Chapter Two
Krista
“I’m so tired of hiding! Why can’t we go for a drive?” Krista pleaded with her older brother, Alan. They had both survived the initial invasion and somehow made it to the family cabin nestled in the woods. The family property bordered National Forest, so they’d felt safe. Their parents had long since passed, both having died years ago in a fatal car crash, leaving their two children alone to pick up the broken pieces.
“Krista…don’t,” Alan warned. He was tired of hearing her whine about the current situation.
“I’m sorry, Alan. It’s just…well, they may have left by now. Maybe the aliens took what they wanted and left.” He gave her the look that said she was being ridiculous. She knew it wasn’t true, the aliens had ravaged Earth, and she should feel grateful that she and her brother were safe. But she had a bad case of cabin fever.
“I know, Krista, I feel it, too.” He let out a deep sigh and put the book he’d been reading away. He must have read it six times already, but with few choices, you do what you have to.
“Really? It’s not just me?” He never showed that he was unhappy. They had enough food stocked up for a year, plenty of kerosene for heat and several oil lamps. They also had several books and magazines for entertainment. However, the cabin was never meant to be lived in on a long-term basis, but more as getaway retreat. Being rustic, it lacked the comforts of home, but Krista did have food to eat, a mattress to sleep on, and water to wash off with.
They’d both lived in the city of Nashville, and when the aliens came and the bombings started, Alan retrieved his sister, who lived right down the street from him, and headed for the family home near the Smoky Mountains.
“No, it’s not just you.” He let out another sigh and uncrossed his legs before sitting forward in the chair he currently occupied. “Let’s get some rest, and tomorrow we’ll go for a walk. If the car still runs, maybe we’ll take it out and have a good look around.”
Warm giddiness spread throughout her body, starting at the middle and moving outward. She threw her arms around Alan’s neck and repeated over and over, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
He couldn’t help but grin at her happiness. “You’re welcome. Now let’s get some rest.”
They both stood, and with a big grin on her face, Krista said, “Okay, I’ll try,” before heading to her room.
Even though Alan was only twenty-six, which was two years older than his sister, she always trusted his judgement. With all the excitement coursing through her body, Krista would be lucky to sleep at all that night.
The next morning, Krista lay on her twin bed with her eyes wide open, watching the light spill through the room as the sun rose. She’d slept a little, but not much. She was too excited about leaving the small cabin. Oh, it’d served a great purpose, but one could only live like this for so long.
She threw the covers back and hopped out of bed, eager to start the day. She dressed in a pair of dirty, worn jeans that sported holes in both knees, and a light gray sweatshirt. She grabbed her hairbrush and tried to get the tangles out of her long, black hair. A pair of worn-out sneakers completed her simple outfit. She peered out the small window and noted how the leaves had already changed colors; she knew that snow would be falling soon. On her way out, she grabbed a light jacket, just in case.
Alan was waiting at the small, round metal table in the tiny kitchen, eating a strawberry Pop Tart. Who knew those things would come in so handy? Krista grabbed her own and joined him.
“Sleep well?” he asked.
Krista chuckled a little before replying, “Not much. You?”
“Actually, I did.”
They both at in silence until Alan asked, “Are you sure you want to go out today?” She heard the hesitation in his voice, noted the concern on his face.
“Yes, I’m sure. I need this, Alan.” She turned her large, pleading dark brown eyes on him.
“Okay, then.” He threw his Pop Tart wrapper in the trash. “Let’s get an early start. I don’t want to be out after dark.”
Krista grinned before stuffing half of the Pop Tart in her mouth, anxious to get the day started. She chugged a glass of water and then brushed her teeth.
“Ready,” she proclaimed.
Leaving the cabin made her tremble with excitement and fear, all rolled up into one little ball that sat in the pit of her stomach. They didn’t have far to walk to reach Alan’s car. It hadn’t been cranked in months, and she prayed it still worked.
It took five tries, but his 2015 blue Chevy Cruze finally started. “Yes!” Krista shouted with glee as she punched the air with triumph. Alan grinned at her excitement before heading down the winding gravel road.
Everything appeared normal. The trees were beautiful with their ever-changing colors. They sported an array of reds, yellows, and oranges mixed together. Krista sat back and stared at it all with a contented smile on her face. At least until they hit the hardtop road.
The first group of houses lay abandoned, their contents ruined, their windows busted and their doors bashed in. Krista took in a harsh breath. Still, they kept driving.
Driving around the main town was a task in itself. Cars were abandoned on the road, some on the side, some in the middle. The overall impression for Krista was that the cars’ owners had just gotten out and run. She wondered if they’d headed into the woods for cover.
“Seen enough?” Alan asked in a solemn, tight voice.
“Yeah,” she absently replied.
They came upon a burned-down shopping center. Alan was trying to find a place to turn the car around when Krista spotted them. Her heart pounded with fear as she clutched the console. “Alan!” she screamed.
The area was peppered with aliens—scary aliens with pasty, gray skin and flaming red hair. The eyes that stared at them were an inhuman amber color, with a looked that promised nothing good. As several headed their direction, a malicious grin spread across one of their faces which only scared her more.
