Page 2 of Under His Heel: A Kidnapping

The conversation segued into Anna’s work and her probable election to preside over one of the station’s courts. Tracht added commentary as necessary, but for the most part he kept his attention focused on Alex.

It was delightful to watch him squirm in discomfort. Alex wasn’t fond of high society, and hated it even more when conversation turned to things he simply didn’t understand. Tracht wondered if he should add basic law to Alex’s study curriculum, but that was probably too far out of Alex’s range.

The most interesting part of any social interaction involving Alex wasn’t Alex himself though. It was how others ended up responding to him. Spiegel was the first one to register Alex’s presence, and then he couldn’t stop staring. His eyes kept focusing on Alex’s face with its large scar and broken nose.

Soon the other two noticed Spiegel’s staring, and Alex noticed them all giving looks, which put Alex even more on edge.

It still took another few minutes before Dieter said, “Okay, I’m sorry, but whose bondservant is that?”

“Mine.” Tracht signaled with his hand, and Alex stepped close enough for Tracht to settle his hand on the small of Alex’s back. “This is Alex. He handles many day-to-day tasks for me. Feel free to ignore him, if it makes you more comfortable.”

Anna shot him a nasty look. “My brother is apparently incapable of going anywhere without his bondservant dogging his heels.”

“Not incapable, just unwilling.”

There was a fight in Anna’s eyes, and Alex was stiff underneath Tracht’s hands. Thankfully, Markus and Johan both chose that moment to come bother their mother.

“Mom, I have to go check on my art display,” Markus said. “It’s just down the hall.”

Anna looked over at Chryssy’s project. “Yes. I suppose I could take a few minutes—”

“No! Mom, I want to go look at my class’s stuff,” Johan needled, and he started pulling on her arm. “They were gonna have a balloon person!”

“Honey, you didn’t even make a project. Let’s stay on this floor.”

Johan’s lips quivered, but then his eyes landed on Tracht and he huffed loudly. “Fine.” He folded his arms over and very clearly broadcast his displeasure.

The other parents all looked sympathetic, but all Tracht felt was contempt. He still didn’t understand what had possessed Anna to reproduce, especially when this was the result.

Anna pinched the bridge of her nose. “How about we all head over to look at Markus’s art project, and then if there’s time we’ll head down to see your classmates.”

“Uncle Hannes could go with me,” Johan said, this time turning his pleading eyes at Tracht. “Please?”

Dear god, absolutely not. “Why don’t we do it the other way around? I’ll look at Markus’s art, and your mother can go with you?”

Dieter, who was apparently invested in Anna’s parental troubles, said, “I think I saw Eva Katselis around. She’d be with the fourth graders.”

“I do need to speak to her,” Anna said, then sighed loudly. “All right, Johan, we’ll go and see your classmates. But only for a little while. I want to see Markus’s display too, and we need to be back in time for Chryssy’s presentation.”

With their arrangements made, Tracht and Alex followed Markus into the other classroom.

Another set of high tech screens lined the walls. It seemed a bit of a waste, but then again, why pay for the most expensive school on station if they didn’t have the most advanced learning technology.

He heard Alex scoff. “What’s the point of any of this?”

Before Tracht could respond, Markus said, “It’s so our parents can see that we’re totally learning shi—stuff.”

Alex chuckled. “Yeah, watch your language around your uncle. He’s strict about that.”

“And I’m right here.” Tracht raised his eyebrows at Markus. “Do you actually need us to view your project?”

Markus shrugged. “I just wanna hang out with my friends.” He paused and looked at Alex. “I bet they’d love to meet you though. The scar is so cool.”

“Your mother would have my hide,” Tracht said. “Which makes it almost worthwhile. But no, I’m going to keep Alex to myself. Go socialize with your peers.”

Once Markus had left, Alex let out a huge sigh. “Why’s he so fixated on me?”

“I assume it’s the novelty and the fact that you represent a completely foreign type of lifestyle. Nobody in his social circle would ever get into fistfights, and if they did, money would fix all the imperfections they caused.”

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