Shiver (5 page)

“Lian?”

“Let’s do this.” This wasn’t the time to get distracted.
 

She plunged her index finger into the wall terminal and the door clicked open. As soon as it did, she heard the muffled sobs coming from the other side.

Vera charged inside. “Let’s get to them before they start screaming.”

Lian doubted anyone would hear them scream this deep inside the house, but these poor captives must have been through some tough and violent ordeals before being dumped inside this cell. She’d seen many of them lose it before they realized she and Vera just wanted to help.

“Shh.” Vera held a finger in front of her own mouth. “Don’t scream, please. We’re here to get you out.”

The adolescents scampered like frightened animals.

Lian counted six—all female. There had been as many as a dozen before, and as few as three. Smaller numbers made it easier to smuggle them down the corridor and into the waiting transport. Some usually got left behind, but not today.

“It’s okay, we’re going to help,” Lian added, stepping deeper into the room’s shadows. She knew most of these cells were different—some partially exposed to the elements, some fully enclosed. This one was a concrete box, devoid of anything, and it was freezing. “Come on.” She held out a hand and waited.

She didn’t want to push or scare the girls any more than they already were, but if she was going to pass her absence off as a bathroom break, she’d have to get a move on. Her whole body cooled as she and Vera waited for at least one of the girls to respond. That was usually how it happened. One would break the ice and the others would follow.

Each second that passed seemed heavy and weighed on her patience, but she knew it was better not to rush them. After all, they were imprisoned and waiting for an unknown fate they couldn’t control.

“We’re not here to hurt you.” Lian couldn’t fault their reluctance. Four of the girls were holding hands and huddled together, weeping softly. The other two sat on either side of the group and seemed older. The girl to the left caught Lian’s eye, so she curved her fingers, motioning her to move and hoping the plea would encourage her. “I know it’s hard but if you want to be free, you have to trust us.”

Silent moments ticked by and Lian began to wonder if this attempted rescue would be their first to fail, when the girl finally nodded and stood. Her bones seemed to creak with every move, but her cold fingers closed around Lian’s as soon as she was close enough. Lian offered the girl a small smile and a nod.
The teenager motioned to the others. One of the girls took Vera’s hand and slowly rose to her feet, encouraging the rest to rise with her.

Lian led the way out of the cell, gripping the scared-but-brave girl’s hand as Vera followed with a chain of weeping females behind her. It didn’t take long to reach the end of the corridor, to the most dangerous cell—known as the Ledge. The only cell that was never locked because spending more than a few minutes inside—or rather, outside in the elements—would practically freeze
anyone
.

There was no keypad on the wall beside the cell—no knob or handle on the door itself, just the smooth surface of cool metal. Lian kicked the door and it opened all the way.

The young girl holding her hand clung tightly to her side when the freezing air swooshed around them.

“We better make this quick,” Vera said, trying to keep the worst of the wind from hitting the others by standing in front of them.

Lian nodded as she stepped onto the icy Ledge, which was wide enough for only three people to share. The edge plunged into a mountain range of endless snow and rock.

She shivered in the flimsy dress, feeling her skin prickle with gooseflesh. Her bare feet were cold, but hardly freezing. She’d always had a resistance to the icy weather that she supposed was from being born in Shiver.
“Come on, come on.
Where are you, Hogan?”

As if in answer, a large blue, metal transport suddenly rose over the outcrop, silent in its approach. As soon as it was level with the Ledge, the side door slid open and Hogan appeared. He was holding on to the handgrip and extended his free arm toward the group.

Lian’s gaze lingered on him for just a moment, taking in his cocoa-colored skin, handsome features, and tall, muscled frame. She missed him so much. They’d been friends long before they developed deeper feelings for each other. But time and distance had made her heart close off and she no longer felt that spark for him, but she’d always love him as a friend. She often wondered how he felt about her now, and what had happened between them.

“Get them on, quickly!” he called as the wind whipped around them.

Lian nodded, trying not to get distracted. She prompted the girl holding her hand to move toward the transport, but she wouldn’t let go.

“No, get the others first.” The teen’s teeth were chattering.

“Okay.” Lian squeezed the girl, and to Vera, she called, “Get them on, hurry!”

Her accomplice was already on the move, leading the chain of youngsters to Hogan. When they reached him, they recoiled as one. Vera whispered in the ear of the closest girl. The thin girl listened to whatever Vera was saying and finally nodded, releasing Vera’s hand and allowing Hogan to help her into the transport. She dragged the others with her until he had them all safely onboard.

“Now it’s your turn,” Lian said to the girl she still gripped.

Her green eyes shone with unshed tears. “Thank you, may the Goddess bless you.”

Lian quirked a smile, but didn’t release her until she’d safely handed the teenager over to Hogan.

He flashed a grin. “Don’t worry. They’ll be safe.”

“I know.” They always were. Lian didn’t know where Hogan took the rescued prisoners, who the transport belonged to, or even who the pilot was, but he always risked his own life to ensure the safety of these innocents. “Thank you.”

He nodded and ducked back inside, shutting the windowless door behind him.

How did he manage to summon and board this transport without leaving the boundary of the estate he was tied to? She’d have to ask him some day. Until Vera told her, Lian hadn’t known every staff member within the cold confines of the mansion was a slave. She’d assumed each one was hired,
chose
to work here. Not that her mother forced them to stay and then kept them on a tight leash with silver perimeter collars.

Lian took Vera’s hand and dragged her back as the transport’s thrusters kicked in. The pilot maneuvered the metal monstrosity away from the Ledge before suddenly diving into the mountain range. It was the only way to avoid detection from the surveillance bots because this side of the building wasn’t monitored. Meiling was too egotistical, or perhaps naïve, to think someone would attempt a breach from the mountains.

