Shattered Stars Read Online Free Page B

her wrist and a crystal hung from it, the same
colour as Mero’s eyes. She remembered what he said about it and
guessed that this was what he meant.
    The new dress
was pretty, burgundy, and ties could fit it to any body shape.
There were matching sandals, and soon, she was dressed with nowhere
to go.
    The central
gardens looked like a place to start, and they were on the way to
the mess hall, so she decided to go and visit them.
    The lush forest
in the middle of the ship was a reminder of Earth that was. The
plants weren’t the same, but the feeling was. She stood next to a
tree and simply inhaled and exhaled slowly, enjoying the taste of
life in all her senses.
    “Hey, are you
human?” a voice called from behind some of the trees, and she
turned with a smile.
    A man in a set
of coveralls came out, and he grinned at her.
    “Yes, I
am.”
    “I thought so,
but I didn’t see you in the common room.”
    She nodded and
backed away as he stepped in close.
    “Why are you
dressed like that?” He frowned, reaching for her gown.
    Her unease
flared wildly. “I am dressed as my bond contract dictates.”
    “Does he dress
his domestics like that? It isn’t very practical.”
    He moved toward
her again, and she knew that body language. He had found a woman in
a revealing dress, and now, he wanted to get under it.
    “I am not a
domestic.” She had to say it. “I am his intimate servant.”
    The man’s face
turned into a sneer. “You are a whore? Why didn’t you say so? Look,
I don’t have any money now, but I am good for it.”
    He lunged for
her, and she dodged him.
    “No. Stay away,
you idiot!”
    He didn’t take
no for an answer and grabbed her, pinning her up against a tree. He
was clawing at her skirt when she heard a whoosh and felt the air
buffet her skin.
    He let out a
shriek, and she was suddenly free. She stumbled forward and turned
to see her attacker dangling from Mero’s hand.
    Mero was
holding him by the neck, and he looked over to Hannah with concern.
“Did he injure you?”
    She felt the
claw marks on her thighs. “Nothing serious, sir.”
    “Well, then, I
shall only take a little of his energy. Just enough to keep him
from feeling pleasure or desire for the next decade.” Mero’s eyes
glowed, and the human in his hand went limp.
    Crewmembers
arrived and hauled the human away. Hannah took a few steps and had
to stop. Her legs didn’t want to hold her.
    “Hannah?” Mero
was at her side, and he held her against him. “What is wrong?”
    She felt the
tears easing from her eyes. “Nothing. I am fine. I am fine.”
    He nodded and
came to some kind of decision. He held her and launched himself
upward, holding her tight as he flew to the upper level. The
command deck.
    “What were you
doing in the oxygen farm?”
    “It reminded me
of home. Now, the resemblance is a little too close.”
    “You have not
eaten.”
    “No, sir.”
    “I will send
for something, but I must attend this communication. Stay with me,
and I will make sure you are cared for.”
    She nodded and
stayed in his arms as he met with others of his kind and spoke in a
liquid language that wasn’t on her list of known languages.
    They were all
on a series of projection monitors. After an hour of discussion,
one of the men commented on her. She could tell because he jerked
his chin in her direction.
    She recognized
Mero’s response when he said Earth, and she blushed when she
identified her sensuality rating. She didn’t understand the words,
but the cadence of numbers was universal.
    The group
became excited by the news, and Mero was suddenly answering
questions about her.
    It was strange,
awkward and a little bit irritating, but when food finally arrived
and she pulled the plate of fruit into her lap, she nearly moaned
at the exquisite taste. She had missed fruit. She ate with relish
and licked every digit on her hand when she was done.
    The room was
silent, and it only took a quick glance at the room to know that
everyone had