Читать книгу Defiant. Tome 1. Defiant - - Страница 14

Lindon jolted up, woken by the helper bot.

«Your guest, Serena, is experiencing a medical issue…» the bot reported.

The man jumped out of bed, pulling his pants on, and ran off towards Serena’s room. The bot followed him – silently and fast, ready to aid in any way.

«Call Hunter, NOW!» Lindon ran inside Serena’s room, seeing her curled up on the floor, grunting in pain.

Lindon hurried to the woman, immediately leaning in and seeing her grasping at her shoulders, teeth clenched. He cautiously touched her arm and felt a shudder going through her body in waves. Glancing at her back, he suddenly understood what could be the reason for this episode.

Hunter ran in, almost tripping over the helper bot, and in a few long strides landed near Lindon and Serena, panicked:

«What the…» he exhaled.

«Get the muscle relaxants!» Lindon pointed at the bedside table, where a neatly organised box stood with medicinal capsules at the ready and a syringe. «And some painkillers!»

The cyborg grabbed the syringe, loading it with the relaxant and handing it to Lindon, while searching for the painkillers. He suddenly realised that the indents for those were empty.

«Shit!» he growled. «I’ll be right back!»

The man ran off, leaving Lindon worried that Serena might have been discharged from the hospital too soon. Giving her the shot of relaxants, the Veluthian carefully laid his palm on her back, feeling the muscles twisting and turning slowly subside. He noticed how sweaty her t-shirt was, and sighed, not knowing how long she was experiencing such episodes that caused her pain.

As Hunter ran in again, carrying a couple of syringes with painkillers, Lindon grasped one and gave Serena a shot. The cyborg cautiously caressed the woman on her head, but she seemed to be too hurt to reply in any kind of way.

A few minutes they sat there, watching the woman slowly relaxing and seemingly coming back to her senses. Her breath was shallow and fast, but with each breath she took, she began to exhale a little more steadily. Finally, Hunter embraced her – gently pressing to his chest – and sighed with ease:

«You’re alright, Serena… You’re going to be fine.»

Lindon took a cautious look at Serena’s back, noting no more muscle cramps, and caressed the woman, running his hand across her shoulders:

«Serena?» he called out. «What do you say to a warm bath to ease the aching?»

The woman grasped at Hunters arm, hiding her face on his broad chest.

«I’m such a disgrace…» they heard her whisper very quietly.

The men exchanged glances, and Hunter nodded to Lindon’s proposal. The Veluthian stood, heading to the bathing corner of Serena’s apartments he gave to the woman, and prepared the basin, adding to the pleasantly hot water some salts and herbs that should help Serena with her ailment.

Hunter felt Serena grasping his arm a little tighter – his artificial skin read how weak she was still – and suddenly the woman straightened, sitting up. The cyborg noticed tears in her eyes and she hurriedly wiped them off, looking pale and distant.

«Thank you…» she whispered, her voice a little coarse.

Hunter smiled gently and stood, offering her his hand. She accepted his help and he noted her swaying a little.

As they walked to the bath, where Lindon still stood – deep in his thoughts – Hunter caught the Veluthian’s gaze and saw him clench his jaw, obviously worried for Serena. They helped her undress and get into the water. Hunter slipped in as well, keeping the woman upright and trying to catch her gaze, but she hid her eyes, preferring to look at the water and her hands.

«Lindon…» Hunter raised his eyes to the Veluthian. «I know I am not fit to do this, but, perhaps, you could massage her back to help her even more?»

Lindon sighed, understanding that he was right, and undressed, sitting down at the edge of the basin, behind Serena. He hesitated a little, but then leaned in closer and touched her shoulders, his fingers gently rubbing the muscles. Feeling the bumps of the terrible scars, he studied the woman’s back once more – even though the scars slowly healed, becoming less and less prominent, she still had them all over.

«A warrior’s scars are their pride, Serena…» Lindon said. «So why is it you seem so… ashamed?»

«I’m not ashamed of the scars, Lindon.» the woman replied, shaking her head. «It’s the nightmares, the pain and weakness that keeps me feeling shame.»

«Nightmares?» Lindon’s fingers flinched, but the man continued to massage her back.

Hunter noticed how Serena closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. He reached out and took her hand, gently rubbing his fingers against hers:

«Every warrior has their nightmares, Serena. What’s yours?»

«The explosion that ripped my back. The agonizing pain… the thoughts before I passed out…» Serena exhaled.

«And what thoughts were those?» Lindon tried hard to sound calm.

«I saved the Empress. I could die with honour…»

«So what are you ashamed of?» Hunter frowned.

«That I hadn’t had a single thought about anything else. My ship, my crew… you…» Serena gritted her teeth again. «Is this who I am? Just a… Veluthian… The Crimson Blade, who has no thoughts about her men? Just a weapon that the Empress wishes to see?»

