I grabbed my long skirt and ran at full speed through the castle. I'm sure I was quite the sight: the supposedly dignified princess of all Aeylan, sprinting barefoot in a nightgown.
All I can say is, if they're not used to it yet, they should be.
I burst from behind a tapestry (loved the secret passageways) and into the huge hallway that was just the beginning of the Castle of Royals.
And immediately bumped into someone.
I bounced right off and landed in a heap at the feet of the tallest person I've ever seen.
Not person... elf.
I stared up at the huge ears that had flicked back at the impact, the white-blond hair in a ponytail that reached his waist, the near seven feet of slim frame, and the long-fingered hand that rested on the hilt of his sword. His eyes narrowed as he looked down on me, the pupils like a cat's. As I watched him, his pupils grew round and a look of bemusement spread across his angular face. His hand left the sword and stretched out to me; he had to bend almost all the way down to reach me.
"Child, why look so afraid? I won't bite," he said in a soft voice, accented with the melodic tones of the elven language.
I hesitated, then took his hand. He helped me to my feet, and I brushed myself off. Then I looked around.
Lots of shocked elven faces. Tons of shocked human faces, too. And a familiar grin next to a look of mock disappointment...
"Mom! Dad!" I cried, rushing toward them.
Mom tucked a lock of her somewhat curly reddish brown hair behind her ear, gave me a huge smile, and smothered me in a bear hug. Dad rumpled my messy hair, his dark gray eyes sparkling.
"Nani, I told you to not grow while I was gone!" Mom admonished, giving me a kiss on the forehead.
"I tried," I said weakly, giggling.
Someone cleared their throat, and I pulled back, embarrassed.
"Wyg'e, this is my youngest daughter," Dad addressed the elf I'd bumped into, his hand on my shoulder.
"And how pretty she is," he replied.
My face felt hot. I avoided everybody's eyes, mumbling, "I should go get dressed."
"Hurry back, honey," Mom said, her dark blue eyes laughing.
I walked with as much decorum as I had left out of the hallway. Once out of sight, however, I pelted as fast as I could back to my room. When I got there, I dug through the trunk of everyday clothes that rested at the end of my bed. I probably should've gone to the gown room to find something more elegant, but I just wanted to wear something besides my night dress.
I soon found one of my nicer outfits: a white blouse and a sky blue skirt. (The skirt was one of my favorite things to wear, because it was durable, light, had really pretty embroidery, and, when I spun, it would spread out in a big circle around me. It was just really fun to wear.) I ran a brush through my unruly hair, pulled the top half back, and put on some plain white slippers, which were good for a day in the castle.
On my way out of the room, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. I stopped short and looked at the girl I saw.
I was kind of short for thirteen. Mom would say petite, like her, even if I wasn't... well, wasn't her daughter.
The truth is, only Axen, Katrinelle, and Markus are the actual children of Corinath and Caitlyn Alexandar.
Seriena and Nickolas were adopted together, because they're actual siblings. Mom and Dad were riding through a town when Nick, only three years old, ran in front of a horse whose rider was an important general. The horse bucked, throwing the general off into a big puddle of mud. Enraged, he staggered to his feet, grabbed his whip, and moved towards the little boy.
Dad saw what happened. He leaped off his horse, landed running, and jumped in front of Nick, blocking the whip's blow with his arm.
The general was, of course, shocked. He began stammering apologies, but Dad ignored him. He rubbed his arm, grimacing slightly, and turned to Nick. Nick was pretty freaked out, and he ran away from Dad and into the crowd, which separated; Nick was hiding behind Seriena. They were both famished, abandoned by parents who couldn't keep them, living on the streets.
Mom joined Dad, took one look, and instantly understood everything. She approached the small children, and said, "Hi there. Can you come with me?"
Obviously, these grown-up's were nice, so Ena let them lift her and her little brother onto their horses and take them to a brand-new life.
Ena and Nick have each other, and they're not ashamed that they're adopted, especially since Dad has told this story so often. They adapted beautifully.
I was adopted too. Except, (and I'm not technically supposed to know this) I was adopted as a replacement.
Mom lost a baby boy, who was born about the same time as me. The midwife told her that the child was stillborn, and that she had taken the baby away while Mom was passed out. Anyway, Mom and Dad were really upset.
Then somebody came up and said that a kitchen girl had gotten pregnant with a stable boy, and didn't know what to do with the little girl.
Guess who that little girl was?
Yep.
Me.
I was adopted. But I've never figured out who my real parents are. I don't know if they're still working at the castle, or if they're even still in the province.
Not to say that I don't love Mom and Dad. 'Cause I do, very very much.
You can tell I'm adopted easily too. My hair is sort of a caramel color; golden brown, you might call it. And it's not curly, or straight, or even wavy. It's just messy, and long. I have plain brown eyes, and my skin color doesn't quite match any of the other royal's. I look so... different.
Looking at my reflection, I wondered if I was "pretty". The crop of zits across of my forehead said otherwise. Compared to Ena and Kat, I was like a Shetland pony next to two unihorns. Destiny had a beauty all her own, and the rest of the girl cousins looked just like princesses should. Most of them acted like princesses should too.
Well, some of them did...
A rapping on the door made me jump. I took a startled breath, then said, "Who is it?"
Kat stuck her head in. "Hey there. You ready? We're looking for you out there. Some big elf guy wants to talk to you."
7
Sam was exhausted. When Lyia hit him on the back with her bar, he collapsed and couldn't get back up. He lay on the beaten dirt, aching from the many bruises he'd gotten that day, while Lyia tried to haul him to his feet.
"Sam, you have to get up!" she hissed.
"DO YOU WANT TO DIE?" Ricky asked.
"No," Sam managed to say.
"THEN GET UP!"
Sam's legs shook as he staggered upright.
"Are you okay?" Lyia asked, a worried expression on her pretty face.
"What do you think? You almost killed me!"
"Yeah, maybe I should go easier on you…"
"No, I'm totally good. Keep pounding the living crap out of me, by all means."
"Are you sure?"
He stared at her. "Haven't you ever heard of sarcasm?"
"I was joking with you."
"Oh. I knew that."
"NO YOU DIDN'T."
"Ricky, seriously!"
