Woeful pines, p.21
Woeful Pines, page 21
Regent Ilana turned back to her with a look of confusion. They were still quite a distance from the mine entrance, close to where Emily was the day Adrasta took a liking to her. Emily noticed that it all looked the same. Rails lined the opening to the mineshaft and she could smell the bitter scent of the mineral the Erisians so coveted. The odor alone brought back unpleasant memories.
“The assistance you seek can only be found inside.”
“Don’t be so mysterious,” Emily responded crankily. “Listen, I appreciate that you’re helping me, but I might be recognized if I go in there. It’s only been a few days since I was gang-pressed into working the mines, remember? Sodesh doesn’t strike me as the understanding type.”
“That is true,” Ilana conceded. “Although you wear Castellan Orsk’s uniform, you do not move as she does. Sodesh tends to notice even the smallest details.”
Emily nodded. “That settles it then. I’ll wait out here. Out of curiosity, why are we here anyway?”
“There is one inside that has many resources. I will retrieve her.”
Ilana made the comment as if it was just that simple, but Emily had seen the conditions the slaves were forced to endure. She couldn’t imagine the guards would just let one of them leave without a damn good explanation. Suddenly, she had a sneaking suspicion whom Ilana intended to approach. However, even Vaden had to keep up appearances, or so she had led Emily to believe.
“You mean the slaves actually get a rest period?”
“The guards can hardly force them to work all hours of the day and night.”
Emily remembered how Garran had commented on the high casualty rate inside the mines and she wasn’t so sure Ilana was right.
What about the guard who beat a man for ceasing to work for only a moment? Somehow, Emily didn’t believe the Erisians cared at all about the slaves’ wellbeing.
“If you say so. I’ll be over here.” Emily pointed toward the area where she’d eaten on the only day she worked the mines.
Without another word, Ilana turned and headed into the subterranean darkness. Emily wandered over toward the corner of the slave’s eating area near a livestock-holding pen. She was concerned with sticking out like a sore thumb, but she was alone. Not a soul moved in the shadows, yet the tension remained. Her shoulders felt so tight, Emily thought something would snap. The helmet didn’t help matters since the nose guard felt more like blinders, messing with her vision and making her see movement where there was none.
Here in the night, with the soft sounds of animal life and the absence of voices, Emily realized how beautiful Eris could be. She thought of the story Briana told her, how the Erisians had sought to defeat death. In the end, they had only cursed themselves. It was sad, really. With their technological advances, Eris could have been so much more. Instead, their daily grind was centered around how to lure, capture and victimize others for their life force.
Part of her truly sympathized with the Erisians, but the larger part felt only revulsion. Vaden had mentioned that the Erisians possessed the ability to synthesize what they needed. Instead, they deliberately chose the more brutal and cannibalistic option. How many thousands did the Erisians kidnap and murder without remorse for their own selfish purposes? As she thought again of the baribas, any half-baked sympathy Emily felt vanished completely. She couldn’t see anything redeeming about the Erisians. If she had the tools, Emily would see them destroyed, along with their baribas and the portals that allowed the vampires to capture their victims.
A small sound near the mine entrance drew Emily’s attention. Concern made her heart rate increase. Ilana had been gone a long time and Emily considered leaving without her. Eventually, someone would come along and question why the castellan wasn’t at her post. After weighing her options, Emily decided to retrace the route taken when the vampires had released her for the hunt. The Ti-gon confinement building stood very close to the forest. Of course, Emily had no way to know which direction to take to find home. She was unconscious when the Erisians brought her here. Still, Vaden said there were many portals on Eris. All Emily needed to do was find one that led back to Earth. She’d worry about how to activate it when she got there. One step at a time, she thought.
Emily headed away from the mines and back in the general direction of the castle. The Ti-gon housing area wasn’t far away and she could be there in just a few minutes.
“Where are you going?” Ilana hissed.
When she turned around, Emily spotted the regent. Vaden stood alongside her looking amused. “You were gone so long I thought you got caught.”
