Song Of The Annunaki

SONG OF THE ANNUNAKI

Lorraine Kennedy

SONG OF THE ANNUNAKI By

Lorraine Kennedy

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SONG OF THE ANNUNAKI

Lorraine Kennedy

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© copyright September 2006, Lorraine Kennedy Cover art by Eliza Black, © copyright September 2006 ISBN 1-58608-957-9 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.

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CHAPTER ONE Pulling the blankets up around her neck, Samura stared wide-eyed at the mist seeping from the cracks of the closed bedroom door, thick, twisting, swirling mist that pulsated and breathed as if it were alive. Crawling across the hardwood floor, the mist radiated a greenish luminous light that cast the small room into a surreal nightmare world. The mist whirled and danced, forming the image of otherworldly fingers that reached from the floor to twist around her ankles and wrists. She could not move. She could not so much as squeak in protest. The invasive mist had robbed her of her voice, paralyzing her limbs until she was no more than an infant at the mercy of the unknown. Behind the door, a bright light invaded the smallest opening with the power of a thousand suns, a brilliance that tore through her eyes, sending tendrils of excruciating pain into her brain. Samura could feel her body lift from the mattress to hang suspended in midair. Long, shimmering strands of dark hair hung from her head, coming to rest on the pillow below her. The temperature in the room dropped, covering her with a chill that pervaded the warmth of her white cotton nightgown to send shivers through her body. Her breaths were shallow, allowing only the smallest wisps of warmth to escape into the chilled room, delivering puffs of fog from her lips. Slowly her body began to move toward the door. Her terror was absolute, its grasp tightening around her throat until it was burrowing down into her stomach. The sickening taste of bile reached up from her gut, consuming her. Only with sheer willpower was she able to force the feeling away. The little white door that had offered so much protection a short while ago was gone, replaced with a cavernous hole. What lay behind that distorted doorway was the unknown. What lay outside that door existed beyond the sight of many, visible to only the few. With liquid smooth motion, her body was lifted upright until she was in a standing position. Samura’s soul screamed in protest as she inched closer and closer to that void of oblivion beyond the doorway. Her heart knew that to go through that opening would be to look upon the truth … a truth that she was not prepared to see … a reality that could destroy humankind. A chorus of soft whispers drifted into her head, soothing her like an eerie lullaby. “Go beyond the door,” the singsong voices urged. “See all that was, and will ever be. See the truth.” She had no control. She was gliding through the door. A blast of air hit her, a billion molecules of realities rushed past her and into the world she had always known. Surrounding her was infinity. She looked upon countless galaxies that stretched into a universe with no visible beginning or end. Walking upon the stars was the most unusual man, appearing so large as to dwarf the planets beneath his feet. Long flaxen hair billowed behind him, lighting the dark sky with whitehot radiance. His handsome, breathtaking features were soft perfection, framing gray eyes that lit up like moons in the night heavens.

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His lips never moved but his powerful voice echoed through the core of her being. “Search not for answers. The truth will only illuminate your bondage. The nature of your reality is naught but part of your dream world.” He stood near her now, no longer as massive as the universe but as a god in a man’s body. The heat he radiated reached out to cover her like a warm blanket. His gaze pulled at her essence, laying bare her entire being. She felt naked beneath the onslaught of those luminous gray eyes. He opened his mouth but what came from his lips were not words, but a haunting melody so ancient that it rippled through her life force with a vibrating electrical current. Like the song of the whale it went out in all directions, to all points of the universe … lingering long after the sound had gone. Her vision was blurred, but the sensations of the waking world had wiggled into her dream. The rough asphalt beneath her bare feet painfully stripped away the fog. Blinking rapidly, Samura first saw the sickly yellowish glow of the streetlight. Turning slowly, she recognized the deserted road in front of her house. The world slept, oblivious to the woman who stood in the middle of the street, wearing nothing but a nightgown. The distant hoot of an owl spurred her into action and she willed her legs to move. The cool grass was soothing to her feet after walking across the sharp surface of the road. She tried her door, and to her surprise, found that it was still locked. Samura wondered how she had walked out of the house while she slept if the door was still locked. She reached into the bush that sat next to her porch. Under cover of the greenery was a tin box that contained her spare key. Once safely inside, Samura shut the door and leaned heavily on it, sighing with relief. She had always been plagued with bizarre dreams, but nothing like she had experienced tonight. As far as she knew, she had never walked in her sleep until now. Looking down at the shining metal of the key, she concluded that she must have locked the door behind her when she’d left the house, sleepwalking. Without turning on any lights, Samura walked down the hall to her bedroom. Curiously, that door was still closed as well. Turning the handle, she threw the door open. All was as it had been when she’d gone to sleep, except that her blankets lay in a piled heap next to her bed. The red digital display on her bedside clock told her it was 3:20 in the morning. **** Samura watched the empty seat of a child’s swing, swaying back and forth in the hot evening breeze. The fading light lent an eerie overtone to the already ominous atmosphere. Though empty now, less than an hour ago, four-year-old Tilley Andrews had been the swing’s last occupant. Looking back at her quickly scrawled notes, she wondered again how the scene described by the child’s mother could have taken place. Realistically, it would have been nearly impossible for the events to unfold the way Mrs. Andrews had explained. Mrs. Andrews had been sitting on a blanket with her younger child, only fifteen feet from the swing. She claimed to have only looked away for a few seconds. Long enough to give her fussing younger child a cookie, and when she looked back, Tilley was gone. The time span could have been no more than ten seconds. Ten seconds that would now stretch into eternity. The child’s mother had heard nothing, not a scream, the sound of a struggle … nothing. How could that be? She had been sitting so close to where the child had been playing that she would have heard someone approach, but she claimed she had heard nothing. St. Augustine Park comprised

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a fairly open area. There was almost no chance that someone could have gotten away without being seen by at least the child’s mother. Consequently, Tilley’s mother was under a cloud of suspicion, though Mrs. Andrews had been so distraught that she had had to be taken to the hospital and sedated. Her story just did not add up. Samura’s whirlwind of thought was interrupted when her partner gently laid his hand on her arm. “Sam, there’s been a similar occurrence about three blocks from here. It apparently happened within moments of this one. John and Mack are on that one.” Samura arched one perfectly shaped brow. “How is the case similar?” “It was a four-year-old boy named Charlie. According to the mother he disappeared while taking a bath.” Mike Gibson’s voice made it obvious that he was still trying to piece it all together. Samura had always been good at masking her emotions. None of the hurt and fear she was feeling for these missing children could be detected in her blue eyes. At times, her eyes were like pools of florescent color and at others, they could have been likened to ice. At this moment, she stared back at her partner with eyes so unreadable it would appear she possessed no soul. “Is there more to it?” She flipped the notebook shut. Mike ran his meaty fingers through his graying brown hair. “The child was in the tub. His mother left the bathroom and walked down the hall to get a towel from the linen closet, and when she returned, the boy was gone. There wasn’t even a drop of water on the bathroom floor to suggest that he had ever gotten out. When the responding officers arrived there was still water in the tub along with the child’s toys.” “What do you think?” “The parents are part of some kind of cult, and for some reason they need their children to disappear in the eyes of the world.” Samura smiled coldly. “That’s something to think about, but my instincts tell me the parents have nothing to do with the disappearance of their children.” “Oh, come on, Sam, these cases reek of inside jobs. There are no fingerprints, nothing.” Mike shook his head. Disappearances, which on one hand were completely unexplainable unless you looked to the most obvious culprits. For Mike, the obvious villains here were the parents, or at least the mother. In each instance, Sam had insisted that they look beyond the obvious. “There’s nothing more we can do right now. Why don’t we let forensics do their job and get out of here? Maybe go get a bite to eat.” Samura was tall for a woman and barely had to lift her head to look the six-foot Mike in the eyes. “That’s okay, Gibson. You go ahead. I’d just as soon stick around here for awhile.” Mike shrugged his shoulders, “Suit yourself. I’ll see you in the morning.” Samura watched Mike Gibson drive away. Outwardly, she was as calm and collected as at any point in her life, but on the inside, she was simmering with anger. Gibson was an okay person, but in her opinion, his arrogance and laziness interfered with his job. Dismissing Gibson from her mind, Samura once again focused on the task at hand. The search teams had fanned out from the playground, looking for anything out of the ordinary that might give them a clue as to what had happened to the child. The last of the forensic team was now packing up to leave. Samura knew that they would probably not find any viable evidence,

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since they hadn’t in the last five cases. One by one, the cars pulled away until all was still and quiet but the rush of the wind. Reluctantly, Samura forced herself to remove her black leather glove and grasp the chain at approximately the same place the child would have held it. At first, there was the familiar tingling sensation and then the flash of abrupt and sheer terror--a horror so pure as to consume one’s sanity--and then nothing. It was as if the child’s soul had ceased to exist. “Officer Priestly!” Samura swung around with a startled cry. The stranger stood only a few feet away, the details of his appearance hidden in deep shadows. She was usually so in tune with her surroundings that rarely was anyone able to sneak up on her, and never had it happened while she was on duty. Cautiously, Samura unsnapped her pistol, letting her hand rest on the handle. Fear gnawed at her throat until it was so dry and parched that her words came out more like little croaks. “What can I do for you?” “I know where the children are.” Stunned, Samura tried to speak but could find no words. As she always did in times of crisis, she reached into the inner depths of her being and drew on the shinning white energy that resided deep within her. Her shields slammed down and instantaneously her professionalism returned. “Go on,” she told the stranger in a low, even voice. “I can tell you no more than that right now.” “Are you involved in this?” “No,” the man in the shadows answered without hesitation. “If you know something that you are refusing to disclose then you will be an accessory to a very serious crime. You will be leaving me no choice but to place you under arrest.” Samura’s voice never swayed or altered from a level, professional tone. “Samura, you cannot arrest me.” The stranger was obviously amused by her threat. Samura paused. Who was this guy? A Fed who was purposely obstructing justice? “How do you know my name?” The hard edge to her voice was the only hint of her anger. “We know a great deal about you, Samura. We know the date and time you were born, right down to the very second. We know your favorite color, what your favorite toy was as a child, and even who gave you your first kiss.” “You’re lying.” “How very disappointing. You are showing the very human trait of losing control. It would seem that you have much work ahead of you yet.” Samura drew her pistol with a swift, graceful movement. “You are under arrest! Put your hands up where I can see them.” Keeping the gun leveled at the darkened image in the shadows, she used her other hand to free her flashlight. Switching it on, she directed the beam in the direction of the dark figure. He wore a black, hooded cloak that effectively hid his face. Lifting his head, he stared directly at her with eyes of blue ice that strangely reflected the light. Making no attempt to comply with her order, he stood staring at her, a smile playing on his lips. “I’ve already told you, Samura, you have no authority to arrest me.” “Sir, I will tell you one more time to put your hands where I can see them.” “Please put down your weapon and I will let you in on a couple things before I depart.” Samura made no move to lower her weapon. “Your time is very near, Samura. This has always been your destiny.”

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Samura shook her head, confused by the man’s words. “Sir, are you on any kind of medication, legal or otherwise?” “I am going to leave you with some facts.” He stepped closer and Samura tensed. “Your father is not the man you have always thought him to be. Ask your mother … ask her about the lights in the sky.” “You’re out of your mind.” Samura fought to maintain control of her quaking emotions. “Oh, come on, Samura, you know deep down that you have always been different, don’t you? You have always felt apart from the others.” She flinched at this truth. Her vision filled with memories, images of birthday parties that she could not bring herself to attend, sitting in the corner of the schoolyard and having nothing to say to the children who talked to her, their presence making her feel self-conscious about herself. “If you are to have any chance of finding these children, you will have to accept who you are.” “I repeat, sir, you are under arrest. Put your hands above your head where I can see them.” Samura knew she should radio for help, but she would have to drop the flashlight in order to grab the radio. In that instant, as she was contemplating her situation, there was a blinding white flash so bright that her vision consisted of nothing more than black dots for several seconds. By the time her sight returned, the man had gone. Disgusted with herself, she radioed in giving the dispatcher the man’s description and requested backup. Samura was convinced that she’d just been taken in by some cheap magician’s trick. **** Samura guided the black Eclipse into the driveway beside her little white house. She switched off the engine and sat back, eyeing the house apprehensively. Her normally welcoming home now lay in a thick shroud of darkness, ominous and forbidding. She could not shake off the feeling that something lay waiting for her within its darkened rooms. Most days she was home long before dark, but the past few days had been a nightmare. The long hours on duty had been spent trying to find something that would link the disappearances, but her work had not been fruitful. Nothing about the abductions made sense, especially when there had been more than one child that disappeared in such a short time period, on opposite sides of the city. And now there was that man in the park to contend with. The darkness of the house beckoned her, daring her to enter and see what awaited her. Samura brushed the strange thoughts aside. I am a police officer for hell’s sake! Being afraid of the dark didn’t mesh with that. She had never been one to be frightened of spooks and things that went bump in the night. If working in law enforcement had taught her anything, it was that the true monsters of this world were all too real and solid. But the man in the park! The whispering voice came somewhere from deep within her subconscious. Taking a deep breath, Samura opened the car door and got out. She kept telling herself that it was ridiculous to be afraid to enter her own home. The man in the park had shaken her up a little. There was no more to it than that, she concluded. Once inside the house, she did something that was uncharacteristic of her. She turned on all the lights. Brightly lit, the house was once again her safe haven and no longer the threatening

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entity that stood stark against the darkness. Collapsing into her brown leather recliner, she picked up the TV remote. As she did most nights, she would lose herself in the make-believe world of Hollywood. Though her favorite television programs did not cure her loneliness, they did fill her time. It’s not like you haven’t had plenty of opportunity. Her mother’s disapproving voice popped into her thoughts. Her mother’s words were true enough. She did not lack for male attention and she’d even entered into a couple of relationships, if somewhat reluctantly. Each time the relationship had ended in disaster. She just could not bring herself to feel more than warm affection for the men she had let into her life. That wasn’t enough for her. She wanted a man that would send her heart fluttering whenever he looked at her. But maybe she was being unrealistic? Maybe that kind of love just didn’t exist in the real world? Sighing deeply, Samura left the chair. She didn’t bother to turn the TV off, knowing it would fill the silent house with comforting noise. In her tiny bathroom, she stripped and stepped under the warm, soothing spray of the shower. After rinsing the soapy lather from her body, she just stood under the water letting its heat wash away the tension in her muscles. At first, the hum was so distant that she was not even sure that she was hearing anything at all, but it grew steadily louder. The sound was so bizarre that she wondered if it was not a product of her imagination. It reminded her of some type of music … a song that sent rushes of color through her brain. As it grew louder, it was like the sound of chimes tinkling in the wind, but also a flute sending electric notes to blend with the soft sound of the chimes. Her body came alive with the sensation of a thousand fingers touching her. She felt herself falling to the slick surface of the tub. Her vision blurred and then there was nothing but green light. Hot, wet tongues were everywhere, on her lips, twisting around her nipples, caressing her inner thigh, prodding her throbbing clit. Her thoughts were spinning out of control. Her mind’s eye caught sight of sensuous silver-gray eyes and then a hard, slick body. She was hot … so hot, it was as if fire licked at the steaming wet lips between her thighs. Trembling uncontrollably, lust ripped through her body until it became too painful to bear. The strange sound filled her head while her body shook with mounting need. Samura! The deep voice echoed through her head, filling her existence with its seductive calling. Let me take you there. “Yes!” she screamed into the light. He was there, but yet he wasn’t. Strong hands slid across her wet body, but when she opened her eyes, she could see no one. She felt the unmistakable sensation of a hot tongue playfully teasing her erect nipple. Nibbling, sharp teeth causing just enough pain to intensify her pleasure. Long, thick fingers probed her pussy while a thumb teased her clit. Her body could take no more. A tingling sensation washed over her, sending wave after wave of mind-numbing pleasure through every cell of her body sending uncontrollable spasms through her muscles that left her delightfully breathless. Her vision cleared and she became aware of lying on her back against the cold porcelain of the tub. Ice-cold water sprayed from the showerhead covering her with a numbing chill. Pulling herself up, she wondered if she’d blacked out or had some type of seizure. It had

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been so weird … like a dream but not a dream. Turning off the water, Samura wrapped herself in a towel and left the bathroom. She was chilled to the bone and thought about turning the heat on, even though it was June. The sound of static pervaded the silent house. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. Why is there no reception on the TV? Switching the TV off, she automatically glanced at the little western wagon clock on her living room wall. She was astounded for it indicated that it was midnight. The clock couldn’t possibly be right. She’d gone to take a shower at a little after ten. Samura hurried into the kitchen to check the clock on her oven. Sure enough, it also read the same as the one in the living room. How did I lose two hours? There was no time to ponder her lost time. The room filled with a loud, shrilling screech. She dropped the towel to bring her hand up to her ears. It did nothing to stop the sound from painfully ripping at her eardrums. The screeching sound changed, took on form until it was recognizable as the angry hissing of a female voice. “Be warned! Do not trespass into my realm!” The sound was gone so quickly that Samura would have thought she had imagined the whole thing if it were not for the blood that dripped rapidly from her nose.

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CHAPTER TWO The scent of lemon oil was overpowering, a further distraction to her already edgy mood. Lemon oil permeated from the pores of the dark wood furnishings, but the smell of expensive leather was also present. Aaron Jordon was the department’s psychiatrist and a nice enough man, though hardly what one would call conventional. He wore his long brown hair tied back, and his mustache and beard neatly trimmed, but the 70s still hung over him like a colorful blanket. He never wore a suit, preferring jeans and T-shirts. Samura attempted to block out the odors so that she could concentrate on Doctor Jordan’s voice. As far back as her memory went she had been extremely sensitive to smells. “Doctor, this is really unnecessary.” Samura smiled at the man who sat next to her. “Relax, Sam,” Aaron Jordon urged in a kind voice. “The department has their policies, and really … your dreams coupled with what happened in the park the other night, this could help.” Aaron smiled patiently at Sam who sat rigid in the lounge chair. She’d been sent to him after the strange tale she’d given the captain about the man in the park. Sam didn’t believe that she needed to talk with a psychiatrist, but then again, most police officers usually didn’t feel they needed counseling. Law enforcement was especially difficult about that. Sensing the man’s thoughts, Samura came to her own defense. “The man was real, Aaron, and there really is nothing unusual about my dreams. I’ve had them since I was a child.” She hoped he would not see through her slight deceptiveness. It was true that she’d had weird dreams all her life, but they had gotten worse. “But didn’t you say this one was more severe, causing you to sleepwalk?” “Yes, but it could be stress. This case has been … something else.” Aaron smiled. “That is exactly what I mean. I am just here to help you manage that stress.” “But is hypnosis really necessary?” She was still not convinced it would do any good. “Maybe there is something bothering you that you don’t realize,” he offered. “It couldn’t hurt to look a little deeper.” Samura smiled, but a sigh of resignation escaped through her smile. “Okay, doc, let’s do this.” Focusing on the doctor’s tranquil voice, Samura let herself drift. She was falling into a dark place, a warm blanket of nothingness, but found that she was still aware of Aaron’s voice. “You are at the park and everyone has left but you. What is happening?” His voice resonated, as if it came from someplace far away. “The child … she was so terrified. I can feel it when I touch the swing.” “Go on,” the distant voice urged. “There is a man there. He knows something about the kids he won’t tell me.” Her anger and frustration came rushing back again, as intensely as she had felt it that night. She described every detail of that scene as if she was there all over again, living it. “Okay, Sam, let’s go to the night before. Your nightmare. You’ve just gotten into bed

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and closed your eyes. What happens next?” “I’m so tired, I just want to sleep. I’m sleeping but something has woken me.” Samura’s face contorted in confusion. “The room is glowing like it is lit with hidden green fluorescent lights.” A scream tore from her throat, her hands flying up to cover her face. “I’m here, Sam. It can’t hurt you,” the doctor soothed. “There’s this creature. It’s looking at me with huge, glassy black eyes. There are only little holes for its nose and a small slit where its mouth should be. I don’t think it can talk.” “Go on,” he urged. “It’s small … like a child. It has a big head and ugly gray skin.” “What does it want?” Aaron’s question was there, but it was as if she couldn’t really hear him anymore. “I don’t know. It’s just staring at me.” Her voice broke, filling with boundless terror. “It has this gold stick in its hand. Its hand only has four fingers. It’s touching my head with it and now I can’t move,” Samura screamed, her breathing labored. “I think it’s a monster!” “Breathe slowly, Sam. Be calm. Remember you are only looking back at pictures.” “It’s taking me someplace. The light is so bright. It’s hurting my eyes. Please stop!” The doctor was saying something, but he was too far away to hear. Samura moved through the air as if she were no longer solid, drifting with the creature’s grotesque hands on her arm. She was stricken with panic but could not move. She could utter no words in protest. Her voice was gone. She was in a circular room where all the contents were molded of dull metal. She lay on a table and there were extremely bright lights focused on her. There were more creatures around but she could only make out shadows behind the brilliant reflection of the light. They were probing her with instruments but there was no pain, only a sense of pressure. A small prickling sting in her arm drew her attention. They were taking blood from her. Shivering, she became aware that her nightgown was gone. Chilling ice crawled over her bare skin, almost burning in its intensity. A gray hand grasped her arm, helping her up. She could stand and move now, but her limbs were weak. She was being led to a wall, a solid mass of crystal that rippled like clear water. Samura stepped into the crystal, only to find herself surrounded by a gel-like substance that generated a blue glowing radiance. Stepping through to the other side of the crystal door, she let out a cry. It was as if she were standing on nothing. In all directions was the sparkle of untold constellations. She was in awe of their dazzling colors and swirling masses. He was there, the god from her dream, but he was a man. The man’s gray eyes were bright, reflecting the infinity of the stars surrounding him. Her whole body burned beneath the intensity of his gaze. His body was a mass of divinely chiseled muscle, long, blond--almost white--hair rested on his wide shoulders, cascading to his perfect waist. A blue nylon jumpsuit contoured his hard body to perfection. Samura could only stare for she had never been in the presence of such faultless masculinity--such godly splendor. Her sharp senses picked up on the sexual awareness behind his cynical stare and she recalled that she stood before him with no clothing to cover her body. She felt her nipples tingling, calling out to the nearness of him.

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She knew he could sense her reaction to him. His mouth spread into a wide smile, revealing dazzling white teeth. Samura found her voice. “Who are you? What do you want with me?” He regarded her silently, his eyes never leaving hers. “I had to know you, talk with you … just this once.” “Why … who are you?” she asked again, knowing that she did not really care who he was, only that he was. She had felt him … knew he was out there somewhere. “It matters naught who I am.” The smile was lost from his handsome features. “You are different from the others, you are part of us.” Samura shook her head, confused. “It is forbidden to mate with the Adamu. It has been forbidden for thousands of years. You should never have been.” A frown marred his face. “Who are you?” “I am of the gods of old. I am your lord and master.” “No,” she cried out faintly. He stepped closer to her, reaching out to touch her dark hair. In her chest, her heart beat furiously like the wings of a bird fluttering against her ribs. With long fingers, he caressed her arm, his darker, peach-colored hand contrasting against her pale skin. The air between them sizzled with sexual tension that screamed for release. “You are an exquisite specimen. It is a shame that you are of the Adamu.” He bent his large frame to place a soft kiss on her lips. He turned his back to her, but stopped abruptly as if he had forgotten something. “Don’t search for answers, Samura, for they will bring you only strife.” Her vision went black as if a cloak had suddenly been dropped over her. “He’s gone. I’m in the street now!” She was breathless. “It’s okay, Sam. I’m going to count backward to one, and when I reach one, you will wake and remember everything you have told me.” Aaron began counting slowly. The lights were too bright and Samura could only bring her eyes open to slits. She heard the doctor switch off the lights and tried again to open her eyes. Realization swept over her and a flood of color flushed her cheeks. Aaron Jordon had heard it all … every minute detail of her experience or dream. The doctor cleared his throat to bring her attention to him. “Samura, it would seem what we uncovered varies significantly from the dream you remembered.” “Yes, it would.” “Have you ever studied ancient languages?” “No, not at all. I don’t even know much Spanish.” “Well, you mentioned this man called you an Adamu. I studied ancient languages when I was an undergraduate and if I recall correctly, that is an ancient Sumerian word.” Samura shrugged, the information meant nothing to her. “Hmmm … have you ever considered the possibility of abduction?” She stared at him blankly, unsure of where he was leading. “I’ve never really dealt with it before, but there are some very prestigious doctors who feel there is something to these people who they call … alien abductors.” “Oh, come on, doc.” She smiled with amusement. “You can’t be serious?” “It’s very peculiar and I can’t really say what it was for sure, but it couldn’t hurt to contact someone who knows more about this stuff.”

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Samura shook her head. She felt no need to delve into this problem with a stranger. Aaron had been bad enough. The last thing she needed was for some tale of her being abducted by aliens to get around the force. She’d lose her job for sure. Fixing her gaze on him, she asked, “How do you know it would be aliens instead of some supernatural phenomena?” “Well, I don’t know it would be either one.” He laughed. “I just feel it’s a little out of my league.” “I’ll handle this on my own, Aaron. Do I have the clear to go back to work?” His gentle brown eyes reflected his uncertainty. “I don’t know, Sam.” He shook his head. “Oh, come on, Aaron! We’ve known each other since I joined the force. You know I’m a good officer and there is a sick lunatic out there taking children.” “Yes, I know, but it’s my job to be sure that you are fit for duty, and I’m not.” She frowned. “You think I am having episodes of schizophrenia, don’t you?” Shrugging his shoulders, he answered, “You have to admit that it is a possibility.” Samura said nothing, just stared blankly ahead. The children needed her. She had to do something to catch whoever was taking them. “Sam, I know this case is important to you,” he said as if he had read her thoughts, “but it could be dangerous. What if you have an episode during some type of confrontation? It could cost you your life, or someone else’s. You know that.” “I know,” she whispered. “I’ll make you a deal. Take a week off and then come back and see me. We’ll see what happens.” Samura knew that was the best she would get from Aaron Jordon for now. He had the aura of a free flying spirit, but was thoroughly professional.

