Page 22 of DaR (Darverius, House of DaR #1)

Chapter Twenty-One

KIRA

The next couple of weeks fall into a routine for us. I work on the house and the secret project I’m making for DaR . Then we spend our dinners and evenings together.

Each day has gotten a little easier for me. The few times I’ve felt like I was going to fall apart, I’d take a deep breath and try to focus on the good things. Most of the time, I would try to picture DaR in my head, and as his face formed in my mind, I’d feel like I was given a calming agent.

My wrist itches again where he burnt that mark on me.

I’ve always been against tattoos, so I’m surprised by how much I like the style of this design on my skin.

There was never anything I wanted to look at for the rest of my life, but I don’t seem to mind DaR’s mark at all.

I keep forgetting to ask him if it’s supposed to change colors, but it slips my mind every time he’s near.

Today I’m expecting an order of flowers for the area I’ve sectioned off as the backyard.

Now , it isn’t what we humans would have called a normal yard.

This particular stretch of land is unique.

The grass isn’t green, it’s gray. The stone walls are covered in a vine that’s similar to ivy, but it’s a pretty lavender color.

The few small trees out back are a bright reddish-purple and closely remind me of a Japanese maple.

I’ve loved to garden my whole life and plants seem to like me, so I decided I’d liven up the outside of his house too.

SAGE and I looked through screen after screen trying to find different flowers and color schemes.

I had no idea if this soil would even grow plants at first, but SAGE assured me her dwelling was built on prime land.

So , with that being decided, we had to design the flower beds and figure out where to put the birdbath I wanted.

It took me forever to explain what the purpose of a birdbath was to SAGE .

I finally convinced her it would become the one thing that no one else was going to have and all the other dwellings would envy her over it.

I didn’t tell DaR because I wasn’t sure if he would approve spending money for things that didn’t always live, and if all the plants died, then I could play stupid.

I used to spend a small fortune back home and when they’d all die in the fall, I’d swear I wasn’t going to do that again the next year, only to repeat the cycle over and over .

SAGE seemed confident that DaR would come to enjoy the beauty of the outside patio area I added to the house once he saw it.

I hear the door chime go off and SAGE talking to someone. I just assume it’s the delivery crew with the flowers, until I turn around and scream.

“ Mistress Kira , it is alright! Ohhh , please calm down before Master DaR realizes you are upset. This is Master XuL , Master DaR’s oldest son.”

The man, or being of sorts, walks toward me and I take small steps backward. I know there isn’t an opening on this side of the fence, and he’s so large, I don’t think I can outrun him. I never dreamed I wouldn’t be safe inside the dwelling.

He’s easily as big as DaR , but that is where the similarities end.

He’s green in color, like a dark colored leaf, and the only clothing he has on looks like a loincloth.

A large knife hangs on his side, and it bounces against his leg as he moves slowly toward me.

And I do believe his muscles have muscles.

Long white hair flutters around the face only a mother could love.

Long black marks split his eyes almost in half from his forehead all the way down his cheeks.

“ Master XuL , let me introduce you to the newest addition to the House of DaR . This is Mistress Kira . XuL , we are so happy you have blessed us with your presence today. Mistress Kira could use your assistance as we have a large shipment of flora coming. ”

“ Where are you from, little female?” He completely ignores SAGE and his focus on me is unnerving.

His voice is scratchy like he seldom uses it. “ I’m from Earth . Please don’t come any closer.” I’m shaking all over, the security I felt here has been shattered and I’m scared all over again. He stops a few feet from me.

“ You have no reason to fear me. If you had been in any kind of danger, SAGE would have put a protection bubble around you.”

“ Sorry , I’m not even sure what that is! It seems like every time I think I’m getting used to things, something shakes up my sanity a little. If you’re here looking for DaR , he won’t be returning until dusk.”

“ Actually , the shipment of flora is what brought me here. I was in the market when I heard the botanist talking about the delivery. I asked the man to confirm the shipping location, and he said it was coming here. I did not trust this information, and when father did not answer his comm, I decided to come and confirm this myself.”

“ DaR didn’t answer you? Is that normal?... Now you have me worried. I’m sorry, I’m not being a very good hostess. Would you like something to drink? Is it normal for DaR not to answer you? Should I be concerned?”

“ I am sure Father is fine. I will take that drink now if you are still offering, though. I would like to remain until the shipment is unloaded and the workers are off the property if that is alright with you?”

I walk around him cautiously. Man , I wish I’d asked DaR more about his children. I had no idea that they’d be, well you know, so damn alien.

“ Do you have a drink preference? I’m sure SAGE can whip whatever it is right up.”

He doesn’t answer me right away, just walks around the house picking up the pillows and stopping to look at some of the paintings on the walls.

“ You have done all of this?”

“ Well , yeah … with SAGE’s help of course.”

“ I am truly shocked my father has a helpmate. I will have to ask him if I can borrow you. You have made this dwelling very appealing to the eye. When I first arrived, I walked back out the door and then came back in to make sure I was in the right place.”

My heart hits my throat at the very thought of going back out there. “ No ! I can’t leave; it’s not safe for me out there. Please , don’t make me go.”

He tilts his head and those weird eyes study me for a moment. “ Be at ease little human, it was only a suggestion. Father does not share well anyway .

Where can I obtain one like you? Your appearance is soft and attractive. I can see why Father brought you home. I also see that he put his mark on you. That mark was not put there only to keep you from being taken.”

The doorbell chimes again. “ Dear Lord , who or what now?” I whisper to myself.

XuL walks to the front door. I hear him say a few words then he turns back to me. “ I will take care of the flora delivery and it may be wise for you to stay out of sight for now. Something as odd and appealing as you are, will be sought after if flaunted too much in front of others.”

