The Dark King (22 page)

Opal was right. Taylor found a beautiful emerald green shawl and a matching necklace at the booths near the city wall. The crowds were thinner along the outer circle, giving her room to breathe. It allowed some of the tension she'd been feeling to seep away.

Most of the Phantom people had stopped gawking at her and moved on with their daily routines. Even Opal seemed in a better mood and that was saying something given the start to their morning together.

"I have one more place that we should check before we return to the Keep. It's just outside the wall," Opal said.

Taylor hesitated. Hades said not to go outside. That it wasn't safe. Opal knew this. "I don't think that's a good idea. The Slavers are still out there."

Opal's lips thinned and her brows drew down over her eyes. Her hand moved to her sword. "Do you think that I can’t protect you? That I’m not a powerful Phantom Warrior? Just because I am a woman does not mean that I am incapable of doing my job."

"Of course not! I’ve seen you fight. Remember? You’re a badass," Taylor said. "My hesitation has nothing to do with you being a woman." It did, since women were being targeted, but best not to point that out right now.

"We won't be long. It's just on the other side of the wall. If we go now, no one will notice. We’ll be back before they even realize that we were gone." Opal was persuasive when she wanted to be. "I saw an ornamentation last week that I really wanted to buy, but I didn't get it. I'd like to do so now."

"You're sure it's safe?" Taylor asked, eyeing the wall nervously. She really didn’t want to leave the security of the city. “Why don’t you go and I’ll wait here?”

“No!” Opal snapped.

Taylor flinched.

Opal took a deep breath. “What I meant to say is that I can’t. You’re not allowed in the city without an escort. Hades’ orders. If I leave you here, then there will be no one to watch over you, no one to guard you if trouble arises.”

She was right
, Taylor thought, then glanced at the imposing wall once more. If Opal left her, then she’d be disobeying the Dark King. Taylor didn’t want to think what the punishment for that would be given Hades’ volatile moods.

“Please,” Opal pleaded. “I really want to get the ear clamp and matching necklace. It won’t take long. I promise.”

Taylor felt her resolve crumble. “Five minutes,” she said.

"Done." Opal nodded. "Now let's go. And whatever you do, be quiet."

“You don’t expect me to climb that wall, do you?” she asked. “I’m not much of a climber.”

“Of course not,” Opal said. “Follow me.”

They crawled out a small drainage ditch to get to the other side of the wall. Taylor had barely managed to squeeze her way through the opening at the far end. No way would a man’s broad shoulders fit in the cramped space. She scrambled to her feet and brushed off her clothes, then looked around.

In the distance, lush forests hugged mammoth mountains, but the land surrounding the Walled City was barren like a desert. "Where are the stalls?"

"They're cloaked for their safety," Opal said. "They will appear as we approach them."

Given everything she'd seen, Taylor figured it was possible.

Sweat dripped from Opal's brow and she glanced around manically.

The skin at the base of Taylor’s neck prickled. "What's wrong?" She looked around warily.

"Nothing!" Opal growled. "They should be here."

"Calm down, I'll help you find them." Taylor walked from one empty space to another, waiting to see if a stall appeared. But no matter where she stood, nothing happened. "Maybe they moved? Maybe we missed them back in the city?"

Opal shook her head vehemently. "No! They have to be here."

"There were a lot of pretty necklaces at the last stall we went to. I’m sure you can find something there," Taylor said.

Opal looked at her as if she were mad.

"Or not." It was time to leave. Something wasn’t right. Taylor took a step back and collided with a solid object. "I think I found the booth." She turned, but instead of finding the stall she came face to chest with a man. He had long, dark braided hair and golden eyes that seemed to look straight through her. His head rose and his molten gaze locked onto Opal.

Taylor jerked her head around and told Opal to run, then she opened her mouth to scream. The man's hand crushed her lips before she could utter a sound. She shoved at his chest and kicked him in the shin. He grunted, but didn’t release her.

"Next time, my Little Cat. You will not be so lucky," he murmured, but he wasn't looking at Taylor when he said it. He was staring at the spot Opal had been in.

