Free Trapped: Chaos Core Book 1 by Randolph Lalonde

the court in the garden and
in the halls. Everyone has questions for you, my dear, everyone wants
your attention. There are new shuttles arriving right now, in fact
the Fleet Feather just landed with a whole delegation of people. The
servants haven’t even had time to unload their baggage. There’s
so much going on, I doubt anyone will bother me about slipping you
some noodles and chicken, so eat up.”
    “Yes, Ma’am,”
Aspen replied, shovelling and slurping a load of noodles into her
mouth.
    “And step into these
please,” she said, holding a pair of black tights low for Aspen to
step into. The next moment, she slipped a loose cap onto her head
that dried, then styled her hair like a blonde wave that cascaded
down her neck and shoulders but was drawn back from her face. “I
don’t know why we need cosmeticians about with these automatic
stylers, but then again, they were saying the same thing about
clothing designers only two years ago, so I should keep quiet I
suppose,” Tinick said as she took the empty bowl from Aspen and
gave her a mask that was pre-set to do her makeup in bronze and black
colours. Aspen looked at a mirror by the bed and was shocked at the
result when the mask was finished applying the look. She almost
didn’t look like herself with the deep shadowy colours applied. The
tunic was more understated than Aspen expected as well, open along
the sides with broad bands that clung to the front, she looked
slimmer than she actually was, for sure, but she was comfortable in
bare arms and clingy matte tights.
    “There, it’s
supposed to be hot today, so it’s good that there are open spaces
for your body to shed some of it, are you comfortable?”
    “More than I have
been since I arrived,” Aspen said. “I don’t know if the
Countess will like it though.”
    “The colouring is
right in fashion now, this is how everyone will be looking in a week,
you watch,” Tinick replied.
    “Who am I to argue
with an expert?”
    “Larken is outside.
He has been dressed to match. Perhaps I’ll see you in the garden? I
have permission to attend the Tai Chi session you’ll be leading
this morning.”
    “I can’t believe I
almost forgot to check my schedule,” Aspen replied. Inwardly, the
estate’s duty schedule made her cringe. She enjoyed leading Yoga,
Tai Chi, dance and poise classes for the guests before, but she felt
like it was such a waste of time, considering what was going on.
Aspen hoped that she didn’t show her distaste openly. “Thank you
so much for reminding me, I hope to see you there, Tinick.”
    The tall furred
designer nodded and smiled as she left, leaving the door open for
Larken, who was dressed in the same top and tights with copper
highlights on his face. There were two guards behind him, one looked
a bit like the one who gave her a meal bar on the day of her return,
but Aspen couldn’t be absolutely sure. “Hello Tinick, thank you
for leaving everything out for me,” he told her.
    “My pleasure, try to
have a good time today,” Tinick replied as she moved down the hall.
“Now I must attend the Countess and her party.”
    Larken let her go by
and took Aspens hand as they headed into the hallway, their guards
close behind. “Things are already starting, someone woke me up
about half an hour ago. I was barely asleep anyway.”
    “What do you mean?”
Aspen asked.
    “The garden is full,
the landing field is packed,” Larken said. “Every major house in
the system must have a representative here or on their way. Oh, I
forgot to check.” He stopped and tapped his forearm where a display
appeared. “I hope she hasn’t put it up on the public ‘nets.”
    The Sellernet local to
the solar system already had an advertisement up for new dolls,
featuring clips of her and Larken growing up. They were adorable,
even she had to admit as she watched them morph from children into
young adults.
    “You guys were so
cute,” one of the guards said. His partner nudged him with