4,99 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: Susan McKenzie
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Serie: Lightning Touch
- Sprache: Englisch
Could denying her feelings be fatal?
Against the odds, Lennina managed to save Daniel from a tunnel collapse on Kronos. But recovering from their injuries is just the start of their problems. In revealing her ability to communicate telepathically with Daniel, Lennina has drawn the attention of The Company. They want to know all about this Talent, and to use it for their own ends.
Trapped within Katoa Labs for an Assessment and Training program, Lennina must endure the ‘lessons’ of her sadistic new mentor, Xander, while trying to avoid her abusive ex. And all the while, she’s being kept apart from the one person she really wants to see – Daniel.
But even thinking about Daniel is fraught with difficulty. Coming so close to losing him in the mines has left Lennina terrified to open her heart to him. She needs him if she’s ever going to escape the clutches of the company, but is it possible to escape with her body and her heart in one piece?
**Grab your copy today and discover the mysteries of Perseus Station and the planet, Kronos**
POWER OF LIGHTNING is an exciting second (and final) book in the Lightning Touch Series that will transport sci-fi and paranormal fans to a mining colony aboard a distant space station, filled with suspense, danger, and romance.
Binge the COMPLETE Lightning Touch Series!
Touch of Lightning
Power of Lightning
Check out the COMPLETE Tamisan Series!
Tamisan
Enigma
A Tamisan Novella: Shakiran: Larissa’s Story
“The passion and electricity. It is beautiful.”
- Kimberly Rodighiero
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Seitenzahl: 340
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020
Ähnliche
Copyright © 2020 Susan McKenzie
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-0-6484815-4-6
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written permission of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorised electronic or paperback editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.
Cover art © Susan McKenzie
ReamStories subscription: https://reamstories.com/susanmckenzieAmazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/susancarterVisit Sue’s website: http://susanmckenzieauthor.comFollow Sue on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SueMcKenzieAuthor
Click here and enter your email address to get your free book delivered to your inbox
What readers like you are saying...
“The sweet little ghost won me over in the first book and didn’t disappoint in the second. Her main villain was fabulously written because he made me hate him more and more with each appearance.”
– angeljoei (Amazon review)
“This second book was even better than the first. It has a little more action. A little romance and some intrigue. You've got the good, the bad and the Alien.”
– Zippy Inger (Amazon review)
“How I wish there were more than two books for this series! I loved the story and what they both overcame to be together.”
– Travina (Amazon review)
To my son, Shaun.
My greatest joy in life was becoming a mother. I’ll always be here for you and I love you to the universe and back.
Contents
Chapter 1
Just Tell Us What Happened
Iswiped my finger across the screen to access the next question.
How long have you known about your Talent?
I frowned. I’d only managed to use my Talent to initiate a telepathic conversation for the first time a couple of days ago, so I typed in my answer.
Our records indicate that you did not declare a Recognised Talent when you applied for the position of Navigational Computer Operator with Katoa Intergalactic Mining and Exploration. Can you tell us why you did not declare your abilities?
I didn’t know I had any psychic abilities when I’d started working for the biggest mining company in the Known Universe five months ago.
“This is stupid,” I said to no one.
The answer to the previous question kind of negated this one. How many more questions like this would I have to answer? This was getting ridiculous. The investigators from Katoa that were going to question me about the events surrounding the tunnel collapse down on the planet, Kronos, were probably going to ask me the same questions anyway.
I sighed and felt a twinge of pain from my broken ribs. I needed some more painkillers.
After a few more stupid questions, I wanted to throw the Palm-pad across the room.
A bright light had me shielding my eyes as my heartbeat picked up. Once my eyes adjusted, I could make out the rough shape of a man made of coloured light floating before me.
I smiled.
“Allador!”
I was so relieved to see my alien friend, but worried that someone could walk in and cause a panic.
Allador inclined his head and answered me telepathically. “Greetings, Lennina. It is good to see you.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. “What are you doing up here on the station?”
“I wanted to heal you.”
