Deep Hydra Page 27

  He watched her ears ripple in the air above her braids. It hurt him to see her so pained, but they had no choice. They had to survive long enough to strike back.

  I’m sorry, Agent Khepria. I must concur with Nero. We cannot risk intervention, Prospero added.

  The muscles in her face contorted. “All of those sentients who joined my people were counting on them for protection.”

  “We’ll avenge them.”

  “It is not good enough.” She shuddered and the strength seemed to go out of her body. She fell into the chair beside her.

  A lump formed in Nero’s throat and he put a hand on her shoulder. It was Taiumikai all over again. Daedalus, Zalor, and the VoQuana would pay.

  “Athame. Take us to the capital. It’s time for revenge.”

  “Affirmative, Nero.”

  The FTL drive in the Marauder whined as it spun up. Space-time rippled around the ship. Behind it, the Ol’Lekhura exploded into a million motes of light.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Keltan Tower, Ikuzlu City, Kosfanter

  J2400:3250

  The city lights reflecting off Ikuzlu bay seemed as numerous as the stars twinkling beyond the soap-bubble sheen of the city’s aegis field. Cylus marveled at them behind the five-meter tall glass of the palace library. It had more than three times the number of volumes that his own on Anilon, but the room was half the size. He came here looking for something to read to sooth his aching mind and been disappointed when Ben lead him into an ancient room with but a single bookshelf holding actual books. The rest of the volumes were contained in the numerous server towers which stood as a forest of black columns beneath the chamber’s domed ceiling.

  “Premier Keltan,” he said to his reflection in the glass, posing with one hand within the lapel of his blue frock coat. He still couldn’t believe the words fit together. Even with the growl and pop in his vocal cords it sounded like honey in his ears.

  You’ve earned it. Now, you need to keep it.

  “Yes, I do.” He sighed as a feeling of weariness came over him. He glanced behind him at one of the smartfoam spheroids that dotted the room, though the only movement the man in the window made was to replace his smile with a frown.

  No, you’re not allowed to rest. Not yet. His reflection melted before his eyes, shifting until his hair fell in blond curls and his eyes turned deep blue. He gasped in shock as Lina’s pale-gray visage stared back at him from within the glass. You cannot rest until your position is secured. Make my death mean something, Cy.

  “What?” He gasped and his chest constricted to the point of pain.

  Until you have secured your position as Premier there will be no rest for you. Her hair burst into orange-red fire. She glared at him with baleful eyes as it spread downward, consuming her forehead, her face—

  “NO!” He screamed.

  The door behind him burst open and Meia stormed in with her big pistol leading the way.

  “Are you all right?” she asked as she lowered her weapon.

  He gritted his teeth and turned back to the glass. He saw only a scared man with a cleft chin staring back.

  “Yes, I’m sorry. I must’ve fallen asleep.” He panted, trying to calm his racing heart.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” She held her gun against her thigh and silver bands flowed out to hold it in place.

  He nodded, feeling the heated flush of embarrassment rising in his cheeks.

  “Okay. I’ll be outside.”

  He withdrew his hand from his coat and held it before him. “Wait, um, please stay.”

  “What is it?” She cocked a dark eyebrow.

  He stared at her blue-green eyes. They were striking in her olive face. As he stared his breathing slowed and soon he was able to draw steady breaths again.

  “I would appreciate your company. I am feeling a bit… alone.”

  “Sir?”

  He studied her, wondering what it would be like to have her beside him. The image of Lina burning was startling, horrific, but at its passing it left a hole straight through the middle of him. He needed someone to fill that space again, to stop the hurt, but there was no one left in his life who could.

  “Where is your drone?”

  “His name is Iapetus. He’s outside in the hallway.”

  He nodded. “Please forgive my rudeness. You are no servant for me to order around. Would you care to join me?”

  She looked him over.

  “It’s a lovely night and the city looks quite tranquil from here. We could probably both use some time to relax,” he said.

