Leaving Sivadia

by Mia McKimmy

  The doctor nodded, and Cy rolled her over to his father. She leaned over and placed a tender kiss on the back of his hand. It was the most heartbreaking thing Cy had ever seen. Tears stung his eyes and he fought the lump in his throat. “Mother, do you want me to go get Vind? I’m not sure he knows what happened.”

  She mindlessly stroked her husband’s hand. “That would be good, darling,” she said, her tone flat. Cy wasn’t sure she knew what he had asked.

  Cy hurried through the ship to the room he shared with his brother. He opened the door and found Vind reading a book about war. “Where did you go when we were attacked?”

  Vind glanced up from his book. “You didn’t expect me to hang around and get eaten by those monsters, did you?”

  “You’re the one who’s been complaining since the Haagon’s landed about wanting to fight, so yes, I expected you to stick around for more than a few seconds.”

  “What do you want?” Vind snapped.

  “Father was badly injured. He’s in the infirmary, and Mother wants you to join us there.”

  “There’s nothing I can do for him,” Vind said with his gaze still on the book.

  “Vind, Father might not make it. You could at least pretend to care. If for nothing else, do it for Mother.”

  Vind’s penetrating gaze landed on him, and they stared for several intense moments. “I’ll be there in a minute,” he finally said.

  Cy left and went back to the infirmary.

  Oz waited outside the door. “He’s awake. I spoke with him for a moment, and he asked to speak to your mother alone.”

  “He’s not going to make it, is he?” Cy asked Oz.

  “I won’t lie to you, Cy. The doctor said there’s too much damage for his heart to regenerate.”A muscle ticked in Oz’s jaw. “I don’t remember a time when we weren’t friends. He’s the brother I never had.”

  Cy glanced at Oz as his voice broke and tears wet his eyes. He was the mightiest warrior their race had ever known. Those tears were genuine…a testament to his love for his friend and king.

  “How will we survive on a new planet without him?” Cy asked.

  “His purpose and hard work has always been for our race to continue. We owe it to him to survive in spite of the odds, in spite of everything.”

  Oz glanced at his watch, and then back at Cy. “Will you be all right? I have to make sure everyone is ready to leave. We only have thirty minutes until take-off.”

  Cy started to answer when the infirmary door opened and his mother came through. Her eyes were red and her hands shook. A knot formed in Cy’s throat. Something was different about her. She no longer walked with the elegance of a queen. She walked as someone who had been deflated, as if her joy had been sucked from every cell and replaced with misery. What if she gave up and died too, like so many of their people did after losing their life-mates? Fear shot through Cy at the thought of losing them both.

  He stood and hugged her, wanting his comfort to be enough to help, but knowing it was like putting a bandage on a mortal wound.

  His mother returned the embrace. “Darling, he wants to see you, but you need to hurry. He has very little time left with us.”

  Cy went into the infirmary. His father lay on a bed with his eyes closed and his breath shallow. Blood infusions were draining into both arms at a high rate of speed. “Father?”

  His eyes opened, startled at first and then softening to a blue so light they were almost silver. He reached for Cy’s hand and grimaced as he brought it to his lips. “My precious boy. I so wanted to have more time with you. I wanted to watch you grow into the honorable king I know you’ll be one day. But I’m afraid fate has other plans.”

  “No, Father. As soon as you get enough blood, you will heal. You’ll be with us to see our new planet.”

  “Son, my wounds are too severe to heal. I have some things to say, while I still can. I did not prepare you well enough to deal with your brother, and for that I’m sorry. Vind is so much like my own brother was, jealous, conniving and possessive. I grew up dealing with someone like him, so I had experience with that type of personality. I shielded you from dealing with Vind, and that was a mistake. He will fight you at every turn. Every decision you make as king, he will challenge. Stand your ground and never back down from him…not even once.”

  His breathing was becoming labored. He coughed and blood came from the corner of his mouth. Cy grabbed a towel and wiped it away. “Father, please rest. You can tell me this later.”

