Protected by the Alien Warrior Triad

by Corin Cain

  Ton’s face goes blank. His neck starts to twitch, his carotid artery pulsing. I touch the tips of my fingers together and imagine the feel of his neck under my hands. I might not deserve life, but I will cling to it as long as Tammy lives.

  “You lie,” says Ton, his voice a rasp. “You lie to hurt me, damn you. Damn you to hell!”

  I stand in the circle, my hands open. “I do not lie.”

  “Then today, you die. I challenge you, Hadone, to unarmed combat. I will rip your eyes out and eat them. I will bite your tongue off. I will feel your life’s blood warming my skin.”

  Ton steps fearlessly into the ring.

  Our fate is sealed.

  When two men enter, only one can leave.

  Aurelians of my tribe press forward. Those who are too sick to stand themselves are held up by others. Mothers shoo their young children away, but those near fighting age clamber up to see the spectacle. It has been many years since combat was fought in these hallowed battle grounds.

  How many of my ancestors fought and killed here? Or fought and died here? Do I stand in the same spot as my forebears? Do I think the same thoughts?

  Death was supposed to be a release. Now it’s the greatest loss I could experience.

  “Brother, do you wish me to join you?” Forn’s voice enters my head.

  I turn and smile at him. Seeing him holding Tammy is all I need. I might die, but he will take care of her. I know that the fates would not be so cruel as to give him such a love and then take her away immediately.

  “You’re no good at fisticuffs, my friend. Watch over her.” I answer, knowing that he would fight on my side in a heartbeat if I asked him.

  We both know what my comment truly means. It’s not that Forn is less skilled at grappling than I am. That had been a simple jest. The truth is, I need him to watch over my mate and keep her safe.

  I turn to face my opponent and that’s when all happiness leaves me. Ton is huge and powerful, with scars along his chest from countless tangles with deadly, underwater creatures. I let myself sink into the animal inside me, the beast that I keep stuffed down at all times except during war.

  I’ve never fully succumbed to the primal thing that lurks within me, but it’s always there – a dark force that wants to kill and destroy everything around me. The memory of Ginger’s face flashes in front of my eyes – her own eyes full of horror and her mouth opening in a scream as she plummets off that cliff.

  Then she disappears. She’s my past, and she’s gone. Today, I will wash away my sins, either in my blood or in the blood of my opponent.

  Ton stands across from me, ten feet away. His fingers are twitching with eagerness. He aches to kill me. In fact, he’s wanted to for a hundred years.

  I look over at Chief Rattler. The Aurelian Chief is old and wizened, and now his best days are behind him. His two fellow battle brothers are straight backed, but they too are long past their prime. It’s time for a new leader of the tribe – someone who can lead in times of peace and fight in times of war.

  “Begin,” rasps my Chief, and I lunge forward towards Ton.

  Behind me, I can hear Forn laying Tammy down. My senses feel heightened. Darok and Forn stand near the ring, watching the battle beginning. Ton’s triad stands across from them; each side watching Ton and I like hawks.

  “He favours his right leg,” telepaths Darok, and I notice the minuscule hint of a limp that Ton could not conceal. Darok’s eagle eyes caught it.

  I dive forward, trying to tackle Ton, but he darts aside. He’s bigger than me, with layer of fat over his muscles but he moves as quickly as a mountain lion. I know that his triad is feeding him hints and observances through the Bond, just as mine are aiding me, and I wonder what weakness they’ll call out in my technique.

  Ton’s fist lashes out and clocks me across the jaw before I can parry. The first tendril of worry curls into my brain. Practicing with Forn this morning did nothing to prepare me for the real thing. I spit out blood and keep my hands up, ready for his next attack.

  In theory, anyway.

  Pain suddenly flares and I hear the crunch of my nose breaking. Ton had hit me before I could react – before I even saw the blow coming. I taste blood as it fills my mouth.

  In front of me, Ton darts back, pulling his lips back in a snarl as he lands the second devastating blow before I can do anything to stop him.

