Chris
Caleb had his fifth birthday. Juliet would have had her birthday. She was twenty. When I saw her again, she would probably look a little different. I sure did.
If my father thought I was sitting around accepting everything. He was in for a surprise. There was one thing I promised myself when I accepted my fate there. I wasn't going to have my head buried in the sand anymore. When I had free time, I walked the city from corner to corner and documented the oldest people. There was no other way for history to carry on but by the stories they told, word of mouth, and sometimes a picture in the sand. I had made it my mission to spend as much time with those people as possible. To figure out what was going on and whether my father was forthright with me. Just having one guy tell me what was going on wasn't how I would live my life anymore. I had a lot of questions and nothing but time to get the answers. I wanted to know where the culture came from. Who made the decision that species didn't mix. Why did they want to stay primitive and not advance? How could it be that our City housed forty million Riphaths? If we could only have one child. We should have never been in existence. When did En-gannim come the first time, and what happened.
My favorite woman to talk to was the oldest one on Zoreah. Her eyesight was going, and all she did was sit and talk. In her hand was a stone pestle, and on the floor, a big mortar in between her legs. That was what she did all day long, grind away at some type of plant. With En-gannim's medical advancements, she could have traded for eyes or at least gotten her sight back. Why did everyone just sit around? On some days, I tried to get a few of the older people together to let them speak. Let things flow naturally. I tried to do it on days that I knew Ira couldn't come and interfere. He probably knew I did it anyway.
That day, four women sat talking about when the vampires came for the first time.
Selena had stayed with Jamal and me. Over the last year, the three of us had become close. When she found out who I was… it didn't bother her. So she had another tick in my boxes and was with us that day. She followed Jamal and me everywhere. I was happy that they were also interested in the truth.
Their story began about five thousand years ago. Their king, Ira's father, had honed and mastered his teleportation ability. His guards were with him practicing. He left and was just gone. They searched the whole city and the planet to find him. He never returned.
A thousand years later, the first vamps showed up. They had a very old man with them. Ira's father. He had traveled across the system to the closest planet at that moment.
The vamps had used him to steal the ability. They had everything but a starting point that he gave them. It was instant war… For another thousand more years. Outnumbered and outmatched, the vampires soon ceased to try to infiltrate or attack Zoreah.
They came with open arms after that… Bringing gifts and technology from all over the galaxy. They brought water. The Riphaths didn't have a choice but to start trading with them. Vampires mated with Riphath women. When they got pregnant, none of the babies survived. And because a Riphath could only produce one baby. Those women never had a child again. It was soon banned to sleep with a vampire if a woman had never had a baby before.
On the other spectrum… vampire women were never seen or heard from. The Riphath men became irritated by how their women were dominated. Some women just killed the vampires outright. The trade alliances were in a difficult place. It was nothing but lust that drove the vampire men to yearn after the beautiful women on Zoreah. Ahasuerus didn't like his men being obsessed with a women's beauty. Ira didn't like the vamps coming onto the planet whenever they wanted. Every vampire died that thought they could come onto the sand of Zoreah after the law was passed. The door was permanently closed off. It was strictly on an invitation-only that someone could come and go for all the planets. Ahasuerus's predecessors had tight reigns on who could go where.
The woman in front of me was nearly five thousand years old. Riphath's lived that long because of the time. When she was young. When Ira's father disappeared… She was hesitant to tell the rest of the story… The Riphaths lived all in one big city on the other side of Zoreah. They were too many to count.
Living in that city… She hesitated again… Was where we came from.
"As long as we were there, time stood still. As soon as someone left, they started aging. In there… The women and men had numerous children. And because there was no marriage, the population became too big. There were wars and fights about who would stay and who would go. There was no more space for beasts… farms, or anything. When the vamps came, no one told them about the city. Or else it would have been worse." Beatrice stopped talking.
Another continued for her. "We were too scared that they would find out. If we decided to send some Riphat's off the city, the truth might come out. We all left at once. Decided that we valued lives above time… We thought, at first… That we would have enough outside the city."
Beatrice drew in a heavy breath and started pounding away again. "We just didn't know that going out of the city was the punishment… The race would die out. Women carried only one child after that.
"But what if you go in now… would it not work," Selena asked.
