“Oh dear, that’s terrible,” she said with her hand over her mouth in distress. “You really should discuss this with your father, honey. See what he thinks. Maybe we can have your new friends over for dinner soon.”
“Jordan lives on the far side of the town. He doesn’t have a permit to access the compound. I’d have to ask Kayn before we can invite him in.” Alyssa instantly dismissed that idea. “Maybe we can get together at Granny’s instead?”
“That would be nice, honey. Willow loves having company. I’ll talk to your father tonight about making plans.”
“Can I ask you something, Mom?”
“Of course.”
“Do you and Dad plan on taking Final Asen’Sha?”
“Well, I suppose I had assumed we’d all go together.” Melina leaned against her desk next to Alyssa, bumping shoulders. “Why? Have you changed your mind?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m ready to leave Earth yet, at least not right this second. Maybe in a few years. It would depend on how my relationship with Kayn goes… as well as a few other things.”
“Hmm, I don’t know that your father and I would want to go without you. But, like you said, right this second we’re not ready. Life is good, and it’ll take time for the Key to be ready. We don’t have to decide now.”
“Okay, Mom, I love you,” she said. “I’m going home. It’s been a long day.”
“Love you too, daughter.” Melina hugged Alyssa.
Strolling back to her quarters, Alyssa contemplated Asen’Sha. Until she’d gotten pregnant, she’d assumed, like her mother, they’d all go to Zion together, or at least, the three of them would. Granny had always been adamant about being too old to live for eternity, and even though they assured her she’d feel youthful and eternally happy, Granny insisted she started life on Earth, and on Earth she would finish it.
How can I go now? Kayn can’t go. Will he want to keep our baby with him? I can’t go to Zion without my baby. If I don’t go, will my parents stay behind with us? I can’t imagine life without them. I’ll talk to Kayn and my parents. We’ll all just stay here until our baby has grown up and can make his or her own choice. Wait… Will my half-alien baby be able to get into Zion?
***
With so many questions plaguing her, Alyssa arranged to meet Kayn in his quarters, but when she arrived and he wasn’t there yet, she let herself in to wait on his sofa. Mulling over everything she wanted to say to him, Alyssa studied the sparse furnishings. Nothing in Kayn’s quarters reflected any kind of personality, and she wondered if the lack of personalized décor actually did reflect Kayn’s character, perhaps all Szu’Kara’s character, considering the majority of aliens were a stuffy bunch.
The door swooshed open, and Kayn swaggered in with an air of superiority Alyssa usually admired… not so much now. When he approached her, his face softened and the corners of his mouth turned up into a knowing smile, causing Alyssa to quiver inside, partly because of her attraction to him and partly because she wasn’t there for what he seemed to think she was there for.
Alyssa took in his lean, powerful form as he stooped down to kiss her forehead. Sitting close to her, he grasped her hand, and mesmerized by the swirly shimmer of his golden eyes, Alyssa breathed in little gasping breaths as Kayn’s lips softly grazed her brand. Shaking herself out of her stupor, she wondered if he purposefully drew her attention to what she now thought might be a mark of possession, not honor.
“Kayn...” Alyssa sighed, struggling to pull herself together.
“Hello, my dear,” he said, drawing each word out sensually.
Clearing her throat, Alyssa pulled her hand back and scooted away, putting some breathing room between them, a hint of confusion clouding his gaze.
“Kayn,” she said with more force. “I need to talk to you. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”
Back stiffening, Kayn’s face turned to emotionless stone, setting butterflies aflutter in her belly.
“I’ve been doing some thinking.”
Sitting back against the sofa, his arm lay along the back like a snake waiting to strike, as arrogance filled his eyes. Alyssa looked away, uncomfortable, but quickly turned back to face him with as much confidence as she could muster.
“Go on.”
“For as long as I can remember, it was assumed most of humanity would enter Zion as a whole when a permanent method was devised. It was an unspoken agreement between myself and my parents that we would all go together.”
