Tuesday Tales - Smug

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “smug”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. 

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

“Are you sure you can trust him?” Elise edged herself back down onto the seat of the sofa.

“I have up to this point. He’s skittish and rightfully so. I think Grarkiel has hurt him.” Dani gave her head one last, hard shake. She was giving herself a headache. She could feel something tumble inside her skull towards her eardrum. 

The little balloon man fell onto the coffee table between the two mugs. His landing made a soft thud.

“That’s the alien?” Elise questioned. She leaned towards him, staring at him with her mouth gaped open. 

“Elise, meet Boboneth. I call him Bobo for short. Bobo, meet my friend Elise.”

Bobo spun towards Dani on the little knot on the bottom of his leg. He curved his arms to land them on his hips. “Don’t look so smug,” he chided.

“I do not look smug,” Dani defended. 

She heard Elise laugh. “You do look a little smug, like you outsmarted the little guy.”

Dani chuckled with her. “That’s fair.” She turned her attention to Bobo. “Do you want to change to your real form? Wouldn’t you be more comfortable?”

Bobo’s arms squeaked as he crossed them. If a balloon figure could pout, he was doing it. 

“This is so unreal,” Elise breathed.

“I know it’s hard to believe. Believe me, I am still struggling with it.”

The room fell silent for a few moments. Elise cleared her throat then spoke. “Is there any way to stop this…Grarkiel?”

“Well, my laser sword stops them from the time being. However, Bobo and I are still trying to find answers to get rid of him permanently.”

Elise picked up her mug and took a sip. “I think you did something to him. When the beam went between them, there was a howl. Ezra was rubbing his neck.” She paused. “What have you found out so far to stop Grarkiel?”

Tuesday Tales - Rainy

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “rainy”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. 

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

Elise blinked at her like she was in disbelief. “I’m sorry?”

“The tentacled thing behind him. That is Grarkiel. The cloudy things you saw me swinging at are his mercenaries. Grarkiel took over Ezra when he was a boy.”

“Are these…aliens here to learn about us?”

“Not exactly. Grarkiel likes to feast on human blood. He uses Ezra to lure victims to him.”

Dani thought she saw Elise shudder. “You’ve talked to Ezra about this? He was open with you about it?”

Dani shrugged. “He confided in me a little. I got most of my information from another source.”

Elise scowled at her as she picked up her tea. She gripped the mug unusually tight. “What source are you talking about?”

Dani sighed. She shook her head rather aggressively. “Come on out.”

She thought she felt Bobo grip tight inside her skull. There was a brief sharp pain from his hands. His voice echoed. “No.”

“Bobo, she’s nice. She loaned us her umbrella on that one rainy afternoon when we got the Chinese food you like so much. Remember?”

“I don’t care,” the little extraterrestrial muttered.

“Who are you talking to?” Elise queried. She must have thought Dani was totally off her rocker. 

Dani huffed again. “The first night I found Ezra and Grarkiel, there was something that slipped inside my ear and created a pressure in my head. When I got home, I found out that Ezra isn’t the only one housing an alien inside them. I’m trying to get mine to come out. 

Elise barely got her mug on the tabletop before she scrambled up the back of her couch. “You brought one of those things into my home?”

Dani shook her head again. Did it dislodge her little friend? Of course not. “Boboneth is different. He was a prince that Grarkiel took captive. He took the moment I disrupted things to escape and the only refuge he could find was with me.”

Tuesday Tales - Victor

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “victor”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. 

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

The whistle of the kettle filled the minute apartment. She scooped it up with a nearby hot pad then poured the steaming water into two mugs. One was cobalt blue and the other mint green. They were both emblazoned with the logo of the library. 

The tea bags bobbed on each vessel as Dani carefully carried them to the living area. She gently sat the green one on the coffee table before Elisa. She cradled the blue one in her hands. Despite it being summer, the warmth was comforting. “Just curious. How did you end up in the alley to witness all of…that?”

Elise lifted her face to stare at her. “Victor was walking me out after the meeting…”

“Really? Victor?” Dani wrinkled up her nose in disgust.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He just seems, I don’t know, creepy.”

“And a tentacled alien isn’t?”

Dani settled on the sofa next to her. She held up a hand in defeat. “You are right. I apologize. Please continue.”

