Palace of Moonlight

by Payton Taylor

  Jo and Marzanna both wanted to crawl under a rock and spent most of their time avoiding having contact with anyone outside of their group. Though, Marzanna did seem to be on friendly terms with one of the tamer crew members. She often talked to him during and after his work while Khione stared daggers at them from the background.

  Leo had the oddest reaction to the raunchy sailors. While he pretended to flirt and joke with them when he was around them, she noticed he spent less and less time above deck. At least, less and less time visible above deck. She sensed him, that same thoughtless vacuum roaming about, often crouched overhead.

  Jo still wasn't sure what to think of Leo since he had helped them escape. She wanted to believe that his help meant he'd been telling the truth all along. But. . . if he had been telling the truth all this time, then she'd been unnecessarily cruel to him.

  No, she'd been a straight-up bitch.

  The few times she saw him, present and visible to all, she felt too awkward to talk to him about anything. She always seized up, not knowing what to say so she settled for painfully awkward small talk.

  Leo wasn't any better. He said very little and almost never looked her in the eye.

  She just wanted them to be friends again, but she wasn't sure how to get there.

  "Ayven," Sunny gritted out through clenched teeth as she came stomping up the stairs.

  Ayven's eyes flicked up from his lunch to land on her. "Yes?" he asked, arching a lazy brow.

  Just then, Sunny's head whipped to the side. Jo saw through her mind that Gordo was tiptoeing out of a room, face flushed and adjusting his pants.

  Sunny grimaced. Gordo, what did you do?

  When the words entered Gordo's mind, his eyes widened at being caught. He raised his hands, a shriek leaving his lips as he ran away.

  Typical teenager , Jo thought.

  Sunny sighed, eyes looking up to the ceiling as if asking for patience before she turned to Ayven, crossing her arms. "If you don't make your crew stop with all their perverted thoughts, I'm going to end up killing someone."

  Ayven rolled his eyes. "I can hardly control their thoughts."

  "I could," Jo said, meeting his gaze with a hard stare.

  Either you make them control themselves, or I’ll do it for you, she spoke in his mind and he cringed at the intrusion.

  "Fine, fine," he waved a hand in the air. "I'll deal with it."

  At that moment, Marzanna came bounding into the dining room, a bundle of flowers in her hands. "Look at these! Foreign species from Pocaea I've never got to grow before! Jude found the seeds in the greenhouse room and let me have some." Jude was the crew member she had been spending time with, and he ran the greenhouse that grew food for the times they weren't able to stop for provisions.

  Khione tossed her napkin on her plate and glared at the wall from beneath her lashes.

  Though Marzanna's face didn't shift from its pleasant expression, Jo sensed a certain aura of satisfaction coming from her thoughts.

  As if sensing the tension between the two, Cianna sat up and said, "Weapons!"

  All heads turned to look at her in question.

  "You're going to need weapons in the Wastes, I've been thinking about it the last few days. We have an armory and, with what you're paying us, I think it's more than fair to let you take your pick."

  A sea of heads swiveled in Ayven's direction, wondering if that was true.

  "What?" he said, "That's Cianna's department, not mine. Go with her."

  The group rose from the table and followed Cianna through the ship, lower and lower, until she stopped in front of a heavy metal door. Reaching out, she put her hand on a scanner, which made a small beeping noise before the locks released with a whoosh.

  When they entered the room, Jo stopped in her tracks and Leo let out a low whistle. There were weapons everywhere. Swords, knives, daggers, maces. Every type of bow imaginable. As well as an assortment of things Jo had never even seen before. They hung from the walls and ceiling and sat displayed in neat rows on tables. Each weapon gleamed sharply, and even Jo could tell they were kept sharpened and ready to use at a moment's notice.

  Cianna moved forward, her hand trailing lightly over the weapons as she passed. She was obviously in her element. "Alright, who's first? Who knows what they want?"

  Surprisingly, it was Zahra who stepped forward first, her dark eyes gleaming as she picked up a set of bolas.

