“Why spend the credits for two females when all the other humans remain in Level One?” Another questioned.
Fanian didn’t answer. He had no plans to make friends with any of the other hunters. They were forced in close proximity by circumstances only. There was no camaraderie between them. Leaving the communal living area, he stepped over the accumulated garbage that no one had bothered to pick up. Cleaning staff wasn’t a perk in this section.
He stalked through the halls, making his way to the executive suites again. As usual the high end differences were discernable. The air was cleaner. No visible sign of dirt or grime on the walls. No stench of unclean bodies and trash didn’t litter the floor.
Fanian didn’t encounter any guards on his way and no one stopped him to question his presence. He made it to his destination and stood outside the Dar’E’s door and knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again
No answer.
“Xrez!” he yelled at the door. “Open and talk to me, or every hunter here will know who you really are!”
Still no answer.
“Fine! Have it your way!” He turned.
“Fanian Uldri, why are you in the executive suites and not in the communal living area that you paid for?”
Fanian vaguely recognized the voice coming from his comlink. “I’ve come to see the Game Warden.”
There was a pause.
“The Game Warden doesn’t communicate with the hunters. If something is wrong with your accommodations, you can speak with me.”
“Funny. The Game Warden and I had a conversation the other night. Not too far from where I’m standing now.”
“You’re mistaken. It’s against The Hunt rules for the Game Warden to communicate with the hunters.”
Fanian snort laughed. “Then it really must be against the rules to communicate with and stalk prey.”
“It is,” the voice said slowly. “But why are you so sure that you’ve seen and spoken to the Game Warden?”
Patience running thin, Fanian snapped, “I overheard him talking to someone in his suite. Now that I think about it, I believe that person was you. His assistant, Bradliix.”
There was an indignant sniff. “You were eavesdropping outside his door? Even so, the doors to the rooms are soundproof. You didn’t hear what you thought you did.”
Fanian growled under his breath. “My hearing is exceptional.”
“Your species is new to us. I admit that we’re still learning about you and updating our files as we observe you.”
Fanian was too stunned to respond right away. The species name he’d used on his application matched the biomarker he’d added to his blood to mask what he really was. “The Khet are very familiar in this galaxy. You should know all about me already.”
“But you aren’t really a Khet, are you?” There was a hint of knowing in Bradliix’s voice. “Despite what you registered as when we scan you.”
“Then what am I since you know so much?” There was no mistaking the challenge in his voice. He’d paid a lot for the biomarker. An expense he was happy to part with if it meant he would remain anonymous and wouldn’t be hunted in this galaxy.
“You’re a Givvek. We do background checks on the species of every hunter here. Your biomarker, as a Khet, would fool any other medical team. Rest assured, our technology is better than most, and you almost fooled us. Your identity stays a secret. But the fact is noted in our non-disclosure contract.”
Could he trust this person not to broadcast what he was, alerting the Thruul that a Givvek had been found? Could he also trust this person not to try to capture him for his own purposes?
“So, you know about my species?” Fanian asked through gritted teeth.
“Your kind was driven from your homeworld by genocide. The Thruul have used your species’ unique healing abilities to win a war, and even after the war, they continue to hunt your kind to help them remain in power. Sadly, there is no accurate number of how many Givveks survived. The Thruul keep how many they’ve enslaved a secret, but approximately ten thousand escaped and fled to the far reaches of the universe. There are less than two hundred Givveks, including yourself in this galaxy, and you are the only Givvek in this sector.”
“Thank you for the very painful history lesson,” Fanian ground out. He hadn’t known the numbers. He’d hoped there were more who’d escaped. He fought past the pain of what had been done to his people and focused on how much the assistant really knew. “What can you tell me about our special abilities? Besides that of fast healing?”
“The cadence of your voice affects the brain waves of most species. Your voice, or your zvodny, makes people calm when you speak. It’s the weapon the Thruul used to convince their enemies to surrender. I must point out that your zvodny does not work on me. My brain is set up differently.”
This would’ve been a lot easier if he could convince Bradliix to give him everything he’d come here to get from the Game Warden.
“You also cannot work your zvodny on Xrez. Since learning of your species we’ve added the mind blocker to his food.”
Fanian scowled.
“You’re stronger and faster than most,” Bradliix continued. “Able to cross short spans of ground in record time. You have an excellent sense of smell and because of your unique digestive system, you require nutritional substance from amino acids which are only found in the blood of certain species.”
“And my hearing?”
“Exceptional.”
Which brought him back to his point. “Then you understand how I was able to hear the happenings beyond these walls?”
It was also how he’d finally found Miranda again. He’d smelled her and her kids, but couldn’t pinpoint where they were. It wasn’t until he’d heard her murmurings coming from across the lake that he’d honed in on her position. It was hard to believe he’d missed the small cave opening in the side of the mountain.
“I understand that now. I’ll update your file.” Bradliix didn’t sound too happy.
“I want to talk to Xrez. Now.”
“It’s impossible at the moment.”
