Daughter of Destiny

by HC Playa

  Zane looked up again and as his attention focused on her the nightmare faded into an indistinct white mist. Qior disappeared. Zane stood, and as he did, the wound on his shoulder vanished and the black uniform morphed into a gray one with a colorful insignia on the breast.

  "I know, but it doesn’t change how I feel."

  Katarina shrugged, trying to appear calm while her mind shouted at her to back slowly away from the alien.

  "Wait a minute." His gaze raked up and down studying her. "Why are you here and why am I speaking in English?"

  "How would I know? It’s your dream." She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from wincing at her lame comeback.

  She expected him to toss up mental blocks, get angry at the invasion, and push her out of his mind, all things she might do. Instead a slow smile played across his face. "Yes, it is my dream." He took a step forward and his arms closed around her. She tilted her head back and gaped at his reaction in stunned silence. He used the opportunity to capture her mouth with a kiss.

  Common sense told her to pull out now, but the kiss fired the demanding hormonal tide which held her in its grip. Her breath quickened as his hands moved over her body. She never wanted it to stop, but when his clothes disappeared, leaving nothing between them but her clothing, she panicked.

  "Whoa!" Katarina jerked back and tried to ignore the obvious sign of arousal. Again she expected anger, and yet again he surprised her.

  He chuckled and his clothes reappeared before he tugged her close again. "Thank you for pulling me out of my nightmare, Katarina." His hand brushed a tendril of hair away from her face and Katarina’s breath caught. She found herself wishing she hadn't stopped him a moment before.

  "You know what I am, don't you?"

  "Yes."

  "Are you afraid of what I am?"

  "Should I be?"

  Zane laughed, and the deep, husky sound vibrated through his body and made her womb clench, as he rubbed his arousal against her.

  "I suppose this complicates things, but I still want to meet you."

  Her hands clung to Zane's forearms as logic warred with emotion inside her. He showed her a vital piece of his soul and it made her want more, no matter what logic dictated. She leaned into him and placed a quick kiss on his lips before whispering, "In that case, I’ll see you tomorrow." Then she escaped to her own mind and body.

  ***

  As the shuttle arrived in downtown Memphis, Zane wished for a handy wall to bang his head against. He sighed as he filed into the line disembarking from the shuttle. Last night committed him to seeing the mission through with Katarina. He prayed she proved trustworthy. The thought of having to end another life threatened to snap the fragile hold he maintained on civility.

  He eyed several of the pretty females which filed past, but not one triggered the mildest increase in his heart rate. Great. What's she done to me?

  He marched through the station in a mild temper, but the detailed architecture and echoes of bygone days whispered to him. In spite of his mood, he stopped and read a plaque that reviewed the station's long history. Originally opened in 1914, rebuilt in 1944, renovated in 1999 and again in 2029, most of the station now served other purposes. The fact that it survived the ups and downs of over one hundred years astounded him. The places he usually frequented found it more cost effective to raze old buildings than to renovate them.

  A group of tourists passed by, and he followed them. They boarded a quaint looking vehicle the tourists called a trolley. He spotted the ground conveyances and hover cabs, but decided to opt for the novelty of the antique mode of travel. After zipping along at hundreds of miles per hour, the old trolleys seemed to crawl across the land. The slow method of travel bought him time to recover his composure and objectivity after the unexpected telepathic intimacy.

  Zane chose a seat near an open window. A cool spring breeze blew in the fragrance of blooming flowers and the sound of avian calls. The wooden seats were worn smooth with age. The tension he awoke with melted away as the trolley rattled forward with a slight rocking motion. None of the planets he ever visited managed to hold on to little bits of the past like this except in museums. How much history and culture has been sacrificed in the name of progress? That thought brought a momentary pang of grief as he thought of his brother. Dr. Qior Hadrian had lived to uncover forgotten secrets of the past. His archeological research led to the Confederacy locating Earth.

