ARMOR [New World Book 2]

by C. L. Scholey

  * * * *

  Amy stood with her mouth gaping when she was led onto the largest space vessel she had ever seen. It looked to be the equivalent of a black flying domed football stadium. It sat hovering over the ground. The trees underneath had shattered into splinters, obviously crushed as the ship had settled. Rows of broken stumps all sheared to the same size looked to be supporting it. It was like looking at a sea of tree headstones. A sleek, hovering black walkway rolled down to give them access. When Dasks climbed onto the entry, Amy was surprised his clawed feet didn’t clunk against the walkway. She realized why when she stepped up; the entry was soft under her feet. The walkway rolled back up, in fact it slid horizontally like a wall of thick water closing behind them and sealing their fate—whatever it may be.

  Dasks carried Leah in his arms as she was barely breathing. What gasps of air she struggled to take sounded sucked from a straw. She was limp and unresponsive. Amy and Meg had a hard time when they had half-carried half-dragged her from the cave. Talsk held Lisa in his arms. The little girl had fallen asleep against him after he had offered the child food which she had eaten enthusiastically. The gift of the young, not judging of looks. Only Talsk’s kindness had mattered.

  The air aboard the vessel was sweet, clear, and Amy coughed with unexpectedness. She was used to dust and smoke assaulting her lungs. Inside was open and beautiful and clean. Amy remembered clean; she longed for it. She was uncomfortably aware of just how filthy she was and wrapped her arms around herself wishing she could hide from her own stench.

  It took everything in Amy not to flee when another large creature approached. It was on all fours. Huge claws moved across the vessel at a fast rate jumping from wall to ground to wall. Powerful muscles bunched when it leapt then stretched its arms out before it to devour the surface in seconds like a great beast of prey. Amy could see its claws dig into the soft tan surface of the craft giving it sure footing. The material beneath her feet was spongy, almost bouncy and felt like a carpet that was way too thick. The deference the other two creatures showed toward the approaching being led her to understand he was their leader.

  “I said no males,” the creature thundered.

  When he rose to his full height while still in motion and continued toward them without breaking stride, Amy gasped. He was larger than Dasks.

  Amy jumped at his booming voice which carried deep into the vessel surrounding them.

  Lisa woke and began crying. Craig scooted back a few steps, wide-eyed, and bumped into Talsk. Talsk placed his claw-like hand onto the boy’s shoulder and his talons settled across Craig’s chest, holding him against his armor.

  “This one is the male child’s mother, Cobra,” Dasks said. He indicated the unresponsive woman he held cradled to his massive chest.

  “Male Earthling creatures have no hope of survival on our planet. They will never develop a shield and nor will they have the protection of a Castian warrior. Fair game for any attacking Tonan,” Cobra snapped. “I am not being cruel. I am stating fact.”

  “And the little females?” Talsk asked.

  “They are children, Talsk. They are welcome aboard. Human females mature at the same rate as Castian females did when they were alive. Our men will still be able to shield them while they are children, as that’s instinct. Without females, we cannot breed. When they are grown, they will have the protection of their mates,” Cobra said, turning to walk away and dismissing them.

  Amy stiffened in anger.

  “So that’s it?” Amy snapped. Her feet were in motion moving forward of their own violation. “Why will your warriors not shield a male child?”

  Cobra stopped and turned.

  For a second Amy hesitated and contemplated retreat then stood her ground. Amy’s eyes widened in stunned surprise when the creature’s black armor began disappearing back into his body. It was absorbed, with nothing remaining when it was done. Before her stood a man. He was huge and solid, commanding. His facial features seemed chiseled in marble. Amy hoped his heart wasn’t made of stone. The armor had hugged his body. Every muscular ripple she had seen before was his. The armor had been black as titanite; the man before her looked to be deeply tanned. Amy remembered Dasks had said his planet sported two suns.

  The transformation was stunning. No longer was Cobra some hideous beast with fangs and bulbs for eyes. He was barefoot, void of claws and talons, and bare-chested. Sleek black pants molded to his hips and thighs and generous maleness. Amy swallowed hard when he stood before her. Her head didn’t reach his shoulders. Her face tilted back to look up into his eyes. His features were set. He was a being of great power. She felt herself begin to tremble. She wouldn’t back down. A child’s life was at stake. Amy had nothing to lose. Imminent death made one brazen.

