Michael
I heard Juliet the first time she came to Rodrigo. When she was out cold, he talked to me, knowing I could listen to him. She was about two months pregnant with Chris's baby.
I heard her again talking with him. She was three months pregnant. Only six more, and she will be a mother again.
I had been in that hole… not far from her for months… She was depressed because she couldn't find me. She wasn't sleeping. He didn't want to tell her that I was being hidden away in the freezer. It wasn't really a freezer. A little room that no one wanted to open. If they did, they wouldn't have seen me anyway. It felt like I was losing my mind. I tried to call out to her. I wanted to tell her that I was so close to her.
Rodrigo had told me everything that had happened upstairs. If I could just get out of there. I could be with her. I really didn't know what they were planning with me. Or why he wasn't telling her where I was. To me, it sounded like she was starting to trust him. Maybe he was angry that I had locked him up all those weeks to get him to tell me how to help Juliet. I was still drugged and still gagged. Tied up… My body was failing.
That first day she was there, the light in the room next to mine went on. She had even asked him who he had in there. It was the room where they got information from anyone less than willing. The blood in there wasn't mine. They were searching for Samuel. Rodrigo and Qadir… Why would he team up with him? He hated Qadir. But if my capture would lead to his death. That was almost the only thing I could think of. That Rodrigo was playing for the long haul. Playing Qadir.
I heard the screaming and then the silence. The man never said a word. Samuel wasn't coming for me. He was hiding. I would be bait… She would have to choose. It didn't matter who it was. Juliet would do it. She was going to, and I had no way of stopping it. Was that a good enough test?
She was pregnant again. She would never do that to the baby. That meant she was going to have to play for time. It meant that I would be caged up for a very long time.
Being human… I didn't have two hundred years of conditioning. I didn't have the strength. A sick sense of dread filled me. Lying there on the ground was maybe the safer option versus going through what Marcus had to go through so many times.
***
Juliet
I went to Rodrigo for my next appointment. Again, I felt terrific. Every time, he would take away some hurt I had. That day, I complained about my depression. It was getting out of hand. My thoughts were darkening, spiraling out of control. He pumped me full of stuff and told me to go and kill a human and remember the first time I drank someone's blood and how good it felt.
***
"Hey, Julie. How are you feeling." My mom asked as I walked into the TV room.
"Great… I feel terrific. Getting out of the house seemed to help a bit. Not getting whipped for walking around without a veil is still weird, though."
I wasn't going to tell her that I drove an hour north and killed someone. I wondered if Jessy would blab. I did take him with me for the baby and all. What would happen to our human relationships if they knew we still killed people some of the time. Or needed human blood to cure depression.
"I know. A lot of women are still fighting it. When I go out, I'm the only one walking around without a man."
We didn't know what would happen. My mom seemed to have the same concerns as me. That everything was too good to be true. Marcus did one thing. But so much still had to happen.
"Is Louis not back yet? Was today not the day?"
"No… Come watch the news with us."
The news was the most exciting thing every night. We would gather around the TV to see what the world was coming to. What Louis was doing. Where he was… But that night, he didn't feature.
Alien creatures were being farmed with the help of watchers and humans working together. The first time we ate was the second day after Marcus had left. Since that day, regular supplies had come in for relief. Watchers weren't classified as human soldiers because they could fly. Maybe not as fast as a superhero or as high, but they could still hover a few meters above the Earth. They were managed by a UN agency of all the generals working together. For military purposes alone, the tech would change the world. It was still a grey area, and other humans wanted in on the action.
Their decommissioned state had been reactivated but disconnected from their hosts. Marcus had been busy up there. Instructions were coming in regularly. The earthlings still didn't know that Earth was our prison planet. That little secret had yet to come out.
The human race didn't really have an option of accepting us there. After the manifestation, there were the radicles that opposed it. Hated it and fought it. Riots and burning of buildings.
Watchers had become protectors of humans instead. The farms for food for the vamps and werewolves were the most important. When the first slaughter occurred, the government gave the troublemakers to the vamps. We didn't care, and the issues seemed to die down with every sacrifice.
