Autonomy: Book 2 in the Invasion Day series (11 page)

“Call this off and walk away, Tuka. You’ve already lost so much, don’t let all these people die, too,” she implored him, and didn’t back away when he reached her and pressed the gun against her temple. “You know the misery I’ve had to live with, the pain I’ve had to endure via the stories those men and women told me in confidence. My apathy was real, my tears genuine, and if you kill me now they would’ve all suffered in vain. I’ll fight for them from the inside, I promise.”

“You made me many promises, Kiki. You made me believe in you and your word, and yet you broke them all. You betrayed our cause, and your race. How can I ever trust you again?” he demanded, but lowered the gun slightly, and she could see the pain in his eyes. It seemed the cold-hearted rebel really had cared for her after all, and Kyra hated how she’d broken another heart in her selfish pursuit for truth and a place in the world.

“Get away from him, Kyra. Get in the ship,” Kronus’ voice boomed from behind her, and Tuka’s gaze finally shifted away from her face at the sound. He peered over her shoulder at the Thrak who’d spoken, and did a double take. Realization took over his features, and he open and closed his mouth in shock at who was standing in front of him.

“Don’t do anything foolish,” Kyra tried to tell Tuka, but knew it was no use. He was gone; his mind completely closed off to any order other than that to kill the dictator they’d been fighting for almost two decades. Anger surpassed the confusion on his face in a moment, and she knew exactly what he was planning to do. Tuka shoved her away from him, but his actions only managed to push her back in Kronus’ direction, and when he raised his hand again, this time pointing the gun at their King, she acted fast.

Kyra turned on her heel and ran to Kronus. In that moment, she knew with absolute certainty where her loyalty truly laid. There was no longer any doubt in her mind or heart. She was loyal to him and his reign, regardless of the wrongs done along the way, and she leapt up into the air as soon as she heard the weapon fire from behind her. Something heavy slammed into her back, knocking the wind out of her, and Kyra stumbled forward, reaching out to Kronus in a bid to reach him before more shots could be fired, but she couldn’t seem to control her body.

She heard as Tuka bellowed out a curse at her for getting in his way, but then the sounds pouring from his mouth quickly changed from angry taunts to maniacal laughter. His mirth and provocation didn’t matter though, as all Kyra could focus on was Kronus. Time slowed to a snail’s pace as she watched his mouth move, bellowing orders she couldn’t hear over the ringing in her ears. He was staring at her in shock and horror, and then ran to her, catching Kyra right before she could hit the ground in a crumpled heap.

Kronus cradled her in his arms, and she wondered for a moment why he looked so troubled, but then looked down and saw that dark-red blood was covering his shirt. He’d been sprayed with it, and she hated how sad he seemed. She tried to ask him whose blood it was, but choked on something hot and metallic that was lodged in her throat. Her chest burned and the world began to spin. Kyra coughed and wheezed, suddenly piecing together the gunshot with the pain that’d begun radiating from inside her ribcage, and she quickly realized the blood was hers. Tuka had shot her, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was that she’d saved Kronus from taking the bullet, and she smiled.

Fear left her, and only peace remained as a wave of blissful darkness swept over her and pulled her under.

***

Kronus roared in torment as he watched the light fade from behind Kyra’s eyes. This couldn’t be happening. Not to him. For the first time in his long life he felt afraid, and he immediately grieved the tremendous loss of the life in his arms, as well as the future they might’ve potentially come to have alongside one another. She had to be dead. There was no way anyone could’ve survived a shot right through the chest like that, and Kronus cursed her for having taken it for him. Because of Kyra’s actions, the bullet had torn through her body and given Kronus time to duck what would’ve undoubtedly been a shot through his heart—and instant death not even the most powerful of Thrakorian’s could survive—but there was no triumph in her success. There was no gladness that she’d spared his life, only the pain and anguish in knowing she’d sacrificed her own to save him.

