Nyteria Rising (The Thirteenth Series Book 3) (27 page)

Excariot banged his fist on the glass unexpectedly. Val jumped. “This is the body of a young man I knew, and yes I’m as powerful as ever. Now my friend Nathan is here, you are the last thing in the world I should be worrying about, but I still find myself returning to you like the proverbial old penny.”

“So what’s your story, you and Nathan?” she asked in the hope she could glean a little information that might help the others.

“Nathan Akar was the leader on a planet called Gingua. Have you heard of it?”

She had, the Warden had said that very name only a few hours earlier. “Not jumping into my head,” she lied.

“I escaped to Gingua with Lailah. Then your father came for us. Nathan was generous enough to let one of his soldiers take my place. You see, male Nyterians have a special ability, to take on the form of someone else, which having learned, has served me well in the past. So, when your father brought Lailah and the soldier here, he transformed and it looked like I escaped, but I never really returned.” He kept walking and Val stayed still, even though it was unnerving when he was behind her. “I was free to search for a way to free Lailah. Luckily, one of the last things I did on the Prison was hear all about this planet, Earth it was called; a place that could hold prisoners. You can imagine how elated I was now that I knew where to go to seek my revenge, that I could bring Lailah back to life in the body of a human.”

“Elated, yes,” she muttered.

“Nathan helped me get to Earth to make plans for Lailah’s escape and I gave him information on the weaknesses of the Nyterian government. The rest is, or was, history. When Nathan came here, he asked around about the female Guard who was great enough to free the Warden and found out that you had captured the infamous Excariot Crow, and he once again kindly released me. Now I have a new body and a new life. I get to run the Prison when Nathan returns to Nyteria. You see, Val, I know the rules. As long as the Prison is still being run and one Judge
survives, and Nathan doesn’t get united with a Guard, there is nothing that can stop us. So you see, I win.”

“Well, you should be pleased to know that Lailah, Eva and your son are all dead. I killed them!” Val tried to shock him.

“Really?” he scoffed, “You expect me to believe you actually killed them? Not possible. You are a Guard through and through.”

“Daniel killed Shane, so I returned the favour.”

Excariot’s expression changed. Val thought that maybe he would believe her now. “About time. I killed his wife, so it’s only fitting that my son kill her husband. I’m now proud of the child I never wanted.”

“You killed Elizabeth?” Val felt weak, like he had stolen her strength, taking what she had left.

“One in a long list, my friend,” he grinned. “Now, I’m going to look around my new home, and start making the required changes to the Guards’ DNA. Did you know we could do that?”

“No.”

“Yes, in the same way we rid them of their powers, we can give them back. Now they will only work under my orders. They will be like puppets. I did love Punch and Judy. Those were good days on Earth.” He looked wistfully into the distance.

“You’re a nutter and I will get out of here, out of this ridiculous dress, and make sure you pay for what you’re doing.” Val pulled herself to her feet.

“I’ll look forward to that. The rest are no competition.” He tapped her cell for good luck and walked away, leaving her once more in silence.

She stared down at her pinkness. She was trapped and, knowing that if they could extract the Warden’s DNA, there was no reason why Excariot couldn’t insert his own, was a living nightmare. There would be a Prison full of Excariot’s. The question was: would that counteract the vaccine Zac had delivered? Or would the vaccine over-ride the change?

“Jason, can you hear me?” she waited for an answer.

“Hello Val it’s me, Eswith. Jason has taken a break. How are you doing? Not long now.”

“We could have a problem. Excariot’s back and it seems he has another virus to change the compliance of the Guards. I don’t know when he’s going to administer it or if they have already done that.”

“Right, we need to get someone on the surface and fast, to take some samples. Stay where you are. I will contact you as soon as I have news.”

“Not much chance of me leaving.” Val tapped the wall. The door opened at the same moment, causing her to jump. She waited for someone else to enter to tell her she was next in-line for the extraction chamber, but there was no-one there. She looked around her. There were only two people she knew who could enter a room without being detected.

“Val.” She heard one of the voices she was hoping for.

“Hadwyn, what are you doing here?” she whispered through pursed lips in case she was being watched.

“I was bored,” he replied, his voice full of childish play.

“I can’t leave this cell or Nathan will kill Sam,” she whispered.

“We know. Boden has gone in search of them.”

“So, just me and you then. And you came here because?” Val asked.

“Just had to see if that dress looked as awful as it sounded,” he said. “So, if we can’t get her out without risking the Judges, what can we do Wendy?”

“Hadwyn, I’m Val,” she shook her head.

“I know.” A female voice answered. It was Wendy. “We need to swap places,” she said.

Val wanted to cheer and whoop, yet she had to contain herself. “Hello, can’t tell you how nice it is to have someone normal here.” She tried to keep her face emotionless.

“Can you do this?” Hadwyn enquired ignoring Val’s comment.

“I think so. It’s a traditional trading spell. Sam taught me this one, clearly he saw what was coming better than me. I have to get through the glass, which will take me a bit longer.”

“Wendy, you’re taking a very big risk trading with me, I don’t know what’s coming; anything could happen.” Val was worried for her friend.

“We need you out of here more than we need me right now, so I’m willing to take that risk. Just give me a moment.”

