Flower Readings

by Lilliana Rose

  She screamed.

  Braklen took a few steps back, then lifted his gun and fired. The particle beam hit the High Master in his chest and he fell backwards, keeping his grip on Triena. She fell on top of him still screaming.

  She wrestled herself out of the Master’s dying grasp. He was strong and held her arm tight. “Don’t think you’ll get away with this.”

  “I didn’t …” Triena struggled to move away from the High Master, but he pulled her arm and she fell back down on his chest. Warm blood soaked into the top of her dress. Bile rose from her stomach and she forced herself to swallow. “What are you talking about?”

  “The Queens have been looking for you.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, little miss-all-so-innocent.” He coughed and blood dribbled out the side of his mouth.

  “What do you mean?” She began to go dizzy at the sight of his blood, and the rich smell of bodily fluids in the room as Braklen fought against the other men.

  “You’ve disrupted the balance. They want you.” He coughed again. His voice soft she could barely hear him. “It’s not the sort of agreement you’d want.”

  “Why would they when I failed their tests?”

  “In your failure, you thrive. They fear you.” His eyelashes fluttered and his breath stopped.

  For a moment, Triena paused, the sound of punches echoed in the room mixed with the gunfire. She didn’t want to move and be shot herself. But she had to find out more about what was going on. She forced herself to keep low and felt around in the pockets of the dead High Master’s clothes. She pulled out various chips, pills and vials and shoved them down her top, her corset kept them concealed and safe. Nauseated, she pushed herself up from the floor and she looked away from the body. What the hell was he trying to tell me? And whose side was he really on?

  Triena looked around the room. She swayed to the right and then the left, but she could still make out the destruction. Two dead Peacemakers lay on the floor among upturned, broken tables and chairs. Her business ruined in what was turning out to be a bad lifetime instead of just a bad day. Her vision blurred as she saw Braklen, his face smeared with blood, a deep graze on his cheek and his lip split.

  So much blood. She struggled to keep standing as a wave of dizziness washed over her.

  Not now. The rabbit’s thoughts entered her mind.

  She knew from experience that his advice was probably too late.

  Keep focused.

  Braklen continued to fight with one of the men. He hit the other man in his already bloodied face. Triena turned away feeling faint again, as she heard the body crash to the ground. She heard Braklen breathing heavily. When she opened her eyes, everything was in black and white and smudge like a poor art painting. Then the world went completely black.

  ~

  Triena woke to a sharp acidic smell that made her stomach churn. She turned her head away from the odor and took a deep breath. The air wasn’t fresh. The smell of blood and burning flesh caused her to retch.

  Braklen pushed the cup back under her nose. Triena caught a trace of the acidic liquid and turned away. “Enough.”

  “I need you to be present. You’re no use to me passed out on the ground.”

  “What is that stuff?” She didn’t have any teas that smelt that pungent.

  “Let’s say the rabbit is rather resourceful.”

  Triena felt her stomach turn in disgust. I’m going to put that rabbit on a spit.

  You really should appreciate me. I’m actually helping to keep you alive. The rabbit brushed his body against Triena’s bare feet, causing her to jump from the ticklish touch.

  There are civilised ways to help someone regain consciousness. She tried to sit up. A wave of sickness overcame her and she swayed.

  “Here, steady now.” Braklen helped her to sit up, keeping his hands on her shoulders.

  Triena felt the strength in him through his touch, but she also knew his energy was low from the fighting. She took a deep breath and forced herself to think. “How long have I been out?”

  “Not long. A few minutes tops.”

  We need to leave. The rabbit moved his ears in agitation.

  “So, is there a chip in your arm, Braklen?”

  “No, I’m taking you back to the Queens to sort out this mess.”

  “You can’t be serious. They’ll kill me.”

  “Come on, Triena. I have a pod outside.”

  “The Queens would never let you off and now you’ve killed the High Master.”

  “Nope, you did.”

