Beast Planet 2: Captive Salvation (4 page)

“Abby told me you would like these.”

It was foolish, I know, but I couldn’t help but squeal in girlish glee at sight of real clothes. I jumped up, peppering his face with kisses.

“Oh Morrdrook, I love it! Thank you, thank you!”

His chest puffed up with pride as I pulled away, tugging the garments from his hands. I slid the skirt over my hips—a perfect fit—and tugged the blouse over my head. It hung just off my shoulder, making me feel like a sexy gypsy woman.

There were two other sets of clothing: one in the same stonewash pattern in pale blue, the other in an earthy red.

I twirled around, flaring the skirt, before throwing myself back into his arms. “Where did you get these?”

“There are machine to make clothes.” He smiled sheepishly. “Abby helped choose what style. I also get these for your pretty hair.” He held up matching strips of cloth. I couldn’t have been more delighted.

“You’re the best husband a woman could have.” I kissed him and the kiss quickly turned to desire. Before I could draw breath, he snatched me up and carried me back to bed.

* * * *

The men had gathered in the meal hall to discuss and make plans on how best to attack the Druel drone towers and force-field walls which kept us penned into one area. So Abby and I decided to pay a visit to Sarah.

“How’s she doing?” I didn’t know why I was whispering, maybe because it seemed more respectful.

Abby and I stood outside Sarah and Bular’s home. I held a bouquet of sweet smelling flowers. Morrdrook had shown me which ones I could pick and which ones to leave alone, due to their toxic nature.

Abby shrugged. “Last I saw, she was withdrawn and unresponsive, but Bular seemed capable of looking after her physical needs. It was best to give them space to settle down and hopefully it would help with Sarah’s grief.”

My heart ached for both Rita and Sarah, knowing if Morrdrook was ever ripped from my life in such a brutal fashion, I didn’t know how I would cope. Lending our support and letting her know we are here for her, was the best we could do.

Abby glanced at me, her face mirroring the concern I felt. She raised her hand and knocked on the door. I heard a few heavy footsteps before the door was ripped open. Bular scowled down at us.

“We’ve come to see how Sarah’s doing, if that’s okay?” I meet Bular’s gaze, his expression morphed into one of a man in need and pleading for help.

“Yes, come. I cannot get her to eat. Perhaps you can. She is in bed and lies there, staring at the wall.” He stepped back to allow us in.

I climbed the steps and Abby followed me in. As all the houses were the same, it was easy to locate Sarah. Just as Bular said, she was lying on her side. Her blue eyes open, staring at the wall.

“Sarah? It’s Abby and Anna.” She blinked, her eyes darting over us, but said nothing and went back to staring at the wall.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and pushed her blond hair out of her face. Her eyes were sunken and vacant.

“I know it’s a hard right now, but you can’t neglect your health. You have to eat something.” I kept my voice calm and gentle.

Bular entered holding a cup of sweet-smelling juice from the strange cactus plant, which grew all around the village.

“Has she cried at all? Any expression of grief?” Abby questioned Bular.

He shook his large head, his blue eyes saddened as he gazed at Sarah.

“Can you get her to drink this?” He handed me the cup.

“Sarah, please drink this, it’ll make you feel better.”

She blinked again and said nothing.

“Sarah,” Abby used her matter-of-fact tone, “If you don’t start taking something, I’ll have no choice but to get Bular to take you to the medical facility here in the village and force nutrition into you.”

Sarah’s face turned down into a frown. She glanced over at Abby who stood by Bular.

“You wouldn’t,” she whispered.

Abby folded her arms. “You better believe I will, and Bular will too. Won’t you?”

“Yes, I have to do what is best for you, Sarah.”

Anger darkened Sarah’s pretty features. She sat up and shoved me off the bed, with surprising strength. I managed not to spill the drink as I jumped to my feet.

“Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?” Venom dripped from her words.

“We’re your friends who happen to care about what happens to you. I am so sorry you lost Barooki. But you can’t let the bastard Druel win. They are the ones who murdered him and every other fighter in their stupid games.”

Sarah stared at me wide-eyed for a long moment. I didn’t realize my hands were shaking until she reached out and took the cup from my fingers.

