Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)(4)

June’s right, the sky is the same shade of violet as my hair. Man, I wish I had my camera.

This was the third habitable planet she’d witnessed. It was wild to think of all the worlds chocked full of life, when people back home thought they were the only ones.

Riley crept toward the open door, squatted down and peered out. Ion, Exo and the three demons left the pallet of supplies in a warehouse, then headed back across the tarmac.

Riley noticed movement by the pallet in the warehouse. Her mouth dropped open, when June scampered away from the tarped pile of supplies.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph! June, you are one crazy bitch. You picked the worst possible place to hide. How in the hell are you going to get back on this ship without being seen? I seriously need a cigarette right now.

Riley was starting to understand why her grandfather chain smoked. It wasn’t healthy, but it was a hell of a lot better than some of her family’s coping mechanisms. Between the war, losing his wife to cancer, and dealing with his family, Pépère had more cause to be an addict, than anyone. Riley felt like she was on a similar fast-track to Crazytown.

Riley was startled out of her wayward train of thought, and nearly jumped out of her skin, when Exo reentered the loading bay. She hugged the wall, cautiously watching Exo walk by. The fact he missed her skulking in the shadows, was a miracle. But Exo finding her, was the least of Riley’s problems. The large loading bay doors were closing, trapping June on the demon planet.

Fucking Hell! Shit. Shit. Shit. Wait. Why is Exo alone? Where is Ion? Riley frowned. Ion and June are together. They’ll be fine. Right? The M’s were talking with the barbarians. It appeared civilized, if you overlook the demonic growling. Surely Exo wouldn’t leave Ion behind if it wasn’t safe.

Riley looked from the closed bay door to where Exo disappeared down the hall. She nibbled her lip while debating the dilemma. As far as she knew, the M’s hadn’t felt the need to punish any of the colonist yet. Riley certainly didn’t want to be the cause of the first jail built at New Earth colony. However, it was time to let Exo know he had a stowaway. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself, if anything happened to June.

Her mind made up, Riley started toward Exo, when the hull beneath her feet rumbled to life.

“Fucking hell, we’re taking off.” Riley hunkered down on the floor as the ship shot into the atmosphere. “This is what I get for procrastinating. That shit bites you in the ass every time. Now June’s stuck down there. You better hope she’s safe with Ion,” she berated herself.

Riley sat on the floor, as the spaceship shimmied into orbit. Back home, she’d only been on an airplane once, and it hadn’t been a pleasant experience. The M’s ship was thankfully a much smoother experience, if you could get past the freaky concept of being in outer space.

Unbelievable, Riley thought as she stared at the stars through the giant dome overhead.

The daunting view had gotten easier after being cooped up on the ship for a few days, but it was still awesome to witness.

It’s beautiful really.

Riley got up when the hull stopped vibrating, and headed toward the bridge. She and June had become well acquainted with the ship on their impromptu trip. The giant sphere was built like a wheel, with the domed loading bay in the center.

Riley grabbed the frosted glass wall to steady herself, when the ship shook. She didn’t recall turbulence the last time they were in space.

What the fuck?

When sirens began a staccato whine, Riley knew something was very wrong. She started running toward the bridge, as another shock rocked the ship, sending her careening into the wall. Riley staggered to her feet and managed to make it to the control room, despite the rattling all around her.

“Exo, please, let me in,” she yelled, as she banged on the opaque door. “Please open up.” She shifted anxiously from one foot to the other.

Riley nearly had a heart attack when she heard a horrific screeching sound over the blaring siren. It sounded like metal being rent in two.

“Exo,” she frantically yelled, as she banged harder on the thick glass door.

The portal slid open to reveal Exo. His large pale eyes were impossibly wide as he pulled her into the control room, then resealed the door.

“What are you doing here?” Exo warbled nervously.

“It’s a long story. What is going on?”

“We’re under attack.”

Riley knew the situation was bad before she asked. She’d never seen the pale bald man sweat before. But she hadn’t expected Exo to say they were under attack. She thought maybe there was a malfunction or something.

Her eyes swung to the large screen at the front of the control room. A wedge-shaped vessel was attached to the hull of the M’s ship, like a giant metal leech. Riley had to lock her knees to keep from buckling.