Killing people had become a norm even for humans. The death sentence was a worldwide phenomenon for whoever felt like they could cause a stir or stand up for some minority. The world had become one unified nation in the matter of one night when they locked up Qadir, and Marcus took his place and made it all possible.
***
"I'm going to bed," I said after an hour.
"Night." Mom and Dad said at the same time.
Eyes cast down, I walked across the yard to my room.
I was opening the door. Louis's hands slid around my waist. I hesitated and pulled away. He closed the door while I flipped on the lights. He studied me, waiting… He wasn't going to let it go.
"No reading!"
"I won't… but baby, that means you have to talk."
"I went to Rodrigo. You didn't even ask me how my back felt?"
He walked over, wanting to lift my shirt to check.
"I'll do it," I said in a huff. His hands dropped. I raised my shirt, exposing only my back quickly.
"W…ow… You really can take care of yourself."
"Yeah, sure…"
He narrowed his eyes at me. "You're irritated… And I can't read you. How will we get over this."
A heavy sigh escaped me… "I'm sorry, I don't like being alone, Louis… I haven't seen you in a month. You have no idea what I've been through."
I walked to Marcus's adjoining room door and opened it. I checked that everything was fixed and that the room was clean. The last of the fittings were done, and I wanted to ensure it was done correctly.
That whole day, Marcus was on my mind. I was still thinking he would be able to commute from another planet to Earth every day. Why hadn't he come home yet? He sent messages and orders to the guards… But to me… Not even a note. He did one big thing and then ignored me… His love for me was frustrating at best.
And Louis. Ignored me for a month. No messages. No calls. I was a little more than ticked off.
It still felt a little iffy in our rooms because of Damian. I didn't know how to get over it. Louis wasn't in my mind to help me. Nor did I think he cared.
I remembered he was actually at home... I took a peek at him. He had followed me into Marcus's room. It was his first time seeing it. Louis's eyes drifted from Marcus's bed to mine. He scratched the side of his face like he was taking it in. Louis walked to the bed, gazing in on the tub, circling through the bathroom to my room. With wide eyes, he said, "Marcus likes to watch." He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
"Maybe why Damian did it. It's all Marcus's fault." Louis frowned regarding me. I lifted my shoulders quickly. "Don't mind me. I'm in my depression stage."
"You're a smart girl, baby."
Urgh, I wanted to hit him again. He should be there for me. Not constantly prodding me to grow up or tell me to figure it out on my own. With all the antidepressants that day, I did actually feel a little better. But I was nowhere near being friendly with Louis just because he walked through the door. Wanting him off my back, I said, "Okay, fine… Do you like to watch?"
Louis was patient and didn't push me. I took his hand and led him to Marcus's bed. "You can't get up. You have to have Marcus's…."
"Fortitude." He suggested.
"You can tell me later what he has..." I said, walking away from Louis.
I pulled my shirt over my head and undid my bra, chucking them into the laundry bin, and ran my fingers through my hair. Getting undressed made me disappear from Louis's sight from time to time. I was going on with my regular routine. I was just going to do it naked. He didn't say anything.
I was standing a little in the doorway of both rooms. I let my pants and panties drop, walking over the bridge towards my bed. I sat down on the edge, picking up the book Louis had brought with him. I felt immediately guilty. Shocked at the title, my eyes darted playfully up at him. It was the first penetration into my defenses. A raunchy romance novel… Something I would like. He really did think about me.
"Thank You," I said softly.
I scooted back against the pillows and the headboard, glancing over the book to see what he was doing. Louis had also pushed himself back against the cushions, arms behind his head. I pulled my knees up so that all of me was exposed, spreading my thighs. I kept reading and playing with my hair. I got lost in my book for a while.
When I was tired of only reading about romance. I put it down on the bedside table. I walked over to the little bridge, stopped, and went down on my haunches to check on the fish and feed them. They were pretty, fat, and ate well. I enjoyed hearing the lapping water next to the bed. It soothed me as I slept. I wondered how Marcus even knew I would like… all of it. Katty was mesmerized by them. We played for a bit. When she was done and made herself comfortable on my bed, I turned to him, making sure he didn't fall asleep from boredom. Louis's face was expressionless.
