Red Sky in the Morning (The Covenant of the Rainbow Book 1)

by Elana Brooks

  He was ready for her this time. As she reached for the deepest hidden recesses of his mind, he blocked her and went for the corresponding parts of her psyche. No matter how valiantly you play at being a warrior, it doesn’t change who you truly are. You’ll always be ugly and weak and selfish.

  You’re wrong, she told him, worming her way around his blocks. He could wall off specific incidents and information, but feelings and sensations weren’t so easily concealed. She felt something, buried deep, right at the center of his being. She threw all the combined strength the soul bond gave her into her search.

  He dredged up all the old, familiar emotions and sent them in waves against her. Loathing of her fat, weak body. Helplessness in the face of her cravings. Fear that sent her running from any threat. Shame that made her hide her true self from the world.

  She batted his attacks away impatiently as she delved. Could he find nothing new to use against her? How many times must she deal with these same tired old boogeymen? She felt as if she’d been behind the scenes at the haunted house and seen all the ghouls that used to frighten her for the papier-mâché and cardboard props they were.

  Patiently, as if to a child, she explained. I don’t care if I’m ugly. Adrian thinks I’m beautiful, and he’s the only one whose opinion matters to me. My body used to be weak, but I’m working on making it stronger. And my mind, my spirit, were never weak. I don’t always cope with my emotions in the healthiest ways, but I’ve learned a lot about how to do it better, and I’ll keep on learning.

  And I’m selfish enough to hold on to what’s mine. You can’t have me, or my lover, or my world. I won’t let you.

  Sarthex faltered before her certainty, and a dark wisp of memory escaped his control. Beverly caught it, let it expand to fill her mind, and reflected it back at him.

  He darted from the jaws of a monster far larger than he, straining every muscle to reach the shelter of a narrow crevice in the rocks. Screams filled his ears and mind, one by one abruptly silenced as the predator snapped up the rest of the group that had banded together for what safety numbers could offer. They’d died instead of him because he was just a little faster, just a little stronger. He cowered in the crack, razor teeth raking within inches of his body. Terror wracked him until he involuntarily defecated. He buried his face beneath his fins, whimpering.

  Sarthex fought, but Beverly was stronger. She forced the images into his mind. She was the ravenous carnivore, he the helpless, terrified young. She battered at the rocks, knocking away chips, enlarging the crack bit by bit. At any moment her jaws would reach into his refuge and devour—

  Sarthex broke. Beverly opened her eyes to see the tip of his tail vanish into the floor as he fled.

  Adrian called to the others, “He’s going back to his body. If we’re fast we can catch him.”

  “Let him go.” Was it pity for the terrified, vulnerable young Sarthex that prompted her words? If so, it was quickly replaced by more practical concerns. “He’s outside the telepathy block already. Pretty soon the whole ship will be after us. We have to escape.”

  Rabbi Sensei blocked an attack by one of the few remaining Order Police. “I agree. Come.” He flashed through the wall into space.

  Beverly paused to throw containment fields around the surviving Seraphim. She was no longer surprised at the way her strength easily overpowered their attempts at resistance. Adrian joined her efforts, picking up the necessary technique from her mind. The knowledge she’d gleaned from Sarthex included the fact that, once established, the field would persist until someone outside its effects shut it down.

  When all their enemies were safely disabled, they darted after the others. Steve flashed out of camouflage long enough for them to spot him, then became a patch of stars with just enough fuzzy glow to allow them to follow. Beverly and Adrian disguised themselves and hurried to rendezvous with the others in a seemingly empty patch of space midway between the ship and the ring of guards.

  “We’ll have to fight our way past the guards,” Adrian panted. “It shouldn’t be too hard.”

  “No need. Miheel will let us out,” Steve said. “He let us in.”

  Surprise made Adrian pause for a moment before he shook it off and went on. “All right. But we can’t let them suspect him, no matter what. Not after everything we’ve done to keep the Bleaters’ involvement secret.” Adrian’s voice was grim.

  “Agreed.” The patch of stars that was Rabbi Sensei zoomed away.

