Page 34 of Dark Rover’s Luck (The Children Of The Gods #95)

34

AREZOO

A rezoo took a sip of water from the cup she'd collected at the serve-out bar. Her mother had given her the clan credit card that was good for use at the café, but Arezoo felt bad about using it.

She didn't like feeling like a charity case, but that was her reality.

They were getting everything they needed for free, and her mother was only using the card for necessities.

After her meeting with Drova, Arezoo was going to ask for a job in the café, and if she got it, she would finally have some spending money and buy that straightening iron she desperately needed.

Some eyeliner and mascara would be nice too.

Not that it would help much. She was considered pretty back home, but here she was as plain as a broom. The immortals were all so perfect that it was hard to look at them, and they all looked the same age.

How was she supposed to interact with them and find a boyfriend?

Solve one problem at a time , her mother used to say.

First, she would meet Drova and thank her for taking part in the rescue mission that got her and her sisters out of the clutches of that monster, and then she was going to ask the tall, beautiful woman behind the counter for a job.

Aunt Kyra had arranged this meeting with Drova, insisting that the two young women might "find common ground."

Arezoo doubted it. What could she possibly have in common with a seventeen-year-old Kra-ell warrior?

Arezoo had spent her life focused on doing well in school and watching over her sisters and cousins. She had never held a weapon in her life unless it was a kitchen knife or a spatula.

Scanning the café again, she wondered if she would recognize Drova from that chaotic night of their escape. Her memories were fragmented—flashes of gunfire, shouted commands, the acrid smell of smoke and fear. She remembered a very thin, tall girl with an injured shoulder, leaning on an even taller female who looked a lot like her.

That was probably Jade, Drova's mother and the leader of the Kra-ell residing in the village.

As a shadow fell across her table, Arezoo looked up to see the girl she'd just been trying to reconstruct from memory.

Tall and thin, with huge dark eyes and a long ponytail of perfectly straight, glossy black hair. Definitely Kra-ell, and unmistakably a warrior from her uniform to her stance.

"Arezoo?" she asked, her voice surprisingly soft despite her intimidating appearance.

"Yes." Arezoo stood, extending her hand. "Thank you for meeting me."

Drova reached out and grasped her hand with surprising gentleness. "Your aunt and my mother decided that we should get to know each other since we are close in age." She glanced at the plastic cup with water on the table. "I'm going to get myself a juice box. Can I get you anything?"

Arezoo felt her cheeks reddening. "No, thank you. I'm fine with just water." She patted her rounded tummy. "I'm trying to lose weight."

Drova gave her a quizzical look as if she didn't know what Arezoo was talking about, but then nodded. "I'll be back in a minute."

As the Kra-ell walked away, Arezoo released a breath and sank into her chair. What had possessed her to say that she was trying to lose weight? Of course, the warrior girl wouldn't understand why someone would struggle with maintaining a slim figure. Not just because the Kra-ell were almost comically thin, but because the immortals they lived among were all perfect.

That could be her after the transition. She would never have to worry about a few extra pounds or annoying pimples that popped up whenever she was stressed or got her period.

Drova returned with a strange-looking juice box and settled across from her. Arezoo tried not to stare as Drova punctured it with the straw and took a sip of the dark red liquid inside. It looked like tomato juice, but the picture on the front was of a red flower.

"Does it gross you out?" Drova asked.

"No, why?"

Drova shrugged. "Humans and immortals get grossed out by us drinking blood. This is artificial, and someone in the clan came up with the brilliant idea of preserving it in what looked like juice boxes and serving it in the café."

Arezoo swallowed.

Of course, it was blood. What else would a pureblooded Kra-ell drink?

"It's a good idea. Makes it more discreet."

Drova nodded, and an awkward silence stretched between them.

"I wanted to thank you for rescuing us," Arezoo said. "I remember that you were injured."

"Yes." Drova touched her shoulder. "I wasn't at my finest on that mission. I lost my voice amplifier and then got myself shot. My shoulder is almost back to normal, but it's still not perfect. Kra-ell don't heal as fast as immortals."

Another awkward silence fell between them, and Arezoo searched desperately for something to say, some common ground to establish. What could possibly bridge the gap between a sheltered human girl and a Kra-ell warrior?

She remembered her mother's advice about getting people to talk about themselves. "My aunt mentioned that you are training for the Guardian Force. What's that like?"

Drova grinned. "I love it. It's intense. Combat drills, weapons training, strategy sessions, you know, the standard stuff."

Arezoo had no clue. "That sounds challenging."

"Not really. It's what I was born to do." Drova shrugged. "The Kra-ell are warriors by nature."

"What about school? Did you graduate early?"

She could have finished all the requirements at seventeen. It wasn't that hard.

Drova shifted in her seat, her posture stiffening. "I was given a pass. I'm not good at studying. Physical activity comes more naturally to me than the academic stuff."

"I see." Arezoo didn't want to say anything that would sound offensive. "Not everyone likes studying."

"It's not that I don't like it," Drova admitted after a moment. "I just can't focus. My mind drifts, and I get restless. Reading makes my head hurt. I learn better by doing than by reading about doing."

