Page 10 of Eclipse Bound
He stopped advancing but didn't retreat. "I have no wish to be taken by Earth militants. But I must speak with you. You work at the facility where we were to arrive. You have access."
"Access to what? The yoga retreat?" Rowan laughed despite her nervousness. "Anyone can book a class online."
"We require accommodation that will not draw attention," he continued as if she hadn't spoken. "The dwelling provided by Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides has proven inadequate."
Rowan blinked. "Galaxy Alien... what now?"
She frowned and looked around the lawn to see if someone was hiding. She felt eyes on her, but couldn’t detect anyone. Was this Stephanie trying to pull a prank?
Eclipse sighed. "The corporation responsible for our transit to this location. They have placed us in a structure that does not offer sufficient separation between Solar and Lunar. I fear they may destroy each other before our visit can properly begin."
“Stephanie? Is this you?” Rowan called. “Very funny.”
“No. My name is Eclipse,” he answered. “Eclipse Bound. Bound is a surname.”
“So you’re not happy with your tour group package?” Rowan asked, finally unlocking her phone.
“No. The travel was a death trap, and they have abandoned us,” he answered. “I watched you organize the people. You are the contact authority we need to talk to.”
"Okay, I think you need help that I can't provide," she said, deciding to call the police. "I'm going to call someone who?—"
In a movement too fast to track, Eclipse was suddenly beside her, taking the phone from her hand.
"Please," he said quietly. "I do not wish to cause alarm. But I must ensure the success of this mission. The peace of my world depends on it. I have been watching you. Your energies are not like the others here."
Up close, Rowan noticed that his skin had a strange, subtle shimmer to it, not quite golden like his friend from earlier, but not normal either. And his eyes weren’t any color she'd seen before, somewhere between dusk and twilight.
"Your... world," she repeated slowly.
Eclipse nodded.
“You expect me to believe that you’re from…” She couldn’t look away from his eyes. Were they contacts? Why were tiny stars moving in his gaze like he contained a galaxy inside his head? She slowly pointed toward the sky.
"Zorveya. We are not from your planet. I believe that is now obvious."
Rowan stared at him for a long moment. Then she started to laugh. She couldn't help it. The stress of the day, the absurdity of this conversation, it was all too much.
"Of course you're not," she said between laughs. "You're aliens. Why not? This is Duskrock, after all. We get all types here."
Eclipse frowned, clearly not understanding her reaction. "Your skepticism is understandable but inconvenient."
"Look, Mr. Bound," Rowan composed herself. "I've had a very long day. I had to deal with a lot of overexcited tourists. I'm tired. I probably have a touch of heat stroke. So if you could just give me back my phone and leave, I'd appreciate it."
"The device." Eclipse looked down at the phone in his hand as if just remembering he'd taken it. He handed it back to her carefully. "I apologize for the intrusion. But I must insist that you consider my request.”
Rowan glanced down at her phone and noticed it was fully charged. That wasn’t right. Her battery had been at eleven percent.
"Which is what, exactly? To help you find a new hotel because your friends don't get along?"
"Essentially, yes," Eclipse replied with complete seriousness. "The Crimson Rock structure has a room that is too containing. Solar requires light. Lunar requires darkness. I require them not to kill each other before our diplomatic mission can be completed."
Rowan rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. "And this mission is...?"
"To find suitable Earth mates and demonstrate that cooperation between opposing factions is possible."
"Mates?" Rowan choked. "Like breeding partners? Strippers? Prostitutes?"
Why was she entertaining this conversation? Maybe she was the one who needed a doctor. Severe dehydration could cause hallucinations.
