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  "You mean our ship?" I asked.

  "What is a ship?" Aeren asked. "If it is the ugly structure that was built on the sacred grounds, then yes, that is what I mean."

  "We landed there," I explained. "We didn't know that it was sacred grounds for any community of people."

  "Explain landed," Aeren requested.

  "Our ship flies through the air," I told her and watched the shocked expression creep across her beautiful alien face. Apparently, Mavdaios did not share this bit of information with her. Probably because she did not believe us. "We had parts of the ship that broke, so we found a place to land where we could perform the repairs. It was our intention to lift off again and leave this planet entirely."

  Aeren's jaw dropped open as she tried to process the information. She obviously didn't know anything about spaceships. We were likely the first of our kind that her people had ever encountered. Unlike Mavi, she appeared as though she just might believe us.

  "When you said that your people attacked our ship," Honeysuckle attempted to regain Aeren's attention. The woman was bewildered by my explanation. "Do you mean when we were taken captive?"

  "No," the elf lady replied while still struggling with the information that I provided. "They attacked a second time, with more people. Most of which lost their lives due to the powerful weapons that your people possess. There are those among us that want the two of you to be executed in retaliation for those losses. Friends and family members have been killed by your kind. Even Kash himself killed a Susauri woman with his blade."

  "We were being attacked!" I said in a louder voice than I should have. Aeren flinched at my outburst but refrained from taking the ninja pose that I kept a mental image of from her last visit. "What did you expect us to do? We had to protect ourselves."

  "Yes, Kash," she responded defensively. "I realize that, as do many others. But hate is blind. Even if you are capable of impregnating our women, some will still want you dead. We'll have to guard you while you work, which somewhat negates the advantage of having you join the workforce to begin with. However, keeping you locked up will only make things worse."

  "What are you discussing?" a familiar high pitched soft voice said from the doorway. It was the angel girl, the one with wings. Mavdaios had called her Mixi. She was tiny in comparison to the others. Blue torso with white skin elsewhere. Gorgeous sapphire eyes. Her sheer blue wings flapped at an incredible pace like a hummingbird as she hovered just off the ground. I could only make out the slightest hum from the rapid movement.

  Aeren was as surprised as the rest of us at the arrival of the delicate flying pixie named Mixi. "Their structure," she eventually said. "Kash claims that it can fly like you, only much higher. It can even go into the black sky where the stars live."

  "Huh," Mixi responded, not nearly as befuddled by that information as her friend. "That explains it then."

  "Explains what?" Aeren asked.

  "Their structure. It is gone."

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  They left us. Our friends, our crew. Gone.

  Honeysuckle started crying uncontrollably. Her lovely naked body shook with her heavy sobs. Without hesitation, Aeren placed her delicate arm around her. I could see the genuine concern in the expression of her narrow face.

  It was much easier for us to keep our hopes alive if we believed that the crew of the Arketa Moreta had not abandoned us. The reality of the situation hit me just as hard, preventing me from rushing to my new best friend's side.

  Honey was now my only friend. The rest were all gone, leaving us here for dead.

  My heart screamed out in pain at my personal loss. I would miss Strawberry and Vanilla for sure. Even the dragons being gone hurt. And Teddy was totally counting on me to set him free. Deep down inside I was really looking forward to doing that, too. It would be one of those rare strong character moves that could make me proud of myself. Those moments had been few and far between in my life.

  Yet none of it compared to losing Cinnamon. I figured she wasn't dead, but the pain was just as bad. The hole in my chest, in my life, would be at least as big as when I lost Coffee.

  Honey was all that I had left now. I needed to cherish her. My sudden move to her side caused Aeren to stiffen momentarily. Then she slowly withdrew her arm to let me comfort my love. Honey leaned into me with her eyes clenched close but having no success at holding back the tears.

  It was only right that she was more traumatized than me. I had gone through this before. Being arrested and sentenced to death. Sitting mindlessly in prison for days on end. Then being sent through a portal into an unknown world where I would likely suffer a quick death. Finding Cinnamon and the rest of the crew created a new life for me, but it wasn't the only one that I had known. Unlike Honeysuckle.

  "I should leave you..." Aeren began to rise off the bed.

  "No," I pleaded. My mindset had just changed dramatically, and I hungered for more information. "Please stay and talk some more. It will help us deal with the fact that our people abandoned us."

  Aeren not only sat back down, but she also gestured for Mixi to enter the room as well. Dropping to her delicate little feet she raised a ring just like the devil girl did to enter past the pain inducing gem. She slowly crossed the room like a tiny ballerina until taking a seat on the bed that I just vacated. Her body was so petite, like a child. Small breasted, too. Yet she resonated with the manner of an adult. Her face and posture supported that vibe.