“If I drink this will you get the hell out and leave me alone?”

“For now.” Abby nodded in self-assurance. “I’ll keep a closer eye on your health. Bular will tell me if you don’t look after yourself, or let him look after you.”

“I do not expect to touch you, Sarah. I know you cared deeply for Barooki. He was my Zakiu brother. I too mourn his loss.”

Sarah snorted, but drank the juice and handed back the cup.

“Now, will you please leave?” She lay back down and turned to stare at the wall again.

I sighed and turned away, but not before setting the flowers down on the end of the bed, wishing there was more we could do.

I felt bad enough at Abby having to bully her into taking food…but whatever worked to keep her alive and healthy.

“We’re here if you need us,” I said before slipping around Bular towards the front door.

“Thank you both,” Bular rumbled as he followed behind.

“These things take time, Bular. Thank you for looking after her.” Abby smiled up at the big guy and patted his arm. “But come get me if she refuses to eat again.”

Bular nodded and opened the front door.

Walking back towards the meal room, we saw the men exiting the meal hall, wearing determined expressions. I felt my stomach pitch, knowing they had decided on a course of action.

Chapter Four

“You’re just going to attack all at once.” I stood at the kitchen sink, arms folded and glaring at Morrdrook. “And have you tried to do this before?”

“Long ago, when I was still a bud, it was attempted.” Morrdrook’s confession didn’t leave me feeling any better.

“It obviously didn’t work. So what makes this time different?”

I don’t know if I was worrying for nothing, but after seeing Sarah in her state of grief, I didn’t want to lose Morrdrook in some foolish attempt to break free from the Druel.

“We will gather the material we need and make solid weapons to strike down the machines. Do not worry yourself, my Aunna, this time it will work. We will break free and hide in mountains beyond. It is where the great city of Zakiu once stood.”

His eyes shone with confidence as he moved in to surround me with his warmth, turning me in his arms to slide his hand protectively over my stomach. His chin resting on top of my head.

I sighed and relaxed into his embrace. It was here I felt safest, protected from the heartless universe beyond.

“How long will it take before you and the others are ready?”

“Druel may think they are smart leaving us no weapons, but we are smarter and know how to make good solid weapons.”

I turned in his arms and craned back my neck to look into his eyes. “A sword against a robot with energy weapon?”

A grin spread over his handsome face. “Not just sword, trust me. If we can fight Hurl beasts, then Druel machines easy.”

“I know I shouldn’t doubt. This
will
work, but I worry one day you won’t come back to me. I’m frightened of losing you.”

“Trust me.”

“Yes, of course.” There was no hesitation in my heart or mind.

“Trust, I will always come back.”

I gave him my best smile, wrapping my arms around his waist, laying my ear over his heart.

* * * *

The next few days passed in a blur. As the activity increased, men came and went from the village, carting things they needed into a more secluded part of the jungle area of our sectioned land. They built what Morrdrook called a heat dome. I smiled, realizing as the structure grew into a seven foot mound, packed with moss and dirt, that it was a forge. A furnace to melt and mold metal into whatever weapon they wanted.

To make matters worse, morning sickness hit with full force. My over-protective Morrdrook worried franticly, and refused to leave my side.

Abby, who seemed to only suffer mild nausea, tried to keep him calm by explaining it was a natural process in human pregnancy.

It was God-awful. My head spun and my mouth was dry. I could hardly walk in the morning without my stomach feeling like it was being tossed by ten foot waves.

Lucky chirped unhappily, as if sensing my distress, and purred into my shoulder, trying to comfort me.

At least in the afternoons, I felt better and insisted that Morrdrook left me with the other women and help with the building of the forge. Those who wanted to help did the best they could. There was a lot of old scrap metal heaped in a pile, left over from the building of the village. A few of the other women and I sorted through the pile, finding smaller pieces which the Zakiu could turn into projectiles.

The men, of course, wouldn’t let any of the women lift anything too heavy. But they realized we needed to be a part of this as much as they did.

We worked for days, sorting it out, and moving it to the forge. A few days later, a steady stream of black smoke and the clear ringing of metal being struck rose from the jungle. The weapon-making had begun.