Down on one knee with Kyra’s limp body curled against his chest, Kronus felt as though all that was good in the world was lost to him again, and only emptiness remained. He looked up and spotted Tuka fighting with one of his soldiers, and an injured one at that. It seemed he too had taken a bullet from the rebel scumbag in his attempt to assassinate their King, but now the gun had been kicked aside and he was unarmed. Kronus wanted Tuka for himself, and felt his lip curl into a sneer. It was finally time to unleash the beast he’d kept so carefully hidden away.

Someone put a hand on his shoulder from beside him, and he looked up to find a clearly grief-stricken Thrayke peering down at him. Despite the bright sunlight, a dark cloud was over his head as he took in the gory sight. He was mourning Kyra as fiercely as Kronus was—if not more so—and he too seemed ready to lay waste to all humanity in honor of her incredible sacrifice.

Feeling confused, Kronus couldn’t remember if Thrayke had been beside him the entire time, or if he’d watched her get shot from further away, but he knew with absolute certainty that he had to be the one to do something about it. Vengeance would be his.

Kronus stood, handed the limp bundle of precious cargo over to Thrayke, and then ran at Tuka as fast as his huge legs could carry him. He bulldozed into him with the force of a wrecking ball, and starting pummeling the foolish man with punches to the face using fists over half the size of his head. Kronus didn’t stop until Tuka was more than just dead, he was mush, and then he moved onto the next rebel, and the next. Like a man possessed, he took down one after another, leaving only a mess of broken bodies in his wake. Regardless of age, gender, whether they cried for mercy, or if their backs were turned, he took life after life in his quest for retribution. When he’d finally cleared the roof of all its invading rebel scum, Kronus actually felt disappointed that there weren’t more for him to take his pain out on, and it took him a few moments to calm his frenzied breathing and see through his red-misted haze.

“She’s gone, isn’t she…” he asked, and could hardly bring himself to say the terrifying words. Kronus then fell down into the spot beside Thrayke on the ground with a thud. He took in the grisly sight before him, and took a tiny bit comfort when Thrayke shook his head no. There was still color in Kyra’s cheeks, and he didn’t know how, because her breathing had to be impossible with the hole currently taking residence in the center of her chest. She looked awful, but her brow wasn’t furrowed, and neither did she seem afraid. Somehow, she actually looked peaceful. Kyra had known exactly what she was doing when she’d jumped in front of that bullet for him, and Kronus knew he’d never get the image of seeing the exit wound bust her chest wide open with the impact out of his mind as long as he lived.

“I think she’s still alive, but I have no idea how. We need to get her to Greegis,” Thrayke answered, and he stood, cradling Kyra’s so tiny body in his arms, much the same way as he had the night before when he’d carried her up to the makeshift safe house. Kronus had to fight the urge to take her from him, but instead followed Thrayke’s lead, and his men fell in line behind them.

Luckily, the pilot was uninjured, and he had them airborne in no time. Their small group were grateful to be heading away from the fray, but all any of them could seem to concentrate on was the somehow still beating heart of the heroic human woman lying in Thrayke’s arms. If any of them had doubted her before, they’d most certainly been won over now, and each watched her with genuine concern etched on their usually so stoic faces.

“Where to?” the pilot called from the cockpit once they were up and nestled amongst the clouds, and Kronus reached out and took Kyra’s hand in his. Against all odds, she was warm, and he sighed in sweet relief that perhaps he hadn’t lost her after all.

He still couldn’t believe she’d taken a bullet for him. What a myriad of surprises she was turning out to behold, and he knew he had to do the right thing by her as thanks. After everything she was still going though, and what he himself had put her through, she’d remained loyal to him and had risked her life to save his when it’d mattered. This incredible young woman had amazed him with every moment she’d spoken or acted in either defiance or devotion, and he knew she deserved so much better than how he’d acted towards her. Kyra was stronger than anyone he’d ever known, despite her being from the supposedly inferior race, and Kronus vowed he’d never underestimate her strength again.

She coughed and sputtered up more blood, but her eyes remained closed, and he hoped he might get to see those beautiful brown eyes of hers again before long. First, she had to heal, and he wanted to be by her side while she received the best care he could get her. It was evident there was no way he could save her the pain and suffering he knew was coming, but he would sure as hell try.

