“Yes, but they also said there’d be an ally to help us and, since they’ve failed to materialize, I’m beginning to lose faith.”
“Well, don’t. We’re going to get through this, even if it’s just you and me.”
She simply nodded though he suspected it was more for his benefit than a reflection of how she truly felt. “I’m ready,” she said.
They hurried across the street, their feet crunching in the snow as they slipped back into another alley. They crouched in the shadows, avoiding the penetrating searchlight of a passing hovercraft.
“That’s a Nethicaen vessel,” Comron said gravely.
“Is there anyone who hasn’t figured out where we are yet?”
Without warning, Comron yanked Vaush to the ground and hunkered down next to her. He motioned for her silence. A few seconds later, she heard a boisterous party of revelers passing by the alley. At that moment, something furry and gray scurried across her foot. It took every ounce of restraint to avoid screaming as she lunged toward Comron, nearly knocking him off balance. Thankfully, the party seemed to take no notice.
Once the alley was clear, they made a dash into an adjacent vehicle-storage deck. Though full of variously sized transports, it appeared to be devoid of people. Comron and Vaush quickly made their way through, occasionally checking to see if any of the larger vehicles were space-worthy. Vaush stood guard outside and watched as Comron forced the lock on one and climbed inside.
“This one might do,” he announced, rummaging inside.
“Can you engage the engine?” she asked nervously.
“Give me a minute.”
Growing anxious, she walked around the vehicle to make sure no one was following them, as she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.
“Halt and identify yourself!”
Vaush whipped around to find a uniformed guard quickly approaching. After the initial shock, she turned to run.
“Halt or I’ll fire.”
She froze in place, raising her hands above her head.
“Well, well, well, what have we here?” the short, slight man asked with a blast rifle trained on her. “You’re way too pretty to be out here all by yourself.” He brought his wrist up to speak into a receiver.
Just then, the butt of Comron’s rifle slammed into the guard’s head.
He tossed Vaush his rifle and picked up the guard’s for himself. A voice emanated from the guards com band.
“Janz, come in.” Silence. “Janz, report!” ordered the voice. “Janz, I’m coming up and there’s going to be hell to pay!”
“Looks like we’re going to have company.” Comron grabbed Vaush’s hand. “Come on!”
They flew down the transport-lined corridor and were nearly blinded by lights when a vehicle sped in their direction. They ducked in between the vehicles and remained there not knowing whether the driver was pursuing them or not. The vehicle seemed to continue on its way.
After a few minutes, Vaush whispered, “Do you think it’s safe?”
Comron’s brow creased. “Something’s not right.”
All of a sudden, three armored vehicles roared into the area. The doors flew open and a dozen fearsome-looking soldiers leapt out bearing military grade blast rifles. Comron recognized the red lion sigil: Imperial Guard Assassin Squad. They flooded the area with lights leaving them nowhere to hide.
Comron pulled Vaush up with him and ran headlong in the opposite direction of the guard.
Murkudahl-enhanced adrenalin coursed through her body. Her legs pumped faster, propelling her forward with unnatural speed. Comron was on her heels, as he pointed toward an exit sign.
“Fire!” shouted the commander of the imperial guard.
When Vaush reached the door, she slammed into it and then pulled it open. Gunfire burned holes into the metal frame. “Go!” Comron was shoving her through and following closely behind. He immediately hit the door lock. But when they attempted to open the next door that led into the building, they found it locked.
“Damn it!” Comron cursed. He and Vaush looked back at the door they’d just come from but heard the pounding of the men trying to gain entry. They considered going down the stairwell, but could already hear yelling coming up from below.
“Stand back!” Comron moved Vaush behind him and fired two shots at the door handle. The handle broke off, and Comron worked the door open.
They ran into the darkness of what seemed to be the main lobby of a merchant center. Wide-open space surrounded them as they dashed across polished floors. In the center was a great expanse with glass and a brass railing around a steep drop three floors down.
