Remus's Revelation

by Pearl Tate

  Thankfully, there’s a glass on the countertop I rinse thoroughly before taking a long drink of water. My eyes are puffy like I’ve been sleeping hard—or crying.

  I try to finger comb the thick strands on my head. There’s no hope though, and I refuse to poke through this guy’s house. It looks like a show home with how fancy and clean everything is.

  Giving up, I slowly open the door, cracking it to peer out. He’s moved back to the edge of the bed and is now facing the door from his position. His eyes lock with mine again, and that same strange pulse vibrates through my body, making my heart speed up.

  In anticipation? It must be fear. Maybe my body knows he’s not to be trusted.

  When he doesn’t move, I pull open the door a little further, studying his large form. The most dominating feature is his hair. He has more than me—and that’s a rare thing to see.

  My mother never cut my hair, just trimming over the years. But when I started school, I began braiding it to keep it pinned to my head and less obtrusive. His hair appears to not only be thick, but longer than mine.

  “You can come out. I won’t hurt you.” The tone of his voice seems to flutter over my frazzled nerves, settling me involuntarily. He doesn’t move, so I pull the door open, sliding to the right toward the door to leave the bedroom.

  At least then I can run if I need to. But to where? I’ve no idea, but certainly there’s a way to get out of this place besides the sliding, glass door behind him.

  “Where am I? Who are you?” His mouth settles into a hard line, and I can tell he’s thinking about what to tell me. What’s so hard about those questions?

  “I’m Remus, and the where is a little hard to explain.” His hands come up to smooth down his dark hair as a breeze seems to float through the room.

  That’s weird though, because I don’t feel anything. As I glance around, I determine there aren’t any windows open. The sliding glass door behind him is still closed, too. Narrowing my eyes, I take in his appearance a little more closely.

  He’s wearing a gray jumpsuit that molds to his body like a second skin. The thin material shows off every muscle in his bulky frame from his arms to his large thighs. Even sitting, I can tell he’s huge. Much larger than me, and that’s super intimidating.

  “I’ve been told we’re technically on Earth… only in another dimension?” His voice raises on the end as if he’s questioning the validity of this, exactly like I am right now. I feel my eyebrows shoot up to my hairline as I consider what he’s saying.

  Now, I’ve been called crazy right to my face more than once, and I know it’s not a nice or kind thing to do. So, I won’t.

  Instead, I try to reason it out with him. “Who told you this?”

  At first, I almost don’t think he’s heard me. Watching him swallow hard, he appears to be getting more agitated by the second.

  Rubbing his thighs, he looks down at his lap as he answers. “The Ashen.”

  When his eyes flicker up to mine, I just shake my head slightly. He gets the idea. I’ve no idea who he’s talking about.

  Hair continues to float around his head, and I realize that it can’t be a breeze. Something really strange is going on.

  Glancing behind me, I search for any other source of air, but I’m kidding myself. I’d feel it too, and there’s nothing but a large, open living space.

  Looking back at him more closely, I realize it’s like his hair is alive! Could he be an alien hybrid of some sort? It’s not unheard of. I’ve certainly read up on what other alien abducted people claim they’ve seen.

  Hyperventilating, I swing around and scan the home I’m in more closely. Everything looks so normal. Taking a few steps into the living area, I round the dining table before I realize he’s following me.

  When I glance behind me, I register just how big he is! I watch him stoop to get through the bedroom door as he follows me out, and my heart accelerates as I sprint for the door.

  “Wait, Jo-Anne.” His voice is low and calm behind me. Instantly, I notice why. There’s no doorknob! What the fuck?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  - Remus

  “Please, let me explain.” Stopping at the table in the middle of the dwelling, I fight my instinct to follow her to the door. She will not be able to get out and getting any closer to her at this point will only scare her more.

