Alien's Bride Book One (5 page)

“That would be most acceptable, mistress.”

He backed out and closed the door.
 
There was some hidden light source in the room that kept it from being pitch black.
 
I didn’t really care.
 
I tossed my shoes on the floor, got under the blanket, and went to sleep.

***

I probably only slept about four hours, though.
 
I woke up to pee and realized how hungry I was.
 
(I was also vaguely aware of the fact my pubic hair had disappeared, but didn’t let it compute).
 
In my half-asleep stupor I thought it would be fun to order room service.
 
I met Kang at my door.

“Can you get me something to eat?”

“Of course, mistress.
 
What would you like to eat?”

“Um…a tuna fish sandwich?”

“That food is not available here, mistress.
 
Would you like a fish donut instead?”

That woke me up.
 
“Ew.
 
What the Hell?”
 
I considered for a moment.
 
I’d had a thing called vetkoek in Botswana that I would probably describe as a meat donut.
 
Sounded disgusting, but tasted delicious.
 
“Okay, fine.
 
I’ll try it.”

He zipped off and I waited in my doorway.
 
A minute passed and I heard footsteps.
 
I looked down the hall.
 
The lights had been dimmed from what they were earlier, but I could still make out Elentinus’ silhouette.
 

I wasn’t sure what to do.
 
Even if he hadn’t seen me yet, if I tried to hide in my room he’d hear the door slide closed.
 
I stood there frozen with my head down and my arms crossed below my bosom.
 

Elentinus stopped in front of his door and looked at me.
 
I kept my head lowered and peeked up at him.
 
His hair was a little mussed.
 

“Were you waiting for me, my dear?”

“Oh, um…”
 
I had the urge to lie and say that I was.
 
I don’t know why.
 
Whore had brainwashed me into feeling like I had to please the guy.

Kang sped down the hallway just then holding a plate with a metal cloche covering it.
 
Elentinus chuckled when he stopped beside us.

“Ah.
 
I see.”
 

He lifted the cloche.
 
There was a big fluffy white pastry with some weird seaweed-looking garnish.
 
Elentinus leaned down to sniff it.
 
I didn’t have to lean down.
 
A delicious aroma wafted up to me, making my mouth water.

“Cre-ann fish pastry.”
 
He looked impressed.
 
“What made you order this?”

“I love food.”
 
Um, yeah.
 
I probably needed to sleep a few more hours before I’d become articulate.
 
“I mean, I love trying new things.”

 
“This is a fine start then.”
 
He replaced the cloche.
 
“I’m pleased to see you have an appetite.
 
It’s most encouraging.”

The silence that lingered after he spoke was about to get awkward.
 
I hated awkwardness.
 
It’s the sort of thing that would vex me all night.

“Um, you know when you get a new cat?
 
Some cats will hide under a chest of drawers for, like, the first three days.
 
Other cats will go out and explore and try to sniff everything.
 
Either way, they both just want to feel safe in a new environment.”

Elentinus took my hand and got a little bit closer. I managed to look into his eyes.

“What a lovely analogy.
 
When you have a new pet you want them to know that they’re safe and they’re loved.
 
You want them to be happy.”
 
He looked down at our hands.
 
“But…they are still your possessions.
 
A rare and cherished animal must be closely guarded.”

I swallowed.

“I want you to be happy, but some fundamental things in our marriage will be…resolute.
 
I almost hesitate to behave too friendly to you.
 
If you object to any of my wishes later, well, it can’t be tolerated.
 
You have to serve your purpose regardless of my desire for you to be happy.”

“I…I can compromise.
 
I just don’t know how much compromising you want.”

He smiled.
 
It made his eyes look kind.
 
“Just the fact you’re open to compromise pleases me.”

He released my hand and pressed the button to open his door.

“Good night, my dear.”

After he left I went into my cell and dropped onto the bed.
 
I rubbed my face with both hands.
 
How was I going to get to sleep after hearing that?
 

Kang rolled in with my plate.

I fumed.
 
“I can’t eat now.
 
Can you get me something that will help me sleep?”

“Of course, mistress.
 
Will you please assume your sleeping position?”

My brow twitched, but I did what he asked.
 
Once I was lying down under my blanket, his hand extended out and sprayed something on my face.

I flinched and sputtered, but in two seconds I was out like a…

***

I woke up in full panic mode.
 
