The Dream Thief by Kari Kilgore (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

Loretta heard that same creak and gritted her teeth. She couldn't let someone working with Rullin join in the fun. His weight on her chest kept her from drawing a full breath. She couldn't shout for help.

If he would just move for a second, just one second, she wouldn't need anyone's damned help. One of her numbing hypos was mere inches away from her fingers. Rullin would never know until she followed the needle with her knife.

The weight lifted as if he'd been yanked on a rope, and her attacker let out a strangled shout.

"He has a knife!" Loretta shouted as she grabbed her own.

"Got it." The lamp flared bright, and Karl was holding Rullin, one arm around his throat, the other holding the wrist with the knife. "Did the lady invite you to share her bed this evening?"

"There's no lady here."

At the young man's croak, Loretta jumped forward, holding her knife against his smooth cheek.

"Perhaps not," she said. "There is a woman here who will slit your throat for you and sleep like a baby. Just couldn't wait to start your career as a raping bastard until you grew hair on your balls?"

"Who said anything about rape?" Rullin said. "I wouldn't soil myself with the likes of you."

Loretta slid the knife just enough to draw blood before Karl twisted away.

"We need to take him to the pilot," he said. "Let him deal with this."

"The pilot's my bother, you bloody worthless oaf."

"In that case," Loretta said. "I should just save him the trouble and spill your guts on the floor right now."

Loretta leaned forward, the knife held against Rullin’s gut. Karl twisted away with him, squeezing the younger man's wrist until he dropped his blade.

"No, no one's spilling anything," Karl said. "Get his knife and come on." The boy tried to shift enough to kick Karl's shins, but the larger man leaned back until Rullin's feet dangled and he choked. "Want some air? Then settle down."

Loretta darted forward and grabbed the knife at their feet just as Karl let the boy down.

"We're making a mistake," she said. "Bill could put us off the ship for this."

The boy continued to twist, but Karl's grip never changed. He looked like an adult holding a child's doll.

"Is he any less likely to do that if we murder his brother, Loretta?"

"Murder?" Loretta smiled and shook her head, taking a step toward the door before she was pushing Rullin against Karl's body again. This time her knife made a clear indentation in the boy's throat. "Not until we get information. Why do you care where I'm going? Did Rhysto send you?"

"Loretta, we—"

"Shut up, Karl!" She reached down and grabbed the boy's balls, squeezing until he grimaced. "I asked you a question, Rullin. Karl can't get you away fast enough if I decide to cut your throat or crush your balls for you."

"I'm not working for bloody Rhysto," Rullin said, his voice strained. "Not for lack of him trying right under my brother's arrogant nose. Rhysto's a bigger asshole than Bill."

Rullin's face was dark red, but the disgust in his voice was real. Karl stepped back, and Loretta moved with him, pushing him and Rullin against the wall.

"Then who?" she said. "Who's been asking about where I'm going?"

The boy grinned and shook his head.

"Go right ahead," he rasped. "Do your worst. I've said all I'm going to."

This time when Loretta squeezed, Rullin's eyes watered, but he kept smiling. When Karl finally managed to twist his body and break Loretta's grip, she stepped back.

"To The Pit both of you," she said as she opened the door.

She pushed open the splintery wooden door, vowing to never again sleep in a room she couldn't lock. Karl followed her down the narrow corridor toward Bill's cabin, one arm under the boy's ribs to hold his feet off the floor.

Karl wasn't even breathing hard.

No one else seemed to be stirring in this part of the ship, and no light showed under Bill's door. Loretta looked at Karl, hoping he'd come to his senses.

If they just dropped this asshole over the side, no one would be the wiser. A good headwind would keep even the navigator from hearing Rullin scream. The boy's face was drawn up like a fist, but he wasn't making a sound.

Karl nodded. Loretta knocked on the door. This one was smooth dark wood polished to a bright shine.

After several seconds, heavy footsteps sounded through the background noise of the airship. Loretta heard a lock of some kind turn, and Bill glared at them.

"When I said I'd give you passage, I wasn't inviting social calls in the middle of the night!"

"I'm afraid this isn't a social call, Bill."

Loretta stepped aside, and the pilot's face crumpled. The change would have been amusing in a less threatening situation.

"The Imp take you, Rullin," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Bring him in."

The space was huge compared to the smuggler's cabins, with room for a desk, two chairs, and a proper bed. The furniture, rug, and fabrics were fine without being showy, as was Bill's dark purple robe.

Karl carried Rullin to the far side of the room, dropping him hard enough that the boy’s knees buckled before he stationed himself in front of the cabin door. Bill sat on the bed with his head in both hands for a long while.

"Are either of you hurt?" he said.

"No." Loretta sat in the chair closest to the door, still not convinced Karl was right.

"What did he do this time?"

"He invited himself into Loretta's room," Karl said. "With a knife."

Bill finally looked up into his younger brother's defiant eyes.

"Is this true, Rullin?"

"Why would you care?" the boy shouted. "You have no lack of women sharing your bed. If the crews get a few of the nastier spoils, it doesn't cut down on your supply."

Loretta had to force herself to sit still. The truth was Rullin hadn't made any effort to rape