The Island Ch. 02

"We need to make examples of them, at least. The King is away. I am in charge. I will not stand for it. Put them in isolation and bar them the rights to their circle for a month, and make sure a statement is released reminding all scouts that only rescued or willing women return to the city, and they are not to be touched." Prince Felis slapped his hand down on the desk.

"Yes, sir," Ethan replied seriously, "and what of the girl?"

"You say your Luca has talked with her. What do you think?"

Ethan thought for a moment. "Its a tough call. Luca says that although she distrusts us, she seems willing to cooperate. I hope she will not be a problem, that we can test and rank her. If she does not cooperate at all, we wont have a choice but to imprison her I suppose – she has seen too much of the city and may know our location now. It worries me that she came from North Island though – as far as I was aware there have only been hunters passing through the islands for a decade..."

"You think she may be a threat?"

"Possibly...but then...she did not chose to come here. We should watch her nonetheless."

"I agree. Place her in the empty second tier corridor, tonight. Make her comfortable, and then I trust you to assess her. If you think her suitable you may show her the city, and test her yourself."

Ethan nodded seriously. "Anything else, your highness?"

"Not that immediately comes to mind, Ethan, thank you." Felis closed the book on the table, and reached for the wine decanter with a sigh.

Ethan suppressed a grin. "Are you sure you don't wish for a consort or three to keep you company? Your father swears by a little entertainment after book keeping.. " He asked, slyly.

Prince Felis threw a book at Ethan's retreating back, and listened to his advisor's chuckle as it receded down the corridor.

***

Lux explored her new quarters with interest. It was slightly more extravagant than the last room; a large bed, covered with cushions in shades of black, grey and silver. The walls were the same dark rock as the corridors that Ethan had lead her down; uneven, and speckled with some glimmering shards of mineral. The light gleamed off them when Lux moved.

This room held a dressing table with a mirror, a small cushioned stool. Lux gazed at her reflection. She looked like a wild animal, dirt smudged on one cheek, her hair tangled.

Looking over at the bed, she examined the pile of things that Ethan had left her. There was a thick, fluffy white towelling robe, which Lux had the overwhelming urge to bury her face in...but then she remembered how filthy she was, and stopped herself. Ethan had also left her a collection of small bottles. She opened one, and inhaled. It smelt of wild island flowers; exotic and feminine. Lux had a moment of pure nostalgia; she hadn't used cosmetics since she was a child. So many years of washing in the ocean. Of untangling salty hair with her fingers.

She picked up the hairbrush and ran her fingers over the bristles.

***

Prince Felis sat nursing his wine glass in the study, and watched the girl move around the room on the screen before him. He'd been curious to see what the island girl looked like.

He watched her pick up the objects one by one, smelling the shampoo and caressing the brush as though they were foreign objects. He tracked from camera to camera as she tentatively explored the corridor. The wooden doors held identical empty rooms, but the girl only found them locked. All except for the one at the end of the corridor, which Ethan had mentioned was the bathroom.

The view panned from the corridor security cameras to one in the bathroom – there were few rooms in the whole of Pantheon which didn't have a security camera fitted.

She paused when she stepped into the polished silver and white room. In the centre was a large square sunken bath, which she began to run. She looked around in awe as the bath began to fill, lightly touching the fluffy white towels on the rail, running her fingers over the mirror.

Prince Felis found himself fascinated by her reactions to everything, objects and rooms that to him seemed so mundane, just another identical Second Circle corridor, well furnished, but nothing compared to the royal quarters. He had been on trips to the mainland, and slept out on the island, but to live wild on one of the islands...he imagined the girl must have had a hard life.

The bath was almost full, and she began to unzip the suit which covered her from neck to ankles. Felis watched as the leather peeled away from her pale skin, exposing her athletic but feminine frame. She slid into the water, and he could almost hear her sigh as the warm water enveloped her. She submerged herself completely.

Felis tapped a control on screen, and the camera zoomed in slightly. The girl resurfaced and stretched out on her back in the water, her eyes closed, black hair floating out in a fan around her head. For a moment she looked utterly peaceful, as though she were sleeping. Then her eyes opened and Felis almost dropped his wine.

Green eyes like a wild cat's seemed to look almost directly through the camera, although she couldn't possibly see it, behind the mirrored glass on the ceiling. Her gaze was so heated, so intense; it seemed to cut right through him.

Felis stared back for a moment, acknowledging a wealth of determination and behind it just a flavour of pain, vulnerability, fear.

He flipped a switch and the screen plunged into blackness. The eyes stayed with him for a moment longer.

He shook his head, and downed the last of the wine in his glass. Ethan was right, he needed a break. Perhaps he should call for one of the girls after all. He deliberated it, then headed to bed alone. What he really needed was sleep.

***