Chapter One:
Saya sat up abruptly and took in her surroundings. Where was she? She could see that she was in a bedroom, that much was obvious. The sheets were made of silk and the bed was soft. She tried to get up but found that she had no energy. Looking at herself, she could see that she was wearing red, lacy lingerie. Saya blushed, wondering how she had ended up here. Then the memories came flooding back in a wave that almost knocked her over. Solomon had been waiting for her to wake up instead of Haji. She had finally woken up from her sleep the other day, after 30 or so years. But why wasn't Haji waiting for her? And why had she gone with Solomon anyway? Saya had thought Solomon was dead! She knew the answer to one of those questions, at least; she had gone with Solomon because she knew that she was weak and needed someone to take care of her. Now her strength was up, at least more than it had been the other day, so she stood and walked to the window, wrapping her arms around her slender body. It was dusk, the sun just setting over the skyline. She was in the penthouse again, as she vaguely remembered the other time she was standing here. Solomon? Had he been a dream?
"Saya," she turned to see the blond man facing her, ageless and beautiful. "You're awake." He spoke gently, as was common of Solomon. She had never really paid him much thought until now. He was handsome, standing before her in his suit. But there were more pressing matters to tend to.
"Haji?" She asked.
Solomon shook his head. "Haji is gone, Saya. He waited for you but could not find reason to stay once he learned that you were pregnant with my children." His eyes moved across her body casually, finally coming to rest on her stomach. She reached for her stomach reflexively, and looked down, surprised to see that there was a slight bulge in her otherwise flat form. A look of confusion swept across her face. He noted this and answered, "When you were here with me, so very long ago, you mated with me. Perhaps it was wrong of me to take advantage of your state, but we both knew that there was no denying our attraction any longer."
Saya's gaze fell to the floor as the memory of that night came back to her. She knew he was not lying. Ashamed, she turned away from him. He strode over to her and wrapped his arms around her, his caress as light as falling snow. "Saya," he whispered. "I am not sorry. You have no right to be, either. What we did was only natural; we were two lovers giving in to our needs. I promise I will take care of you-"
A tear rolled down Saya's cheek. She knew that he was speaking the truth, and yet she could not bring herself to feel that their mating was justified, whatever the reason. All she could think of was one thing, something she had lost the moment she had given in to Solomon- "Haji," she whispered, tears falling like rain. Solomon's arms tightened around Saya as he remembered the price he paid in order to remain on Earth with her. She would have to learn, someday, how he had survived.