MiSSION HIRUDO ~ Chapter One

Guests? More like prisoners.

“When I said I wanted to meet your family, I didn’t know it would come with a set of chains.” Ravenna yanked on the manacles bracketed around her wrists and ankles, jostling the metal links restricting her to the wall.

“I told you we weren’t going to be given a warm welcome,” Dravos, her mate, replied without even bothering to glance in her direction. He rested against one of three metal walls that held the rings for their chains. She knew damn well it wasn’t worth picking a fight. Not when they were kept separate. With her imprisoned across from him, she had no way to be there for him if the iron sickness came on.

He needed to conserve his energy, to keep the iron from leeching from his body. Her first priority as his mate was always worrying about his health, and the effect of the damned severe anemia his species, the Hirudians, suffered from on a normal basis. They’d landed on his home planet Hirudo two or three days prior and were immediately stuffed in a cage underground somewhere, which made the passage of time near impossible to track.

“I didn’t expect a ceremony or a banquet, but being locked up with no explanation seems a bit extreme. The room is also less-than-hospitable. I thought Hirudo offered relaxing accommodations? I wanted to check out those chlorophyl pools and the wild grown black lilies you say I smell like.”

In truth, Ravenna was talking to keep herself sane. She’d always fallen back on a mix of sarcasm and memories to stay in the present when stuck in less-than-ideal situations. She and Dravos had been in those since the moment they met. There were days she still couldn’t believe he was her mate, bound to her and her to him, at an anatomic level that she would never be able to clear from her system.

Ravenna from several months ago would have laughed at the thought of her being irrevocably tied to another being, let alone a male. She’d been in love with a woman, a human scientist, who had been murdered senselessly by their own people. Dravos had helped Ravenna find her body…then in turn triggered some sort of biological bonding. Though Dravos swore he’d never believed that his mate would be a human.

“You would love the gardens and we will see them. Once the council determines we’re not a threat. I warned you. They will see us as anomalies. I’m genetically-modified and bound to a human who works for the very military that the council sees as both ally and threat.”

Ravenna scoffed. “So much for us warning them that their concerns are right. But we’re not the ones they should fear.”

No, her people, humanity… Space Force. They had used Dravos as an experiment to see if they could improve upon his Hirudian physiology, which turned Hirudian men, naturally smaller and weak, to something more military-advantageous. Only Ravenna knew it wouldn’t have stopped there. Her people tended to use and abuse any species if it meant to further benefit the human race.

“My people have been superstitious since the betrayal of Zersa. Men are naturally more suspect.”

“And yet they use them as guards to watch over us? Twisted philosophy in my opinion.” That was one of the few things Ravenna had been able to absorb since being knocked out and awakening in this prison. Their guards were no more than smaller, long-haired, knock-off versions of Dravos. Sure, they didn’t all look the same. Some had facial hair, different shapes to their body and face, scars in weird places. One guard was even missing an eye. But they were all men.

Ravenna had yet to see a Hirudian female in this damn place. “I’m starting to think the women of your planet are a myth.”

“They certainly are often revered as such. Women were the ones to save us. Just like you saved me.” Dravos’ words had her seeking his gaze. There she saw the fondness, his love for her.

Another bright spot in this mess was Dravos’ never-ending affection. Even in the bleakest of circumstances she could trust that he would have her back, no matter the situation. They were chained up, and his devotion didn’t waver. Hell, he’d probably ask that they free her before him, but that’s the part of this bond she’d never let him forget.

“You did the same for me. We’re connected. Together. Now, distract me from this hell.” She slunk to the floor and propped herself against her own wall, enjoying the cool of the metal against her warm skin. The air around them was musty, a bit humid, making her a little uncomfortable, but shockingly the wall helped.

“All right, what would you like to hear this time?”

“The story of this council. Give me a history lesson, Dravos. I need a refresher on all the animosity festering on this planet.”

He chuckled. “Oh? That word…fester, it’s strange to me. What does it mean?”

“The definition of the word, at least how humans use it, is for something that sits and spoils, becomes infected. Until it’s too big not to notice.”

“Easy enough, because this world has plenty of those wounds. Though we’ve spoken of this once and you’re asking me to break rules all over again. You’re going to get us killed.”

Yes, Hirudians weren’t supposed to share stories about their world, their culture, their history. That was one of the golden rules set by the council in order to protect the planet and the people. Supposedly from Zersa’s wrath as well. But Zersa had brought Ravenna and Dravos together, therefore it seemed only natural she should know all about her mate’s home.

She raised an eyebrow in his direction and held up her hands. “We’re one step from that anyway. I deserve to know, I’m bound to you, your people…”

He sighed and she knew she had him. The man couldn’t deny her of anything, even with the threat of death over their heads.

“Fine. Settle in, my vetcha. For the reason my brothers out there are so small and weak is punishment from Zersa herself. Our goddess who granted all things to Hirudians was betrayed once by a man, Tet’hail. Tet’hail was once loved by Zersa, who granted him access to her body, to her temples, and for a time Tet’hail was satisfied in his role as consort to the goddess.

