Page 19 of Mated By Twilight
The loud shout, from a multitude of different voices, made her cry out as she jerked back, clutching her purse like it was a shield. She was more startled than afraid to find herself in a large, open atrium packed with strangers that were all looking at her.
The room was beautiful, done all in warm orange, yellow, and red tones. A small entrance alcove opened into a bigger chamber with smaller alcoves along the sides, a high ceiling, a golden crystal chandelier dangling down in an elongated spiral.Sweeping staircases lined the walls on either side, leading to a second floor, and more steps, spiral this time, led to a third. A bunch of closed doors lined the two walkways, though the bottom floor had only one set of doors, big and red and covered in beautiful woodwork carved with shapes she couldn’t see from here.
And people, so many people of so many different species, lined the walkways, filled the chamber, stood on the stairs. They were calling out, waving their hands at her. The scent of hot food filled the air, while the distant, dimmed sound of music served as an undercurrent to the surprise.
At the very front of the crowd was a person who could only be Corvidair – judging by the very accurate description she’d been given. He was huge, he had four arms, and he was covered, head to toe, in a thick layer of pitch-black fur. A large ruff of it came down from his head, down his chest, like a lion’s mane. He had a muzzle, a fluffy black tail, and he was wearing a bright, fuchsia outfit that made her think of a flamboyant genie. All four arms were thrown out and he was smiling, short fangs glinting in the golden light.
Tillos brought the luggage cart up short as Sollit turned, offering a hand to let her down.
“Miss Williams,” he started. “This is Corvidair.”
“Only Corvidair, if you please,” the man in question said, tossing his mane, his grandiose voice booming in the large room. “I do not like it shortened. And how shall I call you, little thing?”
“Er, I prefer Leah,” she said, her own voice swallowed by the huge space in contrast.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Sollit and Tillos exchange a glance over her head. Oh, was that why they had been calling her Miss Williams? She hadn’t told them not to, and that was what they heard her guide calling her. She should have just addressed that sooner.
“Well, you are most welcome upon the Twilight Star, Leah,” Corvidair declared. “Have you any talent, as it happens, that would be suitable for the stage?”
“Er, no?”
“Ah. No matter,” he waved her denial away. “I’ll find you something. Come! You must meet everyone. This is Skara.”
He immediately gestured a bright green ratchi female forward. She was wearing a long, white dress with an empire waistline that, somehow, broke Leah’s brain. She didn’t know why but seeing a giant lizard lady in a regency style dress was such a conflict of stimulation, it somehow made the parade of people she walked past afterward seem almost normal by contrast.
Corvidair seemed determined to introduce her toeveryone. More than that, they all seemed just as eager to be introduced. Tillos and Sollit talked to them all, clearly familiar with the whole crew, but they all very quickly blurred together to her. At some point, a plate of unfamiliar food and a cup of unfamiliar drink were shoved into her hands – she didn’t even know if it was juice, alcohol, soda, or some other fourth thing that didn’t have a comparison on Earth.
It was overwhelming. In a bit of a good way. Everyone was so friendly, but it was just a lot to be thrown at her all at once.
She was grateful when, somehow, she found herself being herded back onto her luggage cart by Tillos and Sollit. Theyworked together so gracefully, so easily, she didn’t even notice she had been led there until she was already sitting down, and they were pushing their way through the others. The crowd had no other choice but to make way for the large cart, though they were still talking to her as she passed. She did her best to keep up, but Sollit – his turn to push – kept moving them forward without pausing while Tillos led the way.
They took a hallway under the curved stairs, then followed it around to a door marked employees only before heading right inside. The warm tones turned into dark, cool tones immediately, and she realized that the atrium had been for people coming to see the plays.
This was the real Twilight Star, and it was so different, but she couldn’t complain. There wasn’t as big of an attempt to be bright and beautiful and luxurious in appearance, but she rather liked that. It made it seem more real. The halls winded around, back towards more halls that were covered in a variety of pictures, posters, and artwork. There was no theme, scheme, or color coordination. It seemed like everyone had just put up whatever made them happy at the time. The result was a beautiful, chaotic mosaic of life and joy.
“This is your room,” Sollit said as Tillos finally stopped in front of a door. They had to be deep in the ship at this point. And it was much bigger than she imagined.
Tillos tapped against the control panel, unlocking it. The doors slid open and Sollit pushed her inside. From her throne of suitcases, Leah had a great view of the room. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting. Part of her thought, with two males, it would be like a suite of some kind, with their own beds. Probably spartan, needing a woman’s touch. Maybe even messy.
No. Not at all.
There was only one bed, against the far wall, with a dreamy, draping canopy sweeping down from the ceiling. But it was a big bed, more than big enough for three people to lay comfortably – she realized. It was slightly rounded, like a shallow bowl, but it was filled with big, fluffy pillows, and a thick, pretty, orange blanket.
Besides the bed, however, the room was totally symmetrical. Anything in here, save for a few things, had a matching pair. And the things that didn’t were in the center of the room, keeping the symmetry. It wasn’t split down the middle, one color on one side or anything, but there was a couch against one wall, and an identical couch on the other. A beautiful rug, woven with a complex, colorful pattern, took up the center of the room – mirrored by the colorful lights on the ceiling overhead. Shelves on one side matched shelves on the other. It was all bright and colorful, in pastel colors, seeming more like a fairy bower than a bedroom. Neat and orderly, bright and lovely, done in a style that seemed at once romantic and futuristic, she loved it.
It was delightful. Absolutely charming.
But it definitely wasn’t hers.
“This is your room, isn’t it?” She asked, looking at the two as they began unloading her things from around her.
“Your room, for now,” Sollit smiled at her. “Tillos and I will share a room in the crew quarters.”
“No. I can’t kick you out of your room. You stay here, I’ll-”
“Don’t even bother to finish that statement,aevea,” Tillos interrupted, setting aside her luggage. “It’s already done. I’ll just leave these here. Feel free to unpack.”
“But-”