The Chalice (45 page)

So some of his father’s consorts had survived! Liutrelle and So’elom i had beenthe youngest fem ales in the harem . He remembered them  as exuberant, giftedand full of expectation. Grief for their unhappy passing assailed him . More reasonto hate this treacherous bitch!

Siri’s lips pursed in a moue, pouting. “So you see, I am  part of your family.

So’elomi was my great-great-grandmother. She wouldn’t sanction my death.”

“If So’elom i were here right now, she’d kill you with her bare hands. She

believed in honor and loyalty— principles beyond your understanding.”

Mordaq burst through the door. Spotting Siri, he unsheathed the Tar andstalked forward, resting the tip of the deadly weapon against the hybrid’s throat. The blade hum m ed bright red in the shadowed room , a portent of the Warrior’stroubled mind. “Where is my Hanna?”

Tegan stepped between them , grabbing Mordaq’s wrist. “The m ed-techs rushed

her to the Algarith.”

The Warrior’s fiery gaze blasted the hybrid. “W hat did she do?” he roared, rageoozing from  every pore. Veins in his neck stood out in stark relief, the bulging

muscles of his biceps swelled, the huge hands flexed on the hit of the Tar. His usual stoic bearing was gone, replaced by uncontrolled fury. The Tar glittered, sparking as the bond grew with Mordaq’s psyche.

“We don’t know yet the extent of her injuries,” Tegan m urm ured, soothing,

cognizant of the breeder’s extreme emotional instability. “You should go to her.”

The Warrior’s lips spread, baring his sharp teeth in a macabre smile. “Just as

soon as I’ve rid us of this…this pestilence.”

Siri glanced at the blade and then back at Mordaq, contempt glistened from  her

eyes, her mouth twisted with spiteful derision. “Do it, Warrior,” she hissed.

The Tar sang, a high whining sizzle fed by Mordaq’s inner turbulence. Palpableenergy sparked from  the weapon, growing in intensity as he readied to strike. Hair rose on Tegan’s arms as power surged in the chamber. He didn’t dare m ove.

The Warrior was so close to exploding.

“Mordaq,” he hissed. “Go to your Chalice— now!”

Shagal eased into the room, careful to stay out of Mordaq’s reach. “Go to Hanna,” he said, edging towards the big Warrior. “She needs you, my friend.” Henodded at Vaux and Tegan. “W e’ll take care of the hybrid. She’ll be dealt with.”

A low rum bling growl reverberated from  the broad chest of Mordaq. “I will dealwith her,” he snapped, glaring at the artisan. “I’m  Lord Tegan’s bodyguard. Thehonor and the duty belong to m e.”

“As they always have and should be,” Tegan said, easing his grip on the Warrior’s wrist. “But I still have questions of the hybrid and Hanna needs you at her side.”

The flam ing color of the Tar subsided som ewhat. Mordaq drew a deep breath,dipping the weapon’s tip ever so slightly. For long m oments he stared at thehybrid, hatred and distrust warring on his features. The Tar faded to pink andthen blue, the high pitched buzzing receded. The Warrior was controlling hisemotions.

He uttered a sob and without another word, he pivoted and slammed bolted

out the door, the long braids slapping against his broad back.

A fem ale voice squealed in surprise. Kara!

She crept into the cham ber, glancing at the hybrid before she caught sight ofhim . Joy radiated from  her in tangible waves of warmth. She threw herselfforward, grabbing him  in a jubilant hug. “I was so worried about you,” shechattered. “Shagal tried to make me believe you were okay, but it didn’t help.”

She pulled his head down pressing soft lips against his. For a brief m oment heheld back, surprised by her uninhibited show of affection. But only for a moment! Starved for her touch, he devoured her, infusing the kiss with all the longing,desire and worry he held locked in his breast. He deepened the em brace, forcingher lips apart, tongues dueling with unrestrained passion. He pressed feveredkisses down her slim  neck, his hands roved her slight form, delighting in the firmcurves. I would die without this fem ale!

“W hat the frick is this?” Dread’s strident question disturbed their ecstatic

reunion.

