“Haha, very funny,” Sandra grimaces. “Just because I live in the Highlands doesn’t mean...” Her words trail off, her lips trembling slightly.
Live.
The word hangs in the darkness like a poison cloud. We don’t live anywhere—not anymore. Just this bleak cell. This is our home now.
“It’ll be alright, Sandra,” I murmur, moving to wrap an arm around her shoulders. “He can’t keep us here forever,” I say—not for the first time—but we cling to whatever comfort we can find, keeping each other’s spirits up with silly games and endless conversation. Without her, I’d probably be as mad as my mother’s taste in men. But it’s been tough—not knowing, especially after Dracoth’s last scathing words.
Truth is, my stomach sinks with worry that he’s abandoned us—that we’ll be sold off or left to rot on some forgotten chunk of space rock.
He needs us.
I remind myself of that whenever despair threatens to take hold. It’s only that mantra and Sandra’s presence that keep me from falling apart.
Suddenly, the sound of distant footsteps approaching steals my focus, sending my pulse racing with eager anticipation.
“Someone’s coming!” I announce, straining to hear over the immense ship’s steady hum.
“Who is it?” Sandra asks, as if I have a crystal ball hidden in these ugly, gnomish clothes.
The footsteps grow louder. Heavier. I can almost picture the giant bore with that deep frown that’s begging to wrinkle his face.
“Shit! It’s Dracoth!” My breath catches, and I stand up, instinctively starting to preen before I catch myself.
“Dracoth?” Sandra questions, her tone tinged with excitement. “How can you tell?” She also rises, fussing with her wavy red hair.
I frown at her question—the answer obvious. “You can’t hear him? The way his massive Bobo the Clown feet stomp around, and his wind-tunnel breathing?”
“I hope you’re right.” Sandra titters, her eagerness growing. “But it could be one of the mini-Dracoths.”
I fight to steady my breathing. My heart thunders in my chest, like I’m expecting to meet the entire royal family. I hate that I can’t contain my excitement, even though he locked us up!
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Oh, it’s definitely him... I know it is,” I mutter, staring at the thick metal bars.
Right on cue, Dracoth appears, and he’s not alone. The presence of the frightening, smirking Demon Egg-Head makes both Sandra and me recoil from the bars.
“Hail, human females,” Ignixis greets us, his grin revealing a mouthful of sharpened yellow fangs.
A terrifying thought grips me—what if Dracoth hands us over to this monster?
I study Dracoth. My chest tightens like it’s going to explode. He stands like a titan, fully clad in his dark-gray armor, with thatdisgustingbelt of gore dangling at his waist. The sight of it makes me want to hurl. But worse than the belt—he’s holding two long metal chains, each attached to a collar.
Oh, fuck!
“Hello, Dracoth,” Sandra somehow manages to say sweetly, while my eyes dart between all the horrors before us, trying not to cry or choke on the lump forming in my throat.
“No greeting for me?” Demon Egg-Head sighs dramatically, not waiting for an answer. “See, Dracoth? This is why you must savor female attention in your youth.” He shakes his bald, tattooed head as if dispensing sage wisdom. “They have no thought for an aged Elder.”
“It’s your ceaseless prattle and that you resemble a painted horror which displeases them,” Dracoth rumbles like an earthquake. His hands dart over the blue-glowing wrist device.
I feel a sliver of relief. Dracoth appears to be still in charge, keeping the scary Demon Egg-Head in check.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude,” Sandra offers, smiling and nodding toward the terrifying alien. “Hello to you too.”
“My, my.” Demon Egg-Head grins, and somehow, it only makes him appear more sinister, twisting his tattooed features, showing sharp yellow fangs, and green eyes that glow ominously in the dark. “Aren’t you a pleasant little one? Much nicer than the other female... What was her name again? The one—”
“Carmen!” I snap, anger flaring at his disrespect—can’t even remember our names, the asshole Demon Egg-Head!
