Shine Light (8 page)

Come to me and I will explain.

Naif tasted his desire for her as an explosion of sweetness in her mouth.
First, tell me where the uther queen is.

I cannot. Brand has since moved her from the Dominion. Even Varonessa is not privy to where.

You know Brand. You must be able to guess.

Perhaps.

Will you help me?

Only if you come to me. Only . . . if you stay with me. Let me see you, N-a-i-f . . .

He said her name so slowly and with so much longing that it tugged at her stomach and tingled her skin.

But her dread countered his seduction, her mind at war with the sensations in her body. Lenoir was a beast, violent and ruthless. And yet only with him did she feel like . . .
this
.

‘Naif ?’ Suki nudged her. ‘What is it?’

Naif glanced around, confused for a moment. She’d stopped at the apex of the long, rocky stairway that led to the Grotto. Liam, Clash and Brenny were already halfway down.

‘I . . . I was remembering before . . . when we were here. So much has changed since then.’

‘No,’ said Suki, glancing down towards Liam. ‘
We
have changed.’

Naif looked at her friend’s stern expression in the light of the lantern she held. ‘Liam helped us on Grave. Without him we would have been lost,’ she said.

‘Of course. Liam is from Stra’Ha. He is strong and practical,’ said Suki.

‘Why did you cross your wrists like that in the cave?’

‘We undid our blood vow.’

‘I don’t understand. Does he . . . do the . . . tentacles repulse you?’

‘You think I am so shallow?’ Suki said fiercely, her head jerking back.

‘No. I mean . . . No. But then why?’

‘It’s our law. We don’t pledge to inferior males. It’s not permitted. Otherwise our gene pool would weaken.’

‘You mean that because of what the Ripers did, you can no longer be . . . together?’ Naif asked. ‘But we’re not on Stra’Ha. Does it matter anymore?’

‘To Liam, yes. He is shamed.’

‘Can’t you change his mind?’

‘Not on this, Naif. But someone will pay.’ She pumped her fist into her hand and then turned and began to descend with quick, determined steps.

Naif followed more slowly, taking care how she placed her feet. Suki meant that Lenoir would pay. Just thinking his name brought a new shiver and a pulsing of their bond.

Naif ?

Why did you send Liam and the others to Grave?

Liam?

Anger surged through Naif.
Don’t you even know their names? The ones who you failed to withdraw properly – the humans who only half-changed.

Aaaah . . . the khalbas.

Why did you send them to Grave?

His sigh whispered around her in the dark.
It is the way of our transformation that it is not always perfect. Just as some of your young die as babes at birth or are disfigured or blighted by wrongness.

If they are we don’t throw them away. We care for them. And Liam did not choose your transformation.

Your babes do not choose to be born. It is simply how your species survives.

His logic frustrated her.
What did you want them to do for you in Grave? How could you leave them to live in drains?

Your Elders are untrustworthy.

On that, at least, they agreed.
And so you used them as spies.

Yes. I would visit Grave on the new moon, and they’d tell me what they’d seen.

What you did was cruel!

They’re alive. If I had not intervened, they’d be dead. Brand does not see any use for khalbas.

There was no hint of guilt or remorse in him and for the first time Naif began to really understand the kind of creature he was. For Lenoir, choices that she would find difficult were simple. Perhaps that explained his fascination with her reactions; why he seemed so keen to study her emotions and the change that Enlightenment had brought to her.

To Lenoir, she spoke another language in every thought, deed and movement.

Why did you give us such freedom here? Why not just steal us from our homes and drain our lives away? The uthers, the clothes, the parties – why have you gone to such trouble?

Silence.

Lenoir. Tell me! Please.

My answer will anger you.

All your answers anger me.

A hint of amusement.
Indeed.

You like to study my emotions. Then tell me and feel my response.

Their bond quivered as if she’d offered him a kiss. Or more.

You bargain well, little one. But you must let me closer if you wish for answers. Let me in.

Naif hesitated, knowing that surrender meant their bond would intensify. But she had promised Eve. Promised Clash.

Very well.

She took a breath and relaxed all the barriers in her mind.

Naif –
Within an instant of thinking her name, he possessed her. Her back arched with the sensation and she lost feeling in her legs, causing her to stumble. She sat down abruptly. His pleasure engulfed her, as if his tongue licked at every dark corner of her being.

Tell me, Lenoir.

He sighed and the devouring pleasure receded a little.

The distilling process works best when the young ones’ body chemistry is a certain composition. We use the beads and pods to help achieve that state.

You alter our bodies to make us suit you?

Yes. The badges you wear tell us when you are ready. Then you are withdrawn. Charlonge took very few beads or pods. Her chemistry was never quite right.

That’s why she has lasted so long without being taken?

Yes. You would have been the same. You stopped using them almost immediately. But I had your badge revoked.

It was you?

Yes.

Naif felt sick to her stomach. And yet, he’d saved her by revoking her badge. Her emotions twisted like a snake inside her; anger and gratitude railed against each other.

‘Char’s here!’ Suki’s voice jarred her from her turmoil. She was ahead of Naif, standing at the gate, peering through into the amphitheatre below.

‘Where are Liam and Clash?’ asked Naif. ‘And Brenny?’

‘They’re here. Come on,’ replied Suki, beckoning impatiently. When Naif reached her, she pulled her through the heavy wooden gate and pushed it shut behind them.