I sat with my mouth hanging open. He would risk being seen so he could heal my broken ribs?
“If that is acceptable to you?”
“Oh, um, yes… Thank you.”
He moved forward slowly and reached out his hand. Once it made contact with my right side, warmth stretched out across my entire body. Closing my eyes, I relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.
I trusted Allador after I’d seen him heal my work partner, Daniel Javolo, who’d had multiple injuries after the tunnel he was working in down on the planet had collapsed.
I felt one rib knit back together and it made me queasy. I’d felt the same thing when Allador had healed Daniel, through our weird connection that caused me to feel Daniel’s pain, but this was different. This time I knew it was my bones.
The door swished open and a nurse walked in wheeling a cart. She screamed and Allador backed away from me.
“It’s okay!” I told her. “He’s not hurting me. He won’t hurt you.”
Her big brown eyes were wide and she was shaking. “What is that thing?”
How could I stop her from freaking out and calling security? “It’s an alien from Kronos. His name is Allador.”
“Wh-what’s it doing here?”
“He was healing me.”
She looked at me. “What?”
“He was healing my broken ribs.” And you interrupted.
Allador fluttered around in the corner. “I will return.”
Before I could say anything, he vanished.
“Where did it go?”
I crossed my arms. “He left because you were freaking out. He didn’t get to finish healing me.”
“Oh.”
“Why are you here?”
“Oh, I came to give you a blood test. They said they told you about it.”
I sighed. Might as well get it over with. “Yeah. So, where do you want me to sit?”
“Just on the edge of the bed. I’ll position the cart to suit.”
“Okay.”
I sat and tried not to look as she took five vials of blood from my arm. That seemed like an excessive amount.
“Why so many vials?”
“Oh, there are so many things we need to test, and each one requires a different treatment of the sample.”
“Oh.” What else could I say to that? It wasn’t like I could demand that she put it back.
After fiddling around with the vials and asking me to check my name and date of birth on the labels, she packed up her equipment and left me with a wish that I have a nice day. Considering who I’d be talking to next, I highly doubted it.
Sure enough, I didn’t have to wait long for the two investigators to be ushered in to see me.
Dr Rowen said she’d leave us to it and left with a fake smile on her face, and the two well-dressed men stepped further into the room. They too, had fake smiles and I gave them one in return. I had nothing to smile about.
They introduced themselves as Mr Deunan and Mr Kessik, saying that I needn’t worry as they just wanted to ask me some questions about what had happened on the day of the tunnel collapse. It was their job to interview everyone involved and try to piece together what had taken place and why, and blah, blah, blah.
I relaxed a little. They hadn’t mentioned anything about a possible breach of regulations or any relationship with Daniel.
I knew I was still in a lot of trouble, though. Sonrisa had already blasted me for my slow reactions after it all happened, so I expected them to be asking about that too.
I waited and tried not to fidget. The first questions were pretty standard. How long had I worked for The Company and where was I from and so on. Then they asked about my first Digger, Arkena Rogan, which made me wonder why. Why would they ask about that? Did they think I had something to do with him seeing a “Ghost” in the tunnels and being taken off active duty to go to counselling?
And what did that have to do with the tunnel collapse?
Nothing.
The simple answer was: nothing. I took a deep breath. Maybe they were trying to intimidate me. It was possible. Or make it seem like I couldn’t do my job properly. Both of my Diggers had “gone crazy,” which is Katoa’s explanation when anyone claims they’ve seen bright lights or a Ghost down on the planet. The Ghosts were real, though. They were Allador’s people — a race of beings made out of light and energy.
The official word was that the planet was uninhabited. The Company couldn’t let the people know that there was sentient life on the planet we were mining, because then they would have to get the inhabitants’ permission to be able to continue mining.
I decided not to let them intimidate me. I had other, bigger things to worry about. I tried to answer the questions as best I could.
Then they finally decided to ask me about the events leading up to the collapse.
“Everything had been normal and the morning went ahead as usual,” I said.
