“Can I get you something to drink? Something to eat, perhaps?” Baz asked. “I know your journey was a long one.”
I shook my head. “No, I'm fine. But thank you.”
Baz nodded and sat down in the seat next to me and Paige pulled a chair next to him and sat down. They leaned forward and I could feel the weight of their eyes upon me. It was as if they both knew my presence there did not herald good news and they were waiting for – to use a human phrase – the other shoe to drop.
“So what brings you here, my old friend?” Baz asked.
I looked around at the deep forest that ran behind his home. It was dark and foreboding – and yet, charming at the same time. We did not have forests like these on Optorio and I recalled that on my earlier brief visit to this planet that I had been awestruck by the sheer size and depth of it. That feeling had not abated in my time away from this world.
“Well, it's a long story, Baz,” I said, glancing back at Paige. I really didn't want her hearing what I had to say.
As if she could read my expression and didn't want to hear what I had to say any more than I wanted her to hear it, Paige excused herself.
“You know, I have some errands to run,” she said, standing up suddenly. “Need anything at the store, sweetie?”
“No, nothing I can think of,” Baz said, standing up to kiss his lovely wife goodbye. “But thank you.”
They had such a simple life there on Earth – and they seemed very happy. I knew all too well that there was some appeal to a simple life. Especially for a man like Baz who had never taken the whole royalty thing anyway. The life he'd carved out with Paige was more relaxed. There was less pressure and he didn't have to make big, important decisions that affected his people. It was a job he'd never felt qualified for and one he never believed he'd measure up to. His biggest decision anymore was what they were going to have for dinner on any given night, more than likely. And that seemed to suit him. He seemed to have found his peace and happiness.
Yeah, I could certainly see the appeal in that. And for that, I was not only happy for him, but envious of him.
“So what's up?” Baz asked, leaning back in his chair, an inquisitive look on his face. “You seem – tense.”
I hated to bring him into this mess, but it had to be done. I had no allies and no other alternatives. So I took a deep breath and tried to explain it as succinctly as possible, without leaving anything of importance out of my story. And the more I said, the wider his eyes grew. A look of disbelief crossed his face – which was followed by one of anger.
But Baz being Baz, he contained his emotions and he quieted down his anger, putting on an air of thoughtful neutrality once more. Though he'd never admit it, there was more of that regal bearing in him than he ever believed.
“And you believe they're selling these women? As sex slaves?” Baz asked, scratching his chin. “But why? There are plenty of women on Optorio to go around. Prostitutes as well. Why humans?”
“Why not?” I said. “And it's not just humans, Baz. It's women from any number of planets. There's just something exotic and maybe a little taboo about a new species that some men are just – drawn to. And other men, knowing this, are making a very lucrative business out of it.”
Baz sat back in his seat and rubbed the bridge of his nose – a very human gesture I'd never seen him make before. In a way, it was interesting to see him changing the more time he spent on Earth. But it also made me a little sad since the man I knew, my friend, was becoming somebody else. Would I even recognize him when his transformation was complete?
“I can tell by the way you're looking at me that you think this is my fault.” Baz actually seemed a little offended.
I sighed. “It's not your fault, Baz. Not really,” I said. “But in a way, it is. You exposed Optorio to a human woman for the first time. They're so much like us, unlike some other species, and yet so different in ways that our kind find attractive. Humans are a novelty now. And given that our king gave up his throne for a human, now some want to see what the fuss is all about.”
“I didn't give up my throne just for Paige,” he said, sounding defensive. “I never wanted the throne to begin with.”
“I know that, Baz,” I replied, trying to soothe his ruffled feathers. “But many of the others don't. Not that it matters why it's happening, it's just important that you know it is happening. And it's not pretty, Baz. Let me tell you – ”
“Have you been spying on these people?” Baz asked me abruptly.
“Yes, it's the only way I could get the information and evidence I needed.”
“You may have put yourself in danger, Tarkonil,” Baz said, stating the obvious.
“Yes, possibly,” I said softly. “But I can't, in good conscience, let this continue. You're my only hope, Baz. I know you don't want anything to do with the governance of Optorio – you've made that very clear. But as someone who loves a human, I figured you'd be more sympathetic to what's happening and might possibly help me do something about it. I mean, what if it were Paige?”
Baz was quiet for a few moments as he stared off into space, a horrified look on his face. “No, I agree. It's disgusting and can't continue. I just don't know what you want me to do about it, Tarkonil. I have no power on Optorio anymore. No influence.”
“Come back, Baz.” I said. “Take the throne back and punish those who are doing this.”
I knew it was asking a lot. Possibly way too much. But I didn't have very many options. Baz was my only hope. He very well may have been Optorio's only hope.
“Absolutely not,” Baz said, standing up and pacing the room. “I'm not going back there. Paige and I are married now, Tarkonil. We're in the process of adopting a child – I can't leave now. And I can't take the throne back. I have no desire to be king. None whatsoever. That's why I left Optorio to begin with.”
