by Mirren Hogan
And it looked like he was. However, I couldn't believe my eyes as I read his file, especially when I looked at his race. "Half Arcadian?" I whispered to myself. That couldn’t be correct, and yet, they had pictures of him, pictures of him without his gray cloak that he always wore. I tried to remember if I've ever seen him without it, and I had not. But the markings on the back of his head were plain as day. In less they faked these, then my own commander that taught us to kill money bloods, that taught us to kill these creatures because humans had a right to rule the universe, is not even human himself.
I no longer cared if I was found as I fell to the ground ripping out my hair and screamed in English. I didn't know which way was up; what more to believe. I was a prisoner here being brainwashed to believe that these creatures deserve just as much as humans did, and I've been lied to back at home my whole life as I dedicated to fighting for somebody who was not who he said he was.
Guards came running, and I was almost certain this time that they were going to kill me. This is the end of my life. And suddenly I didn't want it to be. I wanted to fight for my life. I wanted answers, and I didn't want to die for a man who had lied to me to get me to fight for him. What was he even wanting? Why was he fighting against his own kind? I didn't pretend to know. I realize that I was nobody and I knew nothing.
I let myself be carried out of there by the guards picking my legs up and going numb. I was dropped on the ground and dared to look up to see I had been brought into what seemed to be the private chambers of their leader, Kaia.
"Leave us, motioning, she said with authority, making the guards leave. What? Left for her to kill me herself? I had my head bowed, sobs coming without permission. I cannot remember the last time I cried, but I knew it had been at least a decade. I was at the lowest of my lows. "What did you see?"
"I couldn't even begin to describe what I saw. The trail. Lies. And I don't know who is lying, but I don't know if I can live with myself if he is who I think he is."
There was a strained silence that passed between us before she said anything again. "I don't suppose you would believe me if I told you that those records were entirely accurate. Your leader, the current leader of the galaxy watchers, is not human. Well, at least not by your definition. We do not tell your people when they come here because they would not believe us. They follow him with loyalty, and blindly. Because he is a good commander. Because he is persuasive. Despite the disgust that I have for him, I can respect that in him. He's a formidable foe. Though, I see the rest of you as his little sheep, doing his bidding without understanding what they were fighting for."
I bit my lip and taste of the coppery blood that I drew because of it. It was myself I was angry at. Any other time, being compared to a sheep would've made me lash out, but I had no will to now. I could see now that she was right. Despite how wrong and horrible I had been, she had been kind to me. She had given me a place; offered me a home. Offered me a place where I could still fight, where I could still have a resolve even when I found out the truth. I looked up at her reverently and knew that the obsession I've been afraid that I had, because of being brainwashed, was not that it all. In the weeks that I had spent here, I've been falling in love with this woman. The only woman I ever met with the kind of authority that I could respect and a beauty that also enchanted me and yet didn't take away from her power. I would be honored to be killed by her.
"I accept whatever punishment you feel necessary. In my death, I hope that the Lord has mercy on my soul, for I have sinned in my beliefs. I have followed a man that I thought I knew but did not. For that I am sorry."
"Have you learned nothing from your time here?" She raged, and for the first time I heard pure anger in her voice and looked up. There was fire in her eyes as she stared that me. "I do not go around killing good people. I kill when I have to, in order not to be killed. I kill to protect my people that is it. You are no longer a threat. You haven't been a threat. That's why have been trying to give your freedom."
I could hear something, feel something in her rage that I didn't expect. Did she feel something for me too? Without even thinking I stood up and ran to her clasping her face in my hands even though her power was so much more than mine here. She was my commander, and as my lips landed on hers, I tasted that power. I tasted her sweetness, the salty, the good, and the bad. But I didn't dare let go now that I had a taste of what I had been missing. I’d been too busy following the wrong man.
I pulled back and knew that everything in me had changed on a cellular level. This was love. This was life. And I had wasted so many years in true ignorance, not living it.
“I want to fight,” I said. I had been raised to believe one thing, but this beautiful creature in front of me had changed every cell in my body with her alien beauty. Now, I would fight to the death to defend that which I used to hate.
“And you shall.”
Chapter 3
For weeks, I had been training others, working with the resistance in order to bring them up to my skill level; the only skill level that could beat someone like Raul. My nights were plagued by nightmares of meeting my commander again, of going back to him; facing his wrath for my betrayal. Through it all, there was her.
Kaia was my rock. I was falling deeply for her, and she comforted me on those nights where I felt like I was suffocating. I was suffocating from the guilt, from the lies, and from the truth. And she surrounded me with her own oxygen. My love was something different. While her kisses were magical, it wasn't about that. The physical affection had not gone beyond their unit, but it didn't have to first to know that we were supposed to be with each other. We were one. At least, that's what I was feeling.
