Tallusian Nights [Xihirian Shifters 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (23 page)

“Don’t listen to her, you idiots. Resist her. She must be a Tallusian witch. You can defeat her, if you’re strong.” Fury spilled from Tomron into her. The glee, then the rage all transmuted into fiery anger directed at her. “Do as you’ve been ordered. You’re superior to her. She is an abomination.” Tomron pounded his fists against the window of his secure room. The glass was so thick and strong his pounds had no effect. Zalora smiled, realizing he felt pain due to his fruitless efforts. His pounding was frantic, and then it stopped. “Resist the Tallusian witch. She’s evil to the core. You must resist her control.” He spit out his words. “She’s cast evil magic on you preparing you for the beasts to eat you. Fight her. Fight to survive.” Tomron threw his hands up in the air. The fear the guards felt helped her control them. It weakened their resolve against her. Tomron’s ravings were not helping them. It only proved to further to confuse them, increasing her influence on their weakened minds.

Zalora looked up at Tomron. He glared back at her. His face was distorted, reddened with his rage. She decided not to focus her power on him. It would only divide her concentration. The division of her power would perhaps disrupt her control over others. Tomron seemed harmless in his glass box.

“Shut up, you caged idiot.” Venom was in her tone. Her voice was unfamiliar even to her. “You’ve said enough, you madman. You’ve said too much, and I’m sick of you.” The Xihirians along with the Tallusians merely watched in awe.

“You fucking witch, release my men.” Tomron stomped his foot. His robes bounced around him.

“I said…shut up.” Zalora deepened her voice. “You talk too much.” The command in her tone was overly apparent. The emotions of the others as well as Tomron’s fueled her own, making her even more enraged. “Or I’ll deal with you now. You’ll be sorry.” She tilted her head to the side, watching him. “The choice is yours, Tomron. You’ve mutilated my world, killed my people. Now you seek to do more. I will not stand for this anymore. I have something special in mind for you. Something very special.” Zalora’s rage surprised her, yet she allowed it to take control. She felt it swamp her body.

The flow of emotions mixed with her power made her dizzy. The power vibrated through her like electricity. She’d never allowed it free rein. It was truly addictive. It was ecstasy to let it loose upon her enemies. “All my life, I’ve controlled myself. Now I can let it loose upon you, let out my pent-up feelings I have concerning the destruction of my world, my mother and brother’s deaths, as I know you were responsible for their ship’s mishap. Your emotions speak to me. They don’t lie. You know who I am. And I know you are a monster.” The Tallusians behind the bars as well as all of the Xihirians looked at her stunned, astonished at her words. Some of the Tallusians were filled with terror, but suddenly they had hope.

Val, snapping out of his surprise, rose to his feet. He was quick as the wind. Kade behind him, followed by the other Xihirians, they apprehended the Realmist guards. Collecting all of the weapons, they shoved the incapacitated men into a corner. The guards did nothing to resist. They were still in trances. On the screen, Zalora could see Kael and his people shift to attack the Realmist. Weapons fired, but the fight continued. Finally the screen blacked out.

“Get down on your knees, hands on the floor in front of you, and lower your heads.” Zalora pointed to the cornered Realmist guards. “Bow down. Don’t look up.” All of the guards immediately obeyed.

“You’ll never get your people out of the cages. I alone control the cages. You’re not so powerful, you fucking witch. Now, you have killed them all.” Tomron’s eyes blazed with anger. “You and your fucking beasts are trapped here to die. You see, I control the doors. This booth is impenetrable.” Tomron motioned to his surroundings. He laughed. “You’ve shown yourself as the fiend you are, for naught.” He emphasized his last word. “It seems I’m immune to your powers, witch. My mind is too strong for your evil magic. I am powerful, too, in a human way. So sorry, I will be leaving you now. You’ve ruined my party.”

“And what of your men?” Zalora shouted. Tomron paused before his hand touched the door behind him.

“Tragedies of war, I’m afraid.” Manically he laughed.

“Oh you’re the tragedy.”

“So funny are you.” He sneered.

“Hold, Tomron. Stop!” Tomron froze in his tracks. Zalora could see and feel he fought her. Therefore, she strengthened her resolve. The other Realmist moaned as if her harder attempts pained them in some way. She didn’t care. She put everything into her control. Tomron seemed strong. She feared he was winning.

