Romero
Charlene and I entered my parent's palace. She was very curious, and her eyes took in everything around her. My mother was on her throne as usual when meeting someone new. Her brood of younger children were all around the chair, sitting quietly. A caretaker in the corner. My father was standing next to the chair. All in their finest clothes. Had to make a good impression.
"Mother. Father… meet Charlene."
My mother rarely smiled. Her gaze traveled up and down the young woman by my side. The corner of her mouth turned upward when she was done. I pouted my lips, surprised that she was impressed. My father and I shared a look.
"It is nice to meet you, Charlene." My father said, walking towards her. A massive smile on his face. He was the nice one. Friendly and joked more than he ought. He stretched out his arm.
Charlene stared at it for a long time. Her eyes narrowed for a second. She took it. "You too." Her voice strained. I wondered what she must be thinking.
"This is my mate, Imani."
"My name is Yazen. You can call us by our names."
Charlene didn't move. My mother was also not going to get up. She nodded at Charlene, and that was that.
"Would you like to sit down?" I asked.
She looked around the room. Two servants brought us pillows. I sat down, and Charlene followed my example. My father moved back to his original spot. "So… Tell us more about yourself."
"What would you like to know."
"Tell us about your field of expertise."
"Medicine."
"Are you a healer as well?"
"In training. A little young to be qualified."
"I understand. I hope Romero has been treating you well."
"He has been the perfect host. I have to thank you for welcoming me… The way I arrived and all."
"Do you have any questions?" My father asked.
"Is there any way that you have ships that can travel into space?"
"Ships?" My father seemed intrigued. I was, too. Did not like the fact that she was thinking about leaving. Our lives were rather dull. Charlene was the most exciting thing that had happened in a long time.
"We do not have the materials that would warrant… space travel." He said.
Charlene shook her head. "We have seen so many species, and not one has the ability to venture into space… Where I come from. The planet is somewhat obsessed with it."
"How far has your world come… in that regard?"
Charlene laughed lightly. "It's up for debate…. "
"But you are here."
"Yes… I am… More supernaturally drawn here." Charlene's gaze rested on me. "Why is it that I landed in front of you? And not your parents?"
"Oh, our kingdoms are ruled by the oldest in the family... When they come of age." My father said. "We are retired… Have been for hundreds of years."
***
Our meeting with my parents did not last long. The children soon got bored, and we were excused. Charlene didn't ask any more questions, and my parents did not either. The three of us knew why she was there… It was more to see how much they understood. Charlene was being very cautious. Although she spoke a lot, she was not opening up… I hoped that time would remedy that.
For the rest of the day, I let her be at my home. Went about my day and checked in on her when the star was setting. She was not at my house. I found her in the book room, sitting at a table, going through many of our scripts.
"You have to tell me if you want to practice your manifestations. I can take you to where we train for combat. It would be a controlled environment. You don't have to be scared that you will do something."
"I didn't think that I would be on an unknown planet after the…." She trailed off.
Unfortunately, Charlene had taken away the one thing I could do to make her feel better. Our abilities were in our touch. It was going to be difficult to put her at ease… I decided to give her a few days. Just let her be. But at the fountain after her Werewolf manifestation, I had no choice. "You know… I do not think you have to trouble yourself too much. When you are ready… like you said… You will go back… just the way you came."
She sighed, rubbing her palms over her eyes, elbows propped up on the desk. "You're right. I tend to overthink. Worry too much."
"That might be the problem in the first place… abilities have a lot to do with inner strength and practice and… letting go."
"You don't have alcohol, do you?" She asked.
We did… But her wanting to be less in control was not the way to grow character. And I was not going to drink with her and make it even harder on myself. I was attracted to her. Intrigued. Too curious for my own good.
"Could we rather try something else… I do not want you to get hurt. If you can travel across planets, you might end up somewhere…."
"Less friendly."
"Yes…"
"You seem to know a lot about the universe, but nothing recorded in any of these books."
"These books are for children. Basics… The secrets to our race and species are locked up somewhere else. We guard it with our lives."
She sat back, raising her eyes to the roof. Charlene was a little intense and had no confidence. It was a strange combination to me. "Come, let me make you a home-cooked meal. For a person, not a creature… You have to remember that you will always be… What do you call yourself?"
"Human? Aren't you human?"
"Human… No, that's not what we call ourselves." It seemed that she did not want to get up, so I sat across from her and held out a hand. Her face gave away most of her emotions. She was not in control of herself at all. Slowly, she put her hand in mine. I covered hers with my other. I was not ready to show her my power or tell her about it, but a little would not matter. "You seem like the type of person that judges herself… thinking that others would not if you do."
