Alchimia Rex (019 & 020)(M&M Book 2)

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AN: I'm back! Fight-on!

[019] [Fledgling]

It was a bright sunny day, not a cloud in the sky, the air was dry and the breeze was warm. Yet as enjoyable as nice as the weather might have been, Rick’s concerns were mostly that there were Goblins walking around and asking for him by name.

Normally, this concern would have been a small one, but Yasir was currently adding potato leaves and green potatoes to the massive broth that would be lunch. Which raised whether he’d been caught or if this was brought about because he’d sent Monica to get herself patched up after the stupid stunt she’d pulled.

What sort of crazy person would let themselves get literally chewed up just to prove a damn point!?

Either way, he wasn’t about to let them find him.

To Rick’s advantage, the Orcs averaged over two meters in height. As long as he stuck relatively near to one, he could more or less be guaranteed relative invisibility from everyone else. The second advantage was that the search for him appeared to be focused on the areas of the tribe where the humans were being kept.

There were a couple of close calls, but he still made it to where they were keeping the “prisoners”.

Two huts, guarded by two Orcs. Neither of them taking their job too seriously, instead focused on some tree-trunks that had been brought over. The two maidens were carefully carving away with knives, though Rick wasn’t exactly sure what they were trying to make.

“Which one has the Succubus?” Rick asked calmly, putting on the airs of authority of someone who had important orders to fulfill and no time to dawdle. “Warchief sent me.”

The nearest Orc made a gesture with her head to point him to one hut and went back to carving.

A little surprised at the lack of resistance or issues, Rick just marched on.

The inside of the hut was dim. Kiara sat at the center of the circular room, heavy chains pinned to the corners and leaving her with very little range of movement. She was naked, the natural tanned creamy color of her skin marred with dirt, her normally vibrant blue hair was dull, caked in filth.

Logically speaking, it was easy to know she’d been starved, but the maiden looked like all she needed was a power-wash and a nap. Her curves were as perfect as he remembered them, a plumpness to her figure that spoke of fertility and a welcoming embrace. She was soft to the eyes, and he knew she was soft to the touch. A part of him flared in hunger for her, wondering how delicious she might be all chained up, breasts all but begging to be consumed.

He recognized the tingling heat for what it was, and dismissed it, turning his focus to her eyes. There was a glare in those golden eyes, seductive like everything else about her, but pissed and hungry.

Kiara’s jaw clenched at his lack of a reaction to the open invitation of her body. The maiden’s anger did not abate as she slowly spread her thighs, shoulders leaning back and exposing her chest in full.

“For crying out loud, stop that.” Rick growled, stepping closer and throwing his cape over her body. “Stay still.” Crouching near her wrist and was ready to figure out how to release them.

Except the crude Orc-wood constructs were already unlocked.

The maiden was only pretending to be imprisoned.

He could feel her eyes burning holes into the side of his skull. “Are you going to attack me?” he asked in a whisper, glancing at her. “Pin me to the ground or something? Kidnap me?”

Her brows narrowed, the golden orbs carefully reading him. “I’m considering it.” Her voice was raspy, strained. It was only in her tone that he could sense the starvation within her.

“I am going to take control of this tribe. Things are already in motion.” He muttered, not moving from the spot. She was desperate and angry, and making sudden movements was never a good idea. “I can do it with or without you.”

Kiara snorted, reaching out to grasp his shirt, pulling him closer. “Look at you, finally showing your colors. And what are your plans for me? Toss me around like a party favor? Turn me into their drug?”

“I didn’t start whoring you out before and I won’t now.” He shoved her off, feeling her grip on his shirt let loose, a moment of confusion flashing across her face.

The confusion quickly vanished. “What do you want, Rick?” Kiara spat, pulling the cape against her skin, covering herself. “This would’ve been your perfect chance to get rid of me. But you’re here without even your muscle-head giant to protect you.”

“What can I say? This is just one gigantic, convoluted bluff.” His voice was thick with sarcasm. “Anyway, you’re a big girl and clearly you can take care of yourself just fine.”

He turned to leave.

“With you.”

The two words gave him pause. He glanced over his shoulder at her.

“With you.” She repeated, combing her hair through her fingers, turning away, shoulders slouching. “But I need a hearty meal. I’m dry right now.”

“Sure thing, though I doubt I can find anything that isn’t feisty and green.”

Her eyes smoldered, lips curled into a wide smile. “I can work with that.”

He did not want to dwell on the dichotomy of not wanting to use her as a throwable sex-weapon, and immediately after having to consider what to throw at the sex-weapon. If she wanted to go at it on her own terms, then that was that.

Rick stepped outside and approached one of the Orcs, patting her shoulder and raising his voice. “The prisoner’s cuffs seem to have slackened. I don’t want to risk tightening them back up.”

