Prolog

Except for the nervous family members who waited outside the council chambers and the patient council inside, the settlement slept. As with the birth of any child, the family gathered and the council waited to see if the Lunarian birth celebrated a healer or child of the community.

No one understood why a child with no voice possessed The Gift, but everyone understood the first sound of birth determined a child’s way of life. If the baby’s cry shattered the silence, the family raised the child within the community. Should the baby utter no sound, the elders raised the child on Island Home.

A child of the community raised with their family became a vital part of the social structure and grew to accept when one of their siblings, or even one of their own children, needed more lessons to control what they possessed. The Gift, as everyone called it, destroyed if the possessor didn’t learn to wield the magnificence of its power.

Island Home stood protected by a shield, which sheltered the rest of the land from the children who refused or failed to gain control of The Gift since such a price equaled death. The elders never left Island Home unless to deliver the sad news of the loss of a child to a family. To see an elder ride unescorted into a settlement and dismount at a family’s door meant a heartache no one ever wanted to face.

A young healer on Island Home considered the elders an extended family of caretakers and relied on them for everything. They expected and welcomed letter and various other keepsakes from the child’s real family.

At the Age of Training, usually five, a child gained their voice, earned the title of neophyte and learned of the elements. By the Age of Responsibility, generally thirteen, a student graduated to the title of apprentice and studied how to draw the elements.

Upon the Age of Accountability, generally nineteen, a student graduated to the title of cleric and learned how to release the unused elemental powers. At the Age of Hastening, generally twenty-two, a young adult graduated to the title of specialist and acquired the skill to shape elemental force.

With attainment of the Age of Experience, generally twenty-five, an adult graduated to the title of master and with the knowledge of all lessons complete. Most returned to the community where they contributed to their people while some chose to remain an elder on Island Home.

An elder oversaw all levels of education and graduation as the student healer was not ready for life on their own until thoroughly trained. Few ever attained the Age of Ancient Acceptance.

 Chapter One

The full moon shone brilliantly on the new-fallen snow across the land. Moonbeams danced as the white blanket glistened across the landscape. Not a nervous man under normal circumstances, Azrin worried over his wife’s current pregnancy. He paced the corridor until his antsy sons garnered his attention. “If you two boys don’t sit and demonstrate the meaning of quietly behaved I’ll ask an elder to help you do so.”

“Yes, Father.” Their voices in unison, both boys obeyed.

At the sudden hush in the delivery room, the father turned and stared at the shut door. In the lineage decrees of all the previous generations his family boasted two gifted children several generations apart. One died at the hands of another gifted child who lashed out in anger while the other died because he failed to learn control of The Gift.

A cry pierced the night air.

Azrin half-smiled. Although he wanted to be one of the few in his family, he also wished to take his child home for the sake of his wife.

The council chamber door opened and a midwife stepped out. “Lana is fine. You heard the cry?”

The father bowed. “I did.”

“Then you understand you will take that child home?”

Azrin straightened. “I do.”

Proud, the midwife smiled. “Then what you do not know is the other child, a healer, will be taken to Island home.”

“Other child?” The father almost choked. “Twins?”

“Yes. The boy will live with you in the community and the girl will live on Island Home.”

Staggered by the news, Azrin clutched his heart. “Not only will I add a healer to the lineage decrees, but I will also take home a child with my beloved Lana.” Most wives, although revered in their ability to produce a child with The Gift, suffered the agonized absence of their baby.

 Chapter Two

Three days before her eighteenth birthday, Anesya stared while an odd dark shadow slithered across the ground. She looked up and shielded her eyes from the morning sun until a large mass blotted out the brilliant light. The flying metal monstrosity landed in the nearby field. A hole opened on the side of the machine. Red light engulfed her and held her motionless.

“Anesya!” Brolin raced for his student, his hands poised to cast, but the machines proved faster.

She stared as her mentor’s body crashed into the ground with a thud, his robes saturated with blood. “Brolin!” When the red light vanished, three men surrounded her. “Who are you and what did you do to my mentor?” A sharp pain to her head plunged her into blackness.

Anesya awoke with a painful throb on the back of her head. Her fingers ginger, she touched the small, but angry knot and flinched. “Ouch. Brolin?” A strange hum tickled her ears and a metal tang teased her nose. She stared at the steel world around her. “Brolin, where are you? I want to go home. I don’t like this training.”

