Page 59 of Neverwylde 6
Chapter 27
Gone
Kelen had no idea how long she was unconscious. She remembered dreaming, although very little of what she’d dreamed remained with her. Those that did were mostly about the brutality Kyber had suffered. At times, she fought to go to him, but was unable to because talons the size of a planet tore through her, pinning her to the floor like spikes. Claws became bars, closing over her, caging her. Teeth emerged from clouds of black smoke that lunged at her.
There were screams and so much blood. Jagged ends of bones jutted from his arms and lower legs. His once beautiful mouth gaped open, split and bleeding as the stubs of his sharp teeth gleamed pinkly in his lacerated gums.
But her worst horror was the empty eye socket as he lay there semi-conscious. His other eye, its forest green iris clouded with unmentionable pain, stared unseeing at the bay’s ceiling.
She knew she wept, but she had no memory of crying out. She was trapped in mental hell, and there was no escape.
It was with blessed relief that the nightmares finally retreated. She heard a hiss, then the familiar pop of the sterile dome as it lifted from the bed. Struggling to wipe away the last of her medically-induced coma, Kelen peeled her eyes open to find herself staring up at Ambrun Goolith’s butter yellow and white striped countenance.
Once the dome ascended high enough, the medical tech reached over and dabbed her face with a warm, wet cloth. “Slowly,” he murmured in Terranese. “Take deep breaths to expel the last of the mist. Do not worry if you feel faint. It is natural.”
“How long have I been out?” Lifting a hand to her head, she was shocked to feel the locks abruptly slide out from between her fingers. She’d forgotten her braid had been sliced away, leaving the rest of her hair short and uneven.
“Almost twelve cycles,” the man answered. “Calculated in your days, approximately two weeks.”
“Am I well?”
“Your wounds are closed and almost completely healed. Try to rise.” The medical tech reached for her to help her sit up.
Still groggy, she managed to balance herself on the edge of the bed, letting her legs dangle over the side. She shivered from the sudden cold after lying warm under the dome. It brought to her attention that she no longer wore the thin covering.
“Can you stand?” Goolith took her by the elbow. Kelen paused and turned around to look at Kyber.
“How is—”
The bed was empty.
She nearly fainted. “No!No!”
She slid off the bed and tried to go around to where Kyber should be, but her legs gave way. She hit the floor with her stomach and breasts, barely managing to avoid clipping her chin on the icy surface. When Goolith reached down to help her back up, she accepted his offer but struggled to reach the empty bed.
“Where is he? What have you done with him?” She was panicking. An ugly possibility went through her like a nauseous wind, and she turned to the physician. “Where is my husband?” Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe. Clutching her chest, she fought the tears and forced herself to utter that one hated question. “Is he dead?”
“No.” Goolith’s reply was firm. “He was stable when he was transferred to theDen Tirim.”
She hiccupped. “Stable? What?”
“The Por D’har was—”
“Where are we?” she demanded. “Are we on our way to Seneecia?”
“No. We are still orbiting the space station.”
“Why? Why wasn’t I taken with Kyber? Why was I left behind?” She glanced around the medical bay. “Give me something to cover myself.”
“You need to return to the bed. Your wounds have been healed, but you have not regained your—”
“Give me something to wear, damn you!Or else I’ll leave here bare-ass naked, if I’m forced to!”
“Kelen…”
Yes, she knew she was as weak as a newborn baby, but she had to make a stand. She felt she had no choice but to put up a strong front if she was going to get anywhere with the Seneecians. Which was why she hurried for the door.
Exiting it, she nearly collided with a guard who’d been stationed there. Her unexpected appearance left him momentarily stunned. Without stopping, she took off down the corridor, passing several more Seneecians who gaped at the sight of the naked Terran.