Relief flooded Taylor. Opal had gotten away. Help would be coming soon. Her ears strained. Why weren't the alarms going off in the city? Where were the Phantom guards?

The golden-eyed man bound her, then tossed Taylor into a ship that she could not see. She landed hard on a cold metal floor and immediately struggled to sit up. The second she did, she saw that she was surrounded. He wasn’t alone. There were several other men with him and they were all staring at her.

The ship rose, then sped across the desert, whisking her away from the city. Taylor screamed until her throat hurt. She'd heard the stories. She had no doubt that these were the Slavers that Hades was hunting. How long before they sliced her up and sold her parts?

Her stomach convulsed and she nearly threw up.

"We're almost there," he said.

Taylor looked at him and realized that the Slaver was speaking to her, not his men. "You are in so much trouble," she said. "Hades is going to rain hell down upon your heads, once Opal informs him about what you've done."

The man actually had the nerve to laugh. "Is that her name? Opal?"

Taylor hesitated, but she saw no reason to keep the information from him. He'd be dead soon. "Yes, she's the Dark King's Righthand."

"Now that
is
interesting," he said. "Too bad that you are mistaken."

“No, I'm not.” She shook her head. "Hades put me under his protection, when I arrived at the Keep. He gave his word to the Phantom people. The Dark King never breaks a vow. He will come."

The man stared at her. "I've never met an Earth woman before. I had no idea that they were so easily led astray. Had I known, I would’ve sought them out sooner."

"What are you talking about?" Despite her faith in Hades, dread engulfed her. Why wasn't he worried? The Slaver should be panicking by now.

He scooted closer to her and lifted a strand of her long hair. "Such a unique color. She was right, you will fetch a handsome price.”

She? What was he talking about?

“How do you think we found you?” he asked.

“You were hunting for women.” She shrugged. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” It happened to some victims, though it was rare.

The golden-eyed man shook his head. “If it weren't for the Phantom woman's assistance, we wouldn't have even known that you existed."

Bile rose in her throat as the full extent of the betrayal hit her. How could Opal do such a thing, knowing that these people might kill her? No wonder the man was confident that he'd get away. No one knew that she was missing. So there'd be no rescue attempt. By the time Hades was aware that something was wrong, she'd be halfway across the galaxy.

"Opal said that you'd fetch more credits on the slave blocks if you were whole. Looking at you, I’m sure that she’s right. But I haven't ruled out dissecting you," he said matter-of-factly. “Especially if you turn out to be more trouble than you’re worth.”

A tremor shook her body. Thanks to Opal, she was on her own. But unlike her sister, Taylor had always been a survivor and she'd somehow figure out how to save herself. When the doors to the utilitarian ship opened again, they were in the woods.

"Come," the man said. "We have much to do before departure." He pulled her inside another ship that was just as sterile and invisible as the last one. As they approached, a man near the door came to attention.

"Captain Hawk," he said.

So her captor had a name
, Taylor thought, filing the information away for later.

"Take her to holding bay four and secure her for departure," Hawk said.

He grabbed the restraints on Taylor's wrists. The man yanked her, nearly pulling her off her feet. "Hurry," he said. "I do not have time for your games."

She wasn't playing any games. Not yet anyway. Taylor made herself appear weak, vulnerable. It was easy to do. She'd done it in her act many times. She whimpered as he led her over to a strange sort of elevator. He shoved her inside, then followed her in. The thing dropped rapidly, leaving her stomach on the ceiling. Within seconds they were in the holding bay.

Several metal doors lined the bay. More than Taylor could count. Each had a small high window, but the interiors were dim. Whimpers and cries rang out as they passed the chambers. Taylor thought she glimpsed movement inside. Fear slowed her steps. How many women had they captured?

The Slaver strode to a metal door that looked just like the rest and pressed his hand against the center just below the window. The door rose with a hiss like a crypt being unsealed. Stale air blew her hair back and a coppery odor smacked her in the face, gagging her.

