That is not possible, the First Elder argued.
Why not?
No one will want her, considering the trouble already being instigated throughout the villages.
Then perhaps another Paired geron will take her. He knew he was grasping at air. Once he left this life, Emmala would have no other choice but to return to her own kind. Her own kind. Zonaton winced. Her kind was not kind. Nor were they patient, understanding, or generous. Yes, they touted they had all of those virtues, and swore they upheld them, but by their actions alone the humans had proven time and again they could not be trusted.
Akrim's words echoed in his ears. You cannot take her with you when you pass over.
But what if...
I understand I cannot bring her with me to my second life. But what if I choose to depart my second life, and return to her?
The gerons appeared confused. They traded questioning looks with each other before turning back to him. What do you mean by returning to her?
Exactly what I said. What if I denounce my second life, and choose to spend it with her?
You mean, with the humans? Among the humans?
Zonaton, you will have no power in your second life, Akrim reminded him.
So I have been told.
You will be a weakling. Wingless. Formless.
Zonaton. The First Elder stepped closer. Once you go to your second life, you will have no memory of her. You will be renewed.
Zonaton clenched his fists. He knew that, too. He knew what to expect in his second life. All gerons were taught what could and will occur after they died. He knew he would change, and how much.
Zonaton. Akrim moved closer until their bodies nearly touched. We know how deeply you care for this human. It happens between all Pairs.
Not like this, he argued. I love her.
Love is a human emotion, the other Elder snapped.
Then it must be a disease I've caught from her, Zonaton barked back. I love her, and I cannot stop, or slow down, or ignore this emotion. I cannot leave her. I gave her my word.
Neither can you stop, slow down, or ignore the inevitable, Akrim gently reminded him. You will die. You will be reborn into your new life, with no knowledge of your past life with us, or with her.
But I will know what I used to be, Zonaton stated.
From what we have learned in the past, that is true, Akrim acknowledged. But once you are reborn, the details of the life you once led will be permanently erased from your mind.
Zonaton turned and took a few steps away from the Elders. With his back to them, he lowered his head. How much longer do you think I have left?
Six cologs. At least six, but no more.
Six cologs. Roughly six days. Zonaton closed his eyes as he felt his heart tearing apart. I am going to tell Emmala.
Zonaton, you cannot reveal to her any information about your second life.
It was an order. An order he was not allowed to argue or refuse.
But he had to.
An earlier thought came to him. His mental reminder to himself.
I have been keeping a close watch on the miners. Something is not right with them. I cannot explain why or how, but it is enough to raise my level of concern.
Akrim tilted his head. Explain.
For one, I have not seen any activity coming from the aliens, although they have been here now for several days. There is no evidence of rock sampling. No exploration. Nothing. Their tracks do not go beyond a few meters from their ship. He gave his head a shake to show his distress. Furthermore, their ship...
What about their ship?
I do not believe it is a mining ship.
What makes you believe that?
Its configuration. From above, it appears to be divided into sections, as though it is actually several smaller ships joined to form a larger whole.
The concern in the Elders' eyes was noticeable. Thank you for bringing us that knowledge. We will continue to keep a diligent watch on it.
I will make certain to double up assignments to keep it under close observation, Akrim noted.
A third Elder approached, one Zonaton had not met before. There is something else you need to do before your days are over. The villagers are demanding an accounting of the attack you made on the woman.
I repeat, I did not attack her.
Regardless, the villagers need to hear your side of this. You need to face your accuser and, if what you say is true, see if you can make the woman recant her accusation. Therefore, it is the decision of the Elders that you go to the village and straighten out this misunderstanding before it grows and festers, and turns the humans against us to the point where we will have no other alternative but to destroy them.
Why not wait until my life here is over? Then you can tell them I am dead.
This situation may not remain stable until your end, Akrim noted. The situation has grown to the point where we must take action now.
And if I cannot change their minds?
Akrim's eyes clouded over with regret. Try, Zonaton. At least you can try. We are setting up a meeting with them now. Come back tomorrow and I will give you the details.
Giving the Elders a barely perceptible nod, Zonaton launched himself into the air.
Chapter Sixteen
The Attempt
Although her main purpose was to meet with Hawse again, Emmala took along her gathering pouch to collect the last of the plunderberries. Zonaton touched down at the exact place where she had been the day before to drop her off. As she always did, she gave his neck a little hug before he left.
"Will you be long?"
I do not know. I am sensing changes with the miners, and I am going to try to get closer to see if I can spot anything significant. But I will come if you need me.
Running his talons gently through her long, dark hair, he stared down at her with golden eyes. She half expected him to comment further, but he turned and lifted off with strong downward strokes of his wings. She watched his figure grow smaller as he vanished toward the mountains, until a voice from behind startled her.
"I really didn't think you'd return."
She smiled over her shoulder at the young man. "I keep my word."
"Did it take you long? I mean, does it take a long time to get here from where you live?" He cocked his head. "You live in the mountains, right?"
"Yes." She adjusted the pouch's strap on her shoulder. "But it didn't take me long. Zon brought me."
"Otherwise it would take a long time to walk that distance."
