Harden My Heart (Club Release 3) Science Fiction Abduction Romance (5 page)

CHAPTER

6

~ Kinsey Lea ~

♥

A war is going on inside me.

Each step makes me wonder if I am being led to my doom. I look at my alien. He’s so handsome. Could he be leading me to a better life? I inhale his scent and hold it deep in my lungs. Friendly laughter from nearby quickly reminds me that looks can be deceptive. People are almost never really what they appear on the outside.

Din Zairin calls out to a warrior and then bids his twin goodbye. I flinch when Din Zairin tells Din Tairin not to lose me. The tsking my warrior makes has me flinching again. I watch Din Zairin head toward another badass looking male. Badasses seem to grow on trees around here. Flourishing trees.

My eyebrows jump up as Din Tairin is opening the door. Lush tan, blue, and green plants can be seen at a distance. I've never seen anything so beautiful. As soon as we are out the door I stop and just stare around me. Everything is so amazing.

The flapping of wings has me looking up. I can't help but smile when I see a flock of large birds. They are loud but beautiful to me. As soon as they are gone I notice the circular sun is riding low in the sky. I am amazed at the pretty color of their sun. The blue ring around it is another reminder that I'm not on earth anymore.

My stomach knots at that reminder. When Din Tairin nudges me forward, I glance down and see that I'm on a massive stone landing. The tan, rust, and black stones form a piece of art. I take a step to the side and stare at it in wonder. My eyes taking in the constellation of stars and planets. It's the perfect landing for a spaceport.

"It's getting late. Let's get you home," Din Tairin says as he starts leading me down the stairs and toward one of several huge stone paths.

A little way down the path a gust of wind comes from nowhere. It pushes me into Din Tairin. Instead of getting mad, he studies me and keeps on walking. I'm glad to know that he doesn't seem to anger quickly.

A few steps farther down the path, I hear the flutter of wings. I look up and see a beautiful bird. It's like nothing I've ever seen before. It flies around us and comes in close for a look at me. I smile at it. Its long thick purple beak opens and chirps a little song.

Its yellow feathers flap loudly as it flies up higher in circles around us. Maybe this planet won't be so bad. I'm already making friends.

As the pretty purple and yellow bird flies around us, I look up at Din Tairin. "What kind of bird is that?"

"It's an ardop."

"It's beautiful." I smile as I watch it start to fly higher and higher. Yes, this planet is looking good.

A loud squawk comes from the ardop. I look up and shriek in surprise. In horror I watch as a massive dark blue bird with a purple belly opens its huge ridged beak and then snaps it shut on my little friend.

Yellow feathers float down around us. I shake my head, this is not a nice place to be. Tears welled in my eyes as I watch the huge bird chomp a few times and then swallow my little friend.

Din Tairin wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me in close to him as he starts walking. "I'm sorry you had to see that, little human."

Guilt starts eating at me. "If I haven't been here the ardop would probably still be alive."

Din Tairin stops and catches my gaze. "You are not responsible for others' actions."

When he continues to stare deeply into my eyes I realize that he's waiting for a response. Even though I don't like it, I nod my understanding. He dips his chin and then starts leading me on down the path.

"What was that huge mean bird? How could something with a good five feet wingspan be so quiet?" I shake my head in wonder. I never even heard the massive bird’s wings. My little friend didn't stand a chance.

"That was a crowdoc. They are the largest birds on this planet. Their stealth makes them deadly." He stops beside a sleek dark blue vehicle. He touches his thumb to my chin, gaining my full attention. "Crowdocs don't go after people, so they are no threat to you. Let's get you home."

I nod in agreement even though my heart feels heavier than ever. His attention goes to the cuff around my wrist. I watch as he rubs across the metal and then says, "Open." I watch in wonder as the metal opens, releasing me.

He takes the cut off his own wrist and then pockets them before opening the vehicle door, guiding me in, and then buckling me in. As I watch him walk around the sleek vehicle, I think of the cuffs he has. I've never seen anything like them. I am a long way from home.

I watch him get in and then use a strangely shaped key to start the vehicle. He looks over at me and grins. "Hang on, little seema. We will be home before you know it."

My heart leaps at the sight of his dimples. They make him seem more free-spirited and happy instead of the tough warrior I know he is.

My nerves jump when the vehicle vibrates and then rises up. What kind of vehicle is this? I only wonder that for a moment. In no time he is pulling out of the lot and heading down a path that has been cut through the lush jungle environment.

This is so different from the roads on Earth. Only a few people have vehicles. Most people take shortcuts through the woods instead of using the hole riddled streets. I’m not sure if my shortcut was a good move or a bad one.

I look out the window and watch a blur of tan, blue, and green whiz past. We travel on for quite a while, I noticed that the sun is dipping even lower in the sky. Night is coming.

A shiver runs up my spine. What is going to happen next? Will he be nice or mean when he gets me into his home? I take a deep breath. His scent is masculine, unique. Calm slides through me.

I watch in awe as our vehicle glides over the ground and takes turns smoothly and effortlessly. Their technology is way beyond Earth's. After taking several more paths, he pulls up to a mental, glass, and stone home.