The duo shared a look, letting out a dissatisfied grunt and dropping their work to head into the hut. He took several steps away and waited, wondering how things might go down. “Well, hello there~.” The sound of a scuffle followed Kiara’s words, rattling wooden chains, grunts, and several solid thunks.

Then there was a shift, the next grunts more breathless than of effort, friction and tearing fabric. Moans quickly followed. “Don’t kill them.” He closed the door to muffle the sounds from within.

The bond with Kiara tickled in a wave of a very particular kind of smug sexual warmth, and Rick promptly did his best to block them out, trying to focus on the other prisoner. His gaze lingered on the second hut for a minute.

Because he wasn’t entirely sure what he wanted to do with her. On one hand, she’d been annoying and mostly useless since meeting her, on the other… it wasn’t like he was blind to what the Ghoul and her ilk could do.

Eva had the sort of potential that put her close to Monica. And she had that keen look in her eye that spoke of intellect beyond what she let on. Having her as an ally would be a potentially good investment.

“Monica here.”

Rick tried not to jump in surprise. The feline had not made a sound when approaching him. For someone whose belly button was level with his chin, that was always equal parts impressive and intimidating.

“Dia very mad.” She added.

That likely removed anyone having found out about Yasir.

“Figures,” he calmed his heart, patting her furry paw. “So about Eva…”

“Eva hurt Rick, want to hurt Rick. Eva bad.”

“Right.”

If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that he didn’t want Eva dead. She’d saved his life several times, it was the least he could give her.

That didn’t make planning for what to do with her any easier. The only thing he could do was grimace and approach the door. Monica would not take half-answers. She viewed the Fledgling as a threat, rightly so when said maiden had lost herself to her hunger and nearly killed him.

And Monica had very specific ways in which she got rid of threats.

The young man thought back to the feral pen, the Hound biting at the feline’s biceps. Would he be able to do that thing again if Eva attacked? But it all came down to whether or not he could keep control of the situation.

“Rick scared.” Monica said.

“Yeah.”

Why wouldn’t he be? The last time he’d seen Eva, she’d turned his chest into burger meat. That same potential was just as much a risk. They always came together.

“Rick stronger.” She shoved him a step forward, closer to the door. “No time.”

His complaint died in his throat. She was right.

Rick took a deep calming breath, let it out.

And stepped into the hut.

Unlike Kiara’s hut, this one had its roof full of holes, providing no shadows large enough for anyone to hide in. The walls were surrounded by braziers, smoke stains on the walls signaling there had not been a single moment of darkness for the Fledgling since becoming a captive once more.

At the corner of the room was Eva, seeking comfort in what little shade she could find against the wall. She was like a pearl, a pale porcelain dot trying to make herself as small as she could. The linen shirt was baggy on her lithe frame, making her look that much smaller.

They had wrapped a cruel metal collar around her neck, not Orc-wood like Kiara’s, but steel instead. The chain tethered her to the central post of the room. It gave her room to move, but left her entirely at the whims of whoever held the chain.

Two ruby eyes focused on him.

Eva quickly turned to look away, lowering her gaze to the dirt.

Rick’s instincts screamed several things at once, to run away, to coddle her, to pin her down and… he shook his head. Kiara’s emotions were being heard, and blocking them out took an effort. But it was impossible to deny the allure the Fledgling possessed.

Eva might have been waifish and thin, but the maturity of her features was plain to see. Her face was littered with regal angles that almost made her appear hawkish, predatory. Hers was a face built to look at others by sliding her gaze down her nose. It made her vulnerability look out of place, almost jarring.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said.

He was of the mind to agree, to step out and wait until Kiara was done and just forget about the blood-sucker. As it stood, he looked at her and felt that… tug. It was a feeling that spoke a single word within him.

‘Mine’.

“I’ve come to renegotiate our deal.” Rick let the words out before something else came to mind.

Eva’s nostrils flared, eyes locking on him. No, on his throat, on the arteries. Could she hear the hammering heartbeat inside his chest? “They keep me fed,” she whispered. “But not that much.” Her fangs glinted against pink lips, nose raised to aim them at him like a flashing warning sign.

Rick acknowledged the gesture was an attempt to look menacing. He understood logically that the Fledgling was trying to scare him off, and that he wanted to keep his distance from those claws that tore his chest.

Rick stepped closer anyway, looking down at the maiden. It was like looking at a kitten. She had sharp claws, claws that could tear and cut, that had hurt and could do so again.

The effect of her threat had been ruined. All because Eva did not know how to. The curled up body language, the hesitation and flinching. Compared to Monica, Eva wasn’t even a risk.

Rick laughed, the sound startled the Fledgling into curling further against the wall. She was helpless, powerless. He doubted she’d even be able to survive on her own. There was so much she needed to learn and overcome…

Had he really feared her?

“Again, I’m here to renegotiate the original deal.”

