Page 18 of Stone Awakened

“Agatha, such a pretty name for a pretty woman. I came to see you, actually,” Carator drawled in a fair impression of a flirty voice. Then his tone turned hard and cold, “You’re not going to deny me your company tonight. Come, follow Atra, she’ll make sure you are properly attired.” He was separating us, taking Aggy away from her job and the kids. A sick feeling started in the pit of my stomach, what would she have to go through to make it to the deadline I’d set with my brothers? Was two days too long?

My Fire brushed her hands over her skirts with her head tilted at a snobbish angle as if she was contemplating saying no. My throat closed up in fear, if she did, I wasn’t sure if Carator wasn’t above simply drawing the short knife holstered on his hip and cutting her throat. No one said no to a male like this and lived to tell about it, not unless you were willing to cut his throat. I was willing, but I wasn’t sure I’d survive fighting the two Xurtal females, they had that look of zealous loyalty about them.

I allowed my hand to drift closer to my blade, preparing just in case. I ignored the sparks of pain that spider-webbed across my body as my battle-form skin tried to tighten more. Aggy delicately held out her palm to the Crimelord, curtsying demurely while her eyes remained as cold as his. “I am honored with the invitation,” she said, her fingers curling into the Rummicaron’s palm as he took her hand. They turned together, the Crimelord handing her palm off to the crook of his elbow, escorting her like a gentleman from the courtyard.

One of the Xurtal females glided ahead of them, her green body all lethal grace. Whoever had trained these females had been an expert, working with real talent. I was past my Prime fighting days, for two of them, I wouldn’t be a match, a galling thought to swallow. Especially when every instinct inside me was clamoring to snatch up my knife and cut off the male’s head for touching Aggy.

“You!” the Crimelord called out, I almost jumped out of my skin, wondering if he’d read the murderous thoughts on my face. “Follow Iol, she’ll see you geared up, I’m promoting you to my personal guard. I want to see what you’re made of, do not fail me.” He gestured imperiously with a hand at the second female guarding his back, and while she kept looking at me, he had already lost all attention, focusing solely on Aggy hanging from his arm.

I had no choice but to follow, but I made sure to skewer Uron with a fierce warning glare, then shared a look with my son. I could see the fear and worry on his face, but he gave me a warrior's nod, his arm and wing curling around Amar. A vow to look after the smaller boy. My heart hurt for how much responsibility he carried on his young shoulders.

Uron at least seemed to square his shoulders and gave me a pat of his fist against his chest. It was almost a gladiator’s salute and I wondered if he’d guessed my past. Or if it was just an instinctive way for him to show respect, there was a reason the gesture had stuck among the many different races in the gladiator arena.

I followed the Crimelord and Aggy into the palace, and we were escorted through several winding corridors, up stairs, and into the more richly appointed areas. I didn’t dare look back, because the Xurtal female I was supposed to follow, Iol, was watching my every move. Aggy was similarly trying hard to act as if all her attention was completely on the Crimelord escorting her.

Then we were forced to part ways and I fought with the instinct not to go after my female, I hated leaving her alone. She wasn’t trained, she wasn’t a fighter, all she had was her wits. Though they were sharp, they wouldn’t be a match for a Crimelord intent on seeing her in his bed by the end of the night.

I stayed the course, with effort, following Iol deeper into the palace, towards where I knew the armory was located. I could make a good thing out of this, this part at least, access to the armory would be a huge boon. So as Iol strode about the room, kitting me out with a new uniform and better weapons, I made sure to snatch the opportunity each time her back was turned.

I could only hope that Uron would do his best to care for the boys tonight and that Aggy was safe for now. It was still a few hours until dinner, and I had to come up with a plan. Internally I cursed Or’tal ten times over, why had he put me on Carator’s radar? Was he trying to maneuver me away from Jett? Those thoughts filled me all day, as Iol handed me off to another male who explained my new duties.

*

Agatha

I was shaking all over as I shimmied into the dress Arta held out to me with a scowl on her beautiful face. Her teeth were sharp points, filed down, as was the practice for warrior class Xurtal I’d learned. The green female had her black hair up in a high ponytail, her skin painted in stripes of glittering silver to accentuate each of her sleek muscles. I was extremely intimidated by her, and she seemed to think I was the dirt beneath the heel of her fancy leather boot.

The dress was made of shimmering fabric, silver and red, it had to be wrapped around my body as if I was a Christmas present. First, they’d bathed me, washed and styled my hair, lasered every unwanted hair from my body, and then they’d scented me with perfume from golden bottles. I had never felt more like a doll than I had at that moment, or a lamb being prepared for slaughter.

Why were they doing this to me? I was thirty-eight, a single school teacher from Minnesota, plucked out of her time. I was ten pounds overweight, with boobs that had started to give up the fight with gravity, I was nothing special compared to a female like the Xurtal guarding me. Was it just because I was the exotic species out here? Or because I hadn’t fawned over him on day one? I couldn’t understand this mindset but I was utterly terrified and didn't know how to stop this.

