“I’ll be careful.” Michael wouldn’t let Frank, Abe, or anyone else get a hold of it. It’d be used for one purpose. To destroy Vinny. Afterward he’d stash it, hide it away.
Zaren grunted.
Michael realized Zaren read his mind, and nodded. He wanted Zaren to understand he’d never do anything ever again to put Venus or her people in jeopardy.
“When you next meet Dervinias, be careful. He’s faster, stronger and more cunning than you are. He’s been alive a long time. And he can break you with the flick of his fingers. All you’ll have is the element of surprise.” Zaren shook his head. “I don’t know if that’ll be enough. But I understand your need to try. As soon as I get the chance, I’ll let those in control on Kelari know what is going on here. I promise.”
“I understand.” Michael moved away from his ship.
“Venus is ready, right?” Zaren asked. He appeared tormented that he couldn’t be there with her.
“Yes, but I’ll make sure.”
“Thank you . . . Michael.” The door slid closed.
Michael ran to check on Venus. She looked bad. Her eyes were closed.
“Venus.” He shook her softly. She didn’t respond and the book he’d given her fell from her hands. “You must wake up.” He checked for a pulse. It beat slowly. He picked up the book and placed it in her hands. “C’mon. You can do this.” When she still didn’t react, he ran over to Zaren and banged on the door. “Zaren, help. She isn’t waking up.” The door slid upward and opened.
“Michael, come here.” He poked his head inside the cockpit. “See this button.” Michael nodded. “That’s to close the ship’s door. See this here?” He pointed to a large rectangular knob.
“Yes?”
“Turn that once counterclockwise and press. This will put it on autopilot.” Zaren looked at Michael with grave seriousness. “I’d do it myself, but I can’t. Both ships must be returned or there’ll be more trouble—”
“Not a problem, Zaren. I’ll do it.” He started back, but Zaren called him. “Michael!”
“Yeah?”
“I may’ve misjudged you.” It seemed hard for him to say it. Anger still filled his eyes.
“Get out of here. I’ll take care of it.”
The door to his ship closed and Michael ran back to Venus.
“Wake up.” He tapped her on the face. It didn’t help. “Cret,” he cursed and climbed inside to reach the button. He turned it counter-clockwise and pressed. “Just a little longer and you’ll be home.”
She let out a sob and whispered, “I’ll be dead.”
“Not true. You’ll see.”
“Michael. You don’t understand . . . love.” She turned away from him.
A sudden wind blasted them. A helicopter hovered in the clearing. “Suck,” he yelled.
A ping, like a rock bouncing off metal, ricocheted off the Transport. Michael peered back and saw three different Army Hummers, a machine gun on the top of each. About fifty people dressed in suits and camo-clothes surrounded the area. He didn’t see him, but guessed Frank was among them.
A large, bulky man wore a hard smile. Must’ve been excited by the whole scenario, tracking Venus and finding the ship.
The gray-haired man pointed a gun at Michael. Hell, they all had guns or rifles aimed at him.
“Cret!” he swore, looking around for the sword. It’d sunk into the snow, leaving an outline. He reached out to grab it, but bullets hit the ground inches from his hand.
“Don’t move,” Frank shouted. “Michael, I mean it. Stay where you are!”
The sword. Michael had to get to it—save it. He took another step toward the sword, reaching. Another slew of bullets zipped at him. One made contact, hitting him in the leg, above his right knee. The impact felt different than the bullet to the shoulder. Still, there wasn’t a lot of pain, more of a sting. As the blood seeped through his pants, he pondered the difference.
“Stop it, Frank,” he yelled, frustrated. They weren’t going to let him live. Michael had become expendable. All they cared about was getting to the ship and experimenting on whatever was left of Venus. That couldn’t happen. He had to make sure she got away safely.
Anxious, he debated what to do.
In an instant, he knew.
Climbing inside the cockpit, Michael pressed the button to close the door. A soft, glowing light appeared after the door sealed shut. A female voice in some strange language began speaking. He shifted Venus so she sat on his unharmed leg and placed her legs between his. “Fly. Take off!” He touched his wounded leg, grinding his teeth at the pain.
An abrupt revving or whining, probably the engine, startled him. There was a whoosh and he was thrown back in his seat. Some sort of mist released into the compartment. He couldn’t place the smell, but it reminded him of astringent.
“This is crazy.”
Buttons on the dash started to flash and something began beeping. Oh, crap! Am I making this Marshmallow ship too heavy? Are we going to crash?
Venus moaned.
“What can I do?”
She turned so her shoulder poked him in the ribs and snuggled her cheek into his chest.
“Live forever without love?”
She’d spoken the words like a question, but he had no idea how to respond, so he wrapped one arm around her and stroked her hair with the other. “It’s going to be okay . . .” He hoped whatever the substance filled the compartment would help her breathe.
