Part 7 (1/2)

”She is human. That is enough.”

Time to try another tactic. ”The light in this world has strengthened my gift of healing. Let me help you become the honorable warriors you were before the sickness took you.”

For a second, the Other hesitated, but then his eyes narrowed in suspicion. ”You lie! The healers of light and their skills are lost to the darkening. You want to steal our prize and bed the woman yourself. Why else would you be prowling these tunnels?”

”I am Blademate to Lusahn q'Arc and sworn to protect those who cannot defend themselves, human or Kalith.” Larem brought his sword back up in full challenge. ”Retreat now or die.”

The spokesman for the Others looked back to his three friends. ”Silence this fool while I enjoy the woman. Once he has bled out, we will all have her-often.”

The closest Other charged forward with violence in his eyes. Larem's scream mixed with Sasha's as he answered the Kalith's attack, cursing the G.o.ds for forcing him to kill those of his homeland. His opponent was an experienced swordsman but nowhere near the caliber of a Blademate. Larem left him bleeding on the ground and took the fight to the next one.

The leader was now holding Sasha by her hair, drawing in deep breaths of her scent. She kicked at him, but her bare foot did little damage. She had more success clawing at his face, even drawing blood. He immediately shoved her against the wall and pinned her there with the full press of his body against hers. Larem shouted out a warning in Kalith, telling the b.a.s.t.a.r.d in great detail what Larem would do to him if he took his a.s.sault on Sasha any further.

The other two took advantage of the distraction and charged him. It would be nothing less than a miracle if Larem managed to eliminate both b.u.mbling crazies quickly enough to prevent the remaining one from hurting Sasha. With a quick spin, he slashed one across the neck. The male dropped to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground as he tried to stop the blood gus.h.i.+ng from his throat.

Two down, two to go. There was no sign of sanity left in either of them. The kindest thing Larem could do was to end their lives quickly and cleanly. Stepping around the two bodies at his feet, he held out his free hand and dared them to join in the deadly dance.

”Come on, Others,” he said, sneering as he called them by that hated name. ”I grow bored with this. Give me the woman or give me your blood. I don't care which.”

Sasha gasped in horror or outrage, but he was more intent on drawing the two killers toward him than protecting her delicate sensibilities. ”At least your friends had the honor to die in combat. Know that if you run, you will be cut down like so many weeds by Paladins.”

To show his disdain, he turned his back to walk away, although each step that put more distance between him and Sasha was torture. The ruse worked to draw the third fighter out again. Larem took two more steps forward before stepping to the side, rightly guessing the Other's charge would carry him past Larem's position. Now he was between the two remaining Kalith, which would prevent them from ganging up on Sasha.

After bringing his headlong rush to a stop, the Other circled back to challenge Larem. The light disease was in full force now, making the Other's movements jerky and out of control. The sick feeling in Larem's veins was the same one he felt when they put down an animal at the shelter that was too far gone to save. It was much too simple to slip past the warrior's guard and end his life.

By now, Larem drew little comfort from chanting the prayers for the dead, but he went through the motions because his duty and his honor demanded it. Weary to the soul, he wanted nothing more than to end this slaughter.

”Your turn.”

This time, the final Other didn't hesitate. He pressed a sloppy kiss on Sasha's mouth while he hugged her close with his free hand. ”I'll be back to finish what we've started.”

She immediately wiped her lips with the back of her hand and spit on the ground. ”Never, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

Larem admired her courage, but if she provoked the male, he might just kill her before Larem could stop him.

”Sasha, back away and shut up!” he barked, barely lifting his sword in time to block his enemy's blade.

The Others had saved their best swordsman for last. Despite the illness burning brightly in the male's eyes, he retained enough of his natural-born ability to put up a good fight. Larem was better, but only just. Sweat dripped down his face, stinging his eyes as the battle dragged on. The longer it lasted, the greater the chance his opponent would get in a lucky blow.

He couldn't let that happen, no matter how much he admired the fighter's skill with the blade. Had he been someone's Blademate as well?

No time for such thoughts.

