Total pages in book: 175
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 830(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Why is it that the people that I’m supposed to be trusting are the ones kidnapping me? What the heck is wrong with this universe?
I climb off the table in the med-bay and before I can get to the door, it opens and Jamef steps through. He holds out a drink for me. “Take this. It’ll ease the headache.”
Glaring at him, I still do as I’m told. “I wouldn’t have a headache if you hadn’t gassed me. Pretty sure friends don’t gas friends.”
“My apologies,” Jamef says. “It was necessary. You know Bethiah. She wouldn’t come willingly.” He pauses for a moment, his expression grave, and gazes at me. “As for friends…I’m not sure I have them.”
“Not if you treat them like you treat me,” I huff. “I trusted you. You think I wouldn’t go through with it if you told me the gassing part? You need to share everything about a plan, not just the parts you think people will agree with.” I glare at him and take a sip of water. “And for the record, my mouth tastes awful.”
“I will make it up to you.” He gives me a curiously intense look. “I promise. I did not realize you would be so…unhappy. My apologies, sweetheart.”
How can he expect me not to be unhappy? I went along with things willingly, and then he does a one-eighty on me. But the look on his face is grave, as if he’s truly upset that he’s made me mad. I hmph and finish drinking the water, then hand him the cup. “Let me guess, she’s in the holding cell?”
He nods once. “She will not be upset. She will be expecting it.”
We’ll see about that. “Okay, that’s where you’ll find me, too.”
Jamef pauses, reaching for my arm when I move past him. “Wait, what do you mean? You can’t let her out.”
“I’m not going to let her out. My quarters were in the holding cell. I’m going to my quarters.”
“She kept you in the holding cell?” He frowns mightily. “Now that I’m in charge of the ship, you’re not a prisoner, Dora. You’re my guest. I would never keep you in the holding cell. Never. You’re free to move about as you like.”
He’s totally misunderstanding. Of course, explaining that Bethiah let me sleep in the holding cell because I “picked” it and she didn’t correct me doesn’t make her look good either. Still, I feel strangely upset about the situation and loyal to her. I trusted Jamef and he betrayed me by gassing me. I trusted Bethiah, and she betrayed me by deciding I needed prosthetics.
I guess if I have to pick a devil, I’ll go with the devil I know slightly better. I’m curious to see how she’s going to take being a prisoner. Not well, I imagine. Bethiah likes to be in control at all times. Even her “chaos” is a form of control, because it’s designed to keep everyone off-guard except her. She’s going to need a friend right now.
And speaking of friends…
Glancing over at Jamef, I let him see how upset I am. “I still consider you a friend for now, but if you lie to me again about something important, we’re not going to be friends anymore. Understand?”
He looks surprised at my words, but then nods. “Very well…and thank you, Dora. I am sorry I hurt your trust.”
At least he sounds sincere. “I’m going to go see Bethiah.”
Jamef nods. I can sense his gaze following me as I leave, and I feel strangely empowered because he seemed to listen to what I had to say and wasn’t mad when I asserted that I was upset. Unlike Bethiah, who tries to laugh away when I’m mad at her, Jamef actually seems to listen to me. They’re such opposites in some ways, I wonder how they possibly get along.
I move through the ship that Bethiah calls the Pleasure Spot. I can hear Jamef moving around on the bridge, and when there’s a gentle surge under my feet, I know we’re moving. I guess we’re leaving the station behind. It doesn’t surprise me. Instead of feeling anxious, I’m relieved. There’s no safe place for me on that station. I’m much safer out here in space, no matter if it’s Jamef or Bethiah at the helm of the ship.
The door to the holding cell opens when I press my hand to it, and closes again behind me. On my old bed (at least the one I slept in before I started sharing), Bethiah is laid out. Her hands are folded just under her breasts, her face serene, her black hair spilling over the pillows. She looks a bit like a princess from a fairy tale like this, slumbering peacefully and waiting for her prince to come and awaken her.
Is her prince Jamef? Why does that make me jealous? Bethiah’s made it clear for all her flirting that she views me as a problem to be solved rather than a friend, so Jamef’s definitely got a leg up in that situation. Even so, I can’t help but lean over her sleeping face.