by Cheree Alsop
“Coward,” Liora said, keeping her tone light.
He nodded. “Ocean depths aren’t my favorite thing. I’m not sure visiting Cree was my best thought-out plan.”
“Malie’s happy you’re here.”
That brought a smile to Brandis’ face. “Yes. It’s worth it for that, for sure. I’d do anything for her.” He glanced behind him. “In fact, I promised her I’d let her show me around Ries. That’s why I’m here. I wanted to invite you to come along.”
There was a hint of question in his voice that made Liora truly want to smile. He longed for time alone with the girl who was stealing his heart, and with the huge family she had, they didn’t get much of it. Liora wouldn’t be the one to stand in their way.
“Thank you for thinking of me, but I think I need a bit of silence away from the chaos. You can let me know what I should see later.”
There was relief and gratitude in Brandis’ eyes when he said, “Alright, but be safe.” He crossed to the door, then paused. “Malie said the Rielocks, her word for those who live in the deeper, rougher parts of the city, tend to not be friendly toward outsiders. She recommended staying close to the upper branches, which is I guess where we are.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Liora promised.
Her brother left through the door. Liora called out, “Have a good time.” The words surprised her. She truly wanted him to enjoy his day with Malie. She was a kind, good-hearted young woman who brought out the best in her brother. Liora hadn’t seen him smile so much in all the time she had known him. Malie was good for Brandis. Liora liked seeing him happy.
“I will!” Brandis called back to her.
The door slid shut and the hint of a smile ghosted on Liora’s lips for a moment before it vanished.
The feeling returned, the sensation of emptiness and of the pain that inevitably followed. She knew the knife was there on the flat couch below the window. She didn’t have to turn to know that the purple gem glinted as it reflected the water outside. It was bright enough to illuminate the entire room, and she knew without looking that the gem would be glowing with its captured light.
She had to escape. Liora put the breather to her nose and mouth, took several breaths, and slammed her hand against the release near the window.
She expected water to flow inside like it had in the hangar, but it stayed as though kept back by the glass that was no longer there. She put her hand to it. The water formed around her fingers and then wrist when they cleared the line of the room. She could feel the slight chill of the water beyond, but when she pulled her hand back, it returned perfectly dry.
“I’m getting further and further from understanding this place,” Liora muttered to herself. She adjusted the breather over her mouth and nose. “Here goes nothing,” she said, her voice muffled. She ducked her head and dove out the window.
The embrace of the cool water was startling. Liora sucked in several panicked breaths as she fought to find her equilibrium. She managed to right herself with the realization that she was struggling too hard to swim. It wasn’t like the thick water of Gliese where she had to fight just to move anywhere. On Cree, she would move if she gently propelled herself with her arms and legs. The movements turned her from side to side and up and down.
By the time she felt comfortable, she also realized she had been utilizing the breather without any problems. At least she had cleared two obstacles with only the panic of one.
Liora took a long pull through the breather to center herself. There was something calming about the press of the water against her ears. It blocked out the majority of sound. Only certain pitches cut through the luminescent liquid. The effect was numbing. One of the reasons she had been anxious to swim was to escape the cacophony of noise that made up the Creetian city. The coral buildings and stretching reef were filled with children running around and huge family groups roaming the halls and the water outside intent on unknown destinations. Every person Liora passed gawked at her. Apparently strangers were a rare sight among the orange buildings.
Liora drifted down, away from the coral, from Malie’s enthusiastic, screechy family, and away from Brandis with Malie. She had nothing against them as a couple; in fact, it made her happy to see the smile that never left Brandis’ face and the looks of affection Malie gave him when she thought no one was looking. It was just that seeing them holding hands reminded her of a hand she would never hold again. It was too soon to see such affection when everything she had taken for granted in her life had just been completely shattered.
As Liora swam, her tears mixed with the salty water of Cree’s ocean. Each thing she saw reminded her of Tariq. The brush of black seaweed waving back and forth beneath her was his tangle of hair that was always unkempt and hanging in his eyes in the way that made her long to push it back and kiss his brow. A massive, flat fish swimming by had radiant blue scales the exact color Tariq’s eyes had been when he teased her about something. She ducked into the lower caverns of the reef city and from the corner of her eye saw a form push away from a wall and duck out of sight.
It was impossible not to imagine how amazing it would be for Tariq to step out of the darkness and wrap her in his arms. The longing in her heart for that to happen battled the truth. She had seen him die. There was no rumor that he had been killed, no Cherum telling her that his body had been found frozen in space.
She had seen him with her own eyes as the bomb exploded and took his life. There was no doubt, and there was no chance that he would casually walk back into her life as though he had never left. He was her best friend, her love, and now he belonged to the aching hole in her heart that throbbed angrily with raw loss and reminded her with every beat that she would never be whole again.
