Page 37 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

“It’s the what?”

“The Watching,” I hear Axl say from the doorway and come in. “Doctor, if you don’t mind I’d like to be alone with Georgiana. As you know, we are courting and I’m enforcing my rights as her suitor.”

The doctor looks at me. “If you need anything just let me know. If you want him to leave, simply tell him to and he must obey you.”

I watch as the doctor leaves and Axl enters. He’s wearing similar clothing to what he had on before. A black tunic, trousers and silver jewelry denoting his rank. His long black hair is braided neatly down his back and I have the impression he’s had a shower and is wearing fresh clothing. I find him as attractive as I always have. Maybe more because I know now it’s not a game. He is not from Earth. This is his home on the other side of the galaxy. And most importantly he isn’t mentally ill. It was me getting it wrong this entire time.

“The doctor said I can leave in seven days,” I say hoping to bring up the subject of marriage.

“Did she tell you why?”

“Yes,” I say and wait anxiously for him to propose.

“Good,” is all he says and my heart sinks. “I’ll escort you to your room.”

Maybe the doctor was misinformed? “I will not be walking through your house as a naked alien.”

Axl immediately begins unbuttoning his collar and then takes off his tunic, revealing his grey muscular chest. Then he hands his shirt to me.

I take it and put it over my head. It smells of him; bergamot, mint, and anise. Then he gives me his hand and helps me out of the bed. His tunic falls to my knees.

“Should I carry you? My shoes will be too large for you to wear and the stone floor will be cold on your feet.”

“I’m fine to walk,” I say and follow him out of the infirmary. I’m still hoping his next words will be, ‘Will you marry me for real?’ but with every step my heart continues to sink deeper into the realization that he’s not going to say what I think I want to hear. But I want him to ask me so we can talk about it.

We climb another staircase and walk through more dark hallways lit only by dim candlelight; sometimes we pass areas that are so dark I can’t see at all. “It’s difficult to believe that your people are so technologically advanced. I feel like I’m in an ancient castle.”

“Parts of the Main House have stood for centuries. This part is one of the oldest parts of the house which originally was a stone fortress. Is it too dark for you to see?”

“No, it’s fine, just an observation.” After reaching the much more modern part of the house, which I recognize from before, Axl leads me up more stairs and then we walk down a hallway with modern doors. I notice illuminated names on the outside of each door. Finally, he stops in front of one. I see my name lit up in green. ‘Madame Georgiana Smith.’

When I stand in front of the door it automatically opens and I go in. When I realize Axl isn’t behind me I stop. “Why aren’t you coming in?”

“It’s forbidden.”

I walk back out into the hallway. “I don’t want to be alone in an alien house.” My hand searches for my bracelet that I have gotten in the habit of touching. “Where’s my bracelet?”

“It’s been returned to me,” he says. It’s dark so it’s difficult for me to read his face but it sounds like he’s a bit emotional. “There were no witnesses when we…”

“But that was my bracelet. You gave it to me.”

“And perhaps you’ll want it back, but you understand it’s more than just a piece of jewelry. In seven days you will announce your decision to me and everyone in House Zu.”

“I want you to stay with me now, Axl. Throughout all of this we haven’t been apart.”

He hesitates, answering, “You’ll be safe in House Zu. The morning meal is at seven. The slaves will wake you. Tomorrow I will show you what might be your life if you stay. Good night.”

I look up at him and want a kiss to reassure me in all of this. And I know he can see me and knows what I want but instead of kissing my lips, he kisses my forehead.

Disappointed, I turn to enter my room. I stop when I realize what I’m wearing. “Do you want your tunic back?”

“Not tonight.”

“Okay. Good night,” I say and the door automatically closes behind me.

I walk into the room and the lights automatically turn on. Nothing could have prepared me for how luxurious and modern this room is. It makes our imperial quarters on the Hio look like a bomb shelter. There’s black and grey furniture with a stone bathroom. The skylight in the bathroom mimics real sunlight and I spend about five minutes looking at it because I feel like I’m standing in the most beautiful sunset while looking in the mirror.

In my reflection, I look at Axl’s black uniform. It’s so large on me. I hug my arms around myself as if he were hugging me. Could I really stay here with an alien and live in his world? I absently reach for my missing bracelet. I miss him and it’s only been five minutes.

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