Finally, Larem feigned a misstep. His opponent fell for the ruse, leaving himself wide open for attack as he lunged forward, swinging his blade with all the strength he had. Instead of killing Larem, he found himself impaled on Larem's borrowed sword, the curved blade cutting deep and wide through his chest.

The Other slowly sank to his knees, sanity briefly returning to his gaze as he looked up at Larem in confusion.

”My brother?” he whispered, the light in his eyes fading quickly.

Larem dropped to the ground and gathered the dying Kalith into his arms. Perhaps he could save at least this one. Chanting under his breath, he pulled out his medicine knife and held it up toward the ceiling as he asked the G.o.ds to share their healing strength.

As he prepared to plunge the ceremonial knife down into the Other's heart, the warrior shuddered and breathed his last. Larem cursed and flung the knife down the tunnel. Once again, his magic had failed him, and his people. He held the body close for a few seconds longer as he whispered the death prayers for each of the fallen Kalith.

He grieved for their loss, even knowing that their lives had really ended when the sickness first whispered in their minds. If they hadn't died by his sword, they would've faced the same brutal end at the hands of the Paladins.

At least with him there, someone mourned their pa.s.sing.

”Larem? Are you all right?” Sasha asked.

He ignored her question because the answer was obvious. h.e.l.l no, he wasn't all right; he wasn't sure he ever would be. Her recklessness had cost these four their lives and Larem another large chunk of his soul.

He shoved the body off his lap and pushed himself to his feet. There was nothing more to be said. The Paladins would dispose of the bodies; he didn't know how and didn't care. No matter what they did, it was an abomination. Only the knowledge that they were caught up in the same horrible cycle of death and disease as the Others kept him from charging off to join the battle he could still hear raging back at the barrier. The only question was whose side he'd take, knowing it wouldn't really matter as long as he died fighting.

But his duty wasn't done. He'd vowed to get Sasha to safety. That much he could do.

”Are you hurt?” He held his hand out to brush her hair away from her face, but jerked it back when she flinched at his touch.

Fine. Her response p.i.s.sed him off royally, to quote his roommate, even if he understood why she felt that way. The sooner he got her topside the better. ”Come.”

Sasha shrank away from him. ”You're one of them, aren't you?”

He ignored how much her reaction hurt. He'd always known she'd hate him when she finally saw him for what he really was. ”Right now what I am is your way out of here.”

She retreated another step. ”But where are we going? The elevators are back that way.”

He snagged her arm before she gave in to panic and glared down at her. ”So is the fighting, Sasha. Too many from both worlds are already bleeding, so you'll understand if I'd rather not kill any more of my people. Now, follow me or not. It's your choice.”

He let go of her, hating the fear in her eyes when she looked at him and hating himself for his part in putting it there. Then he walked away, stopping long enough to retrieve his blade before moving on. Surely she'd show the good sense to stay with him. If not, he'd force the issue, but he hoped she'd at least trust him enough to get her to safety.

Sasha stared at the four broken bodies fallen on the ground. So much blood. Its bitter copper scent filled her head and overloaded her senses. Her stomach churned, foul acid burning the back of her throat. G.o.d, would this nightmare never end? It had been hours since she'd last eaten, so it was nothing but dry heaves as she leaned against the wall and retched.

Please, let it stop. She needed to follow Larem even if he was one of them-Kalith, Other, the name didn't matter. If she lost sight of him, her life might very well end right there in the b.l.o.o.d.y pa.s.sageway. She tried to straighten up between heaves, but that only made the pain worse. After stumbling forward a few steps, she had to stop and close her eyes to ward off the dizziness.

As she did, she felt someone beside her and panicked. ”No, please no! Get away!”

”Sasha, calm down. It's me.”

She sagged in relief at the sound of Larem's deep voice. Despite everything, he hadn't abandoned her.

”Hold still and don't fight me.”

His accent was deeper than usual, but his voice was far more gentle than it had been only seconds before. His hand, cool and soothing, rested lightly on her forehead, and his arm slid around her waist, supporting her weight.

He murmured something. The words were unclear, perhaps in his native tongue, but their effect was miraculous. The nausea disappeared almost immediately, as did the cramping. When he removed his hand, she looked up into his pale gray eyes.

”Better?”

She nodded. ”Much.”