Page 76 of Venomous Heart
All this happened in an instant as Arlen turned to her, his body wrapping itself around her protectively. He hunched over her one knee, his hand letting go of his wound to wrap over her head as the madness of the fight raged around them.
Ava watched in horror as a huge insect-like creature, mandibles clacking with fury, emerged through the doorway. It was ten feet tall and covered in deep blue, almost black chitin armor. A long, clawed leg reached for the leader of the Ilarian guards, wrapping around his torso like he was a tiny infant and not a seven foot tall bio-engineered super soldier. The Ilarian guard was lifted into the air as he screamed mindlessly, terror emblazoned on his face.
Mandibles snapped, severing the head clean off, then the sickening sound of bones crunching was audible among the dying shouts of what was left of the Ilarian force.
Horror filled Ava as she watched Prime Councilor Aav eat the Ilarian’s skull like it was candy, brains spilling out of her mouth, dropping unheeded to the floor.
Then, finally, there were no more Ilarian guards alive.
Prime Councilor Aav moved, stepping carelessly over the discarded Ilarian guards’ bodies. The tension hadn’t left the room as the two Eoks stood on high alert amid the half dozen Mantrilla soldiers. Ava’s relief turned to outright alarm.
They weren’t out of trouble.
“Commander Arlen.” Prime Councilor Aav’s voice was even more metallic than usual, her mandibles clacking furiously. “You have been injured.”
There was no sympathy, no sadness in the Mantrilla’s voice, only a cold assessment of the situation. Prime Councilor Aav moved in a fluid, blood-curdling motion up to where Arlen and Ava were standing, her all-black, almond-shaped eyes missing nothing.
Arlen wavered, his sapphire blue skin pale, powder blue and sickly looking. Ava moved to his side, pressing with both hands against the oozing, gaping wound. His handsome face twisted with pain, but he didn’t utter a sound.
“Arlen!” Ava tried to help him sit down, but his lips tightened and he shook his head at her, almost imperceptibly.
His pale moonlight eyes were fixed on the Prime Councilor, and as Ava followed his gaze, she understood.
Mantrilla honored strength above all else, and right now, Arlen wasn’t strong. He was weak and injured; easy prey.
“I will be fine once medical takes care of me. There is everything we need on the Eok main ship. We require no further assistance.” Arlen spoke with a strong voice, but Ava noticed the way blood was pouring, dark, almost black between her fingers as she tried desperately to stop it from spilling. This meant the liver was bleeding, and it meant certain death if he didn’t get medical help right away.
Arlen locked eyes with Prime Councilor Aav. Her black eyes slid over his body, all the way to the horrible wound at his side. Mandibles clicked excitedly and Ava was reminded that the Mantrilla Matriarch had all the reasons in the world to take her revenge on Arlen for defying her.
Panic took hold of Ava as she braced Arlen’s weight with her shoulder. He was fading, faster and faster.
“You are an asset, Commander Arlen, one I do not wish to part with.” Prime Councilor spoke with a few dry, short clicks of her mandibles, then glanced at the other Eoks, still waiting expectantly. “Take him to my personal shuttle. He will benefit from the best care possible.”
The other Eoks moved to help Arlen and Ava reluctantly let them. He was too heavy for her to move anyway.
Prime Councilor Aav turned her back to them and looked down at the bodies of the Ilarian guards. She clicked her mandibles to her soldiers, but whatever she said, Ava’s translator didn’t translate.
As she understood they were going to leave, Ava moved fast. Behind her, she heard Arlen calling her name, but she didn’t listen. She ran the few steps to the transport and picked up the listless body of the sick boy, then turned to follow the Eoks and Arlen to safety.
“We’ll take Derek with us. He’s not going to hold out much longer.” Ava moved to follow the Eoks, but the Prime Councilor stopped her, a long claw blocking her way.
“The traitors will not benefit from medical help.” Prime Councilor Aav’s voice was metallic and full of disdain as she looked down at Ava and Derek.
Ava stood in shock, the body of the boy in her arms, fever radiating through his clothing like a glow.
“Let this one die.” Prime Councilor Aav turned her back on Ava, dismissing her as easily as if she were nothing.
Anger rose inside her, fueled by her years as a little pet project to a deranged, powerful man, and all the hardship that came thereafter. She had always been an outsider, never accepted, never truly one of them.
Always outside, staring in without truly belonging.
Maybe she never would belong, but she would never stop fighting for what was right.
“No.” Ava spoke loud and clear and Prime Councilor Aav froze. “I’m not letting this child die. And I’m not leaving the wounded behind, either. I’m going to save them, save them all.”
Prime Councilor Aav turned her head one hundred and eighty degrees, looking straight back at Ava. Those black eyes were like mirrors, reflecting Ava’s own image, only a distorted version of it. She knew that if she were capable of feelings, Prime Councilor Aav would hate her for her defiance.
“You are the hybrid who defied me in the square.” The Mantrilla turned and faced Ava again. “It stands to reason that you still don’t understand your place. The humans who rebelled against the authority of the Ring have all been condemned to death. It matters not if they make it back to the main compound alive.”