“I know that better than anybody. But your people need you, Baz,” I begged. “And not just your people, but Paige's people as well.”
Baz threw his hands up in the air. “Listen, I want to help you. I really do. But there is nothing I can do. Like I said, I have no power and no influence on Optorio, Tarkonil. And I can't just come storming back in to retake the throne. I abdicated. I have no authority there. You have my full support and if there's anything I can do to help, I'll absolutely do it. But I'm not going back there. Not tomorrow, not the next day – never again. Earth is my home. I belong by Paige's side.”
My heart sank. I could see it on his face, there was no talking him into it. I knew the chance of success had been small to begin with, but he'd crushed that out very effectively.
“Very well.” I felt defeated, as if someone had gut punched me. Baz had been my only hope and without him, I was alone. “I guess there's nothing left to say. I'll be going now, I have a lot of work to do. Please give Paige my best.”
Baz grabbed me by the shoulders as I walked out the door. He held me there, staring me in the eyes. I could tell he wanted to do something – anything – to help, but he felt like his hands were tied.
“Tarkonil, be careful. Please. If you ever need somewhere safe to go, you're always welcome here. We can find you somewhere here on Earth – ”
“No, I'm not leaving those people up there like that. I have work to do, Baz.”
I pulled away from his grasp and walked out the door, not so much as looking back.
Chapter Three
Riley
The guards hadn't come back for some time, but when they did, they carried in more women – human women – and dropped them off in the cell across from us. We did our thing and pretended to still be asleep. But as the guards walked away, I heard them chuckling and knew that our time was running out.
With my eyes still closed, I heard the electronic beep that announced the arrival of our guards. I kept my eyes shut and listened to their footsteps as they walked among us. Anger surged within me and I had the irrational idea of standing up and leading a revolt against them. But I kne
w that I would be the only member of that revolt.
“That one will do,” a gruff voice said. “Giboc likes the blonde humans the most, he'll pay top dollar for her.”
“But she looks like she's still out cold from whatever the hunters did to her,” another voice said. “Either that or she's dead.”
There was a pregnant pause before some shuffling around. Finally, a voice said. “Check to make sure she's alive. She's been here for four days now, so there is no way she's still out from that. She's either dead or faking it.”
My heart sunk. Blonde? Been here for four days? They didn't mean...
Shrill screams echoed throughout our chamber, and without realizing I was doing it, I opened my eyes. They had Nicole by her hair and were pulling her into a standing position.
“She's alive, sir,” the guard said. “See? They're faking it. They're all faking it and we need to be more diligent. Want me to punish her?”
“No, she can't have any marks on her flesh,” he said. “It's fine. We already have a buyer who's interested in her now anyway. He's willing to pay good money for this one.”
Nicole was sobbing and crying, pleading with them to let her go. I so badly wanted to do something, anything, but I was frozen in fear. There were two of them and one of me. I was a tough girl, but I didn't think I'd be able to stand up to the both of them. I was so helpless, there wasn't anything I could do as they dragged her out of the cell, kicking and screaming the entire way. She was a fighter, that was for sure. But I didn't think her fighting spirit was going to get her out of this mess.
My heart was breaking as I listened to her cries becoming more and more distant until I could no longer hear them. The electronic beep sounded again, letting us know that the forcefield over the doorway to our cell was back up and operational again. When the guards had departed and we were alone again, several other women started freaking out.
As did I.
I thought back to what our captors had said. Buyers? People were actually buying us? I wondered how long it was going to be until a buyer came along asking for a woman like me. Then, it obviously didn't matter what I did or didn't do, I'd be taken away. And what would happen to me after that? What would happen to all of us?
I couldn't turn my brain off and a million different scenarios ran through my head and I imagined all of the different ways we were being used by these people. My eyes filled with tears as I curled up in a fetal position against the wall, trying to hide myself away. I just wanted this to end, even if that meant I didn't survive it. I just wanted it to end, one way or the other. I didn't want to know what these creeps were using us for after buying us. I had a feeling I'd much rather be dead than be owned by someone.
The girl nearby me – the one who seemed so very young – started screaming. She jumped up and was headed for the doorway – and the forcefield covering it, screaming and freaking out. If she hit that energy field, she was going to get fried. There was no chance of her getting through the field and she was doing nothing but drawing attention to herself – and us.
I jumped up and grabbed her, riding her to the side an pinned her against the wall to the side of the energy field.
“Please,” I begged her. “Please stop.”
She didn't listen to me. Hell, maybe she didn't even hear me because she continued screaming like she'd lost her damn mind. I slapped her across the face. Not hard – just a little something to get her attention on me.
“Just let me go! I have nothing, let me go!” she wailed.
I pulled her away from the wall, holding her tiny, fragile figure in my arms. “What's your name?” I asked her, trying to distract her from her panic attack.
“Melissa,” she said through choking sobs.
“Melissa, my name is Riley. And I'm scared too. But listen, you're just calling attention to all of us – not just yourself. And you don't want the attention of these creeps. Believe me. Did you see them take Nicole away? That could be us if you're not careful. Think about your family and stay strong.”
