Chapter 37
Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.
The warm feeling never left as Kaail made his way back to his home, more eager than most times. But restless followed behind. The images of holding A'stea during the dance kept his energy high despite being the middle of the night and a time when he would be asleep. His fingers tingle at remembering her soft skin under him. His mandibles clicked and trembled when he lowered his head at the crook of her neck, smelling the sweet honey mixed with the oil.
He was so concentrated on the recent events that he didn't notice someone was waiting for him on the other side of his door as he opened it.
"Where have you been, Kaail?"
He tensed and instinctually growled. But a quick look and he realized it was Master Thu'at sitting down on his chair, not amused. Kaail quickly pulled back his mandibles. Something's wrong. His master would never come at this time of night and to the area where he lived. He heard it numerous times from Master Thu'at that he thought this place smelled filthy.
But Kaail heard another noise from next to his master, watching them appear from the darkness. He had to blink a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. "D'alg?"
The Amengi scientist nodded in greeting but appeared nervous. His eyes checking Master Thu'at once in a while. Despite being the same species, D'alg gets worse punishment. He was merely a scientist with no power . . . and his master is not one to be messed with.
"What is going on? What are you doing at my home?"
"Funny. I was going to ask the same thing to you, Kaail."
Master Thu'at stood up and walked closer to Kaail but stopped midway. His insect tusks rattled in a humming vibration once every few seconds. A sign of irritation from an Amengi. "You've been gone for a week without any contact."
Kaail grunted. "I was training in private for the tournament. I don't like others watching me." It was the only excuse that would make sense.
"But with no contact?"
That didn't work.
Master Thu'at came even closer until he was looking down at Kaail, having a few feet above him. They stared at each other for some time until his master sighed and then began to chuckle. "Of course you would." He turns around. "But that's no excuse to disappear like that, even if it's for a good reason."
Kaail watched as Master Thu'at went to D'alg and whispered something to him. What is he plotting? They pull apart after he is finished and a concerned D'alg walks past him but stops. He didn't think much of it, keeping his eyes on his master.
His master gave one look behind Kaail before giving a silent glare at himself. It sent a spike of shock throughout his body.
"Although you're my prized possession, you need to understand the consequences."
Master Thu'at nodded to D'alg.
He felt him come closer from behind, whispering. "I'm sorry about this."
Kaail didn't have enough time to react as he felt a needle go into his neck. The cold liquid spread into his veins and made his skin crawl. Out of instinct, he thrashed around, aiming for anyone that brought the pain. His mandibles flared in anger until he felt his body begin to sway, becoming numb.
What is this?
Unable to control his body, he fell flat on the ground despite his futile attempts to cushion the landing. His mandible got the worst of it, breaking upon impact and now hanging like a limp branch. He tried to get up but his arms would give way each time. It was even hard to his finger an inch. It had been a long time but he knew now it was a shot of k'ichte, a liquid that paralyzes you but you can still feel pain . . . used mostly for punishments. He looked as D'alg went back to Master Thu'at, still looking down in shame.
"You think that I don't care?" Master Thu'at crouches down and grabs a fistful of his dreadlocks. He hisses at the pain that came. "You're nothing but a killing machine."
He brutally lets go and stands up, reaching for something hidden behind the chair he was sitting on. "It appears I need to remind you once more."
As soon as he saw what Master Thu'at brought out, Kaail froze in fear.
The object in his hand was a long, serrated metal club. He watched his master glance at him and then back to the weapon in his hand. An evil grin emerged through his tusks and teeth. "You remember this?"
How could I not? The faint memories came back like crashing waves, adding to the cold feeling already flowing in his veins.
Stop it! Please!
Half of his skin was cut off in jagged parts like an animal was halfway eating him. His blood surrounded him in a pool. He tried to get away but he couldn't move. His tormentor had chained him up so tightly, forcing him to lay on the floor as he felt his back getting torn apart and smashed. It would be healed afterward to keep him fit . . . a way to keep the torture going. He had snapped against an Amengi scientist and this was his reprimand.
Another smack sends him to howl into the dark ceiling of the prison. His claws scraped on the metal floor as he hissed.
"Ignorant pup. You should know better . . . but such rage. We might have use for that when you've matured."
His tormentor walked around him like a wolf stalking its small prey, calculated and unmerciful. His vision was fading from the blood loss. He didn't know how long he could stay conscious. But there no doubt he could see the metal club swinging around his face. He tried to growl but he felt a warm liquid building in the back of his throat. The last thing he saw was his new master . . . Thu'at . . . as he swung at him once more.
He was brought back by the hit of the club right at his temple. He lost his vision for a second, only to wish he didn't. Master Thu'at did the same thing in the past, walking around him . . . like prey.
"My Lord," D'alg spoke cautiously. "We should not harm him too much. The tournament is only a few days away and—"
It was a useless attempt to save him. Master Thu'at swung his claws and left marks across his face. D'alg hissed, turning away to hold his face while his blood began to drip.
"Who are you to command me, filth?"
D'alg submitted quickly. A smart move. Master Thu'at turned his attention back to Kaail and looked down as if he was dirt himself. "Don't worry. I won't hurt him . . . too much."
Kaail lowered his head in submission but it was no use. His master enjoyed punishing another being. It didn't matter who as he began the torture . . . yet again.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A'stea hurried through the cheering crowds, weaving through tight spots to get to her location near the stadium. Today was the beginning of the 'grand' tournament that would last for a few months to determine the greatest warrior on the planet. What's so grand about it? She thought. But her excitement wasn't for that but rather seeing if she would find Kaail. She worried about not hearing from him since the party but she thought it was from him spending his time training. His master would expect him of it. Still, it sickened her.