A foghorn blew somewhere. All the sparring groups stopped what they were doing immediately and stood at attention. Many of them had broken noses and blood spattered all over them. Sam struggled to see what was commanding their respect so completely, but he could find nothing. Suddenly, all the trainees turned to the right and marched out of the courtyard. Only Lyia and Sam were left.
An imposing man in combat fatigues came out and gave them a thorough look-over. Sam resisted the urge to stand straight and throw back his shoulders. The man stroked his pencil mustache, then said one word- "Terminate."
Lyia screamed, "No!"
"I APOLOGIZE, SAM."
"Ricky, wha-"
A wave of electricity shot through him. He couldn't even speak, the pain was too much. Lyia fell into him, and they both crumpled.
:::::
"Sam, you have to wake up."
Someone was shaking his shoulder. He groaned, "Five more minutes."
"Now, Sam."
He looked up to see Lyia. "What…"
"We have to go, Sam."
"I don't… wha'?"
"I thought you were smarter than this!" Lyia huffed. She began loosening the straps around his wrists that held him to the metal surface.
“Lyia, what’s going on?” Sam sat up and shook off the dizziness. She had a fresh cut on her cheekbone, and her eyes were wild. "How'd you get out?"
“C’mon, Sam. We’ve. Got. To. Go.”
Soon, they were running along the metallic corridor, trying to keep the sound of their footsteps silent. Ricky hadn’t spoken to Sam, and, quite frankly, Sam didn’t want to talk to him. It. Ricky. The FuhBuhPuhEss that had shocked him earlier. The thought made him ask Lyia, “How long have we been out?”
“Too long,” she replied ominously.
She rounded a corner, then jumped back so fast that she almost knocked Sam down. “Guards,” she whispered.
They waited until the guards had moved on, then ran toward what they’d been guarding.
“A garbage chute?” Sam asked incredulously.
“No,” she replied. “Our ticket to freedom.”
“As garbage?”
She whirled on him. “Do you want to live or not?!”
He nodded.
“Then follow me and shut up.” She ran, lithe and completely silent, towards the chute, then eased the door up. "Sam, get your fat butt over here!" she muttered.
"Alright, I'm coming!" Sam came over and peered down the dark hole. "How far do you think it goes down?"
"No idea, but it's either this or utter annihilation."
Sam pulled back and looked at her incredulously. "Seriously? What the heck did we do?"
Lyia's nose crinkled from the almost-visible stink drifting from the gaping garbage chute. "I don't know. But whatever it was, it was bad."
Sam took a deep breath and stuck his head into the darkness. "Isn't there another way out?"
"Nope," she replied, pushing him in. Sam yelped, and there was a clanging noise as he banged from wall to wall. She cursed and leaped in after him.
Less than a minute later, the guards were already combing the area for the missing fugitives.
"Sam, you have to get up!" she hissed.
"DO YOU WANT TO DIE?" Ricky asked.
"No," Sam managed to say.
"THEN GET UP!"
Sam's legs shook as he staggered upright.
"Are you okay?" Lyia asked, a worried expression on her pretty face.
"What do you think? You almost killed me!"
"Yeah, maybe I should go easier on you…"
"No, I'm totally good. Keep pounding the living crap out of me, by all means."
"Are you sure?"
He stared at her. "Haven't you ever heard of sarcasm?"
"I was joking with you."
"Oh. I knew that."
"NO YOU DIDN'T."
"Ricky, seriously!"
A foghorn blew somewhere. All the sparring groups stopped what they were doing immediately and stood at attention. Many of them had broken noses and blood spattered all over them. Sam struggled to see what was commanding their respect so completely, but he could find nothing. Suddenly, all the trainees turned to the right and marched out of the courtyard. Only Lyia and Sam were left.
An imposing man in combat fatigues came out and gave them a thorough look-over. Sam resisted the urge to stand straight and throw back his shoulders. The man stroked his pencil mustache, then said one word- "Terminate."
Lyia screamed, "No!"
"I APOLOGIZE, SAM."
"Ricky, wha-"
A wave of electricity shot through him. He couldn't even speak, the pain was too much. Lyia fell into him, and they both crumpled.
:::::
"Sam, you have to wake up."
Someone was shaking his shoulder. He groaned, "Five more minutes."
"Now, Sam."
He looked up to see Lyia. "What…"
"We have to go, Sam."
"I don't… wha'?"
"I thought you were smarter than this!" Lyia huffed. She began loosening the straps around his wrists that held him to the metal surface.
“Lyia, what’s going on?” Sam sat up and shook off the dizziness. She had a fresh cut on her cheekbone, and her eyes were wild. "How'd you get out?"
“C’mon, Sam. We’ve. Got. To. Go.”
Soon, they were running along the metallic corridor, trying to keep the sound of their footsteps silent. Ricky hadn’t spoken to Sam, and, quite frankly, Sam didn’t want to talk to him. It. Ricky. The FuhBuhPuhEss that had shocked him earlier. The thought made him ask Lyia, “How long have we been out?”
“Too long,” she replied ominously.
She rounded a corner, then jumped back so fast that she almost knocked Sam down. “Guards,” she whispered.
They waited until the guards had moved on, then ran toward what they’d been guarding.
“A garbage chute?” Sam asked incredulously.
“No,” she replied. “Our ticket to freedom.”
“As garbage?”
She whirled on him. “Do you want to live or not?!”
He nodded.
“Then follow me and shut up.” She ran, lithe and completely silent, towards the chute, then eased the door up. "Sam, get your fat butt over here!" she muttered.
"Alright, I'm coming!" Sam came over and peered down the dark hole. "How far do you think it goes down?"
"No idea, but it's either this or utter annihilation."
Sam pulled back and looked at her incredulously. "Seriously? What the heck did we do?"
Lyia's nose crinkled from the almost-visible stink drifting from the gaping garbage chute. "I don't know. But whatever it was, it was bad."
Sam took a deep breath and stuck his head into the darkness. "Isn't there another way out?"
"Nope," she replied, pushing him in. Sam yelped, and there was a clanging noise as he banged from wall to wall. She cursed and leaped in after him.
Less than a minute later, the guards were already combing the area for the missing fugitives.
6
The table was strewn with delicacies from every corner of Aeylan, but I didn't have an appetite for any of it. I settled on a bowl of beef stew, savoring the rich flavors, and listened to my brother's conversation.
