Page 9 of Zinnia and the Zombie (Alien Abduction #26)

CHAPTER NINE

T he groan that vibrated from Jaxx’s chest sent a shock of pleasure through Zinnia.

His lips moved hungrily over his, kissing her with a desperate intensity that awoke an answering hunger in her own body.

The golden light emanating from his skin cast strange, beautiful shadows across the ruins surrounding them.

Heat flooded through her body, a rush of desire unlike anything she’d felt before.

For a moment she gave in to it, but then she gasped and broke away, her heart hammering against her ribs. She scrambled back, putting a few inches between them.

“Zinnia,” he said roughly, his voice deeper than usual. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean?—”

“It’s okay,” she said breathlessly. “I started it. It’s just…”

He waited patiently as she tried to assemble her thoughts, and she looked down at her hands, unable to meet his luminous gaze. The words came with difficulty, dragged from a place she rarely acknowledged.

“My mother had a… reputation. She took comfort where she could find it, usually with men who didn’t care about her.

Just used her and left.” The old shame burned through her, memories of whispers behind hands, pitying looks, the cruel taunts of classmates.

“I watched what that kind of need did to her. How it broke her, bit by bit.”

He remained silent, but she could feel him watching her.

“It didn’t stop me from making the same mistake a few times.

The first boy I ever cared about just saw me as a trophy.

I promised myself I’d never let it happen again.

Never let myself get swept away by… by wanting someone.

” She risked a glance up. “And now there’s you.

And I… I don’t know what to do with how I feel. ”

She had expected his expression to be blank or confused, but instead he gave her a breathtaking smile.

“I have never experienced anything like this either, my Zinnia,” he said softly.

“What is it? Why do I feel so…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t even have a word for it.

“There is a… bond between us. But do not fear, whatever path we walk, we will walk it at your pace.”

She had the distinct impression he wasn’t telling her everything, but his words reassured her nonetheless.

“We should try to sleep,” she said. “Who knows what tomorrow will bring.”

“A wise suggestion.”

He settled back against the wall, clearly expecting her to keep her distance. Instead, she surprised herself and moved closer and nestled against his side again. After a moment’s hesitation, his arm came around her, solid and warm.

“Is this acceptable?” he asked, his voice rumbling through his chest.

“Yes,” she whispered. Despite everything—her fears, their precarious situation, the strange alien world around them—she felt safe in his embrace. “This is good.”

Sleep came easier than she expected, cradled in golden warmth.

The next time Zinnia woke it was morning, daylight brightening the walls of their makeshift shelter. She blinked awake, momentarily disoriented by the solid warmth pressed against her back. Jaxx. The events of the previous night rushed back—his story, their kiss, her confession.

She carefully extricated herself from his arms and sat up. This morning the ruins surrounding them appeared even more impressive—and more foreboding. Where had they gone, she wondered again, the people who had created such magnificence?

Jaxx stirred beside her and opened his eyes, the sunlight making them sparkle like purple jewels.

“Good morning,” she said, smiling down at him.

He returned her smile. “Good morning, my Zinnia. Did you sleep well?”

“Better than I expected,” she admitted.

“I as well.”

The memory of their kiss flashed through her mind and her cheeks heated before she scrambled quickly to her feet.

“We need to look for food and water, especially water.”

“I agree.” He started to rise but ended up clutching the wall for support.

“Take it easy,” she said, rushing to his side.

“I am… functional,” he insisted, though his grimace belied his words. His skin was no longer the pale, frightening yellow but he clearly had not regained his strength.

“You’re still feeling the post-stasis weakness aren’t you? You need rest.”

“We need supplies.” He attempted to take a step away from the wall and swayed dangerously.

She caught his arm. “What we need is for you not to collapse. I’ll look for water while you stay here and rest.”

“It isn’t safe?—”

“You said there wasn’t anyone around.”

“I said I didn’t detect any sentient life. That does not rule out predators.”

“No, but we haven’t seen any signs of them, have we? And I grew up in a rural area—I know how to find my way around the woods,” she said, trying to sound confident.

She could see the conflict in his eyes, but he finally sighed and unfastened his belt, handing it to her. “Take the knife. Be cautious. Return if you sense any threat.”

“I will.” She put on the belt, then impulsively leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”

Before she could second-guess herself, she slipped out of their shelter into the ruins beyond.

Without Jaxx beside her, the city felt oppressive in its silent grandeur. The scale of everything was disorienting—doorways twice her height, corridors wide enough for ten people to walk abreast, windows that soared upward like cathedral arches.

She picked her way carefully through the debris, alert for any sign of water or food, and eventually found herself in what must have been a grand plaza, now overtaken by a riot of vegetation.

