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Alien’s Bride: Lisette
by
Yamila Abraham
Cover by Archie the Redcat
Copyright © 2014 Yamila Abraham. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
DEAR FRIENDS, please don’t share this ebook online. Piracy has absolutely devastated my ability to make a living. I beg you to please not post this or any of my works online. Thanks so much to everyone who has supporting me with a legal purchase.
***
Jorenkis stomped into the laboratory with enough force to agitate the delicate specimen on Prax-Denay’s micro unit. He managed to stay focused on the short-lived bacterium despite his jaw tensing in anger. His superior was not only late, but deigned to invade the most delicate area of his lab.
“Let’s talk, Prax. Come into my office.”
“Later!”
“No. Now. And if I were you I’d watch my tone.”
Prax-Denay clenched his teeth and tried to focus on increasing his magnification. “This specimen is only vital for twelve segments. Stop disturbing me, you moron.”
“I really couldn’t care less about whatever you think you’re doing,” Jorenkis said. Prax-Denay knew this was true enough. The young aristocrat had very little concept of what went on in the lab. “Put it aside and come into my office. I’ve decided you’ll need to accept castration if you wish to continue your research.”
Prax-Denay lifted his head from the instrument slowly. An icy feeling seeped into his stomach and then regurgitated back upwards to turn his saliva cold. He looked at the spoiled blond Dak-Hiliah whom he’d been forced to work under. Jorenkis stood with his arms crossed.
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh? You’re going to listen now? Your precious specimen not so damn important after all?”
Prax-Denay looked back at his equipment and tried to reason through his hysteria. Jorenkis was joking or toying with him. He had to be. How could anyone be so glib about dismembering another Dak-Hiliah?
But Jorenkis’ caste were the loudest advocates of Etiken castration. His manservant Shay-Henker had the procedure. Prax-Denay’s own brother had submitted to it. Perhaps Jorenkis’ constant revulsion toward him had been because he’d defied that perverse custom. Was his superior truly so insane?
“Why?” Prax-Denay said.
“Another scientist is joining this lab. An Earth slave. A female.” Jorenkis lifted his nose. “You’re supposed to be focusing on the physiology of Dak-Hiliah and human hybrids now that we’re interbreeding with them. This woman is apparently some biology expert.” He sneered. “You obviously can’t be around a female…intact.”
“Why not?” He was yelling. The fool made his blood boil.
“Really, Prax? You know why. And I’m not referring to the old stereotypes. Our sacred druid decreed—”
“The decree from Druid Archment applies to Dak-Hiliah noblewomen! Not human slaves! And only manservants get castrated. I’m the greatest scientist our people have ever known!”
“Oh, spare me your egotism. Archment said Etikens may only breed with those within their caste. If you leave the Etiken district you should be castrated. That’s the only way to make sure our former high druid is obeyed.” He drew a long breath. “Now, concessions were made for you because you’ve apparently produced some work of merit. Women are practically extinct anyway. But then, here we are. A woman is coming to the lab. She’ll be working with you. It just has to be done. It’s irresponsible for me to allow you to be around her otherwise.”
Prax-Denay’s chest heaved as he listened. He felt himself nearing hyperventilation.
“This is a good thing, Prax. I know from my experience with Henker that castration really helps with temperament. Your anger will finally get under control. Maybe it will help with your attitude, also.”
“Shut up!” Spittle sprang forth with the shout. “Don’t claim you’re doing this to obey the fucking druid and then jabber that bigoted drivel!”
Jorenkis scoffed.
“I refuse! It’s a monstrous request—“
“Monstrous for an Etiken to get castrated?”
“—And if you had any decency you’d know that!”
“Then I’m shutting down the lab.” Jorenkis shrugged. “You can go back to the slums.”
“Go ahead and try! The High Council will never allow it. You answer to Matoranis and he knows how important my work is. You’ll shame yourself for even mentioning this request! You think our new compassionate druid is in favor of Etiken castration? This could be just the catalyst to get this damned abomination finally banned forever.”
Jorenkis groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. “Of course you have to make things difficult. You’re like a child. You throw a tantrum every time I order you to do anything.”
Prax-Denay trembled with anger.
His superior huffed. “Fine. I won’t pursue it.” His eyes narrowed. “But let’s get one thing understood: this woman, scientist or not, is a potential bride. I’m claiming her. We’re as good as married. Got it?”
“That’s a violation of the surrender agreement with Earth.”
“It’s not a violation if she’s willing. I’m going to charm her into marrying me. I expect you to be your normal abhorrent self so she’ll hate you as much as I do. And keep your Etiken hands off her. I see so much as a pat on her shoulder and I’ll accuse you of trying to seduce her. I’ll have you shot with a sedative and under a robot surgeon the same day.”
Prax-Denay spoke through his clenched teeth. “Then I’ll have you shot—with a laser straight through your smug racist head.”
“Psh. No you won’t.” He turned on his heel and left.
Prax-Denay still trembled. After several moments he forced himself to check the specimen. Of course it was dead.
