Out of the darkness, the hated voice hissed and moved to surround him once more. “Rhys. Rhys. RHYS!” it echoed, slapping at him, stinging his skin. “Did you really think you could escape me?”
A freezing wind whipped up around the mountain, threatening to blow the very life spark from Rhys’s body. He drew himself into a ball, attempting to push the cold out of his bones.
“You’ll admit it before I kill you. You’ll admit you’re mine,” the Drahk prodded.
“Go to hell!” the pilot yelled back, the cold seeping into his senses as he shivered on the bare rock.
“I know you now, Rhys. I know your name. Do you know mine?” the oily voice wheedled.
“I don’t bloody care!” he shrieked. “Get out! Get out of my life!”
The reptile ignored him. “I think I’ll tell you. It will be my gift for all the pleasure you’ve given me. And when I tell you, you’ll see my face, so you’ll know who’s coming for you, Rhys. You’ll see who’s going to kill your family and snuff out your world. Are you ready for me, human?”
Rhys shut his eyes tightly against the impending threat, refusing to rise to the bastard’s goad.
The giant image of a Drahkian face filled the sky above him, teeth and yellow eyes gleaming, pebbled skin shining, nostrils flaring.
“I am Biak!” the voice boomed. “Look at me!”
“No!” the pilot yelled, covering his face with his hands. An invisible fist grabbed him by the throat and hauled him to his feet, shaking him like a rag doll.
“Look at me, Rhys!” the reptile roared.
Against his will, Rhys’s eyes flew open and took in the monstrous image above him. He screamed.
“I am Biak and I am your death!”
Rhys screamed again as sheer terror took over.
Biak let out a cry which shook the entire mountain, peaking as if he were in the throes of ecstasy.
“That’s right,” the face panted. “I want you afraid of me. I want you to jump at the thought of me. I want you to recoil at the mention of a Drahk and know I’m coming for you. I’m your shadow, Rhys. I’m always right behind you.”
Rhys slumped against the fist holding him. To his surprise, it let him go. He dropped to the rocky ground and fell onto his back, panting roughly, watching the enormous face hover over him as his fear transformed once more into anger. He sat up slowly, giving himself time to catch his breath.
“You want me afraid, Biak?” he croaked in a ragged voice. Shaking, he managed to rise to his feet without any interference. “You said you want my fear?” he panted, looking up at the reptile. “Do you want it? Or do you need it, Biak?”
The huge face hissed and let out a terrible scream, rending the night and sending the pilot to the ground yet again.
“That’s it, isn’t it?” Rhys shouted. “You need me. Well, fuck you!” He spat on the ground in front of him and closed his eyes, willing himself away from the frozen mountain.
This time Rhys appeared in a small fighter. The ship’s design was unfamiliar, but he seemed to know exactly how to maneuver. Two firing rods were in his hands, a trigger mechanism under each thumb. He flew through space above a small desolate planet he recognized, but once again couldn’t name. Abruptly the enormous reptilian face appeared in front of him, smiling and shimmering in the dim starlight. Deep laughter shook the small ship.
“So you’re going to fight me now?”
“Damn right, you bloody bastard!” Rhys fired a series of shots straight into Biak’s face. The explosions hit, but made no mark on the image. He fired again, with the same result.
“Keep going, small man. This game is just as good as fear and I’m the master of both. You’ll never win!”
“Yes, I will, you foul piece of filth!” Rhys hurled the ship directly into the center of the gigantic floating face. The image shattered into thousands of shards and left the space filled with tiny sizzling embers. The victory was exhilarating and he guided the ship into a wide coasting glide out toward the glowing horizon.
“Enjoy your small win, Rhys. It will be your last against me,” the amused voice sneered.
Rhys slammed his fists against the console in front of him, sending the fighter into a downward spin. A jolt of panic shot through him before he was able to pull the ship back into level flight.
“Come on, Rhys, fight me. Let’s see what you can do.”
The ship dissolved and Rhys was pitched onto a wide open plain under a harsh sun, his clothing gone and no weapons at hand. The naked, glistening form of an enormous lizardman appeared about ten yards away, crouched in a fighting stance with claws extended, ready for battle.
“Here we are, Rhys, face to face. Isn’t that what you want?” Biak smiled and raised one hand, motioning for him to come forward.
Revulsion shot through the Alcýoni pilot. He raised his right hand and summoned a ball of flame, hurling it at the huge, greenish-gray body, followed by two more hard blasts, one right after the other. Biak deflected the hits with casual ease while laughter rumbled deep in his throat.
“What, haven’t you enjoyed our nightly forays, Rhys? They’ve given me extreme pleasure,” he taunted, a shiver rippling its way up his spine. His yellow eyes gleamed as he looked down at the smaller man and took a step forward.
Rhys scowled, taut with fury. “You’re fucking twisted!” he spat while Biak began to move in a slow, deliberate circle around him.
The reptile laughed. “Of course, these are just games. You’ll wake up and still be safe in your nice, quiet little world. Or will you?” The Drahk drew in closer, his claws poised, ready to slash. “The humans of Galah are already bleeding for me. I wonder if Alcýoni terror will taste as sweet.”
