by Indie Gantz
“He went on and on about a barrier keepin’ us out of their land and them out of ours. Said we’ve lived on the same planet for a thousand years but nobody knows about it.” I check Kor’s reaction, but his eyes are already fixed firmly on me. I quickly turn away, despite the softness of his expression. Vi chuckles bitterly to herself.
“I tucked him in that night with a fryin’ pan upside his head, but that was for other reasons.” A shudder runs through her as she seems to go back to that night. Kor reaches out and places a hand on her shoulder. It’s intimate, makes me feel like I’m intruding. “I thought he was a loon, of course. It wasn’t until he kept talkin’ about it every time he was properly pissed, did I start to think it was possible.” She shrugs and places her cup down in its saucer. “Then one night he started talkin’ about half-breeds. I can’t remember what he called ‘em, but he called ‘em something...” It looks like she’s trying to remember, but gives up after only a second or two. “I don’t know. It wasn’t a word I’d heard before. Either way, he said somethin’ about half-breeds taking over the world and how we couldn’t let that happen.”
All the moisture in my mouth is sucked dry. It hangs open as my vision blurs again.
Take over the world? How are we meant to do that? Why would we want to do that? Does this mean there are more of us? Or were there more, but something happened to them? Who could have taken them down?
There are too many questions, and my head is suddenly throbbing with information overload. I slump onto the table, my hands pushing into my temples and my eyes closed tight. I’m sure it looks ridiculous, but I know this position helps Tirigan when he is overwhelmed, and it’s all I can think to do.
“Charlie, love,” Vi’s reassures. “We know that’s not who you are.”
How can she know that? How can she know anything about me? She barely knows me. She doesn’t know what I could be capable of. I don’t even know what I’m capable of. The knife at the festival…I may very well be in the process of taking over the world and just be utterly clueless to my progress.
“How?” I finally manage to get out. “How can you be so sure? I’m not even—”
Kor cuts in. His hand goes to my chin and lifts it so that my face is pulled out of my hands. “Do you feel wrong, Charlie?”
“Wrong?” I ask, bewildered. I allow him to continue gently cradling my chin between his fingers.
“Do you feel like there’s something about you that isn’t right?” Kor clarifies.
When I don’t immediately respond, Kor releases me and sits back in his chair. He gives me the space to think before I answer.
Do I feel wrong?
No. I don’t feel wrong.
I understand that it’s true, that my very existence wasn’t supposed to happen, so by default I very well may be wrong, but I don’t feel that way. If anything, ever since I’ve gotten my powers and discovered this world, I feel right. It’s all incredibly overwhelming, and sometimes it feels like vomiting is a good answer to most of my problems, but the newness of it all doesn’t make it wrong. In fact, everything seems to fit more naturally together. My body seems to know just the right things to do.
There was always something missing in my life. I thought it was the lack of friends or stationary home, but now I realize it was this. There were so many times I felt like I was stumbling around in the dark, not really understanding who I was… but now? I feel like I’m starting to figure it out. Not what I’m supposed to do or how I am supposed to do it, but it feels like I’m figuring out who I am. I don’t like the way all of this has happened, but finding out about the Téssera, finding out who I really am, it’s like a light’s been turned on.
“No,” I finally answer. “I don’t feel like there’s something wrong with me.”
“Then trust that,” Kor replies simply. “Don’t listen to other peoples’ assessment of who you might be. Trust in who you are.” He waits a moment before continuing, letting his words settle into my bones. “I may not know you or your brother very well, but I think you are good people. Never will I understand the need to label anything different as wrong.”
“But our powers… we don’t know…”
“They’re just elements, Charlie,” Vi cuts in, waving her hand nonchalantly. “So you can invoke four instead of one, what’s the big deal? You don’t seem like a power hungry prat, so why should it matter? Your castin’ stones and eyes are purple, sure, but that’s just another color ‘init? It doesn’t have to be tragic, love.” Her hand closes over mine and squeezes. Her voice lowers into a whisper. “We’ll keep all this to ourselves though, just until the rest of the world catches up to you.”