“Yes, that is the general consensus.” His eyes narrowed, one eyebrow arched with impatience. “We understand not all humans will want to leave Earth, hence our decision to stay on as caretakers. Although, after a time, we may continue our journey to other inhabited planets. When that happens, we will leave behind volunteers that will provide the necessary guidance for prolonged peace in this solar system.”
“I see.” Alyssa glanced around the room, searching for a way to express herself without instantly angering Kayn. “The thing is… my situation has changed, as you know. We’ll soon have a child that will need love and care from both parents.” She turned to look at him, trying to gauge his reaction. “You do plan on participating in our child’s upbringing, don’t you?”
Kayn’s eyes glittered, the gold seeming to swirl in the light, and Alyssa couldn’t quite tell if he was thinking or glaring at her.
“That is a decision I am not ready to make. I need to consult with Ela and Ras.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Kayn repeated her question with a snappy, mocking tone. “My reasoning is not to be questioned, but since I care for you, I will answer. It is necessary to analyze the possible repercussions of my influence on a child as commander. All offspring are considered precious, and as such, should be given the best possible care and upbringing. Our child will be of mixed species. Because of my superior genetics, the child may be born different than any other human-alien offspring born since the Szu’Kara arrived.”
“I can understand why you might need to consult Ela, but why the general? He doesn’t like me, and I don’t think he’ll like our child either.”
“He is my most trusted adviser. He has been by my side since I became commander. I will have his word on this subject.”
“Fine, we can return to this later.” Alyssa wanted to get the conversation back on track. “What I wanted to talk to you about is Asen’Sha. Final Asen’Sha.”
“What about it?” His words snapped in her ears.
“Regardless of whether you want to help or not, I feel that, if Final Asen’Sha were to happen soon, it would be best for me and my family to stay behind to raise our child. At least until we know if our child can enter Zion. If he or she can’t go, then I won’t either. I’ll stay behind with our child, and I’d like for my family to be here with us.”
Kayn squinted at Alyssa, anger simmering on the surface. She sat stock straight, facing him, not wanting to give an inch on the matter. Her guts shook with a fear she had never felt with Kayn before.
“No.”
“What do you mean—no?”
“I mean, no.” Kayn tipped his head up, looking down his aquiline nose. “You will go to Zion, Alyssa. It is only proper that the human most favored by the Commander of the Szu’Kara enter Zion with the rest of humanity.”
“As you said, not everyone will be going.” She pressed on, determined to get her point across. “I’m not saying I won’t go eventually, but I want to stay with our child for as long as possible. If our baby can’t go with me to Zion, then I’ll stay until I’m old and tired of life on Earth. If our baby can enter Zion, and you allow him or her to go, then we will go together with my family. I will not abandon our child, Kayn.”
“No, that is not acceptable.” Kayn’s voice echoed off the walls. “You will go with or without the child. When the time comes, if our child still needs care, it will go to the Nursery. That is the only acceptable option.”
“Kayn! You can’t force me t
o go.” Alyssa jumped up from the sofa to look down at him, her trembling fists pressing against her thighs. “I will make that decision for myself and for our child. If you don’t want to be a part of our baby’s life, I will happily raise our child with my family’s help. You don’t get to choose this for me.”
Kayn stood up to tower over her, but Alyssa refused to be cowed. “I am the leader of both our people, Alyssa.” He spoke with a smooth and unyielding voice. “You will do as I say. You must set an example for humanity. Your heaven awaits you.” He paused, blinking slowly, breathing out of his nose like a bull ready to charge, and continued with strained self-control. “I will consult with Ela about our child’s ability to enter Zion. Either way, you will go with your family to Zion when the time comes. That is the end of this discussion.”
Shocked, Alyssa stormed out of Kayn’s quarters, terrified and furious, and marched straight to her parents’ quarters. She couldn’t believe the alien she loved—almost—would be so callous and controlling.
