“I’m Shena.” She looks beautiful, delicate. She is dressed in a charcoal black dress that reaches the floor, making her silver hair shine even more as it cascades over her shoulder. The dark dress also accentuates her dark blue skin.
Catalina introduces herself. Shena looks uncomfortable, so Catalina tries to put her at ease. “Would you like a cup of whatever this stuff is?” She holds out the cup and smiles, trying to be friendly and lighten the serious mood.
Shena smiles. Her face transforms from nervous to friendly in a blink of an eye. “No, I don’t like that stuff.”
“Yeah, me either.” Catalina sets the cup down on a nearby table and motions for Shena to have a seat.
With elegance, she lowers herself onto the chair. Sitting with her spine erect, she says, “I just wanted to welcome you.”
“Thanks. I think you are the first one.”
“I am sorry about the others.”
Catalina tries to wave the comment away like it’s no big deal. “It is the same no matter what planet you are from.”
And that is true. There will always be people who shy away from those who are different. These just happen to be blue, and she is the alien on their planet.
“I like your hair. How did you interweave it like that?”
Catalina’s hand flew to the braid that fell across her left shoulder. “Thanks. I can show you how to do it if you would like.”
“Maybe one day.” Shena looks over her right shoulder toward the door before nervously catching Catalina’s eye. It’s obvious to Catalina that she doesn’t want to be caught there. “I just wanted to explain the way things work here.”
“Okay…” Catalina crosses her legs and listens intently. All smiles have vanished.
“Tarra runs things. Not that she is an elected official or anything, but…”
“Yeah, it didn’t take me long to figure that out.”
Shaking her head in agreement, Shena continues. “Everyone listens to her, and I do not know why. She has already spread the word that we are not to engage you in any way.”
Catalina scoffs. “How hospitable of her.”
“She has already got several of them not speaking to me.”
“Why?”
“Because there is this male, Odias.” One side of her mouth tips upward as she stares at the floor. “I like him, and I want to be with only him.” She lifts her eyes, the smile fading. “Tarra does not want anything of the sort. She is afraid that others will follow my lead, and she will lose her power over the males.”
“She doesn’t look like she has that much power over Toran.”
Another smile. “No, she does not. She would settle down if she could have someone in the ruling clan. Someone like Jeat, or his brother, Theon.”
“Ah, I see. She controls the females until she gets what, or who she’s after.”
“Correct. I think she is scared that the two brothers will choose only one female for all time. And when they have offspring together, her hopes of becoming part of the ruling clan will be ruined.”
“There are women, err, females like that on every planet, even Earth.”
Shena licks her lips and glances one more time at the door. “We are allowed to visit the training fields during the day, but that is as far as we can travel topside. They say it is for our protection.”
“Okay. I understand.” Even though Catalina really doesn’t. What do they need protection from?
Shena nervously entwines her fingers, then lets go, only to repeat the move. “I need to leave.” She abruptly stands.
Catalina stands with her. “Thank you for sharing the information.”
With a curt nod, Shena slips out the door, but before it closes completely, Catalina hears Tarra’s harsh voice. “I thought I told you not to—” The door closes with a click.
Seven Moon Cycles Later
Catalina has everything she needs. Plenty of food and a warm bed to sleep in, but she still isn’t happy. She should be—she should feel grateful after everything she’s been through, and in a way, she is. You can be grateful and unhappy at the same time…right?
Most of her unhappiness is due to one female in particular, Tarra. She’s made sure the other females avoid Catalina, and the older females warn the children away, also because of Tarra. Shena, the one person who was nice to her, hasn’t visited again. As nervous as she had been at their first encounter, Catalina knows Shena stays away out of fear.
The few times Catalina has left her rooms, Tarra has called her out. “Oh, are you still here?” she says. “You are not wanted, so why don’t you let Jeat know that you want to leave?”
Tarra makes sure to point out every difference, anything to make her feel inferior. Not that it works. Even if she has no friends, Catalina never feels less of a person.
Her room contains everything she needs to live. A food replicator, a design-o-pad to replicate clothes and other items, and a nice comfortable bed to sleep in. But she is desperately alone. At night, when she lies in her bed, the walls close in, causing her to almost panic. She wants someone to fall in love with, but that dream has shattered.
The younger females sleep with random males while the older females take care of all the children. Catalina dubs the females baby-making machines who shuck off the responsibility of raising their own children. She knows deep down it is their culture, but she also knows how it feels to grow up without your mother or father there. She tries not to judge them or their culture, but she wants no part of it.
Making the decision to change her current situation, Catalina hastily stuffs clothes into a bag. The last items she designs and replicates are a bow and arrow. Spending two years on a farm with the Wilsons had proven to be invaluable. Mr. Wilson insisted that she know how to shoot to defend herself. Not liking guns, Catalina chose a bow as her weapon of choice, and Mr. Wilson made sure she knew everything there is to know about it. Her aim is spot on.
