by C. M. Kane
Strangely, she felt no guilt at what she had just done, the creature before her was not human. What he had become was something beyond evil. The woman he had left tied up was staring at her in wide-eyed shock. Tae was surprised she recognised her; it was the rich young blonde girl that the commander had hit when they were at their orientation. Tae picked up the dead man’s knife and advanced on her, the woman made no sound. Tae looked up as the vid-ball above her head started flashing blue, she realised the woman would now have a hunter on her tail, what was worse the woman’s vid ball would have just broadcast the entire scene with the cannibal to whoever happened to be watching, Damn!
She looked down at her. ‘Did he have any protein bars left?’ The woman continued staring dumbly. ‘I will set you free if you answer me one question honestly,’ Tae said, looking at the almost catatonic blonde. The girl nodded, whimpering slightly. ‘Did he have any protein bars left?’ The blonde shook her head, a tear slipping down her pretty face.
‘When I cut your ties run for the trees and head downstream. If you stay away from the river until dark, I will not harm you.’
The girl nodded, her tears coming more freely now at the thought she might actually survive this.
‘Stand and turn,’ Tae said. The blonde stood shakily and turned around putting her back to her. Tae cut the makeshift ties away from her wrists. ‘Now go,’ she said loudly. The blonde took off at a stumbling run, gasping and crying as she went.
Tae walked back to the river refusing to look at either corpse, it was done. She waded upstream again, frequently washing out her mouth and ducking under several times to wash the blood from her body and hair. She was strangely satisfied with herself, she knew what she had just done was necessary – right. There was a huge difference between killing out of necessity and torture.
She went to her clothes and gathered everything up, then entered the river again. She crossed easily, floating on her back and kicking out strongly as she held her bundled clothes above her head. Very soon she had crossed the deeper water and was able to wade back out. She re-dressed quickly and, after drinking as much as she could, refilled the water bottles. Finally she washed the roots then retreated into the trees and set off again at a jog.
When she thought she had run for at least an hour and the sun was fully in the sky, she sat down and ate the last of the roots before setting off again, continuing on in the same way throughout the day without seeing anyone.
When night fell she was beyond exhausted, she felt almost numb with fatigue. She looked for somewhere she might be able sleep, the tree branches were too high for her to reach, and she wasn’t going to sleep exposed on the ground. After continuing on for another hour she found a small dense thicket of ferns and pushed her way under as far as she could. Curling into a tight ball, she fell asleep almost immediately, only to dream of legless corpses and madmen with no throats chasing her through an endless forest, finally ending at a river of blood. At one point she woke up gasping from the nightmares, only to fall back to sleep soon after, where they waited patiently for her return.
CHAPTER 27
Jaden paced the barracks, he had missed a call to hunt the second landing site where the girl was now situated because he had accepted a hunt in the first landing site and had been out scouring the area for her. When he had returned from his first fruitless hunt he’d had a tech run a search for her. That’s when he’d discovered she couldn’t be located, which could mean only one thing. She’d somehow turned off her nanites. How she did it he neither knew nor cared, she had become his obsession, one he fully intended to be permanently rid of very soon. She had humiliated him in front of the entire WLE; no-one did that to him and lived.
Then he had seen the vid of her killing Limshish and realised she had somehow made it to another landing site. Now he had to wait until someone else went blue in that section before he could restart his hunt. He put down his drink and sat at a desk, scanning the screens for any criminals about to go blue in section two. There were three possibilities: the rich young blonde woman who Shivon had struck, a middle aged child molester that had hunters lining up to bag him, and a young thief in his twenties. Jaden would take any just to get onto the Island again. What the hell is she doing over there anyway … and where the hell is that bastard, Vesh? He wondered. Neither one had been sighted before the Limshish kill. Perhaps he‘s dead, he thought hopefully.
