Shattered Soul

by Angela Verdenius

  “Maybe you should just show me, then.” Fury still pounded through her, fury and a touch of alarm that he’d gotten the drop on her so easily.

  Lowering his face, he said softly into her ear, “You don’t want me to show you, Rani. Just know you can trust me, but don’t push me.”

  Releasing her, Fredrico stepped back and Rani whipped around, only to find him holding out one hand towards her. Taken aback, she stared stupidly at his hand.

  Without a word, Fredrico grabbed her hand and hauled her with almost ridiculous ease to her feet. “Lesson one over.”

  “Lesson one?” She tried to find the fury that had faded with her surprise.

  “No one and nothing is as it seems here,” he said quietly.

  She watched as he strode to the door. As he reached for the door handle, the words dropped from her lips before she could even think about it. “What about the hidden door?”

  He looked directly at her. “I’ll keep you safe from others. From me... you’re on your own.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means, warrior, that I’ve just drawn a line.”

  “A line?”

  Those cold eyes never wavered from her face. “You cross that line at your own peril.”

  “And what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “Keep pushing and you’ll find out.” He walked out the door.

  “I thought you said I could trust you?” She stalked across the room.

  “You can.”

  “So what the hell is this line you’ve drawn?” Coming out into the corridor, Rani found him already at the head of the staircase.

  Fredrico regarded her expressionlessly. “Trust me with your life, but cross the line and the consequences are upon your own shoulders.” He started down the stone stairs.

  “Cryptic puzzles now?” Long legs eating up the distance between them, Rani scowled.

  His glance back up at her was brief but suddenly humorous. “Trust me, warriorhe me, wa, you’re a cryptic puzzle all by yourself.”

  “That’s not answering the question.”

  He shrugged.

  She blew out an exasperated breath. “I guess I’ll find out what the line is when I find you trying to kill me!”

  There was a definite twinkle in his eyes, warming the cold depths briefly before he turned his head. That twinkle made her pause, but when she realized he wasn’t going to explain himself, Rani gave up and descended the steps, following him out into the main corridor.

  A sudden deafening roar rent the air, and screams and shouts echoed through a side corridor. Before she could even register what was happening the stone wall beside her exploded outwards, pieces of rock shattering like glass before the huge, scaled beast that tore through it as though through glass, the swing of its massive head catching her full in the chest and stomach, flinging her high into the air, the force smashing her up against the ceiling.

  Chapter 6

  Outlaw Sector, outskirts

  Planet Ylan, The Desert

  Frustrated, Ceri looked at the blank cave. Nothing remained except a bit of hard dirt where the ice from the block had melted and dried. There was nothing—no sign, no hint, no clue as to what had happened to her sister.

  Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. The smell of dust hung in the air. Fetid, old, the cave so far deep in the ground that hardly a wisp of fresh air filtered through the caved-in tunnel.

  Turing, she walked back the way she’d come, climbing over the rubble and finally coming out into the open. The bounty hunter ship, sleek, black and dangerous-looking, awaited her. In the shadows beneath it, Abra waited, studying his handtronic. He looked up as she approached but remained silent.

  “Nothing,” she said.

  He just looked at her.

  “You were right,” she said grudgingly. “There is no sign of my sister.”

  “So what are you going to do now?”

  Ceri looked out over the burning sands. “I have a contact.” She returned her gaze to Abra. “Where you can’t go.”

  “Deeper in the Outlaw Sector.”

  “Yes.”

  He regarded her quietly, the minutes ticking past slowly.

  Ceri held his gaze.

  “You’re going away,” he finally stated.

  “Yes.”

  “Alone.”

  “No hunter can go where I’m going.”

  “Times have changed, Ceri. The Reeka warrior women are legendary, but as you found out, the younger folk need proof.”

  She shrugged. “It’s the only way to find my sister.”

  “You may never find her.”

  “I have to try.”

  Thoughtfuhe lly, Abra flicked the switch of the handtronic on and off. “Reya isn’t going to like this.”