She saw another form move out of the corner of her eye. Liora turned. This time, instead of ducking out of sight, three Creetian men swam toward her.
Liora’s senses thrummed. She had left the knives in her room above. She hadn’t been thinking clearly at the time; stupid decisions were easy to regret after the realization hits of how severe the consequences could be.
Liora had never fought in the water of Cree before. Her movements felt sluggish when she took what she intended to be a fighting stance, but as she drifted slowly down, she realized she had also never fought a battle that could take place from every angle.
The men separated. One swam slowly toward her front while the one on her right lowered to come up from beneath her. The last one, a Creetian bigger than any Liora had seen before, swam around to her high left. She pushed backwards to keep them all in view, but their mocking smiles made light of her attempts.
“What is this?” one of the men asked in the Tanli language. His gills sucked in the water and when he spoke, bubbles escaped his mouth.
Liora was surprised at how clearly she could understand his voice in the water.
“I’ve never seen a Staruck like her before,” the second answered. He had bright red hair that trailed in the water as he swam.
“She should know better than to visit these parts,” the third said with a deep chuckle.
“Perhaps it’s our job to teach her.”
The first swam around her, keeping just out of reach. He looked her up and down like a slaver from Pion Seven judging the quality of the item he wished to purchase.
Liora felt a hand run through her hair. She swung, but the Creetian backed away before she could reach him.
“She’s feisty,” he said, his blue-scaled lips turning up in an approving smile. “I’ve never seen a Staruck look like her. This could be fun.”
Liora wanted to warn them to leave her alone, but she couldn’t speak with the breather over her mouth and nose. She shook her head and glared at them, her hands held ready in case they tried anything.
“First one to catch her gets dibs,” the red-haired one said.
Hands closed in on her from all sides.
Liora kicked out and caught the one below her on the back of the head, but the w
ater impeded her efforts so that the effect was merely a rougher grab from his scaled hands.
Liora swung an elbow up, but the red-haired Creetian ducked it easily and pinned her arms to her sides. The first Creetian grabbed her hair and yanked her head back.
“Let’s see if this Staruck’s lips taste as good as they look,” he said.
He leaned forward and she smashed her forehead into his nose.
The Creetian reared back and cupped his nose with both of his hands. Blood blossomed between his fingers, tinting the water in trailing tendrils of the blue liquid.
Both of the other Creetians burst into laughter. The one who held her arms pinned kept his head carefully out of her reach.
“This little beauty got the better of you,” the third said with another deep chuckle.
“She can only fight if she can breathe,” the first growled.
He grabbed the breather from her mouth and yanked it free.
At her wide-eyed look, he grinned. The effect was ugly through his smashed lips. “Think you’re clever now, little Staruck? We can do whatever we want with you when your breath’s run out. You won’t be able to do anything about it.”
He let the breather slip through his fingers. Liora watched it drop through the water to the ocean floor far below.
Panic filled her mind. His action had taken her completely by surprise. She only had a little air left in her lungs from slamming her head into his nose. The pressure of needing to draw in a breath made her head pound.
“That’s it,” the first said, watching her closely. “You don’t have any options now, do you? Just give up.”
The big Creetian swam up beside him to watch. “Her face is going red. Pretty little thing looks cute when she’s drowning,” he said. “She doesn’t have too long.”
“Good thing,” the one with red hair replied. He glanced up at the building stalks far above them. “We don’t want anyone to come looking for her.”
“When we’re done, we’ll make sure she’s somewhere nobody will ever find her,” the first answered.
Liora’s head pounded. The last vestiges of breath escaped her lungs despite her struggling against it.
“Take a breath,” the first offered. “The water’s nice.”
The big Creetian grinned. “Yeah, real nice.”
Liora shook her head. The need to breathe was becoming a demand she couldn’t deny. Her lungs spasmed, fighting to draw in breath.
Go ahead and breathe, the dark, taunting voice said. Give up, darling. It’ll be easier that way.
Liora’s eyes widened. She struggled against the arms that held her, but his grip was iron compared to the way her body moved so clumsily in the water. Her mouth opened and though she fought against it, she sucked in the water.
“Easy,” the first Creetian said as her body protested the liquid.
Liora’s lungs burned and she struggled, but there wasn’t any oxygen to be had. She could feel her mind shutting down. Her limbs slowed, then stopped responding to her demands to fight back altogether. Her head lulled back and her eyes closed. She felt the pounding of her head soften as though her thoughts were wrapped in a blanket. She gave one last, puny push of her arms, and then her thoughts darkened entirely.
Breathe.
I can’t, Liora replied.
Breathe, the voice said again. It was a voice Liora recognized, soft and calming as though someone pushed a sense of peace toward her. The silver-haired woman.
