Malevolent

In a rough grip, he dragged her along the hall.
Sometimes her feet would leave the ground, giving her the surreal feeling of being in a dream. No. A nightmare.
His tail violently hit the ground, abruptly ending her daze.
She could hardly register what her body was experiencing. Where they were going. Her mind had become a blur.
Her surroundings moved around her on a high speed, her eyes unable to follow. The quick movements made her feel dizzy. They were in huge ship, walking through a white hall…

His pace was too fast. His iron grip painful.

Almost had she wanted to make whining sound but midway of leaving her throat, her body halted it.

Fear had taken her entirely over and had numbed her completely, simply enduring his ominous presence.

The consequences of him getting one of the Dragon Balls hadn't fully hit her.

Suddenly they abruptly stopped walking, making her collide into her vicious captor.

'That,' he spat at man, who fearfully kneeled before him as soon as he had entered the room, 'is how you get things done, Zarbon.'

He threw the Dragon Ball at the man's feet. The green-haired man's eyes widened when seeing the Dragon Ball before him. As Bulma stared at the man, her eyes clashed with his yellow ones and for a moment he looked intrigued, but his cowardice kept him from asking questions.

Arrogantly he did rise before them and with a voice, that sounded like an odd mix between sophisticated and taunting, he politely apologized to his master.

'Lord Frieza, like I've said before, the Saiyans have grown in strength tremendously. We did lose Dodoria and Cui already. I apologize for— 'Are you giving me an excuse to kill you, Zarbon?' The demonic alien growled.

Bulma tensed when she felt his anger pulse through her body. His red eyes darkened and Zarbon immediately took a step back and deeply bowed his head and started uttering nonsense out of pure fear,

'I-I assure you, Lord Frieza, I did everything I could to obtain the other Dragon—'You did no such thing. You ran like the coward you are. If you transformed, Zarbon,' Frieza hissed, 'We wouldn't be having this conversation. I could always change your current form permanently to match your other form, if you want me to. Perhaps that would make things easier for you, hmm?'

'P-please, no! I will get the other Dragon Balls, sir!' he stuttered. 'R-right now!'
'Exactly!' Frieza yelled at the man.

Soundlessly taking in the scene, Bulma looked at Zarbon out of the corner of her eyes. He was handsome and exotic looking but his expression showed how vain and arrogant his personality was.
As he caught her looking, he gave her a smirk, despite being practically on the ground begging to be spared by the demon next to her mere minutes ago.
Frieza either didn't catch his expression or did not bother to acknowledge it. He did however get annoyed by his slowness.

'Well? Get going!' He yelled, making the alien, and the few guards standing, practically run out of the room.

Being alone with him again, Bulma wanted to hold her breath in fear but realized that would be a useless thing to do. He wouldn't be letting her out of his sight anytime soon. He did however, finally, let go of her wrist.

Her heart was pounding, and she felt herself getting nauseous. She didn't know if it was because of paralyzing fear or because her body was going through something.
Thinking of the life inside of her, she tried to calm down and remind herself she was still alive and well. So far, he hadn't done anything harmful to her. Besides flying at a high speed…

She tried not to think of how she willingly had clung onto him.

Rubbing her pained wrist, her eyes followed his movements. She watched his tail dangerously flicker up and down. An ominous sign.

Anger had never been a more frightening emotion to her then right now.

Trying to calm her nerves, she closed her eyes. Immediately the image of Guru's hopeful face appeared. Despite her fear and Frieza's evil demeanor, she had somehow managed to speak up and convince the tyrant to let Grande Elder Guru live. Explaining that without him the Dragon Balls would cease to exist as they were his creation.

A regretful sigh escaped her lips. But what choice did she have?

Intrigued, he had spared the old Namekian's life only to threatens hers if he found out she was trying to trick him. But obviously he didn't want to take the risk in case she was speaking the truth and so they had left the house leaving Guru alive, begging her to end the agony of his people.

Bulma swallowed when remembering the sight of Nail. His bruised body left in a pool of blood. The image would always haunt her…

Wincing in discomfort at the memory, she tried to think of something nice. Dende. Such a sweet boy.
He had luckily been spared but he had looked so very frightened… So very desperate.

Frieza was a vicious, cruel monster and seeing what he was capable of, made her realize the stories were a thousand times more horrible then she could've every imagined.

Suddenly realizing Vegeta had been around this man for most of his life, she couldn't imagine what it was to grow up in his presence.