“Home. Take us to Kro Island,” he shouted in response, and was just surprised by his reaction as any of them. He’d never let a human set foot there since clearing the island for his own personal use after Invasion Day, but now it was the only place he was sure Kyra would be safe, and he was finally willing to share it with her.

Chapter Ten

One minute, Kyra was floating in the clouds, and the next she was laying on a cold, hard floor. The darkness that’d first descended had given way to such lucid dreams that her visions almost felt real, and it was hard to follow her wayward thoughts as they scattered to the wind of her imagination, but then the strange back and forth started all over again. Her dreams were all over the place, and soon those same fretful nightmares she’d suffered during her treatment at the facility came back to haunt her. The faces of those she’d wronged or failed in the past came to mock and taunt her. The two rebels whose capture had been the pivotal moment in her career, and who were the reason she’d been promoted to Gentry, came and glowered at her. They spat in her face and laughed at her tears, growing taller and taller before eventually stamping her to mush. Her parents’ rotting corpses also returned, and they told her again how she’d failed her race by betraying her humanity in return for a King’s favor she would never truly have.

“Such a foolish little girl,” her mother called her, before walking back into a mist that’d somehow swirled to existence around each of their ankles. Kyra then watched the horizon for a while, feeling lost and so alone that she even prayed for more company—friend or foe. Her dreams didn’t relinquish their hold, or offer comfort, and suddenly she fell back onto the cold floor with a thud. Kronus and Thrayke then appeared, and the two men stood over her, each looking down at Kyra with pitiful stares.

“It’s a shame, she was such a good little pet,” Thrayke said in a clipped, emotionless voice, and Kronus agreed with a nod. “At least now we don’t have to worry about letting her down gently. She can just die and leave us alone.”

“Perfect scenario if you ask me,” Kronus agreed, ignoring her tears. The pair of them taunted her a little longer, and then shook their heads, clearly disappointed that she wasn’t strong enough to be with either of them after all. “We’ll have to find someone new to play with, such a shame indeed,” Kronus replied, and then the pair laughed loudly, mocking her.

“Can I have her back then? She’ll be safe with me. I’ll never let her out of my sight again,” her overbearing ex-boyfriend, Silas, asked as he too appeared from the smoky abyss behind, and both Thraks nodded.

“She’s no use to me now, you’re welcome to her,” Kronus answered a shrug, and they walked away while Silas scooped Kyra up off the ground and then flung her lifeless body over his shoulder. In an instant, they were back in Fort Angel, and he lowered her down onto the bed in his old room.

“I always said you belonged here with me. You should’ve stayed before when I asked you,” he said, clicking his tongue and shaking his head, as though utterly displeased with her foolishness. She wanted to answer back, but somehow couldn’t move or speak, and she started to panic. “Maybe I should punish you now, so I know you’ve learned your lesson and we can move on?” he asked, pretending she might answer, and then he slammed his hand down hard on her chest. The pain made her want to scream, but before she could react, he did it another time, and another. When Silas’ apparition finally stopped his compressions, she was gone from the barrack room and adrift the clouds again, but the sun soon shone through, and for the first time what felt like forever, she took a deep breath.

***

“She’s coming round,” the sound of Thrayke’s voice made Kyra open her eyes, but the pain in her chest made them roll back into her head again, seeking the comfort the oblivion brought with it. “No, don’t do it again. The compressions worked, she’s just going in and out of consciousness.”

Kyra forced her eyes open again, and she eventually focused and saw Kronus standing at the end of the hospital bed she was now lying on. He had his arms wrapped around his chest protectively and was chewing on his thumb as though trying desperately to hold it together. When their eyes met, she tried to call his name, but nothing came out. Not even a hum or a croak left her lips. Kyra’s voice was now nothing but empty air. Her hands flew to her chest, but were pulled away again by strong hands, and Thrayke’s face came into her view, blocking Kronus out. “Don’t touch it, we’re getting you sewn up now. Stay still, otherwise you’ll have to be sedated.” Kyra tried to talk again, but there was still nothing, so she nodded.

