“Corpse World: the morbid, the merrier!”
“Disgusting.” Allegra shivered just by glancing at the monitor. Kayleigh and Teleah were usually sound of mind, despite their stark personalities, but this time she seriously had to question their judgment. There was no reason for any creature to visit the nameless necropolis, city of the dead—or for that matter, there was not even a reason to go near it. True to its name, it was a moon-sized world completely covered with corpses, regarded as the universe’s graveyard, with rotting flesh for soil, blood for rivers and oceans, and bones for mountains. It was impossible for anything to live there: not only because nothing grew there, but the atmosphere was fatal to breathe; the air was saturated with the stench of death, and even a fly would suffocate in agony. A desperate smuggler facing half a military armada would sooner turn and fight rather than land there; the most battle-hardened warriors turned sick and pale just by mentioning it. Every galactic brochure describing ideal tourist destinations had only three words for this vision from Hell:
DON’T GO THERE.
So why was the Dauntless hovering overhead, threatening to descend? Certainly not out of morbid curiosity. Something was buried beneath the festering earth, an ancient artifact of enormous power: a material that, oddly enough, drew Sharyn and Kyrie together to form an unusual alliance. Out of the many quests the Lady of New Avalon had been sent on, she had been asked to retrieve at least one of the mystical Blessings, objects that could bring great prosperity—or ruin—to those who possessed them. The Standard of Andvari had been one of the three Blessings, and now Sharyn had asked the Acheron twins—begged them, really—to guide her to the second. Because there were so many risks involved, Sharyn was warned that nobody else would follow her on such a horrifying journey, and accepted the responsibility. But she had very strong friends.
Amazingly, Kyrie had been the first to volunteer. “I never knew fear until I learned that this place existed,” she whispered timidly, “but if you’re after what I think you’re after, then I’m coming along. It’s the Breath of Vulcan, isn’t it?”
“Aye, but how didst—“
“I know about it? Please, I’m not just a pretty face and a charming genius! Your Kyrie has done some research! The Breath of Vulcan can turn winter into spring, spark fire in the most obstinate hearth, ignite any forge, and can invigorate a strong fighting spirit, or so I’ve read. It could very well be just a legend, but there’s a grain of truth behind every story, and every Red worth his or her salt has been searching for Vulcan’s Breath. But why the hell would it be here?”
“I knoweth not,” Sharyn stated as she girded herself for the journey. She would have to forego her armor and sword in favor of another form of protection, a spacesuit. Her lean, strong body, fit and firm from years of hard work and dedication, easily slipped into the suit, and Kyrie was small enough to glide in as well, even with her wings. But they were not the only ones going
along: Alala decided to go out as well and test her courage, and it was universally believed that wherever Alala went, Yenae was not far behind.
“Somebody has to take care of you,” she cooed. Alala glared, but she was grateful: she didn’t believe she could face the necropolis by herself. And she was warming up to Yenae, slowly but surely; she just needed more time to judge the rogue’s sincerity. Lyara decided to come along as well, though her reasons were more emotional. She needed to get away from Rebecca and Riene, since memories of their time spent together on that empty world still lingered in her heart, and she also knew that she wanted to stay by Sharyn’s side and observe her courage for herself as she dove into this foreboding environment. The green-skinned lady had gradually become a source of comfort and strength for Lyara; just being around her calmed the Valar’s cluttered thoughts. She was a pure, clear river flowing away from a storm.
There were two last-minute additions to the team, Allegra and Kate, and their reasons for going were even more introspective. Although Allegra refused to tell anyone else why she wanted to visit such a dead world, she did let Kate in on the secret, and because she trusted her so much, Kate opened her own final barrier and made herself vulnerable. The two did not speak as they put their spacesuits on (Kate’s was a bit of a squeeze), but their faces were clear and focused, expressions that had not been a part of their world for ages. They had bared their souls and drew closer because of it, and they shared a smile as the Dauntless’s passenger shuttle flew down and came to rest upon the drear, rank surface.
“Here we go,” Sharyn announced, trying to keep hold of her bravery. Lyara marched next to her and clasped her hand, smiling through her visor. That humble gesture gave Sharyn the additional strength she needed to take the first step.
