Caught
Elizabeth Knight
Chapter 12
Trunks and Goten slipped out their window and quietly made their way to the hiding spot they'd chosen with a view of Deirdre's window. Ever since the night Trunks had walked into her room to find her gone, they'd been following her, but always lost her the minute she entered the forest. She never left before he got in, and left an hour after the whole house was quiet. She always returned before Goten had to be up. There was something strange going on and they were going to find out . They didn't' know what Diedre was up to but they would follow her till they found out. Goten and Trunks hid behind a large tree and watched a red head peer out a window and then shimmy down the trellis. When she reached the ground she looked around again before running for the trees.
"Come on." Trunks whispered following after Diedre. They walked for at least an hour and a half before she stopped next to a natural hot-spring. She sat down the bag she'd carried with her and began yanking off her boots. Trunks held up a hand for Goten to stop then crouched behind a large bolder a few feet away. Trunks glanced over at Goten hiding behind a bush and frowned as he watched the young man's eyes widen and a smile cross his face. Trunks did a double take as he watched Deirdre tug her shirt from her jeans. Quickly picking up a rock he tossed it at Goten. It hit him on the arm and he looked over to a scowling Trunks. Trunks made a quick gesture back towards the house and Goten sighed giving Deirdre one last glimpse before retracing his steps. Trunks watched him leave then turned back to Diedre himself. He shouldn't be watching her undress he knew, but he was captivated. She dipped a toe into the water then began to tug off her top. Her arms were long and slender, and her movements were graceful. Off came the top and Trunks gulped as she slid off her jeans. Her long hair tumbled over her shoulders and down her back to her bottom. He remembered how soft that hair was. How thick. She turned to lay her cloths on a rock and something under her hair caught his attention and made him sit up straighter. He kept watching as she lowered herself into the water, and ducked her head underneath. She came up in a spray of water shaking her head and he saw it again. Two long distinctive black ridges down the length of her back. She took a turtle comb Videl had lent her and pulled her wet hair up off her back and his eyes widened.
Zantha twirled her hair up around her head and pinned it with the turtle combs. She stretched her arms and shoulders and let the hot water sooth her nerves. As she relaxed she felt her tightly coiled wings unfurl and she stretched those too out as far as she could. It felt good to be able to relax and not be looking out over her shoulder for everyone. She reached for her pack and grabbed some soap sand to rub on her arms and chest. She gingerly touched the scar on her shoulder and winced. It didn't really hurt anymore but it was an ugly scar that marked both sides of her. She rinsed then sat on a rock and lathered her legs, then rinsed them too. She laid back reclining against the rocks that made a natural chair and let her head fall back.
Trunks' eyes widened as he saw the magnificent wings appear. They were a glossy black with beads of water running down them from the stream. His eyes devoured every inch of her as she turned to face him for the sand from her pouch. Her shoulders were flesh as were the upper half of her breast and a line that ran down to her naval. The rest of her was covered in tiger stripped fur, along with her fore arms. Her legs were flesh in between her upper thighs that connected with her fur, and her knees. She had a tigers fifth toe on her heels and tiger paw feet.
Brandy called her Kitty. Why that little minx had known all along. Trunks quietly crept around for a closer hiding place. He watched her lather her arms and then gently run her fingers across a marking. What was it? A tatoo, or a brand, or a .....scar!!! He blinked, and rubbed his eyes not believing it at first. He had suspected she wasn't a human or a saiyan but the scar on her shoulder.... It was his beast after all!! He hadn't been dreaming all those times after all when he'd seen her golden eyes before she could shift, and the blood on his fingers. There were no scars he could see on her back with all the fur, but that didn't mean they weren't there. Trunks watched her rinse her long legs and then lean back against the shore.
A fleeting image shot through his mind. He saw himself in a pool of water. His hair wet and water gliding down his bare chest, he watched her wade toward him and could almost feel it when she reached out to touch him. Trunks shook his head as he realized the images were coming from Deirdre. She was letting her mind wonder and it was obviously something she was enjoying, but he could see them too! He was picking up on her fantasy, and reading it loud and clear. This time, he heard her growl of satisfaction as she arched her back out of the water. Trunks could hear the roar of his blood in his ears as his heart beat quickened. Desire ripped through his body as he realized he had her right where he wanted her, and this time she couldn't lie her way out of it.
