“Where are we?”
“In your United States, my dear.
The capital in Tennessee.”
I looked back at him.
“The capital moved to Tennessee?”
“We don’t have time for this, master.
The Defenders are waiting to escort you from the side entry.”
Elentinus took my hand again.
“I’m afraid he’s correct.
I must leave you, my dear.”
I made a little smile.
“Have a good day at work, honey.”
“Honey!”
Whore looked mortified.
Elentinus only laughed and leaned down to kiss me.
I lifted up on my toes to meet his mouth.
It was a sweet, brief connection of our lips.
It still caused happy butterflies to bop around inside my stomach.
“I can delay our first meeting if you wish to mate with her again, master.”
The butterflies dropped dead into a twitching pile.
I saw Elentinus look downward with a grimace of annoyance.
Then he recovered.
“Goodbye for now, my dear.”
He and Whore left me to rediscover my world through the glass.
***
I stared out the windows until I got bored, and then tracked down some breakfast.
I hoped Elentinus and I would have time for a proper honeymoon.
I needed a truly consensual lovemaking session to wipe away the dubious consent of the night before.
I didn’t let my loneliness depress me.
The dread of our first time together was over with.
There wasn’t any reason for me not to relax and try to be happy.
(Especially since I knew Whore was gone for the day).
I figured I’d get Kang to give me another history lesson, but later.
For now I just wanted to think about everything that had happened while lounging in the lobby sitting area.
That afternoon (at least I think it was afternoon) a Domestic rolled up without me summoning it.
This was a little strange, but I didn’t let it bother me.
“Oh, good.
I was about to call one of you.
It’s time for me to get another history lesson.”
“Maritza…Maritza Santos?”
My eyes widened.
This wasn’t the Domestic’s voice.
It sounded like an old woman.
“Um…yes?”
“I’m with a group who helps free captive women like yourself.”
My heart started to thunder inside my chest.
I straightened up from the relaxed way I’d been slumped on the couch.
The voice was speaking an alien language, but it sounded different from the one Elentinus and Whore spoke.
“We’ve hacked into the processor of this serving unit to make contact with you.
Maritza, you are not alone.
We’re here for you.
We can get you out of here, but we must act quickly.
Tell me, did they put a force-field collar on you?”
I felt a wave of vertigo.
My heart was beating so hard I could feel the pounding in my temples.
I looked around to see if any of the other Domestics were catching this.
They were all busy doing whatever it is they do.
“Um…yeah…yeah, I have a collar.”
“Damn.
Then that complicates things, but have no fear.
It may take a little longer, but we will get you free.
Maritza, you must try to earn Lord Elentinus’ trust so that he’ll remove the collar.
Do you understand me?
It’s imperative that you get him to take that collar off.”
I tried to catch my breath.
“Um…okay…just hold up, all right?
I’m not trying to be rescued.”
I felt better just having said it.
“Lord Elentinus has been good to me so far.
And…and…I came from 2,000 years ago.
I don’t know anything about this time.
Where would I even—”
“You don’t have to be afraid, Maritza.
There’s no way they can find out we’ve contacted you unless you tell them.”
A compassionate quaver came out in her voice.
“I know you’ve been raped.”
I blinked.
Did she mean what happened last night?
Were they watching me?
“What are you talking about?”
“This isn’t Elentinus testing you, Maritza!
We are your friends.”
“I appreciate that—but look, I—I don’t want to be rescued.
I’m fine with how Lord Elentinus has been treating me.
He’s been…kind, more or less.”
I started to get emotional.
“I don’t want to leave.”
“I…I see.”
She got quiet for a while.
“This is most unexpected, Maritza.
The Dak-Hiliah have new high druid.
I assume that’s the reason for Lord Elentinus’…kindness.”
I swallowed.
“Unfortunately this has not changed his behavior on planet Earth.
Do you know that, at this very moment, he’s torturing seven so-called ‘dissidents’ in front of an audience of 200,000 other human survivors?”
I swallowed again, and then pursed my lips.
“I…sort of knew about that.
Torturing them how?”
“Through those monstrous collars.
It’s the Dak-Hiliah’s trademark.
There’s no permanent damage, but there can be no worse a pain imaginable.”
No permanent damage was good, right?
I tried to cling to that.
“He said they tried to run away or something.”
“Oh yes.
The Dak-Hiliah’s precious cattle dared to leave their repugnant ‘breeding colony.’
He’s making them writhe in agony while their families, friends, and fellow survivors watch in horror.”
I cringed at the thought.
A tear ran down one side of my face.
“That…that sucks.”
I sniffled.
“But…Earth surrendered to them, right?
It was either this or being infected by the Instajants.
I mean…they might just have to…you know, fall in line.”
It was hard to say all this.
Mostly because I had precious little idea what I was talking about.
“I see you’ve been brainwashed.
That breaks my heart, Maritza.
The Dak-Hiliah are evil, merciless conquerors whose sole focus is war and acquisition.
For the first time in their recent history their population has been crippled.
They need to be stopped, now, before hapless women like you help them to fully repopulate.”
I took a deep breath.
“Look.
I’m just trying to survive, okay?
I didn’t ask for any of this.
From what you say I’m pretty lucky I’m not being abused.
I’m not going to push that luck.
I don’t want to be rescued.”
“I will respect your wishes because our purpose is to help women like you, not cause you suffering.”
I expelled a sigh of relief.
“However, if you have a close relationship with Lord Elentinus you have a responsibility to use that relationship for the benefit of your kinswomen.
I assure you, none of the other captive women are in as cozy a situation as you describe.
They are being tortured, Maritza, and our efforts to rescue them are being thwarted.
If you have an opportunity to help free even one of these women we expect you to do so.”
“Don’t you put that on me, lady.”
Tears started to bubble up in my chest.
“I told you—I’m just trying to survive.”
“I will ‘put it on’ you, because your sisters need you, Maritza.
I can’t imagine you coldly turning a blind eye once you’ve witnessed the suffering of one of these desperate women.”
“I…I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”
“Fair enough.
In the meantime I expect you to keep this contact a secret.
The Domestics’ vulnerable networks are an indispensable tool for us.
If we lose it, thousands of women will suffer.”
Ugh.
‘Secrets are the seeds that sow dissension.’
I started to cry.
“Fine.
I won’t tell them.
But don’t contact me again.
I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“We will hold you at your word, Maritza.
Don’t betray us.
You may think it’s a petty thing to let this information slip to your masters.
It will.
Cause.
Genocide.”
I shuddered.
My spit went cold in my mouth.
I leaned over my knees and covered my face with my hands.
“What may I do for you, mistress?” the Domestic said in his normal voice.
I eyed him.
I couldn’t see these things as friends anymore.
“Nothing.”
The Domestic rolled away.
***
Please, please, PLEASE don’t post this story online! We’re begging you!
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If you enjoyed the cover of Book One, you will LOVE the cover for
Alien’s Bride Book Two
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