Enslaved Read online

  “So it’s a real thing?” Charlie sounded skeptical. “I know what you told me about it, Becca,” she went on, looking at her friend. “But I just don’t see how it can possibly work. The Goddess herself told me the deity they worship isn’t even real. How can she curse someone if she’s just a stone idol?”

  “It was the priestess who laid the curse,” Becca reminded her.

  “And it is working because Trin believes it is real,” Sylvan said softly. “You cannot remove the teachings of a lifetime in a moment, Charlotte.”

  “All right, fine—whatever.” Charlie made an impatient motion. “So the curse is real.”

  “Real enough that it’s killing Trin,” the blond Kindred said gravely.

  “Well can you help her get over it? Can you give her some medicine or remove the curse?” Becca asked anxiously.

  Commander Sylvan shook his head.

  “I am afraid there is no medicine for the kind of sickness the blood curse causes.”

  “Well then what can we do?” Becca demanded. “We have to help her, Commander Sylvan. We have to.”

  “We cannot…but maybe a priestess can,” he murmured.

  “A priestess? You mean in the Sacred Grove?”

  “I think that would be the best place, yes.” He nodded. “After all, did you not say that a priestess from her home world laid the curse on her in the first place?”

  “Yes, she did—the horrible bitch.” Charlie made a face.

  “Then a priestess from the true Goddess—the Mother of All Life—must remove it. Trin must be taken to the Sacred Grove. My kin—my niece as I believe you would call her—is here for a brief visit from First World. She can see Trin.”

  “Who—Nadiah?” Becca asked. “I met her once when I was hanging out with Sophie and she called on the viewscreen. She’s nice.”

  “She is also the Mouthpiece of the Goddess,” Commander Sylvan said. “If anyone can speak for the Mother of All Life, Nadiah can. We are very lucky she’s here, another priestess might have to see into Trin—that is not a comfortable experience. Nadiah doesn’t need to see into anyone to get to the heart of a problem—she has other ways of finding answers.”

  “Sounds perfect,” Charlie said. “When can we see her?”

  “She’s in the Sacred Grove now, giving thanks for a safe trip. Go there and I’ll bespeak her and send word that you’re coming. I’m sure she’ll be glad to help.”

  “Thank you,” Charlie nodded. “We’ll try it.” She looked at Trin. “Come on, sweetie—we’re going on a little trip.”

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Naturally Trin protested that she didn’t want to go anywhere. In fact, she didn’t even want to leave the couch. It was warm and safe and comfortable—she wanted to stay curled up there forever…or until the curse killed her.

  But she lacked the energy to fight so she finally allowed Charlie and Becca to bathe her and brush what was left of her hair. Then they dressed her in a clean, simple white shift dress and dragged her out of the visitor’s suite she’d been staying in ever since she’d gotten to the ship.

  They took the public transport down to the grassy, park-like area in the center of the Kindred ship. It was filled with families having fun, playing and picnicking on the smooth green and purple grass and basking in the light of the small but incredibly strong artificial green sun which, according to Becca, also powered the ship.

  At any other time, Trin might have been interested in the things she saw all around her. She had always loved delving into other cultures and visiting new places—it was one reason she’d become a ship’s captain in the first place. But now the picnicking families seemed too loud and the sunlight seemed too bright. She felt tired and hopeless and utterly alone, even though she was surrounded by people.

  “Please,” she muttered as they reached the edge of a grove of green and purple trees. “Please, can’t we just go back? This is all too much—I just want to sleep.”

  “If you’re not careful you’ll wind up sleeping your life away,” Charlie remarked tartly. “That’s what my mama used to say when she came banging on my door to get me up out of bed as a teenager,”

  “That’s what I want,” Trin said softly. “That’s all I want—just to sleep until I die. Why won’t you let me do that, Charlie? Why?”

  “Because you’re my friend!” Charlie took her by the shoulders and shook her lightly. “Because I know who you really are inside! You’re brave and loyal and sweet and caring and smart and I am not giving up on you, Trin! Now get your ass in the Sacred Grove and stop talking about sleeping. It’s time to wake up and start living.”

  To Trin’s surprise, Charlie turned her around and gave her a firm push in the shoulder blades. She stumbled forward and nearly fell but she caught herself with one hand against the trunk of a large, graceful tree. Looking up at it, Trin saw it had purple bark and leaves that were every shade of green imaginable.

  It’s beautiful…The thought drifted into her head and it occurred to Trin that this was the first positive idea she’d had in weeks. She continued to stare at the tree in wonder, watching the patterns of sunlight falling through its leaves. Truly beautiful…

  When she finally looked away from the tree, she found that she was face to face with a slim, blonde girl with extraordinary greenish-blue eyes. She was wearing a simple white gown, not much different from Trin’s own, and a friendly smile.

  “Hi there,” the girl said. “You must be Trin. I’m Nadiah.”

  “Hello…” Some of Trin’s tiredness was fading—affected perhaps by the fresh, clean scent of the trees all around her. But it was replaced by confusion. Why was she here? What did Charlie and Becca think this woman could do for her? What did they think anyone could do against the blood curse?

  “Sylvan tells me you’ve been having some problems back home.” Nadiah took Trin’s hand in her own smooth, cool one and led her deeper into the small grove.

  “I…guess you could say that,” Trin murmured.

  They had come to a small stone bench and Nadiah settled upon it. She still had Trin’s hand and she drew her down to sit as well. Then she was silent. For a long time they simply breathed, drinking in the pure, clear air of the grove, inhaling the fresh scent of the trees. At last Nadiah turned to her.

  “Tell me,” she said simply.

  “I…” Trin cleared her throat. “I was blood cursed by the high priestess of my temple and disowned by my mother.”

  Nadiah made a sympathetic sound.

  “What happened to cause all that? You fell for the wrong male?”

  “In my case it was falling for any male at all.” Trin didn’t know why she was telling Nadiah this. She didn’t even know the female. But somehow the touch of her soft hand and the delicious, clean scent of the trees all around them made her want to talk. But she couldn’t…not quite. She couldn’t seem to find the words.

  Nadiah seemed to understand her problem. She placed her other hand on Trin’s face and the cupped her cheek gently.

  “Be thee unbound,” she murmured and passed her fingers lightly over Trin’s lips. “Speak and tell what you must.”

  Trin drew in a deep trembling breath and somehow found she was able to tell what needed to be told.

  The words came haltingly at first, then faster and faster until Trin’s words were tumbling over themselves as she tried to get them all out. She told about buying Thrace at the Flesh Bazaar and saving his life, then how he had returned the favor when he followed her into The Demon’s Eye. Then their fateful business trip to Lady Tam-tam’s estate and the way they had been drawn closer and closer together. Then their encounter with Two and the way he had forced her to drink the passion berry wine. And then…making love with Thrace. She blushed with shame as she spoke of it—admitting what she had done to a complete stranger wasn’t easy. But Nadiah only nodded and there was no judgment in her face.

  “And you bonded to him then?” she asked softly.

  “I think so…yes…ye