by Pearl Tate
I guess I’ve never really thought too much about it, but I’ve seen movies. I know the battles that have gone on about whether or not cloning humans should be allowed. Does that mean he has an identical twin out there—or two?
“Yes. All Sinth are at this point in time. It’s a long story but suffice it to say that everyone represents their family line in the Sinth society, and as such, we’re all clones. So, the easy answer for you is no. I’ve never brought anyone here but you.”
Now that just makes me like him even more. “So, I’m your first?” I can’t help teasing as I slide my own butt back, crossing my legs to mimic him. I take it one step further, pressing my knees against his as we sit across from each other. It’s strange how intense it feels, shooting waves of arousal right up my thighs.
CHAPTER TWELVE
- Jade
Touching him was shocking when we first met and made out in the bar. I desperately want to kiss him like that again, but I’m too confused right now. He needs to explain this better. “I don’t get it though. Clearly, you can bring people here, so why don’t you? Is it just taboo or something?”
Desin reaches forward, pressing his hands lightly on top of mine which are resting on my thighs. “Do you feel this? This … awareness between us?”
Nodding, I press the back of my hands against his palms until he lets me flip mine over, pulling them back to interlace our fingers. The strange “awareness” as he calls it kicks into overdrive as we both look down at our interlocked hands. “When I met you in the bar the other night, I knew I was drawn to you. I was standing on the side of the dance floor next to Payak, watching you and Teresa dance, and I knew that I was drawn to you—”
“I noticed you right away too.” Squeezing his hands, I shut my mouth, wishing I hadn’t cut him off. Bad habit.
“Yes … well, Payak had the same kind of strange awareness when he first met Teresa, so he’s the one who wanted to stop into The Pit,” Desin continues. “I think he sensed she was there? I’m not exactly sure, but what makes you both all the more intriguing is that you’re the first people ever to be able to see us when we’ve phased into our own dimension. While we were at The Pit watching you, Payak told me to phase. We couldn’t even see each other. He wanted to see if Teresa could see him. He’d tested it before when he had her come back after her initial walk through.”
Squeezing his hands, I wait for him to pause before cutting in when he does. “Does that mean that humans can see you when you’re phased?”
“Did you see Payak that night we were watching you?” Desin’s face is serious as he leans forward, looming across from me on the bed.
I try to remember back. No, actually. I only remember seeing one person, and at first, I thought it was Payak standing on the side of the dance floor waving at us. Of course, I figured out later—when he followed me into the restroom there—that it was Desin.
“No. Just you, but I did think you were Payak at the time.”
Desin laughs, tugging me closer as he leans in. “Oh, yeah. We’re probably all lucky we couldn’t see him. He was so mad—”
“Mad? Why?”
“Because Teresa was out. Dancing. Partying. Forgetting about him. We’d been away for three days, and we weren’t having fun. It was pretty grim spending time with the Ashen.”
Now, I’m even more confused. “So, Payak was jealous? That seems a little extreme,” I tell him. “I’m sure Teresa would have told me if she’d made any kind of commitment to him. Believe me—she’d be faithful. She was just having fun, and it’s taken her a long time to get over Ted.” When he looks at me blankly, I add, “Her ex?”
Shaking his head slightly, I realize he doesn’t seem to understand. “She had a boyfriend until just recently. They’d lived together here on base. She’s only been staying at my place for … about a month or so. I think eventually she plans to move out, but I’m actually kind of hoping not. I like the company, and I had a roommate until recently, but she transferred to another base.”
I can tell I’m starting to confuse him, and it’s frustrating because I don’t exactly know why? What part isn’t he understanding? When he opens his mouth, I wait, curious to see what has him tongue-tied.
“Do you have one of these … boyfriends?” Ohhh, of course. That’s a good responsible place to start. Since we’re sitting on a bed here, it’s easy enough to tell where this is going.
Releasing his hands, I slide back an inch, so our legs are no longer touching. I don’t need the distraction right now. It’s hard enough to think as it is. “No. No boyfriend, and I’m not dating anyone right now. The guy at The Pit the other night was just someone who showed up there, and we were just having fun.”
When I pause, expecting him to reciprocate, I realize I’m going to have to ask. “What about you? No little wife at home, right? Please at least tell me you don’t have a wife, or what did you call them? A mate? Is that like a life partner?”
Desin’s eyes widen, and his mouth opens and shuts a few times before he finally answers. “No. We don’t have mates any longer since we don’t have females. The cloning works fine on the males in our species, but cloning females causes issues when they hit puberty. For whatever reason, they’re not able to phase, which causes them to eventually either go mad or die from diseases they would normally be immune to. We don’t know why.”
By the time he’s done, I can’t help but wonder about whether he’s sexually experienced. Could his experience be as limited as mine? Unlikely, but there’s a first time for everything. That would be odd though, considering they’re an advanced, space-traveling species.
“I’m sorry.” What can I say? Wow! No females. That’s interesting since Teresa mentioned there being a woman—maybe even two—in their group. “I personally have never had a serious enough relationship to be with someone … sexually. I’ve dated a lot, but as corny as it may sound, I fell for someone when I was really young, and I’ve been comparing everyone to him ever since. Consequently, I haven’t had a serious partner yet. How about you?”
