Red Light Specialists (11 page)

The bird had taken her letter, so it wasn’t like she could finish her mission. It wasn’t her fault he refused to ask her for it. Seeing freedom, she ran.

“Sonja?” Pacal called behind her. “Sonja, wait!”

She heard footsteps and knew he chased her. A squeal left her lips as she ran for the door. Bright sunlight greeted her and she blinked as the Grafowk flew past her face, squawking. She screamed but forged onward, terrified.

“Sonja!” Pacal cried. “Sonja, no, wait!”

She reached the steps, taking them two and three at a time.

“Sonja, wait, come back!”

“Sonja!” Pacal’s heart beat furiously in his chest. He saw her reach the first step, a point he couldn’t cross. He tried anyway, knowing he couldn’t go down. A force stopped him, hitting him in the face like a brick wall.

“Sonja, please, wait!”

Behind him his people gathered. He heard them talking, murmuring to themselves. He couldn’t see them, but he heard them, felt them.

“Sonja,” he said softly. He fell to his knees.

Suddenly, she stopped and looked at him. He lifted his hand, but he could only reach so far before he was blocked. He hit the field, wanting to follow her, but couldn’t make it move. In over five hundred years he’d never been able to make it move.

His heart nearly stopped beating as she took a slow step back up. Hope tried to build. His people quieted behind him, waiting, as anxious as he.

“What’s going on here, Pacal?” she asked, cautious. “I want you to tell me what’s wrong with you.”

“Sonja—”

“Are you crazy?” She took another step. Then, to herself, she whispered, “Am I crazy for talking to you?”

He ran his hand over the invisible barrier that kept him from being able to go after her. Sonja reached out and he knew she was trying to feel the barrier. Her hand fell through air and she couldn’t. Pacal reached for her, but she pulled away too quickly.

The voices behind him began to argue. He turned, yelling, “Quiet!”

They instantly obeyed.

“Pacal? Who are you talking to? There’s no one there.”

“You just can’t see them,” he whispered. “Trust me, they are there.”

“No, there’s no one there.” She bit her lips. Tears came to her eyes. He wanted to comfort her but couldn’t. “Tell me what’s going on. Make me understand.”

“I can’t,” he said. “I can’t.”

Death would come for all if he told. It was his burden to bear, his alone until…

“Yes, you can,” Sonja said, trembling. She didn’t know what was going on with him, but there had to be something. “You can trust me.”

“I do trust you,” he answered. The turquoise mask glinted in the sun. “It is you who doesn’t trust me.”

“How can I? I can’t even see your face. I can’t read your mind. It’s like talking to a wall.” Sonja began to turn, intent on walking away. She stopped, moving to face him once more. “Tell me why I can trust you. Tell me why I should.”

“My…heart…” he said, softly. He looked as if he would say more, but the Grafowk flew in front of him, flapping his wings in anger. The letter was clutched in his talons. The bird dropped it on the ground before him. Pacal took it and held it up to her.

“That’s yours.”

His fingers shook as he slowly nodded his head. He slowly opened it. She couldn’t read his expression through the mask.

“What does it say?” she asked.

“The same as all the others.”

“Which is?”

“It is time to let you go,” he said.

Pacal turned, his head down. He walked toward the inside of the temple. Sonja watched him. She was free. The message was delivered. She could go. He wasn’t going to try and stop her. Her mission was done. If the letter said to let her go, he was. She couldn’t understand why RLS-69 would send her on a stupid mission like this, but they had.

Sonja couldn’t do it. She couldn’t force herself to leave, couldn’t force herself to even turn away from the temple. Taking a deep breath, she climbed to the top of the stairs.

The Grafowk stared at her. She reached into her pack and tossed a piece of meat at the bird perched at the temple door. He caught it and as he was busy eating, she went inside.

Pacal sat at his throne, his head down. She felt his sadness, or maybe she imagined it. Sonja wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Maybe she was as crazy as he was.

“I don’t want to go,” she said, her voice low. Pacal’s head whipped up to stare at her. Forcing her words to be stronger, she said, “I don’t want to leave.”

