The Beast In The Castle

by Daniella Wright

  There was a small fireplace, that we could start up. In the center of the nest, were eggs. I didn’t like having to kill something ourselves, not anymore. I used to be a bounty hunter that did awful things, but I promised myself. I wouldn’t harm any other living thing. But this is about survival. And sometimes survival meant betraying your own morals.

  "I was so worried about you," Dalen told me, caressing my cheek with his tongue while he was frying the eggs so we could enjoy our dinner. Maybe our last dinner. Our last night together. "But you are here so I don't feel so bad anymore. I know you will be okay in the end. I just know it. I love you so much."

  I frowned at the way he spoke to me. He was such a kind man. I loved him so much and even if he doesn’t even know what is even going on, he wants only the best for me. “Don’t you mean we will be okay in the end?” I corrected him as I stared into his beautiful eyes. They glittered like diamonds and I can’t even focus most of the times, as I get lost in the depth of his soul.

  “We can’t know that.” He replied tersely, brushing kisses all over my shoulders. “You will be safe. And that is all that matters to me. You will be safe and happy and you won’t have to run anymore.”

  “No!” I yelled immediately. “That’s not good enough. What is the point of anything good happening for me if I can’t have you?” I felt my eyes fill with tears at the idea that he can’t even think of a way for us both to live. For the both of us to survive and stay happy together?

  He took my hands in his, bringing them to his lips so he could kiss my knuckles. "It's not that I don't think it's possible. I would just rather you stay alive than end up trying to do too much so neither of us stays alive."

  I wanted to say something else, but then I sighed. “This might… might be our last night together. Let’s not waste it bickering.” I told him, delighted at the way his face lit up at my agreement.

  He doesn’t even know that I plan to sabotage his plan. One of us surviving and the other living? What kind of bullshit plan even is that? Of course, I was always an “all-or-nothing” kinda gal. Maybe that’s why I found his idea so ludicrous. He was always the sensible one, after all.

  “I love you.” He spoke once we finished eating, interrupting whatever silly thing I was saying. His voice was reverent, soft as could be. Because he loved me. So much more than he loved anything else. “I love you so much that I think if I have to lose everything so you can have anything, I see that as more than a fair deal.”

  I wrapped my hand around him. “If I don’t have you, I don’t have anything.” My lips searched for his as he doused the fire so we were in the darkness again, but we wouldn’t accidentally have the sheets catch on fire. “I want you.”

  “No.” He pushed me away with a weak smile. “If this is how it’s going to happen…maybe even for the last time.” I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. “Let’s do it right.”

  He kissed me so softly and held me so tenderly I felt like I was some kind of a goddess. Maybe that was the intention. Maybe he wanted us to go out with a bang.

  Chapter 9

  Waking up from sex with Dalen is always waking up with the most pleasant ache between your thighs, caught in a warm embrace, and feeling so happy you could just explode.

  Today, though, there was no time for basking in the glow of the most amazing thing I will ever experience. Today, is a day, to focus. Shaking Dalen awake as I checked the time, I thanked my lucky stars that I have gotten used to waking up early to kiss my lover good morning before he had to leave for work.

  Robert should still be asleep.

  “Dalen.” I hissed. “Robert can wake up any minute now if he wants to get the jump on us.”

  This was the fastest I’d seen him get up and wipe the sleep from his eyes since I woke him up with sex on his birthday. I am almost offended. Of course, that offense is silly in the grand scheme of things, so I pushed it aside in favor of actually focusing on the task at hand.

  "Robert patrols in the mornings," I informed him, I was about to continue when Dalen continued for me, saying exactly what I meant to say.

  “Then the best idea is to pick off his men one by one. By the time he realizes he needs to backtrack it’ll just be him and a few other guys.”

  I smirked at him and nodded as we set our plan into action. We finished off the rest of the eggs and shared a quick kiss. (I ached to morph it into a full blown make out session, but time was of the essence and I was no moron.)

