Ral's Woman

9

The new woman was much better than the last one. Ariel smiled at the ancient Zorn woman. She was still in great shape for her advanced age but she had long white hair, wrinkles galore on her face and she wore clothing.

Erra was sweet. A broad smile had been her first reaction to seeing a human. She’d spoken words Ariel couldn’t understand since the conis was in the bedroom and they weren’t. The older woman had slowly approached her. Ral had nodded at Ariel from the doorway with a smile to tell her it was fine.

Ariel felt short. Every Zorn adult was a good eight inches taller than she. Even the elder Erra was that much taller. The woman had walked right up to Ariel, giving her the equivalent of a bear hug, without squeezing her too tightly. It had been startling but then Ariel had recovered enough to hug the woman back.

Erra had pulled back and began to touch Ariel. Ariel hadn’t moved as the woman’s hands brushed her cheek and then her hair. She stared up into Erra’s soft brown eyes.

She’d seen curiosity in their depths. Ariel got it. She was an alien and Ral liked to tell her she was as cute as a horma.

A horma was a creature that was tiny and to the best of Ariel’s knowledge was something like Zorn’s version of a monkey. She wasn’t sure she liked the comparison but when Ral had pulled up a photo of one on the conis she’d understood. They were big blue-eyed, white little creatures that were cute. There were worse things to be compared to.

Erra loved to fuss over her. Sometimes Ariel felt like a doll. Erra would follow her into the bedroom so they could communicate with the conis. While they were in the bedroom Erra would grab a hairbrush to brush out Ariel’s long blonde hair. Erra also liked to put lotion on Ariel’s exposed skin. She said that Ariel’s skin was so soft she was afraid it would get damaged if she didn’t lotion her often. Ariel also felt mothered. She didn’t mind.

“You should remove your clothing.” Erra motioned to Ariel’s body. “You hide from Argis Ral.” Erra eyes locked with Ariel’s. “Are you so different from our women to look at?”

“I like clothing. I don’t sleep in it with Ral.”

“Our women are naked at home. Ral would appreciate you naked. You are his bound. You don’t know our culture.” Erra smiled at her. “He would be well pleased at the end of his day to see you naked waiting by the door. It is our custom. You shroud your body outdoors and from other men but never in your own home.”

“I’m not Zorn. I’m not so different physically. I just don’t feel comfortable walking around naked. My culture wears clothing unless they are alone with their bound for sex or sleeping or showering.”

Erra sighed. “You are bound to Ral. He is Zorn. You are Zorn now.”

Ariel thought about it and walked to her closet. Ral had clothing brought to her so she it was filled. He’d left out the fact that the clothing was in a Zorn teenager size. Erra found it amusing to tease Ariel about being a lot smaller than Zorn women. Ariel asked for something to cut with so she could cut up some of the outfits in her closet. She was decent, barely, but showed off more skin. She eyed herself in the mirror when she was done.

Zorn women wore loose knee-length shift dresses. If they wore bras or underwear she hadn’t seen it so far. Some working women like Ahhu at the medical center wore baggy pants with shirts. Ariel had limited experience with Zorn women. Ral kept her home, she wasn’t allowed to leave the house without him.

She had cut the shift high so it was like a minidress. She’d removed the arms and cut the front down so her cleavage was exposed. She even slit the hips up a few inches so the sides of her thighs showed. She’d have to be careful if she sat down. She was totally bare under the dress. She looked good. She’d never walk outside in the cut outfit, but she hoped Ral would like it. She wasn’t ready to walk around naked just yet.

Erra saw Ariel when she walked out of the bedroom. Ariel smiled at the woman and slowly did a full circle turn. She eyed Erra with raised eyebrows. Erra let her eyes take in the altered dress. Erra grinned. She met Ariel’s eyes and raised her hand. She stuck up a thumb. Ariel laughed. She’d taught Erra that gesture.

Ral worked six hours a day, four days in a row. He got three days off. He was some kind of judge. Ral explained that he listened to his people and dealt with their issues.

He swore he loved doing it. Ariel missed him when he was at work. Erra barely let her do anything around the house. Mainly Ariel napped or followed Erra around to watch and learn what the woman did.

Since Ariel wasn’t allowed to leave the house enclosed the area. It was the only fresh air she was allowed to have. Ral avoided questions when she asked why she couldn’t go shopping with Erra or why she wasn’t allowed to leave the house. He always distracted her. Ral was damn good she spent time in Ral’s backyard. It had a pretty red creek and black and purple trees. A high wall at doing that. He would just carry her to bed. After a few hours with Ral she was too worn out to keep questioning him.

She eyed the clock. She’d learned to tell Zorn time with Ral’s help. She knew he’d be home soon. When the little arrow hit the bird-looking symbol he would be home.

