Airwoman

by Zara Quentin

  The clouds passed over the moon again, casting the ground below in deep shadow. Jade circled, peering into the night.

  “I don’t see any sign of them,” Axel called out, his voice carrying on the wind.

  Jade shook her head. “Me neither.”

  “What do you want to do?” Axel asked, after a pause.

  “I can’t believe they’ve gone.” She peered into the shadows below, wary. The Portal was within reach now, and Jade felt an urgency to leave Premye. She looked at Axel. His brow was drawn into a frown as he, too, scanned the airspace. Finally, he shrugged.

  Jade took a breath, to still the trembling in her chest. It was time to seize the moment, to exploit the shadows and take a risk. “All right. Let’s go.”

  Knowing Axel would be at her back, she beat her wings twice and took off in the direction of the beach.

  As she drew closer, her lungs burned—she’d been holding her breath. Forcing herself to breathe, the silver strip of beach widened.

  It was bare.

  Last time she’d seen it, the beach had been covered with tents. Now, the sand stretched out from the tree line. Waves rolled in, creating lines of white foam as the water met the sand. Jade scanned all the way up and down the stretch of beach.

  She saw nothing.

  Jade looked at Axel, who circled around waiting for her signal to land. She took one more look to satisfy herself, then started her descent.

  Her feet sunk into the sand as she landed on the beach. She saw the black coal remnants of campfires, a few things left behind in haste. This was certainly the place they’d been, but the camp and its inhabitants were gone. Jade turned to see Axel coming up behind her.

  “They’ve left,” she said.

  “Certainly seems that way.” Axel’s mouth was pressed into a thin line.

  “Maybe this means the Premyans will be safe.”

  Axel said nothing.

  A twig snapped a short distance away from them. Jade spun around to face the tree line, dropping into a defensive crouch. She held a finger to her lips as she flashed a glance at Axel.

  “… should go back…”

  “…is our ticket right here. Freedom…”

  “They’ll know it was us…”

  “… won’t matter. We’ll have enough money to disappear…”

  Jade froze, listening to the words drifting towards them on the wind. Then the moon came out from behind the clouds, lighting up the two winged figures as they stepped out from the trees and onto the beach.

  Jade locked eyes with Glade, who held his bulky bag in front of him, securing it with white-knuckled fingers. Cajun stood a foot behind him.

  They all stood staring at each other in the moonlight. Nobody moved.

  “Look here,” Glade’s voice drifted across the sand to break the silence. “Two ghosts risen from the ashes.”

  Cajun sniggered.

  Glade started slowly edging around Jade and Axel, careful not to approach them, as he moved towards the Portal.

  “What do you have there?” Jade stared at the bag that Glade was clutching to his chest.

  Cajun drew his bow and aimed an arrow directly at her head. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  Jade’s fingers itched to draw her knife, but she didn’t want to make any sudden moves. Cajun was so close, Jade knew he wouldn’t miss. She felt the tension of Axel’s body as he stood behind her. He didn’t have a weapon in his hand, either, but as she glanced at him, she saw his fingers twitch slightly, just waiting for an opportunity to grab the knife at his belt.

  “Hands in the air,” Cajun said. “Both of you.”

  Jade slowly raised her hands above her head. Axel caught her eye and reluctantly raised his as well.

  “We won’t tell anyone you’re alive, if you forget you ever saw us.” Glade stared at Jade. He was still slowly moving around them, in a semi-circle, until Jade and Axel were no longer between himself and the Portal. Cajun was just a step behind him, keeping his weapon aimed directly at Jade’s forehead.

  “Why would you do that? You tried to kill me.” Jade couldn’t help but ask. Cajun jerked his head to indicate Glade should continue towards the Portal, while he took a step towards her. Glade kept going, without turning his back. He still held Jade’s eyes.

  “Everybody thinks you’re dead,” he said. “You should keep it that way. Take my advice: get out of here, find another world where no one knows you, and lay low. Forever.”

  A wave lapped over Glade’s feet where he now stood, his back facing the Portal. Cajun followed, keeping his weapon trained on Jade. She was fixed to the same spot, hands in the air, watching them.