I mean, he’s made it clear that he doesn’t have a mate … or wife … or whatever, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot in today’s society. Desin’s face gets serious, and I know that he’s gearing up to tell me something that he’s worried about saying. “Well, we have something in common then. I did fall—this is your word for being attracted to someone?”
When he questions me, it takes a second for it to sink in, and I just nod.
Returning my nod curtly, he locks eyes as he continues. “I became unnaturally attracted to our Personal Assistant, Lana. I know it’s wrong, but after so much time … and knowing in the back of my head my options would never change … I thought she could become more to me … and me to her.”
Desin shrugs as I look at him confused. “So, you hooked up with your personal assistant? That sounds pretty normal to me. What’s the big deal? Is she a different species? You’re calling her a “she,” so this isn’t a homophobic issue, correct?”
Desin hesitates before he answers, licking his lips quickly and looking uncomfortable. “The closest thing in your language would be what you call Artificial Intelligence.” My mouth drops open. I haven’t seen this woman yet, but Teresa would have told me if she didn’t look human.
“That’s the closest in your Earth language. She’s much more than any kind of AI you have on Earth. But as you can imagine, there’s quite a taboo in our society about treating a Personal Assistant as a Sinth female. They’re not—and were never meant to be—a replacement for our females. We haven’t given up hope on someday figuring out what’s missing in the cloned version of our females. But since we don’t know yet, there’s no reason to create more males either.”
That’s so freaky! Now, I can’t wait to see this woman or artificial intelligence or whatever. Teresa was so upset when she thought she had the hots for someone else’s man. “Did Payak tell Teresa, yet?”
Desin stares at me strangely. “I’ve no idea.
I’m sure he’ll be telling her now because one thing we both learned from your little stunt earlier—you’re both mating compatible to us.” A huge smile has taken over his face at this statement, and I know I’m not getting what the big deal is.
“Mating compatible?” I shake my head, shrugging. “You mean because we could have sex?”
“No. Because you can come here. We can share a dimension and life. Don’t you feel the pull between us?”
Desin’s hand drops to my thigh, traveling slowly up my leggings to pause just as I’m going to stop him. “Sure …” I settle my hand over his, squeezing it lightly. “And I’m very attracted to you. I’m sure you know that from our tryst in the washroom at The Pit, but somehow I think this means more for you?”
When he only stares at me baffled, I continue. “You don’t just want to fool around right? You’re asking me out?”
“You mean on a date like Teresa and Payak have done?” At the strange look on his face, I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of my mouth.
“Don’t look so disgusted. Teresa had a really good time getting to know Payak—”
Desin takes me by surprise when he pulls me into his body, throwing me off balance and onto my knees. “Not just to get to know you. I want you, Jade. Forever.”
His mouth moves toward mine slowly, while I’m stunned into silence, watching him. My heart’s crashing against my rib cage, shortening my breath. For a minute, I honestly feel lightheaded. I’ve never been so overwhelmed before.
Instead of the rough demanding kiss I expect, Desin’s lips are light, pressing against mine sweetly. The deep rumbling groan that comes from his chest triggers a rush of arousal between my legs, and I’m instantly embarrassed and trying to pull back. I press my hands against his chest, but he just falls back further, taking me down with him so I’m straddling his body. I squeeze my eyes closed, while he kisses me.
Releasing my lips, his breath flutters over my mouth. “Jade. Jade, please. Tell me you’ll be mine.”
When he doesn’t release me or let me pull away, my eyes flutter open slowly. His face is inches from mine, and there’s swirling silver in the stormy gray color of his eyes. “Please.”
Desin’s soft plea seems to echo in the fog around us, causing a clenching ache in my chest. What’s that? Why do I just feel like collapsing into his arms like a surrendering damsel in distress?
“Have you put a spell on me?” My question comes out more accusatory than I mean it to be, but I can’t help the uncomfortable suspicion that I’m losing control of the situation. That’s something I’ve always tried to be really careful about.
Desin’s arms loosen quickly, and he pulls up into a sitting position. Clutching at him reflexively as my weight falls back, he wraps his arms around me. He puts his large palm on the back of my head and settles it against his shoulder, hugging me tight. “No! I would never force you, but I already know we’re perfect for each other—”
“How?” I demand. My voice begins to escalate, despite the fact that he hasn’t released me, and I’m still sitting with my head on his shoulder. “How can you possibly know that we’re perfect for each other?”
I’m not about to admit to him how much he turns me on. Sure, I’ve known since the moment I saw him at The Pit that I wanted to see him again … and again. But he doesn’t know that. This is just too fast. Especially for me.
I think about Charles and how scared I was when I entered his family. How everything was new and frightening—including him. It took months and months for me to trust anyone there, and then another year for me to decide that Charles was exactly what I needed. Did need.
“Because you’re here. Despite the long time I’ve been alone and all the different planets, and yes, even zones, I’ve been assigned to, I’ve never met another living being who could come here with me. It’s the ultimate test for mates and compatibility. Surely you feel the sexual compatibility too?”
