He'd considered resigning himself to life on Sempervia. Leaving humanity to its own devices.
How pathetic.
He would go back if it cost him every vestige of strength and make humanity pay for what they'd done.
He would kill every last one.
Every ghost.
Every human.
All of them. Every. Single. One.
Fury activated pheromones he'd long suppressed.
He loosed them.
The moon darkened behind a cloud of insects.
A torrent of nesting birds roused and beat the sky with terrified wings.
Pietas threw back his head, flung out his arms and poured forth a silent howl of empathic rage.
Chapter Twenty-four
Waking cold through and through, his clothes wet with dew, Pietas struggled to his feet. He dug his toes into the soft loam, getting his balance. Since his imprisonment, he'd awakened every morning in pain and today was worse than usual. He hid it as best he could, so as not to worry Six. The ghost would feel guilty and what could he do? Nothing. Perhaps pain would be an eternal companion.
Another thing for which to repay humans.
The emotional turmoil of the previous night left him drained, his stomach raw. He brushed off the dew and gathered his bearings. Despite the hours of walking, he'd traveled in circles. The camp was less than an hour away.
The pheromones couldn't be felt that far away, nor could his howl. Animals might react, but humans were not aware of such things. Ultras however, suffered when their own kind felt pain. Even a perceived threat infuriated. It was one reason they banded together and protected each other with such ferocity.
Hurt one. Hurt all.
At least, those loyal to one another did.
He began the trek back to camp. The cool morning air refreshed and he picked up the pace. They'd wrapped cooked fish in plate-sized leaves of a tree growing by the stream. He wanted every bite. As hungry as he was, it would be hard to share, but he would ensure Six ate first.
He had been unable to control his abilities and had to leave in order to protect Six. How wretched must he have looked? He would have to apologize to the human. Again. How depressing.
He jammed fingers against his brow. This need to say he was sorry was becoming a bad habit.
Humanity would pay for its folly, but Pietas would temper it with lessons he'd learned from Six.
How frustrating that once he found his people, he would have to admit his father was right. He had learned to depend on the mercy of a human. He even liked one.
The mighty had indeed fallen.
Pietas felt rather than heard its growl in the same second the cat appeared. A flush of adrenaline slowed perception of time, enabling him to react. All his Ultra senses kicked in.
The cat evinced no fear and no menace. It padded toward him, one stealthy step at a time, its head low, small rounded ears back.
Seeing it up close sent chills racing over Pietas.
The creature's black fur held a ghosting of spots, dark against dark. Bigger than he'd expected. It weighed as much as him. If it stood on hind legs, it would top him in height.
The cat growled, the sound more rumble than screech.
Casting forth Chaos and Compulsion, Pietas willed it back.
It halted, shook its head and then blinked.
Pietas brought up his hands, keeping them close to his body, palms out. He sent out more Compulsion and got back the last thing he expected: a message.
Once delivered, the cat turned, took a few steps away and after casting Pietas a final glance, trotted off into the forest.
Pietas turned in a quick circle, ensuring no other cats lingered in the vicinity. He blew out a harsh breath and scrubbed both hands over his face.
An eddy of emotions wafted to him like smoke on the wind. Close behind it, soft voices drifted to him and he stiffened. Taking no chances, he hid behind a tree.
Two women came into view, a demure blond goddess almost his height and a short brunette troublemaker he knew all too well. Before he stepped out from behind the tree, he ensured they weren't carrying weapons.
He revealed himself and both women grabbed for guns they no longer carried.
Grinning, Pietas held out his arms.
Joss broke into a huge smile. "Pietas!"
"Tas!" Dessy ran and jumped into his arms, legs wrapped around his waist.
He managed not to stagger. That Dessy, who was far smaller, could almost knock him over showed Pietas how weak he still was. He slid her down his body, and holding onto her, rocked her side to side. He joined with her in the way they'd shared since infants. They needed no words.
For all that she'd hurt him, he loved her.
Dessy hugged him and hand-kissed his face. "I missed you!"
He hand-kissed her back. "I missed you too."
