Sea of Stars (30 page)

“I’d rather not see you ever again,” I reply.

“Sorry to disappoint you. I’ll be the one communicating with you while you’re with the Alameeda.”

I scoff at that.
The arrogance!
“Keep dreaming. I’m never speaking to you again, lost boy. This is it for us. You should say good-bye now.”

He growls, “You should stop thinking of just yourself! There are people counting on us not to fail, you ignorant child!”

“You must be my father’s favorite,” I retort, like that’s a bad thing.

“I am,” he agrees with pride.

“Well, I’m the one he threw away, so I don’t think I owe you, or him, or anyone else anything.”

Soft beeping sounds overhead. “They’re here.” Giffen swears under his breath. Getting to his feet, he moves to the cargo bay doors. He opens them, and the ramp begins to descend. Sunlight streams in from the outside. As the ramp clunks down on gray stone, the panorama spreads out beyond. We’ve landed on a ridge atop a high peak. I know what it looks like outside; I was just here—the future me—or is it the past me now?

Smooth rocks circle the depression in the shape of a crown. If I had to guess, it appears as if a meteorite of some kind had struck the mountaintop here and to mark the event someone placed enormous, bone-white standing stones around it. The stones look ancient, the remnants of a long-dead civilization. Maybe it’s fitting that we’re meeting here, since this civilization might die soon and a new one rise to take its place. Beyond the stones, if you look through the gaps, you can see clear sky in every direction.

Cold wind, reminiscent of Chicago, drifts in. Giffen comes back to me and unlocks my cuff from the handrail before helping me to my feet with his hand upon my elbow. He releases me from the other cuff as well, tossing it aside. “You’ve been to the future?” Giffen whispers beside me on the crest of the ramp. We both watch as a beautiful chrome trift lands opposite us on the gray rock bed.

“Yes.” The elegant door of the chrome trift appears in the almost liquid surface of the craft. A waterfall of chrome pours down from the doorway, forming floating stairs.

When I don’t say more, Giffen exhales in frustration and asks, “How does it go?”

“It doesn’t work out well. She hugs me and they shoot her in the back of the head. Focus on the one holding her. If he raises his gun, don’t hesitate to stop him. I’m going to try to change the outcome my way. If I fail, you’ll have to kill him and try to run.”

Giffen doesn’t seem thrilled with this information. “If we get out of this, is there anything that you want me to tell Astrid for you?” he asks. Both of us regard the broad-shouldered, Kevlar-like-coated Alameeda Strikers who debark from the aircraft with their weapons drawn in plain sight.

“Tell her never to save me again.” The coldness of my reply hangs in the air.

His jaw clenches. “Do you have a message for Pan?” Giffen asks.

“No.”

From the corner of my eye, I see him grimace. “I promise to help you—after we get Astrid home safely.”

I force myself to laugh, but it sounds desolate, even to me. “Ahh, don’t change now, lost boy. You were doing so well as the bad guy.”

Kyon descends the trift steps. He’s attired in a long, black coat with a brown fur collar and brown fur cuffs. He looks regal and virile. Behind him, a young woman is half dragged, half thrown down the steps. She whips her dark hair back from her face and I’m struck again, as I was a short time ago in the future, by our lack of resemblance. She’s much prettier than me with her black hair and big eyes. She’s taller than me as well. She doesn’t have my curves, either; her frame is more slender than mine. It’s lucky we don’t look alike. If we did, Kyon would notice.

I clench my hands to keep them from visibly shaking. Without looking at Giffen, I say, “We’re done. I hope I never see you again.”

I take a step toward Kyon, but Giffen holds my arm and won’t let me go. He faces my profile.
This is different; I’ve already changed the future just by telling him what happens in it.
Leaning down, Giffen whispers in my ear. “We’re not done!” His lips brush the shell of my ear, causing me to shiver. “I’ll find you soon.” I refuse to look at him. He lets go of my arm. Straightening my shoulders, I walk down the ramp toward Kyon, who tracks my every movement.

The harsh wind picks up my hair, stirring it around and into my swollen face. I ignore it. Astrid is released from the grasp of a brutish soldier, pushed forward so that she almost falls flat on her face. I try not to look at her because my eyes should never stray from Kyon too long.

As Astrid nears, her eyes rivet on me. I hear her voice inside my head,
Kick-it!
Her tone is desperate; it resonates in my brain like she’s inside me.

Don’t you dare hug me!
I think in an angry tone.
Pretend like you don’t know me, Astrid, or you’re dead! They’ll shoot you in the back of the head and leave you here. Just walk!

