Rebellion (11 page)

* * * *

Ria’s heart pounded as she ran into the forest. The tall trees helped with the rain, but large drops still pelted her face. Night had fully fallen, and the wet ground slowed her progress. She stumbled over an exposed tree root.

Frack.

Branches scraped across her arms and face. Someone was in front of her. Someone on her side. Muffled footfalls and angry curses of their pursuers followed from behind. Farther to their left came the frenzied sound of woricks barking. Fear ripped through her, but she pushed it aside.

“Faster. We have to go faster.” She didn’t know who she spoke to.

They stepped up the pace. The mountain loomed overhead on their right. The ground rose to a punishing incline. Her legs and lungs burned. They’d run for so long her psi was drained. She wouldn’t last much longer. Still, they pushed on.

Die now or die later. We have to keep going.

They reached the base of the cliffs and veered left. It was open here. Exposed. The relentless rain battered them. They searched for something. Ria slipped on the wet rocks and fell, smashing her knee into a sharp edge. She stifled a cry. A firm hand gripped her arm and helped her up. Who was she with? She couldn’t see a face. They continued along the base of the mountain.

There!

Ahead was a fissure in the rock. They approached quickly, but with caution. Ria glanced back. The forest was dense below, and she couldn’t see anything, but the men’s voices and the barking grew louder. They would breach the forest any second. Rain poured down her face.

Whoever she was with disappeared into the side of the mountain. She took a deep breath and followed. A narrow space. Jagged stone scratched her arm, tearing into the wounds left by the trees below. She bit back a cry. It was cold here. Her stomach knotted in terror, and she wanted to scream.

Water poured in from above. The fissure went all the way to the top. She wiped the water from her eyes and blinked, trying to see. I’ve been here before.

Deeper they went.

Why was this happening? Who was after them? Why did she have to be with this person? Because somehow she knew she did have to be with him. She fought back tears of frustration and fear.

She moved her gaze to the man ahead of her and stared into steel gray eyes. A look of horror dawned on his face as a laser pierced her side from behind.

Ria bolted upright in bed and checked her side for injury. Her heart pounded, and the fear was far too real. She blew out a breath.

Ty.
She had to focus on breathing slow. An emotion so strong it bordered on pain tore through her. No. It couldn’t be.

This was the third time she’d had the dream, but she’d never been able to see who was with her. Till now. Flipping back the damp sheets, she swung her legs off the bed and stretched her arms up and back.

Three days had passed since Leon Jara’s death. The others had returned to Earth, but she remained, waiting for Lieutenant Sou to approve her departure. He didn’t know the portal existed. She could leave at any time, but Rucon wanted her to abide by the rules. They were strict rules, too. They’d tagged her DNA and would know if she left the planet. Which totally sucked because she couldn’t even use the sim arena back on Earth. Her exercise was limited to hiking the surrounding forests and beaches and lifting weights. Not nearly as effective or exhilarating as battling it out in a sim. She was antsy, needed to exercise. Ty’s gray eyes rose in her mind. He’d seen her just now. She felt the psi connection but refused to connect the dots.
Relax, it’s just a dream.

Dropping her arms, she stood and headed for the shower. Lieutenant Sou would be here in under an hour. She was pretty sure he had ulterior motives for keeping her on Mitah.

After showering, she dressed quickly and put on her hiking boots.

“If you please, madam.” Harvey spoke up with his clipped British accent. “Miss Dani is hailing you.”

“Thank you, Harvey. Put her through.”

“Morning.” Dani sounded disgustingly happy as usual.

“Morning, Sunshine. Everything okay on Earth?”

“Kind of boring, actually. Any news yet?”

“No.” Ria sighed. “Do you think you could have Ian talk to Rucon? Maybe he can pull some strings. I want to get out of here, but before I do, I need to see Ty.” The words were out of her mouth before she had even processed the thought. Her body buzzed with a foreign energy at the idea of being near him.

“What? Why?”

Ria didn’t know how to answer. It was a good question. What did she think would happen?
He’s a cold-blooded killer.

“Ria?”

“I’m here. I just… I don’t know what to say, Dani. I need to see him. Alone.”
What the frack? Where am I going with this?

“Alone? What aren’t you telling me? You know what? Never mind. I’m coming over.” Dani and Ian stepped through the portal less than ten minutes later.

