by Stella Sky
“I understand. I will come to the lab tomorrow,” I said.
“Yes, come at noon. Dr. Douglas will not be in the lab during that time. He is not a fan of what I am doing. He does not trust you,” she said.
“I understand,” I said.
“I must be getting to bed. Good night to you all,” she said.
“Good night,” I said. I wanted to follow her out. I wanted to bed her again. I wanted to sleep in her home, but I knew that I should not. She was not inviting me to, and I think that she was overwhelmed by what we had done. I would give her some space. I did not want to crowd her mind.
The next morning I woke up and jumped out of bed. I felt strong. I felt stronger than I had ever felt, even before I got sick. I could not believe it. I wanted to run and jump and fly. It was amazing. I went downstairs to find Azlo and Jex eating at the table.
“We were just about to wake you. You never sleep this late. You have an hour before you are to meet Vanessa at the lab,” Azlo said.
“What? What time is it? Surely the sun has only risen,” I said looking out the window.
“No. It has been hours since the sun came up. You have been in a very deep sleep,” Jex said.
I looked at my armband. I pulled up my systems and saw that I had been asleep for twelve hours. That was unlike me. I never slept much. I was a king after all.
“That is unbelievable. But I must tell you, I feel like I am completely cured,” I said.
“What? How can you tell?” Jex asked.
“I just can. I don't think I have the blackness anymore. I think my body has healed itself, and I must think that it is all because I was with Vanessa. Somehow, the human female has cured me,” I said.
“You cannot know that for sure. I think it is best that you let her examine you once more. This could be a side effect that is temporary,” Azlo said.
“Yes, I am going to continue with the test. But I know. I know inside of me that I am cured. I can just feel it,” I said with a big smile.
"Well if mating with a human female does all of that, then I want to try,” Azlo joked.
"No kidding,” Jex said.
"I must get a move on to the lab,” I said.
“We will walk with you. You cannot go unguarded,” they said.
I grabbed food off the table and bit into it. My soldiers followed me out into the street. We took the back way along the tree line to stay away from the busy human areas of the village. We had not yet talked to them the way that Vanessa thought we should. Perhaps this evening we could get to know them, and they could get to know us and know that they had nothing to fear. In fact, with this new turn of events, we needed them now more than ever if the Veruka were to survive.
Chapter 10
Dr. Vanessa Lopez
I could not believe it. I had sex with an alien. Not just any alien but an alien that was part dragon. I had been turned on beyond believe when he showed me what it was to shift into dragon form. I was ashamed of myself that I had been such a naughty girl. What was I thinking? I did not know this strange alien. I did not know what he really wanted with humans. I didn't know if he could be trusted. Yet I allowed him to have sex with me. I practically begged him for it. It was something that I wanted to keep a secret.
As I walked through the village, everyone was looking at me and whispering. I figured it was simply because I was the one that introduced the aliens. But my paranoia made me feel like they all knew that I had sex with one. What if they knew? It would be absolutely terrible. They would never trust me.
“Good day, Dr. Lopez,” a young teenager said to me with a smile.
“Good day,” I said smiling as I walked faster. I did not want to talk to anyone. I knew they all had questions and they were all going to direct them at me. The village was still very quiet because it was still early. I was glad for it. I walked down Main Street wishing that I would have taken a backstreet, but I always took Main Street because it would let me know how the village was doing that day. If there was panic or an emergency, Main Street was where everyone would gather. Everything seemed normal despite the fact that there were aliens around us.
I finally made it to the lab. I began to work, taking notes and looking at the schedule for patients at the clinic. I would be going to the clinic around two that day.
I was glad that Dr. Douglas was not in yet. This was my alone time in the lab. I looked over the results once more that I had taken on Karik. I wished that I could do more. If I had the technology that I used to have as a doctor, I would know so much about him by now. I looked again at the DNA results. They were so similar to humans, but yet very different. I could see why we were able to have sex.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?” I heard Dr. Douglas say. I closed my notebook before turning around to him. He did not know exactly what I was up to with the aliens. I did not want him to know about the sickness.
“Good morning to you too, Dr. Douglas,” I said.
“What do you think you're doing with that alien? I saw you walking with him yesterday,” he said as he came toward me. There was anger on his face. I was mortified. Exactly what did he see? Did he know?
"Were you spying on me?” I said trying to defend myself.
“No. I was on my way to the engineering office on the outskirts of the perimeter,” he said.
“I was showing Karik the perimeter fence. He requested to take a tour of the village end of the defenses that we have in place,” I said.
“Of course he did. He needs to know everything he can in order to plan his invasion of taking over our village,” he said.