  The trolley rumbled along the tracks, stopping every so often to let more passengers on and others off. It passed both new and old, run down, and lovingly cared for buildings. Next to a large ornate building, which a plaque proclaimed almost two hundred years old, large mechanized droids removed rubble from a demolished building. Above them, a police hover flew by, sirens blaring. They passed a park and Zane caught sight of an officer riding a graceful four-legged creature.

  "Look, honey," the man a few seats down said to the woman beside him.

  "What?"

  "There’s the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed back in 1968. Do you want to do the tour later?"

  "Sure!"

  A little while later the wife exclaimed, "My pamphlet says that’s the fountain France gave Memphis in the 1870s to commemorate the city charter being reinstated after a yellow fever epidemic."

  "Make sure you get it on vid as we pass."

  Zane smiled at the exchange. It spoke volumes about Earth’s humans that both landmarks, one nearly a hundred years older than the other, were equally interesting. Zane got off the trolley at Beale street as the couple seemed to make a fuss about going to a diner they saw on television.

  He wandered along Beale and turned onto Main Street. Groups of tourists and families strolled down the cobbled street and he listened to snippets of conversations to get a feel for the society. The city's vibe felt less urgent, less intrusive than the more common giant megatropolises. Here he could walk down the street and see anything coming at him, but little here posed much threat, which convinced him he needed Katarina's help. The report from this mission could redefine this planet's future. A misinterpreted custom or poorly chosen word had sparked violent wars before and timing of an official first contact mission could make or break a civilization. If contact occurred too soon, opportunistic species raided the planets and fleeced its inhabitants, which is why IGCF maintained such strict laws governing contact with non-confederacy worlds. As he passed a row of derelict shops, he prayed that Katarina would not refuse him.

  Chapter 5

  Katarina let out a shaky breath as Zane entered the museum room. "Oh...my...god!" She watched him scan the crowd and assess the people present as he walked with the fluid grace of a panther stalking its prey. His loose clothing failed to hide the raw muscular strength, for every movement whispered of leashed power. His angular, chiseled features appeared similar in lines to Native Americans, but sculpted with an exotic touch. He could be called nothing less than beautiful. No wonder my hormones are doing a happy dance. I'd have to be dead not to react to that. Katarina couldn't help but notice that the gazes of every female in the room, and a few of the male's as well, followed Zane as he walked.

  Her hand held low at her side, Katarina motioned to Naia who waited across the room by the miniature steam boat replicas. Naia nodded her response and turned so she could watch without being obvious about it. Katarina then took a moment to compose herself and then revealed her psychic presence. He stopped in his tracks and a smile curved his lips. Katarina's conscience fought a vicious battle with her hormones, and lost. She glanced down at his crotch and then bit the inside of her lip to keep from grinning. He was just as affected as she was.

  They stared at one another for a minute before she shook herself out of her stupor and closed the distance between them. Somehow she managed to appear a study of calm despite her body's reaction. Her heart threatened to explode out of her chest and heat suffused her entire body, but she flashed a smile. "Walk with me?"

  Zane opened his
mouth to say something, and then shut it. He nodded his head and fell in step beside her. His eyes never left her face. Katarina focused on the displays depicting life on the river. The first room showcased the Native American history, followed by the first European explorers. Each subsequent room covered a different era or aspect of culture, be it music or the construction of boats. Katarina congratulated herself for every second her eyes stayed away from the walking perfection beside her.

  Zane bumped into her as he dodged out of the way of two kids racing headlong through the room. The brief contact confirmed there was nothing soft about him. Erotic images swam in her head.

  She blurted out a mundane question to take her mind off her thoughts. "So what do you think of Memphis so far?"

  "It’s interesting." He gestured at a display of arrowheads and pottery. "This wasn't all that long ago."

  "Those are over three hundred years old. I'd call that pretty damn old."

  He shrugged one shoulder. "Depends on one's perspective."

