Chapter 21

The return to the compound was quick and business like. There were no stops to admire the city scape or explain history. The Livarians closed in around both her and Draven and they walked as though they were making their way through battle. Mia's entire body felt tense, wound up, as though any sound might set her off. She didn't relax until they passed back into the energy field, its domed arc feeling protective now, rather than suffocating.

“Is no one going to explain what happened?”

“It isn't for you to concern yourself with,” Draven told her. “Return my armor when you are able,” he gestured her to the dorms, obviously not intending for her to return to the elite building. She wanted to argue, but there was little she could do to force them to include her in their knowledge. She was left standing and watching them as they walked away.

She resisted the urge to stomp her feet like a petulant child.

“Not the favorite anymore?”

Of course, Leanne would have been watching, because why wouldn't Mia have to deal with her bullshit right then?

“Your bitch face is showing.”

“At least I'm not whoring myself out for favors. Nice outfit by the way.”

Mia's brows shot together.

“Jumping into bed with them isn't going to win you any favors in the end you know.”

Another reference to Mia's sexual habits. She had really managed to get under Leanne's skin. It was sad, really, how much effort the woman put into bringing someone else down. She had dealt with enough bullies to know how the woman operated. There was no reasoning with people like her. The best way to deal with them was to take away the one thing they craved, attention. She ignored the woman and walked into the hall.

Becky and Ashley were both at the edge of the group attending language lessons. They looked up as she entered, Ashley's brows crashing together and Becky's eyes growing wide as they took in her appearance. The guards and the leader of the lessons looked questioningly at her, as well. She really had to change out of the armor, it was drawing far too much attention.

She just waved a hand, signaling to the girls it was fine and bee-lined for the stairs.

Phoebe was in the room when Mia entered, her eye's swollen and red. Mia stopped at the doorway.

“You ok?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Phoebe wiped at her eyes with quick angry gestures. “I just can't stand Leanne. She gets me so angry and then I cry. It makes me look like a weak baby whose feelings got hurt, but I'm really just trying not to kill her.” She looked up. “Are you wearing armor?”

Mia rolled her eyes and walked over to her bed, palming the wall to release her drawer of clothing.

“Remember I asked to be allowed to go out into the city?”

“You got permission?” Phoebe's voice rose.

“Yeah, Draven took me along to go and see the orchard where they gather the fruit for the compound.”

“Draven...the Prime...took you.”

Mia looked over at the other woman. She had a thoughtful purse to her lips.

“There's more. When we were there, something happened. I'm not sure what, exactly, they found, but I think it's something bad.”

“Mia, the Prime doesn't go on foraging runs.”

Mia waved her hand in a shoeing motion at her and pulled out a pair of deep blue pants. These had a selection of white beading around the hip that trailed down in long swirls over the thigh. A little elaborate for her tastes, but pants were pants. “I made myself a nuisance is all. He wanted to offer me something because I chopped at the Griecher on the journey here and saved one of the men. I asked to explore the city, but I don't think they’re going to let me out again, they seemed pretty spooked. He didn't even wait for his armor back.”

“Is that his armor?”

Mia paused.

“It is his armor. Mia, I think that man has a thing for you.”

She snorted, but she could feel heat rising along her neck. “Not likely. Besides, I've made it pretty clear I'm not about to be a brood mare.”

Phoebe flinched and looked down at her hands, but not before Mia caught the sheen of tears in her eyes.

“What is it? What did Leanne say, Phoebe?”

“Would it really be so bad?”

“What? You've got to talk to me girl,” she tapped her temple where the little knotted scar lived. “This thing doesn't let me read minds.”

“To stay here, to do what you said, I guess, and be a breeder. Everyone talks about it like it's the worst fate in the world, but would it really be so terrible?”

Mia carefully folded the armor into a neat pile.

“I guess that depends. Is it what you want? Or are you giving up because you can't see any other options?”

Somehow, that caused more tears.

“I don't know, I feel really confused about it all. But Huntak isn’t like any man I've ever met. He's been so gentle, and he really listens when I talk. He wants to know about me. The only men I've ever dated were far more interested in talking about themselves.” She sighed. “I let him kiss me, and Leanne walked in. She says I'm a traitor and a whore.”

“Hmm, that seems to be her favorite word today.”

“Do you think I'm a traitor? I miss Earth. If the option was given to me right now, I would go home, but I think I might regret it once I got there. At least I would always wonder.”

“Do I think you're a traitor because you have feelings and don't treat people like shit? No, no I don't.” Mia walked over and sat next to her. “I think we all are dealing with this in our own way. It isn't wrong to have feelings. I might not be ready to give up on getting home, but I don't think treating the Livarians terribly is the way to go, either. They've suffered enough. Besides, if it was going to work, they would have gotten rid of her by now.”

Phoebe chuckled and leaned against Mia. “Yeah, she has a special talent for nasty, that's for sure.”

“I'll stand by whatever you decide. It's your life and you're the one who has to deal with the outcomes. You can't let a jaded brat have any power over that.”

“Oh, I know I can't, I just got so frustrated. It's like being back in high school. We're grown women, for Pete's sake.”

“Some of us more so than others.”

Mia patted her friend on the back. “I'm going to go and deliver this armor back to Draven, and see if I can do some eavesdropping and figure out what’s going on out there in the city. You want to come?”

Phoebe shook her head.

“I'm going to sit here for a bit, until I'm presentable again, and then go to the language lesson. I want to be able to read again.”

“Oh!” Mia scrambled over to her bed and patted the pockets of the jacket, she grinned broadly when she pulled out her phone.

“Where did you get that? Is it yours?”

Mia nodded. “Draven had it. I think he might have everyone's, at least if it was on them when they were taken. He used mine to try to convince me how pathetic my social life was.”

“Why would he do that?”

“It was a tactic to get me to give up on going home, I think.”

“Uh huh. And how did that work for him?”

“It was poorly thought out. Now, I'm going to take this armor back and do some spying, you can use my phone if you want. It obviously doesn't work here, but I have a few novels on it and couple games that don't depend on the internet.”

“Are you sure? Wont your battery die?”

Mia shrugged. “I don't think he intended me to keep it, and it’s no use to me right now anyway. If he comes back for it, someone may as well have gotten some use out of it.” She picked up the armor and made her way to the door.

“Okay, if you're sure.”

“I'm sure.” She stepped out the door.

“Mia?”

“Yeah?” she slowed and popped her head back in.

“Thanks for being a friend to me today, I needed that.”

“You're welcome.”