The mission was screwed from the get go. We had been sent to search for survivors from a intergalactic cruise-ship that had crash landed on an inhabited world.
Once landing we had found out that the planet had been inhabited. Ruins of an ancient city had greeted us once the shuttle had broken through the cloud cover. That wasn’t the worst of it though. Maric, our pilot, had recognized it. Though he wouldn’t say how. As soon as we landed, he had debarked, and now I was chasing after him, hoping that Bear and Tigg could handle searching for any survivors.
“The Thirteenth Borne has returned…” I heard the voice just to my left. Turning I expected to see someone standing there. Instead there were just shadows.
The gun in my hand felt cool to the touch as I followed the dust trail Maric had left. “Maric! Come on out damn it!” Touching the light on the wrist guard of my uniform, I flashed it around hoping to find something that would tell me where the older man had gone.
“The curse shall be lifted soon…” This voice was closer, right in front of me. There was a pillar there. Stepping up to it, I lightly touched it as I moved to peer behind the cold stone.
Nothing.
The place felt like a tomb, and the voices that kept whispering were starting to give me the creeps. Tucking the hair out of my face I lifted my wrist guard tapping the radio.
“Hey, Bear, you having any luck out there?”
“Yeah, we found the ship. Everyone’s accounted for. Kitten, they’re all alive.” He sounded amazed.
“We saw the damage on the ship though. How can they…” Light flashed in front of me. It looked like a doorway.
“They said the people here escorted them to some sort of palace. You should see this place Kit. It looks like something out of those old data records from before space travel.”
“You read too many of those things anyway Bear. Those stories aren’t real.” I moved closer to the doorway, hearing something move behind me. Turning quickly, I saw a woman, as pale as snow ducking for cover. “Bear, stay in your position. I think I have a native here.” I moved to slide the gun away. “See, I’m not dangerous. I’m looking for someone.” I held up my hands to show I wasn’t armed. I had a small hold out weapon build into the wrist guard, but it was only good at touching range, so I really wasn’t lying.
“You don’t remember this place do you? We used to come here to play. You would call the will-o-wisps to light the area.” The woman stayed just out of sight. “This is where the other five reside.” Her voice was soft, as if not wanting to wake something.
“What are you talking about?” Actually I wanted to know how she knew common tongue. Part of me reasoned that the language she spoke was close to some known language in the translators that were in my earpiece.
“Sisters, she does not remember. Though the knight that stole her from us told us that she is the one. Could he be mistaken?” The woman had paused, standing before a tall statue.
I moved closer, the gun finding it’s way back to my hand, though I didn’t take off the safety.
Lying at the foot of the statue was another figure, this one kneeling, arms spread wide. It took me a moment to see that her wrists were bound to the statue behind her. I could tell that the figure was a woman, human of some exotic decent.
The bound woman didn’t move. The one I had followed turned, startled.
I didn’t move, instead my eyes scanned the area. Four other women, aging from what looked to late teen to early thirties, were all bound in the same way. Mouths open, as if caught in a silent scream.
“What the hell is this place?”
“They… It’s where the faith rest until all of us are home. You are the last that needed to return. I feel it. You have the aura of the child unborn. The one that was stolen to try to prevent our people from being destroyed.” She moved closer to the woman she was kneeling before, turning to face me, arms out as if to protect the woman. Glancing up I looked at the statues. There were seven of them in all. Each was the statue of some animal.
“She’s not ready.” Maric’s voice behind me made me jump. “She doesn’t know about this place, because I hid the memories of her time here. In order to keep her safe from the Gat’al.”
His hand on my shoulder prevented me from turning to face him.
“She’s insane, probably stranded here way too long. Look what she did to the people here. We have to get back to the ship and get those civilians to safety.” I said calmly. Something about the statues made me uneasy.
“She didn’t do it. Your brother cast them into the trance. He can’t get in here. For now they’re safe. Nuria, please you have to come with us. Renata, calm, she will not harm you. But I cannot break the seal to the chamber of the first six without your help.”
