Axen

by Arcadia Shield

  Axen pulled her to him in a punishingly tight embrace, his mouth brushing her ear. “Get to the escape point.”

  “You’re coming with me,” said Eloise.

  “You can still get out of here.”

  “Not without you.”

  “If you die, I don’t care about any of this.”

  “You need to,” said Eloise. “Your plans are far bigger than me.”

  “Get out,” said Axen. “The others will help you. They will take you anywhere you need to go.”

  “No. My place is here, with you,” said Eloise.

  “Your place is somewhere far away from here,” said Axen. “I need you safe.”

  “I need you by my side to be sure of that.” Eloise kissed Axen on the mouth. “Do not die.”

  “Have you said your goodbyes?” Death Wish spun his lightning stick in his hands and placed the cudgel end firmly in his grip. “We have an audience to entertain, and they did not tune in for your happy ending.”

  Axen kissed Eloise fiercely once more before pushing her away from him towards the escape point. “You know what you need to do.”

  “So do you.” Eloise’s eyes shone with tears as she raised her chin.

  Axen nodded and turned towards Death Wish. “Let’s fight.”

  Chapter 22

  Eloise kept stepping back until she hit the raised comms link the Fraken had activated. This was where Bladen was supposed to meet them, but there was no sign of him.

  Did he have any idea what was happening? Maybe that was why he was delaying things, so the Fraken wouldn’t see he was involved in this. If so, he was a coward. They needed his help, now.

  Eloise watched, her heart thudding painfully in her chest, as Axen and Death Wish stalked each other in a wide circle. She could see what Axen was doing, luring Death Wish away from her to the other side of the clearing. But that meant he was distancing himself from the escape point. Distancing himself from her.

  She kept checking on the whereabouts of the other Fraken secluded in the trees. There were at least four, all with lightning sticks. This was not a fair fight.

  Eloise stifled a gasp as Axen swung his blade through the air, testing the distance between him and Death Wish. He adjusted his grip and took several rapid steps forward.

  Death Wish backed away, and Eloise smirked. It would seem he wasn’t such a fearless warrior after all. And he was wise to be cautious around Axen. She’d seen him kill Fraken beasts with his bare hands.

  Eloise hoped the audience watching was placing bets on Death Wish’s demise. She’d certainly gamble Axen would win. She could see the killer intent on his face, and she admired his determination. But she wanted him back by her side. Eloise wasn’t leaving the game without him.

  Glancing over her shoulder, Eloise still saw no sign of help coming from Bladen. But she also noticed the other Fraken were distracted by the fight and were no longer watching her. As Axen’s blade made contact with the cudgel end of Death Wish’s stick, all eyes shifted to them.

  Eloise wiped sweat out of her eyes and adjusted the blade in her hand. She needed to keep this close and use it if she had to. The Fraken didn’t hesitate to shoot anyone who disobeyed them.

  Her mouth went dry as she saw Death Wish strike a blow on Axen’s left arm. The cudgel was made of a metallic element and would break bone.

  Axen pulled back and shrugged off the blow as if it was nothing. He swung his blade in a wide arc and struck against Death Wish’s lightning stick again.

  They clashed repeatedly, and Eloise couldn’t help but be drawn into watching the fight. Axen was magnificent in battle. He was so focused, and she watched as his muscles bunched and relaxed, as he fought off attacks from Death Wish with ease.

  She flinched as Axen barely missed a crushing blow from Death Wish, and her hand flew to her mouth to stop from crying out. She didn’t want to distract him. If he made a mistake because of her, she’d never forgive herself.

  Axen was more than capable of beating Death Wish; he was stronger, faster, and better with a blade. But worry still ran through her veins. She didn’t want her warrior dying. And he was hers. Axen was too important to lose now, when they were so close to getting free, so close to starting something incredible together.

  Eloise wanted so much more from him. When they’d been together in the water, she’d wanted to tell him about all the things they could do once they were free. But she’d held back. Was it too soon to be thinking about that? Axen had said he wanted to be with her, but she’d seen how easily he was spooked when they’d been in the cave and he thought he’d hurt her. She had to take her time, make sure he was comfortable with what she wanted to do to him and with him. And she had plans for Axen. He was going to survive this game.