Something clicked in Arezoo's mind—the same pattern she'd observed in students with learning difficulties during her volunteer work at the literacy center in her former high school. "Have you always had trouble focusing on written material?"

Drova frowned. "I suppose. Schooling in the compound was limited to the very basics. My mother taught us mostly by telling us stories, but the majority of time and effort was spent on combat training."

Arezoo frowned. "What compound?"

Drova trained those strange, large eyes on her. "You are not the only one who was rescued and freed. My people were also enslaved, and the enslaver was my father." She grimaced. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Arezoo briefly closed her eyes, then opened them and sighed. "My father is not a nice man either, and I perfectly understand why you prefer not to talk about yours."

Drova snorted. "Mine was a monster, but let's not get into my-daddy-is-worse-than-yours."

"Agreed." Arezoo laughed, suddenly feeling much more kinship with this alien girl than she'd thought possible only minutes ago. "But back to your learning difficulties, it sounds like something I might be able to help you with if you are interested. I wanted to become a special education teacher, so I know a thing or two about learning disabilities."

"A what?" Drova's eyes narrowed.

"It's just a difference in how your brain processes written information," Arezoo clarified quickly. "It's actually quite common, even among brilliant people. Some of the most successful humans in history had similar challenges."

"Kra-ell don't have learning disabilities." A defensive edge crept into Drova's voice. "We're just genetically more suitable for warfare."

Arezoo realized that she'd inadvertently offended her. "Different species might have different learning styles. Vrog is one of your people, and he's an educator. Hasn't he mentioned anything about alternative approaches that might work better for you?"

Drova shrugged. "He gave me the standard stuff every kid here needs to know to pass the equivalency test."

Perhaps Vrog wasn't aware of learning disabilities?

"I met Vrog when he came to our house to design a curriculum for me and my sisters." Arezoo took a small sip of water to wet her throat. "He mentioned that he used to run a school for exceptional students, but he didn't actually have a background in education. He was in technology before opening the school. He might not recognize different learning needs."

"It doesn't matter," Drova said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Being a Guardian is what I was born to do. I'm a fighter, and with my rare compulsion ability, I'm an asset to the Force. I don't need to be good at math or history."

"If you ever change your mind, I'd be happy to help you. There are techniques that might make it easier for you to absorb information."

Drova looked at her with a frown. "Why? What's in it for you?"

"That's what I was studying to do—help people learn in ways that work for them. I enjoy doing that as much as you enjoy training to be a guardian. Besides, I could use a friend in the village."

Drova took a sip of her drink, making a slurping sound that was kind of gross. "I'm not sure I'd make a good friend for you. I don't socialize much outside the Kra-ell community."

"Why not?" Arezoo asked.

"There are only a few young immortals and humans in the village, and they are too young for me. I also have a history with them that is not a good one."

"What do you mean?"

"I was stupid," Drova admitted. "When my compulsion ability first started to emerge, I thought I was invincible. I compelled the kids to steal things for me and to sabotage equipment. I thought I was being a big-time rebel, that I would lead the Kra-ell to leave the village and live independently." She shook her head. "I'm grateful to Kian for going easy on me when it was discovered."

Arezoo was surprised by such blunt honesty. Most people would have glossed over their past mistakes or made excuses. "That's remarkably forthright of you to admit."

"I take responsibility for my actions," Drova said with a shrug. "If I don't try to hide it, no one can throw it in my face."

"That's smart," Arezoo said. "I respect that, and I think you're incredibly brave. Not just because of your honesty, but because you took part in the rescue mission that got me, my sisters, and my cousin out. I envy you for being such a fierce warrior."

Something shifted in Drova's expression—pride breaking through her stoic exterior. "It's just a job. Kra-ell become fighters at a young age. That's what we're born to do."

"Still, it's admirable," Arezoo insisted. "I'd like to find my own purpose here. I need a job, actually. I don't want to rely entirely on the clan's generosity."

"What kind of job are you looking for?" Drova asked.

Arezoo glanced at the woman behind the counter. "I was told that working in the café is a good idea. That and babysitting."

"Wonder is always looking for help," Drova said. "Do you want me to ask her for you?" She was already on her feet.

"It would be great if you could introduce me." Arezoo stood as well and followed Drova to the counter.

"What can I do for you, ladies?" the beautiful, dark-haired woman asked.

"Wonder, this is Arezoo," Drova said. "She's looking for a part-time job, and I know that you are always looking for help."

Wonder turned her kind gaze to Arezoo. "Any experience serving coffee?"

"No," Arezoo admitted. "But I'm a quick learner, and I'm willing to work hard."

Wonder smiled. "You can start tomorrow, and we'll see how it goes. Be here at seven in the morning."

"Really?" Arezoo couldn't contain her surprise. "Thank you! I won't disappoint you."

"I know you won't."

As they stepped away from the counter, Arezoo turned to Drova with a grateful smile. "Thank you for that. I didn't expect it to be so easy."

Drova shrugged. "It's nothing. There is plenty of work in the village for those who are not too discriminating. Cleaning houses can get you the big bucks for now, but those types of jobs are not going to be available for long. The robots they are building in the underground will be doing those."

Arezoo's eyes widened. "Robots?"

"Yeah. Do you want to see? I can give you a tour."

"Yes, please!"