Chapter Eleven
Lord Aurzac cursed as he made his way toward his chambers. He didn’t want to mess things up. How could Shanra be so stupid? Women are so complicated, he thought, shaking his head. He was beginning to get a headache.
Shanra had come into the conference room's small chamber where he was checking his battle plans. She told him that the situation on the battlefront had changed and that there was a cease-fire, at least for now.
“The news of the healing planet has reached Trobbut,” Shanra announced. “He sends an invitation for negotiation on Andromeda 13. The Council will preside too.”
“That’s great news!” he said and he looked up at her. His face was relaxed and calm. “When do we leave?”
“We leave today,” Shanra said. She stepped closer to him. Her eyes were strangely dark. He stood up from his chair to pick up a few plans and was about to leave when she blocked his way. There was a seductive look in her amber eyes and suddenly she kissed him, taking him by surprise. He stopped her, but it was too late already. Renaya had already seen it. The pain on Renaya's face tore at his heart.
***
Lady Shanra stood in her chambers, reveling in her triumph. She had seen Renaya enter the conference room without noticing Shanra. The opportunity was just too tempting. And it had worked out just the way she wanted. Lord Aurzac had given her temporary authority to take care of the matters at the palace until he returned. That is, if he returned at all, she thought as a wicked smile played on her lips.
She had just finished discussing the plan with Trobbut through their secret communicator. The plan was going smoothly. Now it would just be a matter of time before she got rid of the little despicable human.
***
Lord Aurzac prepared for his journey. He packed up and left for the Starship Sorion. The misunderstanding he had with Renaya tugged at his heart. Part of him wanted to clear things up right away, but he just didn’t have enough time and she was in no state to hear him out anyway. The journey to Andromeda 13 would take a week. Less than an hour later, he and his crew were on their way.
As soon as Sorion was out of Terrgius’s atmosphere, Shanra took action. She called her servant girl Misa and told her to call the dungeon guard, who she had earlier tipped off, to set to work. Shanra wore a black suit and took a gun with her as she waited.
***
Renaya was devastated. Sadness filled her heart as she thought about the betrayal. How could she be so naïve? So stupid, that she trusted an alien? Why would he love her when he could get much better options from his own race? She might be the chosen one to heal his planet, but that was it. He could never love a small, pathetic woman like her. He might be passionate in bed but it ended there. Shanra knew it and she was right about him.
Fresh tears of bitterness spilled down her cheeks. She was numb and knew that she would never be able to trust anyone with her love again. Ever. She had just started to fall deeply in love with Aurzac. Exhausted from crying, she dozed off. She didn’t notice that someone entered her room.
Two rough hands grabbed her and jolted her out of her sleep. Her scream was stifled by the hand that came over her mouth. The stranger dragged her out of bed, manhandling her as he slapped her hard in the face. She stopped struggling immediately and went numb.
He took her underground to the dark atrium where the dungeons were located. The dungeons were small gray cells with no windows. He restrained her to one of the metal walls, putting leather binders on her wrists and ankles. He then suspended her hands above her head and restrained them. She cried out as the pain cut through her wrists. He locked the door and disappeared, leaving her in the dim light of the morbid lamp that hung from the ceiling. Renaya couldn’t understand why they had imprisoned her. The day had ended so badly and it was only this morning that she was so happy. It all seemed like a distant dream.
***
“Lady Shanra? We have imprisoned her,” Misa said.
“Excellent. Take me to her now,” Shanra ordered. The servant girl bowed and Shanra followed her to the dungeons.
Renaya heard footsteps coming her way. She looked up to see green eyes filled with venom and a pale bluish face. Lady Shanra entered the cell and stood before her, a smug smile pasted on her lips.
“Please, let me go,” Renaya pleaded, her eyes red-rimmed, cold tears glistening on her face. “Why have they brought me here?”
A sharp slap hit her face and blood oozed from her nose, trickling over her lips.
“Shut up! You have committed heinous crimes for which you will be punished,” Shanra laughed like a maniac.
Misa blanched as she watched Shanra torture the leader’s mate.
“P... please... stop...” Renaya sobbed. “Au...Aurzac...where is he?” Her breath came in gasps.
“I told you to shut up, you red-blooded bitch,” Shanra said shrilly and again slapped her hard. Misa closed her eyes, muttering a prayer. “You really thought you would be queen? Ugh, look at you. Terrgius being ruled by an ugly queen! How pathetic is that? Isn’t it Misa?” she spat, addressing her maid.
“Yes, My Lady,” Misa squeaked.
“And let me tell you one thing. Aurzac is not coming back,” Shanra said, stressing each word. “He is probably dead by now.” Her voice was sinister and cold. Laughing again, she turned on her heel and strode out with Misa tailing behind.
Renaya’s head pounded with a splitting headache. She wished the nightmare would end. Oh no, Aurzac... The torture she had just endured was nothing compared to the fact that her husband was dead.
Suddenly she remembered the Oracle. The vision they had seen was this! He had chosen her as his bride. And she had been fighting with him before he left. The thought plunged her into guilt. It was all her fault. She deserved this punishment. Too numb to cry, she prayed she would wake up from this nightmare in her bed and see Aurzac alive and well.