Apparition

by C. L. Scholey

Caveat blew out a gentle huff. He relaxed beneath her. Zoe cleared her mind of thoughts. She needed rest. The mares circled them. Caveat’s back was so warm and soothing. Zoe felt him calm under her as she too relaxed. They’d had a busy day. Before long, her arms slipped from his back to dangle at his sides. His head lowered. Zoe felt a furry body rub against her foot and knew it was the colt. He loved her feet, especially her toes. Zoe knew Caveat was proud of his foals. She had witnessed the birth of each one. She had spent a year in the herd. Up until the day she was taken.

  The lone Tonan warrior had captured her as she swam, clothed in rags, in a pond three days prior. She had been out of Caveat’s sight, but not far. It had been a year and she had gotten careless. She should have known better. The Tonan had scooped her from the water, slung her over a broad shoulder and took off. Zoe had screamed in terror. Caveat had returned the scream. Her proud stallion had followed the Tonan until the creature left him behind rearing and stomping. Zoe knew Caveat couldn’t leave the others unguarded. She was doomed and alone.

  The Castian prisoner, Loy, had somehow gotten loose after Zoe had blacked out. She had woken bruised and feeling confused, battered and exhausted. The Castian wore a skin tight suit of black armor. His cheek glowed with a green tattoo. She knew it was Loy when he spoke to her. She had heard his voice, but her ears were still ringing from the blow the Tonan had given her and she had no idea what he had said. It was dark outside and the Castian had stumbled then recovered. She almost slipped to the ground. Zoe had struggled and screamed at him to release her. To get his filthy sex-starved talons off of her.

  Suddenly Caveat had been there, in the dark, like a knight. His sharp hooves had battered the Castian. Loy seemed weak. He must have been after his stay in the Tonan slave-prison camp. He dropped her to defend himself and Zoe was on her feet, then on Caveat’s back and away they went while she had clung for her life. Loy had called to her but she had gotten away leaving him far behind, she was finally safe—so she thought. As the suns had risen in the early morning sky, a new threat had appeared. The Tonan, her captor, had found them and had given chase.

  She couldn’t go back to that hell. She would die; she would rather die. Caveat sensed her terror and they had raced for their lives. Caveat, her friend, her companion would have been killed if the other pale gray creature hadn’t interfered. But what was he? Something told her she would find out. The idea was chilling.

  Zoe sat up. She slipped from Caveat’s back needing to relieve herself. She planned on piddling right beside the stallion and climbing back onto him. Her nose twitched when she gingerly lowered herself from his great height by balling her fists into his mane and her foot sunk into a pile of warm fresh manure. It oozed up over the sides of her foot and between her toes.

  Ick.

  Zoe shook her foot and dragged it on the spongy earth surface top and bottom until she made it to the river a short distance away. Caveat was well within her sight. For a moment, she felt a twinge of guilt realizing she was dependent on an animal for safety. Tough times, though—she was even beginning to smell like an animal. Zoe was sick to death of being filthy. The Tonans thought it amusing not to let her bathe the two days she was with them. The river water was cool, more tepid really. It felt good.

  She washed herself then hunkered down near a bush to pee, pulling the bushes around her. Tonans and Castians could see in the dark; no doubt the creature watching her could as well. It may have seen her nude, but it didn’t need to see her tend to personal business, some things were just too private. This time, though, she was safe from the being’s grasp—there was no way it could get her this near to Caveat and the herd who were almost within touching distance. When Zoe finished, she washed again.

  Moving a small ways upstream she cupped her hands into the flowing river and drank in a huge amount. Zoe was starving but food would have to wait; the water would have to suffice for now. She filled her belly with the cool clear liquid. Her arms crossed her breasts when she finished. Zoe wished she had clothes or a towel. It was cold at night, not too cold but enough to raise goose bumps. She was still so tired and wanted to curl up onto Caveat’s warmth. Turning, she saw a blur and before she could scream a hand went over her mouth. Like an apparition with lightning speed, Zoe was up high in a tree moving at a rate so fast her head spun. She didn’t know this speed was possible.

  Oh God, not again.

