Zaureth: A SciFi Alien Romance (Enigma Series Book 4) (2 page)

Chapter Three

Zaureth swam with everything he had. He’d felt the panic racing through Amy’s psyche seconds before her link with him severed.

Something had happened to her. Of that, Zaureth had no doubt.

He’d thrown his clothes on in record time and raced to the Pool of Enlightenment as fast as his legs could carry him, before sailing headlong into the gulf and leaving Aukrabah far behind.

Zaureth had been reaching out to Amy since the moment he’d fled his home, only to be met with silence.

Switching his energy to a different direction, Zaureth called upon his closest friend.

“
I am here
,” Vaulcron sent back, relief lining his voice. “
It is good to hear from you.”

“
I am in need of your help, Vaulcron.”

Zaureth could feel Vaulcron’s emotions pouring through him like warm water. “
Anything, my friend.”

“
Amy is in trouble. I cannot tell you how I know this. I am asking you to trust me.”

“In trouble, how?”

“I do not know,”
Zaureth sent back, frustration riding his back.
“Find her, Vaulcron. And hurry.”

Zaureth pushed himself harder, faster than he’d ever swam before, unsure of what he’d find when he reached Playa Pilar.

“
Amy
?” Zaureth called out to her once more. Again he was met with silence.

Hours seemed to tick by as Zaureth sluiced through the water with the speed of a dolphin.

Thoughts of Amy tormented his every moment. He should have never left her side. She had no sight, no way of avoiding all the terrible things that could happen to her at any time. And apparently, something had.

Zaureth prayed he wasn’t too late, that Vaulcron would find her, and soon.

“
Zaureth
?”

The sound of Vaulcron’s voice spiked Zaureth’s adrenaline. With dread squeezing his heart, Zaureth answered him back. “
Did you find her?”

“We did. She is all right. Mallory is in with her now.”

“What happened?”

Vaulcron hesitated.

“I will find out once I arrive,”
Zaureth practically growled through their mental link.
“Tell me!”

“She drowned,”
came Vaulcron’s quiet response.

Zaureth’s stomach tightened in regret. He should have known that Amy was in the water, should have sensed it somehow. But he’d been so worried about pushing her away… He couldn’t finish the thought.

“
Are you certain that she is unharmed?”
Zaureth pressed, needing the reassurance.
“I can no longer feel her presence. She—”

“
Zaureth
,” Vaulcron interrupted. “
I assure you that she is fine. Abbie gave her something to help her heal, to relax and sleep. That is why her thoughts are unreachable.”

Relief poured through Zaureth, strong enough that he shuddered from the power of it.
“Hopefully, I will arrive before she wakes.”

“It will be good to see you, my friend,”
Vaulcron confessed
. “Safe travels.”

Not trusting his emotions not to bleed through, Zaureth severed his link with Vaulcron.

Amy had drowned, he thought in a daze, picking up his pace once more. How could he have not known she’d gone into the gulf? He should have realized it during their brief conversation.

Zaureth had no idea how to handle the emotions that he experienced when in the presence of Amy Brighton. They were foreign to him, unstable feelings with an urgency that puzzled him.

Zaureth knew enough to realize he had some kind of an attraction for the human girl. He’d felt it in his gut the first time he’d looked into her sightless eyes. The pale blue innocence shining from their depths had pulled at his heartstrings, and he hadn’t been able to bring himself to leave her side.

She had a soft, clean scent that Zaureth found intoxicating to the point where he stole one of her shirts and used it as a pillowcase to sleep on at night.

Zaureth understood the obsession that had been growing inside him, robbing him of thought, of common sense. He also knew that he could never act on it.

For as long as Zaureth could remember, he’d had certain gifts: the power to heal within reason, the ability to move objects through space with merely a thought. He was a healer. And the human girl? Forbidden.

Zaureth had noticed the changes happening inside him after only a few days in Amy’s presence. He’d chalked it up to the attraction, the fixation he seemed to have on her. But how? And why her?

