Assassin's Bride Read online

  “Are you the storyteller?”

  Venice looked up to see a small boy standing in front of her. “I’m a storyteller.”

  Climbing up onto the bench beside her, he stared up at her. “Tell me a story.”

  Biting her bottom lip, Venice wondered if she should be disrupting his meal with stories.

  A thin frail woman sat down on the far side of the boy, laying their half-eaten plate of food on the table. “Ethan, let the nice lady have her breakfast.”

  The little one folded his arms stubbornly over his chest. “I want a story and she’s a storyteller.”

  “Just because she tells stories doesn’t mean she wants to tell them all the time.” Venice thought the woman looked exhausted and frail. Her son was either articulate for his age or suffering from malnutrition.

  “I’ll make you a deal. If you promise to eat all your breakfast, I’ll tell you a story while you eat. How about it, Ethan?”

  Grabbing a handful of food from her plate, he crammed it in his mouth. Several more children clamored over with their food, and suddenly the table was full. Taking a small bite of her food, Venice thought over all the stories she’d grown up with and modified the one most likely to ease the children through their current transition. Pulling up her hood, she cleared her throat.

  “Many thousands of years ago, Earth was a very different place. The sun had not yet scorched the ground, so it was covered with green plants and flowers. Takan and his mother were gatherers. Their people moved from one location to another, eating berries and plants that grew in the wild. He cuddled up every night in his mother’s arms and his dreams were filled with laughter and happiness. Every day he helped his mother find food, then played in the short grass with the other children while his mother prepared their food and wove baskets.”

  “I want to live there.”

  Smiling at the bright-eyed little boy, she touched the top of his head before continuing.

  “Unfortunately, the mother knew that all was not as perfect as it seemed. The ground trembled beneath their feet and clouds of smoke rose from the big mountain. Takan was too happy with his life and didn’t have enough life experience to recognize the growing danger. When his mother pulled him away from playing with his friends, he made his annoyance known.”

  Venice noticed that pretty much everyone was listening to her story and the kids had stopped eating. She took a few bites of her food to get them eating again before continuing.

  “His mother had an oddly shaped basket, heavy with food, draped over her shoulder. She pulled him away from the mountain towards a nearby river. Takan didn’t want to go near the water. It was said that hunters lived on the other side. The hunters ate the flesh of animals and worshiped strange gods.

  “As they neared the waterline, two other females joined them. They pulled him onto a flat raft tied together with thick vines. As the tiny raft floated away members of their tribe gathered on the shore, pleading with them to come back and shouting that the water was not safe. Undaunted, the three women ignored them, even as the begging turned to angry shouts.”

  Motioning for them to eat, she continued.

  “Takan held onto the thick vines as the women tried to steer the hastily constructed raft to the other side using a long pole that reached the bottom of the river. The current made their quest difficult, but they pushed on tirelessly. Takan lost track of how long they were on the river. He took food from the bags and fed the women. They were reluctant to stop steering the raft, lest it get swept out into a vast ocean. One day, they could see the other shore. The sound of a shell horn blew loudly and suddenly the shore was lined with warriors. They were shouting words he couldn’t understand and motioning for them to come to shore.”

  The children broke out in nervous whispers. One of the mothers reminded them they were supposed to be eating as they listened. Several grabbed food and shoved it in their mouths, she lowered her voice to indicate danger.

  “Something slammed into the raft so hard, the vines loosened. That’s when Takan saw the long crocodile skimming through the water towards them again. It was larger than a full grown warrior and Taken knew the creatures were renowned for grabbing their prey, rolling them over and over as they dragged them to the bottom of the lake, holding them there until they drowned. Then the crocodile would take their time eating their kill. This was not at the top of Takan’s list of favorite ways to die, so he began trying to tighten the ropes. Instead of them tightening, they loosened causing the women to topple over. Somehow, in trying to help, he’d made their situation so much worse. Since the raft could no longer bear the stress of the women pulling against the current, they used their sticks to beat at the creature each time it circled back around to attack.

  “Takan panicked when a huge hand grabbed him from behind. He found himself flung back into a large, roughly hewn canoe. He watched, terrified as the gigantic warrior reached for his mother. Two warriors were standing in another canoe, shooting arrows at the gator. He barely scampered out of the way when his mother was tossed into the canoe beside him. She grabbed him up and held him tight. He wanted to apologize for pulling at the vines but his voice wouldn’t work properly and his eyes were filling with relieved tears. His mother must have felt the same way, because she was crying as well. They were saved by the large warriors.”

  “What happened next? Did they make it to shore? Did they kill the crocodile and eat him?”

  Nodding at the boy’s enthusiasm, she spread her arms.

  “Yes on both accounts.”

  “Ha, I knew it. The new tribe was just like us.”

  “Not so fast. Takan and his mother were taken to the village and that’s when he noticed something very unusual. Every single person in the village was large and only had one eye right in the center of their head.”

  “They were cyclopes.”