I can’t, she said. She felt the Creetians pulled her down toward the ocean depths.
Keep your mouth closed and breathe, the woman spoke again.
The words made no sense, but Liora no longer had the ability to point that out. She felt the last of what made her who she was slipping away from the body she had called her own.
Give up, darling. It’s much easier that way, the dark voice said.
Never give up, the woman replied.
Though it didn’t make any sense at all, if there was a chance, no matter what in the Macrocosm it could possibly be, Liora wasn’t about to let the dark voice win. She pooled whatever life she had left in the still vessel that was her body and closed her mouth. With the last vestige of a heartbeat, Liora breathed in.
Slits opened on the sides of her throat and oxygen filled her lungs.
Liora’s eyes flew open and she took another breath. She flung her arms to each side, breaking the hold the red-haired Creetian had on her. She met the wide eyes of the other two.
“What is she?” the big Creetian asked his companion. Terror filled his gaze.
“I have no idea,” the first said, swimming backwards in the water. “We need to get out of here.”
The red-haired Creetian followed his friends. They swam quickly away through the long, reaching tendrils of moss that grew like a forest from the ocean floor.
Liora saw something catch in the light of the water. She swam lower; it felt easier to move through the liquid, though she couldn’t say why. She reached down through the moss toward the breather and when she lifted it up, she stared at her hand.
Purple webbing filled the space between her fingers. It was dark, almost black, and made a startling contrast to her pale skin. She turned her hand over and stared at the way it pulled through the water.
With shaking fingers, Liora lifted her hand to the side of her neck. Her fingers found the gills that had not been there before. They opened and closed with each breath, filtering the oxygen from the water and filling her lungs just as smoothly as if she breathed in the air above.
Liora didn’t know what was happening to her. In a purely reflexive action, she put the breather over her nose and mouth. She drew in a breath and felt her neck tighten. A touch to her skin revealed that the gills that had been there just a moment before were gone. She lifted her hand and watched the webbing decrease between her fingers until it was merely a purple line, then nothing. She looked from her hand to the forms of the Creetians slipping away through the reef.
“What am I?” she asked aloud and to the voices in her head.
The only sound that answered was the beating of her heart.
About the Author
Cheree Alsop is an award-winning, best-selling author who has published over 30 books, including two series through Stonehouse Ink. She is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her by reading the first drafts and giving much appreciated critiques. Cheree works as a fulltime author and mother, which is more play than work! She enjoys reading, traveling to tropical beaches, spending time with her wonderful children, and going on family adventures while planning her next book.
Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great quests, and never stop dreaming.
You can find Cheree’s other books at www.chereealsop.com
Find Girl from the Stars Book 5- Day’s Hunt wherever books are sold.
If you enjoyed this book, please review it so that others will be able to share in the adventure!
To be added to Cheree’s email list for notification of book releases, please send her an email to [email protected]
REVIEWS
The Werewolf Academy Series
If you love werewolves, paranormal, and looking for a book like House of Night or Vampire Academy this is it! YA for sure.
—Reviewer for Sweets Books
I got this book from a giveaway, and it's one of the coolest books I have ever read. If you love Hogwarts, and Vampire Academy, or basically anything that has got to do with supernatural people studying, this is the book for you.
—Maryam Dinzly
This series is truly a work of art, sucked in immediately and permanently. The first line and you are in the book. Cheree Alsop is a gifted writer, all of her books are my complete favorites!! This series has to be my absolute favorite, Alex is truly
a wonderful character who I so wish was real so I can meet him and thank him. Once you pick this book up you won't put it down till it's finished. A must read!!!!!
—BookWolf Brianna
Listed with Silver Moon as the top most emotional of Cheree's books, I loved Instinct for its raw truth about the pain, the heartbreak, and the guilt that Alex fights.
—Loren Weaver
Great story. Loaded with adventure at every turn. Can't wait till the next book. Very enjoyable, light reading. I would recommend to all young and old readers.
—Sharon Klein
The Silver Series
“Cheree Alsop has written Silver for the YA reader who enjoys both werewolves and coming-of-age tales. Although I don’t fall into this demographic, I still found it an entertaining read on a long plane trip! The author has put a great deal of thought into balancing a tale that could apply to any teen (death of a parent, new school, trying to find one’s place in the world) with the added spice of a youngster dealing with being exceptionally different from those around him, and knowing that puts him in danger.”
—Robin Hobb, author of the Farseer Trilogy
“I honestly am amazed this isn’t absolutely EVERYWHERE! Amazing book. Could NOT put it down! After reading this book, I purchased the entire series!”
—Josephine, Amazon Reviewer
“A page-turner that kept me wide awake and wanting more. Great characters, well written, tenderly developed, and thrilling. I loved this book, and you will too.”
—Valerie McGilvrey
