Tiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp (Tiva Boon Series Book 2)

by Jenn Nixon

  “Most people don’t feel like you do. I d-don’t envy you. While I am sensitive to psionics, we do n-not carry the burden of knowing what other people are thinking or f-feeling.”

  “I am normally able to control it, we are taught from a young age. I started younger than most.”

  “You are a prodigy, Tiva.”

  “A what?”

  “A gifted person. Your name is p-proof enough. Boon in general tongue means a blessing. You are here for a reason, Tiva. Sure, things could have worked out differently, but no matter the road, the journey w-would have ended the same way.”

  She turned away. “I had hoped all the pain I have suffered was not a test. I always knew I had a path; it was to become an honored protector like my forefathers. Instead, I find the fate of all my people…” Tiva looked down at her palms. “Within my grasp.”

  “You will take h-hold when the time is right,” he said softly while moving toward her.

  Tiva paused. Turning back, she met his eyes. Again, that feeling he saw right through her crept up within. She was revealing more then she wanted. “I hope you are right.”

  “Ms. Boon?”

  “Yes?”

  “I know you carry heavy burdens, I can help.”

  “I am fine,” she said and began walking away. He followed. In honesty, she was not in the mood for another personal discussion. Too many people already knew more than she liked. It was not fair to drag more people into her dilemma.

  “The first day you met me, you tried to evaluate me with your abilities, do you remember what I told you?”

  She paused near another tree and turned. “Yes.”

  “If you ever want to just let go and just be…free, let me know. I can protect you.”

  “Speak what you mean.”

  “My people come in two forms, those who can f-feel like you and those sensitive like me. I help those who feel. I keep them balanced. Our kind do not shield or b-block others, it causes us pain. So, those who are null, share the burden and alleviate the stresses of the h-heart and mind for a spell. It’s like a deeper form of meditation.”

  “It sounds fascinating, and I thank you for the offer, but I must decline,” she answered.

  “I know you’ve changed.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Since you came back, I’ve noticed it. You are d-different, stronger, but struggling. A power has awakened and I don’t t-think you’re ready for it.”

  “What?” Tiva asked, utterly confused.

  “You know, Tiva. Look deep within…” he sighed and walked passed her.

  She felt her markings darken slightly and she reached out grabbing his arm. “Wait, speak what you know.” The fabric on his arm smoldered. She blinked and looked at her fingers. “Is this what you speak of? This is a residual effect of the crystal.”

  “No, it is more now…”

  “I was told it was a side effect.”

  “Can’t you f-feel it?”

  “No.”

  “You are lying. Why do you deny w-what you know is true?”

  Tiva moved her hands to her side. “I am not different.”

  “The angrier or more frightened you become, the stronger the urge becomes, doesn’t it?” He took a step toward her, his eyes locked on hers. Somehow, he was trying to force her shields down, he was trying to make her to embrace the urges.

  “No, you are wrong…stay where you are.” She stepped back.

  “I can help you, T-Tiva. I have helped many people…why do you think Trevo asked for me. You have many on this ship…”

  She flexed her fingers, ready to grab her plasma gun if he moved closer. “I am leaving.”

  “I’m not l-letting you go until you face this. You will do more harm to yourself and others if you do not learn to control it.”

  Tiva grunted. Her markings darkened and she felt heat on her leg. Glancing down, she gasped to see her fingers aglow with a red and golden flame. It consumed her hand, yet there was no pain. The episode with the water in her room, the smoke on the leather of the president…made sense suddenly. Her body was compensating, preparing for this. Aries moved to her other side and touched her arm. She jumped back, startled and the flame balled together and dropped to the grass, setting it ablaze.

  Together they stomped out the small fire, and when Tiva looked up at him, he was smiling. “I-I didn’t want to bait you into anger, but it was the only way you’d believe me.”

  “How…how did you know?”

  “I told you, I’m a sensitive…when you and Aliri were using those crystals, I felt the energy transfer through you, and some of it remained. I wasn’t sure b-because of everything going on, and then you went off on your mission. When you came back I noticed it right away, but was waiting to see if you d-discovered it for yourself.”

  “What am I to do?” she asked, flabbergasted.

  “It’s part of you now, Ms. Boon, you’ll have to l-learn to control it like everything else. I’m sure Aliri can help you, some of her p-people have this ability.”

  “Yes…yes,” she said absently. “I must seek her counsel. I am sorry for my actions, Aries.”

  “I understand. Go, talk to Aliri…and when you are r-ready to let down your guard and be free for a while, you know where to find me.”

  Tiva found Aliri in her room and dragged her out of bed. They spent the night talking about the new discovery. Aliri apologized for an hour. She’d only seen a few alien people in her lifetime develop abilities after using the crystals. Aliri knew their people had similar traits, and perhaps over many thousands of years this fire ability would be as natural as her empathy.

  Since Aliri knew many with these abilities, it was easy to help Tiva learn to control it. Both agreed an agitated state lessened her control; it was yet another thing she would have to deal with on a daily basis. Not only would anger get the best of her, it could now harm others involuntarily. With Aliri’s help Tiva learned to control the size and speed of the flames. By the time they finished working on her control, Tiva could create a flame, ball it together, and force it some twenty feet in distance.

