Page 12 of Whispers of the Void (Voidborn Chronicles #1)

CHAPTER 12

NEEV

* * *

V ynia joins me right as Raiz leaves. I watch him walk down the corridor, noting the drastic change in his appearance and demeanor as he steps out as the Lord of his house. Of all the versions I’ve seen of him, the casual, barefoot, at-home version is my favorite. Though, it’s hotter than it should be to see him with two swords crossed behind his back.

“Two swords? Is that really necessary?” I ask just before he exits.

“If you knew these two families, you wouldn’t think to ask me.” His voice is dark with amusement.

“Who is it?” Vynia asks.

“Xyetol and Zrygen.”

Vynia’s wince at the names is all the response I need to take his word for it.

“Be careful,” I say quietly, knowing he’ll hear me.

He gives me a feral smile over his shoulder. “I’m not the one who should be worried.”

When the door closes behind him, I find Vynia looking at me oddly.

“What?” I ask the female.

“Nothing.” She holds both hands up. “You ready to train before we have dinner?”

“Lead the way.”

She takes me down a level to a large room, the rock of the cliff the home is built into remains jagged and raw down here. There are no polished carvings lining the wall like the living spaces. Only a soft layer of sand covers the floor. Racks of various weapons line two sides of the space. Lights flicker on overhead as she hits a switch.

I look over at her, confused. “I thought you didn’t have electricity?”

“This room is completely underground and insulated from any flares or interference from our star. The lights run off a generator.”

“Interesting.” I look around, even with the lights it’s still pretty dim for my comfort. “Can you make them brighter?”

That’s one thing I hadn’t thought of until my research earlier; I had obviously noticed all the lighting on the ship was dim, and then in the house everything was as well. I just assumed it was because of the permanent twilight they live in. And it is to an extent, but their vision has evolved to be best in low light conditions.

“I can.” She grimaces as the lights brighten for my benefit.

“Is that too bright for you?”

“I’ll adjust.”

She pulls her shirt over her head, leaving her in a tight-fitting vest and a pair of pants similar to what Raiz lounges around in. Her exposed skin has the same patterning as Raiz’s, with alternating stripes of lighter and darker gray across her back fading to a pale gray on the front of her body. Her long black hair is plaited down the back of her head. She’s nearly as tall as the males of her species, but where they are bulky, she’s lithe.

I pull my hair back, tying it into a ponytail and fastening it with a small piece of leather Uzold found for me. Vynia meets me in the center of the room, appraising me in a way that makes me nervous.

“Having your hair like this gives your opponent an easy way to grab you.” She tugs the ponytail free and steps behind me, quickly styling it like hers. “Do all humans have hair like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s so soft. And the color under the lights, I didn’t realize there were hints of blue and violet and green in your hair.”

“There’s a range of colors and textures for human hair, just as there is for you. But from what I’ve seen my hair and eye color are not normal. At least not from all the human media I’ve watched and read over the years.”

“Right.” She nods. “I forget that you weren’t raised by other humans.” She finishes and moves in front of me. “Raiz said you have some training from one of the Order’s guards?”

“Yes. I’m not sure how helpful it’ll be against one of you, but it’s something.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m going to take what you know and build on it by showing you Zeahiri weaknesses to exploit.”

That’s exactly what she does for the next couple hours. She shows me every weakness, where to aim my hits, how to use my lower center of gravity to take her down. I might be shorter and weaker, but there’s no shame in fighting dirty to stay alive.

I’m a sweaty mess by the end. She drops down beside me on the floor and pulls her pant leg up to release her prosthetic. I watch as she cleans the grains of sand that managed to work their way into where it attaches. I want to ask her about growing up with that in a society that values physical strength so deeply, but I keep my questions to myself. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable or be ignorantly rude.

“Do you really think I’ll have to defend myself here?”

“If the wrong people find out what Raiz is doing? Yes,” she answers seriously. “But you’re safe here. Everyone on Raiz’s house staff is trained and has orders to protect you.”

I wince. “That’s embarrassing. To be seen as some weak female, in need of protection.”

“Don’t think of it that way.” She reattaches the prosthetic. “We grow up beating the hell out of each other. Violence is in the marrow of our bones. You are smart, far more intelligent than most of our species. That’s dangerous on an entirely different level. Out of thousands of systems in the galaxy, Raiz sought you out. That says a lot.”

“When you put it like that.” My lips lift in a small smile.

“And you’re not completely helpless, physically. I didn’t know you’d be quite so strong when you look so soft.”

“Thanks,” I say sardonically as I knock my shoulder into her.

We stand and brush the sand from our clothes. I tell her I’m going to take a quick shower before dinner. I’m sure I smell awful, plus standing beneath the punishingly hot spray sounds incredible for my already beginning to ache muscles. Maybe I’ll ask Uzold to show me how to work the tub later tonight.

After my shower I find even more clothing options have been added to the armoire in my room. There are even a few cloaks hanging inside, lightweight and heavier. It makes sense I’d need warmer clothing considering the temple where the text is on the dark side of the planet.

