by Rena Marks
The memory invades my mind, as much as I try to force it away. Apparently the drug remains, or my brain is just used to being wracked back and forth between the dream state and reality.
I scream, and the sound is cut off abruptly as soon as I enter the light. The beam feels like a magnet lifting me, and suddenly, I weigh nothing at all. I float midair, arms and legs flailing madly in the cool night air. Below me, Michael is looking up, a smile plastered across his pathetic face.
Asshole.
I unfasten the heavy backpack from on my back, and suddenly the bag of rocks isn’t so heavy. Like me, it’s weightless in the beam of light. So I drop it back down to Michael.
Like the idiot he is, he holds his arms wide to catch our large geology assignment. It floats gracefully down, down, down. The distance between us stretches in a silent stillness until I can barely see the features of his face. Yet his arms are still outstretched, as if I’d really gift him the precious rocks I’d collected for studying.
At the last minute, the backpack leaves the red beam and a split second before it hits, Michael’s face turns to horror. Without the strange lack of gravity in the red laser, the bag of rocks falls like a truck through the gravitational pull of Earth. It hits Michael square in the face, knocking him backward. As one last parting gift, I think I see the bright red spurt of blood covering his crushed face as he sprawls on the ground below. There’s a grayish blob over his head, and I think it’s…brains.
“Yes,” I say slowly. “I did realize the backpack would kill him. He was looking up, and I knew without a doubt that the weight of the rocks would increase when it left the anti-gravity field the aliens were using to suck me into the ship with. I knew I was high enough from the ground from the length of time it took me to rise. I also knew I could see him because the field somehow magnified my vision, made everything appear closer. As soon as the backpack left the red light, it gained speed. In slow motion I saw the horrified knowledge his face before it could register for him to jump out of the way. I watched the rocks smash him. I watched him bleed, saw his body twitch, watched his bowels as they released in death.”
“How did you feel about that?” Jessie’s voice. How can the Stargazer be back?
“Jessie? You’re here?”
She nods.
But it’s too late. I will finish confessing to everything now, because they all know anyway. If Jessie’s here, I’m sure she’s told the rest that I’m wanted for murder.
“I didn’t feel bad,” I whispered. “I felt glee. The only mar I had was not being able to hear his screams, because while the red light magnified my vision, it silenced all sound. It was as quiet as if I were deaf. All I could do was watch the stains spread.”
It was as quiet as the cave. The chanting stops. I realize I’m not in the healing hut at all. I’m in the main area of the cave. Reverent mother’s bed has been placed in the center of the main room. I’m no longer tied down.
Every Blaedonian on the planet lines the edges of the cave. They all look revolted. From far away, I hear droplets of water echoing from the bathing pool.
It’s never been quiet enough to hear the bathing pool from the main gathering room.
“Where is Aschero?” I ask, and even to my ears, my voice sounds pathetic.
“I am here.” His voice is cold, and I’ve never heard that tone. “You think I will protect you from this? You murdering whore.”
“Ash, no!” My eyes fill with tears.
“Did you plan to do the same to me?” He snarls. “You killed your first mate. Is that what you are? A black widow spider?”
Oh God, that’s why I had the vision of bug-creatures. They were spiders. Huge, black widows merged with Blaedonians. I was seeing myself; of what I tried to hide.
“Never, I promise. I love you. I always have. I just fought it because I didn’t want to be hurt by another person. But now I know I never even loved Michael. It’s you I love.”
“Would you have killed me and then mated Cio, only to kill him, too?”
Cio stands with Ash suddenly, and his hand clasps Ash’s shoulder.
“We grew up together. Now a woman separates us? Our own people need to stick together,” Cio says.
There’s a gasp from Niki. “You see what you’ve done, Miranda? How the hell do you think we’re supposed to survive on our own? Why do you think we’re here mating with the natives?”
“I never planned to kill anyone,” I plead, and even to my ears my voice sounds whiny.
“Yeah, right,” Lucie sneers. “Just like you didn’t plan on killing Michael?”
