by Frost Kay
Dark eyes flashed in her mind. Her jaw clenched. Stars above, she was weak. The small part of her that still mooned over the liar made her furious. She snorted. A super match. That was probably a lie, too. Sebastian raised an eyebrow at her in question. Allie lowered her head and focused back on the bar. If it was the last thing she did, she’d scrub the living daylights out of the bar top. It would shine like bloody glass when she was through with it.
Setting her shoulders, she growled. “I’ll be okay. I have to be okay. I’m not the type of person to let things go by and not fix them. I will be okay.”
“That was a lot of okay.”
She shot a dirty look in his direction that could have singed off his long black hair.
He held up his hands and inhaled heavily.
“Stop that,” she hissed.
“Now I know why you’re so touchy. It’s that time of the month.”
“This is not happening,” she groaned.
“Oh, yes, it is. Especially when it affects everyone around you. You Human females get crazy.”
Allie grabbed a knife and waved it through the air. His eyes widened, and he stepped back.
“I’m not going to stab you.” Yet. She set the knife down within reach and arched brow at him.
“I’ll stay right here, thank you.” He frowned at her. “Why didn’t you give me a warning? We all know how you get around this time.”
She colored. “Why would I tell you that, unless coerced or feeling like I needed to use it as a defense?”
“Well, it explains why you’re about to bite off my head. It doesn’t explain why there are black bags underneath your eyes. If anything, they’ve gotten worse this last week.”
He wasn’t wrong. She’d stopped taking the meds to sleep. She wasn’t sleeping at all now, but at least she wasn’t stuck in perpetual nightmares.
Allie rolled her eyes and forced herself to chuckle. “And people think you’re oh-so-charming. It must be lucky me that I get the crass, rude version of you—”
His hand reached out and nimbly snagged the rag from her fingers. Her humor slipped, and she glowered at him, her hands slamming down onto her hips. She did her best impression of her mama. “You give that back right now!”
Bastian tsked and shook his head, holding out the rag, his face going uncharacteristically sober. “Humor always makes things easier to bear. It’s either laugh or cry.” He blew out a breath. “I’m worried about you. You don’t appear well.”
How did he know? She’d taken care to hide all of the damage.
“Have you gone to see a doctor?”
She blew out a heavy breath and lifted her hair off her hot neck. “I saw Eve last week. She said everything’s healing as it should be.” Allie slipped her hand down the black dress that hid her bandaged skin. “The bruises are almost gone, my hands are healed, mostly, and she took out the stitches days ago.”
He searched her face, his expression skeptical.
She turned her back on him and ducked underneath the bar to escape. She didn’t want to deal with his questions any longer.
“You can’t run away from this conversation every time.”
Allie straightened and faced the bar to glare at him over the now-shiny top. “I don’t want to have the conversation at all. I’m not going to do it with you, no matter how much you probe me. You’re not going to force my hand.”
Bastian held up a finger. “You just said probe.”
“Really?” she said, somewhat hiding her smile.
He grinned at her, but it melted into something more serious. “You have to do it at some time. You have to deal with it.”
It always came back to that. Her temper was about to snap and that wasn’t a sight anyone wanted to see. Allie leaned forward and hissed at the Kanji. “If I want your help, I’ll bloody well ask for it. I’m fine.”
Bastian shook his head. “You should widen your vocabulary. ‘Fine’ is a boring word and increasingly overused.”
“Indeed.”
He winked at her and threw her rag over his shoulder, as if taunting her.
She didn’t have time for his rubbish today. “I’m taking my break.” Maybe the fifteen minutes would give her enough time to calm down and not murder someone. Specifically, the violet-eyed Kanji.
“One Cravakian ale, please.”
Allie snapped upright. This night just kept getting better and better.
She glared to her left at the wrinkly pile of alien sitting at her bar, utterly unwelcome. “What in the Sam Hell are you doing here?” she barked.
Virgil, the snitch, attempted a smile, his lips lifting up at one corner. He raised a hand and placed it on top of the bar. “I wanted to get a drink at my favorite place before I head home to the dragoness.”
His favorite place. What a joke. “Get out.”
“No can do.”
Was every male going to test her patience tonight? Her gaze flicked to Bastian, but he was ignoring her. What a lout. He wasn’t going to throw Virgil out. “Traitor,” she muttered. Resigned, she quickly poured his ale and slammed the glass onto the bar, before spinning on a heel. Never let it be said that she was an unprofessional mixologist.
Before she could escape, he reached out and grabbed her hand. Allie froze and glared at him, and then at the hand curled around her wrist. “Don’t. Touch. Me.”
Sebastian materialized by her side. “Is there a problem here? I suggest you let the lady go.”
“There’s no problem,” Virgil drawled slowly. He released her and pulled his hand back. “I wanted to have a word with Allie.”
“It seems the lady doesn’t want to talk to you.”
Virgil, again, gave his version of a smile. “I’m not going anywhere until I’ve had my say.” He chuckled. “Had my say to Ms. Sai.”
“How clever.” Allie rolled her eyes. “I’m not doing this with you.” She glanced at her boss. “Bastian, please take care of this tonight,” she said, bustling down to the other side of the bar.
