Jack sat down on the bed next to her and put a hand on her thigh. A shiver went through her, which she tried to hide.
“I mean, what do you want?”
“To be returned to my father, of course,” she snapped.
“Really? After what you just saw?”
“I wouldn’t expect someone likeyouto understand the difference between a noble family’s public and private face,” she said, with more certainty than she actually felt.
“And who exactly is someone like me?”
“What?” said Aria in irritation.
“You saidsomeone like me. To be honest, I don’t know anyone like me,” said Jack, smiling.
Privately, Aria agreed with him, but she waved a dismissive hand. “Pfaugh,” she said, an expression of her father’s. “The galaxy is filled with rogues like yourself.”
“Really? How would you know?” asked Jack.
“How would I know? The press is filled with stories of theft and fraud.”
“And you always believe everything you read?”
“Enough.” Aria pushed his hand off her thigh as she stood up. “You said you came here to tell me the real reason why you had me kidnapped me. Apparently, you decided that you wanted me. Congratulations, join the line.”
Jack stood up as well. He went to the door and peered down the hallway.
“I don’t see a line, Lady Aria,” he said in mock surprise.
Yet again, Aria regretted the lack of throwable objects in her chambers. “Get out!” she screeched.
Jack slipped outside and closed the door behind him.
“You absolute swine!” Again, despite the fruitless nature of her earlier explorations, she searched for something, anything, that would make a good missile to hurl.
Still nothing.
Aria flounced down onto the bed, seething with rage. Thenerveof the man.I don’t see a line, lady Aria.
“Well of course there’s not a line!” she shouted to the empty room. “You’ve only gone and kidnapped me away from everyone I know.” She slammed a pillow to the bed in frustration. “Stupid bloody pirate!” She tried slamming one again, only to have it burst in an explosion of feathers, all over the bed.
“Ohfuckinghell!”
***
Later on, there was a courtesy beep at the door, which then opened to reveal a diminutive alien carrying a tray with delicious-smelling food. The alien surveyed the feather-covered scene.
“Ah…should I tell the cook you would like some chicken?” it ventured cautiously.
“Just get out!”
The creature left the food tray and scurried out, closing the door behind him.
Aria was starving, like she hadn’t eaten in days. Although not all of the servings were familiar to her, everything tasted amazing. Aria blew a drifting feather away from what tasted like a banana pudding and consumed it greedily.
“Mmph,” she said, when she was finally done. Glorious.
When the door shifted open, Jack stood there with a broom, a bag, and a dustpan. “I hope the meal was to your liking?”
