Madness Unmasked

by ML Guida

  A woman raised a fiery torch. Her nervous red aura beamed around her athletic body. “They’re coming!”

  The light flickered off the Gogs’ sharp-pointed teeth and red-stained claws. They howled like a pack of hungry wolves. Kathy froze.

  Some of the men glanced over their shoulders, snarling and gnashing their teeth.

  “Keep going!” Tash ordered.

  Fear flickered in some of their eyes, but they obeyed and lumbered up the ridge, their feet skidding on the rocks and dirt.

  Tash motioned with his arm. “The rest of you try and draw them out.”

  Without hesitation, the rest of the men ran down the hill and some of the creatures pursued them.

  But the remaining Gogs approached, weapons drawn. Their eyes glowed with victory. Drool dripped from their lips.

  Legs trembling, Kathy followed the woman’s lead and grabbed the branch that Vaughn had taken away from her. She glared. The bastards had absolutely no mercy. The Arians would be defenseless. They were all heroes, risking their lives to save an alien.

  She forced her shaking legs to move and let loose a war cry.

  The creatures didn’t even flinch.

  Ysam stirred. He shook his head and moved one wing slightly, stirring dust into the air. Men sneezed and lost their grip. Ysam fell on the ground and groaned, but he turned his head and released a loud shriek.

  This time, the howling Gogs hesitated. Doubt and fear flashed in their eyes.

  Kathy put her hand over her mouth. Dried blood and mud were splattered across his chest.

  Ysam puffed black smoke out of his nostrils, as if a stern warning.

  Their eyes wide, the Gogs retreated back into the jungle. She was right. Ysam was their advantage.

  He laid his head on the side of his large body, breathing hard.

  Tash studied the forest. “We have to get him to the cave before the bastards bring in reinforcements.”

  The Arians nodded, catching their breath. Some of them had their hands on their hips. Others were looking up at the steep slope with dread while some stared warily at the jungle.

  Kathy walked along side the men, carrying her branch. The Arian women followed her lead. Men didn’t pay attention to the women as they edged up the embankment.

  Dusk had turned to darkness. The glows of the fires flickered out of the cave. When the men reached the entrance, they slowly lowered Ysam to the ground. Even with the wide entrance, he was too big to fit inside the cave. Kathy never realized how small the entrance was until seeing an over grown dragon at the opening.

  Tash glanced at his men, puffing hard. He looked up and down the line as if counting. “How many drew them off?”

  One of the men who had carried Ysam ran his hand through his black hair. “I don’t…know… I believe ten Arians went into the…jungle while we were carrying…the dragon.”

  Screams emitted from the jungle. Kathy jumped, her heart leaped up high. This was bad. Real bad.

  Horrible shrieks made her wince. It sounded as if someone had been ripped apart. The Arians glanced at each other.

  “Some of them didn’t make it, Captain.” The dark-haired man dropped his arm. Sorrow filled his voice.

  “Damn it!” Tash growled. His eyes blazed with fury.

  Refusing to give in to panic, Kathy examined Ysam’s chest. The dragon was truly their only hope. “Do you have something to patch him up? His chest has been ripped open.”

  “Yes.” Tash panted. “Ryruc, get the…medical…supplies.”

  The dark-haired man frowned. He took deep breaths before he answered. “The supplies are for Arians. I’m not sure….they’ll work on…Zalarians.”

  Kathy looked up at Ryruc. His long hair stuck to his glistening body. He was magnificent, but all she cared about was her dragon. She stroked Ysam’s head, surprised on how smooth his scales were. “If he dies, you die.”

  He stared at her with his deep green eyes. “Agreed.” He vanished into the cave.

  Ysam laid his head in her lap, breathing hard.

  She slid her hand down his long neck. “You saved us. Thank you. Now, we’re going to save you. Why don’t you change back?”

  He groaned.

  Vaughn knelt next to her. “He can’t, Kathy.”

  She frowned. “Why? Those things could come back.”

  “I know,” he said softly. “But Ysam was hit with their ray. It kills us, even in bear form. Luckily, in dragon form, the ray only wounded him. If he changes back in to a humanoid, the wound could kill him. We have to heal him as a dragon. We don’t have any medical supplies that could heal such a massive wound on a humanoid.”