“You better get back to dinner, Lian.”

“Yeah.” Yet standing on the freezing outcrop seemed a much better way to spend her evening than in the dining room with a piranha. She held Vera’s hand as they headed back inside. Vera shut the heavy door behind them.

“You handle the cold better than most, but your skin is freezing,” Vera said, rubbing Lian’s bare arms with her gloved fingers. “She’s going to know you weren’t in the bathroom.”

Lian shrugged. “I doubt she’ll notice. She’s too busy hanging on to every word that jerk says.”
 

“Give me your hands.”

“What?”

Vera pulled off her own gloves. “Let me put these on you.”

“I don’t—”

“Lian…”

“Okay, okay.” Vera fitted the thick gloves over Lian’s hands, then continued to rub her arms. She felt warmer already. “Thanks, this is helping.”

“Good, because if you don’t get up there soon, Boss is going to send someone to find you…”

“You’re right, we don’t want
that
.” She pulled off the gloves and handed them back. “I wish you wouldn’t call her that.”
 

“Lian, it’s what we all call her.” Vera frowned.
 

“It doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She refused to get upset with Vera, though. “Thanks.”

“It seems to have worked in warming you up—”

“No, I mean thanks for everything. We both know Meiling will figure this out sooner or later, and when she does…”

Vera shrugged. “Someone’s got to stop her.”

“Yes, and I’m glad it’s us.”

“You know, you should start calling her what she really is. Wicked as she is, she’s still your mother.” Vera mentioned this at least once a day. “Calling her by name and not title is a blatant show of disrespect and isn’t going to make your life any easier.”

“As long as she’s in my life, it’ll never be easier.”
And she doesn’t deserve any respect.
“Besides, if I should be calling anyone
mother
, it should be you. You’re the bravest woman I know.” Lian leaned over and kissed Vera’s cold cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Vera.”

“You’re a very sweet girl, Lian.”

She spun on her heel and raced along the corridor before her emotions overwhelmed her. When she reached the stairs, she paused for just a moment to catch a glimpse of Vera’s rueful smile and the shine of tears in her eyes.

She’d meant it. Meiling might have given birth to her, but Lian could only remember Vera being there every time she’d needed a mother. When she had nightmares and couldn’t go back to sleep, or when she’d wanted someone to read her a bedtime story. Even when she needed to talk to someone about embarrassing growing pains, Vera had answered all her questions and listened to her problems. She never insulted, degraded, or made her feel stupid—all things Meiling did on a daily basis.

Vera hadn’t shared much about her life before she was dumped in the Shan Estate, or even how she got there years ago, but she’d told Lian bedtime stories she suspected were actually fragments of her former life. Stories about a young woman marrying the shifter prince of a forest moon after they met by chance and fell passionately in love. Tales of having the perfect baby boy who grew up to be a strong man, until both husband and son were taken and the woman was whisked away to a foreign planet, where she became a servant.

Lian knew Vera desperately wanted to help these innocents from being condemned to a fate like hers, but she never asked any more than Vera was willing to share. She respected and loved Vera too much to cause her pain. The memories she passed off as stories were enough. Either way, Lian loved her like a mother.

It didn’t take Lian long to reach the top of the stairs. By the time she got there she’d regained her composure, but almost lost it again when she collided with someone. She looked up and found her father, who grabbed her arms before she stumbled.

“Li, where are you running to?” He flashed a genuine smile, dressed in his usual denim shirt and jeans combo.

“Hey, Dad,” she said, catching her breath. “I just went to the bathroom and have to get back to the latest pointless dinner party Meiling organized.”

A frown darkened his features. “You better get back, then.”

“Can you come with me? I’m so bored.”

“You know I’m not invited.” He lowered his voice and added, “Besides, I’m too busy to waste time meeting rich folks.”

Lian rolled her eyes. “I hate these dinners.”

“You know your mother is only trying to make you happy.”

She was about to say that marrying a stranger wouldn’t make her happy, but held her tongue. It wasn’t fair to drag him into this and put him in the middle. “Okay.”

“I think they’re serving eel tonight—one I caught myself.”

“Thanks, Dad.” She didn’t like eel, but always felt better after talking to her father. She got on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “See you later.”
 

Lian continued on her way, light-footed as she jogged the rest of the way to the dining room. At least she had another excuse lined up if Meiling bugged her about taking too long.

“And you’re sure she’s still pure?” Lian heard Sergei ask as she entered the dining room.

“Of course she is,” Meiling answered with a small giggle. “I promised you a pure bride, and that’s what my daughter is. And you’re prepared to ensure she takes your surname? This is not negotiable.”

“Certainly,” Sergei said. “I make sure all my wives take my name.”

Lian could barely contain the rage from boiling up inside her. Thanks to her mother, she was
pure
. She’d been ready to give her virginity to Hogan last year, when they’d just about done everything but have sex. When her mother caught them, she’d ensured they never got a chance to be alone again. Hogan disappeared for a while, and
these
potential husbands started showing up. It was also when the dreams had started, as if promising hope.

Sometimes Lian wished
she
could jump onboard that heavy transport to escape this life. Vera and Hogan had suggested it countless times, but they all knew she wouldn’t go anywhere without them. The guards were physically tied to the estate by collars, but Lian was bound by blood.

We’re all prisoners here.

She tried to force her anger away and took her seat. Sergei’s leering smile spread along his thick, pierced lips. He didn’t stand, but his predatory eyes followed Lian’s every move. She wanted to smack that greedy glare off his ugly face.