"Pietas." Joss threw her arms around Pietas and kissed him full on the mouth. "I thought I'd never see you again." She backed away and slid her hands up and down his arms. "You're thin. Are you all right? Where did you get these clothes? Where's your uniform? Why weren't you with us?"
"Long story." He touched her cheek and then cupped both hands around her face and kissed her. He drew her close and opened his arms to Dessy. "Where is everyone?"
"The release site's a night's travel from here." Joss pointed.
"How did you find me?"
Dessy squeezed him tighter. "We felt your howl."
"So you were out hunting?"
"It was the middle of the night."
"What? Are you saying you felt it from that far away?"
"It woke us all up." Joss hand-kissed him. "Even across a mountain range. I think the whole world felt that. Are you all right?"
Heat flushed his cheeks.
Dessy leaned against his chest. "Don't try to explain. We felt what you felt."
"Pietas?" Joss looked into his eyes, the concern she evinced a stroke for his ego. "I'm so glad we found you."
"Did you see the cat?"
"What cat?" Joss glanced around.
"Never mind." He hugged Dessy and kissed her brow. "How is Mother?"
"She can't wait for us to bring you back."
"And Father?"
Her mouth twisted, but she said nothing.
Just like old times. "Are they well?"
"Fine, but you know Father. He's never happy. All he wanted was peace and now that we're here, he's complaining because there's no one to argue with. Pietas, he was worried when you weren't with the rest of us."
"I'm sure." He changed the subject. "Are our people safe? How well did they revert out of stasis?"
"They're all still in stasis."
"What? Why?"
"Because we can't release them individually. It's all or nothing." Dessy squeezed him. "Never mind that for now. That's for later. Where have you been? Why weren't you with us?"
"I'll explain after I make sure--" An empathic shriek of pain took his breath.
Dessy and Joss both flinched.
"Six!" Pietas broke into a run. On the outskirts of his and Six's campsite, he halted.
Two male members of the council crouched over Six. They had staked him face up, spread-eagled between them.
"Release him at once!" Pietas stepped into sight.
Identical twins and built like eight-feet-tall gods of war, Armand and Philippe rose in unison.
"Pietas!" Armand strode toward him. "We thought--"
"--you were dead," Philippe finished.
He accepted Armand's fierce hug, but sidestepped out of his reach and went to where Philippe guarded Six. "Release this man. Now!"
Philippe stooped and unfastened the bonds at Six's ankles and then wrists.
The ghost sat up. He'd taken a beating, but was already healing.
Pietas went down on one knee beside him. "Are you all right?"
"I'll live, no thanks to the Giant Twins." Six rubbed his jaw. "Never thought of you as short before."
He help
ed Six up. "Among my people, seven feet is average."
The ghost looked up and around at the taller Ultras surrounding them.
Dessy, who didn't top him in height, came right up to him. "He's human!" The sneer in her voice matched her expression.
Pietas put himself between them. "Yes, he is."
"Do you know this creature?"
"He--"
"What's he doing here? Is he your prisoner? Are there more of them? Does he have a way to reach the ship? Can he contact them?"
"Dessy. One thing at a time. He was marooned with me. He's alone. He doesn't have a way back, or any way to contact the vessel. And far from being my prisoner, he's my friend."
"He's your-- Your--" Dessy shook her head. "Okay. You're friends...with a human? Oh, Pietas!" She touched his face. "What did they do to you? I knew you didn't look well. What did they do to my brother?"
"Stop it, Dess. I'm fine! There's a story to tell, but first, I want to introduce everyone." He took her hand in his. "Six, this is my sister, Councilwoman Dessy ap Lorectic. She's my second-in-command and though we don't look alike, my twin." Pietas stroked Dessy's dark hair and smiled at her and then moved to the blonde beside her. "This is Councilwoman Joss Avaton."
She gave a regal nod toward Six.
He stood between the twins. "This is Councilman Armand Mgraute and Councilman Philippe Mgraute, both of whom you've--" he coughed "--met." Pietas went to Six's side. "Everyone, this is Six."