Since learning of his gifts growing up, Zaureth spent the majority of his time alone, meditating, praying, as the humans referred to it. He’d understood at an early age that a being more powerful than himself had created the earth and every living thing in it.

After years of strange looks, being shunned by his peers, and the unknown origin of his birth, Zaureth had remained in the catacombs of Aukrabah, seeking knowledge.

He’d studied everything their extensive library had to offer, from herbs and human medicines to the aquatic world and everything that lived within it.

Zaureth had never understood the need to be in the presence of a female at all times, until he’d met Amy Brighton.

He’d seen Hauke fall in love, as well as Vaulcron, Naura, and many more before them. But Zaureth had never experienced it for himself, had no desire to. Until Amy.

The small human with the golden hair and sightless eyes had somehow bewitched him, drained him of common sense, and brought out certain physical reactions that were foreign to him.

And she had no idea what he looked like. His pointed ears, fangs, and barbs would be enough to frighten even the strongest of humans. If Amy could see him with his great height and size, she’d no doubt run away screaming and never look back.

If he were honest with himself, he’d take his own advice, turn around right then and never look back.

Zaureth continued on to Cuba.

Chapter Four

“Amy?”

The sound of Zaureth’s voice whispering her name brought Amy out of her drug-induced slumber.

Her eyelids fluttered open, and she stared into the darkness, unable to see what her heart told her to be true.

“Zaureth?” she croaked, blindly lifting a hand in search of his touch.

“I am here.” He clasped her smaller hand in his larger one.

A warm current of energy passed from his palm into hers.

He pulled away. “How are you feeling?”

Amy missed his touch immediately. “Much better. When did you get here?”

“I arrived not long ago. You gave me quite a scare.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how far out in the water I had gone.”

The bed dipped with his weight. “Why would you go into the gulf alone when you cannot swim?”

“I thought…”

“You thought what?”

“I was hoping it would make me feel closer to you,” she shyly admitted. “I missed you, Zaureth.”

Sounds from the door caught Amy’s attention. Her sister’s voice rang out in excitement. “You’re awake!”

Mallory’s footsteps could be heard coming across the room. She took a seat on the other side of the bed, opposite of Zaureth. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” Amy admitted, wanting to be alone with Zaureth but unable to voice her desire to her sister.

“You scared the living shit out of me, Amy. Why on earth would you go into the gulf by yourself? You know you can’t swim.”

Amy took a contrite breath. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to feel the waves on my legs. I didn’t realize I’d gotten so far out. I got turned around and couldn’t find my way back,” she hedged.

“Don’t ever do that to me again,” Mallory gently scolded. “I couldn’t bear it if something were to happen to you.”

Amy accepted her sister’s hug, patting her back to assure her that she was fine. “I really am sorry.”

Mallory straightened. “Thank God for Glenn. If he hadn’t been there…” Her voice trailed off.

Amy felt Zaureth stiffen beside her. The calming energy he normally exuded changed to something dark and dangerous.

“Anderson was with you?” Zaureth quietly asked, an underlying emotion lingering in his tone.

“No.” Amy inched her fingers closer to Zaureth’s leg. “I don’t know how he found me. One minute I was under the water, running out of air, and the next thing I remember was Glenn saving my life.”

“I think Mr. Anderson has a crush on our Amy,” Mallory teased, tucking some stray hair behind Amy’s ear.

Amy was mortified that her sister had revealed such a thing in front of Zaureth.

Zaureth suddenly stood. “I have some things to attend to. I will return to check on you later.” And with that, he left the room.

Amy wanted to call him back, to tell him that Mallory hadn’t meant what she’d said. But she couldn’t. Besides, her sister spoke the truth. Amy had picked up on Glenn’s feelings on more than one occasion.

“I’d like to take a shower and get something to eat,” Amy admitted. She needed to be alone to process the feelings she’d experienced upon Zaureth’s return.

