Deus
The little female goes limp in my grip. I hardly had hold of her at all. I can’t have killed her…I’m sure I haven’t killed her.
I lift her up so I can look at her. Her eyes are closed, long lashes brushing against her pale, scaleless skin, her dark hair falling around her shoulders, glossy and smooth, unlike mine.
Her lips are a strange color, still no scales, and they have a blue tinge I don’t like so much.
Her entire body feels cold to the touch.
I don’t think this is how humans are supposed to be.
I met the one Dalox calls his mate. She was soft, pink, warm.
Why would this one be different?
I pull her against me, folding her into my body. There are voices echoing around this place, and they want me.
I am not going back to the cell. I know the warlords want me to atone for my betrayal, but there are other ways. I will not return to being treated like a traitor when all I wanted was my mate.
Possibly this little female might be the answer.
After all, she has a good scent. It infuses into my nostrils and makes my heart quicken.
Not much has done the same for a long time.
I could manage to have her as my prisoner with ease.
It could keep the warlords at bay until we work out what my punishment should be.
One that doesn’t involve a cell and paraxio. The nevving stuff was making my scales bad and my need to shed worse than ever.
“You’re coming with me,” I say to the quiet female.
She doesn’t respond.
“Whether you like it or not,” I growl.
Still nothing.
“But you will like it,” I say in a quieter tone. “I will look after you.”
Do I see her eyelids flutter? I’m not sure, but the voices are getting closer, and I have to move. I clutch the little creature close to my chest as I slip away from the main atrium.
As much as Darax likes to pretend his success is all his own doing, he forgets how much his big brother helped him out.
Helped him with fitting out his ship, as well as my own.
Helped him with the tech he needed. I know this place as well as I know my own body, and my own ship, when it was in working order.
There’s not a chance that any of Darax’s warriors will ever catch me.
I make my way down the passage I chased the female through.
I’d been unable to stop myself once the prey drive kicked in.
I would never harm her; she is too delicate a creature for anything other than to be cared for.
I find her belongings, discarded and pick them up.
She had them for a reason and I frightened her into dropping them.
Somehow I will make what I am about to do right with her, once she opens her eyes. Once she sees what I am.
I turn away from the exhaust port which my cell was under and into the depths of the underbelly of Darax’s ship. Access to the neutral sector is relatively easy from this particular part of his ship. I made it myself before…
A rage overcomes me. I stomp on, uncaring, holding the creature who will be my protection from any more so-called punishment Dalox or Darax wish to mete out. They will not have me, not while I have blood in my body and the ability to shift my bones into my Sarkarnii form.
I have to have my revenge. If not on my fellow Sarkarnii, then on the Ulep who thought they could draw us here, who condemned so many of our females to death, including my mate.
Darax cannot deny me what is mine, and once I have consolidated my tech, once I have gained some warriors to my cause, I will do what needs to be done, regardless of any of the warlords who seek to stop me.
It is time for a rebellion.
It is time for all Sarkarnii to take what belongs to them, to deal with our enemies as I see fit. It is time for us to rise once more.
The female stirs in my arms. Her eyes open, they see me, and they close again, her body losing any rigidity once more.
This little scrap will be what I need.
She will be the salvation of me. The warlords cannot touch me while I have her. And she belongs to me.