Chapter 5
I felt a wave of nausea rise within me as I witnessed the creature's sharp teeth tearing into the bloody meat, causing drops of crimson to splatter onto the floor. His head wiggled with a ferocity reminiscent of a lion devouring its freshly caught prey. A low growl escaped his throat as he swallowed large, raw chunks of meat, relishing in the taste.
Attempting to divert my attention, I focused on my small cup of strawberries and half of a turkey sandwich. However, the squishy sounds that emanated from the creature's mouth with each bite into the raw, skinned rabbit made me feel an overwhelming urge to gag. I made no effort to conceal my disgust, and whenever our eyes met, the creature would simply smile.
Unable to bear it any longer, I sealed the lid on my food and pushed it aside, completely losing my appetite. The revolting sounds of crunching gristles and sloshing entrails in its mouth made me feel sick to my core. I crossed my arms and sat silently in my chair, clutching a small recorder in my lap.
Finally, the creature finished its feast and let out a satisfied sigh. He proceeded to lick each of his fingers clean, wiping his mouth with the back of its hand. Running his tongue along his teeth, he exuded an air of contentment. Glancing down at the remains of the mutilated carcass, I couldn't help but dry heave in disgust.
It was ironic that as a scientist, I should have a strong stomach when it came to dead things. However, this gruesome scene went against that expectation, leaving me repulsed and questioning my own nature.
The creature emitted a chuckle, or at least it sounded like one. It appeared as though he had regained some of his strength, as if he had been rejuvenated. "Human. Uncomfortable. Amusing," he stated with a slight grin.
"I wouldn't say I'm uncomfortable, per se. It's just that I don't consume food in the same manner as you do. We have a preference for cooked meals."
"I'm aware," he responded.
How did he possess knowledge about our eating habits? How does he possess such extensive knowledge about us?
Stay patient, Bella.
"Nevertheless," he glanced at the closed container of food in my lap, "you don't even consume cooked food."
"I'm no longer hungry," I replied. Thanks to you. "Now, let's focus on my questions. I believe I have fulfilled all your conditions. It's time for some answers." This time, when he looked down at me, he didn't appear as annoyed or angry. In fact, he seemed to be in an uncommonly pleasant mood. Perhaps it was because of the food.
In a calm manner, he took his seat beside me, with only the thick, layered glass separating us. Slowly, he began tapping his claws on the floor. "Go ahead, ask," he said. I straightened up and pressed the record button on the device in my lap. He rolled his eyes at my slight smirk of anticipation, as if I were a child eager for a bedtime story.
"How did you learn our language? Are there other languages from Earth that you know?" I inquired.
"Humans... noisy creatures, and I've heard them from my planet. I listen and learn the words of many humans," he responded.
My voice lowered as I speculated, "You must have intercepted our satellite broadcasts."
"Among other things..." he smirked, a mischievous glint shining in his bright blue eyes. I was about to ask him to elaborate on that comment, but he interrupted, saying, "Next question." Surprised, I closed my mouth. After a moment of contemplation, I shook my head.
"Excuse me, but these questions were supposed to be on my terms, not yours. You got what you wanted, and now it's my turn to ask what I want. You agreed to answer my questions," I asserted.
"Some," he quickly replied. "I never said all, did I? I am honoring the rules of our trade. It's not my fault you just conveniently forgot the terms of our agreement."
Damn him. Technically, he was correct, but I never expected him to abruptly cut off my questions. "Fine. Where do you originate from?" I inquired.
"Another planet. Not Earth."
"Well, I suspected as much. Is it Mars? Jupiter?" I attempted to guess, but he scoffed at my feeble attempts. What? Did he truly expect me to know the origin of his peculiar race?
Raising an eyebrow, I grew silent as he remained unresponsive. In a fit of anger, I swiftly stood up, wincing from my still-healing leg. Ignoring the pain, I glared down at him, crossing my arms. "Listen! If this is your way of honoring our agreement, then your word means nothing. It's shit. I held up my end. Are you going answer my questions or not? Or are you going to continue to give answers that aren't really answers? You know what you are doing! And it's not fair. If this is how you will behave, then our deal is off."