There was no need of a second scientist in his lab. She was just an excuse for Jorenkis to subjugate him. He loathed the thought of a bumbling slave meddling with his instruments. Even worse was the threat she represented. How could Jorenkis speak of castration? He was disgusting.
Prax-Denay wasn’t some lowly manservant and nor was he the animalistic sex fiend his ancestors were unfairly portrayed as. He was the discoverer of Instajant vaccine. Every Dak-Hiliah, nay, nearly every species in the universe, owed him a debt of gratitude.
Hopefully Jorenkis would hurry up and marry the human wretch so the repugnant threat she represented to him could be removed.
***
When the slave colony leader Dugan told Lisette that Lord Elentinus wanted to see her, the small woman didn’t panic. Lisette knew she’d always been obedient. There wasn’t any chance he wanted to punish her with one of those hideous force field collars.
As she walked behind Dugan out of the massive Quonset hut containing her bunk she wondered if Elentinus was displeased because she wasn’t pregnant. A quarter of the women in the slave colony were supposed to
be pregnant at all times. This caused her some distress. She’d love to be married, but the women outnumbered the men in the colony two to one. A mousey dark-haired woman like Lisette, who was short and past 30, couldn’t hope to compete with the colony’s plentiful supply of curvaceous younger women.
Elentinus was seated at one of the white plastic folding tables in their meeting house. His cruel-looking servant was with him, but Lisette couldn’t take her timid stare away from Elentinus. The Dak-Hiliah had blue skin with snaking crimson markings and horns like a billy goat. All that aside, he was gorgeous: hulking and muscular, with wispy white hair framing the handsome face of a god. Lisette had never seen him this close. Yes, she knew he was married to a woman everyone referred to as ‘the traitor,’ but he still made her heart go pitter-patter.
“Lisette Bellamy,” Elentinus said while gesturing to the chair before him. “Please sit.”
He spoke to her in English so she was able to obey at once. She adjusted her simple brown dress to sit on the folding chair before Elentinus and his servant.
“Leave, Dugan,” Elentinus said.
Lisette’s hair pricked up on the back of her neck.
“No.” The portion of Dugan’s face not covered by his full beard turned red. “You tell me what the Hell you want with her. This girl hasn’t done a damn thing wrong!”
Elentinus’ auburn eyes gleamed at Dugan in a way Lisette could only describe as evil. She hugged herself in her seat.
“Why must you always quarrel with me?” Elentinus said with low sharp words. “I’m not accountable to you. I can do whatever I wish to her, or to you. You’re slaves.”
Elentinus’ servant brightened with a hideous smile. “Well said, master!”
Dugan looked as though he verged on tears. He bared his clenched teeth a moment then looked away as though seeking an answer to his desperation. The next instant he dropped to his knees. He prostrated himself further onto his hands and lowered his head.
Elentinus’ brow rose.
“Please, master,” Dugan said. His voice was choked with emotion. “Please don’t do something awful to this poor girl.” He paused to snuffle and catch his breath. “She ain’t done nothing wrong. Nothing!”
Elentinus’ servant cackled with laughter. Elentinus kept his eyes on Dugan. The edge of evil had left his expression.
“All right, Dugan. You’ve touched me.”
He looked up. One tear streaked his cheek.
“Lisette was a biologist during the war. I merely wish to put her skills back into use.”
Lisette’s eyes widened. Going back to work was almost as good as getting married.
Dugan wet his lips. “She’s going to be doing science down here?”
Elentinus looked away from him. “I’ve already told you more than you need to know. Leave us.”
Dugan hesitated, but then climbed to his feet, gave Lisette’s shoulder a squeeze, and left. Lisette looked at Elentinus meekly once he was gone.
“You won’t be ‘doing science’ in the colony. You’re going to a laboratory on one of the Dak-Hiliah home worlds.”
Her stomach seized. She was leaving the colony? He was sending her into outer space? To one of their planets—where she didn’t even speak the language? Where most of the women were extinct, and where there were only hordes of desperate alien men—who were all probably as big as Elentinus? She’d be raped, more than once, and by more than one man.
Tears trickled down her cheeks. Her glasses fogged, but she felt removing them might be seen as an attempt to draw attention to her grief. Elentinus had made it clear that she was just a slave. She had no say in what happened to her.
“Why are you distressed, Lisette?”
She bit her lip. She had to answer, but just conversing with the other women in the colony intimidated her. How could she talk to their evil overlord?
“I…um…I don’t want to be…hurt.” She shrank further in her seat after saying it. Did he know she meant raped? Would he think she was making accusations? Maybe she should have just shook her head. Why did she have to open her damned mouth!
“No harm is going to come to you. You’ll be working in a laboratory with one scientist and his supervisor. No other Dak-Hiliah men will have access to you. You’re also going to be implanted with the Dak-Hiliah language, as well as a few others you may encounter. Given your reputation I have no doubt you’ll thrive. It’s a far better environment for someone like you than this colony.”