Fanian clenched his fists at his sides. “If he doesn’t present himself, I’ll return to the communal living area. I think the other hunters would be interested in hearing the information I have, like how the fabled Game Warden has helped the humans manipulate the game. He’s told the humans they can return home if they complete Level Three. Although we all know this to be untrue, it has motivated the humans to fight and survive, making The Hunt much harder for the rest of us.”
“The meeting you seek is impossible because Xrez is off-planet attending to business at the moment,” Bradliix was quick to respond.
How fortunate but not Fanian’s problem. “I guess you’ll have to help me then?”
“I know you hunt the mother. If you capture her, you will do it on your own. Xrez’s actions may have compromised The Hunt, but I will not.”
“Oh, I’m not asking you to hand her to me. I like tracking her on my own, and when I finally get her, it’ll be because I’m an exceptional hunter,” Fanian growled.
“Then what do you want?”
“I want to advance to Level Two.”
“Of course. In the morning, a pod will be waiting to take you to the Level Two gaming arena. The necessary credits will be deducted from your account.”
Fanian threw his head back and laughed. “No more credits will be deducted from my account, Game Warden’s assistant. In fact, you will return any credits that you’ve already taken. That includes the entrance fee and the credits for any amenities I’ve used to date.”
“Impossible!”
“Should I remind you of the information I have and the riot that’ll occur if I go back to the hunters and inform them of the truth? Think about it, Bradliix. Do you really want me to go back to the communal living area?”
“I could have guards remove you.”
“That may be true, but that would only moti
vate me to plead my case to the Galactic Council and inform every news outlet of what’s happening here and with this particular hunt.”
“May I remind you that you’ve signed a confidentiality agreement?”
“You could. But then I would remind you that the contract I signed clearly states, The Game Warden, nor any of The Hunt attendants can interfere in an active game.”
A pause, then, “As I’ve said, a pod will be waiting for you outside the lodge doors in the morning to take you to Level Two. At no charge to you, of course.”
Triumph filled Fanian. “Oh, and I’m not returning to the communal living area tonight. I’ll stay in one of the empty executive suites.”
He could finally have a proper shower. Read a news file. Maybe watch a program on the hologram broadcast or maybe just rest and sleep in peace. Ah, glorious, peaceful, uninterrupted sleep.
A door clicked open at the end of the hall and Fanian made his way toward it, already unzipping his skinsuit. He couldn’t wait to get out of these clothes.
“Does this conclude our business, Fanian?”
“I also expect to have all the upgrades available to an executive status member when I reach Level Two.”
“Certainly,” Bradliix ground out.
Victory and the mother would soon be his.
THE POD WAS WAITING for him the next morning as Bradliix promised. When it launched him out onto a blanket of snow, Fanian immediately rolled to his feet. Not because it was cold. As the heat didn’t bothered him, neither did the cold. Even so, he used one of the new icons on his comlink to call for the clothes now available to him. He stripped out of his old ones.
When he was dressed, he touched another icon, and a holographic map appeared. It displayed the underground pod network. He wouldn’t find exactly where in Level Two Miranda was, but the map would give him an idea of her general vicinity. He swiped his hand through the air, moving the map back to the Level One arena and found the area where he thought she’d taken a pod to Level Two.
He couldn’t be certain that she’d stayed in the same area where he’d last seen her, but it was the only information he had to go on. He then followed the track she’d most likely taken into Level Two. The labeling on the map read, “Ruins.” She’d come to this cold land and would look for shelter immediately. If she entered this arena by the ruins, she might still be there.
“I’ll see you soon, my prey.”
Fanian took off in that direction. Revenge steeped in each step he took.
Chapter Nine
Shriek. Shriek. Shriek.
Already wide awake, Miranda listened to the alarm which signified the start of another day in The Hunt. She couldn’t remember how many times she’d heard the morning shriek, but each time felt like the first. The sense of panic and dread consumed her, her stomach twisted and her chest was so tight that she was afraid it would suffocate her lungs. Her heartbeat so loudly that she heard the blood rushing past her ears.
How are we going to make it through this day?
She’d been up for most of the night asking herself that question over and over again. It wasn’t like she could get a good night’s sleep with all the insistent howling going on. She’d seen what was making all the noise. There was a group of polar bear looking animals that lived nearby. They’d lumbered by last night. Thankfully they hadn’t seen her peering from her shelter, holding her torch, ready to defend herself and her kids.
She’d discovered the torch tucked by some rocks the first night. It was a black and red metal tube, about an inch thick and three inches long. It could’ve passed for a regular pipe, but with the flick of her thumb, a gust of fire had spurted from the end. She kept it close just in case those animals came back.
The wind whistled as it rushed through the cracks of their hiding spot. Since the first night, she’d found another shelter. One with fewer openings, safer and a lot warmer. She’d thought to stay a few more days, but with those animals near, she was now daunted by the fact that another move was in order.