Nickolas pushed back his silky black hair. "Who cares about centaurs? Gryffins need more public attention!"
"Gryffins are ruthless killing machines!" Markus protested, his dark blue eyes wide. "Centaurs are actually intelligent!"
"Gryffins are smart too! They just can't speak human!"
"Only Aunt Courtney can understand them, and she's kind of out there," Mark muttered.
"No she isn't!" I said indignantly.
They ignored me when the pudding made its appearance.
I turned to my other side, where my sisters Katrinelle and Seriena were having a heated debate about a masquerade ball that they were attending soon. It had no meaning to me, so I turned to my bowl of apple pie.
Someone slid onto the bench beside me. I looked up at Axen, my oldest brother. "What do you need?"
"You looked lonely," he replied. We were the only two without someone our age.
"Well, Destiny disappeared, and I haven't found her yet," I said.
"Yeah, I haven't seen the Clare clan in awhile." Ax ran his fingers through his tangled brown hair and looked at me with his startling blue eyes. "Anything new happened with you?"
"I found the dress I'm wearing to the ball tomorrow. That's it." I sighed. "I miss Mom and Dad."
He put his arm around my shoulder reassuringly. "They'll be here tomorrow."
"But what if they got eaten?"
"Do you really think Dad would let something eat Mom?"
I smiled. "Nope, but still…"
"You worry too much, Nani. They'll get here tomorrow with the Elvish ambassadors." He stood up and said, "I'll be at the arena if anybody needs me."
:::::
The candle sputtered, making me glance up from my book. It was late. The branches outside my window brushed against the glass. I crawled into bed and hid under the covers, trying to ignore the strange noises. I wished that my mother was here to kiss my forehead and wish me goodnight. Overcome by sudden fear, I covered my head with the pillow and slept fitfully.
:::::
Something touched my hair gently. I opened my eyes to see Jimmy standing over me. "What are you doing in my room?!" I shrieked.
He grinned. "The Elves are here."
"But why are you in my room?" I pressed.
"Somebody had to wake you up. You slept through breakfast, and everybody's busy getting dressed. Destiny told me to get you or she would kill me, or something like that."
It hit me like an arrow. "Mom and Dad!"
"That took you awhile," Jimmy commented.
"I'm slow in the morning."
"I guess I'll see you at the ball later." He walked to the door, then hesitated and turned around.
"And…"
"Yes?"
He looked at me carefully. "I hope you can hold up till lunch. They aren't serving breakfast anymore."
Oh, he comes to wake me up, then tells me there's no more breakfast. My hand went up to where he touched my hair. "Oh, I'll be fine. Thanks anyway."
"No problem." Jimmy left.
Nickolas pushed back his silky black hair. "Who cares about centaurs? Gryffins need more public attention!"
"Gryffins are ruthless killing machines!" Markus protested, his dark blue eyes wide. "Centaurs are actually intelligent!"
"Gryffins are smart too! They just can't speak human!"
"Only Aunt Courtney can understand them, and she's kind of out there," Mark muttered.
"No she isn't!" I said indignantly.
They ignored me when the pudding made its appearance.
I turned to my other side, where my sisters Katrinelle and Seriena were having a heated debate about a masquerade ball that they were attending soon. It had no meaning to me, so I turned to my bowl of apple pie.
Someone slid onto the bench beside me. I looked up at Axen, my oldest brother. "What do you need?"
"You looked lonely," he replied. We were the only two without someone our age.
"Well, Destiny disappeared, and I haven't found her yet," I said.
"Yeah, I haven't seen the Clare clan in awhile." Ax ran his fingers through his tangled brown hair and looked at me with his startling blue eyes. "Anything new happened with you?"
"I found the dress I'm wearing to the ball tomorrow. That's it." I sighed. "I miss Mom and Dad."
He put his arm around my shoulder reassuringly. "They'll be here tomorrow."
"But what if they got eaten?"
"Do you really think Dad would let something eat Mom?"
I smiled. "Nope, but still…"
"You worry too much, Nani. They'll get here tomorrow with the Elvish ambassadors." He stood up and said, "I'll be at the arena if anybody needs me."
:::::
The candle sputtered, making me glance up from my book. It was late. The branches outside my window brushed against the glass. I crawled into bed and hid under the covers, trying to ignore the strange noises. I wished that my mother was here to kiss my forehead and wish me goodnight. Overcome by sudden fear, I covered my head with the pillow and slept fitfully.
:::::
Something touched my hair gently. I opened my eyes to see Jimmy standing over me. "What are you doing in my room?!" I shrieked.
He grinned. "The Elves are here."
"But why are you in my room?" I pressed.
"Somebody had to wake you up. You slept through breakfast, and everybody's busy getting dressed. Destiny told me to get you or she would kill me, or something like that."
It hit me like an arrow. "Mom and Dad!"
"That took you awhile," Jimmy commented.
"I'm slow in the morning."
"I guess I'll see you at the ball later." He walked to the door, then hesitated and turned around.
"And…"
"Yes?"
He looked at me carefully. "I hope you can hold up till lunch. They aren't serving breakfast anymore."
Oh, he comes to wake me up, then tells me there's no more breakfast. My hand went up to where he touched my hair. "Oh, I'll be fine. Thanks anyway."
"No problem." Jimmy left.
5
Sam felt the suit pressurizing, adjusting to fit his frame perfectly. Something was pressed against his ear, like a Bluetooth, and the helmet neatly folded against his back. He fingered the device in his ear. It was small, and when he pulled it out, he discovered that it was flesh-covered. It made buzzing noises, but when he put it back into place, he heard a robotic voice.
"KEEP IT IN PLACE, SAM. I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU."
"You can hear me?"
"ACTUALLY, I'M READING YOUR EMOTIONS, MUSCLE PATERNS, MORE PROMINENT THOUGHTS, AND ACCESSING YOUR FIVE SENSES TO GATHER INFORMATION SO I MIGHT BETTER ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS."
"You're reading my mind?"
"YOU COULD SAY THAT."
"So what now, Ricky?"
Ricky was quiet for a moment, then said, "WE NEED TO WAIT FOR YOUR PARTNER LYIA TO COME BACK. SHE'LL LEAD US THROUGH PROTOCOL AND SHOW US WHAT TO DO."