  After discussing this briefly with the Ashen representative named Ted, I realized that it would not be an argument I could win. The Ashen say they’re skirting the agreement in the Quasar Accord by letting us interact with anyone else during the mating process. In addition to saying that, they shared how they alienated Travek and Lisa to a room together. They felt that me knowing what was going on would have to be enough.

  Thankfully, Lisa interjected and convinced them that Jo-Anne would settle in and accept the situation much better if she could interact with her. Even though Ted believed that this would slow down the mating process, he agreed.

  Jo-Anne freezes at the front door. Both her hands are spread on its surface as she plants her forehead to the material. “What the fuck is going on?”

  I think she will turn around. Face me. Do something. Instead, she stays frozen, facing the other direction.

  “We’ve been put here by the Ashen to… get to know one another.” I can’t say it. I just can’t say we’re mates.

  Logically, I realize she must have matching marks to mine on her body under her long sleeve shirt. But I didn’t confirm that over the period of time I watched her recover from the stasis they put her in. I just couldn’t touch her. Wouldn’t that be wrong too?

  The last rotation I’ve been here has been hard. I’m grieving. As stupid as it may sound to some, my heart belongs to my Ermada. Ten annual rotations of being together is a long time.

  “The Ashen…” Jo-Anne’s small body rolls slowly against the surface of the door until she’s almost facing me. “Do you mean the Grey aliens?”

  My head interprets her language, and I realize she’s calling them the color of their skin. “Exactly. We call them ‘The Ashen’.” Pulling out a chair next to the table, I settle into it.

  “Yes.” I can tell she’s petrified. Another side effect of the mating is sensing your mate’s feelings. Since she’s woken, I’ve been bombarded by confusion, disorientation, disgust, surprise, and fear. It makes me feel as if I’ve been experiencing them too.

  Travek and Lisa pointed out yesterday how helpful the bond could be. If I can settle myself, I can share some of my own calm with her. The problem is, I’m having trouble finding anything to be calm about.

  Settling my hands into my lap, I breathe deep and steady, centering myself on—her. She’s fascinating. As much as I hate the fact that my world is being turned upside down and shattered, she’s something exotic to look at. She’s the first Earth female I’ve seen with hair similar to a Quasar female.

  Long, thick, and beautiful, falling to her ass in a heavy wave. Yes, it’s lifeless, but it shines even in this artificial setting. “I’m not human like you, and you can clearly see, I’m not Ashen either.”

  She doesn’t move or even ask any questions. Looking at me calmly, her exterior persona contradicts what I sense from her. Inside, she’s still shaking in fear.

  Because it doesn’t appear she plans to come any closer, I decide the best way to handle this is to just keep talking. At least she isn’t crying or running around the dwelling trying to get away from me.

  “Can I tell you about how I ended up here? Maybe then you’ll see we’re actually in a very similar situation.” She still doesn’t answer, just nods her head for me to continue.

  Encouraged, I lean back in the chair and try to decide where to start. I guess the beginning is as good a place as any. After all, this is my mate, and she’ll need to learn about me.

  “I grew up on a planet called Quasar. It’s far from here, but we’ve multiple spacecrafts rotating around our zone of the galaxy. They regularly check on other planet's readings and evo
lutionary progress. One of our captains recently stumbled across a human woman in space. Did you know her?” I really want to draw her into the conversation. Isn’t she curious at all?

  Her eyes narrow from where she’s leaning as she considers whether it’s worth sharing anything she knows with me. After a moment, she nods her head slowly. Faintly, so faintly I can almost barely hear her, she murmurs, “Hannah Becker?”

  I can’t help the broad smile that cracks my face. I don’t know why I even feel so encouraged just by that little bit of input. Now that she’s up and has moved through the dwelling, her sweet floral scent is filling the entire place. Is that what’s inspiring this euphoric feeling I have?

