A Doorway to the Stars

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

1

DOORWAY TO THE STARS By

Marly Mathews

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

© copyright December 2007, Marly Mathews Cover art by Amber Moon, © copyright December 2007 New Concepts Publishing Lake Park, GA 31636 www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

2

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

3

Chapter One Earth, 3000 AD “They say the hijackers have hacked into some of the doorways to the stars.” “Piffle.” Freya Kirkland eyed the miniature holographic newspaper that had been activated in front of her. It detailed the latest hacking attempt on Jupiter. “We, as tour guides should be worried.” Macy Smyth looked at her with wide doleful eyes. “You are too jumpy for your own good, Macy. No one has ever been able to break into the Earth system, and I’m still placing my total faith into our security programmers.” “Have you seen some of our security programmers? They ask us to do some pretty dangerous tours and now this! They say the hackers are men from the Outer System looking for wives. They found out that most, if not all of our tour guides are women.” “Listen, I really doubt a man from the Outer System would want me—or you for that matter. We’re both red heads, and it’s rumored that the males from that region of space think redheads are curses upon humanity.” “Curses, my foot. Most of their females have either married men from other planets or they’re infertile from the last war. I wouldn’t put anything against those Outlanders.” “I don’t know why they were dubbed Outlanders. Sure, they are not humans from Earth, but they’re still humans in their genetic makeup.” “The first time Terrans made contact with them, they shot the ambassador. They’re not exactly a civilized race.” “We don’t have their worlds programmed into the doorway to the stars, so I don’t even know why we’re wasting our lunch hour dwelling on this. Jupiter’s staff of tour guides always has been a bit nutty. Maybe someone entered in the wrong sequence into the database by accident. They probably had had too much Moon Wine the night before.” “Moon wine, my ass. I’m telling you, Freya, we should just quit while we’re ahead. I heard they’re looking for more tour guides on the space cruise ships that tour our solar system. That’s a great opportunity for us, and we don’t have to worry about being kidnapped while on duty, as we always have a military escort.” “I don’t want to talk to you, today. There is just no reasoning with you. I need the money from this job, and you know it. It’s the only way I’ll get my Uncle out of debtor’s prison. If I can’t pay up his bills, he’ll be in there for the rest of his bloody life!” “I know. I’m sorry I even brought the subject up. Excuse me if I’m just a tad bit worried about you. I don’t know why, we’ve only been friends for all of our lives!” “Macy,” She dropped her voice to a whisper. The other tour guides in the canteen were giving them funny looks. “I’m sorry. Why don’t you take this afternoon off? I can handle the tour scheduled for 2 pm.” “No … we’re a team. I’ll go with you. We—I mean, I can’t lose you.” She sighed, placing her hand to her temple. “But I do have one major headache. Maybe I will take it off, go back to the flat, take some pain meds, and have a lie in.” “Good idea. I should be home by eight, and I’ll make you some pasta, you know

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

4

how a good meal filled with carbohydrate rich foods helps your headaches.” She smiled. “You know what? We should have been born sisters, because you sure do treat me like the little sister. Problem is, I’m the older one.” Macy laughed. “Do you think Mr. Callahan will have an issue with me crying off early?” “No … he understands how a bad migraine can affect your job performance. Don’t give it a second thought. Just go home and try to think of happy things … put all of your thoughts of nasty Outlander hijackers out of your system. I’ll be fine.” “Yeah.” She snorted. “You’re right. The Earth System is the most secure in the galaxy. We don’t have to worry, and, besides, we don’t go out unarmed like the ones from Jupiter do.” “That’s the spirit.” She looked up at the clock. “Damn. It’s late … I have to go and get down to the Travel Chamber, and get my co-ordinates programmed into the system. I’ll tell you all about my afternoon, tonight. Let’s just hope I don’t get someone with a gas problem like I had on my last afternoon shift. Having that Mexican restaurant move into the canteen was a really big bad idea.” She laughed. “Be careful, Freya. Don’t forget to take your pistol.” “Right you are.” She stood up and walked away from her friend. Before she left the canteen she darted one last look back at Macy. She smiled. Macy was always a bit paranoid. She’d been a good soldier in her day—but now, she was more jumpy than a cat in heat. She walked to the elevator and moved up to the twenty-fourth level of the building they were in. Using her security card, she accessed the restricted area meant only for certified tour guides. Walking into the Travel Chamber, she stared over at the operator that was on duty. “Hey, Morris. How are you today?” “I’m fine, Miss Freya. Mr. Callahan told me that the desk officer would be bringing up the tour group in five minutes. He told me that he hoped you already had your route mapped out.” “I certainly do. I think I’ll take this group to the Tropical planet, Willowbane.” “Excellent. I’ve always wanted to go to that planet with my wife, but we haven’t been able to afford it yet.” “Yeah … maybe Mr. Callahan will give you the trip as an Anniversary present.” Morris’s eyes gleamed. “It will be twenty-five years on the 31st.” “Congrats, Morris. The two of you must be in love.” “We are.” He looked down at his computer console. “I’ve entered in the co-ordinates for you, all you have to do is take your personal computer and open the doorway when the time comes.” She looked down at the nine wooden doors that were built into the wall in the travel chamber. If you opened one up without activating the planetary travel system you’d be staring at a brick wall, but once the system was activated a gateway formed between Earth and the other planet. She chewed at her lip. She had three minutes before the tour group arrived. “Morris?” “Yes, Miss Freya?” “Did you read the report in the Earth Chronicle this morning about the recent

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

5

hijackings?” “Yes, Miss Freya, I did. And Mr. Callahan has ordered the security programmers to be especially diligent this morning …. He doesn’t want to lose any tour guides.” “Phew.” Her heart stopped hammering. “He isn’t insured.” Morris’s last statement did nothing to ease her rattled nerves. Ever since Macy had brought her attention to the article, despite the fact that she’d blown it off to Macy, it still bothered her. If Macy didn’t have a heart condition, she never would have dismissed it, but her friend couldn’t take the extra stress. “Oh, boy.” She shook her head, nervousness fluttering through her stomach. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Miss Freya, I can keep the doorway open so we can stay in constant contact if that would make you feel more at ease. Are you carrying your government issued pistol?” “I certainly am.” “Then you shouldn’t be in trouble. You at least have a way of defending yourself. They say the Outlanders only have ancient weapons at their disposal, and your laser pistol is light years ahead of the weapons they’ll be using.” “Somehow, that doesn’t make me any less frustrated about this. I don’t know why Callahan doesn’t just put the program on hold until this issue is resolved.” “Because he can’t afford it … and I can’t afford not getting my weekly paycheck … it might take the Interstellar Task Force weeks to catch the Outlanders that are hacking into the Doorway system … and well, think of how many missed paychecks that would mean.” “I see your point, Morris. Thanks for pulling me back into the living reality as opposed to the one I wish I lived in.” “I don’t understand how a lady of your fine breeding ended up working for Mr. Callahan, you are the daughter of an English Earl and American Senator … and yet here you are.” “And yet here I am.” She sighed. “You’re right … if we hadn’t lost all of our money in the last war … I probably wouldn’t be standing here today, but that’s what you get when you support the losing side.” She looked up at the sound of the automatic doors opening. “We’re going to have to cut this chat short, it’s show time for me.” “Good luck!” Morris smiled at her, giving her an encouraging wink. “Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen.” She looked at the small group that Callahan had brought her. Cocking her head to the side, she looked at her boss. He had a look in his eyes that told her he wanted to talk to her before she disembarked. “Ladies, and Gents, I just have to have a short word with my tour guide. Mr. Jones here will give you some background history on the Doorway to the Stars and how it was invented, etc. Your tour will begin directly at 2 o’clock, have no fear! Here at Callahan Enterprises, you always get your moneys worth out of your inter planetary tours.” Callahan had strength to his voice that she admired, even if he did get on her last nerve sometimes. She started tapping her foot against the floor. Realizing that she was acting out with her nervous energy, she stopped when Callahan looked down at her foot. “Miss Freya, I’d like to take this time to assure you that I have clamped down on

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

6

the security of the system. I don’t want you to fear for you life or those of your tourists.” “I have three people to take on the tour … why don’t you just cancel it for today? You can see that the news stories about what happened on Jupiter are having a negative effect on consumers.” “Nonsense. Today is the day of the ….” “I know what today marks. It marks the end of the last war.” “Yes, well, the war was won by the side that was acting in the best interests of Earth.” “Do you think so? I don’t know. I really don’t appreciate many of the archaic laws such as capital punishment, the right to own slaves, and the reinstitution of debtors prison among so many other negative institutions. We’re supposed to be in the age of enlightenment, we’re traveling amongst the stars, and yet, we’ve regressed in so many ways. I can’t say I prefer this existence to the one I knew when I was a child.” Callahan’s eyes darkened. “You should learn to keep quiet. Those three tourists happen to be fervent supporters of our new government. I’d keep your liberal views to yourself if I were you when you’re out on the tour. I don’t want to lose their patronage. They book monthly, if not weekly, tours when they’re hectic schedules allow.” “Where are their bodyguards? If their supporters of our current government, shouldn’t they have a bloody team of bodyguards?” “Freya, my patience is straining. I could dismiss you and take this tour out myself.” She thought of the money this tour would bring her and bit her lip to keep from saying more. “I apologize. My passions got the better of me.” “I’ll say they did. Just don’t let it happen in the future. You know I value you as a tour guide. No one knows more about the worlds than you do, Freya, not even Macy.” “Thank you … and you do know that I enjoy my work here … you gave me a job when everyone else turned me away because I was part of the ....” “Shush. Don’t say it … they could be listening. Look at Master Gold, he isn’t paying attention to Morris anymore. I’m sure that man is just itching to hear something that he could string me up by my balls for … anything to make him look good.” “Okay. Well, I’m taking them to Willowbane. It should be a planet right up their alley.” “Yes, yes, I’m sure it will be. I told them to dress for a hot climate since you told me you’d be taking them to one of the tropical planets. Just be on your guard, Freya. Watch your back, your front, and your side. I don’t want anything to happen to you—I might be money hungry, but I’m no bastard.” “Hey … I served in the last war, I should be able to handle a few rough and ready Outlanders if they do somehow manage to get through our security barriers.” “Now you’re talking. I like the way you think. You had your pistol checked at the last maintenance update, right? I don’t want you to get into a fix and find out that your pistol is jammed ....” “It’s been checked out thoroughly by one of the weapon engineers. Don’t fret, I’ll be back on Earth by 8 pm our time.” “Good. They’re only paying for a six hour trip anyway.” “As always it’s excellent to know that you’re consistently on your toes when it

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

7

comes to running this business.” She smiled. Callahan had a wife and children to think of, and, though he seemed totally fixated on money, specifically making more of it, he was a good man at heart. Clearing her throat, she walked down the ramp to the lower level where the doorways stood ready and waiting. “Ladies and Gentleman, thank you so much for choosing Callahan Enterprises once again, for your off planet excursions. Today we will be traveling to the Earth protected tropical planet of Willowbane. The native inhabitants of this planet co-exist in harmony with the colonists from Earth.” “And well they should. They should be grateful that our great civilization has allowed such primitives to mix with us.” Master Gold snorted and thrust his chest out in a pompous gesture. She wished someone would deflate his gigantic bubble one of these days. “Indeed.” She narrowed her eyes at Master Gold. Her stomach churned. At this moment, he was probably trying to pass legislation that would make it legal for slave hunters to take the natives from Willowbane for their interplanetary slave network. She hated the man. Her side should have won …. “I can’t wait to start the tour, Miss ....” The one lady that was Gold’s wife looked at her name badge. “Freya. My name is Freya Kirkland.” “Kirkland … I must say that name does ring a bell.” Master Gold looked at her in newfound interest. If he recalled her for her hand in the last war, this wouldn’t be an easy tour—not easy at all. In fact, it would be more like pulling teeth, without the anesthetic. “Does it? Well, it’s quite a common name.” He nodded his head. “No doubt it is. Let us start the tour, Miss Freya. I have been anticipating this all week. Long days spent cooped in my office behind a desk … and now it’s time for some excitement. Lead the way, my dear lady.” His eyes flared as they raked over her entire body. She stiffened. She didn’t like the hungry look in his eyes. Reaching into the bag she wore slung across her shoulders, she withdrew her traveling device and pressed the activation button. “I will be the first one through as is customary, the tour guide is the first one through en route to the destination, and they are the last one through on the return trip. This way, we are protecting our tourists to the best of our ability.” Reaching for the doorknob, she turned it, and opened it. White light streamed out at them. Through a slim tunnel, she could barely make out the outline of a palm tree. “It looks as if our destination is secure. As soon as I am through please follow me.” Dragging in a deep breath, she stepped through the doorway.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

8

Chapter Two She emerged in the hot sunlight. Palm trees lined the path they walked on. She looked at the village ahead of them. It reminded of her of Hawaii, but she didn’t think it was as beautiful. She’d never been to a planet that held the same sort of beauty that anyplace on Earth held—but then, she was deeply biased, since Earth was her home, and as such, she loved it more than she could love any other place in the galaxy. The air felt heavy to her on Willowbane, and she didn’t exactly like the high temperatures that it sometimes reached, but what did she know? It was one of the top rated planets on traveler’s lists. She was only the guide. “In 2556, humans from Earth on a military transport ship were blown off course en route to another planet. From this mere accident, they discovered what they deemed at the time as Galaxy’s Delight. They became infatuated with the natives of the planet, and the native females entranced many of the males. At that time, Earth was unaware that the natives of Willowbane let off a sexual pheromone that was deeply enticing to human males and females. I trust that each of you were properly inoculated?” She looked behind her expecting to see her group of travelers. When she didn’t, she instantly became suspicious. “Oh, Damn. She watched as Gold moved greedily toward one native that was tending a flower cart nearby. He had a lascivious gleam in his eyes. She looked up at the native girl, who had a very knowing look on her face. The girl knew what she was doing … and she was delighting in it. “Stop it!” She directed her order at the Native, knowing that the language translator she wore would translate her English words into the woman’s language. Taking her eyes off of Gold, she looked around for his wife and her companion. The two of them were walking in different directions toward native males. “Just what I need, an off world sexual discovery.” She reached for her communication device that would open a channel back to Morris. Morris had stayed true to his word by keeping the doorway open. “Morris?” “Yes, Miss Freya?” “I have a situation on my hands.” “Hijackers?” He sounded panicky. “No … I wish. At least I’d know how to deal with them.” “Would you?” She ignored the deep voice behind her, intent on her conversation with Morris. “Would you like me to send you some help? Mr. Callahan was afraid that Master Gold wouldn’t have himself inoculated. He says that Master Gold doesn’t believe in filling his body with toxins.” “An inoculation isn’t poison.” “Tell that to Master Gold. I’m sorry that you had to find out the hard way. Are they participating in any sexual activity yet?” “That depends on what you consider sexual activity. Right now, Master Gold has his hand around a native’s breast, and he’s whipping out Mr. Dick to say hello. His wife

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

9

is getting quite horny with the man she’s chosen, and the companion … oh, yeah, she’s getting some action. I just hope they won’t mind remembering what they’re doing right now, when they come out of their drugged state.” “Oh, I shouldn’t worry about it, they look as if they’re having one hell of a bloody good time.” Her heart stalled. That voice again. “Miss Freya, do you have a friend there with you? As far as I know, no other tour guides in the network are there today … they’re all on other worlds.” She swallowed. The man speaking behind her had a faint accent, which even the translator couldn’t mask. It was a cross between a Scottish accent and an Irish accent. Sighing, she ignored the man. He was probably just someone that took great enjoyment out of teasing the hell out of humans. Most of the humans that weren’t from Earth resented her kind, since they had conquered other planets in such an unrelenting way. When Earth had become over populated, they had been forced to find other planets for their bulging population. “Miss Freya?” She wrenched herself out of her reverie and shook the cobwebs that were growing inside of her head out. She was experiencing the headiest sensations. She felt as if she were floating. Desire started to burn inside of her. Her thoughts strayed back to her fiancée, who had been dead for ten years. She could really jump for joy right now if he was around. She felt so ... well, to put it bluntly she was aroused. “Morris, I know I’m up to date on my inoculations, but please, confirm what I know for me.” “You inoculations were updated two months ago, Miss Freya. Don’t you remember Dr. Addison coming to the building?” “Yes, I do, I’m sorry for sounding so befuddled, Morris. I really think she could get together an extraction team … even though my shots are up to date, I’m feeling quite ....” “In the mood for some loving? Maybe you have the sickness.” “I can’t have that, unless ....” Her thoughts reverted back to the man at behind her. “Morris, hurry up with that team!” Resting her hand on her pistol, she said a silent prayer and slowly turned. “Well, it took you long enough, Terran. I thought you’d never turn around and lock those lovely green-gold eyes on me.” “Green eyes and red hair,” Her voice dropped to a mere whisper. She was transfixed. The sensations inside of her were growing increasingly stronger. She could barely keep herself from launching her body at the gorgeous man in front of her. He had to be about six foot seven inches tall, and his long black hair and twinkling lavender colored eyes made her weak in the knees. “Oh, aye, you have the sickness, pretty bad, I’d wager.” The chuckle he let loose made her knees turn to jelly. “No.” She tried to look for something to lean on but only found air. Chuckling, he caressed her with his eyes. “You shall make a good breeder.” “Breeder?” She recoiled at the vulgar term. She had her hand on her pistol so why couldn’t she just take it out of its holster and fire it at him? She hated the man, and yet, that negative passion seemed poised to turn into a burning inferno of sexual passion. Passion she wouldn’t be able to deny or control.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

10

“I can see from the look in your eyes that you are trying to wage a battle inside of yourself. You won’t be able to fight it. You might have a strong will … you might be a very determined woman … but you can’t fight what I’m giving off.” “You’re doing this to me?” She loosened a few buttons on her blouse. Even though the blouse had short sleeves on it, she still felt as if she were burning up. Willowbane was in its fall season, so the temperatures never got above thirty-five degrees Celsius, and yet she was burning up with fever. She almost felt weakened by the strong emotions rolling through her. “You are very red in the face. I do not intend to make you truly ill. You must stop fighting it. I have selected you after a good deal of searching for the perfect woman for me. I found your profile in the database from an old Earth military ship.” “No.” She shook her head. Tears pooled in her eyes. “All of the ships from my side were destroyed.” “Not all of them. This one my people found drifting in space close to our space borders. As you know, our Empire has still been able to hold off the Earth Invaders. Well, now, we are in need of our enemies. We need you so that our society will continue to survive and thrive. You must know that most of our women are infertile, and have been banished from our lands. I’m sure you’ve heard the sad and sorry tale of the women that betrayed their men.” “Banished? But I thought they left of their own free will.” “No. Most of our women turned against us. They made deals with you humans … and my Emperor was not happy with the duplicity. After your people administered the sterility drug at the conference where most of our women were in attendance, my Emperor drove the humans off of our worlds and he in turn banished our women to the far reaches of our galaxy. They are not allowed to enter the Gaian Solar System ever again.” “So, in essence you’re searching for new breeding material. Why would you want a human from Earth when we we’re the ones that brought the grief to your doorstep in the first place?” “I want you because you fought on the other side. Our quarrel is not with the humans that were on the side of Mallory.” “You know the name of our general.” “We all mourned the loss of your general when he fell in battle.” “The last battle.” She shook her head. A shiver breezed over her as the anniversary date of the end of the war hit home, fully registering. He’d specifically chosen this day on purpose. “I’m not coming with you. Even if I was on the losing side, I am still a citizen of Earth. My allegiance is to Earth, no matter what may come my way.” “They have imprisoned your uncle because he financially supported General Mallory. Do you honestly think they will let him go even if you do pay the fines the government has lodged against him? Face it, Freya, the Government of Earth is corrupt. You will never have the planet you loved as a child back. I am sorry.” “You know too damn much about me. I don’t like the way that you think. How did you find out so much about me?” “You’d be surprised what one can find once they have access to your military profile.” “I don’t like this … I don’t like your methods, and I don’t like you. I never knew

