Nyah rolls her eyes. “Yes, your royal message from the universe; we know. Did you happen to ask your precious human? Maybe she knows of a cure?” She giggles.
“Shush it. The universe doesn’t deceive.”
“Yes, almighty one. My apologies. Please, don’t let me disrupt your research.”
“Fantastic.” I push past her. Quite frankly, I don’t have time for her bullshit. I know she is still taking our parents’ death hard, and mocking my research helps her sleep better at night, but she is on a whole new level of annoying today.
“Thanks for overseeing the transport, sweet sister, but I can handle the process from here. You are dismissed.”
She scowls. “But—”
“Leave.”
“Fine.” She retreats with her usual stomping. Only this time she’s blowing smoke out her nostrils.
I shake my head, exhaling a breath. Hopefully, she will be coming around, too.
Zork preps a microscope slide with the male specimen’s blood. “The venom has already mutated from the sample we took prior to transport.” His shoulders sag, defeat lingering in his eyes.
“That cannot be.” I press a button on the console, and the view underneath the microscope pops up on the digital screen. The venom cells, that are triangular with ridges that look sharp like teeth, are lysing the red blood cells on impact.
This is deemed another setback. By the time we create a new antivenin, the virus will have already mutated into a more resistant and deadlier virus.
Veda
“Like what you see?”
The soldier avoids my gaze, ignoring my question and goes about unlocking the cuffs. I pay close attention to where he sets them.
Thereafter, he clears his throat, handing me a cloth and an outfit that looks like a cat suit and leaves little to the imagination. Geez. Apparently, I’m Eleazar’s playboy bunny now.
I slowly wipe off the sweat, deliberately taking my time rubbing the damp cloth over my breasts. “Ah, that feels so good.” I flip my hair, biting my lip at him.
His version of an Adam’s apple bobs up and down as drool seeps from the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, looks good from where I’m standing.”
I continue teasing him as I run the cloth lower and lower, landing in between my legs. “Oh, I am so wet still.”
“Oh, yeah.” He steps closer, lust overflowing his eyes.
“I just don’t think this cloth is going to do the job. Do you have something else I can use?” I flutter my long lashes. With my back against the metal contraption, he is close enough to kiss me.
“My tongue.” When his pointy tongue slips out, I notice it’s forked at the end, and I can’t help but wonder if Eleazar’s tongue looks the same. The thought sends a rush down to my bundle of nerves, making me whimper. And next thing I know, this alien is on his knees, forcing my legs apart. I wait for my moment and... I cuff his waist to the metal bar, quickly maneuvering out of his hold. Thanks, alien bitch for the idea.
“What is the meaning of this?” He yanks against the bar, moving the table over an inch. “Get your tasty little ass back here.”
Uh oh! I better get out of here and fast. Quickly, I slip on the cat suit and grab the helmet without glancing back. I can hear him yelling after me as I slide out the door and into the hallway. I hug the wall with my back, sneaking around the corner to make sure there are no aliens in sight.
Stomp! Stomp!
I hear footsteps coming in my direction and my heart jolts in my chest. I squeeze between the wall and a dragon statue by the castle doors. The sight of bright green eyes makes me gulp and tremble in my boots. I close my eyes to whisper a prayer, hoping she doesn’t find or smell me.
Then she stops.
Leaning over slightly, I can see her sniffing the air. Shit!
Her stalking closer to the statue has me wishing the damn wall would just swallow me whole. She fucking scares the life out of me. My palms start to sweat, my heart rate accelerates. Closer and closer she gets, now standing on the other side of the statue.
My hands clasp over my mouth. Don’t breathe!
An alarm goes off down the hallway, luring her focus in that direction. I assume the soldier must have gotten out of his restraints and was the one who sounded the alarm.
No time like the present. Quiet as a mouse, I sneak out from behind the statue and tiptoe toward the castle doors, creaking them open. Once on the other side, I fasten the helmet over my head and run. I run for my life. My sister. I run for my family, the ones I lost. Pumping my legs, my muscles strain. I run toward the starship. I have no idea how to operate one, but I guess I am learning today.
