Because right now, in this moment, she was tied up and put under guard.
Shadows fell heavy over the wide courtyard, cooling the heat of the day as a gentle breeze swept over the open yard. Women carted buckets of water from the well into the fortress. They did their best not to look at Karre, but she saw them peeking from the corner of their eyes. She couldn’t blame them, because right now, in this moment, she was tied up and put under guard.
Damn him.
Karre grimaced, thinking of Vidar as she stood, tied to a T-shaped post, in the middle of the courtyard. A chain ran along the top, binding her wrists over her head and a large shackle held her waist to the post, leaving her feet free to kick at the dirt. Her ties didn’t hurt, merely annoyed.
Somehow their argument had spiraled out of control and she’d ended up in the courtyard by her own taunting. The anger felt good, the release, the passion, the heavy breathing. Still, how could she back down? She wasn’t his to command, not like that. If he could protect her, then she could return the favor and protect him. She loved him, but she wouldn’t be controlled by him.
“Way to take a stand,” she mumbled, more bored than annoyed. “I could have told him to lock me in my chamber. Or chain me to the head table with a bottle of liquor.”
Karre kicked at the ground with her toes, trying to find someone, anyone, who would look directly at her so she could call them over to keep her company. Maybe she could convince them to let her go. It could be a diverting game—making Vidar catch her. The idea caused her body to tingle and her mind to swirl with deliciously wicked thoughts.
“Focus, Karre,” she admonished, pushing aside all sexual desires. This was bigger than a mere sexual game. This was her life, her future. She needed to concentrate.
“Have you reconsidered?”
Karre struggled to turn. Vidar’s voice came from behind her. She wondered how long he’d been standing there. With the breeze hitting her face, she hadn’t detected him. When she couldn’t see more than the side of his arm, she said, “Have you?”
“I have no wish to leave you out here, but you challenged my authority in the great hall in front of my men.” The heat of his breath brushed over the back of her neck as he leaned close. “Simply promise me you won’t try to spy on the Caniba and we can end this. I only seek to keep you safe.”
“I don’t know. I’m rather comfortable right here.” She lightly swung her hands back and forth, taking what little movement she could. “It’s a beautiful day.”
“You are a frustrating—grrr.” With that growl, he marched off. His steps stopped and he came back. Very softly, he said, “If you change your mind or become uncomfortable, signal the knight on the battlement. Just say the word and we can forget this…misunderstanding. I have no wish to keep you prisoner like this. Please, my lady.”
“Do you reconsider? Because the way I see it, if you can protect me, I can try to protect you. I will not make you a promise I do not intend to keep. I may be many things, Vidar, but I will not lie to you.”
“I cannot reconsider.”
“Then, I’m sorry, but I’m quite comfortable remaining right here,” she answered.
“As my lady wishes.” He touched her hip before leaving once more.
Her mind focused on her hip where he’d touched her. Sexual thoughts tried to invade, taking over her reason, trying to make the whole captive scenario a game. Arousal warred with logic and for a moment she let arousal win. Her breathing deepened, causing her bodice to feel tight against her breasts. She closed her eyes, imagining Vidar dressed all in black, stalking around her as if ready to pounce—potent, sexual, animalistic…
The creaking of the front gate snapped her out of her budding fantasy. She tensed, watching to see who came through. Was it more soldiers carrying the blades of the fallen to new widows? Even knowing Vidar wouldn’t be among them, she felt her stomach tighten at the mere thought of it.
I cannot back down.
First knights entered, filing in two by two. She searched them for fresh wounds but didn’t see any. Synna and Jordinne hauled baskets heaped with laundry, pausing to watch the visitors. Synna glanced at Karre, looking incredibly guilty. Karre sighed. So that was how Vidar discovered her plan. She should have known. Synna had tried a couple times to point out how foolish Karre’s words were.
As a man entered, clearly the leader if not by his carriage then definitely by his massive size, she narrowed her gaze in recognition. He was one of the bridegrooms from the ceremony at Battlewar. What was his name? Lord Big Moody Knight?
Behind the large knight, horses pulled a cart. Seeing the blonde bride who had been a part of the marriage ceremony, Karre forced her expression to go blank. Spearhead guards pushed the oversized doors of the main gate closed and latched them with a thick timber.
The cart stopped and the blonde emerged, rubbing her back and wobbling on shaky legs. Wondering what, if anything, the woman had learned, Karre whistled loudly and yelled, “I see you’ve survived.” Then, before she could stop herself, she added, “I had my doubts.”
