Stealth

by C. L. Scholey

  It became easier to relax around Benz knowing he would wait until she was ready, or perhaps it was she who waited until Benz was ready. The idea was insightful. Caris had been involved in one-night stands, though it was during her party days as a late teen. She was beyond that stage. Benz was gorgeous, but she wanted more, from herself, Benz told her she was his everything. Caris wanted to experience the same emotion. She wanted to fall in love, so she stopped trying to with her head and listened to her heart instead. Her heart would race when Benz entered their room. Her eyes filled with his sight. His warmth radiated from within. Her proud warrior was sweet and kind. Caris sat on the edge of the bed pondering. She frowned while her teeth worried her bottom lip. Was she falling in love? It was possible.

  When her mother and father were together it was the little things Caris noted that she wondered if her parents took for granted. She tried some of their actions on Benz. He loved to trace her cheek with his finger and so one day she captured the finger and kissed the tip. He was surprised to say the least. The smile he gave her was precious. She made certain she had a beverage for him the moment he walked in the room. She noted he went to the replicator for a cold blue drink he liked after a long day. This way he could take the drink in one hand and she could take his other and lead him to where she could ask about his day.

  Indy was a cute distraction. There was one single time Ankou tried to come to her when awake. His visit was short lived when the second he entered her room Indy kicked his ass out. When Benz showed up moments later Caris had been doubled over with laughter. Ankou didn’t try it again.

  She chuckled until she looked into the mirror just past the bed. Her tentative finger traced a wrinkle at her eye. It hadn’t been there when she woke. Her heart began to race. She rose and with tentative steps she cautiously approached the mirror and stared hard. Her hand shook as she raised it while her fingers smoothed the offending area. The fine line returned. She swallowed hard and Caris ran to the healing pool and dove in.

  The water swirled around her furiously while she dunked herself under over and over. Gasping for breath she pulled her shaky body from the pool. When she returned to the mirror she breathed a sigh of relief when the line was no longer there. She went to the replicator and dried while humming, the pool would keep her young. She returned to the mirror, dried and dressed. But as she stood staring the wrinkle gradually appeared again. Terror struck Caris to her soul. She was aging.

  She leaned back on the bed and cried out. Her wrist hurt for a split second and she rubbed it. Her hand froze. Her mother had developed osteoarthritis in her late twenties. Caris remembered a doctor telling her after she broke her wrist falling from a fall from a horse she may develop arthritis in it, possibly in her late twenties.

  “Caris?”

  Her head jerked toward the door. She hadn’t seen Benz standing there. “You startled me,” she said. It wasn’t a lie.

  Sadness engulfed her. Benz told her they would mate for life. She was growing old. She had no idea how much time she had. He would die with her. Caris was going to kill him. She sobbed and was on her feet flying to him. Benz pulled her into his arms and cuddled her but she needed more. She tugged on his hands wanting them firm against her flesh.

  “Caris, why are you crying?”

  “I’m afraid.”

  “Nothing will ever hurt you.”

  Caris pulled back and gazed into his perfect face. She wasn’t afraid for her she was scared for him. Benz cocked his head and gasped. He knew she loved him. She could see it in his expression. The blip of the console made Benz groan.

  “I’ll be back. We can talk then,” Benz said.

  “Yes. There is something you need to know.”

  When Benz left, Caris curled up on the bed and cried herself to sleep.

  * * * *

  He was there in her dreams waiting. Her familiar childhood imaginary friend who wasn’t so imaginary after all. Ankou was grinning at her.

  “Are your males so desperate for females you stalk me in my dreams.”

  “The Annihilators don’t need any other females. Ours are far superior and give us perfect offspring.”

  “Your offspring are far from perfect. You’re cutthroat murderers.” Caris’s gaze blazed into his with defiance lifting her chin.

  “Yet you still breathe.”

  “Does that make you imperfect?”

  Ankou stiffened. A deep growl rose in his throat. He took her by her arms. Caris merely gazed up at him. She held no fear. He was a handsome being. His right cheek twitched and she smiled.

