by Regine Abel
Malaika felt so fragile in my arms, and yet so right. I should probably release her now and get out of her bed before she wakes. Her breathing having evened out a half-hour ago, I’d stopped my strumming, which eased her pain and could even put her to sleep when hummed at the right frequency. Although this stage of her mutation wasn’t complete, Malaika had not displayed any sign of distress or discomfort for more than an hour. Hopefully, she would continue to sleep through this painful phase which should last one more day.
My gaze roamed over the midnight blue scales that now graced the length of Malaika’s arms, the line of her shoulders, and nape. From the feel of her back against my chest, the scales hadn’t finished forming along her spine. But with two layers of clothes between us, hers and mine, I couldn’t tell for sure. Against her brown skin, the dark blue shade of her scales looked regal. I’d never seen such a combination before, making her even more beautiful to me. I couldn’t wait to see how her currently black eyes would look once they took on that same blue in the final stage of her transformation.
The moment she’d stepped out of that bus, my mating glands had gone into overdrive. I’d known then that she wouldn’t be among those that returned home. Sikarians always recognized each other, and only a soulmate triggered the kind of reaction she’d stirred in me. Along with her, six of the eight other Sikarians had naturally gravitated towards each other, the last two still being too early in their transformation to feel the call. But the alpha male, Luca, worried me. Although I couldn’t quite call his interactions with her possessive, he’d certainly been protective. The absence of his scent on her proved he hadn’t claimed her… yet.
He was of a different breed than Malaika and me, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t mate. Khilzains liked to fly and lived in dryer, hotter climates than us Thalans, who thrived in water and cooler climates. Thankfully, being her mentor, she would spend the next few days exclusively in my company, learning to master the wonders of her new body. Before the time of her departure, I would need to convince her I was the one for her.
Malaika stirred again. Her breathing changed, and her back stiffened.
Uh oh…
With a yelp, she elbowed me in the gut and threw herself off the bed. I grunted, air rushing out of me. Rolling off the bed as well, I lifted up my hood to hide my face. Malaika still had no real understanding of what was happening to her. Seeing me without preparation could frighten her.
“What the fuck are you doing? Why are you in my bed, you pervert?” Malaika yelled, scrambling clumsily to her feet then backing away until her back hit the side wall. Eyes flicking around the room, she was no doubt looking for some kind of weapon to use against me.
“I did nothing inappropriate,” I said, raising both palms up in a non-threatening manner. “As you can see, we’re both fully clothed. My hand on your stomach was merely holding you.”
“Okay, but why?” she demanded, her voice thick with anger and suspicion. “Why were you in my bed holding me?”
“You had a crisis and collapsed in the hallway,” I explained. “My name is Zayek. Jenna called me to help you because I’m best suited to do so.”
“Yeah, I remember,” she said, absentmindedly rubbing her stomach, which I knew had cramped horribly. “But she certainly didn’t mean for you to spoon with me while I was unconscious.”
Actually, yes, she did.
Except, how was I supposed to tell her that the vibrations of my chest against certain points on her back, combined with a specific ultrasonic sound I emitted at precise intervals, took away her pain and not have her think me crazy?
“I had to hold you that way in order to alleviate your pain. It’s… It’s complicated.”
“Then uncomplicate it!” she snapped. “And why are you hiding your face?”
Another question I didn’t want to answer just yet. I wanted to kick myself for not getting out of bed when the thought first crossed my mind. As I scrambled to find a way out of this bind, Malaika winced. Concerned, I made to move towards her, but she gave me a warning glance to stay put.
“You’re not well, Malaika. Let me help you.”
“Don’t you approach me!” she snarled. “I don’t… Aah!”
She doubled over, her face contorted with pain. I rushed to her side. Despite her obvious agony, she tried to push me away but didn’t have the strength to do so. Gathering her in my arms, I pressed her back to my chest and began to strum. Malaika’s pained groans turned into a startled gasp as the vibrations worked their magic. I emitted three rapid ultrasonic pulses, and she became boneless in my arms. A shiver ran through her, and goosebumps erupted all over her golden skin.
