Shadow's Chosen (Dark World Mates Book 3) Read online

  The wind died down and the steam lessened. Through the thick clouds, Nezka could see the shadows dropping from the bridge above and moving closer. Eyes narrowed, Nezka pulled away, forcing Elise to hold on to the mask as he pushed himself up and lurched forward, taking out his blades. The shadows began to band together until the steam drifted partially out of his view, and he saw a group with faces covered by scarves, bodies draped in scraps of black and gray. They each held a weapon in their hands, some with long swords, others with staffs. They crouched low, ready to attack.

  Nezka didn't hesitate. Though his sight was obscured somewhat by the steam, he closed the distance between them, side-swiping one sword to block another then bending low and slicing across thighs and knees. A pair went down, and he leapt over them to the next, cutting their staff in half. The rest fell away into the steam, but he could see them circling, waiting. When he took out another attacker, there was yet another coming for him. He didn't slow, crushing each shadow that dared approach him. He heard someone bark in pain nearby, and when he snapped his head around, he saw Elise fighting them also, using the techniques he'd taught her.

  Nezka smiled. That's my girl, he thought as he saw her strike one across the throat, sending them reeling and stumbling away. Nezka turned back to those about to lunge at him and moved swiftly. Though there were many, he took them out with ease, breaking their weapons and their bones, until the wind picked up, dissolving the clouds of steam, and he found none left standing near him. He twisted around in time to see the last one fall to the ground from a powerful kick to the face by Elise. The body fell with a thud, and Elise dropped her stance and turned to smile at him.

  A strong feeling of pride overtook him, and Nezka moved toward her, grinning back. "You're a quick learner. I like that."

  Elise shrugged. "They weren't so bad, honestly."

  Nezka couldn't seem to stop himself as he drew close to her and lifted his hand, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, checking for any signs of damage and finding none. She gave him a curious, almost timid sort of look, skin flushing slightly, her smile changing. She cleared her throat and stepped back.

  "We should probably get going before..."

  Nezka looked around and understood her meaning. Most of the attackers weren't dead, just injured. They would get up, and others might come. The vents down the road had shut off, and the fans were back to their slow turn. They should leave before they started again.

  Nezka tapped his ear. "Let's go."

  He lifted up the two-wheeler where it had fallen on its side. Some parts were tarnished and banged up somewhat, but it started fine. Elise got on behind him and, with her gun drawn once more, wrapped her arms tightly around him. Her warmth against him was comforting. He bent forward and kicked the two-wheeler into gear, speeding up fast as they turned off down one road, away from the vents.

  ***

  As they neared the bridge, Nezka stopped briefly by a lone section of road beside the river-chasm to get rid of their bag (as it would look too suspicious to have) then to assess the gatehouse from afar. The bridge was long and wide enough for vehicles to pass. Besides broken off pieces of wall and a few burnt out streetlights, the road was clear up to the gatehouse where he could see the first gated doorway into what looked like a mote fortress. The windows were covered by shades made of thin sheets of metal. Some closed off completely, others open enough to see the glow of colorful lights from within. The stone and metal encased walls of the stronghold were blackened in several areas where pipes helped drain out putrid wastewater. From the front, Nezka could see several guards standing above the wide doorway that was meant to allow vehicles to pass underneath the building and on to the other side of the bridge. The guards had guns and long ranged weapons if anyone should be so stupid as to try to pass through without paying their toll. Neither he nor Elise had city credits on them, but Nezka knew they wouldn't ask for money. Perhaps a trade instead. Though they had little to bargain with, Nezka felt confident they could think of something to appease the bridgekeeper, Krow.

  Before they went in, regardless, they needed to set up their lie. Nezka had Elise hop off the two-wheeler so that he could take her gun then bind her hands. She still wasn't pleased at having to give her weapon and wrists to him, but she allowed it to happen without complaint. He used the metal coil to tie her and suggested again a gag for added effect, but Elise had different ideas.

  "I still look roughed up from the fights despite the healing," she said, touching at the bruised side of her face, now pale green instead of dark blue. "Just imply that the marks were from you to keep me quiet."

  Nezka frowned, eyes narrowed on her face. "You'd need something fresher if they are to believe it."

  Elise thought it over then looked at him. "Use one of your blades to cut me."

  Nezka's frown deepened. Without shifting his eyes away from hers, he took out one of his blades and lifted it to her face. He knew they needed to be convincing, yet he still hesitated. Elise took his hand in both of hers and guided down to her cheek. Unthinking, Nezka cupped the back of her head, trying hard not to pull his bladed hand away from her face while keeping his grip tight to only let the blade nick her ever so slightly and nothing more. She winced, and he almost forced his hand back, but she let the blade make a small slice along her cheek, where tiny rows of blood beaded against her open skin. When he deemed it enough, he pulled the blade away and quickly pocketed it. His hand, cupping her head, brushed at the side of her face gently before falling. He suppressed the urge to wipe away the blood now trickling lightly down her face and took hold of both her shoulders, pinning her with a serious glare.