  No, Reya was going to be furious. Ceri looked back out over the burning sands. “Will you drop me off at the nearest settlement?” She swung her gaze back to him. “Or are you going to try and keep me prisoner and drag me back to the Reekas?”

  Abra didn’t move a muscle. “Your sister means a lot to you.”

  Ceri didn’t answer, just waited to see what he’d decide. The seconds ticked past and somehow she wasn’t surprised when he finally nodded.

  “Let’s go,” he said simply.

  Inside the ship the other hunters didn’t argue when he gave the orders. Vane and Nat looked curiously at her but it was Ricna who gave Abra a strange look, though he didn’t say anything.

  ~ * ~

  Abra sat in the control cabin and waited for Ricna. Sure as God had made green apples, his friend came in minutes later.

  “Reya is going to be so pissed at you,” Ricna said.

  “Undoubtedly.”

  “You’re really going to let Ceri go into the Outlaw Sector?”

  “She’s not our prisoner, nor does she have a bounty on her head.” Abra watched through the security shield as the ship lifted, the burning sand falling rapidly away below.

  Ricna studied him thoughtfully. “Sabra is on her way to interview the Reeka. She’s going to be a little shitty with you for letting her go.”

  Abra shrugged.

  “Huh,” Ricna finally said.

  Abra slid a glance at him.

  Ricna had a curious expression on his face but he didn’t say anything else.

  During the several hours it took to reach the settlement Abra checked the wanted notices for outlaws and space pirates, logging into the system those that had last been seen in the vicinity of where the hunters’ ship now flew. Vane and Nat checked the freezer units while Menac and Jarvis did a systems’ check of the ship’s weapons. Ricna did a complete tally of all ammunition.

  The settlement drew closer and Abra docked the ship in the huge, half empty docking bay. Leaving the control cabin, he went to the cabin Ceri occupied and knocked on the door. It slid open to show Ceri standing by the little table. Her sword was sheathed on her back, her laser strapped to her thigh.

  Standing there, tall and straight, she was every inch a Reeka warrior woman. In that instant he thought how beautiful the legendary warriors were and this one in particular. During the outlaw years he had probably hunted this very warrior at some time, and she’d more than likely slipped the net and eluded capture. If Cormac’s pack, the one he’d hunted with and now headed, had captured her, they’d have hung her if she’d survived the shoot-out. He might have even been the one to pull the lever on the trap door.

  Life took some strange turns.

  He stepped into the cabin. “You’re sure about this?”

  “Yes.” She hesitated, those deep violet eyes studying him. “I... thank you.”

  Abra arched one brow.

  Ceri frowned slightly. “For everything.”

  He nodded while pulling a pouch from his pocket. “You’ll need dinnos.” lse dinnosEven as the words left his mouth he could see her eyes narrowing. “Don’t let pride get in the way of finding your sister, Ceri. You’ll need dinnos to buy fo
od, information, anything you might need.”

  “Abra - ”

  He shoved it into her hand. “Your leader can pay me back if it makes you feel better.” He cast a glance over her. “You’ll need a cloak, something to keep you warm.”

  “I haven’t forgotten what I need to survive,” she replied bitingly.

  “Good to know,” he replied.

  For the first time in his life he saw a Reeka’s cheeks flush. On her, it was kind of... He refused to finish the thought.

  Ceri hefted the pouch. “Thank you. Again.”

  “You need to get going,” he said. “It’ll be dark soon.”

  Her teeth flashed white in a sudden smile. “The dark never scared me.”

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  Slipping the little pouch into the top of her boot, Ceri straightened and strode to the door. Drawing level with Abra, she stopped for several seconds before finally looking down at him.

  Abra looked calmly up at her.

  They studied each other for several seconds before Ceri finally said, “Tell Reya I’ll return when I can.”

  “If, maybe?” he queried. “It’s a tough universe out there.”

  “Trust me, murdering bastards never change,” she replied.

  “But this time you’re on your own.”

  “Somewhere out there is Rani.”

  “Okay.”

