Daughter Of Ethos: The Ascension Book 7

by L M Lacee

  Netta stepped down into the circle, her Rie at force, causing every female there to tremble with impinging danger. She placed her arm around Esther’s shoulders as she looked at Empress Quara. ‘I am sure you are required somewhere else?’

  ‘You dare!’

  Netta stared at the Empress as the gold ring in her eyes became more pronounced. ‘I dare that and more. Take care Empress, you hold no sway over me.’ She leaned nearer the female and whispered. ‘Unlike the Warriors, I will kill you without a thought.’

  Empress Quara knew the Commander meant every word she said. But before she could form a reply, Netta said. ‘Now you should not keep the Star Daughter waiting. I do not think you will enjoy the consequences if you do. Mama Esther come, these gracious ladies have a choice to make. You cannot help them anymore.’

  She moved Esther out of the conversational area and as they stepped up into the lounge, she leaned down and whispered with a laugh threading through her voice. ‘Naughty Mama, you made the powerful ladies question themselves and their way of life.’

  ‘I probably should not have, but seriously, how stupid can they be. Standing there talking like our Peyton is a fake and everything is as it was. I don’t understand how they can be so blind.’

  Netta grinned and squeezed her shoulders. ‘Perhaps that old saying that there are none as blind as those who will not see, is true.’

  Esther sighed. ‘I suppose only time will tell.’ Netta agreed. ‘Perhaps. Anyway, we are getting ready to leave.’

  ‘Thank the stars.’

  TWENTY-FIVE:

  With Esther and Netta’s warning, coming immediately after Lydiia’s. The Empress reluctantly heeded their advice and rebelliously made her slow way to the balcony and the small female waiting for her.

  Peyton stood with Zenerra and Lucerra on either side of her. They remained just far enough away to appear as though they could not hear her conversation, but close enough to kill at any provocation.

  While she waited for the Empress. Peyton watched her ladies work the room, Melody and Karen, Heather and Patty were in discussion with several human females. From the worried expressions on the female’s faces, it appeared it was not going well for them. Netta joined them and her face became expressionless as she listened to them talking, which they did with a lot of hand gestures.

  Darby and Trina, with Rose’s Unta Teelu, seemed to have finally managed to get Oleena Haffee to themselves and were in an intense conversation, no hand gestures in sight.

  She mind-sent to Darby. Please invite her and her family to eve-meal tonight.

  Darby gave a small nod in acknowledgment.

  Peyton saw Penny and Kenera with Nina and Amelia, talking with Pack Leader Pwetara and her second Twetara. It appeared to be going well from the smiles she could see.

  Helen, Esther and Brenda were talking with several of the Governor’s spouses, they seemed to be smiling and nodding a lot.

  Peneria and Ipeara were circulating the room, stopping here and there to chat with younger females. Rata and Rita along with Rose and Miko had been taken to a pit and were in discussions with several females. Rose had her tablet out and looked like she was networking. Peyton smiled, thinking Rose was never one to let an opportunity pass her by.

  Lady Interkinn flitted from one group to another, her eyes watchful and her cloth flapping continuously. She stopped every now and again and touched a piece of art or an ornament, Peyton would wager she was trying to get her listening devices to work. Unfortunately for her, she had canceled them when she first arrived. There seemed to have been an exorbitant amount of listening devices in the cleansing rooms. She made a mental note to ask Rata why they would do that.

  Peyton watched the Empress make her slow way toward her and if she was honest with herself. She would admit she had been surprised by the female. From the pics they had of Quara Jenerika, she had seemed delicate and refined, but in actuality she was none of those things. Unlike Thanikis and his siblings, who were handsome boarding on beautiful. Quara Jenerika was neither beautiful nor pretty. Her eyes were framed by thick eyebrows and heavily fringed with short eyelashes. Her cheeks appeared to have thinned considerably, leaving her looking gaunt. Quara’s shoulder length gray hair hung loosely on either side of her square face. Sadly, the style aged her and added to the manic look in her eyes.