She bit her lip. What was Ral hiding? He had to be hiding something. Was she in danger from his people? Is that why she wasn’t allowed to leave the house? Maybe it was just a simple case of him worrying about her. She couldn’t communicate with anyone.

It had been just over a week since the medical center visit. The Zorn still hadn’t perfected the Anzons translator program to work with Zorn translators. She sighed.

Maybe they had wireless computers, uh, conis, that she could walk around with.

A conis was the size of about a thirteen-inch TV. She wondered if Zorn had wheelbarrows. She laughed at that idea of lugging one around with her.

Ral was late. She watched the arrow go from the bird symbol to the wiggly snake-looking one. She frowned. He was always home when the bird symbol hit. She went in search of Erra. She found the woman doing laundry. Ariel waved at Erra and did the sign for “we need to talk”. Erra followed her through the house.

“He’s late. I’m worried.”

Erra eyed the clock. “Perhaps he went out with men. They like to drink amond while they talk of male bonding things.”

Amond was probably like beer. Ariel didn’t bother to have Erra explain. Men were men on any planet. “Wouldn’t he have used the device to call you to tell me he wasn’t coming home?”

Erra grinned. “The males on your world do that?” She laughed. “Women rule there, do they not? The idea of one of our males asking for permission to bond with other men is funny.”

Ariel sighed. “Great. So on this world men don’t call to say they’ll be late?”

“No. Ral spoils you, Ariel. If other males saw the way he spoils you he would be teased unmercifully. They already talk about how he removed his two home helpers and refused the female his father sent to bound with. She was greatly wanted by all males. That is why she was offered.”

Ariel eyed Erra with a frown.

“It is true. He refuses all females. They are attracted to him and come on to him when he is outside. He is first son, Ariel. It means he will lead this world when his father hands over the position or dies. He is very powerful and wanted. Most men in his position have at least three women in their bed if not more. He is bound to you but males always share sex with other women besides their bound. A bound is a male’s favorite female who he gifts with his seed. It is a deep honor to be bound. Our men have strong sexual needs one female can never fill. Ral refuses all but you.”

“I fill his all needs.”

Erra grinned. “I have heard.”

A flush stained Ariel’s cheeks. “Sorry about that.”

“Do not be. You make Argis Ral very pleased. He spoils you this way and in many other ways. Most of our females work. He doesn’t want you to leave his home. He is very possessive and protective of you. I have seen him with you and he gives you all of his attention. Our males tend to only seek out attention from their bound during sex. He is always with you.”

“Maybe he doesn’t think there is a job I could do.”

“You are very smart. There are jobs you could do where you wouldn’t have to speak or be spoken to. He wants to take care of you and keep you to himself. All bound men are possessive and protective but he takes it to a new level. Everyone knows this.”

Ariel sighed.

“You have been with Argis Ral long enough to conceive. Do you know that bound men release their bound if those females do not conceive? It is one of the few reasons it is allowed. Argis Ral has no intention of giving you up. He means to keep you until death.”

Ariel’s anger slipped away. So what if he went out with the boys? He’d given up a lot for her. He wasn’t a human guy. She realized there were going to be culture differences. He’d given up a lot of his culture already to make her happy. She nodded.

“I guess I’ll play with the conis and try to learn more.”

Erra nodded. The doorbell rang. Ariel sighed. Ral wouldn’t use it, he’d just walk in.

Erra hurried away to see who was at the door. Ariel hesitated and then followed the woman. What if something had happened to Ral? Fear pricked at her. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t come home.

Four large males were at the door. Erra snarled at them. Ariel hugged her body. She prayed the men at the door hadn’t told Erra bad news about Ral. Was he hurt? Dead?

Her knees wanted to buckle under her at the thought. She loved Ral. He was her entire world. She couldn’t lose him. She’d die inside if she could never be with him again. She loved him that much. As the realization hit home, she wasn’t shocked by the depth of her love for Ral.

One of the males at the door snarled back at Erra. He shifted his body and his eyes met Ariel’s. He suddenly shoved at Erra. She snarled, trying to push the man back. He was too strong. He shoved Erra hard enough that she went sprawling to the floor. Ariel gasped and instantly stepped in Erra’s direction to help her up. The three other men walked into the house. The last one in slammed the door shut behind him.

Erra hissed as her head jerked in Ariel’s direction. Ariel saw terror in the woman’s eyes as their gazes locked. It halted Ariel in her tracks. Erra snarled something at her and pointed to the bedroom. Erra struggled to her feet before launching herself at the man who’d knocked her down. He had started to walk toward Ariel. The older woman leapt on the man’s back screaming out.

