Page 12 of Xeda

"Just a little more," she said, more to herself than to him. She made a mess of it, but she thought she closed most of the wound before he kicked her back again. This time, he knocked the wind out of her, and she let herself sit for a minute to recover, eyeing the rest of him. His vibrant red scales were marred in so many ways. His horns even looked a little chipped at the tops.

She rose and noticed the chains at his feet. The only reason she hadn’t been crushed against the wall by a more powerful kick was because the chains only let him move his legs so far. Watching him hang made her stomach twist, so she backed away and took out the little remote Hendrik had given her and fixed the chains. She let him drop to his feet but shortened the length of the chains so that he was forced closer to the back wall, making it more difficult to kick her while keeping his arms still above his head.

"Sorry I have to do this, but if I don't clean the wounds, they might get infected." She picked up the cleaning brush she had let soak in the bucket of water, then topped it with soap. She took a deep breath, uncertain how he might react. She pushed through her fear and cautiously made her way around him, then began to carefully trail the brush across his skin.

The vrisha jerked like she expected and gave her another deep growl, but surprisingly, he didn't fight her as she gently lathered his side while trying to wash away the blood. Her tension eased a little as he grew still and quiet, and she told herself he couldn't do anything even if he wanted to.

Her eyes drifted down to the brand on his ribs. "It's sick what they did. What they do," she said softly. "I'm sorry this happened to you. No one deserves this." He didn't make a sound, and she didn't expect him to. She dunked her brush in the water and continued to wash his side, moving toward his front. "I wish I could tell you everything will be okay. That you might make it out. But you're more likely to get struck by lightning than to make it out of Kingsway."

The vrisha stirred a little. Her gaze drifted upward, and she caught his eyes. She froze as he stared down at her, those eyes entrapping her. Was he really listening?

"That's right," she said after a pause. "That's the city you're in now. In Salimar's house just on the city's edge. It doesn't matter if I tell you that. The waste is beyond the property walls and stretches for thousands of miles. And the city is fortified. But, hey, I heard vrisha are smart. Maybe you can figure something out. Hell, maybe you'd let me come with you." She smiled and laughed when she saw his eyes narrow as if to say, "Yeah, right."

"It's a nice thought at least." She stared back down, concentrating on her cleaning efforts. She didn't know why, but she felt the need to talk to him. She hadn't really spoken to anyone in so long and had them listen. Even if he might not like it so much, she wanted him to understand he wasn't alone.

"I hate this place too, and I was born here," she started. "The capital of K2, and home of the worst groups of people to ever crawl out of the governing and alliance systems." She laughed bitterly. "To some, it's a paradise, a new empire where the wealthiest and shadiest families rule. House Salimar is only one of many. And so those who are not them are treated as lesser." Ophilia frowned, her gut turning. "The staff are given some freedoms. Cared for to some extent by the house which they serve. It's better for most to have that than being out in the wastes, the under-terraformed parts of K2. Or getting killed."

She let that sink in for him, letting silence take over for a moment, as she moved along his chest. The tension in her body returned, and a little heat rose up her neck. He was built differently than any human or otherkin she had encountered, but it was easy to see just how powerful he was, how vicious and lethal he could be if he were free. More dangerous than any creature she'd ever come close to. Her heart thumped a little faster at the thought as her hand traced down his stomach.

"Unfortunately for you, fighters here are nothing more than slaves. If they obey and win their games, they are treated well. But if they are weak or combative, they are treated worse than the animals I care for."

He hissed low in response, making her glance up at him in surprise. "I am in no way calling you weak. In fact, you're likely the strongest potential fighter House Salimar has ever had. You could be a champion." She shook her head. "But you are combative, and that will only make things worse for you. I know I can't convince you to stop fighting. Honestly, I don't want you to either. I'm just letting you know. Hendrik will never stop until he breaks you. I wish I could say to you 'don't let him, not for a second' but...it will be much worse than this. If you give in, at least you can fight and have a better life. Some choose to, some don't. It's your decision."

