Chapter 26
Del arrived home from work to find Laren wearing no more than a robe, curled inside a large cushion, reading. Her long, long brown hair draped gracefully around her. Del watched her breathe, his gaze following the curve of her body. Her skin would be like satin, her hair silk. If he joined her on the cushion, he knew the words she would say, if she spoke at all. He yearned to feel the touch of her caresses and to nuzzle his face into the scent of her perfume.
But he also knew that her whole identity revolved around her ability to use people through her body. If she were ever to truly become his companion, she needed to understand that her greatest value lay in the Path she was designed to fill. No one was designed for degradation, but she did not know that yet.
His wife had understood her Path. He still missed her so much. He missed all of them, his wife, his parents, his children, all who perished aboard that last ship. Laren was hardly a substitute for his wife, but he loved her just as fervently.
Laren was more, and less, than his dead wife. He loved his human Lady with an intense passion that he hoped he could one day consummate in marriage. By contrast, he loved his wife with a comfortable affection that had grown over many years together. Less and more. He compared it to the difference between a tropical heat and a drink of water from a deep well.
Slowly she turned her head to return his stare. Her eyes told him that she had known all along that he was watching, not nearly as wrapped in her book as she had pretended to be. She knew he wanted her desperately. A smile played on her lips. She knew she was winning this one.
Neither of them spoke. I love you more than you know, Laren, he told her silently as he withdrew to his rooms and locked his door.
Chapter 27
Are you ready to go?" Del called from the living room.
"Yes." Karra bit back a sharp reply. Curled on the cushion, earlier, before Del had refused her, she had planned for a quiet night at home. First he had locked himself in his room. When he exited, he told her of his plans, and that she had an hour to get ready.
Just before coming out of the bedroom, she checked her appearance in the mirror and smoothed the gloves over her palms, pressing the filmy fabric carefully between each finger. She had intended to seduce him, making love without the gloves, Karra sampling Laren's Nevian, but as he had with Laren, he refused her too. You were born for better, she kept hearing him say. She wanted to spit in his face. How could he know what she was born to do? Del would not be able to see her anger at him any more than he had noticed her change in identity, at least not with a casual glance.
The beast waited around the corner of her mind. Do you wonder why Laren is not pushing you away? I have a special prison selected for her. It seems she was preventing you from fulfilling your purpose. Tonight you WILL act. Tonight both of you will understand who owns you. It tittered.
Karra explored all the internal places where Laren might be hiding, but found nothing. It was as if Laren had never existed. At the same time, Karra felt hollow, as if something vital had been stolen from her. She wanted to protest, but what was there to say? Hadn’t she wanted Laren out of her life permanently?
"You look lovely, Laren." Del opened the door for her and nodded at his two personal guards.
She hadn’t noticed either of them in a long time, so long had she been locked in her prison of ice. Their presence shocked her. She had forgotten that Del never went anywhere without armed Security.
Security, the beast whispered. Right at his fingertips. Always. Feel the threat they represent.
She felt the wave of imminent danger the beast threw at her, and had no idea how to counteract it, even though she knew it came from the beast and not from either Del or his guards. A blanket of irrational fear covered her.
You are all raw emotion, aren’t you?
It pushed another wave of danger at her until she was trembling.
The beast mocked her: You're losing control. I will win tonight.
No, I…
No, what? You haven’t the strength to resist me any longer. All your emotions are on the surface, no stops, no Laren to whisper peace to you, all your hatred and rage, tuned and ready for the stage I’m preparing for you. You’re like a fine musical instrument, and I am the musician. You will play my song tonight, child of mine.
She could not calm herself. She felt so tightly wound, she would do anything to release the tension.
Soon, the beast promised. Soon I will release you, and then I will reward you. Have I ever let you down?
No…
The elevator took them to the rooftop aircar port where they boarded Del's private vehicle and flew away. Her life headed for Del's destination.
You will always be headed for A’nden’s destination as long as he lives, the beast reminded her. That was one thing Laren never understood. Do you think I am being unreasonable? Who controls this whole city? Who is the single person who would lock you away forever? Have I not always protected you when your enemies rose against you? What has A’nden done except make your other half weak? Who is really the enemy, Karra?
A’nden is the enemy, she agreed, anxious to get this night finished, desperate to find some release.
The aircar landed on the roof of The Ambry. This evening only, they featured G'eza, advertised as the greatest ploosel player on Nevia II.
Del must be homesick for the sounds and flavors of his own planet, the beast said in mock empathy.
So let them return! All of them! Karra found herself thinking.
Exactly. Oh, you are so perfect for certain specialties! So perfect!
Even aware that she was being manipulated, she knew of no other way to get the release she craved. She clenched her fists as Del led her down a spiral staircase onto a balcony that overlooked the main restaurant and the stage.
And noticed a table set for six.
"More friends of yours?" she asked, trying not to sound too sharp.
"Not friends exactly," he replied. "It is part of my job to be seen in public with many different people representing many different groups, an aspect of my job I have notoriously neglected."
