A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.
WARNING: ANGST, WAFF, VIOLENCE, MODERATE LANGUAGE.
Chapter 12: Requiem
Argilla opened her eyes only to find a throbbing ache on her head. She attempted to sit up on the bed only to fall back on it. She groaned in pain. Everything around her was spinning. Why was that so? Did she eat anything bad? No.
Did she push herself too much at training? Not at all. All of her activities over the last twenty-four hours were standard for a soldier such as her.
She groaned in pain again; now her stomach was acting up.
'I definitely ate something bad…' she concluded.
"Hey baby…" she heard a voice beside her speak.
She groaned again, pasting her palm on her forehead. Argilla felt a warm hand on her own and she opened her eyes to meet the worried eyes of her mate. She knew that he'd worry about her immensely and so she smiled, rather weakly, "Hey there yourself…"
Heat frowned; he knew that something was wrong. What irritated him was that she was being untruthful about it.
"Come on Argilla. What's wrong? Are you sick?" he asked.
She shook her head vigorously, "No! I'm fine! Really…"
She groaned. She couldn't pretend anymore. She closed her eyes and moaned. Heat sat up and immediately checked her pulse and temperature.
"Hmph. You don't have a fever…and your pulse is good…What's wrong? Is it your stomach?"
She nodded, "I think…I ate something bad…"
His body stiffened, "Poisoning?"
She couldn't help but smile amidst her annoying tummy ache, he was just soo cute! She shook her head, "Baby I'm fine…I promise…it's not poisoning…I just…ugghhh…I…" Her vision blurred and spun.
Heat panicked; he jumped out of bed and grabbed his pants, foregoing the afterglow of their union the other night. As soon as he put his shirt on, he grabbed her robe and put on it on her hastily. "Don't you die on me!" he growled.
She would have laughed at his silliness but her headache was head-splitting. He put his arm under her back and his other hand went under her legs. He scooped her up gently but quickly and went for the door when she squirmed in his arms, "What's wrong?"
"Heat…I'm fine now…I just…want to go to the…barf…the…barf…bathroom…please…"
Heat panicked again and darted for the lavatory. She squirmed again and hopped from his arms, quickly regaining control of her feet and shoving him out of the door and slamming it on his confused face, "Are you su-"
He rolled his eyes. Women.
Heat pressed his ear against the metallic door and heard the faint sound of throwing up. He knocked again, "Are you alright? Do you want me to call the paramedics?"
She threw up again as she heard him ask. She took a few more seconds before hastily replying, "I'm fine! Don't bother! I'm almost done!"
Heat ran a hand through his hair; strange as it may sound, he believed her. He may think it against his better judgment but…his gut feeling rather than his military training, compelled him to believe her.
"Alright. If you say so."
xxxxx
Argilla sat irritated on the infirmary waiting room. She had gone for a general medical checkup. What a coincidence. She had told the doctor that she had a headache and an upset stomach as well. She raised an eyebrow the moment she thought about her early morning experience.
'Is it possible…?'
Her thoughts were interrupted as the doctor came into the room.
"Argilla?" she called out.
Argilla stood up, her expression blank. Well, this was the moment of truth. She held her breath.
"You're fine. There's nothing out of the ordinary. Your blood sugar is a bit low…but it's nothing to be concerned about. Just get plenty of rest, exercise and maintain your diet."
Argilla raised an eyebrow, "That's it?
The female still held her file, unspeaking. Argilla tapped her foot as she crossed her arms, annoyance reaching a new high, "Hey, can we hurry this up? I got training to do." she said, growling slightly.
"Uh huh…" the doctor replied, unfazed by her frankness. She continued to analyze the file in front of her. Argilla rolled her eyes, "Well, what is it?"
Finally, she looked up, "Well, it says in your bio, that you're mated, correct?"
"Yes." Argilla replied, uninterested.
"Well, where is he? I need to speak to him as well."
"Whatever for?!" Argilla asked back. "He's busy! Look, you don't need him. Just tell me! This is MY checkup damn it!"
The physician raised an eyebrow, "I took the liberty of taking a pregnancy test on you as well. It's standard procedure for all mated females, so you understand?"
Argilla nodded meekly, "So…? What's the verdict doc?"
"You're pregnant." she stated flatly.
Argilla wondered; disregarding momentarily the female's sentence. This female kept her on the edge of her seat for five whole minutes in which Argilla, in every second, feared, only for her to blurt out the result of her test as if it was uninteresting.
Why the hell did she put her at the edge of her seat for? Sheesh…some people.
Argilla continued to stare at the female blankly. The female quirked up an eyebrow, 'Well, it looks like it still hasn't sunk in…'
Three. Two. One.
"I'm WHAT?!" she yelled.
The doctor was still unfazed. Did she have to spell it out for this woman? Sheesh…some people.
"But…! H-how!!?" Argilla stammered. The female doctor, though still unfazed, raised an eyebrow.
Argilla blushed, and laughed nervously, "Ah…haha…of course…I…well…I…hmm…nothing. Nevermind. Erm…thank you…um…"
"Wait."