My mind kept wandering back to when I wanted to talk to Daniel and tell him how I felt about him, so I had to make sure I didn’t say anything that would give any of that away. I just stuck to the facts surrounding the other events.
“Daniel had dumped a load of Amakio back at the shuttle and had finished digging out the next vein when he saw a bright light.” There was no point in denying the Ghost sighting. It was all recorded.
When they looked at me questioningly, I sighed. “You would have heard what happened by listening to our recorded conversation.”
“Never mind that,” Kessik said calmly. “We want to hear your version of events.”
I sighed again. “The recording is my version of events.”
“Now, Miss Callista, there’s no need for the sarcasm. Just tell us what happened.”
I groaned. “That wasn’t sarcasm...”
He exhaled heavily through his nose. “Just tell us what happened,” he repeated.
I told them what I could remember, but as for the four minutes and twenty seven seconds before I made the first call, I didn’t know what had happened to me. “I found myself on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. So I think that means I must have blacked out somehow.” They didn’t look convinced. “I’ve had several blackouts since then.”
They simply nodded and Kessik typed something on his Palm-pad.
There was no hope of coming out of this unscathed, so I tried to be as truthful as possible. I’d have to leave some things out about Daniel and I.
They kept asking more and more questions and it reminded me of Malvolio when he was convinced I was already seeing Daniel and wouldn’t even listen to me. It was upsetting to think about him. Those wounds were still raw. I’d forgotten about him for a while, even with the pain in my ribs to remind me every time I moved. I’d been so focused on Daniel. The memories flashed before me and the tears threatened to start. The pain in my chest flared and I couldn’t think straight.
I tried to focus on the current situation, with no success.
“Why didn’t you report to your supervisor right away that your Digger was in trouble?”
I tried to hold back my rising frustration. “I told you. I fainted. Play back the recording and you’ll probably hear me fall to the floor. And you could probably hear me get back up again after the four minutes and whatever seconds...”
Kessik turned toward me. “Do you know the correct procedures to be followed in an emergency situation?”
I stared at him incredulously. “Yes, of course I do!”
He cocked a bushy eyebrow. “You seem to have had trouble carrying them out. Can you tell me why that is?”
“I told you…” I’d had enough. He was another Malvolio. I wanted them to go away and leave me alone. “Look, I’m not feeling—”
“What is the status of your relationship with Daniel Javolo?” Deunan interjected.
Chapter 2
A Pathetic Excuse for a Doctor
“What?” I wasn’t expecting that question. I thought they were still stuck on the why-didn’t-you-do-your-job track, so it caught me off-guard.
He sighed. “Do you have a relationship with Daniel Javolo?”
“No, I don’t.” It was kind of true. I couldn’t call what we had a ‘relationship.’ It was a huge jumbled up mess, that’s what it was. Maybe it could become a relationship, but that would have to wait till later. “There is no way I could have a relationship with a scratchy, off frequency voice on an outdated Com system.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that...”
I cringed inwardly. That sounded like a threat buried in there somewhere.
Stating the obvious facts wasn’t working.
I was in trouble.
I remembered I’d quit my job. This was as good a time as any to tell these idiots. I took a deep breath. “I informed The Company on the day of the collapse that I wanted to resign my position.”
That stopped them for a few seconds. It was something they clearly weren’t expecting. But then, “What is company policy in regard to Navs and Diggers?”
I leaned forward, looking from one to the other. “Didn’t you hear me? I’ve quit!”
“That is neither here nor there,” Deunan informed me. “You were still employed by The Company at the time of the incident, and therefore are responsible for your actions, meaning that you are liable for any actions — or inactions — on your part.”
“So,” Kessik continued, “what is company policy when it comes to relationships between our Nav Operators and Diggers?”
I wanted to scream. “I know what they are!” I snapped. “But I told you already, there is no relationship! Just get out of here! I don’t have to answer any more questions. I told you I quit!”
“And I told you it doesn’t make any difference to this investigation,” Deunan said.
How could I get them to listen?
“Your response times were too slow. This was an emergency situation. Your Digger’s life was in your hands. He could have died because of your incompetence.”
