Charlene
After everything we had been through, I didn't think I would ever see their dark city. Whatever it meant. It was two more days before the three of us walked toward the area we were supposed to be in. The last league of our journey. I thought about the few days at the watering hole Romero had mentioned. He wanted to enjoy comfort and food and spend time together after the ordeal we had gone through. Romero had still not told me what that journey was about. If it was that difficult to get around to their sacred temple. What were they hiding? Even the last two days with Miné were magical. The scenery became grassy and open, with hills and winding little roads through flowered forest patches and mossy canyons overlooking vast stretches of water and beauty. Maybe I didn't give Romero enough time. Perhaps those last two days, he would've… "It's up there." That was the first words Romero had said to me that morning. For two days, I did most of the talking. Focused all my energy on Miné. She enjoyed it so much, was up for the adventure, and didn't complain once. I showed her all my creature sides one by one. She was ecstatic, almost as happy about my newfound abilities as I was. Although Romero was clipped with me, he showed her every attention, and in the end, it felt that we were a family. He made her feel all his abilities, except purple, of course, and to see her go through every emotion and then laugh and laugh when he took it all away was priceless in a way. The three of us fit together so well, I hoped it wasn't temporary, that Romero and I would be able to overcome their customs. It was the only thing I thought could be the problem. They had two-person households. Not mixed like on Earth… But I only got one-word answers from the man. He didn't touch me again after our fight or hold me at night. I had not traveled to Kubra again… After my needs were met, I probably didn't have cause… I chuckled… With everything out in the open from my side, I felt better.
Romero was pointing to a mountain. My eyes had to travel up to take in the whole scope of the formation. Flat and steep. It would be a heavy climb up to the entrance if you couldn't teleport. He had told me the worst was behind us… But looking at the thing… Falling to your death was probably not so bad for them. There was only one small opening behind a tiny ledge that led into the depths of the rocks, carved out just big enough for a human. No Riphath would fit in there.
Romero ignored me when I asked how they got up there, so I traveled us. As we entered the space, it was unilluminated, pitch dark, and no glass roof to let moonlight in. Romero picked Miné up. I held out my hand and ran it along my side to feel how much room I had left next to me. It wasn't much, and my fingers could feel the roof when I stretched out a hand. We walked straight and in one way for some time. No light or sight. Miné wasn't scared, and all I could do was follow Romero's footsteps. We began to spiral and walked back and forth sideways. It felt like we were moving downwards. At the end of our tunnel, a light eventually shone in the distance. We emerged. My eyes adjusted to the faint light that came in through the roof. All framed glass. In front of us in the distance was a palace separated from us by a canal of water. More significant than the one his parents lived in. Built into the wall of the cave clouded by darkness. The air was dusty, and the smell was stale from standing water.
"This is called the dark city," Romero said to Miné. She was holding onto his neck. The children, from Caleb to Sammy, were very trusting. They had all grown up between different creatures. So many other people and faces. The big family. Every grown-up was totally devoted to them. They had teleported and had been to so many planets. They would be a generation that we didn't even recognize.
My eyes darted everywhere. There were thousands of houses built into the mountain to our left, but not one living soul. Water canals for roads were so narrow that only a little boat could maneuver down them. Romero helped me into one and handed Miné to me. I sat her down between my feet. It was more of a punt boat, and he pushed us along as we did in some parts of the Earth.
"Do you like it?" His voice was low.
I didn't feel like I had made a mistake sleeping with Kubra that night. But every time I looked at Romero, I thought I had pushed him too far. Too fast. Scared that I would lose him altogether. "I do…" I desperately wanted him to look at me. Like he always did.
Romero propelled us forward for a long time, crisscrossing between the houses stacked high on top of one another. When he harbored the boat at a small jetty, he helped me out but didn't hold my hand like he always did. There was no invitation. We entered a building. Climbed a lot of stairs. The room at the top spanned out into a cave. It was decorated and beautifully done like everything there was. Glass roof so you could see all the stars.
He made us stand in the middle and asked us to wait. Sirrah had already set. The moonlight streamed into the space, illuminating the floor as it became darker. Pictures of stars filled the air around us, moving slowly in a circular motion, entrancing Miné. She ran around, running her hands through the lights, lifting her hands into the air, trying to catch them. I recognized the Milky Way immediately. I gasped.
