by Tracy Lauren
I look out through the glass walls at the heavily forested planet. Night is falling and the trees are a sea of black silhouettes against the blue-black sky. The female has a point. I concede with a nod.
“Lovely!” she squeals and grips my arm tighter. Kalmut Ruo squeezes in on my opposite side and I’m sandwiched between the pair. “Let’s start with the biggest players,” the female whispers conspiratorially to me. “Over there, the male practically blockaded by his guards? That is Galdesh.” A sly smile cuts across Kalmut Hui’s face and she appraises my reaction from the corner of her eye.
“The Galdesh?” I ask. To be honest I did not think Galdesh was truly a person but more of an idea or perhaps an organization. The male Kalmut Hui is referring to must be the most evil and dangerous criminal this entire region of space has ever heard of. Parents even tell their young children frightening stories of Galdesh to dissuade naughty behavior.
“The one and only,” Kalmut Ruo agrees with a huffing laugh. “Do not try to rub elbows with him tonight, boy. I’ve seen his guards kill a drunken guest for stumbling too close to their master.”
I venture another look at the criminal. He looks every bit the monster he is said to be, with a scarred face and cold eyes. His guards create a perimeter around him, but one stands close to his side. He is slightly younger than his master, but looks nearly as murderous, with tattoos trailing up his neck and his hair shorn close over his entire scalp. The pair talk quietly to one another as they assess the room.
“Really, though, despite his name, Galdesh is quite the bore. He never mingles and there’s only been the one death.” Kalmut Hui rolls her eyes and pulls me over toward an Ihasa male who hovers near a small table covered in raw meats.
The Ihasa remind me of raw meats as it is. There is no outer layer of dermis that covers their sinewy muscles. I used to think this would make them vulnerable or fragile to the touch, but I once got into a fight with an Ihasa on a space station when I was still quite young. I learned then that there is nothing fragile about the species.
“Visakha!” the Kalmuts call out, greeting their comrade.
“What did you bring this evening?” Kalmut Rui asks, finally releasing me to gleefully admire the spread on Visakha’s table.
“My latest kill,” he says proudly, puffing out his chest. He snatches up a wet piece of meat and holds it out for Kalmut Hui and she sucks it off of his fingers. Blood drips down her chin and I cringe at the sight. It was not long ago that Faith and I were feeding one another, but something about this interaction makes me sick to my stomach.
“Oh Visakha! This is delicious! Kalmut Ruo, you simply must have some!” Kalmut Hui exclaims. She hurries to feed her husband strips of uncooked meat and bits of entrails while I struggle to maintain a neutral expression.
“Partake,” Visakha offers. I look at the unappetizing mound and try not to frown at it.
“I am saving myself for my own kill,” I lie, hoping to avoid offending anyone.
“A noble decision,” comes a deep and booming voice from behind me. Our group turns to see a reptilian male, who looks something like a Nh’Rudi, yet still not quite. Whatever he is, he is large, muscled, and looks as if he could kill his prey with his bare hands. Curiously, I take in his attire. It almost looks like something one would wear into the fight pits. “I also fast until I can drink the warm blood of my prey,” he tells us with a proud conviction.
“Grazie, allow me to introduce He’Rokvska Naa. He is new to our little club as well,” Kalmut Hui tells me, looking at He’Rokvska Naa with hunger in her eyes.
“Do not call me He. I am He’Rokvska Naa, master of the ninth house of Braga Faro Sintra,” he says roughly.
“Oh, don’t mind him. I called him Hehe earlier and it drove him crazy. Luckily, I like that sort of thing,” Kalmut Hui laughs and sidles up to He’Rokvska Naa. Her hands run up his arm in an attempted caress, but the warrior brushes Kalmut Hui away from him with a look of disgust curling on his lip.
