heartofthebetrayed_195-8e3.htm

by Heart Of The Betrayed (lit)

  Gera laughed aloud.

  The mutant turned it’s head at the sound of the slaver, and Dana found herself staring at a mutant beast such as she’d seen only once before, in the dungeons of the Inkas, several years previously. That time she and her sister warriors would have died if the Daamen traders hadn’t found them and joined in the fight. It had taken four Reekas and six traders to kill the two mutants. But she faced this one alone. She was looking right at death... and it was ugly.

  The mutant stood easily ten feet tall, its misshapen, bald head marked with scars and lumps. Bloodshot eyes glared with malevolence and it’s nose had only one nostril, the other just a gaping hole. A mouth filled with jagged, broken teeth drooled slime. Massive arms hung down, the hands having only three clawed fingers each. The ragged trousers barely covered the legs which bowed outwards.

  Dear God, surely Dana wouldn’t take the mutant on? Garret shuddered when he remembered breaking into the dungeon to see her lying unconscious on the blood and limb strewn floor, her cousins injured and in the grasps of mutants such as this one. She was alone now and he had no doubt it would kill her.

  With horror he saw its gaze fasten on her and it started forward. With equal horror he saw her twist the staff up horizontally before her and run for the mutant.

  The Southlanders watched in awe as she ran straight for the monstrous mutant. They’d expected her to scream and run at the sight of her opponent, not raise her staff and go fearlessly to meet it.

  There was no point trying to dodge it, she knew. She’d merely tire and make herself an easy target. No, better to meet it head on, to battle and see it over with, one way or the other. The other didn’t bear thinking about right now. Not dying, although she certainly didn’t want to, but the thought of Garret forever a slave spurred her onward. The outcome of the fight was freedom or slavery. Even if help did come, Gera would have no hesitation in killing them. Their freedom depended on her, but deep in her heart, she feared that she’d fail them all. But this was no time to dwell on that.

  Eyes gleaming insanely, the mutant approached rapidly and reached out for her. With a powerful thrust of her legs, she launched herself up quickly. Striking out with her heel, she caught it on the side of the head, throwing it backwards while hurling herself to the side.

  Quickly she rolled to her feet in time to see the mutant haul itself up, rage contorting its face. It lumbered forward again and this time she struck out with the staff, smashing it across the temple and causing it to stagger. Following it, she slashed the staff across its throat--once, twice, three times--then shoved the staff hard into its stomach.

  This time it didn’t stagger, but with a fast movement, grabbed the staff and pulled. Seeing it’s intent, Dana released it, allowing the momentum to make the mutant stumble back. While it was off balance, she lunged to the side of it to kick it in the back of one knee. With a surprised grunt, it fell back. Swiftly she slammed her boot down hard onto its throat, a killing blow to any normal person. An end to any fight.

  It wasn’t an end to this one. With no regard for the warrior leaning over it with her foot pressed to its throat, the mutant pushed itself up with unbelievable strength. Dana was thrown to the ground.

  "Nay!" Garret breathed, gripping the cage bars and shaking them violently. "Get up! Get up!"

  "It’s going for her!" Jase groaned.

  She rolled in time to avoid the huge foot that slammed down at her face, scrambling upright only to be thrown forward by a massive blow across her back to land painfully in the dirt. Before she could draw more than one breath, a clawed hand tangled in her hair and jerked her up agonizingly. It felt as though a million needles were digging into her scalp.

  She was spun around and backhanded, her head snapping to the side. The force of the blow almost made her black out, but ruthlessly she clung to consciousness.

  "Zar, let me out!" Garret roared. "She’ll be killed!"

  "It’s her choice."

  "Damn you to hell!" A massive fist punched the bars helplessly.

  With a shrug, Zar dismissed him from her thoughts and returned her attention to the battling figures in the arena.

  Garret returned his own tortured gaze back to the warrior in the grasp of the mutant. If she died...

  Reaching up with both hands, Dana grabbed the mutant’s arm above her, using it to pull herself up, while snapping her leg out and up between the mutant’s thighs. With satisfaction, she heard a crunch.

