The Tale of the Blood Diamond (40 page)

“That’s it…” Its voice echoed over and over again. “Let me taste your fear.”

In a slight haze, she wobbled. She shook her head, and noticed the damned thing was closer, much closer. It didn’t matter that her weapon wasn’t shit and no match to the troll. It was all that she had.

“Ahhhhhh!” she screamed out, and shot her gun over and over. The bullets went inside of the thing, causing it to fall back and hit the roof in a big thud. She hurried to the other side, fearing it would be up in no time flat. Those bullets wouldn’t hold the beast down for more than a few seconds if she was lucky, so she moved as fast as her weakened body would carry her. Reaching the slick, paint-chipped metal rail, she turned to climb down the steely ladder when suddenly she was grabbed by the wrist and tossed atop the roof as if she were nothing. Her body was temporarily airborne before she landed harshly on her side with gravel now covering her face. The wind had literally been knocked out of her, and the heavy gait of the monster approaching made her insides gel.  She pushed past the pain and scooted away, slowly, but moving nevertheless until it stood over her, blood oozing out of its damn head. It tapped the side of its temple, reached tenderly down to her, and smeared the stench onto her face.

This was the part where she was supposed to cry out and plead for mercy. This was the part where she was supposed to cower down and ask for her life…but she didn’t. She remained there, looking up at it, trying to steady her heart. He was eating her trepidation, savoring it; so she had to rein it in.

“I’m not afraid of you!” she belted. A stream of hot, angry tears went down her face. “Just kill me!” She called its bluff, and disappeared into a new world she’d just created, one that would help her maintain the new role she was playing.

The monster Vex burst out laughing. “Oh, yes you are…”

And it was right, but she kept trying and trying for she had no other plans, no weapon, no way out. Or did she? At her previous location where she’d been cherry-picking off Yuledrakes for the sheer pleasure, she’d noticed something that had reminded her of her early courtship with her one and only Xzion. If only she could get her hands on it…

“Okay, yes, I’m afraid…but…please at least tell me what…what I did to cause you to want to do this to me? What did I take from you?” She glanced at the area, a mere two feet away, hoping and praying she could reach it before the fucker bit into her, ending her once and for all.

“You killed my nephew!” The fog of its hot breath from the yelling was so intense, her eyes watered.

She inched away; its eyes followed her as she scooted, bit by bit.

“…And just where do you think you’re going?” It sneered. “I don’t like fast food!”

It gripped her leg and tugged, daring to rip the damned limb from her body. Jayme reached for the edge of the roof with both hands. She tossed and turned, kicked and screamed for her life. It burst out laughing, enjoying the show, giving her just enough room to keep moving, inch-by-inch.
So close, yet so far away…

Like a blast of wind, the beast stomped towards her, taking hold of her once again, and tilted its head to the side, grinning as it loomed over her. She fought her own nature to prevent from passing out. The hideousness, the foul stench, the way it touched her almost stopped her damn heart…

With one hand she gripped what she needed, ripping it from the gutter of the roof. As the eyes of the damned thing noticed what she’d obtained, its smile waned like the moon.

Riding on pure adrenaline and the fear that had almost cost her her life, Jayme lifted the humongous icicle in the air with both hands and embedded it right between the fucker’s eyes.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!” It shrilled.

“Ohhh God!” she wailed as it screamed out over and over and fell back, scraping at its face and flipping about.

She got to her feet, wobbly, but moving. She approached the beast and with all of the strength in her body, pushed it over and over to the edge, then shoved it the rest of the way until it fell like a huge heap of trash, landing on the freezing ground, still as a corpse. In those moments when the beast had filled her with terror, she’d managed to think of the weak spot Cxeza had told her about during casual banter after her first Morphitian kill: a shock of ice cold temperature, right between the eyes, was the only other way to kill a Morphitian; and since they were typically in disguise, no one knew where the fuck that spot actually was until it was too damned late. God had answered her prayers after all, and gave her a frozen slice of irony to boot…

Jayme hastened down the ladder, stumbling over the bodies she’d collected and when she reached solid ground, she raced through the alleyway, screaming, yelling, filled with an exhilaration that only God could give a child, until she found herself in the middle of a typical Saturday night in Washington D.C. Once she caught her breath, she slid against the wall of a closed jewelry store and reached into her pocket for her phone. She took it off silence and moments later, she fell onto the sidewalk. She heard Xzion’s voice on the voicemail, telling her everything was okay…that he was proud of her…and he was going to get their son after coming home to her…

F.O.R.E.V.E.R.