I nod and head toward my room. “ I’m the odd one, go figure.” I watch the delivery from the holo-comm in my room, and I’ve never felt such relief as the moment I hear DaR’s voice in the house.

“ Kira ?”

I almost run out of my room when I hear him call my name. It’s sad how attached I’ve become to him in such a short amount of time. I feel like he’s the only anchor tying me to my sanity.

“ XuL , this is a surprise! I am sorry I missed your call earlier. I tried to comm you back, but you were out of range.”

“ Father , I heard from RaZ that we had a new addition to the family. I will admit, I wanted to meet her for myself since you know how RaZ can over exaggerate things. The flora delivery was as good an excuse as any. She has done wonders with the place; may I borrow her?”

I see DaR’s eyes flash red and his Rune symbols pulse between black and orange.

“ Never mind, Father . I can tell by your reaction she is not getting out of your sight. Where did you find her? I want one!”

“ I bought Kira on Sybrus One at a slave market, but do not waste your time heading up there. It has taken me almost thirty rotations, but I just shut them down for good. They will never treat another the way they did my Kira .”

DaR doesn’t go into details, but it’s easy to see the pleasure on his usually expressionless face. He apparently enjoyed tearing that slave ring apart, just as they had done the other unfortunate beings that had crossed that stage.

“ Have you met Kira ?”

“ Yes , but she fears me. She practically ran to her room when I told her I would take care of the flora shipment.”

“ Being scared in a strange world should be expected, XuL . I am assuming as my son you went out of your way to make her comfortable?”

“ Yes Sir , I did my best. But the females all react the same way when they see me. ”

“ SAGE , will you notify Kira that I am home and requesting her presence in what she calls the backyard?”

“ I’m here, DaR .” I walk around the corner where I’ve been listening to their conversation.

When he called me his Kira , my heart moved in my chest. I didn’t realize I’d come to mean anything to him.

Maybe I’m reading more into it than I should, but it’s a nice feeling knowing he cares about me as a person and not a purchase.

“ Come Kira , let me introduce you properly to my oldest son.”

I walk cautiously to his side, but DaR apparently doesn’t like me hiding behind him. He pulls me in front of him then rests his large hands on my shoulders. I can feel the heat of his skin since he’s standing so close to me.

“ This Kira , is General XuL , the oldest son of DaR , and first grandson of Tyberius .”

“ It’s nice to formally meet you, and I’m sorry for my reaction to you earlier.”

He smiles at me, and I press back against DaR’s chest without meaning to. Dear Lord , his fangs are three inches long and he has a whole mouthful of canines. He’s absolutely terrifying without smiling, but when he flashes those teeth, I almost faint.

He must be able to see the terror in my eyes as I press back against DaR . I feel a comforting hand on my stomach as DaR pulls me firmly against him. DaR can sense how uncomfortable I am, and I hate that I’m acting this way, especially with his son.

I speak up, trying to break through the tension I’ve caused between father and son. “ DaR , did you just say you broke up the slave trade on that planet?”

“ Yes , I am proud to say SoL found their main interface and destroyed it. He was also able to download their last few manifests. With that information, we were able to locate several hundred slaves and return them to their homes.”

I turn in his arms, my hand resting on his chest. I keep forgetting how tall he is, as I feel like I look up and up. “ Did you find Brittany ?”

“ What is a Brittany ?”

“ She’s a human like me; well not exactly like me. She was much younger, and they separated us not long after we arrived on that planet. They hadn’t abused her as they did me. I feel so bad. I have been so caught up in my own hell that I completely forgot about her. DaR , we have to find her!”

Xu L

I look at father and the delicate creature he is holding so gently in his arms, and I long for something as precious. “ Where was the last place you saw her?”

“ There were two lines. They sent her one way and me another. I don’t remember much after that.”

When I start to say something to Kira about the other female, my father shakes his head no at me. We both know the odds of finding the other human alive and well are slim, but Kira does not need to hear that.

DaR

“ Tordan , I need you to do a search on the other manifest of Sybrus One . Kira said there was another human female with her that day, so maybe she was held in a different area. Look at the exotic pet section, or even for a collector.”

“ Searching Commander …” There is silence as we all wait for him to respond. “ There was a confirmed sale of a female human to a land dweller. The buyer shipped her to a Bestiary on our lower land level, Sir . ”

XuL’s eyes flash the same eerie red as mine when he’s upset. “ Sir , if I may be excused. I believe I have a human to rescue.”

“ Keep me informed.”

“ Kira , it was a pleasure.”

With one leap, I watch XuL jump the fence and disappear over the side of the wall.

“ If anyone can find her on the lower level, it will be XuL , Kira . He specializes in locating exotic pets and offworld creatures.”

“ He’ll terrorize her, DaR . His features are not exactly easy on the eyes.”

“ His mother was an Orc , and their kind are some of the best warriors anywhere, and he is actually quite handsome in their culture.”

“ If you say so. I sure hope he finds her though. I pray she hasn’t been mistreated. I do wish you would’ve told me about your sons, though. I’m afraid I didn’t make a very good impression on him.”

“ He was mesmerized by you Kira , and you will be the reason he never stops looking for this Brittany .”

“ How many more of your offspring will pop in for a visit?”

“ I do have twenty-two sons and of course, they are welcome in my home at any time. ”

“ Do they all look like XuL ?”

“ No , I only have two that are from the same species. Let us have dinner and I will explain how I managed to be lucky enough to have sons all over the cosmos.”

“ What , there’s more to tell than you just being a male ho?”

“ I have a feeling I will no like the meaning of this word!”