The Raspite Prince
Chapter 5

Patrick laughs at me. In all fairness, we have nothing like this ship. Our shuttles use light bulbs and string lights, which seem to only light half of what they're meant to.

"It's a stream of particles that glow, cycle through a machine in the engine room, re-ignite, and cycle back. We have many things like it that I'm sure you haven't seen before." His shows his white teeth and slight dimples in his cheeks. I quickly turn back to avoid becoming hypnotized by him.

"I can't wait to see them." I'm smiling at first, that is, until we pass a large window in the hall. The broken remains of the passenger vessel are being towed behind this ship. Lights passes through the cracks and windows. Some of this crew must be retrieving bodies or other equipment. I shy away from the view, down toward the floor. Patrick must have seen my sudden change.

"You shouldn't look so sad. You said you had no control over what happened, and had some half-assed assassin not tried to hurt you, no one would have been hurt. So it's really his fault, not yours." The look of kindness in his eyes makes me feel a little better, but he'll never understand completely. I want to be good, to have my powers reflect the kindness that exists in me. I don't like my destructive side.

"It doesn't change the fact that if I had control, I could've taken just him out, not everyone else." We continue up to a door. He pushes a button and a tiny room opens.

"Step in. It's an elevator."

With a grin, I step inside. There was one on the other ship and there were a few in my castle. I don't say anything because I can tell he's trying to nice. Everyone who passes us stares at me while the doors close. It isn't the same as before. I don't sense anyone who's afraid, but rather there's intrigue in their stares. I remember that no one else knows what I am.

"It's because you're beautiful." Patrick becomes a little flustered in his words. "I mean, it's well, um, they are just..."

"You think I'm beautiful?"

He seems to be a bit more nervous after I ask. His eyes meet my own, holding our gaze together for longer than a few seconds.

"I didn't mean to say that, but yes, I think you're beautiful. I meant they are surprised to see you with me. Umm, I mean out of med bay already... Damn it." He's funny, and I can't help laughing. It almost seems that he's not used to contact with a woman in this manner. This means that he's as intrigued with me as I am with him.

"There isn't any reason you should be so frustrated. If it's any comfort, I'm not used to this type of contact with a man either. I promise that it's as uncomfortable for me as it is to you." I smile at him, and he returns it.

"Yeah, I'm not use to this manner of speaking with females. My main contact with women is through barking orders, and well, I've never met a woman I've been attracted to. Bah, sorry, I just keep letting things slip. I don't mean to bumble so when I talk to you."

The elevator doors open, and we step out, heading right, down the hallway. We walk in silence for a few minutes. He leads me to the sliding doors at the end of the hallway.

"I was wondering," I start to say as we enter the large dining area, "if it'd be possible for me to contact my mother to let her know I'm okay and that my father was killed." I stand in awe at the sight of an entire side of the room being glass. The magnificent view of the stars is breathtaking. Several tables are spread out in the center area, and to our other side is a line, with people behind a counter, serving all kinds of foods, most of which I have never seen.

"I'll talk to the captain about it. We do have two more days 'til the council convenes to discuss what actions need to be taken." Lieutenant Wolf pauses. "Did you by any chance contact her during the trip?"

I don't really understand why he's asking. The sternness on his face, however, indicates the seriousness of his question.

"We told her where we're going. Then my father contacted her when we arrived at the loading dock, when we were safely aboard, and then every night. He even contacted her right before the assassin attacked us. Why?" I'm more than just a bit worried about what's going through his head. What is it about my words that makes his face change so drastically?

"That's interesting, and you said that the whole reason your father left was because he found out the Raspites knew of your existence."

He's being a bit mysterious in his questioning, and I'm more than a little uncomfortable with it. We grab a tray and scoot down the serving line. As I point to what I want, it's plated up and placed on my tray. "Yes. Why?" I'm confused.

"I think that tells me how the assassin found you."

Worry fills my mind as we collect our trays and head to a table. We set our trays down, and he pulls out my chair. I'm used to this; although, somehow it seems better when he does it.

"What do you mean? How?" There's concern in my voice.

He pushes my seat in and takes a seat to my right side. "If the Raspites knew you existed, they may have been monitoring the communications from your planet, waiting for an opportunity to get to you. Unknowingly, you and your father played right into their hands," he says as he takes his first bite.

The food I have no longer appears appetizing. My stomach turns at the thought that we led this man to us. "You mean they waited for us to leave. They wanted us to know they were after me. They planned it, expecting our reaction, leaving us out in the open." Tears form in the corners of my eyes. I quickly use my napkin to wipe them away. I pull myself back to a formal and acceptable state.

"It looks that way. I just don't think they planned for our ship to find you first." He reaches up and gently brushes the hair from my face. My eyes interlock with his, which have a hint of shock. No one had ever been brave enough to get that close to me. This made twice that he has become close, and I must admit I like it.

"We walked into a trap." I'm barely able to control the tears as they seem to want out, despite my attempts to hold them back.

"It's okay. Please don't cry. It's just a theory, but there's no way to tell what happened. You really are quite beautiful." His eyes, they're soft and kind.

A voice spoke over the intercom device on his shirt. "Lieutenant Wolf, report to the deck."

His smile calms me down a bit. "I have to go. I will be back as soon as possible." Lieutenant Wolf speaks into his com. "On my way, captain. Turning over special package to Sergeant Meldow." To me he says, "Meldow will take good care of you in my absence, and I'll talk to the captain about contacting your mother; although, he may not allow it with the theory we just discussed."

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He motions to a female guard by the door. She doesn't sit; she hovers over me as the guards at the palace did. Lieutenant Wolf takes his tray and dashes away.

The guard's uniform is darker than the jumper I have on, with stripes of blue down its creases. A laser gun is strapped around her waist, along with a knife of some sort and a pair of electric restraints. Her brown hair is pulled back into a tight bun, with nary a hair out of place. She stands, looking straight ahead. The rest of my meal is in silence; that is, what I could manage to eat, while the thoughts of everything Lieutenant Wolf just said circles in my head.

What if he's right? What if we walked into a trap? What if my father died for nothing? We would have been safer staying put. At least he would still be alive. I need him so much. Especially with the sensation I get around Patrick. My father would have been the one doing all the talking. Perhaps, I'd have been able to push this strange emotion back easier. What is it?

I finish my meal. The female guard hands my tray to a passerby. She orders me to get to my feet and to follow her. It's an awkward silence as she leads me out of the cafeteria. We walk in this deafening quiet for a few minutes, up to the elevator door. I'm not sure if I should speak to her. She doesn't seem happy to oversee my transfer. I'm relieved when the doors open and Lieutenant Wolf, err, Patrick, steps out. It'll take some getting used to, calling him by his first name. I'll practice in my head as well as out loud, to aid in remembering to call him Patrick.

"Good, I didn't miss you." His face is serious. He's upset about something. He dismisses the sergeant and holds out his hand. I take it and step into the elevator with him.

"What is it?" I ask.

"What is what?" he asks, confused.

"The look on your face. Is something wrong?" I glance upward at him, without moving my head.

"Nothing, just aggravation. It's hard sometimes to be charged with so many things. I'll show you to your room. I must get back to the deck. I'll have two of my finest posted at the door to protect you." When he turns toward me, his face changes as his mouth curls at the corners.

"I really don't mean to be so much trouble."

He lets out a laugh. He's slightly taller than I am and slants his head downward to make eye contact. It causes me to let a breath escape—he literally takes my breath away.

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