The Beast In The Castle

by Daniella Wright

  Knowing that I don’t have a chance to do much, and probably won’t have much or any freedom if I don’t get moving, I get into the car. The nerves are going haywire and I want to think only of the pain, but I knew, if I don’t escape now, I will never get the chance to do so.

  I got in, throwing my knapsack full of money and a few days’ food into the back of the car. I couldn’t take anything. He could have tracking chips on any piece of my belongings. I don’t have time to scan any of my things, needing to leave immediately. I don’t know – and I definitely don’t care to know – which things he thinks are most important to me.

  He knows the ship is. That’s why it was hidden in the shed and tied up. That’s also why I had to take a pit stop. I drove a few lightyears, finding a random planet. It didn’t matter what planet, just that it had a trading outpost with some people who could keep their mouths shut. It took several days to find the right place; the food I packed was all gone by the time I got there and my stomach was snarling for sustenance. “I’ll trade all my things for a new ship, three… four weeks’ food, and clothes.”

  Thank the gods for the chip on my neck that allows me to speak any language fluently and understand it as my native tongue. I can’t afford to waste even a moment of my time. Every second wasted is a second closer he gets to me.

  Speaking of the chip…. “I have one request. Scan my body for B-32 and T-165 trackers.” I told the pudgy toad-esque creature in front of me.

  I didn’t much care for appearances. Hell, I probably wasn’t the prettiest thing around according to most species. He was ugly down to the bones, though. A pure sleaze ball in demeanor and a crooked smile that made me grind my teeth. I was leaving my perfect ship with this disgusting thing.

  “Ahh,” The creature’s slime covered lips curled up in a smug expression I could barely describe as a smirk. “Turlish bounty hunter after ye’, eh?”

  “They want to kill me because I betrayed them.” I immediately replied. The lie rolled off my tongue like turpentine. Was it a lie? At this point, not even I was totally sure. They do want to kill me. By leaving I did betray them. However, I’m not so sure about the cause and effect relationship between those two things.

  He looked over my body after I stripped nude and lit my clothes on fire. I almost shivered in revulsion as he scanned me. “There is one embedded into your left breast.” He informed bored.

  I scowled as I looked over at my own body. This was gonna hurt.

  I grabbed a surgical scalpel after injecting a slight amount of numbing agent into my breast. He gave it to me on the house, but not nearly enough to make all the pain go away.

  My own blood poured over the silver tattoo on my stomach, staining it with a disgusting crimson as I continued cutting the chip out of my breast. I was crying at the pain of my hands and my breast.

  Chapter 2

  When I had finally healed enough that I could leave, I immediately hopped in the new spaceship. No more tracking chips. No more finding me and breathing me near to death for daring to attempt an escape.

  My body was bruised and would need so much healing that I may spend the next ten years working off medical expenses if I didn’t get to Eridia. My psyche was probably irreparably damaged. But I am alive. He can’t take that away from me.

  I am alive.

  SMASH! BOOM!

  How ironic. Just as I think this, I am caught in the traction of a quasar, being pelted by debris. I am so worthless sometimes. It’s like my every decision is wrong. Why can I never do anything right?

  I tried whatever I could to escape. But it was useless, my engines could only go so fast, and didn’t have enough velocity to escape…. Unless...

  It was nice to be me at some points. I didn’t have the voice in my head telling me to think twice about that crazy idea that has a low chance of survival, the one I’m told that most people have. Only a deep voice screaming at me to take my chances. Just allow yourself to be at the mercy of the luck gods. What is the worst that could happen?

  I’m already probably gonna die, after all. It isn’t like quasars are merciful, loving creatures.

  I whispered a hymn before I shot myself against an asteroid hurtling towards me and ricocheted off. Thank god there was enough velocity to propel me out of the hold of that Quasar. I landed on the closest planet. It wasn’t any easy landing by any stretch of the imagination.

