Khol (Rescued by the Alien)

5. Nancy

Chapter 5

Nancy

“ W hy are we running?” Khol asked, jogging beside me. He’d returned his knife to the sheath at his waist when he should keep it handy for whatever might attack next.

“Something’s hunting us,” I cried out, tripping as I ran with Flora in my arms. I was used to carrying her to bed if she fell asleep on the sofa. Picking her up if she was hurt. But I’d never gone for a run with her in my arms, and I was nearly worn out already.

“Nothing on this island will harm you,” Khol said, pacing along beside us without a break in his wind. Truly, his gorgeous muscular-ness wasn’t fair. It gave him an advantage.

“Something bellowed in the jungle. It’s after us.”

He shot a glance that way. “That was a trikee. A kind of bird. It’s tiny, but it has a loud shriek. ”

I slowed to a fast walk, shooting wild looks at the thick jungle to my left. “You’re sure it was only a bird?”

He nodded. “I am.”

Flora wiggled. “Down. Down, Mommy.”

Almost from the time my daughter could walk, she’d wanted to do everything under her own steam. Since I valued independence, I encouraged her to test the world around her as often as I could. When I lowered her to her feet, she peered around. “Where my shell?” Her gaze sought Khol’s. “Where my shell?”

“Water spirit?” he said softly, following the words with a hum.

A wave splashed up the shore, leaving a big pink shell behind as it flowed back down the bank.

Coincidence. That was all this was.

Khol walked over and scooped it up, handing it to Flora, who proceeded to sit and start working on a new sandcastle, something we’d done whenever we went to the beach.

He shot me a sweet smile that made my bones melt. He had tusks. Real, thumb-sized tusks jutting up from his lower jaw. What did he rip into with them? I wasn’t sure I dared ask.

“Water spirits don’t exist,” I said.

His smile faded. “I can understand not believing. I, myself, didn’t believe at first. But . . .” His gaze drifted to the sea. “After a time, this one convinced me.”

Chills rippled across my skin. “Tell me everything. ”

He gave me a slow nod. “Let me take you to where you’ll feel safe, and then I’ll answer all your questions.”

I gave him a long look. He wouldn’t be the first guy to try to lure me to “a safe place” where I’d be anything but.

Only pure kindness shone in his pretty blue eyes, and I shouldn’t be softening just because he was attractive.

But he hadn’t made any threatening gestures—so far.

“Alright,” I finally said.

“Would you like to go to my home, Flora?” he asked, extending his hand.

“I’ll take her,” I said, thrusting my hand beside his.

Flora got up and, with the shell clutched against her chest, she took Khol’s hand, smiling up at him. “I like blue man, Mommy.”

He shot me a smile before turning and leading my daughter into the jungle.

I trotted behind them, still unsure about all this. He’d come across as friendly, but I was taken advantage of once and my heart would need convincing before I’d willingly trust anyone else again.

As we walked along a narrow trail, I fluffed the front of my nightie. Without the ocean breeze, the air hung with humidity and sweat coiled down my spine.

Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy overhead made up of purples with only a few touches of green, pink, and yellow, the latter colors, big flowers. Dappled patterns danced on the forest floor as we walked, and vines draped lazily from towering trees, their trunks at least three of my arm’s length around. Birds chattered in the distance, and a few lavender creatures the size of squirrels with darker purple, fluffy tails leaped from one branch to the next as if they needed to keep up to watch us.

A few insects zipped past, much too busy with whatever they were doing to pay us any mind. I hadn’t seen a mosquito, but where there was water and tropical weather, I’d find them. Or they’d find me. They loved to bite me in particular.

Flora chattered, pointing at this flower and that, and even I, who was used to her lisp, couldn’t understand half of what she said.

Khol listened to her raptly, pausing to show her tiny flowers growing beneath broad leaves, and even stooping down to make sure she saw a large, purple insect much like a praying mantis clinging to the end of a vine.

He really was kind. And so far, not a creep like some men. He’d still bear watching.

I kept rubbing the star-shaped tattoo I’d picked up during my travels. Why did it match the one on Khol’s arm? It had to be a coincidence. I was mistaken. Mine had not appeared right after I touched his.

Though I hadn’t seen it until then.

