“There was nothing we could do to save her.” The altrix unzipped the body bag and exposed the corpse to Nixie. “She arrived covered in blood, scratches all over her body, and the left side of her face was bruised and swollen.”
Nixie gulped, fighting back tears. Her mother was gone, the shell of the woman she’d known left behind. Although her body had been cleaned of the blood, nothing could hide the deep cuts across her chest—far from scratches—like some kind of sacrificial markings. Her left eye was barely visible under puffy blue skin. If only Nixie had stayed with Cyresse, she could have prevented this. Or maybe they’d both be dead, used and tossed aside like trash.
Garesh rushed to Cyresse, reaching into the bag and wrapping his arms around her like she was only sleeping. He kissed her forehead before rocking the body back and forth.
Nixie stood in the same spot, unable to stop him. She had no idea what to do, what to say. What was she supposed to do now? Was this what she could expect as a level Four? Would she be too high on ipsum to fight a client off, or to even care what they did to her?
Reeling back, Nixie prepared to run. She’d didn’t want to reach the highest level, or perform as a Suavita at all.
“We trained together,” Garesh said, making Nixie pause. He stroked Cyresse’s hair. “We were each other’s first sexual experience, and kept in contact over the years.”
Garesh glanced over at her, tears in his eyes. “It got to the point where no matter how many clients we tended to, we could only think of each other. I managed to find a teaching position first. And I’d found other Suavitas for all of her regular clients. Your mother was supposed to join me in the classroom.” He lowered the body back into the bag and kissed her forehead again. “This wasn’t the way we’d planned it. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
The urge to run dissipated, and she found herself in Garesh’s arms, sobbing. Several minutes passed before she glanced up at him. “What are we supposed to do now?” She’d never had anyone she knew die. What would happen to Cyresse’s body? To her domus?
Garesh pushed her back, out of the room and down the hall toward the main part of the valetudenarium. “You are going to leave this planet, be something else, anything other than a Suavita.”
She heavied her feet, halting her retreat before Garesh could shove her out of the building. “What are you talking about? You want me to just leave? What are you going to do?”
“Nixie, from the time you were young, you have dreamed of so many things that are not possible on this planet, of falling in love, and having a family.” He pointed to the door. “Go get those things.”
She shook her head, her eyes burning from the tears. “But you and Cyresse had that here.”
“And look what happened. Look where it left us. This is not a planet to raise children on. You need to leave.”
What? She tried to duck past him, return to her mother’s body, but he blocked her path. “Garesh, I have nothing beyond Schedar, no one to count on other than you.”
“You have me.”
Nixie spun around. Her heart stopped. “Mekai?”
Garesh stepped beside her and eyed the prince. “So, you’re the one who’s been taking up all of her time?”
“Yes.” Mekai nodded, the confidence in his face vanishing in Garesh’s presence.
“Do you love her?”
“With all my heart.” Mekai glanced up at Garesh. “I asked her to marry me.”
The man she considered a father turned to her. “And yet you’re still here? Why didn’t you go with him? Why didn’t you say yes? This is what you’ve wanted all along.”
“I did, but....” Torn between leaping into Mekai’s arms and running the other direction, she remained in the same spot. “You didn’t leave?”
He reached out for her. “No. I thought about it, but I couldn’t. I love you too much. I was just so confused when I saw you with that man.”
Pangs of guilt returned. “But I didn’t—”
He closed the gap between them, pressing his finger to her lips. “I know.” Leaning down, he kissed her, transporting her into a world where only the two of them existed. No disappointment. No death.
A throat cleared near them, yanking her back to reality. Her cheeks warmed. “Sorry. Mekai, this is my father, Garesh. He’s the reason I cannot leave with you. Not now. Not after Cyresse’s death.”
Garesh clasped her shoulders. “I am not your father. With Cyresse gone, we are no longer family.”
Nixie stopped breathing, shocked by the man’s words. “What are you talking about? How can you say that?”
“Nixie, you walked out on a client. Therefore, you probably do not have a job to go back to. And with Cyresse gone, you no longer have a home.” He spun her around to face the door. “Leave. Get off the planet while you have the opportunity.”
Her throat became tight while her heart broke. How had she lost everything in one day?
A hand touched her shoulder. “Nixie, I’m very sorry for your loss.” Mekai lifted her chin until her gaze met his. “I can give you what you desire. I love you, and I want you to come with me. But, if you don’t feel the same, I can take you anywhere you want to go. Anywhere.”
She looked away, unwilling to acknowledge her feelings for the prince. Not when she hurt so much. Yet, she had no other choice but to go with him. The money she had already saved would only provide her a one way ticket away from Schedar. She’d have nothing left to live on, be forced to pleasure others again to survive.
After one last glance at Garesh, who turned his back to her, she grasped Mekai’s hand and left the building. “Let’s go.”