“I am from... my mother is the queen of Isles,” I lie pathetically.
She scowls. “Queer, I thought Erien said you were the Queen or is it, must be.”
“Uhm, I… No.” I don’t know what to say.
“Isles, did you say? What are they called?”
I feel like drowning in my chair. Why did Erien have to lie? It makes everything so complicated, and he is not even here to rescue me from his lies.
“Regardless, I never heard about a Queen of Isles when I was on Earth,” she comments.
“We are a very private family… Of course, our wealth has led many men to jealousy. They did kill our uncle just to seize his horses,” I mention, excitement building at how easily I can weave a story. Who cares, I think, it’s not like anyone will go to Earth to check facts about where I come from. “So, in a sense, Erien was telling the whole truth except there are no demons in my story, only other bad humans.”
The Queen laughs. I think she is bought. This is the first time she has laughed from all her brooding earlier. I feel that even my vomiting incident can be forgiven.
“You know what,” Queen Elertria says suddenly. “I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” I am curious.
“When I heard my son had brought a bride from earth, I just couldn’t help it. Wait here.”
With graciousness, she leaves me alone at the high table. As soon as the guests see the Queen depart, they also start to make their exit, each one giving me a glance before they leave. I suppose they had only stayed for the delightful food they don’t need because of the royal family. Now that none of the Royals remained at the high table, they could leave as well. I am not royal; not yet anyway. I feel the same way an animal in the zoo would. I am not important to these Soleroids, they just find me strange. I can see some of them pointing at my skin, clearly wanting to touch me. I don’t have scales as they do. And even though Erien tried to rid himself of his scales while on Earth, they grew right back. Soon enough, the spectators leave and I am left alone. I hate feeling alone. I hate being alone. It’s the way I’ve been all my life.
The wait is uncomfortable. I shift in my seat in discomfiture, half hoping that Erien will come and save me, and desperately wishing that this is not a mean prank. Even if it isn’t, I am not used to receiving gifts. Whatever the Queen has in store, I plan to refuse it.
And just when I am thinking that I am the butt of a cruel joke, Elertria returns. The hall is empty but for me and some maids who are waiting on me. Queen Elertria returns with a maid behind her. The maid is carrying a heavy covered tray. Preceding them is a wonderful smell of deep-fried roast chicken. I feel my mouth water. I haven’t smelt anything so good in days.
“You brought me food?” I ask when the tray is set in front of me.
“Open it,” the Queen dares me.
I am apprehensive and excited all at once. Lifting the lid off the tray, I gasp in joyful surprise.
“McDonalds!” I exclaim.
I almost burst into tears of joy. The chicken I grew up on. It is still in the packaging as if it was bought straight from a drive-through. I have never been happier. I come so close to hugging Elertria but I restrain myself. Maybe I will appear more polite if I feigned boredom, however, I can’t conceal the excitement of seeing something so familiar in this strange place.
“You seem happy,” Elertria says.
“I am so hungry, you have no idea.” I suddenly forget all her prior meanness or any wrong that Erien did. All I can think of is my thanks to her, for giving me this food.
The Queen stands over my shoulder. I am rooted to my seat, salivating. This is the best thing that has happened to me since I came to Solasis, and to imagine that I was starting to hate the Queen.
“I bet you rarely ate this back on Earth,” she says.
“Are you kidding me? This was my to-go food. Only a dollar for the king size and sometimes I would buy off a kids meal just to get a toy.” At that, Elertria furrows her brow. Excitement makes me talk too much. “It comes with coke too.” I can’t help but add.
“Yes,” she replies icily. With a snap of a finger, she dismisses the maid.
I don’t want Elertria to think that I am being ungrateful. To show her how much I am in awe of her, I lift the moistest chicken thigh and bite a healthy chunk off of it. A warm feeling spreads through my body that instant. It feels so good even though I had bitten my tongue not too long back. I lick the juices off my fingers. I feel joy spread through my body at the chicken that tastes so much like home. I am digging into the fries when I have the grace to tear my gaze away from the McDonalds box and up at the Queen. I am taken aback that her face is twisted in utter distaste. I had forgotten my manners, or did I? I think quickly. I ate as gracefully as I could given the hunger in my stomach. Still, I don’t take a bite of the French fries I am dying to eat. I wait while the volcano inside the Queen reaches the surface.
“I… I knew it!” She bangs her fist on the table. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?” The warm feeling disappears from me.
“You are no aristocrat. Your mother was no Queen…”
“But I… I…” I don’t know what has given me away. And just when I thought everything was going to be alright.
The Queen is livid, I can see it in her eyes. “Do you think you will just come from small town Texas to take over my kingdom?” she points an accusing finger at me.
“I am not from Texas… and I know nothing.”
