by Mikayla Lane
Moments later, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he knew Mikal had joined him.
“We’re going to get them, Chris. I promise you—we’ll get them,” Mikal whispered as he looked towards the stars and sent up a prayer.
“I’ll accept no other outcome,” Chris agreed.
Chris closed his eyes and sent a message through the shengari’ that he hoped would reach his child’s beast.
“I am coming for Quinn and my child, and I am bringing my siblings and friends to help. Please keep them safe until we can get there and free them.”
Chris felt a small stirring in his mind and hoped like hell it was an answer from the beast.
Miles away, as Quinn slept, the child within her stirred excitedly and her abdomen glowed a bright blue for several moments before it disappeared.
Chapter Seven
Quinn awakened slowly just as the sun was beginning to rise. She smiled and sat up as she rubbed her stomach gently. She felt a little odd that morning, and as she tried to figure out what it was, she was distracted by a sudden burst of movement from her son.
“Good morning, my little warrior,” Quinn said aloud, wondering why she’d thought of calling him that.
Since it seemed pretty fitting after what he’d done to protect them, she shrugged, slid off the side of the bed, and ran across the freezing cold floor to the bathroom.
Just as she finished washing her face, she heard the bolt slide on the door at the end of the hall and hoped that it was Ainsley. Yes, she was starving, but she was also worried about the girl.
Quinn quickly dried her face and made it into the bedroom just as she heard a tray being slid across the stone and saw it emerge under the door.
“Good morning, Quinn,” Ainsley said.
Quinn released a sigh of relief and moved to the door.
“Ainsley, how are you? Did you sleep well?” Quinn asked in concern.
“I’m OK,” Ainsley said, sounding a little depressed.
“What’s wrong?” Quinn countered, knowing something wasn’t right.
Quinn heard the girl’s heavy sigh before she saw Ainsley’s blue eyes peek through the window in the door.
“I was going to try and sneak a key so we could go for a walk, but they’re making me go to town and help with the shopping,” Ainsley said.
Quinn couldn’t help but be relieved that it wasn’t anything more serious than that.
“You don’t like going shopping? I would think that anywhere away from them would be fantastic,” Quinn said, trying to cheer up the obviously unhappy preteen.
“It makes me sad and angry,” Ainsley admitted.
“Why?”
“Because I never feel like I belong. I don’t belong here, and I don’t belong there. Every time I see normal people it makes me angry that they are so wrapped up in themselves that they don’t see what’s happening right in front of them,” Ainsley said.
Quinn leaned her head back against the door and realized why she liked Ainsley and was concerned for her—the girl reminded her of herself when she was that age.
“You know what, Ainsley? You don’t need to belong to one of them. You just have to belong to yourself. Don’t you have friends you grew up with? Ones like you?” Quinn asked, hoping to help the girl feel less alone in a world that didn’t care about anything anymore.
Ainsley’s head disappeared from the door’s window and Quinn stepped closer, hoping she hadn’t chased her away.
“We’re separated so that our loyalties will never belong to anyone but the master. If the teachers think we’re too close, they will pick the best student of the two and force them to kill their friend to prove their loyalty to the master. If they don’t, both are killed,” Ainsley said in a matter-of-fact tone that she stunned Quinn.
“Oh, Ainsley,” Quinn whispered, unable to think of what to say.
Quinn’s life had been hell in its own way; she grew up with a drug addict mother and a system that did nothing to help those who were truly in need, but what Ainsley spoke of was a horror Quinn couldn’t begin to imagine.
“Anyway, I won’t be able to try and get a key until I get back, and that won’t be until late afternoon,” Ainsley said, trying to change the subject.
The friendship and concern Ainsley felt from Quinn was beginning to mess with her thoughts. Emotions were something that she and the others like her had always wished for and wondered about, but they had never experienced emotion from the cold, cruel teachers who had raised them.
“It’s OK, Ainsley. I understand, I really do. Maybe we can talk more when you get back, if you can sneak away,” Quinn suggested, trying to make things easier for the girl.
The silence ticked on for so long that Quinn wondered if the girl had somehow left when she saw Ainsley’s blond head in the door’s window.
“I’d really like that. I put extra snacks on your tray just in case they’re late bringing you lunch while I’m gone. Don’t anger them if they come; they’re scared of you and won’t hesitate to hurt you or drug you,” Ainsley warned before she ran down the hallway, slamming the heavy door shut behind her.
Quinn leaned back against the door and breathed out a heavy sigh.
“I really wish we could run away with her,” she whispered to the empty room.
She smiled when she felt an answering kick from her son. Quinn leaned down and picked up the heavier than normal tray and put it on the table.
“Wow,” she breathed out when she saw stacks of packaged protein bars, crisps, crackers, and dried fruits. “She seriously hooked us up, little guy.”
Quinn grabbed all the snacks and looked around the room for a place to hide them before settling on stuffing them under her clothes in the dresser.
She sat back down to eat breakfast and couldn’t help but grin at the smiley face on the plate that Ainsley had made with her eggs and bacon.
