Fell Dragon
Greetings Readers!
And so another week comes to a close and Fell Dragon updates. I want to once more remind people that this story gets dark and from here on out the story does concentrate on Saita's sanity and it slowly breaking down. If this is something that may trigger you, please take caution when reading further.
After a week of rumours spreading that Saita had vanished without a trace, she was finally able to see the surface world for herself. It was a wooded planet that offered a slightly higher than normal oxygen air content because of the wide variety of greenery. Part of the planet had been sectioned off to allow for the building of the hospital and several supporting buildings, but the rest remained untouched.
With a hood over her head, she had slipped out one morning to enjoy a run in the wood that was closest to the hospital. She loved the fresh air and the cool breeze that regulated her body as she ran. To avoid people asking too many questions about her marks she started wearing longer and longer clothes until she was permanently in a black hoodie with long pants. Once her hair was covered and no one looked her in the eyes she was pretty much unrecognizable which suited her perfectly.
Her run would take her through to the opposite side of the wood in about an hour then she would turn back and return to the compound before too many people started moving through the construction site. Not everyone here was in on Kiai’s plan, and she could not have her face associated with what was happening. Between these morning runs and sparring with Barik the marks had stopped growing and she was sure that some of them were receding. She breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of finally having a way to combat the growing tendrils under her skin.
She returned to the compound’s entrance as the first workers started appearing on sight.
“Cutting it a bit close this morning,” said Kiai as she greeted Saita.
Saita sat down at the table where a cup of coffee was waiting for her. She hadn’t grown to like it when she was younger, but now it helped with the anxiety she was still suffering. Kiai was straightening some blueprints and pinning new ones to the wall. This was the room that led into the tunnel that would go into the compound. It was also the room where the different foremen would have meetings with Kiai to discuss the buildings. Saita only had a few minutes before she would need to move further into the compound.
“I noticed more marks on the trees,” said Saita as she sipped at the black coffee.
“Some of the soldiers mentioned that something was bothering the cattle as well last night.”
“Who are the natives on this planet?”
“There are meant to be none. I surveyed this planet when Karesh was thinking about buying the planet, and I found nothing other than the cattle species here.”
“I think your survey may have missed something large. At least taller than me and strong. With claws,” Saita flexed her hands like claws. “Warn the soldiers and have them carry guns. Not everything is weak to the use of energy.”
“I will send a memo out,” Kiai then frowned. “If you are planning to run these vast distances, start earlier in the morning. I do not want to limit your movement as I see this is helping you.”
“I was only slower today because I noted a lot of slashes on the trees. You need a perimeter.”
“Not sending soldiers into the woods?”
“Only if you are willing to lose them. No, a perimeter should suffice. There has been no contact yet, so don’t make the first move.”
There was a knock at the door, and Saita immediately got to her feet and made for the hidden entrance. She held up a hand in greeting and left with her coffee. Once sealed within the compound she threw her hood off and made her way to her room. She needed a change of clothes and a shower. Most people would be awake and working already, so she would be able to have a shower without anyone seeing her. As she preferred.
Barik would be busy now, so there was no point in trying to coax him into training with her. All she could do was have a shower and then confine herself to her room until the evening. She had agreed to help her cousin, but they were yet to let her in on the whole plan. Perhaps they were still ironing out all the details of what was needed with her mother before they truly involved her.
Saita showered quickly, not even looking in any of the mirrors before returning to her room swiftly. She then sat at her desk and pulled out the notebook that Jarah had given her. Once more she thought to put her feelings into words. To write a letter to her mother, but nothing came of it. Instead, an hour later, she was surprised by a strange feeling in her belly. At first, she was confused, then realised what it was when she felt the rumble.
“Hungry? I’m hungry?” she asked no one in particular.
“Naturally,” she answered herself. “I am using the extra energy, so my body needs more. Wonder if there is any breakfast still to be had.”
She closed the book and got to her feet. She wouldn’t know unless she went down and checked. When she got to the mess hall, it stood empty and the only person in sight was what appeared to be a cook. He gave her an odd look before saying. “I haven’t seen you down here before.”
“I normally stick to my room. Anything left? I’d take an apple happily if you have any.”
“The cooked food is finished, but I’ll see what I can do,” the cook still fixed her with a look of distrust.
Saita sat down and looked at the high ceiling of the mess hall. She was trying to figure out where they were in the blueprints Kiai had shown her a few days ago. She almost jumped when a plate of fruit landed before her.
“You are Kiai’s cousin.”
It was more of a statement than a question, so Saita only nodded her head before reaching for an apple to quarter it. She bit into it and enjoyed the taste. She had found recently that only fruit allowed her to taste anything. Before she was even finished with the apple, she was already eyeing what was left in the bowl. There was another apple and a pear.
“Thank you,” she said. “Normally I don’t feel the need to eat, but today I am rather starving.”
“Do come when the bell rings, then I will have more of a variety for you,” the cook smiled and left her with one last request. “Leave the bowl upfront when you are done.”
