Hunted Read online

  Suddenly Lock’s mental voice interrupted the flow. This male hurt you and then bragged about it to his friends?

  Where does he live? Deep demanded, his mental tone filled with rage. Tell us, Kat and I swear he won’t draw breath for very long.

  Kat didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. They had seen her worst memory and instead of reviling her, they wanted to avenge her. I really appreciate the offer you guys but that was a long time ago. Besides, Tommy wound up living in a doublewide and working at a greasy spoon type diner on the wrong end of town. So you could say he got what was coming to him already.

  I don’t agree with you. Such callous treatment of a female ought to be punished. Deep’s tone was ominous. You gave yourself to him—gave him the pleasure of your body and the purity of your heart and he returned your trust with betrayal. Such a male should not be allowed to live.

  I’m with you, Brother, but Kat is right about one thing—we need to concentrate on finding Sophia, Lock sent. Never fear, our grudge against the male who hurt our Kat will keep.

  Kat sensed some mental grumbling from the dark twin as though he wasn’t nearly satisfied to leave Tommy Barnes alone. But before she could answer she saw something amazing.

  Oh, she gasped as the connection between them deepened immeasurably. She saw the blue and white globe of Earth, just as she had before. Then, suddenly, they began to rush forward. Past the grayish, pocked face of the moon, past the arid red deserts of Mars—she watched them zip by with wonder. The immensity of Jupiter made her mind whirl and the rings of Saturn were barely a blur. Onward they sped, making Kat feel lighter than air as heavenly bodies whizzed past her. Then she heard Deep’s voice in her mind.

  Did you enjoy the tour of your solar system, Kat?

  Yes. It was…amazing.

  I’m glad you liked it. Because now that we’ve reached the edge of it, we must go faster or we’ll never get to Tranq Prime.

  As he spoke, the space around them began to blur. Distant stars that were mere diamond specs set in dark velvet suddenly grew terrifyingly immense and then receded to nothing again as they sped by them. Or in one case, through them. Kat barely had time to cry out as they entered a burning ball of flame so bright it would have blinded her if she’d been looking at it with her physical eyes. But almost before the cry left her lips, they were through it and whooshing forward again at a dizzying speed.

  Lock laughed softly in her mind. Bet you never thought you’d see the inside of a star first-hand, did you my lady?

  No. Kat still couldn’t believe it. This is unbelievable!

  It’s fairly amazing, Lock admitted. I never knew Deep could take us so far.

  I’ve always wanted to test the limits of our power. Deep sounded as though he was smiling for once and Kat could see why. Shooting through the universe this way was the most exhilarating sensation she’d ever had—it was like every roller coaster she’d ever been on, to the thousandth power. How could anyone help being elated at the giddy, exciting feeling of flying through space at the speed of light?

  I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself but we’re actually moving faster than the speed of light now, Deep informed her. We have to if we want to get to Tranq Prime in time to find Sophia.

  But…but I thought that was impossible, Kat protested. How can we be moving faster than the speed of light?

  Because we’re not physically here, Lock explained. Our bodies are still lying on the bed. But our minds are free to wander. Anything is possible on the astral plane.

  Especially if you have enough power, Deep growled. Hang on, we’re about to go even faster.

  As soon as he spoke, everything began to blur. Kat half wished she could close her eyes but that seemed to be impossible in this state. The sensation of speed was so great she could barely stand it. She was sure if her physical body had been subjected to such stress she would have been vaporized in an instant. Then just as she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, they came to an abrupt halt in front of a graying white globe.

  Tranq Prime, Deep explained. It’s mostly ice locked and the people live underground. Lock, is the net ready?

  I have it woven. I just need to cast.

  I hope you made it big enough. We need to cover the entire planet and all the outlying space around it as well. Remember, she could be anywhere in this sector.

  I understand. Get ready.

  Kat sensed a tension from Lock, as though he was about to lift an immensely heavy weight or do some other physically strenuous activity. She hoped that he had gotten enough power from their earlier exchange to do what he needed to do.

  I’m all right, Lock assured her, obviously feeling her worry. It was Deep that needed most of the power to get us here and hold us in position. Just be ready when the net is cast—concentrate on Sophia.

  All right. Concentrating hard, Kat pictured her friend—Sophia’s large green eyes fringed thickly with dark lashes, her lovely long chestnut hair, the sweet, shy way she spoke, her willingness to help, her compassion, her tender heart that ached for anyone in pain, even if it was someone who had hurt her… Sophie, she thought urgently, as the brilliant, shimmering net flowed outward, covering Tranq Prime and all the space around it. Sophie, I know you’re here somewhere—at least I think you are. I found you once—please let me be able to find you again! Please!

  But though she searched and searched for the tugging of a familiar mind, she felt nothing.

  Anything? Lock sent after a few moments.

  Kat wanted to cry. No, nothing. I—wait!

  What is it? Deep asked but Kat shushed him.

  Let me concentrate. Something was moving in the corner of her mind. A tugging so faint she could barely feel it. As she focused on it, it began to grow stronger.

  Kat rushed outward along the shining strands of the net, following the tiny familiar tug. It was leading away from Tranq Prime, taking her into deep orbit around the frozen planet—so deep that it was barely a speck in the sky by the time she found…

  Wait a minute. Kat frowned. That’s not a ship. It’s just a rock.

  An asteroid, Deep sent.

  But…how can Sophie be inside a rock? Kat doubtfully eyed the vaguely spherical shape floating in space.

  If that’s where the tugging is leading you, let it, Lock told her. Go deep, Kat. Let the feeling pull you in.

  All right but I still don’t see how she could be in there. Again feeling like an unseen bird, Kat dived straight at the rocky grey surface of the asteroid which seemed to be about the size of a large house.

  To her surprise instead of speeding through a solid mass of rock and gravel, Kat suddenly found herself inside a hollow metal shell. What the…?

  It’s a ship! Lock sent excitedly. One built to look like an asteroid! Quickly, Kat, can you see Sophia?

  Very quickly, Deep growled in her mind. I can’t hold us here, this far from our bodies much longer. Hurry Kat!

  I’m hurrying! Speed was no issue. In her disembodied state she could flit around more quickly than a hummingbird fluttered its wings. Sophie was very near now, she could feel it—could feel the terror and distress emanating from her friend.

  She rushed through a dark, narrow hallway and out into a larger room with a wide bank of controls and an enormous viewscreen. Projected on its vast surface was a being in a shadowy hood with burning red eyes.

  Oh my God! Kat flinched at the sense of pure evil that flowed from the enormous image.

  The AllFather, Deep sent grimly. So it is the Scourge who have her.

  Was there ever any doubt? Lock returned. We knew they were hunting her, though we still don’t know why they want her.

  And we don’t have time to find out, either. Deep’s mental voice was strained. Where’s Sophia?

  Here! And oh my God… Kat couldn’t go on. Sophie was standing naked with her hands fisted at her sides, looking up at the viewscreen. The terror on her face was heartbreaking but she wasn’t crying aloud. Instead, silent tears ran down her cheeks as