The second girl, who’s a gorgeous shade of turquoise, gives me a look of unadulterated pity. “No,” she says. “This is Ulfaria. Earth isyourplanet. Ulfaria is ours.”
“We’re on another planet?” My voice catches on the last word. I can barely believe what I’m saying—in an alien language, no less.
“Yes. This is Aurum, the biggest kingdom on Ulfaria.”
“Why,” I swallow, “did you bring me here?” At least we’re having a conversation I can comprehend now, even if I’m struggling to believe it.
“For King Aurus,” Lenah takes over from the turquoise girl. “He needs an Omega. You will be his Omega.”
So much for comprehending the conversation. “I’m not an Omega,” I say. “I’m a human. I’m a human, and I would like to leave.” Where I will go, I’m not sure, but anywhere other than here would be preferable. The harem setting, the beautiful women, and now talk of giving me to some king is making me seriously nervous.
What’s worse than waking up on an alien planet?
Waking up on an alien planet and being told you’re going to be some alien king’s plaything.
“You were given serum,” the turquoise girl says. “It will make you into an Omega.”
My throat constricts and I start to choke. “Could I have something to drink?” I manage, in between splutters.
One of the other girls glides away, then returns and hands me a shiny bejeweled goblet filled with a dark liquid. I gulp it down greedily. It doesn’t taste too bad—a little sweet with a hint of spice. It’s refreshing, and takes away the horrible taste in my mouth. “More, please?” I entreat her, holding the empty goblet out like I’m begging for alms.
While the girl goes to fetch another drink for me, I take a breath, trying to stay as calm as possible.
“My name is Kim,” I say, pointing to my chest.
“Kim,” the women chorus, as one. It’s eerie.
“I’m Juno,” the turquoise girl says. “We need to get you ready.”
“Ready for what?” Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.
“To meet King Aurus. He is eager to see you.”
“No shit,” I mutter, and rise slowly, unsteadily to my feet. I’m handed the goblet again and drain it once more, wondering whether they have alcohol on this planet. I’m certainly feeling light-headed.
The girls all look at each other, then Lenah once again takes charge. “Undress,” she says bossily, “the bath has already been drawn.”
I’m torn. I feel sticky with fear, and being in water has always soothed and grounded me, but I’m not about to beprepared for the kinglike some sacrificial virgin. “Show me where the bath is,” I say, “and I’ll bathe myself.”
Lenah lets out a snort, and a couple of the other girls giggle. “We will bathe you,” she says firmly, and the next moment, both my arms have been seized and I’m being dragged along.
I’m at least a foot shorter than most of these women, and slender, but I don’t make it easy for them, digging in my heels and spitting curses at them all the way.
They seem unfazed as they haul me to a door I hadn’t noticed, hidden behind a curtain. It glides open as if by invisible command, and then my unceremonious journey continues until we arrive at a huge bronze tub, complete with gently steaming scented water, and what look like flower petals strewn across the surface.
“Undress, or shall we help you?” Lenah says.
“I can undress myself!” I force myself to unclench my teeth. Looking down, I see I’m wearing knee-length jean shorts, and a black tank with a backward capital E emblazoned on it. My feet are bare. I’m not wearing any jewelry, a watch, nothing, but when I pull down my shorts, there’s a tattoo of a hummingbird on the outside of my right thigh.
“You can give us your clothes,” Juno says gently, holding out her hand. She seems friendlier than Lenah. “We will destroy them for you.”
“No!” For some reason, after everything, the thought of that—of losing the last remaining things I have here from Earth—makes unbidden tears spring to my eyes. “Please. Let me keep them.”
There’s a pause, during which some wordless exchange passes between Lenah and Juno.
“We will have them cleaned and given back to you,” Lenah says.
“Thank you.”