To their left, more doors slammed open and in poured Nethicaen soldiers, cutting off their escape. Comron and Vaush darted behind a marble column just as a hail of bullets rained down upon them. In all the noise, Comron tapped Vaush on the shoulder and pointed at a great chandelier cord that held the fixture above the firing squad.
She nodded. They both aimed their blast rifles and began firing at the cord. It quickly snapped under fire and the chandelier crashed down on the men below. Taking advantage of their confusion, Comron charged the remaining men, firing all the while. Vaush followed suit, deftly taking down two who had leapt out from hiding.
As one of them called for backup, Comron chopped him in the mouth with the butt of his rifle. More soldiers jumped into the melee.
“Vaush get out of here. Run!” he called out as he struggled against Recaban’s men.
She dove to the ground when one of the men fired on her. She rolled away and shot back, hitting him dead in the chest.
“Run, Vaush!” Comron continued to shout as he battled the swarm of enemies. For everyone he took down, two more sprang forth.
Vaush shot the glass out of a storefront, creating an exit. “Comron, come on!” she cried and picked off a few more of the attackers. As valiantly as Comron fought, he couldn’t overcome their numbers, and she wouldn’t let him sacrifice himself this way. They’d make it out together or not at all.
“Comron!” Vaush screamed as a burly bear of a man came barreling down on him. With his back against the glass guardrail, Comron had no means of escape. As the behemoth drew closer, Comron bent low and used the giant’s momentum to lift him up and over his shoulder.
She was already racing toward them when the burly man hollered as he went over the rail toward the three-story drop. At the last moment, he fired a grappling hook that wrapped around Comron’s arm. Vaush leapt forward, reaching for Comron as he was snatched off the ground and pulled over the side. He stretched his hand out to her and their fingers brushed before he plunged down the three stories onto the marble slab floor below.
CHAPTER 58
“NOOOOO!” Vaush screamed as she looked over the edge at Comron’s lifeless form. His limbs were twisted and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Suddenly something snapped inside Vaush. She felt a strange force pulsing through her, revving up her latent aggression and hostility like an engine set to full throttle. She barely saw the astonished faces as she cut through the remaining guards, leaving fallen bodies in her wake. She raced down two flights of the marble staircase before her desperation compelled her to leap over the bannister and drop down beside him.
Her hands trembled wildly as she realized her horrible premonition was coming to pass. She touched his face gingerly. “Comron, Comron, tell me what to do.”
His breathing was labored and pained. “You …” he coughed, spitting up blood.
“Oh, Comron,” she cried, wiping the blood from his mouth.
“You’ve got to go,” he managed. His eyes darted about the room. “Where are they?”
She looked up. Though she heard blast-fire and shouting, no one had followed her down. The burly guard lay with his neck at a right angle, having broken it in the fall.
“Something’s happening up there to distract them.” She turned her attention back to him. “I’ve got to get you to a physi
cian,” she said, putting her arm around his back to lift him, but he cried out in agony and then went silent as his eyelids fell shut.
“Com!” She checked his neck for a pulse. It was faint but still there. “Comron, you can fight harder than this!” She cradled his head in her arms. “You said you’d never leave me.”
The sound of an explosion thundered through the air, shaking the foundation. It sounded like a war zone out there. But her focus remained fixed upon Comron.
“Comron, stay with me!” She stroked his blood-soaked hair. “I can’t do this without you.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Damn you, fight!”
His eyes flickered open, but the deep intensity was gone, only a hollowness remained. “Vaush, you must go back to Nacum and remain there until the Murkudahl contact you.”
“You’re coming with me.” She tried lifting him once more.
“Arahhh!” He strained and grimaced in anguish. “No … back is broken … can’t move.”
Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest. She couldn’t lose him, not like this. “Then I’ll go for help. I’ll find a physician to treat you!”
He started to speak, but began coughing up more blood.
