“How? How can we infiltrate Pahl’Kiar and find her?” Korteni wiped the tears from her cheeks.
Master Chief Denil stormed in the command tent with a civilian man and a hooded woman behind him. “Sir, apologies for the intrusion, these two say they have information regarding Captain Sen Asel? Did I miss something?”
“Trenn?” Etyne recognized the egotistical man from their initial training expedition. He stood up once more to approach the reservist, his eyes narrowed. “What do you know about her?”
“Please, Sir, you have to help. They’ve taken Sulica to the Lantheun capital. I need your help rescuing her, yours was the closest division to the harbor,” Kanilas Trenn pleaded, displaying a courtesy Etyne had never before seen from him.
“What about Sen Asel?” Etyne crossed his arms.
“Yes, they have her, too! They took them both! Please, Captain,” The desperation in the man’s voice was evident.
“The Dominion sent their rescue efforts to Pahl’Kiar. They have no idea she’s in the Lantheun capital. What are they doing there? How do you know that’s where they are?” Etyne interrogated.
“I’ll fill you in on all the details on our way there, Sir,” Kanilas told him.
“How can we be certain this isn’t a trap?” Master Chief Denil asked.
“Because you know I could never lie to you,” the hooded woman said, dropping the hood to reveal her face.
“Ibrienne?” Korteni and Etyne said together, shocked.
Ibrienne instantly lost her composure. “I’ve done terrible things. Please let me redeem myself by going with you to save our friends.” She took Korteni’s hands in her own. “Please,” she repeated.
Etyne raked his black hair with his hands, contemplating his dilemma. He desperately wanted to believe his former comrades and go to Lantheus to save Brisethi, but it very well could have been a trap conjured by the Lantheuns.
“We have to risk it, Captain,” Korteni encouraged his decision. “It could take another month once word gets to the Dominion command to have them redirect to Lantheus!”
Etyne nodded. “You’re right. Better to have died trying to find her than waiting around for the Dominion to do something while she suffers.”
“We are the Dominion, Sir. Let’s go save her,” Master Chief Denil replied.
The training division had just completed their six months of mystic training, leaving them only a day away from Ancient Kiar and the Dominion Naval harbor where the DSV Reliant awaited them. Etyne needed only to convince the training commanders onboard and assumed they’d oblige in helping to rescue the daughter of one of their admirals.
Chapter XI
“Why won’t you end it for us already?” Sulica pleaded to Brisethi when the guards arrived for what felt like the fiftieth time that month. Though it had become a daily routine to bleed just enough mystics out to remain alive, each new cut to their skin was more painful than the last. Their arms and legs were covered in scabs, causing the scientists to move on to cutting at their backs for new blood.
“Release your suppression of me!” Brisethi shouted back to her, fending off the two guards in her cell. Both of their voices had become hoarse from their screams.
“I stopped suppressing you weeks ago! I would rather you killed me than live out the rest of my days in this atrocity!” Sulica cried out right before the single Lantheun guard in her own cell forced her onto her front. Sulica had been fortunate enough to have only been taken to the lab twice a week after the first week since her suppression mystic wasn’t in demand of the Lantheuns. But her counterpart was still undergoing the painful task of removing her spirit every afternoon.
“Then why can’t I cast anything?” Brisethi’s voice broke when one of the guards held her by her throat. She had already forgone her torture in the lab that afternoon and couldn’t understand why the guards returned for them.
“Shut up, both of you!” The third guard shouted then pointed to Sulica’s cell. “Dasni, don’t touch that one, she’s being sold today. You’ll have to share the red-head with Chent.”
“The fuck he will!” Chent shouted, still holding his prize by her throat.
“Come on, Chent, you’ve had her this whole time-“ Dasni was cut off.
“No! She’s coming home with me when the scientists are through with her,” Chent shouted back. He grinned down at Brisethi. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he said in what he must have thought was an arousing voice to her.
