Page 48 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

“Yes, I am,” I say evenly and then walk out of the Great Hall as if nothing is wrong. But as soon as I exit the palace gates I begin running for the nearest line of public transports. I get in one and override the AI pilot with my clearance codes to get back to House Zu as quickly as possible. By the time I arrive, it’s already too late. I see four imperial transports taking off from House Zu and there’s no question that they have Georgiana with them.

I exit the transport and my mother and Lia come out to meet me.

“I tried to persuade them that she should stay with us,” my mother says.

“I tried to use the law that as Madame Georgiana is not an Alliance citizen she cannot be compelled by the Empress without the High Priestess’s consent, but they said orders were orders and that it was in my right to file a complaint,” Lia adds. “I’m sorry, Axl.” She puts a hand on my shoulder.

“What would a complaint do?” I ask. I don’t know the laws as well as my mother and sister.

“She’s not an Alliance citizen but she should be treated as any other citizen of the GC while she is here according to the new laws. However, imperial decisions cannot be disputed for seven days. If we make a complaint and the High Council agrees, the Empress would still not have to release Madame Georgiana until the end of next week.”

“Why would the Empress do this?”

“She’s jealous,” my mother says.

“She wants to make an example of Madame Georgiana for the other humans that are here and asking for more rights and for citizenship regardless of their marital status through proper legislation as the Lost People.”

When it’s clear I don’t understand, Lia continues, “Madame Georgiana came here with you and you are parading her around without being married like she’s equal to an Alliance woman. The other humans are asking why they don’t have these same rights.”

“Because most of them were pets before,” I say as if this is obvious. “Madame Georgiana has come directly from Earth.”

“So you’re blaming those other women for being made into pets against their will?”

“No,” I backtrack, “I’m just saying Georgiana knew nothing. She thought this was all a game until yesterday.”

“It doesn’t matter what she thought, Axl. It doesn’t change what it looks like to others.”

“Did you tell the guards we were courting?” I ask my mother.

“No, that would only make things worse. None of the other human women now living in the Empire were ever courted as far as the High Council or Alliance Force knows.”

“Nor by someone of your status,” Lia adds.

“It’s in your best interest to let her go, Axl. If you’re lucky, the Empress won’t have her killed and she’ll be returned to Earth,” my mother says.

“What if she’s not? What if the Empress keeps her?”

I look from my mother’s face to my sister’s. No one knows what to say. We have all known the Empress since she was a child. She’s not the most moral person and there have been rumors of torture from within the palace.

“I have got to get her back. Lia, will you help me make a formal complaint?”

“Are you sure?”

“What else is there to do?”

“Let the Empress meet Madame Georgiana. Once she realizes Georgiana is not a threat and only wants to return to Earth, and that she imagined all of this a game, the Empress will find another human to use as an example. A human that has a prejudice against the Empire. The Empress will take no enjoyment from torturing an unaware human who only wants to return to Earth.”

“What if I don’t want her to go?”

Both my mother and sister remain quiet. I know they want Georgiana and this whole situation to disappear. Despite them both trying to keep Georgiana in House Zu, I must acknowledge they also must be relieved that she’s been taken. It’s obvious they will offer me no further help on the issue.

22

Georgiana

“I don’t think anyone has ever run from the High Priestess.”

“Well, I’m not from here…” I say and then look toward the door. I hear a commotion coming from outside. Both Lia and Axl’s mother stand so I do too. The next thing I know, men in imposing uniforms and modern armor are walking quickly into the dining room. They announce themselves as imperial guards from the palace. They surround me and then grab my arms, forcing me to walk with them.

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