Uncharted: Chronicles of the Common, #4

By Elise Night

PIRATES, GLADIATOR PITS, AND A VAMPYRE PLANET! WILL THE PERILS OF THE COMMON FORGE THEIR DETERMINATION TO SURVIVE? OR WILL IT TEAR THEM APART?

 

On the hunt for the mysterious new solar system that could save the hybrid population of the Common, the crew of the Casta Polluxhead for uncharted territory at the edge of explored space. With Synergis still on their tail, they journey into the uncivilized Overworld, where pirates rule the stars with bloodthirsty cruelty.

 

Luhc is well versed in the perils that accompany his reputation as the "Beast of Bhareketu." But when he and his crew are captured by the ruthless Bshossell pirate clan, Luhc's violent past suddenly lands him in the middle of a gladiator pit, fighting for his mate's life.

 

Torn between her desires to protect the people she loves and to complete the mission to save the Hahtta, Eva is forced to confront the reality that her presence puts everyone around in her in danger. But when Kadea, the queen of the Bshossell clan, drags her into a pirate civil war, Eva must decide if she will sacrifice herself to save the crew of the Casta Pollux, or will she fight for the life she has built, and risk losing it all.

 

The CHRONICLES OF THE COMMON is an epic science fiction adventure with romantic elements, quirky sidekicks, fantastical worlds, spicy language, sexy shifters, and packed with non-stop action and laughs.

 

CHRONICLES OF THE COMMON series (Part One):

Uncommon (Chronicles of the Common Book 1) 

Untamed (Chronicles of the Common Book 2) 

Unmoored (Chronicles of the Common Book 3) 

Uncharted (Chronicles of the Common Book 4) 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elise Night
• Release date: Feb 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393472346

Book preview

Chapter One

- Eva -

Fresh wards glittered like delicate string lights strung throughout the blackened cargo hold. The air was uncomfortably heavy and hot, caught on the edge between anticipation and action. Silence filled the cavernous hold with a stillness that was nearly painful in contrast to the buzz of chaos swarming in the back of my mind.

I struggled to mute my nagging chorus of worries, and concentrate on the coming attack, but the whispers in my head were relentless. Above it all, rang one word that refused to be unheard: Family. The memory of that sinister hiss in my ear surfaced with every thought, every breath, and every heartbeat. It stalked me in dreams, and was torture while awake. There was no escape. It had been my constant companion since leaving the ocean planet of Vrasa. It should have meant nothing—after all, it was just a word—and yet it felt like everything.

Dammit, focus, Eva.

I shook my head, rolled my shoulders, and shoved my mental chaos into a corner, where I could deal with it later.

Recovering from the distraction, I added another layer of magic to reinforce the telekinetic bubble shielding Eaglan and me. I flexed my fingers on the grip of my blaster, searching the darkness for whatever was coming, and finding nothing.

Sweat trickled down my forehead, curled around the inside of my brow, and slid off the bridge of my nose. It settled in the corner of my eye, and I clenched my jaw, itching to wipe it away.

I tugged at the front of my flight suit. Is it hot in here? It’s totally hot in here, right?

Relax, Eaglan whispered. It’s just nerves.

He rested a hand on my shoulder, and a burst of excitement flared to life deep inside my chest, elbowing its way to the forefront of the chaos. Though the emotion was Eaglan’s and not mine, I was grateful for the focus nonetheless. Eaglan’s shadowed face split with a wide grin, before he turned back around, trusting me to cover his back.

Here they come.

Ready, I said.

I wasn’t remotely ready.

The hum of approaching drones was the only warning we received.

Half a dozen strange metal balls appeared from nowhere, crashing into our shield. Ripples cascaded through my magic and I flinched, nearly dropping the shield entirely. But the small balls were just another distraction, drawing our attention from the true threat. Spinning blades whirled overhead, where a dozen sets of tiny blue and red lights perched high in the air.

Tugging on the leash anchored in my chest, Eaglan’s excitement leaped to the right. I targeted left and shot. The drones returned fire and sparks smashed into my shield. Eaglan and I continued to fire our blasters until our shots met in the middle, and the last of the drones disappeared.

A giant metal box sailed through the air, inches away from striking Eaglan and me. I caught it with my telekinesis, but at the same time Eaglan shot the metal box, blasting it out of the air. The last of his blasts were still echoing through the dark cargo hold, when a flock of deadly silver blades flew toward Eaglan. The tug in my chest leaped right again, and in the next second he was firing, but his shots slipped between the thin knives, missing most of his targets.

Fear raced through my veins, and I shoved my magic into the shield in front of Eaglan—

Pain seared across my side.

