Frozen Fire Read online

  Each time she stopped and holed up, she was more exhausted and was willing to put up with more heat in her coat cocoon. It was physically harder to get up again. Finally, she sank to the ground, not caring that she didn’t dig a hole or that she didn’t pull her coat over her to protect her from the sun. She was done.

  As blackness creeped into her vision, she once again thought of Starry. She wasn’t much different from him, after all. She could almost hear Kaleen’s voice in her mind, calling for her.

  Chapter 16

  Rescued

  Torenz piloted the skimmer, coaxing the sand-choked engine across the endless dunes that more resembled the waves of a mighty ocean than dry land. He’d never gone out that far before, but he had no choice now. Stopping next to the still form of Denefe, he stared down at her. The hood of her heavy parka had fallen back, exposing snow-white locks.

  He smiled. He’d often wondered what she and Kaleen looked like. His heart thundered in time with his thoughts—Denefe was there! Denefe was there!

  He frowned and hopped out of the dust-covered skimmer. Denefe hadn’t moved. She was too still. He heard nothing in her mind, but he wouldn’t unless she actively thought something. Was she still alive?

  Squatting beside her, he pushed his fingertips against her carotid artery in her neck. Her pulse was weak, but it was there.

  Her weight surprised him as he lifted her and gently placed her into the grimy passenger’s side of the skimmer. For someone so little, she had a lot of muscle.

  Piloting back to the base over the waves of sand, he considered how to tell his boss that Denefe had appeared at his front door.

  What about Kaleen? Someone needed to tell her Denefe was all right.

  It couldn’t be him, though.

  He didn’t exist.

  Chapter 17

  Cease and desist

  Kaleen stood on the platform at the GlobeX Siberian Telepathic Hub. She hated being there, hated the bad taste in her mouth every time she thought about how she’d worked there, hated the heavy crease in every employee’s forehead, but mostly hated the weight of the politics of the place.

  Yet right now, with Denefe missing, there was nowhere else she’d rather be. This place gave her the best shot at finding her twin.

  Bridger leaned against the wall, as close to the rift as he was allowed, watching the silver swirls and eddies. The rest of the world could disappear and Kaleen didn’t think he’d notice. He’d been good to her, immediately driving her there, not letting her pilot the shuttle or make the trip herself.

  Rubbing her temple at the harsh ache building there, she tried not to let the panic enter her voice when she spoke to the base’s chief engineer. “Tell me you caught the sidewinder that hit our dig.”

  The man who answered used to date her. He kept sneaking scowls at Bridger. “We definitely caught it. We’re just having trouble accessing the data. Brazil Base may be having more luck with the stream we sent them.”

  She reached for Ardense with her mind. “We’re having difficulty up here. They say they can’t access the info.”

  “Here too. We’re locked out. Although, Mik thinks he has a way around.”

  At that moment, the comm channel locked and then shut down.

  Kaleen took an involuntary step forward, whispering, “No. Please, no.”

  After two minutes of hearing nothing but the rapid breathing and typing of the chief engineer, the channel came back on. Immediately, everyone got busy with their programs.

  It was Ardense who gave Kaleen the news she dreaded, yet already knew in her heart. “It’s gone. Every bit of the data has been stripped from the stream. What about your end?”

  She eyed the frowns and confused faces of those around her. “Probably. They’re still checking.”

  Now they’d never find Denefe. She pinched her lips tight, determined not to let the sobs take over again. She locked gazes with Bridger, and he crossed the platform to stand close beside her.

  Ardense spoke again. “Listen, it’s a good sign. Denefe has to be alive.”

  Kaleen held her breath and placed her hand on Bridger’s chest, ignoring the threatening glare of the chief engineer. Her heart grasped at the thin straw of hope. “How do you figure that?”

  “If she was dead, they would have told us so we’d stop looking. Instead, they stripped the data and didn’t say a word.”

  Slowly, she calmed. It made sense.

