Take Me To Your Reader: An Otherworld Anthology

by Amy A. Bartol

  "You mentioned parents earlier, explain. All I can hear is that they are related to you."

  "My mom and dad? Well, they made me and my sister." I'm not sure what else to say about them, or how else to explain it. I don't think this is the most appropriate time for a sex ed lesson.

  "I'm told you are made through sexual reproduction. Do you partake in this sex?"

  He didn't just ask me that question, did he?

  "Hmm. Well, no, I don't. I mean, I've kissed boys and have made out with a few here and there, but never went all the way." Yeah, I definitely would've so regretted losing my virginity to Bradley Majors, aka the Jackass. In typical jackass fashion, when I wouldn't put out, he moved on to someone who would, and did.

  "What exactly is love? I'm told it's a feeling. I've seen many of your human feelings in action, but I'm told love is one that you all seek."

  My eyes meet his and I swear I'm experiencing the stirrings of some deep emotions, or maybe it could be frostbite of the brain or something.

  "Love is indeed a feeling, but it has many meanings to many people. There's the love for your family. There's the love for someone you have an intimate connection to who's not related to you. There's also a love for an animal or pet that shares your life. You know, it's actually really hard to explain what love is exactly. I've never really thought about it in detail before, but I can tell you that it's a very complicated emotion." I see his smile slip as frown lines appear on his perfectly smooth forehead like he's thinking really hard.

  "If I was human, would it be possible for you to love me?" His eyes—I swear they change to a different shade of blue—stare attentively into mine like he's willing me to say yes.

  "Maybe, but I don't think you'd have to be human for me to love you," I say honestly, and I really mean it.

  "That makes me happy. The definition of happy seems appropriate for this moment." He grins widely like he has just figured out some complex problem and is bursting with pride. "Will you do something for me? It's maybe a small thing for you, but I want one question answered before I … go. I want to know how it feels to kiss someone."

  I'm struck speechless. He wants a kiss. A beautiful alien guy wants a kiss from me. I nod my head and then I realize to do this, the bubble must disappear. He might die before my eyes from exposure to our air. I don't think I can handle that.

  "I'm sorry, was it inappropriate for me to ask this of you?" He looks at me intently, and I pull myself together.

  "You'll have to remove the barrier for me to give you a kiss. What if you die? I don't want you to die," I say, my voice laced with desperation.

  "At least I'll die happy. I'm told that kissing is an enjoyable experience, and I would like to feel true joy at least once in my life." He sounds like he's almost pleading with me, and I abruptly stand up before placing my hand onto the bubble. Kyle does the same.

  "Yes, I will," I say boldly, even though I'm breaking apart inside at the thought of these being my last moments with him.

  "I'll be back right back, don't leave, and please don't change your mind." He scrambles back to his ship, and within seconds he returns.

  "I've made it so that the barrier will disappear in one minute, your time. Are you ready?"

  No, I yell to myself, I'm not ready. I don't want this kiss to be my last memory of him. This isn't fair.

  I nod, answering his question, and move closer to the bubble as it begins to flicker and pulsate a neon blue. My emotions are all over the place, and I find myself torn between wanting to experience my first kiss with an alien, and the fact it will most likely be the last.

  The force field fades away and Kyle rushes forward, wrapping his firm arms around my frame, and pulls me close. His head almost immediately moves down to mine and our lips meet, causing my legs to feel like jelly. Swinging my arms around his neck, I wish I wasn't wearing my thick jacket, because I'd love to actually feel his body next to mine. With the tip of my tongue, I boldly push my way into his mouth, and swear this is turning out to be the most amazing kiss I've ever had. He pulls me in closer, and I feel my heart pounding so loudly that I swear it's going to explode. His tongue is thoroughly exploring every inch of my mouth, and I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. I'm freaking making out with an alien, and I'm loving it. Then it hits me, he's taken a breath, I'm sure of it because I felt his warm breath against my lips. He's still alive, I want to jump up and down, but I don't want this kiss to end.

