My Telnari Prince

Chapter 3

Vesryn

     I groaned habitually, waiting for the pain to begin again, waiting for the familiar sting and bite of the cold. It never came. I felt warm, and for once the hunger that had clawed at me for what felt like eternity was gone. How long had I been out there? How long had I endured the torture of dying?

     I slowly opened my eyes and inspected my surroundings. I was....tied to a bed and the room appeared to be a nicer version of any bunk room I'd ever been in. It was well made, and from the looks may belong to some sort of nobility? Perhaps an Ambassador? I wasn't sure. I just knew I didn't want to be tied to this bed anymore. I needed to get my bearings, needed to figure out where and when I was. I yanked at the restraint and they tore off easily, not without cutting into my skin. The wounds seeped blood before they closed quickly. This virus had its advantages. That's probably why it was being tested. To enhance soldiers and allow for a stronger fighting force. The mistake was using it on me. I growled deep in my throat. They would watch as I tore their hearts out.

     I crawled off the bed and crept to the bunk room door. It was locked, and I banged on it forcefully, leaving a small fist sized dent, but the door didn't budge.

"Hello? Is anyone out there? Who are you?" I asked, pressing my ear to the door.

"Shit, she's awake." A deep masculine voice grunted out. It sounded like he was just on the other side, and he was moving something large. I hit the door again.

"Let me out. Now." I raised my voice, feeling a sense of panic settle over me. I didn't want to be trapped again. I had to figure out how to get out of this room.

"Not on your life. Your predisposition to bite is the reason you're in there." The male voice said with an accent that was familiar to me.

"I...I bit you?" I asked, looking down in confusion. I wiped my hands against my lips, and looked at my fingers. Flakes of dried blood brushed off on my hand and I sucked in a breath. I bit this man?

"I didn't know...I must have been passed out. I won't bite you, I'm sorry. I just...I don't know you, or this ship, and I must have been scared." I stammered, trying to find some excuse, more for myself than for him. The movement on the other side stopped. Perhaps he was thinking about it. A moment later the door opened and I was face to face with a goddamned Telnari.

      I jumped back, shoving my fist out in a defensive punch at the sight of him. He blocked the attack with his forearms, and a growl. I threw several more.

"I'm not going! To hurt! You!" He yelled, fending off my punches.

"WHO ARE YOU?!" I screamed, back against the wall now, and he advanced forward with my every step back. He was in front of me now, and I was pressing against the Telnari's chest with my hands.

"Call me Kel..." He paused. " I'm an AWOL general. I haven't hurt you, I've tried to save you! You are the only one here that has been hostile!" He growled, taloned hands encircling my wrists. I didn't fight him then. I saw a medical patch over his neck. How...WHY would I bite this guy? I had to fight hard to calm down, breathing deeply to try and steady my heart.

"Sorry. I don't know why I bit you, but how do I know you aren't lying?" I asked, dropping my hands. He stepped back, and held out a data pad. It was his picture, with the details of a warrant under them. He was wanted for unsolicited Blink jumping, damage to Dominion property, and evading the authorities. Maybe....he could be trusted? But I'm not sure how much of that I would be able to do. Trust wasn't a word I knew anymore.

     The Dominion would be after me too now that I was free. So this man was proof that they were still around. My eyes went wide and I flicked the data pad with my finger and began a search.