by Debbie Behan
A Knight’s Struggle
Kayden hadn’t allowed the team to dismount. Time was of the essence and after talking to Captain Rogers, he wasn’t sure if they could prevent the damage that the pending Supernova was now predicted to do, in its condition and current path it was on. This news wasn’t what Kayden wanted to hear. Mounting Zoltan, he directed him to follow the new coordinates he had just been given.
He relayed his team the bad news by telepathy in case someone was listening in on their conversation. He knew most of them had the technology to do so and didn’t want a bunch of rulers going off half-cocked, thinking they might have lost control of the situation.
Captain Rogers has had a report that a Comet has just passed by the deployed Supernova travelling around 30 000 miles an hour. The heat projecting from the Comet would have to be well over 3000 degrees Celsius. It’s not only knocked our Supernova off course, but the massive heat injection has sped up the death star’s expiry time, he relayed to the team. Kayden looked around and could hear it in the distance before it was even in sight. Something’s not right, guys. It sounds all wrong. It sounds unpredictable, so brace yourselves. Expect the unexpected. If it blows before we reach it, slip into clean up mode and get whatever Cassie misses. We can’t let any of the iron shards reach the constellations. He glanced over at Cassie and she looked as cool as a cucumber, already powering up. It sounds ready to explode, Cassie so be careful and once you’ve tossed the thing to the coordinates I’ve given you, get the hell out of here and wait back over near the Pyxis constellation for us, okay?
She opened her eyes and nodded. He could only just see her through the haze. She was glowing like the brightest star in the sky and when he called out, she threw her arms up towards the Supernova. At the same time, there was an explosion. Cassie was so busy concentrating on moving the Supernova, she never noticed it as it was not in her vision. Kayden spotted it and tensed.
Cassie! Break left! he ordered, at the same time instructing Zoltan to move Starburst for her if she was unable to do it quick enough. She hadn’t seen the piece of the outer casing that had exploded from the nova but could see it now, hurtling towards her at the speed of thousands of kilometres an hour.
Cassie did as she’d been instructed. However, the shard still sliced her arm and the impact caused her power source to waver. She screamed out with pain as it bit through her skin and even though hurting, she still kept her concentration on the nova and tossed it out to the intended destination, the force of her reaction breaking the wound open that she thought had been sealed by the heat of the offending object.
Kayden sent the boys off after the Supernova.
Cassie, will you be okay for a few minutes? We have to get this.
She nodded, holding on to where the shrapnel had sliced into her and stopping the pain to a certain degree.
That’s right, Cassie, keep pressure on it. Just give me five.
She gave him a signal to get going. He knew his little brave soldier would hold strong until she felt his arms around her and he shot off after the team. Zoltan picked up speed, taking control, enabling him to take a second to look back to check on her. The hot shard that sliced her should have cauterised the wound. He wondered if it must have cooled a bit before it hit her, unless she had overused her powers and opened it up, as she was bleeding profusely, blood floating in the nothingness around her. She had the most sensitive skin he had ever known and he felt for her as he watched her rip the string from her corset top. As she did a new one appeared making her smile, and him too, as she quickly wrapped it around her arm to try and control the bleeding. As he returned his vision to his men, he saw there were more steel chards flinging from the nova in all directions, and his horse carefully navigated around the danger. Worried they were in the thick of it he picked up speed to get free, his senses picking up before he heard the explosions around him. A quick glance back towards Cassie again, saw her using her other hand to blow them into powder before they could reach him or do any damage.
Cassie, no commander could be any more proud of you than I am right now, he communicated to her as she fought bravely. He reached the Supernova, the boys already positioned, as they waited for him to slide onto the northern tip. His second in command had linked the boys and Kayden felt the force of Woody’s power connect to him, dragging from them the magical force that was needed. Kayden felt the pull of the energy field from deep within him as Woody took what he needed from their powers to put this one out quickly before it did any more damage. At the same time an explosion blasted on the south side where Jase was and a huge chunk hurtled off.
