Flower Queen (Flower Readings Book 3) Read online

  She stood up and stretched her body. There were two sides to this. The in-house fighting would help her cause, but it also made things much more dangerous, especially as she posed as Arkina. I’m going to have to move quickly.

  Chapter 14

  Triena pulled the hood of the robe over her head, so the cloth hung over her face. She stepped out into the corridor. I have to see him. The meeting with the Queens in the Energy Field had spiked her confidence, but at the same time it’d rattled her. I have to make sure Braklen is being looked after.

  Before moving further, she guided Arkina’s essence back to the surface of her aura and used the woman’s knowledge to direct her through the ship to Braklen’s cell. For added protection, she used the Queen’s energy to help shield her, so that if anyone did see her, they’d think that she was Arkina.

  The Queens knew something was up, but instead of realizing that Arkina was gone, they blamed her for the disruption. Triena could only guess they hadn’t realized Arkina was dead because she held some of the woman’s essence.

  The few Peacekeepers she met stopped and bowed their heads respectfully.

  Triena marched straight into the first-aid room. “Where is he?” Her nose wrinkled from the sterile smell of the room, and she shivered as her senses overloaded with the smell of blood.

  The young nurse jumped up from her chair in the corner and saluted. “What are you doing here?”

  “You shouldn’t be questioning me.” Triena saw two Peacekeepers standing at attention in front of an internal door. “Out of my way.” She moved her hand as if brushing them aside, but they didn’t move. “Move.” They didn’t even flinch as she spat the words at them. They remained standing, broad shoulders nearly touching. There was no way that they’d allow her inside.

  “Captain says no one is to go into the room,” said the nurse.

  “He’s my prisoner,” said Triena, “not the Captain’s.” She’d had enough of captains of ships. All they ever managed to do was get in her way. Her fingers tingled, her heart ached. I’m so close to seeing him. She wanted him to know that she was still alive, that they had a chance now that she wore the robes of the Queens.

  “I can’t,” said the nurse.

  “You can. And you will,” said Triena sharply. “Do you know what I can do to you?”

  The nurse’s eyes widened. She nodded her head and the guards stepped aside. “You’ll find him sleeping.”

  Triena pushed the door open and stood staring at Braklen. He was asleep, deep in a dream from the way his eyes flickered from side to side. “He’s been drugged.”

  “He wasn’t being helpful,” answered the nurse.

  I should imagine he wasn’t. She clasped her hands in front of her belly to stop herself from reaching out to him. Keep trying. It was risky enough that she sent the two simple words to him in his sleep.

  “As you can see, he is well enough,” said a male voice behind her.

  Triena held her breath and turned around to see a uniformed officer. “I have to check. The Queens are counting on me to deliver him intact to them.”

  The Captain stood in the doorway, hands crossed over his chest. He took a step closer to her. “The Queens don’t trust you and have instructed me to keep you away from him and Triena.”

  Triena clenched her jaw tight. “I don’t believe it.”

  “New instructions came just half an hour ago.” He took her by the elbow and guided her to the door. Triena resisted, but he was much stronger and simply pushed her forward. “I’m going to have to ask you to stay in your room.”

  “You can’t keep me as a prisoner. I’m a Queen.” Triena silently cursed the women for being so untrusting of each other.

  “That appears to be debatable considering the instructions they’ve given me.” He guided her down the corridor forcefully, letting her know not to mess with him.

  Triena swallowed hard. That’s it. They know who I really am. Fear smoked around in her aura. At least I know Braklen is alive, somewhat well treated, and that he is going to stay alive. Her foot caught in the hem of the robe and she stumbled.

  The Captain pulled her up roughly. “No need to make a scene.”

  “You’re the one making the scene and a serious mistake. You’re meant to protect the Queens.”

  “I’m doing the work of the Queens.”

  “When we arrive, you’ll be severely reprimanded. You’ll regret not protecting me.”

  He opened the door to Arkina’s room and pushed Triena inside. “Consider this me protecting you then.” He glared at her. “If anyone is going to be reprimanded it will be you, not me.”

