The Thief's Dark (Renegades Book 3)

by L P Peace

  As though waiting for a cue, the walls of the pit began to crumble. They fell into the stands in huge boulders that rolled towards them.

  ‘Zoe.’ Daris jumped up and grabbed her hand.

  Zoe stared at the rocks as they crashed down the stone steps, breaking them and crushing the remains of food left in the spectator’s panic to leave the stands.

  ‘Zoe.’

  She heard the alarm in Daris’s voice, but it wasn’t registering it. Suddenly she was yanked to her feet.

  ‘ZOE!’ she looked at Daris, and for the second time since she met him, there was fear in his eyes. He pulled her close and tucked her under his arm, then raced across the sand towards the gate.

  They were going inside the pit!

  Of all the things that could have gone wrong on this rote, the destruction of the pit was one that hadn’t even entered Daris’s head. But between The Crucible leaning against the walls to get the ramp down and the pilot jumping right over the vrokking city, the ancient structure simply couldn’t hold up against the strain.

  Daris held Zoe tight against him, using his body to shield her, and followed Edan and the pit fighters into the gates. The inside of the structure should hold up, despite the rest of the pit falling apart. At least it should until they were able to get out.

  Beside Daris, the Adosian had Tolomus over his shoulder as he ran. Daris had no idea why the Adosian was helping them, but he had every intention of finding out once he had his mate out to safety.

  The gates swallowed them up after they ran into the fighters’ rooms. Edan was the first one out of the door, but he waited, holding it open for everyone.

  When they were through, Edan fell into step beside him.

  ‘I don’t know why the vrok you brought this to my pit, Daris. But when we’re out, you and I are going to have a long talk.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Edan. I—’

  ‘Shut the vrok up,’ Edan said, before jogging ahead of them.

  There were several entrances to the pit, but whoever had designed it, had intended that slave fighters wouldn’t have access. The nearest exit was several hundred fenth through the labyrinth of halls. However, in front of them, Karijan, holding onto the other human female much the same way as Daris was holding onto Zoe, took the stairs going down.

  ‘What’s he doing?’

  ‘Escape route,’ Edan called back before following Karijan. Vandimir helped Varid down the stairs, Heresh, Koden, and the others standing back, allowing Daris to help Zoe down.

  When they emerged from the tight spiral stone stairs, they came out in a dark tunnel.

  ‘Edan, where does this go?’

  ‘The new tower,’ he called back.

  As they ran, Daris saw several tunnels leading off from the main one, at the end was a door and an access panel.

  Above them, the rumbling, cracking noises grew louder. The inside of the pit is collapsing.

  Karijan reached the access panel and, pulling the human woman closer to his side, placed his hand over it. Nothing happened. He tried again, but it remained stubbornly closed.

  Edan pushed past him and tried the panel himself. He examined it, then, pressing something, pulled it apart. ‘It’s not getting any power.’ He turned to an access panel in the wall beside the door. ‘I have to check the backup power.’

  As he knelt, a loud cracking noise filled the tunnel, making them all flinch.

  ‘Daris?’

  Daris looked down at Zoe. She was staring at the ceiling, her eyes wide. He followed her gaze and saw a crack appearing above them.

  ‘Edan—’

  ‘I only need a metri,’

  Daris pulled Zoe away. ‘We don’t have a metri,’ he said as the ceiling began to crumble in. ‘Is there another way?’

  Edan looked at him, then up, his face paled and he stood. ‘Third tunnel to the right,’ he shouted.

  Daris whipped around, carrying Zoe with him. As he ran back down the tunnel, the crack seemed to follow them, raining debris over everyone. A moment later, it had overtaken him, and he and Zoe were covered in falling pebbles and stones. He pulled Zoe even closer, sure he was hurting her now, but better she be bruised by him than struck by falling debris. Several of the pit fighters were behind him and were the first down the tunnel. Daris and Zoe followed behind a close second, the Adosian carrying Tolomus on his heels. Karijan was using as much of his body to cover the other human as he could a sicri behind him, Edan following in the rear.

  ‘Take the steps on the left,’ Edan called.

