Tiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp (Tiva Boon Series Book 2) Page 10

  Harai wiped Tiva’s face with a warm cloth. “I’m so sorry, Tiva. I pleaded with the courts, but they wouldn’t listen. I’m sorry. Tell me…how can I help?”

  “Contact the Union Vexillum ship the Tolox. Inform them I am alive, but require transport. I will need a place to rest and hide, but not here…they will come looking…” Tiva fought to stay awake.

  “I’ll call my father, he’s working. Maybe he can keep you at the military base until your friends come back for you.” Harai began locking the windows and doors. She paced back and forth a bit before stopping. “You must be starving!” She opened a cupboard and placed various sweets and pastries on the table. “Eat something; you’ll need your strength.”

  “Thank you,” she answered and sat up.

  “Now…” Harai glanced around frantically. “I have to call Father then we have to get you cleaned up and into bed.”

  “I cannot stay here.”

  “You can for the night.”

  “It is not safe. They are still out there looking for me, Harai, and I have a feeling they have others helping them…”

  “Your people?”

  Tiva nodded. She knew some of her own people were here. Their minds were different from the Uucorians, and they were searching for her. “The hunters drugged me, I cannot shield myself. I must leave here as soon as possible.”

  “Okay, go lie down in back—eat something first. I’m going to call my father.” Harai hugged her. “I’ll hurry.”

  Trying to stay awake was harder then she imagined. She wanted and needed to rest, but until Harai was out of danger, she refused. The familiar comfort of the guest room allowed her to relax. Her legs were still tender from running.

  She tried to clear her mind. Somehow, she needed to shield herself from the others. She breathed in and exhaled trying to calm. Tiva allowed the weight of the situation to lift slowly. Her long, deep breaths made her feel complete again. She had almost reached sleep state when the tingle at the back of her mind forced her back to reality.

  The hunters were nearing and with them, a strong mind.

  Tiva jumped up from the bed ignoring the ache as she ran through the house. “Harai they are coming, you must leave!”

  The young girl rushed into the kitchen area and grabbed Tiva by the arm. “I’m not leaving without you, let’s go. My father is expecting us.” Harai pulled her out the back door and through the yard.

  “It is too late…” Tiva said, stopped, and looked at the men surrounding them. She glanced into her friend’s eyes and smiled. “Thank you for trying, Harai. They want me, not you. You must remain safe…go!” Tiva pushed her back inside the house, closed the door, and sprinted toward the group of men.

  “Tiva no! They will hurt you! I have foreseen it!”

  She barely heard Harai’s scream as she hurdled into the air. Two of the hunters fired their weapons at her. She spun midair, shifting her body and planted her foot into the chest of one of them. Landing between them, she pulled the second close, snapped his wrist back, jerked his undamaged arm behind his back, and used him as a shield.

  The hunters continued to fire. Tiva backed up slowly keeping herself hidden behind the man’s now lifeless body. She rushed to the fence at the end of the yard, pushed the body forward, and hopped over it.

  When she rose to her feet, she was face to face with the man who had eluded the guardians time after time. He grinned wickedly and his voice blared through her mind.

  All this fuss over you? I can hardly believe it.

  Tiva fell to her knees and grabbed her head.

  “Oh, did that hurt? I’m sorry, Royal Guardian Boon.”

  She glanced up. “I am surprised you are still alive, Pethor.”

  He howled with delight. “How could I expect you not to know me? Solun said you were sharp.”

  “You will join him soon.”

  “You jest, Tiva Boon, it is you who will join him once I’ve extracted all the information I need out of you.”

  “What information? Have your alien friends not told you all there is to know, traitor?”

  “Alien friends?” He knelt down and lifted her chin. His dark features hardened. “Oh, you mean our suppliers. Well, we severed ties with them long before the Great War ended; we have…other alliances now.”

  She met his cold maroon eyes. “I will tell you nothing.”

  “You will, eventually. I have ways of breaking the strongest of spirits, I assure you.” He hauled her to her feet and two others secured her hands and feet. He turned to his men. “Take her back to the ship.”