The four women shook their heads. "You can't. Everyone gets one entry and one exit… Women don't go back to having multiple babies. They have to be born there."
"But if we are dying out and Ira lets it happen, why is he so bent on making me king of a species that won't last long?"
"Not even Caleb will see the end of the species. We still have a lot of time left. A lot of people to govern… And we have to decide if we will ever go back… We need a king for that."
"Do you remember my mother?" I asked.
They all smiled for a moment. But it was short-lived. "Such a drought." All four women nodded. There was a murmur about how hard it was. "Everyone was desperate."
Because she carried the next king or Queen… She was seen as an exception. And the women stood together to help her make her way to Earth. Implored Ira to give them both a fighting chance…."
"Because the vampires didn't allow anyone else on their planet. En-gannim was out. Palmyra didn't even answer the plea for help. Ira had to meet with Ahasuerus… We think Ahasuerus knew. Because there was minimal trading… He gave Ira information about Earth. They both sent her there."
"Is that why she was alone…?" They nodded. "Only two allowed… A life for a life."
"The thing was that Ahasuerus never told Qadir… She was alone with no friend… The elders signed a treaty with Ahasuerus. We needed assurance, and we got it by paying for it."
"What?" Asked Jamal.
"Ahasuerus can live in that city for as long as he wants."
"Isn't he almost dying? Desperate to get his grandson back to take over."
"She nodded. It won't be long… He had one ultimatum. To bring someone with him."
"Just one person? Who?"
"Rodrigo Gonzales."
"He wants to bottle it." The four women agreed.
"If we don't do something… We will go extinct eventually. They are waiting it out."
"Zoreah is the planet everyone wants. The gravitational pull on our planet for sustainable energy… The possibilities are endless."
I wanted to ask about the werewolves, but they shoed us away. Tired of talking. We gave them all presents and baskets of food. They told us to come back any time.
***
"Are you done packing, Chris?" Selena asked as we walked away from Beatrice's house.
I snorted. "Yes, I have my son… that is all I'm packing. She pushed me on the shoulder. She was very physical in a playful way.
"I have to say… I will be first in that convoy tomorrow morning," Jamal said. I was processing everything they had told us. Selena didn't play with Jamal. He could see I treated her differently. He had not even mentioned it or given her any indication of attraction.
"The three of us have front row seats. It will take us half the time."
All three of us were ready for summer. I couldn't wait to set out for Shumaan.
***
"Hey, Maya! Are you home?"
The three of us went into the house. Caleb was crying. "What's going on?" I asked.
Maya was nervous to say. "Spit it out," I ordered.
"Ira left… with General Sung and that other guy… They are going to Shumaan early… He told Caleb he would be gone for a while. That he will see him there. He started crying."
Caleb rushed for Selena… "Mommy. Ira's gone." The words pierced me… Deep into my core. My eyes darted from her to him. She had picked him up and explained that she wasn't his real mother. "Can I call you mommy? I don't have a mommy."
Maya seemed offended. "We can all see who you favor, Chris. It's confusing him. You need to decide soon."
I took Caleb from Selena. "I thought that was the whole point… That I didn't have to decide… Everyone out!"
"Now you can see why having only one person in your life will never work here. He needs to connect with as many of us as possible." I didn't even have to look at Selena… I knew she felt the same way as Maya… I would never find someone that would… stay. Be a mother to Caleb in all aspects.
"Out!" I hollered. They cleared the room. I didn't even have a photo of Juliet to show Caleb.
"Why are you angry, daddy?" He whispered.
"Because I miss your mommy Caleb?"
"Where is my mommy? My real mommy?"
"She is very far away…"
"On… Ear… Ea.."
"Earth."
"Where is that?"
"I hope only a few months away… Caleb."
"What does she look like?"
"I can hardly remember… But I can tell you how she was… Juliet was… is… Silly and stupid. She liked to be held. She always wanted attention. Just like you…" He laughed. "She cried easily, but you had to work to make her smile… give her what she wanted… Just like you... " He laughed again. "She is sweet like you… but a fighter… And she loves reading. She loves the snow…"
"She loves daddy?!" He asked.
"Oh, she loves you so much more."
