Casina was half asleep when Mrovia returned. She heard her set the food tray aside with a noisy clatter. But she was shocked when the woman, apparently angry at finding her in bed, furiously yanked the covers from her and tossed them aside. She heard Mrovia's own shocked gasp at sight of her curled naked there before she turned and scurried into the bath chamber. A moment later, Casina heard the water running. Feeling cold, she ignored the woman's activities and moved to draw the covers back over herself.
She again heard the woman return and sigh with exasperation at sight of her charge barricaded beneath the covers.
"Mees Don'sen!" she said. "Please don't do this. You must get up and eat something."
"No," Casina murmured, feeling sorry for herself. "Just leave me alone."
But Mrovia gave a firm tug on the blankets, removing them completely from the bed so Casina had no recourse but to sit up and cover herself with her hands.
"Give those back," Casina said, clearly upset.
"No."
Casina could tell she was adamant, but that didn't change anything.
"Just leave me alone. I want to die of starvation in my own bed, if you don't mind." Mrovia stepped back at her words, harrumphing.
"Mees Don'sen," she began, her tone authoritative. "You will get out of that bed. You will take a nice hot bath. And you will eat, even if I have to get the guards to force-feed you." She met Casina's furious glare with one of her own.
"You wouldn't dare," Casina said.
"Better yet," Mrovia replied, "I will get Uri to bathe and feed you. I'm sure he will enjoy it, even if you don't."
Casina's ears flared at this threat, not even knowing who Uri was. "You wouldn't dare," Casina repeated, somewhat wary now.
She saw the gleam of triumph in the woman's eyes.
"Oh, wouldn't I..." As she spoke, Mrovia turned to open the door, only to have Casina suddenly leap from the bed, holding a pillow in front of her. Throwing her weight against it, she slammed it shut.
"No!" she said, standing half naked between the alien and the door. "I'll...I'll...behave. I just don't know why I need another bath when I just took one." With that, she clutched the pillow tighter, then trotted off into the bath chamber.
"Don't be long," Mrovia flung at her retreating back. "Or your food will get cold. Is better hot, you know."
"So I've been told," Casina returned, recalling similar words from that other alien, while aboard the spaceship that had brought her to Konatha. Stubborn, she lounged in the large sunken tub for a good long while, making sure all of her food was stone cold by the time she returned.
"So, where's the food at?" she said pointedly, when she had finished. She was standing naked in the doorway, causing Mrovia more shock at this. She gave an amused grin at sight of the older woman hurrying to retrieve the clean clothes she had now laid out for her. Mrovia gave them an angry shove into Casina's arms, clucking her tongue with dismay.
"Please, Mees Don'sen," she entreated her. "You'll give me heart failure with your antics."
Smirking, Casina then took the clothes and immediately dropped them on the floor at her feet, much to the alien's further chagrin. Mrovia then gave a groan of despair as Casina bent slowly to pick up each item, one at a time, and put it on.
"What," Casina said, still smiling, "aren't you going to assist me?"
All the color drained from Mrovia's face. "Please, Mees Don'sen..."
But Casina had a change of heart, suddenly remembering what the commander had said earlier about behaving. Softening, she looked over at the woman, knowing that she was only following the orders of some guy called Kaanig. She wasn't mad at the woman. It's just that she was completely angry at the entire world just then. At the circumstances that had brought her to some alien world of which she wanted no part, no matter how gorgeous and kind her captor! An alien world from which she could see no way of escape.
But suddenly all the energy drained from her. Sighing, her shoulders drooped with resignation. "I'm...sorry, Mrovia. None of this is really your fault. I just don't want to be here." Fully dressed now, she moved to give her a reassuring pat. She sighed and stepped back. "So, what did you bring me to eat? Something strange that will probably disagree with me, right? Some bad water perhaps?" Groaning, Mrovia rolled her eyes, turned, and left.
Chapter Fifteen
Kaanig Dammen Altair, supreme ruler of the Galaxy of Jupitar, sat back in his massive office chair to consider the report Mrovia Aemons had just given him. Frowning, he stared at her with thoughtful consideration, tapping his long fingers atop the armrest.
"Is she being that difficult?" he said. "Truly?"
He eyed the older woman with concern, noting the way she nervously twisted the cloth in her hand. He couldn't recall ever having seen her so agitated before. He knew Casina wanted to escape again and, after the tongue lashing Mrovia had received a few solarities before, he wasn't surprised that she no longer wanted to be the one to watch her.
