Premonitions

by Le aha Vaughn

  Nah'Dara reached out to him through their connection, wanting the safety he offered. The dreams filled her mind suddenly of the bodies of dead Altarians covering the ground in their blood, and the pregnant woman clutching her stomach with the gaping wound in her head, a man standing over her with hair as silver as Lord Narl. Oh, Spirit.

  Eriq tried to pull away but she held on. She pushed past every barrier feeling the shock of her discovery.

  "Mireya,” she gasped. Eriq pulled away as if stung, but he did not release her. “She's the woman in the dreams isn't she?"

  Eriq stood deathly still.

  She knows. There was no hiding it now. “Yes."

  He felt her mind turning, building her own conclusions. “She was killed by a raider?"

  He tensed. “Not by just a raider, my brother, Theron. He wanted me dead so much that he killed the rest of my family including Mireya and the baby.” Wanting her to see it all, he let his wall fall blending his mind with the images in her memory.

  "Theron took his pleasure with her and then he set her free, but not before he told a group of his men to follow her and kill the remaining people. Leave none alive."

  "I killed the raider bastard. Slaughtered him just as he had killed the innocent women and children.” He remained silent for a long time watching her waiting for her to push him away as so many other women had.

  "Then what happened?” She wanted to know more. Hope started his heart beating again.

  "Theron tried to capture me. I fought back killing the majority of his raiders, but he captured the remaining men of my village and mind wiped them.” Eriq could not stand having her away from him for another second. He pulled her into his chest with more gentleness burying his face in her hair. “I didn't want the same thing to happen to you."

  Eriq pulled the katana from his back sheath forcing it into her hands. “Keep this on you at all times. Don't take it off. Use it if necessary."

  Nah'Dara pushed it back, until he clamped his hand over hers.

  Take it, Nahni, he said pushing into her mind. “Please."

  "I will.” Ease washed over Eriq as he pressed the concealing button on the side of the hilt folding the katana until it was no bigger than the palm of her hand.

  Nah'Dara raised her shirt and placed it behind the band of her pants. He cupped her face gently stroking his thumb over her full bottom lip.

  I love you, he said into her mind pouring all the love he felt into her. Whatever they do to us, know that I love you.

  Before she could say a single word, the door to the cell flew open and in marched four Cylians filtering the small cell with the light from the corridor. The head of the group stood in the middle and looked at Nah'Dara. His beautiful Nah'Dara, not one to shrink away from anyone stood taller, squared her shoulders, and showed her defiance.

  "Take her."

  Eriq swiftly moved in front of her, protecting her with his battered body. No one was going to touch her. Not while he had a breath in his body. They would die first.

  "To get to her, you have to go through me.” It took all of him to keep the rage out of his voice and remain calm.

  My Lord Great Prince, the leader said into his mind. I am your humble servant, a spy sent to Ciya to gather information.

  An ally? He thought there were not any more left. Eriq put up a mental shield blocking Nah'Dara before he continued. What is your name?

  Zyper Tykib, my lord. I was sent by General Cagaen Farlow over two years ago.

  The question is ‘can I trust you?'

  Yes, my lord. I have already alerted the general to give as much information as I could. Lord Narl wants to see her, but he wants you dead. His orders were to bring her to him and send you to the torture chamber.

  That was out of the question. She cannot go to him, do you understand?

  He does not wish to harm her, Zyper pleaded.

  You can't promise me that! Eriq exclaimed mentally. He has already hurt someone I loved once. What makes you think that he would not do it again? The guard said nothing. Protect this woman with your life, if you must. Do not let any harm come to her.

  Yes, my lord, said Zyper mentally. “As you wish,” he said aloud.

  "Take him,” the leader barked.

  "No!” Nah'Dara tried to protest, but Eriq quickly eased her mind. He did not want any harm come to her. Sending one last look to the raiders, he sent a mental signal to Zyper. Two of the raiders grabbed Eriq.