She had given me a purpose again, one that actually meant something. She made sure that my transition had been easy despite the fact that everyone on this planet had a reason to despise me. Instead, she helped me earn respect. In addition to the training of them, all would learn how we would defeat the galaxy watchers. We would do it with blood we would do with fairness. Everyone would get their chance to learn the truth and make a choice. That was the way to righteousness.
I stared at the black cloak on my bed, and my hands trembled as I approached it. It was part of who I now was, my possession now since I began training the others, but it felt wrong. I had donned my grey cloak for so many years that donning another didn't feel sane. I also didn't feel like I deserved to pretend to be one of them. Sometimes I thought I never would truly be one of them.
But as we prepared to leave to go to a local small base of the galaxy watchers and convince them to either come to our side or will be lost souls, in the expansive universe, forever, I knew that I needed to wear what my comrades were wearing.
With my hands, I slipped on the black cloak and found it to be heavier in a way. Had more meaning to it. There was more that I had to accomplish wearing this than I ever did, that I was ever meant to with my grey cloak on.
"You look sexy in black." I turned around to see that Kaia was there, standing in the doorway and looking me over. The sideways smirk was on her face. I didn't like the way that she could sneak up on me and how vulnerable she made me, but her comment and the look in her eyes sent chills down my spine. I knew the day that we decided to consummate this love that it would be a heartbreaking pleasure.
"Are you sure you should come with us today?" I asked her, changing the subject. I kept thinking that a mission like this didn't need the leader. I was so used to Raul only coming out for those large important conquests. He always had someone else fight his battles. Before, I thought it was a good military strategy, but now I believed it to be the sign of a coward.
"I will be fine, if that's what you're worried about. Besides, I had to find something to sink these teeth into eventually." I try not to cringe as she showed her fangs and ran her tongue over them. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was still sensitive about that even though I was falling in love with her. The idea of her having to drink blood from people just
still didn't hit me the right way. But I didn't want to upset her.
I said little as I got myself prepared for the fight. A small group of galaxy watchers had gathered on a nearby planet, probably preparing for more to come, to get ready to strike us. We all wanted them vulnerable to infiltrate and possibly win them over before the others came. They would be our Trojan horses so to speak. It was funny how many centuries ago that story was written down, and yet, it was so so relevant today in combat. It was still one of the best strategies around. Nothing could replace the element of surprise, as I learned the hard way when I arrived here.
By nightfall I was no longer in the place had been calling home now for a few months. Gathering in the shadows, coming off of our small ship, I can’t believe that Kaia took the lead. She was female, meaning that the galaxy watchers could see her as a weaker link, not understanding the dynamics here, plus she was the commander. Generally, weren't they to be in the middle, being protected? But she insisted, so I chose to be right there with her. I couldn't believe my own thoughts as I knew that if it came down to me or her, I would make sure it was me that went. I had been prepared to die many times in my life, and to die for her, it would be completely worth it. I would only regret not having more time with her.
I was surprised when they were willing to hear us out and let us talk. Though, I had my eyes on them the whole time. I knew it was just a matter of time before at least one of them lashed out.
I was right. They all came out screaming at once with accusations of brainwashing and the doubt in themselves to survive that. What was said was his rule; strong minds, strong minds that can be used for something else. They fear the way to have peace, a way to have trade, a way to live in harmony. They could easily join the resistance, but most just resisted the truth. So, those who loved my comrades turned on me, and three men took me once. That was not something I was prepared for, and as I was distracted keeping my eyes on Kaia. I didn't notice until it was too late that a cut went straight to my stomach. There's almost no way to get there and not hit something vital. Infections are common, even in this age, when it came to cuts like this.
I fell to the ground as I heard Kaia call for a retreat. The wounded were dragged, others running back to their ship as they are being chased; the galaxy watchers crying out victoriously. I have failed again, and as my eyes flutter closed from the loss of blood, the last thing I saw were the tears of blood, running down her face.
I woke up in a bed, a bed that I was now familiar with. It had been given to me once I became a member of this community. I felt the pain, the sting of my injury. I dared to look down at my almost bare body, save for my briefs, a bandage wrapped around me many times to keep the wound safe and clean.
That's when my eyes met hers, and she was sobbing on the side of the bed. The minute our eyes met, though, the look turned to one of almost hatred. I went to cock my head to the side questioningly, but even that small movement caused me to scream due to the pain. "How dare you get hurt like that. How dare you get distracted and try to leave me behind. I've never felt this way about anyone. That's why I've fought so hard for you to find your place here, and the Nico squandered away because you're so worried about what's happening to me. I will be fine, dammit. Don't you see what you did to me?" No matter the pain I pulled her near and with that, our lips meeting each other.
"I love you, and I want you, pain be damned."
Chapter 4
I couldn’t believe we were doing this, that we were about to actually meet Raul and his most trusted soldiers in order to end this once and for all. We would either die or he would die, and he would be exposed.
