Collision (Colliding Worlds Trilogy Book 1) Page 2

  In a shocked daze, Sienna closed her mouth and watched his chest, covered in tattoos and small X-shaped scars, rise and fall and rise again, the wound continuing to ooze the strange fluid. This was something her unerring sense of logic couldn’t defend. Here she was, watching dark liquid gold bleed from a wound. The color was so alien.

  When the pilot still showed no signs of consciousness, Sienna leaned in to get a better look at the nasty gouge. Grabbing a bottle of antiseptic and some cotton swabs, she dabbed the liquid across his skin. New blood rose with every gentle touch she made. The cut was too deep for a bandage, and too much for her meager first-aid skills. Even if she was successful in stopping the bleeding, infection was another story.

  She glanced back at her computer; still no response to her chat message.

  Grimacing, she threaded a needle and placed her palm on his chest near the wound. The instant before she pierced the skin, heat bloomed under her hand. She jolted back and dropped the needle.

  She looked at her hand, but it looked normal. She looked at his wound. Where her hand had been, his skin shimmered more brightly. Fresh, scarred skin now covered the edges of the wound. Her jaw slackened.

  Searching the floor, she located the needle and plunked it onto the coffee table. Rubbing her neck, Sienna tried to make sense out of what had happened. Maybe it was shock, maybe it was the after-effect of adrenaline wearing off, but she made only a half-hearted attempt to reason with herself before gingerly placing her palm against his skin again.

  After a moment, heat hit her hand. She sat on the edge of the coffee table, feeling slightly woozy, but didn’t remove her hand as she watched fresh scar tissue form over the bloody cut. All the while, heat tickled her palm as though her hand rested on an anthill. When a fresh scar filled in where the bloody gouge had been, the tickling disappeared, and she pulled her hand away.

  Lightheaded from the surreal experience, she leaned back, stared at her patient, and found eyes darker than midnight, without any surrounding white, watching her, squinting in the light.

  In a flash she was off the table and standing several feet away, Glock leveled at him. “Who are you?”

  “Turn down the light. It hurts my eyes,” he said. He tugged at his restraints while he muttered strange, lyrical words that, judging by the look on his face, were more likely a string of cuss words.

  “No,” she answered. “Not until you answer my question.”

  He stilled. “I am Legian. I mean no harm to you.”

  “Then why did you point your gun at me?”

  “I thought you may have been aligned with the other one.”

  “Who was he?”

  “A murderer.”

  She swallowed, not knowing which man had been the greater danger, if not both. She did not lower her gun, but she did walk over and dim the lights. “I’m Sienna. Welcome to my home.”

  “Why am I here?”

  “You were hurt, and I couldn’t leave you at your ship. It blew up.”

  After a moment, the pilot began tugging at his restraints again, showing no surprise at the fact that his ship had been destroyed.

  Sienna frowned. “Did you expect to die back there?”

  At those words, he looked down from his restraints and met her eyes with a look of resolve.

  She narrowed an eye at the pilot. “Why are you here?”

  He didn’t answer for the longest time. Instead, he lay there. “Release me,” was all he said.

  A soft snort escaped her. “Like hell. You were going to shoot me.”

  He yanked against his restraints and grunted before surrendering to the couch with a wince. It was then she saw a pool of blood she’d completely missed before.

  “You’re still bleeding.”

  “Release me.”

  “No way.” She took tentative steps closer, all the while keeping the gun securely aimed at him. She shot a hard gaze at him. “I can try to help, but I will shoot you if you try anything.”

  He watched her with a clenched jaw for a moment before giving a tight nod.

  With his wrists tied, she couldn’t roll him all the way onto his stomach. Unable to see and stuck using only one hand, she had to work with touch alone, feeling for the wound. She moved her fingers over his skin until he sucked in a breath. Thick, warm moisture enveloped her fingers near his spine.

  “Ow!” Sienna snapped back her finger to find a bead of crimson blood forming on the tip.

