“Lilac,” she said with ease.
“Avienne.” The woman furrowed her brow. “Looks like you ran into a bit of trouble.”
Layela shrugged. These strangers were allies for now, due to circumstances, but she still needed to be cautious. She was fairly certain there would be a reward on her head, and as much as she wanted to believe that Ardin with his kind eyes would not trade her in, she couldn’t afford to take that chance.
Instead she asked, “Do you know of a ship that can take me off this planet?” As she spoke, she looked for a pin to remove the remaining cuff, only to discover she had lost them all. The metal was irritating her left wrist, the skin raw and cut underneath it.
Ardin and Avienne exchanged a look, Ardin shaking his head and Avienne shrugging. “You got any money?” she asked, looking back.
Layela’s face grew hot. “What I had is still in that prison.” The flush changed to a cold, sick feeling as she realized that all of her papers had also been left behind.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ardin said, offering a strict look to Avienne, who simply shrugged him off. “Without you, Lumpy and I wouldn’t have gotten out, so we’ll consider it a trade-off.”
Layela nodded and smiled gratefully. Still, as she leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes for a moment, she wondered how safe she would be. Even if she was inclined to trust Ardin, how far could he take her? She would still need money and identification. She sighed and listened to Ardin and Avienne bicker softly up front as Lang moaned pathetically. She would stick with them for now, she would get off this planet, she would find Yoma and make sure she was all right...and then she would strangle her.
She allowed herself a slight smile as she opened her eyes again, the familiar landscape of the streets of Collar stretching everywhere around them. Maybe the Three Fates were smiling on her today, after all.
She focused on the city, bidding farewell again to its dark and dirty streets, when the nearby building and landmarks turned her blood cold. She felt the Three Fates turn their backs on her.
“We have to make one quick stop first,” Ardin said. The shuttle whined and landed before an all-too familiar shop, blooms sparkling and dancing in the window.
Layela felt her empty stomach lurch in dread and forced herself not to echo Lang’s moans.
“All right,” Ardin exhaled loudly. “Let’s try our luck one more time.”
Avienne grinned and turned around. “My brother doesn’t take rejection lightly.” She winked at Layela, who forced herself to smile back. So, the two were siblings. Good to know, but it didn’t explain why they had landed in front of Sunrise Flowers.
“How will we convince her?” Avienne asked her brother as she put a jacket on.
“I’ll do the convincing, you do the shopping,” he said, indicating with a slight motion of his chin to the AtmoShop on the other side of the street.
“Oh no!” exclaimed Avienne. “You had all the fun at the prison. My turn to play! Besides, I think the Berganda and I could be friends!”
Layela fidgeted in her seat and fought the urge to shout questions. She couldn’t reveal that she knew the Berganda. What could they possibly want with Josmere? Visions of the Three Fates blocking Josmere’s airways in a small windowless gassing room invaded her mind.
“Don’t tell me,” retorted Ardin, “that you’re bored enough to think that a jailbreak involving gunfire is fun!”
Avienne smiled broadly, Ardin groaned, and Lang moaned and lurched, thankfully turning the other way before gagging. Putrid smells invaded the shuttle.
“All right, fine,” Avienne said. “You have fun with the Berganda, but be careful. I’ll do the shopping so we can escape quickly afterwards. As a trade-off for my generosity, you get to clean Lang’s mess later.”
She was out of the shuttle and into the AtmoShop before Ardin could utter a syllable of protest, so he opted for a few choice curses instead.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, realizing Layela was still there. He winced as he looked back at Lang, who had fallen asleep and seemed quite content.
“I’ll be right back, possibly with an extra passenger,” he said, locking the shuttle controls before stepping out.
So much for stealing the shuttle, she thought, watching him enter her well-lit and colourful shop. Her heart lurched once for Josmere, and once for the dream that stood right before her, impossibly out of reach.
Concentrate on what you can change, she scolded herself as she pushed the release latch, relieved when the side door opened.