“It’s not like I can just walk out,” Vaden remarked. “We had to wait until the guard finished his rounds. It’s good to see you alive, Emily. You look good in Orsk’s uniform.”
“Thanks. Can we go now?”
Vaden grinned and Ilana frowned, illustrating the difference in their personalities.
“That’s a good idea,” Vaden answered. “I received word from one of my contacts. I need to meet with a friend in the high desert. It’s only a few hours from here, but it will get you out of the city. We should move before someone finds the castellan. What did you do with her, anyway?”
“She’s locked in the keep with a broken nose and a black eye. I don’t think she’ll be unconscious for much longer and she’s going to be pissed when she wakes up.” Thinking about the scene Orsk would probably make imbued Emily with a renewed sense of urgency. “The sooner we get out of here the better.”
Ilana nodded. “I concur. Take my pacer. It is parked behind the repository. I’ll requisition another.”
“You’re not coming with us?” Emily asked, suddenly concerned for the vampire’s welfare. Ilana had put herself in danger by helping Emily, one of the few on this godforsaken world.
“I can’t, I have a youngster missing.”
“Who?” Vaden asked curiously.
Ilana’s face hardened. “Chala. She did not return from the last hunt.”
Vaden released a sigh before advising softly, “You need to be careful with that one, Ilana. There is something wrong with her mind.”
Emily thought that was putting it mildly. She remembered the teenager with the wild eyes and stringy blonde hair.
“It’s the hunger.” Ilana looked at Emily, attempting to explain. “On rare occasions, Erisians are consumed with blood hunger upon reaching puberty. Our scientists believe it is some sort of genetic mutation.”
Emily didn’t really know how to respond. The Erisians had brought all of this upon themselves by tampering with their DNA. “You just be careful. With Chala missing and now the two of us taking off, things are going to get complicated.”
Ilana reached out and touched her cheek. “I get the feeling that your interest in me has waned, but I appreciate that your concern has not.”
“That whole empathy thing, huh?” Emily felt a little guilty that she didn’t feel attracted to Ilana anymore. Seeing Adrasta with her slaves had curbed any intimate impulses, although she had to admit that her feelings for Ilana were just a passing fancy to begin with. There was only one woman Emily couldn’t shake from her heart or mind.
Ilana only smiled at the comment and lowered her hand. “You should go.”
A touch on her forearm made Emily glance at Vaden. She didn’t know what else to say to Ilana. Anything she could think of sounded trite. She nodded and followed Vaden toward the Ti-gon building, what Ilana had termed “the repository.” Emily already knew that Vaden stayed in the mines as a way of gathering intel to start a reform movement against the Erisians. Now she realized that Ilana was a collaborator. She didn’t have a clue how many other rebels were strategically placed around Saqqara. That they existed at all gave her hope that things would change here in the future, become less brutal.
Emily followed Vaden behind the building and found herself staring at something straight out of Star Wars. The machine resembled a motorcycle, complete with handlebars and a low seat. That’s where the similarity ended. This device hadn’t a single wheel. Emily quickly surmised that the vehicle utilized the same flight capability as the air cars.
“Does that thing have any weapons?”
“Yes, it has a few. Why?” Vaden turned her back toward Emily as she checked the machine over and picked up a helmet. She jammed it down over her short, dark hair.
“Before we leave I’d like for you to destroy the bariba.”
Surprise caused Vaden to spin around to face her. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Lower your voice,” Emily hissed, looking out for anyone who might overhear. “Are you trying to get us caught?”
“No, but apparently you are.”
“I’m not leaving here until those things are blasted into a million pieces,” Emily said stubbornly.
“Then you’ll be here by yourself. Look, we don’t have time to argue. Any minute now, Orsk will regain consciousness and sound the alarm. We will be overrun by soldiers. Assuming we did have time to blow up the tanks, we would not make it out of the city, not on the pacer. Unlike an airship, these vehicles travel close to the ground using repulsion-lift technology. Do you always react so rashly?”