  It bellowed in pain and released her hair, but its other hand grabbed her throat and lifted her up into the air. Choking for air, she desperately brought her leg up and slammed her foot into its face.

  It had the desired effect of releasing her, but the result left her breathless. The mutant threw her against the stone wall. She bounced off like a rag doll and fell into the dirt. Coughing and gasping, she knew she had to distance herself from the mutant, to try and regain strength. If not... well, it didn’t bear thinking about anyway.

  The excited cheering of the Southlanders filled her ears and she pushed painfully to her feet, trying to see where the mutant was.

  Nine

  It was slowly advancing, its clawed hands stretched out dangerously.

  Dragging in deep breaths, she backed away. Spying the staff out of the corner of her eye, she lunged down to pick it up, then measured the distance between herself and the rapidly advancing mutant.

  Using the staff as a booster by slamming the end into the ground, she pushed against it, propelling herself into the air, up and over the mutant’s head, to land lightly on her feet behind it. Spinning around, she leaped onto it’s back, holding the staff in both hands and slamming it under it’s chin, crushing it against it’s throat.

  The Southlanders cheered wildly, waving their arms and stamping their feet in encouragement. For the mutant or the Reeka, the watching traders weren’t sure.

  "Die, you bastard, die!" Garret gritted out between clenched teeth.

  "Kill it, Dana!" Jase yelled.

  With all her strength, she pulled back on the staff, bracing one knee against the mutant’s back. Hope filled her when she felt it stagger, but it was quickly dashed by the long arms that snaked back at an impossible angle, one clawed hand raking down her forearm and leaving bloody cuts in its path.

  She didn’t feel the pain. What she felt was the clawed hands clamping on to her arms, lifting her up and over its head, and sending her somersaulting through the air to slam to the ground in front of the cage imprisoning her friends.

  Crouching down, Garret reached out, but no matter how he strained, he couldn’t reach far enough to touch her.

  Standing still, the mutant watched her out of glowing eyes.

  Desperately Garret called to the fallen warrior. "Dana, get up! You must get up! Damn it, Dana!"

  Jase watched the mutant. "It’ll start this way any second! Get up!"

  Heart in his throat, Garret saw the blonde head stir and lift. Hazel eyes fixed upon him groggily and anguish flooded him. Blood was trickling down the side of her head, her soft bottom lip was split and blood from the cuts on her arms seeped out from the wounds. Blood and dust clung to her.

  "Get up!" he ordered urgently.

  Spitting blood, she pushed up onto her knees. For several long seconds the big anguished trader and the bleeding warrior stared at each other, then Dana grasped the bars of the cage and dragged herself to her feet.

  Turning, she saw the mutant start towards her again at a run. Drawing on her strength and training, steeling herself against the pain, she dodged its arms. Running back to the staff and picking it up, she whirled to face the mutant, desperately seeking for a weakness.

  Apart from between its legs, no other area appeared vulnerable. She managed to keep out of reach, but knew it was only a matter of minutes before they would clash together.

  In frustration it bellowed and raised its arms, shaking massive claws. Under the arms was vulnerable for people. She could only pray it would be the same for the mutan
t. Raising the staff, she lunged forward and drove the end deep into its armpit.

  In rage and pain it howled, its eyes glistening in fury, and hope filled her. Another weak spot. Leaning into the staff, she forced it inwards.

  Blood poured down the staff to drip onto the ground.

  She thrust again, forcing the mutant backwards. It strained forward and she pushed against it, sweat sliding down her brow and stinging her eyes.

  Suddenly its other hand chopped down sharply on the staff, snapping it in half, and she staggered forward into its waiting claws. They raked across her chest, leaving bloody grooves of pain before hooking into the wide belt around her waist and raising her into the air, shaking her like a piece of rag.

  Half maddened with grief and frustration, Garret roared, unable to go to the rescue of the lass he loved. Gripping the bars, he tried to pull them apart, his massive muscles bulging. Grabbing the bars below his friend’s hold, Jase added his own strength and the iron actually started to bend slightly. But not enough.

