Chapter 19

Liberty had just sat down at the small, wooden kitchen table with Beverly and her adorable son, Killian, who sucked on a bottle while sitting in his little chair. The Warrior Hudson bustled about the shiny silver appliances in the kitchen fixing dinner while making small talk with Liberty, and going over to kiss Beverly or coo over his baby every few minutes.

It was difficult for her to remember that he held the stature of Warrior, but still insisted on cooking for those in this dwelling. He obviously did it because he loved it, and he cared deeply for those he served.

“So what do you like to eat, Liberty?” he asked.

She thought of the ninety-nine-cent tacos and the macaroni and cheese, as well as the other meals she had eaten over the past two days. She was pretty certain she could never eat another taco, but the macaroni and cheese had been her favorite by far. Hudson blanched as she told him.

Beverly laughed. “I think Hudson has just taken it upon himself to cleanse your palate, Liberty.”

“I don’t understand, Beverly.”

“He’s going to make sure that you upgrade your taste in food.”

Liberty nodded and smiled. “Very well, Hudson. I have heard the saying ‘I will be your guinea pig’ on the TV, and I believe in this case I am using it correctly, am I not?”

Hudson laughed. “You most certainly are, Liberty, and I’m damn glad to hear it.”

They chatted another minute, and Noah came into the kitchen, his focus on Liberty. “Can I talk to you a second?” he asked.

“Of course,” she said, feeling nervous and unable to meet his eyes. Her stomach bounced around as she followed Noah.

He led her to a room with a table that had the sticks and balls, just as the house Jovan had taken her to on first night they met, and she wondered what exactly one did with them.

Noah leaned up against the table and crossed his arms. She stood before him, her head bowed.

“Liberty, please look at me.”

Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his. It was difficult to hold it.

“So, according to Earth customs, you and I are brother and sister.”

She nodded and looked down at the floor again. “Yes, I have been made aware of that. However, we are not from this place, and I was born into servitude so I understand—”

“Don’t, honey. Let’s not even go there.” She looked up at him, but he held up a hand. Rubbing his hands over his face, he turned his gaze back to her. “Look, I’ve been here a really long fucking time. In fact, I now consider this my home. I pay my taxes, I abide by their rules most of the time, and I’m doing my best to clean up this clusterfuck of Colonists that we unleashed on these people. Therefore, I follow their customs and social guidelines.”

He took a deep breath and continued to study her face, and Liberty fought to keep the eye contact.

“I consider you my sister, Liberty, and I look forward to getting to know you. And as your brother, it is my job to protect you and look out for you. I hope you will want to stay with us and become part of our family.”

Liberty felt as though her heart might jump out the front of her chest. She had family here, true family. “And I as well, Noah,” she said softly.

They eyed each other for a minute, then Noah stretched out his arms. “Come here, Libs.”

She found the shortening of her name endearing and went to his embrace, engulfed in his big arms. Laying her cheek against his chest, a feeling that everything was going to be fine solidified itself within her. Her brother was the leader of the Six Saviors, a group of highly moral and dignified Warriors.

He reminded her of her sire, their father. Her father had requested she come to the golden tower of his abode, which overlooked much of the city. Standing at the window, his dark orange smoky form swirled before her.

“I am here to serve you,” she had said before stepping into the room.

“Come forth,” he had said, his voice quiet.

She stood a few feet behind him, waiting for instructions. She looked out the window to see the once-shiny golden buildings were now tarnished; the streets that bustled were now quiet. Every now and then a black form of a Colonist passed into her view.

He turned to her. “Our world is coming to an end,” he had said.

She remained quiet.

“I am sending you to help the others carry on the race.”

She remembered she had wanted to argue, but she was a servant, and she would do as she was told.

“You shall take your leave henceforth.”

Or maybe not.

“But my moha—”

He shook his head. “Do not question me. You will go, and you will carry on my royal line, even if you are in servitude. Do you understand me?”

Her sire had never referred to her by her given name, as was custom, and she often wondered if he even knew it.

“Goodbye, Liberty,” he said in the native language much to her surprise as she left the room. “May our gods keep you safe.”

If he hadn’t put her on that escape pod, she wouldn’t be standing here in her brother’s arms.

Yes, she might have been born into servitude, but her sire was a good male. He had saved her life. She felt no love for him, nor hate. Their relationship had not been a traditional father-daughter relationship, but one of sire and servant; yet, he had never been cruel or awful to her in any way.

Her thoughts turned to her moha, who she missed terribly, but now that she was in her brother’s arms, it took away some of the pain.

“Thank you for your acceptance, Noah,” she said quietly. “I would understand if you didn’t acknowledge me for your sister, but I am grateful that you have.”

There was a beat of silence while Liberty savored the acceptance and physical contact, then she pulled away and said, “Your . . . our father was a decent male. If you wish, at some point I can tell you about his life as I knew it.”

“I’d like that, Libs,” Noah said with a sad smile. “It’s hard to believe it’s all gone. I’d like to hear about him and my moha and what their life was like. I’d also like to know what your life was like.”

“Very well, then,” she said, surprised that Noah had any interest in what her existence had entailed. She had to remind herself that she wasn’t in servitude, but an equal to Noah, a sister.

“What is this called?” she asked, motioning to the table.

“Pool,” Noah said, “or Billiards, if you’re looking for the swanky word. If you want to learn from the best, you should have Abby teach you.”

“Very well, I think I shall do that.”

The silence stretched. “Perhaps I should go help Hudson in the kitchen,” Liberty said, feeling awkward, not sure what she should be doing now that she wasn’t confined with Jovan.

“If you want to, Liberty,” Noah said, “then please do. But just don’t think you have to, okay? That’s not the way it works around here.”

Liberty smiled. “Yes, Jovan made that clear. I am no longer required to serve others, and I understand that, although sometimes it is hard to break old habits.”

Noah stood to his full height. “Okay. Good. You work on snapping that servitude bullshit in half, okay? Now I have to go meet with the other Warriors. We’re up to our asses in trouble around here, and we’ve got to find a way to figure it all out.”

Liberty watched as Noah left the room. His long legs carried him with confidence, yet she couldn’t help but notice that his large, broad shoulders seemed to sag just a little bit, as if he were carrying an extra weight on them.

She walked around the pool table and gently rolled the purple ball across the cloth. Two weeks ago she had been certain that her life would be a miserable existence on Earth, one of running from humans and barely scraping by. As she took in the room with the pool table and noted the fine furnishings and decorations, she knew that she would be okay and that she was safe with Noah, her brohah. She hoped that eventually she would fit in and be able to become a part of his family.