Flower Queen Read online

  “Keep moving!” Braklen fired two more times and then dashed toward Triena. “Down the stairs.”

  Serious doubts about whether or not they would make it off the ship clouded her mind. They’d drawn too much attention to themselves. And they needed to get off the ship without causing a commotion that could spill out onto the docks.

  They didn’t want to alert the Peacekeepers around the place. Someone might recognize her and see the chance to make a quick buck by handing her over to the Queens or the Priests. So much for keeping out of sight.

  Told you not to use the gun, thought the rabbit. You never listen to me.

  Triena glanced behind her. Braklen limped down the stairs trying to move fast but unable to do so because of his injuries. She could tell he struggled to keep up with her. We’ve got to make it out of here.

  She wanted to confront the Queens about how they’d treated her and Braklen. Triena didn’t like the way they’d changed his memories, especially memories which involved her.

  Since there were so many predictions and patterns telling her the two of them were going to make a difference, she wasn’t about to let him get away. Now, she finally had Braklen by her side, no one else could stop them.

  Triena wasn’t sure how they’d make a difference. He was injured, and she didn’t know enough about the Energy to go up against all twelve Queens, let alone the Priests. Somehow, we’ll manage it.

  “Left.” Braklen puffed hard as he came down the last few steps. Triena didn’t wait for him but set off in the that direction. She heard him stumble and stopped.

  “Keep going!” he yelled.

  Triena felt the vibrations from the engines intensify and hurried down more stairs, not waiting for Braklen to tell her where to go. She knew they were headed to the cargo bay. She glanced toward the loading ramp as she rushed down the last flight of stairs. “Fuck the Queens.” It was closed.

  Keep going. There’s a door to the right we can go through.

  “Stop them!” someone shouted above as the crew followed them. Triena weaved through the pallets of cargo.

  “This way,” Braklen managed to say.

  “No, we can’t.” Triena paused to look back at him. “That door is shut.” She went around another pallet. She half-expected the rabbit to contradict her for ignoring Braklen, but the creature remained silent.

  “Triena,” Braklen hissed, trying not to yell. “I know this ship.”

  “And I’ve got use of the Energy so come on.” She spotted the door. No one was around. Nearly there. Her lungs burned and tiredness pulsed through her, but she kept moving.

  “There they are!” yelled a man somewhere above them.

  “Quick, stop them!” shouted someone else.

  Triena didn’t look behind her. She rushed to the door and punched the panel. Nothing happened. “Fuck the Queens, not again.” She didn’t have the power to slip into the Energy Field to unlock the door.

  Something whizzed past her head. “Could use a gun right now.” She screamed and ducked down. Sparks burst near her as one of the men above fired particles towards her. She glanced behind her. Braklen crouched down behind a nearby pallet. He pulled out his gun, then aimed it at Triena.

  “What? You’re turning on me now?” She couldn’t believe it.

  “Get out of the way!”

  “What?” He was so untrustworthy. I knew I shouldn’t have listened to you, she thought to the rabbit. We’re meant to work together to overthrow the Queens? That was something you just made up to manipulate us, wasn’t it?

  You should get out of the way, answered the rabbit in a matter-of-fact way.

  Triena glared at Braklen, and the gun he pointed at her. “You should be aiming it upwards at the men firing at us.”

  “Fine, then have it your way.” Braklen still held up the gun. “Remember, I warned you.”

  He fired. She screamed and flattened her body on the cold metal ground. Dust and oil filled her nostrils as she froze while the sparks scattered down around her. Damn idiot. Braklen fired again. There had to be better ways to try and open a door than shoot at it.

  The ship’s engines were near full speed and vibrated faster. The ship was about to take off.

  It’s too late. The thought punched in her mind. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “No, but I’m pretty sure you have.” Braklen rushed forward. He went past her to a door and it opened. “Quick.”

  Triena pushed herself to stand. She clenched her jaw. She hadn’t seen that particular door. Hot air blasted her face as she looked out at the meter-wide gap between the ship and the ground. “Hell, no! No way.”

  The gap widened as the ship moved away from the dock.

  “Come on!” yelled Braklen. “Jump.”

  Instincts took over. “Fuck the Queens.” She jumped. Landing heavily, she crashed into the dirt-encrusted dock platform and rolled over until her momentum was lost and she stopped.

  “Out of the way!”

  Triena managed to roll once more before Braklen collided with her, their bodies bumping hard on the ground. When they finally stopped moving, Braklen lay on top of Triena. Winded, he struggled to get off of her.

  Triena tried to push him off her. “You do like being on top.”

  “Well now, who doesn’t?” He rolled away and lay on his back wheezing.

  Triena started to sit up. Particles whizzed past her head and she dropped to the ground. The ship pulled away from the dock, too far for the shooting to continue. She breathed a sigh of relief.

  A worker carrying a bag of grain on his shoulder walked past them. “Wrong ship, huh?”

  “Sure was.” Braklen sat up awkwardly.

  You two are sure going to be the death of me, thought the rabbit. Tell the stupid brute to be more careful.

