Straniera

by Daniela Jackson

  “Vahan’s house?” I ask.

  “Don’t address him by Vahan.”

  “Arnau—“

  “Arnau is like a son to him. Our master allows him to be like his equal.”

  “So he’s not as much of a monster as you could think of him.”

  Almast grabs her head in both her hands. “He will flog you, you’ll see. Keep your mouth shut, Alyssa.” She drags me back to our house. “Vosgi cooks for our master. Kendy does his laundry. You’ll clean his house from tomorrow.”

  “Is he married?”

  “No.”

  “So who is his bed warmer?” It just pours out of me. “He’s a man and sure as fuck he needs someone…”

  “Dardana and Vosgi from time to time. Now…” she pauses and looks at me. She blinks a few times. “Learn all the rules and obey our master. You’ll have a peaceful life here. A whorehouse owner could have bought you. Whores don’t live too long.”

  “What if I wanted to escape?”

  “The desert and mountains will kill you.” She inhales deeply. “I tried once. My back stung for half a moon cycle from Kohar’s whip.” She pulls the sleeve of her dress up. I see a wide scar on her arm like something has bitten off a piece of the muscle. “Our master was just about time. The punnica wanted to devour my head.”

  I feel dizzy. “Have you been in his bed as well?”

  “A few times. He’s very gentle.” She smiles to her own thoughts. “And very well-endowed.” She strokes my arm. “He’ll ask you like you’re a free woman and you can refuse. Kendy refused. Vosgi and I love him too much to resist him. I wish he asked me again.” She nods several times and sways like she’s dancing. “Who would want to resist such a beautiful man?” Our glances meet as her eyes darken and she blinks a few times. “You… you… Never mind. Behave and obey him.”

  My head starts to throb. She can’t see anything wrong about the way things work here. Yes, she loves Vahan, admires him. But it shouldn’t be like this. That’s barbaric.

  I start to hate Vahan, but I nod at her and then I shuffle straight to my bed.

  The next morning, Kohar wakes me, feeds me and takes me to the marble palace. We enter a kitchen through the back door and the smell of food envelops me—meat, veggies, herbs. I roam my eyes over the interior. A metal fireplace stands in a wide arched niche as ladles and pans adorn the stone walls. Three stoves made of stone and metal stand at the opposite wall. Vosgi is bustling between an enormous kitchen table made of grey wood and cupboards. They’re white and adorned with blue ornamentation. Pictures that resemble Russian icons decorate one of the walls. They represent men with their heads shaved bald and with purple eyes.

  Vosgi stops, wraps her arms around me and kisses my cheek. Warmth fills my chest.

  Kohar hands me a bucket with water scented with vinegar and a piece of cloth. “Clean the hall up.”

  I follow her along a narrow passage and enter a rotunda with an arched ceiling and frescos on the walls. A rosette adorns the floor and a fountain with a square pool stands in the centre.

  I glance down and see a lot of dirt that covers the mosaic under my feet. “He really needs a cleaner.”

  “The house is big,” Kohar says. “and there’s only four of us. Five now.”

  “What does he do for a living?”

  “He makes wine. The people from the village work for him.” She strokes my back. “Clean the hall up.” She walks off.

  I start my shift. Everything is covered in dirt and every surface is sticky to touch. It looks like I’ll spend eternity, cleaning this hall.

  I decide to wipe the fountain first. I dip the cloth into the water as a delicate rustling sound diverts my attention. I look over my shoulder. My eyes travel to a tarantula as big as my head. The creature is walking slowly towards me. A scream of primal fear leaves my mouth as I climb the fountain and fall into the green cold water. My breath stops in my throat. I freeze.

  “What’s wrong with you,” a male voice rumbles, and I see Vahan emerge from behind one of the pillars.

  His eyes flick over the tarantula and he shakes his head like I’m a naughty kid.

  “Vosgi,” he rumbles. “Vosgi, come here.”

  The tarantula stops as Vosgi runs into the hall. A chuckle escapes her mouth as she moves towards the creature, bends and grabs one of its hairy legs.

  I shudder and wince in disgust.