……
Hearing or reading about the world of corpses, and walking upon its surface, are two alarmingly different concepts; it’s like reading about Hell, and then going there. There was no wind blowing, for one, so except for the crunch of boots and the hiss of breathing, the world was completely silent. Nothing lived or grew there, not even grasses, lichen, or fungus, and the surface was covered with rotting flesh and shredded skin. A thick, gooey red river gurgled in the distance, made completely out of blood that seeped out of the piles of bodies, and instead of trees, mountains, or roads, bones had been forged together to create a ghastly landscape. It was enough to snap the mind and drive a person insane, and were it not for the company of others, nobody would have gotten far.
“So, uh, how’s everyone holding up?” Kyrie whispered shakily.
“As well as can be expected,” Sharyn answered, her voice wrought with intensity. She was glad that Lyara was next to her; she felt naked without her sword. “Let us not waste breath on idle chatter. Our supplies shan’t last long.”
“So it’s get in, find what we’re looking for, and get out?” Sharyn tapped her helmet, a gesture for “you got it”, and knelt down so she could get a firmer grasp of the land: they had approached a hill and would have to climb over it. The suits were too heavy to perform acrobatics in, so they all had to tread carefully, and devote every moment to caution and precision. An observer would liken their movements to a ballet: seven bulky aliens trudging around clumsily in search of something they hoped would be worth their efforts. Although Kyrie and Sharyn assured everyone that the Breath of Vulcan was certainly worth the risk, the others were not interested in the treasure: they had all come to test themselves.
I sure am glad we have to save our air, Alala exclaimed to herself. That means that irritating she-devil won’t be able to tease me! No name-calling, no singing, no flirting…and for that matter, with this suit on, she can’t pull my tail or touch my ears! This is great! Well worth the horrors I have to put up with!
“What are you so happy about, snookie wookums?” Yenae sang. All of Alala’s hopes burst like a bubble thrust against a thorn.
“Hey, didn’t sharyn tell us not to waste our air? Don’t talk to me unless you have to!”
“But you’re wasting air, too,” she giggled. Alala growled at her cheekiness, but decided she was too dignified to sink that low, and this was no place to goof around.
“Why did you come, anyway? You’ve got no reason to be here.”
“Neither do you, pumpkin.”
“URGH! This is a personal quest, you immature brat! I’m testing myself to see how far I’ve come.”
“That’s so admirable!” she squealed, tackling Alala with a hug. Being slammed by a spacesuit in normal gravity is not a fun experience. Alala fell over with a crash, Yenae piled on top, squealing happily.
“H-hey, gedoffa me! Quit fooling around! We’re dragging everybody else behind and we’re wasting our air!!”
“Well, if you run out, darling, I can just give you CPR.”
“Oh, shut up! Help me pull this twisted monster off, will ya!” Lyara wanted to roll her eyes and scold them for making such a scene, but the planet was so grim and scary that a bit of comic relief was refreshing. It was worth losing a bit of time, energy, and air to lift everyone’s spirits.
“All right, we’re coming,” she chuckled. Hearing the serious-minded elf laughing did even greater wonders, and soon everyone was relaxed and their joy was restored. The “lovebirds” were pulled free and the journey continued, Sharyn and Kyrie in the lead. As everyone took a rest at the top of the bone hill, Yenae caught up with Alala and tapped her on the shoulder. The catgirl shooed her away, but Yenae was persistent, and finally got her attention.
“What now?”
“I just wanted to answer your question. You asked why I came along, remember?”
“Yes, so?” Yenae smiled warmly and embraced Alala’s left arm.
“I came because you were coming along.”
“Oh, please!”
“No, really. I wanted to be with my sweetie pie. I wanted to stay by your side.” Alala couldn’t see Yenae’s face, but it was glowing and warm with love. Her voice reflected this much, though, and the warmth crept into Alala’s body, sneaking up to her face and causing her to blush. It was true that not even the insane would visit this world, not unless they had to, and anyone accompanying them would probably only do so because they wanted to. Alala could feel it in her gentle grasp and her warm voice: Yenae wanted to be with her even as she walked through a literal valley of death. None of her previous love interests could claim that.
Reaching the top of the bone-hill was only the beginning of their troubles: they had to go down, too, and the surface was far from stable. One wrong slip would cause an avalanche, and there was also a pool of blood not far away from the bottom, increasing the risk. Alala volunteered to go first, and with the elegant nimbleness of her kin, she shimmied down and encouraged her friends to follow.
“We’re not Felinis, y’know,” Allegra muttered.
