The Light, the Dark and the Ugly (6 page)

Ted let himself laugh, though it hurt a bit to do so. He stood back up and took the spot next to her on the mattress. "Even if I opened it, would we just leave these people to die?"

Natalie pondered the question for a moment. She let out a short breath. "I don't know." Natalie crossed her legs and leaned her chin on her knuckles. "Razellia said this wasn't the first attack. Not by a long shot. They're just trying to get energy or money the easy way. They rip off the people that work hard for it. Maybe the villagers'll live through this one, too."

"But we don't know that for sure."

Natalie punched the bed hard. "Even if we got the portal to work, we have no idea what we're coming back to."

Ted considered Natalie's mood and turned slightly toward her. "You don't think they made it?"

Her face was red. "There's a big difference between what I think happened and what I want to believe."

Ted criss-crossed his legs and shifted his body to face her. "What do you want to believe?"

Natalie looked up and chewed on her lip. "I want to believe that they beat Kable without us. That all of them are okay and that they've been figuring out a way to get us back." Her eyes welled up and she looked away from Ted. "I want to believe that Travis is alive." She sniffled. "And that I have a chance to tell him that I love him back."

Ted's heart didn't know what to make of the comment. A few beats in a row seemed to go out of rhythm.

She loves him? Why?

Before Ted could even consider questioning her statement, Natalie leaned forward and placed her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed. Natalie fought hard to stifle the tears, and as far as Ted could tell, not a single one came out.

"You're going to see him again, Nat." Ted caressed her back. "If we don't find a way back, they'll come to get us. I just know it."

Natalie nodded on his shoulder and remained there for at least a minute. When she pulled back her head and lay down on the bed, Ted lay beside her.

When he looked into her eyes, he couldn't help but remember the passionate kisses they'd shared. Between the smell of her skin and the warmth of her breath, it was a challenge to keep those memories at bay.

Natalie's voice was a whisper. "What do you think happened?"

He tried to smile with his eyes. "I think Erica got him this time." He smirked. "She likes finishing what she started."

Natalie nodded. "I hope you're right." She inched closer to him. "I really hate this, Ted. We don't even know what they'll do to us if we survive tomorrow."

Ted reached out for her hand. He was surprised she didn't pull away as she interlocked her fingers with his. "First, we're going to stop tomorrow's attack. Next, you can clear up Vella's opinion of Travis." He grinned. "Then, we're going to find a way back. And that's just how it's going to be."

Natalie closed her eyes. He could tell that she wanted to agree, but it just wasn't happening yet.

Oh well. I did my best.

"It's getting late." Ted withdrew his hand from hers. "We better get some rest."

As Ted leaned off the bed, Natalie regripped his fingers. "Can you sleep with me tonight?"

Ted lowered himself back down to the bed. Nervousness crept through his body. "Okay."

Natalie turned away from him and pulled his arms around her. As he took in the aroma from the back of her hair, Ted felt himself relax. They each shifted until their heads were on the same pillow.

"Ted?"

Ted gripped Natalie's hands a little tighter. "Yeah?"

"If you tell anybody about this, I'm going to stomp on your face."

Ted hid his chuckle. "Understood."

As Natalie fell asleep, Ted thought about Erica and the night they'd had before the rally. He'd spent the night with his arms wrapped around her, though it mostly happened because they were both exhausted. One major similarity was that both nights had a major battle on the horizon. He'd barely survived the last one. Would he be lucky enough to get through tomorrow's test as well?

Chapter 9

Natalie lay awake that morning with Ted's arms wrapped around her. Her face became warm and she hoped her bedmate wouldn't notice.

It's been a week. You need this much comfort after a week? You're getting soft, Dormer.

The only problem was that she liked it. Travis was great for getting her hot and bothered, but he wasn't exactly cuddle material. There were very sporadic moments in which she had to have a little tenderness to get through. The last two times she needed that comfort, after her stabbing and when Redican took control of her mind, Ted was the one to provide it. She wondered if having him there for the trifecta meant anything.

That'd be one benefit of losing today. At least I wouldn't have to think about this anymore.