At that, something in me breaks, and I fling myself across the table and into Vi’s arms. I’m crying, more like sobbing actually, probably ruining Vi’s shirt with tears and snot, but she just holds me tight against her and kisses the side of my head.
“It’s goin’ to be all right, dear. You’ll see.”
I’m overcome with gratitude. These people, who hardly know me or Tirigan, have accepted me for who I am and show no sign of wanting to be rid of me. It’s the most wonderful feeling, something I’m sure I’ve never felt before. It keeps me distracted, so I don’t notice when the kitchen suddenly gets a lot more crowded.
Charlie? What’s happened?
I pull myself off of Vi, who’s wiping away her own tears when I turn to face my brother. He stands between Bo, Avias, and Oleander, all of whom have deeply concerned expressions on their faces.
I’m okay. We’re both... we’re going to be okay.
My brother stares at me in confusion, but before I can explain, Bo cocks her hip and replaces her concerned expression with one of extreme annoyance.
“You ain’t havin’ another baby are ya? This house can’t take another one!”
CHAPTER SIX
Exposition
The next few minutes go at a glacial pace—ironic, considering almost all of Earth’s glaciers are gone—but this moment is definitely happening, and it’s happening very, very slowly.
Kor asks everyone to join us at the table. Vi checks on Robin and Cyra, who’re playing happily outside, and then she returns to sit next to me. By the time we are all seated around the table, Tirigan looks like he might throw up. I telepathically caught him up on what happened, and told him everything was okay, but he hasn’t completely processed the news yet. Avias, Oleander, and Bo all wear similar masks of confusion.
“How about you start from the beginning, Charlie?” Kor says encouragingly before looking to his children. “I want all of your minds open, just as they’ve always been.”
“What’s going on?” Bo asks with a tremor in her voice. Avias and Oleander stay silent, but Oleander’s eyes are locked on me. Avias’ are on Tirigan, who stares down at a knot in the table.
“I’ll let Charlie and Tirigan tell you that,” Kor replies. He gives me a small smile. “When they’re ready, of course.”
All eyes are on me now, even Avias, who knows us well enough to know that Tirigan isn’t going to be the one to explain.
How much do we say?
All of it. Tirigan sounds more confident in my head than he actually looks.
Everything?
Yes.
But—
From what you’ve said, Vi and Kor know more than we do. There is no point in keeping more secrets.
Tirigan—
I’ve calculated the possible outcomes. It is worth the risk.
How can it be worth the risk if—
Charlie, trust me. The more they know, the better equipped they will be to help us find Calla.
Tirigan’s mind closes, and I’m left alone to come up with the right words to say.
“I don’t really know how, or what, to say,” I start after a moment, pushing my hair back and closing my eyes for a moment.
My heart’s beating wildly. I can’t hear anything but its violent pounding in my ears. When I open my eyes again, the expression on everyone�
��s face has transformed from puzzled fear into concerned curiosity.
“I-I guess I should just say it.” I look to Kor and Vi, who each give me a smile and nod.
“Tirigan and I.... we aren’t Téssera.”
I whisper the truth down to my lap and wait several seconds before looking up and catching Oleander’s eye. He doesn’t look afraid, just confused.
“What I mean to say is that we’re not fully Téssera.”
Tirigan lifts his eyes from the table and gauges everyone’s reaction. I wish I had his powers of deduction right now. I take a deep breath and push onward.
“We are half-Téssera, half-Anunnaki.” I wait to continue, assuming someone will interrupt to ask me what that means, but no one does. “The Anunnaki people came to Earth from a planet called Eridu, which belongs to the galaxy Andromeda. We— they have been on Earth since the dawn of humanity, living among humans.”