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

11

that the Gaians released a sexual pheromone that would entrance humans.” “It was a well kept secret. It was to our advantage to not have it known throughout the galaxies. Knowledge like that could have been used against us. Subjects of our realms are strictly forbidden to speak of it to Outlanders.” “We call you Outlanders.” He raised his eyebrow. “In my worlds you are the foreigners. You are the war mongers that needed to cast bloodshed far and wide. Our race could have come to Earth centuries ago, but the Emperor at the time decreed that to do so would be barbaric and outlandish. You were seen as primitive, and, so therefore, our Emperor thought that to conquer your people would not be a fair fight.” “Fair fight, eh? My people think that you are the ones that are primitive. Many say you live in the dark ages.” “You have no idea what we know, and, for that matter, what we can do. Knowledge is power, and we try our best to keep our secrets safe.” “You must have some pretty juicy secrets.” She let out a moan. She felt as if she needed a good long drag of fresh cold water. He caught her when she swayed again. “Morris?” He made eye contact with her again. “Morris will not be calling out to you again. We have disabled the connection.” “No. My tour group.” “Your tour group will be left behind. But I’m afraid I’ll have to take you with me.” “I don’t think you know what you’re doing. The Earth Space Military will come after me. You’ve made a grave error.” “Let them pursue me. They have one hell of a bad surprise awaiting them. My Emperor will not let the same thing happen twice. In the ten years since the last time your humans came forcefully knocking at our door, he has been building up a vast army. Your forces are no matche for the might we have.” He gave her a smug smile. “How big of an army are we talking about?” Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of another great war. “Big enough to start taking each Earth Colony through force, one by one, until we get to Earth.” “You can’t do that.” She was disgusted with herself for letting a plaintive sigh slip into her voice. “Oh, you should tell that to my Emperor. He’s on the bloody warpath.” “Some of those colonies aren’t sympathetic to our current government. They were loyal to the last democratic government we had … please, you can’t start killing people just in the name of vengeance.” “Ah, your passions are aroused. I like it. But until we get you back into my private quarters on the ship, I don’t want to have any public displays of overt affection.” “Overt affection? Don’t hold your breath.” Her gaze roamed over to where her tour group was. “You don’t happen to have the allegiance of the Natives of Willowbane, do you?” “Of course. We are shipping a good deal of platinum here, and we have also promised them our protection should the Earth Slavers come here.” “Earth hasn’t approved the trading of off world slaves, yet. It was only going

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

12

before the Senate ….” She gasped. “Oh, no. They did it again and kept it from the public didn’t they?” Her heart stopped. She resisted the urge to cry out in frustration. She hated knowing that they had a corrupt government, and she also hated knowing that the citizens of Earth were taken advantage of left, right, and center. It was knowledge that made her want to weep. She mourned the loss of the Earth she’d once known. She mourned the loss of so many of her friend’s that had died in the struggle for freedom. She hated the fact that the last democratic government hadn’t prepared for the enemies within their own ranks. “Your government will never stop in their power hungry quest. They won’t stop until all of the known planets are remade in their specific image. I am sorry to shatter the hope you had.” “But Earth has good people … people that still hold a dream in their hearts for our world to return to what it once was. I can’t let you destroy those people.” “You have no choice in the matter. Your hands are tied figuratively, if not literally, though I could arrange for that as well, if you keep resisting me.” “I should just let you rape me, then, is that it?” “Not rape. Oh, no … you will come to me of your own free will.” “You are drugging me. That is a form of control … you have neutralized my free will.” “My power over women will only work on a woman that is open to it. You want me, even if you can’t admit it right now, you want to be in my arms just as much as I want you here. I am not the enemy, Freya.” He made her name sound special. Her knees weakened. “You are the enemy. My friend told me not to come today … she told me the reports in the Earth Chronicle were true. I thought they were just propaganda put there so that our hatred for your people would increase. Now look at me. Macy will have a fit … and I’m definitely in for a ‘I told you so moment.’ I can’t believe it.” “I do. I knew you would always stay loyal to your job, even when the reports finally hit Earth’s media network. We have taken several other human women, and they are quite happy … they are content with their husbands … they are also women that were loyal to the democratic side. They welcomed the chance to be away from Earth. They welcomed freedom.” “Piffle. Freedom isn’t what you offered them. You want to make love to me and use me as a breeding machine, you said so yourself. I’d have no say so in it, in effect I would be your slave.” “Never.” He picked her up as effortlessly as she would pick up a rag doll. She couldn’t fight him. Whatever effect he had on her was wearing her defenses thin. He was right. She was attracted to him, and she didn’t think it was the drug like effect he had over her either. “Please. Let me go now, and I swear I will go back to my home planet without uttering a word about what you planned for me.” “No deal, Freya. You should stop trying to strike a bargain with me. I am immune to your cajoling. I will not give you up now that I have you. You are the perfect jewel.” “This isn’t right.” “It may not be right in your mind, but it is fully justifiable in my own mind. I need you, I want you … and you will never be able to escape me. Soon, my people will have

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

13

full control of the Doorways.” “No … it was invented by humans.” “Indeed, but we are much more sophisticated than you. We have been using an interstellar doorway system for millennia. You Earth Humans are getting far ahead of yourselves. You are overextending yourselves in the worst way possible, and in doing so, you have made yourself vulnerable to an outside attack. And how the mighty will fall. Your civilization, as you know it, will disappear in smoke and ashes. Your fall will be like that of the fall of Rome.” “We make war … you won’t be able to defeat Earth. Our forces are strong.” “Especially since when they won the war, they took what resources your side had and added to their own … how ingenious. But your cunning leaders are getting a bit too big for their position. My people invented the art of war, and now your people will learn what it is like to fight a foe that is unstoppable.” “I’m already learning that valuable lesson.” Sighing, she fell into a drug-induced slumber.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

14

Chapter Three Aries D’Halen had never met such a remarkable woman. Even though he’d been tracking her for almost one year, he hadn’t been prepared to meet such a woman. She had the spark of life and vivacity in her … she was certainly giving him a run for his platinum. She fit perfectly in his arms. Though her spirit was big, her body was quite diminutive in size. He looked at her sleeping contentedly in his arms. Turning his head, he looked at one of the tourists that she had brought with her through the doorway. He watched him zip up his pants and look over at him. “Now that was one hell of a great time.” He left the native that he’d been screwing and walked over to him. “Where in damnation do you think you’re taking Miss Freya.” “I don’t think that should be any of your concern, Terran. I do not see fit to talk to such a human. You have no honor.” “No honor? How dare you say such a foul thing to me? I will have you thrown in the stockade and horse whipped.” “I don’t think so. You’ll not be able to do anything to me, and if you continue your blustering, I will throw you into my own dungeon, and then I’ll throw away the key. The only one that will be at the end of the whip if you try me, will be you.” “Outlander! You will pay for this affront to us. You did this … didn’t you?” “I’ve had everything you did with the Willowbane Natives recorded for posterity. Once I give the order, my men will send the link out to your media sources. I don’t think you have the luxury of making any sort of idle threats against me. You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. Your government has pissed on the Gaians for the last time. We are now fighting back and taking our forces on the offensive. Tell your government officials to get ready, they won’t know what has hit them in three weeks time.” “Three weeks?” “Three weeks is when we will make our first strike against your forces. And it will only take us three strikes to completely erase you from the galaxy. You have spread your suffering far enough, the natives of the planets you have enslaved will not be taken advantage of any more. They’re out for blood. Terran blood.” With that, he took his one hand and pushed Gold back onto his ass. Gold started sputtering, “You will pay deeply for this, you Outlander. You are a piece of shit, and soon you will learn what the Earth Space Military does to kidnappers and hijackers. The only blood being shed will be Gaian blood.” “Don’t count on it.” He didn’t even look back at Gold. He’d always hated the sort of men that were like Gold … he hated them and usually wanted to beat the crap out of them. But for now, he would let Gold live—for now. By the time he’d brought her back to his ship, she’d started to awaken from her slumber. “They will send people after me.” She sounded sleepy. He couldn’t help but smile, even under a great amount of duress, she was still mustering enough stamina to

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

15

give him a fight on his hands. “Morris will have already called for an extraction team, and when they discover that they can’t open the doorway again, that you’ve jammed it somehow, they will be suspicious. Logic will make them assume you and your men have been at it again.” “Then they would be correct in that assumption. My merry men and I have been at it again.” “Merry men? You’ve been researching too many Earth based legends. Now you’ve started quoting them.” “But isn’t that what I am to your world? I am an outlaw to your people, and I do take what I need to survive.” “Robin Hood never took women. You and your men are doing the unthinkable.” “Not the way that I see it, or the way that my Emperor sees it. We are doing what we need to do to survive as a race. Without Earth human women, we will die out.” He thought of the women that had remained loyal to the cause. Many of them were already far past the age of child bearing. They were all Centurions. And Gaian women could not bear children past the age of ninety. “That’s horrible.” She closed her eyes. He could see that she was pained by his words. “I’m sorry that our government did that to you … they never should have used biological weapons. I don’t know how we can ever make amends ....” “Oh, you needn’t fret, you will make amends for me and for my people. You will bear me many strong children that will be our living legacy.” “No. I won’t be your breeder … not in a million years.” “Oh, you won’t just be my breeder … you will be my mate. I believe in Earth human custom you would be considered my wife. We shall take a vow of commitment to each other … I will never lay with another woman once we take that vow. We as a race mate for life.” “How sweet. But I’m not buying into your sentimental shit. I want to go home. I have a life back on Earth.” “A life? They will never free your uncle, no matter how much money you put down on the debts he owes to your planetary government. You have already lost him.” He carried her to his private quarters on the ship. “Put me down!” “You are not strong enough.” “You are so obstinate and stubborn that you won’t even grant me one thing! You are the enemy … and I will continue to think of you as such unless you meet half way with me. I don’t want to hate you, but I will if I have to.” “You are one delightful woman. You never give up. I can see you will make me a perfect partner in life.” “Oh, please. Now you’re just starting to make me sick. I never expected to be taken by you today … and yet here I am, so do me a favor and just stop handing out the compliments so readily. You’ve just made yourself a wanted man …. Gold saw your face. He’ll be giving my government a physical description of you once he makes it back to Earth.” “He won’t make it back to Earth until tomorrow … maybe even longer, and, by that time, my men will have already sent out the data feed that shows him screwing with a Native … in several positions. I must say, he does have quite the sexual appetite.” “You’re disgusting. You are actually taking pleasure in what you’ve set up here.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

16

You told Gold he didn’t have any honor. Why the hell do you think you are any better? You’ve sent out a video that will humiliate and destroy Gold. You are no better than he is, you just use different tactics to achieve your objectives.” “Different tactics? Did I sterilize Gold? Did I throw him in a prison where he was left to rot? Did I? Gold thinks he’s going to bring your world and its colonies back to the feudal days of the Medieval Ages. He believes he can finally oust the leader of your government and proclaim himself high king of your civilization.” “High king? There you go again, you’re contradicting yourself. You said the Gaian people had an Emperor.” “Yes, and we have an elected body of representatives that advises the Emperor, and, should he become too greedy in his quest for power, we can remove the Emperor from his throne.” “How democratic.” “At least my people are free. The Gaians haven’t dealt in slave trading for a millennia. We have had a free society for far longer than your people can claim.” She closed her eyes. Sighing, he watched her look back up at him. “Please, I’m going to ask you one more time to release me. You’re making me feel claustrophobic.” He gently placed her on her feet. She wobbled a bit, but for the most part her color was returning to normal. He knew she would still be battling the raging desire inside of her … he couldn’t help her with that. It would only decrease once they’d mated. Then, they would be bonded, and she would no longer be a slave to her passion. She looked at the doorway behind him. He could see the battle raging inside of her. She wanted to escape. He had to give her more credit for still considering escape even when it seemed so futile. Her courage under fire was definitely to be commended. “You can’t keep me here forever.” She swayed to the side when the ship moved. “That would be my ship starting its takeoff procedures. Soon, we will be traveling through Willowbane’s atmosphere on our way to the Gaian System.” “No. This isn’t happening. I will not be a captive!” “Submit to what is calling inside of you … and you will no longer think of yourself as a captive. I do not intend to treat you like a captive. You are my equal … soon you will give into your passion and we will be joined for all time. You will start to care deeply for me, it is only natural.” “Natural? Natural is meeting each other under serene circumstances, natural isn’t being taken in the middle of an off planet tour … in no way, shape or form is what you are doing natural. You are using your stupid pheromone that you emit to entrance me … you are making me your captive and your slave!” She shouted the last word and backed up when she surprised herself with her ferocity. “In time you will understand that what I did was in the best interest for you. We are suited perfectly, I took great pains to ensure that you had the same values as I hold dear.” “Bullshit.” She started to pace around the room. “I feel like a caged tiger! Is it just me or is it getting hotter in here? I feel like I’m still on Willowbane.” “It is the mating fever. It will pass once you give in to your desire.” “Desire? I revile you.” “You are lying … and you know what I speak is true.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

17

He heard her stomach growl loudly. She looked uncomfortable. “So, I’m hungry. That shouldn’t embarrass me. I’ve had a long day, and I even though I went to the canteen, I didn’t eat lunch.” “You should never skip a meal. I find it weakens the body. I will have someone bring you some food.” “Yippee. I’m looking forward to foreign food today.” “Cease your insults.” His voice boomed out, and the rage within startled her. “I’m sorry.” “Go ahead. Why don’t you take your anger out on me … then I’d definitely have a reason to hate you.” She pulled at her blouse. Perspiration lined her brow and trickled down her neck to the valley between her breasts. He groaned. He had to keep the reign on his control or he would be showing her just how weak he was when it came to wanting her. “I will leave you to freshen up. Even though you think we are primitives, we still have bathing facilities, and I have taken the liberty of filling that wardrobe over there with clothes that should fit you.” “Clothes that are worn by Gaians no doubt.” “Of course.” She looked to the ceiling of his rooms. They had been painted by one of the greatest Gaian artists. “Fresco ceilings on a spaceship? You should have told Gold that you weren’t as barbaric as my government believes you to be … not only are you far more advanced than we believed your society to be, but you are also much more enlightened. Your art is breathtaking.” “Thank you … for once you are giving my people a compliment rather than spitting in my face.” “Spitting in your face? Oh, now you are drawing fanciful tales for me. I don’t recall ever spitting in your face, I think it’s rather a foul habit to spit … but now that I think of it, if you come closer to me, I should try it. The ship can’t be that high up in the atmosphere yet, I might be able to still escape.” “Escape?” he laughed. “If you try to jump off this ship, you won’t be landing in an ocean … you will be landing on hard ground, and I’d warrant that your fragile body would not survive the fall.” “Stop it. Just leave me. I’m hungry. You should go and get me some sustenance, and while you are at it, you can send someone else back here to give me the food. I don’t want to have anything to do with you.” “I have commanded the other men on this ship to distance themselves from you while you are in the state you are in.” “And what state is that?” He sighed. “You still won’t admit you are in the midst of a great fever, a fever that commands you to strip your clothing off and join with my body … a fever that will continue to burn until you give in to the strong sensations.” “I will never give in … I will fight it for as long as I have to.” “You must see the logic in my words. You must admit that you need release. I am willing to give you that release. I will ensure that you enjoy it.” “Here’s an idea … why don’t you enjoy it without me?” She let out a bitter laugh and moved to the far corner of the room. She looked ready to have a temper tantrum that

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

18

would rival his nephew’s temper tantrums. “Get out. Now. Before I try to attack you, even though I know I’m ill equipped for a fight against you. I’d get nowhere. You said yourself there is no escape, and while I was asleep for those brief minutes, you relieved me of my laser pistol.” “Ah, yes. Your weapons are so easy to break. You will not be seeing that pistol again. I instructed my men to destroy it. However, I’m pretty sure it will make it’s way back to my father … he’s fascinated with things from Earth.” “Nice. You are eradicating everything that is Earth made. I suppose you’ll take my blouse and pants and burn those as well, huh? Well, in case you’d like to know, I happen to like my clothes.” “In time you will become accustomed to the dress of the Gaians.” “Let me guess, all of the women are supposed to wear dresses.” “But of course. It is unseemly for a woman to wear leggings. It is most unattractive for women to be seen in public wearing nothing but their pants.” “Did you ever think that maybe pants would be more comfortable for your women to wear?” “There was a time in our history when our women were just like Earth women. But those times have passed, we have seen the way.” “The way? Oh, God. Now I do feel like I’m going to be sick. You can’t use me as your breeding machine, and you’ll never be able to remake me in the image of a Gaian woman. I’m an independent woman. I choose my own fate. I fought in the last war … I will not be your bloody puppet and let you pull my strings whenever you wish me to bow to your bidding. Go to hell. You want me to jump into bed with you, and you haven’t even told me your name.” “I know your name … that is enough.” He turned toward the door. He heard her racing across the floor. He turned to her in time to catch her as she hurtled herself at him. “On second thought … I’ll chance death.” Lifting her leg up, she kneed him in the groin. He grunted. Before he could react and pull her back, she’d managed to override the lock on the door. She was more intelligent than he had thought her to be. She would definitely be a great mother to their future children. He chased her out in the corridors of his ship. His guards turned toward her with their weapons drawn. “Hurt her and I will have your lives!” She didn’t even look back at him, neither did she pay any attention to the guards. He couldn’t let her find out too much before she was prepared. He swore when he saw another door open. “Lord Aries?” He shook his head at the man standing in front of him that had emerged from the chambers. His friend didn’t understand that he wanted him to remain silent. “Talia, my love, you must come at once. We have a runaway!” “Mathias? What are you talking about?” The Earth human known as Talia emerged from their quarters. She looked in horror at Freya. “Captain Kirkland?” Reverence bled into her voice. Freya stopped short when she heard the voice. “Talia?” She turned back and looked at him in complete shock, shock that slowly transformed to a dawning calm. “You arranged this. All of the women you and your merry men have taken used to know me, didn’t they? How dare you! You are unbelievable.” “You should treat our Prince with more respect.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews “Prince? Oh, that’s just perfect.”