Karre cringed inwardly as the blonde jerked in surprise and looked over. The comment was true, but she hadn’t meant to say it. The blonde seemed weaker than the others and not at all suited to handling the giant man who had claimed her.
Lilith. The name hit her, crawling out of her memory. Her name is Lilith. He is Lord Sorin of Firewall.
Karre smiled, wiggling her fingers in greeting. Her chains jingled at the movement. Hurrying on before Lilith could think about her last comment, Karre said conversationally, “Great weather we’re having.”
Lilith glanced around the yard. Sorin stood near his dirt-covered knights and equally caked horses. With her husband occupied, Lilith cautiously walked to where Karre waited. Under her breath, she asked, “Karre? Are you all right? What’s happened here?”
“Small misunderstanding,” Karre answered with a short, dismissing laugh. “Nothing to be concerned about. How’s your guy been treating you?” Karre leaned to the side and pretended to study the newcomers. “Which one was he again? The big guy?”
“I found the way out.” Lilith whispered urgently. Karre’s easy smile dropped and her eyes narrowed at the information. Maybe Lilith wasn’t as weak as she had first thought. “It’s at Battlewar Castle in the dungeons. I tried to leave to bring back help, but it’s too guarded.”
Karre didn’t answer. Her mind raced. Battlewar? She was sure she could find her way back there, but how would she make it undetected? Even if she managed to get past the guarded gate and through Battlewar Village unnoticed, she would have to face the crowd of knights who roamed the castle. The place was a palace compared to Spearhead Fortress in both size and population.
Lilith continued, “Have you seen Jayne or Paige?”
Karre’s smile lifted with great effort, though her mind stayed focused on the conversation. “No. You’re the first.”
“I promised Jayne I’d try to get word to everyone.” Lilith bit her lip, checking to make sure they weren’t overheard.
Young boys who worked in the stables led the horses away. Servants welcomed the men, ushering them inside. Friends greeted friends.
“I’ll draw you a map and write down the code to my home dimension.” As Lilith spoke, Lord Sorin turned his attention to them. “I’ll find a way to get it to you, just check your chambers. Someone at Divinity headquarters should help anyone who comes through the portal if you tell them what happened.”
Yeah, right. Divinity would just love to help me escape them. Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll pass.
“If you see Jay—” Lilith continued.
“Sh.” Karre shushed the woman. Sorin was too close. To cover what Lilith had revealed, she announced, “Yep, beautiful weather for a ride into battle.”
“My lady,” Sorin said, joining them. He nodded at Karre, as if acknowledging her statement as fact.
“My lord.” Karre bowed her head, the action not as respectful when done with rattling chains. Lilith opened her mouth to speak, as if to reassure Karre in her tied up state. Karre could care less about her ties. She wasn’t scared of Vidar hurting her. To cut off any sentiment, Karre began to hum playfully as if she hadn’t a care in all the dimensional planes.
Sorin led his wife away. Karre watched the knee-length flaps of his black long tunic hit purposefully against his legs. Lilith stumbled next to him, causing the big warrior to stop. Curious, Karre stared as he gently placed his finger beneath Lilith’s chin and lifted her eyes to look at him. Though she strained, she couldn’t hear their words. Sorin’s motions were gentle when he finally led Lilith away.
“Hm. It would seem she has tamed her beast,” Karre said to herself, somewhat impressed. “Now, if only I could win this battle with mine.”
Aggravating wench!
Vidar paced his chambers, hating that Karre was tied up in the courtyard, hating that he’d ordered it done to her, hating that she had publically goaded him to do just that. And for what? Because he had laughed at the incredibly ridiculous idea of his wife infiltrating an evil sorceress’ lair as a spy? Okay, so he could have held his temper in the great hall, but she’d been yelling too.
Contrary to her obvious lack of faith in his ability to protect her, he did have a plan. Already his men informed him Lord Sorin was close, just as the king promised. Once reinforcements arrived, they would handle Magda and her followers.
“Sir Vidar,” a maid said from the door. “Lord Sorin has arrived.”
“Thank you, Calla.” Vidar tugged his tunic over his head, tossed it on the bed and grabbed a fresh one from his trunk before heading toward the main hall to greet his guest. Pulling it over his head as he walked, he let the long sides of the black tunic fall around his knees.
