by Pixie James
Stop, Cherise. Chill out.
Like it always does, the temporary comfort fades, the loss of its warmth reigniting the pain in my chest. At least in my dreams I know I won’t be alone. Just like the last few nights, the Gloridian will be there, helping ease the sting that plagues me so much worse through the night, and hopefully tomorrow when I wake up, I’ll make it through the day without throat punching anyone. No guarantees, though.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I’m sweating; the insides of my thighs are already chafing with every step. I should have worn some bike shorts or something underneath these robes, but I wasn’t sure if people would notice. For the life of me, I can’t remember how to tie them, and since Tia had already left this morning when Ty’Don’s personal assistant hand delivered them to me, I couldn’t exactly ask her. In the ten minutes I’ve been pacing outside the entrance to the tents, I haven’t seen a single soul wearing anything similar.
Staring up at the sky, I inhale deeply, trying to slow my racing thoughts. Huey and the other Raska are tasked with participating in certain portions of the games, so he’s been gone for over half an hour. He’s checked on me at least a hundred times, and the only way I’ve been able to keep my sanity is to throw up my wall and give him a mental time out. We’re two neurotic peas in a pod, and his anxiety over leaving me only makes mine worse.
It’s a nice morning—the overcast sky projecting a deceptively calm mood. If only I could simmer down long enough to enjoy it. Checking my watch for the tenth time in five minutes, I hold out my arms, allowing the light breeze to air out my pits and thank the stars I remembered to put on deodorant.
Three minutes until I have to be in there. Three minutes until I have to face Ty’Don and meet War Commander Ty’Furi.
Drenched in a set of beautiful mahogany robes, Te’Lara glides across the quad in the distance and I run toward her, panic quickening my steps. She’ll know what do to. The light dew on the grass is slick, and the soil underneath is dangerously soft, forcing me to watch where I’m going.
Te’Lara freezes as I come into view, then hurries toward me.
“Hey, I’m so glad I caught you. I have a question about these—”
“Who gave you that robe?” she asks as her fingers fumble with the woven belt at her waist. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. Take it off.”
Her eyes are wide with panic and she’s scanning our surroundings.
“I can’t, I don’t have anything underneath it…”
She sighs, yanking hers off with haste to reveal jeans and a t-shirt. Seeing her dressed so plainly catches me off guard. “Has anyone else seen you? Hurry, take this, run inside, and change. You cannot report to the tents dressed like that.”
“I don’t understand. Ty’Don’s assistant brought this to me this morning. What’s happening? What’s wrong?” I ask, catching the bundle of cloth as she throws it against my chest, an angry sheen of tears brightening her eyes.
“Miserable piece of… Look, there is no time. You must change. Those are servant colors on our planet, Cherise. Red is the color of those who have been sentenced to a life of forced servitude for their crimes. Run. Now.”
Her mouth is moving as she shoves me toward the side of the building where the girls’ locker room is located, but I don’t hear a single word. Servant colors. My throat tightens and tears threaten as a mixture of outrage and pure humiliation choke me, strangling my words. I sprint for the side door, needing the oppressive garment off.
Every second the heavy fibers register against my skin is another second he’s stolen, and I swear if I could magically blow him up, he’d be in little bits by now.
The loud smack of the door barely registers as I stumble in, tripping over the robe’s length, and I rip it off, not caring that the seams stretch and tear. Relief washes over me the second I’m free, and I chuck it in the nearest trash can, not bothering to get dressed. Sagging onto the wooden bench that runs between the back set of lockers I fled into, I brace myself on my knees.
It’s off. His plan didn’t work. I’m okay. I’m going to be okay.
Gasping for air and reeling, I lie back, trying to catch my breath when people start filing into the locker room’s front entrance. Laughter and the sound of several conversations register, and I wrap myself in Te’Lara’s robes, then once again try to conquer the belt.
Relax, Cherise. No one knows.
Spotting several girls I recognize from class, I muster all the courage I can and walk over for help. I can’t wait to see Ty’Don’s beady little eyes when I show up unaffected.
