8 Chapter 7 Confessing My Love

I mustn't lead him on, I had to keep him distracted, I didn't know what his intentions were and I wasn't ready to find out, especially if he really did want to hurt me. I thought of the first question that came to my mind,

"Are you an alien or some sort of magician? Is that why I can't see you in my room when you are watching me, and how did you heal my injuries overnight, and perform magic I have never seen before?"

The strange man stopped nuzzling the back of my neck, his hand pausing on my thigh. He was silent for a moment before replying,

"I prefer the term celestial being from the stars or a tutelary deity, only your kind refer to us as aliens, a vile word humans have come up with for our kind."

Ok don't use the term alien or it might offend him. "Why are you here? Again no response. "Out of seven billion people on my planet, why me? I'm no one special, and there are humans more prettier than me." I felt his arms tighten their grip around me,

"looks and beauty mean nothing in my world, it is a male's duty to defend and protect all females. But you my little one crave what every male in our world can only dream of in a female. Your heart yearns for love, your craving for affection is beyond measure, while you stare at families and males that you can never have, males in my world stare at females in hopes for just a single fleeting glance. You have so much love to give but no one to give it too. Your heart cries out to the stars to find love and they have answered your cries by letting me find you."

It was scary from how much he knew what was in my heart. I trembled in his arms, just how long has he been watching and observing me, I thought to myself.

"Ca...can I turn around? This position is a little uncomfortable for me, the hard ground is digging into my side. I won't be able to see you without the moonlight. It is too dark for me to see without a light source."

I was really hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious person who has been watching me. Could she really not see anything? He could see just fine like it was daylight out. Was a humans eye sight really that bad? He hesitated before turning me in his arms, I was now pressed up against him my face resting on his chest. He began rubbing small comforting circles on my back soothing me. I secretly inhaled his scent under the cover of darkness hoping he wouldn't see me. His scent was so tantalizing, I couldn't even put a name to what I was smelling. It was absolutely mouth watering. I peeked upward through my eyelashes, but I couldn't see anything.

It was pitch black outside under the new moon. I gave up resting my head on his chest feeling the rise and fall of each breath he drew. Without realizing it my hand on its on accord clutched his robes holding on tight.

"Are the people you're living with your parents," he asked curiously. I hesitated wondering just how much I should reveal about myself, I decided to tell the truth, there was probably no point in lying to him since he has been watching me for some time now,

"no," I whispered, "they are my Aunt and my Uncle, my parents died in a car crash shortly after I was born." He is shocked, so those horrible humans weren't even her real family.

"I never knew my parents. I have been living with them for as long as I can remember." So this is why they mistreated her. She was never their child. They took advantage of her! His fangs protruded letting his anger slip for just a moment.

"What is your name little one? Not one soul here ever mentions your name, I have been desperately seeking to find out your name,"

he clutched her in his arms, turning on his back, and pulling her on top of him. She was silent again afraid to answer his question.

"I have only ever heard my name uttered once in my life when I was younger and ever since then no one has ever said my name again. I don't even know if the name I heard is even mine, Pathetic I know huh?"

She fell silent again, refusing to say her name trembling in his arms. Has no one called out her name in so long that she has actually truly forgotten her own name? The people who had control of her life was getting on his last nerve, he recalled the scene at the fire station, and now this?! How could they treat her like that, she was just a child!

The longer I laid in his arms the more I enjoyed the feel of his hands on my skin. He massaged my arms, neck, shoulders, back, and my legs. I have never gotten a massage before now, I couldn't help but moan and purr in his arms. My brain completely fogged over, I couldn't keep up with his questions as I grew more tired by the minute his hands lulling me toward sleep. The coolness of his embrace didn't help the fog forming in my brain either, every word he spoke mesmerized me, his voice was like that of an angel descended from the heavens.