19

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

20

Chapter Four Her heart was drumming so loud in her chest that she could hear it. She gasped for breath. Hunger gnawed at her again, she felt weak from her blood sugar being off keel. “I can explain.” “Save your explanations. Why would I care what sort of position you hold in your government? You mean nothing to me, and if I have it my own way, I’ll be back on Earth within a few days.” “Captain Kirkland, that would be a grave miscalculation on your part. You are acting in the heat of the moment. When my Mathias first approached me, I shot him.” “Shot him? How could you … weren’t you overcome by the fever?” She laughed. “Perhaps, but I was so angry, I was able to shoot him anyway. You know that I always have been a bit trigger happy, at least that’s what I used to get lectured for back in the war.” She sighed. She did recall reprimanding the young Lieutenant a few times when she’d jumped the gun. Literally. “Talia, could I possibly speak to you without an audience, or is that strictly forbidden on this ship?” “The ship has a name.” She ignored Aries’s voice. She couldn’t fight the fact that she was attracted to him, strongly attracted to him--so much so that it nearly scared her stiff. “Does it? I won’t be here long to learn it.” “Well, in any case, I’ll tell you. The ship’s name is The Avenger.” “How very quaint. I’m surprised that any of your people would be able to build such a sophisticated piece of technology.” “My Lord! She insults the Royal name of D’Halen.” “Royal name? Oh, come on. Are you seriously telling me that you are a major sort of prince and not just a little wee prince of some dinky principality off in the middle of nowhere?” “Wee or dinky are not two words that I would use to describe His Royal Highness.” “Royal Highness.” She laughed. This was too much. “Well, I know one thing. This ain’t no damn fairytale.” Aries’s eyes lost their animated luster. He turned dead cold sober. A shiver rippled up her spine. “You go too far. You should not cast such blight on my people. I have not painted your people in such a light.” “Oh, you haven’t exactly sung our praises, Aries.” Mathias gasped. “She calls you by your first name … she does not show you the respect of your position.” “Hey, he wants to have sex with me. And, I’m sorry, but I refuse to call him Lord Aries, when I’m supposed to be on even footing with him.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

21

She distantly heard Talia groan and shuffle her feet. “You’re digging yourself a deeper hole, why can’t you just try to be nice?” “Talia, no chastisements from you. You used to come before me for review for losing your temper and picking fights with our own men and women! You were the one that was as stubborn as a bloody terrier!” “My Lord, I request a private audience with Captain Kirkland. I’m sure I can talk some sense into her.” “Talk some sense into me? You can all go to hell. Go and select yourself another breeding machine, I will not have any part of this!” Talia walked toward her and grabbed her arm. Pulling her forward, she dragged her back to the room she shared with Mathias. “You need to learn how to pick your words.” “Pick my words? I’ve been abducted. My full duty is to try to escape at any costs. I will not sit back and mind my p’s and q’s and act like a bloody coward.” “Not a coward. You just don’t know the full of it. The Gaians aren’t our enemy. If anything, they should have been our allies during the war. You don’t understand how alike we are in our mind frames.” “We fought for the continuance of democracy for all … from what I’ve seen of the Gaians they live in a rigid society that doesn’t even allow their women to wear pants.” “Who the hell told you that? They allow you to wear pants, the translator just didn’t translate properly. The word it translates pants to is equivalent to our underwear. Of course they wouldn’t allow their women to walk in public wearing nothing but their underwear.” “Underwear?” “Yes. What sort of backward society did you think they were? The women have always been granted the same rights and freedoms as the men. In fact, they were the ones that the men consulted before going war. The women approved or denied military action. The Emperor has since approved a new counsel that includes the women that didn’t capitulate with Earth and other elected officials to fill the slots that the betrayers once held. They are a lovely society, and the men are very civilized. You should be proud to have been selected by Prince Aries.” “Do you need deprogramming? I think you’ve been taken in and brainwashed by these men.” “When was I ever vulnerable to brainwashing? Now really, Captain.” “I’ve just accomplished what some people never get to experience.” “What’s that, Captain?” Talia pushed her all the way into the quarters she shared with Mathias. “I’ve been thrust into an unthinkable situation. This scenario isn’t going to play out like a dramatization. This is real life … this state of affairs isn’t going to play out to Aries’s liking.” “You have to go along with it, Captain. You’ve been chosen, and, quite frankly, life on the Gaia home world is a lot better than life on Earth or any of its colonies. Honestly, why are you fighting this so much? You were never a rebel, except when it came to the side you fought on.” “We didn’t consider ourselves rebels, we were part of an ousted government.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

22

Those buggers got a foothold on the senate, and it was all downhill from there on in. North America was doing fine without being put under the jurisdiction of the world government.” “I’ll agree wholeheartedly with that statement, Captain, but I won’t go along with anything else you’re saying.” “They kidnapped me! They hijacked the system again, and they took me without my permission!” “And that’s why you’re pitching this utter and total hissy fit?” “Well, of course it is. What have you been drinking or smoking? I was completely happy with my life as a Doorway to the Stars tour guide.” “No, you weren’t. Now you’re just blowing smoke out of your ass. You were miserable. The government had you chained to Earth because they had thrown your uncle in that stinking debtor’s prison. You felt responsible for him, and I can understand that … he is the only family you have left. But trust me on this one, if you put your faith in Lord Aries, he will help you rescue your uncle from that cesspool of a prison.” Without realizing it, she had been slowly moved by Talia’s words. “What the bloody hell is the matter with me? I’m a jumble of frayed nerves and tattered emotions. I feel like crying one minute and yelling the next. This swift alteration in my emotional mood is completely unlike me.” “It’s because you’re in a constant state of arousal. You’re quite simply ....” “Frustrated. I get it. You didn’t need to spell it out for me, I might be in a volatile mood, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with my faculties.” “There isn’t? You have a God-like man standing in front of you, willing to worship you with all that he has, and you literally gave him the cold shoulder.” “Well, it’s not in my moral code to fuck a man that has kidnapped me! You have got to be out of your mind, Talia.” “You will not just be having a mindless ‘fuck’ as you so vulgarly put it, it will be a very rewarding and fulfilling experience.” “Whatever you want to say in your brainwashed haze. I’m not listening to any of it. Where are we, anyway? Don’t tell me this is the apartment you share with what’s his name.” “Mathias. His name is Mathias D’Valas. “Okay. Mathias, it is. But why are you coexisting in perfect harmony with him? You should be railing against the injustice of your situation … you have no passion fever anymore, and even though you say you shot Mathias, he certainly doesn’t look any the worse for wear.” “I shot him. And two days later, we were madly, passionately in love. These men have a way of getting right under your skin, they have a way of unlocking your heart, and making you see how wonderful the world is with them in it.” “I’m going to gag, you know that?” She started to wander around the room, stopping when she noticed what looked to be bottled water. Licking her dry lips, she remembered that she hadn’t had a drink in a few hours, and she was so thirsty. Reaching for an unopened bottle, she opened it, and drank almost the whole bottle save for a measly drop, before Talia noticed what she had in her hands. “Good God. I turn my back for one minute, and you’re into the drink. I just can’t believe it. You take reckless to a whole other level.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

23

“It’s water.” “Water, my ass. You just downed almost a whole bottle of alcohol.” “It doesn’t taste like alcohol, it’s actually quite refreshing.” “That may be so, but it’s also the Gaian equivalent of Vodka. I really hope you can hold your alcohol. I’m thinking though that if you haven’t had anything to eat recently, you’re going to be more than a bit tipsy. I don’t envy you the hangover you’re going to have from drinking that much. On the other hand, Lord Aries might be really happy when he finds out that you drank it. It also acts as an aphrodisiac. You won’t be able to hold yourself back from ripping his clothes off. Oh, dear … you have really done it now, Captain. You are in deep.” Her vision clouded for the briefest second. The milky haze in her eyes gradually cleared. Breathing in deeply, she reached for the side of the table that the Gaian vodka sat on. “You know what?” She hiccupped. “Damn. I need to eat some bread or something else that will absorb the alcohol content running through my blood right now. I’m not going to make a bloody fool of myself. I don’t get drunk easy.” She let out a large belch before she could hold it back. “For not getting drunk easy, I think you’re already well on your way there. How do you feel? Are you getting lightheaded? If you start feeling like you want to dance the cha cha, let me know, and I’ll go and fetch Lord Aries.” Talia looked disgusted with her, and, frankly, Freya couldn’t blame her. Why hadn’t she just used some semblance of selfcontrol before diving into drinking something on an alien spaceship? She needed to have her head examined. “Aries. He’s damn well not my lord, so please spare me the damn title when it comes to him. He’s my kidnapper. He’s a monster! He has broken so many Earth laws that I don’t have enough fingers to keep track of them all.” She licked her lips. “On further reflection, you can scratch all the stuff I said about not getting drunk easy. Holy Cow. That Gaian water is damn tasty.” “It’s not water. It’s vodka. And you never were one for liking the spirits.” “Spirits? Where?” She laughed. Come to think of it, she did feel very giddy. “Oh, shitcake, Freya. You’re going to really regret drinking that tomorrow. You should learn to ask about something when you’re on an alien ship far away from home before you drink it.” “Well, don’t worry, I won’t mistake that stuff for water again. Do the Gaians even drink water?” “Of course. They are essentially humans just like we are … why wouldn’t they? We all need to drink water to survive, and yes, they do bathe in it as well. That’s water over there on that side table.” Focusing her vision, she looked over to where Talia pointed. “Ah. I see. And the Gaelic looking writing on the side?” “It says, water. Mathias has started to teach me how to read and write in their language without using the translator … I can even deactivate the translator and say a few words myself. I’m quite proud of how far I’ve come in such a small amount of time.” “Good for you.” She clapped her hands. “Bang up job you’ve done … have you gotten yourself pregnant yet?” Talia looked uneasy. Freya shook her head, her world spun around her. “Oh, hell. You have. You copulated with him and got pregnant. Sweet.” “Actually, I’m overjoyed. You know I never thought I’d find a man that was right

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

24

for me, and I always have secretly yearned for a family. Like you, all of my family was killed in the war.” “I have my uncle.” “Good for you. I have no one, except Mathias and the child I carry. You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. I don’t see you exactly suffering. Aries took you, yes. You should however feel a certain amount of honor. Haven’t you ever wanted to be wanted? Well, he wants you. He will cherish and love you forever. What more could you ask for? My aunt had five husbands. The first two died, and the last three left her. They told her that she got boring to them, and they needed a little more spice in their lives. I can assure you of one thing, the Gaian men do not have short attention spans, and they don’t get bored. Mathias and I are still feeling the thrill of our first encounter.” She stuck her fingers in her ears and whistled. “I really don’t want to hear about anything that did and didn’t go on between you and that man.” She was acting like a juvenile child, and she knew it. But the unsavory position she’d found herself in was grating on her last nerve. The bravado she’d shown to Macy earlier really was coming back to bite her in the ass. “He’s my husband. We have taken our vows. For all intents and purposes, I am his wife. I will be his wife until one of us dies. I am also now a fully-fledged citizen of the Gaian Empire. I will have the same right and privileges that all Gaians have. That’s more than you can say for what we had back on Earth. You and I could only get jobs as Doorway to the Stars tourists, mainly because we didn’t want to take the shitty jobs that we were approved for as the defeated. You know that we were slandered by a lot of people, and you know that many looked down upon us, ridiculing us behind our back. Many employers wouldn’t touch us with a two-foot pole because we had fought on the side of the Democratic Loyalists. And then there’s many who fought on our side that were thrown into debtors prison, and those that were banished to little known worlds for their part in the war. So, don’t preach to me about wanting to go back to Earth. We aren’t really wanted there so why would I want to go back?” Freya shook her head. “I’m obviously getting nowhere fast with you. I want to go home. I don’t care that home is a different sort of home than I’m used to … Earth is where I was born, and Earth is where I will live out the rest of my days.” “And die.” Talia turned her back on her. “I want you to leave my quarters now. I’ve done all that I can. If you ever do need a shoulder to genuinely lean on without playing out this pity party of yours then, I will always be here for you. In a few days time, we will rendezvous with many of our other friends. They too, will show you the error of your ways, in thinking you need to escape Lord Aries. He won’t hurt you. I can give you my word on that, and you might think a great many things about me right now, but I’m sure you know that my word is as good as platinum.” “I know. Or at least I used to know that. I don’t feel sure of anything anymore. Look at me! I’m a bloody mess. Twelve years ago, I never dreamt I’d find myself in this position. My life has changed so much, I don’t even recognize myself in the mirror anymore. I’m not Freya Kirkland, I’m some shadow of her that’s still managing to cling to the living world. Sometimes, I think I should have died back in the war, with all of our friends.” She looked down at her feet. Why had she decided to wear sandals today? She should have just worn her leather knee high boots. She swallowed. Her toes looked a funny color. Oh, yeah, she’d painted the nails last night.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

25

She felt really out of it. That milky foamy stuff in her eyes kept nearly blinding her. It had to be a side effect of the vodka. Or worse. Perhaps, it was another symptom of the passion fever. If it continued to intensify, she’d be stumbling over things in her path because of her poor sight. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she moved toward the door to leave Talia’s quarters. “Are you sure that Gaian vodka is safe for us mere Terrans to drink?” “I’ve had a small sip of it … but never in the amount you just consumed. Maybe you should sit down.” “I don’t feel like sitting down.” She moaned, and leaned against the wall next to the door. “I feel like death warmed over.” Her vision blurred. She leaned over, trying to fight the wave of nausea that had just washed over her. In the next moment, it slid open to reveal Aries and Mathias. She closed her eyes. “Have you managed to sway her opinion in our favor, yet, Talia?” Aries question hit her like a fist in the stomach. “No.” She spoke the word in a soft whisper. “But I did manage to drink a whole damn bottle of your blasted vodka!” When she opened her eyes, she was met with a look of horror from Aries. He came toward her and put one hand on each shoulder. Staring deeply into her eyes, he shook his head. “Why did you do that silly thing? No one should drink an entire bottle of Gaian vodka, not even a Gaian male, and you’re a Terran female.” “I’m painfully aware of that, Aries.” She laughed. “Every time I think of your name I think of the Greek God of war, Aries.” She reached her arm up and patted him on his cheek. It was bristled with the slightest hint of shadow. “I think we should go back to your quarters. You promised me some food, and a hot shower. You do shower with hot water, right? I mean I’m burning up on the inside but I still want a nice hot shower to wash off some of the traveling dirt that’s on me.” “Traveling dirt?” He chuckled. “You look and smell clean enough to me.” “That’s great. Now you’re smelling me.” Snorting, she tried pushing his steadying hand away. She hated the way he was fussing over her. Why should he be so concerned about her anyway? He didn’t care about her well being. How could he? He’d taken her against her will and he was determined to make her into some sort of breeding machine. “You smell like some sort of flower.” “That would be my perfume.” She laughed. “It was magnolia today. I like to wear different scents every so often.” Looking to the door, she made a clicking sound with her tongue. “I think we should leave Mathias and Talia alone. He’s already done his duty by impregnating her … why don’t you do your duty?” The thought popped into her head like a sudden thunderstorm. She licked her lips. The thought was more enticing than she would have thought only five seconds ago. Was it the Gaian vodka finally seeping into her blood and doing its aphrodisiac duty? She laughed. She could have eaten a plateful of oysters and she wouldn’t probably feel as horny and restless as she was feeling right now. Talia stepped forward. “The vodka has muddled your reasoning. You were dead set against sleeping with him not twenty minutes ago. Do not do something unless you want to, Freya. I fear the vodka is talking right now and not your true conscience.” “Twenty minutes changed my mind. You did give them a fervent defense. Maybe they aren’t as bad as I thought they were. They are ... well, they are quite handsome specimens as far as men go. And look at Aries, he’s a real stud. You are so right, I should

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

26

be happy to have him as my soon to be husband. Of course, I expect him to put a ring on my finger as soon as possible. And, I’d like some form of contract drawn up that will serve as an understanding between us.” “Understanding?” She slapped him on his rock solid chest and smiled at him. The muscles that she felt against her hand made her draw in her breath sharply. “Why don’t we get back so we can have some privacy between us … I think I want to get to know you better.” She reached around and pinched his ass. There was a hint of doubt in his eyes. He narrowed them and gave her a stern gaze. “You are drunk.” “And you are quite astute to have noticed that. I’m past being just drunk … I’m rip roaring drunk.” “You are as your people would say … smashed.” She chuckled. “Well, either way, I want to leave Talia and Mathias alone. We definitely shouldn’t be cramping their style, they need to be free to act like the lovebirds they are.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on. I want you to get some food into that empty stomach of yours. You don’t know what you are saying or doing, and I’m not going to take advantage of that.” “Why not? You admitted earlier that you wanted me badly. And, Talia confirmed the fact that I have to screw you in order to lower my temperature. I’m so damned sick of being hot … I just want to cool off.” Before she knew it they were back in his quarters. “You know, your quarters are quite lavishly decorated and furnished. I guess though that nothing is too good for a Gaian Prince. All hail, Prince Aries.” She snickered, and gave him a curtsy. A servant moved forward into the room, pushing a trolley of food and drink in front of him. Aries looked down at the wine that was sitting on the table. “Take this back with you, Ren. We aren’t in the mood for wine tonight.” “Wine?” She moved forward. “I do like a glass of wine now and then.” “Don’t even think about it. You’ve had your limit for one day.” “There you go again, giving me orders.” Ren left the trolley, grabbed the wine bottle and raced to leave the quarters. Aries shut the door behind him, and entered a sequence into the computer pad that was probably some sort of locking code. “Don’t suppose you’d like to tell me the code that will open the door, huh?” “Not really.” “Good to know. That means the obvious, then. I’m still your captive.” “No, you aren’t. You aren’t my captive. However, you aren’t exactly thinking straight at the moment, and you’re safer with me than you would be wandering throughout this ship. Even though my men have been ordered to stay away from you … they might not be able to restrain themselves if you go prancing through the ship in your current state.” “Current state?” “You look positively radiant. It’s the fever that is making you look so bloody alluring. If I didn’t have such a good sense of self-control, I’d already be helping you out of your clothes.” “Well, why don’t you throw caution to the winds, and try?” “Because you are three sheets to the wind.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

27

“You have been researching old Earth sayings.” “Many of the sayings you Terrans use, we use as well. We are quite alike. Didn’t you know that the ancient Celts and many of your other great civilizations once hailed from our worlds? Yes, they were Gaians.” “You are insane. Are you telling me that they came to our planet in space ships only to live without that technology once on Earth?” “No. I’m telling you why there’s so many Celtic Ruins around your world. They were once used as doorways to the stars.” She stopped in mid-step. “Is that why your Emperor wants Terran females to use as breeding machines?” “You would be correct. We are quite similar when it comes to our genetic makeup. The children we would have together would be a benefit to both of our races.” She started to unbutton her shirt, while he continued to drone on about the history they both shared. Throwing her blouse on a nearby chair, she reached for the zipper to her pants. She knew what she was doing, and she knew what she risked. But she wasn’t going to let him get the upper hand. If someone were going to be in control, it would be her. She was reaching to the clasp on her bra when he stepped forward. “What are you doing?” “If you don’t know, then I’m going to have one hell of a fine time tonight.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

28

Chapter Five She undid her bra, and watched his jaw drop as it fell to the floor. “You’re deeply intoxicated, you don’t know what you’re doing.” “Oh, I know what I’m doing … I just feel a bit more liberated than I normally do … my inhibitions have been let loose. As far as I’m concerned though, I’m in control. I know what I want, and I know how to get it.” He took a step backward. She was reaching to shimmy out of her underpants. “You should stop now.” “Now I have you at a loss. Now you want me to stop … how very nice. I’ve finally managed to turn the tables on the great and mighty Prince Aries. I should give myself a round of applause.” “Stop it.” “Why? You said yourself that you wanted me … well, here I am, and this way, I’m in the driver’s seat. I won’t be under your thumb. If you won’t let me go, then I’m simply going to have to make the best out of a very bad situation.” He swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Well, you have an Adam’s Apple, so ….” She dropped her eyes to his waistline. “Everything else should work the same way.” “Work the same way?” “Yeah, you know … are you built the same way as a human male from Earth?” “I don’t like this side of you, Freya. You’ve become darker. You should stop now before it’s too late. I won’t have you lay the finger of blame on me.” “I’m not going to blame you. I told you, I’m instigating this … I want this. I want you make love to me, tonight. We should have something to eat soon, and take a shower as well. I still feel grimy even if you say I smell okay.” She could tell that he was having one hell of a bloody time maintaining his control. “You need to go into the bathroom and take a cold shower. You’re drunk on Gaian Vodka. We have no idea what sort of a negative effect that could have on your system. You could be sick. How do you know that you’re not sweltering from an allergic reaction to our alcohol? I must insist that you go and drench yourself in a nice long cold shower.” “Nah. I don’t feel like it. I’m ready for some fun. Most men would be thrilled with my sudden change in demeanor. Most men would love to take me against the wall right now, and show me just how much they’ve been waiting for this moment since we both laid eyes on each other. Why deny the sizzling sexual chemistry between us? Huh? I know you want me by the way you’re looking at my naked body. I’ve tried to stay in shape these last few years, even when I was in my darkest hours.” “Your darkest hours?” She laughed, a deep sultry laugh that she could tell was affecting him deeply. The way he clenched his jaw, meant she was having quite the delightful effect on him. “Don’t you think I was depressed? They killed my whole family, you know. My uncle is wasting away in a shit hole of a prison, and there’s nothing I can do about it, unless I want them to throw me in there with him. The best I can do is work my ass off