  We were about to leave when we heard two of Robert’s men – but not Robert – calling for them. Oh good. Easy targets. We just have to get them fast enough so they are not able to radio for help.

  He took a deep breath and his eyes narrowed. "Let's go." Cocking his blaster as he walked towards the intruders, he was such a… amazing picture. I almost bemoaned the fact that I couldn't spend longer enjoying the view.

  I came in quickly and got a knife through the ribs of the first enemy. It had pierced his lungs faster than he knew what was happening. I snapped his neck as a mercy. I didn’t expect it, but watching him choke as his lungs filled with blood was too much for me to bear.

  Dalen quickly took out the other man who was attempting to radio for backup.

  It was a gruesome bloody version fo guerilla warfare. Hiding out in the shadows, before killing another one of Robert’s men. More often than not, the killings were mercy killings. The reason Moro had such good healthcare, was because it was such a dangerous planet. And one by one, Robert’s men were falling prey to the dangerous plants and animals that inhabited the most dangerous part of the planet.

  It wasn’t as if we came away scot free. A couple of the men sliced at me, I was covered in herbs and new stem cells. Dalen took the brunt of the torment, getting multiple blaster shots and stab wounds. It was okay, though. Dalen healed fast. I wanted to stop so he could rest, but Dalen kept telling me that we couldn't afford to waste a single second.

  As if I didn’t know that.

  As if Robert wasn’t-

  “Hullo Gorgeous,” I could practically hear his smirk as we made it to the camp. “Miss me?”

  “Robert.”

  Chapter 10

  You could almost taste the distaste and condescension in the word as Dalen hissed it out. Other than me, nobody in the cosmos hated Robert more than my beloved. It showed on his face, in his every movement.

  “Please,” I begged mentally to every figure in the cosmos that I believed in, even the slightest bit. “Let us win. Let us save ourselves and not be distracted by the visceral hatred he inspires in us. Please.” When I finished the prayer, I brandished my poisoned dagger.

  It was nerve wracking to watch the pair of them. I only had one shot with this, so I had to make it perfect, so I had to wait.

  Controlling myself was so hard as I saw things as if I were watching a movie.

  Dalen slashed at Robert. He was too slow as Robert was able to side-step the attack. Robert used his knife and embedded it into Dalen's stomach. Dalen made an inhuman screech, his arms going around Robert's head as Robert sadistically twisted the dirty knife inside of Dalen.

  Dalen quickly slammed Robert into the ground. He tried to stab Robert in the stomach. The knife embedded itself in the ground as Robert rolled away in time. Robert shoved Dalen to the ground and slammed his skull to the ground multiple times. I could hear the hairline fractures being made.

  Dalen’s vision was going fuzzy, clearly as his eyes were glazing over. On the upside, I finally got my shot. I slammed the knife down into the back of his neck, and sawed his head off. Gruesome, yes. But I knew about Robert’s healing factor. This was the only possible way to kill him permanently.

  I sent a blaster shot to his brain once… Okay! It was four times. I know it was superfluous. But it just felt so good. Tell me he didn’t deserve it! That’s right, you can’t because he deserved it and so much more.

  I saw a few men left, a snarl ripping from my throat. I would kill every single one of them. I would
bathe in their blood and they will rue the day they ever went after me or the ones I loved.

  Seeing the nearly feral glance in my eyes, they bit their thumb. The action was the universal symbol of forgiveness. Like raising a white flag, they would never go after me again. I let them leave in their smaller ships, never to return. I glared at them. If they ever broke their promises, I would ruin all happiness in their lives.

  Death was too good for Robert. But Robert’s death was exactly what Dalen needed.

  I looked down at Dalen and tried to keep him awake, feeling my eyes fill with tears. As the adrenaline poured out from me, I could feel myself beginning to sob. “Dalen. Look at me.” I begged him. “Stay with me. Don’t shut your eyes. Don’t go to sleep. You have to stay awake.” I went through his medicine and tried to heal him. Tried to find something I could do.

