I awake the next morning tangled in the pristine bed sheets. I allow the silk to caress and leave my skin as I swing my legs out onto the floor. I press the button on my bedside table to call for my breakfast. Seconds later a steaming plate of fresh food appears on the round table to the left of my bed. I roll my eyes at the technology. 

I savour the meal bite by bite. It's the first bit of proper food I've had in months.

The room I've been placed in is clean to say the least. An enormous white canopy bed, white dressing table, white ensuite bathroom, white closet and the white granite table and chair at which I sit now. I catch sight of myself in the large mirror attached to the closet. My bedhead is shocking. I'm the only mess in this perfect room.

I glance down at the control pad; it's meagre existence is designed to make every easy and simple as it helps. It does what the Leto were designed to do. Each control pad is different yet the activation for them are all the same. To awake the robotic pad, all I have to do is press the large red button in the middle, say my name and then it is at my disposal. Depending on where the control pad is located and on what piece of furniture or wall, the buttons can vary. It's voice control is far simpler to use though.

I push a button on the table and my empty plate disappears.

I should probably begin to get ready. Today is the day I meet Jared Miller. My anxiety has been rapidly increasing and growing since the moment I fell asleep. The moment the truth suddenly dawned on me. It shouldn't be that hard, I am one of the few Humans who still possessed the ability to love.

I skip over to the dressing table. After selecting the look and hairstyle I want, the machine begins to work. The gentle vibration relaxes me as I think about my former life.

They call us the 'Caritas'. We are a rare breed of Human. We possess the ability to love an individual unconditionally after passing 3 simple phases. It makes us different; it makes us unique.

It wasn't that Humans couldn't love each other, it's because they chose their love of metal over their family. I was considered strange for that reason. It's understandable. I was different because I didn't always want to use the technology to communicate. For that reason, the other kids picked on me. Not to my face but over the compulsory machines that we used at school.

I have only two hatreds in this world; almost an anathema for a Caritas. My first detestation is the Leto and my second are Torpens. These cold beings are Humans who have sold their souls and therefore all emotion for money, sex or sometimes just out of their own grief. They are too far out to reach. So far they even do unethical and cruel things. These aversions make me an anomaly.

My eyes begin to tear up. A Torpen stole away the most important thing from me.

I can deal with a cold hearted and cynical man, but not these two.

The machine finishes up and I'm left polished and flawless. My hair is styled to perfection but is swiftly ruined as I twiddle my fresh braid. 

"Lara Hall, please report to the throne room in 10 minutes" A Leto's voice echoes around the room. My eyes search for the source; the control pad.

Sighing, I grudingly push myself off my chair and trudge to the closet and pull out the nearest dress I can find. I tug it on. The sleek satin clings to my body and finishes mid thigh. It makes me feel strangely confident, even going as far as sexy. With a few minutes to go, I decide that I should probably attempt to find the Throne room. Knowing my sense of direction, I will need time to get lost.

I step outside my room and the door locks behind me. I set out down the pearly white hallway. My high heeled boots click against the clean tiles. I take deep breaths, my steps small and shaky. My nerves just upped it to the next level. 'C'mon Lara' I repeat to myself continuously. What if I can't do it? What if I can't love this man? What if he can't love me? The fate of Humans is resting in the palms of my hand. I shudder and push the daunting thought to the back of my mind.

I continue walking with my head in the clouds, I don't even notice when I crash into a wall. The wall suddenly moves and I'm facing into the eyes of a man. A very handsome man but that's only to be expected. He's a Leto after all. His dark eyes glint evilly as he glowers at me. My brain scatters into confusion, Letos aren't supposed to do that.

"Watch where you're going you filthy trespasser" He hisses, his voice full of hatred and fury.

"Sorry" I squeak unable to come up with another viable answer. The amount of anger in the Leto's voice throws me.

He glowers once more before storming off. His strides long and powerful in his dark trousers and combat boots. His tall figure almost reaches the ceiling, his brown spiked hair just brushing it. I stand open mouthed in shock as the Leto turns the corner and disappears from sight. His behaviour and dress sense are both unusually for a Leto. They normally only wear white.

I reach the throne room and throw open the double door. I squint at the bright lights shining onto my face. The Leto Rex and another figure stand with their backs to me a few metres away. The Rex looks short and thin compared to the broad Leto standing beside him. My nose tickles with the Leto scent. I let out a sneeze and the figures immediately turn around.

"Lara Hall come here" The Leto Rex orders.

I obediently walk over to him chanting 'Be good Lara, be good'.

"Is this another one of your puppets? It doesn't have a number?" The other Leto sneers. I draw my eyes up to him. My eyes roll at the unwelcome sight of the unfriendly Leto I bumped into in the hall. I scowl at him; I'm not the Leto or the one with a number for idenitfication.

"She is not a Leto" The Rex replies. My head cocks in confusion at the Leto's rudeness to his Rex. They normally do not tolerate any disobedience from their fellow 'beings'.