"I'm afraid the stress she is causing is too much for me, Ziros. I beg to be freed from this chore."
Dammen straightened and drew himself closer to the half moon-shaped desk he was sitting behind. "Is she that much of a problem for you?"
The woman nodded. "Yes, Ziros. For me, she is. What with her stubborn attitude and her nightmares and--"
"Nightmares? You've never mentioned those."
"She's had them ever since her arrival, Ziros."
"It's only been three solarities."
"I know. But she wakes up screaming in the middle of the night. Your quarters are so far from hers that you've never heard the terrible noise she makes. I've been roused every night to attend her, Ziros."
Dammen frowned and stared at her intently. "I'm sorry, Mrovia. I didn't know. You should not have kept that from me." He pushed back his chair and stood up. "From now on, I'll have Paxis give her something that will keep her asleep until morning. That way, both of you should be well rested. For a short while anyways. I don't intend to addict her the way they did at that fanged institute."
"That may help with the nightmares," Mrovia agreed, "but what about her attitude? I just don't know how to deal with her, Majesty. Sometimes she seems so kind and sweet. Other times, she is stubborn, disrespectful, and rude."
Dammen's lips curled slightly. "Yes, I know," he said, rounding the desk to stand beside her. "But there are other reasons she was chosen. She is strong, caring, and loyal to those she loves, for one." He stood silent a moment as he considered the matter. "It seems my authority is the only thing that can restrain her."
Mrovia turned to follow his movements about the room. "So, what will you do, Ziros?"
"Where is she now? What is she doing?"
"She was pacing the room like a caged bansha when I left. Since you've banned her from the garden until you've pruned back all the tree branches and such, she is bored to tears. Without a v'd'mr or mi'Æ, there is nothing for her to do but read, pace, pray...or complain. I did catch her singing one morning, but she stopped as soon as she saw me. She has a lovely singing voice."
Dammen nodded appreciatively at this news. "Well, it was necessary to trim everything. But I do understand her restlessness, especially after being locked away for so long. The fact that she was singing shows me she may not be as miserable as she pretends."
"So what will you do? She did ask me if there was something useful she could do to earn her keep. Said she hated being a burden to everyone, even if they were aliens."
At this, his lips curled into a wide smile. Chortling, he nodded, well aware of Casina's attitude toward them. He picked a flower from a nearby vase and began fiddling with it, thoughtfully plucking the blossoms from the stem as he strolled about, ignoring the petals as they fell silently to the expensive Rhenian carpeting beneath his feet. Eventually, he returned to Mrovia, playfully tapping her on the head with it.
"Right now, s'lma, there is only one thing to do. That is, if she won't mind spending the day with the enemy she despises."
Mrovia was aghast at this. "But, what if she refuses to go?"
"Don't worry," he said. "She won't have a choice. We'll keep the daily activities to a bare minimum so if she gets difficult, she can be sent back to her quarters. If she continues to act like a child, she will continue to be treated like one. Besides, right now it may be the only way she can get rid of some of that nervous, pent-up energy. And it's the best way to keep an eye on her, to prevent another escape attempt. This way, you won't have to deal with her antics all day long."
The older woman smiled up at him. "That sounds perfect."
"You'll only be responsible for her personal needs and meals. And just you. Waylay the other attendants for now."
"I hope it will be as easy as it sounds."
The Kaanig snorted. "Me, too, Vi. Me, too. At any rate, I'll notify Paxis and give him his instructions. Meanwhile, have Casina ready tomorrow after morning repast. And tell her nothing of our intentions."
"Yes, Majesty," the woman said, rising to leave.
"And Vi," he told her, taking her firmly by the shoulders to peer down into her face. "Don't worry about anything. But, in future, I want you to share every detail of the girl's behavior with me."
"I will, Ziros. I will indeed."
When she had departed, Dammen returned to his desk, wondering how he was ever going to perform his duties with Casina causing so many problems.
"Probably need a fanged leash," he said to no one in particular. Chuckling again, he returned to his desk, knowing the commander definitely had his work cut out for him.
Chapter Sixteen
The next day, Casina awoke to find herself alone. She blinked, trying to remember where she was. When the cobwebs cleared somewhat, she gave a loud sigh and moved to get up. A glance at the glass doors across the large room gave evidence of yet another warm, sunny day. Bright beams of early morning sunlight were shining through the sheer white curtains already, confirming the fact.