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CHAPTER THREE Samura made every conscious effort to push the children from her mind, but it was useless. Her soul felt their cries, their isolation, and loneliness. Their fear sliced at her being like razors slitting her skin. For as long as she could remember, she had loved all children and held them close to her heart, but especially these children. The little ones that could no longer see a helping hand to guide them home. Opening her refrigerator, she took out a frozen dinner and placed it in the microwave. Taking a seat at the table, she leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes. What if they were all dead? Samura felt tears stinging her eyes at the thought. These feelings were too agonizing to bear so she attempted to push them to the back of her mind. For those in her field of work, it was common knowledge that most children who were abducted by strangers were dead within the first three hours, and she could not bear to think of that. It was her nature to keep her feelings locked up tight, as if in an imaginary steel vault. This ability was important in her line of work, but she had not been successful in doing so with this case. Her session with Doctor Jordon floated into her thoughts, a welcome distraction. The man in the park had seemed to know her. She shivered, chilled by the idea. The other man, the one in her dream. Her vision filled with the memory and her body quivered at the thought of him. Samura was sure that he had to have been a dream. No man had ever sent her pulse racing like that. Only her fantasy lover who danced through her dreams on lonely days, filling her heart with contentment and her body with fire. No, he wasn’t real, just a longing she had always felt for someone who was no more than a figment of her imagination. Since she’d been a young girl, she’d carried around the romantic notion that he was out there somewhere, that he would find her if she waited long enough. She had matured and her naive thoughts had settled into place as a beautiful spot she could escape to when she felt herself sinking into depression. Her adult heart knew the fantasy was all nonsense, but it was a nice dream. Now she wondered if that dream had somehow jumped out of her consciousness to intrude on real life. Were these episodes a sign of mental illness? What about that shrieked warning and the nosebleed? What could cause that type of hallucination but mental illness? Possibly Aaron was right in keeping her off the streets. The high-pitched beeping of the microwave signaled that her chicken meal was done, dragging her back to the moment. There was no time to get her dinner out, as the phone started ringing. “Hello.” She held the phone tightly in her hand, afraid that it would be news of another child gone. “Samura, what have you done?” It was that same voice, the voice of the hooded man. She trembled inside but outwardly she gave no sign of her turmoil. “Who is this?” “You know who this is, let us not play games. Thian is not your friend. Block your mind

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to him. Do not allow him to seduce your thoughts and dreams!” the stranger warned. “Do not call me again. I will have the call traced and press charges.” Samura’s icy dismissal did nothing to deter him. “Do your job, Samura, get those kids back. Do your job for the Adamu.” The voice rang with clear impatience. Samura was shocked. There was that word again. “Who is this,” she hissed. “Your mother knows, Samura. Ask her tomorrow.” The line went dead. Her gaze flew to the caller ID. The digital letters read, unknown caller. There were zeros across the bottom. She was no fool and she was aware of the fact that whoever the stranger was, he was well acquainted with her life and routines. But how would he have known about my dream? Could Aaron have something to do with this? Samura dismissed the thought. She had always been able to sense evil intent, which is what made her a good cop. She didn’t feel that with the doctor. Thian? Was there even the slightest chance he could have been real? **** Samura found that she was relaxed for the first time in days. As far back as she could remember the afternoon sunshine had always acted as a natural soother. At this time of day the sun was soft, casting its golden light on the world. She breathed in the sweet desert air. Out of the corner of her eye she watched her mother working intently on another of her many knitting projects, her eyes narrowing as she focused on her work. Doreen’s face was beginning to show her age, and her once curly golden-brown hair, was now gray. The years of hard ranch work had taken a toll on Doreen Priestly. Sitting on the front porch after Sunday dinner was a ritual that her family almost never swayed from. Except for occasions such as today when her father had to attend to the herd. Samura gazed over the pastures and outbuildings with a feeling akin to homesickness. She’d grown up on this little ranch. The “Rocking P” was not large, but her father did own a decent sized herd. Doreen let out a little tired sigh. “You know, Judy is due to have her baby anytime now, best be getting a blanket put together for her.” Just a hint of a smile touched Samura’s lips. There were the emotions again, like little earthworms crawling in and out of her, leaving behind the residue of feeling that she somehow knew she should control. Gazing at the small, timid creature that was her mother, she felt many things, pity, sympathy, respect for the woman’s simplistic devotion to her family, but most of all she felt an immense and profound love. “How wonderful for Cousin Judy,” Samura commented, hoping her mother would let it drop there, but Doreen was not going to let her daughter forget how much she wanted grandchildren of her own. “Now wouldn’t it be nice if we could be sitting here and watching over some little ones of our own playing on the grass?” “Mom, I want children someday, but I’m not even married yet.” Doreen laid down the material she was working on, in her lap and gave her that--it’s time for a serious talk--look. “Now, Samura, you’re not a young woman any longer. You are twentyfive years old. What could you be waiting for?” Samura smiled widely. “Maybe Mr. Right?”

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“Oh, pooh.” Doreen smirked. “You have had many nice young men courting you over the years, and you look past them like you can’t see two feet in front of your face.” Doreen’s face grew red as it always did when she became irritated with her daughter. She grasped her mother’s hand. “Oh, Momma, you’ll get what you want one of these days, but right now there’s something I need to talk to you about.” Samura decided that since her father wasn’t around, now was as good a time as any to broach the subject with her mother. “Okay.” Doreen studied her daughter with intense hazel eyes. Samura decided to take it slow. “Well, you know about all the missing kids lately and how a child went missing from St. Augustine Park a few of nights ago?” “Oh yes, what a terrible business. I sure do hope they catch whoever is committing such horrible crimes.” Doreen’s eyes darted nervously from her daughter to her knitting and back. Samura didn’t miss the sudden anxiety that had gripped her mother. “Momma, do you know anything about this?” She found that she was mildly shocked by her own question. “Oh, heavens no, how would a little ole rancher’s wife like me know anything about such business?” Doreen licked at her lips and her thin, frail hands began to shake. Samura was becoming increasingly alarmed by her mother’s reaction, but she had to know. “Mom, I was approached the other night by someone who says he knows what is happening to the children.” Samura paused to let what she’d said sink in before continuing. “He also said that I should talk to you, that you knew the truth, and that I should ask you about the lights in the sky.” She spoke the last words in whispered tones. “Oh, the man must be crazy!” Doreen tried to stand but was shaking too badly to get to her feet. Samura scooted closer to her mother and put an arm around her in an effort to offer comfort. “Mom, you have to tell me what you know. It could save lives, and it’s the right thing to do. You know that.” Tears of resignation flowed down Doreen’s tired face. “I always knew this time would come.” “It is okay, momma. Just tell me what you know.” “Things were bad in those days, and getting worse. Everyday more were gone. You don’t know what it was like seeing your father come in from the herd each day with devastation written all over his face.” Samura pushed gently. “What was happening to the herd?” “They were being killed. Their innards cut clean out of them without a drop of blood being spilled. No one could help us, not the police, not the government. They just shrugged their shoulders and told us it had to be animals.” “Are you talking about cattle mutilations?” Samura was astounded. It was the first she’d ever heard of this happening to her family. Doreen nodded a confirmation. “How come none of this has ever been mentioned before?” Doreen patted her daughter’s hand. “Oh, baby, it was such a horrible time in our lives, and we just wanted to forget all about it.” Samura waited patiently for her mother to finish her story, but Doreen turned away, letting the silence descend on them just as the twilight was spreading across the sky, readying all for the darkness that would soon follow. “Mom, tell me the rest please.” Samura’s voice was soft and coaxing.

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Doreen ran her fingers through her thin gray hair. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before continuing. “Well, I couldn’t just sit back and let your father’s dreams be destroyed, so I took matters into my own hands. Mathew would never have allowed it, so I’d wait until he was asleep before leaving the house. I took your father’s shotgun and went out with the herd.” Doreen paused, her eyes taking on the sheen of one who is seeing a faraway time. “I just decided it was high time something got done about it. I was determined to fill the vermin full of holes.” It was obvious that her mother was struggling to find the strength to speak the words that needed to be said. Her eyes were brimming with tears and an awful dread shone within them. “The first night I watched over the herd, nothing happened, but on the second night….” Her words trailed off. “Go on, Momma.” “Well … at first I thought I’d fallen asleep. Everything had taken on a kind of glow, like the herd and all the landscape had been lit up with florescent lights. Next thing I know, this man was standing next to me. He scared me near to death. If he hadn’t been dressed so strangely I’d have thought he was a ghost.” Careful to keep her eyes unreadable, Samura remained silent, letting her mother work through the difficult story. “He reached out and took the shotgun away from me, and the whole time he was smiling very strangely. He was talking to me, but his lips never moved. He said that they knew who was killing our livestock and that they had come to put a stop to it. I wanted to thank him, but I couldn’t seem to utter a word. It was as if he knew what I was thinking. He told me his name was Ishmah and that he was from another world.” Doreen shook her head, still disbelieving. “As you can guess, I just couldn’t swallow that hunk of bull, but I wasn’t afraid of him. He was extremely gentle and very nice. He said that they had been watching me for some time and had something to ask of me.” Doreen began to cry. Samura tried to reassure the older woman. “Don’t worry, Momma. I won’t repeat what you say.” “He told me that they knew I’d been trying to have a child for a long time, and if I did what they asked it would be doing good in many different ways. He asked me if I would give birth and raise his child, and of course, I refused. I wanted to run then, but no matter what I did, I just couldn’t move. Ishmah told me that if I didn’t do it, I would never have a child. He also told me that your father was sterile because of a sickness he’d had as a child.” Her mother was shaking now. Obviously torn between reality and the fantasy she had created in her own mind. “He said that Mathew need never know the child was not his, and oh how I wanted a baby. I thought to myself, it will really be Mathew’s child, and that is how I’ve always looked on you.” “So you did it?” “He came to see me a total of four times. He was very handsome, nothing like what you are thinking. In fact, you are the image of him.” Samura finally lost her composure. “Momma, how do you know it wasn’t just some sick man playing mind games with you?” Doreen put a finger up to her lips to shush her. “On the last night he visited me, he did nothing more than hold my hand and talk. He told me I would have a daughter and that she should be named Samura. Ishmah said that you would grow to be a great defender of good. He was really very gentle, the being that created you, and even if it was wrong, I cannot regret

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anything that brought my lovely daughter to me.” Doreen smiled gently through her tears. “But what about Dad? Has he never wondered why I don’t look like either one of you?” Samura asked the question realizing it was something even she had never questioned before. “Oh, Mathew is good man. I think he’s always had his suspicions, especially when I never became pregnant again, but he would never voice them. I believe he feels as I do. The joy you have brought into our lives may not erase the sin, but it lessons the sting.” Samura felt her heart go out to the man whom she had always thought of as her father and to her mother, as well. The two dearest people in her life had been victimized by something or someone. They had all been victimized, and she would not rest until she got to the bottom of it. If there were any reality to this story, she would have to accept the fact that she had been some kind of genetic experiment. Something was needling at her consciousness, her mother’s reaction to the conversation about the missing children. “Momma, how come you think this is connected to the kids that are missing?” “I should have said something from the beginning,” her mother looked away guiltily, “but you wouldn’t have believed me. You wouldn’t have believed me until he came to you.” “Who?” “Your real father, I’m sure that’s the man you are talking about. I had hoped he would never show up, but he said that when the time was right, he would come.” Samura was stunned. The stranger was the being who had created her? Even after her mother’s story, she had not made the connection. Doreen watched her anxiously, but when Samura said nothing she went on. “Ishmah said that a time would come when they could no longer protect us and they would come for the children.” “Who?” “The Annunaki. Ishmah is Annunaki, but he was part of a rebel fraction who wanted to save us. The others, they’re not as nice as Ishmah. They look upon us as being of little importance.” Samura’s eyes grew cold. “If we are of such little importance, why are they taking the children?” Doreen shrugged. “He never told me that part, only that they would.” Taking Samura into her arms, she held her as she had done when she was a small child. “It’s all over now. We have you, and no matter who Ishmah was, I will always be grateful for that.” Samura felt bitter determination seeping through her body. It was far from over. It would not be over until she stared her true father in the face, whether he was of this world or another.

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CHAPTER FOUR Even with her hands over her ears, she could still hear the weird melody, an unearthly sound with an electric harmony that held the magnetism of a snake charmer’s song. Burrowing further into her blankets, she wanted to disappear, to hide from that haunting music. “Samura.” It was his voice, so close he might have been speaking right into her ear. The music was gone, but she heard him call to her again. “Samura, I know that you can hear me.” “No, you’re not real!” she called out in denial. His deep laughter filled the room. “Just another episode,” Samura said aloud, hoping to convince herself. The warmth of a hand slid up her thigh and into her panties to caress the mound between her legs. Gasping, her eyes flew open, but there was no one there. She could still feel the stroking touch, probing and exploring her intimately. A wet tongue flicked at her nipple and against her will, her body responded with searing heat surging through her veins. “You are ripe, my little moonflower.” His voice had a husky quality that she had never heard before. Mysterious, invisible hands continued to work their magic on her in ways that incited her senses beyond comprehension. The erotic sensation of an unseen presence invaded every inch of her body. It was almost spiritual in nature, beyond what could possibly be experienced in a three dimensional reality. Gasping, she felt herself overtaken with the sensation of hundreds of tongues and fingers. They stroked and invaded her body with such skill that her mind swarmed with every erotic fantasy she had ever imagined. Wave after wave of fire pervaded her being. “If you are real, where are you?” “I touch you only with my mind. It is all that I can do.” She could almost feel his hot breath on her skin as he spoke. Drowsiness pulled at her, beckoned her into peaceful sleep. She could not fight it and had no wish to. For the first time in weeks, Samura slipped into serene sleep. **** Her eyes flew open, but it took a moment before the residue of sleep faded. Soft morning sunshine trickled through white lacy curtains. A large oak tree cast shadows that danced with the warm breezes of late spring. The consistent ringing of the phone had woken her. Without taking her eyes off the swaying shadows, Samura reached over and picked up the phone that stood on the small nightstand next to her bed. “Hello.” “Hello, baby.” There was grimness in her father’s soft voice. Samura was instantly alert. “What’s wrong?” Mathew avoided a direct answer. “Sorry to wake you, but by any chance, did your mother happen to come by last night or this morning?” “No, I haven’t seen her since I left last night. Why?”

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“Well, I woke up this morning and she wasn’t here. I can’t imagine where she’d have gone off to.” “No, I haven’t heard from her.” “Hmmm, well maybe she just woke early and decided to go shopping with a friend.” The doubt in Mathew’s voice told Samura that he was far from convinced of his own theory. Doreen did not drive, so she would have had to go with someone else. The ranch was too far out of town to think of walking. Samura had already thrown the covers off and was sitting on the edge of the bed. “I’ll be there as soon as I can, Daddy.” “You don’t have to come all the way out here right now. I’ll just go look around myself, and if she hasn’t shown back up by noon, I’ll call you back,” “Nonsense, Daddy. You go ahead and look around and I’ll be right out.” Samura spoke to him in her professional, no argument tone of voice. Returning the phone to the nightstand, Samura caught her breath at the sight that met her gaze. A stack of what appeared to be several newspaper articles lay next to the phone. Steeling her nerves, she picked up the pile of clippings and scanned through them. For the most part, they appeared to be articles concerning child disappearances. The last article in the stack was small in comparison to the others, but Samura sensed that it was significant. As she looked at the headline, she felt her whole body tense up. It was exactly the kind of article that Samura wouldn’t have given a second thought to … normally, but nothing was normal in her life these days. **** The old white frame structure stood silent against the backdrop of the clear night sky, a house now devoid of laughter. Samura sat on the porch rocker watching anguish eat away at her father. The sheriff had just left, but they had sympathetically told them that a missing person’s report could not be filed until her mother had been gone forty-eight hours. Samura had known this, but had agreed to call in the sheriff for her father’s peace of mind. Father and daughter had searched all the places they thought Doreen might have decided to go, but there was no sign of her. Her purse was still where she always kept it, not even her shoes or slippers were missing. She had retired at her normal time, the same time she had gone to bed for the past twenty years, and then just vanished. Samura’s own investigative mind had tackled the dilemma as soon as she’d arrived at her parent’s ranch. It had not taken long before it became glaringly obvious that Doreen was gone all right, but there was no sign that she had actually left the house. Abduction. The word rang out in her head like an alarm clock that would not shut off. The idea of extraterrestrials flying through the night taking people was still a little hard to get a firm grip on, but her mother’s disappearance was not a coincidence. She had to accept there was some foundation to the theory, or accept that both she and her mother were insane. With one large hand, Mathew removed his brown felt hat and placed it on his lap. Traces of his boyish charm still remained, but as it had her mother, the hot New Mexican heat and years of hardship wore on him. “Why don’t you go on home, Sam? There isn’t much we can do tonight.” His pale blue eyes reflected his heartbreak like no words ever could. “I should stay here with you,” she insisted. He shook his head. “I think I just need to be alone for a spell, baby girl.” Samura understood his need, as it was the same as her own need for solitude. “Okay,

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Daddy, you make sure you call me if anything changes, or if you need me to come back out.” He was already lost in thought, barely acknowledging her presence. For all his adult life Doreen had been his strength, the tree that withstood the winds of time, the winds of change, and now she was gone. With no fanfare, she had vanished as quietly as the morning dew. Settling into her black Eclipse, Samura watched her father as he continued to sit on the front porch. She knew he was not only heartbroken, but lost. Her heart pounded with resentment. An anger like she had never known before was crushing her, stifling her until she could not think. How dare they do this to her family? A sliver of light broke through her dark rage. Black Mesa, a UFO hotspot. Absurd? I have to start somewhere, why not there? Putting the car into gear, Samura turned onto the highway. The desert was dark, as dark as she could ever remember it. Only a crescent moon hung in the starry black sky. It offered no illumination. The headlights of the slick, black sports car cut through the thick darkness with precision, but only shed light on what was directly in front of them. She accelerated, picking up velocity. Speeding through the desert, oblivious to danger, her focus was on one thing. Black Mesa. Images of its red rock cliffs rising majestically over the desert floor danced within her mind’s eye. But it would be dark now, a place of menacing danger. Up ahead in the distance it stood, a black shadow spread against the stars. Samura slowed the car to a crawl, looking for a way in, a dirt road, a path. The beam of her headlights fell on the hard-packed earthen path and she made the turn, easing the car onto the road. It was too dark to see what lay beyond the headlights. All she could do was continue to drive as long as there was road. She brought the car to a halt near the base of the mountain where the road ended abruptly. Leaving the engine running, she got out and stepped away from the automobile. Turning in a circle, she scanned the skies in all directions. There was nothing, no odd lights, no sounds but those of nocturnal desert creatures, not even an airplane. Nothing but an endless blanket of stars … stars whose mysteries had lain hidden from humankind for millenniums. Arid winds blew through her tangles of black hair, sending the silky strands flying in all directions. Defiantly, she lifted her face to the night sky, her mouth set in grim determination to send out her unspoken words to the dark heavens. I know you are out there! I want answers now! Was she crazy? Could she have finally went over the edge and was even now lost to madness? How could she justify calling out to the wispy phantom that filled her fantasies? Close by, she could hear the squeal of bats, the flapping of leathery wings. Standing her ground, her gaze never left the sky. Again, she sent out her message, stronger and with more force. What story would my DNA say to the governments of this world? The winds persisted, answering her call with their mournful wails. The idling engine spluttered and died, the strong beam of the headlights dimmed and flickered, but continued to send out weak light. A brilliant flash filled the sky. A large hand touched her from behind, spinning her around to face his wrath. The softness of a dream world was not there this time to break her fall. An overlord of humanity, he stood before her in full splendor of the ancients, a force to be reckoned with. This was no misty apparition, though his perfection could have put him in the realm of the divine.

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His shimmering gray eyes narrowed in anger. “You dare to threaten me?” Samura’s heart trembled in terror of this man, this being. His fury surged through the very air between them. She drew on her inner reserve of strength to face him down. “My mother, where is she?” His scathing look lingered on her face, and then his gaze traveled down the length of her body, taking note of her pink T-shirt and blue jean cutoffs, resting slightly longer on her bare legs. “Why would you question me about the fate of an Adamu?” The tone of his voice clearly spoke of how ridiculous he found the concept. Samura found her gaze fixed on his magnetic radiant eyes, the perfect form of his face and the way his moon-colored hair danced on the winds. He wore a black cape that partially covered the same blue nylon he’d worn in her dream--or abduction, as she must now admit it had to have been. An unbidden thought brushed across her consciousness. He is the man on the moon. That mysterious presence that peered down on you during hot summer nights while you lay on the lawn, mesmerized by the moonlight. “How long have you been aware of my existence?” “Many Earth years I have watched you.” Some of his anger drifted away. A humorous smile tilted the corners of his mouth. With graceful movement, he closed the distance between them. “Why now?” Samura’s voice shook, betraying the effect his nearness was having on her composure. He was so tall … so very male. “Some questions are not meant to be answered.” “Where is my mother?” she asked again, trying to ignore the alluring pull of his eyes, his scent. This star god stirred something within her, pulling her into the primitive instinct of coupling, a mating ritual as old as the universe. She knew he could read her mind and was conscious of her thoughts, but she could not prevent them. The laughter in his eyes was evidence of his awareness. Samura slammed the door to his probing psyche. “You do not listen, little moonflower. Why call on me? It is your father that you should be calling.” “M-my father … h-he doesn’t … know anything,” she stuttered in confusion. “Not the Adamu called Mathew, but the one who sired you ... Ishmah.” He smiled. Samura swallowed hard. Could she face Ishmah? “Does he have my mother?” Samura watched his face. He stared silently, his molten silver eyes brushing her skin, igniting a desire within her that she was at a loss to control. The fire between them raged. The burden of restraint was nearly unbearable. “I cannot tell you that.” His words were soft. “How do you know our language so well?” He laughed deeply, throwing back his head to face the sky. Lifting his arms outward from his sides, his laughter carried into his words. “I am Thian of the gods of old! This has been our realm since man was but a groveling animal in the belly of this planet. Why would I not have the ability to speak the primitive languages of this world?” His words were clear, leaving no doubt of whom he was. Samura still resisted. “I don’t believe you. How could this have been kept from people for so long?”

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His smile had turned contemptuous. “It has not, but the Adamu choose to see only what they wish to believe.” He paused, moving ever closer to her. One large arm pulled her to his body. As their bodies molded together, the sexual tension that had been simmering between them erupted into explosive passion. His lips were near her ear, his hot breath sending shivers through her. “Samura, you are smarter that this. You know the truth. Think about it. Look at the history of the Adamu. The signs have always been there. The truth has always been there for all to see, if they wish to look.” His last words were whispered between hard breaths. His lips covered hers, demanding and hungry. The earth swayed beneath her feet. If she had not been in his embrace, she would have crumbled to the ground. Her heart beat furiously, pounding with a passion that overwhelmed her. A warm hand slid beneath her shirt and began to softly stroke her skin. She gasped in surprise when he ripped her bra away. His moans reached her ears as she felt his hands on her flesh. His fingers teased her nipples until she could only gasp. She wanted nothing but his fingers on her skin and she saw nothing but this lover who could take her to ecstatic bliss with only his touch. She knew she should stop him, but she could not. Her body screamed with primeval hunger. “Thian!” a voiced boomed near them. “Would you defile her even though she is but born of a servant?” Thian froze and then threw his head back, growling with rage. A few feet from where they had been in the process of exploring each other’s sensuality stood the hooded stranger in the black robe. This time, as before, there had been no warning of his approach. Thian looked down into her eyes. There was deep regret etched in his face. He pulled away and turned to glower at the stranger. “It would be her choice.” “What resistance would she have to the seduction of a god?” The stranger spoke in a cynical tone that overflowed with loathing. The being removed his hood and before them stood a man who bore a remarkable resemblance to Samura. He was as tall as Thian, but his eyes were blue and his long black hair had traces of silver. “You are among the fallen, Ishmah. This is something you would know well,” Thian bellowed. “And the mighty Thian would become one of the fallen, as well?” Ishmah raised one brow questioningly. There was no defense for his actions but Thian stood his ground, glaring at the older male. Ishmah looked over at his daughter. “I have warned you, Thian is not your friend. He is our enemy.” Samura searched Thian’s face for any trace of denial, waiting to hear the words that would dispute the other’s claim. She longed to hear him refute his enemy status, but he remained quiet. “Samura!” Ishmah’s words bit into her. “You let your weakness reflect on me and your Adamu blood, to be seduced into the lair of the enemy.” Thian’s eyes found hers. “He speaks the truth, Samura.”

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She was unprepared for the painful ache in her chest or the bitterness that coated her tongue. “Tell her of the children,” Ishmah roared at the younger male. Thian stood erect, daring Ishmah to challenge him. “You tell her, Ishmah. It is you who revealed our existence to her. She would never need to know the pain that will now be hers otherwise.” Ishmah responded with a furious rush of words that were foreign to her. She was no expert in language but it resembled some form of Hebrew dialect. Thian’s voice rose as he answered back in the same strange language. Struggling to subdue his anger, he looked at Samura. “Your father has the answers you seek,” he told her, his voice softening slightly. “I would only bring you pain,” he added as a sad assurance. Samura’s gaze sought out the being who was her father. His brows were drawn together in harsh disapproval. When she turned back to Thian, he was gone. “Where did he go?” she asked. Confused, she scanned the area for any sign of him. Ishmah came closer to her. “He has gone back to his ship. This is a good thing.” “But how?” “Let us go somewhere. We must have a conversation.” “I can’t go anywhere.” Samura pointed to the car. “It died.” “It will work now,” he assured her as he placed himself in the passenger seat. Samura got behind the wheel, doubtful that the Eclipse would start. It would have a dead battery if nothing else. She turned the key and was shocked when the engine roared to life. She gave Ishmah a curious look. “I will explain all things, soon,’ he promised.

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CHAPTER FIVE Samura’s car prowled the dark, deserted streets of Santa Fe. There were few signs of life, with most people settled in their beds, fast asleep. She drove street after street wondering where she would take the strange man who sat next to her in the passenger seat. He had not spoken since leaving Black Mesa. He simply stared out the window with no expression on his face. After an hour of driving through the city searching for an all night coffee shop, he held up his hand to get her attention. “It would be wise to go to your home,” he told her. Samura looked at him helplessly. How could she possibly take a stranger to her home, even if he did claim to be her father? What if they were a group of homicidal maniacs whose purpose was to murder her? The stranger smiled, reading her thoughts. “I will not hurt you. I am your father. Can you not see that you resemble me greatly?” Samura had to admit that she held a very strong resemblance to this man, but what if she was wrong? Still hesitant, her natural tendency toward caution held her back. But her mother had told her the same thing, she remembered. At this hour there was no real alternative available to her, so she turned down Post Avenue and into the driveway of her small house. Ishmah followed her inside, his gaze taking in his surroundings curiously. He busied himself examining the interior of the house. Samura made her way around the house turning on all the lights, hoping the brightened rooms would bring her a measure of comfort. Returning to the living room, she found Ishmah peering at the photographs that lined her wooden bookshelf. “Those are of me and my parents, at different times when I was growing up.” Those startling blue eyes looked toward her and for the first time she detected a degree of warmth in them. “Interesting.” He smiled, turning back to the pictures. “Was your childhood good? Were you happy?” “Don’t you know?” Her voice held a note of cynicism. “You said you knew everything about me.” “This is true. You did not seem to be a happy child.” With his words, memories came rushing back to swarm her mind. She had loved her parents, but had not really been a happy child. Feeling different from other kids, she had been withdrawn and self-conscious. She had been afraid to play with other children, afraid they would know she was different. How had I known I was different? She supposed it was her own standoffish attitude that had drawn the sneers and sharp words of the children. With no siblings and only her parents for company, her childhood years had been lonely. She avoided answering his question. “Well, it is in the past now.” Ishmah did not pressure her further. Samura led the way to the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink? Soda?

