The door hissed open and Tara froze as the pills slid from her fingers soundlessly. Her master entered. She staggered backward, reaching the wall behind her and wishing desperately there was another door in the wall through which she could disappear forever. What did he want now? She had wrapped a thin scarf tightly around her head that hid her burnt face. She quickly covered her head with the hood.

Cayne wasn’t alone. The hulking man that stepped in behind him as the door silently closed was an ominous presence himself. In her cramped quarters, the Klai seemed huge in his hooded cloak and dark garb. And it was his piercing ice blue gaze that seared her very soul. She clasped her hands together tightly to stop them from shaking.

“Master . . . ?” she began and saw Cayne’s face contort as if in pain. There was a wild look in his dark, beady eyes. Something insane . . . This wasn’t right. She could feel it reverberate through her.

Cayne raised his arm sideways and, turning violently, slid it back and upward. She caught a glint of metal in the dim light, but then the blade stopped in midair, never reaching its target.

The Klai warrior had caught her master’s hand in midair and, without losing another second, he slashed his own dagger across the human’s throat. Silent. Swift. Neat.

Dark red blood gushed forth as the man choked, his eyes wide. His body jolted once, twice, and fell forward with a dull thud. Tara stood frozen, her hand clamped over her mouth as she stared at the blood pooling on the floor beneath the body. A faint voice in her head screamed at her to run, run, run! And still, she was unable to move. Why was she shocked? She had wanted Cayne dead more than anything. She had imagined killing him herself so many times. It should have felt good to see him like that after what he did to her. And part of her was glad. But then again, it was the brutality of the act – the cold-blooded manner in which it was done – that made her cringe. It shook her very soul.

Karma . . . He got what he deserved, Tara. Look what he did to you. No need to get upset, a voice in her head said dryly.

She stood rooted to the spot, trembling as the alien circled around the dead man and came toward her. In a few long strides, he stood before her, towering over her.

“Pack your things,” the Klai said in a low deep voice. “You are coming with me.”

Tara gasped then, remembering to breathe. Something in his tone told her that he wouldn’t hurt her. Strange that she would think like that . . . What was wrong with her?

“W-where are you t-taking me?” she stammered.

“Where ever I go, you will come with me, woman,” Rydel said, gazing at her.

“I . . . I will not be your s – s - slave,” Tara said. “Kill me now or let me go.” There. She had said it. She had had enough. She would not be his slave. Not anyone’s slave. He could kill her if he so wished.

“Oh no, no . . . You are much more valuable, woman. I assure you, you won’t be a slave anymore. I don’t plan to sell you.” Rydel said in that low, cold voice that made her shudder. “I take what I want . . . and I take you as my mate.”

Tara blinked and almost laughed. This was ridiculous. An alien, a Klai, was her mate? Impossible. “Mate? I don’t understand . . . How could I be your mate? I am not even human. Just a clone . . . a copy.” Tara was really confused. “No! You can’t just take me,” she said as a wave of anger washed over her and her breathing became labored. He was surely bluffing. She trembled. All this could lead to a situation that wasn’t much different than she was in with Cayne. He would take her and rape her. And then he would force her to work as a sex slave. She couldn’t forget he was Klai. And Klai men were known to abduct women and keep them as sex slaves.

“I know you are my mate. I have seen the light,” Rydel said in a low, deep voice – a voice that caressed her as his intense gaze pierced her very soul. “And this,” he reached out and held her wrist, the one with the mark on it. “This shows there is so much more to you. You have something that I need.”

“W - What is it that you need?” she said in a small voice as her anger turned to fear. He was frightening her, and yet, there was something about him. Something dark and fierce. It had the strangest effect on her. Her breath hitched and she couldn’t take her eyes off his sculpted lips. His intense gaze pinned her to the wall . . . Jeez, he wasn’t even human. He was an enemy, and yet she found him attractive . . . 

“I still haven’t figured that out,” Rydel said. “Now hurry up. I don’t have all day, woman.”

