Captured By The Alien Barbarian: A Sci-fi Alien Romance series (Planet Atraxis Warriors)

Chapter 15

The creak of the door and gentle patter of footsteps startle me from my slumber. I have no clue how long I’ve been sprawled out on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably until sleep mercifully took over. My body aches from lying on the floor for so long—I mean, who chose hardwood over plush carpeting?

Why, oh why, didn’t I just stay in the cave? But then again, would it have changed anything? Taccit would still be dead, and I’d be left twiddling my thumbs while waiting for him to return.

I’d never get to tell him that I loved him.

Walter’s words haunt me. He killed Taccit without breaking a sweat or shedding a tear. Taccit had a soul and emotions, and despite his alien anatomy, he felt more human to me than Walter ever could.

As the person entering the room comes closer, I hold myself still—partly out of fear, and partly because I just can’t be bothered. I just don’t have the energy to fight anymore, and boy, do I hate that. But seriously, what’s the point without Taccit by my side? I would give up everything to have him back, even my beloved dreams of being a farmer.

My mind craves the sweet release of oblivion, but I know deep down that I’m not one to just roll over and give up. I don’t just give up. Not for very long, at least. This damsel doesn’t stay in distress for long. I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse.

“Ariana. Oh, sweetheart.” Tender hands touch my shoulder, and caring fingers brush the hair from my eyes. I blink up at Maya’s tan complexion and chocolate-brown eyes, filled with concern.

It’s so good to see her again. I’ve missed her terribly—it felt like we hadn’t chatted or gossiped for a lifetime (okay, maybe it was just weeks, but sometimes that can feel like forever). There’s so much I need to tell her. She will help me. I know her.

I stare down at my legs, caked in dried blood and mud. They look worse than they feel. In fact, the more I think about it, I’m pretty sure they were in worse condition last night. It’s not possible that they have healed that fast… is it?

“We need to get you up. Get you clean and ready,” Maya’s hands do a quick reconnaissance of my battered body, searching for wounds. I wince as her fingers skim past the cuts and bruises decorating my legs. She rolls up my shirt and gasps, appalled by the patchwork of injuries that greet her.

My brain is still playing catch-up as I groggily process her words. “Ready? Ready for what?”

“Market day.” Maya says simply. “Mr. Sullivan said that he left you a dress—an actual dress—in the bedroom.”

A disbelieving laugh slips through my lips. The market? Really? Like I have any intention of going window shopping right now.

“Are you serious?” I manage to choke out, struggling to hold back tears that feel like they could flood the room.

Maya winces and tries to calm me down. Doesn’t my friend care for me at all? “Walter and James are outside. They are already waiting. They want to go to the markets.”

“Wait, they’re outside? Right now?”

Maya nods, an apologetic smile on her face.

“Did the… James mentioned you were captured. Did the beast?” Unable to fully voice her question, she stumbles over the words.

“His name was Taccit, and he was… kind. Sure, he had his flaws, but he always tried to work through them for me.” I don’t mention that his biggest flaw was his need for control when it came to my safety. But is it really his fault that he’s like that? He’s been alone for so many years, living in guilt because he couldn’t save someone he loved. That’s a pretty big trauma to work through.

“He was a real sweetheart.”, I say. “I fell in love with him, Maya. Really, fully in love with him. And now he’s... well, he’s...” I say, struggling to say the word. Nope, not ready to admit that Taccit is dead yet.

“Don’t listen to what the hunters say. He wasn’t a beast. None of the aliens here are. Taccit took care of me every day. He went out of his way to make me happy. That’s way better than that husband of yours. Did you know that jerk dragged me through a freaking mountain? That pompous, selfish...” I cut myself short.

“James is a huge idiot, and he’s not my husband anymore.”

My attention snaps to Maya. “What? What do you mean he’s not your husband? Since when?”

“I filed for divorce months ago. Days after we got married, in fact. I wanted to tell you, but thought you had enough on your plate. I didn’t want you worrying about me on top of everything else.”

She looks defeated, shoulders slumped.

I close my eyes, tears prickling. Now that I actually stop to think about it, all the little details click together and make sense. Ever since we landed on the planet, I haven’t seen her smile. Not truly. All this time she has been in front of my eyes, and I never saw her. And here I’ve been, totally self-absorbed. And all this time, I thought she was just stressed, like the rest of us, but I never really paid attention to my best friend’s pain.

