Chapter 5

As the Escorii brought in snacks and drinks, Kylie and Julie joined Ileya and Jo in the main chamber. Ileya was chatting away with them as if they were good friends, getting down to a good gossip. They were talking about things and people that Jo knew nothing about, and no normally she would have been agog with interest. However what Ileya had told her was going round and round in her head.

It felt as if she was living in a fairytale or was it a horror story? It just didn’t feel real but she knew deep inside her that it was only too real. She had to find a way to come to terms with what had happened to her, but how?

From what Julie and Ileya were saying it appeared that Julie worked for Ileya in a secretarial role. Jo couldn’t understand how she could accept being forcibly pregnant and work for Ileya, who she seemed to like and respect very much. Kylie on the other hand didn’t work for anyone. It seemed that she spent all her time at her painting. From the conversation that Jo was half listening to, it appeared that the people on Scerior liked Kylie’s paintings very much and actually bought them.

“I wonder who gets the money?” thought Jo

At that moment Kylie jumped to her feet and hurried into her room. She came out carrying a large canvas and placed it on the easel. Ileya stood up painfully it seemed, and went to look at it.

“Oh, it’s such fun” she said laughing.

Jo’s curiosity got the better of her and she got up to have a look too.

It was a painting of Bugs bunny, with a large carrot in one hand, and one of the fingers on his other hand in the end of the hunter’s gun, and it was very good.

“Kylie” she said “that is so good. You are a brilliant cartoonist”.

“Thank you” said Kylie grinning happily “I’ve always loved cartoons and when Lady Ileya saw me doodling on some scrap paper, she arranged for me to have all these paints and stuff”.

Ileya put her hand on Kylie’s shoulder and said “You earned them Kylie. Our people love your paintings. They are such fun. Now I must go, and you three must have your showers and massage”.

Jo’s stomach lurched, “Oh no would he come here tonight”.

As Ileya turned to leave the door opened quickly and one of the Sceriae guards stepped in. He bowed to Lady Ileya and said something in their language. Ileya frowned and spoke in the same language.

Although Jo couldn’t understand what they were saying, she could tell from Ileya’s expression that something was wrong. The Escorii also had stopped moving around and were listening worriedly. Ileya nodded her head at the guards and turning to the three girls said “There is an incident at Dariae and Lord Acorus has been called away. Now I must go. Have a nice evening” and she sat on her scooter and swept out of the room, with her Escorii rushing after her.

“Come Jo” said Tchu “shower and massage and then it will be time to eat”.

Kylie and Julie turned towards their rooms escorted by their Escori. Then Julie turned back to Jo and said “If Lord Acorus won’t be here tonight what about us eating together and having a girl’s night in. That would be great fun”.

Kylie looked at her Escorii and said “That would be alright, won’t it?”

All the Escorii looked at each other and then Tchu, who appeared to be the most senior, said “Yes that will be nice for you”.

Both Kylie and Julie rushed back to Jo and hugged her “See you in a while” Julie said looking at her Escorii “if we ask nicely maybe we could have some wine, please Tchaka”.

Julie’s Escorii called Tchaka tutted and said “You know I can refuse you nothing” at which Julie grabbed her and hugged her.

Tchaka tried to shrug her off but Julie hung on and they both started giggling. They obviously adored each other.

Tsu took hold of Jo’s hand and said “I hope that we will grow a friendship such as Tchaka and Julie have”.

All three girls entered their rooms and the Escorii bustled about tidying up. Jo tried to quiz Tsu about what the guard had said to Ileya but Tsu would only say that it was nothing to worry about. After a quick shower and massage Jo, as usual fell asleep.

When she woke up she chose a really bright Kaftan to wear and piled her hair up on the top of her head. She had found a nice perfume in one of the bottles above the massage table and had used it lavishly. She was looking forward to a couple of hours of girl talk. Maybe she could learn more about life on Scerior, because after all, Kylie and Julie had lived here for a long time, and seemed to have settled really well.