Araman's Aria Read online

  “I think I need a cup of coffee.” Brea said calmly swinging her legs to the side of the bed under the cover of the sheets.

  Santari bolted upright when he realized she was rising from the bed with nothing on. “I’ll make it.” He clamored down the metal circular staircase.

  “What is causing this?” Araman asked her as she reached for her clothes.

  “I don’t know.” Brea answered him honestly. “If we were to go to my home, an elder would help us to know.” She put on a simple yellow sundress. Araman came up behind and did up the zipper admiring the curves of her lovely coppery toned back.

  “We have only us here and I would like to know some answers before we proceed.” He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her against him. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head in thought. “Something went wrong and we have no idea how to prove they went wrong or where they went wrong.”

  The scent of coffee wafted up and tickled Brea’s nose. Its strong bitter scent filled the suite triggering her need for the elixir. Her obsession with the brown liquid was as bad as Araman’s she chided to herself stepping out of his embrace.

  “We will know soon enough.” She took his hand and led him to the top of the stairs. “So long as you and I are not apart, the pull will not threaten me.”

  “That does not reassure me Brea.” Araman said descending down the rounded steps.

  “It is the only reassurance I have.” She responded quietly behind him.

  Santari stood with two mugs waiting for them as they reached the kitchenette. Brea took hers with thanks and sat down at the little glass table facing the shore. The water was calm and inviting. She longed to take a swim feeling the waves wash over her body like she used to as a child.

  She was missing so many things that morning, she wondered if it was the remnants of the call for home. She wanted to hold Beebles, see the moons of Olean and the smell of the night air on Shinwa. She was missing her people and their customs.

  Brea straightened slightly in her seat as an idea was forming into her head. She was sitting there pining for home yet the pull only came when she arrived to Orpheaus Six. It was not the constant pull that others had talked about; hers was erratic and only came when she could not feel Araman’s presence. She wondered if he was the link. Her thinking was getting too convoluted and giving her a headache as she rubbed her temples with her elbows on the table.

  “Brea?” Araman broke into her thoughts. “Did you hear me?”

  “No.” She dropped her hands. Her response brought grins to the men sitting down with her.

  “Well she’s honest.” Santari remarked to Araman.

  “That she is.” He agreed taking a swallow of his coffee. “I was wondering if there was some connection between your pull from home and our missing Oleander?”

  Brea looked at him thoughtfully. “If she is a link to something that takes me away from my path then the answer to your question is yes.”

  “And what if it she is the link putting you in danger?” Araman asked.

  Brea shook her head. “I do not know. It is possible but I have not had such advanced training in to the arts of foretelling. Only a chosen few have the energies of the old souls who have the skills to deal with the delicate webs of the future.”

  “I hate it when she talks like that. I never know if it’s a good thing or not.” Santari turned to his superior.

  “I hate going in blind.” Araman said calmly before slamming his mug down on the counter. A hairline crack spiked from the bottom to the rim. As he watched the fracture climb a disoriented sensation washed over Araman.

  His blue eyes glanced up to Brea as the image of her vanishing crossed his mind. The realization that they were sitting ducks dawned on him.

  “We have to get outta here.”

  “Too late Diago.” A female voice taunted all around them before Araman could move.

  Araman flew to Brea. With his arms around her waist he pulled her to the floor, knocking the chair she was sitting on over just as she watched the reddish-haired man disappear before her eyes.

  “Santari!” Brea screamed his name as she landed under Araman’s weight for a split second. She struggled to push him off.

  “Move it!” Araman scrambled up, pulling her with him at the same time. He rushed her towards the door. “We have to keep moving.” He hoped it was the answer. He would worry about Santari once he had Brea safe.

  Her hand in his, they raced across the beach to under the covered deck. If there were others around Brea might be shielded Araman determined but the deck was void of life. Araman paused for a moment at the top of the steps deciding which way to go. Brea pushed him straightforward towards the cover of the thick tropical canopy.

