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Athena Storm

Caged Prey: A Dark SciFi Romance

Caged Prey: A Dark SciFi Romance

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I’ve lived a sheltered, privileged, silly life.
All it takes is one moment to go away.
And now my role is simple.

To be prey.


The Reapers burned everything.
They destroyed and looted the space port that we had stopped in.
They…He…killed everyone that tried to defend me.
Broke them with his bare hands.

Bathed in their blood before throwing me over his shoulder.

He caged me.
Leashed me.
Scared me.

But he also trained me.
Protected me.
Fed me.

And loved me.

I am now his.
Juliana, the Princess I used to be is dead.
From her ashes, is a woman who is stronger.
Darker.
Aware of the madness of this galaxy.

I don’t expect many to understand.
They wouldn’t understand the darkness he comes from.
Or the twisted madness of the galaxy.

They’d say we’re sick.
That this is madness.
It’s not.
It’s a real love between us.

And it will kill all who stand against us.

Caged Prey explores a much darker and much more gritty Athenaverse than in other books. Readers should be warned that the situations inside this book are of a much darker variety than other books in the Athenaverse and should exercise caution. All books share the same universe and feature a happily ever after.

Chapter 1 Look Inside

Chapter 1

Juliana

I’m attempting to keep my poise even though I’m in the worst damn place I’ve ever seen. My beautiful gown is getting dirty from soot and my hair already smells oily and dank.

Okay, right, fuck. There, I said it. Even though it’s only in my mind I can hear mother scolding me. 

Nobody could have predicted that I would end up in one of the poorest, dirtiest space ports in the entire galaxy. I’m with a few other passengers in a big waiting room which is framed with bulletproof glass. That factor alone hammers at my confidence and my hard-won poise.

I was raised on Glimner. If there was a poor caste or third world there, I never saw it. My family lives in the Spires, a massive apartment building that stretches up into the sky in beautiful, shimmering pillars. 

The place is fully self contained with shopping, pools and entertainment sections as well as dwellings. You never have to touch the ground. I believe I was on the surface of Glimner itself only a few times in my whole twenty years. Even the craft I boarded to get here did not touch the ground but picked us up from the top of the Spires.

The elite class of Glimner—indeed, of the Alliance itself—has no understanding of the lower class nor should we. Father says that poor people have every opportunity to succeed, should they want to. The universe is full of riches and all one has to do is apply themselves.

I occasionally wondered what Father applied himself to. Our great grandfather was rich and no one in my family had to actually work, although we were in political parties and planet committees.

I let out a sigh, something mother would disapprove of. No matter what the circumstances, a young lady should always be composed. The correct way to wait for anything is to clasp your hands, bow your head and sit or stand quietly until we are moving on. Appearance is everything.

I don’t know the name of the planet we’re on. I don’t know what kind of port this is. I was only mildly put out when our luxury liner announced it had a problem and we would have to stop over. I didn’t begin to panic until we actually got off our ship.

We were herded into this little room and told to wait until the ship was repaired or they could get us a new one. That was several hours ago, and I’m upset and frustrated. I can’t even sit down because elderly or lazy passengers have taken all the seats. 

I stand in the middle of the room with my luggage around me. I try as hard as I can to keep my eyes down and my hands clasped in front of me. I am a lady of the highest class. I must be perfectly presented at all times.

The excitement I felt at the beginning of the trip is definitely fading. I’m being sent to Stellaris, to join high society there. It’s the first time I’ve been away from my family and its part of my right of passage. I have to look after myself, attend the right parties, appropriate servants and entice a man to become my husband. Then I can join two houses and increase the wealth of both.

It’s also very important to show that I’m capable of managing my affairs. I’ll have plenty of money but choosing the right servants, living quarters and items I’ll need will show my readiness for an appropriate husband.

I’m so caught in my reverie that a nearby thud actually makes me jump. An old woman in filthy rags is holding up a bunch of foul, rotten flowers. She thumps on the shatter proof glass, entreating me to buy her flowers. I back away slowly.

