The Parvac Emperor's Daughter (The Space Merchants Book 3)

by Wendie Nordgren

  Isidora couldn’t open the door. I turned my head and watched as Dade and Dr. Crispus wrestled for the blaster. Dade got Dr. Crispus into a head lock.

  “Get the blaster!” Dade yelled.

  Isidora ran to them and forced the blaster from Dr. Crispus’ fingers by prying them open. I fought with the locked door mechanism and hit the door with the flat of my hand in frustration.

  “He recoded everything in the building! It’s pointless,” Mr. Sonners yelled at me through the door.

  “Hush, now. Everything is okay. Stop fighting,” Isidora said soothingly.

  “Get away from me! You aren’t my Nora! You aren’t my Nora!” Dr. Crispus screamed as he thrashed in Dade’s grip.

  Thunderdrop had freed himself from my hair and had begun securing Dr. Crispus. Dade and Isidora scooted away as Thunderdrop began to spin Dr. Crispus into a cocoon.

  “Leave his head free, baby. We need the codes.”

  The lift door had closed. I could feel Yukihyo, Nico, and Quaid below us on the first floor. I sensed Eric on the roof with Simon. It was as though they had been shielded from me. Calm flooded me. Dr. Crispus continued to rave with Thunderdrop perched on his chest.

  Isidora kneeled down at Dr. Crispus’ head. Instead of slapping him repeatedly as I wanted to do, she began to sing softly to him and comb through his black and grey hair with her fingers. He attempted to thrash about as much as he was able. However, his tortured movements were as futile as his tortured actions had been.

  Helplessly, I felt my eyes flood with tears I didn’t want to cry. My throat began to ache, and I sobbed. If losing his wife and two unborn children had broken the man to this extent, how had Yukihyo managed to survive his own horrors?

  Without realizing that I had moved, I found myself at Isidora’s side. She had managed to calm him. I reached my hand out and placed my palm against his scratchy cheek that was in need of a shave. I began attempting to send him feelings of safety and calm, but couldn’t concentrate on such feelings when they eluded me, too.

  Instead, I sent to him the only feelings that belonged to me, feelings that had never been influenced in a negative way. I poured lust, desire, and pleasure into him through my touch. Dr. Crispus’ eyes closed in ecstasy as he stilled and jerked. I flooded his system with pleasure again.

  “Well, that took his mind off of things,” Isidora said sarcastically at me.

  “Pleasure is easy. Feelings are difficult,” I said in my defense.

  “Stanley, what are the codes?” Isidora asked as I hit him with more pleasure, and she soothed his emotions.

  Dr. Crispus mumbled out a series of numbers and letters. Dade stumbled over to the office door trapping his father and shared with him the code to unlock the doors.

  Thunderdrop continued to stare at Dr. Crispus from the man’s shrouded chest. Venomous neurotoxins dripped from Thunderdrop’s fangs. Dade had released his parents and Tetho. I scooted back with my bare feet until my back was against a wall. I covered my face with my hands. I cried for Dr. Crispus, for Yukihyo, for the sons of Stanley and Nora, and for Quaid.

  Mrs. Sonners soothed Tetho while Mr. Sonners regained control of his building. Dade stumbled over to me, sat beside me, and put his arm around me.

  “Everything is alright, my lady. You are safe now. Please don’t cry.”

  I looked up at Dade’s eyes. His left arm was around me, but he held his right hand and a silk square to his bleeding side. “He shot you?” I asked in horror.

  “It’s nothing. It’s a scrape. It is my pride he has wounded. When holding my parents hostage wasn’t enough to force my compliance, the man drugged me and did something to my mind. The next thing I knew, I had forced Lady Montgomery to come here. I’ve only recently come back to myself.”

  My eyes spilled over again. “You were very brave, Dade. You saved us.” I kissed Dade’s cheek. I put my hand over my heart and closed my eyes.

  “My lady, are you alright?” Dade asked.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I don’t know. It hurts like when I’ve had too many olives. I’ll be fine. I just need to sit still.” I rested my head on Dade’s shoulder, but couldn’t force my tears to stop. It felt like the ache in my throat had fallen into my chest. I heard a commotion on the other side of the room and quick steps in our direction.

  “Something is wrong,” Dade said.