  Cianna grinned, "Excellent choice. Those are great because they can activate a laser system that runs along the line, so they're capable of cutting through pretty much anything. Give it a try," she nodded to a straw dummy across the room.

  After Cianna showed her how to activate the lasers, Zahra swept her long, black hair over her shoulder and gave them a test twirl. She spun them faster before letting them loose, the bolas spinning through the air before making contact with the dummy's head, severing it in one fell swoop.

  "Damn, Zahra," Sunny said with a grin. Zahra grinned back and gave a mock bow.

  Cianna's gaze locked on to something at the back of the group and Jo turned to find Seren holding a recurve bow, the muscles of his shoulders flexing as he tested it.

  Several knives, along with a fire blaster, were already strapped to his belt.

  Cianna smiled, "I appreciate a man who knows what he wants," she said with a wink.

  Seren smiled sheepishly, his gaze still fixed on his hands as he strung the bow.

  Kian stepped forward next, grabbing a simple but wickedly sharp sword from a nearby rack. He tested it against his thumb.

  "Boring," Leo called from the background. "How are you going to make an impression with that?"

  "It doesn't matter, I kill best with my bare hands," Kian said without looking up. He seemed resigned and Zahra placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. His gaze softened as he looked up at her.

  "Umm, I don't really know how to use any weapons," Marzanna spoke up. "Violence is so. . . ugly."

  "I can teach you to use a bow," Seren offered. "It's a distance weapon, so you can be far away from the violence."

  Marzanna smiled, still looking unsure, "Thank you, Seren. That's very kind of you."

  "I don't know anything about weapons, either," Khione said as she watched Seren show Marzanna how to hold a bow.

  "You seem like a knife girl," Leo said, snatching up a pair of throwing daggers. "I can show you how to use them, some basic steps, at least. They take years to master," he said smugly.

  "Let me guess, the sharp end is the stabby end?"

  Khione said as she took the daggers.

  Leo just grinned, "Now you got it. Practically an expert already."

  He reached over and grabbed a thick leather belt loaded down with a set of matching ornate silver knives.

  His shirt rode up as he strapped the belt around his hips, revealing a sliver of his tanned, toned, stomach. It was surprisingly defined.

  Jo!

  Jo jumped as Sunny's voice entered her mind.

  Sunny smirked, Caught ya.

  Jo flushed, I don’t know what you’re talking about. You were totally checking out Leo. Don’t deny it.

  Jo rolled her eyes and stepped forward, fighting the blush she felt rising in her cheeks. "Do you have any swords meant for dual wielding?"

  Cianna perked up. "I have something over here." She walked over and rummaged around a stack before taking out two matching swords, sleek and curved, the silver metal of their blades gleaming. She flipped them, handing them to Jo, hilt-first.

  Jo reached out and took them, finding them perfectly balanced in her palms. She gave them each a test swing, getting a feel for them.

  Cianna grinned, "Touch the hilts together."

  Frowning, Jo touched the hilts and they locked together. Then, Cianna told her to twist and pull. Jo did as she was told and the hilts expanded, lengthening into a double-bladed staff that was about the same height as Jo.

  Jo grinned, giving it an experimental twirl, feeling like Darth Maul f
rom Star Wars. She looked back at Sunny who shook her head, smiling.

  "Yeah, yeah, I know, just like Star Wars." She looked to Cianna. "I'm not sure what I want. I'm good with a staff, but I want something more. . . multi-functional, if that makes sense."

  Cianna thought for a moment before going back to the corner of the room. She came back with a staff that had a sharp, deadly spike on each end. It was made of a strange material, neither wood nor metal.

  Cianna reached out and twisted it near the middle and the staff went limp in Sunny's hands, seeming to lengthen as it did so. It looked like a- "Is this a whip?" she asked.

  Cianna smiled and nodded.

  Sunny couldn't help but grin as she turned and cracked the weapon through the air. It made a satisfying thwack as the sharp spike on the end tore through the straw dummy she had been aiming for.