Now I’m thankful my head is still on his shoulder as I turn beet red. Yes. Yes, of course I know we’re compatible that way.
When I nod slightly, he lets me lift my head, breathing out against my ear as he whispers, “Please tell me you’ll think about it. Make a list of questions. I need to know what you need me to do to convince you.”
Oh, holy hotness. This could be very interesting …
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
- Desin
Circling the group of Wen infected Earth species, I periodically phase into focus in front of them, directing their attention to me. The helicopter that brought me here, along with Payak, Lana, and a group of humans led by our contact in Kitimat, has moved off, luring the transitioned beings to it with its noise. Payak and I phased out of the flying transportation and into the field, but now that I think I have a prospect to confirm, he’s not answering.
“Payak!” I yell in frustration through our interdimensional communication. I can’t see him, of course, but if he’s here, he’ll hear me. Especially since the racket from the helicopter will be muted through dimensions.
It’s simple. If we can’t locate a bite on an infected being easily—or by sight—we’re to work together removing clothing until the infection point is located. We’re looking for any potential original carriers, which would be someone without a bite, signifying they weren’t exposed through an attack.
The Wen are an alien species from our zone whose bodies secrete a contagion that bonds with other life forms. What they secrete into the air doesn’t kill anything immediately. Instead, it changes them. Like these poor humans. The Wen would never bite a human until they’ve transitioned.
To discover an infection point, we first use our heightened sense of smell to look for blood, although many of these transitioned humans have very visible bite marks. Some are even missing fingers and large parts of their body. One extremely unfortunate person appears to have been consumed for some time before turning into a transitioned. It’s grotesque how much muscle and bone is showing.
“Payak! What the fuck?” By now, it’s clear he isn’t here any longer. That means he’s most likely gone back to the military base. It was a three-hour flight for us to get here from where we’re staying in Yosemite National Park. We’ve traveled north into a country called Canada where reports of infected humans roaming the countryside were reported by local fire watchers.
When we arrived at the Kitimat airfield, we immediately hopped into another helicopter to come to the location of the reported coordinates. Now that we’ve been here, we can phase back and forth. But I’ll need to kill time until he gets here. If we move on, he’ll be unable to join up with us.
This is the third group of infected we’ve inspected, and from the sounds of it, the last. Which is great because this is about the most thankless job we could have. A transitioned affected is ravenous. Despite their clumsiness, they can be strong and dangerous—even for us. I’ve never been bitten, but I’ve heard it hurts like hell.
We’re immune to the virus that the transitioned carry and spread, but I still wouldn’t want to experience the toxin and fight it off. Personally, I wouldn’t even want any of them to touch me. After an initial contact, whether it’s with a Wen and just airborne or by being bitten or scratched, the newly infected gets sick, tired, and settles into a deep sleep. You’re actually way better off getting infected by a Wen because looking at some of these poor Earth humans—they’re missing large portions of their body.
From the sounds of it, this is eerily similar to a witch curse the humans call a zombie, which is why they’ve named the disease Zombie Affliction Contagion, or ZAC for short. They do look scary with their milky white stares. As the disease progresses, an easy way to tell if they’ve totally transitioned is to gauge how much of their pupil remains.
Circling around to the front of the group, I see two clear potential carriers who may not have been bitten. One is a small female with dark hair, but the other is a rather large male dressed in bright colors. The trick will be getting the clothing off
without getting scratched or bitten. Maybe under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be as worried about what I’m doing right now. But I’d hate to expose anyone else.
Like Jade. After our time together earlier, I’m hopeful she’s considering mating with me. She didn’t say no. That’s something.
The smaller female prospect has moved into a group of three who are a little to the left of the larger group. If I’m going to get this going, I need to do it.
Coming up behind her, I’m pleasantly surprised to find she’s only wearing a shirt. It’s longer and almost comes to her knees, but that’ll make this simple. Phasing back fully to the Earth’s dimension, the wail of the transitioned who see me immediately rises into a high-pitched screech which escalates as they sprint toward me.
I only have a moment to tear her garment down the back with my knife. Normally, I wouldn’t worry about cutting one of the transitioned. They don’t feel it in this state, or most of them would be lying on the ground screaming from the injuries they’ve already sustained. But it almost sounds like the scientists who’re traveling behind the helicopters are planning on trying to “cure” them.
This young … girl doesn’t even have on shoes, and from the looks of it, she’s walked a long way. Mud, scratches, and even a flapping toe don’t slow her progress. As the transitioned reach me, I phase and they slam into the small female, piling on top of her in their efforts to reach me.
Stepping away from the fray, I watch as they all thrash on the ground, biting each other before realizing their nutritional needs won’t be met and rolling away to climb to their feet. It takes a while before the small female is finally revealed. Lying face down in the mucky weeds, I’m thankful to see that the wet gown slides down her arms, staying on the ground and exposing her figure wearing only a small undergarment.
From her backside, I don’t see anything, but as I circle around to her front, I spot a large, disgusting bite on her upper thigh. Letting out a sigh of relief that I won’t have to start cutting off the long hair that obscures most of her shoulders, upper back and chest, I turn my attention to the other prospect here in the crowd.
