by Brey Willows
Liselle stared at her for a long moment before she shrugged. “It’s not my place to give advice. We don’t know you well enough. But an extra set of eyes making sure no one grabs you when she thinks you’re safely on ship wouldn’t be a bad thing.” She held up the jacket Kylin had picked out. “Want some help getting ready, lover scruff?”
Kylin felt her face flush and rolled her eyes. “I think I’ve got it, domesticated lap safira.”
“Ha! I love safiras. Their fur is the best, and they have sex just because they want to, unlike other animals.” She raised her eyebrows. “And I’m happily domesticated, believe me. One day, I bet you will be too.”
Kylin shook her head as she headed to the bedroom. “Not likely, buddy. Not likely.” As she laid out the clothes on the bed she wondered where they’d gotten them. She knew the slave clothing had probably belonged to Sherta from her time in the slaver’s nets; Liselle had told her a bit about it when they’d gone to check on the flyer. But the outfit in front of her spoke of wealth. The insignia wasn’t one she was familiar with. The set of overlapping triangles surrounded by six dots wasn’t from the Heathers, or any of the other wealthier zones she knew. Maybe it was something from off planet. The colors weren’t the usual ones found here, either. They were richer, deeper. She took off the borrowed white clothing and put it aside. The loose black pants were simple but incredibly comfortable and a reasonable fit. The loose black shirt was equally soft and buttoned down the front. The tunic that went over it was a deep purple with a flowing black pattern woven into it. Her own black boots worked just fine, since she could barely see them under the loose cuffs of the pants. When she looked in the mirror she stood a little taller. The deep purple offset her light eyes and the black made her skin glow. She looked like she might belong in the Heathers. She turned sideways and straightened the collar of her shirt, and the mark on her hand caught her eye, bringing her back down to earth. Clothing might make a difference on the outside, but nothing would ever take away the life she’d lived to this point. And maybe that’s all she’d ever be, a scrounger from Quasi playing dress up. And now they were on the run, too. If anyone captured her, Orlin would add that debt to her tab, and he’d no doubt have some of his crew teach her a lesson. But worse than that, she wouldn’t be able to protect Jessa, and that wasn’t acceptable.
She turned away from the mirror, the pit in her stomach an old friend. It was time to find Jessa and start their trip back.
Chapter Ten
Jessa turned sideways and then backward, looking over her shoulder. The outfit showed the least amount of skin of any of the clothing available in the box, but she felt nearly naked. This was something the women in the fantasy vids they had in the dark rooms on ship wore. Not real people walking around in daylight.
The long, loose skirt was a fine, thin material that changed from pale cream to see-through depending on the way the light hit it. The matching top was cut in a low V in both the front and the back so that she had to move carefully lest the material shift and expose her. It, too, was see-through depending on the light.
Sherta’s eyes were wide. “That uniform you had on definitely didn’t show…” she waved her hands up and down Jessa’s body, “this.”
Jessa tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear. At least the length of her hair helped cover the open back, and if she pulled it forward it could cover most of her breasts, too. “I’ll take my uniform over something like this any day.”
Sherta laughed. “I can’t wait to see Kylin’s expression.”
In truth, neither could Jessa. There was no doubt it was sexy, and though it wasn’t at all Jessa’s thing, she could see how someone might find it attractive. And she wanted Kylin to find her attractive, even if that was pointless.
Sherta held up a thick band with a silver ring on it. “This is the worst part, but if you’re supposed to be an owned slave, you’re going to have to wear it.”
Jessa took it from her and examined it. Silver threads ran from both sides of the silver ring to silver blocks at the ends that were clearly meant to fit together. An insignia with a set of overlapping triangles surrounded by six dots was engraved in the metal. “Tell me about it?”
Sherta looked haunted, her gaze staying on the piece in Jessa’s hands. “It’s electrified. The owner has a remote that controls it, and if the slave acts out or tries to run, they simply activate it, sending jolts of electricity through the slave’s body. It keeps people very compliant. The insignia is specific to the person who owns you, and is also a tracking device should the slave run.”
