“He wasn’t trying to be mean, but he might be right. I’ve lived a sheltered life in the compound, and I haven’t done any traveling, so my exposure to the outside world has been filtered by Kayn and those loyal to him. I wonder if my parents knew any of this.”
“Most likely they didn’t. Ms. Willow made it sound as if they were as unaware as you are, and I think she preferred it that way. She wanted to get you and your parents away when she learned the truth, but she also wanted you all to be happy for as long as possible.”
Alyssa buried her head in her hands to cry in silence, Sebastian laying a hand on her leg. After a minute, he scooted onto the bed next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as she leaned into his chest and sobbed quietly.
“It’s late. It might be a good idea to pick this up after the funeral. Give you some time to recover. Would you like to go back to Ms. Willow’s now?”
“Not yet. I think I just want to lay here in the quiet for a little while.”
“Okay. I’m sorry you have to go through this. Get some rest, and I’ll check on you a little later.”
“No! I mean... please don’t go. Will you, um, stay here with me? I don’t want to be alone.”
“Anything you want, darlin’.” Sebastian gave her a comforting smile. “I’ll just grab a chair—”
“Would you, uh... hold me? I mean, um, I just…” Alyssa’s breath came in shallow bursts, tears clogging her throat as a strange combination of sorrow and anticipation tightened her chest, her brain and her body at odds with each other. How does he affect me this way? This is so different than when I’m around Kayn.
Sebastian stared at her, indecision playing across his face, and for a moment, his eyes weren’t seeing her, but his focus returned with determination, and he gave her a quick nod. Scooching over, Alyssa laid down on the far side of the bed, facing away from him, so he could fit next to her.
The bed dipped as he tucked his body in behind her, one arm sliding under the pillow and her head, and the other resting on her hip. Without thinking, Alyssa grabbed that arm and pulled it up to her chest, snuggling into him, grateful for his comforting presence.
“Thanks,” she whispered, closing her eyes.
“Sure, darlin’. I’m happy to help.” Sebastian’s quiet, mellow words mingled with her hair. “Consider me a life-size teddy bear.”
“You’re not very fluffy or squishy.”
Sebastian chuckled softly, his warm breath grazing her cheek. “No, I guess not. Should I find someone else who is?”
“No! No, no, you’ll do fine.” Alyssa bit her lip, embarrassed by her boldness.
“Okay.” He rested his cheek against the back of her head. “Just rest, darlin’. You have a tough few days ahead of you.”
Squishing herself down into the bed, she burrowed into Sebastian as much as she could without pushing him over the edge as his arm tightened around her. She soaked in the soothing warmth of his body, letting the silence of the room and the rhythmic sound of his breathing lull her into a calm, unthinking zone, and before long, the heaviness of sleep settled into her body, sucking her under.
***
“Alyssa. Alyssa, it’s time to wake up.”
“Hm? What?”
“Come on, Alyssa, you need to get up.”
Grudgingly, she sat up. Through sleep-gritty eyes, she made out Jordan’s fuzzy face and groaned, flopping back onto the pillows, the faint scent of cinnamon reminding her she fell asleep in dreamy Sebastian’s arms.
“Come on, sleepy head, breakfast is almost over.”
Alyssa bolted up and almost collided with Jordan who had started to lean over her.
“What the hell? Breakfast? How long did I sleep?”
“Bas said you passed out in the meeting and we should let you rest. Said you were freaked by the pictures they showed you. How you doing this morning, girly? Feeling any better?”
“I suppose, but I really don’t want to think about the pictures right now. I should get something to eat, though.”
“Yeah, no problem.” Jordan grabbed her hand, nearly yanking her shoulder out of its socket. “I’ll take you.”
“Um, maybe give me a second to freshen up?”
“Oh, yeah. The bathroom’s over there.”
Alyssa pulled her hand from his, trying to hide how uncomfortable she felt, and dashed to the bathroom to straighten herself up as best she could without a shower or her regular toiletries. Rejoining a grinning Jordan, they headed to the cafeteria.
