Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)

by Stephanie West

  Their dosing me. That’s why I can’t get it together.

  “Good job, assholes. That’s what you get when you fuck with people.” Riley bit her lip to repress the remaining caustic comments that were about to spew out.

  “Silence.” The reptile stomped forward and hissed in her face.

  Riley bit her lip harder. The last thing she needed was to piss these people off further. God only knew what they’d do to her next.

  “Its effects will wear off in time,” Cuttles replied, sounding unconcerned.

  “If this affects her value, I’ll be very displeased,” the scaly, green flesh merchant countered.

  “Jyk, it is doubtful this will affect her value. We will still be placing her in the exotics division of the sale. Since this species has never come up for auction, and her breeding genetics are recessive, I’m certain she will be well received. The auction catalog has already brought in an unprecedented crowd,” Cuttles replied. “You are a valued seller and patron. My apologies for this unforeseen reaction. We are clearly not familiar with her biology.”

  Riley closed her eyes. They’d messed with her head and were auctioning her off. Things couldn’t possibly get worse.

  “Jyk, the Cadi are requesting the location of the auction,” the other reptile said to his companion.

  “Fine. Send it. Make sure Mave understands what our fee is for holding and transporting their Toufik. If he doesn’t like it, we’ll happily confiscate his chattel,” Jyk replied. “We are leaving.”

  “I will see that you and your arriving guests have complimentary suites in light of this unforeseen complication,” Cuttles said with a wave of a tentacle.

  I’m not the only one they brought here. Riley frowned as she listened. She didn’t know who the Cadi or Toufik were, and didn’t really care. I just want to know where Exo is? Jesus, I hope he’s okay.

  Riley mean mugged the scaly bastards as they left. She wanted to claw out their beady eyes, or rip off their tails.

  They’d probably just grow back, she growled under her breath.

  Riley turned her attention back to Cuttles. The squid creature was studying her critically, so she stared pointedly back. The creature was dressed in a silver and white ornate robe, its tentacle feet sticking out at the bottom. At the sides of its balloon head were two valves. It was little more than an overgrown octopus, minus the water.

  “Shouldn’t you be scuttling about a cesspool somewhere?” Riley snarked.

  “Female, I realize your hormones are challenging you, but I would advise you to control your outbursts.”

  “I might be able to do that if I weren’t strapped naked to a table at a slave auction. You want to get on my good side? Give me my clothes, and take me to my friend.”

  “You will share a cell with your exotic companion. When I leave, you will be released. You will find your coverings on the bench by the wall.” Cuttles pointed a tentacle across the room, then shuffled out.

  Riley felt a twinge of relief at the mention of her exotic companion. She hoped Cuttles was referring to Exo.

  The instant the straps across her body retracted, Riley scrambled off the cold exam table. She hustled over to the bench and found her clothes. She’d never gotten dressed so fast in her life. She wished she had more than the sleeveless black dress and knee-high leather boots, but it was better than being naked.

  Shit. Where is it?

  Riley frantically looked around for her necklace, when she noticed it was missing. She knelt to look beneath the bench, but it wasn’t laying on the floor.

  Fucking hell! No, no, no. I can’t believe I lost it already.

  She stomped to the door, and pounded.

  “I want my necklace back,” she demanded.

  “Your unusual charm has been confiscated. I was intrigued to discover the little bauble contains a data storage device,” Cuttles’ voice came through a panel on the wall.

  No, Riley panicked. The greedy bastard probably took her pendant thinking it had value, only to find its true purpose.

  “It holds music and pictures. You want me to behave, then give it back.”

  “Hoda will be here to escort you to your cell. Do not anger her. She has a nasty bite.”

  Riled spun away from the door, as frustration and anger overwhelmed her.

  Exo should’ve just deleted the information. Son of a bitch.

  Riley lashed out at the exam table, attempting to shove it. The stupid thing refused to budge. She looked around the pale blue room for anything else she could vent her anger on, but the damn room was barren.

  Did you think they’d leave you a weapon, tied with a bow? Stop being stupid.

