Page 69 of Shadow's Chosen

"And I don't take kindly to being thrown out of my home, yet here we are," Pyra replied.

"You know why I threw you out. You were trying to overthrow my power."

Pyra huffed. "Only to equal it, dear brother. But I have grown quite a following where I hide now. I'm willing to forgive and forget. I'll give you the humans in exchange for aid to overtake this city. Nezka would make a most skilled servant, and I know there are other hunters in your command. Bring to me more of your men, along with a larger arsenal of ships and weapons, and I will send a ship of humans back to Xolis every third cycle."

Vesra seemed to think on it. He looked to Nezka again and gestured toward him. "I will consider giving you other men but not Nezka. He belongs to me. I will send out a larger ship with cargo in return for both these humans and him."

Pyra smiled. "Fine. I will not fight over one man, no matter how good he may be. Until the ship arrives, however, he works for me."

Nezka stepped forward. Elise felt her body tighten. "I would complete my mission despite the circumstances. Once the ship arrives, let me bring the humans back on my own. I can use more Ionx capsules to make less stops and return quickly."

Vesra and Pyra each looked to him with raised brows.

"I see nothing wrong with that," Vesra said.

"Nor I," said Pyra. "It is settled then." She clapped her hands together. "I await your ship's arrival. Until next time, brother." She tapped at the terminal one last time, and Vesra's image disappeared. Elise struggled to her feet as Pyra turned to Nezka, placing a hand on his chest. "I had hoped to keep you, but sadly, my brother is selfish. If he does ever betray you, know you are welcome at my side."

Nezka looked at no one but Pyra. "I will keep it in mind." He smiled, grasping her hand. "I would have a favor to ask you before Vesra's ship arrives."

"Oh?"

He gestured over to where Elise and the others stood. "I would ask to have one of the women sent to my room."

Pyra's eyes widened, then she laughed. "I have heard you take pleasure in all kinds. Did you not have that woman you came here with? I'd be shocked if you hadn't."

"I did, and I would have her again before I am to take her to Vesra. I fear he will be selfish with them too, and I want one more taste before she's kept from me."

Elise grew still with shock at what she was hearing. Then, like a living fire exploded in her chest, she grew hot with rage. "I wouldn't let you touch me!" she burst aloud. "I wouldn't let you touch me ever again!"

Nezka's eyes drew over to her, fixing her with an intense gaze filled with his own fire as his expression darkened into something she'd never seen before. Pyra started to laugh again when a map showing the deposit's outside doors appeared above the terminal and a light blinked near the outer edge of the screen.

"Someone is trying to gain access," said the devilish alien beside Pyra.

Pyra frowned and looked to Nezka. "I thought you told those other hunters to keep away."

Nezka's eyes bore into Elise for a second longer before turning to Pyra. "I did. They would not disobey my orders."

"Then who could it possibly be?" she snapped.

"I will go," replied the red alien. "If it is them, I will catch them this time." Without looking back, the alien left through another doorway, disappearing from sight.

"If they are under Vesra's command as well as your own, they would do well to come unarmed and aid in my cause," Pyra said in a low voice. Before Nezka could reply, she turned to the group of guards. "Take them back to the room. Except, I suppose, that one." She gestured to Elise. She glanced back at Nezka. "You can have her for now, but I would see you persuade your men to cease any attack and to fall on my command."

The guards moved to take the women back to the room. Trembling, Elise shook her head as she tugged her arm away from the men trying to take hold of her.

As the women struggled against their holders, the lights of the control room dimmed then brightened. Each head turned up in confusion.

"What..." Pyra started to say. Then the dull roar coming from the flow of energy in the room ceased, and the lights flickered out.

Elise, in a split-second decision, cut her elbow back and hit the man beside her square in the groin. He went down with a bark, and that seemed to trigger the others to fight. In the mass of chaos, Elise hit one wall and ran alongside it until a door opened. She shot through and started quickly down the passage. The shouts and screams of those behind her could be heard, followed by the firing of guns. Red beams of light brightened the passage. Elise didn't turn to go back for the others, knowing the men couldn't possibly be so stupid as to kill them in fear of their mistress' wrath. Likely, she told herself, they were only letting off shots to scare them and drive them back into submission. The only thing Elise feared was getting caught by a Red Blade, or worse, by Nezka himself.

As she turned down another passage, the lights flickered back on. A Red Blade, trying to find his way down the other end, saw her and put up his gun. He shot at her legs, but Elise jumped up in time and lunged at him. Wrists still bound, she swung her arms out and clocked him as hard as she could, square in the head. He hit the side of the passage wall and, as he stumbled, Elise kneed him in the head. He went down, and Elise didn't bother to hit him again. She ran down the hall as fast as she could until she found a stairwell at the end, leading down. Having nowhere else to turn, she descended the stairs. When she came to the end, she entered into another passage, one lit up in violent red. She heard the shouts of men nearby, but she didn't pause. There were doors on both sides, and she tried each as she passed but with no luck. She turned down another narrow passage connecting one corridor to another when she heard the voices of men at the other end. Halting, she started to turn back but heard footsteps growing louder from the way she came. Cursing, Elise stopped, knowing any moment, the Red Blades would turn the corner and find her. Readying herself for a fight, she put up her hands when, without warning, she was grabbed from behind.

Yelping in surprise, Elise found herself tripping back into darkness. For a moment she thought she had somehow passed through the walls themselves just like she had at that hidden place with the temple. But before her was an open doorway to the passage she had just been in. A silhouette reached out and closed the door, pitching her into nothingness.

Beyond her own breathing, Elise heard the shouts and footsteps of men pass by. Then slowly, over the span of seconds, they faded. When it was silent again, there was a soft tap as someone unseen clicked on a flashlight and aimed it at her face. Elise squinted, putting her hands up.

"You're new," came the low croak of a voice. "So, they did find others. Pity."

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