  The ship was destroyed on impact. I was thrown out harshly. The pink sand dug into my skin and I cried out as I got rug burn from the impact, my clothes tearing up a little bit more. I could see my blood staining the sand and my limbs shook as I couldn’t even push myself up.

  Trying to stand was a futile endeavor. Upon the 57th time attempting to move my failing body, I realized something. It wasn’t a good epiphany. I simply understood my situation. I was alone. Scared. And I didn’t have anything of value left to give away. Falling to the ground in despair, letting the parts of me that I was holding up fall, I shuddered. The air was as harsh as the terrain on this planet.

  My body was out of energy, wasted as all my wounds and several days without food added to my inability to move. No! I will not quit! I need to live. I’ve gotten this far. I can go a bit farther.

  Shaking with the effort it took to stand, I forced my body forward.

  “Shh.” A soothing voice whispered in my ear, as I felt strong arms wrap around me. They made me feel protected but were not too strong as to think I could not fight them off if necessary. I should fight, but I couldn’t. It was awful. “It’s okay. I’ll protect you. I’ll make it all better.”

  I know I was weak because I couldn't even open my eyes to see my savior. And I didn't think twice about letting my guard down, as I fell asleep in his comforting embrace.

  Chapter 3

  I usually pride myself in the knowledge that I am not actually as weak as I seem. Or stupid. I don’t think about what I do sometimes, sure, but who doesn’t? On the long run, I’ve made more good choices than bad ones.

  So, when the next time I could get my eyelids to peel open, fighting against the led weights I could feel on them and woke up in a bed that was too nice, I was immediately on guard. It was soft as a cloud and I am so used to my old scratchy quilt that the spider silk sheets felt too foreign. I hissed as I scrambled out of the sheets twisted around me.

  When I grasped for my trusty poison tipped twisted dagger, and felt only the flesh of my thigh, my brow furrowed. My dagger was always strapped to this thigh. I was barely lucid enough to notice the problem, slowly grasping around my legs. It took a few minutes before I actually looked down at my body, I noticed that I was naked, except for… new bandages on my arms and… my left breast? Why would that be there? I didn’t have enough time to clean my bandages. Why would he fix things for me?

  Unless my ‘savoir' expected me to be grateful for his saving. If he expected me to reward him with… Oh, fuck no! That is not happening in his life. I'll sooner rip out his throat and destroy him. Even if he did save me. He obviously didn’t do it with pure intentions.

  Nobody ever does anything with pure intentions.

  The anger pumped the blood through my body faster. Enough to actually stand on shaky legs as I heard light footsteps coming towards my room. I almost fell to the ground in my haste to get to the orb of light in the center of the room. Those things are great conductors, and while a Morhian – like myself – has a strong enough constitution to withstand touching it, most beings on this side of the galaxy couldn't touch it without being utterly destroyed.

  I brandished it as a weapon as I glared at the door. My ebony skin was still charred, but holding the orb didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would. Maybe it’s one of those fancy-schmancy energy saving orbs? It doesn’t matter.

  I saw the door slowly click open and I was about to attack. I was dumbfounded by the appearance of the man before me, holding a bowl of soup with a soft smile on his face. Never before had I seen such a… exquisite creature. It was a man, and he almos
t looked… like I did. But where my ears were, he had two… butterfly wings? They fluttered like wings when he cocked his head in confusion.

  His features were sharply defined, with none of the slight pudginess of my own features. And when his face relaxed, I almost felt myself relax as well.

  “Stop it.” I mentally berated myself. “This is obviously a trap.”

  “I mean you no harm.” His voice had a purring lilt to it. It made me calm down despite my own wishes. “I am a physician. I want only to study you, and provide assistance.”

  He seemed harmless. And he did save my life… and he was cute.

  Putting the orb down, and allowing myself to believe him, may have been the best decision I have ever made.

