The Fallen Part 15

I had gone back to Hicksville, though. I remembered that. Iad gone with Gideon to find his sword because he needed it to get home.

The sudden urge to blubber like a baby rolled over me without warning like a tidal wave.

I couldnat remember anything about last night--not after seeing the sword. Gideon had it now, though. I knew that. Had he brought me home? Or had I, horror of horrors, driven myself and lost all memory of it?

I supposed it didnat really matter. I was home. Iad done what Iad set out to do. Iad helped Gideon. I didnat want to think about the enemy head gone after, but I knew he had. I comforted myself with the knowledge that at least he had a weapon now to defend himself with.

A few painkillers and a shower later, I still felt like s.h.i.+t. I spent most of the day lying around the house and sleeping. I spent the following day almost the same way.

On the third morning, I got up and kicked myself in the a.s.s. I was going to be a mom. I was supposed to be planning, celebrating--looking forward to the rest of my life.

After Iad showered and dressed, I went out for boxes and to rent a moving trailer. I wasnat carrying that much with me--the house was furnished. By the time Iad packed up what I wanted to take with me I discovered I didnat even really need the trailer. I threw the boxes into it anyway.

I still had a month left on my lease. After wrangling with the manager a while I finally paid the thieving b.a.s.t.a.r.d for the month I wasnat going to be in the apartment and left. As soon as Iad made all the calls I needed to to have the utilities turned off, I got in my car and drove away without looking back.

I wasnat going to look back at all, I told myself. I was just going to look forward from now on.

I entertained myself on the drive to the farm with deciding on a decorating theme for the kidas room.

I remembered as I drove up in front of the house that Iad forgotten to cancel my appointment with the obstetrician. I dismissed it. I needed a local doctor now and I might not even have to wait three or four months just to get an appointment.

The work Iad paid for had been done since Iad been here last, most of it anyway.

I hadnat had the lights turned on and the well wouldnat work without electricity.

Unhitching the trailer without emptying it, I rushed back into town to take care of that and beg them to send someone out so I wouldnat have to sit in the dark. The woman promised to try, but she didnat look very hopeful of actually managing it. Since I didnat think shead manage it either, I stopped by the supermarket and bought bottled water and candles.

I was sitting at the kitchen table like someone about to perform a sance when the lights abruptly came on. I leapt up from the table with an Indian war whoop and did a little dance around the kitchen table.

When Iad made the circuit, I came face to face with a grinning face at the kitchen door. My heart nearly stopped.

aEverything working now?a I turned red as a beet. Moving to the door I s.n.a.t.c.hed it open and stared at the utility man, trying not to think about the hopeful jerk my heart had given when I saw a male face in the gla.s.s. aI was afraid Iad have to spend my first night here in the dark.a aMildred told me you were going to be out here alone in the dark if I didnat come. I couldnat have that. You want to check the tap and make sure the pumpas on?a aOh. Good idea!a I moved to the sink and checked. aYahoo! Thatas working too! I donat know how to thank you enough for coming out so late.a He grinned at me. aYou can let me take you out sometime.a I stared at him blankly, abruptly uncomfortable. Get back up on that horse, girl! I chided myself, the sooner the better. Heas cute. Heas got charm. aMaybe when Iam settled in?a When head left, my shoulders slumped with relief, and then I kicked myself. A hair of the dog, Nicole!

But I didnat want a hair of the d.a.m.ned dog. I wanted Gideon.

I wasnat going to think about that, though. Iad promised myself I wasnat going to look back.

Settling in took so much work that time flew for me. I didnat have much to move in, but there was a h.e.l.l of a lot of stuff to wade through and move out. My mother, apparently, had never thrown anything away--so much for thinking she wasnat already dotty before she left the farm. I found boxes filled with nothing but used wrapping paper and bows, stacks of newspapers, magazines dating back to forever.

Iad hired workers to take care of the repairs I didnat feel competent to handle, but there were a lot of asmalla things I had to take care of myself. Before I knew it a week had pa.s.sed.

Half way through my second week in my new home I heard a knock at the front door. Startled, I backed down the ladder I was working on and stepped in the tray of paint Iad left at the bottom. as.h.i.+t! d.a.m.n it to h.e.l.l! Iam coming! Give me a minute.a I yelled the last in the direction of the front door. aOr maybe a half hour,a I muttered to myself.

