“To my home. The council wanted to kill you, but I argued that would be a wasteful notion. I’ve been entrusted with the duty of watching you until the council decides what your fate will be,” he says brusquely. My eyes widen in fear, but he seems not to recognize the emotion, turning his back on me and walking ahead. The collar begins to shock me, growing more intense the further away he gets. I jog to catch up, tugging anxiously at the strap around my neck.
“At the very least I deserve to know your name,” I blurt angrily, falling into step beside him. The shock leaves a lingering tingling in my nerves and it’s not something I want to grow accustomed to.
"Names are of little importance to my people. We typically refer to one another through identification numbers. However, Kajin is a nickname I had as a child. It's the approximation for the phrase righteous one in my mother tongue. You can call me that, if it pleases you," he says mildly, and I want to curse how calm he is. However, I realize that the best option, for the time being, is to play nice with my captor. Though I'm not exactly pleased to have been captured, I suppose I should be grateful that he did not allow me to be put to death. However, though he did not say as much, it's clear that death is very much a viable fate for me at this point.
“My name is Kara Nolan. I’m from the planet Earth. What is this place?” I inquire hesitantly, glancing at the other native people we pass on the street.
“This is Planet 347, sector five. Earth, you say? What a strange name for a planet,” he mutters absently, leading me ahead. We come to a rather extravagant looking building, and he guides me through the door. It’s not entirely unlike a human home, though much more luxurious than even I could afford back home.
“Why did they allow you to keep me, Kajin? If they wanted me killed,” I ask quietly, the question having been a burden upon my mind.
“The council knows I will not hesitate to put you down if you are to step out of line. However, I was the one who expressed an interest in further study, so… here you are,” he hums. His voice seems less gruff, and it’s obvious he’s less agitated than he was when we first met. I suppose he’s realized that I’m not a threat to himself nor his people. “In any case. I do not know how your species regulates energy, but I have supplied a bed for you to rest upon should that be to your liking,” he says, gesturing to the corner. It’s a simple cot, but it looks a bit more comfortable than what I had been subjected to in the holding facility.
I nod my head, stepping towards the cot and sitting on the edge. He seems to take that as his cue to leave, and steps into the other room. Not knowing what else to do, I stretch out on the cot and consider my next move. Perhaps I will somehow be able to send a signal back to Earth at some point. For now, I have to focus on pleasing my temporary master.
CHAPTER THREE
I only realize I’d drifted off when I blink my eyes open and am jolted by the sight of my captor looming over me. His gaze is intense, though it seems to soften marginally when I edge away from him. I look myself over, realizing all too unpleasantly that my skin has become slightly grimy for going some days without a shower of any kind. I turn to my captor-- Kajin, I reminded myself, I would have to adjust to using his name. He seems fascinated by my every movement, and I brush my hair away from my face a bit self-consciously.
“Uhm… do you have a shower?” I ask with uncertainty, though I’m not altogether sure I look forward to the idea of bathing in a strange alien’s house. He quirks a brow, seeming to consider my words.
“Shower…?” He repeats, and I rub the back of my neck, struggling with how disjointed conversation with this male is.
“I need to get clean. With water. Shower,” I elaborate, and his eyes widen in recognition.
"Oh, yes. I have the facilities you require. We are not as unlike as I thought, though this ‘shower' as you refer it is something of a luxury on our planet. Our bodies technically have a self-sanitizing system, and…," he trails off, looking a bit chagrined. "Sorry, I tend to ramble. It's not every day we get an alien form of life crashing into our hunting grounds, either," he smiles, perhaps the first time I've seen the human expression on his face. I chuckle to myself, rising from the cot and stretching my arms out over my head. My joints give an audible pop, and his eyes widen almost comically.
"It's not every day I crash land on an alien planet, either," I retort. He hums a distinctly amused sound. "The shower, then?" I suggest once more, not wanting to sound like a broken record, but wanting the small comfort.
