If she comes back, that is. Maybe it was a trick, her offer to get away from me. She's probably terrified of me. She watched me brutalize the others that got into the pit with me today, and when I didn't go down quickly enough to suit the trainer, he added more opponents until it made it impossible for me to win. I still tried, of course, and now I have the bruises to show for it. My body aches all over.
Doesn't matter though. If I was Mina, I wouldn't come back to me. She was furious at me last night for ruining her plans. Furious that I singled her out. If she doesn't come back…I guess I wouldn't blame her. I'd be angry, but what's a bit more anger, after all? They want me angry. They want me raging, but just under the slightest bit of control. Their control.
When I step into the cellblock, there are guards posted at every door with shock-sticks. They eye me warily as I move past, heading for my cell. The doors of the antechamber are open, waiting for my return, and even from here, I can smell the ooli scent in my quarters. Someone's been in there, and the blankets have been changed, the bed freshly made.
It no longer smells like Mina.
I hate it. All of it.
I growl as I stand in the antechamber, the smells assaulting my tired senses. I hate it when they stink up my cell. It's the only sanctuary I have, and now it's ruined. It—
Something hard shocks me in the back, hitting me like a stone.
A shock-stick. A moment later, a boot shoves me from behind, pushing me into my chamber. The doors slide shut, and the guard walks away. I slowly get to my feet again and stand near the door, fists clenched, watching as he strolls away. I memorize his scent, my flesh twitching from the aftershocks. All the a'ani wear the same face, but they have different scents. I'll remember this one, and I'll kill him if he ever comes near me again.
I crouch low, watching the guards. I'm filthy and sweaty, and everything aches, but it's more important that I intimidate the others. I can't show weakness here. Weakness means they'll shove me in with the other gladiators, who would love to get a piece of my hide. There's something about my presence that excites them. I could tell by the way the trainers reacted to me.
Am I famous, then? Why don't I have memories of being famous? Am I a great fighter? I know a lot of moves, but the scientist was disappointed in my performance today. I could tell it from his scent and the look on his face. I don't care about him, but I do care how it affects Mina.
If she ever returns.
The lord saunters out of his chambers, all flowing, delicate gray robes. His long hair would be ripped off his scalp in a moment flat, I decide. Right after I tore those fancy-looking jewel-crusted horns from his head. He approaches my cell. "I'm told training went well?"
I bare my teeth in a snarl.
He gives me a faint smile, but I can smell his fear-scent. "I'm glad to see your fighting spirit remains as strong as ever. Just remember to direct it."
I watch as he saunters away, his tail cuffed with a golden bracelet. I decide that would get ripped off right after the horns. Hair, then horns, then tail—in that order.
The door is almost shut when it slides back open again, and Mina enters in a wash of pure scent. Her eyes widen at the sight of me, and she gives me a bright smile, her smaller form struggling with the weight of a heavy tray. No one offers to help her, of course. She's a slave.
But she approaches my cell and scans her wrist-cuff, then enters the antechamber to be scanned again, and all I can think is that she is back. She returned to me.
She steps inside and taps a finger on the tray, activating a stand. It shoots out and forms a base with three prongs at the end, and Mina balances the waist-height tray. I study it, and my senses think of it as a weapon. I could use it. Hide it. Break the standoff and craft a spear, or a light club—
And then what? Watch as they shock Mina to death? After she came back for me?
No, they have me…and I'm not even that upset about it. The day is suddenly better as she fusses with the dishes on the small tray, pouring water into a bowl. "They straightened up in here, didn't they?" she asks in a soft voice. "It smells unpleasant?"
I nod, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. Now that she's here…all my strength is gone. I am tired.