by S.A. Bodeen
As soon as she was done, she applied a new dressing. “Done.”
Seth sat up and reached for his shirt, his eyes a little watery.
“Here.” Kiva helped him put it on and sat down beside him. “Do you have any idea what we’re in for?”
Seth shook his head.
“You should have more antibiotics, just in case.” She grabbed the bottle of pills, but stared at the syringe.
Seth eyed both. “Is one better than the other?”
“I think…” She held the syringe aloft.
“Do it.”
Kiva unwrapped the syringe and stuck the needle in the bottle of meds.
Seth started to roll up a sleeve.
Kiva gestured at his pants.
He raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
She nodded.
Seth stood up and turned his back to her, hands on the waist of his pants. “Wait. When you say more antibiotics…”
“I’ve seen it all before.” She smiled.
“Well, that’s unsettling.” Seth pushed his pants down enough to display his bare hip.
Kiva pinched a fold of skin and gave him the shot.
He sucked in a breath. “Done?”
“Yes.”
He yanked his pants up. “Okay. We’ve gotta go.” He laced his boots and put the knife back in his sleeve. “You’ve got yours?”
She glanced at the empty bedside table. “I set it there earlier.”
“Get the cat.”
Kiva found Cleo in the bathroom and scooped her up, then walked to the bridge.
Seth stooped beside a prone, sleeping Stirling and ran the flat of his hand down her arms and back. “There we go.” He reached down the back of her dress, pulled out the knife, and handed it to Kiva.
They sat down in their chairs.
Kiva asked, “Are we just going to sit here?”
Seth nodded. “They want us, they can come and get us.”
She studied his profile.
He seemed calm, confident.
She couldn’t stop trembling. “Do you think there’s a chance they won’t come?”
Seth reached over and took her hand without looking at her. “No. Not much.” He sighed. “This was planned. Stirling was a decoy. Got on board and turned off the security.” He told Kiva, “I should have listened. You were right.”
Kiva slumped down in her chair, still petting the cat. She didn’t want to be right. Not this time.
In a deliberate and controlled fashion, the speed of the Tomb decelerated.
“What happens when we reach the ship?” she asked.
“I assume they have a big boarding door that we’ll enter. And then they’ll detach the other shuttle.”
Kiva frowned. “Is the other shuttle still attached to us?”
“For now.” Seth scratched his chin. “I wonder how they got it. Or where.”
The shuttle stopped.
Kiva’s heart pounded.
Seth squeezed her hand. “Let me do the talking.”
She was content to stay out of it. “What do you think they want?”
“Outer door has been breached.”
“Seth.” Her voice trembled.
He leaned closer to her. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”
“Says the guy who had to get saved the last time we went on a strange ship.” But Kiva’s attempt at levity didn’t stop the hammering of her heart or her shaking hands. The cat meowed.
“We’ll watch out for each other?”
Kiva nodded.
A shout came from down the corridor.
Kiva shut her eyes, but a tear slipped out.
Seth held her hand. “I’m here.”
Her eyes opened. Seth’s face was blurry. “Don’t leave me.”
“Never.”
A massive bearded man burst onto the bridge, followed by a wiry one with a pale baby face that made him look far younger than he probably was. Both wore thick, red, plaid shirts and faded blue trousers. The bearded giant yelled, “In here!”
The baby-faced man knelt beside Stirling.
Another similarly dressed man entered, wearing tiny tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses. His receding hairline seemed to slip farther back on his head when he smiled at Kiva. “Well, hello there.”
Seth dropped her hand and stood up. “We don’t want any trouble. You’re welcome to food or medical supplies or whatever you need. But then we ask that you leave.”
The baby-faced one called out, “Stirling won’t wake up.”
Kiva said, “We gave her some medicine.”
Seth pushed his foot against hers and shook his head.
But it was too late.
“The lady speaks.” The man in glasses came closer. “Where are my manners?” He set a hand on his chest. “I’m Gerard. These are my associates. What’s your name?”