“Anyway, we stopped to talk for a minute or two when I saw a flash of light. I told Victor good night then waited for him to leave before I headed towards the alley to investigate. I mean, you aren’t wrong about him and the last place I want to be with him is in an alley. Anyway, I figured it was a bunch of kids messing around. Instead I found…well, what I found.” She picked up her mug to take a sip, her hand trembling the whole way up to her lips and back to the table. 

Elise’s voice was weak as she continued to speak. “So, what did I see?”

Dani took a deep breath. This whole thing was still crazy to her. What was Elise going to think when she heard it? “There is an alien living in Ezra. Actually, there are a lot of aliens.”

Tuesday Tales - Spring

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “spring”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. It is a little longer than normal. It’s worth it, I promise.

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

She was sort of surprised that Elise got them both through the unusually busy crowds to her apartment. They took a left at the sports bar where Dani had gone with Ezra before her life became too bizarre for words, before she was afraid that an alien would spring out from behind every corner. Elise stopped for a moment at the front doors of a high rise apartment complex, one of those that housed a coffee shop and a fitness facility surrounded by steel and glass on the ground floor. With a huff, she tugged on the handle to open it and stormed inside. Dani followed on her heels to the bank of elevators at the end of the corridor. 

They rode up to the ninth floor in silence. Elise trained her eyes to the numbers as they ascended, refusing to look at Dani. When the doors opened, she motioned for Dani to follow her down to the last door on the right. She reached into her pocket for a keychain with a little pink glittery poof on it. She then slipped the key into the lock and twisted it, popping the door open.

Dani closed it behind her. She laid a gentle hand on Elise’s lower back to guide her to the sofa. She could feel her friend trembling beneath her touch. Once Elise was settled on the sofa, she scuttled to the kitchen. She yanked one cabinet door after the other open until she found the tea.

“Camomille, Earl Grey or Raspberry Orange?” Dani called out. 

“Camomille, please.” Elise’s voice was shaky and weak. Dani completely understood. She may not have lived the extraterrestrial life long. There were still nights she woke up in a cold sweat after being plagued by a nightmare starring Grarkiel and Ezra. She plucked up the tea kettle and spun towards the sink with it. She set the filled kettle on the stove, turned on the heat then began the hunt for some mugs.

Tuesday Tales - Silly

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “silly”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. It is a little longer than normal. It’s worth it, I promise.

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

Dani’s eyes widened as she recognized the sound. She was just hauled down a crowded sidewalk by an extraterrestrial and no one batted an eye. Why now did someone finally notice all this?

Her gaze met Ezra’s for a brief moment before he darted down the alleyway and around a corner until he was out of sight. She sucked in a breath and turned around. 

Elise’s eyes were the size of basketballs as she stared at Dani. “What did I just see?”

Dani waved her off as she forced a laugh. It was probably the fakest, weakest chuckle she had in her life. “What? That? Don’t be silly. It was nothing.”

“Nothing?” Elise nearly shrieked as she clutched her purse tighter to her. “What I saw was you wielding that laser light thing in your hand at a ghostly thing coming out of Ezra.”

Dani’s gaze went from her to her own hand. Oh crap. She was still gripping her weapon. She flicked the switch off and opened her bag to drop it in. That was when she noticed that it was still too warm. She just couldn’t win could she? “Yeah, I guess that did happen.”

“Tell me what is going on.”

“There’s a bar down the street. Why don’t we go get a drink and I will try to explain it.”

“I don’t drink,” Elise nearly spat out.

Dani took another gulp of air then crossed the alley to her work friend. She laid a gentle hand on Elise’s bicep. “Let’s find a place to get a cup of tea.”

Elise pointed at the outside wall of the library. “My apartment is two blocks that way.”

“Do you have some tea?”

“Yes.”

Dani gently took her arm and nudged her in that direction. “Then let’s go. Lead the way.”

Tuesday Tales - Confidence

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “confident”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. It is a little longer than normal. It’s worth it, I promise.

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

Grarkiel’s smoky tentacles lifted. From what would have been the sucker on an octopus, a small cloud formed. Dani rummaged in her bag for the device she constructed with her dad. It took a little longer than she hoped. Bobo was pingponging in her skull like a squirrel on crack. 

She had so little confidence this was going to work. She pulled free her weapon then flicked the switch to turn it on. A pure blue beam of light pierced the sky as Grarkiel’s first minion took flight towards her. 

