by Lisa Lace
"How long has Katakee been on the run?"
"It feels like forever. It must be many years by this point," Ardela replied dully, cementing Eden's suspicions.
Eden bowed her head. The next mission had to play out according to plan. There would be no mistakes allowed. She couldn't begin to imagine what capturing Katakee meant to Thiago. He was probably the one who sold Noxx the lethal munitions used to wipe out Thiago's entire village. The attack killed his parents and everyone he knew and nearly claimed his life in the process as well.
"I understand." Eden finally spoke up. She decided a change of topic was in order. "Ardela let me use the gym on her ship to train today, and I have to say she's not going easy on me. You'd think I was training for the Olympics."
"You have to work hard to see improvement," said Thiago, cracking his first grin of the day. "Are these Olympics training for bounty hunters back on Earth?"
Eden sighed. "Not exactly. Every four years perfect physical specimens on Earth gather together to test their skills against one another and determine who is best."
"Psh," snorted Thiago, shaking his head. "That sounds stupid."
"Sorry, Eden, I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with Thiago on that one," Ardela agreed, tossing her glossy hair away from her face to eat her food.
Eden tilted her head forward, an inquisitive eyebrow raising at their cluelessness. "Really, guys? Their job descriptions don't seem familiar to you at all? I'm going to let you two sit on that one. When I think about it, you two would be perfect candidates for the Olympics on Earth."
Ardela and Thiago feigned awkward coughs as Eden sat back, hoping for vindication.
"Eden, I'd been meaning to ask you something. What time do you think you'd be finished training with Ardela today?"
"I'm not sure. Probably a little before dinner. Why?"
"Let me know. You should probably change into warmer clothing. You'll need it where we're going."
"Just the two of us? Where exactly are we going?" asked Eden, fighting to hide a giddy smile.
"It's nowhere special. I don't want you getting your hopes up just to be disappointed. You'll just have to wait and see."
"Eden! Are you ready yet?"
"Just one minute!" Eden called out, craning her neck towards the closed bathroom door.
She turned back to the bathroom mirror and slanted her head upward. Flowering patches of her breath fogged up her reflection as she held up an eyeliner wand borrowed from Ardela. As her luck would have it, it was the one brand Ardela owned that irritated human skin. The uneven feline flicks on either side of Eden's eyes were going to be difficult to salvage.
Still, Eden didn't have to look too hard to find a silver lining. She was positive this would be Thiago's idea of a real first date. Eden wasn't about to postpone it. Ardela didn't have any way of knowing about her skin reaction, did she? The alien woman had already apologized profusely and promised the swelling would go down in the morning.
Ardela had also done a decent job with concealer on Eden. It covered up the blotchy red marks around her eyes. Instead of looking like she'd just spent hours in a tanning booth powered by the sun, frying her pasty skin to a crisp with cancerous islands of sunburn, she looked like she was trying to cover up hours of weeping.
"Screw it. This will have to do," Eden muttered hoarsely, blinking away the tears intensifying smudges of her failed eyeliner experiment.
Her makeup horror show was precisely why she opted for a nude face when possible. Not only did she lack the makeup skill other women seemed to be born with, but the hassle was too much. Flattening the ample volume of her flaming red ringlets, she did a final once-over in the mirror and plodded out of the bathroom.
"Finally," Thiago groaned. He waited for her in the living room of the spaceship. He crossed his arms and legs as he lay reclined on the couch. Hercules was curled up on the floor next to him. The creature lifted his head, whinnying idly in agreement.
"Relax, I haven't kept you waiting that long," said Eden dismissively. She accepted the helmet Thiago handed to her and looked down at it questioningly. "Are we training before the evening begins?"
"No. Put it on."
Eden placed the helmet on her head and followed Thiago out the front door of the spaceship, bidding Hercules a doting farewell with a kiss to his face. Stepping out onto the dusty ground of the campsite, she flipped up the visor of her helmet, gawking in astonishment.
