Haven 2: Redemption

by Sandra R Neeley

  “Well, how about you let me look at it, and then we’ll get you some medicine?” Vivian asked softly.

  Rosie hesitated, looking at all the males in the room, then at Vivian. While she liked this woman, she wasn’t sure she could trust her.

  “I don’t want this healer, as you call him, touching me or treating me for anything.”

  “Look, I get it. I do, I really do. And I don’t blame you at all. But if you’re injured, you have to be healed, so the pain will stop. But you can’t see your own back. I can. And I’m not going to hurt you,” Vivian explained.

  Rosie just looked at her, the fear in Rosie’s eyes a very familiar thing to Vivian.

  “Rel? Kail? Somebody got a service dagger they’re not particularly attached to?” Vivian asked, reaching behind herself with her hand out, while still watching Rosie.

  Almost immediately, she felt the weight of a dagger and a sheath placed in her hand. “Here you are, Sirena. She can have mine, I’ll get another after we leave here,” Zahn said quietly.

  “Thank you, Zahn,” Vivian answered.

  Then she held out the dagger and sheath to Rosie. “Here you go. The first thing my husband did to earn my trust was to hand me his dagger and trust me not to cut his throat. So, here, this is my gift to you. I hope it makes you feel at least a little safer while you’re on our ship.”

  Rosie slowly reached out and took the dagger and sheath from Vivian. She looked down at the dagger in her hand, then up at Vivian again.

  “I don’t know what to say,” she answered truthfully.

  “Don’t need to say anything. Just let me look at your back!” Vivian said, laughing.

  Rosie regarded her for a moment before nodding, then looking at the males in the room.

  “Ya’ll wait for me outside this room,” Vivian said without hesitation.

  “Sirena! You cannot expect us to hand an unknown a weapon and then leave you with them!” Rel protested.

  “Kitty’s here. Nobody’s getting through Kitty,” Vivian said with an implied duh at the end of her sentence as she reached down to pet the huge cat rubbing its head against her thigh.

  “But, Sirena! Our Sire will have our heads if you are harmed!” Kail contributed. “I was already in trouble for you sneaking away. He’ll have me whipped this time!”

  Rosie winced at Kail’s outburst.

  “I’ll stay with her,” Kol said. “I’ll stand over here with the doctor, and we’ll both turn our backs. And if the doctor makes a move to touch either, I’ll let Kitty have him,” Kol said, smiling.

  “Deal?” Kol offered.

  “Deal!” Vivian immediately agreed.

  Rosie just looked at them both as though they were insane, her very black, very sculpted and pristine to the point of looking tattooed, eyebrows raised.

  “You can trust him. He’s an Elite Commander, and his woman is still asleep in a room up the hall. All he wants is her,” Vivian said. “Besides, he’s my best friend. Well, other than my Quin.”

  Rosie nodded slowly. “Well, okay then. But I still keep my knife,” she said, raising it slightly.

  “Absolutely. It’s yours,” Vivian agreed. Then Vivian turned on her bodyguards. “Go on, get now. We got medical stuff to do!”

  As one unit, the three males, grumbling under their breath, left the examination room. “If our Sirena is harmed, it is on your head, Kol!” Rel finally shouted from the hallway.

  “Fine, I take full responsibility,” Kol answered, as he walked over to the healer. He put his hand on the healer’s shoulder. “Turn around, look at the cabinets.”

  “How am I to see the injury?” the healer objected.

  “You’re not,” Kol answered, turning his back to the women as well.

  “Okay,” Vivian said, ignoring the grumbles still coming from the hallway. “Show me.”

  “Don’t touch me,” Rosie said.

  “I won’t. Just need to look.”

  “There’s a spot on my back that I can’t reach, and it keeps festering. All I need is some cream or something,” Rosie explained.

  “Okay. And do you have any allergies we should know about?” Vivian asked.

  “No, I’m not allergic to anything, ” Rosie said, turning her back to Vivian and slowly lifting her overly large shirt.

