Page 123 of Stars At Dusk

‘Ah, kara, my heart bleeds for you,’ Kage said, kissing her forehead. ‘That’s an awful nightmare.’

‘It’s not just a dream; part of it is true. For many years, the man who donated his sperm would beat and rage at me for hours each time for the smallest infraction. Then he’d tie me to a bed in the communal women’s dormitory. I had very little access to the outside and only ate leftovers from his plate. His way of trying to control me.’

‘He and the cult men saw women as dirt. We were used, abused, locked in underground bunkers, tied to beds for weeks, groomed, and separated from each other so we wouldn’t form close relationships. It became easier for the women in the cult to give in, stop thinking and accept his madness. My therapist told me this is called a “trauma bond”, which creates a dangerous reality where you no longer trust your feelings and perceptions. Yet I broke the bond and found the help I needed to escape him. I’m still learning to recognise the warning signs and manipulative methods of coercive people and relationships. But the nightmares remain.’

Harlow finally fell silent.

She’d looked down at her hands when speaking, and finally, she glanced up at Kage.

She saw his expression shift through the shadow of night. Deep worry and a touch of uncertainty clouded his face.

‘You know you’re safe with me?’ he said softly.

‘I do.’

‘And I’ll do everything in my power to ensure no one will ever harm you?’

‘Yes,’ she whispered.

‘Good. Are you still working through this with your therapist,kara?’

Harlow arched an eyebrow, surprised by his question. ‘It’s been a while since I spoke to her,’ she said. ‘Why?’

‘You need to. Because they’ll help. Has their advice aided in the past?’

‘It has. I’m much better than I used to be at trusting men. I mean, I’m with you,’ she said weakly. ‘And I’m charging you with my deepest and darkest.’

‘But you need to speak to them about what happened tonight,’ he asked, referring to the break-in.

‘I’m speaking to you, though.’

Kage sighed. ‘But babe, I’m not your therapist. I’m your lover. Who adores you so very much. I’ll always listen to you and be here for you. But I can’t give you the professional advice you need. I need to make that clear. Otherwise, it won’t be right for us.’

Harlow’s face blanched at his words, and she fell silent for a few moments. ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to burden you,’ she finally whispered.

She felt herself shut down and pulled back physically from him, wrapping her hands on her knees, creating a wall between them.

Kage shook his head, slightly frustrated. ‘Kara, you’d never burden me. I need to know that you’ll also share this night’s events with your therapist. So they can give you the best tools to get through it.’

Harlow grimaced. At this point, she just wanted Kage to leave it be. She wished she’d never opened her mouth.

Impulsively she rose from the bed and made her way down one level of the cavernous space. She pulled open the terrace sliding door stepping outside.

Eden II, in shrouded twilight, was a beautiful and magical city. The sky was painted with vibrant hues of black, streaked with orange, pink, and purple. The buildings in the city were illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights and windows, casting a warm and inviting light onto the streets below. With most of its residents having retreated to the warmth and safety of their homes, the wide avenues were quieter, peaceful. The neon lights of bars, restaurants, and shops were bathed in shadows and magic as the metropolis mesmerised the senses.

However, the air outside was thick and heavy, with the weight of an unusual lunar summer. Even though Alphetraz was in shroud, a thick heat lingered. She could feel the sweat dripping down her forehead and back, making her shirt stick to her skin.

She wandered the terrace, feeling Kage’s eyes on her. The terrace marble was hot under her feet, and the buildings around her seemed warm. She could hear the sound of the occasional flyers winging over the city and the distant hum of air conditioners, but other than that, the night was silent.

Harlow made her way over to a bench. She sat down and leaned back, closing her eyes and trying to enjoy the breeze that started to blow through the terrace. As time passed, the heat dissipated, and the air began to cool.

She heard a slight noise. She looked up to see Kage by her side. Her heart hammered.

He handed her a tall glass of cool water, and she took it, pressing it to her forehead, before drinking it all, slaking her thirst.

‘Sante,’ she said softly.

He slid to sit on the bench beside her, taking her hand in his.

---