***
Finally, we were on our way to Shumaan. I sighed, hoping and wishing that I would be able to go back when we got there. Just to see her. Even if it was just for a while. Maybe two weeks in the cabin. Caleb with us. She would love that. I didn't know how to tell her that he was her son. That she missed most of his life.
The trek back wasn't so bad as coming up north. The altitude made a difference. Everyone was also happier going back for summer and not having all the cold. Selena and Jamal were with me, making the trip much better and more manageable. But because Ira left, everyone was counting on me. Silvanus had asked me not to rush back but to stay and help protect the convoy.
We walked for almost three months. The three of us scouting and fighting migrating monsters on the way. The hunters and guards surrounded and patrolled the convoy as we walked. I was very aware of everything at that time and took more in. For the first time on Zoreah, I saw something green. I was instantly homesick.
There were fields of something that grew next to a river. The river wasn't big, just a small one, but it flowed, and I longed for a shower, a bath, the snow, and the air in the mountains. Earth was beautiful, and I missed it. I missed all of it. I couldn't care what I went back to. Hopefully, a Juliet with a tongue. Scared that in the last year at the compound… she hadn't made it.
The city was not at all like Yaroun. It stretched out with more space for everyone. And there was no wall. Every house had a little bit of area around it. More of a rural village. Like last time it took a few days for the convoy to move into the city. They did it so respectfully, getting the older people settled. The families were in the middle, so the kids were safe. The hunters lived on the city's outskirts and protected everyone. There were scout towers randomly placed and a constant guard with shifts.
I had to say the respect for life there was from another world. The fact that the vamps killed people and I had actually eaten people would probably grieve the Riphaths. I didn't know what happened on Earth… With Qadir… And him taking over.
***
From that first morning, I followed my father like a shadow. Didn't leave him alone. I had asked him to tell me why he came back early… He knew what I wanted, and he avoided it. When he was sleeping, I searched the whole city for wherever the teleporter would be. Asked the elders, but they would not say if Ira was keeping it from me. Jamal and Selena even helped. But nothing for more months. Till one day after work… I saw him coming back from somewhere out of the city. A frown on his face. He was confused and deep in thought.
My gaze traveled up the path he had come down from. I didn't lose time and walked searching, following his tracks. It took me nearly an hour to find the place… "Hey, where are you going?" Selena said.
"Shhhh." Jamal and I said at the same time… We heard talking.
There was a cave hidden in some small hills around the outskirts of the border. We walked closer and heard Silvanus and someone else.
"Did you hear what he said…. He denied the…." They stopped talking. I groaned. Silvanus had the nose of a dog and the ears of a bat. Literally. There was a reason he was the best on the planet.
"Chris, come on up." His sentences were still ended with that weird humming noise. The three of us slowly walked around the corner. The cave was a sizeable hollowed-out space in the mountain. A circle was carved out of the rock on the floor… It looked like a landing. It was for the teleporter. The excitement started building in my breast. "Can I go?"
Silvanus's shoulders slumped. He held out a device, and I knew it was broken when I took it.
"We just got here… Your father…." I swore so loudly, manifested, and roared so that the whole city heard me. I ran out of the cave on my way to our house.
Silvanus was short on my heels, tackling me. We rolled in the dirt, and Jamal came closer, trying to help me keep him busy. But once Silvanus manifested, he picked little Jamal up and held him in the air. He hit him once to knock him out. I was teleporting. Silvanus was better. He got me down again. I wasn't going to hold back. "You can't attack your father, Chris… You're still too human."
"I don't care…." I lunged at him. I knew I was faster short-range. I needed to catch him off guard. I had been training to keep my body low, so I had more control over my heavy torso. Silvanus had the horns… I used them a few times to get him down, straddled him to ground, and pound. He blocked and teleported out from under me. I was still on the floor. He was behind me. I rolled away. My claws fully extended. Both of us were fighting. It sounded like metal scraping and clanging against metal. We both got the other a few times. We were matched and determined. Bleeding. My face was cut, and his shoulder was sliced. We were tired, staring at each other. I had grown, and Silvanus noticed…
"Why do you think he did it?" Silvanus asked.
"Because he knows I want to go home!" I bellowed it out. "I've waited five years to see her... How could he? I would have come back. What is wrong with him?"
"YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK!" He roared into the air.