His eyes scanned my body before a bemused smile gradually appeared on his face.
"Well? You know if this is your idea of a game, it is far from amusing." As his amused gaze studied my face, my anger intensified. Oh, how I wished I could wipe that smirk off his face with a slap! "Well?"
"Novis," he finally responded in an arrogant tone. With a sigh, I slumped back down in my chair and attempted to jot down the word in my notebook. He observed my hand intently as I scribbled the word in various ways.
"N-NooVis," I repeated. "Nooovis?"
"Novis."
"Alright. And what is this planet like? How does it differ from Earth?"
"Darker. Colder. It is home." Fascinating.
"Okay. So, if Novis is your home, why are you here? What brought you to Earth?"
His face transformed into a bored expression. "If you insist on me answering your questions, could you at least try not to ask the same ones over and over again?"
"It's my interview. You got your end. This is my end. If I ask the same question, I am simply looking for clarification. So. What brings you to Earth?"
His jaw tensed as he half rolled his eyes before responding, "To eliminate what's destroying Earth."
"What destroys the Earth," I repeated in thought. "So, beings from your planet are upset because humanity is... causing destruction to our own planet? Is that the reason?" I pondered, finding it somewhat trivial.
"Humans are devoid of peace. They only know war. And they destroy Earth in the process. " he replied.
"Novis is your home. Earth is our home. Who cares what we do with our planet."
"It's not your planet," he said through gritted teeth. "It is a planet. But it does not belong to you. Humans are also untrustworthy. They say one thing and do another."
What does that mean?
"Well, that might hold true for some humans. But every race has its share of deceitful individuals. Are you suggesting that no human can be redeemed? You claim to be here to eliminate what's ruining Earth. What about those who are innocent?" I questioned.
"Unfortunate," he uttered with little emotion. "They will still perish." Frustration filled me as I sighed.
"So, you're willing to kill innocent people?"
"No human is innocent. They may be innocent when they are young. Sometimes. But as they grow, they become corrupted like the rest. So, all humans must die. It's that simple," he stated, causing me to narrow my eyes at his lack of empathy.
"So, let me clarify. Your concern lies with the environment. Is that correct?" I arched an eyebrow, slightly skeptical. "Seems a bit childish to wage a war over, don't you think?"
"Humans are destructive. They bring war wherever they go, be it Earth or other planets. They refuse to listen, and we must put an end to it."
"What do you mean by 'wherever we go'? Have you actually witnessed humans on other planets besides Earth?"
"It means exactly what I said. Humans are destructive, regardless of their location. They are deceitful and unwilling to listen." I wanted him to elaborate, but it seemed like he didn't quite grasp my question.
"Alright, what if... what if we did listen? What if we stopped ruining the Earth? I mean, there aren't many humans left anyway."
He smiled. "Good to know." Why did I have this lingering feeling that I had just given him information he wanted? I reminded myself to be more cautious about revealing such details in the future. "The rest of the humans will soon join the deceased."
"So, essentially, based on our race, we're being subjected to judgment, and there's no escaping it. You intend to eliminate us, and that's the end of it. No room for negotiation?"
"Yes," he sighed. "It's incredibly frustrating that you keep posing the same question. I am starting to think you are dense. Or mabey you just wish to annoy me. You ask, I respond. But when you don't like the answer, so you attempt to change my perspective. It won't work. The answer remains the same. Are we finished now?"
Absolutely not! However, I could sense that he was unwavering on that matter. I cleared my throat. The next question was purely out of my own curiosity. "No. We are not finished. I will ignore your rude comments on my intelligence and move on. You don't get to evade responsibility that easily, so don't even try. This is my time, not yours."
His brows furrowed, and a darkness fell over his features while his eyes hardened. A chill ran down my spine. He appeared as though he could pounce on me at any moment and tear me apart. I could tell he really didn't like feeling in a one down position. It really peeved him that he wasn't in control.
