Attack on Phoenix (9 page)

Light bored through Rell's eyelids, forcing them open. She rolled over and stretched her arms off the side of the bed, accidentally punching Torsten in the nose. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

"Are you trying to break my whole face? I still have the bruise below my eye from yesterday's attack." Torsten rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "I'm okay. Don't worry."

Rell exhaled with relief. She was worried about him. They'd entered the realm of the gods, been brought through prayer, and he was an unbeliever. It would be hard enough for him to adjust without her constant abuse, even if it was accidental.

"I hope your mother comes for us soon. I can't wait to start the day. I spent the whole night dreaming about all of the amazing things we would see and do." She clasped her hands to her chest. "Torsten, we're here with the gods."

"Or with the dragzhi. We don't know yet, Rell." He stood, stretching out his legs and jumping a couple of times in place. "My mother should be able to tell us everything we need to know. I agree, I hope she comes back soon."

Torsten covered his mouth, stifling a yawn. Rell yawned in response, then laughed. "I guess we're both still a bit tired. Now that we're here, everything will be okay. You can trust in that, Torsten. I do."

Their door opened. Rell sprang up next to Torsten, a wide smile on her face. This was it. She would meet the gods and bask in their glory. Her heart pattered in anticipation.

A woman stepped into the room, draped in a silver gown. Her head almost seemed to float in the air because the fabric blended in so well with the metallic walls.

Torsten stared at the woman, almost as if he knew her. Rell looked at him, but he didn’t say anything.

"I am Fortina. Please follow me." She bowed slightly, turned, and left the room.

Rell had to force herself to walk delicately and not run after the woman. Torsten pulled up next to her. They walked in tandem down the long, deserted hallway.

"Where is everyone?" Rell asked. Surely the gods had thousands of acolytes.

"We are but few," Fortina said. "Just enough to do what needs to be done."

"What do you do?" Torsten asked. “Where are you from?”

Fortina came to a stop and faced them. "We do what is asked of us. I am from… another place. I suggest you keep the remainder of your questions to yourself until you are given leave to ask them." She whirled around again, her silver dress dancing in the air for a moment until it settled around her black-booted ankles.

Rell offered Torsten an encouraging smile, which he didn't return. The grimace on his face only deepened, carving a half moon into his cheeks. "I'm sure we'll see your mother soon."

"I hope so. I have so many questions. I know you think you've found your paradise, but I'm more confused than ever. None of this makes sense. This is a dragzhi ship, Rell. Our enemy. The aliens who have been trying to kill us for a century. We're not safe here." Torsten moved a few steps ahead of her.

“Have you seen one dragzhi aboard this ship?” Rell asked.

Torsten didn’t answer.

Rell felt bad for him. If only he had faith like she did, maybe he would be more optimistic.

They passed by a window. Rell paused and reached a hand out, her fingertips splayed over Phoenix. She wanted to soak in every moment. Meanwhile Torsten walked right by, not noticing, or not caring.

Fortina led them into a room filled with tables and benches. "Please, have a seat. You will break your fast. Later, you will be taken to your destination."

Rell sat on the cool silver bench, resting her hands in her lap. "Is there a place to wash?" Underground, they always washed before meals. Not just to cleanse their hands of bacteria, but also to prepare themselves to properly thank the gods. Everything they had was courtesy of the gods, and they treated it all with the utmost respect.

Fortina shook her head. "Water is a luxury we cannot spare for your filthy fingertips. You will be fine." She turned on one heel and walked away.

"I wonder where the food is," Torsten grumbled. "Why isn't anyone else eating?"

"Perhaps they already had their food?" Rell offered. She, too, had to admit it was strange. "Maybe they've already gone about their jobs for the day."

"And where is my mother?" Torsten craned his neck, trying to see through the doorway Fortina had disappeared into. "I thought she'd come for us this morning..." He ran a hand through his hair and sat up straighter.

"I'm sorry, Torsten. We can't understand how the gods—"

"Stop. Just stop. Don't mention your gods again until we have the pleasure of meeting them." Torsten dropped his elbows on the table, resting his face in his palms.

Silent, Rell examined her hands, giving Torsten the space he needed. Despite everything they'd been through, her hands didn't appear to be too dirty. And she was hungry. She hadn't even realized it until Fortina had mentioned food. Rell's stomach growled. Surprised, she rested her hands over her stomach.

