Dark Nine ❈ Dark Nine Universe Bk1 ❈

Chapter Seventy

Diana's POV

I felt Mars' arm come around me, his lips on my ear it'll be okay.

But then I blink and I'm in the Midnight Chamber.

I'm on my back, laying down on a cold slab of blue Apastron cut stone, in the Kor Hold on Dark Ninth, in Star Squad's conference room. I turn my head one way and I see Alpha Centauri's metallic blue appearance, his steel eyes sharp. My head turns left and I see an empty seat.

My hand reaches out, holding the air particles.

I sit up, turning to the empty seat.

"Mars," I whisper, where is he? "Mars?" My fingers hover in the air, waiting for him to fold space and return. My heart races. No, no, no, "MARS!"

My scream echoes in the chamber.

His seat remains empty.

I turn back to Alpha Centauri. He's brooding, not saying a word yet.

I scramble off the table and I feel two chubby hands on my ankles.

I look down, shocked to see Entrpy and Ephereum gazing up at me. Midnight little things.

"Moga?" Entrpy whispers.

"Moga," the other baby whines, mimicking and crawling off, scared. I turn and I see Maelstrom standing in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. He looks twelve years old, he's growing so fast, the dead ring of his father. His green skin has darkened, and his eyes are withdrawn, sorrowful. Dreading the future. My first son. What have I done?

Maelstrom looks distraught. After glaring at me with hurt, he turns and Stealths to move off somewhere else.

An invisible Diasphora shimmers to visibility and then almost disappears – when I see another Kor in the entry.

Venus picks up his son, free of his cell, his bronze skin is shimmering strong.

"They got him," Venus speaks, "...you were the bait, Empress."

"They'll kill him," Alpha Centauri speaks up. No longer so charming, Alpha Centauri is stone cold.

My heart leaps out of my chest, "They have your son too," I hiss at the Estori, "Do something! They tricked Danger. And they used me to get another Kor on their jacked-up ship. Why are you just sitting there?"

"They want us on that ship, Diana," Alpha Centauri stands, "You're right."

"Then kill them all and get Mars back," I hiss this impulsively, "We have to do something."

"Mars won't go down without a fight," Venus walks closer as Diasphora climbs onto his shoulder and then pounces for me. I catch and hold him in a hug. Satisfied with the quick snuggle from mama, he wriggles down and starts speaking baby talk to the other two newborns, they're all running around the floor, invisible and quick, "Did you tell them we're Elion, Diana?" E's tone holds an edge of poison. They're all so curious to know how quick I was to betray.

"I told Danger he was Elion. Danger is technically another Kor, I never told humanity," I answer both of them, "Where is everyone?"

"Coming up with solutions," Venus paces, his eyes checking and watching the babies, "Empress – breathe and take a seat."

"Alpha Centauri. I want you to take me back to that ship," I turn to Alpha Centauri, pointing at him, "Come with me. Hunt for me. Let's hunt them all and free your son and my man. Please. Just this one wish – grant it for me. I need Mars."

Alpha Centauri stands now, his brow arching, "...your man?" he sounds almost insulted I would call any of the Kors such a term.

"You know what I mean," I yell in exasperation, we don't have time to talk for long before something awful could happen, "Take me back, take me back now, Estori, do it, please, this is not something I will regret," I know I sound like I'm in a panic, but I have every right. I know they've lived eternal lives so nothing phases them, but clearly they're interested in my reactions, my emotions. I am not pleased Mars is a damn hostage right now, if not dead already. I want him back. I need him back, safe. I had never felt anything so strongly in my life before. I'd burn down a whole damn planet to get him back here safely.