  He can’t die on me. What do I have left if I don’t even have him?

  Epilogue

  Long story short, I did a crappy job of healing him eight months ago. I mean, he is mostly better now. He is blind in one eye, though. It's not fair to him. I should be the one who was hurt. This whole thing happened because of me anyway!

  He doesn't blame me, though. Says I'm an angel come to rescue him from the ‘mundanity of normalcy'. As I stared at my husband, I couldn't help but grin. He was looking at a map – trying his hardest to make out everything as best he can – and trying to find where we should go.

  We knew we couldn’t return home to Moro. Not after everything happened. It just… felt wrong. And neither of us felt safe there anymore, even if the threat has passed.

  Robert didn't need a ship anymore, though. So why not put it to good use, Eh?

  Okay, sure. There are several decent reasons not to put it to good use, but boo on those. It’s what I want and therefore it is more than good enough. It is what we want.

  We now get to spend our lives doing everything I have always wanted to do. Explore the galaxy. Find charted and uncharted places. Feel and experience everything there is to be done.

  I held a hand to my stomach as I felt a kick. Oh yes, I almost forgot. One more thing I’ve always wanted to do. Start a family with the man who I care about more than life itself. Strangely enough, I never really wanted this.

  Well, I don’t mean it like that. If I could name a perfect life for me to live, this would be exactly the thing I would describe. That doesn’t make it perfect. I never really considered this a possibility.

  Ok, well… kinda- sorta. I mean-

  Vaguely, I did. The perfect family as you know. But until it was happening I didn’t have any actual…

  “Why?” I heard myself ask, as I felt Dalen was kissing my stomach. He did this all the time now. I think he might do it more than he kissed me on the lips. Of course, I only said that so I would get more kisses from him.

  “I just wanted to kiss my cute little daughter.” He cooed, not even hesitating to continue doing it despite my protests.

  "You've never seen her yet, Dork," I argued, snorting with laughter as his stubbly beard tickled my stomach.

  "If she is even a fraction as beautiful as you are, she will be one of the loveliest things that have ever graced the galaxy." He was so serious as he said it. I squeaked and hid my face as I blushed. How can someone be so charming? It isn't even fair. The jerk knew exactly what he was doing too.

  “I love you, My Loveliest Rose.”

  “I love you too, Darl'n.”

  Tripple Domination

  ~ Bonus Story ~

  An Erotic Alien Abduction Menage

  Kreena is thinking back how it all started, where she came from and how her past has molded her into the woman she is now. The past just seems a memory, she has seen many things that others on earth can only imagine, she knows full well she has just been used and abused by the others on the ship, but she has needs also, and everything serves its purpose in her future.

  “…Kreena started looking at Threx’s stomach muscles, and at the same time she was flicking her hair over her shoulder-baring the side of her neck, at that moment, she felt the soft touch of Lane’s lips on the nape of her neck, softly kissing and whispering her name in her ear. There he stood closer behind her and she could feel his manhood beginning to swell, as he pressed against her back.”

  * * *

  Chapter 1: Day Zero

  The ship was nearly silent, just a faint hum from the engines steadily pushing them through space. Kreena was sat in the cockpit and the lights from the control panel were casting dim colors, that began dancing across her face. While gazing at the stars and the expanse of the galaxy she should see before her, she was thinking about how it all started, the day that would come to change her, that day which just seemed like a distant memory, and where everything changed.

  Anna as she was called back then, was an inquisitive girl; she had not long turned seventeen and her parents were taking her on one of the space trips which had become all the rage back then. She had long, dark hair and dark, hazel eyes which blended beautifully with her olive colored skin. It seemed like she had started to look like her mother, who her father had repeatedly said, “Is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

  The space flight had been at a halt for around fifteen minutes when they heard the captain over the intercom telling them the show was just about to start. This phenomenon had started to happen more frequently since the major earthquakes had ravaged the planet, and from their vantage point just out of the Earth’s orbit, it was now possible to see the sunset and rise at the same time.

