Sought

  What? What is it? Deep demanded, sounding concerned.

  Something on the planet. Something dark. Burned me…shocked me, Kat choked. Her astral form was tingling all over. It was as though she’d grabbed a live electrical wire with her bare hands.

  The AllFather, Lock sounded grim. He must still be there.

  Did he feel you, Kat? Deep asked urgently. Does he know we’re here?

  I…don’t think so. Kat shook herself mentally, trying to regain control. He’s angry though. So much rage…hatred…betrayal.

  No doubt because Xairn flew off with the only female who could fulfill their twisted prophesy, Lock sent. This changes things, we have to hurry. If he feels us out here…He let the sentence dangle ominously and Kat had an idea she didn’t want to know what might happen if the leader of the Scourge found their vulnerable spirits wandering so far from their physical bodies.

  We have to hurry anyway. Deep sounded strained. Taking us this far and holding us here is almost beyond my power. Quickly, Kat, avoid the planet and feel for the tug of Lauren’s mind in the space around it.

  Got it, Kat sent. Just give me a little time.

  Time is what we don’t have. Hurry!

  She didn’t bother answering. Taking a deep breath she pictured Lauren in her mind’s eye. The delicate features, the long, silky black hair and warm mocha skin, the high cheekbones so like Sophie and Liv’s. And of course her striking amber eyes. Lauren, she thought, feeling her way along the net, searching with every ounce of concentration she could muster. I haven’t known you long but I can tell you’re strong. Brave. You’ve been through so much but your spirit shines through it all. Let me find you so I can give your mom some hope. She loves you so much! Please let me tell her that her daughter is coming home soon…

  At last she felt the faintest tug imaginable from the far distant corner of the great net. It was so miniscule Kat nearly ignored it, almost waved it away like a tiny mosquito buzzing near her ear. But then the feeling began to grow and she knew it wasn’t her imagination—the tug really was Lauren, and she was somewhere on the edge of the shining net Lock had cast.

  This was the part Kat liked the most. As the seeker, Deep provided the power to get them to their destination and hold them in place. Lock, as the finder, wove and cast the net. But as their focus, it was Kat’s job to track down the person they were looking for and fly the three of them to the exact spot where that person was.

  Hang on boys, here…we…go! She spread invisible wings and lunged forward, slicing cleanly through space as a swimmer diving into a pool slices through water. The feeling of speed, the exhilaration of finding what they were looking for as she followed the tug forward, grew stronger and stronger within her…

  Kat, watch out! Lock sounded more alarmed than Kat had ever heard him.

  What? What’s wrong? She wanted to look behind her but they were moving too fast.

  It’s coming…he’s coming for us. Look to the planet! Look to Zlicth!

  Finally managing to backpedal, Kat turned her gaze to the quickly receding Scourge home world…and saw something that nearly stopped her heart.

  A finger of darkness was extending from the planet. A searching tendril of black slime which made even the blackness of space seem faded and pale in contrast. But this finger was huge—a tentacle of pure evil big enough to engulf them completely like a snake swallowing a mouse.

  If it touches us, Kat thought, her blood turning to ice. If it even brushes us we’ll be caught. I just know it!

  The AllFather, Deep sent. He must have felt your probe after all.

  What can we do? Kat sent back, trying not to panic. How do we get away?

  We can’t. Not unless we leave now, Lock sent.

  But I don’t want to leave! We’re so close. I can feel Lauren and we’re almost to her.

  Then we can tell her mother that she’s safe, Lock sent back. But if we stay here and the AllFather catches us in his web, we’ll never get back to our physical bodies and be able to tell her anything at all.

  Kat wanted to cry. To come so close and then not be able to finish what they’d started was too much, too awful. I don’t—she began but Deep interrupted her.

  Kat’s right—we shouldn’t leave without seeing this through.

  I agree but I don’t see how, Lock argued. If we don’t leave now—

  There is another way. Deep sounded determined. Go on Kat, take us there. If the AllFather traces us I’ll…distract him.

