Can anybody ever feel numb with silent rage? If so, that is probably the only way to describe how I stand in a paralyzed daze while the nurses rush around Cassandra's bed and Stela screams blasphemy.

I would have been shocked at her over the top reaction if I wasn't so focused on Cassandra's pale face and her bare hand, held out for me to take. When the room clears slightly I walk forward and interlace my fingers with hers for the last time.

They have already gone cold and the absence of her warmth further reinforces what I'd lost tonight.

Stela finally quietens and sits down on her chair, sniffling every once in awhile. I see Commander Drako rush in after awhile and he hugs her while she cries into his chest. He casts me a sympathetic look and lets me know that Lucian is on the way as well.

I barely nod my head, looking at him through glazed eyes. The only thing that really catches my attention is the laser gun attached to his hip, the one every officer carries around with them. His holster is loose and the gun stumbles around in it's compartment with the slightest movement.

The nurses come back and urge me to release her so that they can prepare her body for a funeral and then biodegradation. I look around and am slightly surprised that her 'precious' Commander Physus didn't even come to see her.

My fingers around her hand tighten and I ignore the nurses around me as they grow impatient with me.

I feel a firm hand wrap around my wrist and look up into the pale blue eyes that belong to Commander Drako. My eyes flit to Stela and I see that she is lying on her chair with her eyes closed.

"You need to let them prepare her for a proper funeral. Interfering won't change what has happened," There is a sincerity in his voice and the look on his face is earnest.

"Her commander hasn't arrived yet," I say in a soft voice.

His face twists in a mixture of embarrassment and pity when he replies. "If he wanted to come, he would be here already."

Those words bury themselves deep into my bones, further reinforcing my suspicions on the ship - that Lazarus had been behind the whole thing.

He tugs on my wrist slightly, making me release her hand and then he pulls me back to allow the nurses to unplug the machines from her body. I can't look at her anymore, I look at the floor and a soft cry escapes my lips.

Commander Drako stares at me worriedly and I cannot think of a better moment to wrap my arms around him in a hug. I cast a wary glance at Stela but it appears she has passed out on her chair.

The stunned Commander comforts me awkwardly before I release him. I thank him for his help and then leave the intensive care unit and the medical facility.

With his gun now in my holster.

"Mistress Aria, Master Lucian has been trying to get in touch with you," Phillius says the moment I get into the glider. "He says he is on the way."

"I just spoke to him. He has urgent matters to discuss with the Trinity. I am to meet him at PG Lazarus's house," I wave my hand at him dismissively and Phillius stares at me through the mirror in confusion.

"You don't believe me?" My tone is accusing and it is the first time I have ever spoken to him like this. He quickly shakes his head and takes off in the direction to Lazarus's house.

Our glider bears the Trinity symbol so we are able to pass through his security easily and I am greeted by his attendant once I walk up the steps to his house.

"Mistress Aria, Master Lazarus was not expecting you here," He looks down at me with pursed lips.

"I know. Tell him I've come to tell him something he wants to hear," I say and he cocks his head to the side in silence. He must be listening to the earpiece in his ear because he immediately tells me Lazarus's answer.

"He's waiting for you in his office," He says and then he leads me inside. We walk through the endless corridors until we finally reach what I assume to be Lazarus's office.

"I'm going to have to take your gun," The attendant says to me and my fingers tighten instinctively around my holder.

My hearts starts beating faster and faster as the attendant stares at me in annoyance with his hand held out, not looking at all frightened that I was holding on to my gun for longer than necessary.

"We aren't going to allow you in with that," His eyes narrow at my holster and my shoulders slump in defeat. I take out the gun and hand it to him and then he opens the door to Lazarus's office.

It's fine. There are many other ways to skin a serpent.

I walk in and study every little detail, hoping to find something I can use as a weapon. The walls in Lazarus's office are littered with pictures of him receiving all kinds of medals and certificates. I see him behind his desk but unlike Lucian who always has his head buried in his documents, Lazarus's table is empty.

The only thing I see sitting on top of it's smooth surface is a large bottle of liquor. Maybe I can use that to smash his smug looking face.

"Welcome Bone Breaker, take a seat," Lazarus says lazily. He takes a swig from his glass and leans back to look at me with his feet perched on top of the table. "I hear you've finally come to tell me what I've been dying to know."

I look behind me and see the attendant shut the door, leaving us alone. I walk over to his desk and something to my right catches my attention. It is a small trophy like structure with a large spike at it's top. It looks sharp enough to puncture skin.

My gaze then automatically falls to Lazarus's neck.

"Why did you do it?" I ask him in a voice devoid of emotion.

"Do what?" He smiles at me cheekily and my eyes narrow into knife edged slits.

"You promised not to kill her," I say, getting straight to the point.

"Do you honestly think I would let some human carry my child? The mere idea of it all is preposterous. I suppose I did promise your weakling lover but what can I say? Promises are meant to be broken, right Aria?" He pours some more liquor into his glass and takes a gulp.

