Page 21

CHAPTER 21

RAVEN

T he Grolgath’s head snaps back as my heel connects with the base of his skull. He hisses, a sound that’s more annoyed than pained, and rounds on me. His eyes narrow, slit pupils focusing on me like a predator spotting its next meal. I shrink back against the car seat, the leather cool against my skin, and glance out the shattered window. Karc’s golden scales glint in the sunlight as he pulls himself closer, his claws digging into the car’s undercarriage.

"Hey now," I say, holding up my hands. "Your boss Giscard wants me alive, remember? Killing me would be bad for your career."

The Grolgath’s tongue flicks out, tasting the air. "Yesss, but accidentssss do happen," he says, drawing out the sibilants like he’s auditioning for a bad horror movie.

I can’t help it. I laugh. "Oh, come on, dude. You don’t have to lean into the whole reptilian thing so hard. Giscard doesn’t sound like a snake with a lisp. He’s got class. You’re just trying too hard."

The Grolgath freezes, his expression shifting from menace to something almost...embarrassed. "That’sss not fair," he says, his voice quieter now. "I have a sssspeech impediment."

I blink, my laughter dying in my throat. "Wait, are you serious? Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to?—"

Before I can finish, Karc’s arm shoots through the broken window, his clawed hand gripping the Grolgath by the neck. The lizard-man’s eyes widen as Karc yanks him out of the car like he’s pulling a weed. The Grolgath flails, his claws scrabbling at Karc’s arm, but it’s no use. With a roar, Karc hurls him into open air.

"Sssssshit—" The Grolgath’s scream is cut off as he plummets toward the ground, his voice swallowed by the wind.

I lean out the window, my stomach lurching as I catch a glimpse of the city far below. "Did you just?—?"

"Focus," Karc growls, his voice sharp but steady. He swings himself into the car, his claws digging into the frame for balance. The car wobbles, the engine sputtering beneath us. "We need to land this thing before it explodes."

"Explodes?" I yelp, scrambling to buckle myself in. "Why didn’t you lead with that?"

"Because you were busy making friends with the Grolgath," he snaps, sliding into the driver’s seat. His scaled hands grip the wheel, his claws ripping through the leather as he wrestles the car into a controlled descent.

"I was distracting him so you could climb in!" I protest, clutching the seat for dear life as the car dips sharply. "It worked, didn’t it?"

"It worked," he admits grudgingly, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The city skyline rushes up to meet us, the buildings growing larger with terrifying speed. "But next time, maybe try not to insult the enemy’s speech patterns. It’s rude."

"Rude?" I choke out a laugh, even as my heart hammers in my chest. "Says the guy who just tossed him out of a moving car!"

Karc’s lips twitch, the closest thing to a smile I’ve ever seen from him. "I'm sure he can shapeshift his arms into wings or something."

The engine sputters again, and the car jerks violently. My stomach lurches as we drop another few hundred feet. "Karc?—"

The car jerks to a sudden stop, hanging motionless in mid-air. My heart skips a beat as I look at Karc. His golden scales shimmer under the sunlight streaming through the windshield, but his expression isn't reassuring.

"It wasn't me," he says.

A shadow falls over us, and I crane my neck to look up through the broken window. My mouth goes dry at the sight. A massive dark shape hovers above, sleek and alien. Blue-white light bathes our car in an ethereal glow.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"They're taking us into the ship," Karc says, his voice tight.

The car rises slowly, drawn upward by what has to be a tractor beam. My stomach does flip-flops as we ascend into a cavernous metal bay. The wedding dress rustles around my legs, and I almost laugh at how absurd this is. Here I am, still in my bridal gown, being abducted by aliens.

The car settles onto the hangar floor with a gentle thud. Cold, recycled air hits my face through the broken window. The metallic tang makes my nose wrinkle.

Twenty reptilian figures emerge from behind crates and vehicles, their rifle barrels trained on us. Their scales glisten under harsh overhead lights, a rainbow of colors from emerald to obsidian. The rifles in their clawed hands pulse with an ominous red glow.

"Don't move," Karc whispers. "Let me do the talking."

Karc throws his head back and laughs, the sound echoing off the metal walls of the hangar bay. My heart skips - I've never heard him make that sound before.

"You fools," he says, "you fell right into my trap. This car contains a powerful explosive device."

I bite my lip to keep from smiling. The remote in his hand is just for the car's sound system - I recognize it from our drives together. But the Grolgath don't know that.

The reptilian soldiers exchange glances, their scaled faces uncertain. A few take tentative steps forward.

Karc brandishes the remote. "Not one step closer, or we all go to meet our respective gods."

