Chapter Thirty-Six: Wounds Reopened
Tayla leapt to her feet, just as the last fragments of mirror glass fell upon the floor. "DIAMONIQUE!" she exclaimed.
"No!" Naykiar gasped. "That's not Monique! No way! Monique is kind and sweet and good—"
"Oh, yes, you're right, Naykiar, darling," Diamonique purred sweetly. "I am very good, you must agree. After all, you certainly were satisfied when I initiated you, made you a man. And if you behave yourself, handsome, I may just let you live and keep you for my own—that is, if my future husband allows it, of course!"
Naykiar's face was chalk-white, with sweat dribbling down his brow. "You are Monique?" he asked, horrified.
Diamonique chuckled softly, as she casually strolled over to Naykiar and stroked his face with one finger. "Of course I am, but I am the same woman, you know, the same woman you made such sweet, such good love to! For a virgin, you pleased me quite well. I almost regret having to choose Vegeta over you, but perhaps I could figure out a way to keep both of you around."
Naykiar's voice shook, as tears formed in his shocked eyes. He fell to his knees and clasped his face in his trembling hands. "No, no, not you! I made love to my brother's murderer? Oh, Ridikar, Ridikar, forgive me, please! Forgive me for betraying you! Please, wherever you are! I am so sorry! I loved her; I didn't know, Ridikar, I swear to Ankor!"
He clenched his fists and looked up at her, part of him still not wanting to believe he had given his virginity to Ridikar's killer. "Why?" he whispered to her. "Why did you kill my brother? I loved you, really, I did! I was going to ask you to marry me! How could you do this to me? How could you do what you did to Ridikar? What did he do to deserve to die?"
Diamonique smiled. If she was distressed over Naykiar's anguish, she showed no signs of it. "Why don't you ask Tayla?" she replied in a strangely loving tone. "After all, she's just as guilty as I am."
"What?" Naykiar exclaimed.
"You lying slutzini!" Tayla screamed, clenching her fist. "You killed Ridikar, and you know it! He died, trying to protect me from you!"
"Exactly," Diamonique said triumphantly, crossing her arms and favoring Tayla with a malicious smile. "Face facts, Tayla Chloe, if you were half the warrior that everyone says you are, you would have been able to save your precious Ridikar's life. Instead, you let me slash Ridikar to ribbons, didn't you, darling?"
"No, no, no…" Tayla whispered, her voice suddenly weak. Unshed tears glimmered in her huge, brown eyes, as she held her fists to her side, clenching them.
"You could have pushed Ridikar aside, couldn't you have, my dear? But, you didn't, did you? Instead, you let me slice him open, and let him lay there and die. You or Bendros could have left him to go get help, not that I would have let it happen, but you two could have at least tried! Naykiar should be hating you, not me, don't you think?"
Tayla was trying not to cry any more, but it was too late. Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. Was Diamonique right? Could she have prevented Ridikar's death? There were times, off and on, during the years, when she had wondered, if she could have done anything differently to save Ridikar's life.
Bendros had repeatedly and kindly assured her that she had done all she could. So had Nama and Dirkan and Gracina and Gorna. And Caline. Caline had thanked Tayla for being there with Ridikar when he had died; she had been thankful that Tayla had forgiven Ridikar for his sins towards her and allowed him to die a little happier than he would have.
Was she right, Ridikar? Could I have saved you? Did I fail you somewhere? Ridikar, please forgive me, if I could have done things differently! Ridikar, Ridikar, I am sorry that I did not forgive you sooner…did you blame me, even a little for your death?
You don't know how many times I asked myself, if I could have helped you more? How many nights I laid awake, wondering over and over again before I finally believed what my family and friends told me: that it was not my fault. But what if they were wrong? What if I was wrong?
Ridikar, I thought I was past this by now. I even moved on—with Bendros. I hope you understand; I think you may. I know you wanted to be the one for me, but…at least you tried. I think you understood in the end, didn't you?
