Baileinahk awakens to find herself alone once again. A thin smile touches her mouth and she sits up on the large bed. N-Vorl.

  It has been many cycles of a season since she has felt his touch. She had forgotten how gentle the massive warrior could be. But then again, when they first made n'fiis, N-Vorl was no warrior. He had been a cultivator, like her. They had lain together, under the stoney gaze of his revered grandfather's statue. How he had given and taken pleasure. She has not felt such energy and vitality since their abrupt parting. And she has missed it.

  Ochiuho was a good lover, but no match for the likes of N-Vorl. Ochiuho's touch had been too hasty and full of lustful intentions. Not the same as N-Vorl's at all. Whatever lustful feelings N-Vorl may have felt, he kept them in check. Possibly, for her sake. Such is N-Vorl's way. He strives always to be a true yautja. A yautja of the code. He remains so even now.

  Baileinahk shifts toward the end of the mattress and leans over to grip her bulky robes. Grabbing them up and pressing them against her bosom, Baileinahk climbs to her feet. She begins wrapping the folds of her robes around her middle. Without warning, blue and white sparks erupt in front of her. Baileinahk grins, expecting to see N-Vorl. Her grin disappears when Elder Ghkivil materializes instead.

  The enormous elder steps quickly in Baileinahk's direction. He grips one of her wrists before she can flee. Leering down at her, he gleefully sniffs the air.

  "Ah. It would appear that all has gone as planned. Has Elder N-Vorl permitted you to join him on his little adventure, Baileinahk?"

  Baileinahk seems to shrink under Elder Ghkivil's terrible gaze. She avoids making eye contact, pressing the heavy robes against her front even tighter.

  "No. He doesn't wish me to go. He says it will be much too dangerous. He wouldn't tell me anything more about it. He simply insisted that I should not go."

  Elder Ghkivil's eyes narrow and he grips Baileinahk's wrist even tighter. His voice becomes a deep, angry growl. The elder's mandibles flare with his growing fury.

  "Then, you should have insisted. You forget. The lives of your childlings are at stake!"

  "How can I forget?" Baileinahk challenges the hulking elder. "You are constantly reminding me. First, you order Ochiuho's murder. Then, you kidnap my childlings. All of this to hide your own crimes. You are a disgrace to all yautja blood. The entire lot of you. If the council knew what you have done, you would all be skinned like the rogues you are. Instead, you masquerade as honored elders. Taking and destroying whatever you wish."

  Elder Ghkivil allows Baileinahk to vent her frustrations. When she is finished, he simply stares into her weary eyes. Quick as a serpent striking, he yanks her to him. Baring his teeth, Elder Ghkivil bites down on Baileinahk's throat. The shocked female gasps softly as Ghkivil backs her against the bed. She loses her balance and reaches a hand out to steady herself. Elder Ghkivil uses this opportunity to push Baileinahk onto the mattress. She gazes up at the fearsome elder with a terrified expression.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  "What are you doing?" Baileinahk utters, pressing her hand against the injury to her neck.

  "Taking whatever it is that I wish. As you so eloquently stated. For many cycles, I have wanted you. Only the distance between our clans, your n'fiis for Ochiuho, and your fading love for that insolent N-Vorl stood between us. Your mind...Your ability to ensnare any yautja male...Is well known. I have wanted you since first laying eyes on you at the Festival of Chruksh for Elder Mirhat. Wouldn't N-Vorl be shocked to know that Ochiuho was not your first conquest? That there were others before him? How innocent you play. How innocent, you can never be."

  "You're a liar!"

  "Am I? Surely, I don't disremember?"

  "You can lie all you want. Whatever you do to me...To my childlings...I will not betray N-Vorl again. I'm sure you have already ordered the destruction of my offspring. As you are prepared to do to you own. I do not fear you, Ghkivil. I pity you. You will never be the yautja you think you are. You will never be great. Perhaps, that is why your memory is so faulty. You were never meant to be elder. You're a simple, violent fool!"

  Elder Ghkivil yanks the robes from Baileinahk's trembling hand. His face becomes one big sneer, as his greedy eyes roam her very feminine form.

  "This...I will not forget."

  Grabbing Baileinahk's face with both large hands, Ghkivil leans down and briefly presses his left cheek to hers. He groans softly as he inhales her scent. Baileinahk slaps him hard across the face and the lustful elder becomes furious. He once again bares his teeth and growls deep within his chest.

  Elder Ghkivil clamps down on the trapped female's neck with excessive force. Spots of fluorescent green blood spray into the air and run down Baileinahk's flesh. In his fury, Elder Ghkivil has severed a vital artery. Baileinahk's entire body quakes with the pain coursing through her.

  The malevolent elder does not release her. Ghkivil drinks deeply of her rich blood, savoring its sweet taste and scent. Her chemicals of fear excite him and he disgustingly gropes her body. Only when Ghkivil senses that Baileinahk is nearing death, does he slowly release her. In a final mockery of n'fiis, the shameful elder presses his cheek to Baileinahk's. The cool settling into her flesh brings a smile to his horrid face. He whispers softly in her ear.

  "We could have had so many childlings together, beautiful Baileinahk. So many beautiful descendants...Which will never be born. Rest assured, I will plant an infiltrator aboard N-Vorl's ship. Your lover will die. But not before my chosen runs him through with a sharpened blade. It would have made my heart glad, if that brave yautja could have been you. It would have made my oshra rise if it had been you. Your weakness disappoints me. But your blood was sweet. It will keep me strong in the coming days. Go to your long sleep. Your fated lover will join you very soon."

  Nestling his face into the space between Baileinahk's neck and shoulder, Elder Ghkivil breathes in her scent. Not long now.

  He gently guides Baileinahk onto the firm mattress and traces her face with a clawed finger. He waits until she has completely expired before wrapping her in the folds of her cultivator robes. Placing Baileinahk on the stone floor, Ghkivil pours a vial of dissolving solution sparingly over her entire body. Before long, it is as if she was never there at all.

  Only the metal beads from Baileinahk's hair remain. Elder Ghkivil scoops these up and puts them into a mesh bag. The mesh bag, he shoves into a pouch on his implement belt. Activating his cloak, Elder Ghkivil exits Baileinahk's quarters as stealthily as he entered them.