Mallory kissed her on the forehead and got to her feet. “Do you need any help?”

“No, but thank you for asking. I’ll call room service after I get out of the shower.”

“Okay,” Mallory conceded. “I’m just a phone call away.”

Amy waited for the door to close behind her sister before she climbed from the bed and felt her way to the bathroom. She stripped out of her clothes and turned on the water.

Thoughts of Zaureth plagued her as she washed her hair and cleansed the remnants of the gulf from her body.

What did she really know about the Bracadyte healer, other than the fact he sent her heart racing? Nothing. She had no clue how old he even was. All Amy knew for certain was how she felt when in his presence.

After drying off and brushing her teeth, she slipped on the robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door and made her way slowly back toward her bed to snatch up the phone.

“Front desk,” a female voice quipped.

Amy recognized the voice belonging to the woman who’d given Glenn Amy’s room key earlier.

“Hi,” Amy greeted her. “I’d like to order some room service, please. I’m in room 308.”

“Sure thing, Miss. Brighton. What can I get you?”

Famished beyond words, Amy ordered a burger and fries. “Do you offer milkshakes as well?”

“We sure do,” the woman affirmed. “What flavor would you like?”

Amy wanted them all, but decided on vanilla.

With her arms stretched out in front of her, Amy trailed across the room to the couch. Taking a seat, she felt around on the coffee table until she located the remote control.

The television came on with a flourish with news from the States.

“
The mortality rate continues to rise as the Incola virus sweeps across the country. A spokesman for the CDC has confirmed that signs of mutation are imminent, and the virus could become airborne at any time.

“President William Pratt has called for a meeting with the leader of the Bracadytes, in hopes of establishing peace and possibly gaining information that could help in aiding with a vaccine. Stay tuned to Channel 8 for up-to-date information as we have it.”

A soft knock on the door startled Amy. Her heart fluttered in excitement as she switched off the television and stood. Had Zaureth returned? “Just a second.”

Feeling her way around the coffee table, Amy stopped in front of the door. “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Glenn,” came the gruff reply.

Amy shoulders slumped with the realization that her guest was not Zaureth. She opened the door and stepped back.

“You look better,” Glenn remarked, his arm brushing hers as he slipped past her. “I ran into room service in the hall. Did you order a burger and fries?”

Amy’s stomach growled in answer.

Glenn laughed. “Have a seat, and I’ll get you fixed right up.”

Amy tugged her robe together at the top and cinched the belt tighter before making her way back in the direction of the couch.

Carefully skirting the coffee table, she sat in her previous position as Glenn readied her food in front of her.

“I was just listening to the news from the States. From what I heard, President Pratt has called a meeting with Klause.”

“Yeah,” Glenn murmured. “I heard the same thing.”

Amy felt around and picked up her milkshake, holding back a groan as she sucked the creamy vanilla heaven up through the straw. “Do you think it would be safe for Klause to go to the States? I mean, after what happened with my sister and even Hauke and Abbie before that. I wouldn’t trust Pratt.”

“It’s not Pratt that concerns me,” Glenn admitted, taking a seat next to Amy. “It’s people like Doug Jefferies and Gerald Kerik.”

“Kerik? The secretary of defense?”

Amy could hear Glenn chewing on one of her fries. She resisted a grin.

“The very one,” Glenn quipped, leaning back against the couch cushions. “I don’t trust either one of them.”

Amy ate her burger while Glenn filled her in on some of the horror stories of his time with Jefferies, ending with, “Jefferies was just as responsible for what happened to your sister and Vaulcron at that lab as President Howell was.”

“But Howell has been impeached,” Amy pointed out, taking another long pull on her straw.

“Yes, and Jefferies went unpunished. There are no legal ramifications for following the president’s orders.”

“Great,” Amy muttered, feeling around for a napkin to wipe off her mouth. “That means he’s still in charge of homeland security.”