  The creature wasn’t pinning her arms or legs painfully. Its massively muscled gray-white arm was snaked up her belly to her mouth, effectively holding her and silencing her. His strength was physically powerful but controlled. Zoe had no choice but to hang on while her legs dangled until she pulled them under her. She squeezed her eyes shut for a brief second then opened them. Caveat stood unmoving not far from them. All the horses were settled quietly. Her poor friend must be exhausted. Zoe released her captor to reach for Caveat, only a small whimpered puff of air was expelled. She sobbed in her fear. He would never hear her this high up, or as tired as he was. Desolation filled her heart.

  “You’ll see him again soon,” a voice whispered.

  Zoe’s despair was heavy. She doubted it. This time she was dead for certain. The creature took off with her until the herd was nothing more than a dot—then nothing at all. She was alone again with a creature. Her only hope was that he possessed a soul, a kindness, mercy. On this planet it was doubtful. Her body slumped in defeat; she was too tired and sad to fight any more. The idea alone was heartbreaking.

  Chapter 2

  Zoe sat curled in a ball on a bed piled high with soft sheets. The creature had only set her on it after she had given him her name. She was in a cave. Her large captor was pacing back and forth in front of her erratically. Every so often he would pause to say something to her then stop and begin pacing again. During that time Zoe would glance about looking for an escape route. The two of them were alone. It was a frightening thought.

  The cave was deep. The interior was bathed in light. The inside rock was like nothing she had ever seen before. It wasn’t hard rock but sponge-like. She assumed the terrain was adaptable to the large creatures living on the planet. The being in front of her, Doss, he said his name was, was massive. Standing at least six foot six and covered in armor that molded to each of his muscles. He had a tattoo like the Tonans and Castians, but the Tonans’ was black, the Castians’ green. Doss’ was like a strike of white lightning. It glowed. There were protruding bulbs where its eyes would sit. His clawed feet were huge, shaped like a velociraptor with an extra claw at the back. His fangs were long and a gleaming white. Long talons hung from his hands like knives. Zoe noted warily the one razor sharp looking claw hook that had sliced the Tonan open and she shuddered.

  Doss stopped again and moved closer. Zoe couldn’t help it, she had sworn to be strong but she was starving, weak from lack of sleep, and terrified. She cowered back into the bed and Doss stopped advancing and started pacing. Again Zoe looked around while he seemed distracted. The walls of the cave were a pleasant rose quartz. Green vines curled up the sides with stunning white flowers Zoe knew to be called Effie flowers. A sparkling pool of water glowed with a brilliant light, also surrounded in beautiful foliage. It was all so beautiful. An odd surrounding for a warrior. It was almost as if a woman’s touch had been added.

  The cave was a deep contrast to the Tonan slave camp where everything was dull and gray like the cruel warriors. Zoe had to admit this creature’s color was more pleasing. He wasn’t the sick gray or frightening glare of black. His almost white polished outer armor moved with him like a second skin. Zoe wondered what he looked like underneath. She knew he was concealed. Both the Tonans’ and Castians’ armor absorbed back into their bodies when not in use. Zoe had been amazed when she first witnessed it, but it was true. They were unshakable when armored and weighed a great deal. Of the creatures she had seen, all had shoulder-length black or blond hair. Most had brown eyes but a few were blue-eyed or green-eyed; the other, Loy, had gray eyes. She wondered what c
olor this creature’s eyes were.

  Doss stopped to look at her again. Zoe didn’t move, didn’t breathe, didn’t blink. She wondered what he was waiting for. He was toying with her. Zoe pulled the sheets tighter around her and Doss began pacing again. Zoe distracted herself by looking at the cave interior. The ceiling was about twenty feet high. It was light inside but she had no idea where the light came from. There were about six cone-shaped black cylinders on the ground. Maybe they had something to do with it.

  She saw a replicator and her mouth watered knowing there was food in there. The Tonans had given her nothing but a simple piece of leathery fruit each day and brackish water. But humans had those replicators in their homes. The Tonans had made friends with some very stupid men in the beginning. They were given replicators to make their lives easier, anything they wanted, the human men only need ask. In exchange, the Tonans were shown human strengths—none compared to the Tonans’ armor. The slaughter started next. The women were taken. Zoe clenched her teeth; her parents had been butchered. Zoe had been out riding Caveat and had returned to the gruesome scene. So many lives lost. Such horrible brutality.

