She distracted herself from the conversation and asked the question that was plaguing her. "Why aren't there any windows?"
She just had to ask.
"The planet is mostly rocky and cold. While Zotheans are immune to the conditions, other species find it hard to survive in such harsh conditions," he explained. "The city is built inside the mountains so that we are insulated from the cold outside."
She tried to picture something from Interstellar and failed. "How cold is it outside?" she asked curiously.
"It averages from minus fourteen degrees Celcius to minus sixty degrees Celcius."
Ellis nodded. So the weather conditions were like Antarctica on Earth. She imaged the Zotheans walking around like penguins and let out a giggle.
"Is it always so cold or is it winter right now?" she asked. She wanted to see the outside world without freezing to death.
"It's summer. The current weather report shows clear skies but minus forty-seven degrees Celcius. During winter, it can fall to minus eighty or worse." He smiled.
Ellis stared. "I want to see how the outside looks," she grumbled.
Logan produced a small cellphone like object and projected images into the air. The pictures of lush green forests and lakes came up. Abundant wildlife and the wintry land were there too. It looked much like Earth, with the exception of the high mountains on all sides.
"We have a rich flora and fauna on the planet." Much like Earth. "Despite the cold weather, our precipitation and freezing point seem to be different due to atmospheric pressure and difference in the composition of gasses present in the atmosphere. So, we have snow and frost during the winter but for the rest of the year, our seasons look pretty much like yours."
She nodded. "But doesn't change in atmospheric, gravitational, and chemical composition lead to abnormal sizes in animals?" she asked.
"Yes, in proportion to animals and plants on your planet, our species are larger. A lot larger," he supplied the information helpfully.
"And no carnivorous plants, I suppose?" she joked. Logan shrugged, giving her a dissatisfactory answer.
"If you feel more tired than usual, it's because the gravitational force is stronger on Zothea. You will get used to it." He smiled.
"And does anyone live on the surface?" She wanted to see more people and how they lived their daily life.
"Yeah, they do. Unmarried males mostly live on the surface. But most of the markets and meeting points are also on the surface. I'll take you up soon." He paused. "Just make note of how you want to decorate the room and what furniture and clothes you want to add. We'll buy you things."
Her face dipped down as she looked at her clothes. She wasn't into this style. At all.
"Laurel helped me prepare your wardrobe. Come take a look." He jumped to his feet and held out his hand to help her up. She looked at his extended hand for the fraction of a second and then grasp it. After she rose, he didn't release her hand, neither did she pull away, afraid she would offend him.
They walked towards the room to the right wall. He opened the door and the lights came on. The room was filled with clothes.
"I've never had so many clothes before." The colors and rough styles were to her liking and the variety many. These were not Earth clothes, but Logan had taken care to pick out things she would like. "How did you know what I like?" she asked curiously. Was it some advanced technology that genetically matched a person with the style of clothing they like? She wouldn't be surprised if it was.
"Laurel said something about birds twittering and book of faces. I didn't understand what she was saying." Yes, his confusion was clear on his face. So, Laurel was from around the same time frame as her. She'd checked her social media accounts and found out what she liked. Quite impressive stalking skills if you asked Ellis.
"I'll ask her about that," Ellis chuckled. "No, we have virtual places where we can talk to people all over the planet."
Logan blinked. "That sounds fascinating."
"But why did you buy so much?" she asked. It seemed like a waste of money. He pulled out a drawer and her eyes were blinded by all the jewelry within. Stones with unfathomable colors. Metals she knew and didn't. It was blinding.
"It's good for the economy. Civilians look up to the royalty to set lifestyle trends. What I buy for you will become fashionable and businesses throughout the galaxy will benefit from it."
"Sounds like an excellent plan to stimulate the economy."
She went out to the main room.
"Wait. Laurel said you'd need something else." He almost ran towards the other door. He opened it to show her a bathroom. "I've been told that the bathtub and flush toilet are the greatest creations of humanity. I don't quite understand the reason, but if you guys think so..." he shrugged.