***
Barging in the front door of her parents’ living space, tears rained down Alyssa’s face as she frantically looked around, finally finding her father through blurry vision. He gaped at her sudden, distraught appearance as her mother peeked through the doorway of the kitchen and rushed to her side.
“What’s the matter, honey—”
“Why are you crying, kitten—”
“Oh, Mom. Dad...” Alyssa leaned on her mother, knees weak and shaky. “Kayn is being completely unreasonable!”
“About what, kitten?”
“I’m not supposed to tell you...” Alyssa hiccupped. “I just can’t believe this is happening.”
“What? What’s the problem?” Melina lifted her daughter’s face, searching her eyes.
Before Alyssa could blurt out the truth, a strange hissing sound filled the room. All three of them looked around, trying to locate the source, and Alyssa scrubbed the tears from her eyes, spotting a mist flowing in from the vents near the ceiling.
“What the hell is that?” James pointed at the mist.
Alyssa sniffled. “I don’t know…”
“We need to leave…now.” Melina frowned, ushering her family towards the exit.
The mist quickly filled the room, causing them to start gagging and coughing, Alyssa’s lungs burning as it flowed over the furniture and began to slowly melt and disintegrate each item it came in contact with, creating a second mist that added to the surrounding noxious fog.
Alyssa and her parents watched, horrified, as the mixture of strange gasses steadily filled the room, rolling towards them like dark storm clouds. Frantically, James slapped his palm to the scanner, but the door didn’t budge. Alyssa pushed him away to try her hand on the scanner, hoping her clearance would override any possible security measures that might have kicked in.
“Daddy, it won’t open! I can’t get it to open!” She shrieked, choking on the cloying fumes.
“Lina, what is this?” He gasped, coughing between each word. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know what this is, James!” Melina covered her mouth and nose with both hands. “It feels like my lungs are on fire. It must be some kind of poisonous gas. We have to get the door open. We have to get out of here now!”
“The door’s locked, Mom!” Alyssa clutched her mother’s arm and turned back to the door, pounding on it, praying someone would hear.
“Help! Someone help us!”
Her dad joined her, and they slammed their aching fists against the thick metal door until the poison stole the strength from their arms.
“This is wrong. Something is wrong! Why would the door be locked?” Alyssa spun around and bashed her head against the door in anger while her mother just shook her head over and over, fear flashing in her eyes.
Sliding to the floor, they tried to get under the lethal smog, struggling to breathe as the gas blanketed the room, blocking most of the light. Huddled against the locked door, Alyssa’s parents shrouded her on both sides, squishing together in a group hug as they clung to each other, panting and coughing uncontrollably. Her mother started to fade, her eyes losing their beautiful shine as her father tried to keep them all upright with arms that were weakening by the second.
“Mom, Dad, I love you both so much!” The words choked out of her throat like razorblades. “Please stay with me!”
“We’re here, kitten,” James said, his wheezing voice full of fear. “We’re right here and we both love you so much.”
“I love you, Alyssa, my wonderful, amazing daughter. I love you so much,” Melina said in a strained whisper as she fought to get enough air to speak.
Panicked, Alyssa sucked poisoned air into her inflamed lungs, watching her parents slump down beside her unconscious. Hysterical, she turned to each and shook them, desperate to wake them up as tried to scream, but only managing a loud, raspy whisper.
“Wake up! Please wake up! Don’t leave me... I need you...” As her chest burned and her airways tightened, Alyssa grabbed at her throat with one hand while clinging to her mother with the other, watching the mist thicken, becoming almost solid.
As the light faded from Alyssa’s crazed eyes, she prayed she would meet her parents in Zion. A lone tear fell from her dry, scratchy eye when she realized her baby would never see the beautiful sunlight shining upon Earth. Please let my baby be with me and my family in Zion. Please!
Chapter 7
Alyssa heard faint voices and sensed people moving around her, but her eyelids were too heavy to open.