“No, I mean, yes, I did kill him. I knew…but no I don’t intend on killing again.”
“Then why didn’t you tell us, Miranda?”
I have no answer for Niki.
“I…I don’t know. I didn’t know what everyone would think.”
She leans in. “We think you’re a murderer.”
“I know,” I sob. “But I’m sorry. And I can’t undo it. But I was so angry and betrayed. He sold me and I was helpless. I never knew aliens were real. I wanted to break up with Michael, but he was my lab partner and I was so close to finishing school.”
“You had a chance to return to Earth,” Jessie says. “And you chose to hide out here on this planet.”
“No, not hide out,” I try to say, wiping my eyes.
“That’s exactly what it was. Hide out. You asked me to check and see if they knew about it on Earth. You’ve known all along you were wanted for Michael’s murder.”
There are gasps in the room.
I’m weeping now, and it sounds so fucking pathetic.
“Ash, I love you,” I scream. “I don’t want Cio! I never did. It was you, always you.”
The spider looks at me sadly, and now his face has blended into Aschero’s and Cio’s, the features merging together as one being. It speaks in both voices. “I loved you, Miranda. But you just kept using me until my love died. Now, you deserve Cio. All you humans are alike. Murderers.”
“No, not all of us,” Niki says, and she sounds panicked. “Just her. Take her, we give her up.”
“Yeah,” Lucie agrees. “She’s no sister of ours.”
“Miranda,” Drakar says. “You will be banished to the outside of the tribal village with Cio. You will never be allowed back to the inner gates. You are Cio’s property to use and abuse as he sees fit. You are a prisoner, and he is your jailor.”
“No!” I gasp.
“Adretta, you may return from your temporary banishment.” Drakar shudders. “We certainly don’t want you trapped on the outside having to listen to her screams.”
Cio grins, and drops his loincloth. His dick grows, bigger and bigger until it’s a monstrosity. “I hope you like it in various places,” he says, massaging it.
“No! Ash, please,” I beg, turning to his image.
“Get away from me,” he snarls, and I gasp as his spider-jaw opens like the worm-creatures once did.
I sob piteously. Feeling the loss of Ash is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. It feels like my arm has been cut off.
“Please don’t leave me.”
“Miranda, I won’t.” His furry spider-arms wrap around me and I close my eyes, wondering if he’s going to eat me. I don’t even care. I just want this to end.
Then, for a while, all is calm. I sleep peacefully, but soon there’s movement. I groan, because it makes me dizzy again. I’m so tired, tired of being sick, tired of being drugged, tired of fighting my mind. I’m not sure which Blaedonian gods I’ve pissed off, but there must be many.
The next time I open them, the dizzy spells have stopped. But I sigh, aware I’m in the middle of another dream. This time I’m in the tribal caves.
“That was a deep sigh,” a male voice says.
I squeeze my eyes closed. “Ash?”
“Yes, my heart. Open your eyes.”
“No way. Everyone is giant spiders.”
He laughs softly. “Not this time, m
y love. I promise.”
I open one eye slowly. It’s him, it’s his face. So I go ahead and open the other eye also. Relief hits and I hold my hand out to touch him.
“She’s awake!” someone yells, running by.
“Am I on display in the main area?” I ask Ash, horrified.
“Yep. I believe Lucie called you Sleeping Beauty.”
“Quit teasing her,” Niki nudges Aschero. “The hunting party just arrived, Miranda. That’s why you’re in the main cave. You’re not on display,” she laughs.
“We’re back?” I ask. I’m on a travois of some kind.
“Yes.”
“Hey, girlie, how ya feeling?” Tessa asks.
“I’m…uh, fine.” I’m a little confused, wondering what they all know.
“Why didn’t you tell us, Miranda?” Jezebel asks. “You didn’t need to feel guilty over getting rid of that trash. All you had to feel guilty over was not sharing the story with us right away so we could congratulate you on a job well done.”