The response was not one she’d expected. The fake bravado was gone in an instant. Eva turned away in dejection. “Just kill me.”

“No.”

“I’m a threat.”

“You’re adorable.” He replied with a simple shrug.

Eva glared at him. “What am I? A pet?”

“Yes.” He stepped closer, watching her freeze. Rick put his hands on his hips, looking down at her. “We’ve had to put up with your tantrums, carry you around, and make sure you were fed. The difference between you and a pet is that the pet would’ve been more manageable.”

Eva sputtered, eyes wide in indignation, face flushed. “Do you even know who I am!?” she seethed. “The Vampire escaped. She will chase after me. I am just that important, that valuable.”

“And?”

It was amusing, watching her stutter and try to form a response before giving up entirely. “They will kill you, to get to me.” Eva finally declared, the wind gone from her sails, her head lowering into her arms. “You should get rid of me.”

Rick crossed his arms. “If the only answer you can reach from being chased around by a blood-sucking bitch is to give up, you’re either a coward, an idiot, or just plain lazy.”

The maiden looked up at him with a scowl. “I am Evans Bavtha, head of the Bavtha household. I am worth a thousand times my weight in gold. I alone ca-”

“I don’t care.”

Those three words cut her off and left her mute. Eva’s eyes widened, jaw slackened. Rick felt like his eyes would roll out of his head.

“You think that being threatened is going to make me give up something that’s mine? Fuck that.”

“You don’t understand!”

“This is not the first time some asshole sees something that’s mine and thinks they can take it away just because they have more guns.”

“Stop saying- you-. I’m not your property!” She shot to her feet with a rattling of her chain. Her hands were open, sharp nails gleaming under the sunlight.

“First warning.” He spoke slowly, reaching up to grasp the chain and tug her closer. “Do that again, and I will kiss you.”

Eva immediately recoiled away, gawking, face turned a deep red. He didn’t let go of the chain and she nearly stumbled. The Fledgling might be stronger than Rick, but he was practically twice her weight class.

Rick tugged her closer.

“Second.” His face was centimeters from hers. “As it stands right now? You are property. It is literally the law of the very kingdom we are currently in.” He lowered his voice to a growl. “I found you feral, bonded you. According to the laws of this land you love so much, you are a slave.” He pulled closer, until his brows could almost touch hers, close enough he could spot the flecks of blackness within the ruby red irises as she kept glancing at his lips. “But you’re in luck. I came here to negotiate.”

Letting go, he stepped back, breathing harder than he should have. Both of them were flushed.

Eva rubbed at her throat, looking away. “I-I’m listening.”

“You can either leave on your own, stay and join the tribe, or you can remain mine.”

“That’s…” She tried to look at him in fury and failed. The winds knocked right out of her sails as their eyes locked. Hers were the eyes that lowered first. “That’s no choice at all. I would never survive these wildlings, and leaving would… I have nowhere to go. I would go feral. Not even my household would…” Her hands shook. “I have nowhere. I have nothing… I have no one.”

Tears ran down her cheeks.

“I have no one.” She repeated. Her head hung low, her lips trembled. A long withering gasp of a breath, followed by her shoulders going limp, slouching. “I have no one.”

Rick held back the grimace. This was not the time for a pity party. She had her feelings to deal with, but neither of them could afford to do so now.

“Then stay with me.”

If the world had discarded her, then why not? His motives might not be selfless, but who cares? It would help her survive, it would help her grow and become stronger. It would help her become someone again. Someone with the strength to tell the world to fuck off.

He crouched, offering his hand. “Whatever happened to Evans, she’s gone, dead. You’re just a feralborn Fledgling I found on the road and took in. Nothing else.”

“Evans was a man.” Eva mumbled.

“Really? I thought…” He whiffed his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

The maiden didn’t respond, face hidden between the black curtains of her hair. “What’s my name?” Her breath trembled. “If I was just some feral, and you caught me, then I didn’t have a name.”

That one was a simple request. “Evangeline. Eva for short.”

She groaned, wiping her tears away. “I guess it’s better this way.” She shook his hand. Her palm was damp. “I… am Evangeline.”

Her lips trembled, hesitation followed as she looked up at him with an unspoken question in her eyes. The maiden shifted a little, stepping just close enough that his shadow would cover her entirely.

Something about that look made him feel like speaking right now would be a mistake.

The maiden raised her head just enough to look at the door, then she turned to focus on his face. From there, Eva’s gaze lowered, first to the hand that gripped the chain, and then to the ground, before returning to his other hand.

It started slowly, her knees bending as the maiden descended to the ground. She reached for his free hand, leaning her forehead against his knuckles. The Fledgling breathed in and let her breath out in a shudder.