“Or spiders, for that matter,” Kate added. Their descent was far less graceful; Allegra tripped and fell, causing half the hill to collapse, and their companions with it. Thankfully, their bulky suits served to protect them from the fall and the landslide, and they missed the pool. Lyara, Sharyn, and Yenae escaped with relative ease, so they helped dig their unfortunate friends out.
“Talk about getting a boner,” Kyrie snickered as she was pulled free. Yenae snickered; Sharyn, in her innocence, didn’t quite understand the humor. She jerked to the side and shrieked as another figure joined them, sneaking up out of nowhere.
“Need a hand?”
“YAAAH!! Halt, fiend!” She went for her sword-belt out of habit, but only drew out an imaginary weapon. Even Lyara had been caught off guard, but she had been preoccupied with
unearthing the others. The stranger waved their hands in a gesture of peace and tried not to laugh too much.
“Forgive me for sneaking up on you. I heard a crash and came over here to check it out. It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?” Her voice sounded familiar, but peering into her face was difficult with the visor. Alala, however, screamed with ecstasy, and rammed into a stranger like a puppy welcoming her master home.
“Lady Rosemont! Is that really you? Ohmygod, what are you doing here?!”
“Ow, take it easy! It’s been a long time since I’ve been greeted with such enthusiasm. Help me up, will you, and tell me how you’ve been since we last saw each other. I’m assuming Valti took care of that tentacle beast?”
It was Marsa Rosemont, former High Priestess of Tigris, the woman who had performed the marriage ceremony for Alala’s mother and stepmother, and who had lifted the curse of Rajani.
……
“You’ve been very busy,” Marsa remarked softly as they finished their tale. Running into the Dead Roses, participating in the Space Race, getting stranded on a deserted world…it sounded like the crew of the Dauntless had been destined for adventure. “I’m glad to hear everyone’s all right. Your concerns about the Doppelganger are well-placed: they’re a mysterious race that usually doesn’t get involved with outsiders. I’m surprised you even met one. Whatever she was doing, it was probably a portent of greater troubles. As for the name of Origin, I’m afraid I don’t know much, although I promise I’ll look into it. I’m actually doing some research right now, if you’d care to join me.”
“That would be awesome!” Alala squealed, once again forgetting to conserve her air. Sharyn sighed and put her hand on the catgirl’s shoulder.
“We can afford very little time, most holy lady. We are on a quest to retrieve Vulcan’s Breath. Perhaps thou hast heard of it?”
“Of course I have, it’s one of the three Blessings. Ah, so that’s the kind of trial they’re putting young squires through on New Avalon, is it?”
“Nay, tis’ a personal journey.”
“I see. Well, maybe we can help each other out anyway. I discovered what might be the Breath’s resting place, but since I wasn’t interested in it, I didn’t bother investigating. I would hate to
impose, but if you could just offer me a little assistance, I would gladly help you find what you’re looking for.”
“Tis’ a fair bargain,” Sharyn replied as she and Marsa shook hands (she wanted to kneel, but Marsa forbade it). Kyrie didn’t like the idea of slowing down, regardless of the reason or who she had to help, and claimed to have an even better idea.
“Sharyn and I are the only ones that want it, Miss R! You can just keep the others and lead us there! We’ll be fine on our own.”
“That sounds good,” Kate said. “That would actually save us more time, and we can meet up once everything is taken care of.” Marsa shook her head doubtfully.
“It’s dangerous here with small groups. Are you sure?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be going with them.” Lyara gave Marsa an assuring smile, and locked eyes with Sharyn. “I promise I’ll protect you.”
“Lyara…” She couldn’t see it, but the warrior’s face was glowing red. Lyara felt the love and admiration flowing out of Sharyn’s heart and turned away before she was overwhelmed. Marsa led half of the team to her research site, and told them to wait while she guided the other half to the altar of Vulcan. While Yenae snuggled up with Alala and lovingly pestered her, Kate and Allegra shared a quieter moment together, staring at each other fondly as they waited for the priestess to return. They had remained silent for most of the trip, not just because they wanted to conserve their air, but they were also girding their souls for the battle to come.
This was not merely a world of corpses. This was a place where ghosts came to life.
“I envy those two,” Allegra whispered, nudging her friend. Alala and Yenae were wrestling and shrieking in spite of their surroundings, their outfits, and their air. They were completely oblivious to everything except each other.
