by Maia Starr
“Ceremony is the hurry,” Aloitus exclaimed. “It is important to my people to have a ceremony to look to in times of tension, and whether you like it or not, you have been claimed by the Supreme Leader of the Thressl’n and that means that you are to be part of my welcoming ceremony. Is that understood?”
“I’ve been claimed?” I asked, raising my eyebrow at this man. Whether he was attractive or not, the idea of anybody “claiming” me was infuriating. He shifted uncomfortably in the doorway, clearly attempting to figure out what to say next.
“If you do not come, there will be consequences,” he finally said, a stern gleam in his eyes.
I was shocked by how chilling it was; I hadn’t considered this man to be much of a threat, mostly because of how every time I looked at him, I seemed to be distracted by his ethereal beauty, but looks could be deceiving. Just because he was mesmerizing didn’t mean that he was a good person…or Thressl’n, as it were.
“What kind of consequences?” I asked, frowning. I couldn’t let him feel like he had the upper hand. If he thought that women were just commodities throughout the universe, there for his taking, then he had another thing coming.
“Are you sure you want to find out?” Aloitus replied, his eyes darkening. I was thoroughly afraid now, and finally shook my head. Maybe it would be better to stay out of trouble while I was stuck here in this unfamiliar world.
“That is what I figured,” Aloitus said. “Dress quickly now. Peko will help you. If you are not on my arm in a few moments, there will be actions taken against you, and you will have only yourself to blame for it. Now go.”
I shuddered as the door hissed closed between us, and Peko was suddenly at my side, tugging off my last remnants of Earth and replacing them with soft, luminous fabrics that probably suited the Thressl’n much more. I was surprised by how light the cloth was; it reminded me of the coverings we had worn in the desert when I was a child. The colors glinting in the soft white fabric were just as whimsical as my childhood memories, but I was far too angry to appreciate them.
“Go to the Supreme Leader now,” Peko said, urging me toward the door. “He does not like to be kept waiting.”
What a surprise. An impatient, powerful man who wanted everything whenever he demanded it. Were there any stereotypes that weren’t true beyond Earth? Why was it that women were always supposed to play the supporting roles to men who wanted to control them?
“Great,” Aloitus said, gripping my arm and lacing it through his own without even looking at me. “It is time to make our appearance. You do not have to smile, but do not speak or make any other inappropriate sounds. You may be asked questions, but it is all right to feign a language barrier to keep from having to answer.”
He spoke in a breathless stream as he walked briskly, leading me down a winding spiral staircase and into an elegant ballroom. Except the ballroom was deserted and a thin veil was placed between it and another large room. I could hear soft murmuring from the other side, but it was too dark to make out any figures that might have been responsible for the noise. It was kind of spooky.
We sat down at a single table in the back of the room, on a raised platform. It seemed odd to me, but being the daughter of the Prime Minister gave me some idea of how to conduct myself under the circumstances. Surely all would be revealed soon enough.
“Welcome!” Aloitus said loudly and suddenly, startling me so badly that goosebumps ran down my arms.
The veil parted and a light shone onto us. Deafening applause filled the room, and Aloitus stood, nudging me to stand with him, and bowed deeply. He shot me a warning look, and I followed his lead.
“Thank you all for coming to the ceremony! It has been a long time since I’ve traveled across the universe. But as always, the trip was worthwhile, and it will surely bring the Thressl’n good fortune in the days to come.”
Another round of roaring applause filled the room as lights began to turn on over the crowd. I saw a seemingly endless sea of Thressl’n faces, men and women alike. My heart thudded hard when in the front rows, sitting at large, octagonal banquet tables, I saw the pale flesh of other humans; more specifically, human women like myself.
Their faces were bright, however, and they, too, cheered for me. We stood, finally, from the low bow and Aloitus smiled charmingly out at the crowd, his teeth large and dazzlingly white against the soft teal color of his face.
