Saia was
naked, Milin helped her into a healing tank and closed the glass top. The tank
was large enough to fit one of the Sonis males with ease. She could almost
fully extend her arms to the sides, but not quite. The top wouldn’t allow her
to sit fully upright. When the healing tank began to vibrate and hum, Saia knew
Milin had activated the regeneration sequence. There was no telling when the
sequence would be complete, but one it was, the healing tank would turn off.
Exhausted, Saia closed her eyes and let the hum lull her to
sleep.
* * * * *
Once finished in the medical center, Saia and Fainia made
their way to the royal suite. There was no need to worry that the rooms would
be occupied. Taio didn’t allow anyone else to use them.
They passed the kitchen area, through the elaborately
furnished sitting room and up the winding staircase. Saia stopped at the first
door, which was her room. After giving her a kiss on the forehead, Fainia
continued down the hall to the double doors that led to her mother and Olo’s bedroom.
As Saia entered her room, she called out, “Ship? Are you
still here?”
“I am present,” he said.
“Thank you for getting us here unseen.”
“You are most welcome.”
“I don’t want you to involve yourself anymore. I don’t want
you to get into trouble with Taio.” When he didn’t answer, she said, “Ship, do
you hear me?”
Her question was met with silence.
Chapter Four
Even as reality tugged on her mind, she fought to stay
asleep.
She didn’t want to leave the man in her dream. The same male
she’d dreamed about often. The setting always changed—sometimes they stood on a
remote beach or walked through a bustling marketplace—but the male did not. She
never remembered his face when she awoke, but she held on to the way he made
her feel, even if it wasn’t real.
A shriek, high and piercing, interrupted her dream.
Saia woke with a start. She sat straight up and grabbed the
covers to her sides.
Where am I?
Her heart gripped with fear as her gaze darted around the
room, nearly empty save for the expansive bed she was in. The green curtains
gently billowed as the breeze from the Singha Ocean swept through.
Sonis.
She exhaled. They were safe from Olo.
Another shriek.
Mother.
Saia pushed the light blanket aside and scampered out of
bed. She ran toward the door, her heart beating at an incredible pace. If
Olo has her…
Running down the hall, she followed the sounds that came
from her mother’s room. She stumbled twice, tripping over the sleeping gown
that draped to the floor. At her mother’s doors, she didn’t hesitate to knock.
She turned the knob without breaking her stride.
And ran straight into Aria’s back, making her fall forward.
“Saia! I have told you time and time again. Princesses do
not run through rooms,” Fainia scolded.
Aria, Josanis and Eva turned to watch her as she
straightened.
Eva. Saia let out a reassuring breath. “It’s only
you.”
Even for a human, Eva was short. She had once explained that
she was “petite”, whatever that meant. Although Eva and Taio looked odd
together—he tripled her weight and stood half her length taller—one could still
feel the love between them.
Today, Eva wore her black hair in a braid down her back. She
was also one of the few females on Sonis who wore pants. While Saia understood
it was a normal custom on Earth, she’d noted many of the human females chose to
wear traditional Sonis gowns.
“Well, it’s nice to see you too, Saia,” Eva said, her blue
gaze on her.
“I’m sorry. Hi, Eva.” Saia went to give her a hug. “I am
glad to see you. I was expecting someone else.” Saia shifted her gaze to
Fainia, who was playing a game with Josanis.
Fainia mouthed, “All is fine,” behind Eva’s back.
Even just waking, Fainia looked as regal as ever. Her black
hair fanned around her face and the healing tank had brought back the vibrancy
of her skin tone. She looked fresh and glowing
Learning to Kill: Stories