  Through the haze of fury gripping him, Garret saw Dana kick out at the mutant, saw it’s other claw catch around her ankle and twist savagely, at the same time throwing her away.

  Agony coursed through her veins like quicksilver, shooting up from her ankle. Was it broken? She couldn’t think about it, had to try and block out the pain.

  The mutant’s shadow fell across her and she scrambled backwards, white-hot pain lancing through the injured ankle. Her elbow landed on the broken end of the staff and she pulled it up, only to have it kicked out of her hand with a force that left her arm tingling madly. The pain of her ankle was joined by that of her hand as a huge foot slammed viciously down to grind it into the dirt.

  Frantically she grabbed the ankle of the mutant, her short nails raking harmlessly down the leathery skin.

  Up in the stands, Gera smiled eagerly, cruelty stamped into her features. This was the end of the Reeka bitch! Her eyes flicked to the cage and she laughed aloud. The traders were going wild, shaking and pulling at the bars. The brown-haired one was yelling out to Dana not to give up, and shouting at Zar to release him. How she enjoyed watching them all suffer! Returning her attention to the battle, she waited for the life to drain from the warrior into the dirt.

  Grabbing the biggest toe on the mutant’s foot, Dana jerked it back sharply, gratified to hear the bone snap and feel the foot yanked away, freeing her hand. Forcing her pain-wracked body up, she got to her knees then felt the mutant’s arms wrap around and pull her up, higher and higher, until he held her against his chest. He started squeezing.

  Oh, God, the agony! Her ribs felt as though they were cracking and the pressure grew steadily. She punched out at it but without success, for it only flinched when her fingers grazed its eyes. The broken end of the staff still stuck out from beneath its armpit and it scraped her thigh. Black dots dancing before her eyes, she grabbed the staff and yanked it out, releasing blood that gushed forth.

  No one saw the gates near the prisoners’ cages burst open to admit two giant figures with lasers in hand, for all eyes were on the staff in the warrior’s upraised hands.

  Looking up, the mutant’s eyes widened as the jagged end of the staff was thrust downward. It smashed into its eye, breaking through bone, slashing through brain and coming out of the other side of the misshapen skull. It screamed.

  Keeping hold of the staff, Dana pushed sharply, twisting the mutant’s head around by force of strength and the staff piercing its skull. A sharp crack sounded as its neck broke and the mutant’s scream stopped abruptly.

  The silence was almost deafening in its shocked intensity. The mutant stood still, its arms relaxing, and dropped the exhausted warrior to the dust. Slowly it fell backward, landing with a jarring thud on the ground.

  Dragging herself to her knees, Dana watched it wearily. Was it dead? No movement came from its chest and she knew she’d done the unbelievable.

  Alone, she’d killed the mutant.

  One arm wrapped around her aching ribs, she lifted her head, pain-glazed eyes seeking the Southland leader.

  Zar stood with Gera cursing by her side. Behind them stood a giant with gleaming black curls held back by a red bandana.

  Cam.

  She didn’t want to think how he’d got there. If he was here, that meant that Simon and Red--yes, Simon was standing beside the cage, opening it somehow.

  Red was running towards her.

  Didn’t they know how they endangered themselves? Groaning, she slowly started to get to her feet. "Red, go back!"

  He didn’t falter but kept coming, grim determination on his face.

  Her vision was clouding and she staggered back, but by force of will, stayed on her feet. She couldn’t give in to blessed oblivion just yet, or all could be lost. Mayhaps it still was lost, for trust of the Southlanders, she feared, was severely misplaced.

  Then strong arms were around her, holding her close in a steadying embrace, and Red’s deep voice spoke softly and angrily. "Lass, are you all right? Bloody hell!"

  More voices and his arms left her to be replaced with other strong arms, so warm and familiar, the clean male scent filling her nostrils. Tipping her head back, she focused on the strained, handsome features above her. Garret.

  Drawing a deep, painful breath, she whispered, "Give me your arm to lean on, and walk me to Zar."

  "Walk? Are you insane? You can hardly stand."

  "Walk me." As a wave of pain swept through her, she clenched her teeth. "Show no weakness to the enemy, Garret. You must walk me!"