Lindon leaned in over her shoulder and gently touched her chin, raising and turning her head slightly to look at him:

«You’re much more than that, Serena. We all know it. The fact that all you thought about in that moment was the Empress only shows to your character as a selfless and courageous woman. You say you hadn’t had a single thought about us. So what? We weren’t at risk in that moment. Yet if we were – you’d be just as selfless in trying to save each and every single one of your crew.»

He embraced her, planting a soft kiss to her forehead, but didn’t linger, straightening and continuing to massage her back.

«And you agree with him?» Serena glanced at Hunter, who seemed to have fallen deep into thought.

«I do.» the cyborg met her gaze and smiled. «You shouldn’t overthink the fact that all you could think about is saving the Empress. I am sure, if it were Lindon, or Wolfin…»

«You?»

«Yes, me too…» Hunter chuckled. «I’m sure you’d do the very same thing.»

«See?» Lindon smirked. «We agree on that.»

Hunter suddenly became serious and leaned in closer to Serena:

«Though, I must say one thing, Serena. If it was I, who was standing there, I’d probably survive the explosion. I’d rather shield you, not to see what I saw that day…»

The woman lowered her gaze to his chest:

«I never asked… your cybernetic enhancements…» she reached out and touched the man. «Did they… withstand the force field that deactivated the armour and my jetpack?»

«I didn’t fall prone, if that’s what you’re asking.»

«He was actually closest to you, while we turned our attention to the shooter.» Lindon froze for a moment.

«Yes, I heard Kareem say Hunter administered some stims…» Serena looked away again, then sighed. «I guess, Falana thought about you or any of her enhanced goons being within the radius of such a rocket…»

«Serena…» Lindon took a pause, glancing at Hunter and seeing the cyborg caressing the woman’s hand. «I know you said you’ll be meeting up with Roman again sometime in the morning…»

«Yes, why?»

«I thought, perhaps, since your sleep was cut short by… eh… whatever it is that actually happened… maybe you should postpone meeting the man?»

«No. I appreciate the offer, but I really need this distraction. His boring discussions about prices and product delivery help me keep my mind off the scars on my back.»

Lindon sighed feeling defeated, but said no more.

«Maybe, we could go with you then?» Hunter asked.

Serena took a few moments to reply:

«No. Thanks. I’ll be fine. He isn’t very talkative about business if anyone else is around… Even if it’s someone from his household.»

«Still, keep in mind that we’re both ready to be there for you.»

«I know.» Serena smiled.

Even though the bath did help her to soothe her aching back, the men still stayed by her side through the rest of the night. Watching her sleep, they sat across the room and quietly spoke about her – each finding a sense of calm in remembering details about the woman that could help them aid her in her recovery.

As morning came, and Serena woke up again – this time without a single hint of being bothered by either pain or nightmares – the men greeted her with smiles.

Two hours later the woman left, flying off on her Dragon hover bike towards the Relas estate to discuss further the whole business proposition Roman offered.

He met her with a charming smile and a joyful manner:

«Lady Serena, it is such a pleasure seeing you again!» he bowed.

She bowed in return, stepping into the estate and following the man to his lavish office, where she saw tall bookcases, filled to the brim with archaic tomes – restored or printed on demand for his collection.

«Books. How… quaint.» Serena smiled. «I can’t remember when I saw physical books last.»

«I grew a collection after my uncle passed and his small collection fell into my hands.» Roman seemed to be pleased at the comment. «I decided to extend it to honour his memory.»

The woman stepped up to one of the bookcases and studied the spines of books, noting tomes she read while she was still in the Academy.

«Must be nice to turn the pages…» she said with a smile.

Roman cleared his throat, approaching her and took a glance at his books, then picked one out and handed it to Serena:

«Here. Allow me to gift you this tome…» he said with a charming smile. «As a sign of my appreciation for you accepting my business proposal.»

Serena smiled, seeing the title of the tome, and nodded, taking it:

«A valuable gift, Roman. I do hope you won’t miss it…»

«What’s a book, but a way to learn new things? Even if you know what this one is about, it will definitely bring you a new experience, while turning the pages and feeling the weight in your hands…»

Serena put the gift into her little backpack she started wearing whenever she was out in the city. Her blades, clasped to her back, hid behind the backpack a bit, but were still easy to draw at any moment, reminding every person she encountered that she was the Crimson Blade everyone loved talking about.

«So… let’s talk business, Roman.» Serena said, raising her eyes to the man.

Roman hesitated for a moment and leaned in, touching her cheek softly:

«Every time I see you, I just wish you’d accept my proposal to sharing more than just business…»

«I declined that offer, Roman. And, if you are so set on continuing your pursuit, I do have to say that I won’t be accepting your challenge for a duel again.»

The man frowned:

«Why is that? We have a matter to settle…»

«I gave an oath, Roman. I can no longer seek affection outside that oath.»

