Alien Prince’s Son

by Anna Lewis

  Suddenly, the necklace fell from her blouse and hit her chin. She looked down to find it burning against her hand, the ruby seeming to vibrate with energy. As the Gluons approached to remove her from the cage, she turned and pressed the stone into her chest hard. It exploded with red light, surrounding the cage and the creatures around it with a burst of flame.

  The fire was hot, but it did not burn her. Around her, the creatures cried out in pain, their skin boiling and melting from their bones. It was a horrific sight and Melody closed her eyes while the cries faded out. The red light remained. When she opened her eyes, the cage was destroyed and she stood easily on two feet with a determined gaze.

  “Mark my words, Orwellgo. I’m coming for you,” she said firmly.

  She held out her hand and her bow immediately flew to her, the arrows following suit as she fixed the quiver over her shoulder. Though the screen was covered in alien goo, she still managed to manipulate the buttons on the dashboard to locate a map. It wasn’t a difficult layout, but there would be nasty Gluons on the way to rescuing her prince.

  The necklace warmed up again between her fingers. She looked down at the dazzling ruby and focused on the glowing red, watching as it burned deep into her eyes. A vision of her prince appeared and she could hear him clear as day, his moans filling her brain. She grew angry.

  While still gripping the ruby, she flew from the room and dashed down the hall, seeming to fly without wings. Her heart raced as she sprinted from one hall to the next, glancing into each room that she passed. She arrived at another map and held the stone as she studied it, feeling her arm tugging in a different direction. She followed her gut. Every turn she took felt right, the floor feeling familiar beneath her feet as she stood firmly in front of a dingy metal frame.

  “This is it,” she said.

  The digital display next to the door read that it was occupied and Melody placed her hand over the screen. It crackled beneath her touch, the glass bending to her will as the doors began to creak open. Behind them stood the Gluon that had been prodding her sweet prince and he immediately charged at her. She remained calmly in place.

  When the creature was close enough, she hurled an arrow in its direction which went straight through its skull. It looped around and came back for another blow, driving through the chest of the alien that was now on its knees. It croaked and then hit the ground with a sickening thud.

  “My hero,” groaned the injured prince from the table.

  Smiling, Melody ran to his side and began quickly undoing his restraints.

  “I thought this was the end,” he whispered.

  “No, darling. It could never be that way,” she said while cupping his face. “Are you all right? Can you walk?”

  “I’m not sure, my love,” he replied.

  When he sat up, he groaned and clutched his stomach.

  “He hit me fiercely, dear Melody,” the prince croaked.

  “Here,” she said while wrapping a firm arm under his shoulders. “I’ve got you. Let’s go.”

  “You cannot carry me all the way,” he insisted.

  “I will do my best,” she retorted with a grin.

  “Where is the king? Is he aboard the ship?” the prince asked.

  Melody helped him up from the table and carefully guided him to the door, looking around to see if any Gluons were waiting for them. The hall was empty. They stepped out and began walking briskly. She wasn’t sure exactly where they were going, but her gut seemed to have a good idea.

  “I’m not sure. He was on the screen when I spoke to him,” she replied.

  “For me as well,” the prince commented.

  “Hush, darling. You’re using too much energy,” she said.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said.

  She giggled and propped him against the wall, studying the map that was next to his head. It looked like they were close to a loading area. There might be a few pods there for them to travel back to the planet in.

  “Come on. We have to get out of here,” Melody said, nearly losing her breath as they started running towards the loading room.

  Behind them, she could hear the strange language of the Gluons who were quickly closing in. Their thunderous steps echoed through the hallway, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly where they were. She wasn’t sure if she could use the ruby again for it might harm her prince. It might not be the safest tool. She pressed on.

  They arrived at another steel door and she kicked the control panel hard, busting it enough to get the doors to crack.

  “Help me,” she said while propping him up.

  Without hesitation, the prince took one door and Melody took the other. They each pulled their ends and pried the doors open as the thud of heavy steps quickly approached. She took her prince off the wall, tossed him in between the doors, and then dashed in after him. A quick look around revealed an escape pod at the far end of the room and she dragged the prince the rest of the way, cringing every time he groaned loudly.

  She approached the control panel and pressed a few buttons. It beeped and then flashed red, asking for clearance.

  “Damn it,” she whispered.

  The doors behind them creaked. She turned to find the Gluons prying them apart, their giant bodies trying to press through the entrance all at once. When she turned back to the control panel, the prince was pressing a code into the screen and it turned green, the door hissing open. She loaded the prince into the pod, hit the button for the door, and then maneuvered to the pilot seat.

  On the other side of the steel door, she could hear the Gluons growling for them to open up. She ignored it. Stunned, she stared at the buttons beneath her fingers and started pushing a few. Her gut continued to guide her. No matter what, she continued to follow it.

  The pod began to hum with energy. It vibrated briefly before a digital voice greeted Melody and announced their take off. The steel doors behind her creaked and bent under the weight of the Gluons who were desperately attempting to claw their way inside.

  “Melody, hurry,” Prince Tezod said.

