Zha Quin’s face split into a huge grin and he nodded, “Ehlealah,” he echoed.
Chapter 9
Zha Quin was very happy. His Ehlealah had admitted that she was his, she’d learned his name — or a version of it. And she’d eaten and drunk her fill of the food he offered her.
He made a conscious effort to remain seated, appearing relaxed so that she wouldn’t feel the need to move away from him again.
Zha Quin remembered her looking at herself in the mirrors of his cleansing chamber. He wanted her to know that it was him that had cared for her. Cleaned her body, her hair and tucked her safely into his bed to sleep. He wanted her to know so that perhaps if she realized he treated her with tenderness and care when she was unconscious, she’d know that he’d do the same at all times. He made a rubbing motion on his arm, then pretended to wipe it away. He pointed to her arm. Then to her entire body, moving his finger up and down as he pointed.
Vivian watched him. She didn’t understand.
He rose to his feet, which caused her to move back a few feet away from him, but at least she didn’t move all the way back across the room from him. He went to the box in the galley and dug through it again, this time just giving up and bringing the whole box into the living room with him. He sat it on the couch beside him and finally found what he was looking for. Another bar of soap, only this time, it was still in its package. He showed it to her. Vivian nodded and smiled.
Zha Quin mimed washing his arm, then pointed at hers. Vivian’s eyes flew to his, and her mouth opened in surprise. Was he telling her he’d bathed her while she’d been unconscious?
He did it again, then he mimed washing his head.
Yes. That was exactly what he was telling her.
She pointed to him, then the soap, then pretended to wash her arm, looking at him with her eyebrows raised.
He smiled again, then nodded.
She realized that he’d been the one to care for her while she’d been unconscious. He’d freed her. Then he’d obviously taken her from the place she’d been held captive. He’d bathed her, she looked down at her ankle — he must have healed her, too. And now he’d fed her. She was afraid to believe that this was a good male. He’d been kind so far, but she’d learned the hard way that no male did anything for free. Most all had an agenda. She raised her eyes to his again, and he smiled at her — his standard grimace that she’d learned was a smile.
He’d done a lot for her. He’d been kind. It would cost her nothing to thank him. “Thank you, Quin,” she said softly.
Zha Quin wasn’t sure what she said, but he did recognize her attempt to say his name. He grinned at her warmly and was about to try to speak to her again when the ping announcing the arrival of others sounded.
Vivian hurried back to her place at the bedroom door and reached into her sock for the dagger she’d stashed there.
Ah, so that’s where she’d put it, he thought, smiling. “What?” he called to whoever was outside their door.
“It is Xallen, Sire,” a familiar voice called.
“Come, but come slowly,” Zha Quin responded. He turned to Vivian, who was watching with nervousness written all over her face. “All is well. Xallen is to be trusted,” he told her softly.
The door slid open and again she glimpsed a group of males that could only be described as guards outside in the hallway, peering in at her. As one, they all bowed their heads before the door slid closed. That was curious, she thought. Why would they bow their heads to me?
Xallen entered his Sire’s chambers very cautiously. He could feel the tension in the room before the door even opened to allow him inside. When he entered, he noticed the little female hanging back across the room — turning a jeweled dagger over and over in her hand as she repeatedly fisted and unfisted the other. There was a great deal of food spread out across the table, and Zha Quin was standing as though having just risen from the couch.
“What is it, Xallen?” Zha Quin asked.
“Sire, I feel there is something that needs to be addressed. I was loath to disturb you, but felt I must.”
“Go on,” Zha Quin encouraged.
“The male who spoke to us from the Consortium…” he began.
“Malm?” Zha Quin spat the name with menace.
“No, no, not Malm. The other male, the calm one,” Xallen said.
“What of him? I do not know him,” Zha Quin said.
“He knows your Ehlealah.”
“That’s impossible. How, from all the females on Earth, could he know my Ehlealah?” Zha Quin asked.
