I half expect Kronos to take mercy on me, but he doesn’t seem interested in that. I guess I pushed things too far. I am caught between feeling sorry for myself, kind of seeing where they’re coming from, and being more determined than ever to fucking escape.
The next morning, Boss and Sharp are eating breakfast in the dining room slash lounge when I appear with Kronos. I have some softer instinct to run to one of them, but I am not sure if they feel the same way Kronos does, and if maybe they too have the capacity for cruelty like him. They look at me as I walk in, naked and messy and wearing Kronos’ collar. I see Sharp’s lips tighten, and Boss’ eyes widen with something that I hope is empathy.
“Can I speak with you, Kronos?” Sharp asks the question quite stiffly, and I can only assume he is not pleased with the barbarian.
“Of course,” Kronos says, completely unbothered. “Shall we talk here, or…?”
“In private, I think,” Sharp says. He stands up and tosses his napkin down with a certain feisty derision that does not bode entirely well for what it is to come between them. He leaves the room and Kronos follows, still seeming entirely unconcerned by events.
I stay where I am, feeling uncertain and sorry for myself. All my native confidence has deserted me, and I am left unable to do anything.
“Come here,” Boss beckons when the other two are gone.
I go to him, because I know that disobedience will not be allowed and I won’t risk it anyway. He reaches for me and draws me first into a hug, and then into his lap. He is big, he is warm, and he feels like some kind of home. He nuzzles me with his muzzle gently as I try not to cry. I don’t want to seem weak, even now.
“Was he mean to you, little calf?”
“Yes,” I whimper, curled up in Boss’ lap. “He was so mean.”
“He can be a real bastard, can’t he,” Boss says. “Best not to need him to intervene.”
So the other two will be nice to me, but if I am not obedient to them, then they will turn me over to Kronos to be tormented—which effectively means they are comfortable with what he does to me.
Boss’ big hand rubs my back and down to my butt. He makes the motion over and over, soothing me into some kind of relaxation. He’s being comforting, but he doesn’t seem mad at Kronos. Can’t really say the same for Sharp. He seemed pissed the moment he saw me.
“Did I do something bad before I disappeared? I mean, three years ago?”
“I don’t think we’re going to talk about it right now,” Boss says. “Things were complicated before you left. We were used to you running away. You do two things: make trouble, and try to escape it.”
“So it’s all my fault?”
“Nothing is all your fault,” Boss says. “We all have things going on. I’m wanted by the Harvesters, Sharp is an assassin in high demand, and Kronos, believe it or not, has his share of enemies as well. Your disappearance could have been linked to something to do with any of us, or none of us.”
I lean my head against Boss’ shoulder and close my eyes a little. I am still sore and shamed, but I am starting to feel quite sleepy as well. I haven’t had a lot of physical conditioning lately. Selling pills in a club is pretty easy work. My muscles are protesting at having had to do anything strenuous.
“I wish I could remember what happened,” I say. “I don’t know how I got to Earth. Did you take me there? Did you lose me on the planet?”
“You were consumed with the idea of preventing humans born on Earth being sold to aliens. You didn’t like the fact that there was an illegal trade in what’s called wild caught humans. There are some captive breeding populations, but they never seem tosupply enough humans to meet the demand for them, especially given half the births are not female, and a great many aliens are looking for vessel wombs.”
“What a fucking horror show.”
“Life is all about exploiting other life. The snake eats its tail. Hard to avoid. You were mostly concerned with stopping women being abducted from Earth and sold to traders in illegal auctions.”
“Yeah, I think I know that already. Is there anything you can tell me that I don’t already know?”
“You’ve remembered some things?”
“I remember meeting you guys in the bar and trying to stop the auction.”
“That was the first of many times you tried to disrupt auctions,” Boss says. “You got a reputation for it.”
“I did?” I smile a little. “A good one?”
“One that gets a price put on your head. Though, like I said, we pretty much all have prices on our heads.”
“You’re wanted by Harvesters?”
His eyes darken. “Yes,” he says.