  “I’ve got you, baby,” she said confidently.

  In an instant, the pod zipped off from the ship, carrying them to safety. Melody whooped in the pilot seat and smiled as she shakily maneuvered the vehicle down towards the castle. The docking area was open. She quickly took a space and opened the side door, taking her prince with her.

  “Press my watch, Melody,” the prince said. “Call for Fenneck.”

  Epilogue

  The great hall was packed to the brim with Eflorians as music gently played in the background. Every window was covered in bright curtains, each one different from the previous. Standing in front of the hall was Melody and her prince, the two holding hands as Fenneck stood on top of a tall stool in order to raise a crown to the prince’s head.

  “Joined in beautiful union, I now pronounce you King Tezod of Efloe,” Fenneck said proudly.

  The crowd erupted with applause and the new king bowed his head, overwhelmed with joy. Fenneck floated over towards Melody who was biting her lower lip anxiously. He winked with his big eye and she giggled, looking down at the ground.

  “Joined in beautiful union, I now pronounce you Queen Melody of Efloe,” Fenneck said tearfully.

  When he placed the crown upon her head, the room roared with cheers and King Tezod squeezed her hand as he began to weep quietly. She brushed a tear away from his blue cheek and he smiled, turning to look at her with his bright green eyes. They trailed down to the tiny blue baby in her arms who cooed excitedly at the noise filling the room.

  “Shall I take a turn?” he asked after the cheering had faded.

  “Of course,” she replied.

  Melody held up their son and the king took him with joy, raising the blue child up into the air with a wide smile.

  “Divyd, you are such a divine child,” the king said. “And I hope you’ll bring us all the glory of our old days.”

  “Tez, that is quite a weight to put on our own
child,” Melody teased.

  “He’ll make a great leader,” he said.

  “I’m sure he will,” she said.

  “Would the king and queen like to sit and receive their gifts? Or shall we feast first?” Fenneck asked.

  “Darling, what would you like?” the king asked his new wife.

  “Let’s open our gifts,” she replied.

  “Splendid,” Fenneck said.

  He clapped his tentacles together and then urged the first couple to bring their gift up to the king and queen. Melody watched with joy as they set it on the ground and then lifted the top, revealing a golden chalice with their names engraved. She lifted it from the box and raised it up to the crowd with a smile. They marveled at the fine craftsmanship. She placed it back in the box and gave the Eflorian a kiss on the forehead.

  When the couple walked away, Fenneck waved the next person up the steps. It was an Eflorian man wearing a cloak bearing a small satchel. She could see nothing else but his hands which made her nervous, but she accepted the gift and opened it. A glass moon was cradled inside the black cloth. When she lifted it up to the light, it seemed to glow.

  “This is beautiful,” she said. “Thank you, stranger.”

  “I am no stranger,” said the man.

  He removed his hood and Tezod gasped, nearly scaring their child into a fit of crying. Melody looked at her shocked king and then back at the stranger. His eyes were incredibly kind, shining a light of comfort over her that she hadn’t felt in years.

  “Melody,” he said in a low voice. “I’m your father.”

  Covering her mouth, she stood from her decorated chair and fell into his arms, weeping. The queen shook viciously with sobs, feeling the warmth radiating from her father who she hadn’t seen since she was an infant. Her father held her close until she pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes.

  “Where have you been?” she asked.

  “I was being held captive by the Gluons. They released me when they surrendered, but I was out in the desert on the other side of the fields,” he replied. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.”

  “It’s fine. I’m just glad you’re here,” Melody whispered.

  She shook her head, tears still streaming down her face as her father cupped her cheek and gave her a kiss on the nose. She took his hand and pulled him further up the stairs.

  “Come meet your grandchild,” she said.

  Memnak smiled wide and held out his arms. Divyd cooed and curled his hand around Memnak’s finger, kicking his feet. It made Memnak chuckle.

  “Such a strong boy. He’ll be a fine prince,” he said.

  Melody nodded. She wiped an errant tear from her face and then held up her hands to the crowd.

  “No more gifts today,” she announced. “I want to spend time with my father.”

  Though most of the crowd appeared to be disappointed, they respectfully dispersed. Fenneck reached up with a tentacle and took her hand.

  “Should I delay the feast as well, my queen?” he asked.

  “No, Fenneck. We should eat at the same time,” she replied.

  He nodded and rolled away, leaving the four of them alone with each other. Melody turned to her family, smiling wide. It was the perfect picture. She admired how natural her father was with her son, the sight alone causing her to tear up again. She shook her head.

  No more tears, she thought. From now on, there will be no more tears.

  THE END

  Special Bonus Full Length Stories

  As a way to say “thank you” for downloading this book, we have included 8 special bonus full length novella and short stories. Happy reading!

  = Bonus Book 1 of 8 =

  Cosmically Yours

  Rapidly dashing between corn stalks and trees was a woman with purple hair. She was rushing to the site of this great light that glittered over a small area in the field. Her hair whipped behind her in flashes of purple and blue, a reflection of the beautiful cosmos that beckoned her to enter it. As she darted between the yellow and green of the corn, she heard her name being called from just a few yards behind her.

