Flipp
Iwoke up to voices outside the bunkers. I yawned and opened my eyes. I tried to focus on the voices, but it was the middle of the night and I was exhausted. I felt like all the energy had been sucked out of my body, between the attack, and the sex between Xagon and I. There were other crew members in their bunks, so I knew that it was really late. I slid out of my hammock and went to see who thought it was okay to interrupt my slumber.
“When we land, we will have to get in action with the Hirpy. No need to delay things.”
I stayed in the shadows, but I peered out and saw Xagon and Azil talking by the kitchen. They obviously thought they were alone, and it gave me a really bad feeling.
“We will get a good price for his parts. He is worth more in pieces than as a slave.”
My mouth hung open at what Xagon said. Parts? Were they actually going to traffic the Hirpy in pieces. The very idea that anyone would dismember someone for the sake of some coins was horrifying. What kind of people were I actually traveling with? It made me sick to my stomach.
They continued to talk about how they were going to do it and where they were going to take him. He was technically already sold. The buyers were just waiting for us to arrive, to pick up their valuable merchandise. They would probably kill him on board, or sell him whole and the buyers would take him apart. I started to shake from rage. I waited in the shadows until the two of them went to the upper deck and then I left the bunkers. I made my way to the lower cargo hold, and opened the door. There was Jesye, thankfully, still alive. I went inside and sat beside the cage.
I knew he had been fed already, since Xagon brought him bread before we had sex.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to see you again.”
I blushed. “I know, I’m sorry. Things just got complicated.”
“Well, I’m sorry for my part in it. I didn’t realize how revered you were around here.”
I looked at him with surprise. “I wouldn’t call it that.”
“You’re not a prisoner and everyone, and I mean everyone, seems to be looking out for you, even though you’re not a Siren. Are you sure you’re not the Queen?”
“I wish people would stop calling me that. The Sirens took me toa Seer today, while we were in the city.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Azil wanted to know if I was Lilith.”
He sat up in his cage. “And what did she say?”
“Don’t get too excited because she didn’t say much of anything. Just a lot of mumbo jumbo that meant nothing. She told me I basically had to find myself, and discover my own true meaning.”
“Seers can be cryptic at times. It’s your job to discover the meaning behind her words, and how it applies to your life.”
“I really don’t care. It wasn’t my idea to go there, and I’m not interested in knowing my future.”
“Even if you found out that you were the Queen?”
I groaned. “I’m not.”
He looked at me. “Then I guess you have nothing to worry about.”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore, that’s not why I came in here in the first place.”
“You just decided to grace me with your presence?”
“No. I overheard Azil and Xagon talking about you.”
“That’s a dangerous practice, Flipp. I wish that you would stop worrying about me, and take care of yourself. I’m not your concern, and you’re only going to get yourself killed, worrying about me.”
“They are going to sell you in pieces.”
Startled, he looked at me speechless, but he recovered quickly.
“I assumed as much. Really, we all knew that no good would come from me being in this cage. It’s the way these things work, Flipp. They would make more money that way, I’m worth more to the buyer that way.”