  Chapter 4

  He helped me when I was so weak I couldn’t have fought back if he decided to hurt me, with no selfish thought in his amazing mind. He desired my body, yes, but did not demand it or even ask for it. He wanted to help me leave, back when I was silly enough to believe I wished for such a thing.

  I was staring down at him as he slept. He breathed evenly, a warm smile on his face as he held me to him. He held me so tight as if he was afraid I might leave if he allowed me any freedom at all.

  How is it that anything so beautiful as a perfect moment could even hope to exist in such a harsh reality? It would make the gods themselves weep at what they hath wrought. To create a world that could harm such a perfect creature is an idea that I doubt they ever even believed themselves capable of.

  When he awoke and pressed his soft lips to mine, I held onto him. I hated when he left for work. I did my own work now, but it was so nice to have someone who will take care of me because they love me so deeply. “Dalen,” I whined, “Stay home with me.”

  His chest rumbled with his laughter, pressing a kiss to my forehead before telling me he needed to leave. “Worry not, Sweetling.” He cooed to me. “I will be home soon. Why don’t you go to the community center again? I know you enjoy going there.”

  I smiled at the thought. It was nice there. Growing up a bounty hunter never left me with much time to interact with others or create anything. The idea of bonding with the people around me as I created something to benefit others was novel at first, but as I grew more and more used to the idea, I realized how much more than novel the idea was. It was… amazing.

  Helping others was an option? Well, it had never been before this. I was so amazed by the fact that it actually was now. I couldn’t even believe it in any way.

  I should’ve known it would never last.

  I just… I wanted it so much, that I brushed off all the signs. Ignoring every warning sign was most likely a bad idea.

  Wanting to make him happier, I decided I would make him his favorite food. It was the stomach of a domestic animal that resembled an emu, stuffed with grain and cooked in this peculiar way, that I could barely wrap my mind around it.

  Clearly, I wasn’t a fan of the meal. But Dalen gave me so many things I couldn’t get myself, it is only fair to give him something. If he loved it, and it is what he wants. Then he shall have it.

  Feeling eyes on me, I looked around the community center in confusion. Where is it? Why am I feeling this way? Like I am just prey again. I am more than prey.

  No. That can’t be possible. Nobody could find me here.

  With that thought in mind, I shrugged, shaking it off as I walked around town. I smiled at Derra’ when I came across her as I walked around. She was a beautiful woman who was also born here on Moro.

  “Derra’!” I called, hastily following her throughout the streets once I realized she could actually help me out with my quest. “You know how to make Dolp’era? Right?” She probably did. I think she’s married to a chef or something.

  Even though I had exotic features, I had gotten so close to the townspeople that I could come and go as I pleased. They rarely spared me a glance and sometimes stopped me to chat. Apparently, I am one of the best engineers around, and they always appreciated it when I helped fix or improve one of their pieces of machinery.

  Now that I think about it. Maybe this whole thing could’ve been avoided, had I simply stayed at her place longer? For a few days perhaps? Maybe then this wouldn’t have happened?

  Pfft. I’m getting ahead of myself once again.

  When I got the recipe and collected the foods, I returned to the house, intent on making more dinner for my true love. Dalen was the warmest most perfect person in my life. I dare say, in the galaxy. He deserved whatever I had to offer him, no matter how little what I had to give him actually was.

  I can give him this, though. I can give him this. And for now, it has to be enough.

  Chapter 5

  Healing the sick was always fulfilling. People are such amazing creatures, able to break so many times, yet still be stitched back together again. Helping their own bodies natural healing processes was amazing to me. I dare say, it would be amazing to anyone who glanced at it.

  While the rumor is true, the Moro people are a bit sturdier than most, we could still break. We also burned more easily, so I suppose it all evens out.

  Adrianna. My mind supplied. She was so broken when I first saw her. Yet she is so amazing, still. An unyielding body with an unbreakable spirit.

  The thought of her almost had me racing home. Her beautiful espresso colored skin contrasted so with my soft pink skin. The tattoos were beautiful and so fun to trace with the tongue if you just –

  Off topic again. I apologize.