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Coffee?” “No,” he answered. “It is important that we talk.” “Well, if you don’t mind, I would like a cup of coffee. It’s either that or a beer and I think at this hour I better opt for the coffee.” “As you wish.” “Please, have a seat and begin while I am preparing it.” Samura pulled a can of coffee out of the cupboard. Ishmah made no attempt to sit. Samura concluded that he was ill at ease with his surroundings. “Do you know the myths of your people?” he asked. “Some.” “The story of the Adamu begins with the Annunaki. When they first colonized this planet, it was to mine for gold in what is now Africa.” Samura flipped on the coffee maker to listen without interruption. “There were primitive beings on this planet then, but they were no good in service to the Annunaki. One of our scientists, a genetic engineer, wanted to create a race that could serve the people. The only way to do this was to create a hybrid of the primitive humans and the Annunaki. This they did successfully. They created Homo sapiens.” Samura was fascinated. “And you are the gods?” “We are not gods, only another species. It is true that ancient man mistook us for gods-the Sumerians, Babylonians--but it was not true. The Annunaki thought it good that their servants thought them gods, so they encouraged this.” “Servants of the gods … slaves.” Samura was dumbfounded. “Has it never occurred to you why a supernatural entity would need servants? All through history, religions have taught that man was a servant of the gods, or a god.” “So there is no God?” “That is not correct. There is a God, but it is not the Annunaki.” “Then who?” “The One Power created all things, including the Annunaki,” he informed her. “The One Power is everywhere and is everything. You and I are part of the One Power.” “So the religions are right in thinking there is God?” “Yes, they did finally grasp the concept of the One Power.” “So, what does all this have to do with us now?” Samura took a cup out and poured her coffee. “There was a time when some of the colonists went to Adamu females and mated with them. There was a shortage of female Annunaki on the planet.” Ishmah motioned to the chair. “May I sit?” “Yes, of course.” “Some called the children of these unions … abominations,” he continued. “There were tales of these children growing to be giants and eating human flesh.” Samura stared him. “That would make me one of them.” She felt repulsed. He held up his hand to stop her. “Patience, my daughter, there is much more to tell.” “Go on then.” “Many Annunaki elders tell us that the people were afraid of these new hybrids because of their enhanced powers and their loyalty to the Adamu. They feared a revolt.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “There are two tribes of Annunaki. They are the Enkis and the Enlils. The

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Enlils wanted to destroy the inhabitants of this planet, believing that the violent nature of the Adamu would ultimately bring danger to the Annunaki and even the galaxy. The Enkis did not think it necessary. They wanted to continue observation of the Adamu’s evolution. There was a disagreement that led to war. Many were killed as well as much of the life on this planet.” Ishmah got abruptly to his feet and began pacing the floor. “There was a treaty between the two warring tribes. From that time, it has been absolutely forbidden for an Annunaki to breed with an Adamu. It was agreed that what life forms remained could continue without interference from the Annunaki … until they again became too dangerous.” He stopped and stared at her. “That time has come.” Samura’s mouth dropped open. “What are they going to do?” “By the treaty they must remove a large group of children under five years of age. These young ones will be brought up by the Annunaki and replace the population of Earth. They will release a deadly biological weapon to destroy all Adamu on the planet,” he finished. “Can’t the Enkis do something!” she cried in disbelief, her anger bursting forth. He shook his head. “We are bound by the treaty.” “Not all the people here are bad!” “This is true, but the Adamu nature is very primitive.” He held out his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “The leaders, those who call themselves the elite, are evil hybrids of the Reptilians. They are preparing for the return of the Reptilians and the conquering of this planet’s inhabitants.” “If that is true, it doesn’t appear that the Annunaki have a lot to worry about.” “There are two problems with that theory, daughter. The Adamu are no longer bound to Earth. The other problem is that we cannot allow the Draco Alliance to gain control of this planet. Its location is strategically important in this sector.” Samura’s hands flew to her face. It was all so crazy. She just could not digest it as reality. “Why can’t you plead to the Annunaki? Maybe they would listen?” Ishmah grimaced. “It is impossible, for I am of the fallen. I broke the most forbidden of laws.” “Oh yeah, me.” She motioned to herself. He nodded. “This is why you must represent the Adamu to the councils.” “How? Why would they listen to me?” “I do not know if they will, but you must try. You will show them that you are of the fallen and an Adamu and you walk with honor.” Samura felt her shoulders sag under the incredible weight that Ishmah had just placed on her. Who was she really? Just an average woman, with an average life who had just found out that it had all been an illusion. This knowledge really did nothing to change who she was. She was just Samura, a rancher’s daughter. “I don’t know. I just don’t think I should be the one to do this. I know nothing about foreign relations, let alone alien relations.” She felt doubtful. “Don’t you think you should be talking to … I don’t know, the President, the British Prime Minister … someone like that?” Ishmah smiled sadly. “Do you think it wise to make contact with the war masters of this world? What would result do you think?” He began pacing the floor again. “They would immediately become hostile in the name of self-defense and the Annunaki would think no more about obliterating all life on Earth.” Closing her eyes, Samura leaned back in her chair. She knew he was right. Humankind had not evolved past the tendency toward violence. It was everywhere, in the militaries, in the

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streets, even in the grade schools. Effective diplomacy was not one of humankind’s strengths. Samura’s eyes flew open. “What about the Annunaki? They do not seem to be of a non violent nature themselves.” “This is true. The Annunaki look upon their kind as far superior to the Adamu. The Annunaki take up violence as a last alternative. The Adamu take it up as a priority in some instances. There is also the fact that the Adamu has employed weapons that harm the planet. They use up resources and pollute the air. They will one day be the makers of a dead planet if something is not done.” How could she argue his points? There was a deep truth to his words that people blocked out of their mind everyday of their lives. Samura got to her feet and went to the kitchen window to look out into the night. One moment she felt compelled to believe all that Ishmah had told her and the next … she was sure this was all some kind of weird dream that she could not wake from. “What do I have to do?” she asked quietly. “The councils are to meet on this issue at the Luna base. I am convinced that this will take place very soon. Thian’s appearance would testify to this.” At the mention of Thian, Samura felt a tingling sensation spread through her body. Her heart fluttered within her chest. Her body betrayed her mind, yearning for this fantasy lover of her girlhood, this man who held her in such contempt that he would seduce her to prevent her going to the council. Her anger simmered. She would defy this god and represent the people to the council of the Annunaki. She had forgotten to shield her thoughts and Ishmah read them clearly. He smiled in triumph. “Thian has helped convince you I see.” “Please, it is not right to read my thoughts.” She frowned, slightly embarrassed. “Then you must learn to shield them. It is important that you do.” “Yes, I’ve come to realize that.” “Guard your thoughts as well as your heart, daughter, for I can assure you that Thian has little regard for either,” he warned. “Who is he?” Samura tried to keep her burning curiosity about Thian out of her voice, if not out of her thoughts. “Thian is of the Royal House of Enlil. He leads the Zie Fleet of the Annunaki. They are a battle fleet.” “So he really is an enemy?” “The houses of Enki and Enlil have been in rivalry since the war over this planet. The two fractions do have a council that represents them, and these councils meet and come to strained agreements over the fate of the Annunaki, but there is no friendship.” Samura went quiet, sorting through the details of his incredible tale. “I must go now, my daughter, but remember … the time will be soon.” He turned to leave but her voice stopped him. “Ishmah, where is my mother?” “Possibly Thian has taken her to use in convincing you to stay away from the council.” She shook her head. “He says you.” “I would never harm your mother in any way,” he assured her. “Then who would have her?” she cried in frustration. He appeared genuinely confused. “If Thian indeed does not have her, then I do not know.” “I must find her, before anything else.” Samura spoke out defiantly.

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“Yes, we must find her, but first we must stop this threat to Earth,” he insisted. “No, my mother must come first.” Ishmah seemed exasperated. “Samura, no one will be left alive, and that includes Doreen, if we do not disrupt the plans of the council.” “She has been abducted. I know she has,” Samura insisted stubbornly. “I agree with your assessment, but if Thian does not have her, the Reptilians must.” “Why?” She held her hands up in the air in a show of confusion. “That is what is puzzling,” he admitted, “but if we can gain the backing of the Annunaki Council, they may help find her.” Samura knew they were grasping at straws, but she had no better idea to offer. “Now I must go,” he stated. “Don’t I need to take you somewhere?” At last, there was some real humor in his often too serious face. “There is little need for your automobile, Samura.” He smiled before turning to leave by way of her front door. “I will contact you.” She heard the thud of the door closing and made a dash to catch him. She still had a million questions. Swinging open the front door, she peered out into the yard. Thick blackness was pierced by the frail glow of the streetlight. He was nowhere to be seen. “Ishmah!” Her voice was harsh, splitting the stillness of the night. All was silent and still, almost unnaturally so. There was not even the answer of the usual night sounds to let her know that she was in fact awake, and not in the midst of another bizarre dream.

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CHAPTER SIX The bright morning light made her feel no less in a dream state than she had the night before. Outwardly, everything appeared normal. Her favorite TV program still came on at its usual time. Her trip to the grocery store to restock her meager supplies was the same as it had been every time she’d ever went, but nothing was really the same. The world turned as if there wasn’t anything amiss, unaware that their fate rested with a species of alien overlords. She pondered that thought. How will the world react to the reality of who we are? She had called her dad several times, but there was still no word about her mother. Not that she had really expected there would be. Someone involved in all this had taken her mother, for what reason, Samura could not imagine. Unable to concentrate on any specific task, she alternated between yard work and housework to keep busy. A sharp rapping at the front door brought her out of the laundry room where she’d been ready to put a load of clothes in the washer. Opening the door, she was surprised to see Doctor Jordon standing there. “Hi, Aaron. This is unexpected.” She stepped aside to allow him to come in. “I was worried when you didn’t make your appointment this morning.” He eyed her with concern. “Oh … I forgot all about it. I’m sorry. My mother has gone missing and I’ve been worried about her.” “Yes, I heard the talk down at the station. Has there been any word yet?” A shadow fell across her features and she shook her head. “Sorry to hear that.” He put his arm around her and led her to the couch where they could sit. “How have you been holding up, Sam? Anymore episodes?” “No!” she answered a little too quickly and this caught his attention. “Are you sure?” There was no way she would tell him about anything that had happened to her. She would be locked in an asylum and barred from the force permanently. “With my mother disappearing, it has just taken a toll, that’s all.” “That’s understandable. Is there anything I can do to help?” Aaron’s voice was warm and inviting of confidences that she could not share. She shook her head but smiled. “No, I just need to rest, I think.” “Call my office to reschedule another appointment. If you want to go back to the force, we have to work through your problems.” “Yes, I know.” Samura forced a smile. Aaron rose to leave and she followed to see him out. Just as he stepped through the door, he turned back. “Is there anything you need to tell me?” he asked again. “No,” she assured him, thinking his behavior a little curious. Smiling, he held out his hand to her. “I will see you soon then.” Samura let him take her hand but suddenly felt awkward in his presence. “I will call your office soon.”

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Closing the door, she leaned her head against the hard wood and sighed deeply. She was not sure why she felt such an immense relief. Whether it had to do with her own paranoia that someone would put her away for even thinking of what happened to her the past few days, or if it was something about Aaron. After thinking about it, she concluded that it was something about Aaron she was picking up on. Something different … something that she hadn’t noticed at their last meeting. She was almost sure he was onto the facts of her situation and it might not be a good thing for him to know. A drowsy feeling came over her as if she hadn’t slept in days. Her eyelids had suddenly grown so heavy that it was a struggle just to keep them open. Maybe she would take a little nap … just a half hour, long enough to refresh her fogged brain. Samura found it difficult to walk the few steps needed to make it to her bedroom. It felt as if her shoes were made of cement and the muscle in her legs had turned to gel. Hugging the wall, she struggled from the living room to the hall. The room was spinning, leaving her feeling as if she was at the mercy of some strange amusement park ride that she just could not get off. Her strength faded and she crumbled to the floor. The room went dark and then there was nothing. **** The consistent humming in her ear brought to mind the sound of a beehive. The noise never stopped, but continued on in different pitches simultaneously. Samura’s eyes fluttered open, but it did little good. There was nothing to see but glowing green light. There seemed to be no source for the light. It was just there. She was equally unsuccessful when she tried to move. It appeared as if she was lying in some type of tube that resembled a tanning bed, though a little larger, and instead of ultra violet rays, there was that unearthly green light. Bringing her hands up, she tried to push on the glassy substance above her, hoping it was a lid that would lift off. No such luck. If it was a lid, it stayed in place securely. “Samura, do not struggle. You are well.” She did not recognize the voice but it seemed to come from the tube itself, though she could see no speakers. “Let me out of here!” she called out. Panic was quickly eating its way through her calm reserve to lay open her fear. The top of the tube lifted slowly, receding into some glassy matter that was the ceiling. She lay atop a metal table as she had in her dream encounter. Samura felt a scream rip from her throat. The creatures were there, the same gray beings that she remembered. They were silent but their thoughts spoke loud and clear. They were communicating with her without the need of vocalizing their words. She wondered if they could even speak, their mouths were little more than mere slits where lips should be. Large black eyes that appeared to wrap around the creature’s head stared into her terrified ones. Do not stir. We must examine you. She dared not even so much as twitch a muscle as they continued to place strange instruments on different locations of her body. After several moments, they helped her to stand and assisted her in dressing. They were much smaller than she was and instructed her to crouch down as they slid a gown of shimmering material that was alive with color over her head. One moment it shone silver, and the next it could have been green and then gold. It was the most beautiful material

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she’d ever laid eyes on. The gown was almost Roman in design, secured on one shoulder while leaving the other bare. The dress hung loosely to her ankles. A gold-colored belt was placed around her waist to hold the gown in place. In front of the belt was a golden emblem of what she assumed were the wings of a large bird, possibly a falcon. On her feet, they placed hard-soled slippers made of the same material. These strange creatures were running something through her hair that looked a lot like a metal comb, but the teeth vibrated, moving in different directions at the same time. She could also feel heat. The strange sensation of the bizarre comb running through her hair, twisting and manipulating it, went on for a few moments. When they stopped, they lifted her hair and placed a gold band around her head with the same emblem of wings resting across her forehead. With one hand, she felt her hair, startled to find it was now a fountain of curls and ringlets flowing over the golden band. With one of the gray creatures on each side of her, they led Samura to a metallic wall. One of the aliens put a disfigured hand on the metal and the wall dissipated. Beyond was a room of unprecedented beauty. Exotic, unfamiliar plants filled the area. In the middle of the room was a fountain of gold, with a figure of a woman in the middle holding a star in her golden hand. Surrounding the golden figure was a spray of water, crystal clear water that sparkled with the trillions of specks of gold dust that swirled within the translucent liquid. The walls in the large room were gold as well, inlaid with symbols unrecognizable to her. The beings that brought her in turned and left. The opening of the wall disappearing after their departure. “Welcome aboard the Chimera. It is amongst the finest of the Annunaki Zie Fleet.” The imposing figure of Thian stepped from beyond the thick foliage. Their eyes locked and Samura felt herself being pulled into the depth of those stormy silver-gray pools. This time he wore a loose fitting, white canvas shirt and trousers with a black belt secured by a golden emblem, much like the one she wore. “You are truly a flower to rival the beauty of any female.” His voice carried a layer of sensuality, like a song serenading her senses. Samura’s blush did not deter the harshness in her voice. “What is this all about, and what is this room?” “This room is the Chamber of the Golden Star. It is where we come to find calm and to refresh our thoughts.” “But what is this all about?” Samura gestured to her extravagant but bizarre attire. “You must look the part of a daughter of the Enkis for where I must take you,” he told her, taking a few steps closer. “The council is to meet soon at the Luna base. I must keep you with me until after that time, but it is unfortunate that I must also sit on the council.” “What do you plan to do with me?” Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. It would appear that Ishmah had been right and Thian’s actions had all been aimed at keeping her away from the council. “You will stay with me until after the council has met and made their decision.” “So essentially I am your prisoner.” “If you wish to look upon your situation in this way, then yes, you are my prisoner. I will return you after the council have adjourned.” He smiled.

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She lifted her hands in dismay. “All this so that you could prevent my father from taking me to the council?” He nodded an affirmation. “I cannot take the chance that your appearance will sway the council. Ishmah is committing folly with his efforts to save the Adamu.” Thian spoke his words calmly, but there was deep bitterness in them. “So, Ishmah was right, you tried to seduce me to ruin any chance of addressing the council?” His eyes raked over her, scrutinizing her every detail. “It makes little difference what my intentions were. You are the forbidden fruit of Eden, Samura.” “Why are you so intent on destroying humans?” she asked softly. He looked away as if a spell had been broken. “The Adamu were a mistake, and should not have been, but it is the Reptilians that are the real threat and ones that must be exterminated.” “I don’t understand what these reptiles, or whatever they are, have to do with any of this.” Samura turned away from him in frustration. He walked up behind her, so close that she could feel his body heat penetrating through her thin gown. The pure sensuality of his closeness caused her breath to quicken. “Your world is plagued with evil beyond even your imagination. It is true that the Reptilians are behind most of this, but it has to be stopped,” he explained in a soft, sympathetic voice. “So you would kill me along with everyone on Earth?” Samura would not turn to look at him. He was too close. She would not be able to control the hunger within her if she stared upon his face. She would not allow him to see how much she wanted his touch, or how she trembled at the thought of being in his arms. Confused, she knew she should hate this man, fear him and despise him as she suspected Ishmah did, but she could not feel it. Whenever she was in his presence, it was like she was under the influence of some strange, exotic drug. She could think of nothing but being with him, touching him … running her fingers through his mane of hair. It was exhausting just to shield her feelings and thoughts from him. “I would do what I have to do to save the Annunaki and so many others from the evil of the Reptilians.” His voice was full of regret, but firm. In her anger, she made the mistake of turning to look into his face. She inhaled sharply when she saw the smoky passion burning within his eyes. It was evident that he was employing incredible restraint. “What does it matter if I speak to the council?” she asked, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I am but the daughter of a servant, remember?” “Yes, but you are also a daughter of the Enkis, and you are unique amongst the Adamu. I cannot take the chance.” A fierce determination entered his eyes and he turned away suddenly. “When will we arrive?” “We are already there, and will dock in a short time.” Samura’s mouth dropped open. She had expected that it would be a long journey to this Luna base. “So soon?” “Its location is on the dark side of your planet’s moon. There had to be a base in which we could easily monitor the Adamu and their progress.” “How could that be?” She was shocked. “Wouldn’t NASA or some other space agency have detected it by now?” He shook his head. “As I said, it is on the dark side of the moon and much of it is within

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the planetary satellite itself. And do not fool yourself into thinking that your government does not know of our craft. They are very much aware of it. Have you ever wondered why the Adamu moon missions stopped?” A high-pitched frequency was set upon their ears. The tone was so high that it was more of a vibration than a sound. Thian grasped her arm with one firm hand. “We have arrived.” He touched the wall in a different location than where she’d entered the room, and again the wall vaporized to allow them through. “How do you do that?” His smile was that of a patient father explaining the basics to a toddler. “The door is simply a magnetic force field with a holographic illusion that would keep prying eyes out.” He led her through halls that were well lit, but the source of lighting was not apparent, the walls constructed of the same dull metal she had seen in other parts of the ship. They came to a chamber that was crowded with several human-like people. These she assumed were Annunaki, and there were more of the gray beings. “What are they?” She pointed to one of the grays. “They are our servants,” he replied in a stiff voice. It was obvious that he was growing tired of her questions. She and Thian joined a line exiting a door that led to a docking bay. Samura stared around in amazement. She tried to take in as much as she could, but it was all so new and wondrous that there was no way her eyes could digest every detail. The station was filled with a mixture of life forms that had previously been outside of her imagination. There were many of the human-looking beings and grays, but there were also creatures whose appearance defied words. There were creatures that resembled apelike humanoids that were covered in coarse hair and peered out from a set of glassy, blood-red eyes. She spotted a group of tall yellow beings with a willowy stature, a protruding snout and hooves for feet. A fine layer of hair covered the backside of their body and atop their heads were short pointy ears. She was so enthralled that she nearly tripped over her own feet. Thian caught her before she fell. He nodded his head in the direction she had been staring. “They are Kroppo, from the star system Giazar. They are a very benign race and are preferred for humanitarian work.” “There are so many different life forms. I never thought ….” Her words trailed off. Thian was not doing well at hiding his amusement at her reaction to the Luna base. “I do hope that you were not among the arrogant of the Adamu and thought humans to be the only life forms in the universe.” “I guess I never really gave it much thought,” she admitted. The docking station was lined with doors that opened and closed automatically. Acting as sentry at each of these exits was the image of what looked to be a humanoid made of liquid silver, but with a semi transparent quality. The two of them stepped up to one of these doors and the sentry ordered them to stop. “What is this, another hologram?” Samura asked in a whisper. “It is more than that. The image is actually a computer. It will clear us for access to Luna.” With one hand, the image scanned first Thian’s eyes and then Samura’s. There were several high-pitched beeps. The figure spoke to Thian in a tinny feminine voice. “Thian of the Enlils, you are granted access to Luna. You may now enter.” It then turned to Samura. “Samura Priestly of Uras, you are granted limited access to Luna. You may

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now enter.” The metal door slid open and she and Thian stepped through it and into what looked to be a chamber with another electronic door on the far side of the room. Once the door had closed, Thian seemed to sigh in relief. “I was a little unsure if you would be admitted entry,” he informed her. “To my knowledge, no one from Uras has ever tried to gain entry. The possibility is so remote they have not prepared for it by programming the sentries to deny access. I was relying on that.” “Uras?” Samura looked at him. “Earth,” he explained. “But it knew who I was.” He stepped toward the far door and she followed. “There are many Adamu who are within the intelligence systems of the Annunaki. They are usually the humans who are being monitored.” Samura threw him an accusing look. This news made her feel somehow violated. “Sixty years ago, the Annunaki created a program to genetically enhance the Adamu. They hoped to modify their violent behavior and bring them to a more enlightened consciousness. This has worked, but only to a degree,” he explained. “That is what they have done to me?” She narrowed her eyes, really beginning not to like these Annunaki. “No,” he told her softly. “They have been watching you because of Ishmah.” She understood then that she was already a hybrid. One of the creatures of myth that were violent and cannibalistic. The door slid open and they entered a small craft with two rows of two seats. There was a large window in the front of the craft with a maze of computer boards on each side. “What is this?” “It is a craft that will take us to the surface. It is automated. No pilot is needed,” he told her, anticipating her question. There was a rumbling vibration and the craft moved away from the docking station. It seemed to float downward toward the base. Samura gasped at the amazing sight of the pitted surface of the moon, so close that she felt she could easily reach out and touch it. “It is not so dark,” she announced. He laughed. “It is only referred to as dark by humans because it is never visible from Earth. The Earth moon has the equivalent in Earth time of two weeks of daylight and two weeks of night, in intervals.” “What is it now?” “Right now it is dark, but in a few days time it will be a little brighter than it is now.” Below them, there appeared to be a glass covering, flush with the moon’s surface. A portion of the moon’s exterior opened up and their craft descended through the opening. A moment later she could detect no more movement and the door to the shuttle slid open with a loud buzzing. Stepping out, she saw there was another computer sentry to go through. Samura noticed that Thian again appeared uncomfortable. “What you are doing is against your laws, huh?” She smiled wickedly. He sent her a warning look but said nothing as they again went through the same procedure. After they were admitted entrance and the door closed behind them, he grabbed her arm roughly and sent furious words into her ear. “It is only against the law to have you here,” he hissed. “The council would not agree with my reasoning behind taking you.”

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Samura angrily yanked her arm from his hand. “I see that you would go to any length to kill us … even break your own laws.” He ignored her and started walking. At first she stood where she was, refusing to follow him, but as she saw him quickly swallowed up by the crowd, she thought better of it. Running to catch up she was fortunate to able to spot Thian and she fell in beside him. He cast wary eyes on her but kept walking. “Where are we going?” she asked while looking around, enthralled by the sights around her. They were below the surface in some form of city, but above them was a transparent bubble that enabled one to look out into the cosmos. All around her were business establishments in a futuristic plaza setting. This must be a dream, she thought. Nothing like this could be real, not in her lifetime. She had the distinct feeling she had stepped onto a science fiction movie set. “We are going to my Luna abode,” he answered her. “Why didn’t you just keep me on your ship? Wouldn’t it have made more sense?” “Ishmah would too easily find you there. He will be searching for you.” It dawned on her that Ishmah would indeed be searching for her, and he would probably have a good idea who had taken her. Maybe all she had to do was bide her time until he managed to locate her. They appeared to be in some type of court. Everyone seemed so busy, intent on doing something or going someplace. Samura was not given a lot of time to take in this new and incredible environment as she was forced to run to keep up with Thian’s long strides. She followed him onto a tubular elevator. He pushed a symbol on a flush computer panel and they began move. When the two of them exited, they were in an undersurface tunnel, a transport station she guessed. “It would appear that they even have subways on the moon,” Samura said, her cynicism not being lost on Thian. “Yes, but we do not call it a … subway. In the Adamu language it translates to a Luna sphere. The velocity is tremendous compared to what you see on Earth, and they are engineered very differently.” He pointed to a transparent tubular enclosure that had large silver spheres shooting through it. The orb-looking vehicles would stop and doors would open to allow passengers on and off. It was their turn and Thian helped her into the silver ball transporter. Inside there were only four seats, all molded of the same material as the sphere. She sat next to him and a safety belt snaked across her lap, securing her in the seat. On the wall near the entrance was a digital readout, but she could not understand its meaning. “It seems a lot of trouble to get from one place to the next.” She spoke her thoughts out loud. “Why can’t you just beam us someplace?” He looked at her, studying her with something akin to laughter in his eyes. He seemed to be fighting off the smile that was trying to spread across his face. “I think, Samura, that you watch too much television at home.” She glared at him, wishing she could take back her obviously naive question. She hated to appear stupid, and he clearly already thought her a primitive and ignorant life form. “We do have what you know as transporters, but they are not frequently used,” he told her. “They can be hazardous as they work by scattering molecules and reassembling them in a specific location. This form of transportation is only used if necessary.”

