Flower Readings

by Lilliana Rose

  “You did this?”

  “Yes and no.” He looked at her sternly. Triena held his gaze as her stomach flipped and twisted. “The Queen wanted a reading so I gave her one. The energy picked out the flowers, not me.”

  “But, you still gave them to her.” They stood near the entrance. Braklen looked angry. “I underestimated you.”

  “She came to kill me.”

  “Yeah, right. Thanks to you my memory is now intact and I know that you’ve tried to kill me twice already.”

  “Once. Like I said, the energy picks out the flowers.”

  Braklen dragged her closer to the where the Queen lay on the floor. “Sounds like you’re trying to avoid responsibility.” He bent down and checked to see if the Queen had a pulse. He shook his head. “Definitely dead. You killed her.”

  “I didn’t kill you when you were in my room.”

  “You didn’t have time.” Braklen stood up.

  “I most certainly did. Surely that counts in my favor.”

  “In the name of the Queens you are held responsible and I will take you to them for your punishment.” Braklen reached into the pocket of his jacket and took out the microchip used to bind criminals.

  “No. Braklen, don’t do this.” Something wasn’t quite right here for Triena. There was more to what was going on, too much more, and her head already hurt.

  “That’s what the Peacekeepers do, protect the Queens, arrest Priests and other people who cause problems by breaking the law.” He held Triena in a tight grip with one hand trying to place the large syringe containing the chip on her wrist. She kept wriggling out of the way. “I just happened to have a few hours free and your Tea Room was recommended, a poor recommendation at that.”

  He continued trying to place the chip under her skin. “Keep still.” He pulled her close to him and stared down at her. He glared at her, his energy simmering with anger.

  She felt the anger hit her. His pain became hers as the energy dissolved in her own soul. The heat expanded between them, but it wasn’t like before. This time she felt weak and struggled not to fall. She felt his stress. Her mind drained from the morning readings, Pernally’s energy and being held captive by the man she should’ve killed ten years ago. She tried to send her anger to him, but she didn’t have enough strength. Her mind kept thinking about him, the Queens, the Peacekeepers. Then, she got it.

  “The Queens are going to kill you for failing to protect her, aren’t they?” Her voice trembled, as she named what he couldn’t.

  He nodded.

  Triena took a deep breath. Maybe she was safe with this man after all.

  I told you so, thought the rabbit.

  “We’re going to have to help each other, aren’t we?”

  They stared at each other, not wanting to make the first move.

  “I guess we do.”

  “Then, we’d better get moving.” She didn’t have a plan. She assumed he didn’t either.

  You could at least cover her up and tie up the Peacekeepers, who by some miracle aren’t dead. The rabbit stood by her feet looking up at Triena. Hurry up.

  “Great. The only one thinking here is the rabbit.” She sighed. “I’ll go get a blanket.” She turned away.

  He was quick. A small metal click and the chip slipped under her skin on her right wrist.

  “Ow.” Tears from the pain flooded her eyes. She looked at her wrist. The black chip, the size of a fingernail, expanded and sank deep. Metal roots extended into her arm, ensuring the chip couldn’t be removed without killing her. The pain of the small piece of metal melded with her body caused her vision to blur. Her energy struggled to adapt to the change of metal.

  “Why did you … ?” Talking took too much effort as the room swayed. Black spots grew in her vision. Her stomach contracted and she forced herself not to give in to the urge to throw up.

  “Security. I don’t want you thinking that you need to try to kill me. If you kill me, the chip will kill you. And you have to keep close, five hundred meters close, otherwise the chip will hurt you. Perfect tech to keep an eye on an outcast like yourself.”

  Triena swayed. Then, her knees buckled. Blackness consumed her.

  ~

  “That’s not helpful.” Braklen looked at the unmoving bodies in the room, especially Triena’s. Her features, oval face, cute nose, wayward hair, curvy body, ignited a heat within him. No. I no longer have feelings for her. But, the heat stayed, crackling in his heart, drawing him to look at her again, which intensified his feelings.