  That was all Kat needed to hear. She dived forward again, following the tugging which was growing stronger in her mind. Find me, Lauren’s life force seemed to be saying. Find me, find me, here I am!

  There! Kat couldn’t keep the triumph out of her voice as a small silver spaceship came into view. There she is! I knew it.

  Quickly, then Lock urged. The AllFather is just behind us. His arm grows long and if he catches us…

  Too late. Deep sounded so grim that Kat turned her attention from the spaceship to look behind them again. Rolling toward them like a black, oily cloud that smudged and dirtied the very space it moved though, was the AllFather’s trap. Kat could feel the tingling, burning sensation again even though she wasn’t touching it…yet. A sudden , awful thought filled her mind.

  What were we thinking? We’ll lead him right to them!

  Lauren and Xairn aren’t on the astral plane, Lock told her. So while the AllFather might sense them, he won’t be able to hurt them. Not physically, anyway. Hurry, Kat, we have no time to spare.

  He’s getting too close, Deep sent. You two stay together, I’ll distract him.

  Stop! Lock’s mental voice was urgent. Don’t you think I know what you mean by ‘distract’ Deep? You can’t sacrifice yourself for us—I won’t allow it.

  What makes you think I’d sacrifice myself? Deep’s voice was filled with mocking laughter but it sounded hollow to Kat. Don’t be foolish, Lock. The AllFather won’t know there’s more than one mind wandering the astral plane. If he gets me, he’ll think he has us all. But he won’t get me—I’m just going to lead him a on a little chase while you two look in on Lauren. So hurry!

  Kat wanted to protest but there didn’t seem to be any way to stop him. I love you, Deep! she sent as strongly as she could. Be safe and come back to us or I swear the AllFather won’t have to do a thing to you—I’ll kick your ass myself!

  You and your Earth vernacular. I don’t see how you could hurt me by planting your sweet little foot on my posterior. Deep laughed again in her head. But I’ll be sure to come back so you can demonstrate.

  Do that, Brother, Lock sent. I love you too.

  And I love both of you. Goodbye. And then there was sudden silence from the spot where Deep had been. Looking over her invisible shoulder, Kat saw something bright whiz daringly close to the foul finger of darkness. The inky black tendril hesitated and then seemed to make a decision. It swooped after the bright thing so fast it was a blur in space.

  God! Kat’s heart was in her throat. She hadn’t realized the AllFather was so fast on the astral plane. Watching him chase after Deep’s spirit was like watching a striking cobra after a mongoose.

  Don’t waste time watching, Lock told her, sounding stern. Deep is playing the decoy so that we can get the information we need. Hurry, Kat. Hurry!

  You got it. Forcing herself to look away from the horrifying spectacle, Kat turned her attention toward Lauren and gave their mission her whole concentration again.

  There was nothing else she could do.

  Chapter Forty-two

  Slicing through space, Kat dived straight at the silver ship and passed through its skin easily. She could feel Lock behind her but he said nothing as they looked around the cockpit they suddenly found themselves in.

  Xairn’s massive form was hunched over the controls and he seemed to be concentrating fiercely. Kat felt a stab of panic as she realized she didn’t see Lauren. But I feel her here! Where is she? Where—

  “Oh, that feels so much bett
er.” Lauren came forward from a hidden compartment at the back of the ship. She was wearing one towel draped around her body and blotting her still-damp hair with another. Kat guessed she must have just come out of the shower. Who knew they had showers on these ships? she thought as she watched.

  It was a standard feature on the older models, Lock murmured. Warriors used to have to stay away from the Mother ship for much longer—each ship had all the comforts of home. Well, as much as it was possible to have in deep space, anyway.

  “I am glad you’re feeling better.” Xairn glanced up, his red-on-black eyes widening briefly as he took in the way the thin towel draped over Lauren’s curves. Then he looked back at the controls hastily. “It must be a relief to get the remains of the dravik off your skin.”