"What?"
"I require you to return here for frequent checkups. Here," she held out her hand, "these are some supplements for you. You'll need these…"
Argilla took the small package, "Thank you. Umm, is there anything I can do about the…morning sickness?"
"No." she deadpanned.
"Oh."
xxxxx
Heat punched his sparring partner with more force than he intended and it sent the poor man flying. Thankfully, he didn't hit the window; just the wall. Hm, come to think of it, was that better or worse?
The umpire called for a halt, "What the hell's the matter? This is a sparring match!"
Heat cursed; he'd been out of it the whole day. When they had had breakfast, he stormed into the kitchen and yelled at the cooks for suspecting them of putting poison on his beloved's food. Well, that got him thrown out of the mess hall.
Next, he got in trouble in the public men's room. He had thought that the poor man had been staring at his beloved before he went in. Damn, don't people know what "mated" meant anymore?
He almost got thrown in confinement for challenging Serph to a fight. He remembered Argilla holding him back as he attempted to lunge himself at his leader. Why? Well, he just felt like it. Of course, Serph just stood there. He had been the "matured" one. Gale and Cielo had urged the silent leader to have him restrained but he refused and just left, giving Argilla an apologetic look as he turned to leave.
Well, that sent Heat into another frenzy and he lunged himself at Serph again, this time, he managed to shake Argilla off of him. Thank God that Gale and Cielo had been there to hold him back.
He and Serph may have a silent understanding about Argilla, but it didn't change the way he thought and felt about the silent leader of Embryon. No; to Heat he was still the same bastard that he despised.
After that little display, Argilla had been displeased with him and refused to see him for the rest of the day, telling him to vent out his anger on something constructive. Well, that was why he went for sparring in the first place. At least there, he could remove all this mood shit. Wait a second, why was he like this in the first place? That was right. He suspected that there had been something wrong with Argilla; the fact that she denied it seemed to him that Argilla was hiding something from him.
He thought that they had already discussed all that in the past. She wasn't supposed to have secrets; most especially, not from him. He felt his anger rise as he remembered how Serph looked at her that morning…and the way he tried not to look at her. He also remembered how she looked at him back. It looked as if she still liked him.
He gritted his teeth in anger. He was going to have to talk to her about that.
He stomped out of the training grounds and stepped into the shower room. He let the water trickle down his tensed back. He needed the shower. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down. He sighed; he had been acting pretty weird this day. But it was because of her; it was always because of her.
After finishing his relaxing shower, he grabbed his towel and dried himself off. He dressed himself and left the training facility.
He blinked his eyes as he met his woman's pink eyes, "Argilla, what are you doing here?" he asked, anger evident in his voice.
He saw a flash of fear in her eyes before it replaced itself with a look of cheerfulness, "Heat…I was just wondering how you were doing."
"What?" he growled.
"You were so grumpy today that…well…it was almost seemed like…" she trailed off. He looked at her, unfazed.
He said nothing but grabbed her hand and started dragging her along the streets. Heat glared and growled at all who turned to look at them. He really didn't give a damn about what they thought.
"Heat! Slow down!"
Not paying attention to her, he continued to drag her along. Finally, they reached their room. They had lived together since their mating ceremony. It had been required for partners to do so.
"Are you having an affair with the bastard?" he asked; his voice low.
Argilla blinked, "What? No!"
He grabbed her arms tightly, "Damn it! Don't try to trick me Argilla! I saw how he was looking at you! I saw you looking at him! You may think that you had me changed just because you chose me as your mate…but rest assured, I hadn't changed."
He grabbed her jacket and roughly pulled it from her, flinging it across the room. He then grabbed the low cut edge of her corset and pulled it down revealing her scar. "Remember about this? I won't hesitate to punish you…"
Argilla shivered, "Please…Heat…I haven't done anything!" She knew that she hadn't been entirely truthful. She was all too aware of her moment of weakness at Samsara Tunnels…but…she had been convinced that what she had done was a mistake and would not happen again. She chose Heat after all.
"I didn't do anything…Please Heat…"
She didn't want to do it; but something in her couldn't hold herself back. She sobbed. Heat's eyes softened, "Sorry…"
She smiled, pulling up her corset to cover herself. "Heat…I love you…"
He sighed, but said nothing. He proceeded towards the door, but her voice stopped him, "Wait! Where are you going?"
"I just need to think. I'll be back tonight." He was gone.
"Wait…I didn't…even get to tell him…" she sighed. She had a feeling that he might go back to his old ways. She just thought that she would be able to change him. 'He's trying! He's really trying…! It isn't his fault…this is the only way he knows how to express himself…'
Another voice joined in, 'That's just your way of justifying your wrong choices…You know that you still love Serph! Stop denying it! And now, you're pregnant with the monster's child…way to go…'
Argilla sobbed as she slid off the wall and onto the floor. Though she loved Heat…she still loved Serph as well. Was the voice right? Was she just justifying her wrong choice? She stared at the wall fearfully as her tears continued to fall. She felt her still flat stomach; soon, the life within her would grow…and she would have a child. It would be the most beautiful expression of their love.