  Miheel flashed into his true form as they approached. “All of you are alive and unharmed? Praise God. Go quickly—they’re organizing a pursuit. Commander Sarthex has called for the rest of the Ex-castes to join him. None of them have the range to follow you all the way to your planet, but they can go at least as far as the orbit of your fifth planet, the biggest one. Sarthex probably farther.”

  “We understand.” Rabbi Sensei touched his fin briefly. “Thank you, my friend.”

  Adrian hesitated. “Can you make it back to your body in time if your tether breaks out here?”

  “Yes.” Miheel dipped his head. “That’s why the guard sphere is set at this radius. As long as I don’t linger, I’ll have a generous margin.”

  “Good. You can sound the alarm and let the ones who respond see you retreating. That way they won’t suspect you. Are you sure there’s nothing else that could blow your cover?”

  Miheel rippled his fins. “Rafeel’s report of the altered time of Fereel’s death was accepted without question. The assumption that you were using him to gain information seems well established.”

  Beverly felt some of the tension go out of Adrian’s mind and body. “I hope you and the other Bleaters stay safe. Don’t risk yourselves unnecessarily. Sarthex and the rest will be tough enemies, but we’ve proven we can match them.” He reached for Miheel’s fin. “With your help, I’m sure we can save Earth. And I promise, we’ll do our best to save your people, too. Somehow. There’s got to be a way.”

  “If it’s possible, we could ask no greater reward for our help.” Miheel stiffened and glanced in the direction of the ship. “They’re coming. Hurry.” He turned to display his undefended tether to Adrian.

  Adrian hesitated a moment, then threw his arms around Miheel’s body in a full-fledged human hug. Miheel seemed flustered for a moment, but he awkwardly folded his upper fins around Adrian’s shoulders.

  Adrian pulled away and summoned a ball of energy. “Until next time, my friend.” He tossed the ball and neatly severed Miheel’s tether.

  Miheel waved his fins. “May God watch over you until then. Now go.” He fell back, and his voice blared in Beverly’s mind. Alarm! Alarm! The aliens are here! He hurled a dozen balls of energy at them, carefully sending all of them wide of the mark.

  Beverly joined the others as they sped away. A quick glance back showed other guards streaking to join Miheel, who pointed out their direction and threw more energy their way before falling back toward the ship. The rest of the guards zoomed in pursuit. Beyond them, a group of larger Seraphim emerged from the ship and quickly overtook the guards. Gradually but inexorably they closed the distance to the fleeing humans.

  Beverly turned her face toward the bright star that was the Sun and devoted all her energy to speed.

  Even at the incredible speeds possible for their astral forms, their progress through the solar system felt like a crawl to Adrian. He tried to be encouraged at this evidence of the vast distance the Seraphim ship still must cross before it reached Earth. But at the moment all he cared about was whether they would reach the limits of their pursuers’ range before the slightly faster Seraphim caught them.

  It was a near thing. Steve’s calculations indicated they were well inside the orbit of Jupiter and the Seraphim were less than a mile behind before one slowed to a stop and abandoned the chase. After that, the others reached their limits in rapid succession. At last only Sarthex remained.

  The Seraph’s voice burst into Adrian’s head, breaking the long silence. Don�
��t think you’ve won. This was only the first round. Many remain before the match is decided.

  Before he could react and stop her, Beverly dropped back, reverted to her true form, and turned to face Sarthex. We’ve taken your measure now. We no longer fear you, because we’ve seen that we’re stronger.

  His laugh carried across space. You’re not the only one who can learn from your defeats and strengthen your areas of vulnerability. I must thank you for showing me a place where I was still weak. No longer. I’d nearly forgotten that incident, but now I’ve studied the memory until it holds no more terror for me.

  A brief image of the cowering young Seraph flashed in Adrian’s mind’s eye, as stripped of emotion as any nature documentary. It was one of many experiences that taught me a vital truth. Only if I became the strongest, the fastest, the most powerful in mind and body, only if the lives of others meant nothing to me, could I hope to live. All of us learn that lesson in our first years of life, or we die. That's why we’ll defeat you. Because we’ll do whatever it takes to survive.