“Alan, let’s go! We’ve got to get out of here! Hurry!” Krista said in a panic.
“I’m trying!” He threw the car in reverse, but as he backed up, he rammed an abandoned vehicle.
“Hurry, Alan!” she screamed as the aliens drew closer.
He put it back in drive before throwing it into reverse again. If he had to, he’d push the cars out of the way.
When Krista looked up, there were six aliens standing right in front of them. Fear ran rampant, filling every crevice throughout her trembling body. “Alan!” she screamed.
“I see them, Krista,” he swallowed hard. Glancing at his sister, he said, “Whatever happens, I love you.” He threw the car in drive and headed straight for the aliens, trying to run them over. It was their only chance at getting out unscathed.
The aliens quickly jumped out of the way as Alan tore out of the parking lot, not caring if he hit anyone. Krista breathed a sigh of relief, and as Alan glanced at the rear-view mirror to see if they were being followed, he hit two abandoned cars that were blocking the roadway.
The screech of tires gave way to her screams of terror as they came to an abrupt halt. Smoke rose from the crumpled hood, and Krista’s shoulder ached from the seatbelt strap. She looked to her brother, who was lying with his head against the steering wheel, blood running down the side of his face.
“Alan…Alan, talk to me…Alan!” Krista scurried out of her seatbelt so she could reach her brother. “Alan,” she tried again as she leaned him back into his seat. He had several deep gashes across his forehead, but what concerned her most was the huge knot on the side of his head where he’d taken a hard lick.
He opened his eyes for a moment and then closed them again. “Alan, wake up,” her voice quivered as she spoke.
When he opened his eyes again, he tried to smile at her. She barely heard his whispered words. “I’m sorry, sis, so sorry. I love you,” and then his eyes closed for the last time.
“No!” she screamed as she
cradled his head in her arms, not caring about the blood that now soaked her shirt. She rocked him the best she could in the small car as tears streamed down her face. This is all my fault! she thought. If only…if only she hadn’t wanted to leave the cabin. All my fault! The guilt crushed her as she tried to breathe. How could she live without him? All my fault!
When the door was forcefully opened and something tried to pull her out, she hung onto Alan, not ready to let him go, not that it helped. She tore her eyes from her brother and came face to face with the evil, grinning alien and screamed. And then she passed out.
Chapter Three
Kollin
Waking up in a dark cell, Kollin rubbed his aching head while trying to clear his blurry vision. “What did they give me?” he mumbled to himself as he closed his heavy eyes and tried to shake off the effects of whatever was causing his dizziness.
As he reached up to rub the side of his head, he felt a knot, which told him he’d taken a hard fall, probably when he fought with his soldiers. He still couldn’t believe they’d turned on him!
Taking inventory of the rest of his body, he noted his sore shoulder where the phaser had grazed him, and as he shifted, he felt an ache deep inside, near his groin area. His clothes had been stripped off and replaced with a loincloth. What the sish did they do to me? he thought with worry and anger.
When he tried to raise his other arm, it only lifted a short distance before meeting resistance. His left wrist was shackled to the floor. He yanked several times, but in his weakened state, it didn’t budge. “Sish!” he ground out between his teeth before he closed his eyes, hoping that with time, his head would clear and he could figure out a way to escape.
He worried about his crew and their fate. How many traitors were involved? He thought about his second in command and his head of security, and he hoped they had survived. He needed to escape this cell and warn his family and take back his ship!
As he plotted, Kollin’s eyes sprang open when he heard the sounds of footsteps growing closer. He watched as a Turei came into view but stopped just outside his cell.
“Commander Kollin, so nice of you to join us,” he said with an evil grin.
“I see you know who I am.”
The enemy nodded.
“And who might you be?”
“I am Loader, second in command of this wonderful ship.” He waved his hand as he said ship. The thoughts of this evil race having a military structure shocked Kollin. He’d always believed them to be pirates who regularly fought and killed one another.
He sat there, feigning disinterest in anything Loader had to say. Nothing good ever came from the Tureis.
“Nothing to say?” Loader crossed his arms as he stood looking down at Kollin. “Do you want to know why you’re here?”
He knew why he was there, his soldiers sold him out! When he escaped, and he would, he’d hunt every one of them down and kill them.
A shrill scream pierced his ears and bounced off the metal walls. Kollin schooled his features as his eyes darted to Loader’s. Another scream echoed throughout the room, and if it were possible, Loader’s grin widened.
“I’ll ask you one last time; would you like to know why you are here?”
As Kollin watched Loader, he could tell, like Wallace, he was near bursting with excitement. His news could not be good if he was so happy to share information. Kollin braced himself, stilling his features so he appeared uninterested as he replied, “You’re dying to tell me, so go ahead.”
“The exotic females found in the Dreama Sector have been most profitable, but there aren’t many left.”
“That’s because you’ve destroyed their planet,” Kollin interrupted, a trickle of anger breaking through.