Trunks smiled as he quietly unsheathed his sword and made his way to her. Looking down at her, he watched Zantha smile revealing her sharp fangs as she clawed at the ground next to her. She gave another purr of sure bliss, and rolled her head one way then back the other way. Her eyes fluttered open slowly still dreaming of his kiss when they finally locked with ice-blue eyes. Trunks frowned down at her with the tip of his sword now pressed to her throat. Zantha went very still. She didn't say anything and Trunks narrowed his eyes.
"You lied to me." Trunks said quietly.
"What other choice did I have?" She asked. Her eyes gleaming a molten gold with a thin black slit down the center. "You would have killed me."
"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you now?"
"Because you want me." She watched his face very carefully knowing it was a gamble because he could still kill her anyway. Zantha held her breath and closed her eyes. When she looked up at Trunks again her eyes were her normal emerald green. A very deep emerald green that seemed to suck him down into their endless depths. He saw her face coming closer and her full generous lips were right there. Zantha prayed her ploy would work and not make him angry instead. She watched Trunks' eyes go a dark husky blue as he fought for control.
"Stop it!" He roared tossing aside his blade and grabbing her by the shoulders to shake her. But he only shook her for a second and then the next he held her pressed against him, his lips devouring her own in an angry possessive kiss. His breathing was ragged and harsh and his kiss continued to be bruising and punishing. Zantha fought his hold on her.
"NO! Stop squirming you minx." he snarled at her gently easing his grip on her shoulders. He let go for a second, stripping off his shirt and diving into the pool. "Is this what you want?" he asked her quietly advancing on her again.
Zantha's gaze devoured the sight of Trunks' water drenched body and dripping hair. She shook her head remembering her previous musings. But how did he know? She hadn't even known he was there. All of a sudden she couldn't think. There were too many images crowding her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, but Trunks grabbed her and pulled her forward.
"Open your eyes Deirdre. Look at me!" Zantha shook her head. "Look at me I said." and he shook her until she obeyed. Her eyes flew open wide and she stared into his eyes and an image of her arching her back upwards and the satisfied smile on her face poured into her mind. "Is that what I do to you, Deirdre?" he asked her. "I can make it come true."
"So now you know all my secretes!" she whispered. Staring at him with wide panicked eyes, she ask in horror, "What will you do with me?" She suddenly saw herself locked in a cage or in a glass cell in their interrogation center. She flinched almost feeling the bite of the whip.
Trunks shook his head as he saw the horrors she was imagining. He flinched too, remembering the prisoners in their cells. He had shown her to scare her into telling him the truth, but he could never actually do that to her. She was right. He wanted her. She no longer looked repulsive in his eyes, but rather exotic and fascinating. He didn't know when he'd stopped hoping it wasn't her and started earnestly praying that it was. As he looked at her, her eyes filled with miserable tears and she shook her head.
" You should have just left me to die when you had the chance." she whispered brokenly.
" I couldn't do that." This time he gently kissed away the tears on her eyelashes. Trunks whirled around as he heard a sudden splash behind him. A native with long black hair and a catlike face stared at him, claws bared and ready to rip him apart.
"No Kyle!" Zantha pushed Trunks out of the way and received the first lash that cut open one arm. Trunks caught her as she stumbled back wards. He threw a ki ball at the native and watched him stumble under the impact. Zantha fought to stand up. If she didn't stop them, they would kill each other.
"Stay out of the way Zantha!!" Kyle screamed at her.
"NO! Don't!!" she cried throwing herself in front of Trunks just as he let go of one large ki. It hit her in the center of her back propelling her forward into Kyle's unsheathed claws. One set entered her body low and the other jammed in between her ribs. Kyle looked down into her large eyes.
"Traitor!" he screamed at Trunks, dropping Zantha's body to the ground and charging Trunks head on. "She trusted you!!" They battled for a short time and Kyle was able to get a hold of Trunks' neck, squeezing until he couldn't breath.
Trunks struggled to get free but Kyle was too strong and Trunks didn't dare risk powering up. "Wait." Trunks gasp. "If you let me go now I can still save her." His rasping voice grated on Kyle's nerves.
"How?"
" I have a way. There's something I can get for her back at the house, but she has to take it while she still lives."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because it's her only chance, and you can't afford not to."
