Dragon Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  4

  Salena would have cried if she had anything left inside her. As it was, the severe exhaustion only released her into consciousness for brief glimpses.

  Glimpse one: the window of the cave showing the green tint of the alien sky. The view was more isolating than safe.

  Glimpse two: a fierce beast blocking that sky with sharp teeth and an angry growl. She tried to hide, but only managed to fall over onto the stone floor.

  Glimpse three: being pulled from the cave by her ankle, lifeless arms dragging over the rocks before falling toward the ground. She waited for a crash that never came.

  Glimpse four: dangling in the air like fresh-caught prey being taken for dinner. Blast it all, anyway. At this point, one death was as good as any other, she supposed, as long as she died free.

  She was unable to fight throughout the entire ordeal. Maybe it wasn’t even real. The dangling sensation could have been her dizzy head. The growl could have been her empty stomach. Perhaps her nightmares were trying to make sense of her reality. Then again, maybe her nightmares were coming to life.

  Her body swayed, surrounded by the cold swoosh of wind. It flooded her ears and made everything else sound far away. She felt herself falling and refused to open her eyes for the moment of impact.

  All of a sudden, the hold on her ankle jerked, and she was lowered onto a soft bed.

  She finally opened her eyes to see the fierce beast standing over her. He panted hard, blasts of heat coming from each breath as it hit her face. The dark brown of his armored flesh appeared almost black. She gave him a small smile and whispered, “Greetings, Death, took you long enough to find me,” before falling into the blackness of eternity.

  Eternity might have been an overstatement.

  Glimpse…what number was she on? Well, whatever glimpse of consciousness this was, it wasn’t a cave, or a beast, or a prison hold. There were softness and warmth, both of which led to a feeling of hope, and as false as that feeling might turn out to be, Salena kept her mind focused on it for as long as she could.

  In the cocoon of that moment, she heard whispers from her past, the sound of her mother’s voice, a mere tone of indecipherable words. They were muffled by the pacing thud of footsteps as her father moved back and forth, back and forth, over the slats forming the ceiling above her room. If she could be locked in any moment of time, that was the one she would choose—when the darkness of night hid the monsters of the world, when the sound of her sisters’ breaths lifted and fell in tiny sighs, when her parents were close, and the smell of clay permeated from the walls of the room dug into the ground.

  If she didn’t open her eyes, she would stay forever small, safe from the dangers of the universe.

  Slowly, hope was replaced by reality. There was no traveling back to that moment. The world was no longer safe. Her father’s boots and her mother’s words could no longer protect her. The universe did not care about the hopes of three sisters from a poor family, digging clay from the ground with their bare hands. The universe was vast and cold, and those within it only cared about what they could take.

  “We have to wake up now,” Fiora’s soft voice insisted.

  The pain inside Salena caused the memory to slip, and she had no choice but to let it. She opened her eyes, knowing Fiora was gone. Her sister would not be there to greet her. Never again.

  Dying hope turned to fear, and it looked like she might be right back where she’d started—in the grips of the Federation.

  The room might be comfortable and well appointed, but it was more dangerous than the cliffside cave. It didn’t appear to belong to the makeshift homes she’d seen in the valley, nor was it military issue. That could only mean she was in the stronghold. They would not risk letting her escape again.

  Salena scurried out of bed. She felt better than she should have for not having eaten. She checked her arms, seeing two small red dots where someone had injected her from a handheld medic device.

  A blue dressing gown had replaced the tunic shirt she’d stolen from the tower. The shapeless folds hung from her shoulders, leaving her arms exposed. The idea of someone taking her clothing while she slept caused her to hug her arms to her waist in a protective gesture. Were they watching her even now?

  Windowless walls surrounded her, stained to an uneven brown. A light tube formed a large circle in the ceiling and cast a soft glow.

