Juliet's Surrender [Juliet's Tryst #2]

Chapter 16: It Must be Now

The message haunts her all day.

It has to be today
[read, 7:03AM]

Burner phone hidden under the pillow. Today. Refuse Dee. Denounce luxury. Save the world. A pessimistic snake of thoughts, weaving through the folds of her brain. What did her obedience gain Dee? A human wife, someone to further her agenda. A peaceful planet created by a path of death and destruction. There was just no reason to kill. 

 To die for your planet is the noblest reason of all to die for. Earth is a human planet. It was Juliet, with her alien lovesickness,  who released Kyria onto Earth. A dormant Kyrion power in the fucking ecosystem. No one knew it was her, not even Dee, who's recollection of that day centered mostly around her own affairs and wounds. Sorry, I gave away all territory the planet-Goddess Kyria, so technically this is Kyria too. We'll just have to share? 

Dee thought her wife removed from all the politics. She was wrong. Produce an heir. Further the line. Co-existence, the ambitious star filling Juliet's vision. Would it mean a dissolution to the Ruler? No. She wants representation for human interest and birthright, safety for her future child. She tasted power, and wanted to mold the world again. 

The ceremony is outside, wicker chairs and blushing guests. The wind of spring, blowing in the heat of summer. Still, one shivers without a sweater. she sat in the front, watching Eros shift from foot to foot. He was not made for that ugly tuxedo, but his faux-human frame was stuffed into one. Ill-fitting in a way that could be explained away by the excitement. He loved her so clearly that he did not even double check that the seams on his shoulder were too long. An encouraging smile. Eros was never attentive in that manner anyways. 

"You're miles away, my love," Dee's voice, thin and whispery. It was she that insisted the Ruler and Queen sit in the audience instead of presiding over the ceremony, a rare gesture from her. Juliet squeezed her thigh. 

"Just enjoying the weather." She would not see the castle again for a long time. The bride was coming, ushered in by ethereal Kyrion music, a low humming that a caveman would mistake for God. Sasha walked slowly down the aisle, her hair a beautiful round halo around her face. Her eyes lowered, demure, in a way opposite to the way she held herself at work. She was soft and strong. Graceful and in love. 

Tears have a way stinging when profound sorrow hits the body. Each tear clawing down the cheek, retribution in the form of a stolen breath. Watching Sasha and Eros clasp their hands, watching the officiant tie flowers around their wrists, heads bowed to each other in deep reverence. 

She looked up Dee, who gave her a small smile. Peaceful. Will she still love me when I come back? Fuck, loving her feels like dying. Shut up and smile. 

She sensed the the first soul then. Then more. Life-force, energy, aliveness. A machine whirring to life. An army. It has to be today. They're going to attack again. The grass shivered.

"I sense an army," she stood. Sasha and Eros did not even turn to look at her. "Guards!" 

"Who's on the fucking lookout," Juliet hissed, feeling her senses become invaded as she stifled the urge to kill them all. Snuff, a candlelight against fast approaching palm. Silence, not even  the music. In the distance, a cloud of machinery. Human and Kyrion. By now, the whole procession was overrun with Dee's soldiers, helping guests out of their chairs and off into the castle. She stood aside, watching the chaos. No one was looking. One step backwards. Then another. She ripped her tiny booties off, cursed the length of skirt while hiking it up, her feet savagely scrunching into the Earth with each step. She ran so pitched forward that with any less control, she would be jaw first in the ground. They said they would have her. Deep shit either way. A shout of alarm as her absence was finally noticed. The phone buzzed. 

Chevy Camaro, incoming from left. 
[read, 1:13PM]

Indeed, a deep rumble.  One soul inside with an energy so potent that running was impossible, but she had to keep going. Nausea crept up from inside the softness of her body as she felt her lower abdomen clench in pain. Not now. Please, Kyria, aid me. Don't let the child die. 

Dee's screaming a rumble in the distance. Get her. Too many things happening at once. All according to plan. The black beast of machinery was now in sight. This is real. It's all real. You have to save the world, now that you've destroyed it. Her eyes clenched out of pure terror and she could see herself from above. A small thing wrapped in a big sweater. 

She ran towards the car, it slowed upon its approach. The door threw itself open, and the most muscular man she had ever seen appeared out of nowhere. His muscles bulged off of his body, he was nothing but-

"Get in loser," he said. "We're going shopping." 

There are worse ways to break up with someone, right? 

Right?