Tyrant. Scrapper. Part 5

«Ah. Unfortunately, that is common when people are stuck together for long periods of time.» Elijah smiled to her. «That’s why I prefer to rest alone and away from my co-workers. Helps recharge.»

Serena glanced at the man and felt she had nothing to say to that. Because if she were to start talking about everything that’s been going on in her life for the past few years, Elijah might as well turn his car around to get rid of her. Plus, he really didn’t need to know all that, since he was nothing more, but an employer.

The uneasy silence that followed was broken only by the soft humming of the car’s engines that carried them towards a relatively large island with a beautiful mansion built on a side of the mountain that was covered with snow.

Serena looked at the picturesque horizon shimmering under the moons and stars before her eyes and thought if she would have been able to purchase an island like that with the funds she had.

«What are you thinking about?» Elijah suddenly asked, slowing the car down to ready it for descent onto the parking square next to the mansion.

«I’m trying not to think about anything right now.» Serena replied truthfully.

In fact, she tried her best not to think about Hunter and her crew that were left way back on the mainland in their rented mansion. And even if she would be able to do that – she wouldn’t know what was happening there.

Because however guilty Hunter felt, his main concern was that of Serena’s safety. And knowing that she was all alone somewhere, not willing to accept their calls, was driving him insane.

Wolfin and Lindon added to him feeling guilty for causing Serena’s anger – both Veluthians scolded him for being so rash in approaching Serena with a question he didn’t even want to listen an answer to. Wolfin spent a good half an hour growling at the cyborg that Veuthians prefer to tell the truth, however harsh it may be. The only lies they ever told – were that of their well-being, as they hid their injuries and pain in front of others. Lindon kept trying to contact Serena all that time, growing angrier at Hunter, because the woman kept dropping his calls.

Finally, Hunter exited the mansion to the beach in a failing attempt not to break down and start destroying everything in his path. For a bit the chilly air helped him regain some semblance of composure, but the more time passed, the deeper he fell into self-loathing for the terrible mistake he had made.

He shouldn’t have let his jealousy take over. He should have known better. He should have trusted Serena.

Hunter fell down to the sands and sat there, trying to come up with a single way to plead for forgiveness. He raised his eyes to the dark skies and watched the stars glimmering above his head, until he heard engines humming.

The man didn’t get the chance to be surprised by a trespasser flying by, when the hover car slowed down and Hunter saw a body flung out of it. The car took a sharp turn and disappeared into the night. In a split second Hunter recognised the tattooed arms and white silver hair being flung about in the air.

«Serena!!!» a desperate scream flew out of him, as he darted towards the falling woman.

He wasn’t fast enough – the body crashed into the rocky formations that half-circled their private little beach and bay. But the cyborg didn’t stop, running towards the woman he loved – and wronged – so much.

Gasping for air he reached her, lying mangled on the rocks, her arms and legs twisted at impossible angles, head turned aside.

«Serena!» landing near her, Hunter couldn’t really see her face under the silver hair that covered it.

He was too afraid to touch her, too afraid to cause pain if she was even alive.

He didn’t even hear the others running up.

Lindon leaned over first, carefully reaching for her neck. A moment passed and he frowned, but then reached for the locks that covered her face.

«Is she…» Hunter forced out of himself, already crying over the woman.

«Shit.» Lindon cursed. «It’s not Serena.»

Hunter raised his eyes to the Veluthian and saw his tense, collected expression, and his eyes darting about the body lying on the rocks.

«What?» was all the cyborg could say.

«This isn’t Serena!» Lindon growled. «It’s a fucking sex bot!»

Hunter lowered his gaze at the mangled body, not understanding what he just heard. He saw the eyepatch dislodged and a perfectly fine eye looking wide at him. Lindon picked up the arm and showed the torn artificial skin and the metallic insides of a robot.

«Who would…» Wolfin fell silent for a moment, remembering what Lindon told him about the visit Elijah made before Serena and Hunter had a fight. «Fuck!»

«We all know who could do this.» Lindon hissed, meeting the Veluthian’s angry gaze. «The question is – why?»

Hunter slowly started to see that the body before him wasn’t really Serena, but a perfect copy of her – in all ways considered… except for the eye that she was still healing. That and the fact that the woman wasn’t at all a robot…

Chapter 9. Games

Elijah watched Serena slowly relaxing. Though they drank equally, the woman remained clear headed and composed, while the man, on the contrary, fell prey to the heavy intoxication. Still, he acted respectfully towards the woman, offering her an interesting conversation as they walked through his estate and he showed her every piece of art and weaponry he loved to brag about.

When they finally settled in the dining hall, Elijah switched some light music to help them forget all about the troubles that existed elsewhere. And then he finally saw how Serena began slowly dancing, following the pleasant melodies that emanated from somewhere in the walls around them.

For a bit he watched her enjoying the music, but then he approached her, catching her mid-step and joining in.

