by Maia Starr
Chapter 5
ELLA CAPRICIO
Dinner with Thaedon was the most elaborate experience I had ever had, even when I was on Earth. I didn't know how he was able to pull off such a thing; I knew then that he must be a Kalazaron with a very high power. The view from that rooftop was the most spectacular thing I had ever seen. With pod racers hovering around the city and zooming past, and the lights of the entire capital city bright below us, I did not understand why he had summoned me. I did not understand why he had warrior guards at his disposal to summon me in such away.
There was more to this that he was not telling me, and a part of me did not want to know. A part of me knew that his interest in me was too good to be true and there must be some reason behind it that I would not like. For the time being, everything felt good, and I wanted it to stay that way. I did not want things to change. I liked being able to sneak off in secret and enjoy my time with him and nothing else.
However, after the dinner I became very nervous for one reason: The coronation celebration was happening that evening. Since the dinner made me very aware that Thaedon was in a high position, I knew he would be at the celebrations. I did not want to see him there. I did not want him to see me at the mercy of the Loki sisters, especially with what they had planned for me.
"When you are done lacing up my dress, have the other servants paint the blue on you," Soko said to me as I tied her dress up the back.
"Yes," was all I said. They were making me go through with it. They were going to make me carry the trains of their dresses while I was painted blue, and in a blue dress. It was a joke of sorts. It was transforming a human female into a Kalazaron female. Everyone would stare at me. I hoped that one of those stares would not belong to Thaedon.
Finally, the time came when we were to depart the living quarters and go to the coronation. I was covered in blue. Even my hair and face were painted blue. I was glad for the camouflage. I did not want Thaedon to see me.
First Fraon and Penat entered the arena, followed by the Loki sisters. I walked behind them, one dress train in each hand. I kept my head down and walked quietly behind them as they entered in a ceremonious fashion. I could hear all the whispers as they did so, and they had achieved their goal of getting everyone's attention at first sight. I wanted to be invisible.
They walked in a straight line to the middle of the arena to be introduced to the master. There was a long line of Kalazaron, and each stepped forward and gave a salute with a hand to the chest and a bow to the new master. I did not look up. Then, it was time for the Loki family to do their greeting to the master.
"Kalazaron Loki," a male warrior shouted. The entire family moved forward and saluted and bowed. I slightly bowed and did not look up. Then there was shock all around as the master said, "Loki sisters come forward."
I could hear whispers and shock of jealousy that the sisters were singled out by the new, young master. The sisters were very excited as they stepped forward. It was then that I looked up as they gave another lower bow to the new master as they stood directly in front of him. A small gasp escaped my mouth as I looked at him.
It was Thaedon. He was looking directly at me. It was unbelievable. The Kalazaron warrior that I had been secretly enjoying time with was the new, young master that every Kalazaron was speaking of. I was in shock. It took moments before I really understood that fact.
Thaedon just stared at me. Did he know it was me? He knew that I was the captive of the Loki family; he must have known that it was me. I felt suddenly embarrassed. It was a painful embarrassment as his eyes penetrated through me. His jaw set into a hard line as though he was angry. Was he angry with me for being at the coronation? I was probably jeopardizing his new position, but I did not have any choice in the matter.
Thaedon nodded to the guard that had called the sisters forward. The guard stated, "That will be all."
The sisters carefully and gracefully moved past Thaedon in a flirtatious manner. I set my eyes on the ground and held their dresses in my hands, feeling my entire body growing warm with embarrassment. I followed the sisters, who joined their mother and father on the side of the room.
"Can you believe it?!" Soko said to her mother. "He asked us to step forward. He has asked us, and no one else. What do you think it means, father? Do you think that he did so to review us in order to take one of us as wife?"
"I have no doubt that is what the master was doing, daughter," Fraon answered.
Hearing his words hurt me. I believed that he was right. He had summoned the sisters forward in order to review their looks and grace. Of course the master would be seeking a wife, and these two were raised for that sort of position.
My stomach hurt as I thought about it. This was the worst situation and I wished that I had never met Thaedon in the market. I filled with anger that he had toyed with me so. Why had he taken me on a ride? Why had he dined me in such an elaborate way? Was I just to fill some sort of human female fetish that he had? How dare he not tell me that he was the Master! He must have wanted this interaction between us to be kept a secret from the public. I was to be his secret sex slave.
I held back tears. I could not cry because it would show in the paint on my face. I held my head high and held the dresses in my hands like it was my only duty and the only thing on my mind. The sisters rattled on about how they were the chosen ones. Everyone around them also seemed to congratulate them on being singled out in such a manner. I hated listening to everyone and I tried to tune out the words that were being spoken about how handsome the new master was. I tried to tune out the words about how lucky the sisters were and that surely he would be taking one of them to the dance floor to lead them in the beginning ceremony.
