Staring out the window of the transport, I watch as the sky darkens uncharacteristically.
“Look over here Rena.” Jari-ri pulls my arm, stealing my attention.
She points to what I previously thought was just another mountain sitting in the distant landscape, but that’s not the case at all. It’s a volcano. I’m completely mesmerized and terrified at the same time. If I recall correctly, when magma exerts pressure on surrounding rocks until the point it cracks or splits, magma is forced through a new pathway. The pressure created by the forceful magma causes more cracks, which in turn, lead to trembles and earthquakes. Science is rather fascinating and terrifying at the same time. This new revelation, however, explains quite a bit.
“I had no idea that was there. Now I’m glad they gave us the day off work.” I say, staring at the still erupting volcano. Hot lava pours out from its center and down the sides while its fiery spit bursts into the dark and stormy sky. The combination of Delarou’s Sunset, the swirling mass of storm and volcanic eruption is straight out of a fairy tale. I’m so captivated, I can’t stop watching. Thankfully it's quite a distance away.
“Beautiful, isn’t it? That’s the Goddess Valdani. She has awoken from her slumber, and her arrival signifies rebirth,” Jari-ri says this as she too stares with awe.
“How long has she been asleep for?”
“I don’t know, a few hundred years or so.”
“On Earth, some people would flee for their lives at such a scene,but here it is apparently a cause for celebration.”
“Indeed.”
Again, I’m so glad I didn’t have to go into work. In fact, I might get a new job altogether. I’m not a wuss, but damn, imagining working deep underground while something like this happened? I couldn’t begin to imagine the ramifications.
No thanks, I’m good.
Night starts to encroach as we draw closer to our destination. We’re almost there when I notice small bits of what must be ash floating to the ground. With a stretch of imagination, it reminds me a little of snow, although off in color and shape. A girl can still dream of a white christmas, even if this isn’t christmas and nothing is white.
“Does this planet have snow?”
“Snow? Not on this side from what I’ve seen,” Jari-ri answers distractedly as she adjusts her clothing again. She purchased something not quite her size, but the colours drew her attention and she couldn’t help herself.
“Shame. I love snow. I used to live in a city that snowed for a few months out of every year,” I say quietly. My mind travels back before the invasion. The wintery months, the snow angels, sledding and the countless fun one could have. I miss snow...
“I prefer the heat. Most Troovians do.”
“I get that, but for some humans, snow means Christmas is coming. It’s a human holiday where families and friends gather, spend time together and trade presents around a decorated tree. There’s lots of food and laughs. Everyone has a good time. There are other holidays that humans celebrate in the winter too, but Christmas is what my family celebrated.”
“Sounds like you miss it.”
The sorrow in her voice doesn’t escape my notice. Jari-ri lost her home too, but she never talks about it. I think that’s why we get along so well. We’re both in the same boat, destined to travel the universe, never really here or there.
“I do...it’s strange knowing that I’ll probably never get to celebrate one again. I miss my family. I know it’s not snow, but I’m going to pretend anyway. It gives me a little hope, you know?”
A deep sigh escapes me as I lean against the glass panel and stare outside. I don’t know how longer it’s been for Jari-ri, but she seems to be okay. If she can be okay, then so can I.
When we reach Shakaat’s, the driver demands his payment and practically shoves us out of the transport. We barely have our feet on the ground before he speeds off in the distance, the vehicle hitting several trees along the way. It is ridiculous, but I’m not surprised. It seems that no one was expecting Valdani to wake when she did and now everyone is playing catchup as they try to meet the demands of the sudden celebrations.
“I’ll go grab us some drinks and scout the bar,” Jari-ri says with a laugh, shaking her head as she runs inside.
“I won’t be long,” I tell her.