  "Oh, I'm going to like this," she said, gazing at it the way she used to gaze at a new pair of dance shoes.

  Cianna helped them all to find sheaths and belts for their weapons, as well as whetstones and oilcloths.

  As they left, Leo fell to the back of the group next to Jo, who was still twirling her new staff.

  "When, exactly, did you learn to use a sword?" he asked.

  Jo looked up, and for once he met her gaze. The irises of his angular eyes were dark brown, almost black. They were beautiful.

  She shook her head, clearing her mind. "I learned a lot while I was treating you like a traitor. I was awful," she said. She wanted to look away, but she forced herself to hold his gaze.

  Leo seemed to consider her statement. "Does this mean you believe me?"

  Jo swallowed. "After what you did, I don't see how I couldn't. I should have believed you in the first place. I'm sorry."

  She expected a witty comeback, but instead, he smiled softly, "Does this mean we're friends again?"

  Jo felt the corners of her lips tug upward, "I suppose so. I never did thank you, you know, for everything you did to get me and Sunny out of there." She shook her head, "How can I ever repay you for what you did?"

  Leo grinned, "I can think of a few ways," he said, the two rings in his left eyebrow reflecting the light as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  Jo laughed, glad to have him back. As she laughed, she felt the blush creeping up her neck to her cheeks. That was new.

  Chapter 11

  Khione

  Writhia, 5220

  The Lussan Sea

  Who knew pirates liked to dance?

  Khione certainly hadn't, but she supposed she shouldn't be surprised about anything where Ayven Eris was concerned.

  Though they didn't do it every night, the crew spent many evenings drinking and dancing to the blaring music and wreaking havoc on Khione's last nerve.

  At least the liquor is good, she thought as she swallowed the dark brown liquid. It made its way down her throat with a satisfying burn.

  A flash of color caught her eye and she turned to watch Marzanna dancing with Jude. The man who couldn't keep his eyes to himself. Or his hands, for that matter.

  Khione scowled as he grabbed at Marzanna's waist.

  It’s not like I can blame him, she thought as she poured herself another glass from the crystal decanter she'd taken from the bar.

  She couldn't even be that mad because he seemed like a nice guy. While the rest of the crew pressed their bodies close together, grinding to the beat of the music, Marzanna and Jude were twirling together, laughing.

  Khione could feel Marzanna's bright giddiness from across the deck.

  The sight of her, carefree and happy as she danced, reminded Khione of the first night they had met.

  The pulsing lights of the dark club left blinding echoes of color on the backs of Khione’s eyelids each time she blinked. The music blared so loudly it was as if no other sound existed, and she felt herself get swept up with the beat.

  Khione loved to dance. She wasn't particularly good at it, but she craved the thumping beat of the music, the feeling of bodies surrounding her, lost in their own thoughts, their own desires, their own worlds. Her worries, her concerns, her past, worked their way from her mind and out of her body with her sweat and the sway of her hips.

  It was the only time she didn't have to think. She only needed to feel.

  Gryffin and Elianna, two of the palace guards, were at the edge of the dance floor playing a drinking game with a few of the servants who had tagged along. Parched, she was about to head over to them when she saw a flash of color out of the corner of her eye.

  The crowd almost seemed to part around the beautiful woman, who obviously wasn’t from around there. Her dark skin seemed to glow under the lights. Her dress consisted of pale pink fabric draped around her body in artful folds, adorned with delicate gold stitching around the edges. Her hair was twisted into dozens of thin braids with what looked like real flowers woven throughout. Against the backdrop of the club, she almost didn’t seem real.

  She was the most beautiful person Khione had ever seen.

  Then, Khione had blinked, confused when she saw the woman reach into a small velvet pouch, pulling out a tiny vial of liquid which she handed to a stranger, who had seemed very grateful.

  Concerned, Khione had sidled up to her and cleared her throat. The woman had turned to look at her, and Khione had felt for the first time the full force of Marzanna’s emerald-green eyes.

  Play it cool, she thought. Aiming for nonchalance,

  Khione asked, “Handing out party favors?”

