Amber squirmed; all she could think of was how warm he felt underneath her hands and how many memories she had of both her hand and her lips upon the warmth of his body, even in this area.
“Gills.” He interrupted her wild thoughts with a voice that expected disgust. “I can breathe underwater, Amber.”
There was no loathing or disgust, only curiosity as her fingers wandered over the scarred surface, touching the silky ridge gently. It flexed beneath her search and revealed the serrated skin that gave him the ability to breathe like a fish. He may have had skin that was taught and as hard as granite, but it felt like silk. She stared in fascination as the muscles rippled in his abdomen, dividing into neat panels that quivered as she stroked her hands across his belly.
She began to respond immediately and his hand caught hers. She looked up at him, embarrassed that her mind had wandered and her hand had taken on a will of its own.
“That’s actually the second thing you need to remember about my body.” The edge to his voice made her eyes widen as she took in his violet eyes. “The first is a lower.”
Amber stared at the hardness his underwear did little to conceal and snatched her hand from his stomach as he laughed wickedly. He did not stop her when she scrambled farther away. He left her side and dressed while she remained motionless, her feelings and thoughts skittering out of control. Amber realized that the oddity she felt came from more than her lack of memory. The heat and passion in his unguarded gaze a few moments earlier had struck a chord of concern within her. His looks at times were laced with hardened possession and this worried her. Was possessiveness part of his nature or did he become that way because he was threatened by Staede?
Staede.
Her memory of his younger brother seemed to come up all the time, especially when she felt desire for Wrexel. Her mind began to dart back and forth, drawing conclusions and assumptions that differed so much they made no sense.
Frustration coursed through her.
She had to know.
6
Dark Recollections
She couldn’t torture herself with these questions any longer.
He said she was with them both when they crashed, but how could that be possible unless she a despicable cheater, seeing one of them on the sly?
This didn’t feel right.
It didn’t feel like... her.
Perhaps she had left one for the other? Wrexel acted as if she had harmed him, but perhaps he was angry because she chose to be with Staede instead of him.
She glanced up and saw him looking at her curiously, though this faded fast when she spoke. “Wrexel, I can tell from my memories that I’ve obviously been with both you and Staede. You even said I was with you both, but that’s impossible unless I am somebody despicable, and I really don’t feel like I am. So I must have been leaving one of you for the other. I know this is painful, but I can’t go on like this, kissing you when I may be in love with him.”
Amber regretted her words instantly. Stark rage contorted his face for a few seconds and then it slowly ebbed, replaced by anguish. Wrexel choked on his response as he struggled to gain control. “Define… what you mean by you’ve… been with Staede?”
Oh God, she was a fool. Wrexel’s possessive looks when they spoke of Staede should have been enough of an indicator to her. She had obviously cheated on him.
With his brother!
Wrexel must have caught her before they crashed.
Oh God, she was despicable.
“Define it,” he demanded gruffly
“I still don’t have my full memory,” she whimpered, not wanting to hurt him anymore.
His voice was unlike his own when he said, “Then at least tell me… how many times you were with him before I caught you?”
“I… I don’t know,” she moaned, ashamed and miserable that she had treated him so badly.
Her throat thickened with unshed emotion. She’d made a bigger mess of the situation. “I’m so sorry, Wrexel.”
God, there was a part of her that didn’t want her memory back.
Clearly, she wasn’t a very nice person.
The pain in his eyes was reflected in her own.
“Did a detailed recollection of you and Staede return, Amber?” he begged.
“No,” she croaked.
“Please… just tell me.”
“Embraces… I remember embraces.” She looked down, ashamed of her confession when his face remained twisted with misery.
“It was a stupid question. Obviously… it’s you whom I’ve hurt.”
She went on her knees and lifted her hand to his cheek, wanting to remove the pain that she had caused, but he turned his head.
“You’re with me, Amber, always with me… what transpired between you and Staede...” He swallowed heavily. “It’s a mystery to me, something you were about to confess when we crashed.”
“Perhaps it is not what you think.” She whispered the lie, repressing the recollection of being in his brother’s arms.
“If only that were true, but I’ve seen enough to know it isn’t. I just don’t know why you did it.”
Amber felt cold and miserable. She loathed being the cause of his pain. She hated that when her memory returned, it would bring with it the reminder of her immorality.
* * *
Wrexel became agitated and restless.
Her alleged affair with Staede had sparked a well of anger inside him and a desperate feeling of unease in her heart. She sat down, lowered her head into her hands, and searched her heart. She sifted over every memory she had of Wrexel and thought about all the feelings he stirred within her until she concluded that he consumed them all.
She resented him, wanted him, needed him… loved him?
When she lifted her head, he remained staring at her, trepidation etched on his face.
“Do you remember any more about me?” he asked uneasily.
“No, I’m remembering feelings about you,” she replied honestly but wondered why he would be concerned about her memories of him when she had so much to regret.
“There just seem to be so many, and they all seem to be so different, it’s very confusing.”
“Any specifics?”