  Maybe I acted rashly. No. He pushed the thoughts aside. She was an outcast and he couldn’t love a woman who tried to kill him, twice. No matter how much he cared all those years ago.

  The rabbit hopped up to him.

  Braklen looked around the room, contemplating an escape plan. “Stupid rabbit.”

  Braklen yelled. Pain suddenly pierced his third eye. “Stop it.” But he didn’t know who he was really telling to stop it. He tried to resist the pain, but his knees bent and he slowly sank to the floor. A message formed in his mind.

  Keep Triena safe. Promise.

  “Okay. Okay. I promise.”

  The pain eased. Braklen rubbed his forehead where the pain hit. Bewildered, he looked around the room trying to find the other person, the one who spoke to him. “Where are you?”

  The rabbit sat innocently rubbing his paws on his nose.

  “Have you been talking to me, buddy?” Braklen smiled at his own joke. “Look at me. I’ve been reduced to talking to animals.”

  The rabbit began cleaning his metal ears.

  Braklen rubbed his aching head. He covered the Queen with a blanket, gently lowering the material over her, as if not to wake her.

  He walked over to the window and pulled back the curtain. Outside, people ran around frantically tending to the injured, or putting out spot fires. He needed to go out and make sure his men were following protocols. He saw a man standing opposite him. Shit. His superior had come. He knew he was going to have to do some quick talking and blame this all on Triena. Risky. But worth a shot.

  The rabbit’s ears moved erratically as Braklen unlocked the door and slipped outside. He stopped himself from looking at Triena vulnerable on the floor. He knew he wouldn’t go if he looked at her again. Yet his senses remembered her innocent lips, soft touch and musical laugh. He shook his head to remove the memories. The door slammed shut behind him.

  ~

  Come back. The rabbit called to Braklen, who of course couldn’t hear him.

  The rabbit bounced over to Triena. His small tongue licked the exposed side of her face. She looked green and smelled like bile, which repulsed him, but he had to wake her. His pink tongue, rough like sandpaper, kept moving along her soft skin. When that didn’t work, he bounced to her feet and bit her toes. Large front teeth sank deep into her white skin. Once. Twice.

  ~

  Triena slowly stirred. “Where is he?” She sat up, rubbing her wrist.

  Outside.

  “Good. Now’s our chance.” She tried to stand, but dizziness held her down. Instead, she crawled over to the Queen’s body. Trying not to think about what she was about to do, Triena lifted the blanket and searched for anything that might help her to survive.

  She crushed soft chiffon-like material, feeling for anything hard. She sank

  down on her knees, looking at the body, trying to find what her fingers missed. There were a series of gold bangles on each of Pernally’s arms, a single large pearl hung around her neck. Triena nearly missed the other chain, one of a light gold that matched the Queen’s skin. The chain met below her breasts where the pendant was hidden.

  Triena lifted up the chain, revealing a Tibetan green mineral, shaped in a sphere that extended down into a point, like a teardrop. It looked like the shape of a woman, old and primal, a head and hips.

  A quick tug didn’t remove the pendant, so she leaned forward to unfasten the chain. The clasp was small and hard to unlock, as if it
wanted to stay here. She didn’t know if the pendant would be of any use, but since she couldn’t find anything else, she took it. She hid the necklace in the pouch under her belt. Nausea overtook her and she waited for the sensation to pass.

  When it did, she crawled over to the Peacekeepers and searched their pockets taking chips, food tables and weapons. She was about to be on the most wanted list and she wanted to be somewhat prepared while on the run.

  The message pod beeped on her waist. She pulled the minute square piece of electronics from her belt and looked at the screen. Salene’s code flashed in green on the screen that was smaller than her palm.

  “GET OUT.”

  Chapter 4

  Triena forced herself to stand, gripping a nearby table to keep her balance. She swallowed rising bile and took a deep breath.

  The rabbit twitched his ears manically. Hurry up.