Brisethi kicked at the guard as she usually did every other day, but he was bigger than the average man, nearly twice the size of the scientists, and he easily held her down. She lost the fight every time he had her, but not without leaving dozens of bruises, bite-marks and scratches on him. Each time she put up an even weaker offense, though that didn’t stop her from trying.
Dasni watched the vicious fight and instantly walked off. “Never mind, Chent, she’s all yours. Too much trouble, that one is.”
Chent chuckled. “The Dominion doesn’t joke around when it comes to training their little officers.” He encouraged her fight, thoroughly enjoying the victory each time. It was easier to plant her face to the cold stone floor and bind her from behind when she was worn down.
Sulica turned to face the stone wall and cover her ears. Brisethi’s screams pierced through what was left of her soul every time the guards had their way with her. The sight of watching the same acts performed on her had her quivering, knowing it would soon be her turn again.
The first time the guards had taken advantage of Sulica, Brisethi glanced momentarily at the atrocious act. In Brisethi’s mind, Sulica was the reason they were undergoing the torture at all. She wanted only to verify that her adversary was enduring the same heinous treatment as herself as recompense for their capture. But by her second, third, and each time after that, Brisethi did the same as Sulica and turned to face the wall, covering her ears from the screaming.
Brisethi weakened faster than usual. She was running on adrenaline alone, unable to recall the last time she ate solid food. Blood dripped from every inch of flesh that had been cut in the laboratory as each wound re-opened during the battle. Her white gown was stained with her blood and the black inky substances the scientists had put in the water she was forced to drink. The substance was Sulica’s suppression mystic in liquid form.
She kept her ferocity up with the guard but didn’t scream this time. She knew that men like him liked making their victims scream and beg for them to stop. She also knew that this one in particular loved the fight. She was running low on options in preventing the inevitable.
It was the worst feeling both women had ever experienced every time the men visited them. Each time they were rendered powerless, her body was in control of the malevolent guards; the possibility of extensive, horrifying physical injury or death was very real to her. Each was truly frightened each time they grabbed at her, humiliated her. Every bit of sovereignty was stripped from her with every painful thrust into her body. The only option seemed to be disassociation each time they had their way with her, feeling her spirit abandon her body.
Sudden realization set in that he would probably leave Brisethi alone if she were unconscious, or at least, she wouldn’t have to consciously endure the despicable acts. She stopped resisting, feigning that she was tired. The guard finally had the chance to dominate her. When he leaned in close enough, before having the chance to turn her onto her stomach, she slammed her forehead into his, knocking them both unconscious.
Sulica glanced back at the sudden silence, horrified at the sight of blood pouring from both of them. The two remaining guards laughed at their idiot comrade and dragged him out of Brisethi’s cell, locking her door.
“Sen Asel,” she whispered. “Wake up, please.” She peeked down the corridor through the iron bars of her cell to make sure the guards were gone. She thanked the spirits they did not take their turn on her this day. “Brisethi,” her voice echoed. “Don’t you fucking leave me!”
Sulica’s vision darkened. She was dehydrated. What was left of her nails scratched at the scabs on her arms. She tried to remain conscious, but her hunger pangs overwhelmed her, forcing her to fall into blackness.
-:- -:- -:-
“Oh gosh, he’s beautiful!” she gleefully exclaimed, walking toward the giant octopus. The finished aquarium at the Res’Baveth Zoo was the main attraction that year. The crisp, foggy overcast had kept most of the citizens at home that day, leaving the zoo fairly empty of crowds.
Etyne was more focused on the overwhelmingly large hammerhead shark swimming in and out of the live, vibrant coral. Both were astonished as soon as the majestic stingray floated by, unbothered by anything not as big as himself. The two friends proceeded to walk through the rest of the park, stopping at every area where an animal was present. The giant snow bears swam in their makeshift icy river, the ancient elephants pushed around wooden spools with their trunks, while colossal giraffes chewed on leaves from the towering trees.