“See? I can take away your pain. Let me help you.”
“H… how?” she asked, rendered groggy by the pulses.
“I will explain later,” I said. Picking her up, I carried her back to bed and spooned her again. “For now, rest. I will keep the pain away. We will speak when next you wake.”
She mumbled a token protest, and I pushed another set of ultrasonic pulses at her. Seconds later, she was fast asleep.
CHAPTER 3
Malaika
I woke up alone. While his presence had freaked me out last time, his absence now made me feel oddly bereft and cold. The place he had lain behind me remained warm to the touch, telling me he’d just left. For a moment, I wondered if he would return.
Sitting up on the incredibly soft mattress of the king-sized bed, I looked for Zayek. Late morning sunlight lit the room through large windows overlooking an amazing garden. The beautiful but strange plants within confirmed it was a different garden than the one I’d seen through the conference room’s window. My eyes widened while taking in my surroundings. This wasn’t a quarantine zone dorm or sleeping cubicle, but a five-star hotel luxury suite with a cozy living area, breakfast table, and mini-kitchen. I couldn’t decide if the textured, baby-blue paint on the walls resembled peaceful water or a fantasy sky. Either way, combined with the enticing scent of a potted plant similar to the exotic ones by the indoor fountain of the conference room, it created a soothing effect.
My stomach grumbled loudly at the sight of a couple of covered plates on the table. Barefoot on the heated wooden floor, I padded over to the promise of food with zealous haste. Lifting the dome covering my plate, I stared in confusion at its contents. The meal looked pretty, but not like anything I’d ever really had. Two square beef-looking patties—definitely not made of beef—sat next to what I assumed to be algae salad with sesame seeds, and something akin to hash browns. To my relief, the food proved delicious. I still didn’t know what the patties were made of, but they tasted like chicken medallions wrapped in bacon. While inhaling the food, I noticed a folded note next to a bowl of freshly cut fruit. I unfolded it, stunned by the elegant and fluid handwriting that had scribbled it.
‘Malaika,
Please forgive me for scaring you. My sole purpose is to help you and ease things for you during this time of transition. Anything you need, ask and I will do all in my power to make it happen. I will be your guide and your mentor over the next few weeks.
You will notice that you have undergone significant changes over the past 48 hours. They are normal. You are normal and very beautiful. Take however much time you need. When you are ready, please come join us. I will be waiting for you in the common room with others who have undergone the same transformation you are experiencing.
Zayek’
My heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat trickled down my back. So far, I’d been spared the annoying itching that had been plaguing me for a while, and the long sleeves of my shirt hid my skin. I hadn’t felt anything unusual after waking, but now that he’d mentioned it, something was different. With a sense of dread, I lifted my sleeve. The air rushed out of me as I gazed upon the midnight blue scales covering them, tapering off around my wrists.
My chair fell over as I stood abruptly and made a mad dash for the bathroom. Bursting into the room, I tore off my shirt and s
tood before the mirror. My breath caught in my throat at the image it reflected. The dark scales covered both my arms, the back of my neck, and ran along my temples. While they had kept their obsidian color, both my eyes and their irises had grown bigger, making them look doll-like. I ran my hand through my long, curly, black hair. Soft, and fluffy, its texture no longer felt the same. Even the texture of my non-scaled skin appeared to be different. Smooth and somewhat rubbery, it reminded me of the dolphin’s hide I had swum with during a trip in the Bahamas a few years back.
I had suspected all along that I’d be among those to turn into a freak because of the speed at which my scales had been spreading, but seeing it crushed me. Feeling weak in the knees, I stumbled back and sat on top of the closed lid of the toilet, staring at my reflection in disbelief. I didn’t need to look at my back to know scales covered it as well; I could feel them. There would be no going back home to my old life and family.