  His gaze was solemn and his voice was less than hopeful.

  “But you can heal him?”

  Vaughn avoided looking at her or answering her question. Instead, he focused on Ysam. “Can you roll onto your back? I know the movement will hurt, but the only way I can tend your wound is if you’re on your back.”

  The dragon looked at him warily, but slowly rolled on to his back, hissing loudly.

  “I’m sorry, Ysam.” She cradled his head in her lap. She clasped Vaughn’s wrist. “You didn’t answer my question. Can you heal him or not?”

  Vaughn broke her hold, then examined Ysam’s wound closer. “I don’t know. Our last doctor was killed in a raid. I’m the only one with the medical knowledge that might be able to heal him.”

  “Might?”

  He glanced up at her. “I’m not a doctor, Kathy. I’m a science officer, but I will do what I can. I’ve studied Zalarian biology enough that I might know what I’m doing.”

  “Look!” A woman pointed. “Nulc’s returning.”

  A large brown bear, bigger than a grizzly, burst out of the forest snarling, and raced up the embankment, creating a whirlwind of dust. Blood streaked down one leg.

  Tash stood in front of Ysam his hands on his hips. “Where are the rest of the men who went with you?”

  The bear transformed back into a man with short red hair who was slightly smaller in built than Tash. He held his arm, blood seeping through his fingers. “We were ambushed, Captain. We fought but Dech and Walfea were both taken.” He hung his head. “There was nothing I could do.”

  Tash clutched his shoulder. “At least you made it out alive.” He dropped his arm. “Did you see any others?”

  He shook his head. “No. They went in the opposite direction.”

  Four other bears bolted out of the jungle as if the angel of death himself were after them. When they reached the top of the cave, they transformed back into men.

  “Captain,” a tall blond man said. “We saw Dech and Walfea being dragged deeper into the forest. We threw rocks and spears at them, but the Gogs ignored us. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault, Grirr. The important thing is that you and your party made it out alive. All of you go rest. I don’t believe the Gogs will attack––at least not now.”

  Kathy’s stomach clenched. He didn’t have to say why, but the horror of what was happening to Dech and Walfea hung in the air like a death penalty sentence.

  “If you’ll excuse me, Captain.” Nucl looked down at his arm. “I better get this attended.”

  Tash nodded.

  As Nucl and the other men entered the cave, the light flickered over their grim faces. Kathy sucked in her breath. A dirty brown aura formed around them, indicating negative energy. It hovered over them like a dark cloud. She hadn’t noticed the brown aura before due to the darkness, but it was definitely there. Unfortunately, since they all moved together, she couldn’t tell whose aura was brown.

  Uneasiness squeezed her lungs tighter. Suddenly, the aura shifted to a dirty gray, meaning someone was blocking their energy. She’d no idea the powers the Arians possessed, but she felt like someone was purposely hindering her psychic abilities. The scarier question was why?

  Nucl glanced over his shoulder at her with hate in his eyes. She shivered and actually took a step backward. The air suddenly grew cold
er or her fear grew bolder. Nucl reminded her of a gang member who threatened to kill her when she failed to get his brother off. His brother had been innocent, but she just couldn’t prove it.

  Was Nucl lying about what happened to Dech and Walfea in the jungle? What would he gain? Whatever his reasons were, it wouldn’t bode well. What if this betrayal had something to do with Tash’s crew? She couldn’t conceive of such a terrible deed, but they were aliens, and an alien had brutally murdered her sister.

  The memory of Lisa’s horrible death jetted her heart into panic mode. She had to get out of here before the traitor had her head on a platter. Ysam had to return her to Earth. He just had to.

  “Guards!” Tash motioned.

  She startled.

  Two burly men came out of the cave and then immediately transformed into the hugest bears she’d ever seen. They could easily rip apart a grizzly.

  “Secure the cave.”

  The bears sat on either side of the cave, turning perfectly still. Tash sat between them but didn’t transform.

  “Those bears are so big,” she whispered to Vaughn.

