Alutia Rising, Anniversary Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 1) (58 page)

“I just,” he paused, reluctant to go on, but
unable to resist Sasha’s curios stare, “just wondering what it's
like to have real friends,” the moment the admission left his lips,
he regretted voicing it; making him feel even worst. His mind fell
farther into despair as he began remembering his past, and the
horrible things his “friends” had done to him. Sorrow overwhelmed
his mind as Sasha's eyes narrowed. Trent knew what would come next,
the hate and disgust he’d receive whenever he admitted his lack of
friends.

“Did I not tell you those thoughts were now
forbidden,” Sasha scolded. “Of course you know what it is like to
have a real friend! What do you think a lover is? It is the best of
friend!” her outburst caused him to feel even worse; knowing he
caused pain to the person he loved most in the universe.

“I'm sorry...” he apologized without emotion.
Sasha tensed, climbing over him to pin his limbs to the bed.

“No! Look at me!” she shouted, grasping his
cheeks and forcing him to look into her eyes, tears on the verge of
escaping his.

She kissed him with such passion that his
mind began to melt. The touch of her lips drew forth the sorrow and
self-loathing, replacing it with her love and lust. He pushed back,
wrapping his arms around her to pull her closer, ignoring the
rising pain caused by the unexpected movement. His mind began to
fade, his consciousness like a pond being engulfed by an infinite
ocean that was Sasha’s being.

A cough brought him back to reality. Sasha
stiffened in his arms, pulling her lips free, but staying on top of
him. She gazed at him, eyes ablaze, skin of pure crimson.

“I'm alright now, Sasha,” he whispered, his
tone having returned to normal, “and I'm sorry to have worried
you.” Sasha's expression softened, but still looked slightly
dubious.

“Are you positive? I will not forgive you if
you are lying to me, Trent,” her threat hid a bit of playfulness,
but he knew she was completely serious.

“Yes, dear Sasha, your kiss has drawn away my
demons,” he flourished his hands clumsily, like he’d just expelled
a demon, “though honestly, yes,” he turned serious, “the thoughts
vanished. I don't know exactly how you did it, but they're gone,”
he smiled his thanks. She leaned close, kissing him on the forehead
before she let her expression completely soften. She rolled off the
bed and back into the seat beside him.

“My, my, Sasha,” a sensual voice fluttered
from the far side of the room, “if you are going to provide us a
show at least perform it till the climax!” Trent glanced in
Vickie’s direction while Sasha ignored her, smiling
uncomfortably.

Vickie, he’d found, made him feel like a
little boy in the presence of a mature, experienced woman. When her
gaze fell upon him, his mind screamed she would devour him whole.
Before he could look away, his gaze was drawn to Tiana, staring at
him with an expression of stone. But her eyes said it all. They
held the same look he received so many times throughout his life,
the look of loathing, the same he'd expected from Sasha when he’d
fallen into despair. The thought was odd.
Why would Sasha, who
loved him so, look at him with loathing?

He turned back to his love as another
mouthful of porridge was shoved down his throat. He coughed, being
unprepared, and let her raise the cup of water to his lips, which
was unceremoniously poured down his throat, half escaping to flow
down his chin and soak his shirt. After the coughing fit passed, he
turned to Sasha, perplexed, who had a wicked grin on her luscious
lips.

“What was that for?” Trent asked as he
coughed again.

“Just a little revenge,” Sasha's smile faded,
her expression once again becoming serious.

“Promise me once more, Trent,” she didn't
have to say what.

“I promise I will move on and stop living in
my past,” her smile returned.

“Good. Now eat.” She forcibly shoved another
scoop of porridge into his mouth as Terra's head popped out of her
cleavage with an amused squeak.

Medical Officer Quo'Moy provided Trent a
strong calming agent to help him sleep and moved with Sasha towards
the door, providing further instructions for Trent’s care. Vickie
had vanished the moment he arrived, in search of Regalia. But Tiana
thought it more likely she was hunting for more, adult pleasures.
Her gaze slipped back to Trent, sleeping peacefully. Her face
tightened.

Why is it him
, she thought, unable to
force down her concerns. Sasha could have anyone in the universe,
being beautiful, charming, and kind. But now, now she was stuck,
stuck with this man that Tiana could only think of as broken.