Astrid stumbles a step. Her eyes widen and I know she hears me—it’s her special gift: communicating nonverbally. I continue to walk by her, never once glancing at her. Out of the corner of my eye I watch the soldier who’d turned her loose. He doesn’t move, but continues to stand idly by, allowing her to pass on to the ship behind me. When I near Kyon, he raises his fingers and snaps them. A soldier hands him a long, white coat with a white fur collar and white fur cuffs.

The wind stirs the fur as I pause in front of him. Kyon drapes the coat around my shoulders and takes me in his arms, hugging me to him. “I’ve missed you,” he whispers in my ear.

I say nothing, already cowed by the events that are unfolding.

“Come.” Kyon is gentle as he shifts his arm to my shoulder and guides me at an unhurried pace to the stairs of the sublime trift. As we board, the falconlike ship behind me fires up its engines. The sound is an anchor in my gut, weighing me down to the ocean floor as it sails away without me aboard.

Kyon leads me to an elegant, yet still extremely comfortable, white leather seat. It’s part of a cluster of four seats: two on either side of a low, chrome table. He holds my elbow until I sink onto the seat, and then he sheds his coat before taking the seat next to mine. No one else enters this private compartment; we’re alone for the first time since he killed Geteron.

The trift’s engines hum to life, I feel the slight vibration of the ship beneath me. “Would you like me to take your coat?” he asks.

“No,” I pull the edges closer to me. “I’m cold.”

He doesn’t argue. Instead he says, “On screen.”

When a holographic screen pops up, Kyon orders from a menu. As the screen fades away, an ice bucket containing a beautiful golden bottle emerges from the center of the table along with two long, fluted glasses. A platter of sumptuous sandwiches, fruits, and cheeses appears as well.

“Would you like a drink?” Kyon asks with a charming lift of his blond eyebrow. His blue eyes regard me with speculation.

I nod. “Please.”

He opens the golden bottle with a
pop
, pouring the bubbling, golden concoction into the stemware. When he hands it to me, his fingers brush mine. They’re warm, so much warmer than mine. I take the glass and drink. It’s lovely and fruity and definitely intoxicating. I tip my head back and drink it all before holding my glass out for a refill.

Kyon frowns. “Do you intend to get drunk? It’s not like you to willingly give up control.” Without a word, I continue to hold my glass out to him, demanding more. He obliges me by refilling it. I tip the glass to my lips once more. Kyon asks, “Did they kill him? Your Cavar, Trey?”

I choke on my drink, swallowing hard. I cough and sputter as tears roll down my face. A large hand rubs my back. When I’m able to breathe normally again, he wipes the tears from my dirty face with his thumbs.

“It’s okay. You’re not alone anymore. I’m here to take care of you. I will teach you what you need to know. I will train you to obey us.” Frowning, I look away from him, moving my face with a jerk so that his hands fall from my cheeks.

“I know you’re not ready to hear that, Kricket.” I feel a sharp pain in my neck. Kyon pulls a tranquilizer gun away from my throat.

My eyes half shutter while my hand goes to the injection site. “I will have to teach you what is expected of you. We’ll start anew from this moment on. I’ll be your master and you will be my priestess.” Losing focus, I sag against the seat back. The smooth glass stemware slips through my fingertips, spilling golden liquid onto the immaculate floor. “You belong to me now,” I hear him say, as I slip away into darkness.

I should be used to waking in strange places by now, but this one has me on edge immediately. I feel different, but I don’t know why. Lying in the dim light of a cavernous bedroom, I know something’s wrong. It takes me a few moments to remember what happened. The last thing I knew, I was on a trift with Kyon. I move my arms; they no longer ache. In fact, they feel lighter and softer as they travel over the silk sheet of the enormous bed I now occupy. The blankets are light and airy too. They’re just the right density to keep me warm from the cool, salty breeze that’s wafting in between the white, billowing curtains framing a patio outside.

Beyond the stone terrace, waves crash upon a beach in hypnotic ebbs and flows. I sit up in bed, and the blanket slips down to show a soft, white nightgown. I touch the material; it’s so fine as to be just a hair short of transparent. Making my way to the side of the bed, I rise, cross the hardwood floors and the soft area rugs, and pause at the threshold of the patio. The sight that greets me is breathtaking. The blue sea beyond the stone balustrade glows with the fire of stars. It’s as if the sky fell into the sea. As I walk forward, my hair is lifted away from my face by the sea breeze. I rest my elbow on the stone railing, marveling at the beauty before me.

