Unknown Protector

by Maggie Mundy

  “Hey, you’re splashing me,” she said as she put up her arms.

  “You’re wet anyways, and I have to say a wet T-shirt looks better on you than I could ever have imagined.”

  Nicole moved away from him and crossed her arms over her chest to cover her overly erect nipples straining at her top. She had been in Ridge’s mind once before and knew how quickly it could sink to the lowest common denominator, and for him it always meant sex.

  “I’ll choose to ignore that comment, because your mind has brought me to this beautiful place.” Nicole sat on the edge of the rock and dipped her feet in the water and quickly plucked them out again. “Is it safe? I’m not going to get my toes bitten off by some imaginary eel, am I?”

  “No harm will come to you here. I kinda think we should go for a swim though. You can swim, can’t you?”

  “I grew up near the beach and most kids in Australia learn to swim young. I was even in the Surf Life Saving Club for a while, but my step dad got drunk too many times in the bar. We were politely asked not to come back again.” Nicole glanced at Ridge standing beside her. His wings were gone and so was his shirt. She thought for a moment he would strip the rest of his clothes off, and in this mind world of his she wasn’t sure how she would react. Rampantly, was her guess. He dived into the water and disappeared into the pools depths.

  About three minutes later he still hadn’t surfaced. This might be a beautiful world but if something happened to him here she couldn’t get back. Nicole screamed as he broke the surface near her feet. He held out his hand and showed her a tiny furry animal no bigger than his palm. She thought a duck billed platypus an odd creature until she saw this thing.

  Its fur turned green as it dried out. Nicole couldn’t stop the giggle escaping her mouth as it opened its tiny round pink eyes and blinked rapidly at the light. It jumped from Ridge’s hand and onto her lap and snuggled up. Then it put its webbed front paws over its nose. Nicole patted it, which caused it to purr like a cat.

  “It’s a loula. They live under the water in the day. At night they fly round the cave hoping to find a mate.”

  “It has wings?”

  “It hides them when they’re not needed, bit like me. Place it by the water’s edge.”

  Nicole reached down and the loula jumped off her hand back into the water. As she bent down Ridge reached out and grabbed her hand pulling her into the pool. The coldness took her breath away. They swam to the centre where the water came through the roof and splashed them. It was like being a kid and having fun at a water park. It had been too long since she let this side of her free. They swam on to the far side of the pool where her feet could barely touch the bottom, but Ridge stood easily and tugged her to him. His body warm up against hers. She should pull away even in this make believe world, but she wouldn’t or was it that she couldn’t?

  She pushed a strand of wet hair away from his face. He took her hand in his and kissed her palm. She was in cold water and yet her core was overheating. His lips were gentle as he kissed across her wrist swirling his tongue on her pulse point. Small kisses moved from her wrist to the crook of her arm. She wanted more. When his lips touched her neck she pressed forward into his body and surprised herself at the moan that escaped her. Ridge pulled her closer as she encircled his hips with her legs. His wings weren’t out but she was under no misapprehension as to how he felt as he ensnared her against his hardness.

  He kissed her with such passion. His mouth as warm and inviting and she was happy to get lost in its velvety interior. This was the only place where they could make love and not be breaking any rules. Not that she cared about their rules anymore. They only seemed to indicate when she would die. She moved away from him and reached down and tugged her T-shirt over her head.

  It had been a long time since she had someone gaze at her body with raw need. She needed it. Ridge moved forward but before he touched her the pain was back in her chest. He lifted her up into his arms and held her close.

  “Sara’s tryin’ to remove it. It’s the moment of truth. Hold on to me. I’ll take you back as soon as it’s done.”

  Nicole tried to breathe through the pain as she dug her nails into Ridge’s neck and arm. She would black out if it didn’t stop soon.

  “I can’t do this. It’s tearing me apart.”

  “I said I won’t lose you and I meant it. Close your eyes and when you open them it’ll be all over.”

  She squeezed her eyes closed and held on tight.

  The table was hard beneath her once again, and Ridge was behind her with his forehead touching hers. He moved away, but not before he left a feather light kiss on her lips. Nicole glanced down at her chest and saw that whatever had been attached to her was gone. In its place was a circle of bleeding puncture marks. Kaylie sat next to her and pressed a wad of tissues against the wound.

  “Ow,” Nicole yelped.

  “I’m sorry, but I need to stop the bleeding. It’s taken enough of your blood already.”

  “It’s okay, Kaylie. The pain’s not as bad as it was. Can I see it?”

  Sara stood by the counter holding a glass box. Nicole accepted the headshake as a comment on her foolishness. She still wanted to see what had hurt her and saved her at the same time. It looked like a giant leach, except its glistening skin kept changing color from blue to yellow to green. It turned its body slowly around like it could sense it was near her again. Its mouth attacked the glass and Nicole saw the circle of razor sharp teeth as blood oozed down the inside of the jar.

