Chapter XXIV: Family Drop-In
As soon as they were gone, Riddick began to sprint towards the ongoing battle, hoping that Liege was still alive. He stopped when he reached a scene of unrecognizable gore. Torn, disfigured and barely living bodies were scattered around the sand. Watching as the sand absorbed the blood, Riddick turned away and looked to where he saw Liege fighting.
He growled in surprise at how well she was surviving, considering how bruised and bloodied she was. With each swift movement, a flash of sharp steel accompanied it, usually resulting in another deep wound of the other fighter. Silently stepping behind the fighter, Riddick withdrew one of his shivs and rooted it in the sweet spot.
Liege watched as the body fell before her and Riddick stood behind it, the bloody blade in hand. Panting heavily, she stumbled the ground, relieved that the last of the fighters were gone.
"Riddick." She barely gasped out, still kneeling on the ground. "Where is-"
"Safe. I sent them back." He replied, helping her up. He was once again surprised at her as she suddenly tore away from his grip.
"BACK! Are ye mad! They'll be intercepted! Ye bloody fool, they're probably already taken hostage!" She yelled, feeling a renewed sense of duty, she began to launch herself over the sand dunes.
Cursing himself for his stupidity, Riddick ran beside her, often lifting her before she tripped over a small mound of sand or rock.
"Fuckfuckfuckfuck…" Liege cursed, following the road on which the came, wondering where the hell Jack and Imam had gone to.
She stopped short and turned around, knowing exactly where they were. Waiting, she growled as she saw men move out of the sand dunes. She recognized all of them and they her. Hearing Riddick growl next to her when he saw Jack and Imam tied and bound, she wanted to hold him back for the last moment.
Liege stepped forward, ignoring the blood running through one eye from a still-pulsing cut over on her forehead. Waiting for the leader, she cleaned her blades on her shorts, wishing she had her boots and was wearing pants.
She growled as she saw a very familiar face step forward, and with her intense stare, she knew he felt guilty and ashamed for doing what he did.
"So, McKellern, was it ye who betrayed me father? Or was it one of 'is other most loyal men?" Liege snarled, motioning to the group of men behind him.
"Shut yer trap, ye stupid bitch. Ye knew there was goin' to be a flip in power." He replied, stepping closer towards her.
"Let those two go, it's me ye want, not them." She ordered, pointing her blade towards Imam and Jack.
"'n how did ye figure tha' one out, eh? 'n what makes ye think I'll follow yer orders?" He replied, too arrogant for his own good.
"Because," Liege started, slowly walking towards him. "I be of old power, 'n ye would be breakin' the honor if ye don't follow the orders of old power, McKellern. There may be an overturn in power, but when ye be power, ye always be power, 'n a lowly bastard like yerself can't disobey. So ye let 'em go. Now."
Riddick saw the guilty wrath in this mans face as he motioned the two men holding Jack and Imam forward, his eyes never taken off Liege's. He growled as he saw Jack being dragged through the dry, packed sand. The moment they passed Liege's feet, Riddick stepped forward and cut the bonds of Imam and Jack.
"But ye still need to come with us. Ye daddy be missin' ye, lassie." He taunted, unprepared for the sudden back hand of Liege, who held the hilt of the knife and smashed into the side of the face, satisfied at the sound of his jaw bone cracking.
"Don't ye dare talk 'bout me da. Go back, tail between yer legs, crawl back and tell tha' bastard of an overlord that I be comin' for 'is blood. And if a drop of me da's is spilled, I will fuckin' massacre 'is entire fucking network." Liege ordered, leaning to the side and delivering a hard blow to his stomach, making him double over.
"Bitch." McKellern barely spat out, kneeling over the ground that was absorbing his blood.
"Ye got tha' right. And if I be feelin' ye around me from now on, ye can bet on it tha' yer dicks won't be there when all ye bastards wake up." Liege threatened, speaking to the entire group.
Watching as they moved out, Liege turned back to Riddick, Imam and Jack who were still in slight shock. Jack clung to Riddick, who growled comforting words into her ears, running his hand through her hair. Imam prayed to his god, muttering phrases in a language Liege did not understand.
"Let's go home." She said. Not as an order or command, but a view of the general consent. Riddick picked up Jack and climbed in the back of the car with her while Liege and Imam sat in the front.
The ride home was dead silent, but Liege knew she had allies now, and soon she could take action. Sighing, she finally knew there was no way escaping family legacy.
