"And Veldun put a curse on Daddy. He said Daddy would never know contentment, and that I was fated to be Lahon's lover. How weird is that? But I'm so happy things turned out like they did. If Lahon hadn't come into my life, I wouldn't have found Mom. And Daddy...Well, he'll just have to stew. He did it to himself, and I hope, in time, he'll learn."
Rising from the bed, Marlene felt a slight pain within her loins. Shrugging, she assumed it was her period coming on. Then again, with a womanly wicked grin, that pain might have resulted from last night's energetic lovemaking.
With a chuckle, she said to herself, "Man, is Lahon a fantastic lover! My God, we must have done it three times last night, and he's so...so forceful, so insatiable. And I want it no other way."
However, the pain would not stop. Marlene began to panic, wondering if there was something seriously wrong with her. It could be extremely painful cramps; she's had those before. It could suggest a far more serious condition. Endometritis? No, not that as Marlene had a gynecological exam just a month ago. Clean bill of health. Nothing out of the ordinary. Thank God her doctor didn't detect any sign of Marlene getting it on with a fantastical reptilian creature from another world.
Suddenly the pain stopped. Marlene swore she felt something drop from her vagina. Is it her period already? Oh no, can't have blood stains on these lovely, and very expensive satin sheets. Throwing back the covers, Marlene yelped as she saw a small bluish egg...Well, it looked like an egg...tumbling out onto the bed. It was wet to be sure, but it left no stain.
Marlene examined the odd-looking object, noting that it didn't look like an ordinary egg. It was ovoid in shape, but there was no shell, just a bluish membrane covering whatever was inside.
"What is that thing?," Marlene muttered under her breath, not wanting exactly to touch it. Stepping back from the bed, she half wanted to ring for a maid to gather the thing and dispose of it. But what if was a...tumor? Marlene didn't want to think of that, though she knew she'd need immediate medical attention.
"Oh God," she said aloud, near tears, "How to tell this to Mom and Lahon. Just when I got my life together, just when I reunited with my mother, this happens."
She had no idea this was supposed to happen, and her fears were allayed the moment her mother knocked on the door.
"Marlene? Are you up? I thought we'd spend the day shopping, have lunch, get our hair and nails done. You know, just some good old-fashioned girl stuff."
"Mom? Can you come in here...Now? There's something you should see."
Virginia, radiantly beautiful in her bottle-green slacks and matching silk blouse, entered the room all smiles and laughter. She kissed her daughter then cast her eyes to the object on the bed. She laughed then said, "No, Marlene, that isn't a tumor. It's an egg. You're expecting. And that's what Veldun was tyring to explain when you asked how the subucni reproduce."
Virginia then explained how the subucni reproduced. It wasn't easy for Marlene to comprehend at first, but once she understood what was going on inside her, then her fears about that strange little egg were alleviated.
"When a male ejaculates, he releases all that is needed for reproduction. Now, remember when Lahon explained there were no females of their kind, so they had to find human females for mating. We don't contribute a thing – just the nice warm place for the egg to grow. When it's time, the egg simply expels itself from a woman's body. Call it a incubation period of sorts. Once the egg is released, it's taken to a special incubation chamber down in the cellar. From there it is nurtured as it grows. The baby, if all is well, will hatch within six months. Marlene, it's all very easy on us. No morning sickness, no water retention, no food cravings, none of the annoying things that happen to us in regular human pregnancy. You just sit back and watch the little one grow within the egg."
That said, Ginny rang for the servant in charge of taking care of newly released eggs. Marlene, now understanding the fine points of Echerylian reproduction, asked out of curiosity, "Mom, I don't get it. You've been here for nearly thirty years; I've lived here just a few weeks. Veldun and Lahon lived here ever since Orson died. But there are human servants running the place. Do they ever question their employers...uh...appearance? I mean, with two huge, scaly, serpentine creatures roaming about the house, why haven't anyone on the outside ever heard of this place? One does hear about servants blabbing to anyone and everyone about their employers. So, how do you keep them...um...quiet?"