  “No, Cy. I must do it now. I’ve ask Oz to help prepare you to begin your kingship on your eighteenth birthday. He is the most honorable person I know, who only wants what’s best for our race. I don’t know where I’d be without his counsel. That’s why I ask you to take his word, as you would if it were me advising you on matters.”

  “Yes, father, I will. No one will ever prey on our people again. I will give my life to defend that promise.”

  A weak smile crossed his father’s lips. He coughed, and droplets of blood sprayed the bed from the force. His face reddened as he gasped to get another breath.

  Cy glanced toward a doctor standing a few feet away. “Help him! He can’t breathe!”

  The doctor ran over and suctioned blood from the king’s mouth. The queen, Oz and Vind came in.

  “What’s happening?” His mother asked. “We heard you scream.” She ran to her husband’s side and held his hand.

  The coughing suddenly stopped. The king’s mouth opened and his chest muscles contracted hard as his body desperately tried to pull in air.

  Tears rolled down Cy’s cheeks and he took his father’s other hand, helplessly watching him fight to draw another breath, but none came.

  The doctor listened to his chest and felt for a pulse. He glanced up and shook his head. “I’m sorry; his body could not overcome the damage.”

  It was as if a large hand reached inside Cy’s chest, clamped down on his heart, and tried to rip it from his body. His father was gone. Deep inside he knew this sorrow would remain with him for the rest of his days.

  Chapter 12

  Earth, 1725AD

  Cy stood in his dressing room with a flurry of servants around him, putting the final touches on his coronation cape. Today was his eighteenth birthday, and the day he would become the Sivadian ruler.

  It had been four years since they’d left Sivadia, four years since his father had died. Oh how he wished he was here. Learning to become a king his father would be proud of had been hard on him. But learning to adjust to this planet’s environment had been hard on everyone. Earth’s sun was much harsher than their scientists had predicted. Sivadians loved being outdoors, but everyone had to stay inside when the sun was at its highest, and slowly build a tolerance to its bright rays.

  The other major problem was not so easily fixed. None of the females had become pregnant since their arrival. If they didn’t figure out why, the Sivadians who had escaped would be the only ones who ever lived on this planet. Everything his father had done to ensure their race would continue and prosper would be lost.

  Cy looked out the castle window at the surrounding mountains, and wondered if Vind would attend the coronation ceremony. No one had seen him in over a week. His anger at Father not choosing him as his successor had escalated, becoming almost intolerable over the last four years.

  When Vind turned seventeen, he had assumed the position as second-in-command of their one hundred-strong army. He was supposed to be present today to be promoted to general. Vind’s position would only be second to Cy’s. Then again, there lay the problem, he wasn’t number one.

  The door to Cy’s room flew open, slamming against the stone wall. The force sent shards of rock skidding across the floor. Vind stood in the doorway dressed in full military gear. The servants scattered to the outer edges of the room, fear etched on their faces.

  “Leave us,” Vind shouted.

  All eyes turned toward Cy. He nodded and they scurried through the door as if a beast wer
e tight on their heels.

  Splatters of blood covered Vind’s face and neck. “Are we under attack?”

  “We are not,” Vind said between clenched teeth. “I’m the one under attack. I have been since the day you were born. I’m the one who should become king, not you!” Hatred etched every word.

  Cy shook his head. He had been expecting this confrontation all day. “Vind, do we have to go through this again? Today we will each assume the responsibilities for our people that Father assigned to us. It was his dying wish that we stand together, to unite our people and thrive on this planet. Not fight each other to the bitter end.”

  “I will never accept Father’s ruling. It was all a lie!” Vind’s voiced echoed through the room.

  “Now you’re calling Father a liar?”

  Vind glared at him with dark, venomous eyes. “That’s exactly what I’m calling him. I finally have the proof I need to block you from the throne.”

  Cy had a feeling the blood splatters on Vind were a direct result of him obtaining this so-called information. “It doesn’t matter what kind of proof you think you have, Vind. Father’s decision is final. The royal council has already told you that. The sooner you accept it, the better off you’ll be. It’s almost time for the ceremony. I suggest you go wash up and get ready.”

