Coraset stood. She walked to the door, but then she stopped before turning the knob. She asked, “The doctor that gave me the examination gave me a shot. What was in it?”
“A vaccination,” Sekai answered flatly.
Coraset didn’t push the issue. She opened the door and saw Hanako waiting in the hallway. She was taken down the hallway to another room. This time, the room was filled with tables of food and sofas. Sheer curtains hung from archways that led outside. The sun was beginning to set, and a warm breeze was drifting through the room.
The women who passed their medical were in there. Some were standing at the tables and fixing their plates. Others were already seated, and they were drinking and eating, as well. At the most were ten women, and they all wore the same outfit as Coraset, a red tunic with a gold rope decorative trim attached and a red skirt. Everyone’s hair was down, and everyone was relaxed and in a better mood.
Coraset glanced around for Katarin. She wondered if she was checked out yet, or if she was turned away because she failed the medical. Deep down inside, Coraset wanted her to be turned away, but she didn’t want Katarin to go back home disappointed. She sat down on an empty settee and waited to see what would happen with the young woman.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
A total of eleven women passed their medical exams and were led to the harem, their new home. They were taken through winding corridors and up five marble steep steps to a final marble landing. In front of them was an arch opening showcasing the growing skyline of the Selatan Region set against a blazing sky about to turn to darkness.
Sekai swung the double doors inward on the right side, and all of the women flowed into a large space. The walls were a peach granite marble with gold trim across the top. The floor had paintings of cherubs and clouds. Four pillars were anchored in the main room, two on each side, and burgundy sheer curtains hung from the ceiling around the pillars. On the left was another extension, and it had tables and chairs where the women could dine comfortably. An entryway was on the far side of that room that led to the kitchen where their food would be prepared for them.
In the main room, there were more couches and large plush pillows big enough to sit on. Near the back was a long banquet table with fruits, vegetables, cheese, and crackers. There was a silver fountain with a red liquid spilling from the spouts. Back behind the table were two openings, one on each end of the wall that lead to the sleeping quarters. To the right was a huge arch opening that led to the harem’s private gardens and pool. Torches brightened the area around the pool where lounge chairs and tables were set up for the girls.
Coraset had to admit the place was spacious and beautiful, but it wasn’t near big enough for the different personalities of eleven women. She didn’t really care for nonsense. She didn’t like drama that could easily be spurred by a bunch of women living together.
The women began to separate and filter throughout the room. Some didn’t say a word. They walked around, touched the sofas, considered the food that was on the table. There were a couple of women who immediately striped off their tunics and skirts and headed for the pool only in their underwear. They were giggling and screaming as they jumped into the water.
Before any of them realized it, including Coraset, the double doors to the harem were closed and locked. When she tried the latch, it wouldn’t turn. Coraset didn’t like that at all. Now, she felt like she was trapped. She’d gone from a prison in the desert to a prison in the palace of Erato, and honestly, she didn’t know if she’d be able to get away from this one so easily.
Katarin pulled on Coraset’s hand and said excitedly, “We need to choose our room! You’re going to be my roommate, right?”
“I guess so.” Coraset answered as she was led across the room to the opening on the left.
From what Coraset could tell, all of the rooms looked the same. There were two beds and two large chests of drawers. There were no windows, and there was a single lamp that hung from the center of the ceiling. Katarin huffed in disappointment at the setup in the bedrooms, and she stood in the last room with her hands on her hip.
“Well, I thought it would look better than this. It’s so plain and boring.” Katarin sat down on one of the beds and bounced on it gently. “You’d think he would give us a better place.”
“You’re living in a palace, Katarin. Nothing is as good as that.” Coraset remarked as she started going through the drawers. She placed her purse with the compact holding the secret vial in the top drawer.
“In his bed would be pretty good.” Katarin remarked with a chuckle.
Coraset was surprised to hear her say that, and peered over her shoulder to take a quick glance.
“I know that red head is with him right now, but I plan on being his wife, Coraset.”
“You do, huh?”
“Before I came here, I was reading about Kama Sutra. That is some wickedly good reading.” Katarin laughed as she sat back further on the bed. “I’m going to do all those positions with him. I forget the names of some of them. There were so many.”
Coraset couldn’t help but to laugh. She sat down across from Katarin once she discovered there was nothing in the chest of drawers.
“I’m a virgin. Do you think he’ll notice?”
“Are you serious, Katarin? Why would you ask me that?”
“Is it an inappropriate question?” Katarin stared at her with confusion.
Coraset began to wonder if she was different. She seemed so innocent like a child at times. She cleared her throat and asked, “No, it’s not, but I won’t be able to tell you if he’ll know.”
“What is the first time like?” Katarin’s attention was glued to Coraset, awaiting an answer.
Coraset didn’t want to continue on the subject. She scratched at her head and pulled her hair back wishing she had a band to pull it in a pony-tail. She knew Katarin wasn’t giving up, and she finally answered, “It depends on the person you sleep with. If he loves you and understands how your body works, then it’ll be beautiful. If you’re with a man who doesn’t care a thing about you, then it’ll be the worse experience you’ll ever remember.”
The seriousness of Coraset’s tone of voice woke Katarin from her fantasy. She remarked naively, “I hope he loves me.”
“He doesn’t even know you.”
“He’ll get to know me, Coraset. He’ll know me, and he’ll love me more than any of the girls here.” Katarin pointed at her and continued, “You watch what I tell you. I was meant to be his wife.”
Coraset wasn’t going to question her certainty. It was obvious where Katarin’s mind was, and she wasn’t about to try and change it. Without saying another word, Coraset stretched out on the bed. As her body relaxed, she began to give up the rest of the day.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
An eruption of glass and shouting brought Coraset from a deep sleep. She sat up in bed confused as to where she was. She remembered she left her purse in the top drawer of the dresser at the foot of her bed. She got up quickly to make sure it was there along with its contents. It hadn’t been touched, and Coraset breathed a sigh of relief. More screaming came from up the hallway, reminding her why she was awakened in the first place. She left the room at a slow pace, not really interested in seeing what was going on.
Just as she came into the main room, she saw Katarin and Aisling toe to toe. Everyone was watching them, as the two argued. The banquet table that had fruits and vegetables the night before was a mess now with bagels, croissants, and other breakfast items strewn all over the floor. Coraset really didn’t feel like breaking up the fight, but it was obvious no one else was going to do it. She stepped to Katarin and pulled her away.
Coraset remarked calmly, “Katarin, calm down.”