A hush came over the crowd and the guard that had been announcing families to the master stood in the middle of the arena as everyone was quiet. "I present to you the new master! Master Thaedon Kree!”
Thaedon took to the middle of the arena and my heart dropped as I watched him as such a dominant and powerful figure. I had only seen him as a playful, young Kalazaron warrior. Now I was seeing him in a whole new light as a figure of authority—not just any figure, but THE figure.
His clothing was very regal. He was not wearing a shirt, and you could see every, delicious muscle and toned angle of his chest. Crisscrossing his broad chest were two straps, one gold and one silver. The belt around his waist was shiny and made of a metallic substance that I had never seen before. It held up his kilt-like covering, but it was different than what I had seen him wear before. This was not a kilt made for battle in the traditional, leather-like material of the Kalazaron warriors. Instead, it was made of a fine thread of silver. Even the cuffs around his arm from elbow to wrist were solid silver. He was decorated like a king on Earth, and it was very intimidating.
The announcer placed several chains of medallions over his shoulders. Then he pulled out a tool that I recognized. It was a tool that I hated. It was the same tool that had been used on me to tag my arm with some sort of chip that allowed anyone to find out who I belonged to by rubbing my arm.
Thaedon held out his arm and the solid, silver cuff was removed. Then he was tagged. It shocked me. I thought that only slaves were tagged. Then the announcer rubbed Thaedon's arm and a brand appeared that I assumed read Master.
The crowd cheered as he pushed his fist into the air. He walked in a small circle, showing everyone the tag. He was now officially the master. I knew that now he would officially be done with me. I wondered if I was one last thrill before he became master. Nothing else could explain why he went through the great lengths that he did in order to be in my company. He could have any female, be it Kalazaron or human, that he wanted.
Then the announcer gestured for the music to begin. It was a combination of drums and strings, very slow music. I watched as Thaedon leaned into the announcer and whispered something. By the look on the announcers face, it was something that shocked him. He shook his head no. Thaedon just smiled at him.
>
Thaedon moved away from the announcer and began walking toward the sides of the arena. The announcer shouted, "The master will be choosing his own dance partner for the first movement."
The entire crowd began to whisper and grumble at this news. I did not understand why. I assumed because this was not the tradition. Perhaps the master would have to dance with a chosen partner, or perhaps he didn't dance the first dance at all. I had no way of knowing as this was all new to me.
As I thought this, I suddenly felt Soko and Maris shift their weight and grow jittery. I looked up to see why. Thaedon was heading directly toward them. A frown came across my face as I realized that he was going to pick one of them to dance with. I would have to throw the train over the arm of the chosen female so that she could dance. I would have to make sure that her dress was in place all while she waited for him to sweep her off her feet. I didn't know if I could handle it. I looked down at the ground, hoping that I would not have to watch this and just get through it in a series of quick movements.
"Excuse me," I heard his deep voice say.
"Of course, Master Kree. Either one of us would be delighted to join in the first movement," Soko said with a light, flirtatious silkiness to her voice.
"No, I meant excuse me, can I get by," he replied. I looked up to see him move between the sisters and come straight for me. Was this really happening? He held out his hand to me and said, "Will you join me for the first movement, please?"
I stood in shock. My mouth fell open. I could not move. I could hear the level of chatter in the arena grow very loud at his shocking maneuver. The sisters gasped in horror at his words. I wanted to stick my tongue out at them. I still stood frozen and he leaned into my ear and whispered, "It's all right, Ella. It is just you and I, just like before. Don't pay attention to anyone."
I put my hand in his and he led me out onto the dance floor where we danced. He was right; after a few seconds, I got lost in his eyes. His hand on the small of my back, guiding me, burned through my flesh. I had never had such an attractive male touch me in such a familiar and sensual way. My hand in his was receiving comfort as he would squeeze it every now and again to reassure me. I don't know how long we danced, but it was at least half of the evening. It was only when a Kalazaron warrior that I had not seen before came over to him and said, "Master Kree, sorry to intrude. However, there is much more to the coronation that requires your attention."
"Yes, Consulate Moscurn. I have forgotten myself. I will be with you," he said as he grabbed my hand and led me to the side of the arena. Then he gave me a sort of bow and went away with the consulate. I smiled at him, happy for the fun evening.
Moments later, the Loki sisters approached me. "What the hell was that all about? How dare you embarrass us in such away," Soko said.