His guests were seating themselves at the head table when he arrived. Lady Lilith clutched her husband’s arm and Vidar heard her whisper, “What’s happening to Karre? Why is she tied up?”
Vidar frowned. His fellow Starians would never question such a thing. It wasn’t her concern, but the business of a man and his wife. Had Karre actually been abused, the people of Spearhead would have revolted against their leader in protest. To stop further questioning in wake of graver concerns, he answered before Sorin could, simply stating, “A misunderstanding.”
“Oh,” Lilith made a soft noise and had the decency to glance away.
Vidar bowed toward Sorin, acknowledging him before doing the same to Lilith. The lady had an angelic face and the coloring to match. Vidar much preferred his darker temptress.
Aggravating seductress!
“Lady Lilith, may I introduce Sir Vidar,” Sorin said. “This is his home.”
“Only until the king assigns it to another,” Vidar answered politely. He tried not to think of Karre, even as he glanced over the hall in hopes that one of his men came to inform him of her contrition. “My lord, if you would come with me?”
He didn’t wait for a response as he made his way to the old scroll room. Reaching to his waist, he pulled at a small pouch near his knife to take out a key. Because of the nature of the documents stored inside, the chamber had not been cleaned for a few years. Ignoring the dust, he strode across the room to a wall of shelves filled with rolled parchments.
“What news?” Sorin inquired, shutting the door behind him.
“Sorceress Magda has yet to show herself, but they found tracks near the marshes and we uncovered plans too. I’ve sent word to the marshes that we ride at dawn to join them.” Vidar unrolled a map of the land surrounding Spearhead Fortress and laid it on the table, holding it open. “Lady Lilith is welcome to stay here. Her every comfort will be met and I will leave a small contingency of soldiers to guard the fortress.”
Even though Sorin was higher ranking by birth, Spearhead Fortress was entrusted to Vidar, as was the nearby borderlands. These were his decisions to make and Sorin did not dispute them. Once on the battlefield, they would each lead their own armies.
Sorin nodded. “I agree. It is not safe at the encampment and my lady is delicate to the ways of war. She will remain here.”
Vidar thought of his wife. She was far from delicate. “Lady Karre wishes to join the war.”
“These women they send us.” Sorin chuckled, clearly thinking Vidar jested. Leaning over the map, he asked, “Where is your army positioned? I will send orders to my men. By the grace of the gods, we’ll have Magda’s head.”
Karre grinned as the lock binding her wrists opened with a soft click. It hadn’t been easy in her position, but she managed to get the lock-picking tool untangled from her hair. She found she much enjoyed the challenge, freeing herself in a courtyard filled with Starian knights. Clearly they underestimated her. Even her guards kept a lax eye on her as they talked with the newly arrived guests. Though, to be fair, since Vidar told her he didn’t want to keep her prisoner, they probably weren’t too concerned with making sure she stayed bound. And really, if she got caught, it’s not as if anything would happen.
As the courtyard quieted and guests filtered in for the eve meal, Karre slipped out of her ties and made her way through the back passageways to her bedchamber. Her muscles were a bit sore, but she didn’t mind. She found herself smiling as she thought of the look that would cross over Vidar’s face when he discovered she had escaped. That image led to others—him running after her, barging into her chambers, finding her on the bed, the captor after his naughty captive.
Ugh! Quiet, brain, Karre scolded her wayward thoughts. This isn’t a game. It’s not about sex. I’m making a point. He needs to know he can trust me. He needs to know I can take care of myself.
Seeing a basin of water, she slowly bathed, running a wet cloth over her flesh. The fire dried her as she paced naked through her chamber, stretching her muscles and restlessly plotting. How to get to Battlewar to the portal? Or would her “daring” escape from the courtyard be enough to convince Vidar that she knew what she was doing?
She stopped. A chill crept up her spine, filling her with dread. Karre slowly turned.
“I knew that locator we implanted would come in handy.” Director Tomes lounged against the wall as if he’d always been there, watching, waiting. The tight black of his Divinity uniform molded to his body like a second skin and the wrist portal wrapped his wrist. He was alone. His cold eyes dipped over her naked body and he smiled. “You’re looking well.”
Karre fought the urge to run and hide. Forcing her limbs to remain steady, she went to her trunk to pull out her most conservative tunic.
“There is no need to cover up for me. In fact, Sparkles,” he paused and arched a brow. “May I call you Sparkles?” When she didn’t answer, he continued, “Why don’t you put the gown on the bed?”