"I will go back. It's just a matter of time… She will come, and you might stop me, but you won't stop her." I was livid and shaking. "Tell me what he said… Please."
Silvanus pointed to the device that the general picked up. She had not interfered in our dispute. Selena stood next to her at attention, forced to watch.
"What?"
"We don't have a teleporter, Chris."
The confusion was evident on my face… "What else is that device for? Why else would he break it?"
He shook his head. "Communication device with En-gannim."
I swore again. "I thought he said no tech. He planned to come back early. How could he do it? There was something on there that he didn't want me to see… Tell me what he said…"
"I can't, Chris. I'm sorry." Silvanus had come out of his manifested state. Bruised and bleeding. He walked over to her and took the device. We walked back into the cave. He put it down inside a small carved-out space in the wall. I walked closer and saw that something there charged it or made it work.
***
Silvanus sat down. He nodded to the general. She walked around a bend in the stone. Came out with one of those glass plates that Michael always had.
I frowned. "To travel from planet to planet requires a big one. It can only be managed from En-gannim. We don't have one. We send an invitation, and if the vampires accept it. We get to go, or the ambassador comes for a meeting."
"So she could have sent a message… Why do you have this one?"
"The small one is for the five soft spots Zoreah has. We only have five. From most important to least."
***
I didn't know why he told me… That didn't help me… I handed it back to him. I turned and left. Went to Jamal's and moved in there. Ira didn't even try to explain or come see me. He was waiting for me.
After more months, he eventually caved and tried… But my stubbornness had broken down that relationship. I had to make peace that I might never see Juliet again. That I really was never going back home. Selena came into my room at Jamal's after Ira had left. She sat down next to me and put her arm around me. She pulled me closer, and my head rested on her shoulder. While mine shook as she comforted me.
***
Isla
Once you decide to go to a conditioning camp. There was no turning back. You belonged to the King and got the opportunity of getting married. If you didn't, a hundred was the cut-off time. Most of the women who didn't make it entered too late and were too set in their ways. After that, only service and death awaited you.
Women were still not allowed to go wherever they wanted… But, like my mother… she could leave the house. As long as she stayed in the village where her husband was. But I also heard some horrifying stories about some of the islands. Not all of them were the same. And the other rulers of the islands across En-gannim could manage their affairs as they liked. Some places were better than the compound, and some were worse. We had heard of the death of the only son left. Qadir had died.
Soren came to see me regularly before I entered the camp and told me what had happened. Marcus had shown him the footage of Juliet. He had said that it was scary to see. I didn't understand how any woman could do that?
The camp I was in was training for fifty years before you could leave. They needed to be sure that you would stay the way you were. That your personality was docile and compliant. I had fit right in. The reading was catching up on me, but other than that, it really wasn't different than the compound. No talking. No friends. Rewards for good behavior like a dog… Knowing what I know about the Earth and how free anyone could be… It was challenging to change my ways completely. I didn't have a brother or father who could sneak me little things that made life just that little bit better. But I had made my choice. I wanted a family, and there were at least negotiations for marriage. No auction to whoever would pay the most.
That day, the leaders invited me into their office. They told me of some of the men from Earth that wanted wives… They didn't care that we didn't go through all the training. They were happy with someone quiet and compliant. It meant I would get to go immediately. I wouldn't be stuck there. But there was a reason why my father had hidden me. I wasn't going to throw that away… Then, I could have gotten married a long time ago. No, I was in it for the long haul. Maybe even find a good house.
That night… the leadership felt differently when they gagged me and shipped me off to my new home.
***
Soren
Marcus was avoiding me. He never did have that chat with me about sleeping with his wife. I had a feeling that even if Louis approved, Marcus had a say… And he wasn't saying anything. Marcus was different… I had taken a back burner to James, and Isla was in her camp. My parents were living their lives and enjoying the food and the freedom we never had. I regretted coming at all. If I had stayed on Earth… Things would have turned out differently. Life was much more exciting on Earth. Juliet was on earth… I should have talked to Louis… I had not heard anything from him since I sent him our family emblem… I was starting to doubt Juliet ever getting on En-gannim... My patience was wearing thin.
Marcus's attitude was the one thing that kept me in place. Reminded me that I had no right to her. I felt that if I had to go near her… I didn't know what he would do.