Six lifted a hand in greeting.
None of the Ultras moved.
"Yes, he's human." Pietas gestured to the others. "That doesn't mean you can't say hello."
"Six." Dessy gave the ghost a polite but indifferent smile. "Is that a nickname?"
"No, ma'am." He bowed to Dessy. "It's what Pi calls me."
"Who?"
"Pi, like the number. Your brother."
Dessy swung her head toward Pietas, mouth open. "You let him call you Pi?"
"It's not so much 'let him' as it is 'can't stop him.' He's--" Pietas made a helpless gesture "--stubborn. You'll see when you get to know him."
Armand, Philippe and Joss all looked at Six with respect.
Dessy faced the ghost. "All right then. What is your real name?"
"Six will do, ma'am."
Pietas interrupted her before she could speak. "Dessy, save it. He won't give us his name."
"Why not?"
"He thinks when I get off this planet, I'll kill his family."
She came to attention like a bow snapping. "Pietas! Why? What did he do to earn a blood vengeance?"
"I've long since forgiven the debt and I trust him. I think he trusts me, but the rest of you? Not yet."
His sister wasn't giving up that easily. "What was the debt?"
Before he could answer, Six did. "I'm the reason you ended up in exile."
So much for breaking it to them himself.
Joss took Dessy's arm and whispered to her.
She shook her head. "I don't know. What does he mean, Tas? Why is he the reason we're here?"
"He is not the reason. We're here because humans feared us and we grew too powerful for their liking. We're here because other Ultras betrayed us."
The twins alerted to that news like hunting dogs picking up a scent.
"More about that later." Pietas held up a hand. "What Six is referring to is that I refused to enter the stasis tubes, and--"
"Pietas!" His sister braced her hands on her hips. "The council agreed to surrender. Why didn't you do what we agreed to do?"
"I do not answer to you. I knew they'd send in someone to force me and I intended to fight my way out and free us. Instead, they sent in a team of ghosts."
"I hate--" Armand began.
"--ghosts!" Philippe finished.
"But why couldn't--" Armand started.
"--you beat them?" Philippe asked.
"I'll tell you the whole story another time, but it ends with me surrendering to Six."
"Wait." Dessy gestured to Six. "Are you saying he's a ghost? You surrendered to him?" His sister pointed at Six. "He's not much bigger than me! Why would you give in to him? He doesn't look like much."
"Excuse me?" Six started forward, but Pietas took his arm and turned him aside.
"Ghost," he whispered, "what are you doing?"
"She can't talk to me that way!"
Pietas walked him further away, out of earshot. "She can and she will. Do you know why?"
Six glared at him. "Why?"
"Three reasons. Number one, because she's my sister. Number two, because she's my sister. Number three-- Do I need to say it?"
Six gave him a sheepish smile. "Because she's your sister?"
"Thank you."
"Sorry."
"Not to mention she could take you apart one-handed and then eat you for dinner. If I want a good fight, I spar with Dessy." He jabbed a finger at the ground. "Our deal was I protect you, remember?"
"Yeah."
"You were right. They will try to kill you and Dessy is the main person you need protection from. So how about you shut up and let me do that? Do not make it worse."
"Okay."
"Listen, Six, last night I needed time to think. Work out what I'd heard. I didn't want to hurt you. I would never have forgiven myself if I'd hurt you when I was angry at things beyond your control. You never lied to me and I respect that."
"Thank you." Head down, he bit his lip, dragging the toe of one boot through the dirt. "I know hearing that was painful and I'm sorry for my part in it." He looked up. "All of it."
Pietas and Six clasped each other's forearms.
"Warrior to warrior, Six. You are more than a friend. You are a brother. I would fight at your side no matter who we faced."
"I said once I'd never be one of your soldiers. Back then, I didn't know you. I've been your man for a long time. I'd follow you anywhere."
The pride soaring in his heart sent a smile to his face Pietas could not hide. He gripped Six's arm tighter and bent to touch brow to brow in respect. "Good." He straightened, shoulders back. "Now don't say another word. Let me talk to my sister. Don't get into it with her. I promise you won't win. She uses Chaos almost as well as I do. Remember, personal chaos makes one prey."
