Runnin

I have the impression that I'm burning inside. It is the same feeling as before. How long was it not exposed to the K'Aldriants' poison? The head hurts as if it's cracking in half. And as much as try I can't open my eyes. Although I may feel the need for it. Something is wrong.

-Do you think he'll be okay?

They are low voices around me. That voice ... that low, frightened voice I know very well. I needed to tell everyone that I was really well.

-It would be great if you weren't among us. He could have died! I imagined that people of your race could evaluate healthy hosts. Zorack almost died in N'Tirlay. Damn K'Aldriants. And they now have a treacherous hybrid like you to create even more terrible creatures.

I also know that other voice. Puts. Scarllet is possessed. I really need to wake up and explain. It wasn't the girl's fault. It was the same old story. Compulsion. She just didn't know how to defend herself. Angel hadn't had any training for that yet.

-He'll be fine. We have more serious problems, Lieutenant. I need you on the bridge assessing how Ravenack overcame our defences. Now.

Max. Max is trying to put some order in the tense mood of the crew. And I'm here without being able to do anything to help. My body does not obey any will of my mind. I could easily process the poison of those creatures in my blood. And it was another dilemma. Making it so easy would reveal who I was. A Gargoyle always had defence implants. Only to let my body do that ... It was to reveal the second layer of skin that I had assimilated from the K'Aldriants. A tough, impenetrable layer of liquid metal.

- I didn't mean ... - I could hear Angel again anxious and anguished.- I ...

And inevitably my concerns pointed to another problem. The girl was scared. Curse. The defence shields of the Spartackus should prevent anything from entering the ship. Don't leave. If she did anything silly that put her in such danger that I couldn't help while I was there in that bed? Could Scarllet for a change be less intolerant? After all, it had been an accident.

"Didn't you mean it?" Scarllet was really possessed. - If something happens to him because of you ...

An argument and my head exploded. I couldn't believe it. Females, come on!

- It wasn't Angie's fault. If you want someone to blame, that someone is there in that bed. - Spike exhibited an attitude that surprised me.

For the first time, I could kiss that grateful boy and forget about his irritating way.

- And who decided that? - Scarllet did not intend to facilitate anything.

And he was involuntary on my part. My mind was once again connected to the girl. The fear she was experiencing ... Confusing images assaulted me. Strange and dark places. There were several children in that place. Somehow I was able to catch her tense breath while Angel struggled to keep the air flowing in her lungs.

My initial concern was that they would do tests with her there, far from the quadrant that followed the guidelines of our world. That was not what I saw in the images. I could clearly see her tense face in that place as she looked with dismay at the bags she was carrying. And the voices ...

-Angel, Angel, my dear!

Foster and temporary homes. The girl was not yet a candidate for adoption. She lived in welcoming families. The lack of emotional bonds had made her a very shy child. Without stable and lasting affective bonds, the rebellious girl who had been born in Édrin had changed a lot. If Asturi saw her as the only heir he had lived all this time ...

I saw my own reflection in it before Klaus found me in the mines and changed my whole life. Angel unlike me had not been carried away by hatred but had just survived all the difficulties.

-It was not my fault. I swear it wasn't. It was ... it was an accident. The chair simply caught fire. Please ... I need to stay. Do not understand. If they take me ... He won't find me. I promised I would wait. He will come back. I know you're coming back. He promised.

I gasped with even worse pain than it afflicted my body. Those words ...

There my world collapsed. I had never returned to those air ducts in the colossal tower after being captured. And I had promised my uncles to look after the girl. The brief contact fell apart just as quickly because of new screams.

-Scarllet, I didn't mean it ... I didn't mean to hurt ...- Angel stumbled.

-Could have caused his death!

-Scarllet, have pity. The girl is already scared enough.

-No, Max. This time I don't intend to shut up. I was a companion of Zorack and besides ...

Damn it! Angel didn't need to know the details of my life like that. Not this way.

"Companion!" Spike had an irritating voice. "I'm not sure what the laws are where they come from, but here there are laws." Angel and I are still underage. I may be almost an adult, but the girl turned sixteen just now. It shouldn't be all right for a captain in that Confederation to go around abusing teenagers.

