Both Tsu and Jo leapt up to do as they were told. Jo winked at Tsu who giggled behind her hand.
After Jo had been showered and massaged, and to her surprise hadn’t fallen asleep, she dressed in a clean Kaftan, then she remembered that both her’s and Acorus’ clothes were still in the gazebo in the garden. She told Tsu in a whisper and then wondered why all three Escorii were laughing at her. Then she remembered that they communicated telepathically and burst out laughing herself.
“I am so used to talking to you, I’d forgotten that you don’t talk but use your mind” she said Tchu came over to her and said “Jo, now that you are pregnant I think that you should have lessons on how to mask your thoughts. We three know that you hope to become important to Lord Acorus, and also that you want to be useful to Scerior, because your thoughts are very busy. This is why we have done our best since we first met you, on the ship, to help you. However as you move into Scerior life you will meet people who do not want to help, maybe they would like to do you harm. Not many Sceriae can communicate telepathically, Lord Acorus is one of the few but all Sceriae have Escorii attendants and their loyalty, after their loyalty to our race and Scerior, is to their employers”.
Jo held her hands out to Tchu and said “I am truly grateful to you all. You have been kind and caring, and helped me more than you know. I would be glad to learn anything you think might help me. Lord Acorus and I are getting on well. I think we understand each other but we are both quick tempered and stubborn. So I know I will need your help to overcome the many pitfalls that fate will throw in my path” and at that she flung her arms around Tchu and hugged her.
Suddenly she remembered something that she noticed while being massaged “Tjai, I see that you used the lightly scented oil on me today. Are the oils chosen for different circumstances, and did the one you used yesterday have anything to do with me becoming pregnant?”
Tjai looked at Tchu and suddenly Jo heard her say “What shall I do? Shall I tell her the truth?”
Jo took a step back and raising her voice said “Yes, you will tell me the truth. Is you’re loyalty to me or who?”
Tchu smiled “You have a very quick brain, Jo. It will be easy to teach you”.
“Never mind that” snapped Jo “I want to know about the massage oils”.
“Sit down, Jo” and Tchu’s voice brooked no argument.
Jo sat down and the three Escorii stood in front of her. Tchu spoke “The oils Jo, are used to aid you through difficult situations. Some make you relax and feel calm, another makes you sleepy. The one that Tjai used yesterday, if it smells correctly on your skin, shows that you are producingeggs. The oil that is used in every combination ensures that you will only produce eggs that will become female young. The musky perfume used in yesterday’s oil emulates a Sceriae females scent, making it impossible for a male to ignore her.
‘No ‘thought Jo ‘Acorus’ love making was not just because she smelled right. ‘
Even though Jo had not spoken aloud, Tchu answered her “It is Lord Acorus’ duty to mate with the human females he has been given, but we have noticed that he spends more time with you, all night, which is not usual. Even laying with you after he knows you are pregnant.
So I think you are right, he desires you for yourself”.
“I have to believe that. Because if I don’t I will not have the strength to carry on!”
“Oh Jo”, cut in Tsu “you do not know how strong you are. We have seen many human girls come to Scerior. Some like Kylie and Julie make a life for themselves. others just drift along, not making any progress in themselves. Others have killed themselves, either by their own hand or by angering their master, When we were on the ship we realised that you are different. Not only clever and well educated, because many of the girls are, but you have a great determination to make something of your life. We will do anything we can to help you reach your goal” and Tsu put her arms around Jo and hugged her.
Chapter 11
When Jo went into the main chamber Kylie was standing at her easel painting. Jo went across to her and asked how she was today.
“I’m good thanks. More to the point how are you? I hear you’ve joined the pudding club”.
Jo blushed, “It seems like everyone knew but me”.
“Well I’m afraid that hormones here are like jungle drums. After all that is the reason for our existence” turning from her easel Kylie asked “are you okay about it? If you need to talk I’m here for you”.