"I thought you didn't hold with religion."
"Not supplication pray. Victim prey."
"Oh." Six glanced over at Dessy, back at Pietas. "Gotcha."
"Are we clear? Don't get into it with Dessy."
"Clear."
Pietas returned to the others. "I surrendered and I had good reason. There's more to it than you know, but that's a story for another time."
"Uh huh." Dessy looked the ghost up and down, unimpressed. "I could take him."
"There was no air in the room, Dessy. I killed seven ghosts before I got to Six."
"So why did you surrender?"
"He surrendered," Six told her, "because I threatened to immolate your mother."
"You what!" Dessy again reached for a weapon at her hip. Finding none, she grimaced and balled her fists in a fighter's stance.
The ghost evinced a stab of fear and a healthy dose of regret.
"Six, what did I just tell you?" Pietas stepped between him and the others.
Fury erupted from the Ultras, scorching Pietas with its intensity. Among their people, his father might be tolerated, but Helia was revered.
Gazes locked on Six like sights on a target, the twins separated and flanked them, while Joss took up the middle.
Dessy bared her teeth. "I'm going to eat his heart!"
Chapter Twenty-five
"Stand down!" Caught in the middle, Pietas bore the brunt of their combined emotional reactions. One thing he hadn't missed was the sting of multiple people's emotions. He stayed in front of Six. "Yes, he's a ghost, and yes, he did threaten Helia. He didn't know who she was. Since then, he's become my friend."
Dessy shook herself. "I know I didn't hear that right. Say that again." She lowered her head like a
bull about to charge. "He threatened to set our mother on fire, but he's your friend?"
"Are you challenging me?"
All but Dessy took one step back.
"No!" Joss took Dessy's arm and pulled her back so fast his sister almost tripped. "Right, Dessy? We're not challenging you, Pietas."
Dessy shook off Joss's restraint. "I do so challenge him!"
Joss brought both hands up to her mouth.
As one, the twins stepped even further back.
Pietas narrowed his eyes and turned his attention to Dessy. "The man has earned my respect a hundred times over. You will not question my authority."
"Pietas, you have lost your mind."
Joss flashed a panicked look at the twins and mouthed, "Do something!"
They went to Dessy. "Maybe you should--" Armand began.
"--ask him why--" Philippe added.
"--he's friends with--" Armand continued.
"--the ghost." Philippe finished.
Dessy pulled back, appearing to consider their words.
Joss took her arm and drew her away. They began whispering.
Six nudged Pietas. "I'm sorry. I was trying to help."
"That was not helping! Did I not just tell you not to get into it with her?"
"Sorry."
"Don't tell her anything else. You will get yourself killed."
"Sorry."
Armand and Philippe joined in whatever discussion was going on between the women, each speaking in turn.
"Hey." Six sidled closer. "How do you tell those guys apart?"
"You can't by casual observation. They're identical, except for a mark high up on the inside of Armand's left thigh, but you would only see that if you were..." Pietas lifted one eyebrow.
"Uh... okay." Six turned bright red. "So what's the deal?" He jutted his chin toward them. "Are they clones? Do they always finish each other's sentences?"
"Ultras are created in pairs, so technically, everyone is a twin. Few exceptions. But..." He put his mouth near Six's ear. "Armand and Philippe are older than my father, created during one of the first experiments. Back before we were called Ultras. They're the only survivors. We don't talk about it around them. When our people say 'the twins' they are usually talking about them, or about my sister and me. Remember I said two trusted guards watched our family? That was them." He started to move away, stopped himself. "And no. They don't finish each other's sentences. In fact, who speaks first is the best way to tell one from the other. Philippe finishes Armand's sentences. He never speaks first. Armand never speaks last. Each says the same amount of words. If a sentence has an uneven amount of words, Armand says the most. It's uncanny. I've never figured out how they manage it."
Bringer of Chaos- The Origin of Pietas Page 15
