Navan looked at me, his face a vision of torment. Neither of us felt right leaving Lazar here, but the threat of the soldiers loomed over us. Through the still-open door, I saw the lights on the elevator flash, and heard the telltale thud of boots coming up the stairs to the side of the landing. They were almost here.
“I’m sorry, Uncle,” Navan said, running to the door. Just as the elevator pinged, he slammed the door shut and turned the lock, before returning for me. He grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the bobbing ship, pushing me out of the window onto the narrow ledge outside. He followed straight after, his hand reaching up for the side of the vessel.
With a whoosh, the back door slid open and a gangplank shot out. Behind us, I could hear someone breaking the door down. Every thud made my heart pound harder. Would we make it out in time? Glancing through the window, I saw Lazar rising from his chair, raising a gun to the door.
“Go!” Navan shouted, forcing me into action.
I leapt for the gangplank and hurried into the ship’s belly. Navan was close behind me, his hand slamming down on a button that shut the vessel’s door after us. Without pausing for breath, he headed for the pilot’s seat and brought the command console to life. It flickered and beeped, ready for his instruction.
As I sat down in the seat beside him, my ears still pricked for the sounds of a battle, he took hold of the controls and lifted the ship upward. It rose with a jolt, soaring into the air. Without looking back, though my thoughts were with Lazar and his last stand, we zipped across the landscape, the vessel moving at breakneck speed over familiar territory.
Just then, red lights began to flash, and a siren blared inside the ship. This pod wasn’t anywhere near as advanced as the Asterope, but they shared some technology. A translucent screen slipped across the windshield, the words Incoming Message blinking furiously.
“Do we answer it?” I asked, already fearing whose face I would see.
Reluctantly, Navan pressed another button on the console. After a crackle of white noise, an image appeared. Queen Gianne was staring right at us, her eerie silver eyes practically popping out of her head. Her cheeks were flushed an angry red, and a burning fury ignited her gaze. With her teeth bared, her fangs flashing, she leaned closer to the camera.
“I’m going to blast you out of the sky!” she screamed, the sound shattering my eardrums. “You won’t escape me, traitors! I will follow you to the ends of the universe if that’s what it takes! Nobody betrays me!”
Navan quickly shut off the transmission, but it was too late—the fear had already set in. The thing was, I believed every word of what she had said, and it chilled me to the core. Queen Gianne would not stop hunting us, and if she would not stop, then… my hopes of returning to Earth had become little more than a distant dream. If we went back to Earth now, Queen Gianne and her entire military force would follow us, putting my home planet in untold danger. I couldn’t risk that. Not to mention, we’d have to reach the Asterope first—this little pod wouldn’t go the distance.
The sound of splintering glass suddenly ricocheted in my ears, the windshield exploding inward in a hailstorm of glinting shards. I ducked as the debris rained down on me, while something much larger shot straight past my head. I covered my head with my arms, sliding down beneath the command console, praying for it to stop.
“Navan, get down!” I yelled, but he was still focused on getting the ship to move faster. We were sitting ducks out here.
A split second later, something blasted through the destroyed windshield, hitting Navan square in the shoulder. He cried out, clutching his arm. A crackling arrow had embedded into his skin, the point piercing clean through muscle and flesh. Blood poured from the wound, the bristle of the arrow’s electrical charge sending shocks through his body.
“Riley,” he gasped, nodding at the console.
I jumped up, knowing it was down to me now. Taking over the controls, I tried to remember the flight lessons I’d had in the Fed ship—it had been easy enough then, and this ship didn’t seem so different. It was small, with controls that responded in the same way. I tested it, seeing if the pod would rise with my instruction, while dodging the artillery flying through the window. To my utter relief, the ship shot up as I moved the controls.
Keeping focused, I moved the ship forward, accelerating quickly. I had thought about lifting the ship upward, toward the planet’s atmosphere, so we could punch through into the emptiness of space, but now we had a broken windshield—and in any case, I knew there was no point trying to leave the planet now. If the queen and her army were only going to follow us… that left only one option.
