Chapter 5
FIVE
Fivra
Fivra awoke to the soft glow of ambient lighting, which had been programmed to simulate a gentle sunrise. It had been a kind gesture from Ria to ease her transition into the station’s artificial day-night cycle. The room around her was a sanctuary of opulence, the walls adorned with intricate designs that shimmered under the warm light. The bed in which she lay was a cloud of comfort, enveloping her in layers of the finest fabrics she had ever felt. For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the luxury, a stark contrast to the sparse conditions of her settlement.
“Ah, you are awake.”
Fivra heard a tinge of relief in the robotic maid’s voice as she bustled over to the bed where Fivra stretched. “Were you here all night?”
“No,” Ria replied, fussing over the covers with delicate metal fingers. “But I needed to awaken you if you didn’t rise before your medical appointment.”
Fivra tensed at the mention of the exam. “Cyprian said it would be painless.”
“It is. The purpose is to make sure you have no diseases that can be passed to clients, and that you are healthy enough to entertain them.”
Fivra’s stomach knotted into a nauseous ball. “I don’t want to do this.”
“It is clear that you are not ready to,” Ria said, gently tapping a metal hand on Fivra’s knee. “This is protocol, that is all. Come. Let me show you how to use your bathing chamber. You were too tired last night, but you’ll find the waterfall to be a pleasant experience. And then a nice meal.”
Fivra went along with all this because she did want to get clean and she was hungry. The unique bath chamber was as overwhelming as the bedroom, and almost as large. Oils, makeup, perfumes, and bottles of things she couldn’t identify lined shelves on one golden wall. She allowed Ria to brush out her long pink hair and add a perfumed serum to it, then redonned the robe.
“Let’s get you dressed.” Ria led her to a section of movable wall and activated it with a wave of her metallic hand. The doors slid open, revealing an array of garments that were a riot of colors and textures. They hung in perfect order, each one more vibrant and elaborate than the last.
Fivra’s bare feet sank into the plush carpet as she entered the wardrobe room. She reached out tentatively to touch the fabric of a nearby garment, its material foreign and light under her fingertips. The colors were bold and beautiful, but the clothes were not hers and she couldn’t imagine putting them on her body.
“These… These are beautiful, Ria,” Fivra said, pressing her palms together. “But they are not for me. They are too bright, too revealing. I cannot wear such things.”
Ria’s sensors blinked, processing Fivra’s reaction. “These garments are standard attire for the courtias of Erovik,” Ria explained, her voice steady and soothing. “They are designed to entice and captivate, and be comfortable. However, if you wish for something different for now, I can adjust the selection accordingly.”
Fivra winced, not wanting to make things difficult for Ria. “I did not ask for any of this,” she murmured, her gaze lingering on the clothing—if it could be called that—before her. “I am not a courtia . I am a farmer.”
Before Ria could respond, the door chimed and Fivra opened it to reveal two females who had to be courtias . The first had vivid green skin and a cascade of iridescent hair. She exuded confidence and allure and was vaguely terrifying. She was incredibly tall—at least two heads taller than Fivra—and proudly displayed not one, but three pairs of full, buoyant breasts. Each was held up by strips of glittering fabric in an ingenious garment that looked like it barely contained her. “Ah, the new arrival,” the female purred. “I am Viparia, one of Erovik’s famed courtia ,” she announced with a high chin and a smile. “Let me take a look at you.”
Beside her, the other female’s pale blue complexion and delicate features were a stark contrast to Viparia’s bold presence, yet she carried an icy elegance that was equally captivating.
“Do not pounce, Vipa,” the other one gently scolded, then turned eyes with slits for pupils to Fivra. “I am Siku, another of Erovik’s famed courtia ,” although she said that last part with thick amusement. “You must be Fivra.”
Fivra broke herself from the trancelike stare she’d been stuck in. “Ah, yes. Hello.” She had never met a courtia before. They were only rumored of on the settlements, but here were two of them, looking like living goddesses in her bedroom and gazing down at her like a new pet.
“Pardon me. Good cycle, Fivra,” Viparia greeted her, her voice a sultry purr that matched her feline grace. “We heard you were acquired from the Falmic-5 auction. Quite the place, I hear.”
“Yes.” What was she supposed to say to that? “It was.”
Siku offered a warm smile, despite her slightly sinister-looking natural appearance. “It can be overwhelming here at first, but we’re simply here to greet you. Viparia is curious. As am I.”