  “Yes, sir, they were. Not only were they cyclopes, but they spoke an entirely different language. Takan and his mother were welcomed into this new tribe. They set about learning the to speak the language and all the customs of their new tribe. After a few days, there was a huge rumbling sound and the ground shook. One of the large warriors wrapped his arms around them to keep them safe and the sky filled with white ash.”

  “Everyone rushed to the side of the river and he saw the water was filled with every kind of raft imaginable. The few survivors appeared terrified and some were seriously injured. He watched as warriors took their canoes to rescue them. Looking up at his mother, he wished they had not delayed, for there were few compared to the number in his former tribe. Takan ran to the edge of the river to help pull his friends from the canoes. They told him how the top of the shaking mountain spewed thick, red hot liquid down on everyone and only the people who were furthest away managed to escape. That night, his mother sat beside the warrior who had rescued her. His three fingered hand held her four fingered hand as the newcomers told of the mountain shaking. They each learned that though they were quite different from one another on the outside, they were all just people on the inside.”

  “Did they really eat the crocodile?”

  “Of course they did. Our ancestors never wasted any part of a kill. They made leather clothing from his tough hide and used his sharp teeth to make knives to cut vegetables.”

  The little boy stated earnestly, “I’ll bet the warrior taught Takan to hunt and everything cool like that.”

  “Probably.”

  “And they used the croc’s eyeballs for earrings, right?”

  Venice shrugged, imagining two dangling eyeball earrings. “Maybe, but if so, they were some pretty sticky earrings.”

  Everyone laughed and the children dug into the rest of their food. Donella sat with her chin propped in her hand. “That was another good story. I can tell you created it with children in mind.”

  Nodding, Venice mumbled quietly, “Yes, it seemed like the thing to do.”

  Chapter 6

  Chaos
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  ~ Venice ~

  Music Mix

  The next morning, Venice jolted awake as the entire ship groaned under the impact of weapons fire. She grabbed her bag and ran out to the hallway with Donella.

  The sentinel tapped the com device in her ear and growled, “We’re under attack by another ship. The commander wants everyone in the holding bay.”

  Several more women flew out of their rooms and Venice wasted no time helping Donella get them moving in the right direction. Picking up Ethan for his frail mother, she headed for the loading bay.

  A younger male Golugua kept bumping into their backsides and pushing them towards the bay. Venice swatted at the annoying creature but he growled back at her. “Human queens are weak. I must get you to safety. Move, or I will make you.” It became immediately clear in her mind why Donella disliked this particular male. He was not only annoying, but he was also panicking the children.

  After the bay was crowded with women and the crowd died down inside, Venice handed the child off to his mother. She spotted Donella talking to two drones. Approaching, she asked, “Did we get everyone?”

  One of the drones spoke. “Greetings, storyteller. All the queens are present. You may rest easy, knowing our commanders have the situation well in hand.”

  At that exact moment another blast apparently rendered the ship motionless. Not only were the stars visible out of the bay door windows no longer whizzing past, but they slowly lost gravity. This did not seem like ‘well in hand’ to Venice.

  Shaking her head, Donella spread her wings. “I can fix that.” Flying quickly to a compartment on the far wall, Venice watched her friend tear open a control panel and start pulling out wires. The two remaining drones did the same with other compartments. Frowning, she called out for women to hold onto their children and prepare for the gravity to be reinstated shortly.

  Grabbing the handrail to the catwalk as she floated by, she wrapped her legs around it and wedged herself between two bars. It was the easiest way make sure she didn’t fall if the gravity snapped back on full force. Thankfully, the gravity came back in incremental degrees, so no one got hurt.

  Scampering back down to the floor, Donella waved her over. “Ready to cross the river?”

  “What?”

  “Our ship is too damaged to move and a Maruvian queen is on board. We’re to get the women to the training ship and get as far away from the Maruvian queen as possible. She’s declared war against all human queens and means to destroy you all.”

  “What about the drones on the other ship? Won’t they kill us?”

  “Don’t you understand anything? You’re a queen. Just tell them not to and they won’t.”

  The bay doors opened and Venice saw they were joined to another vessel. Two warriors along with a human man and woman were ordering everyone aboard the other vessel. Outside the bay, they could hear laser fire. Rushing to the bay doors, she saw drones in different uniforms were standing at the ready to greet them. The look of shock on their faces told her that they’d not been expecting to see human queens.

  A drone broke off from speaking with the commanders and approached. She recognized him immediately. He was the scarred warrior from the evening before. A team of about a dozen males followed close behind him. In one hand he held a huge serrated blade, dripping crimson with blood. His expression was determined as his eyes roamed over the crowd of women. “We are tasked with getting you to safety, please be quick. The opposing forces press their advantage, even now. We must get you all safely aboard the other vessel, for it is the only one capable of flying under its own power.”

  The warriors began to press the women through the large bay doors and onto the other ship. Once the door closed behind them, Venice was disappointed to find herself in much the same type of loading bay as they came from. If anything, it might have been slightly smaller. She kept catching snippets of information that their ship had encountered another insectoid vessel and war broke out. That would explain why the loading bays were so similar.

