Chapter 24
The next few days saw a dramatic increase in tension. As Mia predicted, the increased security measures tipped the women off that something was going on, but not having been filled in as to what, the tension tended to come out in interactions with each other, rather than toward their captors. Breakfast tournaments were all but canceled and it left the women with little to do but mope and complain, especially when the food selections began to be rationed.
“I guess we are starting to see the real way that things are going to go here,” Ashley said, sitting down at the table next to Mia. Becky was picking at the selection of fruit in front of her but said little, observing the hall with the nervous air of a sheep in a den of wolves.
“What do you mean?” Mia asked around a bite of bread.
“They want to charm us into compliance, but they aren't afraid to take things away to get what they want, either.”
Mia chewed for a moment. “Is that what you think is happening?”
“Not just me, Leanne has said it, too. They're punishing us because we haven't fallen into their plans and spread our legs. Just watch, the consequences will get worse until we have to pick between survival and enslavement.”
“Hmm,” that was an interesting, if a little over dramatic, point of view. Mia studied Ashley, trying to gauge by her expression how much she really believed what she was saying.
“Right, so which of the Livarians has demanded your compliance then?” Phoebe asked from across the table.
Ashley blinked at her.
“Well, if the changes are a punishment, then what are the conditions? Which of the men has told you that if you sleep with him, you'll get better privileges?”
Ashley frowned. “We already know once you sleep with one of the men you get your own apartment. I'm sure there are other benefits you receive as well.”
“Maybe from the man you sleep with, but I don't think that's how this society works. I'm more inclined to believe that there's some kind of trouble and their new precautions are to keep us safe.”
“How does cutting back on food allowances and shower times make us safe?” Ashley snorted.
“Those things take resources,” Mia commented. “It's hard to remember that every resource here has to be gathered and prepared by the Livarians. Simple things are a lot harder than they would be at home.”
“Even if that's the case, then they should never have brought us here. What kind of people would bring us here to suffer and starve?”
Mia raised her eyebrows. “We're hardly starving.”
“So you're ok with all of this now? Leanne was right, you are useless and a pansy.”
“That was uncalled for, don't you think? I didn't say I was okay with all of this,” Mia waved her hands at the hall. “But I'm not going to spread panic and misinformation to try to cause problems. That isn't going to help anyone.”
“Whatever, if you want to side with the freaks, I can't stop you. Too bad, though, at one point I thought you'd be the one to find a way out.”
Mia didn't say anything. It was pointless, anyway. Ashley was in a snit and anything Mia said would be turned against her.
“What are you staring at?” Ashley growled at Becky.
“Nothing. I just thought you were a nicer person, that's all.”
“Fuck if you think I'm going to be a cowering idiot like you. You hide behind Mia like she cares about you and you haven't even figured out how pathetic you are. I'm surprised you aren't running around looking for someone’s boots to lick for a little attention.”
Mia's bread crumbled as her hand curled into a fist.
“I think you should find another table to sit at. Maybe go join Leanne's group, where they appreciate trying your hardest to be a bitch.”
Ashley shrugged and snatched her plate, spilling chunks of fruit from it as she stood.
“Your funeral. You want to be left behind when we go home, then you deserve what you get whoring around here.”
Anger surged through her, but she kept her focus on the meal in front of her, not allowing it to show how the words affected her.
Bullies were all the same. It’s just disappointing that Ashley turned out to be one, too.
Beside her, Becky sniffled.
“Don't let it get to you, Beck. There were tons of crappy people on Earth. It's not particularly surprising that some of them made it here.”
“What a bitch, though,” Phoebe commented, popping a berry into her mouth. “What do you think she meant by getting left behind?”
“Don't know,” Mia shrugged. “It all sounded like a rant to me, just trying to get a rise out of us because we didn't fall into her thought patterns right away. She's been spending too much time with Leanne.”
“It does seem to be catching,” Phoebe eyed her, “you don't seem to have any reservations, though, is there something you know that we don't? What happened when you snuck in the other night?”
“I told you. Nothing much, except I learned what a giant ass Draven is,” Mia demurred. Lying wasn't her strong suit; it was better to change the topic. “Do you think there will be a trial this morning? I hate to admit it, but I kind of miss watching the Livarians butcher each other.”
“Who knows? It seems so random lately.”
Almost as soon as she had spoken, the drumbeats started. By the way the women around them straightened, Mia hadn't been the only one to miss the action.
A low murmur resonated through the room, as the competitors stepped out on the stage. It took Mia several moments to figure out what the fuss was about.
“Holy crap,” Phoebe whispered. “I don't think he's ever participated before.”
