No Light (19 page)

             
She clenched her fists. "Don't talk about my brother."

             
He moved forward, until she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze. "You know, your loyalty to him is almost charming. I imagine, it would be cute if it weren't so pathetic." He leaned into her space.

             
"You don't know anything about my brother," she spat.

             
He laughed. "Careful. You're starting to sound like that Dem." His smile faded. "I paid your Dem a visit yesterday. I gotta tell you, he's looking a little...peaked." He studied her. "You're looking a little wane yourself, Sarah."

             
"I'm tired."

             
"I'm sure. Be that as it may, it's a strange sort of coincidence that the Dem decides to get, for lack of a better word, sick the very day you get yourself suspended. I find that interesting."

             
Sarah frowned. "They don't get sick." She glanced at Luke, but he was staring at his uncle. "You're lying."

             
"No need," he assured her.

             
Marked. The word floated through her mind, as she stared at him. Her skin tingled.

             
"I'm just as surprised, as you are," Keane continued. "In fact, I would almost say, I'm more surprised than you are." His eyes narrowed. "What do you know that I don't?"

             
She blinked. "What?"

             
He tipped his head to the side. "Something in that book? Tell me," he demanded.

             
She took a step away from him. "I don't know what you're talking about."

             
He grabbed her shoulders. "I can make you tell me."

             
"That's enough!" Luke shoved him aside. He positioned himself between the two of them. His eyes scanned her. "Are you okay?"

             
The city's storm siren screamed to life and she jerked violently.

             
"What the hell?" Luke whirled around to face the front windows. "There's not a cloud in the sky."

             
At his comment, Keane burst into movement. He snatched his coat from Luke and ran out the front door.

             
Sarah watched Luke frown in confusion. "What's going on?"

             
Luke glanced at her. "I have no idea. I'm sure it's fine."

             
The lamp popped. She watched the light fade, leaving them in shadow.

             
"Must have blown a fuse."

             
The heating system clicked, then fell silent. Luke scowled. She watched him frown at the dark house across the street.

             
"Power outage."

             
She stiffened. Her mind immediately flew to her brother. She could clearly picture the host of machines that kept him alive. He was completely dependant on them. Her heart began to race. Luke's voice pulled her out of her frantic thoughts.

             
"Listen, I want to explain-"

             
"You don't need to explain anything to me," she interrupted. She ignored his shocked expression and walked past him.

             
"What are you doing?"

             
She perched on the chair beside the door and reached for her boots. "Leaving."

             
"But..." he gaped at her. "Where are you going?"

             
She jerked the laces tight. "Hospital."

             
"Now? Why?"

             
She sighed. "Because my brother is there."

             
"But the alarm-"

             
"All the more reason to make sure he's okay," she cut him off.

             
He stared at her. "They have an emergency generator. I have one, too. You should stay here where it's-"

             
"No, thank you." She jerked open the closet and slipped her coat on over the dress.

             
"Don't you at least want to change?"

             
"No." She watched his mouth open and close.

             
"I could drive-"

             
"I'll walk." She strode toward the door.

             
"Sarah, it's cold out-"

             
"Thank you for your hospitality. I'll be back for my things later." She pulled the door closed behind her.

...

              He stared at the overhead light. His hands clenched and unclenched with the flickering bulb. He heard the humans in the Main Hall. Their voices became louder with each power failure, as if they could feel the anticipation in the air. The light above his cell popped and slowly faded to black. His gaze snapped to the bars.

             
The energy shimmered within the shields. He slowly sat up. Yellow sparks raced along the security screen. The energy crackled and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He smirked. What sounded like a roll of thunder swept through the stone walls of The Corridor. He felt the power spike, before it failed completely.

             
He surged to his feet, his teeth set in a fierce smile. In two long strides, he crossed to the door of his cell and slammed his boot into the lock. The door jumped out of his way. He vaguely heard it clang against the bars of his cell, as he glanced both ways. Cell doors sprang open along hall.

             
"General."

             
He heard Tradis jog up behind him. His eyes scanned the hallway, before he turned to his second. "Colonel."

             
"Sir." Tradis bowed his head quickly. "Colonel Motlin informed me this was likely to happen within 24 hours. What are your orders?"

             
"Gather the humans in the Main Hall, and evacuate The Corridor."

             
"Sir."

             
Farran watched him stride down the hallway, until he entered the Main Hall and vanished from view.

             
"Go."

