Seven Sisters

by Eileen Troemel

  “Mycos won’t hurt her,” Abby said. “He’s too sweet.”

  “You handled that well,” Gregor said.

  “Yeah well, someone has to take over now they’re official,” Nic said. “Lyd deserves some happiness.”

  “You all do,” Gregor said. “I was told they will be out by midmorning to spend time with all of you.”

  “Good,” Nic said. “Landros, I’m kicking your butt in training this morning.”

  “Doubtful,” Landros said. “But I look forward to your next attempt.”

  ***

  Senator Weatherton reports the negotiations with the aliens are not proceeding well. He says what they offer is no better than what we currently have.

  Lydia finished putting her bra on as they listened to the news. “Bastard,” she muttered.

  “Do you want me to turn it off,” Mycos asked. He ran his hands down the length of her back cupping her bottom.

  “No, I want to crush him,” Lydia said. “He’s ruining all the positive PR we’ve gotten.”

  “It can not be helped,” Mycos said. “Unless you want me to declare Hylatian law, there is little to be done.”

  Lydia turned in his arms. “What law,” she asked.

  “Anyone who interferes with a mate, particularly in the first year, forfeits their life,” Mycos said. His eyes wandered from her pink lace bra to her skimpy lace underwear. “You are trying to kill me.”

  “Don’t you like them,” she asked confused. “You picked them out.”

  “I will know all day you have them on,” he said squeezing her bottom. “We have family time, and appointments.”

  She kissed him. “We’ll have private time too,” she said. “I want to see the girls and make sure they’re all right with this.”

  “You do not think they will be,” he asked worry crowding into his joy.

  “I’m a little worried about Abby,” Lydia said. “She’s used to seeing us first thing in the morning.”

  “I have been selfish,” Mycos said frowning.

  “No, we haven’t. We need to reassure them,” she said. “Then we have the meeting with Emily and one with Trinity and Alexander. After we have a break for a couple hours until we do the family supper.”

  “What would you like to do in those couple hours,” Mycos asked.

  Lydia looked at their bed. “It was a long night,” she said softly. “Maybe we could take a nap.”

  Mycos pulled her up until she wrapped her legs around him.

  Lord Mycos is an uncouth, unsavory alien Grant Weatherton said. The female he’s chosen is crude and low in her morals and propriety. He probably pays her to be the front for their devices. These are not the type of people we humans should be dealing with.

  Lydia’s head snapped around to see the screen. She felt Mycos stiffen, heard his deep growl. “I think our plans just changed,” she said. “We need to address that bastard.”

  “You should have let me punch him,” Mycos said.

  “Tempting. We need to think strategically,” Lydia said. “Not react. We need to go on the … what did Dani call it?”

  “Offense,” Mycos said. “All right. We will check on the girls and then discuss what our next steps should be.”

  “As a family,” Lydia said.

  “Do you not think it will upset Abby,” Mycos said.

  “She won’t like us being upset but you’d be surprised how insightful she can be,” Lydia said.

  “What are you wearing today,” he asked.

  “Do you want to pick my clothes,” she asked knowing he liked to choose her clothes.

  “There is a blue dress,” he said. “I like how it hugs your curves.”

  “Go get it. I want to look something up,” she said. Stepping over to the comp in the room. The library on Mycos’ homeworld surrounded her as she asked for decrees pertaining to mates. When she selected a decree from the list, the image shifted to the shelving with the scrolls. Reaching for the top shelf, she found the one referenced and unrolled it. “What does cetare usque ad mortem mean?”

  He came out of their closet scowling. “What are you reading,” he asked.

  “Decrees about mates,” she said.

  “It means to fight to the death,” Mycos said. “Why are you reading those?”

  “I think we need to embrace your decrees,” Lydia said.

  ***

  Senator Weatherton took a few minutes out of his busy morning schedule to chat with reporters. Here’s what he had to say about the Aliens. On the television, Senator Weatherton stopped in front of a group of reporters. Nic and the other girls watched while they waited in the small sitting room they gathered in for family time. Gregor and Sally waited with them. Landros and some of the other team leads waited at the side of the room.

