Deceit (The Stellar Series Book 1) Read online

  “What do you mean, I was born here?” My palms start to sweat. I try to take a deep breath, but I can’t. Panic settles deep within and all I want is to wake up. I know I’m just dreaming; I’m not here, or anywhere. “I’m obviously dreaming, as usual.”

  “No one has told you yet?” His voice rises in pitch and I can tell he’s confused. “You’re a half-breed. All half-breeds come home at the human age of seventeen. Elena hasn’t mentioned this fact?”

  “Elena? Are you talking about my mother?” How did he know my mom’s name?

  He tenses up. “Yes. She isn’t really your mother. She is your guardian, sent to watch over you.”

  This is too much to be believable. “Okay, so you’re telling me that my mother isn’t my mother, and I’m a half-breed from Puma-whatever-it-is?” I laugh. Hysterically. I occasionally do that when I get nervous. “And I’m ‘home’?” Despite my skepticism, worry flushes over me as I entertain his crazy notions. “Oh, yes, and Elena is my guardian. If that is true, then where are my real parents? This is absurd. You’re crazy!”

  “It’s actually Pumalia, not Puma. I’m not sure why you keep coming here. Your birthday is tomorrow, and at that point, the dreamlike state that you believe you are in becomes more frequent. Typically, the one being reintroduced to Pumalia knows at this point what’s going to happen during their transition. However, you still have no idea who you really are?” Avoiding eye contact with me, he places his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

  Could this be true? My life isn’t what it seems? That’s impossible. I cling to the fact that this dream will soon be over and I can return to some normalcy. “That’s not funny. How do you know it’s my birthday tomorrow?”

  “Once again, Alexa, you must wait. I can’t answer these questions. I shouldn’t have told you as much as I have.”

  I can tell he feels bad, though not enough to admit to this horrible prank. I clench my fists and my body rocks. I get right in his face. “Jax, right? Let me tell you something. This sick, twisted game is over. Take me home, wake me up, do whatever it is that you do to make me go back to my life. I’ve heard enough.”

  He shifts his stance and clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable. “It’s not that easy.”

  “What do you mean, it’s not that easy?”

  “A half-breed is a being from two different planets. We call all alien or different life forms ‘beings.’ Alexa, right now, you have the ability to come and go through your dreams as often as you want. When a half-breed turns seventeen, it’s no longer safe to go back and forth from your human life to your Pumalian life—in fact, it’s forbidden. Laws have been created to prohibit travel to and from Earth and other planets. Because you’re still dreaming, you can wake up whenever you want. However, tomorrow this will change.”

  He clearly knows what he’s talking about, even if he does sound ridiculous. His confident demeanor and knowledge make me wonder if this crazy story is actually true. What does he mean when he says “safe”? Earth isn’t safe? I’ve lived here all my life. I have a dance to go to tomorrow night, not some stupid make-believe planet. Can I wake up, already?

  I realize it’s almost time to wake up, because he’s beginning to disappear. I glance behind me. The tree-lined field is also dissolving. Quickly, I peer back at Jax and he offers me a wave and a small smile just before he vanishes.

  I know I’m next. I gaze down at my hands and can see the ground through them. Soon, I’ll be awake and trying to make sense of this nightmare.

  As my eyes snap open, I find myself face to face with the cat. I search my surroundings to ensure I’m in my bed. These dreams make me wonder if I’m losing my mind. Maybe I need to see a doctor.

  Quickly I jump out of bed and glance at the calendar on my wall. “Today’s the day,” I crow. “Not only is it my birthday, but the homecoming dance is tonight.” Excitement grows in the pit of my stomach, swirling and tickling my insides.

  My excitement plummets when I see the time: 11:00 a.m. My mother hasn’t come in to wake me for my annual birthday-bash breakfast? Maybe she wants me to be well rested for my big night.

  Usually by now, the smells of my birthday feast should be wafting into my bedroom, but I don’t smell any pancakes, bacon, or sausage. I grab my sweatshirt and throw it on, then fly down the stairs, ready to lay the guilt trip on my mother for not preparing my birthday breakfast.

