The Betrothed and Shattered Destiny Bundle

By Odette C. Bell

The Betrothed and Shattered Destiny Bundle contains the complete five-episode Betrothed series and the complete six-episode Shattered Destiny series. Blast off today with two full epic space-operas.

....

Betrothed

Sometimes, destiny can no longer wait.
Annie Carter is new to the future. Born 400 years in the past, she was cryogenically frozen after a serious illness only to wake to a new world.
One that has a plan for her.
Annie has an ability – one that could condemn the universe. People will kill to get to her.
But one man can keep her safe. To get to him, she must battle assassins, armies, and friends.
The stakes could not be higher, for they are everything.

....

Shattered Destiny

She's a loner. Always has been. She's fought to survive, tooth and nail.
He's a prince of the Arterian Royal Family – the greatest power in the galaxy.
They shouldn't meet. Their paths should never intersect. But they do.
Because the Milky Way is on the verge of total war once more. Together, they can save everyone. If they are torn apart, all will fall.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Odette C. Bell
• Release date: Sep 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386493334

Book preview

Betrothed and Shattered Destiny Bundle

BETROTHED AND SHATTERED DESTINY BUNDLE

ODETTE C. BELL

CONTENTS

www.odettecbell.com

Betrothed: The Complete Series

Betrothed Episode One

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Betrothed Episode Two

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Betrothed Episode Three

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Betrothed Episode Four

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Betrothed Episode Five

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Shattered Destiny: The Complete Series

Shattered Destiny Episode One

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Foreword

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Shattered Destiny Episode Two

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Shattered Destiny Episode Three

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Shattered Destiny Episode Four

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Shattered Destiny Episode Five

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Shattered Destiny Episode Six

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Epilogue

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BETROTHED: THE COMPLETE SERIES

All characters in this publication are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Betrothed

The Complete Series

Copyright © 2015 Odette C Bell

Cover art stock photos licensed from Depositphotos.

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BETROTHED EPISODE ONE

1

The day I woke up, I threw up. I shook, I cried, and I almost died.

Again.

But it didn’t last.

Soon I said hello to the future.

I’m a newfound one.

On the 1st of January 2020, I died of a virus. No one knew what it was, and no one could treat it.

I was put on ice – cryogenically frozen until they found a cure.

The cryo facility wasn’t on land; it was in orbit, and over the tumultuous 22 nd century, the facility broke orbit and drifted away, just another piece of space junk traveling through the solar system.

In 2420, they found us.

I was the only cryo pod still viable; space can be unrelenting. If they hadn’t found me when they had, in a few short weeks, I would have died too. This time permanently.

They woke me up.

I was now referred to as a newfound one. I wasn’t the only person who’d ever woken up from a frozen sleep. Apparently the universe was full of those who’d been awakened from some kind of slumber, be it cryo or stasis or something more alien.

And all of us arrived in a strange new world.

2020 did not prepare me for 2420. Not at all.

Fortunately I wasn’t alone.

I awoke on Earth.

And there, my story begins.

---

…

Anna Carter

---

Hey, Annie, you still writing in your diary? Mark leaned against the wall to my room, crossing his arms and smiling.

I turned around, dropping my pen onto the table.

He chuckled. I can’t believe you’re still using pens and paper.

I like pens and paper.

They were old fashioned even back in your day, he snorted.

Well, I guess that makes me old fashioned too. I stood primly but shot him a friendly smile.

He grinned. Anyhow, you still want to go through with this?

I nodded.

Annie, you don’t need to do this.

Mark, I have to give back. I need a job. I have to stop skiving off the benefactors of the Foundation.

You’re not skiving; this institute was set up to help people like you. We all know how hard it is to adjust to this time when you weren’t born here. Christ, it took me ages to figure this place out when I was woken up.

Mark, you woke up five years ago. I woke up three years ago now. And look at you – you’re a lieutenant in the Foundation Forces. I’m nothing at all.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. He shot me a serious look. Waking up is hard on us all. It just takes longer for some people to adjust.

I shot him a pressed-lip frown. Mark, it’s time for me to be more like you. It’s time for me to move on and get a job.

You don’t want to be more like me, he muttered under his breath. And anyhow, he said louder, you don’t need to get a job.

Yeah, I do. I’ve already picked one, too.

Don’t tell me, pen seller. You’re going to open a planet-to-planet service, like a floating ice cream van, except you’re only going to sell pens.

I rolled my eyes. Has anyone ever told you you’re funny? Nope? I would take that as a sign.

Mark chuckled as we walked along. So what’s the job?

I want to work for the government, I said excitedly.

One of his eyebrows twitched up. … You’re serious, aren’t you?

I nodded, my long, tousled red hair bouncing around my ears. I researched the recruitment program. Apparently once you’ve cleared all their security checks, they’ll do a detailed assessment of your abilities and then match you to a job anywhere in the universe. I made a show of spreading my hands wide.

Mark pressed his lips together. You don’t need to pretend to be brave. The thought of going anywhere in the universe scares you senseless.

I turned from him and tucked my hair behind my ears. I’m not scared.

So why’s your voice shaking?

I didn’t answer.

Annie, come on, you don’t want to go on a government deployment. We’ll find you a job closer to home.

No, I said forcefully, and I meant it. Yeah, Mark was right, and the thought of being deployed anywhere in the universe for any kind of job was terrifying. But… I had to do it because I had to do something.

I couldn’t stay in this facility forever.

Are you sure… the Facility is okay with this? His brow crumpled as he looked at me directly. I mean, they know about this, right?

I nodded. Of course they do.

… And no one’s got a problem with it? You leaving, I mean.