Below them, the Grotto was as Naif remembered it; stepped rows chiselled into the rock and swathed in moonflowers. She let her gaze sweep across the amphitheatre looking for the secret exit they’d taken after the meeting of the gangs. It was overgrown with creeper again; hidden from those who didn’t know it existed. Somehow, seeing the profusion of blooms disguising the tunnel was reassuring. There was still another way out.

‘Look!’ Suki pointed down to the front rows close to the central stone dais.

Last time she’d seen it, Eve, Clash, Kero, and the other gang leaders had stood there, calling their people to vote. What had happened to the other gangs since she’d left? Did Kero still lead the White Wings?

Now the dais was empty, except for two figures crouching together at one edge: Char and Jarrold.

Relief slowed Naif for a moment. She watched Clash, Brenny and Liam, already halfway down and moving quickly.

‘Let’s catch up,’ she said. She went to follow them but Suki stopped her.

The Stra’Ha girl became very still, except for her eyes, which flicked in all directions. ‘We should wait here. Be their lookout.’ She shifted away from the gate behind the thick spray of creeper.

‘Suki?’

‘Come, Naif. Quick.’

Naif stood, undecided. Her instinct told her to go down to the others. But Suki knew about stealth and fighting. Naif trusted her friend so she hurried into the hiding place next to her. ‘What should we look for?’

Suki shrugged. Parting the curtain of creeper, she peered out. ‘A rogue, most likely. Those who went wild and didn’t stay with Brand or Lenoir or Varonessa are hungry.’

‘For what?’

Suki turned her head, so that their faces almost touched. Her breath was warm on Naif’s cheek. ‘Us.’

‘B-but –’

‘Have you ever seen Lenoir eat?’

Naif scanned her memories and found no answer to Suki’s question.

‘I think that they don’t just use us to transform from Night Creature to Riper but they eat us as well,’ said Suki.

Naif’s mind rejected the notion but her body reacted with shock. She swayed as if she might faint but Suki held her fast.

‘You have proof?’

The girl tapped her temple. ‘I know.’

With Lenoir’s presence so strong in her, Naif found it was impossible to keep her reaction from him.

Naif ? What’s wrong?

With effort she ignored Lenoir and focused on Suki. ‘What did Tanel do to you?’

Her friend’s breathing quickened and she quivered. Naif stroked her arm soothingly. Her flesh felt hot and feverish. ‘You’re burning up. Suki, what’s wrong?’

‘You cannot tell the others. Even Liam.’

Naif nodded.

‘You tell them and we’re no longer friends. Understand?’

Another nod.

Suki lifted her arm and twisted it so that Naif could see her hand. A crude bandage was stuck to her palm. Suki peeled it back.

Underneath, her Ixion badge oozed with infection. The skin had begun to rot at the edges and the smell made Naif’s stomach churn.

‘He held me down and put his teeth to my badge. I can still feel them, sharp and filthy.’ She covered up the wound and slipped her hand behind her back. ‘Then he sucked. I could feel my life going.’

‘Y-y-your blood?’

‘Not just. Something more.’ She bit her lip. ‘Might sound frossin’ mad to you but he took my
lieb.
’

‘Lieb?’

‘Spirit. You know what that is, Naif ?’

Naif nodded hesitantly. On Grave, spirit was a forbidden word. ‘Spirit is sinful.’

The words were out before she could consider them.

‘Sinful! Is that what they teach you in Grave?’

‘Yes.
Shun spirit. Live wise
.’

‘The only thing frossin’ sinful thing are those frossin’
houngas
who lied to you with all their sick talk. Spirit is life force. Not just your blood and flesh but your will and your fight. Spirit is everything rolled up into one. Without spirit we die.’

Naif thought quickly. Suki’s explanation made sense. The Elders had used their explanation as another way of controlling their people.

‘If Tanel was consuming your spirit, how is it you are still . . . you?’

‘Am I?’ said Suki. A hint of hysteria had crept into her voice. ‘That frossin’ Riper put his mouth to me. Stra’ knows what poison is inside me now.’

‘Did you get Schel to bathe your hand?’

Suki glared at her fiercely. ‘No one must know. You swore.’

‘But it could be making you sick.’

‘Eve will keep me from the fight –’ Suki broke off suddenly.

‘What fight? Suki? Tell me! All those weapons. What’s Eve planning?’

Suki shook her head. ‘Best you don’t know.’

‘Don’t treat me like that!’ Naif said in sudden fury. ‘I’m not a frossin’ child.’

Suki leaned back on her heels against the rock wall and laughed. ‘My Naif has grown teeth. Perhaps Eve will let you join the League yet.’

Naif tossed her head and parted the creeper to look out. The scent of the moonflowers overwhelmed her; so sweetly pungent. Clash and the others were climbing towards them. Clash held Charlonge’s hand and several torches, while behind them Brenny, Liam and Jarrold each carried books.

Naif went to step out to call to them but Suki held her back.

‘What?’

‘Look,’ said Suki.

As the group reached the halfway point, a shadow glided along the tier below Clash and the others.

Naif went to shout a warning but Suki clapped her healthy hand across Naif’s mouth.

‘Not yet!’

Naif resisted her instinct to call Lenoir for help. What was Suki waiting for?

They were only a few tiers from the top when Suki took her fingers from Naif’s lips. She quickly unhooked some rope from her belt. ‘I want you to step into the open when I say. Call to them. When the Riper comes, I’ll rope it.’