Page 30 of DaR (Darverius, House of DaR #1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

KIRA

I’ve walked the garden a dozen times today. “ SAGE , have you heard anything from Tordan ?” I keep rubbing my arms because I feel like I’ve got ants crawling beneath my skin.

“ Mistress Kira , I have already explained this to you. I am in constant contact with the fleet. Master DaR has reported himself safe these last three rotations.”

“ I know, I know, but I don’t believe it. I swear my skin is crawling. I have this horrible feeling that he’s hurt. Can I talk to Tordan myself?”

“ I will see if he will answer me, Kira . I hate that you are in such distress. Maybe if I relay this to him, he will answer me quicker. ”

I slept on the couch last night because my own room felt like the walls were closing in on me. I felt a sharp pain in my right leg and for a split second, I must’ve been looking through DaR’s eyes, because I couldn’t have ever dreamed that nightmare up on my own.

I was standing in the middle of what looked like a desert, but it was cold all around me instead of being hot.

Something reached up through the ground and shot a long, piercing dart toward me.

I didn’t move fast enough, and it hit my leg.

The wetness of my blood seeped through my pants as I struggled to move through the sand before it popped up under me again.

I jerked up out of my sleep, screaming, and clutching my leg. SAGE immediately activated the lights and, even though I could feel it, there’s nothing wrong with my leg at all.

I know in my heart it’s DaR’s emotions that I felt, but none of this makes any sense to me. How ?

“ Mistress Kira , Commander DaR just boarded Falcor . I will connect you now. I am putting him on the main screen in the living room.”

I rush out of the backyard and stand in front of the viewing screen, shifting my weight from one foot to the other, and wringing my hands together waiting on his face to appear.

“ Kira , are you alright? ”

I see his face and I feel like weeping, because I can see the strain in his eyes. “ You’re hurt, aren’t ya?

“ I have a small flesh wound, but I am not in any danger right now. I am heading back to medical as we speak. But Tordan stopped me and said that you threatened to steal a shuttle and fly here yourself if I did not respond in person. And I have learned not to underestimate you, so here I am.”

“ Damnit DaR , I felt you get hurt. I know you’re lying to me right now, and you’re worse off than you’re letting on.”

“ How would you know I was hurt?”

Just as I’m getting ready to respond, I hear a beep and then he’s gone. “ SAGE , what happened? Where did he go?”

“ There is a disturbance, but I am not sure of what exactly. I will keep trying to reconnect with Fal …”

“ Hell’s damn fire,” I swear. I feel like throwing something. My insides start to shake and I suddenly have the urge to run. I know something is messing with my head, but there’s nothing here except me, SAGE and Ickis .

“ SAGE , I’m going to take a walk. I won’t go beyond the barrier walls. SAGE ? Huh , that’s weird, she didn’t argue with me.”

I walk outside and Ickis jumps on my shoulder. “ You want to take a walk with me, cutie? Maybe , I can walk off some of these jitters. ”

I talk to Ickis all the way around the north side of the property.

“ My goodness, look how pretty you are today. Some of your stripes are turning orange. Been soaking up some of those sun rays, trying to impress the girls, right?” He huffs at me and rubs his head against mine affectionately.

“ I know I’m your favorite girl.” Most people would think because of his lizard-like appearance that he would be scaly and hard, but his skin is smooth and soft, as long as he’s playing.

I approach the south wall that separates the house from the dark forest when I see part of the wall is open, or I should say, missing. I’ve walked this perimeter many times and never noticed a gate there.

Something tells me to run. Placing my hand over Ickis protectively I turn, but before I can take a single step, it walks out in front of me.

It’s a Korgon ; the blue, four-armed alien of my nightmares is standing right in front of me.

I immediately step back and turn to run the other way only to realize I’m surrounded.

The same monsters that tore my whole world apart are here to finish the job.

“ No , no, no...” I try to scream, but nothing comes out.

It’s like trying to scream in a dream, but you can’t make a sound.

I hear Ickis hissing, but my mind is shutting down. I can’t take a single step one way or the other as I freeze in absolute terror. I see Rick’s face, then DaR’s rare smile. I reach out in my mind for them, for someone to please save me .

One of the monsters’ smiles as he reaches toward me. I know if they get their hands on me this time, there’s no coming back. I hear Ickis screech and then something wet hits me in the face.

My wrist starts to burn, and my vision starts to blur.

Chaos surrounds me. I just want peace in my life.

Make the bad stop, please. I don’t want to be hurt anymore.

I thought I was safe, but there is no safety.

Hurt , loss, pain; I feel my own mind crumble as I stand frozen in place.

Then a dark void of silence consumes me, and I welcome its emptiness.