by T. S. Ryder
He stared at her, surprised, as if he had not expected her to say such a thing.
“If I killed you, I would be risking my own life. You are to be the king’s bride, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” he said in a sober voice as he got up to leave. For a second there, she thought his betrayed some measure of sadness. “Get dressed. There are clothes in the wardrobe over there; the bathroom is to your right,” he said, showing her the wardrobe.
“How can you be so selfish?” she whispered incredulously, as tears gleamed in her beautiful, brown eyes.
He stood there, unresponsive.
“I guess men are alike everywhere,” she said at last, resigned.
“Here. Take these. They will help you to breathe better.” He handed her two blue pills, ignoring her comment.
“This is a communicator and a key,” he said, in a formal, detached tone. He placed a small, round disc in her palm. He showed her how it opened the hidden panels in the wall, but not the doors. “You will wear it on your arm and, whenever you need me, you press and hold while you speak, and then release. And Natalie... Eat. You will need all of your strength. I’ll be watching,” he said with as he disappeared behind the door.
Natalie stared after him, bewildered. She quickly swallowed the pills with the help of the water, and the air in the room seemed to grow thicker.
She could not imagine in her wildest dreams that she could be far away from home aboard an alien spaceship. Alone and with an alien. And she had already made the horrible mistake of sleeping with him. Well, she didn’t deny he was an unusually handsome alien. But she was in serious trouble and she had no way to escape. What she dreaded most was the fact that she was being forced into marriage. It was unbelievable. Rage surged through her blood as tears streamed down her face. She was trapped. Would he help her if he wanted to? But why would he want to? She was just another slave for him to take to his king. He was right, in a way. He was just following orders.
***
Erdal lay back in the chair in his chambers, a glass of dark purple wine in his hand. He took a sip and savored the silky taste as it slid down his throat. It was one of the rare native wines they had on Estion.
This woman could be a problem for you, Erdal. She has a sharp tongue, and she speaks her mind. The king doesn’t like that, the dark voice inside his head said.
She was unusual, he had to agree. Compared to the other women he had abducted, she was rebellious. She had questioned him like no other had.
She thought he was selfish. Well, he was just doing his duty. He had seen sadness and resignation in her beautiful eyes that caused a strange tug in his heart. Guilt was something he had never felt before.
It’s not your fault. She means nothing to you. And you don’t have to listen to her, she’s manipulating you. Your job is to take her to the king as planned, the dark voice inside his head prodded.
But still, he couldn’t get rid of the feeling. It all seemed wrong somehow. Everything was different about this mission and he had no clue what to do. A headache returned as he took another sip of wine. He strode out toward the control room to check on their course. They had another month and seven days left till they reached Estion. He heaved a sigh, deciding to limit his interaction with the human female. She talked too much.
Chapter Four
Natalie stared out of the huge, rectangular window and into the black void. Her initial fear had been replaced by rage. Then, as the days went by and she saw less and less of her captor, despair had slowly taken over. She had been aboard the ship for over a month now, and she had been confined to her room for the entirety of the time. In space, it was easy to lose track of time. Thus, the communicator on her arm was quite helpful. She would ask the computer anything she wanted and it would tell her whether it was day or night.
The first few days, she cried into her pillow and drifted off to sleep after eating. Bingeing on food was the one thing that made her feel better, at least for a while. She would eat anything sweet. Later, she would hear her mother’s haughty voice in her head telling her she was pathetic, or her sister telling her she was lazy and wasn’t making enough effort to control her eating habits.
All her life they had made her feel she was a loser in every way. She was not popular in high school. She had a stupid job that didn’t pay well. Her boyfriend had dumped her for a slimmer woman. Now she was being whisked away across the universe to an unknown alien world. Whenever she thought of what lay ahead, a chill would run down her spine. But as the days went by in isolation, she thought that nothing mattered anymore. Whether she lived or died, only time would tell. Matt had left her, and now she was far away from home, soon to become a slave to a barbarian.
