“Thank you, Sovereigns.”
“Dismissed,” Rafe says.
As a guard leads me from the chamber, my composure finally cracks in the elevator. My hands tremble as the full weight of my situation settles over me. I'm trapped, but perhaps not powerless. Scared but also strangely aroused by the challenge ahead. I remember what Cal said: “The Sovereigns are interested in you; use it to your advantage.”By drinking their semen at breakfast? Really, Cal?
When the elevator doors open, my heart sinks. Waiting for me in the corridor is the last person I want to see, Rae from the Office of Interspecies Resources. The woman's sharp, angular features and asymmetrical black hair are unmistakable, as are the cold grey eyes that look at me with barely concealed disdain.
“I'm here to escort you to High Table,” Rae says, her voice clipped and professional. “The Sovereigns want you properly introduced to the protocols tonight.”
As we walk toward the dining hall, Rae's hostility becomes more apparent. “I still think you should be wearing a collar instead of thatuniform,” she says conversationally. “But I suppose even the Sovereigns make mistakes sometimes.”
I say nothing because I’m still thinking about what I drank for breakfast and wondering if they’re jacking off into a goblet right now that I’ll have to drink in front of everyone at dinner.
“Oh, and you should know,” Rae continues with false sweetness, “a human female matching your description has been added to the guest simulation programs. Apparently she does everything a human companion would do and more.”
“Well,” I say, finally replying to this little bitch, “if the human hologram isn't wearing a pet collar, I don't mind. That’s as close as any of them will ever get to having sex withme.” Then, remembering what Lira said about the semen drink, I add, “And as you know, the Sovereigns have safe-guarded me in every way they can think of; perhaps the hologram is another way. I’m assuming you were at the first meal and saw me drink from their Devotional goblet. The Sovereigns favor me.” I’m surprised by how good it feels to say that last sentence, even if I’m still internally divided by how I feel about their attention… and their semen.
Rae stops walking, and her mouth falls open slightly. For the first time since I've met her, the woman seems at a loss for words.
I keep walking, not bothering to look back. Of all the things I've learned today about Denise, about Terra Ka, about the Sovereigns' plans for me, this small victory feels surprisingly good. It's a tiny battle won in what will probably be a long war.
25
HIGH TABLE, EVE
As Rae leadsme through corridors, I normally wouldn’t use, the sound of conversation grows louder as we approach the massive double doors of the dining hall.
“This is more formal than the first meal,” Rae says without looking at me, “you're seated with the other receptionists. Follow their lead.” She pauses, giving me a cold smile. “Don't eat with your mouth to the plate like an animal.”
“I know how to eat properly.”
“Do you? We'll see. It seems to me you only know how to drink. No doubt you were begging to drain them from the source during your meeting with the Sovereigns.”
“That’s an odd fantasy to project onto your employers,” I reply, catching her off-guard.
Before she can respond, the doors open to the Staff Dining Hall, and I’m just as impressed as I was this morning, maybe even more so, as people are livelier now.
As it’s evening, the lighting is deliberately dim throughout most of the space, casting everything in pools of amber and shadow. Floating light fixtures drift overhead like captured stars,but their glow barely penetrates the carefully engineered darkness. Only the High Table blazes with brilliant illumination, although the Sovereigns’ seats are empty.
I follow Rae up the steps, my legs unsteady after everything that happened in the conference chamber. Staff members of various species fill the tables, but most appear to be from Reima Two, grey-skinned humanoids with those distinctive green or silver eyes. Their conversations create a low murmur that carries an almost reverent quality.
As we climb, I notice Umbral Cohort guards positioned at regular intervals throughout the hall. They wear the same midnight blue uniforms I saw during my meeting with the Sovereigns, but up close, the details are far more sinister. The fabric seems to drink in the light, matte and shadow-soaked, with armor plates. Their helmets are faceless, smooth black visors that conceal every feature, broken only by the faintest pulse of red light where their eyes should be. Different from the guards who stood outside the Sovereigns’ conference room, who had the same uniforms, but their faces were exposed. I wonder why they are faceless here?
“There,” Rae points to a table in the middle tier. “Your nameplate.”
I find my seat next to Lira, who gives me a warm smile. My nameplate reads, “EVE EDEN - HUMAN LIAISON.” Several of my new colleagues at the reception desk offer me tentative smiles, not exactly warm, but not hostile either. One being with pale blue skin and violet eyes nods politely. Another, whose face is covered in fine scales, touches their chest in what seems to be a greeting gesture.
“How did it go?” Lira whispers as I settle into my chair.
“With the Sovereigns or having to endure Rae’s company?” I say with a small smile, already feeling better sitting next to a familiar face.
Lira glances around and then says softly, “You shouldn’t take what Rae says personally.”
“Oh, why’s that?”
“Because it’s only her fear talking. You know she used to work in Guest Relations before she was transferred to Interspecies Resources?”
I shake my head.
