Negative Read online

  She followed orders and went to change her clothing. The next set of complete robes was heavier and had a hood in place with a veil drawn over her nose and mouth. The peak of the hood came down between her eyes and attached to the veil.

  The clothing was a shade of grey tinged with the deep purple of the local sunset.

  When she returned to the lady’s side, Abrieth nodded. “Much nicer. I hadn’t realised your eyes were so pretty.”

  “They are just eyes, lady.” Her eyes had changed after the fall. They were now shot with streaks of red that made it hard for other humans to meet her gaze. It was one of her favourite things about being a Terran Volunteer, the alien races were accepting at face value.

  “But they are the windows to the soul, or so your people say. It is a pretty phrase.” Abrieth nodded. “Well, the sun is down, so it is time to go. Oh, do me a favour and step on that plate over there.”

  “Why?”

  “Tomorrow is a costume ball and I need you to come as escort. Everyone must have a costume, so all who attend have to send in their measurements and the clothing will be delivered in the afternoon. I plan to spend the morning at the groomers. You are welcome to join me, sans robes.”

  “I will consider it.”

  Sighing, but with no reason to refuse, Aster stood on the plate and light scanned her in a tube of light that rose and fell for a few minutes. When it chirped, Abrieth used her data pad to send the information and she smiled brilliantly. “Thank you. I can never get these rigid men to unbend and join me.”

  Aster kept her sigh to herself. “I am not a toy to play dress-up with.”

  The lady sobered and showed some of the keen intelligence from the day’s negotiations. “No, you are a grown woman with a woman’s appetites, as am I. If we can satisfy them without danger or hazard, I believe we should.”

  That took her aback, and Aster kept her mouth shut until they arrived in the household of one of the local nobles, and Abrieth was welcomed, as was Aster as the lady’s companion.

  The party was in full swing. Aster observed and kept her senses open to any danger.

  When Abrieth grabbed her arm, Aster followed her gaze, and she took in the handsome man flanked by a scowling woman of his own kind and another woman with red eyes and a sensual pout.

  The man stared at Abrieth, but his entourage steered him to one side and kept him from mingling and getting closer to the woman he was obviously fixated on.

  “Why don’t you marry him?”

  The lady smiled sadly when Aster asked the question. “I have a title, but the funds I have are not mine, they are those of the Alliance and the Imperium. I am an expert negotiator for minor issues. I can come and go easily. It is no life for him. He needs wealth and comfort.”

  “Have you asked him if he would join with you?”

  “I cannot. It would be dishonourable.”

  Aster sighed and watched the man as he darted gazes toward her purple companion. “What is his name?”

  “Lerodan.”

  Aster nodded. “I am going to get something to drink. Security is tight, so just don’t go running into the street without me.”

  Abrieth nodded and drifted over to join a conversational grouping with several older men and women who eyed her with lust. She was right. Running through the world mostly naked definitely put people in a different frame of mind.

  Chapter Three

  It seemed so clichéd to strike up a conversation over the punch bowl, but it seemed the only place that Lerodan’s entourage would not follow him.

  “Well, this party seems to match the direct definition of a gathering.”

  He quirked his lips. “It does, hidden one. I noted you speaking with Lady Abrieth earlier. Do you know her?”

  “We have met. She speaks very highly of one of your species. She pines for what could have been if she had funds or more than her station as negotiator.” Aster slipped the cup under her veil and sipped the punch. She made a face and tried to act casual. The stuff was horrible.

  “Well, in four weeks, I gain my estates, but by then, I will be mated to that woman over there.”

  “Do you love her?”

  “I do not, but she is the match my family made while I was still young.”

  Aster looked at his earnest features; the pale tan of his skin and mahogany hair gave him the air of perpetual youth. “It is a shame. I can see her heart ache for you, not to mention other parts.”

  Aster inclined her head and moved away, taking the offensive glass of punch with her because she didn’t know what to do with it.

  She walked around the edge of the party, spoke with a few people who were curious about her robes and drifted back to her lady’s side.

  “That was quite the walk.”

  Aster inclined her head. “I was trying to outrun the effects of the punch but was unsuccessful.”

  “I am amazed that you are still upright. That stuff packs enough of a hit to knock most men on their backsides after one cup. The host prides himself on it.”

  Aster looked at the men who had taken up wrestling in the middle of the room and she nodded. “I can see why. It does pack a punch, but not for me. It just tastes gross.”

  “Would you care to join the wrestling? It is traditional.”

  Aster sighed. “No, I am not dressed for it. Plus, wrestling isn’t my thing. I don’t like to hit the floor.”

  “You don’t have to. You start with standing and see where it goes from there.”

  “Fine, keep an eye on yourself.”

  “Oh, I am going to watch this. It should be entertaining.”

  Aster made her way to the fight area, and she waited until the previous bout was called.

  “Who will challenge Arez?”

  The man she was about to face was a head taller than she was and a deep mahogany with black hair. Even his eyes were black. His expression was amused.

  She stepped forward. “I will.”