Doesn't it ever rain on this stupid planet? Not that she really minded. She just needed something to grouse about during her boring captivity.
She shoved aside the blanket someone had tucked around her, got up, and staggered into the bath chamber. She felt out of sorts and frowned at herself in the mirror hanging over the long sink. She smirked, thinking that some things were the same, even all the way across the universe. Leaning on the sink, she put a hand to the sensored tap and splashed some cold water onto her face, hoping to clear her head. Whatever Paxis had given her the night before still made her feel groggy. "Something
to help you sleep," he had said.
"Yeah, sure," she muttered, recalling similar words from Franklin Delaney every time he injected some medication into her at St. Christi's.
With foul memories clouding her thoughts, she returned to the bed chamber and put a hand to her throat. For some reason, being alone just then made her feel just that. Alone. And sad. Will life
here be any different than home? she wondered. Sighing, she wandered about, a bit unsteadily, not
certain what she should be doing. She didn't want to spend all day in bed no matter how bad she felt. If she had a choice, she would enjoy returning to the auveron, to play with the children there. But until she learned Kathian, she saw little point even in that.
Instead, she turned and plodded into the small study to look around, yawning. Perhaps it was time she learned a bit about Jupitar and her captors, she decided. She'd select a book and crawl back into bed. It was light enough so she could burrow under the covers with it, and no one would be the wiser.
She scanned the rows of shiny, bound books, like glass tablets, before selecting one at random, finding them a bit odd in their presentation and format, as at the auveron. However, Mrovia had been right. These books were all printed in English, much to her surprise. The one she now held pertained to the galaxy itself. Curious, she carefully settled onto the edge of the small couch to run a thumb across the cover plate to activate it, trying to ignore her dizziness and throbbing headache. Here, too, the early morning sunshine shone brightly into the room from the bowed windows behind her. It helped dispel her gloomy thoughts, but it made her head feel worse.
As she squinted down at the strange book, slowly thumbing through it, one page in particular caught her attention, and her mouth dropped as she read it aloud.
"For eons past the family Altair has held absolute rule over the Galaxy Jupitar. And only the Kaanig Altair has the divine gifts which secure
his position for each generation of Altairs to come. His word is law.
And his only Superior wherein his
Total allegiance lies is the Divine
Creator, from Whom cometh his powers."
"I don't believe it," she murmured to herself, blinking. "This guy might actually exist. Just as Mrovia said." As she pondered this, she raised a hand to rub her temple, to ease the throbbing.
"How are you feeling?" came a familiar male voice.
Startled, Casina turned her head and hastily lowered her hand to clasp the gathers of her collar, surprised to find the commander standing in the doorway. Drat. Why did she have to be in her
nightgown just then?
"I...I'm not sure," she said, uncertainty in her voice. She darkened the book to close it, wondering why she felt so uneasy now that he was there. It was odd, considering her earlier attitude toward him. "Just a bit sore, is all."
He moved toward her, shocking her when he removed her hand from the book, which slid unhindered to the floor with a soft thud. Ignoring it, he lifted her arm to examine the many scratches crisscrossing her flesh. A souvenir of her jump from the garden wall.
"These will take a little while to heal," he said, surprising her with the concern he expressed as he ran a careful thumb over them. Unsettled by his touch, she snatched her arm away, to cradle it protectively against her.
"Of course," she snapped. "Did you think I had magical healing powers or something?" There. It was back. Her nasty attitude toward him. She heard his soft chuckle as he recognized it.
"I never believed that," he said. She watched him move back to the door and, for some reason, found this disturbing. "And I do apologize for any pain you have suffered unnecessarily." He paused to consider her a moment. "Did you sleep well?"
"F-Fine," she acknowledged, embarrassed that he should ask. She rose, still a bit shaky, then picked up the small book and turned to replace it on the shelf. She straightened, then backed away from him. With his more-than-average girth filling the doorway she knew that even if she wanted to flee past him, she couldn't.
"Perhaps you would like something to eat," he said. "Mrovia will be here shortly with your repast. And some merida. To calm your stomache," he added slyly.
But words escaped her just then, as she stood staring at him, struggling with unfamiliar emotions. What was it about him that set her pulses to racing? Even now she was experiencing a peculiar churning of warmth in her body as she studied him. He was so good-looking, so beautiful, it almost made her cry. If she had to describe this alien at all, it would be to say he fit the description of drop-dead gorgeous more than any male she had ever seen.