Brisethi stared in awe at the sleek black panther strolling along the low tree branches. His huge paws revealed predatory claws while his lengthy tail helped him to keep his balance. It’s deep yellow eyes looked up at her from beneath his brows. “So majestic,” Brisethi murmured.
They spent more than three hours viewing most of the animals at the city zoo and found their way to the gift shop. She wanted to get something for Korteni and picked out a pendant in the shape of rat’s skull plated in silver to appease her friend’s fascination with dead things. Brisethi couldn’t pass up picking out a plush octopus for herself to adorn her lonely bed in her quarters. Etyne insisted on buying it for her, as sort of an early winter solstice gift and she happily obliged.
Brisethi stirred from one of her more cherished memories and opened her inky eyes. Her head was pounding, her stomach was empty, every muscle in her body ached and her open wounds, including her tender skin between her legs burned from infection. She couldn’t possibly fight anyone off in her ailing state.
“I await for madness,” she softly spoke.
She stared up at the ceiling trying not to think about how filthy she was, the amount of diseases flowing through her veins. She pulled at matted hair that hadn’t been shaved off of her head and began grinding her teeth. When her teeth and gums began to hurt she attempted to pull at them until her fingertips hurt. She then pulled at her fingernails until they bled. She grew frustrated that she could no longer scratch at her itchy scabs and began to bite at them. It was a vicious cycle her mind had created to pass the time. Every little annoyance drove her to lose another piece of her sanity.
She slowly rolled onto her side to look at Sulica’s debilitated form either asleep or unconsciousness across the corridor. In the dim lighting she was able to see that Sulica had been dressed in a new, white laboratory gown. She peered through the bars and watched half a dozen men walk toward them. Two Lantheun scientists, one Lantheun guard, two military men, and what looked to be a tall nobleman dressed in an ornate coat stopped between her and Sulica’s cells.
“This subject is the suppressor we mentioned. The one behind you is but a mere firebringer,” the scientist said to the well-dressed man.
“She’s so frail; don’t you feed your prisoners?” The noble asked. His slight accent told Brisethi that he was not a native Lantheun.
The scientist dry washed his hands. “Just enough to keep them alive. They are rewarded with food every now and then-“
“She looks sickly. Will she even make it back?” The noble interrupted the Lantheun.
He nodded. “She will live her expected nine-hundred year lifespan, I assure you.”
“I’m not paying full price for her, she’s not even conscious. I’ll pay you half of what you asked,” the nobleman said off-handedly.
“If you pay full price for her, I will give you that one for free,” the scientist haggled, pointing at the other ill Resarian.
The noble man walked over to Brisethi’s cell. She glared up at him, too weak to stand and instead, clung to the iron bars to sit on her knees. She found an inexplicable inner calm at the prominent features of his turquoise eyes without pupils, his long ebony hair that was tied behind his head, and his bronzed skin, reminding her of someone she knew.
The foreign man leaned over to examine her. Unbothered by her repulsive appearance and potential disease, he gently grasped her jaw in one hand, and raked her messy hair with the other. It was a tender touch she hadn’t felt from anyone in years, experiencing only violence and suffering for the past weeks. “If I had use of you, I would end your torture and take you with me as well,” he softly told her in her native language. His voice struck a chord of familiarity in her.
Her voice was barely audible. “I, I promise that I won’t-”
“Unfortunately, I cannot sustain two Resarians at once,” he cut her off to spare anymore emotions in such a morbid building. “I hope the spirits allow you to rest in peace soon.”
His rejection of her was torment to her emotions.
She tried to reach for his hand, but he turned away to walk back to the other cell and knelt down beside Sulica. “I only want this one, for half the price you’re asking,” he demanded. His military men grew restless and cracked their knuckles before the scientist.
“But, she can keep me suppressed,” Brisethi’s plea went unheard, her voice scratchy and hoarse.
“Fine, fifty-thousand frakshins,” the scientist ceded, slightly pleased that he’d made all his money back from the sale of the one Resarian.