Karre made a move to pull it over her head.
“I insist.” He tapped a laser pistol as it rested in a side holster next to his leg.
Karre tossed the gown on the bed. “What do you want?”
“Perhaps I should call you Lady Karre.” Tomes laughed, pushing off the wall. “That is what they call you here, isn’t it?”
“Call me what you wish. I’m used to many names.” She shrugged a shoulder. “What do you want, Tomes?”
“I must say you have done quite nicely for yourself. I’m not surprised. Women like you tend to make your way to the top no matter where you go. Though, I will admit, I had hoped you would end up the wife of a mucker, but then this place,” Tomes gave a disdainful look around, “is hardly civilized. Even the lords and ladies are primitive, living by fire and sword. How hard it must be for you knowing of the worlds you have seen, knowing of the things you done. I could never live here.”
“What do you want, Tomes?” she repeated.
“Want?” He chuckled. “I will give these Starians one thing. They do know how to dress their women.” His eyes dipped over her. Karre didn’t move. “The men are a little too muscled for my taste, but I saw a few skirts I wouldn’t mind plundering. There is nothing sexier than a lush woman forced to bend to my will.”
“I’m really not interested in your sex life, so I will ask one last time, what do you want, Tomes?”
His cold gaze grew colder still. “What have you done with the information you have stolen? We’ve traced every jump in your history. You never go to the same place twice, but we know you have documents. Where are they? Are you working with someone?”
“What reason would I possibly have to tell you?” she asked. Her eyes roamed to the wrist device and her fingers flexed, eager to touch it, to possess it. They would never find where she had gone or how she hid her tracks.
Tomes followed her attention down his arm. “Interestingly enough, when we traveled to where you had been, we noticed something. This device rewrites itself. There is no way of telling where it’s gone without the code to reset it. We realized the only way we’re going to find our documents is if you take us. Ingenious of you, really. I’m impressed. But then again, I am smarter.”
“Modest, too,” she mumbled sarcastically.
“I knew there was a reason to keep you alive, a reason far greater than trading for warm water.” Tomes drew near, too near for her liking. He looked, but he made no move to touch her.
“You say you’re smart, but you keep making me repeat myself,” Karre mumbled, before saying very slowly, “What reason would I possibly have to tell you? What is in it for me?”
“Help me and I’ll get you off this plane.”
“One plane is as good as any other,” she said, nonchalantly. “You would have to do better than that.”
“Then help me or I’ll kill everyone on this plane and leave you to rot here alone or at the mercy of anyone I choose to send here to join you.” His slow smile and narrowed gaze made more promises than his words ever could. “Is that better?”
“You’ve had your look.” Karre reached for her gown and stepped back. She tugged it on. The loose material billowed around her without the aid of a corset. “What exactly do you propose? I know I can’t trust you.”
“Oh, I’m hurt,” he said in feigned shock. When she didn’t react, he smiled. “It’s simple. You don’t have a choice in the matter. Come with me, be a good girl and I let you live.”
“An offer I can’t refuse,” she muttered, knowing his words weren’t an idle threat.
Tomes reached for his wrist. “Get ready to travel, Lady Sparkles. You have one last job to do. Save this world or I will destroy it.”
Vidar could barely breathe. The guilt and worry ate a constant knot in his stomach and settled a permanent weight over his heart. Karre was gone, vanished like a wood spirit into the night forest. He had looked everywhere, questioned everyone. Beyond a few people saying they saw her walking alone from the courtyard to the castle, there was no sign of her—no tracks, no fairy rings she could have slipped through, nothing. He would have yelled at the knights manning the wall, but he had only ordered them to make sure Karre was well, not to keep her prisoner. For all they knew, she had been participating in some otherworlder ritual.
One conclusion could be drawn. His stubborn wife had talked about infiltrating Magda’s encampment and she must have put her plan into motion. But how did she escape the chains? How did she escape an armed fortress full of his knights without being seen?
Already rumors surfaced about Karre’s disappearance. The maids claimed she’d been moved to the dungeons. The knights thought the newly married couple played games. Only Synna seemed to have come to the same conclusion as Vidar—Karre went to battle.
He wanted to look for her. His heart ached to do so, but duty demanded he fight. Magda was close. Sorin and his men were ready for battle. The king’s orders were clear. His duty to protect his countrymen weighed heavily on him. And in doing his duty perhaps he could somehow find Karre and bring her home. In the end, Vidar spread the rumor throughout Spearhead Fortress that his wife rode out with him to war, to support his efforts and show the Caniba she was not afraid. After what Karre told Synna and the others was spread about, his claim would be believed.