Dressed in a pair of form-fitting black pants, a dark T-shirt, and black boots, Catalina braids her hair and twists it up on top of her head. A few bobby pins later, she places a knit cap over her braided bun.
With enough food to last for several days, along with some items to start a fire, she takes one last look around and heads out. If Catalina is destined to live a life on Curaz, she will do it above ground, living in the great outdoors where the sunshine kisses her skin every morning. Where the untamed waterfalls, the ones she’d seen from the shuttle, draw her to their thunderous music. She can spend the rest of her life exploring this untouched land and live perfectly happy.
Maybe.
The hallways are quiet, everyone in bed asleep. Everyone except the guard at the exit, which she expected. She’s seen him many times, and every once in a while, his face softens when he looks in her direction. But he never speaks to anyone while he guards the exit. He is there to keep them safe, never expecting that someone would want to escape. She feels a little bad escaping while he is on guard, but she needs to leave to keep her sanity. A small distraction will do the trick.
Catalina throws a few pebbles in the opposite direction, and the guard doesn’t disappoint. When he heads out to investigate, she takes off, heading up the steps. Freedom is only a few steps away. Literally. When she bursts through the final exit, the light breeze kisses her skin, but she doesn’t take the time to enjoy it.
More Commons are here, and they surround the training fields. This must be where they live topside, she muses, thinking this is much better than living in a sunless cave.
One last glance around, and she takes off in a sprint, needing to put as much distance as possible between herself and the Commons, a.k.a. her glorified prison.
9
____________________
Theon
A noise startles him from a light slumber. Maybe it is a dream, or a premonition, but something is amiss. He is sure of it. Theon throws the covers from atop his legs, pulls on a pair of loose-fitting trousers, grabs his knife from the bureau, and head
s outside to investigate. The moons shine full this clear night, illuminating the way. There… in the distance, a silhouetted figure, lithe and agile, scurries around, heading away from the training area at a fast pace.
His curiosity piqued, Theon follows the lone figure, but he doesn’t engage. By the size, he guesses the figure is female, which intrigues him even more. Why would she be traipsing around in the dark? Where is she headed? Where is her protector?
He follows her for a short time while she slowly clambers over rocks, stumbling a time or two. She chooses to stop on the marshlands, next to the Crystal Lake. He squints, trying to decipher who she could be. She is shorter than most of the females he knows, which puzzles him greatly, along with the fact she is clearly running away. But why? What can be so bad that she thinks she needs to escape?
He watches as she scouts the area, looking over her shoulder, then back toward the lake before dropping a pack. She retrieves something from the pack and spreads it out. When she lies down on the grassy ground, he sits with his arms folded across his chest, his back leaning against a tree as he tilts his head to watch his prey. After a while of no movement, Theon nods off to sleep.
The first rays from the sun wake him from his slumber. When his eyes pop open, they dart around, looking for the female and at the surrounding area, scouting for danger. The female is no longer there. His heart races with trepidation. Every female is precious to their race, and they are to keep them safe at all costs. It is his sole purpose—protect his people.
Theon jumps to his feet and pulls his long knife from its leather sheath. He slowly walks over to where the female had slept. Her things are still there, but she is not. His head swivels one direction, looking left, then right.
Nothing.
A beautiful song fills the air, and Theon turns completely around toward the sound. It’s coming from behind some bushes. He stands behind some branches and stealthily parts them with one hand. He gasps quietly, his lips slightly parted and his eyes transfixed by the female floating naked on her back in the Crystal Lake.
A beautiful goddess slowly glides across the water. Dark hair fans out around her head, giving her a halo. Her arms stretch wide as the sun sparkles from the water that beads her dark skin.
Mesmerizing.
He can’t tear his gaze away from such beauty.
With lips slightly parted, Theon looks his fill. His eyes roam her slender body, from her pert nipples to the tuft of dark curly hair that covers the heart of her femininity, water lapping at the sides of her breasts. It is wrong, he knows that, but he can’t tear his gaze away. His length hardens to a painful state; the ridges on his forehead tingle as desire flares heavily inside his loins. She sings with her eyes closed, drifting in the water as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.
Theon knows it is wrong to watch. With his chest heaving from want, he releases the branches, letting them slide back into place and obscure his view. When he stumbles back a step, a twig breaks.
Water splashes before a timid voice calls out, “Who’s there?”
He stands frozen and silent, partly in shame for watching her in her most vulnerable state, and partly for stalking her last night. He is a predator who treated her as prey.
“Is someone there?”
He wills his heart to slow as he tries to get his body under control. After getting his rapid breathing to slow, he turns and heads back to the tree where he had slept the night before.
The female returns shortly, already dressed. Her fearful dark eyes scan the area, touching on everything but him. He remains still as a statue and watches, nothing moving but his eyes.
Not seeing anything unusual, she plops down on the ground and takes something from the pack and starts to eat. His stomach rumbles loudly, and her eyes shoot straight to the noise… straight to him.
With food halfway to her mouth, she freezes, her lips slightly parted. Slowly, she lowers her food and clamps her mouth shut in a grim line. She may not be from this planet, but the anger of any female is easy to spot.
