The Beast In The Castle

by Daniella Wright

  “Thank you, Kajin,” I murmur, sincerity and graciousness radiating from my being. He smiles, closing his book and rising to his feet. He takes my arm in his own, leading me out the door. I fall into step at his side, excitement thrumming through me at the idea of recovering some of my supplies. Perhaps with a bit of supplementation with local technology, I will be able to formulate a working laboratory. It’s a small chance, but small chances have been working in my favor as of late. This planet being habitable, my alien captor taking mercy upon me are only the most significant, but I’m too excited to consider the other possibilities.

  As we reach the outskirts of the city, I'm once again relieved to have the dress that the alien man bought me. It keeps my skin pleasantly cool in the heat of the planet's sun, swishing around my ankles as we walk the long distance through the surrounding forests. One might think it would be difficult to navigate in such clothing, but it manages to cling to me in all the right places. I breathe a content sigh, the moment away from the city allowing me to escape the reality that is my likely looming death. Kajin watches me with a rather enchanted expression, and I give my hips a teasing little shake as we emerge from the trees. If we were in the city, I would practice much more discretion. However, out here, away from the other native people, I feel freer to express my more sensual side.

  However, my teasing shakes are cut short when the familiar smell of smoke invades my nostrils. I glance ahead, spying the main crash site some yards away. A thin tendril of smoke rises up from the depths, though I can’t see any part of the ship that is still aflame. Kajin looks mildly concerned, jogging ahead to likely survey the area for danger. I don’t allow him to make it too far without me, nearly having to sprint to keep up.

  “What the hell,” a masculine voice blurts, sounding remarkably human. My eyes widen in surprise as I realize that the voice is more than vaguely familiar, and I bolt ahead to see Clark Lowell locked in combat with Kajin.

  “Clark,” I cry out, feeling more joy than I can even begin to describe. Though I wasn’t on the greatest of terms with the man, the fact that I was not the lone survivor of the ship’s crash sends a rush of relief through me.

  “Kara--- get off of me, you beast,” Clark growls, shoving at Kajin. Kajin takes a step back, looking between the two of us with some measure of uncertainty.

  “Kajin, stop. He’s from my crew! There was another survivor,” I blurt, rushing between the two of them. They glare daggers at each other, but Clark’s gaze softens as he returns his gaze to me.

  “Kara, I’ve been searching all over for you. I was beginning to think… I was beginning to think you did not make it,” he mutters, reaching out to rest a hand on my shoulder. I stiffen beneath his touch, feeling Kajin’s discomfort radiating from his body in an almost visceral way.

  “I’ve been fine, Clark. It… it’s good to see you,” I manage, patting his hand gently before taking a step back. He looks at me rather strangely, glancing to the alien male who lingers behind me. I turn my most winning smile towards Kajin, who seems to catch on that I’m up to something. “Kajin, can Clark return to the city with us? It would be… nice, to have human company,” I say carefully. The taller of the men turns dark eyes upon Clark, obviously resisting the desire to snap.

  “It would be an honor to host another human guest, I’m sure,” he says, the sarcasm dripping from his tone. Clark picks up on it immediately, but I smile through the tension, leading the men back in the direction of the town hub. As we venture towards the city, Kajin speaks up with obvious reluctance. “I need to gather some supplies before we head back to the city. Since we’re out now…,” he trails off, watching Clark with a sneer. “I can trust you two to behave yourselves?” He inquires snidely, and Clark bristles at the implication.

  “Go get your supplies. We’ll wait here for you,” Clark bites out, looking to me for reassurance. Though I’m not entirely confident about being left alone with Clark, I don’t have it in me to voice the concern.

  “We’ll be fine, Kajin,” I assure him gently. His gaze softens as he glances towards me, and he nods his head once before slipping back into the forests. As soon as he slips away, Clark takes me by the arm and pulls me in close. “Clark, what in the world--” I blurt, cut short when he shushes me none too politely.

