Nokin looked shocked and a bit hurt. The Blue Tribe was the second most peaceful tribe on the planet. The most peaceful one, the White Tribe, were wiped out because they were too docile, but they had the strongest crystals once. The Blue Tribe was known for its wisdom and gentleness. But they had a ruthlessness hidden under the surface that let them rule the planet once. For a millennium.

  Nokin sighed after a tense moment. To cure our planet, the High Council was in the best position to find the solution. Nokin and Runax would continue to rule the Blue Tribe and hope that their one and only son would continue to rule it with a mate. They only allowed Axad to leave in hopes he would find his true mate and return. I couldn’t tell them Axad didn’t want to be tied to just one mate. He wanted his freedom. He was more promiscuous than others. It was still a puzzle for us how he had such loving and loyal parents and when Axad was the way he was.

  Yet, I could not say the same for myself.

  “Very well,” Nokin gently placed the crystal back into Runax's hands. “Take it then. I do not want to grow too attached to it. But, I will inform Torno to deal with this personally.” He had a glint in his eyes when he looked at Runax and then at me. He barely spared Brin a glance, which was my intention. She needed to remain in the background until I was sure about her.

  Torno was a highly respected Blue Tribe member. Though he was around my age, he was brilliant, even at a young age. A prodigy. His parents were killed in a gang war and he wanted to seek revenge. A hellion and a close friend of Axad, they realized they were both different. But what set them apart was when Axad’s parents started to compare him with Torno. Torno realized he wanted to be in the High Council and decided not to play games anymore with Axad.

  “I do not expect less,” I replied. “Axad told me to ask for the cube.”

  Both Runax and Nokin turned to different shades of red.

  Runax jumped from his seat. His right hand clutched the glowing crystal. In hindsight, I should have asked for the cube once the crystal was back in my hands.

  “That imbecile. That good for nothing⁠—“

  “He is your son Runax,” Nokin cut in.

  “Fuck that, Nokin! He is also your son! I can not believe he would tell you about The Cube!” Runax angrily paced the floors, his tail swishing violently.

  “He only told it to me. Not with others.”

  “You expect us to believe that?” Runax returned.

  “Your son will always and forever be a true son of the Blue Tribe, believe it.”

  Nokin looked at me with desperation. Wishing what I said was true.

  “Never has he brought shame to our mission. He is wild in his ways but he thinks first. He only mentioned the Cube to me when I told him about this mission. To retrieve the relic, we needed a holder for it. The special black cloth I placed it in will not last until I reach the High Council. Already, it is in tatters.”

  I held out my hand with the black cloth. It was made of a highly special material we got from Planet Zion. Stole it, actually, but Axad’s parents need not know.

  It absorbed the light well but it was already fraying.

  Both Runax and Nokin looked closely at the cloth. Axad really knew his parents well.

  Runax and Nokin then looked at each other.

  Nokin spoke up. “Very well. We can do that. But,” he said sharply, his eyes narrowed at me, “we will exchange The Cube for this cloth.”

  “If we are correct,” Runax said, “this cloth came from Planet Zion.”

  I nodded and visibly I saw their shoulders relaxed by an inch.

  Both stood and I too stood. A few seconds later, I also felt Brin stand. I gave the cloth to Runax, who everyone knows is more fascinated by alien technology than anyone on the planet. In the same way, Axad was also fascinated by Coone who came from another planet.

  “I will prepare rooms⁠— “

  “Just one room.”

  “One room,” Nokin said. I did not correct his assumption that the boy with me was a bedfellow. Technically, she was at the moment.

  Nokin spared a glance at Brin, and then he and Runax proceeded to leave the room. We followed. I felt Brin shadowing me.

  As tribal leaders, they had grown lax. They both need Axad to step up as the tribal leader. At my tribe, nothing and no one goes unnoticed. I need to let Axad know about this.

  11

  BRYNN

  It felt weird being silent when I had so many questions! And I did not know why Zirc declared I was mute.

  I just realized this place is like an old Kingdom. Or a very old village. We travelled from forests to plains, to rice fields and other crops growing along the roads. We travelled on uneven and paved roads. The horse, which I don't think is exactly a horse but looks like one, was quite common but not the primary transport. Many of the inhabitants on this planet walked. We saw small villages that led to the biggest house or mansion sitting atop the mountains.

  The inside of this mansion was very different from the outside. Hard to judge if this was the case for all the houses since I did not go inside the other homes we passed.

  Zirc pushed open the huge white doors. Every color ranged from white to the darkest blue. Outside, huge standing orange trees swayed in the breeze. The colors were harsh. I preferred the color green.

  We went into an opulent room. There was a huge bed that could fit at least six men! And it would take a small leap for me to climb on it. It was made of sturdy wood and had white sheets.

  Zirc had no problem sitting on it. I chose to sit on a wooden lounge sofa against the wall. Pillows adorned it. It faced the bed and big open windows that overlooked the grounds. We were on the second floor.

  I glimpsed the tall grass and trees swaying to the afternoon breeze. No flowers that I could see. l found it strange that there were two suns almost side by side. The breeze though, is so nice…

  I woke up, my body jerking as if I had fallen into a deep well. There was a heavy comforter on top of me and I was disoriented, like coming out of a very long dream.

