by J. S. Wilder
“Of course we had protection...I asked him and he…” Wait, she had asked him if he had a condom, hadn't she? That night was a bit fuzzy now and she'd been drunk. Though the memory of his touch and kiss branded her. If she closed her eyes, she could feel the warmth of his hands, the sweetness of his mouth. He made her feel sexy...desirable. Almost like he had never had sex before. But that wasn't possible. I mean he was six foot all muscle and sexiness. No way would he not have had sex before her.
“Earth to Isabelle.” Julia waved a hand in front of her face breaking her out of her thoughts.
“Sorry. Did you say something?”
“It’s probably too early to talk about this…but what are you feeling?”
She knew what her friend wanted to know. Was she keeping this baby or not? “Shock. I’m terrified. I always wanted a big family, but I thought I’d at least be dating the father of my child rather than one night of passion with a stranger.” God, she still couldn’t believe she’d done that. But it was so amazing making love with Kohl that she’d do it again even if she knew this would happen. She placed a hand over her belly. “All I know right now is that I’m not going to get an abortion. I’d never be able to face my students or myself if I did that. Life is a miracle.”
Julie hugged her. “I’ll be here for you and help any way I can.”
“Thanks.” She scrubbed a hand over her face. “For now, I’m starving.”
“Well then, what kind of pizza do you want?”
“Surprise me.” And she wanted fruit. Weird. Normally she didn't eat any. “But add extra pineapple to my side.”
“You got it.” Julia spun to the kitchen where she had left her phone.
“Wait up, it's my treat, remember for getting the tests.”
“Right.” She smiled over her shoulder.
While her friend ordered their dinner, Isabelle placed her credit card on the table in front of her. This morning, the idea of food had been sickening. Now, Isabelle wanted an entire large pizza.
“Food will be here in twenty. Want to hunt through baby names online? I know a website that lets you plug in a first name and gives suggestions for middle names that fit.”
“No, I'd rather not.” For now, she wanted to put on a funny movie and forget her life was upside down all because of one amazing night.
“Sure. I don't think you wanna grade papers though?”
Isabelle shook her head. “Nah. How about the new comedy movie that came out?”
Twenty-five minutes later, the doorbell rang.
“Pizza time!” Isabelle paused the show and hurried to the door. “Thanks.” She took the pizza and brought it into the living room.
After three slices, she glanced up to find her friend staring at her. “What? I've only had a protein shake all day.”
“I didn't say anything.” Julia rubbed her chin. “Just wondering if you actually chewed or just inhaled.”
“Ha-ha, funny.” She tossed a pillow at Julia.
Picking up another slice, Isabelle took a huge bite.
An hour later, Julia left and Isabelle sat down with her students’ papers to grade.
Halfway done with the stack, a knock pounded on the door. Isabelle jumped. It was almost midnight, who would be stopping by this late?
She rushed forward. Her cat darted before her, nearly knocking her over.
“What the shit?” she yelped.
The cat huddled in the corner of the kitchen beside the stove and hissed. Its ears flat against its head. All the hairs along Isabelle’s arms stood on end.
“Who's there?”
No answer.
Her hand shook as she flicked on the porch light. “Hello? Who is it?” Her insides quivering, she added, “I have a gun so stop pranking around. I don't want anyone getting hurt.”
At no response, she let out a shaky breath. Another knock boomed, and she screamed.
“Enough. I'm calling the cops.” Whoever was out there was trying to scare her. She'd take their picture on her phone and turn it into the police. Even if the cops didn't do anything, it would worry whoever it was.
She slid her phone off the table and darted to the door. “Last chance.” She opened the camera app and dragged her kitchen chair to the tiny window in the archway over her door. The position was one that she couldn't see the porch, but the angle would allow her to take a photo of half the entranceway. Click. She brought her phone around and pulled up the picture.
Kohl?
Wow, what was he doing here and why didn't he answer her?