“Zalora, let go of the others. We have them.” Straight away, the others moved as if released from her spell, but remained controlled by the Xihirians, cornered.

“Tomron, you will not leave. Open the cages. Now!” He remained immobile as she instructed, but did not move to open them. Rage overpowered her. Her right hand motioned for a metal chair by the far wall. It rose from the ground. She flung it at his glass box, disrupting his concentration. Kade had to move out of its way as it fell to the ground. Fear pulsed through Tomron. He dropped to his knees, screaming as if in tremendous pain.

“No, no, it hurts, stop. You’re killing me. You are wicked, you bitch,” he bit out.

“Release the locks on the cages. Open all the doors to allow our exit. If you don’t, you’ll die very painfully. I bet you’re feeling warm,” Zalora said in a hushed voice. “Very warm. I will kill you painfully.” She squeezed her fists at her sides. Tomron groaned again. “And I’ll open these gates and doors on my own. I will. I promise I’ll open yours as well and allow my friends to feast upon you carcass. That is your worst fear, isn’t it? Isn’t it, Tomron? I can feel it is.”

“Damn you witch,” he muttered as he slumped over, grabbing his middle.

“They may get hungry while I work on opening all these doors. They love meat. You will be juicy for sure. Or perhaps not. But they will tear you limb from limb just because it will be the thing to do.” Zalora pointed to him.

“Damn, you fucking whore, release me.” Suddenly there was a loud cracking noise. His glass case developed a crack running from the top to the floor. Other cracks grew from the main one.

“Do as I say, before it’s too late for you.” The room was quiet. Every eye was on her. Tomron groaned. Horror radiated from all the Realmist. Zalora did not care. In fact, it empowered her. “This is going to end. I’m in control now.”

“You witch. You filthy bitch, slut to the beast no doubt.” He sounded as if he could barely speak, but he said more than enough to inflame her further. His other hand was over his chest.

“Shut up. I am going to kill you for all you have taken from me. Give me more of a reason. Go ahead.” The walls in the room vibrated with her fury.

“Open the gates. Open the doors right now,” Zalora shouted. The glass in his box shook. “You’d better before it is too late for you.” The room’s floor literally moved as an earthquake. The glass case made another cracking noise. For sure, the others could feel the power vibrate through Zalora. Even the Xihirians felt something, she could see by their expressions. Then she saw Val. His look was one of amazement and something more. “I’ll let you live if you open the gates and doors. Now! Get up! Do it!” She let up on him so he could comply. When she released her hold, he fell against the window in a heap. “I’ve released you to do as I say. Open the gates and the doors now. Do it now.” Tomron stood as ordered. He shook all over, obviously scared, weakened from her attack.

“I’m going to make you sorry.” He spoke so softly Zalora barely heard him. Slowly he moved toward his console, pushing buttons to open the gates and doors. The pen doors snapped, swinging open. After Tomron complied, he collapsed. The gates swung wide. The door began to open to the tunnel. The Xihirians moved, taking charge. Chaos broke out as the Tallusian prisoners rushed out of their pen. The Xihirians shoved the Realmist guards into the now-vacant cages. Val and Kade slammed the barred doors shut. Loud clicks indicated they locked again. All the Tallusian prisoners stood in the room’s center surrounded by Xihirians. A gust of cold wind swept through the tunnel into the room.

Val gave an order to leave. Zalora was picked up off her feet. Val carried her toward the door. The other Xihirians followed behind. The Tallusians struggled to keep up, but some were picked up by Xihirians, increasing the pace of their group. Zalora was amazed at how fast the group moved. The Realmist locked in the gages screamed, begging for their release. When they got outside the mountain, six gliders waited for them. They overstuffed each glider, piling people inside. They took off for their waiting ship. The loaddisk’s docking doors were open. They drove directly into the waiting ship. Instantly, the doors closed behind them as the loaddisk began to take off. Before anyone had gotten out of the gliders, the ship was leaving the atmosphere.

“Sir, Admoncor Braeden ordered us to wait for you outside the mountain with the gliders,” the driver of their glider explained.

“Excellent, I take it my father and his team are good?”

“Yes, Captain, there were a few injuries. Your father was shot, but he’s doing fine as per his reports. He addressed all the ships. He sounds fine, sir. They left Starson behind. He’s free.”

“No matter, we’re all free. We’ll hunt him down another day,” Val growled.

