No Light

by Mara, Devi

  "I would not finish that if I were you," Farran warned him. Something about the human, perhaps his obvious concern for Sarah, muted his irritation.

  John's gaze swung back and forth between the two of them. "So, The Corridor failed. Uncle Bill always said it was only a matter of time," he muttered, seemingly to himself. He shook his head and threw back the covers.

  "Where do you think to go, human?" Tradis demanded.

  He watched Sarah's brother scowl at his second with obvious irritation.

  "To find my sis-" he broke off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "To find Sarah Mackenzie."

  "Perhaps, you should take a moment to gather yourself," Farran tossed out.

  The human hopped off the edge of the bed and stood. He smiled to himself and started for the door.

  "You will not leave this room without my express permission," his second proclaimed.

  John paused at the door. He slowly turned to face Tradis. For a moment, his expression was a perfect copy of Sarah's. He raised his chin and said, "Stop me." He stalked from the room, without looking back.

  "I find it difficult to believe that obstinate human is a relation of your Marked," Tradis snarled, as he rose to follow him.

  Farran watched him stomp from the room. "Then, you should see her defy me. The resemblance is uncanny," he muttered under his breath. The amusement faded, at the thought of his Marked.

  His eyes landed on the empty hospital bed and he frowned. The strength of his bond with Sarah was obviously not a fluke. John Mackenzie's recovery confirmed his suspicions. His initial draw to Sarah was not something he could easily set aside, the Marking clearly more than an accident. Perhaps, as his lead engineer so eloquently stated, his ator knew something he did not.

  ...

  She looked up when the door opened, without a cursory knock. Her stomach tightened, as Farran met her eyes. She watched him silently push the door closed.

  "Sarah," he acknowledged.

  She licked her lips. "General."

  His lips curved slightly. "Farran, will be acceptable in private."

  Her eyes widened, but she nodded.

  He continued to watch her with an unreadable expression.

  "I spoke with Private Eitad, today," she said to fill the silence.

  "Did you?" His voice was strange, soft somehow.

  She chewed on her bottom lip. "About Marking and..." She glanced at him, then quickly away. "Why did you lie to me about our bond?" she asked in a rush. Her eyes widened and flew to him.

  A thoughtful look crossed his face and she thought she saw his lips quirk. "Explain."

  The beginning burn of irritation began in her stomach. "You told me our bond was weak. Private Eitad said my healing should have been impossible."

  "You are alive. Is that not enough?" His soft tone rubbed her the wrong way.

  Her eyes narrowed. "The relationship between a Dem and his marked is one of mutual respect. You lied to me."

  He walked toward her. "I omitted."

  Her lips pursed. "A lie of omission is still a lie," she said softly. "And I was not able to visit my brother tonight."

  He sank into the chair across from hers. "Do not concern yourself."

  She stiffened, taking in his intense gaze. "Farran, I have no one else-"

  "Your sibling is no longer an issue."

  She blinked at him in confusion. "What do you-"

  "He has been moved, as the hospital was no longer necessary." His tone cooled, as she continued to question him.

  It clicked and she sucked in a sharp breath. "He's-" she broke off, unable to finish the thought. Pain like nothing she had felt before, choked her until she could hardly breath. The terrified death screams of Keane's group echoed in her mind with her mother's wide eyes.

  "Please leave."

  He shifted, and her eyes jerked to him. He had the nerve to look confused.

  "I need to be alone. Please leave." She stood and rushed to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She waited until she heard the quiet click of the hallway door, before she slid to the floor.

  Dead. Everyone in her family was dead, and she was alone. She pressed her palm to her mouth to hold back the whimpers that tried to escape. Silent tears streamed down her face, blurring the sterile white bathroom. She had no one except Farran, who seemed to hate her most of the time.

  She stared at the shower door unseeing, as her mind spun. The events of the past few days swirled inside her head, until she paused on a single thought. Keane. She stilled. He could not force her to free the city guard, so he would have to do it himself.

