CHAPTER 6

Inara laid in bed, trying not to breathe too deeply, sure that Jantis had broken her rib whilst ignoring her. She had tried everything to get his attention: being subservient, belligerent, indifferent. He had not spoken her name or looked at her directly in days. She wanted to cry, but every breath was accompanied by sharp pain, so she just laid on the bed and let the pillow catch her tears.

Had her eyes not been open, she would not have noticed the ceiling tile move. God knows, it made no discernable sound. She could not help but hope it was an assassin come to kill her. Or Mal sneaking in—

Her breath caught at the thought of Mal and her vision blurred with stars. He was dead and could not come. When the spots cleared, the ceiling tile had vanished and a familiar face peaked in.

“Elle!” she gasped. Elle pressed a finger to her lips, urging Inara not to speak. Inara wondered if she was dreaming, but decided she’d be glad of the company, even if only in her subconscious. Elle looked well for having been killed in a shuttle crash. In fact, there was no sign that she had been. The only blemish on her skin was a fading scar across her neck where it had been slit open. Her chestnut brown locks were secured in a ponytail. Without a sound, she tossed a dark green bag on the bed and lowered herself from the ceiling with practiced ease.

“You asked for a physician?” Elle said sweetly, opening her bag. Inara tried to meet Elle’s eyes and failed. Would she be ignored even in her dreams?

“Elle, Serenity is gone.”

Elle just nodded, pulling a wide, black cylinder out of her bag. Immediately flashing back to Prio, Inara panicked and ignoring the pain, she rolled off the bed and shimmied underneath.

Hiding under the bed? This had to be a dream!

Elle knelt down beside the bed and lifted the duvet, casting her face in silhouette. Inara squirreled toward the opposite side and froze when Elle spoke.

“Inara.”

Her eyes shot in the direction of the sound, hungry for more.

“Elle?”

“Come out, Inara. I