Laura Jo Phillips (41 page)

“Yes, Darleen,” Maxim said.  “He is dead.”

Darleen sucked in a deep, shaky breath and blew it out, and Summer understood.  Even though Lio had been under complete control these past several days, there had been a part of Darleen that was still afraid of the man.  After all that he had done to her, Summer didn’t blame her.  She reached out and hugged Darleen tightly, surprised and pleased when Darleen hugged her back.

“It’s over now,” Summer said softly.

“Yes,” Darleen replied hoarsely.  “Finally, it’s really and truly over.”

“The Xanti certainly came from a ship that we are unable to detect,” Ran said as Summer released Darleen and stepped back.  “But if we can get the body out of here and on our ship quickly, we should be able to get it back to Jasan with us.”

As Ran spoke, Loni was already on the comm with the ship, calling for two shuttles to land nearby.  Summer had shut down all of the security devices including the camouflage, so the shuttles had no problem selecting landing sites. 

“Did you have any idea that the Xanti were spiders?” Summer asked, not even trying to hide the disgust in her voice.

“No, none at all,” Maxim said.  He turned to take a closer look at William.  “I have no idea what this is though.”

“Maxim,” Summer said hesitantly.  Something in her voice caused all three of the Katres to instantly center their attention on her.

“What is it,
kilenka
?” Maxim asked.

“Did Mara have any Winicke family that you know of?”

“None still living,” Maxim replied.  “Why?”

“Because that thing, whatever it is, said his name was William Wade Winicke.”

It took several hours to free all of the women imprisoned in the compound, dismantle all of William’s security and strip everything from William’s office, down to the desk and chair.  Summer had been able to get a partial upload of data before some security program she had not detected shut things down.  She was disappointed, but, as Ran kept telling her, it was better than nothing at all. 

The Falasian females were extremely helpful in getting the fourteen women out of their cells and prepared to leave, once they understood that the intent was to rescue, not kill their charges.  When Darleen asked them if they would like to accompany them back to Jasan, and help care for the prisoners on the way, they had asked only if they would be slaves.  When the answer was an emphatic no, they instantly agreed and lined up, ready to go.

Summer double-checked everything in and around the compound to make certain she hadn’t missed any of William’s security devices.  She didn’t want anyone getting hurt if they happened to stumble upon the place.  Only when she was satisfied it was completely safe did she return to the ship.  She went straight to the bridge and sent a message to the Aki to let them know that the Other was now gone and would bother them no more.  Once that was done, she headed for her stateroom, wanting nothing more than to wash away the scent of Li-Hach-Cor.

When she left the bathroom, feeling much better after a long hot shower and some clean clothes, she was not surprised to find Maxim, Loni and Ran in the room.  She had sensed them drawing close a few minutes earlier and knew they would be waiting for her.

“We have ordered a meal to be served in the Star Room,” Maxim said as he crossed the room to kiss her.  “If you prefer, we could have it delivered here though.”

“No, lets go to the Star Room,” Summer said.  “I love that room.  Its so relaxing.”

“That is what we hoped,” Maxim replied as he took her hand and led the way out of the stateroom and up the hall toward the elevator, Loni and Ran right behind them.  As they got into the elevator, Summer finally noticed that all of them had solemn expressions on their faces.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.  “You all look so serious.  Is there something wrong?”

“No, there is nothing wrong,” Maxim assured her.  “It is only that we have a few important things to discuss with you over dinner.”

“And we are concerned and confused by William,” Ran added.  “I remember clearly Mara talking about her baby brother William when we were children.  She always called him Winkie though.  She never mentioned him after we got older.  I assumed that he had eventually grown old and died as humans do not have the same life span we do.”

The elevator opened and they stepped out into the hall and headed toward the private dining rooms. 

“He was certainly not human, whatever he was,” Summer said.  “But Mara must be human, otherwise how did she have you guys?”

“We don’t really understand it ourselves,” Maxim replied.  “We have already sent a message to the council informing them of this rather strange development, and asking them to take some samples from Mara.  Doc has already taken samples from William’s remains and sent the results.  All we can do now is wait.”

Maxim opened the door into the private waiting area and ushered Summer through before pressing the call button.  Roberto appeared almost at once and, after greeting them, led them to the Star Room.  Summer spent several minutes gazing at the stars before Ran coaxed her attention away from the view and back to their meal.

Summer ate heartily, hungrier than she’d thought after the long and busy day.  When she had satisfied the worst of her hunger she turned to Maxim.  “So what is it that you guys need to discuss with me?”

“We want, more than anything, to perform the mating ritual and the soul-link triad with you,” Maxim began.  “But before we do, there are a few things that you should know.  If, after we tell you these things, you change your mind, we will understand.”

Summer placed her fork carefully on the table beside her plate and put her hands in her lap beneath the table, her heart suddenly pounding with fear.  The way Maxim was talking, he was going to tell her something really bad and she wasn’t altogether sure she wanted to hear it.

“Do not worry so,” Loni said gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.  “What we must tell you is not so bad.  Just information you should own before making your final decision.”

“All right,” Summer said, feeling a little relieved.  “Lets have it.”

“As Loni said, it is not so bad,”  Maxim said.  “But it is important.  The first thing you should know is that there is a prophecy that, we believe, mentions you.”

“Prophecy?” Summer asked.  Whatever she had been expecting him to say, it was not this.