  “It certainly is.” She settled in the passenger seat beside him, still patting her hair. “I just wish I had some other clothes to wear. I’m afraid your cape is ruined.”

  “That’s quite all right.” Xairn’s deep voice sounded slightly strangled. “I’m certain we can find you something…suitable to wear in the place we are headed.”

  “Where is that? Where are we going? Are…are you still going to take me home?”

  He nodded stiffly, still not looking at her. “I have sworn to do so and I will keep my promise. But it wouldn’t be safe for us to go back to Earth now—not before we make a few minor adjustments.”

  “Adjustments? To what—the ship? So your father can’t trace it—right?”

  Xairn shook his head. “That is not what I am referring to at all. We’ll need to adjust our DNA—both of us—before I can safely take you back to your home planet.”

  “Our DNA?” Lauren sounded horrified. “What are you talking about, Xairn? I don’t want my DNA adjusted!”

  “I’m sorry but it’s necessary.” He stared straight ahead as he spoke, his broad shoulders tense. “Which is why we’re heading to the Maw Cluster at this very moment. The best genetic manipulators live there. They can help us reach our destination safely.”

  “But…” Lauren made a helpless gesture. “How far away are they?”

  “About a hundred thousand light years from Earth.”

  “What?” Lauren demanded. Then she took a deep breath and put a hand on his muscular arm. “Xairn, I’m trying really hard not to get upset or excited here. But it sounds to me like we’re going in the opposite direction of where we need to be.”

  “Lauren…” Xairn looked pointedly at her hand on his arm and Lauren withdrew it hastily.

  “Sorry. But look, how can you even get us so far away and back again before we get old and die? I mean, I’m a cupcake baker, not a physicist but I don’t see how it’s possible.”

  “It’s possible, all right. Using that.” Xairn nodded at the viewscreen and Kat followed his gesture involuntarily. What she saw was incredibly strange. There appeared to be a dark silvery-blue, swirling hole somehow cut into the fabric of space. Not just a hole, she thought, still staring. It’s like a funnel or a spout. Like water circling the drain in a bathtub—the biggest bathtub in the universe.

  “What’s that?” Lauren sounded as awed as Kat felt. “Is it a black hole?”

  Xairn made a strange, deep rumbling sound from low in his chest that made Kat drag her eyes away from the strange sight on the viewscreen. After a moment, she realized the big Scourge warrior was laughing. It was a rusty sound, as though he didn’t laugh very often, but kind of nice anyway.

  “Of course not,” he said, one corner of his mouth twitching with amusement. “If it were, our ship would have been broken to bits and sucked in by its huge gravitational pull even before we saw it. That, Lauren, is an inter-dimensional gateway. A wormhole.”

  “A wormhole? And you’re going to fly us into it?”

  “Through it,” Xairn corrected. “We’ll be at the Maw Cluster instantaneously. After we conduct our business there, we can find another to take us home—your home anyway. That sector is full of them and the star charts indicate several that will bring us back to your solar system.”

  “I don’t know…” Lauren looked doubtful.

  “I do.” Xairn closed his eyes for a moment and his entire body tensed. “Can’t you feel that? My father is out there somewhere, not far behind. He’s seeking someone or something else now, but the moment he captures it he’ll turn his attention to us.”

  Lauren looked over her shoulder fearfully although there was nothing but the back of the ship to see. “He’s after us? You mean in a ship?”

  “He’s pursing with his mind.” Xairn made a face. “I can hear him whispering to me. Urging me to bring you back to him… Gods!” He pounded one huge fist on the steering yoke. “We have to get away before it’s too late.”

  “All right.” Lauren’s face had gone pale but she began strapping herself into the safety harness with determination. “All right, Xairn. Get us out of here.”

  His grip on the controls tightened and the look of concentration on his face was frightening in its intensity. “Hold on. Traversing a wormhole is rough business.”

  We have to go! Lock’s voice in Kat’s head startled her. She’d been so caught up in the interaction between Lauren and Xairn that she’d almost forgotten what was going on. Kat, we have to go, Lock said again. If they take us with them through the wormhole, we might never get back to our physical forms.

