Chapter Ten
Eva readied herself as best she could. She stood at the airlock with the crew. Taio flanked her on the right and Rasha on the left. Although she wasn’t tethered to either one of them, with their bodies pressed up against hers, she had the distinct feeling she was supposed to stay at their side.
Taio hadn’t mentioned their tryst on the bridge. Had she expected him to? Maybe a “How are you feeling?” or “Was it as good for you as it was for me?” To the first question, her muscles were a little sore and she was surprised she could even walk straight. And yes, it was the best sex she ever had.
She was sure he enjoyed himself as well. The “love bites” on her breasts, torso, hips and legs still throbbed. She glanced quickly at him, wondering if the scratches she raked down his chest were still there or if he took a trip to the healing bay.
Damn.
She should have gone there too, she thought, not wanting to be the only one still marked up.
She straightened her back and squared her shoulders, intent on projecting some resemblance of confidence, even though the unknown world scared her shitless. Parading through enough orphanages, group homes and foster homes had taught her that the first impression was a lasting one. If the males standing by her side were any indication of the size of the people she would encounter, she would surely be one of the smallest here. A good first impression was vital.
The airlock opened, releasing a cool gust of wind that swept across her body.
“Here I go,” she muttered. Taking a deep breath, she walked beside Taio and Rasha as they led the way down a stark white corridor.
To her credit, only after reaching the central common area did she falter slightly, stumbling over her own feet. Taio wrapped his calloused hand around her elbow, offering support. She yanked her arm away. The last thing she needed was to appear weak in the eyes of his people. He chuckled softly at her side. She glared at him; of course someone in his position wouldn’t know the ill effects of a bad first impression.
“Very well, little one.” He smirked.
“Stop calling me that. I’m not a child.”
“I can attest to that.” His voice was no more than a low, honeyed tone.
With a little prayer under her breath, she entered the colorful common room.
She froze in the entryway, forcing everyone to go around her. Transfixed in her spot, she looked around the room in amazement, her eyes trying to take in all of her new surroundings at once. “Beautiful.”
Taio stopped at her side. “I’m glad you approve.”
Wide-eyed, she looked at deep-red walls with blue-patterned designs. The moldings that framed the ceiling and entryways were intricately made out of what appeared to be blue blown glass. Oversized chairs were strategically placed around the room, framing the three fireplaces. With another breath, she stepped deeper into the room and watched as the crew was greeted by numerous people. She had little choice but to assume the greeters were family members welcoming home their loved ones.
I can get through this.
The thought washed over her mind as she stood still with her eyes focused ahead. The melee of people continued to bustle around her with exchanges of love she could now understand with the help of her fully functioning Universal Translator.
This wasn’t anything she couldn’t deal with. She had been in situations the same as this before, many times; loved ones welcoming each other at the airport, parents greeting classmates after school plays and surrounding the martial artist fighter after a big win.
Although this was a different planet, the logistics were still the same. From experience, she knew how to stay motionless so that no one would notice her, wouldn’t notice no one was coming to welcome her. And if no one saw, then they wouldn’t pity her.
As she blocked out the voices around her, the familiar feeling of overwhelming isolation slowly crept up on her.
Get a grip.
She shook her head slightly, trying to remove the cancerous thought that, if left unchecked, would consume her. Once the crowd died down, she could figure out where she belonged and go to that place.
A tall golden-skinned female walked over to Taio. “Take her with you,” he said. Eva remained rooted in place, her eyes fixed ahead.
“Eva, this is Mazel, my personal assistant. Go with her.” Taio gently nudged her toward the stranger.
Too relieved to object, she followed the female as she led her through the maze of halls. Eva rushed to take two steps for every one step the long-legged female took. Mazel didn’t slow her pace to allow for her to catch up. Eva spent a great deal of the tour watching her back. When Mazel turned around to reprimand her for not keeping up, Eva noticed that her severe bangs were cut high above light-green eyes that slanted, reminding her of someone of Asian descent.
Eva followed Mazel through halls lined with framed pictures of scenery that she didn’t recognize. She passed by blown-glass vases on carved pedestals. To her, the air of expense clung to every item. Eva held her head high as she passed onlookers in the hallway, all with surprised glances cast her way, murmuring and whispering under their breaths. She straightened her shoulders as well. This had the same feeling as being the new girl in school, but with a new girl on the planet kind of twist.
Only after Mazel pointed to a door and explained that it led to the training field did Eva decide to pay attention to her guide. She would need to find her way back there.
She had feigned remote interest as Mazel explained where to find the kitchens, the healing center and other common areas. Mazel led her through a foyer that opened to an entryway with two guards. The guards looked just as intimidating as the ones from Taio’s vessel. Mazel passed them with a short nod of the head. Eva followed close on her heels, doing much the same.
She couldn’t help but turn around to take a quick peek at the guards, wondering if they were going to follow them to wherever their destination was.
“Humph
.”
Eva slammed into Mazel’s back, then retreated two steps. The female slowly turned around to give Eva another disapproving stare. “Sorry.”
“Watch where you walk. You are too small to be so careless. I’m sure you’re just as fragile as you appear.”
“I’m not fragile.” The beating she took from the Tresdonians proved as much.
Mazel held out her hand. When Eva stared at it blankly, the other woman reached for her. Eva took a quick step back. “I need to scan your hand for the security system.”
“Oh.” She placed her palm in Mazel’s hand.
It took only two seconds for her to be registered with the door security. The light on the panel flashed green and the door unlocked with a click. Mazel pushed the door open and ushered her into what appeared to be, well, a royal palace within a palace.
She was completely blown away. The beauty within his palace she had seen so far had been magnified tenfold in his private suite. The main living area was filled with oversized and overstuffed pillows in an array of colors and the walls had the same multicolored theme.
The artwork that hung there was of animals she wished never to encounter in her lifetime. The smell in the air reminded her of Taio. His scent clung to the furniture. The overstuffed couches and chairs were so large, she felt they would swallow her up.
She kept up with Mazel as she showed her to the kitchen that was more elaborate than the dining hall on the
Saia II
. Mazel gave her instructions on how to use the console in the wall where she would order food.
Eva moved closer to read the menu.
Filbaster meat sandwich. Yuck.
Her nose wrinkled in disgust. The thought of eating made her already queasy stomach flop uncomfortably.
Her mind was officially overloaded. She blew out a breath. She definitely wasn’t on Earth anymore.
But nothing prepared her for what Mazel showed her next from a high balcony. Standing on the balcony, she caught her first glimpse of the spectacular view. On the distant horizon were two setting suns. One was larger than the other, bathing the sky in a dim orange light.
“Beautiful,” she whispered.
Never had she seen an alien sky. It truly took her breath away.
“I have been to many other planets and this is by far the best sunset there is to behold,” Mazel said, her eyes fixed on the sky. Eva tensed when Mazel moved to stand next to her by the railing. So far, Mazel had acted as though showing her around had been more of a chore than anything else.
“You should have Taio tell you their story one day.” Mazel nodded to the suns, her face softening.
“They have a story?” Eva asked, relaxing.
“Yes, a very interesting one. But I think it is one our king would prefer to tell you himself.” She turned away and walked toward the door.
Turning to join her, Eva spotted a large tan planet on the other side of the horizon.
“What is that?” she asked.
“That is Drazlan. The home planet,” Mazel said. Her eyes trained on the not-so-distant planet.
Eva looked past Drazlan, seeing millions of twinkling lights that lit up the sky. Constellations that were unfamiliar to her. The realization hit her. No matter how far she looked, she would not see Earth. Her home was in a distant past, millions of light-years away from where she currently stood.
“Come, let me show you to your room.” Mazel’s voice pulled her back to Sonis. Before turning, her eyes caught the sight of greenery at the bottom of the stairs that led to the private royal gardens. Tomorrow, she would venture onto the private grounds to feel dirt and grass underneath her feet once again. Tomorrow, because at the moment, the confidence to venture out into the eerie and unknown dark world eluded her.
Instead, she let Mazel lead her up the stairs where she assumed her room would be. The servant’s quarters crossed her mind. She’d be happy if they were half as impressive as the rooms she passed through. Her stomach lurched. A slave, the idea would never settle with her.
With each step, her lead-filled legs became heavier and heavier. The emotions of the day weighing her down, she hoped for a soft bed. Her bed on the Loconuist spacecraft consisted of nothing more than a meager pallet. The
Saia II
had offered her a step up, a bed intended for a seven- to eight-foot male, with nothing but a thin mattress between her back and the metal frame.
She followed her guide into a room that was two times bigger than her entire apartment in Ann Arbor. The room held a bed and little else. From what she could make out, the room was occupied. Although the room was immaculate, the various swords on the walls and the heavy scent of musk filling the air were a dead giveaway. She was in a male-occupied room.
Eva froze in place and looked around. “I think there might be a mistake.”
“No, Taio has instructed me to bring you to his private rooms.”
“I don’t think you understand.” Eva’s eyes darted around the room. “Did Taio tell you that I’m his slave?” she whispered, although they were alone in the room. The last thing she wanted was to be humiliated by Taio dragging her out of his bed in the middle of the night.
Mazel scoffed and smiled. “He told me this is where you will sleep.” Mazel walked toward an open door. “Ship has provided me with your size.”
Eva followed her to what appeared to be a closet and peeked inside. There were rows of women’s clothing, not much different than the colorful, long, flowing gown Mazel wore. Mazel selected a bundle of material from a shelf. Walking past Eva, she laid it on the bed.
“Are you sure he wants me to stay in here? Where is he going to sleep?”
Mazel raised one thick, dark eyebrow at her.
“Oh. Well. Okay.”
After wishing her a good night, Mazel left the room.
All alone, Eva sat on the large bed next to the long, transparent gown Mazel had laid across it. Reaching over, she let her hands run over the gown. The material, albeit see-through, was beautiful and soft to the touch. She picked it up, amazed at how light and airy the gown was. It could have been something right out of a Victoria’s Secret catalogue.
What did he want from her? Why would he want her in his private quarters?
Well, she could understand he wanted to continue a physical relationship. She briefly thought back to the afternoon on the bridge. The sex had been more than amazing. But to live in his private quarters? Now that was moving a bit fast.
She had spent her entire life being independent and able to provide for herself. Now she was not only a slave, but would have to share her personal space with a stranger.
This will be different
, she thought. Could she ever get used to her new circumstances? Living as a slave, a sex slave, a concubine?
She’d been in one committed relationship in her life, with Alan. He had been everything she thought she wanted and needed in a man. They met while he was in residency at the hospital where she worked.
Of course she fell in love with him right away. Who wouldn’t? He was tall and handsome, blond hair and blue eyes. Being a doctor definitely didn’t hurt.
Unfortunately, she found out the hard way his feelings had not been the same. He had seen her as a way to pass the time, a nice “diversion”, he had told her. A diversion that lasted two years? She had broken his nose when he told her that. There was no way she was falling that hard for anyone ever again.