The further they went in, the darker it became, until they were almost in pitch black. Michael slowed, carefully placing his feet so he wouldn't run into anything. After a time, another red light shone. Venus heard him heave a sigh. She did the same.

When he reached a door, he zinged the badge and hurried through.

Out into the sunshine. Free! The notion invigorated her.

"Let me down," Venus squinted, the sky dazzled, a light blue. Clear, not a cloud in sight.

He set her feet gently on the pavement.

"Where too?"

Michael pulled on the collar of his shirt to readjust it and then pinched the bridge of his nose. All the while turning from side to side. She followed him, getting her bearings. A chain-link fence stretched in front of them twenty feet away. It probably stood thirty feet high. Barbed-wire curled along the top. Beyond the fence, everything was yellow, dried and flat. Mountains stood way off in the distance, but they looked tiny.

"There," Michael said, pointing. Venus followed his finger and saw the green army jeep. "Are you sure you can walk?" By his stance, she could tell he was prepared to sweep her into his arms again.

"I'm fine. Go." She gave him a push. Relaxing her shoulders and taking as deep a breath as she dared, she followed.

He pulled the pa.s.senger door opened for her and she climbed in. The keys were in the ignition. Once Michael closed his door, he started up the engine. Now that she was seated and at the mercy of Michael and his driving, a twinge of panic set in. What if someone sees us? What will they do? Shoot?

Michael threw the gear shift into reverse, backed up a ways, shoved the gear shift into first and they were on their way. He drove at a steady pace, scanning the chain-linked fence and buildings around them.

"What're you looking for?" Venus asked. "Two sets of eyes are better than one."

"I'm hoping to find a non-manned exit."

"Got it." She searched the fence-line with him. On her side were a bunch of buildings. As they turned right, pa.s.sing them, she saw an exit. It wasn't unmanned, but guarded by a guy holding a large rifle. "Cret."

The man wore camo fatigues and a white hat shaped like a halved walnut on his head. He stood inside a tall, rectangle box. Left of the station box, a red and white striped fence blocked their escape.

Michael glanced over at her and said, "Hang on."

Venus jolted into action. The black dash was covered in all sorts of b.u.t.tons and k.n.o.bs, but she found an empty spot and pressed against it. Then she spread her feet apart to brace them. Not very lady-like, especially in a hospital gown, but whatever.

He stepped on the gas and the jeep lurched forward, barreling toward the gate. The soldier jumped out of his white box, aimed the gun and fired. Michael pressed the gas harder, the engine revving as they careened forward. When it was clear he wasn't slowing down, the armed man jumped out of the way.

As the jeep hit the fence, it sounded like erupting firecrackers. The broken pieces smashed against the hood and flipped up, crashing into the windshield. She let out a shriek, worried the gla.s.s would shatter, but there wasn't a scratch. Michael gave her a huge grin.

"Bulletproof. I've always wanted to do that," he said with a laugh.

"Faaaabuuuu." Venus snickered, glad to be free of that place.

Michael hooted. "Totally fabu!"

They were driving on a b.u.mpy, dirt road. On either side an occasional weed stood frozen in place by snow. A tumbleweed, icicles clinging, rolled in front of them. Michael plowed over it. She listened as it scratched its way under the vehicle.

"Do you know where we're going?" Venus asked.

"No. Not really. But we're going to follow this road and, and hopefully it'll take us home."

"Great. Um, whose home? Yours?" Venus asked, leaning back against the headrest.

"No, yours. We need to find Zaren. He'll be able to help you get home . . . back to your planet, won't he?"

"If anyone can, it's him. It may not matter. We'll see." She rubbed her arms, trying to get rid of the chill stealing over her.

Without saying a word, Michael pressed a b.u.t.ton and warm air blew from the dash.

She sighed. "Still it's a good idea." Zaren would know what to do. She hoped. Right now her body felt good. The medicine Sharon injected her with had provided temporary relief. Wearing her boots once again helped as well. When the drugs wore off, though, she had a sinking suspicion her body would be in more pain. Especially since the medication wasn't healing, but masking her symptoms.

If her life ended, she was grateful it wouldn't be at the hands of those horrible people. A lot better than dying like a caged animal. Deliberating about her death led her to think of Zaren. He'd be upset, but she couldn't help it. Venus felt certain death would be along soon.

