Karac: Kaldar Warriors #1 (3 page)

I almost felt sorry for them. 
Almost.
  They seem so young and naïve.  I wasn’t that much older than them but at least I had a little bit of caution.  There was no sense in rushing into something when you only had half the information, less than half really.  The Kaldarhns still hadn’t told us what happened in 30 days or how the database really worked.  That was pertinent information I would want to know before going off and doing something that might change the rest of my life.  Of course, hiding was also going to change my life.  I didn’t know if the Kaldarhns would hunt down every female in the age range but I had 13 years before I was safe.  Hiding was my only option.  But that was only
13 years
of my life.  I could hide for 13 years.  When I turned 36, I was going to resume my life and snub those alien bastards for screwing with my future. 

Ashley

The next morning I woke up with James standing in the doorway of my bedroom, looking at me.  I smiled at him as he grinned and rushed me.  He jumped on the bed and gave me a big hug. 

“Hey, you’re up early.”  I told him.  He pulled back and sat beside me as I pulled myself into a sitting position. 

“Nah, you’re up late.  It’s almost 10 o’clock.”  He said in an all-knowing, four-year-old way. 

“What?  Really?  Well I suppose I should get up then.  Surprised you didn’t pounce on me earlier.”

“I wanted to, but Mommy told me to let you sleep.  Grandma made breakfast but I said I didn’t want to eat without you.  I’m hungry so will you come down now?”

Laughing, I replied, “Yeah, just let me use the bathroom quick and I’ll be down in a bit.”

“K, you can sit by me.”

“Sounds good to me.”  He ran from my room as I climbed from my bed.  Taking a deep breath, I tried not to let yesterday come rushing back all at once.  I pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind as I made my way to the bathroom.  A few minutes later, I was sitting by a happy James who was telling me all about what he did this morning while I was asleep.  I nodded and laughed while looking at my family who had converged on the kitchen counter when I sat down.  They all wore tight smiles and that never boded well. 

While James was taking a drink of his milk, I turned to my family and asked, “What’s up?”

“The agreement between us and them has been released.”  Mark paused as my attention drifted to him.  “We all read through it and it is pretty cut and dry from what they said last night.  With a few more details.”  Mark added.

“What details?”  I asked.  Dad cleared his throat before answering. 

“Well, they included that bit about having 30 days to register at which point the Kaldarhns are granted unrestricted access to locate unregistered females.”

“Meaning those records which we can’t erase.” I commented, sighing.  I knew we wouldn’t be able to do everything but dang, I was hoping it wouldn’t be easy for them. 

“Right.”  Dad answered.

“So, ok, we figured that, what else?”  I questioned.

“The ones who registered are put into a database that the Kaldar males flip through to find their truemate.”  Dad said.  “They mention the word truemate a lot in the agreement, but there is no definition listed.  They must think they can identify their truemate by sight with those pictures.”

“Well,” I thought out loud, “going back to my fictional books I’ve read and from what they said about them mating for life, I’d say they are looking for one female in particular for each of them.  Kind of like a soulmate.” 

“How can a picture or blood sample tell them they found their soulmate?”  Mom asked. 

“I don’t know, I’m just speculating.”  I shrugged.  “Any other details I should know about?”

“Yes,” Dad continued, “after the 30 days are up, the Kaldarhns are allowed to court their chosen woman that registered for one month before she decides if she wants to leave with them.”  I choked on my bacon I just tried to swallow.

“One month?!?  They expect women to fall in love with them in one month?”  I put my food aside for a second to preempt any more mishaps. 

“Apparently.”  Mark replied dryly. 

“What happens to the registered women who choose to stay?”  I asked skeptically. 

“That part isn’t clear but the news people are saying the women are free to stay here if they choose.”  Kat said.  “No one really heard the aliens say that, but the news people are.”

“But they don’t know for sure?  I mean, the media could just be saying that to ease our fears.”

“No, I don’t think anyone has a clear idea of what happens if a woman says no.” Kat replied.

“And the women who don’t register?  Any word what will happen to them?”  I asked.  Things were piling up quickly. 

“No more than what we already know.”  Dad said. 