It was only a couple of hunters watching the Island who had seen her take out Limshish, a male who had already killed three women while he was still green and they were red. He called up the vid again and watched it, she was remarkably good for someone so young, but she was arrogant. He watched her flip off the vid-ball, it was almost as if she knew he would be watching.
Bitch. Not that he could really tell what she looked like anymore under the dirt and blood caking her. He studied her closely, she looked a little taller to him, her hips were definitely more pronounced and her hair had lengthened, because the bitch has turned off her nanites he raged silently to himself.
Estion, one of the other hunters, called out to Jaden as he sat at the com-panel. ‘Hey, I think your girl’s up.’
Jaden reacted immediately, he hurried to one of the com-screens that were showing participants from section two. It was her. He knew it the moment he saw her face, but she looked to be around twenty or so now. She was emerging from a river. He could see the back of the insane cannibal before her.
What the hell is she doing? He thought in bewilderment.
Then all coherent thought left him as she slowly walked out of the water in the dawn light. He vaguely heard Estion whistle and murmur, ‘Come to Esty baby.’
His mind was in turmoil as he watched the scene unfold. He heard Estion saying something about her fangs and her kill, still, Jaden watched dumbstruck at the turn of events. She was a vampire? No, not fully, there was no way she could handle the sunlight if she was, he shook his head and concentrated on what was happening, if he was to catch her he needed to know where she was. When the vid-ball had finished its scanning of the dead madman it turned back to her. She spat her contempt for it onto the ground, looking defiantly at the device until it sped away.
It took a moment for Jaden to realise she was talking to another person, he immediately switched his gaze to the other section two screens searching them for her, until finally, he found what he wanted. The young blonde woman was there, and obviously she had just watched the whole scene unfold, as Tae Rames was now standing in front of her. He quickly hurried back and typed in his code and waited, luckily he knew from previous checking that she was about to go blue. When the priority alert finally flashed onto his screen he simply pressed the button knowing he should be first. After what seemed to him to be an interminable wait his confirmation came through. Jaden smiled slowly in anticipation of what was to come … he had her.
Estion looked over at him. ‘You’re going after her, aren’t you?’ he asked. ‘Isn’t Commander Vesh supposed to be tracking her?’
Jaden smiled. ‘Do you see him? I’ll terminate the blue, and then have a little look around. She has destroyed her vid ball so she’s a legitimate target, if I happen to come across her then it’s hardly my fault now, is it?’
He turned away. This time she won’t escape me, he thought angrily. He picked up his weapons and headed for the jumper bay, smiling. Now you’re mine, little girl. No amount of running can keep me from you. You’re going to pay for what you’ve done to me, I’ll make you beg for death before I’m finished with you.
CHAPTER 28
Zeus awoke to a persistent buzzing at his door. Yawning, he sat up in bed and looked over at the nymphs who were only now rousing themselves, although he felt himself stirring again at the sight of their naked bodies, he had to see who wanted him so urgently. ‘Enter,’ he called, absently running his hand over the curve of the redhead’s hips.
Tannan hurried in, looking excited. Zeus watched him expectantly.
‘I’ve found them, my lo
rd.’
Zeus frowned. ‘Who?’ He roused himself fully from sleep and sat up more.
‘The mother and brother of Tae Rames, Martin has tracked the sleeper pods,’ he said.
Zeus glanced at the nymphs. ‘Go,’ he commanded, and then watched as they both hurried naked from the room, not even bothering to reach for their clothes.
‘Where are they?’ he asked as soon as they had left.
Tannan couldn’t help himself, he grinned widely. ‘They’re aboard the Hindishah, my lord. I had Martin track the jumper with the missing thalien, he reported directly to me as soon as he found them. I have also been informed that the girl is still alive and sleeping for the night, and that she has killed again, but I have not gone through the vids as yet. I thought it more important to relay the news of the family directly to you first.’
