by Phoebe Nix
“Earth could have been a beautiful planet. Humans just utilized it the wrong way,” Jerof speculated. “I have only seen it remotely.”
Jerof tried to look ahead as he spoke, but every now and then she caught him shooting her glances. She could tell he was doing his best not to make her uncomfortable, but realised it would be normal for a Hagran to want to scrutinize her, seeing as she looked so vastly different.
“Do you all lack color in your skin?” he asked, his eyes tracing her neck, down to her cleavage, then quickly traveling back to her face.
“No, we come in light and darker shades of the same color, so to speak,” Liz said, smiling. “Kind of like how your sister is a darker shade of Bronze than you.”
“Humans are a mystery to me.”
“How about interesting,” she corrected.
“Interesting, yes,” he said, shifting his gaze back to the city. “You are definitely an interesting human, Liz Janeck.
Chapter 11
When Liz had first arrived on Hagran, the only thing on her mind was survival.
A few days later, she had found herself residing in the Royal building, provided with the finest clothing and being promised to be taken on a personal tour for a full-blown city experience. As much as Liz missed her old life, it had started to feel like nothing more than a memory which had begun to fade. Although she had only been on Hagran for a little under a week, it appeared as if her mind could not grasp the fact.
It was starting to feel like this had always been her life.
As beautiful as the Kingdom of Url was, it felt oddly familiar, possibly because it proposed the kind of adventures that Liz had always been looking for.
It showed even now, as she gazed at herself in the mirror.
Liz was clad in a black knee-length dress which was worn like a robe. The borders were made of royal red silk. She was provided with footwear, which resembled ballerina shoes in material and style. They could barely protect her soles, but she later discovered there was little to be protected from.
She could barely recognize her own countenance. She looked like a Royal, if it weren’t for her bare body. But just as she had grown used to the way Hagrans looked, she could tell they did not look at her with curious eyes any longer. They had accepted her differences after they’d had a few conversations.
As Liz gazed out the pentagonal window, she heard a knock on the door. She looked over her shoulder, her wavy locks swaying with her motion.
“Come in.”
Finoa peeked in and smiled before entering the room. She was dressed in a blue kimono with open slits on the sides that showed the thick dark brown hair on her muscular legs. Her hair was styled in two braids that ran along either side of her head, extending past her buttocks.
Liz regarded her with a smile. “Wow. You look beautiful.”
Finoa smiled at the compliment. “And so do you,” she said, holding both of Liz’s hands and spinning her around in a pirouette. The red borders in Liz’s dress faintly illuminated as she spun.
“You’re going to turn heads today.” Finoa winked.
“Psh. Hagrans will probably just think I look like an ugly alien,” Liz said with worry in her eyes.
“They don’t actually care. They don’t know what an Earthling looks like, so they’ll just assume you’re a tourist from another planet. You’ll see some tourists yourself.”
Liz grimaced. She was as nervous as she was excited about her first tour in the capital.
“Is she ready?” Jerof’s voice came from outside the door.
“He’s coming, too?” Liz whispered.
Finoa nodded. “He wanted to.”
Liz’s heart raced in her chest. She recognized the pattern that was slowly developing into something romantic. In the end she always disliked the men she eventually fell for at first glance. And now it was all repeating itself with this man, who was barely a man and more of a humanoid wolf that was capable of speech. She glanced outside the door, but she could only see his shadow.
Liz noticed the way Finoa smiled. It was obvious that the princess did not just like Liz as a guest. She remembered Finoa talking about fate and alluding to Liz ending up with Jerof as a romantic partner.
Suddenly realizing she was delving too deep into these thoughts Liz shook the silly ideas away and straightened her back.
“Let’s go,” Finoa said.
Liz was escorted to what looked like a garage, where jets of different shapes and sizes were parked. Some of them were conical, like the standard ones she saw flying from her window, while others looked completely flat. They were all the same shade of silver with linings that glowed blue when the jet was running.
She ascended some steps to one of the flat jets. The ceiling was low with six fabric seats lined in threes opposite to each other. At the back of the plane was a landscape glass window from where the city could be admired with a drink in hand, mixed by the bartender who stood still as a statue in the corner, waiting for a single gesture.
Liz rushed to the landscape window, waiting for the jet to take off so she could finally watch the city up-close. Jerof and Fiona joined her, the former keeping his distance. Liz could barely keep her eyes off Jerof, and she wondered if he were attracted to her as much as she secretly was to him.
His actions were overly performative. Liz knew enough about men to note that the fixed frown, to the way he dismissed all suggestions with a wave and did his utmost to keep his gaze away from her, confirmed that he did indeed feel the same way about her. She smirked; alien men and human men weren’t so different after all! His ego just wouldn’t let him admit it. Liz smiled every time she caught him staring at her, and he would quickly look away.
As the garage door slid upwards, revealing the sun-lit capital, the jet slowly hovered before dashing into the sky.
Finoa stood in the middle, with Liz on her left and her brother on her right. Liz was in awe as they darted past the skyscrapers which hurtled like a film strip in her glistening hazel eyes. She didn’t notice that her jaw was hanging open until Finoa pressed it shut for her, and they both chuckled.