Rhys raged at the thought of this beast ever touching his family and friends. “You’re sick! You don’t deserve to live!”
“But I do. I’m alive and well, and I’m coming for you, Rhys. But not until I’ve hurt you, time and time again. You’ve given me new purpose.” Biak’s smile was cruel and he took another step forward. “Come now, fight me. Let me show you how weak you are, human.”
Rhys was about to fling himself into a battle he was sure to lose when the breeze gently lifted his hair and brushed his face. He kept his eyes locked onto Biak and stood his ground, but tuned his mind to listen for the whisper he knew would come. It took all of his concentration not to smile when the feminine voice murmured in his ear.
“Do you really want this?” she asked. “You can leave any time you wish. Will you come away from here?”
Rhys nodded, shifting his senses to probe the air around him, searching for the unseen woman.
“He’s given you the key to your freedom. Now take it.”
The silky tone of the woman’s voice was balm to his tattered sensibilities, giving him the anchor he needed to redirect his thoughts away from the reptile. Slowly Rhys dropped his arms and brought his feet together, straightening his spine as he released his fighting stance. The approaching Drahk looked puzzled, but continued to advance, pulling his arm back to prepare for a strike.
“Your fear and anger will lead him to you again and again,” the woman whispered. “He’s the master of both, remember. Now follow me, my love.”
At those soft words, Rhys’s face broke into a broad, beaming smile. He closed his eyes and laughed. “Anywhere,” he answered in a rich, husky voice.
He glanced again at Biak who had frozen in his battle posture, frowning at his prey’s odd behavior. Rhys couldn’t resist. He raised his hand and waved. “Cheerio, dog breath. I’m off.” With short bark of laughter at the Drahk’s stunned expression, he transformed himself into a wisp of air and whispered, “Lead on, lady.”
Rhys felt the woman’s unmistakable presence surround him, guiding him across the dusty plain as they left the sounds of the shrieking Drahk far behind. They traveled in silence and wound their way up and over a course of barren mountains, devoid of any signs of life. It was both calming and exhilarating just to feel her with h
im and he was content not to speak until they arrived at whatever location she had chosen to lead them to.
In an instant, the land below changed into a quiet green sea and Rhys immediately recognized the familiar sight of a serene lagoon with a black pebbled beach where he had spent countless hours swimming with friends. They descended slowly and he felt a flutter of reluctance emanate from the feminine presence.
“You’ll be safe now. You always feel good in this place,” her voice said softly.
“You know that about me?” he asked, only mildly surprised. Apparently his nightscape guardian had either been watching him for quite a long time or else she could read him like an open book.
Her answer was a few moments in coming. “Yes,” she admitted quietly. “Keep your thoughts peaceful and the Drahk won’t find you again.”
Rhys touched down on the beach and took on his usual form. At her soft hiss of breath, he smiled, knowing she was reacting to his nudity. He held out his hand to her, beckoning her to materialize. “Did you hear me call you earlier?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Come, please, I want to touch you,” Rhys coaxed gently, reaching his hand out into the soft air where he sensed her.
“No. I must go. It’s better this way. It can never be for us,” she said plaintively before she withdrew her energy and began to move away.
“Why? Don’t leave!” Rhys called after her in alarm. “I’ll follow you!”
“Don’t get angry again or he’ll find you,” the woman soothed, swirling around his torso in a light caress. Rhys’s body reacted instantly.
“Aaaahh, can’t you see how much I want you?” he cried in a strangled voice, reaching his hands out to close on cool air.
“Shhhhh. Go for a swim. It’ll calm you.”
“Go for a swim? Woman, that’s hardly what I had in mind,” he grated in frustration.
“Please, let it be. You won’t even remember me when you wake up.”
“Like hell I won’t!”
“I’m upsetting you. I’d better go.” As suddenly as she had appeared, the woman was gone.
Rhys probed the air around him and felt no trace of her presence anywhere. “I’m going to find you! Do you hear me?” he shouted, exasperated that she had disappeared on him again. He yelled to the empty sky, “You were listening when I called out to you before—I’ll bet you’re still listening now!”
Pacing back and forth on the black beach, a wicked smile crept slowly over Rhys’s face. Without another word, he turned and walked languidly into the lagoon. He tipped his head back with his eyes half closed and shook out his dark mane as he paraded himself for her, flexing his shoulders and stretching like a cat, a low growl rumbling deep in his throat. He thought he might have heard a sharp intake of breath.
When he hit deep water, he glided out with long strokes, turning onto his back to give the sun ... and the sky ... a full view of his body. In a sultry voice, he proceeded to describe to the invisible lady in excruciatingly slow, vivid detail, exactly what he wanted to do to her when he found her.
And then he explained what he wanted her to do to him, every blessed inch of him.
Floating in the quiet lagoon, Rhys’s erotic monologue became elaborately lavish and graphic, aimed at enticing this elusive female out of hiding or, at the very least, teasing her suitably for leaving him hungry and alone.
As he spun his seductive web, he was sure on several occasions that he heard the moan of the warm wind all around him.
Flare Shifter Page 11
