My Telnari Prince

Chapter 9

Vesryn

This is fine. Just act like you own the place and no one will question you. Yeah. Right.

I followed Kel's gaze out of the window, watching as buildings and other crafts zipped by. I could feel a heavy calm wash over me. I knew this feeling. It happened before every battle, and every challenge match I had ever taken part of. It was the precursor to the rigors my body would have to endure, but this time I wasn't fighting. The thought caused the barely contained anxiety to rear it's ugly head. I could feel my heart squeeze and thrum at a faster rate. Too bad the virus didn't get rid of this response. Surely that would have made things easier. However, that was not my luck, and the adrenaline rush barreled through me. I fought to calm myself down again, breathing slower to steady my heart. I was not one for subtlety. I was better served with a blaster in hand and men to order.
Kel's hand wrapped around my smaller one and I looked up at to see him staring at me.
"I can feel your... Unease. Don't worry so much, you just need to follow my lead."
I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes.
"Kel, you stupid male. I can handle myself."
"Oh really? Then you don't need me on your arm dear lady." He made as if to leave the craft and I stopped him with a hand on his arm, panic rushing through me again. Another fresh wave of fear. He must have seen it in my eyes, because he stopped and his face softened.
"I know you can handle yourself, but you need me for this part. I understand you don't trust me, but I promise I can get you the information you need, and if it's not here, we will figure something else out." 

I nodded, taking a sip of mage's fire to steady myself. I needed to get a grip already. I looked down, and let go of his arm. Apparently, I had had a grip. Too tightly in my own opinion. It took some strength not to turn red in front of him, but I weathered it. The craft stopped, and I looked out the window again.

What I saw was impressive, for an estate. The whole building was made of a pearlescent mineral I was not familiar with, and Onirium statuettes guarded the clear front doors that swung out in wide arcs. They were propped open by footmen, each man was tall, and all a single species. Celesian. 

A lesser cousin of the Telnari. All bore the same horns and tail as the Telnari, but where the Telnarians were masculine and stocky, their skin grey or charcoal, Celesians were more lithe, quicker, and generally used for assassinations or merely a cosmetic and sometimes sexual addition to the staff. Each Celesian's skin was pale, with swirls of varying shades of white. Their hair matched, pale and shimmery in the light. From what I could remember, they were an ancient species but far less capable of taking down a Telnari male without the aid of technology, and that was why most Celesians were captive or indentured in some manner. There was a story in my youth once, where mama had told of how the Celesians and Telnari had once been a unified race but the greed and brute strength of one brother had torn the whole tribe apart, and now they were two separate tribes, each with their own traits and abilities.

From what I could see, they appeared more a cosmetic staple here than hired or indentured assassins, but I could be wrong. I have been before and I wouldn't be surprised now if I was. Celesians may be something pleasing to look at but their deadly side was one to respect. They didn't stay and fight it out. They cut you quick and moved on. The tension in my shoulders tightened, but I forced my facial features to appear relaxed. Now was not the time. When Kel exited the craft with his mask firmly in place, I followed suit and took his hand to step out into the view of the waiting guests and servants. Even with my mask on, I needed to be careful, anyone too curious might actually figure out that I wasn't "pretending" at being a Sarterian and, rather, am one. 

The next part went too smoothly, and in such a fashion that it was making my nerves stress more. Why was this so easy? Kel handed the door man the invitations and he scanned them ceremoniously before allowing us to pass through the doors. After that, we made our way to the main ballroom. I suffered through the stares and blatant guffaws as we passed by. It was apparent now that Sarterians weren't welcomed in even high society, let alone any society. My rage burned hotter for a moment, and I found it a challenge to. Was my people so ostracized that we had gone from a high ranking member of the system only to fall so low as unwanted pest? My fists clenched and opened and clenched again. I steadied myself again, slowing my breaths to allow my heart to slow. It wasn't time to fight, not yet, but when it was I gave myself permission to absolutely burn everything down.

  I shifted and looked around. From where we were positioned, we had a great view of the doors, and most everyone was facing the front of the room. A band was softly playing whatever popular music was "now". It resulted in us remaining, for the most part, unseen despite the curious looks we had gotten when we came in. Kel looked down at me with a smile, and offered a hand as couples from the crowd began to make their way to the dance floor. I rolled my eyes but gave in, and allowed Kel to sweep me into the flow of bodies. It was a slow style, not that I knew what the terra I was doing. Only that Kel guided me in a smooth and effortless manner. Where had he learned this from? His graceful movements attracted a few more glances and looks, before suddenly we were the main attraction on the floor. It felt like pins and needles, these stares from the crowd, but Kel appeared unphased. He nodded to me and continued to spin, or turn me in a dizzying array of patterns. When we finished, I was panting from having to keep up and he was smiling from ear to ear, his eyes shinning with excitement. 

"You make a grand dance partner," He chuckled, leading me back to our spot.

"I would say the same to you, but I have never danced before." I paused to sip from a glass that had been brought over.

"It's okay, I have that effect on most gals." And the handsome bastard had the balls to wink down at me, his teeth flashing in a breathtaking smile. What the hell was wrong with me? And was he bragging just then? About his conquests? I growled, frowning.

"I am not most gals." I threatened, ducking my head and lowering my voice so that only he heard me. He must have, because he smiled and chuckled.

"I am only too intimately aware of that Ves." He gestured to a small group of men forming, several different species, but predominantly Telnari, were in attendance. He leaned in close, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear. "Time to go, stay low profile, if you can, I will be back presently." He squeezed the upper portion of my arm, and I nodded. 

"I'll be fine. I can handle myself in a room full of non-combatants. Maybe. Or maybe I'll burn the building down for funsies." Kel rolled his eyes and frowned at me. 

"Try not to. I won't be long at all." He gave me one last wry look before strolling in the direction of the gathering of males. The group was already heading off to a side door, and Kel, being at the back of the pack, closed the door behind them. Then I was alone. 

It didn't take long before a young man had come up to ask me for a dance, and I followed him to the floor, not seeing any reasonable excuse not to. Besides, it would be better to look and act the part than to be a wall flower in all my awkward glory. One dance turned into two, then we were involved in some group dance. I struggled to keep up with, but seemed to flow better with each pass of partners. That's when I looked up and my blood turned cold.

"Hello again, subject B12k-23D. You are looking livelier than when I left you. Tell me, how was the weather on Planet Kol'Tal? Chilly?" The man's voice whispered in my ear, and I shuddered in place. This could not be happening right now.