  The warriors spread around the room, mingling with the new drones, who were still completely awestruck at the number of queens among them. They reassured the women that all was well and they would be taken to quarters as soon as the entire ship was secured. Venice swallowed thickly. Regardless of the assurances given by the drones, they were not safe if there were still warriors loyal to the other queen aboard this vessel.

  For some reason, Donella was extra pissed off. Her long tail with the heart shaped point whipped back and forth in a fury as she paced back and forth.

  Pulling her to the back, Venice asked sharply, “What’s going on here? Are we safe?”

  “Human queens are always safe among drones. It’s my people who aren’t safe.”

  “You mean the male Golugua? He was a little bit of an asshat but, other than that, he seemed fine to me.”

  Leaning closer, Donella lowered her voice. “Our people came to this region of space through a rift between dimensions. We come from a dark and dangerous area of space. This ship is fresh from that rift. Part of what distinguishes us from them is that here my people are free. On the other side of the rift we are caged like animals and slaves to the wishes of their queens. That means this ship is carrying Golugua in the lower levels. They will be trapped in cages and some may be in bad shape.”

  Shock tore through Venice. “Why are we just standing here? Let’s get the hell down there and check on them.”

  A huge hand came around her arm, hard and fast. “Not so fast. You remain here with the other human queens. I will accompany the Golugua and free her people.”

  “How about hell to the no?”

  Haden’s facial expression turned confused for a brief moment before he spoke. “I am attempting to communicate that this is a task for warriors.”

  “Button it up, handsome. I’m coming.”

  “We do not yet know if all the drones are turned to our cause. Their queen yet lives. Setting the Golugua free would balance the fight in our favor. However I will not risk the life of a queen for no reason.”

  Jerking her arm free she stared him down. “I am a queen, am I not? I demand to go.”

  Wiping his large sword on his pants, he growled, “Command acknowledged, and refused.”

  Even Donella gasped at the scarred warrior’s gall. “You cannot give orders to a queen, Haden. You know this.”

  His name was Haden. Switching gears, Venice stepped closer to him. “If drones try to interfere, they will be more likely to cooperate with my commands than your sword. Is that not so, Haden?” For some reason, she loved saying his name.

  Huffing out an exasperated breath, he turned on his heel. “Remain safely behind me, storyteller. If we are defeated, you are to run.”

  “Yeah, sure. Can we get moving?”

  They slipped around the edges of the crowd and disappeared into the chaotic ship unnoticed. Taking an access shaft, Donella flew down and Venice climbed down after Haden. The three of them worked together to rip a huge metal door off the wall. It was bizarrely out of place among all the sleek sliding doors, leaving Venice with the impression this was the correct one.

  The shock of seeing so many Golugua in cages was a lot to take in. Donella growled. Haden murmured, “Some are still under the control of the queen. We must leave the ones with glowing transponders in their cages.”

  Studying the sentinels, Venice saw some had small disks just under their wings. On most she could only tell because of the soft glow emanating from that area.

  “How do we get the cages open?”

  “You don’t.”

  Turning they both saw a drone standing near a control panel.

  Donella snarled viciously at him. “You will release my people, or I will remove your head.”

  The man pulled out a laser pistol and aimed it at Donella. Jumping between them, Haden blocked her with his body.

  Venice tried to think of how to diffuse the situation. �
�I’m your new queen. You will release only the Golugua that I approve. Do you understand?”

  Lowering his weapon, he shoved it back into the holster on his waist. “Our queen is Maruvian.”

  “I guess you didn’t hear. There aren’t any Maruvian queens in this sector of space. Here the human queens rule and we have liberated the Golugua. They live on the new home world side-by-side as equals.”

  “Queens rule, drones obey. Tell me your will. The Golugua are dangerous animals. You must beware, small queen.”

  Venice let out a shaky breath. That went a lot better than she imagined it would. “Let’s start with the females who have children.”

  Donella stated flatly, “No, we begin with warriors. The females may need protectors if other drones interfere.”

  “Good thinking. Let’s begin with the big ones. Not the ones with blinking lights, though.”

  The now curious drone advised respectfully. “We should start with them. The lights are tracking devices. If they go on a rampage, we can at least track their movements.”

  A slight shake of Donella’s head told her that something else was amiss. “Thanks for the information, but we will not release any of them with a tracking device.”

  “Understood.” The drone immediately began unstacking the cages using a huge set of mechanical arms that dropped down from the ceiling. Lining up six of the largest males in a row, he unlocked the cages.

  Haden moved protectively around the females, waiting for the cages to be sorted properly.

  Donella and Venice headed for the cages. Quickly unlatching them, they pulled the massive doors open with Haden’s help. Smiling at the large warrior, Venice realized he was all kinds of helpful.

  Each of Golugua licked Donella’s face before walking off the stand against the wall. It seemed to be a mark of respect to Venice.

  Venice waved to the man to keep trading out cages. “Keep them coming. I want every cage opened except the ones with trackers.”