Page 7 of Saving the Sautiitions

There’s a pause as I wait for him to make a move. He’s clearly volatile and manic. Trying to talk my way out of this will not work. He’s a madman. To keep my people safe, I’ll need to do my best to keep him content while I find another way to escape this mess.

He whirls around, keeping his weapon attached to my face. “Take them to the ship, now!”

His goons begin to prod at the Sautiitions, Jeff, and Willa, forcing them past me and out of the ship. Kurgash turns back to me, shoving the weapon harder into my face. I can feel blood dripping down my chin from my lips, and I clench my fists so tightly that I can feel my nails dig into the skin of my palms.

If I had a weapon and wouldn’t risk the lives of hundreds, I’d beat his ass. I have multiple types of fight training. Problem is, I’m completely outnumbered, and I don’t know if his armored guards are weak enough to turn from him if I win. If they’re loyal enough, his death will only make things worse. I have no choice but to wait for a better option.

“I have special accommodations for you and your crew, dear.” He gives me an evil smirk before spinning me around and jabbing me in the back, prodding me to move.

I follow the others to his ship. How he managed to dock with us without us detecting him is beyond me, and I make a mental note to talk to Tonya about it when I get the chance.

Boarding his ship is like walking into a castle armory. It’s all metal and gems, jewels and weapons. He forces us into the main room, everyone huddling together. Kurgash shoves me at my crew, Vahru catching me as I stumble into them. His goons have weapons aimed at us all. We’ve been herded in like cattle and are now trapped.

Vahru wipes at the blood on my chin, Jeff and Willa closing in around me to stay close. Melodia slinks up and wraps herself around my leg, Tonya beside her. I stand tall, brushing off Vahru as he tends to me, turning to glare at Kurgash. I want him to know that this won’t stand, that I will find a way to stop him.

I pause when I realize his gaze isn’t even on me. He’s hyper-focused on the little thing at my feet. Melodia. She stares up at me, worry and fear bright and piercing in her eyes. She’s absolutely terrified, and I want to scoop her into my arms and never let her go.

When Kurgash speaks, she cringes, her eyes squeezing shut as she clings tighter to my leg.

“Ah, my dear Melodia. I knew you’d come back to me one day.”

My head snaps up to stare at him. Melodia would never willingly go to him, not in a million years. And what does he mean come back!? Was she ever with him? That can’t be. Melodia is too sweet, too tender-hearted to be with a man like him. Questions circle my mind before the only logical answer presents itself, but before I can give it any more thought, Kurgash yells, startling me out of my brain fog.

“Stop trembling and clinging to your pet human. It can’t save you now, anyway. Get over here!”

Even I cringe at his voice, the translator’s volume almost too much as it yells his words in my ear. Melodia’s eyes begin to weep, and with the way her body is set up, all four eyes on each side of her, she looks like an umbrella deflecting the rain. Her last tentacle slips from my hand as she scuttles over to him, dropping down on the floor in a deflated puddle.

“That’s better. Your groveling pleases me, Melodia, pet. You may rise. You will not leave me again, understand?”

She nods, slowly rising and shuffling to stand just behind his side. Her body sags as she continues to weep silently. My heart breaks for her, and if we weren’t outnumbered by guns and other alien weapons, I would fight for her, but this is a fight I won’t win. Not even with Vahru and Jeff at my side.

“Show her friends to the dungeon. Lock them up, and keep two guards posted at all times. They are not to be left alone! If they’re good,” he turns to Melodia, lifting a tentacle to caress her, and she cringes slightly, “they’ll be treated fairly. If you or they disobey me, you’ll all be punished. Is that understood, my pet?”

His tone is almost soothing as he coos to her, but her body trembles in fear, her eyes glued to the floor in front of her.

“You will answer your master when he speaks to you! Or maybe you’d prefer to be locked up as well? Where I can easily use you for all my personal pleasures before I space you for being useless?”

His voice is harsh, Melodia crying out as he raises his weapon at her. She apologizes and accepts his terms, shrinking in on herself. He seems to accept it, nodding before indicating she should stand.

“Now, take your little pets down to the dungeon, make sure they’re locked up and under guard. Then you will come to me. Understand?”

She slowly rises, scuttling away, and we’re shoved after her by the guards. She walks down a long corridor before turning to head down some stairs. We follow quietly, and I wish we weren’t being followed by the guards. I want her to know that we aren’t giving up. We’ll find a way to save her and her people. We just need time to evaluate our situation.

She leads us to a cell at the end of a short hall, holding the door open for us. We all file in, standing and watching as she closes and latches the door, locking us in. I step forward, gripping the bars as she stares up at me.

“Stay strong, be brave, and we’ll find a way out of this. I promised to protect you, and I will. I’ll find a way.”

Her eyes fill with tears before she turns and scuttles away, passing the guards and heading up the stairs. I sink onto the bench; the others follow suit as Tonya curls up in the corner and silently weeps for her friend.

Chapter 5

Kari

“I'm glad she's back. Kurgash was a nightmare without her, taking his shit out on everyone else.”

“How long you think it will be before he ties her up?”

Both guards chuckle, and I glare in their direction. I wish I had something to throw at them. Assholes. No one should be talked about like that, laughed at like that for enduring that kind of torture.

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