  That was the last thing he said to her. Turning, he stepped out into the corridor and watched the blonde Reeka stride out of his ship and out of his life. He wondered if he’d ever see her again.

  And he wondered why he even cared just a little.

  Ricna came out of the dining cabin. “Sabra is going to be so shitty with you.”

  Of that Abra had no doubt.

  ~ * ~

  Inner Sanctum of the Outlaw Sector

  Overlord’s Fortress

  The scaled beast gave no quarter. It came for her again and again, the horns ripping through her flesh as she fell from the roof to the floor. Scrambling to get back, she dimly heard Fredrico yelling orders, the sound of lasers blasting. A huge, razored tail slashed through the wall, the sharp blades cutting men and women alike off at the knees and thighs. Blood spurted, screams echoed down the corridor, and curses filled the air.

  The huge head, easily five foot across, swung in her direction. Big, black eyes looked for her, finding her unerringly, and the gaping, teeth-filled maw opened as its roar filled the air. Ignoring the laser blasts that tore huge, steaming chunks from its body, the beast moved fast. Far faster than its incredible bulk should have allowed.

  Slipping in the blood that was coursing down her side to soak her boot and puddle onto the stone floor, Rani drew the dagger from her sheath and faced it. There was no room to run, no room to slip aside. It effectively had her pinned into a corner but that didn’t mean she wd ot mean as done for, not yet.

  Taking a deep breath, she launched herself at the beast, bending just before it and pushing upright, the strength of her thigh muscles jetting her upwards. She leaped over the head, feeling a sharp horn rip down the back of her thigh. The adrenalin searing through her body numbed the pain and she landed on the back of the bucking beast.

  In one fleeting glance, she locked gazes with Fredrico where he stood with a blasting laser in his hands. He looked directly at her and gestured to her as he yelled, “Jump! Come to me!”

  Like that’s going to happen. This beast was after her, it was more than clear, and she was going to see it through to the end. Hell, it’s not like I’ve really got anything to lose, is it?

  Grabbing a handful of the coarse hair, she swung around on the huge, broad back until she faced the back of the beast’s head. One of the horns narrowly missed her as the huge head tossed and she flung herself low, kneeling and raising up her clasped hands, bringing the dagger down with brute force into the skull below her.

  It should have been a crippling, if not killing, blow. Rani could only swear as the beast bellowed in rage and threw itself against a rock wall, the jolt of it throwing her from its back to the ruins of the floor.

  Sharp pieces of broken rock slashed her arm, and even as she started to leap up, Veknor appeared before her, his hand grabbing her upper arm and dragging her away from the monstrous form that came whirling back to face them.

  “Veknor!” Fredrico’s voice cut through the panicked, clamouring voices filling the air. “Rani!”

  They whirled, but a massive claw lashed out and cut into the back of Rani’s leather vest, and in one lightening move she was yanked beneath the thrashing, clawed feet of the beast.

  Shit, I’m done for. Rani rolled into a ball, dodging the claws that stamped down in an attempt to crush her into the floor. Scarlet flew through the air, splattering the underside of the beast, and she wondered if it was her blood or the beast’s. Not that it mattered right now.

  A claw raked down her side, a heavy blow to the side of her breast, a crushing sensation to her shin, and Rani felt her wrist grabbed. Yanked out from under the beast, she thought she was finally free, but then the claws lashed out again, raking down her stomach and ripping through the leather bottom of the vest.

  In a last, desperate move, she looked back to see that it was Fredrico holding her wrist, Veknor coming up fast to reach for her. Evading his hand, ignoring the claws raking at her over and over, she wrenched the laser from Fredrico’s other hand and swung it back towards the beast. Everything seemed to stop. For one spilt second everything froze and she could see clearly. The aura around the scaled beast was black. Around it shadows swarmed, trying to get to it, but the black aura rebuffed them. Deep inside the aura but above the beast, shone a bright red. The life of the beast.

