Surrender Seremity (Salin's Salvation 1) by Astrid Cielo nodrm (3 page)

Serenity wanted love. She always had. She just yearned for a love that accepted her for what she was and loved her anyways. She sighed as she watched the trees pass by.

* * * * * *

After much planning, Kylan and Eon were ready to retrieve their mates and take them back to their planet. When they took the females they were astounded by how easy it seemed. They just hoped that their acclimation to their home planet would be as easy.

Chapter 4

Her head hurt. That was her first thought as she woke up and took in her surroundings. She slowly sat up and wondered just where the hell she was. She was lying on a cold platform that seemed to extend from the wall. She released the straps that held her immobile and glanced over to see another shape strapped to another platform just across from her. Her thought processes were a little sluggish, or so that was how she put it. It was an odd feeling, one she hated and knew only every once and a while. It was the same feeling she got from taking nighttime cold medicine. She slowly walked over to the body and was shocked to notice her best friend lying there. She checked for breathing and was relieved to find it even and non-labored with an even radial pulse greeting her fingers. She shook her slowly, “Anna, wake up. Girl, wake up. I don’t know what the crap is going on.”

Anna roused in much the same manner she had seen after a sedative had been given. She hoped like hell there was some really good explanation for this, if not, her mind could think up a few not so good scenarios. “Serenity?” Anna slurred. Serenity might have laughed if it weren’t so damn scary. She couldn’t understand how anything like this could happen. It wasn’t like her or Anna to wake up in strange places. They hadn’t ever been drunk. Anna finally struggled into sitting position, pushing her chin length blonde hair behind her ears. “Serenity, where are we?” she finally said.

“Well, Anna, I’m not really that sure. What do you remember? I mean I feel like I’ve been drugged. I don’t even remember why we would be together. I thought I worked the ER last night and didn’t you have L&D this AM?” She asked in a more inquisitive tone than with confidence, before adding, “I think I remember going home and getting ready for bed, but I’m not really sure.”

“Well, we are assuming what day it is, but we really don’t know.” Anna said the worry evident in her voice. The girls looked around the room they were in, Serenity noting that there didn’t seem to be any exits. That didn’t make sense because there was obviously a way in and if you could get in, then theoretically you could get back out. The dim lighting didn’t help anything. Serenity pushed her glasses up her nose as she looked over at Anna, who seemed to be doing her best to keep her cool. She could tell by the rapid eye movements that look that she had seen in several people who felt trapped. Then remembering back to when she had first met Anna, that she offered to accompany her in the elevator, due to the fact she had a flare up of asthma, and the three flights of stairs that they both preferred was just too much for Anna’s lungs to take. But, the fear of riding the elevator alone was worse, and it prompted Anna to ask her if she would wait for her to come into the building so that they could ride the elevator together. That had been in college and Serenity had waited patiently every morning for Anna to enter and ride the elevator together. She also remembered the time Anna had been having problems with her then boyfriend. Serenity still remembered meeting him for the first time and although she really had no reason to dislike the boy, she couldn’t help but feel the fakeness he portrayed. She just plain and simple didn’t like him. Anna had looked at her one day and said, “Everyone says he is just so perfect and I should feel so lucky that I have him, but I don’t think they realize how he really is.” Serenity had looked at her and said, “Anna, you are my friend, and I can honestly say that I don’t like him one bit.”

Anna had looked at her and then said, “So, you think I should break up with him? You wouldn’t be disappointed in me if I did?”

Serenity looked her in her blue eyes and said, “Anna, I think you should make that decision for you. If you break up with him then here I will be to help you in whatever you need, and if you stay with him, then I will tell him that should he hurt you, that he will have me to answer to. I will be your friend and support you no matter what.” Anna just smiled and hugged Serenity, and then they got down to the business of nursing school.

Serenity placed her hand on Anna’s shoulder and said, “Anna, sweetie, this may get bad. I need to know that you can keep a level head. We have got to be prepared for anything. You follow me?”