  Chapter 6

  Vivian stood there for a moment, reading the girl’s life story on her body. She took in the fresh injury, but she also took in the old injuries. One looked like a stab wound that had healed years ago. Then there were all the tattoos on the woman’s skin. The multiple piercings in her ears. And she remembered the teardrop tattooed on the woman’s face just below her left eye. This girl reminded her of gang bangers from the nineties. It was not an easy life. And the life she’d obviously been exposed to since being taken was even more brutal. This girl had scars inside and out, no doubt. But maybe, it was the life she’d led on Earth that had helped her survive the hell she’d gone through since her abduction. And from the looks of her back, she’d been through hell.

  “Is that enough? Have you seen what you need to?” Rosie asked.

  Vivian got herself under control. Her own memories brought close to the surface at the sight of Rosie’s injuries. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Can you tell me if it’s hot to the touch? Do you have fever?” she asked Rosie.

  “As far as I can tell, it’s hot. If I lie down, the sheets are boiling almost right away. And I get really cold sometimes even though nobody else seems to be,” Rosie answered. “Can I pull my shirt down now?” she asked.

  “Yes. Go ahead.”

  Rosie pulled her shirt down and turned back to Vivian.

  Vivian ran her own hand through her hair and did not take her eyes from Kitty who had moved to place himself strategically between his person and this new female. “She’s got open welts from a whip. They’re inflamed and swollen. Some of the skin has begun to heal, but not all. She’s got multiple bite marks that are also trying to heal. Some of the skin that’s not yet healed is dried on the edges, darkening, and there is a redness to the whole area. She needs antibiotics and any kind of pain reliever you can offer.”

  With a voice full of sarcastic contempt, the healer dared to defy Vivian. “I still cannot issue any medicines as I have not examined her! I do not know of her medical history!”

  “Listen you little sawed-off bastard!” Vivian snarled, spinning and marching toward Kol and the healer, all the emotion she’d managed to contain spilling over at the still-resistant doctor. “I don’t give a damn who the hell you think you are. But you obviously don’t know who I am. I am Vivian, Sirena of the planet Cruestace. I am the Warriors’ Sirena, and mate to Sire Zha Quin Tha Tel Mo’ Kok! I am the protector of every single one of these women. When they are mistreated, disrespected or mishandled, I am mistreated, disrespected and mishandled. You want to have a standoff with me? Let’s do it. I can guarantee you who will win!”

  The healer stuttered. “I mean no disrespect.”

  “Of course you do. You have not got an empathetic bone in your body. It’s all about your haughtiness because you think you’re above us all. Well, guess what? There’s more than one healer, and I’ll have Quin find another. Now give her the damned medicine!”

  Kol had grabbed the healer by the back of the neck when he’d spoken disrespectfully to Vivi, and he turned the healer toward the cabinet. “Be sure you choose only what she needs,” Kol encouraged. “You are dangerously close to being ejected from the airlocks.”

  Hurriedly the healer rummaged through the cabinet, turning to Vivian and handing her creams and holding up an injection.

  “No. That isn’t going to work. She needs oral antibiotics,” Vivian said.

  “They are in the next storage room,” the healer answered.

  “Get them,” Vivian insisted, taking the creams from him.

  The moment the door opened, it was filled with three still-agitated males.

  “He’s going to get some antibiotics
from the room next door,” Vivian told her guards.

  “I’ll help,” Rel offered in a stern voice.

  “Excellent idea!” Vivian said. Her voice had an easiness to it that her expression belied.

  Vivian turned back to Rosie. “I’m sorry. Not all of the males of our planet are familiar with what you and the other females we rescued have been through. They just don’t get it unless they’ve seen it themselves. But, I understand. And I will always stand on your behalf, as will my Quin.”

  Rosie watched her, watched the males protecting her, the other male who had a woman in medical in another room. She thought about all the things Vivian had said when she stood up to the doctor on her behalf. And she put together all the pieces. “Are you a queen or something?” she asked, in her Brooklyn accent.

  Vivian smiled. “No. That would be my mother-in-law.”

  “Ahhh, so you’re a princess! Okay, I get it,” Rosie said.

  The healer came back in and handed Vivian a bottle of pills. “This should help the infection, though an injection would begin working right away and would be preferable.”