  “I’ve seen enough, and have to say this just shows me yet again how much I have to learn about you all.” Nicole tried to get up but dizziness overcame her and lay back down. Ridge moved beside her and held her hand. He was pale and dark shadows were forming beneath his eyes. He was a Midworlder, and yet this was taking a toll on him as well. Maybe they would all be better off if she was gone. Sayell had to be getting desperate to start breaking all the rules like this.

  “Keep thinkin’ things like that and I’ll have to take you over my knee and spank you.”

  Nicole glared at him for the comment.

  “What was she thinking?” Kaylie asked.

  “She’s thinkin’ she’s a nuisance, and we’d all be better off without her. She’s right about bein’ a nuisance, but you’re my mate so you’re gonna have to put up with me.”

  Kaylie stood with hands on hips before her, but what did they expect? She turned back on Ridge instead. “Okay, okay. I thought you couldn’t read my thoughts.”

  “I still can’t but I can sense a death wish when I feel one. Somethin’ bigger than all of us is goin’ on here, and we have to find out what it is. In the meantime you need to rest because tomorrow we’re gonna try and train you to use those powers you have. I’ve a feelin’ we’re gonna need them soon.”

  Nicole let Ridge and Kaylie help her up, then Ridge took her up in his arms.

  “I can walk, I’m not an invalid.” That was a lie because she was sure her legs wouldn’t hold her up.

  “Humor me. I like to hold you.”

  “Why I do declare sir, are you getting romantic?” Nicole said with a hand over her mouth. He laid her on the bed, laughed, and shook his head.

  “Remind me to never take you to meet any of my friends in Louisiana. Your accent was sacrilege. People have been shot for less.”

  “Speaking of shooting. I want a gun.”

  “I know with your past you’d think it’s the answer, but you’ve seen what my kind can do. A gun will give you a false belief you’re safe. Trust me when I say developin’ your skills is the best way.” Ridge went to stand but she reached out and took his hand.

  “Can I ask you something else?” He sat again. “Would that thing have killed me? I mean, I thought Sayell wanted me alive and pregnant.”

  “The reason we can�
�t mate with the unprotected is because you could get pregnant. Havin’ a Midworlder baby growin’ inside you would kill you within a month. He doesn’t want the child, but for some reason he wants the fetus. I messed up his plans when I asked you to become my mate. The parasite would’ve stopped either of us impregnating you. If it had taken hold it would’ve taken an Elevated to control removin’ it without killin’ you.”

  “And Sayell has Liliath.”

  “It still don’t make sense. An Elevated or a Guardian can’t take over a baby to come to this world. The nearest that ever happened in the past was when two Angelic and a Demonic Elevated possessed a human a long time ago. He grew to adulthood but was never in control of his mind. They messed with his body so he could do things humans ain’t meant to. They did things with his mind as well to try to exert influence over humans. After that it was outlawed.”

  “If you’re on about who I think you’re on about that’s plain crazy, and impossible for me to grasp.”

  Ridge smiled at her and shook his head. It was okay for him. He had lived a long time and all of this was old news to him. To her, it destroyed everything she had been brought up to believe. She wasn’t a religious person but there were some things you sort of accepted. She had always thought there was at least some truth to what she knew. Now she had to accept they were all myths built up around aliens.

  “It’s my turn to ask a question.” Ridge had a wicked grin on his face.

  “Okay.” Nicole had a feeling she wasn’t going to like this question.

  “Were you really gonna have sex with me?”

  Nicole sensed the heat along with the color rise up from her chest to her neck. She glanced up to see his piercing blue eyes looking at her mischievously.

  “The world’s going mad and that’s what you want to ask me?” She took a deep breath. “It wasn’t real.” It wasn’t really an answer but she wanted to put off giving the real one.

  “Trust me. It would’ve felt real, and you still didn’t answer my question.” Ridge placed a finger under her chin and tilted her face up so she was only inches away.

  “Yes.” That didn’t even sound like her. Where did her husky voice come from? His eyes were dilating and she imagined hers were doing the same.

  “I knew I was breakin’ through your crusty exterior. You wanted me from the first time we met didn’t you.”

  “We’re all nearly dying here and all you can think about is sex. I want sleep at the moment, not some oversexed alien.”

  He kissed her on the cheek and stood up.

  “Can’t take it back, little lady. You wanted me. Sleep well. You’re gonna need it tomorrow.”

  She dreaded to think what that might mean, but for now her pillow beckoned.

  Chapter 16

  Liliath’s Touch

  Sayell paced back and forward beside the pool, even though he had no intention of swimming. In fact he hated the pool, but it came with the grand house and seemed to make young human women keen to remove their clothes. That he was happy with.

