Zen slashed another guard’s throat when she felt her instincts scream at her to run. She turned around and found D’Angelo heading for her. Her fear was illogical, There were too many people around but still, she did not want that man to touch her ever again. She began running into the mess of guards hoping to stall him, but they let him through like water parting from a river. The others were fighting still. If I can get to the hatch!
She kept running a haze of panic setting in. One of the guards grabbed onto her then. She screamed and kicked like some trapped animal. She lost all sense of where she was, only that she had to get away. She forgot about the knives and gun and used her nails to claw at the guard’s face.
“Zen! Shadow warp,” Isaias yelled but Zen was swallowed up in her fear she didn’t hear him. Stephan took one look at how scared she was acting and moved. He rammed his fist into the guy holding onto her and grabbed onto Zen.
“Zen, It’s me.”
“Don’t touch me! Don’t”
He shook her and she blinked, finally noticing her surroundings again. Then she collapsed on top of him crying. “Stephan! Don’t let him touch me again! Please! Stephan!”
Stephan rubbed her back but his eyes were going blue and the room was slowly becoming wetter.
“Woah where did all this water come from,” asked Isaias who was ankle-deep in water.
“I assume from all the bodies we killed but,” Marco watched as a guard dropped down dead and his innards added to the water before they were squeezed to pure water. “Ugh, you might want to watch where you step, Isaias. This isn’t exactly water.”
Isaias turned to Marco. “Then what is it?”
Marco pointed to a guard who was choking and Isaias watched horrified as the guard’s liquids joined the water on the floor.
“Innards, yuck! Your little brother is pissed.”
“Yes, he is.”
###
Stephan calmed Zen in his arms but the minute she caught sight of D’Angelo so close she lost it again. She began trying to escape. “Let me go! Please! Let me go!”
Stephan kissed her head. “No one’s going to hurt you Zen.” I’m here.”
D’Angelo grinned. “I thought you liked me Zen?”
“Stay away!”
He crept closer and tried to touch her but a wall of water rose between him and Zen.
“You are not ever touching her,” Stephan growled.
He passed his hand through the water shield and ran his fingers up Zen’s spine. “I already have, haven’t I Zen?”
The water around them began to churn and D’Angelo began to choke as Zen screamed.
Stephan grinned maliciously.”You dare to touch Zen? You pig. Choke.”
D’Angelo collapsed to his knees as his spittle raced down his chin.
“Leave him and take Zen. She needs help right now,” said Kiera from the hatch, snapping Stephan out of his trance. He looked up at Kiera’s stern face and nodded carrying the hysterical girl to the ship. Layna approached the ship unsure if she was welcome or not.
“You the one Zen told us about,” came a voice from behind her. Senka materialized and her eyes widened.
“Mateo?”
“Senka for now till I remember who I am. Are you with Zen?”
“Yeah and I can tell you just who you used to be Mateo Amargarita.”
“Meh, I like my new name better.”
“Which is?”
“Senka Amargarita. Nice to meet you.”
“I guess I’d be your older sister then.”
“Everyone aboard,” called Stephan as he boarded with Zen in his arms. Isaias and Marco teleported to the hatch while Marek walked back calmly. The remaining guards were being cautious of the group and were letting them board while Bernado and a few techs helped D’Angelo breathe again by inserting a breathing tube down his throat. He was nearly out of oxygen when Stephan let him go. They boarded the SMVK and Val led the ship out of the metal station and onto space. Stephan touched the small blue button and the ship disappeared in a hyperjump.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
###
Zen was laid on Stephan’s bed and Edline crawled in beside her holding onto her.
“Was she injured,” she asked, checking for wounds.
“Yes, Ed. She was hurt in a way you’re never supposed to get hurt.”
“Oh, was it bad?”
“Yes, Ed. It’s really bad. Come on let’s let her sleep,” he said, tugging Edline off Zen and setting her on the floor before motioning her to the door. Edline smiled and left. He started to get up but a little whimper stopped him. He looked at Zen for a minute. Nothing. He began moving again and another whimper. He sighed and sat back down beside her running his hands through her loose hair. That shouldn’t have happened to you Zen. We should’ve been faster! I should've...A knock on the door brought him out of his thoughts.
“Come in,” he said, straightening up and letting Zen’s hair fall through his fingers. She snuggled up to the warmth of him. He smiled softly just as Isaias walked in.
