by Regine Abel
My visual aids.
“Let me take them off,” Zhul said.
He no sooner touched one than we both yelped in pain.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Hang on, love.”
His blurred silhouette moved away from me. I wanted to call him back, to ask him not to leave me. Being blind for most of my life should have me prepared for this. Yet, in the chaos reigning all around, being alone frightened me. Head throbbing, I whimpered and clutched my seatbelt.
The metallic screeching outside finally stopped. I lifted my head to look outside, but the glare of one of the two suns sent daggers through my eyes and slicing into my brain.
Then I knew no more.
* * *
The beeping sound of some electronic device pulled me out of my slumber. My eyelids weighed a ton as I struggled to lift them open. I lay on a reasonably comfortable bed of some sort in what appeared to be a medical facility.
Colors… I can see colors again.
I wanted to open my eyes wider and take in my surroundings, but my brain felt foggy and the need to sleep further pulled at me. Turning my head to the left, I saw two male warriors laying on a hover stretcher, unconscious. I recognized one of them. He had been among the eight Xelixians left behind at the lab.
They made it!
When I turned to the right, my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.
A shadowy figure leaned over Ghan’s massive body, a dark curtain of hair hiding the person’s face. I gasped and the intruder’s head snapped up. Amalia looked back at me, a hint of worry on her face.
No, not Amalia.
Same eyes, disturbingly similar features, but at least ten years older.
Tension left her and she smiled at me. “Sleep, little sister,” her synthetic voice said. “We’ll talk later.”
Her armored hand caressed Ghan’s face and she gently kissed his lips before straightening up. The nanites of her suit shifted and moved about her face, reforming her faceless helm. In the dimmed light, I couldn’t quite make out who she was. I blinked and tried to open my mouth to ask a question but my eyes wouldn’t stay open. I stopped fighting and sleep claimed me.
Later… we’ll talk later.
CHAPTER 26
Zhul
It had been a long flight back from Xelhon to the Xelhan District – a little over seven hours. The Tuureans successfully removed the damaged visual aid that was hurting Valena and gave her a sedative. However, my worry only abated once we landed in Khel’s military compound in the wee hours of the morning and Maheva saw to my mate. I realized then that Varrek hadn’t lied when he said the Tuureans were getting too close for comfort. For them to have reached us so quickly after Amalia sent out the distress signal meant they must have already been scouting for us at the border of the Xelhon District.
Despite my eagerness to see my family, Dr. Minh insisted my injuries be tended to and that I should rest first. I conceded under the condition I could stay by Valena’s side while they healed her.
Escorted by a young warrior, I entered the surprisingly comfortable living quarters in the bunker of Khel’s military compound. As I walked into the room, Lelah rose from the couch where she sat and tossed aside the datapad she was reading from.
“Zhul!”
Running towards me, she threw herself into my arms. Shoulders shaking with silent tears, her slender arms held me in a bruising embrace. I kissed the top of her head while wetness seeped through the clean shirt Lhor had lent me. Reuniting with my family wearing a thigh-length tunic and no underwear would have been awkward, to say the least.
“There’s no need to cry, sweetheart. I’m fine.”
She nodded against my chest but continued weeping for a short while longer. Regaining her composure, she released me and wiped her face with the back of her hand.
Cradling my face with both hands, she gave me a quivering smile.
“I missed you so much, big brother. I was scared they’d hurt you.”
“As you can see, I’m okay. They didn’t hurt me.”
Well, they mostly didn’t. Thanks to Maheva’s magic hands, Lelah didn’t need to know Lhor and I got spanked while the girls kicked ass.
“…beaten by tiny little girls.”
That cheeky bastard…
For all that, I was glad the First Officer had made it out with the other warriors. They got pretty banged up by the explosion but Admiral Lee’s improvised defensive wall absorbed most of it, saving their lives. As soon as I was done visiting with my family, I needed to go back to the medical bay to check up on Valena.
Lelah’s eyes widened as she looked over my shoulder. A delicate blush suffused her cheeks. She quickly wiped the lingering moisture off her face and patted her hair self-consciously.
What in Gharah’s name…?
I looked behind me to find the warrior still present, a tender smile on his lips as he stared at my sister. My fangs descended and I bared them at him. His eyes connected with mine and he quickly averted his, heat creeping up his face.
He cleared his throat. “I will go get your sire.”
With one last quick glance at Lelah, he turned and left the room. I faced my sister, frowning.
“He’s too old for you.”
She chewed her bottom lip and shrugged. “He’s only twenty-one.”
“That’s five years too old.”
“The General is seven years older than Amalia.”
“You’re underage.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin.
“Only for eighteen more months. And only to bond with a mate, not to date a potential one.”
I almost used him being Tainted as an argument but fortunately caught myself in time. Nobles would go berserk if Lelah, a Prime female from a powerful noble family, bonded with a Tainted. It shamed me to realize my instinctive reaction echoed theirs. Lhor and Khel had been Tainted. Yet, I couldn’t think of two males who deserved a mate more than they did. I knew nothing of this young warrior. That he joined the ranks of the First Division’s Elite Squad at his age spoke highly of him.