  He hooted with laughter. “Run home and do some needlework. A little thing like you cannot wrestle.”

  He reached out to touch her head, and she gripped his wrist, twisted and knocked him to the floor.

  The crowd gathered and bets started to ripple along.

  Arez stood, and she could tell by his sway that he was not steady on his feet. “So, little miss, may I have your name?”

  “It would sound silly for you to be called Aster.”

  He grinned. “You want to fight?”

  “Well, it has been a while since I had a man’s hands on me, but you are welcome to try.”

  It seemed that she couldn’t stop flirting. Something about this man made her feel all coy and aggressive at the same time.

  “Do you want to shed some of that fabric?”

  She shrugged. “No. You will have to work for it.”

  His black eyes widened and narrowed in an instant. The man acting as referee stepped forward, and he raised his hand. “To the floor or out of the ring. Go!”

  Arez lunged for her, and she responded, dancing lightly away a moment before he would have made contact. The crowd caught him and helped him straighten.

  Aster turned and waited for him to attack again. This time, he moved in slowly before reaching for her. She grabbed his hands with hers and twisted his wrists while kicking upward.

  His head snapped back and he dropped to the ground.

  The crowd was silent until he groaned and started to stir; the cheer that rose up nearly deafened her. She inclined her head and tried to leave.

  The ref put out his hand. “I am sorry, miss. It is two bouts or winner stays on. You will have to take on another comer.”

  “Fine.”

  The ref called out, “Who will take on this delicate little lady?”

  One drunk noble came out and leered at her. “I will.”

  It took one pass and a short grapple for her to get the noble to the ground. When she finished riding him to
the floor with her arm around his throat, she stood, dusted off her robes and left the wrestling floor.

  Her lady was beaming. “Thanks for that. Lerodan and I had a chance to talk. I will explain later.”

  Folk came around to congratulate her on her skills and asked if she would do it again during the festival tomorrow night.

  She looked to her lady. “What?”

  “The costume ball is part of the annual celebrations. A retired bunch of gladiators founded this world. They still engage in combat once a year to honour their god of war, Yodin.” Abrieth shrugged.

  “Yodin?”

  “It is said that for the true warriors, he will inhabit them and turn them into champions for that one night and the rest of their lives. Combat is still quite the industry on Rekfa. The fighters are quite fun to spend time with.” She waggled her eyebrows.

  She twisted her lips sceptically, “Um, do gods take over often? I have heard of a few other species where it happens.”

  One of the ladies was eager. “It isn’t the soul of the world. Rekfa has its own Avatar. This is something different.”

  Aster looked at her and asked, “You have seen it?”

  “And experienced it.” The woman blushed brightly. “Those men who are chosen by Yodin can last all night and into the week beyond.”

  Aster paused for a moment and then she clued in. “Oh. Got it.”

  The ladies blushed and shared exploits of previous champions with her. Arez was one of them. It was fascinating, informative and Aster was very glad she was wearing her veil, because her appalled expression would have stopped the gossip.

  By the time she walked home with Abrieth, her brain was spinning with tales of mythical men who could last all night and who needed multiple partners just to sate their lusts.

  “That was informative.”

  The lady laughed. “It was. I have been here for the parties before and one or two of the chosen of Yodin have wandered in. They are a lot of fun; I would have to agree with that.”

  “So, I suppose that I will find out tomorrow.”

  The lady linked her arm with hers. “Yes, you will.”

  Having every bit of hair from her nose down removed via plucking, sanding or waxing was as painful as it was rapid. The bathing, scrubbing and hairstyling were only interrupted when an assassin tried to drown Abrieth in the tub.

  The spa attendants called the peacekeepers while Aster alternately lifted and submerged the attacker.

  Abrieth declared it time for a massage, so she and Aster headed for the treatment room together.

  The rest of the day was uneventful until they returned and looked at the boxes that had been delivered.

  Aster hadn’t been given a present since her accident, so she felt the thrill of excitement as she opened the box. “Oh, dear. Well, they included a veil.”

  Tobr was looking over her shoulder, and he snickered. “I hope you can manage that.”

  She gave him a dark look. “Lady, if you need help with dressing, Tobr will assist you while I am busy.”

  With a huff, she took her box of goodies and went to get into her costume with her skin gleaming from the polishes and creams of the day.

  Before her accident, she would never have put on the leather bikini, boots and weapons’ harness. But, when she covered her face with the veil, it gave her both exposure and anonymity. A rush of power went through her as she held the curved weapons before settling them into their scabbards.

  She fluffed her hair a little before walking back into Abrieth’s quarters, and the guards jumped to attention as she passed them.

  Abrieth was struggling with a heavy costume and Tobr was all thumbs.

  “Stand aside, junior. I can manage a corset.”

  Tobr stared. “Uh.”

  “I am as covered as I am going to be. Go help the others; they are drowning in their own drool.”

  Abrieth seemed nervous. “Thank you, and see, I told you that a little skin was the way to go.”