I find Vynia in the kitchen, sitting on the counter talking to an irritated-looking Breval. “Please make the sweets, Breval. No one does them like you.”

“Because I’m the best.” She answers as if there’s no other option.

“Exactly. I’ve traveled the galaxy and haven’t found anything better. I know you hate making them but look at Neev. She’s barely eaten food with any taste before. Think of the joy on her face when she takes the first bite.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, fighting a smile at the look of exasperation on Breval’s face.

“Breval used to make us these sweets when we were little. I can’t think of a human equivalent, but they’re sweet and delicious. It’s been forever since we’ve had them.”

Breval was cooking for Raiz’s family when he was a kid? How old is she? She doesn’t look much older than him or Vynia.

“Go bother someone else,” Breval dismisses us. “I need to cook, and I can’t do that with you taking up all the space on my counter.”

“Only because I love you,” Vynia slides off the counter and then tucks her arm through mine leading me out of the kitchen. “And I want those sweets.”

“What is Altis doing tonight?” I ask as we settle into chairs on the balcony.

“He’s with Raiz. He’s not only his second on the ship, he also serves as an advisor to the High Lord.”

“What exactly does all that mean? Raiz gave me a very brief explanation of the hierarchy but no details.”

“Did he explain the Houses?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, each house encompasses a different part of the Terminus and the Lords of each house enforce the rules of the Sovereign. They’re also charged with protecting the citizens, collecting taxes, and mediating issues between families.”

“How was the Sovereign chosen? And the Lords?”

“None of them were chosen. The Sovereign has held power for so long, I don’t even know for sure his history. Lord is the title passed from the strongest to the strongest in a family line.”

“They don’t teach you any of that when you’re young?”

“They teach us what they want us to know, the truth as they need it to be to retain power.”

“Is that why I’m here?”

She nods.

“Why hasn’t he taken me there yet?”

“It’s not as simple as getting in a transport and flying there. The temple is deep into the dark side of the planet. It’s too cold above ground, so you’ll have to travel through a network of tunnels. We’ll need guides who know them and can be discreet.”

A feeling of foreboding settles over me as the true danger of what I’m helping them with settles over my shoulders. I believe in the changes they want to make, though. And I trust them.

* * *

After dinner I’m walking Vynia to the door when heat suddenly flashes through my body. Searing pain cuts through my head, and I fall to my knees on the stone floor. I’m vaguely aware of her dropping to my side and calling out for help from Uzold.

My stomach roils with nausea, and I lose the battle to keep my dinner down. Uzold lifts me into his arms with zero hesitation and carries me to my room with Vynia on his heels. I don’t want to succumb to unconsciousness because I know what waits for me.

The whispers.

The nothingness.

The terror.

Unfortunately, for me I can’t fight it back.

* * *

Just like in real life, I fall to my knees, my hands covering my ears as the whispering voices, millions of them, seem to intensify with each breath I take. As far as my eyes can see there is nothing near me, just an endless, white space filled with so much nonsensical noise I can’t even think to fight it back.

I drop my head to my knees and cover my head with my arms, rocking back and forth to soothe myself.

It feels like an eternity passes and then I feel a hand on my back and the whispers stop. I look up hoping to find Raiz like the last time, but instead it’s a man I’ve never seen before. I shuffle away from him quickly.

He crouches down, hands outstretched as if he means no harm. For the longest time we just look at each other. He’s wearing normal human clothing, dark pants and a sweater that hugs his frame, hinting at the muscles beneath. His hair is dark, but his eyes are violet like mine.

“It’s incredible,” he says quietly. “You look just like her.”

I move a step back as he moves forward.

“I won’t hurt you. I’m here to help. I know this is overwhelming, hearing everyone.”

“Who are you?” I ask.

“My name is Eryx. What’s yours?”

“Neev,” I answer quietly, so relieved that the whispering has ceased.

“Nice to meet you.” He looks around, as if he can see more than I can. “Neev, I want to help you, but you need to tell me where you are. I can’t help if I can’t get to you.”

“This is my subconscious.”

“Yes, it is but it’s also so much more. I can teach you how to use it, you just have to tell me where you are.” Something flashes in his eyes, and he looks over his shoulder. “We don’t have time. Tell me now.”

My instincts scream not to say a word about where I am. He hasn’t answered any of my questions. Something about this is wrong. Is it even real? Did I fall all the way asleep? Am I dead?

My eyes drift shut at a phantom touch on the side of my face. Warmth and comfort spread through me, and when I open my eyes, the strange man is gone, and Raiz is kneeling beside me. The phantom touch turns corporeal as fingers drift along my check, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Are you okay?”

“There was a strange man here. Did you see him leave?”

“Here?” His brows rise as he looks around us. “Inside your mind?”

“Yes. A human man.”

“You’re the only one I see.” His green eyes hold mine as he grasps my hand and helps me to my feet. “I’m going to pull you back through again, okay?”

“Yes.” I nod and let the male lead me back.