by Jade Waltz
“Don’t you have a form of your own?” I demanded, stepping back from the male who reminded me of the crimson Kaede look-alike I had just recently met. “Why do you need to pretend to be someone else? Why do I keep seeing his face?”
“Zyxel is a different matter, but first, we need to talk about us.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” I growled, retreating until my back hit the railing. “There is no us.”
“That’s where you are wrong, Selena.” The golden, ethereal Kaede reached for my hand, frowning when I yanked it away. “I didn’t calculate our first conversation going so badly, but that’s all right. I will adapt to the situation at hand.”
He walked up beside me and gripped the railing. Acting as if I wasn’t here, he stared at the island below, just like I loved to do whenever I came to this balcony. The saline breeze blew his long, golden hair as if he were alive—as if this were real—while the familiar, peaceful sounds of my villa surrounded us.
Too much had happened in such a short time. It was becoming harder to determine what was real and what was a drugged hallucination. This had to be a dream because Lunkai was missing in the sky, but where were my connections? Was I in a dreamdome?
“Let me start from the beginning, since I don’t know any other way to explain,” the golden Kaede sighed, still using my voice. “Do you remember your Zirene giving you a necklace on that fateful day?”
“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“I am—I was—the orb in that necklace.”
“How can that be?” I asked, confused, reaching for the jewelry piece in question only to find it missing. “It was just a trinket.”
“A trinket that the shopkeeper on that space station warned you about,” Kaede countered. “She wasn’t wrong about my immeasurable value, though she didn’t know what I was. She assumed I was some lucky charm, granting an unexplainable boon to its owner.”
“And what is that boon?”
“Life.” The word fell from his lips like a prayer to the Stars, utterly devoted. His eyes never left the fabricated lavender ocean. “We form a pact with our host to heal and protect them for the rest of their lives—for eternity, if they wish.”
“What are you saying?”
“You were dying when your Kaede found you. That was certain. He saw that your body wasn’t healing all the damage that you had sustained due to the drugs they injected. Somehow, he knew the truth about me and decided to invoke me for you to keep you alive. When he implanted my orb in your body, I felt how much you wanted to live and read that as a sign of your acceptance to form the symbiont-host bond. I already knew your situation since I’ve observed everything you’ve done since my discovery. It was a judgment on my part to take your last thoughts as agreement. If you had given in to death’s embrace, I wouldn’t have kept your soul from joining the Stars.”
“Is that what I experienced? That numbing pain when I was drifting in space?”
“Yes.” His haunted gaze landed on me. “You were so far gone, it was almost too late for me to save you.”
“In my last moments, I wished for a way to keep living. With Kaede’s help, you were the answer—and now, I’m stuck with you,” I muttered, crossing my arms to stop the shivers as the consequences of my need to live dawned on me. The Stars willed this… being into my life to give me another chance and now, I was paying the price. “What does that mean for me?”
“We are forever bonded. My knowledge and power are yours for the taking as payment for serving as my host.” He scanned my body with a warmth that the real Kaede was incapable of. “I know everything about you—your memories, your thoughts, your dreams, and your body. In exchange, I will protect you from any harm that may befall you, heal any injuries you may sustain, and keep your body’s nanobots working at maximum capacity. Above all else, I will watch over you in times of need—like this—and help you survive.”
“Does that make you my body’s keeper?” I demanded. Why had the Fates and the Stars given me such a destiny? How many more masters, kidnappers, and enemies did I have to encounter until I was left to live my life with my clan in peace? “Will you command my body now that it is yours?”
“You misunderstand.” The golden Kaede shook his head. “You are my master. Your body is my temple and I am your warden in charge of maintaining it at all costs.”
“Why?”
“The only time I am capable of overriding your body’s movements would be when you wish it.” He held up his hand as I opened my mouth to object. “My life is bound to yours. When you die, I will most likely die with you, therefore it is in my fundamental intention to allow us both to live as a unit. My species’ moral compass prevents me from making executive decisions for you unless you give me your absolute permission to do so. I already walked that fine line when I interpreted your final wish and made the decision to save your life. I will not repeat my actions unless you permit me to do so.”
“Meaning you won’t take over my body and consume me?” I shook my head, unable to fully believe what he was saying. There must be something I wasn’t comprehending—something he was omitting to give me a false sense of security.
“I can’t,” he swore. “I can never interfere with your mental shield and connections with your mates. They are part of your very spiritual being and cannot be altered.” He stepped closer, trapping me between him and the railing, leaving me no room to escape. “I can protect your void chamber from intruders from the outside, if you wish, so you need no longer fear mental attack by some savage male who dared to invade you not once, but twice.”
“How?” I licked my lips as I stared directly into his eyes, locked into the celestial display. His offer seemed too good to be true. “How can you?”
“When I brought you back from the cosmic embrace, I needed to protect your mental state as I healed your body. Mending a body shell doesn’t do me any good when your soul has moved on to the abyss. The body will just decay without it, whether I am in it or not.
