Page 28 of When Eden Falls

“It would appear so,” Cora said, walking towards the balcony.

“A palace full of pompous, sexist aquamen. I haven’t seen one female here. What do you think they do with them? Lock them up and throw away the key until they’re needed for breeding?”Zamya folded her arms across her chest and huffed. “Palace or not, I still feel like we’re prisoners.”

“Maybe we are,” I said, “but we have to endure this for Oz’s sake.”

Zamya cursed under her breath, her expression tightening. “What was Rooke thinking? We should’ve got Troy to bring the dropship down…”

“Zam! It wasn’t an option.”

“We have no idea where the others are.”

“Zam!” I grabbed her arm, trying to prevent her panic from rising. “For now, it’s the three of us. We need to stay strong. We need to have each other’s backs. We’ll get through this.”

She met my gaze and huffed. “Let’s hope this doesn’t turn out to be the worst idea Rooke’s ever had.”

C h a p t e rT e n

It felt as though several hours passed and still we had no word from Rooke. From where I stood on the balcony, the sea seemed to stretch out forever before me, twinkling against the orange and purple setting sky. The view had become breathtaking, if not surreal.

My mind was a jumble of thoughts, fluttering around on waves of anxiety. Were Rooke and Kobe safe? Was Oz’s wound being treated, and could he really be saved? Were the Akquarians trustworthy? Was it the Akquarians who had sent the space probe which lured the Challenger here in the first place?

For every question I asked, I had no answers.

Zamya’s steps sounded behind me. “I think I found the lavatory. It’s a strange contraption behind the door on the far side of the bedroom.”

I turned to look at her. “Strange in what way?”

“It’s, it’s…” She screwed her face up. “It’s a small hole in the rock. There’s flowing water beneath.”

“Sounds wonderful.” Cora came to stand with us.

We all turned towards the sun setting horizon, drawn towards its beauty.

“I’m starting to get hungry,” Cora said meekly.

“Do you think they’ll feed us?” Zamya asked.

“Depends on what class of prisoner we are, I guess,” I said, trying to ignore my own grumbling stomach.

Zamya groaned. “I checked the door. It’s not locked. We could leave and find some food.”

“You heard whatCaptainBlue Capesaid. If we’re discovered outside this room unauthorised…”

“I know, I know. I just don’t fancy dying of hunger, that’s all.”

The screeching sound of a door opening resounded through the open archway behind us, followed by a scurry of bare feet. We all turned and stalked into the room. Two Akquarian guards appeared in the main doorway holding our backpacks. They threw them down on the floor as three more Akquarians entered. These three were far smaller, clothed from the neck down in flowing fabrics of shimmering pastels. Their unusual garments covered the length of their arms and legs. One had a blue sash wrapped around her waist, accentuating how tiny it was. Their faces were small and feminine. Their blonde hair was pulled back and clasped on top of their heads in a thick spiralling braid. If these were female Akquarians, they were tiny in comparison to the males.

We watched them walk over to the table, placing trays of food upon it. The one with the blue sash smiled at us, and said gently, “I am Yuska, and this is Woohla and Bibska. We will be your attendants for the duration of your stay. We have brought you dinner. My apologies for the lateness in its arrival.”

I prevented myself from gawking at her. Her Alluran was impeccable. “Umm…thank…thank you.”

Yuska pointed to the backpacks on the floor. “We have returned your possessions, although not all, I’m afraid. The weapons are not deemed necessary. Your commander has requested that you, um…raid-ee-o him? Does that make any sense to you?”

I smiled and nodded.

“Good. Please eat, sleep. Tomorrow will be a new day.” The three of them bowed subtly then swiftly departed the room, followed by the two guards.

Zamya approached the table. “Well, she seemed unbearably nice.”