Forbidden (A Serian Novel) (13 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Clicks from the computer, buzzing, and the whine of the engine echoed in Anara's ear as she kept her gaze glued to the flashing light on the metal paneling. The entire trip, Isen amazed her by flipping switches and pressing buttons as if he'd flown a million times. "How do you know all of this?"

"He's a nerd," Nasim said.

"Nerd?" Anara turned around in her seat to look at Nasim and waited for his answer. Certain words they used she didn't comprehend and didn't think she ever would.

"He's smart, and always studying instead of having fun." Nasim smiled at her.

"He doesn't mean 'nerd' as a compliment, but I don't mind being one. I've studied these ships and have a few books on how to use them." Isen never took his eyes from the controls lined up in front of him.

She remembered how, as a child, Isen remembered everything he saw or read. She also knew that his gift could be a curse.

The whine of the ship's engine grew louder. "What's wrong? I don't remember hearing that on the one I stole."

"This ship isn't in good shape, but it's also low on fuel. It'll only get louder until it runs out completely. Luckily, we're here." Isen smiled.

On the edge of her seat, Anara looked out into the darkness as Isen landed the ship smoothly. Seeing the planet again, her body tensed, and a sour taste filled her mouth.

With Gage having a small spaceport outside his
home, Anara knew he had a high-ranking position.

"Do you think he's a kill first ask questions later kind of Serian?" Anara glanced at the others before looking back at Isen.

"I hope he realizes who we are before it comes to that." Isen winked at her, then stepped out into the cold.

With a deep breath, Anara slid her hand down the warm rail as she stepped down from the ship. The others followed behind.

Once out in the thick air, the acidic smell of hot metal drifted into her nose, and made her really miss the fresh scent of the ocean.

Anara glanced around, before studying Gage’s large house. The construction materials used to build it caught her eye. A rock she didn't recognize layered every part of the home and she wondered where he’d found the unique stone. She tried to use her gift to see how many Serians occupied the home, but she couldn't see anyone. "I don't think he's home."

The structure amazed her, especially the twelve-foot wall enclosure they’d landed within. Who did he need to keep out?

She couldn't compare her old hut to Gage's home. Being one of the wealthier families helped.

Lights flicked on to expose them in the dark. They froze.

"Unless the lights come on through motion, he's here. We'll wait until he comes out.
Just in case." Nasim stepped in front of them.

"Who are you?" the voice from behind them startled her. She twisted to find Gage holding his macca pointed at Isen. He cursed aloud and lowered his weapon. "A heads-up would've been nice."

"Talia said you would help, and I know Ryder is a friend." Anara tried to step forward and failed as Nasim blocked her path. She threw her arms into the air. "Really, Nasim?"

"What?" Nasim stared down Gage as he spoke to Anara. His nostrils flared and he widened his stance. "It could still be a trap.”

Gage nodded. "Why take the risk?"

Anara shoved Nasim. "I know, because Ryder is my Lamira. I feel everything he does, and his trust in you is unyielding."

"Good for him,” Gage said, grinning. “Now why don't we—" His gaze darted to something behind them. "Calista, go back inside. Now."

Anara glimpsed the half-breed hidden by a cloak. No taller than Anara, she hurried off. Anara's face heated. Ryder trusted him?

"You have a slave." Anara didn't have to ask, since the evidence ran back inside the home.

"I can't explain, but she's not a slave." Gage stepped back when electricity crackled around him as Nasim's rage grew, but his gaze stayed glued on Talia.

"I believe him." Talia never looked away from him.

Nasim threw up his arms. "Of course you do. Are all women crazy?"

"Yes." Isen and Gage spoke simultaneously.

Anara ignored their dispute. She tried once again to feel Ryder. With everything she could give, she pushed her way through Talia's wall and followed the conne
ction. Pain radiated through her body. The others called out to her, and ignoring them, she kept going even as her knees gave out.

After what seemed like forever, warmth surrounded her and the pain vanished. He protected her and she loved the safe feeling he gave her. She loved him.

His shock echoed in her head, before he disappeared. She slammed her fist against the ground. With her head resting in her hands, she exhaled, then inhaled to push her frustration aside. Her defeat weighed heavy on her.

"Let's go get him." Her chest ached with emptiness
and her eyes burned as she kept the tears at bay. She would get him back. She needed to get him back.

Gage gestured toward the back door. "Get inside before anyone sees you. Then we'll come up with a plan."

"Who's going to see us with your wall?" Nasim laughed aloud.

Gage shot him a glance before indicating to the black slate covering the home. "The rock from the wall isn't the same as the one I built my home out of. Jatron can't read through the rock on my home. I researched for years, trying to find a way to block others from prying into my privacy."

That explained why she hadn’t seen him or the girl in his home. Anara's fingertips grazed the slate rock. The surface felt smooth to the touch; a chill ran down her spine as the cold pierced her skin. "Cold."

"No matter whether it's a hundred degrees out, the rock is always cool."

He stood in front of the door as a light scanned from his head down to his toes and then the door slid open.

She stepped into the doorway and studied her su
rroundings. The colors and lights on the inside stunned her. The paintings on the wall took her breath away. "This is your home?"

She smiled when his cheeks turned a darker shade of blue.

"Yes." He glanced around nervously, as if waiting for something to happen.

"Why do you need so much privacy?" Talia asked the question they probably all wondered.

With his gaze averted, he watched a door across the room as he spoke.