  “You don’t pay me to relax,” she responded.

  “I pay you to keep me safe, but Ben is present throughout the palace. I had him install himself in the local system. We are as safe here as we can be. There’s also the palace guard. I think you can relax every now and again without consequence.”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  He sighed. It seemed he would be alone with his thoughts a bit more.

  She shrugged without warning and moved to sit on the smartfoam ball behind him. He watched her settle in as the foam formed a seat around her. Her movements were elegant and strong. It was unusual to see such a sturdy build in the world of barons.

  “Okay, I’m on break.” She spread her arms across the newly formed armrests.

  He nodded, grateful for her presence. She stared at him as though studying a caged pet and he found himself growing uncomfortable. His eyes sought something to distract from the sensation and settled on a crescent shaped scar on the back of her right hand.

  “Um, how’d you get that?” He asked, embarrassed by his sheepishness.

  “Ah, that…” She looked at it wistfully. “You want to talk about my scars?”

  “I want to talk, I guess.”

  “Are you sure? You might change your opinion of me if you hear what I have to say.” She sounded amused.

  “Are you serious?” He blinked, confused.

  She snorted and held up her hand with the scar facing him. “Can’t say I didn’t warn you. I got this breaking into a liquor store when I was seventeen. I didn’t have access to nanomeds then, and after I did I figured I should keep it as a memento.”

  “You broke into a store? Why? Didn’t you have a vensynth in your tower?” he asked.

  “Well, I did but Zalor killed my father and cast me out into the streets the year before.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… ah…” He felt his stomach plummet toward the floor.

  “I warned you.” She grinned.

  “It doesn’t change my opinion of you. I just, ah—”

  “You didn’t know. No one is telepathic, not even the VoQuana.”

  He shivered at the mention of the word.

  “Do you think they are?” She snorted again.

  “Um, I don’t know. It seems unlikely.” What he did know was that he was uncomfortable with the topic.

  “I think they get a bit of a bum wrap for the most part.”

  “Oh?” He made an effort to keep his mind off the image of spinning lights set in liquid darkness.

  “They lost the war and were locked down on their worlds. We’ve been telling spooky stories about them for over a generation now, and I’m sure their understandable anger over their situation isn’t helping things.”

  “You don’t think they’re evil like the stories say?” He asked.

  “How can an entire people be evil? That particular title is reserved for individuals.”

  “I guess.”

  “I’ve been called evil before.”

  “Impossible.” He felt anger at the ephemeral source of the insult rise in his chest.

  She laughed. “Yeah, it’s true, but that’s my point. It’s impossible for all the VoQuana to be evil. That just doesn’t fit with reality. Some of them, maybe, but maybe they’re just fighting to get out of a bad situation and it only looks that way to us.”

  He blinked. “I’ve never thought of it that way.”

  She
shrugged. “I’ve had to think a lot about them recently.”

  “Huh? Why?”

  “I guess I just remembered a few spacer stories about them. Don’t worry about it. Spacers talk a lot of shit. I’m one of them. I know.” She gave him a strange look. “What’s that?”

  “What?” He looked himself over.

  “Come here, I’ll show you.” She beckoned.

  He hesitated only a moment before moving over to her. She rose to her feet when he arrived at the smartfoam chair.

  “May I?” She raised her hand.

  He nodded and she proceeded to touch a spot just inside the hair line behind his right ear. It felt like a rubber ball-bearing about the size of a pea trapped beneath his skin.

  “Oh, that,” he said as the memory came rushing forward. “I got that when I fell off our trellis on Anilon.”

  “Sounds painful,” she said. “Why didn’t you have it removed?”

  “I guess it’s a memento, a reminder not to eat Anilonian Pearls.” He chuckled.

  “Anilonian Pearls? You ate pearls?”

  “Not the dress-up kind. They’re the berries that Anilonian Ivy produces twice a year. They’re horribly toxic, actually, but very tasty. It was the perfect trap for a nine-year old me.”

