Page 6 of Ahelno
“No, he just stared at me.”
“Did you say anything to him?”
“Not at first. I was pretty scared of him.”
“Why were you frightened?”
“Um, hello, I had already been kidnapped, sold, and the insect alien touched me inappropriately a lot, so I was already on edge. I crashed on an unfamiliar planet, and then this big alien just stands there, leering and growling at me, and then he got an erection, so I knew what he was thinking. Plus, he’s a foot taller than me, so I knew I probably couldn’t fight him off if I had to.” My voice started to wobble at the end.
“He got an erection? You mean his penis emerged from its pocket?”
“Yes, I could see it through his skirt. And I had zero interest in whatever he was thinking.”
“What did you do next?”
“I shoved him as hard as I could, and I ran.”
“What was your intention?”
“To get away from him!!” I was getting frustrated with their soulless questioning. The logical part of my brain knew they had to ask, but I was scared, angry, and freaking traumatized. Did I really have to relive this whole experience now?
“Your intent was to flee?”
“Yes! I just crash-landed on a planet I don’t know. I’ve been stolen from my home, and my family, and friends. Some insect space pirate bought me as some sort of slave, and then a new giant alien is waving his dick in my face. What possible reason would make someone think I wanted to have sex inthat moment? I just want to go home.” The tears started falling again.
“When you fled, did you say anything to him?”
I was slowly losing my shit at the constant questions. I knew I sounded hysterical. “I took one look at him and screamed ‘Aww, HELL NO’ in his face! He may not have understood the words, but my tone and my running should have been clear enough! That bastard ignored me and chased me down. He pushed me down, tore off my clothes, and shoved his cock in me, is that what you want to hear? And yes, I told him to stop. I begged him over and over, and he wouldn’t stop. Then he sliced my back up, and I passed out. What more do you need from me?” I was practically screaming at them. Lanicar tried to pass me another mug of that blasted bitter tea, and I waved it away. I looked at the wall. I didn’t want to talk anymore.
“We can see this is difficult for you to recall. Do I understand correctly that you screamed ‘mate’ at Prince Dakleth, pushed him in the chest, and then ran away?”
“Mate? I didn’t say ‘mate’. I told you I said ‘hell, no’.”
“Hmm, I think we may have a translation issue. I’m going to turn the translator off for a moment, and then ask you to say exactly what you said to Prince Dakleth, the way you said it, please.” She tapped a button on the tablet and then nodded at me.
I channeled all my frustration and yelled at her the same way I yelled at the monster earlier this morning. “Awww, Hell No!” I shouted.
The two investigators looked at each other. The first one tapped the button to turn the translator back on. “What does this phrase ‘A-Hel-No’ mean in your language?” the interviewer asked. She drew the words out slowly.
I had to pause and think for a moment. “Um, according to some of our old legends, Hell is a place the souls of evil people go when they die. It’s a place of eternal punishment. In the afterlife.”
The investigators bobbed their heads in understanding, so I continued. “Saying ‘Hell no’, or ‘oh Hell no’, or some variation like that is our way of saying ‘absolutely not’. As in, I’d rather go to Hell than for this thing to happen, I guess.” The investigators both looked troubled.
They exchanged long looks with Lanicar and each other. Nobody spoke for a very long two minutes. Finally, the larger one spoke. “We understand. Thank you for your testimony. It is our obligation to go and interview Prince Dakleth now, but I believe this case will be resolved quickly. Lanicar, you have our permission to explain certain… cultural rituals to Andrea of Earth.”
They gathered their recorders and left the room. Lanicar invited me to a table with two chairs on the other side of the room. He handed me the cup of tea and got one for himself. He looked very grave.
“Andie, I am deeply sorry for what you have been through. I have something to tell you, and I do not know if this will make things better or worse for you.”
CHAPTER 6
Dakleth
I paced the small room, desperate to be reunited with my mate. I was still reeling from the knowledge that I had hurt her. I lost my head during the mating and harmed her with my claws. I had marveled at the smooth delicateness of her skin. I had never felt anything so decadently silky, and I had ruined it on the first day. I should have known better. I was mentally beating myself up with the lack of care I had shown her. I needed to download everything about human courtship rituals so I could learn how to earn her forgiveness.
My musings were interrupted by a door opening and two of my father’s investigators coming in the room.
“Prince Dakleth,” Shara gave a brief bow. “We are here at the King’s behest to take a statement from you regarding the Earth female’s accusation of rape.”
