Chapter 27
____________
Al
”Get back,” I said to Lyra, lifting her and her Mom away so Mesothraxus couldn”t reach her.
”But I want to fight with you,” she said. Her eyes emitted a burning passion that made me want her to fight with me, but I knew she had to protect her Mom.
”You”ve done enough,” I said, shaking my head. ”It”s my turn now. Malantha will help me end this fool”s life.”
”I sure will,” said Malantha, standing tall beside me.
”Don”t be so sure,” said Mesothraxus, coming closer. ”But you”re right about one thing; it is your turn, to meet your doom.”
Lyra stared into my eyes, showing the panic whirling around her soul.
”Don”t worry; he won”t beat me,” I whispered. ”Now, take your Mom over there and keep her safe.”
Mesothraxus growled. I glanced behind. He was getting near but moving at a slow enough pace to make me think he wanted Lyra out of the way so he could take care of me. He was kidding himself; there was no way he would be victorious today.
I threw Lyra a look of confidence, and she nodded. I knew she wanted to stay and fight, but she had to save her Mom.
”What the hell is going on?” asked her Mom, confused and dazed.
”Just come with me,” said Lyra, leading her away until she was behind a pod.
With Malantha by my side, I turned and faced our enemy. Mesothraxus glared at us, evil seething through his eyes. He wanted us dead and would show no mercy. Even though he had a hole in his chest with blood oozing out, he was alive and full of anger.
Exhaustion weighed heavily upon my shoulders. My muscles ached from the relentless battle, but I knew I had to dig deep and prove my worth. I couldn”t afford to falter now.
Mesothraxus snarled, eager to fight.
”Must be easier to walk now you have a hole in your chest,” I said, smirking.
”That”s not going to hinder me,” he said. ”I won”t stop until you”re all dead, especially that bitch there,” he added, nodding to Lyra.
Anger blasted through me. My final battle was about to commence. After everything I had been through, all the pain and suffering, my patience and discipline had brought me to this moment.
”You”ll never get near her again. She”s mine.”
”How romantic,” said Mesothraxus. ”She may have moved out of harm”s way, but I”ll have her soon. Don”t forget, I”m not alone.” He roared as if calling his army, and a group of Mesothraxians appeared in the distance. ”On my command, they”ll rip your hearts out.”
”Go on then, I dare you,” I said.
”I”ll wait. I want to take care of this nuisance by myself.”
”Good luck with that,” said Malantha, shuffling forward.
We shared a glance, and I knew we were thinking the same: how the fuck were we going to take him out? Well, we had to. We didn”t have a choice.
”Bring it on, you old lizard,” I said, clenching my fists as I paced towards him.
”Come on then. Show us what you”ve got,” said Malantha.
Mesothraxus roared, smacking his fists on the floor. The ground shook, catching me off guard, but I wouldn”t let him intimidate me. I stood tall, closed my hands, and leapt forward, aiming straight for his head.
I swung my fist around and smacked him in the temple, making him stumble. But then his elbow flew out and hit my shoulder, knocking me away.
I watched with hope as Malantha jumped on his back and started pounding his head, whacking his fists as hard as he could into the back of his neck.
But Mesothraxus”s energy was relentless. He roared and shook his wide frame, sending Malantha crashing into the side of a pod. It cracked on impact, and the gooey solution started to seep out. Malantha groaned as he lay in a heap on the floor.
”You”re next,” said Mesothraxus, jumping back from the solution as he turned to face me. ”I can”t believe you thought you could escape again and beat me. There”s no chance.”
”Oh yes, there is,” I said, standing tall.
We leapt at each other, fury seeping from our pours. He went to kick me as I got close, but I dodged and punched him in the ribs, whacking him several times.
But then he stepped to the side, catching me off guard. He spun around, wrapped his arm around my head, and pulled me into his robust body.
”Die, you fool,” he said, squeezing my neck as he held me in a headlock. My throat started to clog. I tried to kick out, but Mesothraxus squashed more. ”When you”re dead, I”ll have some dirty fun with Lyra before I kill her, just to show her what she”s been missing.”
The thought of him even touching her ignited an inner spark. I growled loudly and yanked my head back, slipping from his grasp.
”You”ll do no such thing,” I cried, bringing up my foot to scissor-kick him around the face.
Malantha appeared by my side as we both laid into the leader of Mesoterra, punching and stabbing him until he fell on the floor.
Then we heard an almighty crack behind us.
I turned and stared in disbelief as Lyra stood with a metal pole in her hands, having just cracked open a pod.
”Stand back,” she said, nodding as the solution rushed along the floor towards Mesothraxus.
It reached his feet, and he screamed.
”No, no,” he cried, scrambling on the floor. ”Help, help,” he shouted as the liquid began to dissolve his legs.
A group of Mesothraxians came rushing over. We stood back and watched as Mesothraxus started to sizzle, getting destroyed by his own medicine.
By the time the Mesothraxians had pulled Mesothraxus from the solution, his feet were missing, and the ends of his legs looked like they”d been devoured by a great white shark.
”Quick, get him to the recovery room,” said one of his slaves.
”He can”t touch his poison,” said another as they rushed him away.
Relief washed over me as they fled. I turned to Lyra, and she grinned.
”How did you know that would happen?” I asked as I paced towards her.
”I noticed how he stepped away from the pod when it broke and the look of terror in his eyes. I figured he wouldn”t have wanted a taste of his own medicine.”
”Great job,” said Malantha, patting her on the shoulder.
”Thanks,” said Lyra, smiling with pride.
”Will someone please explain what”s going on?” asked her Mom, walking towards us. ”This is all very confusing.”
”All in good time, Mom,” said Lyra. ”First, we have to rescue as many people from the pods as we can and get out of here before they fix that blasted leader and come after us.”
”Good call,” I said, my heart full of pride. I was so proud of the progress Lyra had made. I knew she was special. I took her by the hands and pulled her close. ”You did well, very well.”
”Thanks,” she said, biting her bottom lip. ”What”s my prize?”
”I”ll have to think of something up,” I said as my balls tingled.
”Err, excuse me,” said her Mom, tapping me on the shoulder. ”That”s my daughter you”re flirting with.”
”Mom, it”s fine,” said Lyra, chuckling. ”He”s allowed to flirt with me.”
”We”ll see about that,” said her Mom, frowning as she crossed her arms. ”First, can we get the hell out of here? This place is creepy.”
”I know a way,” said Malantha. ”I”ve studied the area and know exactly where the Mesothraxians keep all their space crafts.”
”Great, well, let”s get freeing these people,” said Lyra. ”I really want to go home and have a long, relaxing shower.”
”Me too,” I said, squeezing her hand as I tried to push away the image of helping her wash herself in the shower, especially as her Mom was staring at me suspiciously. ”But first, let”s free as many humans as possible before they come after us.”