Kyle dropped him, and Trunks took a deep breath. Slightly shaking, Trunks rose to his feet and headed towards Zantha. He glanced at her face as he knelt next to her. Her eyes were closed and her brow furrowed in pain. She was barely breathing.
"Hold on." he whispered, sliding one arm under her knees and the other under her arms. He turned and bumped into Kyle who reached out to take Zantha from him. For a moment Trunks pulled her body closer, but at the scowl tossed his way he relinquished her to Kyle. Trunks led the way back, retracing his steps. When they reached the edge of the trees Kyle hesitated. Trunks turned back to him, giving him a look that said "Well?" Kyle stepped forward holding Zantha out to him.
"I'll be watching you, and I won't be far behind either." Kyle threatened, suddenly changing into a panther and slipping back into the darkness.
Trunks looked down into her face, but he couldn't tell if she was breathing any more or not. He picked up his pace, then took off into the air heading for the house. He reached it quickly and flicked up the window. Glancing around he noticed Brandy wasn't in the room. She was probably down stairs getting a drink or something. He looked down at the creature in his arms. Zantha still looked deathly pale and he still couldn't tell if she was breathing or not as he laid her on the bed. Trunks drug out his personal duffle bag from the bottom of the closet. He drug out the little leather pouch from the bottom and dumped out the few sensu beans he had left. There weren't very many of them. He glanced over his shoulder at Zantha who hadn't moved an inch. He picked one bean out of the group and put the rest back up. About the time he stood up to give it to her, he noticed the panther sitting at her head. Trunks approached the bed cautiously, holding out the bean to Kyle. He transformed and took the bean immediately putting it into his mouth and chewing. Kyle leaned down above Zantha and put his mouth over hers. Trunks grabbed his head and yanked him up.
"What are you doing?" Trunks demanded.
"You wont be able to wake her up. If she's not awake she can't chew." Kyle finally explained. "I'll have to give it to her this way." Kyle leaned over Zantha and put his mouth over hers. Trunks grabbed his head and yanked him up.
"No! I'll do it." He didn't like seeing Kyle like that over Zantha. Kyle stared at him for a moment then spit the chewed bean into his hand and offered it to Trunks. For a moment he just looked at it in disgust, but when Kyle made to put it back in his mouth, he swapped it from his palm and placed it into his own mouth. Trunks chewed it up finely and looked at Zantha's face remembering the brilliance of her laughing lips and tear sparkling eyes. He leaned forward over Zantha much as Kyle had done. He used his tongue to push the chewed sensu bean through her sealed lips and to the back of her throat. He gently massaged her neck to make her swallow, then sat back and waited. As the minutes ticked by and nothing happened he began to fear that maybe they'd been to late. Kyle began to get angry, and Trunks could feel him getting angrier. He turned to look at him just before the attack came. He had Trunks pinned to the floor in a flash.
"I thought you said you could save her!"
"Kyle? Is that you?" Zantha whispered. He was back at her side in a heart beat. Trunks sat up on the floor, rubbing his neck.
"I'm here." he whispered back, cupping her face in his big paws. "Are you alright? How do you feel?"
"Weak but alive." she smiled slightly, and looked up past his shoulder. Trunks she mouthed. Tears welled up in her golden eyes as he turned away.
"You had better leave now if you want to get away unseen. People will be getting up soon." Trunks told Kyle. Kyle nodded and got up, but stopped as Zantha grabbed his wrist.
Glancing at Trunks, she told Kyle, "Help me up." Then looking directly at Kyle, "I'm going back with you."
Trunks whirled around, his long hair flying with the quick movement. His eyes narrowed as he glared at her. "Leave her!" he growled at the cat man. "She's not going anywhere, and I'd hate to have to kill you for trying." Kyle turned snarling at Trunks.
"You're more than welcome to try." Kyle smiled showing off his fangs and immediately unsheathing his claws. Trunks powered up instantly and crouched, prepared to fight. He threw Zantha a warning look and she knew he'd kill Kyle by any means necessary. He was giving her a chance to call Kyle off.
"Wait Kyle," she cried, lunging her body towards him.
Trunks leaped forward and swiped her away from the cat man. "Have you learned nothing? Do you want to die?"
"No." she gasped, feeling the incredible power emanating from him. Kyle sheathed his claws and backed away wearily watching Trunks who held Zantha to him.