One of the foreign man’s military guards handled the currency trades while his other guard gently picked up Sulica from her cell. Brisethi’s heart ached as she watched every member of the entourage exit the dark corridor.
“Please come get me!” Brisethi cried aloud. She longed to hear that Kiaran man’s soothing voice again, feel his gentle touch, and stare into his comforting eyes. She was falling apart inside at watching the woman who brought them both to torture, find freedom in the arms of a savior. When everyone had exited the floor, she screamed in mental agony. “What about me!” she shrieked over and over, followed by tormenting screams until her voice gave out. Profoundly deranged she searched for her voice and crawled back and forth along the bars of her cell.
Her insides churned from the despair as she crawled to the toilet in the corner of her cell. She tried to vomit, but only the smallest amount of clear liquid oozed out. She wiped her mouth with her filthy gown. She was disgusted at herself and what had befallen her. She was infuriated that Sulica had found freedom without her. Her minor consolation through the whole ordeal was that at least her original captor was suffering with her, but now she would suffer alone.
-:- -:- -:-
The sunlight broke through the branches of the trees along the path, but the air remained cool as the two girls and their mother rode through the forest. Sulica eased back into the saddle of the calm chocolate quarter horse, comforted by his easy pace. Her sister Ganasi had the brown and white paint, as spirited as the girl was, while Marisil rode the majestic Bediaran, not trusting him to be calm enough yet for her daughters.
“Will Dadi be waiting for us when we get there?” Ganasi asked.
“If we’ve timed it right,” Marisil answered with a smile.
Sulica heard a crack, like a branch breaking, and urged the horse to catch up to the others. Ganasi pulled further ahead, the paint breaking into a trot.
“Careful,” Marisil cautioned. “There are creatures in this forest which will spook the horses.”
Ganasi tossed her hair and laughed. “Pin won’t let anything happen.” She leaned over to rub the horse’s neck.
Sulica wished she could share in her older sister’s confidence. She felt a prickling at her senses that made her uneasy. Her mother seemed to catch on to it as well, trying to be subtle as she looked around while they rode. Ganasi had continued ahead, carefree, around a bend in the path. Suddenly, they heard a piercing shriek, and Marisil told Suli
ca to stay while she spurred the Bediaran forward.
Not wanting to be alone, she defied her mother and pushed her horse onwards as well. As she turned the corner, she heard the shouts then felt hands grab at her and force her off the quarter horse, but they couldn’t keep a hold of her slight frame. She scrambled to her feet and ran, shouting for her mother and sister.
“Sulica!” her mother yelled back, trying to fight off her attackers. Ganasi was lying still on the side of the path, red spots on her blouse. Her horse, Pin, was being wrangled by one of the bandits. Marisil dodged around two of the men, hitting a third and dashed towards Sulica, summoning her mystic. She whistled shrilly, and the Bediaran appeared from between the trees. The horse and Marisil reached Sulica simultaneously. She grabbed her daughter, putting her on top of the Bediaran then slapped his hindquarters to send him off.
Sulica twisted around in the saddle, yelling for her mother who had turned around to face the remaining bandits, determined to save her other daughter.
She stirred slightly, feeling a touch, but she was unable to open her eyes. The guard adjusted her weight in his arms to carry her out, away from tortuous prison. He moved quickly but carefully so as not to jostle her too much, feeling sick from the stench and sight of the laboratory. Whatever is in store for you, he thought as he glanced at the young woman in his arms, it has to be better than this.
-:- -:- -:-
Brisethi awoke from a restless, short nap on the cold, hard floor. Her recent dream had replayed once again the memories of the same day she had spent with her now distant friend. She longed to relive that day. She wanted desperately to return to that evening where Etyne sat in her room all evening playing cards with her and helping her to pick out a name for her cherished new plush. She remembered lying on her bed and cuddling with the soft octopus looking across at Etyne putting the cards away.
Spirits of Falajen Page 30
