Chapter 14
ALLY
Hell. My sister is in Hell.
Ally struggled to breathe as the severity of the situation consumed her. She’d gotten mixed up in some war between the Raven and a pack of magical demons.
It figures. I mean, how much more screwed up can things get? This is what happens when I try to take charge. I just fuck it all up.
She struggled to pay attention to the conversation taking place in front of her. They were talking about some poem, some rhyme about a Gavor and a trap. It all sounded like nonsense. What even was a Gavor anyway?
Lyk cut off his sister, waving his hand for silence. “Forget the poem. Do the Seekers have any other hideouts besides Dazimin?”
Dazimin!
She suddenly remembered that the tall male had mentioned getting back there. Ally tried to open her mouth, fought to tell Lyk about the connection, but she still couldn’t speak. She started to shake, clenching her fists and willing her words to come out.
Lyk noticed her and, meeting her eyes, said one word that made it all stop. “Speak.”
Letting out a gasp, Ally’s mouth popped open. Thank the gods! “Dazimin. One of them mentioned getting back to Dazimin.”
“See?” the hologram of Lyk’s sister said. “They went home to Hell.” She craned her neck around, then frowned. “Who’s there with you, brother?”
“Come here,” he said to Ally, and she suddenly jumped up from the couch without hesitation, her body doing all the work without her mind giving the order. She walked around the table to stand in front of the hologram next to Lyk.
“Sit,” he said softly, and her body sat down next to him.
“You’ve got to stop doing that,” she growled. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but you can’t control people without their permission.”
Kara laughed, looking at her brother. “She clearly hasn’t met our family before.” Looking at Ally, she cocked her head. “So much grief for someone so young. And so much responsibility.”
Ally hugged herself. What was it with these two? What sort of strange powers did they have? Then she remembered how Lyk had described her sister. A Territhian named Evie.
Did that mean…
“You’re not Territhian,” she blurted out, eyes wide.
“Guilty as charged,” Kara said, holding her hands up in mock surrender. “I’m speaking to you from a planet named Vartik, which is where my brother and I are from. We’re members of the royal family, along with six other very annoying brothers, each of whom has been blessed with several powers.”
Lyk turned to her, his expression neutral. “We resemble Territhians, so we pass as them because our species has been hunted for our special abilities. And our healing blood.”
Ally couldn’t believe she was in the clutches of some kind of alien mutant who could control her every move with a single command.
Get a hold of yourself. You’ve got to focus on getting Evie back. “These Seekers. They’re demons? Like, real actual demons?”
Kara nodded. “They serve the Crown Prince of Hell. He created them after the Goddess of Light granted special powers on seven Guardians from a race of spiritual beings to keep her twin children safe. The Seekers attacked these beings and scattered them to the winds, but we’ve managed to assemble them and are aiding them in their goal of reuniting the twins and defeating the Crown Prince during the Battle of the End. ”
Ally sank back into the sofa. The info dump was too much for her fragile brain to process at the moment. It sounded like some kind of ridiculous fairy tale.
“Why did they want Evie? We don’t know anything about demons and goddesses and battles.”
“It sounds like they wanted the necklace. Describe it to me. Maybe it will ring a bell with Gemma.”
“Who’s Gemma?”
Lyk leaned in to answer her. “My brother, Calabez’s, wife. She’s one of the Guardians and supposedly the most brilliant being the seven known galaxies has ever seen.”
“It’s a simple necklace, with a silver chain and a charm on the end that lights up when you push a little button.”
Kara’s eyes widened. “I know that necklace! Mayra has one just like it!”
“Who’s Mayra?”
Lyk put his hand on her thigh as he leaned nearer. “My brother, Nojan’s, wife. She’s also a Guardian and the Great Oracle of Territh.”
Ally moved his hand off her thigh and scowled at him. “Are all your brothers’ wives mythical beings?”
Lyk laughed. “No, just most of them. Zelup married a Territhian scientist. She’s a genius, but she’s not mythical.
Three married Guardians, Penn being the last. His wife Tess is a renowned architect, and she can also animate inanimate objects.
Juston married one of the Seekers, Midnight.
But don’t worry. She’s on our side now. And Marek?
Well, my oldest brother married the daughter of the Goddess of Light herself. ”
Ally just shook her head, overwhelmed by the knowledge that Lyk’s family was overrun by what sounded like angels and demons. A pirate would fit right in among that mythical menagerie.
“I still don’t understand what any of this has to do with my sister and I.”
Kara spoke, her eyes bright with excitement. “Mayra told us that her necklace is ancient, that the Kings of Territh, or Arth as it was once called, used to wear it. But she never said there were two of them.”
“Do you know where your family got the necklace?” Lyk asked.
Ally shook her head. “We’ve had it since time out of mind. My father said it was the last remnant of our former glory, whatever that meant.”
“Let me do some digging with Mayra and Gemma. Maybe we can figure out how you got one of these charms, and why the Seekers might be after it.”
