Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Requiem for a Life

(snip)

The room was lit softly with candles, fine drink and food off to one side. A fire crackling in the fireplace lent warmth and soft music played in the background. In one of his fine suits, Kodell drew closer to her, his face etched with nothing short of awe. “Wow!”

“Thank you for the dress. It’s very beautiful,” she said softly, his gaze twisting her insides, but this time in the best possible way.

“You’re beautiful,” he breathed. “Breathtaking, actually.” Kodell shook his head in disbelief. Yes, she was definitely the most exquisite thing he’d ever seen. He held out a hand to her.

As they often did, his approving gaze suffused her body with warmth. Taking a deep breath, Faye stepped forward and placed her hand in his, taking comfort in the reassuring expression on his face. Tomorrow would come with its own challenges to tackle, but tonight was just for them and she intended to enjoy it.

Dress lifted so she didn’t trip, Faye stepped gingerly down the back staircase. The sun had risen fully and if she didn’t hurry, the rest of the staff would be moving about. The last thing she wanted was to have to explain herself to anyone. Linella seemed to understand. The others would not. As the light glowed through the windows, she couldn’t help but smile as she recalled what had been definitely a memorable night. Linella was right that he had been patient and caring and she had no words for the incredible bliss that enveloped them more than once. And at least while she could stay focused on the feelings Kodell had induced she could ignore what would happen next in her life.

As she stepped off the last step and into the intersection of the corridor, a shadow blocked her path. Her heart began to race as Dez moved into her path. He took one look at her and his face shifted into one of disgust. Faye went to step past him, but he grabbed her forearm and pulled her around the corner. “Where do you think you’re off to at this hour?” he said, his loathing clear. He pushed her backwards against the wall, barely contained rage contorting his face. “You think you can curry his favour and be his favourite, Human, but he will tire of you quickly enough when the novelty wears off. And then he will discard you before you realize what’s happened. But I do hope it was worthwhile. He did pay for you after all.”

An involuntary whimper escaped her lips as pain shot through her arm. That was going to surely leave a bruise. Gods she wished she had something with a heel on her bare feet right now. He was half again as tall as she was and twice as wide. Faye could make an attempt at a well placed strike, but she’d still have to get away. Where could she even go? Back to Kodell? In the hierarchy of the house Faye was at the bottom. She wasn’t Orion and would always be considered lesser than. Even with how he felt about her Faye knew Kodell would be stuck in a terrible position and she didn’t want to make his life in this house harder than it needed to be. “At least he finds me intellectually engaging. You’re so obtuse, Dez. Go ahead and look it up. I’ll wait,” she said carelessly.

Dez grabbed her chin and gazed into her hurricane-strength grey-green eyes and pushed her against the wall harder, spitting at her feet. He muttered a few more choice words before he left. Faye sagged against the wall, her entire body shaking as the hot wash of shame swept over her. Swallowing tears, she took a deep breath and quickly left the corridor for the safety of her room.

He was an idiot. But why did she feel so shaken? Aside from the potential for him to inflict violence on her, Faye realized that it was that tiny bit of her that wondered if there was any truth in what he had said. Regardless, any thought she had had about staying here was evaporated.

It was time to go.

She didn’t have much in the way of possessions, just the clothes she wore daily. She had debated about taking the dress with her, but instead, she laid it on the bed. It was too impractical.

A bag slung over her shoulder, Faye made a stop in the kitchen where she and Linella had a tearful goodbye. She was genuinely sad to leave her behind and would miss the Trill woman greatly.

In the skimmer, Faye was grateful that she had avoided Dez and it was just her and Kodell, plus two of his bodyguards. A crowd but a welcome one all things considered.

Faye gazed out the darkened window watching the scenery go by. She had never seen outside of Kodell’s compound and knowing she would likely never set foot on this planet again, she committed as much as she could to memory. You never knew when it could be useful. Or so she told herself.

Beside her, Kodell hadn’t said a word. Maybe they had said everything that needed to be. Certainly they had made their feelings clear enough. Still… something felt unresolved.

Gentle fingers slipped over hers. Faye curled her fingertips over his and looked over at him. He was gazing at her intently and she also saw the bodyguards had noticed as well. Screw them, she didn’t care anymore. She was leaving anyway.

“I have something for you,” Kodell said with a tender smile. With his free hand, he reached into a bag beside him and held out a cloth wrapped object. It was even tied with a pretty dark blue ribbon.

Slipping her hand out of his, Faye carefully took the object. The weight and feel of it told her what it was immediately and she shook her head. “Oh, Kodell, I can’t accept this.”

“You don’t even know what it is.”

Yes I do, she thought as she gave him a withering stare.

“Humour me,” he said as he offered her that sparkling smile she had grown to love so much.

With a sigh, Faye said, “Fine,” and began to untie the bow. A few moments later, her lips parted in awe. She had known but it was different to see the exact old book he was giving her. It was a first edition of a rare book of poetry by a Takaran named Ak’aro who was famous more for their essays than anything and the poetry had become something of a serious collectors item amongst die-hard fans. She looked up at Kodell. “This… it’s too valuable. You should keep it somewhere safe.”

“It’s yours to do with as you see fit, Faye,” Kodell said, his tone brooking no argument.

Still, Faye shook her head a little even as she held the book against her chest with one hand. “Thank you.” Her hand slipped back into his.

They arrived at the transportation centre a little while later and he walked her to the docking port, their hands gripped tightly. The whole thing had been arranged and was straight forward. He had booked passage for her on a small passenger ship under an alias of her choosing that was headed to Coridan and from there she’d find her own way. He’d given her sufficient funds to pay for passage from there and to get by at least a little while. But they were not endless and Faye knew that sooner rather than later she’d have to find a way to support herself. The book he’d just give her was safely tucked in her bag.

They came to a stop a few metres from the airlock and Faye turned to him, taking in the whole of him as if she could memorize him anew.

Kodell just gazed into her eyes.

They said nothing.

Faye sighed and took a step away. But she stopped and looked back at him. Ask me to stay! she thought.

Pain was etched into every feature of his face. “Go Faye, before I change my mind.”

Swallowing, Faye just nodded, turned and walked through the airlock.

Anabelle Casey.
Georgina Fife.
Cecily Grey.
Nova Carney.
Abagail Blair.

She had been all those names, but they had never been her. They were only figments- fragments of who the real Faye Calloway was. A temporary reprieve from her reality. Eventually, when she came back to her own identity, she would begin the process of coming back to herself. One that would take many, many years.

But who was Faye Calloway?

Like hell if she knew.

~Faye Calloway