“I’m okay, thanks” answered Jo “but if I do have any worries, I’ll talk to you about it. By the way has Julie had her babies yet?”
“Yes two girls as usual, she’ll be coming back soon. I know she’s dying to get back to work”.
Jo sighed and lowered her head causing Kylie to look at her and ask “What’s the matter?”
Trying to choose her words carefully Jo answered “I’m having great difficulty getting my head round just being here to have babies. It is so different to what I had planned for my life. I’m worried that I’ll go crazy, having pregnancy after pregnancy. I don’t know how you treat it so lightly”.
“Let’s sit down Jo” and Kylie took Jo’s hand and led her to a couch. When they were seated Kylie said “Let me tell you how it has worked out for me and also for Julie. When I was first brought here, as you know my life was a mess. To be honest, for me, it was the best thing that could have happened to me, but I’m not stupid, and I understand how you must feel. At first, it was just nice to eat regularly, be clean, well dressed, and well cared for.
That lasted for about two years, but then I started to feel trapped, probably as you have felt from the beginning, Acorus was kind, he didn’t make me have sex apart from when it was time for me to get pregnant. He knew that when a man touched me I panicked. My mind went back to when I was abused on Earth. I didn’t even fight, I just froze with tears pouring down my face. Eventually I came to trust him not to hurt me and we became friends.
Here having babies is easy, we are kept so well and fit during pregnancy, to be honest I don’t notice it anymore. When the baby is born, there is no pain and I feel really good straight away. Anyhow, back to feeling trapped, one day I told Acorus how I felt. He was upset for me, as he had done everything he could to make me happy. On Earth I would have had to be a billionaire to be looked after as well. The day after I told him how I felt, Ileya came to see me. I had only seen her a few times before. When she came in I was embarrassed, after all I was having sex with her husband, not my doing but still” Kylie shrugged, then continued “she was great, she asked me to tell her exactly how I felt so although I was very nervous, I did. When I had finished Ileya was frowning and shaking her head. I thought she was angry, but I couldn’t help myself. I started to cry and said to her ‘I’m like a doll, or a toy. It’s as if I have no mind of my own. no mental needs, as if as long as my body is cared for my mental state doesn’t matter ‘.
After that outburst I just sat there crying and trembling. Ileya took my hands in hers and said “I am so ashamed. When we decided that there was no other way to save our race, we made plans to look after the females, who after all, hopefully, were here to save us, as well as possible. Sceriae females, for a long time have only mated when they wanted to, and as the centuries passed they wanted to less and less. Our work became the prime motivator for us, but it seems that we have underestimated human females if you can mate whenever you want and still want to have work or something to keep you mentally happy”.
Jo looked hard at Kylie and said “Do you mean to say that they thought we were like animals, happy to be fed and nothing more?”
“I’m afraid so” answered Kylie “you have to remember how advanced they are, and that after watching Earth for thousands of years, they didn’t think that we had progressed at all. We might have some technology but we are still killing each other, and doing horrible thi
ngs, like what was done to me”.
“How did you change things for yourself?” Jo asked.
“I didn’t, it was Ileya and the council, they decided that girls who had accepted life here should be treated like citizens, as long as we accept the role that we were brought here for. So they set out to discover what us girls were interested in and what we are capable of. When Julie came they discovered, for instance, that she was a great organiser P. A or whatever you like to call it, and after her first babies were born, twins as usual, Ileya asked her to go and look after her office ETC”.
“Did Julie settle down alright to being pregnant all the time” Jo asked.
“Well, mmm,... She won’t mind me telling you this as she’d tell you herself if she was here. She... ”.
At that point Kylie stopped as Julie entered through the main door followed by her two Escorii carrying a baby each wrapped in shawls. Both Kylie and Jo jumped up and hurried to her saying it was lovely to have her back. The babies were tiny, no more than four pounds each, but they were beautiful. They had masses of black hair, rosebud mouths, perfectly heart shaped faces and eyes of the darkest blue. Julie looked as if she had been on holiday, laughing at Jo’s concerned face.
