by Leeda Vada
#
Suppressing the grief and anger to be dealt with later, Sebastian focused on the situation at hand. Their men had arrived moments after Sebastian and the lieutenant. Sebastian and Kato had gone immediately to Numee’s side. But their men had begun scouting the area.
There was carnage everywhere. In the middle of the mutilated corpses strewn across the clearing, they had spotted the bleeding body of an adult female. And in examining her to determine the extent of her injuries, they discovered the infant clutched to her chest.
The woman wasn’t moving, but the healer assured him that she was alive, just unconscious. “It’s a girl child,” she added.
The babe lay quietly, clutching the arm of the woman who held her. The infant’s clear turquoise eyes surveyed the faces of the men who surrounded her, no fear reflected in them, only curiosity.
The woman’s other hand had a white-knuckled grip on what Sebastian recognized as an Amazon battle ax, one bearing the Scythian crest. Several of the bodies on the ground bore the slashed wounds of the formidable weapon.
“This is strange,” Kato said. “Look at the bodies. I recognize the cuts from the ax, but look at these wounds.” He pointed to several in the corpse at his feet. There were rips of skin and crushed bones, signs of an attack that had been carnivorous in nature.
“No human or Amazon inflicted these wounds, Your Highness.”
“I agree. Transport them to the coroner’s lab.”
“Do you think it’s possible that this young Amazon killed all these men?”
“If the woman was a true Amazon, yes,” Sebastian replied. “But she doesn’t look Amazonian to me, so I find it highly unlikely. We’ll find out when we get her to the infirmary. Be gentle with them, be especially careful of the child. I don’t want her experiencing any more trauma than she already has.”
“Of course, Sir.”
Having apprised the Emperor of the situation, Sebastian knew their top healers awaited the two patients.
He surveyed the scene one last time, cataloguing every detail in his memory. He followed up with an intense energy wave to incinerate every trace of what had happened. He wanted to leave no physical evidence of Numee’s presence on the planet.
His father had warned him before he left to find Numee that the Natar family would also be searching for her. And even a notification of her death would not satisfy them. Any issue of a married couple belonged to the father’s family, and Numee’s husband’s family would want irrefutable proof that the child died with her.
Sebastian was just as determined that they not get their hands on his niece. She was all his family had left of his sister, and his father would not relinquish her care to anyone. She would be raised a Varul.
In his examination of Numee and her baby before they were transported off planet, and his subsequent examination of the crime scene, there was strong evidence that his sister had taken steps to ensure the safety of her daughter.
There was evidence of puncture wounds on the wrists of all three victims, wounds not of the kind inflicted in a brutal attack. The punctures were very small, and the surrounding flesh was not traumatized, as if the perpetrator wanted the experience to be as gentle as possible.
Sebastian believed Numee had exchanged blood with her rescuer, then punctured her daughter’s wrist and introduced Calli’s blood into the baby’s veins.
With the unknown blood in her veins, the Imperial Court would not certify the child as Natarian, which would nullify any claim her husband’s family had to the child.
Is was clear that Numee had been murdered, and even though there was no evidence to support a charge against the father’s family, turning over an asset as valuable as a female child of royal blood to anyone who may have been complicit in the mother’s death was not an option.
Also, none of the Counselors wanted to risk making an enemy of the powerful Varul royal family.
Everything indicated that the attackers were from Earth. He could find no signs that the Natar family had found her. Now, all that was left was to discover as much as they could from their interrogation of her rescuer.
Who was she? And more importantly, what was she?
#
The plaintive cry of a distressed infant dragged Calli into consciousness. Through a haze of pain, she heard muted voices and could smell the antiseptic odors of a hospital. She did not attempt to open her eyes, wanting to maintain the anonymity of unconsciousness.
“Any luck discovering who she is?” Kato asked Sebastian.
“Her DNA shows Were markers—Canid to be exact—which helps explain the extraordinary fighting skills she exhibited vanquishing the Hound Troopers. They could also explain the animal wounds on some of Numee’s attackers,” Sebastian added.
“I heard Canid travel in packs or at least in pairs,” Kato said. “Why was this young woman fighting alone? All Were descendants are rumored to be very loyal and will fight to the death in defense of a pack member, especially a female member.
“I can’t answer that, my friend, but rest assured I will find out,” Sebastian promised.
“Your hypothesizing can continue in the corridor, Prince Sebastian. The young lady is my patient, and she needs her rest,” the attending nurse admonished him. “Her mysteries will remain so until Healer Makena says she is well enough to be interrogated,” she declared.
“Prince Sebastian,” called a voice. “The Emperor wants you, immediately.”
“Okay, I’m on my way. Kato, will you hang around and let me know as soon as our patient wakes?”
“Will do.”
“Will do in the corridor,” Foster Adia quipped.
#
While the foster ushered the lieutenant from the room, Calli opened her eyes.
She had to get to the baby. Meda needed her. Calli could hear the distress in her weakened cries.