  She felt the pull on her wrist from the chip as she tried to walk away. She managed five steps before she had to stop and steady herself by holding the back of a chair.

  “He’s too far away.” It felt like the new implant in her wrist ripped through her arm muscle, effectively stopping her from moving further away from Braklen. With each step, another wave of dizziness threatened to cause her to lose consciousness.

  Keep moving, the rabbit encouraged.

  “Fuck the Queens, I’m trying.” Triena struggled to breathe. She moved her right foot forward, slowly shifted her weight and managed to take another step. She scratched at the chip under the surface of her skin. She knew these models. They were old and crude and never came out. Tears welled in her eyes. It wasn’t meant to be like this. “This isn’t going to work. Damn him.”

  She remembered the message. She tried to take another step. Her body sweated from the pain in her arm. She stopped. It didn’t take long for me to make a mess of this, a record for even me. This was my second chance. I still couldn’t finish my task. I’ll never be a Queen. I’m going to rot in Amertii.

  Shut up and walk.

  Triena released the chair as she continued to move away from the front door.

  The rabbit kept close to her feet, clicking his ears, trying to think of a plan. Keep moving.

  At the start of the hallway, she felt the change. The dizziness dispersed and the pain subsided. He’s coming. Hide.

  Without the crippling pain, Triena rushed into the prep room, the rabbit following close behind her. She hid behind the door with her back flat against the concrete wall. The coolness soothed her body. She closed her eyes and tried to control her breathing. The dizziness had almost all gone. Is this how I’m going to live my life now? Pulled along by Braklen.

  “She’s in here.” The front door rattled and Triena held her breath. She had to get this chip out of her arm and that was impossible. She now needed him. Braklen. The. Bastard. She couldn’t do anything. She breathed and felt herself recover some strength at the small feeble plan forming in her mind. She just had to get to the workbench and grab the knife. Maybe if he died, I won’t? A risky plan, but it was all she could think of.

  “Get it open.”

  “Stand back.”

  A small explosion rattled the one story house. No. She felt some disappointment at the damage they were doing to her home. The rabbit’s fur brushed against her bare feet providing some comfort. She waited.

  ~

  “Well, where is she?” Heavy boots crunched on broken glass in the front room floor.

  “The Queen, Sir, quick.”

  “Braklen, what is going on here?” asked the High Master, his rounded face turning red with anger.

  “Sir, she wouldn’t have gotten far. I put a prisoner’s chip in her.” Pain cut at his heart. He know what he’d done wasn’t what he really wanted to do. He was meant to protect the woman he loved, not imprison her and turn her over to the authorities What else could he do? He was loyal to the Queens and Triena stood against them.

  “So, where is she?”

  “Here.” He couldn’t back out now. She was his ticket to keeping his job.

  “Fetch her.”

  Braklen went down the hallway into the prep room, nothing but a workbench and shelves of tea. He ran out and checked the bedroom. Nothing. He knew he was going to be in trouble with the High Master for arriving after the explosion. One of his men reported him missing and Braklen was furious. This was his mission. Not his first, he had an established reputation of being a supporter of the Queens, but the first time he’d been so far out from Earth.

  And here, in this dump of a place, he discovered the Queens hadn’t trusted him. He hadn’t known exactly why he was here. He’d thought it was odd he had been given the afternoon off duty. Now, he knew why. Triena had been the one to try and kill him, back then at the start of the Queens’ war. When the Queens remained, the leaders and the Priests failed.

  He went checking all the rooms again. This time he was slower. She couldn’t go far with the chip embedded in her arm. She had to be here.

  Braklen stood in the center and placed his hand on the workbench. He never understood the Energy Readers. Men didn’t have the skill with the energy and they had to follow what the Queens told them. Some mysteries of the ancients they embraced after the end of the Aquarius age resurfaced with the Queens ruling, with the faith that was meant to heal the world. Braklen always believed in their abilities with the Energy.

