by Maven, Ella
I’d paid plenty of Plikens for information and they’d told me a Kilzer had bought him, and he returned every rotation to Fisk for the pixes Wargo provided to him. I’d tried following him to his home a few times, but always lost his tracks somewhere around the fourth rotation.
I had to play it smart, or I’d endanger Graven. The anticipation of seeing my old friend again was nearly enough to send me into a battle rage and descend on Fisk like a crashing monster.
I waited in the shadows of the alley until the sounds from inside Fisk grew quieter. Most of the clients would have retreated to the private rooms now to finish with their purchases. I hoped Graven had been given the night off, but even if he hadn’t, this would be the last night he’d be forced into this life.
I drew the cloak up over my head and pulled the cloth around my neck up over my mouth and nose. Shoving a pair of dark glasses over my eyes to hide my purple irises, I slipped from my hiding place.
Striding across the alley, I arrived at the back delivery door, heavily bolted but no match for my machets. Unleashing the blades from my skin, I sliced through the lock. I caught it before it could clatter to the ground and placed it down gently. The door opened silently, and I slipped inside.
The back staircase was used for storage, so piles of supplies and trash blocked the way to the second floor. I frowned at the fire hazard as I picked my way through. At the top of the stairs, I remained hidden against the wall and listened for the sounds of guards.
Only occasional moans of pleasure and giggles reached my ears. The sounds brought up ugly memories I longed to forget, but I reminded myself I wasn’t a pleasure slave anymore. I’d gotten out, and the only reason I returned was for Graven.
Peering around the corner, I found a dozing Pliken guard on the floor outside the room with the window where I’d seen Graven. With careful steps, I padded down the hall until I reached his side.
He grumbled in his sleep and his eyes blinked open. They went wide when he saw me, but before he could get a word out, I reached down and snapped his neck. He went limp and I propped him up again to simulate a sleeping form.
The door was locked, but after a quick pick with my claws, the knob turned. I took a step inside and closed the door behind me. Eager to see Graven, I turned around to find not one large form lying motionless beneath a covering, but rather… a small one and… and even smaller one.
I went still just as the larger of the two stirred. A dim lantern in the room caught on a lock of yellow hair before the figure turned a pale face to me. I couldn’t get a good look before the creature let out a startled yelp.
It rose from the bed on two skinny legs, five-fingered hands fisted at its side, and stood over the other figure. Legs braced, a human female stared at me with flared nostrils and wild eyes. “I don’t know how you got in here, but don’t come any closer,” she growled in a raspy voice. “We’re not pleasure slaves. So go downstairs and talk to Wargo.”
I stared at her, unable to believe my eyes. I’d never seen a human female in a pleasure house. They were rare, and fragile. Most species weren’t sexually compatible with them, and if they were… well, they had to be careful.
“Sibbie?” came a soft voice. The figure under the human stirred, and for the first time, the human’s expression registered genuine fear rather than anger.
My gaze dropped to the moving form, and I caught sight of a lock of black hair, before the human let out a roar of rage and leapt off the bed.
Wrapping the covering tightly around the smaller figure, she shoved it into the corner before placing herself between us. Her legs braced apart, fists up, she stood wearing almost no clothing. No defenses. No weapons. Her thin, pale skin nearly translucent.
I could have ripped her to shreds before she ever threw a punch.
“Stay back,” she growled. “There’s nothing here for you.”
I stared at the human female, who remained braced for battle even though I was three times the size of her.
The figure in the corner trembled, and I caught sight of one blue finger clutching the covering. But that couldn’t be Graven. It was much too small…
Slowly, the covering fell away, revealing black horn nubs and two glowing purple eyes. The breath left my body. My cora pounded so loud in my ears I thought I’d pass out. I swayed on my feet, and the human blinked rapidly at me and frowned. “Wha—?”
I fell to my knees as those purple eyes, so familiar yet so different, held my gaze. I reached up and shoved my hood off.
The human let out a gasp as I tugged down the covering over my nose and mouth.
Last, I reached up with a shaking hand and tore my glasses off my face. Tossing them into the corner of the room, I bent my head and crossed my wrists in front of my neck in the Drixonian greeting and sign of respect. I remained still as a statue on my knees.
The Drixonian chit slowly withdrew the covering and shifted to get a closer look at me from around the human’s leg. “Sibbie?” she asked with a trembling voice.
“Yes,” the human rasped with a deep gulp.
“Is he—?”
“Yes,” the human answered as clear liquid dripped down her cheeks. “Yes, Riven, he’s a Drixonian. Just like you.”
Two
Sybil
Graven had told me to trust no one on this planet, but he had given me one exception. Only one. A Drixonian warrior who went by the name of Zecri. He said Zecri had long black hair and bore many scars on his neck, wrists, and back.
This Drixonian on his knees in front of me wore a cloth around his neck. Still, I couldn’t deny the way he fell to the ground when he saw Riven.
I knew what his crossed wrists meant; he was giving us the Drixonian greeting and sign of respect.
But I didn’t let my guard down, not when Riven was at stake. “Who are you?”
His purple eyes, which were laser focused on Riven, lifted to me. “Zecri.”