Vee, the girl I first met in the cafeteria, is clad in head to toe black with a gorgeous french braid holding back her hair. Her eyes widen slightly when I approach.
“Hey, girl. Can you help me with this? I’ve never worn a robe like this before and I have no clue how to tie it so I don’t look like an idiot.” She stares at me, almost as if she can’t believe I’d ask, then gives me a flat smile. “ I mean, if you’re busy…”
“Not busy, just surprised that’s all. Of course, I can help you. Come here.” Setting down her phone, she pulls both ends even, matching them, then proceeds to tie them.
“Surprised?”
“Yeah, with what Ki’Lin did and all,” she says, still focused on the intricate knot.
My panic from before reignites. “What did she do, again?” It’s highly possible she’s referring to our last bout of drama, but with a bully like Ki’Lin there’s no telling. She’s been nothing but hateful to me since the day we met, and girls like her? They don’t stop until they get bored and move on to the next target. After what Ty’Don tried to do this morning, I doubt it could be much worse.
Vee’s hands still, and she slowly lifts her gaze to mine. “Tell me you’ve seen it.”
“Seen what? Please, tell me what’s going on. You’re really starting to freak me out.”
“You haven’t seen anyone this morning.” The way she says it isn’t a question. With a shake of her head, she grabs her phone, unlocks it, and hands it to me. “It should be in my notifications. I’m so sorry, Cherise. I don’t even know how that bitch found it but the whole school got it this morning.”
Got what? I don’t understand…
The world stops. Her phone makes a loud smack as it tumbles to the floor—the image of me in my bra alongside Trish filling the screen.
When I’m finally able to rip my eyes away, a small crowd’s gathered around me, the devil herself leaning back against the lockers with a smug smile on her face. “Aww, look guys. I’ve left her speechless. I warned you what would happen if you didn’t shut up. Now, you know.”
Vee glares at her. “Leave her alone, Ki’Lin. You’ve already done enough.”
“Obviously not. She’s still here.”
“Like she has somewhere else to go. You’re such a rabid skank, I swear I’m so sick of you.”
Ki’Lin chuckles. “Too bad your boyfriend isn’t. He’s been trying to talk to me all week. You should probably go find Zeke and have him do a little light reading. I don’t think he quite understands the concept of mating.”
Like a movie, the fight between them plays out in slow motion, and I’m still frozen in place.
Vee charges toward Ki’Lin, getting in her face, and the crowd of ten girls parts, choosing sides. “Liar. He’d never go for someone like you.”
Painted to perfection, Ki’Lin's deep purple lips pull into a satisfied grin, and she laughs. “Oh, he would. And he has. Or didn’t you know we have history?”
Like something out of one of my favorite movies, Vee launches herself at Ki’Lin and a huge brawl breaks out. She lands a hard punch to the side of Ki’Lin’s face before the two tumble to the ground. A hard elbow jabs me in the gut, but instead of returning the hit, I sink to the floor. The fighting fades and only the pounding of my heart in my ears remains.
Something’s broken inside of me.
The fragile cracks my old life have left break open, and once
I climb to my feet I walk numbly toward the tent where I’m supposed to be. A light rain starts to fall, causing the people lounging on the grass near the entrance to run for the veranda. A few eleventh years whose names I can’t remember hurry by in a frenzy, and a sweet couple holding hands push and pull at each other playfully.
I almost don’t recognize him with the hat on. Rev and the girl who always glares at me in history class embrace each other and lock lips, then follow after the group that’s already run ahead.
So much for waiting for me to be ready. I mean, I can’t expect him to hang around, and I can’t exactly be mad, right? I told him not to. But the way they’re holding each other—the look on her face—it’s been going on for far longer than a few days.
Was I complicit in some sort of emotional cheating he did? Was he with her the entire time he was flirting and asking me out? The guilt of knowing I could have been party to his dishonesty makes me sick.