Shit! I hissed, spinning away to protect my wounded side. Targeting the direction from where the mysterious blaster fire had originated, I fired blindly, hitting absolutely nothing.

Eaglan grunted with pain. Shield, he said through gritted teeth.

Another round of deadly knives arrowed through the hold, heading straight for us. Right behind them was a second wave of drones, which were already firing in our direction.

I threw out my hands and shoved all of my magic into our shield. But instead of shielding us, as I had intended, the telekinetic bubble crackled with energy and billowed outward, like an electrified blast wave from a nuclear explosion. It captured the knives and tossed them across the hold. The wave of magic plowed into the drones, zapping them with energy and shattering them against the far wall. Then my once tiny shield bubble slammed into Cillian, Meiry, and Aeliana, who had been standing well out of harms way three decks above.

A hand gripped my ankle and the world tilted, as my feet were swept out from beneath me. I crashed onto the deck, just in time to watch a dozen blaster shots zing over my head and hit the wall behind me.

Lights burst to life in the cargo hold, and I was relieved to find the three Matri safe and sound, descending the cargo hold stairs.

Thanks for the save, I grumbled to Eaglan, and flopped onto my back.

Holding a bloody hand to his thigh, he shrugged and gave me a weak smile. We may not fight as well as Tahj and Raek, but we’re still a team.

If our first live combat test was indicative of success, we had a long way to go. Tahj and Raek had chosen each other; they fought as a team because they knew each other better than anyone else ever could. Eaglan and I had been forced together by some strange Pranya energy-sharing technicality. We were making the best of a difficult situation, but the strain of suddenly knowing another person’s feelings on such an intimate level was a challenge, to say the least.

You have abominable control for a Hahtta of your age! Meiry shouted, stepping off the stairs and stomping across the deck.

"Agreed. But you didn’t need to shoot me for it, I yelled back, wincing from the singed skin still smoking on my left side. I thought we were using training blasters?"

You were. We were not, Meiry said, hovering over me.

I couldn’t tell if she was wearing an intentional frown, or if Meiry simply had a resting-stern-face. Her red hair was pulled back in a severe bun, but a few stray curls broke ranks to frame her face. I suspected the disobedient locks would receive a lecture at the end of the day.

I warned you that they were still so new. This is your fault, Cillian, Aeliana scolded, shoving Cillian out of her way and rushing across the deck.

My fault? I wasn’t the only one controlling the drones. They handled their first test as well as could be expected, Cillian said.

"As well as—they’re bleeding! I told you we shouldn’t have used live blasters. Aeliana knelt between Eaglan and me, inspecting our wounds. Her forehead furrowed and her lips thinned into a tight line. She pressed an injector against Eaglan’s neck and handed him a canister of FleshFix. You get the nanos, Eaglan. Eva needs magic."

Aeliana’s hands hovered above my wounded side. She closed her eyes and exhaled a deep breath, and in the next second the scent of tropical flowers bloomed in the hold and tendrils of green magic emerged from her fingers, spiraling through the air and sinking into my burnt skin.

Closing my eyes, I clenched my jaw and waited for the healing to end. It wasn’t a painful process, but it wasn’t pleasant either. My skin itched and pinched. Issy claimed the feeling felt a bit like getting a tattoo. I wouldn’t know, the mysterious tattoo that covered my back was applied in a freaky supernatural waiting room between Earth and the rest of the Common; and having it applied had hurt like a bitch.

We do not have time for her to learn her magic the conventional way, Meiry said, glaring at me. Maybe next time she will not forget her shields.

It had been less than a handful of days since Meiry had given me a lecture about the incredible gift of telekinesis, which was apparently festering in my hands. After her scolding, Meiry had promptly enlisted me into telekinesis boot camp, and I was an eager participant, at first. I was finally learning skills that could keep me alive, assuming I didn’t die during training.

In only a few days, she had taught me to throw and retrieve objects with my telekinesis, to create a bubble of magic for a shield, and to even make bubble grenades filled with my Pranya energy. With a little help from Cillian, I no longer struggled to call upon my magic, but that didn’t mean it behaved as it should; as evidenced by the wave of electricity that had accidentally swept through the hold.

I just panicked—

"Panic will be the death of you both in a real fight," Meiry declared.

She was distracted, Cillian said, kneeling by my side. We discussed this, Eva. The key to harnessing your powers and merging them together successfully is to clear your mind and relax.

I know, said with a groan. I sat up and twisted, testing the flesh Aeliana had magically sealed back together. But I don’t think you understand the magnitude of that request. Relax? You might as well have asked me to solve the meaning of life. And don’t get me started on trying to clear my mind!

