Chapter Three – Revenge and Revealing the Truth

She woke up late in the afternoon, aching all over. She felt as if she had had the beating of a lifetime. The son of a bitch, she thought. That's it. He's going down no matter what. I don't care about my own life anyway, so why waste any more time?

She got to her feet and got dressed. She went looking for something she could use as a deadly weapon, but didn't succeed.

"Damn," she sighed. "This is getting pretty hopeless." She leaned back to the wall in her small room and felt a weird bump in it.

"What the…" She pressed against it and a secret passage appeared. She found a light switch and turned it on. She looked into the tunnel and decided to explore it. When she proceeded, she suddenly understood it. These tunnels ran through the walls of the compound! Now she saw why the ceiling in Vegeta's bedroom was asymmetric, there was a small cave with a peephole. He must have had a bodyguard when he was young, she thought. He probably never found out since his guardian angel was able to move around the whole compound unseen. This is great! She walked on and found a bigger cave in which all kinds of stuff were stored. Warrior outfits, daggers, shuroken… and the key to the time lock so she could get out any time she wanted! She moved some clothes and one of the daggers to the secret entrance and hid them. She looked up with a determined look on her face. Dig your grave, Vegeta. I'll take you out and then I'll get out of this dump.

He returned late in the evening and she made him dinner. He didn't say much, apparently his thoughts were somewhere else. She tried to avoid looking him in the eye, afraid that he would somehow find out what she had in mind for him.

She got to her room as soon as he dismissed her and put on the warrior outfit. She stuck the dagger in her boot and went up the small cave to see what Vegeta was up to. She watched him get undressed and get into bed. She waited two hours just to be sure he really was asleep, then she snuck out of her room and silently made her way over to Vegeta's bedroom. She took out the dagger and slowly approached the bed… She looked at him while he was sleeping. How could such a bastard look so vulnerable and innocent when he was asleep? He turned to his other side in his sleep and she froze. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but he was still asleep, facing her now. She decided to cut his throat and lifted up the dagger to strike as hard and fast as she could. The moment she struck, his eyes opened wildly and he grabbed her wrist just in time. She never stood a chance. He broke her wrist so she had to let go of the dagger. He formed an energy ball in his hand and brought it up to her face.

"Finish it," she said. "You win, Prince."

He hesitated and slowly put his hand down. The energy ball faded and the room went dark again.

"You wish," he said. "It's an easy way out, isn't it? You fucking loser."

She grit her teeth when he let go of her wrist; it hurt like hell.

"Think of a way you can make this up to me," he said. "Convince me to let you stay; if you don't, I'll send you to hell and you'll wish you had never been born."

She was stunned. "But…"

"Shut up and go get some sleep."

She got up early the next day, still confused that Vegeta didn't kill her for what she tried to pull off. He looked at her wrist while he was eating his breakfast and said: "I'll get something to cure that wrist. I can't use you if you don't have both your hands."

She looked at him with a sad look on her face and nodded. Without saying anything, she started to clean the table with her left hand. He put his hand on her shoulder and said: "Get some rest." She couldn't take it anymore and started to cry softly as she walked to her room. He called her back because he noticed.

"More tears? Why?"

"Because I'm a failure," she sobbed. "I figured there were two options last night: either you'd die or I would. Either way, I wouldn't be here anymore. But I still am! I can't do this! I'm not a slave and I never will be!"

He sighed and made her sit down.

"I can understand you feel this way, but there's a reason you're here. I'll be honest with you just this once, woman. I didn't kill you because you killed my mate."

"What? That doesn't make sense, does it?"

"It does. Our marriage was an arranged one, we didn't love each other! But according to the Saiyan laws I had to be faithful to her. She took away my freedom… I had to act like I was furious about her death, but I wasn't. You set me free. I saved your ass right before Frieza blew up Sapphirion and hid you here, because he'd never find you in my quarters."

She looked at him in surprise, tears were still running down her cheeks.

"You're joking, right?"

"I'm not."

"So you treated me like a slave while you should be thanking me for what I did!"

"You're still a slave. I can't change that."

"Can't or won't?" she asked in a sharp tone.

"Both. If I do, Frieza might find out and kill us. Don't think I don't care about you, woman. I do. But right now I can't change anything for you."

"Could you… well, be just a little bit less strict?"

"I could, but I won't. You should be acting like a slave, that's the only reason I'm treating you the way I do."

"Right…"

"I'm going to get you some medicine. Wait here."

"Yes, Sire." She didn't even notice she said it. She was shocked to hear the truth. She was still sitting at the table when he returned.

"Take this. You will feel better instantly."

She took the pill and swallowed it. She did feel better and carefully moved her wrist. It was fully healed.

"Wow."

"Fill the bath, slave. I'm getting a visitor tonight, so I have to look like a god!"

She smiled at him. "Yes, Sire." She filled the tub and washed him again. She knew now that he was perfectly able to wash himself, but he loved to be touched by someone else. She could see him relax while she was working on him.

"Sire, may I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you love her?"

He looked at her, but didn't answer.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. Forgive me my curiosity, Sire."

"You're forgiven." He grinned. "I love her body, I know that for sure. I think I could get to love her. She's a real piece of work."

He sat up and she started to rub his shoulders. He groaned content.

"It's going to be a great day, slave. I want you to prepare a top quality dinner tonight to impress her. She'll be here at six."

"Yes, Sire."

"I'll get you some appropriate clothing, instead of the ones you're wearing now."

While she was working in the kitchen to prepare dinner, he went out for some time. He called her when he returned.

"Put these on." She went to her room and changed. Then she went to the bathroom to look in the mirror.

"Stylish! Thank you, Sire."

"You look great. Now help me with my royal armour." She helped him change and was impressed by the result.

"You DO look like a god, Sire," she whispered.

He smiled briefly and then walked to the door.

"I have some business to take care of. Remember we'll be here at six, I expect dinner to be ready then. You'll serve us tonight."

"Yes, Sire."