  "True." As they wandered to the next room of the river museum, she wracked her brains for something else to say. She blurted the first thing that came to mind, "While you’re here, you’ll have to try some barbecue. It has been a Memphis legacy for generations." Katarina winced even as she spoke. Barbecue? I have a sexy alien walking next to me and I'm talking about barbecue? What is wrong with me?

  "I had some. It’s good."

  "Good."

  Zane gave her a smile that blazed brighter than a hundred watt florescent bulb. Her breath quickened and they stood there staring at each other again before Katarina cleared her throat and resumed walking. Trying to shift the conversation to a more productive topic, she asked, "If you don’t mind my asking, what are your plans? How long will you be in town?"

  "Not long."

  So intent on staring at his face and listening to his deep and melodic voice, it took a moment for his response to register. Katarina couldn’t keep her disappointment out of her voice. "Oh." She frowned when his lips twitched in a suppressed smile. Then she remembered the unreadable mask she was supposed to maintain, and stopped frowning.

  A crowd of high school aged kids passed, and a young man knocked into Katarina. He kept on moving without an apology. Zane’s arm caught her when she stumbled. Electricity shot through her at his touch. He mumbled under his breath, something that sounded like a curse perhaps, but she was too busy trying to draw air into her lungs to think. By sheer force of will she ignored the burning ache at her core that urged her to turn and press herself against that long hard body. Held against him, the thud of his heart matched hers, his breath became just as erratic, and when he withdrew his arm he trailed a caress down the length of her spine. She figured she deserved a gold medal for stepping away and turning her brain to practical matters.

  Katarina looked him in the eyes and sent her mind seeking, careful to do so as lightly as possible.

  "What do you want? Why are you here? Where are you from? Can I trust you?" She blurted the questions tumbling around in her head and then listened for lies. She expected them. People lied all of the time. It was what lies he told that mattered.

  He returned her stare. "You can trust me."

  He meant his declaration. She sensed no deceit. Maybe she could, to a point, but the past taught her that only a fool gave absolute trust. Nonetheless, she felt more at ease with him, aside from the sexual tension, than with anyone other than Naia.

  She looked straight into eyes as dark as the coffee on which she spent a small fortune. Katarina tilted her head back at an uncomfortable angle, even though her two inch heels brought her up to an even six feet. "Really?" She sent him the question telepathically.

  "Captain Zane Gratig of the Inter-Galactic Confederacy Fleet, at your service. I’m here to gather information on Earth. I did not expect to find someone like you here."

  She wondered if he meant a fellow telepath, or if he was referring to the undeniable attraction between them.

  "I am one of many whose ancestors once lived here. It will take time to explain. If we go somewhere private, I can tell you everything." He reached out and brushed the slightest caress down her arm. "My life is now in your hands, Katarina."

  Katarina’s heart seized at his trust in her. Without even knowing it, he was doing the very thing that could melt the ice and demolish the protective walls around her heart. She answered him with a genuine smile- not the empty curving of lips that came so easy. She wanted to break out into laughter when the busy little scientist in her head woke up and began listing all of the questions she needed to ask. He offered her complete trust. How could she not take the risk? She took his hand in hers. "I'll hold it as carefully as if it were my own." He closed his eyes at her words, but she sensed the rush of emotion he tried to hide. The overwhelming mix of fear and joy he emanated echoed her state of mind. "Come home with me and you can answer all my questions. Then I'll do my best to answer yours."

  "All right."

  She turned and waved Naia forward, who hurried over. "I hope you don’t mind, but I thought it wise to bring a friend, just in case."

  "I’m glad. It proves you don’t regularly go around meeting strange men."

  Katarina turned to glare at him, to tell him that even if she did, it was none of his business. However, his lips twitched and humor flowed from him in a warm wave of energy.

  "Men," she muttered as she turned to greet Naia, but her heart did funny flip-flops at his teasing.