Torsten looked up, his eyes ringed with red, and laughed. "I'm sorry. I know it's childish to laugh at a rumbling belly. I just..."

"It's okay," Rell said. And she meant it. Torsten's smile brought her joy, too.

Rell was so busy grinning at Torsten, she didn't even notice Fortina approaching until the steaming bowl of... something... was set in front of her.

Rell looked at the slimy, writhing... things... in the bowl, then up at Fortina.

Torsten stuck a hand in the bowl, pulling out a wad of them and shoving it in his mouth. Slime gathered at the corners of his lips as he chewed. "Mmmm. So good. I haven't had krullers in so long." He looked up at Rell. "You're not eating."

A small tentacle dangled out the side of his mouth. Torsten sucked it in, smacking his lips together.

"I don't eat living things." It came out in a squeak as Torsten shoved another handful into his mouth. Rell pursed her lips, fearful she'd lose whatever was left in her stomach. She wanted to say something about the gods, and how they respected life too much to allow their followers to eat these krullers. But she'd already upset Torsten enough, and Fortina was glaring at her, as if she were personally insulted by Rell's refusal to eat.

"Do you have anything else? I'm so sorry, I can't eat this." Rell pushed her bowl to the side with one finger. A kruller shot out of the bowl, nipping her fingertip. Rell screamed, shoving the bowl across the table. It hit Torsten's bowl, knocking a few krullers out. They slithered across the table, leaving a trail of slime in their wake. It took everything Rell had not to cry.

Fortina herded the little kruller back into Rell's bowl and set it to the side. "It is all we have. We can't grow crops here, so we do with what we harvest from the outside of the ship."

Rell's eyes grew wide as she imagined people in space gear pulling their breakfast off the dirty hull every morning.

"It's true," Torsten said between bites. "We ate it in the tower to prepare us for eventual missions in space. Krullers have lots of protein. It's actually fairly healthy."

"Why don't you kill it and cook it?" Rell asked, horrified.

"Krullers get hard when they’re cooked. There's no good recipe for it." Torsten reached over to Rell's bowl. "Do you mind? I'm starving."

Rell closed her eyes, knowing he'd take it even if she didn't give permission. Her stomach tumbled, and she prayed there was something, anything, there for her to eat.

"Hello, Torsten and Rell!"

Rell's eyes snapped open.

Torsten's mother strode across the room, a plate in her hand. "I made a loaf of bread this morning from the emergency store of oats. Want to try it?"

Rell glared at Fortina. Obviously there was other food on the ship. Rell said a quick prayer of thanks to the gods. "I would love some, thank you, Yasmin."

"You're welcome. I'm thrilled you two are here." Yasmin sat next to her son. "I trust you slept well?"

A blush spread over Rell's face as she remembered contemplating sharing the bed with Torsten. “Yes, thank you. Perhaps tonight we could have separate—"

"Torsten," Yasmin turned to her son, cutting off Rell's request. "I'm sure you are wondering why I'm here."

Torsten swallowed the last of his krullers. "I saw you die. I was hiding under the bed with Leila. We, or at least I, saw all of it. You were murdered."

"I can explain what you saw that night. If your father and I had any idea you were hiding under the bed..." She placed a small hand on his broad shoulder. "It was a setup. I feared you would suffer without us, but to know now you saw everything that happened, I can't apologize enough."

"Why?" Torsten asked.

It was a simple question with an endless list of meanings. Rell tore off a piece of bread from the plate Yasmin had set in front of her. The bread practically melted in her mouth. It was so good, Rell almost felt sinful. Luckily this bread was brought to her by the gods. Nothing they offered was sinful. She looked up at Torsten, wondering briefly if he, too, was a gift from the gods. After all, the mission the council bestowed upon her brought them together.

Yasmin sat silent for a moment. "I don't really know where to start, Torsten. Can I ask you a question first?"

He nodded. Rell could see the impatience in his eyes. She wondered if his mother saw it, too.

"How is Leila? How have the two of you been? What happened to you?" Yasmin's hands shook, and she quickly folded them in front of her on the table.

