Do Or Die [Nuworld 4] (2 page)

“Remember, if there’s a full moon, don’t come,” Lara whispered conspiratorially,

but the two men nodded as if they understood what she meant. Lara leaned forward

into her mug and looked at Ana out of the corner of her eye. “What do you think of

them?”

Ana was surprised by the question. “We can trust them.” She spoke with incredible

confidence, hoping Lara wouldn’t back out of whatever deal she had arranged with

them.

“I agree.”

“They’re just messengers, though. We should only work with the men who have

the coins,” Ana added casually, pulling her feet off the table and leaning forward as

well.

“I like how you think, An-nea.” Lara chuckled. “This is about more than money,

though. We are going to change history, sister. You have been quite a lot of help to me

with your fighting skills. I’ll remember that when all this is over.”

* * * * *

Ana parked her glider alongside Lara’s and then entered the makeshift campsite

they’d set up on the other side of the large hills surrounding Mogsven. She growled

under her breath as a young boy, maybe with twelve winters, scurried out of her trailer

and into the darkness.

“I told them to stay out of my trailer.” The worst part about staying with thieves

was that they stole from each other, too.

Lara rested a hand on her shoulder as if ready to restrain her if needed. Not that

Lara could do anything to stop Ana if she decided to discipline the boy.

“I know, but you can’t kill them just because they disobey you. We won’t have any

children to do the work.” Lara had believed the stories Ana told about herself while

sitting around the fire.

She should feel bad for telling so many outrageous lies about terrible things she had

done in her past, but the tales served their purpose. She had a reputation as one to not

make angry.

They walked toward the trailers and Ana headed toward hers. Lara grabbed her

before Ana could leave her side. “I want you with me when the men return. I’ve

concocted a truth powder that we’ll put in their ale, but I still like you around so I can

hear your insight. You’re a natural at this.”

“The she-god guides me,” Ana said solemnly, but inside she was delighted.

She’d been ruthless and cold to everyone around her and Lara loved it. There were

times when Ana was repulsed by her behavior but she had to keep up the act if she was

going to find out what Lara’s story was.

Darkness surrounded her as she sat on one of the wooden benches close to the large

fire pit. Flames danced toward bright stars while Ana leaned back, relaxing, letting her

thoughts wander.

She hadn’t said goodbye to Andru before she left and she knew nothing infuriated

him more. Her stomach tied in knots at the thought of him reprimanding her for taking

off foolishly without telling a soul where she went. For some reason, even though

Gilroy
and Andru were similar in size, Andru could make her feel rotten if she

disappointed him. Gilroy would reprimand and could make her submit faster than

anyone she’d ever known.

She missed both of them desperately. Of course, she missed Beel too. Her half-

brother, Beel, was her papa’s bastard. He was almost two winters younger and, because

of his bastard status, could never hold a title. So he frolicked around Andru, giving all

appearances of never having a care in the world. She knew of his talents, though. Beel

could provide information or obtain anything Andru requested. He had a way about

him. Andru said it was that he never looked worried.

Put Gilroy, Andru and Beel together, which was usually how you found them, and

they could stop traffic. The three of them caused girls’ blood pressure to soar if just

brought up in conversation. And even though Gilroy was the only one who announced

openly his claim on Ana, everyone in Bryton knew of Gilroy’s papa’s extramarital

affairs and numerous bastards. Ana knew how the women looked at Gilroy, wondering

if he would take mistresses like his papa did once they set up their home together. She

couldn’t deny that she worried a bit about it, too.

“They’re here,” Lara whispered in Ana’s ear, bringing her back from her thoughts.

“And look, there’s how many…five of them?”

“Is that too many?” She-rah sounded nervous.

“If you can’t handle it then go to your trailer,” Ana snapped, as she turned and

glared at the pretty, but stupid woman.

She-rah looked away from the men approaching and studied Ana’s face, now

appearing scared of her.

“Get out of here.” Ana gestured her head toward the trailers, and She-rah almost

ran in that direction.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” Lara stood up slowly as the men approached,

entering into the light created by the fire.

The two large men they’d seen earlier had three younger men with them. Lara

walked up to the best-looking of the three, then strolled slowly around him, rubbing

her masked chin with her fingers.

“You’ve brought me a gift,” she purred, running a gloved finger down the man’s

arm.

