Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2) (13 page)

Chapter Seven

Day 9

Angelica

They had the fire out by the time we headed for the train, but smoke still lingered in the air and ashes were scattered across the city like it was the aftermath of a new war. I didn’t turn my head from the bodies, though Jason did. Those were a common sight, though usually not here in the streets of New Network City.

Inside the dome, were clean paths made of star shaped stones and clean faces going about their lives under the Network’s protection. Outside that dirty dome were hundreds of the desperate, starving wretches who received nothing from the ruling Council that kept them this way - hungry, angry women who could be swayed to our cause, with the proper encouragement.

Right now, those inside the dome were well dressed and well fed, safe to shop, and eat, and sing at the new theater that looked like it hadn’t been open very long. They were able to get their face paints and rent a male when the need came. Their water flowed and their children slept through the night. What did they care if another bomb had gone off and been quickly covered by Network flags and worker’s tarps? When it affected their day-to-day lives, when those things changed, so would their loyalties.

The wind gusted suddenly, blowing my cloak aside to reveal the gun I’d been holding ready since we stepped from the complex doors. Those who noticed made sure to stay out of my way. I sent a hard glare around to drive in the point, and caught Jason’s glance back at the complex we’d just stepped out of. What did he see?

I saw an impressive palace of dark triangles and smoky steeples. Did he see a home? Now was not the time to ask, and I turned back toward the train.

As the sidewalk grew more crowded, Jason hurried to catch up, and I let him fall in closer than he should have been for our arrangement. Anything could happen out here.

The sight of the five Network guards standing at the ramp to the platform did not worry me. Extra security was pouring into the city after the morning’s blast… but these five large females were zeroing in on us.

I followed my instincts. “If something happens, go underground - leave me a trail.”

Jason’s wave of fear said he’d heard and I waited for the group of guards with a hard glare. Inside, worry settled into my gut. Something was wrong.

In front of the black and silver clad team, was a wide guard with small scars scattered over her exposed skin. She’d had the pox. A hundred and fifty years after the War of 2012, the disease had come back and decimated surviving populations. The high fevers that came with it hadn’t helped the male birth rates, and it was only after the Network started distributing the vaccine, that the Pox came under control.

Scars woman held a clipboard out. “We need your signature, Miss Pruett.”

I took the pen with a steady hand. As I did it, I noticed the next form was Jason’s papers, and understood they were checking my signature, but wasn’t why. This wasn’t standard procedure. Whoever held those papers, held Jason’s freedom, and that copy should be in the Network’s files. Mine, the original, was a carefully folded square taped under my left breast.

All around us, residents of New Network City and visitors went by, staring, pausing to stare at a shop display or us. Most on foot, the occasional horse also padded slowly by, being led. Considering the morning’s activity, it was… calm.
Too calm?

“It matches.”

The guard motioned us forward and I stepped up the ramp as they moved on to verify the next passenger. I’d expected worse, and it made my steps careless.

The horse had been walked by, but as it reached the train dock, the rider swung onto its back, and clubbed Jason on the head. As he fell, another set of arms was there to catch and toss my prize over her shoulder like he weighed nothing.

Damn it!

I spun for the side of the train and hefted myself up the side, using the handrails to climb. As my feet hit the rubber roof, I drew my gun.

Jason was over the saddle now, hanging in front of the cloaked rider like a slab of meat, and I aimed carefully. After the morning’s blast, I knew gunfire was a bad idea - two shots would probably have the guards opening fire in reflex - but I wouldn’t let those thieves take him out of the city. He was mine!

I pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The horse reared as its rider was blown from the seat and Jason’s body thumped heavily to the dirt next to the two filthy bodies.

I’d gotten both scavengers with one pull of the trigger. As a Pruett family tracker, it was a shot I’d become known for. One painful chest wound to allow interrogations, and one kill shot, to prove who I was.

All around me, fingers were tightening on triggers, heads spinning, and well-fed necks craning eagerly to see…

“Halt there!”

I let the gun drop gently to the roof before I climbed down, put my hands up. “I’m Angelica Pruett, winner of a Games Challenge. That’s
my
prize.”

Scars had already identified us, and she had no choice but to stick to it now or her team would find out she’d been behind the attempt. I wasn’t sure how I knew the guard was the one who’d paid the scavengers, but I was certain. Maybe she’d wanted Jason, but more likely, the Network was pulling her strings, too.

Instead of snatching her up by the throat like I wanted to, I didn’t make eye contact as I stepped by. The Network couldn’t find out we were discovering their secrets, their weaknesses. Not yet.

I ignored the fear and the secret anger of the mob that was now gathering around the site for the dead body show and souvenirs. I would check on Jason while they verified that my gun was legal, and then we would continue onto the delayed train to wait for the departure. The medics there would tend him, and I would keep my gun in hand the entire time.

Jason

I had taken the train with Rankin once, and loved it. I’d memorized the layout while doing errands for her, and I moved through the compartments to where I’d heard the conductor tell Angelica her cars were as I woke. I didn’t feel hurt, just tired, but even that was fading. Rankin had often called me hard headed. So, she’d been right. Who would have guessed?