  Nah'Dara watched helplessly as one of the raiders viciously jabbed him in the side with a lightening stick. Eriq groaned as he sank to the floor, out cold. The two raiders each grabbed an arm and roughly dragged his limp body through the doorway.

  The lead raider turned to her then, his tall form and dark eyes sent a shiver down her spine. “My Lord wishes to speak with you, human."

  She followed him through the brightly lit corridors of what looked to be a ship. Why weren't they going to the large hall where he had met her before? When they passed that massive door, a dread deep in the pit of her stomach passed over her. Lord Narl's private quarters.

  The raider stood beside the door signaling the sensor to slide the door away for her. The room looked like a scene out of her darkest nightmares with it walls black in color and a large bed sitting on the far wall. A fire burned in the furnace in the middle of the room.

  She spotted Narl sitting carelessly in a black high back chair with one leg draped over the arm. A smile touched his lips, giving him an arrogant expression that she willingly wanted to slap off. His silver hair fell across his shoulders glistening with the light of the fire. His shirt lay unbuttoned showing off bronzed skin and hard abdominals.

  How could the two of them be related? It was utterly impossible. Eriq was dark, but he was not evil, yet this brother had lightened features and the same golden colored skin and resembled light. No matter how good this man looked, he could not hold a torch to her Eriq.

  Lord Narl's smile widened showing off large white straight teeth. The haunting chuckle he gave her sent a chill through her body.

  He leaned forward from the chair. “Oh, I bet I could."

  He had heard her. Her mind did not tingle, the only sign that someone was trying to link with her.

  Narl eased from the chair walking through the fire, an obvious hologram, and towered over her. Spirit, he was as tall as Eriq, at least six feet. Sheesh, men must grow big on their home world. Kiana would have a field day.

  Pushing the thoughts away, Nah'Dara raised her eyes from the middle of his chest to look into his eyes. Already, she wished she never did. In his dark eyes, she saw a cold chilling calculation. His square jaw and pointed nose gave him a severe look that she did not want to mistake. She knew when not to fight. After fighting with Eriq, not to mention the mind-blowing sex afterwards, she could honestly say that this man scared the hell out of her. She wanted to back up, but her legs held their place.

  He looked past her to the raider that guarded the door. “Leave us.” The raider bowed and closed the door behind them. She felt almost sorry to see him go.

  He walked around her in a slow circle. “I hope you have been most comfortable, Lady Nah'Dara.” His eyes traveled her entire body.

  Was her name plastered on her forehead? She looked to him in shock.

  "Of course, I would know you."

  "But how do you know me?” He gave her a cold stare.

  "Did I give you permission to speak, human?"

  "I had no idea that I was your slave.” He gripped her chin and gave it a painful yank.

  "Oh, but you are,” he purred. “See, when you and the Great Prince came through those gates bound, I might add, you became my prisoners, or as you so lovingly put it, slaves.” He was toying with her. She heard it in his voice. He released her chin to walk to the fire. “I like you, my lady, and I want to see to your safety."

  "What do you want, Narl?” She watched as he ran his fingers through the flames.

  "This is a boring planet. We killed the inha
bitants of this planet, because of their uselessness. There is nothing to take in the simple pleasures of seeing to my primitive needs.” He growled sensually. “I have been watching you for some time."

  Her look of shock never wavered. “We have been here for days. You have just now found us?"

  He shrugged his shoulders. “What can I say? I enjoyed your more private moments.” The thought of him watching her and Eriq make love made her blush. “The planet has been completely monitored. We even knew about the crash landing. We watched the Great Prince to get his exact position before moving in."

  Her stomach rolled with revulsion. “What do you want with us?"

  "With him, nothing. My interest lies with you. I have a proposition to make.” He walked back to her. His dark eyes traveled her body once more. She suppressed a nauseated shiver.

  "And that is?” She felt him trail a finger through her tangled tresses.