Fivra looked at the two women, unsure of how to respond. Their beauty was undeniable, and they carried themselves with a poise she could hardly fathom. “I… I don’t think I belong here,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Oh, that is as clear as the dawn of an up cycle,” Viparia replied without blinking. She turned to the wardrobe and let her fingers flutter over the selection. “Let me guess. You can’t imagine wearing any of these stunning clothes?”
“No.” Fivra swallowed hard. “I—I have only worn simple farm clothing.”
Siku drew back with a hiss. “Farm clothing. You were a farmer?” She said it like it was a scandal.
Fivra nodded. “I, I mean, we were abducted and then I—”
Viparia had heard enough. She flicked a hand toward Ria, who had been hovering quietly nearby. “Where is Cyprian? Get him in here. He needs to explain himself with this one.”
“I will summon him, my lady,” Ria said, and her visual interface lights blinked rapidly.
Viparia walked a slow circle around Fivra. “What was he thinking?” she murmured.
“She’s pretty,” Siku said, consideringly. “There is no denying that.”
“Of course she is. But she’s terrified. She’s shaking, for fek’s sake.”
“Wouldn’t you, if you were taken from a farm? ” Siku shivered. “I have never touched my food with my bare skin. I use a utensil, or it is fed to me.”
Fivra blinked at her, not sure how that was even possible, but the blue-skinned beauty had hands that looked as fine as the silk of Fivra’s robe. She clearly had never held a tool or worked the soil. Or sweated in a field that refused to grow the quantity of crops demanded by the Axis.
“What is the problem?” a vexed-sounding Cyprian said as he strode into the room, filling the wardrobe with his large presence. His gaze narrowed on Viparia and Siku. “What are you both doing here?”
Viparia held out a jeweled hand toward Fivra. “What were you thinking, bringing an inexperienced creature like this into Erovik? You know better, Cyprian.”
He rolled his silver eyes to the ceiling and muttered something under his breath, before running a hand through his hair. “Glivar acquired her. I was not pleased, but I will do my best to train her.” His mouth pinched as he said the words, as if the thought of “training” Fivra was about the most distasteful thing he could think of doing.
“You can’t train this,” Viparia said. “ This does not belong here.”
Fivra wasn’t sure if she should be insulted or relieved by the courtia’s assessment, but her spine straightened and her chin rose.
“According to the auction records, Fivra was taken from a forced-breeding colony.”
Viparia rolled her eyes. “This female has never been bred, Cyprian.”
“I can see that, Vipa.” His voice was dry as he ran an evaluating eye over Fivra. “But she is here, and we paid a considerable amount for her. She will have to complete a contract to earn it back.”
Siku crossed her smooth arms. “I would not send Glivar on acquisition trips any longer, if I were you.”
Fivra looked from Cyprian to the two female courtias in fascination. They spoke to him as if he were their equal, not the director of the facility, and therefore, their superior. They were not afraid of him, and he did not seem the slightest bit offended by their bluntness.
“I don’t intend to.” Cyprian’s silver eyes flickered between Viparia and Siku. He had the look of someone who was used to digging deep for patience. He was clearly very good at holding his temper in check, making for an interesting balance of power and respect that existed within Erovik’s walls. “Regardless of how she came to be here,” Cyprian said firmly, “Fivra is under my protection. I will not send her back to the auction, nor will I allow her to be mistreated under my watch.”
Viparia’s golden eyes went wide. “We were not mistreating her.” Her posture went rigid with insult. “We are concerned for her. She is not suited for the life of a courtia . She’s barely fit for the role of a companion. Look at her, Cyprian. She’s practically fading into the walls as we speak.”
Fivra’s heart raced as she stood there, the subject of their scrutiny. She felt utterly alien compared to these females.
“She could work in the kitchen or assist with the daily operations of Erovik,” Siku suggested, her icy gaze softening as she regarded Fivra. “She needs a place where she can learn and adjust without the pressure of entertaining clients.”
Fivra brightened up at that. The tension in her shoulders easing slightly at Siku’s words. The idea of not having to entertain clients, of not having to pretend to be something she was not, was exactly what she was hoping for. She could work in a kitchen. She wasn’t a bad cook, given the scant ingredients she’d had to work with back at the settlement. “I would not mind the kitchens.”
Cyprian shook his head at Siku’s words, his gaze shifting to Fivra. “I did not pay two hundred thousand credits to gain kitchen help, which is only needed when the replicators can’t produce an obscure or rare dish.”
