Sun Touched (Diamara Book 1)

by J. C. Hart

  "I'll do my best." Sarai grinned, then took a breath and headed for the door. Madea paced for ten minutes before she, too, left the house. She couldn't stand to be within walls for any longer than that. And if she was lucky...

  Yes, there it was. The vents were open and a flood of fresh air swept through the sector. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, catching a hint of the plains on the wind. When she opened them, she could see several creatures coming towards her, as though drawn by the change in temperature.

  She hadn't seen any in the domes before, and despite the fact that she knew they could pass through the protective layer, it seemed odd to see them now. They floated toward her, their tendrils flicking out, lashing through her body quickly, sending her flashes of thought and memory. She caught a trace of Sarai's worry about what Rickard's grand plan might be, and a greater anxiety about Madea and the trouble she would get in if caught.

  She felt stricken, having that first-hand knowledge of how her sister felt, knowing full well the position she'd put her in. All she could hope was that everything went to plan, and her sister’s fears would come to nothing.

  Madea hurried towards her father's house, slipping around the back and taking the same path she had the night she'd made her escape. She had only just got into her hiding spot when voices rose outside the front gate.

  "You can't stop me from going in, I know she's here. I know it!" The words were slurred, but she froze, recognizing Sullivan's voice.

  "She's not. You'd best go home. We don't want any trouble."

  "Trouble," Sullivan scoffed. "All I want is to see Madea! She's carrying my baby you know, and I'm the father, I deserve to speak to her. She can't hide from me."

  "You were quite clear about not being ready to be a father. She respected your wishes, now have some respect for her." Rickard's voice was firm, but she could tell that he was acting. Though she knew he would have defended her honour in a heartbeat, the words seemed rehearsed to her ears.

  "My baby," slurred Sullivan. There was no fraudulence in his inebriation. He'd been drinking, or taking pills, that much was clear. How Rickard had managed to rope him into this charade, she didn't know. She had to restrain herself from going out there and sending him home. The last thing she wanted was for him to get in any more trouble—they would be watching him carefully after his overdose.

  "Do you really want her to see you like this? I think you should go home," Rickard's voice was calm, but it didn't seem to help.

  "I'll do what I like. Is my baby," he repeated, a primal wail exiting his mouth. Madea closed her eyes at the shuffle of feet, she could imagine him stumbling, reaching for Rickard. Would he take a swing? How realistic were they aiming for? A fist thudded against flesh, and then Rickard yelped. They scuffled for a minute before he called for help, and within moments three men ran out of the house and headed for the fight.

  Madea pushed away the sounds, focusing on what was in front of her now. She didn't have time to think about whether Rickard had been hurt, or whether Sullivan would get in trouble. She had to save Garrett.

  Carefully she pushed through the kitchen door and scanned the room. It was empty, as she had hoped—late enough that most of the staff would have retired, but not so late that the noise of someone moving through the house would be out of place.

  She followed Sarai's instructions and found the stairs leading down, stopping frequently to listen for signs of life. Her fingers twitched anxiously. Her heart thudded at double speed by the time she reached the last step. A solid door blocked the way, complete with a touchpad. She pulled out the unit she'd taken from the Touched, and attached it like Sturm had shown her, tapping her feet as it did its thing, only exhaling when the lock clicked open.

  Garrett was tied to a chair, his arms stretched behind him so that he was forced to sit straight, pulling open the shallow cuts across his chest. "Garrett," she whispered as she rushed to his side. He barely stirred at her voice and she suppressed a sob. She'd never seen anything like this, and now she'd never be able to forget the image of him so hurt, helpless.

  Madea moved behind him and used her knife to cut through his bindings, catching him as he slumped forward.

  "Garrett, can you hear me?" She brushed the hair back from his face, trying to avoid the bruises around his eyes and the cuts on his cheek. Anger burned in her belly as she thought of her father inflicting this damage to the man she was falling for.

