Authors: Aana Celestya
“Preparing to land,” the sylph said in a business-like voice.
Tamas narrowed his eyes at Joanne then looked back out through the dome. They had now entered a vast hall of smooth white stone, held aloft by sweeping Doric columns which towered upwards to a cavernous ceiling that was wreathed in a silvery mist that lit the hall in a soft, pale light.
Joanne was staring in awe at the hall when the ship evaporated around them and she suddenly found herself standing on the smooth marble floor of the huge chamber itself.
“What?” she exclaimed. “Where did the ship go?”
Tamas grinned with schoolboy delight. “Our ships are simply astral projections. We have no need to waste time building crude machinery that breaks down over time and needs constant maintenance.
Our mental energy, magnified by Prism Star’s Ultimate AI Circe, can create whatever we want. It is something that would take centuries for your world to develop, if at all.”
His insufferable arrogance had come back in force, and his constant boasting was beginning to grate, but Joanne couldn’t deny he had plenty to boast about.
The Raadians were so far ahead technologically it was utterly mind-numbing. Whenever she had thought about alien life she had never imagined it would be like this. Tamas was more like a god than an extraterrestrial.
As she gazed around, a slender crystalline being glowing with a scintillating blue light literally rose out of the floor a few feet away from them. Joanne backed away in surprise, and instinctively moved closer to Tamas for protection.
“Good day, Prince Tamas,” the crystal creature said in a melodious voice that was neither male nor female. “I trust you enjoyed your visit to Earth?”
“It was quite tolerable, thank you, Circe,” Tamas replied. “Look, I found Joanne, my one true love mate. Isn’t she a fantastic specimen? We will have lots of vigourous sex!”
“No we won’t!” Joanne hissed, yanking her hand out of his. She glared at him in open hostility. “You brought me here against my will, remember?”
“Yes, but you’re glad I did. Admit it, being here is like a dream come true,” Tamas replied with a chuckle.
Joanne didn’t answer. They both knew that was true, but that didn’t mean he could do whatever he wanted with her.
She was her own woman and free to do what she wanted, regardless of how ‘primitive’ or backward he might think her planet was. She looked away from him and focused on the crystal creature.
“You’re called Circe?” she asked. “Are you the AI that powers all this?”
“I am the tool of the Raadians,” Circe replied in a neutral voice. “I exist to maintain Prism Star and my sole purpose is to provide comfort and pleasure to my creators. You are welcome here Joanne of Earth, I hope to serve you efficiently.”
“Thank you,” Joanne said, feeling a little uncertain. Though Circe seemed friendly enough and showed no physical signs of hostility, she sensed something menacing in the AI’s attitude. Its blank face seemed to glare at her, though that was quite illogical of course.
“Come,” Tamas said briskly, breaking in on her sense of unease. “I’m tired and ravenous for something to eat. Circe, take us to the Grand Agora. It’s time to show my prize off to the others.”
The AI waved one slender arm and the hall shimmered for a moment and vanished. Joanne suddenly found herself standing in a wide plaza of white marble beneath a clear blue sky. A warm breeze caressed her face and elegant looking towers and buildings surrounded the plaza.
“Where are we now?” she asked in a shocked voice.
“The Grand Agora,” Tamas said, “the central meeting place. I see our arrival has caused some interest already.”
Joanne scowled at the glee in his voice and glanced around at the people who were milling around the plaza. Most of them were human, long-limbed and dressed in brightly coloured clothes, but others were strange looking creatures insect-like with radiant butterfly wings or hulking canines with human like faces.
Some were glowing cubes or other geometric shapes which glided around in the air.
“I’m guessing the people who look like you and me are other Raadians,” she said to Tamas, “but those other . . . beings, are they aliens from other races?”
“They are Raadians as well,” Tamos replied nonchalantly. “They just choose to have different forms. It adds to the variety.”
“You can do that?” Joanne exclaimed. “Change what you look like, be anything you want to be I mean?”
Tamas nodded. “There are humans on Earth who celebrate body modification though their efforts are crude compared to us, but the principle is the same.
We of course can reverse whatever changes we make to our physical form but I don’t see the attraction myself. I’m happy exactly the way I am.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Joanne drawled.