  “Keep going.” She urged. “Maybe what ever took Santari will find it harder in the trees.” She suggested.

  “I hope you’re right.” He said knowing she wasn’t. Araman took her hand as they ran to the other side of the deck and through the last ten feet of sand before the safety of the rainforest.

  As Araman’s foot hit the creamy ground from under the covered patio he began to feel his body disconnect. The last thing he felt was Brea’s touch slip from his fingers before he stood staring at a surprised Santari.

  “Where’s Brea?!” His voice echoed against steel.

  “Behind you.” She said calmly.

  Araman whipped around to see her behind a row of horizontal lasers. His eyes followed a red line along three sides until it hit a smooth solid steel wall. Araman looked across to see similar cells sectioned off and recognized the layout.

  His gazed returned to Brea, “Are you alright?”

  She nodded with wide green eyes. “Where are we?”

  “In the bottom of an Oleander prison ship.” He told her walking the perimeter of the lasers being careful not to touch them. The last thing Araman wanted was to be nursing a burn or a severed arm while trying to escape. “Looks like they have tightened their security measures since our last visit.” He stopped in front of Santari.

  “They have tightened alright.” He answered glancing around. “They have turned it into the Terrian Fort Knox.”

  “Since your last escape cost me a promotion, I thought to err on the side of caution.” A soft voice came from behind Brea.

  She was dressed in black leather, with heels that added four inches to her five foot four frame. Her black hair was pulled tightly into a ponytail and held by a metal clamp emphasizing her angled featured. From her hip hung her beloved laser whip she was rumored to use with her lovers. The Mistress of Intelligence was, as Santari put it in a briefing to his superior, all Terrian bitch with attitude of a venomous snake.

  “And here I thought you would have given up.” Santari remarked off hand.

  “Give up. Never.” She stood in front of him with her arms folded. “I just didn’t think you would bring along your Commandant and his slut for the party.”

  Araman lunged at the red bars but Santari caught him before he fried himself. “Keep your cool.” Santari hauled him back.

  “Yes Commandant Diago, I wouldn’t want to miss the chance of interrogating you myself.” The Mistress watched Araman’s display of aggression with a smile on her face.

  She whipped around. “Paige!”

  Santari’s eyes widened when the curvy blonde appeared beside the Mistress. He could not catch her eyes, as she would not look at him.

  “Yes Mistress Asereth.” Paige spoke quietly keeping her eyes to the ground.

  “Retrieve the female. Bring her to the interrogation room where I will deal with her in a moment.”

  “Paige?” Santari looked at her questioningly.

  She looked up and into his reddish brown eyes. Without a flinch, she said to him, “I told you before, Commander Santari, that I will always do what is right for Oleander.” Araman watched the exchange with a questioning glance at Santari’s quiet nod.

  Santari watched her press a little button on a re
mote control and the bars surrounding Brea disappeared. She gave a motion for Brea to leave her cell and follow behind. When Brea was hesitant to move Paige grabbed her arm.

  “You’re the link that brings me to danger.” Brea whispered to Paige as she neared. “It was your energies that caused the pull to Shinwa.”

  Brea took a step back as Paige caught her arm. In a firm grip she dragged Brea from the cell out in front of the Mistress. “I’m the link that is going to get your ass out of here.” Paige hissed from behind as she gave Brea a push past the other grinning woman.

  “Shinwa are so strong yet so fragile.” Asereth turned cold black eyes on Araman’s growling face. “And mated ones are especially so.”

  Araman clenched his fists. Every inch of his being wanted to rip the woman apart. His hands unclenched as ice blue chips rested on her sneer.

  “You will find, you psychotic twisted skritch, Shinwa are stronger than you think.” Araman smiled when the smirk was contorted into a glare of pure rage at the insult of being called a toothless old crone of a Terrian whore.

