“Suspended animation?” Elise put a hand to her throat. “I don’t understand. What—?”
“The stasis field slows down all your bodily functions dramatically,” the blonde nurse explained. “That’s why we missed you before—there were no life signs coming from the pod you were in. Lucky for you, Merrick decided to check it out anyway.”
“Merrick?” Elise looked up at him. “Is that your name?”
“The one and only.” One corner of his mouth lifted in a crooked smile and she got the feeling it wasn’t an expression that crossed his face often.
“And you’re Kindred,” Elise said, beginning to remember things from their last conversation. “You said…you said you’d protect me.”
He nodded gravely. “I found you out there so I’m responsible for you. At least until you’re able to go home—back down to your planet.” He didn’t seem very happy about the idea.
Elise felt a sudden, sharp stab of distress. “So…I’ll go home and you’ll stay here? I’ll never see you again?”
He cocked an eyebrow at her again. “Why, you wanna play house? I’m not exactly the kind of guy you bring home to your parents.”
“I wouldn’t bring anyone home to them,” Elise said without thinking. “I haven’t spoken to my mother in ten years.” Then she shut her mouth. Why had she told a complete stranger such an intimate, personal detail about herself? And why was she still sitting on his lap? “Excuse me,” she said stiffly and tried to get up.
Her body didn’t want to cooperate. She stumbled and nearly fell. Merrick caught her neatly and picked her up. “Take it easy, baby.”
Hot blood rushed to her cheeks. “I’m not your baby. Please put me down,” she demanded in her frostiest tone.
“All right.” He deposited her neatly in bed, making her feel like a stupid little girl. “Guess we’re not playing house after all.”
“I guess not.” Elise tried to gather her dignity but it wasn’t easy considering she was still wearing nothing but a hospital johnny. “Where are my clothes?” she asked, looking at the nurse this time. “Can I get something else to wear? I’m not sick and I’d rather not dress like I am.”
“Well, we prefer that our patients wear the healing robes we put them in—this fabric was specially developed by the Kindred.” The nurse pointed at the sleeve of her crimson robe. “It’s actually infused with antibacterial cultures. But I’ll try to find you something for the trip home, at least. You’re what…a size four?”
“I’m a six.” Elise looked down at herself, swimming in the red gown. “Or…I used to be,” she said doubtfully. “Maybe a four would fit now.” She let out a shaky laugh. “Wow, the kidnapping and terror diet really works—who knew?”
The blonde nurse smiled at her. “A sense of humor—I like that. Don’t worry, I’ll find you something to wear back to Earth.” She bustled away, leaving Elise alone with Merrick.
“Well.” He stretched, his fingertips easily touching the high ceiling. “Looks like you’re doing fine. Guess I’ll be going too.” He turned away and Elise knew she ought to let him go. But somehow she couldn’t. She just couldn’t.
“Wait!” she said before she could stop herself. “Wait, please.”
“Yeah?” He turned back to face her, an unreadable look in his mismatched eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Elise said in a small voice. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I…I can get a little prickly when I’m feeling threatened.”
“You don’t have to feel threatened around me.” His rough voice grew somewhat softer. “I’m here to protect you—remember?”
“I remember.” Unable to stop herself, Elise held out a hand. She felt an unutterable sense of relief when Merrick took it and entwined their fingers.
“So,” he said sitting down in the chair beside the bed. “You want to talk? Or just rest?”
“Just rest, please,” Elise said humbly. He looked like a felon or an escaped prisoner but she had never felt such peace and safety as when he took her hand. His touch was soothing somehow. Healing. All better now, she thought and yawned. She realized with surprise that she was sleepy again. Why was she so tired when she needed to get back down to Earth and get things in order? Her caseload alone—
“Let it go.”
“Huh?” She frowned in surprise. “What did you say…Merrick?” His name felt strangely right on her tongue.
“Whatever you’re thinking, let it go. It can wait.” He squeezed her fingers lightly. “For now, just rest. You can do that, can’t you baby?”
This time she didn’t get angry or upset at the endearment. It seemed…sweet. Roughly charming, like him. “Yes,” she said at last. “Yes I guess I can.”
“Good. Close your eyes. Relax.” He leaned back in the chair, crossed his legs in front of him, and closed those strangely compelling eyes. His tall, muscular frame looked almost lanky in repose.
Elise followed his example and relaxed back against her pillows. She wished he was holding her again—it would be better if he was closer, if she was touching his skin. But for right now, holding his hand was enough.
What would be better? she asked herself. There didn’t seem to be an answer. She only knew that touching him felt good, felt right. But more than that—it felt necessary. Like she needed to touch him. Elise pushed that idea to the side—it was silly to think she had to touch a man she’d barely met. It was time to rest. And now that everything was safely back in the vault, she could sleep.
