Chapter Twenty-Six
Lena
Eight days after Vor's miracle, Lena had breakfast with Vor.
This wasn't unusual. They ate every meal together, their talks growing more and more casual despite her wariness of him.
What was different about this morning was Vor's offer.
Not that he made it. He had made her the same offer every morning since his miracle.
But this morning, Lena actually considered it.
The coffee helped. With caffeine boosting her brain, Lena listened to Vor once more explain how she'd be free to leave their rooms as long as she stayed in his company or that of an escort he would assign her.
That sounded great, but Vor also wanted her to socialize with his soldiers, something Lena did not want to do.
Still, that wasn't the reason she'd refused him the last six mornings.
It was Vor. Lena knew it was a bad idea to spend even more time with him.
She already felt too much for the man, and she barely knew him.
“You don't have to speak to anyone, and I'll be with you the entire time,” Vor added a new enticement to his offer. “I just want you to be out there, among them.”
Lena took another sip of coffee. She knew she should refuse, but she'd go mad if she didn't get out of that room soon. “All right.”
“Yes?” Vor sat up straighter, his expression shocked and hopeful.
“Yes.” She set her coffee mug down and stood up. “Let's go.”
“Oh. Now?” Vor shot to his feet and hurried around the table. He held the door open for her, and after he closed it, he didn't bother to lock it. “Uh, I need to stop by the command room.”
Lena shrugged. She didn't care where they went as long as it was out the room she hadn’t left in over two weeks. With no entertainment but that which she found from looking out the window.
Vor's hand kept twitching and lifting as if he wanted to touch her, but Lena ignored him as they walked to the command room.
It wasn't that far from their quarters. A few minutes later, he opened the door for her and followed her inside.
The soldiers in the command room went still when Vor came in with her beside him.
Lena smoothed the pink silk of her sleeveless blouse over her black slacks.
After the debacle with Corporal Shensar—who glared at Lena from her desk—Vor took it upon himself to find clothing for Lena himself.
It had taken him two hours, but he'd brought her a trunk full of clothing to pick from.
As much as she liked the outfit, Lena didn't think it was reason they stared at her.
“Report,” Vor said into the stunned silence.
“Oh! Yes, Commander!” Lieutenant Greis jumped to his feet. “It's been quiet. The night crew had no issues.”
“And the ward is holding steady?”
“Yes, sir. No issues there either.”
“Any signs of converging?”
“No, sir. Nothing unusual.”
“Good. I'm taking Lena on a tour of the fortress. I have my radio on me if there's trouble.”
“Yes, Commander. Uh, before you go, sir. Perhaps you could introduce us to your guest?”
Vor lifted a pale eyebrow. “Of course. Command crew, present yourselves.”
The soldiers got up from their stations and came to stand in a line before Lena and Vor. Lena looked over at Vor in question, but he was watching his soldiers. When they were standing at attention, he waved the lieutenant forward.
The man stepped up to Lena and held out his hand. “I'm Lieutenant Pav Greis, Miss.”
“I'm Lena Drask.” Lena hesitated a moment and then shook his hand.
It was a normal hand made of flesh, warm and with a firm grip. But after a second, the warmth shivered between them, and the lieutenant's brown eyes widened. Lena jerked her hand away.
“I'm so sorry, Miss Drask. I don't know what that was. Did I hurt you?” Lieutenant Greis stammered.
“No, I was just surprised. I'm fine.” Lena looked down to avoid all the curious stares directed at her.
“What did you feel?” Vor leaned in but didn't touch her.
“It was nothing. Just a strange vibration.” Lena glanced up at him, found only concern in his expression, and lifted her head to meet his gaze. “I may have imagined it.”
“You didn't imagine it, Miss Drask. My tech shivered when I took your hand. Even now, I can feel . . . I'm not sure what. I simply feel better. As if my tech needed maintenance.”
“Impossible,” Corporal Shensar huffed.
Lena grimaced, thinking about the scandalous dress the woman had brought her.
“Step forward and introduce yourself, Corporal.” Vor motioned at Lena.
The woman blanked her expression and stepped forward. Lena stared at her warily.
The corporal held out her hand. “Corporal Hena Shensar.”