  With the Queens in power, there wasn’t much healing. The Queens were ruthless when ruling and kept the knowledge about how to use the Energy to themselves. He’d been recruited after Triena disappeared, made a Peacekeeper for the Queens. Over the last ten years he’d risen through the ranks, protecting the Queens and dealing with the uprisings from the Priests. The next promotion would see him a High Master over his own area.

  With a dead Queen in the front room, he didn’t think that would happen now. He needed to find Triena to make her pay for this mess. Triena. He couldn’t get her out of his mind, her image burned inside of him. He had an urge to embrace her, touch her skin … No. I can’t have feelings for her after all of these years.

  Something brushed against his moleskin pants. Braklen looked down to see the black rabbit twitching its ears as if trying to say something.

  “I know you’re in here,” said Braklen.

  ~

  Triena kept quiet. She was going to kill the rabbit for suddenly bouncing up to Braklen as if he was going to help them.

  It’s okay, he’ll help us.

  Idiot. Triena answered with her mind. I’m definitely going to skin you, alive.

  “I won’t hurt you.”

  Too late for that. Triena took a deep breath and listened. She didn’t think Braklen was moving, but she couldn’t be sure. Once again the rabbit’s voice kept distracting her.

  We need him.

  No we don’t, replied Triena.

  “You can’t stay hidden. It’s best you come out with me. If the High Master finds you, well, who knows what he would do to you.”

  A shiver ran down Triena’s spine and radiated out through her body prickling her skin. The presence of a High Master wasn’t a good sign. She was going to have to act soon. But, the knife still lay on the workbench and she felt physically weak.

  “Triena.”

  She felt her knees weaken as he said her name. No. She used her skill with the energy to strengthen her resolve.

  Come on, hurry up.

  Damn rabbit. Triena knew that he was right. She took a deep breath to settle her energy.

  “Would you really be able to stop the High Master?” Triena stepped out from the door. She stopped herself from smiling as Braklen’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “You were simply behind the door?”

  “You’ve put me in danger with the chip.” Triena stood still making herself look into Braklen’s eyes as he crossed the room. Her heart skipped a beat and somehow she maintained her focus. She side-stepped around him and picked up the knife as he grabbed her other arm.<
br />
  “You’re not going anywhere.”

  Triena slipped the knife along her arm, under her sleeve, holding tight to the handle to keep it out of sight. It was only a small knife, but at least it was sharp. It was her best option to try and get free.

  “Braklen, have you found the bitch?” yelled the High Master from the front room.

  “Come on. I’ve wasted too much time with you.” Braklen pulled Triena with him as he walked out of the room.

  Taken off balance, Triena didn’t have a chance to use the knife on him. He kept a firm grip on her arm. The Queen’s body was being zipped into a black bag when they entered the room.

  “Well, well.” The High Master looked at them sternly. His oversized body made Triena tremble and the beard made him look like one of the old Priests. His eyes were close together. He looked like someone to avoid. She saw harshness in his aura that made her more fearful of him than the Queens.

  “About time you found her.” He walked up to Triena. “Can’t have a little upstart like you on the loose. I know what I would do with you, but what will the Queens do?” He ran his finger along her cheek. The roughness of his skin caused Triena to freeze as a chill ran through her body.

  “Oi, she’s mine to take back,” said Braklen.

  “You?” The High Master turned to Braklen and looked at him with a stone glare. “You’ve blotched up this entire operation.”

  “Who sent you anyway?”

  “Who do you think?” The High Master glanced toward the other soldiers. “Now, arrest them both for the murder of Queen Pernally.”

  “I didn’t kill her,” said Braklen.

  “You’re part of a plot with this bitch to bring the Queens down. It’s just as the Queens suspected.”

  Two Peacekeepers came towards Braklen.

  “That’s not true.”

  The High Master smiled. “I love it when an operation ends with the chance of bonuses for me.” He looked hungrily at Triena. “Queens don’t give a fuck about you as long as I bring you in breathing. So anything I do to you won’t go on the records.” He stepped forward and grabbed hold of Triena’s arm.