Page 109 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol. 1
“What about you?”
“I had the misfortune too,” I admit.
“Ah ah ah!” she laughs, loud and sharp. “You really do have a knack for attracting the worst psychopaths in this part of the galaxy. First Henri… Oh yes, I saw your eyes widen. Of course I knew what Henri was doing. You even told me yourself, remember? And it embarrassed me, because I didn’t want to get involved. That charming governor… always smiling, always polite—always fake. And yes, I know what he did to your sister. Poor thing.”
I’m leaning against the back wall now, speechless. Horrified. I endured Henri’s abuse for months, and she never lifted a finger. I remember going to her, asking for help. She brushed it off, blamed it on my youth.
“Don’t panic, Ileana,”Wingo says calmly.“She’s not paying attention to me. I pressed the alarm with my trunk. I also sent a mental alert to Pherebos. He’s on his way.”
“Oh, youdolook like a victim,” Hilda sneers. “But I was impressed when you got away. I never thought you had the guts! Was that before or after dear Henri zapped your sister?”
I flinch.
“Next!” she says with a mocking grin. “I’m not surprised. You would never have left poor Prianka behind. You’d rather suffer through it all. And yet, somehow, you managed to escape. I don’t know how, but… congratulations. Henri never found your body. He was furious. So tell me—how did you end up on Vagantu?”
I know I need to buy time. Pherebos will be here soon—I can feel it. So I answer calmly.
“I hid in one ship, then stole another. But I got caught by smugglers and ended up in Noviosk’s hands.”
“As I was saying… you really do have a talent for falling into the hands of the worst psychopaths. And Noviosk? He’s the worst of them all. Even I’m careful around him. But business is business…”
“What kind of business couldyoupossibly have with one of the Coalition’s leaders? You’re the assistant to the governor of a new world.”
“Nothing too complicated. Just a few exchanges of information. Confidential plans. Noviosk is very generous with his associates.Verygenerous…”
“Was,” I cut in sharply.
“Huh?” she blinks, caught off guard.
“Was!” I repeat firmly. “I say that because he’s dead. Gobbled up in one bite by a massive bug! You should’ve seen it—he was riding some kind of flying motorcycle inside a cylindrical shell. But the monster didn’t hesitate. Swallowed the whole thing in one go!”
My words cut her off mid-sentence, right as she was listing Henri’s, Noviosk’s, and her own crimes. I can’t help but smile.
That’s when Hilda snaps.
“You little bitch!” she snarls, lunging at me. “Noviosk was brilliant! He didn’t waste time with outdated ideals like those Confederation fools. He was smarter, stronger, more ambitious, morecharismatic! Hebelongedhere! A real leader!”
Her hands close around my neck.
Hilda is taller, stronger, and furious. No matter how hard I struggle, I can’t break free. I try to push her off, but she’s got me pinned against the wall, cutting off my air. Her grip tightens. My vision blurs. I can’t breathe.
Then—she jerks back with a cry, clutching her hip. Blood seeps through her fingers.
There’s a deep, angry scratch across her side—Wingo’s claws.
“If this creature thinks I’m going to let her hurt my Human, she’s got another thing coming. Faith of Wingo!”
“Stupid bug!” Hilda growls, turning toward him.
I slump to the floor, coughing, one hand at my throat, gasping for air.
Hilda, now completely unhinged, pulls a pistoblaster from somewhere. I thought weapons were forbidden on board—only allowed for missions in hostile environments…
With a sneer, she aims it at Wingo.
In a last-ditch effort, I throw myself at her, knocking her arm aside just as she fires.
“Thanks! Got another idea?”Wingo asks.“Because that was hot!”