My lets wobbled, and I locked my knees so I wouldn’t fall. I swallowed. “Why are you here?”
“Who is she?”
“I asked first.”
His head cocked slightly, and his hands dropped to rest on his thighs. “You’ve heard my name.”
He was massive, and his gaze wasn’t warm like Graven’s. Other than his initial shock at seeing Riven, he maintained a controlled mask over his features. He could easily overpower me and steal Riven. Was he really Zecri? Could I trust him?
“I have.”
His gaze bore into mine like lasers. “Where is Graven?”
I couldn’t help the small sob which escaped my throat.
Riven’s hand curled around my leg and her small claws dug into my skin.
I winced at the pain, but it was nothing compared to Riven’s small voice when she said, “My father is dead.”
The howl which left the Drixonian’s mouth chilled me to the core. He threw his head back and let out a sound so full of grief and despair I finally let my knees buckle.
I hit the ground with a thud just as he pitched forward onto his hands and knees, giant back heaving.
Immediately, footsteps pounded outside.
I curled my body protectively around Riven as the door flung open and Plikens piled into the room.
Zecri let out a snarl of rage and pain as he shoved off his coat and sprang to his feet in one solid motion. He turned and I gasped at the sight of his bare back, which was a twisted mass of scar tissue. His neck and wrists were also badly mangled. With a growl, he unleashed his machets and tore into the guards.
I tried to cover Riven’s eyes, but she shoved me away and watched as Zecri laid waste to the Pliken guards. But more came. And then more. Too many to count rushed into the room until Zecri was buried. He snarled and lashed out as sprays of Pliken blood arced in the air.
He would have won, too, if it wasn’t for Wargo rushing in and slamming a needle into the side of his neck. Rising to his feet, he wobbled, glaring at her while covered in blood.
Spit pooled in the
corner of his mouth and dripped to the floor as he lurched toward her. “You,” he whispered.
Wargo crossed her arms over her chest and gave him an eerie, fond smile. “My favorite has returned. I knew you wouldn’t stay away forever.”
“Flecking bitch,” he said in a garbled tone before he swayed and hit the floor with a thud. Out cold.
“No!” Riven shouted and tried to reach for him, but I held her back. Wargo’s gaze immediately darted to us and her expression shifted to disdain. “Did you let him in?”
I stayed silent and clapped my hand over Riven’s mouth. I’d learned long ago the best thing to do on this planet when it came to my enemies was to stay silent. Don’t give them any fuel to hurt me or Riven. And at this point, I was protecting Zecri too. I stared at his motionless body. I willed him to get up and fight more. I wished I had machets and I could slice into Wargo’s smarmy face. But all I had was my wits.
“Psh,” Wargo said with a sneer. She clapped her hands to the remaining Pliken guards. “Clean this up. Put Zecri back in his old room and let me know when he wakes. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“All rooms are full,” reported a Pliken.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Zecri’s bloodied form.
Wargo curled her lip. “Then just chain him up here.” Her gaze shifted to me, and I fought not to cower. With careful steps, she walked to stand in front of me until I had to crane my neck back to look at her. “When he wakes up, let him know that if he acts up again, I’ll take the punishment out on you.” When she smiled, a chill crept down my spine. “Understood?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. I didn’t care if they flayed me alive. All I wanted was for Zecri to wake up and save Riven. I’d do anything to get her to safety. There was a whole planet of me. There was only one of her.
With a sharp turn, she strolled out the door. Her guards made quick work of chaining the unconscious Zecri to a series of steel beams in the wall, which were clearly there for that purpose.
When they left, Riven lunged out of my arms.
“Riv,” I called after her, but she was already sliding to her knees at his side.
He lay slumped in the corner, his long black hair—now matted with blood—covering his face.
I knelt at her side as she reached out to carefully wipe at a cut on his cheek. “He knew my father?”
“I think he did.” My voice didn’t sound like mine.
“Will he be okay?”
I could tell she felt as helpless as I did. Reaching for a basin of qua, I slid it over in front of us and picked up one of the washcloths inside. “Why don’t we clean him?”
Riven gave me a halting nod, and with a slow swallow, picked up a washcloth. While she worked on his arms, I wiped his hair clean. Drixonian hair looked like ours but had an oily coating that kept it from getting wet and greasy, kind of like ducks’ feathers. Once I finished cleaning his hair, I moved to his face.
He looked older than Graven. Small crow’s feet creased the corners of his eyes, and a few scars marred his lips.
I untied the cloth from around his neck and gasped at the scarring there.
“Sibbie?” Riven asked.
I quickly retied the cloth so she wouldn’t see. “It’s fine.”
Shackles covered his wrists, but when I moved his hand, I caught sight of the scars beneath the metal. I closed my eyes as my heart lurched. This was definitely him.
Zecri.
The one Graven said could be trusted… and now he was chained up with us.
I placed a hand on Riven’s back. “Let’s get some sleep so we are rested when he wakes, okay?”
She glanced at the bedding pad along the wall. “It’s too far away. What if he wakes up scared thinking he’s alone?”