“Look, Mommy,” Flora said, pointing to one of the pink, fluffy-tailed creatures perching on a stump about ten feet away inside the thicker jungle on our right. “A kitty.”

“Not quite, though it’s cute, isn’t it? ”

She was tired, which made her lisp more pronounced. I’d have to continue the speech therapy she’d started on Earth until we could return, and she could attend again.

There I went, assuming we would be stuck here for a while, let alone that we’d find our way home.

“We’re almost there,” Khol said, pointing toward the trail ahead.

As we walked in that direction, a low rush echoed around us, followed by a steady roar as we got closer.

Sunlight bloomed as we stepped out into a small meadow with a stone building nestled near the woods on the right and a wide stream with a series of falls on the left.

“Beautiful,” I breathed, taking in the jungle beyond, the sparkle of sunlight on the lavender water, and the falls flowing over long spans of ledge before plunging into a wide pool at the bottom. “Fresh water?” The sea here was as salty as the one back home.

“Yes. Plus plenty of fish and tubers,” Khol said, gazing toward the stream. “Are you hungry?”

My belly rumbled to give him an answer.

“I want chicken nuggets,” Flora said. “And mac ‘n cheese. And a donut.”

Khol’s smile curled as he looked her way. “What about fish and tubers?”

“Donut.” Flora’s lower lip trembled, and tears threatened in her eyes. “Mac ‘n cheese. Chicken nuggets.”

“She has a great appetite,” I said. “I’m sure she’ll enjoy whatever you serve. ”

“No donut?” Flora’s voice croaked, and her eyes swam. “Like choc-o-late donuts.”

Didn’t we all?

“Let’s go with Khol and see what he has,” I said brightly, hoping to divert an incoming storm. “I’m sure we’ll enjoy whatever it is.”

“Wait here,” Khol said.

Before I could speak, he left us, bolting across the meadow and disappearing through the front door of the small house. Bangs rang out, followed by a screech, as if he was dragging heavy furniture around.

He emerged with a smile and strode over to stand with us, waving toward the building. “If you’ll follow me.”

“Nothing sneaky,” I said, as if my words could keep something like that from happening.

His smile just widened.

We followed him across the meadow, Flora a touch sullen and me with a hesitant step. Inside the front door, I took in the large open area made up of a living room with a normal-appearing—though Khol-sized—couch, a few chairs and low tables, plus a kitchen area with a window along the back. Two doors exited on the left, and he led us to the first, swinging the panel wide.

“Flora can sleep here,” he said with a flourish.

He’d piled things in one corner, creating a small open space with a toddler-sized flat piece of furniture topped with a thick layer of blankets.

“Dis my bed?” Flora asked, curiosity nudging aside her quest for donuts.

“I hope you’ll be comfortable here,” he said .

She hopped up on it and sat, laying her shell on the improvised blanket pillow at the top. “Not napping,” she said.

“We’ll see,” I said. We needed to get out of our wet things and eat. But it was clear she’d soon need a power nap to recharge her batteries.

“You can sleep in the other room,” Khol said shyly, backing from the tiny room.

I followed him to the other room, where he gestured to the enormous bed, neatly made up with blankets. A low table sat to the right of the head of the bed, and a tall wardrobe had been placed on the left side of the room, beside the only window.

“I often bathe in the stream, but there’s an area with a . . .” Color rose into Khol’s face. “A place for excrement through there.”

Only now did I note a door to the left of the head of the bed.

It was clear Khol was going out of his way to make us feel welcome. And it was equally clear this was his bed. For some reason, the thought of him giving us these rooms when he didn’t know where he’d sleep tonight made me want to cry.

It was nearly Christmas back home. Here? For all I knew, it was March, assuming Zuldrux kept track of months and named them. I shouldn’t feel so sad about a missed holiday.

I sniffed and was grateful Flora had remained in her room. I couldn’t break down in front of my daughter; that would only scare her. As the adult, I needed to carry all our fear myself. But, damn, I was scared about this unknown situation, this unknown world, and okay, this unknown alien male standing politely by my side.

To think my biggest worry back on Earth was whether or not I could give my little girl a wonderful Christmas.

I could use a hug right about now.

A visit from Santa.

And, okay, a box full of chocolate donuts.