by Amy Richie
“It's so beautiful,” Mattie whispered with tears streaming down her puffy face.
“Yeah,” the man seconded.
A calmness I had never felt before in my entire life began to creep into my body and took over everything else. I couldn't even remember why I was so upset just minutes before. The only thing that really mattered was the song.
All around me, people began sitting down on the floor – their eyes glazed over and their mouths slightly open. Several of the men were smiling and swaying in time to the music. The man who had just been ready to throw us to the wolves wrapped his arm around Mattie's waist and pulled her tight to his side. She laid her head on his shoulder and sighed happily.
“She's a really good singer,” I mumbled. “What do you think the song means?”
No one answered me.
I felt sleepy, like all I wanted was to curl up on the floor and sleep for a hundred years. Weren't we trying to get somewhere? Why would we want to do that though? If there had once been an angry crowd of people all around us, they were gone now. Some were sleeping, others had left to find their own quiet corners. The only one left with us now was the man who was still holding Mattie while she slept on his shoulder. Sleep sounded like a wonderful idea, my eyes were too heavy to keep going.
“Well,” came Bonnie's voice from far far away, “what do we do now?”
Chapter Twenty Four
It took a while. Even after Bonnie stopped singing, it took a while to gather my senses. “You,” I grabbed the one person who was left with us by the shoulder so he was forced to look at me, “you are going to help us now.”
“I'll help you,” he conceded, his eyes blank. “What do you need?”
“What's your name?” I asked as we moved as a group towards the blue door.
“Ralph,” he replied obediently.
“Ralph, will this door take us outside?”
“Yeah,” he nodded meekly, staying behind the three of us.
“Perfect,” I muttered back.
Sand was all I could see when the door was finally opened. Maybe all the buildings on this planet were underground. I turned to ask Bonnie if the palace was, but she was already talking to Ralph.
“We need to find a car,” she was explaining to the slow moving man.
“A Rove,” I clarified. “That's what Leo called them.”
As soon as the words were out, he was slinking away. “Here's one,” he called out excitedly moments later.
Relief flooding through me, I let out a tense breath. I was worried that there would be no Roves here, why would there be? If this planet was anything like Hurdesh, the people didn't use them like earth people used cars. Roves were used for travel between planets. Whatever the reason for it being there, I was glad to see the dark blue machine.
“Can you make it take us to the Palace?” I asked, tense and waiting.
Wordlessly, Ralph nodded.
“Why are we going to the Palace?” Mattie asked, her forehead wrinkling between her eyes. “Isn't that where you were before? It doesn't sound like a safe place to me.”
“We need to go to the Palace and talk to the Queen,” I explained forcefully. “I think she's the only one who will be able to help us.” Besides, the Guardians would be at the Palace. Even if they were searching for us, the Palace would be their base. It was the only place that we all had in common. Of course, returning there was the only thing that made sense.
“Ah well,” Mattie sighed. “Anything will be better than this place.” Moaning softly, she tilted her neck back to look at the sky. “There's a...” she pointed to the sky where Tontine hoovered, “there's a planet. An entire planet.” She looked back at me, her mouth opened almost comically. “Do you see it?”
I could feel my heartbeat echoing inside my ears, begging me to return home – to Tontine. Above me, it glowed a soft orange color like the sunset back on earth. That same strange call I had heard when I first saw it returned now, but it wasn't time. Not yet. First, I had to be sure Bonnie and Mattie were safe.
I slid into the Rove beside Mattie, Bonnie sat across from us. The three of us would have never fit inside the white Rove that brought me here, but this one was a little roomier.
“Now what should I do?” Ralph asked, his head looming above us from the open door.
“How do we get this thing to move?” Mattie asked, glancing at the panel of buttons that might as well been written in a different language for all the sense they made.
“When the door latches closed, it will go on its own,” he explained dully.
“And this closes them?” I pointed at a white button on the panel.
Ralph nodded.
“You can go now,” I told him. “Go back home and don't tell anyone where we've gone.” I pushed the button and the door slid closed on his slack face. As promised, the Rove purred instantly to life.
“That was incredible,” I uttered in awe, staring hard at Bonnie.
She shrugged. “I'm just glad we got out of there alive.”
Frowning slightly, she sat back against her seat and turned her face to the window.
She had just saved our lives, I couldn't understand why she looked so upset. Then again, I always felt bad when I used compulsion on people. Maybe it was the same sort of thing for Bonnie.
“I feel like I haven't slept in so long,” Mattie yawned widely. Her head drifted heavily to one side until it made contact with the wall of the Rove. Her eyes fluttered closed and her breathing deepened.
I knew exactly how Mattie felt. My own eyes felt itchy and were burning with the need to close. Unable to resist, I let my head fall back against my seat. I didn't sleep, but my eyes closed on their own accord.
Someone in the Zar galaxy wanted us dead, that much was painfully clear. I didn't know enough yet to figure out who that person was or how much power they had, but things were looking serious.
They had managed to take us from the Palace when we were babies, gotten us to earth, and put a curse on us to make it impossible for anyone to rescue us. That alone was power.