Natalie removed Ted's wrist from her midsection. It was warm to the touch. She placed it back against his body and pulled away from him. A sliver of sunlight pierced through the window and landed by her feet. With a squeeze, she cracked the knuckles of her fingers and toes.

She looked back at Ted, his mouth frozen in a neutral position. "You better be able to do this, Finley." Her nose picked up the scent of sweet pastries. "Or we've got our last meal coming up pretty quick."

When Ted glanced over to Natalie at the breakfast table, she looked away, concentrating on her plate instead. She ignored his sigh and looked across from her. Razellia looked how she felt: nervous and unsure about how today would go. Natalie had to give the woman credit, though. Whenever Vella was watching her, Razellia made it seem like the world was fair and safe. Natalie had played triple overtime basketball games, but nothing looked as exhausting as motherhood.

Razellia spooned some eggs onto her plate. "How you feeling?"

Natalie smiled. It amazed her that just one week earlier the woman feeding her breakfast had aimed a gun between her eyes. She supposed that when you live on a planet of war, everyone is guilty until proven innocent. If it weren't for Razellia, that proof might never have come.

Natalie munched on a forkful of eggs. "Ready. You think Ferrick appreciates that I have the most dangerous job?"

Razellia pursed her lips. "I'm sure he does. I wish I felt better about it."

Natalie tried to give Razellia a reassuring look, but it didn't seem to have much effect.

Natalie felt Ted's eyes on her again, and her neck heated up. She shot back a warning look. After drawing back from the ocular dagger, he relaxed his shoulders and shot back a glare of his own.

She laughed. "You are such an idiot."

He smiled back. "Why, thank you."

Out of the corner of her eye, Natalie saw Vella hopping in her seat as if she were sitting on an inflatable ball. While she was too young to know the specifics of what might happen that day, she certainly wasn't stupid.

"Mommy, can I give them their present?"

Razellia caught Natalie's eye and gave a sort of "bear with her" mom look.

Natalie nodded back. "You got us a present? That's so thoughtful of you!"

The girl beamed. "I know. That's just how I roll."

Natalie narrowed her eyes and looked at Ted. "You're teaching her slang? Dhiraj-level slang?"

Ted chewed his breakfast nonchalantly. "Don't look at me. Kids say the darndest things."

Natalie rolled her eyes and put her smile back on for Vella. "Don't keep us waiting. What is it?"

Vella hopped up off her chair and reached for her pocket. She pulled out nothing but air, though her hands left space for something that was about an inch thick. The girl marched toward Natalie, tugged at her shirt and placed an imaginary item over her heart. Then she went over to Ted and performed the same ceremony.

The girl stood at attention in between them. "Ladies and gentlemen. I've awarded Ted and Natalie with the highest honor ever. The badge of protection."

When a few moments of silence went by, Razellia began clapping. Natalie and Ted followed suit.

Vella cleared her throat to halt the applause. "This award will protect you from all harm. To make it work, all you have to do is kiss each other."

Natalie put her chin on her hand as she watched Ted blush.

Razellia chuckled. "Honey, that's very forward of you."

Vella gesticulated her confusion. "What do you mean? It says it on the instructions."

Ted's face was almost beet red when a knock came from the front door. It was Ferrick, who was there to take Ted to his post. They made him wait for two minutes while Ted said his goodbyes.

Ted swooped Vella off the ground and hugged her. "Thank you for the badge, and for trying to be my wingman."

Vella's tiny hands gripped around the back of Ted's neck. "What's a wingman?"

Ted let out a big breath. "I'll tell you when I get back."

He whirled her around once or twice, and Natalie felt her uterus do a backflip. She did her best to hide her reaction to the cuteness as Ted placed Vella on the ground. He turned toward Razellia. "We'd be dead if it weren't for you. Twice."

Razellia gave a knowing smile and bridged the gap between them. She put her arms around Ted like he was her son. "Your parents raised you right. You're gonna do great today."

Ted sighed. "Thanks, Ma."

Natalie could hear the impatient tapping of Ferrick's boot against the ground.

