by L M Lacee
Maya tried to remember all the tricks Scout had taught her about sneaking while she called for Rage. When the male dropped Hope down a hole in the floor.
THIRTY-SEVEN:
Hope landed in an enormous male’s arms, knocking all the air from her lungs. As she gasped for breath, the male ripped her link from her arm and threw it on the floor and stamped on it.
Then the male who had first grabbed her dropped from the hole, followed by two skinny males. She was tossed to the first male, and he started running with the others through a tunnel.
She was surrounded by males and she trembled in fear. Every male was large, and they all had scars on their faces and mean eyes. The male holding her jiggled her up and down as he ran, and she realized what she was not smelling.
There was no scent. How was that possible? Rage had taught them everyone had a scent. Hope sniffed and then sniffed again and still she could only smell herself.
‘Stop your sniveling, you little bitchre.’ The male huffed as he ran.
Hope stopped sniffing and worried at the problem. How could her Papa find her if these males had no scent? Rage and Rave would not be able to scent them. She knew the male was there, his arms were like bands around her back and legs and they hurt. She could hear the thumping of running feet from all the other males, but she could not scent them.
She shivered again, as a new worry ate at her. For all her youth, Hope feared for the Crystal City. As pretty as it was, it would not remain standing under her Mama’s anger, and her Mama was going to be so angry. Did these males not understand who her Mama and Papa were? Papa was the Amahka Elite, he was Mama’s protector. That meant he was very scary. She knew people were more scared of him than her uncle’s or even Uncle Jarr.
While her head bounced she remembered how Uncle Klune said her aunties were scarier than her uncles. She wished they were with her now, scaring these bad males. Maybe Auntie Netta was flying with Uncle Coraan to find her. Hope let out a small gasp as she had a sudden thought. Uncle Coraan could not fly in the tunnels, she did not think his wings would fit.
Maya stalked the ones that had her Hope. She had dropped through the hole just after she heard the male’s feet running away. Now when they were not looking, or they moved far enough in front of her. She slipped through the shadows of the tunnels, tracking them, making sure she never lost sight of her Hope. Just like Scout showed her. She could feel her bondmates fear and sent her waves of comfort, but her Hope was so scared she was not sure they were reaching her.
Maya called for Rage again and listened, but she could not hear his voice. Mewing in fear, she huddled in the shadows and trembled. She wanted to go home to be with her family who loved her. To be safe with Grammie Lott. She wanted to see her friend Scout. Suddenly Maya held her breath, for a minute she was sure she heard Rage calling her and telling her she was brave. Maya closed her eyes and listened harder, but all she could hear was her own heart beat and the two-legger’s feet as they ran away.
She growled deep in her chest like she had heard Rave do. She did it again and smiled. The sound of her growl chased away the fear gripping her heart. She was a big kit now, she would not let the ones who snatched… Maya grinned, she liked that word snatched. She stopped growling and thought about how the word snatch sounded... Then she shook her head as sounds of running feet became softer.
Quickly she moved through the shadows at a faster pace as she thought about what she had seen. The males were scared, she could not scent their fear but their eyes showed much white. Rave had told the kits that was a sign of fear in some two-leggers. Maya wondered if they knew of the great Rage, was that why they were scared or was it because they knew of Mama Star. But if they knew of Rage and Mama Star, why snatch Hope that seemed dumb. She ran slinking through the shadows always just behind her bondmate as she worried at the problem.
Hope had remained quiet since the male had told her to shut up. Fear was a great motivator and Hope feared, especially when she spied Maya belly crawling around the corners trailing them. She was so low to the ground, no one would know she was there unless they really looked. Luckily, they seemed more worried about running and not looking behind them.
Hope whispered. ‘Papa is going to be so mad.’
The male wheezed in her ear. ‘What papa, you have no papa, we know everything about you. Do not try to fool me little bitchre.’ He laughed as he shook her head by the neck with his big hand. ‘You go on believing your imaginary papa is coming, I do not care.’
When he stopped shaking her, she snarled like Auntie Netta did when she was angry. ‘You should be scared you gonna die.’
He flipped her around in his arms and growled in her face. ‘Shut up, you little bitchre or I’ll slit your throat right now, instead of what we have planned for you.’
Terrified, Hope closed her mouth as he flipped her again, but he could not stop her thinking about her Papa and the anger he and her Mama would have. She looked up when the pounding of feet halted. They had come to a junction where three tunnels led from their one.
A skinny male appeared from the shadows. He sneered at Hope before speaking quietly with a large male. After a minute the skinny male pointed down a tunnel. Instantly they were running again, but this time it was only until they came to a set of stairs which they climbed.
When the large male and skinny male reached the top, the skinny male did something with the lock before opening the door. The male carrying Hope puffed loudly as he climbed the steep stairs. He was second to last in the line of males, probably, Hope thought, because he breathed so loudly.
Eventually they walked through a door and the male groaned softly as he started to run again. He followed the other males along another dark corridor. Finally they came to a lift which was not very big, but this did not seem to stop the males from all piling in.
