Believer

“W-w-where am I?” When Victoria finally returned to her senses she found herself no longer standing in her fathers dusty old barn. Though she had opened her eyes, there was nothing but darkness all around her. When she reached her hands through the uncertain black she could not find any sort of a floor. Instead her hands sunk deeply into a spongy, silky surface that she recognized almost instinctively as a mattress It was then that she knew that something was not right. She could hear a distant humming sound and when she tried to sit up she found that her hands were tied together by something cold and metallic.

“Revaz?” The name blurted from her mouth the moment she realized that someone had chained her up. It seemed like the moment the name escaped her lips a light from the ceiling suddenly switched on. Frantically glancing around it became apparent to her that this was in fact some sort of bedroom, for Victoria was sprawled across a mattress The ends of the chains that binding her hands together she discovered entwined around the metal headboard. The very sight made her skin crawl, as did the gnawing feeling in her gut that this room was nowhere near her home.

She heard footsteps thumping loudly against a metal surface and her eyes fell upon the large door on the other side of the room. In truth it was like nothing she had ever seen before. It looked like was meant to be the front entrance to a science lab, or some sort of industrial factory. She heard a clicking sound behind it, and the loud groan as it was pushed open.

“Good, you're awake.”

Victoria knew it was Revaz standing there, but it still caused her alarm. Wriggling herself up onto her knees she attempted to reached the foot of the bed, whimpering when she discovered that the chain was not long enough. What made matters worse was that the clothes she had been wearing when she had fainted were now missing. Her cheeks burned when she looked down, noticing that they had been replaced by a floor length night that was so thin it revealed almost every part of her body.

“What is this?! Where am I.” She cried, pinning her arms against her chest when it became apparent her breasts were visible to him. Revaz said nothing at first. He just stared at her. Vacantly of course as he had always gazed at her in the past. His obvious lack of concern disturbed Victoria as she quickly realized he had not noticed her hands were bound, leading her to believe he was the one responsible for it.

“You are on my ship. I transported you here shortly after you lost consciousness.” She must have looked at him a certain way because even though Victoria made no sound and asked no questions Revaz still knew what to say. “I had it orbiting your planet while I was on the ground. The device on my arm enables me to transport myself onboard. However, when you passed out I decided to take you with me.”

“B-b-but how?” She groaned, trying to run her fingers through her hair before realizing that her hands were still chained together.

“In the same way that I suppose any 'abduction' is described by your species.” He replied. “I had to make it as visual as possible. That way your father would witness it and believe that you were being taken. Judging by the history of your town and the mentality of it's members they will believe his story when he explains you absence.”

“But-I-! What did you do to me?! What is all of this for?” She gestured to her arms, her pitiful excuse for clothing, and of course the surroundings he appeared to have left her in. Inside Victoria was scared out of her wits. Revaz was not being himself. Or at least not the Revaz she had grown fond of over these past few months. He was returned to the cold, vacant, 'shell' of a being he had been when they first met.

“The chains are to keep you from wandering around the ship unsupervised. There are many things on here that a human being such as yourself wouldn't be able to understand. You could very easily get yourself hurt or even killed.” He paced towards her with his arms crossed over his chest. She noticed that although his tone was very calm it was void of any concern for her or the situation that she was in. His eyes traveled from her head to her toes, scanning Victoria as though searching for something. Then at last a sound, much like a chuckle, rumbled from the centre of his chest. “The marking process was successful at least.”

“What?” Victoria looked down at herself. Besides the change in clothes she could see nothing different on her body. No 'markings', whatever that might have meant. It was not until Revaz reached out, and placed his hand across it that she noticed the mark that had appeared on her shoulder. At first glanced she thought it was a tattoo. One that possessed only five purple dots neatly arranged like the surface of a casino dice on the very curve of her shoulder. “You gave me a tattoo?!” She exclaimed. “Why would you do that to me?”

“You asked me to.”

“Liar! I did no such thing!” She hissed, feeling the anger burn inside her stomach The nerve of him to lie to her like that! “I would have remember if I had asked you to put something permanent on my skin. Tell me the truth right now!”

