A quick nibble and flavor explodes in my mouth. Fuck, I’m hungry. Best take it slow. Make it last.
“There is more if you like,” he says. “Fruit too. Do you like fruit?”
What is up with this dude? Dropping the bomb about claiming back his throne then fucking off to goodness knows where, leaving me with burning questions, only to return today with food.
At least he sent someone to clean out my cage.
Joe with his glassy eyes and silent mouth.
My heart aches when I think of how I called his name over and over, but he didn’t look at me. Not even once.
Fuck, my crazy captor is talking, better pay attention.
“—so I will find her. There is no doubt about it. The nagrata are mine now and will search the skies continuously.”
Leela…He’s still looking for her. Wait,nagrata? The fuck? Stay calm, Blue. Do not lose it. She’s safe. She got away. Obviously. Or pyscho wouldn’t be bitching about it over his…what the fuck is that he’s eating? Looks like someone threw up in his plate.
“Do you want to try some?” he asks.
I’d rather choke on my own vomit. I shake my head and hold up my cheese. “Nah, I’m good, but thanks.” I nibble; he slurps. Funny his food has no smell.
I need to use this time to gather information. As much as I can.
“Why d’you care what Leela does or where she is? Ya got your throne. Ya got control. No one can get into Aakash Sansaar, so I don’t get it.”
He sets down his spoon and dabs at the corners of his mouth with a napkin. “I don’t like unfinished business. I don’t like that she’s out here running around free.”
“Are you worried she’ll get hurt?”
“What?” His brows snap together. “No, I want her dead.”
“Yeah, I get that, but why? You ain’t killed anyone else here, ’ave ya? Like them Authority fuckers. Aren’t they more of a threat cos they’re here?”
His eyes narrow. “Do not presume to counsel me, rat.”
“Least you got the rat part right this time. But okay, I get it. You want her dead, and you have ya reasons. I’ll drop it.”
Information nudges the back of my mind, something I read. Something I know about this being, but I need him to trigger it. Ineed the right words to pull the knowledge from the archives of my consciousness.
“Why d’you need the throne anyway? You said it was yours, but you never explained how.”
He exhales and settles back in his seat. “You want to know the full story, huh?” He tips his head to the side. “It has been a long time since I spoke this tale. Only one other knows it, and I made sure to bury it so deep in his mind that I doubt he will ever find it. But…I do feel it is time to tell my tale. Again.”
The hairs on my body stand to attention as something inside me stirs. The conviction that a momentous story is about to be aired.
“There was a time when—” He stills, his eyes fluttering closed. The corner of his mouth lifts. “Later, little rat. I have somewhere that I need to be.”
His eyes close, and his body goes deathly still.
The key to my cage is mere inches away. I turn my back on it and push my tail through the bars.
Time to set my escape plan in motion.
Chapter 14
YOU’RE NOT MY DREAM GUY
LEELA