The man tilted his head a bit and something in the way he squinted felt dangerous:

«You are the Crimson Blade, Serena. There’s no need for you to uphold traditions like that.»

Serena felt a shiver running down her spine, making her back twitch:

«I gave an oath. This topic is closed for discussion!» she said harshly.

Roman grabbed her shoulders, jolting forward, and the woman felt the back of her head slamming against the hard stone wall between two bookcases. The momentary daze this caused almost sent her falling to the darkness that washed over her eyes. In the next moment she felt Roman pressing his lips against hers – hard, almost painful, and she tried to push him away, but he held her arms in such a way it was impossible. As he leaned back a bit, he cackled:

«You will be mine!»

«I gave an oath!» Serena growled, growing angrier by the second.

«I don’t care!» he kissed her again.

Serena clenched her teeth on his lower lip and her knee flew up to his groin, impacting it hard. Roman twisted in half, and Serena felt a piece of flesh in her mouth. Spitting it to the floor, she hit the man in the face, throwing him down to her feet.

«I gave an oath!» she shouted, wincing at the immense pain at the back of her head.

In the next moment the door opened and a strict older woman with icy blue eyes and short black hair walked in. Serena immediately recognised her as the Matriarch of the Relas family.

«What have you done now, nephew?» the woman grimaced in disgust, with a sleek hand brushing hair off her eyes.

«Roman assaulted me.» Serena growled. «After I told him I gave an oath of loyalty to another man.»

The Relas Matriarch scoffed, stepping to her nephew and kicked him in the face:

«You’re a disgrace!» she spit on the man. «You haven’t learned to keep your impulses under control still? This ends now!»

She turned to Serena, noting her holding her head, and bowed:

«As a Matriarch of this family, I beg for your forgiveness, Lady Serena. Whatever business you did with him, I propose you discuss with me. He will be punished for his misdeeds, I give you my word!»

«Apologies accepted, Matriarch Relas.» Serena headed out.

«Allow me to compensate you for the trouble…» the older woman caught up, stepping side by side with the Crimson Blade, watching her wince in pain.

«We can talk business later. Right now I’m going back to my crew…» Serena activated her earpiece, feeling strength almost failing her. «Lindon! Pick me up immediately at my location!»

The Matriarch stopped at the entrance of the Relas estate, watching Serena walking out, and once the woman got to her hover bike, she leaned on it. Looking back into the mansion, the Relas Matriarch sighed and closed the door.

Serena climbed onto the Dragon, but felt her head spinning hard. Unable to keep herself up and feeling her body succumbing to weakness, the woman collapsed onto the front panel of her transport and soon lost consciousness.

MSS Lyssandra arrived quickly – the crew was out in the city, when Serena called them in. Landing in front of the estate and the cargo bay door opening, none of the three men there waited for them to be fully open. Lindon, Hunter and Wolfin jumped out even before the ship actually touched the ground.

The men ran up to Serena, noticing the small bloodied stain on her white silver hair, and Hunter immediately bared his teeth:

«I am going to kill him!» he growled, jolting away to the entrance of the estate.

Lindon and Wolfin examined Serena, and Lindon picked her up onto his arms to carry their Captain onto the ship. Her mentor looked at Hunter, banging in rage at the door.

«Roman!» the cyborg roared at the top of his lungs. «I challenge you to a duel for assaulting my Captain!»

In a few moments the doors opened and the men saw the Relas Matriarch. She stepped out, standing proud and tall – even though she was shorter than Hunter – and looked at the cyborg:

«As per our laws, I, Seliara Dal Relas, accept the challenge on behalf of my nephew. You shall meet him in hand-to-hand combat in three days.» she glanced at Lindon carrying Serena onto their ship and Wolfin getting onto the Dragon to get it into the cargo bay. «I suggest you take care of your Captain for the time being, as I would like to have her present when my no good nephew will be getting what he deserved.»

Hunter scowled:

«Oh, he’ll get what he deserves, I give you my word!»

The Relas Matriarch nodded:

«Keep your word, Officer Winters. I hear, you are just like Veluthians in keeping an oath.»

«I am.» Hunter growled. «So make sure Roman will be at his best when seeing me.»

«He’ll be fit to meet you. As for being at his best… Lady Serena tore his lip off, so don’t expect that to heal properly by the time you see him.»

Hunter smiled maliciously:

«I never doubted her ability to defend herself, even while recovering from injuries.»

«Roman is a fool for thinking a woman of such stature will forgive him his brute advances. Please, pass Lady Serena my sincerest apologies again. I do hope she will be open to negotiating business directly with me, and not my garbage of a nephew.»

Hunter nodded.

«Have a good day, sir!» the Relas Matriarch bowed and closed the doors.

Hunter hurried back to the ship, worried for Serena.