This back room was much smaller than the last one. There were no spike covered chairs, but the pink velvet chaises scared me almost as much. Add in the beaded curtains and shag carpet, and it felt like we’d stepped into a 1970s time warp. I’d thought that stage was strictly an Earth thing.
Malton snored happily in the backpack. I still couldn’t believe I was wearing a dog on my back. Considering I was walking around a strange planet the dog part shouldn’t have been what stuck out, but somehow it did.
Kelby steered us around a few scantily clad couples embracing in rather intimate positions for a semi-public venue. But maybe that was all part of the 70s theme. I’d studied enough U.S. history to know about the whole free-love thing.
“Come on.” Kelby led me further away, and I stopped gawking at the scantily clad couples. “Hello, Georgie,” he called across the room.
“Kelby!” A woman with waist long hair tied into half a dozen braids ran over. She was wearing a long halter dress, and her exposed skin was bright pink with all sorts of designs seemingly etched into it. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Always lovely to see you.” She glanced in my direction. “And you brought a friend. A very pretty little friend.”
“Hi. I’m Angie.” I held out my hand.
She accepted my hand and shook it. She didn’t let go. “Did you choose him for his size?”
“Uh…” I tried to gently pull my hand back, but she didn’t release it.
“He is rather large.” Her eyes dipped down his body.
Okay. Was she referring to his height or…“Yeah. He’s tall.”
Georgie laughed. “Is that what you call it?”
“Okay Georgie, I think that’s enough of the pleasantries,” Kelby broke in.
Pleasantries? For real? Was that what he was going with?
Malton yawned. “Plenty of good things come in small packages.”
If Georgie thought it was odd I was wearing a talking dog in my backpack she didn’t show it.
“I assume you are here for help with the rebellion?” Georgie twisted one of her braids around her hand. As she twisted the braid changed from brown to purple.
“Yes. So you’ve heard?”
“Yes. I always hear.”
“And will you help?” Kelby looked directly into her eyes.
“That depends.”
“Depends on what?” Kelby shifted his weight from foot to foot.
“Whether you actually have a chance.”
His expression hardened. “We do.”
“How do you know?” She ran a finger down his chest.
“Because we have Caspian on board.”
“Caspian?” Her eyes widened.
“Yes. He and Rachel are ready.”
Kelby was stretching it. Really stretching it. But I assumed he had his reasons, and I kept my mouth shut. I’d learned with King that calling attention to myself wasn’t a good thing. I also wasn’t going to give up any more information than necessary.
“Is that why she’s here?” Georgie pointed a long finger at me. “Caspian has an Earthling and you wanted one too?”
“No. That’s not why.”
“I can see the appeal. I’d take one too. She would look very nice in my collection.”
Take one? Ugh. I couldn’t stand much more of these people.
“If she isn’t yours, can I have her? You know I treat my collection well.”
“She’s mine.” Kelby snaked his arm around my waist so fast I smacked into his side. There was nothing soft about him. He was all solid, hard, muscle. Although my initial reaction was to argue, I didn’t. I had no interest in becoming part of this girl’s collection. My mind went to glass cases, but I was sure there were worse possibilities.
“Lucky. Are there more around? Or maybe I should go and find one myself.”
My stomach churned as this girl discussed ‘finding’ humans. Was this some messed up kidnapping plot? I wanted to scream. I wanted her to apologize for even suggesting it, but to what end? We needed her. At least Kelby seemed to think so even if I didn’t see what value she was going to bring to the cause.
“None available.” Kelby cleared his throat. “But defeating our common enemy is beneficial for you. Landry is on the list for destruction.”
“And you think that’s why I’d help you? You think I care for the planet that exiled me?” Georgie wove her arms around theatrically. Circle marks on her wrists suddenly became 3-D and twirled around like bangles.
“Is there another reason?”
“I want to destroy them all.” Her hands fell to her sides. The bangles were back to thinly drawn circles.
“Them all?” Kelby’s brows knit together.
“Them all. The patriarchy. The controllers. The oppressors. I want blood.”
There was something eerie about seeing the hippie-looking woman yell about wanting blood, but I got it. I was generally quite the pacifist, yet when Joseph died I would have committed murder. I couldn’t get his murderer so I wanted to get at everyone who led him there.
Kelby shrugged. “I don’t really care about your reasons.”
“Then why did you ask?” Georgie returned to twisting her braid. It was moving from purple to a deep blue now.
“Because I wanted to make sure you had your reasons. I don’t care about the specifics, only that you have a true motivation.”
“We all have motivations.” She turned to me. “Like her. She has motivations.”
“Is there a reason you are talking about me as if I’m not here?” I probably should have kept my mouth shut, but that wasn’t something I was particularly good at. And I’d already used all my restraint.
“Kelby, how many soldiers do you need?” She blatantly ignored me. I swallowed down the anger. What did it matter? At least she wasn’t pawning off a pet on me. “Fifty? One hundred?”
Kelby took a step closer to her. “We need skill as much as numbers, but we’ll take as many as we can get. I’d feel better with at least five thousand.”
“I can do it, but I’m going to need something to give them.”
“I can take care of that. You know that.”
“You still have access to funds? Even after leaving?” She narrowed her eyes.
“I took care of things before I left.”
“So you did plan this out.” A slow smile spread across her lips.
“Of course.”
“I’ve seen her you know.”
“Who?”
“Come on. Don’t play stupid. You know what I mean.” Georgie crossed her arms.
The muscles in his neck tensed. “Trina?”
“Do you have any other sisters?” Georgie’s eyes twinkled. She was enjoying this. She was enjoying having something over Kelby. I didn’t like her before, but this made it worse. I had no clue what history the two had, but taking glee in what is clearly a sore spot for someone is low.
“Where?”
“Around.” She smiled.
“Does she want to see me?” He rubbed the back of his neck.
“If she does she’ll find you.”
“That’s what I was afraid of. I don’t want her getting hurt.”
“Hurt? You think she’s in any more danger than you are? You’re an outcast now too.” Once again there was glee in her voice. But maybe this time it was different. Finally getting the strength to do the right thing was a good thing.
“I realize that.”
“Then I wouldn’t worry about Trina. She’s handled herself just fine on her own.”
“I should have come with her.” Kelby looked down at the floor. He was a whole different guy when his sister was discussed.
“You were young and stupid.” Georgie made a flicking motion with her hand. “You aren’t the first one, and you won’t be the last.”
“Doesn’t change my failure.”
Georgie rested her chin on her hand. “While I’ve got you here, have any extra modifiers to sell?”
“You need modifiers?” Kelby asked. “That surprises me.”
“Who said I need them? I’m talking about selling.”
“I don’t have enough for that sort of market.”
“Too bad. Should have taken more.”
“I was in a bit of a rush.”
“I imagine.” She turned to me. “There are worse Lexas to be attached to.”
“I’m not—” then I stopped myself before I could say I wasn’t attached. I had to be careful not to make things messier than they are. “I’m not taking him for granted.”
“Good.” She patted my head as if I were a dog. That reminded me of the canine on my back.
She turned to Kelby. “Who’s next on your list?”
“Any suggestions?”
“Darto, but I’d keep your Earthling close if you go near him.”
“I always keep her close.”
She turned to me, her eyes filled with something resembling concern. “Be very careful.”
“I will.” My stomach turned. Couldn’t we be done already?
“He’s by the back bar,” Georgie explained. “He’s probably intoxicated, but that might be to your advantage.”
Kelby put his hand on my lower back. “You ready?”
I wasn’t, but I had no choice. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”