"Who is he?" I ask before the Rex can continue. The Leto studies me, his eyes skimming up and down my body. Subconsciously, my arms travel from my sides and wrap around my waist. I begin to question my decision and my reasons for picking this flimsy dress.

"Lara Hall, this will be your companion. His name is..."

Oh kill me now.

"Jared Miller" I whisper.

We both stand staring at each other in shock. His eyes flame up as he turns and faces the Rex.

"She's human?" he stutters.

'He's not a Leto?' I ask, my eyes widening in doubt. Jared glowers at me. I shrink back at his dark eyes narrow and morph to become pitch black. My fingers subconsciously fiddle anxiosly with the material of my dress.

"Jared Miller, Lara Hall is human and Lara Hall, Jared Miller is not a Leto" The Leto Rex replies.

Jared turns back to me and gazes for a few more seconds. I feel myself blush under his hard gaze and curse my flaming cheeks though I can't help but admire and gaze at him. His pronounced shoulders and hard jawline only enhance his tall, intimidating figure. I've never felt this small in my life. His chestnut hair is almost the same tone as mine. He lets out a sudden gasp, his eyes fill with fear.

"I-I can't...I-I can't love her. I want to decline the conditions" He stammers, almost unsure. My brow furrows in confusion and I surprised by the dejected feeling in the pit of my stomach. He's rejecting already? What have I done wrong?

"I'm sorry Jared Miller, you have already accepted the conditions. There are no changes to the agreement" The Leto Rex says slowly. My hurt of the rejection quickly turns to a disregard of 'Jared Miller's' character. I narrow my eyes at him. The Rex was right when he called him cold hearted and selfish.

Jared glowers at me.

"You never mentioned that when you were explaining the conditions. You know what I am, I won't be able to love her" He growls at the Rex. Although his tone was meant to sound menacing, his complaints end up sounding as pathetic as a whiny child. The Rex remains impassive while Jared continues to scowl, glare and argue furiously. I sigh with complete and utter exasperation.

"Right that's enough" I yell and they both turn to face me, falling silent at the exasperated timbre of my shriek. "I know the situation isn't ideal, but we've got 90 days starting now to make this bloody well work or at the least try and have a go. I don't care if this isn't what you wanted, it sure as hell isn't what I wanted but its what I've got. I don't know about you but I'd like to get my family back so shut up and deal with it. Don't create a storm if you're not prepared to deal with the rain' I fume.

The room falls into retinence; the tension and obvious awkwardness hover in the air like a dense fog. The Rex shows no emotion but Jared stands there with an annoying smirk on his face. He almost looks impressed as he stands there in silence. After a few moments of processing my words, he gulps and begins to speak.

"You're right, you don't know anything about me" He says slowly, his eyes cold. His smirk disappears and his mouth sets in a hard grimace.

"That's it? Thats the only part you managed to pick up?" I reply enraged by his infuriating reply which makes me want to stamp my foot repeatedly against the floor. He doesn't answer, instead he nods his head.

"Leto Rex, may I be excused?" I ask curtly, trying to contain my annoyance with this maddening man.

"Yes Lara Hall, you may be excused. However would you not like to spend time with your lover?" The Rex responds. Out of the corner of my eye I see Jared flinch. They both wait for my answer. Jared's irritating smirk returns, almost as if he expects me to fall at his feet.

"No thank you" I say briskly. I turn on my heel and march for the door. With a few long strides, I stretch for the door knob and slip through the door.

"You can't expect us to fall in love. We're complete opposites" I hear Jared state.

"She has the ability to love and you will be drawn to that. You were picked for a reason Jared Miller. If this test is successful, it will be all the evidence needed for the Leto to see that Humans are still emotionally sensory. Your species needs you to do this"' The Rex rationalises.

"t will be all the evidence you need because it's impossible to do" Jared mutters.

"Your initial characters have been scientifically tested to conclude that Lara Hall and Jared Miller are a perfect match to complete the conditions required" The Leto Rex replies. What does he mean by initial characters?

"As if we are perfect for each other. A Caritas will never fall in love with me" Jared scoffs.

I slam the door not wanting to hear any more of his derogatory remarks. I blow out the air in my cheeks in aggravation as I advance down the hallway.

How are we destined for each other? I spent 10 minutes with him and I didn't even have the patience to carry out a civilised conversation with him. Instead I told him how pathetic he is. My mother would not be proud.

Mother.

I'm hit by a pang of sadness. I lean against the wall for support before my knees buckle beneath me. I slide down the wall. The pain in my chest intensifies as I crouch on the tiled floor. As a Caritas, our emotions are often out of control. A bit of sadness for one person is like a broken heart for one of us. I feel myself slipping and quickly assign myself one important mission. Get my mother back.

I'm not scared of this anymore, its happened so many times. I slink into unconscious from the melancholy memories.