Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“ T his fruit is delicious. It’s a type of candied pear. We could make a pie with these,” said Tiara as she walked through the garden area. Two sentries were escorting her and Maya. At the mention of pies, the two men perked up. They chatted away about all the fruits that would make a good pie. The Velen pears were teardrop-shaped fruits with a velvety, yellow-to-green skin and a juicy, candied flavor. They even told them about a tree with Vyrnac beans that tasted like chocolate, only better. “Now, that I must sample!”

Tiara laughed as the men conspired about how they could get away from their duties for the day-long journey it would take them to get the beans. She loved anything chocolate.

After several days, she’d gotten used to their new routine, though it was less than ideal. A fact she made known to Zade every day since she hadn’t seen Jaxxon. He was always too busy ‘protecting’ them. Yet, he made a point to contact her each morning on the coms to see how she was doing and ask what she needed. He ensured his men met the women’s needs, and gave them privacy and space. They delivered their food and let them out onto the terrace each day. After quite a debate with Zade, he got Jaxxon’s approval to let them walk in the gardens outside with an escort. She enjoyed the company of the two men who rambled on about pies and chocolate.

Walking back inside the compound, Tiara watched the sentries key in the code to open the doors. She remembered the long route through the tunnels they had taken and every code. The elevator doors opened on floor sixty-two. From there, they wound their way through the hallways until they reached the conference center that had become their new home. They went immediately to the terrace, which had become their favorite place to spend time. Tiara sighed. It’s not like we have many options!

“How did the Crelentians build this compound?” said Maya as she looked around.

Tiara raised her brow as she leaned daringly over the terrace railing, marveling at the Villagio fortress and surrounding area. The rugged mountain landscape was beautiful. Elaborate spires reached for the sky, while terraces built from black glass-like stone glimmered under the lighting system along each terrace.

“I can’t even fathom the technology used to create a compound inside a mountain,” Tiara murmured, her voice filled with awe. “The fortress seems to wrap around portions of the mountain as if embracing it.” She giggled. “The cliff faces jutting outward remind me of watchful guardians!”

“Well, I’m eyeing the water cascading over some terraces like a waterfall shower!” Maya winked. “Now that’s our outdoor shower!”

Tiara blushed. “The men would stand in line watching us!”

“And?” Maya laughed as Tiara shook her head, giggling. She knew Maya would find a way for the women to bathe on the terraces, and she was sure that was one thing Jaxxon would probably agree on.

Pointing to several terraces below, Tiara noted that some had intricate archways that led into caverns. Their entrances appeared to have runes that shimmered faintly. “The terraces are truly remarkable! They stretch on various sides of the mountain, and each one has a view of something new. It’s like walking through a thousand worlds, depending on where you stand. ”

“We need more freedom to explore this place. You might like the technology and architecture, but I want to see plush surroundings, silk curtains, and rich furnishings. So far, this place is filthy! And old!” Maya huffed as she made an ugly face.

“True, but we could fix it up.” Tiara’s heart swelled at the thought. They’d been grieving all week, and having better living arrangements would make things better. We need some semblance of a home. And we need a job, schools, nightclubs, and...purpose. She sighed.

“I want to visit the buildings below in the valley that we can see from here. Maybe they have finer appointments inside. We could set up a school for the younger girls to finish their education. And ours.” Tiara glanced down, where the valley spread out like a painter’s palette—vivid green gardens, shimmering rivers reflecting the sky, and paths lined with luminescent flowers that lit up at night.

She took a deep breath, the scent of mountain flowers mingling with the cool, crisp early morning air. She closed her eyes for a moment and let the sensations wash over her, grounding her in this moment of discovery.

“At this rate, we’ll be old ladies by the time Jaxxon lets us venture that far!” Maya rolled her eyes. Tiara agreed.

“Jaxx has been a real bastard! Refusing to give us common freedoms to go wherever we please or even to work. Instead, he seems convinced that men should cater to our every need. Which was fine at first, but now, we’re all tired of being captive women! ” Tiara flung her hands.

Maya roared with laughter, holding her stomach. “Zade cringes every time you say that phrase, captive women . His eyes go all wild!”

“Well, it really pisses Jaxx off when I say it to his face. Well, not really to his face, since he’s always a goddamn hologram!” Tiara laughed. “If I hadn’t met him in real life, I would think he wasn’t real.”

She and Maya laughed and planned to continue giving the men a hard time until they got what they wanted. And they would get what they wanted—they always did, eventually.

Slowly, the girls had gotten comfortable being in the same area as the shadow raiders, though it was still weird to have men gawking at them every time they saw them. The men were only allowed on the floor where the women were housed during certain times of the day and always under the watchful eye of Jaxxon’s security, but it didn’t stop them from staring. Since the gym and entertainment room were on the floor, the men were there as soon as their time slot began.

Passing by the entertainment room, Tiara saw some girls in the room with the men. The men had shown them how to play their game tables. It was one of the few things they could do for enjoyment.

“Jaxx refuses to negotiate over our living conditions and freedoms. But...” Tiara smiled as Maya cocked a brow. “I think I know how to get his attention!”