Yes, Tayla, I did.
But how? Would you have really wanted me to be happy with Bendros?
Well, not at first, I have to admit. I wanted to be your hero, and instead, it was Bendros. I was jealous of him. But at least you're not alone, and I'm glad he's made you happy. He better have.
Ridikar, I hope, if you haven't, that someday you can forgive me for-for not being able to save you…
C'mon, Tayla, you know better than that. It was my doing, no that whore, Diamonique's doing! I don't regret dying, if it meant that you were able to live. You and Bendros tried to save me; I know you two did all you could. And you sure let me die happy…remembering that kiss of yours! Ankor, but Bendros is a lucky man!
But about what Diamonique said…She's just telling you that to upset you, you know that. But you're not going to let her get away with that, are you?
Well, no, but…That slut seduced my brother; she has some nerve! Get her for that alone! Worry about yourself and Naykiar now; I'm gone. I'm okay. Just get Diamonique! It's not your fault, Tayla; Diamonique caused all this, understand?
Okay, okay, I do, I do…Love you, Tayla, always, really. But Bendros better treat you right. Have to go now, take care, princess…
"No, no!" Tayla screamed. "You are wrong! You killed him!"
"But you let it happen, didn't you?" Diamonique said calmly.
"Shut up, Diamonique," Tayla said coldly, her tears drying on her face. "You are beyond belief…murdering one brother, then seducing another. What's next? Inviting their sister to tea?"
"That might not be a bad idea," Diamonique taunted, crossing her arms.
"Why are you here?"
A screeching laugh followed. "Isn't it obvious, Tayla? I'm here to rescue my future husband. And I will kill you before I do it. You are not going to stand between me and my Vegeta!"
"Are you insane?" Tayla shrieked, although she knew the answer to her own question. "I want nothing to do with him; I've let him know that countless times! You're more than welcome to him!"
"Thank you for the generous offer," Diamonique sneered. "But, knowing him, as long as you're alive, he'll continue to pursue you, despite your so-called objections. He's handsome and powerful and a prince; any girl would be a fool to refuse him. Eventually, he'd make you want him; he has his ways, believe me. And then, I'd have yet another rival to dispose of."
"She said she doesn't want him!" Naykiar cried with clenched fists. "And I don't want you! You disgust me, Diamonique! It will take a lifetime of showers to wash you off of me! I let you be my first! And don't think I'll let you get away with what you did to my brother! I'll-I'll avenge his death, starting now!"
"Now don't do anything rash, Naykiar, darling," Diamonique crooned, smiling. "Remember how good we were together. Do you really want to throw that away? You pleased me well, and I'd like to keep you around, if possible. I'll always be your first, and nothing can ever take that away."
With fists still clenched, Naykiar lunged towards her. "Die, you whore!" he yelled, swinging his fists. "I'll send you to hell! This one's for Ridikar!"
"No, Naykiar!" Tayla screamed, but she was too late. Naykiar's fist crashed into Diamonique's beautiful face, and the impact of his blow surprised both of them. Diamonique fell back, stumbling.
She was horrified at how hard Naykiar had hit her. Apparently, the boy had his brother's talent for fighting. Then fury set in, and she caught a glimpse of herself in one of the mirrors. She was stunned to see that her cheek was already starting to bruise. Her lover had dared to ruin her face!
"How dare you hit me, after all I did for you!" she cried, just before striking Naykiar's handsome face with her nails. Naykiar cried out when her nails slashed his left cheek. He leapt several steps away from his former lover.
"He'll die!" Ruli exclaimed. "The poison in Diamonique's nails!"
"No, no, he won't," Tayla stammered. "He had the immunity shot. But I must stop Diamonique."
"Go ahead and try, little girl," Diamonique insisted, turning towards her. "I've become much stronger since our last battle."
"So have I," Tayla replied coolly. She said to Ruli and Naykiar, "You two need to get out of here now!"