“My name is Evangeline.” It was a vow. The tone left no room for any other interpretation. “I surrender to you, Richard Cross.” Her shoulders slackened, she let out another trembling breath. “I swear upon my accursed blood and my accursed form that I will serve. To you and those that inherit your name, now and forever, until I breathe last.”

A chill ran up his arm. He held back the impulse to retrieve it out of her grasp.

He’d half expected there to be some sort of glow going about. Her tone had been so… ceremonial. Like fulfilling a ritual she knew intimately. “Is…” He hesitated, weighing his words. “This differs from how Dia did it.”

“The details might change with how it is done by the nobles of the Empire, but it should be familiar. This is the Oath of the Scourged.”

“I am not a noble.”

Eva twitched, head still held low. “I know the truth. There is no need to hide it.”

“And what would that truth be?”

This time, she raised her gaze to look at him in confusion. “You are an illegitimate son of the Emperor’s household.” The blank look he gave her prompted the maiden to continue. “Only members of the Emperor’s family can bond without a collar. You also know little about this kingdom. Try to avoid talking about your past. Keep referring to large villages as ‘tiny’, openly wish to avoid nobility, and I have never ever heard many of the terms you’ve used.” Her hand reached up to caress her lips. “And that Succubus must be some kind of retainer for her to have gone through such lengths to protect your life.”

“I’m an otherworlder. Born in Tennessee, USA.” Rick pointed over his shoulder. “Landed over at the village of Astunes less than a year ago, came with twenty-odd other people. I was told they kept the whole thing hush-hush, but it’s hard to imagine it didn’t cause waves in the higher political circles. Maybe you’ve been feral for longer than any of us thought?”

“I-uh.” Eva was looking at him as if he’d grown a second head, blinking slowly, opening and closing her mouth. “Are you… were you important in your world?”

Rick shrugged. “I don’t think being a poorly paid chemistry teacher counts. Not that it changes the current situation.”

Laughter interrupted from behind him. It drifted in through the open door.

“It is very important to her.”

Kiara stepped into the prison cell, sauntering in her full, naked glory, flaunting her curves and looking like she just came straight out of a spa-day. Her hair had volume, her skin was pristine and flawless, her eyes were full of mirth.

“This little blood-sucker was a noble, after all.” Her fingers traced his shoulders, the maiden leaning closer to whisper into his ear. “But there are other ways to impress her. Like so.”

She pressed her breasts against his back, pulling his now free hand closer. With a flick of her finger, her nail nicked his palm and drew blood. Eva’s reaction was immediate. The maiden inhaled sharply, wide eyes locking on the crimson droplet.

Not letting go of his wrist, Kiara shoved his hand against the Fledgling’s face.

“Hey!” Rick tried to recoil.

And failed. Kiara had let go, but Eva had grabbed hold of his hand with a vice-like grip.

The pale maiden inhaled sharply, pupils dilating as she leaned forward and licked his palm. The Fledgling groaned, shook, flushed, and moaned all at once. Within seconds, her tongue was lavishing adoration against his palm, trembling with each lick.

Rick wasn’t sure whether to feel concerned, disgusted, angry, or aroused. What he was sure of was that this was going to stop right now.

“Enough!”

Eva tensed, recoiling. In that gap, he pulled away.

“That’s new.” Kiara commented, looking at him in something that bordered on praise and amusement. Her focus shifted back to her prey, hands reaching out to grasp at Eva’s hair and pulled further away from Rick. “Did you get a good chance to feel that? How pure his blood is? There’s nothing quite like it in this world. Every human has some maiden in them.” She cooed, stroking Eva’s neck. “That pure human blood gives little Fledglings like you a sexual euphoria that’s just… delicious.”

The moment she spoke those words, Rick knew she’d been lying through her teeth. Not because he was sure it was a lie, but because he could see it so clearly written across her face, he almost did a double-take. The plastic mask of deception, the same one she’d worn when pretending to be siding with the Ghoul.

But Eva was blind to it, goosebumps rushing through her body as she struggled with feverish breaths against the Succubus’ grip. “Let me go!”

“I was just making sure you didn’t lose yourself, little leech.” Came the reply with a smirk, releasing the Fledgling. “You’re not the first blood-sucker I’ve had to deal with. I know all your fun little weaknesses, your instincts, inside and out.” The maiden turned to Rick. “That was… repayment. For the meal.”

She was hiding something. But this was not the time to dwell on it. Less so in front of Eva when he wasn’t sure how either maiden might react.

“Glad to see you’re at least no longer dragging yourself around.” He gestured at her body, making it a point not to gawk too much. “I remember leaving you a cloak.”

She shrugged and slyly smirked. “The pink-haired bitch shouldn’t be long.” She blew him a kiss, ignoring his point entirely. “I’d rather not be within her reach by the time she gets here. When am I supposed to step in?”

“You’ll know. I’m going for the thing we’d talked about back when I was a prisoner. Also, Yasir is my friend, remember that.”