While the bulk of the men were over at the forge, the women milled around the village; cooking, cleaning, chatting and keeping each other company.

Abby, Joan and I were in the meal hall, peeling and preparing parppa root. Killiu had shown us how to search for the plant in the fields, dig it up and prepare it.

“I love this stuff. I swear it’s better than an Irish potato.”

“How can a potato be Irish?” Joan waved her peeling knife at Abby. “A potato is a potato, whether it’s in Ireland or America.”

Abby face split into a wide grin, “Oh woman, you’ve never had a potato until you’ve come to Ireland and had an Irish one. I’m tellin’ ya now, you’ll never taste anything better than me ma’s old potato patties.”

I burst out laughing.

“But these, I swear, can rival them any day. Made fried ones last night for Nular.” She thrust the root she held high into the air. “I hereby declare this the new Zakiu potato.”

Joan and I laughed so hard at Abby’s antics, tears streamed down our faces and I started feel queasy again.

Bular burst through door. Our laughter died when we saw his wide, frantic face. He glanced wildly around the hall until his gaze falling on us.

“Aunna, Abby, Joan, have you seen Sarah?”

I stood up shaking my head. “She hasn’t been here.”

“She asked for medicine, for pain in her head, but when I got back she was gone.”

“Alright, I’m sure she couldn’t have gone far. We’ll help you look. Abby, go get the other women. We’ll search the village. Bular, go get the men from the mound.” I tried to damp down the panic rising within as I met Bular’s gaze; sensing if we didn’t find Sarah soon, it would not be good.

Abby quickly set down her Zakiu potato and headed out. Bular followed close behind.

I scooped Lucky up, placing the critter on my shoulder, calling out as I passed the houses to any of the women inside. All were more than willing to help search.

By the time we’d searched part of the village, Bular had returned with the men. Morrdrook took charge; ordering several smaller search parties, all heading off in different directions.

“We’ll continue to search through the village.” I told Morrdrook. He nodded, but gave me a pointed look.

“Stay in the village and wait for us to return. She might return here soon. I hope she has simply gone for a walk.” With a swift kiss on my head, he walked towards the mountains.

Oh God, I hoped Morrdrook was right and Sarah had just gone off, as I had done a few times to get some exercise.

We finished our search then doubled back to make sure, but still came up empty-handed. Most of the women went back to their huts. The rest of us sat in a communal circle, positioned outside on logs smoothed out on one side to create a bench. Minutes ticked by like hours.

“What’s taking so long?” Abby was the first to voice her distress at being forced to wait.

“Despite the Druel force field, it’s still a big area to search.” Joan nervously kept scanning the area, hoping Sarah would show up.

I sat quietly, staring in the direction Morrdrook and his party had gone. Every part of me itched to go out and help search. I’d never been one to sit around waiting when I could do something help.

I bounced to my feet and paced. I couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Fuck this, I’m not going to sit around and wait.” I marched after Morrdrook.

“Wait, I’ll go with you.” Abby jogged to catch up with me.

“You’re not leaving me behind.” Joan followed us.

“I hate to say this, but I think I know where to look.”

The other women nodded in agreement, their expressions grim.

We only made it a few feet, when a group of Zakiu emerged from the thick undergrowth. My stomach clenched and my head swam, seeing Bular carrying a limp Sarah in his arms.

In the bright sunlight, I could see her pretty blond hair matted and streaked bright red with fresh blood. Her arms dangled and her wrists hung at an awkward angle.

Abby choked out a sob, running forward to meet the four men. Frozen to the spot, I watched Abby’s trembling fingers reached for Sarah’s throat, obviously feeling for a pulse.

“Oh God, no.” I turned my head to see all color draining from Joan’s face.

Forcing myself to move, I quickly wrapped my arm around her, propping her up before she fell backwards listlessly. I pushed down the bile rising in my throat, facing the clear fact that Sarah was dead.

* * * *

A somber mood fell over the village. The men buried Sarah, placing large boulders over her grave, while saying prayers to the three gods of the moons. Poor Bular stood over her grave. His face a mixture of shock and bewilderment. He couldn’t comprehend why Sarah would want to take her own life. It was clear he blamed himself for not taking proper care of her.