The door to her quarters silently slid open. Erdal stepped inside and saw her standing by the window. She wore a plain green shirt and black pants. Her hair flowed down her shoulders and back. She turned and saw him standing there.
“We land in two hours,” he said coldly.
He strode toward the wall and opened a panel, revealing the wardrobe there. He pulled out an ivory-white dress and placed it on the chaise longue near him. The dress had a low V-neck front and it flowed down from the waistline, cutting off just above the knees.
“Put this on. When we land, we will go to see the King right away,” he said as she stared at him. His cold, penetrating gaze made her shudder, and she blinked several times before looking away.
He saw the innocent soul behind those big eyes and the tremendous effort she was making to put up a brave front. She was determined to ensure that he wouldn’t see how frightened or despondent she was. His jaw clenched and his hands tightened into a fist. It took everything he had not to pull her into his arms and kiss her, reassuring her that everything would be alright. Oh, what was she doing to him?
Get a grip, Erdal. This is not the first woman you have abducted, the dark voice mocked. You are pathetic!
“Why me?” she whispered as she stared down at her hands, wringing them together.
“What?” he asked, frowning.
“Why did you take me? You could have taken any other woman there. Prettier ones. I just want to know – why me?” She heaved a sigh as she said the words.
“I don’t know. I just...” he began. For a split second, his eyes softened. Then, the cold walls were up again. “Never mind,” he said.
He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t tell her she resembled the beloved wife he had lost. Or that he had run out of time on her planet and she had just happened to be there.
“Get dressed. We don’t have much time,” he said as he strode out of the room.
Natalie was perplexed. What was his problem? Why couldn’t he answer a simple question?
***
Two hours later, they landed on Estion. Natalie stood in front of the mirror in the white dress, white pumps adorning her small feet. She looked ethereal in the alien attire, her eyes exceptionally bright. Her stomach was in knots and she was having difficulty breathing. Erdal came for her, blue breathing pills in tow. She swallowed them and followed him outside. He wore a dark, leather-like shirt, dark pants, a dark blue cloak around his shoulders, and his katana slung across his back.
The balmy air hit her face as she followed him down the walkway and set foot on the terrain of Estion. The planet’s gravity was different from that of Earth and her body felt slightly lighter. She looked around, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the bright, golden sunlight. The planet was similar to Earth – the sky was blue and the grass green.
An oblong, capsule-shaped car waited for them. Erdal helped her get in and drove them to the King’s palace. Natalie’s head spun and she gripped her seat as the car moved forward at full throttle. Erdal was quiet as he effortlessly drove the car. The roads were suspended almost fifty feet in the air like long, curvy bridges.
He watched her fidget with her hands as she looked outside, observing the new environment. She would occasionally sigh and take a deep breath. He wondered what she was
thinking. He felt helpless not knowing what was going on in her mind. It was exasperating. He had to remind himself that she was the king’s bride. He gave her a sidelong glance and saw the way the fabric of her dress clung to her full breasts. She simply looks beautiful, he thought. Once again, his chest constricted as he felt the now familiar tug in his heart. Taking a deep breath, he quickly shifted his focus to the road.
***
She hurried after him, barely keeping up, as he held the chains of the shackles binding her delicate wrists. He wondered why she hadn’t protested when he put those shackles on her trembling hands before they had entered the great palace halls.
The palace was gigantic. Huge, dark columns lined both sides of the walls. The floor was burnished marble with intricate gold, white, and black geometrical patterns joined together harmoniously. Tall, narrow arched windows lined both sides of the hallway, sunlight lighting the way. A skylight ran all the way from one end of the ceiling to the other.
They reached two grand doors and entered a large hall. The throne room was decorated similarly to the grand hallway outside.
King Zutaar sat on the grand marble and gold throne. Erdal stood before him and bowed before leading Natalie forward.