Seth stepped between the man and Kiva.
She noticed Seth feeling the cuff of the sleeve that hid his knife. Did he really think he could take on three strangers without getting hurt?
“I’m Kiva.” She pushed past Seth.
“Kiva,” he whispered.
But she was already moving forward. “Like he said, we don’t want any trouble, we—”
But Gerard paid her no attention as he was too busy staring at Cleo. “Is that an actual cat?”
Kiva nodded. “Her name is—”
“Woohoo, boys! You know how happy this will make the witch?” He snatched Cleo from her arms and held the feline aloft.
Kiva reached for her. “No!”
Seth pulled her arm and whispered, “Leave it.”
Kiva gulped.
He was right.
If that’s all it took to get them to leave, then it was a small price to pay. She said, “Please, be careful with her.”
Gerard cradled the cat. “Of course, of course.” He stroked the cat. “I had one of these when I was a little boy.”
The baby-faced man pointed at Stirling. “Want I should carry her out?”
“Leave her, Pascal,” said Gerard. “Not like she’s going anywhere.”
The giant came closer to Gerard, but kept his distance. He seemed wary of the cat. “Those have a pointy end. I remember that well enough.”
“You’re such a baby, Josef.” Gerard tilted his head at Seth. “Escort this one to the ship.”
Seth slipped the knife out of his sleeve.
But Josef was far faster than he looked. With two quick moves, he slapped the knife out of Seth’s hand and pinned both his arms behind him.
“Don’t hurt him!” cried Kiva.
Gerard stroked the cat and smiled. “That’s up to you, my dear. You come with us nicely and your boyfriend here won’t get hurt.”
“Kiva, no!”
Josef smacked Seth on the head.
“Stop!” Kiva held her palms out. “I’ll go. I’ll go.”
Gerard held out his arm, ushering her to the door. “After you.”
Seth lunged and tried to get away, but Josef was too large and too strong. Pascal joined him and they each took one of Seth’s arms.
Kiva followed Gerard into the corridor. Gerard said, “They should have the other shuttle disconnected by now.”
When they reached the airlock, the other shuttle was gone.
Gerard stepped through and Kiva followed.
She gasped.
The ceiling was close to four stories overhead, the walls at least a hundred yards away on all four sides. Her gaze went down to the battered metal floor, dented in spots. The walls, which apparently had started out white, were dingy and dull.
The only comparison she had was the clean and pristine Tomb, but this ship appeared to have seen far better days. Her eyes scanned the people standing around, all in faded clothes like the others, as weary and worn as their ship.
Stirling’s shuttle lay in front of them. Kiva turned around, and other than the letters on the side of the Tomb that spelled Krakatoa, the two were identical. The name on
the other had worn off; only a faint a and o remained.
Perhaps that part of Stirling’s story had been true, the shuttle could have been from the Pinatubo. Probably stolen, though.
“This way.” Gerard led Kiva across the wide space. She snuck a peek behind her.
Josef and Pascal followed, easily restraining a struggling Seth.
Kiva ached to help. She still had her knife. But if she didn’t do as they said, she had the feeling they wouldn’t hesitate to hurt Seth.
Gerard headed up a flight of stairs, then paused at the top. “She’s going to meet us here.”
“Who?” asked Kiva.
“The witch.”
As if taking the inquiry as her cue to enter, the door opened and an extremely tall and sturdy woman with very short platinum hair stepped out, eyes a deep emerald green. She wore a red plaid shirt and faded blue pants, much like the men.
“I have something for you.” Gerard stroked the cat.
If this was the witch Gerard had mentioned, she didn’t seem like any Kiva had ever read about or imagined.
A smile played at the edges of the woman’s lips. She rubbed the cat’s head. “Nice.” The word was accented, her regal voice deep and soothing. She turned her attention back to Kiva. “Another gift?”
Kiva’s heart pounded as she stared into the woman’s eyes. “Why do they call you the witch?”
Gerard stiffened and darted a look at his apparent superior.