  "For this to work, I will have to play your worst enemy. As soon as we enter inside, I will not be able to lift this facade. I will be cruel if I have to be. I will do what I please, and you will have to let me. Do you understand? If you fight me, I will have no choice but to..." He glanced down at the cut on her cheek then back to her gaze. The color of her eyes brightened to an almost golden hue he found to be frustratingly beautiful. "Do you understand?" he said in a low, quiet voice.

  Elise nodded her head slowly, her hand coming up to grip at one of his arms, squeezing it gently. "I understand. Do what you have to, just get us past. Whatever it takes."

  Nezka flinched at her words. Grimacing, he backed away, releasing her. He couldn't bring himself to look at her in fear she would see his sudden slip of emotion. He returned to the two-wheeler and ordered her to get on. When he felt her hands, now bound, clutching to his backside, he closed his eyes for a moment, taking deep breaths.

  "Nezka?" she said from behind him.

  Nezka opened his eyes and started the two-wheeler. He drove on until he reached the start of the bridge. From there, he slowed to make sure Elise didn't fall off as she clung to him tightly. As they drove straight on and approached the gatehouse, several men lifted weapons in their direction while another beside the doorway waved at them to halt.

  A thin, scruffy looking drogin with markings across his arms came up and whistled softly. "My, oh my, is this a Red Blade I see? A real mean-looking one at that." He laughed, exposing crooked fangs. "Don't see your lot passing by here often." His watery eyes glanced behind Nezka to stare at Elise. "Brought a peace bearin' gift for the ol' Krow man, did yeh?"

  "No," Nezka said bluntly. "I'm just here to pass."

  The man grunted in surprise. "That so? What do you need to pass through here for? You lot own all the other gateways." He laughed. "Your brothers not letting you in for some reason?"

  Nezka smiled. "There have been...problems with defectors and spies. I am ordered to return unnoticed."

  The man gestured toward Elise. "Something to do with your cargo, huh?"

  "Yes."

  The man eyed Elise curiously. "I heard something about one of those...what do you call ‘em? Humans? Heard the thornbacks had one. Then it got snatched up. You the Red Blade I heard about who beat up all of Roni's best fighters and took this woman?"
br />   Nezka shrugged, and the drogin's eyes went wide, then he hissed out another cackle of laughter.

  "No shit! So, you want to come on by so no one sees you with your little prize, huh? A gift to your boss, I'll bet. Well, you'll still have to talk to Krow. No one passes without his say. He'll be real excited to see you, though. The Red Blade who could actually fight without a gun at their side." He turned and howled, and those on top of the doorway lowered their guns. The gate blockading the doorway slid back to reveal a short tunnel leading to the other side. If it were in him to risk it, he would have taken that moment to speed on through. But with Elise, he didn't dare. As there were men before them on this part of the bridge, there were surely more on the other side. What's more, there were also several vehicles taking up space inside the tunnel and underbelly of the gatehouse, with groups of people lurking between them. Nezka drove the two-wheeler on through, ignoring the eyes that followed them as he parked against the tunnel wall. He felt Elise's hand tap against his back as if to reassure him before he shut the vehicle down and got off. He took hold of her bindings and didn't so much as look at her as he pulled her not so gently to him, tugging her over to a set of stairs on the side of the tunnelway. They followed the crooked-smiled drogin up the two flights where they were met with another pair of guards. The door before them opened, and they entered the gatehouse.

  The first section led into a large red and blue lit room with a bar on one side and a stage on the other. Some sort of club. People lingered in groups, heads turning to watch them pass. At the next door was a small passage that brought them into a smaller red room, with a bar and tables along each side and lounge at the back. The center was a hexagonal ring with a set of stairs leading down to it, fenced in partially by sets of rails. Inside the space, two drogin were tearing each other apart in a brutal one on one fight, blood spraying along the floor. A small group at the back watched as they reclined in leather chairs. Nezka was brought around and stopped before a well-dressed drogin in an officer's uniform with slick gray and black hair.

  The drogin's yellow eyes shifted over and sized him up. "Who's the corpse?" he said, eyeing his face.

  "This is one of them Red Blades, Mr. Krow," said the gateman.

  "You let a Red Blade in here, Jona?" Krow's eyes narrowed at him.

  Jona's upper lip twitched back as he bowed his head. "Not intentionally, sir. The Red Blade is looking to pass."

  Krow's eyes regarded Nezka now with curiosity. "That so, Red Blade?"

  Nezka stared him down. "Yes."

  Krow tipped his head sideways. "Odd way to come for one such as you."

  "I wish to pass in secret."

  "Hm. Your boss put you on a special mission, huh?" Krow's gaze fell behind him to Elise, and his eyes widened. "Ah. So, it's you. The thornbacks told me about you and your little human. Their leader wants your head real bad. Was looking to pay a nice sum if you should come this way. I didn't think I'd actually see you. Thought you'd be smart enough to pass through a different gateway." He leaned forward, crossing his hands. "But it's because your mistress orders it, not because you’re stupid, I'll bet. Having trouble trusting her puppets, is she?" He grinned, showing off perfectly sharpened teeth. "I've seen a few trade in their guns for credits. They give away her secrets or turn to the other side then go running, scared of her wrath. Lady Moth is desperate to keep things under a tight hold, but even she can't control them all." He reclined back, regarding him sharply. "So, she sent you off to grab her lost human and bring them back without others knowing, am I right?"