I’d been living a delusion. I spent every moment of my life just trying to survive. One foot in front of the other. A day at a time. My only excuse was that I was too busy, too focused on surviving myself to ever notice that the people I love also suffered. And that’s not a good enough excuse. Not anymore.

“Oh, Maya. I’m so sorry. I’ve been such a terrible friend to you, and—“

Before I can say another word, she grips my bruised shoulders (ow!) and shakes me slightly.

“No apologies needed, Ariana. You’re wonderful, just as you are. But we’ve got to get you cleaned up pronto. I might be okay saying no to James, but not to Mr Sullivan. He honestly freaks me out. He has those dead fish eyes…” Maya waves a hand dismissively. “Mr. Sullivan mentioned having some dresses for you?”

Her eyes flit to the front door and she anxiously tugs at my arm, trying to get back on track. “We can talk as you dress. Besides, there’s something else I really need to tell you.” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “I’m so sorry. I only just found out. It’s about your debt to the colony.”

My heart sinks. That stupid debt has been the bane of my existence since my husband’s death. It honestly blows my mind how the colony council just dumped his debt on me like that. How is that even fair? What did I do to deserve this?

She avoids my gaze. I grab her shoulder, giving her a not-so-gentle shake (giving her a taste of her own medicine—cause what else are friends for?). “Spill! What about my debt, Maya?”

“Um, well, you don’t actually owe any money at all. So that’s kinda good news, right?”

“Excuse me?” I stare at her, dumbfounded. Of course, I have a debt! I’ve been busting my butt in those mines for months trying to pay it off!

Maya just stares at me, smiling apologetically, patiently waiting for me to process everything.

“What do you mean?” I ask her. All that time in the mines, just to pay off invisible debts? That can’t be right… can it?

The room spins around me as a wave of dizziness washes over me. I’m forced to sit down, giggling at the absurdity of it all.

“The hunters got drunk one night at my house. Mr Sullivan admitted that debts don’t actually transfer to the closest kin. No one here in the colony questioned it because he’s the financial manager for the entire colony. Ariana, you never owed anyone money.”

“So, I did some snooping, right? First, I hacked into the computers—thank God for those late-night coding classes in college—and he was right, Ariana. Your husband had life insurance. He left you money, Ariana. A lot of it. You probably don’t even need to work on your farm if you don’t want to.”

I don’t know what to say. I never owed money. All this time, I could have been on my farm doing what I love. An insidious little voice in the back of my mind also points out that if it wasn’t for that debt, I would never have been exploring the wilds, and thus I’d never have met Taccit.

The world around me feels fake. There’s a static noise to the air, and my heart beat feels overly loud and pronounced. I’m in shock. I know I am. I’ve felt it a couple times before—like when you’re meeting an alien for the first time. Only this time, I’m not being completely blindsided by panic as well.

“So let me get this straight,” I raise an eyebrow, “So you’re saying I could have been living the space-drifter dream this whole time?”

Maya nods, sympathy filling her eyes. “So, what are we going to do about it, Ariana?”

At least I know where my friend stands on this—with me.

Everything that’s happened to me, it’s all because of Walter. The more I hear about Walter, the more time I spend around him, the more I become convinced of one thing: Walter Sullivan is evil.

And evil must be destroyed.

It’s what Taccit would do. He lets nothing stand in his way, and he doesn’t tolerate others’ nonsense. If Taccit has taught me anything in the last few days, it is that I am stronger than I think. And having a friend by your side certainly helps out.

Plans start forming in my mind. Who in the colony will help me stand up against him? Does the starship know of what he’s doing? What do I do if he fights back? Will he get violent again? Do I act as soon as possible or do I wait, and if so for how long?

I’m vicious in a way I never knew I could possibly be. I don’t know if I am after revenge or justice anymore. I just have to make sure that whatever happens, Maya doesn’t get hurt in the process. I can’t let my revenge backfire on my friends.

“I can do this. Will you get my clothes while I bathe?”

Maya looks at me with disbelief, blinking slowly for several moments. Her calm facade breaks, her face screwing up with all her hidden emotions.

“How?” Maya asks. Her eyes shine with unshed tears. “How are you always so positive? After everything the universe has thrown at you, you still stand tall? How do you do it?”