We have to persist in our quest to defuse the situation before we can clean it up or we’ll end up with a bigger mess than we already have. Kayden commanded Woody to continue as they spun with the out-of-control Supernova. He worried Cassie was battling one-handed but knew they would be there to help her any minute now.
There was a loud gushing sound as the remains of the Supernova stopped dead in the sky, floating with no energy left to hurt a soul. Kayden put his men in a spin, the team rotating at cyclone speed around the dead missile, blasting the remains into translucent powder. The threat of the core alleviated, Kayden sent them out to clean up the remnants.
They were like mini-tornados, rotating so fast you could only see a blur of brightness crackling with lightning that destroyed anything they touched. They had become more powerful since Cassie had joined them, somehow tapping into her powers as well. The massive speed they travelled, picked up the iron shards and obliterated them on their way down to her. It was quite a picture to see them work.
We’re coming now! Hang in there, Cassie.
It was then that Kayden spotted yet another chunk hurtling towards her with such speed none of them could stop. The damned Supernova had almost detonated before Kayden and his men could put it out. Fractured casings from it were what hurtled towards her from all directions.
She was battling other remnants and maybe due to the pain she was in, had not detected the largest of them all.
Cassie, break right ! Kayden called down and even though she and her horse immediately did as he instructed, it was just too late. The shard was on top of her and even her hand was not quick enough to blast it. Her right arm was so badly damaged it was slowing her reaction time. She ducked and screamed as it sliced into her shoulder. Kayden swore, feeling the blood rush from his face as he saw the trouble she was in. He growled at his men to hurry. Stopping what he was doing, he made a beeline towards her. Being further from her than the rest, he was relying on at least Woody to reach her in time.
He yelled at her to break left this time but with two gashes now on that side, she wasn’t as quick with her movements and she screamed as Starburst dropped left, making her weight shift and forcing her to hold on with her bad arm. Without warning, two shards collided, changing course and spun out of control heading right at her.
He could do nothing but call out for her to duck, and watch. Waiting for what seemed like ages, yet would have only been a millisecond in time, he saw the impact of the casing from a Supernova that threatened to take his wife and eternal love from him forever, snatching her from this universe and from his arms.
His body powered up as his fear took over, hurrying him towards her and hoping like hell one of them reached her in time, praying for more speed and a miracle.
Suddenly a shadow came over her and she was gone.
Ophiuchus Constellation - The Ruler
and Physician King Lepius
‘King Lepius, you’re needed urgently,’ Lepius heard Covin call out.
He put his cigar and medical files down and went out to see what the racket was about. There was yelling coming from below in the hospital and Lepius knew that for his commanding officer Covin to be involved, there must be a medical emergency so he rushed out, grabbing his medical bag on the way.
Covin was annoyed. ‘Conom’s in the hospital with a girl and will only see you. He’s so angry he’s shaki
ng and scaring the hell out of the little thing he’s holding.’
Lepius transported them down and saw that one of his doctors was trying to reason with Conom but that he was, as Covin had already informed him, cranky as hell.
‘I’ll only have the physician Lepius touch her, so get the hell out of my face and go get him,’ he growled loudly at the doctor.
Lepius could see he was holding a female who had blood dripping from her arm and shoulder. Conom was an old friend but not one who had an ounce of patience when it came to something he wanted. He was more powerful than any warlord he knew and Lepius wondered how this young one had him so wound up. They both had the same taste in women so it certainly couldn’t be sexual, that was for sure! He had no relatives either so what was causing him to act so freaked out?
Lepius saw the doctor look in his direction and Conom swung around. ‘Lepius, you have to help me. She’s hurt,’ he said, walking over to him. His whole body was shaking and his eyes held more fear than he had ever seen in them. He was in love with her but shook his head, not believing what he was seeing in his face. He was ready to crumble.