“But you did tell me to.” Revaz turned his head slightly to one side, leaning forward as though they were two schoolyard friends about to exchange a deep secret. “You asked me to follow through with the completion of my mission, and so I did as you asked. The mark on your shoulder is a result of completing that mission.”

“And what exactly does that mean?” She scowled, burning inside with a mixture of anger and confusion.

“The marking on your shoulder you mean? It is an indication that you and I are mates.”

“WHAT?!” Victoria scream, immediately crawling as far away from Revaz as she could. He watched her with an unsympathetic look lingering across his face, eventually coming to stand at the foot of the bed.

“The mark on your shoulder is a product of the bonding process that my species undergoes whenever we decide to couple off.” He explained to her calmly, as though they were discussing something as casual as the weather. “It is the equivalence to the event you call 'marriage' in your species. My species does not host a ceremony when we choose our mate. Instead the more dominant member of the couple excretes a substance which their significant other ingests-”

“The green slime?” She cried, wishing her hands were free so that she could just slap him. “That gross, disgusting ooze that you made me swallow?! What did it do to me? Was it poison? Did you poison me? Was that it?!”

“No. I am not capable of producing venomous substances.” Revaz replied to her. He was still calm. Cool as a cucumber in spite of how loudly she was shouting at him. “That substance however, was what caused the mark to appear on your shoulder. Traditionally it would have created a physiological bond between us.” He paused, staring at her as though he had suddenly realized that something was not right. “It...appears that aspect of the ritual did not work.”

“So this means I-I-I'm married to you?!!” Victoria squirmed uncomfortably, suddenly wanting to tear the flesh right off her should. She felt hysterical. All the blood seemed to drain from her face at once. The room felt like it was spinning. She could not stop the shaking in her hand! He was an alien for gods sakes. “No! No I won't let this happen.” She finally said, trying to use the most defiant voice that she could. “We're NOT married. We can't be. I never agreed to it.”

“You did. I have already told you this.” He hadn't moved but she could feel his eyes following her as she scampered from on side of the bed to the other, searching for a way to break the end of the chain that was attached to the headboard. “You said 'Yes' when I asked you whether or not you wanted me to complete my mission. You gave consent to allow me to mark you.”

“Unknowingly!” She snapped back at him, offended that he would trick he like this. “You didn't come out and say 'I want to tattoo you like a cow, knock you out, and abduct you'. How the hell was I to know that's what you were going to do. You tricked me! It's not fair!” She itched at her shoulder, rubbing and scratching at the skin until it was red and raw.

“I did not tell you what was going to happen because if I had you would not have allowed it, and I spent several months engaged in courtship with you in order to gain your trust. Do not do that. You will hurt yourself.” He reached over to her, pulling her hands away from her shoulder. It was already stinging. Even with her hands bound Victoria had managed to scratch deeply into the flesh.

“I don't care.” She spat venomously, trying with every ounce of her will to keep herself from crying. There was no way Victoria would allow herself to cry in front of Revaz. Not at a moment like this. “You tricked me.”

“I did not mean to-”

“Don't you dare lie to me like that! You just admitted that you were planning this all along! We weren't really friends. I was just some sort of chore you had to complete.” Rubbing her eyes Victoria forced herself to look at him even though doing so only made the pain she was feeling more intense. She never thought she would actually miss her hometown, or that oaf she called a father. But right now she would have given just about anything to wake up and have all of this be a dream. Mediocrity was better than living a nightmare.

He was silent for a long time, though she could feel his presence. The bed groaned when he took a seat beside her, leaning so closely that their shoulders were touching. “If you feel that I tricked you into this I understand. But I assure you it was unintentional.”

“Then what was it? You just appeared in my fathers barn by accident did you?!” She glanced down at herself, squirming when she realized she was still wearing that paper thin nightie. “What did you do with my clothes?”

“Victoria I promise you, I did not trick you into having feelings for me. That occurred all on it's own. It is a misfortune that we had to meet while I was on a mission but I swear I did not preplan our meeting in anyway. As for your clothes, I removed them when I brought you onto the ship.” When she looked up she discovered that Revaz was staring at the floor. “I believe that the garment you are wearing now suits you better.”

