Chapter One
***Savanah***
Savanah endured the young girl's pampering: the brushing of her tangled, blonde hair and braiding it, the facial enhancements that gave her skin some color, and the donning of a borrowed dress. There was a dozen or more in the spaceship's cargo hold, left over from raiding a small traveling vessel. She had wanted the somber gray one, but her sister had insisted she wear the sunny yellow dress that skimmed the ground and flowed over her body in a caress.
She would do this for Irene since it was to be her wedding day. Savanah would tamp down the sorrow and worry for a few hours. It was worth it to see the happiness and love between Irene and Aisaak come to the point of marriage. With her parents still on Earth, she would need to represent the family, despite the world she had just escaped.
Everyone needed a little cheer. Irene had lost a friend and protector, Jimbo. The pirates, Torbin's old crew and the derelicts, had lost many comrades. Lolita had been injured, and it wasn't clear whether she would ever be able to use her arm again. Worst of all, it was because of Savanah. They had faced daunting odds with a motley group to save her from sex trafficking. She should show a little gratitude instead of harping on what wasn't accomplished. They would have freed the others if they had known of their existence.
"There now. You look quite lovely," Tika told her. "You'll be the perfect maid of honor."
The young Naga (weredragon) was a cheerful girl. She ran about the encampment like a sprite or elf, despite her healing burns. Nothing kept her from finding happiness or the silver lining in a situation. "Maybe it will rub off on me," Savanah said to herself.
To Tika, she replied, "Thank you for hiding my pale cheeks. I want to make Irene proud."
"Me, too," Tika stated, twirling excitedly in the orange dress that was too large for her tiny frame. "I've never worn anything like this before. Isn't it grand? Do you see how the layers swish when I twirl? It's kind of like having my wings while I'm still in human form."
Her joy was infectious, and Savanah smiled for real. "Be careful you don't upstage the bride. She's supposed to be the center of attention, not the flower girl."
"Where are the flowers, Tika?" Irene asked as she entered the cabin.
Neither girl answered. They were too stunned by Irene's transformation. Her red hair was piled in wayward, but charming, curls on the top of her head. Her carefully applied makeup was minimal, enhancing rather than hiding her beauty. The dress she had chosen from the cargo stash was silvery-white and shimmered with each step. It was floor length yet clung to her curves. Her eyes sparkled with the knowledge she would soon be reciting vows with the love of her life, her miracle, Aisaak.
Savanah saw it as a blessing. She wouldn't need to feel responsible for her sister any longer. Aisaak would take that place in her life. Savanah would be free to pursue her new obsession: finding and freeing the rest of the young women like herself. She'd take down the underground sex trafficking ring all by her lonesome if necessary.
"Drake and York offered to go in search of flowers, so Tika could help me get ready. Will I do?" Savanah asked quietly.
"You're beautiful as always, dear sister. You look like an angel. Are you feeling steady enough to take your place beside me? We can postpone this if you're not," Irene said in concern.
"No, you can't. For one thing, Aisaak would become my enemy if I kept him from officially claiming you. Second, can't you hear what's happening out there? The pirates have broken out of their sorrow and are singing bawdy songs. I do believe it's a bachelor party for Aisaak. I refuse to be the reason they lose their joy all over again. I caused the pain in the first place."
"Stop saying that, Savanah. You didn't cause anything. You were a victim. Krane, that sorry piece of trash, stole you off the street. He worked with the big boss and locked you up with the others, sold your body, and tried to brainwash you into believing you liked it. I'm so glad it didn't work on you the way it did for some of the others. It still upsets me that three women decided to stay in the place. You know, if you blame yourself you might as well put some blame on me. Krane almost had me locked away, too. Aisaak got there in time, but they already had me tranquilized in that alley. If I had joined you, would you be condemning me?"
"Never. Maybe part of the brainwashing did work. We were always told we were meant to be there, that sex was our primary use as women. He said it was our birthright," Savanah explained.
"Krane said that? I'd kill him a second time if it were possible." Irene sneered.
Savanah laughed out loud. "You look ridiculous with that sneer while wearing such a soft, angelic dress. The face of a killer doesn't quite enhance the beautiful rhinestones on it. But to answer your question, no it wasn't Krane. It was another man. He was very persuasive, almost mesmerizing."
Irene couldn't move. She was so shocked to learn Savanah had seen someone else. Could she be the key to finding the big boss? Was his name Tuuleuss? Was there a way to get to him?
"What man, Savanah? What was his name? What did he look like? Was he Krane's superior or just an underling?"
"He didn't offer a name. We weren't to say anything to him or about him. I'd just about forgotten his existence. Isn't that odd? He was there every day, and yet I could so easily have him slip my mind." Savanah was dumbfounded with her discovery.
"What did he look like? Can you remember at all? Was he tall or short, old or young, ugly or handsome? Anything you can tell me will help."
In a kind of daze, Savanah murmured, "Beautiful, so very beautiful. We danced. He was tall." Her body began to sway as if there was music. "Ageless. He could have been any age. He sang. It was always the same."
As Savanah started humming, Irene grew frightened. "Wake up! Please, wake up!" Irene shook her gently, and when she continued humming, with tears falling down her cheeks, Irene slapped her face.
"What happened?What did I do wrong?" Savanah cried. "Why are you punishing me? I'm dancing. I swear I'm doing my best."
Unmindful of the pretty dresses, makeup, and hairdos, Irene wrapped her arms around her sister. She held her tight and let both of their tears fall. "You didn't do anything wrong. I just want you to come back to me, to the present time. You're not under the casino anymore. You're here with me. Look, sweet sister. We're all dressed up for my wedding. The bad men are gone. You're safe."
Savanah was horrified, and her eyes showed it. "I'm sorry, so sorry. I messed up everything again. Forgive me."
"Nothing’s messed up. Your faces will only take a minute to repair, and then we can join the others. We aren't going to talk about the bad men anymore today, are we Irene?" Tika asked as a warning.
