Dark Nine ❈ Dark Nine Universe Bk1 ❈

Chapter Seventy-Two

My Kors were being insanely generous, working against their instincts and giving me the best gift in the universe. I was given an ET Key to Light Metro and another key.

They let me explore on my own, without Kor protection – since I had Enhanced Instincts and the ability to Stealth, I could look after myself.

As I approach the address the key is connected to Evoni Central, it's a whole damn house. I thought it would be an apartment, but when the key turns and the door opens, a whole balcony opens and on that space is the mansion, sitting on the side of a giant skyscraper.

Everything in Light Metro was condensed architecture. But this is on the edge of the clouds, so I can see a sea of silver and the horizon is space itself.

I had three gifts today from my Kors. Freedom, a house to live by my own subspecies and others like me, and their trust.

The mansion definitely has room for both squads, it comes with a floor plan folded out in the entry, upon a narrow table. Yup. This place had 20 bedrooms. Wow.

I stick to exploring the bottom, walking out towards the living area, the size of a ballroom, with some cream couches and thick black shaggy rugs, but my favourite thing is the wall of glass. It's one big window overlooking the clouds. I feel like I could walk on those, although that would surely end in a swift death.

"It's nice, isn't it."

My skin crawls as Danger speaks to my left.

I turn to see him switch off his Stealth. Danger is wearing his captain's uniform, still friendly with humans. Although it's interesting to see he still looks human. Insanely tall, like his father, but still human in appearance.

"Didn't expect you to be here," I answer lightly, "How are you?" I note his hair is freshly cut to a few inches, it suits him, a more military clean-cut look.

"Heard you were visiting Light Metro, thought I'd say hi to the Galactic Queen," Danger has something else about him. Some kind of new found happiness, "...that's not the only reason I'm here," he adds this on in response to my funny look, "Her," he looks over my shoulder toward the bar.

I expect to see Dani, I turn without anything in mind.

I blink.

It's not Dani.

It's his mother. She looks thin and pale and tired.

"Hello," Orlai waves meekly, but she looks so happy to see me, "Diana," I run over to her, grabbing her shoulders to make sure she's real. Orlai is very real, her skin warm, she's wearing a white dress, her hair freshly washed, "They can come back?" I whisper, "We can come back from the other side?" Orlai nods, "What's it like in the Dark Realm?"

"Diana, I'm forbidden from speaking about the Dark," Orlai speaks, exhausted, "But I can say, I came back with female help. A Fey girl named Airy. She helped me. She could... she could bring me back."

"How?"

Orlai looks to Danger, "Turn around. It's a secret."

Danger sighs and walks off.

Orlai asks me to come closer, so she can whisper directly into my ear, "Airy thought her father was a human. He wasn't. He was a rogue Kor. Her life was forbidden, so her mother said her father was human. Females with Kor fathers, have the kiss of life. Her venom brought me back. I'm weaker than before... sickly... but don't tell Danger. He just thinks I'm weak from being tired. I'll never be back to full strength... but I am alive, I'm grateful for that," she pulls back, smiling.

The only time someone else had been brought back to life from the dead... was Cinta. Iris had revived her. Had Iris been half Kor, half Meda?

"So... daughters of Kors... their venom... is life-giving?" I ask quietly, whispering the words.