Gods curse her! How could she run off? How could she leave me now? Before such an important battle?
Maybe the king’s fears were founded and these otherworld women would bring them nothing but trouble. Maybe he worried for naught. Maybe Karre was safe and had merely run away from him. Maybe she was in Magda’s clutches right now only feet away from him underground.
Maybe, maybe, maybe!
“Argh!” Vidar screamed, charging his horse forward as the ground began to shake beneath him. The not-knowing ate at him and he turned his frustration to the only thing he could—the battle before him.
He lifted his sword, hacking his way through the surrounding enemy. More Caniba emerged from the ground, covered in dirt as they clawed their way up like a mound of spreading ants. The hairy beasts all looked the same to him—smelly, pelt-covered monsters with sunken eyes and sharpened teeth. Their hair hadn’t seen a comb, ever, and he highly doubted any of them had heard of bathing.
Three days earlier, Sorceress Magda’s army had come up from the ground right through the middle of their encampment. Like a giant serpent of dirt snaking through the ground, the topsoil had sucked into a pit taking a few of their men with it. Caniba warriors rose up, splitting Vidar and Sorin’s armies in two. Sorin’s men were surrounded, fighting with little reprieve an army twice the dwindling size of theirs.
Vidar ordered his men to hold their ground, as they worked their way deeper into Magda’s territory. If they found the sorceress, they could end this. The Caniba felt nothing beyond a driving need to please their queen. Without Magda, her minions would become a scattered mess.
With each thrust of his sword, he heard Karre’s name whispering through his head. He slayed his enemy, thrusting his sword into flesh, trying not to watch the Canibas’ distorted faces, faces that were impassioned even in death. The smell of sweat, blood and dirt filled each gulping breath. Metal hit upon metal, clanging and clashing over the rough terrain of the battlefield. Starians shouted and moaned, the Caniba growled and grunted and all around them men died.
Karre. Karre. Karre, his mind chanted, tormenting him with the knowledge that he didn’t know where she was.
Vidar fought harder, yelling an ancient battle cry to the gods. Then a cry sounded, carried on the wind, “To Lord Sorin! He’s going for the sorceress!”
Blinking hard as sweat stung his eyes, Vidar took his focus from the immediate area to look at the large picture. He’d been so intent on the fight he hadn’t realized they’d met their goal. They’d rejoined with Sorin’s men. Vidar swiped his brow, watching as Sorin made his way toward the makeshift throne of Sorceress Magda.
Eerily pristine in her gown of sparkling white, Magda sat on a carved wood platform, lifted up so that she might watch the carnage she had created with the pride of a goddess. Her evil children swarmed around her, a thick, living wall of protection. Dark, smooth hair fell about her shoulders to her waist and the inky depths of her eyes became even more so by the black lines drawn thick around them.
“To Sorin!” Vidar shouted, seeing how close the lord was. If Sorin could get to her, he could end this. Burning, white heat radiated over his stomach as sharp, metal-tipped nails clawed through his tunic to rake his flesh. He grunted, too consumed by the battle to stop and notice the cut, even as he felt blood trickling down his waist.
“To Sorin!” the men caught up his cry. “To a good death!”
“Help him!” Vidar ordered. A blade cut his arm and then his thigh, as he pushed harder and faster. “Fight to Lord Sorin!”
Sorin had broken rank, leaving a tightly formed unit of knights behind him. Caniba soldiers turned their attentions to him. No Starian had ever made it so close to her in battle.
“To Sorin!” the men shouted.
Caniba warriors surrounded the man, bearing down on him. There was no way Sorin could fight his way through the crowd alone. In a bold move, the lord threw his main line of defense, launching his sword through the air at Magda. The swarm took him down before the blade hit its mark.
Vidar pushed forward, feeling his men at his back. Magda screeched, slumping in her throne. Instantly, her men panicked, turning the tide of the battle as they retreated. The battlefield cleared and the Starians gave chase. Finding Sorin on the ground, wounded with claw and teeth marks, Vidar dropped to his knees to check the man.
“He lives,” Vidar said. “Find Lance to tend his wounds and then get him to the marsh encampment.” To a nearby group, he ordered, “Search the fallen.”