“I don't believe you. I don't.” Victoria sighed, blinking back that indistinguishable watery sensation that was now filling her eyes. 'No crying this time', she told herself as she attempted to rub them without removing her hands from her chest. “And you're disgusting for placing me in this while I was unconscious.”

“Or maybe I am not disgusting but you have chosen to presume so because you are insecure and ashamed of your physical appearance and in spite of us engaging in extreme intimate behaviour in the past you are still uncomfortable being exposed around me.”

Victoria listened to him verbally lash her in a complete daze. No one had ever called her out on her insecurity so before blatant After a few moments of gazing at him like a dumbstruck cow she shook her head. “I'm not insecure. And I want to go home.”

“I know you do...”

Of course Revaz would not let her go back to earth. Not with his oh-so important mission so close to it's completion. Instead he unchained her from the bed and allowed her the benefit of at least roaming freely around the ship. It didn't make her feel any better however. She stuck close to him most of the time, fearful of the threat he'd spoken of earlier about some parts of the ship being dangerous. Victoria wasn't willing to risk death, even to spite Revaz.

She expected the ship to be something like the ones shown in all those daytime Sci-Fi programs her father used to watch. Our of the corner of her eye she kept looking for a high tech looking 'bridge' with blinking lights and confusing gadgets. There was no such thing however. In fact, Revaz explained to her shortly after that the controls to the shop all resided in one small room that was no bigger than a hallway closet.

“Most of the ship runs on it's own.” He explained while pressing several of the buttons on the control panel. “There really isn't that much need to have a large control room in such a small ship. The less space needed on here the better.”

“How long does it take to get from earth to your planet?” Victoria stared gloomily at the various glowing buttons. It all looked horribly confusing to her. She could not imagine having to actually learn how to operate the darn thing. She could barely master a T.V remote.

“It will take us about three weeks to get there. Though these controls are sometimes off by a day or two. Luckily the ship is well equipped.”

“Three weeks?!” Victoria cried, unable to fathom staying on this godawful vessel for longer than a day. Especially considering she was being taken against her will like some sort of slave to a planet she'd never even heard of. “What do you do until then?”

“Wait.” Revaz shrugged. He didn't seem as concerned by the idea of having nothing to do for three agonizing weeks. No doubt he had done this more than once and was used to the dull and isolating trips. “Though in all honesty the length of the journey was intended so that we could....consummate.”

“Consummate?!” Oh yes, that was the first thing Victoria wanted to think about as she glanced at the mark on her shoulder again. Sleeping with him after he'd abducted her. The very thought made her want to throw up. “No! I won't do it.” She instinctively fumed at him, defiant still even though she was scared out of her wits and utterly confused by everything happening to her. “I won't let you touch me like that.”

“I'm not going to make you do anything Victoria. That is your choice.”

“Yes, that's why you tied me up to a bed in lingerie after abducting me from my home right? Because you wanted me to have some sort of 'choice' in the matter?!” He didn't retaliate of course. Even though Victoria wanted to argue with him so badly. She was accustom to yelling at the people who upset her. Revaz would not give her that satisfaction. For a moment she could do nothing other than picture herself tied to the bed again, with Revaz on top on her while she screamed and begged him to stop. He stopped what he was doing almost immediately, having no doubt invaded her thoughts and discovered the disturbing image.

“I will never do that to you.” He hissed. The tone of his voice was a mixture of alarm and offence, as though he were horrified that rape would be one of the very first things to cross Victoria's mind. “My species does not permit such ghastly behaviour. Even if we are bonded, the union cannot be consummated through force. It is...impossible.”

A part of her wanted to ask him why, but another part told her that the answer would probably be unpleasant. Instead Victoria remained silent, crying inwardly at the sudden realization that she was trapped with this man, and that his expectations of her were purely psychical. Even if he didn't force himself on her, Revaz had already given her enough of an indication that their journey together was meant to be long enough for her to sleep with him.

She didn't talk to him for a very long time. When she wasn't sulking, she simply followed him around the ship quietly, passing the time by staring daggers at him while he worked on maintaining the ship. The reassurance that he would not make some violent attempt to rape her was just about the only comfort Victoria had. She was still miles away from her home without a thread of hope that she would see it again, and she had no one else to keep her company other than Revaz, who she still resented for abducting her in the first place.

