Sloane

by D. A. Stafford

  Lian sulked. “When I was coming down the stairs, one of them”—he hitched his thumb over his shoulder— “threw a hard object straight at my forehead. Caught off guard, the object struck me.”

  Sloane looked around the room, taking in all of the boys’ evil little smiles. She helped Lyon up as she asked, “Cloray? Can you bring all the children into the kitchen, please?”

  “Of course.”

  It didn’t take long for all of them to pour into the kitchen. Cloray was the last one and he nodded at her to continue.

  “I thank you all for welcoming me into your home and lives. Since you’ve limited knowledge of females in general, and even less of Earth females, I’m going to let you know what I can do regarding work.”

  All the boys hung on her every word. They looked to her as if she had the answers to life. “The truth is . . . I can do anything you can do. I was a teacher on my planet. I liked to do physical activities, like running, gardening, and cooking.”

  The boys were in awe of her. She could tell they couldn’t fathom that a female could or would want to do anything. “I’d like to know how to cook the food you have here on Arenia. It’s different than what we have on Earth. I’m sure once I get the basics down, I can help out more.”

  She turned to Lian and Lyon. “Do you know how to cook?”

  “Of course not, we had servants.”

  “Well, now you don’t. You’ll learn right alongside me.”

  They both looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “You . . . we . . . what? I mean . . . no,” Lian spat.

  She noticed both men jumped when the boys behind them did something to their backs.

  “Boys, I’ll handle this.” She again focused on the two men. “If you two aren’t here to contribute to these boys’ lives, then you need to go back to the palace. If you choose to stay, you’ll learn some new skills, like cleaning, cooking, gardening, and whatever else they do here.”

  “Fine,” Lyon gritted out as they both rubbed their backs.

  Sloane put on an apron one of the boys gave her. She tossed the other two aprons to Lian and Lyon. “Okay then, let’s get started.”

  The boys were just as eager to show her their knowledge of cooking as she was to absorb it. Lian and Lyon seemed to soften up to the idea of cooking as they sloppily chopped vegetables for the first time. After a while, most filtered out of the kitchen to do other activities, leaving a handful of boys doing an array of kitchen duties.

  One of the older boys, named Moloky, was showing them the different flours and sweeteners he used to make different confections and breads. She was amazed by his knowledge. “How did you learn all of this?”

  Moloky perked up at the question. “Years of practice.”

  “Well, you’re certainly very talented. You should go to the palace and be a chef there.”

  “I’m just an orphan. They won’t want me.”

  Lian spoke up, “When is your age of majority?”

  “Next week,” he said with a smile.

  “Then when the royal family comes back to check on things, Lyon and I will speak to them and inform them of your talents. They will want you at the palace.”

  Moloky was excited, but the excitement came just as quickly as it fled. “I thank you, but I can’t.”

  “Why?” Lyon inquired.

  “I have two younger brothers here. I planned to stay here and cook until they became of age.”

  Comprehension crossed Lian and Lyon’s faces, but seemed to elude Sloane. “I don’t understand. Why can’t your brothers go with you? They’re your family.”

  Lian explained, “The palace isn’t an orphanage. It’s a place where the kings and queen live and where planetary business is conducted.”

  “How old are your brothers?” Lyon asked.

  “They’re both a year younger. They’re twins.”

  “We’re not promising anything, but let Lian and I see what we can do.”

  Moloky’s smile blossomed. “Thank you. It means a lot to me. I know I can do a good job.”

  Lyon grasped the boy on the shoulder. “There’s no question you’d do a fine job for the royal family.”

  They continued with their cooking lessons and Moloky tried to teach them how to make a traditional Arenian confection that resembled a chocolate cake. She watched as Lyon mixed the batter with the motorized hand mixer. Setting the mixer on the counter, Moloky decided there wasn’t enough sweetener in the batter, so he dumped more into the bowl. Lyon picked up the mixer, and before he placed it in the batter, he accidentally turned it on.