I cleared my throat once more and softened my tone slightly. "We're not finished, but we can move on, as that seems to be what you want." This seemed to temporarily appease him, and he nodded once.
"Do you happen to have females on your planet?" The question seemed to amuse him, as his eyes lit up mischievously.
"Of course. We don't appear out of thin air. But, our females are strong, sometimes even stronger than males. They possess qualities different from those of human females." I couldn't help but disagree with his statement, and he noticed.
"What makes them stronger?" I inquired.
"Combat skills. Speed. Ruthlessness. The females on my planet," he pointed at me, "can swiftly overpower female humans." Ah, so he wanted to intimidate me, did he? Well, I could play that game too.
"Then why not send your females to annihilate us, if they truly are stronger?" I challenged.
"Some are indeed stronger, but our females are protectors of our planet and nests, not warriors," he explained.
Curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn't help but question, "Are you a warrior then?" He gave me an obvious look, and I continued, "I assumed as much. But now I'm curious... if you're supposed to be the best, how did you end up captured? Are you perhaps weaker than you appear?" I taunted. "I mean, being captured suggests a certain level of weakness, doesn't it?" I smirked, hoping to deflate his arrogance. However, I quickly realized it might not have been the wisest move. He caught on to my provocation quickly. His gaze grew darker, and his eyes narrowed once again.
"It would be wise not to challenge me. You will regret it," he warned, his voice laced with a hint of anger.
Ah, a soft spot.
"It's alright. Even the best can falter at times," I retorted, a smirk playing on my lips. His tail thrashed against the glass, causing me to jump. Clearly, he didn't take kindly to having his masculinity questioned. "Do not. Challenge. Me," he emphasized each word, enunciating carefully. "I promise, you will I rise to that challenge when I take your life. It will feel like a thousand knives piercing your body. But you won't die until I allow it. Then we will see who the weak one really is."
It was my turn to smile. "You have quite the temper, don't you? Are you aware of your temper?" I remarked.
"And you aware that you are a weak human, and in no position to challenge me? Do you know that?" he shot back.
I nibbled on my lip. Call me insane, but I had an urge to push him even further. However, deep down, I had a genuine belief that if I continued to challenge him, he would follow through on his words. And I couldn't afford to lose his cooperation. He growled, he eyes narrowing. Fear shot through my body. It was a clear warning that said 'back down.'
"Alright," I cleared my throat. "Sorry."
His eyebrow arched. "Sorry?"
"It's an apology. Like...sorry. I should have chosen my words more carefully."
Surprised, he lifted his head and then gave a single nod. "Oh. Submit," he stated. "You submit."
"Sort of. It's like feeling remorseful. So, I say sorry. It's like taking back what I said."
"Regret," he responded.
"Yeah. I feel we got off on the wrong foot. So, I apologize."
"Wrong foot? I don't think so. I think we got on the right foot. You meant to challenge me. And you feel regret because you're scared. Now, you seek mercy. Typical human. As if sorry solves everything."
"No. I'm not afraid of you." Well, maybe just a little. "I'm simply trying to stay focused on the topic and not get distracted by irrelevant things."
His tail tapped on the floor as he fixed his hungry gaze on me once again. As I swallowed, his eyes immediately darted to my throat, a predatory look taking over him. Did he just lick his lips? I didn't appreciate that. He was completely fixated on my throat, like a predator preparing to strike. He licked his lips once more. Oh no.
I cleared my throat, desperately trying to break him out of his trance. "Um...so, why did you assault me that day?" I was willing to say anything to snap him back to reality. A wave of relief washed over me as his gaze shifted from my neck to my eyes.
Whew. My question had successfully shattered the unsettling trance.
"You attacked first," he responded with a hint of dryness in his voice.
"I didn't attack you. I merely took a blood sample. That can hardly be considered an attack."
"You pierced me. I pierced you."
"I didn't harm you."