“Take your time,” Val said. “I’m not going anywhere.” She heard a large slapping sound, like a clapping of hands, followed by what sounded like a rubbing of palms. “Mutare locum, mutare loca, in me et eam.” Wendy started to chant. “Mutare locum, mutare loca, in me et eam.” Val desperately wanted to know what she was saying, but was far too scared to interrupt.

Hadwyn whispered, his voice tinged with concern, “Val, she’s shaking.”

“Get ready.” Val closed her eyes tight. Whatever happened, it normally hurt or made you sick. Then the drawing feeling started.

“Put your helmet on,” Hadwyn advised. “I will make you invisible.” Val did as she was told and then her heart seemed to stop; she knew she was alive, but couldn’t feel her body, there was no breathing, no heartbeat. She peeked a little and her eyes blurred, everything was moving in slow motion. She could feel herself moving through the wall of her cell. Then everything came back into focus. She was out of the cell and Wendy was inside and looking pretty in pink.

“They’re going to see it’s not me if anyone checks?” Val said.

“Give me a second.” Wendy placed her hands over her face. “All that is seen, all that has been, in my reflection, now give Val protection.” She pulled her hands away.

“Oh dear God,” Val gasped as Wendy’s reflection mutated to match hers.

“Don’t worry, it’s just an illusion.”

“Good, I don’t think I can cope with two,” Hadwyn groaned.

Wendy smiled. “Ok, go set the Prison free. They’ll never know it’s me in here.”

Val saluted her. “See me soon.”

Hadwyn was now visible to her, although he had assured her no one else could see them.

“I can’t keep this up for long, so let’s mingle,” he said as they reached a group of Guards. They rammed their way to the centre of the group as the Guards looked around in confusion, wondering who had pushed them. “We’re going visible now.”

She allowed her helmet to retract. The Guard next to her was familiar; it was the young man she had met only a few days ago. His expression became panicked, “cover your face, quickly, they all know what you look like,” he insisted.

Val’s helmet covered her face once more. Hadwyn was behind her and was eyeing the Guard. “Are you ok?”

“Yes, he was just telling me to cover my face.”

Hadwyn looked at his Dellatrax. “We only have thirty minutes before the vaccine takes affect and the reinforcement from the Space arrive. We need to let the Guards know what’s going to happen.”

“Is there a way to send a message to all the Dellatrax at once?” Val asked.

“Yes,” the Guard behind her interrupted. “There is a way. In the Warden’s office he has a device that only he can use to communicate with all the Guards and Hunters
if there is an emergency. I delivered a message once that merited distribution.”

“Good, then let’s go get it.” Val said. “Keep your chin up, we’ll all be free soon.” She patted the Guard on the shoulder and he offered her a weary smile. Hadwyn and Val started to move through the Guards. Recognising their uniforms, the Guards moved to conceal their path. “Jason? Eswith? Anyone?” Val asked.

Jason was back on the job. “Hello mate. Have our guests arrived?”

“If you mean crazy gunman and Wendy, yes. We’re on our way to the Warden’s office, so any help you can give us is welcome.”

“I’ll check the maps. Everyone has started teleporting to the surface. We can keep most contained in the rooms that have been protected by Sam over the years. We’ll need your go ahead to start the assault as you’ll be the only ones who can get the message to the Prison Guards that we’re coming.”

“No pressure then?”

“Just a minute, Eswith wants to speak to you.”

“Hello Val. We have run some tests and the atmosphere hasn’t changed since you arrived. If there is something that they are going to release into the air, you will have to stop them.”

“Right, so we need to get to the Warden’s office and send a signal to all Guards, and stop Excariot’s plan to make the Guards into drones. Is that everything?”

“For now it is. Please stay safe.”

“Just one last question: any news on Boden?”

“We lost contact when he entered the sector that’s holding the High Judges. We can only hope all is well,” Eswith replied.

Hadwyn paused momentarily. “He’s fine, I would know if there was something wrong.”

“How?” Val wondered whether they had something in their uniform, something that gave a signal when the other was dead.

“He’s my brother, I would just know.” He surged on, leading the way as they moved into a new corridor. He knew where he was going.

Hadwyn moved swiftly, but with caution. Val watched how he timed each turn to perfection and seemed to know what side to stand on. He was amazing and she felt a little like a rock around his neck as she did her best to keep close behind him.

He raised his hand. “His office is around the corner, but there are people outside.” He flashed a second look around the corner. “Four soldiers and the man who came to visit you in your cell before we arrived.”

“Excariot. Great. What are they doing outside?” she asked.

“Excariot?” Hadwyn’s face filled with anger.

“The very same, new body.”

He looked again. “Looks like they can’t get in. I would like to bet that the Warden has that office locked. Without his bracelet they won’t be able to get in.”

Val smiled and pulled back her sleeve to reveal the very bracelet he was talking about. “Like this one?” She grinned widely.

“Yes.” He looked again. “Excariot has gone to get the Warden’s assistant for sure. I can deal with the soldiers, but you need to get in there and shut the door behind you, and you won’t have long.”

“What about you?” Val’s smile was gone in a breath.

“Val, the mission is what counts. Do what you have to do.” He drew his gun.

Val was concerned. “What if you need my help?”

Hadwyn laughed. “Seriously?” He pushed her and turned to run. “Do your job.” Then he was sprinting around the corner, firing at the soldiers and chasing them along the corridor.