  When Mixi wrapped her wings around herself I noticed that she had arms of sorts. They were just part of her wings which folded down to the back of her arms as much as elsewhere. Her business-like manner dissolved to reveal her caring side. She put me in mind of someone that would sit beside you at a funeral and not say a word. They were there for support but had nothing to say that they felt would be of value.

  "Are you endangered as well?" I asked her. It was mostly simple curiosity and the desire to make conversation, but I had to admit. I was wondering if she was high on the list of people for me to try to impregnate.

  "No," she replied softly. "There are many Divinifae in our city. However, I am a bit of an outcast, if that helps at all with sympathy."

  Divinifae? Was that her race? It was fitting. She looked very much like a divine faerie.

  "Why are you an outcast?" I asked as Honey's sobbing finally stopped. She then raised her head to pay attention to the conversation.

  "Due to my political and religious views," Mixi explained. Then to Aeren she asked, "Are we revealing these things to them?"

  "I have been," Aeren answered. "My reasoning is that it will help them assist us, thereby helping themselves. Give them some hope, which they need badly now obviously."

  "Why did your people leave you behind?" Mixi asked as she crossed her legs in a very lady like manner. It was strange to see a species perform these body gestures that looked so familiar while remaining nude. She pointed her little toes on both feet since they were nowhere near able to reach the floor.

  "The leader on our ship had been plotting my death for some time," I revealed without giving thought to how that might come across.

  Both monster girls straightened their bodies with that revelation. After exchanging glances, Mixi asked, "Are you a criminal?"

  Why would she ask that? Was I giving off the ex-con vibe? It was not the first time that this had happened. The girls back on the Arketa Moreta totally made me feel like a conniving criminal sometimes. In a way I kind of was, if you translated my desire to take control of the ship that way.

  "No," I answered defensively. "Why?"

  "Our queen," Mixi stated, "when she does not have the support of the council, she sometimes takes a devious approach. Word will spread that one of us is an unpunished criminal. Then the haters take care of the rest. It has been rumored that assassinating someone on the queen's dirt list could earn you a reward."

  "Shit list," I said. It took me a moment to realize what dirt list meant. Once I got it, I couldn't help but
say it out loud.

  "Excuse me?"

  "The queen's shit list," I repeated. "Never mind. So, it is possible that could happen to us?"

  "Kash," Aeren answered. "I've been telling you this all along. That is why we have been trying to protect you. Unfortunately, all three of us may already be on that same list."

  A shuffling of feet approached our chamber in the hallway. All heads turned that way to see who might appear in the opening. I didn't remember anyone making that noise so far when they walked, but I was often distracted by other matters.

  Suddenly the green and yellow furry guard came into view. "Party is over, ladies. The prisoners are coming with me."

  Aeren stood up and appeared ready to protest. "Where are you taking them, Shardina?'

  "Work," the woman answered. She had emerald eyes that held no affection when directed toward me. Was she one of these haters? Was she sent to kill me?

  Shardina looked strong. Only five foot tall but probably at least a hundred and seventy pounds. Clawed hands and feet. Tiger teeth. I might not be able to beat her in hand-to-hand combat. At least she was alone. Perhaps if Honey and I worked together.

  "Work where?" Aeren asked. Mixi spread her wings and hovered toward the door.

  "Testing chamber," Shardina responded. "Don't worry. Your precious little seed shooter will be fine."

  Was she referring to me or my penis?

  "We'll escort him," Aeren declared.

  "No, you won't," the guard replied with an obvious attitude. "Not this time. Queen Voodi is requesting your presence immediately. Mixi, too."

  I remained quiet, just like Aeren had previously instructed. There was more conversation, but in the end, both friendly women departed for a meeting with the devious queen. They both looked overly concerned. Apparently, it would be up to us to protect ourselves.

  "Follow me," Shardina commanded. "I know that you understand my words, so failing to follow my instructions will not be tolerated." She flexed one of her claws to make her point, then used a ring to negate the red crystal’s power.

  After we both stepped into the hall she turned left and walked away without a backwards glance. Was this my chance? Or was it a test? Maybe it was a set up to give her a reason to punish us, even put us to death.

  Blood pulsed through my veins as adrenaline was released into my system. That happened naturally anytime I was psyching myself up to do something violent. I studied Shardina’s backside for a weakness. Not her butt, her entire body as viewed from behind.

  There was nothing around that could be used as a weapon. I whispered to Honey for her to be ready. The frightened look that she gave me suggested that she might not be that much help in a struggle. I should have realized that already. She wasn’t the least bit intimidating physically. I had never seen her ever take a stance anything like Aeren’s karate position.

  There were only a few rooms along that hall, all vacant. Once we turned right to enter a new passageway, things changed considerably. There were sounds a plenty. People talking. Hammering. Grinding. The lights were brighter. After a hundred feet or so large chambers on each side came into view. A vast variety of humanoid creatures were performing different tasks. Doing their jobs, it seemed.