  She licked her lips nervously. Farran could increase his guards on City Hall. She started to stand and paused. If the king found out about Keane, he could kill everyone. She rubbed at her face.

  Farran could not say anything against his brother. There was nothing and no one to keep the king from murdering thousands of innocent people just as he had killed her parents. She shivered. Keane could bring disaster on them all. Unless, she stopped him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Garden of Thorns

  "…marked Ms. Mackenzie."

  Farran glanced away from the window at the mention of his Marked.

  "Wait. Ms. Mackenzie, like Sarah Mackenzie?" The human stood from his chair. "Like my sister, Sarah Mackenzie?"

  Tradis gave him a bland look, and met Farran's eyes. "Yes."

  "What did- how did- who marked my sister?" John demanded. His gaze swung back and forth between the two Dems.

  Farran nodded to his second to continue with his explanations. He observed the human's obvious displeasure with amusement.

  "Sit down, human," Tradis barked.

  John dropped into his chair. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Tradis. "I'm listening."

  Tradis let out a long-suffering sigh. "K'enh ta'chu mal," he muttered under his breath.

  Farran raised an eyebrow at the curse, but did not lecture him. He watched the two of them interact. John seemed to be a larger and more abrasive version of his sister. He could tell his second was already regretting his decision to mark him. His lips twitched.

  "…was unintentional," Tradis was saying when he pulled himself from his thoughts.

  "But you said you had to touch someone to mark them," the human interrupted. He slowly turned to look at him. "What were you doing touching my sister?"

  Farran barely resisted the urge to growl. "It is none of your concern."

  "None of my-" he broke off. Farran could almost see the gears turning in his mind. "What the heck did you do to my sister, Dem?"

  "Human," Tradis warned.

  "Yeah, whatever!" The human did not spare him a glance. "I'm waiting."

  Farran's eyes narrowed. "You do not question me, human. Relation of my marked, marked of my second. If you continue to question me, none of that will matter."

  The human had the good sense to sit back in his chair, but his eyes remained narrowed. "Fine, but if I find out you've done anything-"

  "Enough!" Tradis cut him off. He sent Farran an apologetic look.

  Farran waved him off. The human's eyes left him when his second continued to speak.

  "As my Marked, you are of lower rank than Ms. Mackenzie. You may not speak to her without permission."

  The human bristled. "Permission from who? From him?" He jerked his thumb in Farran's direction. "Not likely, buddy."

  He watched Tradis take a calming breath. "Human," his second growled.

  "What? You tell me I can't talk to my own sis-"

  "I said no such thing! If you do not desist with your insolence…" his second trailed off, the threat clear.

  The tension slowly drained out of the human. He sighed. "I apologize for my rudeness. I just don't see why I can't hear all of this from Sarah."

  "As I was explaining, before you so rudely interrupted," Tradis started, giving the human a significant scowl. "Ms. Mackenzie is of higher rank as the Marked of our General and ki-" He broke off and
cleared his throat. "General."

  "So, I need her permission or his?" He felt the human's gaze swing to him.

  "Hers," Farran answered, taking pity on the man.

  "Well, she wouldn't have any problem explaining all this to me."

  "My Marked is not to be disturbed at such an early hour." His eyes went to the dark sky outside the window. He saw the human nod from the corner of his eye.

  "Right. Okay." John turned back to Tradis. "So, what else? I get the marking thing, and the status," he frowned. "And the healing thing. What I want to know, is how you people escaped."

  Farran sent him a dark look. "Respect, human."

  John nodded to him. "How did The Corridor fail, General?"

  Farran shifted in his chair. As he explained, he watched the human. His thoughts were plainly written across his face.

  "She was quite fierce in her defense of you," he finished.

  John grinned. "That sounds like Sarah. She's a little thing, but she doesn't back down."

  Farran raised his eyebrow at the human's description of his sister, but did not comment. "So, it would seem."

  "She tell you about the time she had to free me from barbed wire?"