  “You’re the one who shot him, Braklen. Not me.”

  You two are going to be the death of me. Stop arguing. We have to leave. “The Queens are setting you up, Braklen.”

  “No, they’re not. Now come on, I’m taking you back and getting the promotion they promised me.”

  “I’m right about this, Braklen. What is wrong with your head?”

  He’s probably had his memory distorted by the Queens.

  Of course. They did something like what I saw during the reading. Brainwashing Braklen made sense. It was like the energy she absorbed from Pernally helped her gain new insights, not directly, but she felt the harmony of the new energy now that it had integrated with hers.

  It’s plausible, corrected the rabbit.

  I’ve got to find out more about this.

  Steady on. You’ve got too much to deal with right now.

  Braklen pulled Triena to her feet. She grabbed hold of his arms, feeling his strong muscles under his shirt. She saw the knife on the ground. “You better get the rabbit. I can’t leave him here alone.”

  Braklen turned and picked up the rabbit. “I’m getting quite fond of him.”

  Triena bent down and picked up the knife before Braklen turned back around. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” She held up the knife, pointing it at him.

  “Well, you don’t have a choice with the chip in your arm, so come on. Besides I’ve got the rabbit,” said Braklen, apparently not at all worried about the threat of the knife.

  We have to leave with him.

  You’re lying. She stood still. “I don’t care for the rabbit.”

  Now, who’s lying? The rabbit squirmed as Braklen held him closer to his chest.

  “You’ve upset the poor little thing.”

  “Braklen, you’re under arrest. The Queens want you back.” A man in a Peacekeeper’s uniform of grey stood at the entrance of the damaged tea room, pointing a particle gun at them.

  “Jimmy, mate, what are you talking about?”

  “Told you,” said Triena. “They’ve used you.”

  “Shut up. My pay packet is going to triple when I take both of you in, but I have to keep you alive. The Queens want to talk to the outcast and you.” Jimmy took a step towards them holding the gun steady. He looked closely at Braklen. “Though I’m not sure why you are so special.”

  “Now, let’s talk about this, mate. You know I’m loyal.”

  “That’s not what’s been said on the com.”

  “You know me. You know I wouldn’t betray the Queens.” Braklen paused. “Ow, you little…’

  The rabbit jumped down and hopped away quickly.

  Thanks for your support. Triena knew she couldn’t trust that black bundle.

  Jimmy shot at the rabbit but missed. The room smelled of fresh explosives and singed fur.

  “Stop it. He’s just an animal.” Braklen stepped towards Jimmy.

  “I’m sure he’d be worth something even dead. Besides, I haven’t had a decent meal for a while. I could go for a good rabbit stew.” He pointed the gun back at Braklen. “Stay where you are.”

  “Okay. Okay.” Braklen put up his hands.

  “You too.” Jimmy pointed the gun at Triena.

  She didn’t like her chances with the gun-happy man, so she dropped the knife and put up her hands.

  “So, how are you going to do this?” asked Braklen.

  Jimmy moved
forward. “Hands behind your back.” He took out a plastic cord from his belt. “Turn around.”

  Braklen started to turn. As he did, he knocked the gun away and punched Jimmy in the face. Triena screamed and ducked, covering her ears with her hands. The two men struggled, punching each other hard before Braklen overpowered Jimmy.

  “You were always a bad shot.” Braklen rolled Jimmy over and put his hands behind his back.

  “You’re a dead man, Braklen.”

  Using the plastic cord, Braklen tied Jimmy’s hands together. Jimmy’s nose was bleeding. One of his eyes swelled and closed. “You’re lucky I’m leaving you alive.”

  “Doesn’t matter. There’s a red code out for you. You’re going to be hunted all through the different outposts, satellites, and planets. The Queens want you.”

  “Keep still.” The men struggled. Braklen punched Jimmy in the jaw. This time knocking him out.

  “Damn shame. He had potential to rise through the ranks, even though he couldn’t shoot to save his life.” Braklen stood up, turned around and froze.