That was a stab to the heart. Tears stung my eyes. I tried to calm down, but it didn’t help. “Get out! Leave me alone!”
Dr Rowen opened the door. “What’s going on in here?” she asked.
Relief flooded me. “They won’t leave,” I told her. “I can’t do this now and they won’t stop asking questions.”
“Now, gentlemen, you need to tone it down,” she told them.
What?
“Okay, Doc,” Deunan said.
He turned back to me and gave me that fake smile.
My ribs screamed as I turned to look at her. “Dr Rowen! What are you doing? I want them to leave!”
“They need to finish the interview,” she said calmly.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. What happened to telling me not to move around too much with the broken ribs?
“No — you don’t understand. I’m not feeling well. I can’t continue. Just get them out of here! Please!”
She said nothing.
Deunan continued on as if nothing had been said. “So, how long have you had this relationship with Daniel Javolo?”
“There is no relationship. We’re work partners. We’re not allowed to meet.”
My blood was about to boil. How could the doctor stand there and let them do this?
Then it hit me. Dr Rowen was employed by Katoa. She didn’t want to stop them from conducting their interview — it could affect her job here. She might lose her job or be transferred or something.
I headed for the door. “If you won’t leave, then I will.”
Both men grabbed me by the arms and marched me back to the bed, but I wouldn’t sit back down. They pushed on my arms so hard their fingers dug into my flesh, so I was forced to sit.
I kept struggling to get free. “Let go of me!”
“Be gentle now, boys,” Dr Rowen told them. Was that concern in her eyes? Probably not. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to stop them.
I yelled at them again. How could they do this to me?
I glared at Dr Rowen. A pathetic excuse for a doctor. What is your problem? Stand up to them! You’re supposed to help me here!
“Get out! Get out!” I screamed. The pain in my ribs was getting worse. I wished Allador hadn’t been interrupted.
One of the lights on the ceiling popped, and everyone flinched.
Chapter 3
We’re Here to Help You
The door slid open and Dr Kharim came in, flanked by two burly men that looked like they were either wardsmen or security guards. “What’s all the screaming about? What kind of interview is this?”
The two investigators started to talk, but I cut them off and told Dr Kharim what was going on, including the fact Dr Rowen hadn’t stopped them or asked them to leave.
His frown deepened. In fact, his face went a lighter shade of brown. He started by telling Kessik and Deunan to leave, and the guards stepped forward to emphasize what he was saying. The scumbags gave me some scathing looks and took their leave, saying it wasn’t over; I would hear from them again. I didn’t care at that point, as long as they left.
As soon as they were out of the room, Dr Kharim’s next move was to see if I was okay. Once I’d told him how much pain I was in, he said he’d organise some more pain relief. He made sure I was comfortable in the bed, then turned his attention to Dr Rowen.
He gave her a stern look, clearly trying to control his temper. “Dr Rowen. You know the patient is to remain still at all times. If you’d follow me so we can speak privately…”
I noticed the strain in his voice.
All the questions the investigators had asked raced through my mind as they left the room. Daniel and I were in for a bucket-load of trouble, but all I wanted to do was get out of here and see him. The pull toward him was so strong. I couldn’t explain it. It couldn’t be a normal thing when you’re in love with someone. This weird feeling was beyond any natural connection or relationship with another person. Maybe it had something to do with the jolt of electricity we felt when we touched, and the awesome mind connection. I didn’t know how or why it was there, but there was no denying it.
A nurse came in and gave me something for the pain.
I tried to make sense of all the things that had happened, but my mind was muddled, and as I lay on my back staring at the ceiling, I wondered what I was going to do next.
Once I’d had some lunch and was left alone again for about half an hour, Allador returned.
The sudden brightness hurt my eyes, but I was glad to see him.
“Greetings, Lennina.”
“Hello, Allador.”
“I have come to make sure you are fully healed. It will not do to have your injuries half-healed. It is not good for the body to stop before completion — even with my people, the Ampari.”
Great. That’s all I need. “Will there be permanent damage?”
“No. I will fix.”