  "The communication hub on the ship… it was seriously damaged in the crash. In the time I've been camping here, however, I managed to repair it enough to send out a signal," he says, excitement glinting in his eyes. Mine widen in shock and what should be pleasure, however, the sensation I feel is closer to fear.

  “You got a message to Earth?” I inquire haltingly, and he hesitates for a moment, his expression drooping slightly.

  “Not quite Earth. But a close enough system that they have vowed to send the message onward. We can get off of this hellish planet, Kara. We can go home,” he breathes, reaching out to grasp my hand. I shift uncomfortably, looking at our joined hands with barely disguised disdain. I should be happy. Though I had been thrilled to see Clark, it had been more for the sake of his survival than the fact that he might find us a way home. Still, my lack of excitement makes little sense, even to me.

  “We’ve come so far, though… to leave now would leave our expedition dismantled in vain. We have to try and salvage the mission somewhat, don’t we? Don’t we owe that to the rest of the crew at least?” I inquire softly, and his eyes narrow critically upon me.

  "I get the feeling your reasons for wanting to stay are not so pure," he says in a growl. I quirk a brow at him, and he jerks his head in the direction Kajin had gone. "You're rather cozy with the natives, aren't you? Or a native in particular, it would seem," he hisses. My eyes widen, and I can't help but sneer at the implication he's making. It's not as if his assumption is wrong, regarding my relationship with Kajin at least. He's entirely wrong on my reasons for wanting to remain, however. The angry glint in his eye seems to indicate he wouldn't believe reason even if I tried, however.

  I grit my teeth, turning away from him and waiting for Kajin to return. The potential of returning home to Earth is a tempting one, but it’s not one I can decide so easily.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  When Kajin returns, the tension between Clark and I could likely be cut with a knife. The alien man looks between the two of us with a rather odd expression, settling his gaze upon me and quirking a curious smile. He holds up the carcass of a slain animal, and I can’t help but light up at the sight.

  “I’ll have to take samples,” I say, excitement resonating from my voice. Clark levels me with a rather disdainful look from the corner of his eye.

  “Oh, yes. We forgot to gather the supplies for your study, Kara. We will have to return to the crash site in the coming days,” Kajin says apologetically, and I shrug my shoulders, looking towards Clark with an equally snide expression.

  "It's of little consequence. Perhaps I'll make an attempt to learn the ins and outs of your planet's technology," I say coolly. I dare not mention the rescue signal that Clark had sent to a nearby system, fearing what Kajin's reaction will be. Clark seems to take the hint, remaining silent about the signal as well. The human man simply trails behind my alien lover and me, eyeing us with obvious scorn. There's obviously something he wants to discuss, but I don't care to give him a moment of my time, at least not quite now.

  As we step into the city, Kajin greets the guard once more. The other native critically scrutinizes Clark, offering me a faint smile before allowing us passage. I'm relieved to see that Clark isn't subjected to the same collaring treatment that I had been previous, and I make a note not to mention it to the man. I know he will have less sympathy for the native customs than I had, and even I had been reluctant to accept the collaring. We approach Kajin's home, and he opens the door for Clark and me to step inside. He trails behind me, keeping a close eye on Clark. The human male examines the housing area and I step up beside Kajin, pressing a tender kiss to his cheek.

  "I am going to carve this button. I w
ill leave you enough flesh for a sample before cooking it up. Feel free to show your human friend around," Kajin murmurs, returning my kiss but one-upping me with a peck on the lips. Clark watches us with narrowed eyes but remains silent until Kajin leaves us to our own devices. He approaches me with pursed lips, arms crossed firmly over his chest.

  “You realize you’re little more than a sex slave, right? Once he grows tired of you, his people will probably see you killed. This planet is full of savages, and he’s just the same as the rest of them,” Clark says coldly. I stiffen, glancing in the direction Kajin had gone. Though they were thoughts I had been forced to consider, it didn’t feel particularly nice to have them thrown in my face.

  “I’m old enough to make my own decisions, Clark. You don’t get to decide who I spend time with,” I bite out. He smiles a bitter smile, resting a hand on my shoulder.

