King of Swords Read online

  Arcana: King of Swords

  Bianca D’Arc

  Dedication

  To those who’ve taught me to think beyond. Most especially my Dad, who started me watching Star Trek when I was just a little kid and shares my love of science fiction to this day.

  Prologue

  The Rabbit Hole was well known on the civilian space station for its private booths and intimate atmosphere. The new owner of the small tavern was still, to some extent, an unknown quantity, but seemed a solid enough man according to local gossip. Ex-soldier, went the rumor. David knew Alex would be amused by what the grapevine had to say about him, though they didn’t know the half of it.

  Scoping the area out of habit, Dave noted the wide hall in front of the tavern was very near the mechanical parts of the station, which were off-limits to everyone but specialized workers. Alex must get a lot of traffic when the shifts changed, being on the edges of the civ area and right near the mech section. Good placement for a business like his.

  Dave entered The Rabbit Hole and was immediately assailed by dim light and the not-unpleasant scent of premium alcohol. It was the perfect atmosphere for a relaxing drink with friends. The bar was cozy and welcoming.

  As his eyes quickly adjusted—a gift of his genetic Enhancement—

  Dave saw the man behind the bar. Alex had spotted him and waved him over using the hand signals all soldiers knew. Several heads turned and Dave recognized the look of the men sitting around the bar, if not their individual faces. Soldiers. Like him.

  For the first time in weeks, Dave felt at home.

  Chapter One

  Adele Senna re-read the address on the comm from her Aunt Della.

  The message had come from a small tavern near the mech section of the station, called The Rabbit Hole. Adele was new to Madhatter Station and had reserved living space on the other side of one of the giant rings. She hadn’t ventured too close to the core yet, but was learning her way around as she sought out her beloved aunt.

  The Rabbit Hole looked nice from the outside. Not upscale, but not a dive either, which was a relief. Aunt Della wasn’t known for her judgment. Aunt Della was only a decade or so older than Adele, being her mother’s youngest sister. With normal human lifespans now reaching well past the century mark, Aunt Della was still considered a bit flighty by the rest of her large family, but Adele loved her Bohemian ways.

  A brilliant woman, gifted with a strong ability to see the future, her aunt sometimes didn’t display much common sense. Or, at least, it seemed that way. Ultimately, her odd actions always had some purpose, but only in retrospect.

  Adele wondered what Aunt Della was up to, setting up shop as a dealer and reader of cards for patrons of this middle-class tavern. She must have some reason, but Adele was hard-pressed to understand it, even though she had—at times—seen glimpses of the future, just like her aunt.

  The psychic gift ran in the family. As far back as they could trace, the women of her family had been blessed—or perhaps cursed, depending on your outlook—with varying degrees of foresight. Aunt Della was truly gifted, but she insisted Adele hadn’t yet grown fully into her power. Adele wasn’t sure she wanted to. The few flashes of the future she’d received to date had scared the bejeezus out of her. She didn’t know how her aunt dealt with it day to day.

  Adele pushed through the portal and waited a moment for her eyes to get used to the gloom inside. What she could see of the place was clean and well kept. The atmosphere was dark, quiet, and relaxing rather than sinister, as she’d half expected. She saw a couple of big men at the bar as her eyes adjusted slowly, scanning the room for her aunt. The place was set up with small private booths and one long bar area where the men were clustered. Soldiers, they had to be, though they were all in civ clothing. On leave or perhaps retirees, she guessed, and the bartender was built on the same grand scale. Soldiers were just bigger than regular human males. It had something to do with their diet and training, she knew, but other than that, she hadn’t paid much attention.

  Unlike many civilians, Adele had no real opinion about soldiers.

  Oh, she appreciated the sacrifices they made trying to keep the Milky Way Galaxy safe from the jit’suku threat, but she’d never really had any dealings with them on a personal basis. She knew many civ men discriminated against them—probably because they felt small by comparison.