“Yes, right. Follow me,” Kajin says with a smile, leading me through the vast expanses of his home. He takes me to an extravagant bathroom, with small bottles sitting on a tray beside what I assume is the tub. “You may use my scent obscuring salve. I’m told by non-hunters that it smells rather nice,” he says carefully, slipping towards the door. I hesitate for a moment before beginning to undress, slipping out of my dirty space suit. “Oh, yes, and by the way--,” he says abruptly, peeking back in the bathroom. I swallow a shriek, trying to remain casual as his eyes rove my nude body. Perhaps nudity isn’t as intimate on this planet as it is on Earth, I can only hope… but the look in his eye is not altogether unfamiliar, and I feel myself redden beneath his stare.
“Uhm, Kajin? A bit of privacy, please?” I say awkwardly, and he blinks his eyes, seeming to shake off his reverie.
“Yes, of course,” he mutters. He slips out the door, and I can only wonder what was going through his mind as he took in my nude form. My mind wanders to what he may look like beneath that armor he always seems to be clad in, and I curse myself for the thought.
The last thing I need to do is become infatuated with an alien life form.
For a while after my bath, the man avoids me. I can hear odd trilling sounds coming from his bedroom, but I give it very little thought, instead busying myself with exploring what areas of the house I am able. Though the differences between life here and life on earth are distinct, they are also similar in remarkable ways. I do miss the steady beat of my bedside radio on an easy listening station, but the mother tongue of the natives here is almost musical in nature, already. Even the trilling coming from Kajin’s room has an odd sort of melody to it. I sway my hips from side to side as I explore his home, humming softly under my breath in tune with his trills. Abruptly, however, they come to a stop. Some moments later, he emerges from his sleeping chambers looking somewhat disheveled. He glances towards me with something akin to shame in his eye, refusing to meet my gaze for long. I hum to myself, approaching him with some hesitation.
"Kajin," I begin, not sure how to word my request. He fidgets under my stare, his actions oddly suspicious. "I was wondering if you would escort me to the city, today. Obviously, I would be under your care, I'm just… quite eager to explore the area for myself," I mutter. He seems a bit surprised by the request, but actually, considers it.
“I suppose there’s no harm in it,” he says agreeably. I grin gleefully from ear to ear, trailing behind him as he leads me out of his home. We walk side by side, attempting to remain discreet. It likely wouldn’t serve me well to draw attention to myself. He guides me to what seems to be a large marketplace, with natives selling wares of all sorts. Having been reluctant to slip back into my filthy space suit, I eagerly eye some clothes being sold. Kajin seems to notice my interest in the attire, drawing me nearer the stall. The woman, or what I presume to be a woman, considers me with a curious stare. He speaks to her in their native tongue, and I shift awkwardly from foot to foot. I can only wonder what they’re discussing, but she slips away to rummage through some boxes behind her stall. She emerges moments later with an extravagant dress that appears to be my size. Kajin presses some sort of code into a tablet-like device that she offers, and she smiles cheerfully as he takes the dress.
“Is that… for me?” I inquire nervously, not wanting to seem presumptuous.
“I’m certainly not going to wear it. You don’t have to take it, but I thought you seemed interested,” he says, seeming to force a
casual tone. I smile gratefully, reaching out to take the dress and hold it against myself.
"I'll try it on as soon as we return to your home," I grin. He gestures to what looks to be, for all intents and purposes, a high-tech portable toilet.
“There’s a changing station. There are dozens of clothing vendors in the marketplace. It doesn’t seem to be occupied. If you’d like to change, I will grab sustenance for us and we can explore a bit more before heading back,” he offers kindly. I hesitate a moment, looking at the dress with adoration. It’s beautiful, unlike anything I’ve ever seen before-- it seems the galaxy is woven in its threads.