"Do I need to be here?"
He glanced at her, surprised. "Of course. I would also appreciate your attention, even if these people prove to be difficult."
"Difficult?"
"These people are representatives from the Anti-Certificate League. I have consistently supported their cause. They will not be pleased to meet you. They will see you as an indication that I am reconsidering their propositions."
“Little do they know,” Karra said darkly.
“Laren, they are not Formalists. They will neither know, nor will they understand my position.”
Neither do I, she wanted to snap at him. "I thought you were on their side. I think you brought along the wrong person."
He certainly has, the beast said. He thinks he has brought along his sweet, perfect little puppet. Whose puppet are you, Karra?
Stunned, she tried to counter the beast. I’m not your puppet either, she told it.
Ah, but my exceptionally violent love, I do not want a puppet. I want everything you are, as you really are. I want you to act, express yourself. Jem used to call you a precision weapon. All I want to do is point you in the right direction, and let you fly free, right into the face of the enemy. You need never be caged again. We could eliminate the useless and weak Laren altogether if you would only obey me. Comply, my darkest darling, and we will bring this city to its knees.
The beast gave her an image of a firestorm, with her at the center, laughing, destroying her enemies, destroying everything and everyone who dared to come too close. The image left her exhilarated. She wanted that kind of freedom.
"Are you sure I brought along the wrong person?” Del was asking. “Did you not also get a business degree while your brother was in prison? Is that not an indication that you wanted to better yourself? Who else could represent what is honorable about your people?”
Karra t
ried not to laugh at him. He definitely had the wrong person.
"Sometimes I wonder what you're thinking," he said, gazing steadily at her. "You share my life. We enjoy the same things, read the same books, watch the same programs on the screen, yet we remain strangers. Being a companion means more than just inhabiting the same space. I want to know you, Laren. Perhaps time will bring us together."
A smile did touch her lips then. He wanted to know a figment of her imagination. "Never” she told him. “We have too little common ground."
Her remark evidently caught him by surprise. The analytical expression he now wore, his study of her body posture, his examination of her perfect dress, caused her to pause. During most of the time Laren had been with him, Karra had been absent. She had no idea, she realized, how Laren acted when around him. They were strangers. He was the head of Security. Surely he noticed.
His mouth opened in question, just as a host brought two other couples to his table.
"Laren," Del said instead. "I would like you to meet Captain and Mistress Karandren Ve Toohl, and Master and Mistress Harmet Mu Aaname."
When Laren stood with Del to greet them, she bowed formally to each couple, as did Del. But when they returned her bow in kind, as though she were an equal, she blinked in surprise. Must be because we're in the High Commissioner's presence, she guessed as they took their seats.
"Would you care for drinks before dinner?" the host asked.
A double Ma Vita, waiter, a stiff one, Karra thought, but there would be no alcohol while living with Del.
"We will drink water," Del told the waiter, including Laren in his gesture. "But perhaps my guests will indulge."
Yes. Attend to our guests, waiter, Karra ordered mentally. We must make a good impression, be gracious. And always smile.
Smile, the beast told her. Smile before you bite, my poisonous baby.
Again she almost laughed.
The other guests placed their orders, throwing an occasional inquisitive glance at Laren and Del. An uncomfortable silence followed.
Mistress Ve Toohl broke the silence first. "Are you not…?" She turned to Del as if requesting an explanation. When he remained silent, she returned, this time in confusion, to Laren. "Do you not have…?"
Karra fumed. The Nevian dog! The freetin’ bite can't even say it!
"A yellow certificate," her husband finished.
The analytical expression returned to Del's eyes as he regarded her. He weighed his words before he spoke. "She is my Lady," he said, his own anger not far away, if the tightness around his eyes was any indication.
Everyone except Karra gave the Commissioner an uneasy glance. It was never wise to annoy one of the Council, especially its director. But the brutal side of her wanted to provoke an argument. She leaned forward slightly to throw hot words at Del's guests, but Captain Ve Toohl interrupted.
"Commissioner, I apologize that my wife brought this subject to our attention in such a manner," the Captain said. "However, you know the reasons we asked for this audience. We have a definite position against prostitution, and believed you felt as we did. But we can see we were misled.”
"How were you misled, Captain?"
Harmet answered. "We heard it rumored that our High Commissioner, whom we had believed to be on our side, had acquired a private girl. Because we had no proof of this, we continued to hope otherwise and planned the audience. But as we sit here, it seems the rumor was true after all."
“I always listen to rumors,” Karra said. “Facts can be so annoying.”
Del arched his eyebrows. His lips twitched in a near smile. She guessed Laren didn’t talk that way.
Recovering poorly, Harmet continued, but addressed the Commissioner instead.
“Does not Mistress Demmita have a yellow certificate? Is that not true?”
“Not quite,” Karra said. “Del tossed it.”
"But you are still registered." The Captain finally acknowledged her, insistent.
“I can never escape that," Karra said darkly.
