Twelve Days of Xanthus

“No, don’t talk like that. Real love isn’t about material things or status. It’s you I’m concerned about.”

“After the life I’ve lived not much could truly rattle me.”

She snapped her mouth shut. He has a point.

The drive back to the cabin was quiet. She ran down a list of pros and cons. She cared for Xan. In so many ways, he was her ideal man. But he needed time to assimilate. He’s a fast learner, give him credit. She weighed the scales of to let him go or to commit in her mind until they reached their destination. They exited the car and made their way to the front porch where she paused to look out over the white landscape. This is where it’d all started.

A lot had changed over the past week. Violet looked up at Xan. The thought of not seeing him every morning saddened her. Well, there’s your answer. Time to swallow your doubt and go for it. You will literally never find another man like him.

Violet reached out, caressed his face, and smiled.

“I’d like to keep you, too, Xan.”

His eyes widened and he stepped forward. A green bolt of energy flew in and struck him in the chest, sending him into the wall of the cabin. He slid down like a rag doll, unconscious. Smoke rose from the gaping hole in his body. She spun around to see a blue face twisted into a sneer. Kala!

Chapter Six

“I’m sorry; did I interrupt a touching moment?” Her voice was deep and full of malice.

Violet froze. If she left to get the shotgun, Xan would be left alone with her. Would the shot gun even work? Her eyes darted to the door and back to the alien woman who stood on the porch steps.

“He failed to remember the tracking device on the ship. Despite the wreck, it continued to operate. The penalty for running away from a mistress is death. I could kill you too for harboring him, but where would be the fun in that? I want you both to suffer while he dies in your arms.” Violet slid down to her knees beside her fallen knight.

Kala’s eyes filled with glee as she gazed down at Xan’s body. He’d begun to stir; his body twitched and his eyes fluttered open. A look of pure panic crossed his face as he clenched his teeth, balled his hands into fists, and sat up.

“It won’t be long now until you take your last breath. I’d stay and watch, but I have much better things to do. I just wanted you to see the face of the one who felled you before you died.”

He growled low in his throat. Kala smirked.

“This is why we don’t allow ourselves to feel emotions, girl. Let this be a lesson to you, tiny, fragile earth woman. You were a good warrior, Xanthus. You would’ve had an honorable death on Zenton, but now you will die here on Earth, doomed to be known to our people as a coward who ran away.”

“No, I will die as a symbol of freedom.” His voice was hoarse and Violet winced along with him when his breath rattled in his chest. Kala’s eyes flashed.

“I will never let that happen.”

“It’s all ready begun.”

His smile was triumphant. Kala’s face colored.

“Even you can’t tamp down hope. I’d die a thousand times to give my people that.”

“You’ll never live to know, so I still win.” Kala gestured toward Violet with her head. “I could snap your little human’s neck right now if I wanted to.”

Xan struggled to his feet, placed Violet behind him, and held out his right hand. A blue shield surrounded them.

“You will never touch a hair on her head.”

“Yes, drain what little life force you have left protecting the weakling.”

Her sneer made Violet bite her tongue. She’d be a fool to rile the Zenth up. Kala was even bigger than Xan. The women of the WNBA would go gaga over her. Xan was losing color in his face with each second that passed, but the shield held. His body began to tremble as the shield began to pulse.

“We both know I won’t last much longer, but I can take both of us with me when I go.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Kala whispered.

“I’d love nothing more than to rid the universe of your evil.”

Kala’s face fell. She stepped back, suddenly uncertain.