Immortal Essence Box Set: Aligned, Exiled, Beguiled (37 page)

He glanced at her, working to discern the look she gave him. She moved her hand to his. Her skin was freezing. He bent toward her, resisting a strong need to press his lips against hers one more time—hold her again. Doing so would only increase his desire, his love for her. Michael could see she was in such pain, every breath a challenge. Yet she still helped him, giving him what
he
wanted.

How could I have been so dense?
He touched her cheek with his fingertips, trying to memorize her face. He couldn’t fathom how he’d ever, for one second, believed that Venus murdered his mother.

On the other hand, it was simple to see Vinny had the opportunity. His motives were still unclear. Probably the leader of The Order, but that didn’t give Michael the real answer. What did The Order have to do with killing humans? It seemed to Michael the murders accomplished nothing. The marks were a part of it, but there had to be more. Right now it didn’t matter. Once he had a weapon that could kill Vinny, the
what’s
and
why’s
to his questions would follow. He hoped Venus knew of a way to destroy Vinny. She had to . . . “Vinny killed my mother,” he finally blurted.

Zaren, who’d been doing what looked to Michael like a pantomime of touching a lover, asked, “How do you know this?”

Frustrated, Michael said, “I’m not sure. A . . . I just feel he’s the one behind The Order and the killings.” He knew he sounded stupid, but he also didn’t know how else to explain it.

“A feeling? That’s what brought you up here—endangered Venus. A feeling?” In a flash, Zaren stood in front of Michael, furious. “You’re the most
!—
”

Venus interrupted. “Actually Zaren, I believe him. I’ve felt there’s something off about Vinny for a while, but kept pushing those thoughts aside. I didn’t trust myself. I should’ve listened.” She turned to Michael and continued, “What can I do?”

“I need a weapon or whatever it is your . . . kind use to destroy kelvieri. There must be . . .” Michael stopped because Zaren shook his head. “Are you saying once your kind become immortal, there’s isn’t a way to destroy them?” If that were the case, then humans were in serious trouble.

“Of course we have ways of killing kelvieri. Even immortals must die if they dishonor the laws, but why would I share that knowledge with you—with a human? That’s your species answer for everything. Kill. Demolish. It’s why your kind won’t last another millennia.”

Rage ignited. Moving closer, so he and Zaren were toe to toe, he said, “
This
human wants to destroy an alien immortal because he’s killing
my kind,
for his own sick purposes. It isn’t wrong that I want to stop him.”

Venus placed a hand on each of the
guys
chests, trying to force her way between them. “Stop it, both of you. We need to go. Listen.”

They froze. The helicopter propellers were closer and vehicles sounded like they were minutes away.

“Michael, you’ve got to get out of here. I mean it. Leave,” Zaren hissed. In a blink he returned to the hidden spacecraft.

Of course Michael understood why they wanted him to leave, but he wasn’t going to. Not yet. Not until he’d figured out how to kill Vinny. “I’m not leaving,” he said, looking at Venus. His eyes pled with her to understand.

She gave him a sad smile. “Hang on.”

Michael followed every move Venus made, including her conversation with Zaren. Their interchange made him jealous. Zaren talked to Venus in a tender, loving manner. It was easy to see he cared for her as more than a friend. Venus responded by nodding and touching his face with the palm of a hand. Zaren reached behind his back and pulled a sword from its hilt. Michael hadn’t even noticed that he’d changed back into the clothes he’d seen Zaren in that first day.

Venus hugged him and then tried to run back.

Ugh, hadn’t she ever been told not to run with sharp objects.
As the thought entered his mind, Venus tripped over something—a rock, maybe—and fell, the sword sailing from her hand.

“Venus!” Michael and Zaren yelled together.

Then Zaren said, “Michael, please help her.”

“Already on it.” Michael reached her and helped her stand. She picked up the sword. He noticed her hands shook.

“Are you hurt?”

