by Jenny Foster
Just a few more feet, and she would be there. The hangar with the emergency capsules was over there. Her feet slowed.
She took the single dragon scale out of her pocket and looked at it again. Was it really worth it?
She brushed her index finger over the golden tip and exclaimed when the sharp edge cut through her skin. A drop of blood appeared, and she put her finger in her mouth. The pain was disproportionate for such a tiny wound, she thought, and looked at the tip of her finger. The burning and itching started at the tip of her finger, and spread until her hand, and then finally her whole arm tingled. It felt like someone what giving her constant electric shocks.
She could barely breathe. The liquid fire kept spreading through her veins. She felt like her whole body stood in flames.
Her heart sputtered, and then she felt the lava in that organ, too. Stars danced in front of her eyes. She wanted to lean against the wall, but all she could see was a red, shimmering fog in front of her eyes. Her heart beat once, then stopped, only to beat again and again in a rhythm that sounded like dull drums in her ears.
Then, just as quickly as it had started, the pain disappeared again. She looked down at her finger. It was throbbing lightly – nothing else. She couldn’t even see where she had stuck herself!
So little blood, so much pain. Sally felt her knees go soft. She saw her mother’s face in her head, crying first for her son, and then for her father, who had both fallen in the war. Her stomach cramped as she thought of what her mother would say to her if she knew about Sally’s mission. No, her mother would never approve of what she was doing, right now – even if it meant giving up her own life. This is what all humans above the age of fifty were facing, due to the scarcity of resources. Sally stared at the dragon scale which was lying in the palm of her hand, little and innocent. If she fled back to Earth now, if she betrayed Zavir and his people, then her father and brother would have died in vain.
She fell to her knees. There were only a few days remaining until her mother’s fiftieth birthday. Captain Jack had done everything within his power to get a delay, but even he had been unsuccessful. If she didn’t report the success of her mission as soon as possible, there was no doubt the ministry would pick her mother up and liquidate her. Sally’s throat constricted and she felt the tears well up in her eyes. “Damn it,” she mumbled and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. If she decided to return to Earth, the warmongers would unleash the next struggle for power, but this time, under different circumstances. They would be well on their way to being invincible, with the help of a new and stronger race. If she decided to stay with Zavir, her mother would die.
No matter how she decided, Sally would have to live with her choice. Her heart beat painfully in her chest. Sally held the hand with the dragon scale to her chest. She could not make a decision right now, not now, not here.
She needed time. Even if it was only twenty-four hours. She could use that time to try to find a way. That was still better than nothing.
The sound of footsteps tore her from her self-pity. She rose and anxiously looked for a place to hide. At least the hallway leading to the hangar wasn’t brightly lit. Towards the back of it, she saw an alcove in the shadows. It wasn’t an ideal hiding place, but it was the only one. The other option was to turn around and walk towards the soft, almost sneaking sound.
At the same moment she thought this, she knew that wouldn’t stand a chance. Anyone who snuck around a spaceship in the middle of the night like that was up to no good. Just like her. As quickly as her trembling legs allowed, and as quietly as possible, she hurried to the alcove. The steps came closer. Sally pressed herself back into the wall as far as she could, and tried to remember Captain Jack. He had taught her things such as “become one with the shadows” and how to take out an opponent with one well-aimed hit, but Sally had the feeling that those lessons would be of no use in a situation such as this. It was one thing to train in a group of recruits. It was a completely different thing actually to be operating in enemy territory.
The steps fell silent. She didn’t dare breathe. Stars danced in front of her eyes. How far away was this person who was sneaking through the halls? If it was one of the dragon shifters, and if Zavir’s superb sensory perception was any indication of his race’s abilities, then she was out of luck. Her heartbeat drummed loudly in her ears, and she felt like she was panting rather than breathing. A dragon shifter would find her for sure.
What was he doing, anyway?
Why was he so damn quiet?
At that moment, she heard a voice. It was a woman who spoke. Sally couldn’t be sure just how far away she was, because even though the sound was dampened, the voice echoed down the walls in the hallway.
“It’s me,” the woman said. The way she said the words seemed familiar to Sally. She heard a sigh. Even from this distance, Sally could hear how tense the woman was. “Okay, okay.” Another pause. “This is Hornet. Code word Wyvern.”
What … Wyvern was an old-fashioned designation for dragons. Sally’s thoughts raced. Her code word was Drakonis, and her identity in a conversation with Captain Jack was Queen of the Bees. Someone else had a mini transmitter, just as she had and, unless Sally was completely wrong, they were talking to Captain Jack. How many more women had he hired to get at the genetic material?
“Just as you predicted, the leader has made contact with the Queen of the Bees.” They were talking about her and Zavir! She almost couldn’t resist the urge to sneak a peek around the corner. “I am 99 percent sure that intercourse has taken place. He took her to his quarters with him.” Sally turned ice cold when she heard the next words. “Good. I understand. I will put off my return until we are sure. Ys, I have made sure that his first officer will adhere to our agreement. Don’t worry.” The conversation partner on the other end of the line spoke for so long, that Sally thought she wouldn’t be able to stand it for another second, and would either faint from the strain, or would have to take a look to see who was talking about her, like she was an animal. “Yes, I understand. I will …” The woman’s voice became softer and softer until even the echo didn’t reach Sally. “…tage. Understood. Hornet, out.”