Jessa dropped it to the bed. “And I’m expected to wear it?” She didn’t want it anywhere near her.
“Yes.” Sherta picked it up and held it out again. “But yours isn’t electrified. Kylin will have a dummy remote just for show. You’ll never feel that kind of pain…” She drifted off, and it was easy to see she was lost in memories.
Jessa took the band and rested her hand awkwardly on Sherta’s shoulder. She’d never been good at emotional communication. “I’m so sorry.” When Sherta gave her a small smile she turned away and went to the mirror. She put the band around her neck and the two ends slid into one another easily. She didn’t like the constriction, but at least it wasn’t too tight. She’d take it off the moment they were out of danger. She pulled on the soft leather boots that went up to her knees and was glad for at least a little bit of coverage.
She turned to Sherta. “Thank you for helping us. Indemnion’s reputation seems merited in many ways, but then there are people like you living in cities like this. If people knew—”
“Then they’d bother us and we would have no peace at all.” Sherta got up and held the door open. “Let’s go see how your scrounger is getting on.”
They made their way downstairs and Jessa wondered if what Sherta said was true. Was there some element of good that came from Indemnion’s reputation? Did it mean the planet remained free from the constraints the other planets faced from severe and sometimes uncaring governments? But wouldn’t it be worth giving up some of those freedoms in order to abolish things like slavery and poverty? The questions were too big to contemplate just now.
They entered the living room. When Liselle and Kylin saw them come in, Jessa was gratified to see Kylin’s eyes go wide as she slowly stood. Even Liselle looked a little shocked and then quickly looked away abashed when Sherta elbowed her in the side.
“Wow. That’s…wow.” Kylin crossed her arms and then let them drop again, only to then run her hands through her hair.
“I take it the farce will be seem viable, then?” Jessa asked, turning in a circle so Kylin could get the full effect. When she’d turned all the way around, she saw that Kylin had sat back down, her eyes still wide.
“Sorry, what?”
A feeling she’d never had stole over her. It was raw and sexual and made her want to straddle Kylin’s lap. And this time when Kylin stood up again, Jessa took in what she was wearing and it was her turn to need to sit down, though she didn’t.
Kylin was the handsomest thing Jessa had ever set eyes on. The clothing she wore was clearly expensive, but that wasn’t what did it. Rather, it was the way she wore it. Confidence radiated from her, and she looked like she could own any room she was in. She’d put in something that lightened her hair, and glasses hid the gray of her eyes. Jessa had never believed in the romantic ideals the vids promoted, but in this moment she was ready to fall to her knees and beg the woman in front of her to never let her go. The insignia on Jessa’s collar matched the one on Kylin’s lapel, and there was something strangely comforting about the visual connection between them.
Liselle cleared her throat. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way.”
Sherta’s hand was over her mouth to cover her obvious smile. “You’d better get on your way before you burn our house down.” She tilted her head as she looked them over. “You both look the part.”
“There’s one thing, though, and we hope you don’
t mind that we took care of it.” Liselle pulled aside the curtain and nodded toward a young man sitting on the porch. “That’s Nef. He’s my nephew, and he’s going to be your assistant. A rich person wouldn’t carry their own bags, and they’re too big for your slave to carry on her own.” She let the curtain go. “I’d trust him with our lives, and I trust him to get you to the docks. You’ll have to find another servant to replace him once you’re on board.”
Jessa hadn’t given much thought to what would happen after they stepped outside the house, and the fact that they had was both a relief and daunting. She could run a ship. Surely she was capable of helping plan their way back. She needed to get herself under control, even if there wasn’t much she could do about her situation. “When do we set out?”
Liselle pulled over a map and handed Kylin a linari card. “You’ve got enough daylight left to go now, and that linari chip will get you passage. I hate to say it, but you should leave the seaful gun here. Rich people don’t travel with weapons.” She glanced at Kylin. “And given what we talked about earlier, it’s best if you don’t linger.”
