Page 11 of Indentured Companion
The Dynast…also happens to be a bit of a cinnamon roll. He isn’t naive or stupid, but he’s…well, nice? Is that the right word? He fusses over me like he cares about my discomfort, and always frowns when I tell him my neck is hurting after the feed. Space Dracula has a dream in his heart that he’s going to be the one to win over the heart of the Theskian empire.
Said Theskian empire are currently being assholes about letting us through security.
“My papers are correct.” The Dynast politely bows, dressed in the same fine green chiffon that he always wears when we leave his ship. Strange how he only wears green in public? And that fancy M shaped crown encrusted with jewels too. On the cruiser he wears all sorts of bright and pastel colours, and forgoes the crown. I wonder if it’s ceremonial with his title to dress this way when in public? “As they were yesterday when you processed me.” I fold my arms with a huff over my green dress. The Dynast flustered rather comically when he saw me match him today. I didn’t do it consciously, but I chose the outfit for it’s design, not it’s colour. It’s long, elasticated around my chest and upper biceps, so another shoulderless outfit. The sleeves are green and semi-transparent. I particularly decided to wear this outfit, as it came with an optional fabric collar with a fake diamond in the middle to match the one rouched at my cleavage in the dress.
One thing I learned after the first week of travelling to the base with the Dynast, was how jittery everyone got if they saw evidence of where he’s fed on me. He is ‘required’ to feed before he’s allowed to board the base. That means my neck is usually throbbing, bruised, and with four connected puncture marks. In the second week I started to wear fashion scarfs and other accessories I could cover my neck with, but remove if he needed to feed. Like the same principle of his veil. Hiding the vampiric evidence from the Theskian races. I gotlessstares, so I make sure to hide my bite mark when in public now. “I promise you nothing has changed regarding my clearance since then, sir.” I glance up at the Dynast, who keeps bowing and speaking softly with his deep growly voice. He’s changing his mannerisms to be as non-threatening as possible.
He also has a ton more patience thanIdo.
“I understand that, Dynast, but I have to follow procedure and check your clearance. I’m just doing my job.”
I stare at my fellow human being who is being an ass about our passage through customs. I remember the officer too. Short brown hair, blue eyes, broad shoulders, freckles and tall. Not as tall as the Dynast, of course. Not many people are 7ft tall, and that’s not including his crown.
“Of course. I understand.” I chew the inside of my cheek and look up. I count to ten. I think about my breathing. I try to stay calm.
“How long since you last…fed?” I close my eyes. Deep breaths.
“Shortly before we arrived…so I would say two hours ago?” Good lord, is that how long we’ve been standing here?! I look off to one side and see so many people staring at us at the security desk, it’s making my skin itch. Every time we come to the base, we are escorted out of the normal line for a security check by the customs personnel. Every single time! I recognise the staff too.
“Is that correct ma’am?” I lick my lips and snap my intense brown stare on the guy, and he flinches. “M-ma’am?”
“Okay.” I step up to bat and place my hands on the security counter. I’ve had enough of this bullshit. “Now you listen tome.”
“Miss Stone?” The Dynast’s tone is firmer than usual, like he’s warning me to play nice. I lock my angry stare up at his lilac eyes and chew my lips together. I am his indentured servant. Ireallyshouldn’t undermine him, even if I want to smack the stupid out of this guy. I clear my throat and turn to smile angrily at the officer.
“Yes, sir, that is correct.” I take my hands off the desk and put them on my hips.
“…right…” I chew my tongue at his dubious tone. “Can I see your feeding contract?”
“Of course.” The Dynast places his tablet on the counter.
“It’s the same contract that you saw yesterday. FYI.” I sass the guard.
“Miss Stone? Are you alright?” No, not really. When I was practically running my father’s business, I didn’t take shit from anyone. Having to keep quiet and take this crap was making my jaw ache. Oh, and my throbbing neck doesn’t have me in the best of moods either.
“Ma’am, if you are in distress then you can be escorted to a medical centre, and the Korvian will be detained whilst you recieve treatment.” What did he just say?!
You know what? Fuck it.
“One?”
“Miss Stone?”
“No.” I hold up a finger at the Dynast. Thisracist fuckeris going to get it. “No.One,Officer…” I lean forward and make a point of reading his name badge. “Princeton Grovner, my contract with the Dynast is the same as it’s always been, and we registered it with the central database, so you don’tneedto keep asking to see itevery timewe come to the base. You can just click and search on your system. Two? Same goes for his clearance paperwork.” I throw a thumb up at the Dynast. He places a hand on my shoulder to try and stop my rant, but I have reached my limit. “Three, this is next leveldiscriminationthat you keep putting the Dynast through, because of his species, and Iwillbe logging a complaint.”
“Would you like me to get my manager?” Princeton blinks slowly, unphased.
“No, sweetheart, because we’re about to have an interview, and if this prejudicial treatment doesn’t stop, right now, I’m name droppingallyou mother fuckers.”
“Miss Stone!” The Dynast tries to pry me back from the desk, but I glare at him with my nostrils flared, and his hands pause in the air. “Please don’t make threats.” He begs me with his lilac eyes.
“He’s right. You shouldn’t threaten an officer. What time was that interview?” Princeton smirks, and I know what he’s thinking. He’s going to purposefully stop us going through for hours so we don’t make it.
Ha! He wishes.
“Well, in about 30 minutes.” The Dynast sighs, also connecting the dots together for what the guard will now do. He rubs his temples, but hasn’t noticed my smirk. “And if you don’t let us through, we’ll call herhere.”I put both my hands on the desk. “And she’ll interview us,here.”The Dynast looks at me almost as shocked as Princeton does. “And I meanright here.In front of you. Where I can nameandshame you.” I fold my arms on the counter and smirk at him. “The Dynast’s paper work is legit. His clearance is top notch. As is my contract. I amwillinglyhis feeding companion, and sinceheiswaytoo nice to call you out on this racist shit, I’ll do it. I’m a resident, merchant class, so believe me when I tell you that I havecrushedbigger dicks than you with far less fucking effort to part them with millions. So?” I smirk and shrug arrogantly at the pale guard. “Your move asshole.”
“…” I feel the Dynast staring at me, but I’m in the zone right now. This is the part of hostile negotiations where if I blink too soon, the opposition will see that as weakness and resist me. Not going to happen.