  Silence greets me at the bottom of the stairs. No food, no coffee, nothing. It’s all too quiet and extremely odd. I search in the family room and my mom’s bedroom, but she’s nowhere. I peek into the garage, only to see her parked car there, as usual.

  Maybe she got a call and had to rush into work, and maybe she was picked up? I search for a note on the counter. Nothing. Very strange. I pick up the house phone and dial her cell phone. The ringing goes right through to her voicemail. I notice her blue-and-white, polka-dot purse sitting in its usual place on the counter. Everything indicates she’s here, but she isn’t.

  This is crazy.

  Maybe I should call the police. No. “Okay, relax, Alexa,” I admonish myself. “She probably went running or for a walk. That’s why her stuff is here and she isn’t.” For a moment, the thought comforts me. Even though I don’t really believe it.

  I force myself to walk back upstairs to take a shower. Scary scenarios play in my mind as I squeeze the banister. With each step, I picture her in danger or hurt.

  “Alexa, stop this craziness,” I murmur out loud. “You can’t be thinking like this. You’ll take a shower, and by the time you get out, she’ll be home.”

  I grab a nice, fluffy, brown towel from the linen closet and turn on the shower. I step in and the hot water rinses away my worried thoughts.

  These weird, night-after-night dreams are really messing with my psyche. Dreaming of strange places isn’t a foreign idea for me, but I always thought of it more like a fairytale rather than an actual dream.

  When I close my eyes in an effort to wash away my latest dream, Jax’s mysteriously enchanting blue eyes and pouty lips pop into my mind. I slowly rinse the conditioner out of my hair and make a silent agreement with myself to stop thinking about a make-believe person, even if he is gorgeous.

  Opening my eyes, I try to focus on the real problem. Where is my mother? I need to believe that when I get out of the shower, she’ll be downstairs concocting enough breakfast for five, as usual.

  I hear something downstairs when I step out of the shower—footsteps and dishes clanking together. I smile. I bet she’s whipping up my breakfast. She’s definitely down there doing something. Relief washes over me. How silly I was to worry.

  I quickly towel-dry my hair and throw on my favorite gray sweatpants and matching pink and gray hoodie. I wonder where we will be shopping today. I need to find the perfect dress for the dance tonight.

  “Mom!” No answer.

  She probably can’t hear me because she’s throwing in laundry. I toss my towel on the bathroom floor and bolt down the stairs. No breakfast cooking, still no coffee prepared. This is so strange. I know I heard her down here.

  I head for the living room, hoping to see her reading the morning newspaper on the leather love seat. As I turn the corner from the kitchen into the living room, I see him.

  I blink a few times, not believing that what I see is real. My heart starts to pound in my chest and a warm numbness crawls up my neck. I must be dreaming. How can he be here?

  My body trembles and my stomach tenses and I struggle for air. My mouth becomes dry and I know what’s going to happen next. Black spots enter my peripheral vision—and that’s the last thing I can see.

  I try to blink the dark spots away, but it doesn’t work. “What did you do to my mother?” My voice is unsteady and small, but I’m sure he heard me.

  My ears start to ring and I know I can’t prevent the inevitable. I listen to my heartbeat in my ears and attempt to linger, but my conscious moments are dwindling. My knees buckle. I slowly fold down like an accordion
and everything goes black.

  Chapter Five

  “Alexa! Alexa, wake up!” His voice drops to a mutter. “I can’t believe she fainted. This is why we integrate slowly and guide them through the transition.” He sighs in frustration and I can sense him rising, moving away from me. “This would never have happened, had she been treated like all other half-breeds.”

  I can hear Jax as he paces in the kitchen beside me. I can hear everything he’s saying, but I’m not ready to open my eyes because none of this makes sense. I’m not ready for this.

  His footsteps pause beside me. “Can you hear me, Alexa?”

  He’s pacing again. “I knew she was in the bathroom. How else could I let her know I was here without scaring her?”

  I want to laugh because he’s in a full-blown conversation with himself.