I come here all the time now, but today my nerves are frayed. It’s as if a lightning bolt ran through my body and electrocuted every single one of them. Jari-ri claims I’m stalking this guy and perhaps she is right. Ever since I bumped into him, I’ve been mesmerized, unable to stop thinking about him. He’s like a gravitational force, pulling me towards him. Even after all these months, I still crave to see him again. To hear the deep and rumbling sound of his voice and the full belly of laughter from the moment we shared.
The stranger thing, however, is that even though I’ve dreamed of this moment for months, now that I’m here, I’m filled with hesitation. It takes me a moment to collect enough nerve, because I just can’t shake the feeling that something is going to change. If I don’t see him tonight, I think it’s time to walk away and move on, but if I do see him...Trembling slightly, I push the door open, following after Jari-ri. Anticipation creeps its way in, a flock of butterflies flutter around my belly.
I immediately spot Jari-ri downing a drink at the bar. She spins on her bar stool, slowly turning my way, her face grim as she shakes her head. My gut drops a thousand feet. Is he really not here? My head swings in the direction of the dark corner where Aarvik sat all those months ago. A soul-crushing ache replaces my anticipation.
Nothing.
Shoulders sagging, I feel as if I lost something dear. Something that I desperately need. I can’t shake it, and the longing I so desperately needed to fill only grows stronger. Why though? I don’t know this alien male, only his name from a minor conversation with Sabi-si, the barmaid. So why am I so disappointed? Why does it feel like losing Earth all over again?
Shuffling inside and heading towards my friend, I drown my disappointment with amazement. Just like everywhere else I’ve been today, Shakaat’s is heavily decorated for the festivities. These aliens sure take their celebrations seriously! Streams of alien plants line the ceiling like ivy and are woven around the pillars in the center that support the weight of the roof, like when people wrap garland around their banisters for the holiday season. Potted bush-like plants are scattered on the floor against the walls and various other places. There’s so many plants in here, I can’t even begin to count them all. It’s a festive greenhouse, but instead of selling plants, they’re selling alcohol.
It’s the most packed I’ve seen this place. Aliens laughing, smiling and sharing food in drink. Instead of the usual dingy atmosphere, this place has come alive and once again, I can’t help but be reminded of the time of year it is back home...
Chapter 4
Aarvik
I set a steady pace and travel through the wild parts of the outer city of VadCurah to Shakaat’s. It does not take long to traverse through the wood and the brush, and it is rather quite peaceful. The squawks, chirps and croaking wildlife remind me of home, Dakasu, before it became a barren wasteland. My people believe in living in harmony with our world, connecting our past to our present day lives. It is important to never forget, but I fear that my way of life may be gone forever.
Anger is a wretched thing. How can I blame the Ru’tah when it is also my fault for not foreseeing this? Better yet, why did our ancestors not warn us? I cannot help but wonder if it was somehow meant to be, but that thought disgusts me. Our world now lay in ruins and with it, our lives have been shattered and many Daltakeu killed off. This could not have possibly been what the gods and ancestors wanted for us. I refuse to believe such things. Instead, I lean on the hope from last night’s ancestral guidance. I have the feeling that something big is going to happen, and I am restless to make amends.
The heat from Valdani barely registers, but the ash that falls from the sky is quite the an
noyance. It splatters on my face while I walk through the roads. I know this is another sign of rebirth, but it shall be like this for days, covering the world in a mixture of light and dark tones of gray.
When Shakaat’s pops into sight, I feel a sense of relief. Now I can take shelter. I move in and around the transports parked around the building, a thick aroma filling the air. I can scent grilled food and stale alcohol, even from this distance. The food alone is offensive, but the toxic ales are far worse. Who would want to poison their bodies and foul their being just to savor a drink?
