120. Trouble On Zoreah

Juliet

Jack and I were invisible when we emerged into a cave-like structure. I thought it best for safety. It was unnecessary. The space was deserted. It was a landing, not another teleporter station or as massive as Brylee’s. It was still somewhat large, and the area clean, but the air was dry, and it was sandy around the circle of stone on the ground. I wasn’t on Earth or En-gannim. The only place I could be was on Zoreah. I tightened my grip on Jack’s hand. Our eyes met. He smiled. I was excited about being that close. I could see Caleb… Chris. It felt like everything was coming to an end.

Jack let go of me when we were at the entrance. “I’ll be back for you in a few hours. Try the center of the city.”

There was only one path to follow. I knew I was safe as long as I stayed invisible. It was late at night. The darkness was consuming with so little moonlight. Luckily, we didn’t have a problem with darkness. How would I find Chris anyway? By the time I reached the city’s edge, it felt like I had walked for an hour. The houses never ceased, and they were scattered. It didn’t seem that they liked to complicate things. I was still on the one main road in and through the city.

My heart was beating out of my chest. I didn’t want to waste time. And the only thing I could think of doing was screaming, crying out, so that Chris would come running. What did Brylee want me to do? It wasn’t like Chris could brand me in the next hour… Oh, wait! Jack said a couple… So what did I have ten hours on Zoreah? My heart skipped a beat, and my legs followed. At least I looked good, and I was clean... It was all so suspicious that I wondered what would happen.

Guards were patrolling the city. Watchtowers were strategically placed… I didn’t really want to fight in that dress… Or be manhandled till I was pushed down in front of Chris’s father. But how else would I find them? I walked till I thought I would be in the middle of the place. There were a few more guards there, walking in their Riphath form. It was a little daunting. All of them were enormous. There would be no way I could have gotten information from one of them. But they weren’t guarding just one house. It was as if a section in the city was more important than the rest.

I waited for any sign… Silvanus exited a door. I knew it had to be where Chris was… It would be hard to miss the orange hue of the man in front of me. He seemed troubled. His eyes cast down, and he was shaking his head, mumbling to himself. His hand ran through his thinned hairline… His head snapped my way. He was smelling the air. He manifested, and I fell backward into the sand. He was bigger than Brylee. Scarier and running, teleporting. I just hoped he didn’t sound an alarm.

I ran for the house. There were no doors, but material was hanging to cover the entrance. I would have to come back to get inside… I walked around to see if I could find an open window. There were three along one wall… My heart was beating faster and faster. The side of the house was hidden, making it a perfect place to snoop. Someone caught my eye on the ground. Louis came to mind that morning after Chris and I had slept together. My eyes darted to the window and back at him. The blond seemed sad, and like he was in pain. I went into the shadows in front of him and came back from my invisible state. He was pretty with solid features. When his head lifted, his Mediterranean-blue eyes were haunted.

He watched me with interest. “Who are you?” He asked.

“Juliet.” My head tilted a bit regarding him.

When I said it, he chuckled. “So you really did cross the galaxy for him. You are a little late. Waited one night too long.”

My heart was slowly unsettling, “Who are you? And why?”

“Jamal… His friend… Chris is in there with a girl. Tonight, Chris’s father thought it best to drug both of them. I was supposed to help Chris when his father made his move… She was supposed to stop it when it happened. But I was threatened to get lost… Knew something was up, and when I came to check. I saw them in bed.”

“Have they already?” I asked, my mouth dry.

He shook his head. I breathed out a heavy breath of relief. “I’m waiting to hear and see if it happens. Trying to figure out if I would go against the king’s orders for Chris… Get beaten… Or I don’t know if we have worse punishments. We are actually a really peaceful nation… But this… I don’t like this.”

“Well, then, Jamal. We have a solution, don’t we? You can just blame it all on me… I have no scruples in being the bad guy… There is a reason I got dropped off here so conveniently close to Chris going to sleep with someone… I take it he hasn’t…. ever?”

Jamal shook his head… “Never.”

I want to say that I would have been okay with it. But I was relieved to hear he had been waiting. “Come on, we don’t have time for wallowing.”

“What’s wallowing?”

