Chapter Six – Chapec
The planet that housed Zon's Sanctuary loomed in the viewscreen. Chapec piloted the ship to dock on the large station that orbited the planet according to the instructions he was being given by their escort. Veronica was in her room, resting until they landed. Dievca sat beside him in the co-pilot's chair.
"You can't lose sight of our goal, Chippy."
Their goal. To avenge their father's death.
"I know that I was angry with you for getting Veronica pregnant, but you have to see it from my perspective. I know you and Dad weren't that close, but he was my whole world. I haven't felt safe since he died. We have to avenge him. We have to."
Chapec remained silent. It had been weeks since he learned that Veronica was pregnant, and he still hadn't really wrapped his mind around it. He was going to be a father. They were headed to a place where they could potentially live in peace and be happy together. But that would mean being in close proximity to the man who killed his father. And even worse, it might mean that he would run into Gylden regularly.
Could he really live like that?
"Chippy. Will you look at me? Are you going to mess this up?"
"I don't know what I'm going to do," he replied shortly. "I don’t know what sort of feelings I have for Veronica. I like her. And I'd kill anybody who tries to hurt her, but I'm the one who's going to hurt her."
Dievca's brow furrowed. She opened her mouth, but Chapec stood and turned his back on her. He let out a shaky breath.
"But it's not just about Veronica. How is a dead father more important than my unborn child?"
Her shoulders slumped. "So, is that it, then? You get the first woman who comes along and gives you a pretty smile pregnant and just abandon your family?"
"The child is my family, too. And Dad wasn't a violent man. He wouldn't want us to turn into killers."
"It's too late for that. We are killers. We have had to kill to survive and kill to keep what's ours. The universe wasn't made for people who keep their heads down." Dievca looked away from him. She swallowed, belying the anger in her voice. Chapec knew she was struggling not to cry. "The only people who survive in this universe are those who do what's necessary. And if we don't kill Gylden—"
"If we kill him, we'll die. That's always been what will happen. You know that as well as I do. But maybe we need to find something to live for besides revenge."
"You do what you think is best, Chapec. I'm going to avenge our father."
Veronica called them from the kitchen before Chapec could respond. The twins hurried out to her. Veronica smiled at him, making his heart squeeze. She trusted him so much. And she was so happy about the baby… Could she be falling in love with him? If she was… He couldn’t betray her. He couldn't. And he didn't want to leave her. He wanted to stay with her, to be a father, to be her mate.
He wanted her.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Yeah. Let's go."
A human with golden eyes stood at the bottom of the gangplank, along with a T'shav with a goatee – strange to see facial hair on one of their species. Another three T'shav stood behind the couple. The human, whose skin was an odd, almost blue color, smiled at them.
"Welcome to the Sanctuary. I am Sara, and this is my mate Tom, Zon's son. From your message, it seems you have been in a bit of trouble."
"Yes," Dievca said. "We—"
"We'll be talking to each of you separately," Tom interrupted. "Please surrender your weapons and go with these men."
Chapec reluctantly handed over his sword. He glanced at his sister to see her even more reluctant, but she surrendered her sword as well. Veronica gave his hand a squeeze before they were separated. He was led to a little room and quizzed about the events that had brought him to this point. He and Dievca had never decided on a script for this, knowing that sounding too perfect would make the Sanctuary suspicious, and told them the truth as far as it did not incriminate them. After he told them about Veronica's pregnancy, he received smiles and congratulations, and that was it. The interview was over.
"You'll know in a few days about your status here. Welcome to the Sanctuary."
Chapec nodded numbly. Was it really going to be that easy? He was led to a room where Dievca was already waiting. She smiled at him, but he couldn’t smile back.
"Where is Veronica?"
Dievca's smile faded. "There was some sort of human meeting thing that I encouraged her to go to. I thought it would give us time to do what we came here to do. Don't back out on me now, Chippy."
"And… what? Join you in a suicide mission? Dievca, we won't survive this."
"Well, I won't survive alone. Are you going to let me die?"
Chapec ground his teeth together. As much as his sister irritated him, he couldn’t let her get hurt. He'd never forgive himself. But he also knew he couldn’t turn his back on Veronica. "I think I love her."
"Of course you love her." His twin tossed her short hair angrily, putting her hands on her hips. "I thought you'd be able to handle it, that you could stop yourself from falling for her. But that didn't happen. But think about it. What can you offer her? Hell, either of us? We're nothing but criminals. Nothing but empty shells full of revenge."
"No."
"I already hacked their system and found where Gylden is living. He's only two floors up." Dievca rose a brow. "Apparently he's some sort of ambassador."
Chapec closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "We don't kill him. Not yet, at least. We can go to see how easy it will be to get to his rooms, but we don't even have weapons. We do not try to kill. Understood? I want to give Veronica time to adjust here at least before we act. Got it?"
Dievca scowled but nodded. They headed out, not speaking. Chapec followed his sister silently, heart in his throat. What would he do once he looked into the eyes of his father's killer?
They reached the rooms quickly. His gut twisted as Dievca knocked. Her hand trembled. When the door opened, both tensed. Chapec's eyes widened. It wasn't a T'shav that answered. It wasn't even a man. A human woman, cradling a small, devil-red infant, stood in the doorway. Dark circles were under her eyes.
Chapec stepped back. He'd heard rumors that Gylden had taken a mate, but he and Dievca had been out of touch with the gladiator games for a long time. But here she was. Gylden's mate. Gylden's child.
If they killed him, they'd be leaving another child without their father.
"Can I help you?" the woman asked.
"We're looking for Gylden," Dievca said. Her eyes were riveted on the small baby. Were the same thoughts going through her mind?
"Well, he's right there." The woman gestured.
Chapec whirled on his heel. A lean T'shav was walking down the corridor. He glanced at the twins with a puzzled expression. His face was exactly as Chapec remembered. Bile rose in his throat and his hands clenched. The man was weaponless. He and Dievca could easily take him down. He trembled with the desire to try…
"Gylden, these two are here to see you," the woman behind them said.
"Are they?" the T'shav warrior stopped and glanced between the two of them. "Do I know you?"
Chapec started to shake his head, but Dievca responded before he could. "You will soon enough!"
Her hands were clenched. Her eyes blazed. Her whole body trembled. Chapec reached to grab her arm, but she shook him off. She stalked towards Gylden. The other T'shav's expression changed from puzzled to utterly blank. The same expression he had worn when killing their father. More bile rose in Chapec's throat. Every inch of him screamed to attack. But he couldn't. He had Veronica to think about. Their baby.
"Who are you?" Gylden's voice was rough.
"I am Dievca, and this is my brother. We're here to avenge our father. The man you killed."
Gylden stepped back. A flash of pain crossed his face.
"Do you remember him? Do you remember how he refused to even pick up a weapon but you ran him through anyway? Do you remember—"
"I've killed too many men to remember them all, Dievca."
It was the worst thing for him to say. A feral scream ripped from Dievca's throat. She lunged forward, aiming a fist for his face. Gylden easily blocked the blow and threw a punch of his own, two knuckles bruising her esophagus.
Rage burned through Chapec. He roared as he charged the killer, only wishing he had his sword to lob off his head. Nobody hurt his family and got away with it.
Nobody.