Hope was squashed against the male’s chest as other males pushed against him. She could not see if Maya followed her. Her heart raced as she tried calling for her bondmate, but Maya did not answer. Hope squeezed her eyes shut as she felt truly alone for the first time.
Oh, Maya!
THIRTY-EIGHT:
Maya watched Hope go into the moving box, and when the doors began to close, she slipped inside, flattening herself as close to the wall as possible.
Just when Hope thought she was going to pass out from lack of air. The lift stopped, and the doors opened, causing air to rush in and the males to rush out. Again all the males ran until they came to a staircase and climbed the stairs, finally stopping when they arrived at a cavernous room.
As Hope looked around, she wanted to cry. But she knew better. It was never wise to show tears to males. Unless they were her family. The giant one had told her when he cuddled her after finding her hiding under her bed and crying, because she had bad dreams. That it was alright to cry it was good to wash out her eyes. Although he had warned her not to make the screeching noise as it was just wrong. She wondered if the giant one was coming to get her soon. She swallowed down her tears and tried to be brave like her Mama was.
The male that held her was puffing hard, even though they had stopped moving. Three scary males with green and yellow hair stared at her, making the skin on her body feel bad. They were talking but Hope could not understand them; she thought maybe they were speaking Raider talk. The males laughed and then quickly backed away when other males who looked like the Warriors with swords and blasters came out of doors from everywhere.
Hope blinked three times to get her eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room. Uncle Coraan had shown her how to do it. He said all Draygons could do it, but it was a secret. Even Draykin didn’t know how to yet, he was too little. Now she could see everything around her and her fear increased, especially when a giant male walked out of the shadows. He moved like the Warriors did and when he got to where the male held her; he pulled her face up by her chin. She had no choice but to stare into his frightening, scarred face. Hope whimpered as his cold, dark eyes looked her over
.
THIRTY-NINE:
The male sneered when he spoke. ‘This it?’
‘Ayee, this is the one.’
The large male’s cold eyes seared Hope as he snarled. ‘You will be a good little bitchre or Wes will make you sorry you are not.’
To make his point, he released her chin and backhanded her across her face. Whipping her head from side to side and causing her ears to ring as dizziness made her head swim. She hung in the arms of the male holding her.
The male named Wes let out a bellow of laughter that froze her insides as blood dripped from her nose and mouth. Hope felt urine slide down her legs as all pretense of bravery left her. She listened and watched as the other males laughed as well. They must think it was good to hit a girl.
The male that held her felt the warm trail of urine on his legs and quickly held her away from himself. Seeing the wet patch on his clothes, he cursed loudly and shook her. Hope released a cry and before she realized what he was going to do, he threw her away from him. She flew across the room, hitting the corner of the wall and sliding down. She released a blood-curdling scream of agony as she landed with a thump on the floor.
Hope knew what bones felt like when they broke and she panted in small breaths, feeling the broken bones in her body from hitting the wall and floor. Then she screamed again, when the male named Wes kicked her in the stomach and she slid across the dusty floor to hit up against another wall.
She coughed blood into her mouth as he squatted down in front of her. Pulling her up by her hair so her face was close to his. He looked her over and an evil smile stole across his scarred face. Dispassionately, he told her.
‘Now you shut up or I will make you. You listening to Wes?’ He made her head move up and down like a puppet as the other males laughed uproariously.
Hope shivered and tears rolled down her face as she stared into the male’s dead eyes. ‘You be real quiet or I will let my anult’s.’ He pointed to the males behind him, ‘have you?’ She heard several grows and snarls as Wes told her. ‘And I know a bitchre like you knows what that means.’
Hope was not quite conscious, but she thought that what the male Wes said sounded awful. He suddenly let her go and her head thumped back onto the floor. She turned her head enough to watch him walk away as memories of another male, who had treated her as though she was worthless swamped her. Terrified, she shoved her fist into her mouth to stop the screams escaping as despair filled her hearts and mind.
Maybe the males were right, maybe she was nothing more than a toy. Her little hearts broke as she realized her father was right when he told her all those yentas ago, that she was not worthy enough to belong to a family. Tears flowed as she decided it would be better if she was never found. No one wanted her, she was too ugly and stupid to love, nothing more than a toy to be beaten and thrown away. Finally exhausted, she slipped into the waiting darkness where no pain lived. Sadly, she did not hear Maya crying into the dark world Hope had retreated to.
My Hope, do not leave me! Don’t leave me, me scared, I love you, you my bondmate.
When Maya received no reply, she barred her teeth and bravely growled. I come for you my Hope, wait for me. I come!
Then she closed her eyes and jumped into the pit of darkness, just as Hope screamed.
No… Maya… No!
Hope came back to her body in a rush and panted slowly. It had been a long time since she had hurt like this and to have blood fill her mouth and nose, but hard lessons once taught were never truly forgotten.
Whimpering in pain and fear, she knew she had to save Maya, so she called to her bondmate.
I love you Maya, I am here. I came back. You come back now!
Maya struggled from the blackness that wanted to suck her deeper and deeper into the pit of despair. Fear clogged her thoughts as she screamed for her bondmate.
