2132:Phoenix

Chapter 19

"I'm glad you two came to your senses. Really healing you would have been a pain," Vinnepus crooned. He removed his gloves as I sat as far back on my seat as I could. I felt violated after his exam, but was glad there were no cameras in the room they were holding us in. I'd never been to a "woman's doctor" as my mom had called it, but anything had to have been better than a cruel alien being my first exam.

"Did you have fun?" It revolted me that he asked. I was so stressed out last night I could barely see straight. It took forever to relax enough to lay down, and after that, I just tried to lay still.

"Stressing isn't good when you're trying to get pregnant. You should relax."

"Blow yourself Vinnepus," I growled. I was so fed up with his snarking bull crap. He wasn't the one locked in a room being forced to breed like a dog. He was the bastard who put me up to it in the first place. Now he wanted to joke about it. It was like some sick joke to him.

"I have someone else to do that for me. You know before you're pregnant I can get you something that acts like alcohol. Might relax you a bit."

"Are you done?"

"Just need you to eat, and I can send you back." He fed me the same food they'd been feeding me, but it tasted different than usual.

"What did you put in this?" He looked at the food strangely, checked his notes, then back at the food.

"There shouldn't be anything in it?" He tried the food but didn't taste anything weird and told me to finish it. I demanded a new plate, which he obliged.

"If it will get you to stop complaining," Vinnepus mumbled. It still tasted different, but he insisted it was fine and sent me back to my room. So much for me needing to eat.

I got back to the room, but Calepus wasn't there and it worried me. We were supposed to be in this room for a while, he didn't have a reason to not be here. Sitting alone with my thoughts was something I hated recently. I'd been trapped in my mind for so long, that I didn't want to be stuck in it any longer. Nothing was real in my head, it created a whole world without my knowledge, and trapped me.

My brain was supposed to protect me, not entrap me in some realistic prison for my captors' gain.

How will I know if they ever do that to me again? What if I'm stuck in my head right now, and they're studying me or using me. What if I die like this; never knowing what's real and what's not, what if I die in my own head. Who would care? They all probably think I'm dead already. No one would know or care if I die in my head, I'd be less trouble if I was dead.

"Lexi!" I turn to realize Calepus was standing behind me. "What's wrong?"

"Where'd you go?"

"Just a workout. They said I'd be back before you got here." He sighed and sat on the floor next to me. He seemed nervous, I hope it's not because of me. "How was your checkup?"

"We did what they asked." I still can't believe I am trapped in this mess. I feel like that's all I think about, but what else is there to worry about at the moment. I'm a dog to be bred.

"Do you want to go again tonight?"

"I want..." What did I want? I wanted to make him happy, I wanted to try to enjoy myself. I didn't want to be miserable. I wanted to learn to adapt.

"Do you think you could have fun," I asked? His face seemed to contort into something akin to disgust as he grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.

"I will not have fun as long as you're coerced into it. It should be your choice, not that bastard in the lab. I'm sorry that you're in this mess, that your first time was like that, and that I couldn't make you comfortable. I can't enjoy this... not when I know you don't have any other choice." He seemed pained that he had to say that, but I could feel the anger dripping off of him. This situation was taking a toll on him, but if he was angry we wouldn't have any chance at escape.

"It's not you..."

"I know," he assured. Slick scales pressed against my skin like ice. I hadn't realized how hot I was.

"You are extremely beautiful," Calepus murmured and pressed a kiss to my nose. I couldn't help but chuckle. He was so good at finding a way to make me laugh. I knew it was because he could read my mind, but I felt as if I could start to feel what he was thinking as well. It gave me reassurance that I could trust him and I appreciated it. I didn't know if he was transmitting the feelings to me, or if our brains had just become intertwined after months of collaborating to create a realistic prison.

"We could try to make it less miserable," I spoke against his lips like I'd done a dozen times before, but it felt a bit different this time. It felt warmer than yesterday, or even when we were imprisoned.

"We can try whatever you want, whatever you think will make you happy."

"You make me happy." He smiled stupidly when I bit his lip and slowly pushed my back against the floor.

"Same rules apply," he murmured against my neck. I tried to smile, but it still felt awkward. He meant that whenever I needed him to stop he would, all I had to do was ask. I wouldn't ask though, then I might lose my nerve and I'd be in a situation tomorrow.