Themrock released Ceceta and staggered backwards, as if he’d been struck. In a broken whisper, he asked, “You don’t want to get back together?” He was devastated. He’d thought that Ceceta had returned to him.
“No!” Ceceta yelled, lunging for him. She had no intention of letting him get away from her. “Not you, love,” she pointed to his left side, “her!”
Themrock turned, his blue powers were jumping out of his body randomly like flaming geysers. “Layla?” he asked, sounding baffled.
“Hi, gorgeous.” Layla flipped her hair over her shoulder and shoved Ceceta out of his arms. “I’ve missed you.” She leaned in to kiss him while purring, “Come with me, baby.” Layla ran her hand down Themrock’s cheek then walked her fingers around his neck. “I’ll show you how it’s done. Let’s go to Tetong and let loose. You know you want to. You can use all of your powers with me, baby.”
Themrock glanced back and forth between Layla and Ceceta. As Layla tried to reach up under his tunic for his crotch, he grabbed her hand and turned her away from him, then walked over to Ceceta, leaned down and kissed her. He had made his choice. Blue wisps of power flowed out of his body around them.
“No!” Layla screamed. She shoved Themrock, forcing him to step sideways. Although he moved, he kept Ceceta securely in his arms. “You can’t choose her. She’s not even an elf. She’s totally inconsequential. She doesn’t even have powers. She’s nothing but a pathetic mortal.”
Ceceta broke Themrock’s kiss and gazed up into his glowing eyes. Her heart was filled with love. Themrock had never chosen her before. It’d always been Rhen. Did this mean that he really did love her? That it wasn’t just his lesser mortal shell, but Themrock, himself, who’d picked her?
Layla was screaming while pounding on Themrock’s back with her fists.
“Love, please turn off your blue powers,” Ceceta pleaded. It was the only way to get rid of Layla.
“It’s hard,” he whispered into her ear, kissing his way down her throat and up the side of her face.
“Leave the mortal,” Layla yelled. “You know you don’t love her. If you did, you would have given her powers by now. She’s nothing.”
“Turn it off,” Ceceta coaxed. “Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and concentrate.” Themrock swallowed then followed her suggestion, closing his eyes, and taking a few deep breaths.
As soon as his eyes were closed, Layla lunged forward, yanking Ceceta’s long blond hair. She jerked Ceceta so hard that she fell out of Themrock’s arms. Layla slapped Ceceta across the face with her hand. Ceceta twisted her body to break free from Layla’s grip, then kicked out at Layla’s legs, making her fall.
Layla used her powers to right herself. She shoved Ceceta onto the ground then kicked her repeatedly in the chest and sides. Bruised and battered, Ceceta managed to catch Layla’s leg. She jerked Layla forward, making her fall.
When Layla righted herself this time, she brought Ceceta with her into a standing position. The two women lashed out at each other with their fists. When that didn’t seem to work, they clawed at each other with their nails. Deep gouges ran across Ceceta’s face, arms and hands. Layla looked equally marked up. “Bitch!” Layla screamed when Ceceta succeeded in ripping out a chunk of her hair. She shot Ceceta with a blast of her white powers, hitting her in the stomach.
Ceceta flew backwards. She cried out as she crashed down onto the stone steps that led to the exterior wall of the palace.
Themrock opened his eyes when he heard her scream. He held out his hand and Ceceta flew back into his arms, completely healed.
“No!” Layla yelled. When Themrock glared at her, she realized she might have overstepped her bounds. “Not me, baby. You want to stop her. She’s the intruder in our lives. She doesn’t belong with us. We love each other.”
Themrock closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths then receded, his blue powers being pulled back inside his mortal shell. Layla screamed in protest as her body turned into a swirling mist that flowed back inside him.
When Rhen reopened his eyes, his blue powers were gone, but he was still glowing white. “This is the best I can do,” he apologized.
“I’ll take it,” Ceceta cried out with relief. “Let’s go.” They disappeared, while the crowd that had formed around them cheered.