  "You mean, I don't get to decide who you sleep with. At least, not anymore. I can remember a time not so long ago that you would have been more than eager to have me hike up that skirt of yours," he says crassly. I just scarcely resist the desire to slap him, slipping away from him and in the direction, Kajin had gone. I don't care to entertain Clark's foul notions any longer, and it seems like he's merely getting a kick out of my irritation at this point.

  I find Kajin in what I suppose is his backyard of sorts. There is a small garden, and a rack where he has meat hung up to dry. He seems to sense my presence before I can announce myself, turning to quirk a smile at me.

  “I saved enough for your sample,” he says with a toothy grin. I force a smile in return, trying to ignore the churning feeling in my stomach. He quirks a brow at my lack of response, stepping closer to me to press the back of his hand to my forehead. “You humans are more inclined towards sickness, are you not? I want to be sure you are in good health,” he murmurs before drawing away.

  "Oh, I'm not ill. At least, not physically," I breathe, taking his hand in my own and brushing my fingers against the back of his knuckles. He watches me with a vaguely content expression, though he seems concerned by what he considers a human ailment. I suppose he's right if heartache is a human notion alone. I watch as his face becomes increasingly worried, and stand on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips. Though I'm not certain it will do much to soothe him, I can hope as much.

  “Kajin…,” I begin reluctantly, cupping his cheek in my hand. He places his hand atop my own, tenderly stroking my skin. “Clark seems to think that you are… taking advantage of me in some way. He thinks that you can’t feel the level of emotion that I feel for you. He implied that I was little more than a human sex toy,” I blurt, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. His dark eyes widen in shock, and he wraps his arms around me and draws me in close.

  “Kara, do you really think I feel nothing for you?” He inquires gently, stroking my hair as I bury my face in his broad chest. I simply grunt out a reply, enjoying the intimacy of our closeness. “I will allow that if the circumstances were otherwise, that is very well what you could have become. However… I would be lying if I did not admit to harboring some sort of deeper feelings for you. I do not know what you refer to it as, on earth. It is a warmth in my heart, the desire to bring you happiness, no matter the stakes. I know I have offered little comfort, but know that even if the council suggested, I would not see harm befall you,” he says soothingly, rubbing my back. I draw away, looking him in the eye. He meets my gaze, smiling a tender smile before scooping me up in his arms. “Perhaps it would be better if I were to show you how I feel,” he smiles. Considering how our first encounter had gone, I can’t find it within me to resist. He carries me to his bedroom, scarcely considering Clark as we pass the human man. Clark’s eyes widen as he watches us, and I realize with some amusement that his eyes are locked on the already half-formed bulge in Kajin’s pants. He sputters angrily, seeming intent upon putting an end to this, whatever… this is. However, his voice fades into nothing as we slip into Kajin’s bedroom. He gently lays me on the bed, drawing away to set flame to several scented candles scattered throughout the room. The scent is a heavenly one, and I feel a pleasant haze settle over me as he draws nearer the bed. I expect him to disrobe immediately, but he moves slowly, fluidly. He slips on top of the mattress with me, unbuttoning his shirt. I realize with a start that I’ve not seen his bare form in its entirety yet, and trepidation crawls up my spine as more and more of his skin is exposed. His chest is devoid of the nipples one would expect of a human male-- instead, frilled gills curl along his ribcage. His skin is pale, a small spattering of downy soft hair spread across his pectoral muscles. I sit up, ghosting my hand to the skin of his torso. He shivers, that familiar trilling sound echoing both from the gills on his neck as well as those on his chest.

  “You’re so beautiful,” I murmur, and he quirks his lips in amusement.

  "Should that not be a notion I speak of you?" He retorts, and I roll my eyes, pressing my lips to the pale skin of his stomach. His body quakes with my every touch and his eyes are half-lidded with pleasure as he watches me spatter kisses across the expanse of his torso. He rests his hand on the back of my head, tangling his hand in my hair and stroking the sensitive skin of my scalp. I sigh against him, drawing back and watching him with a shy smile. He takes the initiative, disrobing me of my favorite dress, his hands gliding across every inch of my skin that he touches. I shiver beneath his tender touches, and as he draws my dress over my head, he lowers his hand back to my chest. He simply rests it there for a moment, expression pensive.