Quite a few stares were being directed their way now, and Joanne started to feel self-conscious. A small group of male Raadians, mostly human looking, moved towards them and their leader flashed a wolfish grin.
“Tamas, my friend, back at last and not empty-handed,” the man said.
“Much to your disappointment I’m sure, Kordo,” Tamas said flatly.
The man called Kordo let out a nasty snicker. Joanne found herself retreating behind to Tamas again intimidated by the size of the other man.
If Tamas was a hunk, this guy was a hunk times 2000, but whereas Tamas’ muscle tone and sculpted physique was very easy on the eye, Kordo’s oversized muscles were just grotesque to look out.
His skimpy leather outfit barely concealed his ungainly body and his skin was studded with dozens of precious jewels. Literally fused into his flesh, they glittered gaudily. Cruel grey eyes looked Joanne up and down and he licked his lips.
“You’re wrong, Tamas, I’m pleased with your choice,” he replied, padding closer. “She’s a little meatier than I usually go for but she is certainly made for fun.” He reached out and tried to grab one of Joanne’s breasts. She let out a shrill scream and darted behind Tamas.
“She’s not for you!” Tamas snapped, lashing out and grabbing Kordo’s wrist. “You don’t get to touch if you know what’s good for you!”
Kordo scowled at him and his gang edged forward. Joanne tasted the edge of menace in her air and suddenly became very frightened.
Pero glided forward slightly and one of his slender hands suddenly transformed into a sleek rapier blade. Tamas stood his ground and stared back at Kordo.
“You have a problem with that?” Tamas asked, keeping his voice deadly soft.
Kordo held his gaze for a moment longer, and then grinned widely. The two sides relaxed slightly. “Of course not!” he boomed in his deep voice, looking round at the watching Raadians. “We all know how selfish Prince Tamas is with his toys.”
A nervous laugh went up from the onlookers and Joanne bristled with anger. Where the hell did this pumped up jerk get off calling her a toy?
She wanted to tear into him but she stayed where she was. Kordo radiated a menace that made her skin crawl. She’d come across customers like that on Earth, guys who saw women as objects to be used as they saw fit.
“You can be sure of it, Kordo,” Tamas said puffing out his chest. Joanne could literally taste the testosterone in the air. “Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve had a long trip and want to go and relax.”
Kordo nodded his head and sauntered away, his entourage in tow. “I’ll see you again later my pretty one,” he said to Joanne, giving her a lecherous look, “at the festivities. Maybe then we’ll have the chance to get to know each other better. Tamas can’t keep guard of you all the time.”
She heard Tamas growl and he stepped forward, but Pero laid a restraining hand on his arm. “Ignore him,” the sylph said under his breath.
After a moment the black look on Tamas’ face lifted and he smiled at Joanne. “Yes, he’s not worth our time and energy. Come let us go back to my palace. Circe you may leave us, we’ll walk the rest of the way.”
Circe nodded and promptly disappeared. Relaxed now that Kordo had walked off, Tamas strolled across the plaza in the opposite direction with Pero and Joanne following. They headed along a path away from the plaza and entered what looked like a huge wooded park.
Joanne breathed in the rich blossoms and gazed out at the lush landscape. A placid river cut through the park, and many other Raadians were ambling around or sitting on the grass relaxing.
She started to relax and looked ahead at the huge white walled structure they were heading towards. Judging by how grand it was, she guessed this was Tamas’ palace.
She was right and she followed Tamas as he walked up the staircase and through the huge portico. It led into a sumptuous courtyard with a square pool in the centre of the marble floor and flanked by low dark red couches.
Joanne noticed other sylphs, golden fey like creatures like Pero, flitting around. One of them held a silver platter containing a jewel crusted goblet which it offered to Tamas.
He took the proffered drink and swallowed it down in one noisy gulp then dumped the empty goblet on the floor, much to Joanne’s annoyance. The sylph holding the platter swooped down and immediately picked it up before flying away.
“That’s better,” Tamas said, stretching his arms and flexing his delicious biceps in the process. With his back to Joanne, he peeled off his tunic and dropped it on the floor. Another sylph came forward and retrieved it.