Oh, I imagine they’ll be happy to see the back of me. Mark, no matter what you say, this is happening. I’m joining the government.

Alright. Mark let out a sigh that shook his shoulders, and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his unbuttoned jacket. But you’re lucky the future is so open-minded. Back in our day, you would have been knocked back for your tats and sense of humor. He shrugged toward my bare right arm.

I had a beautiful flower-motif tattoo along my shoulder and down my arm. I wasn’t the kind of girl to have ink, but it artfully obscured a birthmark. You’re just picking on my tattoo and sense of humor because you’re jealous.

He nodded and shot me a fake serious look. Yeah, I really wish I had an enormous colorful flower pattern covering my left shoulder.

See, you try to be funny, but you just aren’t.

He chuckled. Well, now we’ve got that out of the way, if you’re hell-bent on doing this, how can I help?

I tilted my head back. I don’t need help.

One of his eyebrows kinked up. You sure?

I shot him a grin. Pretty sure. I’m going to do this on my own. It’s time for me to spread my wings. I’m three years old.

He sniggered. That’s definitely old enough to sign your life away to the government. Seriously though, let me help you. There’s a government office on Earth. I can have you there by this afternoon, my lady. He crooked his arm and leaned it toward me.

I chuckled. Mark, I’ll be fine. Plus, I’m not going to apply on Earth.

His brow crumpled with a twitch. What?

I’m going to spend a little of my savings to go to the Alpha System.

His lips slackened. What?

I’ve always wanted to see the Alpha system – ever since you showed me holo photos. So… I swung my arms back and forth, I’m going.

… Annie, are you sure the Institute knows about this?

Yeah. I flopped a hand at him. Of course they do. They helped me book tickets.

Mark looked confused. He even wiped a strangely stiff hand down his face. Then he hid it behind his back as he pretended to bow. Well then, who am I to stand in your way? But how about I come with you? The Alpha System is pretty mean. You’ll need someone to hide behind – someone strong. He brought up an arm and flexed his bicep.

I rolled my eyes, determined not to let my gaze linger on his muscles. You really need to work on your jokes. But I’ll be fine. Plus, the Alpha System is described as one of the most peaceful spots in all the universe. I most definitely will not have to hide behind anyone strong.

… You sure the Institute is happy for you to go off on your own to the Alpha System?

I snorted. Like I said – they’ll be happy to see the back of me. Everyone’s been wishing me well. They’ll probably have a parade when I leave, I joked.

Mark didn’t laugh. … I better check with the Institute, just to make sure you’re not doing a runner.

I sighed, but it quickly turned into a frown. You don’t have to keep checking up on me, Mark.

He patted his chest, and for a brief second, his usually cheery expression became oddly serious. It’s my mission, kid. Anyhow, his demeanor changed as he flicked me a trademark grin, I’m also heading off on patrol. I’ll be at your beck and call though.

I shot him a look. Really, the Foundation Forces will allow you to be at the beck and call of some random newfound one?

You’re not random. And they know I have existing duties with the Institute. Plus, no rest for the wicked, his voice dipped low.

I hit him softly on the arm. You aren’t wicked, Mark, so that doesn’t include you. And what are you saying? You only hang around me because it’s your job?

Pretty much, he joked. The pay’s pretty good too.

Ooh, you’re cruel, you are. Admit it, you like hanging out with me.

Okay, he put his hands up in surrender, the day you woke up, Annie Carter, was the day I died and came back to life.

I laughed awkwardly. You tell the weirdest jokes.

It’s a gift. Anyhow, when are you leaving?

Today. I pressed my hands together and shot him an excited but nervous grin.

Well then, how about I see you to your transport? He held his hand out to me.

That would be nice.

I smiled.

There were times I felt lost in this new world. Times the future seemed too big to ever understand.

Then I was reminded I still had friends.

Or at least I had Mark.

He’d been assigned to me the day I’d woken up. I’d thrown up on him, three damn times, but he’d still stuck around.

He was a newfound one just like me, and he was my guide to this modern universe.

He always made me feel welcome and safe, especially when he flashed me one of his handsome, cheeky smiles.

But it was still time for me to spread my wings.

It was time for me – Annie Carter – to find my place in this universe.

2

The Alpha System was incredible.

Space travel, not so much.

I hardly had any savings, so I’d booked a transport I could afford. A stinky, cramped freighter hauling borinian ore.

It had terrified me when I’d boarded, but the longer I’d spent in my cramped room, the more I’d calmed down.

It was kind of crazy to travel all the way to the Alpha System just to apply for a goddamn job.

It felt right though.

I’d been at the institute too long. I needed to find myself.

I wasn’t brave – at least not now. The old me had traveled everywhere. The old me had enjoyed packing up, grabbing her wallet and passport, and traveling wherever the wind had blown.

The new me – who’d wound up 400 years in the future without family, friends, and far away from anything she’d ever known – was different. The new me was scared to leave the building.

The new me figured that the moment I set foot outside was the moment the universe came crashing down around my ears.

But I was still doing this.

I landed on the main planet in the Alpha System, a cheery rock called Begia Prime.

It had spectacular scenery. It was like New Zealand on steroids. Enormous snow-capped mountain ranges plunged down into azure blue rivers. Forests of sprawling, knotted alien trees clung to hillsides, giving way to golden grassed plains.

And in the middle, for no good reason, was a dirty, stinky city.

There I would find the application office.

Mark had made me promise to call him after I’d applied. He’d mumbled something about needing to ensure I hadn’t been assigned to the role of president.

President of the universe? Yeah, right. If my family were still alive, they’d tip their heads back and laugh at the thought that flaky Annie would ever amount to anything, let alone president of the goddamn universe.

I figured I’d get my application out of the way before exploring the planet.