“Ashley, are you sure you want to go through with this?”  Mom looked at me questioningly.  “If you register, there is still a chance that you won’t be chosen.  If you are, you’d only have to withstand a month spent with one of them.  You could do that, right?”  I thought about that for a minute and figured she was probably right.  I didn’t open up well and definitely wouldn’t be comfortable with someone after only a month, soulmate or not.  But we still didn’t know what happens after the month was up and if I said no, what would happen then.  That uncertainty was what scared me the most. 

“I know this is going to be difficult, I totally understand that.  But not knowing what happens if I say no is a big red flag for me.  And honestly, what if this whole truemate thing is a ploy?  What if they are actually after something else and they are just wrapping it up nice and tight in a pretty package to make it look good?  We have no idea if we can trust them.”  I shrugged, waving my hand in frustration.  “I say we stick with the original plan.  It is 13 years of my life that I can spend close to home and family, versus the worst case scenario of being ripped away to a far off world and never see my family again.”  Looking around at everyone, I could tell they were all on the same page as me.  Even James was nodding along with the rest of us. 

“That’s settled then.”  Dad said and gave me a big hug.  “I’ll call Nathan’s Dad to ask if we can borrow the small covered trailer to pack up your things at the apartment.” 

“I should probably go with you.”  I said and Dad looked at me questioningly.  “To talk to Nathan.”

“Ok, but are you sure you want to do that today?”

“The sooner I have things planned out, the sooner we can find any loopholes we are missing.”  I sighed and stood up.  “Let me go shower and change first.”

“I want to go with you to pick up the trailer, Ashley,” James piped up.  I looked to Kat and she shrugged.

“Ok, make sure you eat all your food and go to the bathroom first.  And don’t forget your shoes.”  He nodded to me and started shoveling food into his mouth.  I smiled and jogged upstairs to get ready. 

When I came back down with jeans and a sweatshirt, Dad had his keys and was ready to go.  Where yesterday we had the air conditioning on, this morning was a bit chilly if the thermometer was to be believed.  I helped James get his shoes on, the kid never listens the first time around, grabbed his jacket, and the three of us made our way to the truck.  After I snapped James in, I climbed into the front passenger seat and looked at Dad expectantly. 

“I called and David said he would meet us at Nathan’s house, apparently the trailer is there.  He was going to make sure Nathan was around.”

“Did you tell him the plan?”   I asked. 

“Not everything.  I figured you’d want to talk to Nathan first.”

“Okay.”  I said nervously.  Dad backed out of the garage and we pulled onto the road.  It was only five miles to Nathan’s, so I didn’t have much time to prepare my thoughts.  How exactly do you ask a guy you hardly talk to if you can come live with him, in hiding?  Shaking my head, I was so not looking forward to this conversation. 

Soon we were pulling into Nathan’s driveway and both David and Nathan were standing by the front door of the house.  Dad pulled up and rolled down his window.  “Thanks for letting us use the trailer on such short notice.”

“No problem.  Crazy stuff on the news, huh?”  David asked as his eyes slipped to me.  David was pretty friendly and didn’t have any issue with speaking his mind.  Nathan on the other hand, was the complete opposite.  He had bulked up in the past few years and looked really good.  He had a boyish-neighbor-next-door, kind of look and was a sweet guy.  I looked at him to see he was studying me but when he saw me looking at him he quickly looked down. 
Oh, this was going to be fun.
 

“Hey, Nathan?”

He looked up sharply before answering, “Yeah?”

“Do you mind if I talk to you for a minute while Dad and David hook up the trailer?”  Wow, I was surprised I got all that out without stumbling.

“Um…sure.”  God he looked so nervous. 
What was he nervous about?  I was the one who was asking to live with him!
  I smiled at Dad and hopped out of the truck. 

“Where are you going, Ashley?”  James asked from the back seat.

“I just need to talk to Nathan for a minute while you help David and Grandpa hook up the trailer.”

“Oh, ok.  Then you’re going home with us?”

“Yes, I’ll be right back.”

“K.”  James looked content with that answer.  I smiled inwardly.  He had been my shadow for years.  I don’t know what I did to deserve such devotion but I loved him to death. 