She had yet to have a chance to ask Sasha
exactly what happened between them on Earth and what attracted her
to him so. But she had definitely noticed something wrong with
him...seriously wrong.

The incident that had taken place hours
before triggered the alarm bells.
Who would become depressed
over thinking of friends? How did something like that happen?
It was obvious that he must have been an outcast throughout his
entire life, not just when he was older, like Tiana had assumed
when she watched the record of his enlistment trial. He did have a
few good traits, Tiana had to admit. His courage could not be
questioned, along with his apparent loyalty to Sasha. But still, he
was a head case and she couldn't bear the thought of allowing her
friend to live the rest of her life with such a broken man.

Sasha, having finished her discussion with
the medical officer, returned to Trent's side, checking if he was
asleep, before kissing him lightly on the forehead. Tiana waved her
over when she caught her eye. Sasha plopped on the couch beside
her, a loud sigh, full of exhaustion, escaping her lips.

“I always thought Liana exaggerated her
exhaustion, but this responsibility is draining,” Sasha's words
showed her fatigue. Tiana nodded, her mind screaming now was the
time to voice her concerns. She tried to hold them back, but the
urge to shout them for the world to hear was just too strong;
I
have to help my friend!

“Oh, Sasha, why him?” She cried. Sasha
squinted her eyebrows, obviously confused,

“What do you mean, Tiana?” Sasha asked, her
tone telling she was stepping on dangerous ground.

“I just don’t know, Sasha, I...I mean you are
a beautiful woman who could have any man in the universe! Why did
you choose him? Why him?” Sasha nodded, a look of irritation
flashing within her eyes.

“Tiana, I'll tell you one thing. I love him.
I do not know why and I do not care why, but I love him. I believe
there may have been a force bringing us together, forcing our
meeting, but I am positive that these feelings are my own,” Tiana
saw nothing but truth in her friend’s eyes, but her words made her
concern grow all the same.

“That's it, isn't it strange? Why would
something want to bring you together with him?” she pointed at
Trent. “Sasha, there's something wrong with him, I can see it! That
incident earlier, it...it shows there's something wrong, wrong with
his heart. He’s broken, too broken for you, and will only cause you
sorrow,” she lamented, regretting the words as they left her mouth.
She forced her eyes closed, scared of Sasha’s response.

“Tiana, open your eyes,” Sasha commanded.

“No! I know you’re mad, but I had to say it!
I love you too much! And seeing you have to endure a man like him
for the rest of your life, because...because you were forced to
meet someone who you may love, but would have never met otherwise
and...and is completely wrong for you!” she cried, burrowing her
face in her hands, hiding her tears, hiding herself from her
friends scorn.

No response came and Tiana, after a few
minutes, slid her hands down just enough to peek at Sasha, who sat
stone faced, staring at her. Realizing she was acting childish, she
resigned herself to her fate, lowering her hands completely.

“Tiana, I know you love me, but I wish you
would trust me,” Sasha pleading caught her by surprise. “Trent is,”
she paused, then sighed, “don't mention this to the others, or even
to Trent. You are right, Tiana, there is something wrong with him,
but it is not his fault. He is kind Tiana, too kind, and that
brought him only trouble ...only pain...because of the horrible
world he grew up in,” she paused again, squeezing Tiana's hands,
“would you have me abandon him because he was hurt? Should I not
love him because of his past? I asked myself these questions and
many, many more, but the answer was always the same. Oh Tiana! He
is a kind man, a great man...I know, I have seen it...but his pain,
oh his pain!” Sasha trembled, tears forming in the corner of her
eyes, “In the end, Tiana, no matter the cause, no matter the
reason, no matter what he is. I love him....and Tiana, for
me......please...please, for me, try to know and understand him,
because if you do, I promise, you will grow to love him, as a
friend, as you do me,” Tiana felt the fire of her love for Sasha
striking against the cold lump that had penetrated her heart when
she thought of her with a less than perfect man.
It will take
time
, she knew, but she would trust her friend’s words and look
past the surface, past the barriers, and into Trent’s heart.

Unable to resist any longer, she buried her
face in Sasha’s chest, letting tears roll free.