“Just wanted to check up on her. She was acting really strange out there on the station. Do you know why?”
Stephan’s eyes bled blue. “I can guess and you’re not going to like it, Isaias.”
“What did those bastards do to my sister, Stephan?”
“I don’t know. What I do know is that a woman usually holds fear for a man’s touch for a simple and disgusting reason.”
“D’Angelo touched her! How far?”
“I don’t know but the next time I see that swine he’s dead.”
“Get in line big brothers go first,” said Isaias, his eyes bleeding completely black and shadows dancing around his form. Senka looked in and whistled at the mess he was making. He hauled Isaias out of the room by his shirt.
“Your sister needs her rest. I don’t know what pissed you off but cool it.”
“She was raped, Senka! That’s what! And the bastard’s still alive. I want him dead!”
“Senka swallowed down his own anger and held Isaias in a firm grip. “We’re going to have to work on that temper of yours. Come on.” Isaias was dragged out of Stephan’s room. Stephan couldn’t blame him for losing his temper. Plus he’s a new elemental. I remember how hard it was for me to reign my temper in and I’m a water elemental. No wonder Edline has such a tough time of it. He laid back with his back towards the wall and crossed his arms, closing his eyes.
###
Stephan watched as Zen cried and tried to struggle against her bonds again.
“Don’t come near me asshole!”
D’Angelo stepped up from the miasma of dreams. “Zen Zen, Zen. We’ve been over this. I can and will touch you as I please,” he said brushing his hands up her thighs. She bit her lip as his cold hands made contact with her skin.
D’Angelo trailed them higher to the base of her panties then he slipped inside. Zen gave a cry and he crushed his mouth onto hers. His tongue swarmed into her mouth as she gasped at the feelings he was evoking. Tears slid down her face and she closed her eyes envisioning this happening to someone else. He pulled back and began to kiss down her neck while touching her. He slid out of her panties to trail his hands down her thighs. “You are smooth all over,” he muttered, kissing her clavicle.
“Please get off me,” she pleaded.
Stephan couldn’t move. He was stuck watching this horror show.
He watched as hands trailed her body, as the swine kissed her inappropriately. None was wanted and he was relieved to see that and yet his gut churned with dread because he knew what had happened was nonconsensual so did that mean he didn’t believe Zen?
“You don’t like this?” leered D’Angelo.
No! Not with you!” Zen screamed.
Stephan blushed at that. They’d only kissed but eventually yeah most definitely he’d take her. Except she’s now scared of men.
“Your body likes it,” sneered D’Angelo increasing his movements.
“Please,” Zen groaned.
“Please what? More?”
“Ugh!” Zen cried shaking her head and biting her lip. She heard the jingle of a belt and a zipper and opened her eyes. She looked right at Stephan with tears in her eyes.
“Why did you have to see? Get out!”
“You brought me here again Zen. Is that what he did to you? Well is it!”
“Damnit! Leave!”
The room disappeared and became the field of wolfsbane. The dangerous garden that was her to a tee. She walked to sit down in a clump of grass and cry. He still couldn’t move.
“Zen, let me go. Please.”
“I’m not holding you down, Stephan.”
“Then what is?”
“Your guilt.” She looked at him. “There was nothing you could do Stephan.”
“Like hell! I could’ve teleported and been there faster!”
“And gotten caught and killed and then who would’ve rescued me? Let go of your guilt Stephan.” She stood and walked over to him, raising her arms to caress his cheeks. “Let it go.”
He sighed and leaned into her hands. “I wish I could take it from you but my abilities as a traveler aren’t so great.”
Zen shook her head. “No one can take it from me. It’s part of who I am but maybe you can help me through it?”
Stephan nodded not noticing he had raised his arms and was cupping her cheek.” Name it. Anything Zen,”
“Kiss me? Sweetly?”
He grinned and leaned down brushing their lips together. He let her decide what to do next. She brought her hand to his collar and wrapped her hand around it pulling him forward. The sweet kiss became deeper. He still cupped her cheek. He refused to move his hand any farther. She pulled away and stared into his eyes. “You can hold me, Stephan I won’t break,” she said smiling.
“In the real world, I’ll hold you. Wake us up Zen.”
Zen nodded and both began to disappear.