I told him to help me up into the window. He did and then jumped through with me. They were in bed, but their bodies were still. We could not see much. Their moon was so far from the planet that it illuminated very little, even so late at night. Providence was on my side. If I had to walk in on them sleeping together… And he was drugged… Jamal and I would be crying together… I wouldn’t be able to blame Chris for that. It was funny that one person wanted to make Chris move on, and the other wanted me to witness it…. I had no idea what was going on.

“How does this work if they are drugged?” I whispered.

“No one else is here… It wouldn’t help anyway.” His voice seemed loud in the stillness… “Anyone can hear whispering. On this planet.”

I stood up straighter. And talked normally. “Did Silvanus know?”

Jamal shook his head. “He doesn’t really have a say… This is all his father and the elders? They want him to have a pure Riphath baby. So they can secure the lineage… So that he won’t give you the planet… Silvanus has been keeping Ira back… Trying anyway.”

I bobbed my head. “Pick her up.” I will make us all disappear, and we will walk out of here. Do you live close by?”

“Not really, but it doesn’t matter. He will wake up soon… In a wild state.”

A frenzy? My body responded appropriately… Throbbing in anticipation for Chris... Ravenous. “Then let’s hurry. I have to get back.”

I took Jamal halfway, not taking any chances, turned, and ran to my window, jumping through. They must have drugged him well because I could have gone for tea before he eventually stirred. I had never touched anyone that much while they were out. I ran my hands through his hair, over his face and the full beard he had grown, watching him, smelling him.

Chris sat up, confused. I could see he was out of it, like that morning in his house. I giggled… It was actually funny, and I was forcing myself to see the good in the situation… I tapped him on the shoulder, and his eyes were a little lazy when his head turned. But I didn’t give him a chance to think about it. It felt so good when his lips rested on mine. As soon as it did. The sex craze started. Chris’s fingers started at my cheek, running over my skin until they slid under the fabric at my neck. He ripped off my bodice… I could hear the stitching tear. The beautiful white dress was ruined. I would have loved to wear it to my wedding with Michael. It was in pieces. The skirt he got off in one pull. It was all so very delicate. It didn’t matter… I would have done anything for Chris to touch me. I had nothing on underneath. Didn’t want to walk around with wet underwear. Chris was taking off his own clothes.

My heart was racing. I was blushing. My chest was blotchy up into my face. I knew he could see the pulse beating in my neck… He bit me on the throbbing vein. But, even if he was drugged, he still kissed me with meaning. Chris was a gentle person, but his touches weren’t. They never have been. He gripped my waist and pulled me under him. He was stronger, and I clung to his shoulders, positioning himself. A tear escaped down my temple some of the time. The release was too much when I parted my thighs and lifted my knees, seeing him, feeling every part of him.

I didn’t really care that I was the only one there. Chris took himself in hand and cushioned against me, waiting. I thanked the universe that fate was a little on my side… Sometimes… That I had no bad luck that night… I was either going to have to thank Brylee, or she was my enemy. And Chris’s father, too. But I didn’t know what would have happened if they had succeeded. If she had a baby. I wondered what he was waiting for and took hold of his wrist and pulled gently; he slowly entered me and moaned and groaned like all of them did. A little more viral. With a deep rumble in his throat. My eyes shot open… I held my breath. I wondered if he would change and crush me… I never thought about that. “S-” I whispered. All of a sudden, I was a little scared. Stupid Juliet.

“Hey, Chris,” I coaxed, bracing every hard thrust. I slid my hand over his cheek and pulled his lips onto mine. He slowed down and smelled my neck, my face, and my mouth. I kissed him softly. I breathed out when it seemed he was focusing… I was trying to distract him, hoping my kisses were enough. But I could feel he was close, and he came, and it wasn’t bad at all. My head fell back on the bed, laughing at myself. “Why are you laughing?” Jamal’s voice came from outside. “I thought about him manifesting… I came to see if you were okay….”

“That’s why I’m laughing… It was close.”

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“Well, I’m right here. Just call me.”

“What do you mean. He’s done.”

Jamal snickered... “He’s not done. I’ve heard things about why drugs are not allowed on Zoreah.”

He was right. Chris wasn’t going limp… His hands were all over me… groping till he cupped my breast and fondled. He waited till he caught his breath and picked up his rhythm.