“I am the chosen gladiator of House Sarran, I have bathed in the blood of the dhiragoni who killed the great Eriona and claimed my right to the ninth house. My presence here will win me glory beyond the arena. I have been called upon to rise from this hunt victorious, bathed in the blood of a worthy opponent…” He’Rokvska Naa continues with his speech, but I am quick to tune out his fervent and bloodthirsty rant. Though I don’t fail to notice the bloodlust it seems to be inspiring in the others.
Bright lights suddenly illuminate a courtyard outside the glass walls and I extract myself from the group of hunters to get a closer look at what is out there. Looking down, we seem to be about two floors higher than the ground level outside. Under the glaring spotlights I can see a pile of supplies in the center of a packed dirt ring surrounded by numerous wooden cages, which likely house our prey. The cages are larger than I expected, big enough to contain a being my own size, and it makes me wonder what creatures might be inside.
Of course I hunt on Aragran, but my people never disturb larger beasts. We hunt only for what we need to eat and nothing more. I look around at the hunters in the room and back at the number of cages. There will be much meat going to waste after this is finished. That is why Visakha brings along his kills to share, I suppose, as I try to catch a glimpse of what might be inside the cages. Unfortunately, the placement of the lights casts a dark shadow over their interiors.
Then, for a split second, I see something flutter over the bars. It is small, pinkish-olive in its tone. Perhaps my eyes are playing tricks on me, but it almost looked like a hand. I press closer to the glass, trying to get a look.
“I see you are hungry for the hunt. Soon enough, boy,” Kalmut Ruo says, breaking me from my thoughts as he joins me at the window.
“Thank you for showing me around this evening,” I tell him, but Kalmut is looking back at his wife who has turned her attention to the more receptive Visakha. The pair continue to feed one another raw meat and I stiffen when I see Kalmut Hui lick stray juices from Visakha’s chin. My eyes cut to her husband, but his reaction is jovial.
“She likes to get worked up before the hunt, fuck a few of the young hunters,” he explains. “It’s all in good fun. We’ll share some of the whores tonight too, but the main attraction for my wife and me is our prey,” he says, turning back to the window.
“Your wife participates in The Hunt as well?” I ask conversationally, but I am taken aback by what Kalmut Ruo was telling me. Mate sharing is unheard of on Aragran.
“She hangs back while I find our prey, but she joins me once I catch it. That’s when the real fucking begins,” Kalmut Ruo tells me, breaking off into a raucous laugh. Now I’m blown away. I can’t quite seem to process what this male is telling me. Does he mean to say that he and his wife fuck the animal they are hunting?
“Do not discount the ferocity of this planet!” Visakha says behind us, taunting the enthusiastic warrior and garnering some of my attention. “This is a wild and untamed place. There have been many times when prey have died from stupidity or exposure before their hunters can even find them.”
He’Rokvska Naa looks outraged at the possibility. “I demand to compete against a worthy adversary!” he bellows. “It would be a disgrace to champion over the weak. There is no glory in such a kill!” Some of the others laugh mockingly at the warrior’s indignation.
“There is no glory in such a kill!” he roars, and I begin to slink away from these completely insane people. By the gods, what have I gotten myself into?
“Hell, that’s not the only thing you need to worry about during a hunt. You’ll have us to consider too, Gladiator. Sometimes I pay no heed to who I have been assigned and instead see how many of them I can bring down!” Visakha teases scornfully.
The warrior flexes and his muscles seem to swell under his scales. A fearsome growl tears from his throat, making my blood run cold. I tense, wondering if I will have to break up a fight, but luckily, there is an interruption in the escalation going on between t
hese two.
“Esteemed guests,” a voice says suddenly, booming over the din of the ballroom. It is our host, the Itharene male and he stands on a stage at the head of the room. “Welcome to my home and welcome to The Hunt!” The room erupts in applause. “Many of you have been here before, but for the benefit of new guests, allow me to go over the festivities. First and foremost, indulge! Live tonight like gods, for tomorrow the intoxicating power over life and death will lie in your hands. Shortly, we will be releasing the first round of prey. They have the duration of this night to gain a head start before hunters begin searching. In the morning—”
“Or whenever we wake up!” Kalmut Ruo shouts, causing laughter to reverberate off the glass walls.