A sports bike coated with frost-white paint and platinum gold finish was parked just a few feet from the doorway. In place of the oil tank was a massive puranium fuel tank. The footrest was a platform built around both the driver and passenger's seat, with extra straps and buckles to put on one's feet. Thiago dramatically checked the air pressure on the ridged tires and climbed onto the hover bike, peering over his shoulder at Eden expectantly.
"Why are you waiting? Hop on. "
"Where'd you get this?" asked Eden breathlessly, hopping onto the leather cushion of the bike. She strapped a seatbelt over her waist as Thiago leaned over to adjust her foot straps.
"It's a rental, but we're going to need it," answered Thiago. He cracked his neck from side to side, flicking switches and revving the ignition before resting his hands on the clutch. "You're probably going to want to find something to grab tightly."
"Is this thing fast, or..."
Eden's sentence cut short as the hoverbike blasted forward. As her body jerked forward from the sudden acceleration, she frantically bear-hugged Thiago from behind, clasping her hands together. She buried her face into the thick black coat he wore over his jumpsuit. As the wheels of the bike slowly peeled off the floor, her heart beat rapidly against her chest.
The bike tipped backward and shot into the air, climbing thousands of feet above the ground. At this elevation, a new problem presented itself. Eden's teeth rattled in her mouth as icy gusts of wind made her start shivering. Thiago kept one eye on a computer monitor and another on the surroundings. He swerved past other airborne vehicles and accelerated to beat the building traffic.
Eden didn't know how long she clung to Thiago, but eventually her curiosity got the better of her. She braved the harsh weather around her and peeled herself away from Thiago's back, sticking her head up to peek over his shoulders. Beyond the fading clouds zipping past them was an extraordinary range of violet mountains capped with lace-white snow. She gave Thiago an ecstatic squeeze around the waist.
Eden's stomach twisted as the bike began a choppy descent. Thiago steered the vehicle toward the mountainside. He parked directly beneath the snowline near the edge of a broad mountain shelf.
"That wasn't as exhilarating as I imagined," Eden remarked. Tiny clouds of frosty breath wafted from her lips as she spoke. Eden climbed off the bike and pushed up her visor. Feeling chilled to the bone, she hugged herself in a futile attempt to keep warm.
Thiago reached into Eden's coat and pressed a button concealed in the collar of her jumpsuit. In an instant, Eden felt better about the weather. A draft of toasty warm air began to seep through the lining of her clothes. Eden exhaled blissfully. She stretched out her arms and legs, allowing the warmth to penetrate every inch of her body.
"Do all my jumpsuits have this feature? Why am I only learning about this feature now?"
"Yes, and I have no idea."
Thiago retrieved a thick blanket from the bike's storage compartment. Unrolling the blanket, he pinned it open and lay the woolen fabric on the ground, inches from the brink of the cliff. Eden joined him on the blanket as far away from the cliff as she could get. She tucked her legs underneath her as she inched closer to him for warmth.
She gazed over the edge, her mouth opening as she looked at the panorama of rainbow lights dotting the ground-level cities and floating pods. The view of the alien landscape was wonderfully picturesque against the dark late-night canvas.
"Is this where you go to cool off? The sights here are amazing," Eden marveled. She nudged him with her elbow playfully. "This isn
't where you bring all your girls to get them in the mood for love, is it? Is the view one of your 'moves'?"
"Moves?"
"What you do when you want to get a woman to sleep with you."
"I've never needed any 'moves'. Women tend to sleep with me as soon as I bring them back to my ship."
"Well, good for you," said Eden bitterly, humphing.
"I suppose it is. But you're the only one I've ever brought here, if it matters to you."
"Really?"
"Yes," said Thiago, slipping a hand into the pocket of his coat. He pulled out a small black box, placing it on her lap. "Before I forget, this is for you."
Despite the frigid cold, beads of sweat formed in the creases of her palms as she picked up the container and snapped open the lid. A pair of bright, pearl-sized earrings sat on the velvet lining. It looked like a flurry of captured starlight danced inside the small baubles.
"I know it's not as flashy as any of Ardela's jewelry, but I saw these in one of the stores when I was out the other night, and I thought of you, human."
