Alien Prince's Mermaid

by Zara Zenia

  Darbnix opened the door. A lanky man who was even taller than Darbnix stood there, awkwardly and expectantly waiting for direct orders. He had dark hair, resembling the color of midnight without a moon. He was wearing Trilyn Police Force navy-blue clothing with the Trilyn crest displayed on a patch on the right sleeve of his jacket.

  “Good evening, Prince Darbnix.” The man I assumed to be Davon gave his leader a deep bow that embodied respect.

  “Davon.” Darbnix nodded diplomatically. “What are you doing here this late at night?”

  Davon flicked a skeptical glance in my direction and then focused his gaze back on Darbnix. There was an uncomfortable silence as the two men internally deliberated on what to do about the predicament of me standing there beside them.

  “I–I can go into another room if you’d like,” I suggested, stammering over my words at the start. I motioned down my hallway while they privately deliberated in my living room.

  Davon seemed relieved at the token of my gesture, but Darbnix didn’t skip a beat. “No.” He shook his head with finality, as if the subject wasn’t even up for debate. “You will stay here, with us. Anything Davon has to discuss with me, you can hear too.”

  Davon visibly squirmed as he waited for Darbnix to yield and step aside to grant him access into the house. The decision was out of his control, and by the way he somberly conformed and by his stiff body language, I could tell that he was fully aware of that fact.

  “Please,” Darbnix gestured. “Come in.” He finally gave the order that Davon had been waiting for.

  “I come tonight with information that might help you in making an informed decision on the problematic circumstances regarding the genetic scanners,” Davon declared, instantly diving in with a professional demeanor and a somber expression.

  “Okay.” Darbnix was all ears as he narrowed his eyes and inspected his crimes expert.

  Davon was close enough to me that I could now read his specific title on his badge. Computer Crimes Expert Within The Planetary Governments’ Intercontinental Law Enforcement Division.

  I was impressed, knowing this man’s intelligence must have reached prodigal genius categories, especially for Darbnix to be staring at him with such trust and respect glimmering in his eyes.

  “We were actually preparing to leave town for a while until all this chaos dies down,” Darbnix casually mentioned.

  “I would advise against that, Prince, at least for now.” Davon gave his ruler a stern frown of disapproval.

  “Why is that?” Darbnix asked. I continued to watch their exchange, observing as much information to absorb as possible, hoping that I would understand exactly what we might be facing with Tia and the issue of the scanner’s reliability.

  “I am diligently pursuing leads,” Davon began. “I may have valid evidence of possible tampering with the scanners that could convince your brothers to finally see the light and understand the gravity of how reckless these machines can be.”

  “Go on,” Darbnix coaxed.

  Davon’s eyes flashed as his glance wavered between me and Darbnix. “I still have reason to believe that Julia Morse might be behind this elaborate scheme.”

  “Do you also have proof that Tia Teller might be behind this tampering as well?” I belted out, unable to hide my curiosity and concern for the matter.

  Davon gave me a surprised glance, but Darbnix looked at me with noble pride.

  “I do believe that Tia Teller is Julia’s secret partner. Julia is probably the mastermind—”

  “While Tia is her little puppet on a string,” I interjected with a harsher tone than I’d expected.

  “Precisely.” Davon nodded with apprehensive approval.

  “How do we stop her?” Darbnix asked.

  “Well, there is one more piece of unfortunate news that I must divulge.” Davon shifted his weight somberly as he peered up at Darbnix with sorrowful eyes.

  “Out with it then,” Darbnix demanded impatiently, glancing back at me.

  I swallowed hard and tensed up, bracing for the impact of whatever it was that Davon might express.

  He took a deep breath, taking his time in expelling the sigh. “Julia Morse and Tia Teller are using their intelligence and their attractive looks to persuade the Earth press.”

  “Do you mean that they are trying to sabotage us by turning them against us?” The inflection with which Darbnix asked the question was the evidence to me that showed he already knew the miserable answer.