  He pauses again. His voice turns thoughtful. “Her skin is paler in person. When she teleports, she appears darker. And taller. Something seems off with this integration.”

  “I can hear you.” I blink my eyelids multiple times, squinting, preparing for the rush of light. I can’t let him go on about me while I listen. It’s embarrassing.

  He drops to his knees beside me. “Alexa, are you okay? How is your head?” he anxiously asks. “You bumped it on the floor when you fell.”

  Instantly, I bring my hand to my head and wince in pain. He watches, his face a mixture of concern and relief. He probably thought he’d killed me. Or maybe he hoped he had.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Am I dreaming?” I wonder out loud.

  “No,” he murmurs.

  “I believe you were saying something about how I appear shorter in person,” I say archly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Well, it isn’t anything bad, but ninety percent of the time, teleports appear exactly the same everywhere. Looking at you now, I notice you appear different, here on Earth. You’re still beautiful,” he adds, “but you appear somewhat more delicate.”

  “Oh, okay, I thought you were calling me short. Now I’m beautiful?” Half of me wants him to say it again, but I don’t give him the chance to disappoint me, so I quickly ask, “Why are you here, anyway? What did you do with my mother?”

  “Alexa, do you remember my name?” I sit up slowly and Jax reaches across and touches my hand. As soon as he does, I pull back. “I’m not going to hurt you. Please don’t be scared.”

  “I’m not dreaming?”

  “No, you’re not dreaming. However, we’ve met in your dreams. You have been teleporting frequently to Pumalia. Do you remember any of those visits?” he asks.

  “Yes.” My face flushes as I recall all the moments I’ve daydreamed about him and his gorgeous physique.

  “Okay. So you know my name and who or what you are?”

  “Your name is Jax. You claim to live on a faraway planet. You also told me that I would live there as well because I belong there. But all that was a dream and now I’m awake and you’re in my home.” I try to reply with little to no sarcasm, but I can’t help myself. It comes out in a skeptical, singsong tone.

  He sits back. “Are you always this rude? Or are you making a special exception for me?”

  “I’m not being rude. I’m just irritated. Everything is so confusing and I really can’t tell if I’m dreaming or if this is for real,” I admit.

  He sighs. “Okay, let’s start over. All of what I’ve told you is true. We must leave now—it’s time for you to go home.”

  I stand up and search my surroundings only to see that my house appears the same. Surprisingly, nothing is moved or altered. The only thing obviously different is that my mom is still missing and the Greek god from my dream is standing in my kitchen.

  “Where is my mother? What did you do with her?” Panic runs through me. Something isn’t right. An uneasy sense stalks through my body, leaving me sick to my stomach. He comes off as being kind and helpful, but maybe he did something to her.

  “Alexa, please trust me. She’s okay, and we will see her once we get back. Your guardian has already been picked up. We really need to leave. I want you to trust me and come with me of your own accord. But if it comes down to it, I’ll drug you with medication and drag you out of here.”

  He’ll drug me? Who does this jerk think he is? I can’t believe I thought he was attractive. “I’m sleeping, I’m sleeping, I’m sleeping…” I spin around and stare at him directly in the eyes. “Do you know where my mother is?”

  “Yes.”

  “Take me to her.” I respond with clenched teeth. Before he can comment, I pivot and head for the door. I need to stay calm and find her before I lose my nerve.

  One minute I’m dreaming, the next thing I know, I’m awake and my dreams have followed me into the real world. Why does he keep staring at me like that? It’s my birthday; I’m going to a dance tonight. I’m going to do normal, fun, teenager things. This can’t be happening right now.

  I feel nervous leaving the house because a large part of me is waiting to wake up to the sound of my mother singing happy birthday in her usual off-key, soprano voice.

  “Jax, how are we going to get to my mother? If she’s on Puma or whatever you call it, are we going to go there, too?” That must have been a stupid question because I can see the corners of his mouth starting to curve upward in a smart-ass smirk. “Are my questions entertaining you?” I don’t give him time to respond. “I would appreciate some answers. I at least deserve that.”