He turned and grinned at her. “Sit,” he said, gesturing to one of the couches. “You must be hungry and thirsty.”
“Thanks,” Joanne said, settling down on the indicated couch and trying hard not to ogle his smooth, defined torso. She couldn’t deny that Tamas was gorgeous in every way, and a thrill went through her as she looked at his small, bullet hard nipples.
She had a real thing for nipples and she found herself fantasising running her tongue around them and giving them little sucks. A vibrant fire erupted between her legs.
Their eyes met for just a fraction of a second and he gave her a knowing look. She flushed with embarrassment and looked down at her feet. He sauntered over to a couch situated opposite and slumped himself down inelegantly. He stretched his arms and spread his legs suggestively.
“So, how are you finding our little world?” he asked conversationally.
“Strange and disturbing,” Joanne said. “Rather like you.”
Tamas barked a laugh and shot her a grin but said nothing. A sylph carrying another platter fluttered between them and offered Joanne the plate of food that was resting on it. She frowned and looked up at Tamas.
“Chocolate brownies?” she asked questioningly.
“They’re your favourite, right?” Tamas asked his eyes bright and eager.
Joanne gave him a double take. “How did you know that? How do you know so much about me?”
Tamas shrugged his god-like shoulders. “We just ran a psi-scan before we came to collect you. It gave me all the necessary data I needed about you. Likes, dislikes and a general bio of your life up to now, the technology is pretty simple, for us Raadians anyway.”
“That’s an invasion of privacy!” Joanne said hotly. “How dare you do that to me!”
“Pero said you’d be angry,” Tamas said thoughtfully, “but I am so exquisitely attractive you will soon forgive me.”
“You do have a high opinion of yourself, don’t you?” Joanne snapped, losing her temper completely now. She was on the edge of exhaustion and her nerves were in utter tatters. “Just like that blinged up meat head we ran into! Who the hell was that guy?”
“Oh don’t let Kordo upset you. He’s just a harmless oaf.”
“He didn’t look harmless to me,” Joanne said darkly. “He really scared me.”
“Ignore him. He is just one of the four rival princes that govern a section of Prism Star. I am the most powerful of them all, of course, and he is just jealous of me. He always wants what I have. He won’t cause you any trouble while I’m around.”
“That’s another thing!” Joanne yelled, “I’m not your possession, or toy as Kordo called me. I’m a person in my own right and I demand you take me back to Earth!” She jumped to her feet and glared straight into his face, no longer intimidated by his looks or physical strength.
“You have such fire in you,” he replied, gazing up and down at her lovingly. “I knew the moment I saw your image and then in the flesh that you were my one true love mate. Such passion, you’re really turning me on.”
Joanne suddenly noticed the sizeable bulge in Tamas’ leggings. “Oh God, you’re disgusting!” she exclaimed, and quickly retreated back to her couch, almost falling over the sylph in the process. It darted swiftly out of the way and fluttered back to offer her the platter of brownies.
“Calm down and eat your brownies,” Tamas said chidingly.
She shot him an icy glare. “You keep calling me your love mate,” she said at length, calming down a little. “What does that mean exactly?”
“A love mate is a Raadian’s one true equal. They are completely compatible, emotionally, intellectually and sexually,” he gave her a half wink when he said sexually. She huffed and folded her arms.
“You’re wasting your time,” she said stiffly. “I’m not interested. You may as well take me home.”
“I understand your reticence to get involved with me,” Tamas said. “You haven’t had much luck in that department judging by the psi-scan, and that useless parasite Jayden has done nothing but chip away at your confidence and self-esteem.
From what I can gather, most Earthlings on your continent suffer a similar affliction, but do not worry my precious one, I will heal all that emotional hurt. Once you’ve had sex with me, you will be the happiest woman alive.”
Joanne stared at him and had to seriously fight the urge to throw the platter of brownies straight at his swollen head. “Let’s get one thing straight, your highness,” she said in a caustic tone. “I am never,
ever
going to sleep with you. Understand?”
“It can be hard to imagine someone like me to be interested in a relatively primitive life form such as you are,” Tamas said blithely, “but you have no need to be worried. I love you for you are and I am willing to embrace your imperfections.”