  “Unfortunately.” Davon gave his boss an irked smile as if he hated being the bearer of bad news, but it was a tough job, and somebody had to do it.

  Darbnix and I exchanged a glance. The situation was going from corrupt to worse, and we were not able to catch up with it in time before the mutilation of our characters was done.

  Chapter 15

  Darbnix

  “You must go back to her, noble Prince.” Davon’s expression was grave and somber as if he hated the fact that he had to be the one to enforce an unpopular rule to his beloved leader.

  “What?” I stared at him, then flicked my gaze back to Rose, who gave me a boost of encouragement with her smile. “Back to her? That money-thirsty bitch?” I still refused to address her by her true name.

  Davon nodded as he gazed at his feet. “I’m sorry, Prince.”

  “It’s the only way,” Rose said after a pause, cupping her petite hand over mine. The warmth of her touch surged through me with something tingly, immensely wonderful, and enlightening.

  “I can’t.” I shook my head and hung my shoulders in defeat. Then, I straightened myself and gave them both a stern glance. “I already declared my love for Rose. I won’t marry that wench. I will give up my throne and my power in order to maintain my principles.”

  “It’s more than that now,” Davon reminded me in a stern tone, shifting his lanky weight with his hands linked behind his back.

  I walked a few steps away, needing to take a breather from the conversation that I knew was coming but that I wished to stall for as long as possible.

  “Darbnix . . .” Rose’s voice was like an angel floating through my mind.

  “What?” I stated a little too harshly.

  She remained silent. I spun around, ready to breathe fire on anyone who prevented me from being able to match myself with the only woman I wanted in the world. I was met with fearful, fretful eyes. Both Davon and Rose were staring at me with apprehension.

  “I’m sorry.” I approached Rose, moving closer to her to wrap my arms around her slender waist. “This entire ordeal is stressful.”

  “It’s hard on everyone,” Davon mentioned. “That’s why you have me here, to keep your thoughts rational when you lose perspective.”

  “I haven’t lost perspective,” I hissed and then softened my demeanor again. “I’m sorry.” This time, I directed the apology to Davon. “It’s just . . . I already know what you are going to recommend.”

  “It has to be done.” Davon continued to be vague, perhaps intentionally.

  “Is she waiting back at my palace for me?” I already knew the answer to that as well.

  Davon wouldn’t meet my gaze as he nodded.

  I groaned, pounding my fist into the wall, nearly putting a hole through the drywall. I needed to discover some other type of medium for releasing my anger and frustration.

  “We need to get to the bottom of this assumed hacking into our system and the infiltration of our scanners,” Davon explained. “Trapping Tia Teller is the best way to do that,” he encouraged. “She is smart, but she’ll also have one very prominent vulnerability that will make her weaker than normal.”

  “What is that?” Rose was the one to pose the question, staring at Davon as if she couldn’t wait for the answer to be divulged.

  Davon shrugged, subtly journeying farther into the room. He spoke as if the answer was obvious, but not in a condescending tone because he knew I would probably punch a hole through his face if he did so.

  “She is
reckless.” Davon gestured toward me. “Like Prince Darbnix mentioned before, she is going to be the first to destroy herself or blow her cover because she is money and power hungry. That desire will make her weak, easier to crack.”

  A devious smile spread across my lips. “Okay . . .” I nodded. “I like the sound of that. I’m enjoying where this is going.”

  “You must go back to Ms. Teller,” Davon declared. “You must gather as much information on her as you possibly can, whether that’s by conversation or by spying on her routine and daily activities. Follow her around. Notice her habits. Familiarize yourself with her belongings. That way, if anything stands out, you’ll be the first to recognize it.”

  “He has a point.” Rose had her arms folded across her chest as she listened intently, raising an eyebrow.

  “I know,” I grumbled, heaving a deep breath as I slowly walked in a little circle of my own uncertainty.