“That is what you think?” I said.
“Yes, and you would do well to think that too. You are exposing us. You are betraying the humans for some visiting aliens. What would everyone think if they saw you taking a romantic walk with that alien? They would never trust you again,” he said.
“Romantic walk? That is not what that was. This is simply because I am a woman. If I were a man, then you would not be saying such things. Now if you are done belittling me, I would like to get back to work. I have a very busy day, including working in the clinic this afternoon,” I said turning my back to him.
“You are being a fool. He is playing you for a fool. I can't believe that you cannot see that. If the village finds out that you are getting cozy with this alien, then they might decide to cast you out of the village. How would you like to live beyond the walls, without protection?” he said as he stomped into another room of the lab and slammed the door.
I was relieved. He did not say anything about knowing that I had sex with Karik. It was a relief. But I was mad that he suspected it because he would be right to be suspicious. I had given in to the alien. I had put my own feelings above the well-being of the village. It was wrong. I was being selfish. What if Karik and his soldiers were lying to me? I had no proof that they had an army that could help us. I had never seen it. They could be lying about that just to get what they wanted. Even though I wasn't sure exactly what that was just yet.
I wished that Bradley Douglas had not said anything at all because now I felt paranoid and suspicious. It was not a good feeling. What if the village did get this witch hunt type of mentality and decide to cast me out along with the aliens? I would not last two days outside of the walls. There were no resources, and I knew very little about gathering my own food from the land. Not to mention that the Clenok cyborgs would pick me off easily and in no time.
I spent the morning working on various projects and did not work on anything to do with the Veruka aliens. I have been neglecting working on things for the village. I had to get back into my own work. There was bloodwork to test and different medications to replicate and ration. There was a lot of work to do. Finally, Dr. Douglas left just a little before noon. I was glad to see him go. He was going to the clinic for his shift. He did not speak to me. He only gave me an angry look, like he always did, but this time it was cruel.
Was Karik right about him? D
r. Douglas thought that he owned me and that's why he was so mean to me. It was out of jealousy. It was out of his desire for me and frustration that he could not have me. I found him to be repulsive. I would never let him touch me. I longed for the intelligent colleagues that I had at the hospital in Atlanta. I wished that I could go back to that life. I wished that I could go back to Blake. What would my husband think of me now knowing that I had been slutty and given myself to a strange alien that I hardly knew? What would he think of me being attracted to a weredragon? I felt sick to my stomach.
At noon, Karik walked into the lab. I was not happy to see him. It wasn't his fault. It was just spending the entire morning in paranoia that I could not trust him and regret about what I had done with him. But as soon as he walked in, my eyes roamed over his body. What the hell was wrong with me? Could I not put my lust aside for just a second?
“I am here just as you requested,” he said in a deep voice that brought goosebumps all over my body. As soon as his words reached my ears, I could picture myself touching him. I could picture him naked and just how delicious he had looked. I thought about having him inside of me and what that felt like. I swallowed hard.
“Are you going to tell me what is really going on here or not?” I said.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Why are you really here? Why did you travel across many galaxies to get to us? Why would you come to a planet that is under siege by Clenok cyborgs? These machines are ruthless. Why would you put your life at risk? This does not make sense to me. I cannot trust you. I think that maybe you should leave,” I said.
"You want me to return later then? You seem as though you are engulfed in the work, and I do not want to disturb you,” he said with sympathy and a sensitive heart. It made me feel weak in the knees.
“No, that is not what I meant. I meant that I think you should leave the village. Leave with Jex and Azlo and never return here. This cannot be good for anyone. I don't know what you are up to, but it cannot be good. I have to pick my people over you,” I said.
“I don't know what you are talking about, Vanessa. Where is this coming from? All of a sudden you do not trust me? I have no ulterior motives. I have told you the reason why we have come to Earth and why we need human help. There is nothing beyond that,” he said.
I looked at him for a long time. His brown eyes looked sensitive and filled with apology. He took a few steps toward me. I backed up away from him. I know that if he touched me, I would give in. If he put his hand on me I would feel the heat of his body and then I would be kissing him. It was though I had no control over my own senses when he was within inches of my own body. I suddenly had this strange primitive reaction. I wanted him inside of me when he was near me. I couldn't let that happen right now. I was on the verge of getting rid of him forever. I had to stay strong to what I was saying. Otherwise I would be defeated again. I didn't want to admit to myself that I let Dr. Bradley Douglas’s words get to me. It was like he had brainwashed me with fear and paranoia. It was getting the best of me. It was silly, but it was something that I needed to consider. Maybe Dr. Douglas could see what I could not.
