by Tigris Eden
Gen shook the thought from her head. She didn’t care. Would never care how his life turned out. It was not her concern. Right now she needed to find a way to get some fresh air. Anything to get away from the cloying scent that seeped into her veins, caused her mouth to water, and the inside of her thighs to slick with moisture.
“There you are.” Bianca said, staring at Adam. But then she directed her attention to Gen. “Why don’t I show her where to change?” Her voice was polite, but it felt forced. Genesis knew the other female didn’t like her. It was there in her piercing blue eyes, which were colder than most. The other woman focused in on her. That’s when Genesis realized why Bianca was shooting lasers at her. She was in between the two males that infuriated and confused her beyond all measure. Somehow Adam was now facing her, and Xander was behind her. Strong, masculine hand on her flat stomach, hand expanding from hip to hip. His hands were large, callus. She could feel the heat of his fingers as they pressed into her stomach, causing her to pitch forward as if she was falling. Xander was there to support her weight, when she would have otherwise fallen.
“That sounds like a brilliant idea sister. Only, I know exactly how you’ll attempt to help Genesis.” Xander spun her around and took her hand. She didn’t argue. The look on Bianca’s face was calculating. She felt gratitude towards Xander for protecting her and double gratitude for getting her out of the atrium, away from the smell. Adam didn’t follow, and Xander walked her to the opposite side of the atrium and through a long corridor. The walls were covered in paintings depicting the first Uni-War. Images of death and chaos were all around. For a moment she wanted to stop, and examine each painting. But Xander tugged her forward almost causing her to trip.
The tasting was about to begin. She wasn’t picking up any sounds from the front of the house, but could hear low murmurs of conversation. Everyone had started to gather inside the atrium.
“Did you participate in that?” She asked absently. Her chest felt tight as she waited for his response. Xander had the power to hurt her and so much more. Gen realized that as they continued their walk down the corridor. His answer would make or break her.
Xander stopped walking, turned and rose a platinum eyebrow.
“In what?” He questioned.
He knew what she was asking, but instead of answering he feigned innocence. Her chest ached with the knowledge, that yes, he did participate in the grouping and connecting of bodies. This was her lesson. Her hard learned lesson. Never would she be acceptable. Fantasizing about mating was dangerous for her own mental and physical health. But she found she continued to wait for an answer, any answer.
“Back there,” Gen motioned over her shoulder. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was trying to avoid the question. There’s your answer. Yank your hand from his and leave. She wanted to, but she wanted him to tell her the truth first. Prove to her that she was right about him.
“What happened back there doesn’t hold a candle to your beauty.”
“Evading?” She challenged back.
“No, I just don’t think the question is relevant." Xander turned and continued walking down the hall. She didn’t move. It wasn’t a confirmation but it wasn’t a denial either.
“I think it holds a lot of relevance. In fact, it hold so much relevance, I won’t take another step until you answer my question.”
Xander’s movements were fast. She wasn’t aware Pars could even move that fast. Vaggo had explained that with the death of Earth, and the onset of diseases that affected Pars, they’d lost the ability to bend time. It wasn’t that they could move back and forth in the future, but could bend a span of minutes that could get them from place to place. They couldn’t bend time to move long distances, but short distances were child’s play. Even Adam’s father, who was a product of a “true” tasting, couldn’t move as fast as Xander. Gen quickly let her enhanced senses take over. She was accessing the situation and finding nothing out of the ordinary with him. His levels were the same as every other Pars. Maybe it was the effect of the night orchids? When she’d been immersed in the fragrance, time moved slowly. Now the effects were wearing off. Naturally it would have the opposite effect.
