Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ At Odds ❯ Jarrell ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: Don't own it, yada yada yada

Chapter Two

Jarrell

The frightened woman raced down the hallway, her breaths coming in hard pants. The screams of harem girls echoed around her and in the distant shadows she could hear the murmur of some poor boy begging for his life. The air was rancid with the thick smoke of burning flesh and she gagged on the stench. The clamor of approaching men from around the corner brought her to a skidding stop. Frantically, her eyes darted about, desperately seeking a hiding place. She lunged into a darkened doorway, hugging the wall in an effort to become invisible. She held her breath, nearly choking with the effort as her lungs strained for the oxygen it needed to feed her pounding heart.

Two men passed by her, joking jovially as they dragged an unconscious woman between them. Their hands were stained by the blood of the palace servants and they howled with laughter at the easy prey they had found. They disappeared around the next corner, but the woman stayed hidden, suddenly afraid to be out in the open. Bravely, the woman shoved away her instincts that demanded she run for her life to the gates and instead she directed her unsteady legs to push further into the heart of the palace.

She stepped cautiously out into the light, looking for any threats before breaking into a run. She slid around the corner only to collide into an unyielding wall of male flesh. Violet eyes darted up to meet fathomless obsidian. The woman collapsed in fear in front of the tall man, her hand clutching her throat as she looked into the face of her executioner. Her mind screamed at her legs to move, but they studiously ignored her pleading and she began to sob brokenly as she edged backwards across the marble floor.

The man's face clouded and his eyes flashed with fury. His mouth screwed into a hard line as he stepped forward, grasping the woman by the arm and yanking her smoothly to her feet. She fell against his hard chest and she instinctively raised her hand to rest against his heart to brace herself. She could feel the heat of his flesh even through the thick breastplate of his armor. She couldn't stop herself from breathing deeply, inhaling his musky scent. She shuddered with a mixture of fear and longing, but she refused to meet his implacable gaze. The man shook her slightly, growling with annoyance.

"Stop acting like I'm going to hurt you woman and look at me." Raditz demanded as he glared down at his golden lover.

Delia's stunned gaze darted up to his, gulping when she saw the anger brewing there. She was certain that he was going to kill her, no matter what words he said to her. She had betrayed his prince, therefore stabbing him in the back. He hated her and now in this time of chaos, he had come to exact his revenge. She clenched her eyes closed, not wanting to see the killing blow from the man she loved. In her mind's eye she could see the sweet smile of her little boy, laughing as she hugged him tightly to her. Sorrow welled up inside of her as she realized that she wouldn't be able to retrieve her son who was still imprisoned deep inside the palace walls.

Raditz hissed down at Delia, frustration at her behavior cutting him cruelly. Did she really think he could hurt her? Even after what she had done, he could never raise a hand to her. He craved retribution against her, but warring with that yearning was an insatiable need to hold and protect her. She was his weakness. The only woman he ever desired.

After they heard of the death of Frieza at Vegeta's hands, Nappa and Raditz had blasted off for Capital World, certain that their prince would return in due time to claim the throne. They didn't understand their lord's tardiness, but they were sure that he had a good reason. When they had arrived they found the world ablaze with the fires of revolt. The streets ran red with blood as the citizens rose up against Frieza's soldiers, desperately trying to tear down every reminder of the tyrant's rule. They breached the palace walls, attacking warriors and servants alike, having no mercy on the innocent.

When Raditz had seen the smoke rising from the castle turrets he had raced towards the compound, uncaring whether or not Nappa followed. He knew that Delia was somewhere inside and he had to get to her before something vile befell her. When she had skidded around the corner it was as though providence had smiled on him, but now she shook in his arms with fear, twisting his already aching heart. She was afraid that he would murder her indiscriminately for her crimes against him. The ruthless killer inside of him whispered that was exactly what he should do. She was nothing more than a traitorous whore that deserved her punishment for betraying him. He grimaced as he stared down at her. He knew he could never lay a hand on her, but that didn't stop the anger that beat inside of him. In the end, all he really wanted was to gather her up and carry her from this place.

"Please don't kill me Raditz." She gasped breathlessly. While she sat under his heavy stare she had gathered up the courage to plead for her life. Not for herself, but for her son. He still needed her to save him and she couldn't do that if she lay bleeding at her lover's feet. She dared to open her lavender eyes, looking into his hard obsidian gaze.

He sighed with impatience, barely resisting the urge to shake her again. "Stupid woman. I am not going to kill you. I have come to retrieve you." He words carried a grating pitch of unvoiced anger and her eyes widened.

