Page 17 of Taming Chaos

She inhaled sweet oxygen in great big gulps, her breaths becoming ragged.

“Oh my god,” she gasped as she realized that the foul air she’d just inhaled was the Ephrenians’ natural atmosphere. “That shit is what you people breathe?”

Humans wouldn’t survive on Yaragon without respiratory support. If the air she’d just inhaled was anything to go by, the place was fucking toxic.

As her breathing returned to normal, Seph glanced at her remaining guard, all kinds of desperate thoughts running through her mind. There’s only one of him. Could I possibly… take him on?

No fucking way. He was packing plasma. All she had were her bound wrists. And even if she did somehow manage to incapacitate the guy—a very big if—where the hell would she run to? Into a ship where she couldn’t breathe?

She was stuck.

“What’s all the commotion about?” Seph mused aloud. It was more of a rhetorical question, because she knew her guard wouldn’t give her an answer.

To her surprise, the Ephrenian turned to look at her. Reflected in the glossy surface of his helmet, her own pale, hooded face reminded her of a ghoul.

“Shadowkin,” was all he said, as if that explained everything. Was it just her imagination, or did his voice tremble a little?

“Shadowkin?” That was what they’d called the Kordolian. He was here? “What does that even mean?”

But that was impossible. He’d been thrown back by that crazy pressure blast. She’d seen it with her very own eyes.

Without warning, the doors opened again. Seph held her breath to avoid inhaling the toxic air.

One of the Ephrenian guards burst into the chamber, beating a hasty retreat.

A dark figure followed them.

“Now close the door, or I will return him to you… without his head.” The speaker violently dragged an Ephrenian backwards, one powerful arm clamped across the alien’s chest. A hostage. He held his very long, very sharp Callidum sword against the Ephrenian’s neck.

That voice! Deep, rich, refined… Seph remembered it so clearly, only now it sounded as cold and empty as the infinite Universe.

Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Babumpbabumpbabump… Her heartbeat went nuts. That weird prickling sensation—like static—coursed over her skin. Her eyes widened. Tiny stars flickered at the edge of her vision. She felt giddy.

She stared at the intruder, unable to believe her eyes. It’s him! How the hell did he get in here? He looked different, somehow. His outer armor was cracked, and she caught glimpses of his true form underneath.

Pure obsidian. Beneath his regular outfit was a suit, or another layer of armor, or something. Damn, it was like peeling an onion.

A very, very dangerous onion.

The doors closed. The Kordolian released the Ephrenian, and the alien stumbled to the opposite side of the room, choking and clutching his neck.

Seph’s guard raised his gun, aiming it at the Kordolian.

“Drop it,” the warrior snapped. “Believe me, your plasma isn’t as powerful as you think it is.”

“Nagashuganagagosh.” That’s what the Ephrenian’s babbling sounded like. His arm shook. The point of his gun wavered. The guy in the corner was shouting something unintelligible at him.

Chaos.

Her guard tensed.

Oh no, he’s going to shoot!

Seph’s first instinct was to put her hand on his arm, to tell him to fucking stop—you’ll get us all killed!—but she was shackled.

In the blink of an eye, he pulled the trigger.

A deafening roar filled her ears.

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