Daring to look at the beast of a man, she tried envisioning herself being a young Saiyan prince who had just been abducted. Her heart clenched in pain.

He must've felt so scared. And alone. Panicking. His body hardly responding...

Like she was feeling right now. She couldn't imagine going through this at such a young age, unable to comprehend certain things. The severity of this situation was something she could hardly grasp herself right now.

'You are awfully quiet, my dear,' he said.

His tone was polite but harsh.

All the more unnerving.

Fumbling with her sleeve a bit, not quite sure how to behave around a man she had heard so much of. Stories that had haunted her. Stories that had made the hairs on the back of her neck go up.

Visions that will now haunt me forever…

Swallowing her fear, she answered,

'I-I don't… know what to say …Sir.'

Turning around, his red eyes caught hers and for some reason Bulma's head went down.
Childlike, she shut her eyes, as if she could shield herself from him if she didn't see him. Her entire body started to tremble uncontrollable. Hearing him move, she felt him come closer.

A cold hand touched her chin. Eyes wide open in shock when he pulled her chin up to make her look at him. His red eyes then staring straight into hers.

'Strange, Ilkm told me you were anything but quiet.'
'I-Ilkm?' Bulma stuttered confused.
'Yes,' he smirked. A cruel smirk that truly send shivers down her spine.

His face came closer to hers, making her feel his cold breath on her skin, 'Oh, you did not know, dear? He was working for me.'

'Y-you know… everything...? The Saiyans…?'
'Yes, and I have thoroughly enjoyed our games of hide and seek but I feel it has become quite tiring.'

Bulma couldn't utter another word. Her mind tried to think of everything he could know but it hit her hard that he probably knew everything there was to know.
Sensing her despair, his face lit up. Pulling her down to his level, he continued,

'Quite a few informed me of your plans, dear. You didn't think all of them worked willingly for the Saiyans did you?'

Bulma's eyes widened and the voice of Kakarot suddenly echoed in her mind, Everyone has a hidden agenda, Bulma.

'M-my plans..?'
'I would have been following the Saiyans around right now if it weren't for my little spies,' he snickered while taking a lock of her hair and twirling it around his finger. 'You're quite devious for such fragile little thing.'

Suffocated by his proximity and feeling the ground leave underneath her, Bulma almost had to lean on him for support but, midst a few stumbles, she managed to stand tall.

'And a brilliant little thing too from what I've heard. I could tell by how envious Ilkm was when speaking of you, especially about your latest invention… I believe it was a special room to train in? Ilkm spoked so highly of it. Unfortunately, the useless fool died before briefing me about it.'

Speechless, and hardly able to progress the new information, Bulma tried to keep up with what he was saying. Her vision was narrow, only seeing his red eyes. His voice sounded muffled, as if far away, though he was standing closer to her than she felt comfortable with.

Sensing her despair, he let go of her while letting out a low chuckle. Clearly amused, he continued talking,

'He also told me Vegeta was quite fond of you…' He let the words hung into the air, awaiting a reaction that never came.

Bulma's body was so tense she couldn't move a muscle. Afraid she would completely fall apart if she dared to speak or move without thought. Clenching her hands into fists, she tried to muster up the strength to stay strong.

'How is our dear, prince Vegeta?'

When she didn't answer, he turned around and snapped, 'Answer my question!'

Startled, Bulma did so without thought, somehow finding her usual wit in the process.

'He is a King now.'
'Oh, is he, now?'

The taunting undertone made her want to snap back at him but fear stopped her from doing so. Instead she kept her voice steady to show he wasn't getting under her skin… Too much.

'He is prepared to battle you.'

'Still delusional, are they our dear Saiyans?'

His voice was low, void of humor. He turned around and looked out the window, staring at the sight that was Namek.

Bulma sensed a change in atmosphere. It seemed that, despite his reputation and behavior, the idea of them fighting did not sit well with him.

'No worries, dear,' he said when noticing her silence, 'He is no match for me.'

'What makes you think that? Maybe he has become much stronger than you think?' Bulma asked daringly, thus keeping her tone light and innocent to not anger him.

She felt as if she was talking to the highest level of being, even though she knew he was the lowest of the lowest. Yet, he demanded a certain respect she couldn't quite deny him. She had no choice but to fear him.

Unconsciously touching her lower abdomen, she became aware that this was the only way to approach him and stay safe from harm. She mustn't anger him in any way.