"Are you kidding?" breathed Eden. She yanked off the backs of the earrings and pierced the posts through her earlobes. "I don't know what to say. Thank you. These are the most gorgeous things I've ever seen."
"I highly doubt that, but I'm glad you enjoy them."
"Thank you so much," said Eden, flinging her arms around him in a tight embrace. "I love them."
She pushed up his visor and kissed him softly, her cold lips thawing instantly against his. Thiago kissed her back. His arms softened at his sides when her lips slowly and sensually pulled away. Eden rested her head against his shoulder, nuzzling him as she interlaced her fingers with his.
The pair gazed peacefully into the still horizon.
Chapter Twenty-Two
"We've got all our weapons. The doors are locked, and our shields are up," Ardela said. She bent over to slip a thin dagger into the hidden compartment of her boot. "Eden, how are you doing over there? Are you ready?"
Eden shifted her hood delicately over an elaborate cinnamon-roll braid on the back of her head. A fresh breeze blew past the open flaps of her cloak, chilling the exposed parts of her body, which was almost everything. Her cleavage, stomach, and legs were visible and slathered with golden glitter. She felt ridiculous in a metal bikini top, studded with a spiral pattern of colorful jewels and precious stones.
She self-consciously started fixing her clothing. Eden tightened the knot around a matching sarong wrapped around her hips, adjusted a dangling triangular amulet on her neck, and pulled her cloak tightly around her.
She took a deep breath and held out her arms in front of her. Eden couldn't postpone this moment any longer. Ardela removed a set of handcuffs fastened to her belt and slapped them onto Eden's wrists. A soft whizzing noise emitted from the handcuffs as the teeth automatically screwed into the key holes. Ardela had Eden tightly restrained.
"Yup. I think I'm ready to go."
"We'll be back soon," Thiago called out to the window. Hercules whimpered, pawing at the door from the opposite side. "Sit tight, buddy."
"That's sweet," said Eden. Her body awkwardly moved as Thiago led her away from the ship. He held the handle of the leash to her shackles. "Poor Hercules can't stand being away from Thiago."
"Thiago and that thing are inseparable," Ardela concurred. She flashed them a sheepish grin. "Bless his heart."
"I rarely go on a mission without Herc by my side," said Thiago, cutting through the Glop city square and moving toward a secluded alley. "He'll need to stay behind this time or we'll risk blowing our cover."
As they dragged Eden through the alleyway, she found she had to start jogging to keep up with Thiago's driven pace. She glanced around at the jarring crimson color illuminating the long, narrow stretch of the Glop red light district. Shadowy entrances to strip clubs and seedy love motels advertised with neon signs lined the lane. Although the signs were overwhelming at first, careful inspection revealed their age. Some were missing multiple LEDs, and others had electronic marquees that only scrolled halfway through the screens.
Wedged between the esteemed gentlemen clubs were tall, clear booths with glass tinted in different shades of red and pink. Eden's jaw dropped wide open as she openly ogled the unusual features of the female representatives of the Glop race. All sense and good manners flew right out the window.
The alien women were six feet tall, at least. They wore fancy brassieres, nipple pasties, and skimpy thongs. They had surprisingly human-like skin tones and looked like overgrown sumo wrestlers. Rings covered bewitchingly loose bodies, reminding Eden of the Michelin tire mascot. She watched with a combination of revulsion and fascination as the Glop women danced to thumping music blaring out their speakers. Thankfully, only a few flashed them, seductively rubbing their pumpkin-sized breasts against the glass.
"Well, we're here," Thiago whispered, stopping at an old, three-story establishment tucked away at the end of the alley. He tugged on Eden's shackles, drawing her close to him. "Whatever you do, don't say anything. If you do as they tell you, and stick to the plan, you'll be fine."
"You'll be more than fine," Ardela reassured her, squeezing her once on the elbow. "You're going to be great."