  “Teagan, you are safe. We were with you. You were smart to keep the door from closing with your shoe. It took effort to get through the lift codes. Eric had to break the door from the roof to the stairs,” Yukihyo said as he pulled me into his lap.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  I felt cold and too tired to answer, so instead, I cried softly against his neck. I heard more movement and the sounds of Phillip’s scanner.

  “Get that gurney over here, now.” Yukihyo lifted me and laid me down. “Hey, Cupcake. I think you’ve had too much excitement for one day.”

  I stared up at Phillip’s blue eyes. I felt one of my tears as it rolled into my ear. I tried to tell him my chest hurt, but he put a finger over my lips and smiled. Fabric was torn, and I felt colder. Phillip attached something over my heart. It began to beat in time with my heart. The sound was disjointed and sporadic like Thunderdrop’s first attempts to play his drum. I felt a hand close over my ankle but couldn’t see over Niklos. My eyes began to drift closed, but Phillip’s too loud voice woke me.

  “Teagan, I need you to stay awake. Can you do that for me?” Phillip had been joined by Kane’s Chief Medical Officer and rather than the ceiling of the office building, I saw the roof of a large land transport. I flinched at a sharp piercing pain in my chest and saw Phillip securing something there, but the beeping began to make a steady sound.

  “Ow, Phillip.”

  Phillip smiled at me and kissed my forehead. “Everything’s fine, Cupcake. You’ll be comfortable and warm in a few minutes.”

  The other doctor said stuff to Phillip that I didn’t understand and fiddled with tubes at my right arm. I felt the transport stop. Then, the pale faces of Yukihyo, Quaid, and Nico blurred past. I closed my eyes until the motion stopped. When I raised my lids, Phillip was smiling down at me, and we were in the lift on Kane’s ship.

  “We’re moving again, Cupcake,” Phillip said in warning.

  I closed my eyes and didn’t open them again until after I had been lifted and placed down again. Then, the dizzy motions around me forced my eyes closed once again.

  “Teagan, hey.” Phillip smiled at me. “Good, you’re awake.”

  “I’m tired. Let me sleep.”

  “Not right now, okay?”

  I was in an ugly infirmary gown, but bundled up in blankets. “I’m not cold anymore.”

  “Good,” Phillip said as he checked monitors and scanners.

  “Is the baby okay?”

  Phillip flashed his smile at me. “Oh, yes! He’s great. You’re the problem.”

  “What did I do?”

  “You got too excited. Don’t worry. It won’t happen again,” he said with a wink.

  “Okay.”

  Phillip’s arm shot out, and he pointed. “I’m not telling you again. Get over there or get out,” Phillip said sounding angry and stern, but he smiled at me and kissed my forehead. The other doctor did something to the tubes coming out of my arm. “Close your eyes for me and take a deep breath,” Phillip said.

  I did and felt his hand press against me while it seemed he pulled something from my chest. I drew in a deeper breath at the unpleasant sensation. More pressure followed along with the unfamiliar words both men uttered. Cardiac was the only one that registered with me because the treadmill was a cardio machine. Something cold on my chest replaced the warmth of Phillip’s hands.

  Then, a warmer blanket covered me up to my chin, and the lights above and around me dimmed. Phillip stroked my hair and told me I could go to sleep, so I did.

  When my eyes opened again, Phillip smiled
and raised the head of my bed. Soft hands were on my arm, and then a soft kiss fell on my cheek. Gram smiled down at me. “It seems like we have something in common, Teagan,” Gram said as she tapped a finger against her heart. “It’s hereditary. It skipped Ethan, Sherman, and the boys, but got you and me. Are you feeling better?”

  “I think so. I’m really tired.”

  Gram smiled sweetly at me, pulled a brush from her embroidery bag, and began to calmly brush my hair. She pointed with her head across the room to where Yukihyo, Nico, and Quaid each slept sprawled in chairs.

  “What happened to me?”

  “You had a minor cardiac event. It’s nothing to worry about. Are you hungry?” Phillip asked.

  My stomach growled loudly. “I could eat.” Phillip winked at me and whispered to a Parvac nurse. Soon, a tray loaded with food was in front of me. “Where’s my coffee?”