Eaglan snorted.

I lifted a brow in his direction. "Do you have something to say, little brother?"

I’m not disagreeing. He smiled and his eyes sparkled with mirth. At any given moment, you are typically feeling at least three different emotions all at once. It’s been a very…educational glimpse into the female mind.

Not all females are distracted by their emotions, Meiry said with a huff.

Do you even have emotions? The words flew out of my mouth before I realized I was saying them. I blamed the adrenaline high; after all, she did just try to shoot me.

Meiry’s silent glare spoke volumes; I could expect another blaster wound in the near future.

Cillian cleared his throat. It might be prudent if we work on your concentration and bond. Alone.

Wonderful. Meiry, will you help me check on Isadora? Aeliana asked, her lips twitching suspiciously. She wove her arm around Meiry and tugged her back in the direction of the stairs, but the redheaded hybrid refused to budge.

Study well, juvenile. You will be tested in combat again tomorrow, Meiry ordered, and turned to stomp out of the cargo hold.

The second Meiry exited the hold, my spine deflated and I flopped back onto the deck. Though Cillian was obviously the leader among our new Matri crew, it was Meiry whom I feared. I respected her ruthless approach to teaching, but her rigid personality made me want to hiss and snarl in her face. Luhc was definitely rubbing off on me.

"Does she have to be so condescending? I may not be hundreds of years old, but I am not a juvenile, a child, or a baby," I growled.

It’s not meant as an insult. ‘Juvenile’ is merely the designation prior to becoming an apprentice in the Matri training system. Cillian smiled pleasantly, as if he hadn’t just thrown salt on the wound.

Great. I haven’t even graduated to apprentice level, I grumbled. Cillian flinched, and I waved away my comment. I know. I’m new. But it doesn’t make it any less annoying. Especially since I’m not sure that I will ever get the hang of this magic stuff. I think growing up human stunted my magic growth.

Your magic works just fine, Cillian said. You merely don’t trust each other yet.

His statement summed up my life perfectly; I trusted nothing, not even my own magic. Although, that wasn’t exactly what he said.

"What do you mean, they don’t trust each other?" Eaglan asked.

Eva is very heavily Fae, so her magic behaves as such, he said, but I still didn’t understand.

Explain, I ordered. Because the only Fae ability I have is super fast-growing hair.

Cillian sat back on his heels and his brow pinched. Has no one told you? Your magic is partially sentient, like that of the old Fae. Their magic worked in harmony with the wielder. But yours is discordant. It’s contributing to your emotional turmoil and inhibiting your progress.

His comment was delivered so nonchalantly, that I nearly didn’t catch the importance of what he was stating.

Wait. I held up a hand. "Are you telling me my abilities have a damned mind of their own? That would explain so much!"

Cillian chuckled. It’s not a parasitic entity, but merely part of the fabric of who you are. When you lose focus, your powers behave nearly independent from you. When you learn to relax, the magic will flow properly, and your mind will calm.

I snorted. Is there a pill for that? Because I’m not sure I can actually relax without medical assistance. I’ll even settle for a nice scented candle.

I viewed relaxation the same way I did a mirage, as a pointless chase for the gullible. Why torture myself with a goal that could never be achieved. Zen and I were not compatible. If relaxation was the requirement for magical harmony, I was totally screwed.

The more you believe you’re not in control, the more you will lose control, Cillian said.

Wise and unhelpful words, Confucius, I mumbled. There’s just…a lot going on.

Eaglan glanced at me with narrowed eyes, but he said nothing.

Most of the time, you are both trying to shut out each other’s emotions. I would like the two of you to work on opening that connection. Opening that path might also require cleaning out some of your mental clutter, Cillian suggested.

I shrugged. If you can fix my clutter, then I’ll give you my first born child.

That is an unnecessary, and rather disturbing, offer, Cillian said with a curled lip. Before I could explain the human saying, he was pushing Eaglan and me to sit back-to-back. He sat down facing our sides, and rested a hand on each of our shoulders. "Now, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and try to relax."

I closed my eyes and reluctantly tried to embrace the Zen. For several minutes the cargo hold was once again silent, and I felt like a patron at a gypsy palm reader, prepared to hear how my future included a long trip abroad and a tall handsome stranger.

Been there, done that. I snorted.

Eaglan chuckled.

Cillian grunted disapprovingly.

Though his therapy session was an amusing distraction, I hoped Cillian planned something more useful than silent reflection to fix my abilities and my emotional tornado.

Do you mind if I help? Cillian whispered.

"Please," Eaglan and I simultaneously replied.