“You dare talk back to me, hell girl?” She screams. Her skin turns grey from all the anger bottled inside her tiny frame. “I knew you couldn’t be Royal. First, you eat like a pig; you even eat with your hands! A Royal wouldn’t be accustomed to such cheap fast food. A true royal wouldn’t even care for this… this.” She tosses the French Fries aside.
“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to lie to you,” I tell her.
“So how did you end up with my son, you nobody? How come it is you that he chose to return with when we have the finest women here? What did you do, did you open your fat legs and show him the softness between your legs? Did he like it? Is that why you are here?” She is screaming at me.
“I don’t know why I am here, but all I know is I love Erien.”
“You love his wealth more like. You knew he was an Alien prince so you thought you could be Queen of the Universe. Well, you are never going to be that, prostitute!”
I gasp aloud. “I am not a prostitute!”
“Then if you are so high-born, tell me the name of your Isles. Tell me the name of your Queen father and Queen mother, because I met all such blood when I was on Earth, so tell me because I will find out anyway.”
“I am not Royal, at all,” I whisper, almost to myself.
As if on cue, the maid returns bearing a tray of coca cola. The Queen grabs it. In one swift movement, she twists it open and splashes the soda content onto my face.
“Have your dose of soda hell girl!” She sneers.
The Queen then retraces her steps and leaves the hall. I am left to nurse the sticky sugar on my face, dress, and hair. I cannot believe the good food has gone to waste as well. Too tired to cry, I peer through the empty air. I only want to go home. I want to go back to Earth.
Chapter Fourteen
Erien
My mind is racing as quickly as my feet. I pace, furious, in a private waiting room of the castle. It is the only place I can think to be left alone. I need to think. I am extremely muddled at the turn of events. Alice must hate me by now. I don’t blame her. What I did was distasteful. I should apologize to her, and yet whenever I want to return to the banquet hall I stop myself. I cannot stand to be near my mother right now.
I could easily return to my room yet I fear that Alice will soon return there and I haven’t yet thought of how to make it up to her. I have a feeling that smooth lovemaking won’t buy her forgiveness. Besides, I am still haunted by the cold memory of Mother tree. If I have to comfort Alice, she would have to kn
ow the whole truth. I don’t think that would end well either. I am about to make up my mind when I sense a figure behind me.
I turn swiftly, only to come face to face with my brother Kravis. I am so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn’t hear him coming. I don’t want to see him either. I haven’t forgiven him for taking Sasha away from me, though I only loved her for her body and nothing else. And that he dared to touch Alice when I wasn’t there infuriates me beyond reason.
“Erien, it’s typical of you to flay your betrothed and then leave her to hang,” he teases.
“Leave her out of your schemes!” I growl.
“If you don’t leave your bird alone when she is most vulnerable, why, I don’t see how I can keep my hands away.” He knows exactly what he’s done and he is proud of it. I want to punch him, nonetheless, I have had enough drama for a day. I need to think.
I make for the door but Kravis blocks my exit.
“Don’t think you can avoid me, little brother?”
I inhale deeply. At the same moment, I remember another thing that has been bugging me since my return. “What happened to father?”
Kravis scoffs. “He is weak, not worthy to rule.”
“How?”
“When Mother returned from hell after so many years, he was so shaken that he dropped his royal crown. Everyone saw it. The same way your betrothed dropped her crown even before it became hers.”
“Don’t you dare mention her name!”
“If that makes you sleep easier,” he whistles a soft tune.
I am very angry yet I need to know how it is that Mother became Queen. I’d rather have Kravis on the throne than her. Though she is my mother, she is a cold, cruel, and selfish woman – as any true Soleroid should be.
“And so, just like that, you give our mother the rule?” I ask instead. “She is no queen. Or have you forgotten it is gain before loyalty?”
“Strange words, coming from you,” he says. “It’s not as if your bride has any worth here. No matter how many diamonds she may own wherever she comes from, she is still of low birth compared to even the smallest Soleroid.”
“How dare you!”
“And that cheap red blood that flows through her veins...”
I freeze, wondering whether he knows the truth about Alice. Could she have been so dull as to say who she was at their first encounter? My skin visibly grows darker.
“She is of noble birth,” I lie.
“Tell me, brother. If a worm sits at your table and tells you that it is the almighty leader of all worms, would you rise from your table to put a crown on its head and call it a king?”
The thought that Kravis insinuates that Alice is of less value than a worm triggers me.
“You will not lay a hand on her,” I threaten.
He smirks. “I don’t know, I think I already have and she loved it.”
In swift retribution, I punch Kravis square in the face. He staggers back at the wounding blow. When he stands up, I can see where my knuckles met his cheek. My brother’s copper eyes are ablaze with anger. I am ready for him, and yet I am afraid that if he comes any closer, I’ll break his neck like a twig… and then I would become the rightful king and make Alice my Queen, to scorn them all. The thought is too tempting. I flex my fingers, ready for him.
