Waking up new

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chapter 5
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If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.

By: Anne Bradstreet

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Necro ship
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Xander hissed, cursed, and snarled as he was pulled along behind the soldiers. Being pulled up the stairs then into the gothic tower of a ship, Xander lashed out at the Necros that were watching him being brought in. Hackles up and tail lashing around like a whip he cursed up a blue streak.

Toal smirked at the snarling beast then laughed when the cat creature tried to bite one of the civilian’s that got to close. His laughter drew Xander’s attention away from the crowd. A beautiful dark-skinned woman in a dress of gold scales stalked up to Toal and placed her slender arm around his waist.

“What is this? A new toy?” She purred as she looked Xander over. Xander growled.

“Why yes he is Lilith. Lovely, yes.” He asked his lady with a raised brow.

She looked Xander over as he insulted a high-ranking lord’s hairstyle. “Quite.”

Toal reached out and petted Xander’s long hair only to have him jump away with a roar. A roar so lion-like it made soldiers and necro elite jump back a few steps.

“BACK! NO TOUCH! ASSHOLE!” Xander swiped at the man and cursed his inability to speak with all the colorful words he wished to use. He still had a bit to learn about the current language spoken. So far he called everyone an asshole or a shit! Sandsha wasn’t so big on teaching her god how to curse.

“Oh, I’ll have to train you won’t I?” Said Toal as he tried to pet Xander’s flowing hair again. A heated growl left Xander’s throat and became louder the closer Toal came to touching him. When the hand was close enough Xander snapped at it and bit into the soft flesh. Toal yelped like a child then struck Xander in the face to get him to let go.

“Damn you!”

Xander smiled a bloody smile. The pained look on Toal’s face was worth the bruising. The new Lady Toal smiled her eyes gleaming maliciously. “Well beloved. I’ll leave you to your . . . play.” She walked away with the same sway of a deadly snake or the business end of a scorpion.
Xander was dragged into an empty room and chained up to the wall. Hissing like a wet cat in a small box Xander snarled and snapped his jaw as the soldiers filed out of the room leaving just Toal and Xander. The door’s clicked closed the sound echoing with a finality that made Xander’s stomach curl and roll.

“Now on to your training.” Said Toal with a dark look on his face. Xander’s breath caught in his throat as his eyes landed on a shadowed wall behind the dark armored soldier. A wall stocked with whips, chains, and knives. Toal walked up to that wall and pulled a thick leather whip off a hook, letting it coil out, it’s full length touching the floor. Toal’s dark eyes met Xander’s wary tinged ones.

“Let’s begin.” *CRACK*

Xander yelped as the first lash burned over his shoulder and side.

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Riddick smirked as he entered the Bellistica. The entire battle went like planed and in little over an hour they would be in the air. Stretching Riddick looked over at Vaako, his second. The man was relaxed and walking with him, walking with the grace of a predator in its element. It was a beautiful thing, getting Soren to relax. It was like inviting an angel to sin. Soren was glowing with energy, a slightly unaware smile curving his lips, making him look more youthful.

Riddick grinned. He knew exactly where he could expend that energy. After all, Soren can’t sleep if he has too much energy to expend. Riddick felt good. He got to go out for a stretch, got the nambee pambee necro council off his ass, and had Soren and his hellhounds around him. Like a pack, his pack. Everything was good. Like a hot hard lay good . . . But there was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind pissing him off. Life was going his way for now! What else does he need?

Maybe Wraith knew. Because the hellhound had stopped, still as a statue with his head tipped up and to the side. Then the head male hound bolted off down a dark corridor the other’s following close behind. Hell even the little heck-puppies tried scampering after the pack. Riddick looked at Soren then followed. The sound of his second following right behind him pleased Riddick, his mate’s training was going well.

“Where are we?” Riddick growled.

“Soldier interrogation rooms. This is also the way to the purifying chambers.” Said Vaako as he easily kept up with his lord. Both men watched as Wraith the big hellhound bullied people out of his way then bashed a door open. Vaako sighed. He’ll have to get that door replaced.