‘It’s fine, Conom. Come, let me take a look.’ Lepius gestured and made Conom follow him into one of the operating theatres. He patted the table. ‘Here,’ he said, turning to get some sutures and a needle loaded with painkillers. He was in so much of a mood that Lepius decided to keep his questions to himself until later and just kept working quietly. Lepius watched as he laid her so carefully on the table and kissed her forehead.
‘Lepius is the best there is, sweetie. He’ll make you feel better in no time,’ he said, holding her hand and still shaking.
She amazingly enough had no fear of him, just concern. ‘Conom, you are sweet to save me but the others will be worried. Just let them know I’m safe, please,’ she said so sweetly and quietly he almost had to strain to hear her.
Conom kissed her gently on the hand and nodded. ‘Can I use the satcom?’ he asked the doctor. His voice was irritated yet she still just smiled at him, unperturbed.
‘Just through the door there,’ he said.
Conom looked back at her, not wanting to leave and she smiled at him so beautifully, Lepius could almost see him melt. He walked out of the room, unable to do anything but what she wanted.
‘You have him quite rattled, young lady. Do you have a name?’ Lepius asked as he pulled up a chair next to her and examined the wounds, cleaning them up.
‘Cassie,’ she groaned out as he moved her. ‘Mrs Cassie Hunter. I’m a Cloud Rider and found myself in a bit of bother extinguishing a Supernova that exploded as we were putting it out. Conom intervened and saved me from being totalled by a big portion of it. He’s very angry with my boss at the minute, who happens to be my husband. So I have just asked him to at least let them know I’m okay.’
‘Yes, I got that. Nevertheless, I would be very careful how you handle this, Cassie Hunter. He is a very powerful man and is obviously much taken by you.’
Lepius watched her expression as she nodded. She already knew how he felt and even though this woman seemed young and vulnerable, there was insight and strength in her that even he could feel. There was a lot more to Cassie than his first impressions had told him and he realised she was no one’s fool.
Lepius could barely hear what Conom said on the phone but the rumbling of his angry tone shook the walls as he spoke, so he assumed Conom hadn’t patched anything up with whomever he spoke to.
Conom pulled up a chair, trying to compose his rage. With those dark pits for eyes, he would frighten the best of them and yet at the touch of her hand, his mood eased. ‘Everything’s fine,’ he lied to her.
Lepius could tell she also knew he was being a little evasive but seemed happy her friends at least knew she was alive. ‘Conom, my knight in shining armour. Thank you, my friend.’ She smiled and his face softened under her gaze. She was playing a deadly game with a man she should not be mucking about with. Could she not see his temper? That alone should warn her about him. At least he had stopped shaking with anger now so Lepius at least felt better she was able to calm him.
He put the needle in her arm and one in her shoulder. He wished he could also jab one in Conom to calm the cranky bastard but thought better of it. He didn’t feel like running at the minute. He sniggered and hoped they couldn’t read minds. ‘I just need a second to let that take effect, Conom. She’s losing a lot of blood so with the pain easing she’ll most likely go to sleep. So don’t go freaking out. Just trust me that she’ll be fine.’
With that, her eyes started to flutter and she closed them. ‘Lepius, do something,’ he growled, and started getting upset again.
‘She’s better being out to it. She’ll feel no pain or sensations now while I stitch her,’ he reassured Conom.
He moved restlessly, agitated, but let him stitch both wounds. You could have cut the silence with a knife. He watched her face and then looked back at what Lepius was doing. Seeing she felt nothing and that her breathing was steady, he settled down.
Bloody hell, he’s like a damned time bomb, touchy as all hell . After he bandaged her up, he removed her bloodstained shirt and a new one just magically appeared. She must have been cold as this one had sleeves and a bit of white fur trimmed around it. Lepius jumped back when it happened. It was the first time he saw Conom smile.
‘She rides the magical horse outside and it can feel she’s cold. Her clothes change with the temperature and mood of the moment.’