My heart feels fuller seeing the light at the tunnel near. I push myself even harder to the finish line, knowing how relentless these aliens are. They will come for me. Perhaps, Eleazar will lock me up and throw away the key. I can’t live like that. I won’t. Free spirit, remember?
Yes! I exit the tunnel into the heat of the night with the luminous full moons hanging overhead. The fire shooting up around the bridge is a welcoming sight, and I continue running toward the starship.
My grand escape.
Something leaps into my path from the flames below. What the…?
Grrr! A row of teeth and fire comes barreling at me on all fours. A creature the size of a horse. Oh, fuck. Change of plans!
I pivot around and take off in the other direction.
Green eyes appear from the shadows of the tunnel.
“You!” she shouts. She starts running towards me, too.
Fuck me! In a panic, my heart pounding in my throat, I head off-course and run down the side of the mountain and follow the path around to the side with the fire-breathing alien and Hellhound hot on my heels. I end up in a diamond-dusted garden with giant plants. I gasp in horror as they all seem to be leaning in my direction. A few snap at me. Jesus! Does everything on this planet want to eat or kill me?! Turning back, she emerges from the side of the mountain with the Hellhound in tow; its fiery eyes locked on me, snarling. I realize I’m trapped between flesh-eating plants and the evil alien bitch and her dog. Well, you had a good run, Veda.
Her eyes slit into a glare; her fists balled up at her sides. Her scales even shift upward, appearing pointier than before. “You stupid little human bitch. I’ve had enough of you and your crap. You’re nothing but a distraction. The Gods say this, the Gods say that. My brother has been acting like an obsessed maniac since he had a premonition about you. You are no good for him.”
Brother? Premonition? She is so protective of him, but why? Eleazar seems to be more than capable of looking out for himself. “Premonition? I don’t follow.”
“Exactly. And that’s why you need to die!” she roars, charging at me as if she were a linebacker, and we go tumbling to the ground. I manage to get a punch in before she rips my helmet from my face, connecting a punch to my jaw. I feel the sting even more because I’m struggling to breathe in this blazing heat.
She wraps her hands with sharp claws around my neck, squeezing what little oxygen I can gather out of my throat. “Give me one good reason for me to allow you to live?” She clamps down.
I gasp, unable to form any words. My chest feels like an elephant is sitting on me, my surroundings blurring all around me. Maybe today is the day I die.
Eleazar
I am flying through the sky, enjoying the heat warming my scales when I catch sight of movement below. A ball of flames crackling up. Hmmm...my Lyrahound only leaves his post when there is trouble. I hone in on what’s taking place below and veer sideways, flapping my wings to change direction. What in the world is going on down there? Then I see it. Nyah, strangling the life out of someone much smaller.
My captive.
A blast of fire shoots out of my mouth. Anger wallows in my soul. How could she betray me like this? I zip down, hitting the ground so hard I cause a split in the terrain. I shift back into Dragonoid form.
My Lyrahound’s fiery tail goes in between his legs
when he sees me. I pat him on the head, relaxing him. “Good boy.” His tail waggles a little as he straightens up to lean into my touch. I point. “Post.” He licks my hand and gallops off into the dark.
Nyah jumps up, stunned, and is now standing above the female. That’s when I realize she’s not wearing her oxygen helmet and she’s out cold.
“Nyah! What have you done?” My roar echoes around the planet and the plants all shrivel back into the ground.
Nyah doesn’t speak, just continues to look at the ground with her chest moving up and down, a murderous glare plastered on her face. I dive down to my knees and shove the helmet over her head, adjusting the setting to quickly replace what has been lost. She’s unconscious but takes a deep breath.
I shoot daggers at Nyah. “Answer me.”
“She’s the reason you have been neglecting your duty as king. Distracting you. The human has to be destroyed.”