  The pit fighters were the first to find it. These spiral steps were even tighter than the first ones. Without asking, Daris hauled Zoe into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he tucked her head into the crook of his arm, holding it, his huge hand pressing her tiny head to him. He could feel the pebbles beating on his head and hand as he reached the top step, following the pit fighters down. He could hear the others scrambling behind him, but the light was gone now. He was Maruzen, though, and his eyes adjusted until he could see the barest outline of the way ahead.

  When he came to the end, he saw the faint glow of a light source before he emerged into an underground cavern. All around them, glowing insects moved across the ceiling. No, not across the ceiling. They were moving away from the cave roof, leaving a large, dark spot which was only widening with every sicri. Daris’s instincts, still so close to his ancient ancestors’, were screaming through his nerves for him to keep running. We’re not safe yet.

  Moving out of the way, so that the others could emerge behind him, Daris waited for Edan to appear as he placed Zoe back on her feet. He looked down at her. ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘Scared, but I’m holding up.’

  Daris smiled at her, then looked up as the golden-skinned Aavani emerged.

  ‘We have to keep moving.’

  Edan frowned and pointed to the left. ‘This cave emerges in a restaurant inside the walls of the canyon. We just have to follow it now. As long as we’re going up, we’re going the right way, but be on alert. Natives roam these caverns.’

  Daris pulled Zoe to him again, noting the way Karijan still hadn’t let go of the human he was holding. They ran up the cavern, entering a cave system a few metri later; Edan led the way, with the Adosian, Karijan, and Daris in the middle. The Adosian carried the slaver, Daris and the other male held tight to their females. Around them, the pit fighters spread out, their eyes constantly moving as they watched for trouble. Daris could feel the gaze of the natives on them with every step. He had no idea what held them back from attacking, but he was grateful to every dark forest god his world worshipped for it.

  Finally, they were ascending a steep bank. In the end, a low wall had been built along the edge; Daris helped Zoe up the bank and over the wall, then climbed over himself before reaching to help the other human.

  ‘I have her,’ the Dauvin growled. The female’s eyes sparked, a smile on her lips.

  ‘He has me.’ Elizabeth winked.

  Daris backed off and helped the Adosian get Tolomus over the wall instead, dropping the slaver to the ground and feeling satisfied when he heard a groan of pain from him.

  ‘This way,’ Edan said, leading them out into an abandoned restaurant. Most of the tables sat on a patio overlooking the city. Though now they were scattered and smashed into walls. ‘Vrok!’ Edan gasped.

  Daris took in the scene of devastation. Alidai was levelled. Most of the ancient houses and shops, once carved from the stone, had crumbled into dust. Fires raged through parts of the city. The marketplace, Daris realised, was the one place built from wood and smoke drifted from there, covering much of the pit district. He could hear screams and crying from where he stood.

  The three Tessan ships were hovering over the city. However, unlike The Crucible they were far above and sending shuttles down to the streets.

  ‘Oh my god,’ Zoe whispered at his side.

  Daris could feel the rage pouring off of Edan. He set Zoe away from him a momen
t before the Aavani barrelled into him.

  ‘What did you do!’

  ‘Edan, I’m sorry.’ The Aavani landed several blows on him, but Daris refused to fight back. He deserved this. He had brought this here.

  He heard Zoe scream, and a moment later, she pushed at the Aavani, then threw herself over him.

  ‘Zoe, no!’

  ‘Get off of him, human!’

  ‘This isn’t helping!’ Zoe shouted. ‘Those people down there are suffering. Beating Daris isn’t going to help them.’

  ‘It will help me!’ Edan roared.

  ‘Will it?’

  Edan stopped, stunned at Zoe’s question. After a moment he raised to a crouch. ‘No,’ he said, his voice suddenly calm. ‘I don’t believe it will.’

  ‘Good. Then let’s go down there and see what we can do to help. At the very least we can get to the Tessans.’

  Edan stood up, then shook his head before looking at his men. ‘Yes, the Tessans.’

  ‘Sir?’ Karijan stepped forward.

  ‘Why were you on Tolomus’s ship?’

  ‘There were slaves—’

  ‘Vrok!’ Edan shook his head before levelling a glare at Karijan. ‘Legally owned slaves,’ he spat. ‘In a space where slavery is considered a divine right. You know what that means.’