  Got it. Kat gave herself a mental shake. Let’s get out of here, grab Deep and go.

  Rising up through the skin of the ship, she found herself in the darkness of space once more. Deep? Where is he? She felt a moment of panic and then she saw the bright silver streak of his spirit zipping around, just inches away from the seeking black smudge of the AllFinger’s tentacle. God, how was he doing that? Staying one step ahead of the evil like that? Kat felt her heart, thousands of light years away, jump in fear as she saw the tendril of darkness almost catch him just before he skipped away.

  Deep, she called. Deep, come back to us! We know what’s going on with Lauren. Let’s go home.

  Can’t. His mental voice was hoarse with exhaustion. He’ll feel it. He’ll know there’s more than one of us if I join you two. Can’t risk it.

  Yes, you can, Brother! Come! Lock demanded, but his command had no effect on the brilliantly darting light that was Deep’s spirit.

  You’ll have to go without me. I can’t distract the AllFather and hold you here much longer anyway.

  Don’t you dare let us go while we’re still separated! Kat raged at him. We need you, Deep. Lock needs you and he’s going to need you even more after I’m gone.

  I’m sorry, little Kat. But I—

  Just then there was a blast of light from the direction of the wormhole. Momentarily distracted, Kat turned her attention to it just in time to see the small silver ship circling the wide funnel like a toy boat being sucked down a vast drain. My God, she thought. Can they survive that? They’re going to—

  Deep! Lock’s mental voice was filled with such anguish that Kat felt it like a knife in her heart. From the corner of her eye she saw something that made her scream in sorrow and disbelief.

  The bright, flitting light had flown too close to the black tentacle of darkness. As she and Lock watched, an oily, black, many-armed cloud erupted around it and began to engulf it, like an octopus snaring its prey. For a moment the light seemed to be straining to pull free, struggling away from the tentacles until only one of them had a grip on it. No, not just a light—that’s Deep, Kat thought numbly. Deep, please no! Not now. Not when I finally know that you really do care for me. That you love me the same way I love you! Please!

  But her mental plea did no good. As they watched, a thousand more tentacles exploded, like a nest of writhing snakes. They covered the light, drawing it inexorably inward…until the darkness ate it completely.

  No! Kat howled with anguish. No, Deep! No! She felt Lock’s grief too—an agony so intense it was almost unbearable…and then, suddenly, they were flying backwards, away from the darkne
ss and the vanished light. Away from Lauren and Xairn and the wormhole and the polluted Scourge home world at a tremendous speed until everything was a blur.

  Stop! Kat was in a panic. Stop! We have to go back for him! We can’t just leave him there.

  He is already lost. Gone beyond our reach. Lock’s voice was quiet with despair. And we cannot go back. It was Deep’s power that brought us out so far and held us in place. Without him, we can’t help being pulled back.

  Even as he spoke the incredibly fast, intense journey was over. Kat felt herself reenter her physical body with an almost audible thump. Her eyes flew open and she found herself looking into Deep’s face.

  The coal black eyes she’d grown to know so well were open but unseeing. His broad chest rose and fell but the rest of his big body was limp.

  “Deep?” Kat patted his cheek eagerly. “Deep, can you hear me?”

  “My lady, he’s gone. He cannot hear you where he is.” Lock’s voice was thick with sorrow.

  “What do you mean?” Kat demanded. “Where is he?”

  “Gone,” Lock repeated. “His spirit is untethered from his body, lost forever to the AllFather. Only a shell remains.”

  Kat looked in horror and disbelief at the familiar, sharp features of the dark twin. Deep had made her completely crazy at times, he had even managed to make her believe he didn’t care anything for her even though he was madly in love with her. But despite his contrary nature, she’d grown to love him dearly. And now…

  Now he’s gone, she thought numbly. Gone forever and there’s nothing I can do about it.

  A sob rose in her throat. A sound of pure longing and loss and grief.

  Gone…forever gone. Oh Deep…