"No way!" Naykiar shouted. "I'm going to avenge my brother! I'll see that this whore dies today!"
"No, Naykiar," Tayla told him firmly, as a mother would. "You do not stand a chance against her, even though you have increased in power and strength. This is between her and me. You get Ruli to safety."
"I'll get her to safety, but I'm coming back," Naykiar insisted. "Ridikar would want me to avenge him! I am his brother! It is my right and my duty!"
Tayla sighed. She understood Naykiar's point, but she wasn't going to have Naykiar die for nothing. Ridikar's death was already hard enough to bear. "Ridikar would want you to stay alive to become a father and a husband, the things that he will never become. And think of Caline. Does Caline need to lose two brothers?"
"She won't lose any more brothers. I am stronger now! I can defeat Diamonique! I know I can! I will fight! I will avenge Ridi—"
A swift ki blast zipping past his ear interrupted him, and a piercing scream followed. Naykiar and Tayla spun around on their heels, and both of their jaws plummeted when they saw Ruli's body fly backwards and crash into a mirror. She landed on her bottom into a sink.
Her head lolled to the side, with her mouth open in shock. Amber blood pumped rapidly from a hole in her chest. Tayla and Naykiar, forgetting about the danger from Diamonique, raced to her side.
"Hel-help me, pl-please…" Ruli gasped out, coughing out more blood.
"Ruli, don't talk," Tayla ordered her. She turned to Naykiar. "Naykiar, get her out of here now! Get her help!"
Naykiar didn't hesitate. He scooped the bleeding, coughing girl into his arms and cradled her like an infant. "Easy, Ruli, just hold on."
"Drop her, boy!" Diamonique ordered, firing another ki blast towards them.
Tayla swiftly blocked the attack with a one-handed Mirror Shield attack, which Diamonique dodged. Diamonique then shot one of her poisonous nail in Naykiar's direction, but Naykiar dashed out of the way, just in time. He nearly slipped on a trail of Ruli's spilled blood, but he steadied himself. Tayla launched herself upon Diamonique, before Diamonique could try another attack. Diamonique pulled at Tayla's hair and tried to claw her face, as Tayla wrestled her further to the ground.
While the two women were struggling, Naykiar fled the restroom, with Ruli in his arms.
He raced along the corridor, almost flying, holding Ruli's bleeding body close to him. Ruli clung to him and started to sob. She not only feared Diamonique's wrath, but the fury of Zarbon and Jaden, as well. Zarbon was known for not giving second chances, and Jaden was reputed to be the most vicious woman in Frieza's army.
"Ruli, enough, no crying!" Naykiar ordered almost sharply. "You'll only make yourself worse!"
"I-I can't help it—"
"Ruli, you must be quiet!" Naykiar ordered, as he tried to slow down his pace, so that he wouldn't make Ruli's injuries worse. Finally, he came to a halt, right in front of Lieutenant Bendros Sahara's office. Sensing Bendros's ki, he kicked loudly on the office door.
"LIEUTENANT SAHARA! COME OUT HERE, QUICK!"
The office door slid open instantly, and an anxious Bendros popped his head out. His eyes and mouth widened at the sight of a frightened Naykiar and a dying, bloody Ruli.
"What happened?" he exclaimed.
Before Naykiar could speak, Ruli erupted into tears.
"Please, please forgive me! Just help us! And Princess Tayla! She's in this mess because of me!"
Bendros, trying to remain calm, took Ruli's chin into his hand. "Ruli, what happened?"
"Di-Diamon—"
Naykiar shook his head at her. "Ruli, no more. I can talk from here."
"No, no, I must, I must…I…must!" Ruli wheezed, as more blood flowed from her mouth with every word.
"We must lay her down!" Bendros ordered, and he and Naykiar hurriedly carried Ruli into Bendros's office and laid her on the floor. Bendros pulled out his radio and pressed a red button meant to call for medical emergencies.
"Lieutenant Sahara?"