My heart was telling me I should run and save myself, oh but his hands were like magic, massaging years of pain away from every muscle ache in my body. His hands left a trail of tingling sensations down my spine and my legs. I clutched his robes in my fist burying my face in his chest. I knew I had to go home soon, but I didn't want to move.

That and I don't think this man was going to let me up anytime soon either. He did tell me I could stay here and that he would watch over me while I slept. I really didn't want to go back to my Aunt's and Uncle's house. They would probably just beat me again for staying out late. Was it really ok for me to trust this strange and mysterious man? I mean so far he hasn't given me a single reason not to, minus staring at me naked.

After all he did feed me when I was starving, healed my wounds overnight, made me the most beautiful ball gown, performed the most beautiful magic I have ever seen, and is giving me a night to get away from my horrible family. I think I'm going to stay here and be greedy just this once. I didn't want to wake up from this dream. My breathing slowed as I slowly drifted off to sleep in my angels arms.

He watched quietly as the most beautiful female fell asleep in his arms. She was slowly taking to him, trusting him to watch over her and protect her tonight. It pained him when she asked what he wanted with her. He was her soulmate but she hasn't reciprocated the same back yet. It seemed like pain, fear, neglect, and hunger consumed every single one of her emotions, making no room for love in her heart.

She was not ready to know that her entire planet was going to end. She was too young. It would frighten her even more than she already was laying in his arms. There was a rustling in the bushes. The King lifted his head, sniffing the air. A low warning growl erupted from his chest. A pack of coyotes was hiding just a ways off in the distance.

They were stalking their prey or the scent of this child in his arms. A single coyote wouldn't pose a threat to a human but if he wasn't here and they ganged up on this little female they could tear her to shreds. He let loose another growl warning the leader of the coyote pack to keep its distance. He was warning them that he was the alpha here and that he would not hesitate to vaporize them all where they stood.

The leader of the coyotes growled back, he was going to lose his meal tonight if he didn't get that child he smelled. But hearing the warning from the alpha he was not able to make a move on the child. The coyote turned sparing the child and his pack for tonight. Smart choice the King whispered. He laid back down hugging the little child to his chest. He will protect her with his life.

"Those damn humans, they are so demanding, I don't know how the little female puts up with it day in and day out, she must be strong willed to have survived so long with them. I have completed her chores and they didn't suspect a thing Sire,"

he said as he stepped through the bushes muttering to himself. He approached the King who was laying down on the ground. Ihloi looked over at the King and saw a small lump hidden under his cloak, he then turned and saw a pile of clothes crumpled on the blanket beside the King. His eyes narrowed suspiciously,

"your Highness, you haven't mated with the child yet have you? You know the rules she has to mature first before mating" He chastised sniffing the air.

"No Ihloi, I can assure you she's still pure and whole," he chuckled lifting his cloak to show him the child laying in his arms asleep. "I found her bare like this drying in the sun on this blanket."

"Good heavens has she finally taken to you this time?!"

He saw how peaceful the child's face looked clutching at the King's robes her face nuzzled in his chest.

"We chatted for a little while, she hasn't seen what I look like yet though, she can't see without a light source, I didn't realize how bad the human eyesight was. If she had gone home on her own she would be stumbling around in the dark completely blind. I'm not sure how much she has taken to me yet, but she has decided to trust me enough to stay here and sleep while I watch over her."

Ihloi knelt down beside the King inspecting the little female in his arms. "She is quite beautiful Sire, I didn't realize that a human female could possess great beauty to rival that of females back in Kosea. Every male back home will be jealous of you." The King smiled hearing this, he took one of her curls and twisted it around his finger.

I love how incredibly small she is, she doesn't even reach my first set of ribs if she were to stand next to me. I sure hope she doesn't grow any taller before her estrous cycle comes, I want her to remain this cute and adorable," he whispered pulling her close and inhaling her scent.

"Careful Sire you're going to wake the poor child." The King froze with her in his arms, even holding his breath so his chest wouldn't move.

