Page 69 of Married to the All Hallows' Eve Alien

"Maybe humanity isn't ready," I say, reflecting on my own reactions. I was hiding behind a sofa from my alien husband. “It’s frightening to think there are aliens that are better than us. Maybe I’m not ready for the truth that aliens exist, either.”

“Yet you punish me for wanting the truth from me but, at the same time, do not want to accept my truth because it makes you uncomfortable?”

I swallow. “I’m sorry I’m confused, Sem. This is all new to me, and I thought you were someone else.”

He puts a hand on his chest over his heart. “I’m the same here.”

"But you flipped a switch, and now I have to learn to trust you all over again. I haven’t forgotten what I learned on the alien ship. I can’t help but wonder, what if this alien marriage is a ploy to make me a pet?" I’ll never forget the conviction in the woman's eyes after she stabbed me.

"I promise you, Ivy, that this is genuine. If you were going to be a pet, you wouldn't be stuck in any kind of legal limbo. And let me remind you, the longer you remain in limbo, the more severe our punishment will be. With every day, it increases."

"What's the punishment then? Tell me so I can make a better decision." He looks so crestfallen. I reach out and touch his cheek. Yes, he's really grey. This is real.

"I really don't want to add to your worries."

"There's nothing more you can say to upset or scare me, I guarantee you. I'm at rock bottom."

"We will offer ourselves to the goddesses," he says solemnly as if I should know exactly what that means.

"What on Earth does that mean?"

"It has nothing to do with Earth, I can assure you of that. It means that we will go to the shrine naked for humility and offer our pain and blood in exchange for forgiveness from the goddesses and the government. The Empire does not separate church and state, as you would say. For every day we wait, the more the punishment increases. If you had a translator, I could show you our record from the High Priestess."

"We have a record?"

"Yes. Everything is recorded in the Empire. Sometimes, they miss things. I was hoping they would miss our whole relationship until we could make it legal."

"But then what happened?"

"The Dulu abducted you, and when you were processed again, your name and DNA were already registered as being attached to me."

"What? What are you talking about? Processed again?"

Sem takes a deep breath. "I have another confession to make."

"What now?"

"The first time I saw you wasn't at the All Hallows' Eve party in New Orleans. You had been abducted by the Dulu before. You almost died before too, but I saved you. I knew from the moment we touched then that we were meant for one another, that you were the other half of my soul, but because of the law, I couldn't tell you."

"I don't remember any of that."

"Your memory was erased."

"What? How?"

"Your memory was erased or replaced, as it were, here on the base."

"You erased my memory, and you want me to trust you?"

"No. I did not personally erase your memory. Only a skilled doctor can do that. I was only doing my job. If you want those memories back, I'm sure the doctor will give them back to you."

"Of course, I want those memories back," I say. But then realize, "How will I know if they're my true memories or not something you and the doctor just made up?"

"Why would he do that? For what purpose? The only reason I oppose you reclaiming those memories is because what happened on that Dulu ship was terrible."

"More terrible than being abducted again and then stabbed by a human woman who was so afraid of your people that she thought it was better I die than go with you. What have you all been doing out in the galaxy to humans?"

"Some of it hasn't been honorable, I’ll admit, but it's getting better. And I swear to you, Ivy, I have never treated a human with any less respect than any other Alliance person." I can tell he's becoming frustrated, and he runs a hand through his long black hair. "I have sworn to protect humanity. I've given up my life in the Empire to protect you and your planet."

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