by Marie Dry
On the table directly in front of her, a small plant, a lot like the one Zaar had just killed, stood under a glass dome. But it was different—somehow it gave off even more dangerous vibes. Sarah stepped back from it. Something was very wrong with that…thing. It might be plant-like, but she wouldn’t want to come face-to-petal with it in a secluded forest. “What is it?”
Zaar pulled her farther away from the thing. “It is a plant brought back by a warrior patrolling our borders of the unclaimed galaxies.” He motioned to other plants under more glass domes. “These were found on some of the planets closer to Zyrgin. We quarantined it.”
Sarah shivered. “What would’ve happened if the one we saw had hit me?” The flower had gone for her—no mistake.
“It would’ve infected you and eventually have consumed you. It is a long, painful process,” he said without any emotion.
She shivered and clutched her arms around herself. “I’m so glad for your fast reflexes. I really don’t want to be eaten by an evil plant.”
“I will always save you with my superior reflexes,” he said and drew her closer.
Sarah bit back a smile and leaning her weight against him, gestured to the containers. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll escape?”
“We have automatic procedures set to destroy them if they get loose. We have also set up defences around our planets.”
“It still seems risky.” She’d burn them and any of their buddies. Maybe she was more vicious than she ever thought she could be, because she had zero sympathy for these things. Sentient or not.
“We have to study them to learn how to kill them and how to prevent them from spreading.”
The other Zyrgin took out a small, brown, mouse-like animal with scary-looking teeth. Without lifting the glass dome, he somehow managed to put the animal inside. It ran up the insides of the glass, its fur standing upright, frantically trying to get away from the plant.
“No please, get it out of there,” she pleaded, but both Zyrgins ignored her. The plant opened its petals wide. Stalks shot out and grabbed the terrified animal and threw it down the throat of the plant.
Sarah whimpered and her stomach revolted. The stem of the plant moved like a throat swallowing. The panicked squeals of the animal reached them through the glass. Sarah pressed her cheek into Zaar’s chest. It took a long time for the screams and the sucking, gulping noise to stop. It was horrific and mesmerizing; no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t look away. Zaar drew her close and Sarah clutched her arms around him. A horrific stench filled the room. “Is it bigger?” she asked, desperate to look away, but still strangely hypnotised.
They all stared at the plant that had visibly grown. In less than ten minutes.
She glared up at Zaar. “How could you put that poor mouse in there?” Her stomach turned upside down. It reminded her of the calm way he told her she only had to push a button to torture those raiders.
“It is not a mouse like you know it. It is called a Raafla. We had to know what the warrior plant is capable of. We’ve found too many of them on our planets closest to the unclaimed galaxies.”
It was great that he was talking to her about what he considered warrior business at last, but she’d have preferred something less gory. “Couldn’t you find another way?”
“Raafla is not a defenceless creature. Its teeth can penetrate a Zyrgins’ skin.”
“I wonder how those plants got there,” she said.
“They emerge as spores from the unclaimed galaxies and drift through space unharmed. We suspect they latch onto spacecraft and reach our galaxies that way.”
Zaar moved her to the corner of the room and grated something at the other Zyrgin who’d turned to look at her when she’d called Zaar by his name. It had been a searching look, a look she suspected a warrior would never have given her, given their habit of never looking at another warrior’s woman. Zaar stood half in front of her, protective. “Stay back,” he said. Sarah didn’t complain—nothing good would come from that thing in the glass dome.
Zaar approached the plant and grated something, and the glass dome opened down the middle and retracted into the table. The flower sprang toward him, emitting a strange shriek, its petals open and flashing different colors. Zaar manifested the ray gun again and cut it into pieces. Each piece he cut developed its own throat and stalks and went for him. He manifested some kind of gun that shot fire at the plants surrounding him and they shrieked as they burned. At last every inch of the plant lay shrivelled and burned on the scorched floor. Sarah realized she’d been whimpering, clutching her hands to her middle, and forced herself to stop. “I want a flame gun and a ray gun,” she said.
“It isn’t easy to hit a moving target without training,” Zaar said.
“I don’t care. I want a big ray gun. The biggest one you have.” She’d thought she’d known evil, but now she’d seen the personification of it.
Zaar and the other Zyrgin scraped up the burned pieces of the evil plant and put it back under the glass dome, while they talked in their own language. Sarah wasn’t too proud to stay well away.
The other Zyrgin put another mouse in with one of the killer plants. This time the plant shot a petal at the mouse and Sarah watched, petrified, as the plant started growing out of the mouse that writhed and shrieked in agony, until it had totally taken over the mouse.
She stumbled back, retching, wanting to be far away from that awful mockery of a flower. Cool air hit her and she spun around. A door leading outside had opened behind her.
15
Sarah looked up and drew in a sharp breath. Her eyes widened and she stumbled. The sky above her was blue and purple. She hadn’t seen it because they’d landed inside and had used long, silver corridors to reach the laboratory. She’d had this vague idea that this planet would be like Zyrgin, had no idea the sky would be so different. She’d have to ask Zaar if all the planets had different skies. Maybe he’d take her to see them all.