My nerves jump as he pulls into a vehicle port that is connected to his home.

In a flash he is out of the vehicle and opening my door. Damn, he's fast. After he helps me out, I can't help but look longingly toward the jungle. Once he gets me inside who knows what will happen. I debate running.

I scan the area and notice a home in the distance. It's far from here but still offers nothing good for sure. Birds chirping have me looking toward the sky. A gasp comes from me. The moon is just visible and it's square shaped with a purple dot in the center. I am definitely far from home.

My heart sinks all the way to my toes. I don't know if I should run or stay with the devil I know.

Din Tairin inhales and then growls softly. His hand captures mine and then he tugs me forward. Toward a door that could lead to my doom.

"You have nothing to fear, little seema. I will never hurt you." Something in his voice makes me believe him.

He opens the door and leads me into his home. I don't get any bad vibes. He leads me down a stone hallway and into a living room. It's a huge but sparsely furnished one.

I scan the room again but still only notice the massive black couch and some kind of system along the wall that I assume is for entertainment and possibly learning. Yellow sways in my peripheral vision.

I blink and look at the yellow flower. I am sure it was leaning farther back a few moments ago. But that can't be right because plants don't move on their own. I shake my head and check out the blue vine that runs the length of a glass wall. I like the dark and light blue tones of the plant.

The room is sparse but nicely kept. My mind drifts to Din Tairin haggling with my captor for a lower price. He's conservative, this one. I'm surprised he paid for me at all. Since he had to be called out in the crowd I know he wasn't there to buy anyone.

A shiver runs down my spine as I think of all the beings that were in that crowd. I can't imagine going home with any of them. I'd probably be someone's dinner by now.

Din Tairin gestures around the room. "You'll get accustomed to your new home soon. I do a lot of meditation in this room. You will be doing it with me too. Meditation is good for your mind, body, and soul. It will help calm you as you get used to your new home."

Ahhh, the open space now makes sense to me. The rumbling of my stomach seems to echo through the room. Heat stings my cheeks. He's already done a lot for me. My growling stomach makes me feel terrible. If he continues to be nice to me I don't want to seem like a burden to him. Without him I'm sure I'd be dead already.

"Let's get you some food, little seema."

He leads me through the living room and into what I assume is the kitchen. It has strange devices but the sink and faucet are close enough to the ones on earth for me to recognize them.

I watch as he opens a cabinet and begins pulling a few things out. In no time he has a plate in front of me with something that looks like a muffin. And he's pouring some kind of purple liquid into two glasses.

As he slides a glass toward me, he says, "This is stros. It is full of vitamins. We zaphinians drink a lot of it every day." He points at my plate. "That is a piclot muffin. Go ahead and try."

When my stomach growls again, I pick up the muffin and take a bite. Just the right amount of sweet dances across my tongue. As I chew I look the muffin over and see that it has blue fruit in it.

“Those blue spots are bits of piclot fruit. Do you like the muffin?”

“Yes, very much. Thank you.” I take another bite and then another one. The texture is perfect as well. Not hard and dry. Moist and sweet.

Just as I reach for my glass, I hear a hiss behind me. I whip around but don’t see anything. I picture the vicious crowdoc bird and shiver.

A tsking sound comes from Din Tairin. “That hissing sound is just the air system in my home making some slight adjustments for your human breathing needs. It will stop in a moment.”

I feel so dumb. It’s hard having to learn so much. I hope his patients is non-ending. I straighten my spine and eat the last of my food. I need to try harder to fit in and not be a burden to him. I know what happens to people who become burdens.

As I take a drink, he puts some kind of nuts on my plate. The purple drink has a zing to it. A chuckle comes from him.

"It's not too hot for you, is it?" Humor is blended with the concern in his eyes.

"No, it's fine. I was just surprised, that's all. What are these nuts called?" I pick one up and pop it into my mouth. It tastes like a cross between a pecan and a cashew. I like it.

"Those are called penlo nuts." He takes a long drink of his stros as he watches me eat.

His eyes are so intense that they draw me in. Like a predator watching his prey. I quickly push that thought aside. I need to look strong in front of him.

A beep comes from the communicator on his wrist. I finish eating while his attention is drawn to his communicator’s screen. With each moment, I become more and more exhausted. My stomach is fuller than it's been in a long time.

I glance out the wall of glass and notice that it’s even darker than before. Night is rapidly falling. The last few days have been hell. I feel a yawn coming on and try to stop it but can't.

Since I work for him, he may need me to do something tonight. I can't look weak.

Another yawn forces my mouth open. I cover my mouth with my hand. I can only hope that he doesn't know what a yawn is. I'll do whatever it takes to live.

Din Tairin makes that tsking sound again. "You're tired. It's time to get you cleaned up and put to bed."

Cleaned up! Alarms go off all along my nervous system. Is he wanting sex tonight?

"There will be no sex until I think you're ready. But I will be touching you a lot to get you use to my touch." He puts my plate in the sink and then heads down a corridor. "Follow me, little seema."