Anna took a deep breath and nodded. Serenity released her shoulder and stood slowly. She placed her hands against the wall and began walking allowing her fingertips to find any way out of this “cell.” What seemed like hours but were probably just minutes, Serenity felt the small imperfection that signaled an exit. “Anna, I think I found it. But, we need to figure out how to open it.” She said as she turned to her friend. Anna was staring at Serenity her face drained of all blood as she stared in what Serenity could only describe as horror. It took her many seconds to realize that it wasn’t her that Anna was looking at but beyond her.

Serenity turned slowly then looked up into a stranger’s face. His skin was a ruddy reddish color. He stood tall. Serenity never was good at gauging size, but she knew she and Anna were around 5’ 3’’, and he was tall. If she had to guess, she would say 6’ 4’’ or taller. He had the lean muscles she associated with swimmers or basketball players, which meant for her his reflexes, were pretty damn fast. He looked human, but she had never seen such a skin color. His golden eyes were studying her, as if waiting for something. When she realized that she had been staring with her mouth open she slammed it shut. She did drool on occasion which was quite embarrassing.

She flinched when he reached for her, but to her amazement he just placed his fingers under her chin and raised her gaze to his once more. She just stared at him. She wasn’t sure why she wasn’t freaking out. Maybe it was because he hadn’t moved to hurt her. He released her chin, and spoke. She didn’t understand him, but she did think his voice was nice, soothing even. She finally found her voice when he stared at her expectantly. She cleared her throat, “I’m sorry, but, I didn’t understand what you just said. I mean, I speak English, and some passable Spanish, I even know a song in French.” She finished lamely. He appeared amused. She had a nagging suspicion he was trying not to laugh at her. She tilted her head to the side and studied him for a few seconds. When he reached behind him as if to grab something, she jumped backwards and tripped over Anna who apparently was scared stiff. She fell backwards and landed on her rear with an“oomph.” She looked over at Anna and asked, “Are you okay?” Anna looked back at Serenity like she had lost her mind and just shook her head no. Serenity got to her knees and gave Anna a hug, stating, “It’s gonna be okay, Anna Banana.” She looked up and finally noticed the male had come closer to her. He looked at them from a short distance away. He had crouched down. In his hand he had a thing that looked suspiciously like the IO drill at the hospital. She thought to herself, “He better not be thinking about drilling a needle into Anna’s or my bones. I’ve been pretty docile so far, but I’ll turn on the hellcat before he can blink.” She must have delivered one hell of a look because he just held the thing out to her. She hesitantly let go of Anna, and reached for it. When she placed her hand on it, he moved like lightening and grabbed her wrist, jerking her from the floor and holding her plastered against his chest. She flailed her legs because she couldn’t move her arms that he had pinned between their chests. She was getting pissed off. She felt his other arm place the IO drill thingy behind her ear and she went wild. She pulled her head to the side before he could depress the button. He cried out in what seemed like frustration, before he dropped her to the floor. She landed on her feet and went to punch him with her newly freed fist. He caught her fist, effortlessly. He buckled her knees easily with a slight kick from his feet and followed her down. He pinned her hands between them and used his legs to hold hers prisoner. She tried to buck, but he was immovable. With his free hand, he turned her face to the side, exposing the flesh behind her ear. When she tried to bite, he growled and placed his hand over her mouth. He carefully left her nose open for breathing. She began to cry with fear and anger, the tears pooling on the floor. He gently pulled the hair away from her neck and placed the IO drill against the skin behind her ear. She closed her eyes waiting for the pain. When she felt a small pinch then felt him remove his hand from her mouth, she turned her face to look up at him. He smiled at her, and then said, “Now, that was not so bad was it?”

She burst into tears, sobbing loudly. He carefully picked her up and put her in his lap and held her while she cried. He hugged her to his chest, soothing her with soothing circles on her back. She looked up at him and said, “I thought you were trying to kill me. That damn thing looked like an IO drill. I’m sorry I tried to kick your ass.”