  “It’s harmless,” Vosgi says as the creature swings in her hand.

  Vahan moves to the fountain and grabs my arm, pulling me out. The water from my drenched dress floods the floor, forming a pond around my feet.

  “Get out,” he says.

  I raise my eyes to his. “I—“

  “Go change your clothes,” he says and grits his teeth. “You’ll start from tomorrow.” He shoves me towards the passage leading to the kitchen.

  Chapter 5

  Vahan

  I leave the house and climb on my horse.

  She drives me mad. She’s useless, clumsy, and absolutely stunning. Her tits exposed by the wet fabric of her dress woke an animal inside me. An unstoppable ravenous animal. I want to bite down on her erect nipples and make her cum on my hand then on my cock.

  I gallop towards my vineyards.

  She’s too young. Too fresh. Too innocent.

  I feel old and wasted.

  I yearn for something I can’t name.

  I slow down and immerse myself into the sweetness of the vines growing on the terraces. My slaves and employees greet me as they used to greet my father and before him—my grandfather. And my great grandfather.

  My mother loved the vineyards as much as she loved my father. Death took her very far away from us very soon though. Death must have loved her very much.

  I stop and slide from my horse. Sebas, my administrator, approaches me and we go to try my newest recipe. The basement of my winery greets me with a cold exhale. Sebas opens a bottle and pours wine into a mug. I hold it and take a sip.

  “Good, but could have been better,” I say as the sweet taste of wine burns my throat.

  Sebas laughs. “The best on Zaria, but not the best for you, Lord Vahan.”

  “It needs more herbs.”

  He bows his head. “As you wish.” He pulls back and forth. “Can I speak to you, Lord Vahan?”

  I give him an encouraging nod.

  Sebas huffs out. “It’s about Vosgi. I want to marry her.”

  “You want to marry a slave?”

  “Yes, my Lord.”

  “Does she want to marry you?”

  “Yes, she does. We love each other.” His eyes gleam.

  I know he’s a good man. He can work hard. He’s never hit a woman here.

  “Alright,” I say. “Marry her then. You want to make a free woman out of her as well?”

  He nods several times. “Yes.”

  “She’s all yours then.”

  He threads his fingers through his hair as joy pervades his glance. “Thank you, my Lord.”

  I wave my hand and back up.

  Right. Who am I going to fuck now? I’m bored with Dardana and Vosgi wasn’t a bad lay.

  I can’t forbid her to fall in love though. Sebas has been working for me for four moon cycles. Yes, now I remember—Vosgi refused sleeping with me five lunar triads after he’d arrived at Nassara.

  Love.

  I’ve never allowed myself to love. Or maybe I’ve never met a woman I wanted to love.

  Yearning crushes my heart. I need something. Or someone.

  Alyssa

  I run as my tears blind me. The garden turns into the maze threatening to suffocate me. My wet dress is clinging to my body and my muscles shiver.

  “Alyssa.”

  I stop and turn around. “Arnau.” It comes out in a screech.

  “What happened?” His eyes flick over my breasts visible through the wet fabric of my dress and see lust in his gaze that both scares me and excites me.

  “I…” I gasp then I shoot forward and
cling to him. “I want to go back home. I don’t want to be here. I hate this place and everything here.”

  His body stiffens against mine, and he pushes me away gently, gripping my arms. “I know.”

  Tears stream down my cheeks.

  Arnau wipes the moisture away from my face with his thumb. “Be strong. When I turn twenty-five, Vahan will free me. I’ll marry you and take you to my tribe.”

  I glance at him and drown into the dark passion that is blazing in his gaze. He raises his hand and runs his knuckles down my cheek. He is proud and caring and all the good things in between. Like honesty. Like tenderness. Like courage and straightforwardness.

  My hands travel to his face and I cup it.

  He takes my hand off his face. “I can’t, Alyssa. Go.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “Just go.”

  “I don’t want to go.”

  I want his arms to wrap around me protectively. I want his lips to kiss my fear away from me.

  He leans in and brushes my forehead with his lips. It feels like a butterfly has brushed me with its wings. This gesture burns a memory into my mind.