“Hiya, here’s Julie” she kidded “What have you two been up to?”
“Not much, Kylie answered “Jo’s pregnant and I’m going to see my kids this afternoon. Everything is ticking over as normal”.
“Should I say congratulations, Jo” Julie asked going to a couch and sitting on it “or how do you feel about it?”
Jo sat down beside her and shrugged her shoulders “I don’t know how I feel. It’s all a bit new. I haven’t even got used to being here yet”.
“At least Acorus will be able to leave you alone”, Julie said, a bit cattily Jo thought and she thought she heard Julie say ‘It’s my turn now and I can’t wait ‘but then realised that Julie had only thought that.
‘Gosh’ she thought ‘ I can read minds. I’d better take care what I think. I don’t know who might be listening’.
Kylie had sat down on another couch opposite them and she said to Jo “Julie likes sex. She hates it if she gets pregnant too quickly, as once we are pregnant Acorus leaves us alone”.
It was to Jo as if Julie had spoken out loud when she ‘heard her think ‘Ha there are plenty more fish in the sea. Once I’m pregnant to Acorus he doesn’t care who I sleep with.
She looked at Julie open mouthed only just managing to cover her shock. Did Julie really have sex with other Sceriae males, behind Acorus’ back and what would he do if he found out? The door opened and Tsera came in and said to Kylie “The guards are waiting to take you to the nursery”.
Kylie jumped up, ready to go, then turning to Jo she said “Do you want to come too, Jo?”
Jo asked Tsera if it would be alright and she replied that of course it would, she could go where ever she wanted.
“Gosh that’s quick” cut in Julie “it was months before I was allowed to go out without Acorus”.
Tsera frowned at her “Lord Acorus, and Jo is of a different nature to you” it appeared to Jo that she didn’t like Julie who smirked and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Tsera turned to Jo and said that she would need outdoor clothes, and that she’d fetch Tsu to help her. Jo said “Honestly I’ve been dressing myself since I was six” and going into the bedroom found her clean out door clothes and put them on. She bundled her hair up onto the top of her head, clipped it in place, and slipping on a pair of her new shoes, went back into the main chamber. As she did Tsera and Tsu came in through the main door.
“Oh you’re dressed” said Tsu in surprise.
Jo laughed and answered “Yes I’m a big girl now. I can even put my shoes on!” at which Tsu giggled, Tsera frowned and said “Very well, the guards are outside, so we can go”.
Chapter 12
When they got to the vehicle Jo was surprised when Kylie got into the drivers seat. Kylie saw Jo’s look of surprise and explained that as she went to see her babies three or four times a week and to the gallery where she sold her paintings regularly, it had seemed like a good idea to learn how to drive. When she went by herself she usually took all of her Escorii with her. Jo asked her about the four guards on their bikes and Kylie told her that it was only in the last eighteen months that Acorus had insisted that both her and Julie must be guarded at all times.
Jo remembered what Acorus had told her about the Xenorii and was glad that the guards were with them. They traveled in the opposite direction from the one that Acorus had taken to the Courtyard, passing along wide avenues with white stone pavements in front of nice looking villas, made of white or cream coloured stone. Eventually they left the avenues of villas behind them and moved through hedges of trees and bushes that Jo had never seen before. Beyond the hedges were neat fields of crops. Vegetables growing in the ground divided by trees covered with different, exotic looking fruits.
One particularly large field had large plants, with strappy leaves, mostly green but some were red or yellow striped. She asked Kylie what they were and was told that they were what all material for clothes, bedding, blinds etc was made from. Jo realised that she had so much to learn about her new home, and resolved to keep her mind open to everything. After a while they turned in at a guarded gateway. The guards on duty came out to speak to Kylie. The one who was obviously an officer, said to her in English, “Hello Kylie, we thought we might see you today. Who is this with you?”