  "I want to offer you a position in my house.” His voice purred into her ear. She laughed, bordering on the hysteric.

  "What? As your whore?"

  "Precisely,” he purred into her other ear as his hands painfully gripped her shoulders.

  "Never,” she growled out trying to hold her stomach at bay.

  "Not so fast. I could make it worth your while."

  "I scarcely think I would enjoy it.” She had been a sex slave once. She vowed never to do that again. Been there. Done that. “Still, my answer is no."

  He released her shoulder. She heaved a mental sigh of relief. “I'm sorry, you feel that way.” He walked to a nearby wall that was covered by a black curtain. “I hoped that since you were willingly playing whore for the Altarian, then there would be no problem in being one for another."

  At the mention of Eriq, all her defenses went into red alert. “Leave him out of this."

  "Oh, but he is part of it.” With a wave of his hand in front of the sensor, the curtain peeled away to reveal a large viewer. “Computer, display The Chambers."

  The view came to life, brightening the room. She saw Eriq stretched across a large table, his hands bound to it with magna-cuffs. His eyes, hot with pain and rage, seemed to look directly at her before turning to someone off to his right. The raider came into view as he punched him in the stomach. Another one punched him across the face and then again in the stomach. Each blow sent a pain to her heart.

  "They will kill him. They have been ordered to do so."

  Her heart ached. She could not turn away from Eriq as they beat him. They were saying something to him. Yet he did not turn to them. Eriq showed no fear in his eyes, only rage. His brow furrowed each time he took a blow. His lips remained a thin line across his face. He turned his grey eyes back to the screen. She could feel him in her mind pushing her way, but she fought hard for every little tendril of him.

  Fight, Eriq! Nah'Dara gave him a slight mental push, but his walls did not give.

  "How much do you love him?” The sound of Narl's voice brought her back to reality.

  "What kind of question is that?"

  Narl walked across the screen still watching the action. “It's a simple question. You either do or you don't.” He turned to her then, his eyes blazing with dark intent. “But choose your words wisely."

  She returned his cold stare growing tired of his sick games. “Why do you ask?"

  "It is in the way you looked at him. The emotions flowing from you, it is obvious, but I need to know how much."

  Did she love him? Had she loved him all this time? In every dream, he had been there, fueling her sexually. He came after her when so many others would not have bothered. She wanted to marry him, a fear she put to rest the last night they had made love. In every touch, she did love him.

  "What does that matter?"

  Narl laughed. “To me, nothing. I could care less of the Altarian who took my crown away from me.” He pointed to the screen. “To him, though, it means everything.” He stood behind her playing with a strand of her hair. “Life or death."

  "But he's your brother! How could you do something like this to your own blood?” Nah'Dara wanted to understand.

  "He's not blood of mine. The only thing we share is a father who didn't care enough to put me as ‘heir.’”

  A chill ran through her to the bone. “What would you do?"

  "If you love him more than, say, your freedom, I would willingly exchange his freedom for yours.” He shrugged carelessly. “If not, well, he dies this night. You would be my thralline."

  It was a ‘lose-lose’ situation. Though she valued her freedom, wanting more than anything to be back at home with her family, she did not see that happening.

  Nah'Dara took one look at the viewer as one of the raiders pulled out a lightening stick shocking Eriq with it. He howled in pain, but there was no sound. She did not want to see any more. She turned her head away to the floor, a tear trailing down her dirt-smeared face.

  "I will,” she said quietly in a cracked voice. “I will do as you ask.” She pulled her eyes from the floor to look Narl in the eyes. “But you have to promise me he goes free. No more games."

  Narl smiled at her in triumph. “Already done.” He motioned towards the viewer. The raider released the hold on the cuffs. Eriq sagged forward. His unconscious body supported on the shoulders of the raiders that had beat him.

  "What is your wish, my lord?” the deep voice sounded over the comm.

  "Send him to the regeneration chambers and get him off the planet."

