Chapter Twenty-Six
Keith and Giselle kept Allura company while she laid upon the divan in her garden. Keith's gaze went from the veiled Giselle playing with Skye to Allura. Sometimes it hurt to look at Allura's swollen stomach. All though her pregnancy she had said that the baby was her dead husband's. Who was her dead husband? Lotor?
He shook his head. No way. Not even. She hated Lotor.
Perhaps it was someone she had met and fell in love with quickly. Keith saw how she seemed to pine for this dead husband, even though she tried to hide it from everyone. Although her body bloomed with her pregnancy, she was still listless and pale. Dr. Gorma for want of a better word, said that it seemed she was pining away for him. Allura's pregnancy was not being easy for any of them.
Sven, to Princess Rommelle's distress had to stay on Arus indefinitely, at least until GG could get a new pilot for the Blue Lion. Despite damage contol from Coran, rumors had been rife all over the planet that the princess carried the baby of King Devonn of Doom - the one who had claimed her as his wife.
Fortunately, this rumor did not spread offplanet. But when the King of Doom did not attempt any attacks upon Arus or Canesian, it was assumed that perhaps it was true that the princess met and married her husband on Canesian, where he had died trying to prevent Devonn from taking her to Doom.
Allura had suffered as well, not really because of the baby she was carrying, but because it saddened her that she carried the child of a man lost to her. Some days she grew so depressed that she wished that she and baby within her would die so that they could all be together. Of course, little Skye brightened her up, for the baby was a cheerful one. Nanny had loved her from the first, and treated her as if she were truly Allura's own child. She loved the baby as if she had borne it, and considered Skye both Allura and Lotor's child.
Giselle, in her own way, also tried to cheer Allura up, although it seemed every time Giselle looked at her, there would be a great sadness in her green eyes.
Allura also noticed the way Giselle looked at Keith and suspected that Giselle was in love with the Commander of the Voltron Force. Allura wondered if he even noticed. Keith had hovered around her ever since she had found out her pregnancy, which was unusual for him. At one time, he had even offered to marry her, even though he was not a royal.
She had been suprised when Coran had said that she could make Keith a Knight of Arus, thereby qualifying him to marry into the Royal House of Arus. Coran had pointed out that anyone she married would be Prince Consort anyway. When she had declined tactfully and kindly, she knew that both Coran and Keith had been disappointed. She knew that they wanted her to marry again. They all thought it would help her to forget her dead love, but she knew that it wouldn't.
She sighed and closed her eyes. She felt so tired - too tired to do anything but sleep. She breathed deep of the fragrant flowers in the garden. As she drifted off to sleep, she fleetingly thought that perhaps she would dream of him again. At least no one could take her dreams away even if they were as dead as her heart felt.
Keith smiled as he watched Giselle play with Skye. She was so good with the baby. Keith wondered for the millionth time what she looked like beneath the veil she wore. At first he had thought it was a custom where she come from, but he had found out from Allura that it wasn't. However Allura wouldn't give him the reason and Keith felt that it would be rude of him to ask. Even though he had never seen her face, he found himself enjoying talking to her. She was witty and intelligent and she had a wonderful laugh that enchanted him.
Despite his worry over Allura, he felt a closeness to this veiled woman. He didn't know why exactly, but he did and he had a feeling she felt the same for him.
Giselle tried not to notice when Keith would look at her, but she couldn't help herself. Although she knew that there wasn't any chance for her, she enjoyed his company. He was handsome and boyish - just her type. He had a wonderful personality too. He wasn't cruel or vindictive. He had a sense of duty, of honor, and to her, he seemed to have the quality of a lost boy, searching for someone or something. She wished she could be the one who could help him, but she couldn't. She was no longer a woman, but a creature, scarred by a monster. No man would want her, especially someone as handsome as Keith Akira. Sometimes she would look at him when he wasn't looking and she knew that she loved him. It hurt so, because of what she was now. It hurt but she would survive it.
Skye suddenly howled, interupting her troubled thoughts.
Giselle said, "Uh oh..that's her "change me" cry.."
Keith smiled and said, "How do you know these things?"
Giselle picked up the baby and shrugged, "Just practice, I guess, Keith."
Giselle granced towards Allura and said, "Skye didn't wake the princess, did she?"
Keith glanced over and said, "No, she's fast asleep."
Giselle said, "Well, I'll have to go back to the Castle for diapers.It seems that a certain Captain didn't bring the diaper bag!!"
Keith actually blushed and said, "Well, when I'm in the company of a beautiful woman."
Giselle laughed bitterly and said, "Uh huh..you can't charm your way out of this one, Captain.."
Keith laughed and said, "No, I guess not..tell you what. I'll go with you to get the bag. You have your hands full."
Giselle glanced at Allura and said, "She will be all right here?"
Keith said, "She's within the castle parimeters - it's well guarded. Nothing can get in or out..we'll be right back."
The baby continued to howl and Keith said, "C'mon, we've got a very unhappy baby here!" Giselle smiled as Keith took her arm and led her off to the Castle.
A few moments later, a harmless garden snake slithered out from among the beautiful flowers near where the princess was sleeping. Keith and Giselle did not see the snake change into the form of a man - or rather - a monster.
