nor I could ever raise a hand to him。
That’s different。 You’re like… a mother。 Mothers are irrational here。 Too many emotions
involved。
Motherhood is always emotional—even for you souls。
I didn’t answer that。
What do you think is going to happen now？
You’re the expert on humans；I reminded her。It’s probably not a good thing that they’re giving me
food。 I can think of only one reason they’d want me strong。
The few specifics I remembered of historical human brutalities tangled in my head with the stories in the
old newspaper we’d read the other day。 Fire—that was a bad one。 Melanie had burned all the
fingerprints off her right hand once in a stupid accident； grabbing a pan she hadn’t realized was hot。 I
remembered how the pain had shocked her—it was so unexpectedly sharp and demanding。
It was just an accident； though。 Quickly treated with ice； salves； medicine。 No one had done it on
purpose； continued on from the first sickening pain； drawing it out longer and longer…
I’d never lived on a planet where such atrocities could happen； even before the souls came。 This place
was truly the highest and the lowest of all worlds—the most beautiful senses； the most exquisite
emotions… the most malevolent desires； the darkest deeds。 Perhaps it was meant to be so。 Perhaps
without the lows； the highs could not be reached。 Were the souls the exception to that rule？ Could they
have the light without the darkness of this world？
I… felt something when he hit you；Melanie interrupted。 The words came slowly； one by one； as if she
I felt something； too。It was amazing how natural it was to use sarcasm now； after spending so much
time with Melanie。He’s got quite a backhand； doesn’t he？
That’s not what I meant。 I mean…She hesitated for a long moment； and then the rest of the words
came in a rush。I thought it was all me—the way we feel about him。 I thought I was… in control of
that。
The thoughts behind her words were clearer than the words themselves。
You thought you were able to bring me here becauseyouwanted it so much。 That you were
controlling me instead of the other way around。 I tried not to be annoyed。You thought you were
manipulating me。
Yes。The chagrin in her tone was not because I was upset； but because she did not like being wrong。
But…
I waited。
It came in a rush once more。You’re in love with him； too； separately from me。 It feels different from
the way I feel。 Other。 I didn’t see that until he was there with us； until you saw him for the first
time。 How did that happen？ How does a three…inch…long worm fall in love with a human being？
Worm？
Sorry。 I guess you sort of have… limbs。
Not really。 They’re more like antennae。 And I’m quite a bit longer than three inches when they’re
extended。
My point is； he’s not your species。
My body is human；I told her。While I’m attached to it； I’m human； too。 And the way you see Jared
in your memories… Well； it’s all your fault。
She considered that for a moment。 She didn’t like it much。
So if you had gone to Tucson and gotten a new body； you wouldn’t love him anymore now？
I really； really hope that’s true。
Neither of us was happy with my answer。 I leaned my head against the top of my knees。 Melanie
changed the subject。
At least Jamie is safe。 I knew Jared would take care of him。 If I had to leave him； I couldn’t have
left him in better hands。… I wish I could see him。
I’m not asking that！I cringed at the thought of the responsethat request would receive。
At the same time； I yearned to see the boy’s face for myself。 I wanted to be sure that he was really here；
Do you think they will tell him that I’m here？Melanie asked。
Would that help or hurt him？I asked back。
Her thought was a whisper。I don’t know。… I wish I could tell him that I kept my promise。
You certainly did。I shook my head； amazed。No one can say that you didn’t e back； just like
always。
Thanks for that。Her voice was faint。 I couldn’t tell if she meant for my words now； or if she meant the
bigger picture； bringing her here。
I was suddenly exhausted； and I could feel that she was； too。 Now that my stomach had settled a bit and
felt almost halfway full； the rest of my pains were not sharp enough to keep me awake。 I hesitated before
moving； afraid to make any noise； but my body wanted to uncurl and stretch out。 I did so as silently as I
could； trying to find a piece of the bubble long enough for me。 Finally； I had to stick my feet almost out