  "As is your wish, my Lord.” She watched as they carried him away, before the screen went black. The dark curtains covered the wall once more. She heard the beeps of the communicator behind her.

  "What is your wish, my lord?"

  "Come and retrieve my new thralline,” he said proudly. She could still hear the smile in his voice. “Take her to say good bye to the Great Prince."

  "As is your wish, my lord.” The communication ended with three beeps. The doors opened behind her and she numbly felt a strong hand grip her upper arm.

  "After she's done, take her to her new chambers to freshen up.” He ran his nose along her jaw line. She shrank in revulsion. “I must have my new play thing presentable.” He chuckled as the raider led her out of the bedchamber down the corridor.

  Chapter 23

  Nah'Dara watched helplessly as the two raiders lowered Eriq's battered body into the regeneration chamber with an uncaring flop moving his limp arms inside. They stepped away but not going far, just to give her privacy.

  "Could you give me a moment?” The raiders looked at her before the larger one pressed the communicator on his uniform.

  "My Lord, the human wishes to be alone with the prisoner."

  Lord Narl's voice shot back a second later with bored aristocratic ease. “Give her what she wants."

  The raider gave her a cold look before bowing slightly. “As is your wish, my Lord.” They walked from the large chamber without giving her a second glance.

  Nah'Dara tentatively stepped up to the tank. Her heart lodged in her throat as she peaked over the side. Eriq lay still. His beautiful golden skin marred by cuts and scratches. Several bruises started to appear, marking the surface of his skin leaving it slightly purple around the eyes and jaw. His dark hair covered his face. The bastards did not have the decency to pull it down. His lips were swollen and cut in several places.

  She heaved a shaky sigh as her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Oh, Eriq."

  How dare they treat him like this? Prisoners or not, no one deserved to be treated so harshly. Now she understood why Eriq harbored such hate for the Cylians. They were ruthless, cold bastard that needed to be brought down.

  She pulled the hair from his face smoothing it back before running a finger down his jaw line. His skin was cool to the touch. Spirit, she never wanted this. She did not want Eriq hurt.

  "This is my entire fault.” She smoothed the tears away at her cheeks. “You wanted nothing better than to marry me, but I ran. Now look at you.” She fought t
he sobs of anguish that threatened to over take her.

  "I am so sorry. I didn't want this to happen. I ran out of fear, not anger of course, but fear.” She gave a shaky breath.

  "I was afraid that I would let you in and you would hurt me.” She gave a nervous chuckle. “But you got in anyway. You broke down all my defenses, saw through my rage to see my hurt, and made me love you."

  As she spoke the words, she asked herself the same question. Did she love him? It had come up before she made her choice. Did she really? She searched deep inside her heart and mind for the answers she needed. The truth being she could not stand him. His cocky smile, arrogant walk, pushy personality constantly pushed her to the brink, but she came to value his trust, his straightforward thoughts, and his ability not to back down from anything.

  She probed deeper. He loved her. She knew, felt it within every touch, every caress of the lips, and every soft deep whisper in a language that she did not understand. Her heart opened a fraction for him, and he managed to push it all the way open.

  "I know that you tried to protect me. I think you always have. I'm just too stubborn.” She ran a finger down his jaw before taking her hand away. “When you wake and find yourself at home, I won't be there.” She trembled, as she sighed not bothering to cover her tears. “All I hope is that you can forgive me."

  Nah'Dara bent down, cupped his face, kissing him gently. His lips felt cool tinged with blue, as the blood was slow to pump there. She smoothed her hand across his cheek one last time as she put the feel of his skin to memory. Taking the katana, she hid under her tunic; she secretly slid it into the chamber.

  Touching the button on the side, Nah'Dara watched with dread as the lid closed. She bent her head in prayer to the Spirits for guidance.

  "It's time, slave,” the guard said harshly. She could hear the sound of his boot on the hard floor as the last of a prayer to the Spirits died on her lips. Holding her arm in a harsh grip, he led her away.

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