Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 87050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Sala noticed, of course, and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, sweet one,” she told me, just before the elevator began to slow its descent. “You’re safe, and I promise you’ll grow used to your new life before you know it.”
CHAPTER 14
Tessara
We emerged from the space elevator onto a glassed-in gallery high atop the slender, towering station building. I was struck breathless by the sight of Prosperia City spread out before us. Gleaming spires of crystal and metal reached toward the sky, their surfaces colored with iridescent hues that seemed to dance in the sunlight. Lush gardens cascaded down the sides of buildings, creating a harmonious blend of nature and architecture that made my mind reel.
The streets below seemed a marvel of order and beauty. Elegant hover-carriages glided silently along wide boulevards lined with trees bearing exotic, colorful blossoms. Men in impeccably tailored suits and top hats strolled arm in arm with women whose elaborate dresses and parasols created a rainbow of color against the backdrop of the city.
Fountains adorned with intricate statuary dotted the landscape, the sparkling waters a soothing visual symphony that somehow carried even to our elevated position. In the distance, I could see a vast park, its verdant expanse broken only by winding paths and serene lakes that glittered like jewels in the afternoon sun.
As our transport wove through the city, I pressed my face against the window, trying to take in every detail. The air seemed cleaner, fresher than anything I had experienced before. Even the light felt different—softer somehow, as if filtered through a gauzy veil that enhanced rather than obscured the beauty around us.
All too soon we arrived at our destination, though, and the serene beauty of Prosperia City gave way to a very different scene. The refugee center loomed before us, a utilitarian structure that stood out dramatically from the elegance of its surroundings. As we stepped out of our transport, the sounds of controlled chaos washed over us.
Inside, the center presented a hive of activity. Well-dressed Prosperian men and women moved purposefully through the crowd, their faces set in expressions of determined compassion as they tried to bring order to the influx of newcomers. Refugees from a dozen different worlds milled about, their faces etched with a mixture of hope, fear, and exhaustion.
A cacophony of accents filled the air, some almost incomprehensible to me, interpreters’ attempts to translate only adding to the confusion. Children cried, adults argued, and above it all rode a constant drone of announcements and instructions.
I felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sensory input. The smell of too many bodies in too small a space, the flickering of holographic displays showing everything from legal documents to star charts, the occasional flash of a medical scanner as harried-looking doctors moved through the crowd—it all combined to create a dizzying assault on my mind.
Sala’s hand on my arm steadied me, her calm presence an anchor in the storm of activity. Alpha’s imposing form seemed to part the crowd effortlessly as we made our way deeper into the center. I clung to them both, grateful for their guidance in this alien environment.
Sala’s voice cut through my distracted observations. “Alpha, darling,” she said, a note of puzzlement in her tone, “isn’t Gamma supposed to meet us here?”
I felt a flutter in my stomach at the mention of Alpha’s brother. The mysterious man who had apparently come all this way just to meet me.
Alpha’s brow furrowed slightly as he scanned the bustling crowd. “I thought he would be,” he replied, his deep voice tinged with a hint of concern. “He said he’d be waiting when we arrived.”
We all began to look around, searching for any sign of Gamma among the sea of faces. I wasn’t sure what exactly I was looking for—would he be as massive and blue as Alpha? Would there be some family resemblance that would make him stand out?
As my eyes scanned the crowded room, I suddenly caught a flash of movement near the entrance. A tall figure was striding purposefully toward us, his presence commanding attention even in the chaotic atmosphere of the refugee center.
My breath caught in my throat as I took in his appearance. He was dressed impeccably in the fashion I had already learned to recognize as that of a Prosperian gentleman—a finely tailored black frock coat hugged his broad shoulders, tapering to a narrow waist before flaring out over his hips. A waistcoat of shimmering silver brocade peeked out beneath, adorned with an intricate pattern of swirling galaxies that seemed to move as he walked. His trousers were perfectly pressed, falling in crisp lines to polished black boots that gleamed even in the harsh lighting of the center.
But it was his face that truly captured my attention. His skin was the same striking shade of blue as Alpha’s, his features sculpted and regal. His short, dark hair was neatly styled, framing a strong jawline and high cheekbones. And his eyes—an intense blue that seemed filled with an inner light—locked onto mine from across the room.