"No, not really. Yes, it's a goodly distance from the base of the mountain to the village, but it's a decent walk. And it's flat land most of the way. I sometimes jog it."
"So you live on the mountain? That's unbelievable."
Emmala peered at the young man. For some reason, he seemed insistent on learning where she lived, but she took it for curiosity. After all, Zonaton had told her a Paired couple were considered a unique phenomena by the villagers. "Not on the mountain. In it. In a cave about midway up the slope."
He gave her an incredulous look. "You have to climb the mountain to get to it?"
She had to laugh. "It's not that difficult. There's a small trail leading up to it. Zonaton carved it out for me so I could come and go when I needed, and he wasn't around." She gave a little wave of her hand toward the craggy range. "It's not hard to find. There's a big rock of alagalite sitting at the base to let me know where it begins."
"Wow." The single word was enough to make her blush.
Hawse looked good, standing there in the morning sunlight. He looked strong and virile, with his green shirt stretch tightly across his chest. Her eyes dropped unconsciously to the bulge becoming more evident between his legs, and her thoughts momentarily left her.
"Been picking?"
She blinked and re-directed her attention to his face. "What?"
He smiled, pointing to the pouch. "Have you gotten the last of the berries?"
Emmala glanced at the bag
she held against her thigh. "Uhh, no. Not yet. I just arrived."
"Mind if I help you?"
Before she could answer, he bent over a nearby bush and started to pluck the fruit that was still edible. She chose the bush at the other end of the short row and worked her way toward the middle, toward him. She noticed him dropping the small white star-shaped fruit into the makeshift pocket he made by lifting the bottom of his shirt. Beneath the fabric, his abdomen was tight and smooth. Beautiful. She must have stared too long at it because a hand suddenly waved in front of her face.
"Hey. Em."
Lifting her face, she nearly bumped noses with him.
"Mind if I put this into your pouch?"
His eyes were mesmerizing. It was almost as if he could see through her, all the way into her mind. Could he read her mind? Could he sense what she was feeling? All those funny little tingling sensations moving into her lower belly, until her inner thighs became sticky?
Hawse tilted his head slightly, but his eyes never left hers. His lips pressed against her open mouth, and Emmala melted. Warm arms embraced her, pressed her along his hard body, and she closed her eyes to luxuriate in the touch.
Hard. Soft. Warm. Her mind swirled at the contradictory sensations coursing through her. She let herself become lost in his arms, unaware of him lowering her down onto the pale blue grass until she felt the turf beneath her. Opening her eyes, she stared up at him leaning over her.
"Bet you've never been kissed like that before." Hawse smiled. Unable to help herself, she smiled.
"It was nice."
"Nice?" He pouted, but she could tell he was being playful. He was so much like her mysterious lover who came to her in the cave. But there were also many differences. Her silver white lover appeared in the darkness. Hawse appeared in the light. Her lover kept her from the cold. Hawse was also part of the warmth. But instead of a blanket on the stone floor, she had the sweet smelling grasses and dark sod.
For the briefest moment, her conscience berated her for her thoughts, for what she wanted to do. It wouldn't be right, having two lovers...would it? Yet, she couldn't ignore or dismiss the wonderful feelings he gave her. Too bad she couldn't share something like this with Zonaton. If he were human, her life would be complete. She wouldn't need to find out what sex was like with Hawse, although she would miss seeing her mystery lover. She may not know his name, or where he came from, but in so many ways he reminded her of Zon. I have to be happy with what I have. With what we have, because that's all we can expect.
"Hey. What are you daydreaming about?" Hawse jested in a soft but roughened voice.
"About what might happen between us."
He scoffed jokingly. "About what might happen?" Then grinned.
She lifted her arms in silent invitation, and Hawse lowered himself on top of her to kiss her again. This time, however, he integrated his body along hers, shifting his hips until they burrowed between her thighs, pressing that thick bulge in his pants against her mound.
This was completely new to her. The sounds, the smells, the pressure of his body. All of it was like nothing she had experienced before. She liked the way he was making her feel, and the way her body reacted to his felt right and good. But as he tried to slip his tongue into her mouth, she recoiled slightly. Hawse stopped and reared up his head to gaze at her.
"What? I thought you liked it."
"I do. I mean, your tongue. It's...not what I expected."
"You mean you've never been kissed?" He grinned. "I kind of like it."
"Like what?"
"The notion that I'm the first man you've kissed."
She started to tell him he wasn't the first person to kiss her full on the lips, then thought better of it. Maybe it would be wiser to let him go on thinking he was.
He dipped his face again to cover her mouth with his. She got a brief whiff of something unpleasant before he plunged his tongue past her teeth. Immediately, she gagged at the invasion. Shoving him away, she rolled onto her side, coughing and gasping for air.
"Hey. You all right?" Hawse sounded genuinely concerned, and he patted her back until she was able to sit up.
Emmala gave him a weak smile. "Sorry. Look, could we start off easy and gradually work up to the hard stuff?" she suggested.
"Yeah. You're right. Someone like you needs to learn the ropes first, right?"
She stiffened as his hand moved from her back, around her waist, and up to her breast where he lightly squeezed.
"Do you like that?"