Ted pulled away and put up his hand toward the commander. "Just one sec."

As Ferrick folded his arms, Ted approached Natalie. Each step he took seemed to last forever.

Is this gonna be the last time I see you, Ted Finley?

He stopped just one pace away. His scent floated toward her, and for a split second, she wanted to be back in that bed with him. They'd be safe, and she wouldn't feel the fear that was starting to bubble up inside her.

"I'll stick to the plan." He straightened his spine. "We'll get out of this, and then we'll find a way home. Okay?"

Natalie nodded. Ted returned the gesture and spun on his heels.

He took one step before Natalie reached for him. "Wait!"

When Ted turned back, she threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. Any redness that had faded since Ferrick arrived returned to Ted's face.

Her lips lingered by his cheek. "Now the badges'll work."

Ted angled his face and kissed her beside her ear. Her insides fluttered, as much as she wished they hadn't.

He grinned. "Don't worry. We've got this."

Ted pulled away, and moments later, he and the commander were gone.

Natalie stood beside Razellia and several town guards in an abandoned tavern at the corner of the town's center square. It'd been set on fire so many times, the owners had decided to let it rot. The inside would've been as dark as the walls were black if it wasn't for one of Razellia's floating lamps. Since the exterior screamed abandoned, it would serve as the perfect hiding place for the first wave of the attack. If the raiders followed their previous pattern, then they'd gather right in front of the tavern before attempting to lay waste to the village.

Ted? Are you in position?

Ted was holed up on the second floor of the next building over. Ideally, his sniper's view of the light soul raiders would give him free reign to use his powers.

I'm set. Be careful down there.

It was strange to hear Ted's thoughts rattling around in her mind, but in lieu of a walkie-talkie, the system worked quite well.

Aren't I always
?

No comment.

Natalie glanced up at her cadre of troops. Two of them were familiar as the ones she'd assaulted before her apprehension just a week earlier. The one with the black eye she'd caused met her glance.

Natalie winked. "That's healing nicely."

The bruised man growled, but Razellia put her hand on his chest. "Can we please focus on the common enemy?"

Natalie and the guard both grunted their assent.

She peered out the crack in the door. At first glance, the entire town seemed to be abandoned. Nobody was on the streets, and many of the buildings were boarded up with the lights off. It was a ghost town, and she hoped the appearance would help them get the drop on their attackers.

The noise was faint at first, like the light thumping of deep drums. The gallop grew louder as the raiders approached. Bump-bump; bump-bump; bump-bump. The dot in the distance became larger, and the men riding their Lychos came into view. As the townspeople had predicted, there were more of them now. The party was up from four to 12. The volume crescendoed as the pack passed the front of the building and pulled up in the center of the town square. Step one of the plan was in full swing.

Natalie examined the figures more closely. They were unshaven and burly. While she wasn't close enough to smell them, she figured that riding on the hairy beasts didn't exactly keep them dryer-sheet fresh. One of the Lychos snarled, and Natalie saw the crimson-eyed guard take a step back.

"Relax." She let her smile extend wide. "So far, so good."

Natalie took one last look outside the door. While she knew this gang wasn't affiliated with the light soul army, it was still strange to have to fight them. After all, weren't they supposed to be on Erica's side? On her and Ted's side?

As Natalie stepped toward the door, Razellia stopped her.

She looked more than a little concerned. "I don't like this. You should let one of the villagers do it."

Natalie took Razellia's hand. Her friend's hand.

"I aim to win. If we do, then that better prove that I'm one of you."

Razellia gave her hand a squeeze and nodded. "Good luck."

Natalie raised her eyebrows. "No such thing."

She smiled as she spun on her heels and left the cover of the hollowed-out tavern behind.

She took a step forward into the light, making sure to keep her left hand out of view. Her fingers gripped a glass jar. She could feel the liquid inside it shifting from side to side. Natalie pulled a device that was very similar to a lighter from her right pocket. With the flip of a switch, she had a flame going. Natalie lit the rag that was stuffed into the top of the jar.