And even then, I’d probably have to go back to my tiny habitat pod – my accommodation – and chew my nails for a few hours to muster up the courage to head out into the wilderness.

It wouldn’t be dangerous – the Alpha System was a premier tourist spot.

I was just agoraphobic from spending three years in the institute.

It didn’t take me long to find the application office.

I walked inside to face an opaque black window.

There was no one else around, and for a few awkward minutes, I stood there and did nothing.

Then I cleared my throat.

With a click, the window disappeared, revealing a squat alien behind a counter. Application, please. He shunted one of his pudgy hands toward me.

Ah, I hesitated.

Application. He twiddled his ten fingers.

I-is this the application office for the Foundation Government Corps?

Of course it is.

So… I just hand you my application then?

He twiddled his fingers and nodded.

I handed him my data pad.

Step forward and place your hand on the biometric scanner, the alien said in a bored tone.

I complied.

After a few seconds, there was a beep.

The alien sniffed. Alright then, looks as if you can’t apply yet.

Ah, what?

There’s a contract out on you. No one can apply for a job in the government until all existing contracts taken against them are satisfied.

I frowned at the clerk. Sorry?

There’s a contract out on you, he said slowly as if I was hard of hearing. He had an impassive, blank expression, and brought a two-pronged finger up to scratch his ear.

… Ah, sorry? You… y-you mean someone wants to kill me? My heart skipped a beat.

His eyebrows flattened, and he shot me a quizzical look. What?

Y-you said there’s a contract out on me—

It means someone has some controlling interest in you. He shrugged his shoulders and started to shuffle the data pads on his desk again.

… What does that mean?

It means, humie, you can’t take this job until you get your contract satisfied. There are strict universal laws about that kind of stuff.

I, um, I, ah… what kind of contract are we talking about here? I was floundering. My face was red, my hands were sweaty. Just when I thought I was settling into the future, it was throwing me more surprises.

I had never heard of contracts.

The clerk shot me a bored look. How should I know? You could be indentured, you could have an inheritance, you could be betrothed.

I latched onto one word. Sorry, betrothed?

You know, legally obliged to marry someone.

That’s a thing? My voice pitched and shook.

Of course it’s a thing. He shot me another bored look. Now, you gotta go find out what contract is out on you, and you’ll have to satisfy it before you can apply for a job with the government.

H-how do I do that?

I didn’t know if the clerk’s race rolled their eyes, but this guy sure looked like he wanted to. He leaned over his desk, his pudgy pronged fingers disturbing the heaped pile of tools and datapads, sending a few scattering to the floor. Lady, don’t you know anything? You been living under a rock your whole life?

I’m a newfound one. I only woke up 3 years ago, I admitted as I slid my gaze to my hands.

Oh. He appeared to relax. In that case, listen carefully. You have to book a transport to the Central System. Then you need to visit Cluster. When there, you’ll need to visit the Contracts Office. Depending on the type of contract out on you, you’ll probably have to head to the Identity Office too. Then, when the contract is confirmed, all you have to do is satisfy it, and once that’s done, you can reapply for this job. He shoved my application back at me, receded into his chair, punched something on the panel in front of him, and flicked me a smile as the window to his office turned opaque. Good luck, he called before his voice cut out.

Ah ha, I managed after a long pause.

My body stiff, it took me a while to turn away.

My hand shook as I held my application.

There was a contract out on me. I could be indentured – and god knows what that would entail. Or I could have inherited something.

Or… I could be betrothed.

I’d come here today to get my life sorted – to join the modern galaxy.

Before today, I hadn’t even known about contracts.

… Christ.

I wiped a hand down my face and forced myself to walk away.

I barely had any money, and the few savings I had would now be burnt away.

Great.

Back to square one.

I hated the future.

…

I couldn’t calm down. My body was wired, my mind filled with crazy thoughts.

I could inherit a small moon, or I could be indentured to a crazy alien warlord.

I’d gone back to my accommodation – a small pod on the outskirts of a transport town. It had an incredible view of the wild wilderness of this planet on one side, then the dingy transport town behind me.

I stood there and stared at the tall majestic mountain ranges, my gaze drawing toward the horizon as dusk set.

I needed to talk to someone, someone I could trust.

In this lonely galaxy, there was only one man.

I called Mark.

Hey, kid, how did your application go?

Ah, not great. I couldn’t control my tone.

What happened?

Um, Mark, have you ever heard of contracts?

… Sure. Why are you bringing them up?

Like, I don’t mean ordinary legal contracts, I mean… Christ, I don’t know what I mean. Some kind of universal, ah… thing. I couldn’t find my words. I stared at the view with wide-open eyes and a pounding heart. I rubbed my hand back and forth along the window ledge until the smooth metal started to grate against my fingers.

Yeah, I know what you mean. Universally Binding Contracts. Why are you bringing them up?

I paused. I couldn’t speak. My breath had stuck in my chest.

I patted a hand on my middle, crunching over.

… Annie?

I have a contract out on me, I blurted. I have no idea what it is. But if I don’t satisfy it, I can’t apply for this job. And I need this job, Mark – it’s like the only thing I can do in the future. I feel so freaking useless most of the time, and totally out of my depth. And now this has come along, I sucked in a breath, and I have no idea what it is. I could be betrothed, Mark – betrothed. I couldn’t stop the torrent of thoughts from spilling out of my mouth. The clerk at the applications office told me I have to go to the Central System, and to the Contracts Office and then the Identity Office. But I hardly have any money, Mark. It will take up all my savings and then some. I don’t know what to do. Just when I thought I was getting used to this future, this comes up.

Mark didn’t interrupt. I fancied wherever he was, he had a calm smile plastered across his lips.