Kara drew back, leaning around his shoulder to see. She froze, the softcontours of her body going stiff. The warmth ebbed from  her face, replaced byhorrified recognition. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down the soft cheeks. She’d seen the bodies.

He reached out, brushing back a lock of silken hair. “It’s the one you call Ume

and a young breeder,” he murm ured, gathering her close. “I’m  so sorry.”

A loud sm acking sound rent the air. He whirled. The dark Chalice stood overthe hybrid who was spitting vemom  venom . Siri leaned to the side, half off thestool, a fiery red mark im printed on her pale cheek. She spat at the enraged Chalice, her large eyes gleam ing with disdain.

“You frickin’ bitch!” Dread shrilled a m indless keening as her hands wrapped

the hybrid’s throat. “I’m  gonna rip your fucking head off!”

Siri’s eyes bulged. Her face purpled. She snarled, jerking back, but without theuse of her hands, she was helpless to defend herself. Dread’s hands tightened,sinking into the pale flesh of the traitor’s neck.

Tegan watched the violent exchange, recalling a tim e when he would havebeen shocked by the sheer brutality. Not now! The hybrid deserved whateverpunishment   the   one   called   Dread   meted   out.   The   dark   one   was   Kara’shandmaiden and bodyguard. It was her right!

But he still had questions…

Explosions rocked the ship. He stumbled, falling to his knee. Shouts andscream s echoed from  beyond the cham ber door. The floor vibrated, shuddering inthe aftermath of the detonations. Debris rained from  the ceiling covering them  inlayers of grey ash. Energy currents rippled from  damaged conduits. The smell ofsmoke and burning circuits saturated the air. The vessel was com ing apart at theseams and they needed to escape before the security programming locked thelevel down.

He grabbed Kara and raced towards the exit, waving at the breeders. “Get tothe docking port. Shagal, Vaux, move the hybrid to the Algarith. We’ll continuethe interrogation there.”

More explosions rocked the ship. Kara clutched his hand in a death grip as theywove through the wreckage. An escape port was just ahead, a line of techs

scrambling up to elude the spreading conflagration. Seeing Tegan, several individuals jum ped back, respectfully offering him  first access. He shook his head no, shoving them  towards the ladder.

“Get moving,” he rasped. “Hurry!”

One last distressed look in his direction and they did as he asked, scuttling up

into the docking port. He lifted Kara, settling her on a high rung.

“Move,” he shouted, planting a hand on her bottom  and giving it a push. The

Chalice Dread followed her lead, clim bing with the ease of a seasoned athlete.

He motioned to the two breeders. Between them, Vaux and Shagal dragged thehybrid, unm indful of her discomfort or the obstructions she banged against. Vauxhefted her under his arm  and started up the ladder. Teeth snapping, Siri twisted,slamm ing an elbow into his stomach. He lurched, almost dropping her in the

process but managed to retain his hold.

“Do that again,” he growled, “and I’ll kill you here.”

“W hy not here,” she sneered, goading him  further. “I’m  dead anyway.”

“But we could make it so much worse,” Shagal grinned maliciously. “So m uch

worse.”

Sm oke and heat m ushroom ed from  the storage com partments. Flames raced

across the floor alm ost to their very feet.

“Hurry,” Tegan snapped. “We don’t have m uch time.”

Hands reached down and hauled Siri up. Vaux disappeared into the well above,followed by Shagal. W ith the area cleared, Tegan took one last look and thenvaulted up the escape route. A heavy metal lid slam med down the second his feetwere clear, curbing the spread of the fire for a short period of time. Hopefully longenough!

Racing against time, they entered the vast docking port. He skidded to a halt,perusing the huge cham ber. The crew of the Algarith had done their job well. Only a few techs remained monitoring the departure of the last transports. Twosmall crafts hovered over the landing pads, gently settling down when the pilotsspied the newcom ers. Tegan hustled his group to the nearest craft, while theremaining individuals and techs clambered aboard the second vessel. The othervessel gunned its engines and sped from  the docking port.