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

29

trying to earn enough money to pay off his debts. Do you know how much he owes the Government?” He shook his head. “How much?” He didn’t like the pained look on her face. She was right, he was having a hard time holding back. Her body was so beautiful. She probably didn’t even realize how much she was making him sweat it out right now. He could already feel himself becoming hard with his want. If she took one step closer to her, he would be lost. But he knew what she had in mind. She wanted to have glorious mindless sex with him. He on the other hand wanted to take her when they could love each other rather than just seeking only sexual gratification from each other. He didn’t want her to think she was just a pleasure thing … he wanted a long lasting relationship with her, he wanted her as his wife. “If you are intent on this current path, then I must insist that you allow me to say the commitment vows. You don’t need to reply, you only need to say yes. That much will be enough.” “You don’t need witnesses? Because if you do, you’ll have to wait until after I get rid of some of this pent up energy. Is it me, or has it turned into a blasted inferno in here? I’m so hot, I’m going to burst into flames.” “You’re right, you are hot.” She waited for him to move toward her. Now, he looked like the caged tiger, and she reveled in it. He moved toward her, reaching for her hand. His touch sent a jolt of electricity rippling through her. She gasped. “I ....” Her breathing became ragged. “How did you do that?” “I only touched you … I did nothing else. You, on the other hand just filled me with fire, a fire that will consume me shortly.” She took another ragged breath. He’d surprised her with how deeply his touch affected her. She could feel the bond between them being forged. This wasn’t going to just be a mindless bit of sex, she knew that now. He was getting under her skin just like Talia had told her he would. He was getting under her skin so deeply that soon he’d be touching her heart. Drawing in a deep lungful of air, she spoke, “Then say the bloody words, before I shut you up for a few seconds.” She eyed his lips. She wanted to kiss him so much, she could almost taste him. She listened as the melodic sounding words flowed out of his mouth. He paused and looked at her. “Is this when I should say, yes?” He nodded his head. His eyes were filled with a serious glow, and yet, she felt like dancing around the room. If she ever reached for a bottle of Gaian vodka again, she’d have to kick herself. The stuff was poison, and ecstasy mixed into one. She knew what she was doing … she knew what the consequences of her actions would be, and she didn’t care. Talia had been right. She was a woman set on a path of misery. She was stuck in a rut, and if he hadn’t taken her away from her life of living hell, then she would have eventually gone mad. She would have flipped her lid ... and now, he was giving her a chance to save herself. He offered her a new future, a future with children--his children, but children nonetheless. “Yes, oh, yes.” She stood on her tiptoes, and cupped his face tenderly with her hands. Looking deeply into his eyes, she kissed his nose. “You smell good too. Amazing, isn’t it?” Then, she put her finger over his lips. “Are we done talking, or would you like to say something else?” She’d dropped her voice to a whisper. He looked as if he was as

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

30

lost as she was. They were both swept away by the intensity of their ardor. “We’re done talking, for now. I want you to know that I do care deeply for you. I don’t think of you as ....” “Shush. I don’t know what to think of you, so please don’t expect me to whisper any sweet words to you. I can’t bring myself to say them right now, but like you said, the only thing that will sate this burning hunger growing inside of me, is you. I trust the next room is the bedroom?” “Yes.” His voice had grown so husky it made her tingle. “You have the most beautiful voice.” “I thought you said we were done talking.” “I did?” She smiled and kissed him. The kiss was long and hard. She took her one hand and moved it down to his pants. He caught her hand before she could reach the tie on his pants. “Not so fast. I am going to make sure that this isn’t just a one way street.” “One way is fine with me, and if you don’t allow me to run the show so to speak, I won’t have anything to do with you once this over. I am a woman of my word, you may depend upon that. If I say we’re over ....” “We’ll never be over. Do you understand?” “Never say never.” His lavender eyes flared with a dark purple fire. “I need you, Aries … do you want me to need you?” He smiled and gently took her face into his hands. He kissed her back, hard … so hard the kiss rocked her to her very core. She couldn’t let him think he affected her. She couldn’t let him know how much he’d affected her. They had only known each other for a mere few hours, and yet here she was stripped naked before him … here she was getting ready to do exactly what he wanted her to do. She slowly undid his shirt and gradually slipped it off of him. His rippling chest muscles made her draw her breath in sharply. She traced her fingers tenderly over each muscle. “Good lord, you’re built like a bloody tank. I don’t want to know how many men you could send flying if you were in a heated rage. Why ever did your people allow Earth to gain such a foothold in your region of space? You could take down most men from Earth without even breaking a sweat. I just don’t understand it.” “I’ve been known to send many men flying with just a strike of my hand.” She tensed. “Then I’m certainly seeing the softer side of you … and I must say, it does become you.” She rested her hand over his heart, feeling the rhythmic beating of it. “I could never hurt you, Freya. But I wouldn’t say that about anyone that might try to get between us. I like it just as we are now, with nothing between us. I want you to know that I am always going to feel this way.” “Well, I must say. I do like the way you feel right now.” She rubbed her hand against his taunt chest again, reveling in the way he drew in a sharp breath at her soft caress. He couldn’t believe the daring hellcat that was in his arms. Freya continued to surprise and astound him. She continued to take his breath away, just as he’d taken her breath away. He could see that she was intent on getting him just as naked as she was … and he had to say that he really didn’t have a problem with it. He could still see, however, that she might be pissing mad once the intoxicating effects of the Gaian vodka wore off. “Are you quite certain? In a few moments, there will be no going back.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

31

“I’m sure. So sure.” She finally managed to unlatch his belt. She relieved him of his trousers. He was erect with his desire, and he could see that she was very happy. “Astounding. This is just astonishing. If I wake up soon, I will be very unhappy … this can’t be a nightmare, it has to be the best dream ever.” He stiffened with expectation when she slowly caressed his staff. “You are as hard as a rock but as soft as silk. I think I could get used to this.” He swallowed. He pulled her against him and heard her gasp of surprise then she let out a giddy laugh. He touched her breasts and rubbed his finger over one nipple until it puckered and pebbled with hardness. When he dropped his hand to touch the soft crown of curls, she shivered again. She was hot and slick with her desire. He didn’t need to worry that she wasn’t ready for him. The fever was working just as it was supposed to be there. There was a faraway glint in her eyes mingled with pleasure. She looked as if she was ready … before he could react, she fulfilled her promise by taking matters into her own hands, figuratively and literally. She stroked his cock as gently as she could. She wanted to worship him, but first, she had to get rid of some of her heat that was scorching her skin. “I’m so hot.” “So am I, I’m hot for you.” “That’s good.” She backed him toward a wall, and then, just when they got to the wall, she switched places with him. “I have a pulsating inferno inside of me … make it dissipate … and since there’s only one way ….” She kissed him again, and right when she kissed him, he thrust into her, filling her sheath full. She gasped again. The intensity of the sensations rocking her body made her want to scream out loud. She had given herself to him completely. Now the fever inside of her would be extinguished. He continued to thrust inside of her, she rocked against him. She was breathing heavily and so was he. He’d discovered heaven in her arms, no other Gaian woman had made him feel the way he felt. He actually felt bonded to her. And he just hoped she wouldn’t hate him once this was over. He couldn’t live with that. He wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off of her, now that he’d had one taste of the forbidden fruit. She tightened her hold on him. Pulling him to her, she entwined her legs around his muscular back. Their lips locked. Spasms ricocheted through her as she reached her climax. On the wave of her climax, he reached his own release. She was drowning in waves of ecstasy. She molded her lips to his as he filled her with his seed. Her heart was beating so loudly she could hear it pulsing in her eyes. Her eyes grew wet as he held her against him. She had fallen victim to his enchantment. And now she’d never be the woman she once was.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

32

Chapter Six She was in his bed. Stretching languidly, she rubbed her legs against the silk sheets. Memories of the previous night burned through her psyche. She groaned in reaction to the pounding in her head. She felt like a piece of shit. She was naked under the silk sheets as was Aries. She could recall their trail of lovemaking from the common room of his quarters into the bathroom, back to his quarters to eat, and then to bed. She could feel her cheeks flaming. She’d never been so intimate with a man in such a short amount of time knowing him. She could only lay the blame on the fever. It had to have been the thing that caused her to act so damn wantonly. She wasn’t this sort of woman. She didn’t take physical relationships with men lightly. Now the question was how would she break ties with him when she was already in so deep with him? He moaned in his sleep and rolled over. Before she could react, he’d pulled her against him. She gasped. She needed to get away from him. She couldn’t let him pull her back into his intoxicating web of desire. Her head burned with her hangover. She needed a painkiller and she needed one fast. “I don’t suppose you would have anything that would get rid of the man drilling a hole in the side of my head?” He kissed the back of her neck. “That might help.” She tried to pull away from him, but his hold was firm. “I’m serious. I have a bloody whopper of a headache, Aries. I think I need something to help … I’ve never had such a migraine before.” “It’s the vodka.” “Well, I know what it is, and thank you so much for reminding me. But the room is spinning, and I think if someone shot me right now, I’d feel better.” He sat up and leaned down to stroke her forehead. “I’ll get you something that always cures my hangovers. It’s an old natural remedy.” “Hell, I could care less how old or how natural it is at the moment, I just want some form of relief.” His eyes twinkled at her. “Of course you do.” She saw that familiar glint in his eyes. As he slipped out of bed, she pulled the bed sheets closer around her and slid over to the farthest side of the bed. He was rummaging in a cabinet that he’d unlocked. He procured what looked to be a real water bottle and some sort of pink powdery substance in a jar. She swallowed. He could poison her and do away with her right now and no one would be the wiser. Of course, he wouldn’t kill her until she’d given him at least one heir. A momentary sense of panic rippled over her. They hadn’t used any form of contraception last night, and more than likely he wouldn’t care to hear her concern. She could be at this moment already carrying his child. Closing her eyes, she inwardly berated herself for being so foolish and so impetuous. She watched him mix the pink substance into the water. “I don’t suppose that will taste like strawberries, huh?”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

33

“Strawberries?” He sounded puzzled. “A fruit that is indigenous to Earth, obviously.” The social chasm between them was enormous. How could they ever manage to bridge it long enough to have some kind of working relationship? She already had him under her radar. He trusted her. She could be successful at escaping him if she used this new trust to her advantage. Maybe she could figure out a way to get off this clunker of a spaceship and find her way to an Earth outpost. “Here.” She must have gotten lost in her train of thought because suddenly he was shoving the glass of pinkish liquid in her face. “Drink this. All of it.” His visage looked sterner than it had only seconds before. Her eyes widened as she took the glass. Could he hear her thoughts? He sat down lightly on the bed in front of her. Resting his hand lightly on her hand, he gently caressed it. “Drink that right away. If your pain doesn’t subside, I’ll call the ship doctor to give you some pain medication.” Their gazes locked. She licked her lips and started to nervously bite her lower one. “Freya, I assure you, it won’t make you sick.” Her memory flickered back to her thoughts of poison. She swallowed. She couldn’t drink it in front of him. She already felt nauseous. He stood up. A mixture of horror and outrage enveloped his face. She widened her eyes. “Bugger it. You can sense or hear my internal thoughts. Damn you straight to hell.” “I can only pick up on a random thought here and there. I’ll admit it gladly, Talia might tell you anyway. And since we did have sexual intercourse last night you will put two and two together once Talia referred to it. You are not a foolish woman.” “You men truly have full control over your women. Why can’t I sense your thoughts? Why don’t I know what you’re thinking?” “Because I’m shielding my thoughts from you. We are trained at an early age since so many of my people are telepathic without even being sexually bonded. We must know how to defend ourselves from a random mind attack.” “Mind attack? Nice. So this headache of mine, is it really from the vodka or is it from the effect you have on me? You’ve tricked me. You kidnapped me, and you tricked me. Next thing I’ll find out is that Talia put that vodka bottle in a visible place hoping that I would find it and drink it. You knew what it would do to me, that it would make me so I couldn’t hold back from wanting you, and ....” “Enough!” he put his hand up. “Don’t you dare twist what happened between us last night? I never forced you to do anything. You were the instigator in everything that went on between us. I will not have you accusing me of rape. So, don’t even go there.” “You kidnapped me, and you knew that those damnable sexual pheromones of yours would infect me and make be into a raging sex machine. You knew it.” He looked at the glass of water she held. “Drink that. Drink it now.” She looked down into the murky pink water. She had to take a stand against him. Maybe the headache she had would kill her. She could only be so lucky. She watched his eyes flare in reaction to that one thought. She pushed the glass back into his hands. “I’m not going to drink that. I’m not going to have anything else that’s Gaian. Look what the vodka did to me. I’m not going to drink that concoction of yours. It might just make the pain in my head worse. Just leave me alone and bugger off.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

34

“You are acting like a spoiled brat.” “No. I’m reacting in the only way I know how. I won’t be your wife. I won’t be your captive. I feel as cool as a package of ice cream. I want to go home. And if this is the only way to convince you how much I want to be free of you, then so be it.” She lay down on her back, pulled the covers up to cover her entire body, took a ragged breath as another spasm of pain washed over her, and tried her best to ignore his presence. She tried to ignore the sound of him shuffling about. He’d placed the pink water on the nightstand. A chiming sound met her ears. She heard him click something. “Yes?” His voice sounded strained. Obviously, their argument had hit a raw nerve. “Don’t do anything until I get to the bridge.” “The bridge?” She sat up. The tone of his voice plainly said that there was something afoot that she needed to know about. “Yes. You heard me correctly. My attention is needed on the bridge. It would seem we have been followed. We are nearing Gaian Space. If it’s an Earth ship that has followed us, this could be an act of war.” “An act of war? Good show for my side, then.” “Your side?” He stopped midway. He’d pulled on a white silk shirt and he wore burgundy colored leather pants that were skintight. Unconsciously, she licked her lips. “I’d be careful voicing your allegiance in that manner, Freya. As far as my crew is concerned, you are now on my side.” His eyes flashed bright purple. Before she could move away from him, he’d swooped in on her. His lips touched hers with an almost unbearable tenderness. His formidable size completely belied his gentle giant attitude he had with her. As he drew away, she literally had to hold herself back from pulling him toward her again. He had an intoxicating effect on her, so much so that she wondered if she’d fallen into his web of enchantment only to become addicted to him. Could she really leave him like she wanted to? He turned his back to her. “I’d stop thinking with such conviction, Freya. I’d be hard pressed not be able to hear your thoughts. And to answer your last question, you’ll never be able to escape my spell. We have a hold over each other. It’s mutually exclusive, I can tell you that.” She finally swallowed the lump that had lodged in her throat after he’d kissed her. His kiss was torture … his kiss was one of fate. She couldn’t deny that now. But she’d outwitted fate before, and she could do it again. He let out an irritated sigh. She didn’t care if he could hear her thoughts, once he’d gone to the bridge .... She cut her thought off before she could complete it. She was however, too late. He’d picked up on it, and, despite her caution, he’d also just filled in the blank. “Maybe I should tie you to me.” “That won’t be necessary. I’ll be fine here while you go and wage war with a significantly more powerful enemy.” “More powerful?” His harsh laughter made her spine tingle. “You still haven’t fully comprehended the sort of situation you’re in have you? My side is the more formidable one. The weight of power is in our hands. And, in due time, your ‘side’ will find that out the hard way.” She gasped. “How many people do you intend to kill on your way to dominance? You can’t do this. You’ll never earn my respect or love by going down this dark path of

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

35

yours.” “Dark path? Dark path is what your civilization is currently on … your planet is now the scourge of the galaxy. Slave trading is legal, if not encouraged … do you realize how many lives your government has already ruined? If someone doesn’t stop Earth, the galaxy will be completely at its mercy. I can’t let that happen.” “So you think you’re some sort of blasted freedom fighter, is that it?” “Ten years ago, you fought for the side that was campaigning for freedom and democracy for all. Where did it get you? You were trampled beneath the current government’s feet. Liberty and justice have been thrown out. Now your government rules with an iron fist and persecution is their middle name.” “I don’t want to hear anymore of this. You are needed on the bridge, remember?” He gave her one last penetrating look. She shivered. “We have lots of time to work out the kinks in our relationship. I shouldn’t be long on the bridge. My crew is going to make damn certain they make short work of this latest obstacle.” “Obstacle. Well, you’re going to find yourself dealing with a hell of a lot more of those in the very near future. You’ve knocked on grief’s door, and they’re answering.” He scowled at her. She blinked. He actually looked as if he wanted to yell at her. She hoped he would. As soon as he left the room, she leapt into action. Walking to the nearest wardrobe, she opened the door and searched for something that would fit her. She grabbed what looked like a long tunic with leggings. Or was it a dress of some sort with tights? It looked as if it would fit her, Talia must have helped Aries prepare for her presence in his life. She slipped into the strange looking outfit and turned to the door. “Damn.” She didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud until she heard her own voice. He’d locked the door behind him. She glanced around the room and smiled when she saw the glass of pink water. Her head still throbbed, and, if she hoped to be able to break the locking code on the door, she needed to be able to think straight. Dashing over to the table, she picked the glass up and gulped down the pink water. It tasted remarkably sweet and slightly refreshing. If it was indeed poison, it tasted like heaven. She bit her lip, now for the security console. She made her way toward it and had almost reached the door when some sort of force rocked the ship. Screaming, she was knocked off her feet. She went sliding and hit the far wall with a loud cracking noise. “Ouch!” Rubbing the back of her neck she looked up. They were being attacked. Panic rose inside of her. She was being attacked, and she had no power whatsoever over her fate. A klaxon started to ring off in the ship, making her ears hurt and her eyes water. She could smell smoke. Her side of the ship must have taken the brunt of the attack. “Freya?” Someone hammered on the door. She couldn’t recognize the voice over the ear splitting sound of the klaxon. “Hello?” She called back. “Captain?” She recognized that voice. “Talia? I’m trapped in here, the door is locked, and I’m pretty certain that I smell smoke.” “You probably do. We’ve taken one hell of a hit. Just hold tight, Mathias is trying

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

36

to break the code on the door.” “Get an ax and just break the damn door down.” “We’d do that except the door is lined with a force field. It activated when Mathias hammered his fist on the door. He was lucky he didn’t get fried like an egg.” She forced herself to her feet. Something wet trickled down the back of her neck. Placing her hand to the nape of her neck, she felt it connect with the wet hot substance. Going by the way it felt, it had to be her blood. “Shit.” Her vision clouded and then cleared. Whatever substance she’d drank was probably the only reason why she was still awake. Under any other circumstance, that force of a blow would have knocked her out. Drawing in a shattering breath, she made her way toward the door. She knew who she needed. She needed Aries. He’d know how to get her out of this fix she found herself in. “Freya? Are you okay? You sound kind of weak.” “I’m fine. I was thrown off my feet when the ship was hit, and I’ve got a pretty big gash at the back of my head.” “Oh, no! Try to stay awake until we can get in to you. You’re probably got a concussion.” “That goes without saying. I know I’ve suffered a concussion. I feel sick to my stomach.” She grabbed onto a nearby chair to keep from falling down. Her legs had turned to pure jelly beneath her. “Hang on, Captain. Mathias is working hard to get in to you. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about another hit. We took the ship out when they hit us the last time. They were pretty bold buggers.” “Earth ship?” She forced the words out. She knew she wasn’t making much sense, but Talia had always been able to understand what she meant without her actually having to voice her worries. “Yes. It was an Earth ship, and before you start fretting about how we killed our own, they fired on us first. It was a ship filled with mercenaries. You know how they are … they’re driven solely by profit. Don’t you remember how some of them sold out members of our side during the war?” She closed her eyes. She felt sluggish. Had she come this far only to die of a bloody head trauma? She’d taken her fair share of battle wounds in the past, and she’d even cracked her skull a few times. This time was different. She was bleeding quite a bit, and she felt as if she were floating. “Get out of the way.” She could hear Aries voice. She smiled. At least he’d be able to see the fruits of his labors. He’d kidnapped her only to watch her die. She slid down to her knees, still managing to keep a hold of the chair. “Aries.” She could feel herself falling into the deep abyss that beckoned to her. Her life force was draining away. She didn’t want to die--she hadn’t won her side of the argument. “I’m coming, Freya!” She could hear the heightened urgency in his voice. Could he feel how near to death’s doorstep she was? Her mouth had gone dry. She’d had so many brushes with death in the past, and now, death had finally claimed her. She’d wanted to escape from Aries, but she’d never thought of this path. “Help me.” She didn’t want to die. She didn’t want to go down in the history