  My hands comb through his soft hair, and I shiver as he reciprocates the gesture. When I open my eyes for the first time since our lips met, I see a bright red glow encompassing us, and reality sets in. When will that damn thing go off? I gently pull away from Kyle, which is almost impossible, because he immediately groans and tries to pull me close again.

  "Kyle, that red thingy," I say breathlessly, wanting his lips on mine again, but someone has to face the problem lying at our feet.

  "We must leave before it detonates." I see him glance down at the glowing ball, and then his eyes meet mine again. "That kiss was more than I ever could have imagined it could be. Happy doesn't even begin to describe what one feels during a kiss—that kiss in particular. As much as I want to continue, you must leave before …"

  "Don't say it," I say, grabbing for his hand. "We're leaving together. You're still alive, Kyle. You're breathing our air. Please come with me. I don't want to lose you." I watch him bite his lip as if he's grappling with what he's supposed to do, and what I know he wants to do.

  After what seems like an eternity, I feel my nerves stretch tight because of his hesitation, but then relax when he nods his head. OMG, he nods his head. My heart leaps. He's coming with me.

  Kyle squeezes my hand as I lead him and his gorgeous grin away from his death sentence. As we hurry quickly through the woods, away from the crash site, a bright red light fills the surrounding area. I hear a high-pitched screeching sound behind us followed by a loud bang, and we're suddenly pushed forward by what feels like an intense wind. Kyle wraps me up in his arms as we tumble to the ground, taking the brunt of the impact himself. When I gaze up into his beautiful eyes, a smile grows on my lips and on his as well. He pulls me to my feet and we both begin to dust ourselves off.

  "Thank you," I say while looking at him intently.

  "It is I who should be thanking you," he answers with a thoughtful gaze. "So, have you given any thought to how you are going to explain me to your parents?"

  I pause for a moment while letting his question sink in. "Well, I really haven't thought that far ahead yet, but I do know one thing."

  "And what is that?" he asks while slightly titling his head to the side.

  I sigh. "Life is most definitely going to get interesting around here."

  The Black Stone Heir

  By Sarah M Ross

  For information on other titles

  Visit the author's website: http://www.sarahmross.com/

  Chapter One

  Krissy

  "Oh come on! Don't do this to me, not now." I pressed harder on the gas, but the truck only slowed. "No no no no…" I whined. My old Ford pickup sputtered to a stop before it gave one final clunk and died. "Damnit!"

  I pounded on the steering wheel not that it would do any good, but it did make me feel better. The 1963 Ford F100 pickup truck had been on its last leg—or wheel as the case may be—for a while now, but I was deep in denial. It had belonged to my grandfather before he passed. I tried hard to maintain it, but without access to the proper parts or funds for a great mechanic, I knew it was only a matter of time before it went to the great junk yard in the sky. I had really hoped the truck would last me through senior year because I couldn't afford anything new and wasn't looking forward to riding the bus with the freshman.

  I yanked the door open and stepped out into the dark, empty street. Although I was in almost the center of town, I might as well have been in a graveyard. I spun my Converse-clad feet in a slow circle looking for a light to be on or a person walking by, but
found nothing. I could call for help, but I had just been trying to charge my phone in the truck. Now, both were dead. I guess I'd just have to hoof it. Great.

  The late August days in my tiny town outside of Roswell, New Mexico were unforgiving in their humidity levels. I was looking forward to the winter, when the air would be crisp instead of heavy and thick. It wasn't as bad as Florida or anything, but it aggravated my asthma. I was enough of a nerd without the constant puffing on an inhaler to remind people.

  I knew I'd have to take this walk slow since I didn't have my inhaler with me. I was still a good three miles from my house, but I didn't make it two blocks before I could feel the sweat dripping down my neck and back. I paused at the next block and sat on a bench as I dug in my purse for a hair tie. Long, thick hair made for great fashion sometimes, but it was hell to manage. I often wanted to cut it all off, but my mom said she'd kill me. If I heard "but people pay to have hair like yours" one more time, I might say screw it all and pull a GI Jane. It wasn't as if I could get much more unpopular, and it would save me so much time in the morning.

