All Novel XO
18
Large black horns protruded from his forehead and curled ten inches back over his head. They were now three inches wide at their base and arced up to sharp points. Initially they’d been black with wide white streaks but they’d grown an additional two inches since their initial growth and the white lines had thinned into fine veins. His Altarian doctors insisted that their growth had finally stopped.
The horns were from dormant Altarian genes. Modern day Altarian males had no horns but at one time in the distant past they did. When his body fully integrated with the genetic changes the virus had triggered, the dormant gene activated and he’d grown his set over the course of a month while he remained unconscious. Altarian females found them to be very attractive. He was lucky that the gene also triggered growth in the muscles and underlying support structures needed to carry the heavy horns. His neck, shoulder, back and chest muscles had all bulked up to carry this extra mass. The doctors informed him that in fact his entire skeleton had altered to support the extra load. He didn’t really feel the extra weight of the horns but the inertia was another matter. Quick movements of his head made their presence known.
Lying in bed with a frisky Altarian female on his chest presented no physical strain for him to look into her happy eyes. Leffera had gone off her contraceptives the moment Jack agreed to have a child with her. That had been the night Karrel’s mother Queen Elissa, who was a dead ringer for her daughter, tricked him into impregnating her. Two months had passed since that night. That time was necessary for a safe waiting period for her system to clear of the contraceptive and for her first fertility cycle to fully engage.
Leffera had dominated his nightly schedule for the past week as they worked on giving her a child. Based on Altarian female norms their efforts of three times a night and at least twice each morning was overkill for conceiving a child but they were on day six with no success. By day three Jack had seriously begun to worry but Leffera showed no such anxiety. This morning she was as relaxed as he’d ever seen her. He was starting to suspect he’d been bamboozled.
“I think it’s time to see the doctor,” Jack said, a look of concern on his face.
Leffera stretched languorously across Jack’s body and smiled in satisfaction. “No, I’m sure we’ll get it done tonight.”
“Actually I’ve booked an appointment with Karrel’s doctor for first thing this morning. I don’t want your health to be at risk. We have to take every step to ensure you are healthy,” Jack insisted.
Now, Leffera’s eye’s showed some concern. “This morning?”
“Yes, and Karrel insisted on joining us as she’s also worried that it’s taking this long. You’ve shown no other signs of ill health so she said we shouldn’t wait,” Jack said.
Leffera pushed herself up on her elbows and looked at Jack in alarm. “Karrel will be there?”
“Yes and she mentioned it to her mother and you know how emotional she’s become with her own imminent delivery. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was there too!” he said with wide eyes.
Leffera bleated in dismay. “The Queen? You have to call it off! Call the doctor and cancel!”
“What!?! I can’t do that! Your health is far too important to me! And to Karrel and Queen Elissa as well it seems!”
Leffera bleated again.
She began to beat gently on his chest. “You have to call them and cancel! I, uh, I just felt it happen! I’m pregnant! That last time must have done it!” she exclaimed.
Jack smiled knowingly and looked her in the eye as she continued to gasp. Then she went still. “You tricked me!”
“You tricked me first,” Jack said. He sat up suddenly and dumped her off onto the bed and she bleated with surprise. He got off the platform and made his way to the shower. This time he closed and locked the door behind him.
The door beeped indicating she was trying to enter. “Jack?” he heard through the door.
He stepped into the shower and got the water running.
“Jack?”
He took his time cleaning himself. He was especially careful washing his hair as he’d scratched his arms pretty badly on the points of his horns on a couple of occasions from being a little careless. The buggers were sharp!
Once he’d stepped out and dried himself off he opened the door and saw Leffera kneeling on the bedroom floor facing the door. She had a remorseful look on her beautiful face. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“When did you know?” he asked sternly.
“The second night,” she mumbled.
Jack stood in front of her with a disappointed look on his face.
“Do you hate me?” she squeaked.
He sighed and pulled her to her hooves. “No of course I don’t hate you. I’m really upset you lied to me though. That hurts! You’ve damaged my trust in you. Go home and get ready for work. I’ll see you at the office.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
Leffera slipped her gown on and left his apartment with a final sad look over her shoulder.
Jack didn’t have time to go for a run as Leffera had used up his time exercising her way as she’d done all week. He was really jonesing for a run. He sighed and just got dressed for work. While all Altarians wore gossamer robes Jack maintained his Earth style of dress shirts (no ties!), slacks, and dress shoes. Altaria was a very civilized planet and he lived in a very temperate climate so classy but comfortable was the way to go for his work.
The exception to that dress code had been during his first week back after his transformation. He’d returned to the office to attend the Trade meetings wearing his hoodie. The applicants from Earth who’d scheduled appointments to present their products and services were distracted by his barely visible horns. These meetings hadn’t been as effective as they should have been. He had his staff restart the schedule so any of the previous week’s applicants who’d been rejected could come back for a second try the following week if they wished. They also sent his apologies to everyone on the schedule for the delay. That weekend he came to grips with the fact that the horns weren’t going away. He began the second week with his head fully uncovered. By being direct and getting the curiosity factor out of the way he was able to get the presenters back on track after just a short period of gawking. He still maintained his tight quality control standards and only beneficial products and services were accepted. But he no longer pretended that the decisions came from anyone other than himself. He discovered that while the rejected applicants were still upset, they were less comfortable with confronting someone with dangerous looking horns no matter how gracious and polite they behaved. There really weren’t too many uncomfortable scenes.