Her surprise was only presented through the raise of a brow. “I have a thing or two that might help,” she said, stepping closer. “Speaking of help, and payment, I will even give you another secret you can use, if when I show up you cling to my arm like a piece of eye-candy. It should send quite the message to everyone else.”

It would probably drive Dia up the wall, which was undoubtedly Kiara’s intentions. “You can do better than that.” He chided.

“I agree you could be upgraded, thirty is old for a boy-toy, but I could still make it work.” She gave him a once over, looking at him from head to toe. “The scars and unkept beard detract from the looks. That and you still have some of that barbarism going about you, as if you’re a feral maiden.” Kiara made a vague gesture in his direction. “Still, the maiden roguish touch isn’t exactly a bad one on you. You could look like a Wildling King with a bit of effort here and there.”

With a shake of his head, he shooed her off. The Succubus just chuckled darkly, taking to the air there and then, rising into the sky quickly. Within seconds, voices called out in alarm, bells ringing and people shouting about the escaped prisoner.

Rick glanced at Monica as she stepped into the cell.

The maiden took several sniffs, at Eva in particular. “Rick weird.” She proclaimed, meeting his gaze. “Monica allow Eva, for now.”

“I’d appreciate it if you taught her how to hunt and fight, at least a bit.”

“WHAT!?” Eva snapped at him, wide eyed.

“WARCHIEF!” a voice called from outside.

“Annoying.” Monica rolled her eyes.

Rick turned to the Fledgling. “Just stay here.”

Eva grasped her chain and rattled it. “I don’t have a choice.”

“Right. All the better.”

He stepped outside with Monica close behind.

They were immediately surrounded by maidens, almost twenty Orcs, Hobs, and Goblins, all looking just about ready for a fight. In the center of the congregation of maidens were Urtha and Dia. Or rather, Urtha and Spikes.

“What. Did. You. Do?” Urtha was the first to speak, glaring at Monica, her mane of black hair barely twitching even against the wind. “You allowed your male to just run around and let loose a prisoner!?”

The look on the Sabretooth’s face was a work of art in showing her deficit in fucks to give. “Rick do what Rick want.” She proclaimed with a shrug. “Monica help little.”

“He is not your owner.”

“Monica do what Monica want.”

Urtha appeared as fed up with the topic as Monica. This was clearly not the first time they’d talked it over. “The only thing you are showing is weakness.”

“Monica know Monica strong. Not Monica fault Urtha not happy with human.”

The argument spun out of control from there, everyone stepped away. Everyone save two. “Rick.” Dia’s voice called out, ignoring the argument between the two giants, the armored maiden looking straight at him. “Kiara… she’s using you.”

“It’s complicated.” That, and he didn’t want to go around talking about this in the open.

She grimaced. “Monica, being the warchief, it won’t last forever.” Dia gesticulated at the feline. “She’s not interested in it. She’s only staying there until she gets bored.”

“I suspected as much.”

Rick glanced at the feline. She was butting foreheads with Urtha, both maidens growling at each other, but neither starting the fight they both clearly wanted. He could tell Monica didn’t consider Urtha a challenge, let alone a threat, but she had no intention of letting someone just push her around. While the Orc was in a similar spot, aware she would lose, but unwilling to back down.

What he wasn’t sure of was where Dia stood in this equation.

“How about we sit down and have a talk?” He paused as he heard the lunch bell ring. “Though I’d rather have something to eat first. It’s been a long morning.”

[020] [Old Blood]

It was a beautiful day. The sky was clear with barely a handful of clouds in sight; the sun was warm; the breeze was cool. Autumn was coming, but it hadn’t gotten there yet. Though Rick had doubts, the weather would get cold enough, it would snow. Some part of the man wished the weather would reflect his mood for once, but he suspected that “shark-tornado in the middle of an earthquake” was not something he’d want to unleash into the world.

Then again, it might have been therapeutic.

It would certainly help distract him from the growing stomach ache. But that’s just what he got for poisoning himself a little. A part of him was glad at the feeling, it meant Yasir had done his part without a hitch.

He just hoped his guesstimate at the meal’s toxicity was correct as well. The intent was to raise alarms, not kill. Someone dying from the thing could make things… complicated.

Either way, Rick still had to put his house in order first.

Which was why he now stood before Dia. The healer wore slick black metal armor covered in razor sharp thorns. She was staring at him through the narrow slit of the visor, and though her expression was impossible to see, he could sense she was practically glowing in frustration that bordered on betrayal.

The inside of the tent felt heavy despite it only having two occupants.

“Did you have to let Kiara free? And what were you doing with Eva? Neither of them can be trusted.” Her tone was harsh and impatient.

“Are you sure you don’t want to add Monica to that list, too?” He asked, noting how the debris of the ‘skull throne’ had been cleaned up.

