Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
As he spoke, he withdrew his blade and they all watched as the body of the killer slumped to the floor. More of the black ichor-like blood oozed from his wounds, though not as much as Sky would have thought, considering the huge gash the sword had left in him. It certainly had the distinctive, rotten reek though—she wrinkled her nose.
“So you’ll be taking him back to the Mother Ship for analysis?” she said to Torin. “I’m assuming you’ll share your results with us here on Portex Three?”
“Of course we will. In fact, the sooner I get the body back for an autopsy, the better.” Torin nodded firmly.
It was beginning to sink in for Sky that the case was over—the killer was dead and the big Kindred she’d shared so much with was leaving—walking out of her life, probably forever.
“Of course,” she murmured. “Well…I guess we’d better, uh, bag him up.”
“I guess so.” Torin still wasn’t looking at her.
“I will tell the High Priestess that she is safe—that we all are safe. Thank the Mother of Serpents,” Neen’ya, who had been standing behind them, said fervently and she moved off into the crowd to find the Priestess.
“I guess it’s all over,” Sky said softly. “I’m glad the killer was caught before he hurt anyone else.”
“Me too—it’s the end of a nightmare,” Torin said. “Well…”
“Well…” Sky echoed and they looked at each other for a long moment.
“We’d better get to work,” Torin said briskly, breaking the staring contest first. “I have a body-bag in my ship. I’ll get it—you stay by the body and make sure no one touches the soul poison.”
“All right.” Sky nodded and watched as he walked away. But inside, she was still wondering what was going on with the big Kindred and if this was really goodbye.
FORTY-TWO
TORIN
“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” Torin said, looking down at the curvy little female he had been through so much with in the past few days. Sky’lar had caused him to question everything about himself…and he still wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“I guess so. Good luck, Giant.” She nodded at him gravely. She was back in uniform—they both were—and her hair was pulled back in a sleek black ponytail. Torin thought she had never looked more lovely…or more distant.
The body of the killer was in a clear plasti-shield body-bag that was vacu-sealed and stowed in the cargo hold of his ship. He had already called the Mother Ship and let them know he was coming home and that the killer was neutralized. Commander Sylvan had been extremely relieved and scientists were standing by to perform an autopsy on the body. Everything was as it should be…wasn’t it?
In the back of his head, Torin couldn’t help wondering. The way the killer had been caught and killed seemed too easy—too simple. It all felt so…anticlimactic.
This isn’t a movie from Earth or a drama-vid, he reminded himself. It’s real life and sometimes real life is boring and anticlimactic.
Of course, if this was a movie from Earth, he and Sky’lar would be deciding to get together right now, instead of saying stiff and stilted goodbyes. Yet here they were, standing outside his ship, bidding farewells that were probably permanent.
“Are you sure you don’t want a ride back to your station in Hx’lsss?” Torin asked her.
Sky’lar shook her head, her long ponytail swishing with the gesture.
“I’m going to stay here tonight and clear up a few last details with the High Priestess. Just a few protocols that need to be observed on our end,” she said. “I can find my own ride back tomorrow.”
Torin wasn’t sure if this was true or not. Maybe she just wanted to avoid him after he’d refused her offer of a relationship. He wished now that he hadn’t done that, but there seemed no good way to take it back. Besides, he still had questions—a lot of them—about everything. Some very fundamental things that he’d thought he knew about himself were now up in the air and a large part of that was due to Sky’lar and the things they’d done together.
He was going back to the Mother Ship a different male…and he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
“Well…I guess I’ll see you around,” he said lamely, not sure what else to say.
Sky’lar gave him a smile that seemed a little too forced.
“If you’re ever near Portex Three again, look me up and I’ll buy you a drink, Giant.”
Did she wish for more than just this cold goodbye, Torin wondered? He wished he had the courage to ask.
“Well…goodbye,” he said again lamely. As a last gesture, he offered her a warrior’s clasp.
Sky’lar took his offered arm, squeezed his elbow for a moment as she pressed her forearm to his. She met his eyes and Torin saw a sadness there that burned his soul. For a moment he thought she was going to say something and he wished she would. If she would say something, maybe he could too. Maybe they could come to some understanding…