  She would not cry.

  Doss stopped again, she knew he must be looking at her but with the bulb covered eyes it was hard to tell. “What do you want?” Zoe whispered.

  “Your emotions change so fast I wrap my head around one feeling and you already have another. Great Lord, how the hell do human men stand it?”

  “They don’t any more,” Zoe replied, her voice quiet. “The Tonans killed them.”

  “I’m not a Tonan.”

  “I can see that. Not Tonan or Castian. What are you?”

  “I am someone who can keep you safe.”

  “You stole me from Caveat.” Her tone was accusing.

  “Do you really think a stallion can take care of you?”

  “He has for a year.”

  “The Tonans know of your existence. No doubt they have found the body of the filth I killed. They will go after you. Not me.”

  “Are they afraid of you?”

  Doss held up his talon claw that sported the hook and waved it at her. Zoe nodded. Yes the Tonans feared him. She did too. If he could rip a Tonan warrior to shreds without mercy what would he do to her? Horrible images of being ripped to shreds assaulted her. First fear then revulsion shook her and next came panic.

  “Stop,” he commanded.

  Startled, Zoe jumped. Her eyes widened. Doss began pacing again. “Why not just tell me what you want?” Zoe asked.

  “I want you to feel just one emotion at a time and let me deal with it,” he snapped.

  “I don’t know if I can.”

  Doss approached her again. Zoe was terrified. He continued to approach. Zoe’s fear escalated. When Doss reached her, his nostrils flared and he inhaled her. Zoe blinked as his armor absorbed into his body. He was huge. His body was tanned. His white-blond hair was spiked and short. His eyes were like nothing she had seen. Their gray depths moved like clouds. He was fascinating, beautiful, and gorgeous. And he was closer.

  Zoe cringed when he touched her. He trailed the backs of his huge moist fingers, devoid now of talons, across her cheek. She saw him shudder. Zoe felt oddly calmer. Doss inhaled her scent again like he was starving and she was a pizza and he looked more relaxed.

  “That’s better,” he said, his voice was gruff. “Fear I can deal with. I’ve never dealt with so many emotions at once. It’s been so long since I have been this close to a female. Tonan females didn’t have such quick racing emotions. Tonan females didn’t feel as strongly about each emotion, it’s how they coped with the filthy Tonan warriors. Dormant emotions. It’s nerve-wracking to smell your turmoil—your emotions are so strong. I can scent you have no control over it. I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

  Doss settled himself beside her. Zoe tried to scoot away but his behind was sitting on the bed sheet she was wrapped in, trapping her. The man had no concept of personal space. His fingers never left her cheek. Zoe could feel his sweat and she was confused. He was wearing only tight gray-white pants that hugged his body to his ankles, his feet were bare; they were huge but normal looking. She should be terrified but she wasn’t. His massive chest was void of nipples. His fangs were gone.

  “What did you do to me?” Zoe whispered. She felt drugged.

  She just sat there, allowing him to trail his fingers down her throat and shoulders. She should be screaming, running, fighting him off. She did none of those things. Zoe had the strangest urge to pull herself into his arms. She swayed wanting to press her face against him and bury herself into his safety.

  “A warrior can produce secretions to calm a female. We are very large and a female is not. When a male is in must his secretions are stronger. It’s easier to control your emotions when you are calmer. I can separate each by feeling your needs.” Doss looked at her startled. “You’re starving! Damn it, you’re in pain. Why didn’t you say something?”

  She would have been scared shitless by his expression if she wasn’t so calm. “You were busy making a groove in the cave floor.”

  Zoe squealed when he scooped her up, the bed sheet fell to the floor and he took her to the pool. He jumped in making a horrific splash. Water rolled over the sides. “This has been treated to heal. I swiped the formula just in case I found a human female,” Doss said as Zoe wiped water from her eyes. His words made her wonder if he had been looking for a female when he had come across her. “I’ve got you. It’s deep; it was made for my height. I won’t let go.”

