Tangled Shadows (15 page)

The
Nebokka
suddenly dropped out of hyperspace. Memory-Brooke and her copilot were running scans on the systems, trying to figure out the cause, when a blast shook the ship.

“Shields up,” Memory-Brooke shouted. “We’re under attack.”

“Shields not functioning, Captain,” one of the crewmembers said. His face was pale yellow and his Adams apple bobbed.

Another shudder shook the ship, this time that of another vessel docking with the
Nebokka
. Memory-Brooke grabbed the intercom. “This is the captain speaking.

Emergency protocol five, I repeat, emergency protocol five. Enact immediately.”
Is it to abandon ship?
Nikolai asked.

Brooke nodded.
Somebody on the ship worked with the attackers. My security force was
too small to fight against an invasion. To abandon ship was the safest plan.

It
c
ould be they threatened family or got to the person and planted orders,
Galen said.

Brooke didn’t respond, but watched herself grab a phaser from a compartment of her captain chair and race off the bridge. They followed.

The enemy ship had docked halfway between the cargo bay and the bridge. They heard the screams quickly. Memory-Brooke made her way to where the other ship had docked, shoving any crew members she stumbled across toward the rescue pods. She still didn’t know who was attacking her ship or why.

Then she found the first bodies, a group of catering staff.

They had been ripped apart. At closer inspection Memory-Brooke realized their throats had been torn out. Her heart racing, worried at her outlandish thought, she hurried on.

Vampires had lived in peace with humans for over two and a half centuries. Why would they suddenly start attacking a human vessel?

Memory-Brooke rounded a corner and quickly stepped back.

Three Vampires were in the process of killing staff. Her phaser would do no good and three were too many for her to fight off by herself. It killed her inside, but she had to change course.

That would be the smart thing to do.

102

Good thing nobody had ever accused her of being smart.

Memory-Brooke set her phaser to its highest setting and came around the corner shooting. She hit one monster in the eye and he dropped the woman he held.

She wasn’t sure if he was dead, but she had no time to worry, because the other two focused on her. One just let go of the man he’d been draining, but the other snapped the neck of his victim with a malicious smile. Memory-Brooke shot again, aiming for the eyes, but they ducked and weaved, using Vampire speed to escape her blasts.

Within seconds the Ferals were close enough to grab her, but before they could, the backs of their heads exploded. Three men from security had opened fire, using steel bullets as opposed to phasers. Memory-Brooke didn’t know how the weapons had gotten on board, but she was glad they had.

Until one security officer aimed his gun at her.

“Daniels, what the Jade are you doing?”

“What I’m being paid to do, Captain.” The other two men stepped next to her and restrained her. Memory-Brooke was too shocked to give any resistance. “Come with us,” Daniels said. “Their leader wants to see you.” Memory-Brooke straightened her back and marched between her two security guards, furious she’d been so easily duped. “I hope you’ve been paid enough for the lives of your friends and crew members.”

He flinched, but didn’t stop walking. “I have.”

Memory-Brooke addressed the men holding her. “And you, is the money enough to warrant the death of every human aboard this ship?” The men didn’t respond or look at her, but appeared to be in a trance. She shrugged and twisted her shoulders, trying to escape their grips, but neither man let go. Instead they tightened their holds without looking at her. “What have you done, Daniels?”

“He put them under. I needed men to help me transport you through the ship. And they accompanied me when I opened the docking door.” He shrugged. “Bad luck on their part.”

His casualness stunned Memory-Brooke. “People are dying here, people you’ve worked beside for ages. Does that mean nothing to you?” His gaze met hers. For a moment the hate in his muddy-brown eyes shot through Memory-Brooke like a laser beam. “The crew got what they deserved. Nobody ever gave me the respect I had earned, always tried to make themselves superior.” He shook his head. “It’s their own fault.”

Memory-Brooke had to scramble to regain her composure. They’d reached their destination, the balcony overlooking the cargo bay. Where she’d stood fifteen days ago watching the delivery and storage of the settlers, now stood a short blond Vampire. He was well dressed and looked harmless, but something about him raised the hairs on the back of her neck.

103

He turned when they approached. “Ah, you’ve found her. Very good, Daniels, very good.” He stretched out his hand to Memory-Brooke. “Captain Deverell, such a delight to meet you.”

She kept her hands locked in front of her as she stood in parade rest. “I wish I could say the same about you. Who are you and what do you want? Are you aware this kind of attack will be the start of a new human-Vampire war?” He smirked, his black eyes completely void of all emotion. “I don’t give a flying Jade about a new war. Nobody will ever know the occurrences on this ship.” Memory-Brooke remained silent.

“Ah.” He chuckled. “You think some of your crew got away and are heading for the next human outpost. Unfortunately, none of the escape pods worked. Right now my men are collecting your wayward people and are either having a bit of fun or are adding to our loot.” He smiled and his fangs stood out like a beacon.

She swore she saw bloodstains. “Who are you and what do you want?” She needed more information.

“My name is not important. I am here to collect my spoils.” Memory-Brooke frowned.

“You have one hundred and-forty-nine people sleeping away in hibernation. When they wake up they will start a new life, a life they could have never imagined, and the most attractive and healthy of your crew will join them.” Memory-Brooke clenched her hands, her stomach churning. “A new life?” He smiled and the evil literally dripping off him made a shiver run down her back.

“As blood slaves, my dear, as blood slaves.” He clapped his hands. “And you know the best? Nobody will miss them. Your little baby,” he tapped the walls of the
Nebokka
,

“will suffer mechanical failure and explode, taking everybody with her into a fiery grave. Well, everybody except you. Once we’re done with you, you’ll have another task.”