Kara and the dark Chalice jum ped in followed by Vaux struggling with theunruly hybrid. At the last moment, Siri planted her feet against the doorway andslammed her head back. Tegan could almost feel the agony as Shagal’s nosebroke with a loud popping crunch.

“You filthy…,” Shagal moaned, slapping hands over his face. Blood dripped from

the injured member, draining through his fingers and onto his chest.

“Ha! Siri chortled with gleeful abandon. The delight [last/ lasted] only a brief

mom ent as her head crashed against the bulkhead. Vaux sm irked, a flash of pure

evil.

She shook herself, rotating her shoulders, spitting hate. “You wouldn’t act so

superior if you faced my father.”

Vaux yanked her into the cubicle, threw her struggling form  into a seat andtied the hybrid down. “We wouldn’t be as nice to your father,” he growled, givingthe binding one last jerk. “He would be dead by now.”

Dread guided Shagal to a seat and wiped his face, crooning a mindlesssingsong as she tended to the injured male’s nostrils. She glanced over hershoulder, black eyes narrowed to mere slits as she glared at the hybrid. Sittingdown next to the breeder, she focused her full attention on Siri, as if daring her

to move.

The panel slid shut and the craft accelerated into space, none too soon as moreexplosions shattered the vessel. Sad and grieving, Tegan watched as the shipdisintegrated in a shower of sparks dissipating into the vastness of space. Onemore dream  gone in the blink of an eye.

Kara reached over and took his hand, nuzzling her face in the palm . Trem ors

wracked her body and she looked to be on the verge of collapse.

His hand dropped. “I can’t believe Ume’s dead,” she whispered, wiping a tear

away. “She didn’t deserve to die.”

He pulled her into his lap, cradling her against his heart. He pressed a tender

kiss to her brow, breathing in her delicate fem inine scent.

“No one deserves to die,” he murmured, stroking the pale hair, sharing her anguish. Psylas was a fine young breeder, full of prom ise and hope. Surviving the destruction, he’d hidden in the ruins, cared for by Shagal until the Deg’Nara departed, leaving behind a ruined world in search of new conquests.

Tegan heaved a sigh. Psylas’ zest for life would be m issed. So many gone!

“Siri deserves to die,” Kara hissed, blue eyes swim m ing. “I’ve never really wanted anyone dead until now. I m ight’ve m ade a silly offhand com ment once in awhile, but I didn’t really mean it. But I do now— and I hope she suffers beforehand.”

She rubbed her cheek against his chest, squirming as she snuggled closer. “I

wonder how Hanna’s doing.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Bi’ertise strode ahead, leading the way to medical. The crowded corridorsteemed with techs and workers scurrying in every direction am id an array ofconfused breeders and bewildered females. A group of tattered and dirty wom enhuddled near a central partition, surreptitiously observing the mass confusionwith frightened eyes.

Near medical, a young woman clung to a sturdy tech, sobbing hysterically andscream ing the name “Em ily.” The screams abruptly ceased when another techpoked her arm  with a syringe-like object. The woman relaxed, sliding into acomatose state before being carried away.

For the most part, the refugees from  the two seeker ships appeared shell-shocked and disoriented. Those that were still able to navigate were led totem porary quarters while the trauma techs worked feverishly adm inistering careto the many wounded.

Bi’ertise snagged a frazzled med-tech as he scuttled by.

“W here is the fem ale called Hanna, Chalice of the Warrior Mordaq?”

The being was small and gnom e-like, with long shaggy grey hair. He pointedtowards a door to the right and then hurried on down the hallway, stopping to callover his shoulder. “She’s still in critical condition but we’re doing everything wecan. Go on in.”

“Is he a doctor?”

Bi’ertise flashed a warm  sm ile. “We may look rough around the edges, but thetechs are all experts in their chosen fields.” She shrugged, a graceful uplift of herslim  shoulders. “We seldom  hold to formality. W e’re more of a fam ily here.”

She waved her wristband over the control board. The panel slid open and shewaved Kara in. “I’m  needed on the bridge, but send a message over the sy-comwhen you’re ready to leave and I’ll com e back.”

Kara drew in a deep breath, com posing herself. It won’t do for Hanna to see

me upset!