There was an uncomfortable silence in the ward. Maybe it was necessary to activate my second skin to make the body react faster. He was beginning to sense the disaster.

-Yeah ... are you his wife? - Angel spoke in a shaky and breathless voice.

Not quite, Cailin! With all the curse, that's not what you're thinking.

Truths have their own ways of being revealed.

-Woman? I'm more of a woman than you. I'm certainly not a freak. - Scarllet wasn't even willing to stop.

Ah, never trust an abandoned and jealous female. I tried to move and it was useless. It was a complete disaster.

- But he ...- Angel sighed.

-Did you think he could love someone like you? Just a hybrid? Would anyone be? You're not even normal!

-Scarllet, stop. Stop it now! Max looked possessed.

They were all talking at the same time. Has anyone ever heard that award should be a place of rest and silence? My head now exploded with painful needles.

-He never ...- This time Angel stammered.

Not!

Holy shit. Why was I beginning to feel that Angel was not going to understand the news well? And I hadn't even told him.

-Did you think he loved you? -Scarllet finally released the poison in his words.- He never loved you. Because of you, our planet has been invaded. Thousands of creatures died. It is only Asturi's bastard daughter. Voltan knew it would be inevitable. They should have sacrificed you as soon as you were born. He killed Irlaine.

Shit, Scarllet. What do you intend to do with it? It is petty revenge even for you, hellish creature.

-Who is Irlaine? - I could feel the beginning of despair in Angel.

A sarcastic laugh echoed in the air after a furious curse from Max.

-Irlaine was the woman you killed. Even her birth among us was cursed. -Scarllet continued despite Max's protests .- Her birth cost the life of someone wonderful. My cousin was ...

-Are you saying that Irlaine was my mother?

The tense question was followed by a strong gasp.

-Scarllet, please! I'm asking you! But I can order as your immediate superior! - Max threatened.

-Your pathetic human fool. Just because it was one more warming Zorack's bed, it doesn't mean he's someone important. If Klaus were here, you ... you ...

- You are limited to your accommodations, Lieutenant. It is a direct order from me. In Zorack's absence, as the first mate, the crew responds to my command. He is in detention and suspended from his activities until he can control his emotions once again.

Great, Max. Why did you let her talk that much?

The metallic noise of the door for a moment was all I could hear besides the strained breaths.

-Is it true what she said? Did my mother die because of me? - Angel's despair was evident. He could have sworn she was crying.

Max cleared his throat awkwardly.

- Sometimes tragedies happen simply without anyone being the culprit, Angel. Irlaine could hardly wait for her birth. It was unfortunate ...

-Damn it. And I complain about my family! "Spike sighed.

-I'm really ... um ...- Angel didn't finish the sentence.

Max was going to end up telling everything I should have explained.

-It's a hybrid of Edrians with K'Aldriants, I'm sorry to say.

-What about this Ravenack ...- Spike asked curiously.

Max coughed more awkwardly and with no answers that could get around the complete chaos.

Had I found it so far chaos? It was going to get worse. Is very.

-He leads these creatures. So far the process is always the same when his army invades planets. Symbiosis needs compatible hosts that are selected during virus exposure.

-But why? - Angel and Spike asked at the same time.

-A resistant host is healthy to ensure blood and fluids needed to feed them.

"Kind of aliens with vampires." Spike hissed in amazement. Angel do you have any allergies to anything like garlic? Stakes make a lot of dirt! She hates onions! Do you think it could be a sign? I do not know. Maybe onions work in place of garlic?

-SPIKE! - Angel shouted tense.

I swear I will kill that annoying kid.

-Are you saying I'm like a monster like she said? - Angel's astonishment was evident.

Max inhaled loudly and loudly beside me.

-K'Aldriants are not to be trusted. This does not mean that it is like them. Just stay close so you can be safe. Zorack is fine. His organism will assimilate the toxins and ...

"I could have killed him, couldn't I?" Angel stammered again.

- But you didn't. Just try to stay safe and out of Ravenack's clutches for the good of us all.

Max's warning was the inevitable sentence that everything was out of my control.

Perfect, Max. Do you really need to explain with all the damn details?

-Guests? How do you guarantee blood? - Angel was a pit of anguish that anyone could perceive.