by Lara LaRue
“What point?” I asked as I gritted my teeth. The wind stirred and caused the sand to gently lift from the desert floor as it swirled around us.
“If you go back, there is no guarantee they will even release Brom. You could wind up signing a death sentence for him, for her, and yourself,” Gideon said.
He was right. I could not, under any circumstance, guarantee what would happen when I got back, except Keira would be taken away and I would still be accosted.
I slowed the hovercraft, a million thoughts coursing through my mind. I couldn’t stay in the cave forever, nor could I go back home. My father, even as the Supreme Ruler of Jupiter, and I, his heir, would be powerless to stop any action deemed necessary by the Tribunal, the tripartite membership that determined the fate of the guilty brought before it. Any action he wrought against their decision would compromise the very foundations of the legal system generations before had instituted. There was no scenario where I didn’t qualify as being guilty.
“I may have a solution,” Gideon suggested after my prolonged silence. His cruiser was bobbing next to mine, and he waited for me to acknowledge what he had said before he continued.
“What would that be?” I asked and heaved an exasperated sigh. I was tired, bone-deep tired, and there was no rest lingering on the horizon.
“Like I told you before, I have family near here. I could take her to them so at least she could be safe. I don’t think Lord Magnus will allow his only son to be disintegrated for one indiscretion. They won’t even be able to prove what they are accusing you of unless you show up with the evidence,” he said as he pleaded with me. One would assume, just by listening, that it was his neck on the line.
“What he says is true,” she said from behind me as she leaned sideways to get a look at my face. “If I go back, that’s it. They will take me to God knows where, so short of killing me yourself, I agree with him.”
I had to admit the feasibility of Gideon’s suggestion. No one knew for certain what she was doing at my house or what she meant to me. Except my father. He had been able to detect it from the very beginning. I had gone to see him for breakfast the morning after I bought her, and he had been able to tell I had imprinted and had demanded to meet the woman. I was able to sidestep his request, but how would I be able to look at him now and deny her importance to me? Still, I couldn’t very well turn up with her; I would lose her.
“Take me to your family,” I said to him and watched as he nodded and turned his hovercraft around.
We passed the cave that had acted as our temporary home and continued in a westerly direction until we were able to see the small community Gideon mentioned. It was a few miles south of Castor, one of the five major cities on Jupiter, and would not be a place they might think to look. I hoped. I couldn’t deny the level of anxiety I was feeling; it was something completely unfamiliar to me. And I still had not found a permanent solution. I had a pretty good idea what the scene would resemble when I walked into Anon, and I was not prepared for it. This would be the first time I was caught on the erring side of the law.
“This is it,” Gideon said as we dipped and flew past the cluster of houses. They were different from the ones in Anon, and instead of the glass and metal that dominated my home, this community was predominantly hard plastic. This type of material was best suited to the heat and cold that was associated with living in the desert.
Gideon stopped at a door on a cluster of attached homes, the only thing making it distinguishable from the other doors being a circular insignia molded into the plastic. The other doors I could see had different shapes and symbols representing the different families. He hopped off and pounded on the door a few times, while we waited for someone to answer.
I felt Keira’s hands tighten around me, and I could feel the fear emanating from her, with my body acting like a conductor for it. But instead of passing through me, it remained inside, and my body made her fear its own. I absorbed her trepidation, and like magic, I felt her breathing subdue like a calm had come over her.
The effects of imprinting were new to me, and I had no idea what it did to a person. I knew I had to protect her, but some of the other things came on suddenly and strangely, and I could never tell what would happen next. Except it would be something that drove my behavior and controlled my emotions. I would do anything for her, could only do anything for her, for my heart and my mind would allow nothing else. She consumed me, and like fire burning through me, charring everything in its wake, it devoured me.
My hand moved involuntarily and touched her hand that was still wrapped around my middle. I felt her fingers twitch, then lock around mine, and I warmed on the inside as I embraced this feeling that was so novel to me. Having her close gave me some level of strength, some sort of masculine prowess I hoped would last for the time I needed it. I reluctantly untangled her fingers from my own and jumped from the hovercraft before helping her down. She stood next to me as we waited for someone to answer Gideon’s knocking.
The door opened, and a woman stood in the entrance.
“Mother,” Gideon said and then pulled her into an embrace. She returned the act, her eyes riveted on us even as she did.
“Son, what are you doing here?” she asked as she pulled away.
“I need your help,” he told her and then looked back at us. “Would you mind if we came inside?”
“Sure, sure,” she said as she stood aside.
The woman remained at the door as we passed, her eyes mainly on Keira. She closed it after Gideon, and we stood, like children, as we waited for the verdict. She would, after all, need to give her permission.
“What’s the matter?” she asked as she indicated the blue-green cushioned slats used for seating in the center of the room.
The home was a colorful one, not like the white interior of mine. The walls were a soft shade of yellow and gave the room a welcomed level of warmth and hospitality. It was a handsome place, and I wondered then if all the other homes were this aesthetic.
“This is Sekkol—” Gideon started.
