Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
RUBY
Someone gently stroking my cheek has me opening my eyes only to close them again because of the bright light.
“ Zenith , lights to fifty percent.”
“ Acknowledged .”
“ You should be able to open your eyes now, Ruby .”
Blinking a few times, I find Kallen sitting beside me on the bed. “ How is your head feeling?”
“ Like I’ve been on a weeklong drunk. What the hell did they do to me?”
“ They gave you a translator. Normally these are implanted at birth with little to no side effects. I do not think anyone anticipated the amount of pain they were going to cause you all. I could hear the screams of the others all the way in Ruarc’s rooms.”
“ Others ?”
“ Yes , they rescued three other human females from one of the cages in the back of the Velgriddix ship when they found us.”
“ Damn , I’m such a selfish bitch. I was so wrapped up in myself and Rowan , I didn’t even think about the other girls in there.”
“ Do not judge yourself too harshly, we all handle things differently.”
“ Are the other girls alright?”
“ I just came from there. They are doing about the same as you and your sister, healing, scared, confused. All things that are considered normal in these circumstances. Falon and Bikar gave up their rooms so that the females could have some privacy. Just as I was leaving, the males were bringing in some crates full of garments and personal items.”
“ You look much better, Kallen .”
“ Thank you, I am starting to feel more like myself. I would have sought you out sooner, but Ruarc is being an overbearing ass. The only reason I am here now is because he had to cover for Slavic at the helm and forgot to lock the door behind him. The moment he was gone, I headed out. Some of the other females were initially scared when they saw me but quickly calmed down once we talked some. It probably helped to see another female amongst all these growling barbarians. One was particularly friendlier than the others and she asked several questions about Bikar . He hasn’t said anything about feeling a mate bond, but from my understanding, they have been talking to the males from the other side of the door.”
“ So , you’re saying you escaped because your big and scary is covering for my big and ugly.”
“ Slavic was once one of the most sought-after males on our planet. Many a female pranced in front of him hoping to trigger his mate collar. The horrors that male went through to protect his brothers, and his life givers is enough to give a being nightmares. They have been on the run for many orbital rotations, but things have changed greatly since they escaped the Aynar fairies. However , because of Ruarc’s possessiveness, I have had little time to talk to any of them. In your case, I am sure Slavic is as confused about you as you are him. Finding one’s mate is the ultimate gift, but not often found within another race. You would be and are, completely unexpected. And being males, they are sure to make a mess of things before fixing them. I only wish my own mate could see the time he is wasting between us.”
“ Hold up. Are you saying that I’m Slavic’s mate, and that yours is fighting this mate thing that is supposed to be so sacred? You need to spell this out in stupid simple for me Kallen , because I’m freaking the hell out over here!”
“ Ruarc is fighting our mate bond and by doing so, he is hurting us both. He is convinced that there has been some sort of mistake. Because why would the God of Ruk bless me, a Princess , with a thieving pirate? What I cannot make him understand is I am the princess of a fallen planet. I have nothing but this worthless title. He is everything I have ever wanted in a mate and every time he turns from me it rips me apart inside. My collar is already lightening, and I fear the consequences we will both bear if he continues on this path.”
“ And you like him, not just because of this God thing, right?”
“ I have watched him since we were younglings, and until our mate bond clicked into place, I could not understand why I sought him out. He , of course, never noticed me. But anytime I saw his family coming out of the mines, I would stand in the upper window of our dwelling hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Most pathetic now that I think about it. In a way he is right, my life givers would have fought the bond back then, but the female I am now only wants to be in his arms. He is everything and more than I ever wanted in a male, but he won’t listen,”
“ I think that is a default trait, no matter the species, Kallen . Back to Slavic , are you saying bad things could and will happen to him if this bond thing doesn’t happen?”
“ Absolutely . It will start gradually after several rotations, but if his collar fades completely and he is not strong enough to survive one of his hearts stopping, he will perish.”
“ Hold your horses, did you say two hearts?”
“ Yes , most of the dominant males of our species have two hearts. It is one of the things that makes them so powerful but can also be their biggest weakness. Normally if one of us loses a mate, the other is not far behind, as our lives are linked through our mate bond.”