She licked her lips, trying to maintain her composure. Feelings of weakness washed over her as her gaze roamed over his incredible physique. Trembling and suddenly sweating, she stumbled back against the book shelves behind her, vaguely noticing his startled expression as he observed her. She threw her hands back to the shelves, to steady herself, heedless of the books being elbowed into disarray.
"Um, yes," she said, swallowing, "some tea might be...just...what I need." As she spoke, she closed her eyes, putting a hand to her head, as another wave of dizziness settled over her. She sensed the change in him as he watched her. Then before she made a complete fool of herself, he was there. She felt a strong arm come around her as she made to swoon. But he caught her and lifted her up.
Grateful, she closed her eyes and sighed contentedly, leaning into his strength. The heady scent of him was like food to a starving woman. Had she been herself, she never would have admitted to her intense physical attraction to this particular man. This...alien.
Faith, why couldn't they all be little and gray or green, as most people believed them to be? Why did they have to be so...darned...attractive? It was becoming so hard now to...hate them.
She felt his movements as he carried her into the other room. There, he laid her on the bed. She heard the main doors open a few minutes later. But it was an effort then to even open her eyes.
"Mrovia, bring Paxis," she heard him say, wondering why he said it in English. She heard the rattling of a tray being set aside as the woman hurried to do his bidding.
When the woman had gone, Casina forced her eyes open to gaze mutely at the god-like being practically sitting, half-kneeling beside her. Strange, the concern in his eyes as he watched her. But neither had any words to say as they waited for the physician to arrive. By the time he did, Casina had already passed into oblivion.
* * * *
"What's wrong with her?" the commander asked, fury in his tone. He stood over Casina like some avenging angel, watching Paxis like a hawk.
"Perhaps she is reacting to the sedative we gave her," Paxis said. "It was engineered for our people, not Zarcons. Perhaps it needs some adjustment."
"Make it so," the commander said. "We cannot have our females getting ill from our laxity or stupidity."
Paxis nodded. "Aye, Ziros. I will speak to the lab technicians myself. I'll supervise and make certain that all is in order."
"Do you have Zarconian blood samples Casinailable?"
"Uh, no, Ziros," the older man confirmed. "I will need to get some."
The commander frowned, silently cursing for their not having thought everything through in the beginning, when they had first brought the Zarcons to Jupitar.
"Will she survive the injection you gave her?" The urgency and fear in his voice brought a chill to Paxis, his expression revealing his own anxiety as he considered the consequences at their lack of foresight in the matter.
"The dose was minor, but I believe she will be fine. She merely needs more time to sleep it off."
"Use her blood," the commander said, gritting his teeth as he forced the order between them. "I want all of our medicines to be compatible with her blood for the time being. We cannot have her dying on us now, after all we went through to bring her here." Paxis straightened to face his superior.
"I will do all in my power to rectify the matter, Ziros. But rest assured. I believe this woman will be fine soon enough. I anticipate no lasting problems." With that, he hurried to obtain the necessary tubes and essentials from his familiar pouch. Moments later, he had the samples he needed and hastened away with them.
Mrovia, waiting outside the door, returned when he had gone. She gave the younger man a grave look as she made to retrieve the tray.
"Stay with her," he said. "I will send someone to stand ready should Casina awaken or should you need anything. Make certain she gets some sustenance as soon as she is feeling better.
Understood?"
"Yes, Ziros. I won't let anything more happen to her."
* * * *
The commander turned to her then, relaxing under her sincerity and guilty words.
"It was never your fault she escaped yesterday," he told her. "I should have posted more security around her. The fault was mine." He put a hand to her arm. "I'm sorry." He fell silent, allowing her to digest this information. Then he turned to the bed. Squatting beside the girl, he reached over to smooth a gentle thumb across her pale cheek. Then, as if he had revealed too much by his actions, he departed with a heavy heart, only now feeling the stress of his position more than ever.
So much for today's plans, he thought, lifting a hand to rub away the tension from his neck. Making his way outside to his boréa, which had been waiting patiently for his return, he quickly leaped upon it and galloped off alone, wondering how one simple plan had backfired so easily. As much as he hated to admit it, he had actually been looking forward to spending his solarity with Casina. Whether she would have liked the idea, he would have to wait now to find out. Maka, would nothing ever come easy for him?