Her Alien Abductor (Aegarian Saga) (11 page)

“They’re robots?”

“Well, not a robot, like you have in your American films. But an artificial life, nonetheless. I suppose the closest thing in your society
is
a robot, but most of what makes up the sisters is organic material.”

“Amazing. So they actually want me to tell them what to do?”

“Yes. And they have been wandering aimlessly around most of the day unsure what it is that they are supposed to do.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner then?” She gave him an exasperated grunt and punched him playfully in the arm.

“Maybe because you might not have accepted them before you got to know them a little. I didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable. They are highly sensitive to their lady’s emotions, so they would have known you were upset around them, and they might have taken it to heart. Unlike your robots, these creatures are highly emotional and in severe cases, when they were mistreated, they have ended their existences.”

“Suicide? What will happen if I do not stay? Will that happen to them? I can’t have that on my conscience!” She was near hysterical by the end of the sentence.

“Calm down, Princess. They will be reprogrammed before they even know you are gone. We would not willingly let our creations end their existences. Since they were never born, they cannot die. They just cease to exist.”

“They’re organic. They have feelings. Then they can die and they can be killed. Don’t try and explain away the truth of the matter to appease your own emotions.”

Lord Fatel sighed heavily. “You are overly opinionated.”

“I don’t always have to agree with you.”

“I didn’t say you had to agree, nor would I want you to. I like you just the way you are.”

“Unfortunately, I think you like me too much.”

“I have kept away from you today. I am trying.”

“My lady, your bath is ready.” J’Halle was standing in the doorway to the bathroom.

“Make sure it stays that way, my lord.” Kaya gave Lord Fatel an evil glare and left him.

Chapter Six

Kaya was in heaven in the bath, feeling all the knots in her neck and back release as J’Halle and Be’in bathed her and rubbed her shoulders. Never raised in such luxury, Kaya was definitely becoming quite accustomed to it. After Kaya’s bath, Be’in brushed her hair and tied it in somewhat of a braid down her back. They dressed her in a sheer white sleeping dress, which was voluminous.

She stepped out of the bathroom to find she was alone, save for her lady’s maids. J’Halle exited to bring her a platter of foods for dinner. The sun was just starting its descent, meaning it was only late afternoon. She couldn’t wait for dark to sleep and hopefully see her dream man again. The flower in her hair that morning had been startling, unsettling, but it had excited her as well. She longingly waited to see him again.

Did that mean she was ready to commit to the man? To give her life away to him in hopes he could fulfill the promises he made to her? Walking away from her entire existence, moving toward the unknown, she was afraid. Yet, she was also intrigued. There was so much to see, to learn, to taste. In the past couple of days, since her excursions into town started, she awoke with a renewed sense of excitement to see what the day would bring.

She couldn’t recall the last time she’d woke excited on Earth. The daily grind of the business had become monotonous. She was the robot there, merely existing.

J’Halle brought out the sumptuous tray of steaming slivers of meat and vegetables. After her conversation with Lord Fatel, she wanted to learn more of these creatures who spent their days at her side.

“Sit with me, eat.” Kaya recoiled, unsure of herself suddenly. “You do eat, don’t you?”

“We do take small amounts of sustenance, but we cannot join you to eat, my lady.”

“Why is that?”

“We are programmed not to.”

“And if I demanded it?”

J’Halle looked despondent, as if her inner workings were battling. “I suppose if you demanded it, I would have to sit and eat.”

“Would you want to if I did?”

J’Halle looked at her, a stunned expression on her face. “Yes. I suppose I would.”

“Then I demand it.” Kaya smiled as the female slowly dropped into the seat across from her, hands in her lap. J’Halle looked as uncomfortable as anyone she’d ever seen.

Kaya picked at a small amount of what appeared to be a meat. “It tastes like chicken.” Kaya laughed to herself. “Even on other planets things taste like chicken.”

“Chicken?”

“It’s a meat on Earth. Long story.” She smiled with that and slowly ate her meal. “Why not have a taste?”

“No … no.  I can’t have this.”

“Why not?”

“This is g’nav. It is a delicacy, as it is only bred in the northern most mountains of the
Allutta
Range
. It is too rare a treat for me to take a sample.”

“But I want you to.” Kaya’s heart ached at the female’s second class citizen status. “If you want to try it, I demand you do.”

J’Halle looked at her timidly, then reached over and picked up a small amount of the meat, lifting it to her mouth.

“Delicious. If your chicken tastes like this, then you must be blessed on Earth to have it available to you.”

Kaya smiled as she watched the female tentatively reach for another morsel and pondered the look of delight at the flavor it gave.

“J’Halle, are you and your sister happy here? Truly?”

“Why, yes, of course! Have we done something to displease you?” The female’s eyes widened in fear, and it struck Kaya with remorse.

“No, no … it isn’t like that at all. It’s just I’m not used to being waited on. And it bothers me you are forced into this.”

“But it is what we were made to do.”

“Regardless, I want to know if you’re happy.”

J’Halle’s face brightened. “Yes, my lady. We are both quite happy to be here.”

Kaya still felt leery of being waited on hand and foot and how easy it was becoming to order the pair about. But the two seemed intent on doing things for her, and if they were happy, who was she to question? Yet she refused to abuse them.

Kaya smiled as J’Halle picked up another finger full of vegetables, seemingly pleased to taste the items. Realizing these two probably had a long list of things they were programmed
not
to do, she decided to find out what that list was and see what could be tweaked. They were sentient beings with emotions, and she would see to it they were given more freedoms.

Once the two had eaten most of the food, J’Halle rose with the tray. “My lady, it has been an honor to sit with you and eat this fine food.”

