If it wasn’t for the three Aurelians, we’d all be burning alive right now.
Moments ago, I was nearly taken by the Aurelians – claimed in ways I’d never even known I wanted. The decisive way that Hadone simply pulled me into the tent, like he was a caveman simply claiming his property, was like a primordial switch being turned on in my mind. I never knew I needed to be taken so badly – claimed with rough desire.
I wanted it – I can hardly believe that.
Now I look at their strong, powerful bodies, and notice the white of their ivory skin reflecting the fire of the burning city behind us.
I’d spent my whole life hating Aurelians. Now, I feel something else. It’s not just lust. No, when the Capital came to burn us, these three powerful men had came to save us.
I don’t know where they’re from, or how they got here, but I do know that I have to keep them away from the Capital’s military.
They saved my life. Now I have to save theirs.
I’d thought originally that I could make the soldiers of the Capital see reason when they encountered these Aurelians. Now I see how futile that hope had been.
Watching the firebombing of my own city has chased that thought out of my mind. The troops were willing to burn their own city, including all the inhabitants inside. Of course, they’d kill these Aurelians on sight.
Tears come to my eyes, and a sob wracks me. I had no love for Barl, yet I feel deep sadness for those betrayed by their rulers.
It was a city I lived in out of necessity, not out of choice – but I still sob. I weep not only for the city, and not only for Edgar. I sob because I have no idea what to do now.
My plan had been to get the orphans to the Capital, where they could be safe. Now, I have no trust left in my mind. If the government of my own people was willing to burn down an entire city to stop the Scorp – potentially killing millions of innocents rather than send in troops – then the Capital is no longer a safe haven. It’s another trap.
The Capital have revealed themselves to be no less dangerous than the Scorp.
“I guess we can… can live out in the woods…” I whisper the words to myself, knowing they aren’t feasible.
These three Aurelians might be able to take care of us out in the middle of nowhere, but what kind of a life is that? The huge aliens stand out – and if anyone saw us, they’d would report the sight to the authorities.
Anti-Aurelian sentiment has never been stronger. If a hunter stumbled on us and witnessed us, we’d face a terrible choice – silence the hunter, or await Capital troops to come hunting us.
Hadone wraps me up in his huge arms from behind, hugging me tightly to his powerful body. I let go, collapsing into his arms. Ragged sobs leave my chest, and huge tears roll down my cheeks.
I’m ashamed of my weakness, but I need the catharsis of tears.
I’d once thought of women who cried as being too emotional. They reminded me of those noble ladies who had the luxury of being weak.
But now, as I sob, I don’t feel weak.
I just feel empty. Betrayed.
Hadone holds me, whispering gently in his language. As he holds me, I look down at the scars on his forearms. They’re a stark white, barely visible against his ivory skin. I can see his veins through his skin, the green blood pulsing just beneath the surface. His tattoos, which run in intricate patterns across his flesh, glow a faintish green.
I realize each cut on his arm, each scar, was a battle won. Hadone speaks in his language, and I ache to understand him. I ache for this towering warrior to tell me how to move past this. He must have had a thousand tragedies in his life. I can sense the violence in him. I can sense the rage, barely controlled, beneath his surface. I can feel how part of him craves to die in glorious battle.
I wish I had the power to make him ache that way for life, instead.
Darok moves in front of me, blocking the view of the inferno. I can see him starkly illuminated against the background of fire and blood. Darok moves his hand gently against my cheek, wiping up tears as they roll down my cheeks, one by one. He smiles at me – giving me, for the first time, a sad glimpse of empathy that reveals he understands what I’m going through.
It’s funny - Darok used to look at me with such suspicion. I don’t think I could have handled another set of judging eyes; but it turns out I didn’t need to. Now, Darok stares at me like I’m a possession he needs desperately to keep safe.
“We have to… We have to get back to hiding,” I say, as I hear heli-ships returning from their ghastly mission.
Hadone gently unwraps his arms from around me and leads me back into the lean-to structure. Thank the Gods it’s camouflaged so expertly. Surely there’s no way the heli-ships will be able to spot it from above – especially not beneath this canopy of trees.
The kids duck inside their shelter, and we return to ours.
Inside, we find Forn still in a deep, healing slumber, and I nod towards him, happy that he hasn’t woken yet. Forn is strong, and young – and I’m hopeful he’ll make a full recovery once he’s rested and eaten. I know he will – I have to know it. I have to believe that he will, because imagining the man who saved my life having his own snuffed out before I get the chance to truly… be with him is too painful to think about.
Be with him. I
