Chapter Twenty-Two
Allura remained asleep, dreaming of angels with white hair. They were beautiful, eartheal and they smiled at her, radiating peace. One angel looked like Lotor and he stayed by her side, protecting her. She wished the angel were him, so that she could in his arms, but the angel would protect her until he would come for her.
The angel that looked like Lotor called her name, and she answered back, "Lotor..my beloved, come to me..." never realizing that she had said it outloud. Allura continued to sleep, wrapped in her cocoon of peace.
Devonn strode down the halls. Damnable place! She could be anywhere! This place was huge! Everyone stayed out of his way. Devonn hadn't been King long, but within a day, he had established that it wasn't wise to cross him.
Devonn continued down the halls, unware that troops were invading his domain. His was a single purpose. He was intent upon finding Allura. He turned a corner when he heard a noise from one of the rooms - a female voice. He listened again and this time he heard her voice. He opened the door quietly and heard her say, "Lotor..my beloved, come to me..."
Devonn, at first became angry, then he realized that she was dreaming. He smiled. Why not surprise her? She could do nothing anyway. Quickly he slipped into the room, and shut the door. He did not bother to turn on the lights. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness and he saw her upon the bed, holding a pillow to her. Well, she wouldn't need that for long.
He stripped and climbed into the bed with her. She frowned slightly as if she were having a bad dream. Devonn smiled as he drew her to him.
Allura frowned. Her angel was fading away! She begged him to come back, but he kept fading in and out. Suddenly, she felt a coldness in the room. She sensed the same evil as she had in Zarkon's room once, but it was much worse - more concentrated, as if it were focused on one person.
She moaned slightly as she felt coldness wrap around her waist and pull her away from the light where she had been. Still, she fought to stay with her angels, but the coldness was strong. She felt herself pulled against a body and she felt revulsion. The coldness turned her about, and Allura tried to will the coldness to release her, but it wouldn't.
Suddenly, she felt a kiss upon her lips - a hard, relentless one. Allura felt the coldness within her and she cried out,fear returning to her at last.
She heard a voice say, "Wake up, Allura..wake up for me.."
Another hard kiss and the coldness that had encircled her waist now traveled her body. Allura cried out for her angel, but he had gone!
The voice again, more insistent, "Wake up, my bride! It is time..I cannot wait any longer."
She felt another kiss and then she felt a slight nip on her neck, as if someone had bitten her. Her eyes opened wide and she saw the coldness had a form - it was an Evil One!!
She screamed and Devonn pulled her hair and whispered, "Good..angel, you're awake..now we shall be one."
Allura screamed, "Nnnoooooo..!!!!! and fought him.
Devonn said, "I anticipate your fight, Allura - and your ultimate surrender!!"
He slapped her and still she fought back. A fog threatened to overtake her. The coldness was now above her, and evil face of the devil leered back at her.
She cried, "Kill me, I will not submit!!" Devonn only laughed at her. It seemed as if she fought him forever. Her arms were becoming tired.
Devonn sensed this and whispered, "Surrender, Allura."
She moaned, "No..."
She looked beyond his horrible face and she seemed to gaze beyond it. She cried out, "Oh, angel! Save me from him!"
Devonn pinned her arms down with one hand and drew up her gown. Allura closed her eyes. She couldn't fight anymore. She willed herself to die..constantly praying that her angel would come and save her.
Devonn laughed at her prayers and said, "Nothing will stop me, Allura..nothing will keep me from enjoying you." He kissed her mouth, forcing it open. Devonn's lips parted from her own and he whispered, "Welcome your bridegroom, my wife.."
She gasped, "You're not my husband.You're a beast!"
He only smiled and said, "I am, aren't I?"He kissed her again, savoring her mouth, a groan escaping him. Allura moaned in despair and knew that this was the end for her.
Doom: The Searchers
Keith and the rest of the Voltron Force landed on Doom near the Castle. Actually, from the look of things, it seemed that Lotor's forces had things well in hand. Still, the lions would be needed. He ordered the rest of the team to split up and help where they were needed. He was just about to depart in Black Lion himself, when he heard a female scream coming from the sleek black ship nearby. Keith recognized it as the Phoenix! Someone was in trouble! Keith ran, weapon drawn to the ship.
Lotor ran down the corridors of Castle Doom. Ah, there! His father's old chambers! He readied his weapon. He would strike Devonn down and get Allura out! It was quiet in there,and he feared the worst - that Devonn and Allura had - ..No. He would not think about that now. The important thing was to get her out of there.
