by Rosalie Redd
“Aramie!” Jonue’s hands landed on her shoulder and thigh. “I’m here. What’s wrong? Are you injured?”
Her friend’s words broke through the fog in Aramie’s brain. Fast, hard pants wracked her lungs and her body ached from the brutal rocks. “Sp-sp-spider.”
“Can you stand? We need to get out of here.”
“Yeah. I…I think so.” Aramie’s parched throat made it difficult to speak. Her face heated. She’d been afraid of spiders ever since she was a kid. She’d woken up one night to find one on her pillow, inches from her face. The creature had jumped on her arm, and she’d screamed. She’d killed it, but not before the spider had bitten her. Ever since then, she’d feared the hairy, multi-legged, multi-eyed creatures with a passion.
Jonue pulled Aramie to her feet. “This way.”
The cool water eased Aramie’s battered nerves and sore muscles, but she couldn’t get out of this cave fast enough.
“Do you see any light? Anything at all?” Jonue asked.
“No…wait. I see a faint glow.” Aramie grasped Jonue’s arm. “This way.”
Together, they dove. The light grew brighter, and they swam through the hole.
Aramie broke through the surface. As she inhaled, the bitter tang of astringent raced into her lungs. Gossum.
Rushing water roared in her ears. Wetness splashed in her face, making her blink. She glanced up. The large, majestic waterfall flowed once again, as if freeing the stone had released the water. The brightness of impending dawn cast an orange glow on the clouds. She treaded in place, trying to stay afloat in the bubbling wake.
A shrill cry rang through the air and was cut short.
“Kitani!” Jonue shrieked.
A Gossum’s gleeful chortle rang through the air. Above the waterfall’s roar, the muffled sound of grunts and bones breaking cascaded into the ravine.
“Oh, no.” Jonue’s voice echoed Aramie’s own thoughts.
A kernel of dread formed in Aramie’s gut. If the overwhelming smell was any indication, the Gossum outnumbered Kitani and Sidea.
About thirty yards away, a Gossum grunted near the rocks where she’d last seen her sister. Small pebbles rained from above. They plopped into the water and left concentric circles in their path. A growl erupted into the air.
The hair on Aramie’s neck stood on end. Her anger built within, sending adrenaline into her bloodstream. She headed for shore, swimming against the current.
Her sister, in panther form, appeared among the rock outcropping high above Blue Pool. Three Gossum stood right behind her, one wore a cap over his head. Ram. She clenched her hands into fists. Noeh had killed him, or so she’d thought, but she couldn’t deny the truth seen through her own eyes.
One of the Gossum lashed out his long tongue, hitting Sidea in the haunch. The Gossum’s stinger would numb her leg in a matter of moments.
Aramie stilled in the cold water. Time slowed. Her pulse pounded in her ears.
“No,” Aramie whispered. She reached into her belt, palming one of her throwing stars. While treading in the water, she attempted a throw, but the star missed its mark.
Sidea lashed out at a Gossum with her front paw, gouging one through his blue jeans. Blood oozed from the injury. Her back leg trembled and gave way. The second Gossum landed on her back, and the scales running over the base of his neck flared. His serrated teeth glinted as he closed his jaw around her throat.
“Sidea!” This time the scream that erupted from Aramie’s throat echoed up the walls of the ravine. Vengeance, deep and powerful, rushed through her veins.
Ram turned toward her. His black eyes gleamed in the eerie pre-dawn light. The sinister smile on his face would be forever etched into her brain.
Sidea squirmed below her captors. Ram pulled a syringe out of his pocket. The sharp tip pierced her shoulder. A fine red liquid oozed into the vial.
Aramie bobbed in the water’s current. She aimed as best she could and launched another throwing star. This one lodged itself in Ram’s bicep. He didn’t even flinch, and then casually pulled the metal from his skin.
He glanced at Aramie, pocketed the syringe filled with Sidea’s blood, then slit her throat with his long, pointy claw. Blood gushed from the wound, her vital fluid seeping from her body. Sidea slumped to the ground, her fingers already disintegrating, turning to sand.
