Chapter Nineteen
***Savanah***
It had been over a week now since Savanah had seen or heard from Kyllian, and she knew it was over. She had hoped he would come back and try again to win her over or change her mind, and that would be when she told him she was pregnant and why she had pushed him away before. She kept imagining and daydreaming of this romantic reunion in her head with the only man that made her believe she could be loved after being so used up, but it was likely never going to happen.
She had been avoiding Irene, which seemed to be easy since she and Aisaack had practically locked themselves up in their home, trying for a baby of their own, none the wiser to her condition. Her sister would have felt all she did, and possibly picked up on even more, this new mixture of moodiness and motherly instinct.
Savanah was lounging inside her small home, wondering what her next move would be. She wanted to help those still trapped under the casino and who knew where else, but she didn’t know how safe or smart that would be while carrying her unborn child. She didn’t know if she was willing to risk the life of more than herself to get to the bottom of it, even if she felt it was her life’s mission to do so. Irene would probably support her and help more than she was currently if she talked to her, but she just felt like she would be getting more lectures: more of her sister’s misguided attempts at therapy. She didn’t truly get what Savanah was going through regardless of what feelings she could feel radiating off her.
Savanah closed her eyes and focused on her stomach, seeing if she could feel anything yet. She knew it was a little on the early side, but it was still something she did each day now, like a calming routine.
Her breathing was slow and heavy as she tried to relax and focus. Her hand lay gently on her stomach for signs of movement. She had heard of some kicking early on, especially larger babies.
However, she was quickly interrupted by the sounds of screams, like a fight was taking place outside. Considering her history, Savanah should have been more cautious, but she was generally an act on instinct and think about it later kind of gal when it came to these things. She rushed to see what was happening, Irene following behind her. She knew when they saw the scene before them they were both going to regret having come out of their homes. Yet they needed to stand with the people who were protecting them and giving them a place to live.
The derelicts were locked in a battle, and fists were flying as they tried to defend themselves and the small safe haven they had created. Savanah panicked at the thought that even if they made it through this alive, they would have to leave and find a new home because the pirates had found them.
Irene told Savanah to run, and she did, but in the entirely wrong direction: right for the trouble. Not that she could join the fight and do any good. She didn’t know what she was thinking, only that she wanted to know what was happening and why they were there. Why had they come to the derelicts’ home now?
“You need to stop meddling in our business!” one of the pirates called out in a thick accent, wiping at his now bleeding nose, likely from a good punch. It was likely broken, and she had to commend whoever had done it. It was likely stopping him for a moment anyway.
“Derelicts have no business with rogues that don’t follow the code!” Constantine spat back, standing his ground.
“We heard you have people sniffing around in our business, in our territory, trying to find information. Let me make it clear; you will not keep looking. You will stay out of it, or you will lose your land, your pride, and then your life,” the pirate that seemed to be in charge threatened, sending a shiver down Savanah’s spine. She got the feeling this had to do with her. It was no secret that the pirates were involved with the sex trafficking. Whoever was running the show relied on them to capture the women and likely paid a pretty penny for them. But as it was turning out, they were the low men on the totem pole when it came to the whole operation.
“We have no need to look when you are all so open with the way you operate. There are rules for a reason. We follow them. You don’t. It’s that simple. Don’t ever come onto our land and threaten us like that. We will have your heads on a stake,” Constantine hollered, causing his men to chime in with a roar and a raise of fists. Then, the fighting broke out once more, worse than before. Savanah could not tell who was who, or who was winning. It was just a flailing of arms and makeshift weapons and battle cries.
There was nothing she could do at this point, so she grabbed her sister’s arm and turned to run, thinking of how to quickly get to safety. Surely they could find a land glider to commandeer and speed away.
But before the girls could even get a momentum going, Savanah’s arm was grabbed, and the women were violently jerked apart.
Savanah screamed and fought against her captor with all her might, ready to go down fighting, especially knowing she was fighting for the lives of two people now. She could smell the rancid breath of whatever pirate had a hold of her coming down over her as another came to restrain her since she was fighting so hard.
“Keep fighting,” she told Irene in desperation.
“It will do you no good,” the pirate said, cackling sickly at her and making her stomach churn. “I know who you are, and yer goin’ back with me. You won’t escape us this time,” he threatened, a knife coming to be held at her throat. She gritted her teeth in anger and frustration at the idea of going back down there, a baby in her belly this time, and her sister suffering by her side. With the way their home was being overrun, she doubted anyone would save them this time. Aisaack would sure try, but he was likely locked in his own battle right now.
“You’ll have to kill me first before you get me to comply this time,” she seethed, bucking against them as hard as she could and hoping to get a vantage point somewhere: a kick to the knee, or a skull, or to a nose, but they were holding her too tight. They began to drag the two of them away, and both women began screaming and digging their heels in, trying to get help from someone, anyone.
Then, out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the impossible: a familiar figure running towards her before a burst of blue light streaked across her vision, a giant Naga now before her instead. Kyllian had come, and he was going to save them. She only hoped that no one had seen him that was able to blow his cover with his father.
She couldn’t stand the thought of putting him in danger with all the guilt she already felt about the way she had acted towards him.
Kyllian’s dragon flew high in the sky over them, a mighty roar coming from deep in his throat, before a shot of warning fire blazed form his open jaw. Soon, he was joined by two more dragons, which had to be Aisaack and Tann. They were going to save them.
Savanah smiled to herself as the pirates let go and took off in a run, fire from the dragons’ breaths following them as they got off the derelicts land. If Savanah had to guess, even though they now knew their location, they wouldn’t be coming back. At least not without backup. Not now that they knew Nagas protected the people there. They were the worst kind of criminals: cowards.
Savanah breathed a sigh of relief, taking deep breaths to calm her heart rate down. She knew this kind of anxiety was not something that was good for her body or the baby right now. She hated to think what would have happened had she been captured again.
Irene was sobbing with her relief over what almost happened, though she couldn’t be sure exactly what it was. But the sisters hugged each other as they waited for all the pirates to be gone and their men to return to them.
The derelicts began to pick up the pieces and survey each other for damage as the dust was kicked up surrounding the two sisters when the Nagas landed before shifting back into their human forms.
Savanah let go of Irene and made her way over to Kyllian, not sure how to express the thanks she had for him, not just for showing up and saving everyone, but also for coming back to her in general. “You came back,” was all she managed to say to him, still dumbstruck from all that she had just experienced.
“Are you all right?” he asked, looking her over from head to toe as if she might have some unknown injury. She could feel bruises forming where the men’s fingers had dug into her arms, but she was otherwise fine.
“Mostly shaken up,” she admitted, suddenly feeling strange. She wanted to go to him and be held in his arms, but she didn’t know with their unfinished business if that was okay anymore.
