Caressa Moon (Princess X)

by Rasheedah Prioleau

  The servant walked away and left the room.

  “Agreed.” He assured her.

  She exhaled and smiled.

  Michyle lost himself in Caressa’s smile for a moment and remembered the last time he’d held her in his arms. Suddenly touching her felt like touching fire. He let her go and stood quickly.

  Caressa stood also and backed away.

  “I should get dressed.” She said as her face went flush. She turned and walked away.

  Michyle counted to one hundred and did his best to ignore the perfume that she had left behind. He mumbled to one of the women to keep an eye on Mikaya and keep her entertained.

  When he opened the door to Caressa’s room, she turned as if she had been waiting for him and dropped her nightgown to the floor.

  Caressa knew he would come. She’d felt it in that touch. The first touch they’d shared in five years. He closed the door as her nightgown hit the floor and crossed the room as fast as he could.

  She felt his mouth sear onto hers and pressed her body into his. His mouth kissed a trail over her chin and down her neck. She melted as his mouth landed on her left nipple and then her right. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her to the bed. He was not sure if he wanted a quick release or a slow burn.

  She helped him take his clothes off and pushed him into her before he could make up his mind. He lay over her, but she rocked her hips against him, controlling the motion of their lovemaking. Her breath caught and he knew she was reaching for that climax. He was not ready. He pulled out, kissing her cheek and rubbing her back. She moaned against his chest in sweet disappointment. He climbed down the length of her body enjoying the added fullness of her breasts and hips along the way.

  He kissed a trail all the way between her thighs. He licked her up and down with a hunger that drove him wild. She planted her fingers in his hair and enjoyed the power of his mouth against her core.

  He turned her over, pulling her onto all fours, and entered her from behind. He kissed a trail up her spine, enjoying her tight wetness. She loved the feel of him inside of her. He reached around and rubbed the nub of her womanhood. Her back arched in response, as she tightened everywhere.

  Michyle pressed his lips against her shoulder as he pumped into her over and over again. He felt her breath catch for the second time and swore as he was still not ready to release into her. She stretched as he pulled out and rolled her onto her back. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  She pulled him on top of her and looked him in the eyes. She pulled him close and kissed him deeply and sweetly. Her hands ran across his back memorizing every inch. He felt himself relax under her control. He entered her again and moved rhythmically with her. She wrapped her arms around him and this time it was his breath that caught. She held him tighter and felt her body respond to his rising climax. Her breath caught as he released into her and she came in response.

  They lay spent, but still together, for what could have been five minutes or a lifetime. Neither wanted to move and break the spell that pushed away the last five years. Neither wanted to face that each moment spent together brought them closer to being apart.

  “What are we going to do?” Caressa broke the silence. “I’ll die if I have to leave you again.”

  Michyle had no words. He cradled her head on his shoulder and held her. He didn’t know what they were going to do. But, he knew most certainly that it would not include a lifetime apart from each other ever again.

  Michyle was in the shower when it finally dawned on him what they should do… leave.

  “Where?” Caressa asked when he brought the idea to her.

  “Anywhere out of range.” Michyle reasoned. “Somewhere remote.”

  “My colony.” Caressa breathed.

  “Yes.” Michyle said calmly.

  “How long will it take us to get there?” Caressa asked.

  “The fastest ship will get us there in one month.” Michyle said. “But the journey will be brutal.”

  “Will it get us out of range before Peshra’s magic wears off?” Caressa asked.

  “I think it will.” Michyle said.

  “Let’s go.” Caressa said.

  Caressa set to packing the few things they had brought with them, knowing in her heart that it was a foolish and risky thing to do. However, the way Mikaya had blossomed in the open air and took to the wonderful things on the surface made taking her back seem so wrong.

  She took a moment to close her eyes and called to her mother.

  “You cannot do this.” Lania pleaded.

  “But, when?” Caressa asked.

