by S. E. Smith
Chapter 22
Ha’ven heard the softly spoken words as if from a distance. He remained frozen on the bridge as Emma’s voice echoed through him. A sense of calm determination swept through him.
He bowed his head and let the powers that made up the universe open and flow through him. Since he woke, his power had returned tenfold to him. It was different than it had been before when he felt out of control and unable to harness it. Now, he felt focused and in control. He relaxed and opened himself to the power instead of fighting it.
Everything around him slowed until it was as if time itself had stopped. He moved forward studying those around him. He could see his brother Arrow talking with the chief engineer. Adalard was reviewing information on a data tablet. Each man was at their position, ready for the battle they knew was to come.
Ha’ven turned and could see his body standing in the same position in front of the view screen. He turned back to the front and focused on Emma. A golden strand of light flowed outward across space. He grasped the sliver of power, clinging to it. He embraced the powerful flow of energy, riding it as it swept him away from the Rayon I.
He focused as another warship came into view. He recognized the size and shape as being one of the Marastin Dow attack ships. His non-corporeal body flowed through the hull of the warship unencumbered. He moved along the corridors easily, unseen by those who moved about it.
He paused when he saw a tall male speaking quietly to several others. The insignia on his shirt showed that he was the captain. Rage built inside Ha’ven. The male stopped talking and looked around uneasily as the walls around him groaned. Ha’ven reined in his fury and floated closer to the male. He would not endanger Emma. He paused when the male turned back around to the other three officers standing near him.
“Whatever happens, protect the female,” the male was ordering the others. “She must be returned to Ha’darra safely.”
“What about the Curizan,” the female asked uneasily. “How can we possibly protect her against him? You saw what he did to Jonas. We are defenseless against him.”
“We are all dead if the human female is not kept safe. She is under the protection of both the Curizan and the Valdier royal houses,” the male responded harshly. “If we are to free our own people we will need their alliance. This is more than about our lives. This is about the millions of others on our world who seek a better life. Aris, did you get the message out?”
“Yes, the Curizan general will be at Kejon’s base before us and he should have notified Ha’darra,” Aris replied.
“What makes you think Ha’darra will not destroy us before we have a chance to explain we had no choice but to help Kejon,” one of the males asked. “As soon as they see us, they will blow us out of space.”
The older male turned and looked at the three standing before him. “I have no guarantees. I will do what I can to protect those aboard the Traitor’s Run,” he replied in a low voice. “Return to your posts and make sure that Kejon’s position is monitored at all times.”
“Yes sir,” the three said before turning and disappearing.
Marus turned when he felt the same chill wash over him that he had felt moments ago. His eyes scanned the empty corridor. He muttered a brief oath before he straightened his shoulders.
“If you can hear me, know that we will do everything in our power to keep her safe,” he muttered under his breath.
Marus didn’t know if there was anyone in the corridor or not but his gut was telling him that a power greater than any mortal had seen had been awakened. He could only hope that if Ha’darra could hear him, he would grant them mercy when this was over.
*.*.*
Emma raised her head when she felt a warmth caress her damp cheek. Her eyes widened when she saw the glowing image of Ha’ven kneeling in front of her. Biting her bottom lip, she raised her hand to gently touch the shimmering figure.
“Are you really here or am I dreaming?” She asked in a faint voice
Her hand brushed through the image but the warmth that flooded her when she touched it gave her the strength to lean forward, turning until she was on her knees.
“I love you,” she whispered, gazing warmly at the faint form.
As I love you, misha petite, Ha’ven replied. I am coming for you.
“I know,” she whispered. “Captain Tylis told me he had contacted you. I saw you… I saw you lying on the ground covered in whatever it was that Kejon shot at you. I was so scared.”
Emma’s eyes flew to the door as heavy footsteps echoed. A moment later, she heard Kejon’s voice ordering the guard outside to open the door. She turned frightened eyes to the shimmering image as the locks disengaged.
“Go,” she whispered urgently. “Something tells me he mustn’t realize you know where I am.”
I love you, my Emma, Ha’ven said before he let go of the energy he had harnessed.
“I love you, too,” she whispered as the door opened.
*.*.*
Emma looked up as another tall male entered. He had the same coloring as the other Curizans she had met. The biggest difference was the coldness in his eyes and the touch of insanity. She scrambled back on the bed away from him as he stood in the doorway.
“What species are you?” Kejon demanded in a frigid voice.
“Hu… human,” Emma replied as she pressed back against the wall.
Kejon frowned staring at her. Emma could tell he was assessing whether she was telling him the truth or not. He slowly walked forward, not stopping until his legs pressed against the edge of the narrow bed.
“Where do you come from?” He demanded.
“Earth,” Emma said, tilting her head up in defiance.
“Earth,” Kejon repeated. “Where is that and how powerful are you?”
Emma’s mouth tightened. “I don’t know where it is in comparison to where I am at,” she stated truthfully. “And we are very powerful. Far more powerful than you,” she bluffed.
Kejon stood staring down at him for several long minutes. He could see she was frightened yet she stared back at him, refusing to look away.