'So our dear Prince has finally become a King,' he murmured, as if lost in thought suddenly.

Bulma awkwardly stood behind him, keeping her eyes on the white alien at all times. He placed his hands behind his back. His tail began to flicker again, which made her heart race again too.

Eying him blatantly now that his eyes were no longer on her, she noted how short he was. How small his hands were. Finding it quite ironic this being was capable of destroying entire planets. Appearance meant nothing in this universe.

His devilish horns, the red eyes and the burning rage that lingered in them, told her she was in the company of the greatest evil.

'He was always such proud young boy,' Frieza said, still not looking at her. 'Such a stubborn child too.'
It almost sounded as if he was reminiscing about the past. Worst of all, he made it sound as if he had taken care of Vegeta, when in reality he had kept him captive, abducted him from his home...

'He was so quiet in the beginning,' this time he turned his head around and gave her a sympathetic look, as if the memory pained him.
The fire flickering inside his eyes out of pure delight, was haunting.

'Would you like to know more?'

Frowning at his question, not sure what he meant by that, but intrigued she nodded for him to continue.

'Our dear Saiyans weren't very willing in the beginning of our collaboration. But what choice did they have? No one alive is strong enough to defeat me…' he tiredly sighed.
'They followed orders but not as precise as I wanted them to. So, to make them understand, I had to take something that held great value to them... Besides, I could tell that with their barbaric culture, Vegeta would not live up to his potential.'

'You had to? You mean take him from his planet…?' Bulma asked, though she felt an anger burn inside of her, her voice stayed even and polite.

'Yes,' he answered with a grin. 'You see, here he learned how to be a real warrior, as our Saiyans like to call themselves, despite being so… cowardly. Here, he was no prince. Here, he learned the hard way what failure meant. And here, he became a true fighter!'

The delight in his tone and the amusement that shone in his eyes made her want to turn around and run. And she could tell that he could see how his words were affecting her, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

'When he just arrived, he was so quiet. I could tell he was…' he let out a snicker at the memory, 'petrified. But he would always put on such a brave façade. Even when they ridiculed him, he never succumbed and always kept his head high. Such a brave boy. However, over time he became more arrogant. He did obey the rules but pushed the limits… I guess you can take the Saiyan out of the planet but not the Saiyan out of the boy.'

The maliciousness he spoke with made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up again, the coldness made her shiver uncontrollably. Never before had she encountered such a vile creature.

As she closed her eyes to calm herself, she imagined the scene from the past; Vegeta, proud but young, and probably indeed scared, in the hands of man who took out his anger on an innocent boy because of wounded pride. She could tell he couldn't stand the fact the Saiyans had never fully submitted to him.

'I raised him well and how did they thank me? With a sneak attack,' he spat, obviously still angered. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted himself, becoming calm again and continuing with his false story.

'But I gave them back a man worthy of his title! I gave them their Saiyan Prince! But then of course,' he let out a forced sigh, 'The Saiyan Prince had forgotten all about them... So, their operation had been rather useless. Poor Vegeta, alienated to his own race. Always claiming he was the prince, the second highest seat in royalty, only to finally return and understand… he had forgotten all about his home-planet.'

Bulma heart ached, suddenly understanding Vegeta's anger and frustration much better. He felt like he didn't truly belong anywhere. And all because of this man, who had no right or real reason for the despicable actions that he took other than his insatiable greed.

'He was just a little boy when you took him away…' Bulma whispered, still in disbelief of what had happened to Vegeta. This all pained her so much.

'But that was his father's fault,' Frieza said, his voice being slightly higher while his tail flickered in anger.
'Don't worry, dear,' he said when seeing her grit her teeth, 'Vegeta feels the same way. He blamed his father for the longest time and I'm not quite sure if he has forgiven him… After all, isn't the King supposed to be strongest? Is he not the one capable of saving all? He let me take his son without a fight. Vegeta was young,' he hissed, 'but not that young…'

That is why he is willing to sacrifice it all… That is why thinks it's solely his duty, as King, to defeat this horrible man…

'You've manipulated them,' Bulma whispered, suddenly aware their gap had disappeared, and he was once again standing right before her. 'You toyed with them… Out of pure maliciousness! Because you can and so you did…' Her voice cracked and it took her a second to realize she was crying. 'Why…?'