I took an enormous breath and flopped onto my butt. I could still see a slice of the horizon through the windows, and I concentrated on the white sleek mountain peaks beyond.

I stuck a fingernail in my mouth and started to chew it.

Take a breath, Annie, it’s all going to be okay. First things first: it isn’t that unusual to have a contract. It won’t be that hard to find out what it is. It won’t take up all your savings either – as a newfound one, you can apply for a grant to head to the Central System to get this all sorted.

… Oh. But – but what if I’m indentured, or betrothed!

He laughed. I like how you’re more scared of being betrothed than you are of being indentured.

Mark, this is serious!

Yeah, I haven’t heard you give a thought dump like that since your first year after waking up. Anyhow, there’s nothing to worry about.

Yes, there is—

Annie, he interrupted before I could get going again.

I shoved my thumb further into my mouth, grating my teeth back and forth over my nail.

You aren’t betrothed, he said confidently, nor would you be indentured.

What? I’m not? How can you be so sure? I jumped to my feet.

Because you’re over 400 years old, technically.

… And?

Come on, Annie, think. You were born a long, long time ago. You can’t possibly be betrothed to someone, nor indentured – the contract holder would be well and truly dead by now.

But… what if the contract holder came from a really long-lived race?

Why would someone have indentured or betrothed little Annie Carter from 21st century Earth? Earth wasn’t even part of the Foundation Protectorate 400 years ago.

Oh, I conceded, my shoulders finally dropping from up around my ears.

There’s really only one possibility – you’ve inherited something.

But who would leave anything to me? As you keep saying, I’m more than 400 years old.

The Contracts Office picks up and deals with contracts from every member of the Foundation. My guess is 400 years ago, someone put you in their will with a clause that should you be woken up, you get the cash – or whatever they’ve left you.

I blinked, suddenly feeling extremely stupid. I stared at my feet sheepishly. Oh. Ah, yeah, that makes sense.

Yeah, it does. So can you do me a favor and stop chewing your nail?

He knew me well enough to remember what I did when I was nervous.

I stopped chewing it a few seconds ago, actually.

Alright then. Now, all you have to do is contact the Contracts Office, prove your newfound status, and they’ll help arrange transport.

Why can’t I just get them to look into my contract for me? I mean, do I really need to travel all the way to Central?

Yep, unfortunately you do. They’ll have to do a full atomic scan of your DNA to check it’s really you. But hey, it won’t be so bad – you keep telling me you want to travel.

Yeah, I guess.

Just don’t overthink it, Annie. Go claim your inheritance. Who knows, with interest, maybe you won’t have to apply for that job after all – you might be inheriting a small fortune.

Mark, we’ve talked about this – I want to give back. I want to do something worthwhile. I’m sick of sitting around doing nothing. I feel so useless.

You’re not useless, Annie. You’ve got an incredible head on your shoulders.

I blushed.

Keep me in the loop. If you have inherited a fortune, I expect you to take me out for a drink.

I let out a soft laugh. Sure thing.

Let me know when you’re headed to Central, too – as I might be around those parts. We could meet up.

Mark, that would be great. I smiled, tucking my hair behind my ears as I did a quick turn on the floor, heading toward my luggage.

Alright, then. Keep safe, Annie.

Always.

See you around, kid.

Thanks so much, Mark.

With that, he ended the call.

I stood staring at the view, feeling extremely foolish.

Of course it was an inheritance, and of course it wasn’t that serious.

I sighed, shook my head, and turned around to call Central.

3

It didn’t take long to organize transport to the Central System. As soon as I explained my situation and revealed my newfound status, they took me under the government’s considerable wing.

Everything was organized for me.

Within two days, I was aboard a transport headed straight for Central.

It was a four-week trip, even utilizing priority jump routes.

It gave me a lot of time to calm down.

But the closer we got, the more my nerves reignited.

I tried to rationalize them away – I tried to tell myself it was nothing. The clump of worry forming in my gut wouldn’t shift, though.

I felt as if I was heading toward something.

By the time we arrived in the Central System, I was jumpy.

The small transport I was on had a viewing platform with seats and a massive window that showcased space flitting on past.

Needing to keep my mind off things, I paced in front of the view.

The Central System was unquestionably incredible. It would have to be; it housed the primary administrative units of the Foundation.

From security to identity – everything was dealt with on the cluster planets.

The cluster planets were a group of artificial and natural planets joined together in a modern feat of technology to form one enormous celestial body.

For a simple girl from 400 years ago, they were astounding.

When my transport approached, my nerves dropped away to be replaced with awe.

The cluster of planets was joined by an enormous artificial gravity generator about the size of a small moon that modulated the natural gravitational forces of each planet to keep them at a constant synchronous distance.

It enabled sky bridges and elevators and space stations to join up the planets without the fear of them being crushed or torn apart.

Standing there in my transport, I pressed a hand to the enormous viewing window before me, and I leaned in close until my breath condensed against the techno glass.

My eyes grew wide, and a sense of true wonder filled my heart.

Approaching Central, a voice filtered over the ship-wide comms. Passengers disembarking in the security body must go to the second-floor starboard airlock. Passengers disembarking for the Contracts Office should head to the third-floor port airlock.

The message continued, but I didn’t need to hear the rest.

I didn’t have any luggage, just a few synth credits. The credits would allow me to synthesize whatever clothes or food I needed.

The credits were already preloaded into my identity tag – a subcutaneous implant just behind my left ear. In fact, everything was in the implant, from proof of my newfound status to my itinerary.

Taking a deep calming breath, I made my way to deck three.

That sense that something was building – that I was heading toward something – settled deep in my stomach. It felt like a knot or a hard clump of fright ready to explode.