Ian didn’t beat around the bush. “Tell us exactly why you want to see him alone?”

Dani sucked in her breath. “It’s the dreams, isn’t it?”

She’d confided in Dani after the second dream. They felt so real, so final. Ria didn’t want to say it out loud, but there was no getting around it. “I saw who it was this morning. It’s Ty.”

“What do you mean?” Ian said, looking back and forth between the two women.

Ria told him about the dreams. “I have this horrible feeling that he’s my psi-mate. Why else would this be happening? The night I went out with him…” Ria rubbed her face. “I thought it was just great chemistry, but I saw him this time Ian. I saw him, and he saw me. I think my psi-mate is a killer.”

Ian stayed silent for a long moment, no doubt sorting through the implications. “Ria, I’m sorry, but what do you expect is going to happen, even if we can get you in to see him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong. I really need to be wrong, Ian. Just do it, okay?”

* * * *

Rucon Cavacent was back on his transport ship. He stood by the bar in the observation room, drumming his fingers on the polished wood. He could easily have used the portal to get to Mitah, but he didn’t want to tip his hand. No one knew they had the ability to create portals, and he wanted to keep it that way.

Lieutenant Sou waited for him planet-side. The man’s stringy light brown hair needed washing. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. Cavacent.”

“It’s Lord Cavacent.” Rucon wiped the man’s sweat from his palm. Ian and Dani implored him to come and see to Ria’s release along with what he thought to be a very strange request. The chancellor had been more than happy to meet with him, and Rucon sincerely hoped he didn’t bring up the Portal Masters again.

Sou accompanied him in the cruiser through the city to the planetary ruler’s Palace. Mortog wasn’t the PR, but he might as well have been. Until the PR’s son, Zander, came to power in little over a year, Mortog was the one in charge.

The palace wasn’t lacking in opulence. Artwork and sculptures adorned every space. Sou, who was obviously at home here, showed Rucon to a comfortable room off the main foyer.

“I’ll let the chancellor know you’re here,” Sou said, bowing awkwardly and departing.

Bay windows overlooked a manicured lawn and well-tended gardens. Rucon paced. He should be back on Earth, overseeing the construction of the new compound, not here placating local law enforcement. He’d spoken with Ria earlier and, aside from daily visits by Sou, she was left to her own devices. It didn’t make sense to keep her any longer.

Rucon’s impatience was nearing its limit when Chancellor Mortog finally appeared. The robes he’d worn to the ball were absent. The man was leaner and more fit than Rucon had realized. Sou hovered in the background like a dog worshiping his master.

“Lord Cavacent.” Mortog held out his hand. “So good to see you again.”

“Chancellor. I’m sure you know why I’m here.” Rucon didn’t see the need for unnecessary pleasantries.

“I believe so. Lieutenant Sou informs me we have one of your Protectors. A Miss Montori, was it?”

A faint twinge tickled the back of Rucon’s mind. “That is correct. She has a job to do, and unless you have reason to keep her, we’d like her back.”

Sou looked pathetic, and Rucon suspected Ria had been correct about his motivations being less than professional.

“Lieutenant?” Mortog said.

Sou straightened his shirt. “I suppose we’ve got everything we need from her.”

“Good.” Rucon didn’t wait for anything further. “I have one more request. She’d like to see Jara’s killer.”

“That’s a highly unusual request, Lord Cavacent.” Sou squirmed and wrung his hands.

Rucon wanted to scratch the back of his head, but the increasingly odd sensation wasn’t external. “I agree it is unusual, but given the inconvenience you’ve caused us perhaps you could see to it.”

Mortog kept his eyes on Rucon but nodded in Sou’s direction.

The smaller man’s shoulders dropped a fraction. “I guess I could oversee that,” Sou said.

“One more thing,” Rucon said. “She will see him alone.” He felt the twinge again and saw a slight tick around Mortog’s left eye.

“Are you quite sure about that?” Mortog asked.

“I am.”

The color in the chancellor’s face rose slightly before he waved at Sou. “See that it is done.”

The little man looked shocked, but said nothing.

Rucon’s com notified him of an incoming communication. He directed it to take the call and hold. “I believe I’m done here, then. Good day.”