"W-what are you going to do with me?" Her words laced with so much fear, pushed him over the edge. He was a warrior, not some weak imbecile that could not contain his desire for some small, shaking female. Honor dictated, that he present her to his prince and allow his lord to decide her fate. He ruthlessly ignored the small voice that whispered that his loyalty may be called into question in the very near future.

"That is for Lord Vegeta to decide." He hissed with fury. He turned on his heel, dragging her alongside of him. Nappa silently stepped in line beside him as they strode down the hall away from the palace. Delia was too stunned to argue for the first couple of steps, but soon realization dawned on her. Raditz was taking her outside of the palace walls and she could not allow that.

She dug her heels into the floor, yanking viciously on her arm, trying to free herself. She began to hiss and spit with a fury that shocked both men and they rounded on her wide-eyed as she struggled against Raditz's grip.

"What are you doing, woman? Stop that." Raditz glared down at her, unbelieving that his sweet Delia would ever show so much fire. Her burning violet eyes meet his and he was stunned by the amount of venom in their depths. He was so enthralled with her gaze that he didn't notice when she knotted her free hand into a fist and socked him right in the nose with all her might.

He dropped her arm, more out of shock than pain and she instantly turned on her heel, scurrying down the hall like a frightened rabbit. Raditz raised his hand to his nose, checking for blood just before his eyes narrowed with fury. In a flash he was after her, slamming her up against the marble wall with more force than he intended. Her breath gushed out of her lungs and she slumped to the floor, the golden strands of her hair trailing down the wall behind her. Raditz groaned inwardly at her crumpled form, instantly feeling remorse for his careless actions.

He reached down with great care, pulling her back up onto her feet. She blinked rapidly for a few moments before finally seeing him clearly. As soon as she did, her mouth dropped open and the most earsplitting shriek he had ever heard vibrated from the depths of her throat. Nappa growled at the sound and Raditz grimaced. Delia kept screaming with the hopes that someone would come by and engage the warriors in a battle so she could scamper away undetected.

"What the fuck has gotten into you, woman?" Raditz brows met in the center as he watched the woman who had clearly lost her mind. She didn't respond and only kept screaming. Raditz yanked her behind him again as he continued down the hall, ignoring her cries.

The closer they got to the exit the more irrational Delia became. She kicked, scratched and bit, desperately trying to free herself from Raditz's iron grip. Tears streamed down her face as her voice became raw from her screams.

"Jarrell, Jarrell." She whimpered continuously, feeding Raditz's building fury. Her repeated cries for another man gorged him deeper than any battle wound he had ever received. He had not considered that she would have taken another lover after leaving Primus and he grimaced at how much of a fool he had been. He had held himself apart from any other woman, not even feeling lust for the many other females he had come in contact with.

Her broken shouts eventually had the desired result and a contingent of rebel palace guards appeared from around the corner. One glance at the beautiful golden woman convinced the four men that they had more than enough strength to overpower the two warriors. With a snarl of disgust Raditz pushed Delia away from him, momentarily tempted to leave her to her fate, while knowing in his heart he couldn't see her harmed.

Delia inched away from the two men as they faced off with the soldiers. She felt a flicker of indecision when she noticed that Raditz and Nappa were outnumbered two to one and she regretted that this had come to pass. She steeled her will as she backed slowly down the hall. She could not be concerned with her lover's fate. He was a grown man that could care for himself. Her Jarrell needed her.

Raditz watched as Delia disappeared down the hall, his gut clenching with fear. His distraction allowed his opponent to strike him squarely across the face. As he hit the far wall with a crack all he could think about was that Delia wasn't safe roaming the halls by herself.

Delia crept deeper into the palace, staying immersed in the shadows and avoiding all contract, even with the servants that she knew. Soon she entered into a part of the complex she was unfamiliar with as she was never allowed to venture this far. Many times she had heard Frieza refer to the prison that he kept her precious Jarrell. The nursery he had called it. A place deep within the palace where he kept all the children he kidnapped over the years to maintain obedience from his more rambunctious subjects.

She passed through a narrow archway that led into an open courtyard and across the way was another door that she was certain led to her goal. She darted forward only to be brought up short by muscular arms wrapping around her waist.

"No!" She shouted as she kicked viciously at her captor.

The strong arms hauled her back through the archway and she latched her hands around the edge, desperately struggling to free herself. She tightened her grip as the man yanked on her relentlessly, but she refused to give.

"Damn it woman." Raditz growled in frustration as he tried to peel her hands off the door jam.

