Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Lucy had heard various theories as to why this might be—many having to do with the fact that the Monstrum universe had been so closely tied to Earth’s own universe before it was overrun with Darklings. But for whatever reason, most Monstrum had at least some animal characteristics.
“Hmm…” Dra’vik seemed to have some difficulty answering her question.
“He has eyes like a cat,” Iyanna offered. “I noticed that, anyway. Big, golden eyes with vertical pupils.”
“Yes, but he’s not a Felinus Monstrum,” Dra’vik murmured. “I know that the Stri’vor Monstrum used to have scales on their bodies, much like my own.” He stroked one hand down his chest, which was bare since he—like many Monstrum—only wore trousers when they were at home aboard their Mother Ship. “But I think now their kind has skin like yours… “He nodded at Iyanna and Lucy. “Though the patterns of the scales still remains, imprinted on their skin—as do their unusual colorations.”
“Yes, it was hard to see in the dark but wasn’t his skin a kind of peacock blue?” Iyanna asked, frowning. “I barely caught a look at him because the minute you fell in, I was too scared to look anywhere else but the river,” she added, turning to Lucy.
“It’s all just a blur to me, too,” Lucy admitted. “All I remember is that when I was clinging onto him in the water, his back was so hot I could hardly stand to keep hold of him.”
“His back was hot you say?” Dra’vik looked interested.
Lucy nodded.
“Yeah—it was weird, too. I mean, the water was freezing but his back felt like it was on fire.” She frowned. “And I thought it might be a different color from the rest of his skin too.”
“What other color?” Iyanna asked.
Lucy shook her head.
“I’m not sure—just lighter than the blue, that’s all. I was kind of too distracted trying not to drown to look closely.”
“That’s interesting,” Dra’vik rumbled. “Because if what I remember about the Stri’vor Monstrum is right, their backs only change color when they meet their S’rentha.”
“Their what?” Iyanna asked, frowning.
“S’rentha,” Dra’vik repeated. “It’s a word with many meanings in the Stri’vor tongue. It can mean ‘goddess to be worshipped’ or ‘stern Mistress’ but at the same time, it also means ‘little one’ or ‘cherished one to be protected.’ Oh, and also, ‘she who must be pleasured’ and ‘she whose honey shall be tasted,’” he added.
“It means all that?” Lucy exclaimed. “I don’t get it.”
“Neither do most of the other Monstrum,” Dra’vik admitted. “Let’s just say that the Stri’vor Monstrum have a…complicated relationship with their females.”
“Sounds like it,” Iyanna murmured. “But do you think his back changed colors for Lucy?” she asked.
“Oh, I’m sure it didn’t,” Lucy said quickly. “I mean, I probably just imagined all that. It was dark and I was halfway drowned, after all.”
“Still, it might be something to keep in mind when you meet with him and Chief Commander Rarev tomorrow,” her friend said, smiling knowingly.
“What?” Lucy frowned. “I don’t understand—why am I meeting with the head of the Monstrum Mother Ship and what’s his name again? Zaren?”
“No, T’zaren,” Iyanna corrected her. “There’s a kind of little hiss at the first part of the name—like you’re putting a T and an S together before you say the ‘zaren’ part.”
“Okay, T’zaren, then,” Lucy said, getting the pronunciation right this time. “But I still don’t know why I’m meeting with him and Chief Commander Rarev. And when did this get set up, anyway?”
“We got a call while you were in the shower,” Iyanna told her. “I had been telling Commander Rarev all about you before you came and he called and asked to meet you. He just happened to mention that T’zaren would be there too.”
“Do you think he’s mad at me for falling into the river?” Lucy asked apprehensively. “I mean, it was an accident, you know. He doesn’t think I disturbed any kind of natural habitat or anything, does he?”
“When he called, he didn’t even know about your accident until we informed him,” Dra’vik assured her. “And when I told him who saved you, he nodded and said it was coincidental because he was going to ask T’zaren to meet with him as well.”
“So you’ll get to thank him for saving you in person,” Iyanna said brightly. “And please don’t worry, Lucy—Commander Rarev has been interested in you ever since I told him you’re a Geologist. He wants to meet you because of your specialty—not because you fell in the river and nearly got your fool self drowned!”
Lucy laughed, feeling relieved.
“Well, I don’t know what kind of Geology I’m supposed to do on a spaceship, but I’ll be happy to give him an overview if he wants. And I do want to thank T’zaren for saving me.”
“He didn’t hesitate an instant—jumped right in after you,” Iyanna told her.