Page 7 of Songbird
“You did?” Izzy’s voice sounded surprised, but I couldn’t shake the feeling she knew already. “What did you think of Earth music?”
“She sings pretty, doesn’t she, Uncle Tarrick,” Priemba prompted, as though she worried I’d disagree.
“The celestials from the heavens could make no lovelier a sound,” I insisted.
My niece snorted and rolled her eyes at my theatricality. Whether Izzy laughed at me or Priemba, I couldn’t say. And I didn’t care.
Her laugh.
As beautiful and lyrical as the dulcet tones that escaped her in song, my heart seized at the sound. I knew right then that I’d do anything… anything to make her laugh again. My tail, of course, lost its fucking mind, and it took a concerted effort to keep the errant appendage from wrapping around her.
“That’s quite a compliment, Tarrick. Thank you.”
At the sound of my name escaping her lips, my tail whipped into such a frenzy that I glanced over my shoulder to make sure it hadn’t inadvertently smacked someone.
“Izzy was a singer on Earth. A famous one,” Priemba glanced from Izzy to me, a knowing smile on her young face. Of course, she’d notice my tail. Maybe I could bribe her not to mention it to Praxxan.
“This is true?” I tried to seem only mildly interested. A complete and utter fabrication.
“In another lifetime,” Izzy said, a faint hint of sadness in her tone.
“If you don’t mind the question, how long has it been since you have seen your home? Earth?” I couldn’t help but be curious. In my line of work, I came across humans enslaved for decades. I couldn’t stand the thought of that happening to Izzy.
Her brow furrowed as she pondered for a moment. “A little over a year.”
“And you do not wish to return to Earth?” My stomach hurt at the question. The Alliance certainly had the capability of returning humans to Earth. At least those humans that weren’t altered in some way. I held my breath, awaiting her answer.
Her small shoulders shrugged, accompanied by a sad smile. “I can’t return to Earth.”
“Why not?” Priemba demanded, preparing to take up the fight to get her new friend whatever she wished.
A flash of distress clouded Izzy’s features, and she glanced away from my niece. Knowing what other Earth females had endured, I intervened. “Priemba, my heart, Izzy may not wish to speak of….”
“No.” A small hand landed on my forearm, searing my skin through the layers of my jacket and shirt. “It’s okay.” Blue eyes met mine, and through the haze of recollection, I saw her strength. She knelt, putting herself on Priemba’s level. “The Alliance doesn’t allow humans who have been through the Garoot Healer to return to Earth.”
“You had to go through the healer?” Priemba asked, her adorable face scrunching into a frown.
“I did.” Izzy nodded. “My first….” Blunt white teeth sank into her lower lip as she considered for a moment. “My first boss wasn’t... nice.”
She didn’t look sad as she said the words, just resigned. Outwardly, I seemed calm, but inwardly, I raged against the creature that had caused her harm.
“My mom and dad are nice, though… right?” Priemba knew little about slavery. Like many untoward things in the universe, her parents tried to shield her until she was older.
Izzy brushed her lips against Priemba’s cheek. “Your parents are the best bosses I’ve ever had.”
“I’m glad,” my niece sighed, slipping her arms around Izzy’s shoulders for a quick hug.
The minute Priemba released her, Izzy stood. A smile split her face, but I noticed tears swimming in the brightness of her eyes. “Where’s the restaurant? I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Priemba agreed, taking up our hands again and pulling us toward the smell of spices and meat.
As we made our way toward the restaurant, Priemba stopped here and there, pointing out unique treasures displayed via the store windows. I found myself fascinated, not by the wares, but by the reflection. With Izzy at my side and Priemba sandwiched between us, securely holding our hands, we appeared as a picture-perfect family unit. The subtle curve of Izzy’s smile and Priemba’s exuberant joy gave me a feeling of warmth and comfort… something that I never expected. Despite my playboy ways being mostly a ruse, I still never expected to settle down with a mate. With my lifestyle, it just didn’t seem feasible. But I couldn’t help but feel intrigued by the idea of what a life like the reflection might entail.
Priemba and Izzy prattled on about my niece learning to sing as we stepped through the crowd, intending to cross the wide, street-like corridor. The bright green awning of the Verdesian restaurant beckoned us from the other side.
Izzy tensed so suddenly that both Priemba and I jerked in surprise. A whimper reached my ears, the sound faint but so full of anguish that my head whipped around at the sound. Izzy was paler than normal, her face etched with terror so deep that it threatened to overwhelm her beauty. I glanced back, followingher line of sight toward the three male figures approaching from the other side of the street.
The male in front had Svicka heritage, evident in his wrinkled brown skin and bald head. But this male was larger and more muscled than most Svicka, with a distinct snout-like nose that hinted at the Kerzak blood running through his veins. The two guards flanking him were unmistakably Kerzak, and acting on instinct, I stepped forward, putting Izzy and Priemba fully behind me.