“It’s the Loch of Cerulean, but everyone refers to it as the Sea of Stars,” Kyon says from behind me. I straighten my spine when I feel his hand on my hip. He draws me back against him. He’s bare-chested and wearing just some loose-fitting linen slacks. A blush stains my cheeks. “I’ve dreamt of this moment for so long now. I’ve wondered what it would be like to hold you like this. Now I know. It’s bliss. You are the brightest star among the Sea of Stars, Kricket.”

Kyon leans down, kissing my throat. His light touch causes my stone heart to lie heavy in my chest. The deadening beat of it promises me that I will never love again. And with Kyon’s lips on mine to seal the vow, I swear that I will darken the stars forever.

A
cknowledgments

God, all things are possible through You. Thank you for Your infinite blessings and for allowing me to do what I love: write.

To my readers and bloggers: Thank you! The outpouring of love that I receive from all of you is mind-blowing. Your generosity toward me is humbling. You make me want to write a thousand books.

Tom Bartol, you’re my best friend. I cannot imagine my world without you in it. I love you.

Max and Jack Bartol, I count myself as the most fortunate person in the world to have you both in my life. Thank you for knowing when to let me write and when to rescue me from my computer.

Jason Kirk, your thoughtful and intuitive questions and suggestions have made
Sea of Stars
a better story. Thank you for challenging me and inspiring me to grow as a writer. I’m grateful. I can’t wait to dive into the next project with you!

To the team of experts at 47North, you guys are superstars! Thank you for your time and for your hard work on this project. It means the world to me.

Shelly Crane, thank you for beta reading
Sea of Stars
and for your insights on writing and on life. You are precious to me. I’m so fortunate to have you as my friend.

Gloria Lutz, your unwavering support and unconditional love are a guiding light in my life. Thank you for using your wicked editing skills to help me through the initial draft of
Sea of Stars
.

Tamar Rydzinski, one of the best days of my life was when you agreed to be my agent. Thank you for always having my back.

Regina Wamba, you’re an artist. Thank you for sharing your marketing genius with me.

Trish Brinkley, I love The Occasionalist! Thank you for always including me in your circle!

Amber McLelland, you’re insane and that’s why we get along so well. Thank you for your friendship.

Janet Wallace, you’re inspirational. I love seeing what you create. It’s magical.

To my lovely Hellcats: Georgia Cates, Shelly Crane, Samantha Young, Rachel Higginson, Angeline Kace, Lila Felix, and Quinn Loftis. What can I say? You complete me. Thank you all for your unwavering support.

Michelle Leighton. I love you, man. I will cherish my pocket Jamie forever.

G
lossary

Abersuctonal:
an antidote for znou axicote poisoning.

AFA:
Armored Fugitive Apprehender—a robot programmed to apprehend fugitives.

Alameeda:
one of the five clan-houses of Ethar. An ally of Wurthem. Ruling body is the Alameeda Brotherhood. A member of the Alameeda House.

Alameeda Striker:
a member of an elite body of troops trained to serve the Alameeda Brotherhood.

ALV:
Air Lift Vehicle—troop transport.

Amster Rushes:
an ancient city where skeletal remains of skyscrapers are located near the border of Comantre in the no-man’s-land restricted/protected area of Ethar.

arrowing:
a part on a troupedo hovercar that resembles a gill of a fish. Used to hold the snuffout. Located where an auxiliary mirror would be on a human car.

Ateur:
a Rafian senator in the House of Lords.

basiness:
an automated hand washer that uses steam to kill germs.

baw-da-baw:
a war cry used by Cavars in the Rafian military—means “hoorah.”

beam spotters:
laser-beam security alarm lights.

Beezway:
a hovercar track like an expressway for the bullet-shaped hover vehicles called skiffs on the Ship of Skye.

bender:
a part on a troupedo hovercar that resembles the gill of a fish. Used to hold the snuffout. Located where an auxiliary mirror would be on an Earth car.

Biequine:
a competition wherein a rider takes a spix through a course of obstacles and shoots targets for both points and the best time.

Black Math:
a virus that decimated the population of Ethar approximately a thousand years ago.

blipisode:
an episode of precognition that lasts only a few seconds and happens without the clairvoyant losing total consciousness. A glimpse of a future event.

blushers:
young Etharian women.

Boosha:
Etharian slang for slut.

