Hello all my lovely readers! Life has been busy. In November I did NaNoWriMo for the first time and at the beginning of this month I finished the first draft of my first full length novel which I am super proud and excited about. Hopefully, I will be able to work a little more on this fanfic from time to time. But I can not promise when updates will be. I really enjoyed writing this chapter. I hope you all will like it too!
Only reviewer: Thank you so much for reviewing! Well you will just have to keep reading to find out. The actress I have in the image for this fic is Indiana Evans. Fun fact, she happens to be an Australian. Though since Oliver is an American I imagine Victoria having a similar accent as him.
Josephguy217: Thank you for your review! I love seeing readers return. Hope you'll enjoy this short chapter!
DraggonflyMaiden: Thank you so much for your comment! It made me smile. I hope you enjoy this Slade and Victoria filled chapter!
Swingrlm: Thank you ever so much for the review! Of course he is beautiful! I think you'll enjoy this chapter as well, because I am sending more amazing Slade and Victoria moments. Can not wait to see what you think of it!
The Other Queen
Chapter 21
Lian Yu 2008
The sun was just starting to rise. Oliver continued to breathe heavily, his body shaking, silently he looked down at his hands; they were covered in blood. Shado looked at him in concern. Oliver stumbled away from their group and sat down on the ground. When they had pulled away Victoria had hoped that Oliver would snap out of it. Slade finally was able to look away from Oliver and reached down to search one of the dead man's pockets.
"Whoever sent them are probably going to send more men," Shado said as she searches another one of the man's clothes.
"All the more reason to figure out why they are here."
Victoria inched closer to Slade, in the man's pocket was a folded piece of paper that Slade straightened out. Lian Yu was on it.
"It is a map with islands on it, containing Lian Yu. It is similar to one ISAS gave me, before I came to rescue Yao Fei," Slade explained. His eyes getting a far-off look into them. Silently he stood up and walked over towards Toria. "Whatever they are looking for must be here, on this island."
Her heart sank. Any hope that they had just randomly shown up on this island, or that perhaps they were here by mistake completely vanished. Without thought, she started walking away from the battle scene. Not wanting to be there a second longer. While she was walking the trail looked familiar. I am heading towards our camp. Soon footsteps sounded behind her. Slightly alert she grasped her sword hilt and turned towards the sound. Slade stood wordlessly and made his way beside her. They remained silent along the way to the wrecked plane.
Victoria stepped into camp first and was followed by Slade close at her tail.
"How was Oliver?" she asked him.
"Shado stayed with him."
"Good. I'm glad someone is. I probably should have too… I just didn't know what to say. That look in his eyes."
"I've seen it after a battle on many men's face."
"I can't even describe it."
"Well, from experience, it is the look of someone who doesn't even recognize himself anymore."
Victoria felt a tear roll down her cheek and a sob escaped her lips. Strong arms wrapped around her. Slowly she wrapped her own around Slade's frame. Tears continued rolling down her cheeks and dropped down her chin onto his camo jacket. She felt herself sliding down to the ground, with Slade in tow. Felt the hard ground make contact with her knees. Slade's hold around her never wavered.
"Shush, it's alright. I'm here. It is going to be okay," Slade brushed his lips on her forehead.
"It isn't though. It isn't alright. Who are we going to lose this time? Who else are we going to lose along the way?" she said in between sobs.
"Shush," he caressed her hair. "Don't talk like that."
Slightly pulling away her tear-filled eyes turned to meet his. They were already growing red and puffy, Slade wiped the tears that streamed down her cheek.
"First my dad, then Yao Fei. I can't do it any more Slade. Who is next? Oliver? Shado? Me?" her voice broke as she looked at him. "You?"
She couldn't bear the thought of losing him. Not after just finally telling him how she felt. After caring about him. The fear felt as though it was going to consume her. Slade wrapped her in a tight embrace once more, "I'm not going to let that happen."
"You can't promise that," she insisted.
As soon as the words left her mouth she felt horrible about muttering them. However, they were true. He could try his hardest to protect them all, but he couldn't be sure what was going to happen. What might happen to them this time? He didn't argue with her but he didn't loosen his embrace. Soon her tears were spent. His scent enveloped her and calmed her. Resting her head on his chest she took in deep breaths as she heard the pounding of his heart. Reminding her that he was alive and here. Please God, keep him so. Keep him alive, God… for me, she silently prayed. For years she had wanted to find a man who loved her, genuinely loved her, to protect her, someone she could care about and love in return. She wasn't ready to let go now when she had just found him. Here all along, even when she was too stupid to see it at first.
Slowly she pulled away from him. Gently she cupped his cheek, his whiskers were rough against her calloused fingers. A smile spread across his face, quietly he brushed aside hair from her forehead.
"Come on. We need to figure out where these guys are coming from." Offering her his hand.
She let out a sigh, grabbing his outreached hand, the other hand resting on his chest to steady herself. Again the beating of his heart reassured her that for right now both of them were alright. Once they had raised, they poured over the map and tried to pinpoint where they thought the men were coming from.
"They could be coming from this side of the island," Toria pointed to one of the points near the water.
"The only problem with that side is that there is a giant cliff. They could be scaling of course. However, my guess is that they are either here," he pointed towards the beach that Oliver and Victoria had first arrived. "Or, near here," he pointed towards another beach.
Victoria knew that the body of water had scattered rock formations in the water, "But won't it be harder to sail there?"
"Harder yes, but if you wanted an element of surprise; that would be the best way."
"So you think they are heading from this general direction?" Victoria asked, pointed near the coastline.
"Probably."
"So what is the plan?"
"First of all, that is where they are coming from but what is their goal? Why are they here?" he showed her the photo attached to the map by a paperclip. "I think this has something to do with it. It is closer to where we were last night. In fact only a few clicks from there."
"You sure?"
"I know this island as well as my own name. I'm sure. We need to go there and see what is so important about it."
"Oliver and Shado have been gone a while," an uncomfortable thought forming in Victoria's thoughts and showed on her face.
Slade chuckled at her face and headed towards the exit, "I'm about as happy about that thought as you are. But we have to get going. Before it gets dark. So I'm going to find them."
"I suppose I should probably go with you?" her face still one of disgust.
The image of Oliver and Shado doing 'that' together really made her uncomfortable.
"Why don't you follow a few steps behind me? Enough so that I'd be the only that might find them doing…"
"Okay enough of that!"
He chuckled again and heading out the door. Slade figured they had headed towards the stream, which wasn't far from the point they were going to. Hopefully, they'd at least be wearing clothes when he found them. The thought made him cringe, but it couldn't be helped. They had to be brought back to reality. And all four of them had to come up with a plan of attack, preferably before the men realized that they had killed their men.
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