Devonn gazed upon her sleeping form and looked down upon her swollen stomach in rage and jealousy. So she had lain with Lotor, did she? And Hagar! The old witch knew she was pregnant and didn't tell him! Well, when he returned to Doom he would take care of her, witch or no.
He knew he should kill Allura for her obvious treachery, but he didn't want to. She plagued his mind of late. He could not forget her. What was this madness? Was it something he actually shared with his cursed half-brother? He shook his head. It didn't matter. He would take her back to Doom where she belonged, and he would take this planet of hers and make it into a mass grave. He would kill all those she loved in front of her eyes and he would laugh as she screamed her agony. Devonn caressed Allura's swollen stomach and smiled malevolently. The first to die would be her brat. He knew what he could do to kill Lotor's spawn.Hagar's transformation spell had already provided the means.
Devonn's eyes narrowed in hatred at thought of Lotor. He should have killed him long ago, but he did not. What a fool he was! Still,his foolish half-brother would pay dearly for taking what was rightfully his and ruining her.
He saw Allura shift under his hand as if she were repulsed by his touch. This angered him. She would be willing. He would make be willing! Suddenly, he wanted her awake. He wanted her to know that he hadn't forgotten her. Devonn knelt beside her and touched her hair.
Allura dreamed of her angel again, he hovered about her and smiled just like he did so long ago. Allura smiled, for the warmth radiating from him felt wonderful on her tired body. Suddenly there was a chill in the air, as if a winter chill had settled in. Darkness came into her dream, and she could not see anything! She called Lotor's name and then she sobbed because he was dead. The landscape around her turned into Doom..dead trees grasped at her hair and she sobbed in terror because there was something evil after her and her angels were gone.
Allura weakly replied, "Then do it, Devonn..I would rather be dead than endure you."
Devonn's eyes narrowed and he said, "Yess..you'd like that, wouldn't you?"
He grabbed her chin and jerked it cruelly to face him. His lips were nearly upon her own. He said softly, "But that won't happen, Allura..I have been thwarted too many times with you. I desire you. You are like a curse upon me! I won't kill you, angel, but I will kill the brat within you!"
Allura gasped, "No..please..."
Devonn said wickedly, "And relieve you of misery? I don't tnink so! I want you to live, Allura. You will serve me, bow to my wishes." He kissed her again and said, "You will bear my children."
Allura's eyes flashed, "I will not!"
Devonn hissed at her, "Enough! Time grows short!"
Without another word, he backhanded her, stunning her. As she laid there stunned, Devonn dragged his lips from her face to her neck. He groaned as he did so, sending shivers of revulsion and fear down Allura's spine. She could not fight him. She was too weak, too tired. Without warning, Devonn nipped her neck, allowing the small amount of venom in him to enter her bloodstream. Devonn raised up and kissed her again.
He said, "Now, angel, soon you will be rid of that mongrel's brat! Hagar will remove it when we are back on Doom."
Allura moaned in protest as he picked her up. Everything seemed to whirl around for her. Devonn's face looked even more horrible to her. She was becoming delirious. Where was everyone? Where were the Castle guards, Keith, Giselle? Had Devonn murdered them?
She weakly slapped at him and said, "No! Get away, demon..let me die!"
Devonn chuckled and said, "You will not die until I wish you to, wife."
Allura closed her eyes and moaned, "Oh, where are you, my angel? Where? Ahhh..I can't...help - me.."
She fainted in Devonn's arms and he smiled as he started to carry her off.
Giselle was the first to see Devonn carrying Allura off in his arms. She screamed and Devonn whirled around to face her.
His eyes narrowed and he said, "Giselle..so, ugly one, you have found a haven here..have you shown your face yet?"
Giselle gasped at his cruelty. She looked worriedly at Allura.She could see that Allura was unconscious and her face took on a strange color. She screamed Keith's name as Devonn placed Allura down on the ground and charged at her, intent to kill. Devonn knocked her down, ripping off her veils, revealing her face.
Devonn snarled, "Now you die!" Devonn started to choke her, banging her head upon the stones. Giselle tried to fight him, but he was too strong. She prayed that Keith would come soon.
Keith carried Skye and the diaper bag upon his shoulders as he headed for the garden. Suddenly a scream pierced the air! It was Giselle! He ran, thankful that baby was good natured. He had never run with an infant before, but at the moment, he didn't have a choice!
As he reached the clearing that led to the garden, he saw to his horror, Devonn! So he was truly alive! Keith also saw the princess sprawled on the ground, obviously unconscious. Dear god! What did he do? But now,it was Giselle Devonn was hurting. He had to stop him!
Keith placed the baby down on some soft leaves and hoped that she would be all right. Keith tackled Devonn with a yell and pulled him off Giselle, who was barely conscious.
They rolled on the ground, wrestling, when Devonn kicked Keith savagely on the side. Before Keith could get at him, he saw Devonn turn into a snake and slither quickly away. Keith's eyes narrowed. It must be Hagar's magic at work.
Keith got up and hit his communicator. He yelled, "We need medics in the South Wing garden, quick! It's the princess and Giselle! Devonn's attacked them!"
Keith heard the acknowledgement and a few seconds later, medics were on the scene. As Allura and Giselle were put onto stretchers, he felt scared - for his heart was with them both.
To Chapter 27 (*wip) Keith: Rescue
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