“I’m not yet sure, but I believe he does. He said to wish you and your Ehlealah well, and he called her by name. I’m not sure, because I was only viewing him on the holovid podium as opposed to standing next to him, but I believe he was sincere. He asked to be called upon should any of the females need counseling; then, he wished you and your female well, calling her by name.”
“Perhaps he was using a female name to try to make us believe he knew her,” Zha Quin offered.
“It is possible. But, there is one way to tell,” Xallen said.
Zha Quin knew what he suggested — he wanted to use the name the male had used and see if his Ehlealah responded. “She is just beginning to trust me, I don’t want to frighten her.”
“It may make her feel more at home, Sire. If it is indeed the correct name.”
Zha Quin had been watching her, her dagger held high. “What is she feeling?” he asked Xallen.
“Fear, confusion,” Xallen answered, “a very, very slim trace of hope.”
Zha Quin’s own hope increased at hearing that Xallen detected a little sliver of hope alive in her. He knew he would not let her down. She would know it as well, soon.
“Should I try, Sire?”
“Yes, let’s see if the male knows who she is or was only pretending he did.”
Xallen took a step toward the little human, speaking to her in the same growls Quin had used. This particular alien had a calming effect on her though, he soothed her ragged nerves. She raised her blade higher and looked back at Quin. He’d taken care of her until now, and she wanted to believe he would continue to do so until she could escape, but she had no way of knowing for sure.
“Vivian?”
Zha Quin’s head whipped to Xallen, “I think she said that before you arrived!”
Vivian’s head snapped back to the pale blue male. “How do you know my name?” she whispered, her entire body on alert.
“Is that your name, Sirena? Vivian?” Xallen asked, using the female form of the official term of address for his Sire.
She was visibly shaken and took another step back, holding her dagger higher, her eyes filling with tears. She didn’t know the other words he used, but she clearly recognized her name.
“Stop it! Do not say it again,” Zha Quin commanded Xallen.
“I won’t, Sire. But surely you can see the name means something to her.”
“Why does it frighten her? What is she afraid of happening if we know who she is? I will not ever allow her to be harmed, no matter what her past.”
“I am aware, Sire. I don’t sense deception about her, only fear and confusion.”
“You are safe, Ehlealah,” Zha Quin said softly.
Vivian looked at Quin, not sure if she should admit that she was not Ehlealah, whoever the hell the woman was, and hope against hope that Ehlealah didn’t show up before she managed to escape, and he learned the truth.
Zha Quin stepped closer to her, making her tense even more, “Vivi?” he tried. The name strange on his lips.
Slowly, she shook her head, then said, “Ehlealah.”
“Vivi, Ehlealah?” he asked slowly, cocking his head to the side.
“Vivian?” Xallen said, clearly pronouncing her name properly, then said, “Vivian ‘es Ehlealah?”
Vivian wasn’t sure what to admit, but she didn’t want to anger Quin, she needed him to continue to be kind to her. So she went for broke since they alre
ady knew her name. She nodded, “Vivian,” she said as she pointed at her chest. She looked back and forth between the new blue alien and Quin, who’d saved her, “Vivian Ehlealah,” she said clearly, strongly. Daring either to say she wasn’t. She didn’t know who Ehlealah was, but Quin thought she was Ehlealah, and he’d been kind to her. So she was going to claim both names.
Quin smiled at her, then turned to the blue alien and garbled some snarls at him.
The blue alien nodded, smiling, and answering.
“Did you see?” Zha Quin asked excitedly. “Did you see her claim me? She used her own name and stated she’s my Ehlealah. You witnessed it, yes?”
“Yes, Sire. I did. She is Vivian, and she is your Ehlealah,” Xallen confirmed.
“What is she feeling, Xallen?” Zha Quin asked.
“She is confused, Sire. She is apprehensive. She does not understand what is happening,” Xallen said.
“But you saw her say she is my Ehlealah,” Zha Quin pushed.
“I did. I definitely saw that.”
