Page 53 of Xefe
The tall alien with the face of an angel was anything but his usual chipper self. He also wasn’t in full porcupine gear, so his dark hair flowed over his golden shoulders and bare chest. Pensive and worried, he continually scanned the crowd. His red eye swirled for a second. “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean—”
Strange high-pitched notes, like wailing wind, blasted through the arena. The Aavvee quieted and settled in their seats. Before I could finish my question, Loxo kicked the back of our knees and shoved us to the ground.
“The supreme. Look down, yet watch his every move.” He bowed his head next to us.
I normally would have argued, but I knew exactly what he meant. We had to find a way to do both because the supreme was a fickle bitch.
The plumed leader spared no alien expense. Atop a massive stage, he looked down on us. His outfit looked fierce—an enormous orange cape flowed twenty feet behind him. On either side of him was a harem of groupies. Dick-tongues were out, and they were licking their way through the stage.
“Welcome-come.” The supreme used his handy-dandy secret mic that blasted his words through the crowd.
The Aavvee shrieked in glee, the persistent sound a spike to my senses.
Three ghost-like aliens whirled around the supreme—his personal guards.
“Look at them.” Nieve’s mouth dropped open, her words barely above a whisper. “They look good enough to eat. By me. Dibs!”
My sarcastic response died on my lips. The supreme’s guards looked… radiant. They were massive and muscled with long glittering hair. The dual-colored skin shimmered, one side turquoise, the other a metallic gold. Their wings looked like spiked blades, whirling behind them as they circled the squat leader, on constant alert.
“You-youare honored to be here on our planet. You-youare honored to be here for this race. You-youare honored to be in our presence.” The supreme swept his arms out, clearly feeling himself.
Way to be humble.
He preened and strutted across the stage, and I caught my first glance of Sunny at the back of the dais. He looked fierce, covered head-to-toe in his black, spiked uniform.
“What’s the supreme saying?” Nieve whispered. “I can only catch every third word.”
“Same bullshit all leaders say about how grateful we should be. In a weird alien way.” I couldn’t be expected to translate every word when I only had eyes for Sunny. His arms were crossed, his dead gaze scanning the crowd but never seeing me. I felt the loss down to my toes.
Nieve elbowed me, and I reluctantly looked away.
The supreme droned on, eventually making his way to the participants.
“Okay, game on. He’s introducing our competitors,” I whispered to the girls.
First came the green team. They preened and flexed, and the supreme looked mildly interested in the display.
“What are their vulnerabilities?” I asked Loxo.
“Soft spot behind their ankles and ears. Not much else. They are strong, fast, and relentless. Their species has reigned as champions since the Great Race began.”
“What about them?” I asked and pointed at the snake-skinned girls.
They hissed and shoved each other, eventually deciding on who would go where. They had three teams of four.
“Their skin is as fragile as yours. But you have to catch them to hurt them. That is hard to do.” Loxo snapped his eyebrows down. “And bad jumpers.”
Perfect.Last were a bunch of Aavvee stragglers. Loxo had explained they were mine workers, hoping to escape their fate, so I didn’t bother to ask about them. Most of them looked half-dead. If we didn’t place in this race, their fate could easily be my own. It hurt to look at my possible future.
“Go. Go!” Loxo motioned toward the stage.
My head snapped up. The supreme had beckoned us to join him on stage.Shit!
“Do not keep him waiting. Go!” Loxo whisper-screamed through tight lips.
“You didn’t tell me we would have to go up there.” Nieve pinched me.