  Shaking myself mentally, I drop my eyes to the table in front of me as I continue. “Yes. Hannah Becker arrived with the Captain of the Discovery to Quasar, and the gossip and news went wild with it. Supposedly, they’d mated—something that hasn’t happened to a Quasarian in thousands of years—not since before we introduced the nano technology into our bodies. Of course, many of us didn’t really believe it…” I look up to see if she appears to be listening. Her big eyes are wide in her round, angelic face.

  “Did you?” I almost don’t catch her whisper. It’s funny that the first person to ask me if I believe the matings are a true phenomenon would be her.

  “Not at the time. One of my brothers was convinced it was all a set up. Just something to stir up the population… but it doesn’t matter.” Running a hand over my face, I try to focus on what I was getting at.

  My eyes keep glancing up at her and finally, I give up. It’s hard to tell what she looks like under the baggy clothes she’s wearing, but her face is beautiful. With her dark, soulful eyes, she looks sleepy. Suddenly, I wonder whether that’s the way she would look sated from making love.

  So, this is what they’re referring to? The mating pull. It draws you to the other person, and right now, I’m willing to admit I’m very drawn to her.

  “What about Hannah Becker, though? What exactly does that have to do with us? Is it because she was the first human that your species ran into? Is that what made the difference?” Now that she’s spoken, she does have a lot of questions. Taking a tentative step towards me, she bounces lightly on her tiny feet almost hidden by the pants she’s wearing.

  “Yes, I guess I am getting a bit off the subject. While I am, is there anything you require? Food or a drink?” As I gesture towards the food prep area, she only shakes her head and slowly closes the distance between us.

  Pulling out the chair across from me, she angles her body to slide down onto it. Having her closer is only more distracting as I try to remember where I left off. “Hannah Becker had to prove she was mated to Bren Khar, but they left the planet as soon as that was over. I think with how the mating challenge played out, he was worried that they still wouldn’t allow them to be together. Or with all the upheaval about the entire thing, that someone would try to hurt them.”

  Jo-Anne’s eyes are still large and round as she gazes at me across the round table. When she starts biting her lip, I stop my staring and turn away to concentrate on what to tell her next. Perhaps why I’m here?

  “My brother—Travek is actually why I ended up out here. He was on the spacecraft Discovery with Bren and Hannah. Of course, he got the brilliant idea to travel to Earth in one of our family’s personal crafts to see if he could feel his own mate.” My voice has turned dour as the stupidity and aggravation about my own situation bleeds through.

  “Did he?” Her prompt has me focusing on her again.

  “Yes.” She nods to indicate she’s following along. “But… that’s how you ended up here. He’s such an idiot, he used some technology he wasn’t completely familiar with when he picked her up, and consequently, you were grabbed too.”

  For a minute, she looks surprised, but then her expression turns wary. I wait patiently as I watch her with fascination. So much of what she feels can be seen on her face. “So… it wasn’t the Grey aliens who took me?”

  I’m surprised at the hope I hear in her voice. Have they done something to her? If so, I will kill Bill and Ted when I find out… shit, where did that thought come from?

  Shaking myself, I try to assure her. “No, it was my dumb brother, Travek. He felt his mate in the room you were in, and when he used the transport device, it picked up all of you…”

  “Wait! Are you saying that we’re all here? Everyone in my study group?” Jo-Anne looks hopeful for the first time. So hopeful, I’m almost sorry to explain to her that it isn’t quite that simple.

  “Well, Lisa is here. With Travek, my brother. From what I can tell, they’ve been here for a few rotations and have mated… they seem thrilled.”

  Jo-Anne smiles and it lights up her face.

  “Where is she?” Scooting her chair back, she practically trips over her feet trying to stand. Resting her palms on the table, she leans forward to look at me pleadingly. “Can you take me to her and the others?”

  “I can. But there are some things you should know. Things I need to share with you. Can you give me a few more minutes to explain?” When she slowly sinks back into her seat across from me, I take that as a yes. “The Ashen are here too.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  - Jo-Anne

  My eyes widen at his words. It doesn’t matter that he’s made me feel safe over the last few minutes. I can’t control the adrenaline and panic that knowing they’re so close inspires in me.