****

“And that is why it is our great pleasure, to present you, Mr. Khrome, with a heart-felt ‘Thank You.’”

Xzion struggled in the constraining tuxedo he’d donned and glared into the blue eyes of the United States Secretary of Defense. Various ambassadors from the United Nations mulled about in the vast dining room, almost glittering with excitement while the champagne in their hands bubbled.

“Okay,” was really all Xzion could offer as Jayme smirked at him and patted his shoulder. He wasn’t good at scenes like this, and though he knew there would be no public accolades, much to his delight, he was still happy to be acknowledged — more so for Jayme, than for himself. He’d been shaking hands with far too many people, and the President of the United States had made a cameo appearance, gave Xzion a hearty handshake and whispered some politically correct banter in his ear. He’d expected such. No one forgot who he was, and what he’d done, and he was thankful. Furthermore, to his relief, his true identity as the XXX Killer was never disclosed to the public.

Xzion worked through his boredom and discomfort. He’d much rather have been at home working, or going over the new case that had come across his desk. But instead, he was sitting here in front of a plate with tiny golden wrapped pieces of butter, a basket of French bread and so many glasses and plates, he was sure whoever had set the tables had donated half of their lifetime to accomplish the task.

Sensing his grumpiness, Jayme took his hand and held it under the table. softness of the cream tablecloth brushing against their knuckles brought him back into the moment. He stared at her, and she stared back, until he could no longer resist leaning to her for a kiss. Their lips locked, and he stayed there, taking her all in. The night was bearable because she was with him. These people truly had no idea what had happened, and what he had to do so that they could continue living their fairy-tale lives…and they never would. The only person who truly ‘got it’ was his spouse, his best friend, his confidante, and that was worth its weight in diamonds and gold…

Two weeks later…

“No she isn’t!” Jayme chuckled as she placed the last piece of toast in her mouth and looked at Zachary in his high chair, working over a bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal.

“She is, and she is bringing a Morphitian with her, for you to practice on.”

“Don’t even play like that!” Jayme snarled, pointing her finger at the teasing man. “I do miss your sister, though. I wish she were visiting again soon, under better conditions, of course.”

“Well,” he ran his arm affectionately down her back, “if things continue progressing in the right direction, you’ll be seeing her, anyway. I’ve put my latest assignment on hold for a few weeks. I wanted to spend a bit more time with you and Zachary, with no distractions. I’ve got more time to devote to working on your pod and apparatuses now.”

She grabbed her small glass of orange juice off the counter, gulped it down and sat next to Zachary. She grinned at him and he grinned back, then burst out laughing, causing her to do the same.

“I looooove you,” she sang as she pushed her nose firmly into his. His warm, cinnamon-scented breath made her want to call in sick and stay under the covers with her man and son, watching silly movies and snacking all day.

“Chop, chop, baby,” Xzion called out as he sat at the kitchen table, turning the page of a newspaper. He was so old-school at times, it tickled her.

“Ugh…” She sighed, kissed Zachary on the cheek and rose from the table. Catching her reflection in the toaster oven, she briefly admired her coiffed, braided bun. Dressed in her navy blue uniform, she sized up her collar and brushed her shoulder, then casually made her way towards the front door.

“Bye, baby!” she called out, her back still turned as she lazily waved.

“I know you didn’t just walk away from me without so much as a kiss goodbye?” Xzion scolded as he got to his feet and chased after her. She laughed in his arms as he swiveled her and planted a firm, sexy kiss on her lips, his breathing harsh and needy.

Damn, he is so sexy…

She opened the door and headed out, but not before he tapped her on the behind. She made her way to her car, refrained from looking back at him, lest she be tempted to do what she’d just daydreamed about: play hooky. When she sat in the car, she chanced a look toward the house. Xzion was leaning against the doorframe, ankles crossed. His face captured a brief, fleeting smile as he waved in her direction.

After placing on her seatbelt, she turned on the radio station and she grinned when an all too familiar song began to play: ‘Someone Like You’, by Van Morrison.

“Oh my God, you gotta be kidding me.”

The memories tumbled forward in her mind. The very first time they made love, this song was playing. It wasn’t planned, it simply happened, and the timing was right. That day, she’d told the story of her best friend, her brother Jayson, at a recovery house for addicts. Xzion had joined her there begrudgingly, but he was there all the same. He said he learned a lot about drug addiction, about her, about love that night. That act of kindness and empathy sealed their fate; it was proof that in each other’s arms was where they wanted to be forever.

