Mercenary, page 24
part #2 of Heart's Desire Soul Destroyed Series
“Damn, someone’s outside the ship,” Maverk cursed at the same time Reya groped for the non-existent laser at her side and snapped “Intruders!”
The differences in their reactions hit them at once, and for several seconds they gazed at each other in silence.
Before his eyes she changed, softness giving way to hardness, warmth to cold. Within seconds the passionate lover was replaced with the ice warrior.
“Better check who it is.” Turning, she reached for the backpack. “I’ll get dressed.”
Mentally cursing the alarm, Maverk spun on his heel and stalked through the doorway. In the control cabin he silenced the alarm and switched on the security screen to show a tall, gangly youth slouched comfortably against the side of the ship near the door.
“What do you want?” Maverk barked.
Cisco jumped and scowled up at the closed door. “I’m here to speak to Reya.”
“Is that so? Anyone with you?”
“No, and a fine way to greet me. Do you want information on Vinca or not?”
Right now he wanted to be on the bunk, entangled in a certain wench’s limbs, demonstrating his feelings since he didn’t dare speak them. It wasn’t happening, and he didn’t bloody know when it would again. He ought to wring the idiot’s neck.
Annoyed, he snapped, “I’ll be right there.”
Cisco folded his arms stubbornly. “I’d rather talk to Reya.”
“You’ll talk to whoever gets to you first and be bloody grateful.”
“Touchy. Interrupted something, did I?”
That did it. “I’ll kill the snivelling little bastard!” He made for the door, only to falter when he saw Reya walk swiftly past while fastening the lacing on her vest. Beneath her arm she carried her laser belt.
“No point in killing him until we have the information we seek, pretty boy,” she said, coldly composed. “He’s no good to me dead.”
The mercenary was back.
**
Jumping lithely to the ground, Reya swept her gaze around the docking bay. No one else was near, no threats evident, so she focused her attention on Cisco. “Well?”
Warily he eyed Maverk behind her. “Is he safe?”
Maverk’s scowl grew. “Come here and find out.”
Reya ignored the byplay. “If you have information, give it to me. I haven’t the time to waste.”
“Very well.” He shrugged but kept his eyes on Maverk. “Vinca is staying at the Snoring Bore tavern, room eight.”
“Who told you?”
“Hey, you know I don’t reveal my sources.” He smirked lewdly. “Wouldn’t be honourable to the lady involved.”
“Anyone else know?”
“Of course not.” He managed to look injured.
She appraised him searchingly before nodding and striding away towards the settlement.
“Hey!” Cisco scurried after her. “What about my payment?”
“If we return you get paid, if not...”
He cursed, stopped and kicked at a chunk of grass. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Nay.” Maverk passed him with a wolfish grin. “Wait near the ship if it pleases you.”
“It doesn’t. Can I go inside and wait?”
“You could try, but the sensor is on and is programmed only to Reya’s and my body patterns.” A rather immature smugness filled Maverk. “Don’t look at me when your balls get fried.”
Sulkily, Cisco went back to the ship and threw himself onto the grass beside it to glare up at the night sky.
Falling into step beside Reya, Maverk glanced sideways at the expressionless profile and sighed.
“It might be better if you stay here.” The words were clipped.
He made a scoffing sound.
“It could be a trap.”
He shrugged. “Then we’ll go together.”
She turned her head and met his gaze full on, and he saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes before coldness bled it out. “You’re a fool.”
“For you, my sweet, I’d gladly be one.” And that was the truth.
They continued the rest of the walk in silence.
Music blared out of the Snoring Boar tavern and the usual drunks filled and spilled out of it. Reya walked past the building and turned into the alley beside it, scouting the area behind before starting up the backstairs, Maverk behind her with his hand on his holstered laser.
When the wooden steps creaked under his weight and she frowned down at him, he met her gaze blandly. There was no way he was letting her go on alone, regardless of what noise he made.
At the top, he reached for the door handle. She grabbed his wrist and shook her head, pointing to the window with the rickety balcony beside them. He raised his eyebrows in query and she gestured again. This time he got the message. They were going in through the window.
Nimbly Reya climbed onto the rail of the stairway and sprang, catching hold of the balcony. For a few seconds she hung in midair before pulling herself up and over, dropping lightly into the shadows beside the lit window.
Maverk eyed the frail structure dubiously and she shook her head, raising her hand in a waiting gesture. He scowled. She honestly expected him to wait? If it was a trap - his eyes widened as she slipped through the open window and vanished from sight.
The infuriating wench had gone in without him. His first instinct was to crash through the door in case it was a trap and find her but common sense prevailed, and he carefully tried the door handle. It gave easily and the door swung open into a deserted, dimly-lit hall.
Entering cautiously, he found the door to the room she’d entered and as he’d suspected, it was number eight. Silence came from inside and he debated on whether or not to crash through it.
It caught him by surprise when it swung open to show Reya, who indicated with her head for him to enter. One finger was held up to her lips. He entered and she closed the door behind him.
The room was small, plaster peeling off the dingy walls. A rickety table stood in the corner with a small stool beneath it. On the bed in the corner lay a man facing the wall, the covers drawn up to his hairline.
