by Pixie James
There isn’t a hint of laughter in his voice, and I swallow hard. My headmaster is a total badass.
“Enough of that. Let the adults take care of all the paperwork. Here is your schedule. It’s quite the course load, but you’re significantly behind. You are responsible for all the human courses you are used to, but also extensive focus classes on Xebulin history, language, and special after hours tutoring on memory extraction and anatomy. The latter of course, will be with So’Tia, whom I believe you’ve already met, and our student alliance president-elect, Ty’Nix. He has several extracurriculars, so you’ll be meeting with him shortly after you leave here.”
A soft knock on the door draws my attention, and a petite Xebulin woman with a messy bun perched on the top of her head peeks at us. Headmaster Ha’Jahn waves her in, and she slips into the chair bedside me.
“Cherise, this is Representative So’Lor. She’ll be handling your negotiations with the human government.”
She reaches out with a gloved hand to shake mine, and I tense for a second, remembering my run in with whatever her name was earlier. Kitty? Kitlin? Whatever…
“Oh, don’t worry. The gloves, they aren’t just for looks. It interrupts the data flow.” She flexes her fingers and gives Ha’Jahn the side eye. “A requirement of the human government’s cooperation.”
The headmaster smirks as she continues. “So, first things first. Don’t worry. I’m sure you have a ton of questions and we can answer them in due time, but for now I want to give you an idea of what you’re in for.” She kicks off her shoes and crosses her legs in her seat. “Here’s the thing. You’re an enigma. And the fact that you were, for all intents and purposes, an alien in sheep’s clothing, has the humans worried. Xebulins, too. The technology used to create the body that kept you hidden doesn’t exist. At least, none of us knew it did. There were always rumors…but never have we seen anything like you.”
So much for fitting in.
“I hate to say it, but the humans are looking for a reason to acquire you. They won’t admit it, and we won’t let it happen, but you really must stay on the straight and narrow. You have to master everything, because come the end of this year, you’ll be expected to test out with the other eleventh years.
Like humans, the twelfth year is the last we are formally schooled, then we are expected to fulfill our agreement with the government. If you cannot test into a specialty and assimilate into the workforce, you’ll be forced to report to them.”
I sit there a moment, unsure of what to say. As if passing a test didn’t feel like life and death already. Now…it literally is. She reaches into her bag and pulls out a large manila folder. I open it and thumb through the contents.
“Seriously? These are the terms of my citizenship? Maintain a grade above eighty, master all touch techniques, and allow them to study me? Here? Can I even do this? Like is it even possible? Or am I just going to be jumping through hoops for the next year, then ultimately end up some science experiment somewhere?”
Headmaster Ha’Jahn walks around to the front of his desk and sits on its edge across from me and So’Lor. “It is absolutely do-able, and I will help you every step of the way.”
“But if I can’t, I’m screwed, right? I have no family, and since my mom signed away her rights for a rock, I’m completely on my own.”
So’Lor averts her eyes, but Headmaster Ha’Jahn slides off his desk and bends down so we’re eye level. “What your mother did was unspeakable.”
A hollow ache hits me like a punch to the gut. After all these years of watching her slowly kill herself, I should be used to her antics. But not this…I could have never imaged it would get this bad.
Slipping through the cracks in my armor, grief trickles in and settles somewhere deep inside. My arms and legs feel heavier, and just the thought of moving is exhausting.
“Cherise, if I may, let me explain a little about myself. Maybe it will give you some clarity, guidance even. When we Xebulins are born, our parents, those who created us, instill a small part of themselves within us. The rough translation for what we call it is the home light—a small beacon of familiarity that will always bring us home if we are lost. Bring us back to the people who love us the most.
“I have no doubts that you are loved by those who are responsible for your birth, and as you discover yourself, we hope you will discover them too. With us assisting you, of course. You are not alone, and never have been. And even if your human parents failed in making you feel loved and appreciated, I will personally go to any length to assure you that you are.
“We do not know who hid you, or why. But I swear we won’t stop searching until we get you the answers you deserve.”
