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Fiera woke with an ache in her heart and a feeling of profound gratitude that the holiday was over. She lay there in the darkness of her room, the sound of her new water feature the only thing she could hear. She smiled in spite of her depression at that. Kuen had really chosen well for her. She loved having a little piece of the crystal garden in her room. It had helped her get to sleep the previous night when the tears she’d fought off all day came.

They came again that morning and she rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. She wondered how her family was doing. Himostava was such a huge affair for them, especially with all the littles in the house. Keoni and Thea must have more children than just the twins by now, and they’d be running in a pack with Herry and Callie and the other littles that called the farm home. She wondered if Muirne and Teigue were married yet, and if they had any littles of their own.

She could call them, she knew. But that would mean tipping Iacchus Santorini off to the fact that she did have family, and she didn’t want any Core Worlders to know that she was a Rezouac who didn’t already know. It was too dangerous for her and her family. Especially with her father and his crimes against the Core Worlders. She’d be fair game for anyone with a grudge against him.

Fiera sobbed into her pillow. She wanted to go home. It was a longing so fierce it choked her some days. She missed the sweet smell of the wind in the crops, the heat of the summer sun, the feel of the rain on her skin as she worked the fields in spring. She missed roughhousing with her siblings, the conversations with her mother, the long walks with her twin. It was all there now thanks to the breakdown of the DiME programming, and she wanted it all back.

“Mistress Fiera, Master Iacchus is wondering if you’re getting up today,” Sidonie’s voice came through the door. “It’s almost lunchtime and you have a contract this afternoon.”

“I’m getting up,” Fiera called. She rolled out of bed and wiped her eyes on her nightgown’s sleeve. She sniffed and opened the door.

“Fiera, have you been crying?” Liliana asked when she saw Fiera’s face.

“Yes,” Fiera said. “I’m getting in the shower. Make sure I’ve got some lunch waiting for me when I get out. Then we can get me dressed for my first contract today.” This she said to Azari as she headed for the bathroom.

Fiera showered and dried off. She pulled her robe on and went out. She ate and let Liliana and Devorah dress her for her first contract. Even though she was not in the mood to entertain anyone, she put that to the side and donned the mask of the Blue Butterfly again.

By the end of the day, her misery was compounded by insensitive patrons who didn’t seem to understand that when she stipulated no sex in her contracts, she meant it. Two had tried to coax her into their beds even though sex was not a part of their contract, and then had gotten insulted when she’d reminded them of the “no sex” clause. They’d returned her to the House and informed Iacchus they wouldn’t be using her again because she didn’t understand the purpose of a Pleasure Seeker.

“What did those two mean when they said you didn’t understand the purpose of a Pleasure Seeker?” Iacchus asked her when she returned from her final contract of the evening.

“I wouldn’t give them sex even though they signed the contract with my specific clause in it,” Fiera said.

“Ah, they’re those kinds of patrons. Then I won’t penalize you for not fulfilling your contract and I will put them on the list of patrons who do not go to you, should they ask again,” Iacchus said. “They argued with Intira over your price in the beginning, so I don’t think they’re fit patrons for you anyway.”

“Thank you,” Fiera said. She returned to her room.

“Mistress Fiera, Lord Nakano called. He had a question for you,” Sidonie said.

“I’ll call him back immediately,” Fiera said. She dialed the comm code and it was answered by Gaspare.

“Fiera, I wasn’t expecting you to call us today,” Gaspare said.

“My servants told me Kuen called and had a question for me,” Fiera said. “I thought I’d return his call.”

“Oh? I didn’t know he’d called,” Gaspare said. “Let me go get him.” He got up and wandered away from the comm.

A few minutes later, Kuen’s tall figure sat down in front of the screen. “Fiera, I hope you had a pleasant day,” Kuen said.

“It was bearable,” Fiera said. “Certainly not as pleasant as the past two days. Sidonie said you called for me?”

