Embracing Ember

by Astrid Cielo

  Ember took a deep breath and answered the questions the officers asked. Reliving every punch and hit was painful to say the least and embarrassing. She got those looks from Maria, who she knew had to see a lot of this in her line of work as a nurse. The police officers also gave her that look. The same look you give a dog that keeps going back to the same master who doesn’t feed them, who hurts them at every opportunity, and who isn’t fit to breathe let alone own an animal. They looked at her with pity. They were all thinking how stupid she was that she didn’t leave him. She could see it all in their faces that accused her of becoming the victim. I didn’t ask for this. All I wanted was to be loved and he promised me that. He promised me a home. Then he took it all away and left me broken. I couldn’t leave; you see what happened when I did try. I was caged in the home he promised me. She wanted to tell them. Show them all that they could save their pitying looks, because any one of them could have become the victim. It angered her that they felt this way and it angered her more that she allowed herself to warrant such attention from them.

  Ember was afraid to look at Ceylon, afraid to see the censure and pity in his gaze. Those blue eyes accusing her just like the rest. She couldn’t help herself, however and did look. She was surprised to find compassion and concern in his gaze. He even gave her an encouraging smile. He didn’t hate what she had allowed to happen to her. She finished her meal and answered all the questions posed to her. When she yawned Ceylon stopped them all, “Ember needs her rest. While the Medical Scanner does repair the injuries, it does use the body’s natural mechanisms and that is tiring. Ember will need much rest for the next couple of days. Ember if you will follow me, I will take you to your quarters. I believe Silvius dropped off some clothing for you. If you need to contact someone, I’d be happy to allow you to do so.”

  “Thank you. But I don’t have anyone to contact. I don’t have any family.” Ember relayed sadly as she stood to follow Ceylon. He grasped her hand in his and rubbed soothing patterns in her palm as he spoke.

  “What do you mean you don’t have anyone?” he asked with genuine curiosity.

  “My mother died when I was born and she didn’t have any living relatives at the time. I was placed in the foster system. Landon was my only family, and I was trying desperately to get away from him.” She replied her voice trailing off to a whisper at the end. He squeezed her hand as they stopped in front of her room.

  “I know this is probably not how they do things on your planet, but I was wondering if you’d like to stay with me at the apartments the government gave me while I toured your hospitals,” he said and he placed his finger on her mouth effectively quieting her when she would have interrupted. “I wouldn’t mind having a guide to explain some of the culture to me, and it would make me feel better to know that you were safe. I don’t really understand how he could have hurt someone like you, but I feel this need to protect you. I’m not sure why, and I will understand if you don’t feel comfortable. I would like for you to continue to see Lindsay. I have a feeling that she will be able to help you. Oh and there are two sleeping quarters. I believe that is important.” He finished and looked down at her expectantly.

  Ember let the idea tumble through her mind. Would staying with him keep her safe? If he did hurt her then his whole diplomatic status would be revoked and the alien’s given a bad name. He was watched more than most people, so that would make it safer to be with him. She could use this time to place her affairs in order and start a new life, one without Landon. “I think that’s a good idea.” She said with a slight smile. He nodded and kissed her briefly on the lips before ushering her into the bedroom. The telltale swishing sound of the door closing marked his departure. Ember touched her lips which still tingled with awareness from his very brief kiss. She lay on the bed and went back to dreaming about Ceylon.

  ***

  Maria watched as Ceylon led Ember out of the mess hall. She wondered if they knew how much they complimented each other. Probably not. Her attention was snagged by the male who walked by. Before she could catch herself she yelled, “Silvius.” His heavy steps could be heard retracing their steps and there he was standing in the door, all six foot four inches of red-skinned male. She wanted to throw herself in his arms and bask in him. He was everything she could ever want in a male, but only one thing stood in her way. They thought she was a spy, which wasn’t a lie per se.

  “Maria?” he asked, his voice wrapping her in a cocoon of caramel and chocolate. Yeah, it was cheesy, but if there was one thing Maria understood it was food. Her Abuelita could cook the best cakes and pies you could ever wish for and Maria always wished for chocolate and caramel. Oh, yeah he was speaking.

  “I was wondering if you were ever going to get around to explaining what is going on?” she said and immediately regretted it when his eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Look, I only need to ensure that you guys don’t have some nefarious plot to overtake the world and what-not. I’ll be honest, after what you guys did for Ember, I can honestly say I think your people are good guys, but you can’t blame my people from wanting to ensure that you are,” she hurried to say while holding her hands up in surrender. He seemed to ponder this before sighing.

  “I’m sorry, Maria. What you say is logical. I’d be happy to explain, but I’d also like for you to keep it a secret until we deem it necessary to relay our reasons for coming here,” he said. Maria nodded and accepted his hand.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “My quarters. I share with Cedwin, but he is on duty right now.” He said.