  “Ah. I see.”

  He felt something tight and painful in his chest relax. It was as though he was tensing a muscle for hours without realizing it until it let go.

  “It was an accident.”

  “I gathered that.” She smiled and sat back down in the chair.

  “Of course, sorry.” Finding himself embarrassed again he turned around and looked out at the city. The view, though comfortable, offered little succor and his mind was once again chewing on his responsibilities and what he had to do to keep the power he acquired.

  He bit his lower lip and remembered something.

  “I have an update on the Laocoon.”

  She locked eyes with him.

  “It will be in-system in eight days. I’ve already put the order in to see Captain Solus at the palace.”

  She seemed surprised, but her expression slowly changed into one of hunger.

  “Thank you, Cy. I mean it. This is great news.”

  “You’re welcome. It’s our deal, after all.” Warmth filled his chest.

  “Yeah, our deal…” She sounded odd but the smile didn’t leave her lips until she stiffened without warning. He stared at her face and realized she was using her implant to communicate with someone.

  “Iapetus just signaled. We’re getting company.”

  “Company? Who would barge in on me without—”

  “I would.” The sound of Sophi’s voice startled him. He turned and his equilibrium was lost.

  A look of displeasure crossed her face as her pale-blue eyes met Meia’s. Sophi frowned but resumed her path forward, her silver robe billowing out as she approached. Her milk-white skin came into full view, and though he’d seen it a hundred times before, he found himself staring with his lips agape at her waif-like frame.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “She can go now.” Sophi brushed her hand through the air in Meia’s direction.

  “You don’t have to go,” Cylus looked at her and shook his head.

  Sophi snorted. “No, I think she should leave us barons to talk. Ex-barons aren’t welcome here.”

  “I’m the goddess-damned Premier. Meia stays.” His voice popped and he coughed but kept his eyes firmly on Sophi’s.

  “Will she now?” Sophi scowled.

  Meia’s eyebrow rose like a spider scaling its silken line. “I don’t work for you, baroness.”

  Sophi frowned and her lips twisted in disgust. She lunged forward like a cat, her hand jerked up in a line that took it toward Meia’s face, but his bodyguard swayed back out of her reach and Sophi’s nails met only air. She squinted at the other woman for a long moment before shrugging. He dared to take his eyes off her for a moment and saw Meia’s hand retreating from the grip on the large pistol riding her thigh. He found himself regretting that she hadn’t taken things farther.

  “I was coming here to check on how you were holding up concerning your lost fiancée.” Sophi’s voice was like the edge of a knife. Her faded eyes studied Meia for a moment more. “I see you’ve found a distraction to stop you moping about the palace.”

  He opened his mouth to object, but she continued.

  “Don’t mistake me. I’m happy for you in a fashion. At least you’re not crying over my sister anymore. It was tragic what happened, but she made her choice.”

  He sighed, unable to argue with her. By siding against him Lina threw everything away—their love, their future… His eyes darted back to the window but there was only his own reflection beside two women who looked like they were going to tear each other apart.

  “Um, Meia, if you would, why don’t you go do that thing we talked about?”

  “I’ll stay, thank you,” she shot back without moving her eyes from Sophi.

  He sighed; so much for diffusing the situation. With some reluctance he turned back to Sophi.

  “What is it you want?”

  “Come here, Cy.” She held up her pale, delicate hands and twisted to point her shoulders at him.

  He shied back, shaking his head.

  “Cy.” She grabbed him and pulled his head to her shoulder against his will. Her body felt cold and reptilian against his. He heard Meia inhale behind him.

  “That’s better. I’ve come to tell you it will all be all right in the end. I know you’ve been hurt by what I’ve done in the past, but that part’s over now. I’m here. You don’t need anyone else to protect you but me. We’re back together as we should be. I won’t let you go again.” Sophi’s words did not match her tone.