Chapter 24
James’ Office – Thestran Royal Palace
James had been meeting with his family and the elfin royals for days. They were still frustrated by the fact that none of them had realized that a club at the Elfin University had been attacking Ceceta. The school’s headmaster had told them that the club had been receiving support from the elves’ religious leaders, but when they’d researched the files, they couldn’t find a clear connection between the club and any one religious department. All of the receipts and communications were vague. The students involved in the attacks had claimed that The Supreme was involved, but it was their word against his. Without proof, neither James nor the elfin royals could go after him.
“If only Yfetb were still alive,” Reed said. “He’d probably known where to find proof.”
The elves in the room agreed. They felt terrible about the death of the Neptian Delegate’s son and had reached out to Te repeatedly to see if there was anything they could do.
“What about Narseth?” Naci asked. “Have the Surpens been able to get anything out of him?”
James shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. He was hiding an instant-death pill in his belt. He took it before he even reached their jail.”
There was a collective groan. Since the attack, they’d all heard a lot about Narseth and Aul. His death had been far too easy.
***
Loreth was livid. He’d been causing trouble in Solar System 12, keeping the Genisters occupied, when he’d learned that Aul and Narseth had not only misunderstood his orders about removing Ceceta from Rhen’s life, but they’d also been killed in the process. He’d never told them to murder Ceceta, only to remove her from Rhen’s life. If Ceceta were to die, Rhen would lose it. He wasn’t sure if Themrock would implode from the emotional pain of her loss or if he’d kill off his mortal shell and leave, trapping the rest of them there forever; whatever the consequences Loreth knew they’d be bad. How could Aul have been so stupid? He was glad Aul had failed, but angry that he’d lost both Aul and Narseth in the process. Now he only had Te left as a pawn. The Rasacks would help, but Te was the only insider who could get to Rhen. He just hoped that Te wasn’t mad at him for Yfetb’s death.
Te was sitting behind his desk, speaking into his computer, when Loreth flew into his office. He didn’t appear to be grieving for Yfetb at all. He was dressed in orange, the Neptian color of death, but he was smiling as he dictated his letter. “I’m sorry for your loss,” Loreth began.
Te glanced up. “What?” It was obvious from his face that Te had no idea what he was talking about.
Loreth continued, “I didn’t realize that Aul was going to kill Yfetb.”
Te grunted and waved his hand dismissively. “Yfetb is a hero. Everyone’s been contacting me. After the incident on Surpen, Tgfhi told the Thestrans that Yfetb had tried to warn him about the EFT. Apparently, Tgfhi had been so upset over Yfetb’s past treatment of Ceceta that he had ignored him. Tgfhi feels terrible about it now. If he’d listened to Yfetb, he could have told Rhen about the EFT.” Grinning, he lifted up a cup of coffee that was sitting next to his computer. “They want to erect a statue in Yfetb’s honor at the Neptian palace.”
Loreth sat down onto the chair in front of Te’s desk. He didn’t understand. Te was basking in the fact that his son was being called a hero, yet he was the one who’d sent his son to the EFT in order to help them. Yfetb had been disobeying Te’s orders when he’d tried to warn Tgfhi.
“James has contacted me twice to see if he can set up a scholarship fund at the University in Yfetb’s honor. Rhen even sent a note, apologizing for Yfetb’s death at the hands of one of his countrymen and offering to make r
estitution.” Te laughed. “Can you believe it? Rhen’s apologizing to me.” He leaned back in his chair. “We did it. Neptian is glorious. I guess we didn’t have to remove Rhen after all.”
Loreth closed his eyes and sent his powers into Te’s mind, searching for some sense of remorse or pain at the loss of his son. Nothing. Te was filled with joy at his “victory.” Good. “This doesn’t change a thing. I still need your help in forcing Themrock into consciousness.”
“What?” Te appeared confused. “Of course not. I want nothing to do with any of that. Neptian is finally glorious. Everyone is recognizing the effort we made to help Rhen. Your work here is done.”
Loreth chuckled. “You’re cute if you think you can tell me to leave. You’re mine, Te. To do with as I please.”
“Get out!” Te rose to his feet and pointed towards the windows. “I want nothing to do with you.”
“Too late,” Loreth said.