“You’ve got to be circumspect,” Lyk said. “I don’t want anyone to know this is connected to me.”
Kara frowned. “Come on, brother. We’re beyond old rifts now. Can’t you see? The apocalypse is coming. That means an end to our petty squabbles. You need to come home.”
“You know I can’t do that,” he replied, his voice like gravel.
“I don’t know that! In fact, I know the opposite!”
“Keep it quiet, Kara! Apocalypse or no, my time on Vartik is over.”
“You’re a fool,” Kara said, her voice tinged with sadness.
“And you’re my sweet sister. Find out what you can. I’ll check in soon.”
“Come home!” she said before Lyk cut the feed. He sat there, staring at the space where the hologram had been, lost in thought.
Ally bit her nails, filled with anxiety. It felt like the minutes were ticking away, and every minute that was lost was another minute Evie spent in Hell in the hands of demons. I don’t have time for petty family squabbles. I need to get my sister back!
“They’re on Dazimin,” she said, turning to Lyk.
Lyk nodded. “That’s the most likely location for them to take her.”
“Then let’s go to Dazimin.”
Lyk’s eyes widened and he shook his head. “It’s a hell planet. Literally. And the Crown Prince of Hell is no one to trifle with. I’ve heard of his powers from my sister. I can’t expect to fly in there and defeat him with my crew alone.”
That wasn’t the answer she needed to hear. “You’re the great Raven. You can do anything.”
“Not that, little girl, although I appreciate your newfound faith in me.”
Ally bit her lip. It was clear he was dead set against going after her sister. “If we’re not going to Dazimin, what are we doing?”
“We continue on course for now, heading for the Outer Rim.”
“You promised,” she said, trying a measured tone even as anger flared inside her.
“And I’m going to keep that promise. But for now, we wait for more information.”
Precious minutes were passing, and soon, they’d be headed even farther away from the center of the galaxy. She knew she had to do something to change his mind. She’d tried anger, tried pushing him before, and although he’d never really lost his temper, he hadn’t done as she’d bid either.
No, she’d have to try a new tactic. Her mother used to say that men preferred honey to vinegar. Maybe it’s time to try a little honey.
Although she’d never used her sexuality to manipulate a man before, this time, she felt she had no choice. Scooting closer to him on the sofa, she leaned in and touched his thigh right above his knee.
“Lyk, you know my sister means the world to me. I’d do anything to get her back.” She touched the zipper at the top of her coveralls. “Anything.” Ever so gently, she started to unzip the zipper.
His eyes were trained on her, and she could see the hunger in them. But instead of pulling her in for a kiss, his hand grabbed hers, the one on the zipper, to stop its progress. “As much as I want you, little girl, I’m afraid your attempt at seduction isn’t going to get you what you want.”
She could tell she was having an effect on him. The hand on his thigh crept higher, and she leaned in further, giving him a view of her exposed cleavage. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, her voice going husky. “I’m just a girl who knows what she wants. And right now, I want you.”
“Fuck, I wish that were true,” he replied through gritted teeth. Grabbing her wandering hand, he set it away from him. “We’re going to the Outer Rim until I can figure out what to do next.”
“This is bullshit!” Ally stood up, tired of trying to convince the obstinate pirate. “If you’re not going to help me, then I’ll find someone else who will.” She stalked to the door and hit the panel, but it let out an angry buzz.
“Let me out of here,” she yelled, hitting the panel again and again.
“Calm down,” he said, his voice soft as he pulled her away from the door. “You’ve got to be patient.”
“Let me off this ship. We haven’t left the outpost yet. I can find another transport to this Dazimin planet and I’ll negotiate with the prince myself.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The Crown Prince of Hell will chew you up and swallow you down without a second glance.”
“I’m not so easy to digest,” she retorted, shoving him back. “Now let me out of here!”
Lyk spoke into the comm pin on his shoulder. “Bridge crew, this is your Captain. Set course for the Outer Rim.”
“No!” Ally beat her fists against Lyk’s muscular chest but he didn’t even flinch. She was filled to overflowing with anger, with helplessness. “You can’t do this!”
“Shh,” he said, grabbing her arms and pulling her in tight, holding her still. “I promise I’ll help you, but we can’t fly in there blind. Trust me.”
“I can’t leave her there.” She sobbed into his chest. “How would you feel if your sister was being held hostage by demons in Hell itself?”
“I know,” he said, stroking her hair as she looked up at him.
“I would fight those demons to a man, all by myself if I had to. But before I could go off half-cocked and get myself and my sister killed, my friends would try and convince me to hold off, to come up with a plan that might actually work. I’m trying to do that for you now. ”
Ally looked up at him, her eyes filling with tears. Could he be right? She didn’t know. But she’d at least have to pretend to accept it until she could sneak off and head to Dazimin on her own.
I’ll convince him that I trust him, that I believe he’ll help me, until I can find a way to strike out on my own.
I’ve learned my lesson well. I can’t depend on anyone other than me.
Ally took a deep breath and put her plan into action.