  "I’ll carry you."

  "No! This fight was a test of strength. It mustn’t be wasted or all will be lost. I’m a Reeka warrior. Don’t let me shame my race. Help me."

  The plea tore through him. Swaying in his arms, bloody and beautiful and proud, was a warrior. She needed him, his support and strength. His help. Slowly he nodded and turned her.

  "Release me and give me your arm," she ordered softly.

  Silently he did as bidden and her trembling hand laid upon his warm skin. He ached to gather her into his arms, to carry her to safety and tend her wounds. He did none of it. Instead, he walked slowly beside her, leading her over to the other side of the arena.

  Red fell in behind them and she saw that Simon stood with his laser leveled at one of the Southland guards, Rominac beside him.

  Coming to a stop before the dais at the wall, Dana gazed up at Zar. Cam stood grimly behind both her and Gera with his laser trained on them.

  "I see more of your friends have arrived," Zar said tightly.

  "I fought the mutant beast and won. Do you hold to your word?"

  Gera broke in furiously. "More males have arrived, warrior! That changes things!"

  "Well, Zar? I won the Ownership by Combat. By your law, we are free to go, isn’t that so?"

  Her face was unreadable. "Yes, you and your friends are free."

  "What of the other three males?" Gera snarled. "They were not included in this contest! They are--"

  Cam pressed the laser to her temple. "Dana fought and won. We all leave."

  "You won’t pull the trigger, Daamen! It is not the way of your race!"

  His smile chilled the watchers. "Everyone presumes so much about us. If so, then it is also known that we keep what is ours, and will do whatever it takes to keep it so."

  A shiver went through Gera and she swallowed. Zar stiffened and the Southlanders stirred uneasily.

  "You’ll all be killed at a word from me," Zar informed Cam.

  "And some of you will die with us," a cold voice stated from below them.

  She looked down into burning grey eyes and knew that the giant trader upon whom Dana leaned spoke the truth. Behind them she saw yet another Daamen with long, wild red hair, his laser aimed right at her. To the right stood Jase with a laser aimed at one of the guards.

  Her eyes returned to the bloody, bruised warrior standing below her. "You are all free to go."

  "No!" Gera cried. "You
cannot--"

  Angrily, Zar rounded on the slaver. "Enough! I have spoken and the law is enforced! You will not question me again!"

  Fury simmering in her eyes, Gera compressed her lips and subsided.

  "Of course, you will wish to accompany us to our ship." Cam smiled without humor. "It’s docked just outside your lovely city."

  Zar was no fool. "I understand."

  The Southlanders stepped back to make way for their leader and the dangerous looking Daamen behind her. Once on the ground outside the wall, they were joined by Simon, Red, Rominac, Garret and Dana. The Southlanders followed at a distance.

  The walk was torturous for Dana. Every part of her body throbbed and ached, while her arm felt as though it were burning, and her ankle sent shooting pains through her leg. But no expression showed on her dusty, bloody face. The only indication of what she felt was in the tightening of her hand on Garret’s arm, and the fact that she leaned on him more than she appeared. It was with relief that the ship came in sight.

  Once there, Cam directed Zar, "You can stop here."

  Puzzled and wary, she did as bidden.

  Simon led Rominac into the protection of the invisible barrier that surrounded the ship. Red and Cam only moved into the protection once Garret and Dana were safely within the boundaries.

  Dana looked at Zar. "I’d say it’s been a pleasure knowing you, but I’d be lying."

  "I understand, warrior."

  For several seconds they studied each other.

  "Under other circumstances, Zar..."

  "We could have been friends," she finished and her nod was almost sad. "Take care, warrior."

  Garret led Dana up the ramp, following his friends and Rominac. Once inside, Cam pulled the lever and the ramp rose smoothly and sealed shut.

  "Garret." The word was a whisper.

  "Aye, lass, I’m here." The answer was deep and gentle, the arm that slid around her waist strong and reassuring.

  A black haze filled her vision and she swayed against the trader. "I think... I think I’m going to pass out." Leaning against him, she eased her painful ankle off the ground. "Talk to me, don’t let me faint."