Page 51 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

“That’s the truth twisted. Axl always told me it wasn’t a game. I lied to myself because it was incomprehensible to me that aliens existed. But because of your brother, this has turned out to be one of the most wonderful adventures of my life. Even if I don’t remember it, I’d like to know in my subconscious that I thanked Axl and reassured him that he shouldn’t ever feel guilty about what happened. And that if things were different, if he were human, that maybe we would have spent the rest of our lives together and had our seven children.”

“Seven children?”

“Yes, when we talked about our plans as a married couple…” I say, but then emotion takes over and the thought that I won’t ever see him again or even remember him overwhelms me with sadness. “Will he remember me?”

After a long minute of silence Lia says, “It will be his choice whether or not he wants to erase you from his memory. I would suspect that he would, otherwise it would be difficult for him to marry another. There is nothing more I can do for you. Stay calm and you will be returned to Alliance Force soon. There you will be asked to sign a contract that you understand all of this.”

“And if I don’t sign it?”

“Then you won’t be able to return to Earth and you will remain in legal limbo in the galaxy. Humans have no other citizenships in the galaxy.”

“What if I would rather die than forget your brother?”

“What kind of sane woman would die for the love of a man?”

“A human woman.”

Lia shakes her head. “Walk in the gods’ light. Live your life, Georgiana. Don’t throw it away over hormones and a life in the galaxy that was never a possibility for you.”

“Goodbye,” I say as she leaves the room. As painful as it was to listen to her, at least she gave me all the information I needed. A few seconds later, the guards come in and motion me out. They lead me back to my room, one in front of me and one behind me. Lia’s words ring in my ears and I weigh out my life. Am I really going to be returned to Earth? It seems like a great expense for nothing.

But if the Empress is going to kill me, now would be the time. Lia has seen me and knows I’m set to return. I don’t think she or anyone else is really going to check to see if I’ve really left. The Alliance Force didn’t seem like they had the personnel to keep up to date on every human leaving the planet and would they even be looking for me? For all they know, I’m here living with Axl as his wife. And who knows if the Hio even knows they are supposed to be picking me up.

As we round the next corner, I make a bold move. I bolt. Just like I did at the Grand City Temple. I sprint as fast as I can. I don’t want to die here. I won’t walk calmly to my execution. I think in my rage I must be running the right way because I see more and more people, not guards, but normal looking people who are surprised to see a human running through the palace. I want to yell, “I’m a prisoner here!” But I don’t want to slow down. I just want out. I run and run until finally I see what looks like an area leading outside. I run through it. It’s outside. It’s raining. I run faster. I realize I must be in a garden. There are rows of manicured hedges. It's a maze. I still run. I hear guards chasing me. But I’m lost in a maze of well-groomed bushes and I can’t see above them. I run, but I don’t know where I’m going or how to get out. I hear the guards in pursuit of me.

It begins to rain harder and I slip a few times in the wet mud. I hear the guards getting closer. They are yelling for me to stop.

“Madame Georgiana, please stop. There’s no way out. You’re in a garden.”

My heart is beating so fast and I’m out of breath. It’s not long before guards surround me and take me back into the palace. I hear them mumbling about not wanting to tell the Empress about what happened. I figure that’s good for all of us. Them for not doing their job well and me for trying to escape.

I’m led back into my room and left in a wet and muddy puddle. As soon as the door locks, I fall to the stone floor and begin to weep. What am I going to do?

23

Axl

As soon as my sister returns home I begin to question her, “Did you see Georgiana?”

“I did. She has not been harmed.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“You know what. What did she say about me?”

“Not much. She’s looking forward to returning to Earth.”

“That’s it?” I ask in disbelief.

“Did you expect her to want to stay in a place where she would always be considered a second class citizen? Mother told you she would choose to go and so she is.”

“I want to hear those words from her own mouth.”

“Well, that’s a pity because you are barred from the Imperial Palace until Madame Georgiana has left.”

“When is she scheduled to leave?”

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