"You don't have to exaggerate to that extent your Highness," he chuckled. The King drew in a breath watching her dip slightly on his chest.

"Do you think she'll be ready to come with us when the time comes?"

The King brushed the curls out of her face, "I sure hope so, because I am not leaving without her. Even if she were to hate me for the next fifty million years, I would be ok with that, no way will I leave my soulmate behind to die."

The night turned to morning way to quickly, the sun rising over the trees. The King sighed wishing that they could remain like this just a little longer,

"Ihloi can you find a change of clothes for this child and her backpack for school? Find something short and cute.

"Will she be needing a pair of bloomers Sire?"

"No, those won't be necessary they will cover too much of her skin. Just a dress will do. He didn't want the female to wear too many clothing items. He wanted to be able to gaze upon her bare skin with no hinderances. Ihloi nodded, with a snap of his fingers he disappeared momentarily, a soft popping sound and he was back with a neatly folded, dress in his hands.

"I found a simple emerald green dress, with a gold sash, will this do? It seems like she prefers simple over extravagance, I noticed she didn't wear the dress you made for her to school." The King nodded, he sat up setting the female down on the blanket, covering her with his cloak.

He took the dress from his advisor, staring at the dress for a moment he, waved his wrist and two gold star brooches appeared on the shoulders of dress, along with a gold shear see through tulle cape that draped down the back of the dress. He held up the dress to Ihloi,

"what do you think? It's not too extravagant is it? I don't think children here wear such items to school like the other dress I made her." Ihloi smiled,

"it looks excellent Sire, I'm sure she will love this dress." He set the dress down folded neatly on the blanket beside the female. He then placed a simple gold bracelet on top of the dress. Looking at her hair he settled on two French braids. When he was finished braiding he summoned two gold hair ribbons to finish it off. Stepping back he admired his handiwork before taking off into the trees. She will look beautiful no matter what she wears or what she doesn't wear.

Hearing birds chirping loudly above me, I stretched yawning as I sat up. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, looking around I was confused. Where am I and why am I not in my bed? Memories from last night suddenly came flooding back. Oh my gosh, I slapped my forehead, I had slept in the arms of a strange man completely naked, and I forgot to go home last night! My Aunt and Uncle were probably going to be furious and kill me if they found out!

How could I just throw my innocents away like that! Feeling a rustling on me I peeked through my fingers, the man had left his cloak to cover me. Lifting the cloak I checked in between my legs, everything seemed normal enough, he seemed to have kept his promise and he didn't hurt me. I didn't see any blood or bruising, I sighed with relief, staring at the cloak he left behind.

It was a beautiful cloak, it was white as snow on the outside, and royal blue on the inside with an intricate pattern woven into the blue fabric. The cloak was line with silver fur and had silver brooches and a silver chain across the chest. There was a seal embroidered on the back in silver, the seal looked like a crescent moon with a ring around the middle surround by five stars all inside of a circle. No one I knew dressed like this anymore.

This cloak looked like it would belong to royalty except that, royalty doesn't exist in this time period anymore. Yeah there was the Queen of England but she was just a figure head now, just for show. But this cloak looked like it belonged out of her closet. Just who was this mysterious man and why would he wear something so extravagant? I recalled the dress he had made me, it was just as equally as extravagant, was this man loaded?

There was no way someone like him would want someone like me unless his intentions were bad. If he had a lot of money he could have any girl he wanted. So the question that remains is why me? He told me a lot about himself last night. I couldn't wait to get to the library and do some research. Maybe I could find out more about him. Speaking of the library what time is it? I don't have my alarm clock and I'm supposed to be in class today.

I quickly looked around for my clothes I didn't want to be late for school. A sparkle caught my eye, there was a gold band glinting in the sun laying on a freshly folded pile of clothes with my backpack sitting beside it. I shook my head, the mysterious man must have known I would need these. I picked up the dress, smiling, just how extravagant was his taste? And why did he always want me to look like an Amazonian Goddess?