The woman raised an eyebrow at him, then gazed down at Kiva. “But surely, my dear, you must know that not all witches are bad.” She cleared her throat. “Introductions, please, Gerard. Or has all decorum completely abandoned us today?”
“Apologies, Glinda. This is Kiva.”
The first name didn’t seem enough, so Kiva added the first thing that came to mind, her mom’s last name. “Kiva Stone.”
Glinda gave Kiva a quick once-over, then tilted her head at Seth. “And the young man?”
“Seth Hawk,” said Kiva.
“So formal. And I thought we were on a first name basis.” Glinda took the cat from Gerard and her sleeve slid up, revealing a thick gold bracelet dotted by a solitary, sparkling green gem. “Leave us.”
“But first.” Gerard pointed beyond Seth. “A third gift.”
Glinda’s eyes narrowed at the Tomb. She shoved the cat back into Gerard’s arms and descended the stairs.
Kiva glanced at Gerard.
He waved his hand.
Kiva rushed down the stairs.
Glinda’s gaze brushed over Seth, but she seemed far more interested in the Tomb as she ran a hand over the name on the side. “You’re from the Krakatoa.”
Gerard called, “Should I alert Rentz?”
Glinda’s green eyes blazed as they raked over all the others standing there. “This is of no concern to Rentz. Everyone clear?”
Heads bowed, and there was some nervous shifting of feet.
Kiva realized every person there was afraid of this woman. Or of what she could do to them. Or have done. Perhaps she was a witch after all.
Glinda asked Seth, “Why are you out here in the middle of nowhere?”
“We need a heat conversion unit for the radioisotope thermoelectric generator.”
Kiva took a few steps closer.
“An HCU? That is no minor repair.” Glinda snapped her fingers and two men at the back departed through a door on the main level. She asked Seth, “And where are you headed?”
“We thought the Vesuvius might have an extra one,” said Seth.
“Of course. Another of Trask’s four pets.” Glinda grabbed Kiva just below the bicep.
Seth lunged, but the two men restrained him.
Her grip tightened so much that Kiva’s eyes watered. Both corners of Glinda’s mouth turned up. “I assume you’d prefer this girl stay alive, yes?”
Seth’s eyes stayed locked on Glinda’s as if in a trance. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
Glinda released Kiva.
Kiva rubbed her arm.
“Oh my. If only all my negotiations went this smoothly. I would own the universe by now.” Glinda sent a glare around the room, as if not pleased with the silence. All the surrounding people, save Kiva and Seth, joined in the laughter. Apparently satisfied, the woman set her hands on her wide hips. “Let him go, boys.” Her eyes narrowed at Seth. “You will behave, I trust?”
Seth nodded.
Josef and Pascal released him.
Seth brushed off his shirt, then straightened his shoulders.
The two men reappeared and set a wooden crate bearing the words space venture at her feet.
“Ah, here’s what you need,” said Glinda.
Kiva stood up straighter. This ship was obviously not one of Trask’s airships, yet it had a Space Venture part. If it was the HCU they needed, did it matter?
Seth’s eyebrows knotted together. “And in return?”
“Well, I’ll send someone along with you. They can help install the new HCU, maybe pick up a few things while they’re on board.”
Kiva watched Seth.
Was he going to agree?
She trusted none of these people, but maybe once they got away, she and Seth could figure out a way to warn the Krakatoa they were on their way.
Seth nodded. “Of course.”
“Good.” Glinda pointed at Pascal. “You go along.”
Kiva wasn’t thrilled about the company, but if it meant they could leave, she wasn’t going to complain.
Glinda smiled at Seth. “You, handsome boy, are free to go.”
Seth exhaled, as if he’d been holding his breath. He reached a hand out. “Kiva, come on.”
Kiva took a step.
Glinda gripped Kiva’s shoulder so hard it hurt. “Was I not clear? It’s the HCU. Or the girl. This isn’t a charity.” She waggled a finger at him. “You can’t have both.”
“No,” said Kiva.
