hands. That had been something she’d enjoyed a little too much. But his rejection of her showed he didn’t feel the same way. He wasn’t interested in taking advantage of what Melody had to offer.

  She couldn’t decide if she was happy about that or not.

  Melody heard the sound of breaking branches behind her and sped up, knowing Lazet would be closing in. She was still too angry to talk to him, and she hated losing her temper and letting her hot head make her say things she later regretted.

  “Just go back to the cave,” she shouted over her shoulder. “I need more time to myself.”

  The noises stopped for a few seconds but then continued.

  Melody sighed and sped up even more. They’d only end up fighting again if he didn’t leave her alone.

  The sound of an animal bleating in distress made her slow. She squinted into the gloom and spotted the pale tan color of a baby belloc. She’d never seen one in real life, but they were similar to dogs, loyal and faithful companions and excellent to have when you wanted to go for long walks.

  As the belloc moved into sight, she could see its front leg was damaged, and it was limping. Melody crouched down and beckoned the belloc to her. “Looks lik
e you’ve been injured, little buddy.”

  The belloc bleated again, its large dark eyes tight with pain as it hobbled forward.

  “Come a bit closer. I’ve got something that might help.” Melody eased a Healing Stick out of her bag. It was foolish to use on an animal. There would be less medicine to treat any more injuries she got. Her mom used to chastise her for taking in injured creatures, but she could never walk past an animal in pain. Melody had so many animals that she’d had to move them to a shed she rented. Any spare e-credits she had, after saving for her space flight, went on food and medicine for the animals.

  “Come on, buddy, just a little closer, and I can treat your leg,” said Melody.

  The belloc inched forward and its soft muzzle brushed against Melody’s fingers.

  “That’s it.” Melody shuffled forward and ran the Healing Stick slowly up and down the belloc’s leg several times, noticing it was a male as she did so. She could see the pain lessen on his face and watched as he tested the weight of his leg. “You see, you’re already feeling better.”

  The belloc snuffled Melody’s fingers more confidently.

  “Now, we need to find where your mom’s got to,” said Melody. “You can’t be out here on your own during a night like this. My teeth are already chattering, and I’ve only been out a few minutes.” She ran her fingers along the soft pale silky fur of the belloc.

  The belloc bleated, and alarm shot into his eyes.

  Melody removed her hand. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

  The belloc stumbled back on its overly long legs in an effort to escape, its gaze not on Melody, but on whatever was over her shoulder.

  A flood of fear ran through Melody as she turned and came face-to-face with a Fraken. He raised his lightning stick and smashed it into the side of her head.

  ***

  Lazet strode across the snow covered ground, focused on evidence of Melody’s movements. He’d easily followed her trampled footprints through the snow and was pleased to see she’d listened to some of his advice and was sticking to the tree line. She might not have been spotted by the Fraken after she’d foolishly fled the cave.

  Why had she done it? Sure, he’d teased her a bit about being so confident with him, but he didn’t say he didn’t like it. What he hadn’t liked was the way she said she’d done it to make him feel better. What about her? What did Melody want? Lazet didn’t like to think she was only giving herself to him because that was what she felt she should do. He’d been aroused by being so close to Melody but hadn’t intended to do anything about it.

  And then she’d propositioned him. He was eager to reciprocate, but wouldn’t have done so if he’d thought for one second she was doing it because she felt obliged to.

  Lazet shook his head. He hadn’t meant to insult her, but he also didn’t want to take advantage of Melody.

  He paused and looked at the ground, his warrior senses firing into action. The snow was disturbed, and a big arc had been wiped out of it. It looked like someone had been dragged along the ground. He took a few more steps and stopped as the sound of shuffling came from the trees. He pulled a blade and waited.

  A small belloc emerged from the trees, its big, innocent looking eyes blinking at him.

  Lazet let out a sigh and lowered his blade. “Don’t worry. I’m not after you.” He inhaled deeply. His scent detection skills were not as good as Axen’s, who could sniff out a drop of blood at five hundred paces with his broad nose. But he picked up the scent of Melody, her feminine sweat and the faint odor of swamp and blood. But there was something else, a scent he recognized and despised.

  “Fraken,” he whispered. Lazet turned in a slow circle, seeing if any were still there. They traveled in predatory packs, too cowardly to take on a fighter on their own.

  What were they doing in the game? The scent was too recent simply to be a maintenance crew sent in to do repairs. It suggested they’d been here not long ago, and now, Melody was missing.

  Lazet continued his exploration of the area and hissed out in anger, as he discovered Melody’s bag discarded. He strode forward and then paused, seeing blood on the ground. He knelt and touched it with his fingers. It was fresh; it had to be hers.

  A cold, hard rage filled him. The Fraken were upping the stakes. They must know he’d been helping Melody and had come in to punish her and him.