“Okay.”
I sat still while he placed his hand on my side again and the warmth spread through me. It had a calming effect, and by the time he’d finished, I was sleepy.
“This is a normal reaction,” Allador told me. “You will feel sleepy for a while. This is good. I will take my leave now, before other humans enter this area.”
“Okay. Thank you so much.” It was such a relief to be pain-free that I felt like crying.
He inclined his head. “I will say farewell.”
“When will I see you—”
He disappeared.
What?
A nurse with jet-black hair pulled back in a severe bun entered the room and sat herself in a chair beside the bed, introducing herself as Simona.
I was glad Allador hadn’t been discovered again. He must have known she was about to walk in.
She programmed a Bio-scan to scan my vitals.
“Just lie down and let it do its thing,” she told me.
I watched as it floated above me, starting at my head and making its way down to my toes. My eyes were still recovering from Allador’s bright light, so it was hard to focus on it. It travelled back up and landed on a shelf above my head when it was done.
“Why do you need to check my vitals? I thought I was in here so you could check my mind for Talent?”
“We need to do some tests to see why you’ve been passing out.”
“Oh. I thought it was because I was using my Talent.”
“Yes, but you shouldn’t pass out every time.”
“Okay. I didn’t know. I don’t really know anything about psychic abilities.”
“You’ll learn. We’re here to help you.”
I sighed. That was good to know. And once I got out of here, the Talent Training Centres (TTCs) back home would be able to help me with whatever training I would need.
And I needed to get out of here.
The investigators didn’t talk about the breathable atmosphere on Kronos. They wouldn’t want anyone to know about it, so I was determined to tell everyone I could before they slapped an order on Daniel and I to shut us up.
I decided to tell Simona. She could tell others and spread the word further. “Did you know there’s air on Kronos?”
Chapter 4
I’ve Missed You
The nurse’s eyes went wide. “What? No. Who told you that? It’s toxic. It will kill you.”
I sat up and looked her in the eye. “No. It won’t. If you don’t believe me, go and ask my Digger, Daniel Javolo. If it wasn’t for the fact that there’s a thin atmosphere on the planet, he would be dead right now.”
I tried to keep my expression neutral, even as my words cut into my heart like a knife. I knew only too well how close he’d come to dying out there. I ignored the sting of tears. I didn’t want to cry in front of this woman.
Simona casually typed some notes on her Palm-pad, then looked up at me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Go visit Daniel. He’ll tell you everything. I could come with you and you can question us about it together. That way you could get all the information at the same time...”
Simona frowned. “No... I don’t think so,” she said slowly. “We have orders to keep you two apart.”
My spirits sank. “Why?”
“They didn’t tell us that bit.”
Of course they didn’t.
I was antsy. I couldn’t explain why I felt an overwhelming urge to find Daniel and just wrap my arms around him... And kiss him again... warmth spread across my chest at that thought.
Simona asked a few more questions about my general health and gasped as she looked down at the Palm-pad again.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“These readings can’t be right.”
“Why not?”
“It says you don’t have broken ribs.”
“I don’t. Not anymore.”
Her perfectly manicured eyebrows drew together. “What are you talking about?”
“The alien that healed Daniel? He was just here and he healed me too.”
I lifted my shirt and showed her my still-glowing side.
Simona gasped again. “It was in here?” She looked around nervously, as if she expected him to appear at any moment. “I have to go tell the doctors.”
She made a move to leave. “Oh, and there’s a Mr Dermid waiting to see you.”
I froze; my insides like ice. What was he doing here? What did he want?
“By himself?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Yes. He shouldn’t be coming in here by himself. I have an RO out against him. They won’t keep him away altogether, but I told them I didn’t want to be alone with him. Just tell him to go away.”
Simona’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t want to see him?”
Didn’t you hear me? “Yes, that’s right,” I said. “I never want to see him again, but he’s part of this whole thing with my Talent and that means I have to put up with him ‘observing’ things. So, like I said, tell him to go away.”