Ellis hadn't considered this. Different species have different grooming methods. Considering that they were like cats.
"Do you use litter boxes and roll in the dust to clean yourself?" she asked. She was half-joking.
"How did you know?" he asked surprised and delighted. His tail flicked behind him.
Ellis wanted to burst out into laughter.
"Logan, I have always dreamt of something. Can you make it happen?" She was actually using his good nature to fulfill her evil intentions. Well, not evil, but... uncomfortable.
"Just ask me, I'll make it happen." He smiled.
'My mate is asking me for something!' he screamed in glee internally.
"Can you let me touch your tail without hissing or scratching me?" When she had a cat as a child, she had always wanted to play with the tail and rub their tummy, but she had been scratched too many times. Of course, she couldn't rub Logan's tummy. He would probably misunderstand her intentions, but the tail... that she could ask about.
He looked so conflicted that Ellis found him adorable. Her love for cats had completely turned him into a pet rather than someone she was supposed to romantically connect with. An overgrown pet who would take care of her.
"My tail?" he whispered. He took the squirming tail in his hand and looked at her pitifully.
"I won't hurt it, I promise," she said. She couldn't hold in her amusement.
He offered it up to her without another word but looked so alert that Ellis wanted to tell him she wouldn't touch it anymore.
'When I gave her Ronald's tail, she asked if she should eat it. She won't take a bite from my tail, right?' he wondered, terrified.
Instead of doing what he thought, Ellis rubbed the tip of the tail, feeling the tail squirm under her fingers. Very catlike.
She stroked the slight fur and giggled when she saw the tail stiffen. The conflicted look on Logan's face really set her off. She threw her head back and laughed. He looked on in confusion.
This was an amused sound. What was she laughing about?
Logan felt something in his stomach stir as she stroked the tail. He wouldn't call it discomfort, but he had never felt it before. Once he was sure that she wouldn't hurt him, she let him play to her heart's content.
He made a note of her delight and resigned to his fate. 'If my bride likes to play with my tail, I'll just have to go along with her wishes.'
He stayed silent for as long as she played with his tail. In the end, he started to speak softly."I have waited all my life for you. I wish to ask you something..." he trailed off. "Can I court you?"Like in the Victorian era?She was intrigued by the man but fairly disgruntled about the world she had been brought to. Letting a man court her simply because he reminded her of a loved pet didn't mean she could overcome the circumstance that led her to this planet. Moreover, a traumatic one.But Logan was sweet and earnest. She understood why he cut off his cousin's tail and presented it to her. He wanted to woo her with it like cats bring their owners prey. She realized that she would like to get to know him better before judging him.He had done everything within his custom and beyond to make her feel happy and adored. How could she ignore that?"I don't know about courting, but I would like to get to know
"Ellis," she heard someone call her. In her sleepy state, she hummed and pushed her head deeper into the pillow. When her name was called again, she groaned and covered her head with another pillow. Something tickled er nose and she tried to turn her head to get rid of it. Unfortunately, it followed her.She cracked her eye open and saw the tip of Logan's tail had slipped under the pillow and was teasing her nose. She pulled the pillow away and saw Logan sitting up beside her. His eyes twinkled with mischief; he looked so playful that her morning crankiness melted away in an instant. She smiled at him and wanted to pat his head like she would a cat."Time to wake up already?""Yes!" Laurel said from behind her. Ellis turned around and saw her standing at the edge of the depression. She grinned at Ellis, careful not to show her teeth. "You two look very cozy. I'm almost sorry to tear you apart!" she said. Ellis blinked and let out a giggle of amusemen
"I have a feeling Zotheans don't take baths, so this is a privilege only humans have." She chuckled. Laurel nodded in approval."You really are highly intelligent and adaptable." She had wonder in her voice. "It's rather weird. They take dust baths," Laurel giggled.Logan smelled pretty good, so those must have worked."You let Logan court you." The words were said more as a statement. "Good on you.""Well, he said it was like dating. As a teenager, I always thought if I could date a man who had the soul of a cat, so...""Well. You like cats but usually, women aren't able to resist Zotheans. And Logan... he's a wonderful guy. If you take him as your mate, he'll make sure you get everything you want to make you happy.""I could see that he gets upset when he thinks I am dissatisfied," Ellis told her. "I was a little shocked by the whole slave thing.""Be careful about that," Laurel warned in a low voice. "