  When Cobra’s hand lifted to her cheek Amy saw Dasks tense beside her. The backs of Cobra’s fingers slid down her soft skin. They were warm and slightly damp. His healthy, zealous darkness was a poignant contrast to her pale deathly white skin. He was strikingly handsome. Long black hair hung to his shoulders. His eyes were dark brown, compelling and looked too old to belong to such a young virile man. She should have been terrified, but oddly his touch was calming. It felt nice to have his damp fingers touch her skin. She had no more urge to argue with him. It was as though her anger was being drawn from her. But she felt her desolation build.

  “Isn’t there something?” she whispered. “He’s a good boy. He’ll die if left all alone.”

  “You have no idea what you ask. A Castian male has never had to shield another male, not even their own offspring. Our males are born with a shield that develops into the armor that you see on us and they never lose it,” Cobra replied. “You have no understanding of our ways, little female.”

  Cobra removed his fingers from her skin and Amy felt like she had been released from some type of hold.

  “Perhaps not, but I understand a show of compassion,” she challenged. “If you take the women of Earth from our planet without their male offspring, you will be hated as well as feared.”

  Cobra seemed to ponder her words.

  He nodded. “Take the woman to our healing waters,” he commanded Dasks. “If she lives, the boy may stay; if she dies, he leaves my ship. The female children will stay regardless.”

  Cobra spun on his heels and left—his word was law aboard his vessel. Amy could hear it in his tone and the way Dasks and Talsk nodded immediately. Amy hoped with all her heart Leah would survive. Piece by piece Cobra’s armor locked into place without a sound. Soon he was moving at a blurring rate as he pounced from floor to wall. It was like watching a mobile robust machine. Amy watched him leave until the magnitude of the vessel enveloped him. Everywhere she looked she saw powerful men with and without their armor. There were levels to the ship. Higher was all in darkness. At first Amy wondered how they reached those areas until she saw a few of the armored creatures scale the walls to the upper levels. They went on all fours to openings and then just stepped onto platforms void of armor when reaching their destination. It was a hive of activity. They worked side-by-side without much said verbally and yet each seemed to know what the other was doing. It was as though they sensed each other. Amy shook off a chill.

  Another armored male approached and Amy shied back. He took Leah from Dasks. Lisa struggled within Talsk’s arms to go with her mother, but he held her. His armor began receding back into his flesh.

  Amy was surprised. Talsk was very handsome. Dark blue eyes shined where the bulbs had been. His long blond hair hung shoulder-length like all the other men. Curiously, Amy glanced around. All the men aboard appeared to be either dark-haired or blond—it was no wonder they stared at Meg’s riot of red matted curls.

  Lisa stared wide-eyed at Talsk’s transformation. Her tiny little fingers reached up to feel his face—like all the others, he was clean-shaven. Not even a smidgeon of stubble dotted his chin. Fine white-blond eyebrows were barely visible. Talsk was smiling at the girl. He hefted the child’s slight
weight easily. His large hand, void now of talons, slid over her matted hair. He sniffed her neck making the child squeal and giggle.

  “I want one of these,” Talsk said and grinned, obviously enchanted. He bounced her up and down making her laugh with delight.

  It had been a long time since Amy had seen the child smile. For an odd reason, it made her feel defensive.

  “She’s not a pet,” Amy said angrily. “Give her to me.”

  Amy reached for the child and jumped back when Talsk’s armor snapped together like lightning. Lisa disappeared within. There was no trace of her, not even an outline of her tiny form.

  Maddy screamed. “You ate my little sister,” she howled.

  “I did not eat her,” Talsk growled. He then looked over to Dasks. “She’s in here with me. Pressed to my chest. Can’t you see her?”

  “I can’t even sense her,” Dasks replied gruffly.

  “Cobra said it was instinct. It just happened when I sensed your female’s anger, Dasks,” Talsk said with sheer amazement. “My armor is regulating the little one’s breathing and core temperature like it would my own. It’s running a scan. She has a virus my armor is attacking.”