“We have to head north,” I told Navan, swerving the ship in the opposite direction and building up speed.
Grimacing through the agony in his arm, Navan looked up at me, an alarmed expression on his pained face. “North? We can’t go north!”
“We’re going north,” I replied firmly.
“That’s insane, Riley—we can’t go north,” he said, wincing. “The only thing waiting for us there is Queen Brisha.”
I shook my head. “The only way to stop Queen Gianne’s army from shooting us down is to go toward enemy territory,” I said. “The truce is already teetering on a knife edge, but Queen Gianne won’t want to be the one to cross it, not even for us.”
“Trespassing on Queen Brisha’s side of Vysanthe will probably land us in even deeper trouble,” Navan warned, though I could see he agreed it was our only choice. Whichever way we turned, death appeared to be waiting for us—and I knew I’d rather take my chances with Queen Brisha than Queen Gianne. I just hoped I wouldn’t live to regret the decision.
I forced the accelerator into overdrive, and we shot across the sky so fast everything became a blur, my movements on the console allowing us to evade the ships soaring toward us, firing at the pod. Lazar had picked the perfect vessel—it was small and quick, just the right kind of ship to avoid a horde of soldiers in.
With Queen Gianne’s fighters still tailing us, and the wind whipping into the ship so violently I thought my face might fall off, we reached the border. I could see it now, shimmering in the near distance, jutting up between the ridges of a jagged mountain range. We had just passed the spot where the fighting pits had been, so I knew I was going the right way. Holding my breath, I kept the pod going, not knowing what the shimmering barrier might do to it—or us, for that matter.
“Will the border hurt us?” I asked frantically, as we approached at a rapid pace.
Navan swallowed, his eyes trained on the barrier. “I don’t think so.”
“You don’t think so?”
I squeezed my eyes shut as we barreled through it, only to open them again a moment later. We emerged on the other side, unscathed. Beside me, Navan leaned over and pressed a large white button on the console, and flashing lights went off around us.
“What’s that for?” I asked, my whole body shaking.
“I’m flying a white flag,” he said, “letting Brisha know we’re a neutral party.”
I frowned. “Will that work?”
He shrugged, grimacing in pain. “I hope so.”
Suddenly, the rattle of gunfire went off, making me duck for cover once more. I stayed under the console for several moments, covering my ears every time another assault peppered the air with loud explosions.
“It’s the border control, shooting down Queen Gianne’s ships,” Navan said, reaching for my hand, bringing me out from under the console. “They’re not shooting at us.”
I watched through the rearview monitors as flaming balls rained down from the sky, tumbling to the ground below—the remnants of those soldiers who had dared to cross the border in ships built for military action.
They wouldn’t be returning to Queen Gianne’s side of Vysanthe. Then again, neither would we. The only way for us now was forward, into the uncertain embrace of Queen Brisha.
At least she hadn’t shot us down. That had to be a good sign… Right?
> Chapter Thirty-One
As the ship’s siren erupted again, the message screen flickered to life. For a moment, I jolted, thinking it was Queen Gianne, but as the image focused, I realized I was mistaken. This woman had long, curling hair, a paler shade of copper than her sister’s—more strawberry blond than vivid bronze. Her eyes were of the same intense, silver shade, but they didn’t hold the same manic expression that Queen Gianne’s did.
No, this was definitely Queen Brisha.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” she said, her voice clipped and charming. “Navan Idrax, in the flesh.”
Navan frowned in bemusement. Evidently, he hadn’t expected the queen to be so cordial, or half as welcoming as she seemed. “Queen Brisha,” he said formally. “I wish to request an audience with you.”
“Such fortuitous timing, Navan,” she replied with a smile. “You’ve been on my mind an awful lot lately. Indeed, there are several important matters I wish to speak with you about. How excellent that instead of having to track you down myself, you have come to me with open arms!”