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“You had to have used it at Black Mesa. I saw no craft,” she shot back. “This is true. It is too dangerous to land our craft with any frequency on Earth.” A shadow dropped over his features and he turned away. Samura let her mind feel around, trying to probe his thoughts. He turned sharply toward her. “Do not do that again. It would serve you well not to forget your place,” he hissed, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “How could I forget?” She turned away angrily. Thian would not forget the differences between them, and he would not let her forget. Still, she couldn’t help but think there was more to him than she was allowed to see. Samura was curious as to where they were going and how long it would take, but she refused to ask him any more questions. Some moments later, the sphere came to a stop and their belts unfastened. They were in a station similar to the one they had just left, and again they entered a tubular elevator. When they emerged, they were in a beautiful garden setting, with trees, plants and flowers of every color. Some of the foliage she recognized from Earth, but some were inexplicably foreign. There were a couple trees that could have been cypress but they were draped with a red moss. Thian followed a stone walkway without bothering to look to see if she was behind him. His rude arrogance was irritating, but what choice did she have but to follow? They came to a structure that resembled a Roman palace of centuries ago, but equipped with the technology of some far away future time. He touched his hand on a panel and the doors slid open to allow them entrance. Inside was breathtaking, with the same Roman design as the exterior. She would have asked him if he was fond of Roman architecture but she was sure that the Roman’s had somehow gotten it from the Annunaki. He would only give her another contemptuous look before he explained how ridiculous the idea was that the Annunaki would copy anything from the Adamu. Unsure of what was expected of her, Samura just stood in the middle of what she took to be a reception room or hall. The large room was filled with tropical flora and featured graceful white marble columns. In the middle of the room was a water fountain made of marble. She wondered how they got all this material here. “Cargo ships,” he answered her unspoken question. The sound of his voice brought her attention back to her situation. He had read her thoughts, but then again, he felt it his right. “What do I do now?” His gaze locked on her face, she could see the turmoil within the silver depths. “Do what pleases you,” he told her before leaving and entering a hall that led away from the room she was in. Confused by his behavior, Samura shrugged her shoulders and began to explore this strange new world she hand been thrust into. For the most part it seemed like a residence you would find on Earth, except much larger and more exotic. No one else was around so she guessed he must be the only occupant. Her stomach growled, reminding her that though she was no longer on Earth, she still needed food. Samura wondered how long she had been gone. It was time to find him and make him tell her how long she would be here and ask just how she was supposed to survive with no human food available. Samura began exploring more earnestly. She discovered that a motion detector opened

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most doors, though she had come across a couple that would not open. She supposed that there must be a way to lock them. Finally, she found him in a circular room with a holograph on all sides. He stood in the middle of the room, staring out at the projected landscape. It was a strange image of a tropical place with a red-tinged sky. His had his back to her, but she knew he was aware of her. “This is my home.” He motioned with one hand. “I have not been here for a very long time.” “Why not?” He turned, smiling sadly. “It is a complicated story.” Without elaborating, he changed the subject. “You are hungry and wondering what humans would eat here?” He arched one brow questioningly. She was not surprised he knew what she had been thinking. He was becoming very adept at getting past her defenses. Samura lifted her chin boldly. “You need to stop getting into my thoughts. It’s not polite or good manners.” Thian laughed out loud. “You are not very skilled at hiding them. At times they are so loud it is as if you are shouting.” Samura blushed. She had apparently been sending out her thoughts and he hadn’t had to make any effort to read them. He swaggered toward her. “To answer your question, much of our food is the same. Most of the Adamu domestic plants and animals were introduced to the planet by us.” “Why am I not surprised?” she said with a sarcastic smile. Their eyes met and it was as if an electrical current rushed through her body. How could she feel so much anger and irritation toward him but still want him with every fiber of her being? It was beyond her comprehension. He is the enemy, she reminded herself. Thian again smiled, letting her know that he was alert to her thoughts. “Do not be too alarmed by your desires, Samura, for I want you just as much as you do me. I would rip your clothes away and take you right here on the floor if it were permitted.” “But it is forbidden,” she reminded him, but not before he was beside her, and pulling her into his arms. “It was you, wasn’t it,” she accused. “It was you in the shower and then in my bed.” “Yes. You were so in need of the touch of a man, one like you have never known.” He laughed sardonically. “But I can only touch you with my thoughts. I cannot make love to you, not really.” “That strange sound?” Her eyes questioned him. “It is a sitare, an instrument that is used to call out to our mate. It was the Song of the Annunaki you heard. It was me calling to your soul.” He smiled down at her. “Why do you call out to me when I am forbidden?” The shadow of turmoil entered his eyes. “I am wickedly rebellious,” he told her as he brought his mouth down on her soft and yielding lips. Her arms draped around his neck and she pulled him to her, savoring the feel of his closeness, the knowledge of his desire. His hand strayed to the curvy softness of her behind and caressed her through the silky material of the gown, pressing her closer to his body so she could feel the throbbing evidence of his arousal.

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“We have to stop. We are enemies,” she said between his urgent kisses. He ground against her with his huge, erect shaft. “Does this feel like I am your enemy?” “But you are,” she insisted, as much to keep it in her mind as to remind him. “Hmmm … would you like to learn what it is like to be loved by your enemy?” She inhaled sharply. Just the thought of lying beneath him sent juices flowing to the spot between her thighs. His mouth was next to her ear and she heard him laugh softly. “I could take you now and no one would ever have to know.” “And if they did find out?” “I would become one of the fallen. Exiled and scorned for life.” “You would risk this?” She was suddenly doubtful. Was he not a prince of his people? His tongue licked at her lips, prodding them open to accept his kiss once again, this time with more violence and urgency. “Does that answer your question?” She was suddenly suspicious. “Is this only to get me to agree so that the council will not listen if I should happen to go before them?” He pulled back abruptly and looked down into her eyes. “Is that what you believe?” “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. Anger sparked in his eyes but was quickly extinguished. He turned away from her and walked to the desk in middle of the room. Leaning over it, he placed his hand on it as a brace. Masses of his long, blond hair fell forward, covering his face from her view. “If this is what you would believe of me, I cannot change your mind,” he growled. “Are not the Enlils the enemy of the Enkis? Are you not my enemy?” He did not look up at her, nor did he answer her questions. He could not deny that their people were enemies or dispute the fact that he had taken her to keep her from attempting to save her Adamu people.

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CHAPTER SEVEN Sitting in the plaza gardens, Samura had to wonder if she was not Alice, lost in Wonderland. As lovely as the gardens were, it was all so strange to her. She was in awe of its beauty though she thought it would have been much nicer with real sunshine rather than the redtinged artificial sunlight. Remembering the hologram, she wondered about Thian’s home planet and how far away it was. She could tell that he’d missed it and wondered why it had been so long since he’d gone home. When she had awoken, Thian had been nowhere around. She’d thought it a little odd that he would leave her unattended and not locked up someplace, but then again, where could she run to? She had a better chance of growing wings than she had of getting home on her own. There were a few others about, but they all seemed to be Annunaki. She presumed that this was one of their residential areas. It was apparent that this race had a very strict social class structure, so it did not surprise her that no other species would be in the same living area as the Annunaki. They all appeared to have some level of telepathic ability as she herself had. Was it possible that she could direct a mental message to Ishmah without Thian or someone else picking up on it? Out of the corner of her eye she caught a movement in the brush and she turned sharply in that direction. Slyly making its way toward her was a small creature of no more than two feet high. It reminded her of what she had always thought of as a leprechaun. The creature’s skin was the texture of wrinkled leather and his small head was topped with carrot colored hair. That was where the resemblance ended. Its eyes were clear like water and it wore a tiny robe of green gauzy material. This must be where the myths of Earth had originated. The insight came upon her suddenly. The creature was near her, and motioning with his finger for her to follow him. Samura shook her head. There was no way she was going anywhere with that thing. “Your father waits,” it hissed. Still Samura did not move. Though leprechauns were depicted as mischievous but benign creatures, she had also heard horror stories related to their myths. It is okay, Samura. It was Ishmah’s voice in her head. Looking around to see that no one was watching, she got to her feet and followed the little creature into the thick brush. Superbly camouflaged was a ventilation system covered by bushes. Unless one knew it was there, it would be difficult to find. The grating had been raised and the leprechaun was climbing into it. Samura eyed the opening skeptically, doubtful that she would fit through it and not really sure that she wanted to. She peered down the dark opening to see a hooded figure at the bottom, which was at least ten feet down. Ishmah held a ball of light in his hand that lit up a tunnel. He motioned for her to come down. She felt a little better about trying it now she actually saw that Ishmah was down there waiting for her.

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Squeezing through the opening, Samura’s foot found a metal ladder. The steps were significantly further apart than what she was used to, but she found if she stretched she could reach between them. The leprechaun creature followed her, but he had no need of the ladder. Instead, he simply jumped, hitting the floor without injury. Samura turned to Ishmah with a thousand questions in her eyes. He held up his hand to stop her. “We haven’t the time now. We must get to the council as they have assembled.” He started walking down the darkened passageway and Samura followed. She burned with curiosity about the little creature that scurried just ahead of them, as well as the lit ball in Ishmah’s hand, but she remained quiet. The passageway went on for quite a long time and Ishmah finally stopped so they could catch their breath. “How did you know where to find me?” she asked. “I knew the Enlils were responsible for this.” “I don’t think they are,” she countered. “I think Thian did this without their knowledge.” Ishmah’s face soured. “That boy is insufferable!” “How far do we have to go in these tunnels, and why aren’t we taking those transport spheres?” The greenish glow of the light illuminated his face. It was plain to see the sadness etched in his features when he answered. “I am of the fallen and it is forbidden for me to be here,” he informed her. “It is difficult for me to get around this base undetected.” “How do you get by the computers at the docking stations?” “I do not land at the docking station. There are other places to get in, if you know them.” Looking impatient to get moving, Ishmah began walking slowly. Samura and the creature followed. “Thian will be very angry about this.” She stated the obvious. Ishmah threw her a curious look. “I should think that you ought to be very angry about what he has done and care little about his anger.” “Yes, he makes me angry, but….” Her words dropped off as she did not know how to put voice to her feelings. Ishmah stopped abruptly and faced Samura with anguish in his eyes. “My daughter, you must understand that Thian is treacherous. He is the most dangerous of all the Enlils. He will stop at nothing to ensure the destruction of the Adamu, and that includes using you to achieve it.” Samura shook her head. “I’m sorry, I just do not see him the same as you do.” “That is because you are seeing him with your heart and not these.” He pointed angrily to her eyes. “Thian plays with the hearts of females and then discards them without regret. He would not think twice about doing this to an Enki, not to mention an Adamu. Think about it, daughter.” They continued on further into the black tunnel. In places, the darkness was so black the ball light did little to light their way. Beyond the illumination of the light, Samura was sure she heard movement but Ishmah said nothing so she did not mention it. She was tired of looking stupid to these aliens. As the darkness got denser, the air seemed to thin. She gasped and it still felt as if she were not getting enough air. She had to stop to catch her breath. The floor was spinning and felt as if it was rushing up at her. “I feel like I am going to faint,” she told Ishmah who had stopped to wait for her. “There could be gases down here that you are not adapted to. That is why we must

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hurry.” The scurrying noises became louder. Samura’s skin crawled when her eyes fell on one of the things that scuttled around in the darkness. She bit off a scream and pointed at it. The thing stood motionless, transfixed by the glow of the light. It had the head of a snake, but the body of a scale covered raccoon. It was the closest she could compare it to an Earth animal. It hissed and opened its mouth to bare long white fangs. “Hold completely still,” Ishmah commanded. Samura did not need any encouragement. She would rather have taken on a team of escaped convicts than one of these things. With slow movements he reached into his robe and pulled out what looked like a pen, he squeezed it and a white beam of light was sent into the snake creature. It disintegrated before their eyes. “Now we can go,” he told her. “I’ve heard more of those things. What was it?” Samura was not altogether sure she was ready to head off into the darkness yet. “Parasites. That one is very poisonous and called a noll. It was likely transported here on some ship. You will often find different parasites on colonies because of so many transports coming in from different sectors,” he explained. Samura kept close to the light as they continued on. It seemed to her that they had been walking forever through the dank tunnels when Ishmah finally stopped. Here they found another metal ladder leading to a grated opening. Ishmah went first so he could push the cover open, Samura was close behind him and creature came out after her. Here too, the opening was disguised by shrubbery and they were able to slip out without being seen. Ishmah had discarded his cloak and now displayed a red nylon uniform. He appeared more dignified and much less formidable. She followed him down a stone walkway until they came to a huge building of Grecian design. Marble steps led high up to a stone terrace. Here there were transparent doors, but as she suspected they would not open manually. Samura could see no way in, though she was sure that Ishmah must have some idea. “Do we slip in when someone exits?” He shook his head. “No, that would send off alarms. The computer can detect if someone enters without scanning their hand.” The door slid open and standing there was one of those liquid silver computer figures. The computer spoke in a language that she did not understand. Ishmah said something back. The computer stepped aside and the three of them entered. “That was our backdoor,” he told her. “A glitch in the system I planted some time back that allows me access.” “How did you get access to do that?” “My father is in an extremely high position in the Enki.” Ishmah did not go into detail and she did not ask since she was nervous about the coming encounter. How did one address the gods? “I don’t know if I can do this. I’ve never been real good with people.” “You can do this. It is what you must do,” he told her, already walking toward a large set of double doors. There was no more time for talk. Ishmah swung open the doors and strode into a large circular room. Samura followed timidly, feeling more frightened than she ever had in her life.

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Remember … they are not gods! They are only another life form that helped to boost humanity’s evolution. Samura told herself this over and over again as she looked upon the council. They sat on opposite sides of the room behind half circle tables, thirteen to each side. One side wore the same blue uniform that Thian wore while the other side wore red uniforms similar to what Ishmah was wearing. The room was filled with the clamoring of voices that stopped abruptly when they entered. Ishmah walked to the center of the room. Turning slowly he looked at them, the fire of determination bright in his eyes. “I wish to address this council as a son of the House of Enki.” Ishmah’s voice was strong and clear. He did not even flinch at the array of contemptuous looks that were cast upon him. “Many members of this council would wish to exterminate the inhabitants of Uras, and it would be acting according to the treaty, but I ask you to reconsider your position.” A tall, thin elderly man with white hair stood and faced Ishmah. “The Enlils wish to know why one of the fallen would dare to intrude in affairs of the Annunaki, and why you speak in the language of the Adamu.” “I speak now in the words of the Adamu because I bring to you today, my daughter of the Adamu.” He motioned to Samura who stood proudly defiant in the face of the enraged Annunaki. The room began to buzz with voices of disapproval. The Annunaki man who had first spoken to Ishmah, stood white-faced and still. His fury mirrored that of the rest of the council. Ishmah pushed forward while there was still time before the council could order them removed. “I bring to you evidence that the offspring of an Annunaki and an Adamu is not what we have always believed them to be. Samura is a woman of courage and honor. She is not a dishonor to the Annunaki, but she brings honor upon the Adamu.” Samura stepped forward and calmly stood her ground. Her heart was ready to face this species of beings of another world, but on the inside she was quaking. She knew she must shield her feelings or they would know. Thian was there, but unlike the others, he sat quietly, his eyes cold. It was the only indication he gave of the anger she knew he must be feeling. She had defied him, and with Ishmah’s help had come to the council. His response to her defiance was rage. She could actually feel it emanating from him. Their eyes locked and she could not help but shiver at the chill left inside her by his look. Lifting her chin, she spoke to them as one proud of who she was and where she came from. “Council of the Annunaki.” Her voice rang out clear, stilling the other voices of discontent. “My father is Ishmah of the House of Enki,” Samura pointed to Ishmah, “my mother is Doreen Priestly of the Adamu. You would all know this already. I am here to plead the case of the Adamu.” Drey, the spokesman of the Enlil glared at her. “What right do you have to address this council, Samura of the Adamu? What right do you have to be here at all?” “Yes, I am a daughter of the Adamu, but remember, I am also a daughter of the Enkis and all humanity is in a way, the children of the Annunaki. I speak on their behalf. Should they not have a voice in their own destiny?” she asked the older man who had spoken to her. At this point, she knew she could expose Thian for being responsible for her presence at the Luna base, but she could not bring herself to out him to the council. He was watching her as if he expected her to tell them of his involvement in abducting

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her. His eyes told her it made no difference to him if she did. Samura still could not do it. The Enlil spokesman appeared confused and unsure of how to proceed. She continued, “You look down on the Adamu as a race of slaves, a species too corrupt to continue existence, but are you really the ones to decide this? If we have a child, aren’t we entitled to decide whether that child should continue to live or die?” “And if that child should become the enemy?” the old man asked. Samura spoke even louder, trying desperately to reach them. “What son has not brought strife to his father, and what daughter has not brought heartache to her mother? Is it not your job as parents to teach your children?” “What of the contamination of Reptilian blood? What of that?” This time the voice came from the side of the Enki. The owner of the voice had risen from her seat. The female Annunaki spoke to Samura but her gaze traveled over all those of the council. This woman could have been middle-aged, but was still gracefully beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes. Samura could sense no resentment in the woman’s eyes. There was sympathy there, but there was also great concern in those eyes, as well. “I have been made aware of this problem and I agree with you that this is a danger, not just to the Annunaki, but to those of Earth. You should not think that all of those on Earth are a part of the Reptilians. There is evil on Earth, but there are many good people too.” A rush of heated conversation broke out, but Samura’s voice rose over it. “I come here not just to ask you to spare Earth, but to defend us from this Reptilian threat.” The Annunaki man and woman who had been directing questions to her left the room together. Samura assumed that they must each be the spokesperson for their people. She remained where she was, saying nothing more while she awaited their return. Thian was still watching her, glaring at her with gray stormy eyes. Samura did not dare to look too long at him for she had the uncanny feeling that she had betrayed him in some way. But how? Was he not the enemy? Was he not against the people of Earth? Had he not abducted her against her will? Samura pushed those haunting eyes from her thoughts and instead she looked at Ishmah. She was startled to see a look of pride on her father’s face. The two members of the Annunaki council returned and they stood together. The man spoke first. “It is against the law for an Adamu to be brought among us,” he told her. “As it is against the law to beget a child with an Adamu. Ishmah has paid for that crime, but what of this….” He motioned toward Samura. “Who brought you here? Who should pay for this crime?” Samura glanced quickly at Thian, but she remained silent. “You do not wish to tell us who brought you to Luna?” the woman asked. Still, she said nothing. Ishmah was looking at her dumbfounded that she was not using the opportunity to bring Thian’s crime to light. “Well, child, we will have to punish you for the crime then, though we know that you could not have come here without the aid of the Annunaki,” the woman told her. At this point Thian stood, and when he did, his presence dwarfed all in the room. He truly had the air of a god, even in the face of probable retribution. “It was I who brought her to Luna,” he admitted to the council. Again, the room erupted in surprised voices, but Thian continued, speaking over them. “I knew of Ishmah’s plans to bring her to the council. I took her and brought her here as my prisoner to prevent interference of this council,” he explained to the Annunaki who were now

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all listening intently. “She must have escaped while I was gone and Ishmah brought her here.” The old man and woman still stood in the middle of the room, staring at Thian in disbelief. “Is this true?” The woman looked at Samura. Looking from the woman to Thian, she nodded slowly. The old man shook his head sadly. “Thian, this is not good.” “The woman looked at Samura and asked her, “How would you like him punished? You are the victim. It is for you to decide.” Samura’s eyes sought his. He stood rigid, waiting for her response. Even from across the room his presence sent her heart racing. His arrogance was unbearable at times, but she could not force herself to bring any type of punishment down on Thian for she did not regret her time with him. Samura shook her head. “I wish no punishment for him.” This surprised all who were present, the Enki, the Enlil, Ishmah and even Thian. Had she shown weakness she wondered, though she did not greatly care. The two spokesman of the Annunaki stared at her with something close to astonishment. Would not any Enki take the opportunity to bring the other side down a notch, and Thian would be a great prize if he were brought down. He was of the Royal House of Enlil and possibly the next leader of that sect. A natural born enemy of her father … and herself. Doubly so because of her Adamu blood. The Enki spokeswoman’s eyes sought out Samura and it was apparent the woman knew why she was reluctant to bring punishment to Thian. Oshira of the Enki spoke up. “I propose that we consider the hybrid’s request … on one condition,” she added before the council got too loud in their arguments of disagreement. “Let her prove her worth to address this council. Let her prove that she can bring honor to the Enki and to all the Annunaki.” All were quiet now as they listened to Oshira’s proposal. “Samura of the Enki and the Adamu, you must return to Uras and neutralize the Reptilian threat among your people. If this is done, we will be in your skies when the Draco Alliance descends on your planet. We will be there to push them back and defeat them.” Oshira’s eyes went to Thian. “As your punishment for bringing this woman into our realm you will accompany her to the planet and be at her side to help her defeat these Reptilian hybrids. You will live as an Adamu and learn compassion for those who are different to you. If she is successful, you will return and be granted full pardon. If she is not, you will remain on Uras and share the fate of the Adamu.” Thian looked as if someone had punched him in the stomach. “If you fail, the demise of Uras’ inhabitants will be terminated as planned,” Oshira warned her. The woman looked at Ishmah. “You will not interfere. Your daughter must do this on her own with only Thian’s help.” Ishmah gave the impression that he would have liked to throttle Oshira. It was obvious he did not want Samura anywhere around Thian, but he would have no choice but to comply with the council. Samura spoke up. “And the children? If I succeed, will all the children be returned?” The old Enlil man nodded. “They will be returned.” Samura hated to press her luck for she suspected that she had gotten much further than

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even Ishmah had thought she would, but for her mother’s sake, she needed their help. She spoke to the two heads of the council. “There is one other thing. My mother has gone missing and I feel she has been abducted, but I don’t know who could have taken her, or why.” “And you do not feel it was either Ishmah or Thian who took her?” Oshira asked. “I do not.” “If she has been taken by the Reptilians or some other species, there is little we can do about it,” Oshira informed her. “We will look into it and discover what we can.” “That is all I can ask.” Samura bowed her head. “All those in favor?” Oshira asked loudly. Slowly, each member began to raise their hands. This was the chance Samura had wanted. If they succeeded it would be attributed to the Annunaki and if they failed the Annunaki would simply go ahead with their plans. “It is then decided,” the old man of the Enlil announced. “But you only have until the Draco Alliance comes to this sector to complete your mission.” “How long is that?” Samura wanted to know. “We do not know the hour of their arrival, nor the day. We can only tell you that the time is very near.” The room emptied as the council dispersed. Samura remained where she had been standing, as did Thian. Ishmah would have stayed behind with them but Oshira took his arm and gently led him out of the room. Folding his arms in front of him, Thian looked at Samura. “In your infinite wisdom, have you thought of how we are going to do this thing that is required of us?” Samura shook her head in resignation. “No, I have no idea where to even begin.” He slammed his balled-up fist onto the table in a display of fury that was not only unbecoming for an Annunaki but very unusual. “You will soon see why you should not have interfered!” Forcing a display of unyielding bravado that she did not feel, Samura did not flinch in the face of his wrath. “I am sorry that they have done this to you, but I would not stand by and let them do what they had planned for Earth.” His anger softened slightly, but when he spoke there was still a harsh edge to his voice. “We should go now, as we have an outstandingly unattainable task to complete.” **** Thian leaned against the kitchen wall, glaring at her. Samura had to smile. He reminded her of a pouting child. It was easy to tell that he was still very angry, but he had said little since they had been set down at her home. A quick check on her computer told her that she had been gone only a day. The first thing she’d done was call her father to ask if there was any news of her mother. There was none. The second thing was jump in the shower and get into some different clothes. The gown was lovely, but she felt more at home in her own clothing, even if it was just shorts and a tank top. Samura was puzzled. She was sure that the Annunaki did not have Doreen, but if they didn’t, who did? She busied herself preparing a meal of salad and fruit while Thian watched. This made her feel uncomfortable. It had not been so bad with Ishmah when he was there, but somehow Thian’s presence made her skittish and conscious of her every move. “Who do you think took my mother? Could it have been the Reptilians?” she asked, glancing up from her task.

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“No, I do not think they have taken her.” “Really! How can you be sure?” “What reason would they have? If they knew of your existence you would be dead already. They would not have bothered with your mother,” he explained as Samura set the table. She motioned to a chair for him to sit in, which he did, but found it was not a good fit. In the setting of her home, it was easy to see that he was much taller than the average man. He reached at least seven feet, and was built like a Greek god. She had known he was taller than she was, and she was not a short woman, but it hadn’t dawned on her just how big he was. Of course, the Annunaki of the Sumerian legend were called giants. “Who then?” she asked. “It was an abduction. All the evidence points to that.” “What is important is that we take care of what we are here for.” Samura narrowed her eyes. “On my list, my mother is what is important, just as important as these lizards we have to go after.” Thian had taken a forkful of salad and put it in his mouth. His face immediately twisted into a grimace. “What is this you have on the food?” “Ranch dressing.” “Interesting.” He picked up another forkful to examine it. “It’s just salad dressing,” she assured him with a suppressed smile. “Who then do you think has her?” “I believe an Annunaki has her.” His eyes met hers. She could not read any humor in their depths. He was serious. She was disbelieving. “Who and why?” “You won’t want to hear what my thoughts are,” he warned. “Yes, I do.” “I believe Ishmah has her. He would have had to guarantee your cooperation, as you were reluctant at first. What better way to ensure that you did what he wanted you to do?” Samura shook her head in denial. “I just don’t believe he would do that. I don’t feel that in him.” “Ishmah was desperate. He is the only one with reason to take her.” Samura had to admit that he had seemed desperate and determined, but would he go that far? Why wouldn’t he have told her once she was cooperating? After finishing her food, Samura began cleaning up the kitchen. Thian watched her perform these domestic chores looking entranced, as if he’d never seen it before. “Where do we start?” she asked. “They have a base under the place you call Taos Peak. There would be a good place.” “But how do we neutralize them? Surely we are not going to do that by attacking one base.” Samura worried that their task would prove to be too much for the two of them. “It is the elite of the Adamu who are contaminated with the Reptilian blood.” “But if there are so many of them, what could we possibly do?” She felt discouraged. “There are not as many integrated into your society as you might think. They are just in powerful positions and getting to them may not be simple,” he said and then walked to her back door. Opening it, he looked out at the night sky. “Suppose we get them all into one place,” she suggested. “Have them beamed up to a waiting ship.” He laughed for the first time since the council meeting. “Beamed up?” He shook his head. “You need to get yourself a man, Samura. You watch way too much TV.”