  The belloc stumbled over to him and nudged his muzzle on Lazet’s arm. “No time for you now.” He patted the animal’s head. “Don’t suppose you can tell me what happened here.”

  The belloc blinked up at him.

  “Thought not.” Lazet adjusted his weapons belt and glared into the darkness. He focused on the trail in front of him. There was more of Melody’s blood on the ground and signs of a struggle.

  Even though she’d been injured again, it looked like Melody was still putting up a fight. She was a gutsy human.

  Lazet stalked forwards and stopped. The belloc was following him. “It’s not safe for you, little guy. Go back to your mom.”

  The belloc ignored him, so Lazet shrugged and carried on. He couldn’t be responsible for this creature. He had to help Melody.

  The trail ended at a frozen lake. Lazet paused by the edge, his blade out and his senses on high alert. He could hear something, but it was high up, as if in a tree. But that didn’t make sense because the noise was coming from out in the lake, and there were no trees out there.

  As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, a feeling of horror filled his stomach. Melody was there, and she’d been suspended over the middle of the lake, strung up and tied by her wrists. He could also see there was a rope around her waist. And she wasn’t alone. To her right, suspended in an identical fashion, was a Deorg.

  Lazet gritted his teeth. He knew this Deorg; it was Urel. Lazet knew he worked closely with Axen, and, recently, they’d had a number of meetings. And he’d seen Urel with Axen and Eloise after their escape. The Fraken must have discovered what Axen was planning and taken Urel as punishment.

  A violent blast from Lazet’s collar shook him from his fury. Looked like the Fraken wanted to talk, and so did he. He had to convince them he was still supporting this game and show he was on their side and doing their bidding. Melody and Urel could not die.

  Lazet listened for the hum of an active comms post and strode towards it before slamming his fist on it as he waited for the link to establish.

  Death Wish, one of the more senior ranking Fraken, stared back at him from the comms screen, a smirk across his ugly face. “You have discovered our surprise.”

  “What’s the meaning of this?” demanded Lazet. “Why have you added another prey to the game?”

  “Because you are having too much fun with the one you already have,” said Death Wish. “Have you lost your taste for killing?”

  “Not true,” said Lazet. “I have a game plan of my own. But you have not given me a chance to execute it.”

  “That is all we ask of you,” said Death Wish, “to execute the prey you have.”

  “I was planning to,” said Lazet.

  “No, you are deceiving us,” said Death Wish. “So, we decided to make things more entertaining.”

  “By adding extra prey? A Deorg is hardly a match for me.”

  “By making you choose,” said Death Wish. “You can save only one. Who will it be, the human or the Deorg?”

  Chapter 15

  Melody couldn’t decide what she wanted to do more, tear the head off the Fraken who had captured her or beat herself around the head for being so stupid. She should never have let down her guard, not for a second. She’d been too busy being angry at Lazet, and herself, to pay attention to her surroundings. And now, she discovered herself here.

  A freezing draft of air drifted from the ice beneath her. She was suspended at least thirty feet above it, with her hands tied. If Melody fell, there’d be no way she’d be able to keep afloat. Even if she did, the freezing temperature of the water would kill her, sucking the warmth from
her body and filling her lungs with shards of pain.

  Melody swung her legs backwards and forwards, trying to wriggle her hands free from the binds, but they dug in tightly and made her flesh sting. She continued fighting with the rope, determined to get her hands free. She wasn’t completely sure what she’d do after that, but had to try something, anything, to get away from the Fraken.

  “Let me go,” she yelled into the chilled air.

  No one answered her.

  Melody screamed in frustration and tugged at the ropes again with the ends of her fingers. “You can’t keep me here.” But she knew they could; this was just a part of the game.

  Melody looked over at the Deorg tied up next to her. He wore a plain black kaftan that fell to his feet, his blue toes were bare, and his dark hair hid his features. “Are you awake?”

  The Deorg groaned and tilted his head in her direction. “I’m hoping this is a horrible nightmare.”

  “Sorry to say, it’s not,” said Melody. “What have you done to anger the Fraken?”

  The Deorg shifted in his bonds for a few seconds before sighing and slumping forward. “Helping your friend down there.”

  Melody turned her head, and her breath caught in her throat. It was Lazet. He’d found her, and he wasn’t looking happy. She was surprised to see he had the injured belloc behind him. The creature stepped nervously from hoof to hoof as Lazet stomped around. If the belloc had decided they were to be friends, then she would take him with her when they got out of the game. She laughed to herself bitterly, like there was going to be any escape out of this mess.

  “Does the Vorten’s fury amuse you?” asked the Deorg.

  “It’s not that,” said Melody. “It’s this whole crazy situation. I have to laugh about it, or I might lose my mind and never stop crying.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “You’re friends with Lazet?” Melody focused on the rope around her wrists and managed to get it to give a little around her left hand. She ignored the blood that trickled down her arm and continued to work the rope.