  “They’re security bears. That’s what they’re bred for. They guard us. My brother, Ryruc, is a security bear.”

  As if on cue, Ryruc rushed over with a couple of medical bags. “Here, Vaughn.” He tilted his head toward the cave. “Where has Nucl been?”

  “Tracking the Gogs.”

  “Nucl? Tracking? And we believed him?” He laughed, looking back into the cave. But his laugh wasn’t a merry one, more of suspicion.

  “I keep telling you, Ryruc.” Vaughn released a sigh. “Nucl, wouldn’t betray us.”

  “Huh, uh. Well, first, he has to satisfy me.”

  Vaughn grabbed his arm. “Ryruc, leave him alone.”

  Ryruc’s aura turned dark red. He broke his brother’s grip and growled. “You may trust him, but I don’t.” He leaped on to his feet and disappeared into the cave.

  Note to self: keep an eye on the navigator. Ryruc might prove to be an ally, but his aura revealed he had an anger problem that could backfire. “What was that all about?”

  “Ryruc has never forgiven Nucl for pushing the engines too far on the Intrepid and overheating them.” Vaughn pulled out a small gold tube the size of a lipstick. The top of the tube turned white as he moved it along Ysam’s body.

  “Did Tash order him to push the engines?”

  “At first, but when Ryruc said the ship was shaking apart, Tash ordered reduce speed. Nucl argued with Tash, and in those moments, the engines overheated.”

  “Idiot.” She shook her head.

  “Don’t judge Nucl harshly. The Kamtrinians had just wiped out a group of scientists on Sutois’s farthest moon––Taurous.”

  She touched his arm. “I’m sorry about Dech and Walfea. Is there nothing we can do to save them?”

  “No. We’ve tried before to rescue other prisoners, but only lost more men.”

  “Will the Gogs kill them right away?”

  He filled what looked like a syringe that was big enough for an elephant. “Not always. Why?”

  “Maybe a dragon could rescue them.”

  Ysam looked up at her with wearied eyes. Maybe she was expecting too much for him, but she couldn’t stand the thought of those brave men being eaten.

  “Ysam,” Vaughn said. “This is going to sting. Don’t move.”

  Ysam sighed heavily and tensed.

  Vaughn stuck the needle into his side and slowly injected it deeper. “Ysam, relax.”

  Kathy stroked his neck softly. “I’m here. Do you remember our dance? When it seemed like we were the only ones on the floor? How you twirled me around?”

  The dragon looked at her with half-hooded eyes, but then fluttered them shut. She was surprised that a dragon could have such long lashes. Vaughn dipped a cloth into some liquid and gently patted the gash. Ysam hissed loudly.

  “I know this hurts,” Vaughn said. “But there’s dirt and mud in this laceration. You don’t want it to get infected.”

  Tears blurred Kathy’s eyes. “Think of the pounding music, Ysam. You were a magnificent dancer.”

  Each time Vaughn dabbed the wound, the rag turned bright red and when he dipped it into the bowl, the water bright pink. Ysam’s chest rose up and down repeatedly and his jaw was clamped tight. Kathy wished she could do something to ease his pain, but all she could do was cradle his head and pray this procedure would work.

  “There.” Vaughn put the bloody rag into the bowl. “Much better.” He threaded another longer needle that looked like some kind of torture device. He stuck his hands into Ysam’s chest and stitched torn flesh. Blood gushed out of the wound, and Kathy turned her head, her uneasy stomach flipping over.

  Vaughn moved slowly stitching and tying off strings. “I’ll have to make a paste to cover his wound to stop the bleeding and allow his internal organs to heal. Like with us, the stitches will stretch and expand or shrink and contract based on whatever form he takes. I’ll be back.”

  The yellow moon peered over the majestic mountains that reminded Kathy of the Rocky Mountains. She loved hiking, but she had never worried about a man-eating monster chasing her.

  Creek-Creek-Creek.

  She tensed and reached for her branch to defend her sleeping dragon. “Tash,” she whispered. “What is that?”

  “Night bugs.” He didn’t turn around.

  Anguish cries and terrified howls thundered over the jungle.

