Heart of the Galaxy (Paranormal Romance Aliens)
Read Heart of the Galaxy (Paranormal Romance Aliens) Online
Authors: Cristina Grenier
’s Notes
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 Monster Media LLC
Jessica Leyman looked into the clear blue sky and thought that it was a lovely day. The sun was shining against a sprinkle of fluffy white clouds. She knelt in her herb garden to plant sage, thyme and rosemary seeds. She heard footsteps but didn’t bother to turn to see who approach. She knew the sound of those firm steps like she knew her name.
“What are you doing?” he asked shortly.
“And hello to you, Troy,” she said without looking at him.
“Hi,” Troy Xavier said. He came to kneel beside her. “You should know by now that I have no social graces.”
She turned to look at him in mock despair.
“In twenty-six years one would hope that you could at least say: hello,” she sighed.
He shrugged
“I don’t need to. You always know when I’m around anyway,” he said.
“That’s beside the point,” she scolded. She looked at his unrepentant expression and knew her lecture was useless. “Oh, never mind.”
“I take it you’re planting more herbs,” he said casually.
“Hmm. Rosemary, thyme and sage. We can’t seem to grow enough of them,” she said. “I told Mom that I would plant the seeds for her.”
Troy watched Jessica dig holes for the seed. Her hands were strong and sure at her task yet delicate and fragile in appearance. He liked her hands. In fact, he liked everything about her. In the ten years that he had known her she had grown to be his best friend. She had also grown into an incredibly beautiful woman. Slender and graceful, she was the epitome of what a man would want in a woman. Her lovely features were framed by a shocking, unruly mane of long, thick silver-blond hair. Her rich skin tones and unusual shade of hair gave her an arresting, exotic look. But it was her stormy grey eyes that he was drawn to the most. They seemed to look in and through your soul. She had been the envy of every girl in school but hadn’t known it. They had met in junior high, she was shy and introverted while he had been the total opposite. Yet they had meshed. He had needed a math tutor and his teacher had set him up with Jessica. She had taught him geometry and he had slowly brought her out of her shell and integrated her into his group of friends. They became inseparable best friends and the friendship had endured. He watched her methodic movements and wondered how she would react when she found out the real reason behind their friendship. He knew the day of discovery was coming. He just hoped she would understand that his deception had been for the greater good. Suddenly the sun vanished and the sky darkened. They both looked into the sky. Troy was instantly on guard. He stood and continued to look upward.
“What’s wrong? Why are you so jumpy? The sun just went under the clouds,” she said.
“Maybe you should go into the house,” he suggested.
Troy noticed that Jessica’s mom, Monica was gazing out of the kitchen window. He could see the worry on her face. Their eyes met and a message was passed between them. Then Troy heard a high-pitched siren that only he could hear.
“Go into the house and hide in the basement,” Troy instructed tartly. “Now, Jessica.”
“What? Come on, Troy. I don’t have to run and hide because the sun disappeared. Give me a break,” she retorted.
“Give me one and do as I said,” he yelled.
“Jessica! Come inside,” Monica shouted from the back door.
“You think a tornado is coming?” Jessica asked anxiously.
They lived in Oklahoma where tornados were prevalent. Jessica had never understood why her parents had not moved; especially after their house had been flattened twice by the deadly phenomenon within the last seven years.
“Go, Jessica!” Troy yelled.
Monica began running toward her when suddenly she was thrown against the work shed at the side of the house. It was unlike anything that Jessica had ever seen. Jessica began to run toward her mother when four strange looking creatures appeared next to her mother’s limp body. Jess stopped abruptly. Who were they? Where had they come from? They had appeared out of thin air. They began moving toward her. Jess backed away from them. She turned to look at Troy and gasped in shock and fear. He suddenly whipped a sword from his side and stood there wearing strange clothing and tall black boots. His leather pants were brown and his cambric shirt was beige. He wore a wide black leather belt at his waist. There was a symbol of a white flying horse with wings on the center of his shirt. Jess was astounded at his dress. The sword in his hand was of blazing blue light. He moved purposely forward, pushing Jess behind him. The creatures charged him. He struck three of them forcefully with his sword of light, slicing off their heads. Their grotesque heads and bodies disintegrated and disappeared. The fourth alien stared at his fallen allies disappeared. Troy then ran over to Monica and knelt beside her. Jess followed. He touched her chest with two fingers and pressed firmly. Small yellow bubbles swirled over her chest. Jess was amazed and confused. Within seconds Monica was wakening.
“Are you alright?” he asked in concern.
Monica pushed herself into a sitting position and pushed her hair back from her face.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said unsteadily.
“Mom, are you sure? Let me help you inside,” Jess said as she supported her mother’s back.
“I’m okay, Jess. Do not worry,” Monica said quietly. “What’s important is that you are well.”
“Me? Mom, those two horrid things attacked you,” Jess exclaimed.
“But I’m fine,” Monica insisted.
Jess then looked at Troy.
“What did you just do? How were you able to heal her?” Jess asked in confusion.
Monica and Troy looked at each other. Jess saw the look that passed between them and became irritated.
“Tell me. How did you do it? And who are you? What are you?” Jess demanded. She pointed to his attire. “Obviously, you are not the person I thought you were.”
Troy pushed his hand through his shoulder length dark hair. He was not prepared to do this now. Jess and her parents were not safe. Somehow the Wulshuk aliens had found Jess and they would be back. It had taken them twenty-three years to locate her but they had done it. They would not let one failed attempt curtail their objective.
“Speak,” Jessica demanded.
Her innate authoritarian tone was rising to the surface. She was born to be a leader; she just didn’t know it.
