The Escape: A Slave Planet Prequel (The Slave Planet Book 4) Read online

  When did that happen?

  Then she knew.

  It all started in the greenhouse.

  Nic had been Terra's servant since she was a child. She'd never looked twice at him. Then, one day, everything changed.

  She remembered it vividly.

  He'd been tending the garden in the greenhouse of their home. She'd seen him in the garden before, but that time was different. Something in the way his powerful body moved so gently among the budding plants caught her eye. She watched as he watered them, fertilized them, repotted some and checked for weeds in others. There was something in the way he spoke to them in hushed tones, the way he smiled when they were growing well, the way he frowned when they were not. There was a sweetness to him that she'd never noticed before. She couldn't rip her eyes away from it. When he saw her, he stood. She remembered the way his hands and face were streaked in dirt. His lazy smile. His bright eyes. He was so beautiful. She couldn't bring herself to do anything other than stare at him until he frowned back at her.

  “Are you all right, Empress?” he'd asked, walking over to her. “Are you ill?”

  He'd wiped his hands clean on a towel and felt her forehead.

  “You feel hot,” he'd said. “Perhaps you should rest?”

  Each day after, she would watch him and step a little bit closer. First from the top of the stairs, then the bottom. Each morning, she'd take one more step, watching him silently, until she found herself next to him, digging her hands into the warm soil, feeling the rough roots beneath her fingertips. They'd start their days in the greenhouse, potting, planting, and growing side by side until one day, when they were pressing the dirt down around a carrot root, their fingers touched.

  He didn't move.

  Neither did she.

  Her gaze traveled from their joined fingers to his powerful forearms, his biceps, his chest, his chin, his lips, his eyes.

  Those beautiful blue eyes.

  Treason, her mind screamed at her.

  The way her heart pounded. The way her breath panted. It had to be treasonous.

  Nic's gaze zeroed in on her lips, making her breath stop completely.

  He dipped his head and placed a soft kiss upon her. A kiss that had changed her life forever. A kiss that had given her a taste of heaven she hadn't known existed.

  It wasn't enough.

  She knew then it would never be enough.

  He kissed her reverently, gently, as if kissing the feet of the Mother Goddess herself. When a groan escaped her throat, his kisses turned hungry, incinerating her thoughts, devouring her will, knitting her to his side in a way that she'd never thought possible, awakening her in ways she'd never imagined.

  And then, her elbow knocked a small hole onto the floor, the sound flinging them back from each other. He'd disappeared upstairs then, and just like that, their gardening days were over. He moved his time in the greenhouse to when she was at council.

  But Terra wouldn't be thwarted. Though he fought valiantly against his desire, against her, some beast would never be lulled back to sleep. Each day they battled with their feelings and the emotions that ran hot within them.

  It was a war that neither of them was winning.

  Joanna elbowed her hard, jolting her from her memories. Her revelries. Her treasonous thoughts.

  I'll be on that stage one day. Nic will be dead, and I will stand before my sisters and tell them that love is not a crime. Then, I will be executed. I have to get away. But where will we go?

  The thought came upon her before she had to a chance to check it or fear it.

  She gnawed at the thought throughout the rest of the day. Through talks of building schools and hospitals. Through discussions of the overly restrictive travel laws between the sectors, and how they could simplify travel access for slaves.

  Where can we go?

  Finally, Senatess Clarine III stood up. Terra’s ears perked up as she listened to Clarine argue, once again, in favor of ending slavery. She made it to nearly her fifth sentence before the boos cut her off.

  I wish they would let her talk, Terra thought. I’d love to hear what she has to say. At least someone around here has the courage to speak up. I wish that someone was me.

  “Is there any other business that needs attending?” Paris asked.

  No one answered.

  “Then we are adjourned until tomorrow.”

  The gavel came down with a loud clap against the podium. The meeting of High Council had come to an end.

  And still, the thought niggled at Terra's brain.

  Where will we go?

  CHAPTER 3

  After High Council, the women broke into small groups to discuss their plans for the following week.

  Terra found herself at a long, rectangular table across from Joanna.

  It seems like one never ending meeting after another, she thought.

  Thoughts of Nic invaded her mind. What was he doing? Did he think of her when he was in the garden? When he was in the kitchen? As he went about his day?

  She looked across the table at Joanna. Her friend’s brown eyebrows were knit into a frown, her dark eyes full of questions and concern.

  Joanna’s light brown, curly hair shifted in its high bun as she scribbled something on a napkin and handed it to Terra.

  What’s wrong?

  Terra scribbled something below that message and handed it back.

  Restless.

  Joanna’s writing was printed neatly on the napkin.

  Why?

  Terra scribbled something back and passed it over.

  Too many meetings.

  She looked up to see Lady Diesis, the presiding woman at the meeting, glaring at her from the head of the table.

  Terra pretended to pay attention as someone rambled on about the problem of hairstyle height and how it should be regulated.

  They want to regulate everything on this planet, Terra thought. They’d regulate how often we go to the bathroom if they could. But they won't regulate me. Not anymore. Where will I go? Where would we go?

