by Regine Abel
“Why?” Khel asked, his tone hardening again.
“Why, indeed?” asked Lhor to whom the question had been addressed.
“Your daughter is an Oracle,” Venya said with a shrug. “Nowhere near as powerful as Kamala’s daughter with my Xevius will be. She needs proper training. Your mate as well.”
“My daughter?” I exclaimed, unconsciously placing my palm over my stomach.
“I doubt you’re already pregnant,” Venya said, some of her smugness creeping back in. “But you will be a mother by year’s end.”
I gaped at her, which made her chuckle. But Khel had still not moved past the Korlethean female wanting to spend time with his daughter and mate.
“Eryon said they are not Oracles, but merely have some form of foresight ability like most Korletheans do, Amalia’s being the closest to an Oracle,” Khel argued.
Venya waved a dismissive hand. “Eryon is a Seer. What do males understand of the powers of females?”
This time, both Aleina and I snorted then chuckled.
“Touché,” Aleina said, to the men’s displeasure.
“We’ll see once Valena has assessed you,” Khel said in a clipped tone. “For now, I will have one of my Warriors escort you to the bunker. Is there anything you wish to retrieve from your shuttle?”
“No, your Officer Sohr already saw to it. He has kept them in that room where they happily rifled through my clothes and underwear to make sure I wasn’t carrying any weapon of mass destruction,” Venya said with a hint of sarcasm.
The insufferable female was growing on me.
“However, you will want to send someone to fetch the contents of my cargo hold,” the Oracle said, retrieving an access key from the pocket of her dhalla and showed it to Khel. “It is filled with vryer roots. The blue crates are for my personal use. The rest can be handed over to your doctor.”
Placing the key on the table, she pushed it across the surface to Khel. He caught it, staring at her stunned. Venya winked at him, then rose to her feet. I bit the inside of my cheeks not to laugh.
“I’m ready to go to that bunker now,” she said before strutting her way to the door.
Yep, the wretched female was growing on me.
CHAPTER 17
Xevius
I entered the bunker under the still suspicious gaze of the guards. After Valena Dervhen confirmed I held no ill intent towards the Praghans or the Veredians as a whole, the General had reluctantly given me leave to come and go about the house as I pleased. Although he didn’t spell it out, I clearly understood I wasn’t to walk around his residence with the weapons I usually carried. It made me feel naked and helpless, but under the circumstances, I didn’t want to make unnecessary waves. Despite that, the First Division remained wary of my presence. I couldn’t blame them in light of the propaganda and its rippling effects, which the Xelixians correctly assumed had been the work of my people.
Even now, despite having removed all their children from the Xelixians schools, Kamala was off, dealing with the fallout of that hate mongering. Some random thugs had vandalized and defaced three of the five venues they had setup to provide education for the Veredian children; one per district of Xelix Prime. Without the full support of the Xelixian system, they had temporarily reverted to the teaching method they had used while in the breeding compounds of their former master.
It saddened and shamed me to see my mate and her Sisters going through such unnecessary hardships. And yet, considering that my own people, despite having the psionic ability to fight back—at least to a certain extent—were so scared of Titans, I could understand all too well the fears of the Xelixians. They were helpless against the growing powers of these children.
However, that didn’t make this kind of barbaric behavior okay in any way.
She didn’t let me assist her. Although she implicitly trusted me, in many ways, her Sisters still considered me partially the enemy. It would take them a bit of time to grow comfortable around me. Moreover, I didn’t really know where I fit into her world. I had imagined building a life with her right here on Xelix Prime, and to ingratiate myself with Khel to secure a role in the intelligence service of the First Division. Even with Valena vouching for me, it might have taken some time but I’d felt confident I could make it happen. But now, with the Veredians having passed a near unanimous vote to leave Xelix Prime, I didn’t quite know what would happen.