Glinda pretended to wave a fan at her head. “Oh, young love. It makes me misty.”
Seth locked eyes with Kiva.
Even though she was surrounded by strangers, she relaxed.
Seth would choose her. A shame to leave behind the HCU, but they would soon be on their way to find another.
Seth dropped his outstretched arm and mouthed I’m sorry.
Kiva didn’t understand.
Then Seth pointed at the crate. “The HCU.”
“Load it up!” called Gerard.
The two men carried the crate through the airlock and onto the Tomb.
Kiva took a step toward Seth, expecting to be stopped.
“Go.” Glinda waved her on. “Time for farewell.”
Kiva ran to Seth. “You can’t leave without me.”
Seth gripped her shoulders. “Think about everyone on the Krakatoa. We need that HCU.”
“So now I actually am a sacrifice?” Her eyes narrowed and her face burned. “You said you wouldn’t leave me. You said never.”
“You know how important this is.”
“Then you stay. I’ll take it back to the Krakatoa.”
Seth’s hand tightened on her shoulders. “Please, Keeves—”
“Don’t call me that. Don’t ever call me that again.”
Seth crushed her to him and kissed her.
She slapped him.
Glinda laughed as the crowd around them cooed and catcalled.
Kiva shoved Seth away, then wiped her mouth. “I hate you.”
“For now. But I’ll be back.” He winked. “And then we’ll see.”
The men came back out from the Tomb, the HCU left on board.
Angry tears blurred Kiva’s vision and she swiped at them, refusing to shed even one over him. Seth had given up. He hadn’t even fought for her. There had been no negotiations. Glinda had offered and Seth had caved. It had all been so simple—
Kiva sucked in a breath. Too simple. Why would they hand off a perfectly good HCU to strangers?
Gerard called out to a woman behind a console.
“Open the bay doors.”
“Opening,” called the woman.
“And turn off the tractor beam.”
The woman called back, “I have to run diagnostics before I can get it back on. The maintenance warning has been on for about a week.”
Gerard held up a thumb. “We’re not expecting any more company. Go on and shut it down.” Then Gerard huddled with Glinda while Pascal and the giant Josef stood between Seth and the Tomb. Glinda passed something to Gerard, and Kiva glimpsed a flash of metal.
A weapon?
Was it meant to be used on Seth? Would they use him to get to the Krakatoa, and then when he outlived his usefulness—
Kiva had no way to know for sure, but why wouldn’t they take advantage of the situation? An entire spaceship at their fingertips. Maybe they’d been waiting for such an opportunity to get off their current rust bucket.
There had to be some way to get them both out of there, alive, along with the HCU. Kiva had to at least try. The Krakatoa, and all lives on her, depended on them.
The knife dug into her back and she reached for it.
“You’ll never get to the Krakatoa without him.” She held the knife to Seth’s neck.
“Whoa.” Seth held up his hands. “Keeves, come on.”
Gerard and Glinda froze.
Kiva whispered, “I’m trying to get us both out of here.”
Glinda took a step forward. “You won’t hurt him.”
“Try me.” Kiva pressed the knife to Seth’s skin. He winced as a thin trail of blood dribbled down his neck.
“Fine, fine.” Glinda motioned to Josef and Pascal to back off, clearing a path to the Tomb. “There’s no need for this.”
“I think there is. Move.” Kiva nudged Seth.
He inched toward the Tomb as she kept the knife to his throat.
“This is nonsense, you know.” Glinda shook her head. “You’ll never get out of here.”
With only about ten yards left between them and the Tomb, Seth whispered, “We won’t both make it.” His gaze went to Josef. “Just let me go.”
Kiva’s grip on the knife tightened. “But if you go with them, they’ll kill you once they have the Krakatoa.”
“How do you know—”
“Gut feeling.”
Seth gave her a look as if gauging her confidence. “What’s your plan?”
“On three, you run for the airlock.”
Josef took a step forward.
“Back off!” said Kiva. “I mean it.”
