Warhawk's Sacrifice - Ch. 14 - A Princess's Confession - Alpha (Patreon)

Seb adjusted the clothes as he looked into the mirror. The sepix traditional garb reflected the hot atmosphere caused by their three suns. The top layer was a vibrant blue and embroidered in gold; a look reserved for those with positions of status. It covered his arms and extended beyond his waist, giving it a slight tunic look. His bottoms were white and hung loosely, allowing for plenty of air to breathe through them. The assistant paired them with leather sandals that wrapped around his feet and up over his calves. It took them an extra hour to find bottoms without holes in the back, typically meant for wearers with tails.

Seb exited his bathroom and held his arms out. “So, how do I look?”

The sepix assistant, who he’d coordinated his plan with, still stood in the same position he’d left her near his bar. Her head flared in the back where two small nubs protruded. Her size reflected her position, no taller than Seb’s waist. She wore a white dress that covered her blue scales, with a golden shawl that hung from her neck.

“You look ravishing, Master Warhawk,” Fralla said, bowing. “The princess shall swoon with delight when she looks upon you.”

“Let’s hope so,” Seb said. “Tonight needs to be the perfect night. Is everything ready for dinner?”

“The house chef is preparing the meals as we speak. He’s serving large cuts of karasaur steak paired with red wine, one of the princess’s favorite meals. I’ve coordinated with the other staff to prepare a table for you both on the rear balcony that overlooks the house gardens. It should provide a lovely ambience for the evening.”

“What about the wind? It won’t be romantic if we’re fighting keeping our plates on the table.”

“The balcony is completely covered. There’s no need to worry, Master.”

“Perfect. If you’re ready, then I’m ready.”

“Then please follow me,” Fralla said before walking to the elevator.

Seb followed his chauffeur down the elevator and out the back of the ship. He walked down the landing platform onto the estate’s grounds. Perfectly manicured lawns and vibrant flowers of every color imaginable led to their host’s home. It was a stark contrast to the dull sandstone buildings below them that expanded to the surrounding horizon.

The Saladonus’s home was an odd mix of modern architecture built into an organic mountainous structure. The bulk of the home was the peak of a dusty mountaintop with exposed reddish-pink sandstone cliffs. Carved into the front surface with expert precision were columns holding up intricate carvings that Seb assumed were of the family's history. In the center under a massive awning, was the symbol of the Saladonus family: A dragon skull with two horns surrounded by a circle made from twisted threads. There didn’t seem to be any windows, only a massive rectangle opening large enough for a freighter to fly through.

Seb’s jaw dropped once he stepped inside. The interior was completely modernized. The floors sparkled as if walking on liquid gold. Dark wood paneling as tall as Seb stretched across every wall, allowing passersby to get lost into their intricate patterns.

Faux projections of the exterior hid the glass floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing for plenty of natural light to seep through. Deeper into the complex, the same wood for the walls was woven into floral patterns as part of a suspended ceiling. The artificial light above it gave the impression of falling flowers while they walked through the rooms.

An armed guard stood in each new room, eyeing the captain as he passed by. Seb’s footsteps echoed throughout the towering ceilings.

After walking for nearly ten minutes with no end in sight, Seb looked down at Fralla. “This place is enormous. Are we getting close to the dinner spot?”

“We’re about halfway there,” Fralla said.

Seb leaned his head back. “Really? It probably would have been faster to take a ship.”

Fralla stopped and bowed. “My apologies, Master Warhawk. I didn’t realize you were pressed for time. I assumed you’d wanted to see the scenery. It was my understanding you hadn’t been inside yet.”

“While I do appreciate a good castle, I feel like once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.”

While Seb chuckled at his own joke, he realized Fralla’s nervous laughter wasn’t from the fact that she thought it was funny. He cleared his throat and bent down to look into his guide’s yellow eyes.

“You wouldn’t happen to know a faster way to get there, would you?” Seb asked.