I glanced behind me as the ship landed, all of us pretending to be new recruits I gathered from prisoners on other planets. I had given them all the grey cloaks and donned the one I once wore when my beliefs had been influenced by a liar. I didn't like the way it felt anymore and wished to be in the black of the rebels, but this was for a good cause. We were luring the leader of The Galaxy Watchers right to a whole army of us that could bring him down once and for all. We would let those loyal to him know exactly who he had been the whole time.
Kaia was to my right side, insistent on leading this battle just like any other. I would not have expected any less from such a strong woman. I found it difficult to think that she might be in danger up here with me, that I could lose her today, and it would be all my fault for being so naive in the first place.
I braced myself and stood my ground as the hatch opened from the ship that had just landed; a ship I had once been on myself before I knew the truth of everything. I often thought about that day many times and my choice not to end my life in one way or another. The only explanation I had for it all was fate. I was meant for something, just as I had always thought, that something had just gotten a little twisted for a while.
But most importantly...I was meant for HER.
Raul stepped off the ship, his grey hood covering almost everything including most of his face. I had always thought it was because he had received some injury early on in his recruitments, but now I understood why. It was the same reason the woman I loved sunk into her own cloak now; to hide her true nature.
I pulled off my own hood, showing my face. It wasn’t like he had word on exactly what had become of me. I was his best recruit as far as he was concerned, and I had brought more to The Galaxy Watchers. I had saved more pure humans from servitude and death by the hand of these dirty bloods that were taking over. There was no reason to hide. It made more sense to hide in plain sight.
“Nevin, I always knew that you would become something great for us. Tell everyone behind me why we are here today,” Raul spoke in that fake, kind, leader voice of his, stepping too close to Nevin. So close that Nevin had to hide a smirk threatening to appear on his face. This was going to be much too easy.
“I am here with news, friends,” I said, trying to have the same air of authority that Raul projected because that is what these men would react to, would believe, and respond to. They were soldiers and needed someone to follow until they were completely clean and severed from the cause. I opened arms to them as he spoke so they understood, even subconsciously, that they were going to be welcomed by us as long as they understood. As long as they listened. “I want to thank Raul here for coming here today and bringing all of you.” I smiled and moved towards him, the smile on my face belying my rapid heartbeat and my breathing, I could hardly control. I would have to do this quickly, or he would know what I was up to, and it would all be over.
I went to pat his back but ripped his hood down instead, exposing red eyes and his bare skull which showed his signs of not being a pure human. In fact, below his thin skin rose some unusual ridges. I jumped back from him as Kaia and I both pulled out our weapons, and everyone dropped their hoods to show the truth. “You can all see now that you have been lied to,” I said sternly, meeting each and every face and gauging the confusion and horror on each one. “He is telling you that humans should remain pure, that it is our job to lay down the law and justice by getting rid of dirty bloods, when his blood is just as dirty. He is nothing more than a false prophet. If you come to our side of things we will welcome you with open arms. We will create a true and powerful Galaxy Watchers that protects all of the universe from those like him. Turn your backs and walk away, come to our side, or choose to go down with him.”
I was firm. I did not want to kill all of these people, but I would if that was what would bring peace and absolution. I watched as many came over to us or many got back on the ship to leave, possibly to be threats later or to scatter among the stars and stay quiet forevermore. A very select few stayed by Raul’s side, still looking determined to believe the man that had practically raised them; who made them what they are. It wasn’t something I could fault them for, but I would have to destroy them if they got in our way.
“Don’t you see!” Raul hissed desperately, pacing around like a caged animal. “I started this cause because my own flesh an
d blood did this to me. They ruined me for life. I am disgusting!” Raul spat angrily, but I could see the fear behind his eyes. “I am a sniveling creature because my mother bread with an alien.” His eyes were wild, and I couldn't let him go on anymore.
I nodded my head to give the signal, and those that were left with him chose to come at the army behind me. Kaia and I would work on Raul ourselves.
It was a dance, a dangerous one at that. Raul had trained me, had trained all of us, and I had never known a better swordsman in the universe. It made no difference that two of us were after him, but there was some kind of satisfaction being the one to kill him. I didn't want to ask for any more help, but I knew as I heard Kaia cry out that my pride had gotten the better of me. In desperation and anger, I landed my target, my sword sliding right through his black heart. I didn't wait to watch him drop or bleed out, I turned immediately to Kaia and fell to the ground as I saw her injuries were so great, I didn't know that she would make it.
I fell to my knees, a defeated man in front of her, pulling her head into my lap. “No,” I sobbed. I had just gotten her, just finally found my place in the world. I couldn't lose her. “Is there something I can do to save you?” I whispered to her, and she managed to give a weak nod even as she was paling. “What?” I begged to know. She shook her head. She wasn't going to tell me, but that gave me all the information I needed to know. She needed blood. She was a vampire of sorts after all. But she knew I hated that part of her, at least, I used to. There was nothing about her that could deter me anymore, that could push me away.
I pulled the sleeve of my robes up, exposing my wrist to her and placing it to her mouth where her teeth could bite. She shook her head again.