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She blushed at the implication that she was an old maid who stayed home and watched television all the time. “I don’t watch too much TV. I just don’t know what you call it.” She glared at him. “And I have plenty of men if you must know.” It was true that she was home a great deal, but she’d had a couple of boyfriends, though none had really held her interest for long. The worst part about this was that Thian was the last one she wanted to know about any of this. She had a funny feeling he knew quite a lot about her. “Is that so?” He smiled wickedly. “Who are they?” Samura groped for a name and the first person that came to mind was Aaron Jordon. “Well, there is Doctor Jordon. He’s very nice.” It was a little white lie, even though Aaron had more than once shown interest in her. “Nice?” He arched one brow doubtfully. “If that is all he is, I do not have to wonder why you are watching TV.” Thian smiled and walked out the back door. She went red with humiliation. He was toying with her, the arrogant thug. Samura, he called to her with his thoughts. Have you not always wanted to share the moonlight with the man on the moon? It was loud and clear as if he were standing right next to her. Samura covered her face with her hands. Damn, he knew about that too. What didn’t he know about her? Outside, she found him reclined on the lawn, staring up at the waxing moon. Samura stood above him, with one hand on her hip. “Thian, what do you know about me, and why?” she asked angrily. “Hmm.” He pretended to ponder her question. “I know that you go to your parent’s house every Sunday for dinner almost without fail. I know that you love science fiction, which is no accident by the way. Would you like me to go on?” He looked up at her. “Yes!” Her anger was growing by the minute. “I know that you are a police officer and that you love children and want some of your own very badly. I know that you love pickles but hate carrots.” He was smiling widely. It seemed the madder she got the more amused he was. “I know that you are waiting for Mr. Right, that Prince Charming of all Cinderella stories, and I also know you are not a virgin. Your sexual encounters were mediocre at best and you have a fantasy lover who comes to you in your dreams.” She gasped and her hand went to her mouth. “How … why?” Thian sat up and leaned back on one hand while the other snaked up to pull her down beside him. “The Enlil found out about you many years ago. They wanted to watch over you to ensure you didn’t turn into one of the monsters of legend. The person assigned to do that was me. I spent a lot of time watching you when I was in this sector of the galaxy.” Her mortification was so complete that Samura turned away, unable to look at him. “I can get into your mind, Samura. Don’t you know that? If you honed your skills, you could do the same to me. You have inherited the talent from your Annunaki blood.” “Was it necessary to know all that?” she choked out. “No,” he whispered, “but you intrigued me. Your simplistic nature and dazzling beauty was like a drug to me. The more I sampled it, the more I wanted.” She turned sharply to look at him, wondering if he was teasing her, amusing himself at her expense. He was not smiling, in fact, he almost looked forlorn … lost. The moon set off the blue-gray of his eyes making them appear to glow like the moon itself. “The fantasy lover of your dreams … that was me.” Now he was smiling. “I could not

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beam myself into your room and make love to you, so I did it with my mind. Have you never wondered what it was that made you think of the man on the moon?” He was too close. His nearness was taking control of her mind, her body. She could think of nothing but the sensation of his bare skin next to hers. “So it was never real, only in my mind.” He was leaning even closer, his lips near hers. “I would never have violated you like that in reality,” he assured her. “Ishmah thinks you would.” His lips brushed hers and just that much contact sent her senses into a spin. “Ishmah wants to protect his daughter from the evil Enlil, from the ruthless Thian who is known as the defiler of females.” His mouth covered hers and his tongue invaded her mouth. He pulled her down with him, laying her back on the grass. When he drew back to look at her she saw that his eyes were glazed over with a smoldering passion. Thian pulled up her shirt and Samura felt herself grow hot as his eyes rested on her aroused nipples. His tongue licked at her dark buds, sending flames of passion to the hot, wet yearning of her womanhood. Thian’s long hair lay across her bare stomach, stirring her to an even greater craving. His nimble fingers quickly undid the button of her shorts and he had them unzipped as if he’d done this a million times. She felt his fingers slip inside her wet heat and spasms of longing coursed through her, electrifying her senses. Samura ran her fingers through his hair. She wanted him so badly that she would have done nearly anything at this moment just to lie beneath him on the grass--under the moonlight. His mouth again claimed hers, she could feel his hunger in the kiss. Ishmah’s voice intruded on her moment of heaven. She was not sure if it was him, or just the memory of his warning. “We shouldn’t,” she said between kisses. “Yes, we should.” He was breathing heavily. “What will the council do?” He lifted his head to look at her, his long blond bangs falling down to cover the sides of his face. “Will you tell?” He smiled wickedly. “You are really a naughty boy under that he-man, hero image, huh?” “You have no idea how bad.” His voice had suddenly grown even deeper. In one swift movement, he’d removed his gray canvas shirt. Samura could not help but reach out to touch the splendor before her eyes. Never had she seen such perfection. “But what if they do find out?” Samura worried. He sighed. “It really only matters if you get with child, and right now I am exiled. If we succeed with our mission, I will get a full pardon, which would include this. If we do not succeed, it will not matter, will it? Now is the time, little moonflower.” Samura could feel his arousal beneath the layer of material that separated them. He was ready to take her now, maybe even if it was against her will. She wanted him with a need so violent that it shook her to the core of her soul, and she could have him now … now was the time. But she had to know…. Pushing him back with one hand, she searched his eyes. “Thian, would you make love to me now even if you were not exiled, or promised a pardon?” She saw a small glimmer of doubt in those pools of moonlit gray. A doubt that grabbed

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her heart and squeezed it until she felt it would die. “I would likely not be here with you now if it were not for our situation.” Pushing him away, she sprang to her feet. She had to leave before she shamed herself by crying in front of him. The exterior ice that had always offered her a layer of protection was all but gone. He had melted and exposed her heart, only to crush it. “There is an extra bedroom. You are welcome to sleep there. Goodnight.” She ran into the house, but she could still hear him calling out to her. “Samura, come back here.” Once she was safely in her room, she locked the door. Her tears came then. More tears than she had shed in years. “Samura, open this door,” he called from the hall. She did not answer, for if she did, he would hear the sobs in her voice. “Samura, don’t even think about being in love with me. It is an impossibility. Love is a human concept and one that the Annunaki do not have the luxury of enjoying.” Still she did not respond. Beyond the door, she heard his heavy sigh. “We have now, tonight. Can that not be enough?” There was almost a pleading in his voice. She heard him walk away from the door, but he had left her with the truth of his feelings. He could not love her and he would only offer her the moment. She was in love with him. The realization hit her like an earthquake. It had always been Thian. She had been in love with him for a long time. Her fantasy lover. But he could never be her lover in reality. That he had made clear. She would become just another conquest for him and when he flew away into the night sky, he would take with him her heart and everything in her that could feel. She could not let that happen.

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CHAPTER EIGHT Finding clothes to fit Thian was more difficult that she had anticipated. She looked through rack after rack of clothing and simply could not find anything that would fit him correctly. Samura wore dark sunglasses to hide her tear-swollen eyes. She had barely slept knowing that he was so close but so far away at the same time. They were literally from two different worlds and there just did not seem to be a way to bridge the gap between them. When she’d left this morning, Thian had been fast asleep in her living room recliner, apparently too angry with her to take up her offer of the guest bedroom. She had slipped out without waking him. It was time they got to what they were supposed to be doing, and to do that, they would have to leave the house. She couldn’t have him attracting attention by wearing an outfit that resembled something that had come from the costume department of a movie studio. On the far side of the clothing store, she spied a sign that informed shoppers where the clothing department for big and tall men was located. Samura made a beeline for the Big & Tall department. If she couldn’t find something for him to wear there, she wouldn’t find anything at all. Moments later she had an armful of men’s jeans, flannel shirts and T-shirts. As an afterthought, she purchased boots and socks as well. She could only hope that she had guessed his size correctly. **** When she returned home she found him playing with the TV and stereo. “How amazingly simplistic these gadgets are. We have similar items in our museums,” he said while eying the bag of clothing she dumped out on the couch. “You’ll have to try these on. I wasn’t sure they would fit, but we can’t have you walking around town the way you’re dressed.” His eyes sparkled with laughter. “Why not? I’ve seen worse outfits on this planet.” Samura opened her mouth to argue, but realized she could in no way dispute his claim. There were definitely humans that dressed in a much more peculiar fashion than what he was wearing. She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. “That’s true, but we don’t want to attract attention.” When he came out of the bedroom dressed like the average human male of the 21st century, Samura had to admit that he was drop-dead gorgeous, no matter what he was wearing. Her attraction to him was not the result of his exoticness. He was breathtakingly male, regardless of what he wore or where he was. Why does he have to be so damn hot? “I’m hot?” he asked with a smile. There was no trace of the anger in his eyes the night before. This was not the case with Samura though. She was still fuming. “Damn it, Thian! Do you have to probe my mind?” She spat out the words before turning on her heels and leaving the room.

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She’d made her escape into the kitchen where she stared out the window at the sundrenched backyard, wondering how she would ever get through the next few days with her heart and soul still intact. The world was so beautiful this time of year. The flowers were in full bloom and the breezes sent a whispering song through the leaves of the trees. How could everything appear so normal when her world had been turned upside down? The doorbell interrupted her thoughts. She walked right by Thian without a word and opened the door. “Hi, Aaron.” Samura smiled as sweetly as she ever had. “Would you like to come in?” He stepped through the door. “You never called my office,” he accused. “I’ve just been busy,” she offered. Though it came across as a flimsy excuse, she could not elaborate. The doctor’s eyes strayed to Thian and registered surprise, but he said nothing. On cue, Samura motioned to Thian. “Doctor, this is my friend … Tim.” She made up the name quickly. “Tim, this is Aaron Jordon.” Thian gave her a sardonic look. “Oh … the doctor?” “Yes.” Her smile contained a warning that he should just go along with her game. After the introductions were complete, Aaron turned back to her. “I have to discuss something with you that I feel is of great importance. Is there some place we can go?” Samura pointed to the couch. “It’s okay, Aaron. Tim is a good friend and he can hear whatever you have to say.” The doctor looked uncomfortable but decided to get straight to the point. “I have been in contact with a few doctors who specialize in alien abductions. It would appear that your nightmare may have been a screen memory and what was uncovered during the regression was what really happened.” “Oh, I don’t know, doctor. It’s hard for me to believe in such things as little green men.” She feigned disbelief while trying to hide a smile that threatened to turn to laughter when she saw Thian’s eyes narrow. “Little green men?” Thian echoed her phrase. Aaron turned to Thian and then back to Samura. “Is your friend familiar with your dreams?” Samura threw Thian a look of distain. “Yes, he is very familiar with them.” “Okay. You’re sure you don’t mind?” “It’s okay. I promise you he knows quite a lot about this type of stuff.” Samura openly smiled now. “I know it’s not much, but it’s something to go on,” Aaron said. “I don’t put much stock in the whole UFO thing, but it is some place we can start looking for answers.” Thian spoke up. “Doctor, don’t you think that UFOs and alien abduction is a little out there … especially for an educated man such as yourself?” Samura glared at Thian. He was purposely making fun of Aaron in retaliation for her jibes. “Yes … yes, I do actually, but her case does fit the profile well.” Focusing on Samura, Aaron continued, “I don’t know much about the whole little green Martian thing, but you never know. There is a conference soon in Roswell where you may find out more.” “A UFO conference?” Samura was doubtful. The last thing she wanted was to make a

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circus out of the situation. Aaron’s glasses had slipped to the bottom of his nose and he subconsciously slid them back up. “As a professional, I should discourage this, but I think it is a good idea if you keep an open mind. As long as you remember that there are a lot of lunatics and downright frauds out there in the fringes.” Samura had an idea. Her eyes rested on Thian who was taking in the conversation with quiet delight. What if I brought Aaron in on our secret? She smiled and braced herself for what was sure to happen next. “Aaron, what if I told you that I have talked to people from other worlds and what I have found out puts the entire human race in imminent danger?” Shocked, the doctor’s mouth dropped open and just stayed that way. Finally, he cleared his throat. “Samura ….” His words dropped off. Thian stiffened. Glaring at her, his eyes also questioned her sanity. “And what if I told you that Tim here was actually called Thian and he was from the planet Nibaru?” she pushed on, knowing it was too late to turn back now. The doctor’s face broke into a wide smile. “Sam, you’re poking fun, huh?” Shaking her head in denial, she sat next to Aaron and put her arm around him. “I am very serious, Aaron, and the reason I’ve told you about this is because we may need your help.” Aaron looked from Samura to Thian and back, still unsure if he was the brunt of a joke. “Well, if you really are serious, you need a hospital … both of you.” “Tell him, Thian, tell him about the Reptilians.” Thian was still eying her skeptically, but he took a seat in a large, overstuffed chair. Staring at the doctor, he obviously wondered how much the man could take. Samura knew he was picking up on the man’s thoughts, that he was thinking they were both crazy already. How much would he take before he picked up the phone and called an ambulance to take them both away? “I am unsure of why Samura has chosen to tell you this.” Thian looked at her questioningly. “She has developed the skill of blocking her thoughts from me,” he took a deep breath, “but I assure you, Doctor, she is telling the truth.” Aaron laughed. “You two cannot be serious.” “Yes, we are very serious,” Thian assured him. “Most of your species will be terminated soon if we are not successful in stopping the Reptilian threat on this planet.” “Okay, I’ve heard enough.” Aaron jumped to his feet. “Sam, I don’t know where you found this guy, but he has not done your mind any good.” Samura reached out to gently wrap her hand around the doctor’s arm. “No, listen to him, Aaron. He’s telling the truth. I’ve seen things that you would not believe.” Reluctantly Aaron sat down again, waiting to hear their incredible story. Thian told him the story much like Ishmah had told her. As the facts were laid out, Samura could detect disbelief in Aaron, but it was slowly crumbling as his mind connected the dots. “If you are not human as you claim, how is it that you know so much about our culture?” “As I have said, much of our culture has been integrated into yours, but aside from that fact, I have spent some time on this planet. The Adamu look enough like us that we often fit in without detection.” “So you have actually lived amongst humans for a time?” Aaron again pushed his glasses up. Samura could tell he was attempting to slip Thian up, still not believing their story. “Yes, it is required that all members of the Royal House live among the Adamu for at least a short time. The purpose of this is so we can have a better understanding of those we

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rule.” Aaron smiled. “I hardly think that you rule his planet. Perhaps if your story was true, it could have been so in prehistory, but now….” “Make no mistake, much of what happens here is still controlled to a certain extent by the Annunaki. This is why the extermination of the Adamu is possible if we do not stop the Reptilians.” Aaron held up his hand. “Wait a minute. What about these Reptilians? Do you really expect me to believe that we have a bunch of hybrid reptiles running the world?” “Not all of the elite of this planet are of the Reptilians, but the normal ones are fast losing their majority. If we do not stop it now, the Reptilians will be running the planet and the Draco Alliance will stop at nothing to bring the Adamu to servitude.” “Oh, come on!” The doctor’s agitation was growing to the point where he got to his feet and began pacing the room. “Don’t you think that we could see it if some of these people had this Reptilian blood in them?” Thian smiled. “Can you tell that you have Annunaki blood in you?” “If it were true it would be different because you look like us.” “Correct, Doctor, but you know enough about genetics to know that they can splice genes in ways that only certain characteristics are obvious.” Aaron stopped pacing and stared at them both for a long moment. “Okay, suppose, and I do say this tentatively, suppose you are right. What can I possibly do to help?” Samura had kept quiet through Thian’s story, but now she revealed her idea. “You are a doctor and will be taken more seriously than I would. Go to this Roswell thing and plant some information.” “Oh, no--no way!” Aaron shook his head. “I’m a psychiatrist remember. I would lose my license.” “Soon your license will not matter, Doctor,” Thian informed him. “Aaron, wait and listen to this for a minute,” Samura pleaded. “Just go to this thing and drop a few hints about a patient that says they have had contact. Most will just think you are there to get information, but add a couple things such as the Adamu and Annunaki. The fish we are looking to catch will recognize this as real and hopefully take the bait, while the others will just assume that you have an eccentric patient. Do you see what I am saying?” Aaron ran his hand through his thick, brown hair. “I don’t know, Sam. Just being down there at all might look bad.” “Yes, but remember, you will be there to investigate where your patient could have gotten such strange ideas. Most will believe that, except for the ones we’re after. They will know that your patient knows something that is real.” “You can be sure that the Reptilians are watching closely to be certain that the Adamu do not find out too much, too soon. They will be monitoring this event,” Thian interjected. “What would I say?” Aaron lifted his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “All we need is to have the majority of them in their main base when we destroy it,” Samura said. “Just spread the word that this patient swears that the Annunaki plan on invading on a large-scale basis to beat out the Reptilians. Name a specific date. Let’s say in a week’s time.” “How do you know that will work?” Thian’s intense eyes locked with hers. Surely he had to admire her strategic thinking? “If he drops enough accurate information in there, they will know that this patient will

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have some inside information. They might take it seriously enough to bunker down at that base to prepare to wait out the threat, but we still have one problem. How are we going to get into that base?” “Getting in is not so much the problem,” Thian put in. “It’s getting all of them in one place.” Samura turned pleading eyes to Aaron. “Will you do this, please? I believe it is my only chance of finding my mother.” “Okay, I’ll plant some information, but that’s all I’m doing.” He held up his hand as if to ward off any further intrusion into his normal life. “When exactly is this UFO thing?” Samura asked. “The day after tomorrow. So let’s say I plant this information to supposedly take place a week from today?” Samura smiled, relieved that Aaron had agreed to help. “Thanks you so much.” She held out her hand to him. Taking her hand into his, Aaron squeezed it. “You know, Sam, if you were anyone else I’d have you put in a hospital, but you’ve always been so levelheaded that I’m giving you leeway here.” “I know, Aaron, and I don’t blame you for being skeptical. Even with everything I’ve seen with my own eyes, I still question it.” “So, should I call you when I return from Roswell?” Aaron asked her. Thian shook his head supplying the answer. “Do not use any form of communication that someone might pick up on. Phones are dangerous.” Aaron smiled. “How about I call and say that her appointment is set for the date I plant?” “Good idea, Aaron. We will wait for your call.” Samura could not hide her relief. She was not so sure her relief was due to Aaron’s help, or simply the fact that she no longer felt alone. At least now she was not the only human carrying the burden of knowledge. But then again … I am not really entirely human.

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CHAPTER NINE The afternoon sun beat in through the passenger side window of Samura’s car, reflecting off the silver specs in Thian’s gray eyes until they appeared to emit a light of their own. Every time she took her eyes from the road to steal a glance at him, she found that he was watching her. His eyes lingered on her lips but would find their way down her neck to her breasts that spilled out above the neckline of her blouse. Without words, he was telling her that he wanted her still, and that knowledge sent her temperature to boiling point. She could not shut off the heat, no matter how much her mind battled against it. It was hard to keep her eyes on the road. His jeans were a tight fit and they revealed a significant bulge. He wore the blue flannel shirt only partially buttoned and her gaze could not help but drink in the rippling muscles of his massive chest. He smiled, aware of where her thoughts had ventured. “Samura, why don’t you let me show you what it is like to be loved by a god?” She rolled her eyes. “Thian, you are not a god, at least not how I know God.” “Make no mistake, we were the gods of many.” He laughed. Samura squeezed the steering wheel tight. Even his laughter was seductive. Looking back at him, she had to admit to herself that the ancient people, no doubt, would have looked upon him as a god. His male physique was unmatched by any man she had ever known. Thian’s body was perfect in every way. It did not take a great deal of imagination to see him as one of the Titans, or a god. She forced a coldness into her voice that she did not quite feel in reality. “I think we should just concentrate on what we’re here to do so that we can both get back to the way things were before this craziness started.” He was staring brazenly at her exposed leg where her skirt had climbed up without her realizing it. She felt the heat of his gaze on her flesh and it quickly traveled up to build heat between her thighs. Her parents were old fashioned and expected her to dress like a Sunday school teacher, but at this moment, she wished she had worn pants just this once. She inhaled sharply when she felt the warmth of his hand on her thigh. “Thian!” she protested. “We are going to see my dad.” She said this as if it should be as obvious to him as it was to her that she could not engage in such things before going to see her father. He ignored her, his fingers gently petting her leg. Slowly his hand traveled up her skirt to find the wet ache beneath her panties. Leaning closer, he slid two fingers into her throbbing pussy and began to explore her intimately, touching all the right spots as if he knew her body better than she did. His lips and tongue were on her neck, nibbling, sucking, while his fingers continued to work magic on her gushing cunt. She wanted him so badly, to feel him deep inside of her, to feel his cock caressing her slick pussy. Teasingly, he took her to the brink and then pulled back just enough to keep her from reaching that ultimate summit. His breathing had become labored to match her own panting and

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groans of frustration. Her legs were trembling so badly that she feared she would wreck the car. “Thian, I can’t drive.” “Stop the car,” he ordered in a voice husky with desire. As soon as she found a dirt road leading from the main highway, she complied with his order. She had no choice, no longer able to even see the road. **** Thian awkwardly fell to his knees and his large hands reached for her legs. He swung her around so her back was against the car door. With one quick movement, he ripped her panties off. Spreading her legs, he sat back on his heels to devour her slick cunt with his gaze. Freeing his stiff shaft from the denim material that held it at bay, he was ready to plunge into her, to love her as he had always dreamed of doing. His throbbing balls no longer cared where they were, or how it had happened, only that he feel her hot flesh wrapped tightly around him. Thian leaned over her, the head of his cock resting against her opening. One thrust and she would be his. Finally, after the years he had watched her from a distance, lusted for her gentle beauty, sweet lips, at last he would taste her passion. It would be he that took her over the edge and into a sea of ecstasy. Samura brought her hand up to touch his face, her passion glazed eyes pleaded with him. “Thian, I can’t do this,” she cried. “Can’t you see that? Do I mean so little that you would let me fall in love with you only to tear me apart when it is over?” The torture he felt within his heart was worse than he ever imagined it would be. He longed to finally quench his lust of this woman, but would he hurt her to do it. Could he? Oh, how he wanted to commit the sin of coupling with her. He wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything, but could he really disregard her and walk away from her misery when it was over? Thian moved away from her and zipped up his pants. Without a word, he opened the car door and got out. Walking away, he did not stop until he was several feet from the car and gazed up at the sky. He still trembled with unspent passion, but no matter how ruthless he had been with females in the past, he could not find it in his heart to do that to Samura. He could not offer her a future when their union was forbidden and considered to be a horrific sin. When at last his emotions were in check, he returned to the car. He smiled. “Let us go see your father.” Just as Samura put the car into gear, her cell phone rang. They looked at each other, knowing this was the call they had been waiting for. The doctor was calling to tell them that his mission was accomplished. **** Mathew eyed the young man who sat across the table from him with suspicion. “What do you do for a living?” he asked before putting another forkful of beef stew into his mouth. Samura squirmed nervously in her chair. She had been unprepared for the storm of questions her father would throw at them, though she realized now that she should have expected it. Thian just radiated that playboy attitude, but unlike most guys, he had two fathers he was catching hell from, though it didn’t seemed to faze him at all. “I am a captain of a ship.” “Not in the navy I see.” Mathew pointed out his distaste for Thian’s long hair. “Not with

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a head of hair like that I’m sure.” “No, not in your country’s military,” Thian assured him. “You’re a foreigner?” “Yes, you could say that.” Thian smiled, tolerant of the old man’s questions. Mathew turned to Samura. “A foreigner, Sam?” With her elbow on the table, she rested her chin on her hand. “Dad, we really are just friends so it doesn’t matter. Besides, what is important right now is finding Mom, and Thian is here to help me do that.” Mathew grunted his disapproval but let the subject drop. Strangely, he had said little about her mother since she’d arrived. “What is being done to find Mom?” she asked, though she knew the local police could do nothing to find her. “They’ve searched every inch of this area, even used the dogs but there’s no sign of her. She’s run off with another man.” He stated it as if it were a dirty fact he had to live with. “Dad!” She was shocked. “You know Mom would never do that.” Mathew’s large frame shook with suppressed emotion and Samura suddenly realized that it was easier for him to think of his wife with another man than to admit that she might be lying dead in a ditch somewhere. “Daddy, don’t worry. We’ll find her and I just have this feeling that she’s okay.” Her dad still did not look up from his bowl of stew. Samura’s gaze flew to Thian in a desperate plea. “She is right Mr. Priestly. We have information that your wife may have been kidnapped. That is why I am here.” Finally Mathew looked at them. “What are you talking about … kidnapped? Why would anyone have a reason to kidnap Doreen?” Samura knew this question would be a lot more difficult to answer, but she fought for as much truth as she could put into it. “I think that whoever has done this believes that I know something about the disappearances of the children. This could be a way of keeping me out of the investigation.” “Well, how do you know they won’t hurt her?” Mathew’s booming voice thundered through the small kitchen. “They won’t, Dad. They will lose control of me if they do.” “Does this have anything to do with those men who came here looking for you the other day?” “What are you talking about?” Samura laid her spoon in her stew, suddenly no longer hungry. “They were in this big black car, and they wore dark suits. Real odd-looking fellows. It slipped my mind to tell you with all this ruckus that’s been happening.” She threw a confused look at Thian, who was frowning. He evidently knew something about it and whatever that was, he didn’t like it. After Samura helped clean up for her dad, they retired to the front porch to relax. The sun was just starting to go down, bathing the pastures and the red cliffs in the distance with its dimming light. The old wooden rocker creaked beneath Mathew’s weight as it swayed back and forth. He was quiet, lost in his own world where all was right again and Doreen sat next to him. Mathew’s grief wore heavy on Samura’s heart to meld with her own sorrow.

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Thian descended the wooden stairs and motioned Samura to follow him. She trailed behind him as he made his way to the huge oak tree on the side of the house. Here was a swing that had hung from the tree since she was a child. “Get on, I’ll push you,” he told her. “No, I’m too big for that thing now. It would probably dump me on the ground.” Thian pulled at the chain, testing it for strength. “It’s sturdy enough, get on.” Giving in, Samura sat down and let him gently push the swing. “What do you know about those men who came looking for me?” “They are what the Adamu call ‘Men in Black’.” She twisted her head to look at him, half thinking he was teasing her. “You’re kidding, right?” “No, it is true. They are nasty vile creatures, the muscle of the elite. They must know about you now and will kill you if they can.” It was hard to miss the anxiety etched in his voice. “How would they have found out?” “They have spies. Someone has told them,” he said as he stopped the swing. Wrapping his arms around her and the chains, he pulled her and the swing close against his chest. Samura relished the warmth of his arms around her and his hard, muscular chest against her back. He brought his lips down close to her ear. “Do you remember when you were a young girl? You would come out here and sit on this swing at night and watch the moon, wondering when Prince Charming would show up.” Samura cringed at the memory, angry that he was so familiar with her most intimate thoughts. “I was just a girl and didn’t know any better,” she said in a voice devoid of emotion. “Are you so sure you were wrong?” He bit at her ear playfully. “How do you know your prince did not come looking for you?” “Because the only prince I know is only here because he is in exile.” She could not keep the sad note from her voice. He kissed the back of her neck, and whispered, “I think your heart knew you were mine, even then.” “Well, my heart was wrong, wasn’t it?” she said bitterly. Pulling away from him, she let her feet hit the ground to stop the motion of the swing. Squatting down in front of her, Thian cupped her face with both hands. “Why can you not let us have this moment in time to enjoy each other? I know you want us to make love together as badly as I do.” Pulling her face from his hands, she turned away. “When this is all over, you will go away and I will never see you again.” “It may not have to be that way,” he insisted. “I could continue to come to you. As long as there is no child, the council wouldn’t ever have to know.” She got up from the swing and pushed her way past him. Stopping to fold her arms, she stared up at the moon. “Thian, I want to marry someday, and I want children. Essentially what you are asking for, would keep me from having both, unless I were to have a husband and meet my lover on the side. Sorry … that isn’t me.” Thian sighed deeply, unable to deny the truth of her assessment. “Then give us now,” he almost pleaded. Choking back tears, she could only shake her head, denying them both what they so desperately wanted. “Thian, I think I already love you. Consummating that now would only make the inevitable ,. harder to accept.” Samura walked away, leaving him to stare after her.