The steps faded away. It took a long time for Sally to dare come out from her hiding place. She felt nauseous and lightheaded as she made her way back to Zavir’s quarters. At least she hadn’t lost her sense of direction, along with her mind. Captain Jack had fooled her from the beginning. Or was the other woman’s assignment only to make sure that she arrived safely back on Earth with the relevant sample?
No. Sally had felt something dark behind the woman’s words; something that went beyond the simple theft of a scale. She couldn’t quite understand the reasoning behind any of it yet.
Right now, all she needed was a quiet place where she could think in peace. Visions of the bed she had shared with Zavir, less than an hour ago, appeared in front of her eyes. She saw herself lying in his arms, feeling safe. The temptation to go to him and tell him about everything was so big that she stopped and pinched her arm, before she opened the door. She needed a clear head. What she didn’t need was a heart that was foggy with sentimental feelings, and was doing cartwheels because of a little sex.
But when she opened the door to his quarters, and saw him sitting up in bed, Sally knew that she was in trouble.
Chapter 4
The Betrayal
Her job wasn’t made any easier by the fact that he was completely relaxed and was also naked, except for a light pair of pants. He had put a pillow behind his back and had crossed his arms behind his head. At least anything that might have distracted Sally was covered. At least, that’s what she told herself, as she slowly stepped into the room. Just knowing how he was built; how he smelled and how he felt inside her – all of these things were enough to make her blush. Sally approached him, as if drawn by a magnet; pulled irresistibly by the look in his green eyes. While she was moving towards him, her head tried to analyze what she was feeling.
She
didn’t stand a chance.
Her head couldn’t understand her emotions. Time seemed to slow down. Nothing existed, other than her and the man who was looking at her. She had hoped to be able to sneak back into the room, secretly, but to be honest, she hadn’t expected her absence to go unnoticed. With a feeling that was close to shock, Sally realized that she might have even hoped that he would confront her. In that case, she would have to confess everything – and someone else, someone who was stronger than she was, would take the decision from her, about what to do. Was this love? No, Sally didn’t think so. Not yet. But it was the beginning of something one could call trust.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
Sally came closer, her heart beating wildly. Now or never. Truth or lie. Trust or betrayal. Life or death.
She opened her mouth, but the only thing that came out was a croak. To her dismay, she noticed that tears were running down her face. Zavir got up faster than she could blink, and stood towering above her.
His hand went around her upper arm. His naked torso was covered in scales, and they were fully extended. The calm was gone. The worst thing, however, was the look on his face. His eyes were those of a dragon, and his mouth, cheeks and forehead were changing, all while she was staring at him, mesmerized.
It was a sight she would never forget, for its ruthlessness had something scary, and also beautiful, to it.
The dragon also showed itself in Zavir’s voice. He spoke in a dull and guttural tone.
“Why did you come back?”
Sally froze. Her hand took on a life of its own and shot out, holding her bounty out to him. “Take it,” she whispered with a flat tone. “I don’t want it anymore.”
“You mean, you don’t need it anymore,” he spewed at her.
“What … what do you mean by that?” She looked at him, confused. Zavir let go of her arm and took a step back, as if he didn’t want to get too close to her. She had earned that, even if it hurt.
“You have my sperm inside you, and are probably carrying my child. That was your intention, was it not?
“You knew I had an assignment?” Sally felt anger awakening in her. “You were playing with me the whole time, you bastard!” They stepped closer to each other, at the same time, until their bodies were touching.
She didn’t believe in love at first sight, but what then, was Sally feeling? Zavir stared into her eyes and she thought she saw something similar in his. He had bought a woman, so he could procreate, and what had he received? Her. Was this more than he had expected, or less?
“What do you want from me?” she whispered, and wished she could take the words back. She was afraid of his answer.
Her heart was racing as if she had just run a marathon, and stars were dancing before her eyes. Was this anger, still coursing through her veins, or was this something different, something equally hot? Zavir pulled her to him at the same moment that she threw her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to her. He leaned down towards her. She saw his nostrils flare and his eyes widen. For a second, the green was swallowed by the black of his pupil, until the dark ring retreated, becoming a narrow slit. He inhaled loudly, exhaled and took another deep breath.
Their lips met. Adrenaline rushed through Sally’s body, accompanied by lust and something else that she didn’t recognize right away.
The tip of Zavir’s tongue brushed her upper lip and explored her lower one. He nibbled gently, before penetrating her mouth with his tongue. Sally opened her eyes. Zavir was still caught in a state between dragon and man, and in a way that even she herself didn’t understand, she almost liked this Zavir better. His kiss was demanding, and he wasn’t satisfied with just letting their tongues dance with each other or with pressing his mouth on hers. His whole, scale-armored body kissed hers and set her on fire.
As quickly as he had grabbed her, he let her go again. The dragon disappeared and she was standing face to face with a man again. “I am going to ask you one last time. Why did you come back?”