I didn't cross Marcus's room's threshold. I kept to my side. Having Louis watch me when I got in the tub felt good. I felt safe. The lights would not be going out again. The door was open… And… the man on the bed was waiting… Waiting for me… To give permission.
I turned on the water and let it run over me. I felt like standing and letting it wash off everything bothering me... But the tub filled up anyway. Resigned… I floated again, relaxing. My gaze darted to the room every now and again. Breathing out the fear. I was pushing myself to get Damian out of my system.
The thought that went into our rooms was a little… obsessive… I chuckled, thinking about what Marcus had planned for me… For us.
I peeked at Louis. He was lying on his side facing me. One arm bent under his head. I knew if I said one word, he would come in there. It took me a minute of staring at him, sitting up with my arms resting on the tub's rim. I wasn't so angry anymore. Louis really didn't have a choice to leave me. But I missed him, and I was lonely.
"Any proof in the theory yet?"
Louis threw his legs off the bed. He let his elbows rest on his knees for a second. Face in his hands. Sometimes, I wished I had his ability. He sat up, unbuttoning his shirt. Eyes penetrating mine… He dropped his pants and underwear.
He came closer and stepped into the tub, grabbing the nape of my neck. His head tilted, lips already parted for mine. Louis's eyes closed. My legs slid in next to his waist as he pulled me onto him. Louis had never been that drunk with lust, greedy, and kissing me with potency. We were both breathing heavily a moment later. Our lips were fused hard until Louis lifted me up and forcefully pushed me down on him to the hilt, stunning me to cry out. He didn't even hear me or worry if I was ready. His own voice was loud in my ear. He wrapped his arms around me. One hand cupped my shoulder from behind the other around my waist, lifting me, up and down, on him in the tub. Every plunge harder and harder.
I did ask for it… didn't I. I could do nothing but hold on with my arms around his neck. He was being rough and grabbed my hair, exposing whatever part he was hungry for. For the first time, he couldn't get enough of me. Serious and not asking anymore, it seemed. His hands loosened for a moment to cup my breast, and the other pushed me closer to his body.
I used the gap to take over, pushing him back to feel the friction moving against him. He complained and moaned. I wasn't going to let him get off without me. I was so close anyway… That whole display had done more for me than it did for him, having the time to get comfortable. Being in control again. I waited till I was at the edge and pulled him up. Louis wrapped me up again. Chests pressed against each other, he gripped my shoulder and pushed me rhythmically down on him. I shuddered on top of him. His legs and body shook as we came together at the same moment for the first time. His voice was low in my ear as his orgasm stretched longer than usual.
His lips found mine, tongue deep in my mouth. Slowly, he stood up with me in his arms, carrying me to Marcus's bed, and softly lay me down. But he was not stopping. I laughed lightly, thinking he would be a little calmer. He wasn't in the mood for my childishness and kissed me so hard until I was quiet. I didn't know if I liked the new side of Louis.
***
When my eyes opened. I was very glad Louis wasn't going to read my thoughts. Regardless of the rough sex, throughout the night, I had slept well. All the bad feelings coupled with Damian were slowly being replaced with whatever happened between Louis and me. With Soren and getting attention. It was helping me forget for a few moments at a time.
He stirred and pulled me close to his body, "You have to take him off today."
"No! After last night, I'm going to start punishing him myself. His arms need to be broken again and bent around so that they can never grow back properly… He took something… from what Marcus meant for this place. We all have such good intentions towards you, baby. And everybody wants to ruin it."
I pulled a face without him seeing. Louis was a little too intense. I did feel guilty that he didn't know I was pregnant. If Chris was there. He wouldn't let anyone touch me. Let alone, Louis… Like the previous night. How would I cope with it being that rough and pregnant? "If you say so, boss."
Louis was groggy and sleepy and didn't say anything else. There was a knock at the door. Louis made a lot of frustrated noises and dug his head underneath the pillows. I turned towards him. "You don't have to do it, you know… You could give the talisman to someone else. My dad?"
