Embracing Emily (#7 Warriors of Kelon) (13 page)

“Emily, now listen.” He took a commanding, condescending tone.

“Do you dare fucking 'Emily' me! I will live
my
life how I want to live it! I will fuck and marry who I want. I don’t have a father anymore.”

His face hardened into a neutral mask. “In that case, I will tell you he’s no longer on the planet. They took him back to Kelon. I won’t tolerate murderers on my planet, and don’t try to contact him or the others. They don’t want anything to do with you, either.”

Her body shook with rage. She wanted to strangle the man standing in front of her.

“Fuck off and don’t ever come back!” She slammed the door and turned her back against the wood, and then sank down onto the ground, tears blurring her vision, streaming down her face.

Oh, God, he needed her to calm him, and how was she going to survive without him? Helplessness washed over her. A sob broke free, her heart tearing into pieces.

Three weeks later...

Why is it so hard? Surely, people got over heartache? So, why couldn’t she? Emily sighed while she parked the car outside the grocery store.

She leaned forward, pressing her head against the steering wheel. Even after three weeks, she battled to keep the tears at bay.

She felt so hollow and empty inside, the dull numbing pain never went away. Her mind ever replaying the times she spent in his arms, remembering the deep rumble of his voice, the look of love and feel of passion.

She was only been forced out of her bed and apartment by the lack of food in her cupboards and refrigerator. Her movements slow, she has been feeling more and more fatigued as the days dragged by. It took her almost an hour to shower and dress.

Her car and belongings were brought back by non-military movers. She found it difficult to do anything. She ignored television and the newspapers, not wanting to hear any fresh news of the Kelon/human initiative. Even after three weeks, she was prone to bursting into tears at the slightest thing reminding her of Vallarr, and so much did remind her.

She has not been eating well and dropped weight; her body ached and she felt constantly drained of strength. She sniffed and rubbed at her itchy nose, and her head ached. Great, on top of everything, she was coming down with a cold. A stop off at the pharmacy she added to her to do list.

Pulling herself from the car, Emily ambled into the grocery store and grabbed a trolley. She leaned heavily against it when a sudden dizziness swamped her. Damn, she should have ordered her groceries online and had them delivered.

People pushed past her. She tried to bring her body under control and leaned on the cart, not caring if they stared. Deep slow breaths to try and combat the wave of nausea. Okay, maybe a trip to the doctor for something to help with this virus.

Sweat broke out over her skin, and her breathing became laboured.

Oh, God, this is not good. I need help.

“Miss, are you alright?” She opened her eyes to see a young, teenage store attendant staring at her, worry on his face.

Pretend as she may and try as she might, Emily knew she pushed herself too far. “Ambulance, call one, now...” she croaked, her grip slipping from the trolley as she crumpled to the floor, blacking out.

* * * *

Emily drifted back and lights swam before her blurred vision, but she heard voices. Hot, she felt so hot, her body burned. She struggled to focus, to think and listen. Emily guessed she was in hospital from the scents and the beeping machinery around her, something she knew better than most people.

But why was she so hot, her throat dry? She needed water, a cold bath.

“What do you mean, you don’t know what’s wrong with her?”

She winced, recognizing the voice of her father.

She groaned. She hadn’t had time to change her 'who to call in an emergency' card. He must be talking to the doctor at the end of her bed.

“We’ve run a heap of tests. Her body temperature is rising at a rapid rate and we’re doing what we can to bring it down, but we can’t give her any drugs due to the foetuses.

“Your daughter's pregnant.”

“That bastard knocked her up!”

The revelation struck her. She was pregnant? But she couldn’t be, she had been on birth control when she was with Vallarr. Still, his child grew within her?

“I’ve never seen anything like it. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the babies were driving up her temp and causing havoc throughout her body's basic functions. I don’t know how to counter it without terminating the pregnancy.”

“Then, do it; terminate the thing inside her.”

God, no
! She struggled to wake properly and tell her father to go to hell. He didn’t have any power over her, no right to order them to do anything.

“Thing? I will not terminate the pregnancy without the patient’s direct consent. Miss Morland is an adult.”

