Just as the Fraken dropped her, Melody had worked a hand free from the bindings. She tugged on the remaining binding, the cold numbing the pain as she wrenched her hand free. She grabbed her ankle binding, and a foot slipped free, allowing her to move more easily.
She peered into the gloom and saw a pale blue face drifting away from her. It was Urel, and there was no way he could keep himself afloat with his hands and feet tied. Without hesitating, she dived into the water, even though her senses screamed for her to get to the surface and take in air.
But Melody had to save him, or all this would be for nothing. If Urel died, the plan Lazet was working on with his warrior friends would be ruined.
Melody kicked her legs as she glided through the water, so numb now, she could barely feel anything. She grabbed Urel’s bound wrists, looped them over her arm, and began swimming in the opposite direction. Her lungs burned, and she battled against the desire to inhale. If she swallowed too much water, she couldn’t help anyone.
Her knuckles smashed against ice. She was so close to the surface. Melody bashed her head into the ice and felt it give, allowing a tiny, valuable breath of air to fill her lungs. She went under again and felt around the ice for the hole she’d made with Urel when they were dropped.
But it wasn’t there. She slid farther along and felt around again. They couldn’t be far from it, there was no current in the water, so they wouldn’t have drifted. But she only needed to be inches off target, and she’d never find her way out.
Melody slammed her head into the ice again and managed to gulp another tiny bit of air.
Urel was out cold, and she feared it might be too late for him, but refused to let him go. But he was heavy and kept pulling her down, his kaftan soaked through, acting like an anchor trying to bury itself into the riverbed. She kicked her legs continuously to keep them close to the surface, so close to getting out.
This could be the end for her, but she wasn’t going to let the Fraken beat her. Melody began smashing her fist into the ice, desperately trying to find a thin piece to break. She smashed again and again, pain flashing through her hand as bone splintered and flesh tore.
But it was no good; the ice held, and Urel grew heavier. Forcing the ice up with her head one final time, Melody grabbed another gulp of air before beginning to sink. Urel’s weight was taking her down, as was the exhaustion in her limbs. She just couldn’t keep fighting.
***
Lazet lay flat on the surface of the ice, his breath rasping out of him, as he searched for signs of Melody and Urel beneath the ice. Just a bubble of air or a flash of Melody’s red hair, that’s all he needed. He shoved his hands into the hole they’d made when they plunged into the icy water and felt around for as long as he could, but his fingers swiftly grew numb, and he couldn’t feel anything that touched him.
He hated himself; he’d let them both down, and he’d failed Axen. He’d lost the woman who sent his feelings into overdrive, who challenged him and stood up to him. And he’d lost Urel, the vital link in bringing down the Fraken games.
Lazet pressed his ear flat on the ice, hoping to hear sounds of movement, but they’d been under too long. Without air, they’d be dead by now. Deorg had the ability to survive without oxygen for several minutes, but he knew how fragile humans were. Melody could be sinking as he lay there, her beautiful pale limbs floating lifelessly as she sunk away from him. A part of him wanted to dive into the water, too, but then all three of them would be dead. Maybe that was the better way. Axen would want him dead for failing them all.
He pressed himself down onto the ice again, ignoring the way his flesh stuck to it. He paused and his breath hitched in his chest. There was a dull thudding noise beneath him; could it be Melody? Pulling a blade from his harness, Lazet dug into the ice, and huge chunks flew out. He repeated the action several times, each time hacking a bigger gash. He kicked the ice with his boot as well, as he tried to make an airway. Please let it be Melody; please let her survive this.
Lazet’s muscles tensed as he repeatedly smashed into the ice, and his fist joined his blade and boot, pounding into the frozen water, determined to get Melody out.
Water flooded through the ice; he was through. Lazet threw aside his blade and punched the hole. Water spattered through it, and he yanked out handfuls of ice as the hole grew large enough for a person to get through.
