by Terri Lane
“Pardon you,” croaked a voice from below.
Melody looked down to find an amorphous creature with tentacles for arms and legs. She squealed and stumbled away from it. She hit a wall and shuddered while watching the creature, raising her hands to her lips to stifle the scream that was bound to resurface. With wide eyes, she peered around the room.
In it stood several strange looking creatures. They were all blue-skinned with antennae, some of them sporting tentacles like the creature on the floor. She gasped at each one and teetered on two feet, her eyes fluttering as she braced herself against the wall.
“What kind of joke is this?” she asked.
“Joke?” asked the man.
He implored her with green eyes.
“I mean, is this a trick? How did I get here?” she asked.
The man stared blankly at her.
“These are friends of mine. I assure you there is no joke,” the man replied.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
She leaned harder against the wall, her fingers growing numb and tingling as she watched the man step forward.
“My dear princess, we have been looking for you,” he said.
“Princess?” she blurted.
“Yes, Princess. You are who we’ve been searching for. My Eflorian crew has been working night and day for the past year in search of you,” he replied.
“And you are?” she asked.
“Prince Tezod of the planet Efloe. Our galaxy is quite far from this one. We’re still trying to figure out how you made it all the way out here,” he replied.
Melody stared blankly at the man standing before her. He seemed so normal. How was he a prince of a distant planet if he looked so normal?
“Forgive me, Princess. I must change,” he said.
“What?” she asked.
Before he could respond, he pressed a button on his belt and his skin shimmered. It shifted to an ocean blue, practically glowing as it changed. Antennae appeared on his forehead. They wiggled as he stretched, smiling wide with his eyes closed.
“That is much better,” he said.
Melody raised her eyebrows and chuckled lightly, staring in awe at the prince. She raised her finger to say something, her knees buckled, and black dots danced across her vision. She tried to catch herself on a nearby table, but promptly hit the ground instead. Her limbs went limp and the world went completely dark.
****
“Is she dead?”
Confused, the prince stood over the limp body of the lost princess. She seemed to be breathing. Fenneck rolled over to her body and poked her with a curious tentacle, squinting at the hair covering her face.
“Why isn’t she blue?” Fenneck asked. “Is she ill?”
“I don’t believe that really matters at the moment, Fenneck,” Prince Tezod replied.
“Did she hit the ground out of joy?” Fenneck asked.
“I’m not sure,” Prince Tezod replied. “Perhaps we should call the medic again.”
“That wouldn’t be a terrible idea,” Fenneck said.
The prince walked over to his intercom and called for the medic, turning to study the woman who had fallen to the ground. He could see her chest rise and fall steadily. At least she was still breathing. When the medic arrived, it floated over her unconscious body and ran a diagnostic.
“Scan complete,” it said. “Diagnosis: loss of consciousness. Treatment: hydration.”
The belly of the orb opened and dropped a vile on the ground which clinked against the metal. Prince Tezod opened the vile and pressed it to Melody’s lips, pouring it carefully down her throat. She choked and coughed, sitting up immediately.
“Treatment complete,” announced the orb.
“What is that?” Melody asked while scurrying away from the orb.
“It’s a medical ball. Our species advanced quickly and created these mechanical doctors who accompany us on lengthy trips,” Prince Tezod explained.
“And what is that?” she asked while pointing at Fenneck.
“That is my trusted friend and adviser, Fenneck,” he replied.
The tentacled creature slurped in response.
“It looks weird,” she commented.
“He does a great job regardless,” he said.
The orb left the room and the prince looked around at his troops.
“Dismissed,” he announced.
The Eflorians left without question, leaving the prince with Fenneck and Melody. She was still staring at the prince with wide eyes, her hair falling in her face. He brushed a lock behind her ear and she recoiled. He retracted his hand immediately.
“My apologies, Princess. I hadn’t meant to frighten you,” he said.
“You’ve done more than that,” she spat.
“It was not my intention. Would you like to sit in my chair? It would be more comfortable than the floor,” he offered.
Melody looked around at the steel floor and then stood, pulling herself away from the prince who was trying to guide her to the chair. Respecting her space, he motioned to the main chair in the room and she sat down, folding her hands in her lap.
“What is this?” she asked while looking at the control panel.
“This is my ship. We’re transporting you back to my home planet,” the prince replied.
“Home planet?” she repeated. “This is weird. This is so weird. This dream has gotten even worse, I see.”
“Dream?” Prince Tezod asked.
“Well, certainly this must be my dream. How else would I be on an alien space ship?” she asked rhetorically.
“You’ve had dreams about my ship?” Prince Tezod asked.
“Not exactly. I’ve had the same dream since I was twelve. It’s usually only during my sleep when I have it, but now it seems to come when I’m awake,” Melody replied. “This is definitely a first. I must be going crazy.”
“I can assure you, Princess, that you are not going crazy,” the prince said. “In fact, you’re fulfilling your destiny.”
Melody burst into laughter.
“You’re kidding,” she said between giggles. “This is just an elaborate dream. There’s no such thing as destiny. Not for me.”
