“Let’s hang out.”
“What? Why?”
“I think you’re the human Dominax is missing. If you are, then you’re something even the king of Homeworld can’t have. I like that. And you obviously don’t want to be at the palace anyway, so maybe we can help each other out.”
“I still don’t see how I’m helping you.”
“You’re making me slightly less bored,” he shrugged.
“Uh huh.”
She was getting rich kid vibes from this guy. Someone who had everything and therefore wasn’t entertained by anything. That did not inspire a whole lot of trust as far as she was concerned.
“Okay, well, thanks, I guess. I need to get out of here.”
“Hey. No. Come on. You owe me more than that. Tell me who you are, where you came from.”
“You want to hear my life story?”
“You don’t seem to realize how interesting you are. This city sees a lot of aliens, but none like you. None Dominax is hunting down relentlessly.”
“Is he? It doesn’t feel relentless. It feels like…” she didn’t know what it felt like. She was thinking that Dominax had probably forgotten about her now, or assumed something had happened to her. Like the time her cat had gotten out when she was just a kid, and was never seen or heard from again. She’d looked, but then her mother had insisted they go home before the birds following them caught up to them. So that was that.
She looked up and realized Darma was still looking at her with that fascinated expression on his face.
“What does it feel like?”
“Feels like he forgot about me.”
“Oh, he hasn’t forgotten about you. He just can’t rip up the entire city without causing chaos.”
Well, that was nice, or maybe not. It was nice to be wanted. Every woman wanted to be pursued. Well, some women did. What the fuck did she know about every woman. Anyway. It was romantic. But it was also fucking terrifying.
“You know Dominax?”
“You could say that. Like I said, I live up at the palace.”
“Wow, you do. Huh.” She was trying to work out how to get away from this guy as quickly as possible. He reminded her far too much of Dominax.
“Don’t worry. I’m not like them. I am not like him. I’m a friend.”
“No, you’re not. You’re a stranger, and I’m a fugitive.”
“I’m the closest thing you have to a friend here. I knew what you were the first time we met, and I didn’t turn you in. And you know I know who you are now, and I’m still saving your ass.”
“Who am I, then?”
“You are the king’s pet,” he smiled. “You’re the human who got away. You’re the girl with a bounty on her head. If Dominax knew about the pink suit, you’d be snatched up in seconds.”
“That’s not who I am. That’s not even a part of who I am. That’s what Dominax defined me as, and it’s how he justified ripping me from everything I ever knew, and it’s why I’m here…”
“Okay. You’re not the king’s pet. You’re the human fugitive who is on the verge of being caught and dragged back to him any moment now. And you’re so arrogant you don’t think you need help. You plan to thieve your way to freedom, and tell everyone else to… what’s that human phrase? Oh. Right. Get fucked.”
“How do you know that phrase?”
“Because I, like you, am curious. I want to go to Earth. I want to see the world where the Homelanders don’t have wings. I want to see everything the universe has to offer. I was on the ship Dominax took to your world.”
Every time he spoke, he accidentally revealed more about himself than he wanted to. It was almost amusing.
“Okay. Fine. You don’t seem like a complete asshole. And thank you, for helping me escape the guards. But I know you want something. And it’s not just hanging out with the cool Earth chick.”
“Does it matter what I want, as long as you get what you want?”
She pushed her head out the door. There was no one there. Not a single soldier.
“Okay. I’m going to head out. Thanks for the help.”
“Katie…”
She was gone, dashing into the street. She had a place not that far from this little nook, and she was not interested in making friends with anybody who helped Dominax abduct her.
This entire encounter had taught her one thing: she was too visible, and she had to get further away if she wasn’t going to be recaptured. Or she had to get better at being a fugitive.
11 Missing Katie
Dominax sat upon the winged throne. It was what it sounded like it would probably be – a great chair with wings which extended the same way his own wings did when he was at his most dangerous. They arched up above his head, two golden extensions of pure power, and he sat below them, his own wings tucked tightly behind his shoulders.