When Te tried to call for his guards, Loreth compressed the air in his lungs so he couldn’t breathe. Te fell onto his seat, his eyes wide as Loreth woke up the pain receptors in his brain.
He was going to have fun with this one.
***
Ceceta kicked off her shoes and walked into the bedroom of their student apartment just as Rhen was leaving the bathroom. He was wearing a towel around his waist, while drying his hair. She took a moment to admire his perfect body.
Smiling, she thought about the last four days. They’d had a wonderful time making up. She twirled her wedding ring around on her finger as her eyes ran up and down Rhen’s body.
Rhen cleared his throat and Ceceta realized he’d been watching her stare at him. He smiled knowingly and rolled his eyes towards their bed. “No,” Ceceta told him firmly. “Not right now. I’ve got to copy down Latsoh’s notes and get this back to her later today.” She held up the notebook she was carrying and shook it at him.
Rhen shrugged. He’d known it was a long shot. As soon as they’d returned to the campus, Ceceta had entered her student mode. Too bad. The last four days had been fun.
“Would you do me a favor and cut my hair before you start?” Rhen wrapped the smaller towel that he’d been holding around his neck and pulled down on it, flexing his muscular arms.
Ceceta laughed, knowing he was hoping she would throw herself at him. “I’d be happy to cut your hair but that’s all.”
Rhen sighed. It’d been worth a shot. He threw his towel at her then returned to the bathroom, while Ceceta searched for scissors. “It’s weird how my hair grows like this,” he said, sitting down on the chair that was in their bathroom. “I don’t think the other elves have hair that grows like this.”
“Oh?” Ceceta said. “Have you ever asked them?”
“No. But don’t you think I would have noticed if they did?” He flicked his hair out of his eyes and added, “Maybe I’m not Kate and Henry’s biological child? Maybe I’m part Sraihs? The Sraihs have hair that grows long like this.”
“Yeah, but they’re pure white, and they can’t let sunlight touch their skin or it burns them. I don’t think you’re Sraihs.” Ceceta entered the bathroom and combed out Rhen’s hair. He closed his eyes, enjoying the attention as she carefully began to cut.
“Do I look older to you with long hair?”
“I don’t know. Do you think you look older with long hair?”
“Yes.” He reached behind him to hug her. “I’m an old man and you’re my young wife.”
Ceceta chuckled and stepped out of his embrace so she could continue. “That’s right. I’m so much younger than you. I’m a baby.” She’d expected Rhen to respond, but he remained silent. Glancing at him in the mirror, she realized he’d entered one of his trances, the ones he used when he was working or patrolling the Universes. She finished cutting his hair and went to work copying Latsoh’s notes. When it was time for breakfast, she woke Rhen up so they could walk to the student dining hall with their friends.
They were just finishing their meal when Bosternd, Nk, and Rhen’s guard elves entered the room. Rhen laughed at the sight of them. “What would life be like without my bodyguards?” He glanced around the table at his friends. “I wonder who told them we were here.”
Ceceta ducked her head. She hadn’t wanted Bosternd to worry, so she’d sent him a note while Rhen had been zoning out.
Rhen rose to go to work. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
Ceceta pulled him down for a kiss. They kissed back and forth playfully until Bosternd cleared his throat. Ceceta blushed a darker blue that had Rhen kissing her one last time before he left.
Latsoh smiled and winked at Erfce. It seemed everything was back to normal.
***
A few days later, Reed and Rhen were riding their jet bikes on the Wood Elves’ trails after dinner. It was a pleasant evening, so Ceceta and the others were sitting on the University’s lawn doing their homework. Ceceta was working on a difficult math problem when she lifted her head to find Sarah’s parents approaching. Since Rhen had returned to the University, the elfin royals had been stopping by daily to visit. She liked Plos and Neka. Out of all of the elfin royals, they were her favorite. Plos’ work to help the Neptian tigers had been instrumental in his finding a way into her and Rhen’s hearts.
“Good evening,” Plos said, when he and Neka arrived. “How is everyone this fine night?”
“We’re good, Dad,” Sarah said. Aaron was sitting behind her giving her a back massage. “Are you here for any specific reason?”