  I’ve checked since meeting with the aliens, Senator Weatherton said. Guardianship of six minor girls was pushed through. This concerns me because Lydia Witter is hardly an appropriate mother for easily influenced children. Mycos Hylat is an alien. How would he know how to father human children? I’ve been in their home. There are no females. It’s all men. My fear is they’re grooming these innocent children to be god knows what to those men. These innocent girls need to be removed from their home in order to find them real mothers and fathers.

  Abby jumped up. “Lydia isn’t my mother, is she,” she asked. “I don’t want a mother and father. I… I…” She dropped her bear and ran towards the door. Gregor reached for her, but she skirted him and raced to find safety. If Lydia was her mother, she wasn’t safety.

  Mycos went down on one knee and scooped her into his arms. “Ceann bragge,” he said even as she struggled to get away from him.

  “I don’t want a mother and father. You can’t make me have one,” Abby said hitting Mycos on the chest.

  “Abby, calm down,” Lydia said squatting next to Mycos.

  “You can hit me all you want,” Mycos said. “I can take it but what has you so upset.”

  “Are you hurting Lydia,” she whispered going limp in his arms. “You took her to your room. Did you so we wouldn’t hear you hurt her?”

  “No,” Mycos said frowning. “Why do you think I am hurting her?”

  “If you’re mama and daddy, that’s what they do,” Abby said.

  Mycos turned so Lydia could add her arms to surround the little girl. “Look at her,” he said. “Does she look like I hurt her?”

  “No, she looks happy,” Abby said putting one arm around Lydia.

  “I’m very happy,” Lydia said. “We talked about how adults like to spend time together to do adult things. Adult things for Mycos and I does not include hitting or hurting. Do you see how tender he is with you and the other girls?”

  “Yes,” Abby said the tears pouring down her cheeks slowed.

  “He’s tender with me in an adult way,” Lydia said.

  “You’re having sex,” Abby said boldly sounding more adult than any six year old should.

  “We are,” Lydia said a pretty pink tinged her cheeks.

  “Does it hurt,” Abby asked.

  “No, you know why,” Lydia asked.

  “Because he’s tender,” Abby asked.

  “Yes. Now what do you call him,” Lydia asked.

  “Dearhar,” Abby said.

  “What does it mean,” Mycos asked.

  “Brother,” she said. “You’re my brother and she’s my sister?”

  “It’s why we did a guardianship instead of an adoption,” Lydia said. “We love you, all of you.” She looked at the other girls watching them. “We’re a family, but I’m not your mother. Nic’s only three years younger than I am. There’s no way I’m her mother.”

  “Sisters,” Abby said. “Mycos, I’m sorry I hit you.”

  “I am sorry his words hurt you,” Mycos said.

  “He’s mean. Can we hurt him,” Abby said looking cross.

  Mycos laughed at her vehemence. “We are going to talk about him,” Mycos said. “Do you want to stay and
listen or do you want to go play?”

  “Stay. I want to stay with my sisters,” Abby said.

  “Defur needs a hug,” Nic said bringing the bear to her. “Come sit on my lap while we talk.”

  Abby gave Mycos a shy kiss on his cheek. “I’m glad you’re my dearhar,” she said.

  “I am glad you’re my defur,” he said letting her go to Nic.

  “Let’s talk about this,” Lydia said.

  “Can they come and take us,” Heidi asked as Hannah leaned on her. Hands linked, the girls all clung to each other.

  “Sally, maybe you're the best to answer this,” Lydia said.

  “If enough pressure is brought to bear, at the very least an investigation will occur. I’m afraid my involvement with Gregor will have a negative impact on any investigation,” Sally said. Gregor put his arm around her.

  “But you're mates,” Dani said.