Heat raced up Aramie’s neck and into her face. Her pulse pounded in her temple. A red haze covered her vision. An overwhelming urge to split open Ram’s skull made her clench her hands into fists. Fueled by her need for retribution, she swam for shore, Jonue at her side.
The current caught Jonue in its grasp and pulled her under. Aramie couldn’t help her sister or Kitani, but she’d be damned if she’d let Jonue die, too.
With a new purpose, adrenaline surged through Aramie’s veins. She swam after her warrior and helped Jonue grab a tree branch near the river’s edge. As Aramie reached for a nearby shoot, the current caught her in its torrent, yanking her under the water. She sputtered, fighting to break free. The turbulence tossed her around and she rolled, hitting her head against a rock. Pain splintered through her brain.
Fighting consciousness, she surfaced long enough to get half a breath of air—and some more water. Aramie choked and spun as she floated down the river. So this is what it’s like to drown. Darkness closed in and she passed out.
*****
Aramie woke to gentle hands pressing against her cheeks, forcing her mouth open.
“Breathe.” Someone spoke, but she couldn’t identify the source.
She inhaled, and a wracking cough made her double over on the ground. Water spewed from her lungs. The damp scent of moss wafted into her senses. On the sodden bank a few feet from the river, mud covered her arms and legs. Strands of wet hair hung in her face.
“I think you’ll live.” Jonue’s stern voice broke into her brain.
“Kitani! Sidea!” Aramie stood, but couldn’t get her bearing. She swayed and strong hands grasped her arm to steady her.
“We couldn’t save them. There were too many Gossum. I’m sorry,” Jonue told her softly.
Aramie couldn’t process the information. Her mind was in a fog of denial.
Jonue pulled her close. “You helped me get to the river’s edge. I followed the shore, keeping you in sight. When you hit a tree snag, I pulled you out.” She placed her hand against Aramie’s cheek. “Hey, stay with me.”
Aramie pulled her gaze up to meet Jonue’s. The other female’s mouth was pursed and worry lines creased her brow.
“We have to get farther downstream, away from the Gossum. The sun will break soon.”
The truth in Jonue’s words was evident all around them. The sky’s brightness hurt her sensitive eyes. Daylight, like she’d only seen a few times in her life, cascaded strange shadows along the ground.
“Can you walk? We need to hurry.”
Aramie wavered on unsteady legs, but she took a few steps. She peered at the awakening sky. A part of her wanted to stay here, let the sun take her. She couldn’t imagine life without Sidea. A great weight descended. My sister is dead. A soft wail escaped her lips. Tears blurred her vision, and she swiped her hand across her face to wipe them away.
She fisted her hand and punched her thigh. Her fingers crashed against a hard bulge. Intense pain radiated through her leg. The ache was but a drop compared to the agony in her heart.
The pain cleared her mind. The stone! A shiver ran over her shoulders and down her spine. She had the blue sunstone of legend, but the cost was great—her sister’s and Kitani’s lives.
Aramie glanced at her friend, thankful she’d survived. “Let’s go. Call for a portal.”
There was always a balance in life. Aramie wouldn’t let the death of her sister and Kitani stand for nothing. She’d get this stone to Demir, heal him. Then, she’d search out Ram and slice his throat with her own claw.
Chapter Thirteen
Zedron jogged up the stairs two at a time, e
ager to arrive at the market. Although he was in decent shape, his ragged breaths heaved in and out of his lungs. He’d spent too much time deciding which sandals complemented his tailored pants and fine woven shirt, making him late to the auction. Straightening his jacket, he smiled. With his clean-shaven face and slicked back hair, he was as handsome as ever.
Up in the trees, the Lemurian landscape was a sea of branches and leaves, interspersed with the pathways, platforms, and stairs that wove their community together. A warm breeze blew, flapping the leaves to and fro, creating a soft hum. The Etila and Rolmdew trees were the lifeblood of Lemuria and the safest place for its inhabitants.