  The drug was wearing off, and she was able to shield herself slightly. Pethor’s ship came into view as the Abennelpian guards pushed her through the forest. The vessel was a modified version of the king’s. Next to it was the bounty ship and the few hunters left alive. She grinned. Murek was lying on the ground with a hole in his chest, most likely caught in the crossfire.

  Lekko and Pethor talked softly in the distance. Tiva saw the traitor hand Lekko two small containers. Most likely payment for her capture.

  She had no way of knowing if Harai was alive. She hoped Major Raku informed the Tolox of her location, and she prayed they came after her. She knew if Aliri and Adam had any say in the matter, the captain would at least try.

  Pethor’s men escorted her through the ship and into a holding room. They strapped her onto an upright bed, laughed, and left without saying a word. A shiver ran up her spine. The table next to her held various sharp instruments and weapons. Several items were foreign to her, but she knew their purpose.

  When the traitor walked in, she felt the ship lift off the ground. Her heart raced, and her markings darkened despite her fear. Pethor silently moved to the table and picked up a long silver dagger. He cut both sleeves off her top and slit the shirt in half, leaving only her undershirt.“Let’s see, we should start off slow. How many of you survived the last Rebel attack?”

  “I do not know.”

  Pethor backhanded her across the face and calmly asked again. “How many of you survived the Rebel attack?”

  “Strike at me all you wish, traitor, I will never tell you.”

  “Damn you to the spirits, you will!” He grabbed a short three-pronged razor sharp instrument and pressed it into her upper arm. “Tell me how many survived.”

  Pain sear through her flesh, but she absorbed it and clenched her teeth. Again, he asked and she refused. Another jolt shocked her. The sting rode up her shoulder and down her torso. She met Pethor’s cold, dark eyes. He grinned.

  “Don’t make me harm you, Guardian. I just want answers.”

  “You called me Guardian so you know I will die before I tell you anything.”

  “Well, we have other means. I did not wish to resort to such tactics, but I will if I must.” Pethor struck her across the face again, this time using the instrument. The blood trickled down her cheek, but she ignored it. He pressed the device into her other arm and shocked her again. Tiva struggled under her restraints. He lifted her undershirt and pressed the prongs against her stomach. He twisted the device and the metal cut deep into her skin. Tiva cringed and continued to thrash, but there was no way to break free. “Certain you don’t want to talk, Royal Guardian?”

  “I will enjoy taking your life,” she stated calmly. Another barrage invaded her body, this time stronger than the last. Her body seized uncontrollably and when it stopped, she went limp on the table. Pethor neared and lifted her chin. Tiva spit in his face.

  “Pity you have to lower yourself to such a level…” He grinned and wiped his face. “Let’s try another question, one I am sure you know the answer to…Where is the royal family?”

  Tiva stayed silent. Was it possible that the Rebels didn’t know everyone else was gone?

  “Answer me! Where are they?” He slammed the prongs into her shoulder and looked into her eyes. His markings were dark, but not as black as hers. She bit her lip to keep from screaming, and did her best to ignore the torment rising within
.

  “I am elite Royal Guardian, Tiva Boon. I have sworn my life to protect my king, and I will return to the Eternal Lands before I tell you anything!”

  Pethor hung his head. “He said you’d be stubborn, but I was not expecting this…”

  “Who?”

  He rubbed the back of his hand nervously. “I urge you to answer me. These devices are meant for one thing only…”

  “Go to hell, Pethor.”

  “You’ve been with off-worlders too long, you are starting to sound like them.” He reached back onto the table and picked up a small box. After opening and inspecting the contents, he placed three small round patches on her face, one in the middle of her moons and the other two on her temples. Tiva attempted escape again, trying anything and everything to break loose. Her strength was gone, her will was lacking, but her mind was forcing her body not to feel any pain the only thing she had control over. Pethor kept watch on her as he cradled a small machine in his hand. “I did not wish to harm you this way, but you leave me no other choice.”