I tried to push it out of my mind.

It was just nerves.

I would soon find out it was more, much more.

4

For the past three years, I’d barely left the institute.

Now here I was on my own in the most important destination in the entire universe. Suffice to say, it was packed with aliens. Every person I passed appeared to be from a new and different race I’d never seen before.

If the people weren’t confronting enough, then the sheer megalithic technologically advanced architecture was.

The planet I disembarked on was arguably the biggest.

I’d been expecting an enormous, densely populated city that stretched across the whole planet. That’s not what I found.

It was beautiful. Large glistening white buildings separated by bridges and lakes and gardens.

In the sky, you could see the other planets and security stations and bridges of Central.

I’d been in the future three years now, but this was decidedly the most futuristic experience I’d had.

It felt as if I’d walked into the concept art for a video game or somehow wandered inside a sci-fi movie.

I disembarked with a bunch of other passengers, but they quickly walked off, keen to complete whatever task had brought them here.

Me, I walked around in a bit of a daze for an hour or two.

There was so much to see. From hanging gardens to floating lakes, it was a wild trip for my eyes and my imagination.

It was also a distraction.

I’d already identified where the Central contract building was. It would be hard not to. It was the biggest building I’d ever seen. It was like a whole city back on old earth. The outside was made of undulating white sail-like constructions that glistened under the sun.

It took a damn long time for me to find the courage to approach the building, then even longer to go inside.

There were a series of security checkpoints leading up to the building, which I thought was overkill considering the number of security checkpoints I’d had to go through in order to get onto the planet in the first place.

Each time my implant would be scanned, and I’d be let through, often with a curious glance when the guard realized I was a newfound one.

It took about 20 minutes to actually get inside the building.

By that time, my nerves had exploded. It felt as if live wires were crackling through my entire body. I was so jittery, I had to secure a hand onto my stomach and force myself to breathe lest I faint.

If I thought the outside of the contract building was incredible, then the inside was mind-blowing.

It was that same odd mishmash of styles that I’d encountered in so much of the rest of the universe. The building was like a warren, with countless corridors and rooms branching off.

Occasionally a door would roll open to let someone through, and I’d catch a glimpse of the room inside. Devices would be strewn across tables, or neatly stacked along walls, with pot plants and artwork dotted everywhere, and aliens rushing to and fro.

In fact, come to think of it, there was artwork everywhere. Statues, vases, old contraptions. It was like walking through the greatest museum I’d ever seen.

It took me a moment to realize that the art wasn’t there for show. I saw an official-looking man in the regal attire of the Foundation leading two aliens to a room where they carted away a boxful of a hodgepodge of items from intricate statues to old engine parts.

These were all inheritances, weren’t they?

It took me a long time to reach the main reception area of the contract building. I hadn’t been lying when I’d said it was a small city. I saw people whizzing around on small hovercraft, but I had no idea where they got them, and I doubted anyone would give one to me. So I just had to walk.

Eventually I found the line, and what a line it was. I swear it stretched for blocks. There was every imaginable alien, every imaginable color, form, and shape.

It should have been boring waiting there for hours, but it wasn’t.

Well, at least it wasn’t until he showed up.

It was when I was close to the front of the line that something happened.

The massive queue started to break apart, everybody muttering in their own tongue.

At first, I didn’t know what was happening, and I stood there and watched.

A man was walking down the enormous long hallway.

He was human, or at least he resembled a human. Tall, proportioned shoulders, a sharp jawline, and a piercing gaze.

He should have been handsome, except for that gaze.

It was like staring into the center of the Big Bang.

It was also exceedingly arrogant.

He was dressed in a well-cut black tunic with a high collar that showed off his trim neck and angled jaw. There were no decorations save for a purple pin on the left breast of his jacket. There was also a slim line of purple trimming around his collar.

He looked like an extremely trendy priest, well, apart from the death glare.

I stood there, and I stared at him until he walked right up to me.

What are you doing? he asked in a clipped, curt tone.

I turned bright red; I could feel my cheeks threatening to burn right off.

Why aren’t you following customs? Those piercing steely gray eyes narrowed.

I started to stutter, my blush becoming iridescent. Sorry, did I do something wrong?

You are refusing to yield your position in the line to me.

Everyone was looking at me, including officials.

I…. I bit my lip and shrugged my shoulders. Who are you exactly? It was probably the wrong question to ask. Considering the cowed awed gazes everybody else was shooting this man, I shouldn’t be questioning who he was, I should just be getting out of his way. But the question blurted out of my lips before I could stop it.

He looked shocked but in a thoroughly arrogant way. I’d never met somebody surer of themselves, more certain of their power and their right to hold it. He angled his head back and shot me a terrifying gaze. I don’t play games.

I didn’t know how to respond to that. It wasn’t an answer to my question; it was a random snippet of information. Great, so this guy wouldn’t want to play Monopoly with me, I’m glad we’d sorted that, but honestly, who the heck was he and what did he want?

I didn’t know what to do, so I stood there looking exceedingly embarrassed.

Don’t pretend not to know who I am, I am an Illuminate, he spoke through bared teeth now, and he gestured to the purple pin on his breast.

I looked at it, then looked at him nonplussed. Oh, I managed, what’s an Illuminate? Again, I should have kept my stupid mouth shut, but my lips wouldn’t oblige.

He either looked like he wanted to kill me, or he’d seen the most curious thing in the universe. I wasn’t sure; this guy was hard to read. The only emotion I could pick up was arrogance. And in that second, he turned it on full bore.

He looked me up and down, his gaze not exactly flattering. Where have you been that you do not know what an Illuminate is and how to treat them properly?

I’m a newfound one, I stuttered.

