"Major, take the Earthling prisoner."
"What?!?!" The older guard grabbed her arm, motioning for his partner to take his position on her other side. "This is ridiculous. You promised me--"
"Let's go," he said, turning on his heel and heading back through the throngs of people.
"You can't take me prisoner! I haven't done anything!"
The crowd around her erupted into cheers. "Exterminate the Earthling!"
"Shut up!" she yelled back.
That was it. She'd done everything she could to help the people around her root out the shape shifters who may have infiltrated their planet, and in return she'd received only hatred.
The crowd followed them down the passageways, the catcalls continuing.
"Hareema whore," one Zantharian shouted.
She turned her head away before she went ballistic on a random stranger.
"She's disgusting," another one said as she was dragged by. It was a female, by the looks of her clothing, which was almost identical to Sylvie's own. "Look at her body. It's so... round and grotesque!"
"I can't believe the regent's interested in the likes of her," another female added. "He has to be out of his mind to thinkthat's attractive."
She was thankful when they at last left the corridor and the voices behind her until she realized she was back in the regent's private quarters.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked, immediately rounding on him. "How dare you bring me back here? I did what you asked. Now keep your promise!"
He didn't answer. Instead, he dropped the cloak, which had concealed him so thoroughly.
Sylvie's jaw fell open in response.
X's entire skin was like carved ebony. It was as dark as midnight, as dark as the pupils of his eyes.
She'd not yet seen a Zantharian whose body had gone black.
“What the hell does this mean?” Fear rolled over her in sickening waves. Was he hurt?
"I told you, things have changed," he said, indicating his body.
"So you turned a different color. So what? Zantharians are always shifting, from green to yellow, to red and purple…"
"And black?" he asked, the anger evident in his tone. "How many of us have you seen that have shifted to black?"
"None, but I don't see what this has to do with anything. Nothing's changed. Send me home. I can’t stay here, X." He needed her gone and his people were going to make sure she remained aware of that fact.
"Everything's changed!" he bellowed, running both hands through the tendrils that were swaying around on his head in agitation. His frustration was palpable.
Frustration? Wait, that's yellow.
"Why aren't you yellow?" For some reason she didn't understand, she was afraid of the answer.
X growled in aggravation, then sat down in a nearby chair, his forearms on his knees, his back bent, his head hanging low.
"How in Noruma's name did this happen?" He seemed to be talking to himself.
"How did what happen?" she asked, moving closer and forcing herself not to reach out to touch him. The evening of him making love to her brushed by her vision and she took another step toward him. She wasn’t one to simply share her body and her body alone. Some part of her heart had escaped her during the event.
"Why do you think I was covered up?" he asked, still not looking up to meet her eyes. "Why do you think I couldn't let my people see me like this?" His tone had gone from irritation to desolation, a change that happened swiftly and without warning.