“I wasn’t able to get through to Intira today. The comm was very busy. Do you know if your schedule is open in three days from 1700 on?” Kuen asked.

“Let me check,” Fiera said. “Azari, get me my pad please?”

“Yes, Mistress Fiera,” Azari said. She disappeared into Fiera’s room for a moment before coming back with the requested item. Fiera pulled up her schedule. “Actually, yes I am. Which is surprising. But no one’s booked me for that time slot yet.”

“Do you think I will be able to reach Intira now?” Kuen asked.

“The comm traffic has slowed down considerably this evening. Intira was free a few minutes ago when I returned to the House,” Fiera said.

“Excellent,” Kuen said. “I have a party I need to attend and my mother is getting quite upset with me for attending parties alone.”

Fiera snickered. “Your reputation makes it hard for you to get a Pleasure Seeker, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” Kuen said with some frustration. “You’re the only one who’ll contract with me. Even the new ones have heard of my prior history and refuse me.”

“That’s a hefty penalty. You really did yourself no favors. Hurry up and call before someone else gets me for that time slot,” Fiera said.

“I will. Thank you,” Kuen said. He ended the call.

Fiera watched her schedule. Ten minutes later, that slot filled with Kuen’s name. She smiled. She didn’t know what party he booked her for but at least she knew she would be safe from unwanted advances from him.

“You’re full this week again, Fiera,” Liliana said, coming over to look at her schedule.

“I’m always full, Lil,” Fiera said. “Iacchus prefers it that way. He makes more money if my schedule is full. My boys have to get their bids in early if they want me as their companions, though they do get top priority. Gaspare has me for three parties. Kuen already booked me for two parties this week and this one he booked me for makes a third. Oh wonderful, I’ve got that miserable pain in my afterburners for a party this week. I should put him on my refusal list, but I don’t want to do that to too many people and I already have two people on it.”

“Is he really that bad, Fiera?” Devorah asked.

“He tries to force me to have sex with him every time even though my contract stipulates no sex,” Fiera said. She bit her lip. “Ah starfire, Iacchus can fine me if he wants. I’ve got the credits to cover it.” She put in the request to cancel the contract and move him to her no contact list. “I’m not putting up with his nonsense if I can get away with it.”

As she’d expected, Iacchus showed up on her doorstep a few minutes later. “Would you care to tell me why you’re wanting to cancel a contract? And why you want him on your no contact list?” he asked. “You know I don’t like doing that without good reason.”

“He’s abusive and I don’t want to put up with it,” Fiera said shortly. “He’s been that way every contract I’ve done with him.”

“I see,” Iacchus said. “This will net you a fine, Fiera.”

“I know. I’ve got the credits to cover it. Especially after the last two days,” Fiera said.

“Your Himostava parties have certainly netted you quite the bounty,” Iacchus agreed. “All right. I’ll cancel the contract and let him know you’re no longer taking his calls.”

“Thank you,” Fiera said. Iacchus left her in peace. “I hate doing that. It’s going to bite me in the ass one day if I put too many people there. A Pleasure Seeker can’t afford to be too picky if she wants to stay in business. But he is too miserable a human being for me to want to deal with.”

“Is he as bad as Lord Nakano is rumored to be?” Liliana asked.

“Oh, Lord Nakano isn’t as bad as the rumors say he is,” Fiera said. “He used to be. But after Cova, he’s changed a lot. I wish the other Pleasure Seekers would give him a chance. I don’t mind being the one he takes to most of his parties, but I’m not always available and it would be better for him if he could have more than just one Pleasure Seeker on his arm.” She paused. “It would go better for me too. I wouldn’t attract Michi Nakano’s attention as much as I do now.”

“Yes, and attracting Michi Nakano’s attention can prove fatal if you’re not careful,” Devorah said.

“Which is why I’m very careful,” Fiera said. “It still may not help me in the end, but we’ll have to see.”

“It’s getting late,” Liliana said. “You should probably get some sleep.”