  Ardense continued. “She must have landed near some place restricted. Like—”

  “Primary. She landed near Primary.” Kaleen sat at an empty station and opened a comm link. The moment the receptionist at GlobeX Primary Hub answered, his mouth rounded to an “O” and he put her on hold. She hadn’t even had time to give her name. It seemed they’d been expecting her call.

  Within seconds, she found herself facing Maurice Cardenza. His chiseled face looked gaunter and worn than usual. The dark bags that normally underscored his eyes were positively charcoal.

  He began immediately. “If you call anyone else here, they’ll just reroute you to me, so don’t bother hanging up.”

  “You stole our data.”

  He gave a thin smile. “Our data was brought here so we could put our very best people on it and find answers quickly.”

  “Mik at Brazil Base is one of the best.”

  He cleared his throat. “Actually, no. We don’t send the best out. They’re all right here.” He jammed his index finger straight down on the desk for emphasis.

  Kaleen could almost feel steam rolling from her ears at his arrogance. She’d never liked him, but now she absolutely hated him. Before she could stop herself, she blurted, “Do you have Denefe? We know the sidewinder probably landed near someplace restricted.” She hadn’t planned on letting anyone at GlobeX know what they’d figured out, but her anger had gotten the better of her and there it was.

  He sighed, crossed his fingers for luck, and leaned into the camera. “The data suggests she made it through the sidewinder alive, but she’s not here. However, I understand your worries. I have some concerns as well. I’ll send my people into every room of the complex for a visual search. The surrounding area too. I promise, we’ll find out what happened to your sister.”

  Kaleen sat back as the screen went black. For all her dislike of Maurice Cardenza, he seemed to be genuinely sincere in his effort to help. He would find Denefe. She was alive.

  Or had been when she was dumped by the sidewinder.

  Chapter 18

  Where is here?

  Slowly, Denefe awoke from a dreamless state. She was in a structure of some kind. Frowning, she concentrated on what she could remember. It was only one thing—the desert. So, how’d she get there? Where was here? Assuming it was the same sidewinder that snatched Starry, was she in Egypt? Had it reversed itself, not in time—the furnishings of the room were modern—but in location? She’d never heard of one doing that before, but so little was known about them.

  A door opened, bringing with it indistinct sounds of voices laughing and talking. A dark-haired woman approached, holding an ornate silver tray bearing fruits and an assortment of cooked dishes. The woman was medium build, but her hands were as big as, if not bigger than, a relatively large-sized man’s.

  Denefe waved her away. Food was the last thing she wanted. Her insides felt raw and bruised as if she’d been run over by a military tank.

  Instead of leaving, the woman set the tray on a little nightstand and lowered herself to the edge of the bed. “You need to eat. It will aid the healing process. The questions you have must wait until you are better.” Her voice was soft as honey and her face beneath thick brown hair looked to be olive-toned in the darkened room. “My name is Jileah, and I’m going to help you sit up now.”

  She slid a large hand behind Denefe’s shoulder and, with the other, took hold of her opposite elbow. Slowly, Denefe rose to a sitting position. By the time she’d leaned back on the prepared pill
ows, she was drenched in sweat and her insides quivered like a dying fish.

  Jileah settled the tray on the bed and then lifted an empty spoon. “Can you eat, or do you think you might need some help?”

  Denefe shook her head and reached for the spoon. She didn’t think she could trust her voice to speak.

  “Good. I’ll check back in a little bit.” With that, Jileah stood and left, closing the door behind her.

  Alone again, Denefe looked around the room. The walls were painted warm ochre. At the far wall squatted a dresser with a metronome on top. Above hung a photograph of her parents. It was a favorite of hers. Her parents had been married for seven years and thought they’d never be able to have children. The picture had been taken the day her mother had found out she was pregnant. She was flushed with a shy smile, but her father grinned like the Cheshire cat. If a person looked closely enough, the glint of tears could be seen in her parents’ eyes.

  The frame was different and the photo was larger, but the fact that it was there meant she was at GlobeX Primary. Denefe sighed and closed her eyes. Home. Right now, it was the most wonderful-sounding word in the world.