  If he’d been a normal person, she’d leave the shrapnel in there until it could be removed by a professional, but this man was anything but normal. She softened her gaze. “There’s something still in there. My guess is that you can’t do your healing thing with it in there. I’ll pull it out on the count of three.”

  “Three what?”

  “Never mind.” She gripped the metal, and it came out with a quick tug. He grunted but didn’t yank away. She pulled back and tossed the shard onto the coffee table. It made a metallic ping when it bounced off the hard oak.

  Fresh blood began spilling out. Watching him watching her, she flattened her hand on his back. Just like the first time, heat surged. A familiar blanket of dizziness fell over her, and she fought to keep the gun steady. After several more seconds, the bleeding slowed, and then stopped altogether.

  Exhausted, she shakily held the gun trained on him as she took a seat on the table, using her knee to steady her aim.

  His brows furrowed. “You helped me. Why did you not break contact?”

  “You were hurt. Touching you seemed to help.” She paused. “How do you do that?”

  “My people can use energy to heal.” He examined Sienna from his prone position. “Release me. Please.” He gritted out the words through clenched teeth, making them sound more like an ultimatum than a request.

  She shook her head. “Not until help gets here.”

  Suddenly, he lunged forward. His hands pulled free from the restraints faster than she’d thought possible.

  He knocked her to the floor, and her head banged back against the hardwood. Her vision tunneled, and the gun was yanked from her hand. Still, she managed to kick and punch him like a rabid wolverine. Not that it did any good. When the room quit swimming, her arms were pinned and his face was inches from hers, his warm breath tickling her lips.

  She hit him with the only thing she could still move, her forehead. Stars danced across her vision, and shards of pain ran through her brain. He grimaced, but never even flinched. Still pinned as tightly as ever, all she could do now was glare. “Let me go.”

  He frowned. “Why did you help me?” he asked, deflecting her command.

  In response, she struggled harder, and his grip tightened. “Ow, ow, ow,” she muttered. He loosened his grip just enough so that she didn’t feel like her bones would be pulverized.

  “Why did you help me?” he repeated.

  With a drawn-out sigh, Sienna laid her head back on the floor. He had her, and he knew it. “I’m not going to leave someone to die.” She glared. “No matter how much of an asshole they are.”

  He watched her for a moment then the weight lifted from her and he released her wrists. She pulled them to her chest, rubbing circulation back into them, before she sat up.

  She jumped when she saw a second man, dressed head to toe in the same type of suit the pilot was dressed in, standing next to Legian. This man was holding the same kind of weapon Legian had used to kill the Draeken, and it was pointed directly at her.

  The two men began speaking in their strange language, seemingly ignoring Sienna, yet the gun never wavered in the newcomer’s grip. She thought about making a move to grab her Glock, which was now sitting on a side table, but thought better of the plan since Legian stood only a foot away from that table. As the men conversed, the only word she could make out was Draeken, though she figured much of the conversation revolved around her—or more aptly, what to do with her.

  Her breathing was hard and tight until the newcomer holstered his gun, and she felt some r
elief.

  Legian stepped forward and held out a hand to help her stand. She slapped it away and pushed herself shakily to her feet.

  “This is Bente,” Legian said. “He will bring us back to our base.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “Us?”

  “You must come with us. We cannot risk our presence to be known,” Legian replied.

  She held up her hands. “I won’t say anything. You have my word. I swear,” she said, her voice pleading.

  “We can’t take any risks,” Bente replied. “You either come with us or you die.”

  Legian scowled. “Bente.”

  Fear built within her like a mouse stepping into a trap. She looked at the doorway then to the window, wondering if she could escape in time.

  “You cannot stay here. It isn’t safe,” Legian continued. “I give you my word, you will not be harmed. You saved my life, and I will protect yours.”