The lines on her forehead subsided. Her hand squeezed mine. "You've lived for a very long time?" She said.
I nodded.
"I have only twenty-one years… We only grow up around seventeen if we're female. Boys tend to wait until they are thirty. We only live till we are a hundred."
My hand clutched her instinctively. Only twenty-one years. I had thought that she would be hundreds of years old, at least. I was dealing with a child. One that knew more than they ought. How could I expect anything from her? I would have to go slower. It all made sense. "I am… how did you say… Sorry… That you are away from your family and friends. Do you miss them terribly?" I kept rubbing my hand over hers, letting the power seep through my skin. If she was that young… Who would have branded her? How could she be so invested in someone?
When she smiled and the tiredness and circles under them left, I let her go and got up. She wouldn't even have known what I had done. "Come. Let's go eat a proper meal, and we can go to bed early."
***
Charlene
Every day I woke up was like… Blissful ignorance of anything else. I felt hazy and happy. Contented with whatever may be. The rest of the universe had disappeared from my mind. The few years of study had been tiring. I had very few breaks, and being on holiday felt terrific. Romero was so hospitable that he showed me everything he thought would please me. The beauty that surrounded them. It was strange that they were letting me live with Romero. But I wasn't going to complain. I felt safest with him.
Because there was no transport, we were stuck to a specific area of the planet. They didn't go anywhere other than their village or the neighboring cities. But it didn't bother me. Walking was a good time to train and to practice my teleporting. Romero was helping me a lot. I was actually glad that I had come out in front of him. I didn't think Michael or Chris would have had the time to take me under their wing. Juliet was pregnant again, and it would've been difficult for her to make time for me… Running an Entire planet didn't help. I would've felt wrong to push myself into her life like that. It wasn't only her that had let our relationship deteriorate a little. I could have, like Carl, given up my own pursuits to follow her around and learn from them. I understood why Kubra did it. There was a type of safety in loyalty. I just wasn't ready to bend the knee for her. Listen to her orders. I didn't even think that was what she would have wanted.
"What are you thinking about?" Romero asked. "You seem distant today."
It had been almost two weeks, and when I woke up, I was happy. But by the end of the day, my homesickness sunk in. I missed Kubra. Even if we did have a rocky few months… He had been there for me. And I could not let go of that thought. He would wait for me after school and help me with whatever I needed. I was sure he would've been able to help me more with my new creature side than anyone else. He even stayed with us for the funeral and watched us while we got drunk… I took a heavy breath. The branding had done something to my feelings, and in very creature form, I felt different about him.
I always judged Juliet for running after Chris and being too easy when doing all she had to make the relationship work. She didn't take crap, but she forgave just as quickly. Her heart was too open… And she had gotten so hurt over the last four years… I wouldn't have survived. But being away from Kubra… And having Romero do precisely the same thing. I realized that I wasn't putting any effort into my relationship with Kubra.
I stopped and stretched out my hand towards Romero. His lips were so thick. His jawline was strong. A big nose. I couldn't figure out what color his eyes were. For a change, I had taken him by surprise. His eyes met mine, and he drew in a deep breath. I figured if physical touch meant something in their culture, it would be good for me to make an effort to show him that I accepted him. The few days we had spent together had been peaceful. He had given me so much space… But I was getting sick of space. All I had my whole life was space from others. It was my own fault. If it wasn't for Juliet, who shoved herself into my life. Carl, who followed her and made sure we became the best of friends… I didn't know where I would be.
Before he could take my hand, a tear rolled down my cheek. I missed Carl and Juliet. "What is that?" He asked as my fingers brushed it off.
"Don't you cry?"
"Cry?"
"Sad?"
"Are you…sad?" I had not seen him worried before. I nodded. "Did I make you sad?"
"You…?" I chuckled. "No… You make me very happy."
His brow furrowed. "What has gotten into you?"
My eyes flickered past his shoulder. When he said it… I realized that I had to be close to my period. I had never asked Juliet what it entailed. We didn't know how anything would work. I was all three. Would I have four periods? My nose wrinkled at the thought. I'd jump off a bridge. I chuckled to myself.
Romero shook his head. "First, you are sad… Now you are happy."
I laughed louder. I could understand why he treated me like a child, but I hated it. In four years on Earth, I would've been a doctor. Being the factor between life and death for a person. The older the creatures got, the fewer emotions they had. They didn't trust young ones. Even his parents had been guarded in what to tell me. As if they understood the branding, but we were all walking in circles around the topic. I didn't even know what Romero was… Or where I was. If I would ever get home. More tears rolled down my cheeks. I was having a meltdown in the street. My face contorted, trying to hold back the tears.