For the most part her extra terrestrial 'companion' had very little to say to her. They occasionally exchanged small talk, and he would sometimes ask her basic questions, like whether or not she was tired or hungry. Besides that, their journey was a very quiet one. And the anger Victoria carried around with her only made it miserable.

He provided for her basic needs without question, eventually returning the clothes she had been wearing when she was taken from earth, assuring her that he had several changes of Azrac clothing in storage that would fit her just as well. Victoria refused them stubbornly. Her 'earthly' clothing were good enough. She wore them for a little over a week before caving in and accepting some of the clothing Revaz had offered to her, but not without indicating how much she hated them.

As far as their 'union' was concerned she wanted no part in whatever bond Revaz had spoken about. She still didn't fully understand it but she viewed the marking on her shoulder as a wedding ring she could not remove. Every time she looked down and saw it she just became more and more wretched.
He did not pursue her physically for most of the journey, though when they slept Revaz insisted on being in the same room as her. Sometimes he would curl up a chair on the opposite side of the room, and other times he would doze off on the floor. On a few occasions Victoria had seen him fall asleep standing, which provided her with more reasons for why Revaz disturbed her. All the while he stayed true to his word, never once attempting to engage her in sexual behaviour.

Time dwindled into a painful routine. Victoria lost track of the date and time. She no longer remembered whether it was night or day on her planet and even the month had become a mystery. Her appetite was lost, and the homesickness got worse and worse with every passing day. The only thing Victoria could think about were her parents. Though neither of them had been really close to her, she imagined they would miss her deeply. Her father would spend his life searching the stars, trying to find the aliens that took her away and her mother would come to the sensible conclusion that Victoria had either run away or died. She would be missed...she hoped.

By the third week she was spending most of her time sleeping. Revaz had to force her to eat. She refused to bathe, or comb her hair, or do anything of the simple mundane tasks that she used to do. He told her that things would get better, and that she would like his planet. He promised to take care of her. She bitterly called him 'kidnapper' and her dreams were plagued by images of violence and rape.

Then the time came when she felt a low rumble and the sound of door being opened. Revaz came and shook her until she sat up, announcing that they had arrived to their destined location; the planet that he had spawned from; Azrac.

“Are you going to show me around or do you plan of locking me up in a cage right away so you can watch me run around in a daze?” Victoria groaned as she was guided down the opening that had appeared in the ships hallway. The 'exit' of the ship was nothing more than a long ramp. Cleverly designed of course but it did not impress her when she found herself drifting reluctantly down the awkward slope.

She imagined that this was what it felt like for animals when they are taken from one place to another. Outside it was like walking onto the set of a Sci-Fi film. Figures who strolled past her paid little attention to the awestruck look that was frozen on her face and for a moment Victoria believed she was somehow imagining all of this. Then she felt the coldness of Revas's fingers pressed against her exposed shoulders.

There was no 'welcoming party' waiting to greet them, but there was a small cluster of beings that were huddled together off to the side of the landing pad. Two of them were male, who were evidently similar to Revaz in both their looks and expressions. They greeted him in low, heavily drawn murmurs, speaking to one another in a language she could not understand. All the while neither of them paid her any attention. She was brushed aside like a pile of garbage as they exchanged what sounded like a long and complex conversation.

The other member of the group was much shorter, like herself, and stood just off to the side. Victoria inwardly sighed with relief when she looked over, meeting the gaze of a slightly built young woman much like herself who was staring back at her with a look of disappointment and sympathy playing in her features. She must have been a few years older than Victoria. 23 at the very least for the lines of her face and her posture both suggested maturity.

When the two men who had greeted Revaz had completed whatever conversation they were having one of them seemed to nudge the other slightly with his elbow, gesturing to Victoria as though having just realized her presence. The taller of the two turned to her, leaning forward with squinted black eyes as he looked her up and down. “Is this the Gaian specimen you claimed to have bonded with in your messages Revaz?” He asked, leering at her as though he wanted to reach over and choke the very life out of her. “She appears to be rather...homely for one of their kind, don't you agree Tariel?”

