by Alana Khan
Her skin is wrinkled and paper thin. The flesh is sunken under her cheekbones. But Gods, she’s still my ahma. My love comes pouring back. So many memories of her: teaching me how to read picture books before I ever went to school, coming to my games, soothing my broken heart when my first love fell for another male. She was so patient and kind. At least I had that. At least I had a loving ahma and sire as a child. That was a gift.
Thantose informed me that she hasn’t awakened since we charted a course for Primus. I have no expectations that she will, but I have to try.
“Ahma. Ahma. It’s Dev. It’s your Devolose. I’ve come home. I’m healthy. I’m alive.” I realize that if she does wake up, my presence will be an enormous shock. How would it feel to see your son after almost nine decades? To have mourned him for so long and find him at your bedside? I can’t imagine. Maybe it’s best she stays in her blissful sleep, then slips peacefully to her death.
“Ahma, I wanted to tell you what a good mother you were. How many times over the last difficult annums I refreshed myself with thoughts of you taking me to Minlan Beach as a youngling. I know you hated to sit in the sun, but you did it for me.
“And I doubt you enjoyed attending my games, horschrack especially, those meets were interminable. But I appreciate that you went.”
Her lids slowly open. Her eyes are rheumy, but she’s gazing directly at me. My stomach drops. I’ve dreamed of this for so many decades.
“Devolose?” She has a faint smile on her face. “Dev, is that you?”
“Yes, Ahma.” I lean over and make sure she can see me, then gently place my forehead to hers.
“Passing was so peaceful,” she informs me. “I thought it would be harder. I finally get to see my Dev. I’ve waited so long to be reunited. Where’s your sire?”
She thinks she died and is seeing me on the other side. Of course she would, that makes more sense than her son coming back from the dead. I decide not to correct her. She looks so calm and peaceful. I think it might break her heart to realize she’s still on Primus and she’s talking to her son whose life has been torture for so many decades.
“You’ll see papa shortly. Right now you get to spend quality time with me.” I smile; it’s genuine. What a gift to be given an hour or a few days with her before she passes.
“It was hard after you were stolen, Dev. Very hard for your sire and me. We loved you so much. You were our light. Your sire and I went through hard times. We funneled our energy into something meaningful. We petitioned the high tribunal to put more safeguards in place. To better protect the young of this planet. It’s called the Devolose law. I always thought you’d be proud.”
I’m stunned, surprised Thantose hadn’t told me. My parents were remarkable to channel their energy into being productive. They always did make me proud.
“I’m honored, Ahma.”
Her eyes flicker closed and she falls asleep. Our conversation drained her. What a blessing to be able to speak with her one last time. Even if she doesn’t wake again, this was a gift. It makes me happy to know they gave up on me at some point, quit waiting for their son to come home. I’m not their son—not the same boy who left. It’s good they’ll never know what I’ve become.
I sit, holding her hand for a long time. Finally, noises drift up to me from downstairs. I hear my aunt distinctly asking, “Where is my surprise, T.T.? How long are you doing to make me wait?” She’s such a happy female, always laughing and joking. It makes sense she raised such an easygoing son.
I take pity on him and use my comm to tell him I’m ready. He’s here in a modicum, glad, I’m sure, to get her off his back.
He slips in the door, looking concerned. “How’d it go, Dev? Must be hard to see her like this.”
“She woke for a minima or two. She told me about the Devolose law. She and papa were amazing people.”
“Yes. I’m glad you got to talk with her. She and your sire were my favorite relatives. Now you are.” He puts his arm around me and smiles. “And now you get to be the big surprise. You up for it?”
“I guess.”
“I encouraged the Earth females to go to their rooms for some rest. I thought you’d want to do this without an audience.”
I lean my forehead against his in a sign of affection, then, “You’re always thinking ahead.”
He calls to her from the top of the stairs, “Okay, I’ve got your present. It’s huge. Are you sitting down?”
“Yes.”
“Guess what it is.”
“Blue Mirasian silk?”
“No, guess again.”
“A lirikian pup? Registered?”
“No, guess again.”
“A handwritten copy of the Meris?”
“That’s an odd guess. But no. I’ll give you a hint. It’s something you’ve fervently prayed for.”
We’re standing outside the kitchen door now. She’s very quiet.
“No guess, Ahma?” he chides.
“There’s only one thing I’ve ever prayed for like that Thantose Aberre Marris, and you shouldn’t joke about it.”
“What’s that Ahma?”
“You’re going to make me cry, T.T. I still miss him. I miss Devolose every day. Now you’ve gone and spoiled my surprise.”
He pulls me through the doorway. My aunt still looks as young as she did eighty-eight annums ago. I don’t think she sees me; her eyes are filled with tears.
I stride over and sink to my knees at her feet, placing my head on her lap.
“You don’t have to do that,” she scolds. “I’m not so angry at you that…” She must look up, see Thantose, and realize it’s not his head in her lap.