“Then get the hell out of here… Ahha… I don’t think he’ll manifest after that.” I tried to say, my breath hitching.

“You sure?” Jamal sounded skeptical.

“Get out of here... Jamal. Mmmm… It’s getting awkward.”

“What’s awkward?”

I couldn’t speak after that. Chris’s tongue kept me quiet. His hands touching every part of me, rolling with me… It went on so long that I helped myself to my own climax. Chris did quiet down after a while, pulled out, and fell down next to me. I couldn’t care. I stretched out in an after-sex slum, so satisfied that I snuggled into him, forcing him to hold me, and he did.

***

Sirius woke me up. I languidly stretched again. It went better than I thought. I climbed on top of him, kissing him. I felt guilty for a second. But I was also sure he wouldn’t mind me having my way with him. Especially after nine years… But he was fast asleep. Nothing was stirring… I sat up on top of him, glancing at the door, my hand running through his beard. I didn’t have clothes. I didn’t want to leave either, scared he’d walk out and sleep with the first woman he saw.

How did I leave him a message? I searched for something sharp. The walls were plastered, so I dug out a note he would see as soon as he woke up. Colored it in with something edible from the kitchen. I scoured the house for clothes. All I could find were suits like the one he had pulled off. So I took his, and it was a bit big. But I didn’t have a choice… Did I. My mind was trying to figure out how to make it work… So that I could stay for a while. I rolled up my sleeves and legs. I walked over, sat down next to him, and pushed him flat on the bed. I took his shoulders in hand and shook him like he always did with me. Had to do all I could. I wanted to talk to him. I kissed him. Tried water. Slapping him... More like tapping. Softly. He was gone. I growled… I was getting irritated. “What the hell did they give you?” I yelled and swore loudly.

I walked around the house, trying to see any signs of my child. There were four rooms… But there was no evidence. I wouldn’t see photos anywhere. No iPad or journals. Books he was interested in. No, favorite comforter or Caleb’s favorite color painted on his walls. Posters of someone or something he liked. I had to go. Jack was probably waiting. I put my ripped dress on the bed next to Chris. I wasn’t expecting to see Jamal again. He wouldn’t risk leaving Selena. Jamal’s eyes wore the same emotions as mine when he looked at her.

Once I was in the door, I glanced back at Chris one last time. I didn’t want to leave. I ran back and kissed him all over his face… Ended up on his lips, long and liquid. “I love you… I gotta go. One hell of a booty call….”

I walked out of the house, visible, too preoccupied to care. When I looked up, Silvanus was walking down the path. Another bout of relief. He would look after him. I adverted my gaze down and away from him.

“Juliet? I thought I smelled you.”

I stopped and turned to him with such a smile on my face that he smiled back. I waved and kept walking.

“Your wolf is waiting. Had been guarding him for hours.”

I could probably stay? I stopped. Jack could wait some more. I wanted to talk to Chris. I wanted to see my boy.

“No!” Silvanus said loudly. “Caleb isn’t in the city… Keep walking. Say thanks that you got this with Chris. It would be much worse if he woke up. And we had to push him down seeing you leave again.”

With ragged breaths, I considered it. My shoulders fell, and I bit the tears back. I bobbed my head slowly. My smile was gone. The heaviness was sinking in. I didn’t know when I would see him again. Them… Would I ever see my child?

“Good luck on your fight… I am sorry.” Silvanus said.

I walked backward… “Don’t be. I’m not… I’m sooo close anyway. See you soon.” I saluted him with two fingers and kept walking. I turned around. “Make sure he doesn’t sleep with anyone else.”

Silvanus shooed me away.

***

Chris

“Oh no…” I groaned. I felt like I did that morning in my house after I was darted… How I felt with Ashleigh in the club for the first time. I had drugs.

“Oh no,” I remembered Selena… I stretched out a hand, scared I would feel a body. I felt something… I sat up. Startled, I got up on my knees. I pushed the fabric into my nose. “Juliet… It wasn’t a dream?” My head darted around. I read the words above the door and laughed. I wanted to pull up my suit. I couldn’t find it. I found another. My eyes were on the torn dress on the bed as I got dressed.