I know he’s trying to be nice. They both are, but this is all too much. Rubbing my sweaty palms on my pants, I fidget, uncomfortable at the level of eye contact he’s making. It’s weird, and I don’t know if it’s because I’m not used to people sitting intently waiting for me to share what’s on my mind, or if it’s the whole talking about how my mom signed her rights away thing that has me so on edge. Or the fake skin shedding alien thing. Or the mean girl thing. Oh, hell…it’s probably all of the above.
I clear my throat, not quite knowing what to say when a soft knock at the door interrupts the awkward silence. Thank goodness.
Te’Lara pokes her head in. “Sorry to interrupt Ha’Jahn, but if we’re to keep with Cherise’s new schedule, she needs to begin tutoring in the gym. Ty’Nix is already waiting for her. He’s expected to join the other student alliance members at his parents’ home to help the Xebulin Consulate plan this year’s touch games early this afternoon, so we need to hurry if we are going to catch him in time.”
The headmaster tucks his long silver-black hair behind his ear. “Of course. By all means. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. You know how I lose track of time.”
Te’Lara gives him a smirk and waves me over. “Males,” she whispers to herself as she closes the doors behind us. The warmth of her gaze is reassuring, and this is probably the closest to mothered I’ve felt in a long time. I’m really glad she’s here.
Her graceful fingers tease the tiny wisps of hair at the nape of my neck where my hat ends. “How has your day been? Are you getting along all right?”
The urge to pour my heart out to her is almost too much, but I keep my mouth shut. “As well as can be expected, I guess. Have you seen my list?” I hold up the giant stack of papers So’Lor gave me.
She rifles through them as we walk, and she’s so in tune with where we’re going she doesn’t even look up. “They expect all of this from you? In less than a year and a half? You can’t be serious.”
“That was my thought. The headmaster and my representative didn’t seem too worried but…your face kind of says it all.”
Her colors shift, moving so fast she almost looks like her skin is vibrating. Or is it? I can’t even tell. “It’s not that you cannot accomplish all of these things. It’s not that at all. I hate that you have been thrown into this mess and you have barely had the time to catch your breath. I know your circumstances are unusual, but you are a seventeen year old girl, Cherise. You deserve the room to be one.”
“I’ll be fine, really. I’ll make it work.” And I will. Because I have to.
More lockers and colorfully decorated halls pass as Te’Lara leads me toward the gym. The inside of the main school building really does look almost exactly like a regular high school. Large hand painted posters on the walls, neutral colored lockers, and tile floors. The only thing that really sets it apart are the lounge areas, super fancy cafeteria, and still shots framed on the walls of what I’m guessing is the Xebulin night sky. A large neon green moon takes up over a third of the azure expanse. It’s beautiful.
Te’Lara comes to a stop in front of a set of rich oakwood double doors. “All right, I’ve got to go finish inspecting the dorm rooms, but I wanted to take you here personally because well, touch memory extraction isn’t easy. It can be
quite stressful, and Ty’Nix doesn’t have a reputation for being the most patient of all our class elects, but he is the most skilled. If he gives you any problems, please let me know. I want there to be no secrets between us, Cherise. You may be in a new school now, away from all those horrid human children who treated you poorly, but all fledglings, otherworldly or human, can be rotten to each other. I’ll not tolerate you being mistreated. Is that understood?”
“I appreciate it, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. Just another thing to tick off the list.”
I give her my best fake smile, hoping the cheesy grin will cover the nerves bouncing around in my belly. The last thing I want to do is vomit on the nicest person I’ve met so far but if she stands there any longer giving me sappy reassurances, it might just happen.
“Very well, just press your hand to the sensor to open the door. I’ve already entered your scan into the system. Oh, and make sure Huey stays outside. I fear he won’t react well to Ty’Nix’s usual brand of sarcasm.”
“But when did you guys take my palm pri—oh.”
Te’Lara smiles and keeps walking. Right, the super-secret Men in Black wannabes drugged me to get me here. How could I forget?