Fralla’s eyes darted from side-to-side before she straightened and nodded. “I do, but it wouldn’t be proper etiquette to take someone of your stature there.

“Fralla, I’m a space captain. Formalities are a mere suggestion. Now, I don’t want to get you into trouble, but if it would help your cause, just tell them I forced you to take me the faster route.”

“Then follow me.”

Seb followed Fralla to the closest wall. She stopped in front of a nearby draconic statue that reminded Seb of Silus Saladonus. He watched his guide tapped a random scale, opening a hidden doorway.

The pair walked down the hallway that was appropriately sized for humanoids. The walls and ceiling were carved from the mountain's raw stone. However, it had been smoothed, shaped, and cleaned, but still kept the natural beauty. Dozens of doors filled the space between each crossroads, filling the space with what looked to be offices, bedrooms, and common rooms. Seb quickly found himself overwhelmed with each turn. It was a labyrinth hidden in the walls.

“What is all of this?” Seb asked.

“These are service and utility walkways,” Fralla said. “They house all the mansion’s staff, contain rooms to complete all of our duties, provide storage, and other things.”

“That can’t be right. There’s got to be thousands of rooms in here. You’re telling me this is all just to take care of a few people?”

Fralla smiled. “No… of course not, Master Warhawk. This is the heart of the Saladonus Family. The organization. While there are several hundred staff that are employed just to take care of the caput draconis and his children, the remainder are there in supportive roles to run the organization. There’s communication personnel, medical staff, shipping and receiving, mechanics. Below us there are even more inhabitants.”

“How many people live in the tower?”

“Hmm… that’s a great question. I’m not entirely sure, but I’d guess close to a hundred thousand.”

Seb’s eyes blinked rapidly. “I’m sorry, did you just say a hundred thousand?”

“I believe so. The entire building is its own ecosystem. Most people, like myself, rarely venture out of it. There are dozens of shops, restaurants, housing, and supermarkets all spread across the floors.”

“When’s the last time you’ve left?”

Fralla tapped her cheek. “Hmm… probably several weeks ago when I went to see my family.”

“Your family doesn’t live with you?”

“No, the accommodations provided aren’t ideal for raising a family. The rooms are like shared apartments with individual bedrooms large enough for one person with shared kitchens and living areas. I work five weeks on, two weeks off.”

“That must be hard?”

“It is. But the other mothers help watch my kids.”

“Then why do you do it?”

“Because this is one of the best jobs I could have. The Saladonus Family pays extremely well. I can spoil my boys and pay for them to get good educations. With the loss of their father in the war… I’m blessed to have this job.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

When Fralla looked up at Seb, she smiled at him, but he could see the pain in her eyes. “Thank you for the kind words, Master Warhawk. It’s… been hard. But I don’t mean to dampen your evening. We’re just a few minutes further.”

Seb knew the war had impacted millions in just a few months since the beginning. The Allmother’s relentless assault into FLS territory came with high casualty rates, with the edge territories suffering the most. That it had hit the common folk of their home planet was telling enough.

Seb pushed the somber thought out of his mind. He had a date ahead. The outcome of which would determine whether he could talk Zara into helping them leave the planet to seek more information on the Songless.

No pressure, he thought after taking a huge breath.

Once they reached the end of the walkway, they both entered a utility elevator. It climbed several stories before coming to a resting stop. The smell of freshly cooked meat assaulted his nose when the doors opened. He could tell they were near a kitchen because of the head chef’s shouting that echoed in the corridor.

After reaching the end of the hall, they exited another hidden doorway and ventured out onto a patio. The exterior walls were composed of glass that curved the higher it rose. A similar projection system was in place, giving the exterior a facade of hardened reddish-pink rock.

The view was as perfect as it could be. It overlooked the rear courtyard, which was filled with beautiful bushes lining the sides of an infinity pool that overlooked the edge. A large gazebo stood surrounded by exotic trees that wove into its architecture.