  “Deal?” Glade asked. Jade’s eyes widened. She looked over to Axel, who was squinted at the duo, as though trying to work out what they were about.

  “You’re going to let us go?” Jade asked.

  “As long as you don’t breathe a word about us.”

  Jade swallowed. There was something going on here and it made her uneasy. She looked at Axel again, but he just shrugged. It was as though a warning started sounding in her head. Something was wrong with this deal. Something she didn’t see, couldn’t understand. But Jade had a strong feeling she should not agree. She shook her head.

  “Aaargh!” Jade yelled as an arrow whizzed by her head, so close that it nicked her ear. She clapped one hand over and felt the stickiness of blood. Before she could react, Axel sent his knife flying towards Cajun, who managed to jump sideways at the last moment. Cajun took the moment to dart towards Jade, grabbing her by the hair and pulling her in front of his body like a shield.

  “Try that again, mongrel,” he snarled at Axel. Axel slowly held both hands in the air, straightening up from the fighting crouch he’d assumed. Jade stumbled backwards, guided by the sharp pain at the roots of her hair where Cajun held her in a tight grip. Waves lapped at her feet as Cajun dragged her backwards into the water. Jade kicked one leg behind her with all the force she could muster, aiming for Cajun’s knees.

  Cajun cried out, but didn’t let go of her hair. Instead, with a yank that brought tears to her eyes, he pulled her farther backwards, then without warning, he pushed her head forwards to hold her face underwater. Jade struggled and kicked, desperate to get out of his grip, but Cajun held firm. He wasn’t giving an inch.

  Just as Jade thought she had drawn her last breath, Cajun yanked her head out of the water. She coughed and spluttered, desperately gulping down air. Her heart pounded in her chest and her mind whirled. Then she heard a splashing sound and Axel yelling.

  Dark clouds passed over the moon, shrouding them in darkness again.

  “Don’t say anything,” Cajun hissed in her ear. “Or I’ll find you and finish the job.” Before Jade had the opportunity to react, Cajun shoved her face underwater again.

  * * *

  Jade’s lungs were bursting, painfully desperate for air. Cajun held her face underwater. All she could see were the bubbles of her precious air escaping. She forced herself to calm and stopped thrashing, willing herself lifeless in the water. Slowly, she felt for the blow-darts at her belt.

  Her pounding heart marked the time passing. Jade hand closed around on of the darts, hoping she wasn’t touching the poison on the tip. Her lungs were on the verge of exploding; they screamed for air and Jade battled her instinct to fight Cajun’s grip on her. She counted slowly.

  Jade had almost given up when the pressure on her head lightened, just fractionally. It was the sign she’d been waiting for. She used that moment to swing her weight around to lash out at Cajun with the dart.

  Cajun removed the pressure on the back of her head as he flung himself backwards, away from her. Jade broke the surface, gasping for air. She looked around wildly.

  The night darkened, as clouds covered the moon again, but this time they were accompanied by the first drops of rain. Within a moment, the rain became a downpour and the sky rumbled with thunder.

  When the first sheet of lightening lit up the sky, it
framed Glade’s figure, hovering on the edge of the Portal. He watched her and Cajun with a torn look on his face.

  Jade heard Axel’s voice and whipped her head around to see him approaching. “Stop Glade!” Jade yelled out to Axel, pointing towards the Portal. She braced herself as Cajun squared his shoulders and lurched at her again. His wings were now wet and heavy, like hers, but he managed to shake them out a little as he rose above the water.

  Shorter than all of them, Jade’s wings were more submerged and she had trouble launching herself into the sky. She backed into shallower water and shook her wings, all the while keeping an eye on Cajun.

  His face was twisted into anger as he bore down on her. Jade splashed backwards, trying to avoid him, but he was quicker. This time, though, she was ready for him. As Cajun flew at her, reaching down to dunk her again, Jade stepped sideways and grabbed onto his leg to pull him into the water with her. It knocked him off balance and the two of them struggled in the water.