  She didn’t believe him for a second. The newcomer had already made it quite clear what would happen to her if she tried to run. She took a deep breath before looking up into dark eyes that contained no white. Goose bumps flitted across her skin. She lifted her chin. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Three

  Legian didn’t bother blindfolding Sienna, since she couldn’t have seen much anyway; the inside of the windowless ship was as dark as the nighttime forest outside. Legian had buckled her into a seat behind the cockpit, and now sat across from her. She could just make out his shape, and had no doubt he watched her the entire trip to their base.

  The ship flew differently than the planes she’d piloted. Small aircraft needed runaways and momentum to build lift, while this ship lifted from the ground like a Harrier but was far quieter and smoother. She wanted to view the cockpit, to see if the controls and instruments where similar to what she was familiar with. After all, the laws of gravity and aerodynamics were universal.

  The ship landed ten minutes or so after takeoff. The short flight surprised her, and she wondered if their base was close to her cabin, or if the ship just flew incredibly fast. Probably a bit of both.

  Bente opened the door and stepped out into the dim light filtering in through the space.

  “It will be a moment,” Legian said as he unbuckled the straps on her seat. “Bente needs to update our tahcaya.”

  She pushed to her feet and took a step to the door.

  “You have my word that you will be safe,” he said.

  Unconvinced, she said nothing. Instead, she listened to the sound of voices trickling into the ship. She tried to make out the words, but it was all in the alien language she’d heard Legian and Bente speaking back at her cabin.

  After what seemed like minutes, Bente popped his head back into the ship and looked at Sienna. “Come.”

  With Bente in front of her and Legian behind, she felt like a prisoner even though she wore no restraints. As she stepped out of the ship, she found herself in a large enclosed hangar. The lights were dim here as well, and she’d wished they were a bit brighter so that she could make out more details.

  Bente stopped and stepped to her side while Legian stepped to her other side. They were at the edge of the hangar. Dozens of ships like the one they’d arrived in were parked around the walls, draped in shadows, while several larger ships occupied the center.

  Before her stood a male in a plain black uniform with no insignia, even though he bore the air of a leader. He was tall like Legian and Bente, but his hair was longer and tattoos covered much of his visible skin; one in particular vined around his eye and gave him the look of a pirate. Several more aliens—some male, some female—stood behind him. All had golden skin and pure black eyes, and wore the simple black uniform.

  Legian spoke in the alien language, and this time she clearly heard her name among the words. When Legian finished, he turned to her. “Sienna, this is Apolo, our tahcaya—our leader.”

  The man stepped closer, and she girded herself to not take a step back.

  “Hello, Sienna. You may call me Apolo.” His English was near-perfect. “I lead the Sephian forces on this small planet. And, as you have helped one of my own, you have the privilege of being the first of your race to meet with me. However, your appearance has raised a complication that I’d hoped not to deal with so soon. As such, now I must decide what to do with you.”

  You mean you have to decide whether to kill me or let me live, she thought to herself, but said nothing.

  Apolo gestured to the people behind him. “You must understand, there are lives on this base dependent on secrecy.”

  “Apolo,” Legian said. “Sienna saved my life, and I have pledged her safety here. She accompanied us without coercion. I believe she means us no harm.”

  Sienna practically chortled. 'Without coercion' was a stretch.

  Apolo gave Legian a surprised look and turned to Bente. “Is this true? He has already made a pledge?”

  Bente nodded. “Yes. Trust me, I thought the same thing when I heard it.”

  Apolo thought for a moment. “Well, then, it is settled. Legian, Sienna is your responsibility. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” Legian said without hesitation.

  “Good,” Apolo said, and turned to Sienna. “You will be welcomed as a guest here. In return, I request that you meet with me to help me learn more about your people and culture. You will not be harmed unless you intend harm to any of my people. Can you meet these expectations?”

  As he spoke the words, she knew that what she was hearing was an ultimatum. Her second one tonight. Essentially, he’d just told her 'Do everything I say and you get to live for now'. Frustration roiled through her at the unfairness of the situation. She hadn’t asked for any of this. Her entire life had just been taken from her because she’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time. She looked at Apolo, tamping down any emotion that may show in her features, and said simply, “I accept your conditions.”