There were a few unmarked crates in the room and a series of rods lining what looked like bloodstained walls. A large discolored drain sat in the center of the floor, surrounded by rust-colored tentacles. The stained
paths
branched out, leading to various rods around the room.

What in the hell had they done in here? Her mind screamed in silent horror.

Taylor's body locked in place, refusing to enter. If she went inside, she'd have to acknowledge the truth of her situation. She'd been betrayed and in all likelihood here was where she would die. Taylor couldn't do it. Wouldn't do it. She'd fight this man to the death if need be.

Before she could act out her half-baked plan, the man put his hands between her shoulder blades and pushed her into the room. The stench of desperation and pain was worse inside. It made breathing difficult.

Her panic increased. She had to get out of here. She had to escape before they did to her what they'd so obviously done to the others. The Slaver prodded her over to the far wall and slotted Taylor between two of the metal rods.

"Hold out your hands," he said. "And don't move."

Taylor shook as she extended her arms.

The Slaver scissored his fingers between her restraints. They separated instantly, but remained attached to her wrists. He secured one hand to a metal rod on the right, then the other to a rod on the left. Her feet remained unbound. Satisfied, the man grunted and walked off without a backwards glance.

The lighting dimmed when he reached the doorway, threatening to go out. Taylor’s heart stuttered in her chest. The flickering stopped and something like emergency lighting kicked in. Shadows crouched in the corners, but she could still make out the crates in the room.

Taylor waited until the door closed behind him, then examined her restraints and pulled. The rods didn't budge. She tried again. Nothing. Her shoulders slumped and she felt her left wrist slip down a notch. In her desperation, Taylor thought that she'd imagined the movement, so she didn't immediately respond. It was only when her right hand moved that awareness dawned.

She could move up and down, but would that matter if she couldn't break the bonds? Taylor glanced up, expecting to see the rods attached to the ceiling.

They weren't.

She glanced at the distance between the rods, then looked toward the sky and thanked God once more for her long legs. Taylor kicked off her shoes, then got to work on her escape.

***

Opal returned to the Keep after spending another hour shopping in the Walled City. It had been hard to appear like everything was normal, but she was pretty sure that she’d pulled it off. When she'd seen Captain Hawk, Opal had almost changed her mind about the plan. The way he'd looked at her had left her shaken. Men didn't look at her like that. Ever!

Fear and excitement thrummed inside Opal as she entered the front gates, but she kept her expression pained.

The guards stiffened. “What is wrong?”

"Where is Hades?" she demanded, purposely not answering their question. Opal didn’t want them sounding the alarm. Not yet.

"He is in his chambers," one said.

Opal pushed past them and rushed on. "I must speak to him. The Earth woman has been captured."

The guards immediately moved to the hidden com devices beneath their hair and called for reinforcements. They also sent out a message to the King, before Opal could stop them.

***

Hades sat in his chambers rifling through holo-requests. He wondered when Taylor would return. He longed to see her again, even though they’d only been apart for a few hours. He’d just picked up another request, when a surge of panicked energy struck his temples, causing blinding pain. Hades clutched his head and tried to filter some of the words so he could figure out what was happening. Were they under attack? Had someone died?

She's gone.
The dark message floated in his mind. He froze, unable to move.

“No!” His denial was swift.

He couldn't have lost her. Not Taylor. They hadn't had enough time together. The Goddess would never be that cruel. But in his hearts, Hades knew that wasn't true. Life did not operate that way. Loss could be instantaneous and irrevocable like when his father had been killed. His mother had never recovered from her grief. She’d died a few years later of a broken heart.

The hollowness Hades felt from Taylor being gone was quickly filled with ice-cold fury. No one took what was his and lived to see another moonrise. Hades shot to his feet, toppling his chair. He compressed the pain threatening to hobble him into a seething ball and rushed toward the door. It opened before he reached it and his guards poured inside the room.

"What happened? Where is she?" he shouted to mask his fear. He couldn't lose her. Hades could still smell her sweet scent upon his skin, taste her essence on his tongue. He had to find her, even if it meant journeying into the land of the dead.