“I would like to welcome you all to the palace. Please, eat, drink, and feast. I hope you have saved room for fifth meal today!”
Fifth meal?
Aloitus seemed to sense me looking at him in surprise, because he chuckled.
“The human, who goes by the name Melinda Jefferson, is new to Jenal’k and our customs. In fact, she has only been on the planet for a matter of a few rotations, so please, do what you can to make her feel welcome and show her the proper Thressl’n customs. She is very far from home.”
I felt a pang of pain course through me at the mention of home, and looked up at Aloitus, unsure of whether or not he understood just what that meant to me. I doubted if he would care, though. So many men simply wanted to conquest and pick the prettiest flowers only to let them wilt and die, just for the sake of saying they picked it. It appeared that Aloitus was just the same.
What was to become of me with a man like this? As much as I despised the Vellreq, at least I hadn’t been stolen away from my home. King Korta had taken over my father’s estate, but I had been allowed to remain living on the same planet I had grown up on, right in the same house I had grown up in. It seemed to be a better deal so far, whether the Thressl’n were a better-looking race than the Vellreq or not.
“Welcome, Melinda on High!” several Thressl’n in the crowd began shouting. Small flowers were thrown across the large ballroom and landed upon the raised platform surrounding Aloitus and me. He smiled out at the crowd, though I could see the tension in his face. Perhaps the event hadn’t been something he was looking forward to.
I bowed again instinctively, and the crowd seemed to go wild, applause and shouts filling the room for a third time. I could feel Aloitus turn his surprised gaze onto me, and then nod approvingly. My heart fluttered despite itself. What did this man’s approval mean to me? It was surely meaningless.
“And now, let us feast and honor the gods for allowing our safe return to Jenal’k! Let us ask that they continue to favor our plans!”
The crowd clamored in agreement, and raised large glasses in the air, almost like a toast. But there were no words or speeches, just cheering before the Thressl’n drank the sweet-looking pink liquid in their goblets.
“Please, partake,” Aloitus said, handing me a similar glass. I was reluctant to put anything into my mouth in this strange land, especially not knowing what was in it or how it could affect me, but Aloitus was pressuring me coldly with his eyes.
“Thank you,” I mumbled in English. His lips curled into a satisfied smile as I brought the goblet to my lips and drank.
Surprisingly, it was a refreshing, berry flavor that was more sour than sweet, and it fizzled pleasantly in my mouth. It left a sweet aftertaste once it made its way down my throat, and I immediately felt the warmth similar to the effects of alcohol.
“What do you think, human?” someone from the crowd called. The other Thressl’n laughed pleasantly at the look on my face, surely a look of surprise and consideration, and Aloitus looked at me curiously. Probably wondering whether or not I would pretend that I couldn’t understand the Thressl’n tongue through the translation implant I’d received as the daughter of one of Earth’s most notable diplomats.
“It’s quite delicious,” I said, smiling out at the crowd to whomever may have spoken. The Thressl’n roared with laughter, and I managed to catch the eye of one of the human women. She looked shockingly familiar, and I frowned, attempting to place her face.
Before I could, however, a huge plate of food was set before Aloitus and me, and my stomach rumbled loudly. Only Aloitus seemed to he
ar it though, and he cast a small, bemused smile in my direction. I couldn’t help but smile back, even though officially, I detested him. Still, it was nice to feel like I had some kind of companionship on this lonely stage, in front of a crowd of people I had never seen before.
“I recommend you begin with the Thrasha, on this side. Then follow it with the u’kdara. The u’kdara is sweeter, and brings out the flavor,” Aloitus said, situating himself in front of his food.
“All right,” I said reluctantly. I tried to meet his eyes, but he refused to look at me.
I sighed and dug into my food, wondering just how long this evening was going to last.
***
After a long evening of eating, drinking, and dancing, the crowd within the palace began to thin out, until finally Aloitus and I were left alone with his attendants.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” Aloitus asked, standing from his seat and reaching behind himself to smooth his long cape.
