by Cheree Alsop
“I don’t want to go back,” she replied, her voice tight.
His hand touched her cheek. “Liora, wake up.”
She shook her head.
“Liora, you’ve got to. Wake up!” he said, his voice louder.
“There’s a hole in my heart that used to be you,” she said.
She opened her eyes to see tears trailing down his cheeks.
“I know, my love. I’m so sorry.”
He looked up as though he heard something. His eyebrows pulled together and he met her gaze.
“You’ve got to go. Wake up, now!”
“Liora, wake up!”
“Come on, Liora! Don’t let go!”
Pain surfaced on every bit of Liora’s body. It brought tears to her eyes and she fought to breathe.
“Liora, wake up!”
The voice had changed from Tariq’s to that of Brandis. Desperation filled her brother’s words.
“There’s so much blood,” a softer voice said.
“We’re losing her,” a gruff voice answered.
“Liora!”
She opened her eyes. Agony filled her vision.
“Her eyes are open,” Brandis called out. “Liora!”
“Give her more blood,” Susa directed.
Pain pierced her arm. She was on her stomach on a hard table. There was pressure on her back.
“She’s losing blood as quickly as her body can take it,” Rist said. “We have to stitch the wounds.”
“There’s not enough whole flesh left to stitch together,” Susa replied.
“What other choice do we have?” Rist asked.
“Burn it.”
Silence fell over the room.
“What did you say?” Brandis asked.
Rist knelt in front of the table. “Liora?”
She saw the concern in his eyes. “Rist, you have to burn it. It’ll keep bleeding if there’s nothing to stop it.”
“You want us to burn your back?”
She nodded despite the incredulity of his expression. “I want to live.”
“There’s a compound I’ve used before in small quantities,” Susa said. He walked around the table into Liora’s view. “I’ve only had experience with it for use with smaller wounds, but there was no infection following. It’ll hurt, though.” He looked at her back. “It’ll hurt a great deal.”
Liora nodded.
“Do it.”
The silver-haired woman’s soft words spurred everyone in the room to action. Liora realized they were no longer in the woman’s quarters where she had lain on the soft carpet feeling her life blood leave her body.
She was in a medical room with strange instruments hanging from the ceiling. The image reminded her of Colonel Lefkin’s torture room. Several women in gray suits rushed around. The smell of caustic chemicals tangled in Liora’s nose.
“I need everyone who doesn’t absolutely need to be here to leave the room,” Susa said. His gaze moved past Liora. “Including Your Grace.”
A gentle hand touched Liora’s head.
“Be strong, Liora, my dear. Your story still has chapters left to write.”
Liora felt her muscles relax at the woman’s soothing tones. She realized with a start that the woman was pushing at her. She lifted her head and met the woman’s gaze.
The silver-haired woman nodded as if she knew exactly what Liora was thinking.
“We’ll talk when you’re stronger,” she promised.
Liora was filled with soothing energy. She closed her eyes.
“Do you want me to stay?” Brandis asked.
As relaxed as Liora felt, she knew the next few moments were going to be a true challenge.
“I don’t need you to see this,” she replied without opening her eyes. “I’d rather see you if I make it through.”
“Are you sure?” Brandis asked. “I don’t want to leave you.”
Liora nodded and opened her eyes. “I’m sure. This is what I want”
Brandis squeezed her hand. “Fine. I will see you when you make it through.”
The door shut, leaving only Susa, Rist, and herself in the room.
“This will be the most pain you have ever experienced in your life,” Susa said. “I don’t know if your body can handle it at this point.”
“Do we have any other options?” Rist asked. There was uncertainty on his face at what they were about to do.
Liora felt a pang of empathy for the Creetian. He wasn’t even a true medic, and now here he was, about to watch her flesh be burned for the mere chance at survival. It definitely wasn’t what he had signed up for.
“None,” Susa replied. “At the rate she’s bleeding, she’ll be gone in the next few minutes.” His small eyes met hers. “I don’t know how you’re still breathing. Maybe that’s why you’re going to make it through.”
Liora knew better than to risk catching her tongue and biting it. She gritted her teeth and said through them, “Do it.”
Chemicals were mixed and the air filled with the scent of sulfur. Liora pushed away flashbacks of a red rock cavern and Tariq fighting at her side. Her back had been shredded in that dome. She wished she would have known she would leave her heart there as well.
“Here we go,” Susa said quietly.
Pain laced across Liora’s tattered back so raw and searing Liora bit her tongue regardless of her precautions. She had vowed not to scream, but the sound tore from her throat in a ragged, gasping cry. Her hands scrambled for something to hold onto.
“Hold her down!” Susa commanded.
A hand slipped into hers. She felt the scales on the back of them when she gripped it tight.
A second wave followed, then a third. Liora yelled until her voice broke, then she sobbed with gasping breaths as the smell of burned flesh filled the air.
“Stay with us,” Susa said. “Push through the shock. Don’t let it win. You’re almost through this, Liora. Don’t give up now.”
