"Of course Cassandra invited me. She's just forgotten, that silly girl."

I keep my breathing calm and take a huge gulp of the purple liquid in the cup I hold. The audacity of this girl never fails to surprise me.

Stela had apparently been passing by when she saw Cassandra and I walk into Humanoid and disappear. When Ron told her the cafe was closed, she'd made a fit and threatened to report us for having an illegal gathering to plot against the Plutonian's. Not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention from the authorities, Ron had given up and brought her downstairs to join us.

"I swear I didn't tell her anything," Cassandra says as she leans against the wall beside me where we both watch Stela forcing her way into a conversation with the people standing by the table. They nod at her not looking very interested in her explanation.

"I know. Talk about horrid luck. Of all the days she had to catch us out together, it had to be tonight,"I sigh. She is the definition of a Plutonian worshiper and the last person Rosie would have wanted here.

"I take it you two are not the biggest Stela fans," Rosie takes a sip of her drink and looks at us.

"She's the one who ratted on me when I was thirteen," I explain to Rosie, my eyes never leaving the smiling Stela who has her hand on some guy's shoulder now.

"She's not too bad if you keep your distance," Cassandra being the amicable one tries to paint her in a different light. "She can be entertaining at times."

"She sure is entertaining. She has her hands all over Jade. If Josephine sees this, she will break her arm off," Rosie's boyfriend Matt says.

"So how did you join the army?" I ask Matt wanting to change the topic.

He looks into his cup and Rosie's gaze falls to the floor when he answers. "I was nominated after a year as a fighter."

My chest tightens when I realize that he must have been nominated by a Plutonian, which means he is a Plutonian's lover or fixer like Asta. But if he belongs to a Plutonian how can he be in a relationship with Rosie?

I immediately look at Rosie who has a sad smile on her face.

"We became friends when we were still slaves," Rosie says and I see that Matt has put his arm around her shoulders. "Our five minute conversations during our morning breaks were the only thing that kept me going everyday."

Matt's eyes light up and he smiles warmly at the memory.

"When did you two become a couple?" Cassandra asks as she leans in looking interested.

"I became a fighter first and then Rosie joined me a few months later when she turned eighteen. We became closer and I finally professed my feelings to her after I nearly lost my life during a tough fight. In those moments where my life flashed before my eyes, there was only one face I saw. I then realized that I had loved her from the time we met and surviving the fight gave me a chance to be with the one I loved. Of course I had to take it," Matt said and his grip around her shoulders tighten possessively.

"And then he was nominated by Sergeant Violet," Rosie says and Matt's face falls.

"As his lover?" Cassandra's stutters with wide eyes.

Rosie and Matt only nod their heads solemnly.

"But it's a part of life here. He's lucky to be nominated and out of the pits anyway," Rosie tries to lighten the mood after seeing Cassandra's and my horror stricken faces. "Who knows once Sergeant Violet gets sick of him, he wont need to serve her anymore."

My chest feels heavy with grief as I stare at the couple before me. I wonder how miserable it must be for Rosie to share the man she loves with a Plutonian just so he can have a better life.

"Does she allow you to be in a relationship with someone else? Could you have said no? If you wanted to? What happens if she loses interest in you? Do you go back to being a fighter?" I ask Matt a barrage of questions that fills my head almost immediately making him laugh.

"It's unwise to turn down a Plutonian's favors especially if it means I get to join the army. I am allowed to spend time with my friends but I try to keep our relationship private for Rosie's safety. Once I'm an officer it's a done deal so even if Sergeant Violet loses interest in me I'll still be an army officer and I'll be free to be with whomever I wish," He replies.

"We're both waiting for that day to be honest," Rosie says.

"Does that mean all the officers here who have been nominated are all lovers to Plutonians?" Cassandra asks her and looks at the people around us.

"More or less," Rosie says. "That's Jade, he was nominated a year ago by a Sergeant Commander."

I look at the boy who Stela has been flirting shamelessly with. It's easy to see why. He is tall and well built with sharp, well defined features and his eyes are a striking color of Jade like his name which contrasts beautifully with his black hair. His smile is warm and sweet as he laughs at the girl who hits the ball over the table. He walks over to her and pecks her cheek as she complains about losing.

"That's Josephine, his girlfriend. A second year army officer. Also nominated by a Sergeant," Matt says.

"That's so sad," Cassandra mumbles as we stare at them. "They love each other but belong to others."

"It isn't that sad if you think of it as a job," Matt explains. "Just like being a paramour is a job to procreate."

He then points out the other three people by the table who are paramours. They are all laughing and making fun of each other, not seeming to have a care in the world and I wonder how they could be so happy knowing they would have to go back to their masters later and serve them.

I shudder at the thought.

"It's not just a job for me though. I love my Commander," Cassandra admits and the three of us whip our heads towards her in shock.

"You do?" I ask skeptically.

"Yes, he takes care of me and treats me well. What more could I wish for," She closes her eyes and smiles dreamily.

"I guess that's all that matters right. Comfort. Who is he by the way?" Matt asks her and she tells him about Commander Siphus.