  Dark batter flung everywhere. It was on them, the counters, the cupboards, and even the ceiling, but most of the batter flew at her because she was right beside Lyon. Silence fell across the room. Everyone’s wide eyes searched hers for signs of anger.

  Sloane looked in shock at the mess Lyon had made. Moloky, Lian, and Lyon all had batter splattered on their aprons, faces, and hair. They all looked ridiculous.

  Everyone was frozen in fear as though she’d explode in anger over the mistake. She started to laugh. Not just chuckling, but belly jiggling, tears rolling down her face, laughing. Moloky was the first to crack a smile. Lian and Lyon were still trying to figure out what went wrong when she stuck her hands in the bowl, then brought her hands up to their faces and smeared it everywhere.

  Lian grabbed some of the dark concoction and lobbed it at her. Sloane ducked, but she wasn’t fast enough. The mush caught part of her neck and shoulder.

  She laughed as she took her dirty hands and placed them on both sides of Moloky’s face. He laughed, grabbed a handful of batter, and threw it at some of the other boys. After that, it was an all-out food fight. She laughed as the boys, Lian, and Lyon continued to lob food at one another. Lian and Lyon were wonderful with the children. Now that they knew she meant business, they were accepting of the tasks they’d be partaking in.

  Her happiness was short lived, because she noticed her skin had a burning sensation to it. She raised her hands to look at them, and where the batter had touched her skin—which was the entire surface of both hands—her skin was flame red and swelling. She immediately went to the sink and rinsed her hands off. Her fingers looked like little sausages.

  “Wait!” She yelled over the laughter. “I don’t theel good. My tong and troat are tinling.” She slurred the words as she tried to tamp down her panic, pulling in as much air to her lungs as she could. “I’m allergic to cimmon,” she tried to say, but wasn’t sure if the words came out.

  As her men ran toward her, she caught sight of poor little Coyak crying as the scene unfolded before him. His sad, cherubic face was the last thing she saw before darkness overtook her.

  Chapter 7

  Lian and Lyon sprang into action. Lyon picked Sloane up and cradled her to his chest like a child. Her lifeless body flopped a little as he and Lian ran to the bathing facility. Lian hailed the commlink directly to the Princess. Jessie instantly asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Sloane. We were cooking with the children, and she got batter on her skin. Where the batter touched her skin, it’s red, puffy, and blistering in spots. She said she’s allergic to something called cimmon. What’s cimmon?”

  “Cinnamon! It’s a spice on Earth. Do Arenians have cinnamon?”

  “No! What does it look like? How is it grown or harvested?”

  Frantic, Jessie sputtered, “God, I don’t know! It usually comes in a powder form, or something that resembles a stick. It’s reddish brown. I don’t know what else to tell you. You have to help her, Lian. I can’t lose her again.”

  Ignoring Jessie’s last statement, he continued his questioning. “Is the stick grown from the ground or clipped from a tree?”

  “No, it’s the bark of a tree that, when it’s shaved off and dried, it curls into itself, making it look like a small stick.”

  Lian shouted to his brother, “Peeta!”

  Lian ended the transmission before Jessie could ask any more questions.
As they entered the bathing facility, Lian snapped, “Get her in the shower. We need to clean the batter off her and ourselves.”

  Moloky brought an ancient, handheld healing unit to him. Lian immediately put the probe on Sloane’s swollen, blistering neck. She immediately choked as her body started to take in the much-needed oxygen.

  Lyon ordered everyone out of the room, but told Cloray he’d need to bring a freshly laundered sheet to cover her and some clothes for himself and his brother. Cloray scurried away to do Lyon’s bidding.

  Lian stripped off his clothes, then washed the batter off himself quickly and efficiently. When he was done, Lyon handed a still-unconscious Sloane over. Lian let her legs down and hung onto her slight weight by her ribcage.

  Lyon started ripping off his clothes, then quickly started on Sloane’s. They all got under the cool water, and while Lian continued to hold her, Lyon washed her, starting on her hair near her scalp and working his way all the way down to her toes.