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**** Thian stared sullenly out the window as Samura sped through the night toward Santa Fe. He had said little to her since leaving the ranch, but it didn’t matter. The less they talked, the less likely things would flare up between them. Squinting, Samura adjusted her mirrors to lessen the glare of the headlights that had come up on her from behind. She slowed down, hoping the car would pass her, but instead, it slowed its pace and continued to follow them. “I think there’s someone following us.” Thian swung around in the seat and tried to get a look at the car, but the lights were too bright. “I don’t like this.” “I know the feeling.” Samura kept glancing in her rearview mirror. The vehicle behind them was eerily threatening for no reason she could pinpoint. “Maybe it’s those Men in Black,” she put in. “I wonder if they have put two and two together and figured out I’m the patient that Aaron would be talking about.” “No, Mathew said they came the other day. That would have been before we even discussed this with him.” “Then what do they want?” “I don’t know, but we’d better find out.” He glanced back again. “Slow down more. See what they do.” “Are you crazy?” She looked at him wide-eyed. “Remember they want to kill me.” “Just do what you’re told,” he barked. Samura was startled by his anger, but she took her foot off the gas. The car behind them slowed again, but this time it changed lanes and sped up ahead of them. Samura breathed a sigh of relief that was short-lived. The shiny black sedan had pulled across the road to block their way. “Now would be a good time to do your beaming thing,” she said, slowing the car to a halt. “Like I said….” “I know. I watch too much TV.” Two men, who looked almost identical, got out of the car and stood in the beam of the Eclipse’s headlights. They wore black business suits and moved sluggishly. With their white pallor, they reminded her of corpses. Reaching into his pocket, Thian pulled out a little silver weapon like the one Ishmah had used. “I brought along a few things I thought we might need.” He lifted it up for her to see. “Stay here.” But before he could leave, she reached out to grab his arm. “Don’t go out there!” He put his hand over hers and squeezed gently. “Don’t worry, you won’t be rid of me that easy.” Thian stepped out and walked slowly to the front of the car. Samura watched the scene unfold as if she were in a dream, in the grip of a nightmare that would not loosen its hold. When Thian passed in front of the headlights, she watched the two men take a step back. She could not hear what was being said, but her skin crawled with terror at the sight of a long serpent’s tongue slipping out of the mouth of the figure closest to the car. Thian pointed the thin weapon at one of them and the creature was instantly bathed in harsh white light. Pure energy. When the light was gone, all that was left of the creature was a scorched spot in the middle of the road. The other one had already gotten in the car and was squealing tires in an effort to escape. Samura inhaled deeply. She hadn’t realized that she had been holding her breath until

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that moment. Thian got in and turned to her with a smile of triumph. “I told you it wouldn’t be so easy to get rid of me.” “You knew all along that they wouldn’t be any real threat to you, didn’t you?” “They could have been a threat, if it wasn’t for this thing.” He held up the strange weapon. “But it was nice to see you so shook up about it.” His lips turned up in a mischievous smile. Their eyes met, blue fire clashing with liquid silver. The voltage that passed between them could have lit the night sky. She knew then that the desire he felt for her went far beyond that of the flesh. Leaning over, she placed her lips lightly on his, but it was not enough for either of them. His arms were around her, pulling her closer, crushing her with a hot, demanding kiss. Samura yielded and joined him in a dance of tongues. When he pulled away, he left the sweet taste of passion in her mouth. She drew back slightly and, looking into his eyes, told him, “I love you, Thian of the Enlils.” “I know,” he said softly. “I think you know I love you, too.” “But it can’t be?” He swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.” Samura turned away. She put the car into gear and they started moving. Maybe there were feelings, but apparently not enough to overcome who he was. He interrupted her thoughts. “We can’t go back to your house.” “Why not?” “They will come there looking for us. We will need to go some other place.” “I’ll have to change out of these clothes and pick up a few things.” “It would be a good idea if you make it fast. They may be there already,” he warned. “Where will we go? We still have a couple of days to wait,” she pointed out needlessly. “I know a place where they cannot find us, and it is close to where we will have to be.” “How do you know so much about Earth when you don’t even like it?” “I’ve spent time here,” he told her. Samura was getting the impression that the time he had spent here had not been so pleasant.

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CHAPTER TEN The dry desert winds sent ghostly whispers through the red rock canyon known as Cañón Perdido. Her car was not made for the road that took them into the canyon. It bolted and jumped as she tried to avoid the worst of the holes. Although not visible from the road, just up ahead was Perdido en Casa, an ancient Anasazi cliff dwelling. Samura had never been to the ruins, but she had heard rumors about them. The canyon and the ruins were said to be haunted by those ancients who had disappeared from existence hundreds of years ago. Now she wondered if the rumors had not stemmed from something other than specters. It was true enough that the lonely canyon had an eerie atmosphere that could fuel such rumors, but it also held significance to the aliens. This much she had deciphered already. “Pull off the road and park here,” Thian told her as she was entering a thick grove of trees. Spots of sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of leaves above them to paint patterns of light on the ground. Samura opened the car door and stepped out. Breathing deep of the sage scented air, she marveled at the beauty that was all around them. The cosmos might hold untold mysteries, but she doubted there was another place in the universe to match the beauty of Earth. They grabbed their camping gear from the trunk and started up the trail that would take them to the cliff dwellings of the ancient ones. In several places the trail was overgrown with sage and weeds. Not many people visited the area, but Samura was not sure if it was because of the haunting rumors or because it was such a pain getting there. Under a large outcrop of rock was evidence of the dwelling walls. Climbing a set of crude stairs led them to the first terrace. From where they stood the view of the canyon was spectacular. Rays of sunshine set off the pink and red shades of the canyon walls like the splash of color on canvas. Inside the first set of rooms, the sun peeked in through the doorway providing just enough light to see, but sheltering them from the heat. Here they set their equipment, which consisted of rope, food, water, sleeping bags and flashlights. Along with this, she saw Thian had brought a silver box the size of a briefcase. “What is that?” “This is what we will need to accomplish our goal.” Samura cocked her head to the side, a dubious look on her face. “It’s a bomb?” Thian sat on the ground smiling at her, opening the case so that she could see its contents. “It is more than a bomb. It is several explosives.” He pointed to a row of about twenty golf ballsized spheres. “They’re so small. Will they work?” She sat on the ground beside him. “Size is not significant. There is enough power in here to bring down a large city.” Thian shut the case, securing it with magnetic clasps. “What about snakes? I’m sure they must congregate in here.” “Snakes are not the reptiles you should be worried about.” “Why did you pick this place anyway? Aside from the fact that no one ever comes here and if we get stuck we will be in big trouble.” Thian pointed to an entrance that opened the way to a maze of rooms. What lay beyond

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the doorway remained a mystery, shrouded in darkness. “To the back of this shelter is a cave that connects to the tunnels of the Reptilians and their base.” The move made sense in light of the connecting caves. She had many more questions about the time he’d spent on Earth but decided to drop the subject. Samura got to her feet and stepped out into the waning afternoon light. The night was encroaching and they had not yet prepared for it. Her eyes scanned the terrace and surrounding area for anything they could use for firewood. Though there were twigs and pieces of wood scattered here and there, it appeared as if most of their firewood would have to be brought up from the grove of trees. By sundown they had a nice stack of wood and small flames crackled in one of the readymade hearths on the stone terrace. A black velvet, star-studded sky spread out above them as they sat next to the warm fire. Though it was not exactly cold, night in the desert came with a slightly uncomfortable chill. Shadows danced off Thian’s face as he stared into the hypnotic blaze. Samura wondered at how different the past few days must have been compared to what he was used to. To his credit, he had behaved as if nothing bothered him, though she knew that the way she lived was primitive in his eyes. “What are you thinking about?” Her voice broke through the sound of the fire. He smiled humorously. “I was thinking of how lovely you would look in this light if you took off your clothes.” “Have you always been such a player with women?” “Yes.” There was no hesitation in his answer. “Tell me about your time here. Why don’t you talk about it?” Samura’s curiosity got the best of her. His lighthearted mood faded and he again stared silently into the fire. She didn’t press him, but waited for him to open up on his own. When his gaze again sought her, he smiled but it was marred by great sadness. “Before I was given my assignment, I came here on an expedition with my elder brother, Zen. He had no interest in the battle fleet. He was only concerned with science.” Thian’s frown deepened. “We spent twelve lunar cycles here. For me it was enormous fun, for Zen it was simply work. He was collecting samples and trying to find out why there were so many mutations that led to disease in the Adamu. It was a great time for me. The Adamu females were a delight.” Samura interrupted him. “I thought you never did that?” He chuckled. “I did not mate with them, but I am sure you know that there are more routes to pleasure than simple intercourse.” “Oh.” She felt herself blush, wishing she had not gotten that bit of information. “I resembled Zen greatly, and when a jealous boyfriend found out I had been playing with his female, he came looking for me, but found Zen instead. The man mistakenly shot down my brother for what I had done.” “I’m so sorry.” Samura’s heart went out to this man who had carried such a burden throughout his life. She now understood his resentment for humans and Earth. “It was a long time ago.” “This is why you wanted to exterminate us? You hate humans because of your brother.” “I convinced myself that they were a savage species that simply could not function in a galactic society, but it was myself I loathed more than the Adamu.” “Can I ask you a question that I’ve always been curious about?” Samura smiled, hoping to lighten the mood.

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“Yes, why not?” “Did a flying saucer really crash in Roswell?” Thian was clearly amused by her question. “Ah, the big UFO questions of humans.” “Come on, Thian.” She laughed. “It’s natural for everyone to wonder about that.” “Well, I don’t know if I can divulge that information, since it is so classified,” he teased. “Thian!” “Okay.” He gave in. “Yes, one did crash there, and yes, the government is covering it up.” “Really?” He chuckled. “So now you know the answer to the big Roswell mystery. Do you feel better?” “Yes, actually I do.” She lifted her face to the sky and as always, found herself in awe of the night’s beauty. “Where is your planet?” He stood up and moved away from the fire and into the dark. Samura went to stand next to him. With one hand he pointed to a constellation in the southern sky. “It is there.” He indicated a cluster of dim stars. “It is several light years from this solar system.” “How long does it take to get there?” Samura was captivated with the possibilities that lay behind the mysteries of the stars. “A month. Why, are you planning a visit?” he teased. She was ready to tell him how ridiculous his question was when she saw his eyes laughing at her. “You are impossible sometimes.” He grinned. “I’ve heard that a time or two.” “If it’s that far away, you can’t get there in a month. Doesn’t that go against the laws of physics?” “The Adamu have not traveled far enough into space to discover that there are rips in the fabric of space and time. These are essentially doorways to other galaxies and even universes. If you know where these are, you can go anywhere in a short period of time,” Thian explained. “Wow, that’s fantastic!” She made her excitement evident. He was standing very close to her now, so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. “You were born of the stars, Samura. You will not long be content with your earthbound existence.” His voice had taken on that seductive quality that flung her senses into a spin. Her gaze clashed with his and she felt them pulling her into their depths. “I have little choice,” she whispered. His hand reached up to brush her windswept hair from her face. “You said you loved me … do you?” She nodded. There was no way she could deny it, not even to herself. “I ask you only for this one night,” he implored her. “I will beg you if need be.” Samura was astonished, sure that he was not a man accustomed to pleading. Thian leaned down to kiss her lips lightly. “I will take you to the heavens, my beautiful moonflower. If you will give us this one night, it will be enough to last us a lifetime.” “Why … why all the sudden do you want this so badly? You must have had many opportunities through the years to come to me, and you didn’t.” Samura was so close to giving him what he wanted that she had to grasp for something … anything to keep her grounded. “How do you know I did not come to you?” He continued to caress her face, letting his hands move to her hair, running his fingers through it.

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“Did you?” “Yes.” He nodded. “Many times I came to look upon your sleeping form, and I ached to feel the warmth of your body next to my bare skin. You have no idea the torture I have endured. I was obsessed with the thought of making love to you.” His breaths were coming in gasps. His mouth sought hers and his kisses held an urgency that was new from him. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her so close that she could feel the rapid beating of his heart. “I would fantasize about taking you away where no one would ever know, and you would belong to me, always.” “Why didn’t you then? Why didn’t you come to my bed and make love to me?” He smiled down at her. “How would you have reacted if you were awakened to me ravishing your body? You did not even know I existed.” “Maybe I did … deep inside.” His heated kiss filled her with a fire she was helpless to stop. “Please let me taste you. Let me have just a morsel of your sweet body.” His tongue licked at her lips, demanding entry to her mouth. Samura pulled away to look into his face. “Thian, do you love me?” He tangled his hand through her long tresses and pulled her head back to look intently into her eyes. “Yes, I love you, I want you and I need you. Make no mistake, Samura, no one else will ever have my love as you have it.” She felt her resistance give flight like grains of sand in the wind. What did anything matter but being with him now, while she could? Dropping to her knees, her fingers freed his erect flesh, rubbing him against her face, savoring his heat. Thian’s euphoric moans fed her mounting passion. She playfully bathed his throbbing shaft with her tongue, licking until she came to the head. Rubbing the head of his shaft across her full lips, she found that the sound of his approving groans sent her pulse racing. She took him into her mouth and let her tongue swirl around the tip of his large cock. She brought him to the brink of orgasm, just to pull back and prolong his hunger. Thian threw back his head and the sound that emanated from his lips was somewhere between a groan and a howl. He bent down to sweep her up in his arms. Gently, he laid her on the sleeping bag that was next to the fire. Thian dropped his pants and kicked them away, his shirt quickly followed suit. Samura could not take her eyes from the exotic picture before her. The fire cast its dancing light upon the hard, muscled contours of his body. The night winds played with his long blond hair while his eyes burned with a desire that she would do anything to fulfill. Every inch of him screamed male, and her woman’s body responded instinctively. Entranced by his presence she barely noticed that he was removing her clothing. Thian’s mouth found her taut nipple, teasing it until it tingled and throbbed for more. His lips and tongue were everywhere, sending sizzling fire through her body. “Are you sure?” she asked breathlessly. “You will be of the fallen.” “For you I would enter the world of the forsaken.” His voice shook with desire, a need that he had been denied far too long. Samura lay on her back as he positioned himself so the head of his cock was pressed hard against her aching clit and he rubbed up and down her wet slit, paying special attention to her swollen bud. She wiggled, arching her hips to try and capture him, but he held back, savoring her raging need. Her only answer was Thian’s deep laughter as he pulled away from her. She could feel

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the silky softness of his long hair on the insides of her thighs as he brought his mouth down to kiss her pussy lips. His darting tongue played with her clit until her passion had turned to a fiery animal lust. Samura gasped for breath. The sensation of his tongue making love to her was too much. She was ready to come, and sensing this, Thian raised his head to gaze upon her face. His burning lust had turned his eyes to a whirlpool of molten silver and she felt herself drowning in their depths. Lifting her legs, he placed them on his shoulders. He was poised and ready to fill her up with his hard shaft. Samura shivered, anticipating that instant when they would come together. “What do you want?” he asked in a low, velvet-soft voice. “I want you! I want to feel you inside of me, loving me as hard as you can!” The need she felt rang out loud and clear in her voice. “I am too big.” Thian’s voice shook. “I may hurt you.” “I don’t care!” she cried out. “Please, just do it!” He thrust his hips forward, his hard cock filling her up until she could take no more. Samura squealed in delight, certain that the earth quaked beneath her as he moved within her, sending wave after wave of heat surging through her veins. Giving her what she’d asked for, Thian clasped her hands in his and held tight as he thrust into her inviting cunt again and again, each time more forcefully than the last. “I do love you, Samura!” Her own declaration of love slipped from her lips as she felt herself merging, becoming one with his soul. Together they fell off the edge of the world into a universe of bright, pure light.

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CHAPTER ELEVEN The dawn sky was alive with pink and blue color as the fire died away to glowing embers. Entwined in each other’s arms, the two lovers did not notice the morning chill. They had zipped the two sleeping bags together and now lay close, each warmed by the other’s bare skin. In the distance, a hawk screeched as it prepared to descend on its chosen prey. The sound of the bird brought Samura awake. With one arm draped over her, Thian held her close to his hard body. He still slept, and Samura did not stir for fear of waking him from his peaceful slumber. Examining her feelings, Samura was surprised to find that she had never felt quite like she did now, lying so close to him, secure in his arms. Since Thian had made his presence in her life known to her, everything had been different. The sun seemed to shine brighter. The scent of flowers was sweeter, and the world was filled with endless possibilities. Now she knew. This was what loving a man was like. It was also a roller coaster ride, with highs beyond the stars and lows that could leave your soul withering in death. If they accomplished their mission--and they must--today would be their last day together. The knowledge weighed heavily on her heart and if she could have one wish it would be to freeze this moment in time and be with him like this, always. She did not regret coming together with him in love, only that it must end. He had not played any games with her. She knew that when this was over, so was what they had. How could she ask him to give up his life, his family and everything that he was to become exiled with her on this lonely planet forever? She could not and would not ask it of him. To let him go was the only true way she could love him. A single tear fell across her cheek to splash onto his chest. He brought his hand up to wipe her tears away and pulled her closer until she could feel the beat of his heart against her cheek. “I will always love you,” he whispered softly. The floodgates were opened and her body shook as she sobbed quietly. Rolling her over, he kissed her tears away. There were no words to sooth the pain that tore at her heart. Only the comfort of being together could lessen the sting of losing the love they had both longed for. They lay on their sides so that they could look upon one another. Tenderly, Thian caressed her, while he stared at her with those haunting moonlight eyes. He placed one of his legs over hers so he was half lying on her. Samura felt her body awaken in response to his stiffened cock pressed firmly against her hip. Their lips came together in a kiss that spoke not only of their passion, but also an everlasting love. Samura inhaled sharply when felt him slide into her. This time their lovemaking was different. The urgency was still there, but it existed in harmony with their emotional need. As they moved together in perfect rhythm, they found themselves lost in a place that was paradise. ****

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It was midmorning before they could bring themselves to leave their makeshift bed. Today they would enter the cave, and the lair of the serpent. Thian had grown moody, withdrawing from her. Samura suspected that it was his way of coping with their inevitable goodbye. She was still not sure how she would deal with it when that time came. The only gear they would take into the cave with them was the explosives, rope, flashlights and water. It seemed so meager compared to the threat they would face. The intelligence information available to the Annunaki had this cave connecting to the main tunnels of the Reptilian base below Taos Peak. The plan was to get in, plant the explosives and back out without being detected. Samura had no idea if that would be achievable, but if they set off alarms, it was possible that they would evacuate the most important of the occupants. Handing her one of the thin, silver laser guns, Thian demonstrated how to use it. Samura secured the gun to her belt loop as Thian showed her. “Why are the Annunaki and the Reptilians enemies?” she wanted to know. “They are among the most violent and warlike species in the galaxy,” he explained. “The Reptilians are responsible for the cattle mutilations on this planet and some that are done to humans too. Internal organs are what they eat. They prefer cattle but other species will do just, as well.” Samura pulled a face. “No wonder you don’t want them here.” “It is their goal to control the whole galaxy. Now, when we get in there I want you to stay close and stay quiet,” Thian told her as he was clipping coiled rope to his belt. After entering the first room of the ruins, they both turned on their flashlights. As they moved further into the cliffs, each room was darker than the last. Inside it was difficult to hear the canyon winds, but what was audible sounded like the wail of tortured souls. It was easy to imagine the spirits of those who had lived their lives within these walls watching them from the dark corners. Samura pushed the thought away. If she kept thinking that way, she would be imagining that spooks were ready to jump out from behind every corner. They came to a room that was different than the rest of the ruin’s maze. Carved in the maze were figures that resembled dragons. “This is it.” Thian pointed to a hole in the floor. The beam of the flashlight cut through the darkness to rest upon stone steps leading into a subterranean abyss. Thian descended first, with Samura close behind him. The air became noticeably cooler. On both sides of them was sheer rock as if the stairs had been cut through the interior of the cliffs. Twisting and turning, the rock staircase went down for several hundred feet before they came to a small cavern. In quite a few places there were stalactite formations growing from the ceiling like colorful clawed fingers reaching out to catch them as they walked by. They navigated the formations until they came to a natural tunnel that would lead them further into the darkness of the earth. The air was thick, and it was hard to breathe. Samura wondered if there was enough oxygen this far down for humans. Thian stopped abruptly, and she nearly collided into him. Ahead was another natural cavern and Thian let the glow of the flashlight illuminate the interior of the cave. It was a lot like the first, but much larger. On the opposite end of the cavern was a limestone wall that was different somehow. “That’s one of their backdoors,” Thian informed her in a low whisper.

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“How do we get in?” “That will be the difficult part, as they are sure to have alarms and surveillance equipment.” An idea occurred to Samura. “You have strong telekinesis ability. Could you use that to short out the alarms and cameras?” Thian looked at her thoughtfully but had nothing better to offer. “Okay, I will try.” Closing his eyes he let his second sight penetrate the artificial wall and into the tunnel beyond. Samura knew his mind would crawl the length of the wiring until he came to the main security wiring panel for that section. A burst of energy from his brain would hit the wires, sending tendrils of smoke from the panel. The rock wall dissipated before their eyes to reveal a concrete tunnel that emitted faint light. He smiled. “It’s done, but it won’t hold for long. They will soon notice the section is not working.” Samura followed him into the tunnel that went on for a long way before they came to a stairwell. “Below here is a link to their subterranean transport system.” “What is it?” she asked. “A very fast subway train.” “We have to take one of their trains?” Samura was not so sure this was a good idea. He shook his head. “No, our eyes would give us away as Annunaki in an instant. We cannot pass ourselves as humans or Reptilian hybrids because of our eyes. They are very familiar with that trait. We will have to go to the service tunnel below the transport,” he explained in hushed tones as he pointed it out on the crude map he had taken from his shirt pocket. Taking the stairwell two levels down, they came out into another tunnel, this one much darker than the one they had just left. The beam of their flashlight reflected off the walls of the tunnel as if they were made of black glass. Stopping, Thian pointed the flashlight at the paper he held in his hand. “This is where we are now, and this is where we have to be.” His finger slid across the map to show Samura their destination. “What’s there?” “It’s the location that is below the main Taos Base. If we strike there, it will bring the base down.” “How much further is it?” “Not too far. Once we set these,” he lifted the silver case in his hand, “we will not have long to return to the surface before they detonate.” Thian switched off his light and the two of them continued on in the semi darkness. Several moments later, there was a fork in the tunnel and Thian veered off to the right. Up ahead it was visibly lighter and the tunnel appeared to merge into some kind of underground complex. There were several halls leading off both sides of the tunnel. Thian took one of these halls. They had only gone a couple hundred feet when they heard voices in an adjoining hall. The voices were rough and spoke in a guttural language she had never heard before. Opening a nearby door, Thian pulled her in behind him. Crouching in a dark corner with Thian near her, Samura surveyed the room, which looked to be some type of lab. No one was inside but the machines hooked to vats of liquid gave off a strange blue-tinged light. The vats

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held thick red liquid. “If you ever wondered what happened to the body parts and blood taken from the cattle, that’s it.” He pointed to the vats. Samura shuddered, distorting her face in disgust. “It is their food,” he explained softly. “We’ll likely end up in those if we get caught.” There was movement outside the door and Samura held her breath. Whatever was outside was sniffing, and she wondered if they could smell the intruders. Samura felt her stomach knot in terror when the door slowly opened. When it stepped into the room, she had to make a conscious effort not to cry out in fright. The creature was like some kind of monster from a childhood nightmare. It had to be at least eight feet tall and was covered with brownish green scales. The alien’s eyes were green and yellow with a vertical slit. Hiding in the dark did no good with the reptile. He could sense their body heat. There was a hissing sound and a long tongue snaked out from his mouth. Thian had his weapon ready and covered the creature with white energy before it had a chance to alert others to their presence. Within seconds, the reptile had disintegrated. “This place will have to do. The area is crawling with serpents,” Thian whispered. He opened the silver case and took each sphere out, squeezing one after the other until they were all glowing a bright, florescent green. Once he had activated all the explosives, he shut the lid and hid the case behind some metal shelves. “Let’s get out of here, we don’t have long.” Samura didn’t need any encouragement. She would be very happy when they reached the surface again. Opening the door cautiously, Thian looked in both directions and when he was sure the way was clear, he motioned her to follow. The return to the surface seemed to take much longer than it had to reach their target. She assumed this was because now they had little time. If they were underground when the explosives detonated, they were history. Just before reaching the stairwell, they saw someone exit it. The person appeared in everyway to be human, but Samura had her doubts that many humans would even know of the existence of this base, let alone work here. They entered the stairwell and quietly made their way up levels until they were on the same level they had entered. “Was that a human?” Samura asked as soon as they were safely on the level that would take them to the caves. “It was a hybrid, genetically engineered to look human. Their hybrids can be mostly human and still carry much of the traits of the Reptilians.” “Are there many of them out there?” She pulled a face. “We will not get them all. Keep your eyes open. Every once in a while you may come across someone that just don’t seem right. Maybe their eyes bug out a little too much, or their tongue is just a little too long and thin,” he told her as they continued their journey to the surface. They came to the door where they had entered the facility, both relieved that it was still open. Once they were through the door, Samura felt a small sense of relief though she would not feel really good until they were breathing the fresh air of the world outside this subterranean hell. Finally, they were in the cavern with the stone steps that would lead them to the safety of the outside world. They had made it halfway up the winding stairway when they felt the earth shake from the explosion far beneath them. Thian grabbed her hand and started running, literally pulling her up the stairs behind him.

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The cavern behind them was collapsing, folding into itself. The walls around them were splitting apart with large chunks of rock falling onto the stairs. They had just made it out to the ruins when a large chunk of limestone blocked the stairway. Quickly grabbing their camping gear, they left the ruins behind and ran along the trail to the car. They didn’t stop until they had emerged from the trees and were standing next to her Eclipse. Breathless, Samura looked back at the ruins. Part of it had crumbled, but the majority of it was still intact. Samura leaned heavily on the car hoping to catch her breath. “Do you think we got them?” “Yes. The elite were there but were expecting an attack to come from the sky and not from within the ground. They were caught unprepared I am sure.” Thian squinted against the bright mid-afternoon sun. The drive back to Santa Fe was uneventful. The announcer on the radio was rambling on about an earthquake that had shaken the four corners region. It was just as well that those of Earth did not know what had really taken place far below the surface, Samura thought. It was good for humankind to remain ignorant of the monsters that had dwelled below the surface of their world.

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CHAPTER TWELVE Stepping through the front door of her house, Samura was startled to find the Annunaki council woman, Oshira of the Enkis waiting for them. “You two have done a splendid job.” Oshira beamed. “Did you ever doubt it?” Thian smiled arrogantly. Oshira’s brows drew together. “I see that your time with the Adamu has done little to curb your enthusiasm for yourself.” Looking at Samura, Oshira smiled. “Now, you must be at Thian’s side when he finishes his mission.” Her attention went back to Thian. “The Draco Alliance has already received word of your deed. They are sending battleships. You must take the Zie force and meet them at the entry point of this sector.” Thian smiled. “I am glad it is time to take on the Draco Alliance, and this time it will be on my turf.” The room filled with the strangely glowing light with the green tinge to it, and the next instant they were all standing in a silver cylinder room. “Now we have been beamed.” Thian smiled at Samura who felt herself blush hotly. Part of the wall slid open to reveal a control room. Behind the large control panel was one of the gray aliens. Samura decided these servants of the Annunaki were like ghosts. They were always there, but rarely brought attention to their presence. “This is Thian’s ship … the Chimera,” Oshira explained. “I’ve been aboard once before,” Samura commented to the woman. “Oh yes, I nearly forgot.” Oshira’s eyes narrowed on Thian, letting him know that she had certainly not forgotten his recent transgression against the laws. The three of them exited the cylinder. “Are we to leave now for this entry point?” Samura inquired. “No, first we must return to Luna for a celebration of your victory over the Uras Reptilians, and the coming battle with the Draco Alliance,” Oshira told her. “Is there time for that?” Samura was worried. She wondered if they should waste time with frivolous activities when such a threat was on its way to Earth. “Do not fret,” Oshira soothed her. “We can afford to be idle for a day or two.” “We are far more advanced that the Reptilians. Their ships haven’t a chance against ours,” Thian assured her. “Has there been any word on my mother?” Samura asked Oshira who had become silent and thoughtful. At Samura’s question, Oshira frowned. “I am sorry, dear, we have not found any information yet, but we are still investigating.” An ugly thought occurred to Samura. What if her mother had been taken to that underground Reptilian base? She hoped that Thian was correct in his assessment that if the Reptilians had come after anyone, it would have been her and not her mother. “Samura will be my guest today. I will help her prepare for the celebration this evening,”

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Oshira informed them. “She has a double reason to celebrate as the council has decided that in light of your display of courage and honor, they will grant Ishmah a pardon.” Samura’s heart soared at this news. Would the being that was her true father finally let the sadness go from his heart now? **** Samura felt like Cinderella in some bizarre fairytale land. The gown she wore almost beggared description. The blue silky material sparkled with dazzling brilliance, setting off the blue of her eyes. The gown consisted of folds upon folds of gathered material that hung to her feet and even fanned out into a small train behind her. The Annunaki apparently had a great fondness for precious jewels and gold and there was no shortage of either. Around her neck hung a large cluster of sapphires, designed in the shape of the falcon’s wings. On her ears dangled a matching set of earrings. A cascade of black ringlets fell from the golden tiara that had been placed on her head. Oshira picked up on her confused thoughts. “Samura, do you not know that you are a princess? Ishmah is a son of the Royal House of Enki.” “Oh,” Samura said softly. She had not really thought of her father as a royal. Oshira spoke to her in a motherly tone. “Samura, you must assert your royal blood tonight. You do not want the Annunaki to forget you are a princess.” Samura could not help but wonder why her royal blood seemed to be so important to Oshira. She was finally ready to accompany Oshira to the celebration. The huge ballroom of the Grecian mansion had been empty when they had arrived earlier, but now it was teeming with people. It was no longer an ordinary ballroom. A hologram had been put into place to make it appear that they were upon fluffy white clouds with deep blue skies extending as far as the eye could see. Samura was amazed. “This is beautiful!” Oshira smiled. “The holographic illusions are quite commonplace in our culture.” Soothing music filled the air and several couples were dancing among the clouds. Oshira took her around and introduced her to so many people that she could not have possibly remembered them all. Most were Annunaki, but there were a few from different worlds. The Annunaki were easy to spot, appearing human in everyway except for their size and their eyes. They tended to be taller than humans and their eyes all seemed to retain a light of their own which gave the impression that they shone. Oshira introduced her to a man who was tall like the Annunaki, but was obviously a different species. He had long brown hair and a protruding forehead that reminded her of the Neanderthal. Samura barely had time to learn that his name was Asrey before Oshira had to excuse herself to tend to her other guests. Samura found herself standing next to the alien being unsure what to say. “Where are you from?” “I am from the planet Ordian in the star system Hextire.” She didn’t know what to say in response as she hadn’t the slightest idea where the star system Hextire was. “You know English very well,” she finally commented. He laughed. “I speak no English at all. You have a chip in your earrings that translates all languages to English in your brain,” he explained. She unconsciously reached up to touch one of the jewels that hung from her earlobe. “How does that work?”