Around her, exotic plants grew wild. Gigantic orange and purple leaves stretched their leaves to the sun. Hopefully normal plants and nothing like the nightmare he’d just killed. Beneath the leaves, soft, purple moss grew and an insect scurried underground. Sarah didn’t go all the way out. If anything looked like it wanted to eat her, she’d run inside so fast, she’d look like Zaar on crack.
Zaar joined her where she stood, just outside the doorway, and drew her against him. After the way that plant tried to get her, and the way the one in the laboratory ate the mouse, and then went for Zaar, his protective presence was very welcome. It was warm on this tropical planet with its strangely colored vegetation, but she shivered. She’d always thought the raiders would be the most evil things she’d ever seen.
“Where exactly are we?” She’d have to put in more effort to study this galaxy. Or maybe his whole empire.
“On a planet on the outer reaches of my empire. The closest to the unclaimed galaxies.”
“Your ship is that fast? I didn’t think we’d come so far.”
“Zyrgin ships are the fastest in all the known galaxies.”
She hid her eye roll and looked around again. “Are there any people living here?”
“No, we evacuated the farmers when we found the plants. This planet had the most of them. A science team is stationed here, and the small automated outpost, for traders coming this far out, has been closed temporarily.”
“Can we explore some more before we have to go back?’ She still couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that they’d traveled to another planet in a couple of hours.
“Yes.” Putting his arms around her, he led her through a landscape that she could only describe as magical.
They walked through the truly beautiful forest and she felt almost at peace, unafraid because she had a fierce Zyrgin warrior by her side. She’d just enjoy the moment and forget about evil plants, torture, and being confined for who knew how many years in one room.
He pointed to a pink flower with soft, round pe
tals edged with subtle purple and orange streaks. “This plant is soft and it is safe to touch.”
She carefully touched a leaf—it was velvet soft. She smiled up at Zaar. “I love it here. Can we come again sometime?” She pulled a face. “I don’t like that laboratory, but the rest is so beautiful.”
He looked around, as if trying to ascertain what drew her so much. “Yes. If you wish. There is a palace here.”
Her eyes widened. “Is it one of the palaces that the crazy Zyrgin built?”
“Yes.”
“I’d love to see it.”
“When that side of the planet is cleared, I will show you the palace.” He steered her back to the research facility. “We have to return.”
They took the shuttle back. Sarah settled back in the swivel chair next to Zaar.
“Can you appear and disappear in any place you want?” He’d appeared on Earth, as if moving from planet to planet without a spaceship was the easiest thing to do.
“Yes,” he said without taking his eyes off the controls.
“So why didn’t you just ‘appear’ us here?”
“I cannot carry anyone with me when I travel by thought.”
“Have you tried poofing to the unclaimed galaxies?” It was like pulling teeth, but she wanted to know everything about him. Wanted them to talk about everything and nothing. About his day and duties as ruler of practically the universe. She still had trouble believing she was in a relationship with a being so powerful. She bit her lip. In a relationship sounded much too tame for what they had.
“I do not poof and yes, I tried. There is a force that repels me back. Most ships cannot get in either, but some have been known to be sucked in. None have returned.”
“No one came back. Ever?”
“Some of my scientists have speculated that there is a time distortion.” He pressed something on the controls, his focus intense.
Sarah turned and clutched his forearm. “Promise me you’ll never go there.”
He still didn’t look away from the controls. “You worry for me?”
“Yes.”
He turned and looked at her, took her hand from his sleeve, and held it in his. “This pleases me.”
Sarah blushed and searched for something to say. “How big is that area of space? Is there anything beyond it?”
“We are still mapping all the unclaimed galaxies we can see with our equipment, but the scientists tell me that there are some hidden from us. We have seen signs of occupation far beyond the unclaimed galaxies.” His eyes gleamed. “We will get to them eventually.”
Of course he’d be itching for more conquests. “Or it could be occupied by plants, like that thing you killed.” She shivered. “Right before it jumped, I had this feeling that it was evil and just wanted to consume everything in its path.”
“There is speculation that intelligent, self-aware plants inhabit the planets in the unclaimed galaxies,” he said. “And you are correct, they have only one aim and that is to destroy any other living beings.”
Sarah shivered. “What if more traders pick up those things?”
“Warriors patrol and destroy any of the plants they find. We have also started strict quarantine protocols for patrolling ships.”
Sarah nodded. “Good plan. I love plants and flowers especially, but that plant gave me the creeps from the first moment I set eyes on it.”
“The creeps?”
She smiled at his puzzled tone. “You know, when you feel chills down your spine, when you know something evil is in front of you?” Best not to mention that’s how she felt the first time she saw him.
He turned to face her. “It is a feeling?” His gaze pierced her soul and for one brief moment she knew she had no secrets from him.
“Yes.” She braced for some derogatory comment about humans and their feelings, but his lids narrowed very slightly.
“You will tell me if you ever feel this creeps and think one of the plants are near.”
She should’ve known he wouldn’t discount her feelings. He thought like a soldier, using every tool at his disposal. “Believe me, I will.”