Yeah, Xzion, I’m in love, with someone like you…

****

“Oh boy.”

Xzion moved back and forth under the pod in the workshop portion of his lab. The damned thing was dripping fluid everywhere, but that was to be expected since he’d run it through such vigorous testing. He couldn’t take any chances. He hoped Jayme would have her chance, and if he kept plugging away at it, he was certain he could make this happen.

Zachary sat about twenty feet away, surrounded by toys from Zarkstorm. To the untrained eye, they looked like clear geometric objects that presented little to no fun at all. However, for a Zarkstormian child, they offered a world of wonder. Some would move on their own, others asked for special codes after problems were solved and would cater to a child’s reward system by belting a tune or giving praise. Aton had spoiled the boy so, and the presents kept arriving.

“I think…I think I might have this figured out soon, Zachary.” Xzion grunted, oil smudged on his face like a mechanic who had been working long hours.

“Mommy come?” The boy smiled as he held up one of his toys like a prized trophy.

“Yes, I want Mommy to come. Like I told you, uh…” he strained as he reached to another part of the pod, twisting a wrench back and forth. “…she can’t travel like you and I can. Mommy is made a bit different than we are. We have to make sure she is safe.”

Xzion kept plugging away at it, his optimism higher than it had been in weeks.

Yes…soon, he’d get his dream of taking Jayme and Zachary together, like a family, to the place he’d never dreamed of permanently leaving. It never even entered his mind that he would reside anywhere but on Zarkstorm, until he’d fallen helplessly addicted, and in love, with Officer Jayme Knight…

*
***

Today was one of those days a police officer would always remember. Every now and again, Jayme would contemplate writing a book when she retired. The things she saw, crap she heard and the stories suspects told were astounding and at times, absolutely hilarious. While she went over a list with the crew about a new drug ring, there was a slight commotion in the main lobby. She and another officer rose from their seats in the meeting room and paused to see a woman standing there, butt naked holding a mangy German Shepherd in her arms with a red velvet collar coiled around its neck. To make matters worse, she stated she needed to file a police report because her husband had locked her out of the house, accusing her of having an affair with the damn dog. The first question that came to mind was,
Why were you naked with the dog?

…But no one broached the topic.

Jayme made her way to the semi-desolate parking garage, chuckling again at the notion. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she tossed her bag and hat off to the side. She sighed and undid her hair, letting loose ringlets spiral freely around her shoulders. She had one last errand to make before she went home for the day: only to drop some papers off down at the courthouse.

“Instead of starting this car, why don’t you rev
my
engine, instead?” came a deep, steely voice from the rear of the vehicle.

Jayme jumped in her seat, seized her gun and swiveled to peer at the darkened rear. She didn’t know whether to burst out laughing or get out and beat her husband to a pulp. Both sounded rather reasonable.

“You son of a bitch! You scared me half to death!” She snorted, her smile too big to retract now.

Xzion returned the smile and lay back in the back seat, his arm propped behind his head and his shirt half unbuttoned as if he were simply relaxing on a beach.

“How the hell did you get in here?! Oh…never mind.” She turned away from him and faced her window.

Sometimes she forgot that he could get into anything, anywhere, at any time. Some parked police car was probably on his list of least challenging breaking and entering tasks.

“Well, what? You came all this way for somethin’, right?” She smirked as she viewed him through the rearview mirror.

“You know what I want…” He didn’t look at her, just kept his gaze on the roof of the car.

But I’ve been taking good care of you. It couldn’t possibly be what I think it is…

“Hmmm.” Jayme looked down at her lap, and smoothed her pants out nervously. “I’m on my way to the courthouse,” she said in a low voice, as if the information was classified.

“What does that have to do with my
dick
?”

She swallowed, trying to keep her face stern and serious. Leaning over to the passenger’s seat, she cradled the headrest and kept her attention straight ahead. She was in the mood to toy with the man since he tried to pull rank, in
her
vehicle, on
her
watch of all things.

“Get your ass outta my car. I have things to do. When I get home, I
may
just let you have a little bit.” She grabbed her hair and begun to wrap it back up, feeling like a head mothafucka in charge at that very moment. She decided this act of defiance, of getting ‘redress’ in some way, would seal his fate. How short-lived her plan was…

A gentle, then slightly harder tug came upon her scalp as the man grabbed a fist full of her tresses. She hadn’t heard or seen him rise, but he was definitely up and alert. His erect groin was now close to the side of her headrest, the damned thing was about to poke her in the eye. She kept her eyes on it for quite a while and didn’t dare look up into his eyes.