  “I love you, Straniera. I loved you the moment I saw you for the first time.” I see torment on his face.

  “Kiss me, Arnau.”

  “I can’t. Go.” He turns me round and shoves me forward. “Go right behind the pergola and then turn left. The women’s house is not far from here.”

  I pull forward, but my heart stays with him. I think I’m in love with him. Just like this. It sprouts like life in spring. It’s delicate, fragile. It flutters in my stomach.

  Maybe it’s my way to cope with the things here. Maybe it’s just a mirage. Maybe it’s just being in love despite…

  Maybe I want to rebel. Maybe I just want to feel safe. Maybe…

  I stagger towards the house and Kohar kidnaps me into her embrace. She urges me to change clothes then she feeds me and puts me to bed like I’m a young child.

  Vosgi wakes me and drags me to the kitchen so I can have an evening meal. The atmosphere around the table is kind of electrified. Almast shoots me a mischievous glance as Kendy rolls her eyes.

  “Your gowns have arrived,” Kohar says.

  “What gowns?” I mumble.

  “Our master bought you an enormous chest of gowns,” Vosgi says. “You’ll look like a princess.” She twirls around the table and hums a song. Her hands land on my shoulders. “And I’m getting married soon. I’ll be a free woman.” She kisses the top of my head. “I’m moving out in one lunar cycle.”

  “That’s great,” I say. “I wish you happiness.”

  Vosgi frowns. “Wish me a peaceful death.”

  “What?” My jaw drops.

  The kitchen erupts into laughter.

  A bang makes me shudder. I look over my shoulder and see a woman walk in. Her cold blue eyes slide over me like I’m a disgusting insect. She must belong to the same race as Vahan.

  “Dardana, sit down,” Kohar says.

  “So you’re Dardana,” I say. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Don’t talk to me, you fucking bitch, or I’ll flog you,” Dardana hisses to me. She grabs a piece of bread and starts eating. “Don’t look at me, bitch.”

  I avert my eyes. Graveyard-like silence falls upon us. Almast tilts her head to me and gestures for me to go out of the kitchen. I grab a piece of bread and follow her to my bedroom. Now I see the chest that stands in the corner. It’s black with silver details.

  Almast opens it and takes a gown out of it. The veil-like fabric of it shimmers with pale green.

  “Beautiful,” she says.

  “Take it,” I say. “I don’t need it. I’m a cleaner here.”

  Almast shakes her head. “They belong to you. He’d be mad if you gave it to me. You have to wear them all.”

  “Really? So how am I supposed to mop and polish the floor? With some magic perhaps?”

  Almast smiles at me. “We’re celebrating Kohar’s old age tomorrow. You can wear one of the gowns for the celebration.”

  We go for a short walk then we disperse to our bedrooms.

  I start my shift in the morning and thank God, no tarantula appears in the hall. I don’t see Vahan either. Vosgi calls me when my back is stiff and my hands wrinkled from the water, and we return to our house. We have a bath and Almast helps me with the gown I’ve chosen. It has a blue corset and a draped hem made of tulle. Kohar makes a braid of my hair and then Kendy grabs my hand. She kisses my cheek and pulls me outside the house. I see the fire burning about twenty steps away from the house, four benches, and four tables with food and drinks. About twenty people are either standing and chatting or bringing more food from the kitchen.

  Kohar moves closer to me.

  “I wish you a peaceful death,” I say and feel like I have just committed a crime.

  “I wish you the same, dzie’ta,” Kohar says and throws her arm around my back.

  “Have a peaceful death, woman,” Vahan rumbles behind me and I jump away from Kohar.

  I turn around and watch Kohar kiss Vahan’s unshaven cheek. He is wearing a white shirt adorned with silver thread and black narrow trousers stuffed in knee-high boots.

  Our glances meet and I drop my eyes.

  “Alyssa,” Vahan says.

  I raise my eyes and see incinerating darkness in his. Menace and power radiate from him. He waves his hand to me.

  “Come here,” he says.

  I step forward and he reaches to the pocket of his trousers and takes a pearl necklace out.

  “Closer,” he growls.