"I do not care anymore. I am invading your space." Romero strutted purposefully over to me and wrapped me in his arms. I was sobbing when I could cling to someone. What if I never saw Miné again? Would Juliet find me like she did, Chris? Would we all be hundreds of years old before we saw each other again? His hold on me tightened.
***
Caleb
"Pssst."
Michael's head turned over his shoulder. His eyes widened, and he scanned the room. Then, his jaw flexed. But it was the middle of the night. All the guards were sleeping except the one patrolling outside. "WTF are you doing here?" He growled low in his throat. I liked Michael and laughed, sitting back against a table, hiding from the rest of the room.
"We're worried about you. And stop cussing." He let the breath go he was holding. "And I'm getting tired of everybody treating me like a child."
He laughed too loud. He clapped his hand over his mouth. But no one even stirred. Even if he did laugh, would they know what made the noise?
"You're so much like your mother."
"She is distraught, trying to pretend, but she's not fooling anyone."
Michael's head dropped between his knees. "Should I try and get you out?"
"Under no circumstances. I'm fine… Look at me. They haven't even hooked me up to that thing yet… All I am is bored."
I took out the iPhone in my pocket and pushed it at him. He laughed again. "Downloads," we said at the same time.
"Caleb, I would feel a whole lot better if you would leave. I appreciate you coming and checking up on me."
"I've been here every night. Had to first make sure of their routine and when was the best."
It seemed that he would scold me… "Caleb… If anything happened to you… I don't think your mom would survive."
"She has to get over it. Kids die."
"That's…. rough…. Why would you say that?"
I was quiet.
"For someone as peaceful as you… I don't want you to become hardened by everything that is happening… Your mom always wanted to be happy… But that dream of hers was stolen from her. If we treat you like a child, it's because we want you to stay innocent for as long as possible."
I snorted. "That's stupid… And dreams and Zoreah don't really go hand in hand? There is no ambition there. I was born and bred for survival."
Michael shrugged. "Maybe… But what has your panties in such a twist."
My lip curled up in the corner. I at least knew that only girls on Earth wore panties. I liked wearing human clothes. I had on Converse sneakers. My mom gave them to me. Jeans and a T-shirt.
"I don't really know… Have been edgy lately."
He snorted again. "I think being off your home planet… has more of an effect on you than you realize. What you went through with Juliet coming for you wasn't just something that happened. You have been through a lot… You are half-Vampire, after all."
I liked the thought. "You're right. I'm not too fond of Zoreah… Or how Ira is running the place. After seeing all there is to see… How could he be that… stupid?"
Michael laughed again. One of the guards stirred.
"Your mom hasn't really had time for you."
"I like spending time with Liam and Cindy. They treat me differently. They hug me and play with me. So many emotions… Ira always taught me to repress my emotions. And at least my mother is doing something with her life. I can't wait to join her in the tower."
"Why wait?"
My eyes met his. "Have you been in her office lately?"
I shook my head. He smiled. "Go have a look when you're back."
I heard footfalls and waved at Michael. "See you tomorrow." Before he could say anything, I disappeared quickly. I had overstayed my welcome. I called it a night. Michael was already with his back to me.
***
Liam had me reading non-stop. Soren was schooling me in any time I had left. We didn't tell anyone because Chris might freak out. Soren was younger, and we got along well. He was like a tutor. I also didn't tell anyone I had been going to the planet to see Michael and avoided Louis like he had the plague… Spent the rest of the time with my mom in the medbay and left as soon as Louis entered the room. Figured it wouldn't be long before he confronted me about what was going on.
I stepped out of the teleporter and rounded the corner. A hand grabbed my shirt and fisted it. I got a slap behind the head. A flick on the forehead, and then he dragged me into his arms. I liked having so many dads. "You must think me a total fool."
I shook my head against his chest, hugging him back. "I knew it was just a matter of time… Come take me to my mom's office."
Louis pushed me away from him and ran his hand over my hair, pulling me in under his shoulder. "How is he?"
"He's fine… I think… What do I know."
"You know a lot. You're just as clever as your mom. Fearless… And stupid."
***
We stepped out into her office. I counted the desks. "My poor mother. She really doesn't like being alone… Does she?"
Louis's eyes were full of pride. I could see it. "You thinking of taking one of them."
"If I knew… I would've been here already… If it wasn't for…."
"Soren." Louis blew up his lips, thinking. "You could do both. I'll help you…."
I lifted my hand into the air. I liked high fives.