  “What, no day visit? Did something frighten you, Ankou? Did the big scary monster kick your ass?”

  “Do not toy with me.” He snarled as he spoke.

  “You come to me. Who is toying with whom?”

  “You belong to me.”

  “I belong to no one. I want to be with Benz. Your father will kill me. Is that what you want?”

  “My father kills everything. But even he can’t kill my mate.”

  “I’m not your mate.”

  “But I sense her—you.”

  “You must have visited more children.”

  “There were many on different planets. You are the only one alive. We waited until our children were full grown before annihilating the planets we visited. Earth was already destroyed.”

  “Then some girl on a different planet.”

  “There was only Heller. She was on a planet we destroyed. I couldn’t keep her safe because I couldn’t find her. She was on the planet, but I have no clue where. Now it’s too late. I need…”

  A sharp blast almost knocked both of them to their knees. Ankou bellowed in rage.

  “You set a trap for us,” he bellowed.

  “Me?” Caris was wide-eyed. She wondered if that was why Benz was called from the room.

  “Our shield is down,” Ankou yelled.

  “Then you best run. Benz will be here any second.”

  “He won’t come unless he senses your fear. You have no fear of me. You are mine.”

  “I have no fear of you because Benz protects me. And yes he knows you’re here. I love him. It’s all he needs to find me now.”

  Ankou roared in fury. He left her dream and Benz was there. Caris knew he had been there all along. Caris also knew she loved him but was also in love with him.

  “I need to wake up now.”

  Benz nodded.

  Caris opened her eyes to see Benz sitting at her hip. His was a confused smile. She traced his jaw with her finger.

  “We need to talk,” she said. “Ankou…”

  “Ankou can wait. I can’t.”

  He grabbed her into his arms and kissed her hard. Their lips smashed together and she was surprised until she remembered he was a virgin. Caris was breathless from playing the equivalent of smash-face. When he released her he grinned and ran for the door.

  “Wait,” she called.

  “No worries. I’ll see you soon.”

  * * * *

  Benz sliced through an Annihilator who roared in outraged agony.

  “Not so amusing when you can’t fight your battles from a distance,” Benz said.

  All around a battle raged on the Annihilators’ warship as Castians, Tonans, and Zargonnii fought the enemy. The Annihilators were a hearty bunch but their choice of weaponry was from the ship. It was clear in hand-to-hand combat they wouldn’t survive. Some escaped in mini ships. Few got away. Benz searched for Ankou but he was nowhere to be found. His father was dead.

  “We’re done.”

  Benz gazed at Cobra’s grim expression. They were surrounded in death. Cobra’s plan worked. The Annihilators were a cowardly race as far as Benz was concerned. Pimping their children into other children’s dreams. So many planets had been desecrated.

  “Well, one ship down another four to go, with one on the horizon,” Titus, leader of the southern Zargonnii said. “It will be here in two hours. There are no other ships detected.”

  “I
will be in touch with the Angano,” Dranos said. “And will thank them for offering aid in locating the second ship so quickly.”

  Dranos was the son of Cy, a Zargonnii warrior. He was huge, powerful and could fly. The huge warrior male was a go-between for the Angano and the others. When he vanished, Cy strode forward with a grin.

  “That son of mine is a true gift to the Zargonnii.”

  “He’s a gift for all of us,” Cobra said.

  Benz had to agree. He also wanted to get back to Caris.

  * * * *

  When Benz entered the room, Caris jumped. She didn’t know why she did; she should have been used to the way he exploded onto any scene. He strode to her and pulled her into his arms. She went willingly.

  “You smell so amazing. Better than a rainbow.” He grinned down at her while she tilted her head up to meet his gaze.

  “What does a rainbow smell like?”

  “Like the scent of a rainstorm after it stops and the trees are dripping from being washed and hung out to dry. Your fragrance is better than sunshine. The word intoxicating pales with the wonder of you. Your scent fills me with the love of home, the dream of unending happiness. If I die with you filling my lungs with incredible beauty I would die happy.”