Her hand went to her chest, 'Yes…but what about his atma mark?' her inner voice asked, provoking her to came up with an answer.
She sobbed. She was pregnant now…That would mean that she must have been ever since the first time she was with Heat. She cried again; she hated to remember that night. There was so much malice…so much hate.
He had forced himself on her. She began to wonder if she would have ever noticed him at all if it weren't for that fateful night. Probably not. With the way she was in love with Serph back then, and now as well, there was no way she would have chosen Heat at all…but, you never really know. Fate was a trickster.
She suddenly had the overwhelming feeling to run; to run away from it all. Had she really made the wrong choice? 'Oh Serph…'
Argilla stood up slowly, her legs slightly wobbly, and took a look at herself on the mirror. There were pink marks on her arms and chest where Heat had just grabbed her. He was hurting her again. She thought that it would stop…but like she said, it wasn't his fault entirely. This was his way of expressing his anger; his frustration.
She wanted to change him; no, not change him…just…modify him.
Her eyes hardened as she continued to stare at herself. She wasn't about to give up on him. There was no way. She chose him. He was the father of her child and she loved him. She wouldn't give up without a fight.
'Heat…'
xxxxx
He had hurt her again. He hated himself. He was a monster. He felt horrible. How could he do that to her? Especially when she had forgiven him for all that he had done? She had forgiven him without him asking for forgiveness.
He knew that even before they had gotten together that she had been in love with Serph. Knowing that, he should have expected that the two would have lingering feelings towards each other. He sighed. Of course he knew; it was just that, it was painful to see; that was all. It wasn't his fault that he had to see the way Serph longed for his mate. It wasn't his fault that his mate still seemed to like the bastard.
'Why wouldn't she like him? He's not a monster…not like me…He'd never hurt her…'
'I really screwed up this time.'
He hated his selfish side. It was always that side of him that always prevailed. He wanted everything for himself. He wanted every single bit of hers to become his. He would never give her space or time…For him, her space and time was only for him.
God knows how long he'd been sitting there on the bench. Heat looked up and saw that the sun had long set and it was now eerily dark. He looked at his watch and saw that it was 8 PM. Wow. It had been five whole hours.
What was he doing? They had six more days together before the offensive would begin. And how does he spend his valuable and limited time? By alienating himself from his mate. How much of a bonehead could he really be?
Maybe Cielo had been right; maybe he really was the "village barbarian".
He forced himself to stand. He wanted to go home; back to her warm arms. She had been ill that day and would need him now more than ever. He forced his feet to move; to put one in front of the other.
Soon, he reached their bedroom. The lights were off. The bed lights were on though. There was a lump that lay on the bed. He walked carefully towards it and when he was in front of it, he sat on the unoccupied part of the bed and looked under the covers.
She was asleep. She was probably exhausted. She stirred a bit and the blanket slid off her shoulders. She shivered as the cold pricked her soft skin. Heat immediately grabbed the blanket and covered her in it once more not before seeing the marks that he had left on her arms.
Before, he used to cherish those marks. He loved seeing her in pain. He loved to see her suffer; he craved for her mind to be filled of anguish. He wanted her to forget about her life and only know feelings of agony and strife.
But now…as he looked at her peaceful face…he knew it wasn't the case anymore. What was originally a worthless pawn in his game; his plaything, became his savior. She had saved him from himself…but how sure was he that she was safe from him?
As he sat there on the bed, he considered giving her up. But by law, no annulment can be granted. His mind, heart and body recognized her as his mate. Now that they had sealed the deal, there was no turning back. Tomorrow would be a new day. He would change…for her. He didn't care about himself…Not anymore…He just wanted her to be happy.
"Heat…? Is that you?" a sleepy voice asked.
He snapped out of his daze, "Yeah it's me…go back to sleep. You look pretty bushed…"
She rubbed her eyes and sat up, "I'm not…I promise…I was just waiting for you and I guess I fell asleep…Sorry…"
"Don't apologize Argilla…I should be the one apologizing…"
"Heat…"
"I'm sorry I hurt you…again. I just…I didn't know what came over me…I guess I just felt that you were hiding something from me. I hate that. You have no secrets from me Argilla. Nothing. And I have no secrets from you."
"Heat…I love you…I already forgave you…I know you're a good person and you're really trying your best…That's why I'm here…to help you. I'd never abandon you…"
He encircled her in his arms, nuzzling in her hair. He loved her smell. "I love you Argilla…"
She giggled and he pulled away, puzzled, "What's up?"
"I have kept something from you…" she confessed shyly.
His throat suddenly became dry. Were his suspicions right?
"Heat…we're going to have a baby…"
"What?"
She smiled and she put his hand on her flat belly, "We're going to have a baby…" she repeated slowly. Blood rushed to his temple as her words sunk in, "Argilla…I don't know what to say…"
"Tell me you're happy…"
He let out a convivial laugh, "I am happy…" He embraced her again, "I'm going to be a father…"
If only she knew what he felt at that moment…but she didn't. Words couldn't express his happiness.
