Chasing Violet

by Rena Marks

  “I don’t care if he grunts his responses. I’m taking my leadership.”

  The Ambassador’s smiling face showed pure relief. “I’ve waited for this day. “ He clasped Cadoc’s shoulders briefly, then stepped aside.

  The greenhouse Cadoc entered was enacted for the warriors. It was a place of solitude, reflection, and quiet. Foliage was in abundance. The name for flowers on his planet differed from Violet’s. Since nothing was known of humans and flowers weren’t in the archives when researched, only names of foreign species popped up on search sites. Hence the flower confusion. Now Cadoc knew these beautiful gifts of radiant color and charm were what Violet’s species called flowers. The name was fitting. None before him were as beautiful as his mate. None were scented with overwhelming passion. His loins stirred with the mere thought of her.

  “Do you see?” The high-pitched screech came from behind.

  Cadoc spun and in an instant had his sword before him.

  There—in front of him—stood a hint of what was once a warrior. His father.

  “Father?” Cadoc was surprised. The years had not been good to him. Hair in disarray, what was once muscle was now slacked skin. The tattoos on his body were a drooping, unrecognizable mess. Wrinkles marred his face but his eyes—obviously the man within was a pathetic shell.

  “Those creatures will destroy us. Have you so little sense?” was spat. “What have you done, boy?”

  “I am no boy and even when I was, I was more man than you. You knew the human was intelligent. A female child, no less. You are a disgrace.” His tone was cold.

  His father began to pace. “If I were armed, I could have killed you. I could have snuck upon you with a dagger.”

  “You have no weapons to call forward. This is a place of serenity and sacred peace.” The fact that Cadoc’s weapons were called was only because he’d accepted being leader and at that moment, the leader of the Docadians was threatened.

  Cadoc’s weapon returned to his tattoo. The men sized one another up. It appeared insanity reflected on his father’s face. Cadoc relaxed, though saddened. If insane, his father could be spared.

  “You were always weak,” his father said, snarling. “Your mother pampered you. A warrior.”

  “I was a child, and you made up for the pampering by putting me down every chance you had. To belittle my strength and intelligence.”

  “It was to strengthen you. Don’t you see? If that flower thing had died, you would never have left here. You would be the leader, and the Berserkers and other aliens wouldn’t think us vulnerable.”

  “The flower is a human—intelligent, kind and loving. Father, she is female. Warriors do not harm females.”

  “Then you’ve come to kill me?”

  “Why did you want the child—that baby—killed?”

  The pacing became erratic. “She was dangerous.”

  “She was a child. Helpless. Afraid,” Cadoc said, and didn’t bother to keep the disgust from his tone.

  “She has turned you against me,” his father bellowed.

  “You did that on your own. You betrayed me. You thought I’d lose, but you didn’t count on my inner strength. The need to do what’s right—it’s what a warrior does and what a real man does. How could you look at something so tiny and want it dead?”

  “It didn’t belong in our world. Flowers, humans, should never have come here. They are diseased. They are what made the Berserkers stronger. That innocent child may very well be the death of us.”

  Cadoc was stunned. “How? The child was gone and no other human came.” Until now.

  “You killed for her. On purpose. One scent of the creature and you did the unthinkable. The rule is no Berserker or warrior is to die. Accidents happen, but you blatantly killed. The Berserkers began questioning that. That Berserker had done nothing wrong. You were filled with self-righteous anger.” His father was facing him, spittle flying in his wrath.

  “I’m not a boy anymore. There were still warrior challenges when I left.”

  “A boy was killed.” His father strode forward to stick a finger into his chest viciously.

  “What?” Cadoc was horrified.

  “It happened so fast. They suspended the warrior challenges. And don’t think I don’t know about the Berserker you killed today.” His father was glaring at him. Cadoc smacked his hand away and stepped back.

  “Did you send him? Did you send a Berserker to kill me?” Cadoc was filled with ice. It ran through his veins.

  “The Berserkers want a prize. What did you have, Cadoc?”

