Chapter Thirteen
I couldn't believe it was over; they did it. They defeated the beasts, but it didn't come without cost.
The pole was lowered until it reached the arena floor. Without waiting Morrdrook climbed up onto the platform and took my face in his hands. I stared into his eyes.
“I love you, Morrdrook, I love you!” I blurted out, the tears spilling down my face.
“You are mine.” He growled, before his lips possessively and brutally crushed against me, plundering my mouth.
Total and utter surrender swept over me, melting against his mouth. Everything I was, I gave to him.
“Always.” I whispered, breathlessly, when he pulled back. He unhooked and pulled a knife from his belt, cutting the straps holding me down. I almost fell into his arms, but caught myself, gently putting my arms around his shoulders, not wanting to add strain to his injuries.
“It is over, we go home.” He started to tug me from the platform, but I resisted.
“What about the others; we can’t leave them?” I glanced over to the two sobbing women. Maggie's Zakiu already retrieved her.
“Give me your knife.” I held out my hand. Morrdrook, without question handed me the hilt of his blade.
I pushed away from him, reaching up and cutting the women down, pulling them into my arms. “I know your men have died, but you know the Zakiu are honorable. Quickly, come with us, let another one of them claim you, so the Druel cannot slaughter you as they have everyone else here.”
Morrdrook helped me and the other women down, so we could run across the sands towards the waiting Zakiu men.
“Forrdrool, Bular, take these women, make claim on them, best in our care than the Fraxi or Druel.” Morrdrook rumbled.
The women hesitated, Sarah glancing back to her fallen Zakiu and burst into tears. Bular stepped forward wrapping his arm around her, lifting her off her feet and carried her back inside, the other Zakiu took Rita.
The Druel crowd hollered and howled, but I shut it out, focusing on my man, letting Morrdrook lead me back inside. This time, come hell or high water, I was never going to let him out of my sight, ever again.
* * * *
Over the next few days, the flurry of activity of the robots increased. There was no more training, only a tense waiting and a time to mourn friends lost. I barely caught sight of Sarah and Rita since the Hurl beast battle. Abby, as a self-appointed doctor, visited both women. She told me in confidence Sarah is catatonic, but Barooki was taking care of her as best he could. Rita was coping only a little better. My heart ached for them. Morrdrook survived with only a few bruises and scrapes.
He held me tight in his arms at night when nightmares plagued my dreams. He stroked and soothed me at my trembling and crying when I awoke. His love making was gentle and tender, making me want to cry even more.
I felt overwrought with bombarding emotions. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’m not usually this sensitive.” I muttered after another bout of tears. The thought struck me. I wiped at my face and sat up on our bed. Morrdrook raised a curious eyebrow.
“I know it’s our last day, but can we go check.” My heart hopeful.
He climbed off the bed. My wrap dress, as I’d named it, was still slightly damp from its regular washing, but I quickly wrapped it around me and followed Morrdrook out, heading towards the meal room, but then he turned off to the left instead of the right.
The medical room to treat injuries was basic. The Druel let the fighters use the equipment. The other women, who were pregnant, told me step inside the scanner machine and let it scan my body.
Fear of not being pregnant, mixed with the hope and possibility I may be with child, made my body tremble.
“It be alright, no matter if we make bud or not. Still mine, Aunna.” He bent, tenderly kissing my cheek.
I smiled at him, lovingly and he opened the clear door for me to step inside. I took note of the unlit traffic light, green for pregnant and yellow for not pregnant indicators. When he pressed the activate button on the side, I jumped. The beam scanned me from head to toe.
Morrdrook ripped open the door with a huge shit-eating grin on his face.
“Green, we make bud!”
I squealed, throwing myself into his arms. He swung me around and we kissed in a passionate celebration. He pulled back and gently ran his hand down over my tummy, caressing it.
“My heart filled with much joy. I work hard, protect you. Care for our family.”
I reached out, trailing my hand over his chest. “I love you, Morrdrook, more than anything else in the universe.”
He bent his head, taking my lips in a soft kiss. “I love my Aunna, my heart always be yours.”
The alarm sounded, it was time. My heart pounded when Morrdrook placed a woefully brief kiss to my lips before setting me on my feet.
Freedom was so close, yet it seemed so far away. A new hope and a new fear of how to protect our family swirled in my mind.
“They take us home, now.”
It didn’t matter if it was on the Druel planet, Earth or Zakiu, my home was wherever Morrdrook was.
We walked the corridors, joining the other fighters making their way out. Silently, we followed the line of blinking octo bots, out of the slave quarters and into the busy streets. I saw the long line of ships looking like massive, black, beetle bugs, with extended tongues hanging out. The remaining Gillip, three in all, split off and were herded towards a different ship and the Fraxi to another, while all the Zakiu and the human women walked straight head.
Morrdrook squeezed my hand in reassurance while we approached the ship's ramp and he led me up and into the belly of a Druel ship. I held on him tightly, thankful to have the strong support of the man I love. With him, I have confidence to face what ever the future throws at us.
To be continued…
Beast Planet will continue in early 2013
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Beast Planet 1: Captive Surrender Page 10