Massive trees had broken through the paved ground, their roots creating a treacherous landscape of buckled stone.

Through the trees she spotted a glint of reflected light.

Water? Heart quickening, she made her way toward it.

The sight that greeted her took her breath away.

A network of ornamental fountains and channels, crafted with exquisite artistry, filled the center of the plaza.

Water still flowed through them, clear and seemingly fresh.

The engineering required to maintain such a system after what must have been centuries of abandonment was mind-boggling.

Lush plants flourished along the edges of the water features—some familiar-looking ferns and mosses, others utterly alien with geometric patterns in their leaves or iridescent blooms that seemed to pulse with their own inner light.

Most promising of all, small fish darted through the deeper pools, silver flashes in the sunlight.

She knelt beside one of the channels, dipping her fingers into the water.

Cool and clean. The possibility of alien toxins made her hesitate, but they couldn’t survive without water.

She sighed, then cautiously brought a finger to her lips to taste a drop.

It tasted the same as the water from her tap, with no strange flavors.

She forced herself to wait a few minutes to see if there were any immediate ill effects, then drank thirstily.

Next she had to figure out a way to take some water back to Jaxx. She stood and studied the plants around her, looking for anything that might hold water.

A few of the geometric plants had bulbous-shaped growths at the base, each about the size of a large coconut.

One of them lay broken open on the ground nearby, revealing a translucent gel-like substance within.

She carefully washed it clean, then filled it with water.

It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was the best option available.

The plant was sturdy and flexible, with fibrous strands running through it. Maybe she could peel it apart and use those strands as a mesh to catch some of the fish? She used the knife to peel back the outer layers, revealing the fibrous material within.

She fashioned a crude trap from the plant fibers and a flexible branch, then she waited, perfectly still, as the curious fish investigated. When several had ventured inside her makeshift net, she yanked it upward.

“Yes!” Three silver fish, each about the size of her hand, flopped in her trap.

Carefully carrying the fish and the water-filled bulb, she turned back toward their shelter. The route seemed different on the return journey, the shadows cast by the crumbling skyscrapers creating an ever-changing maze. She paused at an intersection, trying to get her bearings.

A soft scrabbling, like claws on stone, made her freeze, scanning her surroundings. Nothing moved in the plaza ahead. The sound came again, closer now, from somewhere to her right.

She backed away slowly, remembering her promise to Jaxx. If there was danger, she would return immediately. But curiosity warred with caution. What creatures called this dead city home?

The decision was made for her when a small shape darted from behind a fallen column.

About the size of a large cat, it moved with a strange hopping gait on six limbs.

Its body was covered in what looked like overlapping scales in mottled green and brown.

A pair of antenna-like appendages waved from its triangular head.

It stopped, seeming to sense her presence, and a pair of multifaceted eyes swiveled in her direction.

Even though it didn’t look dangerous she held her breath, not daring to move.

The creature made a chirruping sound, its antennae quivering. Then, apparently deciding she posed no threat, it continued on its way, disappearing into the underbrush.

She released her breath in a shaky laugh, then hurried back to the shelter. The trip had taken longer than she’d thought and the sun was almost directly overhead. Jaxx would be worried about her.

When she rounded the edge of the last building, she found him leaning against the exterior wall of the shelter, clearly waiting for her. He gave a relieved smile as she approached.

“You’ve returned unharmed.” It wasn’t quite a question.

“And victorious!” She held up her bounty with pride. “Water, food, and the good news that both seem plentiful.”

He studied them approvingly. “You’ve done well, my Zinnia.”

The genuine admiration in his voice warmed her more than she cared to admit.

“I found a whole network of fountains and water channels,” she explained, handing him the water-filled bulb. “Still functioning after who knows how long. There are fish in the deeper pools, and all sorts of plants growing around them.”

He took a sip with obvious relief. “The water tastes clean.”

“I thought so too. The plants probably help to filter it. And there’s plenty more of these fish.

” She sat down, spreading her catch on a flat piece of fallen stone.

“I also met one of the locals. Some kind of six-legged lizard thing. It didn’t seem interested in eating me, which is fine by me. I’m not sure how palatable I am.”

“I am sure you would be delicious.”

His tone was mild enough but his eyes glowed in a way that sent heat rushing to her cheeks, and she quickly changed the subject, pointing at the fish.

“I suppose we’re going to have to eat these raw?”

“I can build a fire,” he said calmly. “With your permission, I will prepare them.”

“Be my guest. My wilderness survival skills stop at ‘catch the fish.’“

She watched as he set about cleaning the fish, struck by the domesticity of the moment. Here they were, stranded on an alien planet under the post primitive conditions, yet something about it felt… right. She found herself smiling as she went to gather materials for a fire.