  My eyes hadn’t adjusted yet. The walls were made of wood… Did I go to a cabin with my coworkers? I was so relaxed. The last time I was this relaxed, we had visited the California Redwood forests. We got to stay the night. It smells the same here when the breeze comes through the windows.

  Then, all the memories came rushing to me at once. I felt dizzy. I scrunch my eyes closed.

  Please let it be a dream. Please let it all be a dream.

  Please let it all be a dream.

  Slowly, I opened my eyes and saw the walls again. I looked farther down and saw the windows. The orange trees and plants were in autumn colors.

  No, I’m still in dream land.

  I sighed and dragged the comforter over my head and then away from my body. I might have slept for only hours instead of days. It was nearing dusk. The land was darker orange at this time of the day. Clouds were darkening the orange sky.

  I sat up straight and looked around. I couldn’t see Mr. Stripey. I smelled my sweat from our travels and it would feel really nice if I could have a bath.

  As if conjured by my thoughts, the door creaked open.

  Slowly.

  Instead of Zirc, I found another alien guy. This one is way leaner than Zirc, though he was as tall as him. He wore white pants and an almost sleeveless top, similar to most people I saw in the streets. But his top had a blue pattern. Different shades and swirling from the side to the top. Not a T-shirt, more like a scrub top.

  He was not making eye contact though. He was carrying a towel and robes of the softest blue. Without looking at me, he went to the wall opposite the door. I could clearly see him from my position on the bed. He placed his palm toward the wall. The wood patterns solidified into white opaque lines. Very futuristic or was I hallucinating. His fingers were too fast for me to follow as he pressed a jumble of weird-looking characters on it.

  I barely heard a sound when the floor opened beside him and out came a tub. It extended along the end of the massive king bed. Thankfully, it was not as tall as the bed. Otherwise, it would look like a kid’s pool.

  He looked up and made brief eye contact.

  He had a unique shade of aqua-blue eyes. It was ringed by yellow. He had a stoic face, and I couldn’t tell his emotions. It was the most interesting part of his otherwise plain face.

  “My master,” he began gruffly in a different language, “wishes for your comfort. You can take a bath now, sir.”

  Of course, I couldn’t voice any arguments because Zirc probably had a good reason to tell them I was mute. They might be used to see aliens or creatures from another planet. I look so different from them without the stripes, yet they did not scream or sell me out to their government police. Or maybe all visiting aliens undergo a program, like going through immigration and having a chip installed so you could understand the locals.

  I think I debated with myself long enough because he went to my side of the bed, and in one sweep of his lean arm, he took the comforter off the bed.

  I wasn’t sure whether to be impressed or alarmed!

  I was too shocked to move.

  He placed the comforter along with the towel robes on the armchair near the door. He was so efficient in how he folded the comforter as he walked. When he came back for me, I tried to inch away but he grabbed both of my ankles.

  I froze.

  “The Silver Tribe Master told me to tell you not to be alarmed. He was afraid we might hurt each other. But I am careful,” he paused. And in a blink of an eye, he had me standing up. He was quick! And strong! He carried all of my 150 pounds.

  Silver Tribe Master. It could only be Zirc, right? So, he was a master of some sort. And I realized they have tribes based on the dominant color of their skin or their eyes. They only have one thing in common. All of them have black hair. No blonde or other hair color.

  Resigned to my fate, I jumped into the sky-blue tub.

  “He also told me you will be like this.” Though he had no expression on his face, a sharpness in his tone somehow appeased me.

  He made himself busy again with the visible controls on the wall. The water, thankfully, was warm and there were bubbles and soap. It reached almost to my face, so I sat straighter.

  With the soap and bubbles, I felt confident enough to strip. I placed my soggy clothes on the floor.

  But the guy was quick enough to take it and, walking back to the wall, pressed some buttons and there went my clothes.

  “They will be washed, dried, and ready for you, sir.”

  I inched my way to the end of the tub and rested. Again, this tub was so big. Everything on this planet was huge.

  I soaped myself. It felt so relaxing with the bubbles and warm water. I stopped when the water at my back changed like small water jets. The guy stood near the wall, staring at the water in my tub.

  He looked stoic. I thought he could be a droid. I mean, anything was possible since I was on a different planet, right?

  His palms and the sides of his face are the only areas I saw his blue stripes. He actually has a lighter blue color; some are near white. Most of the people I saw had darker shades of blue. So maybe he came from a different clan or he was mixed.

  His coloring was also very white. I wonder if that meant he was a servant in this house? I also saw two or three people wearing this color when we entered. He might be one of them?

  I was too busy staring, trying to take in everything all at once. I only knew the people were colored blue.

  I relaxed and let the water soothe me.

  I jerked awake for the second time that day. I looked at the window and saw it was now dark. The clouds had won over the moons. Instead of bright lights, I saw candles. They were not dim enough to cover the fact that I could see my breasts on the water!

  I closed my thighs, bringing them to my chest, and at the same time, I crossed my arms in front of me to cover my nudity.