I jump to my feet. “How can you not see her kind might be the only ones that can save us?”
“That’s crazy talk, Eleazar. And you know it. Father and Mother would be ashamed you’re so transfixed on this human…thi-this cure.” Nyah talks with such conviction, tears bead down her cheeks.
I cock my head at her, my anger simmering down. I pull her close, hugging her. She hugs me back. I know what’s bothering her. Our parents lost their lives trying to save the humans from the Serpenites. I realize it’s the reason she has such a distinct hate for them. “I miss them too, Nyah. But it’s not her fault they are gone. And I promise you, no matter what happens, I’m going to be here for you, for our kingdom.”
She steps out of my embrace, whipping the tears away with the back of her hand. She doesn’t meet my gaze. “I just can’t lose you too. Earth was a catastrophe. What if the same thing happens here? What if we are not prepared and the Serpenites destroy our home, our planet, all because these lousy humans can’t fight their own damn battles?” She points her claw at the female. “They try to retaliate against us after we tried to save them. They are not worth all this effort to me. I’m sorry, that is just what I believe.”
I get it. Humans are stubborn creatures.
“And you are entitled to your beliefs, Nyah. That is your birthright, but this kingdom is under my rule, and I decide humans are worth the risk. If you can’t get on board with that, then this kingdom is not for you.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You are choosing that pathetic human over your own flesh and blood?”
“No, Nyah. I am choosing Lyra’s future, and I hope you will still be in it.”
“I can’t do this.” She stomps off, cracking the ground more, and disappears from my sight.
I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days. I look at the human sprawled across the ground, cuts and scrapes covering her neck, and my lips tug downward. If I don’t get her back to Sci-GenX I don’t think she is going to make it. I shift back, gently clasping her in my teeth, and drift into the sky. I have fantasies about giving her a tour of Lyra from above, if only she was awake to see it.
Once we land, I usher her inside. “Prep the intensive care pod.”
My scientists scramble to power up the pod, and I carefully place her inside and remove her helmet. Her skin has paled several shades and her breathing is shallow. One of my scientists takes a sample of her blood, runs it through the lab station.
“What happened to her?” Zork asks.
“Nyah happened, that’s what.”
“Oh, dear.”
“Yeah, and I don’t think it’s the first time this has happened either.” Thinking back to all my previous captives, they never managed to survive long. A freak accident. Mysterious death. Rage blooms in my core as I connect the dots. My sister is a serial killer. How could Nyah jeopardize the kingdom’s future like this?
She knows the Dragonoid females that survived the war my parents were in suffer from infertility. Damn that Serpenite venom.
“Sire?” The scientist running the blood sample brings me back from my descent into madness. “Take a look at this.” He brings her blood smear from the microscope onto the digital screen.
I zoom in on the cells floating around the screen, and my jaw nearly detaches from my face. I growl, shaking the building. “Is that what I think it is?” Smoke bellows out from my nostrils.
Zork shudders. “Yes, Sire. She’s infected.”
“When? How?” I knock an instrument off a nearby table onto the floor. “Didn’t you take a sample before we got on the starship?”
Zork evades my murderous gaze. “Yes, Sire. Her blood was unremarkable, and processing would’ve alerted us if she was infected.” He clears his throat.
I shake my head angrily. “You are right. This fault doesn’t lie with you.” My sweet, stubborn-ass sister probably sabotaged me again.
The screen beeps, gathering attention from everyone in the room.
Zork’s eyes triple in size as he is hauntingly drawn in closer. He gasps. “Oh, my heavens.”
I walk up next to him; my throat goes dry and my heart leaps into my throat. “Her lymphocytes are destroying the venocytic cells.”
“It’s unbelievable, Sire.”
If I had the ability to cry. I would. “My premonitions never deceive. We’ve found our cure.”
