The other two Aurelians are called Cyrus and Varian. Gallus is their leader – and he acts that way as the three Aurelians wordlessly form a circle around me, shielding me from the prying eyes of the crowd.
Like that, they walk me out of the marketplace and into a quieter neighborhood. Their big bodies shield me from the outside world. I feel strangely safe, surrounded by them… but the true danger is the three men hulking around me.
Good. I need quiet. I need focus.
I ask myself a simple question: Who am I?
I’m not Mia anymore. Well, not Mia the street urchin-turned professional thief and hustler, who has been stealing, lying, and thieving for as long as I can remember.
Now, I’m Mia, the poor, abused maid – who had to take a work contract just to feed herself, and who wanted out when she discovered that her new employer was abusive.
Remember your story, I remind myself desperately. If the Aurelians find out the truth, you’re facing fifteen years in jail. You can’t let anything slip.
Gallus leads us through the streets, to a nearby café away from the bustle of the marketplace.
I have to remember he hasn’t told me his name yet. Don’t screw this up, Mia!
The small cafe has a few groups of men gathered there, drinking black coffee from tin cups – as the people of my culture have done for as long as we can remember. Everyone glances up as the Aurelians enter. Just as quickly, they avert their eyes.
I’m sometimes glad for the scourging, hot sandstorms that wreak havoc across our world. While they make life on Deemak dangerous and unpredictable, they have also prevented automation and robotics from taking over so many of the jobs that the residents of Sector 3 and Sector 4 rely on. Ironically, the same sandstorms that frequently claim so many lives have also saved them – preserving the importance of human labor and helping ensure that Deemak doesn’t become just another bleak, dystopian nightmare – like one of so many human worlds that sank beneath pollution and industrialization as soon as they shucked off the mantel of Aurelian protection. I’ve heard horrific tales from travellers in the bars and pubs.
Well – other times I still curse the sandstorms – especially when I’m forced to cower inside, hiding like a meek little mouse from the whipping winds and razor shards of sand.
Gallus pulls out a chair for me, and I sit. The Aurelians move the other chairs out of the way, sitting cross-legged on the pillows of the chairs, instead of the wooden chairs themselves. At first, I think it’s ridiculous – but then I realize the chairs, made for human-sized occupants, wouldn’t have been able to support the weight of these towering, muscular aliens.
My heart is pumping. I can’t believe I’m doing this. I can’t believe I’m here…
…but, I am. I’m surrounded by three Aurelians. I never could have imagined this happening – the lunacy of Darr’s plan – but it is, and it’s real.
Cyrus grins at me. It’s a smirking, cocky grin that would make me want to punch him in the face if I wasn’t planning on stealing his most precious possessions.
“I’m Cyrus,” the towering alien introduces himself. He nods to his companions. “That’s Gallus, and the quiet one is Varian.”
Joke’s on you – I already know.
But I have to pretend not to.
Varian gives Cyrus a glare, and if I wasn’t terrified of getting exposed and arrested for what Darr and I were planning, I’d probably laugh at the mischievous Cyrus taunting his oh-so-serious friend.
“I…” I mutter. “Thank you.”
Varian gives me an even look. He isn’t as friendly as the others, but I detect a hint of… hunger beneath his suspicion.
“What happened to you?”
I swallow. I don’t have to pretend to be nervous – that’s happening naturally.
The waiter comes by, giving me a moment to prepare. The Aurelians look at me expectantly.
“Coffee, please,” I murmur, and the three Aurelians nod – wordlessly demanding a pot for all of us to share.
As the waiter walks away, I take a deep breath. I get ready to tell the most important lie of my life.
“I… I grew up in Sector 4,” I murmur. “I heard from some friends that an off-world merchant was looking to hire a maid, so I took the opportunity.” I widen my eyes – because even though my story is fake, the emotions behind it are genuine. “You… You don’t know what it’s like to be hungry… To be desperate.” I let my eyes fall to my lap. “I was such a fool.”
I am such a fool. I shouldn’t be doing this.
Gallus reaches forward, taking my trembling hand. When his immense, marble-colored fingers curl around mine, a shiver runs down my spine. His huge hand covers mine completely; and while his touch is gentle, I sense one squeeze of that massive fist could crack every bone from the wrist down.
Gallus is strong and barrel-chested, even by the standards of Aurelians, who are all built like the Titans of ancient Greek legend. He has a short, black beard that is expertly trimmed, along with a thick mustache that contrasts sharply against his ivory skin. He wears the traditional Aurelian outfit of a toga, which bares half his immensely muscled, smooth chest. His battle-brothers are dressed in similar outfits.
“You weren’t a fool,” Gallus says softly to me, staring at me with his slate-grey eyes.
He might be playing at the gentleman, but I see the hunger in his gaze – the same as I detected from Varian.
I’m not an idiot – I’ve seen it in men before, but they were always too scared to act on it; not with Darr protecting my virginity like it was a valuable asset.
Now, I