"Alright. I'll trust your judgment on the meal," I grin before slipping towards the changing station. I step inside, surprised to see that it appears much larger on the inside than it had from the outside. There are around a half-dozen stalls held within, and I step into the nearest, slipping out of my space suit. I pull the dress on, amazed at how it feels against my skin. It's like the most luxurious silk, woven from the finest threads. I run my hands down my body, shivering at the sensation.
Realizing I’m taking a bit too long, I slip out of the changing station and glance around in an attempt to spot Kajin. Internally, I panic for a moment before I spot him approaching from a distant stall. I rush towards him, beaming at the sight of the armfuls of food he holds.
“Miss me?” He asks teasingly, and I roll my eyes in spite of my blush.
"Hush. Let's head back, there's no way I'm letting you lead me around with that armful," I smirk. He laughs awkwardly but nods his head in agreement. We make our way back to his home, and I'm unable to keep my hands off of the dress. He watches me with a vague sense of amusement, tempered with something darker and more primal. I find myself flaunting for him, and he seems all too receptive to the actions.
We step inside, and he lays the food out on the table. Though food is the last thing on my mind, I idly crunch on a small berry, humming with pleasure at the taste. He watches me with a quirked brow, and I feel a rush of heat wash over me. I continue to nibble the berry, giving a somewhat sensual air to my actions. Before I realize what’s happening, he pushes me against the wall and presses our lips together. Though I couldn’t have expected it, I find myself more than willing to accept the attention. He presses his groin to mine, trilling softly. The sound is familiar, and I realize with a start what he had been doing in his bedroom previously.
“Take me to your room,” I order gently. He obliges.
The whole sensation was unlike anything I can explain to another human. I get the feeling he couldn’t explain himself to one of his own, either. As I curl up at his side after, he carefully takes the collar off of me and places it on his bedside table. He wraps his arms around me, and we settle into a peaceful slumber.
I can’t help feeling as if I’ve allowed myself to fall into some sort of mental trap. However, it’s obvious that this is the last thing that he intended, as well. I can only enjoy the moments we have in private, as I get the feeling we won’t have such liberties in the public eye of the planet’s natives.
CHAPTER FOUR
Days pass and I find myself growing slightly more accustomed to my temporary, or at the very least what I hope is temporary, home. Kajin treats me with significantly more kindness, and the fear I had felt for him begins to dissipate a good bit, if not entirely. Since removing my collar, he has given me a bit more free reign to explore my surroundings. I’m grateful for the small freedoms I’ve been allowed, and in the time I have to myself, I’ve returned to the original roots of the expedition. I’ve been gathering samples of the local flora, though I don’t have my lab at the ready to pursue further study. I’ve considered making my way to my ship’s main crash site and gathering the materials to make a temporary study in Kajin’s home. Of course, it would be strictly necessary to run it by him first, but I have faith that he will allow it. It’s just a matter of having him accompany me to the crash site. He mentioned that his people had surveyed the area where the main ship had landed, regretfully informing me that they had found no survivors. The fact is disheartening, but it’s something I’m slowly coming to terms with. I only wish I could offer some words of condolence to their families, the people who would wait for a day that will never come-- the return of their loved one. I’m somewhat fortunate in the sense that there will be no one looking for me, no one to wonder what has become of me. I leave no family behind, save a father whose name I’ve never known.
Clark was the first and closest thing I’ve ever had to family. Though I gave the man his share of snubs, I have no doubt that his love for me was sincere. Now, all I have left to cling to is this pseudo-relationship with my captor. Does Kajin love me? Do his people even comprehend the concept of love? I can’t be sure. I only know that he is allowing me some sense of stability while so far from home.
I return after a short outing to gather samples, finding Kajin absorbed in what appears to be some alien literature. He glances up as I step inside, offering me a small smile. His smile falters as I draw closer, however, and I can only guess he is getting a better look at my mournful expression.
