Shadowed(11)

“I came here for help—not to be mocked,” he said stiffly.

“And as I said before, I’ll be happy to help you.” She smiled. “For a price.”

This was more like what Reddix had expected. “Name it, witch,” he growled. “And I’ll tell you if I’m willing to pay.”

“Oh, you’ll pay all right.” She smiled at him, her yellow eyes flashing again. “You’ll pay because you have no choice.”

Reddix nodded. “I have a good amount of credit saved…”

“I won’t be paid in coin or credit.” The witch’s red lips curved into a smile. “I want to be paid in blood.”

Reddix held out a wrist without hesitation. “Take it.”

“Not yours, my dear. The payment and, indeed, the cure you so desperately need, can only be made with the blood of another. The blood of one with a pure heart and healing hands.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know anyone like that.”

“Not yet, you don’t.” The witch smiled knowingly. “But you will. You are going with a delegation to the Kindred Mother Ship to try and talk your good friend Saber out of his incestuous love, are you not?”

Reddix frowned. “How do you know about that?” The fact that Saber had decided to marry a female from his own clan, thus committing incest in the eyes of the Touch Kindred, had been hushed up as much as possible.

“Never you mind how I know. The point is, there is one such as I have mentioned on the planet the Mother Ship orbits. One whose blood can seal our deal and set you free.”

“So you want me to find some innocent person and sacrifice them so that I can be free of my curse?” Reddix grated. “I may not have a Touch Sense, but I still have my honor.”

“Oh honor. Who cares for that?” The witch made a dismissive motion. “Besides, what choice do you have? Think of the Clans and your darling little sister. Think of all the carnage if you fail to overcome your RTS and get that lovely young bride you’re going to take pregnant with an heir.”

“You must have a bug or a spy—something—”

“Never mind what I have.”

Xandra walked back to the boiling pot and stirred the thin blue broth in it with one long finger, apparently heedless of the pain. “After all, it’s not like I’ll kill her, this innocent little flower you’re going to pluck. I just need some of her blood, and then you can return her if you like. Or keep her as a pet, I don’t care.” She shrugged.

“But…” Reddix shook his head. “I’m told there are billions of people on that little world. How can I possibly find the right one?”

The yellow eyes glinted pure gold for a moment. “How do Kindred usually find the right one for them? You’ll dream of her, of course. And when you go down to the surface, you’ll be drawn to her—like an iron filing drawn to a magnet.”

“But how will I know for certain she’s the right one?”

“When you find her, you’ll know.”

“But how?” Reddix demanded.

“You just will. But I’ll give you a test to be absolutely certain. Here, give me your arm.”

Taking a step forward, Reddix thrust out his right arm.

Xandra reached into the bubbling pot again and pulled out a small, writhing black speck. Before Reddix could protest, she dropped it onto the exposed skin on the inside of his wrist. There was a sharp piercing sensation for a moment, as though someone had driven a spike right through his flesh. Reddix grunted in pain and jerked away.

The witch laughed.

“I know—it stings, doesn’t it? Poor baby.”

“What is it?” But looking down at his arm, he could already see the answer. “A lthss. What the hell? Why did you put this on me? These things are fucking parasites!”

“That’s not just any lthss, my dear Reddix. It’s my pet—tied to me. Just call it a symbol of our agreement.” The witch smiled and nodded at the tiny black creature now embedded firmly in his skin. “When you find the girl—and you will find her, never fear—simply press her skin to yours in the spot where the lthss lives.”

Reddix frowned. “I don’t touch skin to skin—ever.”

She smiled. “Do it anyway. When you find her, press her hand or finger to the lthss. If she’s the right one, it will bite her. When it takes her blood, it will turn crimson and you’ll know.”

“But if the lthss takes her blood, why do I have to bring her back? Why not just leave her where she is?” Reddix argued.

“Still troubled at the prospect of kidnapping an innocent?” The witch shook her head. “Well, you’ll have to get over that. I need her blood, fresh and hot, right from the vein or your cure won’t work. Do you understand?”