  As I dug, a car engine grumbled to a stop next to me. Thank heavens, I thought. Finally something is going my way. Maybe I can get a ride home, or at least borrow a cell to call my parents for a ride. I found the hair tie and pulled my dark brown hair up into a messy bun before standing up and heading to the car. The sporty car looked brand new, so I didn't recognize it. And the windows were darkly tinted, so I was unable to see the driver. No matter, it was a small town, so I was pretty sure I'd know whoever it was.

  The window began to roll down, and I leaned over to peer inside. "Hey, thanks so much for stopping. Do you think you could…" I stopped, unable to get another word out when I realized who it was. My breath caught in my throat, and I stumbled back a few steps.

  Sitting smugly slouched down in the seat, Tate McCallister formed a smile that slowly spread across his gorgeous face. "Well hey there Prissy Krissy. Whacha doin out here at this hour?"

  I inhaled a deep breath and held it for a minute before slowly exhaling, trying to calm my irritation before I went off on him. Again. Of course of all the people to come by, it would be Tate.

  I'd known Tate since kindergarten, and had a pathetic crush on him almost as long. He was gorgeous: tall, dark, and handsome. He was the star wide receiver on the football team, had all the muscles to back up his athletic abilities, and had the most piercing green eyes I'd ever seen. The problem was: he was a huge ass.

  Throughout most of middle school, he tormented me. He'd pull my hair when he sat behind me in class, once he'd even drawn a dirty picture of me in art class, made copies, and passed them out to all the guys in gym class. I wasn't naked in the picture and he didn't put my name on it, but it was very clear who the drawing represented and the suggestive things I was doing in the picture. Worst of all, it was him who saddled me with the nickname Prissy Krissy in ninth grade after I went on one date with Joey Fishborne. I'd pushed Joey away when he sloppily shoved his tongue down my throat at the end of the night and slapped him when he tried to grab my boob. I wasn't really prissy, but c'mon! It was the first date and the guy was a terrible kisser. But Joey went and told everyone that I didn't like guys, starting the rumor that I was a lesbian. Thanks to my best friend, that rumor died quickly, but Prissy Krissy stuck to this day.

  After ninth grade, I luckily fell off of Tate's radar and he ignored me, which suited me perfectly. I'd have the occasional class with him or see him around town and though he never said anything to me, I'd catch him watching. It made me nervous…and as much as I hated to admit it, excited.

  "Ugh. Nevermind. You can keep on driving, Tate." I stood up straight and clutched my purse, turning away from Tate. I'd take the heat and humidity over him taunting me during a ride home—or worse, enjoying the ride home sitting next to him—any day. Yeah, his was a kind of heat I needed to keep bottled up and far, far away.

  ******

  Tate

  I almost hit the curb with my new car when I saw Krissy Montgomery sitting on that bench. We were in the middle of Main Street after eleven at night, so what was she doing walking around alone? It wasn't safe. It didn't matter, she wasn't alone any longer. I wouldn't let anything happen to her.

  I still remembered the first time I saw Krissy way back in kindergarten. She wore a bright yellow jumper, which made her dark brown, almost black hair really pop. When the teacher told us to gather 'round the story-time mat, she noticed one girl hiding in the corner. Everyone ignored her and went to sit, but Krissy didn't hesitate; she walked right up, grabbed the girl's hand, and smiled warmly as she told the girl, "C'mon. You can sit next to me." I had gone home that first day of school and told my mom that I would marry that girl one day.

  Krissy only got more beautiful as we grew up, but somehow I always managed to screw it up with her, and she'd hated me for years. I'm sure the nickname the punks at school gave her didn't help, and I know she blamed me for it though I didn't start it. I just couldn't get it right with her and always managed to make it worse. I finally decided to keep my distance, hoping to screw It up any more than I already had with the hopes I could make it up to her one day.

  Maybe today was that day.