But what if the vault opens again? What if the door swings wide and lets everything out?
The sudden thought made her eyes fly open and her heart start to race.
“Easy,” Merrick murmured and she realized he was watching her from half-lidded eyes. “Take it easy, Elise.”
She bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I just thought—”
“Relax. If you have a bad dream I’ll wake you up.”
She looked at him with gratitude. He understood. “You…do you promise?” she asked, feeling like a little kid again.
He nodded. “Swear.” He squeezed her hand gently and Elise had the fleeting thought that she wished he could get into the bed with her. She was certain she’d be able to sleep without nightmares if he was curled up around her, spooning her protectively.
The adult part of her mind rejected the idea at once. She’d only just met him—she couldn’t ask him to share her bed. Plus, she didn’t think he’d fit. He was positively the biggest person she’d ever seen in her life—not that it bothered her. She was used to being the shortest kid on the block so she didn’t let size intimidate her…
“Stop thinking so hard and sleep,” he said. “What are you thinking about, anyway?”
Elise yawned despite herself. “Just that you’re too big to fit in the bed with me.” Then, realizing what she’d said she added, “Not that I want—”
“I do.” He looked at her speculatively. “Wish I could crawl in there with you. I’d like to hold you again.”
Elise felt her cheeks getting hot. “I…I’d like that too,” she admitted in a low voice. “But I don’t know why—I barely know you.”
“I know.” He looked troubled for a moment. Then he shrugged. “Oh well. Worry about it later.” He gave her that lopsided smile again and yawned, which exposed surprisingly long canine teeth. They looked almost like…
“Fangs.” Elise yawned too. “Do you have…fangs?”
“Uh-huh.” He nodded. “I got a lot of frightening things about me, baby. You scared?”
She shook her head. “No. Somehow when I touch you I’m the…the opposite of scared. Why is that?”
He shrugged again and squeezed her fingers lightly. “Don’t know. Doesn’t matter now—go to sleep.”
“But…” Elise yawned again. “I don’t mind fangs,” she mumbled, closing her eyes. “Just like…Buck’s.”
“Who the hell is this Buck, anyway?” she heard him say but sleep was already claiming her and she couldn’t answer. Concentrating on the co
mforting feel of his hand holding hers, she drifted away.
Chapter Thirty-five
A soft murmuring sound woke Rast from a deep sleep. He blinked and looked around. It was still night and he and Nadiah were in the middle of some kind of jungle or forest. He could smell the plants and hear their leaves rustling against each other in the soft breeze. Multiple moons shone down from the night sky, illuminating the area which looked like a lush wilderness.
Rast blinked. More than one moon—what the hell? Where are we? He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and felt a strange pull in his left shoulder blade. Looking down, he realized why—Nadiah, looking angelically content, was lying on his wing.
Oh, of course. My wing.
He lifted her gently and put her to one side so he could flex the feathered appendage before it suddenly hit him—he had wings! Wings.
“Oh my God!” he said aloud, looking around the Healing Garden. “It wasn’t a dream. I really do have wings.” He flexed them both and the feathers rustled softly, making an almost musical murmur as they moved.
But not as musical as the sound which had woken him up. Standing, he followed it a few feet away to the center of the garden. It seemed to be coming from the stone fountain—the one he had cursed earlier when he thought Nadiah was going to die because it was dry.
However, as he approached it, Rast saw that it wasn’t dry after all. The strangely carved alien animal heads that sprouted from it had silvery streams of water flowing from their mouths and the basin was filled to the brim. Rast stopped where he was, wondering if he was dreaming. Could this be true? Had there been some kind of rain that filled the fountain? But why hadn’t it woken him and Nadiah up?
You may approach, Counselor .
The voice—low, feminine, and authoritative—nearly startled Rast out of his skin. It was the same voice which had told him to use his wings to heal Nadiah. But though he looked high and low, he couldn’t find its source.
You may not see me, Counselor . To look upon my face is to die for a mortal, the voice said. Now come, approach the fountain.
Not sure what else to do, Rast obeyed. Though it was only a few steps, it seemed a very long and strange journey to the side of the stone basin. When he finally got there, he just stood, looking around.
“Uh…I’m here,” he said at last, wondering if the owner of the voice had left.
So I see. The voice sounded amused.
“Are you the Goddess?” Rast asked, deciding to cut straight to the point. “I mean, excuse me if you’re not but—”
I am called by many names. Goddess is one of them. Mother of All Life is another, the voice said. Here in my garden, I am Healer of All Wounds.
“Healer, then,” Rast said, bowing his head respectfully. “I suppose you’re the one who healed Nadiah. Thank you.”