  Leaning back in her chair, she squeezed the handles under her hands, wracking her brain with the question.

  Where will we go?

  CHAPTER 4

  Terra awoke to the floral smell of the synthetic outside air. Nic always aired out the house in the morning. She got out of her satin sheets and took a long, hot shower, her mind still trying to solve her most pressing question.

  Where can we go?

  Turning off the water, she stepped out of the shower, dried off, dressed, and walked out of the bedroom. Nic awaited her in the kitchen.

  Without a thought, she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his muscular waist, laying her head on his back.

  She wanted to feel his comfort that morning. She needed it.

  He froze, his gaze turning to the open windows.

  “Terra, if anyone should see...”

  Reluctantly, she released him. He was right. It was a dangerous game they were playing. It was best to keep it to the nighttime, when the windows were shut, the doors were locked, and there were no nosy neighbors or passing Enforcers who would spy them.

  Taking her usual spot on the stool in the kitchen, she sipped her energy drink and made a conscious effort to unravel him with her looks.

  His ears turned red. It was working.

  “We had a council meeting yesterday,” she said, taking a bite out of a piece of fruit. “Senatess Clarine spoke again on slave rights.”

  “Again?”

  “Yes.”

  “And did they let her speak this time?”

  “Of course not. They never let her speak.” She paused again and ran a finger around the rim of her glass. “I think they never let her speak because she’s alone. It’s easy to pick on one person, but if there were more…” Her voice trailed off. She looked at Nic again. “What would you say if I were to tell you that I was going to speak with her at our next meeting?”

  He turned toward her. “And
say what, my Empress?”

  “And say that I agree that we should abolish slavery.”

  His shocked eyes widened for a second, before turning unreadable. “Whatever you think is best, my Empress.”

  “Have you ever thought of being free?”

  He hesitated. “Free, my Empress?”

  “Yes, free, with no one to own you.”

  He shook his head, avoiding her eye.

  A sure sign of a lie.

  “No, Empress.”

  “So you don’t want to be free?” she asked.

  “I want to live the life that I’m living right now. That's what’s best for me.”

  He turned around then, his head hanging low.

  They were quiet for a long while, with her sipping her yellow, sugary drink and him looking out of the window. The green trees that grew outside of the kitchen window didn't sway or move. They were static; stationary in the windless dome. No other houses were built on that side of them. The rows of homes started on the left side of the house, next to the common area.

  Nic turned back to her, keeping his eyes on the ground.

  After a long time, he spoke up.

  “What other kind of way is there to live?” he asked.

  Terra's stomach did a small flip of joy. “Living like the Old Book says. Living as man and wife. Living and loving in the light of the sun, instead of in the cover of darkness.”

  “That’s a dangerous way to live, my Empress.”

  “It’s the real life. It’s freedom.”

  “I have freedom,” he said. He immediately squeezed his lips shut, as if he'd said something wrong.

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Nothing, my Empress.” He turned away from her and fidgeted with a dishtowel.

  “No, Nic. What did you mean by that?”

  “Empress, I’d rather not—”

  “Nic, please!”

  He finally turned to face her, keeping his eyes on hers. It was the first time he'd looked in to her eyes in the daylight for some time now.

  “You are my freedom, my Empress,” he said. “When I’m with you, I feel like I’m free, even with the walls and the secrets and the Enforcers. I don’t know. You just … free me.” He kept his eyes on her for a second more, driving the point into her skull.

  She bit her lip to keep in the swoon that threatened to escape. The need to hold him in her arms overpowered her, and she dropped to her knees, crawling toward him on the floor.

  He followed suit.

  Their bodies were hidden by the high counters and the walls of the kitchen. There, on the kitchen floor, they held each other.

  “I want to get away from here. I want to leave this place,” she said softly.

  “We can’t.” His hands traced gentle circles on her back. “It’s against the law.”

  “I don’t care about the law.” Her lips found his, kissing him desperately. He kissed her back, his lips firm, demanding. When they pulled away, their breaths short and wild, Terra looked deep into his eyes. “I will do whatever it takes to be free with you.”

  He didn’t reply. Only brushed back an errant curl that had fallen into her face. Their lips found each other again, and he kissed her slowly, gently. His kisses were flavored with warm mint—something he chewed from time to time.

  The light from the kitchen window poured over them, while the light in their hearts poured out of them in the form of small sighs and synching heartbeats.

  He pulled away, breaking their teasing kisses. He gazed at her, seeming to look deep into her soul. “I love you,” he said.

  “I love you, too.”

  She tucked the moment away, keeping it locked deep in her heart. It was the first time he'd told her that he loved her without her declaring it first.

  They could only wrap themselves in each other's arms and smile. A special magic seemed to fall around them, cocooning them in a protective shell. There, in their home, they would love each other. They would be free together. And no one could take that away from them.

  Then came the knock at the door.

  “Enforcers. Open up!”

  Their magical spell was broken.

  Nic removed Terra's arms from him, stood, and ran to get it.

  If he took too long, they'd break down the door.