Jerof rolled his eyes, obviously annoyed that Finoa was the one socializing with Liz. The Princess gestured for the bartender and pointed at Liz. He nodded, taking seconds to serve her a drink in a conical flask. It was light blue with a swirling cloud of lilac. Liz glanced at her drink, then back at the window. She lifted the rim slowly to her bottom lip, taking a small sip before her pupils dilated.
“Holy shit,” she exclaimed. “What the hell is this?”
“Do you hate it?” Finoa asked, eyeing the bartender who shrugged in surprise.
“No, I fucking love it!” Liz clarified.
Jerof snickered for the first time since they had climbed on the jet. All Liz had to do was be herself, and that seemed to be enough to draw a smile on his otherwise displeased face. He gradually became more comfortable looking at her, and they found themselves exchanging smiles here and there.
“I’m tired of standing. I’ll go take a seat,” Finoa said, turning her head to Liz and grinning.
Although the jet appeared to take 360-degree spins, they all stood still and did not feel as little as a shake. Liz was fascinated by the view, but at some point she’d had enough of it and was ready to land and go sight-seeing like all the other tourists she could see through the glass.
Jerof gazed around and cleared his throat, trying too hard to act casual. Liz smiled without glancing at him, anticipating that he was going to slide his feet closer to her. She was right.
“So,” Jerof said. “How do you like the Kingdom so far?”
“It’s beautiful. But I want to go down there,” she said with her hands pressing on the glass, her breath fogging the window.
Jerof swiped his hairy hand on the fog, smiling. “We’re landing in a few minutes.”
“Good. Do you think the way I look will draw too much attention?”
He shook his head. “No one cares what you look like here.
They’ll notice you’re an alien, but it’s not uncommon to see one. I’ll just have to watch out for tourist hunters.”
“Tourist hunters?”
Jerof chuckled. “Don’t worry. It’s not as violent as it sounds.”
“Don’t be scaring her like that,” Finoa demanded, twirling the straw in her drink with one of her legs crossed on the other.
“What do they do?” Liz asked.
“They find tourist women attractive and they try to woo them,” Jerof clarified. “So, I guess that’s all I have to worry about. Don’t wander off without us.”
“I won’t,” she promised, slightly grinning at the sudden protectiveness.
The more time she spent with him, the more he looked like a human in her eyes. Or rather, the more she felt like a Hagran herself. He no longer looked like an alien or some anthropological wolf, especially when he wore his royal robe and she could barely see any of his hairy limbs. The hair on his hands extended to coat each one of his fingers. She was curious as to what it felt like, and couldn’t stop herself from reaching out and tracing her finger along his hand.
“It’s so soft,” Liz whispered, glancing at Jerof.
“He keeps it moisturized with the blood of his enemies,” Finoa said, making Liz snicker as her hands continued to feel Jerof’s, working her way up his arm under his sleeve.
She suddenly pulled away. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I don’t know what got into me.”
“I didn’t mind it. You’re exploring. It’s all part of the tour.” He beamed, showing his bright white teeth. His canines were sharp enough to bite her wrist off if he wanted to.
The pilot’s voice came on, the words foreign yet beautiful.
Finoa quickly translated. “We’re here.”
The air curtain at the jet door sent Liz’s hair flying behind her as she descended the metallic steps.
She had worried about being stared at by the people, but the Hagrans were right. Pedestrians looked straight ahead as they swiftly walked to their destinations.
Shimmering pathways were surrounded by algae-like vegetation, but there was no foul scent. The atmosphere smelled like an amalgamation of sweet fruits. Liz had thought it was the greenery that enveloped the paths, but it turned out to be the fragrance that people wore. There was only one known perfume, Fiona had explained, and it was oil extracted from a fruit called Giana. It looked like a dried plum, but tasted like a handful of bitter pills. The oil extracted from it, however, smelled divine.
Some of the skyscrapers were curved, others constructed in geometrical shapes, although all of them were made from the same rust-hued metallic material that always glistened in natural lighting. Liz later learned that each building was shaped differently for optimum weather and natural lighting. Despite the odd shapes, the city was harmonious in ambience. Here, she never felt too warm or cold, although most of the time it was a little chilly.
Liz’s curiosity got the better of her, and she asked one question after the other. She even wanted to go shopping but was told that there was no such thing. If one needed clothing, they could browse in the clothing display and pick what they wanted. It was different for tourists unless they were accompanied by a native. Tourists were allowed to take a limited quantity of clothing and accessories but had access to an unlimited supply of food.
Liz discovered that there was no such thing as class division. Everyone flew the same kind of jet and were assigned labor that was ideal for either their intellect or their physique. The Royals only had access to a variety of jets for emergencies. Otherwise, their residence was nearly identical to the rest of the buildings that Liz had come across.
Finoa enjoyed being the tour guide, and answered all of Liz’s questions calmly, as if speaking with a child. And although Liz was getting sleepy, she fought it in favor of running through the pathways to touch every surface and plant she came across and smell every exotic flower she saw.