Argilla merely smiled and held him close to her. As she held him to her, all her doubts evaporated. She had not made the wrong choice. He was the one. And now, they were going to have an addition to their family. It didn't get any better than this.
xxxxx
Heat looked out on the horizon. The moon was full and shone brightly. The wind was chilly. It had been two days since he had heard Argilla's news. He smiled as he recalled it. He was going to be a father. He couldn't believe it. He had come a long way from being a sadistic, power-hungry brute to a somewhat mellowed-down power-hungry brute.
He sat there, atop their HQ, waiting. He glanced at his watch; he had been waiting for a minute now. No worries.
He just had to meet the bastard. He couldn't have him ruining things between him and Argilla. Now that they were going to have their first child, his convictions grew stronger.
"You're late." Heat said, sensing the presence behind him.
"I apologize. What is it that you wanted to speak to me about?" The question was flat and expressionless.
"I think you may have an idea already."
"…Argilla."
"Yes. Her."
"What do you need to discuss anything with me for? She has clearly chosen you over me."
"But you love her."
"Yes." he replied without hesitation.
Heat clenched his fists and turned around glaring at his leader, "Precisely. You love her. I can't have you hanging all over her like a lovesick puppy Serph."
"I'm not."
"Liar. I can see it in your eyes every time you'd look at her. Know this, if I suspect that you continue your advances, I'll rip you in two."
Serph blinked, "That used to be my line."
"I know." Heat got off the rail and started to walk away, "Well, I gotta hit the road. She's waiting for me." Heat couldn't resist the temptation of adding salt to his leader's wounds, "This little talk is just so we understand each other."
As Heat walked away from Serph that night, he not only left his leader standing there, he also left his feelings of insecurity and envy. Heat no longer had anything to envy within Serph. Granted that he never achieved whatever he had originally sought after; namely, Serph's title and his head. Along the way, he found something better.
He found her. He found the elusive feelings called "love".
He no longer had to prove his identity and strength to anyone. He no longer had to make the world know of his existence. She already knew his strength. She already knew of his existence and identity. None of the other people mattered anymore. She was the only one that mattered to Heat; she and their unborn child. She and their child were the only people to whom his strength mattered. He would protect the both of them; to the bitter end.
Heat felt confused for a moment though. He had once thought that seeing his rival beaten and defeated would bring him absolute happiness and mirth but as he looked at him moments before, as he saw his leader's look of anguish and defeat…he felt none of those things…He just felt…indifferent…at best.
All he wanted to do was to go home…to her. Serph didn't matter anymore. He couldn't care any less what he did with his life or his military career…as long as it didn't involve his mate. But still, Heat couldn't get the feeling that happiness was always coupled with anguish. It was the proverbial yin and yang. Or better yet, Karma; cause and effect…A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. He was happy; that would probably entail sadness and tragedy to follow suit. The siege of Ajna…He didn't even want to think about it.
As the thought crossed his mind, he stopped again. Serph looked at him dumbfounded although Heat couldn't see his face as he didn't even bother to turn around and face Serph.
"Oh, and one more thing…" Heat began, trailing off. Serph looked at him expectantly.
"If…if anything should happen to me…you take care of her." Not waiting for the bastard to reply, Heat resumed his walk, doing his best to alleviate the feeling of nervousness at the pit of his stomach. He knew all of the implications of what he had proposed to the bastard. He would rather see Argilla in the bastard's arms rather than see her wailing, alone at his grave. He shivered again. Serph loved her. 'He would do what is best for her…and our child…should I be unable…' he thought firmly. Yes, he didn't want to admit it but…no matter how much he disliked Serph, he trusted him.
The more steps he took from the rooftop, the more his thoughts of death and Serph dissipated from his mind. Soon, he let his thoughts drift from Serph and towards his mate and unborn child; he smiled and unconsciously hasted his steps, waiting to come home to her.
Serph remained where he was and said nothing. His heart was uplifted by what Heat had said. It would just mean that his fiery comrade had finally trusted him wholeheartedly. Of course, he would be there for Argilla should anything happen to Heat. But…he didn't want anything to happen to Heat. He may have been a rival…and probably still was, but his spirit of camaraderie outweighed all skirmishes that they may have had.
He sighed; he may not have Argilla, but…this was for the best.
xxxxx
"Well, ladies, this is it. This is the moment that we have all been preparing for. The moment that we have both dreaded and anticipated. Today, we defeat the Brutes." was Serph's opening statement.
Tension was felt to reverberate throughout the room. Its occupants were deathly silent; their eyes hardened; their expressions fierce.
"You all know your assignments and positions. Remember, once Ajna had been breached rendezvous in front of their stronghold. This time, a team of five shall infiltrate it. That's right; that's all of us. The offensive will begin in ten minutes, I suggest you make your final preparations. Dismissed."
The air was too tense…even the merry Cielo had not uttered a word. Argilla visibly shook where she stood. It wasn't a secret to everyone in that room that she abhorred violence and bloodshed. Heat said nothing but anticipation was clearly read within his eyes…and for a moment, as Serph gazed at him, he thought he saw traces of fear in them.