She stared back down the bed at Kronus, and watched as he shifted his weight and gripped the bar at the end of the gurney she was laid on. His knuckles were turning white as he watched them working on her, and fear began bubbling up inside again. What was happening that’d made him so angry? Kyra was terrified that he might be mad at her for having jumped between him and Tuka’s bullet, and she simply couldn’t bear the look on his face as he regarded her. Perhaps the dream had been real after all and he was done with her? Kyra pleaded with Kronus to stop staring at her that way, but her words were still nothing more than silent pleas that never met his ears. The panic got the better of her, and she started trembling as her body went into shock. Hands gripped her from every angle, and Kronus cursed as he wrapped his hands around her ankles to hold them still.

Kyra wasn’t sure why she was trembling so badly, she didn’t even feel cold, but then she had trouble focusing on his face any longer. The bed was bouncing around beneath her, or so it seemed, and she frowned. Confusion turned back into agonizing torture in an instant when the realization hit that it was her juddering, not the bed, and her body quickly sent her mind back out of consciousness in a bid to find comfort in the depths of her psyche again.

It was silent when she came to again, and this time Kyra let herself lie there and listen to the sound of the ocean somewhere close by rather than rush to open her eyes. She wondered where they were, but found she didn’t mind, and simply enjoyed the sounds of the Earth and its wildlife all around. Surprisingly, she felt pretty good, and wasn’t sure if the pain had dulled, or if she was just high on painkillers. Kyra let her eyes flicker open, and she instantly wished she hadn’t. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out, and she couldn’t be sure if it was still due to her injury, or thanks to the hand that was clasped over her mouth.

Lorde Greegis, the sadistic scientist from the facility she’d been administered her serum in, was standing over her. He leaned in closer, a little too close for Kyra’s liking, but kept his hand firmly over her mouth in a clear bid to frighten her. His satisfied smile brought tears to her eyes, and she searched the room in the hopes she might find Kronus there watching over her again, but knew he would never allow such treatment if he were. They were alone, which was exactly what Greegis seemed to want.

“This is the second time my hard work and impressive scientific advancements have saved your life, so I suggest you think again before you try to outsmart me,” he whispered in her ear. “Remember last time when I tested how quickly you could heal? I’d hate to have to show you again,” he added, and she knew exactly what he was implying. When she’d stood up to him at the facility, he’d broken her wrist. While it’d hurt like mad, her new and improved body had healed the break within hours, and thusly hidden the evidence of his malpractice when Thrayke had come for her. Greegis was a scientist, not a doctor, but it was clear he hadn’t liked being denied a test subject to study because of Thrayke’s orders that she remain alive and whole at the end of her treatment, regardless of the outcome. She squirmed, but her body was still weak from her ordeal, and she knew fighting him was fruitless, so wilted.

While she was thankful for his serum and how it’d seemingly saved her from dying up on that rooftop, Kyra trembled and prayed to a God she hadn’t believed in her entire life that he’d somehow meet a terrible end. She hated Lorde Greegis with a passion, and knew that hatred was also because of everything he and his fellow scientists had done in the name of progress. Millions of men, women, and children had lost their lives in his quest for whatever genetic jackpot the Thrakorian species seemed to be looking for, and he didn’t care for the human losses one tiny bit.

The door opened, and by the time Kronus had come through it, Greegis had lowered his hand and was instead checking the pulse in her neck.

“How is she?” Kronus asked, and he came to a stop by the bed on her left side. She tried to talk to him, but no sound came out again, and he furrowed his brow at Greegis. Kronus sat down beside her on the bed, clearly just as distressed as he’d been the first time she’d awoken, and she had to fight the tears pricking at her eyes in knowing she was causing him such pain.

“Her larynx and vocal cords were badly damaged and are still healing. Her voice might come back, but it might not. Only time will tell,” Greegis told him, and he then put a gentle hand on Kyra’s shoulder. She hated how he could hide his monstrous side so easily in front of others, especially with how helpless she was to fight, and scowled back up at him. “Try not to talk, just let it come in its own time,” he then added in his best impersonation of a caring doctor.