"Marlene, when I initially arrived here, that was before Orson died, I asked myself that very question. So I asked Orson: Why don't the servants ever notice these creatures? He told me his servants never see them, but I didn't figure it out until–"
"Until what?"
"Until I delivered my egg, which would be Lahon. When I summoned the servant to take it to the chamber, I noticed something odd. Did you get a good look at your personal maid? Notice how she's always polite, obeidient, neat, and never complains. The servants are robots, droids so to speak."
Marlene blinked. Did she hear her mother correctly?
"Mom, that's an impossibility. Robots – human droids – are the stuff of science fiction. Why didn't Lahon tell me?"
Ginny laughed softly. "Marlie, did you ever wonder why Orson was such a recluse? He was an experimental scientist, dabbled in all kinds of stuff. He, through one of his projects, stumbled up Echeryl and got to know its inhabitants. As Veldun said, Orson Gilliam is probably, excluding your father, the only human male to have seen them. He learned of their history, habits, peculiar mating habits, and became intrigued. By the time Veldun came here, Orson already knew Harlan married but never met the wife: Me."
"But, Mom, robot servants?"
"Think of it, Marlie. Orson built an army of servants from cooks to maids to footmen. There's no one to pay, no one to steal their employer blind, and no one to blab to the outside world about this place, or of its inhabitants. This is why your father never figured it out, that is where I was. He thought Veldun spirited me away to some remote planet."
Marlene was still too astonished at her mother's confession about the servants. Being the expectant mother of Lahon's offspring was daunting enough. No sooner had Virginia spoke a female servant briskly entered the room and scooped the egg into a special container. No questions, no comments. The servant completed the task efficiently and without complaints.
"Uh, Mom," said Marlie after the servant left the room, "Will I have to parent the baby? You know, do all the motherly things, cuddle it, play with it..."
"Well, if you think that will satisfy any maternal instinct. Veldun said the subucni offspring are usually nurtured by the fathers, but when Lahon was born, I couldn't help myself. I picked him up and cuddled him just as I would a human infant."
"That's another thing. Is Lahon technically my brother? Just that with all these revelations about you and Veldun, then learning I'm pregnant...Hey! Doesn't that make my little one your grandson?"
Ginny laughed as she replied, "No, not really. Veldun explained it all when I voiced some objections to Lahon courting you. In the human world, Lahon would be your brother because he was planted inside my body. But no, technically you're not related, so there's no fear of incest."
That said, Ginny smiled, hugged her daughter then told her, "Don't worry, Marlie. Everything will be fine. Now, why don't you get dressed, then we can join our lovers downstairs for breakfast. Afterwards, we can get our hats on and go shopping."
Marlene returned the hug, saying, "OK, Mom. But I really can't stay out too long. I need to practice for the concert tonight."
Virginia snapped her fingers as she said, "Oh my goodness. I nearly forgot that. I'm really looking forward to seeing your little group perform. I understand you're getting very good reviews."
Then Marlene thought of something. "I'd really like Lahon and his father to be there, but they can't for obvious reasons."
"Oh, I believe there is something we can work out."
Marlene wondered what her mother meant by that.
°°°°°°
The recital hall was packed with music lovers from all over town. However, a few came out of curiosity, namely an older couple who had to see for themselves if a particular cellist was as good as everyone claimed. The woman, seated next to her companion, whispered something in his ear, and he merely nodded as the curtain raised.
On stage were six musicians, one of which was touted as the best cellist in the area. The woman indicated the lovely young lady tuning her instrument then whispered, "That's her, Harlan. Will you at least talk to her after the concert?"
Harlan Prentice, not really a classical music fan, nodded, whispering back, "If Marlene is civil to me, then I'll speak to her. However, I doubt she'll be very happy to hear our news."