“I know who he is,” she said, stopping Gideon. “I recognized him the minute I saw him. You’ve been doing a good job with those vagrants who keep trying to defile the system.”
“Thank you,” I replied, even though I wasn’t sure if I deserved her praise at the moment.
“My son has the greatest amount of respect for you.” She beamed. “Can I get you anything to drink?” she asked without missing a beat.
“That won’t be necessary,” I told her. “I have to leave soon.”
“But you just got here,” she said. I got the impression she didn’t have company often and was grateful for the little she was getting now.
“Mother, I have a favor to ask of you.” Gideon intervened. “This is Keira, and she belongs to Sekkol.”
“She is lovely,” the woman said, like what Gideon said had not registered. She smiled at Keira, who smiled back and already seemed at home.
“She is, but that’s the problem. Sekkol has imprinted on her, and according to the laws…”
“That’s not allowed,” she finished softly as she finally understood. Her eyes bulged, and her hand went to her mouth in shock.
“Exactly,” Gideon said. “But she can’t go back to Anon with him, or they will sell her… or worse.”
“I don’t mean to inconvenience you, my lady,” I added, feeling the need to explain the circumstances, rather than fully leaning on Gideon. “I need a place for her to stay until this can be resolved. Gideon mentioned you might be able to keep her here until such a time presents itself.”
“Why, of course.” The woman beamed and rubbed her hands together with glee. Her black eyes twinkled, and her bluish face glowed. “I mean no disrespect, Master Sekkol, but I always thought that was a stupid law anyway; one does not have control over who they imprint on. I wonder if things may be different now that it has happened to you.”
And by that, she implied they might change the laws b
ecause of my station on Jupiter. I was not inclined to believe so at the moment. For years, it had made sense to me, perhaps because I didn’t know it was possible for different species to imprint on each other.
“Thank you for your generosity,” I said to her and turned to leave. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to get back now.”
Gideon nodded at his mother and then followed me to the door.
I looked back at Keira as she stood there watching us, and before I could even think about it, she rushed across the room and flung her arms around my neck. I was taken aback at first, and then my arms wrapped around her. I could feel her heart beating rapidly against my chest, and all I could think about was keeping her safe, right there in this embrace. My mind returned to the moment in the cave when we had last made love, and right then, my body started to respond as my member began twitching. My fingers dug into her through the thin fabric, and I felt her breath warming my neck.
I looked behind her now and saw Gideon’s mother watching us too intently, and then I remembered where I was. I slowly released my hold on her, but then her lips came upward and gently brushed against my cheek. My skin burned with need at the spot, and I knew I had to get away or I would take her right there.
“Be careful,” she whispered so low only I could hear.
I brushed her hair back, nodded, and then followed after Gideon. When I looked back, Keira was just standing there with a frightened look on her face. I wanted to take her with me, but I knew, under the present circumstances, I would only be making things harder for us. She would be safer here. And I kept telling that to myself all the way back to Anon.
I still had no idea how to get Brom free without replacing him, but even if I did, the greater problem still remained. How would I finally be able to be with her the way my soul pressed for it?
The thought rested on my mind as heavy as lead and plagued me all the way back home, even as I entered the city gates and saw the smile that slowly broke on the commander’s lips.
Chapter 18 / Keira
I stood there staring at his back until he disappeared outside and the door closed after him. I clasped my hands before me, not knowing what to expect or how to feel.
The woman turned to me then, and her eyes swept my body. I felt my skin itching right at my nape, where they had injected the microchip when I was first brought to Jupiter. It was apparently a language translator and had allowed me to communicate with the people here. I rubbed the spot and then twitched when I felt the area begin to burn. I instantly moved my hand away, fearing I might dislocate it and lose my ability to speak with Sekkol or anyone else.
“Maybe we should get you cleaned up,” the woman said.
I could not deny that invitation. I too clearly remembered the way the cruel commander had held me right before Sekkol had rescued me, and then having slept overnight in a cave had me feeling filthier than ever before.
“That would be nice,” I said and smiled at her. “I’m Keira, by the way,” I said and extended my hand to her. She looked at it like she had no idea what to do with it.
“Geneva,” she said as she eventually copied me.
Her hand felt extra warm, and I could easily understand that, based on the location of her home. She was strangely beautiful, too, with an upright posture, her head held high, and her black and silver hair flowing down her back.
“Come with me,” she instructed, and she led me to another area of the house.
It seemed a lot bigger than it did on the outside, and as I followed her, I took notice of the bright colors that made up the space. There was seating in the room, a bluish-green set of cushions, and as I passed, I touched it and realized it was a lot softer than it appeared. My eyes wandered around the room, taking in the walls painted blue, the yellow accessories strategically placed, the large painting of what appeared to be a sunflower on the accent wall, and the glass-encased shower stall. This was nothing like Sekkol’s home, which was predominantly white and voice activated. This seemed homier.
The woman led me to the shower, and I stepped in. As soon as I did, the water powered on, frightening me, and I jumped. I looked around and saw no buttons and assumed it was sensor based. Typical. I closed my eyes and allowed the water to rid me of the evidence of my night in the cave.