It was then that fear gripped Serph's heart as well. He knew he was being selfish, but he didn't care. If Heat was afraid, it was only because of one reason; the woman beside him. Serph also shared this fear but hid it well.
He vowed to protect her at all costs, and so he shall even if it meant his life.
Gale was different that day as well. He, like everyone else, dreaded this day. His mate was all the way at Saraswati, but his blood ran cold all the same. He kept getting images of their defeat. It would only mean the suffering of all their men and women. A chill ran through his spine; no, they wouldn't lose. Not now.
The Brutes were as good as defeated. But, their strength didn't lie in their army alone. It lay with their leader and his strength. As they said before, should Varin defeat Serph and Lupa all of Junkland would belong to the Brutes.
The group headed their separate ways not before parting with one another with a weak and sad smile.
Argilla made final preparations on her rifle; her hands visibly shaking.
"Damn it!" she yelled, not surprising the male behind her.
She suddenly felt warm hands on her shoulders, "Relax baby…Remember…nothing will happen. It's just your everyday mission. No more, no less."
"I know…" she leaned back and felt his hard-toned chest, "We better hurry. Our choppers would leave in six minutes."
Heat chuckled, "Right. Let's go."
xxxxx
The offensive had begun. The group of choppers surrounded Ajna and took out its important towers and artillery. The ground army had bombarded Ajna's thick and heavy gates. The Wolves had secured the left and right flanks and sealed off any and every escape routes the enemy might take.
'Aaargh!!' Argilla thought in pain as her chopper had been hit by a rocket. She was going to crash!
"This is Delta 1. I'm going down! Repeat! I'm going down!" Argilla radioed. Heat had caught her transmission and quickly calculated her coordinates; she would land within Ajna! He cursed as he hoped that Serph and the ground army would breach the wall in time.
Heat didn't care though; he was going to rescue her; heroics or no. Seeing that she had made it safely on the ground, Heat saw that multiple targets were closing in on her. He would just have to provide air cover for her.
The Wolves had been useful though; they had taken out most of the rocket launchers. Gale and Cielo must be doing something right; he mused.
"Argilla, it's me. Head towards the gates…I will provide cover for you! Go!"
"Roger!" she replied.
Scores by scores, Heat eliminated the targets. Argilla was near the gates, "Argilla! I'm tossing a rope ladder! Grab it!"
"Roger that!" her voice crackled.
Heat received another transmission; it was from Serph, "We're breaking through in ETA 2 minutes! Get your asses out of there!"
"Right!"
He had to do this quick. He positioned his chopper directly above Argilla and dispatched the ladder. She caught it with ease. He began to haul her up. The rest was easy. Right on time, the ground army penetrated the wall and poured in; Wolves and Embryon.
Heat landed the chopper soon after, relief overwhelming him. He was so frightened that he had lost her back there. He gritted his teeth; he would never lose her. Never. He would protect her until he died. He walked over to her quickly and she towards him, "Let's go!"
She nodded and proceeded out of the chopper. Now that Ajna had been breached, the next step was to flush Varin out of his rat hole. And to do that, the leaders of the tribes challenging them must do battle; it was his team versus theirs.
They saw Serph outside as well. They looked around for Gale and Cielo and found no sign of them. Damn it; they couldn't wait anymore. Serph opened the com link, "Gale, Cielo, we're heading into the base now. Do you copy? Follow us then! We can't wait anymore! Out!"
"Roger that! We're just stuck in a traffic jam!" Gale replied.
Serph looked at both Heat and Argilla. Well, it looks like they were stuck together again. Nodding briefly, they dashed for the base while their flanks were covered by heavy weaponry by both the Wolves and Embryon.
Heat groaned as he entered the base, "It's another lame-assed maze. Don't they every get tired of this shit?"
Argilla chuckled, "Well…it's sort of tradition you know? You can't blame them for trying."
Serph smiled, "Well, I don't want to get lost here…so, let's do what we came to do."
"Right."
The three looked at the four oddly-shaped crystals that floated and shone before them. They could feel a heavy and ominous aura around the base. The base was practically suffocating in it. Serph clenched his jaw. "We're going to have to search them all. Come on."
They had been surprised to know that their doors were sealed. It probably had something to do with the crystals. After activating one of them, did the team realize that the crystals held the secrets of the doors. They had tried the blue, red and green crystals and they all led to a promising and powerful aura. The group had been disappointed repeatedly to learn that it was not Varin's own.
They were just Varin's subordinates. Serph gritted his teeth; there was the last crystal. But he thought, 'Where were Gale and Cielo?' He shook his head; there was no time to think about that. Varin's forces were all but defeated with only him and his team remaining. His heart-rate raced; this was it.
The white crystal's activation had led them through various doors and as they stood in front the last one, the overwhelmingly murderous and hateful aura seeped from beyond the door and engulfed them in a suffocating air. Even Heat felt unnerved, "Man…this guy hates you more than I…" Heat breathed out, turning to his leader.