As he asked the question a humming started in the spot where the invisible spacecraft stood.

“I’m fine. Here, take it. This can kill a kelvieri.” She held the sword in front of her.

He struggled to focus on the sword because a bright light, like the twinkling of a star, sliced the air in front of Zaren. As the light grew, he was better able to see the sword. It glistened. Michael took it from her by the handle. And the strangest thing happened. It began to glow.
Intense, like the beam of a flashlight.
Michael nearly dropped it, surprised. It felt alive.
Sent jolts of energy and glimpses of knowledge into his body.

“What’s happening?”

A smile crept over Venus’s face. “Michael, I don’t believe it.” She started coughing, doubled over. When she moved away the tissue, it was dark with blood.

“Venus!” He grabbed her around the waist.

“Don’t worry about me.”  Venus pushed out of his arm.

Zaren had turned and was staring at Michael, his face filled with astonishment.

“What? Am I doing something wrong? Isn’t this supposed to happen?” Michael held it lightly, in case the sword burst into flames, or worse, caused him to burst into flames.

“That only—” she began, but couldn’t finish. She’d fallen to her knees.

“Michael, bring her over,” Zaren barked. He knew it killed Zaren that he couldn’t be in both places at once. Obligated to get them on their way, yet filled with need to help Venus. He knew because he had the same feelings. 

With one hand Michael lifted her and helped her walk over to . . . It wasn’t one spacecraft, but two. The effing things looked nothing like the round, domed ships he’d seen on TV as a kid. They didn’t even look like a spaceship out of
Star Wars, Independence Day
or any other alien movie. Instead, there in front of him sat two glowing . . . marshmallows. He would’ve said eggs, but no. They were cylinder-shaped. Exactly equal on top and bottom. Marshmallows. 

A conversation between Venus and him, while he’d been driving Red, popped into his head.
Oh, this better not be what she considers cooler than my car, because these are ridiculous.

Zaren snorted and pressed against the side of one of their spacecraft.

Michael was half-tempted to lift his nose in the air.
Would they smell like the warm, sticky gooeyness of a roasted
—

“They aren’t marshmallows, you idiot,” Zaren yelled.

Venus let out a noise, as though she wanted to crack a joke and instead gasped for air, like a fish out of water.

“You
can
read minds, you sneaky SOB.” Michael would be pissed later, when Venus wasn’t clinging to life.

Zaren swore, but ignored Michael. 

Michael moved closer. The spacecraft may’ve looked like large white gooeyness, but they weren’t squishy. As Michael watched Zaren tap it with his fingers, a panel slid down to reveal strange symbols, each one flashing brilliant red. He touched several and a door slid open.

“Venus, get inside,” Zaren said.

Michael carefully let her go. She seemed to want to get inside by herself, but she took two steps and fell down. “Dammit. Why are you so stubborn?” he whispered, setting down the sword and lifting her into his arms.

“Not. Stubborn.”

“Ha!” He went to the ship and carefully set her in what he guessed was a chair. It was white, but shaped like a banana. There were also lots of different buttons, compartments and panels. All of them blinking, flashing or speaking some strange language. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked.

“I’ll be fine.”

She’d said the words, but he had a feeling she lied.
What can I do for her?
She looked so broken, so frail.

Michael ran around to the other spacecraft and found Zaren sitting in his chair pressing buttons. “She’s in,” Michael said.

“Good. Now you’d better get out of here.” He appeared stressed. Michael turned to go, but Zaren stopped him. “That sword—I’m glad it lit up for you. Be careful with it. The sword contains immense power, especially since it’s taken a liking to you. And your father, Frank will want it, to study how it works. Don’t let that happen. Your world isn’t ready.”

“I’ll be careful.” Michael wouldn’t let Frank, Abe, or anyone else get a hold of it. It’d be used for one purpose.
To destroy Vinny.
Afterward he’d stash it, hide it away.

Zaren grunted.