“Nice to meet you, Corporal.” Lena shook the woman's hand.
Once more, that strange vibration shivered against Lena's palm. But this time, it was the Nethren woman who jerked away.
“You tried to converge me!” Shensar rubbed her hand and glared at Lena.
“No, I didn't.” Lena drew back.
“Stand down, Corporal!” Vor growled. “Lena can't converge you. What did you feel when you shook her hand?”
“She sent energy through me!” The woman glared at Lena. “It . . .” Her eyes fluttered. “What is that?” Her hand slid down her thigh and clenched. “It feels good. Stronger.”
“As if the tech has woken up, right? Like it was asleep before, just barely functioning.” Greis nodded eagerly. “Sergeant, you next!” He waved another man toward Lena.
“Hold on!” Lena backed away. “I don't understand what's happening, and I don't like this.”
“Afraid you're helping the enemy?” Shensar sneered.
“Corporal!” Vor pointed at her. “If you don't want the gifts that Lena offers, you don't have to receive them, but you will not speak to her like that.”
“Yes, Commander,” the woman muttered.
Then Vor turned toward Lena. “We don't understand it either, but I trust in Source, and it led me to you. Don't you want to know what you're capable of? This could be your destiny, Lena.”
“To strengthen the Nethren?” Lena whispered. “I don't think so.”
Shensar snorted.
Vor glared at her, and the corporal went back to her desk.
Then he held out his hand to Lena. “This isn't about strengthening us.
You are tuning us to the surface. To our true selves.
You are showing us who we are meant to be.
And I believe that your touch upon my people will lead us to peace with yours.
Don't you want that, Lena? Para at peace at last.”
Lena stared into Vor's gray-blue eyes, so eager and honest. Yet, she couldn't trust him. She couldn't even trust her own feelings for him. Vor was weakening her defenses, and Lena knew it. He made her feel as if she were safe and cherished. It had to be a trick. And she was falling for it.
Then she felt it. A shivering lightness rising inside her.
It was in her and yet not of her. Similar to the vibrations she felt when she touched a Nethren, but more intense.
It was glittering, bright, and beautiful, filling her chest with a sense of rightness and purpose.
Suddenly, the courage inside her magnified.
Clarity cleared away the confusion. Lena saw a path toward peace and knew she could only walk it beside Vor.
With a gasp, Lena stepped away from Vor.
Lesser but similar feelings had been rising in her since she had arrived at the fortress.
They calmed and compelled her, but they'd never been this strong.
This wasn't just an urge. It was a promise.
A prediction, kin to her visions. Was this what Vor felt?
Did he have visions like hers? If so, it wasn't surprising that he was so determined.
But could she trust this external power?
She'd had two visions, one in a dream, and both of them revolving around a blond man.
One gave Lena joy, the other terrified her.
Was one or both men Vor? Maybe neither. Maybe she didn't have the power of prophecy at all.
So then, what was she feeling? Was her imagination reacting to her hidden desires?
Another shiver came; this one felt like laughter.
“Lena?” Vor followed her as she backed away, his hand still extended. “You felt it, didn't you? I felt it too. The reassurance that we're on the right path. That was Tech. The Source is guiding you. Don't be afraid of it.”
Lena stared at Vor's hand. It was his hand of flesh.
Steady. Not even the slightest tremor. There was no doubt in Commander Vor at all.
Not in anything he did. He believed, and his faith had led him to her.
Was Lena brave enough to believe too? What would it hurt?
If Vor was treacherous, she'd discover it sooner by believing than not.
Before she realized what she was doing, Lena slid her hand onto Vor's.
She didn't clasp hands with him, just laid her palm on his.
Vor held his hand steady beneath hers, unmoving.
He didn't close his fingers around hers.
Five seconds passed, and they remained like that, as if in sacred communion.
Hands pressed together but not grasping.
And between their palms, energy flowed. Lena couldn't ignore it any longer.
Someone cleared their throat.
Lena blinked and lowered her hand.
Vor smiled. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Lena whispered.
“Trusting me enough to try.” He motioned at the rest of the soldiers still standing in line. “Will you try a little more, Lena?”
Lena squared her shoulders and stepped up to the closest soldier. She held out her hand. “I'm Lena Drask.”