The snap of the fire was hot on her back.
The little boy looked her directly in the eyes, and then he snuggled into her and buried his face against her throat. “Thank you."
He was ready to live or die, but not alone.
Looking over her shoulder into the flames, a tear fell from her eye to trickle through the soot and dust on her face.
Part of the roof fell in, and a shower of sparks flew into the air.
Turning, Elyse started to push her way through the debris, stumbling, holding the boy tight to her. Working her way through the smoke, the smaller fires that flared, not feeling the hungry flames that burnt small holes in her pants and sparks that raised blisters on her arms.
She saw the opening, a break in the wall, and nearing it, she saw several figures trying to hold back a struggling man.
"My son is in there! My son!"
"Meekta, he's gone! He can't live in there!"
A crash came from somewhere, fire roared. The heat was intense.
She didn't feel it so much, and somewhere, dimly, she was so glad the mutant was in control.
Appearing in the opening, she saw Meekta look towards her, saw his face widen in shock and disbelief.
"The mutant has him! She has my son!"
The men swung around, and in the glow of the fire she saw it was Abra and Ricna, both bloodied and smoke-covered, but alive.
Stepping out onto what had once been the veranda, she set the boy on his feet.
Seeing his father running towards him, the boy screamed for him and ran to meet him.
Elyse turned and looked back at the smoke-filled inferno burning inside.
And then she saw her. A woman with blue eyes and blonde hair, beckoning and moving backwards into the smoke and heat-filled corridor.
She felt it, the pull, and then she felt something else, a beating heart, but it wasn't hers that beat so feebly.
Shaque.
Facing the heat, the fire, Elyse knew there was only way to survive. She was mutant now, but not totally, there was still that one little step to take. Somehow, something whispered it into her ear. You're not a total mutant until you take one more step. One step. Give yourself up completely. One more step. One step and loss of total control with no one to bring her back. If he lived, he wouldn't be strong enough, and she'd be a danger to all. But as the mutant, she could face the heat and fire and survive and find Shaque.
His sister's ghost was waiting, nodding at her.
Elyse didn't hesitate. Throwing back her head, she roared one last time, and felt herself slip further away inside. The mutant roared to full life, breaking free.
And she plunged back into the inferno and smoke raging in the house.
* * * *
Bloodied, sporting burns and gashes but miraculously having escaped crippling injuries, Abra, Ricna, Nat, Vane, Menac and Jarvis watched as the flames licked through the windows and blossomed out of the doors. Pieces of the house fell in.
Shaque was in there somewhere, and Elyse. She'd gone back in, her eyes glowing red, roaring his name.
Meekta stood beside them, his son hugged to his chest, his wife and little girl clinging to him as they sobbed and watched the fire.
"She saved my boy,” he said hoarsely, his voice scratchy from the smoke.
The hunters didn't answer. They couldn't talk, their throats tight.
The Peacekeepers had gathered up the few living prisoners and taken them back to the Enforcement Building. Four peacekeepers had stayed behind and were searching the woods for any other bodies, injured or dead, who might have attempted escape.
Security was expected to arrive any minute to pick up Meekta and his family.
He didn't know if Sabra would be aboard or not. How Abra was going to tell Sabra that Shaque was dead, he didn't know. She'd be shattered. He didn't know if she'd be on the ship or not, he didn't know where she was, but he'd taken the precaution of sending a warning to the Daamen, been relieved to know that Cam had been visiting friends on a planet very near, and would be on his way, and arriving at any minute also.
He stared at the flames, feeling a wetness in his eyes that wasn't caused by the smoke.
Goddamn. He took a deep breath and coughed painfully.
Suddenly there came a crashing sound, and the side wall still standing exploded outwards.
They all flinched, but then they gaped when something came hurtling through the opening, the flames licking hungrily after the distorted figure.
It hit the ground, rolled, and the distorted figure become two normal figures.
"Shaque and Elyse!” Abra started forward.