They did know what was going on… But something was off. There was a second galaxy very close to ours. As the last arm of the Milky Way ended, it almost merged with the other. A small dot glowed brightly in that area. Romero waved his hands outwards. The planet became more prominent in front of me.
"That is my home. Mirach."
I turned around and walked over to the Milky Way, moving my arms like he had done. Our sun shone brightly. Our system was as visible as a 4K TV. I pointed to Earth.
"That is Earth."
I moved over to the system En-gannim was in. "That is…"
"En-gannim." He finished my sentence. My head jerked to him. I pointed to Zoreah.
"Zoreah," He said again.
I pointed to the last planet… "Palmyra." He whispered softly.
"Juliet… rules all four worlds," I said softly.
He wanted to speak. His mouth was half-open, but he only nodded.
"Not really Earth because she sees it as her home. There are too many… factions on Earth… But the rest. She fought for with the brandings."
"The Werewolves that are supposed to be on Palmyra are here," Romero said as our eyes met.
"That's why I'm here…. But why? Where is their king?"
He lifted up a hand, silencing me. "You see… Our galaxies are merging. Colliding, if you will." He focused on the parts that were almost together and touching.
"Colliding? Like in planets crashing into each other?"
He lifted up his hand again. He was getting irritated with me. I didn't like the new Romero.
"There was a lot of space between the two. At one point." He continued. "But over the last thousand years, we had moved closer together. Very fast." The pictures followed his words like they were telling the past. The galaxies were rotating. Romero went on. "Making it possible that you ended up in my galaxy instead of yours…. I do not think you would have if… Your branding had happened earlier, and space had stayed the same."
Slowly, he walked over and rested his hands on my shoulders, turning me away from him towards the door we had just come from. His breath was hot on my neck. "Charlene… You know I am the ruler of this planet… The wolf King is not alive anymore."
"He's not?"
Romero's hands slid up and down my arms. "You see, when they arrived, he was… But he killed himself. He and Brylee were not branded together. They wanted one of them to be able to save as many of their species… And because they had no female relative, the wolves were without a ruler… He told me everything that had happened on Zoreah... At first, Brylee had come with an army. Riphaths, Vampires, and Werewolves. In a great campaign."
I wanted to turn and see his face. His voice was low and kept me in place. "They had attacked an area far from my home."
A lump was forming in my throat. That was the campaign Kubra had led. Years ago.
"They did not get much done… So Zavier approached the Queen of that city."
"I am that Queen." A voice said from the doorway.
The girl that walked in didn't seem much older than me. Her hair was cut in a bob that framed her perfect features. All her hair was dreaded with gold ornaments hanging off the ends. A Crown with two pointy cones rested on the top of her head. A large, flat golden plate in the middle of her forehead. Jewels adorned her body. She was beautiful. Flawless. I felt out of place in Juliet's black jeans and leather jacket. She dropped down in front of Romero, staying seated on her knees with her head bowed.
"You have to know that my family had nothing to do with that. Juliet had nothing to do with that."
"Yes, we know. Sara, get up."
He rubbed my arms again as if it was not all.
"Sara, take the child with you." The girl bobbed her head and held out her hand. Trepidation made me waver, wondering if I should take her and flee. Miné, being as trusting as she was, and the woman looking like a fairy princess made her take her hand. They left as quietly as she had come. I wanted to say something. "She will be fine. Trust me." Romero whispered. "You are what we call... An Ittoqure." I wanted to turn around and face him. He kept me in front of him as if he didn't want to see me or instead could get it all out if I wasn't there or looking at him. "You are one part wolf, are you not?"
What he said didn't make sense yet. "How did you beat back such an army? We heard that the campaign was a success."
"It was… We made a deal with Werewolves in the end. If we ever needed help, she would save as many of our people as possible. We knew about the colliding and accepted the offer. If we did the same when she died. Brylee told us about the possibility of an Ittogure originating in the future. She was afraid for her people, searching for a home."
"So… Species do get wiped out if anyone that is branded kills one of the rulers?"
"Yes… It's true… The rest of her people vanished when she died. All that were left on the planet… It is why they separated the species so long ago. All the Ittoqures were wiped out when the vamps could teleport. They were just too strong. It had started with the first branding on Earth. They multiplied on a planet of their choice. Could come and go, even over great distances. If you were older, you would have made it anyway."