“I really like her, little guy. Do you think she can be trusted?” Quinn whispered aloud as she dug into her breakfast.
When there was no responding kick, Quinn became a little concerned and she put her fork down.
“You don’t think Ainsley can be trusted?” she asked again.
When there was still no responding kick, Quinn decided to try another tactic, unwilling to believe Ainsley was dangerous to them.
“You don’t trust anyone, do you? It’s not just Ainsley?”
There was a responding kick that time, and Quinn hadn’t realized she’d held her breath until she’d felt the kick and breathed out heavily.
“I have to admit, so far you haven’t been given a reason to trust anyone but me, little guy, but you can’t go through life trusting no one,” Quinn said, going back to their breakfast.
Quinn tried her best not to think of Chris and how she had trusted him with her life. If anyone had told her a year before that she’d be pregnant with his child and held prisoner by insane half alien people with crazy powers, she’d have laughed herself silly.
It’s kind of hard to laugh at it now though, isn’t it? she thought with a sarcastic snort.
When she’d daydreamed about having a life and children with Chris, it never included captivity. Or aliens either.
Quinn felt a weak thump in her stomach and smiled as she gently rubbed her little warrior.
“You are the best thing that ever happened to me, little guy, and even though we’re stuck in here, I couldn’t be happier to be your mommy and to be lucky enough to have an incredible little boy like you,” she whispered, hoping the baby hadn’t heard her thoughts and believed she didn’t want him.
Quinn felt warmth suffuse her, and she hugged her stomach in return as she smiled.
“I love you so much too, baby,” she whispered as tears filled her eyes.
In the week since finding out that there may be an intelligent being residing in her child’s brain, she’d tried really hard not to think of Chris. Not only because it was so painful, but she didn’t want any of her pain and anger with Chris to be trans
ferred to her child in some way.
Because they may not have much time together, she felt compelled to tell her baby about his father—the side of Chris that she knew and loved. Although she didn’t think she could ever forgive him for abandoning her, she honestly felt that if he’d known it was his child she carried that he would have been there for them.
Your daddy would have been a wonderful father, and he would have loved you so much, Quinn whispered in her mind, not wanting anyone to hear her admitting that she did know the baby’s father.
The responding kicking and tumbling in her stomach made Quinn laugh.
You like hearing about your daddy? she asked with a smile as she put her hand over her belly and felt a tiny foot pressed against her.
Chris is the strongest and bravest man I know. He was always kind—to everyone. He didn’t care if it was a homeless person or a business owner, he treated everyone with respect, Quinn whispered in her mind.
There was one time, she thought with a smile, a couple of young kids looking for trouble were pushing around a homeless veteran who was well known in the neighborhood. Your daddy snatched those boys by the back of their necks and disappeared into an alley with them.
Twenty minutes later, those boys came running out of that alley and not only apologized to the veteran, but they started hanging out with him and bringing him food. Your daddy would never tell me what he said to them, but whatever it was, it changed those boys for the better, she told her son. Even their mommas asked me to tell your daddy thank you.
Quinn stopped speaking in her mind for a few moments as the bittersweet memories washed over her. It was the insistent kicking in her stomach that brought her out of her thoughts.
You want to hear more? she whispered in her mind as she stood to pace the room, wanting to stay as mobile as she could in case she found a way to escape.
The first night we met and he came charging over that bar and knocked out that guy, he was a real hero. But I didn’t fall in love with him then. I was too scared of trusting anyone and too stupid to know any better. But your daddy wouldn’t give up on me.
He kept coming to the bar. At first he said it was to make sure I was all right and recovering from the concussion that jerk had given me. But he was still there long after I’d healed. We’d spend hours talking while I worked. Mostly about me and what your daddy thought I was capable of.
Quinn chuckled.
Your dad was relentless. He badgered me constantly about what I liked doing and what I was good at until finally he brought a community college brochure in the bar one night with all the accounting classes circled.
All that time in the bar, when I thought he was just chilling and killing time, he’d been studying me and realized that I had a good head for numbers. Of course, I didn’t believe him until one day about a week later when the power went out in the bar. Nowhere else on the entire block, just the bar.
Everyone thought they’d run out on their bills, but your dad stood at the door and refused to let anyone leave until they’d paid up. I had the place cleared in 10 minutes, and your dad no sooner locked the door then the lights came back on, and he was standing there with a beautiful smile on his face.
He’d said, “Do you still think you aren’t good with numbers or do you really think everyone can do all that math in their head so quickly?”
I didn’t know it at the time, but I think we can bet that it was your daddy who knocked out the power to the bar, don’t you think? she asked her son and smiled when she got a resounding kick in response.
I still didn’t believe him, but I took the college brochure home and studied it for a week. The next time I saw your dad, he’d already gotten all the paperwork for me to fill out for some grants and student loans so I could get started.
Quinn smiled again as she rubbed her belly and continued to pace.
When I finally admitted I had to drop out of high school and never graduated, he just shrugged, and the next time he came in the bar, he had the paperwork from the same community college to get my GED. See what I mean about relentless? Your daddy has it in spades!