“Why would you wish to stay here? I don’t blame you for going. I would leave if I could.”

“What traps you?” She knew before she said the words that he wouldn’t tell her. “It doesn’t matter. What I want to know is if you want me to stay.”

“Yes.”

“And do you love me, or do you at least think you’ll come to love me in time?”

“Yes.”

Sonja took a deep breath. She braved a step forward. “I don’t know how. I don’t know why, but I was sent here for a reason. I think that reason was you. I can see why you’ve gone mad, being isolated in this prison of yours. I don’t know what’s happening and I may never know. But I love you. So help me, I’m as crazy as you are, because I’ve fallen in love with you overnight. I can’t explain it, but I feel as if I’ve known you my whole life, and yet I know nothing about you.”

He said nothing, didn’t move.

“Take off your mask, Pacal. I don’t care what you look like. Take it off. Let me see your face.” Sonja stopped before him. He didn’t move.

“I can’t remove the mask,” was all he said.

“Then let me.”

The Grafowk squawked behind her as she reached for him. He didn’t move, letting her touch his mask. She tried to pull, but it was stuck. Digging her fingers around the edge, it felt as if it was adhered to his flesh. A weak sound of pain left him as she pulled hard.

Bright blue wings flapped in her face, knocking her back. Sonja fell to the floor. She watched as the bird grabbed Pacal’s mask. Pacal screamed. The bird squawked. Sonja watched, helpless.

She heard excited murmurs all around them. But when she glanced around, there was no one there.

The Grafowk ripped off the mask, flying back with it. Sonja moved to see Pacal’s face but was blinded by light. She lifted her hand to block it, closing her eyes tight. The whispering voices grew and then suddenly were silent.

“Sonja?”

Sonja was too afraid to look. She licked her lips, shaking.

“Sonja?” she heard Pacal say again. A warm hand touched her cheek, only to be replaced by warmer lips. She gasped, blinking in surprise. He pulled on her arm, helping her up.

She hesitated before looking at his face. She gasped. He was handsome. Beyond handsome. He was quite possibly the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on. He had dark, strong features and a firm mouth.

“Why would you hide?” she asked. “You’re perfect.”

He grinned. “No, you’re perfect. You broke the curse that’s haunted this temple for over five hundred years. Your ability to love unconditionally, without knowing or understanding. Your faith in your heart, in me. That is what’s perfect.”

“Pacal?” a shout sounded. The first was soon joined by others. Sonja watched as the hall filled with people—all caramel-skinned and dressed in outfits similar to Pacal’s. They were smiling, cheering, chanting Pacal’s name.

Sonja suddenly noticed that all the statues were gone. “What’s happening? Where did all these people come from?”

“I told you, they were here the whole time. Their bodies were trapped in stone, but their spirits were trapped within the temple walls. Only I could hear them, but to speak this would have been to kill them.”

“The whole time?” she asked, blushing as he turned to hide against his arm. “You mean, they saw…”

He laughed. She loved the sound of it. Pacal pulled her into his arms, holding her close. “Don’t think about it. They couldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did.”

How could she not think about it? Her blush deepened. She made a weak sound and hit his arm.

“You say I broke a curse?” she asked.

“I couldn’t tell you before.” Pacal took her hand and moved to his throne. He sat down, drawing her onto his lap. Sonja nestled against him, watching his handsome face as he spoke over the excited crowd. “Several of my people wanted to overthrow the gods. As punishment we were cursed. I had no part in it, but because I stood by their side and did nothing, I was cursed to walk alone, wearing this mask until the day my heart could be made whole.”

“And the letter?”

“The same each time. As soon as I took it, it meant I had to let the bearer go.” Pacal nuzzled her neck.

Sonja frowned, pulling back. “Hey, what do you mean every time? How many have come?”

“A hundred, perhaps. Why?”

“You’ve had a hundred women up here?” Sonja frowned.

“You’re jealous of this?” he asked.

“Well, no, but…” Okay, she was jealous.

“There is no reason. I didn’t love them. They didn’t make love with me.” Pacal nuzzled her throat, rubbing his skin along hers. “Mm, it’s been so long since I’ve felt anything against my face but cold metal.”

