“It’s a longstanding human tradition of…” Did I say I was a good liar because shit, now I’m blanking. “...ofSaint Beyonce.It’s just something that’s always been done. My sweet darling Ke’ain agreed to abide by my silly human traditions after rescuing me from the slavers.” I lay the sugar on thick, treating these pirates like disgruntled restaurant guests with food late from the kitchen.Let little ole Opal make it all better for ya.
“This little pink thing is the future queen of Sontafrul 6?” Captain Fer’oon asks with a bemused grimace.
“Fer’oon…That’s a fi’len name. She is your future queen too, you bastard,” Ke’ain snaps.
His comment triggers something in Captain Fer’oon—the glowing red tubes whir and his muscles twitch intensely. He points a finger at Ke’ain, and the glow in his eyes intensifies.
“I haven’t beenjust a fi’lenin some time, prince.”
“Fer’oon, if you let us go, we’ll keep quiet. We’ll say we drifted off from the blast. If you just let us go, Ke’ain and I will owe you a debt,” I plead. The tears welling in my eyes aren’t for show.
“A debt…” Fer’oon drawls, “won’t keep me flush in fuel. It won’t keep our bellies full. A debt won’t bribe customs officials when I try to smuggle cargo through borders. I need money.”
“I’ll double what the Deenz are paying you, you scum!” Ke’ain shouts.
“You could have led with that.” Fer’oon laughs. For the first time, I also see Saniri smile, his wide mouth revealing long fangs where a human's canines might be. His overall vibe is far too snake-like for my liking.
“You might regret that when you see the amount.” The snake alien walks toward me, and I flinch as he holds his palm up. The nails on his hand lengthen into sharp claws. He reaches behind me and, with one slash, cuts through the restraints as if they were butter. I drop to my knees at the sudden loss of support, sand kicking up into my face as I land.
Captain Fer’oon takes a small data pad out of his suit. He taps a string of numbers before tossing it to me, along with what looks like a lighter.
“You have twenty-four hours to send that amount to the account listed on the data pad. If you don’t, we’ll come back for you—queen or not. Wait until you can’t see our ship and cut down the prince. Any sooner and we’ll bomb the shit out of this little island until you two are nothing but stardust.” Fer’oon lifts my chin so that I’m looking him in the eyes. “Got it, human?”
I don’t know what comes over me, but I spit in his fucking red eye. He wipes the loogie from his brow. I can’t help but think that my grandma would be rolling in her grave if she knew how well I could spit.
“Twenty-four hours.” He flings the remnants of saliva from his fingers onto me.
I watch as the captain and his men head back into their spaceship. Fer’oon, Saniri, and the big green oaf look smug as shit as they saunter away. I hate them.
“Cut me down now. I’ll rip them to shreds.” Ke’ain, still blindfolded, sounds absolutely feral.
“Deep breaths, bud. I’d prefer not to be bombed into oblivion.”
I watch as their cliché little flying saucer revs up and blips to light speed or some shit before making my way over to Ke’ain. I rip the blindfold off his face; his pupils are pinpricks. I kiss his forehead.
“Be calm, babe, it’s gonna be alright.”
?KE’AIN
“Calm down? You could have been hurt, you could have beenkilled,Opal!”
She’s out of her mind, just standing there, peaceful as can be, and stroking my arm.
“But they didn’t. They didn’t and we’re both all right.”
She keeps her eye contact with me, and there’s something about her that’s absolutely certain that we’ll be fine. I turn my head, checking the horizon, and see their cruiser blip into nothingness as it leaves us stranded.
“They’re gone Opal; you can cut me down.”
“With what?” she asks, confused.
I nod to the ground. “The laser blade, just there.”
“The Bic lighter?” She picks up the weapon and nearly hits the trigger that would engage the blade—which would have shot straight through her hand.
“Opal, don’t press that.” I cringe.
“Sorry!” She holds the blade on her flat palm. “How should I hold it?”