  “Well, the quarters you gave me are private, if you would prefer.” She replied and couldn’t believe her own ears at her admission. Did she really want to be alone with this succulent piece of alien male? Succulent, really? Were the romance novels she secretly read giving her a weird vocabulary boost? She would never know because he took her by the hand and pulled her to the quarters that she had been assigned. It was messy. She had always been messy, though. One of the biggest reasons for punishment in her house had been not cleaning her room. She did countless push-ups and received numerous other punishments for being messy while in basic training and after. Silvius didn’t seem to mind, as he straightened up her quarters in post-haste and sat on her bed. She didn’t know what to say about that, so she ignored it and went straight for the meat and potatoes of the conversation. “So, what is your people’s big secret? What did I hear that I didn’t understand?”

  He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. Maria felt her pulse quicken and her nipples bead. She was so attracted to this male, she thought as she licked her lips. He followed the path her tongue took and that only made her hotter. “It all started when a virus infected our female population. According to our records before the virus our population was roughly forty-nine percent female. After the virus ran its course, there were only eight percent. All females below the age of twenty and greater than the age of fifty were dead. Of those who survived, none were fertile. We went from a population of roughly three times the population of the United States to half in less than three years. What was worse, there was no way for us to procreate. We were looking in the stars after a seer predicted that our salvation would be on another planet,” he finally said.

  “Well, how do you know that we are the answer? I mean, how you know that we are compatible?” she asked. If the newspapers and television were to be believed, then they were genetically the same as humans. Their coloring had been attributed to the plant life on their planet, but how did they choose Earth out of all the other planets that had to hold life within the universe?

  He looked guilty before he finally said, “I am trusting that you won’t let this become common knowledge. About two years ago, two of our people came to investigate Earth. They met two females and took them home with them. Both females were pregnant when we left Salin. I know it may sound unbelievable, but our scientist concluded that we were the same species. On our world there is a story of how our ancestors lef
t their dying planet in order to survive. Their planet was once teeming with life and resources, but they failed to care for it and in the end the world was dying. The stories say several ships were sent out to different planets that could sustain life. We believe your planet was one of those just like our planet.”

  Maria was so confused. Are these people bad? Silvius had just owned up to their kidnapping of two women. “So, you’re telling me that your people came here two years before and kidnapped two women?” she asked her voice rising with her panic. Here she was sitting on a ship that could leave at any moment and take her off to God knew where to be God knows what to these aliens. They already said they were hard up for females.

  “Maria, I think you have the wrong idea. They are safe and happy with their chosen mates,” Silvius said taking Maria’s hands in his own. She looked down at their entwined hands and basked in the warmth.

  “So, what is your deal or your endgame, whatever, why exactly are you here?” Maria asked her voice nearly a whisper. Silvius released her hands and cupped her face bringing her eyes back to his. She stared into their pale blue depths and she knew she was lost. There was that connection that she had waited her whole life to know, to feel and this alien, this man he did it for her. She didn’t question it, not at this moment because if she did then she would let this opportune moment pass and she would regret it every moment of her life.

  “We want mates, females to have our children and females to love and protect,” he said as he stared into her eyes. He must have seen something there, and whatever it was Maria was grateful as he brushed his lips against hers. She smiled as he pulled back searching her eyes for permission, for answers she didn’t know. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him opening her mouth and tracing his lips with her tongue. He opened his mouth and allowed his own tongue to duel with her. With just one erotic swipe of his tongue he effectively took back control. Maria moaned as he pressed her back against the mattress. She pulled back, taking a deep breath her mind catching up with her. Was this truly a good idea? Her decision was taken from her when he nuzzled her neck before returning to her lips and leaving her brain a pile of mush and need.

  SIX

  Kaysar, high lord of the planet of Malum – or what was left of it, sat in his office/throne room and contemplated how he would one day rule the universe. Already Salin’s numbers were dwindling and his troops preparing for invasion. Salin would be his. All of those resources to harvest adding to the resources that advanced the Maluminians and leaving the rest of the Salinians a dying planet. It was what they deserved.

  He still remembered the story of how his ancestors reached Malum. Their home planet was dying due to overpopulation and pollution. They separated the population and sent each ship to a different location that their scientists had assured would support life. So far that held true, except for Malum. Their ancestors had only been there for a mere year, instating their colony when the planet began to die. The rivers turned to sludge, unfit to drink. The plants all withered and died. The storms blew through and nearly decimated their population. Their pleas for help went unanswered. The leader at the time, Marcson declared that the government was no longer a democracy as was practiced for millennia on their old home planet, but to be changed to a monarchy. He was this generation’s High Lord, and he would ensure that their people had the revenge that their ancestors had started so many years ago. The other colonies of Eden would pay dearly for refusing to answer their distress call, and since the ancestors of their planet were the ones to suffer, so would those ancestors of the other colonies. It would be his pleasure to take revenge on the entire universe.