Cold, drab, gray surroundings filled the room. “Where’s the green grass, towering trees, lush plants, warm ground and blue sky? The air tastes odd and… smells strange.” Her lungs rebelled against the peculiar scent and she coughed then hacked. She covered her mouth with her hand. “This is horrible. Where are you, Brolin?”

Anesya shivered. Her world now consisted of four metal walls, a metal floor with a piece of material and a metal sky with some kind of light. A shielded area in another corner contained some strange devices. The memory flooded. “You’re not coming, are you, Brolin? You can’t come, can you?” She hugged her arms around her stomach and cried herself to sleep.

Startled awake by a strange sliding noise, she sat up and sought the source. A strange man barricaded the new opening. She pressed herself into the nearest corner, her gaze fixed on the dark-skinned male. “Who are you? What do you want? Where’s Brolin?”

Cajun, a human, his approach slow, raised his large hand and offered a toothless smile. “Tis aright now, lass. I jes de cook. Me name es Cajun en I bringed ye someting ta eat, as I will in de morn en de woman be bringing ye night meal.” He set a tray on the floor. “Tis jes food, lass. I not be de one ye need ta fear. Dat be Commander Benet. He de one ye need ask.” His headshake slow, he left the room.

Her ears attune, Anesya inched the tray of food closer. The unfamiliar aromas tempted her senses and beckoned her rumbling belly. Tentative, she picked up a small piece of meat and tasted it. Good or not, she failed to decide until the last gulp slid down her throat. With the chilled liquid downed, she pushed away the tray and curled up in the corner. She slept until awakened by an abrupt sliding noise.

Claudia, a dark-skinned beauty similar to the cook, carried in a food tray. She stepped inside the room and set down the tray near the girl. “Welcome to the ship Sirius. I’m here to teach you the operations of the everyday devices you need to learn to use in order to live in our world. I hope they trained you better than the last Lunarian in the Age of Hastening.”

“I don’t graduate to that Age until at least another year and I want to go home.”

The dark beauty shook her head. “A simple healer will find survival difficult, but there’s not much chance of you leaving. Once Commander Benet sets his mind to something, it’s unchangeable. Come over here and we’ll start with the bath chamber.”

I will go home. Anesya listened and learned the repeated operation of the shower, sink and toilet. For three days, the dark-skinned woman brought her meals and taught her to work the common everyday devices needed to live in the world of machines and technology. She missed the nature she grew up with, but adapted to the modern devices and ate the provided food.

Every day the dark-skinned couple brought food and drink. Although not enough to sate her appetite it quelled her hunger, kept her alive and managed toward the healthy side. As the days passed, the amount of food decreased. She sensed an unpleasantness on the way and saved a few tidbits, but soon discovered such never lasted more than a day before it spoiled.

 Chapter Three

Another week ended and someone new entered the room. Anesya pressed herself into the corner in and increased the distance between her and the intruder. “Who are you and what do you want?”

“Your new trainer.” A big, burly man, Benet proffered a cruel sneer while his malevolent gaze raked her figure. “Ain’t you a pretty little thing. I’m Commander Benet of the Sirius and you are my slave, Pet.”

His callous tone made her skin crawl. “What’s a… slave pet?”

The slaver unleashed a hearty laugh. “A slave does what their master tells them to do or they get punished for disobeying orders.”

Anesya shivered. “That doesn’t sound pleasant. If I know what you wish me to do, I might help you. What is a pet?”

“It’s easy and you will. Your name is Pet. First you put on this collar then you do whatever I say.” Benet strode over and knelt on one knee. He raised the collar and pushed it toward her neck.

“My name is Anesya.” She pulled back from the metal band.

“Your name is now Pet and your disobedience will cost you.” He drew back his hand and let it fly.

Anesya gasped when the strike of her cheek slammed the other side of her face against the metal wall. Pain overtook her and tears welled up in her eyes, but she remained motionless. “Please, I want to go home.”

“Now that will disappoint the elders, but maybe if you’re a good little girl…” Benet stood and jerked her onto her feet. He placed his face close. “Do you think you can listen now, Pet?”

“Yes.” She gagged on the smell of his putrid breath.

“Good. You will refer to me as master. Put this on.” The slaver shoved a hideous shred of a garment into her hand. “Better yet, let me help you, Pet.” He grabbed the neckline of her robe. His downward rip brushed his fingertips over the front of her bra and he laughed.