I’ve never seen my best friend like this. Maya’s always so composed. She looks like she’s falling apart at the seams, barely holding herself together.

“I don’t know.” I say. “I wish I had something better to tell you, I really do. It’s just the way I am. I just think of what needs to be done and I do it. When life hands me lemons, I squirt them in the eyes of my enemies.”

“What? I can’t tell if you are insane, or just stubborn. Lemons! Coming from the freaking farmer, of all people. That’s so like you.”

Her laughter dies, leaving the tears tracking down her cheeks.

“You have no idea how much I wish I was you sometimes. You’re like my personal superhero. I wish you could share your secrets,” Maya says.

Yep. So much for bathing—we’d stood here talking instead. I look down at my mud covered, torn, leather clothing. I look like a barbarian.

I giggle, and soon we are both snorting with laughter. It’s not true laughter, the kind that comes from deep within your soul, but it’s enough to help us survive the crazy lives we have now.

All this time, I’d thought Maya had it all—a real home, someone she loves to build a life with. I’d always believed her life was perfect.

It’s time that I consider someone else for once. Maya has always been there, looking out for me. Even Taccit was. Yet I was always lost to my own thoughts and problems. Now, it’s time for me to step up and return the favor.

Maya deserves a bright future, with someone who truly cares about her.

We throw ourselves into each other’s arms, clinging as if we’re on a cliff’s edge and just realized we’re afraid of heights.

Everything aches—my sore back and arms from battling injustice, my chest from knowing Maya’s been suffering in silence, and my heart from losing my one shot at happiness with Taccit.

I let go slightly, enough to tenderly hold her cheek. “We’ll get through this, I promise. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, we’ll make it.”

She sniffs, asking the million-dollar question: “But how? What do we do about it? About him?”

I wish I had an answer to satisfy her.

My mind races with ideas on how to help her, but let’s face it; if I can’t come up with a convincing strategy to do my laundry, what chance do I have at something like this?

Still, I’m determined to try.

“Baby steps,” I say.

“That’s so unlike you,” Maya comments. “You’re always rushing in. You’re nearly as bad as Stacy.”

I still can’t help but wonder how I’ll go on without Taccit. But I do know one thing: he would never want me to admit defeat. He taught me to stand up for myself. I won’t let that memory of him fade, ever. Maya called me her personal superhero, and I’m going to live up to that. I will stand up for justice.

From now on I’m never taking crap from anyone again, ever.

* * *

My feet dragagainst the cobblestone path beneath me. I can practically feel each individual pebble through these thin, pathetic excuses for shoes.

When I first landed on Atraxis, I scrounged for any spare change, hoping to ditch my dull, monotonous government-provided spacesuits for actual clothes. The embroidered fabric and thin soles are everything that I once wanted, and yet now they feel utterly useless.

I long for my big, clunky boots again. Oh, and I’d give up everything just to have Taccit walking beside me. Everything reminds me of him. Everything.

Walter gives me a very chilling warning about making a scene today. He expects that perfect little wife that bends to his every will. Only that’s not me. He thinks he’s broken me. Clearly, he’s never heard the phrase “ignorance is bliss”—it’s his default setting. He has no clue what’s coming.

The heartless way Walter treats me scares me into behaving, for now. I’m always rushing headlong into adventure, but this time I’m going to follow my own advice; don’t be a fool and bide your time.

I force a smile to my lips, baring my teeth to the world around me. A single tear escapes as I recall Taccit mistaking my smile for a challenge to a fight. And by the gods, do I feel like fighting. I really am baring my teeth, not smiling now.

My gaze drifts to Walter Sullivan, that insufferable man strutting ahead with Mr. Lewis. He holds his chin high and has an insufferable smirk plastered on his smug face. My anger simmers beneath the sadness, slowly growing and merging like tiny streams joining to form a mighty river of boiling hatred.

Walter banters with the merchants, demanding cutthroat prices and casually driving them to the brink of ruin—just as he did to me. My teeth grind, gears of fury locked in place.

Once, I believed him to be a good man. Now, I see the truth of the matter. I see the women who keep their distance, and the men—brothers and husbands—standing by, fists clenched and jaws grinding, silently promising retribution.

Their pitying glances cut me to the core. The knowledge that they see my suffering, that they know what Maya and I endure, and that they do nothing... It stings like a slap to the face. All it would take is one courageous soul to stand up—and yet they all cower in fear.