  Harm had told Peyton that the Empresses family of Assaens were the lowest in the trade. Their commissions included mining takeovers and planet disputes. He reported the Raparthen Nation had done an excellent job of wiping them from the Universe. Her few remaining family members lived on her world, afraid to venture off. As Peyton watched Pack Leader Pwetara and her sister Twetara register every move the Empress made, she believed him.

  Empress Quara came to a stop four feet from Peyton and after allowing enough time to pass, and knowing the other Empresses would be witnessing this meeting. She finally gave Peyton a half bow, just shy of disrespectful. Quara Jenerika’s voice matched her face and body, hard and unyielding, and yet her mannerisms and posture were exemplary. Peyton thought she wore the title of Empress well.

  Quara said with barely hidden contempt. ‘You wished to see me Star Daughter.’

  ‘I am impressed you managed not to sneer as you addressed me. Many yentas of practice as the Empress, I am sure.’ Peyton turned back to the view, reinforcing her contempt for the female and her lack of concern for her own safety.

  Quara hated this female, this… this Star Daughter, with everything in her needar. She knew this female had broken her mate’s family and destroyed her own. She only had two cousins remaining, and they both lived on her world. Everyone else had disappeared or died. Thanikis had reported after his disastrous meeting with her and her people. That she had admitted to the deaths of Uthar’s brother and sister. Not that Quara cared they were gone from the Universe, but people talked and rumors were being whispered around the Capital. Without the Warriors, Jenersar was just another ordinary world with nothing to trade. And now their own people demanded answers. Uthar and Thanikis were unwilling to pull the Warriors they had in hiding from stasis. Believing they had a bargaining chip in their favor and until today, Quara had agreed with them. Now she was not so sure. When Peyton did not turn around again, Quara was forced to step up to the wall, keeping four feet between herself and the small female. She did not trust the winged guards to not take offense, if she stood any closer. Looking at the guard nearest her from the corner of her eye, she wondered again where this female had found these marvelous winged Warriors. Already they had been offered immense fortunes to breed a new Warrior which they had declined. What a coup that would be to have squads of them under her and her mate’s control. They were amazing and another reason to hate this scallut.

  Quara blurted out. ‘If you think to ask me about my Emperor. I have nothing to say to you.’

  Peyton shrugged. ‘Oh, I don’t care enough about you or him to ask. You and I both know your rule is doomed. It is only a matter of time until you and every member of your family, blood related or not, will cease to be. Then the citizens of Jenersar will elect a government from people I choose. So no, I do not care about him, you or your remaining relatives.’

  Quara’s hearts started beating harder against the wall of her chest at the finality of Peyton’s words. Fear coated her tongue as she asked. ‘So what is it you want, is it the Warriors?’

  ‘No, I will find out where my Warriors are from your mate and his brother at the meeting.’

  Peyton turned sideways to look at the female who was dressed in a body fitting cream top and black leather pants with black mid-calf boots. Her knee length black leather coat looked soft and well made. Quara Jenerika may not be a beauty compared to the other females, but she was far better dressed. Peyton liked her outfit and decided to purchase a set of leathers before they left for home. She would make sure to get some for Netta and Melody as well. She almost smiled at the coveted looks Zen and Lucca were giving the Empresses clothes.

&nbs
p; Unable to stand the silence, Quara harshly asked. ‘So what is it you want?’

  ‘What I want Empress, is my Universe to be a sane, ethical place where people can live in harmony.’

  Quara snorted at the simplistic answer. ‘Why did you want to speak to me?’

  ‘I was going to settle for asking you a few questions. But then I realized that would be as useless as wishing to be taller. Because you and I both know you will lie. So what would be the point?’ She arched her eyebrows when Quara’s lips tightened.

  Peyton’s voice softened as she told her. ‘I also wanted to look into the eyes of a female who could do what you have done?’

  With amused indifference, Quara asked. ‘What is it you think I have done?’