"Leila and I were sent to the military. We've been trained just like every other defender. Our basic needs were cared for. Leila has a lot of friends." Torsten's voice wavered on the last sentence.

"And you, my son?" Yasmin asked.

"I'm fine," Torsten said.

He wasn't. Even Rell could see that. Couldn't his mother?

Yasmin smiled. "Good. I knew you'd be okay. You were always such a strong boy." She stood, smoothing out her silver gown. "I need to go, but we'll talk soon."

"Wait!" Torsten stood, reaching out, but Yasmin had already left the room. He sank down on his bench, dejected.

Rell's heart ached for him. "I'm sure we'll see her again soon, Torsten. She probably had rituals to perform or tasks to attend to."

"Rituals?" Torsten asked, confused. He held up a hand. "Don't answer. It's a religious thing, isn't it?"

Rell nodded, her lips pressed together.

"My parents weren't religious."

Rell wanted to tell him people change. He could change.

"They aren't here because of the Menelewen Dored." Torsten slammed a fist on the table, knocking over the two bowls. Rell was grateful he'd finished eating all of the krullers. She couldn't stomach watching them slither across the table again. "I bet my father is here, too, and I didn't even find out why we're on a dragzhi ship. I have so many questions."

"We'll get all the answers we need, Torsten. I promise." Rell reached out, touching his hand with her fingertips.

Torsten looked up at her, his eyes soft. "Sure you want to do that?"

Rell smiled. "We're in this together." With every moment that passed, she knew deep in her heart Torsten was her reward. She was sent to stop him from finding the Key, and she had. Now, if she could just convince him her gods were real, they had a chance to be together. Like her parents once were. Like his.

"Fortina," Torsten said, looking up.

Rell had forgotten the woman was still there watching over them.

"Can we have a tour of the ship? Perhaps meet others?" Torsten asked.

"You are permitted a brief tour," Fortina said. "Come, if you're done eating." She stared at Rell's bread.

Not wanting to appear ungrateful for the unexpected food, Rell tore another strip off the loaf and stuck it in her mouth. A few moments later, she swallowed, her stomach content. "I'm ready now. Thank you, Fortina."

Together, they left the room. Maybe now Torsten would see evidence of the gods, and he could begin to place his trust in them just like Rell did.

After a long, exhausting, and completely unproductive tour of the ship, Torsten’s list of concerns had doubled.

Every time he asked Fortina a question about how he and Rell arrived on the ship, or where the dragzhi were, or when he could see his mother again, or if his father was alive, or if they were allowed to talk to anyone else, Fortina changed the conversation or abruptly lead them out of the room. Her uncanny resemblance to Mellok’s mother wasn’t lost on him. Torsten had seen the faces of his comrade’s parents in their bios. He’d attempted to memorize them. But, surely his memory was playing tricks on him. And yet… his mother was on the ship. Fortina could be Mellok’s mother. Something strange was going on, and it didn’t make any sense.

Torsten tried to engage Rell, but she only stood there with a stupid smile on her face, soaking in everything Fortina said as if it were her gods speaking directly to her. For all he knew, Rell did think Fortina was some kind of supernatural mouthpiece.

Torsten trailed behind Rell and Fortina as they made their way back to their room. Rell's pink hair hung perfectly, not a strand out of place. She walked as if she was a queen, confident and secure. Back on Phoenix, she'd seemed a little unsure, perhaps even afraid. Now, she seemed to have it all under control.

Torsten held in a sigh. He felt completely the opposite. Nervous and confused didn't even begin to describe the unease pumping in his veins. Nothing in this ship made sense.

"I hope you enjoyed your day. Food has been left in your room. Please partake and then sleep. Lights will be out soon." Fortina held out an arm.

Rell eagerly rushed into the room, obviously relieved at the loaf of bread on the small table. A bowl sat next to it. Probably more krullers. Torsten wouldn't complain. Krullers were an acquired taste. The first time he had it, he threw up all over his sister, while Leila gleefully sucked on the skinny worms. Torsten forced himself to like it, just like he'd forced himself to wake up and move every day since his parents' murder.

And now, knowing his mother was alive, Torsten felt a wide range of emotions. Plenty of anger, yes. But the sadness was quickly crowding out the rest. If the tiny bit of information he'd gotten from his mother was true, then they had left Phoenix with a purpose. Their murders had been faked. Yet, Torsten remembered them dying. He'd seen it, and those were memories he'd never been able to suppress.