Serph said nothing and continued to stare at the door, "Well, are you all ready?"
"I'm ready…" Argilla said.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." was Heat's nonchalant reply.
Serph nodded and pushed the door open, revealing to them their last opponent. Varin was an elderly man; easily distinguished as someone in his forties. He had a stern look in his face; a very disciplined expression. His hardened midnight-blue eyes pierced through them like a laser. His face had a hard jaw and his skin was adorned with wrinkles.
He regarded the three before him with indifferent eyes. They had half-expected a psychopathic cold-blooded murderer to sit on the throne, someone similar to Belial but Varin was nothing like him. Serph was not surprised though; he had seen Varin before.
Argilla spoke first, "Varin, there's nowhere to go and nowhere to run. Surrender."
Varin laughed, "You should teach your subordinates to hold their tongue, leader of Embryon."
Heat growled, shoving Argilla behind him, "What the hell did you say you maggot?!"
Serph put a hand on Heat's shoulder and shook his head. He then looked at Varin, "My comrade's offer still stands Varin. Surrender or perish." His tone had been low and dangerous; his eyes shone with determination. Varin almost felt proud. He smiled; it had been a while since he had a worthy opponent. The dimwit leader of Anahata, Mick the Slug deserved his nickname but not his position.
'That coward…' Varin thought with contempt.
He slowly rose from his seat, without taking off his eyes off him, "We shall here and now decide the fate of our tribes, leader of Embryon. If you really have what it takes to defeat me, come at me with everything you've got."
Varin saw Serph's eyes flash in resolution. He really was serious. Varin also didn't miss the Embryon leader's glance at the female. Varin understood what it meant. The female meant something to the man; even more than other male…No, that was wrong. The leader cared for both his subordinates, but he cared for the female on a whole different level.
His stern and cold heart felt an ache that he hadn't felt in a long time. He knew that feeling. It had been the same between him and his mate. It had been years now since she died. He gritted his teeth in remembrance; she had been killed by Mick the Slug…He never should have let her go on that last mission…
He admired the young man before him. He was half his age, but had achieved more than he could have in that age.
"Bring it on!" yelled Heat.
The bloody battle begun.
xxxxx
Varin fell on the floor with a thud. Serph, Heat and Argilla panted heavily. It had been the most strenuous fight that they had ever undergone. Varin looked at the young man who defeated him; he didn't want to die. He had a whole world envisioned…but now…this little runt had taken all of it away.
No. He couldn't let that happen. Not when there was still life in him. He peered into his cold silver eyes…Yes…they were cold. They were supposed to be cold…for always. He stole a glance at his female companion, who was now tending to his other redheaded comrade.
So…she was not the leader's mate. She belonged to another. Varin smirked weakly; his opponent's silver eyes must always remain cold…To hold the position of a leader was often to relinquish one's own happiness for the sake of everyone else's happiness.
He was going to make sure that he knows that.
xxxxx
"Hey…" Heat breathed out. He looked up to meet the loving eyes of his mate. She was untouched during the battle. She had fought with all her strength. He and the bastard had absorbed most, if not all of Varin's blows. Heat was bruised but sustained no injuries. Not this time, much to Argilla's relief.
"Hey there…come on…Serph's almost done with Varin. We should get ready to leave too." she said, standing up.
Heat slowly sat up; he was exhausted. His eyes looked from her and onto the people behind her. Heat's eyes widened.
xxxxx
"Give up Varin. You've lost." Serph said seriously. He now stood over his defeated body. He looked down on Varin. Varin cringed; he hated being in this position. The boy was wrong; he hadn't won yet.
Calling up the last reserves of his dwindling strength, Varin, with inhuman speed and strength, made for the two behind him. Serph's heart stopped as he realized who Varin's target was. Summoning all of his strength, Serph rushed to stop Varin.
A second was all it took.
It was all over.
Blood splattered onto each of their faces. A piercing scream was heard.
"No!!" yelled Serph.
xxxxx
She had been in shock since it happened. She sat there, her eyes dead…Her tears continued to flow down her face, as if it were a river. She did not say anything. Gale looked at the woman before him with sympathy. The outcome was, to some extent, expected…The probability of death had always been present on any and every mission…most especially this one. But, be that as it may, disbelief still shrouded the group.
Cielo made a move to comfort the sobbing woman but Gale stopped him, "No. She needs time alone. She just lost someone precious to her."
Cielo held back his tears. He hated wars. Countless men and women gave their lives for their tribes. Battles were fought; lives were lost. Blood was splattered; tears flowed. And here, he was seeing it again. He wanted to cry along with her and tell her that he understood. He wanted to tell her that she wasn't alone.
But Gale was right too. She needed time to be alone.
"Argilla…"
xxxxx
Argilla was suffering inside. She felt as if she were being pulled apart; her limbs being torn from her body. She wanted to scream and shout and throw herself onto the wall, ripping her hair out until she forgot his death.
Why was fate so cruel?
She would never see him again. She would never feel his warmth around her…She would never gaze into his eyes again. She would never get to kiss him again. She loved him; didn't he know that? If he did, then why? Why did he leave her?