  Naia met them in front of the Elvis display. Katarina became aware she still held Zane’s hand and started to pull away, but found her hand caught in a solid but gentle grip. He held on to her as if her hand belonged in his.

  As she made the introductions, she glanced at Zane. His mouth quirked upward on one side, but desire burned in his eyes. His thumb traced a gentle caress over her knuckles.

  "It’s just a hand, Katarina."

  Yeah, but it was attached to the rest of her and it didn’t seem to matter where he touched, the effect was the same. She burned with need and her thoughts kept evaporating. Why am I so out of control? The sudden spike of temper came out of nowhere. She wanted to send him sprawling to the floor on his butt. Then his laughter sounded in her head. "You could do it too, couldn’t you?"

  She stared at him in shock. She lost her temper, but her powers didn't surge. No lights flickered. No electricity filled the air.

  A soft sensuous whisper echoed in her mind. "I want you as I have no other woman. Do you not like my touch?"

  Katarina managed to speak aloud even as Zane's voice whispered in her mind. "Zane, this is Naia Sheffield. Naia, this is Zane Gratig. He’s coming back to my place with us. We have a lot to talk about and I think that’s the best place."

  Katarina’s insides quivered at his words. She couldn’t hold back the truth. "I feel the same, but this is happening so fast." Unbidden her dream came to mind, and the image of Zane making love to her crystallized in her mind. Okay, so maybe the attraction wasn’t unexpected, but her calm well-ordered mind was turning into something she didn’t recognize.

  Zane traced lazy circles over the pulse on her wrist. An impish grin spread across his face. "I was the one in your dream, wasn’t I?"

  Katarina felt a crimson blush race up her face at the same time Naia interrupted their silent conversation.

  "Your apartment? I don’t think so, Kat. We can go to a coffee shop or something."

  She ignored Zane’s question and forced her attention to Naia. Her sister glanced at Zane and frowned. "I know what I’m doing, Naia."

  Naia looked at her and raised one eyebrow. "Sure you do."

  "Naia."

  She shook her head and then raised both hands in acquiescence. "Fine, but I’m coming too."

  Katarina headed to the Civil War room with Zane at her side. "I never said you weren’t."

  When they finally left the Mud Island River Museum, she swore she heard Naia mumble, "I should have left her in the lab."

 
***

  Katarina unlocked her door, turned off her security alarm, and led the way into her apartment. She tossed her purse onto the small table in the foyer. "Zane, please have a seat. Naia, why don’t you come in the kitchen and help me with the coffee?"

  Once they were in the kitchen, Naia asked in a hushed, but shrill, voice, "What the hell are you thinking? Is that why you actually wore makeup today? Why you put on heels? What happened to the woman who freezes men out with a glance? I don’t care how hot he is. It isn’t safe to bring him home like a stray puppy."

  "Calm down."

  "Calm down!? That guy makes America's Most Wanted look like wimps. I bet he could snap us both in half without breaking a sweat."

  "Both of us without a sweat, eh?" She wanted to laugh at that image. It would take more than sheer brawn to best her. She recognized Zane’s lethal grace. She, however, saw the man inside and understood it was one aspect of him, much like her dubious gifts were a single aspect of herself.

  "I think your worrywart brain cells have gone into overdrive. I’m not an imbecile, you know. He isn’t harmless, but he isn’t here to hurt us."

  Naia folded her arms under her breasts and harrumphed. "I’ll make my own decision about that."

  Katarina shrugged, turned away and went to the freezer. She retrieved her canister of coffee and got a filter from the pantry. She shook the canister. A small amount of grounds shifted around the bottom. "Looks like I need to grind some more beans."

  She measured ground coffee into the machine and added water. Katarina got out the mugs and glanced over her shoulder at Naia. As she did so, she dropped the informational bomb. "The man sitting in my living room is a bona fide alien from outer space."

  Naia stood in stunned silence. Her mouth hung open. When she finally spoke it came out in a squeak. What!?" She cleared her throat. "You’re kidding, right?"