  Caressa shook her head. “If you could go back and do it all over again, would you have left daddy to save your life?”

  Lania thought long and hard. “No.” She finally admitted. “I would not trade a hundred extra years for the time I had with your father.”

  “Please, mother, you have to help us.” Caressa pleaded. Lania looked away.

  “Okay, but we need time.” Lania said. “Come back underground and we can plan it out together.”

  “No.” Caressa whispered. “I’m leaving today.”

  Lania looked her daughter in the eyes and Caressa knew that she understood. Even as sadness fell over her face.

  Caressa hugged her mother. “Everything will be alright.” She said and then opened her eyes.

  Michyle was waiting for her in the doorway.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” Caressa rose from the bed still in her nightgown. “I was just about to get our things together.”

  “Where do you go when you phase out like that?” Michyle asked.

  “I talk to my mother.” Caressa told him.

  Michyle nodded. “How?” He asked.

  “It’s part of who we are. We can talk to our ancestors. We get our powers from them.” She said.

  “What are your powers?” Michyle asked.

  “I don’t know.” Caressa admitted. “Peshra thinks I’m too old to learn them. But, they didn’t seem to help my mother’s mother anyway.”

  “What do you mean?” Michyle asked.

  “She was captured, tortured, and killed.” Caressa said pushing back her feelings. “Which is why we should leave now.”

  “Okay.” Michyle said. “I’ll be ready to leave in the hour. Where is Mikaya?”

  “She is in the yard playing. I’ll go get her.” Caressa said.

  When Caressa stepped outside to collect Mikaya, her heart stopped at the sight of the servant girl passed out on the ground with no sign of Mikaya. Caressa felt herself become light headed and dizzy. She looked to the left and the right wondering which way to turn.

  Michyle heard Caressa’s screams of terror and dropped everything to run to the sounds of her calling for Mikaya in a high-pitched shriek that sent ice water up his spine and through his veins. She barely noticed as he came to her side and gave orders to have all surveillance lifted and searched.

  He watched, as Caressa seemed to spin in circles and had to catch her as she fainted.

  Twelve hours after Mikaya’s kidnapping, Caressa was sleeping under sedation. Michyle was ready to ask for the same medication himself when a private alert came to him.

  The image in the alert was of his daughter, asleep in the arms of a man that it took Michyle only a few moments to recognize as the third, uncooperative spy on his ship, Lucas.

  Michyle saw red and searched for the origination of the alert. There was none, but the alert told him that the man had boarded a shuttle headed towards Earth with the intent of handing her over to the Universal’s Chief Council. Michyle watched as the video feed confirmed the man boarding the shuttle and the shuttle taking off. He didn’t care where the information came from; now he had a name and a destination.

  He cursed himself for not turning him in all those years ago. He immediately called Justun and told him the situation. Justun insisted on finding transport and docking with them midway to Earth with Chara, and helping them get her back.
r />   Chapter Fourteen

  Caressa woke up on Michyle’s shuttle headed towards Earth. When Michyle explained the situation to Caressa, she felt a sense of dread and loathing that turned her stomach and made her throw up.

  “We are going to meet with Justun and Chara as soon as we touch down on Earth.” Michyle said.

  Caressa was horrified by the lack of resources they had to get her daughter back. As she understood it, they would be nearly a week slower than the shuttle that carried Mikaya and too late to do anything. She wanted to die. She blamed herself for putting her own child in harm’s way. She wanted to go back in time. She wanted to ignore the child’s pleas to see her father. She wanted Mikaya safe and sound back in her arms.

  She went to her mother, ready to die, wanting to feel relief from the guilt and anguish. Her mother bore her pain and pleaded with Peshra for Caressa to be given more time to save Mikaya.

  To the surprise of both of them, Peshra for the first time since her children were threatened, came out of hiding and materialized on Michyle’s ship. She stood with Michyle and Caressa as they journeyed across the stars to save their daughter.

