Page 102 of Star Claimed Omega
‘Oh, hardly. But she is loved.’
Varnok leered and leaned up.
‘She’s smoke, Captain. She chokes then vanishes without a trace. I named herTheRed Queen,not because of her hair. Because she moves like she’s royalty, and she’ll slaughter a room with a glance and smile while doing it.’
Santi’s smile thinned. ‘She’s disappeared, can’t be found. Is she coming for you?’
The smirk vanished as Varnok reclined. ‘She’s more than you understand. If she is indeed busting me out of here, then may whatever gods you pray to give you favor.’
Santi straightened. ‘We’re done.’
‘Thought so,’ Varnok said, settling back. ‘Next time, bring snacks. Or music. I’m partial to Mozart.’
He hummed a few bars of the famous composer’s sonatas.
Miral shimmered into view beside them. ‘He’s done talking.’
Santi growled. ‘Fokk.’
Varnok lay back, eyes closed, humming.
‘He won’t say more,’ Miral said. ‘Not even under duress.’
‘I love to talk,’ Varnok clarified, waving one hand. ‘However, not about her. Sorry, not sorry, I can’t help. I haven’t seen my crew or brother in years, and I haven’t kissed a soul. Can’t tell you where she is. Or what she’s up to.’
Santi cursed under his breath. ‘Let’s get the hell out of here.’
‘Wait,’ Varnok called. ‘I was enjoying the banter, the conversation, the freakin’ company.’
Santi and Kaal ignored his baying sniggles as they returned to the skiff.
As the hover disengaged, Santi rubbed the back of his neck.
‘Fokkin’ lunatic. His legend ofThe Red Queensounds like a myth he tells himself to feed his hope of freedom.’
‘Naam. However, he’s also holding back,’ Kaal said. ‘He’s got some clue of what’s to come.’
‘Of her?’
‘Or what she might unleash.’
Joined by Miral, the pair fell into their thoughts the rest of the way up.
Santi brooded, sure of one thing:
The Red Queenwas real, hell, he’d encountered her, he thought, recalling her sass and attitude. She was probably hiding in the expanse, someplace close, watching and waiting to pounce.
When she did, he planned to capture her like he had the last time, but this time, he’d never let her go.
Santi stepped into the cabin just past the third dusk cycle.
His boots sounded on the timber floors as the breeze from the lake whispered through the open panels.
Outside, the synth night sky shimmered with faux stars.
So beautiful and rendered, they almost made him believe he was in an untouched world, not within a moving city of ships.
The lakeside glistened beneath the dim moons overhead, and the gentle lap of water against the rocks was a balm he hadn’t realized he needed until it found him.