"I need paramedics to my office now!" Bendros ordered. Hastily, he spoke of Ruli's dilemma to the emergency dispatcher. The dispatcher promised that help would arrive shortly, and he gave Bendros several hurried instructions before they cut off communication.
Within the next five minutes, Bendros had Ruli stripped of her blouse and bra and numerous coverings on her bare chest. Firmly he held the coverings on her chest in order to slow down the bleeding. Ruli tried to speak several times, but both Bendros and Naykiar quieted her each time.
"Naykiar, explain," Bendros ordered. "Ruli, no more. Let Naykiar talk."
Unexpectedly, tears burst from Naykiar's eyes. "Diamonique…that…whore who killed my brother…oh, Kami Ankor, please forgive me! I slept with her, Lieutenant Sahara! I'm so ashamed, but I didn't know it was her, I swear it! I thought she was Monique…I loved her, was going to marry her…but she was Diamonique…and she's here, fighting with Tayla right now!"
"DIAMONIQUE IS HERE?" Bendros shouted.
"Yes, yes…" Ruli gasped, coughing up more blood.
"Ruli, enough," Bendros told her.
"No…let me finish…I'm done…for…anyway…nothing matters…hack, hack…but…truth…tell Caline…and Kekron, that…I'm sorry."
"For what, Ruli?" Bendros asked, forgetting his earlier warnings to Ruli to keep silent.
"Every…thing…but, please…stop Diamonique…from killing…Princess…Tayla…oh, it hurts…hurts so much…"
"Ruli, no more," Naykiar said chokingly.
"Please, please…forgive me," Ruli sobbed. "Please…"
"For what?" Bendros asked worriedly, thoughts of Tayla running through his forehead. But even in his anxiety, he stroked Ruli's forehead with one hand while using his other hand to maintain pressure on the coverings on her chest.
"My-my betrayal," she whispered chokingly. "Please, please, I'll do…anything to make up…for what I've done!"
"Just what do you think you did?"
"Bendros!" Naykiar interrupted, before either Ruli or Bendros could say another word. "Tayla is fighting Diamonique! We must go back and help her! I want to finish Diamonique off once and for all for what she did to Ridikar!"
Bendros tried to remain calm, but the color had noticeably drained from his flesh. Trying to keep his voice steady, he asked, "Where are they?"
Naykiar told him hurriedly and added that Diamonique was also after Ruli. "What would Diamonique want with Ruli?" Bendros wanted to know.
"She-she wants me…dead," Ruli gasped. "And Zarbon…Jaden…will want me…gone too…'cause I…betrayed them…" In brief, halting words, she admitted spying for Frieza and his Top Elites.
Naykiar exploded, "So that's how you knew that Diamonique was Monique?" He flung himself away from Ruli in disgust, not wanting to look at her. Ruli, seeing this, began to sob harder.
"Naykiar, stay with us!" Bendros ordered. "Put aside your anger for now; you will have plenty of time for rage later. Now's not the time." He himself was fighting a mixture of fury and horror at Ruli's betrayal and sympathy for her terror and pain. But he had to remain objective, for everyone's sakes…for Ruli, Naykiar…and especially Tayla.
Tayla! He had to get to her now! But, if he left, Ruli would surely perish. He sent a quick prayer that Tayla would be able to still handle Diamonique until he arrived.
Bendros believed the paramedics would come soon, but deep down he knew that there was little left that could be done for Ruli. He noticed a large bruise below her breasts, and he knew that she was also suffering internal bleeding.
"I'm sorry…" Ruli cried, with her face covered in blood. "I…know…it's…too late…but, please, save Tayla…and tell Caline and Kekron…I'm sorry. Want…to make things right…but…can't…no more…"
At first, Bendros had to force himself to say his next words, but strangely enough, he found it easier than he thought. Unlike Naykiar, he could no longer feel anger or hatred, only pity. He took Ruli's hand and held it, speaking softly:
"You're doing the right thing now, Ruli, at last. Because of your words, we may finally be able to bring down Zarbon, Jaden, and Diamonique. You've put a huge dent in their plans, and for that…we can thank you—"
"Thank her?" Naykiar screamed.