  “Amelia...”

  Strange, enormous flowers came into view, dazzling her with their myriad of colors, and filling her nostrils with a sweet scent that lured her to the light. The field grew thicker with these flowers that illuminated the ground, their bulbs seeming to glow brighter, as the sky above grew darker. Though she had never been here before, she could have sworn it was familiar and reached out to touch the soft petals of the absurd flowers that stood as tall as the corn stalks. The length of their stems was incredible, their petals stretched towards the sky as if calling for the universe to bring down something otherworldly. A slew of colors decorated them, colors that she could not identify. But they inspired such happiness that she pushed on.

  The beam of light glowed in the distance, expanding and compressing every so often as to alarm the runner. Her heart was beating fast inside her chest as her legs pumped smoothly against the moving earth, feet trampling stalks that were in her path. The light dimmed suddenly and she thought she might not make it in time to see what it was. For all the years seeking this strange, beautiful light, it would be such a disappointment not to be allowed entry into it. This dream had been a persistent part of her existence and she was determined to discover its meaning, even if it meant pushing the physical boundaries of her body and mind.

  Amelia sprinted harder as a loud ringing filled the air and vibrated the very fabric of existence. Heart pounding, she came upon a clearing that seemed to sit outside of time, every minute stopping in that moment as she crossed the threshold into it. She spun around as her eyes danced across the stalks surrounding the area, their stems pushed down to the ground to create a gentle circle. Looking up, she found a metal structure that hummed faintly in the evening breeze coming from the north. It clicked a few times as a circle formed above her head, watching as the metal separated to allow the same light gradually to come into view. It enveloped her and defeated the darkness around the small circle while pulling her up towards the sky, a floating sensation overcoming her body.

  Light of weight and filled with hope, Amelia smiled while floating up into the metal craft. It was as if everything had finally come together and she would be able to see the true nature of this elusive detail in her life. All of her dreams had featured this moment where she was weightless in the glittering light that catapulted her into another world enveloped by mirrors. She looked around to find herself looking back in every direction, turning only to find more clones of her image. They floated in a vast black hole dotted with bits of light that shimmered brightly. It seemed such an odd thing to be caught in a small space that seemed so large, but that’s how she had always felt on earth. This place offered a sense of refuge from the daily torment she felt being trapped on that planet, having mostly nothing to do with social norms and regular human contact.

  It wasn’t that Amelia was a hermit, not exactly. She simply felt that her life was meant for something much greater than attending college and obtaining a degree in astronomy. Her eyes yearned for the great sights beyond the atmosphere, a universe filled with endless possibilities that stretched towards the far reaches of existence. But how could she discover that by engaging in the ridiculous social demands of her town? She didn’t find much of a need to be part of a group or even to hold a relationship, yet she yearned for the intimacy that the cosmos might provide. Her desire was to know the world and that beyond it, to become one with everything all at once.

  Unfortunately for Amelia, in her cream she would always begin to fall from the mirrored room that depicted the many different forms of her against the cosmos. The lightness would fade and her body would hit the sheets as she gasped for air, realizing that oxygen didn’t exist past the atmosphere where she was catapulted. As she sat up, she reached for the ceiling as she so often did after the wretched dream; a dream which teased her with the hope of escaping the mundane and made her feel as th
ough she might never be able to discover anything other than this ridiculous life she led. Looking about, she found her dorm room in a heap of clothes and books, the shelves cluttered with planetary models and sci-fi figurines.

  There were space ships lining the ceiling and glowing stars decorating the walls. The majority of her decorations had something to do with space. A little blue box next to her bed read 3:03 AM and she sighed upon seeing it.

  “What am I doing?” she asked herself out loud. “Why am I awake at this hour every night?”

  But soon, drowsiness overcame her, and her body began to drift back into the sweet slumber. She would have the answer to her question, though she did not know it yet. Time was moving forward whether the purple-haired beauty liked it or not, and she would soon meet her destiny.

  ***

  Pacing nervously around the cockpit of his ship was the prince of the planet Degau. All of the accomplishments in the universe had made Ero’an one of the most popular Degaurians in history, yet he still felt as if something was missing from the wonderful life he led. While contemplating what had him feeling so incomplete, a miniature blob was sitting atop the gray chairs near the navigating equipment fumbling with a ray gun. The noise the blob made caused Ero’an to twitch with displeasure.

  “Herman, would you please stop fiddling with your atomic ray? I’m trying to think!” snapped Ero’an, stopping in front of his incredibly short companion.

  The little green blob looked up with his round eye at the prince, who was fuming from his nostrils. What a sight the prince made when he was under great duress, the gills on his neck flaring as he huffed.

  “My apologies, your highness,” said Herman, setting the gun down on a nearby control panel. “I was simply trying to fix it. What has you so vexed, sir? You’ve been in this fit for weeks.”

  “I have been very discontent, Herman, very discontent!” replied the prince loudly while waving his arms. “It’s as if the universe has conspired to make me the most accomplished, yet unfulfilled man in existence!”