Drawing the dagger from the top of her boot, Reya approached him.
Personally, Maverk was surprised that she had actually waited for him before doing it, but maybe she was thawing a little in her attitude.
Feet planted apart, ready to spring into action, Maverk watched Reya cross to the bed. Rather than awaken the man, she stopped near the end of the bed to study him out of narrowed eyes.
Something was wrong, but what? Maverk peered at the inert figure closely. What was wrong? He was still, seemingly no threat.
Then he realized. The man was too still.
Taking hold of the end of the cover, Reya yanked it back. They both stared in silence at the dead body.
It was Royce, eyes wide and frozen in fear. Both of his ears were missing and dried blood pooled around the mattress beneath him.
But it was the fact that from the waist down he’d been skinned that had Maverk’s gut heave. He looked at Reya, expecting at least a grimace from her. Instead he saw stunned recognition in them.
“Reya? Are you all right? It’s only Royce.” Even as the words left his mouth, he cringed, for he hadn’t meant to sound so matter-of-fact about a man being murdered and skinned.
Dropping the covers back over the body, she asked curtly, “Did you see anyone in the hall?”
“Nay, ‘twas empty.” He moved up to stand beside her. “You recognize-”
“Of course I recognize Royce.”
She certainly didn’t look upset about that. “You’ve seen this mutilation before.”
Without answering, she paced over to the door and jerked it open. As she did so, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor from where it had been attached to the door. When she peered out into the hallway, Maverk leaned forward to check over her head. It was no surprise to find the hallway empty, whoever had murdered Royce wouldn’t be hanging around.
“’Twasn’t there before.” Maverk watched curiously while she unfolded the paper and unstuck a lock of black, curly hair from it.
Grimly she handed it to him. “It’s Mara’s.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Trust me.” Silently, she started reading.
He peered over her shoulder and read the words aloud. “‘If you want her back in one piece, you know where to come.’” He arched an eyebrow. “Where’s that?”
Eyes bleak, she crushed the note in her hand. “Vaksal.”
“Vaksal? Isn’t that where this Vinca bloke was from?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
He followed, closing the door behind him. Someone would find Royce. Besides, ‘twas too late to help him.
Once out in the main street, he fell into step beside her. “What’s this all about?”
“I’m not sure.”
He frowned down at her. “You’re lying.”
“For once, pretty boy, I’m not. I suspect but I’m not entirely certain.”
“So tell me what you suspect.”
“I’ve made many enemies.”
That didn’t surprise him.
“I think someone wants to even a score.”
“Who?”
A sudden peal of childish laughter came from the darkness and she spun around, her eyes searching, her hand on the butt of her laser.
“Reya? What’s wrong?” Maverk tried to see in the darkness without success.
More childish laughter sounded from the opposite side of the street and Reya whirled to face it. The light spilling from a nearby tavern showed no colour in her face.
“Reya, ‘tis just children.” He gently took her arm, surprised to feel the wildly beating pulse in her wrist.
Suddenly a ragged child darted out from a nearby alley, shrieking, “I see you! I see you!” Another child appeared from the opposite side and laughing, they ran down the dark, dusty street.
Reya let out a gasping breath.
Cupping her cheek in one large palm, Maverk forced her to look at him. “What’s the matter? Who did you think they were?”
“Ghosts.”
That startled him. “What?”
Her eyes fixed on him and he could visibly see her clamming up. “I was mistaken. Let us return to the ship.”
“Reya-”
She jerked her wrist out of his hand. “Don’t question me.”
Knowing he wasn’t going to get any further answers, he wisely said no more. The trip back to the ship was done in silence - tense on Reya’s part, confused on Maverk’s.
Back at the travel ship, Cisco stood up from where he’d been leaning back against one of the stands and scowled at them. “About time. Where’s my money?”
“You misinformed me,” Reya said coldly. “Vinca wasn’t there, only a dead man.”
“A dead man?” One eyebrow arched curiously. “Who?”
“Your friend, Royce.” Digging into the small pouch at her waist, she withdrew some coins. “One hundred dinnos, Cisco. Buy yourself a flight out of here if you value your skin.”
That had Maverk regarding Reya closely. She knew more about the skinning than she was letting on.
“What’s going on?” Cisco looked at Maverk in puzzlement.
“That’s your business, isn’t it, to know what’s happening?”
Cisco looked back at Reya. “But why should I leave?”
“No reason.” Brushing past him, she started up the steps of the ship. “Goodbye.”
Cisco stared at her for several seconds before scratching his head, shrugging, and walking off muttering under his breath about women.
Maverk gave a last look around before going into the travel ship, the door sliding closed behind him. Guessing her intent, he went into the control cabin to find her looking out the space shield with her arms folded. The pose did interesting things to her full bosom, but his concerns lay elsewhere - namely what the hell did she know that she wasn’t telling?
“Can you set the course to Vaksal?” Reya queried.
“‘Twould be best to start the search there,” he agreed, sitting in one of the chairs. “We’ll fuel up in the morning when the space servers are open, then leave. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can get Mara and leave.”
“It won’t be so easy, pretty boy.”