I was tired of talking like that. Angry, I pulled out of his grip and turned around. His eyes were as soft as they always were. It caught me off guard. Romero was having a hard time. But why?
"There is no competing with a cloud of death, Charlene. Our warriors train for years, and when we turn to one united shadow of darkness… No one survives… It is how we defeated the Ittoqure in the first place."
Romero walked to the other side and blew up Mirach even more. He pulled up Earth and the other three side by side. I stepped closer. Mirach was filled with gold dots. Clusters all over. I glanced over to the other three. Zoreah had no gold dots, Earth had one, and Palmyra had one. I frowned.
He blew up their planet even more and twirled it in the air. It stopped at a dark spot. A dark city. Inside, just one gold dot was glowing. Brandings? It was Juliet and me. But who was on Palmyra? I wanted to ask.
Romero held out his hand again, inviting me to take it. Every time he did that, my heart raced. He would let me in just a little bit more. I relented my questions and took it. That time, he didn't let go and laced our fingers. We walked up to a set of closed doors. He opened them to another freaking chasm down into the water. Over it, one narrow walkway high above the city down below. He pulled me close to his body and wrapped an arm around my waist so I didn't slip and fall. We crossed, my hand sweaty against the fabric of his shirt. Romero's fingers dug into my skin as we approached the doors on the other side of the stone path. The scene that awaited me was not what I was expecting. I tilted my head in surprise. It was a room with one bed in the center. A net hanging down from the ceiling. Four columns cordoned off the foyer, separating a small space from the area where the bed was.
They had glowing stones that served as lights, placed in bowls on the ground, running along the wall, nestled in white sand, and propped up on a low golden stand. Some more were hanging down from the ceiling encased in intricate wiring. The room was built in a circle around the bed. The walls were painted and decorated. Everything was so magical. Magnificent. Places that only rulers of planets would see. The roof was in a dome shape, pitching above the bed.
Romero let go of my hand, squeezing it one last time. "This is the end destination of our mating ritual. The journey I took you on." I spun towards him and took a ragged breath. "This is where all couples come to consummate their relationships." Romero went and sat on the bed with his knees in the crooks of his elbows. His eyes took in the scenery. As if he had never seen it before. "I am not allowed to sleep with you…." He drew in a breath. "Outside of this room for the first time."
My brow furrowed. I was almost sure there was more.
His head dropped in between his legs. "Charlene… If I sleep with you… You will also be branded. Get a glowing tattoo… But not forced or hurt. For us, it is a supernatural process that bonds us. I will also get one… And after that… We can never be separated again. And I mean very close... Or it will hurt… You would never be able to go home again. Travel again. You will be rooted here, on my planet, as my mate."
My mouth opened. It was so quiet up there. His breathing labored. I saw the tears run down his cheeks. I dropped down on the bed. The net hanging above us was white, soft, and lacey. It was supposed to be his first time. With the woman he loved. Who he had chosen for life. It all made sense.
Romero moved closer to me and hovered over me. I wiped away his tears. His eyes roamed my face and rested on my lips. Romero moved even closer until our lips were only inches apart. He waited, and his lips touched mine and moved. The purple hue came out of his hands, feeling me. I groaned and closed my eyes. His hand ran up under my shirt. Every touch made me quiver. A sensation they had at their fingertips.
My gut wrenched as I opened my eyes, and he was green. "That's how I felt, smelling him all over you." Romero was hovering over me. "I felt like murder as Romero turned red. "That's how angry I was when you took away the one thing I had wanted all my life. It was not that I could not accept you... Or your child… I just could not keep you away from her." Then peace saturated my bones. The gold veins he had always displayed around me. "That was what I gave you when you were sad, hurt, or upset."
I pulled his lips onto mine, forcing my way in, pushing him over and under me. I wanted all of him. I would have stayed. If my life wasn't such a mess. But I never even would have known he was alive if it wasn't for Kubra. I thought about Carl… He had an expectation of me. That we would one day actually sleep together. Be a family. Whoever was in my life. Kubra and Carl would accept.
I thought about staying. Miné was already there. The implications of the Werewolves being under his rule. I looked down at his chest. He did wear jewelry. I had never thought anything of the leather strap around his neck with a stone attached to it. He was the king of the Werewolves and they were living on his planet.