She didn’t have time for Virgil’s games tonight. The Kiss had been slammed since she’d gotten back from her break. There were so many people ordering that she’d rushed a few times and already broken three glasses. It was a lucky thing she hadn’t poisoned someone yet. Poison. Her gaze flicked to Virgil, who slowly nursed his Cravakian ale, wishing he would just go.
One hour passed, and then another, and he didn’t move. Heck, it didn’t even look like he was breathing. Her nose wrinkled as she wiped down the bar again. Where was his nose? How did he even breathe? She’d never asked him that. Allie shook her head. It would bug her until she looked it up. Thoughts for another time.
Two more hours and her shift ended. He was still there. Chances were that if she didn’t have the conversation here, he’d follow her home. At least here, she had allies to boot the old alien.
Allie glided over to Virgil. He didn’t look at her. She cleared her throat to get his attention. “What do you want?”
“What I want and what you need are two very different things.”
Her forehead scrunched up. “That was a strangely cryptic answer. I haven’t a clue what that means, but whatever you need, ask so I can go home and have some peace and quiet. I’m tired.”
He stared at her with his beady little eyes, his expression keener than she’d have liked. “You don’t look so well, Allie,” he whispered softly. “You haven’t been sleeping.”
Not a question, a statement. She glanced away. “I’ve been sleeping some.” Some equated to almost none. Every time she fell asleep, nightmares plagued her. Waking brought confusion and the taste of blood in her mouth. “I’m okay.”
“That’s good, because I need you to come with me.”
Allie’s breath sped up. They’d finally come for her.
“We feel we waited long enough, and we need to have this conversation.”
“I told you I will never go back there again,” she growled. “I did my part. I did what you needed.”
&nb
sp; “Allie, we need to debrief you. It’s important for your health.”
“Sure.”
His eyes searched her face. “So, you’re going to be difficult.” He sighed. “I would prefer it if you came willingly.”
She chuckled, the sound hollow. And there it was. The blanketed threat. “Of course, you would resort to more threats and blackmail. I’m not sure why I’m surprised. Y’all keep getting better and better.”
Allie thought of a million ways to escape, but they’d catch her. And if she didn’t go in today, then it would be tomorrow, or the day after that. She couldn’t get out of this. Might as well get it done quick.
She wasn’t ready to go back into the viper’s nest, but sometimes you had to do things you didn’t want to do. That was just life. And life sucked.
Allie tucked her blond hair up into a messy bun on the top of her head and glanced over to Sebastian, who was clearly listening in on the conversation. “I need to go.”
He set the tumbler down and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Do you need company?”
“I don’t want to involve you.”
“I’m already involved.”
“This will be quick.” She let him pull her into a hug. “Can you pick me up?” She didn’t know what exactly they wanted from her, but it wouldn’t be pleasant.
“Sid and I will come get you. Whenever you need us.” What he really meant is if she needed out, they’d break in and get her out.
She squeezed him and stepped back, giving him a tight-lipped smile. “See you soon.” Allie turned her attention to her temporary jailer, her gaze going cold. “By all means, lead on.”
7
Friends or Foes
“You’re thumping.”
Allie pulled her gaze from the window and looked to Virgil’s beady little eyes, which were focused on her knee. Her jiggling knee. It was a terrible habit, but she found no matter what she did, she couldn’t break it.
She stilled and focused on her peep-toe heels. Maybe if she stared at them hard enough, some of the anxiety would dissipate. The hover swerved, and she grabbed onto her knees, her fingers biting into the skin. Stars above, she hated flying.
“What’s wrong with you? I can smell your fear from here.”
She scowled. “I hate flying. I can’t help it, and when I get anxious, I get twitchy.” That was only part of the truth. As if pulled by a magnet, her gaze moved to the window and to all the dead space between the hover and the ground far below. A glutton for punishment, that’s what she was.
“Why do you keep staring if you’re afraid?”
“I want to know how far I have to fall if something bad happens up here.”
“That’s morbid.”
“You have no idea.” The sensation of falling slammed into her, and she braced a hand against the cool glass of the window, her breaths coming in pants. By sheer force of will, Allie pried her gaze from the drop to the buildings that flashed past in neon lights, shiny metal, and shimmering glass.
Since she’d arrived on Sars, her anxiety of flying had waned some, which was a blessed relief. It irritated her that it had come back with such a roaring vengeance on tonight of all nights. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t just flying to blame.
Her stomach bottomed out as a familiar building came into view, all sleek lines and reflective glass. The Lock headquarters. That was the root of her fear. Going back to the lab. Seeing everyone again. Then, there was Blade… She set her jaw. He didn’t matter. She'd get in, tell them what they wanted to hear, and get out.
The glass wavered, and their hovercraft glided through the sparkling wall. She experienced a sense of awe every time it happened.
“You’ve seen the wall before.”
Allie rolled her eyes. “Yes, but it’s still fascinating.”
Virgil grinned. “You females, you like anything that sparkles.”
She shrugged. He wasn’t far from the truth. Her family had considered her part crow, because of all the shiny baubles she picked up.
