Cursed

  “All right.” All thoughts of the weird space rat thing were swept from her mind as the glowing, jeweled net of J’lorgon’s Mind grew closer. Like Christmas lights, she thought as the ship descended to one of the smaller pearlescent globes. And the Heart of Love is the big present in the center, right under the tree.

  She wondered how long it would take to get to it. A glance at Stavros’s stern face made her hope it wouldn’t take long. A little voice inside her was whispering that this was going to be awkward.

  Don’t be silly, she told herself. It’s all just a lot of psychobabble and handholding. We’ll be in and out before you know it.

  But somehow she couldn’t quite make herself believe it.

  * * * * *

  Stav brought the shuttle down in the proscribed landing area—a vast sphere with the top cut off and a shimmering, transparent atmosphere shield in place. As the ship passed through the shield, he saw that there were already two attendants there to greet them—a male priest and a female one. At least, he assumed they were male and female. One seemed to be taller and more muscular and the other appeared to have breasts—three of them. Otherwise it was difficult to tell them apart.

  “What are they?” Charlie breathed, also staring at the attendants as the shuttle settled firmly in the parking space they had been allotted.

  “I believe the beings who run J’lorgon’s Mind re mostly Hossans as J’lorgon himself was,” Stavros said. “I know they look a little…strange but I’m sure we will get used to them.”

  In fact “strange” was an understatement. The Hossans were tall and thin with translucent skin which showed the fine tracery of pink and turquoise blood vessels beneath the surface. It was a somewhat disconcerting sight and he was glad they both had on robes of deep crimson which hid at least some of their see-through bodies from view. Their hair was a mass of floating white fibers that seemed to pick up the surrounding light. It formed a shimmering halo around both their heads and their eyes glowed softly—yellow/orange like miniature suns.

  “I suppose we had better exit the shuttle,” Stavros said, unbuckling his harness.

  “I guess so.” Charlotte sighed and did the same. “Here goes nothing.”

  The shuttle door opened and they stepped forward to meet the two Hossan attendants.

  “Greetings of peace and love be unto you,” the female Hossan said, stepping forward. She had a rich, musical voice like the chiming of bells. “Do we have the honor of addressing Sir and Lady Rii?”

  “You do.” Stavros bowed formally. “I am Stavros and this is my lovely bride, Charlotte.” He reached for her hand as he spoke.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” she protested as he entwined their fingers.

  “Holding your hand. You are my bride, remember?” He raised an eyebrow at her and looked at the Hossans significantly.

  “Yes, but I don’t want to be.” She snatched her hand back. “My father forced me to marry you for money—you bought me like a piece of chattel. Don’t touch me!”

  Stav was a little taken aback by her role playing. But if she was going to get into the part, so was he.

  “You’re damn right I bought you and now I own you,” he growled. “We are here to teach you respect for your lord and master—a lesson you had better start learning now.” He grabbed her hand again and glared into her eyes. “I will touch you whenever and however I want to and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”

  “Let…me…go!” Charlotte tugged her hand free and slapped his face—hard.

  Stav stared at her in surprise. Well, she’s not holding anything back—I won’t either.

  “You dare to strike me?” he growled. He was reaching for her when the two Hossans suddenly got between them.

  “No, no, no!” The female’s chiming voice was filled with distress and her eyes flared from yellow/orange to bright pink. “You cannot speak to each other in this manner!”

  “And you must never strike one another,” the male Hossan added. His voice had the same musical quality as the female’s but with a deeper timber, like the mellow notes of a brass horn.

  “Forgive us.” Stavros inclined his head stiffly. “We are but newly joined. And not very happily, I am afraid.”

  “We can see that,” the female said softly. “But it is good that you are here.”

  “We can help you reach the pinnacle of the Light where two become one,” the male said. “But you must first set your feet on the path and be willing to climb to where it resides.”