“Actually, yes,” Neka said, sitting down beside her. “We wanted to ask Rhen if he could coax the male Neptian tiger that was spotted yesterday in Neptian’s forest into impregnating the two female tigers in the zoo.”
Ceceta laughed. “You want Rhen to pimp for you?”
Plos and Neka appeared taken aback, but after a moment’s hesitation, Plos said, “I guess we do.” He blushed and everyone laughed at his embarrassment. “Do you think he will?”
Ceceta tucked her hair back behind her ears. “I don’t know. But you should certainly ask him. I’d like to see his reaction.” Latsoh laughed at the thought and Ceceta joined in.
A little while later, Ceceta finished her last assignment. She shoved her books back into her bag, yawned and stretched out on the grass beside Latsoh. She was feeling tired tonight.
Glancing over at Plos, she watched as he absentmindedly pulled on the grass around him. He seemed sad. Ceceta found herself wanting to cheer him up. She contemplated sending him tickets to a concert or buying him a new spacejet. She didn’t think Rhen would care what she did with her money. Then it occurred to her that Rhen was what Plos wanted. He was still refusing to attend any of the elves’ events let alone visit any of their homes. “Do you still want Rhen to come to your castle?”
Rather than mocking her for asking such a stupid question, Plos nodded. “Definitely. We’d love to have him visit. We’re all curious to see what reaction our castles will have to his presence. What he did for the Fire Elves’ temple was outstanding. Do you think we might expect a similar result from our castles?”
Ceceta shrugged and crossed her arms under her head. “I don’t know about that, but what I do know, is that if you ask him to come to your castle tonight, he’ll say yes.”
A silence descended on the group. Sarah was the first to recover. “Are you sure? Why would he say yes tonight?”
Thellis chuckled as he floated somewhere to their right. He’d been following Rhen a lot lately because he was worried that Loreth, himself, might try to attack Rhen to get revenge for the Aul and Narseth’s deaths. Ceceta glanced over at him and smiled. “You know how he’s still smoking Tgarus weed at night?” she said. Latsoh nodded beside her. They’d all been surprised that Ceceta had allowed Rhen to continue smoking. When they’d broached the topic with her, Ceceta had told them that since it wasn’t illegal and Rhen found it so relaxing, she’d decided not to object. They’d certainly had enough issues to divide them lately and, she said, they
didn’t need any more.
“Yes,” Sarah said hesitantly.
“Well, let’s just say he may be a little more relaxed than normal this evening. He smoked a cigarette before dinner and then Charlie convinced him to smoke another one with him later. He’s a little out of it right now.”
Mary glared at Charlie, who was sitting behind her. He gave her one of his best smiles then leaned forward to kiss her.
“Okay,” Plos said, glancing at Neka. Why not? They didn’t have anything to lose.
When they heard two jetbikes approaching from the Wood Elves’ forest, Plos perked up. He’d been getting antsy waiting for Rhen.
Reed broke through the woods first. He rode down the hill towards the Great Lawn, then up onto the left edge of the lawn near the Teacher’s Residence Hall where they were sitting. Reed dropped his feet down to the ground to steady his bike before lowering the bike’s landing gear and pushing the kill button, which shut off the engine and collapsed the wings into the sides of the jetbike. He took off his helmet and ran a hand through his short blond hair. “I don’t know if we should let Rhen ride his jetbike anymore,” he told the group. “He’s gotten worse. He’s crashed so many times that I stopped counting. Once his neck snapped and I thought he was dead, but he just swirled his head back around and laughed at me. If we let him continue riding, we should make him stay on an easy, contained course. Don’t you agree?”
Ceceta shrugged. “I don’t care. Therol’s going to kill him, not his jetbike. Let him ride it if he wants to.”
“What?!” Jet barked. “Do you know something we don’t?”
“No,” Ceceta said, sitting up. She could hear Rhen’s jetbike getting closer. “I don’t know any more than you do, but Therol is the only thing the Genisters are worried about, so he must be the only real danger to Rhen. I’ve never seen a Genister worry about Rhen and his mechanical toys.” She glanced over at Thellis. “Isn’t that right?”
The Surpen King - Part 2 - Rise of the Elves Page 29