  Axen and Death Wish clashed again. Axen struck his blade across Death Wish’s cheek, leaving a gash that leaked sticky, pale green blood.

  Eloise suppressed a cheer. Death Wish was losing, but Axen was still too far away from her. She needed him close to the escape point. It could open at any second.

  Death Wish swung his lightning stick around, so the laser pointed directly at Axen. “Time to end this.”

  “That’s not fair,” shouted Eloise.

  Axen glanced over at her and shook his head, as if warning her to keep quiet. But it was too late for that. She wouldn’t stand there and watch Death Wish blast Axen with his laser weapon.

  “I never said this fight would be fair,” sneered Death Wish. “Besides, I don’t mean this for him.” He shifted the stick towards Eloise and fired at her.

  ***

  Axen kicked the lightning stick out of Death Wish’s hand. But even as he did so, he knew he was too late to prevent the laser from discharging. As the stick flew across the clearing, he turned and saw Eloise struck by the laser blast.

  His roar was ear splitting as he swung his blade across Death Wish’s chest, carving through the body armor and splitting him open.

  Axen dashed towards Eloise and grabbed hold of her as she fell. “I told you to stay out of this.”

  Eloise landed on her hands and knees, a painful sounding gasp shooting from her lips. “I’m not one of your warriors. I’m not going to obey you.”

  Axen felt a grim sense of helplessness. The smell of her burned flesh seared up his nose, and terror filled him. He had barely any medical supplies and nothing to treat a laser blast.

  “Let me see.” He ripped her vest to get better access to the injury. The wound was bad, but it hadn’t hit her heart. There could be a chance to save her.

  “What’s the verdict, Doc?” Eloise coughed and blood hit the ground.

  “You’re going to be fine.”

  “Are we both going to be fine?” she said through gritted teeth, her gaze shifting past Axen.

  Axen looked up to see the angry glares of numerous Fraken locked onto them. “The odds are in our favor. It’s just a few Fraken whelps.”

  “Kill him,” hissed Death Wish. He clutched at his chest, green blood pouring through his fingers. “End this game. Now!”

  Death Wish’s warriors moved towards Axen and Eloise in a tight semi-circle, their lightning sticks pointed at them.

  Axen stood in front of Eloise and lifted his blade once again. He assessed the number of fighters calmly. He could take two or three of them, but if their lasers were set to kill mode, he wouldn’t get them all before one of them hit either him or Eloise. But he would do what he could to protect Eloise.

  “Give me another blade,” said Eloise.

  “There’s no way you’re capable of fighting,” said Axen.

  “If I’m by your side, I’ll be able to do anything.” Eloise looked up at Axen, tears on her cheeks. “A weapon and maybe a hand up.”

  He pulled a blade from his weapons belt and handed it to her before easing her to her feet. He saw her grab her own blade from the ground and smiled grimly. “Are you ready?”

  “Always have been.” Eloise struggled to stand and swayed beside him as she
surveyed the Fraken. “There’s not even that many of them.”

  “Enough!” roared Death Wish. “I want them both dead. No, wait. Take the female alive, but kill the Vorten. I want him to know that I have taken what he wants most and destroyed it, painfully and slowly.”

  A growl rumbled from Axen’s lips. “Never going to happen.”

  “Agreed,” muttered Eloise.

  “You are under my command,” hissed Death Wish. “You do not get to dictate what happens to your own lives.”

  “That’s exactly what we get to do.” Eloise flung a blade at the nearest Fraken, hitting him in the face and making him drop his lightning stick and stagger backwards.

  Axen charged forward and swung his blade towards another Fraken, slicing him across the neck.

  Eloise threw her next blade and held her hand out for another as Axen backed towards her. “Now would be a good time for your friend to appear.” She ducked as a laser blasted over her head.