His stomach churned when Melody didn’t appear. There was no sign of her. Had he been mistaken?
Lazet plunged an arm up to the shoulder into the water and felt around. There was no one down there. He was too late.
But he wouldn’t give up. Lazet dug a blade into the ice, held onto it with one hand, and plunged his head into the water. He looked around, but it was dark, and he could barely see anything. A flash of something red caught his eye. It was Melody’s hair; it had to be.
Lazet leaned in farther and beat his arm in the water, trying to get her attention. He had to hope she was still conscious and had the strength to get back to him.
His heart raced as he felt the brush of fingers against his arm. He leaned in farther still, risking tipping all the way through the hole, and grabbed hold of whatever had touched him. It was an arm, it had to be her.
Lazet gritted his teeth, straining against the weight of two waterlogged bodies. His muscles burned and a tendon popped, but he kept pulling; he would never let go of Melody again.
He roared in agony as muscles tore, but suddenly, it was all worth it. Melody was there, collapsed on top of him. And she wasn’t alone; she had Urel with her.
Chapter 18
Melody sucked in a huge gulp of air. It had never felt so good to breathe. She coughed and threw up a stomach full of icy water. Her throat burned and her stomach cramped, but she was alive, and Lazet had gotten her out.
“Urel,” she choked out, not taking her gaze from Lazet. “Is he...”
Lazet was looking down at her, an expression of shock and surprise on his face. “I haven’t checked.”
“See to him.” Melody coughed again and rolled onto her knees.
“How are you?” asked Lazet.
“Breathing,” said Melody. “Urel. Now.”
After a second of hesitation, Lazet turned away from Melody and leaned over the unconscious body of Urel. “He’s also breathing.”
“I don’t know how he’s still alive,” said Melody. “He didn’t get access to any air under the ice.”
“And you did?” Lazet pivoted back to her and wiped her sodden hair from her face, his fingers hovering over a gash on her forehead.
“A few gulps when I managed to move the ice.”
“How did you do that?”
“I head-butted it,” said Melody. “My fist came in handy as well.” She held aloft her smashed, puffy hand.
“You’ve broken bones.” Lazet cupped Melody’s blue looking hand in his. Blood and ripped skin showed how hard she’d fought to get out.
“They can be fixed,” said Melody. “I can still run with a broken knuckle. You need to get Urel awake, though; his lips are blue.”
“They’re always blue.”
Melody shook her head. “I mean bluer than usual.”
“So are your lips,” said Lazet. “And that isn’t normal. How did you manage to keep hold of him under the ice?”
“It wasn’t so hard,” said Melody, her arm throbbing where her shoulder had almost dislocated. “He’s still bound, so I looped him around me.”
“You’re extraordinary.” Lazet kissed her cheek.
Melody pulled back. “What was that for?” Less than an hour ago, he’d rejected her.
“A reward for being so resilient.”
Melody shrugged. “I’m nothing special.”
“You need to stop saying that.” Lazet turned back to Urel, who made a groaning noise. “He’s coming around.”
“We have to get off this ice,” said Melody.
Lazet slapped Urel on the back and pulled him into a sitting position. “We d
o. The Fraken are not going to like what we’ve just done.”
“They’re going to hate you.” Melody grinned at him. “You’ve spoiled their fun.”
“That was all your doing,” said Lazet. “You’re the one who refuses to die.”
Melody turned her gaze to the sky and raised her voice. “I hope I’ve cost you a whole heap of e-credits by surviving. You’d better watch out. I’m going to destroy this whole game. You’re not going to have anything left by the time I’ve finished with you.”
“Maybe now isn’t such a good time to insult the Fraken,” said Lazet as he helped Urel to his feet. “How are you doing, my friend?”
Urel nodded and coughed. “Cold, but breathing. Not sure I can walk.”
“Are you scared of the Fraken?” Melody spun towards Lazet, adrenaline setting her veins on fire. She felt indestructible. She’d just beaten the Fraken.
