HeVan & Earth

by Lucy Kelly

  “So not a queen like Addie, more like Duke and Duchess?” she said. Grace who overheard them told her that was closer to the truth.

  “I’m also of the House Earth,” Jo said responding to Ashnin. “What if I prefer to return there?”

  “Your destiny lies here,” explained Ashnin.

  At first, she seemed solid, now she was looking a little transparent.

  “Do I have to decide now?” Jo asked.

  “You will go and return to HeVan with your newly born sons. Decide then,” she said, before turning to Addie. She looked like an image projected on silver smoke.

  “I would have healed her,” Addie said. “You’ve used too much energy.”

  “You should not attempt it when you are nurturing new life. Your own energies are better spent on the little ones. I have passed a piece of my silver essence to Josephine, you will explain?” Ashnin asked Addie, her voice almost too soft to hear.

  “Yes, thank you for everything. I can see you’re growing weak; it’s going to be okay now. You can go; I’ve got this,” said Addie, bowing her head.

  All the others on the floor—the guards, the men, Rapha and Grace, as well as all the witnesses from the twelve Houses of HeVan, had gone down on one knee and were holding up their hands, palms up.

  Ashnin smiled and disappeared.

  Addie transported her group back up to their seats, so Jett could officially end the Mok-Tar. He quickly did so, and the people began to disperse. Word of what happened there would quickly spread to the far corners of the planet.

  Jalen and Jett rushed to leave the queen’s box and go back down to be with Grace and Justyn.

  Addie and her Ankida would let them have their reunion. Then they would try to get the group together later. Addie felt they had a lot to celebrate.

  Jo got up. With Margan and Trake on either side of her, she headed to the hallway. When the guards stopped blocking the way, Grace ran forward and gave Jo a hard hug. She then bounced up and down on her feet.

  “We made it! And you’re all healed! We’ll talk more a little later,” she said quickly, before stepping to the side so she could run into Justyn’s arms.

  Jo was so happy to be alive, she didn’t even try to answer. When she stepped into the hall, she saw the doctor who had given her a death sentence just a short time ago.

  “Sorry, Doc, nothing for you to do here,” she said on a laugh.

  “I’ve never been happier to be out of work,” Rapha said, and clapped Margan on the shoulder as they passed.

  He was glad things had turned out so well. Mated to Catherine, also a Nephilim female from Earth, he knew today’s battle would ensure the people of HeVan wholeheartedly accepted them. Since Addie had brought forth the three thousand ancient Nephilim, there had been some grumbling about the women from Earth. There would be no more of that nonsense now. The future of his daughter would be easier.

  As they walked down the hall, Jo figured it was time to get some answers. Last night she’d jumped in with both feet. Now they had a future to plan for.

  “Do either of you have a problem with heading back to Earth?” she asked.

  “No, aksu, we will follow wherever you lead,” said Trake with a smile.

  “What does that mean?” she asked, not liking the glint in his eyes.

  “It means dangerous in Nepha, the ancient language,” he said.

  She let out a huff. “Well, I guess that’s okay, then. The two of you were really aksu too. What about those other words the smoke lady said to me after she healed me? Who was she, anyway?” Jo wanted to know.

  “First off, Ashnin is not the smoke lady. She is the first Nam-Nin of our people,” Trake explained.

  “Today is the first time she’s shown herself in nearly twenty thousand years. You have been goddess-touched. All the citizens of HeVan will want to meet you. With regard to the words she spoke, Beleti is the ancient word for denoting a titled lady, head of her House. The equivalent in your world would be president of a country. Belum has the same meaning, only for a male,” Margan told her.

  “You mean she expects us to come back here and be president over an entire country? I can barely balance my checkbook!” she said.

  This planet is so weird! Survive a fight to the death and become president? Haven’t these people ever heard of voting?

  “We have time before any decision needs to be made,” reasoned Trake.

  While they walked, she looked around. She and Grace had arrived the easy way the evening before, so she was a little turned around. She had no idea how to get out, and she really wanted to be out of this place. She and her Ankida had some private celebrating to do.