“Do you need help?” Geneva asked from the other side of the glass.
I paused then and wiped the water from my face. I hadn’t realized until then that she was still there. “No, that’s fine. Thanks,” I replied.
“Are you sure?” she asked, like it was odd for a woman, or anyone for that matter, to shower herself. I still wasn’t familiar with all of Jupiter’s customs, and I was beginning to see it wasn’t as general as I had first thought.
“All right, then,” she said after I assured her I was fine.
I listened until I heard a clicking sound, and I peeked out and saw she had left the room.
She was a pleasant-looking woman and gave me an idea of what the grandmothers in fairytale stories must look like.
I slid the door shut once more and splashed water onto my face. It was warm and inviting, and with my eyes closed, I was transported to Sekkol’s home and his shower. I could still feel his hands on my skin and his large member as it squeezed into me, and suddenly, my heart began to flutter. I paused and stood there in the shower, allowing the water to work more than my hands, and watched as my chest heaved.
It wasn’t clear to me what would happen to him when he returned or why it felt he had made a sacrifice for me.
I was still lost in thought when I heard voices on the other side of the wall. My eyes flew open, and I tried to listen, but with the water running, it was impossible. I quietly slid the door open and stepped out onto the cool tiles, and as soon as I did, the water automatically powered off.
“I have to get one of these when I go back home,” I said and then started turning around. “Now what to wear?”
Just then, as if she’d read my mind, Geneva entered with a dress draped over her arm. She seemed oblivious to the fact I was naked and came right up to me with the clothing. I looked around and wondered how she’d known I was done, but something in me told me I didn’t want to know. I shuddered as I thought she had been able to see me all along.
“This should be able to fit you,” she said as she held it out to me.
I took it from her and held it up at my front. “It’s lovely. Thank you,” I told her as I immediately slipped into it. The fabric felt light and soft and caressed my skin as I was enveloped in what felt like a cloud.
She stood there looking at me, pleased at her handiwork. “Used to be one of my favorites,” she said and walked off again. “Come with me.”
I followed her back into the room, where I saw the source of the voice I’d heard earlier. It was a man, the spitting image of Gideon, though slightly shorter. His hair was black, too, and braided; the neatly combed black hair fell over his shoulder and stopped at his midsection. His black eyes searched my face, but he remained still as I followed Geneva. My first instinct told me he was probably Gideon’s brother.
“Hmm,” he grunted and then set what appeared to be a blade against the wall. “So you belong to Sekkol?”
“I don’t belong to anyone,” I answered and then sat on the seating. I was still not comfortable with the reference; it felt like I had no say in the matter.
He began to laugh, and his voice echoed in the room. “I heard over in Anon that Sekkol was wanted, but I didn’t realize it was on account of a human,” he said.
“This is not a joke Roan,” the woman said.
“It really isn’t.” Roan agreed. Then he looked back at me.
“I don’t understand.” I confessed. They kept saying I was his like I had no control over it, and worse, that he didn’t either. “Can’t he just go and be with someone else?”
Roan smiled, his two perfect rows of white teeth glistening under the soft, yellow light that filled the room. He got up and walked over to me an
d touched my damp hair, swirling one of the strands around his long index finger. I dipped and let the strand uncurl from his finger. My heartbeat started increasing in intensity, for I was in the home of strangers, on a strange planet, and unsure of what they would likely do.
“You don’t understand, do you?” he asked. “It seems on Earth things are different.”
“Yes,” I said and backed away from him. I smoothed my hair and tucked it behind my ears. “I’ve heard of this imprinting thing, but—”
“Oh, you have, have you?” he asked.
“Roan, leave the girl be.” Geneva intervened. “She has been through enough.”
“She has been through enough?” he asked and then shook the house again with his laughter. “From what I’ve heard, Sekkol is the one going through a lot while she remains safely here.”
“You say that like you care,” Geneva added. “I remember not so long ago, you and Master Sekkol were involved in a battle when you decided it was a good idea to challenge his authority.”
“He was being condescending,” Roan answered. “But I have nothing against him. I’m just saying she isn’t the one paying for what’s happening to him. As a matter of fact, I think she should be right there, too, not hiding here. Is that what the people of Earth do?” He challenged me. “Do you just let others fight your battles for you?”
I had enough. “Fuck off. No one is fighting anything for me!” I shouted at him.
He looked at me strangely after I spoke, but he didn’t seem rattled by my rising temper. “Then what do you call this?” he asked. He seemed to be angry with me for something I was yet to discover.
“I didn’t tell him to go back,” I said. “As a matter of fact, all I wanted was to get off this planet and go back home.”
Roan’s face contorted into a disgusted look, and he stood and took up his weapon once more. I flinched and then shrank before him as he came over to me. My eyes remained on the metal as it dangled before me.
“Maybe he should have sent you back,” he spat. “He may have imprinted on you, but you don’t deserve him.” And then he walked away, leaving me feeling inadequate. He slammed the door, and his mother jumped when the sound bounced off the walls.
