Shalia's Diary Book 2

by Tracy St. John

  “You should check into that,” Matt advised. “Since your mother was already targeted, you don’t want to take chances.”

  “You’re right,” I agreed. I’m pretty sure the Kalquorians will keep the malcontents locked up tight, but Mom is my responsibility. I would be remiss in not making myself informed as to all the details so I can guarantee her safety.

  Matt and I parted company, him strolling along, whistling and looking up as the breeze rustled through the pine needles over our heads. I hurried a little, knowing Nang was waiting for me. Who knows what he’d do to me if I was late for our little ‘meeting’?

  I wasn’t late, but he put me through my paces in the most delightful, rough ways. The bastard tied me down on his desk and then surprised me with a vibrating dildo. He did things and put it in places I don’t want to write down, making me beg him to let me come until I was hoarse. Every time I got close to getting off, he took it away. By the time he finally tossed it aside and took me, I was hurting from the need to orgasm. Damn, I hated it but I loved it too. He finally let me climax. Afterward, I called him every name in the book. He just laughed.

  I’m beginning to accept the fact that I’m something of a kinky freak who wants my sex weird. I don’t know if I would enjoy normal sex anymore after screwing all these dominating Kalquorians. Oh well, there are worse things to be, I suppose. I’ve never killed anyone at least. That’s got to count for something.

  After I’d dressed him down to my satisfaction, I asked Nang about the violent Earthers being taken to the Galactic Council of Planets for evaluation. I worried out loud about the security measures that would keep them from those of us going to Kalquor.

  “Oh no, they aren’t going to be on the same transport as you and Eve,” he assured as he untied me and helped me dress my wobbly body. “You’ll be on one of the Empire’s transports, while the violators will be on one owned by the Galactic Council. That bunch will be picked up in four days.”

  “Great,” I said, rubbing the reddish cord marks on my wrists. Nang didn’t tie them too tight; I just strained awfully hard against them. I’m glad it’s cold enough to wear long sleeves so no one sees. I should show the marks to Candy before they go away though. She’ll go nuts to see evidence of me being tied down.

  “By the ancestors, Shalia, look at your arms! Why did you fight so hard?” Nang fussed over the welts, putting a cream on them to ease the swelling and pinkness.

  “I’m sure it has nothing to do with you tormenting me by withholding orgasm,” I remarked in a dry tone. “You really are a vicious bastard, Nang.”

  Instead of laughing like I thought he would, Nang surprised me with a gentle kiss. It felt kind of weird since just minutes before he was being so demanding and ruthless as he fucked me silly. Now he caressed me like I was a fragile china doll.

  He whispered, “You know, you don’t have to leave on the next transport. You could stay here with me and leave Earth when I do. It would be nice to travel together to Kalquor, wouldn’t it?”

  My throat closed to see his hopeful, wanting expression. Damn, I’d already lost so much. I wished that staying with him was an option, even with all the violence around us. Having him escort me to Kalquor, where I really have no idea of what to expect, would be something of a relief as well. I’m so tired of not knowing what’s coming next. Having an anchor to latch onto was so very tempting.

  Tempting, but not enough to think twice about what I had to do.

  “Thank you, Nang,” I said, after returning his very sweet kiss. “I might have considered it, but I have to get Mom to Kalquor as soon as possible. I can’t wait one second longer than absolutely necessary to make sure she’s taken care of.”

  I didn’t add that if sticking around had been an option, I’d leave with Dusa’s clan instead of Nang. Why be a bitch if I didn’t have to?

  Disappointment darkened Nang’s expression, but he nodded. “Of course. Forgive me for not thinking of Matara Eve’s needs.” He gave me a rueful smile. “It’s just that you have made me a very happy man these last few days, and I hate the idea of giving you up. It makes me forget everything else.”

  I smiled up at him. “We’ll just have to enjoy what we have now.”

  So I’m almost back to where I was with Dusa and Esak: involved in a relationship while knowing it’s going to end soon. The big difference is that I’m not in love with Nang. Sure, he means a lot to me as a person. I do like the big guy, even if the words ‘jerk’ and ‘bastard’ come up a lot when I talk about him. He’s hot and delicious, and he values my thoughts. That means a lot.

  Still, I think I’ll miss Weln even more. Yes, I’m still sleeping with Dusa’s Imdiko as well as getting crazy with Nang. Sue me. I like sex, and Nang and Weln are very different men. Weln is a sweetheart, always looking out for me and fussing over my welfare. I know he’d mean as much to me as Dusa and Esak if we had the time and ability to remain together. Plus, Weln is my last link to the other two. When we make love and I fall asleep in his arms, I can almost feel my favorite Dramok and Nobek there with us.

  Okay, so I’m behaving like a tramp. Maybe that’s exactly what I am. I just can’t figure out how to get along right now without keeping both Nang and Weln nearby. Sex actually has little to do with it, when you get down to it. I need them, damn it. I just do.