I entered the lift that took me down into the bunker. Once it reached its destination, the doors parted onto a long corridor at the end of which another vaulted door gave access to the actual bunker. Despite its size, the door opened quietly onto a medium-sized guards’ room with a series of monitors displaying various camera feeds around the compound. The eyes of the single guard manning it followed me as I made my way to the living quarters located at the back, next to the medical bay. The massive underground facility contained numerous other rooms, including a weapons cache and holding cells—neither of which I had access to—as well as a meeting room and recreation area. While the bunker could hold up to three hundred people for a couple of days, it had been designed to only accommodate a maximum of fifty people for an extended period.
I walked into the large living area with various sets of couches, giant screens, a reading corner, and tables next to shelves laden with board games. Valena and my aunt were sitting on one of the couches, having an animated conversation. It had stunned me to find out that, after assessing my aunt through her mindreading ability, Valena had remained in the bunker to speak with her. I’d been in the Capital District disabling the security system I’d set up for the delegation to ensure the Xelixians didn’t seize the opportunity to learn more about our defenses when Kamala sent me a com about my aunt’s arrival. Since I didn’t know how long the Xelixian intelligence services would allow me access to the premises, I opted to finish my task before returning to the Praghan estate, which was a full-hour flight from there.
As soon as she saw me, Valena stopped talking, a lovely blush of guilt creeping up her cheeks. I immediately guessed they’d been talking about her father, Thaddeus. After she’d read my mind to placate Khel, I’d tried to put in a good word on my old friend’s behalf, but Valena had been less than receptive, clearly suffering from the same feeling of abandonment Kamala had shown. I thanked the Goddess once more that I’d had the foresight of taking contraceptives to avoid siring any daughters during my captivity. It would have broken my heart to know I’d caused this kind of pain to one of these brave females because of some edict from my home world.
“I should go check that my children haven’t set Amalia’s house on fire,” Valena said, rising to her feet and brushing her long brown hair over her shoulder.
“Of course, dear,” Aunt Venya said, standing up as well.
“You know, you don’t have to remain cooped up in here,” Valena said, gesturing at the large living area.
Despite its comfortable furnishing, it had the typical, soulless and clinical-looking décor all in white and greys that the Xelixians so prized.
“I know, and I will go out, in due time. For now, I will speak with my nephew then rest. It has been an interesting past few days,” Aunt Venya said.
I couldn’t help but frown, sensing her weariness, both physical and mental. My aunt had always seemed as unstoppable as a mountain. Although I’d known her to hide her feelings and moments of weakness behind sarcasm and sass, I’d never felt her so… broken. This mess on Korlethea was breaking her heart.
“Of course, I understand,” Valena said in a kind voice. “But be aware that if you don’t, Amalia will come drag you out or will make Rhad teleport you out. She’s allergic to anything that even remotely resembles a woman being held captive.”
“She’s an interesting one,” Aunt Venya said enigmatically. “But thank you, I’ve heard you well.”
Valena nodded then, in the traditional Veredian greeting, she placed her palm on her heart then waved it at my aunt in an offering gesture. “Goodbye, Ve
nya.”
“Goodbye, Valena.”
My eyes all but popped out of my head, hearing them so quickly on a first name basis. But it also warmed my heart to see she had already made a friend.
I nodded to Valena as she left the room.
“Stunning girl,” my aunt said. “She has her father’s eyes.”
“She does.”
“You will need to get the others to submit to her assessment,” she said, cupping my face in her hands.
“The others?” I asked, confused. “Others came with you?”
My aunt didn’t answer at first, looking at me as if for the first time. The deep wave of love that washed over me took me by surprise, and then my heart melted with affection.
“I knew the Goddess wouldn’t take you from me, too. Even not knowing, I prayed and hoped. I did not foresee this outcome, not like this. But I am grateful.” Drawing my face towards her, she kissed my forehead and caressed the pointed tips of my ears with her thumbs. “You may not be the child of my body, but you are my son. I will not bury you.”