  I can tell him to leave, suggested Triena.

  Don’t you dare.

  Triena suppressed a smile. As much as the man next to her annoyed her, she knew she wouldn’t send him away. Feelings bubbled up inside her, feelings she couldn’t ignore. Animal heat flushed her entire body and soul. She pushed them away.

  “I’m glad to be off the ship.” She stood up. People continued moving about their work as if shots being fired were totally normal, but she didn’t trust what she saw.

  Someone probably contacted the Peacekeepers. They needed to get out of sight. And she knew just the place to go. The Petal was hers to claim now that Captain Ri was no longer around. I’ve more than paid for that ship.

  A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered what he’d forced her to do in the Energy Field, how she’d manipulated the Energy for his personal gain which was a blatant misuse of the power. Time I claimed the Petal as mine. “Can you fly?”

  “Nope, don’t have wings.” Braklen slowly rose off the ground and stumbled. Triena rushed to help him.

  “No need to be a smart arse.” She struggled under his weight. She placed her arms around him, and felt his toned muscles. Keep focused. But her mind kept slipping to how soon she could familiarize herself with his tight chest muscles and other parts of his body.

  “Argh, my ankle.” He limped forward.

  Just what I don’t need, a badly injured man to get to safety. Triena looked around, sure there’d be Peacekeepers turning up soon.

  “Lean on me. We must get to a ship further along the docks.” She wished Captain Ri had berthed closer.

  Braklen groaned in pain as they moved along the dock. “Is it far?”

  “No,” Triena lied. “I have a ship and we’ll escape.”

  They needed to get out of sight. Later, she’d look at his ankle, and use the Energy to help it heal. Plus, she couldn’t wait to leave Oberon once and for all.

  There’s nothing here for me now. She tried not to think
of the flower stocks lost from her tea-room, but knew she could obtain more in the future. That’s if I have a future. She wasn’t sure if she’d survive standing up to the Queens.

  “You own a ship?” Braklen asked suddenly.

  “I do now.”

  “At least we won’t have to try and get passage or stow away.” His voice sounded distant.

  “Soon enough, we’ll be on Earth and doing what we are meant to do, making the Queens accountable.” She pushed him to walk faster towards the Petal. Dust kicked up around them as they walked on the hardened ground.

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, first I can’t fly.”

  Triena looked at him with disbelief. “But, you’re a Peacekeeper Captain or whatever it was.”

  “Was being the word now.”

  She detected disappointment in his voice. She knew the service was his life and it’d abruptly been taken away from him. Because of me. She felt his loss.

  “Didn’t get to learn. Bad eyesight or something. I can’t fly, the doc said so.”

  “I’m sure you can fly in a pinch, and we sure as hell are in a pinch now.”

  Braklen stumbled. His face turned whiter as pain gripped his body. Triena tried to support him, but he was much larger than she was.

  “Hang on. We’re nearly there.”

  Workers moved around them paying them no attention. The hustle and bustle of loading and unloading the ships gave them some cover, but she didn’t like their chances if they couldn’t get out of sight soon. The smell of grease and masculine sweat filled her senses, overloading them in the hustle and bustle around her. She moved her weight under Braklen. “One step at a time.”

  He staggered. Triena chewed her bottom lip, glancing up in the direction of the Petal. She still couldn’t see it. One step at a time, she told herself. Anxiety pricked inside of her.

  A stranger bumped into them. “Get out of the way.”

  “Watch yourself,” said Braklen, glaring at the man.

  Keep walking. Keep walking. Triena sent the words to the man hoping to soothe him. There was no way Braklen could fight and she wished he hadn’t responded.

  She looked at the stranger’s dark eyes. They didn’t have much life in them, but she still tried to speak to him through the Energy. You’ve got work to do. Hurry away. The man shrugged his shoulders, then turned away. Triena let out her breath slowly, and pushed Braklen a little to keep him moving.

  She glanced up, glimpsing the rough exterior of the Petal. Relief flooded over her and she allowed herself to think they’d actually make it. “That ship over there.”

  Braklen looked where she pointed. “That small thing?”

  “Oh, she’s packed with power inside,” said Triena, even though she had no idea about the inner workings of a ship or any other machinery for that matter.

  They made their way slowly towards the Petal. Reassured the ship was still there, Triena urged Braklen to move faster. “The quicker we get on the ship, the quicker we can leave. I’m sure you’ve had enough of Oberon.”

  “I sure have.” Braklen’s voice was pinched and tight from his pain.

  Get a move on, thought the rabbit.

  What do you think we’re doing?

  “Well, well, well, you two seem to be stumbling in my path a lot these days,” said a gruff voice.

  Triena’s jaw dropped as she looked at the last person she expected to see.

  “I’m starting to think we’re meant to be together,” said Rangit.

  Chapter 2

  “Didn’t I kill you?” Triena tried not to look at Rangit’s missing eye. She didn’t want to feel those she’d killed, or her guilt for having taken more lives. Her skills in handling the Energy continued to improve and she pushed down the essences of those who thought to use her. She didn’t want to remember what happened. But, now the energies began to surface.