  He then washed himself. Lian handed Sloane back over to his brother before he washed himself one more time to get all remnants of batter off himself.

  Cloray returned, handing them the things Lyon had requested, all the while averting his eyes from Sloane’s naked form.

  Lian wrapped her in the sheet then put some pants on. Lyon handed Sloane over and put pants on as well. They headed out of the bathing facility and upstairs to their room, but couldn’t help noticing all the children were gathered outside the door, concern etched on all their faces.

  On the way, Lyon asked Cloray, “Why is the healing unit so dated? There have to be at least five updated versions after that one.”

  Cloray’s head fell. “We have so many children and not enough credits.”

  “What do you do when the children get hurt on the practice field? A serious injury is beyond that unit’s capability.”

  Cloray opened the door to their room for them. Lian placed Sloane on her bed and situated her so her arms were free from the sheet. As they were tending to her, Cloray’s embarrassment scented the air. “We don’t practice. It’s too big of a risk.”

  Lian and Lyon both stopped fussing over Sloane and turned to look at him.

  Cloray’s confidence finally bolstered. “It’s either that or not being able to feed or clothe the children. I had to make sacrifices for the children’s well-being. I’m not sorry and will not apologize.”

  It was their turn to hang their heads. “Lyon and I understand. This will change as soon as we’re able to procure a new healing unit. Do not despair. You did what you had to do to ensure their survival. You should be commended, but for now, Sloane is our first priority.”

  Cloray smiled. “As she should be. She’s a remarkable female. I’ve never seen these children smile as they have since she arrived. Coyak barely even talked before today. His mother was very cruel to him.”

  Just then, they all heard a groan come from Sloane. Cloray backed out of the room, shutting the door as he went.

  Lian and Lyon knelt on each side of her bed, stroking her hair and the unaffected parts of her arms. “Sloane? Wake up, fara. Talk to us.”

  Sloane’s eyelids fluttered open and she croaked out, “What happened?”

  The two men didn’t realize they were holding their breath until they let out a collective sigh of relief. “You had an allergic reaction to a spice grown here which is probably a distant relative to your Earth cinnamon.”

  “Is Coyak all right?”

  Lyon looked at Lian with concern. “You’re confused. Coyak is fine. It’s you who had the allergy.”

  “I’m not confused. He was scared and crying. I just want to make sure he’s okay.” Sloane tried to get up, but they carefully kept her lying down.

  “We’ll have him brought here, but you need to relax and rest. You’re still very red and swollen. It may upset him more to see you like this.”

  Sloane started to pat herself as if to check her injuries. She raised her hands to assess them. There were some blisters on her hands, but the redness had diminished a bit.

  It was then that Sloane noticed she was nude except for a sheet. “Can you grab me some clothes?”

  Lyon smiled. “Since most of the reaction is centralized to your hands, neck, and parts of your face, you may put on a bonding gown. It will leave those parts exposed and we’ll be able to treat the affected areas with an ointment.”

  Sloane looked at them with absurdity. “And where, pray tell, are we going to find one of those? Because I sure as hell didn’t pack one.”

  “Funny you should ask. Lian has one packed away in his things.”

  Sloane laughed. “Well, I hope it’s his size, because I’m not wearing it.”

  It was Lian’s turn to snicker. “The choice is yours. The sheet or the gown?”

  Sloane looked like she was about to argue, when Lyon cut her off. “I personally like the sheet, because we’re able to take in the beautiful sight of your lush pink nipples.”

  She immediately crossed her arms over her breasts.

  “Or the dark patch of hair at the juncture of your thighs.”

  “Fine! I’ll put the gown on,” Sloane yelled as she tried covering her intimate parts.

  As if conjuring it up from thin air, Lian presented the lower half of the two-piece gown to her. She tried grabbing it out of his hands.

  Lyon tsked his tongue. “Your fingers are still too swollen to maneuver the clasps.”

