by Ravyn Fyre
Disclaimer
Names, characters, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 Ravyn Fyre
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1-733-6714-6-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-7336714-6-0
Author’s Note
To my readers I hope you enjoy reading this just as much as I did writing it. Visit my website and sign up for my newsletter to find out what’s coming next. www.Ravynfyre.com
Chapter One
I should have paid more attention to those stupid tabloids ranting and raving about alien abductions and the like when I had the chance? I guess my first-hand experience trumped anything they would have taught me. Considering I awoke to find myself aboard a spaceship, just like something you’d see in the movies, only I am most definitely NOT an actor.
My last memory before waking was reaching my car in the parking lot at work when suddenly an intense-blue beam enveloped me. Before everything faded to black, I watched my body disintegrate into atoms as it floated up into the sky. I’m not sure why they picked me out of the billions to choose from on my planet, but I’m here, nonetheless.
I had a hunch; it had something to do with my ability, since the others aboard the ship with me were not exactly normal either. Luckily for me, I was born with the unique ability to sense when anyone within a one-mile radius of me possessed a unique gift, and then I could borrow that gift as my own.
The room was made mostly of metal and glass and was full of cryo-chamber beds of some sort. Besides the one I was on there were nine others. The five across from me were empty, but the ones to my left were filled with others, like myself, just waking up.
To my right, a person with his back to me was standing near a computer panel. Based on size alone, I wagered he was male. Dressed in a one-piece military uniform, he resembled a human, although slightly larger. Oh, who was I kidding? He was huge and looked nothing like the little grey men the tabloids featured.
The guard was tall and broad-shouldered, and the uniform he was wearing fit him perfectly. His long black hair was tied back with a leather hair tie, and he wasn’t green, grey, or hairless. When he turned around, I knew he wouldn’t have large black eyes either. His ability to read minds and feelings when touching someone would prove useful, though, but only if I suddenly became everyone’s new best friend and made touchy-feely my new thing.
I turn my attention away from my captor and take stock of my fellow captives, three females and one male. They appeared to be in the same state of dress as me, and by that, I meant the lack thereof. If I needed more proof of the existence of aliens, the four in captivity with me were all the confirmation I needed. They were human-like in most ways, with some added physical and mental attributes.
The black-haired male appeared utterly normal except for three significant differences: his ears, tail, and manhood. His ears and tail were similar to a horse, and his manhood was almost as long. A penis that large would shred any human female, and I cringed just thinking of him anywhere near me. His unique ability to teleport looked promising and interesting.
The redhead was beautiful and alluring. Her eyes were a mesmerizing blend of orange and yellow that reminded me of the molten sun, only not as bright. Her ability was seduction through song. I believe mythology referred to her as a siren. She had the appearance of a fiery spirit with a don’t fuck with me attitude. However, my mom said to never judge a book by its cover, and I’d wait to pass judgment until I at least spoke with her. But I wanted it noted that I didn’t think becoming besties was an excellent idea.
Next to her, a black beauty of a lady with glowing fluorescent green hair and eyes, stretched to her toes, before gracefully flipping backward in a move so fluent it appeared, she never left the ground. Her ability was shapeshifting into a panther, and the ease of her mobility showcased it. Her skin was the color of midnight, which offset her bright hair and eyes perfectly. I'd never shifted into another being before and feared it would be painful. I prayed my fears were unjustified and I wouldn’t need her ability anytime soon.
The blond woman beyond her was tall with pointed ears. Her eyes were silver and spaced slightly further apart than usual. The difference in her facial features didn’t take away from her beauty in the slightest. Her affinity with nature gave her many abilities that ranged from growing plants to communicating with animals. Still, her gift to camouflage with her surroundings was the first thing I would borrow when we landed.
My gaze returned to her eyes, and I almost choked when her gaze found mine just as the silver clouding her eyes bled away to reveal violet eyes rimmed with the silver that once covered her vision. She must not have noticed my reaction or chose to ignore it, since she shrugged with an infectious grin—acting like she expected my response. Her smile was genuine, though, and made me feel I might have an ally in this crazy new world I found myself in.
Leaving me, a 5-foot 4-inch brunette with green eyes and olive skin. I’d consider myself average, cute, but not hot. I'm not a large girl by any means, but I have curves. Some where they should be and others where they shouldn’t. My disgust of anything related to exercise would be the cause. I’d been lucky for most of my life with a high metabolism that made not working out a possibility, but the older I got, the less that played into effect. I’m just not as toned as I used to be without even trying, and my bad habits don’t help either. Enough so that standing around nude made me blush.
The guard approached my bed as I stood up and looked at me without an ounce of appreciation in his, every day, I might add, stunning aquamarine blue eyes. He stopped within two feet of me and started speaking in a language I’d never heard before. It looked like he expected me to answer him, so I threw up my hands and scrunched my shoulders in the universal signal of "I don’t know" and hoped that relayed my confusion.
He reached for my neck, and before I could think to move away from him, he flipped a switch on a necklace I hadn’t noticed I was wearing. The feeling of being enveloped was instantaneous.
