Page 69 of Xeda

Thankfully, Xeda had started to fall asleep, whether from the drugs or pure exhaustion or both. Only his lids stayed half open, watching her as if afraid she would disappear as soon as he closed them. "I'll be here," she said. "I'll be right here." She rubbed his head some more until eventually he let his lids fall, his head leaning into her.

She stayed for as long as she could until Sal's man could wait no more.

She pressed her lips to Xeda's temple, then forced herself up, not allowing herself to look back as she slipped away.

* * *

"You really want to disappointment me in every way possible, till the very end, don't you, Ophilia?"

She stood once more in Sal's study, standing rigid but standing tall, her hands locked in front of her. Sal sat at his desk, shaking his head as he sucked on a bluum cigarette. Smoke rose in front of his face.

"I told you the vrisha was done. But you went against my orders anyway. Waste of credits, waste of time," he said, sighing. "But maybe something can come out of all this. I doubt he'll be ready for the next game. But there's always next season, right? You see, I thought it over, and I've decided not to throw him to the labs. Not just yet. He just needs some more work, a more firm hand to prepare him for next time. I gave you this chance, Ophilia, and you blew it. A real shame."

Ophilia clenched her jaw, knowing she should just keep her mouth shut. There might not be any point in arguing with him. But for Xeda, she had to try.

"I did everything I could," she said carefully. "Xeda was determined to win. He was certain he could have taken Kaxek down if not for Tazyn's interference."

Sal waved her comment off. "Doesn't matter. He messed up and so did you in not giving him better direction. You two were supposed to be communicating, strategizing the best move to make. You were supposed to command him on what exactly he had to do. The very fact he acted on his own tells me you don't have what it takes. I don't expect you to discipline him either like you should. You've gotten too soft for him. Admit it."

She didn't argue that, and he laughed knowingly.

“I was a real idiot to let you do this,” he continued. “Thinking I could trust someone like you to be able to handle this. No more. I think my debt to you has been more than paid. I gave you this shot, and you failed." He shrugged. "It happens. We make mistakes." He sucked on his cigarette, then put it out. "I've made arrangements after this game. I've been talking to the trainer of House Myre. He's willing to fix this for me. That vrisha will be licking the ground at his feet when he's through with him. And next season will be different. One more shot, I'll give him. One more." Sal stood, rising with the smoke. "As for you, well, you already know how this goes. What little you have will be packed up. I'd say you have till tonight to say goodbye to friends, but you don't have any, so you’re getting transferred right away."

Ophilia pursed her lips. "There is someone. Please let me talk to Xeda before I have to leave for House Lageth. Let me at least...tell him what's happening." So that she could warn him of what was to come and that maybe, if he kept fighting, he could win the games next time. He would have to endure worse, but she knew he was strong. He could make it. And someday, if he won, maybe she would see him again. It was all she could hope for.

Sal smiled at her. "Oh, Ophilia, about that." He leaned on the desk, tapping his fingers on the surface. "There's been a change. Eliam met someone here, so he's no longer interested in you. I could still sell you as a staff member maybe, but they have all the help they need. But it's no matter cause I gotta another offer for you. I know it came as a great surprise to me too. And they're even willing to pay more, isn't that funny? I'll just send some of the money to Lageth for what I owe and all will work out. At least for me."

The door opened behind her, and she whirled around to see a large lygin male and burly human man stroll inside. The seal they wore on their uniforms was not House Salimar. It was House Capura.

She stared at them, her blood turning cold. "Why?" she heard herself say aloud.

"They didn't really say," Sal replied. "Guess they see some use in you that I don't. Doesn't really matter. You are no longer of House Salimar. So, get out of my sight."

The men grabbed her by each arm and didn't stop as they dragged her away.

"So long, Ophilia." Sal waved.

Ophilia fought in their grip as she was forced to walk between them. She’d never wished for a man's death. But for Sal, she wished worse.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

Xeda

She's waiting for you.

Get up.

He woke in a slow haze. The drugs he had been pumped with made him lethargic and unfocused. He blinked with both his eyelids, trying to see in the bright light. He heard the sounds of machines whirring around him, a chemical scent stinging his nose. The cold slab under him was uncomfortable to say the least.

For a clear, panicked moment, he thought he was in a lab. He jerked up on instinct and found himself strapped in. One strap snapped open as he tried to pull himself from the table.

His mind finally came around, and he thought of Ophilia. He went to reach for her and found only empty air.

"Hold there, big guy," came a voice. "You're gonna hurt yourself again."

He went still. That wasn't Ophilia.

A low growl ripped from his throat, and he tried to pull himself up again when he felt something hard press against his temple. He looked up and saw some kind of weapon, what he assumed to be a low-grade shooter. A large human male with lightless eyes looked down on him from the trigger. Xeda's gaze turned toward the one who had spoken, sitting beside him.

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