  “That reminds me—what did she mean by newly-born sons? Does she think I’m pregnant now or was she talking about the future? I don’t think I’m ready to start a family.”

  She shivered a little and rubbed her hands up and down her arms.

  “We did nothing to prevent it last night,” said Trake.

  “Will you mind so much if you carry our seed?” added Margan.

  “Seed…? Who says that? Well, you do, obviously, but really… Am I carrying your child or…our child? I’m not going to be the little woman, barefoot and pregnant,” she said, as she stamped her bare foot.

  Stopping, she looked down and placed her hands over her womb, and stared at her feet. She giggled and then her giggles turned to laughter. The laughter was almost hysterical, when it changed to tears.

  She lost all her bravado as the truth and seriousness of all she’d been through in the last twelve hours came rushing in. She would have fallen on the floor if Margan and Trake hadn’t supported her.

  “What happened? Is she hurt?” asked Trake.

  Margan tried to ask her what was wrong but she didn’t hear them. She had gone to another place in her mind as she dealt with all she had seen and done. She had killed a woman with her bare hands!

  “Too much—it’s too much,” she cried out.

  “She is reacting to the aftermath of her actions,” Trake said, recognizing the symptoms. He had also taken a life and wasn’t unaffected.

  Picking her up, they carried her to the room they had slept in the night before. Their Josephine needed to cry her tears and then be comforted by her Ankida. They stripped the battle clothes from their bodies and walked into the bathroom. Jo’s sobbing was quieting, to their relief. They both hated to see her in tears and vowed to do all in their power to prevent them from falling again.

  Jo had fallen silent, she was staring into space, seeing nothing. Margan held her in his lap, while Trake filled the wide sunken tub with water. After they washed away the sweat and grime of the battleground, Margan and Trake planned to make long, sweet love with their mate.

  *****

  Addie had transported herself and her Ankida back to the royal wing of the palace. She needed some privacy. She knew word of Ashnin’s appearance would spread like wildfire. She wanted to confer with Arjun, Rune, and Kylan about what it would mean for her and Grace. Would the people of HeVan see them as saviors or enemies?

  Pacing back and forth across the floor, her mind was racing. She couldn’t settle down. She prayed the Mok-Tar rite wouldn’t become popular again. Addie didn’t think she could sit through another one.

  Kylan came over to give her a hug.

  “Are you upset about being pregnant again so soon?” he asked.

  “Not really. I’m going to miss having my skinny body. I only had it back for a short time. I’m just glad we found out about this particular rule, and Rapha could tell I was pregnant so fast after conception. I thought it took days,” she said, rubbing her face in his chest. “You know, this morning’s sex was all about getting pregnant as fast as possible. If I’m going to be fat and chained to a chair for months again, I want to take advantage of the time we have,” she said, moving her head to bite down gently through his shirt over his nipple. She looked up and smiled.

  “You always have the best ideas,” he said, and scoop
ed her into his arms.

  Arjun and Rune, hearing her laughter, quickly followed. Addie decided it was time for a personal celebration of life. The worries would still be there later on.

  *****

  Grace and Justyn clung to each other on the packed dirt of the battleground. She had forgotten to ask Addie to send Jalen and Jett to her. She could only transport others if she were touching them. Addie was much more powerful. So she was amazed when she felt their arms at her back. They were whole—they were all together.

  She looked up into their faces. “I never got to eat dinner last night. Knowing you’re going to fight a battle to the death in the morning is a great appetite suppressant. Now I’m starving. What do you say we go home?” Grace asked. “We can all shower together. We’ll have breakfast in bed, followed by great sex. I need to see our girls first, though,” she added.

  Her Ankida understood her method of dealing with stress was to be flippant. They agreed with her agenda, and weren’t surprised to find themselves in the bedroom at the palace seconds later. Whatever she needed, they would provide. Later, when the unavoidable tears came, they would be prepared for those, as well. Justyn, especially, was glad to have his family together again.

