“Narshun mak.”
Thankful it was one of the friendly ones she’d worked with before, Tana made a wide berth around the guard and followed the female into the cool room. She was surprised none of the other females were present. Happy for the respite, Tana smiled at her then eyeballed the water spigot. Her mouth was beyond dry. Understanding her need, the female hurried over to the sink, filled a mug, and then handed it to her. Tana gulped the water and set the cup aside. Despite the blue skin, flat nose, and eerie yellow eyes, Tana considered her the prettiest of the females she’d seen.
“Thank you.”
The female looked at her curiously then attempted to repeat the phrase. Surprised, Tana smiled and said it again. After five attempts, she was able to repeat the words, albeit a little harshly. It was a good start.
“So. I guess you’re curious about me. Well, I’m just as fascinated. My name is Tana.”
When an unintelligible stream of excited words spewed forth, Tana knew they’d better start off on some easy items first. She placed her palm against her chest, patted several times, and said, “Tana.”
“Tana?”
Squealing in delight at the success, Tana pointed back to the female. “You?”
Smiling, the female patted her own chest and said, “Shu Tak.”
“Shu Tak.”
Wide-eyed and grinning, Shu Tak nodded vigorously, looked suspiciously toward the back door, and then grabbed Tana by the arm. She pulled her to the window overlooking the clearing and pointed toward the containers. She frowned and shook her head.
“Cas.”
Tana shrugged and sighed. “Yeah, I know. I shouldn’t have tried that stunt. I get it.”
Shu Tak’s thin lips lifted into another smile before she moved over to the shelving and pulled down some root vegetables. Okay, time for peeling and slicing. At least it was better than the laundry.
Several minutes into her task, Tana decided she needed to know more about these creatures. Whatever she could bring back to Lucien, the closer they would be to escaping. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Shu Tak preparing their version of bread. An idea struck her. Even though they seemed to have started up a small friendship, Tana approached her with caution. Pointing to a bowl containing a flour-like substance, Tana raised her brows in question. When the bowl was slowly pushed in her direction, she tentatively reached forward and scooped a handful out and spread it on the counter top. She motioned for Shu Tak to stand beside her.
Carefully, Tana drew stick figures in the flour and added flowing hair. Pointing to the clearing and back to the figures she said, “Insedi.” A few stick figures drawn with top knots and Shu Tak had the idea of what she wanted to know.
“Dar Kan.”
Tana drew a larger stick figure and pointed at the tail of hair. She tapped her finger nine times down the strands and Shu Tak snorted. Tana laughed when the female rolled her bright yellow eyes and said, “Nox Ton.” Obviously, signs of disgust were universal.
Throwing some more flour on the table, Tana spread it out and drew several ball shapes. Pointing at the furthest one on the right edge, she waved her hand in the air then back at the ball. Shu Tak nodded in understanding and stomped her foot twice on the floor. Tana pointed at a ball in the middle of the drawing and said, “Earth,” before patting her own chest. Again, the female caught on. She pointed to a ball high on the drawing and furthest from any of the others.
“Dar Kan Vok.”
Tana watched as her face fell into heavy sadness and she reached forward and scrubbed the ball to nothing. The tip of her finger rubbed a small likeness of three ships next to the decimated world. The digit trailed through the flour and touched every planet Tana had drawn until it reached the one she was standing on now.
Glancing up, Tana stared into Shu Tak’s eyes and comprehended the sympathy the female was trying to convey. Their home was gone and they’d traveled far to find a new one. Regardless of what her people had done, Shu Tak understood Tana’s plight, which was understandable. Despite being a Dar Kan, it appeared the males treated them no better than a few steps above their prisoners. Tana placed her hand over Shu Tak’s and lightly squeezed. They may have different-colored skin and were worlds apart, but they both shared a common thread. They missed the place of their birth.