I wait again for reactions, but still receive nothing aside from stunned silence. I have the distinct feeling that Bo thinks it’s all a joke.
“The Anunnaki people left Earth before the asteroid struck. They came back after the fallout and Earth’s subsequent revival, settling along the south side of the planet. Our history books say that the northern parts of Earth were still decimated and uninhabitable when they arrived, and that the North is still like that to this day.” I pause and look to Kor, who’s staring at me with rapt attention. He’s leaning over slightly, like he physically wants closer to my story. I don’t dare look at anyone else. “Even the south side of Earth was extremely temperamental and violent at the time the Anunnaki began settling there in earnest, but thanks to their ability to regenerate and heal quickly, they survived while the world stabilized.” I pause again, this time positive that I’ll be bombarded with questions, but still, my new friends are quiet. “Anunnaki are not completely immortal; they do have a lifespan, but it’s much longer than yours.”
Finally, someone rises to my expectations and interrupts my monologue.
“How much longer?” Avias asks, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
“Approximately five to six hundred years,” Tirigan replies, his tone factual and his face expressionless. There are several gasps. Blood rushes to my face.
They think we’re freaks. They’re going to reject us.
Tirigan reaches across the table and places his hand over mine. My gaze snaps to his. He isn’t smiling, but my brother looks calm and more confident than he did earlier. His hand is warm as it covers mine, soothing me instantly. I know Tirigan’s still mad at me for what I said over breakfast the other day, but that seems to be forgotten at the moment.
This is the first time he’s ever reached out to me like this on his own. Tirigan knows I need comfort, and he’s rising above his own discomfort to give it to me. His sacrifice makes me feel stronger, and pushes me to continue. With my added strength, I take a look around the table and find that everyone is taking this all in a little differently.
Avias’ reaction most resembles his father, a thirsty curiosity pushing him closer to the table. His eyes move between Tirigan and me, and I can tell he’s anxious for me to keep going. Bo’s hand is over her mouth and her eyes are wide, seemingly accepting that my story isn’t a joke. She looks to her parents a couple times while she waits, probably wondering if she can start asking questions. Oleander looks less shocked and only the slightest bit confused. He mostly just seems concerned, possibly even a little sad. I linger on him the longest, somehow managing to offer him a self-conscious smile before I start talking again.
“Our books tell us that most humans died with the asteroid strike, and any humans that survived the initial impact died soon after. We had absolutely no knowledge of your people before two weeks ago.” I pause again and look to Kor. Now that it’s all coming out, it’s time he knew the truth about Calla. I felt dirty lying to him about her, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to come clean.
“Calla didn’t die when we were young,” I whisper, ashamed. “I’m sorry we lied to you.” Kor’s eyebrows furrow together as he leans back in his chair. “As far as we know, she’s still alive.”
Kor doesn’t look angry or confused by my deceit, but he still asks, “Why tell me she died?”
“Because the truth is, we don’t know what happened to our mother or where she is. My parents were out taking pictures… that’s what they did; they were wildlife and nature photographers. My father came back home beaten and bloody, telling us Calla was taken, and that it was probably the Anunnaki council that had found her. He tried to fight them off, but he couldn’t and they just... took her. Then Tirigan and I had to escape. If the Negral find us, John said they’ll take us too.”
“Took her where?” Kor asks abruptly, back on the edge of his seat.
“We don’t know.” I shake my head. “My father is Anunnaki. We grew up on Anunnaki land. He doesn’t know anything about the High Coven. According to John, Calla didn’t know much either, aside from what she overheard about the barrier between our lands. That’s why she went past the border and into the jungle. That’s where she met my father.”
In an instant, Kor’s expression goes from confusion to betrayal. “That’s why she left?”
“Yes,” I mumble, not looking at him. “There are barriers on the edges of both Anunnaki and Téssera lands. My father said the jungle is one of the spaces between those lands where the Negral and the High Coven meet. That’s pretty much all we know. Neither John nor Calla knows why there are barriers, or why neither side knows of the other’s existence. We’re just as clueless as you are about what all of this means.”
