The doors opened and Kate, Baryn and Jenna stepped out. Jenna glanced over her shoulder to see Aria take a step then stumble. 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-sized 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 warm 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 Jenna glanced toward the unfamiliar female voice.
Her breath caught at the sight of the stunning beauty standing beside Baryn. Time stood still as Jenna stared, wide-eyed at this goddess.
She was tall with an air of confidence and authority. The uniform she wore accentuated her le
an, muscular body with curves in all the right places. Her long, straight hair was pulled back tight from her face and fastened into a ponytail on top of her head. The color was so light it was almost white, but it shimmered with soft lavender highlights when she moved.
She handed Baryn a dark green uniform jacket just like the one she wore. Terrien had already donned a similar jacket.
“The transporter,” the woman 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 walked to the glass and peered outside.
“I don’t know, Crystal.” Kate’s voice sounded on the edge of panic. “Look!” She pointed upward.
Jenna glanced up to see the wall panels continuing to retreat over the ceiling, revealing a beautiful, but quite disturbing, view of Earth.
“Oh, my God.” Eva sank into a chair. “We’ve just been abducted by aliens.”
CHAPTER 2
“You.” The goddess strode toward Aria. “Come with me.”
Jenna had barely had time to process what was going on. Only five minutes or so had passed since she and the other women realized their true predicament and they were all still reeling.
“We stay together,” Eva insisted as she stepped toward Aria protectively.
“No, actually you don’t,” the woman responded in a commanding tone.
Aria glanced at the stranger’s uncompromising expression and when she extended her hand, Aria took it and stood up. The woman gripped Aria’s arm as they started to walk. Terrien stepped in front of Eva, preventing her from rushing to Aria’s side. The uniformed woman led Aria to a door, which slid open as they approached.
A couple more uniformed men appeared and herded Jenna and the others toward another door. They were jostled together as they were urged into a corridor, led past several doors, then around a corner to the right. A moment later, they found themselves in another room, this one smaller than the last, with a couple of easy chairs and a couch around a large, oval coffee table.
Jenna and the others sat on the couch and huddled together. She glanced around and suddenly realized that it wasn’t only Aria who was gone.
“Where’s Kate?” Jenna asked, her voice thin.
Eva patted her hand. “It’s okay. Everything will be all right.”
Eva’s voice sounded calm, but Jenna could tell the woman was unnerved. Crystal glared at the two uniformed men standing between them and the door.
“What is going on?” Crystal demanded.
The door slid open and Jenna glanced around to see another uniformed man enter the room. He had turquoise eyes and his honey-colored hair fell in waves to his shoulders. His uniform jacket, adorned with three small gold ovals on the stand-up collar, hugged his broad, tautly muscled chest. Like all the other men they’d seen on this ship so far, he was breathtakingly handsome.