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His eyes flashed, sealing his command. Without another word, he rose from his chair, brought it back next to the table, and walked out of my room. As soon as the door closed behind him, with a mind of their own, my feet carried me to the table. Feeling numb, I removed the covers from the temperature-controlled plates and ate on autopilot. I couldn’t even say what had been on my plate. My thoughts were too jumbled.
The minute my head touched my pillow, a blessed oblivion claimed me. I had expected sleep to elude me and to toss and turn all night. Although morning found me refreshed, my mind remained a chaotic mess. As soon as I thought of Keran, a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. It gave me that icky feeling one had when reminiscing about a really bad old flame as you asked yourself what you ever saw in that person.
These aren’t my true feelings.
It still terrified me that I should nonetheless react this way. I needed to escape before Deimos got me where he wanted. And where was that, to begin with? Why did he care if I ended up with someone else? What greater purpose was I supposed to serve?
I finished getting ready with twenty minutes to spare. As I waited for my captor’s return, I evaluated my situation. Any way you cut it, I needed to get out of this room and find Keran. To do so, I had to get Deimos to trust me, or to at least lower his guard. If I played along with whatever game he had in mind, maybe I’d achieve my goal. Either way, it had to happen sooner than later. If a single brainwashing session sufficed to make thoughts of Keran unpleasant, many more could potentially lead me to hate him.
Whether my future belonged with him or elsewhere, I’d be damned if I abandoned him and his men to the horrible fate Deimos had in store for them.
The door chime put an end to my musings. Once again, Deimos entered without waiting for me to bid him come in. He’d changed into a similar sleeveless top with a plunging neckline and a long skirt, typical of Sarenian fashion. Under different circumstances, the pristine white color of his outfit might have given him an angelic aura. But all I saw standing before me was malevolence wrapped in a shell of deceptive beauty.
Nevertheless, I schooled my features to hide the violent thoughts his presence stirred in me. He smiled approvingly at finding me ready as instructed.
“Good morning, Dawn,” Deimos said in a cheerful voice as he headed towards the table, followed by a hover tray. “I trust you had a good night’s sleep?”
“Yes,” I said in a neutral voice as he set down the tray.
Only then did I notice a strange device sitting on it next to the covered plates, and partially hidden by a full glass of the wretched juice they’d made us drink last evening. He moved the device off the tray, then picked up the glass and extended it to me.
When I didn’t take it right away—my previous thoughts of being compliant already mostly forgotten—his face lost all warmth.
“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way. I would really like to avoid the latter,” he said in a stern voice.
A part of me wanted to resist. He took great pride in claiming he didn’t harm females. I actually believed it. So, he would have to use compulsion. Considering I had not been able to resist obeying the command he gave me yesterday evening to be ready by eight this morning, the effects of the juice I drank last night were still active. What would I gain from this little rebellion? Make the point I wasn’t a push over? And then what? I didn’t care what he thought of me. What I needed was for Deimos to let his guard down and start trusting he had me where he wanted.
“Fine,” I said just as his eyes were starting to glow.
I took the glass from him and gulped the whole thing down in one go. All tension bled out from his shoulders, and his charming expression returned.
“Good girl,” he said in an approving voice. He took the glass back from me and waved at one of the two chairs by the table. “Have a seat and enjoy your meal. You have a busy day ahead, and we do not want to waste time.”
Swallowing back the urge to tell him to fuck off, I once more complied. Like with my dinner last night, I’d only been given a spoon and a fork made of flimsy recycled material. If I tried to stab anything with any type of force, it would bend or break.
I felt like a child when I uncovered my plate to find the meal had already been precut in bite-size portions, which spared me the need for a proper knife.
“I understand how angry and frustrated you must feel right now. But you, my dear Dawn, will be instrumental in helping reshaping Braxia into a more inclusive and peaceful society.”
That pricked my curiosity. While I didn’t doubt it would be some messed up fevered dream, any insight I could gain into his demented plans could help turn the tide against him.
“You will spend the next few days and weeks undergoing intensive training to become a Braxian Ambassador,” Deimos said with enthusiasm.
I blinked, completely thrown off by that unexpected statement.
“People need stability, familiarity,” he continued, seemingly oblivious to my confusion. “You are the one constant for all the hybrids. Those who aren’t infatuated with you, love and respect you like they would a sister, or in some cases a mother. They wholeheartedly trust you, and every single one of them would give their life for you. You have no idea of the depth of loyalty you have garnered from these men, including Vintor. His sharp words were merely spoken out of hurt.”
My throat tightened upon hearing those words. I loved them all, too. Even that insufferable Vintor… They had come to the shelter broken, battered, and traumatized. I had helped nurture them back into being productive members of our adoptive society, even when it failed to properly support us. They were family to me. With each one who had died, a part of my heart had also been ripped out of my chest.
“Compulsion can only go so far if, morally, the subject is strongly enough against it. But withyourendorsement, withyoupromoting the virtues of the new society, they will follow.”
I shook my head while staring at the Sarenian in disbelief. “First off, you’re way overestimating my swaying powers over those men. And second, whatever makes you think I would support your insane plans to control the Braxians? Like you said yourself, compulsion can only go so far when forced upon an unwilling target. I’m definitely unwilling!”
He gave me an indulgent smile and leaned back into his chair, once more crossing his leg in that nonchalant pose he had taken last night when talking to me.
“No, Dawn. It isyouwho underestimates your charisma. As for your unwillingness, by the time your training is concluded, you will be fully onboard. Contrary to what you think, I do not wish to turn the Braxians into a bunch of mindless drones. I do want your society to be autonomous and thrive. But an intervention is needed at this time to prevent a great crime against the galaxy to go unpunished, and for an even greater tragedy to occur once the Great War comes. And you will be a key player.”
“And what kind of training are we talking about?” I demanded. “More propaganda and brainwashing?”
