Apparition (4 page)

Suddenly Caveat had been there, in the dark, like a
knight. His sharp hooves had battered the
Castian
.
Loy seemed weak. He must have been after his stay in the
Tonan
slave-prison camp. He dropped her to defend himself and Zoe was on her feet,
then on Caveat’s back and away they went while she had clung for her life. Loy
had called to her but she had gotten away leaving him far behind, she was finally
safe—so she thought. As the suns had risen in the early morning sky, a new
threat had appeared. The
Tonan
, her captor, had found
them and had given chase.

She couldn’t go back to that hell. She would die; she
would rather die. Caveat sensed her terror and they had raced for their lives.
Caveat, her friend, her companion would have been killed if the other pale gray
creature hadn’t interfered. But what was he? Something told her she would find
out. The idea was chilling.

Zoe sat up. She slipped from Caveat’s back needing to
relieve herself. She planned on piddling right beside the stallion and climbing
back onto him. Her nose twitched when she gingerly lowered herself from his
great height by balling her fists into his mane and her foot sunk into a pile
of warm fresh manure. It oozed up over the sides of her foot and between her toes.

Ick
.

Zoe shook her foot and dragged it on the spongy earth
surface top and bottom until she made it to the river a short distance away.
Caveat was well within her sight. For a moment, she felt a twinge of guilt
realizing she was dependent on an animal for safety. Tough times, though—she
was even beginning to smell like an animal. Zoe was sick to death of being
filthy. The
Tonans
thought it amusing not to let her
bathe the two days she was with them. The river water was cool, more tepid
really. It felt good.

She washed herself then hunkered down near a bush to
pee, pulling the bushes around her.
Tonans
and
Castians
could see in the dark; no doubt the creature
watching her could as well. It may have seen her nude, but it didn’t need to
see her tend to personal business, some things were just too private. This
time, though, she was safe from the being’s grasp—there was no way it could get
her this near to Caveat and the herd who were almost within touching distance.
When Zoe finished, she washed again.

Moving a small ways upstream she cupped her hands into
the flowing river and drank in a huge amount. Zoe was starving but food would
have to wait; the water would have to suffice for now. She filled her belly
with the cool clear liquid. Her arms crossed her breasts when she finished. Zoe
wished she had clothes or a towel. It was cold at night, not too cold but
enough to raise goose bumps. She was still so tired and wanted to curl up onto
Caveat’s warmth. Turning, she saw a blur and before she could scream a hand
went over her mouth. Like an apparition with lightning speed, Zoe was up high
in a tree moving at a rate so fast her head spun. She didn’t know this speed
was possible.

Oh God, not
again
.

The creature wasn’t pinning her arms or legs
painfully. Its massively muscled gray-white arm was snaked up her belly to her
mouth, effectively holding her and silencing her. His strength was physically
powerful but controlled. Zoe had no choice but to hang on while her legs
dangled until she pulled them under her. She squeezed her eyes shut for a brief
second then opened them. Caveat stood unmoving not far from them. All the
horses were settled quietly. Her poor friend must be exhausted. Zoe released
her captor to reach for Caveat, only a small whimpered puff of air was expelled.
She sobbed in her fear. He would never hear her this high up, or as tired as he
was. Desolation filled her heart.

“You’ll see him again soon,” a voice whispered.

Zoe’s despair was heavy. She doubted it. This time she
was dead for certain. The creature took off with her until the herd was nothing
more than a dot—then nothing at all. She was alone again with a creature. Her
only hope was that he possessed a soul, a kindness, mercy. On this planet it
was doubtful. Her body slumped in defeat; she was too tired and sad to fight
any more. The idea alone was heartbreaking.

Chapter 2

Zoe sat curled in a ball on a bed piled high with soft
sheets. The creature had only set her on it after she had given him her name.
She was in a cave. Her large captor was pacing back and forth in front of her
erratically. Every so often he would pause to say something to her then stop
and begin pacing again. During that time Zoe would glance about looking for an
escape route. The two of them were alone. It was a frightening thought.

The cave was deep. The interior was bathed in light.
The inside rock was like nothing she had ever seen before. It wasn’t hard rock
but sponge-like. She assumed the terrain was adaptable to the large creatures
living on the planet. The being in front of her, Doss, he said his name was,
was massive. Standing at least six foot six and covered in armor that molded to
each of his muscles. He had a tattoo like the
Tonans
and
Castians
, but the
Tonans
’
was black, the
Castians
’ green. Doss’ was like a
strike of white lightning. It glowed. There were protruding bulbs where its
eyes would sit. His clawed feet were huge, shaped like a
velociraptor
with an extra claw at the back. His fangs were long and a gleaming white. Long
talons hung from his hands like knives. Zoe noted warily the one razor sharp
looking claw hook that had sliced the
Tonan
open and
she shuddered.

Doss stopped again and moved closer. Zoe couldn’t help
it, she had sworn to be strong but she was starving, weak from lack of sleep,
and terrified. She cowered back into the bed and Doss stopped advancing and
started pacing. Again Zoe looked around while he seemed distracted. The walls
of the cave were a pleasant rose quartz. Green vines curled up the sides with
stunning white flowers Zoe knew to be called Effie flowers. A sparkling pool of
water glowed with a brilliant light, also surrounded in beautiful foliage. It
was all so beautiful.
An odd surrounding for a warrior.
It was almost as if a woman’s touch had been added.