Chapter 6
MASTER THAEDON KREE
The day after the coronation ceremony was filled with one lecture after another. It was unbelievable. I was the damn master; I should have the authority to do what I liked, when I liked it. Yet all the council and elders surrounding me each had their say about what I had done during the coronation ceremony. I had picked a human female that was painted blue like a Kalazaron female and gave her my full attention for more than half of the evening. The entire public disapproved of this. Yet I did not care. There were no rules about how we were supposed to behave during the coronation ceremony. I did what I wanted.
"I would think that you, Consulate Dalik Moscurn, would understand. You have a human female mate that is your only mate. You had to prove yourself twice in the Stanis Trials many, many years ago. Yet you stand here and lecture me about what I can and cannot do," I said as I paced back and forth in my council room.
"Yes, I did all those things. But I am merely consulate. I am not the master. The rules are different for you, my friend," he said to me.
"Yes, I am the master! I make up the rules!" I shouted in anger.
"It just does not seem right. You made a great offense to our own Kalazaron by choosing a human above the Kalazaron females at such a grand and sacred ceremony. The fact that you do not see that makes me think that you are not fit to be a master. You are way too young for this position. How you passed the trials, I do not know, but this in itself is a trial and you are failing!" the consulate said as he got in my face.
I pushed my chest against his in anger. "How dare you speak to me in such a manner! I am your master! Do not forget that! I passed those trials with my intellect and I could do it again and again proving that I am the best for this position."
The consulate gave me an angry look and stormed out of the council room. I was fuming with anger. How dare they try to tell me what I can and cannot do. "Summon Huine Srit for me," I said over the communication panel.
I waited for a Huine Srit to enter. Finally, he arrived.
"Huine Srit, I need you to research documents as far back as 100 Kalazaron years. I need all the information there is on captives and ownership. Anything particular to captive human females. I wish to transfer the ownership of a human female into my own ownership. She belongs to the Loki family and has been owned by them since she arrived to this planet. Do I, as master, have the authority to take her away from them and transfer her into my own ownership? I need to know this answer and I need to know as fast as you can research it."
"Yes, Master, right away."
"Go now," I said, dismissing him. It was up to knowledge one more time. This knowledge would let me know if I could rescue Ella from the horrible treatment that the Loki sisters were bestowing upon her.
It did not escape my attention that they painted her blue in some sort of ridiculous joke for their own amusement. It made me so angry when they stepped forward. I knew it was her as soon as I saw the sisters. Ella's green eyes were one-of-a-kind and could belong to no other. Seeing her carrying their dresses, painted all blue made me practice great restraint. It would not be good to start off my coronation ceremony by assaulting two awful Kalazaron sisters by slapping them in the face as punishment. I kept my anger locked up inside. It was when I was pulled forward to do the first movement of the dance that I had the brilliant idea to shut them down by taking Ella into my arms as the first dance.
Three days later, I met with Huine Srit again as he had news for me. Finally, he entered and displayed a holographic file of documents on the wall.
"Tell me, Huine Srit, did you find documents in support of what I want?"
"Yes, master, I did. It is right here. It reads from documents from 100 years ago. No alterations have been made to this rule, therefore it still stands today. The master shall have control to interfere with the ownership of a slave or captive as the master seems fit. The amount of time that the slave has been with one owner shall not make a difference in this law."
"So that's it then? I can order that the human slave Ella be transferred into my ownership. It does not matter that she has been with the Loki family since she arrived to the planet?"
"Yes, that is correct."
I smiled and patted Huine Srit on the back with one hard pat that made him step forward. "That is great news! See to the orders right away!"
"Yes, Master, right away," he said as he left the room.
I smiled and sat back in my chair. It was finally done. I did not have a plan for bringing Ella into my household other than transferring ownership. I would ask her what she wanted. I would not force her to be my mate. She could live in my quarters as a free slave for all purposes, but I would have to retain ownership of her. It was the Kalazaron way. There was no such thing as a human without an owner, but it was up to that owner how to treat the human. I would treat her as a free creature. She could do as she wanted. I hoped that she would accept this.
Twenty-four hours later, I was met with the most uncomfortable news.
"Master, it seems that Fraon Loki already transferred ownership of the human female Ella Capricio."
"What! To whom?"
"To his brother," Huine Srit said to m
e.
"Who is this brother? Let us begin transfer of ownership from the brother," I said in anger.
"It is not that easy. It seems there is a complication."
"What complication?! Spit it out, Huine Srit!" I shouted at him, growing very impatient.
"The brother is a general. He is stationed at Belvenreed."
"Shit!" I threw a chair against the wall.
"As you know, Belvenreed has been—"
"Yes, I know. We lost communication with them this morning. They are under heavy attack from the rebel forces. They have been holding them at the gates. That was the last we heard before reinforcements were sent a few hour ago."
"Yes, that is correct. This matter of the human female will have to wait until communication is back online and the rebel invasion has been defeated."
"When was she transferred?"
