Chapter Forty-one
The peak of orgasm faded gradually to be replaced by the familiar rush of pleasure and the sensation of being a swift, invisible bird. Kat looked around in delight at the sight of the blue-white ball of Earth floating in space and the stars surrounding it.
Hold on, she heard Deep say. We’re going to be going faster and farther than we ever have before. Whatever you do, stay together and don’t get lost.
Kat had a moment of concern—she hadn’t known it was possible for them to get lost from each other during a joining. How could we possibly—she began and then everything became a blur.
During their previous joinings, Deep had taken his time, allowing her to see her solar system first hand—or as first hand as they could get on the astral plane, anyway. This time, apparently they had no time to linger. Stars, planets, entire constellations rushed by in the blink of an eye. Suns so massive they blotted out the blackness of space with their fiery brilliance rose up and vanished so fast they seemed like wild illusions.
We have to hurry, Lock explained in her mind as they flew. We have to use the power of your orgasm quickly, my lady, before it dissipates.
Not to mention that the longer we wait, the more likely it is they’ll fold space and be gone beyond our reach, Deep growled. Have you got the net ready, Lock? Moving at this rate we’ll be there before we know it. I just hope I can hold us in place long enough to find them and see what they’re up to.
I’ve got the net. Don’t worry, Lock responded.
Good. Are you picturing Lauren in your mind? Deep asked Kat. I hope you know her well enough to find her.
I didn’t have much time to get to know her, but she made a big impression on me, Kat said, watching as the stars and planets whizzed by them. She’s so beautiful and so brave—I really felt for her. Yes, I’m certain I’ll be able to locate her if we can catch them in the net.
Let’s hope they’re not far from the Scourge home world, then, Deep said grimly. If they’ve gone too far we’ll never find them.
I have a net big enough to cover three sectors. Lock sounded confident. Unless they’ve folded space, we’ll find them. Never fear.
Are we almost there yet? Kat asked, feeling like a little kid. As fast as they were traveling, she had the strange sensation that they already had been on the astral plane longer than on any of their two previous joinings.
It’s just ahead. Look, Lock murmured.
Their incredible speed slowed until the white and black blurs rushing past them became planets and stars again. It reminded Kat of how space looked when the Millennium Falcon was coming out of light speed in the Star Wars movies. Just ahead she saw the dirty, gray-brown ball of smog and pollution that she recognized as the Scourge home planet. It was only about the size of a billiard ball in the sky but it was getting closer by the minute.
I don’t see their ship, she sent, feeling disappointed.
Don’t worry, Lock told her. I’m casting the net wide and far.
Kat felt a moment of intense concentration from him, as though he was preparing to do some hard physical labor. Then the Scourge home world and all the space around it in every direction was blanketed in a silvery, shimmering net so beautiful and vast it took her breath away.
Oh Lock, she whispered, totally awed. This is your finest work yet. It’s gorgeous.
Let’s just hope it does its job, Deep said. Open your mind and feel for the tugging, Kat. Is Lauren anywhere near here?
Kat deepened her concentration. Well, she’s not on the planet, she sent with relief. Despite being ninety-nine percent certain that Lauren and Xairn had left in the small silver ship they’d seen blast off, she’d had a nagging fear that Sophie and Liv’s cousin had somehow been left behind. But apparently that wasn’t so—she didn’t feel Lauren anywhere on the surface of the deadworld. She made one more sweep to be sure…and her mind touched something new—something so shocking and harsh she drew in a ragged gasp.
What? What is it? Deep demanded, sounding concerned.
Something on the planet. Something dark. Burned me…shocked me, Kat choked. Her astral form was tingling all over. It was as though she’d grabbed a live electrical wire with her bare hands.
The AllFather, Lock sounded grim. He must still be there.
Did he feel you, Kat? Deep asked urgently. Does he know we’re here?
I…don’t think so. Kat shook herself mentally, trying to regain control. He’s angry though. So much rage…hatred…betrayal.
No doubt because Xairn flew off with the only female who could fulfill their twisted prophesy, Lock sent. This changes things, we have to hurry. If he feels us out here…He let the sentence dangle ominously and Kat had an idea she didn’t want to know what might happen if the leader of the Scourge found their vulnerable spirits wandering so far from their physical bodies.
We have to hurry anyway. Deep sounded strained. Taking us this far and holding us here is almost beyond my power. Quickly, Kat, avoid the planet and feel for the tug of Lauren’s mind in the space around it.
Got it, Kat sent. Just give me a little time.
Time is what we don’t have. Hurry!
She didn’t bother answering. Taking a deep breath she pictured Lauren in her mind’s eye. The delicate features, the long, silky black hair and warm mocha skin, the high cheekbones so like Sophie and Liv’s. And of course her striking amber eyes. Lauren, she thought, feeling her way along the net, searching with every ounce of concentration she could muster. I haven’t known you long but I can tell you’re strong. Brave. You’ve been through so much but your spirit shines through it all. Let me find you so I can give your mom some hope. She loves you so much! Please let me tell her that her daughter is coming home soon…
At last she felt the faintest tug imaginable from the far distant corner of the great net. It was so miniscule Kat nearly ignored it, almost waved it away like a tiny mosquito buzzing near her ear. But then the feeling began to grow and she knew it wasn’t her imagination—the tug really was Lauren, and she was somewhere on the edge of the shining net Lock had cast.
