Tyrant. Scrapper. Part 5. Damantha Makarova

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СКАЧАТЬ it off every time someone from her crew reached out to her.

      «You’ll have all the strong drinks you want, I promise you. Besides, John will come only later, because there’s been a slight development. So we have some new data to give you.»

      The speed of the hover car calmed Serena quickly, offering the slight buzz of adrenaline rush in her body, while she was watching the vast stretch of water that shimmered under the stars.

      «Good.» the woman sighed. «The more details I know, the better.»

      «Care to tell me what happened? You look and sound… distraught.»

      «A disagreement with my crew. Don’t worry about it. We settle them quickly, I just need a bit of time to cool off. One of those assholes got on my nerves.»

      «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 СКАЧАТЬ