“ You act like this is common knowledge and something I should already know.”
“ There are no secrets in the Void , but it can be a place of joy or heartache.”
“ Isn’t that the truth of any world?” Her words have me glancing over at Rowan who is still laying in the same spot but seems to be resting peacefully. Kallen sliding off the bed has me sitting up.
“ Before Ruarc notices my absence, I should probably return. I am glad that you nor any of the others had any adverse reactions to the translators. I have been talking to you in common tongue with no issues. Hopefully , this will help you and Slavic .”
“ Kallen , just to make sure I understand exactly what you’re telling me...this collar thing around your neck marks you as a mate?”
“ No , it tells the world that you are mated to another. I have no idea if once your bond is consummated that you will have a matching one or not. But if you take nothing else out of this conversation know this; he will weaken the longer the bond is not tethered together, and our world needs Slavic .”
“ No pressure on a girl at all, huh? Don’t I have a say so in any of this? I mean I’ve already lost everything, am I just supposed to say, ‘ OK universe, here I am, do with me as you will?’ Because some big ass guy decides he wants to get it on with a human chick half his size. I mean have you seen the size of these guys? If big noses, feet, and hands add up the way they’re supposed to, I’m literally fucked.”
Kallen’s laughter brightens up her entire face, and this is the first time that I notice she is really very pretty, for a green girl. “ Little Ruby , I have no idea what those references mean, but I do believe if you remain open-minded, the horrors you have been put through may turn into an adventure and love you never dreamed of. The fact that two sisters were fated to be mates to two brothers is a wonder in and of itself.”
“ You mean my sister is also going to have this mate problem?”
“ Yes , Einar was the one who saved her, not only from that breeding nest, but from the lung disease plaguing her small form.”
“ You mean the green giant and my little sister?”
“ Yes .”
“ Your gods must have one hell of a sense of humor.” I no sooner say that, then the door slides open and in strolls the one I believe is Ruarc .
“ Slavic is returning from plundering the other ship. The lot was substantial and now the fuel tanks are filled. Say goodbye to your new friend Kallen , you need your rest.”
“ I feel better than I have in forever Ruarc .” He doesn’t allow her to say another word, simply swings Kallen up in his arms like she weighs nothing and let me say, that woman is not small. He walks back out while she waves over his shoulder just before the door closes.
So Big and Ugly is on his way back from whatever poor vessel he decided to set his sights on? If this thing in my head is working the way Kallen says, then I think it’s about time me and grumpy have a talk. Swinging my legs out of the bed, I exit after Kallen and her man, following far enough behind them not to be noticed. Or so I thought until Kallen looks back at me, then motions down a hall I almost passed with a smile on her face. Giving her a thumbs up, I head down the other way, listening to all the weird noises the ship is making. I barely get out of the way when I hear someone’s heavy steps heading toward me. A flash of long white hair and dark skin passes me without a side glance. “ Hello to you to mister friendly,” I call after him. “ Fucking aliens”, I mumble to myself.
Continuing down the hall, I almost miss the big shower Slavic is standing inside, with his head hanging.
“ So , you guys are nothing but a bunch of fucking thieves!”
I can tell he is shocked to see me when he just walks out of the big shower thing. He isn’t snarling like always, but it’s easy to tell his thoughts were elsewhere. I had half a dozen things to say to him and I don’t know who’s more shocked, me or him, when I confront him with that statement.
“ I see your translator is working. How do you feel?”
“ Don’t change the subject by acting like you care. You held me for heavens sakes, so that thing could melt my brain.”
“ You are tougher than you imagine, tiny female, and yes, we are nothing more than thieves. Even though that is something you should be grateful for, because if we had not been put on this path, no one would have rescued you nor your sister from that nightmare you were found in.”
“ Well , it isn’t like either of us wanted to be there, you grouchy ass. And at this point, I’m not sure who the monsters are or aren’t. Even though Kallen has tried her best to talk you up as the good guys.”