  It was proving harder than expected to get her emotions in hand. Acting rashly was never smart. But giving her anger the reins was better than the alternative. Riley worried if she forced down her ire, a more insidious emotion would take its place. Somewhere below the maddening fury, lurked crippling fear. If she gave it an opening, it would rush in. Then she was done for.

  That’s exactly what they want you to be, docile and afraid.

  Riley whirled toward the door, when she heard it open with a swish.

  How many freaking creatures are there here?

  Riley was proud that she didn’t blurt the comment as she stared at the pair waiting in the doorway. The creature on the left looked like the unholy union of a toad and a man. Its slimy bald head, was a mottled mix of brown and green spots. The beast on the right, was what Riley assumed would happen if you irradiated a rat. Ratso had mangy gray fur, twitchy pointed ears, and whiskers sticking out from its sharp snout.

  “I am Hoda. You will follow me,” the thin-lipped frog croaked, its slimy tongue lolling out.

  Cuttles said Hoda has a nasty bite, Riley smirked as she regarded the amphibian warily. She assumed the comment was a pathetic attempt at a joke, since Hoda didn’t have any teeth.

  Riley complied, pushing down her instinct to run, when they entered the hall. It would’ve been a foolish move, with all the bizarre aliens moving about the corridor. Over half were armed like Ratso and Hoda. The other creatures appeared to be prisoners, like herself.

  The variety of creatures was shocking. The bad guys were mostly the squid, frog, and rat people. The captives were these blue people, who were smaller than she was. That was something, since all the aliens Riley had met so far seemed to tower over her. The pathetic little Smurfs cowered at the slightest sound or sudden move. Their large eyes, rimmed with thick lashes, were so expressive. Riley wondered if these sad little people were the Toufik she’d heard about.

  A red door split open, taking them into a new area. Cell after cell lined the corridor. Dozens of the blue people hovered in the small rooms with shimmering barriers. The fear in their giant dark eyes broke her heart.

  “So, you make a living off the suffering of others. How’s that make you feel? Do you sleep well at night?” Riley asked when she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

  “Silence, chattel,” Ratso barked and shoved her from behind.

  Riley stumbled, but caught herself.

  Hoda turned on Ratso.

  “Watch yourself with the exotic merchandise,” she croaked at the furry bastard.

  Ratso nodded looking duly chastised, though he still eyed Riley. She ignored the way his gaze burned into her back, walking tall instead, her head held high.

  Riley didn’t have much left in life. She didn’t even have her freedom. She was lucky to have the clothes on her back, although they could be taken at any point. So, Riley desperately held onto what she did have, her pride.

  They reached a cell, the electric barrier disintegrated, and Riley was goaded inside.

  “Riley,” Exo warbled as he rushed forward.

  “Get back,” Hoda insisted.

  Hoda pushed Exo back, then turned on the flickering door again. Without thinking, Riley reached out to the barrier.

  “Don’t,” Exo cried. “It’ll shock you.”

  Riley swiftly pulled
her hand back. Ever since she left Earth, there had been so many new and unusual things. Not all of them were benign. She needed to remember to look with her eyes and not her hands.

  Riley turned to Exo, and wrapped her arms around him. She knew he was safe to touch.

  “I’m so glad to see you,” Riley cried.

  The depth of relief and happiness she felt overwhelmed her. It was strange to feel so attached to the man, since they’d only had a handful of conversations. She was far more familiar with Ion, his mate. Just knowing she wasn’t alone, brought her immense comfort.

  “You are alright?” Exo’s four fingered hands fluttered over her.

  “As good a can be expected.”

  Riley also studied Exo. He was frightened and as pale as a sheet, but didn’t appear injured.

  Good, she nodded, then turned to examine the cell.

  Smooth stone walls crowded in on three sides. A single dim light illuminated a thin dirty mattress, and a hole in the floor at the back of the hovel. Besides that, there was nothing to their grim accommodations.

  “Please tell me that’s not the bathroom,” Riley implored.