Confused, she nodded quickly. His presence overwhelmed her and she needed to get away from him. His gaze still on her, he moved out of her way as she scuttled around the room, grabbing the few clothes and toiletries she owned. The only belongings she was allowed to have. She went toward the dresser and pulled open a drawer. She grabbed her things and stuffed them into her small bag. Stealing a glance at him, she saw him wipe the blood off the rag as if it were dust.

A wave of nausea hit her. She was not built for violence. She had hated it. But she would not die like this, at the hands of some Klai. And didn’t she wish to escape? But not like this . . . Not as a slave. She didn’t have much choice, she thought bitterly.

She knew she couldn’t get off the station as long as the biobank was around her neck. And she couldn’t resist the Klai or he would finish her off without another thought. She would just have to wait and look for an opportunity to escape . . . 

***

Tara rubbed her neck where the biobank had been. She suddenly felt free, as if her life had been given back to her. The constant pressure, the stress of knowing that her life was in the hands of another and he could end it at any time, was gone.

They were at the local biotech workshop that manufactured the biobanks. Rydel watched her quietly, his gaze ever-so intense, making her feel so conscious of herself.

“Don’t worry about it,” said the tech guy as he stared at Tara. “The mark will go away in a day or so.” He was a shrewd man with scaly orange skin and green eyes. And he did his job well as he had done it many times before. The biobank had to be taken off the slaves who were sold to people who wished to take them to other planets. That was the only way they could leave the Station with their masters.

“Thank you,” Rydel said in a tone that was colder than usual. “You will receive the payment shortly.” Rydel grabbed Tara’s arm and pulled her out of the shop before the guy could reply.

He almost dragged her toward the docking station. It was a mile-long walk, and by the time they reached his ship, Tara was out of breath. He tapped a few commands on his wristband and the doors to the ship whirred and slid open. Once they were inside, they stayed in the decompression chamber for 10 minutes. Then Rydel went straight to the control room, pulling Tara behind him.

Welcome Aboard, Commander Rydel. The ship’s computerized voice boomed overhead. It felt strange – Tara had never been aboard a starship before.

“Computer, what’s our current status?” he commanded.

All systems are ready and functioning. We can set off immediately. Please enter your destination.

He tapped in commands as Tara stood by, still catching her breath. It was strange that her breathing clip wasn’t helping. The air inside the ship seemed too thick to breathe.

He took out the Scroll and studied it for a while. A new text had appeared.

On Ranus you will find the crystal rock,

The stone that knows the essence of life

It glows brightly in its presence,

And will guide you through the night. 

“Computer, locate Planet Ranus,” Rydel said as Tara watched. A few minutes later, the computer showed a holographic image of the map and coordinates to planet Ranus above the control panel.

“That looks good. How long will it take to reach there?” Rydel asked.

Three weeks and four days, Commander.

He tapped in more commands and set course. A low hum reverberated through the ship as the engines started.

“Tara, come with me,” he said and led the way to another door. She followed him down the winding galleries. They reached another door and as he entered, he took her hand and led her inside. His grip was surprisingly gentle.

The room was spacious with gray walls and a white table in one corner. A white couch was near the table. Her head spun as she staggered toward the couch, watching him stride toward the wall to their left. She stared at his tail that twitched restlessly as he tapped in commands and a panel slid open. He took out a bottle and two glasses and poured dark wine the color of purple ink into two glasses.

“Drink this,” he said as he held out one to her.

She took the glass from him with trembling hands, not meeting his intense gaze. He watched her take a sip as he himself gulped down the dark, smooth wine, draining the glass.

“Look at me,” he said in a low deep voice as he bent over and put the glass on the table near them.

Tara blinked a few times before she looked up at him. He stood close to her – too close – towering over her. She stared into those icy blue depths that shimmered with a fire that made her heart skip a beat. Her gaze roved over his handsome chiseled features: straight nose, perfect jaw, and sculpted lips . . . The subtle sweep of the tip of his ears, making them pointed and very much non-human. There was a sharpness to his features that was enhanced by the dark hair that reached his shoulders.