This shelter had served its purpose. She’d been able to gather her wits and regroup, taking the time to figure out what all the new icons on her comlink meant. She couldn’t communicate with the others, and she couldn’t call for food—a development that almost had her sniveling and rocking herself to sleep that first night.
She’d come a long way mentally since then. She had plenty of protein bars, the water canvas still came at the push of a button, and she had an abundance of weapons. She had knives, a machete, a long spear, and a thick rope. She also had an unlimited supply of firesticks. They did well to keep their small space warm and were the only reason they hadn’t frozen to death.
While she was up worrying about their survival and future, the kids were snuggled in the warm sleeping bag, both snoring lightly. She didn’t feel the need to wake them or put them on high alert. They hadn’t come across any hunters, yet. She was very aware that didn’t mean there weren’t any hunters here. They were out there. Somewhere. Waiting.
Adam stirred. He stretched and yawned. “What are we doing today?”
“What do you want to do, my baby?”
“I want to find Santa.”
“Hm, I think we can put that on today’s agenda.” This was their agenda ever since arriving to Level Two. Looking for Santa provided the perfect cover for trudging through the snow to find new hiding spots.
“Yes! I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. You know that it won’t be that simple. We’re still on our adventure. Even though we haven’t seen them yet, there will be robots here too. These robots will try to keep us from finding Santa’s workshop. We’ll have to avoid them. Otherwise, they’ll catch us and—”
“Make us go home.”
She tapped his nose and smiled. “That’s right.”
THEY’D SPENT THE LAST two hours walking. Well, she’d spent the previous two hours walking. The kids had sat on the sleeping bag while she’d pulled them using one side of her new rope tied to one corner of the sleeping bag and the other around her waist.
When her legs felt like bricks, she’d stopped for lunch—a picnic, Adam had wanted to call it—on a cliff overlooking a tremendous cavernous structure. She’d guessed that a long time ago, the land she was on and the one across from her had once been a single land mass. Something had happened to split it into two parts.
While Lexi drank her bottle and Adam complained about eating yet another protein bar, she wondered which direction she should go. It wasn’t that Miranda had many choices. She could either go right or left. She looked both ways. There was nothing discernable on either side.
She sighed. With the morning gone, she probably had two more hours to find another shelter for the night.
But what if I don’t?
Her chest constricted. She really didn’t want to think about having to spend a night out in the open.
“Look, mommy. Another robot.”
He was on the other side of the divide, approaching steadily. She wasn’t alarmed. The divide was that. A great divide. It was wide, and as far as she could see, the land didn’t connect again for many kilometers. Unless the hunter could jump far enough to clear the jagged rocks at the bottom, they were safe.
“Can’t get us.” She continued chewing her protein bar as she watched the oncoming hunter.
“Are we going to call a pod, or are you going to kill it?”
“We’re safe for right now, but if there’s a chance it can catch us, I’ll call a pod, so don’t you worry. Finish your lunch.”
Lexi pushed her empty bottle from her mouth and rolled to where some of her toys were spread out on the sleeping bag. Miranda kept her eyes on the figure. He was dressed in white, easily blending with the snow. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry. His pace was a brisk and even stride, showing no hurry to rush to claim them. Maybe he hadn’t seen them yet?
As he approached, recognition clicked. She knew that lithe yet muscular frame. She knew that s
aunter. She knew that confidence. It was Fanian with knives strapped to both his thighs and what looked like a cross-bow slung over his shoulder.
Damn!
“Why won’t you just die already?” she asked when he was in earshot.
He smirked across the distance separating them. She still wanted to knock that smug look off his face. “Because I like living too much.”
Lexi tried to crawl off the sleeping bag. Miranda pulled her back by her foot. “I thought I was done with you.”
His brows rose in feigned surprise. “You’ll be done with me as soon as I hand you off to my buyer.”
“I’ll end up killing you for good before that happens.”
He stopped at the edge of his side of the cliff and leaned forward to peek over the side.
God, if you’re listening, please let a strong gust of wind blow him off.
He took a healthy step back and smiled at her. “Care to come over here and give it another try?”
Of course, God wasn’t listening to her. He hadn’t listened since she’d come to this place.
Miranda rolled her eyes. “You’re not worth the effort. Shoo. We’re trying to enjoy a nice lunch without any interruptions.”
Fanian glanced from one side to the other. Then he touched his comlink and what appeared to be a map popped up. He studied it for a minute, then grumbled under his breath and closed it.
Worry gnawed at her insides. “Trying to figure out how to get over here?”
“There’s a bridge about fifty clicks down that way,” he tipped his head to the left, “but you’ll be long gone before I ever make it to you.”
This time Miranda smirked.
Confidence flowed from his as he braced his legs apart. “You haven’t won yet, beautiful. I might be able to jump this.”
She narrowed her eyes and slowed her chewing. “Liar. If that were the case, you would’ve done it already.”
His smile was taunting. “Maybe I wanted to have a conversation with you.”
She snorted at that. “All of our conversations end up with you almost dead.”
Hunted by the Alien Vampire Page 9