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  “I didn’t need to send one. The scent of a female in the open is tantalizing. That was why it attacked. Wasn’t it? Her kind killed their kind through you. The Berserkers hate flowers—humans—whatever they’re called. What will you do? Kill all the Berserkers or restore some sense of normality?”

  “We have our own females. The Berserkers never touch them.”

  “The female you brought to the planet is different. I hope you are prepared. It is difficult to raise one warrior to manhood. When the female gives you many offspring what will you do with them? What will you do with all your inferior males who can’t fight because they have no weapons to call forth? Will you protect them, or will you watch them fall?”

  “It will be of no concern for you. I will never allow my offspring to go near you and your vile ways.”

  His father roared with laughter. “Your mixed breed won’t be allowed to mingle with our superior females and children. Do you think I want to be part of that? What will you do, Cadoc, dome your own home?”

  “Talpin!” Cadoc roared.

  The voice of his second was heard immediately. “I’m here.”

  “My father is incapacitated. Make certain he is escorted to a place he can’t harm himself or anyone. By order of the leader of the Docadians.” His tone was grim.

  * * * * *

  “Violet?”

  His mate smiled at him. That was exactly what he needed. Her radiance put his emotions into perspective. Her dark hair fell over a slim shoulder. Cadoc lifted a hand to run his fingers through her silken locks. Her smile deepened. An acknowledgement hit his heart like a lightning bolt. By thunder, how he loved his mate. He would show her his love tonight, and get her to love him in return.

  “You seem so pensive since you returned,” she said, and trailed two fingers over his jaw.

  They were sitting in the dining hall in a quiet corner. Other females were flirting with his warriors. The room was set for a sensual dining pleasure. The lights were low, the foods made to tantalize the tongue. Mostly small bits that could be fed to each other. Fermented beverages flowed for the females, but each warrior had a one drink limit. Violet dropped her hand to her glass and took a deep sip, gazing over the rim with sensual glances. She made love with her eyes, then winked at him, obviously trying to coax him into a jovial mood. Cadoc wanted a few answers first.

  “Tell me, my love, have you ever thought of having offspring?”

  Violet choked on her drink. Liquid spewed onto his chest. She upset her drink and fluttered her fingers in the air. Her coughing caused Cadoc to spring to his feet and pull her into his arms. He bellowed for a medic, but she waved her hand and gasped in a huge amount of air. Then another, until her cough eased altogether.

  By goddess, if he could drink for her to keep this from ever happening again, he would.

  “I’m fine, Cadoc. You took me by surprise. My thoughts weren’t exactly on kids at the moment. More on the way of how to make one. Someday.”

  “You don’t want a little one?”

  “Sure. Maybe a few. But not right now.”

  Cadoc set her down and she returned to her chair. He flopped into his, stunned. His dinner stood untouched. His father was right, she could have multiple births. A few, she’d said. Would they be all at once? He felt bewildered. He could have a son and a daughter. But Violet wouldn’t spend her time on a dais, safe in the domed
area. Cadoc would need a home to house his mate, something unheard of. Violet would never be safe from Berserkers. Not now. And their little ones. The idea of a tiny female child out in the open, subject to weather changes. What if his daughter was rained on? The snow would freeze her. Wind would chafe delicate skin. If she fell, she might skin a knee on a bit of stone. His poor baby.

  “Cadoc?” Violet’s voice sounded from a distance. “Cadoc, what are you thinking, you look horrified.” She reached out to touch his arm.

  Violet was right, he was horrified. What if his father was right and his children wouldn’t be welcome? But he was leader. He lifted his hand to touch a tattoo. What of his son’s—sons—how many would Violet have? What if they could never call forth a weapon? His mate was watching him when he glanced at her. She was so vulnerable.

  “Cadoc, are you in there?” Violet asked. “Did you speak to your father?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well?”

  “I had him declared mentally unstable.”

  “I see.” She narrowed her eyes. “What about the rest? Why did he want me killed?”