  “You are mine, Diago. And I will so very much enjoy your interrogation.” She leaned forward and licked her lips. “I do so enjoy a good ride during the shock treatment. The vibrations get my juices going.”

  Araman wanted to throw up at her suggestion. “I would think by now, a woman at your age would have dried up.”

  “Oh darling, the nectar is only beginning to flow.” She shot back with a coy grin over the shoulder at him.

  “From what I know of Oleander women, Araman, they not only dry up but loosen up. It’s like being flanked by pieces of wet meat clapping together.” Santari lazily added as he stepped up closer to the bar.

  “Ah yes, speaks the male version of a rutting troglodyte.” Asereth shook her head at Santari, “You’re first on my list to question. And I promise you Santari, you will not be so witty when I am done with you.” She turned around and stormed out.

  “Have you met my half-sister?” Santari looked over to Araman. “Just like her mother only Asereth is nastier.”

  “So I’ve read in the reports.” Araman started circling the cell. “And now Brea is in her clutches.”

  Santari put his eyes to floor hoping to find something along the edge of the wall that could lead to their release. “Then we had better find a way out and fast.”

  “What did Paige mean that she would do what is right for Oleander?” Araman pulled his look from the wall he scrutinized to Santari.

  “I’m hoping it means she is on our side.” He answered on his hands and knees scouring the metal floor for a weak spot. “From everything she said, she seemed ripe for the pickin’.”

  “I am.” Paige walked up to the laser bars and put her hands on her hips. She gave a little flirtatious swivel before a broad smile crossed her lips. “It depends on who is doing the pluckin’.”

  Santari stood up. His mahogany eyes narrowed watching her toy with him. “And if it were me?” He matched her stance without the wiggle.

  “Ooh.” She sang out. “Now I’m definitely in if your part of the bargain.” She became more serious. “I told you Santari, I would do what is right for Oleander. Asereth and her mother, the Regency, are not right for Oleander. Sorry Sweetie.”

  “No apologies. Just get us out of here.” Santari indicated to the red laser bars.

  “Working on it as we speak.” Paige brought out a little metal pad. “I’ve got someone working on the code. The problem is Asereth is so paranoid these days she is monitoring everything. We can only tamper for so long in the system.” She pressed a couple of buttons then shook her head when nothing happened. “Asereth took my master key, the bitch.”

  “Where’s Brea?” Araman stepped up to beside Santari.

  “I’m going to take you to her as soon as I can get you out.” A light on her hand unit flashed. “Frigg it! The stupid whoreson of a troglodyte.” She stormed out furious still ranting.

  Araman looked over the Santari. “Her language is worse than a Terrian transporter.”

  “Only when she is ticked.”

  A slight moan from the corner of their cell caught their attention. Araman whipped around to see Brea sitting against the wall with her eyes closed. Her entire body was limp. Her eyes fluttered open for a moment then shut.

  He was beside her in an instant, scooping her into his arms. “Brea.” Araman gave her a little shake.

  Jade eyes opened slowly. She gave a reassuring smile and raised her hand to his face resting it against his cheek. “Don’t worry. I have not forsaken you.”

  “No Brea!” Araman’s voice rang out and reverberated against the hull of the vessel. “Tell them. It will kill you if you don’t.”

  Her head fell against his shoulder. “I will die if I do.” Her voice was a whisper against his ear.

  “No!” Araman held her closer to him. He could still feel her heartbeat against his but something was erratic. His energies could feel distortion in hers as he tried to figure out what to do to help her.

  He raised her up and positioned his legs crossed putting Brea in the cradle he created. Araman held her as he hunched over her spreading a soft blanket of his energy around her. He felt the tug of hers latching on like a baby to a breast as he tried to fortify her aura.

  Santari watched as Araman held Brea. He could not determine what was wrong but he knew by his Commandant’s response that his concubine was in trouble. He turned his back to the scene with his fists clenched.

