Page 3 of The Emperor's Concubine

It surprised Callie to hear a feminine voice emit from her second captor’s throat. On closer inspection, the one called Rzxie was shorter. Her slender build was graced with gentle curves. Other than those small differences, she looked exactly like Theki. What were these things?

“You know as well as I that human women are highly sought after in Thorzak, especially the exotic ones. Look at her darkskin and eyes, and this hair.” Callie had to hold herself tightly so as not to flinch when Rzxie reached out and touched her locked hair. “It’s so soft. This one will fetch us a high price indeed.”

“I’ll have no more of her lip. I must see to the rest of the cargo. Tend to her wounds and see that she’s fed,” Theki instructed his partner before turning back to Callie. “I had better not hear of any more transgressions or you’ll regret it.” Then without another word, he swept out of the room, leaving her alone with Rzxie.

Callie didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until she released a long sigh. Did she dare say something to Rzxie? She didn’t seem as stern as her counterpart but there was no telling with these creatures.

Thoughts of her daughter, however, gave Callie the courage to put voice to her fears. “Please, could you tell me what’s happened to my daughter?”

The alien’s lipless mouth curved into the semblance of a smile. “She’s sleeping now. I gave her a light sedative to calm her down. When your vehicle collided with that obstruction, you got a pretty nasty bump on your head. But because the little one was strapped tightly in the back, no harm came to her. She was crying when Theki and I came upon you. Don’t worry about her. She’s been fed and well taken care of.”

“How can you tell me not to worry when you won’t let me see her? You plan to sell me and expect me to be calm? And what the hell is that damn smell?” Callie could contain her curiosity no longer.

A vibrating noise erupted from the alien’s mouth, which Callie could only assume was laughter. “We’re Adieaen. I suppose our scent would be considered to most humans. Thirty-three percent of our make-up is sulfur.”

Rzxie claimed only a third of their bodies was made of sulfur, but Callie’s nose said one hundred percent.

Callie fought to keep bile from rising, but she found herself gagging.

“I anticipated this.” Rzxie handed her two small white balls. “Here, put these in your nose and the scent shouldn’t bother you so much.”

“This is going to work?” Callie asked, eyeing them suspiciously.

“Of course they work. I’m wearing them now. You humans smell awful, but don’t feel bad. It’s the preservatives in the foods you eat on your planet. Once you’ve been detoxed, the odor won’t be as unpleasant, and you’ll garner a high price on the auction block.”

She stunk? Callie didn’t know whether to take issue with that or laugh. She supposed to these Adieaens she was the strange one. Taking Rzxie’s offerings, she stuck them up her nose and, within seconds, the air became bearable to breathe. “That’s much better, thank you. I need to see my baby and make sure she’s all right.”

Rzxie shook her head. “You’re just going to have to take my word for it. She’s being well taken care of and, as Theki said, it will remain that way as long as you cooperate.”

“Where are you two taking us? Why are you doing this? I need to get back to Earth. I have another daughter waiting for me to get home. She’ll be worried. Please. Is there anything you can do? I’ll give you all the money I have if that’s what you two want.”

“Don’t be silly, human. Your money is no good to us. I may not yet be a mother myself, but I can understand the concern you have for your little ones. Unfortunately we can’t go back. We’ve already crossed over the threshold of our Universe and should reach Adlene shortly.”

“But I want to go home. No. Ineedto go home. My baby is back there. I can’t just leave her.”

“That can’t be helped. You belong to Theki now, and it’s his decision what to do with you.”

“Don’t you have a say? Can’t you help me? I don’t think you’re evil.”

The orange alien shrugged. “Of course I’m not. I’m just doing my job.”

“And your job is kidnapping innocent people to sell them?” Callie challenged.

Rzxie bared pointy teeth and flared her snout. “Watch your tongue, human. I may be a little more lenient than Theki, but modulate your tone with me.”

Common sense told Callie she should be careful around these unpredictable entities but when it came to her children, all logic went out the window.

“You and your friend must be out of your minds if you think I would just sit here calmly when you tell me that you’ve taken me away from all I know and love and plan to sell me to God knows who. Hell, aliens aren’t supposed to be more than just a figment of a bunch of sci-fi authors’ imaginations.”

“I can understand your anxiety, but there’s nothing we can do about that. I can assure you, however, that if you behave, you’ll be well taken care of, as will your child.”

“Why?” Callie asked, trying to make sense of this entire mess.

“It’s what we do. Theki and I are Hunters. We scour different planets for slaves to sell on the market. At the moment, Earthlings have become a hot commodity in our Universe. Humans are one of the few species who are sexually compatible with most of the beings in Thorzak.”

Callie’s heart seized in her chest. She hoped she’d misinterpreted the alien’s meaning. “Sexually compatible? I’m not really sure I follow you.”

Rzxie sighed, as though she were trying to explain a simple matter to a small child. “Hmm, let me put it in terms you’llunderstand. You know how your kind has different antigens in your blood?”

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