A lone black clothed table sat in the center of the room paired with two metal, red-cushioned chairs. Fralla led Seb to one side before pulling his chair out for him. Once Seb sat down, several other sepix men wearing black and white suits approached the table. They poured him a glass of wine and fluffed his handkerchief before sliding it across his lap.

“Shall you be needing anything else before I depart, Master Warhawk?” Fralla asked.

“When can I expect Princess Zara to arrive?” Seb asked.

“The princess is waiting for confirmation of your arrival. I will be calling her room shortly.”

“How far is it?”

“A five-minute walk depending on her route.”

“Thank you, Fralla.”

“You’re very welcome, Master Warhawk,” Fralla said with a slight bow. “Should you need anything, the staff here will wait on you. Just call or motion to them and they will rush to serve you.”

After another bow, Fralla disappeared behind the hidden walls. The three servants stood idle near the wall. While they weren’t staring directly at him, he could tell they were watching him intently, waiting for any indication he needed something.

Even though he was sitting in direct sunlight, it surprised Seb how cool he felt. He couldn’t tell if it was because of the natural stone interior or the projection system was filtering out the heat somehow, but it was a nice change of being directly outside. He had all the benefits but none of the negatives.

After a few minutes passed, a distant clack of heels echoed throughout the nearby chasm. Seb turned to see Zara’s yellow eyes glowing in the dim light. He stood from his chair and waited for her to approach.

Zara was back in her humanoid form. She wore a matte black dinner dress that hugged the curves over her body. The sleeveless design exposed her smooth shoulders and collarbones. Her long red hair was pulled up into a decorative bun.

When she entered the patio, her stride slowed and her jaw dropped. Her smile was radiant as she looked Seb up and down. “Am I dreaming? Are you wearing a shamara?”

“I think so?” Seb said, looking down at his arms and legs. “I asked for something more traditional for your culture.”

“Spin around for me.”

Seb extended his arms and performed a quick turn. “Do you like it?”

“Like it? I love it. I never thought that you would wear something like this.”

“Well, I wanted to surprise you.”

“Asking me to dinner was a pleasant enough surprise… but this…” Zara smirked and crossed her arms. “What’s your game, Sebastian?”

Seb let out a short laugh before pulling out the nearby chair. Zara eyed him with a mixture of seductiveness and intrigue as she meandered to the chair. When she sat down, Seb got a great view of the rest of her dress. It hugged her sides before tapering down into a point just above her bottom. He wasn’t quite sure how the dress stayed up, especially supporting her heavy breasts, but he wasn’t about to question the view.

After pushing her chair in, Seb took his seat across from her. The servants swarmed them both. Seconds later, a whirring sound echoed from the hall next to them.

The chef, who was nearly as tall as Seb, pushed a cart to the table. He pulled off a metal top, revealing both of their meals: sizzling hocks of meat covered in herbs and butter. There were no sides, just cuts of meat as thick as Seb’s fist. The smell alone was enough to make his mouth water.

After placing the plates in front of each guest, the chef bowed. “May Varanidae bless this meal for you both. Enjoy.”

“Thank you, Chef,” Zara said before the man nodded and wheeled the cart away. “Karasaur steak, my favorite wine... You are wearing a shamara. What’s all this about?” Zara asked with a smile.

“I just wanted to say thank you,” Seb said, not missing a beat. “We haven’t had a chance to speak since we arrived on Mahad. I’ve been busy repairing the Amnesty. I’m sure you’ve been busy with your own affairs. Plus, I know what you did for the crew.”

“And what did I do?”

“Eni’s got whole new hardware in her server room. Nalla’s got brand new equipment we didn’t order for the medical office. I know I didn’t order it and it didn’t come out of my company's budget.”

“It didn’t come from me, directly. It came from the family.”

“The family?” Seb asked with furrowed brows.

“Let’s just say you and Iris made an… impression. The Saladonus Family is now head of the Table. This is just a gratitude bonus for a job well done.”

“Then I think congratulations are in order,” Seb said, raising his glass. “To the Saladonus Family.”

