“Baz,” Josie said, rushing up to me as soon as I walked into the bar, “have you spoken with Paige? I can't get in touch with her, and I'm worried.”
“She's okay,” I lied. “She's just wanting to be alone, that's all.”
I sidled up to the bar, hoping Josie wouldn't ask any more questions. The fewer people who knew about what was going on with Paige, the better. That way, there were less people at risk of getting hurt.
Josie followed me to the bar. “You know, I still owe you a drink,” she said. “What can I get for ya?”
“Lady's choice.”
I had no idea what I might like, and was starting to think perhaps alcohol wasn't for me. But I had to do something with my time, and sitting at the Mahogany Tavern without a drink would make me stand out.
Josie went behind the bar and mixed a few things together. I didn't pay attention to what they were, but she popped a drink in front of me. It was bright yellow and reminded me of urine.
“What is this?” I asked, almost afraid to try anything that was that brightly colored.
“Lemonade. With a twist, of course,” she beamed. “Go ahead and try it.”
Lemonade. A drink made with lemons, something I had yet to try while on Earth. So I did as I was told, taking a sip of the drink and found a sweet, yet sour flavor that actually had a very appealing taste to it. It was certainly much better than the drink I'd had last night.
“I like this,” I said, swirling the drink around in the glass with the straw. “Thank you, Josie.”
“You're welcome, Baz,” she said, her voice growing softer. She leaned on the bar, staring at me with wide, inquiring eyes. “So? How'd things go with Paige? Are you and her okay?”
She flinched a bit at the last word, as if she was almost afraid to ask. I guess me coming in here alone, looking depressed and mopey – combined with what she believed was Paige's continued radio silence – didn't give off the best impression. I needed to pretend to be happier, or else risk her asking more questions.
“Oh, things with Paige couldn't be better,” I said. “We had a long talk last night, and we are actually doing very well right now. Thank you for asking. And if I can confide something in you, I believe that I may even be in love with her. Is such a thing even possible?”
Josie looked surprised by my outpouring. Had I said too much? Did I sound suspicious? I took a long swig of the drink, followed by another.
But Josie just laughed. “Of course it's possible, Baz. Anything is possible when it comes to love.”
My head was swimming, and my heart was thundering. It felt wonderful to have someone validate what I was feeling and to tell me that I wasn't crazy. I did love Paige. I don't know if she loved me back, but I loved her.
Then, as quickly as my good mood came on, it all came crashing down as I was reminded that we couldn't be together, and that in order for her to live, I'd likely have to die by my brother's hand. Josie must have seen the change in my mood because she reached for my hand.
“Listen, I know Paige can be difficult. And maybe she doesn't know if she loves you yet, but give it time, Baz. You're good for her. I know it, and it won't be long before she sees it, too.”
Someone called her name from the other side of the bar, so she excused herself, leaving me alone. If only she knew the real reason for me being upset. It had little to do with Paige's feelings for me and more about the fact that we would never be able to be together.
But the more I drank, the better I felt. Josie refilled my drink before I even finished it completely, saying, “It's on the house.”
As I went to stand up, I felt my head spinning and I almost fell from my chair. Josie was there in a flash thought, thankfully, to help me to my feet.
“Whoa buddy, I think you've had a little too much to drink,” she said.
But even through all the dizziness, and yes, the vomiting that came afterward, I felt good. Suddenly, I realized why these humans were so obsessed with this concoction.
It was magic.
Chapter Three
It didn't seem so magical the next day though. After Josie called a cab for me, and I got back to the lodging establishment where I'd taken a room, I collapsed in bed, not even bothering to remove my biosuit. Oh, I'd cried a bit for Paige, for myself, and for this awful situation I was in. But then I'd fallen asleep, and had slept soundly until Anjol woke me up, making my head feel as if it might explode.
“Message from Tarkonil. The ship is ready.”
As soon as I heard those words, I jumped from the bed, feeling energized. I was still nauseous, but now I had a renewed sense of determination. My ears were ringing from the pain in my head, and I still felt dizzy, but I had to get ready. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was well after noon. I'd slept until the afternoon. That was unprecedented for me.
I had to hurry as I needed to prepare for my trip – one that I knew I wasn't coming back from. I stumbled around the room, packing up my things, and making sure I was ready to leave with no intent of ever coming back. As I closed the hotel room door behind me, I felt a small twinge of sadness. I would be leaving Earth, likely never to return.
I didn't spend too much time being sentimental, though. I couldn't afford to. Paige was waiting for me, and I had to get back to her. I rushed back to where Anjol had the ship hidden and found Tarkonil putting the finishing touches on it.
“Looks like you should be good to go, Baz,” Tarkonil said, his voice sounding a little sadder than usual.
“Thank you,” I said. I ran a hand over the metal, feeling the slickness beneath my touch. Very soon, we'd be back in space, heading for my home planet.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tarkonil asked me.
“I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life,” I said.
Tarkonil didn't argue with me further, but I could tell he wanted to. Anjol had ceased trying to talk me out of it as well. My mind was made up. I was going back home, and I was going to face my brother, even if that meant I'd end up dead. At least Paige would be safe. Never before had I cared for someone else's well-being above my own, but Paige inspired that sort of feeling in me.