Yes, she did, and she said so. It felt more like the kind of tender stroking that her cave lover gave her. The kind of touching that made the itch inside her build into a need, then a craving. When he slipped both hands underneath her top and clasped both breasts, she moaned with pleasure.
Hawse lifted her top, hovered over her for a long moment, then lowered his face to take a nipple in his mouth. The shock that flashed through her body made her arch her back. Her hands found his head, his hair, and she clutched two handfuls of it.
He was relentless, sucking and cautiously gnawing her tightening buds. Pinching and rolling one while he tongued the other, then switching sides. Emmala writhed beneath him, until he slipped one hand inside her pants and grasped her between her wet thighs.
Burying his face against her neck, Hawse gasped as he rubbed himself hard atop her pubic bone. "I want to fuck you, Em. Can I fuck you?"
His words drifted into her mind like smoke, barely registering. The feelings racing through her body were indescribable. Unimaginable.
"Em?"
"What?"
"Let me fuck you."
"Oh. Okay." She was lost in the maelstrom of delicious sensations that left her hungering for more. She had no idea what fuck was or meant, but if he was asking if he could give her more of these wonderful feelings that made her crave for more, then her answer was yes.
He lifted himself and grasped the sides of her pants to jerk them off. She looked down as he also removed his breeches. When his erection sprang forward, her eyes widened.
Hawse looked into her eyes and grinned. "Ready?"
"Yeah."
Grabbing her legs, he spread them apart, and Emmala lifted her knees, placing her feet flat on the warm grass. Now she knew what he meant, and she closed her eyes to savor what would come next.
This was the way it was with her cave lover. Hawse would give her the sweet release she enjoyed, this time made especially pleasant with the warm sun shining down on them, and the fragrant air gently blowing over their bare skin.
Pressing his face to her mound, she heard him inhale. "Aww, you smell great. I promise, this is going to be a great fuck. You're going to enjoy it."
She smiled again as he balanced on one arm and reached down between them to grasp his erection. Placing it between her legs, he dropped over her chest and began to scoot forward, sliding his straining dick against her lower lips. Closing her eyes, Emmala waited for him to enter.
Sharp pain streaked through her, and she gave a little cry.
"It's all right," Hawse quickly assured her. "Holy crap, you're a virgin! Just hold on, Em. It will just hurt for a little bit."
The pain increased. Jerking her hips away from his invasion, Emmala raised up on her elbows. "Stop! Stop hurting me!"
"Shh! It's all right. It's supposed to hurt the first time. Trust me." He moved himself between her legs again and attempted to penetrate her, but it was too much for her to bear.
"No! Stop! Stop it, Hawse! It hurts!" She scrambled backwards across the grass, which angered the young man.
"Hey! No, you stop it! Stop being a tease, Emmala. You said you wanted to fuck. You can't just change your mind right in the middle of it." The young man glowered at her and reached for her foot, snagging her by the ankle. She kicked to release herself, but his grip was too strong, and she felt herself being dragged toward him.
Rolling onto her stomach, she kicked again as she struggled to get away from Hawse and the pain he inflicted on he
r. Digging her fingers into the grass, she tried to pull herself away, but Hawse's hold on her leg was too strong. He yelled as he tried to grab her other foot.
"Hey! I told you it'll only hurt for a moment!"
"I don't want the hurt at all!" she yelled back. "I don't want your fuck! Go away!"
"No!"
A rough hand caught her other foot, and Emmala felt herself being hauled backwards. Her hand struck something hard. Instinctively, her fingers grasped the handle of her knife as Hawse threw his arms around her hips and shoved her up against him.
"You said I could fuck you, and I'm going to fuck you. Let me take you from behind. It probably won't hurt as much that way."
"No! Stop it, Hawse!"
Bringing her arm down, she shoved the blade into whatever part of his body it would reach. The knife plunged into his upper thigh, and he squealed high and loud. Hawse angrily slapped her hand away from the weapon before he grabbed the handle to yank it free. She caught the glint of the knife in the corner of her eye when he flung it away.
"Fucking tease! Attack me, will you! Telling me stop when you said you wanted it! Don't you tell me to stop, you fucking tease!" he growled, ramming his hips against her buttocks.
"No!"
She had no idea she screamed inside her mind. She dug her fingers into the ground and she kicked backwards to keep his hands from getting a strong grasp. One foot connected somewhere, and she heard him yelp, but in the end he was too strong, and quickly overpowered her. She felt him trying to shove himself into her as more bright, burning streaks of pain tore through her.
She had no sense of time or place anymore. The sunshine and warmth had been replaced with blackness and fiery agony as Hawse tried to plow into her, but the damage to his leg was too much. He struggled, trying to hold on to her despite wound in his thigh. Emmala continued to fight him as warm blood coated the backs of her legs and buttocks, and more splattered the soft grass like red rain.
There was a scream. It took her another second to realize it hadn't come from her.
Suddenly, the pain was gone. The heavy weight holding her down was gone. The arms and hands bruising her flesh were gone. A shadow passed overhead, and a moment later, a beloved scent spread over her as Zonaton covered her with one wing.
Zonaton Page 8
