Page 22 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

Fox indicates that we should sit and soon after wine is poured and food is served. I realize as I watch Georgiana with the cutlery that she has no idea what she’s doing. I try to make eye contact with her to give her some silent guidance, but it doesn’t work and Fox notices she uses all the wrong utensils. This isn’t supporting our story.

“Did you often eat alone in House Zu?” he asks watching her hold the wrong spoon.

“Sometimes,” Georgiana answers diplomatically, not realizing it would have been the ultimate insult for her to have eaten alone.

“How odd.”

“You know what’s odd, Commander? Being the only human in a house full of aliens,” she replies and I’m impressed she’s so quick to pick up on the fact she’s made some kind of faux pas.

“And how did that feel? Being the only human?”

“Lonely.”

“I can only imagine. Yet here you are ready to return. Not that I don’t think Axl is the most honorable of men, but not all humans are meant to leave Earth. Not all humans can handle the brutal culture of life in the Empire.”

“Fox,” I begin.

“No, Axl. I can answer for myself.”

I stop talking and motion my apologies. Of course, she has no idea what this universal galactic hand signal means but as she often does, she ignores what she doesn’t understand, and continues confidently.

“It’s true life is difficult for me in the Empire, but isn’t it better to be with the one you love? It broke my heart when I had to leave and say goodbye to Axl.”

“But Commander Axl isn’t always on the Capital Planet. He still has to work just as he did before.”

“We hope to have a family,” I interject. “Which will mean more time on the planet with leave to procreate.”

“Seven sacred children,” Georgiana says and Fox chokes on some wine.

“Georgiana is quite determined to have a big family now that we can be legally together,” I say. I’m half thrilled she’s playing along so well and half lamenting because undoubtedly she still thinks this is a game all made up by some wealthy humans.

“I’d say any racism in House Zu would be erased with the prospect of so many children.” Fox makes a toast, “May the goddesses grant you many daughters.”

“May we be so lucky,” I say.

“To seven sacred children,” Georgiana says with a playful smile. It’s clear she’s enjoying this game and inadvertently charming me.

“Georgiana,” Fox continues, “do you have any family on Earth that’ll notice your absence?”

“None.”

“Friends?”

“I have friends, but no one who will notice my absence more than the annoyance of my rent not being paid. A police report may be filed, but women like me go missing every day and no one really takes notice.”

“It’s true,” Fox replies. “If any woman goes missing in the Empire we don’t stop until we find her.”

“If only all civilizations were as … well, civilized as the Empire,” Georgiana says so genuinely it makes me question if she’s been there myself.

“Indeed. It makes our job defending Earth even more difficult. Humans themselves don’t keep track of all their citizens.” Fox takes a sip of his wine and grimaces.

“May I ask you a question, Commander Fox?” Georgiana says changing the subject.

“Of course.”

“How do you know my husband?”

“Oh,” Fox smiles. “Axl and I go way back. We trained at the military academy together on the Capital Planet. He’s just kept his boyish face better than I have. You see, for me, it’s all the stress with the laws being changed about humans. There’s more work here than I have men.”

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