"My name is General Jaelel. We expect to arrive in port within the hour. Dr. Triste will be along shortly to prepare you." With that, he moved on to my neighbor.
Woah! I understood everything he just said! His speech went from gibberish to English just like that, it was amazing! My jubilation didn’t last long, as the loss of my gift settled over me. Feeling disconnected that I could no longer sense anyone’s talents, I tried unsuccessfully to remove the trinket around my neck. I gave up with a huff and used my hands to cover myself instead, as goosebumps rose on my skin. I had bigger things to worry about besides the loss of my gift.
My thoughts revolved around what type of prepping the doctor would do and how I could defend myself without the use of my gift. I was definitely at a disadvantage. My mind was going into overdrive and started remembering all the tabloid headlines of little grey men with large black eyes and medical experiments they performed on the abductees. I never believed we were alone in the universe, but that didn’t mean I was ready to be probed for the sake of science.
I always thought the people who told their stories to magazines like the national enquirer were just attention seekers and never bothered to read more than the front cover. There could have been honest suggestions or helpful hints that would be wonderful in this situation, and I vowed that if, I mean, when I returned home, I would keep an open mind towards anything out of the ordinary in the future.
I hadn’t seen anyone other than the guard; Maybe the aliens abducted him and made him their slave,
and I was about to meet the real aliens for myself. Were they something out of Star Wars? Or Avatar? Were they all human-like? Did the ancient astrophysicists have it right? And we were just descendants of an ancient alien civilization, and lost our history?
The infamous doctor who sashayed into the room was a far cry away from looking like a little green man, and the only tool she seemed to be wielding was an electronic notepad in her arms. Dr. Triste was a tall willowy woman with long black hair that shimmered in the overhead light. Her heart-shaped face, delicate nose, and pink lips gave her an air of royalty. She was also wearing the military uniform, but everything about her screamed perfection.
She had the same color of blue eyes as the guard, and had me rethinking my theory on the General’s abduction. They appeared to be related or, at the minimum, at least from the same species. Both were extremely beautiful, tall, and well-proportioned, which made me wish I didn’t loathe exercise. With the necklace blocking my gift, I had no clue what type of power the woman might have, but I could only hope her profession had something to do with healing.
The doctor approached swiftly and genuinely smiled at me before speaking, “It is a pleasure to meet you, miss; my name is Annalise. I want to confirm our records and do a quick run of tests before we land. Would it be alright if I begin?” Too shocked to even begin to know how to speak words, I nodded my agreement.
“Very well,” she says, “My records indicate your name is Jade Marcene Cordel.”
When I nodded again, she continued, “You were born twenty-five years ago in Deer Park, Washington, to a mother whose name was unknown. Peter and Kathryn Cordel then adopted you. Is that correct?”
My jaw dropped at her statement, but I somehow managed to stammer out, “Yes, b..but how do you know all of that?”
“Believe it or not, your arrival on this ship is not by chance. You were one of five candidates submitted by your planet to be a representative of your species at the next All Hands Gathering, which happens to be in three days on my home planet of Strixton,” Annalise answered with a smile.
Twirling a lock of hair around my finger to restrain myself from screaming, I calmly asked, “How is that possible? I’ve never even been out of the country, let alone to another planet. I . . . I mean . . . I wouldn’t know the first thing about representing my planet. There must be some mistake, is there someone in charge that I could speak with on this matter?”
Annalise’s smile faltered slightly before she quickly disguised it. “Of course, once we land, you can take your concern to Lord Kalen. I have just a couple more questions before you can head out for a shower and get some clothes on.”
“I’ll answer as long as I can ask one more of my own?” I paused for a nanosecond and, before she could deny my request, asked, “Who is Lord Kalen?”
She graced me with a brilliant smile and answered, “The king of my people, but don’t let that scare you. He is very kind, generous, and compassionate in all that he does.” Dropping her eyes to her clipboard, she nibbled on her bottom lip before she continued, “We show that you are a level one Sixer, with a gene mutation on the 6th chromosome.”
“Come again?” I stammered out. How the hell did anyone get a hold of my DNA? Mutation, like in X-men? I always thought my gifts were supernatural. Who knew?
“Are you saying I’m a mu..mutant? How do you know any of this? What’s a Sixer?” I rambled.
“In layman’s terms, anyone with an ability beyond the five senses is a Sixer. You can borrow the gifts of those around you, which means you are considered a level one Sixer, the highest rank assigned. The gene mutation on your sixth chromosome is the reason you have that power. We identified the mutation using our technology the moment you boarded our ship.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. How do you expect me to respond?”
“I would expect you to respond with an affirmation or declination of that ability,” her tone of voice was indicative of her annoyance.
There was no use in denying what was already known, so I straightened my shoulders, looked her in the eye and replied, “Yes, that is the nature of my gift. Might I ask why my ability appears to be blocked?” I fought not to break eye contact with her as I waited to see how truthful she would be with me. I didn’t want her to see how intimidated she made me feel.
“All gifts are muted with the necklace in the beginning. It also aids us in being able to communicate bi-directionally without language barriers to the many planets that we protect.”