If she thought like Zaren, though, he'd tell her to stop moping, and fight. Anything was possible, right? And maybe he'd been able to talk to the G.o.ds. Maybe they'd agreed to let her come home despite the fact that Michael hadn't fallen in love.

Venus had tried . . .

Well, she tried to try . . .

Cret! I didn't try at all.

Hope. Her word of the moment. Perhaps they'd felt sorry for her. Maybe the liars and murderers had been discovered. She knew that wasn't true. If her family had vanished, her country would be in upheaval. Whoever did this knew what it meant to be a traitor, which was why they'd been able to frame her, and her family.

48. (I Just) Died In Your Arms.

When they reached Dervinias's little house, Michael pulled the stolen jeep in front. Venus jumped out and tried to run. It was more of a jog. When she got to the door, she held her breath and pushed it open.

"Zaren!"

Michael followed her in. Faster than lightning Zaren appeared next to her. Strong arms wrapped around her tightly. She rested her cheek against his chest. He felt so good, she wanted to cry. Lemon and a hint of sweat filled her nose.

"Zaren, did you talk to them?"

He grabbed her by the shoulders and held her at arm's length. Searching for some indication of trauma, Venus guessed. After a moment, he glared at Michael, his anger thick. He released her and lunged at Michael, shoving the palm of one hand into the boy's chest. She knew he'd held back, since a real hit would've killed him. Michael sailed backward, his head smacking the wall, before crumbling to the floor with a moan.

Venus glared at Zaren, rushing to Michael. "Are you okay?"

"He shouldn't be. I should kill him for what he did."

Venus peered back and noticed his hands were clenched into fists, the muscles in his jaw grinding.

"Zaren, he helped me escape. Without him, I'd still be in that cell."

"You were taken in the first place because of him! It's all I can do to control my desire to kill him." He paused, shaking his head, like he was trying to get the images he saw in her mind, out. "And I would've found you."

He didn't sound convinced. She must've been too far away. "Of course," she said softly, squeezing his hand.

He grunted as he crouched next to her, and grabbed the collar of Michael's shirt in a fisted hand, twisting and lifting. "If you'd allowed them to finish. If you hadn't helped her . . . I! I-!"

"I know, man. I know."

Zaren relaxed the grip on his shirt and shoved his palm into Michael's forehead so his head smacked against the wall.

"Cret, Zaren. Seriously!" Michael made a mistake. She appreciated that he was trying to repair his wrongs. The way he'd felt was understandable. Given the circ.u.mstances she might've reacted the same way. Venus had said things . . . treated his mother without respect. He'd been dealing with a lot.

She and Michael were like two ends of the same string. And the longer they stayed attached, the stronger their connection grew. Their bond allowed her to experience his pain-emotionally and physically. Right now both were affecting him, in a terrible way.

"Zaren, help me get him over to the sofa," she huffed.

Zaren sighed. "Yes, Princess." He stuck a hand under Michael's arm and hoisted him over his shoulder.

"This isn't necessary. Put me down."

Zaren shifted him on his shoulder and Michael groaned.

"Fine."

Once they reached the living room, Venus pushed the remote and some newspapers out of the way. Zaren flung Michael onto the sofa.

"Easy, Bluto."

"Don't push me, runt."

Venus patted Zaren on the chest. "Go get some ice, would you?"

When Zaren left, she moved Michael's hair off his forehead. "I didn't mean for that to happen. Please be okay." She ran her fingers through his hair. Touching him, their closeness, she didn't want to stop.

"Mmmmm, that feels good . . . Princess." A slanted smirk appeared on his face.

She quickly moved her hand away. What was she doing? Or more importantly, what was this guy doing to her? Venus batted him on the forehead with her fingers.

"Hey. What was that for?"

Ignoring his question, she said, "Lift your head so I can tuck a pillow under it." She chewed on her lip, nervous. "Go on," she urged when he didn't move fast enough.

"Thanks."

"Of course." She slid the pillow under his head. He still had a smirk on his face. "Are you even in pain, or pretending?" She tossed a pillow at him.

"I'm in terrible pain. You saw what the oaf did." His smile grew genuine.

"I'll show you oaf. Give me thirty seconds, that's all it'll take to turn you into hamburger," Zaren said as he walked into the room with a bag of frozen peas. He stood over Michael and dropped the cold bag onto his chest. "Here you go, kiddo."