Maric wasn’t using my code name. meant something was up. I moved to try to get his hand off my shoulder, but he held it fast.
There was no way I’d be able to beat Maric in hand to hand combat if it came down to it. He wasn’t human and I was. Come to think of it, I was the only human in the group. Bear could easily lift a ton without breaking a sweat, though he was a shape shifter. Tigg was a cyborg, and Maric, was… well no one knew what Maric really was.
“Are you sure that this is wise Knight of Old.” The girl stood calmly. “She does not seem like my sister. Though, last I saw her was in the ‘Dreaming’ before our birth.”
“It’s her. I was there at the birthing remember? Please, I need to see into the chamber. I need to know that the ancient spells kept them in stasis.”
“As I have not aged since the spell was put in place, nor have they. But, I will take you to them. Maric, I must warn you. He has gained power in all this time. He has managed to gain control over most the world in his sleep. Hours of nightfall are no longer safe for those of us who are of light.”
Maric sighed, I felt him ease his grip on my shoulder. “I was afraid that would happen. I warned the council not to take this action too.”
“It cannot be undone. If she really is Thirteenth borne, then she’s the one that will tip the scales. He’ll have his minions hunt her.”
“I know. Come with us. You’ll be safe for the night.”
“You smell of wolf.” She backed up.
“We have one in our group. He won’t harm you. Please, you’ve been alone so long. The Elconia have already taken in the ones we came to get. By now they have the other two people of our crew. They were once your people.”
“They… They blame me for what has happened here. Maric, I am not welcome in the court of the Elconia. And, I fear the Dwali. They only wish one thing of me. And that I cannot give.”
“What about the Melak? Aqui?”
“They are dying. As are those of the air and forest.” Our world is dying.”
Maric frowned. “Nuria, go, you’ll find the others waiting for you just outside the doors at the end of this hall. I’ll stay with her. Chief Ziya will be able to tell you what happened here. I’m sorry, I meant to tell you about all of this long ago. But I couldn’t. I was bound by honor not to. Please, We won’t be able to leave for a while anyway. Our landing drained the engines. It will take a month for them to recharge.”
His hand fell from my shoulder. “You stranded us here on purpose,” I turned growling at him. “This planet isn’t fucking charted Maric. It’s on the fucking border of a lot of uncharted space. And you think I’m going to blindly go through this little fucking charade of yours?” It wasn’t that I was really pissed, I was scared. First off, things about the room we were in were starting to feel familiar. That scared me. I knew I had never been in the room before.
There was a low growl from the shadows behind us. The girl stepped back her hands clutched before her as she lowered her head speaking quickly.
“Go!” Maric shoved me the direction of the door. “Don’t look back.”
What was that noise I heard near him. There was a clang of metal on metal.
“You’ve gotten better old man. But not enough to stop me. You never were good enough. Priestess of Light let me take the Unborne. She’s ours to begin with. Her life started with death.”
“I promised that I would die protecting the light. I would fail now if I let my sister die Brother.” I turned feeling energy swirl around the room. Two powers were at play. One was warm and comforting. The other was like ice water, thick to wade through.
I heard Maric yell at the girl to run and turned fully, gun in both hands, aiming at the figure that had toppled Maric over.
“I don’t know what the fuck’s going on. But get off the pilot of my ship now, before I separate your brains from your fucking head.”
Yellowed eyes in a very human face looked up at me. “Little sister, you wouldn’t have forgotten the promise you made to my lord before your birth? You promised in the Dreaming that you would give yourself fully to him when you came into power. I can smell power just under the surface with you. Sweet, innocent, like ripe fruit, ready to be plucked from the vine.”
Maric was struggling, trying to get free. I focused down the barrel of the gun.
“Get the fuck off him.” I didn’t think that he’d really move.
“Kitten!” Bear’s yell startled me as the man lunged at me. His body shortened, becoming more animal like. In fear I fired the gun.