  “Frigg!” Araman howled like a wounded animal. He stood up when Santari whirled around and saw that Brea was no longer in his arms.

  “What in bloody hell is going on?” Santari swore in the Terrian vernacular.

  “I don’t know but I do know they are killing Brea.”

  Santari face lost color. “How?”

  Araman began pacing. “Brea explained the web within to you.” Santari nodded. “Her web is connected to all her organs but it is the heart that is the center of the web. Her heart not only pumps blood but it pumps energy throughout the web.”

  “How can that be harmed? Its energy.”

  “If the Shinwa tell a lie or are dishonest, their web within will start to fracture and eventually will shatter their chakkras.” Araman stopped for a moment. His intense blue eyes bored into Santari’s. “Brea is lying to them.”

  “Then we gotta get out here.” Santari turned away feeling helpless. Just then the red laser bars faded and then sparked for a bit before resuming their guard.

  Lights above the cells came on. Araman and Santari had not realized how dark it had been as they squinted. A door to the right opened and a grinning Paige came through holding her little metal remote.

  “Miss me?” She winked at Santari.

  “You bet I did.” He stepped up. “Now get us the Frigg out of here.”

  Chapter Eleven

  A scream invaded through the roar of the moving ship. Araman landed on the floor as he felt Brea pull on his aura for strength. Another cry of Brea ripped through the air as Araman writhed down to his knees meeting the cold metal of the floor.

  Araman felt his senses being pulled out from underneath him as Brea reached for his energies. His brain felt like it was being ejected from his head as she pulled harder. He felt his legs give way as he fought to stay conscious.

  His body jerked and reacted to the strain until he began to instinctively take a deep breath through his nose and released it from his mouth. With each breath he found he was gaining control. Slowly his body became calm.

  “Get us out!” Santari whipped around. “Now Paige!”

  Paige’s fingers rapidly keyed in the code. One by one the red bars flashed out like the filament of a light bulb. Santari rushed to Araman’s side and helped him to his feet.

  “Are you okay?” He asked.

  Araman nodded. “Brea’s going to suck the life out of me before I get there.” His voice was hoarse.

  “Can you move?” Paige glanced to him. He nodded. �
��Then get out of there. I can only hold the bars back for so long. The code randomly changes and if that happens we are sitting ducks.”

  The hum of the lasers returned more quickly than they powered down. Araman and Santari had to jump over the waist height bar of molten lava to escape.

  “How the hell did Brea appear like that?” Araman growled feeling his strength come back.

  “I don’t know, but I think it might have something to do with the experimental extractor.” Paige said leading them to the door. She cracked it opened and peeked out. “Oleander wants to use it as a means of travel and tech warfare. That’s all I know. As soon as I heard what it was I complained and ended up bait for the Novenians on Orpheaus Six.” She gave the men a nod.

  The three slipped out into the walkway overlooking the empty cargo deck. Araman was thankful they did not have to be silent on the metal walkway that announced their presence with every step. They followed Paige around the perimeter to an opening on the other side.

  Another scream of Brea’s broke through the noise of the ship. Araman grabbed Paige’s arm and spun her around to him. “Where is she?”

  “Through there.” She pointed to a sealed door. “But you will need this.” She handed him her little hand held unit. “Hit this button.” She pointed to a little red on the end of a row. “This will automatically open the door.” She pulled away from his grip and gave Araman her keypad. “After that you are on you own.”

  “Is there any way you and Santari can secure a ship?” Araman looked down at the curvy brunette. He watched as a smile crossed her face.

  “And here I thought you were going to ask for something difficult.” Paige was flippant. Her soft brown eyes glanced up to Santari. “We go this way.” She took his hand and the two left Araman to find Brea.

  Another scream caused a jolt through Araman’s body as he felt Brea pull on his energies for strength. He leaned against the wall and regained his control with breathing. Once his senses settled back within him he strained his hearing for any sounds of life.