Page 5 of Asmodel

“We know how unbelievable this seems. But would you be amenable to let us prove our sincerity?”

It only took a moment to decide. “Yes, I would. If you can prove to me what you say is true, I’ll consider joining this exchange.”

After all, what did she have to lose except everything?

“Come then, Isabella.”

The metallic voice continued with a warm and gentle inflection. There had to be a person behind that voice and not some kind of computer simulation.

“If you are amiable, we will show you a small portion of our ship, theStarChance,to convince you of our sincerity. Please do not be alarmed when one of our liaisons greets you and shows you around.”

Izzy’s heart raced. Was this really real? Was she about to meet an honest-to-goodness alien on a spaceship? With fresh eyes, she glanced around. She took a deep breath, and it dawned on her the faint stench of the New York’s atmosphere was missing.

The wall to her right disappeared. There, in the doorway, stood one of the most stunning women she’d ever seen in her life. Oh, wait. That wasn’t a woman, that was some kind of alien female. One way taller than her. Over six feet, at least. With long, dark, wine-red hair bound in several braided dreadlocks that reached the back of her thighs. Izzy couldn’t imagine how long it took to wrestle her hair into those creative braids.

With the female’s hair pulled back so tight, her pointed elf ears were on prominent display. Multicolored crystal earrings dangled in a single rope that started at the tips and ended an inch from each lobe. But it was her eyes that were most captivating. They were almond-shaped, the irises a darker shade of yellowish green surrounded by a light shade of khaki. Her long lashes matched her brows, the same deep burgundy of her hair.

The alien woman’s outfit was something she’d expect from a typical science-fiction movie. Formfitting in a lustrous cream color that offset the slight iridescent sheen of her skin.Oh, goose feathers. Izzy shivered. What she wouldn’t give to have a figure like that.

“Welcome to theStarChance, Ms. Isabella Pilar Ramirez Torres.”

Izzy froze.

As the female spoke, a hint of tiny fangs peeked out.

But it was the sharp bite in the woman’s tone that warred with the slight smile that gave Izzy pause. The alien said one thing, but her body language was the complete opposite. Izzy mentally slapped herself upside her head. Now, Izzy, you’ve got to remember you’re dealing with an alien. It was ridiculous to compare her to how a human would react.

“You may call me Aja.” The woman extended her hand. “If you decide to join us for the exchange, I will serve as your liaison.”

Izzy hesitated before clasping Aja’s hand. The alien’s skin was warmer than hers. “Please call me Izzy.” She released the other female’s hand and waved hers between them. “Is this one of your traditions when you meet someone? A handshake?”

“No. However, I am trained in several Earth customs to make your transition as easy as possible for you.” Aja cocked her head, indicating the corridor behind her. “Follow me, and I will show you a small portion of our ship.” She turned and walked away.

Izzy expected to hear the hard metallic footsteps, but the shiny golden floor mysteriously muffled the female’s movements. Shrugging, she followed.

“I am only bringing you this far in order to show you this.” Aja stood in front of an expansive window and waved her left hand.

For the first time, Izzy noticed that the woman had one thumb and three fingers of equal length. “Oh wow,” she murmured. Not wanting to offend by pointing out the differences in their hands, she turned to where Aja indicated.

Her breath caught and her eyes widened. In all its glory, there was Earth, floating like a vibrant jewel against the velvet backdrop of space. The blues of the oceans were deeper than any she’d seen before, even in simulated vids. Swirling clouds of white and gray floated gracefully across the surface in stark contrast. Continents lay sprawled below, their outlines familiar yet surreal from this vantage point. As the ship orbited, day transformed into night in a mesmerizing display. The glittering lights of the cities pierced the darkness, creeping across the globe, like countless stars mirrored on the planet’s surface.

From this high vantage point in the vastness of space, Izzy felt the quiet hum of the alien vessel more than she heard it. Time stood still as she experienced a profound connection to the tiny, fragile world below—her home, seen as never before. It reminded her of the famous astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, describing Earth as a “brilliant jewel in the black velvet sky.”

The wordawewas a lousy way to describe her feelings at this moment.

But, to be honest, it was what lay beyond Earth that called to her. The vastness of space, dotted with distant stars and the occasional passing satellite, seemed to urge her to join them. To become a part of something bigger than she could ever imagine.

Such a simple decision. With a wide smile, she turned to Aja.

“Where do I sign up?”

Chapter Two

Atthehiddenmooncity of Azadi, present day

Asmodel sat at the round conference table, tapping his finger on the surface. He half-listened to the intense conversation bouncing around him, losing interest the moment he sat down.

He was too busy trying to remember the dream he’d had the previous night. The image of a pretty, dark-haired woman was vague, but her sense of warmth and welcoming presence made it hard for him to forget her. What was frustrating was no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get a clear picture of what she looked like. Even so, deep inside he knew she was real and somehow important to him.

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