My mouth drops. “You all know?” Surely they’re not talking about my secret?
“That you killed your ex-boyfriend? Yep,” Valencia says cheerfully.
“He definitely got a lucky break,” Lucie says. “He wasn’t the one who had to travel light years from home. He just died. Probably reincarnated by now.”
“Yeah,” Jezebel laughs. “He’s stepped up the levels of life. Maybe he’s a lizard or something.”
I’m afraid to look at Aschero.
“So is there going to be a trial?”
“For Cio? No, he’s pretty guilty. He kidnapped and drugged you. No trial was necessary, he’s been banned from the community. He’ll be re-evaluated in one year, but it’s doubtful that he’ll be allowed back,” Niki says.
“Poor Adretta’s stuck with him, but she rules. Her banishment was originally for just one season. If he wants to bunk in her cave, he’ll have to be subservient,” Lucie says.
“I didn’t mean him,” I say. “I meant me.”
“Honey, why the hell would you need a trial?” Niki sounds bewildered.
“Because…” I take a deep breath. “I murdered someone.”
“Miranda,” Niki leans close to me. “So did Drakar and I, remember? We tricked Lech into touching the poisonous tree. Just because Michael was human and Lech was alien doesn’t mean that yours is a murder and ours was self preservation.”
“How did you know where I was?”
“When we realized you were missing, we dispatched Jeroc out to get word to the hunters. He met up with Kalki, who was returning to the village. Rayhaan had been hunting by Adretta’s cave, and didn’t see footprints in the snow. Remember Cio was supposed to bring her supplies and let her out? Instead he took you to a first level cave, not making it to the second level like he was supposed to. So the hunters, including Adretta, set out to find you. They made it to the second level cave just in time. You had to spend the night there, where you were already drugged. The next morning you finally passed out, and as soon as daylight hit, they brought you home.”
“Is Adretta here?”
“No. She will still finish out her punishment. This time, she has company, and someone to bring her meat. Payment to allow him to stay in her cave.”
Part of me is aware that Ash has been silent all this time. Then he steps up. “Miranda, let me take you to our cave.”
The girls part, and I’m swept into strong, blue arms. I peer over his shoulder at everyone, and there are waves and laughter, not horrified judgment like I dreamed.
Once we’re inside, he releases the curtain for privacy and then touches the glow rock, charging it to a brighter white.
“It feels a bit warmer,” I say.
He nods. “The days lengthen and warm the core of the planet, radiating the warmth longer throughout the day.” Then he turns to me, and looks anguished. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you how we mated. I should have. But I was afraid you would reject it for not having a choice.”
“And you had Cio taunting you with that,” I say, cupping his jaw in my palm. “I love you so much, Ash. There’s no one else but you. I’m sorry for the hell I put you through, letting you wonder if it would ever be just you and I.”
He turns his head and kisses my open palm. “I have loved you from the first moment I saw you.”
“It doesn’t matter to me how we mated. It only matters that we are. And I’m so sorry I never told you about Michael. I should have been honest.”
“Yes. I wish you would have been honest. I would have made you understand that there should have been absolutely no guilt that you killed him. You worried needlessly.”
He holds me tight, and I can barely breathe, but I don’t care. I love it.
* * * * *
“Can I look yet?”
“Not yet.” Aschero’s deep voice grumbles.
“How about now?”
“Nope.”
He’s carrying me, and it’s so hard not to peek. I have to physically war with myself to keep my fingers clasped tight over my eyes. Finally he sets me down, sliding me along his body so I can feel the bulge of his groin. So naughty. Warm, muscular arms wrap around me from behind, holding me close against him.
“Okay, my love. Take a look at your new cave.”
I open my eyes and I’m stunned at what he’s accomplished. There had been another cave next door to us that was used for storage. Aschero dug out the top of the wall into the next cave over, but instead of digging all the way down, the way the Blaedonians would have normally, he left the new loft area for our use. Then, he made a set of stairs leading to it from the old storage cave. All it took on our end of the cave was punching through the wall where the stairs were and we now have a bigger cave. Not that we needed extra room, but we needed the steps.