  His gaze narrowed as though he could see through her façade. Then he smiled. “Good. We will speak in an hour. I advise you to use the time to bathe. You have blood and dirt on you. Bente will gather some of your belongings when he ensures your home is cleaned of our presence.”

  He turned and left with most of his entourage, while Bente and two others headed back to the ship.

  Chills raced over her skin at the thought of strangers rifling through her things. She spun around to see Bente disappear into the ship, and was overwhelmed with an urge to follow him even though she knew she could never go home; not with their permission anyway.

  “Come with me,” Legian said. “I will show you to your room.”

  She stood a little taller as she turned toward Legian then fell in alongside him as they walked through the hangar and down several hallways. With the lights down so low, it felt like she was walking through a large building with only nightlights on. Every door they passed was closed, giving her no inkling as to a possible exit. Each door had a small touchpad set in the wall next to it which she suspected needed a badge of some kind to open them. Her hopes fell more and more as she realized this place made for the perfect prison.

  Legian turned, and she stumbled into him. She grunted. “Sorry. It’s hard to see in here.”

  “Oh,” he said. “I hadn’t thought of that. On my world, my people are accustomed to moving about in the dark. Our days and nights are opposite to humans’ cycles. We sleep during the light hours and are active during the dark. I will get you glasses to help you see.”

  He stopped at a door and tapped on the pad, as though playing the beat of some tune she didn’t recognize. The door opened, and he gestured inside. “This is your room.”

  The lights came on at the same dim level as the hallways. Legian spoke. “Lights, increase twenty percent.” The room lit up enough for Sienna to see, but caused Legian to squint.

  She stepped over the threshold. The room was sparsely furnished with a bed, couch, what looked like a bar, and a door to what she hoped was a human-like bathroom. As she looked
over the weapons hung on the wall, the unmade bed, and the drinks at the bar, she froze. It took a deep breath before she could swallow her fear enough to speak. “Someone lives here already.”

  “It is my room,” he said. “You stay with me now.”

  Her jaw slackened. She spun to face him. “What is the meaning of this?”

  “I am sorry. We have no free residences, and even if we did—”

  “I couldn’t have one,” she interrupted. “Because I am a prisoner.”

  “If you were a prisoner, you’d be in a holding cell.”

  “I’d rather be in a holding cell than sharing a bed with you!”

  He took a step back and held his hands out as though surrendering. “I am sorry for the situation you’ve found yourself in. I have given you my word. I will not harm you, and I mean that in all ways, but this room is the only option for you at this time. I claimed you as my responsibility, which means I am responsible for your life, wellbeing, and behavior at all times. Perhaps, once Apolo allows it, we can make new arrangements. Until then, you will sleep on the bed. I will sleep on the sofa.”

  She stared at him for a lengthy moment. She had no control, and she wanted to scream. “Fine.” She sighed and scanned the room. “Where do I get cleaned up?”

  He led her to the bathroom. “Bente will return shortly with clean clothes. Until then, you can wear your current clothes or I can find you something else.”

  “I’ll wear my clothes,” she said quickly.

  After he showed her how to use the shower, he left her alone, though she wondered if she was being watched even then. It was one thing being imprisoned, but an entirely different thing to have an alien jailer a few feet away in the same room. She showered, changed, and left the bathroom to find Legian gone as well as the weapons on the wall. She spent the next several minutes pacing the room, handling every item she found to see if anything could be used as a weapon or aid in her escape.

  By the time Legian returned with a snack that tasted much like a protein bar, she’d scoured the small room, finding nothing that she could use. He then delivered her to Apolo. Apolo’s questioning wasn’t nearly as painful as Sienna had expected. The medical examination, on the other hand, was far worse. She’d chortled when she’d first seen the table full of probe-like instruments laid out when she entered, making it look like a scene from a B-grade sci-fi movie.