Last Holiday on Terra

26

I looked toward the communication device laying on the bedside table and thought to call on Julia, if only to make sure she was alright. Then I remembered that it wasn't Julia that I'd be calling on. I sat up in bed an then let my feet hit the floor; asking the ship's computer for the time, it was still the middle of the night. I dressed for the day in a standard uniform and headed for the bridge.

I saw a woman dart up from the center chair and turn to face me. The look on her face was one of surprise but not annoyance. She bowed her head low. "Your Grace! You honor us with your presence!"

"Please, as you were. I couldn't sleep and just wanted to be around people."

"But of course! This is your ship, your Grace. You must feel free to come and go as you please! Besides, I know who you are. The Captain and the Princess were quite forthcoming with me. Mostly her than him," she relayed with a bit of a grin and a slightly raised brow.

"I see," I replied.

This chick was no joke. Her deep purple hair was in a long braid at her back. I remembered Allie telling me how some of the more agile female assassins wore their hair that way as a bonafide weapon. My luck, she had throwing stars in the braid. And this particular one had a very interesting tattoo that seemed like it could go on forever...

"Ahh, so you're the one—"

She stared at me and then turned on her heel for the Captain's ready room and I followed her in since I had nowhere else to be and once inside behind a closed door, she spun on her heel quickly, holding her braid so that weapons wouldn't fly out.

"You were saying, your Grace?"

It was difficult to hide my amusement. "Simply put, she found you attractive." My grin grew and I shrugged my shoulders.

"I—what?"

I nodded. "Mmhmm. Talked about your spotted tattoo—wondered how far it went down?"

She sat behind the desk and all but threw herself into Cee's chair. "I do not deserve to be here."

"What! Why do you say that!"

"I failed them. I failed them both."

"Oh please."

She stared hard at me, fingering her long purple braid. "The only reason I'm still alive is because I am the acting Captain. Now that you've awakened, I am released from my bond of service."

"Oh. I see. Well, I don't think that will sit well with him at all."

"What! My Captain—my PRINCE is dead!"

The poor woman sitting across from me looked positively miserable. And because she didn't protect her charge from murder, she was to be dispatched...the good part is that it was reputed to be painless. Still, I believed she loved my brother...not so much as in a romantic way, but rather, she enjoyed a relationship of friends...best friends...very much like I had and still have with Allie.

"For now. I think you did him a favor really."

I watched her face and saw no emotion whatsoever. I had wished that Julia had been present for this conversation, she'd be able to tell.

"He was old," I said. "Are you aware that Julia had located his soul?"

"Yes."

"Are you aware that there is a new, younger, stronger body being reconstructed to house my brother's soul?"

"How convenient."

I nodded. "Being born a Royal does indeed have its privileges."

"With all due respect, your Grace, how nice for you. Want to know what I think?"