  He did not intend to call for Mok-Tar justice and risk losing them again. He also did not regret his actions. He had conveyed the message he needed delivered, and all of HeVan had seen the result.

  *****

  Tulia and her sisters, Nintu and Fonia, had quickly become indispensable to Addie. Learning about protocol and ritual through the nano-patches, and watching memory savers, wasn’t the same as listening to the three women. Addie had put them in charge of planning the first major royal event.

  There would be a gala ball at the palace. In addition to all the ladies from Earth and the ancient women called, Tulia knew all the dignitaries who would expect an invitation. With attendance topping five thousand, they would be using three separate ballrooms for dancing. Eight separate rooms were set aside for dining. They also arranged some quiet rooms for conversation, and other rooms for entertainment.

  All Addie had to do was show up—just the kind of party she liked best. It had been eight days since the Mok-Tar rite. The First Annual Queen’s Gala Ball was scheduled for the next day. People thought balls were evening events. This one was going to last all day. The guests would start arriving at ten in the morning. The official opening was set for eleven. The entertainments were scheduled to end at eleven that night, and the musicians would stop at midnight. That was for tomorrow.

  Today, Josephine Jors and her Ankida were returning from the House of Seraph. They had talked with Paq and Branca. Branca didn’t want to return to Celestia. All her memories were bad, and she didn’t want to be confronted with followers of her evil grandmother.

  They all agreed Paq and Branca were the best choice to be Beleti and Belum of Seraph for now. Tulia, Nintu, and Fonia would take care of Celestia.

  Josephine was planning to return to Earth. A ship with supplies would be leaving for the Far Star Station the day after the ball, so she and her Ankida were having dinner with Addie and Grace tonight.

  At the dinner, Grace gave Jo a hard hug when she saw her again. They hadn’t seen each other since parting on the battleground. Jo hadn’t met Addie yet. After seeing all she could do, and hearing about her from others, she was a little surprised. Addie looked like many other beautiful women. She wasn’t glowing or anything.

  Addie could tell what she was thinking and smiled. “It’s okay, I’m just like you. I just have a few extra gifts to use now and then when I need them,” she said, putting Jo at ease.

  Margan turned to Justyn, and handed him a wooden case.

  “Lord Justyn, this is a gift from the House of Seraph,” he said formally.

  When Justyn opened the case, he was astonished. Inside were four bottles of the 3347 Seraphian Brandy. They were very rare. With the case Malpha took when she left, there were only eighty-eight bottles left on HeVan.

  “Thank you. The House of HeVanth is cognizant of this tribute and its value. We will open a bottle after dinner to celebrate,” Justyn said.

  As the men gathered to discuss wines and everything involved in growing a fine vintage, the women got together at the other side of the room.

  “It was really lucky you turned out to be pregnant. I didn’t like our chances,” said Jo, referring to the fight.

  Grace smirked and looked at her sister. “I appreciate it, Addie. How did you get Rapha to lie?” she asked.

  “He didn’t lie. I wouldn’t have asked it of him. When Arjun told me,” Addie blushed… “Well, it’s one of the reasons why we had to delay the rite. On Earth, it would have taken days to prove conception. Luckily, medical technology here can detect conception after only minutes.”

  Grace was flabbergasted. She wouldn’t have guessed in a million years Addie was actually pregnant again. Or, that she’d gotten pregnant just to help with the Mok-Tar rite. “How? Why?” she stuttered.

  “How? Do you really need me to explain how Tab A fits into Slot B?” Addie giggled, then sobered.

  “You and Justyn are my family. I love you. Why wouldn’t I try to do all I could to help you?” she asked.

  Grace gave her another hug. It looked as if she were going to get weepy. Addie didn’t want her to break down. This was supposed to be a happy dinner.

  “By the way, you’re elected for all diaper-changing duty and babysitting,” she said, trying to keep a straight face. The two sisters wound up laughing in each other’s arms.

  “I don’t get it. How could you be sure you’d get pregnant?” Jo asked.