  Aliri sighed. “I’m really sorry…”

  “Do not worry, you could not foresee what would happen. Besides, if Aries is right, this all happened for a purpose.”

  “Oh?”

  “He seems to think my life’s path has led me here and with reason.”

  “Well, hell, after everything you’ve been through, ruling a planet will be a piece of cake, won’t it?”

  “Perhaps…I was not born to be a leader.”

  “No, you were a protector, right?” she asked and Tiva nodded. “Right, and where do you find yourself now? Protecting this ship and fighting for a way to do the same for your people back home.”

  “You have a point.”

  “Sometimes,” she chuckled back and patted Tiva on the shoulder. “Now, go get some sleep, we have another busy day in the morning and limited sleep time left.”

  Of course, Tiva didn’t sleep. She lay awake in her bed, making her hand glow with fire and extinguishing it moments later, only to do it again. Each time the room illuminated she found herself smiling.

  Resting her warm hand on her stomach, she closed her eyes and tried to relax. She sensed Cala stirring and wondered if Adam was awake.

  Yes, he is, the spirit-sword cooed softly.

  Tell him good morning for me.

  But you haven’t even slept.

  I will be fine.

  Yeah, okay…You still have a few hours before work -try to sleep.

  Thank you, Cala, I will try.

  Trying did not help. She went back to the command center when shift started and began her work. The last of the data was still filtering through the computer, so no one actually left to go to the base save the Captain and Aries. Aliri and Emerala were working fiercely at their stations sending the data to the relay for Ovvella. Her teams had finished with the hand-held weapons, Raife had all the navigational information plotted, and Ewan had t
aken the wormhole device from the cargo ship.

  Now all they had to do was wait.

  Maar came back to the ship just before shift change. Tiva and many of the others were waiting for new assignments, but instead, he ordered them off at their normal time since they were mainly transferring data now. Only a few files remained, and Emerala decided to stay behind with Raife to go through it.

  Tiva took off without a word to anyone, including Adam, and retreated to her room. As she walked in, she heated every piece of furniture in her path, and took a glass of water in her hand to make it boil. She wanted to master control as quickly as possible.

  After a lengthy shower to relax her body, she lay on her bed trying to do the same for her mind. It seemed like something always interfered with her current train of thought. One thing after another always seemed to block her at the cusp.

  A soft knock echoed through the room. Tiva absentmindedly walked to the door to answer and was unprepared to see Adam’s smiling face.

  “Hello, m’lady,” he said.

  “Greetings, Adam.” She feigned a smile and stepped back to allow him inside.

  He gathered her up in his arms and kissed her softly.“What’s wrong?”

  “Come, sit. We must talk.”

  “Uh-oh, usually when a girl says that it’s bad news.” He released her and moved into the living area, sitting beside her on the couch. Tiva rose after a moment and paced the length of the room.

  “While I was away, I took out my father’s dagger to clean it. Inside, I found something I had long since forgotten…and with that came a memory.”

  “About home?”

  “Partially…” she mumbled. “When I was seventeen cycles, I killed a young boy called Bumo…” Tiva told the story of her past, weaving in the details of Litru, the man most important to her aside from her king and father. She covered her stay at the healing bay after the explosion of the hover facility and worked her way to her return from the mission with Kenon. “Litru was waiting for me at the palace gates. My parents had given their blessing and he presented me with a rose…but then a group of Rebels attacked us and killed Litru before my eyes. Eventually, I found myself at the pond behind my home, covered in his blood. I prayed to my spirits to make me forget. It was not until I saw the necklace that I began to remember.”

  He glanced up at her, his eyes reflecting a quick change from yellow to his natural blue. “You loved him?”

  “Yes, I…did.” Her heart jumped within her chest. He was angry.

  “You were so young…”

  “I was,” she replied.

  He rose from the couch and bridged the distance between them. “Those bastards really did a number on you, Tiva. I’m sorry.”

  “As am I, Adam.” She turned away. “I do not think I can do this anymore.”

  “What?”

  “I am damaged, cursed…everyone around me dies.”

  “Huh? Wait, are you breaking up with me?”

  “I do not know…” She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I cannot tolerate anymore loss and I do not want to inflict this burden on you. It is too painful. We both know I will die before you.”

  “Don’t you think I know that? That’s no reason to break up. I’ve lost loves, too, it’s part of life, and we can’t control it.”

  “We can save each other the agony…”

  “This is ludicrous, you love me. I love you. We can’t act as if it means nothing. The pain of loss is the price we bear for the joy love brings. What we have is right now, no past, no future, just this time here together. If it’s another day or a hundred years, we’ll make the best of it. I’m not going to let you call this off because some old boyfriend is haunting you.”

  “He is not, Adam,” she snapped. “He deserves to be remembered. I was too selfish or immature to deal with it then, I must do it now.”

  “Fine, then do it, but you don’t have to push me away, you don’t have to deal with it alone. I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there…many people have. Let me help.”

  “How?” She turned meeting his eyes.