A sardonic smile curved his lips. He had to give her credit for trying to hide her fear. His eyes roamed her fair hair. He reached out to touch it.
“Don’t!” She said sharply, rising to stand on the bed. “You will not touch me,” she hissed.
Kejon’s eyes narrowed and he stepped back in alarm. Dark tentacles of black power swirled around her lifting her golden hair until it floated around her. Her blue eyes glowed and in their depths he could see the black power in them. A shiver of warning ran down his spine. He took another cautious step back.
“What are you?” He asked as he pulled at his own power in case he needed it.
“I am the mate of Ha’ven Ha’darra,” she stated, clenching her fists at her side. “I am under the protection of both Ha’ven Ha’darra and the Valdier Royal family. You will not touch me!”
Kejon fell backwards against the door when she lifted her hand up, palm outward. The force of the power behind her hand knocked the breath out of him. He pulled his own power around him like a shield. Cold anger poured through him. He needed the power inside the small female. If he could harness it and turn it against Ha’darra he felt confident he could defeat the Curizan prince.
“Your mate is dead,” Kejon lied. “I killed him. You will bow to me! I now claim you as mine.”
Uncertainty flickered through Emma’s eyes as her mind fought with her heart. Had she just dreamed that Ha’ven had been here with her? Had she imagined hearing his voice and feeling his warmth?
Panic and despair pierced her heart at the thought of never seeing or touching him again. Tears burned her eyes as the male in front of her took a step forward as he sensed her indecision.
“No,” she whispered. “No, I will not go through this again.”
She glanced around the brightly lit room. There were no shadows to hide in like before on the Sentinel. She closed her eyes a
nd pictured a dark place in her mind. If her body could not find a place to slip into to hide then her mind would. She would never let another hold her captive again.
Kejon’s furious yell echoed in the room as Emma focused inward. She shut out everything but the shadows in her mind. She was safe in the darkness. She was safe since no one could find her there. She imagined the calming blackness surrounding her.
Her body tingled as she pictured herself slipping through the invisible door. Peace washed over her as she fell into the shadows. She glanced back through the doorway one last time and saw her body crumpled on the bed. She felt a moment of triumph as Kejon turned her limp form over. He might be able to touch her physical body but she was no longer there. She turned back, following the golden thread that guided her away.
Chapter 23
Ha’ven came back into his body with a shudder. He breathed in deeply as he refocused on his location. A hand on his arm drew his attention and he saw both Arrow and Adalard warily staring at him. His gaze flickered around the bridge and he noticed the other warriors were watching him with more than a trace of unease.
“What is it?” He asked looking back at Adalard.
“You tell me,” Adalard muttered.
“I think we need to take this into the conference room,” Arrow suggested giving Ha’ven a strange look.
Ha’ven nodded and strode into the conference room off the bridge. He walked over to the viewport, looking out into deep space as he waited for the door to close. He turned to look at his two brothers. They were standing with their arms folded across their chests, grim expressions on both of their faces.
“What is it?” He asked again, impatiently.
“You don’t know?” Adalard inquired lightly.
“I don’t know what? Will you just tell me what is going on?” He replied.
“Where were you a few minutes ago?” Arrow asked carefully as he walked over to the conference table and sat down.
Ha’ven frowned and watched as his younger brother pulled up a star chart. He frowned as he studied it. The location of the Rayon I was incorrect. They should be closer to the Sanapare Spaceport not the Razzine Spaceport favored by the rougher freight pilots. It was run by the Tiliqua, a small two-headed reptile species that were skilled businessmen. It was impossible for them to have journeyed so far in a matter of minutes. Razzine was more than two days away.
“I was on the bridge,” he said uneasily. “Why?”
“Yes, but where else?” Adalard insisted.
Ha’ven glanced at Adalard before he turned back to the star chart. “I was with Emma,” he answered quietly.
Arrow sat back and looked at Ha’ven. A slow grin curved his mouth and excitement made his eyes glow. Adalard shot his twin a warning glance but Arrow ignored it, shrugging his shoulders.
“You were glowing, bro,” Arrow said. “Hell, the entire ship was glowing with you. One minute we are almost two days behind the Marastin Dow’s warship and the next we are parked next to Bahadur. I thought he was going to shit his pants when we suddenly appeared next to him. By the way, he is pissed as nothing normally shakes him. He just landed in Docking Bay 1.”
“What happened? How did you do it?” Adalard asked quietly.
“I don’t know. I heard Emma,” he began as he studied the star chart again. “I needed to find her... go to her. I’ve had trouble harnessing and controlling my power since my captivity on Hell. It was to the point I feared I would have...,” he paused running his hands over his face before he sank down into one of the chairs. “I asked Melek to terminate me if it got worse. I was out of control and dangerous.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Adalard demanded, anger making the scar on his cheek stand out. “I could have helped you.”
“No you couldn’t,” Ha’ven replied. “We have all heard the tales of what could happen if a power is left uncontrolled.”
“Children’s stories!” Adalard responded waving his hand in dismissal. “Told to keep children and young boys in line.”