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“The chip is on the stud in your flesh. From there it can send signals to your brain,” he explained. “If you don’t speak English then you must have one too, in order to understand me.” “Yes, mine is implanted in my brain.” She smiled. “How fascinating.” “Technology can seem nothing short of magic if you have never been exposed to it.” “So what do you do here on Luna?” “I am a doctor. I specialize in the Adamu. The Annunaki brought me here to care for the children.” “Why wouldn’t they use their own doctors?” “They have few that know the healthcare of the Adamu as I do. Mostly they are genetic scientists.” “They said they would return the children,” Samura informed him, guardedly. “They intend to after the Zie have defeated the Draco Alliance.” Samura frowned. “Those poor babies must be terrified.” “They have been made as comfortable as possible, and when they are returned, they will remember nothing,” he promised. Samura was a little angry that the children had not been returned yet, but she thought it might make sense to ensure the threat of the Reptilians was no longer a factor. “It is a shame that this war between the Annunaki and the Reptilians must continue. They have been warring for thousands of your Earth years.” Samura could no longer pay attention to his words. Thian had entered and his gaze sought hers. He looked magnificent in a blue silk suit with material that molded perfectly to his chiseled body. Long, blond hair rested on his wide shoulders and continued to flow down to the middle of his broad back. She felt her face grow hot as she remembered the scratches her nails had left on his back. With him was an older man who looked much like Thian, but with a subtle difference. He looked more arrogant and proud. Thian wasted no time in coming to her. He held out his hand to her, and when she placed her hand in his, he brought it up to his lips to kiss gently. “You are the brightest of all jewels in the heavens.” His eyes burned with an intensity that brought to mind the vision of his muscular body illuminated by the firelight, images of him thrusting into her, faster and harder. Stinging desire sent her juices flowing into her panties. Samura blinked, wondering if Thian had not, at least partially, put the thought into her head. His wicked smile told her that it had. “This is my father, Lord Elon.” He introduced the man who stood next to him, glowering at the two lovers. It was obvious to all present that there was something between the heir of the Enlils and the hybrid human. Lord Elon gave her a courtesy nod and then turned to his son. “I do believe that Princess Orea is here tonight. We must find her.” The man turned on his heels and left them standing there. Thian frowned. “I will see you soon,” he promised. “Don’t mind Lord Elon,” Asrey said when they were out of earshot. “He looks down on all those who are not Enlils, and especially those who are not Annunaki.” “Who is Princess Orea?” she asked. Already she could feel a knot tightening in her stomach. “The Princess Orea is of the Royal Enlils. As I understand it, she is also Thian’s intended

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bride. The Annunaki arrange their marriages many years in advance,” he enlightened her. “I see.” Samura smiled weakly. “Can I get you something to drink?” he offered. “Do they have Margaritas here?” “I’m sure we can have them stir up something similar.” “Then yes, I would like a drink. Thank you.” Samura’s gaze had followed Thian as he left her to seek out the Princess. It was not long before she spied him in conversation with a tall blonde woman. The silky silver dress the woman wore gave the illusion that her hair was the color of spun silver. Her blue eyes were frosty and unreadable. Thian took the woman’s hand in his and led her out into the illusionary clouds that covered the dance floor. They appeared to be in an intense conversation. Samura’s heart could take no more and she turned away. She was glad of the distraction when Asrey returned with her drink. Thanking him, she accepted the glass and took two large swallows. Asrey was speaking to her but her fogged mind could not quite grasp his words, she was too caught up in the misery that was threatening to crumble her whole world. He never promised anything but that one night, she reminded herself. “Would you care to dance?” She smiled. “Sure.” They found a little table where they could set their drinks and he led her into a dance that was very like a waltz. A moment later, Thian was cutting in. He wrapped one arm around her waist and clasping her hand, he twirled her through the clouds. He attempted to pull her closer, but she resisted. “You did not bother to tell me that you were spoken for,” she accused him. “It makes no difference. These things are set almost from birth.” His warm gaze had turned cold. “So I was little more than an amusement for a god,” she shot back angrily. “I had no right to know something as personal as your marriage plans?” A storm was brewing in his gray eyes and Samura found that his voice chilled her. “If that is what you choose to think, then so be it.” He left her standing in the middle of the clouds alone. Completely disillusioned, Samura returned to where she had left her drink. It was potent and the fog was already thickening around her consciousness. “Your claws did not sink as deep as you had hoped.” Samura spun around when she heard the catty female voice. A thousand curses flew through her mind, but she simply looked away from the princess as if she did not exist. “You will not step from your place, servant girl,” Orea hissed. “If you choose to defy me, you will lose someone who is very valuable to you.” Samura stiffened. “What are you talking about?” “Oh, think about it, little simpleton.” Orea’s smile was laced with poison. “What has gone missing in your life lately? You wouldn’t want any harm to come to the creature, would you?” Samura went rigid with fury and was saved from striking the princess only by Oshira’s timely appearance. The Enki woman gave the princess a strained smile. “I do hope that you are treating our princess as a princess of the Enlils expects to be treated.” Orea threw them a cutting look before stalking off.

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“She is a spoiled child.” Oshira attempted to sooth Samura. “She made a reference to my mother. I think she is behind my mother’s disappearance.” “Orea is fiercely jealous of anyone who is near Thian. If she perceives you as a threat then she could very well be responsible and thinking to use your mother as leverage.” “Can’t you arrest her on suspicion, or do something?” Samura’s voice shook with anger. Oshira shook her head. “In our world it is different from yours. She is of the Royal House of Enlil, the natural rival of the Enkis. To arrest her and accuse her of wrongdoing without solid proof we would be risking another civil war between the two houses.” Oshira tried to explain how impossible the situation was. “So what do I do? What if she hurts my mother?” “Play along for the moment. Now that I know where to direct our inquiry, we may get something on her.” Samura ground her teeth together in an effort to control her anger. Never in her life had she been in the grip of such an ugly rage. The princess had better stay clear for she would not think twice about throttling her. **** Samura lay in bed in the small room that was her quarters aboard the Chimera. She had been given a cabin that was about the size of a large closet. The room had a pull-out bed and wall compartments for clothing, but Samura had little to worry about in that regard. She had been aboard the battle cruiser now for the past two days, and she had yet to see Thian for more than a moment at a time, usually when passing him in the hall. He had abruptly turned cold toward her since the night of the celebration. Samura assumed this was due to the fact that his future wife was very close at hand now. She had to constantly remind herself that it didn’t matter and the only thing that really should concern her was getting through the next few days and securing her mother’s release. Drifting, she welcomed the long awaited numbness that sleep brought. Somewhere in the deepest niche of her mind was the music, a hollow, tinny sound at first, deepening, taking on vibrant tones. The music pulled at her, so persistent that she was sure that the melody would suck out the very marrow of her bones. Her will shattered into millions of pieces, leaving her with no more resistance to the song. She rose from her bed and followed the sound. The world wavered in a dreamlike state, but Samura could not be sure if her wandering was real, or the result of sleep-induced fantasy. The song was so close now that its pull on her was devastating to the soul. Just up ahead and through the blue crystal door, Samura entered the gel crystal to emerge into the stars. Among the billions of stars, he awaited her. He wore no clothing, revealing his male splendor to her burning gaze. With one finger he beckoned her to come closer. A tiny voice in her head warned her that she should resist, but she was powerless to do so. Her star lover would take her to the heights of the universe once more. How could she deny either of them this last time together? As soon as she was close enough, he pulled her against his naked flesh while his hands ripped at her nightclothes. Wherever his hands came into contact with her skin, it felt as if he were directing fire through his body into hers, causing a sweet burning sensation everywhere he touched. My beautiful moonflower, you will be mine for one more night, his mind whispered to hers. “But the princess….” Thian cut off her words. “Does not exist for us at this moment.”

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Picking her up in his arms, he carried her to a bed of black silk. Samura relished the softness of the material against her bare skin. His lips were on hers, and he was kissing her, setting fire to her body. His fingers parted the lips of her pussy to tease her clit until it was swollen and throbbing. His mouth left her lips to suckle at her breast, his tongue circling her nipple, sending flames of passion all the way down to her wet core. Whimpering, Samura could take no more, reaching up to entangle her fingers though his hair, she pulled him down to her hot, aching sex. Needing no more encouragement, Thian licked and teased her flesh until she burned and tingled at the same time. Gently, he slid a finger into her and began to love her with his finger while his tongue continued to send her to a red-hot mass of desire. Then his hands were on her hips, turning her over until her stomach rested against the silky bedding. Pulling at her hips, he positioned her so that he could gain entry to her body from behind. There was no warning before she was drowning in the sensation of his hot shaft sliding up inside of her. He pulled at her hips until he was buried as far in her as he could get without causing her pain. His hands moved her hips slowly in all the right ways, enabling him to savor the slick contours of her body along his hard shaft. “Give me more!” she told him breathlessly. At her command, he rammed his cock into her dripping, wet pussy. Pain and pleasure intermingled to bring her a feeling she had never known before. “Thian!” Samura cried out his name. Again and again his cock slammed into her hot pussy until she was screaming. Pure unadulterated hunger tore from her throat, her body building in heat until she felt she was in an inferno. Groaning, Thian told her, “You make me crazy, woman!” He was pumping her so hard from behind that she was could barely stay in position. Samura was slipping off the edge of the universe, spiraling into infinity. Letting out a deep groan, Thain stiffened. She could feel his seed spurting into her as he pulsated within her body. A persistent wailing cut through their erotic world of love to shatter the moment. Pulling away, Thian leaned down and kissed her. “I have to go.” It wasn’t until that kiss that Samura fully realized that she had not been dreaming. The holograph faded and she found herself in a room devoid of everything but the bed she lay on. Blinking against the harsh light, Samura left the bed to find her clothing. By the time she’d dressed, Thian was already clothed and heading out the door. “What is wrong?” she called out to him. “The Draco must have come through the rift.” “Oh,” Samura said before turning away from him. Returning to her side, Thian brought one hand down to lift her chin so that she was looking into his eyes. “It may have been wrong to bring you here tonight, but I cannot regret it,” he told her before brushing her lips with a final kiss. With those words, he was gone, leaving in his wake a void of cold emptiness. Quickly, Samura left the room to find her own cabin. She dressed in something more appropriate before making her way to the bridge where she found Thian viewing a screen with several Draco ships lined up in a semicircle. Though she knew that they were not alone and they had several Zie Fleet battle ships in formation behind them, the sight of the Draco was still terrifying. The ships were very odd.

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While the Annunaki ships resembled a falcon in flight, the Draco ships were shaped almost like a diamond. “Send a message that they should return the way they came.” Thian gave the order to one of the men on the bridge. Moments passed and there was no response from the Draco. “It would appear that these Draco will defy us.” Before Thian had finished speaking, a series of beams erupted from the lead Draco ship, striking them with a shattering blow. The Chimera shuddered, forcing Samura to grab a nearby panel to keep from falling. “Fire!” Thian yelled. The next seconds were a blur of exploding spacecraft filling the screen and their own ship jolting as if it were being ripped apart. It was too much, she could not stay on her feet and she hit the floor. Her skull struck something on the way down and her vision wavered with the pain that pierced her head. A dark fogbank smothered her consciousness to block out the terror of the moment. **** Samura’s eyes opened just wide enough to test for pain when the light entered. Relieved that her brain did not shatter in agony when it responded to light, she opened her eyes just a little wider. There was a moment of terror when she found one of the grays leaning over her, peering at her with those large glassy eyes. It touched her head with its long, willowy fingers and she was instantly calm. The creature moved out of her sight to be replaced by Thian’s shining gray eyes. He smiled. “You have finally awakened.” “What happened?” she asked, bringing one hand up to the place on her head that still throbbed. “You had an accident, but you will be fine.” Leaning down, Thian kissed her lips lightly. “Is it over?” she asked, already feeling her heart shattering into a million pieces. He nodded. “Now it is time for me to give you a gift … a gift I only wish I could bestow upon myself.” Samura eyed him curiously but said nothing. “We must say goodbye now.” His voice was heavy with sadness. “My gift to you will be that you will not remember, and if you don’t remember you will not grieve.” Though he continued to smile, she could see that he was struggling with his decision. “It is what is best for you.” Samura wondered if his words were meant to convince her, or himself. She formed the words on her lips to protest his decision, but he lifted his hand in a gesture to stop her. “Let us not make this more difficult than it is already. Just know in your heart that you are my love.” Thian’s eyes spoke of the misery that was in his heart. He kissed her one last time and then put an instrument against her forehead. Then there was nothing.

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN There was pressure on her eye as someone had forced her eyelid open. She was blinded by the pinpoint of light shining into her sight. Instinctively, Samura flung her arm to push away the intruder. “Looks like our sleeping beauty is coming out of it.” An unfamiliar female voice rang in her ears. The room wavered before coming into focus. Leaning over her was a balding elderly man in a white coat, just beyond him, Doctor Jordon looked on anxiously. “Where am I?” She forced the words out of her dry throat. Aaron was at her side. “You are at St. Anthony’s Hospital,” he said in a soft, calming voice. “Everything will be okay. You had a nasty fall.” She shook her head. “I don’t understand. What happened?” Samura tried to recall falling but the last thing she could remember was talking to Mike at St. Augustine Park. “When you weren’t answering your phone, your dad went to your house to find you unconscious in the hall. It looks as if you fell and hit your head.” Samura felt around the tender area of her head and there was a large goose egg to testify to the falling theory. It all made sense but still … something didn’t feel right, like there was information missing that should be there. “What’s today?” she asked. “July 2nd,” Aaron informed her. “Have I been out for three weeks?” she asked doubtfully. “Don’t you remember me visiting your house only a week and a half ago?” Aaron asked, suddenly sounding a little more concerned than he had been a moment before. “No, I don’t remember even going home from work the night that child was kidnapped from the park.” “You don’t remember visiting my office, or your mother going missing?” “My mother’s gone!” Samura sat up abruptly but her vision blurred and she was forced to lay back. “Don’t worry, your mother’s okay now,” he explained. “They found her wandering in the desert, but she doesn’t remember why she was there. “What about the kids, what is happening there?” “They were all found in a cave near here. They don’t remember what they were doing there either.” Satisfied that she was no longer in danger of losing consciousness again, she was left alone with her thoughts. None of what they told her made sense, but she just could not remember. Everything was a blank from that night in the park, but there were vague shadows, flashes that tried in vain to struggle to the surface of her mind. **** The house was dark and stuffy, prompting Samura to open windows and curtains. It had not been a simple task to convince the medical staff of the hospital that she was fit to be released. She had no idea how long she’d lain unconscious in the hall before her father had found her. She

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did not even remember coming home. There was a vague memory of talking to someone in the park that night, but each time she tried to grasp the image, it would fade away. Aaron had come to the conclusion that she was suffering a bout of amnesia. There was no way of telling when or even if she would regain that lost time. They would not release her to return to work, not until more tests could be run to insure that there was not something else contributing to her lost memory. The captain had paid a visit to her while she was in the hospital to inform her that she had to be put on a three-month leave. Samura wondered what she would do with so much free time. She had already stopped by to see her parents before coming home. Doreen still appeared a little confused about her missing time, but had put it out of her mind as much as possible and was now trying to live as if nothing had happened. Her father was acting very strangely though. He had mentioned her “boyfriend” a couple of times and when Samura had asked him what he meant, he had looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. Mathew simply dropped the subject, contributing her lack of memory to her head injury. This had been okay with Samura as she really didn’t feel like groping around for memories that just were not there. Even when she was not trying to remember, there was still the uneasy sense that something just wasn’t right. She was filled with a feeling of loss and sadness. Switching on the TV, Samura walked into the kitchen for a drink of water. Over the sound of the running water she could make out the monotone voice of a male newscaster. “There is still no word of the several high profile personalities from around the world who have gone missing in recent days. And in further news, scientists are still baffled by the strange earthquake that was centered in northwestern New Mexico….” The newscaster’s voice faded from her hearing as a misty memory tried to reach to the front of her mind. It was no use. She could not make it solid enough to seize it. It was like the more she tried to remember, the more it faded away. Her days passed quietly, one differing little from the next. She would have liked to think that she was getting better but reality did not reflect that. She was no closer to remembering her lost time than she had been the day she got out of the hospital, and she would breakdown at the most bizarre moments. One day she had found a lizard on her porch and had been consumed with such a deep and unreasonable terror that she was sure that if anyone had known, she would be back in the hospital. On another occasion she had burst into tears at the sight of a couple walking hand in hand down the street. She knew it would be a good idea to share her feelings with Aaron, but was afraid that would only give the department further excuse to extend her leave of absence. The only real comfort she had found was curling up on the couch to watch her favorite science fiction shows. When she was in their make-believe world she did not have to feel or try to remember. As she was doing right now, she let her mind rest while she followed the adventures of the characters on the screen. The ringing of the phone shattered her escape. “Hello.” She spoke into the phone absently, sounding as if she was not all there. “Hi, honey, what are you doing tonight?” Doreen asked, with a forced note of cheeriness in her voice. “Nothing, just watching TV.” Samura made herself ready for the burst of disapproval she was sure was on its way.

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“Your dad and I were on our way to the county fair and were just thinking how nice it would be if we could go as a family.” Samura groaned inwardly. She knew that escaping to the TV was not healthy, but she really didn’t feel like a night of crowds. “I don’t know, Mom. I really don’t feel up to it.” “Oh, come on now! It will be fun, just like when you were a little girl. You haven’t done anything with us for ages,” the older woman prodded. Flashes of sweet memory brought a smile to Samura’s lips. How fun were those trips to the county fair, the rides, cotton candy and clowns. They were among the few occasions that she could remember her father being truly carefree and jolly. “Okay, Momma, I guess you’re right.” “Great, we’ll pick you up in an hour.” Doreen’s relief rang through in her voice. After hanging up, Samura rushed to shower and get ready. Since leaving the hospital she had rarely ventured from the house unless it was to go to the grocery store or to visit her parents. Even trips to the ranch had diminished. For some reason she just didn’t have the heart to do much of anything these days. Maybe tonight would change all that. There was a need in her to go back to a simpler time, when life was easy and there were no mysteries. She had just finished drying her hair when there was a knock at the front door and she grabbed a light sweater before opening it. “Hurry,” her mother urged, “we don’t want to be too late to see the clowns.” Doreen had remembered that the clowns had always been one of Samura’s favorite parts of the fair. Smiling, Samura closed the door and followed her mother to the car. The short ride to the fairgrounds was awkward at best. Her parents were obviously very worried about her though they said nothing. Mathew pulled his old Ford station wagon into the makeshift parking lot, which was nothing more than a field that had been roped off. The crowd had already reached a peak and it took him a few moments to find a place to park. Walking toward the front gates of the fair’s entrance was reminiscent of days gone by, when she would be bubbling with excitement to get in. Holding her head high, she was determined to have fun tonight. Once they were through the entrance, Samura spotted the clown act and motioned her parents to follow her. The clowns were tall and short, fat and skinny. Their painted on smiles and merry eyes brought a grin to her face. The hordes of children surrounding the clowns were as enthralled with their acts of silliness as was she. One short, thin clown with a red wig walked up to Samura and handed her a balloon that he’d shaped into an animal. There was something about the clown that sent tendrils of alarm through her body. She could not put a finger on what it was. If it was because he was a little too short, his eyes were different … she could see no whites where they should have been, just a total and complete blackness. No longer enchanted by the clowns, Samura pointed to the Ferris wheel. “Look, let’s go take a ride on it.” To her parents it made no difference what they did as long as she was out enjoying herself. Samura and her mother went on the ride first while her father stood below taking pictures. When the ride was over, he handed the camera to Samura so that he and Doreen could take a turn. Samura felt almost lighthearted while she snapped pictures of her parents on the ride.

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When they left the ride, Mathew slapped Samura on the back. “I’m in the mood for a Coney Island Dog for supper. How about you?” “Sounds great, let’s go find something to eat.” The trio fought their way through the crowds down lanes of carnival games and popcorn stands. In the midst of the commotion was a black striped tent with a sign above that claimed that the fortune-teller within could predict your future. Samura found that her eyes were drawn to the entrance of the tent. Could they also tell me of my past? The thought would not loosen its hold on her and she found herself looking over her shoulder at the tent even after they had passed it. “Mom, Dad, you go ahead and I’ll catch up. I want to check out something,” she told them. Shrugging their shoulders, they continued on. Samura waited until they were out of sight before she turned back to the tent’s entrance. She stepped in to find herself in a small, dim reception area. It was too dark to make out any details, the only light being a small, flickering electric candle. Even the candle is fake, she thought cynically. At that point she nearly turned around and left, but a tall blonde woman came through the red velvet curtain that separated the reception area from the fortune-teller’s workspace. The woman was middle-aged, dressed in a blue silk gown with her shoulders wrapped by a dark shawl. Her blonde hair was piled high atop her head and she peered at Samura with startling blue eyes. “Hello, Samura.” Samura was shocked. “How do you know my name?” “I know a great deal about you,” the fortune-teller said as she was motioning to the back room. “Come with me and we will talk.” Samura was undecided. The fact that the woman had known her name was unnerving, as were the woman’s eyes. The eyes stirred a memory in her, misty wisps that she could not solidify. Taking a deep breath, Samura followed her through the curtain to find herself in a room lit only by an oil lamp that sat on a round table in the middle of the floor. Here a crystal ball stood next to the lamp. “Sit, please.” The woman motioned to the chair opposite her. Samura complied reluctantly. “I’m not sure why I came. Just curious I guess.” She laughed nervously. “Nonsense, child, you came in search of your heart.” Samura was unsure what to make of the comment so she ignored it. The woman peered into the ball, squinting as if she were straining to see something that was within her reach only. “I see the moon,” the woman mumbled. “The moon!” Samura repeated after her, not quite getting it. “The moon and the music holds the answers that you search for.” The fortune-teller looked at her with a knowing smile. “That’s all you can tell me?” Samura felt a little disappointed, unsure of what she had actually expected. “Yes, it is all I can help you with. You must search your heart for the memories that elude your mind.” Again, she was stunned that the woman appeared to know what it was that she was

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seeking answers for, but the rest of it didn’t make any sense. Putting a five-dollar bill into the woman’s palm, Samura rose to leave and was already turned away, but the woman’s last words stopped her. “Beware of the enemy that lurks in the shadows.” Samura swung around to question the woman’s words but she was gone, vanished into thin air. Shaking, Samura moved through the curtain to run into someone who was just entering. “Excuse me,” Samura muttered. A dark-haired woman with brown eyes stared at her in surprise. “Well, hello, I am Madame Zelda. Have you come to have your fortune read?” “No, I just did,” Samura said, rushing to leave the tent. “That is impossible, miss. I have been on break and could not have read fortunes as I was not here.” “No.” Samura shook her head. “Some blonde woman just read my fortune.” Madame Zelda parted the curtains to peer into the room. Turning back to Samura she spoke in a suspicious tone. “Why, miss, there is no one in there.” “Yes, I know. She just disappeared.” Samura cringed at her own utterances. The word, schizophrenia kept echoing through her head. Madame Zelda eyed Samura curiously. “Are you okay?” “Yes, I’m sorry. I must be going.” Samura ran out of the tent and as far away as she could get before stopping for a breath. While standing in the middle of the crowd, her parents spotted her. Walking up next to her, Doreen handed her a Coney Island Dog and a soft drink. “We were wondering if you’d decided to skip supper.” The rest of the evening was marred by her experience at the fortune-teller’s tent. It was just one more thing to add to the list of reasons why she should confide in Aaron. She had resisted up until now, hoping it was all just a quirk that would go away in time. She was no longer sure that was the case. **** Samura stood on the front lawn and watched the taillights of the station wagon disappear down the road. Stepping onto her front porch, she fumbled with the house keys wondering why she had not thought to leave the porch light on. As soon as she stepped into the dark living room, she was confronted with the sickening, putrid sweet odor of natural gas. Backing back out of the house, she walked several feet down the street before she dialed 911 on her cell phone. There she stayed until emergency personnel arrived. Shutting off the gas line, they opened all the windows and both doors. Still, she was told she had to wait awhile before entering the house.

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN Samura stood over the technician who was examining the leak in her gas line. She waited for some kind of clue as to what had happened, shuddering to think of what would have been the result if she’d refused her parents’ invitation to go with them to the fair. She could have fallen asleep on the couch, never to wake again. Samura hoped the technician knew what he was doing. He was cute, with sandy blond hair and pale blue eyes, but had the manner of a boy just out of school. “Have you figured it out?” “Well, ma’am, it looks like the line going to your furnace was cut and the pilots on your water heater and furnace extinguished.” “Really!” Samura drew her brows together not quite sure she understood his meaning. “In other words,” he continued, “it looks as if someone purposely cut the lines and meant for the house to fill with gas.” “I see,” Samura muttered, already deep in thought and trying to decipher the significance of the evidence. “If I were you, I would call the police,” he offered. “I am the police,” she told him off-handedly. “Well, that might explain it then.” He smiled. “Tell your superiors that you may have a very cranky con on your hands.” The repairman left after fixing the line and Samura promised to report the incident to her captain. Thinking she would stop by the station on her way to pick up a pizza, Samura grabbed her car keys and left. This time she was very careful to ensure that all windows and doors were secured, even though she was sure that they had been the day before. She had barely brought the car up to the speed limit of forty miles per hour when the front end began to shimmy and shake as if it were ready to fall apart. Easing the car to the side of the road, Samura got out, hoping to find out the cause of the shaking. At first glance there was nothing evident that would cause the car the to shake, but on closer examination it was obvious what the problem was. Someone had loosened the lug nuts that held on the front tires. One or two were even missing, probably lost on the road somewhere. Beware of the enemy who lurks in the shadows! The fortune-teller’s voice whispered in her ear. Someone was trying to kill her, but who and why? A police cruiser pulled up behind her and an officer she knew well got out. “How’s it going, Sam,” the tall, dark officer asked with a sensual smile. Ted had been chasing her for years, and at this moment she was very glad to see him. “I don’t know … the lug nuts are loose.” She pointed to the front tire. “Wow, you’re lucky you pulled up. If you lost one of these tires you would probably have rolled her,” he said while leaning down to examine the tire. “I have a jack, can you help me tighten these up?” “Sure, where’s it at?”