“Still, they’ve made us a huge profit, and we wish that to continue. Since your brother stole a female from us, we’ve decided that you will help us create more.”
Create more? What was he talking about? He felt the ache deep inside near his groin area, and dread filled his entire body. Surely they weren’t… “It won’t work,” he said with a disinterested voice.
“We will see.” Loader’s eyes danced with pure delight as he said, “Your soldier told us about the fangs, and how you bite the one that is to become your mate.”
The slight widening of Kollin’s eyes was the only outward response he showed to Loader’s admission. If the Tureis knew that, then the female who screamed could be his mate! No, it wasn’t possible. Kollin’s eyes darted to Loader’s happy face, and it made him wonder. Had they found a way? No! He had to inject her with a chemical released by his fangs that would ready her body for his seed, so that wasn’t possible.
His heart pounded in his chest, but he controlled his breathing, not wanting Loader to know the effect his words had on him. He couldn’t dismiss the possibility that he could have a mate, and she was in the Tureis’ hands.
The female screamed again, and Kollin had to fight the urge to yank at the shackle, to go to her aid. If they were doing what he suspected—no young of his would be sold for profit! He had to rescue the female before they could make her his mate, or impregnate her with his seed!
When the screaming ceased, Loader said with a grin, “I need to make sure everything is going as planned. These females are a little different from the others we’ve encountered.” He waited to see if his words could get a reaction before he left disappointed.
The Tureis had sunk to an all-time low. They were neither equipped to handle nor care for young. A breeding program, Kollin thought while shaking his head in disbelief.
Growing up with so many siblings, Kollin had seen for himself how much work younglings could be. His mother often fell asleep before heading to her bedchambers. She had plenty of females around to help, but she often refused, not wanting to depend on others. Kollin could see the joy in her eyes when she interacted with her young.
He couldn’t imagine young being born into captivity and sold in a black market. Oh, he had no doubt that it happened, but not by the Tureis, and not his young! He made a vow to himself that he would escape and find the female and then destroy the breeding program.
Kollin ate as little as possible knowing that the Tureis drugged his food. As one standard day turned into a standard week, then two, Kollin could feel his strength slowly returning as he body became accustomed to the drug. A menacing grin spread across his face, exposing his fangs. Soon he’d be able to break free from the shackles that bound him and then he’d rescue the female and exact his revenge.
He listened intently every standard day for the sound of the female voice, but all was quiet. His mate, he thought, before planning the death of all the crew on board. It was his choice of who to mate, not theirs! Azziarins could mate only once in their lifetime, and of course he’d protect her, especially if she carried his young. He only hoped she didn’t turn out to be a harpy.
As he sat quietly, he wondered about his crew once again. Were they all dead? Did Kassim overtake the traitors or lead the rest of the crew to safety? Did Kassim know what happened to him, and would he inform his family? So many questions.
A loud noise had Kollin peering at the door just outside his cell. When it slowly opened, a Turei that he didn’t recognize came in carrying a tray. With Kollin shackled in place, he unlocked the cell door and set the tray on the metal floor. Using his foot, he gave it a big shove until it stopped within reach. The Turei quickly slammed the door shut, locking it in place before making a hasty retreat, leaving him alone once again. They carried out the same routine every standard day. Kollin stared at the door as a slight, nasty grin appeared. Next time, I’ll be ready.
Krista
Krista awoke surrounded by aliens, lying naked on a cold, metal table. With her legs spread wide, her hands and feet were tightly bound, leaving her unable to move. Fear zipped through her body at the speed of light, making her heart pound wildly and her body tremble.
She stared at someone working nearby and took in his strange appearance. A c
ap of red covered his head. It reminded her of moss covering a forest floor. The hairline was different, coming down to his eyes and out onto his cheeks. His skin was a pale gray that reminded her of hamburger that had gone bad. The fingers were twice as long as hers with pointed nails. She kept staring, and when he turned, he pierced her with amber-colored eyes.
He walked toward her with a long syringe; she screamed in fear, her body trembling. With renewed vigor, she thrashed on the table and tried to loosen her hands and feet.
When one of them grabbed her arm, trying to hold her still, she screamed again. He squeezed hard, his bony fingers digging into her arm.
Tears streamed down her face as the pain in her arm became too much. She just wanted him to let go. Krista wanted to turn back time, to go back to the cabin with Alan and live a very boring life, reading the same books every day, playing checkers and eating Pop Tarts. She closed her eyes as the tears continued to fall. It was her fault that Alan was dead, and it was her fault that she lay strapped to a table. She deserved this.
As she lay there, thinking of Alan, she started when she felt a jab in the side of her neck. She jerked, turning her head in time to see one of them standing close with another huge syringe. Her eyes widened as feelings of detachment flooded her body, almost as if she were floating. When she tried to look at the alien that had injected her, she couldn’t focus. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision, but it didn’t help. She smiled as darkness claimed her, hoping that this was the end.
Waking up naked in a cold metal cell, she shivered before rolling onto her side and hugged her knees to her chest. She was expecting death, but this was worse.
Kollin (The Azziarin Series Book 3) Page 2
