Page 3 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope
"We are immortal," Tula said. "Our skin doesn't burn in the sun. Not even Areana's, and hers is almost entirely devoid of pigment."
The discussion continued while the others chose large hats to provide some shade in the sun, and after a few moments, Tamira's ire subsided. Perhaps Areana was just as clueless as the rest of them. Maybe she didn't know what happened to her boys.
"Thank you for your assistance," Areana told the shopkeeper once all the purchases were tallied and recorded.
As they left the air-conditioned interior they were met by heat and humidity, but the salt breeze from the ocean made it bearable.
"Navuh's sons are treated well," Tula suddenly said, and Tamira realized she'd been listening to her exchange with Areana. "They all became high-ranking officers in the Brotherhood. He values them greatly."
"He does," Areana agreed.
"I wish that were also true for the women in the Dormant enclosure," Tamira couldn't help adding. "We don't know how they're treated."
They were Dormant but kept human so they could have one child after another. The poor women were probably treated as nothing more than breeding stock and kept perpetually pregnant.
"There is nothing we can do for them," Areana said. "So, there's no point dwelling on it. I did my best to advocate for them so that at least their living conditions would be adequate. The rest cannot be avoided."
"And then there's the brothel," Tula murmured, and all three of them shivered despite the heat.
Young, beautiful girls were trafficked from all over the world, given drugs so they would be compliant and addicted, and put in the brothel to service the warriors and visitors. When they outlived their usefulness as sex providers, they were moved to different jobs, primarily as maids, and some of them had ended up working in the harem, which was how Areana and the ladies had discovered what the island was known for in certain need-to-know-only circles.
"Let's not think about such unpleasant things today," Areana said. "We're going to the beach, and we're going to swim in the ocean for the first time in forever."
Living on an island surrounded by water and never being allowed to dip their toes in it had been its own sort of torture. Now, they were finally going to visit the beach.
As they were driven back to the mansion, they passed by buildings that showed various degrees of damage from the rebellion. Numerous building crews were working to restore the area to its previous state, clearing rubble, replacing windows, and rebuilding walls.
Tamira wondered where they had all come from. It didn't make sense for the small island to have so many construction crews or building materials on hand. Navuh must have activated his network outside the island, and they'd delivered the men and materials.
"It's remarkable how quickly they're restoring everything," Tula murmured.
Areana followed her gaze. "Lord Navuh wants all traces of the rebellion erased as quickly as possible."
It had to be done, not only because the tourists would begin to arrive on the island soon, but also because the lord didn't want to see signs of the uprising. Not that it was possible to erase it from the memories of those who'd been affected by it, especially those who had cowered in the basement while enhanced soldiers tried to get to them.
Nor could it be erased from the mind of Lord Navuh. He would never forget how close he had come to losing everything.
2
ELUHEED
Eluheed's feet burned against the hot sand, making him quicken his pace toward the waterline, where the damp surface cooled his steps. With a sigh of relief, he turned back to study the cluster of showers and changing rooms.
Tamira emerged a few moments later, wearing a black and white striped swimsuit, and looking beautiful, excited, and carefree. After everything they'd been through, seeing her like this, relaxed and happy, felt like a miracle.
Perhaps it was the jubilation of survival.
They'd escaped the flood that had destroyed the harem, and then they'd lived through the rebellion that had nearly torn the island apart and ended Navuh's empire.
She caught him looking at her and smiled, but it was the careful smile reserved for public performance.
They both knew the rules.
A dozen guards surrounded their small group, rifles slung over their shoulders, their eyes scanning for threats but also scrutinizing the ladies and their companions.
"The water looks inviting," Tony said beside him, somehow having managed to put on a pair of red swim trunks without Eluheed noticing. Had he changed in the car?
"It does," Eluheed agreed. "It's warm."