  Karijan nodded.

  ‘What does that mean?’ Zoe asked, looking from Edan to Daris to Karijan. Daris reached out and touched her cheek to draw her attention back to him.

  ‘It means they’ve forfeited their right to freedom.’

  Zoe looked up at the pit fighters, horror etched into her features. ‘No.’

  ‘What the fuck? No!’ the other human female said, still nestled into the Dauvin’s arms.

  Karijan looked down at her. He touched her face. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Vrokking vashni,’ Edan spat, before standing and walking away.

  They followed him, descending the thirty or so steps down to the street below. The area around the pit was the hardest hit. While the rest looked bad, most of the structures remained whole.

  The devastated looks on the faces of the Raqhan living there were the hardest things for Daris to face. Shame overcame him; it was a feeling he wasn’t used to and didn’t enjoy. Usually, he caused whatever trouble he caused, then moved on, not looking back, not acknowledging the faces of his victims. Here, it was impossible to ignore them. He looked at the unconscious Fedhith and thought about everything he had asked of the Tessans in exchange for this mate. He gritted his teeth, knowing what he had to do, and hoping Zoe would forgive him for it.

  ‘I’ve got it,’ Zoe called out. She slipped from Daris’s arms and ran across the street they were walking.

  ‘Zoe,’ Daris called.

  His mate picked up a small toy, and walked over to a house, handing it to a Raqhan female whose child was crying in her arms. As soon as the child saw it, his face brightened and his eyes dried, though the sniffing continued for a few moments longer.

  The mother and Zoe exchanged a few words before Zoe turned, her eyes finding Daris. She smiled, though it was a sad smile, full of grief for the things she was witnessing. She was a soft soul with a warm heart. Daris had no idea how he’d been deemed worthy of her.

  A flash of blue was the only warning he had before the coils of Hieladan wrapped around his mate. Suddenly, Adalth was there, his tail restraining her, and his hand around her throat. He stared at Daris.

  ‘Did you really think you could put on such a show, here at the pit, and I wouldn’t come for you?’

  Daris remembered Natyr’s warning. It was weeks ago, but somehow, with everything else happening, Daris had forgotten how much he had failed Adalth. Forgotten that he was being hunted by the leader of the Calidon Crime Syndicate personally.

  His mind reeled.

  Adalth has my mate!

  Zoe could feel the coils of the alien around her. A hand was wrapped around her throat, so she couldn’t look down. In her head, she saw a naga of ancient East Asian mythology. When a scaled blue face came into view, she noticed that he looked like a blue version of the Hieladan she’d seen on Caras.

  ‘Pretty human,’ the alien said, his voice was rich and low. The coils loosened, and he released her.

  Zoe stumbled away, afraid he would drag her back. Daris darted forward and pulled her into his arms, putting himself between her and the Hieladan.

  ‘Daris?’

  ‘Zoe, this is my boss from the syndicate, Adalth.’ The alien bowed, his tail moving to compensate for the weight change.

  ‘What happened with the Enhari king? Why didn’t you come back?’

  Daris turned, holding onto Zoe so that she was still behind him. ‘I vrokked up. The king was arrogant. He uses humiliation and shame in his court, particularly against the females, forcing them to perform sex acts on him right there in the throne room. He was keth, so I treated him like a keth.’ Daris shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Adalth. I just couldn’t stop his behaviour from affecting me.’

  ‘If you had come to me and told me this… The Enhari king is demanding you be sent back. His general is still looking for you. I’m supposed to hand you over.’

  Daris’s grip tightened on Zoe. ‘Will you?’

  Adalth stared at him for a moment before his eyes flicked to Zoe. But Daris saw the decision, repressing a sigh of relief.

  ‘No. But you are out of the syndicate. If you had come to me, I would have accepted your explanation, but you ran. I can’t trust you anymore.’

  ‘I understand,’ he said. ‘Thank you.’

  Adalth moved towards him. ‘What happened here? Who is the female—’ His eyes widened, his body going utterly rigid before he dropped to the ground, unconscious.