  They could see the tears brimming in her eyes. “You guys are just going to take advantage of me like this.”

  They stepped back like she’d struck them. “Lian and I would never take advantage of you. You mean the world to us. Please let us help you.”

  Sloane rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to be deeper in debt than I already am with you two.”

  Lyon looked at his brother in puzzlement. “You have no debt with us. Why can’t you accept help when it’s presented to you?”

  Her tears fell freely down her face and it was killing them not to comfort her. “Because it always comes at a price,” she finally shouted.

  Hearing enough, Lyon stormed out the door, slamming it as he left.

  Lian gently turned her face to look at him. “We’d never withhold healing from you, or anyone else, for that matter, over some arbitrary fee. Why do you think so poorly of us?”

  Embarrassment flamed her face and scented the air. “I’m sorry. That was rude. I didn’t mean to . . .”

  “Say what was on your mind?” Lian finished for her.

  Apprehension was evident on her face, but she continued. “It’s just . . . no one except for Jessie has ever done anything for me without expecting something in return. It’s why I rely on myself for everything.”

  Lian swiped at the tears rolling down her cheek. “You must be so lonely.”

  She obviously didn’t know what to say, so she stayed silent. Lian rose from her side, his bare torso on full display for her perusal. He ignored her stare and said, “I have an idea. Do you trust me?”

  “Of course. I trust you both. I know you’d never do anything to hurt me.”

  Lian smiled at her. “That means a lot to Lyon and me, fara.”

  “Why do you call me that?” she asked.

  “Fara? It’s because you truly were sent from the Goddess herself.”

  She chuckled. “I’m no different than any other Earth female.”

  “Oh, but you’re wrong. These children have never known love like yours.”

  “How do you arrive at that conclusion? All I’ve managed to do in several hours of being here is make a spectacle of myself, having an allergic reaction to some food in the kitchen.”

  “Your presence alone and the fact that you made the effort to get to know as many of these children as possible is all they require for the time being. You have their undying loyalty for such respect. They’ve already caused mischief with Lyon and I because we upset you. I know in my heart that as soon as the swelling on your body has subsided, you�
�ll be right back down there, interested in everything the children do. You’ll help build their confidence, be a female they can talk to, you’ll sympathize with them when things don’t quite work out, and protect them with your last breath. You’re a fara.”

  She stared at him as if she were just seeing him for the first time. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “Thank you for making me feel like I’m someone special.”

  “You are special. Now, let’s try something to get you covered up. Did you bring all your belongings with you?

  “Yes.”

  “Then you have under coverings for your top half and your sweats pants?”

  “Sweatpants, and yes, I have them. Why?”

  Lian rummaged around in her luggage until he found what he was looking for. He came back with one of her lacy bras and helped her slip her hands through the arm holes of the bra. He rested the cups on her breasts but over the sheet.

  “I’ll help you sit up, then I’ll fasten the back clasp.”

  Sloane did what she was told, and when Lian finished, he helped her lie back down.

  The bra was on, but the sheet was still trapped in the confines of it. Lian slowly pulled the sheet down until it was free. He took the top portion of the sheet and folded it over her lower half, baring her bra-clad breasts and stomach.

  He then started getting her into the baggy pants under the sheets, pulling them as high as he could get without removing the cover. When the pants were nestled just below her buttocks, he said, “I’m going to hold the sheet around you while I help you to a sitting position with your feet on the floor.”

  He bent down to hold the sheet around her waist, holding it firmly in back as she complied with his directive.

  “Again, I’ll hold the sheet as I help you stand.”

  Sloane again complied, and both stood as one. He stood there, looking down into her beautiful golden-brown eyes, lust dancing on the edge of them.

  Clearing his throat, he said, “I’m going to let go of the sheet.” When she was about to protest, he cut her off. “I’ll continue to look into your eyes as I reach down and continue to pull your pants the rest of the way up. I won’t look, Sloane. I promise.”