Two more shots rang out behind me, making me stay perfectly still. My shot knocked the creature back, while the two other shots hit two figures that were charging from the shadows.
The woman screamed as I scrambled back. Maric went for her, the sword still in his hand.
“Bear, help Maric. I don’t know what the fuck’s going on yet, but protect that woman. Tigg you’re with me.”
“Yes ma’am.” Tigg moved up to my left. I glanced at him with a grim smile and he nodded. There were times working with people you trusted with your life was a good thing. Tigg went left into the shadows, I went right. Both of us would in theory be able to hear each other’s footsteps. In truth, I could never hear him. He would just simply say ‘don’t shoot’ and I wouldn’t.
“It’s true, the one who will turn the tides is back.”
More voices in the shadows echoed whispers. Closing my eyes a moment I felt a trickle of energy around me. This wasn’t like the power that had been in the center of the room, this was more like a living pulse. I reached out carefully with one hand. My arm felt like it was trailing through water. It was like if I wished I could hold that power in my hand.
Feeling warmth against my hand I opened my eyes.
Standing on my outstretched palm was what looked like a soft blue glowing butterfly. The wings fluttered almost making me pull back.
“Lady of the Sword, the Will-o-wisps welcome you home.” The voice was a bare whisper.
“Welcome back.”
“Thank the gods you’re back…” Voices echoed around me. I trembled slightly, my hand pulling away from the glow.
Other brightly lit orbs fluttered about me.
“This isn’t happening.”
Tigg, I glanced over to where he was standing, looking at his hands. The orbs seemed to like him more than me. A giggle escaped my lips as I watched them hover over his orange tinted skin. The black tattoos he had, to make himself more cat-like, seemed to dance in the glowing light.
“Oh very funny. You know I can’t stand bugs.” He tried to swat them away, only to have more take the opening.
“Tigg, calm down, I don’t think they’re going to harm us. They would have already, what ever they are, they’re just curious.” I heard footsteps behind me and turned, the gun being brought up just in case.
“Ease your highness. I am unarmed.” The man held out his hands and stayed back a ways. The glowing lights danced to him, hovering around before landing on him.
“Who are you?” I didn’t curse this time at least. Bear was walking up with Maric, two people were with the girl.
“He’s the one that told us that you and Maric might be in trouble.” Bear responded for him. “His people took in the survivors of the crash. There were wounded, and though the facilities here are primitive, the wounded are being cared for. Kitten, you should see this place. Tigg and I scouted in hovers before we found them.”
Bear’s blue eyes seemed to sparkle a little.
I put the gun away figuring it was stupid pointing at someone who Bear seemed to trust. “This place is giving me the creeps anyway. Feels like I’m being watched.”
“You are, by the spirits who watch over this place. This is hollowed ground.” The stranger frowned a little. “The seal should have kept the brothers of the night out. Magic is fading, we may not have time to fully test you and save our world.”
Test me? What a minute here. I came to rescue the survivors of the cruise liner. I’m not about to play hero to a world. It’s not in my job description. Actually, we shouldn’t be talking to the natives at all. After all, we probably carry diseases that could kill them. Not to mention, what they could give to us. Of course I kept my mouth shut. Bear reached out for me and I took his hand.
“I just want to get back to the ship and sleep.” I let Bear pull me close.
“We should at least hear what they have to say. After all, it will be a few weeks before the rest of the transports get here to help transport them all. I know, against protocol, but you were saying before this mission started that you wanted a vacation. These people are willing to help us, so in a way you’ll be getting that vacation.”
Tigg shuddered again, the flying bugs still floating around him. “Can we get out of here? Please, I really, really hate bugs.”
“Fine, we’ll listen to what they have to say Bear. But if I don’t like it, we’re leaving.”
******************************************************************************************
I frowned. Bear’s sympathy for the planet’s situation had started to play on me. Personally I thought that the whole planet was crazy. After all, in the two days that we had been there, I had met with fifteen elders, all different tribes, and all of them had treated me, and Renata, both as royalty.