I can see the market stalls stretching out as far as the eye can see around the port. Where I stand with the other members of high society is the only place that looks clean, and its not as clean as anything on Glimner. Outside this room thick layers of grime lay on everything, from the fabric that makes up the tents of the stalls to the merchants themselves and their stock. 

I’m very grateful I’m not exposed to that world out there. Some stalls have hideous, alien animals hanging on hooks above the counter, selling meat and organs. Others sell protective clothing for the far reaches of the planet. There are others selling machinery and tools. Then others like this strange, toothless woman who wants me to buy her dead, rotten flowers.

I glance to the side, carefully not raising my head and keeping my hands clasped in front of me. If I break my conditioning even for a moment, then someone here might notice. Word could get around on Stellaris that Juliana Lascilles can’t keep her image together. I’ll be snubbed by every potential husband.

I’m looking forward to seeing the new planet and meeting others of my class. There is a lot to see on Stellaris. I’m a little bit scared of men, especially negotiating for a marriage. I have never thought much about romance and love because my duty is to my family. Finding someone affluent, influential and well presented is required for the growth of our class.

That idea really gets me. Making babies. I’ve been totally sheltered from anything to do with sex. As always when I get these thoughts, I just swallow hard and push it away. There is time to worry about that when I actually find a man.

A scuffle erupts by the door and I can’t help looking up in alarm. An old man is trying to get into the waiting room.

“Cruskits!” He cries, waving some foul smelling, deep fried food. “Just want to sell cruskits! You’re hungry, pretty lady?”

He locks eyes with me. I hold back my vomit, breathing hard through my nose and looking at the floor. This is why you don’t raise your eyes! Don’t make eye contact until you are invited to! 

To my horror, I can’t stop the gulping and my eyes are watering. I cannot vomit! Its bad enough that I’m breathing deeply, showing my shock. If I had a husband, was with family or chaperone, they could remove me to a place I could be sick in private. Without such protection, my only option is to remain calm. I can’t crack. 

My eyes travel up again, looking into the market. I was a little disgusted at first, but now that I see horrible, dirty people and aliens scurrying back and forth I’m starting to get scared. Okay, we’re in a bullet proof box, we should be safe in here, but I’m just not sure.

It isn’t even like a usual waiting area. There’s no tea or cake. The more I look around the more relieved I am that I didn’t sit down. Everything is covered with a film of grime. I’m wearing the finest spun silk from the silkworms of the far moon at the end of the galaxy. Its been dyed with the most delicate of colors, pink and pale peach. I feel like it’s getting dirty just looking at this place.

I look around at my many bags and cases, wondering if it would be an extreme breach of manners to sit on one. My feet are getting really tired and so are my legs. The high heeled, crystal slippers are quite brutal on the feet when one has to stand or walk for awhile.

Of course, no princess of the highest class expects to have to stand or walk very far.

I draw in a deep breath and hold it, trying to calm myself down. Suddenly, there’s an anticipation in the air. I break my poise for just a few seconds to raise my head and look around. Nothing seems amiss. So why do I feel like hot bugs are crawling across my stomach? 

Then I hear it. 

Screaming.

It’s out in the market, down the long pathway that comes from the dock. We were brought through there by security and I honestly thought I might faint. I was relieved to get into this little box… But I never considered why the waiting room had to be shatter and bullet proof.

Now I’m looking up and I don’t care. Something is happening. Social convention is about to be jettisoned into space.

Why does that excite me?

My eyes are fixed on the pathway and I hear more screams. There are a few gun sounds but not many. It sounds for all the world as if people are being killed. I’m only guessing, its not like I’ve ever seen any kind of violence, even in a movie or holotape.

Something pours down the dark, grimy path. I see light glinting from bone and strange straggly hair. Flashing blades rise up over the running people and blood flows. I can’t breathe, I can’t think, my heart is screaming in my chest and I’m absolutely certain, this time I will pass out. 

I’ve never seen them before, not even in a picture. But I don’t need to. I’ve heard enough about them and I can see by the way they are cutting people down there can be no confusion over what is charging towards us right now.

Reapers. The port is being attacked by Reapers!

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