Jessa didn’t miss the quick glance Kylin gave her before nodding at Liselle and holding out her arm. “Thank you. For everything. I’ll return, and I’ll pay you back in full.”
“Believe me, I know you will. And I’ll want to hear all about it.” She grasped Kylin’s arm with her own. “Send word if you can to let us know you made it back.”
Jessa gave Sherta a tight hug. “I hope I see you again.”
There were tears in Sherta’s eyes. “And I you.”
With that, there didn’t seem to be much else to say. They went outside and Nef stood, his hands in his pockets. He nodded at them but didn’t say anything.
“Nef isn’t a talker.” Liselle gave him a soft smile. “It’ll take you about two hours to get to the docks, and Nef will take you to the ship heading to the Falls. We’ve put some food and drinks in this bag.” She handed a coarse sack to Jessa. “We’ve also put your old clothing in your bags. Nef already has them. Good luck.”
Kylin led the way down the stairs, followed by Jessa and Nef. “See you soon.”
Jessa turned back once before they turned the corner and saw Liselle and Sherta watching them go. She waved and they both waved back. The three of them continued to walk in silence, and as they passed beneath the enormous gate leading out of the city, Jessa wondered at her sense of loss. She’d known those people for all of two days, but she felt like she was leaving true friends behind. For someone who’d never had a genuine friend in her life, it made no sense, and that added to the sense of unreality about this entire situation. Who would she have been if she hadn’t been a captain? Would she have been a sentimental, emotional leaf lover? She didn’t think so, but as she brushed away the few tears that fell, she couldn’t help but wonder.
Chapter Eleven
Kylin’s mind raced with possibilities. She was an imposter, and if she couldn’t pull it off, it could get both of them captured. And if anything happened to Nef, she’d never forgive herself. He carried their bags like they were simple bags of grass, not everything they could carry with them from the ship. He seemed like a quiet, gentle boy, and Kylin wasn’t sure Liselle should have sent him on the trip.
The ground was dry and the sky was clear, with the distant multi-hued nebula a beacon leading them in the right direction. Jessa walked silently beside her, obviously lost in her own thoughts too. This was the least dangerous option, but it felt like they were walking straight into a prowler’s mouth. She ran every scenario she could think of and tried to come up with solutions, but the truth was, there was no way to know what they’d face.
“You look completely different.” Jessa’s voice was soft.
“Is that a bad thing?”
Jessa glanced at her and then back to the red dirt road in front of them. “Not good or bad. Just different. Do you feel different?”
Kylin hadn’t even thought about it, other than the need to make it believable. “Maybe.” She tugged at the expensive material. “I’ve never worn anything this fine. I like the way it fits, and I can see why people walk around like they’re invincible when they’re dressed like this.” She shrugged. “But it doesn’t change who and what I am.”
“And who would you say that is?”
“A scrounger from Quasi. If you knew more about this planet, you’d understand that says just about everything.” The words were hollow and left a bitter taste in her mouth.
They walked quietly for a while before Jessa shook her head.
“No. I don’t think so.”
Kylin raised her eyebrow. “You don’t think what?”
“That that’s all there is to you. I mean, I’ve only known you a little while, but I’ve seen how you are with people. And how they are with you. They care, and you obviously care about them too. You’ve let a stranger come with you rather than leave her to fend for herself, and you could have left me behind yet again, but you’ve acknowledged my request and let me come.” She touched Kylin’s hand briefly. “I think you’re more than you may know. And those clothes look like they belong to you.”
Kylin wasn’t sure what to say. It was too intimate, too…close. She nearly thanked the cosmos out loud when Nef stopped and turned to them.
“We’re going to start seeing people. You should walk behind her three steps, and keep your eyes down. And make sure to keep your life-sign covered. It’s high tech and will draw attention,” Nef said to Jessa. He looked at Kylin. “And you should walk with your head high, like no one here is worth your attention.”
“Thank you, Nef.” Kylin squeezed Jessa’s hand. “If things go ass-end-up, run. Make your way back to Liselle and Sherta’s.”
