Central (34 page)

Then he stood and faced the crowd. He realized as the silence registered that he must have looked rather strange kneeling and staring at the cats without saying anything.

“So,” Gabriel said, moving beside James and squatting beside Aurora’s mate. “Titan, huh?”

The animal growled again, showing his fearsome teeth.

One of Gabriel’s eyebrows rose. “Right. Well, welcome aboard.”

Tabitha watched the shore come into view from her perch on the travel platform.

Finally
, she thought.

The realization came with a great deal of self-pride and relief. The trip had taken longer than she had thought it would. It had to have been nearly three hours already, she gauged.

She hadn’t ever left the stronghold before. Being less than a century in age meant she hadn’t received enough preparation to be deemed ready to face life outside of the haven they called home. Brenna’s scarring brush with the Mercesti on her first venture away from home was proof of the potential dangers they faced on the mainland. But she would show them all she was more than ready.

They would soon realize what a treasure they had lost by forcing her away. She would put her many skills to good use among the Mercesti instead. They would all but worship her for bringing them one of Saraqael’s daughters.

Of all the classes, the Lekwuesti knew the most about the elders’ protectiveness surrounding the sisters, knew how valuable the three half-humans were to Grolkinei. The constant presence of the Lekwuesti among the elders, seeing to their every need and being present during some of even the most delicate conversations, made overhearing this information inevitable. They weren’t blind and deaf, after all, she thought with her chin raised. However overlooked they might be.

As the shoreline grew closer, her eyes widened. She had never realized how much land there was outside of the stronghold. What was all of the white, powdery substance covering the ground? What kinds of trees were those with the odd spikes and dangerous-looking bark? Why were there no dwellings here? Where did all of the land-based Estilorians live if not near the travel platforms?

These thoughts filled her with unease. If such basic things were outside of her knowledge base, might there also be other things—more deadly things—awaiting her of which she was completely ignorant?

The silent question confused her. She shook her head as if to clear it.

Before she had dragged Olivia onto the travel platform, she had been filled with unshakable conviction. She knew that she was worthy of more recognition than she was receiving by her peers and leaders. She was talented and skilled, at least as much as Brenna was. And it was only because Olivia was paying Brenna such attention that Tabitha’s efforts were not being properly appreciated. She had to dispose of Olivia to set everything to rights. There was no question about this.

Now, however, as she glanced behind her at Olivia’s still form, her conviction wavered.

It wasn’t as though she had gone to her commander or leader to discuss her concerns and ask for equal consideration to become paired with one of the sisters. She had completely disregarded that option and moved straight into this admittedly dramatic course of action.

Bringing her hands to her head, she let out a pained sound. What was happening to her?

As their platform began its descent, her mind drifted to the past few weeks working with the sisters. They had all been remarkably polite and appreciative, even surprised, by the hospitality efforts of the Lekwuesti. A day didn’t go by when they didn’t each thank Tabitha personally for something or other. They didn’t treat her like a being who was obligated to serve them, as many Estilorians tended to do.

They treated her like a friend.

She nearly fell off the platform when it suddenly touched the water. They sped along toward the shore. She again looked down at Olivia, filled with uncertainty. The usually vibrant young woman was pale and still. Blood continued to seep from the back of her head where Tabitha had struck her with a tool she had found. Why had she done this again? It was all growing very hazy.

Her head suddenly pounded with pain. Righteous anger reestablished itself in her mind in an unexpected flash. She pictured Brenna sitting at the table with Olivia, making their pairing.

Now she remembered. It should have been
her
.

When they reached land, she was so eager to get off the platform that she didn’t hesitate to grab Olivia’s arms and drag her off the thing. The unstable surface of the powdery ground made her stagger a bit as she pulled Olivia away from the water. She somehow knew that she needed to be a good distance from the enchanted platform if she was going to be found.

Her efforts quickly exhausted her. She eventually sank to the ground, breathing heavily and looking around. Her thoughts were again growing fuzzy.