  Caris smiled with sadness at his words. Benz was so caring and handsome. She knew if given time her love would flourish. She trailed a finger over his broad chest.

  “You’re sad,” Benz said with surprise. “You love me I sense it. You want to make love. Why do you hesitate?”

  “You truly haven’t noticed.”

  “Noticed what?”

  Caris held out her hands. The backs were wrinkled. “Don’t you see? I’m aging.”

  Benz took her hands in his. “I don’t care.”

  “I do. What if we begin to make love and I go from being younger to being eighty five when we’re done?”

  “Then I will be gentler.”

  Caris couldn’t help it, she laugh-sobbed. He was so genuine. So appealing. “Benz, if we make love and I’m old and die will you die?”

  “Yes.”

  “By trying to save your planet you killed yourself.”

  “I found myself a beautiful mate who I love. Tell me, Caris, would you want to be happy for a little while, or miserable forever?”

  “Benz…”

  “I am over four hundred years. These last weeks I’ve been happy. The second you fell in love with me made all those years seem useless. If you grow old, I will hold you in my arms with sweet adoration and take you to a planet that has the most amazing sundown. You will sleep well, protected, adored. I swear, Caris, my only love, you are everything to me.”

  “I don’t want to kill you,” she whimpered.

  “Then love me. Show me what love is through touch because I see your fear for me. Let me hold you. What will come will come.”

  Caris melted into his arms. He scooped her up and with tenderness lay her down. He kept most of his weight from her. She turned and saw herself in the mirror. Her facial lines deepened. His gentle trailing hands glided across her body as he undressed both of them. When he entered her it was with deliberate slowness. “My beautiful mate,” he whispered into her ear, tickling her with his breath.

  He was clumsy when he kissed her until she showed him how. Once he learned, his enthusiasm soared. He kissed her everywhere, including her toes and feet. As he slid back up her body he stopped at her mound and with his tongue and fingers he had her writhing in delight. He moved to her belly then breasts. With wonder he sucked a round globe deep into his mouth.

  “I love you, Caris. Today is the happiest day in my entire life. Not because of what we are doing now but because I can scent you love me too. It flows through my veins. I never knew a feeling could be so physical. It’s thundering through me into my heart. No wonder I would die without you. The pain of loss would be greater than losing all of my limbs at once.”

  She cringed at his analogy, but he captured her mouth with his lips and his essence crashed into her. When he plunged his cock deeply into her heat she gasped and arched her back at first before lifting her legs to wrap them around his waist. He didn’t need her to teach him anything else. Her body spoke to him and his body listened and responded.

  He slowed his rhythm to pull and thrust easier. Rapture was his, she could see it in his expression.

  “Come with me my love,” he begged.

  Caris had never orgasmed so hard. Tears dripping, she could see from the mirror her face had aged. Like her mother she aged well. She doubted she would die today but perhaps would have a few more years. Years she and Benz could stroll his planet.

  Benz pulled her close and as his shield absorbed her she heard a small chuckle. It hadn’t come from Benz. Benz’s shield remained an anomaly. Caris could tell it was amused. Though it didn’t speak in words it seemed to with emotions. The way she was pressed intimately against Benz. The safety she experienced. When she emerged she was young and healthy, she gaped at herself in the mirror. Benz was unmoving.

  “Benz are you all right?”

  “I’m exhausted. My shield regenerated you as it does me. I should have remembered the shield keeps me young and keeps my mate the same.”

  “I’ll stay this way forever?”

  “Yes. But I believe you will need to stay closer to me than a normal mate. You might age differently.”

  “You saved me again.”

  “We still have a battle to win.”

  “Ankou can’t dispute I’m yours now.”

  “No he can’t. I think he knows he’s looking for the wrong female. I doubt he’ll find her. You were a fluke.”

  “What if she is out there?”

  “The chances are slim to none.”

  A warning buzzer sounded.

  “The Annihilators,” Caris whispered.