Worry pulled at him. If Earth’s air made Venus sick, what would kelarian air do to him? Even as the thought occurred to him, Michael realized he didn’t care about the answer—not much. He’d made the decision to help her. It’d been the right choice. Whatever happened next, he’d accept the cost. As if the yacking female voice understood, everything stopped beeping and they were left in dark silence.
Michael took a deep breath. The air seemed okay, so far. Thankful, he lowered his chin onto the top of her head, and closed his eyes. He didn’t know how long the trip would take or if he’d survive it. Since he didn’t have any answers, he decided to enjoy what he did have. Venus. The smell of coconuts in her hair. The way her body felt tucked against his. Knowing she’d be safe. These were the facts he held onto They filled him with happiness.
His life had gone from mundane, boring even, too . . . this. Finding out there was life beyond Earth. That humanity wasn’t alone in the universe.
Michael held her tighter.
She sighed.
And those beings weren’t green, jellyfish-looking creatures with bug-eyes. Although he figured those types of aliens were possible, but not on Venus’s planet. At least he didn’t think so. The idea of arriving on her world and the unknown sent a shiver down his spine. But he pushed away his fears. Focused on her—her nearness and all she meant to him. He nestled closer. If anyone deserved to live forever, it was her.
She let out another sigh. “Zaren,” she whispered.
Michael froze. Agony tore at his tender heart as well as jealousy—that Venus would think of Zaren instead of him. She should be sighing my name . . . not that I deserve it.
“Michael,” a sharp bark cut through their small space.
“Um, yeah. Who’s this?”
“It’s Zaren.” A holographic image of his face popped up.
“Oh. Hey,” Michael said, nervous.
“What are you doing in the ship? I told you to leave.”
“Yeah, I know. But I got shot. And Venus was unconscious. It seemed like the right thing to do.” Michael wrapped his arms more firmly around Venus, this time for his own comfort.
Zaren rubbed a hand through his hair, then said, “Michael, you realize kelarian air isn’t . . . good for humans.”
Michael chuckled, knowing that was putting it lightly. He didn’t regret his decision in the least. “I kind of figured.”
“Why did you do it then?”
Michael shrugged, figuring the answer was obvious. Venus.
Zaren went on, “Venus had a task to accomplish before the Gods would allow her back on Kelari. It didn’t go as planned. Our deities wouldn’t respond to my emergency message, so I don’t know what kind of welcome home we’re going to receive. She’s been accused of being a traitor and killing a sacred animal. With you tagging along, the task she was supposed to accomplish . . .”
Michael watched him blink back angry tears.
“What did her job have to do with me?” Michael knew his coming had been the right decision. Now Zaren said he’d made everything worse for her. His gut told him it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be.
Zaren rubbed his fingers into his hair, as though he could make a wish and solve all of their problems. He leaned back in the white banana-looking chair. “I . . . don’t know if I should tell you, Michael.”
“Why not? Maybe if I knew what she was supposed to do, I could help.” If Ith and Aetha were still going to be angry with her, and it was his fault, well that wouldn’t do.
“It’s so . . . stupid.” He cringed.
“Then spit it out, dude.” Zaren frustrated him.
“You were supposed to find true love,” he said, dejectedly and closed his eyes.
Michael waited for him to continue. There had to be more to it. He remembered what Venus told him about finding love. That conversation started to make more sense, but still . . . “Why would your Gods care if I found love, let alone true love.”
“I don’t know.” Zaren shook his head. “I’ve thought it was the most ridiculous request I’d ever heard, but as the Princess’s personal guardian, it wasn’t my place to question, only serve. I’ve failed.”
“Princess?”
He inclined his head. “Venus. She’s heir to Alayeah’s throne.”
“Alayeah?” He couldn’t help the questions. Venus had told him a lot, but obviously not nearly enough. A princess. That explained so much.
“Alayeah is the largest civilized country on our planet. She’s meant to rule it someday. Now . . .” he trailed off, shaking his head. “I’ve no idea what’s to become of her. She may be killed the moment we land, if she lives that long.”
Instinctively, Michael tightened his grip. “And all I had to do was find true love?” It was his turn to shake his head. It sounded so simple—easy.
Why would they pick such a task? And why me? I’m nobody.
He did love Cheverly. Was it a forever kind of love? He’d care about her always, but in love? The answer was no. He’d loved his mother too, but that was more out of loyalty. He let out a frustrated laugh. In love? He looked down, into the face of his angel. He’d briefly supposed she’d been sent to kill him. Instead she’d given him back his life. Venus. The truth in his heart was more difficult.
To Zaren, he said, “I’m seventeen. True love, that’s ridiculous.” Even as he said the words though, he knew he lied. Age. Time. Space. None of it matters when you find The One. His heart swelled at the knowledge.
“I know, Michael. But that was the condition of her return.” He opened his eyes and sat forward. “When we land, I don’t know what kind of welcome we’ll receive. Stay inside the Transport. Let me take Venus. I’ll come back for you.”
“Sure.”
Chapter 52
Every Breath You Take