  Triena pointed the particle gun at him, determined to control her life.

  “And what do you think you are going to do with that?”

  “Kill you,” she lied.

  “You don’t even know how to use the weapon.”

  “Move and you’ll find out.”

  “You don’t even know how to switch it on.”

  Triena fired the weapon.

  Braklen dropped to the ground, hands over his head. “Fuck the Queens! Stop!”

  “Next time, I’ll kill you.” She kicked at the rabbit trying to bit her toes.

  “You can’t.”

  “I think I just established otherwise.”

  “If you kill me, then the chip will kill you. Remember?”

  “Fuck.” So much for getting control back.

  “So, now what?” asked Braklen.

  Triena kept the gun aimed at him. “I so want to kill you.” Neither of them moved. “Are you going to take me to the Queens?”

  “Looks like that option has just been taken off the list.”

  “I can’t trust you.”

  “And I can’t trust you. I’ve lost count how many times you’ve tried to kill me.”

  “Yeah, well, you made things a hundred times worse by putting the chip in my arm. Now, we are bound to each other.”

  “Things weren’t what I thought they were.”

  Idiots. We got to leave here.

  “Pick up the rabbit.”

  “But, he bit me. I don’t think he’s so nice anymore.”

  “Hurry up. Someone’s coming and I’m sure they don’t want a cup of tea.”

  Braklen scooped up the rabbit and tucked him into the front of his shirt. He started to walk out the front door.

  “No, we have to go the back way, stupid. You’re a crim now, just like me.”

  “Yeah, thanks for that.”

  “It’s your fault.”

  Hurry up.

  “Stop, we have you surrounded.” A Peacemaker stood in the doorway, his gun pointed at them.

  Triena squeezed the trigger. The particles burned into the man’s chest. He collapsed onto the floor. “Run.” She turned down the hallway to get away from the smell that turned her gut.

  Braklen followed her out into the small backyard. There was no one there.

  “Help me.” Triena pulled at the sheet of galvanised iron that provided the boundary fence between her shop and the neighbors.

  “It’s easier to go over.”

  “No, it’s an old fence. The iron will bend easy enough.”

  Braklen put his hands between two sheets of iron and pulled. The metal gave way and he bent it back far enough so they could fit through. Triena went first, and ran around the neighbor’s ceramic pots, ignoring the discomfort of having to walk barefoot. Braklen knocked down a stack of small pots and they came crashing down.

  Idiot.

  “Hurry up.” Triena felt laden down having to escape with Braklen. His well-built body wasn’t lithe like hers and they were slow. She hoped there weren’t any more Peacekeepers. Or locals who wanted to make a quick buck.

  They weaved through the backyards until they got to Salene’s place.

  “Down here.” Triena moved some pots from behind the dilapidated shed in the backyard exposing a cellar door. Braklen helped her to pull up an old wooden door and they crept down the concrete stairs into the darkness.

  “Now what?”

  “Wait.”

  “For what?” He took out a small torch and shone it around the cellar.

  “Happy hour when Salene needs to come down here to get more booze.”

  Triena hoped with the Peacekeepers in town, the place would be extra busy. Her friend would run out of booze early and come down here. Then, they didn’t have to be stuck down here in this damp musty smelling cellar all night.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea.” Braklen walked around the cellar checking out the barrels.

  “You have a better option?” She watched him.

  “I could get us to my pod.” He pulled a cork from a small barrel.

  “Wouldn’t that be a bit risky?”

  “No more than here.” He leaned forward and smelled. “This is good stuff.”

  “Salene will help us. She can be trusted.”

  “You sure?” He turned his attention to the bench and shelves, picking up the few dusty tools and then putting them down again. He found an old-fashioned candle and matches which he lit. The light offered some comfort from the dark.

  “Absolutely. She hates the Peacekeepers. Let’s wait ‘til dark, then try.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

  “You got a better suggestion?”