“I sealed the crack along your void chamber, burned shut with a part of my essence. I do not have mental doors like your nestmates; instead, I have become a part of the sealant in your walls. If another tries to force their way through your mental shields, I shall protect you and retaliate.”
“I am assuming we aren’t in a dreamdome since it’s clear this isn’t a dreamscape.” I waved my hand in circles, pointing to the sky. “So, what is this?”
“I took control of the void and created a mental construct between us so we can converse without distractions. Like I said, this wasn’t how I wanted to introduce myself. If you hadn’t tried to escape from Zyxel while he was trying to calm you down, we wouldn’t be here. He wasn’t going to hurt you, but he wasn’t going to stand by while you injured yourself further. You woke sooner than he had planned, so he took it upon himself to inject you with a sleeping drug to knock you unconscious until he is better prepared to handle you. I have filled your dreamless—or dreamscape-less—sleep with our meeting in hopes you might have a smoother experience when you wake up again.”
Everything this creature said sounded too good to be true. There had to be a catch. Why else would they rescue me for no more than the permission to live peacefully in my body?
In truth, I didn’t know how I felt about the situation. Without them, I would have died. Now, I had to deal with the consequences of my drive to live and be free from it all.
Freedom…
That was the one goal I had dreamed of since I had awakened on the Yaarkins’ medical bed, and until recently, I had thought I had accomplished it.
Looking away, I closed my eyes and pushed the golden Kaede away. I couldn’t stand looking at an ethereal dressed up as someone I cared for, no matter how they explained that they meant well.
“Could you please stop disguising yourself as my mates? Or anyone I know, for that matter? It’s not as comforting as you intended. In fact, it’s quite unnerving.” I felt him shift away and sig
hed, relieved that maybe he was listening to me after all. “I would rather you just be yourself, especially if we are now stuck with each other.”
“I see. There is one problem with your request.”
“Which is?”
“My people do not have a basic form,” he explained. “We don’t have a body because we are beings made of mere energy, concentrated in a crystal orb until we bond with a host.”
“And if you don’t find a host?”
“We slowly fade away and die, leaving our gem-like bodies behind.”
“The night lamps…” I muttered as I opened my eyes in awe. I had expected to see them dressed as Kaede still, but instead, a glowing golden sphere the size of my fist floated like a living star in front of me.
“Yes. You are correct, Selena,” the orb replied, still sounding exactly like me. “When my people, the Oetsae, fade to nothing, our souls leave some energy residue behind. If their gem casting is provided light from a star, it can continue to recharge and be used as a light source.”
“Are you saying that you need to be exposed to an energy source like the sun to stay alive?” I asked, battling my curious desire to reach out and touch the glowing orb. “What about the ones that power the robots? Are they alive?”
“One question at a time, Selena.” The golden Oetsae laughed, sounding like tiny twinkling bells, as it bounced in the air above my head. “The ones who power the devices the Fab Five designed and Destima’s citizens use are indeed alive, though they have integrated with those gadgets, doing the tasks the operator requests. While the devices may not be living, they give the Oetsae access to the sun’s energy and temporary interactions with living matter, thus keeping their souls alive. Until they have a willing host, living as an energy cell is the best option.”
“So I don’t need to sunbathe or something to energize you?” I pictured myself standing outside between Xylo and Z’fir, absorbing the sun’s rays like a Wudox. Sadness washed over me when I remembered how I had left them. The faint mental threads had reassured me they were all still alive but very distant.
“That’s unnecessary. I live off the energy you create, though I could absorb energy from a dead orb casting in dire need.”
From my recent troubles, if I ever returned to my clan on Destima, I may need to invest in some new jewelry with the gems we used in the night lamps. That way, I could feel more secure about preventing harm to me or those around me.
“If we are going to coexist, I can’t keep guessing what I should call you. Do you even have a name?”
“Euouae.”
“What type of name is that?”
“I could say the same to you, 5313-3F.”
“Selena. My name is Selena,” I corrected. “You made your point, but I’m going to call you Vowels—or E—because there is no way that I can pronounce that.” Crossing my arms, I glared at the bouncing orb. “And do you have to keep using my voice while you’re at it?”
The glowing orb flickered through an array of colors before settling back on its original gold.
“How about this?”
Closing my eyes, I felt his warm tenor voice wash over me, instantly calming my nerves like my Ulax mates.
“Is this your true voice?” Opening my eyes, I tilted my head to gaze at the golden sphere. “What are you?”
“I believe your people define my kind as genderfluid, for our existence isn’t limited by a physical form and its definitions. Lifeforms like yours impose too many restrictions that take away from the soul of the body,” he explained, spiraling around my head before settling on my palm. “For your sake, I shall use this male voice, since you receive the greatest comfort from your male companions.”
“Only if you want to. I don’t want—”
“You aren’t forcing me to do anything, Selena. For us to coexist, you need to trust me to care for you and know that I will never abuse our symbiotic relationship. A voice doesn’t define who I am, but it matters to you, so I shall interact with you using this voice and form.”
