Anne Winchell - The Last War

She hesitated and wondered whether bringing him to Atheus was the best idea. Surely Atheus wouldn’t kill Raven. Punish him, maybe. Raven deserved it, though, she thought with a hint of bitterness. Raven had abandoned her to Atheus, now she would do the same to him. Only, she decided, she wouldn’t abandon him. Kaela would stay at his side and prove to him that she was strong, capable, and worthy of his trust.

Raven’s arm stung and he looked around, wondering where he was. A small room, in a medical building. A white-coated doctor was setting a long needle down and applying pressure to his arm. She must have given him a shot.

“You’ll feel better soon,” the doctor said encouragingly. “This will clear any of the drugs still in your system. Can you hear me?”

She flashed a light in his eyes and he blinked. “Of course,” he said, raising his hand to stop her from doing any more tests. He wasn’t interested in feeling better; he needed to get away from Atheus. The doctor snapped the light shut in her hand and turned away, saying he should get some rest. She left, and Raven immediately stood up and went to the computer. He couldn’t get any access and he still didn’t know if Nalia was safe or not. The assassins had been after Raven only, he knew, but if Nalia had tried to stop them, they wouldn’t have hesitated to kill her. He had no real way of knowing what happened. His brief message to Scott didn’t even mention Nalia but he didn’t have time.

He regretted sending the message. Scott hadn’t responded immediately and the connection had been lost, and Raven could think of dozens of possibilities. Most likely, Scott was out of the office. Lydia was supposed to be arriving sometime this week, Raven remembered, and Scott may have been picking her up. Or, and Raven knew deep down that this was probably the case, Scott was sick of coming to Raven’s rescue and would ignore the message. Raven took a deep breath. Scott had always helped Raven, and Raven had never done anything but cause trouble. It was presumptuous to think that Scott would drop everything, find Medane, and rescue Raven. But it was the only choice Raven had. The thought of Scott ignoring the message choked in Raven’s mind and he couldn’t shake the fear that this was the time he would lose Scott, just as he had lost everyone else who loved him.

The door opened and Raven expected the doctor to return, but it was another woman, familiar and reassuring. Despite Raven’s fears and his dire situation, he welcomed Kaela with a warm hug and was grateful when she returned the gesture whole-heartedly.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Raven whispered.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” Kaela retorted, gesturing at his body.

Raven looked down and realized with shock that he was covered in cuts and bruises. The assassins must have beaten him when he was unconscious, Raven thought angrily. Strangely, the pain was nothing compared to the headache he had felt on the plane hours ago. Days ago. No, the bruises would be healed if it were days, he figured. He wondered how much time had passed since he had hard-wired the ancient computer, contacted Scott, and descended into a drug-induced haze.

Raven laid his hand on Kaela’s cheek. She looked scared but unharmed, and she seemed glad to see him. He wanted to apologize for leaving her, but he stopped when another person entered the room. The man was older, with nearly Caucasian-white skin and no hair on the top of his head. He was dressed in dark maroon and when he spoke, Raven realized with shock that this was Atheus in his human form.

“Raven,” Atheus said. “So glad to see you again. Kaela, leave us.”

Kaela held her ground and looked like she was about to refuse until Raven touched her arm and pushed her forward. There was no need for her to stay, especially if she would get in trouble for it. Atheus watched their interaction with interest, like a cat eyeing its prey. The door slid shut behind Kaela and Atheus’ attention returned to Raven.

“Are you aware that you are wanted for murder in the United Western World?”

Atheus’ question was without preamble and Raven trembled.

“Yes,” Raven said quietly.

“Kaela is as well, as you may know,” Atheus said, walking closer to Raven. The room was crowded and Raven uncomfortably backed up until he hit the wall. “I’m prepared to offer both of you pardons,” Atheus continued. “If you agree to join my service and work for me.”

Atheus represented everything that Raven hated about the world: the corruption, the constant and senseless quest for ultimate power, the utter disregard for human life that was becoming more and more common around the world.

Raven let out a scornful laugh. “Join you? I would rather die.”

Atheus’ fist crashed next to Raven’s face. Raven froze. Atheus’ sleeve was brushing Raven’s cheek, his fist buried deep in the plaster wall. Raven hadn’t even seen him move. If Atheus had hit him instead of the wall, Raven would be dead. He swallowed hard and tried to fight the fear weakening his resolve.

“That will be arranged, if you choose. But are you prepared to throw your life and Kaela’s life away? And what of the rogue díamont? Nalia, wasn’t it?”

Raven inhaled sharply. He hadn’t told anyone that Nalia was a díamont. How did Atheus know?

“I’m willing to spare their lives,” Atheus continued. “Now I’m going to ask you one more time. If you refuse, I will kill you, I will kill Kaela, and when I find Nalia I will kill her as well. Do you agree to join my service?”

Raven took a deep breath and tried to think. Joining Atheus’ service would be permanent. Atheus would have access to all of Raven’s files and his life would be completely at the díamont’s mercy, for as long as that life lasted, at least. Raven had never officially joined Medane; he accepted jobs but had never formally sworn loyalty to the United Eastern World. He longed to say no. He wanted to spit in Atheus’ face and use his remaining moments of life to try to kill the man. But he would fail, and other people would die. People he cared about. He thought of Kaela waiting outside, probably wondering what they were talking about, with no idea that her life was in danger. He thought of Nalia and hoped she was safe. No matter how safe she was, though, Atheus would find her.

Atheus pulled his fist back and stared at Raven. Raven felt his shoulders tense and his posture stoop. He lowered his eyes. He had no choice.

“Yes,” he finally said.

Atheus grinned. Raven flinched as the man’s fist came forward but it turned into an open-handed pat on the back as Atheus pulled him close in a mockery of a hug.

“Good,” Atheus murmured. “I even have a job for you, to welcome you to my service. The United Western World elections are being held in a month and one of the candidates has promised to rid the world of díamonts if he is elected. The law prevents me from interfering directly, but I’m sure you are capable of removing the threat. Are you, Raven?”

Atheus met his eyes with a hard, callous stare. Raven had never seen anything as inhuman as Atheus’ face in that moment. Cold, calculating, remorseless. Raven wondered why Atheus bothered following the laws of the United Western World when he had so clearly violated the Sydney Peace Accord on the moon base.

Raven nodded, more from fear than an understanding of what Atheus was asking. He would have to kill another human, Raven thought with a shudder. And one who probably was a good person. Raven had never killed anyone who hadn’t deserved death and he wasn’t sure if he would be able to do it, but he knew Kaela and Nalia’s lives hung in the balance. He could either kill a stranger or watch his two friends die.