“There’s a time for doing these things,” said Lazet. “And stuck out on the ice in the middle of a Fraken game isn’t one of them.”
“You are scared of them! There I was, thinking you’re some fearless warrior, and you’ve been beaten down by Fraken scum.”
“Not here.” Lazet picked Urel up from the ice and slung him over one shoulder, before grabbing Melody by the arm. “We need to get out of here. We’re vulnerable on this ice. The Fraken could do anything to us.”
“And we’d still beat them,” said Melody. “Well, I would. I’m not so sure about you anymore.”
“Move.” Lazet shoved Melody across the ice and stalked ahead of her.
She shoved him back almost as hard. “But we beat them.”
“This is just a tiny part of one of their games,” said Lazet as he continued walking. “If you hadn’t been stupid enough to get yourself picked up by them, we wouldn’t even be here.”
“I wasn’t picked up by them.” Melody ran and slid across the ice to keep up with Lazet. “A Fraken jumped me. I didn’t know he was out there.”
“Because you weren’t paying attention,” said Lazet. “You stormed away from the cave without waiting to talk to me. You put yourself at risk, and you put me and Urel in danger.”
Melody glowered at Lazet’s back. “How was I to know they’d have one of your friends in this game?”
“Don’t put anything past the Fraken,” said Lazet. “They will do everything they can to beat us.”
“Looks like they’ve already beaten you,” grumbled Melody.
Lazet grabbed hold of her arm and yanked Melody to him, pressing his mouth to her ear. “They haven’t, but we have to remain cautious. We’re relying on others to get out, and if we push our luck too far, we’ll get ourselves destroyed before we get free.”
“You’re probably not even telling me the truth.” Melody shoved Lazet in the chest. “This is just some stupid game to you. Why should you care about my life?”
“Someone has to.” Lazet grabbed her arm again, and they continued walking until they reached the edge of the lake.
Melody kept flashing glares at Lazet, her muscles twitching from the flood of adrenaline still running through her. What did he know about her life? Who was he to assume that she couldn’t help herself? Sure, he’d helped her out a couple of times, but he’d also scared and humiliated her.
Well, no more. Melody was going to look after herself from now on. She paused as they reached the icy edge and saw the belloc standing by the water, its big dark eyes fixed on her.
“He’s coming with us.” She walked forward and wrapped an arm around the belloc, feeling his body tremble as she touched him.
“It’s an injured baby,” said Lazet. “He’ll be dead by the morning.”
“I know he’s injured. I found him,” said Melody.
“What do you mean?” Lazet adjusted his grip on Urel.
“When I was walking through the trees, he came out. His leg had been damaged, so I used a Healing Stick on him.”
Lazet groaned. “You fell into the Frakens’ trap. They planted that baby in the woods for you to find. They knew you’d help him.”
“They don’t know that about me,” said Melody.
“Yes, they do,” said Lazet. “Fraken study their prey. They know about human weaknesses. They’d have known you would stop and help an injured animal.”
Melody tightened her grip on the belloc and felt his small body lean into hers.
“The Fraken are as smart as they are cruel,” said Lazet. “The baby stays here. He will only slow us down.”
“No, he comes with us.”
Lazet glared at Melody. “You are so stubborn.”
“And you’re so heartless.”
Lazet shook his head. “Fine. But you’re in charge of that creature. And if it gets you killed, then that’s your fault.”
“Fine by me,” said Melody. “I’d rather die saving this creature than your alien backside.”
Lazet snorted, turned away, and walked into the trees with Urel still over his shoulder, ignoring his feeble protests to put him down.
Melody stroked her hands over the soft belloc’s fur. This baby needed her help; she wasn’t going to turn him away. But she did feel a twinge of guilt over what she’d said. She would help Lazet if he needed it. He had helped her on numerous occasions, including just now by dragging her out of a freezing death.