  Chills slid down to Kathy’s back. She jerked to attention.

  Tash hung his head. “One of them was just killed.”

  Tears slipped down Kathy’s eyes for the poor men, her sister, and her dragon. Time was closing in on them and if the slaughter continued, in only days, they could all be dead.

  Chapter 9

  Agony cut into Ysam’s chest like a red-hot laser. His lungs shriveled up. He fluttered open his eyes and gasped for breath, forcing air in and out of his body. His nostrils flared, and he inhaled Kathy’s fresh scent. He slowly realized he laid on something soft. Kathy had cradled his head in her lap.

  She had been so gentle, so kind.

  The sun’s rays warmed his chilled body, chasing away last night’s nightmare. Gogs had attacked him relentlessly. Every time he killed one, six more would come after him. Only his dragon fire kept them at bay. If he’d been anything less than a dragon, he’d have been dead. No wonder the Arian crew had been decimated.

  Tired of being in dragon form, he slowly transformed back into a humanoid. The pain doubled, tripled, quadrupled––the cave, sky, jungle swam around him faster than his swirling stomach. He closed his eyes and concentrated, taking deep long breaths. When he thought he was in control, he opened his eyes. The world had stopped spinning.

  Kathy stared down at him. She brushed his hair back. “Vaughn said that the pain would be worse as a human. How are you feeling?”

  “Like my insides were ripped out,” he said in a raspy voice.

  “Would you like some water?”

  He licked his chapped lips. “Yes, please. My mouth is completely dry.”

  She tenderly lifted his head, shooting pain through his chest. He gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out. She gently brought a cup to his lips. He gulped greedily, liquid running down his chin and on to his recently patched up chest.

  “Not so fast,” she said. “You don’t want to make yourself sick.”

  He put his hand up and winced. The slight movement sent another round of agony through him, pulling on stitches and cutting short his breath. “I’m…done.” His voice rasped as he strained to be heard.

  She immediately put down the cup and smiled. The impish grin left him unsettled. Slender brown brows arched above eyes that had a glint of gold within the dark bronze, supple red lips were elegantly curved, undoubtedly sensual.

  When she bent her head, silky strands graced over his skin, then she tenderly kissed his dry lips. Her tongue teased his mouth to open, and she flickered her tongue inside
. He greedily kissed her back and clawed his fingers into her hair, pulling her closer, turning the kiss bolder, fiercer.

  Pain jolted through him, but he didn’t care.

  She slowly broke away. “Do you feel better?”

  Her soft lips spread warm through him hotter than a shooting star. His eyes widened in surprise. “Why did you kiss me?”

  “You look like you needed it.” She brushed his hair out of his eyes. “And I wanted to. On Earth, when I was a little girl, my mom would kiss my forehead and ask me if I felt better.” She laughed. “Not like I kissed you, but I always found a kiss melts away any pain. I thought you needed it. So, do you feel better, even a little bit?”

  No, but he lied, hoping she’d kiss him again. “Yes… Thank you. You’ve…been here all night.”

  “I couldn’t leave you.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Those things could come back and hurt you. I’ll never forget how you fought to protect us. I wanted to thank you for saving my life.”

  “You’re welcome.” Her concern and passionate kiss gave him hope that there could be a spark between them, but he frowned. “You should have stayed in the cave.”

  “And let them feast on you? I don’t think so. You’re my only way back to Earth. And I am going home.”

  The flicker of hope he had went up in smoke. Her voice was fierce, daring him to defy her.

  Determined and stubborn, she wasn’t going to give this up, but she was an attorney and used to getting her way. Even if they got out of here alive, he couldn’t take her back to Earth. He was under strict orders to take her back to Zalara. One way or another, she was going to his planet.

  His heartstrings tied into a double-knot. He hated deceiving her. He’d rather unleash more of her passion by dancing or kissing her. Deceiving someone wasn’t him. He’d always told the truth and now, he was lying to someone who he should always be on the straight and narrow path, but he didn’t have a choice.

  “I appreciate your faith in me, but right now, I’m not doing anyone any good. You should stay in the cave where it’s safe. I wouldn’t be able to protect you and me.”