“Yes, and I have another long day of parties ahead of me tomorrow. Thank the stars I’ve got Gaspare in the evening. He’ll make the day worthwhile,” Fiera said with a grimace. She headed to her bedroom.

The next day was a miserable, snowy day on Bouarus. People were in foul moods and even Fiera’s patrons were snippy with her. By the time she got to Gaspare, she was ready to strangle someone. Gaspare saw the look in her eye. “That bad today?” he asked sympathetically.

“You are the best thing about today,” she said. “If it weren’t for the fact that I know you have to attend these parties, I’d ask if we can ditch them and go somewhere I don’t have to look at this drek.”

“I only have to attend one of them. After we mingle for a couple hours, I’ll take you back to the townhouse to give you a break,” Gaspare promised.

“Thank you,” Fiera said. “I need it.”

They mingled for a couple hours, and Fiera’s temper was worn to shreds with people badmouthing the Colonies and claiming that the cost of goods was only going up because the Colonists were sabotaging everything. Gaspare got her out of there and took her to the townhouse. “Breathe, Fiera,” he told her as they walked out to his car.

“I don’t doubt that some sabotage is going on,” Fiera said through gritted teeth. “But it’s not our fault that the prices are going up. It’s the Core Worlders and their sanctions on Colony goods that drives the prices up.”

“The propaganda machine is hard at work again,” Gaspare said grimly. “It’s pathetic how easily these people are misled.”

“They don’t want to hear the truth, Gaspare,” Fiera said. “They want to hear the lies. So of course it’s easy to fool them.”

“Let’s get back to the townhouse and get you a proper snack,” Gaspare said. “I noticed you were barely picking at the food they offered.”

“Food would be very much appreciated,” Fiera said. “The last two parties I attended before this one had mostly drinks and little food at all.”

“Then I think a late dinner would be better than just a snack,” Gaspare said. He pulled out his portable comm and hit a button. “Kuen, I’m bringing Fiera back to the townhouse. We’re skipping my last two parties tonight. Can you have the cook fix a heavyworlder dinner again? She needs to eat.” He paused. “Thanks. We’ll be there in about an hour.” He pulled his comm out of his ear. “Problem solved.”

“Thanks Gaspare,” Fiera said. “At least I didn’t break any glasses tonight, which will please Iacchus. He gets tired of getting the bills for my destructive tendencies when I lose my temper.”

“How often does he get those bills?” Gaspare asked.

“About once a month lately,” Fiera said. “It was weekly for a while. I’ve gotten better at controlling my temper.”

“That’s good,” Gaspare said. “Did anything else happen at the parties to set you off? Or was it all the talk about the Colonies?”

“I was treated like garbage by my patrons, abused by them, and harassed by partygoers and my patrons did nothing to protect me,” Fiera said. “You at least stood up for me and got me out of situations that were turning sour when the conversations went wrong. Today has been absolutely miserable.”

“Let’s hope dinner with me and Kuen will cheer you up a bit,” Gaspare said. “Kuen hasn’t had a very good day either. He’s been in meetings all day for his mother, which means something nasty is coming for the Colonies.”

“Wonderful,” Fiera said. “More bad news.”

They got to the townhouse and Gaspare showed Fiera inside. Kuen smiled at her. “I take it you’ve had a rough day?” he asked, offering her a seat.

“Very rough,” Fiera said, sitting down. “The weather hasn’t helped people’s moods any.”

“I think it’s the let down after the holiday as well. I’ve noticed people’s moods are always sour after Himostava,” Gaspare said.

“They are, but the snow doesn’t help matters,” Fiera said. “It always makes it worse.”

“It’s not as if people aren’t used to snow. We get it every winter,” Kuen said, shaking his head. “I don’t enjoy driving in it, but I don’t let it affect my mood that dramatically.”

“Some people have to let the tiniest things make them sour,” Fiera said with a sigh. “And that affects me because they take their frustration out on me. Worthless drek, the lot of them.”