Kyra pulled away from Greegis and his fake care. There was no hiding her disgust, and she turned her body away from him and curled against Kronus. She didn’t doubt that Greegis’ threat had been a promise, and while she knew she had no other choice than to follow his demands and be a good little patient, she also knew she didn’t have to play nice while doing it. He immediately backed off, and she heard his shoes scrape against the wooden floor as he backed away. “I’ll check in with her in an hour,” he offered, but Kronus shook his head.

“I’ll take it from here. If I need you again I’ll send for you,” he replied, and Kyra was so glad he’d seemingly picked up on her fear of having the sinister man around longer than necessary. “Domo, see the good Lorde out.”

The shock on his face was a victory, and Kronus’ words struck the scientist dumb as he tried to fathom a way he might try and defy the King’s order to leave. There was nothing he could reply with that wasn’t tantamount to treason, and Kyra had to smile that he’d gotten at least a little bit of a comeuppance. She recognized the Master Protector who then stepped inside the doorway and shook Greegis’ hand with what seemed to her like a forced smile.

“Thank you for your assistance, Lorde Greegis. We’ll be sure to compensate you for the time spent away from your clinic. Please, follow me,” he told him, and then led the way outside without another word. She could hear Greegis pleading his case as the door was closed behind him, but was glad to overhear that the soldier wasn’t having any of it.

“I’m sorry, but we had to call him in. He created the serum you were given before, so was the only one we could trust to ensure you were treated properly this time,” Kronus told her, and Kyra slowly started to unfurl her body from around his. She nodded, and hated that she couldn’t talk to him about how she felt regarding Greegis, but was glad she was feeling better overall. Love him or hate him, thanks to Greegis and his serum she was alive and mostly intact, which was impressive considering she’d not long before jumped in front of a speeding bullet.

Kyra sat up and crossed her legs beneath her. She took a moment to clear her mind and untied the hospital gown from behind her neck, and then slowly pulled it down her arms so she could assess the wounds. There was no getting away from what’d happened, or putting off dealing with it any longer, and the first step was to finally see the damage for herself. Thankfully, someone had left her with her underwear on, but when Kyra looked down at her stitched up chest, the last thing she cared about was whether or not her body was on show.

A huge red scar went from her throat all the way to the base of her breasts, and the mottled skin was sewn together with thick, dark, surgical stitches. She shuffled to the edge of the bed and tested her weight on her feet, but Kronus was right there with her, and he put a gentle hand around her waist to keep her upright if she needed it. Kyra was standing strong a few seconds later, and while she felt tough enough to hold herself up without his help, she didn’t push his hand away from the small of her back. It felt good, regardless of their situation.

Together they walked slowly across the room towards the mirror, and when she saw the wound reflected back at her in all its awful glory, she sobbed silently, and tears fell down her cheeks onto her sore chest. “It’ll heal more, you just have to give it time,” Kronus insisted, drying her eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. “Your body’s already doing an amazing job. Let it finish before you get too disheartened.”

How long has it been?
she mouthed, and watched in the reflection as Kronus tucked a strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear. His eyes were on her neck, and he looked like he might kiss her, but then clearly thought better of it. Kyra didn’t blame him, and felt hideous, so peeled her eyes away from the mirror.

“Two days,” he replied, and she nodded. It actually did make her feel better knowing it hadn’t been too long since they’d been ambushed by Tuka on that rooftop, and she turned to look at the scar from the entry wound on her back. It wasn’t as long, but ran right alongside her spine, and it was a wonder she hadn’t either been killed or paralyzed from it.

Kronus grabbed a notebook from a drawer nearby, and hunted for a pen while Kyra forced her eyes back to the wound on her chest and she continued to stare at her injuries via her pale reflection. She was a mess, and needed a bath, but knew she had to finish healing first, so headed back to the bed on slow and unsteady feet. Sleep would help her heal faster, she knew, and weariness soon clawed its way inside her muscle and bone as if from nowhere, but she didn’t mind. Kyra pulled on a fresh nightgown and climbed back up onto the gurney, ready for some rest.