  Sally smiled, gazed at Gregor with such love, he kissed her. “We are,” she said. “I don’t want our relationship to hurt all of you.”

  “We aren’t at fault,” Lydia said. She moved into the room. Mycos watched her take control, become the mother of their family despite what she said. “First, we will contact our friends and start a counterattack. That’s what you called it right, Dani?”

  “Yes,” Dani said. “According to Hylatian law, Mycos has recourse.”

  “How do you know,” Gregor asked.

  “We asked the programs,” Rachel said.

  “You two,” Lydia said grinning. “Good. I’m glad you did.”

  “How will we… counterattack,” Heidi said. “I read… I did a search as well. I read in the past, Hylatian men fought over the woman.”

  “I think Mycos could take the bastard,” Nic said. The men in the room smirked at her words. “Don’t scold me. I know the language is rough but the senator is one.”

  “But if any of the Hylatians use violence, it will tap into all the movies about alien invasions and taking over our world,” Lydia said.

  “Excuse me,” Justinian said. “Those we worked with for the donations might be willing to assist us.”

  “It’s a good idea,” Sally said. “If we have humans come out in defense of the Hylatians.”

  “Is it possible to get the mayor and other government officials to stand behind us,” Gregor said.

  “It depends on the public mood,” Sally said. “If the mood is in favor of us, yes, they will. If not, they will waffle.”

  “How will the two of you react,” Nic asked. “Look, the reality is this guy – note my good language – is slandering you. He came on Hylatian soil and committed a crime according to Hylatian decrees.”

  “How is this house Hylatian soil,” Landros asked.

  “It’s like your embassy,” Nic said. “Right?”

  “It is,” Lydia said.

  “An embassy even though it resides physically here, becomes like an island of the country or planet, I guess in your case,” Sally said.

  “You’re gonna hafta go to the capitol,” Nic said frowning.

  “We need to make an official complaint against the senator,” Lydia said.

  “Do we all go,” Heidi asked.

  “No,” Lydia said. “If all of you leave here, they will try to take you from us.”

  “You don’t know that,” Sally said.

  “But they could,” Mycos asked.

  Sally considered, closed her eyes. “They might,” she said.

  “The six of you have to stay here on the property under the protection of the men,” Lydia said. “Mycos and I have to go to the capitol and file a complaint.”

  “Lyd, are ya gonna kick some behind,” Abby asked.

  “Yes, we are,” Lydia said.

  “How soon will you go,” Gregor asked.

  “Today,” Mycos said. “We need to respond to this immediately.”

  “Can we help you pack,” Abby said. “How long will you be gone?”

  “You can but I don’t know how long we’ll be gone,” Lydia said.

  “We can come to Mycos’ bedroom,” Abby said.

  “As long as you knock first,” Mycos said. “I am firm on this. No running in.”

  “Because yur lovers and do adult things,” Abby asked.

  “Yes,” Lydia said smiling as she looked at Mycos. “You don’t need to see the adult things we do.”

  “Kay,” Abby said. “You need killer outfits, Lydia. Mycos needs to wear his power suits and look tall, dark and dangerous.”

  Nic rolled her eyes. “You are not looking over my shoulder when I read ever again,” she growled.

  “What are you reading,” Lydia asked teasing her.

  “You need to pack,” Nic said. “My reading material is immaterial.”

  ***

  Two hours to pack and organize. Mycos and Lydia stood in the foyer hugging and hugging, and hugging. He watched the girls brace for them leaving. Hannah came to him for the fourth time. “You won’t take too long,” she murmured.

  “We will return as soon as possible,” he said.

  “I feel better when we’re together,” she said.

  “I do as well,” he said hugging her close, realizing how true his answer was. “You will look out for the men?”

  “I’m too little,” Hannah said.

  “Look at them,” Mycos said. “They are all very worried about you.”

  “How can I look out for them,” she asked.

  “Can you ask them questions about your schoolwork,” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said. “You make it easier to understand.”