The unease pressing against her gut didn't let up. Maybe it was good to be cautious. She really didn't know the guy. He could be drunk or on drugs. After she latched the chain lock, she opened the door a fraction. “Kohl, why are you here?” God, he looked intimidating the way he stared at her. His brow furrowed and his gaze like he stared at a bug he wanted to squish.
He raised a finger and pushed it through the opening and stroked the chain. Then stepped back and turned away.
Where was he going? Was he offended that she had kept a lock on the door?
“No, don't leave.” She had to tell him about the baby. Get his contact information...his last name.
Her hands shook as she hastily closed the door and unhooked the chain. “Wait.”
She flung open the door and dashed outside. Feet away, he waited. The man who had changed her life in one night stood here.
“I need to speak with you, please don't go.” How would he take the news? Shock? Disbelief? Horror? She was still wrestling with emotions herself and that all of this felt surreal like a crazy dream that she wasn’t sure if it was good or bad. God, she was going to be a mom. Would she be any good? Sure, it was one thing to teach kids for so many hours a day, but raise one was completely different. Would she make a good mom? Did Kohl want to be a father? If he was open, maybe they could make a go of an actual relationship together. Not that she needed a guy, but she’d love to have her child have both his or her parents.
In the flickering light of cars driving past on the freeway, he stared at her. There was something off about him. Her gut told her to run.
“W-will you stay and listen?” she asked.
He offered her a hand and she stepped forward, taking it. Everything was going to be okay. Even if he didn’t want to have anything to do with her or their baby, at least he would know about the child.
Her hand touched his and a shiver plowed through her. Without a word, he hauled her close. A weird smell permeated the air around him...like burning sulfur.
His mouth crushed her lips, and she cried out. Pain jabbed her tongue as though she raked it across something sharp. Her blood filled her mouth and Kohl sucked her hard and drew out the blood.
She pushed against him. When he stepped back, she slapped him. “You bit me!”
“And I'm going to do a whole lot more than that to you, human.”
He didn't sound like Kohl. His voice grew gravelly and pronouncing the words oddly. He must be high.
“I think you should leave.” When she spun away, he snatched her wrist and squeezed.
“No, I’m not finished with you.”
“Ow, Kohl you're hurting me.” Before she could scream, he struck her in the face and her world darkened.
Chapter Seventeen
Isabelle shuddered against the cold cell. Her world had turned upside down and morphed into a nightmare. Aliens existed! And the scowl on his boar-ish face let her know he wasn’t a misunderstood being who wanted love and peace.
“Now that we comprehend each other, you will obey me and give me what I want.”
She swallowed. What did a demon want with a human? She clutched her arms around her stomach. A breeding mare? Well, he’d already knocked her up, but she’d be damned if she was going to tell him that news anytime soon. Here she thought they could try and build a relationship together for the sake of the baby. Panic swelled in her chest. What would the baby be…a demonic alien? Would it kill her to give birth? He
r stomach lurched and she swallowed down the bile that burned her throat.
Now she’d rather be anywhere else than on a spaceship with him. Was he taking her to his planet? Or selling her to some weird alien with a hunger for human flesh?
“We’ll arrive within the hour. Freshen up.” He tossed her a towel and small flask.
Without another word, he turned and left her alone. For the next hour, she scoured the area to find an exit. Somehow escape. Who cared if she was dirty?
The door slid open and Kohl stomped toward her. His hand slapped her so hard she flew across the chamber and landed in a heap on the floor. “I told you to get clean. Do it or I’ll do it for you.”
Tears glistened in her vision, but she blinked them back and nodded.
“You have thirty…what is you humans measure of time…minutes to do as I command or I will strip you and clean a layer of skin off you. Understood?”
She stood refusing to touch her cheek that stung.
Without waiting for her response, he turned and disappeared behind the sliding door.