I was on the verge of a mental shutdown from all she revealed and needed time to regroup, but my curiosity got the better of me. I sat up and blurted out my next question without a filter, “Protection from what?”
“From the evil Mengh, nasty little grey men that have notoriety on your planet for alien abductions involving probes. Please lie back so we can finish. You no doubt will be interested in a shower, and this should only take a moment.”
I couldn't believe she just confirmed that probing is an actual event, and little grey men exist. I laid back before I fell. Once reclined, Annalise slowly ran her hands from the bottom of my toes to the top of my head, stopping every so often with more concentration. I could feel the warmth of her hands spreading tendrils of contentment, though she never made direct contact with my skin.
“I am a healer by gift. The warmth you feel is the healing your body required from the abuse you have put yourself through. Might I suggest a healthier lifestyle?” Her look of disappointment was enough, and I nodded my submission. It was over before I wanted it to be, and I stared at her profile as she scribbled more notes on my chart.
“Please excuse me. I must see to the others.” Patting my hand, she turned slightly before saying, “Lord Kalen will answer the rest of your questions during the banquet. Your quarters are down the hall, first door on the left. You will find all that you need in the attached bathroom and something to wear.”
I made my way to my quarters quickly and was elated to discover a gorgeous green silk dress and underthings laid out for me. The space was small and only furnished with a bed and nightstand that jutted out from the wall. It looked uncomfortable, with barely enough room to turn over. Sitting down to test how soft it was, I was happy we weren’t staying long.
The room had a private bathroom that wasn’t much bigger than an airplane lavatory. Standing in the cramped shower, I was delighted to find my usual shampoo and conditioner stocked and ready for my use. When real water cascaded over me, I grinned despite my circumstances. The shower did wonders for my alertness level, and I felt better prepared to accept my new reality. I still had no idea where we were going or what my real purpose was from here on out, but I’d find out soon. Clothed and feeling semi-normal, I joined the others and awaited my meeting with Lord Kalen.
Chapter Two
Landing the alien spacecraft was nothing like I expect the astronauts of Earth experienced. There was no turbulence or resistance while entering the planet’s atmosphere; it was as if the ship split the very air in front of it, creating a pathway meant just for us. I expected jarring and heat, but it was smooth with no temperature fluctuations, despite the flames licking the window.
So far, I had yet to see anything but the inside of the craft. A few times since waking, I found myself hoping that I never left Earth but had been kidnapped by psychopaths and I would find myself home in no time. But once I approached the exit, it was apparent - we were not in Kansas anymore.
The sky was violet instead of the blue sky I was used to, with not one but two suns just over the horizon. They appeared smaller and further away, which would explain why it didn’t feel scorching hot. The air was humid, with a slight breeze. I could hear the sounds of an ocean in the distance to my left. There was no mention of their air not being compatible, so with my first steps on alien soil, I took a deep breath and noted a faint smell of the sea with a hint of something sweet like a flower yet masculine as well.
The ship had landed inside some sort of walle
d-off enclosure, close to water. There was an impressive palace to the right. What drew my attention were the many hangars for the multitude of airships that lined the tarmac. Dozens of small-crewed ships like ours were also landing with people such as myself. Behind that were fighter planes and the carriers that could transport them to other worlds.
If the display in front of me was any indication, it looked like they were preparing for war. I remember Annalise had said they protected planets from the Mengh, but I didn't make the connection to how serious it could be until I saw the firepower in front of me.
A commotion to my right caught my attention. General Jaelel was striding toward a company of soldiers, and as my eyes reached his apparent destination, it felt as if the ground shook beneath my feet. All of my senses jumped to life as my vision tunneled to the man, I could only assume was Lord Kalen, and boy, was I in trouble.
He was the most beautiful man I had laid eyes on. Over seven feet of pure masculinity. He had the same characteristics as the general, black hair, tanned skin, and aquamarine eyes, but his face rivaled Adonis. The uniform he was wearing revealed he had the body to go along with the look. Everything I’d seen thus far was beyond lickable for sure, and I couldn’t imagine it being anything other than perfection.
Stop that right now! I needed to focus on more important things, like getting off this rock and back to my old life. There would always be time for fantasizing later, and I had every intention of using this eye candy in front of me as the star of my next fantasy. He had an air of authority about him, and the fact that everyone stood just behind him, as the general stopped in front of him and bowed was another indication. I gasped out loud at the intense wave of desire I felt for a man I had never met before.
Lord Kalen’s head snapped in my direction at the sound of my gasp, and his aquamarine eyes mesmerized me even further. Instead of acknowledging the general, he side-stepped him and instantly appeared directly in front of me. How did he move so fast? One moment he was there, and next, he was in front of me in the blink of an eye. My heart fluttered at his nearness, and I was sure I would hyperventilate at any moment. I’m short, but I felt tiny in his presence. Staring down at me, he reached out to caress my cheek, and the second he made contact, I let go of the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding with a long shudder. I couldn’t bring myself to look away and nuzzled into his hand in encouragement.