“Yeah, me too,” Kate replied, folding her hands as she sat on one of Marsa’s chairs. “I’ve never had anyone like that, Allegra. I mean, with Sarishaun, I could at least feel what love was like, and when I was with those Amazons, I felt like somebody really wanted to be with me. But I’ve never been with anybody that stuck by my side—nobody except you, that is. Tell me, Allegra, is it really better to love, and lose, than never to love at all?” The gunslinger moaned softly, drawing her knees close to her chest.
“Sometimes I doubt it, Katie. Steven and I had such a brief affair…and when I couldn’t even take care of my young’uns anymore, I just lost it. I stopped believin’ in love a long time ago. Instead, I just carried around…” Something caught Allegra’s eye and stole her breath away. Alala and Yenae stopped goofing around, and Kate inched closer, taking hold of Allegra’s gloved hand. A misty, luminescent entity rose from the desecrated ground and took shape, gazing directly at Alala. Another form, a smaller one, stood out of the haze to greet Shepherd, and just as Allegra predicted, several dozen figures passed through the deadly fog to surround
her. This is what she and Kate came here for, not for treasure or tests, but to finally confront their personal ghosts.
“These are all the people I killed when I lost my mind,” Allegra moaned. She struggled to stand and face them; her voice and knees were wobbly. “And all the people I killed after that, too. So many came after me…so many.”
“And this is the girl I killed when I raided that man’s hideout,” Kate whispered. The young lady looked up at her, neither angry nor sad, just silent and motionless. Alala was screaming feverishly, covering her ears so she wouldn’t be deafened by her own shouts.
“M…mother? Mother, is that you? What are you doing here? You can’t be here! Mama said that you went to a good place when you died! Why are you here?! Don’t tell me you…NO, THAT CAN’T BE!! YOU DON’T BELONG HERE!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU? MY MOTHER WENT TO HEAVEN! SHE CAN’T BE…here…”
Alala sobbed and knelt on the ground, prostrating herself in sorrow. The ghostly figure approached her, and though it did not reach out to her, Alala felt herself being lifted up. She saw the entity’s lips loving—lips she still remembered kissing her when she was so young—and although no sound came forth, Alala seemed to understand her. She wept once more, but out of happiness and not frustration.
“I see, so that’s how it is. I’m sorry I got so upset. How could I doubt her? I’m so happy…” She inched closer and, even though this image was not her mother, she snuggled next to it anyway, purring softly. Yenae watched her out of the corner of her eye, her heart overflowing with love. She was also confronting her own ghosts, but with Alala there by her side, there was nothing she could not overcome. She dismissed them peacefully and felt an enormous burden lift her shoulders.
Kate and Allegra were still holding hands, even though they had individual battles to wage. The images in front of them represented the people they had killed, whether accidentally or by insane design, and they needed to conquer these ghosts and release them if they had any hope of returning to a normal life. Kate went first, and knelt down on the mushy surface, slipping out of Allegra’s grasp.
“Can you ever forgive me for stealing your life so soon?” she said to the entity. The girl said nothing; she just kept her big, empty eyes focused on her killer. Kate smiled sadly and said, “Or are you thankful I took you away from all of life’s hardships? Go ahead and say it, then: I’m a coward who just ran away. I never wanted to confront this problem again. I shut my ears and closed my eyes, and for what it’s worth, I’ve hated myself for it ever since. Please, tell me: how can I come to terms with what I’ve done?” The ghostly girl was still silent, but now she smiled, and reached out to touch Kate’s visor. The gesture was so gentle and loving that Kate interpreted it as a sign of forgiveness, her permission to release all the guilt and self-loathing she had carried around for so long. Kate wept and smiled shakily. The best way for her to move on, then, would be to simply move on, forgive herself, and devote the rest of her life to goodness, so her one horrible mistake would be her last.
“Allegra?” she called, turning to face her source of joy and inspiration. She saw her friend keening on the ground, an invisible demon clinging to her back, and rushed to help. Yenae swooped in clumsily and held her back, shaking her large, domed helmet.
“No, let her face them alone. She’ll never break free if she can’t do it by her own power.”
“I know, but can’t I at least stand by her side?” Yenae’s face drooped, and for awhile she revealed the part of her that was most hidden: the vulnerable, soft, sensitive Yenae that listened to her heart regardless of the consequences. Alala got a brief glimpse of this face, and was stunned.