  “Hmm.” Meia snorted.

  The sound made him tense, which made her press his head to her shoulder even harder.

  He was crushed when she made him get engaged to Lina, but that was before. He no longer wanted Sophi, and he should tell her so, but it was easier to stay silent even though it meant she was getting what she wanted.

  He summoned the strength to pull away form her and turned to the window before she could resist. When he looked all he could see was a defeated redhead slumping in place while his enemy glared fury at his reflection. As much as he stared, as much as he wished the stronger him to appear, all he could see was himself. Where was that master of the Spur now? Did he die with Lina beneath IntelSys Tower?

  “Meia can protect me a lot better than you. She’s got experience, she’s tough, and it’s her job.” He watched Meia cross her arms before her chest in their reflection.

  “Violence isn’t quite so useful against your enemies as my methods,” Sophi purred and gave Meia a death stare. He felt her fingers trace their way up and down his spine.

  “No.” He shivered.

  “No?” She laughed, her voice echoing off the columns. “No, what?”

  “No, I’m not in the mood for these games. No, I don’t want you.”

  “No? You’d rather have this disgraced heiress instead?” She punched him in the kidney, hard.

  “Sophi! By the Will, that hurt!” He hopped away and nearly tripped over his own feet as the exclamation sent him into a gurgling cough.

  “Don’t be such a baby,” she said, sullen and scowling. She shot a vicious look at Meia.

  He coughed several more times before catching his breath. He didn’t want her touching him and decided a change of venue was in order.

  “Meia, I think it’s time we moved along.”

  “Dammit, Cylus, look at what you’re throwing away! Man up for once in your life!” Sophi snarled.

  He rolled his eyes and shoved past her. Meia gave Sophi a triumphant grin and followed without taking her eyes off Sophi.

  He sent a message to Ben and a moment later the door slid open. His manservant bowed, then moved aside. Cylus froze in place.

  Standing there in a blue and whi
te dress beneath a lacy shawl was Aurora.

  “My apologies, Master,” Ben stated. “She insisted on following me here.”

  “You could have warned me,” he mumbled.

  “Again, my apologies,” Ben said.

  “And what about you? Isn’t Iapetus watching?” he turned his eyes on Meia.

  “I thought Ben had this one.” She shrugged.

  “Hello, mother,” Sophi called from behind him.

  Aurora’s blue eyes flickered from Cylus to Sophi and then Meia before returning to him. When she spoke it was through clenched teeth.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were indisposed.”

  “Well, he would be but Cy is being an ass as usual and this harlot won’t leave when she’s told.” Sophi stuck her nose in the air. Her long braids slithered on the floor behind her.

  Aurora’s scowl deepened and she turned her back. “I’ll return later.”

  “I’m sorry about this.” He rushed out into the hallway with her. “Ben, make sure Sophi doesn’t bother us.”

  “Of course, Master.”

  “Come on, let’s talk.” He turned and started walking. He was not certain Aurora would follow him until he heard the bells in her hair ringing their gossamer tune. A second set of footsteps behind them.

  “I’m sorry to barge in on you.” Aurora sounded tired.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Do you have to ask?” She matched pace with him. “Never mind, I’m tired. You want to know specifically what brought me here in such a hurry?”

  He nodded. “Take your time, though. I’m not going to rush you, aunt.”

  “I’m not your aunt anymore.” It was an old argument. His father married Aurora’s sister after his mother’s death and the Cronuses welcomed him into their family as though he was always a part of it. Aurora and Hephestia would be his aunts forever as far as he was concerned.

  They walked to the end of the corridor in silence where a hexagonal window framed by ancient wood looked out on the Business District across the bay. He turned back for a moment, noting Ben stood in front of the library door. Down the corridor Iapetus was hunched over so its head didn’t scrape the wood-panel ceiling. The new polish Cylus had the palace techs do had the DS-109 drone gleaming in the light of the sconces.