Xander had her by the waist. The braid that normally rested around his neck was now acting as an anchor to hold her to him. Wrapped around her waist and pulling her closer and closer to a person she was slowly starting to dislike. She’d never even caught the movement of his hair. Maybe, when he’d moved his braid it’d been displaced by the force of the air and then somehow ended up around her waist as well. Or maybe she was drugged, and although it seemed impossibly fast, it must have been something as simple as him reaching up, unwrapping his braid and then securing it firmly around her waist. You’re losing it Blackmore. There is a logical explanation for everything. Including this one.
“Don’t test me.” Xander whispered harshly in her face. “You won’t like the outcome Genesis, I promise you that.”
His words were rushed. Each one felt like hands slapping her repeatedly in the face. She’d even flinched. She never flinched! Ever! He wasn’t the apex predator she was. He’d do well not to be high handed with her; he wouldn’t like that outcome either. She was stronger, faster, and hell, if she wanted to she could break him in half with her bare hands.
“Don’t test me… Xander,” Gen said dangerously quiet. Their breaths mingled they were so close. His hand tightened around her waist and brought her body flush against his.
“Gen,” he said on a long sigh. “Really, would I invite you if I had plans for another female?” He sounded upset that she would even think that. Well why wouldn’t she? He was known for his conquests.
“Anything… is possible.”
“With you, yes.” Xander said against her mouth. A sound rumbled inside his chest. It sounded strained as he tried to get her to open to his kiss. When she did finally open he dipped in skillfully blending the right amount of lips, tongue and teeth as he coaxed her forward. His lips were warm and his tongue soft. She could taste the spice and fire that was all Xander. That wonderful taste, she’d tasted back at Academy, flooded her mouth. A potent punch of desire worked its way into her skin. A female could truly learn to crave a spiced filled kiss. It awakened a deep yearning for something Genesis was unable to name.
Chapter 11
“Come on, you’ll make us late.” Xander groaned against her lips. He stepped back and took her hand, while untangling his braid and led her to a door that was off to the right. She was pliant when it came to his kisses. This was why she let him pull her forward through the door. The room was small. The only items were a white silk robe and golden bracelets. The room itself was painted an alabaster white, with silver hooks to hold the robes.
“Get undressed and put six bangles on both wrists, there ceremonial.” She knew what kind of bracelets they were, Bloodletting bracelets. The wearer of the bracelets skin would be sliced with each turn. It allowed blood to flow freely. It also guaranteed maximum blood flow. The bracelets themselves were blades. Only females wore bracelets and custom siphoners that were fashioned on their middle finger. The males would have something similar, but their adornment wasn’t a bracelet but a torque fashioned on their bicep. Instead of siphoners, they had daggers that would be at the belt of their pants. During the tasting, if a female wished to taste a male’s blood, she would do so from his bicep. The female would twist the torque until it sliced into his flesh. If a male wanted to taste a female, he would do so from her wrist in the same fashion.
“Where are the siphoners?” Siphoners were fashioned to fit over a female’s middle finger. The tip was sharp and able to pierce the toughest of skin.
“So you do know what the bracelets are for?”
Gen nodded and waited for him to tell her where they were.
“The siphoners are beneath the robes hanging on the hooks.” He reached up and grabbed the robe placing it on a bench that was pushed up a
gainst the wall in the corner.
“I don’t plan on participating.” Gen said as she turned to face Xander. She’d been looking at the bracelets going over every detail. The siphoners were ceremonial only, but if a male and female were serious about their commitment, the female would siphon as much of the males blood until there was barely a drop. Leaving him on the brink of death. Then the female would open the vein at her neck and feed him. It was a dangerous custom now because of the Pars failing health. But Gen heard stories about couples so into each other they would act out every last detail of the ceremony. In both cases the male had died. Gen eyed the siphoners and realized they weren’t as sharp as they appeared. She breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at Xander. The idea of getting undressed in front of him was not something she could entertain. He didn’t move but continued speaking as if her getting undressed in front of him was a natural thing.
“Everyone wants to participate.” Xander’s hand touched her shoulders. An act she was sure was meant to comfort and coax. “Even you.” Bending his head to whisper against her neck.