Still…
Amalia was right when she said Tainted were treated as second-rate citizens. Had he been Prime, my reaction probably wouldn’t have been so aggressive. Our society was fundamentally broken. We weren’t sexual prudes. No one would frown at Lelah becoming sexually active at her age. Though the recommended age gap with minors was four years, five wouldn’t stir any uproar.
Taint would.
Either way, the thought of a male touching my sister sent my venom glands into overdrive.
“Relax, big brother.” She smirked and tapped the tip of my nose as I’ve often done to her. “I’m in no hurry to stand in the Fastening Hall. You, on the other hand, owe me all kinds of explanation. Spill it!”
My face softened at the thought of my mate. Holding Lelah’s hand, I led her to one of the multiple dark-grey couches in the sitting area. The large room, divided between the living and dining area, reminded me of a hotel lobby and a cafeteria fused into one space. Along the back wall, a few doors led to the dormitories. I didn’t know how many people could live comfortably in this bunker, but it looked like at least fifty.
We sat on the large couch, Lelah folding one of her legs beneath the other.
“So?”
“I love her.”
She beamed at me. “Did she really propose to you?”
I smiled. “Yes. We exchanged vows.”
Lelah squealed with delight and clapped her hands.
“When are you going to the Fastening Hall?”
I tried to repress my frown. This would be a bit more complicated. The Tuureans were giving a lot of pushback about revealing Valena’s existence. We would gather later this afternoon to discuss it and other sensitive matters.
“Soon I hope. There’s a lot of crazy stuff happening right now.”
Crazy and painful.
The Praghans were currently meeting with Bhek Zirthen. I couldn’t begin to i
magine how devastated the old Councilor must be. Bhek and I often didn’t see eye-to-eye, but I respected him. He worshipped his mate. As soon as we lifted off from the abandoned orchard last night, Khel sent out an APB for Fhara Zirthen. Within minutes, we received confirmation that she had gone off-world the day before. The time strangely coincided with Varrek’s visit to take Valena, Vahleryon, and myself off-planet.
The door opened and the young warrior escorted my father in. When he saw me, his face crumbled in teary joy.
“My son.”
I rose from my seat and met him halfway. Our chests collided in a powerful embrace. I’m not sure how long we held each other. When he let go, he placed his hands on my shoulders and examined me from head to toe.
“I’m fine, Father.”
He nodded and inhaled deeply, trying to rein himself in. We joined Lelah in the sitting area. I resumed my seat next to her and she pressed herself against me. My father sat across from us in the armchair. He stared at me as if he still couldn’t believe I was there.
“Are they treating you well?” I asked.
My father nodded again. “Far better than I deserve, to be honest.”
I hesitated, then took the plunge. “Mother?” I asked.
He shook his head. “She refused to come to the compound. However, the General assigned her a couple of guards in case V went after her. She’s fine.”
I found myself genuinely relieved. I didn’t hate my mother. I just didn’t love her. Or at least, I didn’t think so. Still, the thought of anyone harming her made my blood boil. The truth was, my feelings for her confused me. Before all this mess, I would have answered without hesitation that I didn’t care much whatever befell her.
Not so much anymore.
Rhal’s influence shone through. He had been our mother’s favorite. Like every Anchor, I had been a wild child, prone to excess and reckless behavior. Rhal had been more introspective and subdued. As the conscience of the Geminate pair, Cores were naturally calm, gentle, and loving creatures. This compassion now infused every cell of my being.
“She wants to get back together with Father,” Lelah said cautiously.
I stared at my father, worry blossoming in the pit of my stomach. A part of me wished my parents could work out their differences, but my mother was far too toxic for him.
My father held my gaze, his unwavering.
“Your mother knows my conditions to even consider giving her another chance.”
“Therapy?” I asked.
He nodded. The weight on my chest constricting my lungs lessened.
“She started a month ago,” Lelah said, eyeing my reaction.
“What?” I looked at each of them in turn, disbelieving.
“She has,” my father said. “Your kidnapping hit her hard. For all her flaws, Ruthy loves you. Both of you. Once she realized you might be permanently lost to us, it broke something inside her. It was the shock she needed to finally face the death of your brother.”
I rubbed my forehead then ran my fingers through my hair. “So, she’s a changed female?” I asked, trying to make sense of the chaos of emotions swirling through my head.
My father snorted. “Hardly. It will take more than a month for her to work through all her problems. And the Goddess knows she has many. But as long as she remains steadfast on her current path, I will support her. Assuming I’m around…”
My stomach dropped. Technically, my father had not taken part in a sex crime, even though his actions resulted in facilitating it. The sentences for corruption were far less severe. In some cases, depending on the nature of the corruption, the guilty party could get away with a mere slap on the wrist. Had the females not been slaughtered in this last raid, my father might have gotten away with something fairly mild. But the people would want someone held accountable for this tragedy. That he came forth on his own probably wouldn’t spare him.
“Will they prosecute you?” I asked, hating the trembling of my voice.