  “This wasn’t my choice; it was what came in the mail.”

  Aster worked at the laces. “Do you think they were trying to tell me something?”

  “Probably, and me the same. I have never worn this many clothes on a job. The Bo usually reserve this kind of thing for a wedding.”

  “Well, you look lovely.” It was true. The fairy-tale dress and corset did look stunning next to her lavender skin.

  “Thank you. You have saved my life twice in as many days. I count you as a friend, Aster.”

  Aster could feel she was trying to say something under the words, but she missed them. “What is on the agenda tonight?”

  “First, we watch the sun set, then the Yodin fighters are chosen, and from there, the battles will be enacted all over Rekfa.” She smiled. “And we will be dancing and having cocktails.”

  Aster looked down. “I don’t know if I can dance in this. The blades might get in the way.”

  “You will do just fine, I am sure of it.” Abrieth winked and hugged her.

  Chapter Four

  When the sun began to set, Aster felt her link to Abrieth fade. Abrieth was gone, off world and out of her grasp.

  Son of a bitch.

  The only reason for her being here had just flown away, probably with Lerodan.

  She heard cries from nearby. “Yodin, come to me!”

  It echoed and other voices took up the call.

  Aster was alone on Rekfa, and she had nothing and no one. She whispered, “Yodin, come to me.”

  The crowd she was with moved toward the outer courtyard, and they all stared upward. In the night sky above, a nebula lit them in eerie light and the drunken revellers grew quiet.

  A rush of energy ran through her.

  You have only to ask.

  She flexed her hands as the power ran through her limbs.

  Come to the center. Others will meet you and the battle will commence.

  If her short career in the stars was about to come to an end, she was glad that she had the chance to fight for herself. Since the one person she had been attached to, her anchor point for her sense of being, had abandoned her, she had been shaken dramatically. She wanted to fight.

  The path in her mind was bright, so she followed it through the crowds and to a huge, open space with a dais at one end. A figure sat in shadows, and she walked toward it along with dozens of others.

  There was a dreamy quality to what was going on. The men lined up and knelt in front of the shadows, and the line moved forward.

  When Aster reached the front of the line, she looked into the shadows and bowed shortly, keeping her head up and watching the flickering shadows.

  Amusing, little one. You will not give an inch. This should be interesting.

  She stood and stepped to one side, lining up on the left-hand side of the open expanse with half the men, facing the other half on the far side.

  You are going to have a chance to prove yourself. Prepare to fight.

  Aster reached out with her senses and smiled. She pulled the blades that had come with her costume and hoped that they were more than ornamental.

  A gong rang and a roar filled the arena, screams from a hundred voices. Aster didn’t waste her breath. She needed to earn her way to a com unit, and involving herself in this fight would do it. She was sure of it.

  The line broke and the two sides rushed at each other. Aster moved slowly, gauging the fight pattern of the man coming at her in a rush. She worked on instinct, slashing at his legs and bringing him down.

  It was a pattern that she would follow over and over until her blades broke and she had to use her hands and feet.

  Pass after pass sent men against men until six remained and Aster was one of them.

  Her opponent was the man from the night before. Arez. He grinned and leered at her as they waited for the gong to attack. She knew his fighting style and he knew hers, but he was not drunk tonight, not yet.

&nbs
p; When they moved together, he didn’t reach for her; he swung to disable her by striking at her head and legs.

  She countered, moving around him and twisting to avoid his flailing arms. He was trying to swat her like a fly, and it was tiring him.

  She ducked, kicked, punched, whirled and struck again. Aster lost track of how long they fought, but she finally got him to the ground and punched at him until he was unconscious.

  She flexed her hands as she stood, and to her shock, she was the only one left standing.

  “What happened?”

  The shadows leaned forward and a deep, rumbling voice said, “They did not wish to fight you, so I let them retreat from the battle without dishonour. My little brother has learned his lesson.”

  She realised that she was still standing over Arez. “Brother?”

  The shadows chuckled. “Yes, Arez is a brother, of a sort. Rekfa is good at giving asylum to a number of creatures from around the stars. Now that you have defeated my champions, it is time that you face me.”

  She licked her lips. “What do I get if I win?”

  He chuckled. “You can have what you wish. I act as protector of Rekfa. In my place, you would have access to all that I do. That includes the ability to call your Luna Base and ask for help.”

  Aster didn’t ask how he knew about that. He was the voice in her head, after all. “What do you get if you win?”

  She got the feeling of amusement out of the dark shape that was stepping toward her.

  “I get you.”

  “I never agreed to that.”

  “Those are the rules. You get all I have or I get all you have and all you have is yourself.”

  He stepped onto the sand with her, and she could see why Arez was the little brother. The shadows were huge.

  She waited and he waited. Arez woke and scrambled back to safety.

  When the shadows shifted toward her, she moved and the dance was on. She fought him hand to hand, and each time she shifted, he countered and she did the same.

  They were equally matched, positive and negative, dark and light. Her opponent suddenly shifted, and she ended on her back with his hand to her throat.