Between one breath and the next, my entire body instantly relaxed. A wave of peace swept over my shoulder, through my chest, and to the tips of my limbs. My mind tingled, as he coated my emotions with a thick cozy and calm feeling. The anxiety, fear, and worry were all still there, swimming around in my brain, but it was as if they were submerged beneath a deep pool of gelatin.

The leash connecting Eaglan and me vibrated in my chest. At first, it hung loose, but the moment we both recognized its vibration, the leash quickly tugged taut between us. Excitement and curiosity bubbled down the line from Eaglan. Several of my more troublesome emotions began to wiggle to the surface, eager to greet him, when Cillian’s gelatin buffer suddenly disappeared. The connection between the three of us instantly broke, and Cillian removed his hand from my shoulder.

You’re right, Cillian said softly. Relaxation is not your strong suit.

Worry and a sliver of hurt wiggled down the limp leash still connecting Eagan and me. He was troubled by my reaction to the connection, and I couldn’t blame him. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to explain my feelings without hurting his.

Eaglan, why don’t you join the others in the magic safe? Cillian requested. I believe Eva needs a private lesson.

Yes, sir. Eaglan quietly collected his weapons and walked out of the hold without a backward glance.

Guilt ate at my conscience, and I pushed as many happy and caring feelings as I could muster down the leash between us. I hoped Eaglan understood the emotional apology, but I wasn’t encouraged by his silent reply.

I understand that the bond can be intimidating, but you have nothing to fear from Eaglan. He cares for you as family, Cillian said.

We are family, you and I. The words echoed through my mind, itching at my brain like nails down a chalkboard. I clenched my jaw and cracked my neck, shoving the words back into the corner where they belonged.

It isn’t Eaglan I fear, I whispered.

The forced connection?

No—yes, actually. That does bother me, I admitted. With everything going on, Synergis hunting me, the mission to save the Hahtta—don’t tell Issy I used those words—and the creature that keeps possessing people, maybe…well, maybe this isn’t the right time to be making connections.

Cillian pushed at my knees, spinning me around on the deck to face him. "You survived all of those things during your adventure on Vrasa, because of the connections you’ve made."

I did. I nodded, rubbing my sweaty palms on my thighs. But those connections are also why they were in danger in the first place.

You believe that was your fault? Cillian’s eyes grew wide and he shook his head. "Synergis is hunting half the crew on this ship, only because they do not know the other half should be hunted. I spent most of the time on Vrasa inside a retrieval gun, but I believe it was politics that caused our trouble, not you."

If only it had been that simple.

Possibly, I said, nervously toying with the sleeve of my flight suit.

I didn’t know if Cillian could be trusted. But there was something about him that lured me to divulge my secrets. I needed to talk with someone, and he was an empath qualified to handle emotional train wrecks like myself. Issy claimed empaths were the most wily types of witches, so it was possible that he was influencing my confidence. And so I was back to square one: could I trust him?

You fear bringing danger to those close to you, Cillian said quietly. He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his bright-blue eyes. You’re afraid that the creature inside Crichton will harm them…because of you. Why?

My jaw clenched and I refused to lift my head. What makes you think that?

This is what I do, Eva. I have interrogated criminals and victims with far more to hide than you. What did the creature say to make you fear for them; to fear him?

I sucked in a deep breath and held it; too nervous to release the truth, and too frightened to be judged for it. I closed my eyes and exhaled my confession. He said we were alike, because we’re…family.

A single lifted brow was Cillian’s only physical response. Interesting.

I wanted to punch him in the nose. If I were being honest with myself, the situation was curiosity piquing, but there was a part of me that wanted him to respond with the shock and condemnation I had expected. The creature inside Crichton was evil. If we were related, then what did that make me?

Cillian shook his head. Do not define yourself by those around you and connected to you. Even if you are related to this creature, which I doubt, that does not mean that you are the same.

Are you sure you don’t have telepathy?

He chuckled. A practiced empath can read a person more clearly than the most skilled telepath. Words can be deceptive, emotions rarely are.

Why shouldn’t I believe that I am related to it?

Cillian leaned back on his hands and stretched out his long lean legs. "I spent some time with Isadora during her movie party, and we talked about this creature, among a great many other things. She is quite verbose when intoxicated. In any case, we believe that this creature is not from the Common. It uses species from the Common as vessels to inhabit, so it is likely non-corporeal. It’s not powerful enough to be a Creator, and it’s not human. You are unique, Eva, but you are not that unique. Whatever it is, it is nothing like any of us. Therefore it can not be related to you."

