As soon as Erica and Bakuub were escorted into the dungeon of the palace, Bakuub was taken in one direction and Erica was taken in another. Bakuub was placed in a large stone room that had only one door and a dirt floor. Above him was a huge chain hanging from the ceiling which was attached to pully on one wall. Erica was taken to one of the cells and not to politely tossed onto the dirt floor. Her cell consisted of a single stone bed and a narrow wodden cell door that had bars on the top.
"Oh please, let Bakuub be okay" Erica prayed as she placed both her hands on the bars and leaned her forehead against them.
ELSEWHERE:
"What do you want?" Bakuub growled at Xerxes.
"Pay back time because you actually survived longer than I could have ever expected you to" Xerxes replied.
Xerxes was a lot bigger than Bakuub remembered him being. He towered at least two feet taller than Bakuub and was twice as big as him. Xerxes markings were almost exactly like Night Blood's and his coloring was very similar, except his skin was a little darker. His hair was dreadlocked down to hsi waist with silver and gold bands wrapped around each twisted lock of hair.
"I survived this long so I could take the pleasure of killing you for what you did to my clan all those years ago" Bakuub roared as he watched Xerxes close the distance between them and roughly pulled Bakuub's arms above his head.
Bakuub knew that if he fought, Erica's life would be in danger. So, he allowed whatever Xerxes had planned for him happen. He felt the chain being hooked to the metal shackles on his wrists. He watched Xerxes step away and walk over to the pully. Xerxes turned the pulley and the chain pulled tighter, lifting Bakuub up off the floor. Bakuub felt as though his shoulders were going to pop out of their sockets as he looked down to the floor.
"Make him cry out in pain. I want to hear his screams of agony while I am upstairs" Xerxes command as he turned to leave the cell.
"Fuck you" Bakuub growled as his mandibles flared out in rage.
"Wrong answer" Xerxes said as he turned around and punched Bakuub on the side of his rib cage.
Bakuub did not cry out when he heard and felt several of his lower ribs crack from the impact of Xerxes's fist. He was not about to give Xerxes the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain. His honor was at stake along with the life of his mate.
"I think it was the right answer. You are not worthy enough to be a Yautja warrior" Bakuub growled again, feeling very winded from the impact but was not about to give up. He had to know how Xerxes had found them out in the middle of nowhere.
"You are not going to survive this night" Xerxes stated as looked over at the door and watched as another Yautja entered the room.
"I do not care what you do to me, just leave my mate alone" Bakuub softly growled as he slightly turned his head when he saw a familiar heat signature.
"What a shame that Night Blood's second in command has been captured. What a waste" it was the ship's doctor.
"You are the betrayer" Bakuub growled.
"Well, I was offered quite a bit more by Xerxes and I must go where I can make more" the doctor stated.
"Come on doctor, let us see how well you do on the Princess and her heat cycle" Xerxes stated as he and the doctor walked out of the room.
Bakuub hung his head because, he knew now that there was nothing that could be done to save Erica or Yvette from Xerxes's tyranny. He also knew that he had to survive long enough to at least save Erica.
He could feel that there was another person in the room and he turned his head to see that there was still one Yautja who was weilding a whip.
"Time for pain, Bakuub" the Yautja stated as he unrolled the six foot long whip, allowing to drag in the dirt.
Bakuub turned his head towards the wall and began praying to the Gods. He hoped that they could hear him, even though he was not on his home planet.
That's when he felt the crack of the whip against his back. Bakuub gritted his teeth together and fought against the urge to roar in pain. He would never give Xerxes the pleasure of it. He felt the whip strike against his back again. He knew that this was suppose to break his spirit but, he would not allow.
Bakuub closed his eyes when he felt the whip strike his back for the tenth time or was it the twentieth time. Why was he even trying to keep track.
FLASHBACK:
As soon as Bakuub awoke, he realized that he was lying on a metal bed with a sheet pulled up to his waist. He was completely nude and the hole in his chest had been patched up. Looking around, he saw a figure sitting next to him.
"About time, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to wake up" the figure spoke softly as it turned to speak to Bakuub.
"Where am I?' Bakuub asked as he tried to sit up but was still a little dizzy from the blood loss.
"You are at the City of Light. You have been unconsious for the last two weeks. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to pull through" the figure said.
"Who are you?" Bakuub asked, his voice was barely above a whisper.
"My name is Night Blood and you, my young friend, had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting my brother, Xerxes" Night Blood calmly stated as he watched Bakuub's body tense up.
"He is your brother but you do not act like him" Bakuub stated as his body started to relax around this Yautja called Night Blood.
"I know but he is. That does not mean I have to claim him as such. His need to destroy everything in his path has to be stopped" Night Blood growled as he balled up his fist.
"Did anyone else survive? My mom? My sister?" Bakuub softly questioned as he looked up at Night Blood with a sadness in his eyes.
"No. You were the only one to survive. Which is quite amazing considering that Xerxes makes a habit out of killing everyone who is caught in his path" Night Blood stated as continued to look at Bakuub.
"I did not know who Xerxes was until that day. My mom told my sister and I to run and we did. She told us to come here" Bakuub stated.
"No one does until it is too late. Now, rest young one. When you are feeling better will talk some more" Night Blood stated as he stood up and placed a comforting hand on Bakuub's forehead, urging him to rest and to save his strength.
"By the way, my name is Bakuub. Thank you for saving my life" Bakuub said as he closed his green eyes and allowed sleep to overcome him.
"Rest well Bakuub. Hopefully, you will be able to have your revenge against Xerxes" Night Bloody softly stated as he left the room.
"Me too" Bakuub whispered.
END OF FLASHBACK:
Bakuub could feel the dirt in each of the slash marks across his back as he watched the Yautja put his whip away. He knew that he had not cried out in pain and that frustrated the one who was whipping him. He heard him sigh out of anger becuse he had not been able to do as Xerxes asked.
"Take him out of here and put him into the cell with the female" he ordered a couple of other Yautja.
Bakuub felt the chain being loosened and his body sagged down onto the floor. His breathing was hard and ragged as he fell to his knees and his hands hit the floor. He felt drained but pleased over his ability to hold in his pain. He felt a couple of arms grab him under his own arms and half drag his body out of the room.
"Tell Xerxes, that his name will not be the last name that leaves my mouth before I die" Bakuub growled just as the door shut behind him.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Well, Xerxes is a real slime ball. Nothing new there. What does everyone think? Do I need to add anything or explain anything in my chapter? I should have the next chapter up by tomorrow, sometime. BIG CYBER HUGS to Millen Stryker and CittyGurl for their fast reviews. And to everyone else, thank you for your reviews.