  Rani aimed, but before she could squeeze the laser trigger she was yanked back viciously, two bodies drawing her into their combined embrace. The stench of rotting flesh filled her nostrils and from between imprisoning arms she saw the tattered filthy hem of Phemar’s robe as he stepped before her. Flesh sizzled, putrid bits hitting the floor, and his voice rose high in the air, cutting through the screaming of people and the roaring of the beast.

  A hard hand clamped on her head, pressing the side of her face into a blood-streaked white shirt ’white sas Fredrico ordered harshly, “Close your eyes.”

  Instinctively she did so, but it didn’t stop the searing orange light that tore through the corridor from flashing behind her eyelids. The blast shook the corridor, sending tiny bits of stone shivering loose from the ceiling and crumbling around them.

  Unable to resist, Rani slitted open her eyes and from the corner she saw the beast explode in a black blast, the aura shattering like ice particles, and Phemar tipped his head back and absorbed it.

  He bloody absorbed the aura! Sucked it in, inhaled the life force, and his hellish pets, the horned shadows, roared in glee and tore into the shattered beast, snatching parts of it as it exploded, gobbling it down.

  Looked like it was a feast for a few.

  The dust settled, the firing of lasers stopped, and the horned shadows flickered around, sliding across walls. Screams still sounded, sobbing and cursing, and Rani felt Fredrico’s punishing hold on her ease. Veknor straightened up from where he was crouched over her, his arm sliding away from his protective hold across her chest. Blood coated his sleeve. Rani felt firm fingers grip her chin and lift her face up. Cold blue eyes swept across her face, a combination of fury and worry chasing across the handsome, ruthless face of the space pirate. Grimness settled over Fredrico’s features and he moved back slightly, his gaze sweeping across her body where she lay huddled against him.

  “You’re hurt.” She reached up and touched the bloodied shirt wet with scarlet liquid.

  “It’s your blood,” he stated bluntly.

  “Well, hell,” she said, and with that realization pain came searing back, enveloping her in a cloud of agony.

  Every part of her burned and now she could feel the blood slipping from her body from the gashes and gaping rips in
her flesh.

  “Concentrate.” Fredrico locked her gaze with his. “Stay with me.”

  “Try another order.” Black dots danced at the corners of her vision. “That one isn’t working.”

  Veknor reappeared as he draped a blanket across her bloodied, shivering body. “Phemar is already heading for his rooms. Let’s go.”

  Reaching up, Rani grabbed a fistful of Fredrico’s shirt, not really surprised to find her hold weak. “If I’m dying, you let me go, Fredrico. You hear me?” She coughed, blood spattering a fine sheen across his shirt front. “Don’t you let that bloody walking corpse come near me.”

  Lips tight, Fredrico straightened with her in his arms and she almost screamed aloud at the agony tearing through her body at the movement.

  Blood dripped off her fingers, rivulets trickling fast down her skin. “You listening, Fredrico?” Her voice was so damned weak. “Don’t you let him touch me with his rotting paws. I’m warning you, Freddy. One touch from those putrid hands and I’ll kill someone. You.”

  “Be quiet.” Jaw set, Fredrico strode along the corridor, kicking at a stone, and part of the wall slid open.

  Hazily she realized it was yet another hidden tunnel. “Fre - ”

  He glanced down and in the torches flaring to life along the walls she caught the grimness of his eyes, the ruthlessness in the set of his jaws. In that instance she knew he wouldn’t stop Phemar doing whatever it was he was going to do to save her.

  “Goddamn you,” she er you,”whispered, her head swimming.

  “Stop talking and stay awake.” His voice was like ice.

  Nausea roiled up, pain shooting through her with every step. His arms were firm, his hold steady, and he moved fast.

  Every breath she took became harder and she had to cough as blood filled her throat. She felt his arms tighten but he said nothing. Her vision darkened, a pounding started in her ears and she realized it was the thudding of her labouring heart. How hurt was she? She’d been kidding about dying, not really believing it, but now... Blood welled up, choking her, and she started to struggle for breath. Blood filled her lungs and then she was taken away.