"Wow, he's one of the highest ranked Commanders. He reports directly to the Trinity," Matts eyes widen in surprise. "Nice to know that he treats his paramour well."

"What about you, Aria? Who's the lucky guy?" Rosie smiles at me teasingly.

"Commander Alpho, " I reply automatically. "He's been great."

My mind suddenly fills with images of Lucian and how he has been so accommodating and has never once taken advantage of me despite his power. He even took me to his sacred place where he reassured me and confided in me making me feel like an equal instead of his human slave.

My cheeks feel warm and the corner's of my lips lift up ever so slightly and I take a sip of my drink to distract myself from the attention around me. I'm not sure if it's the drink but I'm beginning to feel lighter and my brain feels a bit fuzzy. The feeling is actually quite pleasant.

"You look pretty loved up yourself," Joon joins in on the conversation and it's apparent he's been eavesdropping.

"No, I'm not," I scowl. The idea of me loving a Plutonian is preposterous. I'd rather have a beautiful relationship like Matt and Rosie.

"Commander Alpho? Are you serious? I thought he was gay," Josephine joins us at the back of the room and Jade walks up to us soon after. He quickly covers her mouth with his hand.

"Josephine, be careful with your accusations. They're going to get you in trouble one day," He grumbles.

"You can't trust her," Stela reaches us and casts me a wicked smile. "Aria's probably with some lowly officer."

"I find that hard to believe. She was a big hit at the introductory dinner," Jades counters her and the grimace on Stela's face is priceless.

"She's lying I tell you. I can always tell when she does," Stela remains adamant and I begin to feel uncomfortable because she's right, I am lying.

"I've seen them together, Stela. Anyway she has no reason to lie," Cassandra defends me. "I want to know more about the army. How does it work? Do you get promoted? Can humans become Sergeants?"

Cassandra distracts everyone perfectly and soon all twelve of us sit in a circle as Joon, the most experienced army officer explains about the different ranks that humans can reach and that humans can become sergeants but not commanders.

I lean against the wall and listen to him intently but soon my head is swimming after my fifth drink and I am imagining myself standing on that vast field in the landing base with it's ceiling splitting open above my head revealing the infinite expanse of the beautiful universe.

"Are you sure you are okay, Aria?" Cassandra's voice is laced with concern as I stumble out of the glider. Her driver looks at me in disgust and shakes his head. Normally this would have angered me but I find myself laughing instead.

"I've never felt better." I wave my hands in the air and shake my hips from side to side imitating how we danced at the party and she laughs.

"Umm, okay. See you tomorrow then," She smiles and her driver takes off without warning.

The roar of the glider is soon replaced with silence and I stare at the large garden around me. It's dark now but I can still make out the flowers in the far right corner from Earth. My feet trample the grass below my shoes as I make my way towards it.

A rush of anger floods my veins as I bend down and hold a pink flower's long stem. It doesn't belong to them. It belongs to Earth. It belongs to me.

I am about to pull it out when someone pulls my shoulder and yanks me back, releasing my hold around the flower.

"Aria, what are you doing?" Lucian looks down at me in surprise.

"I'm..I was just looking at the flower. It's really pretty. Must be from the South," I mumble out a horrible lie and want to slap myself because they are obviously no flowers in the barren dust laden south.

He eyes me curiously and then leans in until our noses are almost touching and takes a sniff. My body tenses and blood rushes to my cheeks at our proximity but he then leans back and smiles knowingly.

"You've been drinking."

I nod and look behind his shoulder to see his official glider leaving the entrance and realize that he has just gotten back from work. It reminds me of how he has been missing since yesterday and all my worries rush back to me.

I grab the lapels of his suit without any inhibition and look up at him.

"Lucian, have you been sleeping? Have you been eating? I haven't seen you. I got worried. So worried," I mutter incoherently and my eyes threaten to close suddenly. I feel so tired, I could lie here on the grass and sleep would be effortless.

"Master Lucian! Do you need my help?" Cyscus rushes up to us, his eyes wide with alarm as he sees my hands tugging on Lucian's clothes.

"I'm fine, Cyscus. I'll deal with it. Just prepare her clothes for bed." Lucian gently peels my hands away from his clothes and drags me back to the house easily.

"I've just been busy at work. I'm surprised you are so worried," He laughs and suddenly my chest feels lighter.

"Just worried about your sleep. You can't work if you don't sleep," I look up at him and our eyes meet.

"You were worried about my health?" He asks me in disbelief and I nod my head thinking nothing of it.

"Of course," I shoot him a look of incredulity like he is asking something absurd.

He frowns slightly and his expression is unreadable as he studies me. The moment lasts a few seconds before he finally releases me when we reach his room.

I am barely able to wash up before I quickly change into my night clothes and collapse on to my side of the bed. I look up to see Lucian standing by the wash room door staring at me but sleep comes much faster than I expected and I fall asleep with his penetrating gaze still on me.

Hey guys hope you enjoyed the update. Anyone feels bad for Rosie and Matt. And what did u guys think about the Lucian- Aria interaction at the end lol.