“Yes… to us…”

They tapped glasses and took a sip of wine and ate. The meat was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The fat soaked up a lot of the butter, making it burst into his mouth with each bite. They both moaned and laughed as they enjoyed their meals.

“So,” Seb said, cutting into his meat. “How are things with the race team?”

“Things are going well,” Zara said after swallowing. “Hypercore is proving fruitful financially. And since Benioff’s unfortunate demise, we’ve been able to grow ourselves even more politically among the other race team sponsors.”

“That’s great. Have you found other pilots?”

“We’re testing a few for next season. But who knows. Maybe things will settle down long enough for us to bring Vi back for another test.”

“I’m sure she’d love that.”

“Yes, I’d imagine she would.”

Seb only finished half the plate before calling it quits. Given what he expected to happen after dinner, he didn’t want to leave with a heavy stomach. However, Zara continued until she finished the meal in its entirety.

Not once did she look away from him as she ate. She stared at him with her vibrant yellow eyes. He’d seen that look from her before, most notably when they’d shared the corporate condo bedroom during their first meeting. They screamed of desire and possessiveness. She wanted him, and that’s exactly how he wanted her.

“Did you not enjoy the food?” Zara asked after padding her lips with the handkerchief.

“No, it was wonderful,” Seb said, tapping his stomach. “Probably one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. It’s just a lot for me. I didn’t want to eat so much to where you’d have to roll me out of here.”

Zara let out a short laugh. “That would be fun. Speaking of, did you also make after dinner plans?”

“I figured we’d see where the night would take us.”

“You do realize during this time of year, Mahad doesn’t really have a night. We only get about an hour of darkness?”

“Then I guess we’ll have to make the most of it.”

Zara took another sip of wine, not taking her eyes off him. When she finished her drink, she set the glass down and snapped her fingers. The three servants sprinted to the table.

“Bring another bottle and two fresh glasses,” Zara said.

“Yes, Princess,” one man said before sprinting to the kitchen.

When he returned, Zara stood from her chair and extended her hand to Seb. “Come. Let’s take a walk.”

Seb wiped his mouth with his handkerchief and stood from his chair. He held out his arm to Zara, and the pair strolled through the great halls. The servant struggled to keep up with their long strides, doing his best to hide his panting.

“Where are we going?” Seb asked.

“You’ll see,” Zara said with a sly smile.

They walked through several rooms, all the servants and guards bowing when they passed. It seemed excessive, but Seb wasn’t going to question their customs. After a few minutes of casual strolling, they stepped in front of two massive stone doors with intricate draconic carvings embedded on the front.

Four men stood in front of the doors. When they noticed the pair coming, they pushed the doors open. Stone grinding upon stone reverberated throughout the halls. Once the doors were cracked enough for Seb to see through, his jaw dropped.

It was a cavernous water system. The ceiling was covered in smooth, bulbous stones that gave the look of rolling clouds. Water slowly dripped into the pool underneath, creating a sound of slow dripping rain that cascaded across the walls. The smell of burning incense that sat from golden chandeliers fought against a heavy earthy smell coming from the natural formations.

In the center of the ceiling, the cavern spiraled up, allowing for a bit of natural light to fall through onto the shimmering turquoise water below. The soft reflected light danced along walls, creating projected ballet. Small waterfalls fell in from the walls, creating a thin mist that hung above the water. Several dark brown wooden doors stood closed along the side wall. Hand carved stone lounge chairs and tables sat along the pool's edge.

“Wow, this is beautiful,” Seb said.

“I was hoping you’d like it,” Zara said. “It’s my favorite room in the estate. It’s my own private escape from the chaos of everything.”

“I can see why. I love the sound of the water droplets. The ambience is lovely.”

Zara smiled and let go of Seb’s arm. She turned around and grabbed the glasses and bottle from the servant before ordering him out of the room. Once he exited, the guards closed the door behind them.