“Allegra,” Marliir said, her voice soothing. “Did you see my ghosts? I had more than you do. Although I’ve rarely killed someone directly, I’ve been responsible for the loss of so many lives. Many of them were my enemies, true, but they still died thanks to my actions. I can’t give you any easy answers, Allegra: I had to come up with a way to defeat them all on my own. Right now I have an angel at my side, with an iron will and an invincible heart; I can free myself and be at peace. Find your own contentment Allegra, whatever it may be. We must grab onto this if we’re to console our pasts and prepare our futures.” She turned to face the woman she loved, waved, and shuffled off to join her; Alala was still stricken by what she saw and heard, and did not reject her company. Kate knelt down next to the tormented woman, refraining from touching her, and waited for her to overcome her nightmares.
She decided to start singing.
Even though people are there,
People are here as well.
I want to connect all of the small miracles;
The door to tomorrow will be opened.
Sha lala, lala,
This planet is gentle, so
Let my exhausted body be released.
Time is the history
On the morning of shooting stars
By being wrapped in the wind.
Allegra had stopped keening, and was now crouching on the ground, a solemn figure meditating amidst a world of death. Long minutes of personal introspection passed before she slowly rose
up, brushed the filth from her suit, and turned to face her friends. Allegra lifted her arm, extended it, and gave them a thumbs-up, smiling sweetly.
“I ain’t afraid of no ghosts.”
……
“Are you sure?” Kyrie said as she gazed out at the great reddish-black ocean of blood, standing between a skeletal pier and the altar they sought. Marsa had brought them this far, telling them as much about the world as she knew, but then they ran into this obstacle, a stinking, bubbling pit that stretched out all the way to the horizon. Marsa touched the sky with her finger, indicating the shore where she had spotted the Breath of Vulcan.
“I made a boat,” she said, leading them down a gentle bluff to the shoreline. Sharyn felt like she was visiting the first ring of the seventh circle of Hell, where the damned were boiled in blood according to their foul deeds: the wickeder the sin, the further they were submerged. Like Virgil, Marsa guided them through the hellish inferno to a boat just large enough to hold three people, Charon’s own personal ferry.
“Use those as paddles,” she said, pointing to two large leg bones. “Head southeast from here and you’ll find the island of Vulcan. That’s what I called it, anyway. Since I didn’t investigate, I have no idea what’s waiting for you, but best of luck. I have to head back to my research, so I hope you can find your way back. Vian con Dios.” Sharyn wasted no time and stepped into the boat, assisting her friends inside. They each grabbed a makeshift oar, trying not to let their disgust overwhelm them, and paddled down the murky ocean to their destination. Their air supply was getting low, so they refrained from speaking.
The atrocity of the Blood Ocean had clouded their vision, for the island was much nearer than they believed, or else the current was better than expected. In any case, they made anchor and faced the structure that crowned the island, a single large skull that had belonged to a three-eyed beast. The creature must have been enormous in life, for its nasal cavities could’ve held all three women very comfortably, and the cavernous mouth was almost large enough for the Dauntless to fly through. They were not comfortable walking into that toothy maw, but compared to the rest of the world, it seemed downright homey. Even so, Lyara wedged several bones into the jaw and stood guard while Sharyn and Kyrie pressed on.
Finding the Breath of Vulcan, an unmistakable sculpture rent from pure fire-crystals and formed into the shape of a cloud, seemed offensively anticlimactic after everything they had been put through. Kyrie in particular was expecting to find monsters, traps, or at least a labyrinth to work through, but here it was, barely fifteen meters inside the mouth, waiting for a new master! She picked it up pitiably, shrugged, and handed it to Sharyn, who was a little more thankful.
“Urgh, is that all there is? Seems kind of a letdown.”
“Let us not curse good fortune, friend. The horrors outside were tribulation enough.”
“Good point,” she shivered. The necropolis seemed to increase in depravity once they emerged from the skull, and a flashing light in their suits indicated there was going to be further trouble. They were running out of air. Wanting to conserve as much as possible, Sharyn pointed to the boat, and they paddled her back to the pier as carefully as they could, not wanting to overexert themselves. Everything became difficult now that their air supply was dwindling. What was once a relatively simple task— walking, climbing, even moving the arms— now became tiresome and heavy. Lyara started to yawn, and Kyrie began gasping irregularly, trying to draw what little oxygen was left. They had worked too hard and had spoken too much, and would soon regret this short-sighted idiocy. The Breath of Vulcan felt cold and useless in their hands, but Sharyn pressed on, even as her muscles sagged and her vision blurred. She…had…promised to give one of the Blessings to her people, and with the Standard gone…
“Not yet,” she heard Lyara say, as she was lifted up by strong Elvish arms. She pulled Sharyn’s helmet towards hers and, though they were separated by their visors, the two women could easily see each other’s faces, and feel connected somehow in this wasteland. “You’re not giving up yet. Marsa said she was researching. She has to have more supplies. We just have to make it back. You can do this, Sharyn of New Avalon. I believe in you. Don’t let that trust go to waste, now.”
