Hunted Read online

  One thing at a time, she told herself sternly. First, find some clothes and get warm. The open doorway led to a long, dark hall that reminded her of the haunted house you always saw in traveling carnivals. It was the kind of place where people dressed as ghouls and vampires always jumped out at you, screaming—the kind of place Kat and Liv loved and Sophie hated.

  Don’t think about that. It’s just a hallway and it’s bound to lead somewhere. Go on—go through it. You’re not going to find any clothes just sitting here and if you don’t hurry up you’ll freeze.

  It was true that she was getting colder the longer she hesitated. Sophie wasn’t sure if it was getting chillier in the room or if she was experiencing more effects of the Blood Fever. Certainly her nipples and pussy were feeling incredibly sensitive—just having her arms pressing against her breasts and crossing her legs was almost unbearably irritating. Not that she was about to stop covering herself.

  Slowly, carefully, she crept down the spooky black hallway. The only good thing about having no clothes on was that she was completely silent in her bare feet. She was half expecting some horrible alien monster to leap out at her every minute, so it was a relief when she finally saw a pale light shining at the end of the corridor.

  Cautiously, Sophie approached the light and peeked out into the large room it revealed. Standing at a bank of complicated looking instruments was a large, muscular man. His profile was to her, but he was looking away so Sophie studied him carefully. He had a strong nose and chin and thick black hair pulled tightly back from his forehead. In fact, if it hadn’t been for his pale, pearlescent gray skin she would have thought he was Native American in origin. He was wearing some kind of uniform and a long cape which was also pure black. Above his head was a viewscreen—the biggest Sophie had ever seen. It filled almost the entire front wall in front of the instrument panel and it was showing a clear view of a grayish-white globe revolving in the blackness of space.

  Tranq Prime, she thought, recognizing it from her earlier trip with Sylvan. We’re in a ship orbiting Tranq Prime. But this isn’t anything like the shuttles the Kindred use. In fact, it seemed much larger—almost spherical, if the curving, rounded shape of the ceiling and walls were any indication. What kind of ship was she in? And who was the person who was obviously piloting it? Sophie had no desire to find out.

  Maybe I can sneak past him, she thought hopefully. His entire attention seemed to be centered on the controls and she knew she could be quiet enough. This appeared to be a big ship—maybe there was some kind of life raft shuttle or something she could get into. Something that would take her down to the planet’s surface. Of course once she got there she would be stuck, but maybe there was some kind of radio—maybe even a Think-me that she could use to bespeak Sylvan…

  Her hopeful thoughts were interrupted by a burst of static from the viewscreen. Suddenly the view of Tranq Prime was gone and a face filled the screen. A face so terrifying that Sophie had to bite back a gasp.

  Burning red eyes filled pit-like sockets, blazing forth from the confines of a deep hood that seemed to be made of shadows. No other facial features were visible, but somehow Sophie knew there was no nose or lips beneath those burning eyes—only the stark outline of a skull. A sense of doom came over her—a dread so deep that all the strength ran out of her legs. Holding on to the wall, she sank to the cold metal floor, her eyes still locked on the viewscreen. It’s the AllFather—it has to be. She vividly remembered Liv’s description of the leader of the Scourge, but the reality was even worse than she’d imagined.

  “Father,” said the man who was piloting the ship. “It is good of you to return my call.”

  “Ssso, you’re at it again.” The AllFather’s low, hissing voice sounded angry. “I have not given the word—you sssnatched her too early. Ssshe is not yet bonded to the Kindred.”

  “The marker indicated that something was wrong with her. I had to take her quickly.”

  “Oh? And what might that be?”

  “I don’t know. She’s still unconscious. I can tell you one thing though—she is not the one we seek.”

  “What?” The AllFather’s red on black eyes blazed even more furiously. Sophie could almost feel the force of his rage pouring through the viewscreen like a flood of poisoned water.

  “I told you—she is not the one.” The man at the controls sounded remarkably calm—or maybe numb was a better word. “There is no mark between her breasts.”

  “I don’t believe it,” snapped the AllFather. “Bring her here that I may ssscan her.”

  “Certainly, Father,” the man said blandly. Could the AllFather really be his actual father? Sophie shivered at the thought. “I’ll go get her now,” he added.

  “There isss no need to fetch her. Ssshe isss already here—ssstanding right behind you.”

  He knows! Sophie gasped and turned to run, but it was too late. The tall man was on her at once, taking her firmly by the arm and dragging her out of the shadows.

  “Come,” he said sternly as she cringed back, trying to get away. “There is nothing to fear—you are not the one we seek.”

  Nothing to fear? How can he say that? Sophie’s eyes returned involuntarily to the gruesome visage on the viewscreen. The AllFather looked like something out of her worst nightmares—of course she feared him!

  “He is terrifying, is he not?” The man laughed humorlessly. “But don’t worry—he’s fifty light years away. He can’t touch your body—only your mind.”

  That’s bad enough! Sophie couldn’t forget the way Liv had described having her mind scanned. She had hoped and prayed never to have to go through something like that. And now it looked like she couldn’t avoid it.

  “Are you certain the marker wasn’t defective? Ssshe looksss fine to me,” the AllFather hissed.

  The tall man shrugged. “Perhaps she has symptoms we cannot see. After all, it’s not as if we are experts in human anatomy—their skin and hair comes in such a strange variety of colors and this one is no exception.”

  “Be that as it may, you ssshould not have taken her early,” the AllFather snapped. “Ssstill, ssshe isss here now. We must make the most of it. Come forward, my dear,” he said, beckoning Sophie with one skeletal hand. “Let me examine you.”

  Sophie didn’t have any choice. Try as she might to resist, the AllFather’s son dragged her forward until she was standing naked and shivering in front of the huge viewscreen. All she could do was turn her head away and shut her eyes.

  “Look at me,” the AllFather commanded.

  To her horror, Sophie found she was compelled to do as he said. She didn’t want to look at that awful face but her head turned toward it anyway. Still, at least she was able to keep her eyes squeezed shut. I don’t want to see…I don’t want to see…

  “I can make you open your eyesss, my dear—it would be the sssimplest thing in the world,” the AllFather told her. “But I can think of other, more entertaining methodsss to make you look at me. Sssuch asss thisss—open your eyesss now or Xairn will cut off your eyelidsss ssso you are unable to close them ever again. Would you like that?”

  Sophie opened her eyes at once and was almost overwhelmed by the sight that greeted her. The AllFather had moved closer, until his face completely filled the huge viewscreen. Each of those burning red eyes appeared to be as big as her head and they were trained on her—pinning her to the spot.

  “Very good.” The AllFather nodded in approval. “Now drop your armsss. I wish to sssee your breastsss.”

  “Please,” Sophie whispered. “Please, no…” But as before, she couldn’t help doing it. Slowly but inexorably, her hands left her breasts and dropped to her sides, leaving her bare and vulnerable. Sophie wanted to close her eyes again so she couldn’t see those evil, glowing orbs flickering over her naked body but she didn’t dare. Instead she stared straight ahead and simply trembled.

  “You see,” Xairn remarked. “There is no marking between her breasts—I have examined her thoroughly.”