I stifle a sob.
West lands another hard strike, and Stephan almost goes down. “No!” I yell. “Fight, Stephan! Please fight!” I shout.
West glares at me. He looks hurt, but he mostly looks angry. He gives a small shake of the head like he can’t believe I’m not on his side. I see his eyes narrow, and his jaw tighten. I see his body tense, his muscles grow. He goes after Stephan, hell for leather.
I think I’ve made things worse. I try once again to break free. If I can get to the men, maybe I can talk sense into them. If all else fails, I can somehow try to protect Stephan. I can’t believe this is happening.
Jarrod is shouting. I can’t hear what he is saying over my own screams. Maddox and Zale are holding him back. Tarek will have him killed if he tries to intervene. I don’t think Jarrod realizes just how bad Tarek is.
Stephan staggers and falls onto one knee. His breathing is ragged. Blood spatters onto the ground at his feet. I’m screaming harder. West closes the distance between him and Stephan. I expect him to finish it. To kick and beat the last of Stephan’s life out of him before…beheading him with his bare hands. I’ve seen this outcome. Where is the ocean? Where is the fucking tide? This can’t be right!
I’m crying. Tears are streaming down my face. I’m also begging. I don’t think West can hear me. I start to scream again as he leans forward.
West gets down on one knee too. For a moment, I am hopeful he’s going to stop this madness. That he’ll put his hand up and stop the fight. I’m hopeful, but I don’t hold my breath. West isn’t evil. He’s lost. He’s so filled with anger he can’t see straight. He can’t feel anything else. It’s no excuse. I’m done making excuses for him.
“Please, West!” I shout. I shout the words over and over. I’m begging him. He can’t do this.
West goes in close. He clasps his hand around the back of Stephan’s head, holding onto him. I think Stephan groans. I can’t see his face. West puts his mouth almost against Stephan’s ear. He says something to Stephan. I can’t make out what he’s saying. I realize that I haven’t stopped sobbing and screaming.
What happens next is a surprise. Stephan headbutts West with a loud crack. West falls back. His eyes widening in shock. Blood streams down his face. He lands on his back but doesn’t stay there.
Stephan seems to have found a reserve of energy. I’m not sure if it was what West said or if Stephan planned to take the advantage if one presented itself. Both West and Stephan are rushing to get to their feet. Stephan is on his knees, while West is on the floor. Stephan is up first. I’m not sure where he gets this sudden strength from. He kicks West square in the jaw as he is leaping up. There is another cracking sound. Louder this time. West howls. Stephan might have been holding back before but not anymore.
I now have to watch the man I have feelings for kill the man I used to love. Someone I still consider a friend. I put a hand over my face. I’m still crying. I still can’t stop watching, even though I want to. I’ve never felt so hopeless and frustrated in all my life.
Stephan tears into West. He kicks him while he is down. Not just once either… Two…three…four times. I hear more cracking as ribs break. I think his arm breaks too. He kicks West in the head numerous times, his near-lifeless body jerking with each hard kick.
What has gotten into Stephan?
What did West say to him?
I can’t blame him for retaliating like this. It was fight back or die…still... Stephan stands over West. I see West’s chest rising and falling. His eyes are small slits. I’m not sure whether he’s conscious or not.
“Don’t!” he says, the blood trickles from his mouth. “Pl…ple….ase.” West is begging Stephan not to kill him.
“No!” I yell. I can’t bear it. I can’t.
“End him!” Tarek shouts.
Stephan stands there, looking down at West. His hands are still clenched into fists. I can hear his ragged breathing. I am praying. I’m not sure what I’m praying for. A miracle. We need a miracle right now.
“Kill him now!” Tarek tries again.
“No!” Stephan says. “I can’t…I won’t!”
Tarek’s face turns red. He hates it when anyone disobeys him. “Kill him, or the girl stays. I will give her to—”
“You’ll do nothing of the sort, Tarek.” The voice is loud and true. A woman steps forward. She is beautiful. Her black hair glints in the sunlight. It is streaked with some gray, which works for her. There are delicate lines around her eyes, giving away her age. She’s wearing a long dress. I recognize her instantly.
Tarek frowns. “Be quiet, Isa,” he warns her. “If you can’t stomach this, then leave. That goes for all of you.” He looks around him. No one will leave because if they do, they’ll be punished for it later in some indirect way.
“I won’t be quiet. I have been quiet for too many years,” Isa says. Gasps of surprise rise around us, followed by whispered conversation.
“That’s insolence, and I won’t stand for it. Not from anyone, but especially from my own mate.” Tarek’s face is red. His whole stance has changed. He looks ready to kill.
“I’m sick of hearing you say that word.” She sighs.
Tarek makes a noise of utter rage and disbelief. “You listen here—!” he booms.
“No! You listen to me for once. We’ve been together for thirty-eight long years. I’ve never once asked you to hear me out. I’ve never once refused you. Never once disobeyed. I kept hoping that things would get better. That you would somehow,” she shrugs, “realize what a horse’s ass you were being, but—”
Tarek yells something. I’m not sure what it is. It’s too garbled. He’s so angry he can’t form coherent words. I’m a little in shock myself. I see shock on the faces of those around me.
“I’ve waited and waited, and it hasn’t happened, Tarek. I’m sick of waiting for you to come around. I’ve swallowed your nonsense year after year. I’m sick of watching you treat people like objects. You treat women like we’re possessions. Just because we were born with something different between our legs does not make us inferior.”
“Isa, I swear to god, woman!” Tarek shouts. “Stop this right now, or I’ll have you locked up.”
“No, you won’t!” Isa shakes her head. All around us, the women start to shift. Children are running for their homes. “Today, we take a stand. All of us…the women of this weyr collectively. We stand against you. We stand against oppression. We stand for one another. For equality. For love. For respect. Most of all, we stand for our children. For change for them.”
I wish I could shift too, but these ropes are preventing it. My heart bursts with pride when I spot my mother as she steps forward in her dragon form. She roars as Isa finishes. I know that the roar is for me. My mother has never stood up for me. Not once. Then again, she has never really stood up for herself, either. Not really! She holds her head high right now. That stops today. I am crying all over again. I am crying with joy…with hope.
The men are shuffling around. They are looking bewildered and unsure.