Chapter 11: I Failed You
When it was certain no noise would come from her, the spiky body of an alien pressed against her so she was painfully shoved against the glass. Another set of hands roughly grabbed her hips and she continued trying to scream, only muffled noises escaping. She struggled to get away, but she was in a vice grip, not able to move an inch. When she was turned around, a four-armed alien with spiky brown skin dragged her around the corner of the castle and pressed her against the cold brick. Two green eyes stared at her with a lusty gaze, making her stomach drop with dread. She tried to bite his hand or push him away, but her strength wasn't enough.
The alien moved its hand enough to press his lips against hers. Her scream was muffled into his mouth as its tongue tried to taste her lips. She continued to struggle, the smell of the alien was horrible. Seeing as she wasn't going to comply, it's hand went back to her mouth and the other hand began to explore her body. It had sharp fingers that easily tore the material over her breasts. The soft skin of her breasts was cut by its fingers and she screamed in pain against its hand. Her blue eyes began to fill with tears. She felt his fingers slide between her legs and she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping he wouldn't cut her in her most sensitive place as his sharp finger started groping the material.
Basileus was still arguing with himself over the woman while he walked, surprised he hadn't caught up to her yet. However, he heard a muffled noise and his eyes widened. He sprinted around the corner only to see a soldier of lowest rank with his hands all over Varya. His head felt hot and, when the alien began prodding Varya's lower region, Basileus completely lost it.
Fire erupted in his hand and he grabbed the alien by its neck, causing it to let go of Varya and she crumpled to the ground, scooting herself away.
The alien didn't have time to react and Basileus shoved his fist through the alien's chest, that being the final blow to kill it. The prince wiped his hand against the rough wall, the alien's purple blood leaving a mark. Lord Kruos wouldn't think anything of it if someone found a discarded soldier - especially one of such low rank. Men died each day over petty things.
Basileus went right to his quarters, confident that that's where Varya was. As expected, Varya sat against the door with her face buried in her knees, her small frame shaking with sobs.
He knelt down and easily picked her up. Her arms went around his neck. He could carry her with one arm and use his free hand to press the controls on the wall to open the door.
"I killed him. He won't bother you anymore," he said into the top of her hair that was pressed into his cheek.
Varya couldn't seem to hear him as her soft crying remained the same. The prince walked forward and set her down on the bed. She just tightened into a protective ball with her arms around her knees and her face buried when he wasn't touching her anymore.
Basileus knew the pain of having to go through traumatic events alone, but he also knew it was a life he was accustomed to and she wasn't. He blamed himself for her being in this situation. Deep down, he considered her a friend, too. She was the only person he had ever considered to be a friend.
A ring echoed throughout the room and Basileus frowned, knowing exactly what it was. "Varya," he gently whispered, not sure if she could hear him, "give me one moment."
Fortunately, the call was only a voice communication so the alien on the other end wouldn't see the defeated woman in the bed behind him. "Yes, Lord Kruos?" Basileus asked, uninterested
Kruos' androgynous voice was loud through the speaker. "Still a virgin?"
Basileus's mouth twitched and he stared at the computer screen, waiting for the tyrant to say why he actually called.
"I called to tell you that you won't be needed off-planet today. However, there is an event you and that girl will be attending tomorrow evening. Look sharp so I can show off my best men to my brother. Wear something other than that stupid battle armor of yours." Kruos switched off the call, having no decency to give a proper goodbye. It made no difference to the prince.
Basileus was more worried about Varya and he approached her once more. He lifted her up and opened the blankets so he could place her on the side she normally slept in. Being gentle as possible, he took off her boots and tossed them aside. As usual, he put the extra pillow next to her, blocking her off from his side of the bed. After all, she had been doing that since they first slept in the same bed.
Before he could cover her with blankets again, he noticed blood dripping down between her breasts and a deep cut on the pale skin where her clothing had been ripped open. His eyebrows narrowed at the sight of it.
"Are you hurt?" He asked, not expecting an answer.
She tried to roll over and hug her knees to her chest again, but he sat on the bed and stopped her by grabbing her shoulder.
"Please," he said quietly, taking great care to be gentle.
She relented and lay on her back. The neckline of her navy blue suit now reached her belly button. The cut went between her breasts and the material of her suit was soaked in blood.
"One moment," he said after observing the situation.
Just as she did for him that first day, he went to get bandages, though they had sticky ones in his quarters to make his job much easier.
When he returned with a wet washcloth and other supplies, Varya was sitting up, clutching her neckline closed with a shaky hand.
"I- I thought he was going to kill me," she whispered, but she didn't look at the prince.
Basileus put his supplies down on the bedside table and put his hand on her back, willing her to lay back down.
"I'm sorry. It was because of me you were in that situation to begin with," Basileus responded, his voice full of disappointment towards himself. Thinking of how avoidable this was made him want to go mad and punish himself.
Varya finally lay down again and looked up at him with watery blue eyes. Her hand still clutched the material - she was too scared to trust someone with her body.
"You have my word that I won't do anything to harm you," he said gently then added, "call Emperor Kruos here if you don't believe me."
Varya knew that, out of anyone in this place, she should trust him by now. She let go of the material and clutched one of the blankets.
Both of her breasts were halfway exposed to him, but they were going to have to be if he were to help her stop bleeding. He was mostly worried the bug-like alien might have cut her with a poisonous claw, that insect-like race being known for their poison abilities.
"I'll try to be gentle," he turned and brought the washcloth to her skin.
Varya gasped in pain, but she could handle it. She never knew someone so rough could be so gentle otherwise. The water was cold and she felt goosebumps rise on her skin. The part of his hand that wasn't covered by the washcloth was so warm and comforting.
His hand grazed her breast as he cleaned the blood. Her skin was the softest he had ever felt. Noticing his face heat up, he had no choice but to press on, ignoring his own hesitance.
The prince applied an ointment that would stop the bleeding then covered the cut with a bandage. He felt nervous, wondering if she thought negatively of him, but all she did was gaze up at him as he worked. Maybe she thought every alien was perverted in some way and would expect the same from him. The thought caused dread to well up in his chest.
Satisfied with his work, he stood up to put away everything he used. He took the opportunity to splash cold water on his face after he washed her blood off of his hands. Upon returning to the room, Varya was waiting for him.
He was about to tell her he was going to train but she spoke before he could.
"Please lay down. I don't-" she shakes her head and composes herself, willing herself not to cry. "I don't want to be alone right now."
Prince Basileus doesn't believe himself to be comforting, but, unfortunately for her, he's all she has.
He walks over to his usual side of the bed and takes off his boots and armor before sliding under the navy blue covers.
To his surprise, the pillow between them moved and he felt Varya scoot over and cling to him. He rolled onto his side and looked down. All he could see from this angle was her silver hair. He could feel her shivering. Basileus hesitated before wrapping his arms around Varya, trying to calm her down more. Eventually her grip on him loosened and he could tell she had fallen asleep by her breathing.
By this point, the room was starting to darken and the prince was getting tired at the sound of her even breathing. He fell asleep promising himself and her that nothing like this would ever happen to her again as long as she was under his watch.
It was the first night Varya let him hold her.
As friends, of course.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone