by Edward Lake
Thereafter, a pair of soldiers arrived to pick me up. To my surprise, they were much nicer than the two soldiers who checked me at the door.
“Good dawn. My name is Lee Rave, and this is my comrade May Ex.”
“Good dawn, Sir Rave and Sir Ex. My name is Declan. I’m one of the recruits from the North Star. Thank you for this transport.” I grabbed onto the small aircraft and pulled myself up. I sat down on the empty floor behind them and looked them over. “So how long have you two worked together?”
They glanced at each other in a way that made me think they had been comrades for longer than I had been alive.
Lee smiled. “A long time. A very long time. May and I are too old to fight alongside a young one like you, so we help our fellow soldiers in other ways. However, now that the Serpents have returned, don’t be surprised to see us on a battle station again.”
They flew me right to Evander’s ship and wished me well. I returned the kind sentiments before departing the aircraft.
The ramp on Evander’s ship was open, and since he had summoned me, I figured it was safe to go right in. Sure enough, when I walked up the ramp, I found him sitting at a foldout table and assembling his guns.
“Good dawn, Captain Cain.”
He looked up and stared at me. “Good dawn, Declan. Welcome to my ship. Well, actually, it’s my home.” He stood up and pointed to a bowl on the table. “Have you eaten anything?”
“No, not yet, sir.”
“Your sunrise meal is the most important of the day, soldier. Your body needs food to function properly, just like a ship needs fuel to operate.”
I gave him a kind nod and walked to the table. I took a seat and began eating whatever was in the bowl. The texture was a little gamy, but after a few bites, I didn’t mind as much. “Did you make this? It’s rather good.”
He took a seat next to me and crossed his arms on the edge of the table. “Yes, it’s a special dish I cooked up just for you.” He laughed. “It’s actually a combination of leftovers. You learn not to waste food when you spend so much time journeying through the stars.”
I chuckled under my breath, but Evander caught me.
“What’s funny, soldier?”
I shook my head. “Nothing, sir.” I peeked at him and caught him smiling.
“Don’t be bashful, Declan. No one likes a coward.”
My eyes wavered at first. Then, finally, I held my head up and looked him in his eyes. “After being a slave for twenty-six years, I know the importance of not wasting food.”
He stared at me with a blank face for a moment, then spat out a steady laugh. “Not many people in the galaxy can make me laugh, Declan.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m happy to be on that short list, sir.” The more time I spent with Evander, the more I liked him. There was just something about him—a calmness that seemed rather odd, like he didn’t belong in the corrupt Holy Army.
We shared a moment of silence. Then, when I saw his eyes shifting from place to place, I leaned in close and stared at him. “For years, I’ve only imagined what it would be like to go up there. Traveling from the North Star to the Holy Planet was an amazing experience. Yet it would be a blessing to explore the galaxy further.” I sat there and beamed from ear to ear as I imagined what it would be like to explore space.
Evander leaned forward a bit and looked me over. “I hope you will, Declan.” He slowly nodded at me. “If my plan works, it will give me great joy to see you become a free man.”
I felt a deep sensation touch my heart. “Thank you, sir. Your grace is… overwhelming.”
Evander shook his head at me. “Don’t thank me yet. Saving you from the North Star won’t be easy.” He tucked his lips and breathed out through his nose. “And if we get caught, Pastor Saros would have me killed.” He leaned back and rested his hands in his lap. “We’ll have to be extremely careful. No one can know of this. Do you understand?”
I nodded quickly.
He remained silent for a few seconds, then stared at me with intense, focused eyes. “So I guess my only question for you is, are you all in?”
I took a deep breath and stared back at him. “Yes, sir. I’m all in.”
He reached over to me and tapped my arm. “I was hoping you’d be a little more excited. This is your chance to stay away from that horrible planet you came from.”
“My family is on the North Star, sir.” I trembled as I looked away from him. “Even if our plan works, I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.” I looked back at him and shrugged.
He put his head down for a moment, then looked up and shook it. “Forgive me, Declan. I should have been a little more understanding of your situation.” He flashed a charming smile. “If you survive the war, I’ll personally take you to your family.”
My eyes grew wide, and my chest thumped so hard I could hear it. “You’d do that for me?”
He nodded. “If that’s what you really want.”
I set my hand on my chest and took another deep breath. “It is, but I don’t understand why you’re showing me such generosity, sir.”
He crossed his arms. “Because I’ve done a lot of wrong in my life, and God wants me to make amends.”
“How do you know this?”
He gradually looked up to the ceiling and unfolded his arms. “God doesn’t want you to be a slave, Declan. Men like Saros do.” He lowered his head and stared at me. “I’m a slave soldier, too. A slave to Saros and his empire.” He leaned forward and held a fist toward me. “But I can still help people from the inside. Innocent people like you.”
My mind raced with thoughts of hopefulness and confusion. “So are you a rebel in disguise?”
Evander laughed and slapped his leg. “You did it again.” He laughed even harder and covered his face. “Making me laugh once is impressive. Making me laugh twice is a miracle.”
I spun my head away and let out a few gentle chuckles. “I’m honored, sir.”
He steadily calmed as he stood up. “Perhaps we should focus on the challenges we face, soldier.” He paced around the ship, glancing out the window, then at me. “I will train you, Declan, as a member of the Holy Guard so you can stay close to me.” He stopped and held his hands behind his back. “The rebels and the Serpents are plotting their next attack. There can be no doubt of that.” He paused and looked me over, then stepped closer.
I arched my eyebrows and nodded as he went on.
“The rebels are determined to destroy the Holy Empire. Why else would they make a pact with the Serpents?” He stood still and crossed his arms again. “There is a spy among us, soldier, and whoever it is could be hiding in plain sight.”
Suddenly, a knock at the entryway took our attention away from each other and to the ramp.
“Evander? Are you there?” a sweet voice called out.
“Sadie?” he replied. He unfolded his arms and walked past me.
Oh my, it’s her! I spun around and quickly checked myself. I let out a deep sigh and focused on Sadie. With her so close to me, I could see every perfect line on her face and every curve on her body.
“Forgive me. I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything,” she said and took a quick glance at me.
“No, not at all.” Evander and Sadie shared a warm hug. When they separated, Evander turned his head and looked at me for a second. He waved his hand over me, then looked back at Sadie. “Don’t mind him.”
Sadie giggled. “Don’t be rude, Evander. Introduce me.”
My eyes narrowed a bit and a thin smile grew on my face.
Evander looked at me again and waved me forward. “Come over here, Declan. I want you to meet Sadie Saros, daughter of Pastor Saros and successor to the High Priest.”
Although a bit weak in the knees, I managed to walk over to Sadie as best as I could and bowed my head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Madam Saros.” If I could see myself in a mirror, I figured I would have been embarrassed by the sight of my own ogling. Standing in front of a
woman I’d fancied for years was surreal—a fantasy I thought would never happen.
She giggled and shook her head at me. “Please, call me Sadie. Madam Saros makes me sound old.”
I could feel the pressure in my face increase and wondered how red I looked. “Sadie it is.” Our eyes touched for a second, and I swore it felt like my heart was dancing inside my chest. I was speechless, waiting for her to say something.
“Are you two coming to the dance tonight?” she asked me, then turned her head to check Evander.
My eyes quivered as I looked to him for clarification.
He shook his head. “Declan is not ready for that, Sadie. He’s a slave soldier from the North Star.”
She chuckled and placed her hands on her hips. “Then why is he here on your private ship?”
“Because I’m training him. When I feel he’s ready for an assignment, I’ll give him an assignment.”
Sadie crossed her arms and walked over to Evander. “Well, I need as many eyes watching over me as possible. So I want Declan—and anyone else from this slave army that you have under your training—at the dance.”
Evander tightened his lips and gave her a quick bow. “As you wish, my friend.”
“Very well then. Evander, it was a pleasure, as always.” She peeked at me. “I look forward to seeing you there, Declan. Welcome to the Holy Empire.”
“Thank you, Sadie.”
An uncomfortable silence hung over Evander and me as we listened to her walk away. Then, when the air cleared, he glared at me. “Don’t get any ideas, soldier.”
By reading his reactions to Sadie, I sensed she was someone he deeply cared for. “I don’t understand, Captain Cain. What do you mean by—”
“Don’t try to con me like I’m some fool, Declan.” Firmness in his eyes, he slowly walked toward me. “Sadie is a very dear friend of mine. So as I said, don’t do something you’ll live to regret.”
“With all due respect, sir, she invited me to the dance. I had no intentions of going. I didn’t even know about the dance until now.”
Evander breathed in deep, then gradually exhaled. “Listen to me very carefully. Sadie is not what you think. Trust me. I’ve known her since she was a little girl. I’ve watched her grow into the beautiful woman she is now.” He turned around and glared at the ramp. “But like everyone, she has a past—a dark past.” He somberly ambled to the table and continued assembling his guns. “Pastor Saros put me in charge of her safety—to ensure she lives long enough to give him a grandchild.”
His speech was eye-opening, but I figured there was more to it. “Do you love her, Captain?”
Evander shyly glanced at me. It was the second time I had seen him look vulnerable. “Yes, I do. I love her very much.” He slammed his gun down, then checked it to make sure everything looked right. “But Sadie and I can never be, so I live with that pain every day.”
The hurt in his voice was telling, like a young boy whose mother abandoned him. “I’m sorry, sir. I should not have asked you that. It is none of my concern.”
He sat up straight and stared at me. “You’re an honorable man, soldier. I saw that in you the first day we met on the North Star.” He stood up and walked over to me. “But don’t think for one second I’m going to let you be Sadie’s new man toy.”
I bent my head back and squinted at him. “Captain Cain, I would never—”
“She didn’t invite you to the dance because she wanted more security.” He rolled his eyes. “She did it because you’re something new for her to play with.” He went back to the table and set his hands on the edge. “Like I said, you don’t know Sadie like I do.” He put his head down and spat out a nervous laugh. “Deep down, beyond those pretty green eyes, she has a wild heart. She’s been known to disobey her father’s rules occasionally.” He chuckled. “For example, just now, when she came into my ship. There should have been at least one Holy Servant with her—maids handpicked by the High Priest to keep an eye on Sadie and make sure she is never left alone with a man.”
My head was spinning from all this surprising information about Sadie. I would have never suspected someone like her to have a “wild heart.” Ever since the first time I saw her on screen, she seemed like a well-balanced, humble person. The way she would roll her eyes at her father’s words and ignore her mother’s over-the-top praise of the pastor’s preaching made me think she was different. More than her looks, that’s what I found attractive about her. “You have my word, Captain Cain. My only purpose is to serve and protect her, for that is my duty, sir.”
Evander nodded. “We shall see, soldier.” He sat down at the table again and went back to preparing his weapons. “We shall see.”
17
Zena
The dance at the Saros estate was a boring affair of God-worshiping speeches, fancy yet bland food, and a collection of the snootiest citizens on Sodus. I wondered where Taft and the others had disappeared to. Perhaps they were on assignment somewhere and searching for the enemy. Or maybe they were at the shooting range, perfecting their skills as gunmen. Wherever they were, I hoped they were having more fun than I was.
Still, regardless of the tiring dance party Sadie had invited me to, seeing her was enough for me to stay alert and ready. On the other side of the room, Evander was sitting with Pastor Saros and that creepy tall man from the stadium. I was lounging at a table with a group of wealthy socialites who had been oozing over each other all night, yapping about nonsense that made me want to vomit.
My orders from Evander were simple: keep all my attention on Sadie and never lose sight of her. For me, eyeing Sadie was a treat. She wore a radiant white dress that complemented her eyes and hair so well.
Evander had spread out the other members of the Holy Guard across the dance hall. Several were stationed on the balcony that oversaw the dance floor, while others were positioned at every corner of the room.
The dance floor sparkled with a golden shine that made me dizzy after gazing at it for a few seconds. Moments later, I saw Evander walk over to Sadie and ask for a dance. She kindly took his hand and led him to the center of the dance floor. I wanted more than anything to take Evander’s place. The satisfaction of feeling Sadie’s hips swaying and bobbing between my hands would take my breath away.
But I wasn’t dancing with her, Evander was, and the more I watched them, the more jealous I became. Why am I doing this to myself? I thought. She will never belong to me. A woman of God, the daughter of the High Priest, and perhaps a woman who loathes so-called “savages” like me. Filled with anger and sadness, I looked away from them. I sat there for a long while, staring into the distance like a rejected fool.
Suddenly, I felt a tap on my knee. I looked up in a hurry and realized it was Sadie. My eyes got big, and I blurted, “Oh, hello, Sadie.”
She blessed me with that stunning smile she displayed so naturally. “I saw you sitting over here and thought I should come over and say hi.”
I was numb at first, gawking up at her with a half-open mouth. Finally, I beamed and leaned back in my chair. “Oh…well, thank you.” I looked away and scratched my head. “Are you always this nice to soldiers?”
An incredible sparkle flashed in her eyes. “Cute ones like you, yes.” She turned to the snobby gossipers I had been tolerating all night and waved her hand over them. “Would you please leave us?”
Thankfully, they quickly leaped to their feet and scattered, leaving me and Sadie alone.
She sat right next to me, so close that our arms nearly touched. “So what do you think?”
She thinks I’m cute? Her unexpected interest in me reeked of shadiness. In the back of my mind, Evander’s words of warning lingered like an itch, begging me to scratch it. I had dreamed about Sadie for years, thinking she was some kind of elegant, well-spoken goddess who enjoyed hot drinks and foot rubs. But now, after gathering all this information about her from Evander, she seemed more like a renegade with a bad reputation.
Yet she was also mys
terious and charming. I wondered how she got to be so “wild” as Evander put it. Perhaps she secretly despised the posh lifestyle. Or maybe she had grown up with a lot of bad influences. I was a bit disappointed that Sadie wasn’t anything like what I hoped she’d be. I certainly wasn’t interested in being her “man toy”—even if she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
“Oh, this has been great. Yeah, the whole night has been a lot of fun. Thank you for inviting me.”
Little by little, a small grin edged across her face. “You don’t have to lie to me.”
I looked away again as beads of sweat formed on my forehead. “I don’t know what you mean by that.”
Sadie spat out a sharp laugh and her face turned red. “Cute and funny.” She calmed herself with a long exhale and licked her lips. “So tell me, what’s it like on the North Star?”
The tone of her voice sounded so insincere. I bit my lip for a moment, then shrugged. “It’s not a place worth talking about.”
Her eyes crisscrossed as she looked me up and down. “Okay then.” She laughed again and leaned into me. Our heads were so close I could see the gleam in her stunning eyes. She peeked at the crowd for a second or two, then looked back at me. “I want you to take me to the ocean, Declan. I don’t get to go there as much as I used to. But while my mother and father entertain our guests, tonight would be a perfect opportunity.”
Right away, I peeked at Evander on the other side of the room. From my view, it appeared as if he was in a heated exchange with Pastor Saros and his towering trustee.
“Who is that tall man over there, standing with your father and Captain Cain?”
Sadie took a quick glance at them. “That’s Commander Vault. He’s the leader of the Holy Army.”
I nodded. “Oh, I see.” I looked back at her and tried my best to reason with her. “Listen, Sadie, Captain Cain gave me specific orders to keep you safe—and out of trouble.”