  Salena moved toward a wall and pressed the tips of her fingers to it. Segments of the paneling moved, parting to reveal hidden compartments. Seeing a figure, she jolted in surprise and stepped back. It was only her reflection staring at her from a mirrored surface. It had been a long while since she’d seen herself. Her hair was a wavy brunette mess around her head. Red surrounded the brown irises of her eyes. A scrape ran from below her ear, down her neck, into the front of the gown. It was odd that the Federation would have used a handheld medic to treat her instead of a fancy medical booth—not that she’d ever had access to a medical booth.

  Her mother had a word for creatures that looked like she did now.

  One of the compartments had a variety of dispensers and glasses, and another one held a folded stack of clothes. She disturbed none of it.

  Salena went toward the door, not expecting it to open. They rarely did for her. Before she made contact, the door swung inward. She stepped out of the way before it smacked her.

  “I thought I heard you up,” a woman said as she appeared in the doorway. Flaming red hair was piled high on her head. Her tight pants and loose green tunic shirt were not what Salena would have expected of a prison guard. “I admit I was concerned after my son brought you here from one of the cliffside caves.”

  Salena recalled the feeling of falling. Had this woman’s son pulled her from her hiding spot? Before she could stop herself, she asked, “Why?”

  The sound of her voice was more of a croak than a word.

  “Because you were dying,” the woman answered. “How did you get in there? Please tell me that’s not some new form of Federation punishment.”

  Salena coughed to clear her throat, hoping it would make her voice stronger. “Who are you?”

  “I’m a princess,” the woman said with a small laugh. “But you can call me Olena.”

  A princess? This planet had royalty?

  “I can tell you don’t believe me by your expression,” the woman said. “That’s all right. I never dress the part.”

  “No, I know you speak the truth.” Salena leaned to look behind the princess. This didn’t make sense. She was in a home, not a Federation hold. “How did your son find me?”

  “Jaxx was dropping supplies off to some of our contacts in Shelter City and happened to see you as he flew by.” Olena frowned.

  Salena could easily guess the woman’s thoughts. Right now, the princess was wondering why she’d admitted as much to a stranger, but the woman wouldn’t be able to help herself. It was the same with everyone—first confusion, then fear, then either fascination or scheming, and finally avoidance. But regardless, everyone told Salena the truth whether they wanted to or not.

  “What supplies was he dropping off?” Salena asked.

  “Food.” Olena pressed her finger to her temple, frowning.

  Salena stepped slowly around the woman, watching to see if she’d try to stop her. Olena moved out of the way.

  “You’re looking much better,” Olena offered. “I thought you would need sleep more than anything else, but now that you’re awake I can see to that scrape on your face and you’re welcome to take a water bath or use a decontaminator, whichever method you prefer.”

  “Thank you,” Salena mumbled.

  The home was not what Salena would have expected of a palace. Black accented the dark wood. Curtains were pulled open over a dome in the ceiling to let in light. Giant logs had been sawed in half to form the walls. She imagined the trees they came from would have been gigantic. A contained fire burned in a stone fireplace. Carved figures decorated the mantel and rugs draped
over couches. There was none of the decadence one would expect from royalty.

  “Why do you need to bring the people at Shelter City food?” Salena asked, keeping her body angled so she could see the woman. Though there were no guards in the vicinity, but that did not mean she wasn’t being watched.

  “The Federation refuses to let the citizens have food simulators to materialize food because their scientists believe exposure to the minuscule radiation from the units will make them sick. The whole situation is a diplomatic mess, but people need to eat. Since the leaders of Shelter City won’t take care of their people, we smuggle in what we can.” Olena’s expression did not lighten. “I need you to stop asking me question—”

  “What do you want with me?”

  “I want to feed you and get rid of that ugly cut on your face,” Olena answered, before pressing her fingers over her mouth.

  “Feed me?” Very rarely did things surprise her. That did. “Then what?”

  “If you don’t want to find a partner at the mating ceremony tonight, then we’ll deliver you back to Shelter City before they take a census and realize you’re missing. We can’t be caught interfering with the city.” Olena held up her hands. “Please, stop whatever you’re doing to me.”