  Cy sat on the bed and pulled one boot on. He glanced up at Vind and their gazes locked. His twin looked like a lunatic, ready for a rampage. Cy shook his head, grabbed his other boot and pulled it on, not taking his eyes off his brother. As he stood, Vind brought his hand from behind him.

  Pain erupted in Cy’s chest. He glanced down and a dagger protruded from it, only centimeters from his heart. He looked up as Vind reached for another dagger. Cy gasped and held his breath as he jerked the knife from his chest. He quickly aimed and released the bloody dagger at Vind. It penetrated his shoulder.

  Blood saturated the front of Cy’s shirt, and weakness was coming on quickly. His legs crumpled and he sank to the floor, leaning against the bed. The sound of a sword unsheathing echoed through the room. His vision blurred, but he made out Vind’s form approaching. He was ready to finish what he’d started in that cave so long ago. Cy had always known he would die at the hands of his brother.

  Suddenly the blur that was Vind’s body flew backwards. The sound of swords clanging echoed through the room. Cy shook his head and strained to focus on who had come to his rescue. His vision cleared enough to see Miles backing Vind against the wall. Since they had left Sivadia, Miles had become like a brother to him. A friendship Cy had always wished he and Vind could have, but knew they never would.

  Now Miles is risking his life to keep Vind from killing me. Cy’s vision dimmed and darkness took him under.

  Chapter 13

  Cy concentrated on muffled voices somewhere in the distance. A warm hand embraced his and the sweet scent of his mother surrounded him. He pried open his eyes, and she sat in a chair beside his bed.

  Tears filled her sapphire eyes and a smile lit her face. “Oh, darling, you’re awake.”

  His mouth and throat were desert-dry. “May I have some water, please?”

  She poured some water and put it to his lips.

  The cool liquid was heaven as it seeped down his throat. “How long have I been out?”

  His mother glanced out the window. “It’s almost dawn, and you’ve been unconscious since the attack yesterday evening. They kept you sedated so your body would have time to heal. The knife nicked an artery and you lost a lot of blood. They’ve replaced it, and soon you’ll be as good as new.”

  “Where’s Vind?”

  His mother shook her head, spilling tears down her cheeks. “Oz has been out looking for him all night. When Vind ran the servants from the room, one of them found Miles and told him Vind was attacking you. Thank goodness she did. When Miles got there, Vind was standing over you with his sword ready to decapitate you. What has gotten into him? I know he’s been upset since your father named you successor, but I never thought he would attempt to kill you over it. She stroked the side of his face with a gentle, loving touch that only a mother could give. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you too.”

  Cy squeezed his eyes shut, remembering the rage on his brother’s face. “This isn’t the first time Vind’s been on a rant about being Father’s successor. But this time he was crazed and not making sense.”

  Cy would be dead if he hadn’t insisted on Miles becoming his personal bodyguard. At first he’d done it to keep Miles from getting himself killed. It was a poor attempt at giving him a purpose. But the more threats Vind made, the more purpose Miles got.

  There was a knock at the door, and Oz entered. “I’m glad to see you’re awake,” Oz said. “Doc said it was a little touch and go for a while.”

  Cy laid his hand on the bandage covering the left side of his chest. “My last thought was Vind would finally get what he always believed he deserves.”

  Oz’s face turned red. “He deserves something all right, but the throne definitely is not it. We’ve been searching for him all night, and a lot of things have come to light.”

  Cy had only heard that serious tone in Oz’s deep voice once before. The day his father died. It had taken ten guards to hold him down until he calmed enough to stay on the ship. He was going to kill that group of Haagons at the foot of the mountain for killing his friend. It would have been the equivalent of him committing suicide, but he was in such pain, he didn’t care.

  The queen’s head jerked toward Oz. “Must he hear all of this now? He’s still weak. Can’t it wait until he’s stronger?”

  “Mother, I want to hear what they’ve discovered.”