“I must not.”
Xander squeezed her shoulders and pulled her into his arms. Having these feelings were dangers and only served to confuse her further. She was happy working long hours in the lab. To make a difference for her race was the only thing that mattered. No, you want to belong. Want to be a part of this. Don’t be a fool Gen. Her inner voice was taking a turn for the worst. She usually had to remind herself of the many warnings her father had told her about. If not, she would fall deeper into a world that was foreign to her. She had no patronage. The small and insignificant amount of DNA that ran through her system wasn’t enough to have a proper mating. She was a part of Vaggo but was not. Her lineage had no line to trace back to great ancestors. She was born inside of a dish, manufactured in a womb like environment. She was compatible to no one. If the council found out, she’d be banished for being a mutated Par. If she was even a Par at all. Countless times she’d questioned her father who had reassured her she was of his race. But if that were really true, then why did the council have it out for her? It was how she ended up at the Academy. They’d wanted her to be singled out. Ridiculed for being less but something more. They already felt she was an abomination for a lesser crime her father had not committed. They’d assumed her father had an unsanctioned birth with someone from the Southern tier. This was their fault, not hers. She didn’t ask to be brought into a life filled with judgment.
It wouldn’t matter that her father saved their race, it wouldn’t matter at all. They’d see her as an experiment, therefore with no rights. She’d be less than a second class citizen. Caged and unable to make choices on her own. No one could taste her blood. No one.
“I can’t!” Gen said more forcefully. Taking a step away from Xander she’d backed herself into a corner.
“Look at me Genesis.” There was no way she’d look into his eyes. Gen felt unhinged, vulnerable. Her carefully constructed walls of rules were slowly starting to show signs of weakening. She wanted to partake like everyone else. Nim would laugh at her vulnerability and tell her to deal with it. To adapt, fight and overcome. Where was he now? She should be spending time with him and his sister, not here with Xander and the others. Nim wouldn’t care about her lineage, Xander Treegold would. Anger rose up and slapped her in the face. She wanted to scream at the injustice of her birth. Why hadn’t her father perfected a child of his own seed? Why give birth to a lab specimen? She’d have been better off in one of his observation tanks than here, in the real world. Pissed, Gen turned and looked Xander in the eye. Her resolve set. She wasn’t going to participate.
“I would rather just watch.” Gen said firmly.
She looked down at her twisted hands, fearful of his rejection. She knew it was going to sting. Xander wasn’t a male to be told no. When he wanted something he got it. If it wasn’t given to him, he walked away. He had no problem with turning on a female who’d refused him. In her uncertainty she was surrounded by silence. Nothing but the sound of their breaths could be heard in the room.
Xander put his knuckles under her chin and slowly lifted her face up to meet his gaze. The fire in his eyes was replaced with understanding. The clear blue was back, assessing and agreeing with her request. But there was something else there just underneath the iris, something more.
“If you’re worried others will approach you, you’ve no need to fear.” He lifted her chin higher, bringer her lips to his. This kiss was softer. Held promise.
Their bodies never touching, still, he made her soft and warm on the inside. Random thoughts of Adam interrupted the kiss and angered her. Why should she even care? Xander was just as good as Adam, if not better. Gens hands lifted and gripped the base of his neck. Her fingers were bunched in what loose strands she could find. His lips froze beneath hers. Gently he removed her hands and stepped back.
“Did I do it wrong?” What if that was the wrong way to act? What if only the males took lead when courting a female?
“No, precious. You didn’t do anything wrong, quite the opposite.”