Realizing that she was in no condition to get there under her own power, she pressed the button to summon hospital staff.
As they entered with the lieutenant in their wake, the nurse exclaimed at Calli’s efforts to remove the intravenous line attached to her wrist. “No, you don’t, young lady,” she commanded. “Leave those be.”
“I have to get to the baby,” Calli insisted, resisting her efforts. “Please, take me to her.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
“You don’t understand. She’s frightened.”
“She is starving,” Sebastian injected, entering the room. “She is resisting all attempts to feed her. The doctor had to strap her down to tap her veins. But even after they managed to get the intravenous line, she is so upset she is blocking the flow. That’s why my father summoned me. If she keeps this up, she won’t survive.”
His words strengthened Calli’s resolve to get to the infant. “If you want her to live, you must take me to her.”
“And aside from the obvious problem of your physical condition, how do you intend to assure us that she will take nourishment for you?”
“She knows me. If I’m there, she won’t be so afraid and will relax enough to allow the flow of formula.” At Sebastian’s hesitancy, Calli continued, frustration strong in her voice. “Stubborn ass! What do you have to lose by letting me try?”
“Young lady, I will ignore your tone and chalk it up to the irrationality caused by the medication, but heed this warning. You are in no position to malign anyone.”
Sebastian directed the foster to prepare the patient to be wheeled to the nursery. The crying became more strident and angry the closer Calli got to the nursery. The attendant made room to position her bed next to the incubator.
Calli laid her hand next to the glass partition. “Meda, I’m here,” she whispered, wishing she could reach out to stroke the baby’s chest. “Shh, little one. I’m here.”
Calli turned to the healer, “Please, may I touch her?”
After a nod from Sebastian, the doctor signaled the nurse to open the side of the incubator facing Calli.
Meda stilled, as if sensing Calli’s presence and recognizing her voice.
“Remember me?” Calli continued, extending her stroking to encompass the baby’s arms and legs. “You are safe.”
Calli moved her face closer. She startled Sebastian and the others as she began humming a soft melody that her mother would sing to her and her brothers when they had trouble sleeping.
After several minutes, she paused. “Your mamma wanted you safe. And now you are.” For a few moments more, she continued stroking and soothing the baby with her voice.
“We survived, you and me. But now I need you to relax and let the healers take care of us, so we can both get well and go home.”
“She is home, young lady,” commanded an inflexible, hard voice from behind her.
She turned to see a figure of a height and breadth that dwarfed Sebastian. The power that emanated from him negated the presence of everyone else in the room.
The monitor shrieked, reflecting Meda’s distress. The threatening tone of the intruder’s voice had disturbed the baby.
“Who are you?” Calli demanded.
“Who am I?” the gentleman shouted, outrage clear on his face. “How dare you question me?”
“You are upsetting the baby. Can’t you see that?”
“How do you know her name is Meda,” their visitor countered.
“Her mother named her before she died.”
“Her mother was my daughter. The child is my granddaughter, and her home is here.”
“How do I know you are telling the truth?” Calli challenged. “You could be the one Numee was running from?”
“Because I say so,” he answered, indignant. He turned to Sebastian, “I agreed to let you handle this situation, but obviously you have not been able to. Foster Adia. Return this young lady to her room. I want her ready for interrogation first thing in the morning, which means I do not want her doped up on lots of medication. I want her clear-headed when I question her.”
“Begging your pardon, Your Highness, but that won’t be possible. The painkillers are needed to ameliorate the pain. Without it, it would be unbearable.”
“But then her tongue might be,” he scoffed. “Prepare her.” Exiting the room, he added, “If you can’t, I’ll replace you with someone who can. And I want hourly reports on my granddaughter’s condition.”
“That did not go very well,” Sebastian sighed, approaching Calli. “You have a temper, young lady. Let’s hope your mouth did not just write a check that the rest of your body and Meda’s body cannot cash.” He paused a moment. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Your presence does seem to comfort her.”
“Call her by her name. It may make her more comfortable around you,” Calli suggested.
“Don’t let my father intimidate you. His bark is often worse than his bite.”
“I doubt that.”
Sebastian chuckled, then turned serious. “My sister was his only daughter. He loved her very much, and he loves her child. Don’t let his gruff demeanor cause you to doubt that. Speaking of names, I don’t want to wait until tomorrow to learn yours. Mine is Sebastian Varul, and the gentle giant who just exited is my father, Emperor Osei. “
“I’m Calli Lakota.”
“Thank you. Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Noting the wariness in Calli’s eyes, Sebastian backed off. “I think that is enough for today”
Calli shivered as the pain medication began to wear off. A distressed cry from Meda was the last sound she heard as a wave of pain forced her into a black void
“Healer Makena!” Sebastian shouted. “Your patient needs you.”
“No kidding. How could that be, my lofty prince? Could it possibly be because within the last twenty-four hours, she has been beaten, raped, and branded? And, let’s not forget, forced into a confrontation while weakened mentally, physically, and emotionally?”