  "Madea?" Garrett’s voice was hoarse, and his eyes fluttered open.

  "It's me. I came for you." She rested his head on her lap and reached into her bag for her bottle of water, bringing it to his lips and helping him drink. He coughed, as though that little liquid could drown him.

  "Where are the others?"

  "What others?"

  "Tahra sent a team with you, didn't she?"

  "No. I asked to come alone. She'll send backup if I need it, but I can get you out of here. I know I can."

  He pushed himself upright and peered at her. "I think becoming Touched has actually made you a little mad, after all." He tried to smile, but it became a grimace instead. "I'm a bit of a mess, aren't I?"

  "A little. Nothing that won't heal." She reached out and caressed his chin, the least damaged part of his face. "Still handsome though."

  "I'd kiss you, but I think it would hurt too much."

  "Save it for later." She smiled at him, emotions warring inside her. "I need to get you somewhere safe, and then I need to have a chat to my father." She paused, chewing her bottom lip before asking, "Was it him?"

  "No." He shook his head, and she felt relief flood her system. It was one thing to know the kinds of things her father actioned, another to think of him personally carrying those things out.

  "Okay. Let's get moving. If I stay still too long Tahra will be all over this place, and I really need to have that chat." She stood and helped him to his feet. He was unsteady for a moment before gaining his equilibrium.

  "Lead on, my hero." He gave a little flourish which unbalanced him. Madea reached for his arm, steadying him. She refused to let go, even though he tried to stand on his own, and eventually he let her lead him through the door to the stairs.

  It felt like a lifetime to make it to the top. Madea was on high alert, ears pricked for any sound which might mean her intrusion had been discovered, but nothing came. She let Garrett slump to the floor at the top while she checked the room beyond. When she came back he was on his feet, leaning against the door.

  "I need to get you somewhere safe."

  "I thought I'd just wait here." He grinned as best he could. Madea was unable to stop the smile from spreading across her face.

  "I'm glad to see they didn't beat your sense of humour out of you."

  "They didn't beat anything out of me," he said firmly. "I said you could trust me, and I meant it."

  "Thank you." She kissed him gently on the cheek. "Now let's move, before it's too late."

  "I don't know how far I can go." He grimaced as they moved forward.

  Madea pulled him along, heading for the doorway out of the house. "It's okay. I know just the place."

  Once she had him in her hiding spot, she shoved a packet of food and a bottle of water into his hands, along with her locator. "If I haven't come back for you in a few hours, Tahra will send someone. She's monitoring this, so just stay put. I'll see you as soon as I can." She went to kiss him on the cheek but he pressed his swollen lips against her mouth. She could taste dried blood on him, the symbol of his promise.

  "Be careful. You don't know what he's capable of."

  "I'm beginning to see," she said wryly. "I'll be fine. Don't worry." She paused, not wanting to leave him but knowing that she had to. "I'll see you soon."

  "Go on, before they hear us." He nodded back towards the house and left before she could change her mind.

  The house was strangely quiet. She had expected more people to be here, but perhaps Rickard's distraction had worked better than she'd hoped. Madea though
t of Sullivan, hoped that he hadn't been arrested for his behaviour. She had bigger things to worry about right now though. Steeling herself, she headed for her father's office, where she was sure he would be.

  Sarai’s voice wafted from the room as she approached the door. What was she still doing there? Madea pushed through the door and closed it behind her. Sarai stood behind their father who had been securely tied to a chair, the rope cutting into the skin around his wrists. He had a lump on his forehead and his eyes were closed.

  "What are you doing?" Madea hissed at her sister.

  "I—" Sarai was pale, and her hands shook. "I—"

  Madea locked the door, then pulled the blinds shut on the window, afraid that someone might see. She pulled her sister towards the couch. Sarai's whole body was quaking. Madea pulled her into an embrace and held her tight. "What happened?"

  "I...I had to ask him if it was true. He lied about it. Lied about everything and I got angry. So angry. Madea..." Tears fell on Madea's shoulders and she pulled back to dry Sarai's eyes.