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

37

books as a woman that kept getting beaten down no matter what she tried to do in life. She had never been able to conquer her demons. In the past, she had always just remained one bloody step ahead of total destruction. And, now, her time had finally run out. “I’m coming, Freya. Just hold on. Listen to my voice and feed off my strength. I can keep you alive through the sheer force of my will!” She shook her head. “I’m just so sick and tired. I think I’m going to welcome my own final curtain call.” As she closed her eyes, she heard the door crash open. Strong arms pulled her up. He rested her head against his chest. “Hang on. I’m taking you to the doctors. They’ll be able to save you.” Talia skidded into the room. “Oh, my God! I’ve never seen so much blood come out of one person.” “Mathias, you have to take control. Get us into Gaian Territory, my patience has been broken. I am openly declaring war. Make sure the Empire knows. My father will be most pleased that I have finally decided to fight.” “Your father?” “Yes. My father. He’s the Prince Consort of the Gaian Empire. My mother is the Empress, and I am the Prince Regent.” “Let me die now.” She let out a shaky breath and fell into a deep black hole.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

38

Chapter Seven Her head felt tight. Opening her eyes, she met Aries’ gaze. “What day is it?” Her voice sounded raspy. She still felt so tired. Her eyelids felt as if they weighed two pounds each. “You’ve been unconscious for almost two weeks. You almost died. I can’t believe how close I came to losing you.” “I wish you had.” The look of fright mingled with anger in his eyes made her inwardly cringe. She didn’t know if she really wanted to die, but compared to her life with him as his captive, it seemed like a welcome adventure. His eyes hardened. “If it means anything to you, you only survived thanks to my own personal doctors.” “Thank you. I’d like to just take this time to point one thing out to you, since you seem to want me to be in your sainted doctors debt. Here’s my little zinger. I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t kidnap me. Hence, I wouldn’t have been caught up in your little battle and I wouldn’t have had my head almost knocked off.” His eyes glinted again. “Not that you care … but I think you should know anyway. It would seem that you had a small price on that beautiful head of yours. The ship of mercenaries wasn’t after me, they were after you. They wanted your head on a platter—literally. I’m sorry I took offense to that. The next time, shall I hand you over to them?” She looked away from him. “Why do you always make me feel like I’m two inches tall? Every time I try to gain the upper hand on you, you make me feel miserable.” “I didn’t think I’d have to make you feel miserable. You already look as white as a ghost.” “I’ve been dodging those head hunters for quite a long time. During the war, I killed someone that had quite a lot of money … it was in self-defense, but his relatives have been after me ever since. I’ve managed to kill the other two bounty hunters that came for me, I didn’t know I still had some of them on my trail.” “Some of them? That ship was a battle corvette fully loaded. You made an awfully big enemy when you killed that man. I take it you didn’t kill him in the heat of battle?” “No. He was on my side. He tried to rape me, I killed him.” “Rape you?” His face became mottled with rage. “When he came up behind me to attack me, he didn’t know I was cleaning my old fashioned revolver. He didn’t get too far before I gave him a nice little hole between his eyes.” “I will kill every last member of his family for his crimes against you.” “Almost crime. I killed him. I think he’s paid in full. I didn’t count on the fact that he had influential family members. They run an organized galactic crime syndicate. I don’t think they’ll ever stop coming after me. I thought they’d give up when I killed their last two hired men, but they aren’t going to stop.” “Oh, they’ll stop. Even if I have to keep killing them as they come.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

39

She was touched by his loyalty and his concern. She loved the way he moved into protective mode whenever she mentioned someone that caused her harm. She liked having someone there that would watch out for her, but there was a fine line between protector and control freak. “No. I don’t want you to kill people for me. There has to be some way to reason with them. I just don’t understand why they didn’t know what a dirty rotten bastard he was. I wasn’t the first woman he attacked, and he was just an asshole with anyone he met. They had to know he was bad right down to his bone marrow.” “It sounds as if he was one of those two faced types. Haven’t you ever met one? You know, someone that only shows their true colors to one part of their life and hides them from the other part of their life.” She bit her lip. Her head had started to ache. She wished she could loosen the bandages. “I’m having trouble remembering a few things about my life. I suppose I’ve really been knocked senseless. I’m trying to think of his last name, but I keep drawing a blank.” “The doctors say that will return in due time. I wouldn’t worry about it. At least you remember me.” “Oh, please. I wish you’d been totally wiped from my mind.” She almost regretted her choice of words when she saw the hurt look in his eyes. Her eyes wandered around the room. They weren’t on a spaceship now. “Where are we?” “We are on the Gaian home world.” “Nice. I guess there’s a snowball’s chance in hell of me ever going back to Earth, huh?” “My mother has seen you. She approves. Apparently, she thinks you have a sweet soul. I don’t know where she got that idea from.” The feinted cynicism in his voice would have been more believable if he wasn’t smiling when he said it. “A sweet soul?” “My mother prides herself on being able to judge other people simply by reading them.” “Reading them? I don’t like the sound of that. Is she telepathic?” “I guess you could say she’s telepathic. My mother has talents that are beyond me. She was crushed when her female subjects turned against her.” “Do you mean your mother is the real person that had a hand in banishing all of the Gaian women?” “Not all. I never said every single Gaian female was exiled. I only said that some of them were … namely most of the women that were young enough to still bear children. The more mature women were intelligent enough to recognize Earth as our silent enemy … but the younger population believed our ancient civilization had to listen to the forward thinking Terrans. They were wrong. Your people were the wolves in sheep’s clothing.” “You told me your Emperor had banished the Gaian women. You lied to me.” “I never lied to you. I simply didn’t want you to know my entire family history until I was ready for you to have that knowledge. Knowledge is power, you know.” “I feel sick. Here I was thinking you were a chauvinistic society filled with machismos. Instead, you are an empire run by a woman. How very unexpected.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

40

“My mother does have the final say in all matters of the Empire, but in recent years, she’s given me full control over our foreign policies. Waging war with another Empire falls in my reign of power.” “Earth isn’t an Empire. We are a commonwealth of Planets united under one Government.” “A totalitarian and fascist government, to my way of thinking. Earth is more of an Empire in your way of defining Empire than the Gain Peoples will ever be.” “You’re serving me up with a generous portion of fast-talk, Aries.” “Did I tell you how much I love the sound of your voice when you say my name?” “I sound like a bloody toad. I’m croaking so badly I’m scaring myself.” “Your vocal chords are just out of shape from being unused for so long. Drink some of that water and you should be back to your old self soon. My doctors have never let me down in the past.” “You must be far more advanced in the field of medicine than our Intelligence officers believed.” “We never allowed Earth to see our true way of life. If they did present a threat to us as I suspected, we needed to have some sort of power tipped in our favor.” “So you took your belief that knowledge is power to an entirely new level of execution.” “Indeed, we did. Earth’s forces will never see us coming.” She shifted in the bed, letting out a tiny moan when the slightest movement caused agony to rip through her head. “Oh, man. I’m not going to be getting out of this bed for a little while.” “No, you won’t be. I’ll be staying here with you to make sure of that.” She looked up at him. “You really don’t need to feel as if you have to watch over me twenty-four seven. I’ll be fine. Really. I think with the excellent medical care of the Gaians, I’ll be able to leave this system before you and your mighty military make the first strike against Earth.” The look on his face turned thunderous. She could see he was having a hard time controlling his temper. She’d really hit a nerve this time. He walked away from her, paced the length of her bedchamber, and then walked back toward her. “You are not going anywhere. Do you think I’d let you leave me after all that we have shared? You made a pivotal error in judgment when you seduced me the first night we met.” “Seduced you? I was burning up with an insatiable fever that was making me feel as if I was going to spontaneously combust, and you tell me that I seduced you?” She briefly thought back to that night. He was right. She’d acted like a sexual hellcat. She had seduced him. Her stomach fell. She could only blame one person for her current situation. She had to blame herself. But what would happen to her uncle and all of her friends that she’d left back on Earth? They didn’t deserve to die in this act of retribution by the Gaian Empire. She leaned back against the pillows and let out a long sigh. “I should never have seduced you. I’m sorry for doing that now.” “Well, I’m not.” He sank down into the ornate looking chair that sat beside the bed. He tried to reach for her hand, but she pulled away in the nick of time and shoved

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

41

her hand under the sheets. She didn’t miss the platinum band on her finger though. Shocked, she pulled her hand free of the covers and held it in the light. “What is this?” “In your society, I think you call them wedding bands. In our society we call them love rings. But they essentially mean the same thing. You only wear them to signify your love and loyalty to your husband or wife.” Her stomach rolled again. She fought the urge to heave. “I can’t believe this. You have finagled everything to your way of thinking. You’ve made sure you put your seal on me. This is fantastic. Next thing you’re going to tell me is that I’m now known as Princess Freya.” The deadpan expression he gave her in silent answer made her want to sigh again. She studied her surroundings. The room had obviously been equipped with the latest Gaian Medical Technology, and yet something told her that they just weren’t in a hospital somewhere. She felt as if she were in someone’s home. “This wouldn’t happen to be your quarters in your castle, would it?” “Palace, actually. It’s the royal seat of Gaian power.” “Oh, great. I’m right in the thick of it, then. I’m married to the enemy, and I’m bloody well in your headquarters.” “I wouldn’t say headquarters. All of our war planning is done offsite.” “Offsite?” “Yes. I won’t have our beautiful capital planet dimmed by such a dark thing as oncoming war.” “You are actually serious about attacking Earth, aren’t you? Don’t you realize that in your quest for revenge you will inadvertently kill innocent people? You will be killing men and women and children,” she stressed the last word, “that are just like me. I don’t know how you’re going to be able to sleep at night. If I were you, I’d be beside myself with guilt.” “How many people did you kill during your last war?” She hated him for bringing that up and using it against her. It was a dirty trick. “You’re a dirty rotten bastard. Not only are you a kidnapper but soon you’ll be a mass murderer!” “Mass murderer? I don’t think you’ve quite grasped the significance of what this war will mean for the entire universe. Your home planet has gone into dangerous territory. They have begun to lose their sense of justice. They are involved in slave trading, and they are putting limits on the rights and freedoms of not only the citizens of the planets they conquer, but their own citizens as well. They’ve taken your society back to the your Earth Dark Ages. If I don’t strike now, the light I see at the end of our tunnel will be extinguished forever. This isn’t my choice. This is my duty. If you want to see your home planet return to its former glory, you will give me your loyalty and you will give me your blessings.” “Blessings? I’ll damn you straight to hell, Aries.” “Freya.” The pensive tone in his voice hit a raw nerve deep inside of her. “Stop it. Don’t say my name like that. I don’t know why I even feel anything for you. I have to stop wallowing in self-denial, though. You are the first man to look at me with tenderness and respect in your eyes at the same time. You haven’t been an ogre to me by mishandling me physically, and some women in my situation would be reveling in

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

42

the thoughts of being a princess. The only problem is, I can’t stand idly by and let you wage war with my home planet. There are so many people on Earth that I love.” “But how many of them are still alive?” He looked away from her. She sat up, pushing herself up on her pillows that he helped to plump up behind her. A stab of coiling fear wound through her heart. She almost forgot to breathe. She wasn’t at all liking the knowing look that had flashed in his eyes. She slowed her breathing. Perspiration popped across her forehead. She still felt a lingering pain from her injury. She knew she’d been given a painkiller. Fat lot of good it was doing her right now. “What happened? You’re keeping something from me.” She sat forward and reached for him. “I don’t think I should say anything else. The doctors informed me that you needed time to heal. You should rest. Try to take it easy. Don’t think about anything except your well being.” “Shove my bloody well being. Aries? What happened in the time when I was out and you weren’t? I hate lost time. I have no recollection of the time when I was unconscious and that drives me nuts. During the war I suffered an injury that put me into a coma for almost a month. During that time, our side suffered enough blows to ultimately eradicate our chances for victory. I felt cheated. I felt lost.” “I won’t tell you. I can’t tell you. You’ll take a hard hit with the knowledge my intelligence sources have gathered.” “No.” Her nose started to sting, as tears gathered in her eyes. She could almost feel the sense of pervading doom in the air. “It’s about my uncle, isn’t it?” She shook her head. “I should have figured out a viable way to get him smuggled out of that stinking hole of a prison they had him in.” “Freya, you need to calm down.” The serious look in his eyes only confirmed her worst fears. “Don’t tell me to calm down!” She snapped. Sighing, she shook her head. “How do you expect me to calm down?” She knew it. He had that same look in his eyes that she’d seen before. It was the look of deep sorrow someone had when they had grave news to deliver. It was the look someone had when they were just about to tell you someone you loved had died. A sinking sickening feeling lodged in her stomach. “When?” “When did he die, or when did I find out about his death?” She pursed her lips, her eyes continued to sting. She took another shattering breath. “When did he die?” She closed her eyes against the pain. Her uncle had once been a strong and vibrant life filled with exuberance for everything new and exciting. “He died eleven months ago.” “Eleven months?” her hands shook. She hadn’t been allowed access to see him for the last three years … but she’d just gotten a letter from him two months ago. “Impossible. I have a letter from him that he sent to me two months ago.” “I don’t think he sent it. They probably told him to write up a stockpile before they disposed of him.” “Disposed of him? That sounds so cruel and callous. He didn’t have a death

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

43

sentence, he was only in there for debt.” “Debt he accrued by placing all of his wealth on the losing side of the war.” Her head was spinning. She took a few more cleansing breaths. “I can’t seem to wrap my head around this. No matter what sort of shit hit the fan surrounding my Uncle Robert, he always found a way to emerge unscathed. He’s not dead. He’s always risen from the ashes of tragedy before. I have no doubt he’ll do so again. He’s my only living link to my family, Aries.” “You can’t live in denial for the rest of your life, Freya. You need to come to terms with your uncle’s death, grieve and move on.” “Move on? You might say he’s been dead for the past eleven months, but I’m just coming to grips with it. I won’t believe it. You don’t have any proof. And without solid proof you won’t convince me.” She looked away from him, over at the portrait of him that hung on the far wall. He looked so regal, so in control of the situation. Odd. He probably didn’t know what it felt like to not have control. He didn’t know how desperate she felt right now. The walls were slowly closing in on her. She was on foreign ground, in a no man’s land of sorts, and she felt as if she was suspended out in a sea of nothing. She had no one to anchor her to her old life. “What about Macy? I left her and she was suffering from a terrible migraine, with her heart ailment ….” “I sent my people to retrieve her, since I knew how worried you would be about her. The two of you have literally cleaved to each other for most of your lives. I knew you’d need to know she was safe.” “Where is she?” “She ran before my forces could get to her.” “Ran? She has no street smarts, she was a tactical advisor in the war, and she has very little knowledge of what it’s like to be involved in hand-to-hand combat.” “Really? I think you probably taught her a few things, and didn’t you and she receive a self-defense course in order to qualify as Doorway to the Stars guides?” “We did. She barely passed. She’s a better thinker … she can solve problems like no one else I’ve ever known. In the end in order to secure her position as a tour guide, I had to ....” “Let me guess. You had to pull a few strings.” “A few strings, in a manner of speaking. I had some old debts to call in ….” She sighed again. “I should leave. You should get me access to a ship, I’ll return to Earth and I’ll be able to find Macy, I know of all of her old hideouts.” “I don’t think so.” “Look, I have a bounty hunter after me, I have far more baggage than you have houseroom for. Just make it easier on yourself and go and choose some other poor unsuspecting female to be the mother of your progeny. I just don’t make the cut. You should be able to see that for yourself.” “I see you for what you are, Freya. I didn’t just select you based on your physical beauty. I told you I had researched you to my fullest capability. We are more compatible then you will ever realize.” “I’ve done this dance with you before, Aries. And I’m worn out. Look at me!” She placed her hand to the bandage still wrapped around her head. “With all of the

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

44

medical advances you claim that your society possesses, I’m still lying her with one hell of a dull headache, and I’ve got a bloody bandage wrapped around my head. I must have been pretty damn close to the pearly gates of the great beyond. Don’t you think you’ve hurt me enough?” “I didn’t hurt you. Your past hurt you. You are forgetting why we were attacked. Had I not taken you, you would have been ambushed, and chances are you would be with your uncle right now.” He looked toward the door. “I have to go. I have a meeting in ten minutes.” “A meeting to plan your first strike against Earth?” The bitterness in her voice was so scathing, she inwardly flinched at the intensity of it. “Perhaps.” His eyes flashed. Her heart skipped a beat. “However, that is not of your concern. You need to grieve and get better. I want you to focus on healing. Put all of your energy toward that.” She sat forward. She didn’t want him to leave her line of sight. There was no telling what he’d do if she couldn’t keep an eye on him. “Take me with you.” He stopped midway to the door. “I can’t. You’ll have your time in the sun, soon. I shall be presenting you as my wife and princess soon enough. As we speak, my mother is planning the celebrations.” “Nice. So I basically have no say in anything. I can’t even attend one of your meetings with you.” He snorted. “You have no power when it comes to Gaia going to war.” “I have no power when it comes to anything in your world. I have no say in anything, not even my own future.” “I won’t let you think you’re powerless. You just can’t sway my decision on the matter of war with your world.” “Why? Why do you persist in this sickening endeavor? I just don’t understand why.” “You should already know. You lost so many of your own during the war … I thought you’d like to finally have your revenge.” “The only way I’ll get revenge is if I get to kill the bastards that put my uncle in prison. That’s all I care about. The soldiers that were fighting us during the war were only doing what they thought was right. They were only following the chain of command.” He gave her one last long look, opened the door, and left the room. “You bastard!”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

45

Chapter Eight The painkillers in her system weren’t making her at all drowsy. Instead, she couldn’t seem to close her eyes for any longer than five minutes. She wondered if it was her human genetics having an adverse reaction to the medication. She probably should have mentioned that to Aries … if only she hadn’t been so damned hotheaded. Breathing deeply, she tried to calm her rattled nerves. She felt a deep gnawing pain at the thought of her uncle not being alive. Problem was, she’d suffered so many heartbreaks that she had numbed herself to the thought of his death. It would hit her in full force in a couple of days. Hit her so hard that she would feel like retreating to her bedroom and never coming out. Then, her grief would ebb, and she’d have her memories to cling to. She had some pretty great memories of her uncle. He’d been such a caring man …. “Snap out of it, Freya.” Her voice echoed through the empty room, making the hairs on the nape of her neck stand on end. Rubbing the back of her neck, she threw back the covers on her bed, and swung her legs over the side. The bed was levitated off the floor. Her eyes widened and her heart stopped for a brief second, when she realized she was literally floating in mid air. They had obviously mastered a great deal of technology despite their ancient looking tapestries, and some of their archaic ways. “Okay, so this is weird.” She sighed, her throat constricted. She’d gotten in way over her head, and she didn’t know how she’d be able to manage to get herself out of this bloody mess. Could she make the jump to the floor without injuring herself further? She knew she had to get out of this bed, and then, she had to get out of the room. From there, she had to figure out a way to get back to Earth to warn them of the incoming attack. There was just no other way. She had to do her duty to her home planet, and forget any sort of duty or emotions she might have acquired for Aries. Under normal circumstances, she would have no problem making the jump, but her brain felt foggy and her body felt sluggish. Maybe she should just bide her time and wait until her body had healed enough to make the long journey ahead. Aries had mentioned their people being the first ones to master the doorway to the stars planetary traveling device, maybe she could find it, and travel back to Earth that way. It was worth a try. And, where there was a will there was a way. She had plenty of will, now she had to show Aries that she matched him in every way. She looked around for some sort of step platform that would aid her in getting off the bed. “Brilliant.” Here she was talking to herself, and she had a head injury that still needed to heal. She had to be crazy to even contemplate her escape. She was in no physical condition to put herself through such a strain, and yet, she didn’t have any choice. “Choice is a very tricky thing, isn’t it?” The female voice came out of the air. She whipped her head around, making her head throb with pain. “Who’s there?”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