I guess they don’t care if I leave, so long as I don’t steal the shuttle.
She wasn’t sure what the siblings wanted with Josmere, but she seriously doubted it was a social call, and she certainly didn’t intend on leaving her friend without help. Josmere had her faults, but lack of loyalty was not among them.
Careful to make sure Avienne would not see her from across the street, Layela followed the familiar pavement, ignoring her weary legs and her aching ribs. She avoided the front door, opting instead to head down the small alley by the shop that led to the back. If she could gain some measure of surprise, it would be to her advantage. She hoped Ardin wasn’t the enemy, but should he be, she was well aware after seeing him in action at the jail that he would not easily be taken down.
The back door was unlocked, a bad habit of Josmere’s, who insisted locked doors only encouraged thieves to try their luck. If Layela had not been so worried about the welfare of her friend, this blatant disregard would have angered her.
Layela crouched and snuck in, barely registering the smell of the blooms as she crossed the threshold. The old floor was wood, but solidly built. When Layela had first visited the building she remembered being disappointed that the floors didn’t creak, imagining an old home with no fear of speaking its secrets. Now, she was grateful for the blessing as she measured her breaths, crossing the small storage area, automatically noting which flowers would need re-ordering and which ones needed watering. Despite practically being a plant herself, Josmere certainly didn’t seem to know much about tending to them when they weren’t in fields.
Voices rang up front and she recognized Josmere as one of them and the second as Ardin’s. Layela crept forward. The door leading to the counter of the shop was partially opened, and she didn’t want to be spotted before she was armed. She was glad that Yoma had insisted a gun be kept in the growing room for safety reasons.
You can’t erase your past and you shouldn’t forget the lessons you’ve learned, Layela! Yoma’s anger still rang in her mind, so rare an anger that Layela had quickly conceded to keeping the weapon.
I don’t want to be afraid anymore, Yoma.
She reached behind the largest Booknot plant, Mama Knot. They had needed to segregate it from the rest of its kin, lest it smother them with its great pink, green and mandarin leaves. That plant had been a bit too needy.
The gun’s handle felt cold and smooth, and she pulled it free, not surprised to find it fully loaded.
Thanks Yoma.
Mama Knot’s biggest leaf brushed her cheek as she got up. Layela associated the gesture with affection. Mama Knot had only been a seedling when Yoma brought it to Layela years ago, and it was the one plant she could not bring herself to sell. It was entirely too loving and lively, and had kept as careful an eye on Layela as Yoma and Josmere had when she was healing, losing quite a few of its own leaves in worry for its friend. It had been a wonderful companion when Layela needed only quiet to fight and rebuild her broken mind. Her mouth grew dry at the thought of how close she had come to repeating that fate today. She surely would have, had Ardin not helped her escape. She hoped he was on their side.
Layela leaned in and gently blew on Mama Knot. The whole plant puffed its leaves in pleasure. Layela smiled and kept the gun close as she approached the door to the show room. It was nice to be missed.
“Would you just go away?” Josmere’s voice was laced with cyanide.
“Not until I have what I came for!”
“Don’t move or I’ll shoot!” Ardin looked at her for a split second, surprise and annoyance flickering in his eyes. “Lilac, I’m fine, I don’t need your help.”
Josmere looked even more annoyed. “What in the thirty-three bloody hands of Gumar are you doing here, Layela?”
Ardin lowered his gun and he looked at Layela in shock, as if truly seeing her for the first time. “Wait, you’re Layela Delamores?”
A second later, the large, vibrant and expensive front windows of Sunrise Flowers exploded into a thousand pieces, shards and petals filling the air. Layela threw herself to the floor, unable to distinguish Josmere from the broken plants littering the shop.
CHAPTER 8
Josmere!” Layela cried as she fell to her knees, only to be tackled to the floor by Ardin, the rogue’s body covering hers as another volley exploded around them, shattering more plants.