  She’d seen soldiers here and there throughout her travels, and they were all huge and rather intimidating. She supposed a civilian male would feel a little threatened by their towering height and imposing brawn, but she felt somehow comforted by their large, protective presence. Surely, if men such as these were fighting the jit’suku out on the rim, the rest of humanity would always be safe. They inspired that kind of confidence with their silent, somewhat menacing ways.

  Adele swept the room once again but didn’t see her aunt, so she decided to brave the quiet crowd at the bar to ask. She walked to an open space, feeling enclosed by the heat of the big men sitting on either side of her, but she refused to acknowledge the sort of tingly reaction that skittered through her body. It wasn’t fear exactly, but it was definitely something that surprised her.

  “Pardon me,” she said in a voice that carried to the bartender. All eyes turned to her and she found herself the unexpected center of attention. “Can you tell me if Della Senna is here? I understand she’s dealing here now.”

  The bartender slung a towel over his shoulder and walked toward her with a rolling gait that oozed sex appeal. She’d never been this close to a soldier, much less half a dozen of them, and each and every one was solidly built, and handsome as sin. This bartender was perhaps the prettiest of the bunch, with perfectly chiseled features and a confident, friendly expression.

  When he smiled, she felt the bottom fall out of her stomach. He was definitely what her old friend Mary would label DDG—Drop Dead Gorgeous.

  “Della’s on break, but she’ll be back in about five minutes if you want to wait.”

  His deep voice sent little shivers down her spine. The man was sexy as hell and dangerous to boot. She could feel it crackling in the air around him as he stopped right in front of her on the other side of the bar.

  She was glad of the hard metal surface between them. His attention shifted to the man seated on her right. A slight nod and narrowing of his eyes was all that was needed to make the other man jump into action. A moment later, he’d drawn a barstool up behind her and politely assisted her to sit.

  “Thank you.” She nodded to the man on her right, surprised by his youth. This soldier was definitely younger than her and his clothes looked brand new. Perhaps he was on leave. She smiled at him, and his face seemed to heat with a flush of embarrassment. She liked the young man immediately. He was polite and a little shy, which surprised her even more. Built like a freighter, she wouldn’t have imagined anything as simple as a smile could fluster him, but apparently it did.

  “What’ll you have, ma’am?” The bartender polished a small glass and set it before her, probably assuming she’d have a typical girly drink suited to the petite glass. Feeling daring, she looked at him with an air of challenge.

  “Do you have any Pearson’s Star Ale on tap?”

  The bartender straightened and smiled, taking the little glass away.

  “Indeed I do. Coming right up.”

  When he turned to fetch her ale, she was treated to a lovely view of his sculpted ass. The man was pure muscle, and his form fitting pants showed his assets off to best advantage. She’d bet he made great tips from the ladies based just on his butt alone. Sighing, she and sat back on the surprisingly comfortable stool. She didn’t feel as out of place here as she’d feared. The atmosphere was quiet, but welcoming.

  A moment later the
handsome bartender was back, placing a frothy, frosted pint before her. Adele licked her lips, staring at the perfectly poured portion. She had a taste for this particular brew and didn’t partake of it often due to its hefty price, but this occasion seemed to call for it.

  With relish, she took a sip of the thick, dark ale and the taste exploded on her tongue.

  “Mmm, delicious.”

  She moved to get her credit chit, but a big hand swooped in from the side, pressing a credit chit into the bartender’s hand.

  “Allow me, ma’am.”

  Startled, she looked over to acknowledge the huge man sitting to her left. Blond and blue eyed, this guy was a little older than her. Probably a retiree, and a recent one, if the newness of his military style flight suit was anything to go by. She’d hear ex-military men favored utilitarian garb similar to what they were issued in the service, and this handsome stranger seemed to fit the description to a T.

  She also knew soldiers didn’t usually have a lot of money to spare when they left the service and this ale was a luxury. She couldn’t let him pay for it in good conscience, though it was a lovely gesture.

