Survivor Planet III (9 page)

I'd been fortunate to quickly bathe in one of the many natural hot water springs that pooled into the cave. Discovering them shortly after our arrival had been sheer unexpected delight. Danni had mentioned something similar when she told me about her and Aris' adventures on Taleon. Thankfully, our caves weren't full of giant alien spiders like theirs had been.

Ayres had his hands on my breasts. Lowering his head he took my nipple into his mouth allowing his teeth to graze over the bud. His heated stare conveyed the depth of his lust and a hint of his annoyance. He was still cross with me over my little stunt and I knew I was in for a night of rough play. He had ways of settling scores, real or imagined, using erotic torture that I admit I delighted in. Kissing his way down toward my belly I shivered as his tongue sank into my navel. His large hands clasped my thighs and urged them wide. Lowering further, I felt his tongue against my clit. He spent several glorious minutes plying my other hard, little bud before his tongue dipped even lower, sinking into my pussy. After plunging deep for several strokes, two of his fingers slipped inside of me.

Rolling onto his back, he urged me up and over him, so that my pussy now straddled his face. On my knees I stretched out my arms in front of me so that my breasts rested against the furs on the floor. Such an erotic sensation, having the soft fur stroke my hard nipples while Ayres' tongue and fingers stroked and penetrated my heated core. I groaned as another finger slipped inside of me. His lips closed on my clit and he suckled hard, working his fingers in and out of my passage. When I could take no more of his torture I lifted my behind and did a quick rollover onto my back.

He was on me in an instant.

Snatching my wrists he held them in one of his hands up over my head. With his other hand he squeezed my nipple while his knee forced my thighs apart. The head of his cock pushed against my opening. Slowly he pressed forward, the huge size of him making me arch my back and gasp. Once all the way inside, he slowly retreated, only to surge forward again. I closed my eyes tight savoring the sensation.

“Never…risk…yourself…like…that…again.” Each word was accented by a deep thrust.

Smiling, I opened my eyes—and saw Cade's face before me. His features were etched in concentration, and sweat beaded on his forehead. Mesmerized, I watched a drop of it sneak down his cheek. The scars on his face were unmistakable in the dim light cast by the glowing stones Ayres had zapped with his weapon for warmth.

At first I was unsettled, having never been with anyone other than Ayres. I knew I had only to close my eyes and open them again to dispel the vision before me. And yet, a deep part of me delighted in the phenomena. The bond Lara and I shared stretched across space, and in this moment we were together. Slated for collateral damage in a quest not of her making, I could at least give her this.

“He's taken her to use in the game,” I said to Ayres. My head rested on his chest in the aftermath of our lovemaking. I hadn't revealed to him that in the last moments I'd felt Lara's presence and seen Cade's face.

“Lara.” He said her name without emotion.

I envied him his detachment. Telling myself that she was doomed anyhow didn't quite ease my conscience as it had in the beginning of all this. Although, revenge wasn't our sole reason for being here. Lourde's unexpected arrival on Taseeus had reinforced the fact that Calixtus, with Baynar at the helm, was a dangerous thing. Not only for their planet, but for Earth as well. But did it justify what we planned to do?

“She's a virgin, the right age, and from Earth, so she's perfect.” Just as I had been.

I recalled for Ayres the strange experience that had woken Lara up, the feeling that she'd been ripping in half, causing her to cry out and Cade to come running. “That must have been when you and Lourde were trying to pull me out. She—we—were confused, scared. We called out for help. That's when you reacted and took control of Lara's arms and legs. She fought well.”

“At least we know that part of the experiment works then. It's pivotal to our success.”

“If they play the game then she will probably be brought before Baynar and the others for approval, just as I was,” I theorized.

“Yes. That will be our chance to strike. If we miss it, we may have a chance during the elimination trial.”

I shivered remembering the free-for-all in the ring. Lissa and I had been cocky, certain we'd been experiencing an episode. It was shortly after that, when I'd seen my own blood that I'd awoken to the reality of the situation.

