“I had the strangest dreams.”
Arax lifted her into his arms. “Did you, my love?”
“I was with my father, and we were on a picnic in the woods. A cougar attacked. My arm was broken. I forgot about that. My dad saved my life. He died protecting me.” She glanced around, concern in her eyes. “Arax, you put me in the healing chamber.”
“You were dying. Your head was smashed in.”
“I was in a cave with Dacquel, and he was crashing into the hole I’d hid in. Rocks started to fall, and my head hurt so painfully.”
“Dacquel has been captured. He hurt you. The machine was my only option. But I swear on my life he never will touch you again.”
“But I’m still me. I mean my age.”
“Yes. I don’t know why. I watched your memories.”
“All of them?”
“Only images of how you were injured. The sight hurt my heart. I want to keep you in my arms forever.”
Meadow wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his throat. Arax kept her pinned to his chest. He didn’t know why the machine had kept her the same age. It was a mystery. He strode to his room where Neola waited and a female bowed and left. Gently, he placed Meadow on the bed.
“I don’t know what happened,” Arax said and pushed a lock of hair from her face.
“You would have given up your mate to save my life.”
“My mate, yes. But never you.”
“Well, I’m just happy to still be Neola’s mother and not her big sister.”
“That makes two of us. And speaking for Neola, it makes three of us.”
Arax pulled them all into a tight embrace. There they lay until they slept. Dacquel could wait until Arax filled himself with the sight of his happy and whole family.
Chapter 9
The procession of warriors followed, all joined by a better cause. Shark people and water warriors alike dragged a howling Dacquel in their wake. He was the last to be disposed of. Arax was glad to be rid of him, Meadow knew, as he had spoken of nothing else since morning. Before long they came to a place where clear, clean water met brackish ink. Meadow knew exactly where they were. Through the portal she could see the sunken vessel where she’d been held prisoner laying on its side. There were also a handful of megalodon swimming nearby.
Dacquel was enraged. His massive body thrashed as he struggled against his bonds. “I will kill you, Arax. I will claim your female and the child.”
“Not fucking likely.”
Dacquel was flung into the brackish mess. Meadow watched as the water portal to Earth closed. His followers joined him. They were a sorry lot.
“You can’t leave me on this planet,” Dacquel bellowed.
“I just did,” Arax replied.
Dacquel’s howl of rage abruptly cut off as the portal closed then vanished. There was no opening it from Earth’s side. Dacquel was doomed to spend the rest of his life on a dead planet with only his furious companions for company. Meadow gazed at Crash, the ruler of the shark people, and Arax, the ruler of the water warriors.
“The sides for war have been defined on our planet,” Crash said.
“Our people, all of our people, will unite. No more fighting, no more warring. There are other aliens that may come. Agreed?” Arax and Crash clasped wrists. Their planet was finally united. Let the Angano come. All would be ready for them. So would Meadow.
* * * *
What to do with the healer weighed heavily with Arax. He was known as a friend. For now, he remained locked up in the dungeons below to await his fate. Arax had a more severe problem. When they returned he saw someone who shot terror into his being. The Zargonnii warrior Finn and his mate Bethany were in his chambers.
“Finn,” Arax said. “I’d hoped never to see you again.”
“I feel the same. I had no choice. The dark winged warriors aided Bethany and I to come here. They, too, belong to a world within a world, you know that. I explained to them the shuttle carrying Bertha was found. If she’s here, Titus is anxious to have her back.”
“Oh no,” Meadow cried out. She raced to Arax with Neola tucked in her arms. “No, please, Arax, no.”
“The female Bertha was injured to a point of death,” Arax said. “Bertha is gone.”
“She died then?” Finn asked. Bethany sobbed.
Arax was no liar. “No, she lived. But there were complications that are irreversible. The Bertha you knew is no more.”
“I owe it to Bertha to take her back with me. No matter the deformity.”
“No,” Meadow wailed. “Her name is Neola, and she is mine. Arax, please don’t let them take our baby.”
Arax could feel his heart break. It felt as though it was being ripped from his chest. He couldn’t bear Meadow’s pain, he couldn’t bear his own. Neola owned half his heart.
“What?” Bethany whispered. She crept to the child and gazed into her eyes. “Oh my God, this is Bertha? This is Bertha.”
“Finn, I realize I wronged you and your people by my previous actions. I should have been better to you, Bethany. I’d never seen a human so close before coming face to face with you. It pains me you almost died in my care. Or rather my lack of concern. But there was no malice in saving this child.” He looked sorrowfully at Bethany. “The child is like my own. She makes me better. I’ve claimed her as my daughter. She is loved by both me and my mate. I know she was your friend or companion, but can’t you see it would destroy Meadow? I’m sorry Titus lost Bertha, but as you can see she is happy with us.”
Bethany looked frustrated. “She wasn’t exactly my friend. We lived together for three years. Or rather we survived together for three years. None of the memories are particularly pleasant. Bertha didn’t want any friends. Or maybe she was too afraid to try. Titus never claimed her as a mate. He was responsible for her, nothing more. The burden of the unknown has bothered him since placing her in the shuttle. The Zargonnii are honorable warriors. They would never harm a child.”