  “That’s very kind of you but—”

  “It would be my pleasure. My name is David.” His smile totally disarmed her. It was even more devastating than the bartender’s.

  “I’m Adele,” she found herself answering, though she hadn’t intended to give out any personal information to people she didn’t know on this little sojourn to the far side of the station.

  “A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.”

  The bartender groaned. “You need to brush up your lines, Dave. That one’s as old as the core.” The other men around them laughed and David smiled good-naturedly. He seemed used to the ribbing from his comrades and paid it no mind.

  “Doesn’t make it any less true.” His gaze held hers, and for a moment it felt like only the two of them existed in the whole universe.

  “Thank you.”

  “So how do you know my little Della?” the bartender asked, cocking his hip as he leaned against the bar. The unconsciously sexy pose shook her attention loose from the blond giant at her side and back to the darker-haired bartender. The way he spoke of her aunt was just a little too familiar, and Adele suddenly wondered if maybe Aunt Della had made a conquest.

  Only a few years older than herself, Della was a beautiful woman, if a bit on the spacey side sometimes. Still, this bartender would be just her type, though to Adele’s knowledge Della had never dated a soldier before.

  She shrugged. “She’s my aunt.”

  “Really?” The bartender looked truly interested. “I didn’t know she had family on-station.”

  “I only just got here. This is the first chance I’ve had to look her up. I’m glad to know she’s still employed here. I was afraid I’d come all this way for nothing.”

  “Honey,” the bartender straightened and placed both hands on the bar, his muscles flexing in mouthwatering ways, “as far as I’m concerned, your Aunt Della will always have a place in this bar as long as I own it.” The piercing look in his blue eyes intrigued her. This man knew something, and she had a sneaking suspicion it was her family’s secret gift. He nodded just slightly and her breath caught. The knowledge was in his eyes. It was almost as if…but no…it couldn’t be.

  “Tell me,” he asked with an intent gaze, “do you take after your auntie? Even just a bit?”

  Dammit. He definitely knew. And the smile in his eyes told her Aunt Della had been talking out of turn about her as well. She tried her best to shrug it off.

  “Only a little.” At that moment, a wave of precognition broke over her, disorienting her.

  The bartender reached out to steady her as she momentarily lost her balance. The men on either side of her put out their hands, too. All three soldiers touched her in some way as a fierce flash overcame her with dizzying speed.

  It had never been like this before, though her abilities were getting progressively more powerful. That was the main reason she’d come all this way out near the rim to see Aunt Della. She needed advice on how to deal with this.

  Ghostly images clouded her mind, layered on top of each other. It was hard to see any one thing before it was replaced by another and the men touching her didn’t help. She started seeing them and flashes of their immediate future that shook her badly. Then just like that, it was over.

  Blinking rapidly, she came back to herself.

  “Are you okay?” David spoke from her left side.

  She nodded, looking up at his concerned face. He really was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on, though the bartender was running a close second.

  “Fine,” she croaked. “I’m fine.” The way she swayed on the stool did little to convince them, she knew, but she tried to put a brave face on her distress. That vision had been potent. And scary.

  The bartender let go and returned a moment later with a small cup of powerful espresso.

  “Drink it down, honey. The caffeine will help. At least, that’s what Della says. I got the espresso maker just for her.”

  Adele drank the brew down like a shot, glad of the rush when the caffeine kicked in a moment later. All three men were staring at her, the men on either side in confusion and the bartender with concern.

  “What did you see?” Dammit, he definitely knew, and after her little display there was no way to hide it.

  “An attack,” she said, still not quite herself. “Here on the station. Soon.” She blinked to clear her thoughts and realized all the big men at the bar were watching her avidly now. Her eyes were drawn to the younger man on her right. “You’re Timothy, right?”

  “Yes, ma’am. That’s my name. How’d you know?”