Her eyes widened. “But Miss Callista. It’s Malvolio Dermid! He is the MIC at Galaxy Mech. You can’t tell him to just go away!”
I glared at her. “I can and I did...”
As I spoke, the door swished open.
There he was, holding a large bunch of flowers. Roses. Long-stemmed, red roses. His face moulded itself into a smile and he strode over to the bed, nodding to Simona. My heart pounded.
“Hello, Lennina, darling. It’s so good to see you,” he said warmly. “When I heard you were visited by one of those aliens, I was worried about you.”
Memories of the night he broke my ribs flashed through my mind.
I clenched my fists. “I’m not your darling. You’re not supposed to be near me without one of the doctors. I don’t want to see you. I want you to leave.”
Simona sucked in a breath.
Malvolio’s smile stayed in place. “Now, Lennina, my love, there must be some misunderstanding. I’ve come to ask you to come back.”
Simona fidgeted and got to her feet, clearly uncomfortable. “Well, I’ll leave you two to talk things out...”
She headed to the door.
“Wait!” I called. “Don’t go! He’s not my boyfriend anymore and I don’t want him back. He assaulted me.”
Simona’s face flushed red and a look of confusion spread across her features, but Malvolio assured her everything was fine. “She’s just upset after all that’s happened. She’ll be okay.”
I saw the way she looked at him. She actually liked him. Maybe she was infatuated. I wouldn’t be getting any help from her.
Malvolio ushered Simona out the door while I tried to convince her to stay or get security, then he waved a hand to close the door and turned back to me and smiled. My heart sped up.
“Lennina. I’ve missed you.”
I doubted it.
Being near him and hearing him say that seemed so much worse after spending time with Daniel and seeing how he genuinely cared about me. After feeling the warmth in his embrace. The desire in his kiss...
Malvolio stepped up to the side of the bed. “It’s all arranged.”
Chapter 5
It’s That Heathen You Work With, Isn’t It?
My chest tightened as I looked at the flowers and imagined him asking me to marry him. “What’s all arranged?”
“You can start your new job once you’ve finished up here. You can be a part of the Research and Development team here at the station.”
What? “But I’m going home to Azaeli once I’ve finished with all this crap.”
He screwed up his face at the word crap. “What do you mean? This is the job you wanted. You said it would be your dream job.”
“No. I didn’t say that. I said it was the job I was planning to work towards. It wouldn’t be my dream job.”
My dream job would probably involve playing music.
He placed the flowers at the foot of the bed and started to pace. “I’ve organised it all for you, and now you’re telling me you don’t want it?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. That’s the job I wanted before you punched me in the face and kicked me in the ribs. I don’t want to be here any longer than I have to. Once these tests and interviews are over, I’m outta here.”
He stopped pacing. “You are so ungrateful. After all I’ve done—”
“I never asked you to organise it. I was perfectly happy to work my way up to the position on my own. But it doesn’t matter now. I’m going home.”
Malvolio’s smile was infuriating. “But we were so good together.”
“No. We weren’t. I thought we were, but you ruined it.”
He stepped closer. “I’m here because I am willing to forgive you.”
“What? You are going to forgive me? For what?” I asked incredulously. “Ramming my ribs into your foot?”
He sat himself on the chair Simona had vacated. “Now, let’s not go over it all again. I want you to come back and live with me this time. Then things will be better...”
“No! Never! I don’t love you anymore. I can’t forgive you for hurting me. I could never be with you after what you did.”
He put a hand on my arm, but I quickly pulled it away. “Now, Lennina—”
“You don’t get it, do you? You broke three of my ribs!”
He tried to look hurt. “Oh... no. I couldn’t possibly have done that.”
My heartbeat was erratic and I was having trouble breathing. “You did! Ask the medical staff for the x-rays!”
He shook his head, looking at no one in particular. “No. You must have had a fall... That’s it... You fell here at work... You could claim compensation, you know...”
I couldn’t believe it. He was doing it again. My breathing was shallow. I reached under the covers and found the button to buzz for the nurse and pressed it.