Ty’Don, Ki’Lin, Jared, Trish…now Rev? All of them make me want to scratch my eyes out and scream. I don’t understand how they can live with themselves when all they do is make the people around them miserable.
I mean, seriously? How can they look at themselves in the mirror every morning?
A pair of well-manicured hands grab my arms and push me into the bathroom tent set up near the main entrance right before I can step over the threshold.
“No, absolutely not. This—” Eugene swirls his finger in front of my face, “is not happening. You are not going in there looking like that.”
“Eugene, I really don’t care—”
“Boo, I know you don’t, and after what I just heard from Te’Lara and the rest of the gossip tree, I’m surprised you didn’t just melt away with the rain. But you’re better than that, better than them. You might be falling apart on the inside, but girl, we’re going to fix this mess so no one who matters is the wiser.”
“So, I guess you saw the picture…” I drop my eyes in shame. I should have never taken that stupid selfie or given it to that stupid boy.
Nudging my chin up with one finger, Eugene narrows his eyes. “No, ma’am. Don’t you ever let them have this kind of power over you. Now, I already arranged an excuse for your tardiness. Let’s give them something to gawk at.”
Armed with nothing but a hair dryer and what he refers to as his emergency make-up kit, Eugene manages to pull off a miracle, completely blending away the puffy bags under my eyes and blow drying my soggy hair. When he shows me my reflection in the mirror, I almost don’t believe it’s me.
“Now, does this look like a girl who’s been defeated?” he asks. “Like a girl who’s let someone get the best of her?”
“No.” My voice sounds so sure I might actually believe it.
“Damn right. Now suck it up, bottle that frustration, strut your gorgeous behind into that room, and shove your fake happiness right down that evil man’s throat. You have all the time in the world to fall apart, girl. But today, you’re going to show everyone just how much you have it together.”
The first few steps are the hardest, and my heart beats out of my chest the entire time. My mark aches and my teeth hurt from clenching them so tightly but I’m determined to suck it up and force myself to keep an easy-going smile on my face.
The Assembly members and their families have a private room off to the right that is closed off from the other parent tables. It’s like they’re considered the business class of Xebulins, and everyone else is in coach.
Headmaster Ha’Jahn and Te’Lara are waiting for me near the velvet rope-lined entrance, each of them dressed to the nines in formal robes. Te’Lara’s sky blue robes fit more tightly than the others, most likely because I’m wearing her intended outfit. She smiles, relief loosening her shoulders. I guess I don’t look as bad as I feel after all.
“I see Eugene found you. You look lovely, Cherise.”
“Thanks. He helped a lot.”
The headmaster slides closer. “Te’Lara informed me of Ty’Don’s disgusting show of disrespect this morning. I plan on filing a formal complaint against him with the other Assembly members for his conduct.”
Bracing myself for the awkwardness of having to explain away the half-nude picture Ki’Lin sent everyone, I’m pleasantly surprised when it doesn’t come. It’s almost like he and Te’Lara don’t know. News of it must have not hit the adults yet. Thank goodness for small favors.
I just hope I don’t get in trouble when it does. If it were up to me, that picture wouldn’t even exist.
“Good. He deserves it. Now what do you need me to do? I just want to get in there and get this day over with.”
“Well, there’s good news in that regard, if nothing else. Eugene agreed to serve the other Assembly members so that you may devote the entirety of your time to catering directly to the War Commander. We want to ensure she is well taken care of and have zero doubts in your ability to do so.”
“Is she…nice?” I ask, hating the way my voice sounds. I can suck it up and plaster a smile on my face, but after what’s happened this morning, I just don’t know if I can handle a weapon-toting female version of Ty’Don all day. I mean, it’s no wonder Nix is a snob. He’s been surrounded by elitist, chauvinistic jerks all his life.
The two of them exchange a look. “She is an extraordinary being. You will not have to worry about receiving ridicule from her.”