Torsten reluctantly followed Rell into the room, the door closing behind him. He grabbed the bowl of krullers.

"Do you want some bread?" Rell asked, holding the loaf out to him.

"Do you want some krullers?" Torsten couldn't help himself, waving the bowl under her nose.

"No! Get that away from me." Rell faked a gagging noise.

At least Torsten hoped it was fake.

"I mean it. Do you want some bread?" she asked.

Torsten shook his head. "No, thanks. You should eat it. I don't want you to go hungry."

"I'll have to thank your mother again tomorrow. I think Fortina wants to watch me eat krullers and get sick all over myself. She's horrible." Rell tore off a chunk of bread with her teeth.

"I thought you liked her," Torsten said. "You seemed happy on the tour."

Rell sighed, sitting on the bed. She held the bread over the floor, trying to keep the crumbs from settling on the sheets. "I wanted to like her. I really did. I kept hoping she would take us to a room of worship, or tell us something about the gods. Instead, the whole tour consisted only of boring things like where other people sleep. Where other people eat. Where other people work."

"And, still, we haven't seen anyone other than Fortina or my mother," Torsten said. He grabbed the last bit of krullers, swallowing it without chewing. He hoped that would be the last of it for a while. Perhaps tomorrow they'd allow them two loaves of bread.

"It's almost as if we're on a ghost ship," Rell said. "There must be more people than this. I just don't know why we're being kept from them. I don't think we need to prove our worthiness. After all, we did arrive through the portal of the gods." Rell slapped a hand over her mouth.

Torsten set the bowl down and chuckled. "It's okay, Rell. I'm sorry I was so harsh with you earlier. Your faith is a big part of who you are. I shouldn't force you to deny it just because I'm angry about the situation. Respect my beliefs, and I'll respect yours."

He looked into her brown eyes. They widened only for a moment. Then Rell looked down.

"Can I tell you a bit about my faith?" she asked quietly. "I don't expect to change your mind, but maybe it would help you understand me a bit more."

Torsten sat next to her on the bed, careful to give Rell the space she needed. Yes, she'd rested her fingers on him at breakfast, but he didn't take that as an open invitation to touch her.

"I'd like that.” Torsten wasn't sure he actually wanted to know more about the Menelewen Dored. What he really wanted was to listen to Rell speak. Her voice lilted, as if she were singing a melody rather than telling him a story.

"When our people crash landed, some of them wanted to stay on Phoenix. They felt it was their destiny to roam the galaxy until they found a new home. Unlike the rest, their priority lay in learning to survive, rather than escape. After Max Hamdal found the tablets buried in the sand—”

“The mysterious Hamdal tablets,” Torsten said. “I’ve studied those files. A group eventually translated them. That’s where they learned about the Menelewen Dored.”

Rell nodded. “Those people explored Phoenix, particularly the caves leading to the tunnels."

Torsten raised an eyebrow. "I thought the worshippers built the tunnels."

"The tunnels were always there, Torsten." She scooted, leaning her back against the wall. "I know you grounders like to think we burrowed underground like frightened voles, but it's not true. The tunnels were there. They called to us. Only a few heeded their call."

The lights began to dim until Torsten and Rell were shrouded in darkness.

"I guess we're supposed to sleep now," Torsten said.

"No." Rell's hand found its way to Torsten's shoulder. "I want to continue, if that is okay with you."

For so long, Torsten had faced rejection from women. Once they began to notice him, he pulled away, refusing to let himself be hurt. Now Rell was in his life. She wouldn't want him either. Not because he wasn't attractive enough, but because her religion forbade it. And while he didn't believe in her faith, he knew it was a real wedge between them. Yet every time Rell touched him, even in the smallest way, Torsten felt a lump form in his throat. It was possible she would change her mind. There could be a chance.

"Yes," he said quietly. "Please continue."

"When they descended deeper, they began to find compelling evidence they were not the first to traverse the tunnels. Perhaps they were more than a natural occurrence." Rell's voice hung in the darkness.

"Animals?" Torsten asked, intrigued.