  Axen risked a glance over his shoulder. “We’re on our own.” He shoved Eloise out of the way as a laser blast flew at them and used his blade to deflect another.

  Eloise hit the ground, gasping in pain, and then rolled behind the protection of the comms post. “Don’t give up on him.”

  Axen joined her and gave her another throwing blade. “Aim well.” He kissed her and went to stand. He would protect Eloise for as long as he could. Death Wish would never have her.

  The comms link hummed to life, and the area around it blurred in Axen’s vision. Bladen poked his head through a gap in the wall of the game. His smile faded as he saw the Fraken surrounding Axen and Eloise. “Looks like I arrived just in time.” He shot several laser blasts at the group of Fraken, causing them to scatter.

  “Time to go.” Axen grabbed hold of Eloise and threw them both backwards towards Bladen and away from danger.

  Chapter 23

  Eloise opened her eyes. She was in a dark room, under a warm, soft cover. The clothes she wore were clean, as was her hair. She let out a relieved sigh. There were no Fraken, no more monstrous beasts to attack her, and no more blood. She felt safe, despite not being certain where she was.

  Her shoulder twinged as she shifted position. The laser blast had left its mark. She hoped the wound Axen had given Death Wish had been fatal. That was one Fraken she’d be happy never to see again.

  As Eloise moved into a sitting position, low lights rose in response to her movement, giving the room a mellow, warm glow. She discovered she was dressed in a clean white trouser suit; the shirt was too long and the trousers rolled up at the ankles. But it was free from Fraken blood and dirt, and she was grateful for that.

  She looked around the room. It was a minimalist neat square, the walls pale grey, the only furniture the bed she sat on and a small table next to the bed. Sensors were embedded in the wall by the door. She slid her feet out from under the cover and padded over to investigate them.

  After the escape from the game, Eloise had lost consciousness. In fact, when she’d been fighting next to Axen, she’d barely been able to keep a grip on her thoughts. The laser had slashed through her flesh like a hot knife, and it was only her sheer stubbornness and desire to keep Axen safe that meant she’d been able to stand next to him and fight off the Fraken.

  She smiled to herself as she looked around the room again. They’d beaten the Fraken. They were free from the game. But where was Axen?

  Eloise sniffed a strand of her hair and caught a faint chemical smell on it. She longed to immerse herself in water again and clean herself of any remnants of Fraken upon her. She wanted to wash away the horrible memories she’d gathered while in the game. But she planned to keep hold of the ones that had Axen in them.

  Even if all his words in the game had only been to reassure her, Eloise was never going to lose sight of the fact he’d saved her. And he’d shown her he cared. Axen had let down his guard with her, and even if he now returned to his warrior ways and let her go, she would always be grateful for that experience. Eloise had discovered what it was like to be truly adored, and she was never going to forget that.

  The door to the room pinged an alert, and it slid back a few seconds later. A round faced, blue skinned alien stood outside. She had long dreadlocked hair tied back from her face, and her large black eyes regarded Eloise solemnly. “I was alerted to you regaining consciousness. I have brought you some food.”

  Eloise took a couple of steps back. “Where am I?”

  “You are on a starship.” The alien smiled. “You are safe here. May I come in?”

  “Of course.” Eloise stepped to one side, and the alien placed a tray of food onto the bed. “I am Eran.”

  “I’m Eloise.”

  Eran smiled again. “I know who you are.”

  “You’re a Deorg,” said Eloise.

  Eran inclined her head. “I am. You know of us?”

  “You have a Council member in the Intergalactic Council,” said Eloise. “I work for the Council. Well, I did until the Fraken took me.”

  “That must have been interesting,” said Eran.

  “It had its moments,” said Eloise. Her time working for the Council seemed like a million years ago. So much had changed in such a short time.

  “And now, you are the first survivor of the Fraken games,” said Eran. “You are something of a celebrity aboard the ship.”

  “Not sure I like the sound of that,” said Eloise, not wanting to be noticed by anyone. She would need to keep a low profile from now on. The Fraken would be looking for her and Axen. “Where’s Axen?”

