Chapter 20 #3
“Do you really want to bring that kind of attention to Belas? I’m sure you can imagine the life Tristen has led up to this point. Do you want to be the reason he ends up in a similar situation again? Do you want to put Belas through the trauma of losing her son again?”
She could see that he wanted to argue. She could also see the wheels turning in his mind.“No,” he said finally. “But I don’t want him to hurt her, either.”
He was, in Nyx’s opinion, overstepping. “I don’t know if Belas returns the interest you clearly have in her, but a word of advice?
It’s not your place to ‘protect her’ from her own son.
She’s a grown woman. The fact you clearly perceive her as fragile doesn’t mean that she is, and it doesn’t mean she needs you to make her choices for her. ”
His mouth pressed into a line, but he didn’t look angry at someone half his age telling him her mind.
After a minute, he said, “You’re right. It isn’t my place.
But you’re also wrong—I don’t think she’s fragile.
I think she’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.
But I’ve seen what life can do to a person, and yes, I would like to protect her from that. ”
Nyx was saved from continuing the conversation when she looked out the window and saw Tristen was sticking his head out of Belas’s apartment door.
He caught her eye and nodded back into the apartment, indicating she should come over.
She nodded at Connell. Tristen looked annoyed, even from this distance, but he nodded again, and the two of them walked over.
Belas's apartment was a small, cramped place, with little in it, but it was meticulously clean.
Belas and Tristen both sported slightly red eyes, as if they'd both been crying, but Belas’s happiness couldn't be hidden. Nyx had been right—when she truly smiled, she lit up the entire room. Connell looked a little stunned. The fact wasn’t lost on Tristen, who shot the older man a warning glare.
“I want to take her with us,” Tristen said to Nyx without preamble.
“Take her with us, as in, to Raveras, or take her with us?” She did not think bringing Belas Veld to Earth was a good idea.
“To Raveras.”
She blew out a breath.
“I want her out of this place.”
“That's a nice sentiment,” Connell broke in, “but where is she going to live? Eat? Work?”
Tristen’s eyes flashed. “I can take care of her. She doesn't need you.”
Belas flushed. “No one needs to take care of me. I can take care of myself.”
“With what money?” they asked in unison, then glared at each other.
She stiffened, straightening. “I am not a case for anyone’s charity. I have made my own way in this world, and if I’m poor because I have spent all my money looking for the most precious thing in my life, well I would do it all again.”
“I don’t think you’re a charity case, Mom. But I have more money than God. The least you could do is let me spend it on you.”
Belas looked thoughtful. “Are you religious, then?”
He laughed. “No. It’s just something we say back on—” He cut off with a glance at Connell. “Where I grew up. So what do you say?”
Belas looked like she was going to refuse, but Nyx thought it was more out of pride than anything else.
“If you want to stay here,” Nyx said, “we understand. This is your home.” Tristen shot her a what-the-fuck-are-you-doing look that she ignored.
“But if you have any interest in going to Raveras and don’t want to be dependent on your son, we have friends there.
I’m certain they can help you find work.
” Amelia Drahl was deeply entrenched in her community, and seemed to genuinely love helping people.
“I hate this place,” Belas confessed. “I only stayed in case Tristen found a way home.” She took a deep breath. “All right. Let's go to Raveras then. We can discuss the rest of it after. Connell, could I speak with you for a minute?”
As Belas pulled Connell aside, Nyx did the same with Tristen. “What did she mean by ‘discuss the rest of it’?” Nyx whispered, because it was a very small apartment.
“I didn't tell her what you want me to do,” he whispered back, “if that's what you’re asking. But I did tell her I need to leave again. She wanted to come with me, and I tried to tell her it was too dangerous. At which point, as you can imagine, she became a little suspicious and very concerned. Am I involved in something illegal? Is someone still forcing me to do things? Is the person forcing me to do things you?”
Nyx considered that. “Well, minus the forcing you bit, she kind of isn’t wrong about anything.”
“I'm aware,” he said testily. “Hence the problem.” He blew out a breath. “When I agreed to this with you, I didn't expect to have a mother who loves me.”
“I'm holding you to your promise to free one Station,” she said. “But I keep my word, too. I won’t try to force you into anything more.”
“And all those poor enslaved souls?” he asked.
“I won't buy their freedom with another form of slavery. That’s not the kind of person I am. Believe me, sometimes I wish I was.”
“Why?”
“Because then I'd believe there was a chance I could have Seth back. And I wouldn’t care that it cost over a hundred planets and all the people on them to make it happen.” At his incredulous look she said, “The origins of the intergalactic transportation system are odd. And before you ask, no, if I wanted to go that route, I don’t need your help to do it. ”
“You're kind of frightening, you know that, right?”
She snorted. “You should meet my father.”
“And your father would be…?”
She smiled. “Scarier than me.”
At that point, Belas came back from the corner of the room she’d been discussing things with Connell in. “Connell is going to come with us,” she announced.
Tristen blinked. “And why would he do that?”
“Because I asked him to. He has a history of bodyguard detail, and now that you have so kindly fixed his knee, he should provide adequate protection.”
“I don't need a bodyguard, Mom. And you know he’s only coming because he has stars in his eyes every time he looks at you.”
Belas looked like she wanted to be embarrassed but had decided she was too old for it. “Well, I would feel better with him on the journey to Raveras. It isn't the safest trip to make.”
And that was how they ended up making the journey back to Raveras by Kreks, small camel-like animals with sweet dispositions and excellent footing on sand.
Because while Nyx would have been willing to show Tristen’s mother portaling and trust she would keep quiet about it for her son’s sake, she wasn’t willing to risk the same where Connell was concerned.