             
The Dems around him hurried to follow his second. He crossed his arms and scanned each one, as they passed. His eyes lingered on Eitad.

             
"Private."

             
Eitad froze.

             
"I assume your insubordination will not be repeated. Is that correct?"

             
Eitad turned to face him. Farran watched him swallow hard.

             
"Yes, sir."

             
Farran nodded. "Go on, then." He followed his men at a sedate pace.

             
The air filled with the roar of hundreds of humans screaming in terror. His lips curved. He stepped through the final doorway and glanced around the Main Hall. Most of the humans stumbled ahead of the Dems sent to retrieve them, but several obviously refused to be herded. They screamed and flailed, as they were dragged into the room.

             
Farran sneered. He crossed his arms and watched their antics. The humans wandered between the tables blindly, bumping into benches and tripping over each other. He watched Motlin approach from the corner of his eye.

             
Farran glanced at him. "What is that phrase the humans use so often?" He watched the engineer's gaze move around the room.

             
"Turn about is fair play."

             
"Yes. That is the one. I knew that phrase would be of use." He saw Motlin smirk.

             
"Most satisfying, sir."

             
"Indeed."

             
He turned on his heel and strolled across the room toward the exit. Tradis stood on the other side of the doorway. Farran watched him scan each Dem that passed, clearly counting. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorjamb.

             
"First battalion, companies two and three have been successfully evacuated. Colonel Motlin sent Major Balendin to supervise the evacuation of second battalion, company one. Major Vikram and Captain Ragnar are securing the surface."

             
Farran nodded. "And Captain Azzan?"

             
"Collecting the humans with Captain Drusus."

             
"Well done." Farran watched Balendin emerge from a hallway. His company followed him from the entrance of Corridors Fifteen to Thirty. "Send Major Balendin's company to the surface."

             
"Yes, sir."

             
Farran left him to his duties. He turned his head toward the far side of the room and casually scanned the humans. They cowered in groups along the wall.

             
"General," Balendin greeted, as he passed.

             
Farran returned his nod.

             
"What do you intend to do?" Motlin asked, as he approached. His gaze followed Farran's to the humans.

             
"Nothing." He laughed at the look his engineer gave him. "Truly."

             
Motlin raised his eyebrows.

             
Tradis paused beside him. "Second battalion, company one has been evacuated, General."

             
Farran nodded. "Let us leave this place."

             
He turned away from the humans and stalked from the Main Hall. He heard Tradis and Motlin yell the order in their native tongue. The smooth stone beneath his boots gave way to the iron steps of the staircase. He climbed quickly, feeling a tingle of unease begin in his stomach along with the growing pain.

             
The winter air swirled down around him. His mind immediately connected the scent with Sarah. He scowled. The wail of a siren broke the silence. His head jerked up and he hurried up the last few steps. His men spread out around the glass shelter of the stairwell. He narrowed his eyes at the nearby houses.

             
"Status report."

             
Vikram stepped forward. "General. My company swept the area to the east. We neutralized the sentries, but one had time to alert the others." He scowled at the ground.

             
Farran nodded. "Find the sentry. Now."

             
Vikram gave him a snappy bow and returned to his company. Farran watched them split into teams. One jogged around the shelter toward the hills in the east. The other marched toward the nearby houses. He turned to watch the last of his regiment emerge from the staircase. The shrillness of the alarm seemed to grow the longer it continued. He grimaced.

             
"A forewarning, I assume?" Tradis paused next to him to gaze at their surroundings.

             
"Presumably," he answered.

             
"It is irritating."

             
Farran nodded. "Very. I intend to find the one responsible and express my displeasure." He saw Tradis smirk.

             
"Several of them have made it out of the Main Hall," Tradis commented, as they watched the emergency vehicles speed up the hill toward their position.

             
Farran nodded. "Yes." He tipped his head to listen to the faint scampering.

             
"Turn about?"

             
Farran smirked. "I wondered if you heard that."

             
Tradis' lips quirked. "It is a very appropriate sentiment."

             
Farran watched the first wave of humans break against the line of Dems. "Destroy the staircase."

             
"Poetic."

             
Farran raised an eyebrow and Tradis bowed.

             
"As you say."

             
Farran turned his attention to the battle. He eyed the human offense in disgust. They attacked without skill or focus. His soldiers mowed them over, as if they were not there. He glanced at Motlin.

             
"Lacks sport," the engineer remarked.

             
Farran nodded. "Pathetic."