Sam thought about his situation. "Ricky, am I… are we part of a military operation?"
"NOT REALLY. MORE ALONG THE LINES OF A SECRET AGENCY."
"I get to be a spy? Awesome!"
"IT'LL BE AWESOME UNTIL IT STARTS."
Lyia came into the room. "I see you've met your F.B.P.S."
"Or FuhBuhPuhEss," Sam replied.
"Yours must be slightly defective."
Ricky's voice emanated from the suit. "THAT'S QUITE RUDE, YOUNG LADY."
Lyia laughed. "Mine's much less talkative."
"Does it have a name?"
A different robotic voice came from Lyia's suit. "QP-74, AT YOUR SERVICE." This one had a higher pitch and tighter frequency.
A thought struck Sam. "Is yours a girl?"
She gave him a funny look. "They don't have genders."
"Oh. I knew that."
Ricky spoke to him from the earpiece. "NO YOU DIDN'T."
"Shut up."
"What?"
"Nothing!"
Lyia blinked, then said, "Alright, training starts in five minutes. Let's go."
:::::
It took Sam awhile to get his legs working normally; the weight of the suit was enough to throw him off balance in his weak state. However, he soon strode confidently after Lyia, looking with wide eyes at everything they passed.
There wasn't much to see.
The entire hallway was made of stainless steel. They walked along, their footsteps muffled, until they reached a door. Lyia placed a gloved hand on a bright green pad next to the door frame, and it slid up. They walked into a huge courtyard that made Sam stare.
At least twenty teens their age stood in pairs, sparring. They whipped about, only blurs of black suit as they fought back and forth. One girl with long purple hair swirled and placed a fist on her partner's jaw, sending him flying. Sam would've watched more, but something hit him in the stomach.
"Oof!"
Lyia swung a large metal bar around. "You missed."
"Missed what?" Sam gasped for breath.
"Your chance to tag me. Twice," she stepped around him lightly. "Now three times."
"I'm supposed to tag you? You aren't doing anything!"
"No, you're the one who's not doing anything!" she yelled back.
"SHE HAS A POINT."
"Ricky, shut up!"
Lyia swung her bar, and Sam jumped out of the way. "Are you trying to kill me?!"
"If I do, I'll get a better partner!" She landed a kick on his chest, and he sprawled. His hand rested on the other bar. As she got ready to cave his head in, Sam threw the bar up, blocking her attack, and pushed her back. He stood and gripped the bar tightly. Lyia broke into a grin, which was surprising since she was ready to kill him a minute ago. "Finally! You have to fight to survive here." She swung and he parried. "They only keep the best."
"Who is they?!" he yelled angrily.
"Shh!" She clapped a hand over his mouth. "If they hear you, you'll be a goner," she warned.
Sam studied her eyes. Lyia seemed to be sincere, watching him with determination. "Mmmfff."
"What?" She removed her hand.
"Okay, we'll do it your way. But if I die, you're going to be sorry."
She looked him in the eyes. "I'm sure I'll be heartbroken."
They began fighting again.
"KEEP IT IN PLACE, SAM. I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU."
"You can hear me?"
"ACTUALLY, I'M READING YOUR EMOTIONS, MUSCLE PATERNS, MORE PROMINENT THOUGHTS, AND ACCESSING YOUR FIVE SENSES TO GATHER INFORMATION SO I MIGHT BETTER ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS."
"You're reading my mind?"
"YOU COULD SAY THAT."
"So what now, Ricky?"
Ricky was quiet for a moment, then said, "WE NEED TO WAIT FOR YOUR PARTNER LYIA TO COME BACK. SHE'LL LEAD US THROUGH PROTOCOL AND SHOW US WHAT TO DO."
Sam thought about his situation. "Ricky, am I… are we part of a military operation?"
"NOT REALLY. MORE ALONG THE LINES OF A SECRET AGENCY."
"I get to be a spy? Awesome!"
"IT'LL BE AWESOME UNTIL IT STARTS."
Lyia came into the room. "I see you've met your F.B.P.S."
"Or FuhBuhPuhEss," Sam replied.
"Yours must be slightly defective."
Ricky's voice emanated from the suit. "THAT'S QUITE RUDE, YOUNG LADY."
Lyia laughed. "Mine's much less talkative."
"Does it have a name?"
A different robotic voice came from Lyia's suit. "QP-74, AT YOUR SERVICE." This one had a higher pitch and tighter frequency.
A thought struck Sam. "Is yours a girl?"
She gave him a funny look. "They don't have genders."
"Oh. I knew that."
Ricky spoke to him from the earpiece. "NO YOU DIDN'T."
"Shut up."
"What?"
"Nothing!"
Lyia blinked, then said, "Alright, training starts in five minutes. Let's go."
:::::
It took Sam awhile to get his legs working normally; the weight of the suit was enough to throw him off balance in his weak state. However, he soon strode confidently after Lyia, looking with wide eyes at everything they passed.
There wasn't much to see.
The entire hallway was made of stainless steel. They walked along, their footsteps muffled, until they reached a door. Lyia placed a gloved hand on a bright green pad next to the door frame, and it slid up. They walked into a huge courtyard that made Sam stare.
At least twenty teens their age stood in pairs, sparring. They whipped about, only blurs of black suit as they fought back and forth. One girl with long purple hair swirled and placed a fist on her partner's jaw, sending him flying. Sam would've watched more, but something hit him in the stomach.
"Oof!"
Lyia swung a large metal bar around. "You missed."
"Missed what?" Sam gasped for breath.
"Your chance to tag me. Twice," she stepped around him lightly. "Now three times."
"I'm supposed to tag you? You aren't doing anything!"
"No, you're the one who's not doing anything!" she yelled back.
"SHE HAS A POINT."
"Ricky, shut up!"
Lyia swung her bar, and Sam jumped out of the way. "Are you trying to kill me?!"
"If I do, I'll get a better partner!" She landed a kick on his chest, and he sprawled. His hand rested on the other bar. As she got ready to cave his head in, Sam threw the bar up, blocking her attack, and pushed her back. He stood and gripped the bar tightly. Lyia broke into a grin, which was surprising since she was ready to kill him a minute ago. "Finally! You have to fight to survive here." She swung and he parried. "They only keep the best."