She smiled feebly and nodded. Kyrie was still standing, at least, but what sanity she had left was slipping away with every molecule of air sucked out. She sang, twirled dizzily, laughed softly, clapped to an inaudible tune, and babbled out nonsense. Lyara couldn’t even gather up enough strength to sigh, so she just pushed the Pyrosian in the right direction, hoping she wouldn’t be permanently damaged. She noticed Sharyn holding up well, and reached out to sense her emotions. They were pale and faded, just as she expected, but they fought to maintain their firmness, and most of them were focused on two ideals:
Love of country.
And love of Lyara. The elf blushed.
“Shut up,” she grunted, giving Kyrie a blunt kick. The Pyrosian did as she was told, strangely, and became still and limp. Lyara feared the worst, but she couldn’t stop yet: she had promised to protect them both. She did love Sharyn, or at least she cared about her, and as obnoxious and eccentric as Kyrie was, she didn’t deserve to be left behind in this deathly world. Lyara felt blind as she groped ahead, and her fingers turned prickly. She sent a telepathic message to Marsa, squeezing out almost all her energy, and gave way underneath the staggering weight of asphyxiation. The last thing she saw before her world went dark was her helmet being thrust off, and a beautiful green-skinned goddess leaning in to kiss her.
“You fool,” she murmured, “this is no time for romance…”
……
An hour after parting ways with Marsa and returning to the Dauntless, Yenae wanted nothing more than to take a shower. Even though no part of her body had physically touched that damned world, she still wanted to scour herself long and hard. There was nobody in the public showers, so she undressed, skipped right in, turned one of the spigots to full blast, and let out a loud, happy groan as scalding hot water washed the filth away. After a few seconds, she cooled it down and took her time cleaning, but wished she had some company. While she was shampooing her silky blonde hair, the washroom door opened and her wish was granted, beyond all measure of hope and fantasy. Alala strolled inside, humming merrily to herself, and started to undress as she picked out a stall. Yenae felt her heart soaring; she was in heaven.
“Yoo-hoo, pretty kitty! Over here!!” Alala yelped in surprise, and comically covered her skinny body with a towel.
“Aw, no freaking way! Are you following me or something? What did I do to deserve this?!”
“Oh, quit whining and come join me!” Yenae sang. Alala growled, but seeing as how she was in a relatively good mood…and she did sort of want someone to talk to…and she did sort of like all the attention, as aggravating as it was…and her inner pervert did want to see what Yenae looked like without any clothes…
Get it together! This is the wickedest and most lecherous woman in the universe we’re talking about! She’ll probably just sneak into your stall and try to seduce you! You can’t trust her! Take a shower in your room!
But would it really be so bad?
“You’re just lucky I’m feeling so good!” she snapped as she removed her clothes and chose the stall next to Yenae’s. And bless her, poor girl, she couldn’t help but sneak a peak at the bronze-skinned woman’s back…and her backside. As she turned the water on, Yenae’s smooth slender tail slithered out and touched Alala’s silky furry tail. The catgirl stiffened for a moment as the two appendages intertwined, but then relaxed, thinking back to that day when they were stranded together, and had drawn closer. Their tails had embraced back then, too; it was a fond memory and it made her feel at ease.
“So is it really true you killed all those people?” she whispered solemnly. Yenae pointed her nose to the ceiling and raised her hand defensively.
“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about! Those ghosts of mine are dead and gone. I only have you in my life, sweet kitten. The rest is a forgotten memory buried long ago and far away.” Alala’s blush strengthened, and her smile became even more timid. Sometimes, Yenae could be poetic and deep.
“If that’s the case, then I’m glad. You know, I never really knew my birth-mother. Mama kept pictures, of course, but I never saw her when she was alive. Somehow, I remember her kissing me when I was still just a kitten…but maybe those are just thoughts I’ve made myself. Do you think she’d be proud of me, Yenae?”