Only daughter to career obsessed parents, I’d always felt like more of a burden to them than a welcomed addition to the family. They’d given me the best of everything, except of themselves. I’d gone from daycare, to boarding school, to living on campus. My college roommate had known more about—and seen more of—me than my own parents. After graduation, they’d footed the bill to buy me a nice little condo: my reward for graduating with honors. They probably believed it, too, rather than admitting to themselves that they didn’t want me around.
Still, I loved my parents. Although distant and often indifferent, they had treated me well. It only hurt that when I collapsed on the street, and the hospital informed them I’d been hospitalized but wasn’t in critical condition, neither had dropped their ‘important’ engagements. Why would they since I’d be leaving within hours anyway? And now, looking at what I’d become, chances were we’d never get to see each other again.
Exhaling a shuddering breath, I stood back up and gave myself another once over. Zayek was right: I’d changed and looked weird by human standard, yet I found myself oddly beautiful. My fingers ran over the scales, smooth to the touch despite their hardness.
With a sigh, I hopped into the shower. According to Zayek’s message, two full days had gone by since my collapse. No wonder I’d been so famished. To my pleasant surprise, my hair had become water-repellent, moisture rolling right off and not clinging once I rubbed a towel over it.
To my relief, the wardrobe contained a few outfits provided by the CDC for me to wear, including some still-in-the-package undies. They’d never qualify as lingerie, but I welcomed them nonetheless. I’d not been allowed back home after getting diagnosed at the hospital and putting on the same clothes I’d been sleeping in for two days held zero appeal. To my dismay, most of the clothes had short sleeves, or none at all. I settled for an above-knee length little black dress. My lower body had not sustained any changes for now, and I had great legs. My eyes lingered on my sweater. It would cover my arms, and I felt terribly self-conscious.
But this is me now, going to meet with others like me…
Despite my nerves, I forced myself to walk out of my room without it. My footsteps resonated loudly in the empty hallway. Clear directions on the wall showed me the way to the common room. The sound of many voices conversing and ambient music playing set my pulse racing.
The first face I saw belonged to a female. By the creamy complexion of her face and legs, I could tell she’d been a Caucasian brunette before the change. Her eyes, bigger still than mine, looked like they’d captured a constellation of stars. Their purplish hue matched the beautiful scales that covered her arms and shoulders. She blinked, and then a horizontal eyelid closed and opened over her eye, the same way the nictitating membrane behaved with certain lizards, cats, and dogs. Aside from her eyes and the scales along her temples, her face remained human. Well, mostly, if one excluded her unusually small nostrils.
Her lips stretched into a broad smile when she noticed me. Her companion, a male with similar traits, also smiled and nodded when he saw what had drawn her attention. As I made my way into the room, more and more heads turned to greet me, many stares tinged with admiration as they lingered over my scales. Until now, I hadn’t realized how much I had needed this sense of acceptance and belonging.
They are like me. I’m not alone.
Well many of them. At a quick glance, there seemed to be three main types of mutations: those like me, those with thicker scales and horns, and a third with a thick down around their shoulders similar to the fur ermine of a King’s cape, and a freaking pair of wings. I wanted wings—even if I was beyond scared of heights. While scanning the room looking for my group, I casually noted that most of the men were bare-chested. The ‘angel’ women were as well, their down covering the naughty bits in some cases, and not in others. No one seemed to mind.
Just as I’d come to the conclusion that my group wasn’t around, I felt his presence. My head jerked to the left, and my eyes made contact with his. The room faded away. The chatter, the music, and the people surrounding us, all ceased to exist. He approached me, broad-shouldered and muscular, chiseled chest completely bare. Covered with black and silver scales, his pale skin had a slightly greyish tinge to it, and his eyes resembled liquid mercury. Ears like a fish’s fins peeked through his shoulder-length, wavy, obsidian hair. He stopped in front of me, a soft smile stretching his sensuous lips.
“There she is,” he said.
I shivered, my stomach doing a backflip at the sound of his husky voice.