  Daris stared at him for a moment before movement caught his eye. Looking up, he saw several Tessans appearing around them. The familiar face of High-Protector Thanesh appeared among them. Thanesh looked at Daris and Zoe before turning his attention to Adalth.

  ‘Get him to a cell. Tell Korren to contact the IGC and let them know we have the head of the Calidon Crime Syndicate in our custody.’ Thanesh walked over to Daris. ‘That should shut them up about us being late.’ He stopped in front of Daris, standing a few inith taller than him. ‘I prefer to deal with people directly,’ he growled. ‘You are Daris Harvalen?’

  ‘Yes.’ Daris looked behind him. Several males were picking up Adalth, but Adalth was over forty fenth long and they were struggling. ‘He was letting us go.’

  ‘He is a wanted criminal in every system, including his own. I will not let him go just because you used to work for him.’ The cold amber eyes of the Protectorate stared at him in challenge. Daris took in a deep breath, cooling his ancient instincts that wanted to rise up and meet that challenge. He would contact Natyr as soon as he knew where they were sending him. The syndicate would see Adalth free.

  ‘This whole event has been a vrok up,’ Thanesh growled.

  ‘Tolomus called his ship to him as soon as he saw yours. There was nothing we could do,’ Daris said in answer.

  Thanesh looked at the Adosian.

  ‘The Fedhith is in my custody.’ Thelan’s voice was a low warning.

  ‘And you are?’

  ‘Thelan Vieri. I’m an agent for Caurus.’

  ‘I want to speak to him. He has important information on what he has done with the humans he took from a ship under my protection.’

  ‘I can answer some of those. I was on The Crucible undercover. We believe he’s been dealing in innocent members of the IGC.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Zoe asked.

  ‘Slavers are only allowed to deal in criminals from IGC worlds,’ Daris said, pulling his mate a little closer. ‘If a person has committed no crime, they should not be sold.’

  ‘We’ve had a steady trickle of Adosian females taken from my world. My investigations have led me to believe Tolomus is involved.’

  ‘You got a ship?’ Thanesh asked.

  ‘No, I’ll need a
lift.’

  ‘Then I will need access to him,’ Thanesh pointed at Tolomus, ‘in exchange.’

  The Adosian nodded.

  ‘Now that you’ve seen to everybody else…’ Edan walked forward. He pushed into Thanesh’s space, unintimidated by him. Daris looked from one to the other; they were comparable in height and build. Angry golden eyes stared into cold amber ones.

  ‘What happened here? What did you bring to my city,’ Edan spat.

  For a moment, Thanesh looked chagrined, then it faded. ‘I will pay for all repairs. Make sure everyone is safe. But you and I need to talk, privately.’

  ‘And you will buy all of my males,’ Edan hissed.

  ‘What?’ Thanesh looked confused.

  ‘They helped free whatever slaves were on Tolomus’s ship. They’ve broken Raqhan law. The only way we’ll keep them safe is if I sell them to you.’

  Thanesh looked over Edan’s shoulders at the males staring in shock at their leader.

  ‘I will take care of them,’ Thanesh agreed.

  Daris could hear the sigh of relief from the human female, still standing in Karijan’s grip.

  ‘Edan?’ Thanesh turned to leave.

  ‘Wait.’ Zoe stepped forward. Thanesh turned to look at her, the harshness from his face softening. ‘Did you hear anything about Sophia Abara yet?’

  Thanesh’s eyes clouded with regret. ‘No, I am sorry. We are still searching for her near to the emergency rendezvous. But there has been no sign of her yet.’

  Zoe bit her lip, and Daris resisted the urge to pull it out from under her teeth, even as blunt as they were.

  ‘My friend, Addison, is on Caras. She got away from a green guy who bought her—’

  ‘A group of my men are there searching for her and the other females sold to the meat market. You got slaves from The Crucible?’

  ‘They were brought to Edan’s hanger by the rest of the pit fighters you’ll be buying,’ Zoe said. ‘What about Endurance?’

  ‘We found Endurance. It is in orbit above us with some of my men crewing it.’

  ‘Thank god.’ Zoe closed her eyes. A part of the condition that the IGC placed on applying for membership was that they had to present themselves to the IGC station by their own means of transport. Without Endurance, they wouldn’t be allowed to even apply.