Then why was he standing further back from her? There were foreign feelings mixing with other feelings she’d barely gotten accustomed to. Her father never used endearments to address her. Gen took a moment to think back to a time if her father ever called her anything other than her name. The only real affection he’d showed her was on her return from the academy. Even that had been short lived. He’d gone back to his lab soon after Adam left and hadn’t surfaced for more than a handful of minutes at a time. He never even said he’d loved her. Now more than ever, she wished he’d had. She’d have a better idea of how to handle most of the emotions she was dealing with. She’d read in one of her books about father-daughter detachment. She was sure that’s what she had. She was desperately clinging to anyone and anything that showed her the slightest bit of interest. If that’s so, then why didn’t you latch on to Nimziri? Good question, she thought. She hadn’t latched on to him, or anyone else that showed the least bit of interest.
“If that’s so, why did you pull away from me?”
“Get dressed and please wear the bracelets for me. I won’t activate them if you don’t want me to. But please dress. Do it quickly before I take advantage of your graciousness.”
He stepped through the door and proceeded to close it. When he turned and stuck his head through the doors opening he said very quietly before shutting the door.
“I want my precious pure when I take her.”
Gen quickly dressed and placed six bracelets on each wrist. Excitement for the night’s events consumed her. Xander has promised nothing would happen to her and she trusted that. Making the situation far more enjoyable. This would be her first official tasting. She made sure that her collar was visible. She wasn’t participating in the ceremony and didn’t want to give the wrong impression. A female would only remove her collar if she agreed to a match. The same was true of males, they would uncover their wrists. There was a knock at the door when she was pulling the hood over her head. The bracelets made a nice clanking sound as they slid around on her wrists, almost like chimes. She placed the siphoners over her left finger and attached them to her wrist at her arm. There was a long delicate gold chain that hooked on to her bracelet, and hung loosely. Gen looked at the door and wondered who it was.
“Yes.”
“It’s time. Everyone is waiting Miss Blackmore.”
Gen’s heart stammered against her rib cage. Her legs were jelly and threatened to melt onto the floor. She was experiencing extreme anxiety with a hefty dose of adrenaline mixed in. It wasn’t like she was participating. But she still felt the effects as if she was.
The large hand appeared before the man did. It was Scion.
“Scion.”
He bowed low at the waist and slowly rose.
“Miss Blackmore, it would be my honor to escort you to the Atrium. Your beauty was the only thing Master Treegold talked about. If you don’t
mind my saying so, he is correct.”
Gen felt her skin heat at his compliment. Was she actually blushing? Scion gently took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm.
“Thank you Scion, those are very kind words.” She had manners, she wasn’t about to disrespect him. He was a formidable strategist. She could see it in his eyes as he took in everything around him. He noticed the smallest of details but didn’t voice any of his concerns. Scion was a man of enterprise and very few words.
There was a bright orange glow in the atrium. Tall candles, thick with a sweet scent lit the area. The fern trees now cast shadows on the marble floor. In the center, twelve hooded females stood around the altar. Bianca and Adam were off to the side, both dressed for the ceremony. The males all bare from the waist up. Their only coverings were the gold arm torques. The males all wore white draw-string linen like pants. The fabric was a bit harsher, but at the same time softer. It was a synthetic blend. White was the symbol of purity, only to be blemished by one’s life blood.
The males were not at the circle but knelt at the edge of the enclosed area, behind each female. This was symbolic. This was a show of fealty and the promise of their security. Long ago the society had been of a matriarchal hierarchy, but after their home planets Blood Rivers dried up, the female’s relinquished power to their clans and admitted deference to the male species. Males were adept at handling matters of war and strategy. Now, as they stood behind the females, arms at their side, muscles defined, they exuded strength. The female species was all powerful, sister to the Goddess of the Moon. Stronger and more attentive to the emotions with the natural ability to care for one’s family. But the males were the force. The driving strength to see their kind survive.
Xander had yet to make an appearance. She walked into the atrium’s inner circle on the arm of Scion. Her hand tightened. The air was thick with an unnatural scent that mixed with the heady fragrance of the blooming night orchids. It clung to her robes and skin, giving her a feeling of expectancy. It was a chemical reaction. She could smell things that were not of New Earth’s biological make-up. Something was off.