Brigadet:
a member of the Rafian military police on the Ship of Skye.

bubble-shields:
round, bubblelike barriers that act as protection from weapons fire; force fields. Blue in color.

Cargo Goer:
a monstrous, ellipse-shaped ship that resembles the Bean sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Each Cargo Goer is a massive, chromelike ellipse weighing several tons. Its skin can be altered to blend in with the environment, but it is usually mirrored, reflecting everything around it.

Cavar:
a member of an elite body of troops trained to serve on land and sea; a member of the Rafian military of Ethar, similar to Earth’s Marine.

chester:
a male sex offender.

chrome:
a swordlike stick with a silver tip that shocks like a cattle prod.

circa:
a unit of measure equivalent to a mil.

click:
approximately one mile.

Comantre:
one of the five clan-houses of Ethar. An ally of Rafe. A member of the Comantre House.

Comantre Crosses:
a district within the Comantre territory where the Comantre Syndic military base of the same name is located.

com-link:
a device used as an intercom system.

Commodus:
a bathroom.

cookery:
the place where food is prepared and then distributed by conveyor to commissary units.

copperclaw:
the exotic flower symbolically used in the weddinglike commitment ceremony in which a Brother of the Brotherhood weds his consort priestess.

Coriness:
an honorific of royalty used in Rafian society. Kricket is a coriness because she is the daughter of Pan Hollowell, a corinet.

Corinet:
an honorific of royalty used in Rafian society. Pan Hollowell’s royal title.

crike:
fifty years.

Crue:
the Etharian form of pneumonia.

crystal:
awesome.

Crystal Clear Moments:
small, crystal-like figurines that animate when put into a star chamber gravity field.

death drones:
automated drones that terminate civilians with blue lasers and/or flamethrowers.

deet:
a unit of time equivalent to about six months.

dicron:
a unit of measure equivalent to one meter.

dishery:
the place where dirty dishes are transported to be cleaned and stored by an automated process of conveyors and robots.

doorcam:
a camera mounted outside a door.

drak:
a unit of heat measure similar to a degree.

Dreykar:
an honorific of minor royalty used in Rafian society. Trey Allairis’s royal title.

Dreykaress:
an honorific of minor royalty used in Rafian society. Kricket would assume this title if she becomes Trey’s consort.

Dunder Sorrows:
a type of virus.

Elle:
an honorific denoting a priestess in Alameedan society.

Em:
an honorific denoting an ambassador.

E-One:
a rotorless, helicopterlike vehicle used by military personnel, usually the Alameeda, to attack enemies. A military aircraft that resembles a wasp.

Ethar:
a planet in a dimension similar to Earth’s.

Etharian:
a native of Ethar.

fardroom:
Etharian currency. One fardroom is approximate to one American dollar.

Fay:
an honorific equivalent to
Lady
in Rafian society.

fazaria:
an amber-colored liquor similar to champagne.

fritzer:
a type of card game.

Fitzforest:
Thursday.

Fitzlutzer:
Monday.

Fitzmartin:
Wednesday.

Fitzover:
Sunday.

Fitzsetter:
Tuesday.

Fitzsumptner:
Saturday.

Fitzwinter:
Friday.

fleat:
one minute.

flesh-layering-bot:
a medical robot that reapplies skin.

flester:
one week.

flipcart:
a hovercraft skateboard.

floan:
a unit of time similar to one year.

Forest of Omnicron:
also known as the Forest of O; a wilderness in the restricted/ annexed area of Ethar.

freston:
the tricked-out, riflelike black gun.

gennet:
Cavar military rank equivalent to general in Rafian society. Trey Allairis’s military rank.

git:
a grunt; a new soldier.

Grumrell tree:
a kind of tree. Its bark contains enzymes that ward off parasites and insects, but it tastes like cat poop.

guide-bot:
a holographic image of a person that is programmed as a guide assisting patrons to various places.

guideways:
freeways that glow lavender and are edged in silver. The guideways are stacked as they flow around, over, and into tunnels through buildings. Shifting traffic moves from one glowing level to the next seemingly at a whim.

harassenger:
a passenger who harasses; specifically, an Alameeda drone turned into a bomb.

harbinger:
a matte-black, gunlike weapon.

Haut:
an honorific that means
Sir
. Denotes a high royal rank.

Hautess:
an honorific that means
Lady
. Denotes a high royal rank.