“And how can you think such a thing? Your beauty is beyond comparison to anyone else on that dreadful planet,” Prince Tezod said.
She giggled again.
“You’re very flattering for a dream,” she said.
“I am not a dream,” the prince insisted. “I am very real.”
“Prove it,” she dared. “Prove to me you aren’t a dream. I bet you can’t even do that much.”
The prince looked puzzled, his eyes washing over the room while trying to think of something to prove his existence to her. There was nothing he could do.
“Did the water not taste real?” he asked.
“It did, but that doesn’t prove anything,” she replied.
The prince approached Melody and took her face between his hands, leaning down incredibly close to her lips. He could feel her breathing become labored.
“And what of this?” he asked.
Without hesitation, he kissed her. Their lips danced together in unison, his tongue poking between hers in order to explore the texture of her mouth. She sighed, succumbing immediately. It felt like he had been waiting for this moment for centuries when in reality, it had only been months. There was no more satisfying a feeling than being pressed against her, his hand gliding down her shoulder and massaging the muscles hiding beneath her skin.
When he pulled away, her eyes were still closed and her lips still pursed. Her eyelids fluttered. They opened and revealed green eyes that drank in his image. She had to know his touch by now. He had been projecting to her for the past six months.
“What…?” she could barely speak.
“It’s me,” he whispered. “You know me. You’ve seen me. You’ve felt me.”
She shook her head.
“This can’t possibly be real,” she replied.
“But it
is,” he insisted.
A croak came from his feet and he looked down to find Fenneck reaching up with a tentacle to pat his arm.
“Sire, we must be going. It’s getting late,” Fenneck said.
The prince looked back at Melody who was still in a daze, her eyelids growing heavier.
“Very well,” he said. “Take us home, Fenneck.”
Slurping in response, Fenneck rolled to his chair and began pressing the buttons for their coordinates. He pushed a large lever forward and the ship began to move. Melody’s eyes went wide, looking around without moving her head.
“Don’t worry, Princess. It’s just us moving,” Prince Tezod assured her.
“This is so unreal,” she said. “I still don’t understand.”
“In time, Princess,” he said. “In time.”
****
The whirling of the engine steadily slowed as Melody gripped the edges of the chair she occupied. It was dark outside the window. Little lights popped into view and she stared in awe at the sight before her.
Where darkness had once been, the sky emerged. A number of colorful clouds floated over the glass and around the ship, parting carefully to reveal a great expanse of land that seemed to stretch for hundreds of miles. The land was a bright green. It was much brighter than she had ever seen, the hills seeming to roll on forever over the expansive land.
In the center of everything was a massive castle made of steel. It shimmered under the two suns in the sky, winking at her as they landed nearby at a docking station. A metal sheet came down over the window and Melody turned to the prince who was discussing something with Fenneck.
“Send the guards to prepare her room,” the prince informed him.
“What about the task at hand, Sire?” Fenneck asked.
“We will discuss that later with the counsel,” the prince replied.
“Very well, Sire,” Fenneck said.
He rolled away without another word, Melody following him with her eyes. She looked up at Prince Tezod who extended his hand. She eyed him carefully. After a moment of thought, Melody extended her hand and stood with the prince. He led her out of the main control room and down a metal hallway where they exited the ship and stepped out on a red carpet.
A crowd had formed in the time since they landed, a crowd of blue aliens all lined up and waiting in anticipation to witness their arrival. Over the speakers, an announcer said something in a foreign language and Melody blushed. She wasn’t used to being in front of a crowd. Timidly, she waved at the roar of applause and raised hands.
She looked at Prince Tezod who wore a warm smile, seeming to be at ease in front of them all.
“How can you do this?” she asked.
“Do what?” he asked.
“Stand in front of a crowd,” she replied.
Prince Tezod shrugged lightly.
“I’m used to doing it,” he said. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve been in the spotlight. It’s what I’m accustomed to doing.”
“I can’t even stand in front of my boss without shaking,” Melody admitted.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” he said.
Melody shivered. The thought of never seeing the people she knew—even someone as insignificant as her boss—made her feel hollow. As they walked down the red carpet into the entrance of the castle, the crowd hummed with excitement. They were met instantly by a group of blue men inside the doors, each of them reaching out to touch Melody’s hand. She recoiled.
“Stop it,” she commanded.
All of them stepped back immediately, dropping their heads out of respect. Melody was shocked at their sudden obedience and she turned to Prince Tezod with her eyebrows raised.
“The princess and I have matters to discuss,” he announced.
Melody rolled her eyes.
“I’m not a princess,” she whispered when the men dispersed.
“There is much I need to explain. Please,” he said while gesturing towards the stairs. “Let’s get you settled in first.”
Melody followed him up the carpeted steps, marveling at the portraits hanging all over the walls. They were incredible, practically reaching all the way up to the ceiling while boasting decorated aliens in each one.
“Are these of your family?” she asked.
Prince Tezod nodded.
