Page 20 of My Human Wife

“When you come back, I’ll make sure we have a counselor onboard.”

“I like your positive attitude.” I want to tell her there’s no reason for a counselor because I’m probably not coming back. The more I’ve studied about Kamos and learned about Imperial people, in comparison Gala seems like a decent place. Kamos rules his little corner of the galaxy with an iron fist.

Hela touches my shoulder and looks me in the eyes. “You will be successful.”

In this moment, I actually do feel like I’ll be able to do what they are asking of me, but I know that’s only her telepathy convincing me of it. When it comes down to it, I’ll have to overcome my fears of torture and death to succeed in this and I don’t know if I’m strong enough. I’ve never been put to the test.

I leave the medical center and walk down to Gael’s quarters. I know he’s feeling nervous because my lovers’ ring is slightly cold. Over these past several weeks, I’ve become accustomed to wearing it and as the ring promises, it makes you aware of the other person when they have extreme emotions. I have no idea how it works but I don’t care to figure it out either.

As I’m walking down the hallway people gawk at me. I’m wearing my working clothes, if they can be called ‘clothes.’ A top made of rough gold fabric that barely covers my breasts and an even smaller gold covering for my sex. My backside is almost completely exposed. And I’ve covered myself in gold paint and brushed my hair all to one side as Agnorrian and Uru males find attractive. I’ve purposely done this to help my ‘brand’ as being sold as ‘fresh’ from the other side of the galaxy. I ignore the stares.I’m working just as hard as everyone else.

I arrive at Gael’s door. When he lets me in, he’s at his desk distracted. Then he looks up and I can’t decipher the look that crosses his face.

Gael and Lara

{Duet}

g.I knew what Lara would look like dressed as a gold human pet. I have revisited that memory of her in a shadow of this look when I first met her at the Fertility Goddess’s Temple, but to see her now like this is completely different. I’m attracted to her appearance, now as I’m always attracted to her, but it’s like she’s a different person. It’s not only her façade that’s changed but she has a completely different demeanor. For the first time I feel less worried for her but at the same time remorseful that she must go. “You look different.”

l.“I changed,” I say softly.What more can I say?That I went from being his dutiful student to a vessel for alien men? I never want him to think of me as the latter, but how can he not? He knows exactly what I’ll be doing. “It’s all for the greater good.”

g.“It is.” I want to say something more than, ‘thank you,’ but I can’t think. My mind is refusing to move forward with this farewell. I have sent many Terra Ka members into the field knowing I may never see them breathing again, but this is so different, and I can’t stop my heart from beating so hard for her.

l.“What is sex anyway? Muscle contractions, a bit of bodily fluids. Women have made it so important because it’s a way for the matriarchy to maintain its dominance. Insisting it’s the ultimate pleasure to have sex with a woman,” I say, trying to make this triter than it is. We both know the truth. Our rings are ice cold with regret for what never was, conversations we never had, and the truth that this might be the last time we ever see one another. I meet his green eyes. “Will you watch the auction?”

g.“Yes. Of course. Be safe and take this.” I hand her a small vial.

l.“What’s this? I can’t read this word.” I investigate the small vial and bring it up to my nose to smell it.

g.“Don’t. It’s poison. It’ll look like you fell asleep, but you never wake up. It’s for emergencies.”

l.I try to hand it back. “I’ve been through worse. Someone will have to kill me. I won’t do it myself.”

g.“Keep it anyway. Maybe you’ll meet someone else that needs it.”

l.I want to give it back to him, but he just shakes his head. I put the small vial along the top seam of my golden bra. “Wish me luck.”

g.“Thank you, Lara. Remember hundreds of humans are counting on you to set them free. Think of them when times are tough. Good luck. And remember the ring.”

l.I subconsciously twist the lovers’ ring on my finger when he mentions it. He’s taught me everything about how to use it to contact him and the intervals he will be close enough to Kamos’s palace for it to work. I only hope that it doesn’t get taken away from me. But it’s unlikely as it’s not worth much and I’ll besold for a higher price if I look more expensive. I rise and put my hands on his long black hair and kiss his forehead. “I will think of you when times are tough,” I say in a whisper. And this is the truth. Last night when I couldn’t sleep, I was thinking about my motivation for this mission. As much as I want to save those humans, especially the children, I recognized they’re just numbers to me, nameless faces, and that they alone are not enough. But when I thought of Gael. My lovely Gael, I found the strength in myself to go today.

g.I’m spellbound by her actions. Is this part of her seduction trick? Is she already playing her role? Or does she expect me to say, ‘Never mind we’ll find someone else?’ I don’t know but I can’t let her affect me anymore than she already does. This must be done and she’s the most capable for the job. I take her hands in mine and stand. “As soon as you know where the teleportation suit is and think you might be able to escape contact me.”

l.I’m struck by his lack of reciprocation about my honesty. But then again, he saves humans all the time. It’s probably a common occurrence that a lot of the women he saves believes they’re in love with him. It doesn’t matter, I tell myself. I married him and I love him. I want to tell him even if my love is not requited. “Goodbye,” I say in English and then turn and begin walking away. I walk slowly hoping he will say something.

g.My heart is going to beat out of my chest. It’s so loud she must hear it too. Our lovers ‘rings are so cold I’m sure there’ll be a ring of frostbite on our fingers. I want to pull her back. I don’t want to send her on this dangerous mission. There’ll be someone else. I want Lara here with me. But I can’t do that. I can’t think of myself, then I’m just as terrible as my father. I must let her walk off this ship and do her duty for her fellow humans. “Goodluck, Lara. My human wife. We will be waiting patiently for your signal.”

Lara

Sem pilots the transport to another waiting ship. As we’re docking, he says to me in his accented English, “I don’t believe in the goddesses, but I believe in a moral balance in the galaxy. For what you’ve suffered, the fates owe you this win. Remember that.”

I put my hand on his arm. “Thank you.”

He nods.

Once we are docked, I exit the transport, my bare feet cold against the hard floor. I have no time to take in my surroundings before I’m immediately put in chains.

Sem signs me over without even a glance in my direction.

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