  Salena opened her mouth to speak.

  Olena plugged her ears and backed away. “No. Stop it.”

  Salena pressed her lips together and nodded.

  Olena lowered her hands. “How are you making me tell you everything?”

  Instead of answering, Salena asked, “Do you mean to hurt me?”

  “No.”

  Salena nodded. “All right. Then I thank you for your hospitality and respectfully decline your offer to mate with anyone. Promiscuity is fine for some, but it is not in my nature.”

  “Promiscuity?” Olena gave a small laugh. “No, you misunderstood. The mating ceremony is for marriage, not sex.”

  “What kind of marriage is sexless?” Salena questioned, not sure she needed to know the answer. She might not be promiscuous, but she was no prude. And what kind of marriage was decided in one ceremony?

  “Of course our marriages have sex, but it’s not allowed the first night. It’s a tradition dating back centuries, to ensure the choice is the woman’s and no one is forced, and at dawn the women give their decisions. But I’m not sure why I’m telling you about the ceremony. I wasn’t planning on bringing it up until later when we were walking by on our way to take you home in case you were interested in stopping to look for a husband. The choice would be yours, of course.”

  “Shelter City isn’t my home. I can’t go back there.” Now that she knew the woman didn’t intend to harm her, Salena turned her back on her and made her way through the home.

  There was an Old Earth look to the place, which was strange for what she’d seen of the planet so far. Curtains hung over a large window, with smaller windows on the opposite side of the house. The house was divided into two levels, the upper where she stood, and the slightly lower level with the fireplace and common space with seating and a food preparation area. A monstrous beast’s head had been carved into the wall over the food counter, where the ceiling was higher. Sharp teeth flashed in her memory causing her to stumble.

  “Sit down,” Olena ordered. “You’re clearly too weak to walk. Let me get the medical unit and check your levels.”

  “No,” Salena denied. “I can’t stay here.”

  She could not risk them sending her back to the Federation. Yet she wasn’t sure how she would find a way off this planet. She couldn’t stay. She didn’t have the space credits needed to leave.

  “I can’t let you wander around like that,” Olena said.

  “Yes, you can. You won’t hurt me,” Salena answered.

  “Are you always so trusting? How do you know? I could be lying to you.” Olena frowned. “Even if you weren’t swaying on your feet, I’m afraid you are too innocent for this place. Someone will take advantage if they haven’t already. I can’t let you go.”

  Salena gave a small laugh. No one had ever called her innocent. From a young age, she had known more than anyone should. People gave her their secrets whether she wanted them or not. Most often, she did not. Her father had warned his three girls about telling people what they could do. Their abilities received two reactions from people—fear that the sisters would share their confessions with others, or they would attempt to use the sisters’ abilities for their own personal gain.

  “I thank you for your concern, but I know enough of the universes to protect myself.” Salena moved toward what looked to be a glass door. She felt more than heard Olena moving behind her.

  Broken yellow stones formed a patio surrounded by trees. The trunks of some were as wide as a small space vessel. The constant daylight clearly affected their growth.

  Salena reached to slide the glass open but hesitated. She stopped herself from leaving. People might not be able to lie to her, but she could lie to them…and to herself. She clearly couldn’t protect herself, and she was terrified. She knew nothing of this planet, of where to go. It was easy enough to ask someone if they meant her harm and to receive an honest answer, but by then it was often too late and didn’t stop them from attacking.

  “I need a ride,” she whispered, looking at Olena’s reflection in the glass. It wasn’t easy asking for help. Her parents had raised them to be self-sufficient. Too bad they hadn’t raised them to survive off their homeworld of Noire. She cleared her throat, and said louder, “I need to find a ship that can take me off this planet. Do you know of one that will be safe?”