"Who is they?!" he yelled angrily.
"Shh!" She clapped a hand over his mouth. "If they hear you, you'll be a goner," she warned.
Sam studied her eyes. Lyia seemed to be sincere, watching him with determination. "Mmmfff."
"What?" She removed her hand.
"Okay, we'll do it your way. But if I die, you're going to be sorry."
She looked him in the eyes. "I'm sure I'll be heartbroken."
They began fighting again.
4
I grabbed a dress of the rack, holding it against my shoulders and twirling. "Isn't this one pretty?"
"Just gorgeous," Destiny grumbled.
Her mother laughed. "Desi, you remind me of Caitlyn. At least she learned to have fun."
"I have fun!" Destiny protested. "But dresses…"
I grabbed the nearest gown and threw it at her. The pale pink silk landed on her head as she spluttered. "You'd look good in that one," I giggled.
"Nani!"
Aunt Clare shook her head helplessly, a big smile plastered on her pretty face. She held up another dress. "Ananda, I think you'll like this one."
I gasped. It was gorgeous! The light fabric was a soft yellow, with chocolate brown crossed straps and a sash of the same color. The skirt draped from the bodice and just touched the floor. The neckline was low in the back, but still modest in the front. "I… I… Wow."
Destiny chuckled. "You look like a fish."
Aunt Clare gave me the dress and said, "Go put it on!"
I came out of the back room. "It fits perfectly!"
"That's the dress your mother wore to a ball when she was your age," Aunt Clare said.
I frowned. "But wouldn't she be on Earth?"
She gave a small smile. "When she was twelve on Aeylan. Before Xiivu."
We all got quiet. As a rule, my family didn't talk about Xiivu. For Clare, she didn't like to talk about her time on Aeylan before they got relocated.
"Alright, no more frowny faces," Desi said in a patronizing tone that made my spirit's rise. "Let's find me something to wear to this ball!"
:::::
I loved the dress room. There were so many queens and princesses that we made the large room into a wardrobe just for ball gowns. I always like to go in there and imagine what it would be like to wear the dress that Aunt Courtney was wearing when she got engaged, or the one that my mother was almost killed in, or the one that Uncle Ray spilled punch on when Aunt Clare bumped into him. I was weird like that.
Destiny went with her mom to go check on Ivy, who was sick, while I walked idly around the castle. I said hi to the kitchen staff, chatted with a maid, and was generally bored until I got to the stables.
One of my favorite stable boys, Weed, stumbled out of the huge barn, his pant leg smoking and charred.
"Did you get something new?" I asked excitedly.
"Yeah, don't ask me if I survived," Weed said angrily.
"Did you survive?"
He stared at me with bloodshot eyes. "No, I'm dead."
"That's a pity."
He smiled. "Why don't you go check it out? Watch out for the fire."
I ran into the stables, ducking around the workers and finally catching a glimpse of the beast.
"Whoa…"
It was a huge, wingless dragon. Dull green, fifteen feet tall, with a swishing tail and fire blasting from its mouth, it was pretty terrifying. I saw Uncle Cole, the only fireproof Alexandar, sitting on the thing's head, whacking it over and over with a big stick. He saw me and grinned, his teeth a flash of white in his ash-covered face. "How ya' doing, Nani?"
"Pretty good," I called back.
"You won't be if you don't step back."
I stepped back.
Cole stood up, somehow balancing on the writhing dragon's head, and gripped the swirled horns. He slid off the scales, holding onto a horn with one hand, and dropped onto the ground. The dragon's huge, red eyes blinked at his impertinence. They stared each other down until the dragon broke, blasting a fire ball directly at Uncle Cole. He caught it and hurled it back into the dragon's open mouth. Smoke poured from its tiny ears as its eyes rolled around crazily, then the dragon collapsed into a heap, unconscious.
Cole brushed his hands together. "They're not as fireproof on the inside," he explained to the gaping stable hands. They nodded, dumbfounded, as he made his way back to me. "How 'bout some water?" he asked me.
I shook my head. "I can't."
"Well, that's weird. Your gift should be coming along any time now, shouldn't it?"
"I turned thirteen almost eight months ago, but there's nothing still."
He ruffled my hair. "Don't worry. Any day now, you'll be more powerful than your old man."
I giggled. "No way. My dad's the most powerful Alexandar there is!" I felt a burst of pride.
He looked at me coyly. "Even more powerful than me?"
I looked him squarely in the eye. "Water puts out fire."
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "One of these days, I'll prove to you that Cori has nothing on me!"
"That'll be the day that dragon flies with me on its back."
We shared a laugh.
"King, Princess." Weed bowed, but Uncle Cole straightened him up. "Would you stop with all the bowing?"
Weed bravely pressed on. "Dinner is served."
"Just gorgeous," Destiny grumbled.
Her mother laughed. "Desi, you remind me of Caitlyn. At least she learned to have fun."
"I have fun!" Destiny protested. "But dresses…"
I grabbed the nearest gown and threw it at her. The pale pink silk landed on her head as she spluttered. "You'd look good in that one," I giggled.
"Nani!"
Aunt Clare shook her head helplessly, a big smile plastered on her pretty face. She held up another dress. "Ananda, I think you'll like this one."
I gasped. It was gorgeous! The light fabric was a soft yellow, with chocolate brown crossed straps and a sash of the same color. The skirt draped from the bodice and just touched the floor. The neckline was low in the back, but still modest in the front. "I… I… Wow."
Destiny chuckled. "You look like a fish."
Aunt Clare gave me the dress and said, "Go put it on!"
I came out of the back room. "It fits perfectly!"
"That's the dress your mother wore to a ball when she was your age," Aunt Clare said.
I frowned. "But wouldn't she be on Earth?"
She gave a small smile. "When she was twelve on Aeylan. Before Xiivu."
We all got quiet. As a rule, my family didn't talk about Xiivu. For Clare, she didn't like to talk about her time on Aeylan before they got relocated.
"Alright, no more frowny faces," Desi said in a patronizing tone that made my spirit's rise. "Let's find me something to wear to this ball!"