“I am interested in the human habit of kissing,” he said out of the blue. He swivelled his chair so that they sat facing each other, their knees touching.
Sarah scrambled for a reply. “I don’t know if I can—”
Wait, did he say the human habit of kissing? “You’ve never kissed before?” She couldn’t imagine someone as primal and sexual as him going his whole life without touching his lips to that of another. He’d touched her when they’d tried to do the first knowing. Now that she thought about it, she realized he didn’t try to kiss her then.
“No. It is not a habit among Zyrgins.” That slight baring of teeth. “Though I am told that it is fast becoming popular among my warriors, even those without human breeders.”
“I see.” She frowned. “So, if you don’t kiss, what do you do?”
“We touch foreheads.” He lifted a strand of her hair and stared at it for a while and then, before she realized his intent, he bent his head and pressed his lips, firm and warm, against her. They weren’t hard and unyielding like she thought they’d be, but softer and warmer than she’d expected. He didn’t move his lips, didn’t try to force his tongue into her mouth, and she relaxed.
Mouth dry, breathless, Sarah leaned into him. Maybe she could do this. Show him how to kiss. Slowly, keeping her eyes open and staring into his, reminding herself who she was with, she moved her lips from side to side, gently caressing. He remained absolutely still, those sexy eyes of his beginning to swirl with red. Every inch of her body reacted, her breath shortened; if she wasn’t sitting down, her knees would’ve collapsed beneath her. Her skin broke out in goose bumps. She moved her lips over his again and it was so sexy, she thought the heat they generated might make her spontaneously combust. She felt feminine and seductive and it was a miracle, to be able to feel like that again.
Sarah lifted her lips from his, placed a trembling finger on his firm chin. “If I show you something else, would you promise not to hurt me?”
He stiffened. “I have―”
She held up her hand. “I know, you have omgraz’ra. But you’re a man.” She smoothed out the crease in the shoulder of his uniform. “Well, a male anyway, and if you get excited you could grab me and—”
“I will not grab you, even if this new kiss technique you want to show me makes my penis harder than your rubbing of lips made it.”
Sarah could fry a spider egg on her warm cheeks. Why, oh why, did she start this? But, she knew why—wasn’t going to lie to herself. It wasn’t to show him anything. It was to satisfy her own curiosity. Her own desire. She leaned forward again and he met her halfway. She kissed him. The smooth-hard texture and the hint of the taste of exotic spices sent a thrill, like an electric shock through her body.
Watching him for any sign of aggression, she opened her lips. Excitement bubbled in her blood. She nudged his lips with hers and it didn’t take much effort to coax him into opening his. Carefully, tentatively she slipped her tongue into his mouth, the taste of exotic spices and alien making her head spin. He was like a rich red wine that went to her head and enveloped her senses with seductive pleasure.
He deepened the kiss, his tongue invading her mouth this time. He was a quick study—took command of the kiss, and her blood bubbled like the champagne she’d read about in books.
At last he lifted his head and looked down at her. “Your lips are better than the best Aurelian wine.” His eyes narrowed. “It is even as good as Zyrgin ale.”
“Thank you,” she said demurely.
He pushed her back gently and faced the controls again. “We are close to Zyrgin. I will need time for my penis to subside.”
Sarah planted her warm face in her palms.
They landed and he took her back to their room. Once inside Sarah felt inexplicably shy. She walked to her pallet and picked up the ‘teddy bear’ Zaar had given her and traced the cr
uel-looking thin lips that had kissed her silly. It changed color, turning copper, and the eyes of the toy swirled. She loved this fierce warrior-looking toy.
Sarah stared up at him and felt like a heroine in one of those awful Russian tragedies they made them read in school. This is where she should kiss him again, slowly take off her clothes, and seduce him.
“What if I can never do it?” She’d come so far—why did this one thing that would help them to be closer elude her? What she’d experienced in the camps was violence—it couldn’t even be called sex. Why couldn’t her subconscious remember that when he tried to make love to her, night after night? Each time, after a while of trying, she’d become mindless with panic.
“We will do a first knowing every day until you can do it.” He said it matter-of-fact.
“Doesn’t it bother you that I can’t go through with it?” Her cheeks burned but she continued, “You must be frustrated.” She kept her gaze on his face.
“It does not bother me. It is like conquest worthy of a warrior.”
Taking a deep breath for courage, Sarah took off the wool jacket. Biting her lip, she started to unbutton her blouse but her hands shook so much, she couldn’t do it. Didn’t want to do it.
He stood motionless, his gaze glued to her, crimson heat that waited to devour her.
“Would you take off your uniform?” she asked softly. She’d feel less vulnerable if he shed some clothes, as well.
He stepped out of his boots and she stared fascinated as it melted away from his feet.
“I want boots like that,” she said.
He dropped his jacket to the floor and stepped out of his uniform pants, and Sarah forgot about boots that melted off your feet.
He was naked. No underwear for her tough warrior. Muscles rippled and thick veins crisscrossed his body.
Her gaze dipped briefly, long enough to see that he was smooth all over. No body hair. Sarah lifted her gaze to his beautiful chest and kept it there. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “I want this so much, but I’m scared.”
