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

I doubted you,” Layela said as she lifted her hands, breathing deeply to open up her mind.

“I’m sorry I doubted you, too,” Josmere whispered, words long awaited. As the green arms extended to reach her own, Layela stared at her fragile-looking limbs and knew with certainty: I saw your death too, Josmere. The death of all Berganda.

She took a deep breath. Josmere paused and waited, their fingers barely an inch apart. Layela took another deep breath, closing her eyes and pushing those visions of death far away, as she had done for a long time. They were the only visions she never wished to see again, and the only ones that, amplified by a Kilita’s powers, still revisited her in little taunting pieces. It was enough to keep her from ever forgetting the feeling of her own mortality, stripped away from her a million times in what felt like a million years. Burning, flesh ripping, limbs breaking, drowning, falling...she had died every way, a million different lives becoming her own and then being torn away.

Instead, she focused on the darkness that had haunted her dreams for over a week; the darkness that had sent Yoma running. She held it in her mind, calling forth the only thing she knew of it, the only power she knew the vision possessed. Cold sweat trickled down her back as she invoked the terror again.

She opened her eyes. Even Josmere’s impossibly green gaze wasn’t enough to push back the darkness that waited impatiently at the edge of her mind.

Waited to consume her.

Layela reached out and grabbed Josmere’s hands. The green eyes widened and reflected her horror as the darkness washed over them both.

i

Avienne watched the small government team make its way into the tall bay of the Destiny. She smiled and approached them, her hair loose around her shoulders. In her hand, she firmly grasped a bottle from Lang’s supply, which she had recently found in the bay.

Her other hand held two narrow glasses. She remembered drinking from them, back when the crew of the Destiny had still believed in gatherings.

At the head of the party was a short man with white hair, followed by a tall, lanky youth with freckles. How young did they commission in their armies? The third man was further behind, so she concentrated on her immediate targets.

“Welcome!” Avienne smiled widely. “Can I offer you some fine Solarian wine? I purchased it two years ago and I’ve been waiting for the right occasion to open it. We so infrequently get visitors here!”

The inspector hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the reception. She was certain most smuggling ships did not look as clean and empty, and didn’t have a cute, peppy receptionist.

“We believe you have illegal passengers aboard, a human woman by the name of Layela Delamores and a Berganda known as Josmere.” Avienne let her arms and smile drop just a little bit. “Ah, no thank you, but kind of you to offer,” the inspector added, seeing her confused disappointment.

Why are all men so quick to assume that a cute girl can’t be smart, too? And why do I keep taking advantage of that?

Avienne let a kinder smile grace her lips. “Of course, you’re on duty. You’ll have to forgive me, my enthusiasm gets the better of me at times. Now, who did you say you were looking for?”

“Two escaped refugees, a human and a Berganda, as you know full well.” The third man joined them, his voice smooth but laced with poison. She turned to him and her smile vanished.

A colonel. A colonel of the Solarian army was onboard the Destiny.

“We’ll begin this way,” he said, brushing past her. The inspector and youth smiled apologetically as they followed. The colonel headed straight for the elevator, and Avienne sighed in relief.

“I’m afraid our elevators are offline,” she said to the colonel’s back. “With few legal contracts around, we’ve had to cut back our power while we wait for our next job,” she finished sweetly.

The colonel turned, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t fool me, girl.” Although he stood a few meters away, she could feel his warm breath on her. “Your ship is a smuggling ship with an incompetent crew, and you’re smuggling very wanted fugitives. You will cooperate or I will gas you.” He took a step closer. “And every sorry soul on board this ship.”

He stood right in front of her, tall and imposing, and her hand itched to feel the hilt of her knife. She kept her features as neutral as she could, but she doubted they hid her hatred.

“Now, where are the stairs?”

She forced a smile. “That way.” She pointed to the access panel, seeing little choice. He nodded and took the rungs easily, without hesitation or pause. He got off at the second floor.

Avienne swallowed hard and followed, just in time to see him turning down the hallway towards the girls’ room. The only lit hallway. Not hard to pick up that trail! She cursed herself for making it so easy.

The colonel methodically opened each door and flashed his light inside, analyzing every shadow before moving on. She frantically searched for ways to distract or stop him. If she attacked him, Solari would come down on them. He was too focused to be distracted, every movement calculated to maximize his search. And if she handed Layela and Josmere over, which she was considering, she had little doubt that the Destiny and all those onboard would forfeit their lives. That, and her brother would never forgive her.

Think!

Two more doors and he would be at the girls’ room.

Two more doors and there was nothing she could do.

She took a deep breath and debated breaking the bottle of champagne on his head, or just drinking it. The first option would prove painful, the second painless. And yet, she’d still probably choose the first option.

Better to go down fighting than drinking.

She clenched her teeth and prepared to attack.

i

Layela’s mind exploded with light over and over again, without pause. She