Why?
'You promised me that…you'd always be there…that…nothing would happen…You liar…' she silently thought.
She wanted to hurt herself but she continued to sit there; on the dirty floor. The troops had taken over Ajna after Varin's defeat. They swarmed the base now and were rounding up the remaining prisoners. She didn't want to leave. She didn't want to move from that spot. Her warm hands continued to stroke the warm and yet dead body on her lap.
She looked at him; at his lifeless body and cried harder. She refused to have his body taken from her. Gale and Cielo had advised her that the body needed to be taken soon…She nodded. She knew that too, but…all she wanted was to have this time…with him…
This was the last time she'd get to hold him like this.
She stroked his hair and looked at his dreaming face. Yes, he looked like he was dreaming…He was asleep, she thought, he was sleeping an eternal sleep. Looking at him, she failed to hold herself back and plopped down on his chest, wailing uncontrollably. She struck his chest repeatedly, "You said you'd always be here! Why did you leave me?!"
Gale grasped her shoulders, unable to take in her pitiful form, "That's enough."
She snatched her arms away from him and looked at him strangely. Gale was almost crept out; he had never seen her in such a state. Her eyes bore of untold suffering and yet her overall appearance almost made her look as if she were a child; a child who had lost its toy, "Why did he leave me Gale? Was I a bad person? Didn't he love me anymore?"
Gale snapped back into reality; she was using a defense mechanism to block out the pain. She was reverting back into a child.
"No. He loved you. He gave up his life so that you may live. Please honor that sacrifice Argilla." He didn't want to sound cold; but a fact was a fact. She was not doing anyone any favors by being this way. Granted, her actuations were understandable, but he would not condone it.
She had to pick herself up. She was shattered by the loss but nothing would come out of it by simply having a defense mechanism to block it. She needed to deal with the loss; she had to stop running. She sobbed quietly now, trying to control herself. Gale felt relieved as she did so. They had already lost a comrade today…They didn't need another loss. Cielo came forward and knelt in front of Argilla, "Argilla…I…I'm always here…ja? You know dat, ja?" he said slowly.
She could only smile sadly as she continued to play with his hair. She smiled but did not look at Cielo, "I know. Thank you."
Cielo stood up and nodded before leaving the chambers. Gale followed suit but stopped as he stood in front of the door, "I'll send them in here in ten minutes. Be ready by then." Argilla nodded in full understanding of what Gale meant. The coroners would come and take him away from her arms. She could just sit there on the dusty floor forever with him on her lap, but…she knew that that was not possible.
She sat there and looked at him again, "It's a shame that…we wouldn't…do all that we planned huh? A part of me wants to believe that you're still here," she choked, "but…another part of me…just doesn't believe that…I want to see you…I want you to see me…to smile at me…"
She cried again, "We've been through a lot right? You said that you'd always protect me…" she sighed.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. So, they had come. She wanted, no, she needed more time with him. She panicked. She clutched the body that had, by now, grown cold, tighter against her body, "You're not taking him!" she screamed.
"I'm sorry. We have orders."
She glared at them, "Make one wrong move and you're all dead!" she promised dangerously. Gale had heard her, unfortunately. He stepped in a second later and glanced at her maniacal state. This had gone far enough.
"Cielo," he motioned for the young warrior from outside and ushered him in. Cielo complied.
"Let's go."
Cielo nodded, understanding what Gale meant.
The two ran over to their distraught comrade and hauled her up forcefully, prying her from the corpse of their comrade. Gale nodded at the men before him, giving them permission to take the body while they held a now hysterical Argilla.
Gale, with his right hand opened a com link, "You're needed. ASAP."
"Roger that."
A second later, a doctor came, holding a long needle. Gale looked at her, "Sedate her." The doctor did as she was told. But it hadn't been easy considering her "patient" had been stark raving mad. She was kicking and wailing uncontrollably. After five unsuccessful attempts to prick her skin with her needle, did she finally succeed.
Argilla immediately became drowsy. The world began to spin and her limbs fell limp. Gale and Cielo loosened their hold on her.
They could only hear one word that escaped through her lips, "Heat…"
xxxxx
Serph opened his eyes in an unfamiliar surrounding. It was a plain white room. What had happened? Flashes of their battle with Varin floated within his head. His eyes widened as he remembered Varin's desperate kamikaze attack. Serph sat up immediately, grabbing the blanket off of him. He felt a prick on his side as he did so.
That was right, Varin had managed to injure him as well, knocking him out.
He remembered it all clearly now.
Flashback
"No!!" he yelled and ran after Varin. He targeted Argilla. But, he also saw that Heat had known as well. He roughly shoved Argilla away from him and far onto the floor just as Varin's attack had reached her.
Heat had taken the dagger into his abdomen. Serph had reached them a quarter of a second later, getting Varin off of Heat. Little did he know that Varin wasn't dead yet. Varin hid a smaller dagger in his boot and had stabbed him in the gut.
A piercing scream was heard.