This was the part where I’d expected everything to be a dream and thought I’d be back home.
 
I curled in on myself to go over all the insanity in my head.
 
I tried to figure out, once again, what the Hell was really going on.
 
What explanation could there be?
 
No good answers brought on another session of tears.
 
Then I bucked up.

I summoned Kang and had him give me therapy while I stayed huddled up in bed.
 
I needed to have all the information Whore gave to me regurgitated nice and slow.
 

“How the Hell is that possible?”

He told me how.

“But why?
 
Why me?
 
Why the Hell did this have to happen right when I’d finished my tour and was just starting to get my life straightened out?”

There weren’t any answers so I let myself cry again.
 
I tried to fuel my tears with more revelations of misery.
 
“Everyone I ever knew is dead.
 
Is that what you’re telling me?”

“Yes, mistress.
 
Humans cannot live 2,080 years.
 
If they had somehow lived there is a 96.8% probability they would have been become brain-dead hosts to the Instajant parasites.
  
Only 368,046 humans are left.
 
Most of humanity was culled during the Instajant invasion.”

“What the fuck!” I said through my tears.
 
“Can you get me that damn vaccine?”

“You have already been vaccinated, mistress.”

I wiped my nose on what I’d figured out to be toilet paper.
 
“Of course…of course you did.
 
Probably during my brain surgery, right?
 
Or when you were fucking up my ovaries or some shit?”

“All your required treatments were performed during one procedure, mistress.”

“Fuck you!”
 
I continued sobbing loudly.

Okay, I wasn’t really angry at him.
 
I wasn’t even that hysterical.
 
I wanted to get on with whatever I had to face here without any baggage holding me back.
 
I needed catharsis, and emotionless robots made handy punching bags.

When my swollen eyes and raw throat finally needed a break I went after my cold fish donut.
 

“Can you get me some water?”

“Of course, mistress.
 
How much water would you—“

“Like a two liter or something.
 
And some hot coffee, too.”

“That beverage is not available here—“

“Well I need coffee, damn it!”
 
I started gesturing at him with one flailing arm.
 
“Go into your Earth database thing.
 
Figure out what coffee is.
 
And bring me the fricking equivalent.”

“Of course, mistress.
 
I am very sorry you are distressed today, mistress.”

I froze and looked at him.
 
“You don’t have emotions, do you?”

“No, mistress.”

“I’m not distressed, Kang.
 
I’m frustrated.
 
I was just taking it out on you so it didn’t come out with Hor-Denay or Elentinus.”

“That is a very wise strategy, mistress.
 
However, you must refer to my master as ‘Lord Elentinus’ until you are married to him.
 
Then you must refer to him as ‘husband.’”

“Oh my God.
 
Get me coffee now, please.”

He revved up to go.

“Wait.”
 
I grabbed the utensil that came with my food and scratched a small letter K in the middle of his chest. “Okay, now go.”

He revved up again.

“And don’t tell Hor-Denay I was snippy with you, okay?”

“I am not required to report on your treatment of me, mistress.”

“Good.
 
Then hurry the fuck up.”

He sped off and I managed a weary laugh.
 
Being a bitch was a great stress reliever.
 
Kang didn’t deserve it, but, then, he didn’t mind, so why not?
 
Right now my life was out of control and I felt like a victim.
 
I would make him my whipping boy until my head was in a better place.

I was a lot calmer once I had the weird thick gingery/cucumbery drink Kang brought me.
 
It had to have caffeine because it made my headache go away and perked me up.
 
I used the energy to take a shower.
 

Kang showed me the clear trunk under my bed with everything I needed.
 
I had one similar for some of my stuff in the clinic in Botswana.
  
If they piped in some flies, stifling heat, sweat stink, and gave me an uncomfortable cot I would have been right at home.
 
I grudgingly admitted this was an upgrade to my situation there.
 

Then I took it back just as fast.
 
It was my choice to join the Peace Corps, right?
 
Those happy posters all over my college campus had seduced my naïve, adventurous mind.
 
I’d graduated in three years just so I could hurry up and go.
 
Then I’d arrived in squalid Hell and realized I’d made a hideous mistake.
 
I still regretted signing up half-way through my tour.
 
Once the end was in sight I got less depressed.
 
In the final months I was even considering a second tour—but not with much conviction.