I shake my head, frowning. I guess I cannot blame them. Had I not grown up with the ideals instilled upon me as the crowned Daltaka, I would have drank myself into oblivion after the invasion. At least these people drink in festivities and not pain or misery. When I reach the establishment’s window, I pause for a moment and peek inside. My hearts nearly stop. The female who steals my thoughts from my duty as a Crowned Daltaka is here. Over these past few months there have been days where I had to sit outside because I was far too distracted to get closer. My dreams are inside this place not outside. Whatever that gods want to happen, happens on the other side of those doors. As much as I wish to speak with her and get to know her, I cannot allow her to distract me from my course, no matter how tempting it may be.
Growling my frustrations, I head inside.
It is heavily decorated with fresh shrubs and vines draping the walls and ceilings. The place simmers down to a deathly quiet. The people here are afraid of me. Every time I enter, they spread apart like I’m a disease ready to plague them all, but they are the diseased ones. You would never find the rotted flavor of stale fruits on my lips, or in my belly.
On my next inhale, something tickles my nose. There is a light scent in the air, unfamiliar and intoxicating. My nostrils begin to flare with a mind of their own in an attempt to seek out the alluring smell, but unfortunately, the establishment is far too busy to single out one specific source.
Tonight, is the night it all begins. The pleasant words play through my mind, echoing and filling me with eagerness. I am almost tempted to join the others here, laughing and enjoying their celebrated Valdani, but I cannot. I must stay vigilant and on course. It’s what is demanded of me and giving in would be a weakness I cannot afford.
“Aarvik?” A soft feminine voice calls out like a gentle whisper on the wind, its melodic tune caressing my receptive ears. I know who it belongs to and I shouldn’t respond, but damn the temptation is too hard to resist.
I turn to face the female with such a soothing voice that manages to drown out the agitating banter of passers-by. She stands nearly half a room away, but no doubt it is her. Ceiling lights bathe her in warm, yellow tones. Her flowing brown hair shimmers under the luminous bulbs and her rich roasted-nut brown eyes sparkle with apprehension and excitement. Her gaze eirces me while it trails over my form as if to bask in my presence, the only one she seems to notice in this bustling place. She is not alone, for I too can appreciate the delicious curves her body appears to offer. Curves that wake a desire that I thought was long buried.
Unlike the females who attempted to snatch my affections in a putrid waste room only other times I’ve been here, carelessly stealing my attention for a lesser cause, the one who stands before me, does not. Though I should not, I freely choose to spend my precious time indulging her even just for a moment, because something about her presence is calming and reassuring, not disruptive to my cause despite it being a minor interruption.
For a moment, my valiant mission disappears into the air as if it never even existed in the first place. I am pulled into her mesmerizing presence. Why I ever let her slip out of my arms the first time is beyond me.
There is something I need to do, but I cannot for the life of me remember.
Chapter 5
Rena
Not shortly after I sit down and have a drink with Jari-ri, a loud slam penetrates my ears. The bar becomes silent, the celebrations quieting down except for the booming footsteps trailing across the floor. My heart hammers in my chest, breaking the silence. I desperately want to turn around, but a lingering fear prevents me from doing so. What if it isn’t him? What if it’s someone else? No! I push those thoughts away and silently pray to whatever gods are listening to not fail me this time.
“The hell are you waiting for?” Jari-ri gives me a firm nudge on the arm. “This is your chance.”
“Don’t lie to me,” I snap, carefully guarding myself from feeling hope.
“I’m not,” she hisses, scowling at me. “Get your ass up right now and go get him before he leaves!”
“Leaves? What are you talking about.”
“Well I don’t know how long he’s staying or what business he has here,” she hisses.
Jari-ri’s sass is all the encouragement I need. When I turn my head over my shoulder and spot him, butterflies pool in my belly. He’s here. He really is here. I find myself unable to tear my gaze away from him. Eyes following his careful movement, I decide he’s not getting away. Not this time. Not after all these months waiting and wondering if I’d ever see him again. I have no clue as to what this is happening to me or why I feel the need to be close to this massive, mysterious alien, but I simply refuse to lose what is probably my last shot to find out.