46

“Someone.” A trickling silvery laugh, only served to annoy her further. She inhaled. “Okay, look, I’m not really in a mood to talk to thin air.” “Yes, you’d rather talk to yourself, wouldn’t you, Freya?” “What’s up with all of these rhetorical questions? They’re giving me an ass ache on top of my gigantic headache.” “I would advise that you rethink the foolhardy decision you are about to make. You do not have the stamina needed to jump the distance from the bed to the floor.” “Who are you?” “Why don’t you guess? I’m not from Earth, if that clue will help you.” “I doubt I’ll meet very many Terrans here on the capital planet of Gaia.” “I would think you’d be correct, although our Gaian males have been bringing back quite a few females from Earth.” Dryness prickled at the back of her throat. Licking her lips, she wished for a glass of water. “You are thirsty. I shall get you a drink of water. And this time, you’ll be drinking water … not Gaian Vodka.” A hint of amusement bled through the nameless woman’s voice. Freya could hear water being poured into a glass. She scanned the room and finally located a table with a water pitcher and glasses on it. The water pitcher was raised in the air, almost as if someone had a hold of it and they were pouring her a glass of water. So, one mystery was solved, she wasn’t losing her mind, there was another physical entity in the room with her, albeit the entity had to be in stealth mode. “You’ll probably be wanting some sustenance soon as well. You worried Aries greatly, when you were so gravely injured. He’s quite in a dither about the bounty that’s been placed on your head. I assure you, he will eradicate the threat against your life. Aries has a way of making trouble go away.” “I don’t need Aries to protect me.” “At the moment, you don’t sound or look very convincing. You are a woman that is strong, and I applaud you for your independent spirit, I have one myself, so I can’t fault you for your headstrong ways, but I will tell you to err on the side of caution.” “I like to throw caution to the wind.” “That is a weakness of yours, one which you would be well advised to fight.” Freya watched in a mixture of surprise and horror as the water glass started to float toward her. Against her better judgment, she pulled her legs up covering them again with the bedcovers. “You will not be sorry that you have fought your inclination to flee.” “Flee?” Her thoughts swirled in her head. She knew she had a raging pain in her head, she could have sworn that she’d never once mentioned her thoughts of escape aloud. The water glass stopped its voyage. She squinted her eyes, hoping to see some sort of silhouette or shadow. “I meant to say ….” The woman’s voice faded. “You meant to say exactly what you said. You were just hoping that I wouldn’t put two and two together to make four.” She pursed her lips. “I want to know who the hell you are and why the hell you’re spying on me. Have your kind lost all sense of decorum and scruples when it comes to giving an individual the amount of privacy they

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

47

deserve? Huh?” “You do not need to raise your voice. I can hear you loud and clear. I’ve been watching over you for most of the day and night these last two weeks. Aries would not have left to attend to his duties as Regent, if I had not agreed to watch over you.” “Now I need a bloody watchdog. Fantastic.” “I would not call what I was doing, a watchdog. I was protecting you. I was making sure you did not slip away into that dark cavern that we all must journey to at the end of our lives.” “I wish you hadn’t. I would have preferred death to a life of serving Aries as his breeder.” “Breeder? I don’t think you are using the right term. Aries loves you deeply. He would do anything for you. You disrespect him by saying he is only using you as a ‘breeder.” The woman sounded angry and the sound in her voice plainly described her utter and complete disgust at the thought of her viewing Aries as her slaver. “Aries took me against my will. He kidnapped me and made me ....” She broke off suddenly as the full recollection of what had transpired between Aries and her hit her in full force. “You can’t say it because even you don’t believe it.” The triumph in the woman’s voice grated on her nerves. “I’d really feel a lot better about having a conversation with a complete stranger if I could see said complete stranger!” She sat forward. The glass of water had now reached her. It floated inches in front of her face. Cautiously, she reached out and grabbed a hold of the glass. Tipping it to her mouth, she sipped the water to taste it. This tasted like water, but then so had the Gaian vodka. “You are drinking water. We would not bring you this far back from the valley of death only to poison you in the end.” She snorted. “I wouldn’t bank my life on that. You’re about to attack my kind, how do you expect me to trust you? Even now you keep yourself veiled in secrecy, hiding yourself from me for some reason beyond my comprehension.” “You should have told Aries about how you felt. I will have to get the doctors in here again to access your situation.” “I’m fine. I only felt a bit woozy … I’ll be fine. It’s not as if I’m going into some sort of arrest or anything. I’ve felt worse, I’ll weather this storm. Don’t you worry your little invisible head. And while I’d admire your ability to change the subject, I would not be distracted easily. I might have almost had my head knocked loose two weeks ago, but I’m well on the mend, and my faculties seem to be in tip-top condition.” “You are right. You do have a keen and cunning mind. You also have the ability of great duplicity.” “I’m no traitor. Don’t even say it again. I take great offense at that. I would never betray Aries.” “And yet, you would run away from him, and tell your commanders of his plotting against them? I wouldn’t call that loyalty.” Sourness invaded her mouth. She drank down the rest of the water. And then, tried to figure out where she could put the empty glass. “I’ll take that.” The glass was wrenched out of her hands. “You lie to yourself,

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

48

Freya. Though you might have a sweet soul, you will do whatever it takes to stay true to what you believe in. And at the moment you don’t truly believe in Aries. You don’t believe that he loves you, and you can’t fathom why he would want you. You are so used to being discarded at the drop of the hat that you are now painting my Aries with the same brush.” “For not being Terran you sure do use a lot of our sayings.” “I have researched your culture. Why would that surprise you? We need to know our enemy in order to emerge victorious.” “I’m not used to being discarded. Everyone has left me because they had no choice. They were killed.” “Yes. Even though you don’t want to admit it, some have left you, and they are still alive.” “Wait a minute. Let’s rewind, shall we? It’s no use staying hidden from me. You just gave away your true identity. Though I must say I’m quite humbled to be in your presence, Empress.” The silvery laughter met her ears again. She frowned. Even though it was quite a lovely sound, her patience was wearing thin at the moment. It had to be her injury that was making her feel so damn bitchy. “You are quite impressive. Now I truly know why my son selected you. Your brilliance precedes you, for a Terran.” “That’s great. You’ll never let me live down what I am, will you? So, there’s basically no point in me staying here. Once I get well enough for space travel, you’ll have to help me find my way back home. You don’t need to tell me that you think I’m not good enough for your son. I just heard it in your voice. And I can’t really blame you. I’m not familiar to you, I have conflicting values, and I don’t want to be with your son. You only want what’s best for your son, and I’m not the best wife your son could have. So, since we share a fragile understanding, you have to allow me to return to where I belong.” “As soon as Aries lost his heart to you, you were right where you belong.” “You’re impossible. Your son and you both suffer from the same affliction.” “And what is that?” “You suffer from the sickness of not taking no for an answer. You want everything your way no matter what you might think of me. Your dislike for me will continue to grow, and what will you do once I’ve had a child by your son? You will see me in your grandchild, and you might just come to resent that. Why don’t you just keep your line pure? I’m sure there’s a Gaian female somewhere that could have at least one child with Aries.” “I doubt it. As he no doubt already told you, your people have sterilized the age groups of our Gaian females that are able to bear children. Earth knew what they were doing, when they put that sterilization agent in the air. They knew that almost all of our childbearing females would be there. Alas, the ones that were not taken in by the enemy are too old. The younger generation has betrayed us. We need to look toward the future.” “Nice. So, basically, I’m still a prisoner here as far as you’re concerned. I might have all of the comforts of home, but I will never be trusted, and you will always view me as an outsider in your midst.” “You can earn my trust. I do not think you are a vile creature. Quite the opposite.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

49

You will make a fine wife to Aries and a loving mother to his children. Your heart is pure when it comes to that … you desire children, you long for them. Why don’t you just allow Aries to make you happy? We will not enslave the population of Earth, I would not allow that. Slavery is against all of my ideals. However, I will encourage Aries in all of his endeavors. I will completely support his hankering for war.” “You named him well, then. The hankering for war must have been in his blood since he was born.” “You are referring to your ancient God of War. He was a distant relative of mine. Yes, you are quite right, he was quite bloodthirsty. But the Royal House of Gaia has changed a lot since then. What more could be expected, several thousand years have passed.” “You know, I’d like it a lot more if you would reveal yourself to me. Are you afraid for me to know your face? Or do you not think I’m worthy enough to glance upon such a royal face?” She laughed. “I do not think that. You have the wrong impression of me. I just like to observe without being singled out all of the time.” “Yes, it must make it so much easier for you to sneak around so you can delve telepathically into everyone’s minds.” “You need to stop thinking the worst of me. I only wanted to read a bit of your mind so I would know if you can be trusted around Aries.” “You already told me that you knew I was fully capable of duplicity.” “I needed to know if you would try to hurt Aries in order to escape. Thankfully, you would not. Nothing you’ve committed to doing would harm him enough to rob him of his life. I am glad for that.” “Thank you.” She stared at the wall in front of her. “I’m over here.” The Empress spoke in a raised whisper. A sheen of light swept through the room, and then the sight that met her eyes made her jaw drop and a sigh to escape her lips. “You’re like a portrait. I’ve never seen anything quite like it before. You radiate light. I don’t know why Aries was attracted to me, if you’re a true representation of the type of beauty Gaian women possess, then I look like the ugly stepsister.” Aries’s mother was draped in what looked like silk from head to toe. The sparkling crown on her head was studded with diamonds and emeralds. Her hair was a light blond and sparkled like gold under the lights. Her eyes mirrored her sons, and her skin was a shade paler. She wore an emerald colored dress with bell shaped sleeves and a scooped neckline. She made her look like a pudding. “Aries is deeply devoted to you. In his eyes you are a rare gem with a glistening beauty.” “With a dull shine.” She looked away. “Actually, I think I would have preferred it if you would have just remained invisible to me. Now I don’t like the way I feel about myself.” “You need not feel unworthy of Aries love. Like he told you time and again, he chose you, he wanted you. You should feel humbled by that.” “Humbled, my ass.” “One day, you will look back upon that statement and you will regret even saying it.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

50

“Don’t bet on it.” The Empress looked at her one last time, nodded her head to her, and left. As the door shut behind her, it opened again to reveal Aries. “So, how did your war meeting go?” He ignored her and walked all of the way into the room. Pressing something on his wrist, the bed started to lower to the ground. She gripped the sheets beneath her fingers. “We set off in one week.” A ball of dread formed in her stomach. “Why? Why do you have to do this? You already have new breeding females … you already have everything that you need. Your Empire isn’t at risk.” “In that, you would be wrong. You see, I won’t have to take my war fleet to Earth. I only have to take it to the edge of our space borders. The war is coming to us.” “What do you mean?” “Earth has been planning to wipe out my peoples for the past three years. They have built many ships with the sole purpose to kill every last Gaian. You won’t need to worry about me attacking Earth, you’ll be able to see the war coming to us.” “No. Earth doesn’t want another war … they would never take on an enemy like you. This doesn’t make any sense. No sense whatsoever.” “But that’s just it, isn’t it? They believe us to be an inferior race. They believe that we are nothing more than a backward set of people. They think victory will be swift and the spoils of war will far outweigh the cost of war.” “If what you’re saying is true, they don’t really think there’ll be that high of a cost to pay.” “Indeed.” He pinned his unwavering gaze on her. “Then they’re coming here as exterminators of a sort.” “They’ve already served the first strike by sterilizing our females, now they are coming to finish the job.” She had to look away from him. He’d been right. Her government was corrupt. Earth had truly lost her way.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

51

Chapter Nine Her body jolted as the bed finally hit the floor. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. Her knees went to jelly beneath her ,and she had to fall back onto the mattress. She felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. “Are you quite certain this information came from a reliable source?” Her voice trembled. “Reliable source, yes. In fact, it wasn’t my people that brought us back the final statistics of what Earth was planning. It was yours!” “I don’t understand.” “Obviously, the side you fought on during the war has kept their fingers in the pot so to speak. They’re part of an underground rebel movement or resistance. It would really depend on how you might define what they’re doing. All I know is that they’ve gathered together a haphazard fleet of fighting space ships, and they’re sending them to our region of space as we speak. They seem to think that the battle between Gaia and Earth is the finally climax. The victors will emerge as the defining power in our universe.” “How did we come to this point?” “Are you referring to us, or the war that is about to begin between my people and your people.” “Evidently, where I belong has become blurred in my mind. I had a visit from your mother … she gave me quite a swaying argument. She made you seem like my white knight, and I don’t really think that I disagree with her. Nonetheless, I don’t want this war between Earth and your Empire. The problem is, there seems to be no other recourse does there? I mean, they’re coming to attack you. You must be ready and able to defend what is yours. I understand that all too well. I failed my uncle.” “No. You didn’t fail your uncle. He probably believed he failed you. He was put into prison not just because he had debts he needed to pay to your government, but because he was ....” “Let me guess, he was working for you.” She didn’t need him to confirm her suspicion as always his eyes told her the truth. They were so expressive, she could read him like a book. “So many secrets. Why didn’t he tell me?” “He probably didn’t want to get you implicated. I’m sure you were being watched … the government was probably just itching for you to put one foot out of line.” “This is so bloody complicated. Aries, is there anything else you aren’t telling me that I should know? You should have told me from the get go about my uncle. I deserved to know.” “I told your uncle that we would take care of you in the event that something unfortunate happened to him.” “Why didn’t you just sneak into his prison and break him out? You have all of this power at your fingertips, and yet, my uncle is still six feet under!” “I did send an agent in to retrieve him. They had almost made it out when their escape was discovered. They were shot on site.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

52

“No.” She bit down so hard on her lip that she drew blood. “I’m sorry, Freya. If I could, I would turn back time and fix everything.” “Well, even your great civilization isn’t that powerful.” His eyes flickered, and then the slight glimmer of indecision faded. “You still need to conserve your strength.” “Come here.” She winced at the commanding tone in her voice. “I’d really appreciate it if you would come and help me, I need to stretch my legs, they’re aching something fierce.” He walked toward her. She tried to forget that he was making her burn up on the inside. Like he just said, she had to conserve her strength. And, right now, she was in no state to start thinking about going back to bed with Aries. “Getting back to my mother … I didn’t know she was going to slip into the room when I opened the door to go to the war meeting. I didn’t want you to be surprised by her. But it’s true, I did ask her to watch over you when you were sleeping.” “Sleeping, I was in a form of a coma.” “I’ve never had anything scare me in my lifetime, but the thought of finding you only to lose you, truly did scare the hell out of me.” “I believe you.” He stood a hairsbreadth away from her. She reached up and took the arm he offered her. She looked down at the silvery blue nightgown she wore. It glittered in the light of the bedroom. It was cut down low and when she stood in the room leaning heavily on his arm, she felt a chill go right up and back down her spine. Still leaning on his arm, she turned around and rested her eyes on the wardrobe by the bed. “There wouldn’t happen to be something warm in there would there? I’m suddenly feeling the cold.” Her head ached, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. He walked her toward the ornate wardrobe. “I asked for it to be outfitted for your every need. There’s another large room through that door that is stuffed full of clothes for you.” “A whole room?” “Several rooms if you desire them.” “I’ve walked into a fairytale. I lived in a cupboard back on Earth compared to the size of this place.” “Palace.” He corrected. She snorted. “This is almost too good to be true. I’d ask you to pinch me if I didn’t already have this injury on my head, to tell me that I’m really in the here and now.” “Is it still giving you grief? I should have the doctors come and treat you now that you able to talk to them and tell them how you feel.” “I’ll be fine. I’ve had much, much worse. And I have a feeling that your painkillers don’t exactly have the same effect on me that our Earth medicine does.” “I should have consulted the other Earth women on that. I’m sorry. I’ve been rather single-minded. I couldn’t even allow Talia in here to see you.” “Why not? She wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.” “I never know who to trust anymore.” He looked away from her. “What do you mean? What’s happened?” He patted her hand gently. “No matter, you needn’t fret over anything. It’s all

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

53

being taken of.” “No. I want to know. What has happened?” Her heartbeat quickened. Something was up, he had that look in his eyes. “I wouldn’t think that Mathias would like you doubting Talia’s honor.” “I wouldn’t be so certain of that, Freya. Mathias is dead.” “Dead?” Her hand shook. “Murdered by Talia’s own hand.” Her legs went to jelly again. She would have fallen to the floor if she hadn’t been holding onto him. He pulled her back up, and before she could protest he’d swept her up into his arms. “Impossible.” She gasped. Her head swirled. “No. Quite possible. She killed him. We have it on our holographic recordings.” “No. She loved him.” “She never loved him. She was only biding her time to take her revenge against him. She hates Gaians. She wanted to be wanted by them so she could kill one and hopefully get to me. She was an agent for your government.” “You see … when I asked you earlier if there was more secrets I needed to know, that falls into that category. I needed to know about that. I can’t believe you, Talia has always been such a faithful friend to me.” “For being such a faithful friend, she was the one that contacted the bounty hunter and told him where to find you. She was the reason we were attacked.” “Why? She was on my side during the war ….” Her voice trailed off as full recognition hit home. The sour sensation in the pit of her stomach intensified. It all made sense now. She now knew why they had lost so many key battles during the war. They had been fully infiltrated by the enemy. There was no telling how many of her so-called war buddies had actually been working for the other side. “What do you do when everything you used to know to be true turns out to be a lie?” “Not all of your life has been a lie. Your uncle did love you. He never would have done anything to betray you. Talia had the chance to kill you, herself. It would have been a great blow for our side, she knew how attached you and I had become, and yet, she never did betray you in that way. I think she knew we would be able to finish off your bounty hunter … but then, temptation overcame her when she killed Mathias. She told me she didn’t want him to touch her ever again, even though she was the one that had initially seduced Mathias. Mathias wasn’t the sort to take her without her consent.” “How do you know? I didn’t even know Talia, and I thought I did. How do you know that Mathias was completely innocent?” “Mathias was my cousin. I feel quite certain that I knew him far better than you knew your Talia.” “That’s why your mother told me I was capable of deception but not murder. It didn’t make sense to me at the time. Now it does.” She sighed. “What about the child she was carrying?” “What child? There is no child. Talia was taking a form of birth control that was untraceable. She only admitted it when she realized she’d been caught and she had no way out.” “Something isn’t adding up … there’s something rotten in Denmark. I can just feel it. Where is she now?”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

