The Goblin Warrior (Beneath Sands Book 2) by Emma Hamm (100 books to read txt) 📕

against her ribs. Guilt nearly made her vomit, but also the knowledge that she was unable to stop his pain.

Ruric had underestimated her people. He had thought they would fight against the humans in a test of strength and power. There was no way for him to know that the fight would end swiftly and the only thing left for him would be pain.

“The sight pains you.”

The Doctor’s words seemed to vibrant inside her being. Of course it pained her. She was stuck between two worlds and two people who would never be able to understand each other.

Jane was just an uneducated woman from the mines. She did not know how to intervene in political matters. She did not know how to speak in pretty words so that others would listen. This was why the goblin world had suited her so well. She could find answers in her fists and love in soft touches.

The reserved world of the humans had its merits. There was more technology here, comfort, and knowledge. There were good people here just as there were bad people in the goblin world.

She sighed and shook her head.

“It does not.”

The words shook her to her very soul, but Jane could not afford the Doctor using the goblins against her.

“You are a terrible liar.”

It seemed as though the air froze in her very lungs. Her eyes drifted shut and squeezed hard as she tried to banish the words from her mind.

“I’m not an evil man, Jane. I simply wish to speak with you.”

“I do not wish to speak with you.” She whispered into her knees.

“You have a choice to make now. Speak with me, and I’ll give your goblin friend medicine that will take away his pain.”

Jane said nothing in return. Ruric would prefer her to protect herself and the unborn child inside of her.

“Jane.” The patronizing tone made her grit her teeth. “I can always put Luther on a table as well.”

At that, her eyes flew open.

“Why would you do that? He’s human.”

“There’s always experiments to be done on humans, Jane. How do you think I come up with my miracle cures?”

She could see Luther shifting against the glass. His expression was stern but his skin had paled considerably. When his eyes caught hers, he shook his head firmly. But she could see that his hand pressed against the glass was shaking.

He knew what the Doctor was capable of.

“What is it that you want from me?”

The Doctor laughed. “Oh Jane, you’re too easy. For now we’re going to talk. I’ll be sending someone down the hall to bring you immediately.”

The screen blinked off once more.

“Jane.” Luther said. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m not going to let him experiment on you too.” She stood slowly. Her spine unfurled with a creak as though she had aged years in just a few moments.

“You don’t know him like I do. Jane, there’s something wrong with him.”

“You’re family. I protect my family.”

“He’s going to do the same thing he’s doing to those goblins. But he’s going to do it to you.”

Jane walked over to his side of the glass and sighed. “Do you feel any pity for them, Luther?”

“Of course.”

“Would you release them if you could?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you so much more worried about me, than about them?”

She could see that her brother was confused she would even ask the question.

“Because you’re family.”

Her hand reached out to touch the glass where his palm was resting.

“Because I’m human.”

His brow furrowed in confusion. “Well yes that too.”

“That’s a problem, Luther. That’s the problem with all of this. With the slaves underground, with Juo being caught, with the Doctor using this as a tool against us. We can’t see each other as the same and we’re repeating the same mistakes.”

“Because we aren’t the same, Jane.”

“Maybe we are.” She whispered back.

“I know that look. Jane what are you planning.”

Her worried expression had smoothed from her face and had been replaced with smooth curves. Luther felt as though he was looking at a doll. There was barely any emotion on her face, rather a disconcerting sight of calm while her eyes waged war.

She stepped away from the glass. Her hand fell down to her side and brushed against the paper thin fabric that covered her body.

“Jane. Don’t do something stupid. They’ll kill you here.”

“I have to do something.”

They could both hear the striking rings of the guard’s boots against the floor. Each singular sound seemed to be the tolling bell of time slipping away from them.

“Listen to me Jane, you don’t know these people like I do. They don’t care who you are or what they can get out of you.”

“I have something he wants.”

“There is nothing that he wants. He can take anything that he wants Jane. He has the power here.”

“I have my child.”

Luther’s jaw dropped.

“You’re going to give him the baby?”

“No.” She said even as the guard unlocked the door to her cell. “But it’s something I can use.”

“Jane!”

The guard stepped into the cell, holding a syringe in his hand. The needle glinted in the white light of the cell room.

“You don’t need that.” Jane told him as she held both her hands in the air. “I’ll be good.”

The guard shook his head and started walking towards her. She couldn’t see his face behind the helmet he wore. Even he was outfitted entirely in white.

“The Doctor needs me to be aware when we talk. If you give me that, I won’t be. He said he wanted to talk. So let’s talk.”

Only then did the guard seem to pause. Expressionless and pristine, he appeared to be less human than anything she had seen thus far. Even his movements appeared to be carefully practiced as he capped the needle and reached for her.

Jane had yet to be truly frightened of anyone in this place. But as the guard’s cool hand closed around her upper arm and yanked her out of her cell, she realized she was afraid of him. She was afraid of the faceless person