I find every pair of eyes around the table and spend a moment looking into each of them.
“I am so sorry that we lied to you all. We just want to find our mother. We need answers, but we don’t even know the right questions to ask. We hoped living with you, learning from you, would help us figure that out.”
Tirigan clears his throat. “We are grateful to you all, but Calla is our priority.”
The room falls silent, and I wait for the storm to come.
I’m glad the whole truth is out, even if it damages our relationships with our new friends. We could’ve held back the information about Calla and continued living and learning under this roof with our true motives for being here remaining a mystery, but it would be so much easier if they knew everything. Kor and Vi seemed comfortable with us being half alien before, what’s a few more manipulations on our part? Of course, it’s also entirely possible that they’re about to kick us out. And I really wouldn’t blame them.
Avias speaks first, his words deliberate and calculated as he breaks the silence.
“I won’t speak for my parents. However, I appreciate, but do not require, your apologies.” He looks to Kor and Vi, then back to us. “Under the same circumstances, I don’t think I would have done anything different.”
Small puddles of relief begin to pool in my stomach, but I hold out saying anything until I hear from everyone else.
“I’m not thrilled at being lied to,” Bo says next, clasping her hands in front of her on the table. “But I wager you had good reason.”
Oleander sighs beside her and nods. “I would’ve hoped you could’ve found us more trustworthy than you did, but I understand why you lied.” He doesn’t take his eyes off of mine as he adds, “I knew there was something different about you. I just didn’t know what it was.”
I don’t really have time to think about that before Kor speaks up. “Your father thinks the Anunnaki council, the Negral, took Calla? Not the High Coven?”
“Um.” I’m momentarily distracted by the fact that Kor doesn’t seem to want an explanation for our additional lies, but I try to focus on his question anyway. “That’s what John said, yes.”
“And your father’s sure of this?” Vi questions, eyes narrowed. “That it was his people and not ours?”
“I-I don’t know, I guess? There really isn’t any way for us to know for sure.”
Vi and Kor share a meaningful look. They hold each other’s gaze long enough for me to feel like they’re having a telepathic conversation of their own. Kor holds her gaze for a second longer before turning back to Tirigan and me.
“I know someone who may have some information.” When my heart jumps into my throat and my eyes widen, Kor holds up his hand. “Not about your mother…” He seems to weigh the possibility. “… probably not about your mother, but it could be a start. We haven’t spoken in some time, but he sent me a call stone last year and told me he moved out West.” Kor looks at Vi pointedly, an obvious sign that there’s something more to be said. He doesn’t elaborate, though. “He’s involved with a group of people who may have some useful information.”
Tirigan takes his hand out of mine and starts fidgeting with his thumbs.
“So, you think he may know something about who took Calla?” I ask.
“It’s possible, yes,” Kor says, giving me a thoughtful look.
“How do we know he’ll be on our side? We can’t tell him everything.”
“I see no need to give him the specifics of your situation,” Kor replies, leaning back in his chair once more. “I’ll merely inquire about joining up and ask if he knows anything about Téssera disappearances.”
I hold my breath for a moment, hoping I understand the situation correctly. When I let it out, my voice trembles slightly. “So... you’re saying you’ll help us?”
Kor and Vi both look at me like I’ve just grown a third eye. “Of course,” Kor says, shaking his head slightly. “Why wouldn’t we help you?”
“B-Because,” I stutter, “we lied to you. We manip—”
“Oh, stop,” Vi cuts me off quickly, standing up from the table. “We know you didn’t mean any harm by it, and we aren’t the sort to ignore children in need. I know you two aren’t exactly children anymore, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need someone lookin’ out for you.” I stare up at her in wonder, tears prickling behind my eyes again. “Calla meant a lot to Kor. We aren’t about to let anythin’ happen to her children.”