Chapter 34

"No, we have to help!" I struggle to get free of Khiara's grip but there is no way that's happening.

I do slip but he throws me up and over his shoulder then puts his arm over my waist, locking me into place. I continue to fight as I'm bouncing up and down. Stinky water splashes onto us but nothing is slowing Khiara.

"Stop," he growls when I manage to kick him in the face.

"He's alone! We have to help," I scream with so much force the words tear at my throat as they emerge.

"No," Khiara barks. "Left, my Queen."

Rani doesn't argue or if she does, I don't hear her. My heart is breaking knowing I left Dilacs behind with who knows how many guards. There is no stopping the tears and I don't want to. I quit fighting, collapsing over Khiara's shoulder. This has to be hurting him every bit as much as me. It is, after all, his brother we're leaving behind.

The alarms echoing fades more the further we go. Becoming more distant even as Dilacs is left behind. The smell, the grief, all of it is overwhelming and there is nothing I can do about it. It isn't long before the darkness lessens then there is light. Khiara comes to a halt and lifts me up then sets me onto my own feet. He grips my shoulders, staring for a long moment, then he grunts and shakes his head.

"He will be fine," he says.

"You don't know that," I whisper.

"He will," he says, and his voice is every bit as tight as my own.

He walks past and I turn to see a massive opening covered with bars. Two of the bars are missing in the middle. Muda dashes through the opening and looks around quickly before darting back inside with us.

"It's clear," he says, huffing heavily.

"Good," Khiara says, looking around.

"Where will we go now?" Rani asks.

Khiara doesn't answer with words, only a growl, but it says all that needs to be said. He has no idea. The ringing of the alarm bells is distant but hasn't stopped. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing for Dilacs.

He can't die. He can't. What would be the point of that? I'm only getting to know him. We only just found each other.

"I know," Muda says. He's whispering like we all are, terrified that we're going to be caught at any moment. "The Resistance."

"Resistance?" Rani asks.

"Yes, Queen," Muda says, bowing his head several times as he speaks. "The General is organizing, for you."

"Janara?" she asks, and this is the first time I've heard surprise in her voice. "You're sure? He lives?"

"Yes, Queen," Muda says, nodding with so much enthusiasm it looks as if he might snap his neck. "Very much so."

"Then all hope is not lost," she says.

"Where?" Khiara asks.

"I can lead us there," Muda says. "But… we can't walk them through the streets."

Khiara stares at Rani and then at me, chewing on his lower lips. He frowns, grunts, then shakes his head.

"Gada," he growls.

"Muda, can you get three cloaks?" Rani asks. "You will be the least suspicious of any of us on the streets."

"Anything, my Queen," Muda says.

"Good lad," she says. "Please get them, then we will do our best to slip through unnoticed. But hurry, it won't be long before they are searching the streets for us."

Muda doesn't even wait to speak before he's running through the grate and out of sight. The three of us stare at each other in uncomfortable silence for a long time before I give up and turn to stare down the tunnel. Hoping, against all logic, to see Dilacs emerging from the pitch-black stench.

He doesn't, but that doesn't stop me from waiting. And hoping. My head is pounding with a massive pressure headache. I want to cry if only to release the pent up feelings but I can't seem to. My tears are dry as the desert beyond the mountain.

"He will survive," Rani says, softly, surprisingly at my side.

"I…" I have to clear my throat before I can finish speaking, "you can't know."

"I know Tajss," she says, her voice so calm that it's comforting in its own way. "And Tajss provides."

"It takes away too," I say, choking on the last word.

So many lost. To creatures, heat, stupidity. I know too damn well how precious life is, especially here on the red planet. Tajss may provide, but she's one harsh bitch of a mistress.

"She does," Rani says, her own voice heavy with unexpressed emotions. "That she does."

She stays at my side, and we wait. For Muda or for Dilacs, or perhaps for both. The hope for both of them may be vain but there is no other choice. We're stuck between a literal rock and a hard place.

At some point the alarms stop. When they do my heart sinks. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Did Dilacs get away? Or did they capture him and even now are preparing to torture him for information. Or fun. These sick fucks seem to enjoy it.

"Got them," Muda exclaims causing me to jump.

"Muda!" I exclaim, jump turning to face him, and Rani is right there at my side, clearly having been startled too.

"Sorry," he says, sheepish, but holding up a bundle of cloaks.

"Well done," Rani says, going over and taking one that she then hands to me.

She takes one herself, putting it into place over her shoulders. I put on my own but the third she tells Muda to wear. We pull our hoods up over our heads and we're ready.

"Lead the way, young one," Khiara orders Muda.

He takes the lead while Khiara stays close on his heels. Rani and I follow walking side-by-side into the streets. The streets are, as always, full of watching eyes, listening ears, and suspicious minds.

We are leaving Dilacs behind. My heart shatters more with every step forward and I wish, with all that I am, I had a better answer.