  November 15

  I’m just knocking out a few notes about today as I wait for Weln to get in. There’s not really much to write about, just a bunch of trivia. But I’ve bathed and had Weln’s dinner delivered already, so I’m bored now. Really bored. I need to come up with a hobby or something to do.

  Anyway, I spent some time with Candy today in her quarters. Kalquor is already sending her information about the clans currently in the lottery system. I guess they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our vaginas, ha-ha. Sheesh, we’re still nine months away and the men are already lining up for us Earther girls. It’s kind of sad when you think about it. Imagine being so desperate because your kind is dying out.

  Candy had her computer up and was flipping through files of eligible clans who have won the right to court us. I say ‘won’, but in reality the clans are selected randomly so everyone can get a fair chance. A clan chosen to vie for a female mate answers questions designed to help them find the most compatible candidates for their personalities.

  The women are supposed to answer our own set of questions, which I haven’t bothered with yet. For one thing, there are about five hundred questions. Are you kidding me? When I asked Dad about it, he said, “Some of the questions are the same ones over and over, simply worded in different ways. That way, the system can figure out exactly what it is the potential Mataras really want and require from their mates.”

  Another reason I haven’t bothered is that I’m just not ready. First, I didn’t plan to clan at all. Then I didn’t want to clan, but if I had to, it would be with Dusa. Now, as I slowly get used to the idea that his clan is out, I find it too sad to move on. I haven’t answered one single question on that ridiculous list yet.

  Candy, on the other hand, devoted three straight days to it. She told me she considered every question very, very carefully, mulling it over at least five minutes before answering. “Only those absolutely perfect for me should approach,” she said. “I couldn’t wait to get it done and see my suitors, but at the same time, I wanted the best to pick from.”

  Apparently, there are hundreds of ‘perfect’ clans for Candy so far, and more get added to her list every day. Watching as she went through the stats on her beaus, I couldn’t quite figure out just what her guidelines had been. There were younger clans, fresh-faced, strong, and gorgeous. There were older clans, maturity stamped on their expressions. Still strong and gorgeous. I couldn’t believe how hot one threesome was whose youngest member was supposedly ninety. Sure, Kalquorians live an average of about 250 years, but those virile-looking guys were just ridiculous with sexy power.

  Politicians. Business owners. Military men. Doctors. Min
ers. Farmers. Every conceivable occupation seemed to be represented. If this was Candy being picky, I can’t imagine how many more applicants she would be fielding if she hadn’t narrowed the choices down.

  “It’s a smorgasbord of Kalquorian beefcake,” I commented drily. “I can’t see how you’ll narrow this down by the time we get there. How will you ever pick your first clan to meet?”

  “Oh, I’ll figure it out. I’m in no hurry yet,” Candy said, waving her hand dismissively as she eyeballed the still vid of three utterly delicious specimens. Supervisor for shuttle manufacturing plant, professional kurble coach, and sentient being rights consultant their professions read. The members of that clan sounded kind of important. It made me wonder what kind of candidates I’d attract.

  “At one time you made it sound like you couldn’t wait to get hitched,” I said.

  Candy turned around to grin at me. “I’m looking forward to being the center of three men’s world, but did you read the amenities they plan to have at the compound they’re building for us? It will be like a fabulous retreat for the rich and famous! We will be so spoiled rotten, no clan will end up wanting us.” Candy laughed with childlike delight.

  “What kind of amenities?” I asked. I hadn’t really thought of where I’d end up staying as Mom got help and I was courted by clans. Somehow I’d always hazily visualized a small, cheap apartment setting.

  “Oh, not much,” Candy said in a tone that told me she was being silly. “Just a workout center, pools, spas where a species known as the Tratsods give relaxation treatments and massages—”

  “Massages?” I interrupted. “You mean they actually put their hands on us?” Such things had been really illegal on Earth, except in the case of medical rehabilitation.

  “Tratsods don’t have hands,” Candy informed me. “They have lots of tiny tentacles. And yes, they touch you, but since they aren’t compatible for sex with us, it’s not a big deal.”

  “Wow,” I said, trying to assimilate all this information. “What else?”

  “Beauty treatments. Guest speakers and entertainers. Boring stuff like medical care. Kalquorian language classes. Childcare.”

  “Childcare?” I snorted. “Kind of putting the cart before the horse, aren’t they?”

  “Goof. Of course there will be some women who bring their kids along, those whose husbands didn’t survive.”

  I could have smacked my own head for stupidity. “Wow. Can you imagine? I wonder how many clans are going to want to take care of Earther kids.” I sure was glad I wasn’t in that situation. I can’t imagine being desperate not only to find a way to live, but having to make sure my children would have a decent situation in which to be raised. Things are tough enough worrying about my mom.

  Candy brought up another vid, one showing the planned complex where all us single Earther gals would live until clans swept us off our feet and carried us away. “Already under construction,” she told me.

  As we went over all the perks included, I could see why eager Candy might put off joining a clan. It really was as if we were being offered a fabulous vacation.

  “Food, board, allowance … wow,” I breathed.