"Tell him to go. NOW!" he hissed in her ear. Zantha opened her mouth , but nothing came out. "We can always do this the hard way." He suggested.
"NO!" Zantha started. "Go back Kyle. I'll be alright here." When it looked as if he wasn't going to leave, she added, "Trust me."
Kyle turned and left back out the window. Trunks grabbed up a blanket and threw it over her as he heard the door knob turning. Goten entered first with ChiChi and Brandy on his heals. "We heard a commotion. Is everything all right?" Goten asked.
"Let me see." ChiChi demanded shoving Goten aside. Her eyes widened considerably. Trunks stood there holding Deirdre in a blanket and she apparently wasn't wearing anything under it. As far as Trunks, he was half dressed, but his jeans looked mauled over with gaping holes here and there and his long wild hair was in disarray still half wet and clinging to his chest. ChiChi was speechless.
"I think we'd better go ladies." Goten pushed Brandy back and grabbed ChiChi by the arm dragging her back out the door, and closing it as he went by.
"Let me go." Zantha struggled out of his hold, but only because he let her escape for the moment, and went to sit on the edge of the bed .
"So Deirdre.... or should I call you Zantha?"
"It doesn't matter what you call me."
"Fine!" he shrugged his shoulders and walked to her. Trunks reached down to grab her chin and forced her to look at him. "Zantha. I'm through waiting." She just stared up at him in awe as he lowered his head. He ran his fingers down her back and felt the bulge where her wings curled inward. He claimed her mouth and her soul all in one movement. He pressed her back against one wall and dug his fingers up into her hair, messaging her scalp. He pushed a few strands away from her face and uncovered her ears. His eyes widened as for the first time he really noticed them. He fingered one gently, then leaned forward and took the lobe between his teeth. He slightly grazed the end then tugged on it playfully. Zantha gasped, pushing at him. She couldn't dislodge him and within moments she was clinging to him. Trunks leaned back to look at her face. Her eyes were a dark molten gold and her lips blood. They were more mesmerizing then her fathomless green eyes. He wasn't used to seeing her like this. She looked uninhibited and wild with her wet hair, pointy ears, and kiss swollen mouth. All of a sudden a cry burst forth from her and she brought her hands up to cover her face.
"Don't! Don't hide from me." Trunks grabbed at her wrists trying to pry them from her face. Trunks grabbed her shoulders and shook her. Zantha let her hands fall away and just stood there letting him look his fill. As Trunks watched the blanket flitter to the floor and peered at what the blanked had shielded from everyone else, a look of want washed over him. The look on his face as he examined her from head to toe frightened her with it's intensity. Zantha moved to pick up the blanket, but Trunks pounced on her ripping it from her finger tips. Her breath stuck in her throat as she backed up a step. Her back came up against the wall ending her retreat. Trunks came forward and covered her body with his own, pressing her into the wall. He captured both hands above her head in one of his own, while he let the other one explore her body at his leisure. His eyes weren't a frozen icy blue anymore. Instead they were on fire, almost the same color as raw electricity. They were the fierce eyes of a warrior inflamed.
She'd never looked more beautiful to his hungry eyes as he feasted upon the sight of her. He could have devoured her whole at that moment. She hadn't meant to seduce him, but she had. Her hair was wild and tangled all around her shoulders and waist. Her eyes flashed and those ears...He'd never been particularly attracted to women's ears, but Zantha's? There wasn't any other word for them but sexy. Her full lips were shiny and swollen from his kisses, and he thought she looked good that way.
"Should I take you now Zantha? Do you want me?" Zantha's eyes came up to meet his own, but she didn't answer. "By rights your mine as spoils of war."
"I'm no one's spoils."
"Never the less, your mine."
"Never."
"Why? Do you have another lover somewhere?" he asked narrowing his eyes as he contemplated his own question. "Is it Kyle? Is he your native mate? I'll kill him if he comes near you again." he stated very seriously.
"Kyle would kill you first." she hissed.
"Are you sure? Do you want to test that theory? Perhaps that's why you called him off today when you wanted to go with him." he smiled a cruel smile, knowing the truth.
"I'll kill you if you hurt him."
"You can try. What makes you think you'll succeed?"
"Because I have nothing to lose."