“Except, men are foolish, their pride easily angered. When Zersa was asked by her sister, the goddess Guilste, if she would take Tet’hail as a husband, Zersa dismissed such foolish notions. ‘He is of Hirudo, a mere mortal and is best serving at my feet versus ruling by my side.’ Little did Zersa know that Guilste would share these words with Tet’hail, as the goddess of night and ocean found pleasure in sowing seeds of chaos. Tet’hail was ashamed and so his pride inflamed. He would show Zersa how she underestimated him, and in return he stole from her and her temples, in a bid to show his supremacy.”

Ravenna let out a little snort. “More fool him. I’m sure the revenge was sweet.”

“Revenge, as you know, doesn’t always provide a satisfying reward. What started as a bid for him to show Zersa how she undervalued him, turned to Tet’hail attempting to bring Zersa’s worshippers under him. To change their allegiance from a goddess to a mere mortal. In some instances he won, convincing others to follow him, and abandon Zersa’s temples. She didn’t see him as a threat until a group of her priestesses were raped and murdered in Tet’hail’s name.

“Her wrath turned from Tet’hail to all men, but not just his followers, Hirudo as a whole. For the mothers had born such despicable offspring. They’d let those horrible creatures grow without respect and fear of their goddess. In return, she took from the men our strength, the women their ability to carry babies to full term, resulting in those with poor health. All of Hirudo suffered and from there our people started to die.”

Dravos cut himself off as they heard the tell-tale sounds of boots against the paved floor, and the smell of food in the air. The door to the cell was opened, and two Hirudian men marched in holding big green leaves with something atop, what would most likely be their dinner. Each soldier set down a leaf next to them, and what greeted Ravenna was a giant cooked beetle, underbelly face up and steam wafting from it. There was a grain piled around the bug itself, and the smell wasn’t offensive.

“Reminds me of steamed fish, the kind they served at some of the eateries on Kafgar along with a side of hulled cush,” she spoke right before she inhaled a deep breath. “This is edible.”

The guards didn’t speak a word, merely shuffled out of the space and slammed the door shut behind them.

Dravos sat up and immediately got to work, not even hesitating to break off the beetle’s head and suck the open end into his mouth. Ravenna’s face scrunched for a minute because while she’d considered the soft underbelly and the grains, the head seemed less than appealing.

“Any good reason for eating that part?”

“There’s no spoon on that leaf. You’ll need something to scoop up the rest. The head works and it has a soft, yet firm texture. A bit like shelled sea creatures.”

Sea creatures…those don’t burrow in the ground. “Where do these live?”

“They roam grassy areas, burrow in the ground and come out at night. Many on Hirudo lay traps for them as they are the easiest source of protein.”

Ravenna followed Dravos; actions. Ripping the head from the body, sucking out the soft, earthy flesh. Then she used the empty shell to scoop from the underbelly. Each bite made her crave more, though she noticed he’d paused his own meal. “Don’t stop now.”

He smiled at her, her mate genuinely radiated love and joy, even in this moment of incarceration.

“How can you be happy at a time like this?” she asked.

“I’m always happy with you. And even happier if I know you’re taken care of. Will what you have be enough?”

“Yes, please eat yours.”

They ate in silence for a few moments. She gobbled up that damn beetle like it was the finest cuisine she’d ever had the pleasure of consuming. Letting Dravos’ joy fill her up because while they weren’t bonded as closely as when they mated, she could still sense his emotions of happiness. Though she was sure to spoil them.

“You want me to continue with the tale?”

“How’d you guess?”

Dravos raised a single eyebrow as he picked up the near empty beetle shell and sucked whatever remained. The noise was as much of an aphrodisiac as the look. That sound came when he fed from her. She should’ve been disgusted but was now aroused.

“Finish.”

“In desperation, one woman, named Lorsa, sent out a call to all the women of Hirudo asking for the bravest, the ones willing to find a solution to their plight to stop the children from dying. They formed the council of Lorsa. These seven women sacrificed themselves to Zersa. They prayed, night and day in temples. Starved themselves, accomplished feats of strength, bravery, intelligence ongoing until…Zersa acknowledged them.

“She offered them a choice, to have them rule Hirudo and impart a new type of ruling body. A female one, that would guide the future of Hirudo. In return she would grant our people with the means to save ourselves, but we would still be cursed as a reminder of our folly.”

Dravos grinned then, letting his fangs distend. “This is why we feed from blood.”

The cell door slammed open, a woman as tall and muscular as Dravos stalking into the room. Her body was covered in a white tunic that was cut and secured in banded sections, revealing sections of her biceps, forearms, abs, thighs, and calves as if to showcase her muscles for display. Her eyes were bright red, implying she’d fed recently. Her white and black hair was pulled into a high ponytail with multiple braids. Ravenna was a bit awestruck for a moment.

Until the woman came to halt in front of Dravos. “Take him. He will answer to the Tribunal.”

Ravenna jumped up, scattering the remains of the beetle across the floor. “You won’t touch him.” She struggled against her chains, though the attempt was useless, her need to ensure her mate’s safety drove her to try one more time. No one would take Dravos from her. She’d already lost one lover, and that nearly killed her. If something happened to Dravos…

“He is not at fault. Any punishment the Tribunal wants to give, we deserve to face together.”

The female sighed, turning her head halfway to eye Ravenna. Confidence and annoyance played a dance on her face, from her gaze to the set of her lips. “Fine, take them both.”

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