The laser sliced it in two. It poofed out of existence. There was a growl from the human/alien hybrid across from the alley from her. She didn’t know if it came from Ezra or Grarkiel. Maybe it was both. 

The alien henchmen popped free from their master at a rapid pace. Dani was no athlete yet she kept up with their attack. She wielded her laser show weapon like a true swordswoman. She could feel her heart race in her breast. She wasn’t sure if it was fear or adrenaline. Either way, it was keeping her alive. 

Her feet shuffled around the bound pair as she fought off Grarkiel’s goons. The light from her device flashed across the sky and off the brick of the buildings on either side of them. From the corner of her eye, she watched a beam bounce off a window and fire back between Grarkiel and Ezra. 

The howl that came from the ghostly alien was terrifying. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Ezra’s eyes widened as he stared at Dani. He slipped a hand behind his neck then smiled. 

The strike was enough to send Grarkiel into retreat. The smoky blobs he sent to fight with Dani scrambled back to him and disappeared into the suckers. Ezra cried out as Grarkiel rejoined him in his body. 

Dani could have sworn that, between convulsion on the two becoming one, Ezra mouthed to her “thank you”.

Dani gave him a small smile once Grarkiel was gone. Before she could take a step a voice echoed off the brick. “What…what is happening here?”

Tuesday Tales - Green

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “green”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. 

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

She heard loud laughter come from the direction of the conference rooms. If her memory served her correctly, the library board of directors reserved the largest one for their evening meeting. There was no point for Dani to stick around. If she were caught, it would only raise more questions than answers. She did her best to sneak through the corridor and back outside.

She blended into the crowd on the sidewalk as she made her way back to the bus stop. She sighed to herself. Maybe she made a mountain out of a molehill. She made this whole trip out to be more than it was. She was probably more in danger of being mugged than having to face Grarkiel.

She felt something snake around her bicep and grip her tight. Her steps no longer went forward to her transportation home. She stared hopelessly at the newly arrived bus as her feet shuffled backwards. Over the noise of the city she could hear a familiar voice choke out. “Let her go, now. Please. Let her go.”

Dani looked over her shoulder. Ezra was behind her and it appeared he was dragging her into an alley. However, he wasn’t holding onto her. Instead, a smoky spring green tendril was snaked around her arm. He glanced back over his shoulder and met her gaze.

He had no control over this situation. He was as helpless as she was. She searched the faces around her frantically. Someone had to see this. She received a few shocked looks but no one intervened to help her. The street behind her vanished as she was surrounded by tall buildings on either side of her. 

The cloudy restraint released her as Ezra, being driven by Grarkiel, crossed the small space to face her. What was with the theatrics? Who knew an alien could be such a diva?

Tuesday Tales - Kiss

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “kiss”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. 

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

Dani jogged down the steps of her apartment building and raced out the door. She hurried her already hectic pace when she saw the bus arriving at the stop. She hopped on it with the rest of the riders waiting for it. She was out of breath as she collapsed onto the hard plastic seat and dropped her bag on the floor. Her eyes widened as she heard the clunk of her weapon on the floor. She glanced to the people on either side of her to see if they noticed. They did not. Good. She didn’t need any questions.

Twilight began to kiss the sky as the sun disappeared behind the buildings of downtown Boston. Her transfer was only a few stops away. She bent over her knees to pluck her cell phone from her purse. She should be back to the library before the last person left. It would be close though.

Even worse, it would be after dark. Bobo was letting his alien anxiety get to him. His shaking was giving her another headache. She huffed to herself as she picked up her tote again. Maybe it was time to see if he could occupy any other body part but her skull.

The transfer and the rest of her journey were as uneventful as the first jaunt had been. The peace truly didn’t make her feel any better. All it did was lead her to believe another shoe was about to drop. She scrambled up the stairs to the front doors of the library and through the corridors to the information desk. She searched in the dimly lit room for her keys. They were tucked carefully just beneath the monitor of the computer she normally worked at. She gave the screen a little smile as she scooped them up and dropped them in her bag. Elise took such great care of her. She was going to hate to leave her behind for even the brief few weeks she was in Egypt. 

Tuesday Tales - Bleak

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “bleak”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. 

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

Dani jogged up the steps to her apartment door. Her brain wouldn’t stop. She had so much to plan. How would she tell her parents she was going overseas? Should she even go? On top of that, Julian gave her the creeps despite being drop dead gorgeous.