Liz opened her eyes, stretching her arms as she pushed the silk covers off the edge of the bed.
She naturally turned her head to the nightstand to check the time, forgetting that Hagrans had a natural ability to know what time of day it was. Pressing on a squared button on the wall, the pentagonal window whirred as it opened, letting golden shafts of sunlight wash over her room.
She edged her way off the bed. She couldn’t remember how she got here last night. The last she recalled she ran off like a child from one food stall to the other, squeezing on exotic fruits and hoarding scarves as a souvenir. Finoa had told her that she could go back any time she wanted, as she likely wasn’t going to leave Url anytime soon. Her words made Liz consider staying here, in the event the option to go back home was ever on the table.
There was a knock on the door.
One knock and the sound of someone clearing their throat.
“Come in, Finoa,” Liz said, twirling to face the door.
The door slid open and King Lamnox stepped in.
Liz immediately jumped to her feet.
“I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying your stay here. Finoa told me you had fun last night,” King Lamnox said.
His hair was gray with streaks of blonde that shimmered in the sunlight. His beard was long enough to be braided, extending down to his torso. Although his ears were concealed by his thick, wavy locks, Liz could see round golden earrings jutting out of his hair when he turned his head.
“I am,” Liz nodded.
“Walk with me, Liz of Earth,” the King said.
She followed him out, and they walked in silence down the hallways of the castle. Every now and then, a guard would appear from the shadows, walk beside them for a few yards, and then disappear again. Liz was shaving a hard time keeping track of them, wondering how they could move so stealthily despite their huge forms. At one point she realized it was never clear how many guards were protecting the King at any given time.
King Lamnox led her into a large garden. The entire space was covered by a glass dome, and she realized she had stepped into one of the biggest greenhouses she had ever seen.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, her eyes darting everywhere, trying to take in the various species of plant-life growing around her.
“It was my wife’s,” the King said. “I spend a lot of time here, thinking, planning. Mostly just remembering.”
“Your wife?”
“Amongst other things,” Lamnox nodded. “Memories are important. They shape who we are, and affect what we do. Our experiences, our knowledge, our emotions. Nostalgia can be both a weapon and a weakness.”
“My father used to say that.”
Lamnox looked at her, a hint of a smile on his lips. “A wise man.”
“He was.”
“Did you lose him?”
Liz nodded, fighting back the tears. “Life can be cruel sometimes.”
“Of course,” Lamnox said, touching what Liz thought was the most beautiful flower she had ever seen. “However, it is always fair. There is a meaning behind everything.”
“That’s pretty hard to believe,” Liz said, folding her arms around her. “It doesn’t make sense most of the time. Like me ending up here and turning everyone’s life upside down.”
“Ah, and that is what makes it interesting.” The King smiled at her. “What would life be without a little uncertainty, a little adventure.”
Liz chuckled. “It’s like you’re reading a page out of my life.”
“I certainly hope so,” Lamnox said. “You know, my wife used to have premonitions. She dreamt of a girl who would make my son’s life…interesting.”
“You think that’s me?”
“Maybe,” Lamnox said. “Maybe not. We’ll find out soon enough. What I am sure of is that Jerof is different. Even if only a little. You have definitely had an impact on him.”
Liz felt the warmth in her cheeks and she hid her face as she pretended to observe the flowers.
“I will say this, though, Liz of Earth,” Lamnox cut through her th
oughts. “In time, you might just realize that home is where the heart is. And if I am not too mistaken, it seems your heart has already made up its mind.”
“You’re a cheeky old man, aren’t you?” Liz clamped a hand over her mouth as soon as she realized her mistake.
King Lamnox chuckled and waved a hand at her. “I do hope you find your stay here pleasant, Liz of Earth. And maybe even a family in us.”
Liz beamed, and before she knew what she was doing, she embraced him. He let out a chuckle, embracing her back. She felt him wave away the guards that had suddenly appeared around them.
“Thank you,” Liz said, her eyes watering. “For everything.”
King Lamnox eyed her carefully, as if reading her thoughts. He nodded with a wide smile.
“As bizarre as this whole ordeal was, you’ve made an adventure out of it. I feel so safe and welcome, and I don’t know what to say, Your Majesty.”
“Call me, Lamnox. And surely, you will host me when I visit Earth?”
“I’d definitely be taking you on a tour. Show you our landfills and all the animals we managed to kill off,” she said.
The king let out a hearty laugh.
“You’ll have to watch out for tourist hunters, though. But I’ll have your back. Where I’m from, we call handsome men your age sugar daddies.”
The King’s chuckles grew into uncontrolled guffaws. He rested his palm on her shoulder as he leaned forward, trying to contain his laughter. He pointed to his collar as he failed to stifle his laughter.
“I knew your collar would translate that,” Liz said, snickering.
“My God, I haven’t laughed like this in ages,” Lamnox said. His eyes watered and his bronze face turned a deeper shade. “I knew you were fated to be here, Liz Janeck.”
Chapter 12