“You have my consent as her father. Do it!”

“Colonel, I’m going to have to ask you to leave; I have a few options yet to try.”

“No, I want that thing out of her. It’s not human, Doctor! One of those Kelons messed with her and now she’s sick.”

No, no, no, please, don’t let him do it, I want my child, his child!

“Then, I suggest you bring in the Kelon doctor. They would have first-hand knowledge about dealing with human-Kelon pregnancies. Either you contact them, or I will, Colonel.”

Emily liked this doctor; it wasn’t just anyone who could stand up to her dad.

“I’ll have you barred from every medical institution! How dare you refuse me!”

“Threating me, Colonel, will do you no good. Get her help if you care at all for your daughter. Oh...and don’t come back unless you can behave in a more civil manner, or I will have you barred from this hospital!”

Their voices faded when they moved further away. Emily struggled to stay awake.

Baby. She was going to have Vallarr’s baby.

Hot, wet tears streaked down the sides of her face. He would never know...The world faded again into darkness.

* * * *

“Emily, open your lovely eyes for me.” She squinted against the bright lights. She knew this voice. She struggled to pry her eyelids apart.

“Did you give her the correct dose?”

“Do you think I am fresh out of Healer school? Of course, I gave her the correct dose. Solron developed this himself to help them adjust to carrying our younglings.”

Emily licked her lips and opened her eyes, blinking several times. “Hurr?” she croaked, her throat feeling like sandpaper left to wither in the desert sun.

Someone lifted her head and held a cup to her lips. She gratefully drank down the soothing, cool liquid as she looked up over the rim of the cup at Jyl.

“Better?” Jyl smiled kindly, easing her back on the bed. She nodded, confused as she glanced between them.

“What’s happened? Why are you here?”

“Your father walked in demanding Hurr come to the hospital because someone needed him. We did not realise it was you, Emily.” Jyl set the cup back on the side table.

She remembered the hazy dream of her father yelling. “Babies...he didn’t!” Her hands went over her stomach reactively.

“What do you mean?”

“Termination. I...I remember my father yelling at the doctor trying to make him terminate my baby!”

Hurr and Jyl growled “He would dare try to and murder Kelon younglings! No.” Jyl shook his head. “It will not happen.”

“Do not fear, Emily, both your younglings are fine and healthy, as you will be soon. We will not let anyone harm them.” Hurr patted the back of her hand.

She relaxed back against the pillows in relief. “Thank you, but I still don’t understand; I was on contraceptives.”

Hurr's lips curved up into a secret smile. “We have recently discovered Kelon seed contains a special natural chemical which counteracts any human contraceptive. It actually helps soften the human female cervix, making it more receptive. It is why nearly all human females mated to Kelons have birthed twin younglings. Of course, we are extremely reluctant to let this information become public knowledge here on Earth because we do not wish to cause undue tension in our Human/Kelon relations.”

Jyl grabbed a chair, sitting down, so he wouldn’t tower over her. “Carrying Kelon younglings also makes you Kelon by our new laws. If only you did not reject him, like you did, I am uncertain of the—”

“What? Rejected? I never rejected him. Who told you that?”

Jyl’s brow plate rose. “Your father told us you rejected Vallarr’s claiming after learning what he did.”

She shook her head, blinking to hold back the tears. “Jyl, I never rejected Vallarr, I love him more than anything. My father forcibly removed me from the base, claiming Vallarr was a murderer, which I don’t believe and never will.”

She glanced from Hurr to Jyl. “Truly, you care?”

“Of course, I do. I’ve been in nothing but misery without him. I don’t care what he may have done in the past. Nothing will change how I feel. My father...” Anger curled in her gut.

“It seems we have been played with much deception.” A dark shadow of anger crossed Jyl’s and Hurr’s faces. “He did not take well to the thought of your rejection. His mind, as you know, was not well. He blames himself for a mission which went wrong. Losing you, he did not cope well. I am saddened to tell you we were forced to sedate him and send him back Kelon.”

“Oh, no, my poor Vallarr.” She struggled to get up. “I’m going to kill my dad.”