“Stay down!” Ardin hissed as he rolled off of her, raising his arm and firing a few shots in the general direction of the assailants.
“Time to go.” Ardin crouched, grabbing Layela’s right arm, and started to drag her. She struck at his arm with her free hand, but he grabbed the cuffs still secured to her left hand and dragged her by both wrists, ignoring her struggles.
“Josmere! Where are you?” she screamed. She tried to turn around to hit the rogue, but she was barely able to gain her footing — much less plan an attack — with waves of pain cascading from her wrists all the way to her bruised ribs.
“Right here,” the Berganda said as she grabbed Ardin’s arm. The rogue looked down in horror at the green hand pressed directly to his flesh. Layela held her breath, waiting for Ardin to convulse and collapse; she had seen Josmere’s powers at work before. An instant passed and his fear vanished. He yanked his arm out of her grasp. Layela had never seen Josmere look so stunned.
“I guess stories of the powers of the Berganda are greatly exaggerated,” he said. Another round fired and they all ducked to the floor. Ardin’s hold on Layela’s wrist was still strong. Her cuts re-opened and blood flowed into his hands. He was too intent on getting out to notice.
“Now, let’s go!” Ardin pulled Layela towards the back door. Layela planted her feet and fought him as best she could, wishing she still had her gun. “Stop struggling,” Ardin hissed back, “I’m trying to help you!”
“Then let go of me and let me fight,” Layela shouted back, but his hold only tightened as he reached the door behind the counter.
He replied, “I would, if I was sure I’m not the one you’d be fighting!”
“Wait!” Josmere scrambled back up and called out, but Ardin ignored her. She swore and tried to reach Layela, but Ardin pushed the door open and shoved Layela through with little grace. Layela stumbled forward and was about to turn and try to take him on when her breath caught in her throat. Standing before her was another Berganda, similar to Josmere, but different; her eyes didn’t hold the same warmth. Beside her, Mama Knot’s leaves were pulled back onto themselves, the plant protecting its core.
She heard Ardin grunt behind her, and wondered if the Berganda was his ally, maybe brought along to defeat Josmere — though Layela doubted Berganda ever turned against each other. Especially now, with their race dwindling so rapidly.
“Why, hello my dear,” the Berganda said in a soft hiss, and Layela backed up only to bump into someone else. She turned around, thinking she would see Ardin, but a scream caught in her throat as she faced the Kilita, victory flashing in his orange eyes.
“Don’t move a muscle,” Ardin ordered, the rogue’s gun trained on the Berganda’s head as he stood back up. The Kilita’s eyes didn’t waver once from Layela.
“Shoot, if you dare,” the Berganda hissed, and Layela believed Ardin might actually do it, but Josmere screamed and tackled him to the ground. The rogue swore as he went down, his gun still firmly clutched.
“Fire!” The command was heard before the shots came, and all five fell to the floor. Layela tried to scramble away from the Kilita as bullets ripped through drywall and plants, but his arm shot out and grabbed her leg, his bare hand against her bare flesh.
The world spun as her heart and breath slowed, every object in the room spinning to become Yoma’s face, and then she felt a warm, thick liquid coating her hand. Layela screamed and kicked back, hitting the Kilita hard in the face. She felt his hold release, taking with it the clutches of the vision he was unleashing from her mind.
“Let’s go.” Ardin pulled her back to her feet and half-carried her, his gun trained on the two ether creatures. They were back in the shop, with her beautiful plants destroyed all around them. Josmere shut the heavy door to the back and locked it quickly, giving Ardin a nasty look before kneeling before Layela, pushing hair out of her face to examine her dark blue eyes.
“I’m fine,” Layela said through a thick tongue. She longed for Josmere’s soft touch to show her the vision, let her see what she thought she had felt, but she knew that now was not the time.
“Any other way out of here?” Another volley flew overhead as they crouched by the broken window. With each bullet that shattered one of her displays, Layela could only see money vanishing; with each destroyed plant, she saw her own blood spilling.