:::::
I loved the dress room. There were so many queens and princesses that we made the large room into a wardrobe just for ball gowns. I always like to go in there and imagine what it would be like to wear the dress that Aunt Courtney was wearing when she got engaged, or the one that my mother was almost killed in, or the one that Uncle Ray spilled punch on when Aunt Clare bumped into him. I was weird like that.
Destiny went with her mom to go check on Ivy, who was sick, while I walked idly around the castle. I said hi to the kitchen staff, chatted with a maid, and was generally bored until I got to the stables.
One of my favorite stable boys, Weed, stumbled out of the huge barn, his pant leg smoking and charred.
"Did you get something new?" I asked excitedly.
"Yeah, don't ask me if I survived," Weed said angrily.
"Did you survive?"
He stared at me with bloodshot eyes. "No, I'm dead."
"That's a pity."
He smiled. "Why don't you go check it out? Watch out for the fire."
I ran into the stables, ducking around the workers and finally catching a glimpse of the beast.
"Whoa…"
It was a huge, wingless dragon. Dull green, fifteen feet tall, with a swishing tail and fire blasting from its mouth, it was pretty terrifying. I saw Uncle Cole, the only fireproof Alexandar, sitting on the thing's head, whacking it over and over with a big stick. He saw me and grinned, his teeth a flash of white in his ash-covered face. "How ya' doing, Nani?"
"Pretty good," I called back.
"You won't be if you don't step back."
I stepped back.
Cole stood up, somehow balancing on the writhing dragon's head, and gripped the swirled horns. He slid off the scales, holding onto a horn with one hand, and dropped onto the ground. The dragon's huge, red eyes blinked at his impertinence. They stared each other down until the dragon broke, blasting a fire ball directly at Uncle Cole. He caught it and hurled it back into the dragon's open mouth. Smoke poured from its tiny ears as its eyes rolled around crazily, then the dragon collapsed into a heap, unconscious.
Cole brushed his hands together. "They're not as fireproof on the inside," he explained to the gaping stable hands. They nodded, dumbfounded, as he made his way back to me. "How 'bout some water?" he asked me.
I shook my head. "I can't."
"Well, that's weird. Your gift should be coming along any time now, shouldn't it?"
"I turned thirteen almost eight months ago, but there's nothing still."
He ruffled my hair. "Don't worry. Any day now, you'll be more powerful than your old man."
I giggled. "No way. My dad's the most powerful Alexandar there is!" I felt a burst of pride.
He looked at me coyly. "Even more powerful than me?"
I looked him squarely in the eye. "Water puts out fire."
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "One of these days, I'll prove to you that Cori has nothing on me!"
"That'll be the day that dragon flies with me on its back."
We shared a laugh.
"King, Princess." Weed bowed, but Uncle Cole straightened him up. "Would you stop with all the bowing?"
Weed bravely pressed on. "Dinner is served."
3
"I can't remember! Why can't I remember?!"
She watched him as he paced.
"You!" He spun and grabbed her shoulders. "Your people did this to me!"
Calmly, she looked up at his terrified dark eyes. "Why don't you start from the beginning- what do you remember?"
He tried to contain his panic. "My name is Sam. I don't know my last name. I don't know where I'm from, where I live, how old I am, who my parents are, if I have a dog, or what my favorite color is." He frowned. "Oh wait. Blue."
A small smile played across her lips. "You're kind of funny."
He stared at her. "What about you? You never told me your name."
"Lyia."
"Where'd you come from?"
"Honestly, I have no clue."
"Why are you here?"
"I'm here to be your partner."
Silence.
"Have you ever been sky diving?"
"Only a couple times."
"What haven't you done?"
"I've never met anyone who asked so many questions without a shirt on."
"Oh. Is that all?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
More silence.
"Hey, where is my shirt?"
Lyia laughed. "You'll be fun to work with." She stood and said, "The fitters will be here in a minute." And she left the room.
:::::
Soon enough, three men came into the room. All were tall and thin; they reminded Sam of pencils. They regarded him for a minute, talking back and forth with clicking noises. That's when Sam saw the pincers were mouths should have been. He yelped as one of them came forward and grabbed his arms with a surprising, wiry strength. He closed his eyes as they moved around him in a jumble of bony fingers and disgusting, beetle-like faces.
Five minutes later, they all backed away and went out of the room, the door locking behind them.
Sam opened his eyes and looked around. The room looked the same as before, except for the pair of pants on the bed.
Those were his pants.
Startled, he looked down at his body to see a tight-fitting jumpsuit. It was matte black, with shock-absorbing gel under a layer of flexible but rock-hard plastic. Sam suddenly realized that Lyia had been wearing the same thing. He examined the thick rubber soles of his new boots, then turned to the belt. There was a holster, several clips, and quite a few buttons. Experimentally, he pressed one. Something covered his head, dousing him in black, dark as night. His vision returned, but it was different. There was a screen with the words STATE YOUR NAME before his eyes.
He had to be wearing a helmet.
"Cool," he muttered.
IS THAT YOUR NAME? the screen flashed.
"Um, no."
THEN PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
"My name's Sam..."
CONFIRM NAME.
"Sam?"
WELCOME, SAM. I AM YOUR FULL-BODY PROTECTION SUIT, OR F.B.P.S., BUT YOU MAY CALL ME FUHBUHPUHESS.
Sam snorted. "How 'bout C-3PO?"
THAT WOULD BRING US INTO A COPYWRITING WAR, SAM.
"So you're an artificial intelligence?"
INDEED.
"Well, you'll need a name."
FUHBUHPUHESS ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH?
"It's kind of a mouthful."
THEN CALL ME RICKY.
"Okay...."
I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THAT NAME.
"Well, it's good enough for me. Here's a question- Where am I?"
YOU ARE ON AN ASTEROID IN THE ORBIT OF THE PLANET RU'UR.
"There's no planet called Ruhooyer."
IT'S PRONOUNCED ROO-ER.
"Whatever."
AND OF COURSE RU'UR'S A PLANET. YOU JUST NEVER KNEW IT EXISTED.
She watched him as he paced.
"You!" He spun and grabbed her shoulders. "Your people did this to me!"
Calmly, she looked up at his terrified dark eyes. "Why don't you start from the beginning- what do you remember?"