Slipping my shoe off, I hopped on one foot to the bathroom and shoved my foot into the tub. The shower came on instead of the tub spout, thoroughly drenching me. Fuming, I finished rinsing the paint off my leg and grabbed a towel, drying off as I hobbled through the house with one shoe on and one off.

When Iad s.n.a.t.c.hed the door open, I simply stared blankly at the man standing there, trying to get my mind around the strangeness of seeing him dressed like an ordinary human being.

He stared back at me, his gaze traveling slowly down my paint and water spattered form before it returned to my face.

aI thought youad gone home,a I managed finally.

Something flickered in his eyes. aI couldnat. I missed you.a My chin wobbled. aI donat think I can do this anymore, Gideon. I was just starting to get used to not having you around. I really do love f.u.c.king you, buta.a aI love everything about you. I donat want you to get used to not having me around.a I blinked in surprise. aWhat did you say?a He hooked a hand behind my head and jerked me tightly up against him, smiling down at me. aI could not go back. Iave no heart for the war anymore, and I could not survive long anyway when I can think of nothing but being with you. I will stay with you and our child.a aHere?a I didnat realize until much later that head spoken of my pregnancy as if it was something head known all along--but then, perhaps he had. The Elumi were bound to be aware that they were potent breeders, on human females, anyway.

He looked around the house. aYes. Here. Wherever you are.a I didnat know whether to laugh or cry. I did a little of both. aYou sure youare cut out for this world? Youare not going to change your mind? I love you, too, but I donat think I could standa.a He kissed me. I think it was just to shut me up, but it still felt absolutely wonderful!

The End.

DARK THRALL.

By Celeste Anwar.

Chapter One.

Once upon a time, Raphael had been the greatest seducer in all the land of Pearthen. His s.e.xual prowess was renowned, and his skills in the bedroom highly sought by the voracious and timid alike.

Raphael loved women. He loved their skin and smell, tasting their curves and b.r.e.a.s.t.s, listening to their lilting voices. He enjoyed wooing them almost as much as he enjoyed making love to them. Head had the pleasure of many courts.h.i.+ps--far more than he cared to admit, especially in light of the fact that it was because of a woman that head been permanently banished to Earth. He had no hope of regaining entry into Pearthen, and since head become one of the fallen, head been unable to settle down into the comfort of his old ways.

Even before he had been banished, Raphael had always preferred to make love, not war, as the Earth saying went. There was certainly no incentive for him to hunt down his enemies after he had been expelled from Pearthen, when doing so would not regain the favor he had lost or free him from his banishment, and yet he had been forced into fight and/or flight too many times to count.

Raphael was tired. He was miserable, and he was lonelier than he had ever believed possible.

He had endured the misery of having no company but his own for quite some time before it dawned upon him that, just as he had no reason to fight his enemies, he also had no reason or incentive to abide by the laws of Pearthen which forbade him to interact with humans.

He lived on Earth now--forever. He was an Earth person, if not a human. There was no reason at all why he should not settle among them and look about for a companion and produce a child.

All he needed to do was to find the right woman, but to do so he realized he must first learn to blend in with the native population. As little as he cared what the laws of his former land were, he had learned a lesson from his banishment. He could not flaunt his conduct. If the humans realized that he walked among them it might create a disturbance that the Elumi would notice and then banishment would not be his punishment. He would be beheaded instead.

After observing the mating habits of humans for quite a while, he finally decided that he had mastered the technique and decided that it was time to test his knowledge. Since the majority of the mating appeared to take place in specific buildings in the city that head chosen to live in, he s.h.i.+fted into his purely human form and procured himself clothing that he thought would be suitable for the ritual.

When he was satisfied that he was dressed properly to pa.s.s, and enticingly enough to attract the female of the species, he made his way to the gathering place he had chosen and hit his first road block. The man at the door demanded ID and ten bucks. As far as he knew, bucks were deer, a species of cattle known to roam the forests of Earth. And not only was he not certain how he would catch these animals, but he also wasnat sure how he was to get them to the man.

Deciding, finally, that perhaps he hadnat observed closely enough, he moved aside and waited for a human man to go through. He was distracted by the fact that there were far more females going in than there were men. And not only did the guard at the door not ask for ID, he also didnat ask for ten bucks. Thoroughly confused by now, and far more interested in following the women in than waiting to see more, Raphael was just wondering if perhaps he should draw the man off into the alley and challenge him to a fight, when a male human arrived. The male human was asked to produce an ID and ten bucks, just as he had been, which at least relieved him of the suspicion that head been singled out.

