Relinquish: Book II of the Rising Trilogy (19 page)

Oh, it’s personal all right.

I stomp my feet against the truck bed as we whizz down the road. What started out as a mildly cracked concrete street has given way to a rutted dirt road slicked with ice and downed tree limbs. The driver seems particularly bent on hitting as many bumps as possible.

Dorian, son of Milorn, sits before me, his shoulder-length white hair flapping freely in the wind. If his white hair were not startling enough, his tiger eyes would be enough to make you pause. I long to ask how this could be. I’ve only ever seen vivid, solid colors. Never a design such as this, but Bastien warned me against speaking of such things to him.

This young man has a love of crossbows with poison-tipped arrows. He is currently in mid-argument with his companion Adonis, a stark opposite of Dorian. Where Dorian is white and fair, Adonis is ebony skinned with tight black curls upon his brow. Adonis carries four laser pistols. Two at his hip, one at his back, and one tucked into his boot. Gorgan warned me to watch out for him. He is as deadly with his charm as he is with his guns.

“All right, listen up, everyone.” Bastien’s voice cuts through the winds. I lean in close. Gorgan does the same, and I remain within the shelter of his arms. All hint of merriment vanishes, replaced with a grim tension that I know all too well. “The attack plan is simple. We get in and get out. No alarms. No firefights. We meet our transport soon for the next leg of our journey. Conserve your energy. Keep your weapons dry. Stay alert.”

He smiles at each man in turn. “You are the best of the best. That’s why I picked you.”

I half expected some form of acknowledgement to Bastien’s praise. A smile. A nod. Something. The men remain stone cold as statues. They’ve been trained well. Bastien should be proud.

“We ride through the night to read the edge of the southern province by dawn. From there we will gain access to a second transport and travel throughout the day. Our plan is to arrive at Drakon’s base before sunup. We’ll use the cover of night to hide our approach.”

“Illyria’s mission is to acquire a ship,” Niyah says, assuming command from Bastien. He leans back, watching. I can’t tell from the depths of his hood if his gaze is upon me, but I have a sneaking suspicion it is. “Our sole purpose is to assure her safety until that time. If we fail, she fails. That is not acceptable. Is that understood?”

The men dip their heads in unison. “Good. Prepare to disembark. We’ve got a long trek before us.”

Sixteen

The next day is a blur of snow, ice, and darkness. We sleep when we can, alternating watch shifts. During the day, we huddle under blankets to keep from being seen from the air above. Our truck has been painted white to help conceal it on the snowy roads.

The shocks of the old truck are worn and in disrepair, making our ride even more excruciating than necessary. As I watch the moon drift across the sky on the final night, I vow that if I must, I will walk home.

My hips ache; my head pounds. I’m hardly in proper condition to fight. None of us are, but that doesn’t matter. I can tell by the tense set of Bastien’s shoulders that we’re drawing near.

No one talks. The last of the untouched food was tossed over the side nearly ten minutes ago. I hardly remember chewing let alone what exactly it was that I ate.

Nervous tension ripples through my back, stiffening my already tight muscles. My legs are cramping. My only prayer is that I don’t fall out of the back of the truck when we stop.

My stomach is queasy as the vehicle begins to slow, skidding slightly on the newly frozen ice. I grip the edge of the truck, willing myself not to be ill. I don’t want to show any weakness, but I’m pretty sure vehicle travel doesn’t suit me.

Bastien watches me from the corner of his eye. He has been attentive yet aloof during our trip. It doesn’t surprise me with Niyah latched onto him every second of the day.

The snow radiates red as the driver applies the brakes. Gorgan pats my shoulder. “It is time, miss.”

“I was afraid you were going to say that.” I bite my lip as the truck slides to a halt. My head slams against Gorgan’s arm instead of the edge of the truck. I thank him with a smile as he eases me to my feet.

I feel guilty about my own weakness as Adonis and Dorian leap off the back of the truck, already in motion to set up a perimeter. Niyah leaps down without any help, landing lightly on her feet.

I scowl at her as she winks at me, then disappears into the night. “Where is she going?”

“On ahead to scout out the area. Normally Bastien sends Adonis, but she said she needed to stretch her legs.” Gorgan shrugs. I must have missed that interaction sometime during the broken sleep I managed to snatch.

After two days mentally turned inward, it is a relief to be able to stand again, to stretch and feel my muscles pull taut. I tried to remember all of the lessons Kyan taught me. Close off my mind. Focus on my thoughts. Trust myself. And above all… don’t lose control.

That last one is easier said than done.

Only one mile now separates us from the largest, most highly guarded enemy base known to us. If this doesn’t go precisely to plan, none of us will survive the day. And even then, I’m not entirely sure we can pull this off.