Victoria cringed as the other male standing behind him nodded his head, even in such poor lighting she could see that his head had a heavy violet tint to it. He stared at her with less intensity that the other one, though his eyes lingered for a long time on the marking that now marred her shoulder. He pointed to it meekly, leaning over to mummer something first in Revaz's ear and then the other man that was standing in front of them. Their voices rose as the one who had insulted Victoria snatched her by the arm, twisting it painfully to one side so he could have a closer look at the dots that were etched into her skin.

“She is not completely processed yet.” He declared, dropping her arm like it were a live toad while stepping away from her. “How long has it been since you performed the ritual on her?”

“Three weeks. It was performed on the same day we left Gaia.” Revaz droned back a reply having almost completely reverted back into that bland. Robotic behaviour that all of his species seemed to use. “Regardless my mission has been completed Thamar. I have the record logs in my ship when you are ready to see them.”

“Bah! An unprocessed Gaiain is no different than a loose animal!” The one Revaz had called Thamar sneered at Victoria. Regardless of whatever they had spoken about in their own language, he was still just as hostile towards he as he had been before.“Unless your education is faulty from interacting with such a primitive species for so long, you should know this as well Revaz.”

“Yes, I understand this but I have experienced some...difficulties.” While he was explaining himself Revaz had his eyes lowered to the ground.

“Well now that you are here, we can assume these 'problems' you speak of will go away on their own then. You will be called upon to explain yourself to the rest of your superiors. Until then Andrea will be suitable as a guide to your 'pet'. I'm certain Tariel can survive a few hours without her.”

As she might have guessed, the 'Andrea' Thamar had mentioned was the woman that had been hovering in the background throughout the entire conversation. When her name was spoken she stepped forward, nodding her head in Victoria's direction in some half-hearted version of a bow.

The two of them were escorted out of the landing pad and into the streets of what appeared to be some sort of city. At a passing glance it could have passed for earth. The sky was the same colour and the buildings were tall and intimidating, the same way Victoria imagined that being in New York might have felt like. It wasn't until she actually had a harder look that she noticed the differences. The lack of bright blinking lights and newspaper stands, the empty sidewalks in spite of the fact that it could have only been around noon. The whole thing looked abandoned. If it weren't for the occasional outline of figures moving around inside some of those buildings she might have believed that it was.

“Take care of yourself. I will not be gone for long.” Victoria heard Revaz speaking to her as he placed one hand gingerly against her back, patting it lightly as though attempting to comfort her. In reality it only made her muscles clench as she rejected the innocent gesture. She was still furious at him for taking her against her will to this godforsaken place. No amount of kindness would make her forget a kidnapping.

Tariel exchanged a brief goodbye with Andrea, embracing her so tightly you would have thought they were about to be parted for a decade rather than a few measly hours. Thamar was less sympathetic, crossing his arms impatiently as he waited for the 'farewell's' to be exchanged. Revaz mimicked Tariel's behaviour, attempting to hug Victoria in the same warm, loving way. However before he was able to get his arms around her Victoria stepped back, coldly adverting her eyes when she heard the sigh of rejection that escaped his lips when he embraced nothing but air.

He said nothing about her bad behaviour. Or at least not within earshot of Victoria. Who knows what he had to say about her after he had turned and walked away, leaving her on that empty city street with a woman she did not even know and no means of escape within her grasp. She watched them as they moved along the vacant sidewalk, vanishing what she estimated to be a few blocks away into a large building that was painted white.

When they were completely out of sight Andrea turned to her, sighing heavily as though relieved to be in the company of another human. “So what's up with you then?” She chided, running her fingers through her long black hair. “You speak English at all?”

“Yes.” Victoria murmured, clasping her hands neatly in front of her body. “I'm Victoria. And I guess you must be Andrea....”

She smiled, squinting at her through bright green eyes. “Yea. I'm Andrea. I gotta say I don't really know whether to be glad or disappointed to meet you. I was hoping Revaz would fail his mission or something, but on the other hand it's good to see another person who doesn't have leopard dots on their skin.”