‘Excellent,’ Zeus said, alighting from the bed and stretching lazily. ‘Tell Pan to bring the sleepers here immediately or I will let Odin and Thor open fire on him. When they are here, awaken them and bring them all to the pavilion for questioning.’
Tannan bowed low. ‘Yes, my lord.’
Zeus had a quick chem shower then dressed in his full battle uniform, he wanted Pan to be left in no doubt as to just who he was dealing with. After he arrived back at the pavilion he called all the gods back from their respective ships, then he brought them up to date on what had just occurred, and that they were about to question Pan about his role in what was happening. Just as he had finished telling them the news Tannan arrived with a very attractive, but terrified black-haired woman, and an extremely handsome youth. Zeus noted that, although he was different in looks from his sister, he still had the same dark hair and green eyes.
A half dozen warriors with swords drawn escorted a very worried looking Pan, who was now dressed in a purple, heavily brocaded jacket, this time with naked satyrs woven all the way through it. Zeus felt he should probably just kill him for his hideously ostentatious dress sense alone. He gestured toward Tannan who stepped forward.
‘My lord, may I present Kresley and Jason Rames, the mother and brother of Tae Rames.’ He called the two terrans forward. Kresley dropped to both knees, her head bowed low in respect, shaking in fear. The boy, Jason, looked around the room, seemingly assessing each god before he sank to one knee and bowed his head, too.
‘Why did Pan take you?’ Zeus asked without preamble.
The boy looked up. ‘I don’t know, Lord Zeus. I arrived home from warrior practice to discover my mother unconscious on the floor. I went to her, and that’s the last thing I remember before I woke up.’
‘And you, woman?’ Zeus asked.
Kresley looked up, a tear slipping from her eye. ‘I don’t know, my lord. I answered the door to two thalien. They asked to speak to Jason, and when I said he wasn’t home yet one of them sprayed me with something. That’s the last thing I remember until Elite Commander Tannan woke me up.’
‘Why would your daughter enter the Island?’ Zeus asked impatiently. The boy and mother gasped in shock, their eyes widening. Genuine, they don’t know, he thought.
‘I don’t know.’ Kresley started to cry in earnest.
The boy jumped to his feet. ‘Is she ok?’ he begged. Before anyone could answer he closed his eyes and slowed his breathing. He remained totally still and, after half a minute of silence, he finally opened his eyes. She’s alive, he said with relief. Then, realising he was standing before the gods he quickly dropped back to his knee.
Zeus frowned. ‘How do you know?’
Jason looked up. ‘We’re twins, I can feel her presence, my lord. It’s something Tae and I have always been able to do. We can sometimes sense when the other is scared or in pain, but not as often since we have grown older.’
Coming to a decision Zeus went to the com-panel and worked on it for a few minutes. ‘I have just turned her health nanites back on, she had turned them off. This will stop her continuing to age, she should be in her early twenties by now. He glanced at Tannan, she is in the prime of her life and is old enough to do whatever it is she needs to do. Tannan nodded in agreeance. Now, is there any reason you can think of that would explain why she would enter the Island.’ Both Kresley and Jason shook their heads, bewildered.
Zeus nodded to Tannan who led them to the back of the room and then motioned the guards to bring forth Pan. Zeus moved toward the now trembling god. ‘Why?’
Pan looked genuinely confused. ‘Why what, my lord?’
Zeus had his sword pressed to the side of Pan’s neck before he said another word. ‘Why?’ he asked again, his sword pressed lightly to Pan’s throat.
Pan stiffened, trying to think fast. ‘I swear I don’t know what you mean, my lord.’
The other gods looked on impassively as, with a quick flick of Zeus wrist, Pan’s ear dropped to the floor. He squealed in pain and grasped the side of his head with his hand as Zeus positioned his sword in front of the younger god’s eye.
‘My lord,’ Pan said quickly, ‘I received two sleeper containers on direct orders from Lord Ares. As he is my superior I did not question them, I simply stored them in the Hindishah’s cargo bay. I swear to you on my honour that I have no idea what is happening.’
