I look down at my empty plate and slowly wipe my filthy fingers on my equally filthy dress. Do I dare trust this new master? At least with my previous masters, I knew what to expect. Where my place was. This…? This is completely out of my comfort range. And yet…
I take a tentative step forward as Master continues out of the room, chattering away, and I have to hurry after him, lest I be left behind to become lost.
“After you’re clean, Mrs. Jru will show you to your room. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep because my days start early, and there is much for you to learn.”
He turns down a long hallway that allows me to catch up to him. Before I can remember my place, I ask, “Learn what kinds of things?”
“Engines mostly,” he answers me, like I didn't just talk out of turn. “When I'm done with you, you'll be able to fix anything without a heartbeat.”
My heart starts racing in my chest, and for the first time, it's not entirely from fear. He is going to teach me to fix engines! I have no idea what an engine is, but it has to be better than sitting on an old man's lap while he touches me. Or being scolded not to cry when he—
I shake away that thought as hope swells in my chest. Pulling a section of hair over my shoulder, I start to braid it, a habit that takes me out of my head and helps me keep the bad memories away. It reminds me of the way my mother used to sit me in her lap and braid my hair, before they took me away from her. The feel of my fingers slipping through the strands of my hair is soothing, and soon the bad memories are pushed away.
As memories go,this one is hardly terrible. However, letting any memories come back can quickly lead to much worse ones.
Closing my eyes, I force this one to the back of my mind, then I imagine myself deep inside the guts of theShade, wires slipping through my grease-covered fingers. The smell of engine oil sears the inside of my nose. The gentle hum of the hyperdrive rings in my ears.
Slowly, the shaking in my hands eases, and my breathing turns normal. I pull a section of hair over my shoulder and start to braid it; the habit keeps my fingers busy as I start mentally going through the process of changing out the ion scrubbers. It’s a mundane task that must be done every cycle or so, and something that helps me clear my head when it gets muddled.
By the time I have that task completed, everything is back to normal. My past is firmly put away and all but forgotten. I’m unshakable once more.
Standing up, I brush imaginary lint from my clothes and stride to the door. As soon as it slides open, I step out and straight into Brox, who is standing directly in my path.
And I scream.
CHAPTERTHREE
BROX
* * *
“You pack more than Sera when we leave on a weekend trip,” Keeghan laughs from the doorway of my room.
Each of us has a small apartment in the oldest part of the compound: our parents’, mine, Keeg’s, and our younger sister Farril’s. Perks of being the first family, I suppose. Although all the accommodations are hardly miserable, they are getting a bit cramped.
“I dare you to say that in front of your wife,” I snort, zipping up the last of my bags, knowing full well Sera would have Keeg’s balls if she heard him say such a thing about her.
When I stand up and turn to face him, my older brother grows serious. “You’re planning on coming back, aren’t you?”
“Of course. If I don’t, you’ll just convert my rooms so you can have more of your brats.” He knows I’m joking. I love my nephews and nieces more than anything. “Make sure Ravi doesn’t try to sneak girls in here while I’m gone.”
Despite my teasing, Keeghan stays serious. “I know you're meant for a life among the stars. We’ve always known it, but now that it’s time for you to make that life a reality…”
I find myself standing in front of him awkwardly. He’s my closest sibling, both in age and personality. I love Farril, our younger sister, too, but we’ve never shared the bond Keeg and I do.
We move at the same time, wrapping our arms around each other and holding tight.
“Don’t be an idiot out there,” Keeghan grunts.
“And I mean it, about Ravi. That kid’s a menace to the females.” I pound my fist on his back twice before stepping back.
My brother holds his arm out, and I clasp my hand around his forearm tightly. “Give Sera and little Seph a kiss for me,” I say with a grin.
“Ravi gets it from you, you know.” Keeghan rolls his eyes but grins back.
I can’t help chuckling as I start looping my arms through my packs, because I wasso much worse. It’s a damn miracle I don’t have half a dozen kits chasing after me.
Or maybe it’s something closer to fate.