The servants brought in dinner, and they ate. Gaspare and Kuen entertained Fiera for the next few hours and then Gaspare took her back to the House. Fiera felt a little better about the end of her night than the start.

Several of the other Pleasure Seekers had gathered in the main room of the House when Fiera returned. “How was the party scene tonight for you, Fiera?” one of them asked with a disgruntled expression on her face.

“Miserable,” Fiera said.

“Mine was too,” another Pleasure Seeker said. “Everyone was in such foul moods today.”

“I know,” said the first Pleasure Seeker. “It was absolutely horrible being out today.”

“I’ll bet Fiera’s not looking forward to tomorrow,” someone else said.

“Why would you think that?” Fiera asked.

“You have to go out with Kuen Nakano,” the woman said.

“There’s nothing wrong with Kuen Nakano,” Fiera said. “I know his attitude was abysmal before, but after certain events which I can’t talk about because of the NDA, he’s changed. He’s actually very reasonable to be around now.”

“You think so?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Fiera said. “I have a high tolerance for things but even I wouldn’t take someone on as a favored patron if he was as abysmal as he used to be.”

“I forgot he’s one of your favored patrons,” the woman said. “He’s really changed for the better?”

“He has,” Fiera said. “It would be good if other Pleasure Seekers gave him a chance. I’m not always free, after all, and he does need to have a lady on his arms for different parties.”

“If you think he’s worth having as a patron,” someone said doubtfully. “I might take a contract with him once. Just to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

“I’ll let him know tomorrow night when I meet with him. I know my schedule fills up fast and while they have priority, sometimes their schedules change and mine is already full,” Fiera said.

“If you say he’s changed, I’ll take him on once to try as well,” another Pleasure Seeker said.

“Have him request a Pleasure Seeker from our House, Fiera,” Iacchus said from where he was watching the women talk. “I’ll see to it that he has one.”

“All right,” Fiera said.

The women gossiped a little longer, but Fiera didn’t stay for it. She went to her rooms. “Azari, get me some tea please,” Fiera said as she walked in. “I need to relax before I go to bed.”

“Yes, Mistress Fiera,” Azari said. She left the room.

“How was your evening, Fiera?” Liliana asked.

“My day was miserable for the most part, until I had dinner with Lord Benoit and Lord Nakano,” Fiera said. “Lord Benoit ditched his last two parties to accommodate the fact that I was having a terrible day and he set up dinner for me instead of making me endure even more aggravation.”

“You have a good patron,” Devorah said.

“I have a good pair of patrons. Lord Nakano made sure the dinner was ready and helped Lord Benoit keep me entertained while we passed the time,” Fiera said. “I don’t know what I’d do without those two making my week bearable.”

Azari returned with the tea and Fiera drank it before going to bed. The next morning she was up early and getting ready for her day. It looked to be another foul weather day so Fiera was prepared for more misery with her patrons.

She got what she expected and by the time she met up with Kuen that evening she was not in a good mood. “Another rough day?” Kuen asked. “I would offer the same respite as Gaspare did, but I am required by my mother to attend these parties so I cannot escape them, as much as I would prefer a quiet evening at home.”

“It’s fine, Kuen,” Fiera said. “I understand. Just expect I might break a glass if someone else insults the Colonies tonight.”

“I will endeavor to turn the conversations away from the Colonies to prevent that from happening,” Kuen said.

“Thank you,” Fiera said.

Kuen was as good as his word. Any time the conversations turned to the Colonies, he redirected them to other topics to spare Fiera any more frustration. At the end of the evening, they were on their way back to the House. “Well, those weren’t as painfully dull as I thought they’d be,” Kuen said.

“They were a little better than I expected,” Fiera said. “Oh, I meant to tell you this earlier. If you have a party and I’m booked up, request a Pleasure Seeker from my House. I’ve got a few of them willing to try it at least once. You can’t mistreat them, or you’ll lose them again.”