“I’ll meet you over there.”  David said to Dad.  Dad nodded and drove down to the shed where the trailer was parked with David trailing behind.  This left Nathan and me with a truck width distance between us. 

I looked at him and nervously said, “Hi.”  That got me a small grin from him.

“Hi.”  He was waiting for me to continue.

“So you heard about the Kaldarhns, right?”  I put my hands in my back jeans pocket so I didn’t fiddle with them. 

“Yeah, crazy to think we aren’t the only ones anymore.”  I watched as he shoved his hands in his front pockets.  Internally, I grinned at how nervous we both were. 

“Yeah, who knew that would happen in our lifetime.”  I paused, not sure how to come out and ask the question.

“What do you need the trailer for?”  Nathan asked.  He glanced to where our dads were hooking it up with James looking out the window, before his gaze returned to me.

“Oh, I’m moving out of my apartment.”

“To where?”  He asked with raised eyebrows.

“Well I’m moving all my stuff home.  To Mom and Dad’s.” 

“Oh.”  He paused a beat before asking, “So when are you going to register?”  I didn’t have to ask what for. 

“I’m not.”  I stated bluntly.  That got a startled look from him. 

“What?”

“I’m not registering.”  I folded my arms across my chest in defiance. 

“But, don’t you have to?”  He asked with a raised brow. 

“Not if they can’t find me.”  I watched his face as realization dawned on him.

“You’re going to hide.”  He breathed.  If he was shocked by that news, I could just imagine how others would feel if I told them.  Which I couldn’t.  Had to stick to the plan and all. 

“Seemed like the better option than running off with one of them.”  I gestured to the sky.  He smirked at my response before it slowly slid off his face.

“You can’t hide at your parents.  That’s the first place they will look.
If
they come looking.”

“I know, family and close friends are out.  That is the obvious choice.”  I nodded in agreement.

“So what are you going to do?”  He asked curiously.

“Well I had an idea, not sure how well received it’s going to be, but I have to ask.”  I looked at him trying to get the words out.  He watched me for a minute before his eyes widened.

“You want to stay here?”  Disbelief was evident in his voice.  That didn’t sound good. 

“Well, it was an idea.  It would be close but not obvious.  We only talk like, two times a year, have never hung out before, and I don’t have any records of calling you.  If you don’t think it will work, that’s fine I’ll think of something else.  I just thought you would be the obvious choice, but if you’re not comfortable-“

“Ashley, stop.”  Nathan held up a hand and my rambling cut off.  “It’s fine.  Really.  This house is big enough and I don’t have that many people come out here so there wouldn’t be anyone to see you and give you away.” 
Crap, I didn’t even think of that.
 

“I don’t want to mess with your social life.”  I said lightly, he scoffed and grinned.

“Social life?  Yeah, right.  I like the peace and quiet and only go out once in a while.”

“Then won’t I be messing with your ‘peace and quiet’?”  I teased. 

“It’s not like you’re going to be throwing any parties.  Right?”  He asked with a quirk of his lip.

I chuckled.  “Nope, no parties.”

“Then it’s settled.  You’ll stay here.”  He glanced at our Dads down by the shed before turning back to me.  “Do you want help moving your stuff?”

“Oh!  Well, no I think we’ll be ok.  Besides, we have to keep up the pretense of only speaking to each other twice a year.”  I grinned at him. 

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.  But you know if you move in here, you’re going to have to talk to me more than twice a year.”

“Same goes for you, you know.”

“Yeah, I guess we’ll figure that out.”  I got my first real smile from him.  He really was cute when he smiled. 

“Roommates then?”  I stuck out my hand for him to shake with a smile.

“Probably housemates more than roommates, but yeah,” Nathan said with a slight smirk and shook my hand.  I couldn’t help the blush that spread across my face.  I took my hand back and nodded in the direction of the truck.  

“Shall we?”  I asked.

“After you.”  We walked side by side the short distance to the trailer.  It looked like it was already hooked up and ready to go.  David and Dad must have just been talking while they waited for us.  Dad looked expectantly at me as we approached.