  Farran frowned at the man's bright tone. "No."

  "Oh. Well, I was being an idiot and I got myself tangled up in a fence at the edge of town," the human said with a sheepish smile. He shrugged. "So, I'm hanging upside down, the wires doing their best to strangle me." He paused to pull the neckline of his borrowed shirt aside.

  Farran raised his eyebrows at the jagged scar that ran from one shoulder to the other. A thinner scar wrapped the base of his throat.

  "And then, there's Sarah. She somehow managed to get me untangled." His tone sobered. "But one of the barbs sliced her palm down to the bone. She didn't even tell me about it until we got home." Farran watched his eyes shadow.

  Our parents wouldn't take her to the hospital. By the time I scrounged enough money, it was already partially healed. It scarred something awful."

  He glanced at his second, to see Tradis watching John. The human appeared to be deep in thought, as he plucked at the hem of his shirt.

  "And the burns?"

  John jerked his eyes up to look at him. For a moment, his gaze was as unguarded as Sarah's. He cleared his throat. "That happened a few years later." He rubbed the back of his neck. "We were burning trash out behind the house, and apparently there was something flammable in there.

  I heard this loud whoosh, and the wind must have been blowing my way, because next thing I know I'm on fire. Sarah's always been better in those kinds of situations. She knocked me over and started smothering the flames with her coat." He shook his head. "She has no sense at all when it comes to self-preservation."

  Farran could not hold back an amused huff.

  "I had a few burns on my chest and back, but it could have been far worse. She didn't want to show me her hands. I took her to the hospital myself. After the barbed wire, I took a part-time job in case anything ever happened."

  "There was insufficient funding for medical care?" Tradis asked.

  John shook his head, and a dark look crossed his face. "No. They paid for mine."

  "But not Ms. Mackenzie?"

  "They got it in their heads that she wasn't really necessary. I was the first born, so I was the one that would keep the family fed and clothed. Since she was never going to be," he paused, as if searching for the correct word, "needed, they didn't want to waste any time on her."

  Farran saw his fury reflected in the human's eyes, and felt a surge of respect for him. "I see."

  "So, maybe it makes me a bad person, but I can't feel too much sadness for them. Our parents treated her like she was nothing," he spat. "Like she was just a side affect of my birth. Frankly, it pissed me off. I can't tell you how many fights I had with my father."

  "You were not close to them?" Tradis questioned.

  John gave him a short glare. "Not at all. Maybe, if they hadn't treated Sarah the way they did…" he trailed off and set his jaw. "No, it was always just the two of us against the world. You have to understand, when our grandfather died, when Uncle Bill had his accident, when our parents fought, it was just me and Sarah."

  "I see," Farran muttered. He scanned the man's earnest face. "Sarah seemed quite upset by the death of your parents."

  John scoffed. "Yeah, well she's much more forgiving than I am. Maybe, if our positions had been reversed, I would feel that way. But, I'm the big brother. Any attack on her is a personal affront." He narrowed his eyes at him.

  Farran almost smirked. "Noted."

  "Good." The human sat back in his chair. "How is she taking it?"

  Farran tensed. "She is distraught." He frowned to himself, at the word. It did not seem strong enough to explain her state of unhappiness.

  "At least, she knows she has me."

  He stared at the human. "Yes."

  John tipped his head to the side. "You did tell her, right?"

  "I told her your health was no longer a concern," Farran confirmed. He raised an eyebrow at the confused look the human gave him.

  "But, you didn't say it like that, did you?"

  "I am unsure to what you are referring."

  An expression of mild panic filled the man's eyes. "Did you come right out and tell her I was okay?"

  Farran frowned. "I was unaware it was necessary-"

  "Seriously?" John interrupted. He leapt from his chair to cross to the door. "She probably thinks I'm dead or something. I wouldn't put it past Keane to threaten her."

  Farran growled. "Sit down, human. Explain yourself."