My nails dig into my palms so hard, I feel a stinging sensation in my skin as I draw blood. I side eye the trophy again and mentally try to estimate how quick I would need to be to stab his neck. The problem is he is leaning too far back, I need to get him to come closer.

"I take it you have come here in defeat. I always get what I want and your precious Lucian will die soon as well. He deserves it after that stunt he pulled before we landed in Taygeta," Lazarus's lips pull back into a sneer and his eyes go dark. "Tell me his weakness and I will spare his life."

"You're right. You win," I admit suddenly and his eyes light up in surprise.

He leans forward looking interested and my communicator buzzes in my bag for the hundredth time before I dump it to the floor.

"Hurry up and tell me now. I have a date soon and you know how women are," He twirls his finger in the air frivolously and something about that gesture causes me to snap. Someone literally just died because of him and he's talking about his date for tonight.

I don't waste a second. The timing is perfect and he is leaning close enough for me to act. I grab the trophy in a rush and aim it's sharp edge directly at his neck. Lazarus's eyes widen in panic but he manages to grab my wrist before the spike goes deeper. It barely creates a scratch on his skin, all I see is a red line.

Lazarus laughs loudly and his hand tightens around my wrist.

I bite my cheek hard, while I stare at him boldly, trying not to let the pain he is causing show on my face.

"You silly little girl. You honestly think you could have killed me with that? I can't decide if I admire your bravery or pity you for being so stupid. You may think I can't harm you because you are Lucian's lover but since you assaulted me first, that gives me the right to punish you."

I feel a sharp sting that pierces my cheek and reverberates right to my skull. I fall to the floor after he slaps me and close my eyes to fight the ringing in my head. There is no time for me to steady myself because Lazarus picks me up by my neck and then drags me to the wall. He pushes me against it and smiles down at me menacingly.

"Do you know why I can't stand you?" He whispers and I notice his eyes are filled with desire as he watches me struggle to breathe.

He releases his hold on my neck slightly and waits for an answer. When I don't he squeezes harder.

"No, " I sputter between gasps.

"The problem is not so much you. It's the way you act, all defiant and proud like you are worth something around here. It's all Lucian's fault. He treats you and that half breed almost like you are our equals and I cannot think of anything worse. You need to be put in your place by someone like me not someone as fragile as him. That is why he can never be a leader. The Plutonian empire will collapse under Lucian's reign because humans like you and all those other species in the galaxy will forget they are beneath us," He grips my chin tightly, forcing me to look at him when he speaks.

"You are only meant to serve. That's it," He runs a finger over my lips and then kisses me forcefully.

I almost choke in disgust but I use the opportunity to bite his lip so hard that I taste iron. He moves back in shock and touches his bleeding lip, giving me just enough space to knee him right between his legs. Lazarus's face scrunches up in pain and he stumbles back further.

I try to get away but he grabs my shoulder and slams me into the wall. My head hits the hard stone and brilliant white light flashes across my vision.

"You stupid girl. I will make you regret ever messing with me." I feel Lazarus rip my collar open, nearly exposing my chest. I push him away but he grabs me and holds me in place.

"Let's see. What does a proud human like you value the most? Your dignity?" I wince at his choice of words and he smiles in satisfaction. "Let's see how proud you are after I'm through with you."

Just then we hear someone banging on his office door from the outside.

"Lazarus, Aria, I know you are in there. Open up now before I call the authorities," Lucian's voice booms through the sturdy metal.

"She tried to kill me, Lucian. She deserves the death penalty for trying to kill a Plutonian, let alone the Trinity. Leave us and I promise to go easy on her," He smiles at me and pulls at the collar of my uniform.

"Open the door, Lazarus."

Lazarus freezes like a statue the moment he hears Luna's voice. He takes a step back and then presses the corner of his table, allowing the door to swing open.

Lucian rushes inside and immediately grabs me. His face goes red with anger when he sees my torn uniform and Lazarus's bloody lip.

"You tried to force yourself on her?" Lucian looks like he is ready to punch Lazarus's lights out but the older Plutonian is busy staring at his fiance who has her eyes fixed on me.

"You promised me you would stop," She tells him and he rushes to her.

"She tried to kill me, darling. It was my duty to punish her," He strokes her shoulder but she steps away from him.

"Really? Is that the way you punish someone? Save it, Lazarus. You've been obsessed with this human from the beginning and once you're done with her you'll move on to the next one and then the next. I am the idiot who believed you would stop for me," She says in a low voice.

"I'll stop I promise. This was the last time. I just got so angry. You know how I get, love," Lazarus says in a sweet voice but she cuts him off before he can say more.

"The engagement is over," She announces in a shaky voice. "And this time my decision is final."

Ahhh, so Lazarus's engagement has been called off which means both Lucian and Lazarus have equal amount of rights to contest for first or sole commander. What do you think Lucian will do in the next chapter ehhe