  I remember when I first found her, she was so… fearless and beautiful, even though she was so wounded. Ebony hair that was as much of an untamable, independent masterpiece as she was, streaked with so many colors throughout it, I could spend hours naming them all. She could barely stand, yet she was ready to fight for herself.

  Words cannot describe how attractive that is to me.

  Oh, I can’t wait to see her beautiful smile to light up my day once more!

  When I threw open the door to the house and declared “Adrianna, I have come home, bearing gifts.” I bought her another broach for her hair. (It had a tracking chip in it. It’s not right, I know, but I couldn’t help but worry. Sometimes she said things that made it seem as if she might disappear at a moment’s notice.)

  Sniffing the air, I found myself grinning. Did she make me Dolp’era? But she can’t stand the stuff! Her nose scrunches in on itself in the cutest way when she smells it.

  I was just thinking how much I didn’t deserve an amazing woman like her – her shady past be damned – when she ran towards me. “Darl’n!” She cooed, throwing her arms around me. Apparently, my name was similar to some kind of pet name on her planet.

  My belly twisted, feeling the fluttering sensation of butterflies in my stomach at the feeling of her, back in my arms once again.

  I couldn’t help but give her a grin. She was such a sweet girl, with a warm heart and a beautiful… everything. I wrapped my arms around her, smiling softly as I kissed her on the forehead. “How was your day, Sweetling? Is that Dolp’era I smell?”

  She gave me a coy smile that made me only want to hold her in my arms even longer. So much so, that I began to pout when she jumped out of my arms and hopped away to our dining area.

  “Adrianna,” I whined as I followed her. “I wasn’t done with my hugs.”

  "Come and find out." Her mirthful voice teased, her giggle was such an angelic noise, it sounded like the soft fluttering noise of wind chimes in the breeze. She was just ignoring my complaint playfully.

  I couldn’t pass up a challenge like that, now could I? I followed her into the house and smirked when I saw the table. It was set up with my favorite meal and candles. “How sweet. Did you do all this just for me?”

  "Of course!" She declared happily, as we sat down to eat. She had her own plate of food because she didn't like the taste of Dolp’era, not that I blamed her. Even for other natives of Moro, Dolp’era was considered – how do I phrase this politely? – an acquired
taste.

  As I dug into my food with all the rigor of a pregnant woman with cravings, Adrianna began telling me about her day. Her way of experiencing the world and telling stories was always so fascinating to me, I have to pay full attention, lest I miss a crucial detail that she just glides right past, forgetting how important it is.

  “You’ve been so kind to me. Such a gentleman,” She complimented, probably trying to butter me up. She has a certain tone of voice, just a few octaves too sweet.

  I snorted, ‘acting like a gentleman? Really?’ She was blind to what truly ran through my mind. Which, I suppose, is best. It took 8 months for her to crawl into my bed and for us to have our first night together. Of course, I had been fantasizing about it since the first day, but I refused to take advantage of any woman like that. Even so much as to purposefully ignore the signs that she wanted me. Maybe they were different on her planet?

  Regardless, the thoughts that crossed my mind about her had never been "gentlemanly". I thought she knew that, but I suppose she was blind to the fact.

  “So, I wanted to make you something you would really enjoy.” She told me, surprising me. Ironically, I had often been considering the same thing for her.

  She was so inquisitive and I wanted her to experience all the good the world – the galaxy – had to offer. If I’m being honest, saving up was never easy for me – I was used to spending money as soon as I could make it – but for her, I can do anything. It’s taking a while, but we will have enough money where we could explore the universe with not a single financial burden.

  Me and my beloved going across the cosmos and seeing every beautiful thing that it has to offer. It shall be simply magnificent.

  Not that I mentioned the idea to her yet. It shall be a surprise, and if she wants to stay here instead… well… we would have more than enough to take care of as many children as she wants to have.