"Perhaps human should learn that my attack was more painful and refrain from attacking again," he smirked, his eyes returning to my neck, as if to convey that my attempt to distract him had failed.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, and a faint smile played on his lips as his oceanic eyes locked onto mine, exuding a predatory glint.
They can sense fear. Be brave. Don't let him intimidate you.
"Can you honestly not differentiate between your attack and my need for a blood sample?"
"Blood for blood."
"I required a sample."
"You didn't ask. You just took."
"I doubt you would have consented," I scoffed.
"Exactly. Human did as she pleased. I did the same." I bit my lip, restraining myself from arguing with him. "You know. From here, in this cell, I could hear human scream for hours. Hopefully, she learned her lesson," his blue eyes darted back to me. I pressed my lips together.
If necessary, I'll take another sample from you.
"I needed a blood sample, and I might need more. It doesn't cause you any pain. People take blood all the time on Earth. It's not an assault."
"You understand concept of trade, don't you? It's like exchanging food for conversation. In the same way, you take my blood and I take yours, but mine hurts more. If you want more of my blood, you should really consider if your leg can handle another attack," he said, grinning maliciously. "If you want more blood, you should be prepared to offer something in return."
I glared at him, feeling a sense of unease. "Um... alright. We can discuss that later," I replied, trying to regain control of the interview. However, he smirked and I could swear I heard a soft chuckle escape his lips. Wasn't I supposed to be the one in charge here? Why did it feel like he was deliberately provoking me? "Uh... do you have any family?"
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
"Family, you know... like a wife or children?" I asked, wondering if their species formed bonds and relationships or if they were simply evil beings.
He pondered my words carefully before a glimmer of understanding appeared in his eyes. "Ah, you mean a mate. Are you asking if I have a mate?"
There was a brief silence between us, and then a deep blush crept onto my cheeks. I had thought it was a valid question, but the way he emphasized the word 'mate' made it sound more intimate. Perhaps it wasn't such a good question after all. "I, um, I guess so."
"Hmm, why are you asking about that?" he inquired, his tone curious and his eyes gleaming mischievously.
I shook my head and averted my gaze, avoiding his devilish eyes. "I don't know. Sorry, it was a bad question."
"You feel regret again?" he asked with a smile. "Perhaps your name should be Sorry instead of Swan. Your body changes color too. Maybe Red Sorry would be a more fitting name."
Oh my god. "Okay, let's forget about it. Pretend I never asked."
"I will answer your question. It's part of the deal, right? The answer is no, I haven't found a mate yet. Once the war is over, I will choose a mate. They will carry my seed and produce many offspring."
Okay, okay. I waved my hand and shook my head, signaling him to stop. "Alright, let's move on." Stupid side question.
He ignored me. "Is that," he pointed towards Lieutenant Black's office, "your mate?"
My eyes widened. "What? Oh, no, god no," I chuckled nervously.
"I saw when I attacked you, he tried to protect you. But he failed. For the record, not a good choice on your part. Not a good mate. A very poor choice. He should have never let weak female mate near me."
"He's not my mate. He's...a friend."
"Maybe he's trying to be your mate. Trying to prove his strength to you. But," he smirked satisfactorily, "he failed. The female human is obviously not impressed." He smiled.
I laughed. "I'm not attracted to him, that's correct. But that doesn't mean he's not strong. Well, I think he's pretty strong, at least in our species. He's brave. And he shows a lot of courage."
He scoffed. "Courage? No. He's weak. And lacking below. His offspring will be weak, and his mate will suffer from lack of pleasure."
Okay. "That's something you wouldn't have a problem with, I assume," I grumbled.
He turned to me with a proud look. His muscles flexed confidently, and his tail swayed. "My mate will always be protected and pleasured. No problems with that," he smirked. "Failure to protect and pleasure my mate, means I'm not a good mate."
I just meant he wouldn't have a problem reproducing...how did we end up on this subject anyway?
"Okay, let's change the topic."
