Crystal leaned toward Aria and murmured, “I would absolutely come with him. Anywhere. Anytime.”
Aria giggled. Eva just clenched her teeth and tried not to stare at his rock-hard butt as he walked away from the table. She and the others stood and followed Terrien. He led them out of the ballroom, then turned left.
“Aren’t the elevators the other way?” Jenna asked.
“The normal ones, yes,” Terrien answered, “but we’re taking the VIP elevator.”
“Mmm, VIP. That’s my kind of action,” Crystal purred to Aria and Jenna.
Kate walked beside Terrien up front, Eva walked a couple feet behind them, and Jenna, Crystal and Aria followed. Terrien led them down a narrow corridor, then pushed open a door labeled “Authorized Personnel Only”. At the end of another narrow corridor, they came to an elevator. Terrien pushed a key into a lock on the control panel and the doors opened. They crowded into the small space, and the doors closed.
“This doesn’t look very VIP to me,” Crystal grumbled.
The elevator seemed to speed up. It jostled a little from side to side. Aria swayed sideways and grabbed onto Crystal’s arm. Crystal placed her hand over Aria’s.
“You okay, honey? You look a little green.”
In fact, her face had gone completely pale.
Eva clasped Aria’s other hand. “You don’t look well, Aria.”
“I’m sure she’ll be fine in a minute,” Terrien said.
The doors opened, and Kate, Terrien and Jenna stepped out. Aria took a step or two, then her knees started to buckle. Eva grabbed one of Aria’s arms and Crystal the other. They steadied her as they helped her from the elevator.
They entered a moderate-size room with upholstered armchairs facing one wall. The décor had changed dramatically from the coral and green they’d seen everywhere else in the hotel. Also missing were the wooden details. This room was cool blue with very minimalist, clean lines.
Eva led Aria to a chair.
“I don’t know what came over me.” Aria’s cheeks flushed red.
“The transporter has that effect on some people.”
“The what?” Aria’s eyes widened, and Eva turned toward the unfamiliar female voice.
A woman stood beside Terrien, who was taking off his suit jacket. The woman handed him a dark green jacket just like the one she wore. It looked like a military uniform of some sort.
“The transporter,” she repeated.
She pushed a button on a small console on the wall beside her, triggering a loud humming. The wall started to slide upward, revealing windows beyond. Aria gasped, echoed by several of the others, as a stunning vista of stars was revealed.
“It transported you to our starship.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Crystal stepped up to the glass and peered outside.
“I don’t know, Crystal.” Kate’s voice sounded on the edge of panic. “Look!” She pointed upward.
Eva followed her gaze. The wal
l panels continued to retreat over the ceiling, revealing a beautiful but quite disturbing view of Earth.
“Oh my God.” Eva sank into a chair, a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. “We’ve just been abducted by aliens.”
Chapter Two
“You.” The uniformed woman pointed at Aria. “Come with me.”
Anger jolted through Eva.