“No, not just stories,” Ha’ven quietly explained. “Like you, I thought the same thing until… Aria awakened a darkness inside me that continued to grow. I could no longer contain or control the power inside me. I built a chamber under my home where I would go to release the excess but even that was no longer a guarantee.”
“That was why you have spent more time away,” Arrow stated. “And why you wanted the Sentinel modified to use your energy. I couldn’t understand why you would want to take a chance of draining your power when it wasn’t necessary.”
“You still should have told us. We could have helped you,” Adalard said stubbornly.
“Emma has done that,” Ha’ven admitted. “I feared the darkness that threatened to consume me would frighten her but the moment she touched me… She is not aware of the power she holds within her body. Her touch soothes me. The magic in her soul calls to mine. She balances me.”
Arrow looked thoughtfully at Ha’ven before he slowly nodded. “I’ve read about that.”
Adalard and Ha’ven looked at their younger brother in shock. “You’ve read about it? Where?” Adalard demanded.
Arrow grinned. “You really should have paid better attention during our lessons. Salvin talked about it continuously for over a month. I wanted to know more so I snuck down to the archives. Took me a week to break into the forbidden section. Salvin had a ton of locks and spells on it. After I was able to get in, it took me another two years to finish reading everything in it.”
Adalard rolled his eyes and sank down into the chair next to Ha’ven. “Have you ever even been laid or have you just read about it? I swear you can’t have had time.”
Arrow flicked his wrist at Adalard, sending a small bolt of power at his twin. Adalard barely had time to catch it before it hit him in the face. His loud curse drew a chuckle from Arrow.
Adalard growled as the shock burst through his body making his hair stand straight up. His eyes flashed at the amusement in his twin’s eyes. He hadn’t been expecting the little extra ‘pop’ in the powerball.
“Very funny,” Adalard grunted as he sent a surge of power to relax his hair.
“I thought so,” Arrow replied. “And yes, I have been laid before… more times than you can count.”
“Enough,” Ha’ven growled out. “What did you learn from the archives?”
Arrow opened his mouth to respond when the door to the conference room opened. Bahadur strode in without waiting for permission to enter. His eyes flashed at the three brothers.
“You startled the shit out of me!” He snapped. “Where in the hell did you come from all of a sudden?”
Ha’ven gritted his teeth and counted. The Curizan general was their best but he also followed his own rules… which made him the best. He and Bahadur had fought side by side and he respected the other male too much to comment on his lack of respect for authority. It wouldn’t do any good anyway. The other male would just agree he totally lacked the respect.
“That is just what we were about to find out,” Ha’ven replied in aggravation.
“Good,” Bahadur said walking over to the replicator and ordering a stiff drink. “Then I’m just in time.”
Arrow rolled his eyes at Ha’ven and Adalard behind Bahadur’s back before he continued.
“I read a scroll in the archives that talked about the ‘Joining’. It is said long ago the Goddess Aikaterina gave the Curizans the ability to harness the energy around them. Each was given a different ability so none would be more powerful than the other except for one. The Goddess gave one Curizan warrior the gift to harness unlimited energy from around him but cautioned him that with that power came great responsibility. She gave him this gift because she was impressed by his courage and honor. He had been willing to sacrifice himself to protect his people. She explained that one must be more powerful than any other if balance and order was to be maintained. But, she cautioned the warrior, that if the power was not balanced within himself,
it could destroy the world he had been so willing to give his life to protect. Afraid that the power would corrupt him, she told him he would need to find the one that would balance him. Only when they ‘joined’ as one would the power stabilize. If left unbalanced, destruction and death would follow. The Goddess, aware that such power needed to also be balanced throughout the star system so that the Curizans could not have absolute control, gave three additional species equal powers but in different forms.”
“What are the other three species?” Bahadur asked leaning forward from where he had taken a seat.
Arrow frowned. “The legend states she gave the Valdier their symbiots. The other species were the Sarafin. She gave them the gift of nine lives.”
“That is only two more,” Adalard said. “What of the third? Is it us?”
“No,” Arrow admitted. “The scroll was torn and the description of the last species was missing.”
“Great! A missing species that we have to worry about now,” Bahadur muttered. “So, what has all this got to do with you suddenly appearing out of thin air?”
“If my assumption is correct,” Arrow said looking at his older brother with a raised eyebrow. “You are the one who has been gifted with unlimited power. Emma is your balance. When you claimed her, the joining was completed. You have the ability to harness and control unlimited energy. Your desire to be with her, to protect her, allowed you to bend time and space and ‘transport’ the Rayon I to the location where she is being taken.”
Bahadur grimaced as he finished his drink and set the glass down on the table with a small thud. “Remind me to never piss you off,” he grumbled under his breath.
Ha’ven leaned back in his chair and glared back at his brother. “Why don’t I just use this energy to bring her to me?” He demanded. “Shouldn’t I just be able to transport her off of the warship and into my arms if I have this unlimited power?”
“I don’t know how it works,” Arrow grumbled. “Hell, until you did this, I had forgotten about the legend. I would need to read back over the damn thing to figure out how it worked and that is only if they wrote down the damn directions! Gods and Goddesses don’t always give specific operating directions, you know. Besides, where were you during Salvin’s lessons?”