Letting go, she schooled her features, all signs of that moment of vulnerability gone, except for her emotions that still swirled around me. As much as I wanted to call her out on it, I let her have that illusion of control and merely smiled as she settled back on the dark-grey couch.
“You and those children have caused quite a stir back home,” she said, tapping the cushion next to her for me to sit down. I complied without a fuss. “He will succeed. That boy will succeed.”
The conviction in her voice took me aback. “Did a prophecy—?”
“No,” Aunt Venya interrupted. “No prophecy. I doubt there will ever be one for this. But I know it in my heart. I feel it in my bones. All of Korlethea knows it. But still, the foolish fanatics obsessed with a glory we can never regain are tearing us apart from within.” She spat those last words with barely repressed fury. “The Veredians will be the new ruling species. With their powers and selfless natures when it comes to the welfare of their kin and others, their empire will thrive and grow. It is time for our people to accept it.”
“But can they?” I asked.
“They’ll have no choice,” Aunt Venya said with a dismissive shrug. “Your friends are coming. Killian, Febus, Thaddeus, to name a few.”
“To hunt us?” I ask, my tone hardening.
“To join us, you silly boy.”
My heart skipped a beat, joy and distress battling each other. “This will wreck the Agency!”
“More than you know. Hundreds of our brothers and sisters are coming, most of them our best soldiers and agents, plus three of the Fates, and four of the Quorum’s Oracles.”
I gaped at her, initially unsure how to respond to that, too many thoughts firing in my brain. “You cannot be sure,” I cautioned.
“I am,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument. “Killian foresaw their massive departure, but nothing more. He contacted me as soon as he heard I’d left Korlethea. He must tread carefully. You know what will happen to them if they’re found out.”
“How did it come to this?” I asked, running a nervous hand through my hair.
“We allowed it,” Aunt Venya said with fatalism. “Killian is personally reaching out to those he saw in his prophecy. He’s terrified that one of the Fates who doesn’t plan on leaving will also foresee it and expose them before they’ve left Korlethean space.”
“And what do you see?” I asked.
“Battles. None of them with pleasant outcomes. But then, I’d seen nothing positive in any of the paths laid before your return to the Assembly. And yet, here you are, safe and sound,” she said, caressing my cheek. “We must prepare for their arrival, and you must convince them to submit to Valena.”
“You two seem to really get along.”
“She’s an interesting girl,” my aunt said in an enigmatic fashion. “And so much more powerful than she realizes. I suspect all the other second-generation Veredians are as well. I want her to reach her full potential.”
My brows shot up. “You would support the Veredians gaining even more power? After seeing what it did to our own people?”
“They’re not like us. We craved power and chased after it. They don’t. Their nurturing instincts also make them more responsible about their gifts. Plus, we’ll need them at their peak when the Great War comes.”
“Valena is not a fighter,” I pointed out.
Aunt Venya smiled as if I’d said something naïve. “When your survival is on the line, everyone is a Warrior.”
* * *
I left the bunker and headed towards the main house, feeling the weight of a thousand eyes observing me. It would be a while yet before they felt comfortable with my presence, and it would be just as long for me to adjust to my new circumstances. Even now, it felt too awkward simply marching up to the front door without Kamala by my side. Hopefully, she’d soon be done with her duties for the day.
I considered going back to Capital District, blown away that my aunt had not just brought with her the heirlooms I had requested she recover from my family home, but she’d also flown here with my personal chaser, which I’d fully upgraded to rival the one from the Agency in which I’d traveled to Korlethea with Kamala. According to Aunt Venya, she’d brought my clothes, weapons, and various mementos I’d cared about, before filling the rest of the cargo hold with vryer roots for both of us, the rest to go to the Xelixians. When she’d said she’d bring my belongings personally, I didn’t realize she’d meant here to me, but merely to the bank. Still, it was a long trip to Capital District, and the day was already advanced.