  To Amy, it appeared he was telling the truth. Though he was void of facial expression when armored she detected the wonder in his tone of voice. Amy had been angry. She felt lacking when Talsk had coaxed a laugh from the child. Talsk had reminded her of their failure at providing for the children. Lisa had a cold, and all were terrified it was the start of pneumonia like her mother.

  “She feels fine now,” Talsk said.

  Piece-by-piece the armor came down to reveal the child pressed tight to Talsk’s chest. Her head lifted.

  “Me was stuck,” Lisa said. She inhaled. “Me cold is gone.”

  Amy was amazed; the child didn’t seem fazed a bit by what had just transpired.

  Lisa held her arms out for Amy. Reluctantly Talsk handed her over.

  Leah’s other daughter began sobbing and Meg picked up the six-year-old. Her hand ran over the child’s hair.

  “Don’t cry, Maddy. They are trying to help your mother, and see, Lisa is fine. Talsk didn’t hurt her,” Meg said.

  “Will they kill my brother?” Maddy asked.

  “No,” Amy said sharply and leveled a hard stare at Dasks. “Are you going to keep hiding?”

  When Dasks’ armor began unclasping his body, Amy was surprised. His hair was black as night, straight, sleek and shiny like his armor and hung to his shoulders. His skin was smooth and tanned. His biceps flexed. In fact, all of his muscles seemed bunched. The power behind those incredible bulges was awesome. He was bare-chested and barefoot. Identical black pants matching Cobra’s hugged his delicious hips. Amy clamped her mouth closed to keep from drooling. She couldn’t believe the transformation. He was a very handsome alien. It was hard not to feel a tingle of attraction toward an Adonis God.

  Oh my.

  Her knees felt weak and actually wobbled. This hunk wanted to mate with her? Oh if only… Dark brown dreamy eyes settled onto her. She could get lost in his stare. Her head tilted with some confusion when she was compelled to look deeper. For some odd reason Dasks looked furiously angry.

  Chapter 3

  Dasks ordered another two warriors to take the children and watch them.

  Amy gave up the little girl only after being reassured the children were going to get food and the boy wouldn’t be harmed.

  Dasks scowled when he sensed she didn’t quite believe him. Dasks could tell she wanted to trust him but wasn’t sure of herself. It was a bit hard for Dasks to know for certain as her pheromones spiked while she gazed up at him. The smell was somewhat intoxicating and made him feel a little less sure of himself. Who was she attracted to? Him? Cobra? Talsk? Dasks wasn’t able to center on her scent when she was experiencing too many emotions so quickly. It made his head ache and he could growl with the frustration he was feeling.

  Talsk also sensed the woman’s hesitation and smiled at her.

  Grumpily Dasks watched first as Talsk hefted the slight weight of the female child, Maddy, to his chest. Talsk’s armor enclosed over the child for a few brief seconds—like a pro. When released, he declared the little female free of parasites and a small broken finger on her left hand was repaired.

  Talsk was sympathetic when Craig snuffled and swiped at a runny nose and declared if he could, he would encase the male. His shield wouldn’t allow it. The idea was far too unfamiliar. Hopefully the healing water would help him even though he was male. The water had not been tested on a male before; Castian warriors had not needed it.

  For now, Amy needed to trust Dasks and Talsk and take them at their word.

  Amy acted amazed while she checked the little female over. Her grateful look shined onto Dasks’ warrior mate when he gave her his word yet again the male child wouldn’t be caused any harm.

  Only a cruel being would hurt something so small and defenseless. Dasks was angry he hadn’t thought to check the female child over. Dasks was already furious Cobra had touched his female. Dasks had felt her distress when Cobra had approached and would have soothed her himself but he was holding the limp woman in his arms.

  Dasks could sense the female, Leah, would be fine. Dasks’ armor couldn’t heal her—she wasn’t his mate or blood relative and she wasn’t a female child. The healing waters would cure her. Cobra would allow the boy to stay. But in doing so, the little male would be Cobra’s responsibility. Dasks wondered what he would do with him. Cobra hadn’t lied—the war with the Tonans was volatile. No one knew when they would strike next. Because both Tonan and Castian warriors were armored, the battle between the two races was almost impossible to end. Both sides were almost indestructible. It had been this way for thousands of years. Each side needed to develop a unique fighting stance to get the upper hand.

