Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nina

W e’re not sent to a hospital or a sick bay or whatever serves as a medical facility on this space station. Rather, Reke, an unconscious Venn and I are dumped back in our cells, the three of us separated by bars. Reke prowls the length of his cell. I cram myself as close to Venn as I can get, reaching an arm through a gap between two bars to monitor his breathing.

It’s steady but shallow. I suppose I should be grateful the three of us are still alive, and I am. Really, I am. But overwhelmingly I’m fuming. Fuming at the Hov, at the career gladiators, at the parasites. Also fuck the Ambassador for telling me about the other women when I’ve got no chance of ever escaping this dump and joining them!

If I were a kettle, steam would be billowing from my head.

Eventually and entirely reluctantly, I fall asleep. It’s a tense, dream-filled sleep while my brain struggles to process every crappy thing that happened during the day, and my subconscious plays the old movie reel of the car crash and my parents’ death intermingled with Venn’s unmoving form and Reke’s bloodied face.

I’m woken by a bright light and scramble to my feet, shielding my eyes.

“Venn!” He’s awake. He’s even standing. Although his face is distinctly ashen, and there are dark shadows under his eyes.

“I am fine, Nina.”

“Fine?” I press my hands to my hips. He’s far from what I would ever call fine.

His eyes flutter close. I think he’s fallen back to sleep, except he says, “What did you mean when you said I was made of stardust?”

“What?” I blink. Then I remember the recording of us having sex playing on the screen at the feast. When I’d had my legs wrapped around Venn waist I called him my man made of stardust. “Oh, well, back on Earth, Humans worked out that every atom was created before our planet existed and we had this saying everything is made of stardust. I guess you kind of remind me of that.”

He opens blood-shot eyes. “I remind you of atoms?”

“No. You remind me that world is bigger than just what’s happening within my cell. You remind me that despite everything the Hov have done to us, there are still beautiful things in the universe. Beautiful souls.” I reach between a gap in the bars and touch his arm, wanting to be physically connected to Venn.

“I see.” He blinks. There’s a hazy quality to his gaze, like he can’t quite focus his eyes .

“Please lie back down. You need at least a week of bed rest. In an actual bed.”

“That is unlikely to happen.” And he points a shaking finger up at the ceiling.

The ceiling over his, mine and Reke’s cells opens.

“Nope.” I adamantly refuse to believe this is happening. But the cheering and the shouts from the stadium drown out my denial. “No!”

Both Reke and Venn are perfectly still, standing in the center of their cells. It’s like they’ve been turned into stone. Or, more accurately, into soldiers.

Their absolute stillness brings me to a pause as the floors of our cells rise. It takes almost no time for my head and shoulders to crest the Arena floor, and I turn three-sixty degrees, searching for signs of the career gladiators. But the Arena is completely empty.

The stadium is another matter entirely. Parasites fill every single seat. They surge forward, eagerly standing up to get a better view of Venn, Reke and I.

The first few rows of parasites have all pushed forward to the top of the barrier wall and are throwing small … pebbles? No, they’re coins. They’re throwing coins at the three of us, as if trying to goad us into early action. Most fall short. The few that hit Reke and Venn bounce ignored off their chests, arms and backs, as if the coins are nothing more than drops of rain.

One hits my shoulder, and I wince. It bloody hurts. Yet the coins are the least of my problems.

The twins aren’t here. I can see gaps in the sand on the floor where other cells raise their inhabitants into the Arena. There are also gated entrances all along the curved barrier wall, through which I presume other gladiators are sent. The Hov must use the multiple entrances to keep their patrons entertained and their gladiators guessing.

When nothing immediately happens, I turn another circle, shielding my eyes from the bright sun-like lights overhead, searching for where the twins will come from. The crowd quietens in anticipation, and I suddenly understand the old saying you could hear a pin drop. You really could.

“Umm … ” I hate how I never know what’s happening. I hate how I always feel caught off guard.

“Never,” Venn answers before I’ve even asked if this is usual. His face is entirely emotionless, except for when he glances down at me, and I see a flash of fear illuminate his eyes.

I wish I could hold his hand. I wish I could hug him. But I would only risk getting in his way, and so I glance at Reke, standing on my other side. He’s surveying the crowd and the Arena, his head tilted to one side in his usual fashion.

“They are not sending the twins,” he concludes.

“What?” I frown. “Why not?”

“Because it is us, Nina.” Venn gestures between himself and Reke.

“Nope. Absolutely not.” I cup my hands around my mouth, amplifying my shout. “That’s not happening!” I tell the Hov and the parasites.

Reke grunts, grabbing at his collar. Venn drops to his knees, his entire body unnaturally rigid.

Those fucking collars!

“Stop!” I fall to my knees beside Venn. He’ll die, being tortured again so soon after last night. But, of course, that’s what they want. They want Reke to kill Venn, or for Venn to try to kill Reke. The Hov are finally forcing them to fight, all because of me.

Venn doubles over, his hands pressed to the ground, and he’s panting like he can hardly draw enough air into his lungs. Reke is still standing, but there’s blood running down his neck where he’s cut himself with his claws, trying to remove his collar.

His gaze falls on Venn, and his ears twitch. I can practically hear his thoughts, and his entire tail flicks back and forth with agitated swipes.

“Don’t,” I beg him, my voice barely more than I whisper. But I don’t need to shout. Reke has exceptional hearing, and he turns his gaze on me. One blue eye, one golden.

“Reke.” I reach toward him.

“Nina.” He steps into my hand, rubbing his cheek against my palm. “Do you trust me, Nina?”

“Yes, but?—”

“Close your eyes.”

“No.” My lips are numb. My whole body is numb. “Please, Reke. Don’t do it.”

“I have no choice. The Hov have given us no choice.” He moves so fast I barely see him. In one heartbeat, he’s standing in front of me. In the next, he’s standing over Venn. Venn who is too weak to even stand, let alone defend himself.

I rush forward, intending to throw myself at Reke, or to throw myself between him and Venn. I don’t really have a plan. All I know, with absolute certainty, is that I can’t let this happen. Venn doesn’t deserve to die like this. Not after two years of fighting for his life and his dignity.

Before I can reach him, Reke pounces, sinking his pointed teeth into Venn’s throat.

The crowd erupts into applause.

TO BE CONTINUED

Book 2 All The Love We’ve Ever Shared