Wind Demon Triology: Book II: Evil Wind (12 page)

"She's been trying to probe us, but I've been running a blanket suppression of all conversation on the
Alluvia
as a matter of course,” Deon told Kahmal. “No one can pick up what is being said by us."

Cree swung his attention to Deon. “Could
The Areto
have picked up our transmission to the Starcruiser?"

"The
Areto
wasn't showing up on my screen at that time, but it could have."

"Sorn would know all about Raphaella,” Kahmal said. “If the
Areto
did pick up the transmission, Sorn will know exactly where the StarRaider is heading and have alerted the Fleet on a secure channel."

"Then I suggest you hail the
Areto
and test the waters, ‘Kadia,” Cree said. “Make sure you broadcast on a frequency the StarRaider can pick up. They need to know if they have been found out."

"By the goddess I hate to speak with Sorn,” Kahmal admitted. “I always feel like I need to shower afterwards.” She sighed. “But you're right. We should be aware if Sorn knows about the StarRaider."

"My head is killing me,” Cree said. “I'm going to sick bay to get an extra dose of Triso."

She waited until Cree had left the bridge then nodded at Deon to open a channel.

"LRC the
Areto
, this is the LRC the
Alluvia
,” Deon hailed the other ship.

"Greetings, Kahmal!” The harsh face of a rail-thin woman showed on the vid-com. “I gather congratulations are in order on your promotion to captain of the
Alluvia
."

Kahmal's hands were tightly clutching the arms of her command chair. “Captain Chakai has gone on to her reward, aye. Thank you, Captain Sorn."

"So you have the Prime onboard,” Sorn said. “You are doubly blessed that you were able to follow through on your mission."

"Aye, we have him,” Kahmal agreed.

"As soon as I heard you were nearing Rysalia Prime, I wanted to be among your escorts. We want nothing to prevent Kamerone Cree from being executed this time."

"There are many ships headed for Rysalia Prime,” Kahmal acknowledged. “Even a Terran vessel. Have you word of it?"

Sorn waved a dismissive hand. “We scanned them but there is nothing there of interest to us though I would like to question them on how they found the wormhole."

"I believe they followed us through it,” Kahmal admitted with a bored shrug.

"You should be more careful, Kahmal,” Sorn insulted her. “Once the Terrans land, it will be necessary to impound their ship so they do not return through the anomaly to reveal what they've learned of our worlds."

"I agree,” Kahmal said. “We need no more visitors showing up unannounced."

"We are of a like mind in that regard,” Sorn said. “Who knew the simpleminded Terrans were capable of making their way to us?"

"Any more vessels nearby I should be concerned with?” Kahmal asked, digging her fingernails into the chair arms.

"There is a Serenian StarRaider but it is manned with brainless women who know nothing of how to operate such a fine machine. In trying to converse with us, their com array kept jamming the signal, losing it, the transmission garbled. Such stupidity should not be allowed to thrive in this galaxy."

"I take it they pose no problem for us?"

"Certainly not,” Sorn said and then laughed. “There again, once they have docked, we will confiscate the StarRaider. I will ask that it be handed over to me. That is if they do not crash the vessel in their attempt to dock!"

"Then I'll be sure to stay well out of their way as well as that of the Terrans."

"We will be guarding your back, Kahmal,” Sorn pronounced. “You can rest assured you will not meet with any opposition as you take the Prime Reaper to meet his fate!"

"It is good to know we have such a conscientious shadow following in our wake,” Kahmal said, her eyes hard.

Sorn lifted her head. “You have nothing to fear, Kahmal. I will keep you safe."

Kahmal shook herself as the transmission ended. She felt as though something slimy had crawled down her back. She was still sitting there when the Reaper returned.

Cree sat down in the First Officers seat beside Kahmal. “I did not sense any duplicity in her,” he said, rubbing at his temple. “Did you, ‘Lia?"

Sern looked around. “No, all I got was her hatred of the Major."

"And a dark desire to be rid of her,” Cree warned.

"Nothing new there,” Kahmal quipped. “I've always known Sorn wished me dead."

"You were right about her sister,” Cree said. “Delyn Sorn is on the ship.” His fist opened and closed on his thigh. “She is looking forward to questioning the cadets when she arrives back on Rysalia Prime."