The room fills with hollers of joy, and I high-five Zork, something we observed the humans doing when they exhibited this type of happiness. My chest feels lighter, my mind clearer. My race is going to be okay. The universe is going to be okay.
In between my kingly duties, I come to check on my captive. She’s been making improvements every day. My scientists were able to synthesize antivenin from her blood. They did a trial run on the other specimens yesterday. Unfortunately, the older male didn’t survive. The venom had already spread to his heart and other organs. The adolescents seem to be improving, but only time will tell.
I sit in the chair next to the pod, hoping any second my little captive will wake so I can share the good news—that because of her genetic code and rare bond with the virus, her blood will single-handedly save the universe.
Hours pass. No change. I must have fallen asleep because the sound of an alarm jolts me awake.
I look down to see her eyes open, panic filling them. I press a power off button on the pod and unlatch the seal, lifting it.
Her eyes soften, and she takes a deep breath. My hands find her waist and I help her sit upright.
“Eleazar.” Her voice is dry and raspy.” She blinks several times. “Where am I? Have you been here the whole time?”
I give her shoulders a squeeze. “I found you without your helmet on. You were unconscious, so I brought you to our medical facility. I’ve been checking on you from time to time.”
She nods slowly, gulping. He eyes meet mine with a glare, her hands clutching the side of the pod, her knuckles turning white. “Your sister tried to kill me.”
Closing my eyes, I pull in air through my nose and bury the anger of what my sister has done to the corner of my mind. “My apologies. She will never hurt you again. I promise you.”
“Fuck this. I want off this rock, Eleazar.”
“Is that what happened? You tried to escape?”
“Yes, and I would’ve if it weren’t for your Hellhound getting in my way.”
I laugh. She’s adorable when she’s upset. “He is the best Lyrahound our planet has.”
She raises a brow. “I see. Your Lyrahound doesn’t have a name?”
“No, I just call him what he is. A Lyrahound.”
She shakes her head, giggling. It relaxes me a little. Soon I must drop the bomb on her. “You aliens are so weird.” She cocks her head at me, her gaze intense. “Are you ever going to call me by my name?”
“You are my captive. I don’t need to call you a name.” I stopped calling my captives by their names after the fourth mysteriously died. It seemed pointless to me to form any kind of bond.
She groans. “Eleazar, Eleazar, Eleazar. See? It isn�
��t so hard.” She pushes her hands into my chest. “Let me go.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“You are safer here with me.”
“I seriously doubt that. You blew up Earth, my fucking home. I was perfectly safe there before you came along.” Tears well in her eyes and she tries to punch me.
I grapple her arms, pinning them down. “Get yourself together, female. I am not your enemy. The Dragonoids were trying to protect Earth.”
“Bullshit.” Her eyes stare death into mine, embedded with so much pain and anguish. I don’t know why I care, but I want to absorb all her pain, make her understand my purpose. Her purpose. “There’s something I need to show you.”
“If it involves cuffs and your cock. I don’t want it,” she snarls.
“Easy, human. I just want to talk.” I extend a hand out for her to take.
She stares at it for a moment before resting her small palm in mine. “Okay,” she murmurs.
My hand swallows hers. The difference in our body temperatures makes my cock twitch in my pants. I clear my throat, refocusing my mind back to the task at hand. “This is a research facility. My kind has been trying to develop a cure for the Serpenite Virus.” I pause to give her a minute to absorb the information.
She shudders at the word Serpenite. I understand. I still do. “They are awful. I watched them kill so many of my kind.”
“That’s the thing…they weren’t just killing; they were spreading their virus well before we showed up. The second wave just happened to come with the portal when we did.”
Her eyes grow wide with fear. “But, but how?” Her little hand tightens around mine.
I smirk slightly, knowing she is starting to see the bigger picture. Trust my words. I lead her over to the master computer and pull up our database with all the information we gathered from previous encounters with their kind. “Serpenites are also known as the “Imposters” they have the ability to look like any living thing. Their venom is ten times more deadly than a king cobra.”
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