“Wow, there are a lot of people here,” Maya says, gripping my elbow, her dark hand a comforting presence. She sidles so close that our legs brush against each other as we walk. “I don’t see Stacy anywhere. Maybe that’s a good thing—I’d rather she didn’t spend much time around the hunters, if possible. Once she found out you were back, though, it was nearly impossible to make her wait.”

A wave of warmth washes over me as I think of the youngest member of our little group. That’s just like her, always acting before thinking. She probably never considers that I’m hurt or need time to settle back in. No, all she thinks about is seeing me for herself.

Even when Stacy tries to be helpful, it gets her in trouble more often than not. It’s practically a full-time gig for Maya and me to keep her out of trouble.

Maya looks guilty as she continues, “I told her you’d be occupied with the doctor and we’d catch up with you later. I really believed you’d have seen one by now.”

I gently pat her arm in reassurance, as I too had expected to encounter a doctor by this point. She’s not to blame.

No. Walter is.

Yet, with every minute that passes, I’m starting to physically feel like a million bucks. Sure, I’m as hungry as a bear coming out of hibernation, but my body doesn’t ache half as much as it did when I rolled out of bed this morning. Or in my case, the lack of a bed.

“Hey, Maya? Is it possible for medicine to keep healing you way after you take it?” I ask.

Maya ponders my question and hums. “There are some slow-release drugs out there, sure. How long are you thinking? And what’s with the sudden interest?”

“Well, when I was with Taccit, I got hurt,” I say. I pat Maya’s hand as she winces. “He gave me some cream, and my wounds healed so fast that I thought I just imagined them. But now I’m not sure about any potential side effects.”

I pause and pull up my dress hem, revealing my previously scratched legs that now look like nothing more than faint lines. Maya’s eyes bulge.

“I feel good, Maya. Better than good, in fact. Do you think Stacy could figure out what kind of medicine it was?” I ask.

Maya looks at me in disbelief. “That’s not possible.”

Remembering that we are out in public, I drop the fabric of my dress.

Looking around to see if anyone noticed our odd behavior, I finally notice the unusually large crowd. The sheer number of unfamiliar faces is overwhelming.

There is a palpable sense of muscle among the throng, with some even daring to wear their tools atop their coats. Miners, no doubt. They typically have designated dwelling quarters and their very own mess hall, rarely venturing out to the marketplace. So, what could have lured them here today?

I lean in to whisper my thoughts to Maya, “Did a ship land while I was gone? New settlers, perhaps?”

Maya shrugs in shared puzzlement.

A tiny flame of hope flickers in my chest. What if this is the ideal moment to expose Walter for the conniving scoundrel he is? I could publicly denounce him and reveal his wicked ways. Surely someone would come to my aid.

On the other hand, I observe the way people cower in his presence. Even the burliest of miners seem to dodge his icy gaze.

Anxiety gnaws at my lip as I shoot a subtle glance at Maya. If I were to speak out and no one lent a hand, the situation could turn dreadful. I have no idea how he might lash out, and it’s not worth jeopardizing my friend’s well-being over reckless impulsiveness. If there’s any silver lining in the dark cloud of my current predicament, it’ll be aiding Maya in escaping this mess.

No matter what happens, my friends won’t have to deal with men like Walter in their lives anymore. They deserve to be happy, even if I can’t.

First, I need to figure out the reason behind this sudden gathering. No rash decisions.

Slyly observing the two men strolling ahead of us, I am relieved to see we’ve gained some distance. They’re engrossed in their own conversation, barely sparing a thought for Maya and me. They expect us to follow them, and it’s never occurred to them that we might not. Passersby weave between us, giving the impression we are mere strangers in the market rather than a connected group.

I attempt to break away from Maya, but her grip is alarmingly tight. So tight, in fact, that I am forced to grind my teeth in response. Again, I try to reassure her by patting her hand, “Trust me.”

Her wide, haunted eyes regard me for a moment, searching for something within them. Finally, she gives a small nod of approval and reluctantly releases her grasp.

I quickly make my way towards the most conspicuous person in sight—a towering figure draped in a thick cloak, the hood pulled low as protection from the biting cold. Surely someone who quite literally stands out from the crowd like a sore thumb would know what’s going on. Plus, with that height advantage, he’s got the best view in town!