“I remember Lara called out for you by name. Cade's reaction was strange. He stared around the room as though expecting you to be there. Like he knew you. He even told Lara that he'd known an Ayres. Did he mean you?”

“I've known a couple men with that name. It's possible we've met.”

“He said he's in governance on Calixtus. He trains others. And he's got two large scars on his face. One on his cheek, the other straight down over his eye.”

Ayres attention peaked. “Scars on his face? Damn. I do know who he is. We both served under Baynar's command.”

“What a small world.”

Ayres became thoughtful. “I wonder why he's taking part in the game on Taleon. It's so out of character for him. He lives to serve the council.”

“He's not one of Baynar's cronies is he? If so, then I feel bad we're going to destroy his chance to fail and strand him here forever.”

“No. He may serve Baynar, but he's definitely not a fan of his. Cade is an honest man—a good man.”

Now I felt guilty. Whatever his reasons for entering, we were about to rob him of his chance of success in the game. Not only that, but what if the council suspected him of being in on the assassination of their leader? After all, it would be Cade's protégé—in which he'd committed the unthinkable act of obtaining early—who carried out the dark deed.

“What if he becomes implicated in Baynar's death? Guilt by association with the perpetrator,” I voiced my concern.

The look on Ayres face told me what he thought. The price we were about to exact for vengeance was growing steeper by the moment.

Both of us slept uneasily that night.

The next morning Ayres and I told Lourde about Cade. He admitted he knew the man as well. “All of us were in the academy together,” he said thoughtfully.

“This changes nothing,” Ayres confirmed.

Lourde nodded his head in agreement. “Yes, nothing.”

The looks on their faces were in contrast to their words. And yet, I knew they'd both follow through. We'd come too far, and risked too much to turn back now.

“I have to admit after last night I'm a little concerned. What if the Akkadian's come back? We're vulnerable when we're under,” I said.

“Now that we know our chance to get at Baynar is actually about a week away, we don't need to risk it for a few days. Until then we'll keep watch and be on guard,” Ayres said. “If they're going to try something it'll be soon.”

We spent an uneventful couple of days keeping watch over the skies and fine-tuning the equipment so when the time came we'd be ready. One night as we sat around a small bonfire just having finished eating sway for dinner, a small light appeared in the sky. Unlike the many stars, this light swirled and whizzed around revealing it to be a manned craft. Ayres used his booted feet to smother the fire with dirt while barking orders to Lourde and I to take cover and prepare for attack.

Minutes later the three of us stood in the bowels of the tunnel huddled around Lourde's monitor. We watched a small ship land close-by in a clearing in the forest and two passengers disembark.

“They're not Akkadian,” Lourde surmised. “Akkadian ship, most definitely, but I believe it's Kenix returning.”

“He's not alone,” Ayres stated the obvious, watching the two figures approach one of the entrances into the tunnel.

“Neither appears to be under duress,” Lourde said.

The closer they got to us the easier they were to make out on the monitor. One was large, while the other was smaller. “He's probably got a woman with him.”

Ayres frowned. “It must be important. He wouldn't risk coming here just to introduce his newest conquest. I'm going to meet him. You two stay here.” He strode off before we could object.

Soon three figures appeared on the monitor. They lingered just inside the entranceway and appeared to be conversing. I could see the largest blob on the screen waving his arms around and I knew Ayres must be yelling.

I put my hand out to Lourde. “Give me the coin, keep the small bit just in case you see that I need to make a quick getaway.”

“You can always toss it and it'll well, you know. You've seen it work. What are you going to do?” He handed me the monitor then dug into his pocket for the coin. Fishing it out he popped out the small bit before taking back the monitor and passing the coin to me.

“Ayres is pissed. I don't know if that's Kenix but I'm betting it is. Whoever he has with him is obviously an annoyance. I want to see who it is before he sends them off.”

I heard them before I saw them. Gripping the coin tight in my hand I slunk down the tunnel knowing Ayres wouldn't be pleased to see my approach. If I needed a quick getaway I need only to toss the thing.