  He pressed down on a small black button and immediately Tiva felt the painful shock within her mind. She cringed and clawed the bed. Her body shook violently. The three points on her head pulsed and vibrated, as the current flowing through her mind grew stronger. Pethor turned away. “Coward!” she yelled.

  “Tell me what I want and I can end your suffering.”

  “Fool, you know nothing of suffering.”

  He glared at her, his eyes as cold as the vastness of space. After making a small adjustment to the box, the pain subsided. “The next round will be more intense, Guardian Boon, answer my question. Where is the royal family?”

  “There is no way you can find them.”

  “Answer me!”

  “You will never find them.”

  “Damn you!” He activated the machine again and walked out of the room.

  A surge of power violated her mind. Searing agony filled her. She shook ferociously on the bed, crying out, but trying to gather every bit of strength she had to break from the restraints. Thoughts left her. Her mind felt hollow and torn. She growled and with a final spurt of energy heard the snap of the restraint. She pulled the pieces from her head and hurried to free her other hand. Before she did, Pethor entered and struck her across the face.

  “You can’t get away that easily, Guardian Boon.”

  Tiva wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. “And you are a coward and a pawn, just like all the others, and I know you fear me. You have seen the damage I can do. Your Rebel children, your followers; I killed many of them. Like Solun, Unil, and Bumo. Lie after lie led them to their demise, and you will share the same fate for I will kill you. Your blood will stain my hands, Pethor.”

  “Murderous wench! You do not seem to be in position to do so, now do you?” he growled. “We will be home in less than five days. Then you will pay for your crimes against Abennelp.”

  “My crimes?” she said in disbelief. “I am a protector of Abennelp…”

  “You admitted your crimes! You killed your own people, destroyed the fiber of our society. You abandoned the Legionnaires and Guardians and fled during war, you are a coward and a deserter.”

  “My people?” she snorted. “Men, women, and children who you and your cohorts manipulated into fighting for a pathetic cause.” She spit blood in his face. “And I am no coward; I fled to protect King Delos. That is my duty!”

  Pethor met her eyes and laughed. She tried to gather a sense of him, but it only caused pain. Where is the king? His voice roared in her mind, she cringed and reached out to grab him. Pethor backed away and leaned against the table. He picked up a long tubular piece of metal and rested it on his shoulder. He paced back and forth for a spell before turning to her.

  She felt the cold metal under her chin and looked at the traitor as he forced her head up. Every cell in her body burned. Her head was on the verge of exploding.

  Pethor moved the metal along her neck and down her arm. He pinned her hand against the bed and stepped closer. I will give you one last chance to answer me. Tomorrow I will not be as forgiving.

  Tiva stared him down, saying nothing. The traitor shook his head, lifted the metal tube, and struck her on the temple.

  Chapter Eight

  Wake up.

  Tiva stirred in her sleep, trying to push the dreams and voices away.

  Wake up.

  She opened her eyes, and reached up to touch the side of her head. The metal chains confining her clanged against the floor. Tiva blinked and tugged, testing its strength. She glanced around the new room, trying her best to disregard the stinging in her head and the fire under her skin.

  The room had a mattress and a bench attached to the wall. It seemed like a long-term establishment, and for a moment, she found it humorous that Rebels would need a holding cell. She slid back on the floor and began to feel the mattress. Anything would be helpful at this juncture, she was losing strength, and her ability to keep focused continued to wane. The lumpy bed held nothing but feathers. There was no metal, wood, or other material to help her. She attempted to rise to her feet, but her ankle was swollen and sore, she could barely stand on it. The chains allowed enough length for her to reach every area of the room, save the door.

  Tiva hopped over to the bench and sat down. Something caught her attention underneath the tray of minimal food on the floor.

  She glanced toward the doorway, reached down, retrieved it, and rested the book on her lap. It was an old Yantar—the Abennelpian holy book. Quickly she hopped toward the door and peered down the corridor to find the gift giver. No one was around. Curious, she sat back down on the bench and opened the book. On the inside cover she saw writing in her native tongue.