He chuckled, and then said. “I apologize for not making sure this was done while you were unconscious.” At that she looked over at Anna, who was huddled into a ball in a corner. She could tell by how she shook that she was sobbing. Apparently, Anna had reached her breaking point. She slid from the strange alien’s lap over to Anna and pulled her into her embrace. “Anna, it’s okay. He didn’t hurt me. Sweetie, look at me.” After several seconds, Anna displayed her face for Serenity to see. The tears were still flowing. “Anna, sweetie, look at me, I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me. I don’t think he wants to hurt us. I know it seems like he does, but just trust me I have this feeling. When have you ever known my feelings to be wrong?”

Anna shakily said, “Never.”

Serenity looked over to the male who was quietly crouched beside them and stated, “Now, what the hell are we doing here and where exactly is here?”

Eon took a deep breath, then said, “You are on board our exploration ship known as the
Fission
and we come from a planet known as Salin. We were sent here to ….”

Serenity looked at Anna, and said, “Sweetie, he is trying to tell me what’s going on. I am trying to figure out why we are here.”

Anna nodded, but then said, “How do you understand him?”

Serenity looked over and said, “Hey, can I borrow that thing to let her understand what we are saying?”

Eon looked at her then said, “Well, I only had the one chip. So, give me a moment to get Kylan to bring another one.”

He moved to get up, and felt Serenity’s hand on his arm. When she looked up at him, he felt every muscle tighten with need. His mind had him bending his head and capturing her luscious pink lips and devouring them. He could almost feel her small sigh as he captured it in his mouth and deepened the kiss, to explore her depths with his tongue. He almost missed what she said, it was said quietly as if she didn’t want her friend to hear, “How many are there?”

“There is only Kylan and myself.”

“Am I lying to her?”

He looked at her puzzled. She stared at him for a few seconds before sighing, and said, “Am I telling her that you won’t hurt us and really you intend to? I need to prepare her. She has to be ready.”

Eon caressed her cheek, and stated “You have nothing to fear from us, little one. You have no idea how precious you are.”

Serenity had no time to dwell on his words, she had to reassure Anna that nothing would happen to her, and hope like hell she wasn’t telling her a lie. She also had to process the fact that she had essentially been abducted by aliens, a couple of crazy people who hadn’t been taking their medications, or this was one hell of a dream.

Chapter 5

Eon walked into the lab, Kylan was as expected recording data about the samples. “Kylan, where is the last translation chip?”

“In the last container on the third shelf, why?”

Eon grabbed the last chip, then turned and said, “If we use this one, can you replicate the technology?”

“Yes. Why do you need it?”

Eon smiled and said “The females have awakened. We forgot to implant the chips before they regained consciousness. Serenity fought me like a Salinian Warrior when I tried to inject her with the other one.”

“They are awake?” Kylan stated as he stood abruptly. “Is Anna okay? How is she taking this?”

Eon clapped him on the back then said, “Well, Serenity is taking it a little better, but Anna hasn’t fainted or anything. Their biggest fear was we were going to hurt them. If we can get them settled into the ship, then I think we can definitely alleviate that fear. So, you coming?” Kylan didn’t respond he just followed Eon back to the decontamination room.

Serenity had since gotten Anna to release the death grip she had on her and to relax a bit. She had reassured her over and over that she wasn’t going to be hurt. She reminded her of all the times she had told people that to hurt Anna was to incur her wrath. She didn’t remind Anna that even though she had pretty much fought her hardest against the male, he still in the end had been able to implant the translation chip.

The door whooshed open and the familiar male walked in, along with a different one. He was slightly shorter, with a less reddened complexion. His gaze went immediately to Anna, who Serenity noticed went rigid and slid closer to Serenity. When the other male stepped past Eon and appeared to set a direct route to Anna, Serenity intercepted.