  Her hand still wrapped around the dart, Jade lashed out at his chest, but Cajun twisted and she missed. Jade splashed in the shallows, but avoided submerging her wings. When Cajun recovered and flung himself at her, Jade jumped into the air and beat her wings, hovering above him.

  She glanced around to see Axel approaching Glade, still hovering at the Portal. Glade yelled out to Cajun, but his words were barely audible over the now-deafening rain. Cajun gave him a brief look before focusing on Jade.

  There was another flash of lightening, followed quickly by a rumble of thunder. Cajun lunged out of the water, grabbing her ankle as Jade used her wings to manoeuvre herself backwards, shaking her foot to try to slip Cajun’s grip. But his hand was like a vice and his eyes were narrowed and fixed on her.

  “We’ve got what we want. You can’t protect your friend now,” he sneered at her, yanking on her ankle to wrench her toward him. Jade kicked out with her leg, blinking away the rain in her eyes, too busy to wonder what he was talking about.

  A cry from Axel distracted her and she looked over to where he and Glade faced off against each other. Just as Axel dove for Glade, he threw one last look at Cajun before disappearing into the clouds obscuring the Portal. Axel let out a yell of frustration and darted after him. Jade tore her eyes away as Cajun yanked on her foot again.

  Jade beat her wings frantically, straining to keep herself from being tugged farther into Cajun’s orbit.

  “Your so-called friend has abandoned you,” she said to Cajun. His eyes widened as he glanced quickly around to see the empty space where Glade had been. An uncertain look crossed his face. “He was using you. Now that he’s got what he wants, he’s left you for dead.”

  She kicked out at Cajun and this time she connected, taking advantage of his momentary distraction to free her foot from his grip.

  Cajun bared his teeth, “And where’s your mongrel, huh? You’ve been a prickle in our wings, Newbie, since the first day we met. Everyone thinks you’re dead. I’m going to make sure they’re right.”

  He launched himself viciously at her, shooting out of the water and reaching out for her with both hands. Another flash of lightening lit up the terrible expression on his face, as Jade reeled backwards. But he was swift and sure, quicker than her, and before she could react, his hands were gripping her shoulders.

  Cajun beat his wings, driving forwards, pushing her backwards. She fought against his grip, but he was stronger. He was pushing her down, Jade turned to see the water rushing up towards her. There was a crazy glee in Cajun’s eye and Jade knew he intended to drown her.

  Jade reached to where Cajun had her shoulders in a firm grip. He squeezed tighter and she had no chance to prise his fingers away.

  Instead, she gripped the dart she still held in her head and jabbed at Cajun with it.

  Cajun yelled out, letting go in surprise. His expression became furious and he lunged for her again, but Jade saw him shake his injured hand, and confusion passed over his face as he looked at it.

  In that moment of distraction, Jade lunged at him, jabbing at his chest with the red-tipped dart, then darting away again. Cajun roared as it pierced his skin. He reached for her, but his injured hand wouldn’t obey and slapped against her uselessly. With his non-injured hand, Cajun got a grip around her ankle. His hand had only just made contact when Cajun stopped moving and started to fall out of the sky.

  As lightening flashed again, Cajun fell backwards into the water with a splash.

  * * *

  “Are you all right?” Axel landed on the beach just behind where Jade was kneeling in the wet sand, little waves lapping at her legs. She panted, having dragged Cajun’s lifeless body out of the water to where he now lay still beside her.

  “Did you get Glade?” Jade looked up at Axel, who shook his head.

  “When I went into the Portal he’d disappeared. I don’t know what direction he took. He certainly didn’t make for Taraqa.”

  Jade frowned, but Axel shrugged. “Let him go. You’ve got bigger problems, remember?”

  She shook off a feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was terribly wrong. Jade nodded.

  Zorman, right.

  “Is he dead?” Axel pointed to Cajun lying in the sand.

  Jade shook her head. “Paralysed.”

  “Did you rescue him?”

  Jade sighed, then nodded.

