Page 99 of Warrior's Captive
Shira leaned her head against the wall, closing her eyes, lines of strain bracketing her mouth.
The same tension stiffened the back of Vivian’s neck. Her breasts tingled, reminding her that at home Mayleen would be wanting to nurse. Had she done the right thing coming here? Was it wrong to place her friend above the well-being of her own baby?
But what kind of mother would she be if she didn’t teach her daughter even this early in life that there were just some evils you could not let come to pass?
The door slid open, and the two men who stepped inside drew a hiss from Shira.
Vivian glanced at Shira, observed the blatant hatred shining in the woman’s eyes, and turned back to study the non-humans who clinically examined each of the huddled prisoners.
The first one was medium height, lean, with large up titled eyes glowing with internal light and short, silky white locks that waved slightly. His deep, supernaturally smooth skin shimmered in places where the light caught chiseled bones, almost as if he was wearing cosmetics, but Vivian didn’t think so.
The second stood slightly behind the first’s shoulders, pale skin, the same large up tilted eyes, and wispy white hair.
Delicately pointed ears peeked through their hair.
“Are they elves?” Vivian asked in disbelief. They still told fairy tales on Earth, though children mostly learned about them in ancient history and literature classes.
“Don’t say that where he can hear you,” Shira said in a bare whisper, her lips against Vivian’s ear. “They don’t like that word. I was punished before. The pale skinned one was one of my handlers. They’re called Aeddannar.”
Which meant he must be the broker who’d escaped, who’d made threats. Vivian understood the nature of the hatred now and felt it welling in her own chest. She’d never gotten or expected the opportunity to confront and punish those who had harmed her.
“This dark one must be a higher up,” Shira said.
With that information, Vivian watched him covertly. He murmured to Roboghoul #1 on occasion as he toured the room, casually inspecting a person here and there. The pale one followed quietly, speaking when spoken to. The leader pointed to a short, blue scaled person slumped in a corner, their silky one shoulder tunic and pants wrinkled, narrow jaw slack and eyes closed.
Roboghoul motioned to one of his men, who went over and yanked the person up by an arm. Their eyes flew open, and they emitted a hissing shriek, speaking in a series of quick syllables. She heard the faint humming that indicated the language wasn’t loaded to her translator.
“See the edge of its scales?” the dark Aeddannar man said. “That black inflammation is death. Process this one—we’ll have to recoup the investment with their parts.”
Vivian’s breath caught, a chill of horror digging into her spine. This was so much worse than what she’d endured in the pens. But then she had been kept in a small cell alone and had had no one to talk to. She had no way of knowing if there were others who were treated like this rather than used for breeding stock.
Ori gurgled, and Shira immediately put him back on the breast. But the sound drew the Aeddannars’ gazes. When she met the eyes of the pale one, they were bright with malice.
They walked over unhurriedly and stopped a foot away, looking down. “There was no need to get my attention,” the dark one said in a kind voice. “I am aware of your presence. Two of my loveliest investments. Both have caused me such loss and trouble in your own way, though you—” he locked gazes with Vivian “—the reports on you were exemplary. You really were a model acquisition, darling. A pity you didn’t bring my infant.”
It took her several seconds to realize that the man’s possessive was directed at Mayleen. She tamped down her instinct to attack or even speak. Arguing with him that they were people and not his property would be pointless. She didn’t know this man, had never seen him and was not aware of what his role in the trafficking was, but she saw the look in his eyes. The utter lack of empathy, of soul. He truly believed they were things to be bought and traded for profit. Her protestations would never change his mind.
“See,” he said, glancing at Roboghoul #1. “She does not even speak. A perfectly behaved acquisition.Thisone—defiant, however. Impregnating her was difficult. She kept rejecting the mounts. I do prefer the surgical implantation but alas, budgetary considerations.” He spread his hands.
Vivian allowed the words to crash over her head like waves, meeting his gaze with an almost empty calm. Her marks throbbed, a low burn that broke through her narrow focus on the man in front of her.
“See how easy they are to manage?” he asked the pale one. “Perhaps now you understand why your punishment was so severe. I cannot tolerate incompetence.”
A punishment, the pale one’s eyes told Vivian, that would be taken out of her and Shira.
At her side, Shira shifted, breathing coming in fast, harsh gasps. Ori had quieted, resting in the comfort of his mother’s arms.
The leader looked down at Ori contemplatively. “Take the infant.”
“Happily,” the pale one said.
Shira shouted, her entire body jerking. Vivian placed a hand on her arm, clamping down with strength she hadn’t known she had.
She looked at the leader. “Human infants do not thrive when separated from their mothers. The nursing keeps them calm and impervious to illness, and gives them the ideal mix of fat and nutrients. It would jeopardize your investment.” Later she would be amazed at how dispassionate she sounded. Later.
He tilted his head. “Hmm. Thathasbeen my observation. A pity you are fully human, and precious to the one who has caused me such a loss of profit. I am always looking for useful minds. But perhaps there is a way . . .”
“I would be best utilized to oversee the care and health of your current stock.” She waved a hand at the others. “Communicating would be easier for me since I am one of them, and it would perhaps give you insight in how to increase your profit margins by ensuring optimal health and condition. The blue scaled one, for instance. That might have been prevented.”