Inside was quite a sight. Commander Toal was backed into a corner by the hellhound alpha male and female, the thick wooden cane probably the only reason he wasn’t being eating. The other three hounds were guarding something huddled up on the other side of the dark room.
“What the hell is going on!!!” Yelled Toal as he glared at Vaako. But he paled as Riddick stepped out of the shadows.

“That’s what I’d like to know. What the hell IS going on in here?” Riddick said as he pinned Toal with his gaze.

Toal gulped. “My lord! What are you doing here?!”

Riddick cocked his head to the side. “Hmm. I don’t know? I thought I owned this ship? Don’t I own it Soren?”

Vaako raised a brow. “Yes my lord.”

Riddick walked in and sniffed the air, then looked at Toal through narrowed eyes. “So what’s been going on in here? Smells like blood. ”

Toal started to stutter. “T-this is an interrogation room, m-my Lord. Things can get rough and--”

Soren stopped paying any attention to Toal when he started trying to butter up to Riddick. Brown nosing always made him sick. It just wasn’t something a Necromonger should do. No, he went over to the younger hellhounds, where they were gathered together like a gaggle of puppies. Picking up a heck-hound that just scampered into the room Soren went to check out what the hounds were guarding. As he walked passed them, the hounds would rub their large head against his leg or thigh. Purring as he went past them.

Soren smiled. The first time he had seen the hellhounds that Riddick had brought to the ship from the fire planet he had been fearful. Had avoided them and Riddick at all cost. But being trapped in a room with them and having Riddick’s hard body pinning him to a wall ended that. Now Soren was as much pack to the hellhounds as Riddick was. Petting the soft skinned pup in his arms Vaako put it down when he reached the thing the hounds were protecting. Hissing in sympathy Soren dug out his com and called for help.

“I need a stretcher and a med. crew to main deck 17. Interrogation room 8.” Vaako didn’t bother to hear the young soldier on the other end answer, he had better things to worry about then a soldier’s feelings. Like checking to see if the broken boy before him was alive. Feeling for a pulse Soren Vaako sighed. The bloody boy before him was alive but by the pained look on his bruised face probably wished he wasn’t.

“Riddick!” Soren felt a pleasant feeling when Riddick immediately focused on him. Anything that Toal could have been saying unimportant. Soren felt a flush wish to rise, but he ignored it. He had an injured boy to take care of.

“This boy is hurt. I’ve already sent for a med. crew.” Riddick stalked over, leaving his snarling hounds to babysit Toal.
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Riddick stilled when he got a good look at the boy. There was a feeling nagging at the back of his mind, a sense of knowing. Taking in a deep breath Riddick scented the boy. Under the stench of Toal’s sweat, the boy’s fear, his blood, under all that was pack. Something that reminded him of Soren, home.

Riddick brushed a hand through the boy’s dark hair, he let his hand brush over the tipped ears, then he noticed his tail. The tail that curled around his calf and brushed up his knee, it was soft and silky, even covered in blood. Gently Riddick picked up the boy. “They’re taking too long . . . Come on. Let's go.”

Soren nodded, through he hesitated at the door. “Be good and sit still.” He wasn’t sure if he was talking to the Hellhounds surrounding Toal or Toal.

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Xander groaned in pain as he was lifted from the ground. His back was on fire, the skin torn and bruised. His eyes were swollen so he couldn’t open them fully. His lower and up lips were cut from him repeatedly bitting into them. A few of his fingers were broken, he couldn’t move one of his arms, and his tail hurt from being squeezed. Since he couldn’t see, Xander tried to sniff out the scent of the person holding him.

But all he could smell was blood. His blood. Sandsha’s blood.

Shifting in the hold of the strong arms Xander wondered if he should struggle. But he was tired. He had fought and swopped curses with Toal for what seamed like forever. He was cold and the chest he was leaning against was warming him. Sighing Xander let his body rest. He would fight his captors later. After a little nap.

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