The Rapha huffed. “Do you think I forgot who put you on the operating table the first time we met?” She glared, stepping closer and pointing an incriminating finger his way. “But at least it’s obvious Monica has your best interests at heart. She’s just taken a while to learn what that means.”

Rick swatted away her hand. “And you’re saying Kiara didn’t help take care of the Vampires?”

“Only because the bond forced her. She sold you to them!”

“She sought them out when we were being chased down by ferals we had no way to fight against.” He stood his ground, though he was feeling clammy. “And in Eva’s case, she lost control.”

“She attacked you.” Dia snapped back. “She tore into you while bonded. Don’t you see how dangerous that is!? What that represents!?”

“Again, she lost control. And-”

“YOU ALMOST DIED!” Her voice roared through the helmet. The maiden reached out to his shirt, pressing her hand against his scars. “You almost didn’t make it. Does that not count for anything?”

He hesitated. With a grimace, he looked away. “I’m not suicidal, Dia. And I’m not blind either.”

“Then why aren’t you letting me help you?”

He took a step closer. “I need you to take your helmet off.”

“Answer the question!” She moved out of his reach, raising her barbed bracers and tightening up.

Rick looked at her, into her, into the narrow slit of her visor, barely able to see her face within the dark confines of the helmet. Taking in a calming breath, he moved closer, reaching out to her.

“Don’t move.”

She flinched, but didn’t step away, arms half raised but still. Rick clasped the helmet and pulled at it, ignoring the bite of its barbs. Dia’s face was a mix of pain and sorrow, her violet eyes shimmering as she dared not look away from him.

He breathed, putting the helmet down. “I want you to help me take over the tribe.” He met her violet eyes head on.

“You… you could just lay back, let me handle things. Monica might grow bored and leave eventually, but I’ve been… I’ve been working hard. I’m the main healer, they respect me. They would leave us alone even if Monica stepped down. And she might not want to lead, but she likes it here! She hasn’t started a single fight!”

“And Sinco?” His question made her hesitate. “And the Kingdom? The Vampires? They will come for this tribe. And we will get caught in the crossfire because the tribe’s priorities are not ours.” His back straightened, ignoring the revolution currently happening in his guts. “What I want is the power to protect what’s mine. That is what all of this is for.”

The Rapha lowered her head, focusing on his hands, reaching out and grasping them in her metal gloves. Green energy poured from her touch, soothing him. Rick’s fingers tingled lightly as Dia’s expression shifted, gaze lingering on his chest.

“Do you know why people avoid healers that leave scars? Why it is considered a death sentence?”

“I can’t say I do.” Was the room spinning? No, it was only him.

The headache was getting worse.

“Scar tissue does not react properly to healing. It is a very straining task. The only viable option is to remove the scarred tissue entirely and then have a fleshcrafter regenerate it back up, but the more regenerated flesh you have, the likelier things can go… bad. It is just not quite the same as the original.” She whispered. “And no matter how good or how fast the healer is, tiny amounts of scarring always occur with any injury. If the body isn’t allowed to remove it on its own, the scars accumulate.” Dia raised her deep violet eyes, concern clear in the shimmering pools. “Rick, these scars aren’t just skin deep. If you ever get seriously hurt again, I won’t be able to save you.”

Well shit.

“You’re absolutely right.” He wanted to scream. This was not how he should’ve done things. “And… things will turn for worse before they go for the better.”

“You…” Something about his tone must have tipped her off, Dia looked at him closely. “Something’s wrong.”

“Do you trust me?” His voice came down to a whisper.

“No, no, I absolutely do not trust you.” Dia stated, stepping closer, reaching out to touch his forehead. “Not when you keep pushing yourself into… what… this is… you’ve-!”

“Quietly.” Rick made a face. Cat was out of the bag, he was on a timer now. “How dangerous is it?”

“This…” She leaned back, then frowned, realization clear in her eyes. “I’m never going to stop you from harm, am I?” Her hands clenched into fists. “You’re not even conscious for a whole day and… this. Why? How!?”

He sighed, feeling a wave of relief through him from her powers pouring into him. Though the discomfort was still there. “How bad is it?”

“Not enough. But you’re still recovering, I… you’re not in danger from this much, but I shouldn’t be telling you that this is not good for your body at all!” She flickered between anger and concern, voice remaining a whisper.

“Calm down.”

“Don’t you dare!” Dia hissed. “Don’t you dare tell me to calm down when you…”

“The walls have ears,” he whispered.

She glared, stomped. “No, no, this… this is unfair, this is stupid, I don’t care. I could become the best fighter in the world and it wouldn’t change a thing!”

“A fighter?”