  “What if we don’t want to?” Charlotte asked, glaring at Stav with apparent distrust. It amazed him at how completely she was inhabiting her character. Or maybe she actually felt some of the things she was saying? It was impossible to say. For the first time, he almost wished he could feel emotions instead of physical pain. At least that way he would know what she was thinking.

  “Apologize to our hosts,” he growled at her, still playing his part. “They are trying to be gracious and show us the way to happiness.”

  “As if I could be happy with you.” She shot him a look that was pure venom.

  “You can find true happiness in the one you are bound to—even if the bond is initially unwilling,” the female attendant said softly. “But you must take the first step. The Light of love does not come to you…”

  “You must go to it,” the male finished with her, both of them speaking together.

  Stavros could see Charlotte rolling her eyes but when she turned to face the Hossans, she looked serious.

  “Forgive us for disturbing your peace,” she said shortly.

  “Peace is like a lake of calm water,” the male said gently. “Even the largest stone will make ripples that last but a little while.”

  “In other words, you are forgiven. Well put, Ta’no. You are so wise, my mate.” The female smiled at the male fondly and reached up to run just the tips of her fingers over his glowing white nimbus of hair. It waved gently under her touch and Stavros wondered if it was reacting to her touch.

  The male Hossan shivered and his eyes began to glow turquoise blue.

  “Ah, Nar’sa…And you are so beautiful, beloved.” he murmured, returning the gentle hair-touch. The female’s hair was longer and it floated around her like a golden, glowing nimbus as he stroked feather light over just the waving ends of each shining strand.

  As the male, Ta’no touched her, Nar’sa moaned softly—an almost sexual sound—and Stavros couldn’t help seeing that the nipples of all three of her breasts had gone tight and pointy under the thin crimson robe she wore. He didn’t even want to look at what might be poking out under Ta’no’s robe. From the throaty groans the Hossan male was uttering, it was certain to be an unpleasant sight.

  “Geeze, get a room!” he heard Charlotte mutter.

  It was a sentiment Stav was inclined to agree with. Clearly the Hossans were engaged in some kind of alien sex play and just as clearly they had forgotten that he and Charlotte were even there. Both of their eyes were glowing brilliant turquoise and they were stroking each other’s hair with increasing urgency. As yet, they hadn’t touched any other part of each other’s bodies but surely it was just a matter of time.

  “A-hem!” He cleared his throat loudly and, to his relief, the Hossans pulled apart.

  “Forgive us.” Nar’sa’s eyes were still glowing a dreamy greenish-blue. “Ta’no and I are still new to each other, having only been together a short hundred and fifty cycles.”

  “Only a hundred and fifty?” Charlotte sounded disbelieving. “That’s what you consider a short relationship?”

  “Indeed, as you see we are still not One—not even permanently joined,” Ta’no said. “That is why we were assigned as your personal councilors. It was considered that the two of you might need separate instruction before you come together.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Stavros said. If he and Charlotte split up, they could certainly cover more ground and find out more information.

  “Indeed, b
ut being parted, even for a little while, will be difficult for us,” Nar’sa said. “So you must forgive us if when we are together, we sometimes forget there are others present. As we grow closer to becoming one, we grow more and more lost in the wonder of each other.”

  “Okay, I think I just threw up a little in my mouth,” Charlotte said flatly.

  “Oh?” A worried look flitted across the female Hossan’s face and her eyes glowed briefly orange with concern. “Are you unwell? Has your journey sickened you?”

  “Something certainly sickened me,” Charlotte began. “But it wasn’t—”

  “My lovely bride is much fatigued by our long voyage to get here,” Stavros said quickly, cutting her off. “Would it be possible for her to be taken to our rooms so that she can rest and relax?”

  “Your rooms are not quite ready yet—the Wardel keepers are preparing them as we speak,” Nar’sa said.

  “But at any rate, you cannot go to your rooms without being properly bathed and dressed,” Ta’no said. “Accordingly, my lovely Nar’sa and I will escort you to the male and female cleansing facilities at once.”