"To torturing them, you mean,” Dorrie spoke up. “I remember Sorn and what she did to you, Kam."

Cree's eyes turned as cold as the snows on the crest of the Serenian Alps. “I haven't forgotten."

"There isn't a single female on the
Areto
who doesn't pose a threat to you and your bloodkin, Reaper,” Sern told him. “You can be sure they will follow us when we extract the cadets."

"And they will die in the pursuit,” Kahmal stated. “It will give me great pleasure to blow them out of the sky and rid the world of their stench."

Cree looked at the Amazeen Major with a one brow crooked at her bloodthirsty attitude. “It wouldn't hurt my feelings if Delyn Sorn had every bone in her body broken before she meets her end,” he said.

"What possible reason could she have to question the cadets?” Dorrie asked. “Surely she knows she'll get nothing from them."

"It has nothing to do with what she can learn. She just likes hurting men,” Kahmal said. “What other reason does she need?"

"Do you think Raphaella heard the transmission between us?” Chanz asked.

"The channel was open,” Deon said. “She heard and so did the
DarkWind
. I noticed their scan of us a second time."

"Looking for the Prime,” Kahmal said with a grin.

"But they didn't find him,” Deon said.

Cree's lips twisted with mirth. “Oh, he found me. I made sure of it. He just doesn't know what to do now that he has."

Khiershon was stunned. “The Prime Reaper?” he repeated. “It is my bloodsire they have on the
Alluvia
! He let me sense him."

"How can that be?” Iyan questioned. “He fled to Terra. He was safe there!"

"Obviously the Amazeens went after him and have brought him back for execution,” Khiershon said, his eyes troubled.

"Or they're taking him to Rysalia Prime to rescue his bloodkin,” Caitlin suggested.

"It was him being tortured,” Khiershon whispered, running a hand over his face. “It had to be. No wonder I felt it so keenly. I have his blood flowing in my veins. I have one of his fledglings inside me."

Caitlin could not stop the shiver that rippled through her when her husband mentioned the parasite his body hosted.

"Those women were torturing my bloodsire,” Khiershon continued. “By the gods they'll pay for that!"

"If that's the case, why would they be helping him now?” Iyan asked.

"If they
are
helping him,” Dax put in.

"Chakai was their captain when we first made contact with that ship. She's dead. If this Major was in league with Raphaella in helping you to escape, perhaps she's doing the same with your bloodsire,” Caitlin said. “With Chakai out of the way, Kahmal would be free to lend her aid."

"And convinced her crew to go along?” Khiershon asked. He shook his head. “That's too much to hope for."

"How many women on the
Orion
did you visit in their dreams, Reaper?” Caitlin countered. “My crew was half in love with you before you ever said a word to them. Wouldn't your bloodsire have done the same?"

Iyan stared at a blushing Khiershon. “She has a point, Khier."

"Man, was that a dream!” Helen Lutz said with a sigh. “We'd have done anything for him."

"That's more than likely what took place on the
Alluvia
,” Caitlin said.

"This is getting far more complicated than we anticipated,” Iyan said. “We've got two Amazeen ships headed for Rysalia Prime, Raphaella chugging along behind them as though she were out for a late afternoon stroll. What if it is the
Alluvia's
intent to try to snatch the cadets? If we're trying the same thing at the same moment, those men will be ripped apart by the retrieval beams, torn in two different directions."

"And we can't just ask what the
Alluvia's
intentions are,” Caitlin put in.

"I need to speak with my bloodsire,” Khiershon said.

"How?” Iyan demanded. “We can't risk it with that other Amazeen ship shadowing the
Alluvia
."

"Get this ship closer to the
Alluvia
,” Khiershon ordered. “I will at least be able to communicate telepathically with him. He will be expecting it."

"I see one problem with that, milord,” Caitlin said and when he looked at her, she told him he ran the risk of any psychically enhanced humanoid overhearing the conversation.

"What are the odds of such an individual being close by?” he asked.

"I can't answer that, Khier,” Caitlin said, “but do you really want to take the chance?"

"Can you scan the ship first?” Dax inquired.

"Aye, I can,” Khiershon said.

"If you don't find a sensitive on board, can you at least communicate on a level no other psychic can intercept in case one is hiding beneath your scan?” Iyan asked.