Beside her, Olivia groaned. Tabitha started in panic. She knew she wouldn’t be able to subdue her if she regained consciousness.

But…why had she knocked Olivia unconscious again?

Then she glanced up and saw the flurry of movement in the sky. Red wings were quickly approaching. A number of them, she realized a bit numbly. And then she remembered. She was bringing Olivia to the Mercesti. So she could be worshipped.

It sounded so ridiculously unbelievable now.

“Tabitha?” Olivia whispered.

Nearly dizzy with confusion, Tabitha looked into Olivia’s green gaze. The sister was struggling to push herself up. She had to pause halfway up. She made a wretched noise and then spit some fluid from her mouth. It was obvious she was nearly incapacitated by the pain from the blow to her head.

“Where are we?” Olivia managed, getting herself into a sitting position. “Are you all right?”

It was that unselfish question that made Tabitha realize she had made a tremendous mistake.

“Olivia, I am so sorry. I do not know what came over me,” she said, getting to her knees and moving closer to her. “Please, you must get up. We must get back to the platform before—”

“Tsk, tsk,” said a voice from nearby.

Both females whirled and scrambled to their feet. Olivia staggered a bit, but maintained her balance. She quickly positioned herself in front of Tabitha. They faced one Mercesti with many others growing closer by the second. This one looked enormous to Tabitha. His red eyes made her knees feel like water.

She had wanted to become one of these evil creatures? She must have been possessed.

“Let’s go,” Olivia said in a voice so level and confident that Tabitha’s panic ebbed enough to release her paralyzed limbs. “Toward the platform.”

Tabitha slowly edged in that direction, keeping her eyes on the dark-skinned Mercesti advancing on them. When the male made a lunging grab for Olivia, Tabitha screamed.

Olivia never hesitated. She evaded the sloppy maneuver and swiftly brought her foot up, directly into his groin. His roar of pain and outrage made the hair on Tabitha’s neck stand up. She whimpered. Amazingly, the powerful blow didn’t stop him. It merely seemed to aggravate him into more aggressive action. He got his hands on Olivia, grasping her arm and attempting to wrench it behind her.

In a move that had Tabitha’s jaw dropping, Olivia twisted with the Mercesti’s grip, bringing both feet from the ground in a flip that left her directly facing him. Then she brought her hand back and in a blindingly fast move, smashed the heel of her palm straight into his nose.

The sound was grotesque. Blood poured down his face. He fell to his knees with an amazed expression on his face. Then he hit the ground, unmoving.

But by then, the rest of the Mercesti had arrived. Tabitha knew it was useless to try and escape. They were surrounded. Many of them had landed close to the water, as well, knowing that it would prevent the females from getting back to the platform that only they could see.

Still, she found herself stepping forward. It was because of her that Olivia was now in grave peril. She would do what she could to reverse her actions.

“Thank you for your efforts, Lekwuesti,” said the male at the front of the group.

His polite tone, curly blond hair and attractive features confused Tabitha. He looked like any other Estilorian in his light blue tank and dark blue pants. How could such a being be evil?

Then his red eyes moved to Olivia. The look in them was decidedly unholy.

“I have changed my mind,” Tabitha blurted. “I sent thoughts back to the base before we arrived here. Reinforcements are already on the way.”

Now, the blond male tilted his head. He looked humored, as much as his unsmiling face could. “We expect them to come after her, Lekwuesti. And you have now made your choice.”

He drew his sword then. Tabitha’s knees trembled uncontrollably and another whimper escaped her throat. Olivia moved again to stand in front of her. She had yet to speak.

“We have use for you yet,” the Mercesti said to Olivia in a placid tone. “I suggest you move aside. We can keep you alive even with stab wounds.”

She didn’t move. Tabitha didn’t know what Olivia planned to do against the sword with no weapon outside of her own two hands. But Saraqael’s daughter managed to look ready and willing to take him on. The Mercesti hesitated.

Then strong hands grabbed Tabitha from behind. She shrieked and kicked, trying to get away. Then she saw Olivia, temporarily distracted and turning to assist her, fall to the ground. Tabitha realized the blond Mercesti had used the pommel of his sword to once again knock Olivia unconscious.