  “He didn’t deserve it,” Axel said. He knelt down next to Jade and put an arm around her. Jade leaned into his embrace, her teeth chattering. The pouring rain made rivulets down the sides of her face. “Question is, do we take him back?”

  Jade chewed on her lip as she considered the question. “He tried to kill me. Three times.”

  “Yeah, you should’ve let him drown.”

  “So you think we should leave him here?”

  Axel shook his head. “He’ll give us away, if we take him back.” He sounded uncertain. “But if Travellers come back looking for him…”

  “It will put everyone in danger again—the Premyans, DivineOne and the yellow Eigot.” Jade finished for him.

  Another flash of lightening lit up Cajun’s face, now peaceful in its stillness. He looked innocent, lying there. Jade gritted her teeth.

  “We’ll take him back to Taraqa,” she said, spitting the words as though they tasted foul.

  “People will ask questions,” Axel warned, though Jade could tell by the look on his face that he agreed with her. Without waiting for a reply, he bent down to pick up Cajun, throwing his body over one of his shoulders with a grunt.

  I’ll go first. You follow,” Jade said to Axel as she leapt into the air and flew towards the Portal. Another flash of lightening illuminated the sky, followed by an almost simultaneous crash of thunder. It was the last thing Jade heard before she disappeared into the thick, dark silence of the Betwixt.

  28

  The flash of light disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving Jade blinded in the darkness. The air became more and more dense until Jade recognised the feeling of the thick, grainy suspension from the last time she’d journeyed the Betwixt. She blinked, looking around to make sure Axel had arrived behind her. He nodded to her and held up his free hand in a fist.

  This time, things felt different. She still had that sick, repulsed feeling in her stomach. It was still hard to wade through the soupy atmosphere. The complete silence was just as eerie.

  Now, though, her senses were not overwhelmed by these sensations. As she moved further into the Betwixt, Jade pushed those feelings aside and noticed other details.

  Firstly, it was very dark, but not completely so. Jade could see a little way ahead, and it was easier the longer she concentrated. Rather than an open, dark space, which was how Jade had imagined the Betwixt, Jade understood it was more like a maze, though the walls were neither solid nor static. Rather the atmosphere solidified more towards the ‘walls’ in the maze and became easier to tread in the ‘passages’. She had to use all her senses to navigate this place, including the way th
e atmosphere felt.

  She knew the smell of the air would change as she moved towards a Portal, but wasn’t sure how she was supposed to make sure it would be the one leading to Taraqa. Jade pushed with her wings, paddled with her arms and kicked with her legs—she had to use her whole body to move forwards here.

  She suddenly got a whiff of fresh air and her head snapped around to see where it was coming from. Waving her arm in a semi-circle in front of her, her arm passed through the thick atmosphere until it came up against something firmer: a ‘wall’. Dimly, Jade saw a lighter space: another ‘passage’ leading off this one. She paused, wondering whether this was the way she’d come from. Was this the right Portal?

  Then something caught her eye. Peering ahead, Jade saw what looked like a stamp suspended in the solidified atmosphere of the ‘wall’. It was too dim to see it properly. Instead, she ran a hand over the surface of the object, feeling the ridges, grooves and smooth sections intersecting in a pattern.

  It reminded her of something.

  She ran her fingers over the pattern again, trying to picture it in her mind. Stamps were the way the world of origin was identified at auctions. Consequently, Gariq Industries used the same symbols for internal paperwork. This particular one was the motif that denoted Merryne.

  Jade turned away from that passage and half-flew, half-swam forwards, looking behind her to make sure Axel was still following. He had fallen farther behind her and Jade could immediately tell why. Carrying the unconscious Cajun was not only weighing him down, but he could only use one arm to help him move through the stodgy atmosphere. Axel finally held up a fist again. Though the gap between them was opening up, Jade felt an uneasy urgency propelling her forward. She hesitated a moment longer, before turning her attention back to the ‘passage’ ahead of her. She’d moved a little farther along when Jade sensed the atmosphere thicken so much that it almost paralysed her, mid stroke. With effort, she backed up until it thinned out again, and waved an arm in a semi-circle around her, to detect where the path might lead.