Liora’s heart stuttered. She fought to fill her lungs with air. Her nerves were on fire, blinding, raw. Another wave was poured across her back. Liora felt numbness flooding through her body. It felt as though she was pulled into the depths of Gliese again, a water planet without an end, drawn to the core where the cold took over from the heat and all sound faded away in the muffled deep.
***
The moment awareness came back to Liora, she knew the price she had paid to be there. Every breath pulled at the skin on her back. Each movement, no matter how small, sent answering pain through the seared flesh. Air caught in her throat and she sucked in a gasp. A groan escaped her lips at the agony that followed.
“You’re on a long road to recovery. They say it’s amazing you’ve survived this far. I told them they don’t know my sister very well.”
Liora opened her eyes to see Brandis sitting next to her bed. The room looked familiar. She lay face-down on the bed in the silver-haired woman’s quarters. Liora noticed the white carpet had been covered, no doubt to hide the fact that it was soaked in her blood which probably didn’t wash out well.
Brandis caught her questioning look. “She gave you her quarters before she left. She said it was to let you have the time you needed to recover.”
The thought that the silver-haired woman was gone bothered Liora. She formed the words, but her mouth was too dry to ask the question she wanted to.
Brandis grabbed a cup from the table and held the straw to Liora’s lips.
As thirsty as she was, she could barely drink two swallows before her throat refused to take anymore.
“W-who is she?” she asked.
Brandis shook his head. “I don’t know, and neither does Dad. Everyone here calls her ‘The Grace’, or ‘Her Grace’, but no name or anything. Nobody can even tell me why she’s a ‘Grace’ or what that even means.”
His words caught Liora’s attention. “Dad?”
Brandis nodded. “He’s worried about you, Liora. He wanted to come here, but I told him there was nothing
he could do.” He paused, then said, “I hope that was alright. Would you have preferred him to be here?”
She shook her head. The movement hurt her back. She closed her eyes and reminded herself not to move at all. It wasn’t something she was used to.
“I should let you rest,” Brandis said, his voice filled with compassion. “I just didn’t want you to wake up alone in a strange place.”
That touched Liora. She opened her eyes and said, “Thank you, Brandis.”
He smiled in reply and took a step toward the door, then paused. “Um, Liora?”
“Yes?”
His smiled faltered, then faded completely. “I’m sorry about Tariq.”
The name hurt almost worse than her back. Liora drew in a shuddering breath and let it out again.
“Thank you,” she finally said.
“He was a great guy,” Brandis continued. “I wish I’d had a chance to get to know him better, but the way he watched over you made me like him right off. He was brave.”
“He made me whole,” Liora replied. Tears filled her eyes and she closed them before the tears could fall.
Brandis crossed back to the bed and gently touched her shoulder. “I’m here for you, Liora. We might still be getting used to this brother and sister thing, but this is what family is for.”
“To hold someone together when they’re ready to fall apart?” Liora asked.
She opened her eyes and the tears spilled down her cheeks. She realized Brandis’ face was wet as well.
“No,” he replied, his voice thick with emotion. “To fall apart with you so that you know you’re not alone.” He gave her a small smile through his tears. “You don’t have to always be strong.”
The words gripped Liora’s heart. “Tariq always used to say that to me.”
That brought a sob from her chest. The agony that flooded through her back stole her breath. She closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing through the pain until it subsided.
When she opened her eyes again, Brandis was still there. He held out the cup of water. She took another sip.
Liora wiped her eyes on the pillow and let out a slow breath to center herself.
“I’m going to be alright.”
The corner of Brandis’ mouth quirked. “I’m not so sure about that.”
Liora played along, happy for anything that would distract her from the pain. “And why is that?”
Brandis held her gaze. “In order for you to be alright again, you’re assuming you were alright in the first place.” He tapped his brow. “That’s questionable.”
A chuckle escaped Liora. She winced and fixed him with a mocking glare. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much.”
“Sorry,” he replied with a grin that said he was anything but. “That’s what brothers are for.”
“Life was easier when I was an only child with a Damaclan for a father,” Liora shot back.
That brought an answering laugh from Brandis. “I should have left you stranded in space.”
Liora nodded. She felt the need to sleep whispering at the back of her mind. “Yes, you should have. Your life would be much easier.”
Brandis waved an arm. “I wouldn’t be here.”
“You wouldn’t have been sucked nearly to death by moss,” Liora agreed.
Brandis nodded. “Who would have thought moss could be so scary?”
Liora’s smile fell. “The Ketulans.”
“We need to find who gave them their orders.”
Liora’s attention sharpened. “It was the moss.”
Brandis opened his mouth, then shut it again.
“What is it?” Liora asked. When her brother didn’t respond, she probed, “Tell me. It’s better than not knowing.”
Brandis sighed. “The Ketulans are still out there. They’re attacking ships. The Nines have them under control, at least as far as destroying as many as appear, but they haven’t stopped.”
Ice flooded Liora’s veins, combating the weariness she struggled against. “Someone else is sending them, or they’re doing it on their own.”
