AREA 69: An Alien Invasion Romance Novel Read online

  “What kind of help?”

  “They don’t tolerate the moon very well.”

  Deriston glanced over his shoulder before leaning in and dropping his voice to a whisper.

  “You mean Moonshade?” he said.

  Veronica nodded. Deriston fixed his eyes on her in silence for half a minute. He seemed to be calculating something in his mind or perhaps plotting his next words carefully.

  “I may be able to help,” he said.

  “Really?!” Veronica’s heart skipped a beat as she marveled at her good luck.

  Deriston nodded.

  “I don’t have it today, but I could have it tomorrow.”

  “How much?”

  Deriston sat quietly contemplating for a moment.

  “Normally, $250 or $300 a dose. But, I think I can get it to you for $100.”

  “Deriston, that’s fantastic.”

  “We’ll have to meet up somewhere private. My place is only two blocks south of here. Do you have a pen?”

  Veronica took a pen from her bag and handed it to him. He scribbled down the address on a napkin and handed it to her.

  “Meet me at this address at one o’clock tomorrow. Come alone and tell no one.”

  “Thank you,” Veronica said quietly.

  “I’m happy to help,” Deriston said with a magnanimous smile. “This next round’s on me.”

  Chapter 7

  Veronica boarded the bus back to the 2nd District. She was elated at the success of her journey. She pulled the napkin out of her pocket and mouth the address to sear it into her memory in case the napkin was somehow lost or destroyed.

  She thought of Lucas and imagined his reaction to the good news. She decided she would keep it a secret until she had the potion in her hand. She would have to get his hopes up when there was even the smallest chance that her plan would fall through. She had no doubt in her mind that it would, though. Though he was a stranger to her, Veronica trusted Deriston. Her intuition told her that he would not let her down.

  Chapter 8

  Lucas sat reading in his armchair when Veronica came gliding through the door of the apartment.

  “Hello darling,” he said rising to greet her. “Where have you been all day?”

  He held her in his muscular arms and kissed her softly on the lips. Veronica felt like a soldier returning triumphant from the battlefield. She melted in his soothing embrace.

  “Oh, just out doing a bit of window shopping,” she said. “How was your day?”

  “Busy,” he said, “but not nearly as productive as I’d hoped.”

  “Is something troubling you, love?” she said.

  “Yes. That article in the paper. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to get it out of my head.”

  Veronica hugged him tightly in her arms.

  “Don’t worry about that article, darling. I’ve got a feeling that everything’s about to take a turn for the best for us.”

  Lucas smiled.

  “I hope you’re right,” he said. He sniffed the air. “Have you been drinking?”

  “I may have stopped off for a drink or two,” she said.

  “You know, I think I could use a drink myself.”

  He went to the bar and grabbed a bottle of cognac. Veronica took the opportunity while Lucas wasn’t looking to go to the closet to discretely return the pistol to its hiding place within one of her boots. She decided to stash the napkin with the address written on it in the same spot.

  “What would you like?” he called.

  “What are you having,” she called

  “Belclare.”

  “I’ll have the same,” she said, closing the closet.

  She returned to the kitchen and had a seat on the stool. Lucas handed her the cocktail and raised his own glass.

  “Cheers, love,” he said.

  “To brighter days to come,” she toasted.

  She and Lucas drank and talked into the night. Veronica kissed Lucas passionately as they made their way back to the bedroom. Her hands stroked the skin of his strong back and she pulled his shirt over his head. She pushed him down onto the bed while she stood at the end and performed a strip tease for him. She turned around unbuttoning her shirt and let it fall to the floor. She turned around with her hands cupping her ample breasts. She revealed them slowly, allowing her hands to wander and explore her body. One made its way up her neck to clutch her hair. The other hand wandered down her front, over the soft skin of her core and down into her pants. Slowly, she undid the button and unzipped. She shed the tight clothing like and stood bare before Lucas. She came to the bed and lay down beside him. They kissed again as Veronicas hand wandered down Lucas’ rippling abs and felt his hard cock. Lucas turned her over and removed his pants. He ran his hands over her and kissed her, but she didn’t respond.