  “There will be a ship landing tonight under the cover of the Galaxy Brides’ vessel when it brings potential brides for the ceremonies. I’m required to be at the celebration, but Jaxx can take you when he goes to meet them. It’s flown by my old pirate crew, and they can smuggle you off-world. I trust them because I know they’ll adhere to the Pirate Code. And I shouldn’t have told you I used to be a pirate, or that we’re sneaking in ships, or that my son is involved. Oh, wow, you’re a dangerous one, aren’t you? I’m going to need to know who you are and how you came to be here before I can help you do anything.” Olena lightly touched her shoulder. “Come, sit, let me feed you and we’ll talk.”

  “I can’t afford to pay for the passage.” Salena focused on the woman’s hand. The touch was the most contact she’d had with another person in…well, she couldn’t remember how long. She became afraid to move, which would break the connection.

  “No one is asking you to pay for anything.” Olena let go of her and walked toward the kitchen. “Do you like blue bread? I just made a batch.”

  Salena again peered around the home, unsure what she should do. The offer of kindness scared her almost as much as the Federation’s captivity. She’d been alone for so long.

  You have to wake up now, Salena, Fiora’s soft voice whispered through her memory. The words prompted her out of the growing haze around her thoughts. It was then she realized she’d been about to walk outside barefoot, and in a dressing gown. She was not making good decisions.

  “You’re not used to talking about yourself,” Olena observed. “Well, I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist. There is too much at stake. If I’m going to go up against the Federation, I need to know who I’m helping and why.”

  “You can’t send me back to the Federation.” Salena felt lightheaded and swayed. She reached out for support but only found air. The moment was quick, but it was enough to convince her to join Olena in the food preparation area.

  A smaller window revealed more forest. It was above the wooden table with rounded seats. Whereas her room had been modernized with hi-tech compartments, the kitchen’s cabinets were wooden and opened manually.

  “What did they do to you?” Olena asked, as she began taking items from the cabinets and placing them on an island countertop.

  “They brought me here. I don’t want to be here. I need to go.” Salena sat on a stool by the counter and rested her hand
on the smooth surface. She pressed her hands flat as another wave of dizziness washed over her. Her arm slid, and she found her forehead pressed against the counter. Mumbling, she insisted, “I need to go.”

  She closed her eyes, trying to make the dizziness stop, and found she couldn’t reopen them. All she needed was a few seconds of rest.

  Just a few seconds…

  5

  “Make sure your uncles see you tonight before you leave the festival,” Olena instructed her son as she slid a gold band up his arm. The intricate design only drew attention to the fact the man was all muscle. The sky had darkened, and it looked like night would finally fall. The princess looked more like royalty in the full-length black gown with a shimmering overlay. She had undoubtedly dressed for the occasion.

  “I know. I will.” Jaxx was nothing like the hallucination she remembered. For starters, he was a man not a beast. Actually, more correctly, he was a half-naked man in a black loincloth…and only a loincloth. He didn’t even have shoes. Black markings wound up his arm and covered his shoulder. A glow from inside the house shone on his oiled skin.

  “Do you have your mask?” Olena asked, reaching to straighten his hair. The man stood a foot above her and was way past the age for a mother to fuss over.

  Jaxx held up his hand to show a leather mask. “It’s right here.”

  “And did you get your crystal back from your cousin?” Olena dropped her hand when her son shifted his stance and refused to answer. “Gods’ bones, Jaxx. If you won’t do it, I’ll make Grace hand it over. I still don’t understand how she came into possession of it. At least pretend to care about finding a mate.”

  Jaxx’s green eyes turned to Salena, acknowledging her presence for the first time. “Do you want to marry me?”

  Salena nearly choked in surprise, and managed, “N-no.”

  The questioned caused her to stiffen and avert her gaze. She’d tried to have relationships in the past, but they always ended quickly and poorly. A woman did not want to hear about how the man she was with fantasized about other women, or when he wished she’d shut up, or leave, or she looked terrible, or any number of things a man thought and was not meant to say out loud. One had confessed he was going to rob her in the middle of the night. The idea of signing on for a lifetime of that kind of heartache was unimaginable.