'Because they must learn, dear,' he said, wiping away a tear with his purple nail. His red eyes wandered over her face, as if mesmerized by her grief.

The past was far more complex than she had imagined. Her heart ached when thinking of how one man had disrupted not only a family but an entire race. All the Saiyans had ended up suffering, Kakarot's claims of Vegeta's obsession, Vegeta's quest for power… She now fully understood the root of their pain.

All was in shreds. All was agony. And all because of this man.

'Your one of those fragile, sensitive things…' he murmured, captivated by her tears. Twirling a lock of hair around his finger again, he took in her blue hair. A teardrop landed on his other hand, that cupped her cheek. Squeezing her eyes shut, Bulma tried to block out his movements but he then grabbed her by the neck and pulled her closer. His cold breath startled her and with wide eyes she stared straight into his red malevolent ones.

'Mostly I found creatures like you a nuisance but there are times I find their company enjoyable…' Bulma tried to loosen herself from his grip but with a sturdy hand he pulled her close again, 'Creatures like you intend to cling on to hope because… well, what else do they have? Hm?'
Grabbing her wrist that she had been holding before her lower abdomen, 'Is that what you do too?'

Uncertain of his intentions, hoping he was only out to scare her, Bulma couldn't help but try and struggle out of his grip, though knowing it was completely useless.

Frieza then placed his free hand on her lower stomach where her own hand had been. Watching her go in complete shock, he gave her a cruel smirk while roughly claiming his place.
'Don't worry, dear. Your son will be just fine,' he grinned while Bulma's eyes widen.
'Unlike Vegeta, his mother will be here to guide him and make him understand who it is he is to obey.'

No, no…! H-e can't… He can't have you! I won't allow it! I don't want you to go through the same things…! I have to protect you!

Even in her mind, her voice was quiet and wavering. His red eyes became a blur and she couldn't stop herself from sobbing.

'After all, you are a genius. You'll do what is right for him, won't you, dear?' Frieza continued, clearly enjoying her breakdown.

Bulma could only shake her head while his cold hands stayed firmly in place, making it clear that he wouldn't be letting her go. Not just physically. This monster loved digging his claws into people's life and turning them upside down. If her child were to fall in his hands, he'd turn him into one of his soldiers.

'P-please, don't,' Bulma whispered, ready to beg for the life of her child.

'Don't worry, dear. You'll have good life, if you behave properly.'

A chill ran down her spine and not just because of the memory those words evoked.
His hand on her lower stomach finally left, which immediately gave her a sense of relief. While his other hand untwined from her hair but went over her shoulder, arm to eventually take her hand and hold it up, his eyes wandering over her and taking in her full appearance.

'But let's first get you into something else than those rags that Saiyans call clothing,' he murmured when eying her.

She knew that statement wasn't truly about the clothes she was wearing but about what they represented. The Saiyan Empire. He wanted to show off he now owned her. The mind games of this man was sickening.

'After all, now that you are carrying Vegeta's child, doesn't that make you royalty? The Queen of Saiyans!' He let out a low chuckle. 'Oh, how hilarious! Those poor Saiyans! Hm, perhaps it is a good thing that they are no longer around to witness the atrocity of having a weak fragile woman as their Queen!'

Bulma let the words go over her, not letting herself submit so easily to his verbal torture. All she could think of now was her child. …And Vegeta.

Suddenly he pulled her hand harshly. Only now Bulma realized she had closed her eyes to imagine herself being anywhere else but here. She had imagined being with Vegeta again, while traveling to Namek.

Not like being ignored, he invaded her personal space again. Bulma knew better than to respond to his actions but his mere presence made it impossible for her to not squirm. When his cold breath would touch her skin, she'd shrink in fear. Avoiding eye-contact was something he clearly disliked because he ended grabbing her by the face again, more roughly than before.

When their eyes met, he continued on with his vile attempts,

'But, do tell me, dear… What should we do with our Saiyan King?'

Bulma frowned, not understanding where he was going with this. Her brain had made the connection that his only plan was to destroy every Saiyan and keeping her child as a trophy of his victory. A sick memento of some sorts.

'W-what do you mean?'

'Well, I mean, I could finally kill him but…' his face itched closer, making her wince in response. 'But perhaps it would be nice of me to let him live and see his child grow up and turn into a true warrior.'

'W-why would you do that?' Bulma asked, knowing there was more to it.

'Because then your son could kill him.'

_