Curiously enough, the man pulled out a small container and handed the guard a thin rectangle and a green piece of paper. The guard looked the stiff rectangle over, looked at the man, and handed it back. He put the piece of green paper in a drawer, hit the back of the manas hand with something, and the man went inside.

Raphael retreated a short distance to think that over. Obviously, what he needed was one of those square things, because that had the ID and the ten bucks in it. He decided he would have to relieve one of the human males of one of those objects.

Retreating to the corner of the building, he propped one shoulder against it and settled to wait. Head been waiting for a few minutes when a likely looking prey appeared. Sizing him up, Raphael decided this one would be easier to take than most, not that he was particularly worried about it. He knew he was a good bit stronger than the strongest of human males, but he thought that it wouldnat work the best in the world if he found it necessary to struggle with the man. It might draw unwanted attention.

This one was a full head shorter than him and as thin as a willow switch. Rafael was fairly certain theread be no problem at all. As the man walked by him, he grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and hauled him into the alley.

aI have need of your a thing,a Raphael said, slamming his victim into the wall.

The maleas mouth worked, but no sound emerged. His eyes looked like they would pop from his head.

aI need your thing,a Raphael said more emphatically.

aOh f.u.c.k,a the man finally said.

Raphael frowned. He knew that word. That word definitely lay in the range of his vocabulary, but there was no way in h.e.l.l that he was going to f.u.c.k a male to get what he needed. aNo f.u.c.k. Just give it to me.a aWhat do you want?a the man whined.

aItas sort of a square. And it has ID and ten bucks.a The guy looked almost relieved. aG.o.d d.a.m.ned foreigners canat even speak English and theyare robbing peoplea.a He dragged something from his pocket and held it out.

Raphael released him and took it. aThank you,a he said politely. aYou can go now.a He waited until head seen the man run away. When he was certain the man was gone, he went back up to the guard at the door.

The guard looked him over. aI told you you had to have an ID and ten bucks. Whatas the matter? You deaf?a Forcing a feral smile, Raphael handed him the object he had procured. The guard looked at him strangely. After a moment, he opened it up. Sure enough, it contained one of the square things. He took that out, looked it over, and then looked at Raphael.

aThis says your name is Chris Smith. Youare twenty one years old, blonde haired, blue eyed, and you weigh one hundred and twenty five pounds a and youare female.a Raphael frowned. The man had spoken much faster than he could grasp the strange words. He could see, though, that the man was waiting for some sort of response. aYes.a The man stared at him for several moments and finally took a piece of paper out of the wallet and handed it back to him. aNext time, try rolling a man. Just a suggestion.a Raphael was still thinking that over as he made his way into the building. It worried him to think he might have difficulty telling the male human from the female. He had been certain that the human he had captured had been a man. Head never had that problem before, and he began to wonder if he really did want a female human if it was so difficult to tell them apart from the males.

He was distracted from his disturbing thoughts by the deafening rumble of thunder inside the building. It was also far darker inside than it was outside. Flickering lights added to the confusion. He stopped when he reached the main room, still debating with himself as he surveyed the sea of humans as to whether to proceed or to retreat until he had had time to study the humans a little more closely. There was hardly even room to move. He realized, however, as he glanced towards one particular spot in the room, that this was definitely the place.

There, men and women b.u.mped and gyrated in some strangely erotic mating dance. l.u.s.t immediately surged through his blood, seeming almost to pound in time to the beat he could hear in the noise. He would find the woman here.

Threading his way between tables and chairs and people of all shapes, sizes, and colors, he stopped when he reached the mating floor, surveying the possibilities. Almost at once, his gaze was drawn to one particular female and a sensation like head been punched in the belly struck him. Her coloring and build reminded him painfully of the women he had known in his own world, but the similarity ended there. She was tall for a human female but she was not as tall as an Elumi women, and she was not muscular as the warrior women of Pearthen were. She looked as if she would be soft to the touch. Her hips curved outward, her waist deeply inward. When she turned, he saw the soft globes of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s bounced gently and swayed mesmerizingly with her movement. The way she moved set blood to pounding in his temples and his groin. He knew the moment his gaze met hers that fate had smiled upon him. This was the woman he wanted. This was the woman who would bear his child.

aOh. My. G.o.d. Look! Heas beautiful! I canat remember the last time I saw something that looked that good,a Diana gushed. aJesus, I could lick him like a tootsie pop. MmmMMMMMM.a aChocolate or vanilla?a Isabel asked with a laugh.