  Frustrated with his simmering emotions, Dasks’ armor came up; he tossed Amy over his shoulder and scaled the walls to level five with her howling in fear the entire way. Apparently his little female had an aversion to heights. His scowl deepened when he realized she actually thought he might drop her. Talsk followed with Meg who remained silent. Their rooms were adjacent and Talsk disappeared into his with his female.

  “These are my rooms, and now yours,” Dasks said as he marched Amy into his cabin. His armor dropped when he set Amy onto her feet.

  Amy glared at him. “Don’t you have elevators?”

  “What are elevators?”

  “Never mind,” she snapped.

  Amy walked over to a huge window that ran the length of this room. They were still on Earth. The ship would remain on Earth until they reached their quota of females if possible. Their vessel’s shield was growing weaker by the moment with very little to no sun to regenerate it. They had at most seven Earth days. Many warriors went out in search of prizes but very few were successful. On Earth, female humans were few and far between. So far any female found had some type of injury. Dasks sensed no injury on his little female—but there was something…

  The sky had darkened. Meteors were once again bombarding the surface. They zapped against the ship’s shield and exploded harmlessly. One exploded against the window and Amy jumped back. She wrapped her arms around her chest. She looked forlorn. Once more she moved forward, her fingers splaying against the window as she gazed at the mass devastation. Amy’s breathing increased and she grew more fearful as the meteors continued to fall and explode before her. From their height, they had a clear line of vision of the ravaged Earth. Lights from the ship lit up the area for miles. It looked like a fiery gray wasteland. Billowing dull clouds hung low in the air. Rolling, smoky fog expanded to the skies like mountains riding massive tidal waves.

  Dasks had seen images of Earth in its glory. Colorful greens and reds and purples had littered the ground in lush multitudes. Clear clean water gave refuge to sleek water creatures. Beautiful birds had soared under a bright sun. Snow, something Dasks had never seen, was an amazing white. It looked
magnificent when spread out covering tree and ground. It was gone. Everything bright and brilliant. The snow was gray—icy death. It was a sad desecration of what once was and would never be again.

  Dasks went to stand close to Amy. Her face was an open book of raw emotion reflecting back against the glassy surface. Dasks wasn’t sure of the foreign scent he caught from her. He knew he didn’t like it. He went to stand even closer and inhaled deeply.

  Amy frowned at him.

  “I’m not dinner,” she snapped.

  He narrowed his eyes onto her. “I know that scent; it’s in the recesses of my mind, but I have never smelled it before now. It’s the scent of deceit.”

  Amy paled and shifted uncomfortably.

  Dasks now smelt fear. He smelt her aloneness, her sadness and wondered at it. She was afraid of him…no, not of him physically. Just afraid. Unbidden his hand lifted to her face and he stroked her cheek. Droplets of moisture from his skin seeped into her. It absorbed before his very eyes. Amy calmed immediately. With surprise he found her pressed against his chest. Slim arms settled around his waist. Her cheek was warm against his skin. Something in his secretions must have drawn her to him to seek shelter.

  Interesting.

  Dasks liked how she nestled close to him. And though conflicted, her emotions settled during their touch. She was so warm and so small. Dasks felt the urge to mate with her grow strong. His hand lifted and touched her hair. It was matted and coarse, with the strands clumped together and Dasks’ nose wrinkled. Her belly made a strange sound. His little female needed to wash and eat. It was up to him to see to her needs.

  “Come with me,” Dasks said and took her hand.

  Amy was led to a small room.

  Dasks asked for light knowing she couldn’t see when the room was in darkness. He smiled when she gasped at the sight before her. The room was where he cleansed. The hologram was of a distant, clear bluish green pond on his planet surrounded by a multitude of brilliant foliage. Amy moved on slow feet, her hand touching one of the red ferns and he saw a small smile. She bent low to inhale the Effie flower. The water steamed and Dasks began to undress. When Amy turned around and saw him nude, she squealed and covered her hands over her eyes.