With flinty eyes, he jumped up, walking to the cupboard around the corner. He was dressed and in and out of the bathroom in record time. I sat in the bed covered with only a sheet. Louis was being cute, kinda funny. He didn't want to give it up. The power… While he was fixing his hair, he narrowed his eyes at me again, making me laugh. "When can I read you again? I miss being in you."
I snorted again. Like last night wasn't deep enough? But I wasn't going to complain. If I wasn't pregnant, it would've been sexy. "You'll just have to fill the void some other way." He peered around the wall at me.
"So? Is Marcus on to something? You won't get bored of it."
He walked over to me and pulled off the covers. His eyes ran up and down my body. "I can safely say that I would never get tired of your body."
Another knock at the door. He leaned down. "Those dark nipples and perky breasts." He stared at them for a while. I thought he might guess, but nothing. They were already sensitive and felt a bit bigger. "Can I kiss you goodbye today?" He begged.
"If you do it properly. No pecking. I'm not a chicken." He regarded me for a second and crept onto the bed, pushing me onto my back, hovered over me, and stared at my lips. He jumped up and walked to the door, not kissing me at all. He started running when he saw the pillow in my hand. It went flying into the koi pond. "S-! I jumped up, running over and getting it out. Louis was laughing, walking down the corridor.
If all my life could be like that… I thought to myself… Maybe not... Everything.
***
Louis
Juliet and I had one amazing night…. It took her a whole hour to decompress. Walking around naked… I had to grab the sheets so many times to keep myself in place. Most of the time, chastising myself for leaving my nine-teen-year-old wife to fend for herself. Thinking about it during the day… I had to force myself to focus. But that had been weeks ago. I couldn't even stay with her for one day. I missed her. Just me and her… That time was crucial for us, and I wasn't there. We wouldn't have many opportunities where it would be only the two of us. Once Marcus showed up or we found Michael, it would all be over. Juliet not wanting me to read her was a problem… But I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Didn't have the time to connect and sort it out. I did go home for short periods. Sometimes she was receptive, sometimes not.
Jessy told me that Marcus had ordered more prisoners to be brought to Earth. With every transport of vampires to En-gannim, they would send the same amount of prisoners to us. It meant a crapload of paperwork. More overnights in Washington.
I remembered how angry she was when Marcus left that first night. She was already upset about the month I was gone. It had been more time when I was busy, and it would only get worse.
***
The first load of prisoners that came were only women. Although the soldiers on En-gannim weren't allowed to get married, the many men serving Marcus wanted to change the law that men in the army could not get married. But selling all those women at an auction was also not going to work. What would we do… organize a mixer? Create a dating app. I chuckled.
"Where are we going?" A young brunette asked. She seemed young, but you could never tell. Kubra and I were escorting the ladies to the compound. The office at the main gate had a transport station that could handle at least thirty people. The one in the embassy in Washington could handle up to fifty. Carl was on the other side, directing the amounts of ladies coming through.
"Why does no one want to answer me?" She was a little spitfire and reminded me of my wife. I was so close, and the house was a mere ten minutes away.
"Jessy, take them to Agatha and make sure Qadir's offspring is on the first shipment out of her house so we can start eliminating threats." He nodded.
The door was blocked by a man. If you could call him that. He was tall and well-built with massively broad shoulders. He and an older man came into the office. Jessy groaned under his breath. Reading both the men's minds, it was messy.
The giant in front of me was Lucius. When he saw me and the pendant, his eyes scanned me from my leather boots to my dress jacket over my jeans. He was disappointed that I was Juliet's other half. He felt that Marcus and I were wasted on her. I had to agree with him on that. At that moment, I wasn't much of a husband. Unfortunately, his mind wandered to the auction night and all he wanted to do to her. Planned for her life… Juliet in that red dress.
I walked down the few steps of the office. I turned to Jessy. "Get him out off. Right now."
Lucius wanted to say something. Jessy pulled a gun on the man. He quieted down. "What about my wives?"
"They opted for staying. Rather than going with you. What happens on Earth stays on Earth." Jessy commented. The two men had a history.
I didn't even think twice. "I'll see you in half an hour, Jessy. I'll be with Juliet." I saluted Lucius with my middle finger.