They all ran, but drew to a shocked halt when Elyse faced them over Shaque's body. Hair wild, dishevelled, singed, her face black, raw wounds blistering on her arms and legs, her clothes in burnt tatters, she crouched over the still body of Shaque and roared. Her eyes were wild, glittering, and she roared again.
"Elyse?” Abra started towards her cautiously.
He didn't get far before she lunged toward him, springing back, the warning in her eyes plain to see.
"Bloody hell!” Ricna swore. “She's gone mutant."
"And she's not letting us near Shaque."
"Is he breathing?’ Meekta queried.
"I think so.” Vane rubbed a burned hand over his bloodied face. “But for how long, God knows. If we leave him there..."
Abra tried to move forward again. “Elyse! You need to let us near Shaque or he'll die!"
She snarled, and it was animalistic. She didn't just crouch over Shaque, she moved sinuously, coming onto her hands and knees, up onto her feet but still crouched, hands flat on the grass.
Blood covered almost every bit of her, blood and raw skin and burnt patches. Gouges ran down her arms. Laser burns were clearly seen through the torn and burnt clothing covering her.
Elyse was severely injured, any fool could see it, Abra thought. How she was still living, he didn't know.
And Shaque. How the hell he'd survived the fire ... How bad was he injured? Like Elyse, he was covered in blood and burns. His face was bloodied, eyes closed, his chest moving weakly.
And Elyse paced like a lytiger protecting her fallen mate, moving constantly, her red, glowing eyes fastened on the hunters. Growling, snarling, her panting breath coming from her in white puffs due to the cold of the air around them.
"We have to get to Shaque.” Abra looked at Ricna. “Even if it means shooting her to get her down."
Ricna nodded and drew his laser, as did Abra.
"Not so fast,” a female voice barked, and Abra jerked in surprise, looking past the flickering flames to find three women standing partially to one side, their lasers aimed straight at the hunters.
They wore tight black pants tucked into calf-high boots, different coloured shirts with billowing sleeves fastened at the cuffs. Two had machetes fastened at their waist, one had a sword sheathed at her back.
He didn't need to see the Most Wanted posters to know he faced the space pirates that Sonja and Elyse had once commanded. The big, busty blonde, the older woman, and the third pirate who was similar in features to Elyse, only with short hair.
Brina, Illona and Donika.
He swore. Could anything else bloody go wrong? Shaque was dying, Elyse was mutant and not letting anyone near him, and now there was a stand-off between his pack and the space pirates.
Where the hell were the Peacekeepers?
"Put your weapons down,” Brina ordered.
"Shaque is dying,” Abra bit out from between clenched teeth. “Elyse is mutant and won't let us near her."
"And you think you're going to shoot her like a dangerous animal?” Donika lifted her laser and aimed it right between Abra's eyes. “I don't bloody think so, you bastard. She saved him and the kid."
"And he's going to die if she won't back off."
"We won't kill her,” Ricna growled. “Just injure her enough to get her down."
"You don't think she's already bloody in
jured enough?” Donika asked savagely. “One more injury will make it all better?"
"Over our dead bodies,” Illona added.
"She's going to cause them to both die, damn it!"
"So you think my sister is expendable enough to die to save Shaque?” Donika spat.
Seeing the anguish on her face, Abra reined in his temper. The situation was volatile, danger hung in the air, and he sought to ease the tension. “I know how you feel—"
"You have no bloody idea!” Donika raged. “Now lower your God damn weapons!"
"They're both going to die if we don't take her down!” Ricna snarled. “It's their only chance!"
"You pull that trigger, hunter, and I'll drop you on the spot,” Brina promised grimly.
Elyse's panting breaths were coming faster, agony twisting her face as she stumbled, falling onto one knee, her hand braced on the grass. A pool of blood was darkening the earth beneath her.
A moan came from Shaque, and she reached back to touch him lightly.
Vane took a step forward, and immediately she whipped around, snarling.
The pain must have been tremendous, for a blood-red tear slipped down her cheek.