“Will she...”
“...poison...”
“...baby, is it...”
“Aly, please come back...”
Jess? Why am I so tired?
Everything faded away.
***
“Be still, child. You need to sleep… for your baby.”
Alyssa saw a Szu’Kara nurse through her barely opened and blurry eyes, and tried with all her might to speak, but her mouth wouldn’t cooperate to form coherent words. Frustrated, she turned her head to see what the nurse was doing.
“Shh, it is just something to help you sleep,” the alien nurse said as she injected a clear fluid into the IV.
Alyssa felt the medication flow like warm syrup through her veins, her eyelids suddenly heavier than lead weights, but she tried once more to communicate with the nurse.
“Just rest, Alyssa. You must heal. You are going to need your strength. I am sorry, so very sorry.”
Confused, she struggled to understand as she felt the nurse squeeze her hand before the blackness overwhelmed her.
***
“Nurse Kelly! I think she’s waking up.”
Alyssa winced as Granny hollered, sounding extra loud, as light shined through her eyelids, bright as the sun, making her contemplate never opening them again. Flexing her fingers, she groaned at the ache in her bones.
“Baby girl, it’s time to rejoin the world.” Granny gently shook Alyssa’s arm.
She opened her eyes a tiny bit, gasping at the stab of painful light. Still unable to see clearly, Alyssa sensed the nurse next to her, startling her as the bed began inclining, and causing her eyes to pop open all the way. Wincing, she tried to fling her hands over her face, only to find them too heavy to lift more than a few inches.
“Granny?” Her voice croaked through a parched, aching throat.
“Yes, baby girl?”
“What happened? Where’s Mom and Dad?”
“Oh, Alyssa.” Granny’s voice cracked with emotion. “I’m so sorry. They didn’t make it.”
“What?” Alyssa jerked up from her reclined position, tubes and wires straining and pulling at her skin. “What do you mean? I don’t understand!”
“You need to stay calm, Miss Rose.” Nurse Kelly gently pushed Alyssa back against the bed, and for some reason, the nurse’s humanity reassured her.
“My baby?”
“Your baby is alive and healthy. You were unconscious for several days, but ot
herwise, you’re fit as a fiddle.”
“What happened to me? To my parents?”
“I’m sorry.” Nurse Kelly bowed her head, eyes full of sympathy. “I don’t know what happened. Commander Kayn wants to be notified when you wake up. Maybe he’ll be able tell you what happened.” She gave Alyssa a sad smile. “I’ll be here all night, hon. Press the buzzer if you need anything. I’ll be in periodically to check your vitals, and Shar will be in shortly to check on the baby.”
Alyssa watched as the nurse left, then turned to Granny for answers.
“Granny, please tell me they’re alive. They have to be alive.”
“No, baby girl. Whatever happened to you, killed them. I saw their bodies myself.” Tears fell from Granny’s tired eyes, her silver braid frazzled and loose.
“Why? Why did they die?” She threw her arms over her face, tubes clanking against the IV pole.
“I don’t know,” Granny said, tears dripping down her cheeks. “I just don’t know.”
Granny held Alyssa’s hand while they both cried, her heart broken, shredded and aching with loss. At some point, Jess rushed into the room, and without a word, crawled up onto the bed, wrapping her arms around Alyssa’s quaking shoulders.
Granny and Jess waited while Alyssa poured her heartache out onto the bed until the tears dried up, and the numbness set in. She glanced around the room, for the first time noticing herself surrounded by monitoring devices, with one machine displaying her heart rate and the heart rates of her baby.
Her chest ached with regret as Alyssa realized her parents never knew about the baby. Despairing, she closed her eyes and leaned against her best friend as fatigue took over, and she fell asleep once again.
A little while later, she woke to the sound of Kayn’s deep voice drifting into the room. Jess still sat with her, holding her as Granny napped in the chair beside the bed.
Broken: The Discordant Earth Series 1.0 Page 8