54

“She is awaiting her trial, though I feel quite certain she will be sentenced to death.” “Send her home. Put a tracker on her and send her home.” “No. She has murdered a member of the Gaian Royal Family. I will not allow her to escape the hand of the law. Justice will be served.” “Do you want to portray her as a martyr for the enemy? Send her back, put a tracker on her, and when the fighting comes to our borders, you will know which ship she is on and you will be able to destroy that ship.” “You make an interesting point. We could use her to ascertain the ships shield capabilities and weapon functions. Our Intelligence we’ve gathered has been sketchy in the ways of how well equipped the new Earth space battleships are. This might give us the upper hand we could use.” “Exactly. I’m not so stupid when it comes to this war thing as you thought I was. Now I know why we lost. The great battle strategies our side had could do nothing once our moles ferreted back our weaknesses. I won’t forgive her for that. I lost a lot of good friends during the war. I lost my heart during the war. She’ll pay for that.” “Your heart?” His eyes darkened. “Yes. My heart. I lost my first love in the war. I lost the man I was going to marry.” “Did you? I’m sorry.” She laughed. “In a way, Talia helped you. Her actions inadvertently killed the man I loved so you could kidnap me and make me your wife. Had those events not occurred, I would be married, and it wouldn’t be to you.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

55

Chapter Ten “I am amazed at your ability to wound me time and time again.” He perused her face, looking for some form of regret in her eyes. He could find none, and it disappointed him further. He did love her. He didn’t know how many times he would have to continue trying to convince her of that but he would not give up or give in. “I only speak the truth. I didn’t mean to maliciously cause you grief.” “I’m sure you didn’t.” His voice sounded hollow to his ears. He couldn’t stay long with her, he had more war planning to do. Earth had turned out to be a remarkably cunning adversary. He had believed himself to have the element of surprise, and now they had taken that power away from him. “I’m hungry.” Her admission was a soft whisper on her lips. “As am I. We should retire to the dining hall for our meal. I have instructed the servants to make up a meal that is palatable to your Terran tastes.” “Wonderful. As long as I can keep it down with the way my stomach is rolling.” “I think you’ll find it will settle on your stomach. I’ve instructed them to keep the menu bland and light.” The room was beginning to become claustrophobic to him. He needed to get out and get some fresh air. No matter how hard he tried to give her everything she could ever want, she still found a way to push him away. He would have to continue pushing back, hoping that eventually she would let her guard down and allow him into her heart. She had to know that he wasn’t going to let her go. He’d come too far to backtrack now. “Bread and water then?” He knew from the sound of her voice that she was in jest, yet her barb still hit a raw nerve. “I keep telling you that you are no prisoner.” “I know. And I appreciate you telling me that even if I can’t quite believe it.” “Perhaps my mother was wrong when she told you that you weren’t able to kill me. Should I be worried? Do I need to watch my back when you’re in the room?” “I would never kill you like that. I like my opponents to have a fair fight. Killing in cold blood has never been in my nature.” “It hasn’t?” “Do I look like a murderer to you?” “You look a pretty sad sight to me right now. You’re paler than I’ve seen you, and your eyes are fairly dull. You’re in no shape to give me a fight, and I’m in no mood for one, come to think of it. I do not want you to hate me, nor do I want you to feel uncomfortable around me. I want the air to be clean between us.” “You should have thought of that when you kept those secrets about my uncle and Talia from me. Now that we’re back on that subject, I want to see Talia before you make your final judgment on her.” “You want me to send her back to Earth, so I will.” “You relent too easily, Aries. You want her blood, I know it. And if Mathias was a member of the Royal House as you say, then others shall want her blood as well. I don’t want your people to be enraged with you because you set her free.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

56

“They won’t. They never question my decisions. They will know that I’ve set her free for a reason, even if she doesn’t suspect.” “That’s the problem. She might suspect. You’ll have to listen to my counsel on this. I say you give her a drink with a biological tracker in it, then, let her think her craftiness has ensured her escape. She’ll go for it. She always has had an arrogant streak in her. Why do you think she probably volunteered for this job?” “Mathias selected her as his wife.” “Did he really? How sure are you of that? Did he pick her out like you picked me? Because your little fiasco really was a bolt out of the blue for me, I never saw you coming. Talia on the other hand ….” “I’ll have to make some inquiries.” “Do that. I could probably get the information you need, if my head didn’t currently feel as if it was going to split in half.” “You’ll feel better soon.” “I’ve always been a slow healer. I think it will surprise you how slowly I heal. There wouldn’t be any possibility of you getting your hands on some Earth medicine would there? I don’t know how much longer I can go taking your stuff. I feel like I’m looped out.” “I’ll see what I can do. We’ll have to have access to Earth medicine soon anyway. Your women will need it when you go into childbirth.” He liked the way her jaw dropped at that remark of his. Finally, he’d gotten back at her. “You are good.” She smiled. He couldn’t help but return her smile. “Now we should go and retire to the dining hall. No doubt my mother is waiting in great anticipation of us.” “I can’t go there like this. Why can’t my food just be brought to us? Me, I mean. I have a bandage wrapped around my head, I’m in my night wear, and you said yourself that I look a sad and sorry sight.” “All the more reason to make sure that members of my staff see you. They’ll be more inclined to sympathize and accept you at that point.” “I’m not certain I’ll ever be accepted by your people or by your family.” “They’ll accept you. Don’t worry. I always get my way.” “I know. It’s one of your rather less refreshing qualities.” Now it was his turn to smile. He had chosen his wife well. **** Startling. She was actually enjoying his company. He had given her his support, and she had taken it eagerly. But she was going to put her foot down when it came to him parading her in front of his staff in her nightclothes! “I won’t step a foot further, Aries. I’m staying here. If you are unwilling to bring my food to me here, then I will readily go without food.” “You need to feed your body.” “There you go again. You’re giving orders. And here I go again. I’m not going to take them. I’m a stubborn assed mule when it comes right down to it.” “Will it make you feel better if I say that only a few people will be attending to us?” “It might.” She narrowed her eyes at him. He was at it again. He was trying his

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

57

best to convince her to see it his way again. “Then let us go.” She looked down at her bare feet. “Slight problem. I’m not prancing through the palace in my bare feet. That’s taking being a barefoot Princess to a whole new level.” He guided her back toward the wardrobe. “One of these slippers should fit you.” “I feel like a fairytale princess.” “You certainly look like a fairytale princess. I want you to get back to your same vibrant self, Freya. The dull glint in your eyes and the pallor of your skin really does alarm me. Just try your best to get well, and then we can pick where we left off with our arguing when you are better.” “I’ll keep that in mind.” Slowly, her heart was softening toward him. Before she knew it, she’d be head over heels in love with him. She was on a downward spiral, there was no fighting it, and she had to face her feelings toward him. **** The dining hall looked like something straight from a fairytale. Rose colored, marble pillars lined the room, and crystal chandeliers lit the space. Frescos covered the ceilings, and portraits of the past royal families lined the walls. She felt as if she was in a moment of pure beauty. “My mother is sitting at the other end. She’ll appear once my father arrives. I have no idea what’s made her want to walk around in invisible mode these last few months, but I think it has something to do with the oncoming war. She doesn’t like the fighting aspect of ruling. Even though she is a strong and formidable woman, she doesn’t like death.” “Who would?” “The war will bring death to our worlds. She is already mourning.” “Your mother is a wise woman. But think of the death you will bring to Earth’s many worlds.” He thinned his lips. His lavender colored eyes sparked. His dark hair looked so ruffled that she resisted the urge to smooth it with her hands. “Your father, why doesn’t he rule in your place? Your mother has placed a lot of responsibility on your shoulders.” A light shimmered, the Empress appeared. “His father is not of the hereditary line of inheritance. His mother did not lay the responsibility on his shoulders, until he was ready for it. I assure you, Freya, my son was an adult when I gave him control over our vast armies. Before that, I ruled alone, and I ruled well. My husband was always in this marriage for the love he had for me. He is an artist, he has no heart for ruling. I’ve never had to worry about a power struggle with my husband, and in a way that has been a relief for our marriage. There are times, however, when I wished for his counsel.” “Was someone just talking about me?” Freya turned around at the sound of the voice. It resembled Aries’s voice so much that it nearly gave her the goose pimples. He looked like Aries as well. He wore long robes resembling that of a wizard’s robes from so many of the fairytales, and his long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail and clasped with a Celtic looking barrette. “Ah. The lovely Freya.” He bowed low. “I am your humble servant, Lysander D’Halen-D’Raven.” “Not Lord D’Halen-D’Raven?”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

58

“Well, I guess, yes. However, let’s disregard formalities in lieu of more personal addresses. I like your name, and since I plan on calling you, Freya, you may call me Lysander.” “Lysander it is.” She smiled. He was a man that oozed warmth. He looked as if he had paint on his fingers, and a smudge of something pink was on his cheeks. He was a man full of life, and she could understand why Aries’s mother had fallen in love with him. He didn’t seem as hard as Aries, but then, Aries was a war general, his father was a man of the arts. “I would love to visit your planet. The art you have there would give me great insight on the history of art in our culture.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I follow.” “Aries has told you that our people once inhabited Earth didn’t he?” “Yes, thousands of years ago.” “We left an imprint on your people, and I wanted to see how much of our artistic ways bled over into your culture. It would be an honor.” “You resemble the ancient Indo-European cultures of our world. So, I can understand why you think you’ve left an indelible imprint on our world.” Lysander chuckled, nodding his head. “I can see why you fascinate Aries. I trust you’re feeling better? Aries tells me you took quite the hard knock on the head. I’ve been off in a far province of ours giving lectures about one of our greatest artisans.” Aries sighed. “You should be taking more interest in our space faring affairs, Father.” “Yes, yes. I’ve heard quite a lot about your recent escapades with The Doorway to the Stars traveling device. I always told your mother that you’d bring our peoples into the next great war.” “I can’t believe that even you are anticipating war!” “I don’t anticipate it, my darling Freya.” He sighed. Lysander walked over to the chair next to his wife and sat down. “I merely knew it was inevitable. Once your Earth compatriots took the first strike against us by bewitching our women and sterilizing them, we were put on this path. This Manifest Destiny that Earth has taken on, must be stopped. We are the only ones that can stop them. I am an artist, Freya, but I can still recognize wrongdoers when I see them. Your government has strayed to far from the true path of its predecessors. Now they need to start learning their lesson. I applaud everything that Aries has planned.” “You should have attended the meeting, Father. I won’t have to take the conflict to Earth. They’re coming to us.” “Sorry?” Lysander looked perplexed. He looked around. “When will our meal be coming? I’m famished. My day of painting has given me quite the roaring appetite.” She rolled her eyes. Aries’s father had his head in the clouds in the worst way. He was an incorrigible dreamer. “I said ….” Aries and she walked to the other end of the table and sat down in matching chairs. They were high backed and looked as if they were lined in silk, she was grateful for the cushion under her butt. When she’d knocked her head, she’d bruised up the rest of her body as well. When she’d told Aries that she was a slow healer, she hadn’t been kidding. “I think you should start getting ready for them to arrive within the next few days.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

59

Your intelligence might tell you their ETA is in one week, but with my experience with Earth’s present Government, I would say that they are always early.” She spoke her bit of advice without even realizing she was talking, until she had already done her damage. “Why, she’s settling right in, Aries. She’s already trying to help you like a good mate does. There’s hope yet that the two of you will achieve the level of intimacy your mother and I have.” “I’ll take that into consideration, Freya.” Aries gave her a soft smile. “Thank you.” She didn’t know why she was being so cordial. The only thing she did know was that she had to try to keep the Gaian people from being massacred. Earth was on the rampaging warpath. They had no doubt given their officers one instruction-to leave no witnesses this time around. They wanted the Gaian’s gone for good. If they were wiped from existence, they would no longer pose a threat to Earth. And, if that happened, there would be no hope for Earth. The current Government would continue to rule. They had abolished democratic elections, eliminating any hope for a new government to come and right the wrongs of the old one. They would be doomed to be ruled by an absolute government. She couldn’t allow that to happen. She had to put her best foot forward in fighting the regime. And when she put her best foot forward, she gave her heart and soul into the task. She heard the servers enter the room. They carried huge silver platters. “Wonderful. The food smells delicious. I can’t wait to dig in.” She looked over at the Empress smiling fondly at her husband. Maybe if she played her cards right, she could have the same kind of happiness that the two of them shared. So far, Aries had treated her with the utmost respect. She could build on that. She could make this work. She had to.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

60

Chapter Eleven “Well, that went well.” She smiled. Aries had taken her back to her quarters. Her stomach was filled with the most delectable food. She’d eaten a dish that slightly resembled chicken, but tasted even better. “It did, didn’t it? Evidently, my father likes you. By the end of the evening, he’d taken quite a shine to you. I’m glad for it. At least I won’t have to quarrel with him over the choice I made in a mate.” “Does that mean that you fought with your mother over me?” “I ....” He looked uncertain. She put her hand up to his cheek. Since the meal, she felt wonderfully nourished and much stronger. “I do appreciate you going to great pains to save my life. You are quite right, it was my past that resulted in my being injured. I knew that all along, and I only denied it because I wanted to make your life miserable. I resented you for taking me away on Willowbane. I resented you for wanting me. I don’t think I wanted to be wanted. Truth be told, I’ve been living as a shadow of my former self. I’ve barely laughed, or taken joy in any part of my life. I’ve existed for one sole purpose, to see my uncle free. Now, I don’t have that to live for. I’d have nothing to live for if you hadn’t come into my life. You’ve given me hope, and I can’t tell you how good that feels. I always knew I was fighting a losing battle before you came to me, and now, now, I know there’s a chance we could win this battle.” “Not a 'chance'. We will win. There’s not a shred of doubt in my mind concerning victory. Gaia has never lost a war. We’re not going to start now.” Her nose stung, and she could feel her eyes watering. “Do you think my government got to Macy? I worry about her. She has a heart condition you know.” “How do you know that Macy is who you thought she was? Talia turned out to be rotten to the core … Macy could be the same.” “No. That’s not possible. You wound me by even thinking it, let alone voicing it. Macy is my lifelong friend. She’s seen me through literal hell and back. I won’t ever believe that she would willingly betray me.” “Willingly. I see you might think she could be … persuaded.” “If she’s being interrogated, she won’t tell them anything.” “And what could she possibly know to tell?” Her arms dropped to her side. Biting her lip, she let out a lengthy sigh. It was now or never. She had to confess all to him or risk losing it all. All or nothing seemed to be all too suitable in this instance. “I belong to a resistance. I have been out of touch for the last few months because I was convinced they were taking their ideals too far. They wanted to start blockading shipping routes and use their band of space pirates to hit military vessels. I didn’t want another war, and I knew they were inviting one. Not only that, but they were inviting a war I didn’t think we could win. I was happy with just helping some of the slaves to find freedom on backwater planets. I never dreamt that we would actually have a chance to stop Earth. And, then, I met you.” She stood up on her tiptoes and gently traced her finger

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

61

along his jaw line. “You have a strong jaw line, and with those sparkling eyes, you sweep me away to another world.” “You accused me of keeping secrets, and yet you were hiding that part of your life from me.” “Don’t tell me you didn’t know. You said you did your research. I’m quite certain you have some rebel contacts in your communication network.” “You are quite right. I do. And, I did know about you. I also knew that they wanted you to be their next Mallory and you declined. So, they had to approach someone else. They needed someone that commanded as much respect among the rebels as you did in your days during the war.” “Macy. She has a cunning mind when it comes to war.” She could breathe easier now. “They’ve taken Macy … that’s where she disappeared to.” “Yes. See, you have no need to fear, my love.” She shivered when he professed his love. It made her feel as if she was basking in warmth. Suddenly, the lingering pain in her head vanished. “When should I expect to see her?” “Soon. We’re still getting the last plans into action. She’s done right a good job of rallying the troops. We’ll have a fair share of Earth Humans fighting on our side. They want freedom. And, when we knock out the opposition, they will have their freedom.” “Do I have your word on that?” She pulled her hand away from his face. “Yes. Macy trusts me. She trusts what my officers have told her. She trusts that we will serve a serious blow to Earth.” “I feel like I’m in the middle of one of those old movies ….” “Movies?” “Never mind. I need to sit down.” Taking a shattering breath, she walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. Right after the evening meal, a doctor had come into the large music room they’d retired to, and he’d removed her bandages, giving her a bill of clean health when it came to her wound being healed. Now, all she had to do was regain her strength. She’d lost a lot of blood, and it was telling in her low energy levels. “I need a shower. I want to wash my hair.” She gently touched the spot on her head where the injury had been. She could feel no sign of the wound, except for the fact that it was a bit sensitive to the touch. “Good. I’ll accompany you.” She sighed. “Not that I don’t want you with me, but ....” He put his hand up. “Somewhere along the line you need to learn how to trust me. You also need to learn that I’m entirely in love with you. And love doesn’t just translate to sex for me. I want to take care of you. I want to help you feel better. If having a hot shower will help to do that, then I need to be in there with you. I shudder to think of what could happen to you in there alone. I’m not allowing you to go in unaccompanied. You could have a fainting fit and then where would you be?” “Laid up again.” She smiled. “You’re working your way into every single aspect of my life, Aries. You’re quickly stealing my heart.” “Good. That’s the sort of thief I want to be.” “You started out as a kidnapper, and now you’ve transformed into a thief of hearts. That, I like.” “That’s just what I wanted to hear. I want you to like everything about us

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

62

together. I knew you’d finally see me in the same light that I see you in. It was love at first sight for me, Freya.” “Whoa. I think you’re taking it a bit far, Aries. I said I was softening toward you. But I haven’t begun to see you as my angel, yet.” “Angels are one thing both of our planets share. There’s much you still need to learn about the Gaian people, Freya.” “I know what I need to know … once the war is at some sort of crossroads, we can go from there.” She reached for his hand. “Right now, I don’t want to talk because if we talk … we could end up arguing … let’s just go and have a shower. You get the task of relaxing me.” “I think I’m certainly up to that enjoyable task.” He smiled, leaned down toward her and kissed her softly. She returned the kiss. She could feel that familiar burning tingle rushing through her. In all of her years, any other man had never affected her like this, she could continue to deny her heart … but eventually, she would end up falling for Aries. And, once she did there would be no turning back. **** They were running out of time. Freya looked over at the old fashioned hourglass that sat on the nightstand. Aries slept soundly beside her. She leaned toward him, and gently kissed his cheek. In one day, they would be going to meet the battleships that Earth had sent their way. The latest reports told them that the fleet was even larger than they had expected. Aries wouldn’t tell her how that compared to how many ships they had on their side, and it worried her greatly. Could they win? Would they win? She knew one thing. Aries had earned her trust, and God help her, he had earned her love. He had become her rock—she couldn’t lose him—and she would do whatever she had to do to protect him. She knew he trusted her implicitly. She also knew she could now take her plan that she’d concocted to the next level. Her strength was slowly returning thanks to the doctors altering her medication, and Aries’s father had taken quite the interest in her diet. He had found foods that had given her a newfound lease on life. Lysander had made her see Aries in the new light Aries had referred to. He had made her see the way that Aries could be, in a perfect universe. The life she was living right now was the life she would be living for the rest of her days. The problem was, she didn’t know how much time she had left. Her plan was risky. It could end up taking her life instead of Aries'. But she could live with that. She had no one that needed her … and, she’d been walking the tightrope of life for the past ten years. If she fell off and didn’t find a net waiting for her, then, so be it. She was at peace with that. The important thing was that he got out of this alive. She’d started out hating Aries with every fiber of her being, and now, she couldn’t understand why. Slipping back under the covers, she reached for him. He’d be leaving later this morning. She didn’t know where he’d be going … but she had travel plans of her own. And, this would be the last time they’d see each other before the first battle started. Earth would come in with all guns blazing … shaking her head, she tried to blot out her last memories of the final battle between Earth and her forces during the last war. She had to try to put those dark memories to the back of her mind where they couldn’t torture her