"Who doesn't like privacy?" He turned to Talia, ey
ebrows raised. "Now why don't we make a plan to rescue Ryder and quit worrying about meddling into my life?"

Anara nodded in agreement, though he seemed se
nsitive for someone with nothing to hide.

An hour later, they stood around the table going over
the digital layout of Jacrar's home.

"He has an Antika at every door and almost
every hall." Gage pointed at a place on the screen. "These are the three doors."

"How will we get in with so many Antikas standing guard?" Anara's chest tightened as she thought about Ryder's rescue. It seemed impossible.

"I know a few Serians who can—"

An explosion shook the home, causing pieces of ceiling to fall around them, and the walls to crack in places. Anara grasped the table to steady herself.

Curses rang out as three Antikas ran in, all covered in black.

Nasim and Isen responded without warning and tackled the first two as the other jumped back in shock. He shook his head and went for Anara.

She kicked him in the shin, before moving swiftly away and dropping down to grab the maccas strapped to her legs. Not there! Of course she didn't have them when she truly needed them.

The Antika stalked her and never took his eyes off her.

Anara swallowed.

Gage grabbed him in a headlock and jerked him back. The soldier's body crashed into the wall.

She heard the crack and didn't know if the sound came from his body or the wall. As long as he stayed down, she didn't care either way.

Moments later the other two attackers lay unco
nscious and sprawled across the floor. Gage's opponent went in and out of consciousness as they grilled him for information.

"I thought Jatron couldn't see us through your sp
ecial rock. These Antikas didn't find us on their own," Nasim told Gage.

"They can't!" He sneered at Nasim's comment and grasped the semi-conscious soldier's shirt. Gage jerked him up into a sitting position, causing his head to weave back and forth. "How did you know?"

"Know what?" The soldier's words slurred as he portrayed innocence. His lids drooped, his eyes rolled around.

Anara thought about her last contact with Ryder ending so abruptly.

"Did someone intercept our interaction?" She leaned close to the soldier and noticed his body stiffen. Slight, but a reaction. "How?"

His lips tightened but he continued to ignore her.

Fine. She would play his game.

"Get rid of them. They'll be no help and will lead others to us." She cast her hand as if dismissing any more thought about them.

Nasim played along nicely. At least, she hoped he played. He unsheathed his rather large knife, went up to one Serian sprawled on the floor, and touched the sharp edge against the exposed throat with a wicked grin plastered across his face.

His comrade's eyes grew wide with shock. Sweat beaded on his forehead and she knew then her plan was coming together.

Nasim started to slide the knife in, cutting flesh.

Acacia's ability not only caused her to feel other's emotions, but she could also make anyone feel whatever emotion she wanted.
Which was very handy as she amplified the Antika's fear.

"No!" he shouted. "Jacrar gave us orders to come here for you. I don't know how he knew, but I know two Jatrons stand outside the door.
Monitoring him."

She recognized instantly what he meant: They mon
itored Ryder.

"They intercepted your bond with Ryder and used
the intel to lead them here," Gage said as he shoved his hand through his hair. "We finish making our plan, and then we go before others are sent in their place. I'll be right back."

He left the room for a few minutes,
then returned holding a couple of bags. He placed them on the floor and slid his hands inside them.

"We'll need these." Gage pulled out weapons and handed them out one by one.

Strapped with weapons and their plans made, they readied to get her Lamira back. He lead them out of his home and went to place another bag of weapons in the Traveler, until Talia grabbed his arm.

"What about the half-breed that's here? She won't be safe here, will she?"

"She can come with us." Anara nearly forgot about the other girl.

Gage shook his head. "No. She's already gone. We have an emergency plan in place for something like this. It's going to be a tight fit, but we can't walk without someone seeing you," Gage said to them as he opened the door to his Traveler.

The Traveler normally seated only three people. The men climbed in first, then Anara followed to sit on Nasim's knees, and Acacia copied by sitting on Isen's knees.

Talia hesitated before climbing in to sit on Gage's lap. "You need a bigger ride."

Gage cleared his throat and started talking to the Traveler. "Go to location ten sixty-six. Take the long route with less population."

Anara grabbed the side panel to keep from falling back into Nasim. The craft lifted slowly, then took off at a fast pace. Lights from buildings and other crafts passed by in a blur as she watched out the small window. She couldn't see anything else in the darkness. The buzz of the Traveler kept her calm.

"Better keep your hands to yourself, Serian," Nasim said, breaking the silence.

"Hush, Nasim." Anara shook her head at him.

He grunted and looked out the window.

The Traveler slowed its pace.

She followed Nasim's gaze. Under the lights on the streets, a group of Antikas walked down below them. Around her, electricity sparked from Nasim.

"Calm down, breathe. They don't know we're here," Anara attempted to calm him.

He nodded and closed his eyes.

"You are at ten sixty-six. What do you want to do?" The computer voice sounded like a female.

"Lower, and power down. When shutdown, turn shields and invisibility on," Gage ordered the Traveler.

Nasim grabbed Anara's shoulders as the Traveler lurched into movement, lowering to the ground.
"Sheesh! Could it bounce any harder?"

As the lights inside the cabin went out, Gage opened the door and helped Talia exit, before he followed. After everyone made their way out, they followed Gage.

"Jacrar has Ryder locked up inside his home." Gage started forward and then grabbed hold of Talia to jerk her into the shadows. "Get down," he said with a slight hiss to his voice.