  Rabbi Sensei’s voice was as calm and respectful as always. We also will do what we must to survive.

  They had all resumed human form and slowed until they were nearly at a standstill. Now Sarthex moved a little closer. Adrian watched him, wary, but the Seraph stopped well out of range of lobbed energy. Although I have no doubt we’ll triumph in the end, war between our peoples will extract a high price from both sides. Perhaps we might instead reach an agreement which allows both our peoples to survive.

  Adrian blinked. God, they really had scared Sarthex, if he was offering to negotiate.

  Rabbi Sensei inclined his head. We’ll listen to your proposal.

  Sarthex stared at him. If you don’t oppose us further, I’ll delay the transformation of your world for a short time—perhaps as long as one of your years. This will allow you the opportunity for an orderly transfer of your population to areas that won’t be affected. We’ll conduct the desalination of the oceans gradually, over a period of approximately ten years, so your remaining landmasses will suffer minimal impact. We’ll negotiate treaties which give control of the land to your people and control of the oceans to mine. He dipped his snout a fraction of an inch.

  “That’s a huge concession for him,” Adrian whispered to Rabbi Sensei. “We really made an impression.”

  “I see that,” Rabbi Sensei murmured. He gave Sarthex a deep bow. We recognize the generosity of your proposal. However, we cannot accept those terms. We offer you a counterproposal in return. If you agree to refrain from attempting to alter the oceans of Earth, by the addition of cometary water or by any other means, we’ll allow your ship to complete its deceleration without interference and assume a stable orbit around our planet, where you may remain as long as you choose. I don’t speak for the governments of Earth, but I believe those who do can be persuaded to allow any Seraphim who wish to disembark from your ship and take up residence in our oceans. It’s my understanding that the natural level of salinity isn’t harmful to adult Seraphim, but only your young. Our scientists will work with yours to discover a way your population can establish a successful reproductive cycle. Perhaps a single lake or landlocked sea could be dedicated to your people’s use. Or perhaps your species could be genetically altered to increase your young’s tolerance of salt. We would be willing—

  But Sarthex’s tail was thrashing and his fins rippling. His voice drowned out Rabbi Sensei’s. Your so-called “proposal” is an insult. Our young must have the freedom of the entire ocean. Nothing less is acceptable. And we will never agree to genetic alteration. That wouldn’t preserve our species, but destroy it and create another in our place. His mental voice rose in frustration. I lowered myself to bargain with you, but you refuse to reach a reasonable compromise. Therefore, we will proceed with our original plans. We’ll meet any resistance with all force necessary to eliminate it.

  The Seraph turned away with an elaborate flick of his lowest set of fins.

  Adrian froze, then grabbed Rabbi Sensei’s arm. “That’s an insult,” he hissed. “You have to protest!”

  Rabbi Sensei frowned at him. “Can we not let a petty insult pass?”

  “No! I saw how it works. He was treating us as equals, but now he’s implying we’re a lower caste than he is. If we accept without protest, we’re conceding it’s true. It would be a huge loss of face for us—he’d never respect us again.”

  The others clustered close to hear the whispered conversation. Steve’s brow was drawn into a crease, but Keiko nodded. “He honors Beverly because she defeated him. We can’t lose that by allowing him to shame her.”

  Adrian clenched his fists, wishing there were time to share his memories so that they would see. “It was so important Miheel risked blowing our cover over it when I screwed up. You saw how Sarthex’s attitude changed. If we insist that he continue to accept us as Ex-castes, he might eventually be willing to negotiate more, even reach a compromise. Otherwise he’ll be determined to destroy us.”

  Rabbi Sensei regarded him, frowning. Beverly hovered behind Adrian’s shoulder, silently backing him up, although he could tell she understood the point no more than Rabbi Sensei did. But she trusted he knew what he was talking about.

  At last Rabbi Sensei inclined his head. “Very well.”

  He turned to the slowly retreating Sarthex. Wait. I’m informed that the gesture you performed signifies you no longer esteem us as your equals. We must insist that you withdraw the implication.