I smiled and ruffled her hair. “Why don’t we drag the bedding over and sleep next to him? Would you like that?”
She nodded eagerly and immediately sprang to her feet.
We pulled the bedding pad as close to Zecri’s form as we could. When I pulled her into my arms and covered us with the blanket, she fell asleep almost immediately.
I stayed awake, staring at Zecri until my eyes grew heavy. I didn’t know what was in store for the future, but I had a feeling that things would drastically change. I kissed the top of Riven’s head. I’d take whatever came as long as she was safe and happy.
* * *
Zecri
I opened my eyes to dull sunlight creeping in through the dirty window of Fisk. My head felt like my skull had been cracked open, but I knew what that was from. Margo’s favorite weapon. It wasn’t the first time I’d been on the wrong end of her needle, but I vowed it would be my last.
Faint noises drew my attention, and I blinked a few times until the blurry figures in front of me came into focus.
The human and Drix chit were both crouched over a tray of food. They were separating out portions into thirds. Except… the human had nothing but a steaming mug and a tein bar. In front of the chit was a pile of fresh fruits with some jerky. A third plate, which sat closest to me, was piled high.
“Will that be enough?” the human murmured to herself. “Graven ate a lot.”
“He can have mine,” the chit said.
I remembered now that the human and chit had called each other Sibbie and Riven.
“No,” Sibbie said quickly. “Eat up, you’re still growing.”
When Riven ducked her head to pop a piece of fruit in her mouth, Sibbie quickly dropped the tein bar with the rest of my food and picked up the plate.
She rose with a sigh and stepped toward me. Her gaze lifted and met mine. She let out a squeal of surprise and the tray tilted.
I reached out and caught it before it hit the ground. Sibbie’s chest rose and fell as she stared at me before she quickly recovered. Smiling tentatively, she crept closer to my side while I set the tray on the floor.
“Are you feeling, okay?” She pushed a jug of qua closer to me.
Riven stared at me with her jaw dropped, half-chewed food still in her mouth.
“I’m fine.” I adjusted my position as I chugged the qua.
“Please eat, we—”
“What did you eat?”
Sibbie blinked at me. “What?”
“What did you eat?”
“I had—”
“You didn’t eat anything yet.” I pushed the tray toward her. “Eat something.”
“I’m fi—”
“Eat something,” I ordered her with a command no Drixonian would dare disobey.
But this human wasn’t a Drixonian.
Immediately her spine snapped straight, and her eyes narrowed. “I’m thirty-three years old. I know when I’m hungry. You’re the one who was bleeding and need it more than I do.”
I gritted my teeth. I didn’t need her to worry about me. “I want you to eat because I need you to keep up your strength and take care of the chit.”
Her cheeks flamed, and I realized I made her even angrier. “I can take care of her just fine.”
I took a deep breath before softening my voice. “Then I want you to eat to take of yourself.”
Some of the fire left her eyes as she watched me. Then, carefully, she reached out and grabbed the tein bar off my tray. She ate it in three bites, which only proved she was, in fact, hungry.
I ate as little as I dared to get rid of the effects of the ricin, then shoved the rest of the tray at the human.
While she ate, she kept glancing at me. “I’m sorry,” she finally said. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just been Riven and I alone for a long time. And I’ve tried my best to take care of her, but many times I worry it’s not enough.”
I remembered the way she’d thrown herself protectively in front of Riven when I’d entered the room. This small human had been prepared to battle with nothing but her fists to protect her chit. Even now, she wanted to give Riven and I the biggest portions of food. What else had she sacrificed already? How could she think that wasn’
t enough?
“Sibbie,” Riven said pressing close to her side. “You take good care of me.”
“Why did you come here?” she asked me.
“I came to save Graven,” I answered.
Sibbie flinched, and her eyes filled with liquid. She sniffed and swiped at her cheeks. “He told me so many times not to trust anyone on this planet. But there was one person he said I could trust.” She studied me carefully. “Zecri.”
“We were here together for many cycles until he was sold. I got free and I’ve been looking for him ever since.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“I’m too late.”
She nodded and bit her lips while Riven snuggled deeper into her side. “After Riven was born, they deemed him too protective and aggressive, and they—”
I slammed my fist on the ground, and she jerked.
Riven let out a squeak of fright, and I took a deep breath, so I didn’t rage.
As soon as I’d seen them, I thought part of me knew Graven was no longer alive. Hearing it confirmed still hurt like a death blow. “They killed him?”
“They did.”
“Who?”
“Kilzer,” she whispered.
“Then I will kill him.”
She swallowed and nodded. “I won’t stop you.”
The human’s eyes dropped to the tray before she sat back and met my gaze. “If you do that… then you’ll help get Riven to safety, right? If I can get you out of those chains… you’ll take her somewhere where she can be safe and happy.”
Her round eyes held me captive and gave away everything she was thinking. “The moment I saw you both, that became my mission.”
“I’m sorry there were too many Plikens—”
“There weren’t too many,” I said. “I could have killed them all, but I had no plan yet on how to get you to safety, so I let Wargo do what I knew she’d do.” I sighed and let my head fall back on the wall. “She’s predictable.”