Chained Read online

  Becca frowned, concentrating. “Truth is very intense and very direct—he sees something he wants and he goes right for it. The way he looks at me…it’s like he can see me without my clothes.”

  “He wishes,” Sophia murmured with a little smile.

  “Probably. He, uh…he told me almost immediately that he wanted to bone me.” Becca blushed, her creamy cheeks getting rosy. “Um, wanted to bond with me, I mean.”

  “No, no—” Kat was laughing. “I think you got it right the first time, doll!”

  “And what about Far?” Sophie asked. “What’s he like?”

  A soft smile formed on Becca’s mouth. “He’s cooler than Truth—a little more standoffish. But once you get to know him, he’s got a lot to say. He’s very insightful—and very gentle.”

  “Sounds like together they would make the perfect man,” Sophie remarked.

  “They would,” Kat said, frowning. “They’re supposed to—that’s the whole point of Twin Kindred. But to meet a pair that want nothing to do with each other…” She shook her head. “It’s just wrong.”

  “It’s because they were separated at birth,” Becca said. “They never met each other until that very day when they also, uh, met me.” She blushed again.

  “Well that was my fault, hon and I’m really sorry,” Kat said. “But you really don’t need to blush like that. It sounds to me like you didn’t do hardly anything worth blushing over.”

  “She was a nun—or almost a nun,” Sophie pointed out. “They’re not even supposed to think naughty thoughts, let alone…do anything else.”

  “You’re right, Sophie.” Becca laid down her needles. “You know, my Mother Superior says everything happens for a reason. I’m still trying to see what the reason is here, though. At first I thought it might have to do with Far’s visions. They seem to get clearer and more accurate when he’s with me.”

  “Like that vision he had of Maggie floating in the pool of blood,” Kat said somberly. “I still can’t believe she’s gone.”

  “Aren’t they still looking for her, though?” Sophie asked anxiously. “Poor Maggie—I was so worried something would happen to her and then it actually did.”

  “The Kindred search team has looked everywhere but she just disappeared. The couple she was supposed to be with—Ferna and Ratner—said she called from a strange location—some spa on one of Yonnie Six’s moons. They were supposed to come pick her up but when they got there she was gone. And now they can’t find a trace of her anywhere,” Kat said.

  “I have my sisters back on Earth praying she’s found,” Becca said quietly. “I think we just have to hold on and in the meantime, I keep hoping and praying Far will have another vision.”

  “If these two little guys would ever come out we could do a Seek and Find for her.” Kat patted her rounded belly. “Too bad Truth and Far aren’t seeker finders like Deep and Lock.”

  “They might have been—or something like it—if they’d formed a proper bond,” Becca said. “They still have gifts though, even separately. Far has his visions—which aren’t always clear but still…”

  “And Truth?” Sophie asked.

  “Just like his name says—he can instantly tell someone’s true intentions just by touching them. That makes it hard to tell him to back off,” Becca confessed.

  “Mmm-hmm, because part of you doesn’t want him to. I hear you.” Kat nodded.

  “Yes.” Becca was blushing again. “But I like Far too. He’s easier to be around—at least when you get him talking. When he’s around Truth he tends to just clam up.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Well, don’t give up,” Sophie said. “I know you’re confused, Becca, but if there’s any chance that Far might have a vision that points us toward Maggie…”

  “I know.” Becca nodded. “I only met her for a minute when she came to apologize about the mixed up signs on the cakes but she seemed like a really sweet girl. She’s the reason I’m still hanging around instead of trying to get on with my life down on Earth.”

  “I’m sure she would appreciate it if she knew,” Kat said gently. “It’s good of you not to give up on her, Becca.”

  Becca looked down at the half finished knitting in her lap. “I have a lot of people who haven’t given up on me. How can I do any less for Maggie?”

  “I still believe they’ll find her,” Sophie said, but her voice wobbled. “She has to be somewhere—right?”

  “Somewhere, sure,” Kat muttered. “But I doubt it’s anywhere any of us would want to be. I just hope someone will find her and bring her safely home.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “Wakey-wakey, my dear. I’m sure you’re wondering where you are.”

  The nasty voice was horribly familiar but Maggie couldn’t place it right away. She struggled to open her eyes and see who was talking to her but it felt like someone had tied lead weights to her eyelids—she was so tired.

  “Give her some more stimulant,” the nasty voice snapped. “I want her awake for this—it’s time to show her what her little adventure at my expense has bought her.”

  Something sharp and cold poked into Maggie’s upper arm. She felt a jolt go through her and her eyes popped open. Unfortunately, she still couldn’t see anything but a dim room populated by two multicolored blurs—where were her glasses?

  “My glasses,” she croaked. “Where…?”

  “You ask the same thing every time.” The nasty voice sounded irritated. “For the last time your oculars are gone. Which is a good thing, really—they detracted from your already somewhat limited appeal. How do you expect to fetch a good price at the Flesh Bazaar with those ugly things perched on your little snub nose?”

  Maggie was beginning to wake up more and more. “Flesh Bazaar? What are you talking about?”

  “You’ll find out, very soon.” One of the multicolored blurs leaned forward and Nola Pope’nose swam into focus. “Since my good friend Zamir is going to be selling you there tomorrow.”

  The other blur leaned closer, revealing a lean alien face with green skin and two mouths. Or was one a mouth and one a nose? It was really hard to tell.

  Maggie struggled to clear the cobwebs from her brain—she felt like she’d been sleeping for months. “You can't do this to me—I’m with the Kindred! They’ll be looking for me.”

  “Yes, they have come looking, those filthy males.” Lady Pope’nose made a face. “They were deflected nicely. I told them I never even met you. Imagine their distress when they realized that you must have wandered off with some strange male into the great city of Opulex where anything can happen.”

  “But I never…”

  “Of course not but your little friends don’t know that. They’re probably still scouring the city for any trace of your silly little self—if they haven’t given it up as a bad cause yet.” She leaned closer to Maggie. “And speaking of wandering off with a strange male, if you’re wondering where Korexiroth is, he’s long gone and he hasn’t shown his face around here once since I brought you back to Yonnie Six.”

  Maggie’s heart sank. “Kor didn’t…didn’t even come looking for me?”

  “Not once.” Lady Pope’nose scowled. “Why do you think I’ve kept you around so long, hoping to lure him back in? Unfortunately, it appears he was just using you to get away from me. Males are like that, you know my dear—nothing but untrustworthy canines. That’s why they’re best kept subjugated and enslaved.”

  “I…” Maggie didn’t know what to say. Her strength was returning now and her head felt clearer. She tried to sit up but something prevented her—her arms and legs were chained down to the table she was lying on. “Let me up!” she demanded.

  Nola Pope’nose gave a very unpleasant laugh. “I don’t think so, my dear. Not until your button is activated.”

  “My what?”

  “Your button. The implant I’ve been growing in you for the past six solar months.”

  “Six months?” Maggie shook her