“Kara…? Is something wrong?” He inquires, reaching out to rest a hand on my shoulder. I breathe a sigh, resting my hand atop his in what I hope is a reassuring gesture.
“The weight of the world on my shoulders. I was hoping to go to the crash site you and your people discovered. I want to try and recover enough supplies to rebuild a lab of sorts. I know you have similar technology on this planet, but it would take ages for me to adjust to the differences-- time I’m not sure I’ll have,” I mutter, the heavy implication lingering between us. Though he has been kinder to me, the fact of the matter is that he could still be ordered to kill me at any given moment. He truly wouldn’t even need the order, should the desire so strike him, I would be a corpse lying at his feet. Though there is admittedly a certain thrill to the thought, I don’t aim to be killed any time soon.
“I can take you to the crash site. I’ll help you carry anything that you’re able to recover,” he offers kindly, leaning in to press his lips to my forehead. The gesture is intimate, and I can’t help but smile to myself at the sensation of his warmth.
“Thank you, Kajin,” I murmur, sincerity and graciousness radiating from my being. He smiles, closing his book and rising to his feet. He takes my arm in his own, leading me out the door. I fall into step at his side, excitement thrumming through me at the idea of recovering some of my supplies. Perhaps with a bit of supplementation with local technology, I will be able to formulate a working laboratory. It’s a small chance, but small chances have been working in my favor as of late. This planet being habitable, my alien captor taking mercy upon me are only the most significant, but I’m too excited to consider the other possibilities.
As we reach the outskirts of the city, I'm once again relieved to have the dress that the alien man bought me. It keeps my skin pleasantly cool in the heat of the planet's sun, swishing around my ankles as we walk the long distance through the surrounding forests. One might think it would be difficult to navigate in such clothing, but it manages to cling to me in all the right places. I breathe a content sigh, the moment away from the city allowing me to escape the reality that is my likely looming death. Kajin watches me with a rather enchanted expression, and I give my hips a teasing little shake as we emerge from the trees. If we were in the city, I would practice much more discretion. However, out here, away from the other native people, I feel freer to express my more sensual side.
However, my teasing shakes are cut short when the familiar smell of smoke invades my nostrils. I glance ahead, spying the main crash site some yards away. A thin tendril of smoke rises up from the depths, though I can’t see any part of the ship that is still aflame. Kajin looks mildly concerned, jogging ahead to likely survey the area for danger. I don’t allow him to make it too far without me, nearly having to sprint to keep up.
“What the hell,” a masculine voice blurts, sounding rema
rkably human. My eyes widen in surprise as I realize that the voice is more than vaguely familiar, and I bolt ahead to see Clark Lowell locked in combat with Kajin.
“Clark,” I cry out, feeling more joy than I can even begin to describe. Though I wasn’t on the greatest of terms with the man, the fact that I was not the lone survivor of the ship’s crash sends a rush of relief through me.
“Kara--- get off of me, you beast,” Clark growls, shoving at Kajin. Kajin takes a step back, looking between the two of us with some measure of uncertainty.
“Kajin, stop. He’s from my crew! There was another survivor,” I blurt, rushing between the two of them. They glare daggers at each other, but Clark’s gaze softens as he returns his gaze to me.
“Kara, I’ve been searching all over for you. I was beginning to think… I was beginning to think you did not make it,” he mutters, reaching out to rest a hand on my shoulder. I stiffen beneath his touch, feeling Kajin’s discomfort radiating from his body in an almost visceral way.
“I’ve been fine, Clark. It… it’s good to see you,” I manage, patting his hand gently before taking a step back. He looks at me rather strangely, glancing to the alien male who lingers behind me. I turn my most winning smile towards Kajin, who seems to catch on that I’m up to something. “Kajin, can Clark return to the city with us? It would be… nice, to have human company,” I say carefully. The taller of the men turns dark eyes upon Clark, obviously resisting the desire to snap.
Collared By The Warrior Page 2