"Gee, thanks Dad." Michael stuck the bag of peas inside his shirt. "Ha. Cold." He wriggled, trying to get into a more comfortable position, she supposed. "So, what's the plan, Zaren, ole' buddy. How are we going to help Venus get home?"

"You have done enough. Might as well scat back to your . . . father. I'm sure he's curious about the latest developments." Zaren pulled Venus to him, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. His strength buoyed her spirits.

"Look, I'm sorry. Okay." Michael removed the peas and tossed them on the seat next to him. "My mother had just been murdered, and I wasn't thinking straight." He looked right at Venus and she noticed the peculiar expression on his face. "Venus, I am really sorry. What Abe and Frank did, I know I can't take it back." He shook his head as though trying to clear the awful images of tests they'd done to her, away. "I swear I want to help. Tell me what to do." He sounded full of regret.

Venus glanced at Zaren wondering what he'd say. There wasn't any point in sharing her feelings about how Michael could help. He'd needed to fall in love and he hadn't. If the G.o.ds were still denying her return . . . her life was over. But she wasn't mad at him. The a.s.signment Ith and Aetha gave her had been difficult-important for some reason, but difficult.

Zaren watched her face and sighed. "They-"

He wasn't able to finish. A loud male shouted through a megaphone. "Come out with your hands up. We have the place surrounded."

Zaren left her side and ran to the window. Venus followed. They pulled back the black curtain and saw several green military vehicles along with a white van and a lot of men with guns.

Michael came up behind them, "I'll go out and talk to them. Zaren, get her away from here. I'll meet up with you if I can. Where will you be?"

"The less you know, the better," Zaren said to Michael, though his attention was focused on Venus, an odd look on his face.

What the cret is going on with these two?

It suddenly dawned on her that Michael and Zaren were jealous of each other, and Zaren was reading Michael's thoughts.

Knock it off, Formytian, she yelled internally.

"Let's go, Venus." Zaren started pulling her toward the back door.

"Wait," she said, yanking her arm from his grasp. The idea of leaving Michael didn't feel right. Venus knew it was the connection they had. "Zaren, can you give us a minute?"

"I'll be in the kitchen."

She waited until he'd gone, one hundred percent positive Zaren would listen to their conversation, but the fact remained, she had things to say. And while Venus knew her feelings-annoying as they were-rested mostly on Zaren, the undeniable bond between her and Michael had to be discussed. For her sake.

Three. Two. One.

"Michael," Venus touched his arm. He looked down at her with such gloomy eyes. "Whatever happens, will you promise me you'll allow yourself to truly love? Open yourself to it, regardless of the consequences. I know your parents did things-hurt you. I also know you have so much to give, so much love inside. I feel it. Every time I sleep, every time I'm near you. And, it isn't just me. Ith and Aetha, the G.o.ds I told you about, they feel it too."

"I'll try." He nodded, tears surfacing on his lashes. "Adonis was an idiot. He rejected Venus and then he died."

Venus blinked, curious as to why he was bringing up the Shakespearean character. "Yes, well Adonis cared more about the hunt than anything else, including love."

"Venus. Beautiful G.o.ddess . . ." He caressed her cheek with a thumb. "I'm not a fool-at least not as big of one as Adonis. I've done stupid stuff, hurt you, but I don't want you to go."

Venus shook her head. "I'm not a G.o.ddess, and you aren't a fool." She reached up and put a hand over his, bringing it down and pressing it between both of hers. A tingle rushed through her body, but she shook it off. "One thing I know for certain is that my G.o.ds believe you're special. See, I'm sort of . . . well, you and I, the G.o.ds somehow . . ." She wasn't sure how to say it without sounding like a complete doof.

"We're connected, you and I." He pulled his hand from between hers. Then placed both of her small hands inside his much larger ones. "I realized it while Abe and Frank were testing you. It was as though everything they did to you, they were doing to me, too."

Breathless, she said, "Yes, that's right. And I've seen your life and what you're capable of. I know you can have the kind of love you seek, the kind you deserve. I know it. You aren't like Adonis. Find love."

His fingers touched her hair and slid down to the nape of her neck. He gave a slight tug, raising her face to his. "Why does it matter that I discover love? Who am I to your G.o.ds?" He searched her eyes, pleading.

Venus's heart beat hard. Could he hear it? "I'm not sure, but they've decided you're important. Who am I to question their decisions?" She shrugged, but couldn't look away.

"This may sound crazy, but there's something I should tell you. See, I think . . . No, that's not true, I know I've-"