Not particularly eager to be cooped up between four walls, I strolled along the side of the mansion, hesitating between continuing straight ahead into the woods surrounding the estate, turning into the garden, maybe even taking a dip in the massive, natural pond pool that ran the length of the estate, or go visit the endless ryspak orchard in the back. I settled on taking a look at the patio where Eryon often hung out and in the garden where he usually trained the children. Failing that, I’d go on that trek in the forest.
The garden on the left side of the house felt eerily silent for mid-afternoon, except for the bristling wind and the very distant chirping of birds. The delicate perfume of the colorful plants, small bushes, and trees decorating the garden mixed harmoniously with the sweet aroma of ryspak, wafting here all the way from the orchard.
A sudden wave of aggression struck me. It didn’t feel like malice, yet the evil intent was undeniable. I froze, uncertain of its source. My hand instinctively went to my weapon only to be reminded I was unarmed. A childish growl rose from around the corner of the house. I knew Vahleryon’s growl and, although masculine, this one didn’t belong to him. Rhadames? Doubtful. Tharek? Possible. Likely even.
Not wanting to create an incident, I slowly backed away, walking backwards. A series of small footsteps running on the hard surface of the stone tiles paving the patio reached me as they approached the edge of the house. Pulse racing, I considered dashing away back to the front of the mansion, when Tharek came running past the corner of the house and stepped a couple of meters past its wall. I prepared to raise my psionic shield in case he attacked me, but the boy barely spared me a glance. Claws out, fangs bared, he kept growling at the empty space in front of him.
Immediately alerted, I spread out my senses in the large, open area ahead of me where the children often played with their flying disk but felt no intruder. Yet clearly, Tharek did.
“Tharek!” Zharina exclaimed. “What are you doing? What’s wrong?” She ran up to her little brother and looked around, failing to see what had him so distraught. “Uncle Xevius?” she asked when her gaze landed on me.
Realizing that the Shadow’s aggression wasn’t aimed at me, I approached the children at a brisk pace. “Zhara, take your brother inside, and call the guards.”
“But what—”
My heart all but jumped out of my chest as Zharina screamed in fright
. A Korlethean assassin I didn’t know came out of stealth mode right in front of the children. Before any of us could react, he snapped Tharek’s neck, killing him instantly.
“NOOOOO!” I yelled in horror, racing towards them.
“THAREK!” Zharina screamed as the assassin turned towards her.
He raised a hand towards her but, before he could touch her, the little girl made a ripping gesture with her right hand, and the ethereal form of the assassin’s soul was torn right out of his body. Zhara opened her fist, and the soul shattered into a thousand lights that blinked out of existence at the same time as the male’s lifeless corpse crumpled to the ground next to her brother. She threw herself at the little boy, her hands wrapping around his neck to fix the damage and attempt to bring him back to life.
The alarm sounded just as a second and a third assassin came out of stealth. The one closest to me raised his blaster towards Zhara. Judging by the dark red light illuminating the pattern around the handle and on each side of the muzzle, it was set to kill. Using my momentum, I jumped him, knocking his arm just in time for his shot to miss the little girl by a wide margin. He attempted to strike me, but I dodged. Flowing with the movement, I grabbed the dagger on his belt, spun around, and stabbed him between the shoulder blades. He threw his head back, screaming with pain, and I slit his throat.
I held him before me like a meat shield, absorbing the shots his companion was firing at me. Tharek suddenly gasped, his eyes snapping open thanks to the ministrations of his sister. The remaining Korlethean roared in anger and turned his weapon towards the children.
“RUN INSIDE!” I yelled at the children while throwing my dagger at the assassin’s throat.
The blade found its mark and, holding his neck leaking blood, the male fell to his knees with gurgling sounds. Ignoring the searing pain in my heart at slaughtering my brothers, I raced towards the children who were scrambling to their feet. To my horror, three more assassins appeared before us, standing in our path to the safety of the house.