  Relieved to have Peshra’s commitment to their mission, Caressa felt a wave of hope that all was not lost. Justun’s ship docked on theirs, Chara hugged Caressa fiercely.

  “We will get her back.” Chara said.

  Caressa nodded and tried her best not to let herself go crazy with thoughts of what her daughter was going through.

  Michyle was glad to have Justun with him. He was not sure what they would face but, he was sure Justun would not give up just as he hadn’t when they searched for their wives. With less than two days to go, Michyle was surprised when he received a message from a tiny ship with no business being as far away from a larger transport.

  The tiny ship signaled him. When the picture came up, he was enraged to see the hunter Jobarus on the screen.

  “A lot has changed in five years.” Jobarus said before Michyle could speak. He pulled a beautiful red haired woman into view. “This is Silva, my wife.”

  “Hello, Michyle. I am also one of Peshra’s children. I spent the last several years with your wife. Go get her for confirmation, there is not much time. We need to speak and not over the air waves.”

  Michyle hurried to get Caressa, Chara, and Peshra to confirm Silva’s identity. Once they assured him that she was one of them, Michyle allowed Jobarus’ tiny ship to dock and everyone met them in docking station.

  “What is going on?” Caressa asked. “Silva, he is a hunter. He’s killed three of our kind already!”

  Michyle heard the near hysteria rising in Caressa’s voice and placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

  “Peshra asked me to keep eyes on him once you came underground. We wanted to know when it would be safe to send you back to the surface.”

  Everyone turned to Peshra who nodded confirmation.

  Silva took in a deep breath and then took Jobarus by the hand.

  “We fell in love and I told him who I was.” She said. “We married two years ago and now I carry his child. That is how I knew he was no longer a threat to us, but an ally. He’s the one that sent you the alert telling you who took Mikaya and where.”

  “My God.” Michyle spat out. “How did Lucas know?”

  “We stopped on their colony before coming to see you.” Caressa whispered. “To take Chara home. He must have seen us there and followed us.”

  “Lucas sent me a message when you surfaced.” Jobarus said. “I told him that I would look into it and blew him off. I didn’t know he would take matters into his own hands. He sent me a message that he had the girl and I immediately sent you the alert.”

  “Where is she?” Caressa asked.

  “The Universal will be waiting for them as soon as they arrive.” Jobarus said. “I’ve been reassigned to Earth as an instructor. So, the Council contacted me to ask for my… expertise.”

  “In what?” Michyle felt his blood boil.

  “Because she is young, they want to know if it is possible to raise her as human and have her access her powers to use for the Universal.”

  “What?” Caressa screamed.

  “I told them it was possible.” Jobarus said. “I thought it was the only way that maybe they wouldn’t hurt her.”

  Caressa willed herself not to throw up again. “My daughter is with them now? You’ve seen her?” Caressa asked.

  “She was under heavy sedation in the Universal medical facility, but all of her vital signs appeared to be strong.” Jobarus said.

  Caressa shook her head in disbelief.

  “So, what chance do we have now?” Caressa asked feeling nothing but despair.

  “We will go to Earth and get our child back.” Michyle said through clenched teeth. “Or die trying.”

  “Elder Shaundy wants you to know that he is a friend.” Jobarus continued.

  “Who is that?” Caressa asked.

  “He is a kind man.” Peshra said. “We have had eyes on the Council for centuries. He is one that has been friendly to us, and the rebellion that wants to overthrow the Universal. His family has been deeply affected by their harsh rule.”

  “He will help us?” Caressa asked feeling her hope return.

  “Yes. When you get to Earth, you should go to his habitat first and he will help you get Mikaya back. I will work with the Universal and make sure no harm comes to her.” Jobarus assured her.

  “We shouldn’t have to go through any of this.” Caressa felt angry that their fate was in the hands of a man that had started all of their troubles. “Why didn’t you just leave us alone?”