Taking a deep breath, she glanced around the nearly empty chamber. Only the metal cells, walls, floor, and ceiling were here. How was she supposed to get clean with a rag and a bottle? Where was the shower or water? She shook out the towel in hopes that there was more than the two items he provided for her, but it was empty. Twisting the lid on the silver flask, it vibrated in her hand and she dropped it as it heated up. Had he given her a bomb? She backed up. Light pulsed from the bottle and she stretched a fingertip out to test it. A tickling sensation traced over her finger and she brought it back with a frown. What was this?
She moved closer and stuck her arm into the column of light. When she pulled them back, her fingers were wet and smelled of a fresh meadow. Why would a demon want her to be clean and smell fresh? Yup, he was going to sell her.
Taking a breath, she removed her clothing and darted into the light. It was like a warm shower. All of her felt clean. Then the pulsing light dimmed and stopped. She grabbed the towel and dried off. She wasn’t as wet as if she had been in an actual shower but she wasn’t completely dry either. Almost like she’d stepped through a cleansing mist. Environmentalist would love this handy device. She reached down to gather her clothes and redress, but they were missing. Spinning, she glanced on the floor where she’d laid them.
“Where are my clothes, pervert?” Had he dashed in when she was in the space shower and taken her things. Probably going to set her naked on a slave auction block. Shit! Her lower lip trembled and her insides clenched. She should’ve declined the shower. Told him to take her home.
The stench of burning pitch burned her nostrils when he appeared before her. “Here.” He tossed a stack of clothes at her. “Find something in there that fits. We land within the hour.”
“Land where?” she asked.
He vanished without answering.
At least he gave her clothing. She picked through the items and chose a yellow top and blue shorts. Her nerves danced along her skin. She tried not to think about where he got the clothes and if in the future some other woman would be here and her jeans and T-Shirt she’d changed out of among the items to wear. The bra was a size too big in the cups and she set it aside choosing a thick camisole undershirt to wear with a long sleeve shirt.
The ship lurched and she scrambled to hold onto the bars in her cell not to slide along the floor. It pitched again the other way and she dry heaved. She hadn’t eaten anything since the pizza last night, but she’d have thrown up if she had anything in her stomach now. For several minutes, Isabelle was tossed about her cage while the ship maneuvered.
Finally, the roar of the engines sounded and after a bump, all was quiet. Had they landed? What if she couldn’t breathe the air here?
A buzz sounded and the door to her chamber opened. “Showtime, little human.”
She squared her shoulders. “I need a spacesuit. And oxygen. I’m not going out there unprotected.” Not like when he tossed her out of the airlock.
“This world is nitrogen and other gases with enough trace oxygen that you’ll live.”
She hesitated despite him opening her cage door. “How can you be sure?”
“Only one way to be certain.” He reached in and hauled her out. “If you die, then I’ll know, right?”
She jerked to get away, but his claws dug into her skin. They exited the spaceship through a cylinder elevator contraption that went way too fast for her stomach. Outside, she tugged to remain in the ship, but he yanked her forward. She gasped. The air grew heavy and hard to breathe, but not impossible. Like when she went skiing in Colorado Mountains for the first time. The higher altitude had made her exhausted much quicker than normal.
Outside, the sky was a violet with two moons overhead. The grass was a turquoise color with bright orange flowers unlike any she’d seen on Earth sprinkled across it. Beneath them, a marble building. No, more like a monument that would fit all of the buildings in her city inside it. Did giants live here?
“Come on,” he growled.
Yanking her arm so hard that he nearly wretched it out of socket, he zapped them into a dark chamber. No, more like an antique dungeon. Except this one was made of marble that was streaked with grey and black and rust colored stains across most of the walls and floor. A small window about seven feet high was the only light. The chamber stank of urine, vomit, and blood. Her eyes adjusted to the lack of light slowly.
“Here’s your precious human, Renjerian! I’ll give you an hour to decide if it will be her life or your father’s. Then her torture will begin.” The demon teleported out.
