Trapped: Chaos Core Book 1 by Randolph Lalonde Read Free Book Online

new blooms with bits of fabric hanging off like
leaves and flower petals all the way down. It was equipped with a
hood that the woman kept half up and toyed with. “Are you in there,
Aspen?” she asked, smiling.
    Aspen recognized her
voice right away. “Instructor Emani? You look very healthy
tonight,” she said, priding herself on replacing the word ‘young’
with ‘healthy’ the instant before she said it. Her old instructor
in most things from politics, to finances, to life skills looked
twenty years younger than she did when Aspen was eight.
    “It’s a long story,
but I was caught in the attack that nearly killed the Countess and
they decided to give me more years while I was in recovery. It’s
good to see you healthy and whole, Aspen.”
    “I used-“ Aspen
corrected herself before going on. “I was forced to use so much of
what you taught me while I was away. I don’t think I would have
survived if I didn’t spend years learning from you.”
    “Flatterer,” she
said. “I should have you speak to the new ones I’m teaching.
They’re more fitful than you were at that age. Do you think you may
need some brushing up? We could do both at the same time.”
    “That sounds good, I
would serve much better if I could catch up on what’s been
happening while I’ve been gone. I’m sure a lot has changed,”
Aspen said. There was no sign that her instructor was hinting at
anything more than she was saying, though she watched her every move
just in case the older woman had some tip for her.
    “It’s set then,
tomorrow afternoon unless something comes up for you,” Instructor
Emani said. “Good to see you again,” she said before drifting
back towards the crowd.

    Broad trays piled high
with tasty morsels were brought in from the left and right entrances.
They moved past the dais, to the Countess first, then to Larken and
Aspen. She was just looking forward to taking a cream filled
strawberry when the Countess looked to the servers. “She doesn’t
need anything tonight.”
    Aspen remained in her
place stoically as she watched the server with the first fruit tray
regard her with sympathy before moving on to the rest of the room.
She flashed him a brief smile, knowing that his lot was much worse
than hers. The slave quarters were a place of harsh discipline and
hard work.
    Watching the crowd of
guests socialize, dance but most of all eat and drink started to get
on Aspens’ nerves before long. The first thing she complained about
when she won her freedom was the immediate reduction in the quality
of the food, that was, until she ran out. She faced real starvation
and dehydration a few times in the early days, but once she joined
the crew of the Cool Angel her food and water worries came to an end.
There was a lot to complain about there, but she never found herself
without some kind of food within reach. Compared to most crewmembers,
she ate very little, so much so her Lieutenant, Sun often encouraged
her to eat more.
    “I think I’ll
retire for the evening,” the Countess said. She had spoken to only
five courtiers, and didn’t mingle at all, something that surprised
Aspen. When she was in service before, her throne was constantly
surrounded, the chattering used to remind her of a hen house from the
organic ranch. A look at the new courtiers suggested that they may be
afraid of the Countess, or perhaps shied by her appearance.
    Even her consort, Kort,
was absent. Aspen silently hoped he was killed when the machines
turned. She also hoped that she wouldn’t be pressed into
socializing on the Countess’ behalf. As Larken and her approached
adulthood they were pressed into service as negotiators and general
socializers in her court. Most of the people she met were vain, proud
and in search of praise or some other prize. Some would proposition
her tirelessly, something Larken had to put up with only a little
less. A few became friends, and she found none in the crowd that
night.
    “You may