"Mungenast. He was a slave in the mines with me. Somehow after the rebellion they got into a line of tunnels that brought them here."
"Tunnels?" Adena rubbed her jaw. He thought she looked exhausted. "That's something to remember for future reference. Come on, Greg. As soon as we unmoor we're getting out of here."
Greg picked Cathy up off the ground and found a way around the wall to where Adena waited. Together they limped and hobbled over to where some of the airship crew and Mungenast's gang had collected the few bodies of the fallen. The two parties eyed each other, but the shared experience of fighting the Pure Blood guards had taken the edge off what might have been a difficult encounter. Two of the crew came forward to take Cathy from Greg, and he sagged with relief.
Adena touched his arm and pointed to the ramp. "Let's get aboard."
"Wait one." Greg limped up to Mungenast and held out his hand. "Thanks for helping me out."
Mungenast grinned his unnerving grin and took Greg's hand in a callused grip. "Don't mention it."
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Greg looked at Mungenast's gang. "I think there's enough room."
"Nah. We'll see what we can do here to upset a few bloodsuckers." He flipped Greg and Adena a salute. "Happy trails to you all."
He signaled to the others, and they walked away, some of them carrying better weapons than they'd entered the fight with. Their dead they left where they lay, which Greg found unfeeling. Adena at least ensured the two crewmen who'd been killed in the firefight had been taken aboard for whatever type of funeral she and her people favored.
Once aboard Greg made his way to the lounge that bore few traces of the fight with the murriks. Sitting in the window he watched as the mooring ropes were cast off by airship crew. The ship lurched as the last tether came free and the crew hurried to get aboard.
Greg ached in places that had scarcely healed from injuries inflicted while working the mine and during his escape. At least the lounge was warm enough to thaw his frozen flesh.
Jake and Conner walked into the lounge, drawing up short when they saw Greg. Conner came forward. "Sir? I've put your friend in the bunk above yours. She's still unconscious, but her vital signs are good."
"Thanks, Conner." Greg felt a weight lift off his heart and mind. "I appreciate it."
"Don't mention it."
Conner went about his business. Jake leaned against a bulkhead and wiped his face with a black bandanna. Greg smiled. "It looks you had some fun here without me."
Jake gave a wry grin. "Yeah, it was less than pleasant. I'm glad we found your friend before we had to bail."
"Me too. I hate to think what those bloodsuckers did to her."
"Nothing much, I think. They like to toy with their victims, make them feel special before sinking their fangs into 'em."
Greg shuddered. "No fun. I'd like to get us both home, home to Earth."
Jake looked somber. "I'm not sure that's possible, Greg. Many come here over the years, but I've not heard of anyone returning to your world unless a Pure Blood has a reason for them to do so."
"There's no hope at all?" The thought of losing all he had known, all he held dear filled Greg with melancholy.
"Never say never, mate." Jake shook his head and stood upright. "There's always a chance. Besides, it's not so bad here. Penumbra City's got plenty going for it. You're an engineer?" Greg nodded. "There you go. We could always use a guy like you."
"I'll think about it."
"Do that." Jake peered out the lounge window. "We're heading out of the hangar now. It could be dangerous leaving the city, so it's time to go earn my pay. Be seein' you."
Jake departed, leaving Greg tired but restless. He watched as the airship gained a modicum of altitude, the battered rubble of the area around the hangar giving way to intact buildings, streets and plazas. Spires and towers drifted silently by, seeming close enough to touch. A few lights showed here and there, and Greg wondered again about the people who lived in such a place.
Something new about the scene niggled at him until Greg realized the world below had taken on a dull red hue. Reflective surfaces showed a ruddy red light coming from somewhere. He pressed his face against the glass and craned his neck as far as he could until he made out a ruby-red orb rising above the distant rooftops.
"Holy cow!" he muttered.
He found himself looking at a kind of crimson Saturn, complete with rings. Sometime in the period they'd spent in the city the world had risen above the horizon to flood the world of BloodDark with an appropriate shade of red. Greg sank back in his chair. The feeling of being elsewhere other than Earth hit him with enough force to make him weep.
Chapter 10
The sway and bob of Oculus Nightingale's gondola beneath her feet felt comforting to Adena as she made her way aft to the lounge. She entered to see Greg lying on the padded bench seat with his feet up and eyes closed.
She took the opportunity to look him over. He had a tall, rangy figure with hair the color of mahogany and sculpted features that had already begun to flesh out with proper food and attention. His eyes were a curious jade green shade, friendly and even merry when Greg was in good spirits, dark and solemn other times. Adena felt an attraction to him and sensed he might feel the same for her. She remembered another human she'd fallen for, decades ago, and felt a moment of sadness. Unlike her