aLittle bit a both. Long black hair, dark eyes, muscles everywhere. I think he might be Indian. Da-yum. Whatever he is, I donat care. Iall take one.a Izzy couldnat help herself. The way Diana was drooling, she had to see. As casually as she could, she turned to look. Almost as if her movement had drawn his attention, he seemed to zero in on her. Theyare gazes collided across the room. The man was f.u.c.kina tall! Her heart was hammering like a war drum when she whirled back around. aDammit! I made eye contact. You know you canat make eye contact in these places. Diana, why the h.e.l.l didnat you warn me he was looking this way?a She chuckled. aDidnat figure it mattered.a aIs he gone?a Dianaas eyes widened. aUha.a aNo. He is here,a a man said behind her.

Oh s.h.i.+ta. Izzy turned around and met a chest. Very nice, mus-cly chest. The black jersey top he wore left little to the imagination and exposed his belly and a happy trail that disappeared into his tight black jeans. He was also sporting a d.a.m.ned impressive erection.

aI would like to perform the mating dance with you,a he said above her.

Izzy tore her gaze from his crotch and tilted her head up. He was at least half a head taller than her, and she was six foot tall. That put him at like a what? Six foot five? Shead never been around a guy that tall. She was pretty sure she didnat like it. aUh. What?a He frowned and looked confused. aI would like to perform the mating dance with you,a he said a little louder. The music stopped about halfway through the sentence. Into a virtually dead silence echoed the words amating dance with you.a Izzy felt her face turn bright red. Diana cackled. aAnother time,a Izzy said politely. aThis dance is over.a Another song started about that time, but Izzy made good her escape, trying to batter her way between gyrating dancers and the exodus of those leaving the dance floor. Someone snagged her arm, jerking her to a halt.

She knew exactly who it was, but she stopped and threw him a glance that was a mixture of indignation and surprise. aExcuse you.a Looking uncomfortable, he released her arm. After glancing around for several moments, as if he was trying to figure out where he was at, he looked down at her again. aI did this wrong?a he asked.

Izzy was intrigued, in spite of herself. She was a sucker for a s.e.xy accent, and he had one shead never encountered before. Besides, as intimidating as his size was, Diana was right, he was gorgeous. aYouare not from around here, are you?a He looked downright uneasy when she asked that. aI am human.a Izzy felt her jaw drop. That was probably the most peculiar statement shead ever heard, even from a foreigner. I am American, she could understand, but I am human? What was with that? Obviously, he didnat speak English nearly as well as shead thought at first. She sighed. Shead always been a sucker for stray cats--especially when they were cute. aCome on, Iall buy you a drink.a He didnat argue. He followed her as docilely as a puppy. When she glanced back at him, she saw that his gaze was riveted to her a.s.s. He didnat look the least bit disconcerted when he met her gaze. There wasnat much subterfuge about the guy. She decided she liked that though.

aI like that,a he said, pointing at her b.u.t.t.

Izzy stared at him a moment. aThank you.a aYouare welcome,a he said politely, and then smiled as if he realized head said something clever.

He had a very s.e.xy smile a and dimples. Shead always been a sucker for dimples.

They settled at the table that Diana was already occupying. Diana looked him over like he was a choice piece of beef. aDo you have any brothers?a she asked.

He frowned. aI donat know this word.a Diana exchanged a glance with Izzy. aGuess thatas a no,a Diana said glumly. aYou know any others that look like you do?a aNot here,a he said.

aWhat would you like to drink?a Izzy cut in.

He stared at her a moment and finally looked around. aOne of those,a he said, pointing.

Diana gave him a look. aThe girl or the drink?a Izzy kicked her under the table. The guy glared at her. aI have chosen this woman,a he said, pointing at Izzy.