Draven had stepped into the circle in the center. He was shirtless, revealing perfectly proportioned muscles, and a tight firm stomach with a dark trail of hair that disappeared into the loose pants he wore. He carried a short stick that resembled a sword, or maybe a long knife. His dark hair was tied tight against his nape and his deep eyes flashed as they surveyed the women watching him. A corner of his lip lifted to reveal perfectly white teeth.
She couldn't fight the hit of lust when his eyes met hers and flared with hidden humor.
Prick.
She looked away and did her best to pretend to be bored. It wasn't easy, though, as the second competitor stepped forth. Kenahi.
Mia paled slightly. The last fight Kenahi had, the man on the other end of his battering hadn't fared very well.
The drums thundered and the trial began. Kenahi moved in with lightning speed, aiming a strike at Draven's thigh, his muscles bulging with the effort. Draven didn't move and it looked like the blow would land, but at the last moment he stepped aside, neatly dodging the weapon and bringing his own up in a smooth movement. Kenahi twisted, changing direction and the focus of his false blade from offense to defense. The crack when the two blades met was deafening in the little hall. They separated and then came back together in a flurry of attacks and blocks that was difficult to follow. Sweat began to glisten on their skin as the battle progressed, neither giving ground. It was intense and almost beautiful to watch, each movement was clean and precise. The trial went on and on, well past the length of time the other trials had taken, and still she couldn't look away. She hated to admit it, but she was vastly impressed, and a little bit frightened, by the display. During some of the other trials, she could pretend she was watching a fighting match on tv at home, but this was not the same, this was deadly. Their moves were controlled and practiced, and one just knew, watching them, that both men had used them before to end lives.
The fight finally ended with some signal between the two. They parted, both giving the other a respectful nod.
“Wow. Now that was something,” Phoebe murmured.
Mia couldn't help but agree, her gaze glued to Draven even as he stalked across the stage and disappeared behind a wall.
“Too bad he's such a colossal ass, because he seems to be interested in you.”
Mia choked on her lemonade.
“What? You think it's coincidence he's avoided trials this long and finally decided to come out for a showing?”
“Phoebe, every one of us is in here for breakfast, he may have come to impress any one of us, or maybe all the women, now that we've all arrived. Or maybe he just wanted a good workout.”
“Uh huh,” Phoebe grinned at her.
Mia gave up. She didn't want to talk about Draven anymore.
“What are we allowed to do today?”
“I hope we can go outside. I'm tired of sitting in the hall and taking language classes. After about half an hour, my mind starts to go fuzzy and I get a headache.”
Good, Becky had gotten past Ashley's insult.
“Let's ask for that, then. I'm sure if enough of us request some sunlight, they'll provide us with a guard.”
“And do what?” Phoebe asked. “Surely you've walked the compound enough for one lifetime?”
“I'd like to look at the flowers in the park,” Becky was the one that answered. “I've seen several here that are unlike anything I ever saw back on Earth. I bet that park was once amazing.”
A corner of Mia's lips tilted upward. She had no real interest in flowers; she tended to kill any houseplant she ever tried to grow, but Becky had worked in a greenhouse before they were abducted. It made her happy to see the woman peeking out of her shell just a little bit. She leaned backward, catching the eye of the Livarian standing against the wall, keeping an eye on the proceedings. This one she recognized. It was Gorth.
“Hey, Gorth,” Mia called.
He turned his head and then strolled toward them.
“What is it, Mia?”
Mia tried a pleading smile, “do you think we can go outside today? Maybe to the park?”
He raised a brow.
“You need to remain close to the guards.”
“That's why I'm asking. I thought maybe someone could accompany us. We just need to get out for some fresh air. Staying cooped up is making everyone cranky.”
He tilted his head. “I can likely arrange something. How many want to go?”
Mia looked at Phoebe and Becky, “well, the three of us, for sure.”
His eyes slid between the women, lingering on Becky for a heartbeat. “I will arrange it with security and meet you at the dorm sitting room in an hour.”
Mia frowned at his retreating back. She hadn't eavesdropped for long enough to get the specifics, but security seemed even tighter than it had been three days ago. She wondered if something more had occurred for the increases to take place, or was it that nothing had happened that had the Livarians spooked? She sighed and let herself look over those eating breakfast. The trial had been a quick diversion, but the mood of the room seemed to have picked up where it left off. Tight faces and quick movements spoke to the tension among the women. They didn't know what was causing it, and like Leanne and her little group of friends, they were coming up with their own guesses.
She shook her head. This was never going to work. She wished Draven would have listened to her, because a rebellion was no better than the panic that he feared.