“I don’t even know why you’re asking that question,” she sighed, sprawling out on the partition, hair and arms drooping lazily. “You shouldn’t have any doubts after today’s fiasco, Lala. Anyone who thinks less of you should have their head stuck in a toilet. Your mother and stepmother love you so much, you know…and so do I. Did I tell you I was hopelessly and madly in love with you yet, my delicious lemon cupcake, because if I haven’t, I’m telling you right now!”
“Yeah, you’ve told me,” she grunted, feeling exasperated. She pried her eyes open, saw the beautiful warmth of Yenae’s glow, blushed, and turned her back. “Listen,” she whispered, “I want…to thank you for going down there with me. It really meant a lot. Yenae…I want to like you, but…I’m sorry, I still have doubts. It’s harder because I’ve had my heart broken.”
“I guess that means I’ll have to work hard to prove myself,” she answered sweetly. Alala turned halfway, gave Yenae a genuine smile, and shut the water off.
“That’s it for me. Unlike certain people, I am not a dirty girl, so I don’t need to spend hours cleaning myself!”
“And I suppose this dispels another myth about your people,” Yenae tittered. Alala tilted her head to one side, looking horrifyingly cute. It took everything Yenae had to restrain herself. “It seems you don’t use your tongues to bathe…although I wouldn’t mind using mine.”
“Ugh, lech!” Alala snapped her towel up and marched off, but Yenae was able to have a brief glimpse of her bare bottom before it wiggled away. She blew a kiss, turned her water off, and grabbed a towel, wondering if it would be wise to follow her felonious pal.
“Some other time,” she cooed, rubbing the cloth over her bronze skin. “I don’t want to push the dear girl away. We made a lot of progress today.” Images of Alala’s beautiful bottom appeared in her mind, and there they would stay forever and always. “Definitely a lot of progress!” she giggled.
“Well, Kyrie seems to be taking this in stride. It might be awhile before she snaps out of it, though.”
“Aye, she didn’t move even when we presented that lighter. Truly in a daze.”
Lyara smiled to herself, and to Sharyn, as that last thought hovered in the silent air. A daze… The two of them had acted like they were also in a daze as the shuttle returned to the Dauntless and they resumed their lives. As usual, they didn’t speak very much when they took a bath
together, but the silence was no longer awkward or troublesome, and they even seemed to enjoy it. Kyrie was still a little ballistic when they came back, but she had calmed down now and was resting in her room, clutching the lighter they had given her. Fuuka promised she would examine her later, but she gave them a promising early diagnostic. Apparently, the lack of oxygen combined with the warped terrain had dealt very little cerebral damage; it was what happened later that ultimately caused her mental breakdown.
Once the finished with their bath, and safely put Kyrie in her room, Lyara and Sharyn took a walk around the ship together, leisurely exploring its wondrous terrain— sometimes holding hands, sometimes refraining. It was difficult to bring up the subject of what had happened recently, but they knew they must address it, and soon. They were too close now to avoid meaningless secrets like that. As the more experienced person, Lyara felt it was her duty to speak first, but Sharyn’s chivalrous honor prompted her first.
“I want to thank thee for thine accompaniment. I could not accomplish this task alone.”
“I was glad to help,” Lyara whispered, not daring to speak any louder, at the risk of ruining such delicacy. “While we’re at it, I want to thank you for saving my life. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Aye, I did not inhale any of the fumes. I…am a bit repentant about the method I used…”
“It’s okay,” she grinned, noticing Sharyn’s sweet, shy face. “I’m just glad you had some oxygen to spare…and that Lady Rosemont came back to us in time. Thank goodness she was there.”
“Aye, a serendipitous adventure.” Once again, the two ladies were silent. Lyara reached for Sharyn’s strong hand and held it protectively. Their fingers wrapped together tightly, and both women smiled forlornly.
“It’s too bad Vulcan’s Breath evaporated when we took it away from that world. Who would have thought that the stench of death was keeping it alive? What pitiful irony. Um, Sharyn, you know that if there’s anything I can do to help you find the third Blessing…”
“Say not such sweet words, dearest,” she warbled, slowly kneeling as she brought Lyara’s hand to her lips. She kissed it, and wept softly. “That you risked thine own life for my selfish cause was treasure in itself. To have someone I care for stand by me and raise my dejected spirits…” Lyara’s hands were fluid as they covered Sharyn’s lips, brought her face close, and held it gently as she kissed her mouth for the first time, gloriously and deeply. There was no shock or awe between them while it lasted, only a sense of wonderful finality. Lyara’s face was enraptured when they parted.