The truth was, I had. The Thressl’n were actually very warm and entertaining people. But that still didn’t excuse my abduction, and if I answered with the truth, I was afraid that Aloitus might mistake my appreciation as some sort of consent. I was not happy to be there. Quite the contrary.
“I would like to go back to my room now,” I said, avoiding the question altogether. “I’m quite tired.”
“As you wish,” Aloitus said, barely glancing at me. “Peko, take the human back to her quarters. I have a meeting to tend to.”
I was surprised. A meeting right after such a long ceremony? When did Aloitus intend to rest himself? Or were the Thressl’n just big muscular machines that didn’t need any sleep? I had already found out the hard way that they didn’t rely on water the same way that humans did. I was expected to get my drinking water from a large fountain that had been set up in the palace decoratively. It was a relief they had any of the substance at all, really.
Soon, Peko was ushering me quickly down the hall, and I found myself taking note of every twist and turn of the palace. The sooner I knew my way around, the better. Perhaps there would be a way for me to escape. But I would have to stay diligent.
“Here you are, Melinda on High,” Peko said. I cringed. Apparently, the nickname was going to stick. But what had I done to deserve that? Besides being abducted by the Thressl’n’s supreme leader, I didn’t deserve any sort of title on this planet. Especially not when there was a possibility I might still be able to find a way home. “I should inform you, you have a visitor. She is waiting in your chambers.”
She?
My heart thudded. Perhaps it was the human woman I had seen at the ceremony. I hadn’t been able to place her face or remember her name yet, but I knew her from somewhere. I was certain of it. Maybe she recognized me, too.
I rushed into the bedroom and cried out in surprise.
“Are you all right?” Kirk asked, crossing the room quickly and touching my arm.
“Kirk?! What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed, shocked to the core. I never thought I would be able to see my best friend’s face again. His eyes softened, and he grinned.
“I snuck in after you!” Kirk exclaimed. “I couldn’t just let them abduct you like that!”
“Kirk, you shouldn’t have done that! We could both be in serious danger!”
Kirk scoffed. “You said that same thing right before I made that epic dive off the cliff at Funland too. But you were too chicken to go with me.”
“Well, excuse me for having some sense in my noodle of a head,” I scoffed. “Seriously, I’m so glad to see you, but what the hell!”
He laughed lightly, his blue eyes dim. He was growing stubble, and he looked exhausted.
“Are you hungry? How have you been drinking water? How did you get here?”
“I stowed away on the ship,” Kirk said with a laugh. “And I was planning a picnic with you at Funland, so I’ve been getting by with what was in my backpack.”
“Still,” I said, shocked that anybody would go to that kind of trouble for me. “Why would you do that? I’m just…”
Kirk took my hands in his and looked into my eyes. He had the same expression on his face that he’d had when we were sitting together on the carousel. “You’re not just anything. You’re everything to me.”
I felt a little twinge of nausea and pulled my hands away. I didn’t want to be everything to anybody. Especially Kirk of all people. He had been my goofy best friend for years. That didn’t mean we were meant to get married or anything.
“Well, you’re a dummy for coming here. What happens if they find you?”
“They won’t find me,” Kirk said. “I was your friend for a reason, remember? I’ve been training my whole life to become a bodyguard to the palace. Incognito is my middle name!”
I rolled my eyes. “So where do you plan to stay then?”
“Right here!” he said, beaming at me. “Did you see the size of that closet? It’s comfortable enough for a herd of baby elephants!”
“And what, exactly, are you planning on doing about my being kidnapped? Just watch me go everywhere? It’s not like you can pilot a ship home!”
“No,” Kirk said, his eyes shining. “But I know somebody who can.”
“What?”
But Kirk refused to say anymore, and gave me a big bear hug.
“I’m glad you’re safe. Hey, grab me some scraps every once in a while, all right? I don’t need anything fancy but…you know…I’m going to need some energy while I’m here. Be prepared in case it comes down to a brawl. These Thressl’n guys are massive!”