Bendros mouthed a silent warning to Naykiar and shook his head firmly. "Yes," he continued.
"Please forgive…me…don't want to die with everyone...hating me," Ruli's cry faded to a whisper.
"They may hate what you've done," Bendros admitted in a low tone. "But they will be relieved that you did the right thing at last. We'll fight to keep you here…but, if not…you'll be able to go with a clear conscience."
A weak smile formed onto Ruli's bloody face. She, like Bendros, knew that her end was inevitable, but he was right: she'd be able to die in peace, knowing that justice would finally be served.
Several tears slipped down her cheeks, mixing with her drying blood. "All, my…life, I wanted someone…to love me…to want me…never happened. All my life…I've been whorish…letting others use me…Frieza…Zarbon and Jaden…and Dedron…"
"Dedron?" Bendros asked gently.
"Yes," Ruli whispered. "But…I…used him…too, you see. He wanted…Caline. I…wanted Kekron, loved him. We…tried…to keep them…apart. But…Dedron…stop him…"
"Stop him from what?"
"Hurting Caline…he may…rape her, or worse…he even talked of…taking her…away, hiding on…hack, hack, hack, so sorry…"
"Ruli, that's enough," Bendros ordered. "Don't speak any more. I'll find out what Dedron's up to."
Ruli continued anyway. "He…just wants to…screw her…"
"I get it, Ruli, now no more."
Ruli refused. "Save Kekron too…Frieza…hack, hack, wants him…"
"To work for him?" Bendros concluded.
Ruli choked out a yes.
"Stop them, stop…them all…tell everyone…sorry, so sorry…" She gave Bendros's hand a strangely firm squeeze.
"As Astorians say…thanken, and good—" Ruli's head slumped to her left, with a fragile, relieved smile forever sculpted upon her face. Her now unseeing eyes were looking upward, adding to an eerily peaceful expression.
Naykiar was sitting stiffly on the floor, staring into space, still in shock over Ruli's sins, not yet realizing what had happened. Bendros had almost forgotten that Naykiar was still there, as he gingerly closed Ruli's eyes with his thumb.
"Gooden boden, Ruli," he whispered, as he stripped himself of his shirt and used it to cover her face and torso.
After Tayla punched Diamonique on the side of her head, she leapt to her feet before Diamonique could pull her back down. She jumped several steps back to prepare for any possible assault.
But to her surprise, Diamonique did not immediately launch a new attack. Instead, Diamonique shed the chunks of hair she had pulled out of Tayla's head earlier and scattered them on the floor. A small smile of derision crossed her lips, as she crossed her slender arms and strode towards Tayla confidently.
Tayla tensed, ready to spring, if Diamonique tried to harm her again. Diamonique continued to smile, as she approached her enemy. She then asked an unexpected question:
"You're still a virgin, aren't you?"
"Of course, not that it's any of your business," Tayla growled. "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Oh, nothing," Diamonique replied sweetly. "But on my planet, it's considered a disgrace to die a virgin, if you are past puberty. You should have done it earlier. But it's too late to get yourself a first and final lay, so goodbye!"
She raced towards Tayla with her sharp nails outstretched. "You'll die just like your Ridikar! I'll slash you into so many shreds that neither Vegeta nor your family will recognize you!"
She sliced through the air towards Tayla's face, but Tayla, with new, controlled calm, leapt towards her opponent and caught her wrist.
And it was only then that Tayla detected a third ki signal, very faint, but tangible. She held onto Diamonique's wrist, astonished.
The ki signal was close, radiating off of Diamonique—and that could mean only one thing…
"Diamonique," Tayla began in a strangely low tone. "You're…pregnant, aren't you?"