“No!” Anesya scrambled to cover herself. Chilled by the cold metal wall behind her, she lowered her gaze to the floor. “Please.”

Benet stared at her trembling figure. “I’ll give you until the count of three to dress before I help you.” He admired the supple little delicacy. “If you’re fast enough, I’ll let you keep your undergarments and slippers. Or shall I remove them as well, sweet Pet?”

“No, please.” She wept, pulled the garment over her head and tugged it down to cover her body. Humiliated, she stared at her destroyed robe of status. Her lower lip quivered while her shaking hands brushed down the horrid piece of clothing, which draped from one shoulder, over her breasts and reached her knees.

He slipped the cold metal band around her throat and dropped the chain to the ground. His wicked laughter echoed through the room as he pivoted on his heel and yanked on the chain. “Follow me.”

The harsh snap of her neck brought fresh tears to her eyes, but Anesya stumbled after her cruel instructor. Unable to meet the gazes of those passed, she stared at the heels of his boots and almost slammed into his halted back. A set of doors closed and lurched the small room upward. Dizzy and unbalanced, she grabbed the nearest object. His harsh laughter filled her ears. Realization she clutched his forearm bade her yank back her hand as the small room stopped and the doors opened. Commanded to follow the steps of his dreaded boots by the chain’s tug, she complied.

Benet sat in a chair, placed one heavy boot over the chain and jerked her closer. “You sit at my feet.” At her compliance, he leaned over and peered down into her face. “You will sit here and, upon my order, destroy what I tell you to. Understand?”

She shuddered at the chills his voice skittered down her spine. “I don’t know how to destroy.”

He grabbed the chain near her collar and yanked her face close. “You better learn, Pet.” His gaze raked the length of her figure. “Or your sweet young body will become the only precious commodity you own.”

Anesya swallowed hard. “You’re not a mentor.”

Benet winked. “You learn fast.”

 “Commander.” Imtock, the helmsman, spoke. “There’s a small cargo ship named Tanith about fifteen-hundred meters to port.”

“My little pet here will get her chance to practice.” The slaver yanked on the chain. “Won’t you sweetheart? Get us there.” When the Sirius halted close enough to the Tanith for a weapon strike if needed, he jerked his slave to her feet. “Destroy that ship, Pet.”

Terrified, Anesya stared where his finger pointed. Hundreds of sparkling lights and one large vessel blinked on the screen. Her mind’s eye locked on the Tanith, she ignored the tear, which trickled down her cheek. She drew the elements to her, forged them into what she thought a destructive force and plunged it into the heart of the small cargo ship. The violent explosion rocked the Sirius.

Benet leapt to his feet. “Damn it, Pet! I wanted the cargo.”

She raised her hands and shielded her face. “I did as ordered!”

The slaver drew back his hand. “I ought to—”

Claudia stood. “You did tell her to destroy it, sir.”

His ire piqued, his grip on the chain a fierce hold, Benet pivoted and, with his choking slave dragged along, strode to the dark beauty. Her dark hand snatched from her side, he, shoved the chain into her palm and closed her fingers around the cold metal links. “Then you teach her to kill the life so we can collect the goods.” He turned away, crossed the floor and flopped in his chair. “I want it learned within twenty-four hours, Claudia, or I’ll transport you onto the next target ship, after I use and abuse your spicy body.”

“Yes, Commander.” The dark beauty led the girl from the bridge into a small room. She showed pictures and explained the operation of the engines, weapons and life support system along with how they worked and how to bring them down.

After almost three months, Anesya understood her current situation involved no training. She ceased her count of the number of ships her power destroyed, the cargos taken and the lives stolen. It hurt too much. Tears shed for those she murdered remained hidden until alone. Her desire for life dwindled along with her food consumption. Life slipped from her until the day the madness announced its presence. The feel of the void wrapped around her mind and swirled through her body. Laughter filled her as it heated her blood and drove a violent shudder through her veins.

 “Soon. So very soon I will be free.” Before long, she possessed no undergarments and relied on the tattered garment for coverage. She spent her nights on a rug, curled up under a blanket, chained to the wall near the bath chamber in her master’s sleeping quarters. Grateful the brute granted her undisturbed use of the bath in private, she often wept in silence.