  Sarthex turned with a haughty air. But Adrian detected a note of satisfaction in his manner. He swallowed. Had he just played right into the Seraphim Commander’s hands?

  Sarthex’s yellow eyes studied them. Your informant is correct. What are you willing to do to redress the insult and prove that you deserve to be considered the equal of an Ex-caste? Among my people, such matters can be settled only by combat. Will one of you meet me in a duel of honor? I know the concept isn’t foreign to your people.

  I will. Beverly glared at him. I’d love to beat you again.

  Rabbi Sensei put a hand on her arm. If anyone is to fight for the honor of Earth and the Covenant, it will be me. He inclined his head to Sarthex. Name your terms. If we decide they’re to our advantage, we may accept.

  Sarthex swam through space, regarding them all with a shrewd gaze. Single combat, one of you against me. None of the rest of you will interfere. I’d thought to fight the strongest of you, but if you prefer to substitute another, I’ll allow it. If your champion defeats me, you may kill me if you so choose. I don’t know which of my subordinate Ex-castes will replace me as Commander, but they’re all weaker than I am. You’ll increase your chances of winning this war you’re determined to fight.

  Rabbi Sensei nodded once, sharply. What else?

  If I defeat your champion, I may kill him if I so choose. You’ll have upheld your honor by defending it, and I’ll acknowledge you as fellow Ex-castes. You’ll return to your planet, and I to my ship. You’ll continue to make whatever feeble attempts to oppose my conquest of your planet you’re able to contrive. At some point in the future, if your resistance becomes a sufficient nuisance, I may be willing to negotiate further.

  Rabbi Sensei didn’t hesitate. I agree to your terms. Allow me a moment to confer with my companions, and then we’ll begin.

  Of course. Sarthex fell back a little, a satisfied expression on his face.

  Steve balled his fists and rounded on Rabbi Sensei. “What do you think you’re doing? He’s obviously got some scheme. He knows he can’t fight all of us together, so he’s baiting you into facing him alone.”

  “That’s why the rest of you must depart for Earth immediately, without remaining to observe the duel. I can draw it out long enough that you’ll all be far beyond his range by the time it’s over.”

  He turned to take both Keiko’s hands in his. She stared at him with huge, liquid eyes. “No,” she whispered.

  “My love, you must go. I’ll return to yo
u if I can. If not, you know my wishes.”

  She closed her eyes and nodded.

  Rabbi Sensei turned to Adrian. “Will he keep his word?”

  Helplessly Adrian shrugged. “Honor is important to them, but they don’t mean exactly the same things by it we do. I don’t know if he’ll consider his promises binding.”

  Rabbi Sensei shook his head. “No matter. We have little to lose by this, and much to gain.”

  “Little to lose?” Beverly raised her hands as if to grab him. “He’s going to kill you!”

  “If he can defeat me,” Rabbi Sensei said with a grim smile. “He won’t find it easy.”

  Adrian wanted to believe that, but he’d fought his mentor often enough to have a good idea of his abilities. He was strong, but Beverly was stronger. If she’d barely held her own against Sarthex with Adrian’s help, Rabbi Sensei would have little chance alone.

  “I know he’s telling the truth in one thing, at least,” Rabbi Sensei went on. “If I can kill him, whoever replaces him will almost certainly be easier for the Covenant to defeat. If I can achieve that, as well as ensuring that the rest of you return safely to Earth, I’ll have struck a mighty blow against the Seraphim. Well worth whatever it might cost me.”

  He held Adrian’s gaze until Adrian was forced to drop his eyes beneath his mentor’s calm resolve. One by one he did the same to the others. Steve stared back the longest before relenting with a grunt. Beverly hunched her shoulders and turned away, scrubbing her eyes. Keiko looked away after only a brief glance.

  Rabbi Sensei kissed her cheek. “Sayonara, my beloved. Until we meet again. Now go. Go!”

  He watched as she drifted slowly away and the others grudgingly followed. Adrian kept his head turned back over his shoulder, watching. Rabbi Sensei approached Sarthex and made a deep bow, as was customary at the beginning of a karate match. “Let us—”