“Who’s doing this?” She choked the words out, and Josmere put her gloved hand on her arm, giving her a sad smile.
“Solariers, Solarian soldiers,” Ardin said as he quickly ducked back down. “I guess they figured you would come back here,” he finished, giving her an apologetic smile.
“You didn’t know,” she said, shaking her head. He had come here looking apparently for her and not Josmere; could she trust he was indeed here to help?
“What are they waiting for?” Josmere asked as glass crunched under her antsy crouch. Her answer came seconds later as energy weapons ripped through the shop, the beams melting through the concrete walls.
“Are they insane?” Josmere cried as all three hugged the floor. Layela could feel her skin tighten and burn under the searing heat.
“Layela!” Josmere screamed and nodded towards the path of the beam. Layela looked up, only to see a continued energy blast — a straight purple line, glowing white at the edges, destroying the shop in a slow, horizontal sweep. Petals fell in wisps and streaks of fire, the plants withering as the beam cut straight through them.
It was headed straight for the Pomboms.
“Take cover!” Layela screamed. The explosive plants were hit, the beam ripping them apart and igniting the strong internal gasses. Layela’s breath was knocked out of her lungs as the blast singed her skin further. Ardin was suddenly half covering her, his hair falling by her face. He tried to stay low and keep them both safe.
Then the light came, brilliant and purple with shades of green. The exploding plants screamed like a thousand wailing crickets on a summer night, a shrill and angry shriek that ripped through Layela’s eardrums.
She held her breath and waited for the noise and the pain to stop.
i
“One…oxy…gen…tank…” the merchant stuttered through the computer voice-over, his own covered by the necessary respiratory equipment strapped to him, shielding most of his face. Avienne couldn’t even tell what race he was under all the equipment, but she was willing to bet that he regretted ever leaving home. She leaned closer and realized that while she had assumed his gender to be masculine, she really had no proof.
“Yes, yes,” she said impatiently. “I need one mid-ship compressed oxygen module, and make it really compressed. I don’t want to haul something large around.” The merch
ant scooted off to the side with a speed she had not anticipated, going to the back to fill the order.
Avienne sighed and leaned against the counter. At least they still had the money for some oxygen. Half the ship — probably more than that — was cut off because they no longer pumped heat or oxygen to it.
She hoped Ardin would have some luck. They could use that money. It could buy them a lot. Air. Warmth. Freedom.
She felt giddy at the thought, but an old familiar ache snared her heart as well. The Destiny was the only home she remembered, with the only family she had ever known. Could she really abandon them? What if Ardin refused to join her, a fear that kept her awake at night and overshadowed all her imagined futures. Could she really abandon him, her brother and best friend?
She shook her head. At least she could find a nicer place than Collar to live. Most places were nicer than Collar, really.
The store was rocked by an explosion and Avienne crouched as she ran for the small window in the door.
“Blood and bones, Ardin,” she swore as she saw troops past the shuttle, wielding dangerous fire power. Smoke, light and a sickening wail came from what remained of Sunrise Flowers.
The merchant came out from the back, apparently able to hear well through the complex contraption. He — or she, or whatever it was — held the oxygen tightly in its agitated grasp.
“Fi…Fire…Ba…Bad…” the computer voice intoned over and over again in its dull baritone. Avienne walked over to the merchant.
“Fire, yes. Bad, yes.”
So few weapons, so many challenges. She had one bullet, and a few knives. Not much of an arsenal for so many soldiers.
Yet…She looked around and turned a charming smile on the merchant, hoping it was a male with some care for human females. “I think I’ve changed my mind on the oxygen. Do you have some Glotch gas, as compressed as you can get it in that tank?” She pointed to a cylindrical canister; it would roll nicely.
“And as many personal oxygen tanks as this will afford,” she continued, putting all of Cailan’s money and her profits on the table. The merchant held up two fingers and was off again, moving even faster this time.
Destiny's Blood Page 7