After Alyssa gathered a tray full of food, and Jordan got a muffin and coffee, they sat at a table near the door. Alyssa dug into her food like a starving puppy, her cheeks burning when she spied Jordan snickering behind his fist.
“I am pregnant, you know, and I didn’t have any dinner last night.”
“Sorry,” he said, looking away and chuckling. “So, you want me to take you back to Ms. Willow’s when you’re done?”
“I thought Sebastian was going to take me?”
“He was—” Jordan hung his head, glaring at the table “—last night. He can’t go to the town during the day, because some of the aliens know who he is. If you want someone else to take you...”
“No, no. I didn’t mean that, Jordan. Of course, I want you to take me. I just wanted to thank Sebastian for being so kind to me last night, since I was in pretty bad shape.”
Jordan perked up, goofy smile back in place. “Ah, well, I’ll let him know.”
“You do know I value you very much, right? You’re a good friend, Jordan, and you’ve come to my rescue twice now. I know how important the coalition is to you and everyone here, and I also know what a risk you took bringing me here. I won’t forget that.”
Jordan’s face fell, looking away, frowning with dejection. “I’m happy to do it, but I hope you don’t think I just befriended you so you would join us. I mean, at first that was why I approached you, but I like talking to you. I want to keep you safe, uh, and everyone else too.”
“Of course you do.” Alyssa gave him a weary smile. “Give me some time to think about everything. My parents’ funeral is this weekend and the whole thing is just so depressing. I really can’t deal with anything else right now.”
“No problem. You want me to come to the funeral?”
“That’s probably not the best idea since Kayn will be there. He might question your presence. Everyone who will be attending will be known to him, and a strange face might make him suspicious enough to set someone following you.”
“True, true—” he bobbed his head “—I don’t need that... we don’t need that.”
Alyssa patted his hand then quickly finished her breakfast, anxious to get back to the comfort of Granny’s house.
***
“Can you get the door, Aly girl?” Granny hollered from the kitchen.
“Yeah, I got it.” Alyssa called back as she bounced down the stairs.
When she opened the door, Jess rushed in with big eyes and pursed lips, followed by Kora who shuffled in wearing her usual dreary clothing and wary expression. Alyssa ushered her in with a welcoming smile and gave Jess a quick hug before leading them to the kitchen table.
“Granny, this is my friend Kora. Kora, this is Granny.”
“Nice to meet you, Kora. You can call me Ms. Willow if you prefer, but I answer to Granny, Gran, old lady... whatever you like.”
“Okay.” Kora muttered her response and gave Granny a meek smile.
“Did you have any trouble getting out tonight?” Alyssa suppressed her irritation with Kora’s ridiculous situation.
“Why would she have any trouble? Those guards not know who you are?”
“No, Granny,” Jess said in a huff. “Kora has a, ahem, let’s say he’s an overprotective mate. Sound right, Kora?”
Kora nodded once, and Jess looked pointedly at Alyssa, as if to say ‘see’. Alyssa’s eyebrows shot up in curiosity.
“How was the ride over?” She looked at Kora then Jess.
“It was pleasantly quiet,” Jess said, rubbing her temple where Kora couldn’t see.
“Did you meet Sen?”
“Nope. Kora came to my quarters.”
“I see.”
“How about some snacks, girls?” Granny expertly cut off the strained conversation.
“Yes, please,” Kora said, nodding and answering like a polite little girl.
“I picked up some more chocolates for you, Kora. I got enough for you to take home if you like. Did you have any trouble with the ones we sent you home with last time?”
“No.” She gave a little shake of her head. “Sen was asleep, so I put them in my nightstand, and only eat them when he’s at work.”
“Your mate doesn’t let you have candies?” Granny scowled, pursing her wrinkled lips.
“I don’t know. He never brings any home. I don’t want to upset him unnecessarily, so I thought it would be best to keep them out of sight.”
“This Sen... I’m guessing he’s Szu’Kara?”
“Yes.”