I sighed, moderately relieved by his rationale. The Pollux and its crew were becoming home, and I hoped that my connection with the crew would continue to blossom. I didn’t just need their support to survive the Common, I wanted to stay with them. But more importantly, I wanted them to stay alive.

Then what did you find interesting about its claim that we were related? I asked.

Most psychopaths are unable to relate and connect with other creatures. Most don’t want to, but this one does. It seems compelled to seek a connection. Cillian shrugged and smiled pleasantly. I don’t know what it means, but it is an interesting puzzle to solve.

What Cillian didn’t say, was that the creature was compelled to seek a connection with me.

Like the snap of a twig, my kindling of hope was broken.

Chapter Two

- Luhcean -

Condensation rolled down my glass to pool at the base of my drink, creating a river of water on the surface of my desk display.

Blasted engineers, I mumbled, wiping away the liquid.

I pulled at the collar of my flight suit and glowered at the vent humming busily overhead.

The Pollux was a claustrophobic cage, trapping the crew in its sweltering clutches. Over the previous twelve hours, temperatures throughout the ship had increased a full fifteen degrees. It was only a few degrees, but the heat was grating on my already frayed nerves. I was irritable, my skin felt tight, and the Beast was thrashing and howling for release.

After our return, the Beast had stopped interacting with me as it had done on Vrasa. The animal inside of me was growing increasingly irrational and erratic. Risking Eva’s life on Vrasa had pushed the Beast’s patience to its limit. But the ultimate blow was nearly destroying our mate with our own hands and claws. Something inside the Beast and me had broken that day.

The creature that had possessed Councilor Crichton, and Cuhr before him, had chosen its weapon well. The Beast and I could no longer be trusted with Eva, but we also felt compelled to protect her, even from ourselves. We had been used as a tool against our own mate. The most shameful crime a Keti could commit was an act of violence against a true mate. By all rights, Eva should have had me slain, and every minute that she didn’t felt like a continued betrayal.

Overhearing Eva tell Cillian that she didn’t believe she was in a position to be forming relationships, was both devastating and a profound relief. I didn’t need to hear any more of her confession, her intentions were clear enough. She had decided on her freedom. We were no longer stuck in a state of mating limbo. I no longer need to wait for her condemnation. It was a merciful decision, and the least I could do was to aid Eva in her fight against Synergis.

I tucked the data chip, containing my spy’s latest Synergis report, into a pocket and headed for engineering. With one problem addressed, it was time to check the next on the long list of problems I needed to solve before I could finally sleep.

Stepping off the lift, I immediately stumbled over several cleaning bots rushing past. I twisted, dancing from foot-to-foot, and hopping over the parade of machines.

Eaglan! I ducked a flying drone and rushed into engineering. Why do we have every bot, drone, and partially assembled contraption roaming the ship?

Mold, Eaglan announced from somewhere deep inside the rows of machines.

Is that really a priority? I asked. "Will not the mold die, when the Pollux melts all around us?"

I’m trying to prevent the melting, sir. If I do, then the mold will be a priority. Eaglan shouted over the machinery.

And why exactly are we melting?

Eaglan rounded a corner and tossed me a dirty coil the size of my palm. Eight of the twelve thermal regulation coils were cut.

Cut? Not snapped? I asked, inspecting the neatly severed ends of the coil. And why are Isadora and Leyth not helping?

Cut, he confirmed, retrieving a new coil from the bench. He paused and shrugged, rubbing a grimy hand on his hip. We’ve already lost ten percent of the fish, and I don’t know how much of the produce. I sent them to salvage as much of the live food stock as they could.

Eaglan’s shoulders were tense and his scent was a slightly noxious odor of annoyance, but it also held a hint of anger. Aside from Isadora and Leyth, who were practically joined at the hip, most of the old and new crew were having difficulties blending. I hadn’t heard of a confrontation between the two men, but engineers were notoriously territorial, hostilities were likely on the horizon.

Do you know what could have cut the coils? I asked.

Eaglan grimaced. Metal sheers or a laser pen. They’re not flimsy, sir. All but one were cut in a straight line and clean through. I assume whatever, or whoever, did this was interrupted.

"Whoever?"

Aside from the lasers on the training drones, there are only three other drones or bots on this ship capable of cutting through the coils. However, that’s not an action currently written in their code, sir.

If our heat predicament wasn’t caused by mechanical malfunction, that left only two options: a prank or sabotage. I wasn’t inclined to believe any of our crew were malicious enough to intentionally damage the Pollux, but a thoughtless prank was well within the realm of possibilities.

I understand, I said grimly. Timeline?

"I should have the last replacement coil installed in twenty minutes. It will be