And vaccines - did she even need them? Which ones was she supposed to get? Could the pharmacy tell her?

All she wanted right now was a nap. However, the chances of getting one were bleak at best.

She unzipped her purse and rummaged inside, listening for the distinct jingle of her keys. There was nothing, She yanked the two sides apart to see for herself. She could see her wallet and cell phone but no keys.

Her heart sunk into her belly. Did she leave them at the college? She scowled to herself. She couldn’t have. She never opened her bag while she was there. Where could they have gone?

She closed her eyes as she remembered. She wanted a chocolate bar while she was at work at the library. She took out the contents one by one looking for the wayward dollar she had dropped in there the day before. She must have returned everything except her keys. 

She glanced at the lone window in the hallway. It glowed pumpkin orange with the setting sun. 

“What is wrong?” Bobo whispered in her ear. 

“My keys are at work. I have to go back and get them. Someone will be there until 8:00 tonight,” she muttered to him. 

She heard the tremble in his voice. “We can’t. You know what will happen.”

“We have no choice. We can’t get in without them. I am just glad there is a meeting there tonight so we can get in to get them.”

“What if we meet your friend…and Grarkiel?”

Tuesday Tales - Dry

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “dry”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. 

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

“Absolutely. I would love to go with you,” Dani answered.

“Good. Good.” Julian closed the tome and slid it back into its place on the bookshelf. “I will get all of the arrangements made. You will want to take two weeks off from work. Of course, you will need a passport and all the required vaccinations to travel to Egypt. Also, pack the correct things. It’s a dry heat. You certainly won’t want to wear.” He motioned to her from head to toe. “That. Loose clothing. Sensible shoes you can climb in and pants with plenty of pockets. I will send you some suggestions and links to what would be best.”

Dani slowly nodded. His suggestions weren’t making her feel any better. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

He grinned at her. “Don’t mention it. I have a feeling that this excursion will be very beneficial for both of us. I must get to my next lecture. I don’t want to keep my students waiting. I will be in touch with you soon.”

“Sounds great.” She didn’t turn around. Instead she backed out of the room, keeping her eyes on him the entire time. She waited until she was clear of the doorframe before she spun on her toe and hurried down the corridor towards the exit. In fact, she didn’t slow her pace until she was at the bus stop. She panted as she collapsed on the last few inches of the bench that was not occupied by someone wearing a backpack.

She just started at the library. Would they even give her time off to go with Julian to see the tombs? Would she have to quit? What would she do when she got back? Maybe she should just email him when she got home and tell him she couldn’t go.

Her thoughts silenced. Only one remained and it pounded in her brain as hard as Bobo did when he got excited. 

What would happen to Ezra if she did just that?

Tuesday Tales - Cold

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week's word prompt is “cold”. We are back with Dani in my new Sci-Fi story. 

Be sure to check out the other Tuesday Tales by clicking here!

“Thank you.”

Julian gave her one more cold glance before he crossed his office and shuffled through a bookshelf full of books and binders. It gave Dani a moment to take in his office. It seemed like everything was made of finished walnut and rich, maroon dyed leather. There were several expensive artifacts, just like the ones she had seen in museums, propped up on every flat surface. A laptop was perched in the middle of his desk. 

For a room that looked warm and inviting, Dani felt like she was in an igloo. She wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. 

Julian pulled free a thick tomb and flipped the cover open. His expensive designer shoes clicked across the wood floor as he thumbed through the pages. As he approached her, he angled the book towards her. “Is this what you want to see?”

She honed into the alien in her head as she studied what he showed her. There were several photos of an ancient tomb along with a spattering of text. Bobo kept quiet. “Yes, I want to see something like this.”

He shuffled a few more pages. “This is another area we could visit.”

Dani didn’t have to wait for Bobo to respond. She recognized the Vigvuth symbols without him. The alien bounced in her skull like a rubber ball. “Yes, absolutely. I would love to see this one.”

She heard Julian suck in a breath through his teeth. His voice sounded like a purr. “This one is one of my favorites. I think we could have a good time here. I will reach out to the lead archeologist in charge of this project and begin to arrange our travel. That is, if you wish to join me.”

The warning bells in her head went off. This guy was sinfully good looking. Something told her traveling to another country with this man could be her last mistake and it wasn't Bobo saying it.

Still, she needed answers, if not for her then at least for Ezra.