The hover slowed and shut down, the soft whirl of the engine falling silent. She inhaled deeply and tried to think past the pulse that thundered in her ears. She could do this. One hour and then she was done with this mess.
Virgil heaved himself out of his chair with a groan and pressed his hand to the hover wall. “I’m getting too old for this.” He negated his comment by jumping through the opening door like a blasted jack rabbit. He then held his hand out for her.
Allie ignored his hand and jumped out herself, tottering on her heels. She straightened and ignored the older alien shaking his head at her.
“Always gotta be difficult.”
She didn’t consider herself difficult, but for the people who’d betrayed her? She’d be a thorn in their side. Plus, there was his skin to take into account. The texture was rough and yet, somehow held a doughy consistency. It was so alien and off-putting.
Her eyes skimmed over to the reflective glass, and she winced at her reflection. She looked a wreck. Tendrils of her blond hair hung around her gaunt, pale face. The bruised smudges beneath her blue eyes caused them to look dull and tired. It looked as if someone had sucked the life from her.
“Do you remember the first time you came here?”
She blinked and pulled herself from her horrid visage. “I had no clue these were two-way mirrors.”
Virgil sniggered. “We all watched you bicker with Coal and then try to fix yourself up.”
She rolled her eyes, and the corner of her mouth quirked up at the corner. “That was mortifying,” she said dryly. “Thank you for reminding me.”
“You can’t hide that smile from me, Allie Sai.”
She wiped all expression from her face. She couldn’t allow herself to get sucked back in. These people were trained to manipulate emotions.
Virgil raised a lumpy eyebrow at her. “There’s no need to be so serious.”
She chuckled. She’d been given every reason.
“What’s so funny?”
Allie scowled at him. “It’s none of your damn business.”
He whistled and shrugged one shoulder, choosing for once to stay silent, before striding forward through the doors.
Allie followed him at a much more sedate pace and glanced around the huge warehouse. A sense of home settled over her like a blanket. She rubbed at her arms to get rid of the feeling. This place wasn’t home. The people here weren’t her friends.
The warehouse was surprisingly empty, except for Eve and Zune. Eve’s purple-haired head popped up from the leaves she was inspecting. She glanced at Allie, her lilac eyes widening behind her black glasses, and smiled, lifting her hand in a small wave. Allie didn’t have it inside her to ignore the Av woman. Eve had been nothing but kind to her. Perhaps Eve had been innocent in everything, too? The idea was naïve, but she clung to it anyway.
She lifted a hand in a weak greeting and then glanced at Zune. The Kiterran man smiled at her and lifted his chin. Part of her nerves melted away at the kind expression on his face. Was it possible to fake true affection? Allie didn’t think so. Maybe everything wasn’t fake. Her steps paused as she stared at her former partners, curiosity worming its way into her mind. What were they working on today?
“You coming?” Virgil asked.
She glanced back at the annoying alien and forced herself toward him and through the open doors. “Am I not allowed to greet my friends?”
“I didn’t know you still had friends here.”
His blasé comment shouldn’t have hurt, but it did.
“Apparently not.”
He grunted and placed his hand on the wall, the door sliding shut without a sound. She gazed at the door, another fissure of fear souring her stomach. If the door required special access to get open, how would she get out?
Allie squeaked when the dark hallway lit up, bright lights flashing above. The lights led down the hall and then turned to the right, illuminating the path. “How does it know which way we’re going?”
<
br /> “That’s classified.”
“But of course,” she grumped.
“As is the work of Eve and Zune.”
The message was heard loud and clear. She wasn’t part of the team any longer, so she didn’t have access to anything they were doing.
“Naturally,” she drawled. What was her problem? Why was she letting Virgil get to her? The old coot was trying to rile her up, and she was letting him. When she used the rational part of her brain, what he said made sense. From the beginning, she’d wanted her freedom. Now that she’d done what they needed, her part was done. She didn’t belong here. She wasn’t a spy, a soldier, or a scientist. She was a mixologist. Allie drew herself up taller. And a darn good one at that.
She picked up her pace as Virgil strode down the hallway. For a shorter alien, he sure had a fast gait. Every one of his steps was two of hers. They turned the corner and continued down another hallway that looked exactly the same, a smooth white wall that rounded into the ceiling with no doors. He turned left, and Allie started to jog. Goodness, at this rate, she’d start sweating like a pig or break one of her ankles.
They wound through a few more hallways and her anxiety picked up. She’d been counting the turns, left, left, right, left, right, right, or was it left? Biting her lips, she tried to ground herself and squashed the crazy images that her mind was inventing. They weren’t going to kill her. They needed her.
She almost shouted a hallelujah when Virgil stopped and slapped a hand against the wall. A soft pink light formed a tall arch on the wall, and then that section of the wall disappeared completely.
“They’re in here.”
Allie glanced over her shoulder and considered sprinting back down the hallway. Even if she managed to get her shoes off, there wasn’t anywhere to go. She didn’t have access to anything and there were no rooms to hide in. Well, none visible to her Human eyes.
Pulling in a deep breath, she turned back to Virgil and smoothed her hair.
“You look fine.”