Gorgan remains at my side as I fight to steady myself. Pins and needles jab viciously at my legs, making it hard to remain upright on the ice-crusted snow. I squint into the dark, barely able to make out Bastien’s silhouette as Niyah runs back into view. They speak in hushed tones.

I grit my teeth as she attempts to give him a kiss, but he steps back out of her embrace. He says something curt to her and I can see her fists clench at her sides as she follows him toward us, hanging back a few steps. Adonis and Dorian approach from either side of me, weapons at the ready but lowered for safety. They nod toward Bastien, and I know no one has discovered our approach.

My breath puffs in the air before me in steady, fast pants. My heart hammers in my chest so loudly I’m surprised no one else can hear it. Normally I’m calm before a battle, but not tonight. Maybe that’s because tonight we aren’t trying to take prisoners. We’re taking a really big ship.

Bastien slips past Niyah and comes to stand beside me. Although he doesn’t turn to look at me, having him near helps calm my nerves.
I can do this. We can do this.

I know he will not leave my side. He will protect me until death, if that is required of him, but I’ll never let that happen.

“Alpha team take the southern route.” He motions to Adonis and Dorian and two other men whom I’ve refrained from speaking to. They aren’t like the others. I’ve never once seen them crack a smile or laugh. They are hard-core. “I will lead Illyria to the northern entrance. Gorgan and Niyah will follow along the eastern ridge and wait for our signal. All radios are to remain silent unless there is an emergency. Stick together and watch your back. We don’t want to alert the entire base to our presence.”

I nod along with the men, feeling nervous pressure billow in my stomach. This is it. The moment of truth. Either I’m about to pull off the biggest heist this world has ever seen or we’re going to fail epically.

Niyah shoots me a vicious glare over her shoulder before she grabs Gorgan’s arm and pulls him after her. Adonis and Dorian head up their team, leaving Bastien and me alone. Bastien pounds on the truck bed one time, the sound muffled by the blankets, and the motor turns over. With the headlights off, the truck pulls away, leaving us behind.

“I thought he was staying.” I stare at the taillights as the truck slows to slide around a corner, disappearing into the forest.

“The extraction point for the men is a few miles south of here.”

“A few miles.” I gasp, turning to look toward the direction Gorgan went. “If Drakon’s men discover us, they’ll never make it.”

“They know,” he whispers. I turn back to see his shoulders slumped and his face lined with concern. “These men volunteered for the mission, Illyria. They knew the risks.”

“But it’s suicide.” I protest, starting to go after Gorgan. I can’t let him do this. Not for me. Not for anyone.

Bastien takes hold of my arm and pulls me back. “They have faith in you. So do I.”

“But what if everyone is wrong? What if—”

He cuts me off with a kiss. My eyes widen in shock as he presses his hand against my back, holding me close. His eyes are closed, his hand firm against my spine. I sink into his embrace, placing my hands upon his arms as he shifts to envelop me in his embrace.

A moment later, he breaks off and steps back. “What was that for?” I ask, breathless.

“Seemed like a good way to shut you up.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “And that’s the Bastien I used to know.”

He smiles, lighting up his laser so I can see him better. From the corner of my eye, I think I see movement in the trees, but when I look it is gone. “He’s still in there, somewhere.” Glancing to the sky, Bastien’s smile wanes. “We’ve only got a thirty-minute window. We need to move.”

I follow right on his heels as we burrow into the brush. The landscape is wild and untouched. A deer leaps out before me, startling me. Bastien reaches back and tugs on my arm to get me moving again, reminding me of how little time we have left.

Our boots punch through the ice as we dig into a slight incline. By the time we reach the top, my legs are on fire and my lungs feel as if they might burst. Bastien pauses to get his bearings while I suck in gulps of air.
When did I get to be so out of shape?

“This way.” He’s on the move again, ducking low as we shift left, heading straight toward the lighted sky.

As we draw near, I spy floodlights perched atop a guard tower, scanning the woods in sweeping patterns. We flatten to the ground as the nearest beam casts our location in white brilliance. Bastien presses himself over my back, shielding me. The light slowly moves on and I breathe a sigh of relief. “You ready for this?” he whispers into my ear.

I nod, knowing that is a flat-out lie. I’m not ready. I want to run, to head straight back to that truck and get the heck out of here before the lasers start flying and blood taints the snow, but I can’t.

Bastien grips my hand for a moment, squeezing tightly, and then he releases me and crawls forward on hands and knees. He drops flat as the light trails back toward us. Even at such a short distance, I struggle to see Bastien as he burrows into the snow, using the thick drifts to hide him.