Del swung toward her, eyeing her critically even as he addressed his guest. "She is, by contract, my Lady. You are aware of the concubine law, Captain?"
"Of course." But his eyes examined his glass as though fascinated by its color and texture.
“And are you also aware of the Formalist position in contracting a Lady?” he asked, his full attention now on Captain Ve Toohl.
“Surely you cannot live in the same home and not…"
“I am an avowed Formalist,” Del said. “That means I have dedicated my life, my whole life, you must understand, to the chief objective of the Path, which is pursuing a right relationship with the One. We hold each life as sacred. As such, we uphold, and do not degrade, sentient life. I would never degrade this, or any other woman. Do you finally understand?”
Even if he didn’t, Karra doubted the man would dare to say so. The Captain nodded his head, but no words came out of his mouth.
Del sat back, satisfied. "Laren, are you familiar with the Anti-Certificate League?"
"Yes," Karra said. "A very dangerous group, in my opinion. But then, fools with a little power are usually dangerous." She watched with satisfaction as Captain Ve Toohl's face puffed in indignation. "The Anti-Certificate League wants, first, to eliminate the issuing of yellow certificates to girls under sixteen and over thirty, then to eliminate registered girls from the Inner City, and eventually, to outlaw prostitution altogether. It may surprise them to learn that I might agree with them were they not so willing to force their policies on the public while ignoring underlying problems. That's why I call them fools."
Del's surprise turned to approval. "I had no idea you were so informed about their proposals. Do you often keep such knowledge to yourself?"
"Only if it's political," Karra muttered. Laren would have stated no position.
She has no position, the beast affirmed. Any position A’nden holds becomes her position. She’s weak, ineffectual. I only ask for obedience, Karra, and I will let your malevolent hatred have free reign.
Chalatta, came a weak whisper. The beast will also take your daughter from you.
Karra froze. The vision of the firestorm vanished. In its place, was her daughter sobbing, missing her, not understanding why she had been abandoned. Her hands shook so badly now she dared not raise her glass to quench her suddenly dry throat.
She barely heard one of the women speaking. "Of course she would know about our group."
The beast hissed. You will pay for that, it told Laren.
“Yes,” the Captain agreed. “Our proposals directly affect her.”
Kill him, the beast snarled. What does that fat Nevian know?
More than anything she wanted to lash out, to hate and hurt and kill. But she could not bring herself to abandon her daughter, no matter the glorious freedom within the storm of fire and the heat of murder. She realized she would need to leave soon if anyone was to survive tonight.
"I told you I do not use my yellow certificate," she said. But the inflection of her voice was out of control. She clamped her mouth shut.
I can’t… There was a door to her left…
"Mistress Demmita," Mu Aaname said. "Is it not true that you live with Commissioner A’nden as his kept woman, not his legal concubine?”
Wild-eyed, she stole a glance at Del. "I'm sorry, but my presence, it seems, has ruined dinner." She rose to leave, fearful that soon the beast would fill her so full of rage that she would fly out of control.
"Stay seated," the High Commissioner ordered, his anger visible as well.
Karra swallowed, and sat. Not tonight, she begged the beast.
Oh, yes, tonight, the beast countered. If you remember, she never was a figment of your imagination, as you so conveniently wish to believe. I created Laren for you. I helped you keep your Karra-self separate, didn’t I? But Laren isn’t political enough for you, is she? She’s everything you hate, isn’t she? Too compliant. A pawn with no mind of her own, an echo of
her Nevian owner. But you! You crave independence. And tonight you shall have it!
No. But her plea lacked strength.
"These people need to be educated," Del continued, barely audible over the beast's growling. "First, you have attacked an Inner City resident, uttering slander against her most vile. Check the public record.
"Second, you have attacked me, calling me a liar, accusing me, a Formalist, of degrading this woman. Although according to the record she is indeed a concubine, as a Formalist there will be no consummation outside of marriage. We believe that the Path holds each sentient form in high regard, so high that we leave the Path when we choose to degrade another. I would suggest, should you wish me to listen to your petitions, you be more respectful of me and my Lady."
"As you request, Commissioner," Mu Aaname said. "May I ask why you invited her?"
"A fair question. I brought her because she is my Lady, and the Formalist position is that a woman’s wisdom deserves audience. But I also invited her because she was once registered and may be willing to share her reasons for choosing that profession. I agree with her. You understand too little of the underlying problems. I think if you understood her, your solutions and petitions would be more applicable."
More applicable, the beast mocked. He's using the Anti-Certificate League to dig into your life. Kill them where they sit!
"No," she said to the beast.
"Laren?"
She barely heard him. She blinked rapidly to see him through the screaming red.
All Nevians are the enemy, even your precious Del.
Laren's Del, she corrected.
They all deserve death!
"Laren?" Del touched her hand with his fingertips.
Karra jerked away as though burned. She jumped to her feet, her chair tumbling behind her. "Not tonight!" she shouted at the beast. I will not kill him! She lunged out the service door to her left.
Her Darkest Beauty_An Alien Invasion Series_The Second Generation Page 23