Page 1 of Rescuing Mara

CHAPTER1

Mara

Ananta is pacing through the room, cursing under her breath. Something is going down. She is rushing me to pack up her stuff so we can get the fuck out of here. I ignore her. I have been forced to serve her since we were children, and I know how to best handle her outbursts. So, I just keep on packing her trunk with all the ridiculous clothes she insisted on bringing to this moon.

Something crashes in the hall outside our room, but I ignore it and stoically continue packing. I know better than to react to loud noises. Ananta, however, is jumping into action. I hear her footsteps moving towards the door, which she opens with a loud bang while yelling: “What in the fuck is happening here? Can I not have one moment of peace?”

I continue packing because I know I will pay the price if I am not ready when she wants to leave. However, I can’t help but listen to what’s happening.

“Well, well, well… Look who we have here. O’Rec. The lost prince of the world formerly known as Arracate. I am so sorry about your planet, dear prince.”

Her words make me stop mid-movement. I hesitate, taking a longing look at the door. Arracate is a planet the Sternotheri, Ananta’s people, have destroyed. It was once home to the greatest warriors the universe has ever seen. The Warriors of Arracate; strong, powerful males, highly trained and with superior technology. Protectors of the people and guided by the stars.

Because of my slave status, people tend to forget I’m around when they talk business; I know everything about them and the High Commander’s quest to destroy them all after they killed his son, Ananta’s brother. Although he has been dead for years, I still remember his cruelty very well. It makes me shiver, so I quickly return to focus on the task at hand, while voices rise on the other side of the door.

“So, you know who I am as well. I would say it is nice to meet you, but I am afraid I will have to kill you.” I hear Ananta’s mocking voice.

Curiosity is flowing through my veins, and something inside me is urging me to go take a look. Sneak a peek. I really shouldn’t…

It’s against my nature to go against her wishes, but this strange sense of urgency inside is making me feel very conflicted. I put the last garment in the trunk before I close it. The sound of movement takes me out of my musings and piques my curiosity. Ananta has not specifically forbidden me from exiting the room… I gather all the courage I can and quietly walk towards the doorway.

I gasp at the sight unfolding before me. Ananta is fighting someone. She ducks, rolls, and spins around. Her laugh is maniacally, causing a small shudder to make its way through my body. Unease is prickling in my gut, and I feel a sheen of sweat forming on my brow. I don’t like it when she gets like this. She’s unpredictable at best.

She moves out of sight. I hear the thud of knives hitting objects, overruled by the sound of two people taunting each other. I know I shouldn’t, but I move closer to the hall. Just one little look won’t hurt anybody.

Ananta is facing a very large male. He is taller than most Sternotheri I know, and he looks way more… like me. Although the horns and tail make it crystal clear that he’s a completely different race than me, his body is smooth and muscular with what appear to be tattoos covering it.

My hand involuntarily goes to my neck, where a thin line is tattooed, marking me as the property of the High Commander’s family. I hate it, but it has kept me safe multiple times, so I immediately push my feelings away and focus back on the warrior.

He is magnificent. Dark gray skin covers every inch of his enormous body. He is wearing dark brown pants, and his chest is bare except for some sort of harness, which appears to be carrying knives. I squint my eyes so I can see better. A strong jawline, a humanoid-like face, and a proud nose. Big black horns curl from his forehead. They look like molten lava. He spins around, swiping three big braids to his back, his tail grounding him as he jumps up and throws a knife.

He moves fluently as if he is dancing instead of fighting. I anchor myself to the doorway as I take one tentative step closer. I am strangely fascinated with this male. My heartbeat starts to rise, and I feel my breathing quicken. Something inside of me wants to get closer, but my fear wins because this male, in all his glory, is battling my mistress, and that scares the heck out of me.

I break into a cold sweat and wipe a clammy hand on my tunic. I feel my muscles tightening. I prepare myself to step back, but exactly at that moment, the male raises his head and looks at me. He freezes, and his eyes grow wide when our eyes lock. Then Ananta hits him in the shoulder with a knife.

He howls in pain and frustration, making me gasp again. Ananta turns her head in my direction, malicious intent in her eyes and a mean smirk across her face.

“Mara, come out,” she says, giving me no choice but to obey her.

The warrior looks at me; no, that’s not right. He stares at me as if he can’t take his eyes off me. I feel like I can’t breathe, like I am lost in his gaze.

“Zarra,” he breathes before all hell breaks loose.

Ananta starts cackling, pulling me in front of her like a shield. I freeze. She’s very unstable, and moments like these make me realize how expendable I am. Even though Ananta and I grew up together, she is not my friend and never will be, no matter how much she acts like it sometimes.

“Well, look who finds himself in an impossible situation,” she cackles, pointing her knife at my throat.

I reach for my numbness, letting it fall over me like a heavy blanket. Showing any emotion right now would be a great mistake. Ananta’s knife pierces my skin. I feel a trail of blood dripping down the column of my neck, and the Arracate Warrior starts to growl.

I don’t move. I don’t feel anything. Somehow, in the back of my mind, I know he is aching, but I can’t seem to care about anything. I just stand there.

I feel the whoosh of a knife flying past my face. It plants itself in his upper thigh, making the big warrior drop to his knees.

“I think we will leave you to it, O’Rec. You will let us go. Better make sure you quickly leave this moon before our entire force comes on to kill you, although I would rather do it myself,” Ananta says, and she pulls me with her while we backtrack towards the room, leaving the wounded warrior on his knees with a shattered look in his eyes.

When we re-enter the room, she shoves me away, making me stumble and fall. I hurt my wrist when I try to catch myself, but I bite my lip to remain silent.

“Are you done packing?” Ananta bites at me. She starts pacing. “We need to get off this moon, NOW.”

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