He tried to contain his panic. "My name is Sam. I don't know my last name. I don't know where I'm from, where I live, how old I am, who my parents are, if I have a dog, or what my favorite color is." He frowned. "Oh wait. Blue."
A small smile played across her lips. "You're kind of funny."
He stared at her. "What about you? You never told me your name."
"Lyia."
"Where'd you come from?"
"Honestly, I have no clue."
"Why are you here?"
"I'm here to be your partner."
Silence.
"Have you ever been sky diving?"
"Only a couple times."
"What haven't you done?"
"I've never met anyone who asked so many questions without a shirt on."
"Oh. Is that all?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
More silence.
"Hey, where is my shirt?"
Lyia laughed. "You'll be fun to work with." She stood and said, "The fitters will be here in a minute." And she left the room.
:::::
Soon enough, three men came into the room. All were tall and thin; they reminded Sam of pencils. They regarded him for a minute, talking back and forth with clicking noises. That's when Sam saw the pincers were mouths should have been. He yelped as one of them came forward and grabbed his arms with a surprising, wiry strength. He closed his eyes as they moved around him in a jumble of bony fingers and disgusting, beetle-like faces.
Five minutes later, they all backed away and went out of the room, the door locking behind them.
Sam opened his eyes and looked around. The room looked the same as before, except for the pair of pants on the bed.
Those were his pants.
Startled, he looked down at his body to see a tight-fitting jumpsuit. It was matte black, with shock-absorbing gel under a layer of flexible but rock-hard plastic. Sam suddenly realized that Lyia had been wearing the same thing. He examined the thick rubber soles of his new boots, then turned to the belt. There was a holster, several clips, and quite a few buttons. Experimentally, he pressed one. Something covered his head, dousing him in black, dark as night. His vision returned, but it was different. There was a screen with the words STATE YOUR NAME before his eyes.
He had to be wearing a helmet.
"Cool," he muttered.
IS THAT YOUR NAME? the screen flashed.
"Um, no."
THEN PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME.
"My name's Sam..."
CONFIRM NAME.
"Sam?"
WELCOME, SAM. I AM YOUR FULL-BODY PROTECTION SUIT, OR F.B.P.S., BUT YOU MAY CALL ME FUHBUHPUHESS.
Sam snorted. "How 'bout C-3PO?"
THAT WOULD BRING US INTO A COPYWRITING WAR, SAM.
"So you're an artificial intelligence?"
INDEED.
"Well, you'll need a name."
FUHBUHPUHESS ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH?
"It's kind of a mouthful."
THEN CALL ME RICKY.
"Okay...."
I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THAT NAME.
"Well, it's good enough for me. Here's a question- Where am I?"
YOU ARE ON AN ASTEROID IN THE ORBIT OF THE PLANET RU'UR.
"There's no planet called Ruhooyer."
IT'S PRONOUNCED ROO-ER.
"Whatever."
AND OF COURSE RU'UR'S A PLANET. YOU JUST NEVER KNEW IT EXISTED.
2
"Nani, hurry up!"
Destiny leaped over a rotten log and scampered to the top of a large boulder. "Honestly, Ananda, you are the slowest Alexandar there is!"
I pulled myself up and plopped down next to her, breathing hard. "Isn't that weird, since my mom's the fastest?"
She laughed.
The sun disappeared behind a cloud, instantly making me shiver. Not for the first time, I wished I had my mom's gift. I'd move that cloud out of the way. Or maybe I would just fly up, all the way to where you can barely breathe, and just soak in the sunlight.
Destiny swung her legs over the jagged edge, looking fearlessly down the cliff. I didn't know how she did it; heights were terrifying. That was pretty much the one thing I'd inherited from my mother- a fear of heights. "Don't fall," I warned.
"I'm not going to fall!" she protested.
"You never know…" a voice said ominously.
A hand suddenly pushed Destiny forward, at the last second grabbing her shirt and yanking her back. She shrieked. "Jimmy!"
Her brother grinned mischievously. "What's up, you two?" He sat down between us.
I did my very best to conceal my sudden burst of affection, but I didn't do well enough. Destiny gave me a weird look.
Curse her mind-reading powers.
Yeah, that's right- mind-reading powers.
Jimmy regarded the view. "It's nice out here. Oh, and Mum says to come back in. The Elvish ambassadors are visiting tomorrow, and apparently she wants you to find something to wear for the ball." Then he faced me. "That means your parents are coming too, doesn't it?"
I hoped my face didn't get too red. "Yeah, I can't wait."
"It's been boring without Aunt Caiti around," he said absently.
I nodded.
There was silence for a moment, then Destiny stood with a sigh. "Race you back?"
Jimmy popped up. "Sure, but you won't win."
"Oh really?"
With that, they rushed off in the general direction of the castle, shoving each other back and forth.
I slowly stood up and followed them.
A bird flew across my path, landing lightly on a branch overhead. It trilled a song and looked at me. A sweet, high melody came from behind me. I watched the bird bend its head forward in a bow before I turned around. "Aunt Courtney, aren't you supposed to be giving Kat her singing lessons?"
My aunt gave me a smile. "We've already finished. Your sister has a beautiful voice."
"Well, she's not really my sister…"
Aunt Courtney's slender hand rubbed my hair. "So?"
We walked back toward the castle.
Destiny leaped over a rotten log and scampered to the top of a large boulder. "Honestly, Ananda, you are the slowest Alexandar there is!"
I pulled myself up and plopped down next to her, breathing hard. "Isn't that weird, since my mom's the fastest?"
She laughed.
The sun disappeared behind a cloud, instantly making me shiver. Not for the first time, I wished I had my mom's gift. I'd move that cloud out of the way. Or maybe I would just fly up, all the way to where you can barely breathe, and just soak in the sunlight.
Destiny swung her legs over the jagged edge, looking fearlessly down the cliff. I didn't know how she did it; heights were terrifying. That was pretty much the one thing I'd inherited from my mother- a fear of heights. "Don't fall," I warned.
"I'm not going to fall!" she protested.
"You never know…" a voice said ominously.
A hand suddenly pushed Destiny forward, at the last second grabbing her shirt and yanking her back. She shrieked. "Jimmy!"
Her brother grinned mischievously. "What's up, you two?" He sat down between us.
I did my very best to conceal my sudden burst of affection, but I didn't do well enough. Destiny gave me a weird look.