He seemed to watch her, but she couldn't tell if he really took her words to heart or not. She decided to let him think about it for himself. There was nothing more she could do. Quickly and without another thought, she washed off the rest of the blood until she felt he was clean enough. She rinsed him off with the excess water from the bucket, then dried him, relieved he didn't try to move or fight her, maybe only because he knew there was no point. As she dumped the brush and cloth in the bucket and proceeded to take her things, she remembered the food she had stuffed in her pockets.

She took out a piece of jerky and set it on the ground where he could get it, then a piece of fruit she'd snagged from the orchard.

"Well, guess that's all." She tried to smile at him, but she felt foolish as he stared. She took the bucket and medikit and turned for the door.

"Sithas nis sireta nicta."

Ophilia halted by the door and turned in surprise. Did he just...speak?

She waited, and he growled in annoyance. He made a series of hisses and growls different than before.

"I don't know what you're saying," she said, annoyed too she couldn't communicate. He was definitely trying to say something to her.

Behind her came the shouts of men, then the call of the bell that signaled work was done and the sun was setting. It would get cold soon, and they would start closing off the gates. She didn't want to be left out in the night.

"I have to go." She slowly turned her body while still eyeing him. "I'll try to be back. Maybe..." She shook her head. She had an idea, but she didn't want to make any promises to him.

She walked out of the unit, then closed the door and locked it. Using the remote, she let his chains loosen from the wall. His arms came down, but he didn't move, his dark gaze still only on her. "Fight one way or the other. Survive. That's all you can do here," she said. She wished she could comfort him but knew he would lash out if she tried. So, she left him with just those words and nothing more.

CHAPTERFOUR

Ophilia

Hendrik didn't ask for her help much after that day. She wasn't sure if she was disappointed or grateful. Every morning, she made her way down to the pens, crossing by the training yard. She knew the guards watched, so she stopped caring altogether. She'd pass by the vrisha's cell and look in to check on him. Hendrik hadn't allowed her to check his wounds again, but he did bring the house doctor to examine him. Though the gyda had little experience with vrisha, it was better than nothing. Still, the vrisha never looked as good as she would have liked if she were in Hendrik's place, but whether she voiced her concerns or not, Hendrik wouldn't bother. As long as the vrisha could walk, that was good by him.

Most days, she slowed to peer in the cell, just to see him. Each time, he would be staring back at her, his body crouched toward the door as if waiting. Not for her, she was sure, but for someone or something. Likely waiting for Hendrik to come and beat him again. It made her heart sink to think about it. Some days, if she was lucky to sneak food from the dining hall, she would carefully throw some through the bars of the door window, the edges getting burned from the shield. He didn't take it right away, he only watched her, every once in a while hissing low. One day, he said something again, she was sure, but still, she couldn't understand.

There was only one way she was going to be able to reply back to him and that was with a translator. But procuring one was going to be difficult. Or cost her.

Still, the need to speak to him felt apparent and was always on her mind. He was on her mind most of the time now. It wasn't just the usual pity she felt. Like she had for Tajia. Maybe it was just curiosity too. A sort of lingering fascination. While she had been taking a break in one of the gardens, eating a small meat sandwich and boiled egg as she sat by one of the ponds, she realized her fascination had been birthed by the fear she'd felt the first time she saw him. Because she hadn't felt that sort of fear toward another being ever, and so now she wanted to understand.

She didn't expect to be his friend. She’d heard about some of the vrisha who didn't take to the alliance. He had those same markings of the kind that had fought against it. Even if he didn't have them, no otherkin in his position was inclined to make friends. A part of her knew she shouldn't bother getting close. It would only lead to something bad, she’d learned that years ago. But she told herself she only wanted to help and didn't expect anything in return. Only that he wouldn't be alone.

Sadly, getting close would probably only make things worse. That reminder came on those days Hendrik cared to visit him and attempt to begin his "training." Some days, she was able to drown out the sounds, other times not so much.

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