"Elyse,” Donika whispered, then swallowed and turned her gaze back to the hunters. “Back off!"
A light flickered through the tree-tops, and then two ships hovered overhead, turning, pulling around to land nearby.
Abra wasn't surprised when the pirates stayed where they were, not even faltering a step. The threat of their capture was huge, but they weren't leaving Elyse. Capture was certain death for them, but for Elyse, they'd stay.
If they weren't such smug bitches, raiding deep into the Lawful Sector and thumbing their noses at Peacekeepers, soldiers and bounty hunters alike, he could almost bring himself to like them.
But the ships didn't contain security or more peacekeepers. The men that came running down were big, a mixture of Saalm and Daamen.
Four of the Saalm men carried two stretchers, while four others came to a stop near the hunters.
The Daamens ranged alongside, their gazes going from Shaque and Elyse to the space pirates.
"Bloody hell,” Jase said.
Cam's jaw tightened when he saw the hunters and space pirates with lasers drawn. “What the hell is happening?"
"Elyse has gone mutant,” Abra growled. “She dragged Shaque from the fire, and now she won't let anyone near him."
"These bastards want to shoot her!” Donika snarled. “Bring her down to save the hunter!"
Darvk looked at Abra.
"We just want to injure her enough to bring her down, not kill her,” Abra said harshly. “I don't know what else to bloody do!"
"I do.” The big Saalm medic kneeling nearby was already pulling a small instrument from the side of a small bag. “I'm going to tranqu her."
"You better not bloody kill her!” Donika swung the laser in his direction. “You bloody shoot her and I'll blast you to hell!"
One of the medics looked at her, his deep voice calm. “This will put her to sleep, tranqu her enough to let us move in and attend her injuries."
The Saalm straightened and looked directly at Donika. “My name is Byron, young one. I will not allow your sister to be shot with a laser to bring her down. She's dying right before your eyes, right now. Let us do our job and work to keep her alive."
Donika stared at him, and then her searching gaze went to Jase.
Immediately the big Daamen walked straight across to her, ignoring it when she swung the laser in his direction.
"Easy, lass. I swear to you, the Saalms are famed for their medicine and healing abilities. Elyse will be in the best of hands.” Stopping directly before her, he pushed her laser down and looked down at her, his voice gentle. “You have to trust them."
"How the hell can I trust them, Jase? To everyone apart from us she's just a part mutant and ex-space pirate! But to me, she's my sister!"
Even from where Abra stood, he could hear the crack in her voice. He couldn't see her, for the big Daamen totally dwarfed her, blocking her from view.
"Then trust us. Trust me. You know we wouldn't let her be hurt deliberately. I swear, Elyse, she'll get the best care anyone could possibly have. You have to let the Saalms do their job."
"Jase—"
"We're your friends, Donika. You know us. Just trust me, please.” He laid a hand on her shoulder.
Brina and Illona waited silently, and Abra knew that even though Brina was the captain of the space pirates, she waited for Donika's response. It was Donika's call what happened next.
There was silence for several long seconds.
The only sound in the air was Elyse's laboured panting, the soft growls as she lurched over Shaque's body, trying to protect him even as she swayed weakly from loss of blood and pain. Her eyes glowed hotly red.
Jase bent down, spoke in a low tone to Donika. Abra saw her shake her head slightly, bite her lip. When she glanced towards her sister, her eyes glittered with tears.
She whispered something, and Jase nodded, straightened, and turned around.
He looked directly at Bryon and nodded.
Unhesitatingly, Byron raised the tranqu, aimed it at Elyse, and squeezed the trigger.
It was silent, but the tiny capsule found its mark, burying deep and, Abra knew, dissolving within seconds to release the tranqu into the flesh to be absorbed almost immediately.
Elyse roared, lurching upright, her hand going to her thigh. Snarling, she stumbled to one knee. Another blood red tear tracked down her cheek, and she swayed. Lifting her head up, she let loose a mournful howl that had the skins of everyone there prickling.