  “Here’s your milk,” Phillip said as he held a straw to my lips. Then, he proceeded to spoon oatmeal and fruit into my mouth. I scowled over the lack of pancakes.

  “What happened to Eli?”

  “He and Kaoti led the hybrids in the capturing of Dr. Crispus’ small army of hired mercenaries. They were spread out in positions around the Sonners’ building in the streets and in other buildings. Kane along with Jazon,” Phillip practically spat his name, “Zared, and that Xavier of yours discovered Dr. Crispus’ ship and confiscated it. They took the crew into custody.” Jazon had stabbed Phillip.

  “Xavier is here? I thought everyone, but Eli had abandoned me.” Gram gently tugged at my hair with the brush.

  Phillip said, “Never, your uncle demanded that his plans remained top secret. He only told us what we each needed to know.”

  “Boy, have you learned nothing? Your patient has suffered pulmonary distress, and you are telling her upsetting information?” Phillip rolled his eyes at the new voice. “Go get some sleep and take those three dust magnets with you. I’ll take good care of the girl,” he said as he came into view and took the spoon from Phillip.

  “Hello, Dr. Svenson,” I said to Phillip’s father.

  Dr. Svenson scooped up some oatmeal and fed it to me. I watched Phillip kick the booted feet of my husbands and saw fear and panic in their faces when they woke. Yukihyo pushed Phillip away and rushed to me. However, he was forced to hover at my feet. Gram wasn’t moving and neither was Dr. Svenson, who now held the straw to my lips. Nico joined him and wrapped his hand around my ankle. The dark circles under Nico’s eyes almost gave him the appearance of an Eriopis, but the black holes Quaid’s eyes had become had me changing my opinion.

  “Did I almost die?”

  “No, my son would never allow such a thing to transpire. Now, you’ve seen her. Go get some rest, bathe, and return with pretty gifts, and happy faces. You are upsetting my patient.”

  Gram worked on a tangle at the end of a clump of my hair. I opened my mouth to assure my men that I was alright, but Dr. Svenson shoved the spoon into it. I scowled at him. Chuckling, Yukihyo lifted the blanket from off of my feet and kissed the tip of my big toe.

  Around a mouthful of oatmeal, I said, “Bring me a coffee when you come back.”

  “You will do no such thing,” Dr. Svenson admonished.

  Nico loomed closer until Dr. Svenson frowned and moved. Nico bent down and kissed my lips. Then, he moved my blanket and kissed my stomach through my ugly gown. “Promise me you will not move from this bed.” His eyes were haunted.

  “I promise. I’m too tired to move.” Nico smoothed my hair, nodded to Gram, and moved out of Quaid’s way.

  Quaid stared into my eyes, kissed my forehead, and followed Nico out of the infirmary. Yukihyo flooded me with calm from where he stood at my feet. My eyes began to swell from all of the things I needed to say to him. Yukihyo shook his head at me, glanced at Dr. Svenson, and followed the others out.

  Once Dr. Svenson moved to take my tray, I asked, “What do we have, Gram?” She continued brushing my hair.

  “It’s called ventricular fibrillation, and they are going to be watching you constantly. You need to stay calm. They discovered you had the condition on Amphictyon when you kept having fainting spells. We decided not to burden you with more upsetting news. The doctors will keep you on medications and monitor you as Dr. Perry does with me, or if your case is more serious, you may need an implant to regulate your heart rhythm. The pregnancy complicates matters.”

  I took a deep breath. “No wonder they’ve been acting so weird about food and exercise.”

  “So, I thought you might like it in a pale blue or maybe even a peach shade,” Gram said in her sweetest voice.

  Confused, I noticed Dr. Svenson’s scrutiny and played along. “The peach shade sounds nice, but how are Dade and Tetho?”

  “They are fine, but I am not allowed to speak to you about anything unsettling,” Gram primly stated.

  A bouquet of flowers in pinks and purples walked into the infirmary, but once they had been placed on a table across the room from my bed, I discovered the smiling faces of Ethan and Sydney. “You gave us quite the scare, young lady,” Ethan said as he bent over me and kissed my forehead.

  “I’ve given myself a scare.”

  Sydney rested her hand on my knee. “There is no reason for worry now. Eric has assured us that all of that man’s schemes and plans have been put to rest,” Sydney promised me.