  “Yes,” Exo whispered morosely. “And if you are thirsty.” He pointed to a dripping spigot on the wall.

  “I’m not a hamster. I can’t drink out of that,” Riley snarled.

  “Please, don’t get angry,” Exo implored, flinching when she turned irate eyes toward him. “They will come back if you act up.”

  The way he behaved, Riley was certain Exo also got the mood moderator implant. It was doing an annoyingly good job at cowing him.

  Take it down a notch, Riley coached herself while pulling in several deep breaths.

  “We both need to calm down. I’m pretty sure they implanted something in your head, that’s making you worry more than usual. It’s supposed to control us.”

  “No,” Exo cried as he grabbed his head and started feeling around.

  “Exo, please, stop,” Riley insisted as she grabbed his pale, shaking hands. “There’s nothing we can do about it right now. Let’s try to concentrate on what we can do.”

  “Meal time,” a voice said in the corridor.

  Several of the walking, talking rats, were dragging someone down the hall.

  “Please, no,” the spotted furry creature begged, its branched horns swaying to and fro.

  “Silence,” the rat man yelled.

  Riley’s eyes widened when the bastard whipped out a serrated blade and swiftly slashed the tawny, horned creature’s neck. She stood frozen in terror as blood spurt on the wall near her cell and sizzled against the electric barrier.

  The sound of screaming filled her ears as the blue people in the cells lost their tenuous composure. She wanted to turn away, but couldn’t force her muscles to move, as the rats butchered the twitching corpse right in front of everyone. They tossed the hunks of flesh onto a cart, leaving the entrails on the floor.

  Riley’s heart sped up when a swarm of furry blobs rushed through the air vents along the floor. The horde attacked the guts and blood. The disturbing vermin scrambled over top one another as they all attempted to reach the entrails. Riley gagged as she watched the vile remains disappear beneath the writhing mass.

  Ratso smugly leaned against the opposite wall, smirking at her. This gruesome display was intended for her.

  Message received, asshole.

  When they were done dismembering the body, Ratso approached her cell. Riley scrambled back to get out of the psychopath’s way.

  “Silence,” he barked as he brandished his knife.

  Riley realized Exo was still screaming in terror, and quickly clapped a hand over his mouth.

  Ratso kicked several of the furry little vermin as he entered their cell. He sent one of the little creatures careening into the wall with a dull thud.

  “Nasty cor,” he grunted. “You better eat before the cor get it.” He tossed the bloody hunk of flesh onto the mattress, then stormed out.

  I doubt the furballs are any nastier than you.

  Riley blanched as she looked at the bloody pile that was supposed to be their dinner. There was no way they could eat that, ever. She released Exo, and they hugged the wall, watching as the furry blobs swarmed through the vent, to attack the foul offering.

  We have to get out of here before we starve to death, or turn into someone’s dinner.

  When all but the injured furball finally fled the cell, Riley and Exo slumped to the floor. She held Exo close, to calm his trembling. It comforted her too.

  Riley took a deep sighing breath, thankful the strident sounds from the other cells had finally died to manageable sobbing. After several minutes, she shifted uncomfortably. The quiet was almost worse than the chaotic din. It left her alone with the paralyzing thoughts that were trying to surface. She kept wondering what horrific thing would happen next. Thoughts like that would quickly drive her insane.

  Instead, Riley focused on the ruddy ball of fur that remained on the far side of their cell. The creature was wobbling back and forth, like it was in pain or traumatized. Riley sympathized. The pathetic creature was only attempting to survive, like everyone else in this nightmarish place.

  “What are you doing?” Exo asked when she got up.

  “I’m going to look at the poor thing.” Riley pointed to the furry softball.

  “It might bite,” Exo cried.

  Riley grabbed a nasty scrap of flesh that remained on the mattress, and attempted not to think of the creature it had once been. She slowly crawled forward, gingerly holding out her offering. The trembling furball shook harder, making little snuffling noises, the closer she got. As Riley neared, she got a better look at the cor. It reminded her of a giant tangle. She couldn’t see eyes or legs. It was just a wad of fur.