“ Fek , that’s a lot,” Siku muttered. “Glivar, you fool.”
“I agree,” Cyprian said, his voice thick with annoyance. “And I know that Fivra will take time to acclimate to the role of a courtia . I will work with her and see what we can do. But the Axis likes returns on investments. You know this.”
Viparia huffed, her full lips pursing in displeasure. “The Axis can go rot.”
Cyprian’s lips twitched, his wings flexing slightly as he maintained a neutral stance. “They pay you well, Vipa.”
She sniffed. “They could pay better.”
He shrugged, as if to say, yes, they could , then crossed his arms. “Fivra will be given the opportunity to find her footing here before joining the courtia lifestyle. I expect you two, and the others, to help her.”
“We will, but I’m not sure what you want us to do .” Viparia’s gaze dropped to Fivra’s chest. “Pity she only has two breasts.” She placed her hands under her bottom set and lifted, pushing up the two pairs above it until the six plump mounds were almost under her chin. “Helps to have good equipment.” She released the breasts, and they bounced buoyantly to their usual position.
Unable to help herself, Fivra stared in fascination. Viparia’s breasts were truly a marvel, unlike Fivra’s own. She glanced down at her small breasts, barely making a bump in the robe.
“There is nothing lacking about her equipment,” Cyprian said roughly. “We have clients who prefer no breasts at all.”
“Cyprian, Fivra’s medical appointment is in one half lik ,” Ria interrupted. “She needs to eat and dress.”
Viparia and Siku got the message and moved toward the exit, but not before Viparia wiggled a finger toward Fivra and said, “At least let your maid do something with your hair.” The courtias left with a cloud of perfume in their wake.
Fivra’s suite was instantly quieter. “Thank you, Cyprian,” Fivra said quietly, her gaze dropping to the floor before steeling herself to meet his silver eyes. “I… I don’t know how to be anything but what I am—a farmer from settlement 112-1. I am willing to contribute to Erovik in some way, but I could never be like those two.”
The room fell silent, the air heavy with the gravity of the situation. Cyprian’s expression was unreadable. Finally, he let out a long-suffering sigh. “Fivra, you owe the Axis two hundred thousand credits. That is the price that was paid to take you from the auction.” He pressed his hands together before him and gazed at her as if he were trying to impress a big thought to a young child. “You were going to be mated, yes?”
Reluctantly, she nodded. “I know how the mating act works. All Terian females who come of age are taught what happens between bondmates. My father promised to choose someone who was not cruel.”
“Someone you knew?”
“No. We are matched with males from other settlements,” she said.
“So, how is this so different?” His mouth turned down at the edges, as if he disliked the words he was saying. “Instead of one mate, you’ll have several, and I also promise that they will not be cruel. Instead of your purpose being producing offspring and toiling in a field, you will bring pleasure to others and yourself.”
Fivra dropped her gaze. “How long is this contract?”
“By my calculations, five mig -cycles. In planetary dweller terms, it’s approximately seven years.”
She pressed her hands to her ribs as the air rushed out from under them. Seven year s.
“If I had my way, I’d send you away from here, but Erovik did pay a large sum for your contract and the Axis expects returns on their investments.” He leaned in and once again, his hand was on her face, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. “I promise to introduce you to this life slowly, but you must learn the ways of Erovik and the station. There are rules and customs that must be adhered to, for your safety as much as our reputation.”
Fivra nodded numbly, but she knew this was as good as she was going to get for now. Cyprian didn’t have to give her any grace at all. Hopefully, she could convince him that she was suitable for something else. Something aside from fornicating with strange—not cruel—males on a daily basis. “I will…try,” Fivra said, meeting his gaze and holding it for the first time. “But I can’t promise that I will make a good courtia , no matter how much time and training you give me.”
His expression confused her. He looked as if he was resigned to something he wasn’t pleased about. A look that almost appeared to be disappointment crossed his handsome features, even as he lowered his lips and brushed them over her forehead. Fivra held her breath, shocked at the spray of sensations that spiraled out from that point of contact. His fingers were still splayed on her cheek, her jaw. His breath came ragged on the gold flecks on her head. For a moment, it was all frozen, still. The scant space between them was charged with something unbearable.
Suddenly, he straightened. “Good.” His face was taut, hands curled into fists. He spoke roughly, as if there was an invisible rope around his neck cutting off his air. “We will begin your training tomorrow.”