«Nice try, Elijah.» she said with a teasing smile. «I am drunk, but not that drunk…»

«I’m not joining to get you into my bed, Serena.» the man retorted. «I just wanted to share some fun. Nothing more…»

He glanced aside, noting John and his brother Fisk walking in and silently standing by the door. Elijah twitched his brow and saw John nod slightly.

«News?» Serena asked, allowing Elijah to swirl her around, catching her closer.

«Updates are here. But let’s forget about that tonight. I just want some rest from everything.» the man replied, adjusting his steps to match the slowing pace of the music that turned softer. «I hadn’t danced in quite a while. I forgot that it’s so pleasant. Especially with a dancing partner who feels the rhythm so well. And moves so…»

Elijah gasped when Serena brushed against his body with hers.

«If you say seductively – we will have to step away from each other.» the woman chuckled. «I don’t mix business with pleasure, remember?»

«Allow me to ask… Veluthians don’t really have fidelity. Your people usually have multiple lovers… so why are you so… uptight?»

Serena chuckled again:

«We have fidelity, when we give our partners an oath to be with them and them alone.» she leaned in, following his lead, feeling him tensing up from her proximity.

«So you gave an oath?»

She smirked, not replying, and stepped away, moving to the melody, but kept at arm’s length from her dancing partner.

«Aren’t you nosy…» she said instead a few moments later.

Elijah swirled her close to him again, capturing her in a very tight embrace:

«I am learning about your people. Is it that bad?»

«My people know restraint. If you want to learn more about us, you have to learn about keeping yourself in check.» She glanced down and twitched her brow, meeting his gaze again. «And your manhood has a mind of its own right now.»

«Can you blame it?» Elijah smirked. «A beautiful woman right here… And…»

«And one that can teach you a thing or two about restraint, if you like.» she pulled back, easily freeing herself from his arms. «If you’re sure you’re up for the task?»

«I’m a good student. I learn quickly.»

Serena glanced aside – to the large windows and glass doors that led outside, where a dimly lit and heated pool stood under the stars, spilling light steam in the chilly air.

«Alright… then let’s go and breathe some fresh air. I’ll give you a lesson. But… you have to obey the rules.» she said.

«I’m good at obeying rules.» Elijah watched her stepping towards the pool area and followed her, forcing his lust down.

As they walked out, the woman turned to him and chuckled:

«First rule. We always bathe without any clothes. We respect each other, regardless of gender. There’s no sex in seeing naked bodies.» She met his intrigued gaze. «Strip.»

Elijah cackled, beginning to take off his clothes. Serena watched him with a very calm, teasing gaze, and the man hoped she liked what she saw – after all, even having a tight schedule he trained almost every single day.

He stepped to her, feeling his skin chilled by the faint wind.

«Good?» he asked.

«In the pool.» she nodded towards the water.

«What about you?»

«Respect, remember? And obey the rules. Pool. Now.»

The man smirked, stepped to the edge and dove into the water. When he swam up and turned, he saw Serena stripping. He couldn’t deny – her body was beautiful, and seeing her diving into the pool he felt his lust rising again. He wanted her badly. But he knew that with her he should be more careful.

She dove out dangerously close to him and he chuckled.

Even the eyepatch didn’t make her any uglier – on the contrary, it added a quirk he actually enjoyed seeing.

«Now…» Serena wiped her face. «We talk. No sex. No touch, no nothing. Just… talk.»

«It’s kind of…» Elijah glanced down at her body. «Hard to concentrate.»

«Practice makes perfect.» she smiled, moving aside to the edge and leaning with her back onto the pool wall. «What shall we talk about?»

«Uh…» the man closed his eyes, shaking off the feeling of being teased extremely hard. «You’re doing this on purpose.»

«Fine. I’ll start. Tell me about your work. What do you actually do?»

Elijah took a deep breath.

«I’m CEO…» he exhaled.

«Eyes on me. We don’t hide our eyes, as it is a sign of disrespect and possible lies.»

He forced himself to look at her:

«CEO, head of a regional department of the Company.»

«What is your usual day like?»

«Boring. Meetings, calls, reports, numbers.» he caught himself on a thought he was really getting distracted from her body and becoming more collected.

«So if you’re doing such a boring job, then why have bodyguards?» Serena glanced to the two brothers and saw them avoiding looking at her, quietly talking about something.

«My family. We’re not simple people. We have lots of enemies.»

«Dangerous enemies?»

«I’ve had a number of assassination attempts, Serena.»

The woman chuckled:

«Ah. That I can understand.»

«I take it, you have been subjected to this as well?»

«More than enough.» Serena shrugged. «Though, unlike you, I deal with my attempted murderers myself.»

«What if you’re sleeping when they come?»

«Veluthians sleep lightly. We’re taught to be on guard all the time since early childhood, Elijah.»

«You talk like all you do is war…»

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