Page 13 of Souls of Steel
“The power of Tartarus is not like the energies you control, High Priestess, and you know that very well. It’s a highly destructive, all-consuming fire. It will burn her from within, especially considering her less than adequate physique.”
Oh, for Gaia’s sake. I was growing tired of everyone deeming me inferior because I was a woman. I opened my mouth to protest, to point out that I’d already passed the largest trial—connecting with the soul of the chimera.
My mother grabbed my shoulder and squeezed it tightly, almost as fierce in her hold as Flight Lieutenant Alexander. I got the message and stayed silent. “General Rhodes, what guarantees do I have that Selene will be safe on Tartarus Base?” she asked.
“None whatsoever. Chimera Academy is a dangerous place and for a woman… Well, you can imagine how it will be. I advise you to prepare for the worst.”
At that, I could no longer hold my tongue. “Prepare for the worst?” I repeated. “I don’t understand.”
My mother let out a heavy sigh. “Sweetheart, I know I haven’t explained too much about how things are on Tartarus Base. I should have, but I didn’t have the heart.”
I frowned, even more confused than before. I knew very well that women were looked down upon by Chimera royals and nobility. I’d been aware of it even before today.
But her demeanor suggested there was something more going on, something she’d kept from me. “You didn’t have the heart for what?”
“How should I say this?” My mother absently toyed with the sleeves of her robes. “While Chimera Academy is an all-male university, Tartarus Base is a mixed gender community.”
I nodded. Of course it was. The men couldn’t be separated from their wives or daughters. Here on Earth, we had a similar system. While men and women lived separately, we did interact from time to time. My father wasn’t a native to New Washington at all, but he dropped by to visit often.
I’d thought the situation at Tartarus Base was similar, but apparently not.
“The structure of their society is a little different from what you know. The women who live there come from two categories. First, there are the mothers and sisters of the Chimera Warriors. Typically, these women are nobility and they live sheltered lives. Their sole reason for existence is to carry on Tartarus’s Gift. Then, there are the sex workers. Men have needs and a lot of Terran women go there to make a living, to provide certain services.”
My mother had been kind in her assessment, but I could read between the lines well enough. After all, it didn’t take a genius. “So they’ll all see me as a…”
I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. General Rhodes did it in my stead. “A prostitute. That’s what you’ll be, for most of the students and the staff at the academy. I can put in a good word for you with the dean, but beyond that, this is out of my hands.”
My head was starting to spin. I remembered the way General Rhodes had looked at me earlier and how uncomfortable I’d felt under his scrutiny. Then, I recalled Flight Lieutenant Alexander’s strange behavior toward me. He had been so dismissive of me at first, but there had been an odd intensity about his gaze, something that had made me hyperaware of my own body. When he had helped me, he’d seemed different. Why?
Discarding those thoughts, I did my best to hide my dread. “I have the Sphinx. She’ll keep me safe. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s brave of you to think that, if naive.” General Rhodes sighed. “I can only hope you’re right. High Priestess Renard, since the school year starts in a week, we don’t have much time to waste. If you can send someone to gather Ms. Renard’s belongings, we can place her and her chimera on a flight to Tartarus Base within the next couple of hours. We’re fortunate that the private shuttle of the Chimera royal family is in orbit. I’ll speak with His Royal Majesty, King Philip, and make the final arrangements.”
My mother nodded. “Thank you, General Rhodes. I’ll need a moment to talk to my daughter now.”
“Yes, of course.” The two of them shared a look I didn’t understand. “We will give you a little time to get accustomed to the idea.”
With that, the general flicked his fingers, gesturing for his entourage to come with him. My mother whispered something into the ear of one of the other priestesses. Led by General Rhodes, the men exited the room. A few seconds later, the women followed.
In the wake of their departure, my mother and I were left alone. Shockingly, the room still seemed too small and I still felt a little like I was suffocating.
Chimera Academy. I’d dreamed about it, wished that I could go there, that I’d have a chimera of my own and join the ranks of the soldiers who protected Earth. I hadn’t expected it would happen this way.
Then again, I hadn’t expected many things.
My mother’s stern voice snapped me out of my shocked trance. “Listen to me very closely, Selene. General Rhodes is giving you a chance. The Chimera royal family has a son who is your age and he’ll likely be on the transport.”
I looked up at her, wondering where she was going with this. “Yes, I know. Prince Brendan.” I’d heard all about him from Louise. “What about him?”
“You’re a lovely girl. If you… familiarize yourself with Prince Brendan, he might support you while you’re away.”
My mind went blank as I processed her suggestion. “W-What?” I croaked out shakily.
“There’s no shame in it, sweetheart. Having a sexuality is normal and he may be able to keep you safe. If people know that you belong to—”
I knew she was only trying to help me, but even so, her words made me recoil. “I don’t belong to anyone. I’m my own person and I’m a chimera tamer now. I’m not afraid of them. If I meet Prince Brendan, I’ll be polite, but I won’t throw myself at him like some slut. Besides, I wouldn’t know how to do that even if I wanted to. And I don’t.”
By the time I finished my rant, I was breathing hard, a strange heat building up in my body. It reminded me of earlier, of the moment I’d reached out to the Sphinx to summon her. This time, I had no such focus and for a few moments, I panicked, not knowing what was going on with me.