… I see. Well, here is a lesson you shouldn’t forget, newfound one, if you see this pip, he pointed to the relatively plain looking brooch, you move. No questions, no attitude, he hissed. Then he brushed past me.

Attitude? He was the one accusing me of having an attitude? He was the greatest bully I’d ever met!

Still, I shuffled backward, mortified, not by him but by the way everyone else looked at me. It was as if I’d committed the greatest faux pas this side of spitting in the Queen’s soup.

As the Illuminate walked away, he tipped his regal head back and didn’t once look my way. I was worse than insignificant to him: I was non-existent.

I blinked quickly and turned, taking a calming breath as I tried not to look at the accusatory glances around me.

Sometimes I thought this future was incredible – modern in every way imaginable. From faster-than-light travel, to planets tethered together – they’d managed to achieve so much.

And then I was brought right back down to Earth. For all this incredible universe’s achievements, it was still riddled with outdated traditions. From royalty to whatever the hell that Illuminate guy was, there was still class inequity. Even in my day back on 21st century Earth, we’d been trying to make that a thing of the past.

As I looked around me, I realized how entrenched it was in the future.

Far ahead, the Illuminate strode, his head tilted back as he didn’t even bother to acknowledge the people shuffling out of his way.

What a jerk. Everyone else here may not be able to see that, but I could. I didn’t care what this guy did, but no one earned the right to treat people like that.

I stowed my mutinous thoughts as the lines reformed. It didn’t happen right away, though – everyone waited until the Illuminate was far out of sight, his polished boots echoing down the enormously long corridor.

When the lines did reform, I was shunted to the back. Various aliens kept shooting me accusatory glares as if I’d killed their puppies or something.

I meekly took my place at the end of the line, waiting around until some new people joined it who hadn’t been around to see my apparent social transgression.

As I stood there at the end of the new line, I stewed. I entertained every unkind thought about that jerk I could. Then I moved on to how much I hated this universe.

If only I’d never contracted that virus 400 years ago, I wouldn’t be here now. I would have lived out my existence in the 21st century. I would have had a great life, I’m sure. Better than this, anyway.

Eventually, after what felt like half a day, I reached the front of the line. The single clerk who sat behind an enormous polished wood desk barely looked up at me.

I had to shout to be heard.

Place your hand on the bio scanner, the alien woman snapped.

I did as I was told.

A few seconds later, she brought up one of her twenty arms and pointed down one of the twenty corridors branching off from behind her desk.

Ah, I began.

That way, she snapped, then leaned past me to wave on the next person in the queue.

I stood around for a little, unsure of what to do, but when everyone continued to ignore me, I shuffled toward the hall she’d pointed to.

There were no signs. I had absolutely no idea where I was going. She hadn’t said anything, either. For all I knew, she could have sent me back to the start of the line.

With a heavy heart and by now a rumbly stomach, I walked off down the hallway.

After a few lengths, the architecture around me started to change. Gone was the sleek white modern feel of the main hall, until I found myself in a narrow winding corridor interrupted every 20 meters or so with spiral staircases.

The design was a hodge podge and made me feel as though someone had taken an old castle from Earth and smashed it together with a spaceship.

At least it distracted me.

I kept walking until I reached a checkpoint. A security officer scanned my implant and waved me on.

I tried to ask him where I was going, but he ignored me, turned, and started chatting to his buddy.

I caught a few snippets of their conversation. It was the same topic everyone in Central seemed to be discussing – the upcoming Illuminate wedding.

I hadn’t been paying attention, but as I thought about it now, I wondered if that jerk Illuminate in the main hall had anything to do with it.

If it was his wedding, I hoped he was getting married to someone awful who’d ruin his life forever.

….

Okay, that was mean. I’d been brought up as a good girl. But honestly, some people were beyond kindness.

I continued down the winding corridor, wondering if I’d reach my destination before I succumbed to hunger and thirst. If I’d known trekking through the contracts building would be like traversing a city, I’d have brought supplies.

I tried not to let my spirits slip as I trekked on, reminding myself I would be picking up an inheritance soon. It could be anything, from a small moon to a box of my grandma’s old gnomes.

Finally the corridor widened into a large room. Just like the main hall above, there was an enormous bench, this one made out of gleaming white metal trimmed with gold.

There was an alien man on the opposite side of the counter.

He didn’t look up as I approached. I was the only person in this enormous room other than him, but he didn’t register my presence at all.

It wasn’t until I’d cleared my throat for the tenth time and managed a timid, excuse me, that he bothered to roll his three eyes toward me.

Can I help you? he asked in the standard tongue.

Ah, yeah, I was sent here by the lady at reception.

He didn’t respond. He looked at me with those three luminescent eyes and appeared to wait.

So, ah, do you want my biometric scan? I hazarded through a swallow.

I already have it.

O-kay… so what do you need me to do?

Nothing. He turned to look at something on the sunken panel embedded in the smooth counter before him.

I stood there and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Had I already mentioned how much I hated this modern universe? If I’d thought 21st century Earth had been beset by irritating, useless traditions and bureaucracies, I’d been wrong. Give me a line up at a toll booth any day.

… Ah, so what contract do I have? I broke the silence.

I don’t see why you’ve come here to ask.

I blinked my eyes slowly. Y-you, what? I was sent here from reception. I’m just trying to find out what contract I have. I’ve come here all the way from the Alpha System, I began to babble, to find out why the heck I can’t get a job with the government. The clerk at the applications office told me there was some kind of contract out on me, and I’m here to find out what that is. I pressed my lips together, realizing ranting would get me nowhere.

You are a newfound one, yes?

