Page 21 of DaR (Darverius, House of DaR #1)

“ You mean your bedroom. And this is a dining area or dining room, and that over there is the living room where you would entertain guests and family members.”

“ I will strive to correct myself when it comes to this, as you say, home. Are you done with your meal?”

“ Yes !”

“ Then please take me on the tour.”

I have my hands clasped behind my back as we walk around to keep from touching her.

I nod with approval as she explains the changes in each room and as to why she picked the colors or decorations, as she calls them.

I do not understand the need for pillows, lounge chairs, or even flowers being placed within the dwelling.

But she is glowing with excitement as she shows me the so-called improvements she has made so far.

So , she can have whatever she wants. She only hesitates when we stop at her chamber .

She waves her hand and quickly steps inside.

The entire space has been transformed. A medium-sized sleeping platform has been installed and is raised off the floor, accompanied by a set of steps.

Intricate details are carved upon the post, holding its massive frame up.

Matching stands flank the platform and two floor chests decorate the walls around it.

A new viewing wall has been installed, along with a large closet that is now hanging full of clothes in different colors and styles.

This must be what intruded into my sleeping chamber.

The colors in her room are not feminine like I thought they would be.

Dark grays and purples enhance the light color of the walls.

On the back wall, the biggest change is the floor to ceiling window, which looks like it has a lounging chair built into the floor.

“ This is different. What do you call it?” I point toward the window.

“ It’s a window seat. I had one when I was little and I spent hours reading and relaxing there. I have some ideas for outside too, if it’s ok? I’d like to make a nice patio area to go with SAGE’s open concept.”

“ I have no objections; you have already made a major improvement to the area already.” I walk over to her sleeping platform and touch the covering. “ What is this?”

“ It’s a blanket and it’s one of the things I missed the most about my home. I had them all over the house, so if I got cold, I could snuggle up underneath one. They are a huge comfort to my kind.”

“ That is right, you cannot regulate your body temperature. Sometimes I wonder who is the alien here, you or me?”

I watch her yawn, and I know that is a sign of weariness. “ Come , I would like to get you marked, and then you can rest for the evening. Tordan and I have an early meeting come rising and I may be gone for a few rotations.”

I walk back toward the dining area as she calls it and have her sit down. SAGE opens a drawer, and inside lies the gun that will burn my symbol onto her skin. It makes me sick knowing this is going to cause her great pain, but I cannot take the risk of her being caught outside again without it.

“ Kira , this is going to be extremely uncomfortable, maybe even painful for you. If there was any other way, I would find it to keep from hurting you.”

“ What kind of mark?”

“ It is my personal mark. I have it here on my arm, as do my children and my late father. It is the mark of the House of DaR . Only certain citizens of Darverius have the nobility to have their own markings. This mark was what those men were looking for the other day at the market. If you had been marked, they might have teased you, but they would have let you go. It was my fault you were vulnerable, but this will remedy that. My name will protect you when I cannot. ”

“ Can I see what it’s going to look like?”

“ It is right there on the sleeve of your dress.”

“ Oh , these little triangle-like things? I wondered why they were on all my things. I thought it was the designer’s mark on his clothing. Will it hurt badly? And where do you need to put it?”

“ I will make it as quick as possible, I promise. I need your arm, please.”

She reaches out her arm, hesitating for a moment. Then I see her take a deep breath, trying to fortify herself for the upcoming pain.

I turn her small wrist over, my large hand dwarfing hers. I rub the smooth, pale skin, and as sick as it sounds, I look forward to having my mark upon her skin for all to see.

I stretch her arm out over the table so I can hold her still. Then I calibrate the scanner and press it down firmly upon her wrist.

“ Are you ready?”

“ Yeah , I reckon.”

Her agitation has my Symbots reaching for her. I press the lever down and immediately I can smell her skin burning. I watch her face, waiting for the pain to hit, but she just flinches a little .

My wrist starts to burn where my mark has been for years. The machine beeps and I lift it off her immediately. She shakes her arm out, pulling it close to herself.

“ Here Kira , let me see; I have some cream we can put on it to help with the pain. Please forgive me for hurting you so.” Causing her pain makes me feel sick to my stomach.

She holds her arm out and, to my amazement, the mark looks almost healed. It is not even red. Her skin feels warm to the touch, but otherwise, it seems fine.

“ Are you feeling alright, Kira ?” I am amazed by what I see.

“ Yeah , the way you were talking, I was expecting something terrible, and when you first clamped it down, it hurt for a second, but it was just warm after that. Thank you for being so gentle with me. I know you were worried.”

I brush my fingers over it again and almost miss my Symbots returning to my arm.

I have never heard of anything like this, but seeing is believing.

My mutation protected her and then sent her pain to me.

Not that I am not thankful, I am. I turn my wrist over and my symbol is red and sore to the touch.

“ DaR , are you ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I look around. “ What is this ghost? Where is it?”

“ Never mind, it just seems like something has upset you. Did the mark not come out correctly? ”

“ It is perfect on you. I know you must be tired, so I will let you rest now. And Kira , you do not have to work all the time. There is no time observer here, and SAGE is not your commander. I want you to feel at home, Kira . If you want to rest, then slumber; if you want to eat, please do so. Whatever it takes to make you happy here, please search for it.”

“ I don’t really mind the work, DaR it helps to keep my mind occupied. I will say goodnight now.”

“ Good rest, Kira .” I watch her walk away and enter her ‘room’ and I immediately miss her presence.

I rub my wrist absentmindedly as I walk toward my sleeping chamber. I have no reason to be out in the main dwelling without her. As soon as I walk into my room, I immediately see how bleak and uninviting it is. Not a single comfort or personal item in sight.

“ Sir , I readjusted your room back to its previous size; is this acceptable?”

“ Why did you and Kira not change my room?”

“ Kira walked to your door but never requested for me to open it. I believe she was scared you would be upset if she came into your private area. She was already worried about moving the shuttle beacon. She kept mumbling something about women not being allowed to straighten up the garage, but I had no idea what she was talking about. ”

“ She is something, is she not?”

“ Master DaR , she is a true light in the darkness.”

“ Well said SAGE . Wake me if I am needed.” I take a quick ionic cleanse and lie down. The sun is rising before my mind settles from the night; it is going to be a long rotation.