He gently grabs my jaw, “ Let me clear something up for you little one. I would and will destroy anything that tries to harm you in this life and the next. There is not another living being anywhere more important to me than you. I do not deserve you, but now that I have held you in my arms, that is where you will remain. I would not expect you to care for me right away, but in time I will prove myself worthy of your affections. Until then, I will do whatever is needed to provide for and protect you, even if it is from yourself.”
“ Do you think for one moment I wanted to witness the pain that translator was going to cause you? I could have left, said I had other things to do, like rob the ship that had the fuel we needed to escape the fracking bugs hot on our trail because we took you, … their incubators. Instead , I held you, trying my best to will my strength into your small form while you fought me like a wild Suet . My hearts were literally being ripped apart from your screams. I would have taken every ounce of pain you had ever experienced all at once. Done anything to keep you from going through that, but here we are. I am a mere fleshly being that can only provide so much comfort. I ask for your forgiveness even though I do not expect you to give it.”
I don’t know what to say after all that. Initially , I’m angry. Then I regret jumping to conclusions, and now I’m speechless as I face this huge man pouring his heart out to me. Has this ever happened to me before? I don’t think I’ve ever been struck speechless in my life. When I don’t respond right away, he frowns, shaking his head.
“ I expect nothing from you Ruby , except that you need to realize you cannot change what has happened, but you can control how you move forward. Either you see this as a challenge and a positive thing, or you wallow in a past that can’t be rewritten. That is the only decision you can make. Until then, come … You need sustenance, and Falon was supposed to have delivered a crate to our quarters for you while I was away.”
The next thing I know, he has swung me up in his arms and we are stomping down the hall. Instinctively , I throw my arms around his neck, holding on tightly. I could be petty and pull away from him, but instead, I take this time to really look at the behemoth packing me around like I’m a case of pop or something else that inconsequential.
All this time I’ve been focused on how much different he is from me, but as his words flow through my mind, I realize he isn’t as strange as I first thought. He also may be the first person that’s ever cared for me, that didn’t expect anything in return. I’m a fish out of water right now.
The door slides open to his room and once again he places me in that huge ass chair. I still haven’t found my voice as he stomps around, pulling things out of the many pockets he has linked to that rusty belt that is settled low on his hips. The moment he’s done, he starts talking into that watch thing.
“ Falon , where did you put the crate for my mate?”
‘ There’s that mate word again ’, I think to myself.
“ Slavic , I set it just inside the doorway; you probably walked right past it.”
“ Frack , I see it. Thanks .”
Two steps later, he is lifting a metal container the size of a washing machine like it weighs nothing, before sitting it in front of the chair he deposited me in. I watch as he flicks several levers on its sides before pulling off the top.
“ I was not able to select these myself, so I had to trust Falon to get what you needed. Hopefully , some of this will be to your liking and if you require anything else, I will find a way to obtain it. For a short time, I will be in the refreshing chamber. I need a moment to myself, and I feel saturated by the filth that covered the Pyrkyne ship. Take this opportunity to sort through it and then we will find a place to store your belongings.”
“ I take it I’m staying here with you, whether I want to or not?”
“ You are free to leave but know I will simply follow you. Even if that means that I slumber at your doorway.”
“ Go do your thing: shit, shower, and shave. Then we’re going to talk.”
I swear for just a second, I think he’s going to smile at me, but instead turns around and disappears into the alien bathroom. Closing my eyes, I fall back against the chair. Hell’s damn fire, what I wouldn’t do not to feel like I’m in the twilight zone.
My curiosity starts to get the best of me as I wonder just what’s inside this big ol’ box. Scooting up to the edge, I pull the first bag out, only to realize how many are in here. I feel like a kid at Christmas opening one thing after another. Quickly , I find myself surrounded by shoes, accessories, and clothing in multiple designs. One particular dress catches my attention and that’s what Slavic catches me holding up when he walks out of the bathroom.
“ That is a ceremonial gown. I am not sure why that would have been included unless they assumed you were also a Rukuhks .”
“ It’s beautiful, a little big, but I think I could alter it if need be.”
“ Will any of the garment’s work?”