  “I can tell you’re frightened of them. What happened?” He asks as if it’s just been one thing. But there’ve been so many times. So many countless times I’ve lost time or woken up somewhere I’ve never been before… outside.

  I don’t say anything for a few seconds, unsure of what to tell him. The silence stretches between us, and I realize he will wait. His strange hair flares around his head, straightening and entwining as he patiently stares at me.

  Taking a deep breath, I resign myself to talking to him. Just think of it like another therapist. Right?

  Only, this is different. And it’s that striking thought that’s the first thing out of my mouth. “Do you realize you’re the first person I’ve ever talked to about them that believed me? Like really believed me?”

  I can tell he’s at a loss for what to say to that, but then he surprises me with his response. “I’m sorry.” His hair flares straight and begins a slow and intricate process of braiding itself back onto his scalp. “I’ve heard that Humans don’t believe in aliens and other life in space. Is this why your word has been doubted?”

  Swallowing hard, I answer, “Yes.” Licking my dry lips, I consider getting the glass out of the bathroom or hunting for one in the kitchen. But if we’re going to talk about this, I’d rather get it over with. “There’s more to it, too. I mean, most the time, I couldn’t remember them. The Grays, I mean… after. You know?”

  Confusion passes over his face, and I realize we’re so different. He has no idea what I’m talking about. “The Grey aliens abduct people, but they wipe their memories. You know?” When his jaw clenches and his face turns stony, I know he understands perfectly what I’m saying.

  “Yes, exactly. So, over the years, I’ve been taken and then returned with no memory of what they’ve done to me. All I have is this fear, you know?” Clutching my chest where panic always seems to radiate from, my voice pitches to a husky whisper.

  “I’m sorry.” He looks so sad… and angry. It’s a relief after all this time to have total confirmation of my nightmares. They’re real. One part of me wishes to find them—the Greys, I mean. To hit them, and rant and rave about how unfair I’ve been treated.

  But the logical side of me wants to run far, far away. That’s totally legitimate, right?

  “I’m sorry too. If they’re here, do you suppose Lisa could come over here? To this room? I don’t… I just don’t want to run into any of them.” My terror and panic are picking up as I imagine seeing them.

  Will I even be able to think if
one of them looks me in the eyes? How many times have I wondered what they’ve done to me? And why me? Maybe a day will come when I can have those discussions, but it won’t be today.

  “Of course. She will want to make sure you’re fine. But there’s a reason we’re here alone.” I can sense her trepidation as I continue to explain. “Travek pulled Lisa off Earth, and they ended up here with the Ashen. You’ve been in stasis since then. I was asked by my people to come and locate Travek, and find out where he ended up after he took off from the Discovery. His ship was found on our prison planet.”

  He hesitates briefly, and I realize more bad news is coming. Just what I don’t need. My life has been such turmoil since my mother passed. It’s been one upheaval after another.

  “Some of the females taken with you were on the ship that went to the prison planet. We believe because they had mates there. And you’re here now because we’re mates.” Remus doesn’t look at me as he says this. Instead, I watch him drop his head into his hands, bracing his elbows on the table. He looks devastated, but I’m confused.

  He’s been using all these words like mate and Ashen, but maybe I’m not understanding everything correctly. At least we already got the greys and Ashen confusion out of the way. “What exactly is a mate?”

  I guess I’ve always imagined a mate as the perfect match. After all, we call a match a “mate”. It’s easy to tell this alien doesn’t speak English regularly.

  His accent is sexy, and I can’t help admiring his body in the tight jumpsuit he has going on. Now that he’s mentioned we’re mates, my mind has started down that path. I can see how he’d be appealing.

  He has the classic, good looks of a young Matt Damon, only with darker skin and hair. But it’s his large, muscular build that draws my eye. I’d like to have someone like him around just to protect me from the Greys!