‘Well I’ll be,’ Lepius smiled. ‘Never seen that before.’
Conom scooped her up in his arms and sat holding her so gently it amazed him. He could easily see he wouldn’t hurt her in a fit, although he wondered if the ones he stole her from knew that.
‘I think we both need a drink, man. Come back to the palace and I’ll fix us one while we wait for her to come around. It’s okay, she’s not hurting, just sleeping.’
He stood up with her and Lepius transported them back to the palace. Covin was still outside the ward waiting and came back with them. Even though Conom was an old friend, Covin would trust no one around his king, especially one so twitchy. They both watched with interest as Conom carefully sat with her in the armchair and brushed the hair from her face.
‘She’s very beautiful, Conom,’ Covin said. ‘Not your type at all or am I missing something?’
Conom looked up and frowned. ‘She’s taken and very happy but he’s a bloody idiot and does not deserve her.’ He started to get angry again.
Lepius passed him a few stiff shots of whisky in a glass that he drank down in one quick gulp. He was sure it hardly even touched the sides. Conom passed him back the glass. ‘Shit, I needed that. Thanks, doc,’ he said, sounding a little more human. ‘She’s a fast healer, doc. It’ll only take a couple of days. I wonder if I could stay here with her just until she gets well. I need some time to work through some issues and need a safe haven to do so.’
Lepius knew it wasn’t right what he was doing, but she looked no fool and it was better he were here with her where he could control any dangerous outcomes and at least give her some form of protection rather than send them to God knew where, then worry himself sick what he might do to her if she woke and wanted to go home. That was going to be an interesting scenario. Would he be so easily swayed by her demands then? The way he acted, he doubted if God Himself could prise her from his hands in the emotional state he was in.
‘Not a problem. I’ll have a couple of the guest quarters upstairs made up for you both,’ he said, already making up his mind that he would organise for her to have the room next to his. At least he would hear if Conom did get a bit frisky with her. He took Covin aside and explained his plan. Covin went out to organise it with the servants and Lepius watched as they hustled double-time up the stairs to get the rooms ready.
‘Are you awake, princess?’ he heard Conom ask.
Cassie opened her eyes, groaned, and seeing who had her, happily wiggled back into Conom like a he
lpless little kitten and went back to sleep. Conom grinned so elatedly when she cuddled back into him. He could not help but feel for the guy: in love with another man’s wife and a damned Cloud Rider for God’s sake. Man, this isn’t something I wanted tossed in my lap. But here he was and so was she.
‘She will most likely sleep now for the rest of the night. Why not go and lay her on the bed upstairs so she can stretch out and be more comfortable? That way you can come and join us for supper. You look beat,’ Lepius suggested.
Conom sat looking at her for a long time as if he didn’t want to put her down. Then with a sigh, knowing Lepius was right, he stood up. ‘You’re the doc and I guess you know better than me. I just don’t want her scared when she wakes up.’
‘If it makes you feel better I’ll have a maid sit in her room. She can come and get you the minute she stirs and wakes.’
He nodded and followed Lepius up to the suite that had been made up for her. The chambermaid was still fussing when they arrived in the room so Lepius told her to stay. She pulled the covers back while Conom laid her on the bed and Lepius smiled as her outfit changed to silk pyjamas. Conom hardly even seem to notice he fussed so much making sure she didn’t hurt herself if she moved around in her sleep. He lay her on her good side and put pillows along her back to prevent her rolling over. Then when he was happy, he pulled the covers over her and kissed her gently on the cheek. ‘Sleep safe, sweetie,’ he whispered and turned to face the maid. ‘Even if she groans you must tell me so I can come up and get her comfortable again. Do not disobey me or I’ll make the rest of your life miserable,’ he warned in a low and dangerous voice.
All Lepius’s staff were used to being threatened and yelled at so Conom didn’t frighten her at all. The maid just curtseyed and promised to do as he asked before sitting in the chair next to the bed as instructed.