“But if you ever want to change—”
“Then I will, but only after you grow accustomed to our newly formed relationship. Until then, I will remain like this. There are more important matters to attend to, like figuring out how to get you back to your mates.”
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“Now that I am with you, it is possible, for it’s my sole mission to make sure you are safe and happy.”
Chapter Four
Kaede
“We are about to leave the Euph Galaxy,” ZYU announced, fabricating beside the star map. “Would you like us to continue?”
Kaede faced the silver projection and the hooded ethereal form glanced over, waiting for his answer. He flicked his hand, signaling to his Helmsman to stand by. Drumming his fingers on his captain chair’s armrest, he weighed his current options.
Kaede didn’t like speaking with the Nyaviel. Their minds were too powerful for his liking. Mwe was the Head Chairmen of the Assembly, which was problematic for anyone with secrets, especially those that could win a war should one break out. He could turn the tide toward anyone’s favor if he believed it was for the benefit of the galaxy. Thankfully, the male had shown favor toward Selena and taken her under his wing. Oeta mentioned that her father viewed her as a second daughter, making her the sibling she never had.
Kaede knew that despite Selena’s relationship with the most powerful Nyaviel family, he would not receive special treatment from Mwe. Oeta was the better option to reach out to, especially since she already had a habit of checking in with him. The persistent female loved getting on his nerves with her constant requests for updates. The only reason he tolerated her inquiries was that she was willing to provide news about Destima.
Gripping the armrests, he leaned his head back against his chair and closed his eyes as he tried to prepare for what was to come.
< REI. AID ME, PLEASE. I NEED TO REACH OETA. >
< DO YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO ME? >
Kaede hesitated. He knew that she didn’t mean anything other than asking for permission to twist her mental thread with his, extending his short range with her psychic strength. REI had saved Oeta’s mental signature during all the times she had reached out to him, so it shouldn’t be a difficult task. He was incapable of sending mental threads outside of a dreamdome. REI gave him the ability to expand his awareness over great distances. Only a few species within the CEG could match her, and even among them, only the strongest members.
Even knowing all this, Kaede didn’t want to give himself to anyone but Selena. Her name was like a mantra on his tongue every time he spoke it.
It didn’t matter that REI was now a sentient being living inside him; his heart belonged to his star. Yet, he knew that his new companion didn’t mean anything malicious.
< AFFIRMATIVE. MY MENTAL THREAD IS YOURS TO WEAVE AND REACH FOR OETA. >
A sense of calm settled upon him as REI coiled her teal mental thread around his neon-green one. Sucking in a breath, he felt the strain as she pulled his mental thread, reaching over great distances. Instantly, REI found Oeta’s special black-fuchsia signature and gave her a tap to request a conversation.
A pop sounded in his head when Oeta tied their ends together and established the private connection.
“Are you well?” Oeta’s mental voice rang urgently. “Did you find Selena? Just give me the word and I will send you some aid.”
“I am well enough. And no, we haven’t found Selena, but I sense us closing in on her location.”
“There has to be a reason why you are contacting me,” she pressed, some of the edge fading from her tone. “Even though I leave my thread out for anyone to contact me, you have never sought me out before, and our conversations have always been… straining.”
“Your constant need for updates when there aren’t any is draining and interrupts my concentration on the task at hand,” Kaede accused, not in the mood for her sass. The female had always been opiniona
ted about mindspeaking. “Never mind that. The reason I’m contacting you is to inform you that I will be leaving the galaxy soon. I know that your range is limited beyond its perimeter. I am hoping you will contact my sisters and share my location. Selena’s captors have stopped. I want to take the opportunity to find them and grab her before they even attempt to escape.”
“I can sense your location,” she muttered. Her mental voice sounded as distant as their physical forms. “Do you really believe you need all of your sisters? Would they suffice or should I ask Z for more support?”
“With my Abyss, I should be able to move in and out undetected without a problem. I want the Fab Five here in case they discover Selena is missing sooner than I predict. My sisters are the only backup I will need, so we can clear any resistance as fast as possible before returning to Destima.”
“That may be a problem.”
“Why?” Kaede asked, alarmed. “Has something happened to my sisters since the last time we spoke?”
His sisters were a part of the Fab Five for a reason—they were highly trained assassins, each with unique abilities, and almost unbeatable. What could have happened to them while he was gone that would render them unable to join his journey home?
“Kaica has been busy with Xylo’s team, managing the conditions of Selena’s mates. I fear if you pull her away from her duties, there may be dire consequences.”
Once again, Oeta was speaking in riddles, answering one question by creating more. This was why he hated conversing with the female. It seemed to be a common trait amongst the Nyaviel. They liked to hide the truth in plain sight so only those who knew what they were asking for would understand. If he’d had any other choice, he would never have spoken to Oeta.
He had played enough of these mind games with his sisters, but at least they knew when to stop pestering him. If Oeta knew too, she didn’t care how much she annoyed him. The only reason he stopped himself from lashing out at her like he would at his siblings was that he knew how important she was to their cause.