Memory-Brooke stiffened. “What do you mean? Why do you think I won’t tell the authorities?”

He stepped closer and patted her cheek. Memory-Brooke jerked back, but the two men next to her made escape impossible. “Who said you’d be able to remember anything?”

He pulled out a pressure syringe and injected her before she could respond. Then his brown eyes bored into hers. For a moment she thought she repelled him, but then agonizing pain shot through her head. It felt as if somebody pulled her brain through her nose. With magma-hot pokers.

He leaned closer and everything turned black.

* * * * *

104

Brooke blinked a few times, relieved to see the metal roof of the
Mercy
before her.

Nikolai and Galen held a hand each.

Galen leaned in and kissed her. “Well done. I’m sorry you had to suffer through it again.”

Nikolai was next. He pressed her hand to his racing heart and kissed her hard. But Brooke sensed something different, as if he held part of him back. She released Galen’s hand and curved hers around Nikolai’s cheek. “What is it?” He only met her gaze for a moment before looking away. Brooke gripped his chin and centered her eyes on him. “Tell me,” she demanded.

Nikolai cleared his throat. “I know the bastard who’s responsible.” Brooke smiled.

“Why are you happy?” He frowned.

“You know the leader, which means you can track him down. There’s a chance to rescue some of the victims.”

“But I’ve known him for decades. As a youngster we’d been out together. He’s no Feral, he lives amongst humans and is respected by both Vampires and humans.”

“Then we need to make sure we have irrefutable proof before we go and kill him.” Nikolai gaped at her. She kissed him. “You’re not responsible for something another Vampire did,” she said. “I am sorry a friend betrayed you, but I am also relieved we have a lead.”

Galen stepped next to Nikolai. “She’s right. You haven’t seen him for close to a century. People change.”

Nikolai’s tension slowly drained away. He leaned into Galen. “When I recognized Silas in your memories I thought you’d hate me.”

Brooke’s eyes widened. “Hate you for what?”

“For knowing him, for not stopping him before he hurt you.” It surprised her to see the usually confident Nikolai humbled. Brooke decided she didn’t enjoy it. She smacked him on the chest. “Snap out of it. I’m not going to hold you responsible for something another person did. And I don’t think it’s fair you’d believe that about me.”

Nikolai froze for a moment, but then relaxed and his lips quirked. “I’ll keep it in mind.” He leaned in for a toe-curling kiss. Brooke wanted to drag her two men to bed, but now wasn’t the right time.

“How did he get into my head if neither of you could do it?” Nikolai’s silver eyes turned metallic. The fury in his eyes caused a shiver to run down Brooke’s spine. “My best guess is he used a mind-weakening drug and ruptured your shield. Such tactics are extremely painful and can lead to brain aneurysms.”

“When we walked through your ship,” Galen drew commas in the air, “did you notice the metal scars along one section of the hull?” 105

Brooke thought back and nodded.

“Your shield repaired itself, making it even more difficult to penetrate.”

“Is that why I can’t read your minds like you read each others? I thought you said once you’re inside my shield you could read me?”

Galen cleared his throat and dropped his gaze.

Nikolai chuckled. “You’ve stumped him. He thought once we’d circumvented the shield, we’d be able to read you, but you still hold a number of closed doors. It could be because of your unusual shield or because of the damage done.” Brooke climbed off the chair and looked out of the main viewport at the hyperspace window. “Now we know who the leader of this particular operation is, what next?” She changed the subject, not ready to face those last demons.

They stayed silent for a moment before Nikolai picked up the conversation again.

“Silas has a villa on one of the moons close by.” Brooke frowned and ordered a data port to her. It hovered at eye level and ran the required scans. “Other than Wadhwa, most of these planets are uninhabited. It’s a new system. As far as scans go, Ferals have stayed away so far. Why would your friend own a villa this far out?” She turned back to him, hands on her hips. “And how the Jade would you know if you haven’t seen him in so long?” Nikolai smiled and crossed his arms in front of his muscular chest. Brooke drooled a little as the tight flight suit molded itself to those yummy contours.

“The system may be new, but a number of Vampires built a small community as soon as terraforming finished. We wanted something far out and private.” He held his hand out to Galen. “Sometimes social standing and people’s responses become too much. The need to get away grows unbearable. We bought the house before construction began and the settlement is close to a century old.” He sighed and rubbed his face. “At that point Silas and I were still in contact and I told him about the opportunity.” His shoulders dropped. “I didn’t think he’d use it as a smuggling HQ.” Brooke nodded and checked the data port again. “Why haven’t you set course yet?” The men exchanged a glance. She clapped her hands. “Boys, we’ve been through this, no hiding from me.”

They looked at her, but didn’t say anything. A sheen of challenge had taken over their posture. Brooke frowned and studied them more closely.

Yes, definitely challenge. What the Jade were they on about now?

Nobody spoke. They waited for her response.

She bit her lower lip. What did they want her to do?

The lines around Galen’s eyes deepened.

Brooke stiffened and crossed her arms.

She was failing some sort of test.

Then she understood.

106

Brooke exhaled and closed her eyes. She had no idea how to do it, but she tried to open a door between her and Galen and Nikolai, to reach them with her mind. After a few false starts she connected to Galen.

His happiness at her attempt filled her mind. She increased her efforts and reached Nikolai, whose enthusiasm nearly knocked her over.

Brooke enjoyed their approval, but tried to get deeper into their minds and discover their plan. She managed to overcome her hesitation and stepped into Galen’s mind.

Where hers resembled a ship, his was a massive chamber, lavishly decorated with a number of doors going off it.