  Stavros shrugged. “All right—let’s go.”

  Nar’sa looked shocked, her eyes flaring briefly pink.

  “Oh no—not before you strip.”

  “Excuse me?” Charlotte raised an eyebrow at her. “Before we what?”

  “Here in the landing and reception area is the last place you are allowed to wear your outside clothing,” Ta’no explained in his low, musical voice. “In the Temple of Love and the rest of the resort, you must be free of outside influences.”

  “Stripping away your clothing and entering the resort naked is a symbolic act,” Nar’sa said, continuing her mate’s explanation. “It shows you are leaving your outer prejudices, fears, and all negative influences behind. You are entering the temple in the same state you entered the universe—naked and unashamed. Fearless and open to love.”

  “Okay, see, that’s not going to work for me,” Charlotte said quickly. “On my planet we never take off our clothes in front of others. Especially not strangers we’ve never seen before in our life.”

  “Ah, how sad.” Ta’no shook his head sorrowfully. “Then you cannot enter into the resort. “I am sorry we did not know of this cultural rule of yours earlier. If we had, we might have saved you a long, weary journey for nothing.”

  He turned to Nar’sa. “Come, beloved. I suppose we must go and see if there are other novices for us to mentor.” They turned and began to walk away together, moving in perfect synchronicity though they weren’t touching.

  “What? You mean that’s it—just like that we can’t come in?” Charlotte sounded slightly panicked.

  “Not unless we’re naked, apparently,” Stavros growled. He shot her a meaningful look—do it!—and began stripping off his shirt.

  Charlotte shot him a look back that reminded him of the Earth saying about what might happen if facial expressions could be fatal but she, too, started to slowly take off her clothing.

  “Wait,” she said, calling Nar’sa and Ta’no back. “I guess we’ll do it. But just…how far do we have to go around nude?”

  “Not far,” Nar’sa said pleasantly, coming back to them. She nodded to the sliding metal door at the far end of the vast docking bay. “The entrance to the cleansing chambers are just past the first airlock.”

  It looked like a long enough distance to Stavros to be without clothing or weapons—which he was certain he would also have to leave behind as well. And from the two pink spots of color burning high on Charlotte’s creamy cheeks, it seemed a far distance to her as well. Still, she continued to strip off her clothing without further comment. She had already taken off her outer wear and was down to some lacy blue undergarments he found most appealing. Then she caught him looking at her.

  “Eyes to yourself, buddy,” she snapped, turning her back—which only gave him a better view of her round, lush ass and full hips as far as Stav was concerned. Still, he was sensitive to her wish for privacy—even when there was none to be had. So he turned his back to her as well and finished stripping off his own clothing. Then he stood there waiting, not daring to look in her direction though he badly wanted to.

  “Oh, I think I see the problem,” Nar’sa said, coming forward to gather their bundles of clothes and shoes. “You are not familiar with each other’s outer shells.”

  “With each other’s what?” Stav asked, confused.

  “Your bodies—you are unaccustomed to touching or seeing each other’s bodies,” Ta’no said, also coming forward. “Your relationship is unconsummated.”

  “You could say that,” Stav growled, stepping forward. He didn’t like how close the Hossan male was getting to the naked Charlotte.

  “Do not worry, warrior,” Ta’no said, clearly seeing his apprehension. “I have no sexual desire for any save my lovely Nar’sa. I was simply trying to verify the truth of my statement. You feel protective and possessive of your female but you have yet to taste the pleasures of her flesh.”

  “I have tasted—briefly,” Stav protested, thinking of the two kisses they had shared.

  “But you have not drunk deeply at the fount of her desire or filled her to overflowing with your seed, have you?” Nar’sa asked.

  Out of the corner of his eye Stav could see that Charlotte’s cheeks were bright pink and she was trying to cover her breasts and the small patch of curls between her thighs with her small hands.