Her fingers begin to tremble, I hear a sharp intake of breath. With shaky hands she lifts my head. “Devi? Is that really you?” Her voice is an awed whisper. She peers down to get a better look.
“Yes.” I beam up at her and we gaze at each other for long moments. She was my favorite relative, much younger than my mother; she had been the perfect aunt. She had no children of her own before I was stolen. She used to take me everywhere, play games with me, and take me for walks. I adored her, and she adored me.
She touches my face like she’s committing it to memory. And she’s crying. Not little ladylike tears but full-on messy weeping. “Gods, Devi. We gave up on you. I’m so sorry. You’re alive!”
“Still think I ruined the surprise Ahma?” I know what Thantose is doing, he’s trying to lighten things, pull us back to the present. Make this a celebration instead of a dirge.
“You’re a terrible son.” She swats at him playfully and pulls him toward her. She stands up and maneuvers us all into a three-way hug. “I love you both. Has he been good to you, Devi? I love him, but he can be such a callous ass sometimes.”
“Don’t worry, Valeria, he’s been kinder than I deserve. You raised a good male.”
She peppers me with kisses, her eyes beaming. “Eighty-eight annums of prayers paid off,” she laughs.
“Eighty-eight annums of prayers,” Thantose answers, “and your son fulfills the request.” He puts his hands up, arms bent at the elbows, and a wide smile on his face.
“Always impudent.” Then her face straightens into all seriousness. “Have you been upstairs? Did you see your ahma?”
I tell her about our brief conversation; this elicits a smile and nod.
“I planned a feast for tonight, wanting to impress the Earth females and to welcome my T.T. home. Now we have something even better to celebrate. Let me show you to your room.”
Chapter Fourteen
Tawny
They have me sharing a room with Beautiful Brin as I call her in my mind. Makes sense, put the two Stockholm Syndrome girls together. Suits me. I’d give my right arm not to have to bunk with bitchy Lexa. Brin doesn’t talk much, which gives me plenty of time to think—just what I need—not.
I glance around the room, taking in the opulent appointments. If I were a princess, I think I’d decorate like this. The walls
are pale yellow; the accents are mostly rich gold and cobalt blue. Seriously, the English royals probably live like this. The room is what, twenty by twenty? Maybe bigger, I have no idea.
There are two huge beds, probably king size. There’s an attached bath that’s probably larger than my apartment back on Earth. Let’s just say no expense has been spared. I do the math and realize Lexa and Carrie are in a room, as is Dev, his mother, Valeria, and Thantose. This house definitely qualifies as a mansion.
I hadn’t seen Dev since two days ago when I told him we couldn’t be together. I saw him today on the ramp exiting the ship and on the hover ride here. He sat in the front seat and kept his eyes straight ahead. Which was great because it allowed me to stare at him the whole ride without him being aware. Of course, all the women noticed. Lexa managed to sneak in a few what-the-fuck-are-you-thinking stares along the way.
I tried to pay attention to the scenery. The sky was blue, but the quality of light seemed discernibly different than on Earth, maybe it’s because of the two suns, one of which looked ruddy instead of yellow. The sunshine was just as bright as on Earth, but paler somehow.
Viewing the landscape, it now makes perfect sense why Primians have the coloring they do. There must have been cataclysmic volcanic activity for eons on this planet. In places there’s a carpet of lush, green grass but that’s peppered in among craggy, black outcroppings of igneous rock. That, combined with the blood-red leaves on many trees and shrubs, bears truth to Darwin’s theory of evolution. I can picture ancient Primians being perfectly camouflaged as they stalked their prey amongst the dappled red and orange foliage against a backdrop of harsh black rock.
You would think the stark blacks and vivid reds of the terrain would feel severe and foreboding, but by the time we arrived at Thantose’s house, I found the colors more fascinating than alarming.
The way the males on the ship talked about this planet, it sounded like the culture is much older than that on Earth. I expected towering buildings made of metal and glass. However, the city we hovercrafted through reminded me of pictures I’ve seen of quaint European towns. The architecture seemed old-fashioned in a modern way. The houses looked like small mansions made predominantly of stone. The majority of buildings looked stately and timeless.
Mostly, though, the scenery was in the periphery of my mind because I was paying attention to what I could see of Dev—his handsome profile. His jaw was clenched so tightly I could see a muscle jumping the entire ride. My staring was so obvious he had to have felt it. I’m certainly not acting like a woman who wants nothing to do with him.
In fact, right now my core clenches just thinking about him. If I could, and if it wouldn’t confuse the shit out of him, I’d sneak into his room and have sex with him tonight. Seeing him today just validates how much I want him, how attracted I am to him, and how empty I feel without him. Which confirms just how fucked up I am.
“Valeria recommended we nap, Tawny. She said she’s going to provide us with pretty clothes for the party tonight. It’s been a while since I’ve worn nice clothes,” Brin says wistfully.
“You still miss that guy?”
“Amrus? Yes. He was so good to me.”