  “Veronica?” Lucas whispered. “Veronica? Are you awake?”

  After an exhausting day and hours of drinking, Veronica was powerless to hold back the heavy veil of sleep. As her eyes began to shut, she thought she could see Lucas opening the door of the hall closet. Then, the blanket of dreams fell over her eyes.

  Chapter 9

  A full moon shone brightly over tall, towering trees of the dark forest. The wind whispered through the leaves, adding a touch of coolness to the warm, moist air. Hundreds of unseen crickets chirped, playing the symphony of night.

  Veronica stood in a clearing illuminated by a popping bonfire. The smell of wood smoke filled her nostrils. She noticed she was dressed in a flowing dress made of fine fabric that allowed her to feel the night air on every inch of her skin. She felt the cool blades of soft grass tickling her between the toes of her bare feet.

  She could sense someone was approaching from behind her. She turned and saw Lucas walking into the clearing. He smiled at her as he approached and took her into his arms. Their lips melded together as they kissed. His hands massaged her shoulders, then slipped them underneath her shoulder straps. The dress fell into a pile around her ankles, exposing her womanly form in the moonlight.

  She pulled Lucas’ shirt over his head and took in the beautiful texture of his muscular body. He place a hand in either of her cheeks and pressed his lips to hers again. As he did, she slid her hands down the small of his back, under his pants, and grabbed his smooth buttocks with a squeeze.

  She took one of his hands from her face and guided it slowly down her neck and onto her breast. A shiver of excitement ran through her body as his fingers brushed against her hardening nipple. She moved her hand the buckle of his belt. She unbuckled it and slid his zipper down. Now his pants feel to the ground. She could feel herself becoming wet.

  From behind her, she sensed another presence enter the clearing. Even without looking, she could tell it was a strong male presence. She felt no fear as a rough set of hands gently grabbed her bare waist. She could feel the course hair of a beard tickling the back of her neck. She turned her head to see Deriston standing shirtless behind her. She felt comfort in seeing his handsome face and he looked at her with soft, passionate eyes.

  She was sandwiched now between two strong men. She could feel the form of Deriston’s muscles as his smooth skin pressed into her back. Through his jeans she could feel the bulge of his big, hardening cock.

  Veronica guided Lucas’s hand down her from until it reached her shaven womanhood and grazed against her clitoris. Her excitement built as she pulled down Lucas’ shorts exposing his long, fully erect shaft.

  She turned and kissed Deriston as his hands grasped her breasts. She guided the tip of Lucas’ cock around the wet, dripping lips of her pussy. Deriston removed his jeans and the three stood in perfect nudity in the firelight.

  Deriston laid her gently onto the grass and Lucas laid down beside her. She closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of the hands rubbing and caressing her body, losing track of whom each belong to.

  Deriston made little circles with his tongue around her rock hard nipple as Lucas suckled her other breast. She
grabbed Lucas’s cock in her hand stroking it gently. Deriston took her other hand and guided it to his own. She lay fondling both, feeling the blood rush into them as she ran her thumbs across the tips. The three bodies were as one, breathing together.

  Lucas began tracing a line with his tongue down Veronica’s body, over her belly, up her inner thigh, and finally arriving at her beckoning clit. Tidal waves of pleasure cascaded over her body as he skillfully pleasured her with his mouth. Deriston straddled her chest with his powerfully built legs. She could see his rock hard cock throbbing in the firelight. She grabbed his taut glutes and pulled her mouth close to the shaft of his manhood. She gazed up into his eyes, before flicking his tip with her soft wet tongue.

  Between her thighs, Lucas slowly inserted a finger into the tight, wet entrance to her womanhood while still caressing her clit with his tongue. She moaned as shivers of pleasure washed over her with each thrust.