The man spun around quickly. The powerful motion sent Erra flying from his back to slam hard into a wall. Her body slumped to the floor. Erra didn’t move but Ariel saw her still breathing still. A soft moan came from Erra a second later. Her arms moved.

Terror had frozen Ariel. The four men turned their attention back to her. She saw the one by the door reach for his shirt. He tore it open. Her eyes flew to another one. He reached for the front of his pants. He opened them to reveal he was turned-on. It became damn clear to Ariel what they wanted as they inched toward her, leering at her body. They growled at her, softly saying God only knew what as they spaced apart to try to surround her.

Ariel screamed as she made a run for it. She made it to the bedroom and slammed the door behind her and locked it. She didn’t have anywhere else to go. She made it to the bathroom door and turned. Something hit the bedroom door hard. The door was thick and the lock wasn’t cheap, but she highly doubted that either of those things would keep out the large men for long.

She didn’t know what to do. She was terrified. They were going to rape her. She knew that. They’d hurt Erra who’d tried to defend her. She wondered if Erra was really hurt or if she would be able to try to get help. Something hit the door again and it cracked loudly. The thick wood was breaking. Her eyes frantically went around the room. If Ral kept weapons in his bedroom she hadn’t seen them. Instead she grabbed more clothes and hugged them to her body.

She heard a loud snarl as something hit the door again. She saw the door splinter and split in a few places. She sobbed, backing into the bathroom completely. She slammed the door shut and locked it. She was shaking as she put on pants under her shift and tugged on one of Ral’s big shirts over it. If she had to fight she didn’t want to do it mostly naked.

She frantically evaluated the bathroom—no windows. Maybe she should have tried to climb out the window in the bedroom but it only went to the backyard. The perimeter wall was too high for her to climb and there was no gate. She would have been trapped. At least in the bathroom she had another locked door between her and those men.

She heard when the bedroom door was breached. It crashed into the wall like a shotgun going off. Ariel yanked open drawers under the counter for a weapon. She found the cutting shears that Ral used to trim his hair. She grabbed them. They were like long scissors like back home and were wickedly sharp. She backed up into the shower and closed the glass-like door. She had no way to lock it, but it made it so there was only a smaller opening so just one man would be able to reach in the shower to try to grab her. She gripped the shears in a death grip.

They attacked the bathroom door. She knew she wouldn’t survive if they got their hands on her. It would be a horrible way to die. Ral was always gentle with her and she couldn’t imagine him touching her without care of harming her. Zorn men were big and really strong by nature. The four men who were coming after her obviously didn’t care about anything. She knew Ral would kill every one of them when he found out what they’d done.

Her thoughts turned to Ral. Agony ripped at her. He would mourn her. She knew he loved her. She prayed he wouldn’t blame himself. If he had come straight home he would have been there to defend her. She’d seen him fight four men before. The four men who had come in the house weren’t as mean-looking as the ones on the asteroid who’d tried to take her from him. Ral could take these assholes apart easily. The bathroom door crashed in.

Ariel’s time was up. They were in the bathroom. The man who’d attacked Erra yanked open the glass-like door. He reached in to grab her. Ariel screamed and, using the shears like a knife, threw herself forward and stabbed him in the chest.

The handles of the shears dug into her skin as well but they didn’t cut her. She felt warm blood pour onto her hands. She screamed again as the man roared out in pain.

He stumbled back with the shears embedded deep in his chest.

She threw herself back and hit the shower wall hard enough to knock the breath from her. She stared at the man’s face as he stumbled back into his companions. He looked down at the shears protruding from his chest. She saw shock on his face. He went silent before he collapsed to his knees. His companions were frozen in shock as they stared at the man whose blood was running down his chest.

The injured man pitched forward. He didn’t move. The shears must have pushed in deeper when he fell because she saw the sharp points sticking out of his back. His was shirtless. Blood ran from the wound and over his back to the bathroom floor. One attacker threw his head back, howling. Ariel screamed. The three men went silent. She saw their expressions. They were going to make her suffer before they killed her. She had no doubt of that.

One of the men had to step over his fallen friend to reach into the shower stall. He grabbed Ariel by the front of Ral’s shirt. She heard material tear in the man’s hand as he yanked hard. Her foot hit the low wall of the shower stall. Pain shot up her foot as she was dragged forward. Her feet hit the fallen man’s body as she was dragged screaming from the bathroom.

Ariel’s feet left the floor. The man threw her toward the bed. She hit it hard enough that it bounced her body off to the other side. She hit the floor hard. Pain exploded in her hip, thigh and arm that hit the floor hardest. From under the bed she could see them moving around it. She knew if she lay there she’d die.