Izzy and Diana exchanged another glance. Izzy turned to look in the direction head pointed. The woman at the table next to them had one of those fruity, tropical mixed drinks with a little pink umbrella sticking out of it. aOne of those?a she asked a little doubtfully.

aYes,a he said. aThank you.a Izzy and Diana exchanged another look. Shrugging, Izzy signaled for the waitress. aWhat is it called?a she asked him.

aWhat?a he asked curiously.

aThe drink? Whatas the name of the drink?a aI will ask.a She grabbed his hand when he moved to stand up. aNever mind, Iall just tell the waitress you want one that looks like that. Whatas your name, anyway?a aRaphael.a aOoooh,a Diana purred. aI like that.a Izzy kicked her under the table. aGo find your own, dammit.a Sighing, Diana got up and left. As she pa.s.sed by the back of Izzyas chair, she leaned down. aFind out where his friends hang out, dammit. I want one of those.a Izzy nodded.

aWhat did she ask?a he asked curiously.

aShe said she wanted one just like you. She wants me to ask you where to find them.a He looked surprised. aShe cannot go there. I cannot even go there anymore.a That sounded intriguing, but since Izzy was in the process of ordering drinks, she had time to consider whether she really wanted to know that much about him or not. She finally decided, since this was most likely going to be a one night thing, there wasnat much point in pursuing that interesting little tidbit.

She couldnat help but notice he hadnat asked what her name was. aMy nameas Isabel. Izzy for short,a she volunteered. aAre you Italian by any chance?a He seemed to think it over. aNo,a he said finally.

That accent was driving her crazy. Tall, dark, and named Raphael. Where would he be from? aSpanish?a she said.

aNo.a aSouth American?a An expression of comprehension crossed his features. aI am from the Kingdom Marceena on Pearthen, high Earth.a Izzy frowned. aI never was worth a s.h.i.+t at geography, but that donat sound at all familiar to me. Is that someplace in Europe?a aNo.a He hesitated for several moments. aYou are a beautiful woman. Your eyes remind me of the sea of Benatar.a Since her eyes were mud brown, Izzy had a little difficulty with that compliment. aThank you. I think.a The drinks arrived. Izzy was never more grateful for a distraction. Digging into her purse, she produced her wallet and paid for the drinks. When the waitress had left, she noticed Raphael watched her place her wallet in her pocketbook. She felt a little uneasy about that.

aWhat are those green things?a he asked curiously.

It took her a moment to figure out what he was asking. aYou mean the money?a Izzy asked blankly. aHow are you getting around if you donat know what money is?a aI havenat been here that long. This is a thing of value, that you trade for other things of value?a aWhat planet are you from?a He looked a little surprised, doubtful, uneasy--maybe even a little pleased, as if he couldnat help but be pleased that shead noticed he was different but at the same time it worried him that she had. aPearthen.a Izzy was beginning to think that they had a little more than a language barrier going on here. The man had a body to die for, a gorgeous face, an accent that made her warm and wet, and he didnat really seem stupid, but he seemed very strange. She mightave thought he was a mental patient, but he didnat seem crazy, just sort of a alien.

She took a few swigs of her drink. When she looked at him again, she discovered head downed the entire contents of the gla.s.s and was munching on fruit. He pulled a wallet out of his jeans pocket and opened it up. Pulling the bills out, he laid them on the table and asked her to explain how much they would buy.

The guy was needy in more ways than one, couldnat count his money and didnat have a lot to count when it came to that. Izzy decided that Plan A was really the best one to go for. A one nighter, definitely.

She was a little unnerved by the mothering instinct he provoked in her. He seemed--was so lost, so out of his element that she had to fight the protective urge that rose inside her, but she didnat want anyone elseas problems. She had enough problems of her own. aWhat do you say we just go to my place? Cut the bulls.h.i.+t and get down to it?a He looked surprised but pleased. aWe f.u.c.k now?a Izzy chuckled. aNot atil we get to my place.a Grabbing his hand, she led him from the club. As they threaded there way through the crowd toward the exit, she caught Dianaas eye as she pa.s.sed and threw her friend a wave and a wink. Diana glared at her and shot her a bird. Izzy was still chuckling as they left the club. When she glanced at Raphael, she saw that he was shooting her a bird.

aWhat is this?a he asked.

aItas a hand signal.a He winked at her. aWhat is this?a aYou donat miss much, do you?a aNo. What is it for?a Izzy chuckled. aDianaas my best girlfriend. I told her I was taking you to my place. She signaled back that she understood.a She felt a little uneasy about his ready acceptance of her explanation. She supposed she really ought to have gone into more detail--explained that such gestures could have a wealth of meaning--but she figured that was close enough to what had transpired between her and Diana.

Chapter Two.

They took a cab to her apartment. She figured it was best since there was no telling where Raphael lived, whether head even have a bed, or any kind of protection. Unlocking the door when they reached her apartment, she entered, flipping the lights on as she went. He followed behind her, leaving the front door open.

aShut that,a she said. aDo you want anything to drink?a aIave had enough,a he said.