  She kissed the head of Deriston’s shaft, letting it slip between her lips. She could feel his muscles tense with delight and his hand smoothed back the locks of hair from her face. He looked into her eyes at her with look of fiery passion, begging her with his gaze. She slowly took his full shaft into her mouth just as Lucas inserted a second finger deep into her. She could feel herself getting wetter still as she took Deriston’s cock in and out.

  Lucas was unable to deny himself the pleasure of her body any longer. He sat up and pulled Veronica’s legs wide apart, gaining full access to her glistening pussy. He inserted himself, stretching her wide open. Her whole body sang as he thrust himself in and out. In and out. She fell into his rhythm as she plunged Deriston’s cock in and out of her mouth. She could feel both of them hardening, preparing to cum. She felt her own body tensing. They were as one creature, breathing in unison. Thrusting in unison. She could feel they were on the verge of an explosive orgasm. So was she. Yes, her body cried, every inch of her skin prickling with electricity. Yes!

  Suddenly she could feel the hot warm essence burst into her mouth and womb, filling her completely. She could bear it no more and an explosion of her own bliss blast through her core, shooting through the whole of her body until she lay motionless on the grass, powerless to move or do anything but lay back and feel her body hum with ecstasy.

  ---

  It was dark when Veronica opened her eyes. She was back in her bedroom. She realized it had all been a dream, but still her body felt the combination of energy and calmness that comes only from making passionate love. She looked over at Lucas. In the streetlamp light that filtered in through the blinds, she could see Lucas’ chest rise and fall peacefully. Veronica put a hand on his powerful chest and planted a kiss on his cheek. Oh love, she thought to herself, if only you knew that everything will be fixed tomorrow.

  She got up from the bed, donned a thick robe, and grabbed a cigarette from her bag. The night air wasn’t as cold as she’d expected on their porch overlooking the empty streets. The traffic light cycled through their colors for nobody, casting their light on the freshly fallen snow. The moon was bright and a few stars even penetrated through the city’s glow. Veronica exhaled a cloud of smoke. Her body buzzed as the nicotine hit. She smiled, feeling more than anything that the future was bright and everything would be okay.

  Chapter 10

  Lucas woke to the sun shining through the window blinds and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He turned over to find Veronica’s side of the bed was empty. He got up, stretched, and made his way to the kitchen.

  He was surprised to find Veronica standing at the stove cooking.

  “Good morning, darling,” she greeted him brightly.

  “Good morning,” Lucas said, crossing the room to kiss her. “You’re up early.”

  “I woke up in the night and couldn’t really get back to sleep, so I decided I’d go ahead and make breakfast. I hope pancakes are alright.”

  “Pancakes are excellent,” he said.

  “And the coffee should be brewed and ready now.”

  “Thanks,” Lucas said as he went to pour himself a cup from the coffee pot.

  “What’s on the agenda for today?”

  “Oh, nothing too much. I’ve got to run to the grocery store for a few things, see a friend for lunch, and then I’ll be working a short shift until ten,” she said, serving Lucas a plate. “What about yourself?”

  “Well, I’ll be busy getting this report finished by the end of the week,” he said, pouring syrup onto his pancakes. “Who’s your friend you’re meeting?”

  Veronica fumbled with her thoughts. She could have given an easier excuse why she wouldn’t be able to see him for lunch. For a moment, she debated just telling him the truth. After all, it was exceptionally good news. But she still wanted to surprise him and decided to stay the course.

  “Just an old friend. I don’t think you’ve ever met her.”

  Lucas nodded silently.

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll have a good time. Stay warm out there,” he said. “It’s going to be a cold one today.”

  ---

  Veronica had butterflies in her stomach as the bus approached. She mounted the steps into the bus and watched out the window as it traced the same familiar path it had taken the day before.