  “High Lord?” a reedy voice asked, taking him from his musings.

  “Yes,” he replied his tone sharp with disdain that any would disturb him.

  “I apologize, High Lord, but it seems the astronomers have located another planet. This one the inhabitants call Earth. The scientists have prepared a report that is now available to you,” the reedy voice stated before edging toward the exit.

  But he couldn’t let the young man get away with his insolence, no everyone had to know who the undeniable leader was or there would be mutiny. “And for your disruption, all of your rations have been forfeited for the next two days,” he announced hardly able to hide his pleasure at the thought of this young male hungering all because of his whims.

  “Yes, High Lord,” the male stated before leaving the room as quickly as he possibly could knowing the punishments would continue should he dawdle. Yes, it was good to be in charge. He decided the fate of every one of his subjects from birth to death. What foods they ate – his decision. What careers they had – his decision. Their pay at that job – his decision and quite entertaining to pay a prisoner caretaker the same wages that a doctor would make, but to make things fair the doctor had to make what the prisoner caretaker would make.

  He turned to peer at the photo now uploaded to his personal database and smiled. This planet was blue, that meant lots of water and with water came other valuable resources. Yes, this planet would become his, the same way Salin would fall. He pressed the intercom button to talk with his scientists, “Ready the science team. Earth needs to be studied,” he said.

  ***

  Serenity couldn’t believe she was back in that sterile hallway once more. A female stared at her expectantly. This time Serenity knew the deal. She knew this girl wanted her to follow. “Where are we going this time?” Serenity asked as she followed the female. The girl stopped and turned looking into Serenity’s brown eyes. This girl was different from the one that she met last time, younger, more fragile.

  “You can speak my language?” she asked as her blue eyes widened in surprise and joy at the thought. Her hair was long and touched past her waist, its jet black masses were knotted and dirty. She wore a simple dress that probably used to be white. Her face, though the reddened appearance Serenity had come to expect from a Salinian and even herself now that she looked into the mirror, a scarlet tint that accentuated her lovely blue eyes, was smudged with dirt. Serenity’s heart constricted at the all too conspicuous tear tracts that ran the length of her face. Her feet were bare and she noticed small cuts on her legs that almost blended in with the scarlet colored skin she sported.

  “Yes. I have been on Salin for close to two years now. I decided it best that I learn your language. But I don’t understand what’s going on?” she replied. The girl seemed confused at her words.

  “I don’t understand how you can only have been on Salin for two years. Where were you before?” she replied finally.

  Serenity smiled when she realized that the girl didn’t realize that she wasn’t a Salinian. “I believe some explanation is in order. My name is Serenity and I come from the planet known as Earth. I came here with my mate, Eon, almost two years ago. What is your name and do you mind explaining what exactly is going on here?” Serenity replied to the girl’s question.

  “I am Cekayda. I used to live on Salin before I was stolen from my parents’ years ago by these evil beings. My family has always been able to walk in dreams. My mother taught me when I was younger. You must also possess that ability, but I don’t understand what Earth is?” Cekayda stated.

  “Earth is a planet in the Milky Way Galaxy, which probably means nothing to you…um. Well, it is a long story, but basically your planet’s population was decimated with a virus and Eon, my husband and his friend were sent out to find a compatible species so that your people wouldn’t die out. I was one of the first and Anna, my best friend, was one of the second. They have sent more Salinians to Earth in order to convince other females to come back and be their mates,” Serenity stated.

  Cekayda nodded and then her eyes widened, “I thought I had heard of that planet before, but you must excuse me, I don’t always understand Aurum…”

  “Who is Aurum?” Serenity asked.

  “He is the new prisoner caretaker, which only includes me now. The other male who used to take care of us, he
was cruel and since all of their prisoners died he was relieved of duty. Aurum is my caretaker now. He has been speaking with me of news, and Earth was a word that he has said frequently. I’m not really sure what he says about it though, maybe they are planning to do what they did to my planet to yours.” Cekayda stated. Serenity certainly hoped not, but she would tell Eon about this. The sound of an infant crying had Ember turning her head toward the sound and Cekayda’s big blue eyes rounding in wonder. “Is that a baby?” Cekayda asked.

  “Yes, it is my daughter, Marianna. I have to go, but maybe I can find you again. I’ll let the Council know about you so that maybe you can be saved. I hate to ask you this, but are you safe?” Serenity asked even as she felt the pull of wakefulness. She remembered telling Eon good bye when she thought that it was her passing away, but now she knew and understood what it was.