  Maybe if I kept myself physically busy, I would eventually be able to rest my mind. I just couldn’t even fathom the idea of appealing to the horrid personality of Tia Teller. The concept of appeasing her, giving her kindness and attention . . .well, it was not only daunting to my stomach and mind, but sickening as well.

  I gave Davon a twisted smile laced with bitterness. My mood was sour, even if I knew he was right and I would have to relent in the end.

  “If I gain some knowledge on her, then maybe we will have enough to snag her up for being a suspect in the crime we have yet to prove?” Even as the question came out of my mouth, I knew that it sounded both outlandish and plausible.

  “That’s right.” Davon nodded with approval.

  Rose sighed behind me with ragged stress revealed in the way she released the oxygen from her lungs.

  I turned around and took her hands in mine, gently stroking them until I was sure she was pacified to a rational level.

  “I’m sorry . . .” I trailed off, feeling as if my apology was inferior. “I hate that you are having to be wrapped up in this turmoil. I wish there were something I could do.” I gave her a feeble smile.

  Rose didn’t look as disheartened as before. “It’s okay,” she whispered softly, pulling herself up on her tiptoes to tenderly give me a kiss on the lips. “You can make it up to me by catching this woman in the act.”

  “I have reason to believe that Ms. Teller is the puppet on the string,” Davon admitted. “Julia Morse is probably the one who is the ringleader of this operation, but—”

  “That’s where I come in,” I interrupted with an assertive nod. “I will do my best to cast a wide net and bait Tia Teller. It’s an opportunity that I won’t let slip through my fingers.”

  I gave Rose a sympathetic glance which was returned by the determined set to her eyes, blazing with cooperation into mine.

  I walked over to her, snaking my arms around her waist and giving her a gentle hug of affection. I hoped she would be able to feel my energy, to be consoled in the way I was holding onto her.

  “I’ll be back for you,” I whispered privately into her ear so that Davon wouldn’t overhear. “I promise.”

  Rose gave me a warm, affectionate smile. “I know you will,” she whispered back, her eyes shining with trust.

  The prospect of snuggling up to Tia at night, sharing a bed with her, made me nauseated. I was in the eye of the storm, but I would soon face the wrath of the winds lashing at me, emotionally and physically.

  There was nothing I could do. I simply had to face the storm head on, in the form of a drawling blonde-haired, blue-eyed bimbo who wanted me for my money. Two could play at this game. In the end, there would only be one winner, and I gave myself the mental assurance that it would be me.

  “Davon, do you mind if I speak to Rose privately for a minute?” I turned around to address him.

  “Of course.” Davon swiftly bowed and spun on his heel to leave the house. “I’ll be in touch if receive advisement of any developments in the case,” he called out over his shoulder before disappearing from view and sealing the door behind him.

  I turned around to focus my attention back to Rose. “I promise, I will never marry that vile woman.” I firmed my jaw, giving her a gaze that I never wanted to pull away from.

  “I know.” Rose stared at her hands and heaved a heavy-hearted sigh. “I trust you. It’s her I don’t trust.”

  “She won’t touch me,” I declared assertively. “I won’t allow her to lay a finger on me under any circumstances.”

  Rose breezed past me to glance out the window. A noncommittal expression hovered on her features. She was turned partially away from me, so it was difficult to wager what her eyes might reveal behind the external pain.

  I allowed her to stew and fester in her thoughts for a few moments, giving her a pause. I stood as still as a statue behind her.

  Eventually, she turned back around to face me with resilience in her gaze.

  “Just promise me one thing,” she said.

  “Anything.” I drifted to stand by her side, taking her hands in mine once again to cradle them there for warmth and security that fed both of us.

  “Don’t sleep with her.” Rose’s eyes flashed with disapproval.

  I faltered. “I might have to share a bed with her to make it believable—”

  “Don’t have sex with her,” she specified.

  I bellowed with laughter. “Are you serious? Not in a million years would I ever agree to consensual intimate relations with that gold-digging bitch.”