With one hand to steady himself against the smooth bark of the nearest tree, he glanced over the edge of the fence. Branches and vines snaked between the trees obscuring the dense Lemurian forest, and the dangers that lay on the surface—rhondo beasts. The large black animals with their oily skin, sharp teeth, and scissor-like claws were a danger to anyone who dared to roam the surface of the planet. The idea of being ravaged by one of those beasts caused goosebumps. He shook himself, and continued on his way.
A giant platform with wooden slats stretched between four tall Etila trees. The small limbs and leaves at the top entwined as if holding hands. They provided a nice canopy, keeping the heat to a bearable level and would adjust as the sun moved across the sky.
A few dozen Lemurians stood in small groups. Their loud voices and laughter carried along on the breeze. Merchants and buyers alike, they smelled of money and too much drappervine. An older male stood nearby. He had the round paunch and red nose that went along with overindulgence.
Zedron curled his lip. He disdained others without control.
The overweight male made him feel dirty. Reflexively, he brushed his sleeves, as if whisking away some imagined dirt. Along the far edge of the platform, a small group of Arotaars stood close together. The shackles around their wrists and ankles identified them as the auctioneer’s trade. A female with short blue hair stood out from the rest. The orange spots on her light skin signified her origin.
A sense of giddiness sent Zedron’s pulse racing. There were only a few Arotaars from the planet Arotin on Lemuria. Not all survived the transport, but those who did were excellent slaves.
An image surfaced in his mind. Alora with her hands clenched into fists, a few strands of blond hair escaping her tight bun, her brow furrowed over blue eyes. Anger was all he saw from her anymore. Although Alora had grown up in a slave faction family, she hated slavery. She’d rebelled and switched to the free faction not long after leaving her family home. For him to purchase an Arotaar would ignite her temper like nothing else. When she found out what he’d done she’d chastise him, but he’d get to see her again.
He smiled. Absolute perfection.
“Time for the auction. Gather round!” The robust fellow he’d spotted earlier motioned with his giant paw of a hand for everyone to come to the center of the platform.
The wood creaked and groaned as the trees swayed in the breeze. The draft caressed the back of Zedron’s neck, cooling the sweat he’d emitted despite the tree’s canopy. The perspiration would stain his collar and ruin his perfect, styled image. He clenched his jaw.
The crowd swarmed around the merchant. Zedron pushed himself to the front, garnering a few scowls and shoves along the way. In the middle of the platform, a small dais stood ready for the first slave.
A petite, yellow-skinned female from the Drakin colony hopped onto the raised floor. Her fingers trembled as she gripped the edges of her shirt. With her eyes downcast, long white hair covered her features. One of the bidders would become her new master, but not Zedron. He’d already selected his next servant.
“Bidding starts at twenty livins.” The slave trader strutted back and forth in front of his merchandise, his large gut straining against the buttons of his shirt. Zedron smirked. Surely, one would pop soon.
“Twenty-five livins.”
“Thirty livins.”
Zedron tuned out the bidding and focused on the Arotaar female. She studied her surroundings, as if looking for a way to escape. With her head held high, her eyes glowed with intelligence and determination. She would challenge him, and he’d punish her for it. Perfect.
A newb no more than seven years old approached, and he focused on Zedron’s lapel pin—the one that identified him as a Colonizer. He stopped mere inches away and gripped Zedron’s pant leg. “Sir, are you a Colonizer?”
Zedron bent down on one knee, bringing himself eye level with the young Lemurian. “Why, yes. Would you like to touch my pin?”
The young male’s eyes widened. “Could I?”
Zedron nodded. The youth grazed the finely etched gold, reverence forming in his eyes.
Zedron clasped his hand on the young male’s shoulder and stood. “Study hard, and you, too, can become a Colonizer.”
“Utaun! Utuan!” A female’s voice rose above the din of the crowd. The boy bowed, and then ran off toward her call.
Zedron smiled, his chest filling with pride. The merchant’s litany brought him out of his reverie, and he refocused on his task. After the sale of a few males and another female, his prize stepped onto the platform. A visible tic formed in her clenched jaw. She pulled against the manacles binding her wrists. The chains rattled above the din of the crowd.