“Indeed.” The Itharene smiles. “When you’re ready, you will be equipped with supplies and your hunt will begin. Take as long as you’d like to complete your task. Monetary prizes will be awarded to each finisher as well as accolades for especially deserving kills, such as most creative. Now gather at the windows, my friends, and let us gaze upon this year’s prey!”
Everyone moves to press close to the glass. The excitement emanating from the crowd is like a physical thing, making me feel uneasy. I look over to see Visakha’s hand up the back of Kalmut Rui’s dress, working as they eagerly peer down into the dirt courtyard.
My personal comm chimes.
“Do you hear that sound, my guests? A file has been uploaded to your account pertaining to your pre-selected prey. It bears information on their species, crimes committed, and any known strengths or weaknesses,” the Itharene announces.
His words strike me as odd. Their crime? What could he mean by that?
“First prey to exit their cages belong respectively to the following: Visakha, Galdesh, Veil, Kalmut Ruo and Kalmut Hui, He’Rokvska Naa, Rylan Graz Bregen…” the Itharene continues to list off names, but his voice becomes drowned out by the pounding of blood through my veins. With each name he calls, a gate snaps open and a being emerges. But these are not wild animals. They are not beasts from faraway worlds. They are people, like any of us here in this room now. They are sentient.
They run for the supplies, some scooping up as much as they can carry, others running off without anything. If my shock was not powerful enough, it intensifies when the Itharene calls my name and a cage opens. My heart stops dead in my chest when I see who emerges. It is my Faith, looking more fierce than ever.
She wears the same clothes as she did the last time I saw her. Looking up at the windows, she scowls at the crowd watching her before sprinting over to the supplies. She does not see me, I don’t think. The lights are too bright and blinding in her eyes. I try to pay close attention to what she grabs as she hovers over the pile. Is she making smart choices, taking things that will not weigh her down? Things that will aide in her survival? But I have no view. All I’m able to catch a glimpse of is the direction she heads before vanishing amongst the trees.
I am still recovering from the shock when He’Rokvska Naa’s roaring shouts calls for everyone’s attention. “That is the prey I claim!” he demands, pounding so hard on the glass that I think it might break. Others seem to share the same opinion and guests jump backwards to safety.
“Is there a problem He’Rokvska Naa?” the nameless Itharene asks, approaching the warrior.
“That is the one I want,” he demands again. “The one with the war paint. I will take no other.” He crosses his scaled and imposing arms over his chest as a nictitating lid flicks over his yellow slitted eyes.
“Have you ever seen a human female before, He’Rokvska Naa?” Visakha asks, laughing. “Do you even know anything about them?”
“There is nothing I need to know. I claim the one with the war paint. It is final!”
The Itharene begins to interject, but Visakha interrupts. “I will trade with He’Rokvska Naa. The human female was meant to be mine, but I have no preference and clearly the gladiator does,” Visakha says, biting back a smile.
My mind reels. There is more than one human female being hunted. I need to get down there. I need to help them, to help Faith. I turn to get away from the bloodthirsty crowd, but bump into a hard body.
“Excuse me,” I say, looking up to see one of Galdesh’s men, the tattooed one who lingered close to the dangerous criminal. The alien nods at me, but his gaze is fixed outside on the people running for their lives.
“Where do they think they will go?” he wonders aloud, and it seems as if he is talking to himself. Still, Kalmut Hui turns to answer.
“That’s part of the game!” she delights. “They’ve been told they’re being hunted and have only tonight to run, but they’ve also been told there are three escape pods to the north and if they can make there, they’re free to go.”
“So, they have a chance to escape?” I ask, feeling relieved. If anyone can make it to those pods it will be my Faith.
“No, of course not! The escape pods are there, they just don’t work! None of these creatures are making it off this planet alive.” Kalmut Hui’s laugh turns into something nearly hysterical and the other hunters all join in. The sound is unnerving, as is the realization that all these people are mad.
