I say nothing, already cowed by the events that are unfolding.
“Come.” Kyon is gentle as he shifts his arm to my shoulder and guides me at an unhurried pace to the stairs of the sublime trift. As we board, the falconlike ship behind me fires up its engines. The sound is an anchor in my gut, weighing me down to the ocean floor as it sails away without me aboard.
Kyon leads me to an elegant, yet still extremely comfortable, white leather seat. It’s part of a cluster of four seats: two on either side of a low, chrome table. He holds my elbow until I sink onto the seat, and then he sheds his coat before taking the seat next to mine. No one else enters this private compartment; we’re alone for the first time since he killed Geteron.
The trift’s engines hum to life, I feel the slight vibration of the ship beneath me. “Would you like me to take your coat?” he asks.
“No,” I pull the edges closer to me. “I’m cold.”
He doesn’t argue. Instead he says, “On screen.”
When a holographic screen pops up, Kyon orders from a menu. As the screen fades away, an ice bucket containing a beautiful golden bottle emerges from the center of the table along with two long, fluted glasses. A platter of sumptuous sandwiches, fruits, and cheeses appears as well.
“Would you like a drink?” Kyon asks with a charming lift of his blond eyebrow. His blue eyes regard me with speculation.
I nod. “Please.”
He opens the golden bottle with a pop, pouring the bubbling, golden concoction into the stemware. When he hands it to me, his fingers brush mine. They’re warm, so much warmer than mine. I take the glass and drink. It’s lovely and fruity and definitely intoxicating. I tip my head back and drink it all before holding my glass out for a refill.
Kyon frowns. “Do you intend to get drunk? It’s not like you to willingly give up control.” Without a word, I continue to hold my glass out to him, demanding more. He obliges me by refilling it. I tip the glass to my lips once more. Kyon asks, “Did they kill him? Your Cavar, Trey?”
I choke on my drink, swallowing hard. I cough and sputter as tears roll down my face. A large hand rubs my back. When I’m able to breathe normally again, he wipes the tears from my dirty face with his thumbs.
“It’s okay. You’re not alone anymore. I’m here to take care of you. I will teach you what you need to know. I will train you to obey us.” Frowning, I look away from him, moving my face with a jerk so that his hands fall from my cheeks.
“I know you’re not ready to hear that, Kricket.” I feel a sharp pain in my neck. Kyon pulls a tranquilizer gun away from my throat.
My eyes half shutter while my hand goes to the injection site. “I will have to teach you what is expected of you. We’ll start anew from this moment on. I’ll be your master and you will be my priestess.” Losing focus, I sag against the seat back. The smooth glass stemware slips through my fingertips, spilling golden liquid onto the immaculate floor. “You belong to me now,” I hear him say, as I slip away into darkness.
I should be used to waking in strange places by now, but this one has me on edge immediately. I feel different, but I don’t know why. Lying in the dim light of a cavernous bedroom, I know something’s wrong. It takes me a few moments to remember what happened. The last thing I knew, I was on a trift with Kyon. I move my arms; they no longer ache. In fact, they feel lighter and softer as they travel over the silk sheet of the enormous bed I now occupy. The blankets are light and airy too. They’re just the right density to keep me warm from the cool, salty breeze that’s wafting in between the white, billowing curtains framing a patio outside.
Beyond the stone terrace, waves crash upon a beach in hypnotic ebbs and flows. I sit up in bed, and the blanket slips down to show a soft, white nightgown. I touch the material; it’s so fine as to be just a hair short of transparent. Making my way to the side of the bed, I rise, cross the hardwood floors and the soft area rugs, and pause at the threshold of the patio. The sight that greets me is breathtaking. The blue sea beyond the stone balustrade glows with the fire of stars. It’s as if the sky fell into the sea. As I walk forward, my hair is lifted away from my face by the sea breeze. I rest my elbow on the stone railing, marveling at the beauty before me.
“It’s the Loch of Cerulean, but everyone refers to it as the Sea of Stars,” Kyon says from behind me. I straighten my spine when I feel his hand on my hip. He draws me back against him. He’s bare-chested and wearing just some loose-fitting linen slacks. A blush stains my cheeks. “I’ve dreamt of this moment for so long now. I’ve wondered what it would be like to hold you like this. Now I know. It’s bliss. You are the brightest star among the Sea of Stars, Kricket.”