My chest warmed at the thought of Aloitus and his brilliantly built body, but with Kirk just inches from me, I felt an appropriate amount of self-disgust. What was I thinking, sexualizing the man who had abducted me? If there was a chance for me to get the hell out of here and head back to Earth, I was just going to have to take it.
“Well, I’m going to turn in,” Kirk said, grabbing one of the satiny pillows from the bed and pushing himself into the closet. “G’night.”
I shook my head in disbelief. Apparently, my best friend had decided to tag along on what was amounting to be the most bizarre experience of my life. And as was Kirk’s singular talent, somehow he had already managed to make it even more strange.
I suddenly felt uncomfortable changing my clothes in the room I was in, and lay down in the exquisite Thressl’n gown. If Aloitus caught me with another man in my room, both of us were bound to be dead. As much as I hated it, I was going to have to ask Kirk to find somewhere else to stay. It would be safer for us both that way.
It didn’t take long for me to fall into a fitful sleep, and I spent the next few hours tossing and turning as I fought away images of Earth, the Vellreq, and my father. Every once in a while, I’d dream of a man who gave everything for me. But it wasn’t Kirk. It was Aloitus. But when I would awaken, the room would feel empty and cold, and the thought of Aloitus would fill me with fear.
Everything was just too confusing. What was I going to do?
Chapter 4
Aloitus Cloch’h (Supreme Leader of the Thressl’n)
“Supreme Leader Aloitus, I came as soon as I heard the news. Please, tell me it’s not true!”
I sighed and looked across my desk into the sincere face of Laike Ostra’ki. He was a handsome young man I had come to depend on throughout my reign. Unfortunately, the engineers that fate had decreed were quite difficult to work with and rarely had innovative ideas of their own.
However, Laike Ostra’ki had always been independent and, frankly, brilliant in his work. I had always known who was behind it when a new breakthrough in Thressl’n technology occurred, and I was beginning to suspect Laike’s family of selling his calling to a wealthier Thressl’n family who were dying for their son to be an engineer for the palace.
In fact, I had been privately investigating the matter in the little spare time I had, hoping for any chance to bring Laike closer to my orbit. His knowledge was essential.
> “I’m afraid it is true, Laike. The Vellreq have been questing for dominance for years now. And they’ve finally found the race of vulnerable people they can use to accomplish the task. If Earth is not liberated of their virus once and for all, it could mean the end of us all.”
“I understand, Supreme Leader Aloitus. But what would you have me do about it? I’m but a simple Repair and Maintenance man.”
“Laike, you are far more than that, and we both know it. In fact, I suspect one of your caretakers of treason.”
“With all due respect, sir, I was orphaned and would like to maintain a positive memory of my family if at all possible.”
Laike’s face had fallen, but I could not allow him to feel that Fate had betrayed him any longer. There were more sinister elements at play. It would do him well to receive the proper ranking once and for all.
“Perhaps it was for your rank that your parents were killed,” I said thoughtfully. “But I digress. You were meant to be an engineer. To be by my side. And I’ve been conducting my investigation to try to put you in the place where you belong. I am very sorry that there was no breakthrough before you decided you’d had enough with Jenal’k.”
Laike grinned cheerfully. “Please don’t apologize, sir. I should be sorry for abandoning my post.”
“It is not your rightful post. Your post is on my team, fighting with the most brilliant and capable men on Jenal’k to subdue this threat. We need machines, Laike. Large machines that will handle whatever the Vellreq can throw at us. They are coming, with alarming speed. My ship was surely spotted, and they will recognize our crest.”
“I don’t mean to second-guess your command,” Laike said, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “But the Vellreq are quite offensive in their approach. Perhaps we should work on defending Jenal’k and its people first, and weapons technology after.”
I considered this for a moment, and although I didn’t like it when others spoke out of turn and corrected my thinking, I realized that Laike just might be on to something.