  She shook her head. “Not important. You need to take the left hall when the time comes. Remember that, okay? The left hall. Not the right. Do you understand?”

  He shook his head. “No, I don’t, but I’ll remember.”

  The bartender cleared his throat. “Better listen to her, Tim. Her aunt is the most gifted psychic I’ve ever met and she told me the gift runs in the family.”

  Chapter Two

  “Dammit, Alex!” Della arrived behind the bar just in time to hear the last few words. “That’s on a need to know basis.”

  “And these men need to know, Del,” the bartender shot back, his smile for Della, though she pushed past him to reach for Adele’s shaking hands.

  “Sweetie, what happened? Was it a bad one?”

  Adele nodded, drawing comfort from her aunt’s presence. “The worst yet. Something’s coming. Something bad, Aunt Del. Soon. We can’t escape it.”

  “I know, sweetie. I’ve seen it, too. It’s why we’ve been drawn here, I think.”

  “What’s going on, Del?” The bartender crowded behind her aunt, demanding attention.

  She whipped around to look up at the frowning man. “An attack. In the next few days, I believe. You all,” she looked around the bar at the gathered men, “have a role to play.”

  All around her, Adele saw determination and a sort of excited fire ignite in the eyes of the soldiers. This is what they were born for. They had no fear, only strength in the face of an enemy as yet unknown.

  “Will we win?” one of the men down the bar wanted to know as he raised his glass.

  Aunt Della laughed. “You’d better or I’ll haunt you, Perkins. Mark my words!”

  Just like that, the dire mood was dispelled. Della came around the bar to Adele’s side.

  “I’m so glad to see you, sweetie!”

  “Me too, Aunt Del.” Adele was enveloped in her aunt’s hug. When they broke apart, Timothy shifted over so Della could sit. She thanked him with a smile. “So, tell me what you’re doing here? Dealing cards or reading them?”

  “A little of both, actually.” Della’s curly hair sparkled in the low light as she shrugged. She produced a deck of old Earth playing cards from the pouch at her hip and began shuffling them expertly on the bar.
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  Della was a bit of a card shark and had been employed as a dealer in some of the finest establishments in the Milky Way. Adele recognized the pattern Della was laying out on the shiny bar. This wasn’t any sort of game. No, this was an ancient layout that could divine the future. Adele feared what the cards would reveal.

  Della flipped the cards one by one, keeping her own council as to their meaning. Timothy took an interest and started asking questions as both Alex and David watched closely.

  “What game is that?”

  “Oh, it’s not really a game. I’m just looking at the cards. See this one?” Della held up the King of Spades. “Old legends from Earth claim this card represented King David.” She held the card up next to David’s blond head and smiled. “This could be you, Colonel.”

  David took a swallow of his beer and shook his head. “I’m not a colonel anymore, ma’am.”

  Della lowered the card and looked hard at the man. “Our past never leaves us, Colonel,” her expression lightened, “or should I say ‘King’?”

  She passed the card to Adele and she noted the tingle of energy that came off the card as her aunt placed the deck to one side, pulling another deck of cards out of her pocket. Adele knew those cards. They were the tools of the prophesier. They were the tarot. Her aunt sorted through them until she pulled out two cards, placing them face up in front of her. The King of Swords and the King of Cups.

  “This card,” Della said, caressing the King of Swords with one fingertip, “corresponds to that King of Spades. See the resemblance now?” She held up the card depicting a blond man with startling blue eyes sitting on a throne and holding a gleaming sword.

  He did indeed look like David. At least, superficially.

  “And I suppose that one’s me?” Alex asked, pointing to the other tarot card on the bar. The King of Cups had darker hair and blue eyes with a devilish smile in them, not unlike the bartender’s. Adele marveled at the likeness.

  “This one corresponds to the King of Clubs in the other deck. He was said to represent Alexander the Great.” All the men listening either laughed or groaned.