Curse her mind-reading powers.
Yeah, that's right- mind-reading powers.
Jimmy regarded the view. "It's nice out here. Oh, and Mum says to come back in. The Elvish ambassadors are visiting tomorrow, and apparently she wants you to find something to wear for the ball." Then he faced me. "That means your parents are coming too, doesn't it?"
I hoped my face didn't get too red. "Yeah, I can't wait."
"It's been boring without Aunt Caiti around," he said absently.
I nodded.
There was silence for a moment, then Destiny stood with a sigh. "Race you back?"
Jimmy popped up. "Sure, but you won't win."
"Oh really?"
With that, they rushed off in the general direction of the castle, shoving each other back and forth.
I slowly stood up and followed them.
A bird flew across my path, landing lightly on a branch overhead. It trilled a song and looked at me. A sweet, high melody came from behind me. I watched the bird bend its head forward in a bow before I turned around. "Aunt Courtney, aren't you supposed to be giving Kat her singing lessons?"
My aunt gave me a smile. "We've already finished. Your sister has a beautiful voice."
"Well, she's not really my sister…"
Aunt Courtney's slender hand rubbed my hair. "So?"
We walked back toward the castle.
1
Sam sat straight up, breathing as hard as if he had run for many miles. Slowly, he pushed a hand through his spiky dark blond hair and stared at the plain white sheets. He waited for his heartbeat to slow before he chanced a glance through the window.
The darkness outside was not absolute; here and there, patches of light shone. Sam felt the rumble of a train as it rushed past on its busy errands. A sense of security crept over him as he rolled over and turned on the lamp.
There was a man standing in the doorway.
Sam stared at him.
He stared at Sam.
Then he shot Sam in the shoulder.
Sam looked at the dart sticking out of his shirt and slumped back against the pillow as blackness spread across his eyes.
:::::
The straps cut into his wrists. The bright lights blinded him. Sam fought blindly, not knowing what was real and what was hallucinated. A needle pricked his skin and he lost all control, floating in the half-awake place that comes just before sleep.
The sudden blast of pain in his forearm brought him back quickly.
Sam screamed as the surgeons gathered around, completely silent and watching the operation with a manic glint in their eyes. The pain was so infinite, so great, it was impossible for him to remain conscious.
Once more, Sam blacked out.
:::::
"Would you wake up already?"
The voice was pleasant and light, if a bit annoyed. Sam blearily opened his eyes and blinked several times to clear the blurriness.
Slowly, a girl came into focus. A long braid of black hair was thrown carelessly over one shoulder. Intelligent eyes looked him over carefully.
He realized that he wasn't wearing a shirt.
Then he wished that he had worked harder during P.E.
Sam sat up, immediately wishing he hadn't. Waves of nausea crashed over him. He held his breath until he felt light-headed, then turned away from the girl and retched.
"That's… disgusting."
"Water," Sam croaked, coughing hoarsely.
A clear glass of the liquid came to his attention; he clutched it and desperately gulped it down. Too soon, it came to an end. He breathed deeply and tried to stay calm as he looked around. The room was like a hospital; everything was blindingly white and plain, with sharp edges and a chemical smell. He wasn't strapped down anymore, but looking at the girl's futuristic pistol confirmed his fear- he was a prisoner.
"So, what do you want from me?" Sam asked her.
"Me? Nothing. They’re the ones who want something from you."
"They?"
The girl's eyes flitted down to his forearm. She swallowed. "Yeah. They."
Sam followed her gaze and immediately felt sick to his stomach.
There was a huge, red line on his skin, sewn up with what had to be at least twenty neat stitches.
"When did that get there?"
She answered him with a question of her own. "What do you remember?"
"What?"
"Just tell me. Now."
"Well…" Sam froze. His eyes glazed over, then refocused as he stared, panicked, at the girl. "I don't know. I can't remember anything!"
The darkness outside was not absolute; here and there, patches of light shone. Sam felt the rumble of a train as it rushed past on its busy errands. A sense of security crept over him as he rolled over and turned on the lamp.
There was a man standing in the doorway.
Sam stared at him.
He stared at Sam.
Then he shot Sam in the shoulder.
Sam looked at the dart sticking out of his shirt and slumped back against the pillow as blackness spread across his eyes.
:::::
The straps cut into his wrists. The bright lights blinded him. Sam fought blindly, not knowing what was real and what was hallucinated. A needle pricked his skin and he lost all control, floating in the half-awake place that comes just before sleep.
The sudden blast of pain in his forearm brought him back quickly.
Sam screamed as the surgeons gathered around, completely silent and watching the operation with a manic glint in their eyes. The pain was so infinite, so great, it was impossible for him to remain conscious.
Once more, Sam blacked out.
:::::
"Would you wake up already?"
The voice was pleasant and light, if a bit annoyed. Sam blearily opened his eyes and blinked several times to clear the blurriness.
Slowly, a girl came into focus. A long braid of black hair was thrown carelessly over one shoulder. Intelligent eyes looked him over carefully.
He realized that he wasn't wearing a shirt.
Then he wished that he had worked harder during P.E.
Sam sat up, immediately wishing he hadn't. Waves of nausea crashed over him. He held his breath until he felt light-headed, then turned away from the girl and retched.
"That's… disgusting."
"Water," Sam croaked, coughing hoarsely.
A clear glass of the liquid came to his attention; he clutched it and desperately gulped it down. Too soon, it came to an end. He breathed deeply and tried to stay calm as he looked around. The room was like a hospital; everything was blindingly white and plain, with sharp edges and a chemical smell. He wasn't strapped down anymore, but looking at the girl's futuristic pistol confirmed his fear- he was a prisoner.
"So, what do you want from me?" Sam asked her.
"Me? Nothing. They’re the ones who want something from you."
"They?"
The girl's eyes flitted down to his forearm. She swallowed. "Yeah. They."
Sam followed her gaze and immediately felt sick to his stomach.
There was a huge, red line on his skin, sewn up with what had to be at least twenty neat stitches.
"When did that get there?"
She answered him with a question of her own. "What do you remember?"
"What?"
"Just tell me. Now."
"Well…" Sam froze. His eyes glazed over, then refocused as he stared, panicked, at the girl. "I don't know. I can't remember anything!"
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