Chapter 3
There is nothing like nerves to help get things done. I have no idea what's going to happen once Riddick returns but I know I can't just sit around and wonder. So, instead, I do my best to make an already sparkling clean room sparkle a little bit brighter. What ever I can get my hands on is polished, scrubbed or refolded. The fear almost convinces me to even sharpen and polish his skivs but I resign myself to stripping the bed of it's sheets instead. I need to do laundry anyways, my mind convinces me, even though I know these were washed just yesterday. Only his command for the lights to dim down to fifty percent alerts me to his presences just outside the bedroom doorway and than there is only his deep chuckling.
"I'm pretty sure the place was already clean, princess," he says when I enter the living area, sheets in hand.
"Of course, my Lord," I respond, dumping my burden in the chute. "I merely..."
"Needed to keep yourself busy?" he interrupts. "Thought I told you never to fear me."
My eyes drop to he floor. Great, not only have I spoken outside my station and pissed him off, but I've hurt whatever feelings he may have. If he doesn't kill me, or at least beat me for my disobedience, he's a fool. Or maybe to closed off to bother finding another slave to trust. I'll go with the second once, since I know this man is everything but a fool.
"The faith does not tolerate disobedience, my Lord."
"But I'm not a Monger. You know that. And neither are you."
This catches me off guard and I can't keep the guilt from my face, although I wipe it away quickly once I realize it's there. My mind is working a hundred miles an hour trying to find a way to deny his words, or even explain myself, but no sound comes out of my mouth as it opens and closes.
"So did you really kill his wife?" he asks when I still don't speak.
"I did."
"Why? And don't be gentle about it."
I smirk slightly as I reply, "The bitch didn't check me for weapons before she got in my face. I had a temper back then and didn't take being insulted very well."
"Back then, huh? Damn. And here I was thinking you were the quiet type."
"I'm a very good actress, my Lord."
"So show me what you've got," he commands, beginning to circle the room.
"I don't understand."
"Stop acting, princess. I want to see what they teach you warrior types on Odien Three."
"Perhaps at another time. Four years is an awfully long time without practice."
Although the truth is, any free time I can find is used to keep my body in shape and practice the techniques of my people. I just don't want to fight him. What if I accidentally hurt him, as unlikely as that is? What if he kicks my ass? I take defeat about as well as I take insults, especially in a battle of any kind. But the way he's continued to circle me says he was going to test me anyways, no matter how many years I claimed to be out of shape. When he lunges for me, my body instinctively drops to the floor and forces him to fly over me. He rolls along the carpet before jumping to his feet again and I'm much more prepared for his next attack. Punches are thrown and blocked on both sides but my movements are seriously hindered by the skirt plastered to my hips and legs. A quick side roll gives me the space I need to remedy the problem and the sound of cloth being ripped echoes through the silent room. His eyebrow raises when I rip the other side and take a better defensive stance.
"What?" I ask when he still doesn't attack. "To much leg?"
He chuckles before throwing a spin kick my way, which I block without seeing the plan behind his movement. By using one arm to knock his leg aside left my other one open and he takes advantage by grabbing it, spinning my into his back. Our breathing is labored, but he hasn't even broken a sweat. His breath is warm against my neck, making me shiver, and I can almost sense him smiling at my reaction.
"Tell me why you wouldn't take her place," he demands quietly.
Breaking out of his grasp and elbowing him in the stomach, I move away before replying, "Because I would've died before letting that bastard touch me."
I kick him upside the head, my bare foot doing very little damage, before spinning to deflect the fist aimed at my face. The pain shooting through my mouth tells me I moved just a little to slow and I back away to wipe the blood from my lip.
"Besides," I add with a smile. "making him angry was just SO much fun."
A few minutes later and our squabble ends with me being pinned to the floor, his body weight settling between my legs while he holds my arms above my head. I'm practically gasping for air as I stare up into those eyes of his and I'm very aware of what the fighting has done for Riddick, the evidence of it hard against my core.
"Why won't you fight for me?" he asks quietly.
"What?"
"Why won't you fight for me?"
Confusion fills me to a point where I can't even for words. My mind has become completely blank as I take in the serious look on his face, telling me he actually wants to know the answer to his question. What am I supposed to tell him? I'd love to fight for him, but I refuse to play leader to a faith I don't believe in? That I'd rather remain a slave all my life than be controlled by a man that didn't love me? Or maybe that I would take my rightful place at his side now, if I didn't think he deserved someone better, someone that could help him rule? My fighting instinct kicks back in, wanting to be away from the source of my confusion, and instantly I'm squirming under his hold. He moves away from me with reluctance, allowing me room to breath and clear my muddled head.
"I don't want to," I weakly whisper, wrapping my arms around my stomach.
I can hear him growl as he turns his back on me, making me wonder if I'm offended him somehow. I don't understand how I could have but it's the only thing I can think of that would make him react this way.
"My Lord?" I ask, receiving no answer. "Riddick?"
"You need to leave," he responds angrily.
My feet are actually moving toward the door when my mind catches up with me and I revert back to the person I was before the Cleansing. The strong woman who refused to be told what to do, who never backed down and stood up for what she believed in. The warrior.
"What do you want from me, Riddick?" I scream, very quickly getting his attention. "I stepped up and shared my opinion. I practically scolded a bunch of men that just a year ago would execute me just for looking them in the eye. Do you want me to roll around on the floor with a bunch of higher ranked women, pretending I'm still on Odien Three and actually a princess, so that you don't have to marry some tight assed bitch that will actually know how to rule but you're to cold hearted to trust? Or maybe you don't want someone to help you with these people at all, but some dog that sits next to you and only gets attention when you want to give it? Whatever it is you're after, you won't get it from me. From this moment on I will continue to be nothing more than some fucking slave that has no importance in the world because that is who I am now! So, forgive me, my Lord, but I will not humiliate myself by fighting."
By the end of my rant, I'm out of breath and furious that he has still shown me no response except the slight turn of his head. How can he stand there being so calm? That's one side of him I've never understood. It's like there's nothing that could possibly faze him and it's beyond frustrating. For some reason I want him to scream back or at least look angry. At least answer my question. What is it exactly that he wants me to do? He practically baits me into acting outside my rank and then won't talk to me when I won't do what he asks? With a shake of my head I decide that it simply doesn't matter anymore. Maybe tomorrow I'll try to find a way into someone else's service, or just stick to working in the galley. A slave I may be, but I don't have to put up with this shit.
"Way to step up, princess," he tells me just as I'm about to walk out the door.
"It won't happen again, my Lord," I reply, meaning every word.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed reading this scene as much as I enjoyed writing it. The next one should have the actual fight in it, which I promise will be enjoyable. Let me know what you guys thought.
