Kovas

KOVAS

Flames licked at me, chasing my heels as I ran faster.

I was lost, turning hopelessly around in this steel maze, cold walls pressing in.

And always, the flames close behind.

"Wake up."

A gentle voice called to me, a scent of orli blooms, a taste that I craved but never reached.

I had to have it, had to break free.

The sweet taste of blood on my tongue, more intoxicating than any wine, the aroma wrapping around me, soothing, chasing away the endless nightmare.

My lips touched soft flesh, and of its own accord, my tongue lapped again at the nectar.

Then with a jolt, I opened my eyes.

This wasn't a dream.

Mera's face hung over mine, her green eyes glazed.

In shock, I sat up, gripping her shoulders.

"What have you done?"

A thin trickle of blood slipped from the wound at her wrist and I winced, the situation blindingly clear.

She'd cut herself, over and over again. For me.

"This is madness."

I knew it. But still I hungered for another taste.

Resolutely I turned away.

Such things were not for me.

"I thank you for your care," I said stiffly, then dragged myself to my feet.

Better.

Unlike the last time I'd tried to stand, it didn't feel like my guts were held together with spiked wire.

A wave of dizziness crashed over me and I slumped against the wall.

"Careful!" she chided, flying to my side. "Take it easy."

I brushed her hands away. "You should attend to your own injury." Her aroma filled the cell, coated my mouth with every breath.

Her chin flew up, face growing cold at my dismissal, and a strange new hurt bloomed in my chest.

I ignored it, barely restraining myself from licking my lips as she turned away to bandage her wrist.

Reaching out to help her, I quickly yanked my hands back. Surely she would not appreciate such attention from me.

Besides, there were other issues to deal with, ones that I understood. Information first, then action.

Starting with the largest swath of bandaging that covered my torso, I began to unravel it.

"Stop that!" she cried. "You're still not completely healed!"

I kept pulling at the gauze. "I am aware of that. Before I fight again, I must assess the remaining damage."

Mera's hands folded around mine, and I froze. "I don't think you're fighting anytime soon," she said softly, her eyes lowered. "Look."

A slow crimson stain spread across my side. "That is less than optimal."

Her laughter filled the air, surprisingly sweet and clear. "That you survived at all is incredible," she said as she helped me lay back down. "I don't think we're going to get to optimal anytime soon."

Closing my eyes, I scanned my body, attempting to assess the remaining damage.

To be truthful, I had not expected to survive either.

The family had received a hint that Mera was being held somewhere in the Serpentine, a lawless labyrinthine area of the station that made the Under look like a well-regulated ballroom.

On the third day of my search, soft sniffles had reached my ears.

A frail Ondisari child dressed in tattered rags whimpered from behind battered boxes, its six glossy black legs askew as it held a small white mammal, its long body almost iridescent.

The creature was limp, and the child wept bitterly.

While the pet tcharvala was rare so far away from the pampered heights of the Metro, the anguish of the child, the brutality of life here was commonplace.

I'd only been distracted for a moment. But it had been enough.

As the energy net dropped over me, the hologram of the child and its pet disappeared, and a flood of Nazoks poured out from the rickety buildings that lined the alleyway.

After that, there was only rage and pain.

Until her. Mera.

I tightened and relaxed muscles in my legs again, trying to estimate my depleted strength.

I could walk, but how far?

Could I make it all the way back up to the Fallen Star? Could I keep Mera safe along the journey?

Not yet.

The healing trance threatened to pull me under once more but I fought against it, reaching out again to let my fingers slide across the back of Mera's hand.

"I can't fight. Not yet. Soon." I managed.

Mera lay her hand over my forehead, the coolness of her skin soothing.

"I didn't really expect you to be jumping into battle on your first day awake," she said, her smile lighting her face. "Just keep healing, okay?"

On impulse, I pulled her wrist down to my mouth, pressing a kiss into the center of her palm.