“They are, yes. We stretch back as far as your own Earth’s history. I was reading about your people during my trip. They seem to be a rather violent species. Always at odds. Always at war,” he explained.
“We have quite a history,” Melody said.
“As do we,” he said.
Melody continued to follow him until he stopped at a door, holding his palm over a digital display. It beeped twice and the door unlocked, revealing a great room with a four-post bed. She followed him inside with her mouth agape. She had never seen a room that size. The sheer majesty of the items it held were overwhelming, her eyes washing over the colorful curtains, blankets, and lavish collection of bottles sitting on the dresser.
“This is amazing,” she whispered.
“It’s all yours. You can have whatever you like. I’ll replace anything you find doesn’t suit your needs,” he said.
“That’s just too much,” she said.
“How so?” he asked.
“I’ve never been treated like this. I would never allow a stranger to kiss me, much less dote on me,” she replied.
“But I did kiss you,” he said.
“Which, by the way, probably won’t happen again,” she said quickly, averting her eyes to the large mirror behind the dresser.
She studied her reflection. Prince Tezod remained a fair distance away from her, his eyes watching her movements closely. She had admittedly enjoyed the kiss. It had been months since someone had given her such a passionate embrace that it had aroused her senses. Maybe Lauren was right. Maybe she needed to get laid.
When she turned around, the prince smiled warmly and bowed his head.
“I’ll leave you to settle in. If you need anything, feel free to press the button next to your bed. Fenneck will respond immediately and see to your needs,” he informed her.
Melody nodded.
“Thank you,” she said.
With a smile, the prince bowed deeply and walked to the door, closing it carefully behind him. Melody was left in silence. She looked around the room again, still overwhelmed by the wealth he possessed. There wasn’t an item that didn’t seem to be made of some expensive material.
She ran her fingers along the elegant silk sheets, savoring the sensation of them between her fingers. The pillows were extra soft and she fluffed them before lying down on the bed. Everything felt real. It all looked real, too. It had to be real.
“This can’t be a dream,” she whispered to herself. “It can’t possibly be a dream.”
****
After she had spent time settling in, the confused Melody pressed the button next to her wall. The tentacled creature appeared and she reeled back from the screen.
“Oh,” she said, startled.
“My apologies, ma’am. Did you ring?” he asked.
“I did,” she replied.
“What can I get you, Princess?” he asked.
“Please, don’t call me that. Could you tell Prince Tezod I’m ready to see him?” she asked.
“Of course, ma’am,” he responded.
His image disappeared from the screen and Melody squinted to study the contraption. Within moments, a knock came at the door and she stood to answer it, holding on to the knob as the door slid seamlessly open.
“Ma’am,” the prince said with a slight bow. “Are you ready to go to the conference room?”
“Conference room?” she repeated.
“Yes. It is where I will explain everything to you,” he replied.
Melody nodded hesitantly, hugging her own shoulders. It was such a strange place and she felt out of place in her silky dress. She looked down at it, realizing she had
n’t even changed.
“Do you have anything else I could wear?” she asked.
“Oh, yes. Of course! How rude of me not to even ask!” the prince replied. “Come with me.”
He led her to a closet in the corner of the room and tapped against the door. It slid open. He gestured towards the closet and stepped aside as Melody stepped in, her eyes wide at the bountiful collection of lavish clothing. Everything was made of silk and ranged from all the colors of the rainbow to ones she had never before seen. She plucked a yellow dress from a hanger and raised it to her face. It was as soft as a feather.
Still in awe, she turned to the prince who was smiling in the doorway.
“You can wear whatever you like, Princess. I will wait outside your door,” he said.
The sound of him calling her a princess didn’t bother her in that moment. In fact, it made her feel warm. She had never been treated so well, or at least she had never encountered anyone with such wealth. When he left, she felt her thighs tingle in response to his absence, wanting to pull him back into the closet to repeat the kiss from earlier. It had felt so familiar. Everything about this place was familiar, even down to the way the air felt against her skin.
Maybe it was true.
After staring at the empty space where the prince had been standing, Melody turned around to the large mirror at the end of the closet and began stripping out of her party dress. She pulled on the yellow mermaid gown, smoothing the fabric while admiring it in the mirror. When she reached behind her to pull the zipper, she found herself struggling.
She felt her face flush. It was tempting to call for the prince who was only ten feet away, waiting patiently outside her bedroom door for her to be finished. It was tempting to test her ability to trust him, but she also felt like it might be inappropriate. She went to the closet door and peeked around the corner, eyes full of wonder.
“Prince Tezod?” she called.
A blue head appeared around the corner of the bedroom door.
“Yes?” he asked.
She cleared her throat and brushed her hair nervously.
“Would you mind zipping me up?” she asked.
Timidly, the prince stepped forward and kept his head low while Melody turned around. She felt his hand rest on her shoulder and listened to the sound of the zipper slowly rising up her back. The metal was cold and rested between her shoulder blades, her eyes fixed on the carpeted ground. He was warm. His hand didn’t move even though he was finished and she found herself turning slowly to meet his green gaze.