  The other Demonic Midworlders he shared the mansion with were too young, too foolish. This special time for him should have come sooner. He was so near what he had dreamed of and yet his closest friends had moved onto their own Enclaves. It was just as well, he would not have shared his glory. He laughed as he sipped on his wine. He had known Ridge longer than he had known any of these new Demonic Midworlders. He and Ridge came from a different age in his own, as well as human societies.

  He glanced at the sky with dread. He could delay the inevitable no longer. He would have to go and see Liliath. He closed his eyes and his wings sprouted from his back. Since his beating by Ridge and his cohorts, stretching them still caused discomfort. He liked inflicting pain on others, not experiencing it himself.

  They had been in the courtyard behind Heaven’s Gate and he had tried to escape them, but to no avail. It didn’t matter, some pain can be beneficial as it would remind him not to make the same mistake again.

  He flapped his wings and flew above San Francisco. He liked this city. He had been here since the gold rush and had seen it in all its glory and deprivation. He enjoyed human deprivation, it made them more pliable. It showed how low humans would go to hurt a fellow. It showed the truth about this race. One could do almost anything with a people that desperate and selfish.

  It could be a city of power again with him in charge. Everyone looked to Los Angeles, but it was nothing more than studios and fancy shops. A facade behind which poverty lurked. He was a firm believer that human and Midworlder alike made their own fortunes, and sometimes these could benefit both.

  The sky around him grew dark as he left Earth and headed for Pergor. The grandeur of the place was unimportant to him. He only went there for what he wanted, power and Liliath in his arms. The grand cavern was as glorious as ever, but its beauty dimmed next to Liliath.

  “You kept me waiting, Sayell. I will have you dragged back to Homeworld and thrown into the scavenger vats if you do so again. I am Elevated, and we get bored. You should remember that I could do with the entertainment of your body being ripped apart,” Liliath said. Her deep voice echoing around the space making the crystals hum.

  Sayell knelt before her. She clenched her fist in front of him and he endured the agony in his chest. She was squeezing his heart. He had been here in this position before and kept his expression blank. This was a strange game they played and he was never sure if she would kill him. All he knew was every time he met her he hated her almost as much as he adored her. His women on Earth were plentiful and none of them permanent. The first time he had wanted to ever be with one female was Liliath, and he would do whatever it took to get her. She wasn’t a woman though, she was an Elevated.

  “Stop drooling. I want you even less than I did before. You were a trivial interlude and only because the Elevated men have such low libidos. I refuse to stoop to use the servants. Mix breeds are somewhat more acceptable. You’re limping.”

  Sayell watched the way Liliath gazed at his leg and up the length of his body to his face. He had been playing this game longer than she had. He knew she still wanted him to satisfy her in ways the transcended males could not. It made him want to run his hands over her voluptuous body.

  On Earth she would be a freak with her wings always exposed and her almost perfectly white skin, plus the lack of hair and snakelike eyes.

  He adored the way she shimmered as though not quite of this world. She was beautiful to him and he wondered if he would feel the same when she took over the human’s body. It didn’t matter as she made a low sound only one of the Elevated could. Such a low rumble that his body turned towards her.

  “I’m sure you’re aware of the situation with Ridge. He continues to be troublesome,” Sayell answered.

  “I don’t care about troublesome, I care about results. I want to be down there. Are you telling me one individual Midworlder is going to stop me, or stop you? It would be most unfortunate for you if I have been misguided in my belief in your abilities.”

  Liliath sauntered closer to him and the smell of her filled him. It was overwhelming. She exuded what it was to be female. Fuck. He wanted it.

  “Perhaps I should summon this, Ridge. Maybe I have chosen the wrong champion for my cause. It would be challenging to see if I could convert an Angelic Midworlder. I sensed he has even managed to remove the parasite you placed on her. It was rash and rather wasteful of you. I don’t want her body damaged.”

  Sayell held his feelings in. He would not let Ridge touch Liliath. For a second he understood why Ridge was trying to keep him away from Nicole. Maybe he and Ridge had more in common than he thought. They were both attached to females who didn’t want them, but who it seemed they could not live without.

  “Ridge, has managed to contain this female within his jurisdiction. It’s
the laws the Elevated have passed holding me back.” Sayell kept his head bowed.

  “That is true, but humans are not bound by those laws. I have been thinking about the man, Gabriel. He could be used to persuade this female to leave her protector. That if she didn’t do what he requested then those she had cared for would be lost.”

  “It could be done.”

  Liliath strolled up to him and placed her hand on his chest. She leant forward and kissed him. Sayell closed his eyes as she leisurely moved her hands down to his groin. He was hard for her. He was always hard for her. She unzipped his pants and held him. Their eyes locked as she moved. Her hand moved like butterflies gently touching and coaxing, but she would not finish what she had begun. She always left him wanting.