She rolled under the bed. Zorn beds weren’t that different from her bed at home except they were taller and on sturdier frames. She inched to the center of the massive bed and lay there panting. She reached up and grabbed the bars of the frame. Her fingers barely had time to fight between the bars and the mattress before a large hand clamped down on her ankle.

She screamed out in pain as one of the men tried to drag her out. It almost tore her hold from the bars. He yanked her hard enough that now her feet were no longer under the bed and her arms were stretched painfully above her since she refused to let go.

“Get her out of there,” one of the men snarled.

The conis was still on. It would pick up and translate any speech in the room. She could understand them so they could understand her. She knew it probably wouldn’t help but she had to try. The hand around her ankle increased pressure until she screamed out in pain. It felt like he was crushing her ankle. The bastard was purposely hurting her to make her let go. The pain was enough to make her scream.

“Ral will kill you. Don’t do this.”

“Ral is busy,” another male snarled. “We will set fire to his house when we are done with you and there will be no scent of us left for him to track.”

“Get her out now. We don’t have much time.”

The man gripping her ankle yanked hard. Ariel screamed out again. Her fingers were torn painfully loose from the bars. The man brutally yanked her out from under the bed. She stared up at three half-undressed Zorn males. The one gripping her ankle didn’t let go. Instead he reached with his other hand and grabbed her pants in his hand.

He fisted them and yanked hard.

Ariel kicked at him with her free foot. Zorn males were freakishly tall in her opinion since she couldn’t reach his balls. Her legs were too short. She did manage to kick his thigh hard. She screamed as her pants were yanked down her body. She tried to roll and grab for the bed. If she could just get away and crawl back under there she could avoid being raped just a little longer.

Two of the men bent down, grabbing each of her flailing arms. They lifted her and she found herself dropped on her back on the bed. The man gripping her ankle put his knee on the end of the bed between her thighs. She yanked her free leg up to her chest and with pure terror she found the strength to kick at him again. This time she nailed the man harder and in a better place. His head snapped back as her heel slammed into his jaw. The hold on her ankle loosened as her attacker suffered from the force of his head slamming back hard. Unfortunately it didn’t break his neck because he roared out in pain.

She heard another roar and it sounded close. She saw the men who still gripped her arms snap their heads in the direction of the bedroom door. Ariel didn’t waste time looking at whatever got their attention. She jerked her free foot back to her chest again.

She was hurting. Her ankle might be broken or at least sprained but she ignored the pain. She looked down. The man she’d kicked held his jaw with one hand while still gripping her other ankle with his other hand. Taking aim, she kicked out as hard as she could. Her foot nailed his crotch.

She’d hit her intended mark. She saw his mouth open. His hold on her ankle was suddenly gone as he grabbed for the front of his pants. He fell slowly backward to crash to the floor. He made a high-pitched squeal. Joy hit her in that second. That was another way men were universal no matter what planet they came from.

Ariel twisted her body try to kick at another man who held her but they released her. Both of them backed away from the bed before she got the chance. Terror was etched on their faces as they stared toward the broken bedroom door. Her eyes followed theirs. Ral stormed into the bedroom.

Rage like nothing she’d ever seen before twisted his features. He roared. It hurt her ears. The conis didn’t translate. She didn’t need to be told what that sound meant. Ral’s eyes met Ariel’s. She saw his eyes flash over her body. He moved fast to throw himself at the nearest man to him. He attacked the man to her right.

Something warm sprayed her. She looked at her arm and saw bright red dots all over her body. Her brain registered it was blood. Her eyes turned in shock to Ral and the man. She saw the flash of a metal blade in Ral’s hand. The large intruder dropped to his knees. She saw that his throat was slashed. He pitched forward. Ral roared again as he dove for the other man before the first body even hit the floor. The second man didn’t even get out a sound before Ral was on him. Ral’s arm rose and she heard a grunt. She listened to silence for a second before she heard a soft whine from the end of the bed.

Ral rose up from the floor alone. He walked slowly to the end of the bed. He glared down at the man Ariel had kicked in the crotch. She saw Ral bend down. His expression was still masked in pure rage. A whine, louder this time, came from the man. Ral dragged him up by his hair and Ariel watched as Ral slit the man’s throat, tossing his body aside. Ral was breathing hard. He was bloodstained—it was on both hands, the blade he still held and splashed on his clothes. He turned to stare down at Ariel.

“I’m okay,” her voice broke. “You got to me in time.”

Ral dropped the blade on the bed as he reached for her. Ariel didn’t flinch as Ral reached for her with both bloody hands. He gently lifted her up into his arms and held her tightly against his bloody chest. He buried his face in her throat. He was still breathing hard and shaking with fury.

Ariel didn’t hesitate. She threw her arms around his neck to hold on to him for dear life. Ral had saved her again. He’d killed for her again. They had survived and they were both together.