  Peyton shrugged one shoulder, looked into her glass as she swirled the liquid around and said with a touch of steel in her voice. ‘I do not think Quara, I know. You are a female who murders the innocent, like the Turqualls and their kits? The same female who encourages the theft of Senes for hunting? I wanted to know why you would condone the kidnapping and hunting of the Raparthen pups. It seemed reckless and was guaranteed to bring the Nation down on your head. Especially when Pack Leader Huju and his brother’s pups were taken by Sether.’

  Quara gasped and paled as it suddenly flooded her mind who it was that had been hunting her family and why.

  ‘Oh dearle!’ Peyton said with fake sympathy. ‘You did not know, how sad for you. Your family have all died, and they never knew why. I do hope when they learn the reason they were taken to the afterlife, they feel it was worthwhile.’

  Quara hissed but did not speak as her eyes sought and found Pwetaras, who raised her glass in a mocking toast. At any other time, Quara would have had the anults head. Instead, she purposefully turned from her and met the mocking gaze of a winged guard.

  Peyton sipped her drink, she did not like the taste of this wine either. She suppressed a look of distaste from marring her features and turned to stare into the face of the Empress who stared back at her with animosity and banked rage.

  Smoothly, Peyton went on to say. ‘Unlike the other members of your family who enjoyed the hunt. You desired the kill, if you could draw it out without arousing suspicion, all the more exciting for you. You became enamored with the feeling of power, how much you felt alive and in control as your took the life of the innocent. The problem is, the more you killed the more you craved it. You hunger for it, dream of it, even now with all that is happening you are craving the hunt… the kill. You can think of nothing else!’

  The skin on Quara’s face became taut with suppressed emotions until it was like looking at a skull. Her eyes burned with excitement and another emotion Peyton did not wish to name. She felt the darkness from the Empress’s needar reach out to Lucerra and Zenerra and quickly placed a barrier between her and the Draygons. Unfortunately, the action had the effect of making Peyton’s stomach want to purge its contents.

  With her emotions held tightly in check, she said. ‘It took something from you Empress, something you never expected. Usually I would feel sympathy for the situation you find yourself in. But I saw the results of your hunts and I honestly cannot find any forgiveness in my heart for you.’

  ‘You think you know me?’ Quara scoffed as fear lit her suddenly haunted eyes.

  Peyton grimaced as she said. ‘Oh, I do... I really do. I look at your needar and all I see is a black gaping hole of nothingness. Your actions Quara Jenerika killed the best part of you, if there ever was one. I see now there is no threat to me or mine from you. Your life is over and eventually your body will figure that out and die too. Enjoy the afterlife, Empress, the Star Child awaits.’

  Peyton ignored Quara’s burning eyes and placed her glass on the balustrade as she made to walk from the balcony. When she came even with the Empress, she halted and whispered.

  ‘For your crimes against the innocent. I sentence you to eternal oblivion. You have no rights here or on any plane of existence now and forever.’ She nodded to her guards and unhurriedly left the Empress to the realization that she had just been given her death sentence.

  Quara let out one heart wrenching sob as she picked the glass up and downed the contents. When she felt more sobs fighting to be released, she dropped the glass over the side of the building and clenched the balustrade with shaking hands. All the while she heard the Star daughter’s words as they entered her needar and took up residence in her heart. In a matter of days, her body would take its last breath and she would join her mate’s brother and sister as a guest of the Star Child.

  TWENTY-SIX:

  Peyton made her way to the stairs, unwilling to engage in any more conversations. She had accomplished what she wanted to do. She would find the locations of her sleepers in the days to come, then they would return home to start the next phase of their lives.

  With that settled, she mind-sent to her family and friends, it was time to go. Within minutes, everyone made their excuses to the people they were speaking to and gathered on the steps.

  Peyton turned to look out over the now silent room. ‘I thank you for an interesting morn. I wish you all well. Please inform your hunbands, spouses and mates, I will attend the Grand Meeting.’ She looked directly at Quara Jenerika who stood at the opening of the balcony. ‘Please disabuse any notion they or you have of leaving the world until after the meeting. As of now the port is closed, unless permission to leave is granted from my people.’