  "Krissy, it's not safe for you to be walking around out here this late. Hey, will you stop for a second?" I put the car in park and hustled to catch up with her and heard her huffing in irritation in front of me.

  "Take a look around, Tate. What exactly am I supposed to be afraid of? Mrs. Lopez's Chihuahua getting out? Or maybe Old Man Pollard shuffling out here with his rolling walker to get me?"

  She spun away from me and continued down the street. She looked so good in her tight little shorts that I almost wanted to let her keep walking. The view was incredible. I shoved my hormones aside and remembered why I chasing her in the first place.

  "Don't be stubborn, Krissy. Just let me give you a ride home. Do you hate me that much so you can't be in the car with me the few miles to your house?" She ignored me and kept walking, so I increased my stride and reached out to touch her arm. She shivered and stopped walking. "Let me take you home. You can continue to hate me tomorrow, okay?"

  *****

  Krissy

  I stared into his pleading eyes, and just couldn't say no. Hell, I might have agreed to marry him and bear his children with that look his was giving me. I could drown in that look, but oh what a way to go.

  This was such a bad idea, but I couldn't resist.

  "Fine, you can drive me home. But don't touch me. Or talk to me." Because if he did, I wasn't sure I could keep hating him. And I really, really wanted to keep hating him. It was always easier to remember the reasons he was a total doucheburger when he wasn't standing so close to me, smelling of leather and soap and making me want to lean into the crook of his neck and never leave.

  I took a breath of clean air to clear my head and began walking toward Tate's truck. His hand brushed against the small of my back, guiding me. The touch was like hot coals igniting me, and I hated that I loved it. I walked faster, but he still somehow managed to get to the car first and hold the door open for me. I started to slide in, but paused at the edge of the seat.

  "Should I just plug my address into your GPS here or…"

  I was cut off by a low wail coming from the alleyway behind the Quik Pick. "What the hell was that?"

  The sound—the wail—happened again, louder this time. Tate spun around and pushed back against me protectively. "No idea. Sounds like someone's in a shit load of pain." He turned around into me, suddenly so close that we were breathing the same air.

  I closed my eyes and leaned back. I needed away from the now almost overwhelming temptation. It was one thing when we were a classroom apart and I could remember why I hated him, but it was a whole other ballgame when he stood this close. My brain became mush and wanted to make up with him. And make out with him.

  A crash brought me out of out of my head and I instinctively grabbed onto Tate's shoulders
. "What was that? Did something fall? Someone has to be hurt; we need to help."

  "No, you need to stay here. We don't know what that noise was. It could be a junkie comin' down from their high or someone trying to break into the store." He reached into his trunk and grabbed his hunting rifle. "You stay here and call 911 just in case. I'll go check it out."

  Chapter Two

  Tate took off running before I could explain that my cell was dead. God, he was infuriating. I had no choice but to follow him. With each step I took down the alleyway, it became darker and darker. I could barely see my feet in front of me, and had completely lost sight of Tate. It had become as silent as it was dark, and chills ran down my spine.

  "Tate?" I whispered, inching my way forward. "Where are you?" I waited, but heard no reply. Taking two precarious steps forward, I tried again. "Tate?"

  Before I could take a third step, a large hand reached out of the shadows and grabbed my wrist, pulling me and causing me to stumble. I didn't even have the chance to scream before another hand covered my mouth, preventing me from making a sound.

  "Shh. It's okay, Krissy. It's just me." I let go of the panic seizing my chest and sunk back into him. "There was something—or someone—over there behind the dumpster, but it just disappeared. Into thin air. It was the craziest fuckin' thing." He paused for a second, gently brushing the hair from my neck and leaning in. "Sorry, I forget my manners sometimes." I could feel his warm lips caressing my ear. "Something just feels off. Unnatural," he whispered.

  "Are you sure?" I knew I should be frightened by the situation, but I wasn't. Not until his words began to sink in.

  Tate's arms tightened around me. "Enough to tell you we need to get the hell out of here! Like, now."