  Many paused as we passed. Most with blank stares. Others with animosity in their expression. Was that due to the deaths caused by their attack on our ship? Or were they just haters?

  Honey cringed at the sight. I whispered for her to remain strong, exude confidence. Don't make yourself an easy target. I learned that day one in prison back on Earth. Of course, I didn't tell her that.

  Finally, Shardina stopped in front of one of the chambers. It was vacant of monsters and had no magic stone on the ceiling of the doorway. This wasn't a cell. Instead, it appeared to be just as she had claimed. A testing facility.

  There were thick braided vines hanging from the ceiling like rope. A row of smooth round stones of different sizes, in ascending order. Weights to be lifted, I assumed. Another section had colored stones of different shapes like children's educational toys. I got the feeling that I would pass these tests easily. But should I?

  The most surprising thing about the day was my willy. It rested there like it was no big deal to be out in the open in front of everybody. It didn't shrivel up in fear, nor did it elevate in excitement. The thing just chilled. It was surprising how easy it was to get comfortable walking around naked when everyone else was. That must be the same case at nudist colonies, I surmised.

  "You," Shardina pointed at Honeysuckle. "Green girl. Pick up that small stone with both hands. Raise it to your waist, then take a deep breath. Next, raise it above your head if you can."

  I knew that the density of rocks could vary, probably even more so on alien planets. But I seriously doubted that the first stone weighed more than twenty pounds. Honey squatted down to grab the stone with perfect posture and rose with it in her delicate hands. After a deep breath, as instructed, she lifted it above her head easily.

  "The next one," Shardina said as she pointed to the second stone. She was wisely keeping her distance. I figured she knew that she was providing us with weapons. If Honey could hurl that first stone, I could grab the next one and we could knock this furry bitch out. My body twitched as I debated on doing just that, the adrenaline still racing through my blood. When Honey returned that stone to the ground, I knew that the opportunity had passed. I was also fearful that attacking this guard could cost us our lives, just as Aeren suggested. I decided only to get violent if provoked.

  Honeysuckle repeated the exercise with the second rock, struggling only slightly to get it above her head. I figured that might be more because of the lack of grip than the weight.

  Shardina started pacing back and forth behind us. Bored? Itching to fight? Or eyeing up my ass with romantic interest? The latter was doubtful unless I was totally misreading her face.

  My green skinned lover raised the third stone as well, but not easily. I focused on staying alert instead of ogling that fine body of hers. The one that had just recently gave me so much pleasure that it was painful. I could smell her pussy scent extraordinarily strong at the moment. Was that my memory, or was it in her sweat from exerting herself physically?

  I figured the fourth stone might be too much for her. When she lifted it to her waist, I could see her muscles tensing and shaking. Anticipating that it would be my turn next, I stepped up to the first stone and squatted down. By the time that I stood up again there was a claw at my throat and warm fur on my back.

  I looked left out of the corner of my eye to see huge teeth not far from my face. Shardina had to be up on her tiptoes to reach that height. I could feel the grip of her other arm around my waist. Her muscles were as firm as I expected. I hadn't planned on hitting her with this stone, but it was starting to look like a good idea to me.

  "Did I tell you to lift that stone?" she growled into my face. When I failed to answer, she added, "I can slit your throat before you can even move it in my direction. You must be stupid."

  Then she started breathing heavily. Was she getting excited? I was afraid to move in fear that it would come across as aggression. Maybe this was an instance when I should speak. But honestly, I was hoping that Honey could lift that second stone quietly and crush this fucker's head with it. Then Shardina made a totally unexpected whimpering sound.

  Long, skinny black fingers gripped the tiger girl's face causing a panicked expression. Then I felt the release of her arm from my back. Slowly she pulled away with an angry grimace.

  "His actions do not warrant yours," the slick dark voice said from behind me. I instantly recognized it. Mavdaios.

  "What are you doing here, Lucifen?" Shardina growled at my new friend. Was that Mavi's last name? Or her race?

  "Observing," the black devil girl answered.

  I fully expected a fight between them. The hostility was thick in the air. Instead, they separated themselves and stared angrily at each other for an unbelievably long time. Were
they communicating telepathically?

  Finally, Shardina instructed Honeysuckle to return the rock to the ground. She knew that my slender crew mate wouldn't be able to lift it above her head. It was my turn instead.

  I was able to complete the exercise all the way up through the eighth stone. I had no idea how much it weighed. Mavdaios made a comment that suggested she might be impressed by my strength. There were only two heavier stones left in the row.

  After that we were instructed to try climb the vine ropes one at a time. Honey did not do well on that one. She could barely lift her own weight off the ground. I personally made it a good five feet up the vine before dropping. No encouraging comments that time. The next rope was narrower, and I couldn’t get a good enough grip to climb it at all.

  When instructed to sort the colored stones on the shelf and place them in their designated boxes, Honey and I chuckled. This was literally child’s play.