  The door clicked locked. “No!” Triena rushed up and hit the door with her fists. “You can’t do this.”

  Fuck the Queens. This wasn’t much better than being in a cell. She wasn’t even so sure anymore if they knew that she was Triena or not. Fuck the Queens. She kicked the door. Pain shot up her foot, through her leg and she hopped up and down.

  “I guess this is somewhat better than a cell,” she said to herself, limping over to the bed. Trust me to take the identity of a Queen who is considered a traitor. She massaged her foot, easing the tension. Oh well, they do like a good war, so I will give them a bloody good war.

  ~

  Braklen’s vision blurred. The nurse came towards him. “No.” His voice barely audible. The Queen he’d killed stood next to his bed. Screams echoed in his mind, but it wasn’t from this woman. Someone else had been here. His drug-fogged mind couldn’t remember who. The memory had the edge to it that whoever had been here was important. It meant something. He couldn’t remember what the hell that was.

  His body burned with fever. His mind was a boiling pot of fragmented memories and thoughts. He slept, and woke sweaty. “You’re not real.”

  “I’m very real, sweetheart.” The woman’s voice was woody, and hard, providing no warmth.

  He blinked his eyes. The Queen’s form changed. The nurse, the young thing who wouldn’t listen to him, injected fluid into the tube attached to the top of his left hand. For a moment, his fragmented memory stopped swirling and the pieces fell together.

  “Don’t give me that stuff.” His wrist ached as the liquid flowed into his vein. “I don’t need it.”

  “Yes, you do,” answered the nurse matter-of-factly.

  It was the tone Margory used with him when he’d been in trouble as a boy. The tone that hinted he’d done something wrong and worse would happen if he didn’t do what he was told. He tried to sit up, but the straps around his arms stopped him.

  His mind cleared a little, enough for him to know that he hadn’t done anything wrong. In a few minutes, his thoughts would break apart, shatter like a broken window and then swirl around in his mind until he lost consciousness. “Don’t you have a cell for me?”

  The nurse pursed her thin lips together, pulled out the needle and looked at him with her dark eyes. “This is your cell.”

  That’s what I’m worried about. His head dropped back on the pillow as if he’d given up. The nurse walked away, her steps silent. The only noise was his breath, and then a scratching sound as she wrote notes on a piece of paper.

  He’d never been tied up like this, or handled like a criminal. He jerked up his arms and pulled hard. The nurse looked at him, worry in her eyes, then smiled, confident he wasn’t going to escape. The straps held firm.

  All those years fighting for them, for the Queens to stay in power wasted, tossed away all because of a woman. Not just any woman, one he loved, and one that threatened to stop them.

  Braklen inhaled deeply, to stop himself from thinking about his current situation. A floral scent eased his frustration. She’s been here. He breathed in slowly, cherishing the smell. It gave him hope. Maybe I could kill another Queen in the Field? His mind drifted aimlessly. Despite the drugs they’d given him, he couldn’t seem to find his way to the Energy Field.

  Whoever kicked him out and saved him from the box, had built a w
all to the entrance to the Field. He stood there in his etheric form, looking up at the aged bricks. He pounded on the wall, but it didn’t budge. This sort of trickery reeked of the rabbit. They want me in the Field, then they don’t. I’m just a puppet to them, to the Queens, to everyone.

  He returned to his body. All because of Triena. His thoughts began to break. I love her. Through the cracks, a jumble of whispers filtered to him. Inaudible words made mesmerizing sounds that spoke a deeper meaning.

  That’s right if I didn’t love her, then I wouldn’t be in this mess. I’d be free. Something played at the boundaries of his mind. Sounds came to him, bringing a part of himself back to the surface, a part they’d made within him. Something was speaking to him. The drugs hadn’t taken full effect. Not yet.

  I love her. He kept the thought close to him, wrapping it around his mind, then buried it deep so no one could see his true feelings towards Triena. The chatter became louder as it wrapped around him, the tune lulling his memory. He pulled himself away from the noise, trying desperately to close his ears.