But he questioned again. "So, do you have another mate besides the weak human with a gun?"
"No," I shook my head. "I don't have one. No mate. Let's move on."
"Why?" he asked.
"Why does it matter?"
"I want to know."
"Well you aren't the one asking the questions. That's my job."
"Were you rejected by the males?" he chuckled. "Did they not want you because you are annoying and ask the same questions all the time?"
I sighed. "No," I said defensively, "I am fine. I can get a mate if I wanted one."
"You are on the brink of extinction. You don't think time is of the essence? Do you not desire a mate?"
"I'm waiting until the war is over too," I said, giving him a forced smile. I shrugged my shoulders, indicating my indifference. "I suppose I'm just too busy right now. I'm sure I will find a mate eventually. But for now, let's change the subject." I scanned my notebook. "Um. Are there any other humans on your planet?"
It was quite obvious that I wanted to divert the conversation away from the topic of finding a mate. It made me uncomfortable, especially since he seemed so at ease discussing it. He settled back into his seat and gave me a blank stare, signaling that he wanted to move on to another question. I raised a brow. "Ask another question."
"So that's a yes?"
"That a move on."
So, that meant there were indeed other humans on their planet. I wondered in what capacity they lived there. He had mentioned experimentation, but was that the only reason? He had also mentioned that all humans must die, so why wouldn't he answer that? I couldn't help but ask, "Why won't you answer that question?"
"Move on. Or we are done." he replied, displaying his temperamental nature. He knew that threatening to end the conversation was his trump card, and as expected, I backed down.
"Alright then. Let's talk about those creatures," I suggested, raising an eyebrow. "You know, the ones that walk on all fours. They have teeth arranged in a circle."
"Ah," he nodded with amusement, probably finding my attempt at mimicking the creatures amusing. "Graks," he said.
"Graks? So you're familiar with them? Do they originate from your planet?"
"Yes," he confirmed.
"Did you release them on Earth? I assume it was to eliminate the human population?"
"Yes. But there's a new poison that kills Graks. You created it, right?"
"Well, yeah. I'm not particularly fond of dying just yet."
"Yes. I'm sure you'd prefer to experience the pleasure of a mate first," he remarked, possibly mocking my desires.
I felt my muscles tense as my nails dug into the outer cover of my notebook, a reaction that didn't escape notice. "Why do you keep bringing that up? It's not all about that. Not everything revolves around sex and reproduction."
He smirked, clearly amused. "Why are you so uncomfortable with mating? Isn't that the whole reason for war? Humans fight to protect and ensure the survival of their species. Isn't that right? If not, then what is the purpose of war? What are you fighting to save?"
I opened my mouth to respond but quickly closed it, realizing he had a somewhat valid point. Well, a small one at least.
"Alright, I suppose you have a somewhat valid point," I conceded, watching as he casually bent one leg and rested his arm on it like an armrest.
"You're quite peculiar, I must say. I think you have a fear of mating. You should look into that," he remarked.
"I'm not scared of having sex. Oh my god. We are not discussing this," I reply angrily, shaking my head and adding to his amusement. "I believe our conversation is over for today. No, I'm done," I declared, standing up and glaring at him.
With an innocent expression on his face, he raised his eyes to meet mine. His lips twitched, as if he was struggling to suppress a laugh. "Alright then, human," he said, standing tall and staring down at my furious expression. He moistened his lips and carefully examined me, almost as if I were a piece of livestock. However, I held his gaze firmly and refused to back down. I was determined not to conceal my anger towards his obvious avoidance of most of my questions, while fixating on the ones I tried to evade.
I reiterated, "I'm not afraid to mate. I'm just in the midst of a mission to save the entire human race. So, don't pass judgment on me. And don't pretend to understand who I am."
I began to stomp away but halted abruptly. I turned back to confront the creature, who continued to observe me with unwavering curiosity. "Next time, we will stick to the main subject. Got it? No more talk about mating. I'll have a set of questions, and you'll provide the answers. Clear?"