“My sister is dead, her child possibly dying, and you think the Emperor is going to wait for answers? You obviously don’t know your emperor very well.”
“From what I’ve heard, this young lady is the reason your niece survives. It would seem a shame if she died because the royal family could not wait until she was well enough to give them answers,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Take care of her. I’ll try to get her more time to recuperate before the inquisition. Would you send updates on the child’s condition to me as well?”
“Whatever you command, your eminence.”
“I’m curious, Healer,” Sebastian asked. “Have I personally offended you in the past? Your antagonism is palpable. I’m curious about its origin.”
Makena waited several minutes before answering him.
“Your sister meant a lot to the people of Genesee, especially us women. She was the softness in the Varulian dynasty. You are not the only ones grieving her loss.”
“I appreciate your feelings, but that does not explain the animosity.”
“She—like most women of our world—was forced to marry against her will. She should have been the one to choose her husband.”
“It was her duty as a princess to marry to benefit the welfare of the people, her duty to follow our traditions. This is not an unusual occurrence in royal families.”
“Maybe so, my prince,” she sighed. “Will that also be the fate of that baby girl in there? Is she struggling to survive in a world where she will live as a bargaining chip, a brood mare in men’s unending quest for power and immortality?”
Before Sebastian could reply with an answer he did not have, Healer Makena pulled the curtain.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Early the following day, Sebastian was summoned to his father’s private chambers.
“We have a problem,” Emperor Osei informed him. “The young woman is carrying Numee’s DNA. Somehow there was a blood exchange during their interaction.”
“I thought that might be the case,” said Sebastian, then told his father about what he had observed at the scene.
“That complicates things,” responded the Emperor. “Where ordinarily we would erase her memory and then return her to her world, we cannot do that now. She must remain here in Genesee until we determine what to do.”
“From what we’ve seen so far, she does not strike me as the acquiescent type,” Sebastian quipped. “You can’t think that she will agree to that.”
“She will have no choice.”
#
After leaving his father, Sebastian made his way to the infirmary. “You’re awake,”
he greeted Calli, as he entered her room.
“Yes. I want to see Meda.”
“In a moment. First, I need you to answer some questions.”
“After I see Meda.”
“Meda is resting peacefully. Since your visit yesterday, she has been accepting nourishment. Her condition has stabilized.”
“I want to see for myself.”
“You will. The faster you answer my questions, the sooner you see Meda.”
“What are your questions?”
“Who are you and why were you with my sister?”
“I told you. My name is Calli Lakota. I heard your sister’s cries and came to help.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“So, you killed five assailants by yourself?”
Sebastian almost missed the quick movement of her eyes as she tried to avert his piercing gaze. Recovering quickly, Calli repeated, “Yes.”
“That seems highly unlikely to me, Ms. Lakota,” he scoffed. “You are female and biologically incapable of overwhelming an adult male, let alone five trained Hounds of God Troopers. There is something you’re not telling me.”
“Let’s not insult each other, Your Highness. You know I’m Canid.”
“Yes, so your DNA says. But that is not all it says.”
Calli remained silent.
“All Canid carry the repressed Were gene, but yours is not repressed, is it, Ms. Lakota?”
Still no response.
“You are a primordial Were, which explains how a lone female could vanquish several trained fighters. That also explains the animal wounds on the bodies, not to mention the condition of your clothes, shredded in the shift.”
Still, Calli did not comment.
“There have been rumors for years that the primeval Were gene was resurfacing. I can see why you would want to keep your ability secret. But we are no threat to you. We’re not interested in the proliferation or annihilation of your species.”
“I beg to differ, my son,” said Emperor Osei, entering the room.
“You must deign to knock on occasion, father,” Sebastian said, clearly frustrated.
Osei ignored his son. “We would not be concerned except for one important factor.”
“My name is Calli Lakota,” the patient barked. “What do you mean?”
“Well—Calli Lakota—when you introduced your DNA into my granddaughter, it became our concern.”
“Why? My blood will not harm Meda.”
“You can’t know that, and we can’t take the chance that it will, which is why you will remain with us until we are.”
“Meda’s mother had us exchange blood to shield Meda from detection by those pursuing her,” Calli explained.
“The ‘why’ is irrelevant. The fact is that you now carry Varulian blood in your veins. The connection between you and my granddaughter is permanent, hence, one that also permanently binds you to us.”
“Binds me to you?” Calli asked, alarmed.
“You are now a part of our family, Ms. Lakota,” Sebastian replied, sadly.
“You are insane. I am no such thing. The blood exchange was to protect Meda, so she could be restored to her mother’s family. I promised her mother, and I have kept that promise. No insult intended, but I have no wish to be a part of your family.”
Sebastian pulled a chair next to her bed and took her hand. Calli jerked it back. He chastised, “Meda needs you. You can’t mean to abandon her now.”
“Of course I will not abandon her, but there is no need to threaten to imprison me here.”