“You, Emily, are going to rest.” Hurr gently pushed her back on to the bed. “I need you to eat properly. I have done scans and you are lacking much nutrition which your body needs. You are under my care now. I am your healer.”

“So, do you recommend Emily’s removal from Earth to Kelon?” Jyl’s smile was calculating.

“Of course. It is what is best for my patient and the younglings she carries to have the best care possible. The best possible care can and will be provided on Kelon.”

“Noted, Healer Hurr. Emily, tell me now, before I make the arrangement, is this what you want? Do you want to go to Kelon to be with Vallarr?”

“Yes! Oh, more than anything, please.” Tears fought their way free and blurred her vision. Her heart pounded in eager anticipation to be reunited with the man she loved.

“No more stress for you, leave us to deal with your father. You are officially under our protection.” Hurr chided softly.

He removed a device from his pocket, she recognized as the Kelon version of a mobile phone. He spoke in rapid Kelon ordering guards from the space station, explaining the life of unborn Kelon younglings were at risk, and requested her immediate removal from the planet.

“How come I can understand you? You're not speaking English.” Emily frowned when Jyl pocketed his communicator.

“I took the liberty of doing a mobile implant.” Hurr held up a small pen-like device.

She nodded and smiled with gratitude; it would make things easier if she left for Kelon.

She jumped at her father’s sudden angry bellow. “She’s my daughter; how dare you try and stop me! Move out of the way, you alien scum!”

“A few of the others insisted on coming, too, to stand guard over us.” Jyl explained.

“I never want to see him again.” She glanced up at Jyl. “Thank you for protecting me.”

Her father’s voice faded and Jyl smiled down at her. “We will make sure of it. I confess I am sad of heart you choose Vallarr. If not him, one of us would have tried claiming you. One day, I hope to find someone as kind and beautiful as you.”

She felt her cheeks heat. “You’re a good man, Jyl. No doubt you will.”

“We should have been more aware of the deception. It will turn out well. Hold on to hope, Emily. The High Council will want to know about this, too; they have been extremely worried about Vallarr.”

“I am learning although we are highly advanced in physical medical treatments, there is much we lack and need to learn. I want to study more human psychology to help other mental trauma victims on Kelon.” Hurr fiddled with her blanket, smoothing it out.

She swallowed. “That is wonderful, Hurr, but right now can you tell me what happened with Vallarr, and about this mission he was sent on, and why so many human women died? I need to know everything, so I can help him. As we say 'knowledge is power', but in this case, it may help in healing Vallarr’s mind.”

Jyl glanced at Hurr who nodded his consent. “Alright. Vallarr was given a mission to rescue the females abducted from Earth by the Mithrill and Xersons...”

* * * *

Emily learned how amazingly efficient Kelons were in getting things done. Within an hour, Hurr wrapped her up in the hospital sheets and carried her out, with a fierce looking contingent of guards to escort her to the waiting Kelon shuttle.

Jyl removed the Colonel from the hospital, claiming him no longer a fit guardian for Emily. Jyl bade her goodbye and headed back to the base to file formal complaints against him with the Australian government about his handling of certain matters, and his obvious racism against the Kelons.

Hurr explained how Kelons treasured life; killing off unborn younglings was unheard of and abhorrent to them.

Hurr carried her onto the Kelon transport ship, twice the size and length of a car, which they could easily set down almost anywhere. She caught glimpses of the gathering crowd fascinated to see a Kelon ship land smack bang in the city, snapping photos on their mobile phones.

“Remember, do not stress, stay calm and relax. They will take good care of you. I have given them firm instructions not to let you strain, or overtax yourself.”

“Thank you, Hurr.” She kissed his cheek. He blinked in surprise before grinning wide, and then strapping her into the seat and stepping back

“Be happy, Emily, I know you will be able to help him.” She swallowed down the lump forming in her throat. She nodded and smiled at Hurr.

Hurr left the shuttle, her guards took a seat and the pilot nodded with a smile. It wasn’t long before the craft hummed to life. She felt the pull when they lifted off the ground, not in the least worried they were travelling into outer space.

She prayed Hurr was right, hoping she could reach him. She didn’t have any idea what would happen if she failed.