  “You want a shot?” Vivian asked Rosie.

  “Hell no!” she answered without hesitation.

  “We’ll take the pills,” Vivian said to the healer.

  Vivian handed the packets of cream and the pills to Rosie. “I don’t know how you’re going to get the cream on the wounds, but here they are. And take the pills one every…” she paused looking over her shoulder at the healer waiting for him to jump in.

  “Each morning and night. It is an antiquated form of healing. She should take an injection,” he objected again.

  Vivian looked at Rosie, who shook her head very quickly.

  “Pills it is. Thank you for trusting me, Rosie. I’m very, very sorry you’re in this situation, but I’ve been there, and it does get better. I’m always here if you need anything from cream application to what foods you may or may not like in the cafeteria.”

  “The commissary,” Kail provided from behind her.

  Vivian rolled her eyes. “And now that Kail has corrected me again, it’s reminded me to tell you that you are safe from the males on board Command Warship 1. They all saw me and the situation I was in. They all saw each of you rescued and/or coming aboard before you awoke. These males do not take the abuse of women lightly. They were furious on your behalf. There is not a single male left alive from the ship you were on. They will not hurt you. They will not touch you. They may try to gain your favor, but a simple no will turn them away quickly. They are honorable males.”

  Rosie’s eyes drifted to the healer.

  “Yes, well, he wasn’t here then. And he’s a jerk. He’s leaving soon anyway.”

  Rosie nodded. “Okay, then. Thank you, Vivian.”

  “You’re welcome. Hey! Where are you from?” Vivian asked.

  “New York, Brooklyn,” Rosie said.

  “I knew it! Your accent gave you away!” Vivian said, grinning. Kitty rubbed against her hand and Vivian stroked the long silky fur between his ears.

  “What is that?” Rosie asked.

  “This is Kitty. He’s my kitty. Actually, though, I’m told he’s a shraler, and if he doesn’t like someone, he can bite them or sting them and inject venom into them. But usually, he’s okay with anyone I’m okay with.”

  Rosie looked down at the very large, very monsterish cat. “Hi, Kitty,” she ventured.

  Kitty opened his mouth and let out a soft mewl in response, bumping his head against her leg.

  “Gotta get me one of those,” Rosie said to no one in particular as she reached down and patted Kitty’s head.

  “Do you want an escort back to your rooms?” Vivian offered.

  “No, thank you. We’re good.” Rosie headed toward the door and put her back to the wall to slip past the males who immediately stepped aside to make room for her and the other women. “Thanks for this,” she said to Vivian, holding up the medicines.

  “You’re welcome. And remember, if you need me, all you have to do is ask the ship’s computer to tell me you want me and to tell me where you are.”

  Rosie’s expression turned confused. “How would I do that?”

  “Like this. ‘Missy!’”

  “Yes, Vivian,” the computer immediately answered.

  “You can tell Rosie where I am if she needs me, can’t you?” Vivian asked.

  “If you instruct Rosie to speak to me, I will identify her voice patterns and will respond to her need of you if she requests it.”

  “That is so cool!” Rosie said, looking at the ceiling above their heads.

  “That was Rosie, Missy,” Vivian said.

  Not thirty seconds later the computer responded. “Rosie — is identified. Should she need you, she only has to ask.”

  “Synclare, you want to be identified, too?” Vivian asked.

  Synclare thought about it. It might not be a bad idea to have an in with the princess of the aliens who’d found them. “Yes, please,” she answered.

  “Missy, please add Synclare’s voice to recognition also.”

  Synclare spoke to Missy. “Hi, Missy. I’m Synclare.”

  Thirty seconds later Missy responded. “Hello, Synclare. You’ve been identified in our voice recognition database.”

  “Thank you, Missy,” Vivian answered. Then she looked at the other three women with Rosie and Synclare. “Anybody else want to be added?”

  All three shook their heads. One of them mumbled a barely audible, ‘No, thank you’.

  Vivian thought about it then grinned. “Missy”

  “Yes, Sirena Vivian,” Missy responded.

  “If any female speaks to you and asks for me, tell me immediately.”