For sex.
“How in the world did you get this done?”
“I used one of my days off each week to seal myself in the storage cave and dig. You never knew. Plus, a few of the hunters helped me out. We wanted to see if this idea would work for the caves on the other sides, for those who have families. If it helps keep down the noise, we can incorporate the mated people with little ones onto this side, instead of having them move.”
I make my way to the stone steps. They’re wider than stairs would have been back home, but he and I understand why. I stretch out on them, and then, watching him carefully, I separate my thighs and let my knees fall apart.
I’m naked under the skirt.
His gaze drops to my sex.
“They are perfect,” he agrees.
With one smooth move, he reaches out and unties the leather that binds his loincloth across his body. It drops, and his beautiful blue cock is already swelling. The cock rings look tender as they encircle his shaft.
I sit higher and scoot my skirt off my hips, leaving me naked underneath. The steps are cool and smooth under my ass.
I untie the halter I wear and let it drop, baring my breasts. Ash’s eyes gleam as he takes in my nipples. The tips of my breasts always fascinate him.
I reach out and swallow the tip of his cock. The stairs place us at a perfect angle. They did a great job.
“Miranda,” he hisses.
“Enjoy, baby,” I tell my sexy barbarian.
I flatten my tongue and drag it slowly over the head of his cock. He makes a choking sound. I continue to lick the head of his cock, covering every inch of his beautiful blue skin. He’s soft and silky and his rings have swollen. I know they’re sensitive, and veins trace over the entire length. He has a beautiful curve to his erection and there’s something erotically sexy knowing the piece I’m licking will reach deep inside my sex.
I slide my hand over the length and girth, shifting the rings as I go along. He groans, the sound rumbling from in his chest. I stroke him again, and when I lean in to lick, I see a drop of sweet liquid has beaded. I lap it up and the taste makes me clench my thighs together. My sex feels drenched in slickness.
&n
bsp; His hips rock, his cock pushing against my hands to shift his rings. “God, Miranda,” he mutters, and thrusts again. I brush the head of his cock over my wet lips, then open my mouth and suck the tip. I reach underneath and cup his sac. They feel heavy and hot in my palm. As I cup them, they tighten.
I stop sucking the head of his cock, and nibble on the sensitive rings, making my way down his shaft. He hisses.
I lightly scratch underneath his thigh, and he loosens his tense muscle. It allows me to bring his leg up a step, and that give me access to his balls. Now I can angle my head a little so his sac is right in front of me. I reach out and lick it. His hand comes up to brace himself against the wall, as if his legs won’t support him.
“Miranda.”
I continue to lick his balls, and his scent grows musky, driving me wild with need. His balls draw up and tighten, and I know he’s close.
I move back to the head, and engulf it in the warmth of my mouth. I stroke his shaft, and bump the rings together. He shouts, and his body quakes. I suck harder and he fills my mouth with warm wetness. I swallow his seed, and he caresses my head.
He’s panting when I pull away.
“Do you need a moment?” I ask.
“Are you kidding?” he growls, and drops down, pushing me backward to lay on the steps with his chest. His mouth descends to me, and he sweeps inside, tasting me with an uncontrollable wildness.
Then his mouth leaves me and he kisses his way down my neck, across my collarbone and between my breasts. His head dips to the tips of my breasts.
“I love your nipples,” he says, and sucks one. The tugs feel electrified, and I can feel his tongue flicking across the peaked nipple.
His hand moves to cup my sex. It’s large and warm, and feels amazing at the apex of my thighs. I spread my legs to him, and one large finger pushes into my body. I’m so wet I instantly coat him with slickness. He kisses down the center of my body, and I gasp with anticipation when he reaches my bellybutton. He never stops, he continues kissing down, right through my pubic hair, down to the slickness of my clit. His tongue circles it lightly and I’m squirming in pleasure.