“How long have you been here for?” Victoria shrugged, plunking herself down on what appeared to be some sort of concrete bench.

Andrea sighed, following her with little protest. “A year and a half I suppose.” She said while taking a seat beside her. “It was a living nightmare for me when I first got here too. No other humans were here when I arrived. Nothing but these 'Azracs' and I gotta say they're pretty fucking humourless. Tariel's my 'spouse' if you were wondering. He's the one with the purply tinted hair.”

“I noticed.” Victoria nodded. “Did he make you swallow that green stuff too?”

“What that slime?!” Andrea chuckled, tossing her hair over one shoulder. “The sneaky bastard mixed it into a drink that he gave to me. I didn't realize what it was until after I had taken a sip. But even a mouthful was enough I guess.”

“Did Tariel do the same thing to you then? Revaz appeared in my fathers barn and made friends with me.” Victoria sighed, picturing in her mind that Revaz was just a cookie cut of a million other's being summoned to earth. Droning, blank faced aliens who made friends with humans then abducted them. “It took him a month or two but I guess it worked in the end.”

“Psssh, months?” Andrea gave her a look as though she believed Victoria had gone mad. “I was a prostitute on earth darling. It wasn't difficult for him to get me. Tariel just disguised himself as a human with that stupid thing they all wear on their arms and gave me some money. I brought him back to my hotel room. We fooled around, he gave me a drink and then the next thing I know I'm on some fucking ship bound for a planet I've never even heard of and the freak that brought me there's a god damned alien!” She twirled the ends of her hair, fidgeting in a way that suggested recalling the event had annoyed her. “Traditionally they're supposed to take the time to get to know the person they want to be their spouse but this planet has no concept of what prostitution means. I guess he thought he was paying me to marry him or something.”

“Revaz said this society doesn't have a lot of things. Like murder, or rape.” Victoria sighed, smoothing her hands across the fabric of the pants she was wearing.

“Yea, yea. They're oh-so fantastic, I know.” Andrea hissed while strumming her fingertips across the edge of the bench. “So fantastic they have about 40 females to every 100 males and need to resort to abducting girls from earth to see if they can use us to balance out their population. That's all we're here for just so you know. We're fucking guinea pigs for their fertility issues. And they still act like they're better than us.”

“You don't sound like you enjoy being here that much. Not that I blame you.” Victoria stared up at the sky, noting the lack of birds and clouds. “I keep wanting this to be a bad dream.”

“So did I up until the third or fourth month I was here. Then I realized it was real and I was screwed.” Andrea sighed, shifting uncomfortably on the bench. “To be honest this place ain't bad, but it's lonely as hell when you're the only one of your kind in this city. Everyone acts like I'm some badly groomed dog or something.”

“What about Tariel?”

“Meh, I was pissed off at him for the longest time when he brought me here. I don't think I'll ever entirely forgive him but I tolerate his cuddly bullcrap only because if I don't he has some sort of neurotic breakdown. You know that 'bonding' ritual they do? Well it doesn't work on us because we're human, but it still works on them. Basically what it's supposed to do is create a strong emotional bond between you and your spouse but because our species isn't exactly the same as theirs it only works one way.”

“I don't even understand what a 'strong emotional bond' is supposed to be.” Victoria replied with a shake of her head. “Sounds like it's a waste of time doing the process actually.”

“Heh, it's their equivalence to marriage girly. And it's supposed to make it so that you like each other until the day you die because I guess they've never heard of divorce or something. Anyway that 'ritual' has two other purposes. One; it creates a mark on both partners shoulders letting everyone who see's it know they're taken. Two; the 'emotional bond' is supposed to make it so that if your spouse is hurt or in danger you know when and where they are. The first month I was here I tried to drown myself in the bathtub after locking the door. Tariel broke his shoulder trying to get in.”

“Oh...well I guess that sort of makes sense then.” She mumbled out of the corner of her mouth, slightly disturbed by the information Andrea had just given her. “The mark is like a wedding ring...But then, why where they talking about mine so much then?”