  I take another step, my heart thundering, and he turns me, putting the necklace around my neck. It feels cold against my skin.

  His arm crosses over my chest and he draws me closer to him so my back rests against his chest. I feel so tiny compared to him like I’m a bird and he’s a massive bear.

  “As beautiful as a nymphira,” Kohar says, “isn’t she?”

  “Yes,” Vahan says and kisses the top of my head. “There’s something for you too, Kohar.”

  “A poetry book?” she asks.

  “Five poetry books,” Vahan says. “And the curtains to your bedroom.”

  Kohar folds her hands as if praying and squeals like a teenaged girl.

  “And imbrriris tea,” Vahan continues.

  “It’s very expensive,” Kohar says.

  “But you love it, woman,” Vahan says.

  Kohar nods. “I do love it.” She strokes his arm. “I need a spoon. An ornate spoon made of srebris.”

  “Alright,” Vahan says.

  I’m stunned. They’re chatting like two friends.

  Then I look forward. My glance meets Arnau’s and pain squeezes my heart.

  Vahan tightens the embrace around me. “Do you need anything, Alyssa?”

  “No, thank you.”

  He grunts. “It’s rude, Alyssa. I’m polite and you’re rude.”

  I turn my face to his. “But I don’t need anything.”

  “There must be something I can offer you.”

  “Get off me, please,” I say. “I really need this at the moment.”

  His hand travels to the back of my neck and he grips me hard. His head lowers as his hot breath brushes against my ear. My knees bend, and I feel dizzy.

  “Don’t test my patience,” he says in a menacing voice.

  He kisses my cheek as his arms wrap around me even tighter than previously. I feel his breath puffing on my head then he grunts like a contented predator.

  “Do you want more furniture to your bedroom?” he asks.

  “No, thank you.”

  I cringe into myself. I should have told him I needed a desk or a chair.

  “Do you want a larger bedroom?” he questions.

  I turn my face to his. “There are no more bedrooms in the house.”

  “My house has fifteen bedrooms.”

  The hairs on my back rise as my heart stops beating. “It wouldn’t be fair to the other
s.”

  I see fury in his eyes then he nuzzles his nose against my hair. “I decide here what’s fair and what isn’t.”

  “I want some books,” I shriek.

  “What books?”

  “History books. And I want someone to teach me to read in your native language.” I turn in his embrace so we face each other.

  One corner of his lips crooks up. Now I see a pale thin scar that crosses his upper lip.

  “Yasen can teach you,” he says. “You’ll start from the next lunar cycle.”

  He looks like he’s contented.

  “Can you take me for a ride around Nassara one day?” I ask.

  “I can. I can take you to the Scarlet City one day too.”

  My God. I know what to do at last. I have to make him feel happy. If he’s happy, I will have enough freedom to explore the area. Maybe I could even find a way back to my home on Earth. I came here so there must be a way back. Hope washes over my heart then dread replaces it as my eyes meet Vahan’s. I see hunger in his gaze. I see rigidness in his gaze. I see an approaching hurricane in his gaze.

  He takes my wrist and plants a kiss on the inner side of it.

  I raise my other hand and run my fingertips up and down his scarred cheek. The fire in his eyes almost swallows me. He rests his forehead against mine and inhales me and I inhale him—oranges, tobacco, his musk.

  Music starts to play, but I feel like I’m in a glass bubble.

  “Let her dance,” Kohar says. “She’s young. She should dance.”

  Vahan

  Almast grips her arm and tears her away from me. I feel like I’ve lost my heart. It hurts. Hurts so much that I want to grab her and bury her in my arms forever.

  But I let her dance instead.

  She doesn’t know the steps, but can feel the music. I watch her twirl around the fire with Almast and Vosgi and it brings the images of the white Liliasa blossoms falling down the waterfall to my mind.

  Dardana stands beside me. “Do you want me to entertain you tonight?”

  “No,” I say.

  I’m going to get drunk tonight. In my own company.

  Dardana snorts. “Why won’t you just fuck her to satisfy your curiosity? Because this is what it’s all about?”

  “Why won’t you just get out of my face?” I say.

  She bows her head and backs up.