She only nodded her head as her mouth was currently crunching through the next apple which she hadn’t bothered to quarter. She devoured what was left and returned the bowl to the front before heading back to her room. The compound was completely empty as most people were either working upstairs or were gathering intel on the outside world through various means. Saita loved the solitude and decided to walk around the compound for a few hours before returning to her room.
Once back in her room she pulled herself up into her bunk and flopped down on it to look up at the ceiling. She kicked off her shoes and made herself comfortable. She had planned to consider her next move but suddenly found her eyelids growing heavy. She hadn’t slept in so long. Would there be any danger in her doing it? There had been no flashbacks recently, and she was so tired.
Not bothering with the blanket, she rolled to her side, gripped one pillow in her arms while her head rested on the other and closed her eyes.
“Just for a few minutes,” she mumbled as she settled herself. “Can’t hurt.”
But hurt it did. Pain radiated from her chest, and she was confused at first. She had fallen asleep on her side, but now she was on her back. She tried to scratch at her chest but found her hands wouldn’t move. Where there had been confusion at first now there was panic. She tried to force her eyes open, but they would not obey her.
No!
Her mind screamed at her to fight, to open her eyes to do something, but nothing responded. The pain in her chest grew worse and though she wanted to scream nothing would come from her mouth. She felt her heart rate going up, but she struggled to catch her breath.
“Must you torture her so?”
A voice! Who was that?
“This is how it turned out. I do not have the time to find the right medicine to keep it completely under. I can paralyze it for a few hours, but other than that this is the best I can do.”
“How is she even conscious?”
“It won’t be for long. This is one of the main pieces, and it needs to be placed in the chest, so the moment I have the chest cavity open, it should pass out.”
She recognized the two voices. The doctor and Edzeeker. She strained her hands to reach for them, but they were firmly tied down.
“She isn’t paralyzed, doctor.”
“So, I lied. I am curious to see how much it can take before it succumbs.”
“I need her alive!”
“It’s fine. You’ll see.”
Then a whisper in her ear. “Isn’t that right S-AY-8-A? You have been through a lot already.”
“You are worse than the doctors in your world wars,” muttered Edzeeker.
Finally, her eyes opened, and at first, all she saw were the white lights she had come to know in the operating room. That was what the doctor called it. It was a torture chamber for her.
“She is awake, doctor.”
She wanted to sit up, wanted to fight, but only her arms and eyes seemed to work. She was forced to watch wires being removed from her ribs and her sternum being lifted from her chest. She couldn’t see well as her vision swam in agony.
Go to sleep!
She begged and begged over and over, but her body held on. She was sure there were tears in her eyes at this point, but it did not move the doctor or Edzeeker. Her arms strained against the bonds once more, and this time Edzeeker placed a hand on her right arm and dug his nails in. She wanted to scream, wanted to say something but her throat was obstructed.
“Let me distract you,” he said as the nails dug into her flesh.
“You spoil it. It is being made for a purpose. After the purpose has been realised surely you are not going to let it live.”
“You assume much, doctor. Hurry up before she strokes out on the table.”
“It is handling it quite well. Thought it would have passed out by now.” the doctor was handling something in his one hand before reaching into her chest.
She screamed, pain and terror-filled. This time her voice resounded, and she could move. She bolted up only to find Kiai standing next to her, peering over the bed’s edge with a look of growing concern on her face.
“Are you alright? I was told you were screaming, and no one could wake you,” she gently placed a hand on Saita’s right arm.
The touch brought the nightmare back, and Saita immediately had a visceral reaction. Nothing remained of her morning meal, but she kept gagging well after her stomach contents had been emptied to the floor. Kiai could do nothing but watch her cousin go through what she was. She avoided the vomit and came to sit next to Saita that had her head in her hands and seemed to be growling into them. This wasn’t sadness, this was fear and pure rage. When Saita finally stopped shaking, she lowered her arms and looked at Kiai.
“That’s why I don’t sleep. I just wanted a moment's rest. I just wanted to enjoy some food, and I can’t even keep it down,” she muttered, the anger clear in her voice. “Can’t stop for a moment, then they catch me. They are always with me. The doctor is dead, but he is still with me.”
She sighed heavily and looked at the mess on the floor. “I better clean that.”
Kiai mad to reach for her, but Saita pulled away and said softly. “Don’t...don’t touch me right now.”
Kiai pulled her arms back and said. “What can I get you?”
Saita just shook her head and then placed it back in her hands with a growl.
Not too much to say about this post other than the strong wall Saita was trying to build around herself is slowly coming down. I would be a terrible writer if I let up now. Anyway, I hope you all join me for the next part on Tuesday!
For those of you just joining us, please note that this is the follow on book from Fell Dragon. Follow this link to read it
Fell Dragon Book 1
As the series continues, it will combine with another book series I wrote. To avoid confusion about what is happening, introductory chapters will be introduced separately so that you don't have to be lost. However, these chapters will contain spoilers. You can find these chapters here:
Races Explained
Banishment
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Haven't read the other parts yet? Follow these handy links:
Part 11>>You are Here>>Part 13