Zara walked over to a nearby table. She sat the glasses and wine bottle down. After walking to one of the nearby doors, she entered the room only to return seconds later holding several white towels.

“Here,” Zara said, handing one to Seb.

“What’s this for?” Seb asked.

“One of my favorite things to do after a long day is spend some time in the sauna and then take a dip in the pool. It recharges your system and is quite relaxing.”

“I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”

“Neither did I,” Zara said with a wink. Zara shimmied her dress down revealing her wide apple bottom. She pulled the pins out of her hair allowing it to fall down her. After wrapping the towel around her supple breasts, she turned and posed. A small ray of light crept through the gap in her thighs.

The princess took a step forward, leaning slightly to pull Seb’s gaze toward her assets. She curled her finger and seductively smiled. “Are you coming?”

Seb swallowed hard and nodded. As Zara watched intently, Seb pulled off his clothes and folded them onto one of the stone chairs. She laughed playfully before grabbing his hand and leading him to one of the nearby doors.

Inside were wooden benches stacked into three levels. Sitting in the center was a small stove with hot rocks sitting on top of them. A wooden bucket held a ladle floating in the water.

When Zara opened the door, it felt like she opened an oven. A burst of hot air hit Seb in the face, that almost made him want to turn his head away. He’d never been in a sauna before, so he wasn’t sure what to expect. But he didn’t expect to sweat immediately.

“So what do I do?” Seb asked.

“Have you never been in a sauna before?” Zara asked. When he shook his head, she pointed to the middle row. “You can sit there. Either on top of your towel or with it covering you. You pour water on these heated rocks that create steam. We’ll just sit here and talk.”

“Talk and sweat,” Seb said, before climbing onto the bench.

Zara chuckled. “Well, maybe for you.”

“You don’t sweat?”

“Normally no. Sepix can adjust their body temperatures according to their surroundings.”

“That must be nice. It’s already boiling.”

“Oh, it’s not that hot.”

“Maybe to you. Humans can’t quite take the same extremes. Unless you want me coming out like a shriveled piece of bacon, I’d appreciate it if it didn’t get any hotter.”

“I’ll keep it low then.”

Zara walked to a terminal that was mounted on the fair wall. Seb watched as she lowered the temperature in the room. While he didn’t feel any immediate relief, he appreciated that she tried to accommodate him.

After making the adjustment, Zara walked to the center of the room and poured a scoop of water onto the hot stones. The water turned into steam, filling the room with the sizzling and popping sounds. Seb leaned back and took in a few deep breaths. While he was far from comfortable, his body slowly acclimated to the temperature.

“How long do we stay in here for?” Seb asked.

Zara climbed onto the second bench and sat next to him before answering. “Since this is your first time, we should keep it to ten minutes, but normally I do an hour or more.”

Seb jerked away from her. “An hour? You can’t be serious.”

“That’s pretty typical for me.”

“Well, no wonder you look so good. You’re burning off everything you eat just sitting in here.”

Zara covered her mouth and laughed. “That’s all just sepix metabolism, but I appreciate the compliment.”

“Yeah… Now that you say that, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fat sepix before.”

“They exist. But it’s rare. Our bodies do a great job managing our food intake and caloric expenditure. We can go for years without eating. We’ll slow down significantly, but it’s possible.”

“Huh, I had no idea. I think most humans would die after a month or two.”

“That’s why your human populated planets require a lot of agricultural needs. I think only the onigaram eat more than humans, but they aren’t quite as populous.”

“Yeah, any time we eat, I always see Mischa taking two to three plates just for herself. She’s stocky, though. Does your species require more food the larger they get through Varanidae’s gift?”

“They most certainly do. But they’ll usually just gorge themselves once a year and be content. But that feast requires us to fly in multiple cargo freighters of meat over several days.”

“Did I make the wrong call making this a dinner date, then?” Seb asked, chuckling.

“No, I finished my meal. If you’ll recall, the Metrovenius office on Atlas is where we met. I’ve spent most of my life in UHC airspace. I’d say my appetite has changed since the first year I started working. A lot of business meetings, especially with humans, are done over dinner. If I didn’t eat, it would be considered rude. So I’ve had to adapt along the way.”