Hesterfastok:
an antidote for znou axicote poisoning.

hordabus plant:
an aloe-like plant that almost instantly heals skin tissue damaged by burns, rashes, open wounds, and the like.

hovercar:
also known as a skiff; a car capable of flying. It is propelled by forced air and does not have wheels.

hover crim:
a limousinelike hovercar that is both expensive and private.

hohoban:
Etharian chocolate.

holovision:
a holographic television.

hominie:
Etharian honey.

inamorata:
a female lover.

inamorato:
a male lover.

Inium:
the smallest of Ethar’s moons. It is blue in color.

ipsacore:
the name of a level in the detention area of the Ship of Skye.

Isle of Skye:
the city where the Regent’s palace and the corrective court are located. It’s the legal center of the House of Rafe.

jackwagon:
an Etharian curse word.

jade:
one hundred years.

jamarch:
one thousand years.

kafcan:
a beverage that is similar in every way to dark-roast coffee.

kesek:
Cavar military rank, equivalent to major.

keuken:
the kitchen.

kiaser gat:
a type of gun.

knob knocker:
an Etharian curse word.

Lamb’s Bottom:
an antidote for znou axicote poisoning.

lavare:
a shower room.

link:
a measure of length equal to six feet.

Loch of Cerulean:
the tropical island where Kyon’s estate is located in Alameeda territory. A body of water on Ethar. The political seat of the Alameeda Brotherhood, reminiscent of a fiefdom.

lurker:
a stalker, crazy ex-girlfriend type.

mamon:
Rafian word for
mom
.

mastoff:
Etharian word for
mastodon
; a large elephantine mammal.

Minness:
an honorific title equivalent to
Miss
or
Ms.
in Rafian society.

nim:
idiot.

ostioscope:
a medical device, also known as
grandma goggles
or
visor
, that fits over the eyes like glasses and is used to perform a full-body scan. It checks vitals: synapse firing, dendrite chemical composition, reuptake rates.

overup:
an elevator that moves up, down, sideways, and slantways.

part:
an Etharian hour.

pasdon:
Rafian word for
dad
.

Peney:
one of the five clan-houses of Ethar. This House has always remained neutral in wartime. A member of the Peney House.

pinpointer:
a homing beacon.

polar:
sexy.

Rafe:
one of the five clan-houses of Ethar. An ally of Comantre. A member of the Rafe House.

Rafian:
a citizen of Rafe.

rapid ascenders:
Rafian drone aircraft.

ratwacker:
an Etharian curse word.

razorite:
a black bulletlike hovercar—military model.

recurve:
a crossbow.

regeneration:
a medical procedure to regrow limbs and organs.

Regent:
the acting king of Rafe. The current Regent is Manus Grayson.

Riker Pak:
an Alameeda jet pack.

rotation:
an Etharian day consisting of about sixteen hours.

sactum amps:
percussion grenades.

saer:
a saber-tooth tiger used as a symbol of the House of Rafe and the Regent.

scanner jammers:
devices that jam scanners.

sensor jammers:
technology that jams scanners capable of finding the heat signatures of living beings. It also jams sounds, light, etc.

Shefty:
Etharian equivalent to English slang “shifty.”

shickles:
an Etharian curse word.

Ship of Skye:
a floating military fortress owned and operated by the House of Rafe and their Skye Council.

signal seeker:
an alarm.

skiff:
also known as a hovercar; a hovering car capable of flying. It is propelled by forced air and does not have wheels.

skoolie:
a lamb with googly eyes and a face that resembles a pug dog (plural is
skoolies
).

Skye Council:
also known as Skye; the military branch of Rafian government, similar to the Pentagon, which is self-governing. Works in cooperation with the Regent.

skyscape:
a skyscraper located on the Ship of Skye.

slipshield:
a clear sticker resembling the symbol on a USB port that contains a code to unlock cell doors in the detention area.

sloat:
an Etharian goat.

snuffout:
a fire-extinguisher-like canister filled with flammable gas used as ammunition for flamethrowers.

someone-elsie:
a virus uploaded into an Alameeda drone that allows it to be navigated and controlled by a hacker.

sonic sayzer:
a weapon that shoots sounds at an amplified frequency. It is a metal sleeve worn on the wrist that shoots sound waves Spider-Man style when certain words are spoken into a mouthpiece connected to the earpiece. The sound waves it shoots are capable of rupturing cells.

soothsayer:
a priestess who has the ability to know through intuition if someone is lying.

speck:
an Etharian month.

spix:
a horse with wicked-sharp horns behind its ears (plural is
spixes
).

squelch tracker:
a heat-seeking automated bomb that can be programmed to assassinate a target.