Tana slid her hand away and graced Shu Tak with a small smile when the other females entered the kitchen. Food had to be prepared and there was no time to waste. She hoped this wouldn’t be her last encounter with Shu Tak. She was going to need her if she was ever to escape this damn planet.
* * * *
Glancing back up the hill to the compound, Lucien wondered where Tana had gone. She’d been standing outside by a line of clothes earlier in the day and he hadn’t seen her since. He hoped they’d taken her inside and out of the brutal heat. Her skin was too fair to tolerate the strong sun for long. Eryx broke him from his worry.
I’ve counted a ratio of two guards for every prisoner. They changed shift at midday. If they do the same tomorrow, we will know the timing of their weakest moment.
Lucien nodded and looked back to the brush he was clearing. Yes, I counted the same. The rotation is the only moment I noticed their lack of attention. Anything else?
Keos responded. Altair and I tried several times to move closer to a guard, but they are very aware of their perimeter limit with the rods. If we are to slip their cuff device from their waist it has to be done in a moment of confusion. The device alone will be insufficient unless we get control of a rod at the same time.
Sotarios’s evil cackle entered his brain and Lucien squashed his urge to laugh at his words. I plan to hack an arm off and take it right from his ugly blue hand.
Lucien gripped the large, serrated knife and wished he could swing it at a slaver instead of the unending stretch of thick forest he was steadily beating back. The work was brutal, but at least they weren’t helplessly caged and at their mercy.
We’ll get our moment. Just stay alert and watch for anything that may help us. We’ll discuss this at length when they return us to the cells. Continue to act as if we’re resigned to our fate. We want to lull them into a false confidence. That’s when they’ll make their mistakes. Lucien jerked around at the sound of a bloodcurdling cry of fear coming from his left.
He watched in gut wrenching sadness as a slaver chased one of the humans across the field. It was the one that had shaken with fear from the moment they’d been pulled from the cells. He’d finally reached his limit of sanity. The man tried in vain to dodge and weave to avoid the rod. It was the least of his worries. The slaver was upon him before he could breach the tree line. Obviously, there was no mercy for an escapee. The machete slid across the back of his knee and the man dropped like a stone. His cries of agony filled the air as the slaver skewered his body over and over until he lay still.
Glancing to the others, he was surprised to see even Basilius carrying an expression of disgust. It wasn’t an honorable death. They all watched in stony silence as the man’s body was dragged back to the work site and set to the side as a warning to any others with the same idea. Concerned the man’s friend could attempt the same thing, Lucien studied his face. The human’s mouth hung open in disbelief. There was no way this male was going to make a break for it. He looked like he had more belly than brains, anyway.
After a few barked commands, they were back to clearing the trees as if nothing had occurred. With each swing of the long blade, Lucien allowed the feeling of hatred for this species to burrow even deeper into his skin. Their action only reinforced his need to approach their escape with the utmost caution. He couldn’t bear to see one of his warriors spill blood upon this cursed planet.
Minutes later, Lucien felt his arms tingle just before his cuffs snapped together. Looking up, he saw the slavers motioning for the prisoners to drop the knives and approach. Cautiously, they led them to a pile of logs piled under a canopy of shade trees. Unfortunately, the brutalized body of the Earth male la
y mere feet away as a reminder that their gift of shade had a dual purpose.
Everyone dropped to the ground in exhaustion and waited for their next instructions. It was then Lucien saw a line of females walking down the hill and carrying baskets. He was surprised at the rapid pace of his heart when he spotted a mane of fiery hair in their midst. He marveled at the shivering of his skin as he watched her eyes lift and connect with his. She smiled and something shifted inside of him.
They’d only been separated for a few hours and he’d started to miss her. It was that simple. He swallowed hard and tried to remember the last time he’d felt a tightness in his chest and a nervous flutter in his belly at such a simple gesture. It’d been centuries. How was that even possible? His love for Junia sat firmly in his heart and he wondered how his body could betray her so easily. Was it wrong to feel this way? If so, why? Hadn’t he encouraged others that lost their mates to find another so their planet and race could live?