Renata seemed to be used to it, and was trying to help prevent me from making any cultural faux pas.
This morning though, we had to ourselves. She had lead me to a large pool, her guard staying behind in the village.
“Men are not allowed here. The hands of the warriors would taint the magic of this place.” She spoke softly.
I had to stop a moment to just gaze at the sight before me. The pool it’s self was really just a small lake. The sand around it was white. At least I had thought it was sand.
“Remove your shoes. This is a place of healing and relaxation. I allowed you to bring your weapons with us, only because I have noticed that you do not leave the home the Elcion prepared for you without them.”
I looked at her. I had at least started wearing the clothing they had asked me to wear. Part of me had wanted to keep protesting, telling them that it was wrong to kill for leather, but that was before I saw how the people had used everything from the animal. The leathers I now wore had been from an animal that had fed the family that had made the clothes. The bones from the animal had been turned into utensils and jewelry. Bear was now wearing a necklace he had received from one of the families after he had spent a day helping them tend to a garden. I had wanted to help, because it had actually looked like fun, but the men they had put on me as an honor guard had said physical labor was beneath me.
Sitting on the ground just before the white sand, I pulled off the knee high boots I wore. As an after thought, I also took off my gun, setting it beside the boots.
Reneta had already run ahead, slipping out of more of her clothing.
Stepping onto the white I blinked. The ground under my feet didn’t feel anything like sand. In fact, it felt soft, like cotton.
“This place is called cloud lake.” Reneta spoke softly. “Legend says that our sister first borne begged of a place that was the sky on land. The gods, gave her such a place, creating this lake just for her and those who are of her flesh.”
I walked to the water, the clouds swirling around me as I walked. Under my feet it felt like I’d fall, but I was still held up.
“First Borne?”
She looked puzzled a moment, then smiled. “That is right. The Elcion will not speak of the others to you. They left that to Lord Maric. But he is still trying to find the other leaders. For you will need allies.”
“That is if I even stay. I mean, you guys are saying I’m some sort of hero. Look, I know I rescue people for a living, but seriously, this is way past anything I ever thought of doing.”
“So you do not believe the Dreaming?”
“Look, no one’s told me what that is yet either. I’m not from here.” I paused. I had gotten to the water. Glancing down at my feet I saw little silver fish swimming around me. They skirted away quickly.
“This will see if you are the one. Come, deeper into the water. This is my element. I will help to bring you into the Dreaming so that you may see what you have forgotten. If it is meant to be.”
I looked at her. She held out her hands, smile on her face. Taking them I let her pull me deeper into the water.
There was a small ‘island’ of cloud in the middle of the lake, which really wasn’t that deep. We walked all the way to the island, and water only came up to our knees. Sitting on the clouds, I felt it move as if it wasn’t anchored to anything.
“Relax, this place is a haven for those who were borne of the curse.” She tucked the hair from her eyes. “All of us came out here once. Well, all but our brother. He cannot stand the light. And he drinks the blood of those who can to survive.” She looked sad a moment. “I, I will tell you of them all. Please, just sit and listen.”
I lounged back enjoying the rocking of the island. “I’ll try to be a good student. But I should warn you now. History was never my strong point.”
I got another puzzled look from her but flashed a grin.
“Right, you were the baby, so of course you weren’t expected to do much.” Looking out over the lake she sighed a moment. “This used to be a peaceful world. Before the darkness came. Our scientists thought that it was because we were allowing off worlders to come to enjoy what our world could offer. Maric was one of those such off worlders who stayed.”
“Maric? He’s not that old,” I looked at her.
“He’s over an age old. He was old before he came here. Maric, became friends with our father. When the Darkness started to take hold, Maric was the one that helped Father fight back and rebuild. This was before the Dreaming, and before Mother was born.”
She paused a moment. I stayed quiet because I was trying to fathom Maric being older than fifty years old.
“The Dreaming came as the last attack the Darkness had on our father. It showed him how his world would fall. And how it would be reborn. The rebirth would be through thirteen children. You saw five of them in the Alter of the spirits.” She bit her lip. “There is another chamber where our brothers are kept. I am getting ahead of myself. I am sorry.”