He opened the door quietly and peered in. Then he rushed in. He looked upon the bed. No one!! There was no one there! Lotor paled. Where were they? They could be anywhere! As he stood there, suddenly he heard a voice in his mind say, ..oh angel, save me from him!!..
It was Allura, he was sure of it! In his mind, he called out, "I'm coming!" and he ran out the door. He could feel her fear and revulsion echoing in his mind. Then to his horror, he could feel her resignation, her submission to the enevitable. In his mind he cried out, No!! Don't give up!!Fight!! I'm coming!
He ran, and suddenly, though the fog of fear and loathing that clouded his mind, he gained an insight - she was in his old chambers!! He broke into the most desperate run of his life - for Allura was at stake.
Back At The Phoenix:
Giselle finally got the baby to sleep and placed her in her basket. She smiled underneath her veils at the tiny infant. She wished that she could have one of her own, but now it was not possible, thanks to Devonn. Only a blind man would want her now. Tears flowed from her face. Devonn had effectively ended her life as a woman. Now she was a thing - never to be loved. She would always be denied marriage,family and love, and all because of a vindictive devil!
Giselle wished that she could aim this blaster right between his eyes. Better still would be to aim it between his legs - that would make him suffer more. Giselle shook her head. Being bitter wouldn't help anything. She would have to go on . At least Jennah's baby would have a good home.
Suddenly Giselle jumped as she heard the blast of a laser at the door. She tensed, readying her blaster. Surely this ship would have a security system. Perhaps in his rush, Lotor forgot to activate it. Giselle heard the door slide open and the sound of heavy footsteps. A Doom soldier came into her view, and Giselle screamed loudly, aiming the blaster at the soldier. She missed and the soldier, angry, knocked the blaster out of her hands and tried to wrestle her to the ground.
Giselle screamed again when suddenly she heard a voice cry, "Hold it right there!"
As the soldier turned to see who it was, Giselle stumbled away from him. The Doom charged at the the interloper, who Giselle saw was dark haired and wore a red and white uniform. As the soldier charged, he fired his weapon at the soldier who groaned as he went down. Giselle screamed as she dove over the baby's bassinet and covered it with her body. The baby, awakened from all the comotion, started to wail. Giselle had her eyes shut, trembling. She gasped as she felt a light touch upon her shoulder. She looked and saw the stranger who had saved her.
He said gently, "Are you all right, miss?" Giselle looked into his brown eyes and thought they were beautiful. They reminded her of rich amberlis wine - a myriad of shades all combined to make one beautiful color.
She thought..I could get lost in them.
Keith's eyes locked with hers for a moment and he thought that although she was veiled, her eyes seemed to capture his attention. They were as green as emeralds, and like the jewel, they held their own light within them.
He thought, I could get lost in her eyes.
Giselle frowned at her thoughts. Utter foolishness. She was a disfigured freak now. He would have never saved her had he seen her without her veils.
Keith shook his head to clear it. What was he doing? He was in the middle of a mission. He had to get her out of here to safety, not moon over a woman.
At that moment, they both realized that the baby was crying and Giselle said, "Ah,thank you..ah - um..."
Keith said, "Iam Commander Keith Akira of the Voltron Force..you are?"
Giselle, trying to soothe the baby in her arms said, "Giselle, Commander Akira."
Keith smiled at her and said, "Call me Keith - please."
Giselle's heart melted at that boyish smile and then she chided herself for feeling so.
Keith looked at her and wondered why someone with such beautiful eyes covered herself. Her eyes were so expressive. He wondered what they would look like in laughter, and then chided himself for his foolish thoughts.
He glanced at the baby and smiled, "The - baby is beautiful - just like it's mother.."
Giselle actually laughed, and to Keith's delight,her eyes sparkled. She said, "No, no..she is not mine. She belongs to my lady and her husband."
Keith said, "Ah, you're her nanny then."
She nodded and he said, "Wish Nanny on Arus looked like you."
Giselle was glad she was wearing her veils, otherwise he could see her blush.
Keith straightened up and said, "I think I need to get you out of here. Come with me, I will take you to Black Lion."
Giselle said, "Wait, ah - Keith. I need to leave a note. They will worry if the baby is gone."
Keith nodded as Giselle went in search for something to write the note on. A few minutes later, she was writing the note and said, "Keith, where are we going?" Keith said, "If all goes well, I will take you to Arus. There you and the baby can be safe."
Giselle nodded and added this to the note, and placed prominently where Lotor could see when he returned. Again, she prayed for their safety.
She said, "I'm ready to go.."
Keith smiled and said, "Good, I'll let the others know, Giselle."
He took her arm and as he did, an electric shock coursed through both of them.