  “Tell me the truth and I’ll make this quick,” growls Ton, and before I can make sense of his threat he kicks me in the kidneys. I double over, barely able to pull myself up.

  “You seduced her,” he growls, dancing around me as I flail uselessly at him with my fists. I jab blindly and he grabs my wrist, yanking me in towards him and head-butting me brutally. I see stars explode in front of me, as my broken nose is further pulverized.

  I spit blood out. My tribe presses in closer, keeping me tighter to Ton. The crowd cheers and roars as we stalk each other, each waiting for an opening.

  Ton shifts his weight, and I know he’s going to kick me again. His slight injury slows him – the one Darok observed earlier.

  I dodge to the side and sweep, but the hard kick ton sends flying still hits my arm and twists me around. He follows his kick up with a flurry of blows and I tumble to the ground.

  There’s no end to this fight until a man can no longer stand – until his heart beats its last. Ton gives me a second of reprieve and I pull myself up, wiping blood from my eyes.

  The auras of my triad are humming with concern. They know as well as I do that I’m hopelessly outclassed. The only benefit of this one-sided battle is knowing that my sacrifice will at least stop a triad against triad battle – which will end with all three of us dead. As long as Tammy wakes up and there’s at least one of us still alive to take care of her, then my life will not have been sacrificed in vain.

  I do this for you, my love.

  Ton shifts his weight, and this time I know I can predict his kick. At the last second, just as I ready for the kick, he suddenly bull-rushes me instead; knocking me hard against the ground. My head smacks against the hard rocks and I feel Ton crushing his weight down on top of me, slamming his fists into my bruised face. The pain dulls as steel-like fist after steel-like fist pummels my face again and again.

  “You took her from me!” Ton screams with rage as he assaults me, his fury against me and the entire world. He’s blind with hatred, overwhelmed with emotion. My head lolls to the side as he crushes it with blow after blow, and at least I get one last, lost look at Forn – holding Tammy close to him. His arms are wrapped tightly around her, and my fated mate looks so tiny and vulnerable in his embrace.

  I just wish I could have held her for one last time. I know in my heart that she will survive the sickness. I know, too, that she will bear many children for my two battle brothers.

  I feel the impact of Ton’s fists as just dull thuds now, as he continues to smash me again and again. My battle brothers can’t do anything but watch, for entering the sacred circle will curse us all to exile.

  Yet I accept my fate. I embrace my sacrifice, as sweet darkness creeps over my vision. My last sight will not be of the man killing me. It will be of my fated mate, the one woman I cannot be with, because I could not be without her.

  And then, as I watch, I see her eyes groggily open. Those blue orbs fix on me.

  No! No! No!

  My mind suddenly rebels against my fate. I will not leave her. I will not leave my mate in this world without me. I see the horror in her eyes as she watches me beneath Ton’s crushing fists, and feel the despair pouring from my battle brothers through our shared Bond.

  “I seduced her,” I suddenly spit out, my words barely a mumble through my broken mouth. I know I must look like a smashed tomato, but Tammy stares at me as though she can’t imagine losing me.

  “What did you say? What the fuck did you just say?” Ton yells the words, spittle flying out of his mouth. His eyes are crazed. He pulls me up, knowing he has me beat.

&
nbsp; “I said I seduced her,” I spit, my words garbled. “I took your little whore and I corrupted her.” I spit out a mouthful of blood and wipe my face as Ton holds me close to his face. “I corrupted her and I took her as mine,” I continue. “Then I threw her off the cliff when I was done with her.”

  My voice filled with venom. Ton’s mouth drops as he listens to the lie – and his shock and horror gives me exactly the opening I need.

  Summoning all my strength, I suddenly reach up and jab my thumbs into Ton’s eyes before he can react. He instantly loses his grip on me and I put everything I have into one swinging punch that carries my whole weight behind it.

  It knocks Ton right to the ground, and I straddle him - raining blows down on my enemy the same way he’d done to me; losing myself to the animal within. I let out all the violence I’ve kept pent up for years – unleashing it on the man beneath me, who tried to take everything from me.