  "It's okay. I'm here now." Madea took a deep breath, trying to stay focused. She glanced over at her father, noting the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath the bindings. At least he was still alive.

  "He wasn't going to confess. He's been lying to me for so long and I gave him the chance to be honest but he couldn't. He wouldn't tell me. I didn't mean to hurt him, but I grabbed a statue and I hit him. He fell down and I didn't know what to do...."

  "So you tied him up? It was quick thinking, Sarai. If he'd come around, he might have tried to hurt you. It's okay." Madea stroked her sister's hair until she relaxed. "Why don't you stay here for a bit, and I'll see if I can wake him. We have some things to talk about."

  "Okay." Sarai nodded, biting her lip and folding her arms across her body.

  Madea got up and crossed the room to her father. She knelt before him and placed a hand on each side of his face. "Father. Wake up." She shook his shoulders, and after a few moments he seemed to stir. "Come on, old man, we don't have all night."

  "Wha?" He slowly shook his head one way, then the other, his eyes fluttering open. "Madea?"

  "Yes, Father. It's me. I came for Garrett." She pressed her lips into a thin line and tried to decide how best to use her time here. "I can't forgive what you've done, but we have things we need to talk about."

  "What things? And why did your sister hit me? What have you been telling her?"

  "The truth, Father. I've spoken with Mother, and I know what you did. But like I said, it's not time to talk about that, we have more important things to discuss."

  "Cut these ties, and I might talk. Otherwise I'll call for security."

  "I sent them away, Dad," Sarai called from the couch. "You don't deserve to be protected."

  "You! You're in so much trouble. When I get out of here—"

  "I will be long gone. I'm done with you, Father." Sarai stood, her shakes had disappeared and she strode over. "I can't believe I trusted you." She glanced at Madea. "I'm going to pack my bag, and then I'm coming with you."

  "What about Rickard?"

  "Don't worry. He'll come too." Sarai headed for the door, leaving Madea alone with her father.

  "Mum's fuming. You've got a lot to answer for, you know."

  "She's crazy." He dismissed her comment with a shake of his head. "And so are you. I didn't think she'd got to Sarai though."

  "Sarai hasn't been Touched. She's just been told the truth."

  He let out a snort of a laugh.

  "I wouldn't be laughing if I was you. You're in no position to take this lightly." Madea peered up at him. "Mother is willing to bring down the domes and expose everyone. She's prepared to deal with the chaos, she'd welcome it, if it meant that everyone was equal, and everyone would know the truth about being Touched."

  "And what has she told you it means?" He sneered at her and she had to resist the urge to slap him. He was still so smug, so sure of himself, even in his current position.

  "I've seen it myself. There are creatures that live on this planet that you can't see until you've been exposed. Beautiful, amazing creatures."

  "If they are so amazing, why are you telling me her plans?"

  "Because I don't agree with them. There has to be another way, but unless you agree to make some changes, she will do this and not even you will be able to avoid being Touched."

  His throat moved convulsively. "So what do you want from me?"

  Madea had to stop and think. She hadn't known what to expect from this meeting, and now he actually seemed to be listening. One thing popped into her mind and she spoke before she lost her momentum. "The Hollowings need to stop. There will be no more performed. Ever. You can sedate those who get Touched, but you can't empty them. You'll give them to us, and we'll take care of them."

  "But we need them. They provide important labour—"

  "The Touched can spend all the time they want outside the domes," she said. "We can work out the details later, but you won't Hollow anyone else. It stops now." Her baby twitched in her belly, as if agreeing with her sentiment. Her hand moved to the place where it rested, and her father's eyes followed.

  "You're still pregnant," he stated.

  "Did you think I would get rid of it just because you wanted me to?" It was her turn to sneer. "This is my baby. She's been Touched too. She's been changed. She's more than you could ever imagine." Madea didn't know why she was telling him these things. He wasn't going to have anything to do with the child, but it felt good to say it to someone. To acknowledge out loud that the baby growing within her was something more than human now.