Emily turned her head away to hide the tears. “All those people; I can’t stand to know they’re being used like that.”
“It is disturbing, even to me. The baribas are what convinced me to take action against my own people. One day I will tell you how I ended up in the mines, but for now we must concentrate on staying alive.”
After wiping the moisture from her cheeks, Emily said, “Right, let’s go then.”
She didn’t feel any better for leaving victims behind, but it wouldn’t do them any good if she got herself killed. Because they were already dead, her actions would serve only to free their bodies of further indignity. However, she made a promise to herself that if the slightest opportunity arose to destroy the baribas before she left Eris, Emily would make it happen.
Emily climbed onto the pacer behind Vaden and slipped her arms around the tight, muscular waist. She expected the vehicle to accelerate forward, like an Earth vessel. Instead, the pacer hummed beneath her butt and lifted steadily into the air. After stabilizing a good two feet from the ground, the bike eased forward. The pacer’s speed steadily increased until Emily had to conceal her face behind Vaden’s back because of the wind pressure against her eyes. Vaden didn’t seem to mind the velocity as they zipped off into the night. No matter what type of terrain they encountered, the pacer kept the same distance from the ground. Gradually, Emily became accustomed to the feel of the machine. With every mile put between them and Saqqara, she felt the tension in her shoulders ease. Regardless what the future held, at least she was away from Adrasta and her depravity.
After two hours on the pacer, Emily’s relief at leaving Saqqara had faded somewhat. Though the ride was smooth, her legs felt cramped and her back ached from staying in the same position for such an extended period. Vaden must have sensed her unease.
“It isn’t much farther; just over the next ridge.”
Ten minutes later, Vaden slowed the machine. The decline in speed was just as measured as the initial acceleration. When they finally stopped, Emily noticed two people standing off in the distance. Long purple-brown hair caught her eye and Emily smiled as she recognized Fallon. She had thought Fallon died when she fell over the rim of a canyon. Having identified Fallon, Emily realized the hulking machine they stood adjacent to must be her spaceship. The only reservation Emily had involved the other person. Judging by the clothing, the stranger was Erisian. With the hood in place, Emily couldn’t identify their gender. Having Vaden here was one thing. As much as she disliked the Erisians, Emily trusted her. She wasn’t quite as comfortable with another vampire thrown into the mix.
Vaden lowered the pacer to the ground and Emily climbed off. Vaden remained astride the bike. They were still a considerable distance away. Emily wondered why Vaden hadn’t driven right up to the others.
“I thought you said you were meeting a friend. You didn’t say anything about there being two people.”
“Stay here.” Vaden sounded unsure. “I’ll find out what’s happening.”
Emily watched her ride away. She was happy to stand alone, waiting to see how the stranger would react. Prudence forced her to entertain the idea that this was a trap. The Erisians could have captured Fallon and forced her to work with them. Vaden put the pacer down a few feet from the two. Fallon greeted her with a brief hug before motioning toward her companion. The cloaked figure held out a hand toward Vaden in a gesture reminiscent of shaking hands, a decidedly human act.
After a brief discussion, Emily noticed Vaden’s trademark grin. She thought Vaden had probably picked up the habit from her human mother. Considering Vaden’s mother made Emily wonder if she still lived. Humans didn’t tend to fare well around the Erisians. She dropped the line of speculation when Vaden waved her forward.
Emily crossed over the desert sand, deeply aware of the armor’s weight and how her boots sank up to the ankles. Taking the uniform to escape the castle was a great idea, but it didn’t work so well out here. She hoped Fallon could offer her a change of clothes. By the time she reached the trio, Emily was out of breath. She didn’t bother to speak as Vaden made introductions.
“This is my great friend, Fallon. She is a member of the Levothos Coalition and a great supporter of our cause.”
“Vaden speaks well of you,” Fallon said. “I understand the uniform you wear is not your own?”