Jessa bit her lip and nodded. She was pale and Kylin felt her hand tremble in her own. It was actually good that she looked frightened. It played into her being a captured slave, so Kylin didn’t offer any more reassurances. She adjusted the light, lacy coverings over her forearm to make sure the deep blue of her life-sign was covered, then nodded to Nef, who turned and set off ahead of them. He was right. Within ten minutes, they began seeing others on roads merging with theirs. A cargo vehicle rumbled by, the cages full of shocked looking people in the back swaying precariously. Other slave owners were being carried or wheeled toward the docks, and a few nodded imperiously at her as they went past. She gave an aloof nod in return, but her stomach roiled. She tuned in to the sound of Jessa’s boots in the dirt so she knew she was there.
As they got nearer to the docks, the crowds grew thicker and Kylin pulled Jessa closer and held on to her arm. She’d seen other slave owners do it, so she knew it wasn’t unusual. Nef stopped and started in front of them, scanning the boats and electric readouts above them that stated where they were headed. Toward the end, he stopped in front of a smaller boat that was clean and neatly laid out. Several young people Nef’s age sat to the side. Nef looked them over and then approached one. Kylin couldn’t hear what was said, but Nef returned with the person in tow.
“This is Asol. She’ll take my place aboard ship, if it suits you.” Nef bowed his head respectfully.
Kylin looked the girl over. Her hair was shorter than Nef’s and her body was all lean muscle. Her eyes were intense and intelligent, and Kylin wondered if she should chance it. A dumb one with little curiosity would be better.
“We went to school together,” Nef said quietly.
So he trusted her. Kylin went to hold out her hand but Nef’s quick, subtle shake of his head reminded her of her place. She looked down her nose at the girl. “She’ll do.”
Nef handed over the bags and the girl swung them easily over her back. Kylin saw a man standing at the top of the gangplank and walked straight toward him as though she had every right to board his ship.
“I’d like passage for myself, my slave, and my errand girl to the Falls.” She waited to see what price he named. Did rich people haggle? Surely they wanted to hold on to the money they had?
“We’ve only got the one cabin left. Your girls will have to sleep on the floor of your room or in the hold with the other slaves being transported.” He looked over Kylin’s shoulder and leered at Jessa. “Or she could sleep in your bed. I know that’s where I’d want her.”
Kylin kept her fists at her side and reminded herself their lives depended on her staying in control. “Why would I get a slave like this one and not keep her in my bed? Or at my feet. Or wherever else I want her.” She tried for a smile but knew it fell flat. It didn’t seem to faze the captain.
He nodded and rocked back on his heels. “It will be twelve hundred linari.”
Kylin swallowed the disbelief and rolled her eyes. “For a cabin with one bed?” She looked over her shoulder. “We’ll find another transport.”
He held up his hand. “You can’t blame a man for trying.”
She stared at him, waiting. She wasn’t about to counter offer. That only got you in trouble.
He sighed dramatically. “Eight hundred linari. And I’ll have your breakfast served to you each day.”
“I have a servant to get my breakfast. Five hundred linari and new sheets. I don’t want your crusty dead bed bugs anywhere near her perfect skin. She cost me more than your boat and lives are worth.”
He looked Jessa over again, and Kylin prayed she was keeping her eyes down. She knew full well the fire that would be raging in them.
“Six hundred and new sheets.” He held out his arm.
Kylin looked at it askance and barely touched it with her own. She handed him the linari card. “Where is my room?”
He swiped the card through a reader that flashed green and then handed it back to her. He called out to a young man mopping the deck in lazy circles. “Take these three to cabin two.” He gave them a mocking half-bow. “Welcome aboard.”
Asol followed the deckhand with their bags, and Kylin fought the desire to give Nef a parting glance as she pulled Jessa along behind her toward their cabin. The ship was well taken care of. At least the trip wouldn’t be made in a leaking barrel. The deckhand opened the thick wooden door to their cabin and walked away without a word, though Kylin didn’t miss the quick side-glance at Jessa.