At the sound of his husky voice, Delia felt a shiver of relief course through her. At least it was Raditz and not some other man intent on raping her. She was so close to being reunited with her son, she couldn't give up now. She released her grip on the door suddenly, causing them both to stumble back a few steps. She whirled in Raditz arms, dropping to her knees as all that was left of her ragged pride abandoned her. Her hands twisted into his uniform at his waist as she pleaded up at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Please Raditz, please let me get Jarrell." Raditz heart stopped as he looked down at her broken countenance. He almost didn't hear her utter the other man's name he was so stunned at her outburst. She looked so delicate, kneeling before him, begging for the life of another man.

"Get off your knees, you bitch. I am not going to waste my time saving your pathetic lover." Raditz growled while gripping her under the elbows to lever her off the ground. She stared up at him wide eyed, taking a moment to process the new information. As he finished bringing her to her feet she launched herself at him, wrapping her slender golden arms around his neck and delving her fingers into his thick hair. She turned her lips so she could whisper into his ear.

"Not my lover, my son." Her words were soft and pleading. Raditz was her only hope to retrieve her child. If he refused then all was lost. She would not be able to escape his grasp again.

Raditz was brought up short as her whispered words flowed over his sensitive ear and he shuddered with longing. His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist bringing her nearer to him. She felt so right in his arms and he couldn't stop his head from dipping down so he could scent her white, gold hair. Her son. He remembered the message that Bulma had sent him. Her explanation for Delia's faithlessness burned him. She had played him, betrayed him, all for a child that she had never even trusted him enough to tell him about.

"Please help me to save my baby, Raditz." Her arms tightened around his neck and her fingers twined even deeper into his hair, holding him to her. He could feel the wetness of her cheek as she laid it against his. Her whole body vibrated with grief and he knew that he would do anything to take that pain away.

"Well, quit blubbering woman and lead the way." His voice was husky with emotion, belying his gruff statement. She pulled back, her violet eyes searching his, seeking the honesty behind his words. A genuine smile curved on her pink lips and she reached for his hand, pulling him through the archway with her. Behind them, Nappa merely rolled his eyes, convinced that all the males around him had finally gone insane.

They walked into a walled courtyard, bordered by small buildings. Raditz took the lead, following the sound of soft whimpers that he could hear in the distance. They entered a large room, stunned by the sight that greeted them. Near the far wall at least two dozen children of all ages were huddled together, their wide eyes shimmering with fear. In front of them stood a rawboned woman wielding a table leg that she had broken off for a weapon.

"Get back!" She yelled, her dark eyes promising murder if they stepped any closer. "You filthy miscreants can't have my babies." She edged forward waving her homemade mace with the intention of bludgeoning them to death if that was what it took to protect the children under her care. Raditz looked at the woman blankly while Nappa raised an eyebrow. Delia ignored the woman, her large expressive eyes scanning the room until they latched onto a familiar sight.

"Jarrell." The world around her wavered as she stared at the beloved face that had so long been denied to her.

"Mama." The small boy broke away from his friends, instantly recognizing the angel he had been dreaming of every night.

Delia dropped to her knees, opening her arms wide as her boy rushed into her arms, tears running down both their faces. Amidst the murmurings of 'mama' and 'my sweet boy' sobbing could be heard as the remaining children called for their own lost parents. The nursemaid lowered her weapon when she realized that the intruders would be no harm to her little ones and she rushed over to comfort them.

Nappa and Raditz became very uncomfortable with all the wailing that was echoing around them. Usually when they heard this sound it was right before they obliterated the offenders. They shifted their weight uneasily and finally Raditz reached down to pull Delia to her feet. She held the boy in her arms and Raditz was struck by how similar he appeared to his mother. He had golden skin, blue-violet eyes and a shock of bright gold hair that fell over his face. Raditz felt his cold heart thaw a tiny bit as he looked into the child's eyes that reflected so much pain for one so young. He pulled his dark gaze away from the boy's, looking at Delia.

"It's time to go." Raditz could hear the approaching marauders and he was pressed with urgency to take his family to safety. He blinked at the wayward thought that had crept into his unguarded mind. He pulled at Delia's arm, attempting to lead her from the room, but she did not budge. He turned back to her, the question for her delay etched on his face. What more could she possibly want? They had the boy, it was time to leave.

"We can't leave them Raditz." Nappa snorted and Raditz barely suppressed the urge to growl.

"Woman." He began but Delia quickly cut him off. "They are children of important leaders throughout the universe. It would be wise to save them. They could become very important to Vegeta in the future." She spewed at him, her eyes glittering with motherly concern.

Raditz's eyes skimmed over the children, taking in their quiet snuffles and the nurse's intense stare. He sighed deeply and Nappa sensing his capitulation groaned and rubbed his bald head with frustration. How would they ever herd all these children out of here?