“No.” However, peppered in amongst the desire and love there were moments of hatred and anger. “Would I be wrong in saying that I was unhappy about something you had done?”
“No, Amber, you would not. I made some decisions regarding you that were not always kind.”
“Another woman?”
“Never.” His immediate answer made her feel self-loathing.
The silence that followed disarmed her.
“I dreamed of Shihlo,” she said, needing to change the focus of the subject. “I think he’s your brother too.”
He raised a quizzical brow but it held no animosity. “Blond, perfect, made you melt with one smile?”
“Yes, does he really look like that?” Her dreams must have gone wild.
“Yes, Shihlo can’t walk ten paces without a female swooning.” Wrexel tried to give a small laugh but failed, their former conversation still haunted.
“He seemed... gentle and kind in my dream.”
“He is… very kind and wise.” Wrexel managed a smile. “He adores you.”
“So who is the eldest?” she asked. “Are there any more of you?”
“Just the three, and my cousin Whyle, who is like a brother. I’m the eldest, Shihlo the youngest.”
Despite the light banter, sadness remained between them.
“Wrexel… I’m sorry if I hurt you and made stupid mistakes.”
“Don’t say anything until you are sure you mean it.” His eyes clouded over. “There is still a lot you will learn about yourself and especially about me.”
He left her, muttering something about finding fruit.
* * *
Wrexel checked back to see if Amber was out of earshot and then calmed his ravaged mind. Jealousy thundered through him and he struggl
ed to control the rage he felt at her betrayal. He wanted to know more about her dalliances with his brother and yet when she began to confess, her words cut him so deeply, he couldn’t find air.
When he stilled his breathing and was able to tear his mind from the memories that haunted him, he touched his wrist monitor and waited for Whyle to speak. “You’ve crossed their boundary line and Rheese City has picked you up, genius!”
Wrexel shrugged. “I’ve had enough of our jungle adventure.”
Entering Rheese City would complicate more with him and Amber, but there were questions he needed answers for the city too.
“Let me talk to her.”
“No.”
Whyle looked murderous but accepted that he was powerless to force Wrexel. He continued with business. “There are no Thromians in Rheese. The last of our men have left and will be replaced by the bastard Raks in three days. Make sure you exit by then.”
Wrexel nodded. “Any update on the Monarch?”
“No, but demands for his presence are growing substantially among our people. Ironically, you are probably in the best place for now. I am going to cut Rheesian Comms for a couple of days so they cannot divulge your whereabouts. It won’t arouse much suspicion because it’s during their handover period to the Raks.”
“Ok. And their intergalactic Watch Tower?”
“Won’t be affected; they will still be able to scan for a breach from the 104.”
“What about incoming visitors?”
“All transport in and out has been called off this week due to the Rak handover as well. The Federation didn’t want us passing each other by with old animosity still running high.”
Wrexel flinched when Whyle added, “You chose a great time to stab your brothers in the back and fuck up our chances of screwing the Monarch over.”
“I’m going to miss our chats,” Wrexel said sarcastically.
“Try to stay out of trouble in Rheese. This is our last communication for a while. I will sever the link so they can’t announce your arrival. Good tidings, cousin, and take care of my wife,” he added for good measure.
* * *
Wrexel returned to Amber immediately.
“No fruit?”
“No point.” He sighed. “I think I saw a Rheese colony transporter; they must have finally picked us up.”
“You don’t seem pleased.” He looked rather angry, she thought.
“Intruder.”
“Rheese unit 32,” the monitor concluded.
She leaned down to pick up her shoes, but he caught her hand and drew her up to face him. “Amber. You may hear stories on Rheese that confuse you, but remember there is more to us and our life, so wait until your full memory returns before you judge.”
She knew what he meant. Her mind remained a jumbled mess. She would immediately cease jumping to conclusions until she could open her mouth without hurting anybody.
They stood together and watched as a vessel approached across the water.
She understood what Wrexel meant now by insect mentality; the surrounding technology was awe-inspiring. Amber was amazed at how a ship that must weigh tons could hover so gracefully above the ground. The side engines hissed and lit up as the ship touched down with very little sound.
She knew everything she would see from then onward would be shocking, but hopefully not in the same terrifying way her adventure in the forest and grasslands had been.
At least the symbols upon the vessel’s side were in English unlike the ones on Wrexel’s monitor.
Rheese Unit 32.
She felt happy to see a language she recognized and she smiled up at Wrexel, but his face held a permanent grimace. She hoped his tension was unwarranted. Surely, they would warmly embrace a fellow Earthling and a member of the race that saved Earth.
“Amber.”
“Yes, Wrexel.”
“One other thing; I did try and will succeed in killing my brother if he lays a finger on you again. I will shred him like I did those lizards and ghouls and I will not mourn him a day. Bear that in mind when you are confronted by others upon Rheese who may think it’s okay to touch you.”
His words stunned her.
The nagging concern that his possessive attitude was unhealthy became all too real!