I slipped on the dress and my sandals and walked over to the water to admire my reflection. Oh look he even did my hair! A warm breeze suddenly blew my dress up, feeling the air on my bare skin I realized something was missing. I went back to the blanket to look I lifted everything up and to my shock he had forgotten a pair of underwear! I wasn't wearing any yesterday when we went to get food at the fire station because it was too hot.

He got me a change of clothes but he had forgotten a pair of underwear! But then I realized I wasn't wearing any when he came last night. I blushed oh man that was so embarrassing. He was looking at my clothes and probably thought I didn't wear any underwear so he didn't bother getting me a pair.

It was getting late I didn't know what time it was or if I even had time to run home before school. I have never gone to school without underwear before. I bent over examining the dress. It was way too short. If I bent over in this people would see my tail. How could he have picked something so short. It barely covered any of my skin. Ugh males. Biting my lip I decided against going home, thinking about how my family would probably be waiting to torment me if I did.

I picked up my backpack and tossed it over my shoulder. Taking the blanket and the man's cloak I rolled them in a ball and stuffed them in the tree. I looked around wondering if I would catch a glimpse of him. But he was nowhere to be seen. I turned and with a brisk pace headed for my classes. When I arrived it was still early, the first bus had just arrived letting me know I had thirty minutes before class started.

Good, this will give me time to do some research, I headed to the school library. Choosing a computer at the back of the library I sat down and turned it on. Drumming my fingers on the desk I whispered to myself, how do I even spell tutelary?

All of a sudden a note appeared in front of me. Hurriedly I looked around making sure no one saw that. I was completely alone. So he was here with me in the library I thought to myself as I picked up the note. A single word was written on it. Tutelary. I shook my head typing into Google "What is a tutelary deity?"

"A tutelary is a minor-deity or a spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. The etymology of "tutelary" expresses the concept of safety and thus of guardianship."

Hmm interesting he did say he would protect me last night. I erased that question and typed in "Where do tutelary's come from?"

"They descended from the heavens and live among the stars always traveling to new worlds, spaces, time, and dimensions, always in search of a mate. Their female population is constantly dwindling with each passing millennium so they are constantly on the move in search of a female to reproduce and have offspring with"

So does this mean he is looking for a mate? My stomach churned, was he really an alien from outer space? Then I remembered that he didn't like the term alien. But seriously, was he looking for a mate to have offsprings with? Was I the mate he had chosen? I am also shocked this word shows up in our English language. Just how much does our government really know about aliens? I typed in my last final question, "When might a tutelary show up?"

"A tutelary will only show up and reveal themselves in times of great danger or great peril to the ones they are seeking. They will risk their lives to save and protect the one they have set their eyes on. A tutelary cherishes their chosen one beyond measure treating them like a Queen."

Was this man a guardian angel of some sort I thought. Was I in danger of some kind or great peril? Was something bad going to happen to me? I shuddered switching the computer off. I couldn't research anymore. I think I'm going to be sick. Was I going to die? Did he come here to rescue me or come here to have sex with me? I don't want to die. I don't want to mate with an alien. I'm too young to die. Did this heat wave and food shortage have something to do with him showing up?

Standing up shakily, I headed for the girls bathroom, but I didn't make it that far, stumbling I fell to my knees in front of a nearby trash can and vomited. Seeing the female in distress the King switched back on the computer wanting to know what she had read, A tutelary only appears when a person is in grave danger or great peril. They are seeking to mate and reproduce. He hissed through his teeth.

How did the humans know about this? Who did they have to torture to get this information from. He watched the female child stand up and make her way out of the library, but she didn't get very far before she doubled over a bin and puked. The information she found out was making her sick. His eyes narrowed making his way over to her. When I finished puking I felt a hand on my back, turning there was no one there. I shrieked standing up, running away from the invisible man. If he was near me it meant I was going to die or something bad was going to happen. I had to get away. He was a bad omen. I didn't want to die.