“Why do you think I put this on!?” She gestured at the armor. “My healing cannot bring you back from the brink if you get yourself hurt again. Again! The only option I have left is to do my best to protect you! But sometimes it seems like the biggest threat to your life is yourself! You just keep pushing yourself into these situations where you know you will get hurt! Over and over!” She paced back and forth. “Eva and Kiara, they’re dangerous, they’re hurting you, they HAVE hurt you! Do you want me to just sit back and watch how they tear you to shreds!?”

“They… they are mine now.” He muttered. His stomach was on its way to roll over and empty itself, but he held firm. “I can’t let that mean nothing. It would’ve been different if they’d betrayed me, but they haven’t.”

“They nearly got you killed!” Dia leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his chest. “And do you think Eva will one day stop craving blood!? That Kiara will stop being ready to stab you in the back when it becomes convenient for her!?” She waved at the tent entrance. “Nothing you do will change their nature!”

“What they are doesn’t determine who they are!” His voice rose. The hard tone caught him by surprise, not sure where the sentiment had come from but agreeing with it fully. He stepped forward. “Are you saying that if a Vampire had bitten me and turned me into a Fledgling I’d suddenly be someone you can’t trust!? Does it mean that I should only trust you if it’s about healing because you’re a Rapha!?”

“That’s not… you know it’s not what I mean.” Dia lowered her voice, looking away, fists clenched tight.

“And you know what I’m trying to tell you.” He softened his words, stepping closer. “Look past what they are and focus on what they’ve done. What you’d have done in their place.”

She bit her lip. “I would rather die before hurting…” The maiden paused, her eyes closed. Dia sighed, hands opened and hung limp at her sides. “No, that’s a lie. I’ve hurt you too. Is this what you want? To be hurt?”

“I don’t.”

Some part of him refused to believe those words. His mind turned back to that very first day in this world. The forest, the screams, of the things that were his fault.

But he pushed that away, reaching out and caressing Dia’s hair instead.

This wasn’t the time for him to dwell on those memories.

“I’m not asking you to trust Kiara or Eva. I’m asking you to give them a fair chance.” He pulled her close, at least as much as the thorn armor would allow. “And maybe not wear this thing all day. It makes hugging you a hazard. Where did you find it, anyway?”

“It was the Vampire’s. She ran away, so it’s mine now.” She was petulant, pouting slightly. “It’s murisium, really expensive. I thought it made me look strong. But everyone laughs anyway… the healer trying to be fierce.” Pressing her head against his shoulder, she sighed. “The healer that can’t even stop her Master from jumping into the fire.”

“But you did it because you wanted to take the tribe to Sinco and help them against the ferals, right?” Rick kissed the crown of her head. “I think it’s pretty heroic. What was the word you used? Maidenly?”

Nodding again, she bumped her forehead against his shoulder twice. “How do you do it? This? I should be angry at you. Angrier. You… you’re doing it again, hurting yourself.”

“Fortunately, I learned a thing or two from my previous relationships.”

“I’d like to hear about them… when you’re ready.” She leaned away, picking up the helmet and putting it on, it only left the weak smile on her lips visible.

Her request brought a complicated set of emotions within Rick. It was never easy to talk about old flames, much fewer ones that ended the way they had. Some part of him felt that being in this new world could double as a fresh start.

“I will. And…” He hesitated. “No more secrets. We walk through these things together. I’ll even ask for permission first if I think I’ll get hurt.”

“Liar,” she mumbled, leaning into him. “But I’ll take it. I’ll stand by your side, no matter how stupid your plans are.”

“If it’s stupid, but it works, it’s not stupid.”

“I severely disagree with that statement.” Dia grumbled. “Stupid works by luck. And luck runs out.”

He chuckled, stopping as soon as he felt the nausea flare out. “It’s an art.” He grimaced.

Dia’s glowing hands slowly caressed his chest. “How are you feeling? What do you need?”

“It’s getting worse, but it’s still manageable. All I need is to just stay distracted for now.” He glanced at the entrance of the tent, and then back to Dia, shifting his tone to a stricter one. “Tell me about Sinco and the ferals.”

The Rapha stiffened, shoulders squaring and chin raising. “From what I could gather from the Politas-”

“The small armored bug girls?”

“Yes, they serve as the healers of the tribe. Their skills leave… much to be desired. The tribe mostly keeps them around for the humans and the drinks.”

“They make that sweet drink, right?” Rick nodded and immediately regretted it. His head throbbed wildly.

Dia’s mouth opened slightly, then snapped close. “The drink in its raw form is perfectly safe to take, and even serves to boost stamina. But it would be unhealthy to use frequently.” Her words came out woody and strained. “Returning to the subject at hand, sir. The tribe claims the Ghoul showed up with the Fledglings and took over almost at the same time the feral rush began. The second strange thing was how a group of previously unknown Fledglings showed up with the ferals that are now in the pens, the tribe was made to work building those boxes to contain them in.”

“But the ferals weren’t killed.”