  Marzanna had turned to her with a smile, her eyes widening at the sight of Khione before settling into a knowing look.

  Khione felt herself blush. That was a shock; Khione never blushed. She coughed, forcing herself back on track and arching her brow.

  Marzanna laughed, a tinkling sound. “It is not drugs, if that is what you are wondering.” She had a thick accent, and Khione struggled to place it. “It is only a remedy for hangovers. All natural ingredients. Would you like to try some?” She reached into her bag and pulled out another vial.

  Khione breathed out a sigh of relief. She smiled, “Maybe you should save that for yourself,” she said, turning and grabbing a glass of wine off the tray of a passing waiter. Its deep reddish orange color told her it was pomegranate wine from Thaerene, the best that money could buy. She handed it to Marzanna, who had smiled, her gaze not leaving Khione’s as she took a drink.

  Tipsy, they had made their way to the dance floor. At first, it had started out as a carefree sway of the hips, their bodies not touching. But it was as if something was pulling them together, at least that was how it had felt to Khione, and she began to lean closer.

  Tentatively, she had reached out, placing her hands on Marzanna’s hips. Her eyes sought Marzanna’s, asking if it was alright. Marzanna had smiled and draped her arms over Khione’s shoulders, pulling her closer.

  Their faces were inches away, and Khione’s eyes had widened as Marzanna had leaned in, closing the distance and pressing her lips against Khione’s.

  Pure elation was what Khione had felt, followed by a shock of electricity that had seemed to arc through both of their bodies, causing them to gasp.

  One of Marzanna’s hands skimmed down her side while the other tangled in her hair, pulling her closer. Her lips were soft but urgent, and Khione had wrapped her arms around Marzanna’s neck, standing on her tiptoes in an effort to get closer.

  Khione couldn’t get enough. The soft curves of her body. The delicate floral scent of her hair.

  Khione couldn’t believe this was her Match.

  The thought rang true in her mind and Khione gasped, pulling back.

  “You’re my Match,” she said, the shock mixing with the alcohol to make her lightheaded. The club seemed to spin around her, Marzanna the only steady point in the room know.”

  Marzanna had smiled the brightest of smiles. “I

  There weren’t enough drinks in the world to make

  Khione forget that night.

 
They had danced and kissed and touched until Khione had ached. Khione was buzzing with the fact that she could not only feel her own want, her own desire, but she could feel Marzanna’s, too. It grew between them, connecting them as their bodies moved together in a way that physical touches never could. Heightening every emotion, every touch, so that they were swimming in each other’s need until they couldn’t tell where one of them ended and the other began.

  She had just been on the verge of working up the courage to ask Marzanna back to her place when the other woman's contact had buzzed.

  Marzanna had glanced at it, a surprisingly foul curse leaving her lips before she pulled away. "I have to go," she said, her eyes blinking slowly as she seemed to collect herself.

  Disappointment surged through Khione at her words, mirroring Marzanna’s. Her mind raced, looking for a reason for her to stay.

  Marzanna smiled down at her, holding out her contact. "Link with me?"

  Khione couldn't suppress her grin as she pulled out her own contact and touched it against Marzanna's. There was a dull beep as their contacts linked, their information exchanged.

  Marzanna turned to go, but whirled back at the last second and leaned down to place a lingering kiss on Khione's lips. She pulled back with a smile, her eyes closed. Content.

  Then she was gone, her dress swishing behind her as she made her way through the crowd. Reverie. A loud buzzing had Khione jolting out of her

  Sighing, she picked up her contact to find a message from one of the commanders she had left in charge in Vianna. The queen was still just as ill as when she had last seen her. The bombings had let up a bit, however, as the king had focused on the search for Jo and Noelani.

  She sent back a quick message telling them to keep her updated. As she finished typing, her eyes strayed to Marzanna's contact information, still there after all those years.

  It was strange. She had known Marzanna for so long, but she barely knew anything about her. The things she did know she had learned from sleepless nights of research, pouring over articles and interviews about the princess from various Morianan sources.