Reaching the women's barracks Modo carefully lifted Zerelda up. Carrying her inside he easily laid her down on her bed and covered her up. Vinnie said to read that damn book he thought. All right, may the Gods forgive me for invading but Vinnie is right. She won't tell me willingly. So sitting beside her bed he started to read her most precious thoughts.
" He did it. Modo broke my heart. He started dating that witch Lomu. I even flirted with Zurbert that creep thinking it would make Modo jealous enough to say something. I know somewhere inside I am in his heart. So why does he resist? Why don't he tell me what he feels?"
Lomu? Modo thought? What the hell? I never dated anyone named Lomu? What the crap is she talking about.
The next entry was a couple of weeks later.
"Zurbert and Modo was in a fight over me. Somehow Zurbert and him started fighting and no one will tell me what happened. I got so drunk last night on Dragon Fire Whiskey or something like that he found me and Xera in the bar. I messed up and admitted that Dad, what a joke, sold my hand to the creep. So in a few weeks time I will be bonded in a loveless marriage and be forced to bear his kids. I wanted Modo. My heart is breaking so badly that I can't sleep. I miss seeing him look me in the eyes. He has such gentle soul, his touch when he carried me told me that he would love me. But now he is too late. I am to be bonded or outcast by our traditional laws. I was so drunk that I kissed his chest telling him everything and admitting I loved him. That I wanted him. But I am so stupid to have done that. Xera lied to him and said I was just distraught and drunk. She has known for years how much I adored him. Why did she tell him that! I don't care about that stupid thing about pride or any other bull shit that the feed us. I just want to die now."
Looking over at Zerelda his heart broke more than ever. This whole entire time she was in love with him and only him. Now he was regretting not telling her sooner. The next entry was the time of the wedding.
"...I stood in the square with my cousin Vin. He was telling me that I didn't have to do this and that Modo loves me. Loves me! But I can't say nothing to him. Today is my bonding day and the pact and payment was made. I can't shame him, my family and embarrass the Senator's son. I don't know why Zurbert wanted my hand. When that one witch had a thing for Zurbert. She is madly in love with him. Let her marry him! Now I have to go to Zurbert and do my wifely duties. I won't be able to write anymore for a while. I looked up and saw Modo at the wedding. God's I love him so much!"
She saw me! Looking over to Zerelda he sighed in pain. All this time and she knew he was watching...
"...Betrayed again! The bastard I am married to sold me to the Slavers and raped me before he did. I can't stand to be touched now. It makes me vomit in my mouth anytime a man or male creƤture comes near me. He said something about can't ruin the prime real estate so I will make do with the back real estate. The son of a bitch paid for it though. The slavers saw the bruises on me and blew his head off. There was no excuse to run. They would have shot me too. Might as well plan my escape later once I get a better lay out. But I am not alone. They are other women and children being sold. They look down on me but who cares. I would rather live and escape at the right time then be crying and not thinking about getting out alive."
Weeks later...
"I have been sold to the man named Hendrickson..He owns two other slaves and he is disgusting. Every night he forces me to submit to him and if I don't willingly then he beats me...I miss home, I miss MO!
A year later there was another entry...
" Its been a year since my so-called husband sold me into slavery. Hendrickson had Xera kidnapped. She just had twins she told me and her husband is a good man from what she said. She had a little girl and boy named Rimfire and Primer. Her husband picked the name for the boy and Modo picked Primer. I miss Mo more and more. She said that Karbunkle took his arm and put a bionic one on him. My poor MO. I wish I was there, but nothing will help. If I try to escape now it won't be pretty. I have Xera to protect. She is too fragile and won't make it without me watching out for her."
Six months later
"...Modo and Xera's husband just tried to rescue us. Xera left with her husband and went one way me and Modo went the other. We was able to escape and made contact with Xera. She and her husband escaped and was heading back to Mars. I have my love of my life back! We made love all night last night. It was the most incredible feeling I ever felt. He was so gentle and caring. He took his time and loved me the way I always dreamt."
Two days later...
"That bastard killed my Mo! My love is gone and never will be back. What am I gonna do.. I just want to die..."