  “The last time I saw him, he was arguing with one of his colleagues.”

  “What were they arguing about?”

  “I believe they were arguing about you,” said Eran.

  An uneasy feeling ran through Eloise. Maybe Axen’s warriors did not agree with her being on board. They might consider Axen saving her life a waste of time. Was she still in danger, just from a different alien race? “I’d like to see Axen.”

  “You’ll be able to see him soon. But please, eat first. You need your strength after your adventures in the game.”

  Eloise touched the laser burn on her shoulder. “Thank you for healing me.”

  “It will take you a few days to recover fully, but the worst of your injuries have been dealt with,” said Eran. “Rest and sustenance are the best things for you now.”

  “Can you let Axen know I’d like to see him as soon as he’s free?” Eloise sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped in her lap.

  “I will. After you’ve eaten.” Eran gestured to the tray.

  Eloise sighed and then sampled the food. It didn’t look like anything she’d eaten before, pale brown blocks of nutrition, but it tasted amazing. A combination of sweet and sour. She didn’t realize how hungry she was until she’d taken her first bite and swiftly devoured more.

  “Axen will be with you shortly,” said Eran. “But first, my colleague, Urel, would like to speak with you if you are amenable to that.”

  “Of course.” Eloise recognized that name. “I’d like to learn more about what’s going on.”

  Eran smiled. “And Urel will be happy to answer your questions.” She nodded a goodbye and stepped out of the room.

  Eloise finished her food, her thoughts still on Axen. She wanted his warrior brothers to accept her. She wasn’t sure how she’d feel if they turned against her. Axen could be forced to choose between them, and he always talked so loyally of his warriors. It was not a decision she hoped he’d ever have to make.

  The door pinged again before sliding open, and a male Deorg entered. He was taller than Eran but had the same narrow frame and large, kind eyes. “Is this a convenient time? Eran told me you were awake.”

  “Yes. You must be Urel,” said Eloise. “Axen has told me about you.”

  He nodded. “I am. And you are Eloise Harper.”

  “Eran told me I’m a celebrity now. Not sure what to think of that.”

  Urel smiled.
“You are of great interest to us. You are the start of something quite incredible.”

  “I hadn’t planned to be. This is all Axen’s doing.”

  “And he is someone quite incredible, as well.” Urel sat next to Eloise on the bed. “I imagine you have a number of questions you wish answered.”

  “Only about a thousand.”

  “Let me begin by telling you this ship is safe. I have worked closely for many cycles with the Vorten. They are a trustworthy and loyal race. No harm will be done to you on board.”

  “Eran said Axen is arguing about me being on this ship.”

  “There are some discussions going on,” said Urel. “But you are not to worry about those. Axen wants you here; therefore, you will remain here.”

  “I don’t want to cause any problems between his warriors.” Eloise dipped her head. “If they do not consider me worthy—”

  “It is not a matter of your worthiness,” said Urel. “You have shown yourself to be strong. But this is new for all of us. Axen has spoken to me at some length about his desires for a future with no Fraken games. But this is the first time he has acted upon them. And it is because of you.”

  “Not just me,” said Eloise. “He’d have done it with whoever he was fighting in the game.”

  “Not true,” said Urel. “This is a battle Axen has been fighting with himself for a long time. He is loyal to the Vorten. It would take something extraordinary to make him break away from the Elders’ orders. You are that extraordinary thing or, rather, that extraordinary individual.”

  Eloise picked at the hem of her shirt, her toes curling with pleasure at the thought Axen had done this because of her. “I’m not so special.”

  “Clearly you are,” said Urel. “Now, what else can I tell you?”

  “How about the layout of this ship? Are there any restrictions on where I can go?”

  “You may go anywhere you desire. There is a training area, where you will often find the Vorten warriors when they visit the ship. They cannot go long before their desire to fight something kicks in. We have a relaxation area and a place where meals are taken. You are currently in the main sleeping quarters. There’s also a kitchen and an infirmary. And we have several viewing decks, where you can study the stars as we travel through them.”