"Oh but you do Zantha. I promise you if you ever challenge me, I won't spare you any embarrassment when I claim you, no matter who may be there. Do you understand me?"
Both heads snapped around to look at the door as a knock sounded on it, and then it opened. Vegeta stepped in, glancing at Zantha then to Trunks, then back at Zantha still propped up against the wall. He took in the golden eyes turned his way and the pointy ears surrounded by the flaming red hair and bellowed, "YOU! You're the one I've been looking for."
"That's right."
Vegeta stopped short, coming face to face with Trunks. For the first time he seemed to take in the whole seen before him, and his eyes widened. Trunks looked over his shoulder at Zantha wrapping the blanket back around her nude form. "What is it father?" For a moment Vegeta still looked at the creature standing next to the wall, and when she changed, her eyes going emerald green and her body looking more human again, his mouth fell open. She'd been right under his nose the whole time. He'd been right when he'd caught her the first time, and now he had her trapped.
Trunks nudged his father, and Vegeta finally looked at him. "Let me ask you again. What is it?" There was something wrong. Trunks' voice had been hard and irritated at his interruption.
Vegeta smiled for the first time since he'd come in. "We caught one of her kind trying to escape back into the forest. Looks like her partner from the raid." Vegeta watched her face pale as he tilted his head to look at her. "And now I have you too." he replied looking strait at her. Zantha charged him, and in a flash she had transformed again. Trunks wrapped his arms around her waist as she passed him and pulled her back against him. She tried to claw her way loose, but Trunks wasn't letting go. Vegeta was amazed at the razor sharp claws on animal paws that moments ago had been small hands. She growled at him baring her fangs. Vegeta touched the place on his neck where she'd bitten him, then reached out to touch the scar on her bare shoulder. Trunks frowned watching his father finger the scar. Pulling her away, he met his father's blood thirsty blood thirsty gaze.
"Trunks come quick, there's ......" Goten's voice trailed off as he rushed into the room and took in the scene before him. Goten wasn't smiling that mischievous smile anymore as he looked at Zantha. "Trunks? How long have you known what she was?"
At the sound of Goten's voice Zantha had stilled in her captors arms, and now just hung there in terror. She was waiting for his answer. " I only just discovered the truth myself after you left this evening." he answered honestly.
"She can't stay here Trunks. She's a threat to us, and the longer she stays the more dangerous she becomes." Gohan told Trunks as he walked into the room behind Goten. Goten could tell by the frown on his face and the way Trunks tightened his hold on her that this wasn't gonna be easy. "Give her to me, Trunks." Trunks jaw hardened and his frown deepened. "Trunks, you can't hide her forever. You're lucky we're the ones who know. If she'd made such a clumsy mistake in front of anyone else she'd be dead, and you know it." Trunks still didn't loosen his hold on her. "This is her only hope, Trunks, and you know that too. Give her to me."
"He's right Trunks." Goten said.
Zantha held her breath. This was bad. Really bad. She felt almost safe in Trunks' arms, until he loosened his hold on her and shoved her at Goten. He sent her sprawling into Goten's arms, and turned his back on them.
"Trunks? I'm really sorry." Goten whispered a little choked up.
"For what?" Trunks snorted over his shoulder.
Goten shook his head and began to pull Zantha along after him. Tears filled her eyes. She'd known she couldn't trust him. Any of them, and especially not Trunks. There was something between them alright, but it obviously wasn't enough. She hung limp from Goten's arms not fighting as he carried her with one arm down the hall.
"What's happened?" asked ChiChi beside him.
"Step back mother." Goten warned.
"No! I want to know what's going on right now! What in the world are you doing with Deirdre?"
"She's not what she looks mother. She's one of the natives."
"I don't believe it."
"Well, you have to. There's nothing you can do." he shoved his way past her, and she gasped as Zantha looked up at her with tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry Deirdre. If I had any other choice I would take it, but there isn't one that would keep you safe and us as well." he told her.
"I saved your live once. You could let me go." she replied.
"They would only hunt you down and kill you. Besides there's no telling what all you've already told your people about us and the city." he added. He heard her sniffle and turned her to look him in the eyes. "We have to protect ourselves Deirdre. There is no other safe way. I owe you my life, but my best friend and my family could be in danger because of you. My best friend is already in agony because of you. What else do you want from me?" Zantha closed her eyes and turned her head not answering.