'It will be okay, James.'

He nodded slightly. '…Do Adremedians never fight?'

'Occasionally, among themselves, but never with another group.'

'Why is that?'

'For the most part, Humans have forgotten about our existence; Gerrabellas get no real pleasure from killing Adremedians because we cannot scream as Humans do when wounded.'

'You're lucky.'

'No, I don't think we are.'

'How can you say that?' he asked, moving her away. 'Lilly, you have been spared the rush of battle and watching your people fall around you.'

'My people have been spared…. I have not been.'

'What do you mean?'

'As I've watched many battles over the years. Part of me is drawn into the middle of it. You speak of watching your companions die during a fight. I've seen it and watched the enemy slaughter Humans by the thousands because their strength to keep fighting has failed them.' Lilly's own tears fell as countless battles came to mind, including these last two that James fought. 'There are times when I wish my people could experience one such battle, just to realize how sheltered they are.' Her head hung.

'How can that be if you're watching from a distance?'

'Because I am part Human.' Her shoulders shook.

James pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. 'I'm sorry.'

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'Don't be. …It saved your life,' she cried quietly.

More tears filled James' eyes. She had watched him fall? What about the other war he fought? Had she seen him fall then as well? He held her until he felt something change inside himself. Letting go of Lilly, he got up and stood next to the table. What was this feeling? He hadn't ever felt this way before and didn't recognize it. Lilly moved behind him and wrapped her arms around to his chest. Her body seemed to s.h.i.+ver in both horror and pleasure. He turned to look at her and blood ran down the grooves in her face. Her eyes were completely black like that of a Gerrabella.

'Lie with me, Love. Sacrifice this Adremedian wimp and allow me to become as you are, Gerrabella and Human.'

James forced her away. 'No.'

'Come, James. Love me,' Lilly said moving towards him again.

'You're not Lilly!'

'No, I'm stronger than Lilly, suitable for bearing you strong children.'

'I want Lilly.'

'She's tied up at the moment. Sacrifice her and let me Be.'

James watched the colors of Adremedian poisons s.h.i.+mmer across her lips. The Gerrabella that possessed Lilly touched his arm and the strange feeling returned. This was the Gerrabella blood inside of him, wanting that pleasure to be fulfilled. Why else would this be happening to Lilly? He lifted her chin, but she turned away. Gerrabellas didn't kiss. Grabbing her chin firmly he brought up the Adremedian desires and kept it there while he brought up the Human desires as well.

Her fingers dug into his chest and tried to pull away, but he kept a strong hold on her, keeping the two desires intertwined. Her body fought more fervently as he maneuvered her closer to the bed. Pulling out his knife he cut both their clothes off and held her captive on the bed. His kiss released as he spoke the Adremedian's creation words. Her body fought and he thought he could hear screaming while he caressed and more fully aroused the Human pa.s.sion within Lilly. Soon the resistance to his work slowed and turned into willing submission. Lilly melted into the bed beneath him allowed him to enter her being to secure the real Lilly in place.

When it was over, James slowly pulled away from Lilly. She was breathing hard, but once he started to lay beside her, Lilly rolled off the bed. Her cold, bare figure knelt in the sunny spot on the floor and shook. James found a warm cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders before he found new clothes for them.

'Lilly?' James asked touching her shoulder.

She didn't turn and her shaking increased.

He s.h.i.+fted beside her so he could see her face. Black stuff, almost the consistency of pitch, ran down the grooves on her face and splashed on the floor. Red streaks spread horizontally across her cheeks and made the skin look scarred.

'Lilly, will you look at me?'

She shook her head and the black stuff fell faster. He heard her whine in pain as the black stuff continued to come. It seemed to James that it would never end. Then a large blood droplet escaped and cleansed the last of the black filth from her face. Her shaking stopped and she was still.

'Lilly.'

'Thank you, James.'

He held her close for a long while then helped her to her feet so she could get cleaned up and dressed. James sat on the edge of the bed and stared away. It wasn't until Lilly touched his cheek, looking concerned, that he looked up. He pulled her close and rested his head against her stomach.

'James?'

'Yes, Lilly?'

'How did you know to bring up both Adremedian and Human desires?'

'Because you've told me more than once that you were both.' He smiled softly.

'You could have given in, for Gerrabellas and Humans make love the same way.'

'I fell in love with and married an Adremedian. I wouldn't change it for the world just because making love is different.'

'How did you know it was what I needed?'

'Your poisoned lips and the Gerrabella's reaction when I tried to kiss you. Also, after I kissed you and brought the Adremedian out it seemed like something was missing. I brought up the Human part and it became complete.'

Her hand moved over his bald head as she said quietly, 'I'm sorry you had to fight me.'

'Wrong, Lilly. I fought for you.' James stood and kissed her.

After he broke away, he lay down for a while. He slept for a few hours. When he woke, food was brought in and they ate.

Carthago came in a short while later requesting that James join him in the council room. He nodded solemnly and finished eating.

In the council room James met with Carthago and the other Generals. He looked a lot older than he was because of the scars and lack of hair, but they discussed what they had heard concerning the Gerrabellas. It sounded like they were gathering an even larger army, but they were confused as to how that was possible given that they had brought almost all of their forces this last time.

"How are they finding this manpower?" the Generals wondered.

"Reproduction," James replied.

"That could take years."

"By our standards. Gerrabellas are faster. The king can fill you in, a.s.suming he kept the research."

"I did, James." Carthago sent a servant to grab those sheets for him.

They discussed the fighting style of the Gerrabellas and how to counteract their weapons—in one on one fighting and in fortress fighting—when James felt ill. He excused himself, but only got to the door before he collapsed. James sleep was not restful. Often he woke with his face scrunched in pain and he cried out. Lilly remained close, getting him to drink or eat something before he slept some more. More often than not, when he was awake, he just wanted to hold her and tell her how much he loved her.