The Grolgath freeze, their weapons wavering. One of them hisses something in their native tongue that makes the others back away slightly.

The click of boots on metal draws my attention to a familiar figure striding across the hangar. Giscard. He's in his human form, immaculate in a tailored suit despite the late hour.

"What seems to be the situation here?" Giscard asks, his voice smooth as silk.

Karc waves the remote. "One press and this whole ship goes up in flames."

Giscard's lips curl into an amused smile. "Go ahead then." His eyes lock with Karc's. "I'm calling your bluff."

My stomach drops as Giscard turns to his soldiers. "If he tries to leave the vehicle, shoot the woman."

The ship reeks of sterile air and something faintly metallic, like blood that’s just started to rust. My wedding dress is a lost cause, the white fabric smudged with grease and what I hope isn’t Grolgath spit. Karc sits beside me, his golden scales flickering faintly under the ship’s harsh lighting. His eyes—those sunset orange eyes—are scanning the room like he’s already planning how to take this place apart.

The walls shudder as the ship docks with the space station, and the hatch hisses open. Giscard steps through, still in his human facade, that smug smile plastered on his face. “Welcome,” he says, sweeping his arm toward the station’s interior.

I step out, and my breath catches. The station is... insane. On one side, it’s a jagged, cratered asteroid, like something ripped straight out of a sci-fi movie. But the other side—holy hell. It’s a city, sleek and glowing under a translucent dome. Buildings rise like crystal spires, their surfaces shimmering with iridescent light. The streets are alive with movement—Grolgath in their true forms, their scales catching the light in a kaleidoscope of colors.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” Giscard says, his voice dripping with pride. “All for the glory of Ataxia.”

I can’t help it. I laugh. “Glory? You’re planning to wipe out billions of people, and you’re calling it glory?”

“They won’t die,” he says, like he’s explaining basic math to a child. “They’ll be reborn. As Grolgath. It’s a gift.”

“A gift?” I snap. “Who the hell are you to decide who lives, dies, or gets scaly? Your god’s got some serious issues if this is his idea of a favor.”

Karc steps forward, his claws flexing at his sides. “How are you planning to do it?”

Giscard’s smile widens. “Patience, my dear Kirk. Soon, you’ll see for yourself.” He gestures for us to follow, and we’re ushered down a gleaming corridor.

I lean closer to Karc, keeping my voice low. “You think he’s actually going to show us the big bad weapon?”

“Doubtful,” Karc murmurs, his eyes still scanning every detail. “But he’ll let something slip. Arrogance always does.”

“Great. So we’re blindfolded on a spaceship, and the only plan is ‘watch the bad guy monologue.’ Super reassuring.”

His lips twitch, the closest thing to a smile I’ve seen from him in hours. “Trust me. I’ll get us out of this.”

“Trust you?” I mutter. “You tossed a guy out of a flying car. I’m not sure ‘trust’ is the right word.”

He glances at me, his gaze softening for a split second. “You came back, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, well, don’t let it go to your head.”

Giscard stops at a massive window overlooking the city. He spreads his arms like he’s about to sing an aria. “This is the future, my friends. A new dawn for the galaxy.”

I cross my arms, raising an eyebrow. “You sure about that? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like a really expensive death trap.”

Karc steps closer to the window, his reflection rippling in the glass. “You’re not the first to try this, Giscard. And you won’t be the last to fail.”

Giscard chuckles, a low, dangerous sound. “We’ll see.”

The floor beneath us hums faintly, and I can’t shake the feeling that we’re running out of time.

Giscard's smile turns predatory as he gestures to the massive asteroid section visible through the window. "Beautiful, isn't it? Nature and technology in perfect harmony."

My blood runs cold as the implications hit me. "That's not just decoration, is it?"

"Very perceptive." He taps the glass. "This entire section can be launched. Right at the Yellowstone caldera. One impact, and..." He makes an explosive gesture with his hands. "The supervolcano will do the rest. Earth enters a new dark age."

My knees buckle. I grab his pant legs, the expensive fabric bunching in my desperate grip. "Please, you can't. There are children down there. Innocent people."

"My dear girl." His hand pats my head, gentle like he's soothing a frightened pet. "Don't distress yourself. They won't suffer long. And afterward, they'll be reborn into something greater."

Tears blur my vision. "I'll do anything. Just don't?—"

"There, there," he soothes, still stroking my hair. "All will be welcome to Ataxia's breast?—"

Karc's fist connects with the back of Giscard's head with a satisfying crack. The Grolgath leader crumples to the floor like a marionette with cut strings.

I wipe my eyes, glaring at Karc. "What took you so long?"

"I needed him distracted." He offers me a hand up. "Let's stop him from launching the asteroid."