  Rose smirked, as if she approved of my name calling and was both humored and relieved by my response.

  “Thank you. That will reassure me more.” She smiled and squeezed my hands with hers.

  There was a moment where we both stared deeply into each other’s eyes. My heart raced. I wished that I could rip her clothes off and take her right there on the living room floor, but I knew that wasn’t a possibility right now. I had to get back to Tia. If anything, she would be expecting a response from me. The world would be expecting a response from me. I couldn’t leave anyone hanging. It was important that I played the part.

  “I’m off to display some of my finest acting skills,” I joked.

  Rose’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Hopefully, it will be an Oscar-worthy performance.”

  One thing was certain. I had to convince Tia that I was prepared to play the role of doting husband. If she didn’t buy my behavior, this failsafe plan was bound to crash and burn. The act had to go off without a hitch. I would either be able to schmooze her with my fakeness, or she would be smart enough to suspect something.

  If Davon was right, though, that would make my job at selling my relationship with Tia even more successful. She was money hungry and focused on power. It was a weak link that I aimed to take advantage of.

  I walked through the disappearing walls in my palace entrance, already hearing the demands and squeals of Tia’s farm-girl accent echoing through the hallways. I groaned and rolled my eyes, mentally preparing myself to enter the snake pit.

  “I told you, I want the salmon and the crab cakes for the reception, not the pork roast or the filet mignon!” Tia was verbalizing an exceptionally loud complaint, undoubtedly at one of the kitchen staff members.

  “Tia, always a pleasure.” My voice dripped with sarcasm that I wished I hadn’t been so weak as to expose.

  I entered the room and gave her a feigned smile through clenched teeth, biting my tongue until I tasted blood in order to prevent myself from immediately pouncing on her with a verbal display of my true emotions.

  “Darbnix!’ Tia exclaimed, raising her hands above her head and squealing as she jogged enthusiastically toward me.

  I noticed that her voluptuous chest was even more revealing today with a deep plunging neckline to her black dress that fit her curves like a glove. I wondered if she had already attempted to start spending my money to replenish her wardrobe with the finest and most luxurious clothes that wealth could buy.

  She pressed her chest to me
as soon as she reached my side. I gave her a reluctant hug but didn’t close my hands in around the small of her back like I would have with Rose. Rose was still front and center in my mind. I tried to shift my focus on exposing any secrets Tia might inadvertently have to offer, but I was prepared to expect it to take some time.

  “I missed you so much, baby.” Tia batted her eyelashes at me, stroked my arm with her perfectly manicured nails, and purred into my ears.

  My skin was crawling, but I took a deep breath and put on my fakest face, diving right into my bag of acting skills.

  “I just needed some time to think and regroup . . .” I trailed off, uncertain of how I should approach the subject with her.

  “And?” She paused, her hands planted on my chest. She raised her eyebrows and gave me an expectant look.

  “I will agree to take things slowly with you,” I admitted, hoping this declaration would buy me some time.

  “Take things slowly?” Tia wrinkled her nose and frowned as if this new information didn’t sit well with her. “Baby, we are getting married. There’s no time to take things slowly!” She laughed and swayed her hips against my groin in a seductive way.

  Just as I had suspected when I finally encountered her again, my sexual ambition and drive for pursuing a female were halted, dead in their tracks as soon as I had walked within ten feet of her.

  I knew I had to cooperate and compromise for the good of the cause at hand, so I did my best to gently appease her and keep her from throwing an abominable tantrum. After all, I had to make it look like I was succumbing to the plan to marry Tia as my genetic-scanned mate.

  It was a difficult task, but I had to remain up for the challenge. The will of the machine called out to me. The truth must be exposed, no matter how long it took for progress to be underway.

  I tried my best to subtly wiggle free from Tia’s steely grip, but it was no use. She was holding onto me for dear life, as if she just knew deep down in her heart that if she let me go, I’d escape her tyrant motives forever.