Angelica walked behind me, ignoring the bright passengers and their surprised, hungry expressions at me and the blood on my clothes. I wondered what she thought of these Network people. They were about the only kind who could afford this ride, and I moved a bit faster through the next compartment door. Those we passed flinched back in fear at the sight of my owner, and her dark, deadly eyes.

The Network Rider was a sleek, black and gold train with fifteen long cars. The front half was control and guard’s quarters. The center was passenger cars and services. The last was for those special folks who could afford the privacy, and it pleased me to pass Rankin’s door as I headed that way. The Head Defender had her own den in the guard’s area, and though I wasn’t sure how she’d managed that, I was smirking about it as we moved through the next corridor. If only for a little while, I’d left my terror behind and her dark door was proof of it.

On the way through the service area, Angelica gestured at the medics and the neutered males fell in behind us. I instantly felt protected, cared for. What a dangerous sensation!

Angelica had the two cars right after the service area, and I typed in the code I’d heard the conductor rattle off, and then held the door for her, like I’d always done with Rankin.

“See to him.”

Angelica’s voice was menacing, and I sat obediently on the edge of the couch.

I listened to the medics talk while they tended me, glad the gash in my head was shallow. Angelica had killed for me… again. I should have been scared or maybe even upset it had happened, but all I could feel was grateful.

She not only wanted me, she was strong enough to keep me. If only I knew more about her… didn’t feel so vulnerable. I needed to get stronger, not allow myself to sink into being cared for, or worse, pampered. I suspected Angelica was capable of that, and much more.

“Amazing shot.”

One of the medics muttered it as he placed a bandage on my head that I knew I’d have off the second they were gone. From the corner, Angelica stood guard over me with a gun in her hand, and the same unreadable façade she’d conquered the Games with.

I gave her a soft smile as the two medics left. “Thank you.”

She didn’t respond in any way that I could see, but a feeling of safety swept over me
.
 
She was imposing, intimidating, and in no way easy to ignore. When she was in the room, there was electricity I had no resistance against. I found myself thinking about her lips as our eyes stayed locked, recalling the taste of her. She was a tattooed, muscled mystery who I found violently sexy.

I realized I was starting to sweat. Shaking my head in pleasant surprise, I also realized that waking to find her standing over me with that syringe had changed something. I now liked it that she wanted me so much. Before, it was a means to an end, but after this, I suspected we might get closer. I could trust her to come for me, and to be lethal while doing it. That went a long way toward allaying my fears, and I gave her another smile, not speaking.

The heat in her returning look had me taking that first step toward her.

Angelica tensed when I got close, eyes flickering a bit as I raised a slow hand to her cheek. “Thank you.”

I stroked my fingertips across her skin, not flinching when her fists clenched. I wasn’t as afraid of her now. Another delightful discovery that made me bolder than I’d planned to be.

“I’d like to repay you.”

Her body tightened, face flooding with need… I watched that rigid control snap into place before she spoke.

“Not for any reason, would I ever accept you that way.”

Her breath
caught,
voice like gravel. “It will be hard to let you go, but don’t mistake my need, for greed. When the time comes, I will walk away.”

She moved toward the next door, the sleeping car. “And I won’t turn back. It’s how the Pruetts survive.”

I let her leave, torn. I believed her, mostly, but there was no way I would give up this dream of freedom. I’d had it for too long to casually throw it away for a woman I’d known less than two weeks… no matter how interested my mind and body seemed to be.

The Network

 
“Is the tracker in place?”

The voice was one that would have shocked the citizens it ruled.

“Yes, working too, but we’re out of range once they hit the Borderlands.”

The answer also came from a surprising source, but the two Network council members were alone again in the spacious upper tower of the complex.

“Like the other one.”

“Yes. When we attack, we’ll know it’s the right place by the light.”

Meaning the soldiers who would be sent.
These two, and the rest of the Network council, hadn’t left the safety of the complex in more than three decades. Not since the last shift in power meeting that had given them control, and the final steps of this plan. Knowing it would come to fruition during their rule was incredibly exciting.

“What’s the distance on the tracker?”

“Two hundred miles.”

“Impressive. The scientists have been busy. Today, they gave me a report on the latest cure. It’s been successful eight of ten times.”

“You sound happy about it. When they’re all cured, we’ll lose control.”

“I’m not happy they’ve been successful. I am, however, overjoyed to now have something to use against the Coast in the West. As long as we hold that little secret, our sister complex will not revolt.”

“That’s brilliant. It solves the ambush problems for our soldiers when we travel to the Borderlands for the meeting… Wait. How soon will it go public?”

“Never, though a few trades are already in the works with the West Coast council and Canada. We need them to understand who holds the power. They’ve begun cleansing their populations, but it’s… unpopular among the masses. They’ll never get a cure, only a very limited supply of the vaccine. That will give them control over their citizens, and us a much-needed reprieve.”

“One we’ll use to get our new toys in working order.”