Her eyes widened, pink lips forming a soft oh.

"No more blood," I commanded. "I just need time."

"What makes you think you can give me orders?" The feel of her hand up my cheek stayed as sleep tugged ever more insistently.

"You're not my master. You don't have any claim on me."

I didn't. But perhaps it wasn't a bad idea.

Thoughts too muddy to untangle what I meant, I let myself slip into the dreamless void.

The next time I woke, I felt the pain.

Good. It meant my nervous system had decided I was strong enough to bear it.

Then something else struck me.

My head was elevated, off the hard floor of the cell, resting on something soft, and my mind was clearer now, able to take in more details of my surroundings.

The only light that came into the cell was from the dim fixture in the corridor outside, its watery beams striping the floor with the shadows of the barred cell door.

I flexed my hand, the pain from forcing my finger into the lock was only a distant memory now.

How long ago had that been?

I shifted slightly and immediately, gentle hands pressed on my shoulders.

"Shh."

I looked up to find Mera's gaze fixed on something I could not see.

But I did not need the enhanced vision of a Vinduthi to see the shining trails of tears down her face.

"What is wrong?" I whispered. "Tell me."

As she glanced down, startled, I realized she had been so lost in thought, she had not noticed that I was awake, her caress automatic.

She moved slightly and I received a shock of my own.

My head was cushioned on her thigh, my body stretched out to the side of her.

"My apologies," I offered as I gingerly pushed myself upright to sit, resting my back against the wall. "That could not have been comfortable for you."

"What?" she blinked as if still gathering her thoughts. "No, it's fine." Her faint smile urged me to lean closer.

Instead, I stayed rigidly still. "What is the matter?"

Mera snorted. "Besides everything? I don't even know how long I've been stuck here. We're out of nutritional shakes and bandages. And, and…"

She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking.

She cried.

I didn't move. Couldn't.

What was I supposed to do? How was I supposed to fix this?

Her sorrow wasn't an enemy I could defeat. Strength was nothing against this foe.

A memory of Alkard and Tessi came to me, his easy embrace of her every time the frustration of the failed search for her friend overwhelmed her.

Arms around body. Pat shoulder, stroke hair. Make low noises.

I could do that.

Awkwardly, I pulled Mera to my chest, wrapping my arms around her shoulders.

Her hot tears on my chest burned worse than any knife wound, but the feel of her here, in my arms...

That was unexpectedly nice. Right.

I stroked my hand up and down her spine, the thin fabric of the stained gown she wore doing nothing to keep me from imagining the silky skin beneath.

"It will be all right. I will get you out of here." I dared to dip my head down, breathing in the scent of her hair.

Despite the horror of this place, she still smelled sweet, clean and bright.

"I promise."

Tilting her head back she raised her face to mine.

"How? I am so tired. I've been thinking and thinking and planning and planning and I'm just. So. Tired."

This was my fault. She had cared for me. I had been nothing but a burden to her.

"We'll find a way. I will get you back to your friend, even if I die for it."

Her lips curled slightly as she sniffled.

"Do you think you could skip the dying part? I worked really hard to try to get you back into one piece. I'd like you to keep doing that."

It was true.

If it had not been for her careful attention, my body's natural defenses would not have had a chance, no matter how robust.

An image flashed in my mind, her tiny hands moving across my body, touching me everywhere, as she must have done in order to care for me.

It was impossible, but I wanted that again. Needed that. Needed her.

Cupping her cheek, I let myself fall into her gaze.

How could this small human woman be so frail and so strong all at once?

How could she make me feel like I must hide her away, protect her, devour her?

Before any answer came to mind, she leaned into me, stretching out, pressing her lips against mine.

"What are you doing? I whispered.

"It looked like you wanted to kiss me." She bit her lip, looking up from under long lashes. "I was getting tired of waiting. Let me know if I was wrong."

Unreasonable desire swept through me, and to my shame, I was too weak to resist.

"You were not."