It was obvious that Mortog wasn’t happy with the way the meeting had transpired and simply nodded as Rucon departed. Once he was outside the building, he answered the call. “Yes?”

“Is this Lord Cavacent?”

“It is.”

“Good. My name is Zander Salvator. Do you have a moment to meet?”

It took Rucon a moment to place the name. Salvator was the name of the planetary ruler’s family. “Are you the PR’s son?”

“I am.”

He had nothing else to do and was curious about the boy. “I can meet you now if you’d like.” Rucon followed directions to the residential quarters of the palace. An elderly man in servant’s attire greeted him at the door. The man bowed low, then led the way. They walked down a wide corridor, the walls covered in life-size portraits of the planetary rulers. Glistening marble and gold brocade were everywhere. Large windows kept the space from being oppressive.

The servant came to a set of double doors and knocked once before entering the study. A handsome boy with wavy blond hair rose to greet him. He was tall and muscular but hardly looked the twenty-two years he was reported to be.

“Lord Cavacent?”

Rucon extended his hand. “Please, call me Rucon.”

“In that case, you may call me Zander.”

The men sat facing each other in plush chairs while the servant brought in a caff service.

Rucon glanced over Zander’s head to the portrait that hung over the fireplace. “Is that your father?”

Zander didn’t turn to see what Rucon referenced. “Yes. That was done shortly before…well, I’m sure you’ve heard the story by now.”

“Degenerative brain disease. I am sorry.” He wanted to ask if they were certain there was no cure, but surely they would have exhausted the possibilities.

Zander took a drink and set his cup down. “I’m told you were just meeting with Chancellor Mortog?”

“Correct. He, or perhaps more accurately his Lieutenant Sou, is holding one of my protectors. I assume you heard of Leon Jara’s murder?”

Zander’s knee bounced. “Only just recently. They said your protectors captured him and that this Ria Montori of yours witnessed the event.”

“She did more than witness it. She apprehended him.” Rucon took a drink of his caff. Saying it out loud had him wondering if that had something to do with her desire to see the boy alone.

Zander appeared to be weighing something. Finally, he stood and stared into the empty fireplace before turning to Rucon. “I have been away from my home for too long and yet still have the final year at university before I am of age and can take my father’s place.”

“I am aware of your situation.”

“Chancellor Mortog has not been forthcoming with me. I requested to be present when he met with you. I will see to it that Ms. Montori is released. There are other channels available to me outside the chancellor and his pets.”

The underlying message of discord in the planet’s rule was loud and clear to Rucon. “I believe the situation has been dealt with. However, I appreciate your concern.”

A knock at the door interrupted them. A tall dark-haired woman in a long, azure dress stood in the doorway. She had been a beauty once, but now her face was drawn and sallow. She had the vacant look of a shell-shocked soldier. “I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t know you had a visitor. I’ll come back later.”

“Mother, wait,” Zander said, going to her. “I’d like you to meet someone. He’s the one I told you about. He has the protectorship of a planet called Earth. The Empire—well, the GTO now—gets a great deal of their carnium from there. Sou has been detaining one of his people. Do you remember?”

The woman looked confused, but answered properly. “Yes, of course.”

“Rucon, this is my mother, Mariah Salvator.”

Rucon went to her and kissed the back of her hand. “It is an honor to meet you.”

“And you.” She bowed her head. “We used to travel off-world, my husband and I.” Her gaze shifted to the windows behind Zander’s desk. “They tell me the emperor is no longer.” Turning to Zander she said, “It will be so nice when you’re home for good.” She placed her hand on his cheek, then left without another word.

Zander watched her go, his shoulders dropping slightly. “I’m sorry. She’s been like this for the past year. The further away my father gets, the more she withdraws.” The boy sighed. “You would have liked her. She brought laughter wherever she went.”

Rucon tried to hide his shock. Zander had effectively lost both parents. “Is she…like your father?”

“The doctors say she’s fine. They love each other very much. I have hope she’ll come back to herself someday.”

Rucon pictured the woman’s eyes. There was something more than just grief in their depths. He said his goodbyes to Zander and left for his ship where he was staying. He thought back to the boy and the pain he must be experiencing. And to Mortog. There was something off about that man.
This isn’t my planet. These aren’t my problems.
He repeated the phrase to himself as he left. He’d collect Ria once she’d had her meeting, and they would leave it all behind.