“You're not finished the process of actually bonding yet.” Andrea smiled knowingly when Victoria shot her a confused look. “The mark on your shoulder is purple right now. Essentially when it's purple it means you're not officially bonded to whoever you're with. It's like being engaged. You were supposed to fuck each other to complete the ritual but you haven't done that yet. And the reason why they're so pissed off about is is because after about a month if you don't consummate your little 'union' with Revaz the mark will go away and you'll be up for grabs again. If someone else claims you then he'll have to go back to earth on a second mission and he's part of a research organization that needs him here instead of running around the universe.”

“So that's it?” She grimaced, burying her head in her hands. “I have to give myself over like a piece of property so that Revaz can stay here and work and they're upset because I won't?”

“That's about it.” Andrea shrugged, bluntly shrugged her shoulders as she listened to Victoria's groans of complaint. “I take it by all your squirming and blushing you're not really into the idea?”

“I-I-I've never been with anyone else before.” Victoria whispered, embarrassed to have to confess her inexperience to a woman as comfortable with sex as Andrea seemed to be. “I made a plan dammit. I wasn't supposed to end up in this place. I should be in college right now!”

“Yea well unless they magically decide it's okay to teach you how to operate one of their ships I guess your shit out of luck there darling. You can either do the 'deed' with Revaz or do it with whatever chump comes along and takes you after the mark has worn away. Either way it's going to happen.” Andrea stood up, stretching out her legs with a deep yawn.

“I'm not having sex with anyone.” Victoria protested, digging her fingertips into her hair as she watched her newly acquired 'friend' stretch herself boredly. “Revaz kidnapped me and took me away from my home! The only thing he deserves from me is a punch in the eye.”

“Yea, I thought the same damn thing about Tariel when I first came here.” Andrea retorted as she reached her arms up above her head, sighing when she heard a few successful popping noises. The sound of her bones made Victoria queasy. “But then I felt bad for him as the days went by. The idea of a bond fading away into nothing is like a person dieing to them. The closer and closer it got to the day the mark would fade away the more emotionally distraught he became.”

“So what did you do?”

“I realized I had nothing to return to back on earth and that I didn't miss my actual life as much as I thought I did.” Andrea replied with a slight shrug. “Then one night Tariel some sort of nervous breakdown in our bedroom and I tried to comfort him. We ended up kissing. That one kiss turned into more kisses and the next thing I know I'm on my back being straddled by some spotted freak with purple hair. It felt great though. Sex is more fun when you're not being forced to do it by your pimp.”

“Good for you then.” Victoria retorted quietly. She had heard enough from Andrea for one day and felt a sigh of relief within her mind when she turned her head and saw that their three male 'companions' were returning. Where they had gone or what they had been doing remained a mystery to her and she didn't dare think of asking Andrea. She seemed more inclined to side with Revaz in their situation and knowing this made Victoria weary of her.

Tariel was the only one of the trio who appeared at least content. No doubt that this minor formed of happiness had stemmed from being back in the company of Andrea. He muttered something to her as they greeted each other, embracing in a similar way they had just before parting. Victoria could not hear what was said between them, but she imagined it was nothing she wanted to know.

Revaz had learned his lesson after being rejected from her the last time. He made no attempts to touch her, or even stand next to her. The gap between them was like an invisible wall. It comforted her, knowing that he wasn't near enough that she could actually feel his presence.

“I expect you to return to your duties in the following week Revaz, regardless of your situation with this 'human' of yours.” Thamar growled softly as he whisked past them, intentionally bumping his shoulder against Victoria's so that her balance would be offset momentarily. By the time she had recovered he was too far away for her to say anything having simply walked away from the rest of the group, perhaps to do more 'important' matters.

Soon after Tariel and Andrea had said their 'goodbyes' and headed off in a different direction, clinging to each other as though they were siamese twins. The sight of them walking away made Victoria bitter for reasons she could not explain. When they were gone a part of her wished they had never even left as she suddenly realized that without them or Thamar present she was once again alone with Revaz.

He said nothing at first, waiting until she turned to face him before even acknowledging their situation. “Do you want me to show you your new home now Victoria?” He asked with a heavily monotone voice. “I'm certain you will enjoy living there. At least for the time being. It is big enough for you to hide from me...”