I really need to talk to Kyan about designing some winter uniforms.
I think as I rise and crawl to meet up with him.

Two guards are posted for the early morning shift at our entrance. We chose this gate because of its remote location near the back of the base. We’d hoped it would be lightly manned. For once, fate smiles on us.

My job is to slip up and take them out while remaining completely undetected. Too close to risk speaking, Bastien’s fingers walk against the snow, signaling me to move. I close my eyes and wrap my powers tightly around me. I can feel the cold blanket of invisibility settle over me. When Bastien’s gaze shifts, looking through me, I know I’m good to go. Rising to my feet, I leap in alternating directions to avoid the deepest sections of snow.

My random steps go unnoticed by the guards. I can hear their low murmur of conversation as they lean against the chain-link fence with their backs to me. A raucous burst of laughter masks my approach as my boots hit a firmer surface. I look down and realize I’m now on a gravel road layered with snow and ice.
Perfect.

Crouching low, I feel the muscles in my legs coil and I spring into the air. I pull out of my somersault and grasp the top of the fence, hovering upside-down for a moment. I lock my knees together and swing down, both feet poised to strike, zeroing in on the stomach of the small guard.

The fence rattles as I send the guard careening back into it. A sickening crack of bones follows after. He emits a single groan before slumping.

His partner whirls around, braced for attack. The instant I’m on my feet, I lash out, shoving my fist straight up the man’s nose. Blood spurts from his shattered nose as his eyes roll back into his head. He collapses over his partner’s body, neither one ever having a chance to sound the alarm.

I reappear beside them and motion for Bastien to join me. He rushes forward, grinning from ear to ear. “That was brilliant. Don’t think I could’ve done better myself.”

“Thanks,” I grunt, clutching my hand to my chest. “Think I broke my hand.”

“Can you heal it?” he asks, dipping low to melt through the fence with his laser to join me on the other side.

“There’s no time.” We barely have a chance to snatch the two downed guards behind the guard shack before the floodlight swings back our way. Bastien drags the guards into the shadows and dumps them.

In a couple minutes, the Alpha team will be in position and cause a diversion at the southern end of the base, drawing attention away from the main hanger. With any luck, Bastien and I will be out of there before Drakon’s men even realize they’ve been robbed.

“Grab on to me,” Bastien hisses in my ear.

I thrust my good hand into his and run beside him, clinging to the shadows. We pause at the end of a squat metal building. “Can you give us some cover?” Bastien asks as he peers out at the landing field before us.

Gripping his hand tightly in mine, I throw up a cloak of invisibility over both of us. “That never gets old,” he mutters as he leads me up a steep embankment. At the top, we find ourselves in the middle of a tarmac. The concrete is cracked and shifted, rising in some places and sunken in others. Kyan told me this used to be an old military base. Jets used to race down to the other end and soar up into the skies. I would’ve liked the chance to see that.

Several spider drones sit silently along the runway, dark and unmanned. Large, black orbs sit farther down. “Sky Ships,” I whisper.

I can feel Bastien nod beside me, but he pulls us away. Sky Ships weren’t made for space travel. They’re only short distance transports, meant for use only on Earth. What we need must bend through time and space.

Kyan had informed me that the ship we need will be held in a locked hangar. We’ll know it by its sleek design, larger than a house and shaped like a bullet with two wings on either side.

Bastien leads us toward the main hangar. He peers in through the door and instantly ducks as a guard passes by. “You’re invisible,” I remind him as he tugs me toward a smaller building. This structure only has one hangar door.
We press against the wall, struggling to regulate our breathing. Once the breath leaves our bodies, it can be seen. One of the few downsides to invisibility.

“How do we get inside?” I rise onto my toes to whisper in his ear.

“Through that door.” Even though I can’t see where his hand points, I spy a door halfway down the building that has been left slightly ajar.

I don’t have time to point out this detail as Bastien yanks me forward and pauses only long enough to check for a guard inside before we’re through and I feel warmth upon my cheeks. The hangar doesn’t appear to be heated, but the lack of wind makes the air feel at least ten degrees warmer.

Bastien clamps his hand over my mouth as I cry out. An explosion from outside rattles the walls, surprising me. I turn and peer out the door and see a mushroom cloud rising into the air. “What was that?”

“Must have gone for a fuel truck.”

Gunshots and the hum of laser fire piece the night air. I stiffen, silently counting the seconds between return fire. “That sounds too close—”

Bastien’s radio bursts to life. Amid the white noise of static, I recognize Dorian’s voice. “We are… ambush… abort…” The radio falls silent in Bastien’s hand.