“You know me as Troy, your childhood friend. I am a lot more than that. I was sent to Earth to protect and safeguard you,” Troy said in a low voice. “There are those who would do you harm.”
Jessica stared at him incomprehensibly. She shook her head negatively.
“You’re Troy, my friend. You’re just Troy,” she said in confusion.
He grasped Jess’s shoulders.
“I’m your friend and I always will be. But I’m also your protector, here to keep you safe. That was my duty when we met ten years ago and it still is now,” he said urgently.
“Ten years ago? You only befriended me to carry out some ridiculous duty?” she retorted angrily. She pulled out of his grasp and scurried away from him. “Damn you!”
“Jess! You must listen. His protection is essential to your well-being,” Monica pleaded.
Jess turned to look at her mother.
“You know about this charade? You’re a part of it?” Jessica’s question was more of an accusation.
“This is not a charade. It’s very real. And yes, I know about it. I’ve known since your birth,” Monica responded gently.
“I don’t understand any of this,” Jessica said. She felt like she had suddenly landed in the Twilight Zone. She looked at Troy. “I saw you do things no ordinary man could do. How is that possible?”
“I am not of this world. You would probably call me an alien. I have the ability to heal, to move things, materialize and disperse objects as well as manifest weapons in which to fight,” he said.
“The sword of light,” she murmured.
“Yes. It is my trusty weapon of choice, although I can generate fire power from my bare hands as well,” he answered.
He threw his hand toward a tree and a streak of white fire branded its trunk. Jess gasped.
“You deserve an Oscar, Troy. You suckered me into thinking you were my friend. But it was only an act. I’ve been such a fool for so many years,” Jess demanded.
“It wasn’t an act. I am your friend, Jess and it is my life long mission to protect you at all cost,” he said fervently.
“I am not your responsibility. I will not be the reason for your misguided duty,” she snapped.
Troy became annoyed.
“Did you not see the attack of those aliens? They tossed Monica aside like a feather,” he retorted. “And although I stopped them, they did not come for me. They came for you.”
“But I am nobody. I have nothing that they could want,” Jess cried.
“You have everything they want,” Troy snapped.
“No! I’m just an ordinary girl—nobody special,” she wailed.
“You are very special, Jess. And by now you must have felt it,” Troy insisted.
Jessica stood and started backing away toward her cottage on the property.
“No! You’re lying. Why are you lying to me, Troy? Why?” Jessica cried. She turned and ran into her cottage and locked the door.
Monica looked at Troy in dismay.
“You knew we would have to tell her eventually. This attack just forced my hand,” Troy said.
“I know. I just wish she’d had more time,” Monica said.
“She’s had more time than I thought she would. You knew when she reached adulthood the heinous forces would come. It would only be a matter of time before they found her,” Troy said.
“What will you do now?” Monica said worriedly. She wrung her hands in anxiety.
“I must take her to Topal,” he said.
“Your home planet,” Monica said.
“Yes. I can better protect there,” Troy said.
“And will you tell her of the Galaxia Star?” Monica asked.
“I have to. She must know who and what she is,” Troy said.
Monica nodded. She started to rise. Troy helped her to stand.
“When will you leave?” Monica asked dully.
“As soon as possible. I will speak with her now,” Troy said.
“Oh, I wish I could have done more for her,” Monica sobbed.
Troy hugged her tightly.
“You have done so very much for her. More than her natural parents,” Troy comforted. “Do not berate yourself. It is simply time.”
Monica pulled out of his embrace and nodded.
“I will prepare,” she said as she walked to the back door and went inside the house.
Troy looked across the expanse of yard to the cottage where Jess stayed. She had been living in the small abode since she started giving piano lesson four years ago. The guest house was the perfect place for Jess to give lessons without disturbing her parents. Jess was now twenty-three and the Galaxia Star had most likely been making itself known to her for the past several years. She just didn’t recognize the signs. Jess didn’t understand what was happening to her but her enemies did. Troy had been surprised but relieved when they hadn’t shown up when Jess reached her majority at twenty years of age. Probably because they couldn’t find her. But now they had he and Jess had to flee. There was no other way. He walked briskly toward the cottage. There was no sense in delaying what had to be done.
*****
Troy walked onto the porch and grasped the door knob. The door was locked. He sighed.
“Open the door, Jess,” he called through the door.
Silence. He knew she was in there. She was being obstinate and foolhardy.
“Jess! Open the door. Please,” he said. “I’m not going away so you may as well let me in.”
Still there was silence. He turned to his side to shoulder the door in but hesitated. She knew who he was now, so he may as well impress it upon her. He waited a few more second hoping she would concede, but she did not. He closed his eyes and moved through the solid oak door. Then he heard a scream. He opened his eyes just in time to duck and avoid a brass candleholder that was sailing toward his head. It crashed against the door.
“Jess! Stop,” he said.
“Get out!” she demanded.
He smiled. She was coming into her own more quickly than she realized. He ignored her command and was instantly beside her before she could blink.
He grabbed her hands as she reached for another brass candleholder on the fireplace mantel.
“Jess,” he said softly. “Calm down. It’s just me.”
“It’s not you. You’re nothing like the Troy I know. You’re some horrific alien,” she cried.
It hurt for her to say those words to him. He squeezed her delicate wrists.
“I’m the same Troy you’ve known for the last ten years. I haven’t changed,” he said.
“Everything about you has changed. Even your frickin’ clothes are different. I don’t know you anymore,” she yelled. She struggled to pull her wrists free from his grasp.
“I’m the same man you’ve always have known. You just didn’t know everything about me. But I haven’t changed,” he insisted.
