Page 38 of Spectral Seas (Spectral Worlds #2)

A BBY’S TACTICALS KICKED in and a series of augments overlaid the quiet, meditating beast in the back of the cell.

Besides a dark loin cloth, the creature was near naked, as one would expect a wild hound to be, yet he sat as one would expect to find a mortal in meditation, with his eyes closed, back straight, legs crisscrossed, and with the backs of his wrists resting upon his knees. Abby’s optical scans detected the Lupine’s breathing and heartrate were calm, a stark contrast to the creature’s volatile brethren, and though there was no way to be certain, the hound appeared oblivious to his new cell mates.

Then, eyes still closed, the Lupo spoke. His tone soft, but firm and commanding. “That’ll be quite enough,” he said. The yelps and howls from the hounds in the adjoining cells immediately ceased, leaving in their absence an eerie, still silence.

Abby and the Umbra exchanged glances.

The Lupo remained statuesque but continued to speak, this time his words calmly aimed at the three. “You’re wondering,” he said, “as to whether I quieted my peers on your behalf or due to their inconsiderate disturbance of my midday meditation. I assure you my mindfulness exercise is not restricted by simple external stimuli such as sound.”

“I guess,” said Leta, “we should thank you then?”

A sly grin crept across the length of the Lupo’s muzzle and his eyes slivered open. “You’re welcome,” he said, then gently raised one of his long-clawed human-hound hands and with a gracious inviting wave gestured toward the bunk bed across the cell and the empty space on the mattress beside him. “Please. Sit.”

The still tension of the cell block eased to the soft murmurs and mumblings of the other Lupo as they conversed amongst themselves.

Leta was the first to step forward. “Thank you,” she said, as she took a seat beside him.

Abby and Soren followed her lead and sat on the bunk across the cell.

“We’re sorry to intrude,” said Abby.

“It wasn’t our choice,” added Soren.

“Oh. That’s quite all right,” said the Lupo. “I’ll consider myself lucky to have some company. Particularly out-worlders. I’m sure our keepers forgot I was in this cell by myself.”

“And why is that?” asked Leta.

“Why is what?”

“Why are you separated from the others?”

“It doesn’t hardly seem fair,” he said. “But woe is the fate of the Alpha.”

She nodded toward the adjoining cell. “You’re their leader?”

“Of sorts. If there were to be one. Xander Malifay at your service.” He gestured toward the cylindrical kettle on the small table between the bunks. “I’d offer you some tea,” he said. “Unfortunately, I lack tea service for four…and the water…and the tea for that matter.”

Abby chuckled at Xander’s attempt at humor. “That’s quite all right,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll be here long.”

“Leaving so soon?” Xander asked. “What a shame. I was looking forward to us becoming better acquainted.”

“You’re so kind,” said Leta.

“And why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, I mean…”

Xander cocked his brow. “Mean just what?”

“Hmm,” said Leta. “I apologize. The outburst of your companions when we entered the cell block gave me the impression that—”

“That the Lupo were savages—wild, unpredictable animals?”

“Well—”

“It’s quite all right. Out-worlders usually have that impression. Though I admit, we’re currently not at our best.”

“I’d say not,” said Abby. “This is a step down from the wilds.”

“Yes. Indeed,” agreed Xander. “We have Sss’kallion and his followers to thank for that.”

“How did you end up in here in the first place?” asked Leta. “According to the Archive, the Lupo have been cohabitating with the reptoids for millennia.”

“It’s true. We tend to stay in the wilds and keep to ourselves. But when Sss’kallion executed the coup, there was a culling. He targeted us along with his own people. I shouldn’t have been surprised. He and his followers have always had it out for our kind.”

“But there are thousands of Lupo. ”

“Not anymore. After the first attack, we sent our females and litters into hiding. Apart from them, we’re all that’s left.”

“How was such a small force of reptoids able to overwhelm you?” asked Leta. “Was it their psionics?”

“We’re vulnerable to their psionics,” said Xander. “But that isn’t how they overwhelmed us.”

“How then?”

“Sss’kallion executed the coup, but he wasn’t operating alone. He had outside support.”

Abby bit into his lower lip. “Outside support, as in the syndicate? The mob?”

“Maybe out-worlders.” Xander shrugged. “They were hidden in the shadows. Unseen. Unsmelt. Ghosts at every turn.”

“And the other monks?” asked Abby. “What happened to them? Are they here?”

“Oh,” said Xander. “They brought them here too.” He gestured toward the empty cells. “Now they’re some place much worse.”

~*~