“Oh, my God,” she wailed, “Comron, hold on. I’m going to get help.” She looked around, having not the slightest idea of where she could obtain it. “I … I’ll surrender myself in exchange for them sparing you.” She started to stand.
“No!” he said with such command that she remained put. “They will kill you. Do as I say.” His face twisted in pain. “Go now! Wait for the Murkudahl and … protect Nethic if you can.”
The tears spilled from her eyes. “Don’t ask me to do that. I can’t leave you,” she cried, gripping his shoulders. “Better that I die by your side than to ….” her voice broke.
His own eyes glistened as he tried touching her face. “I’m … so sorry … don’t want … to leave you.” He closed his eyes and tears streamed down the side of his face.
Vaush slid in close, lying next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. They had taken everything from her—her family, her home, and now the man she had come to love more than life itself. “Then we leave this world together,” she said, clasping his hand.
He was having more difficulty breathing. His lips moved, uttering words of profound love with his last breath. His expression went blank as his life force slipped away. She clung to him, crying aloud begging him to stay. It felt as if her heart would be wrenched from her. Clutching her chest in anguish, she suddenly felt the vial hanging from the chain about her neck.
The second dose of Murkudahl essence!
Another explosion rocked the building. Ignoring it, she snapped the vial from the chain.
“You’re going to take the essence too,” she said as she removed the seal. Tilting his head up, she opened his mouth and poured in some of the blue liquid. She closed his mouth. “Swallow it!” she ordered, as he lay there unconscious. “Damn you, swallow it!”
He coughed a mixture of the essence and blood. She opened his mouth again and poured the remainder of the essence into it. “You’ve got to keep it down, you’ve got to try!” she commanded vehemently. She thought she saw his neck muscles contract slightly. “Good.” She smiled faintly. “It’s going to help you, I know it.” She stroked his face. “We didn’t come this far to end like this.”
The war raged on outside, but she lay next to him, her head upon his shoulder. She didn’t really care what happened next. This world wasn’t worth fighting for if this burning light was extinguished. This was all that mattered, not Novoxos, not saving the empire.
But she noticed that the rise and fall of Comron’s chest had stopped all together. She felt his neck for a pulse again; there was none. His eyes were open, but he stared vacantly at the ceiling.
An awful dread fell over Vaush. “Comron!” she called, desperately placing her hand on his motionless heart. “Comron!” she wailed as she pounded his heart with her fist. She leaned over and breathed into his mouth. Still no response. Again she pounded his heart in desperation and breathed. This can’t be happening. I won’t let it. She lost track of how many times she repeated the process.
Suddenly there was loud shouting and more gunfire as the men began descending the staircase. “They’ve come to kill me, my love. Let me die in your arms.” She moved his limp arm around her, laid her head on his chest, and braced herself for the blast-fire.
“Your Grace, please come with us. We’re here to take you to Novoxos.”
Vaush couldn’t believe her ears. She turned to look at them. Both men were heavily armored and their faces were hidden behind their helmet visors. “What did you say?”
“We’ve been sent here to escort you to Novoxos,” said the taller one. “Now please, Your Grace, there’s no time to delay.” The soldier reached for her arm.
Vaush recoiled and clung to Comron. “No, first you must help him.”
One look at Comron was enough for them to draw their conclusion. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid it’s too late for your friend.”
“Help him!” Vaush yelled and grabbed the closest one, yanking him down next to Comron. To the other she barked, “Bring medical supplies. Go!”
The first soldier futilely examined Comron’s lifeless body, as if that would be the only way to appease her. He looked at her with solemn eyes. “He … he’s dead, my lady.”
“No, he’s not!” she screamed. “There is still time. You can save him.”
Just then, more gunfire rang out from above. “We’ve got company!” announced the shorter soldier. “Yaeger, there’s no time for hand holding!”
Yaeger grabbed Vaush by the arm. “We must go now.”
“No.” She jerked away. “He’s not dead. He can’t be,” she cried, clinging to Comron’s lifeless body.