Emily removed the helmet, ignoring the sweat that dripped down her temples. “It’s me, Fallon. I’m glad to see you alive.”
Fallon’s look of surprise was priceless. Emily would have laughed if Fallon hadn’t wrapped her up in a bear hug. Though they had worked together to escape the Ti-gon, they weren’t exactly close. Emily hadn’t expected such a reaction. Emily smiled and pulled away after returning the hug.
The cloaked Erisian had stood silently throughout the exchange. Suddenly, the vampire rushed forward and grabbed hold of Emily’s armored shoulders. Emily thought she was being attacked and froze in shock when the stranger embraced her. Strong arms held her close against a feminine form. Emily started to push the stranger back when a familiar scent hit her nostrils. She knew of only one person with that particular chemistry. Jenna.
Emily pulled back slightly and pushed the hood from the woman’s head. She gasped when she saw Jenna’s dark eyes. An aching smile curved the lips Emily had kissed so long ago.
“You.”
Emotion choked her. Emily threw herself back into Jenna’s arms, relief and confusion warring within her. She smashed her lips against Jenna’s, cupping the back of her head. She didn’t know what could have brought Jenna Yang to such a horrible place, but she couldn’t remember ever being happier to see another human being. Her heart thundered against her ribs and she could only cling to Jenna.
Jenna finally leaned back though she didn’t release her hold. “Miss Bannon, I do find you in the most unusual places.”
Emily didn’t realize she was crying until Jenna wiped the tears away with her thumb. “Did the Kurths capture you, too?”
“No.” Jenna shook her head. “I saw them take you through the portal and I followed them. I’ve been looking for you ever since.”
“You came through of your own free will? For me?”
Emily barely heard the wonder in her own voice, too concerned with Jenna’s response. Would she say it was her duty, that Jenna had only pursued out of some sense of responsibility? Only then did she realize her true feelings for the feisty sheriff.
“You didn’t think I’d let you out of our date that easily, did you?”
Emily felt like she could fall into Jenna’s satin brown gaze. Warmth and caring in the dark eyes embraced her like a caress. Despite the obvious weight loss, strange clothing and roughly shorn hair, Emily sensed the same strength in Jenna she’d encountered the first time they met.
“I see you are already acquainted,” Fallon observed needlessly.
Emily didn’t bother to respond. She staggered forward against Jenna when Vaden slapped her on the back.
“Fallon, do you have anything to eat?” Vaden asked.
“Yes, follow me into the Firestorm. Now that you have arrived, I should reset the concealment shield.”
Vaden and Fallon led the way into the vessel. Emily followed, happily aware of the arm Jenna kept around her waist. Considering the turn of events, Emily didn’t care if they ate bitter gruel or white tofu-like cubes.
“EMILY, I’M SORRY. Destroying the baribas is not a wise idea.”
Fallon spoke slowly as though explaining something to a small child, which only irked Emily more. She’d been arguing her point for what seemed like an hour. Fallon, Vaden and even Jenna remained resolute.
“Why, because it will set the hounds after us? The Erisians will chase after us anyway. As soon as we free the prisoners from the Ti-gon, someone will sound an alarm. Also, why hasn’t anyone mentioned the mine slaves or the people in the castle? If we’re going to move against the Erisians, we should try to rescue everyone.”
Emily’s voice rose as she spoke, her passion for freeing the slaves overriding her common sense. Tactically, she realized that what she proposed would cause all of their deaths but she was no coward. Death was a small price to pay if it meant crippling the Erisian way of doing things.
Jenna stopped her tirade by gently touching her hand. Presently, they all sat inside Fallon’s vessel and in her private quarters. Occupying a small table with Jenna beside her and their knees brushing, Emily experienced a sense of guilt for escaping Saqqara’s harsh environment.
“You have to pick your battles, Emily. I know that you know that. We can’t do everything with only four people.”
“Five,” Emily corrected. “You’re forgetting about Ilana.” She’d explained the vampire regent to Jenna while they were catching up on events.
