Chapter Thirty-Eight
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MONICA FELT PRETTY proud that she’d just managed to siphon energy from so many bad guys.
The trick was to take just enough to make them slow and clumsy so she didn’t become overloaded with power.
Having nearly a hundred people to distribute the energy to had been a big help.
She’d kept just enough to top up her reserves as usual.
“I can’t believe one of the good aliens is in our town,” a young woman said in awe as the survivors gathered around them. “Shouldn’t you be fighting the bad aliens in Manhattan?”
“We’re looking for someone,” Nazab said without going into detail. “We’ll join up with my squad when the time is right.”
“You two really saved our butts,” their leader said in gratitude.
His soul was light gray, but Monica sensed it had once been darker.
It seemed being in charge of these people was enabling him to find redemption for whatever wrongs he’d done in the past. “We were thinking of going to Manhattan to join up with the good aliens,” he said.
Monica spoke and again felt as if she’d been taken over by someone else.
“It isn’t time to travel to where the war between the two alien factions will be waged yet,” she said.
Several people shivered as if her voice spooked them.
“For now, go to a town a few hours away. Tell them what happened here. More people will join you. Don’t turn any of them away.
When the time is right, the Mad Prophet and other signs will guide you where you need to go. ”
“That was freaky,” someone in the crowd muttered.
“Fate just spoke through my mate,” Nazab said. “She’s the entity who guides my brothers and me each time we’re sent to this world to wage war with our enemies.”
“If Fate guides you, who guides the bad aliens with red eyes?” the leader of the townsfolk asked shrewdly.
“Anarchy is their guide,” Monica said. “Be glad he doesn’t expend as much effort on their behalf as I do with my knights.”
Nazab put his arm around his female when she sagged a bit. “She’s gone?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Monica confirmed, then looked at the awed humans.
“We all have a choice,” she said, raising her voice so they could all hear her.
“Most of you are heading in the right direction and will be redeemed for the things you did wrong. Anyone who doesn’t want to fight for the side of good should walk away right now.
The war will be brutal and bloody and it will determine the fate of mankind for eons to come.
It will be the most important decision of your life to either stand with the Knights of Order, or to succumb to the evil rule of the Soldiers of Chaos. ”
This time, Fate didn’t speak through her. The words came from her heart, but they had just as great an impact.
“I’m with Fate and her knights,” the leader said and his soul lightened a fraction more. He turned to face his people with a look of fierce determination. “Who’s with me?” he shouted.
A roar of agreement came from every single man and woman. None of them slunk away in shame. They’d all made the decision to side with good and moved a step closer to finding salvation in the process.
Nazab showed them where the town was on his map, as well as the bunker full of supplies, then they took their leave. “You did an amazing job, female,” he said in praise as Monica drove towards the next site on their list.
“I’m getting better at controlling my skills with practice,” she said. “I’m glad no one was killed during that fight. No one with a gray soul, anyway,” she amended.
They chatted until they reached the next location, then she waited in the truck.
Monica could feel destiny herding them to where it needed them to go.
She had a feeling they would find Nazab’s brothers soon.
Her skills had increased and she was starting to wonder just how strong her talents would become.
It was a bit frightening at times. She was privately worried that she would take too much energy one day.
“There’s usually someone to infuse with my power,” she said uneasily. She didn’t want to contemplate what would happen if she didn’t have someone to funnel it into.
Nazab returned and she swapped seats with him. None of the properties they’d visited contained his squad and it was late afternoon by now. “Let’s get some target practice in,” her knight said as he drove them back to their latest base.
“I’ve got a better idea,” Monica said and pointed at a tiny lake as they passed it. “Let’s grab some gear, then go for a swim,” she suggested.
Nazab shifted in his seat, already reacting to the thought of seeing her mostly naked in the water. “If you insist, female,” he said with a fake long-suffering tone.
She snickered, already anticipating seeing his magnificent body again. They reached the house and entered it long enough to take what they needed. Nazab drove to the lake and scouted the area. “It’s safe,” he said.
Monica had already unpacked the toiletries she’d brought along. “I’m going to wash my hair,” she said. “You can wash my back for me afterwards if you want,” she added.
Nazab sucked in a breath, then let it out. “I’d like that very much, Monica Yamil,” he said in a husky tone.
Keeping her underwear on, Monica took her hair out of the intricate braid she preferred.
Her strawberry blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders.
Conscious of her knight’s gaze on her, she took her time to wash her hair and body.
With a sultry smile, she beckoned for him to move closer.
It wasn’t easy balancing on the uneven ground in her prosthesis.
Disrobing to boxer shorts in a blur of movement, her warrior was standing in the water next to her before she could blink.
Instead of washing her back, he picked her up to kiss her and she wrapped one leg around his waist. He positioned her other leg behind his back and accidentally pulled her fake leg off.
“Whoops,” he said sheepishly, holding the contraption helplessly.
Monica snorted out a laugh, then began giggling hysterically. Nazab set her down with a sigh and held onto her so she didn’t fall down. “So much for the sexy seduction I had planned,” she said when she could speak.
“Just how far were you going to take things, female?” he asked as he helped her onto dry land.
“I might have let you take my bra off,” she said, taking the prosthesis from him and reattaching it.
Nazab groaned at his missed opportunity. His boxer shorts had a tent in it that she had trouble keeping her eyes off. “I need to cool myself down,” he said, then returned to the water to plunge into it.
Monica dried herself and got dressed, then watched her knight wash his perfect body.
When he was done, he dried himself, then got dressed and sat down on his towel.
Leaning her head against his shoulder, they watched the sun set together.
“This was a good day,” Monica said, glad to get the chance to rest for once.
“Every day I spend with you is a good day, female,” Nazab told her solemnly.
Gazing into his eyes, her heart fluttered.
She’d fallen for this alien warrior and she was pretty sure he felt the same way about her.
Still, they’d only met just less than three weeks ago.
It was too soon to give herself to him completely, but she didn’t think she was going to be able to wait for two full months to pass.