A quick nod. “Because aside from being food for the blood-suckers, the ferals were being screened. Their curse would be broken and they would be interrogated. If they weren’t willing to join the Vampires then…”

“Back into the box as a meal.” Rick frowned. His eyes were losing focus. “But they’re not feralborn. They were kidnapped.”

“That is what the rumor claims. The Vampires were using the bandits to steal bond-collars and kidnap humans from villages at a very aggressive scale.” Dia’s voice strained with anger. “Everything stolen was sold at a price. The tribe was paid in gold coins, mostly to incentivise the bandits and placate the Orcs.”

Which confirmed everything Kiara had said, but left the question over how… coincidental it had all been. A feral attack right as the blood-suckers showed up? Followed by mass kidnapping? Rick suspected there would be more trouble ahead. “Anything of Sinco itself?”

“As far as anyone knows, they’ve been holding tight. But it doesn’t look like the feral wave is relenting. The bandits claim they were betrayed by the baron, but how true that is remains anyone’s guess since they would say anything to avoid consequences.” She shook her head slightly. “Considering the number of messengers the tribe intercepted has increased over the past month, I suspect the worst.”

Rick looked at Dia’s still form, and the unspoken question that lingered in her words. There was little doubt about what she wanted. But his question returned to what he wanted. It was as if he’d been thrown back to the day he’d left Balet, escaping the grasp of people who could make his life far too complicated.

And now he had a choice again.

“We’re going to help Sinco, but you need to understand it will not be for the sake of helping. I want to carve out a place for all of us, and it will have to include the tribe.” He made a gesture at the door. “The kingdom is a monster, if they go after us we will not make it. It’s always easier to protect yourself against a larger entity by muddling the waters and pretending you’re a part of it.”

It was pretty clear Dia did not agree with the sentiment, lips curling slightly. But the maiden remained quiet, nodding marginally. “I-”

She became quiet, glancing at the entrance of the ‘meeting hut’ with what was clearly a scowl. It took Rick a moment to detect whatever had drawn her attention. Shouts came from outside. At first dimly, but quickly growing louder.

“Healer Spikes!”

The flaps at the entrance of the hut opened, and three short maidens entered. They were the Politas, with their chitin armor covered back and long antennae swinging wildly.

“The humans… they’re becoming sick.”

Dia shot Rick a look that penetrated even past the visor of her helmet. He could almost see her brows digging into her nose. The Rapha opened her mouth, and then closed it, stepping closer to him and removing her gauntlet of a glove. Her hand was glowing a soft green as she caressed his forehead.

“You’ve been poisoned.” She hissed, loud enough to be heard, loud enough for others to know.

Rick would need to have a word with her about trying too hard. “Sure feels like it.” He staggered a moment, she caught him before he could fall. “I need you to act.”

“Anything.” She nodded slowly, fists clenching tightly.

The walls had ears.

“I am giving you an order.” He growled, covering his mouth and swallowing the bile before it got too far up his throat. “Raise the alarm and help the others first. Make sure no one dies. And I’m going to need you to tear a new asshole on Urtha. This could be a counter-offensive from the Vampires.” He took a shuddering breath. “And call for Kiara.”

“What!?” Her anger was quite real, no need for her to pretend.

“She’s a self-serving empath.” It was the truth, which made it easier. “A bitch, but one we need. There might be traitors in the tribe, and we have to be sure. She will help if it means the tribe won’t hunt her down, since she knows she can’t run away indefinitely.”

Except this was his doing. And he hoped Kiara would do exactly what she did best and identify who they needed to get rid of. She’d been working through the tribe while the Ghoul had been in charge, she should keenly know who had been who then. And, with any luck, it would open up their way forward.

He just needed the chance.

Once more Dia opened her mouth, looking at him with a glare that went unseen under her visor. It was obvious she wanted to say it; she wanted to make it clear as day that this was his doing, that he had clearly planned this.

That this was wrong.

But just a flicker of her focus to the Politas was enough to stop her.

“Tell Monica to guard the humans and help Kiara.” He continued. “Eva might be of help if this thing is in people’s bloodstream.”

The healer’s shoulders slumped. “Monica will stay with you until things calm down. You need to remain safe.” Her words came with an annoyed edge.

One that vanished the instant Dia had turned to look at the Polita.

Rick felt a chill run down his spine.

“He’s been poisoned too, he will need a healing drink.”

The Polita nodded, reaching into her satchel and pulled out a wooden mug as she approached Rick. He eyed her suspiciously, then back at Dia who’d opted to stay put and watch him.

The bug-maiden leaned over the cup, focusing on it. She gagged, coughed, and a stream of yellow liquid splashed out of her mouth as she puked into the mug.

“You should drink up.” Dia declared coldly. “Healer’s orders.”

The Polita looked expectantly at Rick, smiling nervously, antennae waving in the air.

Suddenly it didn’t look as appetizing anymore.

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