The female screamed at his touch! Did the information about him frighten her? Did she not want to be mates with him? Or was she scared about finding out her world was going to end? He clenched his fists, just when he was starting to make progress in wooing her, she has become terrified of him. He quickly followed after the female, she had run to her first class, hoping to get away from him and around the other humans for protection.

He snapped his fingers and a note appeared, he scribbled, "I'm back at square one, the female has become frightened of me." He tossed the note into the air and it disappeared on its way to Ihloi. His heart ached for her, all he wanted to do was hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right. He couldn't wait to take her home and protect her.

I slid into my seat just as the first bell rung. I should be safe here I thought catching my breath. He wouldn't try anything in front on an entire class full of students would he? I hope he wouldn't be able to freeze time and open up a portal like they portrayed in the movies. At that moment morning announcements came on interrupting my thoughts.

"On behalf of the staff, we need all staff and students to please make their way down to the gymnasium, we have an important announcement to share with everyone."

The class began to chatter excitedly wondering what the important news was. Everyone filed out of the classroom heading down to the gym in single file lines. The hallway became a chaotic scene with students everywhere trying to fit into the stairwell, buzzing with excitement hooting and hollering.

Filing into the gym everyone took a seat in the bleachers, waiting for the principal to speak. Ah hem he came up and tapped on his microphone

"students of Traverse City West Middle school, "We were just informed this morning by our governor that Michigan is in a state of emergency, all schools will be closing down until further notice due to the extreme heat wave. The conditions have become much to dangerous for children to be walking to and from classes and riding the buses. We have had more than thirty cases reported this week that sent children to the hospital with third degree burns already this year. Starting today there will be no classes, we have already notified your parents and they will be here right after lunch to pick you up, I ask that you all remain seated here for study hall until lunch time, then we will all head upstairs to eat and then we will release you for the rest of the day."

The gym became a huge echo chamber as students chattered about the good news, no more classes hurray! Me on the other hand felt a small pain in my heart. I glanced over at Kaleb sitting a couple rows below me. With all the commotion going on around us, I still couldn't stop thinking about him and what he told me on the first day of choir class. He is my very first crush. If we don't have anymore school then how was I going to confess my feelings to him?

I can't miss my chance. I have to confess to him today before it was too late. It was now or never. With my determination set, I snuck out of the gym to the library so I could plan how I was going to confess. The hands on the clock moved very slowly as I sat there waiting for lunch. It felt like the clock hands moved backward ten minutes every time I looked.

But the moment finally came and it was time for lunch. I headed to the cafeteria dragging my feet in procrastination. I was having second thoughts when I saw Kaleb sitting alone waiting for his friends to show up. This was my chance! I had made a card for him and stuck the only photo I had of myself into the card. I walked up to Kaleb pulling out my card, facing the floor, holding the card out to Kaleb, I shouted,

"I know this seems a little too soon, but I...I have a...a crush on you." I stopped in the middle of my sentence, the whole cafeteria had gone silent staring at us. My face turned beet red. "I...I've had a crush on you for a long time, I wanted to tell you before I ran out of time." The sound of footsteps approached behind me...

"Well well well, what do we have here," Josh the boy my cousin had been crushing on tsked snatching the card out of my hands.

"Look everybody, looks like we got ourselves a love letter here from little miss nobody. I should read it so we know what it says. I was stunned, how can he be so cruel. I lunged at Josh trying to grab my letter back but due to my shortness all I could do was jump for it as he held it up just beyond my reach.

Dear Kaleb,

You might not remember me, I am the girl from

Choir class. We met on the first day of school.

you told me that you loved my voice and I told

you that I liked your voice too, but before we

had a chance to talk I ran out scared. I wanted to let you know I had a crush on for some time

now and I hope that you would feel the same.