SWNOVELS Chapter 17
"What time does Ripley's shift start, tomorrow?" He wasn't about to sit around, but he wanted to make sure she wasn't booked by some guy.
The hostess stopped with what she was doing and looked up at the tall hybrid.
"Uhhmm,.. Ripley is back on duty tomorrow at the same time...Half shift again..." the woman replied as she scrolled through the work schedules and looked at him sideways, Kyr'nac assumed she was aware of his "physical" reputation.
"Sign her up for me, the whole night again..." Mentally he rolled his eyes, females always gave him a sudden gaze...
The female looked up in surprise. "Ohh, ...someone already has her as a favorite..." She looked at him doubtfully. "... if you're sure you want her all night again.., I can cancel him..., but..."
The woman leaned forward and looked at him with piercing white eyes. "I know it's none of my business, but... well, let's just say I know your reputation down there..." she whispered, showing her sharp gray teeth menacingly and pointing at his crotch.
"Do you really want to cripple her for the rest of her life?"
Kyr'nac smirked, he liked the female, she tried to look out for his little human and he could value that.
"Cancel him and just put her down with me. Trust me, she won't mind... You can ask her yourself..."
The woman sighed deeply and shook her head but finally did as he asked and after she was done Kyr'nac bade her good night and left, unaware that their talk had been overheard by one of the guards.
While walking back to the motel where he was staying, he ran into Orgrim. The look in his eyes was probably clear enough as the Orc straightened up, the moment he spotted the hybrid and took a defensive stance, but before the Orc realized what was going on, Kyr'nac had already dragged him down a small alley, and was holding the Orc high up against the wall by his throat.
"You knew about it and you didn't do anything about it...!" Though his voice sounded hushed and low, the anger in it was clear enough.
Orgrim laughed scornfully and grabbed the giant by the wrists with his huge hands, forcing Kyr'nac to let go.
Wether he wanted to or not, he had to let go of the Orc's throat, even though Orgrim was no match for him physically, the Orc had more power in those great hands of his than he did and the guy was using this to pry Kyr'nacs claws from his throat.
Rather than launch the attack itself, the Orc just sighed and looked wearily at Kyr'nac, once he freed himself from the hybrids' hand.
"I've tried, believe me... just like some of the others, my friend. But as you probably noticed... I'm the only one left of the old guard, some of us trying to help, well, let's say... that I was allowed to identify them, ...in the morgue ..."
He ran one of his big hands over his face.
"...some were only recognizable by tattoos, scars or unique piercings..."
"Look big guy, I try to keep the staff as safe as possible with two others, but it doesn't always work... Your white-haired friend, for example, has a few "colleagues" on his payroll and they manage to occasionally cause the alarms, the "workers" are wearing, to fail and then... well... we find one of the girls, yes... the guys are left alone..., badly beaten or dead."
Orgrim paused and cleared his throat, he wasn't a talkative guy and it had been a while he'd spoken this much.
"I don't know who told you, or why you're so worked out on this, but I think it's got something to do with one of the girls..., if so..., then get her out..., or forget about her..."
As he spoke, Kyr'nac had stood with his back to the opposite wall, his arms folded. He should have known Orgrim hadn't let this happen just like that, he may not have known the man well, his intuition had rarely failed him, and the Orc had always struck him as a trustworthy fellow.
"I want to get the little blond human out..., the one they call Ripley..."
The Orc's head shot up and he looked at the hybrid with a compelling look in his eyes.
"Iris..., that's the one you mean, right?"
Kyr'nac nodded in agreement.
"She's exactly the kind of female he likes and I wouldn't be surprised if he already has his mind set on her, friend..."
"Who?"
"That white leech... So if you want to get her out in one piece, ...do it quickly..."
"Yeah, well..., before I can make a move I have to collect some debts first..." and he pushed his back away from the wall.
Orgrim rubbed the back of his neck.
"Look, I will try to look out for her, but don't waste time..., just saying..." and walked off, leaving Kyr'nac with a pounding headache.
~~~~
Though Aruna's words had stuck in the back of her mind, Iris couldn't help but be excited at the prospect of freedom that probably awaited her.
Awa, the Litrilian hostess had told her that Scars, no, Kyr'nac she corrected herself, had reserved her again for the entire next shift.
Deep in thought as she prepared her work space for tonight, she didn't realize anyone had entered.
It was only when she felt a hot breath on her neck and turned around that she became aware of the other's presence.
Iris turned with a big grin on her face, assuming it was Jelmer. Her smile froze the moment she saw his face.
Liu'an grinned his sharp teeth seeing her startled face.
"Hello doll, I promised you something... remember?"
The moment Iris opened her mouth to scream, he tightened his fist and punched her in the face hard, causing her to fly backwards and lose consciousness.