Eden looked anxious as Thiago knocked twice with the back of his knuckles on a dark wooden door. The door swung open, revealing a striking Noxx madam at the threshold. She had neatly pulled back the crown of white feathers around her head. Black rings outlined her hypnotically amber eyes. A plum, floor-length gown complete with a lace-trimmed train covered the white scales on the bottom half of her body. As the Madam's intense eyes settled on Eden, she felt intimidated and dropped her inquisitive gaze to the ground.
"Madam Cecilia?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Ardela, and this is my associate, Thiago. We contacted you last night about the potential bride we would like to offer your esteemed establishment. We've brought her here, as per our discussion, to see if she will meet your requirements. May we come in?"
Eden squealed in surprise as Madam Cecilia's cold fingers curled around her wrist and forced her forward. She was so frightened she couldn't move. Eden's shoulders became tense as the Madam slid the cloak off her shoulders. Eden's body was not her own any longer. She was twirled around for an inspection, and she was helpless.
The Noxx leaned closer and sniffed her like she was a slab of meat. Next, the madam cupped one hand around Eden's butt and the other on a breast. The stranger squeezed freely, handling Eden's private areas like she was an animal.
Eden had to resist the urge to retaliate for the blatant sexual harassment. Madam Cecilia stepped back and lifted her nose into the air. Her wrinkled lips pressed together. She didn't say anything, but went to the front door and held it open for the group. The trio walked in single file through the doorway.
The heart of the brothel was a blunt contrast to the dismal facade, which looked similar to a drug den when one looked at it from the outside. The interior was spotless and extravagant. Classic gothic furniture filled it, which gave it a regal atmosphere. A carpeted winding staircase led to a series of soundproof rooms. Green and red lights fixed to the doors indicated if the rooms were vacant or occupied.
Paintings featuring generic nature scenes adorned the walls, complementing the romantic floral backdrop of the wallpapers. Soft jazz played from the overhanging speakers. There was even a receptionist behind a counter, complete with a silver bell and a sophisticated centerpiece on the desktop. If it weren't for the interracial mix of alien women in frilly dresses and lingerie lounging around as they waited for the next customer, the building would look like a perfectly quaint bed and breakfast.
"How much are you looking for?" Madam Cecilia inquired coldly, stroking her chin.
"How much do you think she's worth?"
"She's a little bony, but our supply of natural redheads is running low. Forty thousand? Sixty if her hymen's intact."
Eden felt con
flicted. On one hand, the casual sex slave bidding war in front of her was revolting. On the other, she was offended that she wasn't even worth six figures.
"We're willing to negotiate. Why don't we have someone test her out first, free of charge," Ardela offered. She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "You know some of your regulars are willing to pay excessive amounts for just an hour with a freshly captured human bride. If the client is fully satisfied, you'll have to cough up eighty. If anything goes wrong, and there's the slightest complaint, we'll hand her over for twenty."
"Are you proposing a bet? I do like to play games," Madam Cecilia drawled. She grabbed hold of Eden's chin and forcibly tilted her head upward, tracing her bejeweled four-inch-long stiletto nail along the human woman's quivering flesh. "There's no sign of age lines on her neck. She's a young one." Madam Cecilia looked off into the distance. "I believe she'll fit quite nicely here."
"What about him?" said Thiago, gesturing to a Glop checking in at the counter.
It was Katakee. The unsightly alien leaned against the countertop as he attempted to chat up the cowering receptionist. With a short, pencil-thin mustache, an oily orange comb-over, and a baby-blue suit emblazoned with half-naked alien women custom made to fit his hulking figure, the cocky fugitive was a peculiar marriage of creepy and weird.
"I believe I've won this bet already. You may be out of luck. That gentleman is one of our best customers. He's also one of our pickiest," said Madam Cecilia, cackling darkly. "Very well, I'll go ahead and make the arrangements."
The train of the Madam's dress trailed after her like a sea of purple snakes. The trio observed carefully from a distance as the Noxx woman exchanged hugs with Katakee. Madam Cecilia and Katakee said quick pleasantries before the madam leaned in close to the Glop fugitive, speaking in hushed tones.