  Go away. But the sound remained. There in the background, drumming its chaotic tune. Waiting. His mind clouded as the drugs were absorbed. Braklen pulled away and fled from the sound. But, the sound followed him, echoing its intention. Inside his mind, there was nowhere to hide. The wall stopped him from going anywhere else that might have offered some protection. Damn rabbit.

  Braklen tried to keep anchored within himself, just as Triena had taught him to do when he was learning about the Energy Field. But, he kept losing his grip. Each time, another crack formed, allowing more sound to filter around him. Trapping him, making him face what it sung to him. The sound caused his skin to prickle and he knew that whatever it was that it was going to do to him, it wasn’t going to be good.

  Just keep moving. He caught an old memory. He hung onto it, until it slipped away. The cracks widened now, and the fragments swam around him as if the space between held them, like it was holding him, waiting for him to make a decision.

  Listen to the sound.

  He caught another fragment and clung hard to its sharp surface. Triena stood there. It was from the time before she’d been cast out, and he’d been a new Peacekeeper. A time when they were in love. Young love, innocent and real and full of the hope and willingness.

  His heart warmed as he looked at her youthful image. Her robe clung to her developing body, emphasizing the promise of curves that were budding into formation. You’re my little flower, he’d whispered to her then.

  She stood looking up at him, hands on his waist, their bodies close, heat pulsing between them. He leaned toward her, one thing on his mind. To taste her. To kiss her. To love her. His body trembled.

  Back then he didn’t know what it’d be like to touch her, or any other girl. Nerves fluttered pleasantly through him. He didn’t pause. He kept his nerve, and rested his lips on hers. Warmth flooded into his body, like a tiny explosion. He would never be the same. The balance changed. No.

  His grip loosened. It was too late. The memory dropped away into the darkness. The noise came back and haunted him. He grabbed another fragment. Triena was there, the same age, a knife in hand. No.

  She will kill you.

  He put his hands over his ears, and screamed, trying to push away whatever it was that tried to get to him. The drugs took hold. More memories fragmented, disorienting him. The sound intensified and he couldn’t ignore it anymore. He wanted rest and peace.

  The noise changed, settling into a rolling melody. I could hold on to that.

  The drugs weakened his resolve. Something wove itself into his physical form, bleeding into every cell, so he had no choice but to listen. He opened himself to the discourse of something darker blended within the drugs.

  Chapter 15

  You could’ve thought of that sooner. The rabbit clicked his ears rapidly.

  “Hey, you could help me.” Sweat dribbled down Rangit’s forehead. The ship shook rapidly as they thundered through space with the salvage team right behind them.

  I did. The rabbit thumped his back foot on the floor, which made a rather disappointing dull sound. I told you there’s an asteroid belt over there.

  “There’s not an asteroid belt. Fuck the Queens! They’re going to blast us to pieces.”

  The ship shook violently as they were hit. The movement nearly knocked Rangit off his chair and sent the rabbit sliding around the floor.

  There are asteroids we can hide in.

  The communicator cracked into life. “Bring back our fuckin’ ship.”

  Rangit picked up the receiver. “Like hell.” He threw it down and it bounced off the controls, knocking a lever. The ship accelerated. Rangit held on to the arms of his seat regaining his balance. “Now, why couldn’t you do that before?”

  Take us left. Left! The rabbit screamed.

  Rangit looked at the screen and saw another ship coming towards them. “Fuck the Queens.” He jumped into action, punching in different coordinates to change their direction.

  The communicator crackled with electricity and snatches of words came through.

  “As if that’s going to make us stop.” Rangit concentrated on turning the ship.

  You’re not going fast enough. Turn. Turn! Even though he was on the floor, the rabbit could see clearly through the Energy, they’d slam straight into the other ship.

  “Stop saying the obvious.” Rangit kept his attention on the controls.

  You better have sent us into the asteroid belt. It’s our only chance.