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Samura pulled the keys out of the ignition and walked to the back of the car to open the trunk. After jacking up the front end, they pushed the tires in and let the car down slowly. Once on the ground, Ted was able to tighten the nuts and secure the tires. “Don’t drive too far without replacing the lost nuts,” he advised. “I won’t.” She smiled. “Thanks so much, Ted. You’ve been a great help.” “Good enough for a date?” “Maybe,” she offered. “Call me.” “Sounds like a deal to me.” His features were brightened by a smile. “Will you be okay now?” “Yes, I think so.” “Okay then, I’ll call you,” he promised. Ted waited until Samura had pulled the car back on the road before leaving. She was a lot more shaken up over the incident than she had let Ted see. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel tightly. Someone was definitely trying to kill her and her instincts told her it had something to do with her missing memories. What if she had actually been attacked in her home instead of falling? What if her assailant was now out to finish the job? As she had promised, she stopped at the station to report the incidents to the captain, but before she’d made it to the front doors, Aaron intercepted her. “How you feeling, Sam?” Samura eyed him cautiously. Could Aaron be doing this stuff to convince her she was crazy? Again she dismissed the thought as absurd, merely the product of paranoia. “I’m feeling a little better,” she told him. “Any memory of your missing time yet?” She shook her head. “No nothing at all.” He brought one hand up to run fingers through his brown beard. “Interesting that your mother and the kids don’t remember they were abducted either.” Samura was silent, delving into her own thoughts. “You’re right, it is strange,” she said finally. “A specialist has tried regression therapy on a couple of the kids, but without results. It’s as if the time that they were missing just doesn’t exist to them.” Samura was thoughtful. “Can I tell you something in strict confidence? I wouldn’t want it getting back to my parents. It would only worry them.” “Sure, walk with me to my car.” Aaron linked his arm with hers. “I think someone has been trying to kill me,” she blurted out. The doctor stopped and stared at her in amazement. “What makes you think that?” She quickly gave him the details of what had happened and waited for his reaction. “Are you sure you’re okay, Sam?” He paused. “I mean … are you absolutely sure you could not be doing these things yourself during blackouts?” The thought had never occurred to her. “Could I be?” She wrinkled her forehead. “It’s a possibility, considering the missing time you already have. We don’t know that it isn’t reoccurring and you don’t remember what you are doing.” After considering his words, Samura shook her head in denial. She just couldn’t accept that explanation. “I just don’t think that is what is happening.” “Well, do you have any enemies, anyone who would want to see you dead?”

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Samura shook her head slowly. She just couldn’t think of anyone that stood out. There was always the influx of drug dealers who were angry about getting busted, or the occasional lunatic who was beating his wife and really perturbed that a woman cop had sent him to jail, but they usually ended up being idle threats. “Maybe you should go out and stay with your parents for a few days,” he advised. “That would serve two purposes. It would have someone at hand to keep an eye on you just in case,” he held up his hand, anticipating her protest, “and it would make it more difficult if someone is trying to do you in.” “It could also put them in danger,” she added. “Well, I could admit you to the hospital. That would add some measure of security to your situation … just until we know what is going on.” It was obvious to Samura that Aaron thought she was behind the mischief. “Aaron, I know what you’re thinking, and I’m telling you--my gut tells me it’s someone else.” “All right.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “You call me if there are anymore problems.” “I will.” “Do you promise?” he pressured her. “Cross my heart and hope to die.” She held up one hand as if she were making a vow. “Okay then, I will see you soon.” After he had gone, Samura no longer felt good about reporting the occurrences to her captain. Suppose he thought the same thing that Aaron had? She was in danger and had no place to turn. What could she do? Samura refused to put her parents in danger, no matter if the culprit was internal or external, and Aaron had already told her his thoughts. Who else was there she could turn to? Deciding that the best course she could take was to be vigilant, Samura left the station without seeing her captain. Right now she had to be so careful of what the department thought of her emotional and mental health, and to report something like this, she just might need a little more proof, solid evidence that pointed to a third party. With nothing left for her to do but wait and watch, Samura stopped at the video rental store to pick up a couple of new releases and then got herself an order-out pizza. It would be another night alone, watching TV, but at least it was something that made her feel safe. By the time she returned home, the afternoon shadows were deepening, spreading from her front lawn to cover the house with gloomy darkness. Samura unlocked the door and entered the house with caution. This time, she had left the lights on so that she wouldn’t be caught by surprise in the dark. Nothing moved, nothing appeared to be out of place. Relieved, she put the pizza and DVDs on her kitchen table and did a quick check of the rest of the house. Satisfied that no one had been creeping around while she’d been out, she sat down to eat her dinner. The pizza tasted like cardboard, bringing to mind her mother’s homemade potpie. Samura could almost not wait until Sunday dinner as she chewed on the dry pizza. Finished, she poured a glass of soda and brought it and a movie into the living room. After putting on the movie, she sat back on the couch to enjoy a little escape time. A half-hour into the movie and she could no longer keep her eyes open. Samura surrendered to the comfort of deep sleep. As the outside world blinked out, a surreal world of green mist took over. It glowed as if alive and it was everywhere, wrapping around her neck, cutting off her breath.

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Clutching at her throat, Samura’s eyes flew open. All the lights in the house were blinking on and off, the stereo was on and changing channels at will and the TV was turning on and off. Her terrified mind took all this in as she realized that she was choking to death. Something was tightening around her neck, it continued to constrict, cutting off precious oxygen. With both hands she reached up and pulled at the thing depriving her of air. Just barely able to get her fingers beneath the material, she pulled until it began to loosen. Gasping and choking, Samura fought for air. Trembling, she pulled the noose from her throat to discover it was no more than her table runner, the same table runner that had been sitting underneath a vase of flowers on a mahogany stand in her hall. The electronics in the house had now settled on simple white noise, and the lights had ceased their blinking. Samura threw the white lace material to the floor and was on her feet, backing away. What just happened was impossible … unless she had been hallucinating. Unless Aaron was right and she was subconsciously trying to commit suicide. No, it couldn’t have been her. The lights, the TV, the stereo all lay testimony to some outside force, and it sure wasn’t a disgruntled convict out to get her. She felt as if someone watched her, as if the walls had eyes. It was too much. It was simply time to take Aaron’s advice and go out to the ranch. Locking up the house, Samura grabbed her car keys and handbag. Outside, she pulled a flashlight from under the driver’s seat and went around checking the car’s tires. Satisfied that the same tactic had not been employed again, she got in the car and drove into the night. Her thoughts were going a thousand miles an hour. She didn’t understand the paranormal, and she didn’t believe in it, but what had happened was not explainable. Something was out to kill her and she didn’t think it was human, at least not any human she’d ever encountered. The darkness closed in around the car. Since turning onto the highway leading out to her parent’s ranch, there hadn’t been another car in sight. An image flashed before her eyes of her pistol sitting on top of her bedroom closet shelf. Damn! Why didn’t I think to bring it? Because your enemy is not human, the thought jumped into her head. Pulling onto the ranch road, she was alarmed to see the house in complete darkness. A quick glance at the digital clock on her dashboard told her it was still early and nowhere near time for her parents to be in bed. Parking, Samura turned off the engine and got out of the car. Her steps faltered and she stopped to stare at the dark house. In the grip of apprehension, she began to shake. What if it has already got to my parents? A gust of wind stirred the leaves of the nearby oak trees. Somewhere she heard the bark of a coyote and she shivered. Something was wrong. She could feel it in every fiber of her being. She grabbed the flashlight and switched it on. Not only would she be glad for the extra light but at least she would have something in her hand to crack an attacker on the head. The wooden stairs leading up the front porch creaked loudly beneath her weight, much louder than she ever remembered. Of course, she knew this was the atmosphere sending her imagination into overtime, but it was still unsettling. She tried the door and found it unlocked. Stepping into the house, she called out, “Mom, Dad! Are you awake?”

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All was quiet but the ticking of a clock in a nearby room. Samura started switching on lights. Stepping into the kitchen, she knew instantly that something was terribly wrong. The overhead light illuminated the room and all that was within it. On the table was a half-eaten meal. The coffee maker on the counter was still on and it had burnt coffee at the bottom. No way would her mother have left the kitchen like this. Turning on her heels she ran up the stairs to her parent’s bedroom. It was as empty as the rest of the house. No sign of them. It was as if they had simply vanished in the middle of having supper. Returning to the kitchen, she picked up the phone to call the sheriff but found no dial tone. The phone was out. Running back out to the car, she grabbed her handbag and rummaged through it until she found her cell phone. Switching it on, she was astonished to see that there was no signal at all. She’d never had problems with it working out here. She switched it on and off a couple times and moved to a different location. Still there was no signal. There was nothing left for her to do but to drive back into town and contact the sheriff. Going back into the house, she turned off the coffee pot, but left everything else the way she’d found it, with one exception. She switched the porch light on. Ready to go, she turned the key in the ignition, her heart leapt in terror when the car only whined. She tried again but it still would not start. Running back to the house she located the keys to the station wagon and found it parked on the side of the house near one of the barns. She received the same results with it as she had her car. Okay … something is very, very wrong! She was in a nightmare and could not wake up. She needed a gun. Where are my dad’s guns? She left the car and was going to return to the house but something else caught her attention. She couldn’t hear any of the sounds that she’d grown used to on the ranch. She had not seen the cattle out in the pasture, and her dad’s gray mare usually whinnied when she heard someone, but all had been silent. With flashlight in hand, she walked cautiously around the barn to the pasture where the mare would have been. On first inspection, there seemed to be nothing amiss aside from the absence of the horse. She had to bite off a scream when the beam of the flashlight rested on the stiff corpse of her father’s horse. Opening the gate to the coral, she stepped closer to get a better look. Gasping, Samura had to turn away. This must be what a cattle mutilation looked like. From what she could see, its eyes were gone, as were its innards. She was shaking so badly that she nearly lost her grip on the flashlight. A high-pitched whining brought her back to the moment. The bright light of a craft hovered in the sky above the pasture. Her head was pounding as flashes of memory burst before her eyes like a red flashing warning light. Nothing she could grasp, just pictures. Snakes, reptiles, slithering tongues and yellow-green eyes. Suffocating darkness wrapped itself around her, carrying her away to a void.

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN Samura’s eyes fluttered open to see the expanse of a starry sky. Leaning over her was a silver-haired beauty, a woman so lovely as to defy nature. Memory touched at her mind, shattering memories that brought a sob ripping from her throat. A god, as mighty as legend but as gentle as a breeze. Silver-gray eyes that had looked on her with such longing, such immense love. A muscular body leaning over her, taking her to a heavenly paradise. “Thian!” she called out. But was he real or the residue of a dream? The woman’s eyes--Princess Orea’s eyes--flashed angrily. “You shall die for defying me. You--an Adamu--to covet what is mine,” she hissed. “You will not get away with this,” Samura warned. She remembered now. With every second that passed, more and more of her memory returned. “I will of course, as it will appear as if the Reptilians are responsible.” The princess smiled triumphantly. Samura reached up, grabbed a handful of Orea’s hair and yanked her down until she was eye level with her. “Where are my parents, you bitch?” Orea’s hand came down and struck Samura in the face. Her vision blurred momentarily as the woman was much stronger than the average human female. Rolling away, Samura sprung to her feet, and with one high kick, she hit Orea in the jaw and sent her sprawling. The princess lay dazed on the ground, but not for long. She was soon on her feet, seething. “Now you will die a very painful death, slave.” A bright flash of light caught both women off-guard. Thian stepped from the darkness, and with him were Ishmah and Oshira. Samura’s mouth fell open as she realized that Oshira had been the fortune-teller at the fair. “Do you dare harm a princess of the Enkis?” Oshira’s voice quivered in anger at the arrogant Enlil princess. “Don’t be absurd, she is an Adamu.” Orea’s chin rose in defiance. “Wrong, she is my daughter and recognized as Princess Samura,” Ishmah informed her. “And you are in serious trouble.” “She has my parents,” Samura told them. “Yes, we know,” Thian said as he stepped forward. “We have been watching. We were just waiting for her to give herself away.” Oshira stepped forward and put a hand on Samura’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about anything. Go to sleep, Samura and we will take care of everything.” Samura was already feeling drowsy, drugged. All their voices came from far away. “Samuraaaa.” It was Oshira’s voice, but she was so far away. “It is your choice.” The words were like echoes in the wind. **** The sound of children’s laughter vibrated through her pounding head. Her eyes flew open and she nearly fell off the couch in her haste to get up.

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Everything was as it had been when she’d settled in to watch her movies the night before. Judging from the noise outside, and the position of the sun that beat in between the cracks of the blinds, she knew it must be nearly noon. The details of her disturbing dream came back to her with the force of a freight train. Or had it been a dream? Was Thian and everything she remembered about him, a dream? It must be. If it hadn’t been a dream, why was it she woke up in her own home instead of the pasture? The realization that it had all been a dream, Thian, Luna and the Annunaki, sent shards of pain into her heart. In her dream she remembered him, but had he been any more real than the dream last night? Just to quench her curiosity, she peered through the slits of the blinds. Sure enough, her Eclipse sat in the driveway. So it had all been a dream, maybe even the memories were a dream that had played itself out in her mind while she lay unconscious in the hospital. She thought of calling her parents but thought better of it. If she went rambling on about dreams and UFOs, they’d call Doctor Jordon. It was Sunday. She’d go out there and see for herself that everything was normal. Her morning coffee helped to wake her up but did little to ease the pain in her heart. The emotions were very intense for a dream. How could a mere dream cause so much emotion? A hot shower helped to ease some of the tension in her muscles, but her neck was tender as was her cheek. Leaving the shower, she used a towel to wipe away the steam from the bathroom mirror. Leaning closer, she examined her face. There was a slight bruise mark on her cheek. Her fingers strayed down to her neck where her fingers outlined two bruises around her throat. Her heart leapt. Was there even the slightest possibility that it had not been a dream? Was it possible that he had been real all along? Had she gotten these marks the way she remembered getting them, or was it a product of thrashing around in her sleep? There was only one way to find out. She would go out to the ranch. The Annunaki might be able to clean up a mess pretty good, but she doubted they could bring the mare back to life. Samura dressed and practically paced the floors until it was time to go to Sunday dinner. In one way, she hoped that all was well and she would find the horse grazing in the pasture as she always was at this time of day, but on the other hand that would mean it had all been some made-up fantasy and the man was not real. **** As soon as she parked the car in front of the ranch house she wanted to run out behind the barn and see the horse, but she controlled the impulse. If it was all fantasy she would phone the doctor herself. She didn’t want to worry her parents. Stepping through the front door, she called out to her mother. “Mom, are you here?” “Well, of course I’m here. Where else would I be,” Doreen yelled from the kitchen. Her parents were back where they belonged. This at least, she could be grateful for. In the kitchen she found her mom opening the oven to check on the potpie. “You’re a mite early,’ Doreen said over her shoulder. “Yeah, I was restless.” “Well, supper should be done in a few minutes and your dad will be in. Can’t see no reason we can’t eat a bit early.” Doreen peered at her daughter over the wire rim of her glasses. “Are you feeling okay?”

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Lorraine Kennedy

91

“Yes, Momma. Just didn’t sleep well last night.” “Well, you and me both,” Doreen grumbled. “Why’s that?” Doreen waved away the question with her hand. “Oh, nothing,” she mumbled. Samura could hear her father cursing even before he entered the back door. He had obviously not had a good day. “Hello, baby girl.” Mathew’s mood lightened a little. “Have a bad day, Daddy?” He eyed her speculatively and then shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, you could say that. Found the gray dead this morning.” “Mathew!” Doreen yelped. “Oh, Doreen, what are you thinking?” He raised his voice at his wife. “She’s a grown woman now, not a child. Hell, she’s a cop to boot.” “Still, I don’t know if she should hear the horrid details.” “What’s going on?” Samura looked from one of them to the other. “Just the mutilations starting up again.” Doreen’s voice shook with anxiety. Now I know. It wasn’t a dream. “I wouldn’t worry too much. It was probably just animals.” She tried to reassure her parents. She knew it would not happen again to them, but how could she tell them how she knew? “Oh, it’s more than just the mare,” Doreen put in. “We sat down to have dinner at our regular time and next thing we knew it was late at night … near morning. Now how did that happen?” “Doreen.” Mathew shook his head. “I think you must have mistaken the time and served dinner late.” Doreen didn’t respond but merely grumbled under her breath. The rest of the evening passed pleasantly. Samura felt lighthearted just knowing it had all been real … he was real. Dinner was over and she helped her mother clean up. After putting the last plate in the cupboard she said, “Don’t worry, Momma. It won’t start up all over again.” “I hope you’re right.” “I am.” She put her arm around her mother to offer comfort. “I’ve got to go. I have something I need to do.” “What’s that?” Doreen’s brows drew together. “Don’t worry, I’ll call you tomorrow. Tell Daddy I’ll talk to him later,” she told her mom as she was leaving. This time she’d break the ritual of sitting on the front porch, she had someone to find. **** The more she thought of him, the more he became a flesh and blood man, no longer a wavering image. She could feel his touch, his sensual lips against her own. Their memory tricks had not worked this time. This time instead of forgetting, she was remembering everything. Where could she go to find him? This was the part that had her stumped. Whenever she glanced up to the sky, a full moon hung there like an old friend looking out for her. The moon! That was it! The thought was exciting until she realized there was no way she was getting to the moon. She had no spacecraft to fly her around the galaxy, and she certainly had no transporter to beam her up there.

SONG OF THE ANNUNAKI

Lorraine Kennedy

92

Feeling deflated, she drove toward the only place she could think of. Black Mesa. Hadn’t they said something about Black Mesa being a UFO hot spot? Maybe there was something about the area to make it easier to communicate with them? Maybe it was one of those gateways? Samura pulled off onto the same dirt road and followed it all the way to the mountain. Putting the car into park, she sat there, unsure of what to do next. Finally, she got out of the car, thinking that she would simply do what she’d done on the first occasion that she’d called him. Samura stared up at the moon, wondering where he was. What if he were no longer even in this solar system? After all, wasn’t his job done? Pushing the thought away, she stared at the moon and concentrated. “Thian, where are you?” The moments passed and there was nothing. Again she called out to him, but with the same result. There was not even so much as a hint, his essence did not touch her mind. This time she could not feel him out there. Dejected, she tried one more time. Crying out with her heart. “Thian, I love you. I need you. Don’t leave me,” she pleaded, half sobbing. Samura closed her eyes to help fight back the tears. “Moonflower … do not cry.” He spoke in a voice so soft that she could not be sure it was not the wind playing tricks on her mind. Her eyes flew open and he stood there, his arms offered to her. She flew into his arms, sure there had never been a more joyous experience in her life than to feel his arms wrap around her in that moment. He held her so tightly that she could feel the beat of his heart against her body. “I thought I would never see you again. That you had gone forever,” she cried. “That would never happen,” he said before claiming her lips in a kiss that said more than his words could. She could almost taste the emotion on his warm lips. Never had she felt more loved than she did at that moment, with his arms wrapped around her. “I love you, Thian. I cannot live without you.” “You do not have to. I will do anything to be at your side. I will defy the council,” he vowed. “Why did you not come to me before now?” she asked with tears in her eyes. “I did a very foolish thing by taking your memory. I thought it would be better than living with the memory of what we could not have,” he explained. “But once it was done, I realized I could not live without you. What could I do? You could not love me if you didn’t remember me.” “You did not help me remember?” She was astonished, for she had been sure he had been responsible for curing her amnesia. “No, I could not do that or I would have long before now. If there had been any sign that you had remembered last night, I would have taken you in my arms then.” “I did remember some of last night. How come they didn’t take my memory again?” “I thought they did.” “No, I thought it was all a dream, but I remembered everything.” Samura pulled away to look up at him. “By the way, why was she trying to kill me?” “Once I had sent you back here, I confronted her about your mother and made her return her. Also, I refused to marry her.” “Oh, so she thought I was out of the way?”

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Lorraine Kennedy

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He nodded. “She played into our hands. It would have been difficult to get her unless we caught her in the act.” “It was like being haunted by a ghost.” She shuddered at the memory. “I love you, my sweet moonflower.” He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her lips, her neck. “I missed you so much.” Tears pooled in her eyes blurring her vision. “I love you so much, Thian,” she whispered. An unpleasant thought intruded on her happiness. Their love was forbidden by the laws of the Annunaki. “What will we do? How can we be together?” “Do you care if I live here with you?” he asked with a smile. “Would you do that … for me? Live on Earth among humans?” “I would live anywhere, if it meant I could wake each morning to your beautiful eyes.” Samura’s body was trembling at his nearness. She had to have him, now. His stiff cock pressed hard against her hip, evidence that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. “Make love to me, here … now,” she breathed in his ear. Thian’s answer was a lusty groan. Lifting her into his arms, he carried her to the car and sat her on the hood. He hiked her skirt up and yanked off her panties. Freeing him from his clothing, Samura wrapped one hand around his cock, stroking him while she cupped his balls in the other hand, gently squeezing them. Thian groaned when she brought the head of his cock up to her wet slit and began using him as a toy to massage her clit until she thought she would die from the erotic sensation. She was so wet … so hot for him. A scream tore from her throat. “Do it, Thian! Please … I need you so badly!” With that, he plunged into her and she wrapped her legs around his hips, pulling him even deeper into her yearning pussy. Thian growled his approval. Grabbing a handful of her hair, he yanked her head back to expose her neck. Samura felt his warm mouth on her throat while his free hand ripped her blouse from her body. His fingers pulled and twisted her erect nipples. The pain was tantalizing beyond imagination. Thian moved his cock in and out of her slowly at first, letting her build up to where he wanted her. He was driving her into a frenzy of maddening lust and just as she was sure that she would explode with frustration, he began to thrust faster and harder. “Thian!” she cried out as she felt the heat consume her body. Her orgasm did not subside before he was sending her into a whirlwind of passion again. His moans became louder than hers, and with one last, violent thrust, Thian stiffened and released his cum into her waiting cunt. When it was over, he stayed within her and continued to hold her close. “Now what shall we do?” Breathless, Samura’s words sounded more like gasps. “We will face the council together. Will you do that for me?” “I would face the wrath of a thousand gods and the whole of the Draco Alliance to be with you,” she told him truthfully. He pulled her closer and she found immense contentment in his arms. The love she felt for him was pure magic. Up until now, she had not experienced anything that even came close to this feeling.

SONG OF THE ANNUNAKI

Lorraine Kennedy

94

CHAPTER SIXTEEN Samura did not miss the joy in Oshira’s eyes when she and Thian entered the council chambers. It dawned on her that bringing her and Thian together might have been Oshira’s motive from the beginning. As nervous as she was, Samura could not help but feel some comfort from Oshira, the Enki elder. She knew that she and Thian had a friend in her, if with no one else. Her father Ishmah stood behind her, his presence also adding comfort. When Ishmah had discovered Thian’s intent with Samura, he had been more than willing to back the couple on their decision. Drey, the Enlil elder stood up to address Thian. “What is this, Thian of the Enlils?” Thian stood his ground, lifting his chin proudly to face the council of the ancient gods of Earth. “I have come to seek the council’s permission to wed Samura.” “And if we should refuse?” asked the Enlil. “I would regret the loss of my people, but I would have to defy the council and join the ranks of the Fallen.” Oshira looked at Samura. “And you, child, have you come to Thian of your own free will?” “I have. I love him and will share his life of exile if that is what the council decides is our fate.” The Enlil elder studied them both with cold blue eyes, his forehead wrinkling in uncertainty. Finally, he spoke in a booming voice that reverberated throughout the council chambers. “So be it! It is their will!” Oshira stepped forward. “The Annunaki Council has already decided to grant this union,” she informed the two lovers, “but there were some conditions that had to be met. One being that the two of you come together in love and of your own free will, without reservation. It would seem you have done this.” She smiled. “There may have been some prodding by certain Enki elders.” Drey, the Enlil elder narrowed his eyes at Oshira. “But I suspect the end would have been the same despite certain busybodies.” Thian and Samura were both beyond joy. Lifting her up in his arms, he held her tightly. “Now you will be mine for all eternity.” He kissed her, his tongue dancing within her mouth. They both wanted more but knew this was neither the time nor the place. “Now all that remains is to plan the wedding.” Samura was ecstatic. Fate had brought her the man on the moon, her own Prince of the Stars. “Your parents may find my out of town relatives to be a little eccentric,” he warned. “They’ll get used to it.” Reluctantly, Samura pulled from Thian’s arms to address the council once again. “I have one last request to make.” Oshira smiled at her. “Go ahead, child.” “I would like our wedding to take place at the Anasazi Ruins on Earth, and the ceremony to be performed by a Pueblo Holy Man.” At this there was a stir in the room, a buzz of unsure voices. Drey shook his head. “That is highly unusual.”

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“I would like my Adamu blood recognized in this union. It is time that the Annunaki guide their children to a state of enlightenment so that someday the human race will join a galactic society.” Looking from Thian to Samura, Drey spoke to them and the rest of the council. “I will recommend that this request be granted on one condition. That is, that you and Thian agree to become the wards of Earth. It will be your responsibility to ensure that the Reptilians never again gain a measure of control on the planet. To do this, Thian would have to agree to live as an Adamu on Earth. You will always be welcome among us, but your job will be there.” “I would willing do this, and in fact, believe it to be a good idea,” Thian replied. The council quickly agreed to the condition. Samura and Thian would come together to end thousands of years of strife. Once again, the Annunaki would be united. Cheers went up throughout the council and Ishmah looked on his daughter with great pride. Samura could see she had far surpassed his expectations. **** The moon was just making its presence known in the darkening sky. Thian sat in the thick grass, near the oak tree on the side of the ranch house. Samura reclined in his arms. Giving the news to her parents had been quite an experience. Doreen had all but fainted and Mathew had quickly made a grumbling reference to the fact that he thought Thian should cut his hair for the wedding. This Thian had gracefully sidestepped. All in all, her parents were very happy. “Are you happy now, moonflower?” He kissed her ear and let his lips trail down to her neck. “Hmmm … can I ever be happier than I am at this moment?” “Maybe … when we have a little one playing here on the lawn.” His tongue traced erotic patterns on her neck. Samura’s heart leapt at the thought of having a child of her own. “I do not want to wait to have children.” He twisted around until he had rolled her over on her back. “You and I have waited long enough to give life to our love.” With that, his lips were on hers, filling her with joyous song. Samura pulled him closer and in her heart she knew that lying in his arms in the moonlight would for her always be the true song of the Annunaki.

THE END