Page 10 of Retribution
He ignored the guilt that settled on him over leaving the small human female in one of the cold cells. Layla was his prisoner. It was where she belonged.
The corridor narrowed as he reached the brig and the air noticeably cooled. He scanned the ten empty cells and decided to place her in the farthest one, at the very end of the hallway. It was also the largest cell and the only one that contained a separate bathroom, complete with a shower and sink. He called out a verbal command for the door to open and carried her inside. Then he tossed her onto the bed.
She landed with a shriek and struggled in the hood he’d placed over her head. Once she removed it from her body and sat up, an uncomfortable sensation spread through him at the sight of her fear. Her entire form was shaking, and tears coated her face.
Guilty, he told himself.She’s just as guilty as her husband.
But Merokk’s words came back to him, damn the male. The ambassador claimed not only was she innocent, but she was a respectable female too. Coming from Merokk, that was high praise. His wife aside, Merokk didn’t associate with humans or hold a particular fondness for them, and this realization gave Zamek pause as he stared down at Layla.
He walked closer and the coldness of her fear hit him again. He inhaled deep but found no enjoyment in her fear. This angered him because he didn’t understand it.
Shouldn’t he want to torment her and scare her and eventually kill her?
He growled as he reached her.
She curled up in the corner, trying to evade his touch, but he sank down on the bed and grabbed her by the back of her head, twisting his fingers tight in her hair. She gasped and winced, a pained look crossing her face.
“How is it that you speak my tongue?” he asked, giving her a slight shake. “Not many humans speak the common dialect of Kall, yet you can speak the dialect of Sumlin District.”
Her tear-filled dark brown eyes met his. “I-I specialized in Kall language and culture in school,” she said, “and I spent two years on the Kall homeworld. I’m considered a top Kall expert among my people and I used to work closely with the President of the United States.” She swallowed hard and his gaze was drawn to the delicate lines of her throat.
She was so tiny, it wouldn’t take much effort to squeeze the life out of her.
Yet he still hesitated to hurt her.
He loosened his grip on her hair, though he didn’t let her go. He’d never been so close to a human female before, let alone touched one, and he found himself surprised by her softness and her beauty.
Guilt and self-hatred visited him a moment later, because he definitely shouldn’t be assessing her attractiveness.
“I knew exactly what would happen to me when I learned what Michael had done. I’ve read about the Kall Custom of Retribution.” Though still pale with fear, curiosity sparked in her eyes. “Why-why haven’t you killed me yet?”
He snarled. “I told you why. I wish to keep you as my prisoner and make you suffer.”
“I-I remember what you said, but it’s very unusual. From what I’ve learned of your people, most acts of retribution occur in the courtroom directly after a judge’s ruling.”
“Who are you to question my motives?” He tightened his grip and shook her again. Her hands came up on his arm.
“Pl-please, you-you’re hurting me,” she said in a trembling whisper.
“Isn’t that the point?” He drew her closer, their noses nearly touching, and emitted a deep growl.
“How long will you keep me here? And why are we on a warship? Merokk told me you live here in DC, only a few blocks away from him.”
“My duties on Earth have come to an end. I am returning to planet Kall.”
A look of horror washed over her. “You’re bringing me to your homeworld?”
“The journey takes approximately forty days. I doubt you will live that long, pathetic human.” He released her with a jerk, rose to his feet, and backed away a few steps.
“Not that it will make a difference to you,” she said, her lips quivering, “but I didn’t know what Michael was going to do. He had a grudge against the Kall—his son died during the war—but I never imagined he might harm one of your females.”
Zamek withdrew his sword and swung it toward her neck in a rapid movement, only stopping just before the blade sliced her flesh. She paled further and pressed herself against the wall, but there wasn’t anywhere she might go. She was trapped and she knew it. One flick of his wrist and he could sever her head from her body.
“If your husband held a grudge against my people, you ought to have reported him for suspicious rebel activity.” Zamek increased the pressure of the blade on her throat, though not hard enough to draw blood. Yet.
“Forgive me, General Zamek, but you would be hard pressed to find a human who doesn’t hold a grudge against the Kall,” Layla said in a calm voice, her eyes meeting his. “Millions of us died during the war. Most of us lost loved ones and friends. Many of us lost our homes.” A look of acceptance had taken over her features, as if she expected he would lose control and kill her now, much earlier than he’d planned, and she was at peace with this knowledge.
“Your people attacked us first,” he countered, though the argument suddenly felt weak. Yes, humans had caused the destruction of Enta and Yomma, two mountain towns in Sumlin District, but even though anofficialKall investigation had determined it was a deliberate act, Zamek doubted it actually was. After all, the majority of the human miners had perished in the attack along with most of the residents of the towns.