  25

  Tammy

  I awoke and found myself staring at a fight.

  As my grogginess cleared, I watched in horror as I witnessed Hadone being brutally beaten to a pulp right in front of me.

  Then he spoke, and his words gave Ton reason to pause – enough for Hadone to turn the tables and knock his rival to the ground.

  But Hadone’s words… They horrified me. They had to be lies, right? They had to be.

  I know that my man could not have done such a horrible thing to a woman.

  Regardless of his words, though, the horror continued as the man I thought I’d known became an animal, instead. I know we’d only known each other a matter of days, but I still had never imagined Hadone could succumb to such feral, brutal violence.

  I try to speak, but the words won’t leave my mouth. My throat is raw and sore and my head still feels like it’s been filled with fluff. I took a full hit of whatever poisonous spores have been causing this sickness, and I’m surprised I even woke up at all.

  I might not be able to speak, but I can think. Words form inside me head.

  No! Don’t do it, Hadone! Don’t!

  I know that Hadone and Ton are fighting to the death, but every blow Hadone rains down on his now helpless opponent makes me feel sicker.

  It was torture watching him receive such devastating blows, but it’s a new kind of torture to watch him lose himself to the animal inside. Ton has lost consciousness now, his body limp, and yet he still receives a beating.

  “Stop,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

  Somehow, Hadone hears me. It is as though he suddenly comes out of a trance. His hands are balled fists, ready to crush Ton’s face, but he holds them above his conquered foe, and instead turns his head to face me.

  Hadone’s nose and jaw are clearly broken. Blood drips down his face. He looks like the animal he’d been acting as – and yet, somehow, Hadone finds his humanity by following my voice. Against all odds – even the beast snarling within his own soul, he doesn’t continue the brutal beat down of his opponent.

  Hadone slowly rises.

  “He’s not dead,” gasps out Chief Rattler.

  Hadone looks over at his Chief. “Death or mercy are the rules. I know death has always been the way until this day – but perhaps it is time for a new way; and a new chief.”

  Hadone raises his bloody fist toward me.

  “My mate solved the mystery of the sickness, and so I will be the new chieftain.”

  As Rattler absorbs this, Hadone turns to the fish-eating triad, and barks:

  “Cornal, listen to me. Take Ton away and go. You are banished; all three of you. If any of you ever set foot on jungle land again, you will lose your life.”

  Cornal stands near the circle of the battle ring, but does not step in. Hadone bends down instead, and rolls the limp body of Ton out of the circle, to gasps from the crowd.

  “This is blasphemy!” Chief Rattler yells, before he doubles over with his cough again. He tries to stand, but can’t – slumping limply onto his seat again.

  “You did not lead us to safety,” Hadone growls. “You let your people rot here. You failed your tribe, Rattler – and therefore I claim my right to be chief!”

  Chief Rattler looks at him with shrewd eyes. He motions to one of his compatriots, who will speak for him now that the sickness has claimed his voice.

  “You have cured nothing – not yet. But I will resign my post as chieftain… if you consult with the Orb-God first, and have our God judge you and your so-called ‘mate’.”

  The fish-eating triad slowly moves out of the cavern and leaves. They take what few belongings they have with them, and carry Ton limply over their shoulders. I hope that their hatred will dissipate with time – but I also hope never to see them again.

  My eyes return to the ring, and the bloody champion now standing there.

  Why does Hadone want to be chief?

  “If the Orb-God is the arbiter you demand then we will consult with him,” states Hadone, sealing my fate.

  I’ve heard much about the Orb God and it fills me with dark premonition. The crowd hushes as Hadone strides from the fighting circle and leads us towards the end of the cavern. He doesn’t even spare Forn or Darok a glance – instead just hissing for us to follow him; as if he’s already chieftain.

  Forn and Darok start to follow Hadone towards to end of the cavern. I pull myself out of Forn’s arm, but I use him for support as I struggle to walk; my legs still weak as he leads me to Hadone.