  What the⁠—

  I looked up and saw the guy looking at me directly. He has his poker face still. But he couldn’t hide his pupils.

  He seemed shocked.

  He probably thought it was time to change the water and then got the shock of his life seeing me like this.

  But I was also shocked when I glanced down and saw the front of his pants was tented.

  I shivered. I do not know if I dreaded or anticipated it.

  Who knew a slim guy like him could be big down there? Or maybe it’s something in the water on this planet?

  Was the drug still in my body? I felt myself leaking even if my brain screamed that everything in this scenario was wrong!

  I don’t know this guy.

  I looked at the still water. I saw shadows move across the room. Maybe he would go away now. The show’s over or something.

  However, I could not prevent my whimper when he put his hand on the water. When he heard me, he drew his hand away. Now, his eyes were rounder and darker than his normal aqua blue.

  “I do not want to distress you, sir.”

  So he can’t tell I am not a sir?

  “I will now replace the water but I must put oil on you so you won’t be too cold.”

  I bit my lip to ask a question. I’m supposed to be mute.

  When he saw the vee of my legs, he had a brief sad look.

  Did he think I was malformed?

  Hmm, probably yes. His touch had become softer. Like comfort. When I tried to reach out to him, he shied away from my touch.

  I wondered who had hurt him in the past?

  He looked up at me briefly with shocked eyes, like he knew he had done something wrong.

  His eyes, though blue, had some red tints at the end.

  I tried to soften my features, hoping I didn’t look constipated.

  He still looked wary but he bent his head and proceeded to put oil that smelled heavenly on his hands.

  Where is Zirc?

  He came closer again. Though his arms were slimmer than Zirc’s and the other residents of this huge house, he had strength. He gripped my ankle. He had calluses on his hand that made me wonder what he did for a living aside from this?

  The smell of the oil was going to my head and all throughout my body. Damn it, is it an aphrodisiac or is something wrong with me again?

  I looked down, and to my horror, I was wet with need.

  The guy seemed to know it as well. He said, “Don’t worry, sir. It is expected. I am to serve you until the master comes.”

  The master? Who’s the master? It better be Zirc. If he thinks he expects to have sex with random people, beings, so they can earn their keep, then he is seriously whacked.

  “Master Zirc will join us shortly. Do not fret,” he continued to massage my right leg.

  I stopped. Can this guy read my mind or my body language?

  I tried to appear relaxed and took in my surroundings. Trying to find any weapon within reach, even a key. This blue guy had no weapons on him.

  The only thing I found was the oil. Hmm. Maybe that will work.

  I took some of the oil and lathered it on my arms and my belly.

  He looked taken aback by the action. Okay, so maybe I was sending the wrong signals here, or I did something taboo about slaves and such. Not that he looked like a slave. Or maybe he was?

  He bowed his head again. I waited for him to stop me but he did not. I did see a slight curve to his mouth, as if I amused him. And soon, he said, “So it is true. Master Zirc is a very generous master in bed.”

  By his tone, he placed a lot of meaning into the word generous.

  “Better not put too much, sir. You might get dizzy.”

  Ah, so it was the oil that was making me a bit dizzy and horny. I inhaled sharply.

  The blue guy just brushed along my folds. He stopped as well.

  “Does it hurt?”

  He looked worried. He dropped his head again when he realized he was looking into my eyes.

  How did I communicate no, it didn’t hurt?

  I just stayed still. He brushed the back of his hand against me again, and when I did not react, he deemed it safe and continued to put oil on my other leg.

  I got ticklish when he put oil on my feet. His lips curve slightly. As if it’s a crime if he’s caught smiling or laughing.

  Then he went behind me, and I almost moaned out loud. He proceeded to massage first my head, my forehead, then my neck and shoulders. I knew I should not trust him, but he had really good hands.

  Then he massaged my spine until I was like a limp noodle.

  My stomach growled.

  Immediately, the blue guy went to the table with food, took one platter, and offered it to me.

  How embarrassing.

  But I was hungry. So I took what looked like beef jerky. The only thing I’d learned was the safest food on the planet for me. The rest made me want to puke.

  He was frowning at me, probably trying to figure out why I was not eating.

  Let him think whatever he wants.

  After eating one, I relaxed in the tub. He went to get some salty water and I only took a few sips. How they could stand salty water was beyond me. I already foresaw my death. Brynn Anderson: death due to kidney failure and other organ failure. On an unknown planet.

  The blue guy briefly looked at me and then proceeded to massage my hands. At some point, I fell asleep.

  And woke up with a strange heat at my core.

  12

  BRYNN

  Someone was massaging my outer lips with oil. I felt extremely wet with need. I moaned and slowly opened my eyes.

  I feel too languid to feel the shock of the blue guy, his head looking intently between my legs.

  “Master Zirc will be very pleased,” he said almost to himself.

  What had he done to me?

  I should have kicked him in the head, but instead, I looked down and saw the front of his trousers was tented. I thought he would be smaller, but no, he has girth and, okay, is more than average for a human guy.

  What was I thinking?

 

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