She sank to her knees. Sally didn’t care that she was losing her dignity. “I had no choice,” she whispered. He towered threateningly above her. Then he smiled in a way she could only describe as triumphant and possessive. “If you aren’t strong enough to make your own decision, then I will do it for you.” He grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder, just as he had done once before. He made his way towards the hangar, as she had done only ninety minutes earlier. The hallways were still deserted. The only sound to break the silence was the barely noticeable noise his naked feet made on the smooth floor.
After what seemed like forever, Zavir stopped and put her down. He went to the door that had been his target, and put a finger on the scanner. The doors slid open silently. She followed him into the hangar, and saw all of the mini ships parked in neat rows. Zavir went to the closest one and activated it with a hand scan.
“Here. It’s all yours,” he said, indicating the small entryway. “Do you know what they are going to do to you down there on Earth when they find out that you are pregnant with a dragon shifter’s child?”
“I am not pregnant,” she replied, defiantly. “We only slept together once.” She thought of the unknown woman’s words. She had called Sally the Queen of the Bees.
“That is enough to receive a child,” Zavir said coldly. He didn’t take his eyes off of her for one second. Sally looked at him. He was right, but that wasn’t what made her hesitate. She put her hand on her flat stomach. Her eyes went to the capsule and then back to him. “Even if you aren’t, they will still extract my semen from you, freeze it, and fertilize other women so they can reach their goal.”
She looked at Zavir, speechless. Nobody could make up something that horrible, not even a dragon shifter from a strange galaxy. It had to be the truth.
“Do you want to know how I found out about your mission?”
His voice sounded calm. Sally was cold. She closed her fist around the single scale and enjoyed the pain as the tip bit into her hand. Zavir continued, undeterred. “Your captain sold you out. You are a diversionary tactic, irresistible bait, supposed to lead me into a trap.”
She felt the color drain from her face.
“What do you mean? I … don’t understand.” Sally shook her head.
Zavir looked at her with an unreadable expression. “Captain Jack gave me the mission of getting a single dragon scale.” She held out her hand to him. The blue and gold of her loot blurred in front of her eyes.
“Captain Jack sent you here to seduce me.”
“Surely he would have told me that!” Even she could hear her deep desperation over Jack’s betrayal.
“Not if he was really clever. And he definitely is, that devious bastard. The less you know, the less you can reveal.” She shook her head again, but Zavir came closer and held her head still between two fingertips. “We are dragons, Sally. We hear, see and smell everything a thousand times better than you can imagine. If you had come here with the intention of seducing me, and leaving here with my child in your stomach, I would have noticed that immediately. Before we ever slept together. Your heartbeat would have given you away.” He put a hand on her chest. “The way your lips twitch and the way you wrinkle your nose when you aren’t telling the truth,” he touched her nose with his finger tip and then brushed her lips, “are more revealing than you can imagine.” He paused and raised her chin, until she was forced to look into his eyes.
Sally swallowed dryly “But why did you sleep with me, then, if you knew that it was a trap?”
“A trap is only a trap if you don’t recognize it as one.” It was almost unbelievable, but Zavir smiled.
A shiver went through her entire body when she realized that the man who was standing in front of her was absurdly relaxed, just as if she had met his expectations.
For a second, she felt sympathy for Captain Jack, who had gotten himself into a game that went far beyond his power.
In a crazy way, she felt relieved that her agend
a had gone up in smoke. The lines were drawn. Zavir knew she had let Captain Jack use her. She owed him nothing. She was free.
But that wasn’t exactly right. Her mother was still down there on Earth. How many more days, exactly, until her birthday? Panic flooded her body. She started to tremble. Captain Jack wasn’t the only one up to his neck in trouble.
She looked at Zavir. Was he a man who could help her? She took a deep breath. “Fine,” she said, trying to calm the uncontrollable trembling in her limbs. “So, I am the diversionary maneuver.” Another thought came to the surface. How had Jack been so sure that Zavir Tharok would choose her as his prey? “I suggest we work together and teach Captain Jack a lesson.”
Was that amusement flashing in his eyes? Probably yes, but even so, Sally didn’t have the feeling that Zavir was laughing at her. Rather, she thought he was laughing about the stupidity of the man who thought he could fool Zavir.
****
“Come,” Zavir said, pointing with his head at the sofa when they arrived back in Zavir’s quarters. “Tell me what you think we should do.”
He was curious, but the tone in his voice made it clear that he really didn’t need her.
She followed him to the luxuriously upholstered furniture and was engulfed in the soft arrangement of pillows and blankets. Contrary to her, Zavir sat down elegantly and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He looked at her expectantly.
“If I am the diversion, then the logical question is what I was supposed to distract you from,” Sally offered bravely. She couldn’t tell if Zavir was listening or not. He didn’t even blink. “When I … was on my way to one of the escape pods earlier, I heard a woman speaking to Captain Jack.” He raised an eyebrow and Sally understood immediately what he meant. “I was hiding, and she didn’t know that anyone was listening. She identified herself with the code name, Hornet, and gave the code word. Captain Jack gave me a similar code name and word to use in the event that I needed to contact him.”