The gold dots were all their mated couples. Juliet and I were the only other branded being in the galaxies. Forced like he said. I didn't stop kissing him. His hands ran up and down my body. "I want to stay."
His eyes opened slowly underneath me. They were filled with confusion.
"Miné is already here. Can we stay?"
He flipped me around. So that I was underneath him. "I do not think you understand."
"I do… Is that the only thing?"
Incredulous, he made a funny noise. "The only thing?! Yes, I would have convinced you to stay and forget about Kubra."
He was a little arrogant about Kubra. I smiled. "Do you want us… Do you want me or not?"
He nodded.
"Then take what is yours."
His breathing was deep, chest falling and rising, mind racing. Eyes roaming my features.
***
Romero
My hand was nervously running through her hair and continued to trail down her neck and over her breasts. Of all the things I thought would happen. Her deciding to stay was the last words I had expected to run over her lips. How could it be so easy for her? She would hate me. Or time will make her hate me. Never to see her family and friends again. How could she leave Kubra… Just like that?
"Romero… They will find me. Kubra will come for me. If Juliet and Michael don't end up here in the next few days… Kubra doesn't care where I am or if I will be stuck there for life… I would live for three thousand years. I will outlive him and probably you too."
She was right. I had a thousand left. Did I really want to spend it alone? Have her leave and disappear out of my life.
"If they teleport here? Will you be okay with that? Your family… with my people? Kubra?"
I plunged my lips down on hers, taking off our clothes as we kissed, staring at each other in-between garments. Her shoes took the longest. She cursed when the laces didn't want to come undone. I laughed, pushing her down on the bed, untying the knot and slowly taking them off. I stared at the cloth around her feet. She laughed lightly. She nudged with her chin. I took those off as well. "Interesting. Feet… coverings?"
"Socks." She laughed.
I placed a purpled vein finger on her toe, letting my ability do its work. She was frantically pulling her pants over her feet in one swoop, throwing them on the ground. I sat on my heels, staring at her. It was really happening, but I could not move, taking a moment to look at her. Everything about her.
My hand reached out, and I touched her again with my fingertips, lightly letting them slide up her leg. As I moved up, so did the purple shadow. It circled around her leg, following my thoughts… I kept going.
"Stop. I can't take anymore. Touch me."
"Just let go…." I pressed harder, placing my whole hand on her skin. Stroking up her white flesh. She cried out into the stillness. I loved the sound. I lifted off her skin when she was done. It had stopped so instantly that she jerked up, resting on her elbows. "Why are you stopping?"
"You're not staying because I can do this?" I asked, wriggling my purple fingers in the air.
"Of course I am." She grabbed a chunk of my hair and pulled me onto her.
"You… inside of me… now."
I kissed her softly. "I don't think you'll be able to handle my fingers inside of you." Her hand relaxed, and her lips pressed into mine. She would never be able to run her fingers through my hair. So they traced down my neck and over my shoulder and over my chest, wrapping around to my back. I took myself in hand and pushed into her, closing my eyes to make every second count. Savoring the feeling and the sensations coursing through me. At that moment, I didn't care if she had been with someone a few days ago.
I stilled at my own thoughts. Stopped moving and pulled out of her. I was black all over. Death coursed through me. No color in my veins. Charlene touched my face as my hand reached for her stomach. "Don't. Please." My outstretched fingers formed a fist in the air. It took me a moment to control myself.
I locked gazes with her. "Let fate figure it out." She whispered. "Can you do that for me? Please…"
It was her second plea for a baby that might already be forming. It would either be mine or Kubra's. Vampires didn't conceive easily.
"Will I even be able to carry your baby?"
I nodded. "Can't you give yourself some purple feelings?" She started stroking me, and I let the blackness go, relishing in the feeling of her hands on me. I wasn't that person… Scared of myself, I filled every vein with purple instead. I pushed forward again, groaning loudly.
***
"Can I ask questions now? Because I have a million." She kissed me again, getting up quickly. I nodded. "What would have happened if we slept together outside of this room?"
"We both would have died. Instantly." I said as solemnly as I could. Laughing inside when I saw her face.
"Glad that I slept with Kubra then. Because I literally couldn't hold it in anymore."
I jumped up, wrapping her in my arms. "I was joking… We would not have been able to make us official like this. I do not know why. But after it does not work." I said softly. "You can never go back. Take it back."
