Disclaimer: I don't own Riddick, I don't own Vaako... more's the pity. I only have a claim on Aurora

Thank you to everyone who reviewed. It meant more than you know. Sorry if this chapter isn't up to my regular standards. I'm trying to get back on the horse so to speak and there's no time like the present. I'll fix anything needing fixing when I'm back in the swing of things.

Chapter 7

Vaako paced restless and agitated, Riddick's words and mocking laughter echoing in his mind. The night had been a revelation of sorts… he was losing his damn mind. That was the only logical explanation for his response to the creature lying in the other room. Passing the doorway separating them he once again fought the urge to cross the threshold and watch her sleep. It was a losing battle and he knew it. Gritting his teeth on the third pass he gave it up and stepped into the other room.

Standing in the shadows he watched her. Curled into a ball, hands fisted under her chin she looked impossibly young and fragile. Lip twitching at that last thought, he heaved a sigh. Fragile didn't get you a busted nose and sore groin.

Stepping closer, he took advantage of the opportunity to study her. Searching in vain for the reason he felt such conflicting impulses. Half of him wanted to get the hell out of there and the other half… well he wasn't willing to consider what the other half wanted.

Realizing the girl was shivering in her sleep made him… uncomfortable. Telling himself he was merely seeing to his properties wellbeing, he crossed to the trunk at the foot of his bed, grabbed a thick blanket and draped it across her. Letting his hand linger for the briefest moment where it lay on her shoulder. Allowing himself to succumb to weakness, he gave into the impulse to touch. Just this once, he thought as he brushed his fingers along her jaw lightly, soaking in the feel of her soft skin. The sigh she let out as his hand traversed her skin gave him pause. Shifting in her sleep, she pulled the blanket closer letting out another sigh the tension easing from her body.

Once again, Aurora found herself glancing at the pale figure striding down the hall beside her. Since the morning she'd woken to find that blanket draped over her, an uneasy truce had settled between them. She kept her distance and he kept his; which would have worked out great if it weren't for the Lord Marshal's little games. The way those predatory silver eyes passed over her, smirk curving sensual lips... it didn't take a genius to figure out the man was fucking with them and enjoying every second of watching them squirm.

Sighing, she tried once again to figure out what it was about Vaako that seemed to draw her. She'd been aware of his presence from the moment she stepped into the throne room. She had 'felt' him... Christ, even thinking about it had her head spinning. None of it made sense. How can you feel drawn to someone you've never seen before? But drawn she'd been and it was that unexpected feeling that forced her eyes from the floor in the first place. There was something there, something indefinable. He was striking enough she supposed with an inward shrug. Hell, it would be a comfort to say it had been his looks that drew her. Then she could dismiss the whole thing. But it wasn't, so she couldn't, and once again she was back to square one.

Turning her attention to the Lord Marshal prowling down the hallway in front of them she could barely restrain her snort. What that man did was worse than strutting. Pure animal grace and male arrogance... the combination had a devastating affect on the women watching him pass and that cocky bastard knew it. Knew it… and didn't seem to care.

The warning when it came was like a whisper against her mind. Steps faltering, her eyes darted around trying to find the source of her foreboding. Nothing seemed out of place at first glance but she couldn't shake the feeling creeping slowly up her spine. Sweeping her eyes around again, she caught sight of Riddick cocking his head to the side as if he were listening for something. Shit, that's not a good sign. The feeling something was off intensified as they continued down the hall approaching the arching balconies overlooking the throne room. As they passed under, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled, the whispered warning becoming a scream in her mind. Instinct had her whipping around in time to see a Necromonger jumping from the balcony towards Vaako, knife raised, murderous intent twisting his features into a vicious scowl.

Throwing herself into Vaako and knocking him back, she grabbed desperately at the man's wrist as the knife descended, trying to deflect the blow. Fuck me, she thought feeling the knife sink deep into her flesh.

Roaring in anger the Necromonger pulled the blade free, back handing the infuriating woman, sending her skidding across the floor.

Turning, Vaako saw the knife raise, blood spraying off it in a crimson arc as Aurora sailed past. Forcing his eyes from where she landed, he turned to face the attacker.

"You think to challenge me Toal?"

"Challenge Vaako?" Toal's voice was mocking. "Challenges are for the worthy. I'm here to put you down."

Tilting his head to the side, Vaako allowed a self deprecating smile to pass his lips "worthy indeed."

It had been inevitable his position as First among Commanders would be challenged. Hell, he'd expected that challenge to come long before now but he had never suspected Toal. He'd thought the man had a better sense of self preservation than this. As many times as they'd spared during training the man had never come out on top. A fool and a coward, he mused shaking his head as he slipped his own blade free.

"So you would be First?" Vaako asked casually, loosening his stance. Flicking his eyes toward the blood dripping off Toal's knife Vaako clenched his hand around his own blade struggling to maintain control. "You are a fool Toal" he murmured, voice deceptively soft.

"I will be First" Toal responded arrogantly. Rushing Vaako, he had only a second to register his mistake before he felt the bite of Vaako's blade sliding across his throat.

Vaako held Toal tight against his chest feeling triumph and disgust pulse through him as the man bled out. "You would be First Toal, and so you are" he whispered into the man's ear. "But just the first to die and you die a coward's death."

Letting the man drop, Vaako addressed the Necros ringing the site. "Anyone else feel the need to challenge my position?" he asked voice harsh as he stared them down. One by one they all looked away.

Vaako moved with such fluid grace Riddick had to admit he was almost impressed. Grabbing the man's arm and using his momentum against him, he'd forced him around sliding up behind Toal with practiced ease and slitting his throat before the poor bastard knew what'd happened to him. The way the man's eyes widened in shock, mouth opening and closing as he tried to speak past the blood bubbling out made Riddick grin.

Turning from the mess lying at his feet Vaako saw Riddick standing causally over Aurora, arms crossed over his chest, expression somehow managing to convey boredom and amusement all at once.

Propped up against the wall, the girl sat hand pressed to the wound on her shoulder. Taking in her pale face and the blood seeping through her fingers Vaako's mind ground to a halt.

"She'll live" Riddick drawled, amusement winning out at the dumbstruck expression on his First's face.

"Why?" Vaako's voice scraped out. His throat tightening up as he strode over to them.

Dark weary eyes rose toward his briefly before darting away. Why? She thought… such a simple question but there was no simple answer. So much blood stained her hands...so much guilt. She couldn't let Vaako die the way so many of her marks had.

Kneeling in front of her, Vaako grabbed Aurora's chin forcing her to face him. "Why?" he demanded again voice harsh.

'He had no honor' she replied after a moment's pause, expression distant.

Looking toward Riddick, he waited for the other man to translate, but Riddick just continued looking at the girl speculatively. "Well?" Vaako barked out impatiently.

Flicking his eyes briefly toward his First, Riddick smirked. "You guys really need to learn to communicate; this go between shit is gettin old."

"What did she say?" Vaako ground out, frustration rising.

"She said he had no honor" Riddick replied deadpan, look going from speculative to assessing as he leveled his eyes on Vaako. Watching as the poor fuck struggled to absorb the significance of that statement. Turning away with another shake of his head he called over his shoulder "I'll have medical supplies sent to your quarters..."