This was the part Kat liked the most. As the seeker, Deep provided the power to get them to their destination and hold them in place. Lock, as the finder, wove and cast the net. But as their focus, it was Kat’s job to track down the person they were looking for and fly the three of them to the exact spot where that person was.
Hang on boys, here…we…go! She spread invisible wings and lunged forward, slicing cleanly through space as a swimmer diving into a pool slices through water. The feeling of speed, the exhilaration of finding what they were looking for as she followed the tug forward, grew stronger and stronger within her…
Kat, watch out! Lock sounded more alarmed than Kat had ever heard him.
What? What’s wrong? She wanted to look behind her but they were moving too fast.
It’s coming…he’s coming for us. Look to the planet! Look to Zlicth!
Finally managing to backpedal, Kat turned her gaze to the quickly receding Scourge home world…and saw something that nearly stopped her heart.
A finger of darkness was extending from the planet. A searching tendril of black slime which made even the blackness of space seem faded and pale in contrast. But this finger was huge—a tentacle of pure evil big enough to engulf them completely like a snake swallowing a mouse.
If it touches us, Kat thought, her blood turning to ice. If it even brushes us we’ll be caught. I just know it!
The AllFather, Deep sent. He must have felt your probe after all.
What can we do? Kat sent back, trying not to panic. How do we get away?
We can’t. Not unless we leave now, Lock sent.
But I don’t want to leave! We’re so close. I can feel Lauren and we’re almost to her.
Then we can tell her mother that she’s safe, Lock sent back. But if we stay here and the AllFather catches us in his web, we’ll never get back to our physical bodies and be able to tell her anything at all.
Kat wanted to cry. To come so close and then not be able to finish what they’d started was too much, too awful. I don’t—she began but Deep interrupted her.
Kat’s right—we shouldn’t leave without seeing this through.
I agree but I don’t see how, Lock argued. If we don’t leave now—
There is another way. Deep sounded determined. Go on Kat, take us there. If the AllFather traces us I’ll…distract him.
That was all Kat needed to hear. She dived forward again, following the tugging which was growing stronger in her mind. Find me, Lauren’s life force seemed to be saying. Find me, find me, here I am!
There! Kat couldn’t keep the triumph out of her voice as a small silver spaceship came into view. There she is! I knew it.
Quickly, then Lock urged. The AllFather is just behind us. His arm grows long and if he catches us…
Too late. Deep sounded so grim that Kat turned her attention from the spaceship to look behind them again. Rolling toward them like a black, oily cloud that smudged and dirtied the very space it moved though, was the AllFather’s trap. Kat could feel the tingling, burning sensation again even though she wasn’t touching it…yet. A sudden , awful thought filled her mind.
What were we thinking? We’ll lead him right to them!
Lauren and Xairn aren’t on the astral plane, Lock told her. So while the AllFather might sense them, he won’t be able to hurt them. Not physically, anyway. Hurry, Kat, we have no time to spare.
He’s getting too close, Deep sent. You two stay together, I’ll distract him.
Stop! Lock’s mental voice was urgent. Don’t you think I know what you mean by ‘distract’ Deep? You can’t sacrifice yourself for us—I won’t allow it.
What makes you think I’d sacrifice myself? Deep’s voice was filled with mocking laughter but it sounded hollow to Kat. Don’t be foolish, Lock. The AllFather won’t know there’s more than one mind wandering the astral plane. If he gets me, he’ll think he has us all. But he won’t get me—I’m just going to lead him a on a little chase while you two look in on Lauren. So hurry!
Kat wanted to protest but there didn’t seem to be any way to stop him. I love you, Deep! she sent as strongly as she could. Be safe and come back to us or I swear the AllFather won’t have to do a thing to you—I’ll kick your ass myself!
You and your Earth vernacular. I don’t see how you could hurt me by planting your sweet little foot on my posterior. Deep laughed again in her head. But I’ll be sure to come back so you can demonstrate.
Do that, Brother, Lock sent. I love you too.
And I love both of you. Goodbye. And then there was sudden silence from the spot where Deep had been. Looking over her invisible shoulder, Kat saw something bright whiz daringly close to the foul finger of darkness. The inky black tendril hesitated and then seemed to make a decision. It swooped after the bright thing so fast it was a blur in space.
God! Kat’s heart was in her throat. She hadn’t realized the AllFather was so fast on the astral plane. Watching him chase after Deep’s spirit was like watching a striking cobra after a mongoose.
Don’t waste time watching, Lock told her, sounding stern. Deep is playing the decoy so that we can get the information we need. Hurry, Kat. Hurry!
You got it. Forcing herself to look away from the horrifying spectacle, Kat turned her attention toward Lauren and gave their mission her whole concentration again.
There was nothing else she could do.