“On your knees, woman,” Erdal ordered, in a cold, hard voice.
Natalie was on her knees. A few steps led up to the king’s throne. She looked up and gasped as the king’s cold, silver-gray eyes seared into hers. Shuddering, she started trembling. He was a huge, hulking man who eyed her, head tilted. He wore dark clothes and a strange, silver armor on his arms. His pale-gray skin and silver-white hair were unfamiliar. But what unnerved her the most was the look in his eyes. They held the dark gleam of madness... She blinked rapidly and looked down at her hands as her heartbeat intensified. He looked her up and down. She felt him undressing her with his steely, lewd eyes and blood rose to her cheeks. Tears threatened to escape the backs of her eyes, thus she dared not look up again.
“Hmm... Not bad, Erdal. She’s a fine piece of work. As always, you have done a good job,” the king drawled in a deep, throaty voice. “I’m impressed.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Erdal said quietly. Her small, frail frame trembled as she knelt before the king. His chest constricted again, his jaw clenched. His hands turned into fists, knuckles turning white. What was wrong with him?
Don’t let her affect you like this, Erdal. You are losing it, the dark voice snarled.
“Erdal, I will put her in your care. Tell the women to start the preparations and get her ready,” Zutaar ordered.
“Yes, my lord.” Erdal bowed and pulled Natalie up to her feet. He led her away, but she could still feel the king’s eyes on her receding back.
“Er-Erdal? Where are you taking me?” she asked once they were outside, stammering. She was still shaking.
“To the king’s harem,” he said, dragging her behind him. He stopped short and took off the shackles. The metal had already begun to cut into her delicate wrists. “The women there will help you get ready for the wedding.”
“Erdal, I’m scared. Please do something. I... I can’t marry him,” she implored, as tears streamed down her face.
He led her down a stone path and crossed a garden until they eventually reached a pair of heavily carved wooden doors. He turned toward her and pulled her close to him, gazing deep into her eyes.
“Learn to please the king if you want to survive, woman. I have been assigned to take care of you. Behind this door is the harem. The women in there are the king’s wives. They will help you get ready. The wedding will be in a few days,” he explained.
“Okay,” she said, in a resigned voice, trying to compose herself as she took a deep breath.
“I have to go now,” he said, as he opened the door and led her inside. “Make sure your translator is working,” he said, his fingers brushing her left ear as he checked that the small, round device was secure.
The hallway was dimly lit and a fountain bubbled in the center. Sunlight streamed in through a skylight that lit up the foaming water. A woman shrouded in a dark gown came toward them.
“Zora, this is Natalie. The king wants her ready in three to four days. Get her settled. Teach her your ways. I’ll check in on you tomorrow,” he said to the woman as she took Natalie’s hands in her own. Her bony fingers were cold as ice. She had a pale, gaunt face and looked old. There was a look in her amber eyes that screamed unhappiness.
Erdal let himself look at Natalie for one long moment and, for just a second, she saw sadness in his emerald gaze. She couldn’t tell for sure, though. He was half hidden in the shadows and her eyes were blurry with tears. With one last glance, he turned and paced outside as the heavy doors closed behind him.
Natalie followed Zora down the hall toward the end of a large staircase. Zora led her upstairs and they walked down another hallway until they reached a pair of doors. Zora took a badge from her arm and held it against the panel on the door. It unlocked with a ping. She stepped inside and Natalie followed.
“This will be your chamber from now on,” she said, as Natalie took in the small room and its white walls.
The room was sparsely decorated with only a single bed by the wall, a small dresser with a mirror, and a door to a bathroom in the corner. She walked toward the window overlooking the palace gardens.
“You will find clothes and accessories in the wardrobe over there,” Zora said, pointing to the wall on her right.
“How many women live here?” Natalie asked.
“I have lost count. The women here are the ones who have survived over the years,” Zora said, as she left the room.