I nodded, stomach sinking. I was about to get another lecture on proper modern universal etiquette, wasn’t I? Maybe that jerk of an Illuminate would swan in to berate me too.

Instead of launching into a spiel about how ignorant I was, the alien looked confused for a moment. Then you should go to the Identity Office to find out who it is.

Ah, sorry. I think you missed a step. Find out who what is?

You’re betrothed. You’ve come to the wrong office. I can only confirm your betrothal, I can’t tell you the details of who you are contracted to wed.

I stood there. I didn’t move. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

You must have been told upon waking as a newfound one. Your identity would have been checked.

I must have looked like I was about to throw up. That, or faint.

The alien compressed his ridged brow. You look unwell, human.

B-betrothed? I couldn’t breathe. There was a lump stuck in my throat, and I knew I was going to choke. I, I can’t be betrothed. It’s not possible.

Didn’t you know? He gave me an enquiring look.

I stood there and stared at him as sweat slicked my brow.

Ma’am, are you alright?

I… feel sick.

Have you received your latest space flu shot?

I stared at him.

Ma’am?

I, I d-d-don’t understand. How can I be betrothed?

A contract was created at the time of your birth, he began.

No, no, that can’t be. I’m a newfound one. I was born over 400 years ago!

The alien rested back in his chair and looked thoughtful. That is an extremely long time for a betrothal to run. There are two possibilities – you have been betrothed to a member of a long-lived race, or you were betrothed only recently.

Recently? What? I… but why? How does that even work? I mean, honestly, what kind of a universe is this? I’ve never met the person I’m supposedly betrothed to—

There is no supposedly, ma’am – you are legally bound to them, he interrupted.

I pressed my hands into fists, not caring as the nails dug hard into my palms. I don’t care; this still isn’t right. Don’t I get any say in the matter?

He looked at me impassively. I do not see what the problem is. Most people are thrilled to find they are betrothed. It is an ancient and respected tradition—

It’s ridiculous, I ranted.

The alien – who’d looked relatively kind up until now – frowned, his fat green lips drawing thin. You are a newfound one, so you may not understand the traditions of the modern universe. However, you should still respect them.

Why?

The alien’s expression suddenly drew slack.

This whole thing is ridiculous. I knew I should keep my tone down, but I couldn’t. All the stress and frustration were pouring out of me. You know, I may be in the so-called future, but it doesn’t feel like it. Sure, you have fancy spaceships, but your traditions are ancient. We got rid of class inequality years ago.

The alien said nothing. Instead, he stared behind me, his three luminescent eyes opening as far as the skin would allow.

I should have clicked that he was looking at someone behind me, but I was too angry.

I can’t believe I have to satisfy this ridiculous contract just to get a job with the government.

It is your choice whether you choose to satisfy it or not. A betrothal is an ancient and sacred tradition, and if you can’t see that, you are better off ignoring it and returning to your ordinary life, someone said from behind me.

By this stage, I was livid. Angry at everything. Incensed by how this could possibly be occurring in a future where they could cure almost every disease and travel to the furthest reaches of the universe.

Then I turned, and I saw him.

The Illuminate.

An entourage of reverent staff and security were holed up by the doorway, either too timid to come in or not permitted to try.

He stared at me, those awful piercing eyes boring into my soul. On any other day, I would have backed down, I would’ve mumbled my apologies and darted away like a minnow before the shark. Today wasn’t any other day. I’d just found out that without my permission, someone had contracted me to marry them.

Despite the fact his gaze was as challenging as a gun to the head, I squared off my jaw. Just because something is tradition doesn’t mean it’s right. Arguing with this guy was exactly what I shouldn’t do. I’d already seen how everybody else was treating him. He was either royalty or something more important. In other words, far, far above my station.

He shot me the kind of look that said I was nothing and knew nothing. The Foundation has already given you much, newfound one, and they deserve your respect in return, not your ire. Presumably, you were brought back to life, and the taxpayers and citizens of the Foundation have funded you ever since. The least you can do is respect our beliefs.

I could feel my anger melting away. I tried to hold on to it – if only because of the arrogant look glinting in his eyes – but I couldn’t deny his reason.

The future sure had given me a lot, and if the least I could do was whine less, then so be it.

That wouldn’t mean I’d drop this.

There had to be a way to fight this betrothal.

His expression was the epitome of disgrace, his lips drawn thin, and his piercing pale eyes narrowed. If I were you, I would ignore your betrothal; you clearly aren’t worth such a sacred contract.

With that, he turned and started talking to the alien.

I stood there, stunned.

Then I turned on my heel and began to walk away.

Wait, he commanded.

Despite myself, I stopped, as if his words were like chains that locked me to the spot.

You have forgotten your contract. Without turning to me, he took something off the alien, then tossed it onto the ground by my feet.

Oddly, it was parchment paper.

Or at least I thought it was paper.

As I leaned down to pick it up, feeling sick from his dismissive behavior, I saw it was different from the parchment paper I was accustomed to.

It was flexible and light, but extremely strong. It was also embedded with holographic symbols, and as soon as I touched it, I could feel it was made of some unusual substance.

It cannot be destroyed, the man said without turning to me, but it can be ignored.

And with that, he ignored me.

I thought of turning around and giving him another serve, telling him that no matter how important he thought he was, he didn’t earn the right to treat people like that.

I didn’t.

I was hot in the face from embarrassment, and I could see the Illuminate’s entourage by the door shooting me death glares.

So I walked away.

I made my way through the judging crowd and slowly ascended the winding staircases until I made it to the main floor.

As time passed, and my initial shock at his reaction faded, the reality of the situation set in.

My nerves started to mount, climbing up my back and diving into my chest with jolts like electric shocks.