“So you will do it as often as we can. Both you and Be’in.”

J’Halle smiled and scurried away, leaving her alone with her thoughts. There were three more hours until the sun set, and she needed something to occupy her time. She couldn’t wait to get to bed, to dream, hoping to see Besh again. With nothing better to occupy her time, she read for a couple more hours, at least this time propped up on a pillow on the super soft bed instead of hunkered over a library table.

She read about twenty more pages of the boring, blustering report, which was distressing considering her curiosity about the subject matter and the fact she loved to read as well. She felt sorry for the author of the report if he could not even make fascinating information appealing to read about.

But the one good ting about reading boring material … she was soon fast asleep.

****

“Kaya?”

Kaya opened her eyes as soon as she heard his voice. “Besh?”

“Yes, my flower. I have been waiting all day to see you. I could not wait to finish my day so I could sleep and see you again.”

“I couldn’t wait either.” She looked at him, still not seeing his face clearly, which still troubled her. She stared, trying to gather her courage. “I know you said they think I’m the cause of these experiences, but I’m unsure. It seems more than a dream.”

“I agree, but why do you say that?”

“The small flower you placed in my hair?”

“Yes?”

“It was still there when I awoke this morning.”

“I know.”

“How do you know?” Then all of a sudden, it occurred to her. “Lord Fatel?”

He paused. “What?”

“Lord Fatel told you of the flower in my hair?”

“Of course.” He let out a deep sigh and stepped closer to the bed and sat down on the edge. “I don’t know how this is happening or why. Maybe you cast the spell over me. Are you a witch?”

“Absolutely not!” she said with incredulity, a smile on her lips.

He laughed and pulled her into his arms. “My flower, I don’t think you a witch, but you have definitely put a spell on me.”

“Good, I wouldn’t want to have to beat you for a comment like that.”

“But I sure would like you to try,” he said with a smile in his voice and then pulled her on top of his chest.

His nude body shone in the moonlight, as did hers. She was almost disappointed she was nude; having worn the sleeping gown he’d bought for her just for him, she had wanted to show off. And it bothered her a bit. It was becoming much too easy to fall into his lavish lifestyle.

“My father used to buy me things, trying to buy my affection. He wasn’t around much, and that was the way he assuaged his guilt, I think.”

“Do you think I am trying to buy your love?”

“Are you?” She looked up to him, the fog covering his face not allowing her to see any emotions her question invoked.

“Trying to buy your affections, no. Spoiling you, yes. In my world, it is customary for a man to give gifts such as these to his intended bride. And it isn’t because I can’t be there for you, either. In a short time, we will meet and be together.”

“If I agree.”

His body stiffened under hers. “I had hoped the last few nights had perhaps swayed you to choose me.”

“I didn’t say no. I didn’t say yes. You are asking a lot of me. And it seems as though everyone is assuming I will say yes.”

“And that bothers you.”

“Yes, it bothers me. I feel powerless. I’m locked away in this cell of a room, taken for walks with Be’in joined to my hip. I’m given boxes upon boxes of clothing and jewelry, like a kept woman. And I’m expected to fall into your arms in a few weeks, regardless of how I feel.”

“You are not a prisoner here. We asked you to stay, which you agreed to. Your maids are there to escort you for your safety. And I hate to point this out, but you have already fallen into my arms.” He squeezed her tightly, as if to prove his point. “Ultimately, you will be given the right to choose. If you say no, I will respect your wishes.”

“You will? Truly?”

He lifted his head as if he was looking into her eyes. “Yes! I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life with a woman who resented me for forcing her to stay. Don’t you have a saying on Earth, ‘If you love something, set it free’?”

“Love? How can you love me? You don’t even know me.”

“Perhaps the word love is too strong as of yet. I care about you, about how you would feel, if something would harm you.”

They lay there quietly for a few brief moments, thoughts swirling within Kaya’s head. There was so much to learn, so much to know about him. She felt sincerity in his words to her, and they showed her he was a man of worth, a man worth getting to know more. But to tie herself to him for her entire life? What if in a year’s time she had not grown to love him, care for him? What if she felt trapped? Would he let her go then? The fear the prospect gave her was immense.

Her head began to hurt from all the thoughts spiraling at once. She pushed the negativity away, only wanting to share these special moments with him in peace.

“Thank you for my clothes and the jewelry. I was wearing the sleeping gown to bed tonight, but it seems to have disappeared.”

He took her farther into his arms and took her lips with his, “You are most welcome. A beautiful woman should have beauty surrounding her.”

Kaya looked up into his face and even at this non-existent distance she could not see him clearly. His finely honed muscles and strong arms, she could see fine. The soft dark hairs which grew on the tight muscles of his chest, and the arrow of hair leading down to his massive erection, she could see just fine.

“I still can’t see your face clearly.”

“You shouldn’t be seeing me, nor I you. I can’t explain why we see each other, let alone why you can’t see my face. Do you see the rest of me?”

“Yes, I see every detail of your body. Every single detail, down to the last hair, as long as it is below the neck. Above the neck, you are distorted. Do you see all of me clearly?”

“Yes, I see everything about you clearly. It could possibly be because prior to our seclusion, I saw your face. I was in your café and had my helmet on, so you did not have the luxury of seeing me as well.”

“I suppose that could be one answer.” She cuddled into his arms as he moved with her into her bed. He was warm and deliciously naked. He pulled her head under his chin and again rubbed her back and arms and neck. She felt safer and more loved in his arms than she had ever felt in anyone else’s. And she knew nothing of this man. Nothing at all.