Devoured: A Dark Sci-Fi Romance

by Piper Stone

  We’d all accepted the position without asking many questions. I’d been the only one to grill Stephen before we left on the flight. He’d been less than forthcoming, as well as pissed, reminding me in no uncertain terms that the trip was considered prestigious, a solid resume builder. Or so we’d been told a half dozen times. I knew Stephen’s reputation, as well as gossip surrounding his secretive life. Was it possible he was working for the government? And what about Sandra’s accusations her father had been murdered?

  I didn’t like being pigeonholed this way, red flags flying high. Hell, I needed the money and had kept the majority of my reservations to myself. Maybe that had been a bad idea. The rest of the group didn’t seem fazed by any rumors. Truth be told, I’d yet to land a full-time job, forced to work several nights a week as a bartender. The money I’d receive was absolutely necessary.

  I held up the lantern, taking several deep breaths. The darkness was overwhelming, fear slithering into every muscle and bone. I’d hated the blackness of night and had since I was much younger. Maybe all the nights in foster care, moving from family to family given I was a rebellious child was the reason. My childhood had ended on a rainy night, the terrible storm claiming the life of my mother and baby brother. With no known relatives, I’d been carted off like cattle. Jesus. Why was I thinking about that now? My past had no point in this place.

  I bolstered my courage and walked inside.

  Everything was exactly as we’d left it, the excavation equipment covered in the day’s dust. The cave itself was huge, trickles of water seeping through naturally created fissures and cracks in the hard stone. I turned on two of the lights, taking a series of deep breaths before moving to the area I’d been working on. I’d positioned the four carvings I’d found, trying to piece them together like a puzzle.

  Stephen had almost tossed them, yelling at me to get back to work. Thank God, I’d hidden them.

  Experts would call them hieroglyphics, although what I could see of the figures had nothing to do with Egyptians or any other ancient civilization I’d studied. After grabbing one of the work jugs, I poured water on one of the decorated rocks in an effort to polish the stone, realizing all the rags had been taken to be rinsed. I used my shirttail instead, working for a solid five minutes to clean away the grime and mud.

  When I took the piece into the light, I gasped, finally able to decipher the drawing. The beings depicted were monstrous in size, the picture also showing a crude representation of human lifeforms as well as trees and other eerily earthy type items. The picture was crude, as if a child had been the artist. Huh. This could be nothing more than a picture drawn from a child’s imagination.

  Then why did another round of creepy-crawlies settle into my system?

  What bothered me the most was that the carvings seemed to be located in the perfect place to be found, as if placed there on purpose. Something was off about being able to find them so easily. Was this more like a puzzle or a game?

  The hair stood up on the back of my neck, another series of ominous sensations slithering down my legs. I took another look at them. The carvings certainly weren’t that old. Hell, I doubted they were more than ten years old. What kind of ruse was Stephen involved in?

  I sat back, crouching on the floor as I thought about what if anything I could do. Remembering the information Sandra had provided, I yanked the folded paper from my pocket.

  Perhaps Sandra hadn’t realized the handwritten note had been privy to the effects of the extreme humidity. Very little of the writing was readable but the parts that were sent another chill skating down my back.

  I am fearful what the asshole will do. He is determined to crush the Volkodans, especially the...

  I bit my lip, running my finger under several sentences, trying to piece together the words.

  What he’s done could start a war. Time to notify others.

  No wonder Sandra believed her father hadn’t died of natural causes. It was obvious Colonel Withers had been working on the alien project, which meant the stories regarding a century before were just that. Stories.

  Whoever had been in charge of the project had obviously gone to great lengths to cover up the truth regarding what had actually occurred. Then why did it seem Stephen had been directed here, to this site in particular? My head was fuzzy with rambling thoughts.

  A slight rumble occurred under my feet, the shake just enough to tip over one of the boxes of supplies. “What the hell?” I jerked to a standing position, my breath catching as I shoved the note back into my pocket. I heard a cracking noise coming from deeper within the cave. My instinct was screaming for me to get the hell out, but the draw of knowing what we were facing was far too powerful.

  I took several cautious steps, grabbing the lantern on the way.

  At that very moment another rumble occurred, only this time the entire cave shifted, rocks tumbling from several locations. “Fuck,” I exclaimed, turning to head toward the entrance but was immediately cut off. Fuck. Earthquake. While they were rare in Bellenia, when they occurred they caused disastrous effects. We’d been told there had been a small one only a few days before our arrival, but there’d been no sign of damage.

  Another rumble occurred, the ground shaking violently beneath my feet. I was tossed backward, losing my grip on the light, tumbling past a series of rocks then falling. I tried to scramble to my feet but lost my balance, pitched backwards once again. The area we’d yet to explore opened up even more, sucking me in. I could feel my body sliding along the rocks at an angle, picking up speed. I was tumbling into the depths of the cave. Cracking sounds occurred everywhere as pieces of stone and boulders broke off, smashing to the ground. There was nothing to grab, nothing to hold onto.

  Oh, God. No. No!

  I was tumbling, the controlled slide taking me straight into the very depths of hell. I dropped a solid fifty feet, then one hundred, finally tossed against a thick portion of rock.