Arax felt the first stirring of hope. “And Titus, what will he say?”
Finn snorted. He gazed at Meadow and then Bethany. “You know what Titus would say.”
Bethany sighed. “True.”
Meadow was a sobbing mess. Arax had never seen her fall apart so horrendously, even after what she had been through. Finn took Neola into his arms and gazed at her before gazing at Meadow.
“It would be cruel to take such a loved and wanted baby away from her parents.” He placed the girl back into Meadow’s arms.
Finn strode back to Bethany and wrapped her in his arms. Bethany’s gaze was thoughtful. “She always did have beautiful green eyes. Only now they shine with happiness, not despair. I like the name Neola. It suits her. If anyone deserves a new beginning, it’s Bertha. No one here knows what she was like before. Maybe she doesn’t need to become the person she once was.”
“I remember her marks when I examined her aboard our vessel after we escaped Earth,” Finn said. “I also remember seeing old scars, a lot of them.”
“She was covered in numerous scars, old and not so old, but she was dying,” Arax said. “Her bones were protruding when I found her. She lost too much blood. Finn, you remember how deadly the shuttle ride was entering into our world. Bethany would have died without your protection. Through no fault of the Zargonnii, Bertha didn’t have that same protection.”
“I think she must have been abused on Earth,” Finn said.
“You have no idea of the atrocities done to the human female.” Arax shuddered knowing what the poor woman suffered through. “No one would dare harm her here. I swear I’d give my own life to protect her.”
“So would I,” Meadow said.
Neola studied Finn. When Arax came close she immediately reached for her father. Arax took her and cuddled her to his chest. Only then did she smile at Finn. Meadow wrapped her arms around Arax. Neola chortled with delight and buried her face into Meadow’s neck.
“Dada, Mama.”
&n
bsp; “I think the baby has already picked her parents,” Bethany said.
“So do I,” Finn said.
“She mentioned once she was allergic to strawberries, not sure if they grow on your planet,” Bethany said.
“We will keep her safe.” Meadow swiped repeatedly at her flowing eyes. Arax had never seen her cry so much.
“Meadow, it’s okay, our baby will stay,” Arax said. “Please don’t cry anymore.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong,” Meadow gasped in a huge breath, trying to calm herself, but Arax could see it didn’t help.
Finn smiled and smacked Arax on the back. “Neola will be good practice. Meadow will be fine in about nine months.”
“Excuse me?” Arax said.
“It’ll be interesting to see if humans can give birth to babies here,” Bethany replied.
“I don’t see why not.” Finn shrugged.
“Excuse me?” Arax said again.
“Either way, it will be interesting to see this baby’s abilities since its mother met up with the Angano,” Finn said.
“True.” Bethany nodded.
“Excuse me?” Arax squeaked. He could feel the blood drain from his face.
Finn laughed. “I do believe your mate is expecting.”
“Expecting? A boy or a girl?” Arax asked. His gaze shot to Meadow’s belly, almost expecting it to move.
“Yes,” Finn said. Bethany laughed.
“We need to go,” Bethany said. “Thane, the Dalanee warrior who helped us get here, will be curious as to what occurred. He will be relieved to know we found what we were looking for, if not who.”
“We need a portal opened to the Dalanee,” Finn said. “But we brought Bethany her own breathing device. You can keep your leeches.”
Chagrined, Arax remembered the last time he’d sent Bethany through a portal. All he had was a breathing leech to seal over her mouth and nose. It was the breathing leeches that saved her from Arax’s stupidity. Arax handed Neola to her mother. Meadow cuddled her close. He then started to reach to take the baby back. Finn stopped him.
“It’s fine, Arax. Meadow can hold the baby.”
“But, but, but, she shouldn’t be lifting,” Arax stammered.
“She won’t have the baby now,” Bethany said.
Arax was in a panic. “But the baby is half mine. It needs water to survive. What’ll we do, what’ll we do?”
“Arax,” Meadow said and placed a hand on his arm. “Human babies are surrounded in amniotic fluid, water. Arax, the baby is already in water.”
Arax thought he would pass out with relief. He then grew curious. “Humans live in water for nine months?”
“Yes,” Meadow said.
“Then why can’t they survive more than a few minutes under water?”
Meadow shook her head. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“The birth,” Arax howled. “What happens then? Air breather or water breather?”
“We’ll figure it out,” Meadow said.
“But we have no healer.”
“Actually we do.” Trax walked in with Reef on his arm. “Reef is a fine healer.”
Arax took a long, hard look at the confident, young female and relaxed. A combination of shark and water warrior would make the perfect healer. Plus, she would be aunt to this new baby.
“I also understand how the healing machine works. Though ours may be a little different than yours,” Reef said.
“The baby Meadow carries?” Arax asked. “Is that why the machine wouldn’t regress her back to her first injury?”