“I understand.” Granny nodded with a gleam in her eye. “Well, you can come here any time you like. I always have some sort of treats that need eating up. If someone doesn’t help me eat them, I’m going to be too big for my casket when I die.”
“Oh, Granny, don’t talk like that. Especially not now.”
“I’m sorry, baby girl. I was just joking. I’ll be a good girl.”
Granny side-hugged Alyssa. Jess grabbed them both in a three-person hug. Alyssa spied Kora over Jess’ shoulder, who fidgeted with her frayed sleeves, and wondered if the young woman was uncomfortable with the hugging part or the being left out part.
Stepping out of the hug, she grabbed the plates of goodies Granny had put together, each overflowing with chocolates, cookies, brownies, caramels, and just about every treat you could find at the Malt Shop. Granny poured each of them a large glass of milk.
“Eat up, girls. Those candies won’t jump into your mouth on their own.”
When Kora hesitated, Alyssa started stacking treats from each of the dishes onto her plate, her hand fluttering with nervous surprise as Alyssa grinned at her.
“You’re eating dessert for two, you know.”
“So, Alyssa, when will your parents be delivered?” Jess asked, watching Kora out of the corner of her eye.
“They’ll be here tomorrow morning, then we have the viewing starting in the early evening, and the service at the graveside at ten the next morning.”
“Do you expect a lot of people tomorrow?”
“There better be—” Granny harrumphed “—my Melina and James were good to a lot of folks around here, and if the whole town doesn’t turn out, at least for the service, someone’s going to get an earful.”
“Now, now, Granny,” Alyssa said, “don’t get worked up. I’m sure the whole town knows to pay their respects, since they wouldn’t want you knocking down their doors. My question is, are you going to behave when their Szu’Kara friends show up?”
“Of course,” Granny said, crossing her arms and feigning insult. “I’ll be a right fine hostess, regardless of who shows up.”
Alyssa and Jess laughed at Granny’s spectacle while Kora looked on, bemused.
“Kora,” Alyssa said, “are you coming to the funeral?”
“I didn’t know your parents,” she said with big eyes, looking flustered. “Am I supposed to? Is everyone required to attend?”
“No, absolutely not,” Alyssa said. “You don’t have to come, but you can if you want. If you’re not comfortable coming to the viewing or the funeral, you can always stop by for the reception afterwards. There will be lots of food, and I’d really love having another friend here to help me get through the day.”
“I’ll have to ask—”
“Sen, of course. You can always tell him attendance is required, unless you think he would double check on that.”
“I better not do that—” Kora’s eyes flashed with fear. “—but I’ll ask him. Is the commander coming? If he is, then Sen will probably want to come. He’s always looking for ways to impress the commander.”
“Yes, he’ll definitely be at the funeral and the reception. Maybe not the viewing, though.”
Alyssa thought about the last time she saw Kayn. I don’t think I can look at him, much less interact with him at the funeral. How can I pretend everything’s normal between us?
Putting it out of her mind, Alyssa concentrated on the women around her with a wistful smile, grateful to have such caring friends and family. She couldn’t help but think about how great it would be if her parents were sitting at the table with them, eating candies and chatting with Kora.
“Aly, you okay?”
“Hmm...? Oh, yeah, sorry. I was just thinking about Mom and Dad. I wish they could’ve met you, Kora.”
“I wish I could’ve met them, too.” Sadness glittered in Kora’s eyes.
“They were such kind people. I could tell the second I met them. That’s why I took them in, and you, my baby girl.”
“I know, Granny.” Alyssa’s voice rasped over a lump in her throat. “I just don’t know how I’m going to get through life without them.”
The lump in her throat burst into a full-on sob, and Jess jumped up to hug her from behind. Alyssa held onto Jess’ crossed arms and allowed the tears to flow unchecked as Kora tenderly touched her arm. Granny got out of her chair, took her plate to the sink, and stood there, staring out the window.