Taking a second to lower the flimsy make-shift mental shield I’ve used to deter Huey and numb my mark all day, I force myself to relax. I trust Te’Lara and the headmaster and even though they keep way too many secrets, I take them at their word. Static filters through the headmaster’s earpiece, then a loud unintelligible voice. Ha’Jahn’s eyes go wide right as Huey starts yelling in my head.
“I am coming, Beloved Xebulin. I am coming!”
Before I even have a chance to think a response, Huey, twice his normal size, storms into the white tent, leaving muddy footprints in his wake. The few parents who arrived early scurry out of the way as he bounds toward me. The spikes that line his spine are up, their razor-sharp edges catching the lights above, and he’s shifted his tail into a mace.
“Huey, calm down. I’m fine,” I mutter as he circles me, sniffing the air.
“You are being dishonest. I can smell your distress.” Not waiting for an invitation, Huey wraps his regala around my wrist and tries to siphon off my anxiety. The pressure on my chest deflates, but it doesn’t hide the tug on my mind. Little turd is reviewing my memories.
“Huey, stop!”
The words come out a second too late. He saw what happened. All of it. A loud growl tears from his throat and he plows over Headmaster Ha’Jahn, determined to get into the Assembly room. Te’Lara latches onto his legs, trying to slow him down, but he quickly shakes her off. I dive for him, having little else to do, and cling to his back. “Stop! He’s not worth it!”
Huey goes limp, then tries to buck me off with subdued effort. “Off of me, Beloved Xebulin. Do not stand in my way.” He snarls, pawing at the ground, and leans hard to the right, but I squeeze my thighs and hold on. He continues rubbing against things trying to gently dislodge me.
I flip off of him and clutch his face between my hands. “I said, stop!” The anger visibly drains from his eyes, and he licks the side of my face.
Barreling out of the room like a wrecking ball, a tiny leather clad woman stops short of us and assists Te’Lara to her feet. “What is the meaning of this?”
Her hair is tightly woven into three wide braids that trail down the center of her shaved head and rest on her lower back. She tilts her head, taking in the way Huey is now protectively crouched in front me, a silver armor I’ve never seen coating his fangs. He grows again when she tries to approach.
“Calm yourself, Huetalizan. I will not harm your charge. There is a threat in our midst?”
“Everything’s fine. He’s just being dramatic. I’m sorry,” I murmur, and do my best to keep a hold of him.
Huey st
ands his ground until I nudge him. He groans and lies down in a less threatening position. “I see you have chosen well and defend her with honor. It is about time, yes? Whatever the cause of your ire, this is not the place for violence . Restrain yourself, Dan-A-Tish, and come. We have much to catch up on.”
She turns, radiating confidence as if she knows no one, including Huey, is dumb enough to disobey her, and disappears behind the curtain. All eyes are on us as we pass through in her wake, including Ty’Don’s. He looks none-to-pleased to see me stroll in looking put together. He can take those red robes and shove it. If Huey’s refusal to stop glaring at him is any indication, he agrees, and since he’s being exceptionally quiet, I know he’s still pissed.
Ty’Don steps forward to offer my introduction and the woman waves him off. “No need, Ty’Don. The fledgling and I are already acquainted.”
“Yes, Commander Ty’Furi, but perhaps you would benefit from a short introduction to her history and a briefing on her arrival. I’d be happy to—”
She stops walking and turns to him. “Do you think me unprepared? So consumed with strategy I cannot take the time to study such a curious addition to our colony here on Earth? I can appreciate your diligence, Ty’Don, but it is not needed. I am well versed in the female’s history.”
“Of course, War Commander. Forgive my assumption, I only wish to better serve our thriving community.” He rubs his hands down the front of his robes, straightening them, and looks over his shoulder, checking to see if anyone overheard.
“Excellent, carry on. Now fledgling…Cherise, was it? Point me toward the cheese. We don’t have it back home, and I plan to gorge myself while here.”
“How are the scores? Any outliers?” War Commander Ty’Furi asks in between plates of brie. After spending nearly six hours bringing her nothing but water and cheese, I can safely say she’s definitely not what I expected. She’s nice, albeit very direct and to the point.