The cave was a deep contrast to the
Tonan
slave camp where everything was dull and gray like
the cruel warriors. Zoe had to admit this creature’s color was more pleasing.
He wasn’t the sick gray or frightening glare of black. His almost white
polished outer armor moved with him like a second skin. Zoe wondered what he
looked like underneath. She knew he was concealed. Both the
Tonans
’
and
Castians
’ armor absorbed back into their bodies
when not in use. Zoe had been amazed when she first witnessed it, but it was
true. They were unshakable when armored and weighed a great deal. Of the
creatures she had seen, all had shoulder-length black or blond hair. Most had
brown eyes but a few were blue-eyed or green-eyed; the other, Loy, had gray
eyes. She wondered what color this creature’s eyes were.

Doss stopped to look at her again. Zoe didn’t move,
didn’t breathe,
didn’t
blink. She wondered what he was
waiting for. He was toying with her. Zoe pulled the sheets tighter around her
and Doss began pacing again. Zoe distracted herself by looking at the cave
interior. The ceiling was about twenty feet high. It was light inside but she
had no idea where the light came from. There were about six cone-shaped black
cylinders on the ground. Maybe they had something to do with it.

She saw a replicator and her mouth watered knowing
there was food in there. The
Tonans
had given her
nothing but a simple piece of leathery fruit each day and brackish water. But
humans had those replicators in their homes. The
Tonans
had made friends with some very stupid men in the beginning. They were given
replicators to make their lives easier, anything they wanted, the human men
only need ask. In exchange, the
Tonans
were shown
human strengths—none compared to the
Tonans
’ armor.
The slaughter started next. The women were taken. Zoe clenched her teeth; her
parents had been butchered. Zoe had been out riding Caveat and had returned to
the gruesome scene. So many lives lost.
Such horrible
brutality.

She would not
cry.

Doss stopped again, she knew he must be looking at her
but with the bulb covered eyes it was hard to tell. “What do you want?” Zoe
whispered.

“Your emotions change so fast I wrap my head around
one feeling and you already have another. Great Lord, how the hell do human men
stand it?”

“They don’t
any more
,” Zoe
replied, her voice quiet. “The
Tonans
killed them.”

“I’m not a
Tonan
.”

“I can see that. Not
Tonan
or
Castian
. What are you?”

“I am someone who can keep you safe.”

“You stole me from Caveat.” Her tone was accusing.

“Do you really think a stallion can take care of you?”

“He has for a year.”

“The
Tonans
know of your
existence. No doubt they have found the body of the filth I killed. They will
go after you. Not me.”

“Are they afraid of you?”

Doss held up his talon claw that sported the hook and
waved it at her. Zoe nodded. Yes the
Tonans
feared
him. She did too. If he could rip a
Tonan
warrior to
shreds without mercy what would he do to her? Horrible images of being ripped
to shreds assaulted her. First fear then revulsion shook her and next came
panic.

“
Stop,”
he
commanded.

Startled, Zoe jumped. Her eyes widened. Doss began
pacing again. “Why not just tell me what you want?” Zoe asked.

“I want you to feel just one emotion at a time and let
me deal with it,” he snapped.

“I don’t know if I can.”

Doss approached her again. Zoe was terrified. He
continued to approach. Zoe’s fear escalated. When Doss reached her, his
nostrils flared and he inhaled her. Zoe blinked as his armor absorbed into his
body. He was huge. His body was tanned. His white-blond hair was spiked and
short. His eyes were like nothing she had seen. Their gray depths moved like
clouds. He was fascinating, beautiful, and gorgeous. And he was closer.

Zoe cringed when he touched her. He trailed the backs
of his huge moist fingers, devoid now of talons, across her cheek. She saw him
shudder. Zoe felt oddly calmer. Doss inhaled her scent again like he was
starving and she was a pizza and he looked more relaxed.

“That’s better,” he said, his voice was gruff. “Fear I
can deal with. I’ve never dealt with so many emotions at once. It’s been so
long since I have been this close to a female.
Tonan
females didn’t have such quick racing emotions.
Tonan
females didn’t feel as strongly about each emotion, it’s how they coped with
the filthy
Tonan
warriors.
Dormant
emotions.
It’s nerve-wracking to smell your turmoil—your emotions are so
strong. I can scent you have no control over it. I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

Doss settled himself beside her. Zoe tried to scoot
away but his behind was sitting on the bed sheet she was wrapped in, trapping
her. The man had no concept of personal space. His fingers never left her
cheek. Zoe could feel his sweat and she was confused. He was wearing only tight
gray-white pants that hugged his body to his ankles, his feet were bare; they were
huge but normal looking. She should be terrified but she wasn’t. His massive
chest was void of nipples. His fangs were gone.

“What did you do to me?” Zoe whispered. She felt
drugged.

She just sat there, allowing him to trail his fingers
down her throat and shoulders. She should be screaming, running, fighting him
off. She did none of those things. Zoe had the strangest urge to pull herself
into his arms. She swayed wanting to press her face against him and bury
herself into his safety.

“A warrior can produce secretions to calm a female. We
are very large and a female is not. When a male is in must his secretions are
stronger. It’s easier to control your emotions when you are calmer. I can
separate each by feeling your needs.” Doss looked at her startled. “You’re
starving! Damn it, you’re in pain. Why didn’t you say something?”

She would have been scared shitless by his expression
if she wasn’t so calm. “You were busy making a groove in the cave floor.”

Zoe squealed when he scooped her up, the bed sheet fell
to the floor and he took her to the pool. He jumped in making a horrific
splash. Water rolled over the sides. “This has been treated to heal. I swiped
the formula just in case I found a human female,” Doss said as Zoe wiped water
from her eyes. His words made her wonder if he had been looking for a female
when he had come across her. “I’ve got you. It’s deep; it was made for my
height. I won’t let go.”