  “Talking, being here…whatever you need.” He shrugged.

  “I appreciate you trying to help me, but…”

  “Tiva,” he whispered. The wings on his back drooped slightly and he held out his hand. “There aren’t many things in this universe that make me happy, mostly because I’ve lived through the worst of times. But there comes a point when you have to move on. You have to create your own happiness. Surround yourself with people you care about, who love you, who need you. I’m sure Litru wouldn’t want you to wallow in grief. If he loved you as much as you say—and I’m sure he did—he’d want you to be happy. I’ll make you happy; you just have to let me.”

  His words hit her like a blast of plasma fire. Tiva reached for him and took comfort in his arms. As Adam stroked her back gently, she relaxed against him and listened to his heart beating as they stood in silence. Yes, despite the fact she had loved before, she needed Adam. They needed each other. Like Aries balanced those who could feel on his world, she and Adam balanced one another.

  She could not risk losing him because of her own weaknesses. Though she didn’t want the burden of her death on his shoulders, she wanted him to outlive her. At least then, she knew her memory would live on, just as Litru’s would now do within her.

  Glancing up, she smiled and his eyes flashed purple. Her markings were white in an instant, and all the troubles of the last few days faded away. She was thinking only of him, and the love flowed between them as their lips touched.

  I am sorry.

  It’s okay. You just have to tell me these things sooner, Tiva…I can’t help if I don’t know.

  Tiva broke the kiss and nodded. “I know, it is just with all that has been going on…”

  “Hey, that doesn’t matter,” he replied and lifted her chin. “Me and you, we’re in this for the long haul. Unions, Triunes, Rebels…or whatever come and go. We have to survive this ride together, we’re a team.”

  “I felt like I did not deserve to love since I had forgotten another.”

  “Everyone has to love, Tiva…without it, we’re nothing.”

  “I do love you, Adam. I will until the last breath escapes my lips.”

  He smiled and kissed her again. Solaeshyl.

  Pardon?

  My treasure. He chuckled and scooped her up into his arm. “And you’re very tired, so we’re going to lie in bed for a while, talk, and then get some sleep.”

  “You did not bring your clothes…”

  He shrugged and laid her down on the bed then smirked. “We’ll manage.”

  There were no nightmares to wake her. Soundlessly, she slept wrapped in Adam’s arms. When the chirp of her wrist-comm forced her from her sleep, Adam stirred behind her. “Monkeys?”

  Tiva chuckled and reached on the stand, activating the comm. “Boon speaking.”

  “Get to the captain’s office quick, and if Cooper is there, drag him along…we’re having a meeting.” Aliri’s voice cut through the room.

  “We will be there shortly,” Tiva responded and turned back.

  “Seems like we never get any time,” he grumbled and jumped out of bed, adjusting his boxer shorts. “Don’t worry, I’ll take you on a real vacation one of these days.”

  “I look forward to it.” She got up and moved to the lavatory to change. “I have something else I need to tell you before we leave.”

  “Oh?” he called back.

  When her uniform was on, she freshened up and exited. Adam walked past to do the same. “Yes, it seems that the crystal’s side effects on me have become permanent.”

  Adam stepped out with his finger stuck in his mouth, the vibrant blue and white froth of the teeth cleaner on his chin. “You’re not hurt or sick are you?” he mumbled.

  “No, not exactly.” She moved toward him and held out her palm. Concentrating with all her energy, she forced a small ball of fire to app
ear in her hand. Allowing it to linger for a moment, she curled her fingers around it to extinguish it and met his eyes. “Aliri believes our people have similar traits and consequently I have this ability now, like some of her own people.”

  “Nifty,” he said, grinned and went back inside to finish.

  Surprised at his non-reaction, she asked, “You do not find it strange?”

  “Strange, sure, but still neat. I’ve seen enough amazing abilities in this universe to last me several lifetimes. Pyrokinesis isn’t on the top ten list of strange in my book.” He exited and shrugged as he fastened his tunic. “Second would be this lady I met on Urinko Major. Not only was she eerie looking with three arms and four eyes…she didn’t have regular bones. It was like she was made of silly putty—longer story—anyway she was able to remove her limbs and morph them into clones of herself giving her the ability to be in more than one place at the same time.”

  “Fascinating…” Tiva answered aghast.

  “Yeah, she was great for practical jokes…”

  “What is the first on your list then?”

  He stopped short and turned to her. His wings flared, and he flexed his arms as he smiled. Tiva rolled her eyes; she didn’t find him strange considering everything else she had seen.

  “So, what are you going to do with your new fiery skill?”

  “I will learn to control it, like my other abilities and only use it if there is a need,” she said exiting and walking beside him down the corridor.

  “Well, that’s no fun.”

  “No, but it is safe.” She sighed and grabbed his hand. “Thank you for staying. You drive the nightmares away.”

  “Any time you need me, I’m there, you just say the word.” He kissed her cheek just before the doors opened, and pulled her into the hall.

  When they entered the captain’s office, everyone except Aliri and Emerala was present.

  “Good m-morning,” Aries said.

  “Mornin’,” Adam replied, and Tiva nodded before taking her seat.