  Just as quickly as the earthquake had started, the thunderous noise and intense vibrations stopped. Everything seemed almost deathly quiet, except for a dripping sound. Blinking, I did everything to focus in the darkness. By the will of the heavens, the lantern was still working, although it was a solid thirty or more feet away. At least I was no longer falling. How far had I dropped deeper into the cave?

  I quickly did a self-assessment, thanking God there were no broken bones, just bumps and bruises. I tried to sit up, reaching out cautiously as my eyes became accustomed to the light. Everything was hazy from the dust, but I knew I had to have fallen several hundred feet. A cold wave of terror unlike anything I’d ever known washed over me. Even if the group realized I was missing, my gut told me the entrance had been blocked.

  I was so cold, my heart racing. What the hell had I done? I waited until I could breathe normally, the air much cooler and less stagnant than the mouth of the cave. I also made out the sound of trickling water. Some of the mountains were known for their underground rivers as well as magnificent waterfalls jutting out of cut angles in the mountainside.

  If that was the case, there would be a way out.

  Somehow.

  Some way.

  I took a deep breath then began to crawl on my hands and knees toward the limited light. While the entire group had been given a rough idea of the terrain and some logged information about the cave, nothing had been mentioned about an interior cavern. Any wrong move and I could easily fall to my death.

  Cra...ck!

  The sound was entirely different, forcing shivers skating down the backs of my legs. It had to be metal against stone coming from deeper within the interior. That couldn’t be.

  Unless the beast had been uncaged.

  Oh, God. Oh... God.

  I scrambled faster, willing my legs to work as the incline became more intense. A series of small booms had to mean aftershocks, careening the spinning flashlight in my direction. Yelping, I managed to snag it with two fingers, the force of my body’s actions pitching me forward
once again. The moment I had the light firmly in my grasp, the LED bulb highlighted the extreme level of danger I was in.

  The channel of rocks I’d fallen onto was narrow, one side dropping into nothing but blackness. A whimper escaped my mouth. I was trapped. No. No! I didn’t want to die here. No fucking way. I scrambled onto my hands and knees moving backward, almost hyperventilating.

  Until I felt a presence.

  Until I heard a growl, the tone low and husky.

  And famished.

  As I shifted the light, I realized that every tale of horror regarding alien beings hungering for humans had likely been real. The monster standing over me was well over six feet tall, his skin glowing in an iridescent hue of purple. While he was covered a layer of dirt and slime, there was no mistaking the man’s physical structure. Massive in size, every muscle was honed, sculpted to utter perfection; broad shoulders and a ripped abdomen, narrow hips leading to long and chiseled thighs. How the hell did he stay so... fit? Long hair swung to his shoulders, disheveled but thick, the color a dazzling silver. I had to be seeing things. This wasn’t real.

  Yet he was exactly like the creature in my vision from before. I was suddenly lightheaded, my heart racing. Everything seemed foggy, the air difficult to breathe.

  Surrender to me, human. You belong to me.

  His upper lip curled as if he’d actually said the words.

  “What...” A flash of images rushed into my mind, only they weren’t remotely similar to the fantasies and nightmares I’d had before. They seemed so... real. Confusion rocked me, my nerves on edge.

  You will obey me.

  “I... I...” I forced myself to close my eyes, counting to five before opening them again. My nightmare was still standing in front of me, his chest rising and falling in labored breathing.

  And you will serve me.

  Like hell I would.

  Growling once again, the sound reverberating into my eardrums, he lowered his head, his gaze intense. Provocative. His eyes were entirely different, mesmerizing in every way as they drew me into his web. Coal black, the flecks of shimmering blue and gold were stunning.

  I was shaken, my heart racing. I had to be seeing things. I’d hit my head, which created a series of hallucinations.

  Except the beast reached down, fingers brushing across my cheek. A live wire of electricity soared through me, jolting every muscle and cell. My pussy reacted in a confusing way. I was so wet, the heat of his hand searing every nerve ending, my nipples standing on end.

  You belong to me.

  Belong? He hadn’t spoken, yet I could swear I read his mind.

  Just like in the vision. The same look of desire was there, his lust clearly evident. His chest rose and fell, and he reached for me again, ready to snatch me into oblivion.

  Suddenly, the spell was broken, my desire to live strong. Scuttling back, I managed to get to my feet, even able to take two steps.

  The rocks were precarious, and I immediately lost my footing, my body weight shifting until I almost tumbled over the side.

  “Aaaahhh!” My scream was high-pitched, terror sweeping through me. The second I was about to dive headfirst to my death, the monster saved me, catapulting me against his rock-hard chest. The sound of my raging heartbeat matched the throbbing of his thick cock pressing against my bottom. As he pulled me even closer, wrapping his arm around me and cupping my breasts, the fear flowing through my body was tossed together with a burst of unnatural dark desire.

  Humiliation came in heated wave after wave. I couldn’t think or even breathe. As he pulled me away from the edge, he flicked his fingers back and forth across my already hardened nipple. My panties were soaked, the scent filtering into my nostrils. There was no way he couldn’t gather the fragrance.