  Tiva-keep this safe, it holds the key.

  Before flipping through the pages, Tiva studied the book to ensure it wasn’t a trap or recording device of some sort. It seemed legitimate, so she read the note on the cover again. The handwriting was unrecognizable, but she was not one to turn away a gift or means of help. Her mouth twisted as she searched the room. She couldn’t risk leaving it in the room for someone else to find, but she needed to hide it and keep the giver secret, too.

  Tiva ripped at her undershirt tearing the midsection off. She shredded the cloth in three strips. One she tied around her head over her wound, as a decoy, and with the other two strips, she tied the book to the inside of her thigh. It wasn’t very secure, but it would have to do for the time being.

  As she sat back on the bench to ensure it wouldn’t move, footsteps echoed nearby. She leaned back against the wall and stared at the door. Pethor’s face came into view. He was smiling, again.

  “Spirited Greetings.” He tapped on the side of the door and the bars retracted. She noticed he was holding the tube weapon. Curious, she kept her attention on it for a moment longer. “Ah, you like my new toy?” He chuckled. “It would displease me if I was required to use it against you, so are you ready to answer my questions?”

  “No.”

  Pethor twisted the end and a long, thin, blue glowing cable sputtered and hissed as it grew in length and curled around itself on the floor. “These bounty hunters we hired to find you have interesting technology. Take this laserwhip for instance…” He flicked his wrist and the cable snapped back, vibrating in her ear. “How many of you survived the attack, and where is the royal family?”

  “Do your worst, coward.”

  He sighed, and struck her side and back. Tiva cried out, the sting of the weapon burned her skin as it inflicted its pain. She fell off the bench and moved to the corner. “I told you…” He bent over, jerked the chain forcing her to the middle of the room, and flogged her back again.

  She screamed and twisted the chains around her arms trying to move away from him. The scorching sting depleted her strength, energy, and will and her body couldn’t handle much more.

  Tell him.

  She glanced around the room for a moment—that voice—Pethor struc
k her leg with another crack of the weapon. Blood seeped through her clothing. She covered the wound with her hand; thankfully, the ties were still in place around the book.

  Tell him.

  Pethor struck her once more before she recoiled to the corner. Every inch of skin was ablaze. She felt something inside change as she looked up at him. She narrowed her gaze as he stepped back. He raised the whip and struck her across the face. The cable wrapped around her neck and he tugged her closer. After releasing her from the weapons grasp, he put his foot on the chain keeping her in place. “I will stop when you answer. Where is the royal family?”

  “They are dead.” Her voice was low and deep. She touched the scorched mark on her neck and looked up at him.

  “You lie!”

  “No, I do not,” she replied, with ice in her voice.

  He walked toward her and grabbed a handful of hair. He studied her. “Sworn Royal Guardian to the throne of Abennelp has allowed the royal family to die?”

  “It was not by choice, traitor. Your alien friends destroyed the vessel and all the escape modules, save mine. I am surprised you did not know, after all it was you who drove us to the stars. Is that not what you wanted, Pethor? A unified Abennelp under Rebel reign. You have torn our world asunder and every royal is dead.”

  Pethor took a step back and gasped. “By the spirits, you aren’t lying.”

  “No, I am not. The spirits saved me…” she stared into his eyes. “For some purpose.”

  A smile lit his face as he turned toward the door. “Such good news, I must inform—”

  Tiva leapt up and kicked Pethor in the back. He staggered forward, slamming against the wall. She remained on her feet, supporting herself on her strong ankle. He turned and swung the laserwhip high in the air. It slashed her cheek and she fell back. He twirled it around again slashing across her stomach. “Move and I will beat you until you are utterly deformed, Guardian Boon.”

  It didn’t matter what he said, she barely heard his words. The darkness was taking her eyesight. Rage coursed through her. She rose to her feet, took a step closer, and as her legs gave out under her, she crashed to the ground and passed out.