Many Amengi from the upper and lower ranks were gathering to get inside with their personal servants in tow. A'stea squeezed herself into a tight line, making sure to hold tightly on the small wrapping she carried . . . a gift she wanted to give to Kaail.
She got a deep breath of relief when she finally made it out of the stream of beings at the entrance of the stadium, able to get some cool air since it was somehow hot today. Moving to the back, she waited at the treeline that was looking across to the door where the warriors used to get inside. She looked down at the wrapping and smiled. I hope he liked this. I worked on it for days.
It wasn't long before she saw the line of warriors coming around. A few Hish warriors looked beef and strong while others were newcomers and barely were half the size of the others. It's a sad thought to A'stea that they will be the first ones to die.
She watched the line of warriors go through the door when she spotted Kaail as the last one to come. She smiled at seeing him and began to approach him. "Kaai—"
She stopped abruptly. Right behind him, Master Thu'at was following very close. Too close. She scurried back into the shadow of a tree, watching him with a glare. Why is he there? Masters don't follow warriors like that.
A'stea took a closer look at Kaail next and noticed something that made her skin crawl. His back was a bright green and swollen. A clear coating covered the deep gashes that ran down to his hips. She recognized it as a gel that's able to heal wounds fast and rarely leaves a scar. One mandible was somewhat crooked like someone broke it and then reset it again. A grueling procedure that she was all too familiar with.
As much as she wanted to see Kaail, A'stea had no choice but to watch him enter with his master and disappear. There goes my window. She emerged slowly, disappointed, and angry at the same time.
What did they do to you, Kaail?
"Look who the Karin'gar dragged in."
She jumped on her feet, looking to the side. "Bu'at. You scared me."
He leaned on the tree trunk, smirking. "Wanted to say hi to your knight in shining armor? Literally, that is what he is."
A'stea smiled but it was weak, looking back to the closed door with the guards standing there to make sure no one else came through.
Bu'at sensed something was wrong and pushed to his feet, moving close to her. "What is it?"
"Something happened to Kaail. I saw his master following him in . . . and he's injured." She bit her lip. Worry and fear began to seep into her hands, trembling but holding tight to the wrapping.
"Yeah. I noticed it too. I heard Master Thu'at punished him for disappearing a few days ago. His 'fun' time to exert some frustration and then heal him up to fight today." Bu'at sighed and then growled softly. "It's sickening."
A'stea lowered her gaze. "Then it's my fault. I did that to him."
A pain in her chest hit her. She closed her eyes tightly. So that's why he was so worried about leaving on the first day. And I insisted he stay.
"Don't say it like that." Bu'at pressed a hand on her shoulder, making her look up. "He made his choice. And I can tell that he doesn't regret it. But he needs as much support he can get."
For a moment, they didn't say anything until A'stea smiled a little. She sighed as Bu'at lets got of her. "You're right."
Bu'at thrilled. "We all need it. More and more Hish warriors are coming but the danger is increasing. More patrols are being sent and it won't be long before things get worse."
A'stea nodded. "I know."
"Well . . . I have to head in as well. My master is expecting me to arrive later since I was finishing certain duties. I'll see you around." He heads towards the door and almost makes it out into the light.
"Wait."
She calls for him, stopping him in his tracks. He turns around with his head tilted in curiosity.
"Can you do me a favor?"
Bu'at clicked his mandibles. "Sure. What is it?"
A'stea looked around to make sure no one was looking before she handed him the wrapping she was holding. "Can you give this to Kaail? Tell him it's from me."
Carefully, he inspects it. To him, it was nothing more than a raggy cloth until his fingers felt something inside. When he tried to reach for it, he saw A'stea glaring from the corner of her eyes. With reluctance, he stopped. "Fine. But what is it?"
"You'll know when you give it to him . . . if he lets you."
"Then I might never know."
A'stea smirked, shoving him a bit. "Get out of here."
"Alright. Easy, okay?"
A'stea watched as Bu'at hid the wrapping under his shoulder armor before heading towards the door. The guard did their usual thing before allowing him inside. She smiled, hoping that the gift he sent to Kaail will cheer him up and much more. For now, she needed to get to her master's side in the private part of the stadium. But as she went on her way, a figure was watching them. He grinned as he scratched his lower mandible, wondering what the ooman was up to.
Hi everyone!
So to clarify first of what's going on. It's been very stressful recently since I found out my grandmother has passed away. I feel devastated but I'm trying my best to keep going on with life. I was debating on whether to keep going with the updates but it helps to ease my anxiety for seeing all of your reviews and I appreciate it very much. So the updates will keep going as scheduled but will post if I have to miss a day or two.
With that said, Kaail was having a sweet time in the clouds . . . being happy until Master Thu'at comes around. A dickhead that beats Kaail like a dog to teach him a lesson on communications.
Such a small offense and now might be feeling low. Will he recover?
It's not lost on A'stea, knowing something is up but thanks to Bu'at, she'll be able to give him a gift that might cheer him up. He needs it right now.
But what is it? Will it lift his spirit? Or has the masters broken him once more . . . like in the past?
Find out when Chapter 38 comes tomorrow!
Thank you for the reviews (Anonymous-E, NeverNeverLady, and IanAlphaAxel)! They are very important for me and I hope I see more readers posting as well. All opinions are welcomed. I hope you keep on reading! ;)
Happy Hunting! :))))