  When the bus reached the 12th District, a flurry of snow was falling. Veronica exited and turned down the main street, her head lowered against the cold gusts of wind that whipped across the sidewalks. She checked the time through the barred window of store. The clock read 12:45. She had fifteen minutes to make it to her destination. It seemed like enough time.

  She trudged her way uphill until she came to the Red Fang Bar. The cold wind was beginning to sting the exposed skin of her face. She considered stopping into the bar for a moment to warm up, but thought the better of it. She couldn’t dare risk being late and missing her one opportunity to get Lucas his Moonshade. Besides, she was close now. She pressed onwards.

  She turned the corner and fought through the snow to the address written on the napkin. Even through the snow, Veronica could see the building was old and run down like so many of the apartment buildings in the 12th District. She was grateful to find a reprieve from the worsening weather.

  ---

  Lucas’s bus rumbled down the road through the snow. In trembling his hand, he held the napkin with an address written across it. He had sensed something was going on, but cursed himself now for being too blind to see. Veronica had relented too easily when he had told her not to go looking for Moonshade. She was always headstrong. He should have known she would go off in search of it anyway. And now look where it had gotten her! Had he not forgotten an important folder for his report and come back home, he would never have found the napkin. Even now, as he held it in his hands, he couldn’t believe what was happening.

  Lucas recognized the address from his own search for Moonshade. It had taken him to the old abandoned building that had been converted to headquarters for the lowlife Wolfman gangs of the 12th District. Nobody there had anything, least of all Moonshade. They were outcast. A bunch of thugs and murders.

  Lucas looked at his watch. The time read 12:45.

  “Damn!” he whispered aloud through his teeth.

  The time on the paper said 1:00. Only fifteen minutes left. He prayed he wasn’t too late.

  Chapter 11

  Veronica stood in the entrance of the apartment building. None of the electric lights seemed to be working and the only source of light came through the dirty windows behind her. The air was musty and only slightly warmer than the air outside.

  Before her, a wooden staircase wound its way impressively up five stories above her. Had it been in good repair, the place would have seem uncommonly nice for the 12th District. As it was, it was decrepit and a bit spooky.

  “Veronica!”

  She jumped at the voice that came from the shadows somewhere to her left. From a door she hadn’t seen, a figure stepped into the light.

  “Deriston,” she sighed with relief, “you scar
ed me.”

  “My apologies,” he said. “I’m glad you made it safely in this weather.”

  He motioned to the staircase.

  “It’s just upstairs on the third floor. Please, follow me.”

  ---

  Finally, Lucas’ bus pulled up to its stop in the 12th District. Lucas burst through the doors into the wind and snow. It was nearly impossible to see to the end of the block. Lucas didn’t know the district very well and he hadn’t gone to the apartment building from the bus stop before. He heart was pumping double time. He knew the clock was ticking.

  He squinted through the snow in search of any landmarks he might recognize. He picked up his pace to a jog, lifting his feet high to clear the piling snow. He ran down two full blocks before he saw the street sign for Vine Road. He knew that he’d taken this road before. He turned and ran faster still up the incline of the sidewalk, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

  ---

  The stairs creaked as Veronica followed Deriston up the stairwell. She could see cobwebs stretched across the corners of the walls. From behind a closed door, she could hear the muffled voices of men who seemed to be arguing with one another. Alarms were sounding in her head. She clutched the pistol tightly in her pocket.

  She tried desperately of something she could say to Deriston, but she could think of nothing. Besides, she had come all this way and now she was only moments away from the end of her quest. In silence, she continued to follow Deriston up the last flight of stairs.

  ---

  Lucas’s legs were on fire as he passed the Red Fang Bar. He pumped his arms to will himself to move faster. He knew 1:00 had passed. He was only two blocks away and closing in. The building was almost in his sights. He prayed that he would make it.

  ---

  The door creaked as it swung open. The room was sparse. The only furnishings were an old bed and a nightstand with an oil lamp burning upon it, casting a soft glow.

  “Right this way,” Deriston said, holding open the door.