  Riley’s eyes widened when the thing opened its jaws to accept the offering. Its mouth occupied half its body, making it look like a fuzzy version of Pac-Man. The gaping mouth was filled with pin teeth and a wet tongue. Riley swiftly pulled her hand back when the thing grabbed the morsel and gobbled it up.

  “Shit!”

  Riley scrambled back when it came for her, rolling its furry body along the floor. She didn’t expect it to recover so fast after its meager meal. She wasn’t fast enough, and the furball latched onto her hand with its mouth.

  Riley flinched and was ready to fling the beastie off. But instead of sharp teeth, she felt a lapping tongue. The ball of fluff quickly cleaned her skin, then rolled onto the mattress, where it licked the bloody spot till nothing remained but a bad memory.

  Riley couldn’t help the nervous laugh that burst out, as she examined her clean fingers. Exo just stared at her, looking traumatized.

  “It’s fine. I’ve got all my fingers.” She wiggled her fingers at Exo as she sat back down beside him again.

  “It’s coming back.” Exo pointed.

  The animated ball rolled toward Riley. She stayed very still as the creature squirmed its way onto her lap. She still wasn’t certain it wouldn’t bite. A smile tipped her mouth when the hairy beastie snuggled in, like it belonged there. Riley hesitantly reached down and stroked the furry blob. The way it started vibrating, reminded her of purring cat.

  “Well I guess I’ve made a new friend,” she said as she stared at the creature.

  “What if it’s diseased?” Exo asked worriedly.

  “I think we’re screwed either way,” Riley replied. “How about I call you Speck, since you’re too small to be Spot?” she suggested as she scratched Speck gently.

  The strange little incident had been a distraction from their nightmare, but nothing about their situation had changed. Riley glanced at Exo. He was reduced to a shaking mess. He wasn’t going to be any help. It looked like any escape attempt was up to her. Riley hadn’t forgotten about her pendant either.

  You’re not a moron. Keep your eyes open for a way to get out of here.

  Riley held Exo’s hand and stroked Speck with the other as she stared at the far stone wall
, the severity of their predicament rolling through her mind.

  Cyprian de Praefectus

  “Alright Mave, we’ve entered the outer galaxy of Gamma 6 quadrant. Where to?” Vintor asked from the pilot seat.

  They’d spent three days crossing the cosmos, and Mave still refused to give them the exact coordinates of the auction. It had surpassed annoying at this point. Cyprian was tempted to pull out his blade and demand answers in a very slow, and painful way. His fingers flexed as he considered all the ways he could get the smuggler to talk. Mave had no clue how close he was to experiencing his worst nightmare. Instead Cyprian repressed the urge and smiled pleasantly, waiting for yet another non-descript location.

  Cyprian knew he was an easy target for the smugglers’ distrust. He’d been able to convince them, that he was a disgruntled former general from Daimio Kagan’s guard. But he was still Vidya Cadi, where everyone else aboard, including Vintor, was Scelus Cadi.

  It was their hope Vintor would earn the smugglers’ trust, and learn how they got involved with enemies of the state, the abhorrent Jurou Biljana. The reptiles were the very same species that originally enslaved the Toufik, and brought them to Cadi, from a dying world. The vile merchants were also responsible for cheating the Cadi, and introducing a weapon that slaughtered a city filled with thousands. The band of traitors needed to be taken down, before they brought ruin to Cadi. Unfortunately, he’d learned little to nothing, though Cyprian suspected the bastards had support from someone with deep pockets.

  “We’re looking for a large asteroid circling this system,” Mave replied.

  “I’m picking-up a massive rock, and more than a few unidentified vessels, converging on its location,” Vintor replied as he set the coordinates.

  “An asteroid. That’s interesting,” Cyprian replied as he relaxed in his seat.

  He and Vintor were one-step closer to achieving their mission. However, as Cyprian looked at the display, he realized this was going to be more complicated than expected. The sheer number of vessels crowding around the large asteroid, was daunting.