Kravis clenches his jaw. He is very angry. I think he is going to charge, and when he does, I will break his neck. At the thought of that, Alice’s pure blue eyes flash in my mind. I know for certain that she will leave me if I harm my brother, and there is no reconciliation if I kill him. Her moral code is very strong. In Solasis, it doesn’t matter what we do, as long as there is something to gain from it. There is not much I am gaining by having Alice by my side yet I can’t seem to let go of her. It will not make sense to harm my brother for Alice’s sake, because there is nothing for her to gain.
Brooding, I make for the door. I will deal with my brother once I am certain everything with Alice is alright.
Kravis holds fast my hand before I take my exit.
“Lay a hand on me again, and your little royal worm will know that you had sex with a crone!” he says. My blood runs cold. How did he know about that? Kravis adds, “Don’t look too surprised little brother. Elertria may wear the crown but I am king and the king sees all.”
And with that, he leaves first. I am too baffled to move.
Chapter Fifteen
Alice
The room was colder, colder than it should be. I sit at the edge of the bed with my back turned to the door. My eyes are craving sleep but I dare not close them. I need to see Erien before I can rest. He’s been gone for hours. I haven’t seen him since the dinner so I fear that he may abandon. Maybe he has suddenly realized that he doesn’t like me. What will become of me if he decides that?
I lie on my back to face the ceiling and count my problems. As I am lying down, I hear some shuffling. I turn my head to see Erien entering so quietly. He is halfway into the room and I hadn’t heard him. I quickly sit up. Our gazes lock. He swallows hard but says nothing. I don’t know what to say either.
Erien walks to the bed, sits on it, and then goes on to lie on his back. He stares up at the ceiling with his hands placed on his stomach. I can tell that he is fighting with himself. There is no way to justify what he did to me at the dinner.
When we’ve been quiet for too long, I decide to speak up. For the sake of cordiality, I decide not to broach the subject of what happened at dinner. I want him to say it first.
“The Queen knows,” I say.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he responds in a quiet voice.
“Erien, did you hear me? Your mother knows I am nobody. I am afraid what that means for me. Look at me, my hair is sticky with coke your mother spilled on me. She hates me. I--”
“I don’t want to hear about it.” He doesn’t even look at me.
“But what is going to happen now that?”
He sits up, with an angry force, his eyes ablaze when they consider me. “I said I don’t want to hear about it!” He is distraught.
I swallow hard. I wish I could cry but my eyes are empty. I blink owlishly at him. “Do you even care, at all?” I ask.
“You are making this hard.”
“Am I? Go on. Go ahead and throw all the blame on me!”
“What do you expect me to do? None of this is how I planned it to happen, so now that everything’s gone amiss you want to blame me?”
“I hate this place!” I shout at him. “I hate it!”
“Just like you hated our mansion back on Earth, Alice; you hate everything. Nothing is good enough for you. I am starting to wonder if anything can ever make you happy, anything at all.”
I am dumb-struck. I can’t believe he said that. It’s true, I haven’t been happy with my life circumstances, well, all my life. Does that mean I am the one to blame for everything happening to me? I hated my small town home. It was claustrophobic, disgusting, and full of lice. My mother drank and my father left her, I hated that. I got a job in a restaurant, I hated the work and the boss and the people. I met Erien, we lived in a luxury hotel that he didn’t pay for. I was so scared and hated living in a hotel room that we didn’t even book. Erien went on to give me a life of luxury in a mansion by the sea. The place was very beautiful but I hated it because I had no friends while he had many.
I can’t believe I have been my own Debbie Downer my entire life, and yet, I can’t see how I could be any happier in those environments. Erien must hate being around me. I am so negative and worrisome. It is no wonder he did not hesitate to spank me in public. I am starting to feel like I deserve it. I am starting to feel that I deserve it that no one cares about me. Erien’s voice interrupts my musings.
“I care, Alice. I care more than you know.” From the sound of his voice, I can tell it was a difficult truth for him to say.
Without turning to him, I ask, “Then why did you hurt me, humiliate me, and lie about who I am?”
“Solasis is
a hard place, Alice. We didn’t get to where we are by kindness and truth. In the end, all that matters is what gain and not what we lose.”
“What’s the point of gaining all when at the end of the day you lose yourself?” I ask.
It is a while before he answers, and when he does, he says, “I am not lost.”
I turn to look at him. He is asleep on his side and still facing away from me. I climb on the large bed and sneak up behind him. I rest my head on his neck and hug him around the chest from behind. He clutches my hand into his and presses it against his chest. I love to feel his warmth against.
“I feel so lost,” I confess to him.
Alien Romance Box Set: Alien Heart Complete Series (Books 1-4): A SciFi (Science Fiction) Alien Warrior Abduction Invasion Romance Box Set Page 26