Lucien shoved the myriad thoughts and emotions aside and tore his eyes away from hers. This wasn’t the place, or the time, to dwell on anything other than their survival. She’d intrigued him with her feisty temperament and intelligence. He couldn’t dispute that, even to himself. These were unusual circumstances and their time together was a diversion from the madness. Nothing more.
Despite his resolution to remain unaffected, Lucien couldn’t keep his eyes from drifting back to the group. She wasn’t looking at him any longer. Her focus lay with pulling trays from one of the baskets. She approached each female and paused as they filled the tray with different foods. When all the trays were prepared, the cuffs were released. The guards and their females moved away from the group and watched from a distance. Lucien rose to his feet and the others followed. He signaled for the warriors to hold back and allow the Nawiens to go first. The Protonecians went next. Surprisingly, Basilius was more interested in his food than irritating the provider. Perhaps hard work was all he needed to focus. Well, for the moment anyway.
Lucien opened his mind to the group. Get your trays and sit to the left of Tana.
Tana smiled when they stepped forward. “Hey, guys. Glad to see you made it through the day so far.” They each whispered their name as she handed out the trays. He liked that they had taken warmly to her. When his males were seated, Lucien stepped forward and took the tray from her hand. He knew he should move on, but he liked seeing her without bars obscuring her lovely face. She had a light smattering of freckles dusting her nose, and her hair glowed in a lovely reddish-gold sheen in the full light of day. He thought it was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. She was tough and delicate at the same time. Fascinating.
“I’m glad to see you’re doing okay.”
Tana snorted. “I forgot how hard it was to wash their clothes. I got lazy over the last few days.” Her eyes cut over to the right and he looked over his shoulder. The Earth man hovered nearby and raised his brows in question.
“You gonna let me get my tray?”
Lucien looked back to Tana. “Join us?”
She nodded quickly and he moved aside to sit next to Ulixes.
He frowned when the human stepped forward and spoke to her.
“Hey, red, you all right? Come sit with me and we’ll talk.”
“I’m fine, Royce. Take your food and move along. You’re going to get me in trouble.”
“Well, it seems like you’re good at doing that all on your own. I saw them dragging you kicking and screaming back to the cells. What’d you do?”
Lucien leaned forward, suddenly irritated that the man chose to ignore her wishes.
Lucien watched as she peered around the man’s shoulders, then looked back to him with concerned eyes.
“Where’s Michael?”
Chapter 12
Royce snorted and tilted his head. “Idiot went and got himself killed. Took off running and they nailed him good. Don’t know where the hell he thought he was going to go.”
Lucien’s dislike for the man grew. He could have handled that better. There was no need to point out the body.
Tana glanced in the direction he’d indicated and immediately clapped her hand over her mouth. Lucien saw her eyes glitter with moisture. She shook her head and squeezed her eyelids tight. Within seconds, she dropped her hand, took a deep breath, and opened her eyes. Steely determination had replaced the raw emotion. She cleared her throat and handed a cup of water to the man.
“Move along, Royce. We can’t dwell on that. He made his decision.”
Lucien started to rise when Royce just stood there and stared at her. He felt pressure on his knee and looked down to see that Ulixes had pressed down with his hand to warn him. He was right. This was not the time for heroics. She could handle him.
Royce wisely moved away and sat closer to the Nawiens. They were oblivious to his presence as they whispered conspiratorially and drew in the dirt with a stick. He wished they could speak the same language so they could plan together. Lucien noticed Royce kept his gaze on Tana as she picked up her tray and started in their direction. He didn’t like the way his dark eyes slipped up and down her body. Lucien glanced up when she moved into his line of vision, stopped, and looked them all in the eye.
“I know you’re going to ask me, but I’m fine. It was bound to happen. Michael couldn’t handle this from the second they pulled us out of that vat. I’m really surprised that he made it this long.”