“These are my sons.” The larger and uglier of the two large men spoke. “They’ve

come to help haul the, um, merchandise.” He then added in a lower tone, “He’s not a

gift.”

“I think he is.” Lara stopped in front of the young man, and Ana could tell he also

checked her out.

Lara was quite beautiful, in spite of her deeply ingrained evil. Although Ana never

saw Lara without her mask, she could see large, pouting lips and deep speckled-blue

eyes with long brown eyelashes. Not to mention, the snug-fitting leather outfits she

wore helped display an alluring figure.

The large man cleared his throat. His son quickly looked away from Lara and gave

his papa his attention.

Lara chuckled softly and then gestured with her hand. “Follow me.”

Ana stood, but a rustling in the darkness beside her alarmed her. Before anyone else

heard a thing, she raised her arm from under her cape. A laser, tied to her wrist and

hidden by her sleeves, fired into the blackness.

A man screamed, followed by a loud thud as he fell backwards to his death. The

crackling of branches caught her attention. Ana, in the darkness in front of them, fired

again and another man, cloaked in the night, fell to his death. She quickly turned and

pointed her laser directly in the overweight man’s face.

“You tried to deceive me.” Lara’s shrill voice broke the silence but the large man

didn’t move. He simply stared at the laser in his face.

“It won’t happen again.” His voice trembled, while he shook his head fiercely back

and forth.

“I don’t know if I want to sell the weapons to you now.”

Ana fought not to blink. Weapons? Lara was selling weapons? Why? Who were

these people? She stared at the pox-scarred face of the man in front of her. Sweat broke

out on his forehead, even though it was a chilly night.

“We already have instructions to order five hundred more lasers. Think of the

money, Lara.” The old man shot Lara a quick look before returning his gaze back to

Ana’s arm. “Not to mention, he’ll pay individually for all the eliminators you can get.”

Lara chuckled, wrapping her arms around the arm of the fat man’s son.

“Are there any more of your men hiding out there?” she asked.

“No. No, I promise.”

“If there are, you all shall die.” Lara held on to the young man she’d chosen as her

conquest for the night and walked the group over to one of the trailers.

She turned, grinning at all of them, with a gleam in her eyes that made Ana very

nervous. Lara opened the door to the trailer and allowed the large man to enter. He

came back to the door within a minute, carrying three Runner lasers in his hand. Ana

saw past him into the small living room and noticed boxes stacked against the wall.

“There’s also the bulletproof material the Runners use for their clothing in a few of

the boxes.” Lara allowed the men to explore the contents of the boxes, watching them,

looking very proud of herself.

Ana couldn’t hide her astonishment as she realized what Lara was doing. These

men were buying Runner military equipment and clothing. The trailer was full of

enough stuff to clothe and arm a small militia.

Lara glanced her way but misinterpreted what Ana was feeling. She puckered her

lips and then grinned slyly. “I see you are impressed.”

The large man turned to face her, Runner clothing draped over one arm and a

couple of lasers in his other hand. “We are very impressed.”

She accepted their money and then wrapped her arms around the young man’s

shoulders, covering both of them with her black cape. Ana noticed when she reached

up to kiss the man, he kissed her back.

Why did these people want to buy Runner equipment?

Chapter Two

Ana couldn’t believe the amount of people, and tents, set up across the field. The

festival looked larger than her clan site, and there were over fifteen hundred members

of the

filtered through the air.

“Is this your first festival?” Lara rode alongside Ana, the two of them maneuvering

their gliders through the people.

“Yeah.” Ana let her gaze jump from one merchant’s booth to another, taking in

brightly colored silks, jewelry and hairpieces, fresh fish and vegetables. There were

booths with many varieties of knives that she hovered in front of for a minute before

Lara gestured her along.

“Don’t buy anything from any of these merchants. They’re all crooks.”

Ana couldn’t help but grin, and Lara let out a low chuckle.

“Just wait. The real action starts tonight.” Lara then turned and leaned into Ana.

“How long has it been since you’ve been with a man? We’re going to get you fucked

tonight. It makes your spells stronger, you know that, don’t you?”

They entered into the main heart of the festival, which was actually a small town

converted into one large party. Large bonfires burned everywhere and the smoke made

everything surreal. There were prostitutes combing the area while men groped them