Page 4 of Alien in the Depths
Zaraq
“Do all humans talk this much?” Zaraq teased.
The girl gasped in outrage. “You’re the one who keeps asking questions!” she replied, shoving his shoulder.
He laughed. “I’m just kidding. I love hearing stories about other planets and people.”
Sofia eyed him. “Me, too. I’m obsessed with collecting stories, the wilder the better.” She smiled at him. Her long ponytail swung as she turned forward. “Oh, look, there’s light up ahead!”
Zaraq followed her into the cave, the smell of sulfur heavy in the air. He instantly started sweating from the heat of the steam floating atop the pools in front of them.
Sofia’s eyes were wide as she cataloged the space. She pulled out a device and started clicking on it. Zaraq leaned closer, seeing the tiny image of the cavern on a screen.An image-capturing device, then,he mused.
“This is incredible,” Sofia murmured as she packed the camera away. “It’s definitely safe to swim in. Right?”
“Well, I haven’t died yet, so I’d say so.” Zaraq smiled at her, placed his bag down, and lifted his shirt over his head in a smooth movement. Sofia quickly averted her eyes but not before he saw a glimmer of interest fill them.Interesting.
Sofia plonked her bag down and dug through her things for a moment. She pulled out a two-piece swimsuit, the bright orange fabric almost making his eyes water.
“I’ll just change back in the tunnel,” she said over her shoulder as she walked back to where they’d entered. Zaraq smirked. He waited until she disappeared before toeing off his boots and dropping his pants.
Left only in his briefs, he walked into the nearest pool. The warmth immediately soaked through his skin, and he lay back against the edge with a contented sigh.
He was glad he’d chosen the “haunted” catacombs for his hideout. In the days he’d been here, he hadn’t seen any ghosts—not that he believed in them—and due to the fear associated with this place, few others ventured in to discover him.
Zaraq’s mind drifted to his current company. Usually, he would have avoided strangers like the plague, but something about Sofia drew him in. He’d watched her hike down to the entrance of the caverns, her face lit up with excitement. He couldn’t help but follow her as she made her way through the caves, and when she found the glowing crystals, he had an undeniable urge to share in her amazement.
“Ugh, I don’t know why they make these so difficult to tie! Could you give me a hand?” Zaraq turned slowly, freezing when he saw Sofia. Her lean body was barely covered in the swimsuit, her arm twisted backward to hold the tie behind her back. He stood, clearing his throat before he could speak.
“Sure, what do you need?”
“Just tie this in a bow for me, please. I can’t reach.” She slipped into the pool and splashed over to him, turning her back.
Zaraq studied the ties and gently took them from her grip. He noticed her shiver when his knuckle brushed against her back, withholding a shiver himself. Her skin was smooth, and he stolesmall touches as he tied the strings into a bow. Zaraq found himself standing closer to her than strictly necessary, his heart pounding from the sight of her exposed curves.
Sofia dropped the hair she’d been holding up out of his way and turned around. “Oh my god, this water is amazing!” She dropped to a nearby ledge and leaned back against the edge, spreading her arms out. “I could live here,” she said wistfully.
Zaraq laughed, grateful the tension had been broken. “And what if General Kotumbir makes an appearance? Do you really want to meet the legend wearing that?”
She huffed, sitting upright and glaring at him. “General Kotumpa or whatever should be so lucky! I don’t imagine he’s been getting much down here,” she added with a laugh.
Zaraq grinned. “Kotumbir,” he corrected. “And he would be lucky, indeed.” He raised an eyebrow.
Sofia blushed but shook it off quickly. “So that’s his name? Do you know his story? The real one, not the legends and rumors,” she added, pointing a finger at him.
Zaraq settled back into his spot. “It’s not as interesting as the legends make it out to be, just really sad. He was a general in the Orcan War. The catacombs here are where all his enemies were buried. When he died, he wanted to be buried here so he could keep an eye on them in the afterlife.”
“Orcan? Like orcs? I didn’t know space had orcs!” Sofia exclaimed eagerly.
Zaraq shook his head. “Orcs? No, it was a war fought for the lands of Orcania. The locals were barbarians. Cannibals and the like. They were mostly independent until they came across a princess and…” He grimaced. “Well, they ate her. Your brother-in-law’s ancestors took that as a sign and marched on them with the full force of the army.”
Zaraq glanced at Sofia, taking in her wide eyes filled with unmistakable excitement. She bounced slightly with anxious energy, causing a ripple to travel across the pool.
“How did he die? General Kotumbir, I mean. I assume the takeover was successful if most of them are buried here?”
Zaraq nodded. “That’s the funniest part of the story. After the war, he went back home to find his wife had collected multiple lovers in his absence. He reciprocated by creating his own harem, and his wife killed him in a jealous rage.” He grinned at the shock on Sofia’s face.
“That can’t be true. Come on, you’re bullshitting me!” She splashed water toward him, just missing his face. Zaraq laughed out loud, dodging the second wave directed at him.