  John gave him a set-upon sigh, but he turned away from the door. "Look, I knew Keane was watching me. Uncle Bill said as much before he died. I didn't think the guy would try to off me, but obviously I was kidding myself." He ran a hand through his hair.

  "And you believe Keane would have threatened Sarah's life?" Farran demanded.

  "What? No." John shook his head and paced back to his chair. "What I'm saying, is that I wouldn't put it past Keane to threaten me. To get to Sarah."

  "That is no longer a concern. I told Sarah as much."

  Again, the human sent him a disbelieving look. "You didn't tell her that did you?"

  "I said she need not be concerned for your health," Farran answered. At the expression on the human's face, he retraced his steps. A knot began to form in his stomach. "You believe my phrasing was incorrect."

  "Uh, yeah," the human replied. "Is Keane still out in the woods?"

  "No," he answered distractedly.

  "You got a plan to find him?"

  "We are sweeping the city," Tradis answered, while he became lost in his thoughts.

  Sarah's reaction to his words began to make more sense. She thought her brother was dead. He tuned back into the conversation, in time to hear his second discuss strategy with the human.

  "…would try to increase his numbers. My vote would be on City Hall."

  Tradis nodded. "I concur."

  The human leaned forward in his chair. "As far as the outside, I'm thinking you have less than seventy-two hours."

  "A frontal attack?" his second questioned.

  John shook his head. "Not a chance. More like a bomb. Something that can wipe out the city in one go."

  Tradis appeared vaguely disturbed. "They would destroy the civilians?"

  John snorted. "No doubt. If they thought there was even a chance of heading off a larger attack…" He paused and glanced at Farran. "Do you plan to attack?"

  Farran stared at him. "If I do?"

  The human stared back at him. "Depends."

  "Explain."

  "Well, if you plan to take everyone out, I guess I can't do much to stop you. Seeing, how I'm stuck with this guy." He gestured toward Tradis. "But, if my sister gets hurt in anyway-"

  "I understand your concern, but it is unnecessary," Farran cut him off.

  The human nodded. "Alright. In that case, I suggest you finish yo
ur business here sooner rather than later."

  "Understood." He gave John an assessing look. "You may be an asset."

  The human snorted. "Thanks, I think." He shook his head. "You mean you didn't think of that before you had the Colonel mark me?"

  Farran raised an eyebrow at his tone. "You are questioning me?"

  John held up his hands. "Just curious."

  He glanced toward the window. The sun painted the eastern sky in a bright palette of yellow, pink, and purple. "I did not think past removing the threat to myself."

  Tradis raised an eyebrow.

  "What if I had been useless?" John continued.

  "You are the brother of my Marked." Farran stated, unsure of the human's point.

  "So, I can't be an idiot?"

  Farran pined him with a warning glare. "What is it you are seeking, human?"

  John crossed his arms. "I'm just trying to figure this out. I mean, you're saying you did it to protect yourself, but all I see is how it would make my sister happy. Maybe, I'm missing the part where your actions are selfish."

  Farran growled. "You overstep yourself." He rose from his chair and sent his second a dark look. "Control your Marked."

  "Are you going to see my sister?" the human asked.

  "I am." He started to pull open the door and paused. "What would she do if she thought you had died?" He did not turn, but he heard the human stand from his chair.

  "I'm not sure, but it wouldn't be good." He took a step toward him. "Can I come with you to see her?"

  Farran glared at the door, but nodded. "Fine." He pulled open the door and heard the human hurry after him.

  "She's got a good head on her shoulders, most of the time," John said, as they climbed the stairs.

  "And when she does not?" Tradis asked, from somewhere behind him.

  "She can be a little reckless," the human answered.

  "Would she aid the humans?"

  Farran paused at his second's question. He turned to face the human. John looked back and forth between the two of them.

  "You mean Keane? Not a chance."

  "The humans in City Hall?" Tradis demanded.

  The human cocked his head to the side in thought. "Are they in danger?"

  "Not at the moment," Farran answered. He felt his stomach clench at the time the human took to think it over.