  “Hmm?” asked Addie, taking a large drink of her lemonade.

  No alcohol for me—darn it! Addie thought.

  She raised her arm. “I’m the Goddess of Fertility, here. Apparently, I can cause pregnancy just by wishing for it. Would you like me to check you?” she asked?

  Her hand hovered over Jo’s stomach.

  “I would. Ashnin said something about sons. I’ve been freaking out a little,” said Jo.

  Addie placed her hand over Jo’s womb and closed her eyes.

  “Nope, you’re clear. You should probably use condoms, though, as long as you’re around me. Ashnin was probably referring to the future. I don’t think she ever guesses about things. If she said sons, you should start thinking about it.”

  “I will. Right now, I want a few more years of active service in the field. I know as soon as I start popping out babies, I’m going to want to drive a desk,” said Jo.

  The rest of the evening was filled with laughter. Jo slowly understood she’d have friends here if she decided to move to HeVan with Margan and Trake. All of them had a good time before heading to bed with their men to continue their private celebrations.

  *****

  The ball had been going on for hours. Addie felt she had completed all her official duties as Nam-Nin. Now, she wanted to take a break, and check on her girls. With Tulia covering for her, she was able to sneak away. She found Natalie in the nursery.

  “Why aren’t you at the ball?” she asked her, picking up Erena, who seemed to want her mama’s attention the most just then.

  “We’re going to go later, after all the little ones are asleep. I only want to go for a bit. I’m at the part in my pregnancy where I’m tired all the time,” Natalie explained.

  Addie knew after two miscarriages, Natalie was taking every precaution with this one.

  “The poison is out of your body, and Peet and Reeko’s too. This baby will be born healthy and whole,” Addie reassured her.

  “Thanks, Addie. I just can’t help being nervous about it,” she said.

  Addie understood. In order to cheer up her friend, she told her about her best friend, Jennifer.

  “Jennifer’s restaurant is going to be opening next month. I’m so glad she decided to stay nearby for now, instead of moving to House Nirvana. She’s being mobbed at the ball by all the warriors. I don’t think
she’s sat out a single dance.”

  Natalie smiled. “I’m glad. I hope she meets her Ankida soon. I want our children to grow up together.”

  Addie stayed for about a half hour, playing with the children, and visiting with Natalie before returning to the ball.

  One of the first people she ran into was Gilda and her granddaughter, Marta. Gilda, as Court Jeweler, had designed all the pieces Addie was wearing.

  “Gilda, Marta…are you both enjoying yourselves?” she asked.

  “These young puppies are flocking after my Marta. I keep them on their toes,” said Gilda.

  Marta hid a smile. Gilda, after receiving several gene therapy treatments, was looking younger, and moving without pain for the first time in years. Several Nephilim had been hovering around her too.

  Her sister, Carol, cured of her Alzheimer’s, was even out on the dance floor. She had arrived on HeVan with the women from the gate station. She would be returning with the next ship. She wanted to be near her daughter, Suzanna.

  “You have everything you need?” Addie asked.

  “Oh, yes. The workshop is very fine. And your young men—it was so nice of them to bring all my things from back home. The Cohens, we are survivors. We will make a fine new home here.”

  Before Addie could ask another question, an older man with a few gray hairs, mixed with dark, approached and requested a dance with Gilda. Marta laughed and urged her grandmother to have a good time.

  “What about you, Marta?” Addie asked.

  “I’m not ready to settle down. I don’t want to lead any of these guys on. Cassie and I hang out a lot,” she said, referring to Cassandra Olivetti, a young girl with a powerful gift of sight. Addie hadn’t seen her in a week or so, though her mother had come by and styled her hair for the ball. She asked Marta where Cassie was, and Marta sent her to one of the entertainment rooms.

  In this room, dancers were performing various acts. The audience came and went, staying to watch until they decided to move on to another room. Addie saw Cassie sitting with her parents at the back of the room. At sixteen, she was the youngest woman to come to HeVan from Earth.