  Caressa looked directly at Jobarus, who looked down.

  “I should have.” He said shamefully. “No matter what happens, please know that I will I spend my last trying to make this right.”

  All Caressa could do was shake her head.

  Michyle took her in his arms.

  “Everything will be okay.” He said.

  Caressa took in his strength and allowed herself to continue to hope. She thought of Mikaya’s smile and could not believe that she lived in a world that would destroy such a beautiful child.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Caressa stood alone on the bridge of Michyle’s ship. Once again she’d had to fight off the effects of cabin fever. But, she didn’t let it keep her in bed. She looked out of the window and past the stars to the planet they called Earth. For the moment it was a murky, grey orb.

  Caressa thought about the nuclear holocaust that had destroyed the Earth and made it uninhabitable except under dome habitats. It had become a home for orphans, prisoners, and soldiers. It was the home base of the Universal Peace Keeping Corps, better known as the Universal. Caressa knew the peace they offered came with a price that could cost her daughter’s life.

  As Caressa imagined the label of alien prisoner that would be placed on her darling child now in the possession of Universal, a repulsive shudder ran through her entire body. Their alien lineage made them a threat to the Universal. They would not see her, Mikaya, as a just a child. It had been nearly a week since her abduction by an opportunist desperate to make a name and a profit for himself by handing over the defenseless child.

  Caressa thought about what had happened to her grandmother at the hands of the Universal. She’d been told of the seemingly endless torture. The experiments that the Universal conducted on her people in the hopes of harnessing the power they possessed were horrendous.

  “It’s late.” She turned to her husband, Michyle, who must have just woken up to find her gone as usual. She knew he would know that he’d find her on the top deck. With the Earth finally in full view, her gaze was obsessively fixed on it, trying to look through the murky haze, she only saw their precious daughter’s face in its distant outline.

  “Is this what it was like for you? All of those years without her, wondering…” Caressa trailed off as the hollowness of her heart ate away at her. She’d kept her child hidden away for five
years, to protect her from the Universal. But, it had also kept them both away from Michyle.

  “As bad as it was, all of those years, it was nothing like this.” Michyle admitted. “I believed that the two of you were at least safe and… alive.”

  Caressa heard the wavering in his voice as he said that final word. “They are just that vicious, aren’t they?” A fresh wave of tears poured from her eyes. Michyle walked to her side and put his arms around her. “They are going to kill her.” She sobbed.

  She could see Michyle’s frustration at being able to do little to ease the horror of the situation. He’d just met their daughter and she was once again ripped away from him. Caressa allowed him to pull her away from the window and back to their room.

  She lay next to Michyle and centered herself. She thought of the lake on her home colony Elle Star on the very distant planet of Eveanus that she had loved so much, so long ago. She remembered the gentle embrace of the water, her only love before she met Michyle. The only thing she ever had to lose before she’d had her daughter.

  The grief was unbearable. She reached out to her mother and her ancestors for help. She could do this when she was centered. When she needed them, she could call them and they would come. Her mind and spirit were transported to the lake, a place of comfort from her childhood. In that place of being centered, her mother and matriarchal ancestors met her.

  “You’re hurting.” Her mother, Lania said.

  “I want to shut it off.” Caressa once again felt the hollowness in her heart. “Can I just stop feeling?”

  “No. Our human side gives us these human emotions, but our alien power amplifies them. It is what drove my mother to try and find me regardless of the danger. It is was led to the grief I felt at her death, knowing it was my fault. The pain took me over and I could do nothing but die as well.” Lania admitted.

  “It is my fault.” Caressa said. “I should have kept her hidden. I should never have left the safety of Peshra’s protection. I tell myself I did it for her but…” She thought of Peshra, the first mother of her alien lineage. She’d been warned of the danger but ignored them. She’d been ready to run away from Peshra completely, back to her home colony, far from Universal reach.