As the collared slaves that had attended me so far started wrapping me up in the damn dress, I started to feel as if I was the one being shackled. Could I endure? Was it worth it? I closed my eyes and bit my lip as I let the possibilities sink in. It was shocking to discover that, yes, I could do this, was the answer drifting through my mind. Sunder, the kids, and I had to survive two days, if this is what it took to get Amar and Jett out of here safely? Then yes, wholeheartedly. Whatever it took.

Those fighting thoughts still filled me as I was escorted through the palace to the formal dining room where the Crimelord was holding court. My hands were clammy, my heart was pounding, and I was starting to think I wasn’t as strong after all. Then I saw the bastard sitting in an ornately carved chair, his cold eyes surveying the girls dancing in see-through scarves and nothing else. He looked bored, completely unaffected by the display.

Guards were scattered throughout the room, their backs to the wall next to each point of entry. They were even patrolling around the vast space, laser rifles in their arms. The amazing amount of security was overwhelming, and then I spotted Sunder, walking side by side with another guard. He was wearing a sharp black leather kilt, a snugly fitted uniform jacket on top, and some kind of body armor over his chest. He looked dangerous and sexy, it took my breath away.

We made eye contact as if we were magnets drawn to each other, even across the space of this vast room. I could see how his wings twitched, his eyes heating, and for the first time that night, I felt less like a trussed-up turkey and more like a sexy woman.

The moment couldn’t last, I was made to sit next to the Crimelord on a pillow, a low table set down in front of us. There were no guests, it was just me and him, a flock of beautiful alien dancing girls, and a horde of guards. Why were so many guards here? When he walked about the palace with only the two Xurtal females?

The answer to that question puzzled me all throughout the meal. There was a minimal amount of small talk, but the Rummicaron didn’t seem to care for conversation. Every so many minutes, a uniformed male would stride up to us and bend down to the Crimelord's ear. The two would converse in low tones, not allowing me to listen in, then whoever had approached would leave again.

It took some careful maneuvering but eventually, I’d managed to position myself such that I could unobtrusively watch which way these males would go when they left. To the back of the room, behind Carator’s fancy big chair, curtains had been hung there, but they were just see-through enough that I noticed what looked to be a giant safe perched on a pedestal there. They were trying to break into it, though they weren’t making any noise as they worked, not a noise I could hear.

It looked like Sunder had a better view of what was going on behind that curtain, he was patrolling all around the room with his new companion. I wish he’d look at me again, and make me feel pretty so that I could shore up my confidence to go through with this or find a graceful way out of it.

He never did look, but each time he crossed the room near us, I saw how his eyes would linger on the Crimelord. There wasn’t a single twitch of his tail or wings now, but the missing tip… It was a reminder of what we’d shared in the tower, a reminder of our approaching escape date.

“Lord Carator,” a male drawled lazily, the first one to speak in a tone I could actually hear. I recognized the voice, my skin breaking out in chills, this guy was so scary. Or’tal stood in front of the table, a fair distance away from both of us so he’d pitched his voice to carry. The head of the guard was in his neatly pressed black uniform, but without any body armor like the others. While he had a gun strapped to his leg, he didn’t have a laser rifle slung over a shoulder, which made him stand out from the others guarding this room.

“What is it, Or’tal?” the Rummicaron demanded in a cool voice, his flat black eyes pinning the Kertinal male in place. The male looked as unruffled by that look as always, his tail hanging at rest behind his back, his arms crossed over his massive chest. Still, I didn’t think I imagined it when I saw his emerald green eyes dart my way for what had to be barely half a second.

“It seems there is a problem with the planetary defense grid, it requires your assistance as you mean to be the only one able to access it, naturally.” The way the male said it, he sounded fed up with the kind of micro control the Crimelord wanted, he also sounded smug about having to bother him about it now. Neither male seemed to notice how I’d probably just gone as pale as a ghost, fear drying my mouth until I couldn’t even swallow. Had they found out what Sunder and I had done at that tower last night?

I didn’t mean to, but my eyes darted to Sunder, who was across the room casually talking with some of the armed guards. He didn’t look at me, didn’t acknowledge me, and seemed at ease with the group, laughing and joking. When I looked away, feeling even more uncertain and alone, I realized that the head guard had noticed my look. He was looking at me with a sharp look in his eyes, pinning me into place until I felt like squirming.

Darn it! Sunder was right, I sucked at subterfuge. I was terrified that I’d given myself away even more and worse, that I’d implicated Sunder. But Or’tal didn’t say anything, his eyes going back to his boss as Carator got to his feet and demanded an explanation. The icy tone, and the intimidating posture, all made me want to sink into the pillow I was seated on. The Kertinal didn’t appear to have any such issues, he stood his ground, and while he spoke in a respectful tone, he really didn’t look intimidated.