  “And hundreds of men begging for our attention, proclaiming our greatness as ‘lifebringers’,” Candy giggled. “It’s a huge change from being Earth’s evil temptresses bent on fouling up all of creation, isn’t it?”

  I agreed. It was actually starting to sound kind of fun. I thought maybe I should start working on my own questionnaire. Maybe after we start heading towards Kalquor, anyway.

  I spent the afternoon with Mom, who was too quiet for my liking. Lying around all day except for therapy is not much fun for her. She still doesn’t have enough muscle control to knit. She can’t go for walks, though I did get her in a hover chair and take her outside after getting permission from her doctors. After we came back in, I went through the library of entertainment vids, trying to illicit some interest from her to watch a concert or movie or documentary. Every suggestion I made was met with either silence or the same response over and over; a slurred, “If you like.” She’s got no spark. No real interest. Mom seems to exist in a fog from which she catches a glimpse of the world around her from time to time. She’s beginning to scare me. I’m worried she’s giving up. Maybe it’s time to put her into stasis, though that thought terrifies me too. It’s selfish of me, but even with her being so diminished, she’s still my mom and therefore, important to have around. I want her in any capacity I can have her. Cryo-freezing her and placing her in a storage bin until she gets to Kalquor is just too awful to contemplate, even if it is ultimately for her own good.

  I met with Candy again for dinner. Thank God for that woman. She looks at this mess of a world around us and the uncertain future ahead with such optimism. She sees nothing but the good things that might be, and every option is better than the last. Why – WHY – can’t I be like that instead of old sourpuss, cynical Shalia Monroe? I would love to go through life like a kid in a perpetual candy store. Ha, ‘candy’ store. Pun not intended.

  Matt King sat with us in the re-opened dining hall. Things have been quiet since the Academy hunkered down and increased site and buffering security rather than chasing the attackers around.

  I know Nang is waiting for the worst to happen, but he puts a good face on things for me. Most of the time when I ask about how things are, he shrugs me off. “Every day we don’t take casualties is a good day,” he says. Which isn’t exactly the most calming response for my nerves, but I know he’s busy and stressed. I let it go and offer him the little bit of comfort a girl with a taste for being tied up and spanked can.

  Anyway, Matt sat with me and Candy. We talked about a bunch of stuff, like the lack of attacks, the earsplitting nature of Kalquorian lemanthev music, my mom’s health, the upcoming transport of malcontents to Galactic Council space, reminiscing about our old lives … gosh, just everything under the sun. Candy did most of the talking, jumping from subject to subject, running on like she always does. I exchanged many an amused look with Matt at our Candy’s always effusive chatter. Gosh, I wouldn’t trade that girl for the world. Now if Weln would just get his cute tush in here, I might end the day with a smile on my face.

  November 16

  Tonight is looking to be a good one. Nang and I are going to have a private dinner together in one of the empty dorms and spend the night there as well. I didn’t ask him how his clanmates feel about him spending an entire night off, even though I have heard such things are not particularly popular among the Kalquorians. The shocked look I got from Weln when I told him about it this morning said it all.

  “A Dramok sleeping away from his clan just for the sake of having sex? That’s unheard of,” my cutie-pie Imdiko said.

  “You aren’t sleeping with your clan. You’re sleeping with me,” I pointed out.

  “That’s different,” he said. “I’m with you on my clan’s behalf to make sure you are taken care of until you leave for Kalquor. When did Dusa ever spend a night with you and not Esak?”

  “There were a few times when Esak was working a night shift—”

  “But never when Esak was available. It’s just not done.” Weln was adamant on that count.

  I don’t pretend to understand the intricacies of clan life. I’d think Weln was upset I’m not sleeping with him, except he’s doing a night shift. He’s got a new elderly charge who is so traumatized by everything that’s happened to him that he wakes up at all hours of the night screaming. Poor man. Poor Weln who has a three-night run of soothing the insomniac fellow.

  Meanwhile, I have a bedmate to keep my own nightmares away tonight, and I’m not going to worry about how Nang’s clan will take it. That’s the commander’s problem. Instead, I’m going to try to be more like Candy and thank the universe for every little good thing that comes my way. Maybe it will invite more nice events if I have a grateful attitude.

  I’m going to have a bath and do myself up to give old Nang a special thr
ill. I’m still swiping Candy’s clothes, and did she have something astounding for me to use on my date tonight. Where that crazy woman found a garter belt and stockings is beyond me, and she’s not talking … at least not about that. Her face was beet red when she showed them to me.

  “Don’t wear panties,” she dared me. “Just these under the skirt. It will blow his mind.”

  I think she’s right, so I’m going to do it. I’m showing up demurely dressed except for the missing drawers.

  November 16, later

  I’m waiting for Nang to come escort me to our special place. I’m all dressed … sans underpants of course. It feels weird to not be wearing panties. All airy and naughty. I know, I’ve not worn them before. It’s still strange when I do it.

  Weln is being a bit odd. While I was bathing, he left a message on my com that he needed to talk to me as soon as possible. “There’s something you need to know, and you need to know it right now,” he said. He didn’t sound upset or panicked. He sounded pissed off.