Lucien kept his mouth shut as she perched on the log next to him and dug into her food. He could tell she was still trying to work the tragedy through her mind. She just needed time, not empty words. His respect for her grew when she polished off her meal, set the tray aside, and started talking. Her voice was all business even though her head was tilted back like she was just enjoying the shade of the tree. Within seconds she had their full attention.
“The blue assholes are called Dar Kan. The one with nine clips is called Nox Ton. Their home world was located just outside the Earth galaxy until it recently blew up. They scavenged from as many planets as they could before they got here. They only went out for more slaves because they accidently starved the last ones. I don’t think any of these nuts were high up on the food chain back home. There are only three ships. I saw two bring you in the other day, so they have one still out there doing its thing. There was a group meeting in the field five days ago and I counted two hundred and five males and forty-five females. Last time I saw them unloading a ship, their crew maxed at one hundred ten. They sleep in three shifts. You do the numbers.”
Tana stretched as if she didn’t have a care in the world, then stood up. She retrieved the water pitcher and slowly refilled each cup while she continued in her clipped, no-nonsense tone.
“The females are docile, so they’ll most likely run when the shit hits the fan. I saw Nox Ton overseeing the draining of three of the stolen ships before the last one left, so they’re probably getting short on fuel. There’s something being guarded in a separate building located about fifteen yards from the main house. I know it’s not food, because the females never approach that area. They seem afraid of it. I’m thinking it might be the stuff they used to blow the trees before final clearing, but not sure why they’d keep it that close. The green container has a shitload of weapons. We get our hands on those and they’ll be wishing they’d figured out how to use them instead of making the packing crates the priority. However, the guns are useless to us unless we snatch one of those cuff keys from their waistband. Only the ones with five or more clips have them. At least they were stupid enough to leave the container unlocked.”
No one moved when she peeled the empty trays from their hands and made a show of cleaning and repacking. Her voice was mesmerizing.
“If you’ll notice, the midday break is now their weak link. It’s going to be the greatest one very soon. When the ridges on the female’s arms turn a darker blue, they’re going into season. I spotted some shading this morning. It must occur on a monthly basis, because I caught the tai
l end of the last one before they threw me in my cell. One or two days from now and we’ll have a bunch of randy males splitting their time between sniffing out a mate and watching our asses. They’ll be like that for a few days. I thought I was going to starve to death before they finally came and got me. That’s all I have right now. I’ve befriended one of the females, so hopefully that might pan out for us later.”
She raised her arm and gestured to the remainder of the prisoners to bring their trays and cups back. Swiveling back around, she narrowed her serious piercing green eyes.
“I’m counting on you guys. If I have to stay on this goddamned planet for another month, I’m going to kill something.” Her eyes settled on his, yet she continued to address them all.
“I’ve heard him call you warriors, now prove it.”
Lucien realized his eyes were wide in surprise. She’d performed a reconnaissance worthy of the elite guard and addressed them in a manner commendable of a war consul title. He was awestruck. He glanced down the line of warriors and they each carried an equal expression of astonishment. Of course, Sotarios was the first to find his ability to voice a thought. It came on a reverent whisper through their collective minds.
Damn, Lucien. I think I’m in love. She’s a keeper.
Lucien couldn’t agree more. He opened his mouth to question her about the weapons and was immediately cut off by a surly, disgruntled voice.
“So, you won’t talk to me, but you’ll flap your pie hole for the male strippers. I always had you pegged for a slut. I guess I can tag cunt to your title, too.”
Lucien had read enough of the slang section to know that Tana had been insulted at the highest level. He didn’t know he’d launched himself from the tree stump until he landed heavily on top of the bastard he was about to kill. This time he had no doubt that the Insedi battle cry ringing against his ears was coming from his very own throat.
Fueled by Lust: Lucien (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 10