“Excuse me, sir.” As his hooded form swivels towards me, his cloak dances around his body.

My neck involuntarily cranes to take in every inch of his towering figure, and tears start to gather in my eyes. For a fleeting moment, my heart had swelled with hope that the beloved Taccit had returned. Alas, it was not meant to be.

This man is not as broad, his shoulder width suggesting someone with lean strength rather than brutally thick muscles.

Peering into the dark depths of his hood, I try to catch a glimpse of his face. Nothing.

Deciding to break the ice that’s formed between us during my time blatantly staring at him, I ask, “Do you know why the market is so busy today?”

The hood tilts as if the mystery man is cocking his head to the side, pondering my question. A sliver of apprehension runs up my spine. It’s not an entirely non-human gesture, yet it’s so… other. Perhaps he’s just hard of hearing? My eyes repeatedly try to penetrate the darkness shrouding his features, but to no avail. They’re great for chilly days when you need some extra forehead warmth, but not so much when you’re curious about who’s lurking beneath. Who even covers their whole face and body like this?

“Many have been recalled into the town’s walls. Most likely for your safety. The leaders fear an attack, and rightly so.” His voice rumbles over my skin, almost a growl.

Leaning closer, his face finally reveals itself. I see a pair of green eyes staring back at me. At first, I think he’s human, but then I notice the intricate patterns on his skin and how they seem to glow from within, as if he’s part bioluminescent.

“Hello, little human female,” he practically purrs.

I’m frozen stiff, glazed eyes still fixated, like a deer in headlights. What’s more terrifying—the alien dude before me or the fact that he strolled right into our colony unnoticed?

“Be careful, little female. There are many males that would love to have your company, and not all are good.” He leans even closer, nostrils flaring with a mighty sniff. The fur between his bushy brows wrinkles with an impressive frown. “I see you have already been claimed. Strange that your mate allows you to walk so freely among males without his protection.”

My breath catches as his words bring back thoughts of Taccit.

The stranger’s scowl deepens, and a very subtle growl slips through the air. Then his head jerks up to look over my shoulder, his nose twitching furiously.

“Ariana?” Maya’s hand magically finds mine. Her eyes widen at the stranger once she realizes that he’s not one of us. Not human. Her grip weakens, then tightens with a vice-like strength.

“Thank you for the help, sir,” I practically shout. Not my smoothest exit, but hey, no one’s perfect.

I reluctantly turn my back to the hulking figure and wonder when I changed. Days ago, I would have backed away from him in fear. Would I have screamed? This alien male’s appearance here might be shocking, but I don’t fear him as much as I perhaps should.

My mind is ablaze, jumping to conclusions. The alien was shocked that I was here without protection, which almost seems more like concern than a threat. Melvall had been the same, constantly inquiring about my health and happiness. Aliens might look absolutely terrifying, but their actions surely show they care.

Maya, meanwhile, looks like she’d seen a ghost. Then again, would you blame her? That was me not that long ago.

“Where did he come from? Since when did aliens -”

I quickly grip hold of Maya’s hands and squeeze them tightly to capture her attention. “Don’t worry, Maya. The nice gentleman was just letting me know there’s a town meeting later today.”

I had thought it weird that our entire colony migrated across the universe to settle on a planet without a single alien joining us. But I don’t think it’s such a coincidence after all. Nothing seems right about this whole setup.

“Nice? Gentleman?” she says, catching the attention of a passing miner who raises an eyebrow in our direction. I quickly refocus her attention, narrowing my eyes and whispering, “Yes, you can trust him.” I think. I hope I’m not about to lead Maya into some situation far worse than our current one.

The alien moves closer like an intergalactic bodyguard, blocking the gawking passersby. His glittering eyes lock onto Maya, and I can’t help but feel torn. Part of me worries that he’ll just snap if she starts screaming. The other part desperately hopes he will show her the same interest my Taccit showed me when we first met.

I don’t need to convince the humans to save Maya. I just need to convince this one alien. Life away from the colony is possible. At least she has a future. I’ll deal with Mr. Lewis and Walter after she’s gone from here, safe and sound.

I straighten up and speak with determination. “Sir,” I say, addressing the towering figure behind me, “we need your help.”

But before I can explain our predicament, a blood-curdling scream rings out across the marketplace. In unison, every man and woman turns toward the colony gate.

What I see has me falling to my knees.