“I don't care what she has to say. Get her out of here,” Ayres yelled.

“You need to listen to me.” That was Kenix.

“Fine. You, I'll listen to. But first she needs to leave. Take her back to the ship.”

“Stop being so bloody pigheaded. This is important. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't.”

I stopped before rounding the corner. Peeking at them, I could only make out the guys. Their giant bodies blocked the female—whoever she was—from my view.

“I said I'd listen. But she needs to go before Amanda sees her. I won't be responsible for what happens to her if she does.”

I perked up at those words. How intriguing. Who could possibly be with Kenix that I'd know, must less dislike?

But then I heard her voice.

Like a knife it pierced through the distance separating us.

Without thought I turned the corner and began to stalk toward the trio. Ayres was the first to see me. He stepped forward and as he did the woman he'd been blocking came into view. Of all the people I'd hoped never to see again this one was top of my list. Indeed, it wasn't that I feared her, but myself, if we should ever meet face to face again.

“Lissa,” I spat her name as though it were something foul in my mouth.

Her head snapped in my direction at the sound of my voice. She took a step back and held up her hands. “Wait,” she cried.

I wrenched from Ayres' grip and before anyone could stop me I punched her hard in the face.

In the next instant I was gone.

Flying though space, my body scattered into a million sparkling bits.

I landed hard on my hands and knees but a moment later. And then I heard another voice I'd hoped never to hear again.

“Where the devil did you come from?”

As I looked up, recognition registered in both our faces. Standing bare inches away was the man we'd set out to kill. Pinched between his two fingers—the tiny piece of coin Lourde had lost.

I didn't have to ask how I came to be here. It was obvious to me even if it wasn't yet to him. Watching his face as he looked at me and then the coin I saw him put it together.

“I rubbed this, and you appeared,” he said, his voice puzzled. I raised my hand preparing to throw my coin, but before I could make a move he reached down and grabbed my wrist. “What's this you've got?” Against my will he pried my fist open and snatched the coin from my palm. He pushed me down again and glanced at both coins. “This smaller one must fit inside the larger. But there are two holes.” His sharp look darted to me. “Where is the other coin?”

“Give it to me and I'll show you,” I offered.

He narrowed his gaze and scowled. “Take me for a fool, girl? You're not getting your hands on it.”

I watched him as he pondered. Studying my surroundings, recollection washed over me. I knew this place. Not this room exactly, but something familiar tugged at my memory. Keeping an eye on Baynar I slowly got to my feet. I could see out the long window now and the view confirmed my suspicions.

We were in outer space. Most likely aboard the Lariton.

Baynar must have been getting ready to review the contestants for the game. Lara and Cade could likely be onboard as well, or soon would be. The irony of the situation didn't fail to confront me. It loomed all around me almost overwhelmingly so. I began to hear laughter deep inside my mind making me fear I'd slipped back into crazy mode. To have come so far, only to end up right back where it all began….

Baynar slapped the coin onto the top of his desk pulling me away from my reverie. “I've rubbed them both—together, and separately. Nothing happens. Damned if I know how it works.”

I knew the coin didn't move both ways. The small bit could only pull the holder of the large piece to it, not the other way around. Baynar's expression revealed his annoyance, but too, he was also delighted with this change of events. Briskly he rubbed his hands together while staring at me speculatively. “Now, where did you come from?”

Had to think—fast.
“Um, Earth.”

He didn't appear to buy it. “Why where you on Earth? And where are the others?”

“Ayres and I had a fight. I made him bring me home. He left. I don't know where he is.”

Baynar reached down quick as a flash and pulled me up to his eye level. He shook me hard. “Liar!”

“Piss off,” I hollered in his face.

He shook me again and tossed me to the floor. Lifting his booted foot he kicked me hard in my side making me cry out in pain. My brain ran one hundred miles an hour—thinking, planning, calculating. They would rub the coin and try to bring me back. They must not have done it yet, or they'd have nabbed Baynar instead. Since the coin sat on the desk they'd get nothing. When I didn't appear, they'd do something else.