“You know, raping you and then casting you aside doesn’t meet the standard definition of treating you well.”
“Yes it does, Tawny. You’ve had firsthand experience of the definition of poor treatment. What Amrus did was far better than that.”
“Better-than-horrific treatment does not qualify as good. You do understand that, right?”
She turns toward the wall, fluffs her pillow, and says no more.
My body feels weird now that it’s not on a spaceship and I’m experiencing planetary gravity. I feel heavy, every movement is a chore, and I’m tired. Somehow I feel Dev’s presence more keenly than on the Tranquility, knowing he’s under the same roof as me, only a few doors away. I can’t sleep. I wish I could find his room and crawl under the covers with him. I let out a soft groan, knowing I’m just as fucked up as Brin.
I must have dozed off, because before I know it there’s a rap at the door. Brin says, “come in,” and Valeria enters like a force of nature.
“I don’t know if T.T. told you, but the business we own is dress design and manufacturing, as well as a few retail stores. I took a guess at your sizes and had some things delivered.” With that, two young females enter, their arms laden with clothing.
Valeria smooths the bedding and has the employees neatly lay the clothes on the beds, half on Brin’s, half on mine. She points to various piles, “Casual, undergarments, and I thought this would look nice on you tonight.”
She holds a flowing kimono-like gown up under Brin’s chin. The blue and green silky swirls in the pattern bring out the green of her eyes and the red of her hair. She’s going to look gorgeous in it.
“Thank you,” Brin says, caressing the satiny fabric, “I’ve never had anything so fine.”
Valeria picks up a gown whirling with hot pinks and reds. I figure it will look hideous on me. On Earth I always tended toward browns and beiges. When she holds it up to me, Brin’s eyes widen as she says, “Tawny, that’s going to look amazing!” Valeria grins and nods emphatically.
The young females return with an array of shoes. All are colorful, and best of all, they look comfortable. Evidently, this civilization gave up on torturous heels eons ago.
“Put anything you don’t like, or doesn’t fit properly on that chair in the corner.” She indicates a comfortable chair upholstered in rich gold tones. “The party starts in an hour; I hope I gave you enough time to get ready.” She turns to leave, then swivels to look at us again. “I look forward to getting to know you. I’m sure you realize how thrilled I am to get my Devi back, I might be a little preoccupied with him tonight.”
We nod our heads, and she sweeps out of the room. My thoughts turn to Dev. Good Lord that man has been through so much. To be reunited with his mom only to have to say his goodbyes to her, I’m certain this ordeal isn’t going to be easy for him.
He’s lucky to have his aunt and cousin as supports. They couldn’t be nicer or more gracious. I hope he can put his worries behind him and enjoy the party. My throat tightens in a pang of guilt. Seeing me might make tonight more difficult, maybe I shouldn’t attend. Then I realize if I don’t come downstairs Valeria might march straight up to my room and drag me down there; she’s a woman who’s used to getting her way.
An hour later, Brin and I approach the grand staircase at the same time as Carrie and Lexa. These pretty dresses seem to have transformed us all. Looking at our demeanor, you’d think we were all princesses arriving at a ball—our heads held high, our spines straight.
No one mentioned it, but the males from the Tranquility are all here. They’re all joking with Valeria as if they’re old friends. Perhaps she entertains them every time the ship docks. Their heads all swivel toward our grand entrance. I don’t think I’m imagining the impressed look on their faces as they watch us regally make our way down the steps.
They’ve all upped their game as well. Most of them wore some variety of black cargo pants and t-shirts on the ship. Tonight they seem to be wearing variations on a theme of black leather. They all have on fairly tight leather pants, form-fitting, with knee-high black boots. Most have on leather suit-type jackets that sweep almost to their knees. Two of them are sleeveless, showing off their amazing muscles. The words “hot as fuck” float through my mind. Dear Lord, they all look supremely masculine, and sexy as could be.
The first thing I noticed, before the men’s fashion show, was that Dev is nowhere to be found. Valeria ushers us into the formal living room as she announces, “Dev’s with his ahma. I thought we could take a moment to get acquainted.”
Between the sumptuous furnishings of the large room, completed in jewel tones of amethyst, gold, and emerald, and the males who all look ten times hotter than they did on the Tranquility, I’m on sensory overload.
Other than Sextus, the
military male, who only has eyes for bitchy Lexa, and the doc, who’s sneaking surreptitious peeks at Carrie, the other males are following Brin’s every move. Who can blame them? The woman is the perfect double threat—not only gorgeous but sweet and down-to-earth. I’ll have to come up with different words to describe things in space. Nothing is down-to-earth anymore. Natural. How about natural?
Thantose isn’t here either. Maybe he’s with Devolose and his mother. It was obvious how close Thantose was to his aunt.
“So, when you leave here you’ll be taking the females back to their home planet? Earth, you said it was called? Is that in the Ariz sector? I understand that hasn’t been well charted,” Valeria asks.