Lisette finally removed her glasses. She couldn’t stop crying, but his words had gone a long way toward reassuring her. Getting implanted with languages didn’t even frighten her. She wanted to know exactly how they managed to alter the synaptic patterns in the human brain.
“I realize you’re unhappy to leave your home,” Elentinus said.
Lisette peeked up at him. Was she? She had women who’d adopted her into their group and who were protective of her. They thought she was simpleminded because she was so quiet. They always made sure she never ate alone and that no one bullied her. Not one of them had any idea who she really was. None of them had cared enough to ask.
“I will take personal responsibility for you. If any harm comes to you, if you’re unable to cope with the work you’re given, or if you’re direly unhappy I’ll allow you to return to the colony. Understood?”
Lisette nodded. That was kind of him. Was he actually not evil?
“Good.” He rose. “Pack your belongings. Hor-Denay will assist you and then bring you to the ship.”
Who? As he left his servant remained behind. He sneered at her.
“Get up. Move,” Hor-Denay said.
Lisette bolted up.
“Lead me to your bunk. I want you packed in ten minutes. Move it. Go!”
Lisette speed-walked ahead of him.
“Stop!”
She froze. Her heart was now racing.
Hor-Denay came beside her. He hmphed and made a cruel smile. “You may walk at a normal pace.”
She resumed. He matched her pace.
“The scientist you’ll be working with is my older brother,” Hor-Denay said.
She looked at him.
“He’s attained an immense status for an…” He cleared his throat. “He’s the one who created the Instajant Vaccine. You’d be a paralyzed host body for those monsters if it wasn’t for him.”
Lisette was impressed. (She said nothing in return because he was making statements, not questions which required an answer.)
They arrived at her bunk. Lisette knelt down to begin frantically stuffing her things into her laundry bag. Her acquaintance June walked over.
“Liz—are they taking you some where?”
“Get lost!” Hor-Denay said. “This is none of your business.”
June’s face darkened. She backed away to gossip amongst a growing clump of slaves observing from across the aisle.
Hor-Denay snuffled loudly. “Anyway, it’s an honor for you to work with him. My brother. He’s a genius.”
Lisette crammed her spare pair of shoes into the bag. She listened intently, but again felt no response was required from her.
“You should marry him.”
“Oh!” The word jumped out of her before she could stop it. She blushed.
Hor-Denay glared at her. “Does that repulse you? Do you think you’re too good for one of us?”
Lisette shook her head resolutely.
“What do you think?” he said.
That was a question she had to answer with more than a head shake or nod. She pursed her lips. Should she admit how she really felt? Would it be used against her? Somehow lying by saying, ‘I don’t know,’ didn’t seem like it would work. The alien, despite being a jerk, had exposed himself a little. She didn’t want to offend him.
“I…would like to get married.”
He lifted his nose in smug approval. “Then you could do far worse than my brother.”
Really? As he walked her toward the far gate of the colony sh
e snuck several glances at Hor-Denay. He was ugly compared to Elentinus, but not that ugly. She’d rather be with someone imperfect than a god like Elentinus anyway. She’d feel inadequate. She could see herself in an equitable marriage with someone who looked like Hor-Denay, especially if he was a fellow scientist. Playing dumb her whole life would be a burden. She could actually reveal her smart self to this other scientist. The prospect excited her.
Dugan was talking loudly to the hundreds of slaves following her out. Many of her peers gasped with shock to learn she was scientist. Then they halted at the gate to scream goodbye to her tearfully. Lisette knew they were sadder for themselves than for her. They were anguished to learn that at any time one of them could get carted away like this. She turned back to wave at all of them. Hugs weren’t required.
Just a wave was all she needed to leave the colony behind her forever.
***
“Damn it,” Jorenkis said.
Prax-Denay had just exited the lab into the corridor. He intended on going to the kitchen for his midday meal. Hearing Jorenkis muttering gave him pause. He nudged his young boss’ door open. On the large console screen before Jorenkis was a small dark-haired human woman walking in the middle of a throng of robots. The boxy metal units with long glowing cylinder heads blocked her on all sides from any potential threat. It was unnecessary. She appeared to be at their spaceport, and even though this was their second most populous home world there were only two or three hundred Dak-Hiliah in residence. The odds of them meeting anyone were slim.
Jorenkis darted a look back at him. This made him fluster. Yes, he was mildly curious about the human, but not enough to give Jorenkis an opportunity to call him nosey.
“Hey. Come here,” Jorenkis said to him.
Prax-Denay grumbled. If it wasn’t for the chance to get a closer look at the woman he would have swore at Jorenkis and continued to lunch. Instead, he pushed his door all the way open and stood next to him before his console.
“She’s not that old, is she? Does she look old to you?”
Prax-Denay examined the woman walking meekly between the robots. One of the units had had its visual receptor tapped for Jorenkis to obtain live footage. Prax-Denay leaned in. It occurred to him that Jorenkis was an idiot. The female looked young and healthy—pretty even.
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