Everyone left their gliders to head to the loaddisk’s upper decks. Despite the amount of people, the group was mostly quiet. The medteam directed the ones they rescued to the medclinic in the rear of the upper deck. Val was behind Zalora, and his hand rested possessively on her lower back as he directed her to the passenger area, behind the pilot. The other Xihirians watched her. They eyed her from head to toe as if they’d never seen her before. Amazingly, instead of fear, new respect showed on their faces. Several nodded to her as she passed. They regarded her as a peer, even a hero. None of them backed away from her or acted repulsed. In fact, a Xihirian woman, who remained on board during the whole episode, walked up to Zalora. She embraced her.

“I’m Bailey Rosling.” She kept her hand on Zalora’s arm. Warmth was in her gaze. “We all heard how you saved our people. You’re incredible. The com to Farstation remained open the entire time.” She kissed Zalora’s cheek, surprising her again. “Forgive me, Princess, but you saved my brother. He’s one of Princes Kara’s guards. I’m very grateful. I will gladly serve you at any time.” There were tears in her eyes. “We’re all grateful. Truly I’m forever in your debt.” Shyly she looked down, turned, then walked away. Zalora wanted to tell her she did not expect anything. Impulsively, she decided to call out to her as she walked toward the rear of the ship.

“Bailey.” The woman paused, then looked back. “In truth, I was merely saving my mate, his family, as well as all the others who needed release from a mad man. I also saved myself. No one owes me anything. I did what I did for purely selfish reasons. I am not a hero. But thank you for your kind words. Please call me Zalora.” Bailey smiled. Her face was bright with happiness. She nodded slightly.

“Welcome to Xihirah, Zalora.” Then Bailey continued on her way. Val and Kade waited for their exchange to conclude. After she’d left, Zalora followed Val and Kade to the front of their ship. Kade made himself comfortable in the seat, which had been Val’s on the way there. Zalora looked at him. He looked exhausted, his eyes still wild, although his face had returned to his more normal appearance. When her eye caught his, he winked.

“Great job, my sister, or should I say niece, but you understand.” He smiled. Zalora nodded. Val directed her to a chair. He sat next to her. Taking her hand, he affectionately squeezed hers, laying it on his thigh.

“I’m sorry I almost hit you with the chair.” Zalora looked back at Kade. He laughed, bending forward as if a well of happiness opened up.

“Sister dear, I’m good as gold. You were pissed, deservingly so. I can move fast. Don’t you worry.”

“He was going to kill us all.” Zalora looked at Val. “He never planned to release us. That’s why he was so happy and satisfied with his success of drawing us all there.” All those in the area turned to look at her. “The guards were going to shoot you both in the head. What he was telling your father was a lie, too. I could not let it happen. All along, I planned to do what I needed to do. My father helped convince you to allow me to go without fully revealing what I could do. I persuaded him to go to you.” She raised her eyebrows.

“You persuaded?”

“Yes.” She shook her head. “We’ve hidden my powers for all of my life, out of fear. This was the time to use them. I promise you, I’m not a monster. I promise I won’t become one.” Tears threatened to fall down her cheeks. “I should not have persuaded my father with my powers, but I had to.” More tears fell. Suddenly everyone started to say something at once. Kade stood, and the others quieted.

“Not one of us would ever call you a monster. They would have to be accountable to me first. Now we’ll need to keep you safe from any real monsters in this universe. Unfortunately, the Tallusians and the Realmist know what you can do. This news will spread quickly. I will protect you with my life, mate to my nephew. Your value’s beyond anything you have done today. You’re one of us, a Xihirian and a member of our family.” He sat back down.

“For sure, Zalora, you’re not monster.” Val stroked her arm. “Do you think Tomron lives?” Val changed the subject.

“Yes, I didn’t kill him. He was hurt seriously. To what extent only a medtor will be able to tell. I just couldn’t kill him. I feel he still lives. My powers seem to have awakened. I feel much more, much further.”

“Well, I could have killed him easily.” Val raised his eyebrow. “So, I’m more a monster than you’ll ever be.” He patted her hand.

“Here, here,” Kade added. “He’d been a dead man if I’d gotten my claws on him, as well as every Realmist in the room. I’m sure the other Xihirians feel the same. I would’ve eaten his heart.” Amber eyes flashed with his emotion. The others around them looked as if they fully supported his words.