  Benz dragged her to her feet and they dressed. Benz grabbed her up and his shield crashed over them.

  “Can he get me from in here?” Caris asked.

  “Nothing can. And his connection with you is broken at this moment. I sense it. Ankou and many others have fled. Their other ship must be out there. They might already have picked up the survivors. My shield is full of itself and ready for a brawl. We will combat hand to hand. Our last encounter took out the shields on their last ship; we can do it again. We can board them. Don’t be afraid.”

  “But you should regenerate.”

  “My shield did while we dressed. It’s time to party.”

  A sound at the door separated their embrace and Benz called for whomever it was to enter.

  “Cobra.” Caris thought he sounded surprised. “What’s happened? Why aren’t you on the main deck?”

  “The new ship picked up Ankou.”

  “Dammit.” Caris found herself pressed tighter to Benz inside the shield. And darned if the shield didn’t seem pissed.

  “Benz, the Angano have joined the battle with their own warship. Dranos has brought them. Keep your mate safe. And leave that fur ball here.”

  Benz followed Cobra from the room and they were on the move to the main deck. Caris could see out the huge window. A massive war vessel was engaged with another war vessel. One vessel was blood red, the Annihilators, fitting. The other was gray to pale and almost see through.

  Both ships were firing torpedoes. A few came from Cobra’s vessel.

  “Cobra we’re ready to engage in transport,” Rask shouted.

  “Engage,” Cobra bellowed.

  When the black hole opened, the warriors slipped through and were met with many on the other side. Caris was stunned, she could see through the hole. Hundreds of Annihilators were waiting. If it was possible Benz’s shield tucked her closer. Caris closed her eyes after watching Annihilators lose limbs. The Castians were merciless when fighting the enemy.

  Giants with long flowing white hair were visible when she peeked. Huge monsters with red laser eyes cut men in half. She thought she might vomit until her vitals were forcibly controlled.
She worried for a second she would take too much energy from Benz. A sense of cockiness washed over her. If the shield were capable of winking she guessed it just did.

  Annihilators were screaming in agony while the frantic sound of a horn blared. The enemy warriors were outnumbered and dying. They hadn’t counted on being boarded. Their superior ships didn’t protect them in hand-to-hand combat. The sound of a retreat blared and the Annihilators were gone. Only two other ships lingered.

  When it was over, Caris was introduced to a dangerous-looking man. He was handsome in a rugged way. Definitely a warrior to be reckoned with. She had seen him battle. His wings smashed the enemy to the ground. One wing had a small tear in it and she wondered if it happened today. To her surprise Benz let his shield drop and she slipped lightly to the ground. Cobra approached.

  “Caris this is Dranos. Dranos can tell Ankou is still mind searching for you. It appeared he got away again. He is now their leader. His father can no longer stand in his way of obtaining you.”

  “Shouldn’t I be shielded?”

  “You are,” was Dranos’s response. His voice was deep and alluring. He was stunning with his flowing long white hair, deep blue lips and red eyes. He was taller than Benz, close to seven feet. His chest was bare of hair but each arm sported three horizontal lines of a white fur across the massive forearms. He wore hip hugging black pants and large boots making his feet appear canoes. The idea almost made her chuckle.

  “The Angano are beings capable of great mind power. With all of them shielding you, there isn’t any way for Ankou to locate you. Caris, you know where the Angano planet is as well. We need you to learn to shield your own mind,” Cobra said.

  “How?”

  “Don’t be afraid,” Dranos said. “I’m going to help you.”

  Caris stiffened. She understood his words but they were clipped with strange growls and grunts. Benz wrapped an arm around her and tilted her chin.

  “Caris, Dranos can enter your thoughts,” Cobra said. “By doing so, he can alter greater access to your brain with the help of the Angano. Shielding you is important to them as well. I think it’s the real reason they came. No one wants an Annihilator finding them vulnerable on their planet while they kill from the sky. It won’t hurt and you won’t feel different. But Dranos can make sure Ankou doesn’t find you.”