I need to find Faith, rescue her, and get us off this godforsaken planet before the both of us are killed.
Chapter 10
Rylan
I spend the rest of the night in my room, studying Faith’s file. It is a frustrating feeling, learning about her like this and I can’t help but wonder if there was something I could have done differently to earn her trust.
I skim through the records the Itharene sent me on my personal comm. As it turns out Faith was running from something when we first met. Or, more accurately, she was escaping. It seems she was on that prison barge I saw coming in at the docks, likely en route here. But somehow, my Faith escaped and made her way to the station where she found me.
I keep reading, hoping to fill in the blanks surrounding my mystery female. I learn she is something called a human, which brings back the memory of her telling me she came from a planet called Earth. That information is echoed in her files and I am glad there is at least one thing Faith did not lie to me about. Under strengths it is written she has “murderous nature and a keen ability for escape.” Alongside that is a recommendation that she not be underestimated, though I find the suggestion a bit obvious.
It isn’t until I notice the reason for her imprisonment that a cold sweat forms on my palms and I feel the need to punch a hole through the wall of the guest room accommodating me.
Faith was found guilty of murder. The victim, her slave master.
Her slave master. The thought of anyone trying to own Faith is so absurd it would be laughable if I didn’t know how it all ended up. She killed the male, quite viciously as a matter of fact, slicing him open from balls to navel. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why she would cut him in such a way. I hang my head in my hands and take deep breaths to calm my nerves. I’m shaking with rage.
I think of the Kalmuts and their admission that they like to fuck their prey before they kill it and of Visakha and the raw meats he served. I nearly gag. Jumping to my feet, I pace the room anxiously to keep from exploding.
I force myself to steel my nerves and read on. Apparently, her crime was committed over a year ago and she has been on the run ever since, finally getting captured (and then re-captured) just in the past cycle.
Why didn’t she tell me all this? I lament. I could have helped her. I could have saved her! Was she using me from the start? Was this always about my ship for her? I trusted Faith. We talked, we opened up to one another. Maybe it’s stupid for an Aragrandani to even consider it, but I thought there was some natural connection between us, a chemistry. All the while she was looking at me as a means to her end. I feel ashamed that we made love. Did she truly think that was the only way to garner my aid?
All of this information stings, but still, none of it changes my plans. I will rescue Faith and her people if she
desires it. I will take her to the docks where we will steal a working vessel. Before anything else, we will travel back to my home world and gather my sisters. This sector of space is clearly no longer safe. I am done with The Conglomerate. We need to start over somewhere new, somewhere I will not be forced to marry my sisters off to Itharene scum. I don’t care if we have to live on a backwater planet. At least we will be together.
After my sisters are secured I will deal with Faith. She has wounded me deeply, but still, I will see that she gets to where she wishes to be. I will show her I am worthy of her trust, if not her affection. No matter what has happened between us, Faith deserves safety.
The night begins to wear thin and I force myself to close out her file and lie down in the plush bed. As I do, I can’t help but wonder where Faith is, if she is safe, and if she will be able to rest this night. Despite the impending sense of doom lodged deep in my chest, I drift off to sleep, knowing that the days following will be a trial I must not fail.
Chapter 11
Faith
Our cages open and we step out into a dusty ring. Up above I can see the lit windows of a dome. Inside are the silhouettes of aliens and they watch us like animals in a zoo. I scowl at them before I turn my attention to the other prisoners, sizing them up. Most are alien, but I notice at least two other humans in the crowd. One looks fierce, the other…not so much. She’s bawling and wearing some kind of fucked up Halloween costume. I think she’s supposed to be a sexy 80s fitness instructor or something. She’s got a leotard and leg warmers, the whole nine yards. I cringe at her neon clothes and her fucking sweat bands. Not to mention her four-inch heels. I can’t imagine she’ll make it through the night.