  The fruit on her tray was an assortment of fresh peaches, kiwi, and figs. Fresh fruit from all over the globe meant it had to be shipped in. That meant money. Definitely, GlobeX. There was a brothy rice soup, thinly sliced meat in gravy, and mixed mashed vegetables.

  She took a few bites of everything and finished with the caramel-flavored drink. Settling her head back on the pillow, she tried to remember how she came to be there, but nothing came to her, except sleep. Just before she gave in, she started to full wakefulness. She needed to contact her twin.

  “Kaleen.”

  “Denefe! I’m so glad to hear you. Are you all right?” Her thought-voice ran together almost as one word. It came across crystal clear and exceedingly loud.

  “How long have I been missing?”

  “Three days. Are you okay?”

  Denefe blinked. “I’ve been unconscious for three days?”

  “Unconscious? Are. You. Okay?”

  “Yes. I. Think. So.”

  “Don’t get snippy with me. You’re the one who disappeared.”

  Denefe had no rejoinder for that, but it sobered her. “Yeah. I’m sorry.”

  “So what happened?”

  “Got sucked up in a sidewinder that tried to rip me in half. Landed in a desert in the middle of the day with no shelter in sight. Passed out, I guess, and woke up here. That’s all I know.”

  “Where’s ‘here’?”

  “I’m at GlobeX Primary.”

  “No, I checked already. You’re not there.”

  Denefe frowned. “Not there? Then where am I?”

  “I don’t know. You’ll have to find out on your end. We’re all out of ideas.”

  “GlobeX doesn’t know?”

  “They say they don’t, but you know them.”

  “Well, I think I’m at a GlobeX hub somewhere, even if it isn’t Primary.”

  “That gives us something to pursue. Have you spoken to Ardense yet? He’s furious because no one has told us anything.”

  “No doubt. I’ll talk to him right away.”

  “I’ll go so you can do that now. I’m glad you’re okay, and don’t worry, we’ll figure out where you are.”

  “I don’t worry. That’s your department.”

  “Ha ha. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Then she was gone. A well of loneliness swelled within Denefe. She stretched her mind for her boyfriend.

  “Ardense, are you there?”

  His voice answered immediately. Worry and fear laced through his words. “Where are you?”

  “What? No pleasantries? No words of endearment?”

  “Denefe!”

  She smiled. He was worried about her.

  “I don’t know where I am, but it’s somewhere within the GlobeX fiefdom. Kaleen and I just can’t figure out which hub.” Denefe cringed as she realized her error. He was too smart to not notice it, but she held on to a small hope, anyway.

  He paused and then asked, “Kaleen knew you were okay and didn’t tell me?” His telepathic voice left no doubt that she was in trouble. She hurried to placate him, wishing she could wrap her arms around him to reassure him.

  “I just now spoke to her. It’s the first time since the sidewinder took me.”

  Disbelief dripped from his words. “You called her first.”

  “You’re mad at GlobeX. Don’t take it out on me.”

  Ardense was silent for so long, Denefe decided to leave the conversation. Before she could say anything, he spoke again. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been out of my mind worrying about you. Those idiots, Cardenza and Hallen, won’t tell me a thing or let me help. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, pretty much. I just gotta figure out where I am.”

  “Be careful and let me know right away. Love you.”

  “Yep. Talk to you later.”

  Long after Ardense left the conversation, Denefe lay awake turning the events over and over again. She was injured, but supposedly healing. No one knew where she was located. She, yet again, couldn’t tell her boyfriend, who loved her and whom she loved, that she loved him. Finally, with no answers, she fell asleep, dreaming of sand and spiders.

  Chapter 19

  Who are you?

  When Denefe next opened her eyes, she gingerly tested the range of her movements and the pain associated with them. She could twist in either direction a little and bend her torso a small amount. Deciding she could sit up, if she moved slowly, Denefe carefully raised her upper body. Reaching blindly behind her, she propped up her pillow. Step one accomplished.