  Straightening his wrinkled clothing, he opened the door.

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  The Enforcer barged into the house, her partner staying in the doorway.

  “We've received complaints of noises.” The Enforcer kept her hand close to her blaster, and looked Terra sternly in the eyes.

  “I was just talking to my servant,” Terra said, hoping she sounded more innocent then then she felt.

  “Are you certain?”

  “Of course I’m certain.”

  Nic peeked out of the corner of his eye at her.

  Terra looked as innocent as a flower.

  The Enforcer's hand moved away from her blaster. “Just trying to keep the peace, ma’am.”

  “And you’re doing a fine job of it.”

  The Enforcer nodded at her and backed out of the apartment.

  Nic slowly shut the door behind her. Supporting himself on the wall, he took a few calming breaths before barging out of the room, grabbing a scouring pad, and scrubbing the spotless stove.

  A few seconds later, Terra walked into the kitchen and closed the blinds. She walked through every room in the house, closing windows, shutting curtains, and pulling drapes. When she was done, she walked back into the kitchen and looked at Nic through the dimmed kitchen light.

  “I can't live this way,” she said. “I can't live in the darkness anymore.”

  “My Empress,” he replied. It was his way of saying that he didn’t want to talk.

  Well, I do!

  “Nic, I’m sorry.”

  “My Empress.”

  “Nic, please don’t be mad at me.”

  “My Empress.”

  Her head felt as if it was going to boil over in anger.

  “Fine. You don’t want to talk, then fine. I should have known that you would clam up! Go ahead. Stand over there and scrub your little heart out. You’re no man. Not like the Old Books say. You’re nothing but a coward!”

  He slammed his scouring pad against the stove. The room shook with the force, and she was momentarily startled into silence.

  “Do you know what just happened?” he asked, turning toward her. “Enforcers came in here because we were caught. Someone heard us. Someone saw us. You could have been killed. Do you know what that means? That means that we would have been over. Do you want that? Huh? Is that what you want?”

  “You know I don’t want that.”

  “Then we have to be smart. We have to be sensible about this. We cannot shout our feelings to the world. I love you. I love you with every inch of me. I love you so much that I don’t want to see anything happen to you. I want to go to bed at night and know that you are safe, and the only way that I can keep you safe is by pretending not to care. I can keep you safe by not letting go. I can keep you safe by being smart. We have to keep up appearances, even when we are home. We cannot let them see us, or else we will be over. Do you understand that, my Empress?”

  Her head felt as if it were going to burst open. One second, they were perfect, and the next, they were right back to square one.

  I hate this place.

  “Yes,” she whispered back. “I understand.” She began to rub her stomach—an emotional tick she sometimes displayed. “But I’m not staying here,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t live like this anymore.”

  “My Empress, wherever you go, I will follow you. Where do you want to go?”

  Tears streamed down her face. “I don’t know.”

  Nic sighed. “My Empress, there is no place for us to go. That’s a dream. A fantasy. We have to stay here and live normal lives like everyone else. We have to survive.”

  Terra didn’t want to hear anymore. She walked
out of the room.

  I can’t stay here and live like this, she thought. I can’t. I won’t.

  CHAPTER 5

  Joanna and Roland laid on the soft living room rug in silence, looking up at the projected stars on the glass ceiling.

  It had been a half an hour since The Enforcers stopped in for their midnight inspection, giving the two time for their heartbeats to slow, and for comforting silence to return to the home.

  Hand in hand, they gazed up at the faux sky and let their imaginations wonder.

  Though touching in public was considered outrageous, Joanna found that, in the privacy of her home, Roland’s rough hands in hers didn’t feel so bad. In fact, it gave her a pleasant feeling, a warmth that radiated through her. Of course, she would never tell Terra that her and Roland held hands at night. Every woman had her secrets, and that was one that she would rather not share.

  The warm hand in hers was attached to a man with pitch-black hair and deep-set, midnight eyes. There was something in his sad gaze as a child that drew her to him. Even now she liked the look of him—dark, brooding, with one eye always on her. Sometimes their gazes touched and she lost her breath.

  The feelings were confusing at best, and, at worst, unnerving.

  She imagined that it was just another function of slaves. To keep their masters entertained, comforted, and in pleasant moods.

  Roland excelled at each of those things.

  As the digital stars moved across the night sky, her daydream of one day becoming Head of High Council was interrupted when Roland pulled his hand from hers and sat up straight.

  Joanna sighed, and sat up with him.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Roland refused to look at her. Only cast his eyes downward, stood, and leaned against the mantle. When they came, his words were quiet and deliberate.

  “I am a servant, Empress,” he said.

  Joanna frowned.

  “Yes. I know.”

  Joanna sighed and leaned her head on her hand.

  Though she considered herself a fair and lenient empress, never beating or berating him, sometimes his moodiness got the best of him, sending him into states of depression that lasted for days. Days where he would barely eat, and pace the house like a caged animal at night. Days where he would sometimes spend hours staring at the door until she thought that he might bolt at any moment and never look back.