  “What are you doing, you silly man?” I murmur, and he quirks a smile at me.

  "It never ceases to surprise me what a comfort it is, feeling your heartbeat. I don't know what I would do if the steady thrum ceased reverberating in my mind," he smiles gently. I tilt my head, and he chuckles softly before explaining. "Initially, I couldn't explain that strange ticking, seemingly in the deepest confines of my mind. When I touch you, however, the beat is a familiar one," he offers. Though I don't entirely understand, there's no way I could, I can tell that this is not a feeling he has shared with many if any before me.

  “Sometimes, I forget that most would consider this… strange. As if it were not meant to be,” I mutter, and he leans in closer, tenderly kissing my collarbone.

  "If it were not meant to be, then certainly we would not fit so well together," he murmurs. His hand travels down my body with purpose, and my breath hitches as it settles comfortably at the apex of my thighs. I exhale a shaky breath, still not used to his gentle touches. Whenever I had been with earth men, they seemed to have something to prove to themselves. Clark, in particular, seemed to think that making love to me was some grand feat, that I needed to be somehow conquered. When Kajin touches me, I can mistake it as nothing but affection. It's obvious that he cares for me, as unlikely as our relationship is.

  “And we do… fit so well,” I gasp as he begins to stroke my slit. My breathing is shallow, and I squeeze my eyes shut, my nerve receptors seeming to be set afire in a way that was similar to our first experience, yet so unlike.

  “I do hope you appreciate the candles. They’re said to have an aphrodisiac effect on some species, and, well. It was a shot in the dark, I suppose you would say,” he says nervously.

  "I feel like I've died and gone to heaven," I blurt, and he looks vaguely taken aback. "Which is a good thing, in human terms. At least, if you believe in the notion of an afterlife," I add quickly, feeling as if it is a struggle to get the words out clearly. He looks reassured by the comment, and continues to stroke between my thighs, circling around the aching nub at the crux of my womanhood. I shiver, panting softly as his touches become a bit firmer.

  “Right there?” He inquires, and I can only wonder how he is so good at working my buttons, considering I’m the first human he has ever met. Perhaps he’s just that good, even among his people, though I don’t want to consider the fact that he’s been with anyone aside from myself.

  “Gentle, gentle touches. I’
m very sensitive there,” I gasp out, enthralled by the touches. He hesitates, flicking his fingertip gently against my clit. My body almost seizes in pleasure, my mind cloudy from the effects of the candles.

  “Is that good? I want… I want to show you how I feel, not just… take my fill of you and be done,” he says nervously, and I cup his cheek in my hand.

  “You’re so wonderful,” I whisper. I lean in to kiss him, and he shifts to meet my lips properly. I wrap a leg around his waist, feeling the increasingly familiar bulge in his leathery pants. “Kajin, may I be honest with you?” I manage, rolling my hips against his knob in a desperate attempt to get friction.

  “Yes, Kara, of course,” he assures me, an obvious strain to his voice.

  “I would love nothing more than for you to take me. Gently. Softly, yes, but… I want to feel you inside me,” I breathe against his lips. He falters slightly, tilting his head downward to inhale a sharp breath.

  “When we first did this, I was less certain of my feelings,” he gasps out. I shush him, reaching between us to unfasten his pants. I slide them down his hips as soon as I am able, exposing him to the open air once more. His ridges seem to stand out even more prominently than our first time, and his manhood looks flushed a faintly purple shade. The liquid that seeps from his hole is silver in color, and though I’m briefly confused, he doesn’t seem to notice the differences. I might have asked about it, but he lines himself up to press into me, and my body jolts as soon as the liquid touches my skin. It feels like electric shocks shooting through my body, the pleasure so intense it feels like my whole body may seize from it.