“Was that hard?”

“The first few years, definitely. I felt completely out of my element. I used to… cry alone in my apartment, just wanting to come home. I matured quickly when I realized no one was going to help me. I only had myself.”

“You? Cry?”

“I cry, Sebastian. Is that so hard to believe?”

Seb nodded. “Yeah, kind of. You’re always so formal, calculating, and professional. Like you’ve always got this impenetrable shield up. There’s only been a few times I’ve seen cracks in it. There was the time I was venting to you while we were in the shuttle at Himora station. You seemed upset at how upset I was in how you treated me. And now… before a few seconds ago, I’d never even considered you would cry.”

“There’s a reason for that. I’m my father’s daughter. We’re all products of our environment. My father never wanted girls. He only wanted boys. He devoted all his love and attention to my brothers. Unfortunately for him, they are all idiots.”

“How many brothers do you have?”

“Seventeen. I’m the only girl.”

“Ouch,” Seb said, leaning back and grimacing. “That must have been hell growing up.”

“It was, but I love my father. I knew unless I could give him what he wanted, the best hope I had was to be married off like some bargaining chip. So, I devoted everything to the family and our holdings. While my brothers partied and squandered my father’s fortunes, I went to school and studied business. I worked harder than all of them, sacrificed everything I had for the family. It wasn’t until I earned my first million that my father gave me his full attention.”

“How did you do that?”

Zara leaned over and slid her finger down Seb’s chest. “It was you.”

“Me?”

“The job to steal the engine plans. While the job wasn’t ideal, given that you were arrested. That data stick we gave you was hot. When you plugged it in, it activated malware and sent us everything we needed to be competitive. Even though you weren’t able to deliver it, we were able to… acquire it once it was placed into evidence. It spearheaded our technology years ahead.”

“What?” Seb said, wide-eyed. “You never told me that.”

“I didn’t know if I could trust you after you got out of incarceration.”

Seb’s eyes darted back and forth as he thought about it. While it didn’t change the situation, he’d always believed the mission was unsuccessful. “I… I don’t know how to feel.”

Zara stepped down to the bench in front of Seb and got on her knees. She leaned herself onto his spread legs and looked up at him with soft eyes. “Please don’t be mad, Sebastian. I know you’ve always held resentment for me for what happened. And I am sorry.”

“I know you’ve apologized,” Seb said turning his head away. “And we talked about it at length. But Maker be damned it still sucks knowing I lost ten years of my life to that.”

“I hope you know that I’ve done the best that I could to make up for that in the only ways I know how. After that conversation at Himora Station, I’ve really tried to be what you wanted of me. Every time you’ve come with me with something, I’ve forgone every part of me, the one dedicated to my father and family, telling me to say no. That your ideas are insane, and I shouldn’t agree…”

Seb let out a small laugh. “I’m surprised you have.”

“It’s because I trust you, Sebastian. You’ve never once let me down. You’re the only person that I can be honest and open with. I know I may never earn your forgiveness or trust, but I’m trying. I even parlayed with Eni.”

When Seb looked into her eyes, he could tell she meant it. He’d seen the change in her actions since that ride on Himora station. The gifts alone were unlike anything he’d seen from her before. If she was honest with him, which he believed she was, then he was ready.

“I… believe you, Zara, and I think I’m ready to forgive you.”

Zara leaned back, and her eyes widened. “Really?”

Seb smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I forgive you.”

She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Seb’s waist. “That makes me so happy to hear that.”

“I’m happy too.”

Zara bit her lip as she lowered her head. “If you forgive me then there’s something I’d like to share with you.”

Seb tilted his head, but kept his smile. “Okay…”

Zara took a deep breath before she looked back up at him, her eyes soft yellow-eyes, glowing in the hazy light of steam. “I… I love you, Sebastian Warhawk.”