Hope… Hope… I cannot find you!
Maya, I’m coming… I’m coming!
With a bravery that would have made her parents proud. Hope dove back into the pit of darkness and began searching for the bright gold light that was Maya. Finally, after what seemed like forever.
I found you Maya, I found you!
Hope.
Maya.
I lost Hope.
Maya, come with me, we have to leave here.
I tired.
Please, Maya, try for me. Come with me.
I too tired.
I love you Maya come with me.
I come Hope.
Together they swam back to reality. Fear pounded in Hope’s temples, almost eclipsing the pain radiating from her broken body. She barely opened her eyes when she felt her hair being jerked again. The male Wes was holding her head upright once more. He slapped her face, asking. ‘You alive little bitchre?’
Then he repeated the action of making her nod and laughed as he let her go. Hope allowed her head to fall onto the floor, afraid to admit she was awake. As the male walked away, she saw a shadow move and called to Maya.
Hide Maya.
You hurt?
Yes, hide please!
He hurt you. I bite!
No Maya hide, Papa come.
Maya sighed as she crept back into the shadows. Rage come.
Yes, Hope sobbed and prayed she was right. Fear and pain made her hearts heavy and her eyes fill with tears as another wave of agony washed over her. She rode the wave of pain and was pleased she was not alone until Maya whimpered once more.
FORTY:
‘What the hayda happened to the bitchre?’
Demanded a skinny green male as he glanced at Hope and passed around tubes of drinks.
The male who had thrown Hope growled. ‘She pissed on me. Then Wes saw to her.’
He tipped the tube up and emptied its contents in one swallow as the green male snarled.
‘It was just a little piss, not enough to make you smell. You’ve had worse on a night out. The one who employed us said she had to stay alive and whole.’
‘She is both, so shut your jabbing.’
‘You and Wes broke her, you olesho. We don’t get paid unless she is whole, so leave her alone.’ He snarled in return as he walked to a container of tubes, selecting a long orange one.
Several of the other males grumbled when they heard him. Another green male said as he came to where they stood with several more tubes in his hands. ‘You can have your fun later, I want paying.’
Wes yelled. ‘We will be paid or I will take it from his hide.’ He drank an entire tube of green liquid in one swallow. Several of the males made obscene gestures while they all laughed and hooted their agreement.
Wes smiled as he finished his drink. With this one contract, he would have enough credits to have his own ship and his own crew. There may even be enough left over to purchase a moon. Life for him was finally looking up. He drank another half a tube someone handed him and then snorted. Before the yenta was out, he would own this Universe. Excitement made him reckless, and he shouted. ‘Drinks on me, we have an hour to wait, so break out the whiskay, but remember no one touches the prize.’
Several minutes later when tubes of whiskay were being passed around and males stood discussing what they were going to do with the credits they were to get. The ground trembled and the walls of the building shook. They looked at each other and around at the floor and walls as several males stumbled, some even falling to the dusty floor.
‘What the furin hayda was that?’ Yelled Wes as he strode to where the two green males and the one who had carried Hope stood.
‘How the furin hayda do we know.’ Shouted back one of the green males as the building shook again.
Someone else yelled as dust fell, and the building swayed violently, throwing people into walls and onto the floor. Hope clenched her jaws tight against the pain as she shuffled her body against the wall as much as she could and yelled for Maya to do the same.
‘What the hayda is happening?’ Bellowed another male as he ran up the stairs, then fell when the stai
rs collapsed under him.
Roars of anger sounded throughout the building. So terrifying it froze the blood in their veins and kicked into gear their fight-or-flight instincts.
However the males were well disciplined, they held to their training and did not run as they should have. Instead they stared at each other as swords were released from sheathes, and blasters were primed.
FORTY-ONE:
‘Who or what made that?’ Whispered the skinny green male, standing by Wes.
Before he or anyone could answer, the walls of the building were suddenly blown apart, just as Coraan and his Draygons dropped from above. Wide bronze wings caused the dust to rise and choke the males who were in their flight path. Warriors and Prowlers poured up from the stairways into the dust filled room.
More crystal shattered, and the building trembled as Rage’s roars of anger were heard, and answered from other throats, and not all were Prowlers. Draygons flew close to the building, carrying the Elites. Blasters punched holes through the crystal walls allowing Kardan, his brothers and Netta to enter.
Kardan swept the room for Hope, finding her he yelled. ‘Hope, close your eyes, dearle.’
She obeyed his order and mind-screamed. Papa, Papa, Papa.
We have come for you Hope. Stay still little one. Papa will take you to Mama.
Kay Papa.
Kardan ordered loudly. ‘Warriors search and leave none alive, they pay with their worthless lives.’
Roars from Draygons, Warriors and Prowlers were heard from all over the building.
‘Elites do not kill them all.’ He recognized a male laying on the floor and pointed to him and three others. ‘Save those four, the rest are yours, show no mercy.’
Netta’s knives within seconds were dripping blood as she danced across the floor, slicing and dicing at anyone who entered her path. She had yet to unsheathe her swords, and still males died.