"No. The Menelewen Dored. They blessed the land, preparing it for us. They created the food for us to eat. The animals to provide us with food. The water to nourish our bodies and souls. They made it all for us, Torsten. And for that, we are grateful." Rell was sure of what she was saying. No doubts.

Torsten couldn't help himself though. He had to question the story. "How did the buried know all of this? We have the Hamdal tablets, but the rest is speculation. It's amazing to think there are beings out there who so cared for us they gave our people everything they needed to survive after we crashed. Without proof, it's just a story. One that gives, comfort, yes, but how can you know it's real?"

"Because there is proof." For the first time, Rell's voice was hesitant. Almost afraid.

"What kind of proof?" Torsten knew he should wait, let her tell the story on her own terms. But he couldn't tamp down his curiosity. He needed facts.

"The Hamdal tablets told us about the Key." It was barely above a whisper. "It exists, Torsten. I know it’s more beautiful, more dangerous, than you could ever imagine. Only those who have reached the highest levels of our faith know exactly what it is. I am not there yet, but this," she held out her arms, “tells me I’m close to learning.”

"Is it a weapon?" Mythology told of a powerful entity who controlled its immense power. No one had ever seen it, or even seen proof it existed, so it fell into the realm of the unknown. Yet there were some who clung to the myths, believing one day, someone would find the Key and control it. They could only hope it was someone pure, and not someone bent upon evil.

That was why Commander Bartok had told Hadar she was sending the defenders to search for the Key. It was a final effort to rally the people in the face of destruction by the dragzhi. It would stave off sheer panic if the people knew the military had a lead on its whereabouts.

"Gods..." Torsten said. “My mother is here. She's alive. My father is probably alive. They left Hadar looking for the Key. They must have ended up here the same way we did." Torsten leaned down on his knees, tears slipping down his cheeks.

It had taken him too long to figure it out. His parents were Menelewen Dored sympathizers. They had rejected their own children on the hunt for an artifact that didn't exist...

A hand rubbed his back. Rell's hand. She stroked up and down his spine, circling around at his shoulder and down to his waist, before rising up again. He tamped down all of the feelings bubbling to the surface. He really liked this girl.

"The Menelewen Dored are tasked with protecting the Key from those who would use it for their own purposes, Torsten. It isn't a weapon. It is the ultimate power. It can be used for good or for evil." She leaned closer.

Torsten could feel her breasts on his arm and her lips close to his cheek. Didn't she know she was torturing him? He focused on his anger at his parents, trying to ignore the woman who was so close, but wouldn’t allow him to touch her.

"If your parents were looking for it, and they ended up here on this ship, just like us, then they haven't found it. The Key is underground, Torsten. We could find it together, but..."

"But what?" he asked in a strangled voice. It was getting to him. His parents. Mythology. Rell. Especially Rell.

"Only believers can approach the Key. Unbelievers can't." She rested her head on his shoulder.

Torsten tensed up, pretending his body had turned to stone. If he let himself relax for even one moment, he would take Rell in his arms again. He couldn't do it. Not until she gave permission.

"If you can let yourself believe, maybe you can find the Key with me." She snuggled closer. "If you do, then we..."

"What?"

"If you believe, it proves the gods put us together for a reason. I’ve never had feelings toward another person like this before. There’s something about you. It pulls me in. It makes me want to jump into your arms. Perhaps even touch your lips again."

He could feel her breath on his cheek. All he had to do was turn his head. Then he could kiss her properly, with her blessing. Despite the darkness, Torsten squeezed his eyes shut.

If he needed to believe before seeing the Key, he would never see it. He couldn't have the same kind of faith she did. No matter how much he wanted her, Torsten wouldn't pretend to believe in order to win her affections.

If Rell was going to be his, and he was going to be hers, they would do it with everything out in the open. True honesty.

"Rell, I can’t. I don’t believe, and I won’t lie to you just because I might have the chance to…” He couldn’t even finish the sentence. Saying it out loud would make her even harder to resist. “I think I should sleep on the floor." Torsten slid off the bed, resting on the hard metal. His cheek absorbed the coolness of the floor, letting it flow through him, shutting down the desire he felt for the woman who was only an arm's length away.

The same women who didn't respond. The woman whose breathing eventually fell into a pattern so regular Torsten knew she'd fallen asleep. It was only then he allowed himself the same release.