  “Guess not.”

  “So, we wait then. You’d better get comfortable.” She sat down on a wooden footstool. Triena didn’t think she was going to be comfortable for a very long time. To leave Oberon like a criminal wasn’t at all what she planned or even hoped for.

  “You going to kill me?”

  “As long as you don’t kill me.”

  He poured himself some alcohol into an old tin he wiped out with his shirt. “Deal then.”

  “Deal.” Triena wrinkled her nose at the thought of drinking out of an old tin.

  You’ve finally done it.

  “Done what?” Triena rubbed her feet. There were a few scratches, but she couldn’t feel anything serious. Her feet were just bruised from the walk.

  Finally killed a man.

  “It doesn’t matter now. I’m not going to be initiated, not now, not ever, not after the death of Pernally.”

  Triena felt sick at the idea she’d actually managed to kill someone. Besides, I was meant to kill Braklen during a reading, not Pernally, and his energy hasn’t come to me, not like it did with Pernally.

  You don’t need his, answered the rabbit.

  “Who are you talking to?” asked Braklen.

  She could just make out the outline of his head and shoulders in the candle light as they waited in the darkness of the cellar. “The rabbit.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Want some booze?”

  “No.” She didn’t want to dull her senses. She wouldn’t be able to read the Energy if she consumed any liquor. It interfered with the process too much. “You shouldn’t be drinking.”

  “Gotta take the edge off the pain. I feel like I’ve been run over by a pod.”

  “There should be an emergency kit in here. Salene is always paranoid about an invasion.”

  “By who?”

  “The Priests and of course the Peacekeepers.”

  “I thought we were the good guys protecting the Queens.”

  “Sounds like there’s a fracture in your department.” Triena stood and began to rummage around. She’d been down here only a few times, but she saw the layout of the cellar in her mind and headed toward one of the shelv
es. “Now, it should be around here.”

  Triena found the box and opened it up. “Thank you, Salene.”

  “Does that mean I can’t drink?”

  “I’ve got better stuff here.” She pulled out a bottle of painkillers. “Here swallow these.”

  Braklen took the two white pills and swallowed them with a mouthful of spirits.

  “You’ll regret that.”

  “I regret a lot of things now.”

  “Really?” She popped a pack, setting off a chemical reaction that caused it to go cold. She handed him an ice pack for his eye.

  “Like being sent here.”

  Triena pulled out some antiseptic swabs and picked up Braklen’s right hand. His knuckles were red and raw. She swallowed hard and tried to brace herself as she went to mop up the dried blood.

  “You going to be okay cleaning me up?”

  Triena felt the familiar wave of queasiness over take her. “No.” She sat down on a barrel. “You’ll have to do it yourself.”

  “Thanks, you’re such a help,” he said sarcastically.

  The cellar door creaked open. A light from a torch blinded them.

  Chapter 5

  “Who’s down there? I’m armed.”

  “Salene?”

  “Who’s asking?”

  “Me. Triena.”

  They hadn’t waited long. Salene never trusted anyone to get more booze without her.

  Salene lowered the light. “You’re in some serious trouble.”

  “Just a misunderstanding,” said Triena.

  She stepped down into the room. “Who is that with you?”

  “A big problem.”

  “I can shoot him.”

  “No,” said Braklen and Triena.

  “Shoot him and I die,” added Triena.

  “Okay, okay. There is an ad out for your arrest. Is this guy to blame?”

  “Yes,” said Triena.

  Salene looked at her, then Braklen, and back at Triena, obviously unsure of what to make of this situation.

  Braklen chose his moment and lunged towards Salene.

  “Look out,” yelled Triena.

  “I can shoot you a little lower.” Salene lowered her gun to about Braklen’s waist level. “A serious injury will stop you. I don’t have to kill you.”

  Braklen stopped. His shoulders slumped slightly.

  “Triena, what have you gotten yourself into?”