There was something eerie about the delight in her tone, and the joy that sparkled in her peculiar eyes. I felt a twist of concern in the pit of my stomach, wondering if I’d have to beat away a queen’s flirtatious advances toward my boyfriend, after everything I had already gone through with his parents and the betrothal.
“So, we may have an audience with you, Your Highness?” Navan asked, uncertainly.
“We?” Queen Brisha replied.
Navan nodded. “I have a… friend with me. I would prefer not to leave her in the ship while we discuss matters.”
She laughed, the sound genuine and oddly sweet. “Of course, the more the merrier! I shall be expecting you in my palace shortly. Follow the coordinates I am sending you, and my guards will escort you to me. I look forward to our meeting,” she said softly. With that, the screen disappeared, Queen Brisha with it.
“So I’m going to be your friend here instead of your slave?” I asked, frowning.
Navan nodded. “I’m tired of putting on that show—I’m hoping we can get away with more on this side of the border.”
I fell quiet, turning my thoughts to the queen’s words, and finding them strange. From what I’d gathered, “the more the merrier” wasn’t exactly Queen Brisha’s motto, and I couldn’t shake the fear I felt at the notion of her and Navan discussing “important matters.” What were these important matters? How could she be so familiar with him?
Following a flashing beacon on the screen, I lowered the ship to the given destination, obeying Navan’s instructions for landing the vessel. With only a minor bump, we reached the ground and parked in a deserted expanse of frosted grass. Around us stretched an endless mountain range, the tips white with snow, along with shimmering, frozen lakes nestled in harsh valleys.
Ahead of us, several armed guards dressed in silver and green emerged from a darkened tunnel in the rockface of a large mountain—along with a tall coldblood woman in a black dress. They all smiled as they approached, and Navan and I moved forward to meet them.
“Welcome to Queen Brisha’s queendom. I am Pandora—I will be your guide throughout your stay here. Anything you need, let me know,” the woman said warmly, her eyes only slightly curious as they glanced over me. “Our queen is most anxious to meet you.”
“Thank you,” Navan replied, still clutching his arm, his hands covered in blood.
She raised her eyebrow. “We should get your injury seen to, though I don’t wish to keep the queen waiting. I’ll send a medic along as soon as I have delivered you to her,” she promised.
She was a striking woman, with broad shoulders and an elegant neck. Her purple-tinted hair was tied up in a ponytail, with golden ornaments woven through her locks. I wondered what they signified, seeing that the majority of the guards wore similar accessories in their hair too. Her sea-green eyes were kind but stern, and I could tell she was the kind of woman nobody would want to mess with.
Navan grimaced. “That would be good,” he said, his palm not quite stemming the flow of blood.
Turning, we followed Pandora into the tunnel, where darkness enveloped us. Flashlights lit up the shadows, casting terrifying figures on the walls as we walked. I shuddered, feeling the cold of the atmosphere clinging to my bones. In our panic to leave, I’d forgotten to pick up my fur coat, and now I was facing the full effects of the Vysanthean weather.
As if reading my mind, Pandora came toward me, brandishing a coat one of the guards had been carrying. It was made of a leathery material, the inside lined with thick, dense fur.
“You’ll need this,” she said, draping it around my shoulders.
“Thank you,” I replied gratefully, wrapping it around myself to keep out the bitter chill.
Five minutes later, the tunnel gave way to a stone walkway that looked out on a glistening city. I gasped in awe at the array of exquisite sandstone buildings that shone with golden tiles. Crystal-encrusted towers glittered in the sunshine, and coldbloods were smiling out in the open piazzas.
The most striking building of all, however, was Queen Brisha’s palace—not quite as striking as Queen Gianne’s fairytale-like home, I had to admit, but still stunning. It rose up like a trident, three minarets forming the prongs. Each one was dusted in crystals and rubies, and the whole structure sparkled like a Christmas ornament. Statues of sculpted coldblood males and females adorned the fortifications, their bodies twisted like dancers, wielding shining weapons and holding various objects in their hands. One held a scale. Another, a book. A third, a flaming torch, the flames real.
