Beyond the Shadows (2010) by Granger Jess

Author:Granger, Jess [Jess, Granger,]
Format: epub
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2011-01-14T19:17:29.015000+00:00

12

“WHAT HAPPENED?” XAN DEMANDED. THE SHIP LURCHED, SENDING AN UNSECURED instrument tray clattering to the floor. Cyn braced himself against the bed even as he helped Yara lay her head down. She closed her eyes and moaned.

“It hurts.” She coughed.

“Pain?” Xan grabbed her wrist, feeling for a pulse, gave up and put his hand to her neck, cursed, then grabbed heart-charges.

“Poison.” Cyn could barely force the word out. His mind was spinning in dark memories. He could barely see, barely think. He tried so hard not to lose himself in the hard fist of terror that had clenched around his heart. “Are there any Touscari-Orianalen on board?” The healers had the rare ability to heal through powerful psychic powers and special glands in the skin of their hands.

They also had a strange culture based entirely on a barter system, and he had nothing left to trade for her life.

“I don’t have any Touscari on board.” Xan slapped a reader on Yara’s chest. “We’ll get her to Oriana as fast as we can.”

“Bug, medical emergency,” Cyn barked at him. His aura flared as he zoomed over Yara. “Contact the Touscari-Orianalen as soon as we are out of macrospace and negotiate with the healing sanctuary at Rastos for a purging on my behalf.”

Bug squeaked a series of questions.

“I don’t care what parameters you use. Get creative. We no longer have the ship.”

Bug let out a shrill alarm.

“I’ll explain later. Just do it.” Cyn snatched the viewer. He still had to get the band off. Yara started to shiver. She wouldn’t open her eyes, and she had pulled her legs up into the fetal position. They didn’t have much time.

Bug shot out of the room as Tuz and one of the ship’s medics charged in through the door.

“Javin,” Xan commanded. “She’s been injected. Get over here now.”

“Do whatever you can to keep the poison from the heart and brain. Anything will help,” Cyn stated.

The petite medic took a place at the head of the table as Tuz jumped on Yara’s chest and yowled.

“Get that cat out of here!” Xan demanded.

Cyn ignored him as the ship shook and yawed to the right. They seemed to push through the launch for an eternity before the ship finally settled into macrospace.

Each second ticked by with the oppressive weight of an eon. Cyn watched the beads of sweat form on Yara’s forehead, dampening her short hair. He wiped her sallow brow, trying to comfort her as he waged a painful war with his own mind. For years he had immersed himself in learning and pleasure, trying to drown his mind in information and pleasant stimulation to keep the terrible horrors of his life from overwhelming him.

Now none of it mattered. His agony was driving him mad. The medic tried to say something to him, but he didn’t hear it. All he could hear was Yarlia’s screams. All he could see was her pale face, her life gone. Her eyes were closed, so peaceful, so much like Yara’s. Yara’s skin paled further, her life ebbing.

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