“That’s exactly why,” Reef replied. “The machine won’t take a life, it’ll just evaluate what’s best for the patient.”
Trax gazed at Reef with pride. Arax was right, the baby was why Meadow had stayed the same age. Arax had another idea.
“Do you think Thane could be convinced to take a slave? A healer run amok.”
Finn looked grim but nodded. “Maybe you and I should talk.”
“That would be a good idea.”
* * * *
Inside Arax’s room was a beautiful water-filled rock pond that was waist deep. Meadow was waiting for him when he returned after sending Finn, Bethany, and the healer on their way. Finn promised Neola’s old identity would be kept secret. It was for her safety as well. She never needed to know of her past tragic life.
When Arax slipped in beside her Meadow drifted into his arms. She lay her head against his chest. Arax pulled her onto his lap.
“I’m sorry about your healer,” Meadow said.
“He’s not banished forever. The Dalanee will have him work at healing humans so he can see all are different. I can’t have a judgmental healer. At least we know if a female is pregnant the machine will not take her back to the time of injury but fix her while allowing the pregnancy to progress. I’m happy that mystery is solved. I never thought saving the life of a human would lead to so many amazing things,” Arax said. “I have a daughter and a baby on the way. I have a mate. My planet is no longer divided, and the megalodon, long a thorn in my side, are vanquished. You and Neola brought so much in a rapid change of events.”
“No more war?”
“Unfortunately, the Angano know of us. They are enemy to the dark winged warriors so we have allies. I’m surprised to find out the Zargonnii are also allies and the Castians. We all have the same cause. Peace.”
“For now we’re safe?”
“For now.”
“Thank you for coming after me. I watched you battle. I didn’t realize how bad ass you really are.”
Arax chuckled. “That’s right, the machine allowed you to retain all of your memories. You were given a strange gift, you know. Normally going back wipes your memories.”
“Reef said I needed to remember everything. Nothing could be wiped for the sake of the baby. If my memories were gone, my body might forget I was pregnant.”
“That healing machine is more than just a machine, I think. It seems to understand what is needed.”
Meadow grinned at him and traced his cheek with her finger. “Can you guess what I need?”
Arax lifted her to taste her lips. His were full and warm, his breath sweet. When he lifted his hands to cup each breast she arched her back into him. He was already hard and Meadow didn’t want to wait. She squirmed and settled over his cock. His penetration was easy. She placed her feet on either side of him for leverage and rose and fell with each stroke.
“You aren’t the only one who has gained so much,” Meadow said.
Arax grunted and continued to squeeze her breasts. His lips nuzzled her neck. She exposed her throat to him, knowing he loved that act of trust.
“I was floating endlessly in an abyss. The ship smelled of death, disease, and decay. A little like your swamp area.”
“The swamps are being cleaned. With no fighting we can concentrate on what really matters.”
“Like making love?”
Arax shifted her until she turned to face him. Buried inside her, she rested her head against his chest and panted. Even slow love making could be torturous. Arax wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her. He was so painstakingly slow she grit her teeth.
“Are you trying to drive me nuts? Because it’s working,” she ground out.
“You want me to stop?”
“No, you dolt, move faster.”
“Bethany said you may not mind accepting me. Our females are stationary while carrying. They enter a quiet cave and spend their time making the baby. Creating life is the hardest job on the planet.”
“Agreed, but don’t expect me to be stationary. If you stick me in a cave alone, you best approach with caution.”
Arax laughed. “No cave.”
With a flurry he flipped her on her back under the water. She gazed up at him and he met her glance. As his head descended the bubbles formed to allow her to breathe. His pace increased tenfold. This was what she wanted. She gave in to her needs and wrapped her arm around
his head to draw his lips to hers. She was pleased when he devoured her.
Who knew the ship from hell would end up taking her to paradise? After all, with Sitnalta being the alternate Atlantis it was no wonder she ended up on a mysterious journey. As she watched Arax smile, and gasped as he moved within her, she decided the two years of hell to travel here was worth it.
About C. L. Scholey
I love to write about everything and can’t wait for an idea that gripes me and sends me to a new place. Between worlds keeps me busy, that and chasing after my children and grandchildren. Plus one ornery 116 pound mastiff who thinks he’s a lap dog. Welcome to my adventures, and hang on!
C. L. Scholey’s Website:
www.clscholey.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
Trace of Humanity
by Juliet Cardin
The fate of humanity rests with him.
Alien sleeper cells on Earth are awakened when invaders threaten the planet. For thousands of years Sentinels have walked among us, awaiting the moment they would be called into action. Josie’s boyfriend Bane is a Sentinel. Instantly, he becomes a cold-hearted, single-focused machine, bent on ensuring humanity’s survival. Josie barely recognizes the man she once knew. Though Bane is determined to protect Josie and secure the small town they escaped to, she can’t help but look upon him with trepidation and suspicion. She wonders if Bane is really intent on keeping her and the others alive, or if he’s actually the real threat they face.
Dedication
For Brad & Taylor. May your love last forever.
In His Alien Hands Page 10