“Come on, baby,” said Melody as she gently lifted the belloc into her arms. “We need to see what the Fraken have in store for us next.”
***
Lazet strode ahead, his anger at Melody’s stubbornness mixed with admiration. She’d almost died, been seconds from drowning, but as soon as she was out of the water, she was fighting again. She’d hurled insults at her captors, fought against him, and then insisted on saving the life of an injured animal. Melody didn’t give up, even though she must be exhausted and terrified.
He slowed his pace and could already hear Melody chasing after him through the trees. They needed to get somewhere dry, or she’d freeze to death, as would Urel.
“No need to wait for me,” said Melody, her breath gasping out of her.
“Of course there is,” said Lazet. “We’re in this together, even though you fight hard to deny that.”
“I do okay on my own,” said Melody.
“But you don’t have to,” said Lazet. “I didn’t mean to yell at you, but we had to get away from such an exposed position. But you were right; you did beat the Fraken. They will hate you for what you’ve done, though, and they’ll be after you. So, we need to be on our guard. No more chasing off into the night when we have a disagreement.”
“Is that an apology?”
Lazet shot her a glare, but his expression softened as he saw how badly she was shaking. “As good as you’re ever going to get from me.”
Melody was silent as they walked side by side. “I might have let my temper get the better of me back there. I was just glad to be alive. Glad we’d ruined the Frakens’ plans.”
“Is that an apology?” Lazet smiled at Melody.
Melody shook her head but returned his smile. “Do you really think they injured this belloc to get to me?”
“I do,” said Lazet. “It’s a favorite tactic of the Fraken, putting a distraction into a game to take the prey’s attention elsewhere. I’ve caught several of my prey when they’ve done that. Not that I’ve really needed the distraction to catch them.”
“Of course not,” said Melody. “You’re such a ruthless killer.”
“Best you don’t forget that,” said Lazet.
Melody snorted. “We will inflict so much pain on the Fraken when we get out of here.”
“That’s the plan,” said Lazet.
“And when will that be?”
“When Axen decides it’s going to happen,” said Lazet.
Urel cleared his throat. “May I be put down now?”
Lazet placed Urel’s feet on the ground. “Can you walk?”
“I should think so.” Urel looked over at Melody. “It will no
t be long now before our release.”
“We just have to wait?” asked Melody. “There’s nothing we can do to help?”
“Axen will be watching this game, along with the other warriors,” said Lazet. “He’ll see the situation has grown desperate.”
“So, it could be soon?” asked Melody.
“Let’s hope so.” Lazet slowed and looked at the belloc in Melody’s arms. “But we have a couple of problems to deal with first.”
Melody glowered and moved away from Lazet. “You’re not taking this baby from me.”
“It will only slow you down,” said Lazet. “Are you willing to die for that animal?”
“He’s defenceless.”
“So are you,” said Lazet.
“You know that’s not true,” said Melody.
Lazet smirked. “You do have some basic skills, but if you’re trying to defend yourself and that animal, it’s going to lead to problems for you.”
“You worry about looking after yourself, and I’ll worry about this animal,” said Melody. “And I need to give him a name.”
Urel stifled a chuckle behind one hand and looked away.
“No names,” said Lazet. “There’s no point in getting attached.”
“But I want to,” said Melody. “I had to leave my animals when I left Earth.”
“You kept animals?”
“Any that turned up at my door,” said Melody. “I was known in the district I lived in for being something of an animal whisperer.”
“What’s that?”
Melody smiled. “Basically, someone too soft hearted for their own good when it comes to anything with feathers or fur. I took in injured or underfed animals, and there are a lot on Earth. People often abandoned them because they couldn’t afford to feed them. It would break my heart to see a poor, skinny cat stumbling through the wreckage of some home that had once been theirs. I rented space off a neighbor and used it as a refuge.”
Lazet (Vortex Alien Warriors Book 2) Page 12