When I spoke, it seemed like it was in slow motion and I had to push each word out. “Will you stop it? You did it! You punched me in the face, then kicked me while I was lying on the floor!”
He seemed confused, like he was unable to comprehend what I was saying. Like he couldn’t possibly have hurt me.
“What are you talking about?” He reached out a hand and touched my shoulder, but I shrugged him off.
“Nurse!” I shouted as I pressed the button again.
I heard movement outside, but no one entered.
He reached for me with both hands. “Don’t push me away like that, Honey.”
Honey?
He smiled as he stood up and leaned over me. “You need to calm down.”
“Calm down? Don’t tell me to calm down! And don’t call me Honey! Nurse! Get him out of here!”
Those grey eyes turned darker. “It’s that heathen you work with, isn’t it?”
“He’s not a heathen! Just get out!”
He leaned closer. “So I’m right. It is him. It’s always been him. You’ve been fucking him all along, haven’t you?”
I cringed. “No!”
He moved closer, his voice low and deadly. “Don’t fucking lie to me. I knew you were up to something. I could see a change in you. There was something different about you. You were no longer innocent. That’s when I knew you’d fucked him.”
I was never ‘innocent.’ Not the way he was meaning. “No, I didn’t. I didn’t even know him...”
“But you know him now.”
“I’ve met him now, yes.”
“I knew it!” he said again. “You were fucking him! You were cheating on me!”
“No! I wasn’t! I would never do that to someone!”
He raised a hand and I flinched, expecting him to hit me, but he gently stroked my hair. “Shhh. It’s okay. I’m here.”
What?
He grabbed me by the upper arms, digging his fingers into my flesh. I twisted to try to get away. “Let go! You’re hurting me!”
“Shhh.” He leaned forward to kiss me, but I turned my head away. That didn’t stop him. He kissed me on the cheek instead, sending a chill through me. He was serious. He pushed me back slowly until I was lying on the bed, which scared the hell out of me.
I tried again to twist free. “Stop it!”
“Shhh. You need to just relax...”
Malvolio had to be crazy. He was delusional again. He leaned forward and kissed me, even though I was protesting and turning away from him.
I still had the buzzer in my hand so I held my finger on the button as I tried to cry out for help, tears streaming down my face. “Stop! Help! Someone help me!”
Why won’t they help me? Why won’t they stop him?
The flowers fell to the floor, forgotten. The buzzer was wrestled from my hands. “Come on, Honey. It’s okay. I’m here now,” he said between kisses. “I told you I’d show you what a real man feels like. I’ll make you forget him.”
Was he going to force himself on me right here in the bed?
“I’m not yours!” I screamed at him. “You don’t own me! You can’t just do whatever you want to me and expect me to not fight back!”
I struggled in vain as he grabbed my face between his hands and kissed me on the lips. I was trying to hit him and kick him, but it didn’t stop him. He was trying to part my lips and deepen the kiss, and I was struggling to keep my mouth closed.
The door finally opened and Dr Kharim and one of the wardsmen rushed in.
“Mr Dermid! What are you doing?” he asked.
Malvolio released me and tried to explain but the doctor cut him off. “Miss Callista needs to rest, Mr Dermid. She cannot be moving around like this with broken ribs.”
I wasn’t about to tell him they were healed. That wouldn’t help me to get rid of Malvolio.
Malvolio looked shocked at the news — as if I hadn’t already told him about it.
“Oh,” he said innocently. “I didn’t realise...”
I’d had enough of the charade. “Get him out of here!” I shrieked. “He was the one that gave me the broken ribs!”
Chapter 6
I Never Want to See You Again!
Malvolio tried to say it was an accident, that I’d had a fall, but I told them he’d kicked me while I was lying on the floor. He turned to me briefly with a look of such animosity and anger, a chill ran down my spine. The others hadn’t caught it — it was only meant for me. I didn’t want to even think what it meant, or what he would do the next time he saw me.
The wardsman asked him to leave, very politely, and eventually, he headed towards the door.