“Hey, it’s okay, not like you’re expected to tell me everything at once.”
“I am though. I am the twelve borne, I am the princess of memory. I am the Dreaming given flesh and blood.” She rubbed her arms. “I, if things continue as they do, I have seen the future. I don’t want that to happen. I, I allowed them to lock the others in their prisons, I alone am free because I am useful outside the Dreaming.”
Tears were starting to form in her eyes now. “When Mother first came to the castle, Father loved her at once. She was funny, smart, and not the typical woman of the villages.”
I listened to her talk, part of me believing what she said, the rest of me wishing that it wasn’t just a pretty story. Trailing my fingers in the water I felt something tremble over the surface. Sitting up, I saw a man standing at the edge of the lake.
Reneta was quiet, her jaw set.
“Relax Dreamer, I came to see if it was her. After all, the pool of the First born is sacred ground. We cannot fight here.” He stepped closer, I felt a coolness to the water, almost like it was starting to freeze.
Looking into the man’s cold green eyes, I instantly didn’t want him closer.
Reneta didn’t seem to want him closer either. She scooted back so she was on the edge of the island.
I still had my wrist guard, with it’s hidden weapon.
“Who are you?” I managed to keep my voice calm, and I behaved, I didn’t move to activate the weapon I had. After all, if we weren’t supposed to fight here, I couldn’t attack him for scaring the crap out of me right?
“I am crushed ‘She of the Blade’ does not know the sight of her own dear brother. Even after I was the one that breathed life into you when everyone had thought you had died.”
“She did die! She left the dream!” Reneta growled, standing on her feet in the water now.
He was closer, about twenty feet away still, but within range of my holdout weapon if needed. I scrambled back keeping myself between Reneta and the stranger.
“Seriously, back off. I don’t know if I am who this whole planet seems to think I am. But right now, I don’t want you any closer.” I held up my wrist, ready to fire one of two shots I had within the hidden gun.
“Oh, but you are she. Only the Thirteenth would think fight before flight.” He licked his lips.
Were those fangs? Okay, now this place is really getting to me.
Reneta tugged my arm. I glanced over my shoulder looking at what she had seen.
“Thought you said that only those who were like us could come here.” There were fifteen men surrounding us. None of the others stood on the clouds at least, but we were surrounded. Fuck.
“There’s no where to hide this time sisters. I wish to end this here and now. And you will help me do just that.”
“I don’t think so.” Pressing the trigger, I didn’t fire at him, but at one of the men behind him. The man fell back to the ground bleeding.
“You missed.” He stepped closer.”
“No, I didn’t want to accidentally shoot the princess here.” I grinned slightly as he stepped closer. He looked human, so maybe I’d have a chance at taking him with hand to hand combat.
Glancing to the others, I saw they weren’t able to come any closer. It was like the clouds were preventing them from moving. That would be helpful at least.
“Bear! Come to my location, bring Tigg.” I hissed over the radio as I charged forward.
The man stepped back, as if startled I’d move to attack. Since I was on the ‘cloud’ island in the lake, it wasn’t hard to use it as a spring board, knocking him down with ease.
Kneeling with him in the water, I tried to keep his shoulders down.
Reneta screamed as I was thrown across the lake. Landing with a splash I growled.
I hate getting wet. I mean I know how to swim, but unless there’s bubbles, I hate getting fully soaked.
I didn’t get a chance to fully stand before the man had turned me around.
Yeah, he had fangs. And bad breath. You think this world, being so perfect and all, would have had something like breath mints.
“Brother stop!” Reneta yelled from where she stood.
He turned looking at her and I brought my knee up as hard as I could. Even if he was blood related, I had no intentions of letting him hurt either of us.
The man fell back trying to relearn how to breathe. I took the moment to scramble to the edge of the pool. Lying there a moment I tried to clear my head. I had one shot left in the wrist guard, and a small knife tucked away. My pistol was out with his buddies.