  A guttural sound pushed past his lips as he ground his hips back and forth. He rubbed the side of my face, sniffing my hair in a sensuous manner. I knew he was going to take me right here, using me in any way he craved.

  Forcing me to surrender.

  Requiring me to obey.

  I scanned the area, my eyes able to focus on the path continuing to lead downward. I could hear even more running water, a larger body of liquid complete with splashing sounds. If I could just get there, I would be free. The second he lightened his grip, I took the chance, struggling until I was able to get away from him, trying desperately to take careful steps. I heard nothing at first, until the same animalistic growl that had shot through the night skies permeated the darkness.

  I continued running, narrowly avoiding falling twice until I knew I was near the river. I could hear the water trickling over rocks, a rush as if the water flow had increased. I could be free. I would be safe.

  Until the brute grabbed my arm.

  Until he tossed me over his shoulder.

  Until he began to take long strides in the opposite direction, taking me into the catacombs of hell.

  “No. No!” No amount of screaming or struggling in his hold seemed to matter, the beast heading into the darkness.

  “You. Will. Be. Punished.”

  His words were stilted, gruff in every manner but spoken out loud. And I knew he would make good on his promise.

  For now, I belonged to him.

  Chapter Seven

  Annabella

  Alien.

  I couldn’t get the word or the realization out of my mind. I’d fallen into some warped reality, every thought and vision riddled with filth and darkness. His scent was all over me, filling my nostrils and tingling my senses. He was all male, the beast reeking of testosterone. I couldn’t process what had occurred or the possibility that what Sandra had told me was anywhere close to the truth.

  But here he was, larger than life.

  And memories of the note weren’t far from my mind.

  How could he have survived for all these years? What did he eat? Had the earthquake broken him free of his prison? How were humans able to capture him?

  Were there more aliens hidden in other areas of the cave?

  I was lulled into a state of shock as he moved into what had to be a room of some kind. An eerie blue light came from one of the corners, barely highlighting the space, just enough to accentuate the moment of horror I was in. I lifted my head, trying to make out anything. What I could see appeared to be a pod of some kind, the shimmering neon blue glow surrounding it. He lowered me to my feet, studying me, his eyes even more penetrating than before.

  “Who... Who are you?” I managed to ask, immediately taking two steps away from him. The ground beneath me was firm but had been dug down to a level of dirt. I could tell the cavern had been manmade, carved with crude tools, likely blasted from dynamite. From what I could tell, the opening was fresh, the earthquake the cause.

  Freeing the beast.

  How the hell long had it really been?

  A snarl curled on his lip as he came closer.

  My instincts kicked in again and I tried to flee, only to be yanked like a ragdoll, the growl emitted from his throat even deeper.

  “You. Will. Obey.”

  “Who are you?” The silence was even more terrifying. The way he looked at me was absolutely carnal.

  “Come,” he finally huffed.

  “No. Hell, no. I don’t know who or what you are, but you’re out of your mind. I’m getting out of here.” Goosebumps popped along my skin as I tried to find any kind of weapon I could use. I’d been such a fool to trek into the cave by myself. I knew better. I’d let my own damn curiosity take over my rational mind.

  Now I was going to pay a horrific price.

  I darted from side to side, attempting to move past the beast. I could swear he stared at me in amusement before his nostrils flared, his eyes appearing darker.

  And laced with evil.

  He stalked toward me, backing me against the wall. “Mine!”

  “No!” I pummeled him with my fists in an effort to break from his clutches, yet he snapped his hand around my neck, every struggle becoming useless
.

  “I’ve been waiting.”

  Waiting. I blinked, trying to understand what he was saying, his words more haunting than I wanted to admit. There was a connection, a tethering that I couldn’t comprehend. I was drawn to him, to this creature from another world. Every inch of my body was on fire, encapsulated with such raw need. Even though I wanted desperately to fight my way free, all my strength had been zapped.

  Within seconds, he’d stripped away my clothes, ripping open the front of my t-shirt, his brute strength too much for me.

  “What are you doing?” I yelped, kicking out and catching him in the knee.

  His grip on my neck increased, his fingers digging into my skin. Bad girl. Bad human.

  “You don’t own me.” How could I know what he was saying? I couldn’t. There was no logical answer except I was at the point of losing my mind. Perhaps I was in shock, incapable of processing anything.

  I do now.

  All my will at fighting him seemed to fade away and I barely moved as he yanked off my shorts, his eyes falling to my well-soaked panties.

  “Beau-ti-ful,” he whispered as he stripped me of my thong.

  I was so mortified at being naked in front of this ugly... fucking creature that tears formed in my eyes. I was sick to my stomach, folding one arm over my breasts and flexing the fingers on my other hand as I attempted to cover my pussy.

  He took a deep whiff, dragging his tongue across his lips. That’s when I noticed his tongue was very long and forked, the sound he made sending another series of shivers all through me. I was frozen, unable to gather my wits as he gazed down the length of me, but there was no denying his lust, his cock standing at full attention.

  I didn’t want to look but I couldn’t resist, biting back a moan from both fear and a tingling shooting straight into my pussy.