Destiny's Blood by Marie Bilodeau (best authors to read .TXT) 📗

pushed them forward but, thankfully, the safety belts were high quality. Unfortunately, Layela looked about as green as a Berganda now.

The shuttle’s view changed from the tunnel to regular space, and Josmere waited for the onboard computer to boot and give them an exact location. It wasn’t a new computer system, that was evident, but its star maps should be fairly up-to-date.

“Oh,” Josmere exclaimed as the maps showed their position.

Layela grunted questioningly, her forearm covering her eyes as she leaned back against the seat.

Serves her right for flashing me with that light! Josmere wisely kept the thought to herself.

“We’re still in Solarian space, although another hour in that tunnel and we would have been in free territory. But…” Josmere paused as she confirmed the nearest colony.

“We’re about equal distance between the Thalos and Griman systems.” She chanced a look at Layela, who still looked just as green, and wondered for the thousandth time what exactly had happened to Layela when she had been missing. Three days held prisoner, until Yoma found her and brought her home; the only time Yoma had ever lost control and killed.

Six months to heal her broken body, and apparently many more years to heal the damage that had been done to her soul. It had been on Thalos IV that Josmere had first met the twins. And when Layela had healed enough, Josmere had chosen to follow them and leave her family’s home.

Two years ago. A lifetime ago. Thalos would be easier. They already knew its cities and temperaments, but…

“I’ll head for Griman,” Josmere whispered as she punched in the command. Layela didn’t reply, still fighting the nausea.

The shuttle’s engines groaned after a minute, and red text flashed across the screen. Josmere frowned.

That can’t be right…A second later, the engines shut down, and Josmere groaned and leaned back against the seat.

“Don’t tell me,” Layela managed to say. “We’re out of fuel?”

“Battery and sun-power, actually,” Josmere replied, looking at the vastness of space before them. “Low battery, and too far from a star. That drunk must have been on his way to refill her when he decided to fill himself instead.”

Layela groaned.

“We’ve got enough oxygen, thankfully, but we’re going to lose the rest of our power at any…” On cue, the lights cut off, and the soft hum of computers ceased. All that sounded was the emergency beacon, activated automatically.

“At least the Destiny should be too far to hear that,” Josmere said.

Layela groaned again. Josmere sat back and waited, grateful there was at least oxygen for her friend.

“Look on the bright side,” Josmere said. “I’ll breathe in your rejected air, and you breathe in mine. We’ll never run out, and…” she leaned over the back and opened a floor compartment, “we have enough supplies to last us a while. Including alcohol, what a surprise! Just you and me, Layl, hanging together in space for days, maybe even weeks!”

This time Layela’s groan lasted longer.

Josmere sat back, wishing Lang had cared enough about the low fuel to keep that information to the front of his mind. The stars sparkled around them, and they floated in space, grateful that the gravity device and the heat seemed to run independently of the main power source.

Small blessings.

She sighed, imagining the sound echoing in the vastness of space.

All they could do now was wait, and pray the Three Fates still favoured them.

i

“Five.” Layela yawned expensively.

“Five?” Josmere asked incredulously. “Did you just say you can see five stars in the port side window?”

Layela grinned and nodded, drinking a little bit of their precious water.

“Just five?” Josmere asked again as she accepted some water.

“Well, that’s as far as I wanted to count, anyways,” Layela said, stretching her legs as much as she could in the cramped quarters. “How many did you count?”

Josmere looked annoyed. “I was up to fifty-four when someone interrupted my concentration with her ridiculous answer!”

Layela cocked her head sideways. “Fifty-four in the time it took me to count five? Pretty good!”

“That’s because your head is as empty as the space outside the shuttle!”

“You have no sense of humour when it comes to your little compulsions, you know that? Why don’t you just go back to your counting?” Layela said, looking out the main window.

“Because I lost my place, and the shuttle isn’t exactly stationary.” Josmere sighed. “All right, it was a stupid game, but I’m bored.”

Layela smiled mischievously. “I have a fun game we can play!”

Josmere’s eyes lit up with interest. “What?”

Layela deadpanned. “It’s called Vision Viewings.”

Josmere cringed. “I should have never told you about that.”

Layela’s breath escaped in a hiss. “Josmere, Yoma isn’t here. We’re being hunted by the government and unfavourable individuals, and someone hired pirates to kidnap us…well, me.” Layela knew her words were harsh and undeserved — well, not fully deserved, anyways — but the frustration of the last few days had caught up with her, and she couldn’t stop herself. “I realize this doesn’t really involve you, but if you don’t intend to help, it might be better if you just go. I don’t need you.”

Josmere drew back, shocked by Layela’s outburst. She then gave her a tentative smile. “We’re in the middle of space, Layl. Where do you want me to go?”

Layela turned to face Josmere, and as she did so, the Berganda grabbed both of her hands in her own.

“Layela,” Josmere pleaded. “Yoma was afraid, and she wished she hadn’t seen what she saw. I don’t know much else, but I do know that she felt she could handle it, and just wanted you to be safe.” She shook her head but kept holding Layela’s hands. “You know how protective Yoma is of you. I’m certain that she didn’t believe the vision involved you, or she would never have left you unguarded. Layela, she made me promise not to show you, because you would lose whatever peace you had left.”

Josmere looked down, gathering her thoughts before looking back up. “The first day Yoma had that vision, one week before she vanished, she contacted me. I’ve never heard her