“Aarvik,” I whisper his name in awe, half stepping off the stool as I move toward him. There’s still a desperation to my voice and it's as cold as winter, threatening to freeze all who don't heed the warning.
He pauses if only for a second, before his masculine form slowly turns until his attention is solely focused on me. The long black robe swishes through the air, curling in the air as he stands. He ignores the door that now hangs wide open behind him, allowing blackened volcanic ash to breeze its way inside. It’s almost magical how the mixture of rock and mineral particles dance in the air around him as if worshiping his presence before landing silently at his feet.
My stomach flutters with anxiously, anticipation swirling around it. Does he recognize me? I never shared my name with him, but if I’m right to assume that all these patrons here have a fear of him and steer clear of his way, then surely, he would remember the clumsy woman who bumped into him, right? I swallow the hard lump in the back of my throat while I gaze over his body. Because why the hell not? His attention is mine for the taking since I so desperately called out to him. If only I could see his masked face, the taunting hood has been the bane of my dreams.
It doesn’t escape my notice that his hood appears to slightly tilt as if he’s regarding me in the same manner. We appear to be stuck, caught in each other’s gaze. I desperately wish to see his eyes, just to confirm that he’s affected just as I am.
Then, he takes a step closer.
Heart hammering through in my chest, almost to the point where it's uncomfortable, tears threaten to break free from my eyes. The sentiment, although painful yet beautiful, is something I desperately needed. Just above his head are intricate decorations of circular vines, blooming with purplish-red berries. It’s rather beautiful and painstakingly reminiscent of mistletoe, something you’d find during the winter holiday; Christmas. It’s my favorite day of the year, a time where my family would always get together, regardless of any other obligations. We’d all go home, bearing gifts, and celebrate another year lived. We’d decorate the tree, drink hot chocolate and then feast on a turkey, waiting for the next morning to open handmade gifts and trinkets.
I know I’ll never have a Christmas like that ever again, but I’m astonished by this surreal experience. A male standing under an alien version of mistletoe while the world pretends to snow. The scene practically begs a romantic kiss. It pulls at my heart and almost feels like the universe is giving me one last go, a final goodbye to the world I had to leave behind. I’ll be damned if I say no.
Without conscious thought, I run at him and leap into the air, no idea what he’ll do. The distance between us closes fast, but he reaches out and catches me with strong, ca
pable arms. The same ones that saved me from a fall several months ago, the same ones that I dream of holding me every night. Powerful, warm, protective.
The first thing I notice is how much taller he is in person than in my mind. My legs wrap around his firm abdomen, my head barely reaching the tip of his chin which protrudes slightly from the darkness of his hood.
“It’s you,” he rasps, voice deep and thick.
“Me,” I reply distractedly.
He growls. It’s fierce. It’s protective. It’s possessive.
Being so close to him after so long, affects me. My breathing hitches as I take in slow, even breaths. It has been far too long since I’ve entangled myself with a man, but he’s no man. I’m not sure exactly what he is, and regardless of the miniscule apprehension I may have, it’s not enough to stop me from what I’m about to do.
I finally allow my fingers to slide up his luminescent scaled chest between his robe, his body the best thing I’ve ever felt as I slowly move towards the edge of his robe. Last time I was far too hesitant to touch him, but not now. The fabric is rough, making me all the more aware of the mysteries Aarvik chooses to hide. Mysteries I’ve wanted to reveal for so long, and now I have the chance. Like does his luckiest scales cover his entire body? I’m nervous, not sure as to what I’ll find behind his hood. Honestly though, I don’t care. He could be anything, and it wouldn’t matter as long as he keeps holding me like this. Holding me like I’m all that matters in the world. Holding me like Earth wasn’t destroyed by the Ru’tah, and I could go home at any time. I never realized how much I needed to be held like this until this very moment.
A Very Alien Christmas: A Limited Edition Collection of Holiday Alien Romance Page 9