“I never thought it would be. Where exactly is this planet?”
“Right in the middle of the Outlaw Sector.” She pointed at the screen map. “Here.”
Maverk set the coordinates then sat back in the chair and watched her. The faraway expression in her eyes was so unlike her. The warrior was not the kind to be so preoccupied.
Suddenly she shook her head and started to unbuckle the laser holster.
“Do you know whereabouts on Vaksal we land?” he asked.
“I suspect it’s Eros.” She turned and left the cabin.
He sat staring at the controls. She knew of this place, but then she knew of many planets in the Outlaw Sector. She’d fought on so many of them.
He thought back to her reaction upon hearing the children’s laughter in the settlement. She’d been in a near panic. And the skinned outlaw. He remembered the nightmare she’d had, reliving a section of her past that had to do with childish laughter and skinned people. He felt suddenly sick. Had she seen children skinned alive? She’d spoken of a slaughter. But that wouldn’t be enough to make her walk the edge of insanity, not with what she’d seen and done in her life both in the Lawful and Outlaw Sectors.
Whatever had affected her like this, though, was linked to Zadox’s experiences. They both had secrets. He could get a headache just trying to fathom it all out. Too many questions, not enough answers.
He’d just have to be there for her, for the next time she teetered on the edge of madness. The unbidden thought made his hand on the armrest twitch. When would that be? For now she seemed fine, but later?
A feeling of sickness came over him. He’d thought that the only thing he had to do was make her fall in love with him. He hadn’t counted on the knife’s edge that she walked.
No one had.
A sudden crash startled him, the sound of glass breaking. “Reya!” Bolting from the control cabin, he ran down the corridor to skid to a halt just inside the living cabin. “What’s wrong? Do you feel all right? Are you hurt?”
She looked up from where she knelt on the floor picking up the broken pieces of glass. “I only dropped a glass. It slipped through my fingers.”
Kneeling down opposite her, he started to help gather up the broken shards. “Here, I’ll do it.”
“I can do it.”
“You’ve been through enough tonight already. Don’t push yourself so hard or...” He stopped.
Reya went so still that he glanced up to see her staring at him with a peculiar expression.
Immediately he reached for her. “Lass? What’s wrong? Do you feel alright?”
“You think I’ve totally lost it, don’t you?”
Shit, he’d made a bad mistake. “Nay, I’m just concerned.”
“Be careful.” She uncoiled slowly to stand upright. “My madness may be catching.”
He sprang to his feet. “You are not mad.”
“Why are you so worried about how I feel suddenly?”
“I’ve always been concerned about you!”
“But this is different, isn’t it? You’ve seen me tip over the edge once and now you’re wondering when I’ll do it again, aren’t you? That’s why you rushed in here. You thought I’d gone mad again.”
A flush heated his cheeks at the truth of her words. “Reya, I’m sorry. ‘Tis just that I have never seen you...” He gestured helplessly, unsure of his next words, knowing this could all go to hell any second.
“Go insane?” she finished coldly. “You’ve never seen me practically beg someone to kill me, it made you realize how insane I am. Isn’t that right?”
“You are not insane.”
“Who are you trying to convince, yourself or me?”
Frustrated anger crept through him. “Can you blame me for worrying? I hate to see you suffer.”
“Then maybe we should finish the suffering right now.” She swooped down and came up bearing a sharp wedge of glass, which she placed to her throat. “What do you say? Shall I end the suffering?”
He blanched. “My God, Reya! Put it down, I beg of you!”
Her lip curled in disgust. “You really believe I would do it, don’t you.” She tossed the glass onto the table where it skittered along before coming to a stop. “I may walk on the edge, pretty boy, but this was the first time I’ve tipped.” Stepping over the glass, she stopped shoulder to shoulder beside him. Turning her head, she raked him with cold eyes. “Be assured, if there’s a next time, it will be where you can’t interfere. I’d hate to upset your delicate sensibilities.”
The words slashed at him. “I’m sorry, Reya. I never meant to hurt you.”
“Hurt me? Don’t fret, no one can hurt me. I’m my own worst enemy, remember?”
Maverk was speechless, not knowing what to say, feeling as though he were walking a minefield, the wrong word being the possible catalyst for an explosion.
When he didn’t answer straight away, she moved off, halting in the doorway to deliver one last parting shot. “Maverk?”
“Aye?” He swallowed the lump in his throat.
“You saw me in a vulnerable state tonight. You’re the only one who can boast of that. You’ll not see it again.”
The words slammed into him with the force of a steel fist into his midriff and he didn’t have to look to hear the betrayal in her voice. He’d seen her at her most vulnerable, and in his concern had failed to give her the support she needed most - his trust. His trust would have given her the added strength she needed. “Reya, please.”
“Don’t beg. I’m not worth it.” She walked out abruptly.
Staring at the empty doorway, his throat worked against the lump that filled it. He’d failed her. He hadn’t thought about his reaction to her actions, he’d simply ploughed ahead thoughtlessly.
There was no point going to her now. She was in no mood to listen. All he could do was clean up while cursing vilely for letting her down the way he had.
If he didn’t curse, he’d cry.
~ * ~