“I don’t care if you’re involved in the Talent programme here,” I called after him. “I’m not your girlfriend anymore. I want to only deal with the doctors from now on. I never want to see you again!”
I knew he was livid, but I was so glad to see the back of him. I sunk down onto the bed and let only a few tears escape. I wouldn’t cry over him.
I totally ignored the people in the room. It was way too late to be fussing over me and asking if I was okay.
Once I’d been left alone at last, I contacted Daniel.
I needed to talk to him.
After I told him what had happened, I sensed his anger.
“They should of done more to help you,” he said. I tried not to let the tears escape. “Just hang in there. We only have to wait a little bit longer till we can be free of Malvolio and Katoa and all the crap that goes with it. Then we’ll be free to do whatever we want.”
That helped to calm me. I was looking forward to going home to see Mum and my not-so-little brother, Adamo, but mostly, I wanted — needed — to see Daniel again. It was great that we could still talk to each other, but besides the exhaustion that came with it, it wasn’t the same as talking face-to-face. I wanted to be able to see him and to just fall into his arms.
Nearly losing him had shown me how much he meant to me. Thinking he was dead had done something to my heart. Like someone had wrenched it from my chest and put it back, but it wasn’t quite the same anymore. Now I wanted to savour every moment with him and being kept apart was doing my head in.
My mind still wrestled with thinking I hardly knew him, then remembering I’d known him for months. It was going to take a long time to get my head around that.
I suppressed a yawn. “I think I’d like to see your family first,” I said. “Taon is only a little closer than Azaeli, so it’s on the way. Kind of.” I giggled.
Only a few million kilometres closer.
I tried to suppress another yawn, but failed. I had no idea what time it was. They’d moved me into a room that had a kitchenette and a small adjoining bathroom which meant I didn’t have to leave the room for any reason and it was driving me crazy with nothing to do except answer more stupid questions and let them do their tests. Daniel had been moved too, and of course, we were both locked in for “our own safety.”
It didn’t make sense. We were both healed. We didn’t need medical care. We should have been allowed to leave, then come back to the Infirmary for tests and to answer questions for their investigation.
I was starting to feel uncomfortable about it. Something was very wrong here.
“Okay,” Daniel said. “We can manage that. I’ll introduce you to my family and show you my hometown. We could go sight-seeing too if you’d like.”
I took a deep breath and smiled. “I’d like that.”
That was what we both needed. To be able to get to know each other better without anyone listening in or interfering. Without having to worry about what Malvolio might do. No rules dictating what we could and couldn’t say.
“Once we’re out of here, we’ll be free,” he said. “As I’ve said, they can’t keep us here. I’m going to keep on telling them till they let us go.”
“Me, too. They’ll have to listen if we threaten to go to the Board of Employment. We can kick up a fuss with them. Katoa won’t like that.”
“Yeah. You know they still won’t let me see the other Diggers that survived. It’s ridiculous. I’d only have to walk down a hallway or two to visit them.”
I sighed. “They’re so heartless. Those guys are your mates. Surely they could let you spend just a little bit of time with them. Cheer them up a bit.”
“Jacobi might be okay. They said he’s got some broken bones and internal injuries. But Kassadan, I’m not sure. They said head injuries on top of broken bones and internal injuries. He might not pull through. They said family only, but he doesn’t have family here. He’s from Earth. It’s so frustrating.”
I was vaguely aware of the door swishing open in my room. Didn’t anyone ever knock around here?
“Miss Callista?”
I groaned inwardly. It was my favourite doctor, Dr Rowen. “I gotta go. Dr Rowen just burst in here.”
“Okay. Talk later.”
I opened my eyes reluctantly. “Do you have to barge in here like that?”
“I didn’t barge in.”
“You waltzed in here without knocking. I’d say that’s barging in.”
She frowned. “What are you doing in bed at this hour?”
Geez. “I have no idea what time of day or night it is.”
“We’ll have to get you a clock.”
“Plus, I was talking to Daniel.”
“You should limit your communications with Mr Javolo until you’ve had some training.”
As if I’m going to do that. “When can I go home so I can start my training?”