“So you didn’t have sex with them?” Sonja ran her fingers through his long hair, touching him. The hall behind them began to clear as the excitement was taken outside. Still, they ignored the others.

“Well, yes, some,” he answered honestly.

Sonja stiffened. “You just said they didn’t make love to you.”

“They didn’t.” Pacal laughed. “Only you asked to make love to me. They fucked me.”

“That makes it so much better,” she grumbled.

“You have no reason for this jealousy,” he whispered. “You’re who my heart has chosen. It if was not so, the curse wouldn’t have been lifted.”

Pacal stood, taking her hand.

“What happened to the mask?” she asked.

“The Grafowk has taken it back to the gods to let them know our punishment is over. He was my keeper and only he could decide to let me go. Until today, he’s never come in here. And until you, none before had ever touched him.”

“I think I understood more when I thought you were crazy,” she said, laughing and so very happy. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “But I do love you.”

“You’ll be happy here?”

“Depends, can you leave the temple now?”

“Let us find out.” Pacal grinned. She loved seeing his face. He pulled her toward the entrance. Sonja gasped. The city below them was full and more people were coming out of the jungle. “Come, I’ll introduce you to my people.”

Pacal started down the steps. A group of guards stopped them. Sonja frowned. One of the men looked very familiar. His leg was bleeding.

“Oh, no,” she whispered.

“What is it?”

“I think I did that,” she said, pointing at the man’s leg. “I accidentally hit a statue with my knife.”

“He’ll live.” Pacal started to move.

“Ah, actually, let’s stay up here. I think you might have forgotten how long it takes to walk up and down these things.”

“But—”

“Let’s save it for tomorrow.” She pulled him to her. “Right now I want to kiss you.”

Pacal glanced down at his crotch. “Ah, you wish…to put your mouth on me? Right here?”

“Oh yeah.” Sonja grinned. She lifted up on her toes and kissed him, rolling her tongue past his teeth. Pacal gasped in obvious surprise, giving her entrance as she kissed him. A soft moan left her and she felt his excitement pressing against her stomach. Suddenly, she noticed that everyone had stopped their cheering and talking.

Sonja pulled back. Everyone was staring at them, their eyes wide to see what she was doing to their leader.

Pacal moaned. “Yes, introductions can definitely wait until tomorrow.”

Sonja giggled. He took her by the hand and rushed to get back inside. His people shouted in protest, obviously wanting a speech from him.

Pacal stopped, looked them over. “This is your new queen. We’re going to bed.”

Sonja gasped. “Pacal!”

“What, they’ve had me for over five hundred years. It’s your turn to have me.” Pacal lifted her into his strong arms. Carrying her inside, he licked at her mouth. “Besides, you said something about being able to kiss you as you kiss me.”

He grinned with meaning, glancing down her body. Sonja squirmed, instantly moist.

“Maybe we better put off those introductions for a few days,” she suggested. “I have a feeling we’re going to be pretty busy.”

“Mm, yes, we are going to be very busy. With the new child coming and all.”

Sonja’s brow furrowed. “There are children coming too?” She tried to look over his shoulder but his soft laugh stopped her.

“There haven’t been children here in five hundred years.”

“But you just said…”

Opening the door to his room, he walked her over to his bed. Sonya’s eyes widened in anticipation as he spread her out before him. His hand went to her lower abdomen and he smiled down at her. “In nine golden moons we shall have the first child the temple has seen in centuries.”

Sonja glanced down and the realization of what he was implying set in. “Oh, no. I’m not…we’re not…how do you know?”

Pacal laughed and moved over her. “Yes, we are, and I would have thought you’d have learned to trust in me, even when you cannot see it with your own eyes.”

She smiled and wrapped her legs around him. “Guess you should get started in the kissing department. I’ve heard that pregnant women are very horny.”

Pacal looked shocked. “Your kind grows horns while the child is within you?”

Sonja giggled and pulled his smooth cheeks to her. Kissing his lips gently, she looked into he dark eyes. “Oh, I have so much to teach you.”

“And I am very willing to learn.”