3 months later
"...I'm pregnant with Mo's baby. I am happy and scared at the same time.."
Two weeks later...
"He found out! Hendrickson realized I was pregnant and beat me. I lost my baby..I lost Modo...And now I lost my best friend Xera...I am so alone and lost."
A month later...
"Hendrickson told me that if I could escape then I could have my freedom...I must wait and think how I can get to my cousin vin. He is my only hope."
Then about a week before Modo the bros and Charley girl was captured and sold to the Battle arena..
"I stole away and found a transporter off the ship. But I am hiding still before going back to the Mars planet."
Stirring a little Zerelda caused Modo look up. She rolled to her side and had her back facing him. On her back was scars upon scars where she was brutally beat. He continued reading silently crying.
Months later...
My baby was actually Hendrickson's. That bastard is a cell shifter and tricked me into thinking he was Modo. I found out by way of others I met along the way. Carbine has taken me in. Between her tutelage I am learning to live again. Modo was never killed that makes me so happy I can burst. Only he must never know about my past."
"What the hell are you doing ?" Sitting up Zerelda was mortified to see Modo was reading her journal. Looking up Modo looked so relieved to see her awake. He walked over to her and sit down on the bed beside her. Her face was masked with fear and anguish that she caught him reading the past.
"My precious Zee Jay. I love you more than you know. I never wanted what happened to you for you. I wanted you to be happy and live a life you deserve. A life free from pain and agony. I wish I would have been able to win your hand. I went to your father the night he sold your hand to Zurbert. I begged him to let me wed you instead of Zurbert. He threw us out and I am sorry. I just didn't want to shame you when I knew you would be able to have a good life."
"How do I know this is real Modo and not the fake Hendrickson/Senator."
"The night you came to mom's house you had me handcuffed to my bed."
"Yep your Mo."
Leaning closer he did what he wanted to do for years. He reached up and wiped the hair away from her face. Her breathing came in quick short light breathes the closer he came to her face with his. His eye locked with hers as he leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss on her cheek. He started to raise up and walk out when she closed her eyes and braced herself for what she was about to do next. Please don't hurt me Mo. Throwing caution to the wind, she got out of bed and ran to him before he reached the door. "Mo stop.. " she reached for him as he turned around. Before they both realized what they were doing it was too late. She went into his arms as he opened them crushing her to him. Her lips found his as gently kissed her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he stood there just kissing her long and gentle. This was the mouse she had dreamt and loved in her dreams. The mouse she vowed one way or another to make it back to and die loving if she got the chance. She feared she would see rejection in his face if he ever knew about the past. But no. There was no rejection or disgust in his face. It was gentle, sweet love and regret over what happened to her. The mouse she loved was standing there in her barrack and she refused to let him go now.
"Zee Jay what are you wanting from me? I am a freak of nature with this one eye and metal arm. You deserve better.."
" I decide my fate not someone else. I love you with my heart and soul. I want you and only you. If it was only for tonight and this was my last night on Mars then let me have the chance to show you just how much I do love you?"
Before he could object and leave her as a gentle mouse should. She reached up as he held her in his arms and pulled his eye patch off. After she pulled the patch off she leaned up and kissed the eye where no eye remained. "Never be ashamed of yourself. I love you as you not what they had done to you" She started kissing his neck and shoulder bone down to the metal on his arm. As she did, he gave in to his emotions and started kissing her in return, running his hands down her deeply scarred back. She flinched a moment remembering how her back was. Making her way back to his lips, she kissed him deeply as she reached behind her and undid her tattered bra. He walked over to her bed with her in his arms. Laying her down on the bed he hovered over her.
"Zee Jay? Are you sure?"
She reached up touching his cheek pulling him to her. "Mo please? Don't make me beg you. We have been in love for years and everyone else has kept us apart. Don't you think it is time we allowed ourselves to be happy? Lets let go of the hurt and past tonight and be together and live for now"
Without another word he laid down beside her cradling her body to his as he kissed her deeply. They proceeded to show each other the love they denied themselves for years. After hours of endless lovemaking and tears of unbridled bliss from each other, they both fell asleep holding each other. With a serenity both of them had been denied for a lifetime.