  “I know what I’m doing.”

  The rabbit saw the other ship was about to hit them. Left! He crouched into a ball and braced himself.

  Rangit held firm. He didn’t change course and kept going straight ahead. The speed they were traveling caused the ship to shake. Vibrations coursed through the rabbit and he saw his short life flash before him. Why don’t people listen to me? Don’t they know what skill I have?

  The rabbit glanced back at the screen. Fuck the Queens. We are going to die. He waited to be thrown into the air and for his essence to unravel and disperse into the Energy Field, but instead, the ship kept going, shaking as if it was about to fall apart. But nonetheless, it was still moving. Then it lurched down. The rabbit’s feet left the floor as the momentum pushed him upwards.

  Get me off this ship. He tumbled down. Unable to brace himself, he hit the floor hard, further bruising his already sore muscles, and cracking more ribs. He lay still on the floor, adrenaline racing through his body, delaying the feeling of pain.

  The rabbit opened one eye. He saw the underside of the other ship. It’d turned at the last minute, but at the same time, Rangit dropped the Petal down. He let out a whoop of delight. “Yeah, don’t play chicken with me.”

  And what about the other ship? The rabbit grimaced as pain flooded through his body.

  “Just wait a minute.” Rangit folded his arms over his chest and watched the screen.

  Wait? You want me to wait? Well, I want you to listen to the bloody good advice I give you. He hopped forward and slipped on a puddle on the floor. Great. This wasn’t his finest moment.

  “Get over yourself.” Rangit leaned over and picked up the rabbit and placed him on the side of the controls. “Gross. You’re all wet. Do you have a bladder problem, or something?”

  My problem is you. The rabbit twitched his nose. He’d pulled Braklen from the Energy Field, constructed a wall to stop the idiot from going back, and he couldn’t find Triena. I’ve got other problems to deal with. He needed to find her to make sure that she was all right.

  “Don’t put your wet paws on anything electrical.”

  The rabbit flicked his ears, making a rude gesture. You’re as bad as Triena.

  Rangit laughed and pointed to the screen. “This is going to work.”

  I don’t see what could’ve been better than my plan. But the rabbit looked annoyed. Fuck the Queens. It was a good plan. Lucky the others didn’t d
etect each other.

  “Salvage captains are pretty poor captains. It wasn’t much to do with luck at all.”

  The two ships collided. Front on. The ship behind them had sped up and when the Petal dropped down, they saw that there was another ship. Now there was an explosion of bright light. Broken pieces of metal and ship parts scattered into space.

  “That will teach ya to take my ship,” said Rangit.

  Make sure you avoid the asteroid belt. The rabbit began to clean himself.

  “There is no asteroid belt.”

  The rabbit sighed. He jumped down from the controls. I have to go somewhere safe, where I’m not going to slide around the room. He hopped out of the bridge, as small rocks began pelting the ship. He heard Rangit swear. That’s what happens when you don’t listen to me.

  Rangit swore again. “Fine, I’ll go the way you want.”

  Good. The rabbit bounced back into the bridge, ignoring the sharp pains shooting through his body. Now we’re getting somewhere. And now I can try and find where the hell Triena is.

  ~

  Triena paced the short length of the room. The only place she could go was the Energy Field. And that was too risky, now that the Queens had turned against her—against Arkina.

  Of all the identities I could’ve taken, I got someone out for herself. Of course, it did seem like all the Queens wanted to be the only person in control.

  Sparks crackled through her aura. This won’t do. In a huff, she sat at the end of the bed. I have to calm down. That was the only way to think clearly, and once she’d managed it, she might have a chance of being balanced enough to enter the Energy Field.

  Concentrate. This time Triena was firm with herself. I have to contact the Queens, get them to let me out of this room. An unusual resistance met her at the boundary between the physical and Energy planes. Someone had placed a block there, stopping her from entering. She reached out and felt the block with her personal energy. The strength of a brick wall met her touch. The barrier was strong, but not permanent. It will weaken with time.