“You’re gorgeous,” I blurted out.
My jaw dropped at the same time his did, taken aback by my unintended admission. His skin darkened, which I assumed to be him blushing.
“I totally didn’t mean for that to come out like that… or at all,” I said, my cheeks burning.
His eyes did that double-blink thing with the horizontal eyelids, and then he chuckled. “I didn’t expect that, but I’m glad you did. Thank you,” he said with a shy smile. “You look quite stunning yourself. In a few days, your scales will become lustrous. You’ll be beyond breathtaking then.”
It was my turn to be embarrassed by a compliment. I tucked my hair behind my still very human ears.
“I… I’m sorry for shouting at you the other day.”
Zayek waved a dismissive hand. “Think nothing of it. I should have been up before you awakened. Your reaction was perfectly normal.”
“Still, I’m sorry. And thank you for your help. That pain was no joke.”
“Yes, I know,” he said with an air of sympathy. “I’m glad I could help.”
A loud burst of laughter had us both looking in the direction of the noisy little group of people.
“Come,” Zayek said. “Let’s go to the garden so that we can talk in peace.”
I nodded and shivered again when he briefly placed his hand on the small of my back to guide me towards the door to the garden. My reaction to him didn’t make sense. He was insanely handsome despite his alien features, and his voice did crazy things to me. But many of the other men in the room were also attractive, as Luca had been. So why such a strong reaction to Zayek?
Speaking of which…
“Where are Luca and the others?” I asked.
Zayek’s slight frown, quickly dissimulated, didn’t escape my notice. “They are still going through their first stage,” he said, opening the door for me.
I stepped out into the garden, the now familiar spicy and woodsy scent of the exotic plants greeting us. Although recognizable in terms of greenery, the shapes and sizes of the leaves and petals of the plants clearly indicated them as foreign—no, as prehistoric. It made sense considering that the bacteria causing our mutation stemmed from that era. Yet, I didn’t feel like we were degenerating but evolving into something greater.
“After you fell, over the next eight hours, the others did as well, one by one,” Zayek explained. “They should be coming around before the day’s end.”
I nodded. “It will be good to see them… to know that the
y’re okay,” I said, running my fingers over the giant leaf of a tree.
“Did you know them before coming here? You and Luca seemed close.” Although he asked the question nonchalantly, I could hear the tension in his voice.
I shook my head. “No. I met them all on the bus. We exchanged our names right before Linda gave us that presentation. It’s just… We all arrived together, sharing the same fears and uncertainty. That creates a bond, I guess.”
“Yes. Yes, it would,” Zayek said, his relief plain to see.
Was he jealous?
It felt pretty presumptuous of me to assume that, and yet, my gut said he was. That pleased me, a lot. I didn’t believe in love at first sight, but recognized an instant crush for what it was, and Zayek had me crushing on him big time. In my situation, you’d think my mind would be preoccupied with more serious matters.
“So… what happens now?” I asked as we casually strolled through the garden. “I mean, looking at these other guys in the room, I’m assuming I’ll continue to change until I become like them… like you?”
He nodded. “You are like me. Over the next few weeks, your transformation will be complete after two more stages like the first one you just went through.” He lifted a low hanging branch that hung in our path to let us through. “The second phase causes more outward changes, namely your lower-body. I would show you what to expect but, after our previous encounter, I doubt you’d welcome me taking my pants off just now.”
My cheeks felt on the verge of bursting into flames as he chuckled at my obvious embarrassment. I wasn’t timid or prudish, but thoughts of him dropping his pants had my mind taking an angel dive into the deepest, naughtiest of gutters. Of course I’d want to know what kind of gear the men who’d undergone the change were packing, especially a man who had me tingling in all the right places by just looking at me or speaking.
“Right,” I said, trying to sound casual. “And what of the third phase?”
“Mostly internal changes, heart, endocrine and reproductive systems, and lungs,” Zayek said, matter-of-fact.