Her breath hitched and she blinked. Tearing her gaze away from his, she took a few more sips while he watched the wine warm her blood. It was a different wine, native to his planet. A kind she had not tasted before. It tasted good and had an instant effect on her. It made her forget why she was there for a while.

He gently took the glass from her and put it away. He had seen the fear in her clear brown eyes. And there was more. He had glimpsed confusion, anger, and a strange fire flit across those beautiful warm depths. He reached up and pulled back the hood from her face.

“No . . . p - please no . . . ” she whimpered, cringing away from his touch and pulling the hood tighter across her face.

“I want to see your face, woman,” Rydel said in a firm voice.

He reached up again and she let him pull back the hood, turning her face sideways as if ashamed. Tears welled in her eyes as he gazed at her disfigured face. Her otherwise beautiful face had been partially destroyed, melted. Luckily, her eyes were not affected, but part of her cheek and the side of her neck were ruined, her ear almost gone. The burns seemed fresh. His chest constricted terribly. What kind of man would do this to a woman? That bastard did this to her. Something deep inside him snapped as a slow dull pain began to throb at his temples. Rage like hot molten lava began to smolder inside his blood. It was good he had killed him.

The hot molten fire reached his eyes, as he roughly pulled her chin up and turned her face toward him, forcing her to look at him. And when she did, without warning, he tilted his head and, bending down, he locked his lips with hers. The movement of his lips was slow, passionate, and demanding. She was his, and he would protect her always.

Tara gasped against his mouth and put her hands on his chest, pushing him away, but it was futile. Two strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to him in a powerful embrace. His mouth claimed hers fervently as he deepened the kiss, his tongue ravaging her mouth. Tara moaned against his mouth as her body went out of control. She kissed him back and hated herself for it. She liked the feel of his mouth on hers – as if this was what she had wanted all along.

After several minutes, Rydel pulled away. There was a dazed look in her eyes masked by surprise.

“What are you doing?” she asked, feebly catching her breath as she again tried to free herself from his hold. Vertigo took over at that moment and she collapsed in his arms.

Rydel cursed, clenching his teeth and picking her up. He hurried toward the door. “Computer, ready the healing pod,” Rydel yelled. He had seen that she had difficulty breathing ever since she boarded the ship. He had been a fool. He should have taken her to the sick bay right away.

Head toward the healing chamber, please, the computer instructed.

Rydel rushed toward the healing chamber. Once inside, he put her in the capsule-like healing pod. He watched her through the glass of the pod as it sealed. The computer began scanning her body and gave out a list of issues.

She has endured internal and external injuries due to physical abuse. It will take 56 hours for the injuries to be healed completely.

“What kind of abuse? Elaborate,” Rydel demanded, his jaw clenched.

Severe blows to her chest and legs as well as sexual abuse.

“Computer, begin healing procedure immediately,” Rydel commanded as rage threatened to break him. “And also heal her face,” he added breathing hard.

I am sorry Commander, but we do not have the facility on the ship to reconstruct her face.

Rydel clenched his fist as his chest constricted again. He was reacting to her in a way he would never react to anybody. It only proved she was his mate.

And Commander, I must inform you, that the patient is a modified human.

“Please elaborate,” Rydel said frowning.

She has a symbiont that supports her respiratory system. She was born with a condition called asthma in the human tongue. And she was joined with this symbiont as a child to help her breathe better. It lies inside her heart, and due to her injuries, it has been difficult for it to help her.

“What are your options? Can you fully heal her?” He asked.

Yes, Commander. Once her injuries are healed, the symbiont will function properly.

Rydel sighed. “Alright, please proceed.”

With one last look at her, he left the room and headed toward his quarters.

Rydel poured himself a drink as he pondered over the situation. He would take her home after he found the Svix. Home? Did he actually have a home? He had never thought about it. Scyok had always felt like a stop-over. He hoped the stone would take him directly to the Svix. He was growing tired of deciphering riddles. And he couldn’t wait to go back, couldn’t wait to heal her inside and out.