Vidar stood as his orders were carried out. He breathed hard and gripped his sword in frustration. With a violent scream, he threw the weapon after the Caniba warriors. The enemy was too far and the blade embedded into the dirt.
Karre. Karre. Karre.
“I’ve lost her,” he whispered, sure he’d never felt anything as painful as the helplessness the idea caused.
Uncharted Dimension, The Dead Plane
Blood trickled down Karre’s chin, but she refused to swipe it away. Hot wind would dry it soon enough and she wouldn’t give Director Tomes the pleasure of seeing her discomfort. The beginning ache of a bruise stretched over her jaw.
The desolate plains of the uncharted dimension went on for what Karre imagined would be the whole planet. Here Earth was nothing but sand and rock and wind. Nothing grew on the surface and by extension no animals lived. It’s why she called it the dead plane. It’s why it was the perfect hideout. She had never seen another person there until now.
“I need assurances that you won’t leave me here,” she said, keeping her emotionless gaze fixed on his face. A man like the director wouldn’t expect her to give in too easily. Tomes had brought her himself, not going to a Divinity base for assistance. She wondered which piece of information she had that made him worried enough to come here alone.
Karre wasn’t surprised when he hit her again, this time in the ribs. Growling, he waved his laser pistol in her direction. “I said move it.”
Karre tried to take a deep breath and coughed. Holding her injured ribs, she stumbled up the side of the rock incline at the base of a lonely mountain in the sandy sea. Her feet slipped on a bed of sand.
“Move,” he growled. “No tricks or I will leave you here.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m moving. Next time you want your prisoner to move faster, try not hitting her in the ribs.” On the top of the incline, the ground leveled out and she limped toward a small opening in the rock face.
“Oh, you’d be surprised at what I could do with a female prisoner.” He chuckled, the dark sound causing a creepy sensation in her stomach. “Or perhaps you wouldn’t be surprised, since you already know. Did you like watching my files? Do you know how much men are willing to give to visit my mansion of pleasure? They won’t be pleased that you have the contact list.”
Karre kept her back to him so he couldn’t see her face. She didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. But then, to be fair, she hadn’t looked at all her stolen files. She just collected them to be analyzed later when she had enough gemstones saved to set up her own personal research base somewhere.
“Are we close?” he asked, when she refused to answer him.
“It’s in the cave.” She leaned against a boulder and motioned to the entrance. It was evident by this chatty mood that he didn’t plan on letting her leave. If he didn’t kill her first, he’d leave her here to die. It wouldn’t take long, not in the plane’s horrible elements.
Tomes motioned for her to go first. “No tricks.”
The stone was warm to the touch, almost hot. Come nightfall the temperature would drop drastically. Very mindful of her footing, she inched inside, turning sideways in the narrower space. Reaching forward into the darkness, her hand hit a tarp. She pulled it aside.
“Wait,” Tomes ordered.
“I’m not going anywhere. You have the portal.” She stiffened as the tip of his gun pressed into the small of her back. “There’s light just inside.”
Karre inched forward, reaching around the corner for the old lantern. Finding it, she reached along the side, grabbing a small knife she kept there for situations just like this. Director Tomes truly underestimated her or truly overestimated himself.
Holding the lantern, she turned the knob several times to light it while keeping the small folded knife in her hand. The sharpened side of the blade bent over toward the handle, keeping it from cutting her palm.
A soft glow illuminated her cave. The dingy brown-and-gray rock had been more home to her over the years than any other place. Now, when she thought of home, she thought of piercing eyes flecked with gold, of swords and knives, of castles and thick forests. She thought of strong hands, toe-curling kisses and a deep voice that made her heart thump wildly in her chest.
The cave fanned out in an oval, carved with jagged walls and natural shelves. A stuffed mat had been rolled and stuck in the corner, just in case she ever needed to stay the night. Freeze-dried foodstuffs were buried in a sealed container, as were medical supplies.
“You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?” Karre frowned and set the light on the ground. Stark, ghoulish shadows formed on his face, but she read the truth in his eyes. “There is no point in denying it. We both know how this game is played.”
“Indeed,” he agreed.
“What about the Starians? Will you let them live?”
“There’s no reason to hurt the Starians. They have proven to be quite useful for a dumping ground. You, Jayne Hart, Lilith Grian.” He chuckled. “It worked better than I could have ever hoped. Marriage as a prison. You have to admire the serendipity.”
“You are the reason we…?” She frowned. “What did they do?” When he looked like he would refuse to answer, she added, “What does it matter if you tell me? I’m dead anyway.”