Then there was this kidnap attempt. That man was sitting in the Rove with me when Leo looked in; and Leo didn't see him. He was invisible. We were lucky to have gotten away.
Whatever happened from here on out, one thing became clear to me as I sat in that Rove on the way to Hurdesh. I was never going to return to earth. This was my home now and I was a Princess of Tontine. I was going to do all I could to protect my home and my sisters.
I took a small breath and let it out in a sigh.
“I've been on Kluff for a few days now,” Bonnie spoke from the silence. “Days.”
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
“I didn't even know they were there,” she groaned. “Right under my nose, there's an entire underground...” She fished around for a proper name to give the group that had held us captive.
Wriggling myself upright, on the seat, I forced my eyes open wider. “Like you said,” I told her heavily, “you didn't know.”
“What else do we not know?”
I didn't know what to tell her, there were no easy words of comfort. Instead, I changed the subject. “I wonder if she believes us now,” I jerked my thumb towards Mattie.
“She doesn't have much choice now,” Bonnie said sadly.
“None of us do.”
“There's four more of us,” she observed.
“Yeah,” I sighed again. Even now, Kris was out gathering unsuspecting nineteen year old girls from earth and forcing them into their roles on the Zar Galaxy. Being a Princess wasn't exactly what I imagined it to be.
The Rove lurched slightly and began to slow down; we would be landing soon.
“What's going on?” Mattie stuttered, jerking back awake.
“We're almost back to the Palace,” I assured her.
I ran my hand down the length of my face, pausing to rub roughly at my aching eyes. Too much had happened, enough to change me forever.
“You ok?” Bonnie asked.
“It's been a long day.”
Chapter Twenty Five
Something large and sharp dislodged from my throat the moment the Rove touched down on the ground. For the first time in many hours, I was able to take a full breath. “We're here,” I unnecessarily announced.
“Are you sure this is safe?” Mattie whispered, terror plain on her young face.
With her forced bravery on Kluff, I hadn't noticed before how young she looked. Nineteen, just like me and Bonnie. “I'm sure,” I assured her softly.
The door of the Rove swung open with an audible click. Standing there like a beacon of hope was the Palace, just as it had been the last time I saw it.
“It's quiet,” I observed, automatically dropping my voice.
“Where is everyone?” Bonnie stepped out beside me and glanced around us at the empty entryway to the Palace.
“This is the Palace,” Mattie added, her voice low like mine, “you'd think there'd be a bunch of people running around.”
“I'm glad to see you are all safe,” a soft voice called out.
A voice I recognized.
Whirling around, I came face to face with the Queen. She stood on the top step, as grand and reserved as always. “Your...” How exactly did the people here address the Queen? Your majesty seemed so old fashioned, bringing to mind a wrinkly old man sitting on a throne.
“You may call me Lady Anne.” Just like before, she answered my unasked question. “I'm relieved to see you three.”
“We were...”
“We'll talk inside the Palace,” she cut me off.
Falling into a single file line, we followed the Queen back into the Palace. “This place,” Mattie whistled low behind me.
I knew exactly what she meant. The Palace was huge and it was beautiful. For someone like me, who was shifted from one foster home to another, this was like a dream. I wondered vaguely where Mattie had grown up, what kind of life she was ripped out of.
“We'll wait in here,” Lady Anne announced, ushering us into the dining room.
My mouth fell open at the sight waiting for us; the long table was filled with dishes of colorful food. Were we seriously going to sit down to a formal dinner after everything that had happened?
My stomach was still clenched with a mixture of anxiety over being kidnapped and threatened with death and excitement at escaping relatively unharmed. No way was food going to stay in there with all that swirling around.
Of course, I recalled with a grimace, the Queen liked to eat. This was supposed to make us feel relaxed and calm. Funny, it wasn't working this time around.
Bonnie caught my eye and raised both eyebrows in my direction. Her thoughts were conveyed plainly with out any words. Lady Anne didn't need words though.
“We'll have a bite to eat while we wait for the Guardians,” she said softly. “You aren't required to eat anything.”
I slid into one of the offered chairs, not feeling the least bit hungry. I wasn't even sure when the last time I had eaten was. How long were we trapped on Fluff? How many days had passed since Kris took me away from my friends back on earth?
I shifted on my seat, uncomfortable. All I really wanted at the moment was a soft pillow and a bed that I could stretch out on.
And to feel safe.
“Are any of you hurt?” Lady Anne asked, folding her hands on the table in front of her.
“They didn't hurt us,” I assured her when Bonnie and Mattie didn't seem like they wanted to talk.
Bonnie had her fork in one hand but she wasn't moving it to her lips. Like me, Mattie hadn't touched hers at all. She sat stiffly in her chair, not looking at anyone or anything except her plate.
“As I'm sure you are aware by now, the seven Princesses of the Zar Galaxy are being hunted,” Lady Anne announced baldly.
“Hunted?” Bonnie repeated, her head snapping up to look at Lady Anne.
“Yes,” she replied seriously. Her eyes moved between the three of us before coming to rest on me. “You've been hunted before, Kalliope.”
I clamped my lips shut. Was she talking about the police?
“The men hunting you girls now will not stop until you are dead.”