Brandis nodded. “We’re entertaining both possibilities. Their concerted efforts show organization.” His forehead creased. “They attacked the woman, uh, Her Grace’s ship when she left. Pilot Zanden said it took all of their force to let her get away.”
“Do they attack other ships that leave?” Liora asked. Exhaustion was winning the battle, but the answer felt extremely important.
“Some,” Brandis replied. It was obvious by his tone that the answer bothered him, too. “We haven’t figured out the connection.”
“I’ll help,” Liora said. She couldn’t keep her eyes open.
“Take the time you need to recover,” Brandis told her. “You must regain your strength.”
Liora wanted to reply, but exhaustion took over and she gratefully let go of her pain with the embrace of sleep.
Chapter 18
“Are you sure you want to stand up?” Brandis asked.
“I need to,” Liora replied.
“Take your time,” Malie urged. Her webbed hands steadied Liora as she inched carefully toward the edge of the bed. “We’ve got you,” she continued. Her lilting voice was filled with encouragement.
Malie had been with Brandis the past two days when he visited the chamber Liora borrowed from the silver-haired woman. Liora found herself liking the young woman’s quiet ways. She was patient, unassuming, and the fact that she cared for Brandis wasn’t lost on his sister.
Liora didn’t know what the two had shared during their imprisonment, but they had obviously relied on each other to get through it. Sometimes it hurt to see them together. Liora shoved those feelings down deep, telling herself she was glad her brother had found someone.
Liora had slept on her stomach since she awoke in the white chamber. The inability to do anything more than stare at the wall was enough to drive her mad. The books Malie brought her couldn’t keep her attention, and even Brandis’ seemingly never-ending patience had a limit. When he started pacing the room, Liora forced him to leave so he could stretch his legs running the way that he liked. A day later, he told her that Malie enjoyed running as well. The smile on his face when he said it made Liora happy for him.
Liora couldn’t remember being forced to hold still for so long. Even in the cage in Malivian’s circus, she had kept busy with pullups, practicing defensive maneuvers, and shadow boxing. Now, any movement at all caused such intense agony she could do little more than breathe and wait. But she had waited long enough. It was time to talk to her father and to Devren. She had put off both until she felt she could face them with some dignity. She bit back a whimper when lifting one arm made her entire back throb. Perhaps dignity wasn’t the word she was looking for.
“We really can just do the conference here,” Brandis said for the hundredth time. His face showed his worry as he did what he could to help her.
“I’m tired of Dad seeing me on the verge of death,” Liora replied. The words gave her strength. She made it to the edge of the bed and Malie helped her lower her feet to the floor.
Brandis turned away when Liora pushed up to a standing position. She locked her jaw against the protest of her muscles. Her back felt like a raging fire, and it burned with greater wrath every move she made.
“Here’s your robe,” Malie said.
She lifted the soft white cloth robe she held and slid it gently over Liora’s arms.
“Are you sure this is alright?” Malie asked.
Liora refused to consider returning to the bed like her body so desired.
“I’m sure,” she replied.
Up to that point, nothing had touched her back other than the salves Susa brought. She shut out the thought of those agonizing sessions spent with her gripping the edges of the bed as hard as she could and biting her pillow to keep from crying out.
The soft presence of the fabric felt like thousands of needles piercing her skin. Liora held perfectly still as Malie tied t
he robe shut. The Creetian then looked into her face.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
The worry in the young woman’s light blue eyes made Brandis turn around.
Liora nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” Brandis asked.
“Because you know me too well,” Liora replied with a self-deprecatory smile.
She took a step, then another. The jar of walking couldn’t be softened no matter how she slid her feet. She could feel Brandis’ hands hovering on one side and Malie’s on the other as she made her way slowly into the sitting room that had been turned into a makeshift meeting area to contact her father.
Liora had to lean on Brandis for support by the time she reached the backless bench in front of the screen. Her brother helped lower her down carefully. She sat on the bench waiting for her breath to return while her brother worked to reach Senior Commandant Day.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Brandis asked, his tone gentle.
Liora let out a slow breath and nodded. “It has to be me.”
Brandis pushed a button and the screen flickered on. Liora’s heart slowed at the sight of Devren standing next to her father.
“Hello, Liora,” Senior Commandant Day said. “I’ve been unable to rest thinking of you hurt at the other end of the Macrocosm. Your brother said you didn’t need me there during your recovery because there is nothing I can do, but I like to think that sometimes being a father who’s available can be enough.”
That warmed Liora’s heart. “I’ve missed you, Dad. I’m recovering fine. Brandis has ensured that everyone here treats me like some sort of magistrate or something. It’s a bit ridiculous.”
The senior commandant nodded at his son. “Well done.” He smiled at Liora. “I’m glad you’re in capable hands.”
The image of two hands pressed to each other with a piece of glass in-between surfaced in Liora’s mind.
Her throat tightened, but she turned to Devren. “I wanted to be the one to tell you.” She paused, then said, “I needed to be the one to tell you.”
“Tell me what, Liora?” Devren asked. His tone was gentle and the kindness she always recognized from him showed in the lines of concern on his face.