Oddly, her terror abated into an unnatural calm when the Mercesti approached. Her gaze remained on Olivia’s unmoving form, the knowledge that she had caused all of this settling into her brain along with acceptance of her fate.

“They will come,” she said, her voice strong and certain. “And you will die.”

“You first,” her handsome killer said. And brought his sword up to end her life.

Chapter Thirty-One

There were a limited number of express travel platforms at Central. Sebastian sent Gabriel, James, Caleb, Amber, Skye and Titan on one of them. It was a tight squeeze, but they were willing to forgo comfort for an hour or so if it meant remaining together and getting to Olivia with all speed.

The commanders and their most skilled class members rode on the other express platforms. Sebastian and Caoilinn were able to enchant them all to follow the same path as the platform Tabitha had commandeered. The remaining elders and other participating Estilorians were following on the regular platforms. Gabriel would communicate their location to them as soon as they landed, hopefully leading them right to Olivia by then.

James sat at one corner of the platform. He was focusing intently on not allowing his emotions to overtake him. He knew it would affect Gabriel and Caleb as much as it did him, and he very much needed their full concentration on helping him find Olivia. Every time he allowed himself to think, he was inundated with visions of her facing the Mercesti on her own. Guilt, anger and fear all blended into one powerful and almost debilitating wash of sensation.

He found himself wondering why humans so favored their powerful emotions when it left one feeling this way.

Then he thought of Olivia and his deep love for her. And he answered his own question.

Gabriel insisted that Amber sleep during the journey. The sun was sinking and they didn’t know how long it would take to find Olivia once they reached land. She needed to build her energy. Incredibly, she was able to doze.

The sky was deep orange and pink as the platform neared land. James leaned over the side to see as much of the landscape as possible. He saw the bright yellow platform that Tabitha had stolen in the water.

Then he saw the two prone figures on the ground.

Neither of them is Olivia
, Caleb thought quickly. He had obviously felt the wave of panic that washed through James.
One is dark-skinned and the other…appears to be Tabitha.

Swallowing, James nodded. He forced his emotions back down. Caleb’s observations proved correct. They docked and everyone stepped off the platform. Then they walked closer to the two bodies lying on the sand.

“Oh, Tabitha!” Skye exclaimed, bringing her hands to her mouth in shock. She looked very pale, her eyes huge.

It was little surprise, James thought. Tabitha’s head had been all but severed. The amount of blood and gore was enough to make even him and Caleb look away. They hadn’t really been exposed to such things in their relatively short existences.

The other body was clearly a Mercesti male.

“That’s my girl,” Amber said, nodding with approval as she stood next to the body.

“Olivia got one?” Skye asked, recovering admirably from her shock and horror over Tabitha’s condition. Although she still looked a bit haunted, she was holding her own.

“Yep. Looks like a nose through the brain.” She caught James’ eye, her gold gaze hard. “I hope he suffered.”

“Why does it look like he’s, um, dissolving?” Skye asked.

Gabriel explained. “Dead Estilorian forms dissolve into colored sand. It takes a couple hours.”

Titan was prowling. He picked up a scent that made him growl. James hurried over to him. He easily made out the outline of Olivia’s form in the sand. There was more blood. He touched it and identified it.

“She lay here,” he said, forcing his voice to remain steady. “By the looks of the prints in the area, I’m thinking no more than thirty Mercesti. I believe they took flight after…” he glanced at Tabitha’s body.

Gabriel nodded agreement. “Grolkinei wouldn’t have risked more than that to acquire two females. He would have suspected a possible trap. Sending thirty of his soldiers would have been seen as a safe enough risk.”

“I still can’t sense Olivia’s thoughts,” Skye said. She caught Amber’s gaze. “But I think our connection with her feels stronger now.”

“I agree,” Amber said. “I think she’s just unconscious. We should get under some kind of cover and keep our minds open to her. Once she regains consciousness, we can ask her to describe where she is.”