By the time I made it through the labyrinthine building and out into the light, I was a wreck. My heart felt like it had switched places with a flighty bird.

Clamping a hand on my stomach, I had to force myself to breathe.

I walked over to the jutting platform that commanded a view of the sprawling city below. I clamped my hands on the smooth white rails, digging my fingernails into the metal.

Then I closed my eyes and tried to process what I’d just learned.

Ever since I’d woken up as a newfound one, there’d been a lot to learn. Life in the future wasn’t easy. But this… this was different. This was horrible.

I was betrothed.

Shaking, I brought the contract up and stared at it. My eyes got stuck on a slowly spinning holographic symbol in the upper right corner. The blues and whites and golds of the Foundation insignia lulled my mind, but it couldn’t distract me forever.

With another rattling gulp, I jerked my gaze down to stare at the text. Betrothed was written in great big, bold letters, it was even underlined.

Under that was a bunch of gibberish. Letters and numbers – strings of symbols I didn’t understand.

Apparently, if I took it to the identity office, they’d let me know who exactly I was betrothed to.

Which was a thought I hadn’t let into my mind until now.

Somewhere out there was someone for me. It wasn’t destiny, though. It was a contract. A contract bound me to them and them to me for the rest of our lives.

I crumpled a hand over my mouth, my lips indenting against my fingers as another wave of nausea and emotion washed over me.

Before I could tumble to my knees, I thought of what the Illuminate had said. I could ignore this. The arrogant jerk had pretty much told me that whoever I was betrothed to wouldn’t want me.

So what was the harm of walking away?

Sure, if I didn’t satisfy the betrothal, I’d never get a job with the government, but surely there were other things I could do in this universe?

Or maybe there was some way to annul the betrothal. There had to be legal loopholes. All I needed to do was calm down and think this through logically.

Oh, and tell somebody I could trust.

Mark.

It didn’t take too long until I unwrapped my hands from that metal railing and rubbed the fingernail marks from my palms.

Then I walked away.

5

I called Mark. Before I could break down and tell him what happened, he casually mentioned he was on the same planet I was.

We decided to meet up for a drink. It would be easier to tell him in person. I could show him the damn betrothal contract. Otherwise it was so ridiculous I doubted he’d believe me.

I used the implant in my neck to help me navigate to the bar Mark had suggested.

This planet was beautiful. Away from the Contracts Office, the city was denser, tall buildings leading up to the horizon line, connected with sky bridges and platforms thronging with aliens staring at the view.

I walked amongst them, head still in the clouds.

I found the right bar, a cozy looking affair sunk into the floor like a basement. I walked inside to wait, finding a table next to the wall, far away from the view, but far away from people’s enquiring glances too.

I wanted to be alone right now.

There was a holo television above the bar, showing footage of the news.

As I looked up from inspecting my hands for about the hundredth time, I saw a familiar face.

That Illuminate.

I wanted to ignore him – hell, I never wanted to see or hear about that man again.

I couldn’t stop my hand from walking up my neck and tapping my implant though.

It automatically caught the audio feed of the televised broadcast and played it directly into my mind.

Central saw a rare visit from Illuminate Hart today. A precursor to the upcoming Illuminate wedding – the event of the century – rumor had it he visited the contract building, possibly to find out what lucky person is betrothed to him.

I stiffened on that word, and my fingernails curled in until they dug hard into my palms.

So he was betrothed too, ha?

That probably explained why he’d been in the betrothal office with me. It didn’t, however, explain why he was such a jerk and why people obviously had no problem with this.

Who was this man that his wedding would be the event of the century?

I stopped fuming long enough to tune back into the televised broadcast. An alien of some indefinite gender tittered loudly and shot onto the holographic screen in front of the picture of a scowling Hart. Details of the betrothal will be revealed in the coming days. Whoever is betrothed to Illuminate Hart will enter into one of the most important families in the universe. An Illuminate wedding is a rare event, and allows us, the ordinary public, a brief glimpse into the mysterious lives of the universal protectors.

Universal protectors?

What the heck?

Hart didn’t look like he could protect anyone; that hateful, judgmental gaze could only do damage.

Though the broadcast was making me progressively angrier, I didn’t get to see the end.

I got a message from Mark saying he’d just arrived.

I stood up to see him walk down the stairs and into the bar.

Hey, kid. Mark ducked his head down to avoid hitting the low ceiling and plucked a hand from his pocket to wave casually at me.

I smiled. Despite everything, I still managed the smallest of friendly greetings.

His eyebrows dug low into his eyes. What’s the matter? You look tired.

I’m not tired, I said. Technically it was a lie – my day had drained me. But my fatigue had nothing to do with my washed-out expression.

You okay? His eyebrows peaked together.

Ah… I found out what my contract is, my voice barely registered above a whisper.

Don’t sweat it, Annie – if you didn’t inherit that much, I can pay for the drinks. He shrugged a shoulder toward the bar.

I didn’t move.

Drinks are this way. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his trim navy-blue uniform and angled his head toward the bar.

Ah, can we maybe go outside? I want some air. Before he had a chance to answer, I turned and walked through the door.

He shot me an odd look and followed.

I made it all the way out to one of the platforms that offered a panoramic view of the city below. Ships darted in and out of tall, sleek buildings, the lights of their exhausts like fireflies in the dark.

I leaned against a railing, a strong wind ruffling my hair.

Mark walked up beside me and silently rested an elbow on the railing. After a few seconds of staring at the same view, he swiveled his head to face me. A tiny smile crept across his lips. You’re not about to have another rant, are you?

I didn’t react.

Annie, it was just a joke. Tell me what happened, kid.

Why do you always call me kid? I suddenly asked, latching onto that because it was a hell of a lot