***
Over the course of next few days, Natalie found out more about the King’s women in the harem. They were all from different worlds, yet each was abducted and brought here for the king’s pleasure. None were alike. Some were blue-skinned, some green-skinned, and some were yet another hue. Most of them were humanoid with only a few distinctive features. The common ground they all shared was the resignation and despair in their eyes. “We have accepted our fate,” Zora told her one day. Natalie came to know that she was the oldest bride. She was also firmly informed that the king had a bad temper and the only way to please him would be to quietly submit without resistance.
Chapter Five
Estion
It was the day before the wedding, and Natalie woke up shivering. She was burning up with a fever and her whole body ached. She had been throwing up all morning.
Erdal would usually drop by to check in on her every day and that very day he found her in her chambers, still in bed and half-conscious as she moaned, shivering. He immediately rushed her to the palace infirmary where Dr. Barca checked her thoroughly, took a sample of her blood, and ran some tests.
“I want a complete report on her condition, doctor, in my office ASAP,” Erdal said, in a firm voice.
“Sir, I will do my best,” he said, as Erdal left her in his care.
Two hours later, the doctor came into Erdal’s office with the report.
“I have news for you, my lord,” he said, his expression grave.
“Yes. Proceed,” Erdal said.
“The fever has gone down and she will be fine in a day or two. It’s viral. But there’s something else...” he said hesitantly.
“What is it?” Erdal said, his heart racing.
“She’s pregnant. Almost six weeks now,” Dr. Barca said.
“What?” he exclaimed, fighting a wave of panic.
“Sir, I’m afraid it’s true. And one thing is for sure. The fetus is a hybrid: human and Darrenkar,” he said.
“I see,” Erdal said, clenching his fists as he tried to stay calm.
“I also ran the fetal DNA through our database and it matches yours,” he said cautiously.
“You keep this to yourself, Barca,” Erdal said, giving the doctor a serious look.
“Yes, sir,” the doctor said and left the room.
Erdal slumped back in his chair behi
nd the desk as multiple thoughts raced through his mind. He got up and walked toward the side cabinet and poured himself a glass of dark wine. He took a swig, draining his glass, and wiped his lips with a soft, linen cloth.
What would he do now? If the king found out about the pregnancy, he would be doomed. And Natalie, poor woman… Her fate would be no less cruel. He knew the King and how he punished those who displeased him all too well. He couldn’t blame anybody but himself. He clearly remembered the night he had held her. He could still smell her sweet, intoxicating scent, still feel her soft body against his, her soft curves, still taste her sweet taste... His eyes darkened at the thought and he closed them, trying to think of a way out.
You have been a fool, Erdal. I had warned you... the dark voice in his head ridiculed him.
The same feeling played with his heartstrings. He felt responsible for her, and the feeling gnawed at him. He had made a mistake and now he would have to face the consequences. He must find a way to make things right.
***
It was dark outside as he stood near her bed, gazing at her sleeping form. With the fever gone, she seemed so peaceful. Her ivory skin glowed in the dim, golden light of the lamp, and her breathing was stable. He had the urge to touch her face with his fingertips… To feel her lips on his again.
Stop right there! Why do you care whether she lives or dies? She is human, Erdal. Her kind killed Kira, the dark voice said sinisterly. You must carry out the King’s orders. No need to think too much.
The king found out sooner than Erdal had expected. The doctor had told him, no doubt out of fear of the consequences he might face if he hadn’t. The King was furious and, as punishment, he had demoted Erdal almost three levels. Moreover, he had ordered him to kill her...
He closed his eyes and tried to control his racing heart. The throbbing pain in his temples had returned.
Natalie stirred and her eyes fluttered open. Her vision blurred and she closed them again, blinking a few times as she tried to focus. She was in her room and then she turned and saw him watching her. She gasped as his emerald gaze pierced hers. It took a moment for her to realize where she was.
