Conversations
AURORA’S POV
The Crab King didn't stay long. He came into my room with a quick stride, his black armor still dusty from the command center. He looked at me for a few seconds, his eyes scanning my face to make sure I was still perfect.
"I have to go back to the walls," he said. His voice was tired but firm. "Karn is quiet for now, but I must stay ready. You stay here. I have told everyone to treat you like a goddess."
Then, just as fast as he arrived, he was gone.
Two new maids led me down a long, beautiful hallway. These girls weren't like the ones in Karn’s palace. Back there, I was treated like literal trash. I was poked, shoved, and called names. I was just a slave to be used and thrown away. But here, these girls had soft, pink skin and big, curious eyes. They smiled at me as they opened the doors to a huge bathroom.
In the center of the room was a bathtub made of solid gold. It was so big I could have swam in it. The water inside was steaming and smelled like fresh flowers and honey.
"It is for you, Mistress Aurora," one of the maids said. Her voice was sweet. "My name is Luma, and this is Tali. We are here to serve only you."
They helped me out of my heavy bronze dress and into the warm water. It felt like heaven. I leaned my head back against the smooth gold rim and sighed. It was so peaceful here. I didn't like the Crab King, he was using me like a shield, but I couldn't deny that it was better than being hit or screamed at.
Still, as the warm water soaked into my skin, my mind drifted back to Karn. It was stupid, I know. He was a brute. But when he turned into his human form... he was so handsome. Even when he was being mean, there was something about his face and his eyes that made my heart race. I hated him, but I also kind of admired him. It was a confusing mess in my head.
Luma and Tali began to wash my hair with soap that felt like silk. They moved gently, humming a soft tune. They kept touching my skin and looking at my hands like I was made of magic.
"You are so different," Tali whispered. "We have never seen a human before. Your skin is so thin and soft. It is like a flower petal."
I laughed a little. It was nice to be admired instead of just being treated like a piece of dirt. "You've never seen a human? Doesn't King Kraye go to Earth?"
Luma shook her head as she poured warm water over my shoulders. "Oh no, Mistress. Our King is very powerful. He is the tenth richest man in the whole sector. But he does not have the kind of ships needed to reach your world. It is very far away."
"The Alien King is the only one who goes there," Tali added, her voice dropping to a whisper. "King Karn is the richest alien in the universe. He has thousands of ships that can jump through space faster than light. He is the only one who can afford to travel that far to find treasures like you."
I sat up a bit, the water splashing against the gold. "So, he's the richest?"
"By far," Luma said. "He has more money than ten kingdoms combined. Our King is rich, but he is nothing compared to the wealth of the Alien King."
I went quiet. Karn had all the money in the world, and he used it to steal me. He treated me like trash in his palace, but for some reason, I still couldn't stop thinking about how CAPTIVATING he looked when he was human.
But then I looked around at the gold tub and the kind maids. Here, I was safe. Here, there was peace. I didn't have to worry about being hurt tonight.
"I don't like King Kraye," I whispered to myself, "but at least I can breathe here."
"What was that, Mistress?" Tali asked.
"Nothing," I said, leaning back into the bubbles. "Tell me more about the palace. I want to know everything."
I stayed in the water until it started to get cool. I was a prize in a golden cage, but for the first time in a long time, the cage didn't hurt.