Tyrant. Scrapper. Part 5. Damantha Makarova

off!» Hunter replied, growling, and walked off, heading towards the beach.

      Lindon sighed, understanding that to an untrained eye the sex bot he saw on the screen would really look like Serena. But he knew – whatever Elijah showed them wasn’t at all what happened.

      He also thought that it would be best to speak to Serena later to try and find out what really happened during the time she was absent. The Veluthian hoped that when they find out the truth, Hunter will calm down.

      «Just don’t do anything stupid, brother…» Lindon sighed, shaking his head.

      The Veluthian didn’t know what to do, but decided that it was better not to bother either of the two for a bit, because Serena might be stressed enough as she is, and Hunter seemed to be even more distraught than he was able to admit.

      He didn’t know that only a little over an hour later Hunter headed to confront Serena, too deep in the whirlwind of the thoughts and assumptions that drowned him after what he saw on the screen.

      When he saw her walking towards the gym, he immediately approached her:

      «Serena, we need to talk!» Hunter said harshly.

      «What about?» the woman tilted her head, seeing an extremely strange expression in his eyes. «What’s wrong?»

      «Elijah. You spent the night with him?»

      «What? No!» Serena frowned. «Whatever gave you that idea?»

      «Please, tell me the truth…» something in the way he looked at her made the woman frown.

      «I am! I didn’t sleep with the guy if that’s what you’re implying!»

      «Tell me the truth!» Hunter stepped up, leaning in, his eyes becoming angry.

      «I am telling the truth!» Serena leaned back, surprized to see such a reaction. «What the fuck do you want from me?»

      «I want to hear the truth!» Hunter growled.

      «But you have! I didn’t sleep with him! He was kind enough to let me use his guest room for the night, but that’s it!»

      «I don’t believe that was what happened, Serena!»

      «Well, I can’t help make you believe it, unless we get back to Lyssa!» Serena frowned in anger. «And if you don’t want to believe it, then don’t!»

      She turned to walk away.

      «Just tell me the truth, Serena!» Hunter shouted, catching her by the throat to stop her from leaving.

      «I didn’t sleep with him! Let me go, asshole!» Serena curled up and kicked him in the face, panicking.

      For a moment the cyborg felt his fury taking over again. But then he suddenly remembered. His hand relaxed and Serena fell to the floor, immediately running off.

      Hunter took a shaky breath, frozen in place.

      She would have never allowed anyone to grab her throat like that – not after what she endured in Veluthian prison. Not after he tried to choke her while under Falana’s control.

      He fucked up. Again.

      Chapter 7. Drinks

      Serena slipped out unnoticed, glad to have run off from whatever shit storm Hunter has stirred up. She didn’t care why he was so certain she slept with Elijah, and couldn’t simply shake off the feeling of aching and anger towards the cyborg.

      After all that she’s been through – he added to her torment by not listening to the truth and assaulting her.

      She pressed her palm to the neck and swallowed hard, remembering the cold metal fingers that grasped her. This brought back the terrible memory of him trying to kill her.

      All they’ve worked through up until that moment was for nothing.

      Serena felt like screaming, and beating someone to pulp.

      Walking off into the distance, she spent the next half an hour trying hard to calm her nerves and stop the heavy waves of shudder running through her body. When she felt calmer, she accessed the smart watch that was given by the resort administration when they arrived to call for a rental hover car.

      It didn’t take long for one to pick her up and take her to the Entertainment Centre, where she got out at one of the bars she deemed worthy to spend some time at.

      Walking inside, she winced at the happy and cheerful expressions of partygoers that were having fun, even though it wasn’t even evening yet, and headed towards the bar. However, passing by some booths, she noticed a couple of familiar faces and was surprized to see Cipher and his crew relaxing with a couple of women by their side.

      She hurried past, hoping they didn’t see her there.

      «Hey!» Serena heard a familiar voice and turned to see Pher smiling to her from the corner, waving to her. «Serena! Come! Join us!»

      The woman gritted her teeth and slowly shook her head, stepping away. She noticed how the man’s smile faded and he frowned, seeing her walking off.

      Serena headed towards the bar and hoped her crewmembers won’t bother her. But as soon as she ordered a drink, she felt someone approaching her and glanced that way only to see Cipher standing there with a very concerned look on his face.

      «I declined the invitation to your table, Cipher. Go, have fun.» the woman said to him as calmly as she could.

      The Captain of SS Growler frowned even more and leaned in, squinting his boyish eyes in suspicion:

      «Did something happen?» he asked quietly.

      «It doesn’t concern you. Go back to your company and have fun. Don’t worry about me.»

      «Is it Hunter?»

      Serena gritted her teeth and straightened:

      «Cipher…» she growled.

      The man immediately understood he struck a chord and sighed, slapping her shoulder:

      «Fine. Just…» he nodded to where his team was sitting. «If you need, we’re here. We can ditch our entertainment at any moment to be there for you.»

      Serena felt her anger surfacing, but forced it down, nodding in reply:

      «I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.»

      «Anything at all, even if all you need is to just sulk with a drink in your hand.» Cipher tilted his head. «Alright?»

      Serena nodded again.

      Cipher leaned in closer, saying to her ear:

      «And I see Hunter did something. I’ll beat his ass for you first thing we get back.» he slapped her shoulder again and walked off, leaving the woman alone.

      Serena called over the barman and inquired if she could purchase a whole bottle of Belunian Vodka. After getting a surprized look and a price, she nodded to the man and received the drink, finishing her shot, and, after paying for the drink, headed out of the bar, trying hard to be lost among the people so that the crew of SS Growler won’t notice her leaving.

      As she walked the streets, drinking vodka, she tried not to think about anything, basking in the buzz of alcohol in her head. If it weren’t for the groups of drunkards, the stroll would have been even more pleasant for her. But the constant catcalling she ignored and the futile attempts of people to come up and be friends made her irritated, so she headed off to the beach to cool off and enjoy some tranquillity of the waves crashing upon the shore.

      And even though some people were on the beach – some partying, others – having an early evening swim – Serena didn’t mind, as there was definitely more solitude in this place than the streets of the city.

      She spent hours wandering through the sands and waves, washing over her feet, before finishing her drink and heading back to the roads,