He sounded like a crazed, obsessive lunatic and she wanted to respond. However, the side of the vessel hissed open and a ramp slowly slid down to touch the ground.
* * *
Two humans dressed in green overalls walked down the ramp. Their weapons lowered as they peered at her and Wrexel uneasily.
“Universal Communications interrupted due to...” Shehin’s notification was silenced by Wrexel’s mysterious wristband.
There was a distinct look of loathing upon Wrexel’s face, as if the humans were his enemy. He folded his arms and Amber did not like the raw violence in his gaze. It reminded her of the fight with the night creatures. Surely, he didn’t perceive the people of Earth in the same manner.
One of the men stared at her in surprise; the other looked as if he had seen a ghost. He choked out her name, dropped his weapon to his side, and walked forward in a daze. His mouth hung open in shock. When he moved closer, Amber saw tears forming in his eyes.
“Oh my God, Amber!” he shouted when the distance narrowed and full recognition became possible.
Hysterical laughter broke from his lips as he began to run. He was three feet away from her when Wrexel placed a firm hand upon his chest and abruptly stopped him in his tracks.
Rage flared in the man’s eyes as he tore Wrexel’s hand away. Amber thought he would raise his weapon and fire, for his fingers twitched in longing.
Amber gravitated more toward Wrexel.
She did not remember the man who seemed intent on embracing her and she felt awkward in his presence.
“Take your hands off me.” He looked as if he would reach for her again, despite the fact that Wrexel would hurt him if he tried.
“Amber is suffering from memory loss,” Wrexel stated firmly, still holding him at bay. “She does not remember who you are.”
He stared at Wrexel in dismay and returned his gaze to Amber, longing and sorrow etched upon his face. Wrexel did not remove the firm hand that held him back. “According to my calculations, she is missing all the time since she left Earth. Parts of her earlier life are fragmented as well.”
The silence lasted for a few seconds as the human turned to Wrexel in disbelief but it quickly dissolved into rage.
“You bastard.” His eyes darted urgently to Amber as if he wanted her to deny that it was true. When she shrugged and remained timidly beside Wrexel, he exclaimed in anger and launched forward only to lose his footing when a firm alien hand stopped him, making him fall onto his back in the grass.
Amber stared in dismay. The man was crazy. Wrexel was at least seven feet tall, a tower of muscled strength, but the human was unconcerned.
“What the hell have you done to her?” He stood up to brush the sand and grit from his elbows.
“Were you so desperate to erase me from her memory that you destroyed her mind?”
“As if I would have a need for that, Travis. Have you read any reports about our life on Throm in the last two years?”
Travis peered at him miserably. “Everything I read confirms that you did something to affect her mind.”
Wrexel bent down, lifted the weapon from the ground, and tossed it into Travis’s arms. “Amber is only temporarily impaired, the result of a recent accident.”
“An accident on Rheese that wasn’t detected by our monitors?” Travis was mockingly aghast. “Monitors conveniently run by the Thromians until next week!” he added.
“Yes, the imminent arrival of the trustworthy Raks, fresh out of their blockade for endangering all eight planets. Wise choice.” Wrexel smirked.
Travis did not back down. “Any protection is better than the murdering terrorists we had no choice in accepting.”
Wrexel shrugged. “Before
we board this ship built and provided by the Thromians to Rheese, please remember that Amber needs to regain her memory by herself.”
He spoke in a manner so threatening, the other humans who came down the ramp to watch the interaction bristled.
“How convenient!” Travis replied. He stood at least a head and shoulders shorter than Wrexel, and was certainly no match for him, but he appeared unafraid and kept flashing looks at Amber that showed he was still desperate to touch her.
“Convenient or not, it is how it will be retained. If you so much as mention a day in the last year, I will close your mouth permanently.”
Amber stared at Wrexel with shock once again. The hatred on his face corresponded to the hatred on the human. His aggression alarmed her.
The other men stepped forward and Wrexel seemed less perturbed at stopping them.
“Amber,” said one with a smile. “We’ve met before at…” He broke off when he heard Wrexel’s warning hiss.
“My name is Jonathan.” He held out his hand and she shook it, although she did not remember him.
The man named Travis continued to stare at her in dismay.
* * *
Amber decided she had hidden behind Wrexel long enough. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I really don’t recall you and Wrexel isn’t lying; we did have an accident and my memory is impaired.”
He looked doubtful.
“I’m Travis.” His voice trembled with emotion and the hand he offered was limp, as if he expected an embrace.
Amber formally shook it; he flinched and held on tightly for a while. “Travis… Anders,” he added his last name hopefully. “You remember nothing at all?”
“No.” She dropped his hand, uncomfortable in his presence.
“Do you remember who Wrexel is?” Travis cast a sly glance at the scowling alien.
“Not entirely, I was unconscious for days and…”
“I was your fiancé,” Travis blurted out. Amber gasped when Wrexel’s hand shot out of nowhere and wrapped around Travis’s throat.
The laser guns lifted and hummed to life as the other men aimed at him. “Sir, release him or I will fire.”
AMNESIA Page 7