  “You can save the really tough ones for me,” he said. “You look out for them and Lydia will look out for me. Does that seem like a deal?”

  “Yes,” Hannah said but she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on.

  Lydia watched as tears gathered. She rubbed Hannah’s back. “We’ll miss you,” she said. “We’ll call every night.”

  Landros approached Mycos. “Hannah,” he murmured. “Will you help me keep track of Nic? She has gotten very sassy with her training.”

  “She needs to work on her strength,” Hannah said repeating what Landros said.

  “Hey,” Nic objected.

  “I need assistance,” Landros said. “Will you come with me and tell me the best way to keep her in line?”

  Hannah gave Mycos a kiss and leaned over to Landros. “Will you teach me how to fight,” Hannah asked softly. “I know I’m little, but I want to protect everyone.”

  Landros looked at Lydia, who scowled but nodded.

  “We can work on the best techniques for you to use,” Landros said.

  “We will return as soon as we can,” Mycos said his voice raw with emotion. Lydia took his hand, turned towards the door. She turned back to wave to their family before stepping out into the cold.

  Mycos helped her into the transport. This smaller model traveled longer distances. “How long of a ride will this be,” she asked settling into a seat next to him.

  Mycos stared out the window, back at the house. “How can they be so important in such a short time,” he said.

  “Because you’re a good man,” Lydia said leaning on him, kissing his shoulder.

  “It aches,” he said rubbing his chest. He shook his head. “I came here with the intention of scooping up my mate and rushing home. It did not matter to me what you wanted or what your sisters needed. I wanted my mate because it was foretold. Now I am ashamed of how arrogant I was.”

  “No,” she said. He told her about the soothsayer and her prophecy as they lay in bed the previous night. “You needed to take this journey. Look how far you’ve come. We’ll be back with them in a few days. You can visit a toy store in the capitol and get something for each of them to spoil them when we get back.”

  “I need a bookstore for Nic,” he said. “You know she reads those books with the half-naked men on the cover.”

  “She does,” Lydia said. “We used to find them in the trash. We laughed ov
er them.”

  “You too,” Mycos said shaking his head in dismay.

  “Yes,” Lydia said. “They helped us escape.”

  “And now,” he grumbled.

  “Now I have my own man who I can get naked with,” Lydia whispered blushing a little at her own boldness.

  With tenderness, Mycos took her in his arms and brushed her lips, teased them apart until she sighed and hummed her delight in him.

  “How long is this trip,” she asked.

  “Four hours,” he said looking at the pilot area with the pilot and co-pilot. Behind them, a squad of his men accompanied them. “I could wish for a little more privacy.”

  “We’ll have it at the hotel,” Lydia said.

  “The flight can not pass fast enough,” Mycos said rubbing his hand up her thigh, resting on her hip. She smiled, pressed her body closer to him.

  “I’m going to nap,” she said pulling his arm tight around her. “I have the feeling sleep will be elusive at the hotel.” He chuckled while he held her close to him.

  ***

  “We have an appointment,” Lydia said to the administrative assistant behind the desk.

  “I’m sorry,” the woman said. “Director Donovan was delayed. I can reschedule for next week.”

  “We are here now,” Mycos said. “Are you telling me the director in charge of interplanetary relations is not available to meet with the only representative for interstellar relations?”

  “I’m very sorry, Lord Mycos. I don’t know what to tell you,” the woman said. “He’s in a meeting at the Capitol building. I don’t know when he’ll be back, certainly not today.”

  “We are here concerning a serious breach of protocol of Hylatian decrees,” Mycos said. Lydia took his arm, rubbed it reassuringly.

  “I see,” the woman said. “I understand your annoyance.”

  “I am not annoyed,” Mycos said. “One of your representatives has broken one of our oldest decrees. Only the restraint of my mate prevented me from carrying out the punishment.”

  “Mycos,” Lydia murmured. “I’m sure the director will address this issue.”

  “I will speak with our council about this,” Mycos said. “This is unacceptable.”