“Isabelle?” Kohl asked.
She spun toward his voice. Against a wall was a figure chained up. He lifted his head and she gasped. “Stop tricking me. I want to go home.” She took a step back.
His dark eyes were haunted with black circles under them. “Thank the gods you’re safe.”
“No thanks to you.” She crossed her arms. If he thought she was going to fall for his tricks like with the airlock, he was mistaken.
“You need to get out of here now. Before they come back.” He winced, yanking on his chains. Bite marks covered his arms and legs. Only a patch of darkness inside the dungeon hid his nakedness.
Was he into kinky sex or something? He wasn’t getting any from her. Never again. Not after kidnapping her and nearly killing her. And why chain himself up here…to gain sympathy?
She crossed her arms. “Listen, I don’t know what cosplay thing you’ve got going on, but I’m not interested in playing along. Now tell me how to get back to my house and I won’t have you arrested for kidnapping and manhandling me.”
His face darkened and she took a step back. “It touched you?”
“Not it, you.” This was crazy. She was going to have to get a restraining order against him so he’d leave her alone.
“Isabelle, it was a Tryn…a demon that abducted you.” He licked his lips, his eyes pleading with her to believe him. “He took some of my blood in order to cross Earth’s protective atmosphere and pose as me. For twenty-four hours, he can shift his form to look like me. I’ve been here on Renjer since I left you that morning after we made love.”
Heat burned her cheeks, but she lifted her chin. “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?” After all, she was tossed out a damn airlock and no, she didn’t think she’d ever be able to forgive that.
“Because it will come back and hurt you to get to me.”
“And why does a demon want you?” She crossed her arms.
“My father is the king of this land and they want him to surrender so they can take everyone and kill them. They’re vile locusts slaying everything and moving on. Magicians on Earth figured out a way to transport them off their planet and block them with the atmosphere. It was only my blood as a half-human half-Renjerian that they were able to breach the protective shielding now.” He gazed behind her to the closed door. “You’ve got to get out of here. Find my father
and warn him. We need to get to Earth and stop them before they wipe out your planet too.”
Her mind zipped in circles with a million questions. What the heck was a Renjerian and how did it differ from a demon or Tryn? Was Kohl telling her the truth or was this some elaborate scheme? Did he have a twin brother and they planned this to freak her out enough that she wouldn’t ask him for child support or something? She frowned at that last thought. How would he know about that? It was only her and Julia who knew and her friend wouldn’t tell anyone. Even if Kohl had bumped into Julia on her way home and she found out he was the father, she’d wait for Isabelle to discuss it with him first.
Or did he somehow find out she was trying to find him and wanted to break-up with her, but couldn’t say to her face? Then why go to all this trouble? All she had was what he looked like and a first name, it wasn’t much to go on. If he skipped town, she’d doubted she’d be able to find him.
“I don’t believe you.” She waved a hand. “For all I know this could be something you’ve made up for a joke or something.”
His gaze darkened. “People are dying, Isabelle. Every day here on my planet. Do you not feel different here with the slightly heavy gravity? The atmosphere?”
“All part of the illusion, right?”
He chuckled and shook his head, then cringed as the chains cut into his neck. “I guess I should be grateful…most Earth women would probably faint or screaming their heads off…while you think this is all make-believe.”
This guy should work for the movies as real as he made this appear. Even his bright crimson blood gliding a path past the iron collar was life-like. But nagging doubt pressed on her sides. What if he was telling the truth? She had to know for certain. And at least this was safer than the damn airlock.
Carefully, she approached him as he hung from the grey marble wall. The iron chains that bound his neck, arms, and legs appeared heavy and worn with use. She touched the metal and found it colder than she imagined it would be. Tugging on the lock around his right wrist, she found no give.
“Maybe this will convince you that I’m telling the truth.” He shivered and along his arm scales erupted. Silverish-blue. Almost like a snake’s, but appeared more durable.