My eyebrows shot low on my forehead; those were serious words to say. Why was she speaking directly to me – what could I do?
Uneasy, I shifted my eyes away from the Queen and whatever she was asking me to do. Next to me, Bonnie had gone pale and silent.
“I just want to go home,” Mattie whimpered, her voice breaking with raw emotion. “My dad needs my help,” she went on. “We have a lot of work to do this week.”
Sympathy welled up in my chest; I understood what she was feeling. My friends needed me too – we were just taken from our lives and thrown into this nightmare.
Lady Anne took a sip from her glass before speaking. “There will be no returning to earth.”
“So we just have to stay here and be killed?” Mattie sniffed.
“You'll be protected.”
“How?”
“The Guardians.”
“They aren't even here,” Mattie glanced around pointedly.
“They will be arriving soon,” she assured us. “They've already been notified. Then they will return you to your planets.”
“But...” Bonnie started to say something and then immediately stopped when we all turned to her.
“What is it Bonnie?” Lady Anne asked kindly, her gaze boring into my red haired sister.
“Will my planet be safe?” she squeaked, swallowing hard.
Lady Anne took a deep breath, causing her nostrils to flare. “I wish I could comfort you completely,” she said on her sigh.
“They're on my planet,” Bonnie cried. “The bad guys are on Kluff.”
“They aren't only on Kluff,” Lady Anne assured her without a smile. “The evil has spread to every planet on the Zar Galaxy.”
“Shouldn't we all stay together?' Mattie piped in. “Wouldn't that be safer?”
Lady Anne shook her head gravely. “You have a responsibility on your own planet.”
“Yeah, but...”
“You all must be very careful going forward.” She looked at each of us in turn. “Learn everything you can on your respective planets and do your very best to keep your people safe.”
I glanced at Bonnie, who was looking just as serious as I felt.
Chapter Twenty -Six
My mouth opened, words sitting directly on the tip of my tongue. Closing my lips again, I swallowed my questions.
Go to your planet, do your best not to get everyone killed.
That was the plan, even if it wasn't a very good one. Tension was high in the small room we had been ushered into for the sole purpose of waiting.
It was impossible to know Lady Anne's thoughts by just looking at her. Poised as if she were made of soft stone, she sat in a chair with her chin held high and her back very straight.
There wasn't even the comfort of a ticking clock to irritate us. Every so often, someone would huff out a sigh - which was probably me - but no words were spoken.
After what seemed like hours, there was a sharp knock on the closed door. I jumped at the sound and turned expectantly.
No matter who was there, I didn't really care. I hated waiting, at least something was finally happening. Hopefully it was the good guys coming to get us this time.
I sucked in a quick breath and let it out just as quickly.
Leo walked in first, followed closely by two men I had never seen before. I could only assume they were Bonnie and Mattie's guardians.
Leo's eyes immediately came to rest on me. His harsh glare was exactly how I remembered it; maybe there were worse things than waiting. I cringed lower in my seat, momentarily forgetting that it wasn't my fault I was kidnapped and locked in a room.
"The guardians are here," Lady Anne unnecessarily announced.
Tearing my eyes from Leo, I looked instead to her. Maybe she was going to stay something really important. She was t
he Queen, after all. Keeping true to form, Lady Anne merely folded her hands together and set them on her lap. Didn't she get excited about anything?
Eyebrows furrowed into one angry line, Leo came to stand in front of me. "Tell me what happened," he ordered harshly.
My mouth fell open and then closed again. I glanced to my left where Bonnie sat, looking terrified. Her own angry man was towering over her. "Um..." I ran my tongue across my dry lips.
"You can hear the story later," Lady Anne frowned. It was odd to see a negative response from her. She was usually so calm and poised.
"Of course." Leo jerked forward in a cursory bow. No matter what he wanted to ask me, he remained silent.
"I'll take my leave now," she rose fluidly from her seat and seemed to float across the room.
Lady Anne turned at the door to face the room at large. "I wish you all good fortune," she said softly, inclining her head.
"We obey you, Queen," the three Guardians replied in unison.
Bonnie and I looked at each other, shock evident on both our faces. This place was so weird, I concluded as the door clicked shut behind the Queen.
"We'll be leaving for Tontine," Leo informed me jerkily, not meeting my eyes.
"Soon?"
"Almost immediately."
I nodded.
"We'll also be leaving," the man beside Mattie declared. "You'll be safest on Hixley."
"Hixley?" She echoed. "Is that like...a planet?"
"Yes," he answered curtly.
"I'm staying with Kalli," Mattie declared, folding her arms tightly over her chest.
"That's not possible," Leo contradicted.
"If I'm not allowed to go back home - I'm staying with her." She nudged me with one shoulder.
"You will be returning home," her Guardian replied, frowning deeply. "You're expected there."
Leo didn't say anything else - he didn't need to. His glare said it all.
Mattie cowered low in her seat, the color in her cheeks fading away.
Trying my best to give a look of sympathy rather than a grimace, I leaned forward in my seat. "I'm sure we'll be able to visit once things are settled."
"That's highly unlikely," Leo barked.