“This is Jo Lord Acorus’ new lady” replied Kylie.
The officer lowered his head so that he could get a good look at Jo and she ‘heard him say ‘Acorus was always the lucky one’.
She smiled at him and said “Thank you I’ll take that as a compliment”.
He stood up quickly and shouted to his men to open the gates. As they passed through Jo waved at the officer, chuckling to herself at the look on his face. She decided that she liked this telepathy and would work hard to become expert at it.
They pulled up to a large door in a very imposing building. The land around the building was laid out like parkland, with large and small animals grazing happily on what looked like grass. Kylie pulled the door open and Jo followed her inside with Tsera and Tsu in close attendance. The entrance hall was circular with long corridors stretching away fromthem. At adesk to one side stood a female Escori. When she saw Kylie, she came out from behind her desk and walked over to welcome her “Kylie I thought we would see you today. Who is this you have brought with you?”
“This is Jo, Lord Acorus’ new lady, and this is Tsu, Jo’s assistant”.
“Welcome Jo and Tsu. I gather you have brought them to admire your beautiful babies”.
Kylie laughed and said “You know me too well Tcheza are they in class or out exercising?”
“They’re outside in their different age groups”.
“Oh good I’ll go straight out and surprise them” then turning to Jo she said “Come on it’s this way. See you later Tcheza”.
As Jo said goodbye to Tcheza, Kylie was already hurrying along one of the corridors, and Jo had to run to keep up. Kylie pushed through another door which led back outside. As Jo passed through with Tsera and Tsu hurrying behind her, she gasped with surprise. The view outside the door showed different areas with groups of girls of varying sizes, playing different types of games. Kylie moved to the edge of the paved area and whistled. Jo was so surprised, she burst out laughing.
Kylie shrugged her shoulders and whistled again, upon which some of the children, in the tot to middle size, turned and looked towards them. There was squeals of delight from the children and they ran up the grass towards Kylie.
Kylie knelt down with her arms flung open, laughing. The older girls, who reached Kylie first, flung themselves at her, yelling, Mama, Mama, She hugged each one and called them by
name, and when the tiny ones, aged Jo guessed, at two or three, reached her she lifted each one up and smothered them with kisses.
Jo stood watching and her heart felt as if it might burst they were all so beautiful, alike but not identical. Some were blonde urchins like Kylie, others had fine blonde hair, and the majority were dark haired like Acorus. They were so full of life and happiness it made Jo feel good.
Kylie said “Now girls, say hello to Lady Joanna, Lord Acorus’ new lady”.
All the young girls stood up straight, even the smallest, and one by one, led by the oldest moved in front of Jo, gave a little bob and seriously said “Hello Lady Joanna” with the smallest two tripping over her name and calling her Jo-anna.
Jo held her hands out to each one and gave them all a bow back. Their names all began with a K and Jo asked Kylie if it was usual to take the first letter of the mothers name for each child.
“No not at all, but Acorus kindly let’s me name my own children. We have great fun finding names that can start with K. I wanted to leave my mark on Scerior” replied Kylie laughing at herself, then patting her bump said this one’s going to be Kmea, M beingthe thirteenth letter in the alphabet”.
In surprise Jo said “They are all in alphabetical order then?”
“Mmm, as near as we could make it, to make their names pronounceable. So they are in descending age, Karla, Kabula, Kceta, Kadora, Keira, Kefta, Kaga, Kahtu, Kia Kijae, Keku, Klenia. It makes it easy to remember who is who!”
“Do other mothers like Julie do the same?” Jo asked.
“No, Julie’s not that interested, to be honest. She only visits them twice a week. sometimes only once. She admits she is not the maternal type” Kylie replied “but Acorus visits everyone of his children as often as he can, whan he is on Scerior”.
As Jo digested this information she was thinking that Julie was turning out differently to how she had thought she was. It appeared that she wasn’t the nice cheerful Ozzie, Jo had taken her for.
Scerior Page 12