“Vivi,” Zha Quin said. She turned her face from Xallen, met Quin’s eyes. He said it again, “Vivi?”
Vivian nodded her head.
Zha Quin said, “Ehlealah?”
Again, Vivian nodded her head. Then she pointed at Quin and said, “Quin.”
He nodded, smiling. Then he turned to Xallen and said, “And she knows my name. She says Quin when she means me. I like it.”
“It is a good version of your name, Sire,” Xallen agreed.
Suddenly Zha Quin wanted to teach her more of his language. He pointed to Xallen and said, “Xallen,” then he pointed to himself and said, “Quin,” then he pointed to Vivian and said, “Vivi Ehlealah.”
Vivian understood, she smiled and said, “Xallen,” while she pointed to the new blue male.
Both aliens smiled and nodded.
“Sire, what am I to do about the male knowing your Ehlealah?” Xallen asked. “I believe we should investigate his connection to her further.”
“I agree. Please investigate. Try to make contact without the Consortium knowing of our attempt. Do not bring him here personally, but subtly see what you can find.”
“Yes, Sire. I will take my leave now.” Xallen turned to go, paused as the door slid open and addressed Vivian again, “Goodbye, Vivian,” he said. “I shall see you again soon.”
All Vivian heard were snarls and her name, but he waved, so she smiled and waved back. She quickly forgot all about that though, when very large, very mean-looking males stepped into view, bowed their heads as one and said, “Sirena” when they saw her.
Quin walked over to the door as it started to slide closed, his presence stopping the door from closing as he spoke to the males. They raised their heads from their bow, inclined their heads at him and then listened intently to his snarls. When he was finished, they looked even meaner than before. One of them snarled out an answer, and three of them stalked the few steps to the other side of the hall and stood facing the door, their backs to the wall, their battle swords at their hips, watching her. The other two, one of them the one who’d spoken to Quin, looked at her, his eyes full of emotion, and said something to her before he took up a position on one side of the door. The other male offered her a small smile and took the other side. The last thing she realized as the door slid closed was that three of them had scars across their faces. Their scars were shaped like chain link. Her eyes grew large as she realized these were some of the males she’d struck with her chain the day Quin had freed her. And now they stood sentry outside the apartment she was kept in. Was that good or bad?
No sooner had the door swooshed closed then the ping sounded again. Quin walked over to the door and it opened at his approach to reveal Xallen standing there. He spoke to Quin for a moment, which resulted in Quin snarling at the five large aliens standing outside the door and them conferring before quietly moving away.
Quin heard the ping and seriously considered making his entire residence floor off limits to everyone. They were beginning to really interfere with him getting to know his Ehlealah. The door opened, and he faced Xallen again.
“Apologies, Sire, but I could feel Vivian’s fear all the way down the hall on seeing her guard. Perhaps they could stay a little more out of sight to not unnerve her?” he suggested.
“They are for her protection,” Quin said.
“Yes, but she doesn’t know that. Until you can speak with her directly or until the translators work, maybe they should stay a bit further away.”
Quin thought about it for moment. She’d been abused by many males, and here was a line of them outside their quarters — just waiting.
“You are correct. I will have them disperse. I should have thought of it before.”
Then Xallen said, “Perhaps you could take her to the Command Deck, or to Medical and try to speak with her there? The translators work there, and if the computer can identify her language, she’ll understand you.”
Quin looked back at Vivian to see her handling her dagger again and realized that she was in no shape to deal with the hundreds of curious crew that lived on his ship. Most were males, and if just those standing outside their home unnerved her, certainly all the rest gawking at her would be even worse. No, he decided, she’d panic and be even more afraid than she was now. “She is not ready yet. I cannot expose her to so many different people and species. If you will, please speak with Ba Re’ on the progress made for moving translators to this floor,” Zha Quin said. “Have him check with me after his shift is finished, please.”
“I will,” Xallen answered, then turned and walked away.
“Vor,” Zha Quin addressed the First Lieutenant who had become the leader of Vivian’s guard.