  She would need to know. “He thinks your kind is dangerous. Your offspring will be weak, too weak to take care of themselves in battle.”

  “That makes no sense. We’re dangerous because he thinks we’ll die?”

  “No, he thinks it’s because of you coming that the Berserkers have changed. It wasn’t your fault, it was mine for becoming enamored of you within seconds. The Berserker caught your scent, and went looking for a prize when we were out. I don’t think my father sent him.”

  “So basically what you’re saying is every human female will be in danger on your planet?”

  “Yes. I took control of my birthright and am leader now. If I declare war on the Berserkers, it may last for a very long time. The older Berserkers won’t want to battle, yet the young ones spoil for it.”

  “I caused that?” She sat back in her chair her meal forgotten as her fork clattered to her plate.

  He took her tiny hands into his. “No, my father did when he let you go into the arena. You never should have been put into danger. The punishment for endangering a female is death. My warriors now understand you aren’t flowers, but human and intelligent females. They understand as well as I do, everyone on our planet does.”

  He could see the thoughts flicker across her beautiful face. Then she gasped. “Your father…”

  “By rights, I should have ordered him dead the second I took command. But for now, he is considered emotionally unbalanced. He doesn’t understand his crime.”

  “This is a mess.”

  “This is a mess, and we still have to deal with your planet thinking we kidnapped you and the others. I’m certain there is a ship on its way.”

  Violet gazed at him with an odd smile. “Jilly, is there an Earth ship on its way here?”

  “There was a decisive giggle that made the fine hair on Cadoc’s neck rise. He’d have to have Talpin program a different voice for that spy bot or whatever the heck it was.

  “Not that I’m aware of.” More giggling and Jilly was silent.

  The entrance doors slid open to Talpin. “Cadoc, the Ambassador has hailed us. There are two vessels on a course for our planet. Neither is an Earth vessel, which seems strange.”

  “When will we engage?” Cadoc asked.

  “Not for a week.”

  Cadoc rubbed his temples. A week wouldn’t give him enough time to take care of the Berserkers. If he launched an assault, his warriors would be weary if asked to remove all Berserkers. What of the ones who were no threat? Female Berserkers didn’t battle, but they would go on a rampage to save their offspring. Then he’d be forced to kill female Berserkers. Though they weren’t deemed to be intelligent, Cadoc wasn’t wired to kill a female of any kind.

  “Damn,” he rumbled under his breath. He took a deep breath and turned to Talpin. “Human females are capable of having numerous offspring.”

  Talpin’s mouth hung open.

  “They seem to cause a large amount of endorphins mixed with testosterone in our warriors. As a result, our senses heighten. Unfortunately, so do the Berserkers. The beasts will seek out the human females if we take them to the planet. They will try and kill them. That can’t be allowed to happen.”

  Talpin’s return gaze was grim. “We will have to annihilate the Berserkers. Our way of living and training will change.”

  “Wait, what?” Violet said. “You’ll kill an entire species?”

  “To keep you safe, yes,” Cadoc said but he wasn’t happy with the situation. Nothing was allowed to harm his mate.

  “You said it’s our scent that drives them crazy. Why don’t we mask our aroma?”

  Now it was Cadoc who sat, mouth agape. “Change your scent? How is that even possible?”

  “Don’t your females were perfume?”

  “I have never heard the word,” Cadoc said.

  “Women, at least some, like to wear a substance that changes the way they smell, to attract a male.”

  “Why would a female cover her sweet scent?” Talpin was aghast and Violet laughed at his expression.

  “There are reasons including body odor, sweat, or even a change. Douse me in something that those Berserkers will hate. We’ll call it Berserker repellant.” Violet patted Cadoc’s arm.

  Cadoc rolled the idea around in his mind. “But what if I don’t like it?”

  “Something tells me you will. What kinds of things do Berserkers like?”

  “Rotted meats, garbage, old scents,” Cadoc riffled off. “That does no good. They can sniff the air to find your scent.”

  “Then turn us all into flowers. Make us smell like roses, violets, honeysuckle.” Her smile was contagious.