With access to nearly a half dozen key codes, she created a program to hack into Jaxxon’s security system with the computer modules she’d had in her backpack. A science and tech guru, she went nowhere without her computer and gadgets. They’d always come in handy while working in the mines, and damn if they wouldn’t help them now.

Later, she gathered the girls and told them her plan. Some were afraid, wanting nothing to do with it. But Maya and Lori agreed, and the trio was in charge.

“Is everyone ready?” The girls nodded. She had no idea how Jaxxon would react, but there was only one way to find out.

Tiara attached her computer to the keypad and coded a virus into his system.

The lights went out.

Within seconds, an alarm sounded as emergency lighting turned on. But it wasn’t like any lighting they’d ever seen before. It was an inky darkness that blotted out the little daylight left. The shadows spread like wildfire. The men in the nearby entertainment room rushed in with their shadow weapons raised.

“We’re under attack! Take your positions!” Jaxxon’s voice rang through the speakers .

Men shoved the women to the floor, forming a protective circle around them.

“Oh my god, Tiara! What did you do?” screamed Maya.

“What did I do ? We’re both in on this!”

“It was your idea!” she shouted back as Tiara glared.

Zade rushed into the room with more men. They assumed positions along the terrace doors while others ran onto the terrace.

And then they jumped.

“What the hell?” Tiara screamed, pointing at the men jumping off the terrace. No one could survive that jump.

“Zade, we’re not under attack! I turned out the lights!” Tiara shouted several times as she rose from the floor, rushing over to him.

Zade’s face was a mask of confusion and then something unreadable as he reached Jaxxon on his coms.

“What have you done?” Jaxxon growled as his hologram appeared before her. He was shaking with fury as his shadows swirled around him.

“I...I hacked into your system. The lights and some of the auxiliary security systems are under my control.” She swallowed.

“Turn them on NOW!” he commanded.

She looked at Maya, who was shaking her head. It would all be for nothing if she conceded so quickly. Putting on her best game face, she looked at Jaxxon’s hologram.

“Not until you come to see me face-to-face.” She didn’t stand by to hear his swearing and yelling. She went and sat by the women in the strange, inky darkness.

The alarm went off when Jaxxon announced it was a false alarm.

She couldn’t stop shaking as she sat with the women waiting for Jaxxon to arrive. Several begged her to turn the lights back on, fearful of what would happen to them. But she held fast to their plan.

“Why did the men jump?” she asked Zade, her voice breaking as she couldn’t take her eyes off the terrace.

“To protect you,” said Zade. “But no one can protect you from Jaxx! ”

Tiara moved as far into the corner as she could, her friends acting as a shield, when they heard the elevator door finally open. Heavy boots rang like thunder as each step toward them neared.

She screamed as shadows pulled her from her safe spot, lifting her into the air as if she weighed no more than a feather. Her friends tried to grab her as she was lifted over their heads while another burst of shadows blocked them from getting to her.

Thrown onto a mattress, a heavy blanket of shadows held Tiara down. Jaxxon leaned over her, staring at her with dark brown eyes streaked with violet hues that swirled like a tornado. His eyes had looked the same when he’d been fighting the demons.

Grabbing her hands over her head, he pinned her down. She struggled to break free to no avail as he twisted her hands. She screamed out for help, but no one came.

“Turn...on...the...lights!” Jaxxon growled as his shadows swarmed. Each word vibrated over her flesh as if she were naked, powerless against him.

He was so much bigger up close. His arm muscles rippled as he held her effortlessly with one hand despite her trying to free herself. She kicked out, but he moved over her, using his body weight to straddle her into complete submission. She couldn’t move. She could feel every hard part of him. Biting her lip, she looked into his eyes.

“No, not until we negotiate better conditions and more freedoms!” Her lips quivered as tears poured down her cheeks. She barely got the words out as her bravery faltered.

His hand came up quickly, tracing a tear as it fell. His growling stopped, and his eyes softened. “Is this your negotiating tactic? I told you we are doing our best.” His shadows receded a little as his eyes bore into hers.

“ Tiara , we live in a dangerous world. I need full access to my security systems to protect you and my men!”

The way he said her name sent new shivers down her body, ones she was clear that he noticed as he swallowed and traced another tear. He shifted his weight .

“I’ll turn them back on if you promise to negotiate with me.” Her voice stopped shaking as she realized he wasn’t going to harm her. At least, he wouldn’t right now. He gave her an alluring smile. One she hadn’t seen before and instinctively knew was meant to force someone into complete submission before he unleashed hell.

Jaxxon raised a thick eyebrow. She squirmed under his scrutiny, angry with herself for showing fear. He gave her a half smile before he finally agreed. She sighed loudly, which made him chuckle. He watched every movement as he released her.

Slowly, she got up, inching around him, only to find herself still trapped within his shadows. He gave her a warning smile, finally fully releasing his shadows to let her know he was in control and she was at his mercy. But she wasn’t a fool. She would ensure he wouldn’t see how she turned the lights back on.

She hurried back toward her screaming and crying friends. When Jaxxon released the shadows containing them, they hugged her as she rejoined them. They were happy she was okay. Safely within their circle, with her back turned to Jaxxon and Zade, Tiara reactivated the lights.

And then she began her negotiations.