  The shutters protecting the viewing windows started to open, there were gasps of breaths as everyone was watching this truly remarkable event, it was like Armageddon and Genesis at exactly the same moment in time. Anna had her face close to the glass, she was gazing far beyond the sun's specular show, and she found herself thinking what is beyond all this, surely there must be more? If only she knew.

  After fifteen minutes of picture taking, the captain urged everyone to return to their seats, the show, unfortunately, was over. It was time for them to head home, and with that, the protective shutters slowly came to a close over the viewing windows. Back in their seats, they started to buckle up and Anna’s dad thought he would have one last glance at Earth before they set off for home.

  Anna’s dad Tyler, had seen many things in his life, most of which he had seen during his time as a soldier. Man, had created many things, most of which were intent on destroying the human race. From secret weapons to mass death and destruction, Tyler had witnessed it all, he knew the world could not survive the way it was going, and he had been preparing Anna for the day it would all change. She had been a class ‘A’ student, from survival techniques to unarmed combat, for nearly ten years she had soaked up everything he had taught her, what he didn’t realize, was that day was coming sooner than everyone realized.

  As he glanced from the window, he saw a shimmer at the side of the ship, maybe a trick of the eyes or heat from the engines he thought, and again he saw it, but this time he thought he could see the outline of another ship. He turned to his family and was just about to say something, but was interrupted by the captain’s voice telling them it was time to head off home.

  Just as he was about to forget what he saw, there was an almighty jolt from the side of the ship, and again he looked from the window and he was sure another ship had attached itself to theirs. The soldier inside of him was taking over, he turned to his wife and Anna.

  “Something is going to happen, prepare yourselves,” he said to them.

  “Dad, you’re scaring me,” Anna answered, with tears welling up in her eyes.

  “It’s okay, you know how to take care of yourself,” Tyler said, trying to comfort his daughter.

  Everyone on the ship was looking at the passenger door, where sparks were flying into the cabin and the stench of molten metal was filling the air and as if by magic, the door vanished as it was torn from its position. Once the smoke began to clear, the images
of three beings began to emerge. They were dressed and looked like no one that Anna could have ever imagined. Two of the beings appeared to be fit and athletic looking, or at least that is what Anna thought by the shapes of their body armor, but one had body armor which barely covered his belly, and what appeared to be pony tails protruding from the chin area of his helmet. It seemed quite comical at first glance until the seriousness of the situation kicked in.

  Had these three known it was just a tourist ship, they may not have bothered, no one had luggage and the ship had no cargo, but they were not to know, and since they saw the opportunity it was a chance to add to their haul from previous pillages they had been a part of.

  “We have to get something,” Poco, the red-bearded one said.

  “Take the girl,” said the taller of the two, Lane who was looking around the cabin and pointing at Anna.

  And with that Anna was dragged from her seat in the clutches of Poco. Tyler stood to protect Anna, but got a swift smack in the face from the butt of a plasma rifle, which soon changed all that. With blood streaming down his face, he watched, as Anna was dragged out from the cabin, and onto the other ship. Everyone on board was helpless at that moment, they knew there was nothing they could do, once the ship left, they were facing certain doom. Anna’s mother just sat, wiping the blood from her beloved husband's face.

  “She will be fine, she is a strong girl,” Anna’s mother said.

  “I know, but I should be able to protect her, it is my duty,” Tyler replied.

  Tyler held his wife’s hand tightly, he looked at her with tears in his eyes, as a father he thought he had failed his daughter, but this was not any normal situation. Everyone on board just sat as they heard the engines fire up from the alien’s ship, in a matter of seconds, they would all be facing impending doom. The ship moved to the side and they could hear the noise of nothing entering the ship from the door, and within an instant the air had just been depleted from the cabin and their fate had been sealed.