  Oz hesitated until she gave him a slight nod. She was his queen, and Oz would never go against her wishes. “Our army has disappeared with Vind, all but twenty men. They confessed what had been going on for the past several months while they were out on maneuvers.” Oz hesitated as if the words about to leave his mouth left a putrid taste. “They had been raiding human villages, killing everyone by feeding on their blood.”

  As Cy’s breath caught in his chest, a horrible pain shot through his wound. To never feed on humans was the first law they had made after arriving on Earth. To break that law once meant imprisonment—to break it twice meant death.

  “This can’t be. Are you sure they’re telling the truth?”

  “Yes, Cy. No one would admit to such a crime knowing the consequences of their actions. Also, I made them take me to a village our army had raided less than a week ago. The carnage we found made me sick. They had slaughtered everyone. Men, women—and children. The men said they pretended to participate, or else they would have been killed. The guy who was supposedly attacked by a bear, was killed by Vind when he refused to join in.”

  Oz scrubbed his hand across his bristled chin. “You haven’t heard the worst part. Since this started, the men who drank human blood became addicted. The more they drank, the more they craved it.”

  “I don’t understand,” Cy said. “The synthetic nutrition we drink is more than adequate for survival. Why would human blood be addictive?”

  Oz shook his head. “We didn’t understand either. We went back to that village and brought some of the bodies back for our scientists to test. They discovered human blood contains a higher concentration of nutrients than we need, but nothing that would cause this kind of an addiction. They needed to test a live human to get the full picture.”

  “Please tell me you didn’t use a live human as a lab rat,” Cy said, his tone several octaves higher.

  “No. They just drew several vials of blood while planting different scenarios in his mind. Afterwards they gave him a good meal, removed his memory of the incident and returned him home. He was perfectly fine. But between his blood and the dead body, they learned an invaluable amount of information. The addiction comes from their endocrine system. When they experience fear, it dumps hormones called endorphins, and adrenaline into their bloodstream. The more fri
ghtened they are, the more that’s dumped. This is why their blood is so addictive. When they witnessed what was happening during the raid, these hormones flooded their system. Vind and our army drank it and experienced a type of euphoria, causing them to crave more. As with any addiction, over time their behavior will become more and more volatile.”

  Cy strained to sit up. “We have to stop them, Oz. If we don’t, this could get completely out of hand.”

  “We will. But until we train another army, Vind has the advantage. He has around eighty fighters, to our twenty. Those who chose to leave with him were the superior fighters. If he attacks us, we’ll all be in danger. Vind wants to rule our race, and he’s proven there is nothing he wouldn’t do to achieve his goal.”

  Cy glanced toward his mother. She’d been crying since he had awakened, and was taking Vind’s betrayal hard. “We will be fine, Mother.”

  She blotted tears from her eyes, and then gently squeezed his hand. “I have already lost Vind. I will not lose you too, Cygan. That is why we are leaving. We will transport to the other side of Earth tonight. I have already given orders for everyone to pack. At least we’ll be safe until we figure out how to stop him.”

  The last words Cy had spoken to his father came into his mind. He released a low sigh.

  “Mother, you have done a wonderful job ruling our people. I realize I’m supposed to take the throne since I turned eighteen, but there’s something more important I must do. The last words I ever spoke to Father were a promise. I swore to never allow anyone to prey on a weaker species the way the Haagons did on ours. Until I stop Vind, I’m not worthy to wear father’s crown.”

  She gently squeezed Cy’s hand. “Son, you are more than worthy to follow in your Father’s footsteps. But I will rule until you are ready. No matter how long it takes.”

  Cy glanced at Oz. “Humanity doesn’t stand a chance against Vind’s army. With yours and Miles help, we need to train a group of Protectors who are capable of defeating them, who can out-fight, out-smart, and out-weapon them in battle. Vind thinks he has the advantage with his numbers. He doesn’t think of our scientist as a threat, and alone they’re not. But put their creative advancements in the hands of warriors…of our League of Protectors, and he’ll never know what hit him.