Serph's world spun and he saw eternal black.
End Flashback
Serph gritted his teeth; Heat was dead. He took the fall to save Argilla. Argilla had been Varin's true target. But why? What did he have against her? Nothing. Serph nodded; he understood now. Varin knew that both he and Heat cared for her and used that knowledge to his advantage.
Argilla.
He couldn't help but wonder how she was coping.
His thoughts were interrupted as a nurse came in, "Sir, is there anything I could do for you?"
"No. Nurse," he began, "how bad am I?"
The nurse smiled, "Well, sir, you're fine really. The stab wound was a dud; it didn't hit any of your vital organs. You just passed out. That's all. You'll be all set to leave in a couple of days or so."
Serph smiled tightly, "Thank you."
The nurse nodded curtly and left the room soundlessly.
'Argilla…' he thought.
xxxxx
Argilla huddled to herself that night. Heat was gone. He was dead. Forever. She caressed her stomach, "Heat…I guess…you won't be…teaching our child…how to do a sleeper hold…" she choked as her crying had forced her to have hiccups.
She had been asleep for several hours; though she did not know by how much. She could tell that she was back at Muladhara. They had transported her at the infirmary. She had been changed as well. She now wore a white hospital gown; her hair had been undone.
She could still remember his last words to her.
Flashback
"Baby…don't cry…" he said, before coughing up blood.
Argilla held him to her, her voice shaking, "I-I…thought…I t-told y-you…n-no…heroics…"
Heat smiled at her, "Hehehehe…it was…worth it…It was for you…Hey…look at that bastard…He passed…out…"
"Save your strength. I called the paramedics…They should be here soon."
"Don't…worry about me…but…if I don't… make it…just know…I…love you…and remind the bastard…that…it's his job…to protect you now…" He coughed again and Argilla held him tighter, looking intently into his eyes.
He smiled and continued, "You know…you are my light…Before you…all I felt was hate…then…you made me feel love…You banished the darkness within me…You banished the darkness…in my soul…" As he said these words, he slowly closed his eyes.
"Heat…I love you too…" Argilla said, holding his hand tight. She panicked as the hand that grasped hers no longer did. The warmth from it began to seep out. Her breathing became labored, "Heat?! Heat?! Baby…it's me…! Please…! Wake up!!" She felt for a pulse and found none.
Her world shattered into a million pieces around her.
End Flashback
xxxxx
It had been three weeks since Heat's funeral. Argilla had, since then, recovered. She accepted his death and no longer tried to avoid the issue or hide from it. Heat wouldn't like for her to feel this pathetic about herself anyway.
It was also within that time that she had found a recording of some sorts within Heat's drawers. She had never inspected his things before, but now that he was gone, she took the liberty to clean up his things and store them properly. The recording that she had seen was taken the day before the siege of Ajna. Her heart raced as she pondered on what could be in it.
She played it and saw that it was a holographic projection of her deceased mate. She smiled and let her tears flow on her face as she saw him grin like a schoolboy. "Hey there. Erm…well…ah…I'm here to just say…that…well, argh! Just forget it! I'm not good with formalities and shit."
He took a deep breath, his schoolboy grin replaced with a look of seriousness, "Baby, I just want to say that…I love you. I know that I've hurt you so many times…and I'm sorry for it. I know that my words won't make it right…and that whatever I do now, with my life with you won't make the memories fade either…I just want to let you know…that I'm sorry. For everything. I made this…as a precaution…that…you know…in case that I don't make it, you'll know how I really feel. Yeah, I promised no heroics, but…you know me…I'm stubborn remember? So, don't count on that promise!"
Here, he scratched his head and crossed his arms, "And, if I don't make it, tell the bastard that…it's his turn to watch over you and our son…or daughter. No one will ever do a better job than him…well, not any better than me but…you get the picture. Besides, I don't want my kid to have influences from the village quack and the village idiot when he or she is born!" he laughed.
Argilla laughed too, her lips quivering as she silently cried.
"Whoah! This is turning out to be way too long. Well, that's it baby. I just want to tell you again…I love you…and I'll protect you…whatever it takes."
He smiled and in the instant after, the hologram faded; the recording had ended. Argilla hugged the recording sphere in her chest and sobbed quietly. She then took deep breaths and forced herself to calm down. She closed her eyes and thought of Heat…and their happy moments together.
That was enough. It just had to suffice. She smiled sadly. She sighed and set the sphere back in his drawer. She blinked and looked out in the window. Today was a new day for her…and her unborn child.
The war was over…They had a chance at life. She smiled at that notion.
"Heat…I love you baby…" she breathed out. His words had brought her heart peace…
She felt stronger than before; now, more than ever. Heat would never leave her. She knew that now. She felt him everywhere within her. Wherever she went, he went too. She stroked her belly. It would still be a few more months when it would become more pronounced. She smiled, "I wish you were here…Heat…"
She felt a hand on her shoulder and saw the smiling face of her leader, her friend…her Serph. She hadn't even notice him enter the room.
"Hey…are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm fine Serph…I'm fine…"
xxxxx