  “We’d still have to keep females and Berserkers from coming across one another,” Cadoc said.

  “That won’t be as hard. The Berserkers have their own area,” Talpin said. “You merely change the law. No one is allowed near the Berserkers and the Berserkers are not allowed to wander. They’re not supposed to anyway. Their area can be equipped with scents to flow into the surrounding area, never giving them a chance to smell a female.”

  “Damn, that might work. It gives us time to prepare the scents. Do you know how, Violet?” Cadoc asked.

  “I’m pretty sure Jilly and I can come up with something.”

  “Good.” Maybe the damned bot was useful after all. “The females will remain on the ship until we confront the slavers coming for them,” Cadoc said.

  The sound of screams had everyone on their feet. Three young Berserkers were suddenly in the dining hall. Cadoc called forth his sword, and pushed Violet behind him. Tables and chairs clattered to the ground when the warriors jumped into action.

  “What the hell?” Cadoc bellowed.

  The Berserkers on board were fledglings, big and confused as though they were just as surprised as Cadoc and his men. Until they caught scent of the females. Then all hell broke loose. Josie screamed and ran as a Berserker went after her. Powerful arms swinging, it was clear his intent was to crush the female. The idea sent the warriors into a raged frenzy.

  “Warning! Warning!” Jilly was yelling.

  “I can see that,” Cadoc bellowed.

  “But Cadpol, Taliput, I must tell you…”

  “Not now, Jilly. Shut up,” Cadoc snapped.

  Talpin raced to another female. A Berserker was in reach of Honey…or Suckle. The massive being grabbed the female’s long hair and began lifting her toward his mouth. Enormous teeth dotted with rotting animal flesh began chomping in anticipation. Huge lips smacked with delight, dripping strings of saliva. Violet screamed and tried to race past him. Cadoc pulled her back.

  “Violet, your effort to help is commendable but keep you tiny ass where it is, behind me,” he commanded.

  She seemed ready to offer a protest when Cadoc lunged forward and swung his sword at the captured female, chopping half the female’s hair off. She dropped to
the ground and Cadoc ran the Berserker through. Talpin and another warrior slayed another creature going for Josie. The last one, Cadoc battled. The Berserker was in a frenzy twisting and turning. Too many scents at once filled the beast’s brain and Cadoc took advantage of its confusion. A dagger to an eye stopped it and dropped the monster to his knees. A warrior ran a blade through the Berserker’s back. All was silent as the beast dropped to his side and was motionless.

  Cadoc turned and scanned the hall. “This makes no sense. How did three Berserkers get onto my ship?”

  Cadoc heard Violet scream. He spun to see another person appear. The alien was familiar, he had been on the ship Violet had been on. The alien grabbed her. The snake tongue slithered out with a dark smile, and the pair disappeared. It happened so fast, Cadoc hadn’t had time to move.

  “Jilly, why didn’t you warn us?” Cadoc bellowed.

  “You said to shut up.” Her tone was a pout.

  “Engines ready. We are leaving,” Cadoc ordered.

  “You are leader now. You can’t run off,” Talpin said. “I know she is important to you, but the planet is in chaos. We have other humans in need of protection. Another ship can be dispatched to rescue Violet.”

  Other warriors were gathering around, a few were nodding in agreement.

  Cadoc looked at his second, his gaze intense. Then included everyone as his eyes swept the room. His seething growl brooked no argument. “They took my mate.”

  “Oh, shit,” Talpin said. “Oh shit. Things are going to get insane.”

  Chapter Nine

  In a split second, Violet went from looking at Cadoc’s enraged face to looking at a room full of the fork-tongued, serpent aliens, staring back at her with lascivious gazes.

  “What the hell? Where have you brought me?” She’d never before heard of dematerializing before she’d met Cadoc, and now everyone seemed to have the ability to do it.

  Draconis looked pleased with himself. “This is a cool little device.” The bracelet on his wrist looked exactly like the one Cadoc and his warriors wore.

  “Where did you get that?”