“I want you to keep your hair down.”

“I didn’t ask you what you wanted.” She bit her lip to keep a smile at bay as she looked away from his fat cock. As they worked through a long silence,  she couldn’t resist looking up to find him staring down at her, his hand still loosely wound around her hair and a sneer on his light tan face. His thick, black brow rose as he slid his index finger across the bridge of his nose, as if he were pondering vital philosophies and needed a moment to share them.

“Here is what’s going to happen. You’re going to lower this seat,” he tapped the side of her cushion, and you’re going to lie back. I’m going to get in front, here, with you,” he pointed, “… and then I’m going to fuck you. I will do it
how
I want it, and as
long
as I want. When I’m finished, I will re-dress you, get out of the car, and you can drive to the moon for all I care, as long as you are back home in time to fuck me again this evening and kiss your son goodnight.” He didn’t smile, kept his voice cool and controlled.

Before she could respond to his ridiculous demands, he was unbuttoning his damned olive-green shirt and standing half naked, his chest muscles flexing, making the dark, swirly ink of his tattoos come alive.

“You’ve lost your goddamned mind!”

The back seat door rocked open so hard, it was as if he’d kicked it off the damn hinges. Then the tyrant forcefully swung open her door, making the seat squeak as it strained from his heavy weight upon her.

“What are you doing?!” She pressed up on his body with her palms as if she hated this cat and mouse game, as if she were trapped in a box and his damn pecs were the only exit.

Shit, he smells so good…

The intense look in his dark eyes made her soak her panties right then and there.

“What do we have, here?!” He ripped at her shirt, pried it open like an elevator door that had wedged shut. Keeping his eyes fixed on her, he ran his fingers down her body until he gripped the top of her dark pants and treated them worse than her upper body apparel. Before long, she was left in her cream and black lace bra and panties, and he was completely nude, his cool, sexy thighs wedged between her own. Placing one hand atop her head, he looked into her eyes, his brows dipped as if he were distressed, then swooped down to pry her mouth open with his tongue. She gasped and let out a slight whimper.

“Mmmmm!” he moaned as his tongue darted in and out, and all around her mouth. He cradled her close, grinding on her in hard circular motions. Breaking away, she looked for cameras in the damned place, suddenly aware that
yes
…this
was
happening…

“I’ve already taken care of it.” He breathed heavily, forcing her face back towards his and redelivering his oral prowess while his hips bucked wildly between hers, working her up just how he wanted her served…hot and ready.

Worst of all, this had been one of her fantasies, and it shamed her that she delighted so much in the dirty little secret coming to fruition. Before she could second guess herself and go through the emotions and performance of pretending to want the situation to cease, his fingers were inside of her.

“Uhhhh!” She held his back tightly to her body as he dove his digits within her over and over, taking his sweet time until he’d finally addressed her tender clitoris, throbbing and ready. He slid his thumb over it tenderly, kissing up and down her neck. His warm breath bathed the side of her face. While she shivered all over in delight, he wasted no time in increasing his speed.

“Xzion, I…” she couldn’t complete her own sentence for he slid his tongue across her neck then dove it inside of her mouth once again. His head hit the roof of the car when he lifted himself up and placed her hands around his erect cock.

“Stroke it for me…” He bucked against her. The head pushed against her navel as he humped back and forth towards her.

“Uhhh, yeah…just like that!” He closed his eyes and sank his teeth into his bottom lip. Jayme ran her hands all over his cock, staring down at it in amazement as if she hadn’t seen it hundreds of times already. She got some sort of kink factor scratched, some perversion, a deep itch within her that would at times look at her husband’s cock and think,
This dick belongs to an alien…

It was hard not to laugh at such a notion but right then, she found it extremely erotic. Perhaps because of all they’d gone through and all she’d learned in the process, but in her mind her man was the epitome of sexiness, and yes, his extra-terrestrial ethnicity had a hell of a lot to do with it. The large, heavy cock was covered in veins and hard as hell. A thing of beauty, of absolute perfection. She continued to glide her hands over it, warming it to her touch. It always remained cooler than the rest of his body, and when he’d put it inside of her, her heat and his iciness would create the perfect blend. As she lay caught in her own little daydream-filled world, he moaned and gripped the seat hard, bringing her into the moment once again.