Okay this chapter is a bit long but I think it covers quite a bit of ground. Only one chapter left to go. And it will be an epilogue. Thank you for your patience in my sporadic posting on this story. All feedback is welcome.
Chapter Ten
Jagati moaned as the world spun around her. The mist cleared a bit and she got a brief glimpse of the room before she heard Bas curse and stumble. What's up with that? He's so strong. Did crossing through the portal have the same effect on him as it did me? She grunted as Bas stumbled to a bed and collapsed on top of her. Trying to catch her breath, she could hear curses coming from a few feet away. Turning her head, she saw the man who shot at them grappling with another man. When a flash of metal caught her eye, she pushed at Bas. Someone is gonna get killed! Bas can stop this!
She pushed against his shoulders expecting him to roll off her. Even when he'd made love to her the last time, he'd never let his full weight settle on her. He was always aware of her petite stature and hadn't wanted to hurt her. She paused when she realized that his skin was getting warmer by the second. When he didn't respond to her pushing, she grabbed his head and tried to lift it. Dread filled the pit of her stomach as she grabbed his long hair and yanked his head up. His unseeing eyes sent a surge of fear through her.
"Bas?"
No response.
"Damn it, Bas, don't do this to me. You dragged me here, you can't die on me!" She knew her voice was rising but he was scaring her. The heat under her hand increased and a haze of smoke began to surround them. A sob escaped her as she realized the wiring components under Bas's life-like cybertronic skin had begun to melt.
"No!" Her wails brought Sarina to the bedside.
"Shh, Jagati, baby. Let him go." Her mother's pleading barely registered in her ear.
"No. He's mine! He swore he'd protect me, that he was mine. He lied!" She wrapped her arms around Bas's neck tightly and ignored the wafting smoke which continued to roll off him. She fought as she felt a pair of determined hands pulling her away from him.
* * * *
Aleja crept closer to the door as he watched the short but powerful man exchange punches with his tormenter. Even now, he couldn't help but wish that Josja would die. His body ached from the beating he'd just received at the vicious hands of the evil man. If the stranger hadn't arrived when he did, I'd be in a lot more pain right now. Josja had been on the verge of burying his cock in my ass. Then he would have killed me!
"Boy, do you know where the chhetri is being kept?" Sarina's voice was ragged and jerked his attention away from the two men fighting. She was struggling to free a young woman he'd assumed was her daughter from under the smoldering body.
"Yeah. I do."
"Go get him. Tell him he's needed."
Aleja stared at the woman as if she were deranged. "I don't know if you realize but he's---"
"Go!" The steel in her voice allowed no room for protest. Seeing his opportunity to escape, he took it.
Running down the hall, he slid into the trophy room and got the shock of his young life. Queen Silva was standing in front of the containment case holding what had once held the slumbering body of the last chhetri. The chhetri no longer slumbered, he realized with a start. The massive man was struggling against his glass prison before the gloating queen. She had her skirt raised around her waist and her hand busy between her thighs.
Release me! Hurry as I'm needed!
His eyes flew up to meet the golden eyes of the protector, followed by pleasure at the unexpected mind-link between the master and his soon-to- be student. Without thinking of the consequences, Josja responded to his master's plea. Grabbing a ceremonial spear from the rack beside him, he hurtled it at the containment unit. The sound of shattering glass and rushing water drowned out the queen's scream of anger. Aleja rushed forward to help the fallen warrior to his feet. As he rushed by the Queen, she grabbed him by his hair and jerked him to a stop.
"What the hell have you done?"
"What my master has commanded. Released him. The prophesy has come to pass." Aleja sneered at her as he fought against the hold she had on him.
"Worthless whelp. You've just signed your own death warrant. Guards!"
Dread filled him as he heard the running feet of the Imperial guards responding to their queen's bidding. When they flooded the room, Aleja saw his life flash before his eyes.
"At least I've redeemed myself in the eyes of the chhetri." He spit in her face as one final insult while wishing he could do more.
"Kill him!" She threw him away from her - expecting the guards to do her bidding. When they dropped to their knees, she shook with fury. "What are you waiting for? I gave you an order!" Her furious scream echoed in the silence.
"They no longer report to you." The deep voice of the chhetri brought a quickly indrawn breath out of the queen as she recognized the truth.
"The Protector!" Her voice trembled. "I beg for mercy!" She dropped to her knees.
"Why should I offer it when it is very clear that you have none to offer anyone else?"
"I'll give up my throne. Anything to avoid the euthanasia." Remaining on her knees, her hand inched closer to the discarded spear. As her hand touched it, Aleja saw what her true intentions were.
"No!" He launched himself at the queen. Even with his speed as an untrained chhetri, Aleja was not fast enough to stop the sharp edge of the spear from piercing the tender skin of his stomach. Still fighting for control of the spear, Aleja had no idea they'd were rolling closer to the broken containment unit. Coming out on top of him, the queen lifted the spear.
"No!" Bas'awn rushed forward intent on saving the young man.
Grabbing a fold of her gown, Bas/awn used her momentum against her and threw her over his head. A sharp agonized cry was heard as she landed.
Bas'awn dropped to his knees next to the wounded young man.
"Let me look!" Pulling Aleja's shirt up, he winced as he saw the deep spear cut across his stomach. He yanked his own shirt off and pressed it against the wound.
"The queen?" Aleja raised his head and tried to look over his shoulder.
Bas'awn locked eyes with him. He shook his head. Aleja closed his eyes with resignation.
"Then do it quickly," he finally requested.
"Do what?"
"Execute me."
"Nonsense. Why would I do that? You were doing nothing more than trying to protect me. I will not punish you for it."
"Oh." Relief shown in Aleja's eyes briefly then he passed out.
* * * *
Arms bulging, Kurlack pitted his strength against the man who'd made his life a living hell in the past. In this body he was more than a match for Josja. Unlike his previous body, this body had been hardened by years of martial arts training. Using it he broke the hold Josja had on him, then utilizing a defensive move as if it were second nature, the advisor went flying over Kurlack's head.
Stumbling to his feet, Josja pulled his knife from the sheath in his boot. Gripping it with familiar ease, he charged Kurlack. As he rushed towards him, Kurlack with a quick twist avoided his lunge and pushed on Josja's back, sending him slamming into the wall. The knife clattered as it hit the floor. Josja's body followed as he hit the floor stunned.
"Kurlack, help me!"
Spinning around at Sarina's cry, he saw her struggling to move the heavy body of Bas off her daughter. The haze of smoke around them obscured part of his view. Rushing to the bed, he yanked the heavy bed curtains down and threw them aside. Grabbing the ankles of the body, he pulled hard and slowly it rolled over..