Passing through the gym doors, I already feel better. This is going to teach me what I need to protect myself from whatever her name is, and will be my ticket into getting out in the free world again, alien pawn or not. I can do this. Huey whines, unhappy I locked him out, but Te’Lara is right. I need to concentrate. Now to find…
Deep green eyes—the kind that have you drowning in their depths—lock onto mine, and my throat goes dry. Somehow, my feet are still moving, and the closer I get, the more I know I should be staring anywhere but at him because I’m totally being obvious, but holy crap he has to be a glitch in nature.
Short black hair parted to the side dangles in his eyes like he’s the alien version of Harry Styles. But hotter, way hotter, and built like Jesus himself came down from the heavens to chisel his muscles by hand. He was a carpenter, right?
It shows. Oh, it shows.
My eyes skim the length of his arms once again, snagging on the way his black t-shirt barely fits over his shoulders. It looks like it’s seconds away from tearing under pressure. I could totally help with that. Maybe, just pull the seams a little, test it out, you know for the sake of science…
Stop it, Cherise.
“Hi.”
Crap. Even his voice is hot. I’m totally doomed. First a hot headmaster, and now this? How am I supposed to concentrate on what might be the most important task of my life with this thirst trap staring back at me? Do they want me to fail?
Surprise flickers in his eyes as I get closer, darkening their hue, and I follow his gaze to my mostly bald head. Damn it, I knew I should have worn a hat that covered more. Great. He probably thinks I’m a giant freak, and here I am practically drooling all over him.
The draft in the room alerts me to the fact my mouth is literally hanging open, and I jerk it closed so hard my teeth gnash together. “Hi.”
Almost as if the sound of my voice knocks him out of whatever weird staring thing we have going on, he shakes his head and furrows his brow. “You’re late.” The room drops about ten degrees, the warmth from earlier fading.
“Sorry, I was talking to Te’Lara—”
“Doesn’t matter. I have places to be. Let’s get started. This isn’t going to be something you can just breeze through, so don’t expect me to go easy on you.”
I cock a brow at his assumption. “I don’t expect anything to be easy. Ever.”
“Good, because this won’t be.” Again with the attitude.
“Yeah. You just said that.”
He grins, and even though it’s patronizing as hell, I can’t ignore how beautiful he is. Dazzling white smile, and perfect lips so full and undoubtedly soft, I have to keep myself from reaching out to touch them.
I exhale, reframing my brain for what could be a close encounter of the douchey kind. I was hoping for once that hot wouldn’t equal jerk, but I’m two minutes into meeting this guy, and he’s already leaning way hard on the tool side. My hopes of a different high school experience are getting dimmer by the second. At least I have some good eye candy.
There’s an awkward silence, and if not for the intensity of his glare I’d think maybe he was nervous too. Clearly I was mistaken about his initial reaction to me, and the embarrassment that follows has me seeing red. Same crap, different day.
“Cool story. Are you going to teach me, or what?”
He ignores me, then sits on the bleachers and pulls out two of the same textbook. “Sure. Just try and pay attention. This lesson will be short. What do you know about touch memory extraction?”
“Not much. Just that it’s some kind of skill you guys use to spy for the US government. And it’s something I have to learn to do or I’ll get locked up in some secret facility and treated like a lab rat.”
He nods and flattens his lips. “Don’t you mean we? You do know you’re a Xebulin, right?” He grins again, and it’s disarming, but I still don’t appreciate the tone so I narrow my eyes and wait for him to continue. “Before coming to Earth, Xebulins communicated entirely through touch and sight. It was human influence and our necessity to learn English that forced us to adapt. Yes, we use it to absorb memories and narc to the government, but it’s more than that. We can use the same sensors to learn massive amounts of information instantly through something called siphoning, figure out if people are telling the truth, and they also play a big role in…well, you’ll learn about that in your Xebulin health class.”
I’m sorry…what?