  "You're correct."

  "And you think I will be willing to let you pass without issue?"

  "No. I expect we will need to negotiate," Nezka said.

  "Hm. Not like a Red Blade to do so. Usually it is all threats. But you are different, aren't you? Well, at least you respect my way of business, and for that, I'll do you the favor of not killing you and taking your human for the thornback's benefit. I hate that slobbering bastard anyway." He laughed. "But, yes, you will have to pay if you wish to pass."

  Nezka waited as Krow waved one of the bar staff over and poured him a drink. Behind them, there was a sharp growl and a loud crack followed by a whimpering cry and the dull thud of a body dropping to the ground. Krow gave a short whoop and lifted his glass to the winner of the fight. "Good run, Ero," he said to the large, blood-covered fighter as he slunk out of the fighting ring. "That's one of my best there," Krow said to Nezka. "Trained to fight like the beasts they are." He chuckled.

  Nezka said nothing. He felt Elise turn to look around, and he promptly tugged her sharply back. Krow's gaze fell on her again with curiosity.

  "They are interesting, these humans. I've never seen one this close. Their faces are strange if not ugly, but she's not bad on the eyes. Bring her closer."

  Nezka didn't hesitate, forcing Elise to the front. She stood tense as the drogin regarded her.

  "You do that to her face?" Krow pointed to Elise's cut, still trickling fresh blood.

  "Yes," Nezka said.

  Krow nodded as if satisfied. "Keeping this one quiet, I imagine, put a toll on your patience." He smiled. "She's got a little fight in her still, though. I can tell by the brightness in her eyes." His hand lifted up and brushed at her cheek, and Elise flinched away. "There are those who'd pay a good chunk of change to have a go with one of these, you know. They get off to otherkin. Have you tried her yet?"

  "No, I haven't," Nezka said, forcing himself to sound indifferent.

  "Surely your mistress wouldn't care as long as she came back unharmed?" Krow tapped on his glass. "Let my men have a turn with her. Let us watch even, and I'll let you be on your way."

  Elise whimpered, and Nezka tugged her back as if to silence her. "No."

  Krow's eyes narrowed as he grinned. "Ah, so you prefer to have her for yourself?"

  "She is not part of the negotiation."

  Krow watched them both, his smile fading, then shrugged. "Your call. I was merely thinking of my boys, but in all honesty, it isn't the true entertainment I seek. It is you who I am more interested in, my wicked friend. I heard what you did to Roni's best fighters. I am impressed. And admittedly greatly intrigued. So, I tell you what." He drank down his glass and set it aside. "I'll make it easy for you—or at least what I assume should be quite easy. I want to see you fight my best just like you did those thornbacks. You give us a good show, and I'll let you pass. I want to see what you can do." Before Nezka could agree, Krow put up his hand. "But I warn you they are much more skilled than Roni's pathetic lot, so don't expect a clean sweep. You give me some good fights, and I'll give you my best accommodations. Honestly, you don't even have to win, though if you didn't, you'd probably not be in a state to continue on." He smiled, gesturing to the body still lying in the center of the ring. "Show me your savagery, and I'll show you the door to the other side."

  Nezka paused only a moment, just to make Krow think he was considering it, then he bowed his head once. "Agreed."

  Krow grinned and waved Jona back over. "Give them one of the good suites up top," he ordered. "We will settle on a match come evening."

  Nezka turned and followed Jona back into the club and up a set of metal-grate stairs. They turned down a hallway and stopped at a thick steel door. The door slid open to reveal a bedroom and lounge area with another door leading to a second bedroom beyond.

  "Make yourself at home," Jona said. "You get Krow's finest and I'll be your humble servant." He bowed low, grinning his crooked grin. "There is food and drink on the back bar and red haze for smoking—some call it bluym. I can bring up women or men if you're sick of the human's company, or perhaps—"

  "I'm good," Nezka said, pretending to observe the room.

  "You got it." Jona bowed again. "If you need anythin', ask a guard out in the hall. You can leave to wander any time, come downstairs and have a little fun. If not, I'll return for your fight. Be seein yeh'." As he left and the door slid closed, Nezka stood staring at it for a long m
oment until he felt Elise tug gently at her binds. He glanced back at her, noticing her look of concern.

  "There might be another way," she said, uncertainly. "Maybe you don't have to do this."

  "I do," Nezka said.

  Elise shook her head. "You saw what happened to the loser of that fight. It was a slaughter. I know you did some serious damage in that thornback pit, but this is...this seems different. You could get really messed up here or..."

  Nezka couldn't help smiling despite the seriousness of the conversation. "I'm glad to see you feel worried for me."

  "I am," she blurted, and her skin turned slightly pink.

  Nezka's smile dropped. He started to lift his hand as if to touch her, to comfort, then decided against it. "I'll be fine. It's not unlike the kind of fighting I've done before."