Chapter 2
"You're late," the woman bellowed from her "throne" at the end of the hall.
"My apologies, Madam." Carolyn replied placing her palms together in front of her and lowering her head.
"It's my fault, Grandmother!" Bandi said running up to stand next to Carolyn. "On the way here I insisted on showing her the very stairs that my mother died upon."
He had to muffle an "ow!" as Carolyn's heel ground into his foot.
Bellona gave them both a hateful glare as she turned toward her guest. "My daughter-in-law, Ryder," she introduced.
Carolyn had to bite her tongue as she always did when being introduced to anyone by this woman and her sons. They found it amusing to address her in familial terms. Carolyn found it sickening.
However, in retaliation, she found it amusing to address Bellona by "Madam" as that was what her late husband addressed her by and Carolyn knew she despised it.
"This man brings news of my missing son," she said watching Carolyn's every move.
Standing in front of Bellona her stance relaxed, Carolyn took a good look at the stranger. A Merc. Enough of them had been through with news of a supposed Riddick sighting. Carolyn knew better than to get her hopes up. They were all simply after the reward money. What he didn't know was what would happen when his lie didn't pan out. Carolyn gritted her teeth together. She just hoped she wouldn't be made to participate this time. She was slowing losing what little of her humanity she had left. Like Riddick, the rest of his race was more animal than man.
"My daughter-in-law has been staying with us until he can be located. Isn't that right, Ryder?"
Carolyn simply nodded.
"What happened to her face?" The Merc grunted tilting his chin in her direction.
"Unfortunately my son is traitor, bringing about the downfall of our entire race. I had no choice but to punish his wife and child as well."
Ahhh, and there was the rub, Carolyn thought. The old Battleaxe knew exactly what today was and simply wanted to torture her. To remind her of that day. To remind her of who was in control. She continued to stand silently, knowing that any type of outburst would result in an even worse mindfuck than she was about to dole out. Carolyn could see it in her eyes.
"I think Ryder should provide our evening dinner entertainment. Don't you agree Bhaltair?" Bellona asked her son who had just appeared in the long hall promptly moving to his mother's side. He scowled when he saw Bandi with Carolyn but said nothing.
"I think that's a wonderful idea, Mother."
"Excellent. It's already been arranged." She cried clapping her hands as a huge wire cage was moved into place in front of the large dining tables that were even now being laden down with food. Bhaltair helped his mother from the dais down towards her chair at the table as Carolyn turned to inspect the cage.
At least it was an animal this time. Not that she could stomach the thought of killing anything today, but if it had been a human, Elemental or any other offshoot, she probably wouldn't have put up much a fight. If it weren't for her daughter, it would seem somewhat poetic to die on the day her son had taken his only breath.
Bandi helped her remove her cloak as she chose her weapons, sliding knives into her gauntlets and the sheath upon her thigh, choosing at last a spear that would extend her reach and keep her away from the cats paws.
There was no doubt in Carolyn's mind that she would kill the creature that stood voicing it's displeasure at being caged. This was merely Bellona's way of giving her a lesson. The cat was pure white and the blood would show up wonderfully.
Nodding at the men standing at the cage, they swung the door open and Carolyn stepped through. As with everything here she had had two choices. She could kill and survive, or she could die. She listened to the door being shut and locked behind her.
She and the cat circled each other, batting back and forth, the animal getting in a swipe across her calf shredding her boot, until the scent of her blood was too much and it lunged for her, Carolyn's spear sinking solidly into its throat. The shaft broke from the weight of the animal, the broken handle flying up and slicing Carolyn's cheek. Grabbing the hunting knife from her thigh, she shoved it through the animal's ribs.
Breathing heavily, she collapsed to her knees beside the animal's body when something caught her eye. Looking more closely at the cat lying in front of her she saw its belly moving. Reaching out she placed her hand on the movement. Her eyes immediately locked on Bellona's who had a look of glee on her face.
She swore in the name of her son and his grandfather that if it was the last thing she did she would kill this bitch before she died. Feeling the rest of her humanity slip off of her like a dress, Carolyn stood and walked out of the cage leaving the kittens to die inside of their mother. The men at the door took the knives still on her body as Bandi brought a basin of water for her to wash her hands. He took the towel from her and cleaned the blood that had spilled from the cut on her face.
"Grandmother wishes to speak to you," he said quietly. "As soon as she's finished we'll go back to your room and take a look at your leg."
Carolyn nodded and lifting her chin turned to walk towards the tables.
"Well done, Ryder, well done!" Raynor clapped from his seat beside his mother.
"Raynor," Carolyn said with a nod in his direction never taking her eyes from Bellona.
"It seems my dear," Bellona addressed her, "that Riddick is even more treasonous than we first thought. It appears as though he's actually in collusion with the very horde that he betrayed our race to as an infant."
Well bully for him, Carolyn thought. She'd probably side with horde of Necromongers right now herself.
"We've already sent a messenger to him. If he chooses not to respond than we'll simply have to send a stronger message to get our point across. Do you think the bones of his dead son's body would do the trick?" She asked.
Carolyn's body shook with anger. It was taking everything she had not to jump over the table and strangle the woman with her bare hands.
Bandi came to her rescue. "Grandmother! The human is bleeding all over your floor!" he said in a disgusted tone of voice as he pointed the blood that had trickled out of Carolyn's boot. "Let me remove her from your sight."
A smirk plastered upon her face, she waved them off. "Go."
Fastening Carolyn's cloak back to her neck collar, Bandi turned on his heel expecting her to follow him from the room. With one last look at Bellona, Carolyn did the same. Three sets of eyes, all with different thoughts, followed her out of the room.
Once out of the hall, Bandi drew an arm over his shoulders helping her back to her room. Quietly, so as no to wake the sleeping toddler in the next room, he sat her down in the chair next to the window opening the shutters and pulling off her boots off, throwing them towards the door. She had others.
Disappearing into the bath he returned with first aid supplies, water and towels, cleaning the wound before applying a salve to it and wrapping a bandage around her leg. He put the items away before returning to her side. Her eyes had never left the graves of his Grandfather and cousin.
Bending down beside her he spoke quietly next to her ear. "I know it's not much Carolyn, but I love you, you've been a wonderful mother to me. Grandfather loved you too in his own way. My Uncle is a fool if he doesn't love you as well."
She reached up squeezing his hand where it rested on her shoulder.
Picking up her destroyed boots on his way out, the young man closed the door silently behind him.
A lone tear ran down Carolyn's cheek. It was the first time in two years that she had heard someone say her name.
Sitting in that chair staring at her child's grave throughout the night, she shored herself up mentally and emotionally for the upcoming onslaught.