  Cries of dismay were heard throughout the room. The pack females were not surprised, neither were the Haffee ladies, instead they both seemed amused.

  Finally, letting her outrage get the better of her, a well-endowed female at the rear of the room yelled. ‘You cannot do that?’

  Embolden by her statement, another female called out. ‘Who gives you the right?’

  Still another shouted, and it sounded suspiciously like Lady Clarice Dumoont. ‘We have to be able to leave.’

  A well-dressed yellow haired Empress with a blade like face stepped forward and protested. ‘What right do you have to detain us?’

  Peyton quietened the room when her eyes flashed black and flames appeared causing everyone, the Empress included, to take several steps back from her.

  ‘Dare! I am the Star Daughter. This world belongs to me, I can and will do whatever I consider necessary, and I deem it necessary to close this world. As for those rights you asked about. Take your concerns up with the Star Child until they say otherwise this world is closed.’ Her eyes faded to her normal color, and the flames disappeared.

  ‘For now, my family and I will take our leave, good-day to you all.’ She turned toward the doors, then instantly turned back to the stunned females. ‘Oh, by the way Ladies, I encourage you to attend the meeting with your males. No, I retract that. I demand that the meeting is attended by you… What we discuss there will affect everyone. You should be as aware of the changes that are happening in our Universe as your males will be. Explain my decision to your mates and make them understand I have demanded your attendance. Remind them who I am.’

  She flamed completely as every female in the room dropped to their knees. The benign Star Daughter was no more. The flames disappeared as she once again turned toward the doors, which automatically opened. Silence reigned as she and her family strode from the apartment.

  When they reached the foyer, Harm released the controls of Peyton’s vehicle to Ipeara as he took his mate’s hand in his and walked to the next car. Fox shepherded several of the other ladies into his car and within seconds they were under way.

  Peyton grimace in distaste as she muttered. ‘That went well!’

  Esther eyed her disgruntled expression and pointed out. ‘You need coffee and to get into normal clothes.’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Netta can you comm Jax?’

  ‘Yes.’ She tapped her link and said. ‘Jax Madam wishes to speak to you.’

  Yes Madam.

  ‘Implement port protocol two, please.’
/>   As you will Madam, it will take fifteen mins.

  ‘Proceed dearle. Helen, I know it is short notice, but we are to have guests. Count on ten with children, Darby?’

  ‘Yes, two boys.’

  ‘Jax, issue the normal invitations, we will have it in our suite. Oh and invite any of the scouts who are available.’

  I will see to it, Madam.

  ‘Thank you, what time Darby?’

  ‘At 18:00.’

  I will see to the invitations.

  ‘Good, I need a nap.’

  ‘We all do!’ Melody agreed. ‘That was stressful.’

  Peyton nodded. ‘It really was.’

  ‘So how much in credits?’ Netta asked Zenerra.

  She smiled and replied. ‘I could retire on my own world.’

  ‘Oh wow, that was... Wow!’ Stated Darby.

  ‘I know,’ Lucerra interjected, ‘they only offered me enough for a small moon.’ She sounded so disgusted they all laughed.

  Within minutes they had arrived back at the Embassy. When they exited the lift, Kardan issued his instructions. ‘Ladies, I hope your morn was fruitful. We require your reports by tomorrow's morn meeting, the rest of the day is yours.’

  Peyton inclined her head. ‘Ladies, thank you. You all did well… really well and we should never do that again.’

  They all laughed and wandered off with their mates or friends. Peyton frowned as she watched them disappear into lifts. ‘I meant that.’

  ‘So my heart, was your morn successful?’ Kardan asked as he and Reeve entered the lift with her and Darby and Esther. Marlo, Brenda, Helen and Larson.

  ‘I closed the port.’

  Larson held his hand out to Marlo. ‘Pay now.’

  ‘Dayam it, I am good for it.’

  Peyton yelped. ‘You wagered on me?’

  ‘Of course.’ Reeve gave her head a pat. ‘I made credits, thank you sister. Kerol lost credits, he bet Jarrod, that you would kill them as soon as they spoke to you.’