“It’s official now,” she grinned. Sharyn’s skin almost turned totally red.
“Ah…aye, I suppose it is! But should that not be enough…”
And so, their walk was delayed a little more.
“Are you feeling better?” Allegra asked as she dried her hair. Kate’s eyes closed, she was smiling so much.
“Yes! That shower really did the trick! Ugh, I’m ready to visit a beautiful world now! Um…so what about you? Are you any better?”
“Lots!” Allegra heaved as she threw her hair back. It sparkled like moonlight, pure golden-white with flecks of water still flying as she sighed— a beautiful sight for Kate after suffering through a place even worse than her Utopia. Her pulse quickened, and she began gathering her courage. Today would be the day she told Allegra about her feelings— yes, today would be the day. In just a few hours…
“A million times better,” Allegra clarified, slinging the towel over her shoulder. Her emerald eyes glistened, and her face seemed innocent and pure for the first time. “That weight I was carryin’ around just rolled right off. You know, it wasn’t just my own gumption that got me through that. Y’all really came through for me. Where’d you learn that song, anyway?”
“From…a friend,” Kate murmured. She didn’t dare say that her first lover had sang it to her during the aftermath of their sex. “It always helped bring me out of my dark moments. I figured it could do the same for you.”
“That it did, Katie.” Allegra nestled closer to her strong, gentle friend, burying her shoulders in Kate’s chest as she folded her arms around her waist. This was everything Kate had been wishing for and more, and the woman she cherished had been the one to start it! If ever there was a time to open that final barrier and expose her feelings for what they were… “You know,” Allegra whispered sweetly, “you’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I dunno what I’d do without ya.”
“I feel the same way,” she cooed. Then, leaning closer so she could whisper gently, “I’m in love with you, Allegra.” She was able to kiss her ear softly before van Landingham broke away from her embrace. A look of fear, doubt, confusion, and amazement was on her pale face, and yet, for a very long time, Allegra had suspected…
“I thought so,” she sighed. “Oh, Katie, I don’t know how to answer that. It’s just…not something a lady would do…”
“So what does that make me, then?” she cut. Kathleen Shepherd reared back like an angry tigress, her eyes ablaze with hurt and offense. She honestly didn’t expect Allegra to just throw open her arms and smother her with kisses, nor did she hope for it. It was too much. She thought that Allegra would shy away, stutter, and make up some excuse, but…to pull out that remark… Allegra understood her error and yammered, but the damage was done.
“Oh no, Katie, I didn’t mean it like that! I meant…I’m not sure if it’s something I as a lady would do— no, wait, I…”
“You don’t have to defend what you said,” Kate stated coldly as she stood up to leave. “I understand it perfectly well. I didn’t expect you to feel the same way, Allegra…but I also didn’t expect you to say…what you just said to me.”
Tears came falling out like precious gems as she turned and ran, leaving the woman she loved behind, once more burdened by guilt and sorrow.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Preview of next chapter
Sati: Hey, we finally get to do a preview, Kaori!
Kaori: Only because we’re in the next chapter. What’s it about, again?
Sati: The dauntless crew of the…of the, uh…the, uh, Dauntless…ach, darn it!
Kaori: The crew visits a space station, don’t they? And they run into us, right?
Sati: Hey, who’s explaining to whom? Anyway, we meet up with some good friends in the next chapter, and go on a zero-gravity adventure as we cross paths with all kinds of different cultures and backgrounds! And who knows, Kaori might even get lucky.
Kaori: (blush!) …A-HEM! But there’s more to this trip than just fun, games, and a heartfelt reunion. Remember, Yeriman, there are dangers even in safe places.
Sati: Ooh, scary! I can’t wait until some helpless damsel clings to me for protection! Then I’ll come charging in and go “whack, whack!”
Kaori: Down, girl. What fortunes and fates will befall our heroines in the next chapter, “Space Station Surprises: accident or incident?” So, just for the sake of argument, who do you think I’d be most compatible with?
Sati: Oh, that’s easy! You’d totally fall for someone like…um…well, that’s the end of the preview!
Kaori: What!! NOOOOOOOOO!! I…NEED…LOVE!!
Sati: Yikes! Hopefully Kaori the Barbarian can keep it together until then!
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