“I have no family,” she cried out. “No one is going to miss me.”
A chill went down my spine. Her story sounded all too familiar to me. “No family? Why's that, Melissa?”
“I ran away from home when I was fifteen. My mom died, my dad was an abusive drunk. I've been on my own ever since.”
I also didn't have a family and I began to wonder – was that the common link here? Were we all women with no one who would be looking for us if we disappeared? No one who'd miss us? As soon as I calmed Melissa down, I went around the cell.
“Anya. Family lives in Russia, we hardly speak since I moved to the US.”
“Tasha. Raised by a single mom who died last year. No siblings.”
“Chloe. Family disowned me when I came out as a lesbian. Been on my own ever since.”
And it went on and on. Women from all over the world – some didn't speak English so I couldn't get their story, but there was enough of us that did. And as I rolled it all around in my mind, the pieces started to fall into place and the entire picture started to come together in my mind.
The one thing that tied us together and made them choose us?
We were all women who wouldn't be missed.
Chapter Four
Tarkonil
As I flew back to Optorio, I racked my brain for any and all of my contacts – people who could help me. One man came to mind, a diplomat and old family friend. It had been several years since we'd last spoken, but we'd parted on good terms. He'd been friends with my father and I thought if anyone could help us – or would be willing to help us – it might very well be him.
Upon landing, I secured my ship and decided that there was no time like the present. Though I was tired and wanted to rest after such a long trip, it was the first place I went. When I arrived after a short walk, I knocked upon the door, prepared to greet my friend. But instead, someone else came to the door – his son, Jendrish.
“Yes?” he asked, his expression was one of confusion and I felt like I was back at Baz's place all over again.
“Greetings,” I said. “My name is Tarkonil. I'm a friend of your father's. Is he home?”
Jendrish and I looked like we were around the same age, though if I remembered correctly, he was actually slightly younger. He was also a former member of the Royal Guard and an avid supporter of Baz's before he'd abdicated the throne. With the Royal Guard having been disbanded in the wake of no longer having a royal family, I had no idea what he was up to. But it couldn't hurt to ask, if the conversation ever came up.
“Oh, I'm sorry,” Jendrish said. “Did you not hear the news? Dad's currently ill. And to be honest, the doctors don't expect him to make it very much longer at all,” he said. “But I remember you, Regent Tarkonil. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I'm very sorry to hear that, Jendrish,” I said with all sincerity.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
After a long, awkward moment between us, Jendrish invited me inside. Only, I wasn't sure how to approach the subject with him. I didn't really know him. I knew where he stood regarding Baz – he'd been on the “right” side of things. And knowing his father, I also knew there was no way they'd be involved with such things.
The house was just as I remembered it to be – beautiful, tastefully decorated, but there was obvious money in the family. Though their home was not ostentatious, nor did they seek to rub your nose in the fact that they were well off. Jendrish lived a lavish life thanks to his father's career, and later his own. And in many ways, he reminded me of his father. Albeit, a much younger version.
Jendrish was tall, with a strong build. His bluish black hair tumbled down to his shoulders. Whenever I saw him, his hair was usually pulled back. But he was at home today and appeared to be relaxed. I suppressed a smile. In all the time I'd seen him over the years, I realized that this was the first time I had actually seen him at home, relaxed and casual.
“Would you care for som
ething to drink, sir?” he asked me as he sat me down in a formal sitting room with carved furniture built into the house itself. All of it was very white, pristine and perfect.
“No, but thank you,” I said, sitting across from him in a chair large enough for two more of me to share. “I appreciate your willingness to speak with me. I honestly don't know where to start – ”
“How about the beginning?” Jendrish asked with a laugh. “I'm taking over much of dad's work these days and I'm pretty up to speed on most things. But, if for some reason, I don't have the answer for you, I can get it.”
“What I'm about to talk to you about isn't something you can mention to anyone within the government – or to anybody else for that matter. Is that perfectly clear? It's for your ears only,” I said, trying to read his face to decide if I could trust him or not. “I trust your father, and I know you're a good man, so I'm going to trust you too, Jendrish, but I swear to you, if this gets out, my life – and the lives of others – will be forfeit.”
He raised an eyebrow, his interest obviously piqued. “Go on, Regent Tarkonil. You have my word that this stays between us.”
I decided to test the waters a little first, asking if he'd heard rumors about strange shipments coming in from offworld. He said he had not. I'd watched his expressions closely, looking for any sign of deception or anything that was a red flag that he couldn't be trusted. I saw nothing.
Like his father, I believed I could trust Jendrish.
I took a deep breath and laid out the entire story for him. When he asked what was in these shipments, I told him straight forward that I suspected they were humans from Earth and some of the planets surrounding Optorio.
“What would they want them for?” he asked.
“Well, I suspect they're selling them into sex slavery from the looks of it.”
Fawks (Dragons of Kratak Book 4) Page 33