  Now for step two.

  Inch-by-inch, she bent her knees, keeping her feet flat on the bed. She pushed. Instantly, a knife-cut of agony sliced through her gut. Gasping, she froze. When the pain didn’t leave, she lowered her legs again and lay back, not bothering to flatten her pillow. She breathed deeply through pursed lips, trying to calm the quiver that now drove her stomach.

  Jileah rushed in. “What happened?”

  Denefe gave a wan smile. “Too soon to sit up on my own, I guess.” Her voice came out as a croak.

  “I’ll help you.” As before, Jileah cradled Denefe’s upper back in her strangely massive hands and pulled her into a sitting position.

  “How did you know I needed help? Are you a telepath or empath?”

  Her nurse raised her brows. “Me? No, I’m not, but I…” Her brow furrowed. “I was told by our resident telepath here that you were in trouble.” She turned and whisked out the door.

  Denefe frowned. She’d wanted to ask that woman questions, but she’d been dodged again. Well, when direct questions wouldn’t work, there was another way a telepath could get information. Most people couldn’t control automatic responses, no matter how hard they tried.

  She called after her nurse, “Thank you for bringing me to the southern GlobeX hub.”

  The trick worked. A short phrase appeared in the retreating woman’s mind, correcting Denefe’s error—“Definitive Headquarters.”

  Jileah was almost out of earshot now. There was time for only one more question. “You rescued me from the Egyptian Desert?”

  “Gobi.”

  Denefe turned that latest information over in her mind. So, the sidewinder hadn’t reversed itself, after all. She’d never heard of anything GlobeX had in the Gobi Desert. It had to be GlobeX or Jileah would have corrected that in her mind as well. What was Definitive Headquarters?

  She sighed and reached for her drink. It was then that she realized she was no longer alone.

  Denefe’s heart lurched. The man standing at the door looked enough like Kaleen to be identical—same white hair, same pointed chin, same short and slim frame. No, she thought, looking at his skintight pants and the muscles defined there. Kaleen was petite. She didn’t have muscles like that. Denefe, hers
elf, did. That man could be her twin.

  He walked into the room, watching her. “It’s amusing to see the way your mind works. So quick and agile. Not like Kaleen’s. It’s actually more like mine.” He sat beside Denefe on the edge of the bed.

  A chill ran through her. He knew them. She asked, “Who are you?”

  Instead of answering the direct question, he turned his head and nodded at the portrait above the dresser. “What do you remember of them? I mean, actually remember, not what you’ve been told.”

  “They were killed in a plane wreck when Kaleen and I were babies. So, not much.” She didn’t want to talk about her parents. She wanted to talk about him. She repeated, “Who are you?”

  “What do you remember?”

  All right. She’d play his game. “I remember hands. Hers were strong and fine. His were big and gentle. I remember her perfume too.”

  He nodded. “White Oleander. Is that all?”

  “Why?”

  “What if I told you they didn’t die that day? That the accident was staged and they lived for another twelve years before they actually died from quite a different accident. Would you hate them?”

  Denefe frowned. Her parents hadn’t died in the plane accident? “Why didn’t they contact us?”

  “Because they couldn’t.” He paced the room. “They were brought here to do research for a level ten project.”

  “For GlobeX.”

  “Yes.”

  “What kind of work?”

  “Nothing I can tell you about just yet.”

  Understanding leaped into Denefe. “So…you’re my brother. You were born later, after they came here.”

  “Um, no. Not quite.”

  “You’re a clone?”

  “Definitely not.” He shook his head vehemently.

  “What then? Who are you?”

  He stopped pacing and locked gazes with her. “My name is Torenz. I’m your triplet.”

  Denefe stared at him. Could they be? True, they looked similar, and he had the muscles to prove his athleticism like her. The part of their thought patterns being alike was sketchy proof at best. Really, triplets? Either that man was delusional or someone was trying to trick her. The third option, that it was true, was just too farfetched.