Lowering her head, she gazed at everyone out of glowing eyes, but even as they watched, the glow started to fade.
Struggling now, she dragged herself in front of Shaque, falling to the side, still bracing herself with both hands.
Her breathing became more laboured as she struggled to remain conscious.
As she battled, Byron watched her intently. Behind him the stretchers were snapped open, stands slotted into holders, bags of fluid going up in readiness.
When she fell onto her elbows, she dragged herself around to face Shaque, her panting growls fading in strength. Reaching out, she laid her bloodied hand atop his and looked down at him.
A sudden chill speared through the air, and then something was there. No one could see it, but everyone felt it. There was a ripple in front of the house, a distortion of the flames.
Elyse suddenly arched back, her head lifting. A gurgle escaped her throat, her mouth opened, she jerked once, and then suddenly dropped.
Slowly, so slowly, she started to push upright. Tried so hard that even Abra held his breath.
"Move in,” Byron ordered calmly, and strode forward.
The medics wasted no time.
Abra and Ricna followed the medics, Donika hurrying forward as well, Brina and Illona staying back with lasers drawn, watching and waiting, as the other hunters watched them in turn.
Elyse slumped beside Shaque, her head hanging, white puffs of air forming with every panting breath. The cold air was damp, the cold setting in earnest as night started to fall.
One group of medics surrounded Shaque, working fast.
The second group of medics moved to Elyse.
Kneeling beside her, Byron slipped his arm around her, easing her back.
She spilled back against him, her head resting in the crook of his elbow. She looked up at him, and Abra was shocked to find that her eyes were no longer red, but brown.
Brown and filled with pain.
Her chest rattled with every agonized breath. Blood bubbled from a wound in her chest. It seemed that within seconds her blood coated the front of Byron's clothes.
She coughed, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.
"Easy,” Byron said softly. “I'm here."
She blinked at him, then her gaze slipped past him to Donika who was hanging over his shoulder.
Elyse looked from her to Abra, then she looked at Darvk who was standing nearby. Looked from him to Donika and back again, before giving one sigh and closing her eyes.
She went limp.
"Elyse!” Donika cried her name out in a sob.
"She's breathing.” Byron nodded to the medic who set the stretcher beside her. “Get the IVC inserted. Keema, the fluids. Line her. Ready to transfer to the ship.” He looked across at Shaque fleetingly, saw the medics doing the same to him. “Insert, run and transfer."
The medics moved fast, expertly, needles appearing.
Everyone backed away, giving them room, watching as Shaque and Elyse were loaded onto the stretchers, lines running into their veins and fluids running fast.
Meekta moved up as the stretchers were moved to the ships. His wife stood further back, the children cradled to her.
A security ship flew in fast but landed with precision. By the time the door opened, the Saalm ships were already lifting off the ground.
Cam looked at Abra. “Sabra isn't on board. She's somewhere on a mission, unable to be contacted. Darvk, Jase and I were visiting them when we got your call."
Abra felt a guilty relief that he didn't have to face Sabra just yet.
He looked at his pack. “We're heading for Saalm."
Seeing the security officers and soldiers surround Meekta and his family, he glanced around for the space pirates.
They were nowhere to be seen. Nor was Jase.
Somehow he wasn't surprised, but he just knew they would be somewhere nearby.
The Saalm ships soared overhead, heading for Saalm with their badly injured patients.
And that was exactly where Abra was heading.
The hunters fell in beside him and they ran for their ship.
On the way, they stumbled across the four peacekeepers that had disappeared. They were groggy, sitting in the grass and holding the backs of their heads, wincing.
Cursing, Abra sent Jarvis back to raise the alarm. It didn't take a genius to know that the space pirates had knocked the peacekeepers out to ensure they could approach the house in dubious safety.
The hunters didn't linger with the peacekeepers but kept running. By the time Jarvis ran up the ramp of the hunters’ ship, the engines were running. The ramp had barely closed behind him when the ship took off, heading for Saalm.
Soul of a Predator Page 40