Alyssa felt the tight fist of loss squeezing her heart, her throat clogging up with despair. Jess hummed a quiet tune while gently rocking her from side to side, as the sorrow in the room hung like a thick, dark cloud.
Alyssa had tried her best to stay strong. She hadn’t cried much since she awoke to the knowledge of her parents’ death, proud of herself for holding it together, but worried about avoiding the pain. The few times she’d cried were just droplets from the top of a cracked dam. When would the whole thing shatter, letting the flood of tears wash her away?
Chapter 11
An overcast sky muted the mourning town, a spring chill calling for warm jackets. The weather broadcast forecast scattered showers, so Alyssa and Granny gathered all the umbrellas from the coat tree for anyone who might arrive unprepared. Granny hoarded things, not junk or trash, but things that could be useful, so with eight umbrellas in hand, they trailed behind the funeral director out to a black limousine.
They followed the hearse to a small cemetery just north of town. These would be the first of Alyssa’s family to be buried in this cemetery, and she briefly wondered where her grandparents might have been laid to rest.
The viewing had been a steady stream of attendees, all human. Isa called early in the day to let her know there’d been an emergency and explained that Kayn chose only Szu’Kara so all the humans could attend the viewing. Alyssa tried to think kindly of Kayn’s consideration but suspicion leaked into every thought of him.
Since seeing the horrible photographs, Alyssa had become more and more convinced Sebastian and the coalition were right, since that kind of violence couldn’t have happened without Kayn’s, or at least, General Ras’ knowledge. There’d been too many Szu’Kara in those pictures for them to be isolated incidents, or to be kept secret, and certainly not from Kayn.
Granny and Lorn siding with the coalition meant something, and add to that Kora’s situation. Jess and Alyssa had managed to pull small bits of information from the shy woman the other night.
Apparently, Kora grew up in a small town on the southern tip of Florida, and when she hit puberty, her father traded her for extra supplies and credit for future trading at the Florida compound. She didn’t offer much about her own treatment, but she did say most of the girls, and occasionally boys, were abused in some way. Many were kept as slaves, with the females used for breeding, and the males forced to work in the orchards or crop fields.
Everything Alyssa had learned since her parents’ deaths forced her to rethink all she’d ever know
n of the Szu’Kara, and she couldn’t help but wish she could talk to her mother and father about these things. They were such intelligent people, and would have known how to handle this terrible news.
Now, I have to figure it out on my own. Time to be an adult, a full-on adult. I’m carrying the child of an alien leader that plans to kill off all of humanity. Will I be able to look at my baby without seeing the face of a murderer staring back at me? Please, let this child look human.
When they arrived at the cemetery, a large crowd waited at the gravesite. Granny grumbled to herself, so Alyssa scanned the crowd and saw a good mix of humans and aliens, the aliens most likely the cause of Granny’s ire.
They shuffled arm-in-arm as sympathetic faces watched them approach. Sitting in the chairs reserved for family, Alyssa and Granny stared at the empty holes waiting to swallow the two people they loved most. Tears trailed down Alyssa’s cheeks as she choked back quiet sobs, trying to stay strong for Granny.
The last two nights, Alyssa cried herself to sleep. An emptiness filled her when the caskets carrying her parents arrived, and unable to bear the sight of her dead parents during the viewing, she greeted visitors from the hallway, in a fog, as they politely extended their condolences and kept their visits brief.
Today, Alyssa allowed herself to grieve, within reason. She had to be there for Granny, who looked frailer than ever. The closed caskets hovered over the gaping holes as Alyssa thought how this would be the last time her parents moved ever again. How can they be gone? How?
Shaking her head, attempting to clear her mind of the dread and confusion, she continued to stare at the caskets and the holes, willing them to disappear. The funeral director droned on and on with words that never made it to her ears, sentiments that meant nothing to her, as all she could think about was the graves that would be filled with her mother and father, leaving two giant, black holes in her heart.
She absentmindedly rubbed her hand up and down Granny’s forearm, her eyes losing focus, staring at nothing, her mind thinking of nothing.
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