“Well, I'll see you off then,” Tarkonil said. “Let's get you prepared for takeoff.”
I nodded and put a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Sounds like a plan.”
****
Our technology never ceased to amaze me, and it amazed me even more after spending time on Earth. Seeing how limited Earthlings were when it came to space travel made me feel privileged to be able to fly such a complex ship. I was off the planet and in the air within the hour, looking down upon the world I'd grown to love.
It was hard saying goodbye, but it was easier knowing that I would be returning Paige back to her home and back to where she belonged. It was the only planet she'd ever known in her life. I couldn't imagine how scared she had to be – being so far away, locked away on another planet, and held captive by my enemies.
Thankfully, the trip wouldn't take too long, not at the speeds I could reach with my ship.
It would only be a matter of time before I was back on Optorio, facing my brother for the first time since I'd left.
Chapter Four: Paige
“Is the human awake yet?”
“I don't believe so.”
“Tell me as soon as she wakes up.”
I heard their voices. They were talking about me, of course. But who were they? I knew they had to be the enemies Baz spoke to me about – the assassins sent to kill me to get to him. But why wasn't I dead yet? Everything that happened that evening was a blur. I'd blacked out and then woken up here, with no sign of Baz anywhere.
I pretended to sleep, afraid of what might happen to me once they knew I was awake. Were they going to kill me then? If so, why wait until I was awake? Not that I knew the enemy. They were unlike me – they weren't even human.
“Hey, girl,” a gruff voice called to me.
I ignored it, feigning to b
e passed out still. My bladder felt like it would burst, but there was no way I could let them know I was awake. Even as my stomach growled, I stayed still.
“You want somethin' to eat?”
Food. Yes. I wanted food alright, but that would mean I'd appear to be awake. I couldn't let them know–
A loud, crashing sound caused me to jump. It was right next to my head, and I couldn't help it. I screeched, sitting up and looking all around for the source of the noise.
I saw a tray sitting next to me on the floor. A tray with pellets on it. Yes, pellets – the kind one might feed a rabbit or guinea pig.
“Oh, so you are awake then,” the voice said.
I stared in disbelief at what was before me. While Baz appeared to be mostly human, this thing wasn't human-like at all. With a sickly, yellowish tint to his skin and grime coating on his body that seemed to ooze from his skin like sweat – I really didn't want to eat anything his hands had touched.
“Eat up. I'll let Kapoc know you're awake.”
The creature was short and robust, and he didn't appear to walk so much as slither. He turned and slithered out of the cell, closing the door behind him with a tentacle coming from the center of his back.
“Eat? What is it?” I asked, staring at the pellets.
“It's meat. Or rather, imitation meat. What, you think prisoners deserve the real stuff?” He sneered at me.
“Thank god it's not real meat then. I'd almost be afraid to see what kind of meat you'd serve up,” My mind went back to old Twilight Zone episodes, and I shuddered.
The creature didn't say another word, he just continued down the hall, leaving me alone in my cell. I picked up one of the round morsels and squished it between my fingers. It was gooey and felt like meat – only in a pill-shaped form. I popped one in my mouth and was surprised to find that it tasted like chicken.
What a cliché, I thought to myself. Of course it tastes like chicken. Everything tastes like chicken.
I ate another one before it occurred to me that maybe they'd try to poison me. But if they had, it was too late now. And besides, why would they kill me with poison when they'd had plenty of time to kill me while I was passed out? My mind was spinning out all kinds of crazy ideas and theories – a byproduct of being scared out of my mind, I was sure.
There were footsteps from down the hallway, and I had to wonder if this was Kapoc that the creature had mentioned. Is this the enemy that Baz had told me about? His brother?
As soon as Kapoc stepped in front of my cell, I knew it had to be.
Unlike the creature from before, Kapoc looked almost human. He had the same pale skin and dark hair as Baz. They looked so similar that they could almost pass for twins. Almost. Kapoc was shorter, less built than his brother, and his face was squinty - almost rat-like with a long, pointed nose and tiny eyes.
Baz had apparently gotten all the best genes.
“So you're Paige, the human my brother has fallen for,” Kapoc said. “It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm his brother, Ka–”
“I know who you are.” I said coldly.
I placed the tray and the pellets down, not wanting him to see me eating the food he'd provided for me. Call me stubborn, but I wasn't a willing participant in any of this.
“Where's Baz?” I asked.
“You don't remember? He was still on Earth last I checked, but we estimate he'll be arriving sometime within the next few hours. You know, to save the day and all that.” He waved his hand in the air, as if to mock his brother's deeds.
“And you intend to kill him?” I asked, pushing myself against the wall until I could stand.
“Why yes, I do, actually,” he said, looking surprised. “I guess Baz has filled you in on our little family feud.”
“He doesn't want the throne,” I said. “Just leave him alone.”
“Oh, I wish I could. But I can't. You see, as long as he's out there, alive and well and doing whatever it is he's doing, my throne will not be considered legitimate,” he said. “He will have a claim to it as long as he's alive, and that's just the way it works.”