“Ooh, we have an Arotaar here. She’s lean, strong, able to handle much hard work.” The trader’s sweat reeked of his addiction. He released the top button of his shirt and wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “She will command a much higher price. Bidding starts at one hundred livins.”
A low murmur rippled through the crowd. The minimum bid was high, but the cunning trader knew his job. He was right to request such a sum. Zedron had anticipated as much.
He stepped forward to have a better look at the female. Her tattered pants and ripped shirt hung on her frame. She seemed to have lost weight on her journey here, but strength showed in her taut legs and developed biceps.
He nodded in appreciation. “One hundred fifty livins.”
She caught him looking at her and held his gaze. Her nostrils flared. She had spirit and that brought a smile to his face.
“Two hundred livins,” another bidder shouted above the noisy crowd.
Zedron clenched his jaw. He wouldn’t participate in a bidding war for this female. When he spoke, his voice was low, but commanding. “One thousand livins.”
The female flinched at his words. Her eyes narrowed.
The crowd quieted.
When no one else bid, the trader pointed his finger at Zedron. “Sold…to this fine male.”
Zedron’s fingers tingled as a sense of giddiness raced along his nerves. He couldn’t wait to bring his new servant home and begin the domestication process.
Chapter Fourteen
The heat from the upcoming day settled over Aramie’s skin. Her heartbeat raced. Fear crept into her gut, twisting it tight. She had the cure for Demir in her pocket. Could she and Jonue make it back to the Keep before the sun killed them?
A vision of her imaginary father formed in her head, as he often did during times of stress. She longed to ask him what to do, but even in her mind, the words wouldn’t come. He placed his dream-like hand on her shoulder. Fight, Aramie, live!
“The portal.” Jonue’s words held a tinge of hope, pulling Aramie out of her daydream.
Aramie stared into the mist. Through the fog, the outline of rocks formed, solidifying into the Portal Navigation Center. In the middle of the chamber, Rin stood over the Porte Stanen. As he moved his hands over the crystals, the ring of concentric sunstones burned bright beneath his fingers.
He waved his hand. “Hurry!”
Aramie raced through the hole and into the Keep, Jonue right behind her. Having left their boots at the edge of Blue Pool, their bare feet slapped against the stone floor.
“What did you do? You said you were goin’ hunting? The smell of Gossum clings to you like dir
t.” The little man put his hands on his hips. His pinched eyebrows and downturned lips would’ve made Sidea laugh. A spike of pain burrowed into Aramie’s chest.
“Weren’t ya a party of four?” His mouth remained open and his gaze slid between them.
Jonue lowered her chin. “We lost two to the Gossum.”
“Ah, craya!” His shook his head. “Are ya injured? I called for medical when I got yer message.”
“Just a few scrapes and bruises. Nothing to worry about.” Aramie wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
The sound of several pairs of running feet echoed from the hallway. Saar, Noeh’s Commander of Arms, entered the room followed by three of his fellow fighters. Saar seemed ready for battle with his gold armbands and a short sword that dangled from his waist. His comrades wore similar attire.
Saar evaluated Aramie and Jonue. “Rin called for medical. Do you need help?”
“I need to see Gaetan. I…have something to show him, something he won’t believe.” Aramie stared into his eyes.
Saar chuckled. “Gaetan is older than the hills. I doubt anything would surprise him at this point, but be my guest. I believe he’s in the infirmary.”
Even though she shivered with the pain of losing her sister, Aramie clamped down on the tears that threatened. Instead, she turned to Jonue and forced an encouraging smile. “You did well tonight.”
Jonue’s features softened for the briefest moment, and she placed her hand on Aramie’s arm. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
The skittering of claws on stone caught Aramie’s attention. Leon and Hallan entered the room in panther form. Leon searched the group, and his eyes flashed yellow, displaying his displeasure. Both males changed into human form. Hallan approached his mate and wrapped Jonue in his embrace.
Leon puffed out his chest, blocking the doorway. “Where’s Kitani?”
Aramie swallowed, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She raised her chin and held his gaze. “I…I’m sorry, Leon. We were attacked…Kitani…she fought against the Gossum and died a warrior’s death—”