  “Yes, we’re going to Pumalia. Your guardian is there. To see her, we need to get in the starship and go.”

  Now it’s my turn to laugh. “I’m sorry, did you say starship?”

  Jax points across the street to a silver car that looks a lot like my neighbor’s ordinary, four-door sedan. I follow him toward it, expecting to wake up at any moment.

  “Okay, so we’re driving there in a car. You should have just said that.” This will be interesting. We’re taking the starship-sedan to find my mom on a different planet. “How long is this going to take? I have plans for tonight.”

  “Clearly, you don’t understand, Alexa. You don’t belong here. You’re not from here. You’re going home. Haven’t you ever felt out of place here?”

  His words resonate. I start to think maybe he isn’t all that crazy. Maybe this place we are going to is my home.

  “Jax, I need to at least tell my date Michael I won’t be going to the dance with him tonight. I don’t want him to think I stood him up.” I’m not sure how I feel about that. How will I be able to explain this to him? I need to find my mom, but I can’t simply call Michael and say, “Hi, I’m being abducted by aliens and I hope to be back later for the dance, but I’m not sure.” He definitely won’t ever talk to me again if I do that.

  “Okay, why don’t you just text him and tell him you’re ill? He won’t remember you after tomorrow, anyway.” As soon as the words come out of his mouth, his eyes widen and he squeezes his lips together—he realizes he has made a mistake. He’s right.

  “What?” My breathing becomes labored and I feel as if I’ll black out again.

  “Alexa, I’m sorry to throw all of this at you, but we really have to go, and quickly. Everything will be explained to you, I promise.” He does seem sympathetic, but I could be dreaming, I remind myself. Or he could be a serial killer.

  Either way, I have to get my mom back. I follow Jax across the street to the silver car. He opens my door first. “What a gentlemen,” I drawl. “You can open my car door, but you couldn’t knock on the front door this morning?” He didn’t answer and I didn’t expect him to. I could tell I was aggravating him.

  Inside, I’m unsurprised by how much the interior resembles a standard car. There’s a steering column and a wheel, though it’s a smaller-than-standard version. The dashboard lights are orange and the seats are black bucket seats like those in my mom’s Honda Accord. So far, I’m not impressed with this so-called journey to Pumalia in the starship.

  His eyes twinkle and
I’m transfixed. “We’re almost ready; put on your safety belt.” I reach my right hand up to retrieve my belt, but it’s not there. Jax reaches across me, his tan, muscular arm skimming against my chest. Chills run up my arms and my face heats, but before I can truly be embarrassed by my reaction, my seat attacks me.

  “What was that?” I shriek. “You could have warned me.”

  “That’s a safety harness. We will be traveling at light speed and it’s important that you’re secure in your seat.” He can’t help but grin at my outburst. His playful smugness is annoying.

  All I really want to do is break into laughter. He’s so serious, talking about safety in this car that resembles any other normal sedan on the street. “This starship is a lot like my neighbor’s Nissan Sentra. How are we going to get to some planet in this?” I roll my eyes at him and watch as he presses his own button on the door that releases a harness from his seat.

  He adjusts some gauges and buttons on the dash and I wait for something big. A big takeoff, an explosion, something—but instead we just roll on down my little lonely street.

  “We might not have a lot of time. We need to do this before someone sees us. Hold onto the door, Alexa. We have to move fast. I don’t normally take off in the daytime. And for the record, this isn’t an ordinary car. It’s a starship. And once again, it travels at the speed of light, so hold on.”

  “Okay…whatever you say.” I grab the shiny, silver bar on the door.

  The car comes to an abrupt stop on Garfield Street. I thought we had to move fast; what happened? I turn to Jax and watch as a sly grin spreads across his face. I know he has something in store for me. I’m just not sure what it is.

  “Wait, I need to tell Michael I won’t be able to go to the dance. I almost forgot.” I pull my phone from my pocket and quickly text: Hi Michael! I can’t make it to the dance tonight. I’m not feeling well. I’ll see you at school Monday. – Alexa. I hit Send and try to ignore the pang of guilt that strikes. I really hate to lie to him.