  “No he hasn’t,” she snapped. “And he’s not going to, either.”

  Nar’sa shook her head and looked at her mate briefly. They seemed to share some kind of silent communication and then she turned back to Stav and Charlotte.

  “We had you scheduled for classes in the Circle of Oneness, near the center of the Temple of Learning but now I see you will need to start further back at the very beginning or outer circle.”

  “The outer circle? No, please,” Charlotte begged. “We need to keep the classes we scheduled. The one near the inner part of the temple!”

  Ta’no shook his head firmly. “I am afraid that will be quite impossible, giving your ignorance of each other. You must begin in the Circle of Enlightenment and then progress to the Circle of Discovery before you can take classes in the Circle of Oneness.”

  Charlotte looked as frustrated as Stavros felt. They had misplayed their parts and they were paying for their mistake with a serious setback. Still, he sensed that protesting further would do more harm than good. After all, they didn’t want to make the Hossans suspicious of their motives. So he only nodded his head.

  “Very well, as you see fit,” he said. “Now, could you show us to the cleansing chamber? We’re both very tired and uh—”

  “Naked,” Charlotte finished for him unexpectedly. “Extremely naked so could we please get going?”

  “It gives me great pleasure to grant your desire,” Ta’no said formally. “You may follow us now.”

  He and Nar’sa turned and preceded them through the echoing space where all kinds of vehicles were parked, towards the first airlock.

  With a quick glance at Charlotte—making sure to look at her face only—Stav nodded his head.

  “Come on—I guess we’d better go.”

  “I guess.” Charlotte’s face were was pink with embarrassment and she was still covering herself but she kept her head high as she followed the Hossans.

  Stav stole another glance and couldn’t help thinking how lovely she looked—how desirable with her curves on display—but he didn’t think she would appreciate his thoughts. Just then, she glanced at him too, her quick gaze taking him in from foot to head. Stav wasn’t trying to cover himself and he saw her eyes widen when she looked between his legs.

  When her gaze reached his face, their eyes met and she looked away again, her cheeks flaming.

  “Come on,” she said, walking a little faster. ‘They’re leaving us behind—let’s get moving.”

  It was true—though the Hossans
seemed to glide more than walk, their smooth pace was deceptively quick and they were pulling far ahead in the large, echoing chamber.

  “Of course.” Stav lengthened his stride and they hurried after their hosts. He tried not to look but he couldn’t help noticing the way Charlotte’s lush breasts and ass jiggled slightly with the faster pace. Gods, she was beautiful! Even though he was still irritated with her, he couldn’t help wondering if he would ever get a chance to see her like this again…or to touch her lush body.

  That in turn made him remember the boundaries she had set between them. He had a feeling that, like it or not, they were going to have to break at least a few of those rules if they were going to complete this mission.

  He wondered if Charlotte knew it and if so, how she felt about it.

  Stav thought he would find out soon enough…

  Chapter Fourteen

  Charlie was beyond relieved when the door to the far airlock whooshed open revealing a long corridor beyond. She wanted to get out of the big empty space but even more desperately she wanted to get covered up. Now if only the cleansing areas as Nar’sa had called them were someplace close…

  “Here we are—the female cleansing chamber,” the alien’s soft, chiming voice said as if reading her thoughts. Charlie turned to see another sliding metal door, this one outlined in glowing pinkish-purple light, to her left. On the other side of the corridor, a similar door was outlined in blue-green light. Apparently that was the male’s side because Ta’no was already leaning Stavros inside it.

  The big Kindred turned and caught her eyes briefly before going through the doorway. He gave her a slight nod that seemed to say, Everything will be okay, and then he was gone.

  “Come, my dear,” Nar’sa said, ushering her through the doorway and into a large, pale pink corridor which split off into other hallways of the same color. “Let us cleanse you of all negative thoughts and emotions so that you may come to your mate fresh and clean and ready to receive him.”