In Darkness Reborn

Chapter 1 "Get that goddamned freak out of here!" The injured Paladin could barely speak, but there was no mistaking the venomin his words. Ignoring the tirade, Barak quietly picked up a tray of sterileinstruments and put it away. After arranging the equipment exactly the wayDr. Young preferred it, he walked past the man and deliberately made eyecontact, taking a warrior's pride in knowing he wasn't the one who'd blinkedfirst. The patient had been conscious for just over an hour and had been cursingBarak the whole time. Paladins were never easy patients, but having one oftheir mortal enemies near made them worse. Barak hated the Paladins enoughto take pleasure in seeing his enemy chained down while he walked free.Drawing a deep breath, he savored the sweet taste of the man's fury. When he'd entered this world, he'd fully expected to die at the end of aPaladin's sword. That hadn't happened, leaving him alone in this confusingplace. Since he could not defeat his enemy in combat, he would at leastirritate them with his continued presence in their midst. Dr. Laurel Young stood concentrating on the machines that monitored thePaladin's progress. Judging from the frown line between her eyebrows, shewasn't pleased. Knowing the request that was coming, Barak started for the door. The guards manning the lobby desk looked up, preventing him from slamminghis fist against the wall. Any such action on his part would be reported toDr. Neal, the local head of Research, who in turn would pass along theinformation to the Regents. For now, they tolerated Barak's continuedexistence, as long as he did not become too much of a problem. For Laurel'ssake, he behaved most of the time. It was for Dr. Young's sake that he had walked out of the lab; he owed herthat much. Roiling with anger, he decided to work it off in the gym. He pushed the elevator button, still marveling at the conveniences thathumans took for granted. Their casual use of power appalled him at times.They had no idea how blessed they were. Or how wasteful. When the elevator doors slid open, a pair of the building guardsimmediately moved to one side of the elevator, as if to make room for him.More likely they were avoiding any possible contact. He forced a small smile, acknowledging their false courtesy. As theytraveled in uncomfortable silence, he wondered if he was wrong to assumeeveryone had a hidden agenda. Maybe they had problems of their own andmeant no slight. But until he better understood these humans and how theirminds worked, he could only rely on his instincts, and it was safer toassume they were the enemy than to be stabbed in the back by a false friend. Several seconds later, he escaped the close confines of the elevator.Pausing outside the locker room, he reached out with his senses to see ifanyone was inside. The gods were with him; the whole place was empty.Inside, he stripped down and pulled on the shorts he kept in his assignedlocker. After tying back his shoulder-length hair, he entered the gym. He closed his eyes, searching for the silence deep within to let go of theday's frustrations. Moving slowly at first, he lost himself in the ha'kai,the "death dance" of his people. Through its familiar rhythms, he couldalmost imagine himself back home. The origin of the dance was lost inantiquity, but those who learned its graceful, lethal maneuvers kept thepractice alive in his world. Here, in this land of too much light, it wasan unknown art. There was so much confusion in this new life that he drewcomfort from bringing this one little part of his world with him. His peacewas short-lived as four Paladins came swaggering into the gym. They droppedtheir weapons cases on the tiled floor and drew their swords. The closest one groused, "Hell, nobody told me tMorgan, Alexis is the author of 'In Darkness Reborn ', published 2007 under ISBN 9781416546580 and ISBN 1416546588.