  Zoe had been in healing waters before. Tonans had introduced them to the water’s ability when a woman had been cut by accident, before the men had been killed. For some reason the Tonans liked to torture, but they rarely drew blood. Healing waters had a strange property to it. She knew what to expect. The water came to life and swirled around her. Bubbles attacked her back where the Tonan had struck cruelly. Doss poured dribbles over her face across her bruising. The entire time he apologized.

  “I’ve never bruised. I’m sorry I didn’t know. I’ve never felt pain. Damn, I feel yours and it’s beyond unpleasant. Bastards, how could they? I should kill them all. I’ll slit their fiendish throats until their blood runs in rivers and their flesh is a mass pile of—No, don’t feel scared. I’m not angry with you. It’s fine really. Stop panicking. Please calm down. Too many emotions at once. You need to stop with so many emotions. I can’t concentrate when there’s too many.” Doss suddenly held her at arm’s length and shook his head. He was breathing heavy. His eyes were wide and he looked like he had been run over by a truck.

  Zoe was so confused. So tired. His secretions washed away in the water. He no longer wore the tight whitish pants; he was nude, but how? Now she was afraid again. There were no more hurts. The water was calm. Doss was huffing out large amounts of air; his facial expression was a cross between perplexed and a grimace. His fangs had grown. Would he bite her? Zoe started to cry, she could feel the tears as they dripped down her cheeks.

  “No, no.” Doss’ eyes widened. “Wait, no. Your eyes are dribbling. Holy shit you’re drowning. Does the water absorb and leak out your eyes?” Doss jumped with her out of the water and started to shake her. “I’ll wring you out, don’t panic. You should have said something.”

  Zoe cried harder, her hands clung to his wrists; she was a foot off the ground. “You’re hurting me. I’m crying; the water is tears from my eyes. Humans cry. I’m not drowning, I’m just sad and scared and I’m all alone.”

  Doss stopped shaking her. His look was skeptical. He pulled her back into his arms and held her tightly cuddled to his chest. Zoe’s face buried into his neck. Her tears mingled with his secretions. She could feel the moisture absorb into her body. She was calming again. Doss began rocking her. He started humming a tune deep within his throat. He carried her back to the bed and sat her on it. Zoe couldn’t help herself, she stared at his cock. Everything about the man was huge.

  “You’re naked,” she whis
pered. She reached for the bed sheet on the ground and wrapped herself in it.

  “The water attacks foreign objects like dirt. Including clothes.” His cock, even at rest, was long and thick. Zoe shuddered. “I scent your worry. I won’t hurt you. I’ll put more clothes on.”

  “I’m hungry,” Zoe said.

  Doss scooped a last tear onto his finger. Zoe watched as it slipped into his skin. He looked sad. “I’ve never seen tears.”

  She thought as much. Could he really feel her sorrow? He looked like he did. What was more astounding was he looked like he understood it. His thumb trailed across her cheek.

  “You’re not alone, Zoe,” he whispered.

  * * * *

  Doss went to the replicator and slipped on the flexible clothes he asked for. He still remembered the day his mother took the device. She had marched into her father’s home, picked it up and walked out. Her father, Doss’ grandsire, looked furious but with the protection of Doss’ shield, his mother had no fear. Because Doss’ father had given him a piece of his shield, both Doss and his mother had the shield’s protection until he was weaned. He and his mother had been more indestructible than a Tonan-armored male.

  After Doss had been weaned, his mother was more careful. By that time she had helped herself to everything they would need for their exile. Doss simply woke one morning in his armor right before he turned four. His mother had been proud. She had called him handsome. She had always loved him. Doss was a little sad he suddenly weighed too much for her to carry but she would still sit by him and they could cuddle.

  Doss had grown to love his armor. He was fast, faster than his mother and before long, he could carry her through the trees at a lightning pace while she laughed and howled of the indignity. If his mother needed anything Doss would take it from his grandsire. Doss felt the man owed his daughter for abandoning the both of them. Doss’ grandsire was afraid of him. He smelled it. His grandsire was dead now. Doss had no family left. A Castian and Tonan battle in the skies had ended his grandsire’s miserable life. When the Tonan ship had exploded during battle, his grandsire was left to float endlessly in dark space until his armor could no longer regenerate and sustain him.