"In a language only you and your bloodsire can understand, perhaps?” Dax added.

"Chalean High Speech,” Khiershon said. “I doubt there are any Amazeens who speak the dialect. Other than Reapers, it isn't used much anymore."

"It's worth a try,” Caitlin said.

"Get us close to the
Alluvia
,” Khiershon commanded. “I must seek my bloodsire's counsel."

"That pesky Terran ship is fast approaching,” Sern told Kahmal.

"What do they want now?” the Amazeen Major snapped.

Sern chuckled, “It just sped across the Areto's bow."

"You should hear what Sorn yelled at it,” Deon said. “That certainly wasn't ladylike."

"Sorn isn't a lady. She's a shemale,” Kahmal muttered.

"Tyrian, go tell the Reaper to stay in the lounge. Deon, open a channel to those imbeciles,” Kahmal ordered.

"Terran ship, the
DarkWind
. This is the LRC the
Alluvia
,” Deon announced. “Our captain would like a word with you."

An annoyed face popped up on the
Alluvia's
vid-screen.

"I hope it isn't in the same tone of voice your companion ship tossed at us,” Caitlin said, a pout pursing her lips. “Personally, I don't like being called a slut by anyone."

"You ran across the
Areto's
bow,” Kahmal said. “That was a foolish thing to do."

Caitlin shrugged. “Such is life, but I am not a slut."

"Why did you do such a thing?” the Major asked, knowing full well Sorn was intercepting the communication.

"It was the quickest way to get behind you,” Caitlin responded.

"Why?"

"We wanted to trail along with you, sweetie,” Caitlin said, smiling broadly. “You are ever so much friendlier than that other ship."

Khiershon was standing in the captain's quarters of the
DarkWind
, his eyes closed, concentrating on contacting the man who had fathered him.
"I am Khiershon, bloodson of the Prime,"
he said.
"I send greetings to my bloodsire."

Cirolia Sern sat back in her chair, her heart thudding in her chest. She could feel the emanations coming from the Terran vessel and now knew there was a Reaper onboard the
DarkWind
. She tuned out the inane conversation between Kahmal and the Terran captain and listened to the Reapers talking to one another although she did not understand the language they were speaking.

"I am here, Khiershon."

"You are safe, milord?"
Khiershon asked.

"I am."

"Are you being held against your will?"

"I am here against my will, but I am not a prisoner on this ship,"
Kamerone Cree replied.
"These women are aiding me."

"I am relieved to hear it. It is an honor to speak with you sir,"
Khiershon stated.

"I am grateful we were given the chance. You journey in the same direction we are taking?"
Cree inquired.

"Aye and for the same reason I believe."

"It is good we made contact then."

"What would you have me do, milord?"
Khiershon queried.
"How may I serve your needs?"

"All I ask is that you do not interfere with what I have planned."

"You have my word. I will be watching your back,"
Khiershon vowed as images of what his bloodsire intended to do flowed across his mind.

"You won't be alone,"
Cree said.

Khiershon sighed deeply.
"Aye, milord. I know. Raphaella thinks she is protecting me."

"Hers is not the only vessel that will be guarding us. A Necromanian prince is captaining a cloaked ship and will be at our backs. I have swept your ship as well as hers and the other Amazeen ship."

"I swept yours and sense only one other psychic among your crews."

"A friend and ally,"
Kamerone Cree acknowledged.
"She poses no threat to us and I doubt she understands Chalean High Speech."

"That is good to know,” Khiershon said.

"It is safe for you to send a subliminal to the one who calls herself your mate. Keep her away from Rysalia Prime and out of mischief. She knows I am aware of her and she knows what I have planned."

Khiershon winced.
"And still she persists on getting involved?"

"She is your problem, Khiershon. Deal with her."

Sern felt the end to the conversation between the two Reapers. She could imagine Cree sitting in the lounge, a hard gleam in his amber eyes for she could sense his disquiet. Running a hand over her face, she realized she was sweating. Whatever had disturbed the Prime Reaper was giving her pause.

Raphaella felt the mental push of Khiershon's voice and slammed her hands over her ears. She did not want to hear what the Reaper had to say to her. Trilling her tongue to try to block out his words, she was driven to her knees when his psychic shout reverberated through her mind.