  We catch up with the champion, and Hadone pauses, turning to face me. I reach up and gently touch Hadone’s bruised and bloodied face – touching him in the only spot that isn't swollen or battered: His temple.

  “You stopped short,” I murmur. “You let Ton live.”

  Through eyes almost swollen shut, Hadone nods.

  “I saw you,” he murmurs, “and I knew that I would lose you if I killed him. Then I realized that we need a new leader – a leader who has a woman like you advising us. Our tribe will prosper with Forn, Darok and I at the head of it.” He pauses. “And you.”

  “But what if… What if the Orb God doesn’t see it the same way?”

  Hadone spits out blood and a chunk of tooth. “You found the cure to the sickness that ravished our tribe. That was your purpose. You were fated to come here – not just as our mate, but for the sake of our tribe. It is known.”

  I nod, and we walk together towards the end of the cavern. As we approach I take smaller, slower steps – feeling ever more apprehensive with each one. There’s a low hum emerging from the dark recesses of the cave beyond. The crowd behind us, who’d been so loud and boisterous during the fight, suddenly become mute as they watch us walking towards our fate.

  We turn a corner and an opening beckons ahead. Beyond it is something that I could never had prepared for:

  I have seen Orbs before. The largest was in Lord Tenderfoot’s study. I also know that an Orb merely the size of a soccer ball can power a ship through space-time and travel the universe from end to end; offering near infinite power.

  But I’d never seen anything like this before.

  “It can’t be,” I whisper, as I stare at the huge Orb that now hovers in front of me.

  It’s huge – reaching from the floor almost to the ceiling of this looming cavern. It’s bigger even than the one in Lord Tenderfoot’s basement – many times bigger, perhaps.

  Yet just like Tenderfoot’s Orb, it crackles with a mysterious blue-black electricity.

  I snort – thinking to call it ‘his’ Orb is absurd. The Orb could just as easily claim ownership of Lord Tenderfoot.

  And perhaps the same can be said here. The Scorp-Blood tribe have it right: Their Orb isn’t property – it’s a God to them. I stare into the swirling blacker-than-black patterns of the seemingly endless darkness, and feel the intelligence within.

  Feeling stronger than ever, I walk forward unassisted. Somehow, the presence of the Orb-Sphere is making me stronger. Perhaps being in the presence of this massive, hovering thing rejuvenate
s us.

  One thing’s for sure – I can’t stop moving toward it. I wonder if there’s some magic pulling me toward this Orb, or some strange gravity.

  “Wait,” says Forn, but his words barely register. I’m drawn too far by the majesty of the thing in front of me.

  I stare into the cloudy depths of the black Orb. It ripples and sheens with energy. Tendrils of lightning reach out slowly, caressing my skin and making every hair on my body stand up. The blackness suddenly opens and the fingers of lighting intensify all around us. My heart pounds as the ticklish feeling turns to a tingle so intense that it verges on agony.

  My jaw drops as I stare into the blackness of the Orb and suddenly witness time itself. The Orb-God shows me a million years in an instant; and everyone and everything in between.

  I watch a vision of Hadone fishing and bringing clean food back to the dying members of his tribe. I watch as they’re healed. I watch as children smile at me, looking at me with wonder as they recognize me as their savior.

  I’m seeing the future, I realize.

  The tingles intensify and my body shakes as the room fades away. I’m being brought into the future, and I realize these aren’t visions, but actual events that have already happened; and I’m merely too early in the timeline to have experienced them.

  As I sink into the blackness, I don’t know if the Orb is eating me, or simply showing me a path into the future.

  In the darkness, I watch as I tangle in the furs and sheets with the three Aurelians. I witness my belly growing fat with children, as son after son is born and contributes to the tribe.

  I see Hadone in the chieftain’s chair, and my sons become Scorp-Blooded and recognized as leaders and warriors in their own right. My heart fills with joy as I see this beautiful future.

  Suddenly it blinks out, and it feels as though I’d woken up from the most marvelous dream just as I was getting to the good part. A drink that I can’t quite remember, yet can’t stop thinking about.