  Rangit laughed, a deep, thick noise that made Triena’s hair stand on end. “Helping you.”

  Braklen pushed Triena back. “I’ll sort him out.” He struggled to stand without her support.

  Fuck the Queens. The man thinks he’s a hero, thought the rabbit.

  “Braklen, you aren’t up to it,” said Triena. “This isn’t the time.”

  “The woman’s right,” said Rangit.

  Braklen put up his fists ready to fight. His body swayed, but he persisted. “Come on, then.” He stepped in front of Triena to protect her.

  Triena pulled the particle gun out from Braklen’s belt and held it at Rangit. Don’t look at his empty eye. But, of course she did. Her stomach flipped. She forced herself to keep holding the gun steady, pointing it at Rangit. “You betrayed me.”

  “Did nothing of the sort, love.”

  “And what do you call what happened back there?”

  “A ruse.”

  “Like I believe that.” She shivered. She’d absorbed the Energy of those who she’d killed in readings. Salene’s essence vibrated in a soft melody in Triena’s aura. Captain Yarket’s had a drumming vibration that sounded out of time and Captain Ri’s energy caused a sharp tension to shiver through her.

  She couldn’t tune into Rangit’s. She pushed the echoes of their former selves back down deep into her aura with the others she’d taken; Pernally, Priest Junqi, and Kreltan.

  You should trust him, thought the rabbit.

  What? You’re on this scum’s side?

  He’s on our side.

  Triena hesitated. Whenever she went against the rabbit, things seemed to go terribly wrong, but right now every cell in her body screamed, Shoot this bastard.

  “I had to trick both sides to help you. I always knew you’d be coming back here before you managed to confront the Queens.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Rangit sounded too much like the rabbit for Triena’s liking.

  “The rabbit is telling you to trust me, so let’s get inside and the hell out of here before we sit and talk.”

  “No. We talk now.” Triena said.

  Rangit sighed. “It’s too dangerous to talk against the Queens out here. Besides, people around here know you and they know me even better. They’ll notice us.” He stepped aside as if to let them go onto the ship first.

  “No way,” said Triena. “I’ve had my fill of trusting people, rabbits, and the Energy.” It was becoming clearer she could trust herself. And her instincts told her not to trust this man.

  She’d endured his illegal work when he supplied her with flowers when she operated her tea-room on Oberon, but that was because he got her what she needed and he left her to do her work. It was a good arrangement. But this, this wasn’t right and she knew it. Why the hell would he help me?

  “How do you think I knew what flowers to get you?” asked Rangit.

  Triena shrugged her shoulders. “Luck.” Her voice lacked the conviction she aimed for.

  “No, I know how to use the Energy a little too. You know that. You sensed it when you saw me during your first escape from here. You know I have the skill and we both know the Queens and the Priests are wrong.”

  He’s right. Listen to him, thought the rabbit.

  “But, what about back there? What was that about? Why the readings?”

  “I had to eliminate the competition. Get rid of people who wanted to turn you and Braklen over to the Queens.”

  “You know it’s all just too convenient . . .” Triena didn’t finish. Braklen collapsed unconscious to the ground. She lowered the particle gun and crouched down next to him. “He’s still breathing.”

  “Good, let’s get him inside.” Rangit moved next to them.

  “No.” Triena still didn’t trust him.

  “Remain where you a
re!” yelled a man from behind them. “Hands in the air. Take it slow.”

  Triena glanced behind her and saw three Peacekeepers running towards them, guns out ready to fire. She changed her mind. “Right. Let’s get him inside.”

  “You do like a bit of drama, don’t you?” Rangit grabbed Braklen under one arm and pulled him up. “We could’ve avoided all of this if you’d just gotten onto the ship.”

  “Yeah, well with so many people wanting the price on my head, I’m sure you can understand why I’m not trusting anymore.” She groaned under Braklen’s weight as they dragged him aboard.

  The Peacekeepers fired their weapons. Particles whizzed past her head. She ducked and kept moving, dragging Braklen inside.

  Quick! screamed the rabbit. I’m in the direct line of fire here.

  So are we.

  They pulled Braklen to the side. Sparks flew inside, dangerously close to them.

  “Take him.” Rangit didn’t wait for her answer.

  Instead, he let go of Braklen’s arm and moved to close the outer door, leaving her struggling to keep him from falling. Triena breathed a sigh of relief when the door closed.

  “I’ll get us out of here.” Rangit ran up the gangway to the bridge. “Get ready for a bumpy lift-off.”

  Triena had mixed feelings about leaving Oberon. It’d been her home, her sanctuary for so long, especially when she’d been cast out from the Queens for failing her initiation because she couldn’t kill Braklen. She looked at him. He’d closed his eyes against the pain, yet there was something that pulled at her heart causing it to open for him.

  I’m glad I haven’t managed to kill you.

  Don’t let him fall on me. The rabbit wriggled in the shawl on Braklen’s back. I’ve got enough broken bones already.

  Braklen was too heavy for her to support much longer. He slumped heavily on the ground and passed out.