“When the first pod of survivors reached Jasan, there was a seer among them.  Actually, there were three, a Katre male-set.  Eldar Hamat was one of them.  His brother, Semat, was severely injured and dying.  Before the end, he spoke a prophecy which he was unable to finish before he died.  That prophecy spoke of an Arima who would one day come to Clan Dracon.  Lariah was the Arima spoken of.

“Then, a year ago, Saige came.  The second Arima.  During her transformation, she learned that Riata, the Alverian Empath and Healer that we told you about, was to be her Spirit Guide.”

“Yes, Saige told Darleen and I a little about that,” Summer said.  

Maxim nodded, glad she was aware of that much at least.  “When Riata came to her, she revealed the portion of the prophecy that Semat was unable to finish.  We call it
The Lost Prophecy of Semat
.”

“And that’s the part you think talks about me?” Summer asked.

“Yes,” Maxim replied.  “Rather than explain it, Ran will recite the prophecy to you in its entirety now.”

Summer turned to Ran who took a sip of his water to give himself time to pull the prophecy out of his memory.  He set the glass down and met Summer’s gaze with his own.

In the fullness of manhood, the patience of the royal sons of the third generation beyond this day, shall be met with their soul’s fulfillment in a daughter of a distant sun. 

Have they faith in the three, by the three shall all be blessed.

Radiant with the glory of lau-lotu shall they descend from the sky in flame before the people, and the people shall be renewed.

Shall faith be denied, so the people shall be lost, forevermore.

Shall the people have faith, so shall the people be blessed with a chance for renewal.

The renewal of the people shall begin with the Soul,

Who shall call to the soil of her distant home for she who shall be the Heart, and she who shall be the Mind. 

And these shall be the Three.

Have they faith in the Three, by the Three shall all be blessed.

By the Three shall be found new knowledge

Of shadowed truths,

Of enemies born to be brothers,

Of Dark Deceivers

Of schemes from beyond the Veil of Stars to cast the peoples of the suns numbering a hundred times ten into the eternal deep.

Have they faith in the Three, by the Three shall all be blessed.

Shall the Three endure, the people and their brothers shall banish the Dark Deceivers from the Veil of Stars forever. 

Shall the Three perish, so shall the people be lost, forevermore.

Summer listened carefully to every word Ran spoke, committing every nuance to memory.  When he was finished she sat silently for a few moments, considering it.

“It seems obvious, from what I already know, that Lariah Dracon is the Soul.  Saige then, must be the Heart, and you guys think that I am the Mind.” she said.

“Yes, we do,” Maxim replied.  “But Summer, what is most important to us is that you understand we did not consider that when we met you.  Nor after we met you.  We did not even think of the prophecy at all until today when you said you wanted to become our Arima in truth.  We do not want you to think it is the reason we want you.”

Summer smiled.  “Maxim, I know your true feelings.  I am happy that you told me this now, but I would never believe you only wanted me because of the prophecy.”

All three of the Katres seemed to sigh in relief, though none of them actually made any sound.  Summer acted as though she didn’t notice, though she smiled inwardly.

“Do you think that the
Dark Deceivers
are the Xanti?” she asked.

“We suspect that they are, but we are not entirely certain,” Maxim replied.  “The only parts of the prophecy that we are sure of are those that speak of Lariah, Saige and, we believe, you.”

“How do you know that any of the prophecy is real?” Summer asked.  “It could be all just fevered imagination.”

“Yes, that was always a possibility,” Maxim said.  “However, as of now, a good deal of the prophecy has already come to pass.  That would seem to indicate that the remainder of it is real as well.”

“I am not altogether sure that I like the idea of being one of the
three
,” Summer said.  “The idea of being in the spotlight does not appeal to me.  On the other hand, it is not even close to being a good enough reason for me to rethink wanting to be mated with you guys.  I cannot change what is.  I can only make my choices the best I can and deal with whatever comes next as best I can.”

Maxim, Loni and Ran all smiled at her, but she felt the flood of relief and excitement pouring from them in spite of their calm expressions.  “So, what was the other thing?” she asked.

“The mating ritual itself,” Maxim said.  “We have some concerns about it that we must discuss with you.”

“Haven’t you guys been doing this ritual thing with women for centuries now?” Summer asked in surprise.  “Why is it now a problem?”

“We have been doing a form of our mating ritual with human women,” Maxim agreed.  “But the full ritual we must do to make you our full Arima, so that you can soul-link us all together, has been done only twice.  Once with Princess Lariah, and once with Saige Lobo.”

“Oh,” Summer said.  “Well, since those two women seem to be perfectly fine, happy and healthy, it can’t be that bad.”

“For the most part, it is not,” Maxim agreed.  “There is one portion of the process that is, we are told, exceedingly painful.  Our Princes possess enough healing ability that they were able to send Lariah into a very deep sleep during that portion of the ritual.  They were also available to perform the same service for Saige Lobo.” 

“But they are not here, and you guys do not possess that ability,” Summer finished.

“That is correct,” Maxim said. 

“Can’t Doc give me something for the pain?” Summer asked.

“No,” Maxim replied.  “That part of the ritual causes your body to undergo a complete change from human to Jasani.  There is no drug that can ease the pain of that.”

“Well, what about an anesthesia then?” Summer suggested.  “He could put me into a deep sleep, like the Dracons did with Lariah and Saige.”

“Unfortunately, that will not work either,” Maxim said.  “The first part of the ritual greatly increases your regeneration ability.  Your body will throw off the effects of any pharmaceutical in moments.”

Summer thought hard, trying to come up with another idea.  Suddenly, she brightened.  “I can activate my Controller and tell it to block pain.”