A sacrificial mistake...
"You come close, she dies." Vermeen had Nyla in front of him with her hands tied behind her, clutching her bodysuit from behind with a dagger, poking her to move forward.
The commanders, soldiers, and sisters all surrendered their weapons, watching Vermeen with so much venom and spite. His men had assembled on their vessels, and Vakiyv stood in front of his army, giving a nod to his master.
Vermeen could tell which of Nyla's girls was close to throwing her dagger his way, but he turned before she could dare, looking her straight in the eyes.
"You try that, darling, and everyone dies, including your overseer." He turned to breathe down Nyla's neck.
"This is what happens when you are in power." He whispered. Nyla dug her teeth deep into her cheeks. She would have done many things, but she deserved the punishment. It was a relief that whatever she had for him was over, or most of it was. The love, admiration and respect. She hated him for humiliating her in front of her citizens and, of course, using her body that had pleasured him more for having an agenda.
He moved backwards with her until he was close to his vessel and ascended with Nyla. His initial intuition was to push her away, but he still needed her as bait to leave the world. With Nyla, it was better.
Who knows what she would be capable of if I let her go now?
When the Dome opened for the Red Lords, they ascended, floating above the people watching them. He loved the feeling of powerlessness overwhelming them. At a certain height, before they finally left, Vermeen pushed Nyla below to her bewilderment, many thousand feet to the ground. Very close to the ground, she was enclosed in a metal cocoon that spun upon impact with the ground, opening to deliver her safely before they vanished.
Nyla had requested she be left in her sanctuary and shouldn't be disturbed except she wished it. She washed herself from the taint of Vermeen, the blood stains and whatever they had in the heated moment. It was going to be another past for her. Nyla knelt in the grooming cubicle, water droplets beating hard against her body and hair. She knelt, weeping at the many events that happened in a day.
Sulking deeply, she felt horrible for being used again and almost caused her world its safety and security.
"I hate you and wish you would be torched and your ashes be blown across the universe." She screamed. Flashes of what she had done to the Lords of the Land during her summoning sent her pulse racing. She hadn't wished for it.
"I couldn't have done that." She stared at her quivering hands and saw the mess of blood that covered her hand and drained into the holes in the floor, but it was all in her mind.
"No!!!" she embraced herself, leaning against the wall, "What have I done? I am not Vermeen."
Vermeen!!! She jerked from her delusion; the mention of Vermeen triggered some thoughts.
"Vermeen was behind my summoning." She gritted her teeth, "He never loved me, and he wanted me dead; everything I worked for crumble at his pleasure."
"I have only ruled and never had a burning desire for ambition, but he should know me better; I am driven by fury to retrieve what he took from me, and I will make him pay. He would wish we never crossed paths."
Getting herself together, she was done grooming. It was a time for her to woman up and lead with the best of her decisions. She was going to have a fresh start. Walking into her quarters, which had been ridden off Vermeen's presence. The memory still tickled, but she didn't give it a chance to resurface. The smear of her blood that stained the wall was cleared. Her quarters had a refreshed look; she inhaled the newness, heading to sit behind her desk.
She tapped a button on her white desk, revealing the enclosed speaker. She shut her eyes and made the announcement that was broadcast to every building and institution in the Dome. The few male and abundant female populations of creatures and humans all looked towards the sky. The happenings of a few moments when their lives were threatened—the bitter memory.
"In the course of events, we are aware of the circumstances and how we have lost an ally. Overseer Vermeen is now a foe and would be treated as such; another day like this occurs, and he would be treated accordingly with the highest of attack granted to every one of you. I apologize for my distraction from depending on an ally; my power of discernment was pulled down despite the warning of the Dome. This goes for everyone; allies do falter. It's a good thing we know our foes and should be focused on bringing them down at the sacrifice of blood!"
Everyone who listened had a change of heart that softened and hardened at the same time. Nyla gasped at the effort it was to construct such words at such a time. She could feel herself weakening in power, and she feared the aftermath. Owning to her strength, she clenched her fists. Immediately, she tapped her desk, and a huge male soldier walked in.
"Call me Shyva."
The male soldier nodded and left at once.
She must be frightened or even disappointed in me. I hope she is only well, I have missed her, and I want her to learn from my mistake, Nyla gasped.
"I must take care of her. She is to lead, and she must know of her powers, but it would be better when the time is right. Shyva, you will be mine."
The soldier walked in, "Overseer!"
"Yes?"
"I am afraid to inform you Shyva has been reported missing since Overseer Verm…"
"You do not say his name," Nyla spoke with false hospitality. The struggle hinted in her voice as she fought herself not to raise her anger.
"I apologize, overseer."
"About Shyva?"
"She is missing."
Nyla stood, slamming her hands on her desk, fuming.
He used me, and now he has her.
Shyva was hidden under the emergency shed in the largest vessel compared to the escort vessels travelling behind. In the darkness, she was frightened. She had never been away from the Dome since her mission. Away from the world, from Nyla, from her sisters. She couldn't make a sound or reveal herself to her enemies. She had acted without reasoning, and her life was at stake. All because she was driven with rage to finish the fight she started with Vakiyv but to win this time. She wished he could communicate with her, but she couldn't hear him in her head. The march of booted feet and the roars of orders were loud.
What have I done? Shyva continued to repeat it in her head, get your nerves together and breathe.
She hated enclosed areas and wanted to be free.
"I think we have found her." The footsteps could be heard above the door, separating her from being hidden and from being caught.