Zeus narrowed his eyes as Poseidon came to stand beside him. ‘I can question him further for you to ascertain if he is lying, if you wish, brother.’
Pan gulped audibly. ‘Not yet.’ Zeus turned to Tannan as Pan sagged in relief. ‘Relay a message to the Kydomois to come here with all possible haste. I want a word with Ares, and put up the vid of the woman’s latest kill.’ He poured himself a glass of wine, ‘and please, get someone to throw this thing in a cell until I have spoken to Ares. I don’t want him going anywhere or talking to anyone until I sort this out, so make sure you scan him thoroughly.’
Pan continued to protest his innocence as he was led away by the guards.
‘Do you believe him?’ Hades asked, walking over to join Zeus and Poseidon. ‘Ares is many things, and he may push our laws to the limit at times, but I have never known him to break them wilfully.’
Isis moved to stand with them. ‘I agree, but if Ares is not involved then there is something else at play here. I must say I’m intrigued, this is proving to be most entertaining.’
Zeus lifted an eyebrow. ‘I’m so glad to have provided some amusement for you, Isis.’
Odin walked over and grabbed another drink, as a laughing Isis moved back to her settee to chat with Thor, who was still eyeing her hopefully. They refilled their wine before settling down to watch the vid of the girl’s earlier kill. Almost everyone had forgotten the two insignificant mortals standing quietly against the wall.
Baste walked over, eyeing the young man with interest. ‘Jason,’ she purred silkily, ‘come, sit with me. You should be quite proud of your sister, she is remarkably talented, for a terran.’
Jason took her proffered hand, his eyes roaming over the suddenly coy goddess with interest. ‘Thank-you, my lady, she was always the most able between the two of us, both at school and at warrior training with Master Brohan.’
‘Is this the same warrior who taught her those wonderful skills she has been utilising?’ she asked softly. Jason reddened, as if he realised that he had said too much. She arched her eyebrows at his continued silence.
Odin, who had been listening to the exchange walked over. Looking him firmly in the eye he said. ‘We already know she has been trained, boy, and trained exceedingly well for someone her age. You do not break trust with her by telling us this and, although your loyalty to your sister is commendable, do not forget where you are. Your loyalty to your gods should be first and foremost.’ Jason reddened further but still remained silent, his mouth set into the same mulish line so often seen on his sister.
Baste smiled obviously delighted in him. ‘Why, he defies you Odin. How wonderfully like his sister he is.’
Odin began frowning as he watched the defiant boy, but before he could say or do anything Kresley hurrie
d forward and dropped to her knees in front of him. ‘Please, my Lord Odin, he is young and foolish and does not understand the full import of what he says or does. I beg your indulgence just this once. Brohan is the trainer of both my son and daughter.’
Odin glanced at Kresley whose dress had somehow come undone at the top and was gaping open, giving him a full display of her ample cleavage. He forgot the boy for the moment.
As he tore his eyes away from Kresley, Tannan spoke up. ‘I am about to replay the events of her kill this morning if you would like to see it.’ Odin looked from Kresley to Jason and then to Zeus who simply smiled and nodded.
Odin nodded back then held out his hand to Kresley bringing her to the settee beside him, he chose to ignore Poseidon’s and Hades’ soft laughter. Baste simply dragged Jason over to another settee and sat holding the boy’s hand in her lap as if to comfort him. Yeah right, Zeus thought, watching the unfolding events. He switched his attention back to the screen just as Tae Rames emerged from the water.
All traces of the girl she once was had now disappeared. Instead, a sultry curvaceous water nymph walked slowly toward a man who had just dropped a hand he appeared to be eating. Everyone’s eyes were riveted on her as she emerged from the river. The water sluiced down her body as the first rays of the breaking dawn lit her from behind. She stepped forward, murmuring to the hand eater. He dropped his knife and she smiled beguilingly.