“It’s alright, Tiana, It’s alright,” Sasha
cooed, gently rubbing her back. Tiana nodded, pulling away, finding
Vickie and Regalia having entered the room silently, seating
themselves on the opposing couch. Their curious looks were not
accompanied by questions, which she was grateful for, allowing her
to recover her wits and look back to Sasha.

“I will do as you ask, Sasha, because I trust
you...and love you,” Tiana said the words of her heart, feeling a
thousand times lighter, knowing the worst of her concerns had been
stated. But she did find a few still lingered, if not as strongly.
Regalia stood, rushing to Sasha’s side.

“I love you too, Sasha,” Regalia said,
hugging Sasha tight. Tiana forgot all her troubles when she heard
Regalia’s innocent admission, and she hugged them both. Terra, who
was caught in the three-way embrace, let out a squeak of
delight.

“My, my, you ladies do know how to have fun,”
Vickie purred, joining the embrace. Tiana squeaked in unison with
Sasha when a hand caressed her rear, glaring at Vickie only to find
an impish smirk on her lips. They fought to escape the woman's
clutches, her strength incredible, but ended up tumbling into a
pile of giggles. Tiana took the opportunity to slither free of the
clutches of the lecherous woman with no shame, crawling a meter
away before collapsing to the floor.

“I believe we all require some rest, Sasha,”
Vickie said.

“Sasha, you can share my bed, I don't mind,”
Tiana suggested the obvious, not thinking she would choose to share
a bed with Vickie.

“Thank you for the offer, Tiana, but I will
be sleeping in my bed this evening,” Sasha explained, like it was
obvious

“But...but, Sasha,” Tiana shot up, looking
between her and Trent, “will you be alright? I thought after the
incident on the shuttle you-,” Sasha sat up as well, the look in
her eyes causing Tiana to pause.

“Let us just say tonight will be a trial. If
I cannot bring myself to do “that” while he is drugged and asleep,
then I may never be able to,” Vickie, who had been tickling Regalia
relentlessly, stood, placing her hands on her hips while studying
Sasha and Tiana like a parent who caught her kids planning
something naughty.

“Now, now, now, ladies, what is this you
speak of doing to poor drugged Trent this evening?” Sasha and Tiana
glanced at each other, Sasha’s eyes begging Tiana to keep
quiet.

“When Lady Sasha was younger,” Regalia
started, “some evil noble boys attacked her, then took scans of her
naked. She’s been scared of men ever since,” Tiana gasped, and
Sasha stared at the young girl with shocked disbelief. Vickie
looked at the ladies with a wide, troublesome grin.

“This, Your Grace, is exactly why I am here.
The best therapy is shock therapy,” Vickie dragged Sasha to her
feet, “Tiana, assist me,” before anyone could react, Vickie
stripped Sasha of her dress and within moments had her naked with
an expression of utter confusion.

“Now, get in that bed!” Vickie ordered,
pushing Sasha playfully towards Trent. The entire episode bordered
on the ridiculous. Tiana started snickering, followed by Vickie and
a deeply confused Regalia. But Sasha just stumbled to a stop,
frozen in place, trembling with fear as she stared at the man who
she loved, lying unconscious on the bed.

Daniel stumbled over a tangle of roots,
sliding off the side of the narrow animal trail and into a pit of
muck. “Bloody hell,” he cursed, wiping the rotten smelling gunk
clear of his eyes as the terrifying screeches and howls continued
to close in around him. Tho'Mos crashed through a bush at his side,
sliding to a stop next to the pit.

“We move or die,” he said, barely audible
over his heavy breaths. Daniel grasped Tho’Mos’s hand, climbing
desperately up the pits slippery wall. Before he could regain his
feet, Tho’Mos pushed him forward. He was barely able to avoid
another tangle of rotting vines.

The arrow directing them towards the
evacuation point cut away from the animal trail, and they were
forced back into the dense jungle. It became thicker and thicker,
before thinning when an unbroken canopy of leafy branches and vines
blocked the distant sun. Pools and pits of muck littered the uneven
landscape between the enormous tree trunks. Most of the pits were
hidden by dead growth with a foul, rotting stench. Daniel learned
this the hard way, twisting his ankle painfully when his foot burst
through a spot he thought solid.