“Jayne ‘The Sweet’ Hart lost a fight and in the process lost me a substantial bet. Lilith Grian was a foolish data analyst, logging her little historical notes. She was easily expendable.” Tomes looked over Karre. “The other two we sent saw some of our men coming through a portal. Funny how the Starians sent them back. Even if they do talk about what happened to them, no one on their plane will believe them.” He started laughing, his eyes tearing up with mirth. “We once kidnapped a bunch of people from some half-developed plane dressed as these gray, big-eyed, big-headed creatures, probed them anally and then set them down naked in random fields. They told the other inhabitants on their plane they were taken by aliens. They still don’t know what all that anal probing was about. I swear, we were so drunk. Now that was a video file you should have stolen. It is unforgettable.”
“You’ve got issues, you know that, right?” Karre didn’t find the same amusement in his sick games as he did.
“You still don’t get it. When we discovered how to jump to new planes, we discovered the potential to become gods. We can go anywhere, do anything and they can’t stop us. Sure, some of the corporation tries to install rules and moral codes, but those of us willing to claim our right as gods are truly free.”
“I was wrong. You don’t have issues—you’re just insane.” She backed away from him, toward the jagged stone of the cave wall.
His laughter died and he frowned. “Now it’s your turn. What made you think you could fight us?”
“You kidnapped people and took them to the gladiator rings,” she stated. “You took the wrong person.”
“The fights?” His eyes swept over her in new consideration. “We wouldn’t have taken you for the rings. I never sent women to that plane. Someone else, perhaps? A friend? A lover?”
“My father.” Her hand gripped so tight she wondered if she would be able to make her fingers work. She felt the tears in her eyes, tears of anger, tears for the past.
“Your father?” His initial shock turned to disbelief. “You’ve caused me all this trouble because I ordered your father taken to the gladiator plane? How did you know it was me? Those files were destroyed.”
He’d ordered it? Karre couldn’t move.
“Enough small talk.” His gun hand jerked, as if holding back his barely contained urge to shoot. “Where’s the stuff?”
“Why should I tell you? I’m dead anyway.”
“Do we really need to do this?” He scowled. Then, almost bored, he said, “If you cooperate you die fast. If you don’t you die slow and painful. Either way I get what I want.” He sighed heavily. “I always get what I want. I’m a god.”
Karre fingered the knife in her closed fist, ready to unfold the blade as soon as he turned his back. Her throat dry, she whispered, “Behind that rock.”
Keeping his gun trained on her, he moved to look where she pointed. Karre held her breath. Without realizing it, she had begun to shake. Tomes smiled and she knew he must have seen the glint of light coming from a small hole. He reached in to grab it.
A loud pop sounded and she jerked, knowing he had touched the device. The knife dropped from her fingers. Tomes screamed, his body convulsing as it electrocuted him. The portal device on his wrist sparked and smoked. His finger tightened on the trigger and a pulse of light shot out. Karre jumped to the side, but it grazed her flesh, searing her arm. She fell to the ground with a moan, her whole body sore from his earlier beating.
The gun went off a second and third time and she closed her eyes tight, curling into a ball. She jerked with each shot, knowing it’d be over soon. The electrical charge would not only kill Tomes but it would fry the portal on his wrist. No one knew where she was or where to look for her. She would be trapped there. Alone. Her husband would never know what happened to her.
Vidar, I’m sorry.
Tomes stopped moving and the cave became as silent as a tomb. After a long moment, she crawled toward the rock Tomes had reached behind. She avoided looking at his still face. He had been an arrogant fool. Karre had security protocols set up all over the cave. Did he really think she would risk losing everything she had worked so hard for?
Pulling out a small box shoved in the back, she held it close and went for the key on the other side of the cave. She leaned against the wall, ignoring the pain radiating over her body, and opened it. A single button waited inside. She hesitated before pressing it.
It was done. Her father was avenged. Every piece of information she’d collected over the years went out through a tiny portal, duplicated and sent to predestined planes. There would be no hiding Divinity’s secrets now. It was not how she wanted to disperse the information. She had intended to extract a slow, thought-out revenge. This box was her last-option button. And now that it was pressed, everything she’d worked so hard for was done.
“Vidar,” she whispered, knowing the plea was hopeless. She dropped the box as a burning light began to flood the cave. Closing her eyes tight, she tried not to cry. “Come get me. I want to come home.”