An alarm goes off on his phone, and he silences it. “That’s it for today.” He holds out the textbook. “Read through Chapter Twenty. That should give you a general understanding of the fundamentals, then we’ll start basics tomorrow.”
“That’s it? You can’t be serious.”
He smirks, and irritation flashes in his eyes. “I’m not going to put my life on hold for you, Cherish—”
“It’s Cherise,” I say between gritted teeth.
“Whatever. I have plans tonight. Read the book. I can’t fix ignorance. Educate yourself on the fundamentals, and I’ll go over more tomorrow.”
He starts to make his way down the bleachers, and I nearly trip trying to catch him. “Wait, I think we got off on the wrong—” I reach out to grab him but miss, my fingers just barely dancing across the fabric of his shirt. A zing of heat shoots up my arm and he spins around like I punched him.
“Rule number one: Don’t touch me. Ever.”
The hem of his designer jeans dusts the floor as he struts through the gym’s exit, and I’m left dumbfounded. Of all the entitled jerks in the universe, how did I get stuck with him? You know what? It doesn’t matter. I’m going to learn this. Screw that, I’m going to ace it and shove my success down his throat.
Chapter Seven
The bell rings, and I rush to dry my hands in the girl’s bathroom. If I’m honest with myself, I’m hiding. I know I am. Since my epically crappy encounter with Ty’Nix this morning, I’ve sat through two hours of Xebulin history, an hour of chemistry and, much to my horror, an hour of algebra. Apparently even advanced alien races need pointless math classes to satisfy the government’s evil desire to watch teenagers suffer.
The water feels cool against my face, and I take a second to really look at myself. Small wisps of blue have started to sprout on my scalp so I look more like the tip of a blue cotton ball than a purple cue ball.
I don’t miss my old hair. It was wild, and even though I kind of liked the blond, it never did anything but frizz. I won’t miss being called Mufasa or people singing the Lion King theme song when I walked by. Ugh, people can be such dicks.
I think my skin is my favorite part. It’s smooth and flawless and the slight sheen of iridescence over the purple is pretty. I have yet to see anyone with acne, so that’s a huge plus. Before this I had blackheads the size of cr
aters in my face that no matter how many pore strips I used, seemed to get larger by the day. And my eyes… I kind of like those too. The purple contacts I wore last Halloween don’t touch the vibrance of this shade.
“I heard you’ve had a rough day.”
The familiar sound of Tia’s voice echoes in the empty bathroom, and I sigh. “People are already talking, huh?”
She hops up on the sink. “I wouldn’t know, really. People who gossip like that know not to bring that mess to me. Te’Lara gave me the heads up. Said you started your day with Ty’Nix. He can be a real jerk to people not in his Ink, which is pretty much everyone.”
“Am I supposed to understand what you just said?”
“His Ink— Inkiatype…” She leans forward and widens her eyes. “You know that thing we talked about the first day that Ki’Lin thinks she’s on top of. She’s not. Ty’Nix is. Xebulins operate on a ranking system of sorts based on our bloodlines and heritage. That’s what the letters before our real names mean.
“Ri is royalty, Ty belongs to the royal guards and their descendants, Ki is the intermediate nobility, So is basically everyone else. Te and Ha are earned, like calling someone doctor. They refer to academic achievements and life-long service and blah, blah. Look none of that is important. The point is Ty’Nix acts like he’s a hot commodity because well, in our world he is. He’s the closest to a living royal heir that exists here on Earth.”
“Ah. So he’s an entitled jerk. Makes perfect sense now...” I pull out the textbook he practically shoved onto my lap and drop it on the counter. Tia’s brows jump up. “This was my lesson for today. Read the first twenty chapters because ‘I can’t fix ignorance. Oh, and by the way, I’ve got to go.’”
She rolls her eyes and grabs the monstrosity, skimming through the chunk I’m expected to read. “Okay, I changed my mind. He’s a massive alien appendage. Listen, you don’t currently have a roommate, and neither do I. Let me talk to Te’Lara and see if I can bunk with you. I can help tutor you late into the night, but it’s going to cost you.”