Michael realized Zaren read his mind, and nodded. He wanted Zaren to understand he’d never do anything ever again to put Venus or her people in jeopardy.

“When you next meet Dervinias, be careful. He’s faster, stronger and more cunning than you are. He’s been alive a long time. And he can break you with the flick of his fingers. All you’ll have is the element of surprise.” Zaren shook his head. “I don’t know if that’ll be enough. But I understand your need to try. As soon as I get the chance, I’ll let those in control on Kelari know what is going on here. I promise.”

“I understand.” Michael moved away from his ship.

“Venus is ready, right?” Zaren asked. He appeared tormented that he couldn’t be there with her.

“Yes, but I’ll make sure.”

“Thank you . . . Michael.” The door slid closed.

Michael ran to check on Venus. She looked bad. Her eyes were closed.

“Venus.” He shook her softly. She didn’t respond and the book he’d given her fell from her hands. “You must wake up.” He checked for a pulse. It beat slowly. He picked up the book and placed it in her hands. “C’mon. You can do this.” When she still didn’t react, he ran over to Zaren and banged on the door. “Zaren, help. She isn’t waking up.” The door slid upward and opened. 

“Michael, come here.” He poked his head inside the cockpit. “See this button.” Michael nodded. “That’s to close the ship’s door. See this here?” He pointed to a large rectangular knob.

“Yes?”

“Turn that once counterclockwise and press. This will put it on autopilot.” Zaren looked at Michael with grave seriousness. “I’d do it myself, but I can’t. Both ships must be returned or there’ll be more trouble—”

“Not a problem, Zaren. I’ll do it.” He started back, but Zaren called him. “Michael!”

“Yeah?”

“I may’ve misjudged you.” It seemed hard for him to say it. Anger still filled his eyes.

“Get out of here. I’ll take care of it.”

The door to his ship closed and Michael ran back to Venus. 

“Wake up.” He tapped her on the face. It didn’t help. “
Cret
,” he cursed and climbed inside to reach the button. He turned it counter-clockwise and pressed. “Just a little longer and you’ll be home.”

She let out a sob and whispered, “I’ll be dead.”

“Not true. You’ll see.” 

“Michael. You don’t understand . . . love.” She turned away from him.

A sudden wind blasted them. A helicopter hovered in the clearing. “Suck,” he yelled.

A ping, like a rock bouncing off metal, ricocheted off the Transport. Michael peered back and saw three different Army Hummers, a machine gun on the top of each. About fifty people dressed in suits and
camo
-clothes surrounded the area. He didn’t see him, but guessed Frank was among them.

A large, bulky man wore a hard smile. Must’ve been excited by the whole scenario, tracking Venus and finding the ship.

The gray-haired man pointed a gun at Michael. Hell, they all had guns or rifles aimed at him. 

“
Cret
!” he swore, looking around for the sword. It’d sunk into the snow, leaving an outline. He reached out to grab it, but bullets hit the ground inches from his hand. 

“Don’t move,” Frank shouted. “Michael, I mean it. Stay where you are!”

The sword. Michael had to get to it—save it. He took another step toward the sword, reaching. Another slew of bullets zipped at him. One made contact, hitting him in the leg, above his right knee. The impact felt different than the bullet to the shoulder. Still, there wasn’t a lot of pain, more of a sting. As the blood seeped through his pants, he pondered the difference. 

“Stop it, Frank,” he yelled, frustrated. They weren’t going to let him live. Michael had become expendable. All they cared about was getting to the ship and experimenting on whatever was left of Venus. That couldn’t happen. He had to make sure she got away safely. 

Anxious, he debated what to do.

In an instant, he knew.

Climbing inside the cockpit, Michael pressed the button to close the door. A soft, glowing light appeared after the door sealed shut. A female voice in some strange language began speaking. He shifted Venus so she sat on his unharmed leg and placed her legs between his. “Fly. Take off!” He touched his wounded leg, grinding his teeth at the pain.