Actually, it was you who healed your female, the Goddess told him. By the power of your wings. Know this, Counselor —there is great power in them but it must be used only for good, for healing. They are given you for that purpose, and that you might fly to my garden to commune with me when you have great need.
“Oh, uh…so are we going to have daily planning meetings or something?” Rast asked. “Because now it looks like I’m supposed to rule this whole fucking—uh, excuse me—freaking planet and I don’t have the first clue how to start.”
You must rule as you see fit, with wisdom and grace.
“What about all this stuff about me being a Challa and needing a Lyzel?” Rast asked. “I only want Nadiah but she’s not a priestess or anything.”
Nadiah has something more important than training as a priestess. I gifted her with the Sight that she might help you in this new undertaking.
Rast felt a sense of relief. “I’m glad to hear you say that. But the whole thing with the high priestess and growing wings and nearly losing the woman I love—you have to admit that’s a hell of a first day on the job.”
Do you regret your vows to serve and guide First World? The Goddess sounded almost sad. Do you wish to be released of them?
“Well, I…” Rast cleared his throat, not certain what to say. “I never expected to have to stay here forever. Not that it’s not a beautiful place…”
Its beauty will soon be erased, along with all other beauty in the universe if it is not guarded carefully.
Rast frowned. “What do you mean?”
Look into the fountain.
Suddenly, the streams stopped pouring from the animal heads and the water in the basin went as smooth and dark as black glass.
Not sure what he would see, Rast leaned over the stone basin, searching its inky depths. At first there was nothing but then…
“Hey, that’s the planet the high priestess showed us,” he exclaimed, frowning. “The one with the…what do you call it—”
The Hoard. The Goddess’s voice was hard and cold now. They seek to destroy and devour all that is light and good and pure in the universe. And First World will be their first target. Their memory is long and still they hate the First Kindred for their near extinction over a thousand years ago.
“But what can I do about it?” Rast asked. “I’m no military genius.”
You are uniquely suited for this office, the Goddess said. It is in your blood.
“And if I refuse?” Rast asked, his heart beating in his mouth. He half expected to be struck down by a lightning bolt for his question. But the Goddess only said,
Look into the fountain again.
Rast looked and saw the black masses of the Hoard once more. They were leaving their world in droves, blotting out the stars with their sheer numbers. The Blackness which Eats the Stars, he thought.
Indeed, the Goddess murmured. But watch…
Rast kept staring into the basin as she directed. The sky around the black, dead planet was dark with the ships of the Hoard—hundreds—no, thousands of them taking flight every minute. Then, in a single instant, they all disappeared.
Rast frowned. “Where did they go?”
Keep your eyes trained on the fountain. You shall see.
Rast did as she said and was surprised when the view changed. Instead of the bleak world of the Hoard, he now saw a new world—a pale gold globe bathed in the glow of two small suns. The view grew closer and he saw that it was covered with peaceful looking cities and quiet farms. The inhabitants were tall and thin with blue fur and backward bending knees. They reminded Rast a little of llamas which had learned to stand upright and use technology.
Behold the Pardos, the Goddess whispered. You will probably never meet them. They live across the universe in a galaxy far from this one and their genetic make-up is too different from the Kindred to make a viable trade.
Just as well, Rast thought. Can’t imagine wanting to have sex with a llama woman.
They are different from both Kindred and the humans you grew up with, the Goddess said. Different but peaceful. They have no weapons of warfare, no way of defending themselves. Watch.
Rast watched. The view pulled back again and suddenly the sky around the peaceful golden planet was filled with black ships, swarming with the Hoard. They descended on the planet en mass, covering its surface in the same way they had covered their own planet. The round, golden surface was black with them, like an apple riddled with rot. They’re a disease, Rast thought. A cancer growing and growing—they’ll kill everything.
Shrieks, cries, and moans of agony drifted up from the golden planet and he realized he was right. The Hoard were systematically covering the entire globe, leaving mass destruction in their wake.
This planet will be despoiled and all its inhabitants dead before the setting of its suns, the Goddess said. And then the Hoard will look for new worlds to devour. They will find them, too—for darkness ever seeks to extinguish light.
The scene changed again. This time it was Earth in the basin of the fountain. Rast recognized the familiar blue and white globe at once—he could even see the long peninsula of Florida, his home state. Then, suddenly, th
e sky around Earth was black with ships.
“No,” Rast whispered numbly. “No, they can’t.”
They can and will. They are seeking to destroy and this planet you think of as your home burns brightly as a beacon of civilization in the blackness of the universe. The Hoard will seek out all such planets until there is nothing left. The Goddess’s voice was cold with certainty.
“When is this going to happen?” Rast demanded. “I have to warn them!”
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