He dismissed my anger as if it were mere nonsensical rambling, climbing up the wall and settling into his usual corner of the cell.
"I'm serious!" I shouted, glaring back at him.
He, too, narrowed his piercing blue eyes, growling before using his tail to shield his face.
Argh! I stormed off. When I reached my dorm, I forcefully slammed the door shut and locked it.
What if I didn't have a partner? It didn't mean I didn't desire one. And I wasn't afraid of intimacy. It had just been a while since I last had sex.
What does he know? He's just an animal. Of course, he's fixated on sex and mating. I'm not weak. I don't need a partner! I've managed just fine on my own. Ugh!
I swiftly removed my clothes and stepped into the soothing water of the shower. As my hands glided over my body, I couldn't help but contemplate my femininity. I still had allure, right?
Twenty-six is still a prime age... isn't it? It's not too late to indulge in sexual pleasure and find a suitable man. Right? Oh my goodness. Stop, Bella. Sex should be the last thing on your mind when facing possible extinction.
Besides, the only available men were Mike, Daren, and Black. Eww. None of them appealed to me. They were nice, but not my type. I chuckled a bit, recalling the creature's comment about Lieutenant Black being inadequate and unable to satisfy a woman. How did he know? Maybe he just assumed. Perhaps all humans seemed small compared to his kind. I mean, he was towering in stature. It would make sense for him to be well-endowed. I started to pounder...
No! Enough of this nonsense!
I dispensed a generous amount of soap into the palms of my hands and began to work it into a rich lather, gently massaging it onto my body. The captivating scent of the soap enveloped my senses, bringing a sense of tranquility and easing my anxious nerves. With closed eyes, I allowed my thoughts to wander back to the mesmerizing blue eyes that had a profound effect on me, awakening something deep within my soul.
As the warm water continued to cascade down my body, I couldn't help but explore the contours of my own form, my hands instinctively finding their way to my hardened nipples. His vibrant, mischievous blue eyes and his alluring smile flashed vividly in my mind, stirring a mixture of desire and confusion within me. I involuntarily squeezed my legs together, unable to contain a moan of pleasure that escaped my lips.
Yet, a sense of unease washed over me. This attraction I felt towards him was unnatural, not something I should be experiencing. I tried to convince myself that it was simply a result of my own longing for intimacy after a considerable period of time. Besides, the idea of being involved with a being from another species seemed preposterous. My rational mind knew that these thoughts were aberrant and completely abnormal. He wasn't human, after all.
The mere thought of being intimate with him turned my stomach, as I reminded myself of the danger he posed. He was the ultimate predator, a threat to the very existence of the human race. However, despite these rational thoughts, my mind couldn't help but wander into the forbidden territory of imagining what his muscular physique would feel like against mine. Visions of him forcefully pinning me against the shower wall and using my body to its fullest potential raced through my mind, both thrilling and repulsing me at the same time.
I shook my head, feeling the droplets of water from my wet hair splatter against my face. The truth was, there was no attraction between us. I couldn't say that I was drawn to him in any way. It was just that the constant talk about finding a mate had made me acutely aware of my own loneliness. The creature had hit the nail on the head – I yearned for someone to share my life with, to give myself completely to, and to experience the intoxicating pleasure of passion. After all, I was still a woman, and it was only natural to desire those things. However, my conscience immediately scolded me for entertaining such thoughts.
I reminded myself that a life filled with romance and passion was meant for those who weren't burdened with the responsibility of saving the world. I was the one standing between the human race and its annihilation. There simply wasn't time for love and desire in my mission to protect humanity. Lieutenant Black had been right all along. I needed to refocus on the task at hand – eliminating these creatures, not forming any kind of bond with them. And that's exactly what I intended to do. The creature himself had made it abundantly clear that he would not hesitate to kill me, and it was in my best interest to strike first.
With a resolute determination, I made the decision to confine myself to the laboratory until I found a way to exterminate him. Once I accomplished that, it would mark the end of this dangerous chapter.