Descending a flight of steps, we were led through a series of gardens, with trees and bushes bearing more fruit and flowers than Queen Gianne’s. Here, there were water fountains and ponds with meandering fish, though the fountains had frozen mid-pour, the effect stunning.
After leading us through a grand entrance around the back of the palace, Pandora and her guards walked us the length of an exquisite hallway, the tapestries showing images of Queen Brisha’s people, in various scenes. Some were picking fruit, while others were dancing in one of those beautiful piazzas. Nowhere was Queen Brisha present in the pictures—a stark contrast to the hallways of Queen Gianne’s palace, where her face was everywhere.
Here, I felt like a guest instead of a prisoner, which was a welcome change. Even so, I couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Even if Queen Brisha seemed amiable enough, she was still a ruling coldblood—not a woman to be trifled with—and I didn't trust her motives for treating us like this. Something was definitely amiss, reminding me of one of Roger’s favorite phrases: “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.” I felt sad, thinking about my adopted dad, but I pushed it away—now wasn’t the time for such worries.
I dared a glance at Navan to try to gauge how he was feeling, but the look on his face only escalated my fears. There was worry and regret in his expression, too. I desperately wanted to speak with him, to find out what was on his mind, but with the guards around, I didn’t have a chance. Maybe we would have been better off getting shot down by Queen Gianne after all, instead of entering this strange, unknown territory. A place that was not only new to me, but to Navan too. Even before the planet had been divvied up between the sisters, I got the feeling he hadn’t spent much time in the north.
We paused beside a tall set of golden doors, but were ushered quickly inside. My heart was racing, my nerves on edge—we were about to meet Queen Brisha.
For a moment, however, I forgot my fears, as we found ourselves entering a giant library. It was not what I had expected, having become accustomed to being shoved into throne rooms and dank cells. A soft gasp escaped my throat as I took in the endless stacks of leather-bound books, standing row upon row. In the center of the room was a roaring firepit, with high-backed chairs arranged all around it. There, Queen Brisha was sitting, her nose buried in one of her tomes.
She got up as we neared. Even in this small movement,
I was taken aback. Where Queen Gianne wore opulent dresses with expensive adornments, Queen Brisha’s tastes were far less lavish. She wore elegantly tailored black pants, with a silver stripe running down the leg, and a loose-flowing blouse of the same silver shade. A choker adorned her neck, a small cluster of opaleine in the center, but that was the extent of her finery. Even her feet were bare as she walked over the carpet toward us.
“Welcome, honored guests,” she said, holding out her arms. “Pandora, please fetch a medic to see to Navan,” she added, though Pandora was already on her way out the door to do just that.
“Absolutely, Your Highness,” she replied, before disappearing from sight.
“Now, make yourselves comfortable. We have much to discuss,” Queen Brisha said, gesturing to a trio of high-backed chairs by the open firepit. “I thought your friend could use somewhere warm for our meeting. This Vysanthean climate doesn’t agree with her.”
Navan frowned. “No, indeed, Your Highness… though your guard was kind enough to give her a coat to wear,” he said, his tone tense. I figured he shared my sudden fear—does she know what I am?
“Even so, a coat is no match for a good fire—come, warm yourself. Get the Vysanthean chill out of your bones. If you don’t, it’ll stay there for good,” she joked, sitting down in one of the chairs, a look of expectation on her face.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” I replied, taking a seat. She was right: the roaring flames’ warmth was a welcome feeling after the bitter cold of the outside world.
“Such a pretty voice!” Queen Brisha remarked. “What are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Riley is an unknown species—we’re still figuring out what she is,” Navan cut in, before I could say a word.
The queen smiled. “You might not know, but she surely does?”
I had to think fast. “Kryptonian,” I said, picking the first planet that came to mind. Thankfully, Earth franchises didn’t reach these parts of the universe.