Niq - New Adult

Chapter 9

I only allow myself a few minutes of weeping in the dark and the leaf litter before scratching around for my wig and hat.  I walk back to the car, where Sheb waits patiently.  He is flicking fingers across his compad and barely looks up as I jump in.  “So, my Queen, how did it go?”

My first instinct is to fall apart on Sheb’s massive shoulders, wail and tell him how much I am hurting.  But if anyone rejects a Queen’s advances, the consequences are dire.  Onrhi could be jailed for life just because he didn’t immediately ravage me.  Sheb loves me like a niece – he’d happily pull Onrhi’s arms off if he thought it might restore my hurt feelings.

So I lie.  “It was alright.  I didn’t go into anything because he was too busy blathering on about the Wild.  Maybe another time.”

Sheb locks his compad and starts the engine.  “It’s probably just as well, Niq.  You haven’t really thought anything through yet.  Maybe you’ll find someone more interested in being around a Royal.”

“Maybe.”  I can’t do any more words.  If I have to keep speaking, I’ll shatter along the fine lines which are already appearing on my heart.  “Let’s go home, Sheb.  I’m exhausted.”

I lean forward and speak to the player.  “Dance tracks and crank up the volume, bitch.”

“Certainly,” complies the automated voice of the player, obligingly pumping bass and melody through the speakers, negating the need for any further interactions.

Back at my palace, I grab my Wred compad and an angora blanket.  On the balcony outside my room, an egg chair swings from a frame.  This has always been my go-to safe place: something about the rocking is incredibly soothing to my soul.  I curl up inside the round shell and open the pad.

There’s no sign of Onrhi.  His profile bar is dark and he hasn’t posted anything since before our meeting.  After a few moments of vacillation, I bravely call his phone, but it rings out.  I leave messages for him, but I doubt he wants to speak to Wred right now.

Not like he wants to speak to Niq either…  I can’t reach him to explain and I can’t tell anybody about his rejection, or I risk his safety.  Frustrated, I’m about to sigh, but instead, a defiant thought strikes me.  I wonder if I can use my Niq-ness to my advantage for once.

I swap compads, and as Niq, I send Onrhi a public forum message.  This Queen loves her green!  I type with false cheeriness.  I hear you’re a Wild guide – maybe you can take me for a walk on the wild side ;)  Come to my palace tomorrow for sunset.

There.  I feel simultaneously proud and disgusted with myself.  He will have to come.  But he won’t want to.

I sleep outside in the swinging chair, and allow the rocking to convince me tomorrow will be better.

“Miss Niq?  Miss Niq, you need to wake up.”  Schteve’s voice grates against my sleepy brain.  My eyes scratch open and I immediately regret it.  Burning morning sun heats my exposed skin.  I flip my fluffy blanket over my head and wave a hand at Schteve.

“Go away, Schteve.  It’s too early.”

“Begging your pardon, Miss Niq, but it’s after 11am, and the Lord High Chancellor has requested a meeting with you.”

“What?  When?”

“Now.” 

Incredulous, I lower the blanket so I can give Schteve a black look.  “Now?”

Schteve’s eyes are round with terror as he nods.  “There’s two Parliament guards waiting in the foyer to escort you.”

What would Vix do?  She’d pull a big Royal hissy fit, throw things at her man-maid and post online about how she was a Queen and at nobody’s beck and call.  But Vix knows how to play the game.  With her open sexuality and adaptation to the system she’s been born into, Vix has nothing to be concerned about.