“Sire?” Vor answered, stepping forward, the rest of the guard stepping up behind him. Quin suppressed a smile, the scar across Vor’s face where he would forever wear the marks of Vivian’s chain attack were very clear.
“Xallen advises that my Ehlealah is afraid of you all standing guard outside our quarters. He believes that she is not aware that you protect her, more so she fears you mean her harm. Perhaps you could watch from a less visible place.”
Vor completely understood. “Of course, Sire. We will make sure that we are not so easily seen until she knows she can trust us.”
Vor turned to his fellow members of the now Royal Guard, “We will protect without being seen.”
They agreed, bowed to Vivian once more, then disappeared from sight.
That’s convenient, she thought, breathing a sigh of relief as the large males seemed to leave their posts outside Quin’s door, makes it easier to escape. And at least they didn’t look angry to her. They all looked mean — whatever species this was she found herself in the middle of, they all looked mean. But she was beginning to wonder, perhaps they were just made that way. At least they were polite, she thought, remembering them bowing to her.
Chapter 10
The door slid closed after Quin instructed Vor and the rest of Vivian’s guard to remain out of sight, finally leaving him alone with Vivian. He turned, expecting her to be standing in her usual place by the wall, but found her gone. The first thing he did was check for the cooking pot that she’d attacked him with earlier. It was still lying on the floor, so he felt somewhat reassured. He peeked very carefully into the galley — no Vivi.
He went to the sleeping quarter — no Vivi. But he heard her voice, muttering quietly. He followed it and found her in the cleansing chamber, poking and pressing at anything that looked like a button. His sudden appearance in the doorway made her jump, but other than that she seemed unaffected. She went back to poking things and waiting as though she expected something to happen. Then she’d huff and press another button. Finally, in frustration she growled and turned to him, slapped her hands over her privates and did her “I’m gonna pee myself” dance. She’d been forced to relieve herself wherever she could find at the end of her chain when she’d been a captive of the other
aliens. Never again. She would use civilized facilities any and every chance she got. She knew there had to be a toilet here. There was a shower in the corner, so surely he had a toilet as well. She just couldn’t find the damn thing! She held herself again and pressed her legs together while looking at Quin, then around the room.
Quin understood immediately what she needed. He walked into the cleansing chamber and was careful not to touch her when he walked past her. Vivian kept a watchful eye on him as well while he neared her, pressing herself against what appeared to be a smooth surface like a counter top, though there were no cabinets beneath it; it was just the top. Quin went to the wall next to what she assumed was a shower and pressed a silver, inverted, triangular diagram on the wall. The counter top lining that part of the room slid back into the wall, and a shiny, silver, rounded basin slid out of the wall. It looked like a very large ladle. At the front of the bowl part of the ladle there were indentions, where one’s thighs would apparently fit. Vivian looked at it doubtfully and raised an eyebrow at Quin. He smiled at her and demonstrated. He waved her closer, and she went hesitantly, though not all the way over to him. Fully clothed he sat on the metal ladle, then he pointed to a symbol that looked like a raindrop. He looked at her to see if she understood. Vivian nodded. Then he stood, pressed the triangle again, causing the large silver ladle to slide back into the wall. Then he pointed to what could only be described as a flame-shaped insignia that was also on the diagram. He nodded once. Vivian nodded back, then pointed to the door of the cleansing chamber, telling him to leave.
Quin left her to handle her own needs in private.
Vivian hurriedly slapped her hand against the inverted triangle on the wall. The ladle-shaped toilet slid out, and she raised her shirt, hopping up a bit to be able to reach and sit on the strange toilet. She did her business and sighed with relief. She started to stand and remembered that he said to press the raindrop. So she did, and screeched when cool foam shot out of nozzles she’d not noticed aiming at her from two different directions inside the top lip of the toilet. The foam covered everything she had from one end to the other between her legs. Then she squealed again when a blast of warm air immediately followed, causing all the foam to disappear.
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