“I don't need a history lesson,” I said. “Or a course on royal succession.”
“Well tell me then, what do you need?” he said, looking me up and down. “My, you're a fine morsel, aren't you? Now I see why Baz was so crazy about you.”
I spat in his face.
“Feisty, too. I like it. I just might have to keep you,” he said, wiping the spit from his face. “After I kill my brother, that is. Would you like to be the king's pet?”
“Rot in hell.”
“Hell? I do not know what that is, but judging by your tone, it's not a place I believe I'd enjoy,” he said with a shrug before walking away, leaving me alone in my cell once more.
Please, Baz. Don't do it. Don't come, I thought long and hard to myself.
I knew that if he didn't come, I'd be stuck there in that cell. At least until they decided to kill me. But the idea of him being murdered in order to save me literally killed me. I fell to the floor once more, my chest hurting. It felt like I couldn't breathe. The walls were closing in on me, and I was in the middle of a full-blown panic attack.
I didn't want to stay there. I wanted to go home. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of my parents and how I would never see them again. But in order to be free, Baz would be walking into a trap. To imagine him being killed hurt just as much.
Either way, it was a lose-lose situation. I would end up losing someone – or many people – I cared about.
Chapter Five: Baz
I found Kapoc overlooking the red waters of the ocean from his private balcony. I managed to sneak past his guards almost too easily. If I wanted my brother dead, I could easily do it, right then and there. But as tempting as that might be, I didn't know where Paige was at and who was watching her. It would be too easy for them to kill her out of revenge if something happened to my precious brother.
“I'd heard your ship was detected in our atmosphere,” Kapoc said, not bothering to turn around to greet me. “To be honest, I'm surprised. I wasn't sure it would be this easy to get you back here, brother.”
“Where is she?” I growled.
Kapoc laughed, turning around and shaking his head as if disappointed in me. “See, I found it hard to believe that my brother – the great Bazarok – would be smitten with an Earthling. A human. But look at you, willing to risk your life to save that pretty chunk of flesh.”
I gripped my knife, steadying it in my hand. I couldn't overreact. I couldn't kill him. If I did, Paige was dead.
“I'll ask you again, Kapoc. Where is she?”
“Oh, fine,” he sneered. “She's locked away, safe and in one piece. For now.”
“For now? You had better hope she is still in one piece, Kapoc.”
“Or what, brother? You're going to kill me?”
He knew he had me, but I also had him. “I won't give you what you want if she's harmed even in the slightest.”
“And what is it I want, brother?”
“You want me dead. But not just dead, you need to make sure the world knows about it so you can ascend to the throne and rule unchallenged,” I said. “As long as I live, you can't do that. Because no one will accept you as king otherwise. Nobody outside of your little group, that is.”
“Ahh, you know me well, Baz. Question is, are you really going to let me kill you? Just like that?”
I took in a sharp breath, and it almost hurt me to say it, but I knew I had no choice. “Under two conditions. One, you let Paige return home to planet Earth where you snatched her. And two, she is forever free from you or any of your assassins. She will face zero retribution for any of this. If you meet those conditions, then yes, I'm willing to let you do what you have to do. But only if she's guaranteed to be safe for the rest of her life.”
Kapoc looked stunned, as if he didn't expect me to give myself up that easily. I could tell he was ready for battle and to do whatever it took to defeat me publ
icly. He walked over to a bar and poured himself a drink, offering me one. I turned him down, for obvious reasons.
“Just out of curiosity's sake, what if I don't want to let this human go?” Kapoc said. “What if I decided to keep her as my consort just to spite you, brother?”
I felt my grip on my knife tighten, and I stared at my brother's throat. The idea of plunging the blade deep within his flesh was oh so tempting. I had to take a few breaths before I could answer him.
“Then, brother, there will be war. Civil war. Your partisans against mine. And need I remind you whose side is likely to win such a battle?”
Kapoc cringed as he took a long sip of his exotic beverage. We both knew who had the largest army at their disposal – I did, because I was the rightful heir. I was the one people wanted to see on the throne. My people were stronger, better organized, and more willing to go to battle for me. And if I called them to do so, they would. Kapoc knew it as well as I did.
“The only way you'll get the throne is to make sure Paige is released and is never to be harmed again. Then, and only then, will I submit to you.”
I turned and left, leaving my brother to ponder his decision. I knew it would be an easy choice to make. Paige meant the world to me, but she meant nothing to him. Least of all, she wasn't worth losing his chance at gaining the throne so easily. I could feel his eyes upon me as I left his home.
And I knew, right then and there, that I'd made the right choice. Because there was no way he'd give up his chance to kill me publicly. Paige would be safe to live her life as normal back on Earth.
To me, that was worth dying for.
Chapter Six
“Incoming message from Kapoc,” Anjol said.
Well, that didn't take long, I thought to myself. Then again, I knew it wouldn't. I'd made it an easy decision for him.
“Baz, I've considered your offer, and I agree to your terms. As a gesture of good will, I'm offering you something in return. Please visit me so we can finalize our terms in person.”
Mated to a Bear (Legends of Black Salmon Falls Book 3) Page 27