  “Yes, Sirena. I’ve noted that command.”

  “There, all done,” Vivian said, smiling at the group of women.

  “Thank you, Vivian,” Rosie said.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Rosie stood aside and waited for the other women to precede her out of medical, then began to follow them, but before she got out of the medical suite altogether, she turned back to Vivian, who was watching her go from the opposite end of the hall. “I didn’t think I’d ever need to tell anyone again because it wouldn’t really matter. But my full name is Rosalita Consuela Contreras-Villanueva.”

  Vivian smiled. “That’s a beautiful name, Rosie. Very pretty.”

  Rosie nodded, smiled at Vivian, then she was gone, ducking through the hydraulic doors and following the women that had already started down the corridor.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Rokai ahl leisurely strolled down the corridor escorted by several males both in front of and behind him and Gaishon. He paid particular attention to all the exits and intersecting hallways, as well as the locations of the lifts. He noted the doors they passed along the way, and if they were marked as public areas, what they were. As they passed the medical suite, several females were walking down the corridor toward them. They were speaking softly amongst themselves and smiling. Rokai took a fleeting notice. It was apparent they feared him when they became completely silent as he passed them. He noticed the way they became silent once they realized they were alone in the corridor, and immediately recognized their behavior as the result of abuse. He’d seen many people, not just females who tried to shrink into the surroundings and become invisible any time they encountered anyone, as a result of the pain they’d endured. He gave them what they wanted and pretended he didn’t see them.

  Then a female darted out of the hydraulic doors up ahead. This female he could not ignore. Her hands were full of medication, and she paid no attention to him as she passed. She walked confidently down the hallway, her head held high, an air of danger about her that he found particularly enticing. Rokai stopped walking to turn and watch her move silently past. He cocked his head to the side, almost laying it on his own shoulder to get a better view of her as she walked further and further away from him.

  Suddenly, his view was
blocked by a dark grey uniform shirt. He raised his head and met the eyes of the male wearing it.

  “Don’t get any ideas. All the females aboard this ship were rescued from severe abuse. They are with us until they determine where they’d like to go. They are not interested in you or any other male. And any of us would cut your throat if you even consider taking advantage of one. We rescued them. We saw what they endured. They do not need you adding to their problems.”

  “Yes, sir, Elite Assassin Jhan Re’ Non Tol,” Rokai snarked at him.

  “My title is not Assassin,” Jhan answered.

  “Maybe it should be, then people might listen when you talk. Or not. Probably wouldn’t make a bit of difference, for me anyway” Rokai said, smiling at Jhan.

  Rokai began to walk with his escorts once more, but couldn’t resist glancing over his shoulder to try to get another look at the enticing female he’d found.

  Chapter 7

  Rosie ducked out of the medical suite as soon as she could. She just couldn’t handle that many males at once in a small space anymore. Not that she was ever really a fan of a bunch of males in one place — too much testosterone for her inner bitch to endure — but it was even worse now. She started up the corridor after the women she’d made herself protector of, holding her hands to her chest, cradling all the medicines Vivian had made the healer give her. Coming her way were a group of males. Rosie adopted the attitude she’d learned on the streets of Brooklyn. She raised her head, she ignored them, and she calmly, confidently moved past them as though they didn’t matter.

  It was very hard to do. The green one in the middle with Rastafarian braids in his gray-green hair was stunningly beautiful. He’d not even taken note of her friends walking by him, but he’d stopped walking to watch her go past. She felt a little interest begin to spring to life. Figures, she’s just out of one hell, and being enticed by another. She mentally shook her head at her own thoughts and continued on her way. Once she was in her own private room, she laid all her creams and pills on her bed and sat down beside them. She had to take one pill each morning and evening and find a way to slather the cream on her back. She thought about the green alien she’d passed in the hallway. The scars he’d borne told of a hard life, a fighter’s life — one like her own. And his tattoos were not only beautiful, they were practically calling to her. Begging her to find out what they meant. Then she’d thought about all she’d endured. “The hell is wrong with me?” she wondered aloud. She lay back on her bed, then winced at the contact before turning to her side.