“He’s dead!” yelled the other soldier.
“Lepkin, enough!” snapped Yaeger before turning back to Vaush. “Please, Your Grace, he’s beyond mortal tending. But we have our orders to deliver you to Novoxos.” He firmly grasped her arms, pulling her up with him.
“I’m not going anywhere without him. Either he comes with us or—” she grabbed her neck where she felt the sharp sting and saw Yaeger withdraw his hand. “You son of …” her words slurred and her legs suddenly felt like limp noodles. Yaeger caught her before she hit the floor.
“Sorry, but there’s no time to argue,” Yaeger said as he hoisted her into his arms.
Too weak to offer any resistance, Vaush could only watch in a daze as they carried her toward the door.
“Swan 1 is about to fly. Lay down some cover,” Lepkin said into his shoulder com unit as they headed back toward the garage stairwell.
An eruption of gunfire assaulted Vaush’s ears as they were forced to run into the fray. After a few tense moments of dodging between vehicles, the soldiers dashed into their tank with Vaush in tow.
“Go, go!” Yaeger ordered, as he carried Vaush over to a bench where he laid her down. “All units fall back. I repeat; all units fall back.” He spoke into his com-set as he pulled the harness belts to secure Vaush. “Swan 1 is in the nest. All units rendezvous at south command.”
The tank rumbled into motion, plowing through anything that stood in its way. The fog was beginning to lift from Vaush’s head and she felt her strength returning along with her grief and rage. Yaeger stood nearby as he spoke to one of his men.
“What kind of monster are you? How could you just leave him there? How—” her voice was choked off by her grief. Comron had given all he had to save her. He deserved better than to die that way in ignominy. She should’ve remained at his side come what may.
“I’m very sorry for your grief,” Yaeger said. “I wish that there was something we could’ve done for him. But now, getting you to Novoxos—”
“Fuck Novoxos!” she railed. “My life just ended back there. The rest of the world can go straight to hell!” Tears burned her eyes and streamed down her face. The anger surged
powerfully through her, and she couldn’t hold back even when the other soldiers entered the cabin to see what the commotion was about. “Why didn’t you come sooner? Comron did everything in his power to keep me alive. He gave his life for me and now you want to sweep in at the last minute to take me to Novoxos? No, you tell whoever sent you that the mission failed. It’s over. Stop this tank, and let me out!”
Yaeger removed his helmet and placed it on a hook. His gray eyes were compassionate and his face kind. She despised him all the more for it.
“That’s not going to happen,” Yaeger said calmly, but firmly. “We have our orders, my lady.”
She approached him, her expression as cutting as her tone. “Who gave you these orders?”
“Someone who has a personal interest in seeing you enthroned,” Yaeger replied. “But he reserves the right to make his own introduction.”
“If he had any personal interest in me he would have known how important that man was to me. When he let him die, he destroyed everything.” She glared at him and felt the burning desire to unleash holy terror on them. Let the Murkudahl come and do what they may. Comron was gone; nothing else mattered. As if that thought had the power to drain her of life, she collapsed onto the bench. “He’s gone. I can’t feel him anymore,” she clutched her stomach, doubling over. “Oh God, I can’t feel him anymore. I can’t feel him,” she cried out repeatedly.
Alarmed, Yaeger went to her. “Please, let me give you something to help you—”
“GET AWAY FROM ME!!” she roared. Her hazel eyes were livid and wet with tears. “I should be with him. An eternity is what we promised. I should go be with him!”
Completely at a loss as to how to deal with this volatile situation, Yaeger motioned to his men to pull back and leave Vaush to her profound grief.
“We have our orders,” Yaeger said to his men, then glanced back at Vaush and lowered his voice. “Damn it, I wish he’d warned us.”
CHAPTER 59
“He’s coming to,” came the gruff unfamiliar voice.
“Perfect timing. The duke will be here in a few minutes.”