I teleported from there to the platform. It was empty. There was no one. She could have still been there… Like an imbecile, I felt every corner. Swearing that if she didn’t show herself, I would pull her over my knee. I thought that alone would force her out to give me some snarky remark.

Silvanus came in. “Chris, she is gone. It’s been hours.”

“What happened? I thought you were supposed to protect me. I hope Selena is okay.”

“Honestly, I have no idea. Ira was here, and he left with Caleb… I saw both of you on the bed… But I chose Ira, Chris… Once I left the house, I smelled a werewolf. I smelled Juliet… I teleporter, and when no one was here, I sat down… Decided to let fate play out… She had a big smile on her face. It couldn’t have been all bad… She said she was close. That she would see us soon.”

“Where are Ira and Caleb?”

“They’re at the city. It was obviously planned. Your father had gone a bit far this time.”

“Well, someone stabbed him in the back, or their timing was off. Did you tell him about Juliet?”

He shook his head.

“Don’t… I want to.”

***

My next stop was Jamal’s. I could hear them talking. Selena seemed fine and was happy. I sighed, clearing my throat.

“Chris, come in.”

They were sitting on his patio outside. I sat down as if nothing had happened. Jamal squeezed my hand to reassure me. “She is fine... They are both fine.” He whispered.

***

Every time I woke up, I saw the message above the door.

“It’s the second time you slept with me and won’t remember….”

I would smile, thinking about her. Then I would be angry… Livid at my father. I sat there for a long time that day. The white dress was in my hands. Jamal came to the window and jumped in.

“Okay, what happened was… Juliet pitched up out of the blue. Asked me what was wrong. She planned it, and we quickly exchanged bodies. You didn’t hurt her. Juliet was laughing and… enjoying herself. She’s cute….”

I jumped up. “You watched?”

“No! A little… I was scared, so I came back… She was scared you would manifest and… You know.”

We both smiled and laughed.

“Your father forced me to leave you guys alone… But I can just blame her. I was never so happy to see someone in my life.”

I sat down again, my eyes fixed on the message.

“Why are you angry, Chris. Will you ignore your father again? Come move in with me?”

“It must have cost him to get the drugs… How, though, if he has no communicator? And I’m not angry.”

“Then what? You have been sitting here for days… Not talking to anyone.”

“Did you explain to Selena?”

“Yeah, don’t worry… Are we going to have that talk?”

I didn’t say anything. I already knew.

“We crossed the line as well. You don’t mind, do you? You and Selena had been dancing around it for so long.”

I couldn’t care less. “I did give you the go-ahead. I won’t go back on my word.”

He pointed to the wall. “You angry that you can’t remember.”

“I can remember… All of it. Even you guys talking. Her kissing me back from manifesting.” I laughed and fell back on my bed. Replaying the night’s events, ripping off her clothes in my mind. Her breasts spilling out... She wasn’t wearing underwear… I had my way with her... She was so happy… We were snuggling, sleeping next to each other. How I had longed for anyone to tell me they loved me… for a hug. Juliet had done it all.

“I was there for all of it… I want to go home, Jamal.”

***

A few days later, Ira came back to get us. To join him and Caleb at the origin city. I was still sitting on the bed. It didn’t really matter if I sat there for months. No one cared… Forcing myself to remember every detail. Every word… She would remember for much longer than I would. The white fabric was still in my hands. The smell of her was fading.

Caleb ran to me and sat next to me on the bed. Ira came around the corner. “Chris, we came to get you.”

His eyes darted down.

“What is that, daddy?”

“It’s a dress, Caleb.” My eyes penetrated Ira’s. Frown lines played between his brows. He growled. I smirked. Nudged with my chin up to above the door… How did she get up there? Ira came in and turned around. I squeezed Caleb’s leg to remind him not to read. I put my finger on my lips. He nodded. Ira’s fist hit the wall. The plaster crushed, crumbling to the floor.

“I want to be angry, but I’ll rather thank you. You showed me that you are a hypocrite. All of you are. Every day, I want to leave more and more.”

He spun around. His mind was racing. He was so sure a moment ago. He didn’t know how it could have happened. “Please tell me when you figure it out. I would love to know.”