For a year, I saw your daddy almost every week, and somewhere along the way we exchanged phone numbers. He was my very best friend. My only friend. He held me when I cried over my past, then kicked me in the butt until I picked myself back up again. He always said, “You’re better than the things being thrown at you. So start catching them and throw the shit out instead holding onto it.”
Daddy was amazing at catching me when I fell and holding onto me until I could stand back on my own feet. When I did, he’d help me figure out how to fall less, but he never let me feel sorry for myself. He always told me that when you’re wasting all that time and effort holding your own pity party, you’re doing nothing to fix the situation.
I loved your daddy like a best friend, and he loved me like that too. I know he did, Quinn said, brushing away the tears that started slipping down her cheeks at the memories.
I know he did because he started opening up to me about his family and himself. He had two cell phones that he showed me that only had my numbers in them, and whenever I needed him, he came. From whatever secret mission he was on, he’d call me and see if he needed to come, and if he did, he’d be there as soon as he could. Your daddy never let me down.
Quinn shut up before she added, “until now”.
Quinn sighed and forced a smile.
We were inseparable when he wasn’t on a mission. He said that he’d sneak away from his siblings and come spend time with me for the peace and quiet. I knew better. He loved me like I loved him. We even told each other we loved each other all the time. We both knew it was only a really intense and close friendship kind of love, and we were happy with that. For 10 years.
Quinn laughed.
We got so close that your daddy knew if I was hurt or if I was sad, and I know it sounds strange, but I started to think I was able to do the same because there were times when I would have a desperate need to talk to him, and he’d say that I must be psychic because he’d been on a hard mission and really needed to hear my voice. I know it sounds stupid to think that, but I really felt him.
There was a strong kick in her stomach, and Quinn laughed at her son’s apparent agreement.
I’d asked your daddy one time how come he never had a girlfriend, and he’d tell me that he could never give a woman everything that she’d need, and it wouldn’t be fair to play with her emotions when he had nothing to give. Then he laughed and said that a girlfriend was pointless because all he needed was me.
Quinn became lost in her memories for a moment and continued to speak in her mind without thinking about what she was saying.
Then one night, your daddy came into the bar, and I knew from just one look at him that he was in a really bad emotional place. He’d drank a whole bottle of bourbon before I could get everyone out of the bar early. He told me he’d just come from his uncle’s funeral and found out that his uncle wasn’t dead, but missing.
He was a mess. I’d never seen him so torn up and vulnerable. He kept drinking, and I let him. He helped me lock up the bar, and when we got to my place, I had a few drinks with him, but he was drunk. Like I’d never seen him drunk. At that point, he’d had about a gallon of bourbon though. I still don’t know how he could stand, but he could hold his liquor like no one I’ve ever seen.
The things he said make a lot more sense to me now that I know he’s an alien, but at the time I just thought it was drunk speak. Now it makes so much sense.
He’d said he was cursed. A Dranovian. Cursed at birth to a bitter and lonely existence. He said Dranovians weren’t allowed to love anything, and nothing could love a Dranovian because they were feared and hated.
I tried to tell him I loved him, no matter what he was or wasn’t. He held me so tight and whispered that if he could, he’d pick me, but the gods didn’t bless his kind. Then he told me that he didn’t have a girlfriend because I was his girlfriend, and even though
he couldn’t have me, he couldn’t stay away from me either. Then he gave me the most beautiful night I’ve ever had in my life.
When we woke up the next morning, he was horrified. He apologized so many times, saying that he’d never meant to hurt me and begged me to please just forget it so we could go back to being friends. He thought our night had ruined our friendship.
I tried to tell him that it didn’t, that I had loved him as more than a friend for years, but he just panicked and ran. I didn’t hear from him for two weeks, and when I did, he pretended like the night never happened. I was so afraid to lose him I went along with it.
Quinn finally noticed the tears flowing unchecked down her cheeks when she felt a flurry of gentle movements in her stomach and warmth suffuse her.
“I’m sorry,” Quinn said aloud as she grabbed a hand towel and dried her tears, determined not to let her son think badly of his father.
I know he thought he was doing what was best for us and that he really believed he wasn’t allowed to be happy or have love. I may not know what a Dranovian is, but I know your daddy thought that he was protecting me.
Quinn drew a heavy breath, determined to tell her son about the happier parts of her life with his father and not dwell on what had gone wrong.
Daddy was also funny. He could say things sometimes that had me just rolling in laughter. He could hear a pin drop down the block, but he couldn’t get the lyrics to a song right to save his life! I swear he would come up with the craziest lyrics.
Quinn couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled up when she remembered him singing his heart out with her one day, but singing the craziest lyrics. He’d looked so embarrassed when she showed him what the real words were.
He was also sweet, and he never forgot a birthday or anything that was important to me, Quinn whispered in her mind. He paid so much attention to me that he knew every one of my likes and dislikes. My favorite poetry and foods, my allergies to bee stings, even the brand and scent of deodorant I used.
