"Wait?" Aurelia gasps, quickly bringing herself to a sitting position. "How the hell did you get that?"

  "How the hell did I get what?" the traitor asks.

  "That amulet...The one you wear around your neck. Where did you get it? That symbol belongs to the House of Yoth. Who are you? Are why do you act so...Stupid?"

  "Actually. I don't know," the Cthulhu creature says with a solemn expression. "As for the amulet...I've worn it since I can remember. It came with the book of spells."

  For what is easily the tenth time, in as many minutes, Aurelia is left speechless.

  -

  -

  "What do you mean...You don't know?" Aurelia squeaks, keeping her voice low enough to not draw attention. "And what book of spells? What the hell are you talking about? You have a book of spells? Like actual spells? Not some gobblety-gook someone made up?"

  "Well, yes. The girgoghs presented me with the book. I don't know where they obtained it. They demand that I carry the spell book with me everywhere. The spells within the book are useful for cloaking our ships and planet from detection by outsiders."

  "Hmph," Aurelia says, crossing both arms over her chest and grinning wryly. "Not very well. My crew and I found you, didn't we?"

  "Yes. You did," the Cthulhu creature agrees, his gray-blue eyes narrowing.

  Scooting close to Aurelia, the cousin of Cthulhu gazes deep into her brown eyes. Captain Hilyard grows uncomfortable, remembering the way his tentacles had so easily found their way into the front of her clothes. Even so, it is difficult to break eye contact. With some effort, Aurelia briefly averts her gaze, taking in their immediate surroundings.

  "Tell me more about the...House of Thoth," the creature whispers in his familiar deep voice.

  "You first," Aurelia counters. "You never did tell me your name, traitor. Or how you came to own that amulet. And don't give me that jive about not remembering. I don't buy it."

  "I don't remember," the creature insists with a solemn shrug.

  "Well, what's the earliest thing you do remember?" Aurelia presses him, impatient to learn the traitor's connection to Mr. Yoth's famed household.

  My first memories...Are of the hatchery. I was alone there for a time. And it was very dark. Two beings, not the girgoghs...Came to nourish me. But after a time, I never saw the two strange beings again. That is when I met the girgoghs. The head of the girgoghs presented me with both the book of spells and the amulet. The girgoghs taught me how to read the sacred texts. They told me...The spells would only work if cast by one who created them. I've been doing that for them ever since. Only now..."

  Aurelia, deeply engrossed in the Cthulhu creature's story, becomes agitated when he stops mid sentence. She flaps one hand, motioning for him to continue.

  "Go on. I want to kn--,"

  The Cthulhu creature quickly leans forward, grabbing Aurelia up into his arms and kissing her forcefully. Aurelia's eyes widen and she considers pummeling the traitor with her fists. The thud of approaching footsteps makes her think twice. Someone is coming.

  Hidden behind a pile of rusted arachnoid parts, Aurelia and the Cthulhu traitor remain silently in their awkward position. They are so close that Aurelia's eyes nearly cross as she stares into the traitor's gray-blue orbs.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  A trio of voices can be heard off to their left. The traitor's henchmen have returned, and they are searching for him.

  "Where is Zifawid Lilchta? Have you seen him?" barking alien says from at most fifteen feet away.

  "Not since he demanded we seek the whereabouts of the female," a higher pitched voice replies.

  "I have not seen him either. Do you think there were other intruders upon the planet, Uiowky? Do you think the intruders have taken Zifawid Lilchta?" a third voice comments.

  "That would be most unfortunate," barking alien says. "We should report his disappearance to the girgoghs. Assemble the search party, Dudra. I will speak with the girgoghs. Maybe they have seen something."

  Aurelia remains stationary as the villainous alien trio slowly lumber away from their hiding place. Even after the sounds of heavy footsteps have faded, the Cthulhu traitor makes no effort to remove his mouth from the human captain's. Aurelia becomes fed up and pushes at his shoulders.

  "Enough," she complains. "They're gone. So...Your name is Lilchta. I've never heard that name on a Cthulhu Cousin before. Usually there are a lot of 'oo's...and 'ou's. Maybe a 'th', here and there. What's a Zifawid? Is that like a Captain or a king? A president?"

  "More like a prisoner!" Lilchta says with an unhappy grunt.

  "Prisoner? Ha. Yeah right," Aurelia scoffs, placing both hands on her hips. "That's not what I got from that little conversation I overheard earlier. You're in charge, Zifawid Lilchta . Ha. You're seriously going to lie to me? To my face? Probably about everything. Playing the innocent role. You've been trying to trick me all along. Traitor. Where did you really get that amulet?"

  "I told you...I don't know where they came from. The book and amulet were given to me," Lilchta insists in a hoarse whisper. "You don't understand how things work on Yuktovy. Leadership is--. Leadership can be dangerous. Often deadly."

  "Always is," Aurelia says with a casual shrug. "Tell me something I don't already know. Like how you obtained an amulet belonging to the House of Yoth? Cthulhu Yoth is my closest friend. If you are responsible for any--,"

  "Why won't you listen to me?" Lilchta says, gripping Aurelia's face between his oddly colored hands. "I was barely a hatchling when I was presented with the book of spells and the amulet. I don't know any Cthulhu Yoth. Truth be told, I wish I did. I am the only one of my kind I've ever seen. Except what I read in the texts. The girgoghs and their ragtag alien tagalongs are my only family. I've traveled with them for many years. I only recently came to power...Because I challenged the previous Zifawid to a fight and won. It was a fight to the death. That is how leadership is earned on Yuktovy. You must earn it with blood. That is why you were able to find us. I allowed you to find us by casting a weaker spell. I wanted you to find us. Well, not exactly you. But someone. I no longer wish to live with the girgoghs. There's no adventure in traveling and cataloguing. That is what the girgoghs do. They encounter new species and either steal their technology or engage with them in brutal tests of force. The girgoghs usually win. Those of us who do not belong to the girgogh race simply act as their caretakers. I want real adventure like what is written in the sacred texts. I want to journey far across the stars and meet new alien races."

  Once again, Aurelia shifts uneasily, as Lilchta brings his face close to hers. The reluctant leader's eyes intensely study Aurelia's face.

  "I want to be with you," Lilchta says.

  "What?" Captain Hilyard hisses, none too politely removing Lilchta's hands from her cheeks. "You're moving way too fast there, partner. First, you grope me. Now, you're making declarations of...Whatever you're declaring. Just...No."

  "I have read the sacred texts. What I feel for you is more than natural. I am part human, after all. You are the first human female I have met face to face. I find you beautiful and desirous. I will not harm you like in the xiro-hul-fyr-sok ritual. You are my way home. My way back to my people."

  "You're serious, aren't you?" Aurelia gasps.

  "Oh, yes. Very. But we must hurry. The girgoghs'...Lackeys...Will be scouring the planet for your landing party. I believe your entire crew made it back to your shuttles. I've cast a spell of invisibility over the general area where your ships were first spotted. But I may have to lift the spell in order to protect ourselves. Trying to cast too many spells at once is dangerous...And draining. One or both may fail in efficiency. I must focus on what is most important. We must leave now."

  "Okay, fine. But if you try anything...I promise you I'll..."

  Lilchta silences Aurelia with another passionate kiss. He offers her a wistful smile as they separate. Aurelia finds herself drowning in his gaze, unable to pull her eyes away. Zifawid Lilchta's deep voice cuts through the mental fog, jarring her back to reality.

  "Don't worry. I won't."

  "You just did," Aurelia says with a scowl. "Cut that out. Or you're gonna get hurt."

  "Oh," Lilchta sighs, his expression turning solemn.