  “Kane gave us a tour of his ship when we were here yesterday. It is magnificent,” Ethan said.

  “Yesterday?”

  Ethan’s eyes traveled over the various medical apparatus that seemed to cover me. Gram put the brush away when Simon and Isidora entered closely followed by Sherman and Gina. Dr. Svenson and Kane’s Chief Medical Officer shared similar worried expressions. Gram kissed my cheek.

  “Teagan, I’m an old woman and haven’t left your side since they brought you here. I’m going to have Ethan and Sydney take me home. I love you. I will expect to hear from you after breakfast tomorrow as usual.” Gram squeezed my hand with her soft one, and I looked up at her pale blue eyes.

  “I love you, too, Gram.” Sydney picked up Gram’s bag. “Is this goodbye?” I asked as I began to choke up.

  “Only for a couple of months. Sherman and I have booked passage for the families on a luxury starship that was recently completed. It will be carrying passengers from Scipio to the Parvac Empire.”

  “You’re coming to visit me?” Joy filled my heart and banished the sadness. “Really?”

  Simon answered. “We can’t all fit on Tora.”

  “Or in the medical bay,” Dr. Svenson grumbled.

  Sydney kissed my other cheek. Ethan smiled at me and led Gram and Sydney out. I was sad to watch them go, but Gram was tired. Simon blotted at my happy tears with a lime green silk square.

  “I’m proud of you, Isidora, and Thunderdrop. Dade has even managed to raise himself in my esteem. I didn’t know the old boy had it in him. However, he managed to protect both of you.”

  “Yes, he did. Maybe Yukihyo will stop teasing him now.” Simon raised a bright red eyebrow at me. “You’re right. That will never happen.”

  Sherman said, “Look here.” He held a vid-screen in front of me. My spiders were enjoying their new toys. “Teagan, I don’t want you to worry about anything. Do you understand me?” Sherman asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Before my son and daughter take your attention, what do you want done with this?” Sherman showed me the massive silk gift blanketing my forest canopy.

  “Oh, that’s beautiful. Whatever you think is best is fine with me. I would like some uniforms made for my new guards, something similar to Parvac uniforms but with a bit more pizzazz.”

  A slow smile spread over Sherman’s face. “Parvac pizzazz. Got it. I’ll have some designs made and vid-chat with you about them. Then, I can have them ready to bring to you when we visit. We have our own cargo area reserved on the Princess.”

  Gina laughed.

  “The Princess?”
<
br />   “Yes, it’s the name of the new luxury liner,” Gina said with a smirk.

  My brow furrowed. “That’s not because of me.”

  “Oh, yes, it is, Teagan Alaric Montgomery Lee. They will want you to take a tour of it when we arrive, so be prepared,” Gina said as she picked up my hand and examined my ruined manicure. I scowled at her, and she laughed at me.

  I thought about what Sherman had said about Gina and how losing her would break him. I looked at Sherman who was bestowing a loving smile on his wife for teasing me. I thought of Dr. Crispus and his anguished rantings at Isidora when he had believed in his delusional state that she was his deceased wife, Nora.

  “He couldn’t help it, any of it. Could he? Nora didn’t die prematurely from cardiac arrest. She killed herself. She gave up and took his soul with her. I can imagine what anguish she suffered now that I understand what loving my own babies is like, but what she did to Dr. Stanley Crispus was even worse.”

  Isidora’s warm hand enclosed my cold one. “You are freezing,” she said with a frown as orange striations filled her eyes. Gina touched my other hand more carefully and released it. Gina turned and walked purposefully toward my doctors.

  “What exactly is the meaning of this? Teagan is practically freezing. Is placing an extra blanket on a patient beyond your scope of abilities?” Gina continued to lash at the two men with her words.

  A smug smile covered my face. Sherman and Simon began to cringe as her tirade continued. I laughed at the Chief Medical Officer when he personally removed my blankets and replaced them with fresh toasty warm ones. Then, I groaned in pleasure when the warmth seeped into me.

  “She couldn’t see beyond her pain to his. Nora Crispus’ desperate act set all of these events into action, her husband’s research and his creation of their genetically enhanced and modified children,” Isidora said.