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

63

anymore. She kissed him softly. She could feel his awareness prickling. Soon, he would be awake. His mind touched hers. Even though she’d learned how to veil her thoughts from him, she still hadn’t learned how to break the bond their mating had created. And, she didn’t care. That no longer bothered her. She knew he never probed her mind, he only listened to her loud thoughts. She’d found a way to put her body and mind into an inner calm that even he couldn’t penetrate. Lysander had taught her many skills in a short amount of time, and now she knew how he’d flourished and survived in his own marriage to an exceptionally strong Gaian. According to Lysander, not all Gaians were endowed with the ‘talents’ Aries and his mother possessed. They were, however, all endowed with the mating fever … something that he said was a blessing and a curse for the parties involved. She smiled when his eyes opened. “Good morning, Sunshine.” He caressed the side of her face. She leaned into his touch basking in the way that he could make her feel. “Good morning.” She kissed him again before he could say anything else. He had that look in his eyes. He knew she was up to something, and he was going to try to talk her out of it. Problem was, she wasn’t ready to talk, and he wasn’t ready to listen to what she had to say. “Aries, let’s just linger in bed for a few minutes. I don’t think your parents will mind if we’re late to the morning meal. After all, we are trying to create the heir to your Empire.” “Indeed.” She thrilled as his hands went downward moving to brush over her breasts. In one swift movement, she was straddling him. Lifting herself ever so slightly, she came down upon his hard erection. She savored the feeling of power he gave her whenever they were joined. He remained still inside of her waiting for her to make the next move. She was in control, and she reveled in the supreme satisfaction it gave her. But then, they had a newfound understanding between them. He had never given her any reason to think he didn’t regard her as his equal, and in the last week, he’d proven it to her. She wasn’t falling in love with him—she’d already fallen. The reality of her situation hit her like a rock in the stomach. She gasped, moving so that she could ride the maelstrom of emotions that boiled within her while also giving into the erotic pleasures that awaited both of them. He looked up into her eyes. She rode him like the Nordic Goddess she’d been named for. He could feel the change vibrating off her. She had something in the works, and he wanted to know what it was. She was as close to him as she could possibly be, and yet she was slowly putting a division between them. Brushing her lips against his, she whispered, “I love you, Aries.” And then, they both found their release.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

64

Chapter Twelve The winds of war were blowing. Freya watched as Aries slipped on his black boots. He looked so powerful in his war uniform. She resisted the urge to kiss him. If she did, neither one of them would be able to stop, and then, he’d be late for his meeting. Soon, the Gaian forces would be gathering at the borders of Gaian Space to meet the Earth contingent. “Aries.” He looked over at her. She wore a pair of pants with a purple blouse. He thought she was dressed to go on a tour of the lake province with his father … instead she was going on another mission. “Freya. The battle will be short. We’ll be done with Earth before they even know what’s hit them.” She closed her eyes. She couldn’t think about the lives that would be lost—she could only focus on trying her damndest to minimize the damage. One of the lives lost could be his—and that thought scared the living daylights out of her. “You should stay here and enjoy your relaxing day with my father. Remember, you could be carrying the next generation of the D’Halen Dynasty.” A brief thought of indecision plagued her. What if he was right? Could she put herself in the line of fire? “I will remember.” He gave her a brilliant smile. “Just don’t forget to stay in touch. If I don’t hear from you for over forty-eight hours, I’m going to start to worry.” “Not to worry, I’ll check in. I have to give my mother frequent status reports anyway.” “Do you think there’s a chance Earth could—win?” “Win? Earth? Don’t even think it. I’m going to flatten them.” A spark of hatred lit his eyes. She shivered. She pitied anyone that truly crossed Aries. They wouldn’t get out alive. He was a dangerous man. Earth had their job cut out for them. “Please. Just be careful. You forget that we rebels underestimated Earth … and it ended up in a bloodbath for our side on that final Day of Judgment.” “I know. You don’t have to tell me about it. I’ve read all about the Battle of Uranus.” “Have you? It was the most horrific thing, I’ve ever seen. I barely lived. I thought I was a goner for sure, except an Earth Medic ship picked me up and nursed me back to health. You have to promise me that you won’t attack the Medic Ships.” “Of course. I’m fair when it comes to the rules of engagement.” “Good. I’m glad to hear of it. I just wasn’t sure, and I had to make you know just how much those Medic Ships help people. They saved my life.” “And for that, I will be forever in their debt.” They both turned their heads at the sound of a loud knock at the door. It sounded urgent. “You should go. I have to meet your father—he’ll be thinking I’ve stood him up. I take it your mother will be staying in isolation for most of the day?” “Yes, she will be meditating. She thinks she’ll be able to watch over us. I told her that the Gods would watch over us.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

65

“I’ll pray for you, and everyone else.” She moved toward him. “Just please, take care of yourself.” “I will.” He kissed her, and then, he left. She waited long enough to know that he would be out of the hall and on his way to the scene of action. Then, she moved into the first stage of her plan. **** “Lysander?” She tiptoed into the gigantic library that the palace boasted. “I’m here.” He walked out from one of the rows of books. “Are you sure you want to do this?” “I’m sure. Do you have everything ready?” “Yes. I’ve arranged everything. You’ll be able to get past the lines of Gaian Battleships.” “Thank you. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to do this. If I used the security clearance code that Aries gave me, people would get suspicious. He would get suspicious.” “I don’t know why I’m helping you leave my son. He loves you.” “I told you, if everything goes as planned, I’ll be coming back.” “Do I have your word?” “I already told you that I was going to remain true to my promise. Even though Aries initially took me against my will,and infected me with the fever, I’ve come to fall in love with him. He’s a good man. He never once forced me to do anything—and now, I have to make sure he lives to see another day.” “You should stay here. I still must say I discourage this course of action. You are putting yourself into the line of fire. If you are killed, Aries will never forgive me.” “I’ve left a note for him in case that happens. I don’t want there to be a rift between the two of you. I never wanted that. You have the sort of family I’ve always dreamt of. I would never do anything to jeopardize that.” “Then stay.” “No. Come on, we should go.” They turned to walk toward the doors leading out onto the outside gardens when a shadow fell across their paths. The hairs on the nape of Freya’s neck bristled. This didn’t feel right. She put her hand on Lysander’s arm. “Stop. There’s someone in here, and I don’t think it’s one of your staff.” She rested her other hand on her pistol. Lysander had found it for her, along with the other belongings she’d lost when she’d been injured back on Aries’s spaceship. Aries had been right when he’d told her his men would ignore his orders to see her things destroyed. As he’d said, they had found their way back to Lysander to be stored away in his collection of Earth relics. Sunlight trickled in through the open drapes. A human silhouette was revealed. A cold clammy feeling washed over her. “Dead man walking.” She felt sick. “Mathias?” Lysander sounded as horrified and as confused as she felt. “Greetings, Uncle.” She swayed. Lysander supported her. She had to get a hold of herself. “I hate to break this to you, Mathias, but you’re supposed to be dead.” “In theory … but it would seem that my Talia didn’t exactly kill me.” He smiled.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

66

Cold fear rippled through her stomach. Her legs felt as if they were going to turn to jelly at any minute. “What do you mean? Mathias, explain yourself!” “My dear old dotty Uncle. My, my how foolish you’ve become. As we speak, Talia is on the move. She’ll have her Royal Highness assassinated before you can say one, two, and three. Then she’ll contact the Earth forces and she’ll give them the necessary information they need to obliterate the Gaian fleet.” “No. Aries should have infected her with the tracking device when I suggested it, if only she was on an Earth ship right now … where’s the Empress?” “She’ll be in her secure counsel chambers.” Lysander looked as worried as she felt. “Of course she will be.” Mathias twisted his face into a smile that made her want to get sick. The man was insane. “Soon, old man, Talia and I will be ruling Gaia. We’ll be the ones in the seat of power … Talia never betrayed me, I’ve betrayed you.” He gave a laugh that made her blood run cold. “Call me old man one more time, and I’ll be sure to give you a long and lingering death.” “Death? You speak of death? You are so battle shy a little girl would give me more resistance. No. You aren’t a threat to me. You’ll be dead soon. Then I’ll be given my rightful place among the D’Halen Dynasty.” “Mathias, you’re forgetting one thing.” “What?” “I might be a girl, but I’m definitely not battle shy.” She pushed Lysander out of the way with enough force that he struck the bookshelf behind them. Then, before Mathias could gain his wits, she pulled out her pistol and shot him. “I always was the quickest draw in my galaxy. I guess I’m the quickest draw in your galaxy as well.” He fell to the floor like a bag of dirty laundry. Bastard. “I don’t know how you pulled off your dirty rotten trick on your family, who really died? You murdered an innocent man, you almost killed me, but I’m sure as hell not going to let you kill your aunt and my husband.” “Now he’s your husband, huh? You’ve come a long way, Freya. Talia was sure you’d end up killing Aries for us. I guess I’ll have to tell her she’s lost that bet.” “You’re a sick son of a bitch.” “Well, he is sick, and he’s the son of a bitch … so I guess you’re right on that count.” Lysander had recovered himself. He rubbed the back of his neck. Mathias was on the ground struggling for his next breath. He was reaching for something, and before she could see what it was, Lysander had beaten her to the punch. A flying star went arcing through the air and landed in Mathias’s hand. Mathias let out a howl of pain, blood poured from the wound in his hand. “Okay. So I guess you’re not as passive as I thought.” “How do you think Aries’s mother and I first met?” She shook her head. Pain split through her head. “I have no idea.” “I was part of the Royal Guard. But when I fell in love, I decided that appreciating the finer parts of life was far better than fighting.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

67

“Hmm ….” She chuckled. “You should have balanced the two. You’re pretty good.” “I think we should talk later. Right now, Talia is trying to kill my wife. I can’t let that happen.” She watched him walk over to a tapestry and reach behind it. A red light started to streak through the room followed by a klaxon. “Security will move into high alert now, but if Talia is as good of an assassin as I think she is, she might have already reached Aurora.” “Aurora?” “My wife.” “Oh.” She followed him closely. He’d switched like day into night. Now he looked just as threatening as Aries had looked that morning. Gaian males really went into testosterone overload when it came to protecting the women they loved. “Wait a sec … who said Talia was an assassin?” “I did. I’ve been looking into her background. I still have a few contacts outside of the palace that can get a job done without being noticed by Aries.” “You’ve been doing work behind your son’s back?” “I couldn’t very well sit on my hands. Ever since Earth made herself known as a threat to my people, I had to do something, but I wouldn’t dream of infringing upon my wife’s right to rule.” “Right to rule?” She was getting a hell of a headache. “You need to research Gaian History more, my dear. My family once made a power play for the Crown. We lost. But there are those that still figured I had married Aurora for who she was. I married Aurora because she owned my heart. I could care less for her throne. But I won’t let her live in the shadows anymore. I must protect her.” “You’re even more like your son than I thought.” “You should see my other children.” She smiled. “Where are we going?” She watched men storm into the library behind them. “They’re securing Mathias. He’s an enemy of the empire now. He’s planned to kill the Empress. And we can’t let him see his plan come to fruition, can we?” She thought fleetingly of what was happening up in Space right at this moment. She’d wanted to be there … she’d wanted to end the war before it had started. But time had run out. She could only try to save Aurora now. “We’re taking a secret route to the room that Aurora will be meditating in.” “She’ll be invisible. She’s not really in danger ….” “She won’t be invisible. Not when she’s meditating. Her guard falls, and she’s vulnerable.” “Oh shit.” She patted him on the back. “Well, if you can go faster, go! We’re fighting against time right now.” He ran faster ,and she had to fight to keep up with him. If she had a kid that could run this fast, she’d never be able to keep up. He skidded to a halt right outside of a room she’d never seen before. “Stay here. I’ll go in on my own. I don’t want you to get hurt.” “I don’t think so. I’m going with you. Did Mathias hurt me? When will you and Aries figure it out? I’m not a glass figurine just waiting to break. I’m a living-breathing

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

68

woman that can handle herself when it comes to times of conflict. I can handle Tayla. Will you be able to hurt her if it comes right down to it?” “If it means protecting Aurora, you’ll find that I’m capable of almost anything.” “Almost anything. Listen to that first word. Talia and I have a score to settle. She ratted me out time and time again, and now, I’m going to get my payback.” “Aries has met his match. You will make a fine Empress one day … if my darling wife ever decides to hand over the reign of power.” “I’m no Empress. I’m just a simple woman … with a hell of a lot sass.” “Sass and spirit. It’s a good combination.” She put her fingers to her lips as voices carried to them from nearby. Lysander activated a device on his wrist, and the doors slid open. “Get to Aurora, I’ll take care of Talia.” “Aries will never forgive me if something happens to you.” “Aries will never forgive himself if something happens to his mother. Get to Aurora, please!” She stopped at the sight of two swords hanging on the wall. She didn’t know why she did it, it was as if something invaded her body and took control of her movements. As if in a trance, she wrapped her hand around the hilt of the sword and pulled it off the wall. Talia had always carried a sword during her days in the war …. “I’m going to be hailed as a hero of Earth. They will write songs about me and remember me well past my death. You should show yourself witch, I can see you even if you think you’re invisible. You’re darling nephew gave me a gizmo that can see right through your invisibility.” She approached Talia quietly. She couldn’t see Aurora, but she knew Lysander could. He was inching his way around a bunch of pillows that were scattered on the floor. “Mathias and I will have all of the power and money that we’ve ever dreamed of.” “Oh, give me a bloody break. You did all of this for money and fame? You’re right out of your mind, Talia.” Her voice broke the silence and put Talia on guard. It looked as if Talia had painted Aurora in a corner. She was probably going to kill her soon, if she didn’t distract her and finish her off first. “Talia, fight me! You have the Empress at a disadvantage. She’s unarmed and ill prepared for you. I give you the chance to die in honor.” “I’m not the one that will be dying today, Freya. You always were such a prissy and stuck up bitch. With your haughty ways and the damnable way you say ‘piffle’ whenever you’re irritated. It’s enough to drive someone right up the fucking wall, you know that?” “I never did like you the first time we met. I guess I should have stuck to that impression of you.” “I never liked you at all. You can kiss my ass for all I care. I’ll kill you and then I’ll finish off the Empress and her artsy fartsy husband.” “I don’t think so. You’ve gravely underestimated these people, Talia. I’m still trying to figure out what you wanted to achieve by selling out the Gaian’s to Earth.” “What did I want to achieve?” She laughed. “You really are a stupid bitch. I wanted to achieve everything. Earth promised to make me the Governor of the Gaian Colonies, and well, once we killed off the Empress and Earth finished off Aries, we’d have the throne.” “The throne? You forget, Aries has several siblings.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

69

“If they valued their lives, they would abdicate to Mathias.” “You’re sicker than I thought.” She looked at the sword Talia wore on her hip. “Fight me, Talia. There’s no way you’re getting out of this palace alive. Mathias has already been neutralized, and Lysander has set off the alarm. By now, word has probably even carried to Aries of yours and Mathias’s duplicity. The show stops here.” “Does it? I don’t fancy having all of my dreams dashed by a little shit like you.” She lunged at Talia. Talia whipped out her sword, and the two metals rang together in a deafening roar. She’d forgotten how skilled Talia was at sword fighting. Gasping for breath, she parried as Talia thrust. “Sometimes you just need another doorway.” She could hear Aurora’s voice in the distance. “I think I’ve found the perfect destination. Freya!” She took the chance of glancing over to where Aurora stood with Lysander. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Aurora had opened a doorway to the stars. Aries had been serious when he’d told her they had first mastered the ancient traveling routes among the stars. “Talia,” She gasped for air. “I’m going to give you one more chance.’ “One more chance? Hell, I think I’m winning. You’re way out of shape, Captain. You should have kept up with your rigorous training. I remember in the days during the height of the war, you could beat the hell out of anyone that dared to challenge your command … my, my how the tables have turned. You look completely spent. You really have become a spoiled princess.” Talia was right. She was fighting for her breath, and she still felt sluggishly weak from her injury. But she was doing just as Aurora wanted. She was leading Talia into the hornet’s nest. She wouldn’t have to worry how the fight went, Talia would be going on a little trip soon. Talia took one desperate lunge at her. She moved out of the way just in the nick of time, and as Talia was trying to regain her balance, she drew the first blood by slashing her side with her sword. Talia screamed out in pain. “You vicious bitch! I’m going to kill you!” “And, I’m going to see you in hell.” Before Talia could come at her again with her sword, she roundhouse kicked her into the swirling doorway Aurora had opened. “No!” Talia was sucked backward, and then the doorway closed. “How did you do that?” “Our doorway system works on different principles than yours. I think I’ve said enough for now. Aries can instruct you in our ways when the time is right. For now, a great enemy has been defeated.” “Where did you send her?” “I sent her somewhere where she will get what she deserves. Let’s leave it at that, Freya. I fear you won’t like the destination that I’ve sent her to, and the less you know, the better for all of us.” She narrowed her eyes. She didn’t like the way that Aurora was talking, but Talia had done some pretty horrible things, she needed to be punished. The sooner she put her so-called old friend out of her mind, the better. “Aries.” The palace shook, and then the sound of firecrackers met her ears. It sounded as if the Gaian Peoples were celebrating. “It is over.” Aurora met her gaze. Fear skipped in her heart. She didn’t want to

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

70

think of what had gone on between the Gaian fleet and the Earth fleet. She felt unsteady. She sank into the nearest chair. The sound of another doorway opening met her ears. Aries stepped through the vortex. She walked toward him. She still felt as if she were walking in a trance. “What happened?” She forced the words out expecting to have her worst fears confirmed. “Well, the threat is over. Earth can do us no harm. We’ve crippled their fleet. The battle was over in less than two hours. They didn’t know what had hit them.” Relief washed over her. “And the dead?” “Casualties were kept to a minimum. You don’t need to fear, the bloodbath you were dreading didn’t come to pass. With Macy’s help, we convinced the Earth fleet to surrender and acquiesce to our terms before any great loss of life came to pass. The current government of Earth will not be pleased to hear of the way their fleet fared. Tomorrow, I will take part of the Gaian fleet to Earth’s borders. We will be staging a coup … soon Earth will have some new form of government.” “And the touch of freedom will spread throughout its many colonies.” “Yes.” “You did all of this, I never believed you were in it for anything else than just seeking your revenge. I thought you had a vendetta against them that would only be solved by killing Terrans. Instead, you made me see you in a new refreshing light.” She watched out of the corner of her eye as Aurora and Lysander quietly slipped out of the room. “I hated you when I first met you, and now I couldn’t imagine life without you.” “I feel the same way.” “I love you, Aries.” “That’s what makes my life worth living. I have you, and you have me, for the rest of time.” “Eternity sounds like heaven to me.” He swept her up into his arms, and they kissed. The kiss was scorching hot filled with the promise of their passionate love. Come what may, she would always have Aries, and he would always have her. **** Twelve months ago, if someone had told her she would be living in a brave new world where everyone was free to make their own destiny, she would have laughed and asked them if they were playing with a full deck. But in the twelve months since Aries had taken her for his mate, she had learned a good deal about the meaning of life. She’d also become a wife and mother. Her life was now complete. But they hadn’t created paradise among the stars yet. Aries had pulled his forces from Earth space, once he’d thought he’d calmed the rough waters. There was now talk that new radicals were seeking their place in government. She wondered if it would ever end, it seemed like a vicious circle, and yet Aries still had hope. And, so, she would cling to that hope, while building a new life for them and the child they had brought into this life. She’d hold onto their love ... for it constantly burned like an inferno inside of her. She looked down at her sleeping daughter cradled in her arms. “You shouldn’t worry about Earth. We live in our own perfect world, and someday, Earth will return to its former glory.” Aries spoke softly but fervently. “Do you think so?” “I know so. It’s the only way to stay sane, Freya.”

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews

71

“How?” “You need to hold onto hope—look at our daughter, she is our hope.” “Thank you.” “Why are you thanking me?” “Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you for being such a brute when you kidnapped me and for turning out to be my Prince Charming.” “You are welcome.” He leaned down toward her, kissed their daughter’s forehead, and then he kissed her. She was the luckiest woman in the universe. And she knew it. The End