“Bitch, I should have had them kill you instead of follow you in the caverns.’
“Yeah should have probably. Why the fuck didn’t you?” I smirked. He cursed first, which meant I could show them I had grown up as a citizen of the United States on Earth. We were a crude bunch, and proud to prove it.
I caught a glimpse of metal in the corner of my eye and turned firing the last shot without aiming.
There was a feral yell as the creature I had hit fell back.
“Now, anyone else try anything and your boss gets it.” I growled low turning my hand to face him. Hopefully they’d fall for my bluff, after all, two of their number were down. Meant fourteen to go, including him. The odds weren’t great, but I had proved I wasn’t afraid to fight if needed.
“Brother stop this. Please, she isn’t ready.” Reneta had fallen to her knees in the water. Glancing over to her I saw the tears in her face. Great, she was cannon fodder. I really didn’t need someone with me who wasn’t able to fight.
“Kitten,” I heard the yell and, not taking my eyes off the stranger I moved a little closer to him.
“Bear, over here.”
“They cannot save you.”
“They can’t save me from you is that it fang-face? I got you under control. Though, you come closer I’m going to make sure you have a really bad day.” I growled low. “Left you boys some to play with. Have fun. Oh, and Tigg, looks like you’re not the only one with fangs here. Though, you are the cutest.”
I heard Tigg’s laugh. “See I told you she would be fine. Wouldn’t be our Hell Kitten to die on us.”
Bear came into view first. His gun drawn ready to fire. Tigg was after him.
“And here I thought you hated getting wet.” Bear smirked at me, still holding the gun ready.
“Depends on who’s getting me wet Bear. Though, this instance… I’d rather sleep with that Elcion elder’s son. At least he knows how to bathe. Even if he smells like roses.”
“Ow. I think she just dissed you Bear.” Tigg aimed at the nearest of the men with the gun in his hands. “You’re Highness, Kitten, you’re escorts have arrived.”
I flipped Tigg off only to make him laugh a little more. Reaching out my hand. Reneta balked a moment, then got the point that I wanted her closer. She moved up to us and put me between me and fang-face.
Shoving him to the water I backed us up to Tigg and Bear, making sure to keep the two of them at either side of Reneta.
“You two okay?”
This was Bear asking softly. I gave a small nod.
“Please tell me you have a hover nearby.”
“In the clearing.” He nodded handing something to me. Took a moment to realize it was my boots and gun.
Slipping the gun into my belt I grabbed Reneta’s arm. “Cover us.”
The four of us bolted for the hover. Reneta struggled to keep up with us. In the end Tigg had scooped her up, and I took his place backing us up after tossing my boots at him.
“Man, why do I get all the grunt work?”
“Because you can bench press the most.” Bear quipped taking a few shots behind him. He shoved me ahead of him.
Tigg had already gotten into the Hover starting it up. I could see Reneta sitting in one of the seats.
I scrambled up the ramp using the hull as cover as I covered Bear.
Bear fell in behind me, slamming the door’s button.
“Fuck, that hurt!” I glanced over seeing the cut on his back.
“When that happen?”
“When I shoved you ahead of me. I’ll be fine.” I reached up for the med kit.
“Take off your shirt.”
“Huh okay where to boss.” Tigg’s voice came from the cockpit.
“Back to the village. I want to know what the hell those people were.” I sank to the floor beside Bear.
“You know I shift it’ll heal.”
“Yeah, well we have someone who doesn’t know what you are with us. I don’t think you want them to be freaked out do you?” I smiled a little as he sighed stripping off the ruined shirt.
The cuts weren’t deep. And they weren’t made by any weapon I knew of.
Footsteps came closer and I tensed, reaching for my gun.
“It’s me.” Reneta spoke softly. “I, Brother marked him. How? That mark only shows on those who have a creature of the night within.” She backed up more.
“It’s okay, he’s a friend, and yeah, he shape shifts, but he’s not dangerous.”