“I’m not going back!”
Theon never moves from his spot against the tree as he sits straight-legged, his arms folded across his chest. “Going back where?” he calls out casually.
“Don’t play coy with me! You know what I’m talking about!”
“I do not. You must be the female that came back with Toran.”
She scoffs just before she starts eating again. It seems he has been dismissed. Theon tilts his head while he watches her eat. He can’t figure her out. Other females would rush to his side, but she… his lips curl upward in amusement.
Slowly getting to his feet, he ambles down to where she sits, trying not to intimidate her. She is a fragile female after all.
Every now and then, she glances his way but quickly dismisses him and continues eating. Her actions intrigue him.
He sits down cross-legged in front of her, but she tries to ignore his presence. He remains silent and watches her eat. She is more beautiful up close, with her dark wet hair swept over her left shoulder and long, dark eyelashes that cover her intelligent, angry eyes.
After a moment of silence, she drops her food, lifts her head, and throws her arms up in the air in a dramatic flair. “Why are you staring at me?”
“I have just never seen anyone who looks like you.”
“Then turn your head,” she snaps as though he is daft. His lips twitch in amusement as he watches her pick up her food and resume eating.
“What are you called?”
She doesn’t look at him as the answer rolls off her sharp tongue. “It depends on who you ask.”
Theon’s face splits wide, and he tries again. “What is your name?”
“Catalina.”
“Catalina,” he says, testing the name out on his tongue. “What are you eating?”
She drops the food on a small cloth. Looking up, he sees the frustration written on her delicate face. “I tried to replicate brownies, but this is a hard, bad imitation.” He picks up the brownie and studies the bland-looking object before meeting her eyes.
“Why did you leave the Commons?” he asks as he lays the brownie back down on the cloth.
She sears him with a glance, and with a forceful voice, she says, “Listen…”
“Theon.”
“Theon. I’ve had a shitty week, and I am not going back to the Commons.” She points at him with a forefinger to accentuate the statement.
Theon takes a hefty breath and blows it out. “You don’t like it there?”
“I see you’re not there. Don’t you like it?”
One side of his mouth lifts. “Diverting?” he smiles. Theon inhales deeply and lets his breath out in a long sigh. “Okay, I’ll go first.”
“I never said we were taking turns.” Another smile stretches across his face. Catalina has a strong, independent streak about her.
“Duly noted.” He leans back on his elbows and stretches his legs out. “I like it up here. I like the sunshine,” he shrugs, “and it is my duty to patrol the border, to keep the Southern Clan safe from intruders.”
“Jeat makes you stay up here?”
“I see you have met my brother.”
“You look nothing like him, or the others for that matter. Why is that?” Her tone turns curious as she cocks her head to the side and studies him.
Catalina has hit a nerve with Theon, which turns him defensive. His entire life, he’s heard every remark, every smear to his good name. He knows he doesn’t look like the others.
“You are the only strange-looking creature here.” His tone comes out sharp, and he instantly regrets it.
Picking at some blades of grass, she retorts, “Yep, I got that loud and clear every fucking day I lived in the Commons. But thanks for bringing it up again.” She shoots him a quick, sardonic smile.
Theon sits up, and with a grimace, he apologizes. “Look Catalina, I am sorry. I should not have said that. Growing up different, I also heard it every day.”
<
br /> He watches her shoulders slump. “Sorry. I guess I’m just on edge. To be honest, I didn’t mean to insult you. On my planet, everyone is different, so it’s no big deal. In fact, you being a little different makes me feel a little better. Not so alone.”
“What do you mean, everyone is different?”
“Different hair color, eye color, even skin color.”
He laughs, “And you all lived together?”
“We did,” she smiles. “What’s so funny?”
“We also have people with different skin color and hair color. They just live in different clans.”
Catalina gasps, and with an incredulous look, she asks, “You don’t mingle?”
He titters. “Sometimes, but not with the Northern Clan.”
“Then why does it matter that you are different?”
“Because I am the son of the former leader of the ruling clan. There has never been a variation.”
“Former leader.” She glances down briefly, sadness shines in her eyes. “If Jeat’s in charge, does that mean… And did your parents know why you came out different?”
“No. There is no explanation for my difference. As for my parents, my mother died a few life cycles back. My father was in a hunting accident two life cycles ago. That’s when Jeat took the lead.”
“Why not you?”
He laughs, but it holds no humor. “He is the eldest. However, the first one to have offspring will be the one to lead permanently and continue the line of succession.”
“I guess you two try hard to continue the line?” She raises a playful eyebrow.
With a sly grin, Theon responds. “I cannot speak for my brother and his bed sport, but I do not. The line of succession is not that important that I will bind with someone just for that reason.”
Theon likes this female. She asks what she wants to know and doesn’t seem to play flirtatious games like the other females at the Commons. Her quick wit and sharp tongue endear her to him even more.
Theon Untamed: First Contact (Untamed World Book 1) Page 6