  "You're sick, Madea." His voice was gentle, full of concern.

  "No, you're sick. We trusted you, we loved you, and you took away our mother. You lied to us, you used us, and it ends now. I'll do what I can to stop Mother bringing down the domes, but not for you. I'll do it because I don't think it's the right way. You need to stick to your end of the bargain, or there will be consequences. Trust me on this."

  "How do I know you're not lying?" He raised an eyebrow.

  "What reason do I have to lie? I'm trying to keep the balance here. Besides, you know me. When have I ever done anything but my duty? I've lived and breathed service for the last decade of my life."

  "I guess you're right," he said grudgingly. He licked his bottom lip. "I'll stop the Hollowings, and I'll consider trading with the Touched. I don't want them in my domes though, and I won't deal with anyone but you."

  "I don't trust you. Not at all." He'd already tried to get rid of her baby once, there was every chance he would try again. "I'll call you, and we'll sort it out that way. I won't step foot in this house again."

  "Fine. Whatever. Are you going to untie me now?"

  "No. I'm not." She backed away from him.

  "Sign of good will?"

  "No. I'll send a message to your security team when we're gone. You can wait a few minutes." She chewed on her bottom lip, suddenly feeling very much like a child again.

  "Madea," he called. "I'm sorry—"

  "It's too late for apologies. Just hold up your end of the bargain, and you won't have anything to worry about. I'll be in touch." Madea pulled the door closed behind her and leaned against it. A sob tore free from her throat and she let a ragged breath follow it, swallowing back the wail that threatened to escape.

  "He doesn't deserve your tears, Maddy." Sarai sat at the bottom of the steps. She stood and moved towards Madea.

  "I know, but he's still our father."

  "Not anymore." Sarai held out her hand and Madea grasped it, taking strength from her little sister, who seemed to have grown ten years over the course of the night. "Rickard's waiting for us at his place." Sarai began to lead her towards the front door, but Madea pulled back.

  "Wait. Garrett's hiding. I need to get him."

  "Where?"

  "By the kitchen." She led her sister back through the house, surprised by the new strength she could feel in Sarai. She had
thought their father's betrayal would break her, but it had changed Sarai in ways Madea couldn't have predicted. "You don't need to come. We can find another way," she offered.

  "No. I'm done here, and I want to see Mother." Sarai gave her a flicker of a smile. "And we need to stick together, I can see that now. You're the only one I trust."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Madea led them back to the tunnels, and it wasn't until she closed the hatch behind them that she could take an easy breath.

  "What about Rickard?" Sarai asked as she glanced around nervously, her shoulders stooped as though the tunnels were much smaller than they were.

  "I'll go and get him soon, I promise. It's better that you stay here where you'll be safe, and Garrett's wounds need attention sooner rather than later." He'd been quiet for a while now, though he was managing to stumble along with their help.

  "Okay." The strength she had shown before seemed to waver as Sarai glanced up and down the tunnels. "It's weird being here. Knowing we're underground."

  "I know." Madea smiled. "You'll forget about that soon enough. Don't worry." She led them down the hallway until they came across a woman, only vaguely familiar. Her eyes went wide at the sight of Garrett.

  "Here, let me help," the woman offered, reaching for Garrett.

  Madea waved her off. "Can you get a message to Tahra? Let her know we're taking Garrett to the infirmary. Which is...where?"

  "Keep going that way." The woman pointed the direction they had already been going. "Take the third left, then the first right and you'll be there. Are you sure you don't want a hand?"

  "Thanks, but we'll manage. Just tell Tahra."

  The woman nodded and took off down the hall.

  "We could have done with the help, you know. He's getting heavy," Sarai commented.

  "I can hear you," Garrett muttered. He tried to stand straighter, but slumped back against them. "I'll try to walk better."