“ Oh yeah, and the ones that are too long or too large, I can fix if you have a sewing kit. This is really more than I need, but Rowan will require some clothes as well. The alterations should keep me busy for a few days.”
“ Your sister has her own crate, as do the others. Before you start reworking them, maybe you should see what they have to trade?”
“ Trade ? Wow , I don’t think my people have done that in years. That’s smart though, and it will give me a reason to talk to the others. I’ve been so wrapped up with Rowan and all this shit, I forgot that there were other girls on that ship with us. Is trading how you guys normally get things out here?”
“ For the most part, yes. We may offer an item, manual labor, or even knowledge to obtain what is needed. Those of us born in the Void have learned to adapt. Thievery is not honorable, but when your brothers are starving, you learn to reevaluate your morals. Just to make this clear from the start, I will take, kill, or maim anything to take care of my own and not lose an ounce of sleep over it.”
Damn , he’s intense, “ What’s the Void ?”
He grabs ahold of my chair and pulls it, crate and all closer to the bed, so that he can sit down. I can see the fatigue written all over his drawn features. I wonder when I started paying that much attention?
“ The Void is hidden behind the Veil that separates the outer parts of the Darverian Universe from the inner, more populated planets. It’s also full of pirates such as ourselves; criminals, bounty hunters, and the unfortunate.”
“ So , it’s a place to hide?”
“ The Veil hides all, and it is a natural barrier that cannot be seen through if you are on the other side, and almost impossible to breach from either. Our ship, the Zenith , does not have thrusters powerful enough to break through it. If we tried anyway, the Veil’s magnetic field would tear the ship apart. Now there are ships that can power through it, but the few that can do not even know this part of space exists.”
“ I’m assuming the bug ships are powerful enough?”
“ Unfortunately , true. The only favorable thing is they prefer to keep to the outer sector. The only time they tend to leave Ebritis is during their mating season.”
“ Oh , lucky me, huh? I was merely in the right place at the right time.”
“ Female , your words, and the way they are spoken delight me. I do not understand them half the time, but your tone makes it easier to comprehend your sarcasm. I know you are not where you want to be at this exact moment in time, but the forces that control our lives have a way of bringing two souls together when needed the most, and the gods knew I needed you.”
“ Little bit of a romantic in those multiple hearts of yours, huh?”
“ I want no confusion or misunderstandings between us, so I beg you to ask all the questions you want so that your decisions going forward are made with a clear and knowledgeable mind.”
“ Slavic , you likely have some questions for me too.”
“ I care not how you come to be here. Though the journey seems far from memorable, a nightmare even by the look of your wounds, I would gladly take your pain away. The fact that you are sitting before me, glowing like a bright star in the sky and openly talking to me without fear on your face, is enough for now. There will be a point in the future when the memories are no longer painful, and you will discuss them willingly. Then I will know all, but until that time comes, all I want and need is you.”
“ That’s the second time you’ve said you need me. Why me Slavic , and wouldn’t you have been happier with one of your own?”
“ Were you happy with one of your kind?”
“ Well , not for the lack of trying. You see, my world and yours are slightly different.”
“ How is it so in the things that really matter? You were born to loving parental units who strived to provide and care for you. They even gave you a playmate in the form of a sibling. As you grew, you were taught what you were going to need to succeed in life as an adult. Then you matured and started noticing the opposite sex. The urge to mate and procreate made you seek out others that appealed to you either in sight or personality. My people are the same, Ruby . Our bodies simply have a way of helping us notice when another is more compatible.”
I reach up, running my fingers over the dark collar around his neck and watch him shiver all over. Quickly he grabs my hand, pushing it against his scarred face. “ Have you had a mate before Slavic , can this happen more than once? Could the mate bond be wrong about me?”
His bright eyes seek me out and I know the answers before he says them. “ No one has ever been before you, nor have I ever wanted another the way my blood sings for you my Starshine . You are a light that will never fade, a smell that will merge with my own. The voice I will always ache to hear and the body I wish to lose myself within. The God of Ruk grants few blessings in this harsh world, even to those who walk the righteous path, but somehow, he found me worthy of you.”
For the second time in my life, I’ve been rendered speechless.