"Today, the special market will sit, so it's the best day to take you around," Logan said softly.Ellis peered around at the open market. Stalls littered the road, covered by tarps to protect from the weather. It seemed so much like a flea market that Ellis felt right at home. People flocked the stalls and bargained and she even recognized some of the alien species from the dinners.Ellis tried her best not to stare but did peek at the aliens often.No one recognized them and for that Ellis was thankful. When she looked back, she could see that the Koln had accumulated a lot of paper in his hands. She shrugged and kept looking. Logan took her closer to the stalls so that she could look and read the signs aloud to her and explained what they were."What is that?" she asked, pointing towards an item that Logan had skipped.Logan twitched. "A tail extender," he said, filled with embarrassment. "Guaranteed to extend the length a
"You are cold." Logan frowned when he saw her cheeks flush with the chill. He brushed his finger over her cheek."It's fine," Ellis argued, unwilling to leave the market. She was learning so much about their culture from this trip to the market.Logan grabbed her wrist and led her away from the market. "We will get you inside and warm. Don't worry, you will enjoy it."The buildings they passed were tall but the walls were surrounded by decorative plans and grass, making a vertical wall garden on each building. She remembered her home town and how crowded and polluted it was and had to marvel at this well-planned city. The only litter on the floor were the fallen leaves.They finally reached their destination after walking for a few minutes. "It's one of our libraries," Logan informed her as they went into a set of doors.The man behind the desk didn't look up as he instructed them, "Please leave your Koln outside." Logan glanced t
"We have a council meeting after this. I would like for you to join me," Logan told her when they stopped at their apartment. She was made to change into a more formal looking tunic and Logan matched her. Logan even put a matching tiara on her head.Ellis felt very much like a Disney princess. She looked at herself in the mirror and had to appreciate how good she looked.Through the winding hallways they walked, Logan told her about how the Council representing different ministries came to a decision and then presented it to the Emperor for him to sign or discard."The political framework seems easy but the relationships are difficult. Most of these people have been members since my parents were on the throne, so they consider me a youngling. It's hard to earn their respect.""I understand," Ellis replied. She meant to observe and say nothing. She had no power at the moment, so she couldn't voice her opinions.Nin strode forward a
“Get up,” a female voice called. Ellis swam out of sleep and pushed herself upright, glaring at Laurel. Every morning, Laurel would barge into their room and wake her up for the daily bath. Ellis and Logan usually played a very complex game somewhat like chess late into the night and usually spoke about their childhood and education, all small talk, and went to sleep so late that Ellis was barely functioning any longer.“I hate you,” Ellis muttered. “Why are you so energetic so early in the morning?” She made a face of disgust.The nest was warm and soft and sleeping beside Logan was a novelty. Every morning she would fake sleep for a few more moments to listen to his heartbeat and his body shaking with his purrs before waking up fully and facing the world. Usually, in his sleeping state, he would stroke her back and hair.He was fascinated by her hair for
Ellis lay limply in the hot bath, staring at a woman who was clearly pregnant. As she stared, a sudden thought passed her head. Her period had yet to come. A sliver of fear passed through her that she was pregnant before her rational brain reminded her that she had not had sex for a really long time.Then she remembered that she had been taken by aliens. So, nothing was impossible."Laurel?" she whispered. The other hummed. "I haven't had my period yet. Am I pregnant?" Laurel turned to her with a peculiar look."Do I have to go over the birds and bees with you?" she asked."Well, maybe you should," Ellis hissed. "Did they plant a baby in me or something?" She probed around her body to check for any newly formed bumps."No, it is the same insert pendrive in Slot A thing. Your period won't come. Something about genetic coding. Some earlier women get their period every four or five months, but apart from that, the new com