“Don't cast me out, Vanessa. We are so close. I know that something has happened inside of me. I need your help. My entire race needs your help. I beg you,” he said as he got down on one knee in front of me. He looked so sincere, and I could feel my heart going out to him. Dammit. He was getting the better of me, like he had been over and over. There was no use. I knew that I was going to give in.
Chapter 11
King Karik Korinth
Jex and Azlo walked with me in the village. We stayed away from Main Street and walked down one of the back streets. But there were still humans about. They all stopped and stared at us.
“Smile, but not in an overbearing way,” I whispered to them. They obeyed. We smiled and nodded in greeting as we passed various groups of humans. There was a child playing with a ball. The ball slipped out of his hands and rolled directly in front of me. I picked it up and walked to him. I knelt down in front of him in order to be not obtrusive.
“Here you are, child. Here is your ball,” I said to him.
"Thank you. Are you really an alien?” the child said.
I laughed. “Yes, I am. But I am a friendly alien. Are you a friendly human?” I asked.
“Yes, sir,” he said.
“Good. That is a good quality to have,” I said.
“My name is Carol,” a human female said walking up to the child but was talking to me.
“I am honored to meet you, Carol; is this your little one?” I asked. I was still on my knees looking up at her. I did not want her to feel terrified.
“Yes, he is. But I am without a husband,” she said eagerly with a big smile. It was then that I realize she was looking at me and my soldiers with desire. I looked around and realized that it was mostly women that were staring at us.
“I am sorry to hear that, Carol. If there is anything that myself or my soldiers can do for you, we are at your service,” I said. Then I got up to my full height. She stared at me with desire in her eyes. Then another woman was beside me. She put her hand out to me.
“My name is Jessica. We are so glad that you have come to help us,” she said. I shook her hand.
“We are honored to help you fight. The Clenok cyborgs are cruel. We will protect you,” I said.
“I am sure that you can,” she said, looking at me up-and-down. I realized that they were looking at us like pieces of meat. I looked at Jex and Azlo who were holding back the laughter.
“Ladies of Earth, it was an honor to greet you, all of you. We must be on our way; we have a lot of work to do,” I said loudly to address all of them that had gathered around us.
I could hear various sighs and dirty words as we walked away from them.
“Can you believe that? I wasn't expecting such a reception,” Jex quietly said.
“Nor was I. We should have been walking around the town this entire time,” Azlo said.
“That is an interesting turn. It might be to our advantage as well. Now come along; I do not want to keep Vanessa waiting. She is a very busy human,” I said as we walked along. But as we continued down the street, more and more women came out of their houses to just stare at us and smile. We waved and smiled back as though we were on parade. It was very interesting. Jex and Azlo enjoyed it.
When I arrived at the lab, I had Jex and Azlo wait outside. I wanted to be with Vanessa alone. I was excited to see her again. She was all that I could think about. Especially now that I had my energy back. My libido was raging with this newfound strength and health. But when I found her, I was not expecting her to have changed so suddenly. She was now against me for some odd reason. I could not figure it out. Not only did she want me to leave the lab, but she wanted me to leave Earth altogether. She wanted me to leave the village and leave her life.
I was not going to give up this easy. I was a fighter. I was a king. I was not going to let her go, no matter how much she fought me. I could tell that these words were not her own. Someone or something had gotten to her since I had seen her last. There was something going on, and I was going to figure it out. But first things first, I needed to talk to her about my medical condition. That was the entire point of this trip to Earth. I had to think about the Veruka more than anything and put my own desires last.
“Don't cast me out, Vanessa. We are so close. I know that something has happened inside of me. I need your help. My entire race needs your help. I beg you,” I said as I got down on one knee in front of her.
“I have already told you that I have no results for you. I have told you what your body is going through, but I cannot figure out why or a cure. Not with this amount of time. I have my own people to take care of as well,” she said.
“Of course. I do not expect you to neglect your own kind for me. But will you consider running the test again? The one that is the less complicated and does not take as much time? I think that someth
ing has happened to me. Please. I will not take up much of your time, and Jex and Azlo are eager to meet with your engineers and figure out the best way to protect the village. I do not want to go back on that promise to your people. Even if we cannot find a cure for the blackness, I still want to help the humans of Earth. We have just met a few of them on our walk here, and all of them were very kind and eager to speak with us. We are not going to abandon those now,” I said to her.
“You met some humans? Who?” she said.
“We walked down a backstreet, and there were many human females coming out to greet us. I believe one was named Carol and another was named Jessica. They were very pleasant. They were very nice,” I said.
I realize that she had grown red in the face. She must have known those women. I wasn't going to push it. But was it possible that she was jealous?