the round opening。 I didn’t like doing it； worried that Jared would hear the movement close to him and
think I was trying to escape； but he didn’t react in any way。 I pillowed the good side of my face against
my arm； tried to ignore the way the curve of the floor cramped my spine； and closed my eyes。
I think I slept； but if I did； it wasn’t deeply。 The sound of footsteps was still very far away when I came
fully awake。
This time I opened my eyes at once。 Nothing had changed—I still could see the dull blue light through
the round hole； I still could not see if Jared was outside it。 Someone was ing this way—it was easy to
hear that the footsteps were ing closer。 I pulled my legs away from the opening； moving as quietly as
I could； and curled up against the back wall again。 I would have liked to be able to stand； it would have
made me feel less vulnerable； more prepared to face whatever was ing。 The low ceiling of the cave
bubble would barely have allowed me to kneel。
There was a flash of movement outside my prison。 I saw part of Jared’s foot as he rose silently to his
feet。
“Ah。 Here you are；” a man said。 The words were so loud after all the empty silence that I jumped。 I
recognized the voice。 One of the brothers I’d seen in the desert—the one with the machete； Kyle。
Jared didn’t speak。
“We’re not going to allow this； Jared。” It was a different speaker； a more reasonable voice。 Probably
the younger brother； Ian。 The brothers’ voices were very similar—or they would have been； if Kyle
weren’t always half shouting； his tone always twisted with anger。 “We’ve all lost somebody—hell； we’ve
all lost everybody。 But this is ridiculous。”
“If you won’t let Doc have it； then it’s got to die；” Kyle added； his voice a growl。
“You can’t keep it prisoner here；” Ian continued。 “Eventually； it will escape and we’ll all be exposed。”
My heart pumped hard and fast as I understood what the brothers were saying。 Jared had won。 I was
not to be tortured。 I was not to be killed—not immediately； anyway。 Jared was keeping me prisoner。
It seemed a beautiful word under the circumstances。
I told you he would protect us。
“Don’t make this difficult； Jared；” said a new male voice I didn’t recognize。 “It has to be done。”
Jared said nothing。
“We don’t want to hurt you； Jared。 We’re all brothers here。 But we will if you make us。” There was no
bluff in Kyle’s tone。 “Move aside。”
Jared stood rock still。
My heart started thumping faster than before； jerking against my ribs so hard that the hammering
disrupted the rhythm of my lungs； made it difficult to breathe。 Melanie was incapacitated with fear； unable
to think in coherent words。
They were going to hurt him。 Those lunatic humans were going to attack one of their own。
“Jared… please；” Ian said。
Jared didn’t answer。
A heavy footfall—a lunge—and the sound of something heavy hitting something solid。 A gasp； a choking
gurgle —
“No！” I cried； and launched myself through the round hole。
CHAPTER 16
Assigned
The ledge of the rock exit was worn down； but it scraped my palms and shins as I scrambled through it。
It hurt； stiff as I was； to wrench myself erect； and my breath caught。 My head swam as the blood flowed
downward。
I looked for only one thing—where Jared was； so that I could put myself between him and his attackers。
They all stood frozen in place； staring at me。 Jared had his back to the wall； his hands balled into fists
and held low。 In front of him； Kyle was hunched over； clutching his stomach。 Ian and a stranger flanked
him a few feet back； their mouths open with shock。 I took advantage of their surprise。 In two long； shaky
strides； I moved between Kyle and Jared。
Kyle was the first to react。 I was less than a foot from him； and his primary instinct was to shove me
away。 His hand struck my shoulder and heaved me toward the floor。 Before I could fall； something
As soon as he realized what he’d done； Jared dropped my wrist like my skin was oozing acid。
“Get back in there；” he roared at me。 He shoved my shoulder； too； but it wasn’t as hard as Kyle’s push。
It sent me staggering two feet back toward the hole in the wall。
The hole was a black circle in the narrow hallway。 Outside the small prison； the bigger cave looked just
the same； only longer and taller； a tube rather than a bubble。 A small lamp—powered by what； I couldn’t
guess—lit the hallway dimly from the ground。 It cast strange shadows on the features of the men； tu