In the upper terrace, another woman settled beside her male companions. She, too, noticed Harlan and Annette seated down on the main floor, and she wondered how they would respond to Marlene's growing musical prowess. No doubt Harlan would say Marlie was wasting her time. She turned to her companions, saying, "I hear Harlan and Annette married last week. How typical of them, not informing Marlene of the nuptials. The poor girl had to hear about it via society gossip."
The handsome man seated next to her said, "Now, Ginny. We came to hear Marlene's ensemble perform, to be enthralled by her virtuosity. When the time comes, I want to meet your ex-husband and his new bride. I have a few words for him..."
"Shh!," said Virginia, "The recital is about to start."
°°°°°°
"Oh, Marlie, you were wonderful! I didn't know you could play so well. That solo in the Brahms sextet was fantastic."
Backstage, Virginia gushed her compliments as Marlene packed up her cello. Naturally, Marlie had hoped her lover and his father could attend the recital, but she completely understood why they didn't. It pleased her when Lahon saw her off, and she was even more happy when she told him the good news: a little subucni was now in the incubator awaiting hatching. "He will be our joy, Marlene," he said, caressing her in that special way that made her shiver with desire and contentment. She just wished at least Lahon was here now, gleefully complimenting her performance. However...
So ecstatic she was with the impending offspring and yet another successful performance, Marlene didn't notice the two handsome gentlemen who accompanied her mother. She had to ask, "Mom, who are these gentlemen? Some friends of yours?"
Virginia laughed as she took Marlene aside, replying, "Marlie, before introductions, there is something you should know." She deftly whispered a few words which made Marlene blanch.
"Huh?," she said unblinkingly, "It can't be!"
The two men approached Marlene, the first saying, "Miss Prentice, or should I say, Miss Biald."
Marlene picked up on this right away as both she and her mother received new surnames. As life-mates of Echerylian subucnis, they decided to drop the "Prentice" – Why keep a surname they've come to despise? So a few days earlier, Veldun, in a time-honored ritual, bestowed upon the ladies "Biald", an ancient Echerylian word meaning "Beloved". Naturally Marlene wanted her new surname printed in the recital program. She wondered if her father and new bride bothered to notice the change.
Anyway, with eyes wide with astonishment, she said, "Veldun, is that you? But how did you manage to...And I suppose your companion is...Lahon? But how? Why didn't you tell me you could shape-shift?"
Veldun laughed lustily, his darkly handsome features quite pleasing to the eye. He said, "While it rare, we shape-shift only when it is very necessary. Your mother expressed a wish that we come to hear your lovely music. And I can say I am very pleased to know my son is paired with a woman of incredible talent."
Blushing, Marlene shifted her eyes to the handsome young man approaching. So, this man with the twinkling golden eyes, wavy black hair, and sparkling white teeth is Lahon in human form. While she became accustomed to him in his usual reptilian shape, Lahon as a human was quite appealing. She rushed to him then kissed his fervently. "Lahon, you and your father came after all. And you shape-shifted for me. Say, how did you like the recital?"
"I was thouroughly enchanted. Your musical skills have improved tenfold in so short a time since taking up the instrument again. May I request a private performance this evening?"
Just as Marlene was about to reply, she detected two familiar, albeit unwelcome, figures approaching.
"Oh joy. It's Dad and Annette. Now what? I know he'll rub it in that he married the bitch, and I know both of them will find it necessary to 'critique' my performance. Dad really hates classical music, and Annette will egg him on in tearing me down. Hey, what will he think when he sees Mom? And what will they make of you and your father?" Then it dawned on her. "Oh no, tell me you won't give yourselves away."
Lahon grinned, the perfect white teeth temporarily transforming back the familiar silver. He said with a sly twinkle in his eye, "Do not worry, my love. My father and I have some choice words for Harlan Prentice and his new bride."
Go to The Conclusion
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