“I will treat them with the utmost respect, as I do you,” Kuen assured her. “I’ve learned my lesson.”

“Good,” Fiera said. She leaned her head against the window of the car and watched the buildings pass by. “I am so tired tonight. I am definitely ready for bed.”

“I’ll get you back to your House soon,” Kuen said.

“I know it’s a long drive back,” Fiera said. “The Houses are set a fair distance from your district.”

“They are,” Kuen said. “At least it means I get your company for a little while longer.”

Fiera smiled in spite of her weariness. “You’re at least pleasant to be around now, not like you were when we first met,” she said.

“I still feel I owe you more of an apology for all of that,” Kuen said. “I was not the man I used to be, and it became a problem for everyone.”

“Kuen, you were living through your own personal hell. Even I can understand that. We all change to survive those,” Fiera said, sitting up and looking over at him. He was focused on the road, but she could see enough of his expression from the headlights of the passing cars to see the bitterness there.

“I still lost sight of who I was, and that – to me, at least – is unforgivable,” Kuen said.

“Try having your entire identity erased,” Fiera grumbled. “That has to be the worst feeling possible to know that happened to you.”

“You do understand what it’s like to lose sight of who you are,” Kuen said. “In a way, you were stripped of your identity in a similar fashion. My mother resorted to cruelty and torture for me. Your father utilized DiME therapy on you. Both are as damaging in their own way as the other.”

“It still makes me angry thinking about what he did to me,” Fiera said. “And hearing what your mother did to you makes me just as angry. It’s a pity neither of our parents will ever see justice for their crimes.”

“I know,” Kuen said. “It’s not fair for anyone involved in this mess that they won’t see punishment.”

“Maybe one day someone will get lucky, and we won’t have to deal with either of them anymore, though to be fair, I don’t necessarily want my da to be taken down,” Fiera said. “I want to see him taken in for his crimes.”

“You know the CWA will execute him if he’s caught,” Kuen said.

Fiera sighed. “I know,” she said. “If the Colonies catch him, I can’t say it will be any different. I’m angry enough at him to say I don’t care, but do I really feel that way? How will I feel when they finally catch and kill him? Will I grieve for him? Or will I just feel relief that he can’t hurt anyone else? I don’t know.”

“I know I will feel great relief if and when my mother finally meets her end,” Kuen said. “Though with Lakshmi and her sisters working to protect her, that won’t happen for some time.”

“Gaspare tells me you’ve been in meetings for her again,” Fiera said.

“Yes, but I’m not requesting anything specific right now,” Kuen said. “More I’m sounding out new councilors and offering favors to established members of the Assembly to try to bank favors for her. Nothing new has come up against the Colonies yet, though if she’s trying to bank favors and get an idea of where the new ones stand, it can’t be long before something new gets presented.”

“I wish I could do something to stop it,” Fiera said. “Whatever it is, it won’t be good for my people.”

“No, it won’t,” Kuen said. “And as much as I wish I could do something to help, I have to play my mother’s game and assist her in her activities against the Colonies.”

“We’ll both have to wait and see what happens and do nothing about it when it does because we’re both helpless to stop it,” Fiera said. “I hate that feeling.”

“I know. So do I,” Kuen said.

They lapsed into silence as Kuen drove. They reached the House and Kuen escorted her to the door. “I hope your evening went well, Butterfly,” Intira said as she entered.

“I had pleasant company, even if the parties weren’t all that fun,” Fiera said.

“Are the parties ever any fun?” one of the Pleasure Seekers who looked like she’d just come in as well asked.

“They’re usually not as miserable as they’ve been the past two days,” Fiera said.

“Well, you have a point,” the other Pleasure Seeker said. “I can’t wait for the weather to improve. That should sweeten people’s tempers.”

“I hope so. I’m tired of all the negativity I have to deal with,” Fiera said. “It’s worse than last year.”

“I’ll agree with you there. Something has them worked up this season,” the other woman said with a sigh. Fiera headed to her room.