I had just found my father again after all these years of his mindless submission to my mother. Losing him now felt unbearable.
He sighed. “Probably.”
* * *
When I entered the medical bay, Valena sat at the edge of her bed, lost in an intense conversation with Maheva. I cussed myself inwardly for not being at her side when she woke up. Hearing me approaching, she turned her beautiful face towards me and my breath caught in my throat.
Sparkling blue zircon eyes stared at me, devoid of the milky veil that once hid their beauty. The contrast with her coppery skin made her eyes appear even bigger and brighter.
Valena hopped off the bed and stood still. She watched me approach, her fingers fiddling with the skirt of her white dress. The hem partially covered her knees, which was unnaturally long for a Prime dress. I assumed it was a loan from Amalia, who stood a few inches taller than her.
Maheva took a few steps back, giving me her place in front of Valena. I cupped the dreamy face I wanted to awake next to for the rest of my days. Valena’s hands wrapped around my wrist, but I felt no tingle.
“You have your eyes back,” I said softly.
She nodded, her lips quivering.
“You’re free.”
She gave me a teary smile and drew in a sharp breath.
“Yes.”
“Read me.”
I felt the tingling sensation again and let all my love for her and hopes for us shine through. She laughed with unbridled joy and kissed me. Letting go of her face, I pulled her tightly against me and she wrapped her arms around me. My blood heated as it always did with Valena. The power she held over me should frighten me, yet I only wanted to surrender everything I was to her.
The sound of approaching footsteps brought us back to reality. Valena seemed just as incapable as I of looking at Maheva. The older female kept her eyes lowered while failing miserably to hide her smile. Dr. Minh stood by Maheva and interlaced his fingers with hers.
My jaw dropped.
He puffed his chest, and cast a proud – and loving – look at his mate.
“Please come to my office so we may speak more comfortably,” Minh said.
I frowned. What could he possibly need to discuss with us? Valena and I exchanged a worried look.
“Do not fret,” Minh said, sensing our concern, “everything is fine.”
We followed him to a small office at the back of the medical ward. Like everything Xelixian, it was functional, bland, and mostly barren. A small desk, propped against the wall, was awash with data disks and holocards. His computer monitor seemed to drown amidst them. A large vidscreen on the wall displayed on rotation a variety of medical charts and analysis reports.
Four chairs faced each other in front of the desk.
They planned this.
We took a seat, Valena by my side and the elder couple in front of us. Last night, while Maheva tended to Valena, I’d explained to the couple what had been done to us during our captivity. The toughest part had been revealing how Valena lost our child six weeks ago due to what we assumed to be ryspak starvation.
“I’m sorry to be jumping on you so soon after your ordeal, but it is better we speak to you first before you meet with the Tuureans,” Minh said.
Valena and I exchanged a confused look. She grabbed my hand and I gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“Why?”
“The Tuureans have made it their mission to free all Veredians and see our species restored,” Maheva said. “Any medical experimentation performed on a Veredian is of high interest to them, especially of a reproductive nature.”
“Why?” It was Valena’s turn to ask this time. “What’s in it for them? What are they?”
Minh looked at Maheva who lowered her eyes. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, pondering. She looked back up at Valena, a determined glint in her gaze.
“They are friends, Valena. The most loyal and devoted friends we could have hoped for.”
“But why?” she insisted. “What do t
hey hide beneath their armor?”
Maheva’s stare hardened. The sharp contrast from the gentle elder female threw me.
What in Gharah’s name is going on?
“That is their secret to reveal if and when they see fit.”
“Secrets are dangerous.”
“Secrets have kept us alive,” Maheva snapped back. “Secrets are why we are free and why the rest of our sisters may someday hope for a life outside the breeding compounds. Tell me, child, what is more important to you? Exposing their secret at the risk of bringing down their entire empire, or leaving it alone with the chance of one day being reunited with your mother?”
Valena swallowed hard and averted her eyes. Minh frowned and grabbed his mate’s hand.
“Maheva,” Minh said in a slightly scolding tone.
“No, Minh. Some harsh truths need to be said.” She looked back at Valena, but her expression softened. “There is nothing more painful than to keep secrets from those you love, especially knowing they might resent you later for it. But it is the burden we must carry for the greater good of our people.”
Valena sighed then nodded slowly. At that moment, I realized something had happened in my absence. Though the need to ask what burned my tongue, as a Councilor, I understood all too well the need for secrecy for the good of the many.
“Now, with that settled,” Maheva said, “the information you shared with us has been of great help already.”
We both perked up at this.
“For all his cruelty, that Varrek individual helped us over our impasse,” Minh said. “I’ve been unable to reproduce the results achieved by Khel and Lhor with Amalia’s oxytocin. Until this morning… Using her hormone on samples from other Geminates showed one hundred percent success every single time.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, feeling my excitement mounting.
“It means that Geminates carry something other Xelixians don’t. Once we find it and isolate it, we might just be able to devise a cure for the Taint.”
Gharah’s blood!
I felt faint at the realization of how this would change the course of Xelixian history.