Charlene wriggled out of my arms, turning in a circle, trying to see her tattoo. "One thing I won't like is that you don't have mirrors… And how are we going to get back? I'm not taking Miné through that wood. If I can't travel anymore… what will we do?" I smiled, kissing her, lingering on her mouth. I was addicted to her lips. My hands cupped her face.
"When did it happen? I didn't even feel anything."
"It happened when we both made the decision. Even before I entered you."
"So, is it something about the room?"
I nodded, kissing her through every question. She pushed me away. "Enough. Start talking."
I shook my head. "More kissing."
She shook her head, and we both laughed. She bit her bottom lip in between her teeth. "One kiss for one answer," I suggested.
"Fine." She picked up her pants and wanted to pull them up.
I grabbed her wrist. "Mmhmm," I shook my head slowly. "You have to calm down… You will have to slow down. I know you were always busy… But here we have nothing but time."
She regarded me and took a deep breath, falling onto the bed. Her arm pulled in under her head, her perfect plump rear on display. I mounted her from behind. "Are you going to lift for me?"
"That's at least five questions."
I gripped her waist, pulling her closer to me, resting her on my knees. My finger traced the two tattoos that had merged on her skin. "The timepiece you had is set neatly in the palace's tower, which was my mark. It is the dark city's palace. You liked it, did you not?" She nodded. Eyes closed. "The same one my mom had all her life... They would know when it changed on her that you are my mate. Everyone will know."
I pushed up on my knees, working her into the air, admiring the view. I pulled her apart and slid into her. Her hands stretched out over the sheets, gripping them. "Am I hurting you?"
"No…" Her voice was low. She was moaning with every thrust.
After that, I forced myself to leave her alone. Helped her get clean and dressed. "You will have to relieve yourself in there. We will be traveling. Charlene disappeared and came out a few moments later.
A chain was hanging from the roof, and I pulled on it. Instead of walking back through the star room, I opened other doors leading down a spiral staircase different from the one we had come up with. At the bottom, the gusting air was audible. It was a loud and almost a droning noise. Her hand gripped mine.
Sara and Miné were already waiting. Two guards stood on their knees. Charlene opened her arms, and Miné ran into them. "Mommy, I had so much fun."
"Yeah… Me too." She met my eye. "Do you like it here?"
"I do. Look at my pretty dress."
"Yes, I see. A real princess."
Sara went down on her knees in front of Charlene. She put Miné down. Sara's hands reached around her neck to take off a necklace. She lifted it up to Charlene. She took it and looked at me. "It is the sign that you are Queen now." I took the wolf stone off my neck and fastened it around Charlene's. I did the other one as well. "Soon, we will travel to every part of the planet, and they will all show their respects. You will be adorned with jewels… Did you take the child to relieve herself?" Sara nodded. My heart was swelling with love and excitement. I had a family. One I needed to think about. In every aspect. "You can go, Sara."
She stood up and kissed Charlene's cheek. The two men opened two big doors. It was a heavy push against the air, wanting to force its way inside. It took all their strength, feet digging into the ground with every nudge. Wind flooded the room, making dirt swirl up around us. I closed my eyes for a moment.
The next pod came traveling down the tunnel. It was caught in the web-like mesh at every station. The two guards opened the hatch and helped Sara step in. They then released the mesh, and she went flying down the tunnel. When she was out of sight, the two men fastened it quickly to the side of the mountain, closing the doors again.
"This is how I travel so fast from one place to another. It will take some time for another pod to arrive." Both of them came closer and huddled in my arms. My heart flooded even more. They were nervous and wanted reassurance. It felt good having someone put all her trust in you. And I would provide for her. Protect them.
Charlene seemed hesitant when I handed her in. I picked up Miné and placed her in between her legs. Their hair was swept up in the current. I could hear her heart beating faster. I stroked the back of her head, and I did the same with Miné. "You will be alright. It is safe. I will come in the next one." I said loudly.
Charlene's hands folded around Miné's waist, and I closed the pod. She looked up at me and nodded. I did the same, and the two men released them.
***
Charlene
"Mommy!" Miné yelled as that first gust of air propelled us forward. "I'm scared."
"Oh, honey. I'm also scared. Should we close our eyes?" Miné shook her head. The tunnel was large and had those stones placed in a circle around the circumference. Every now and again, it illuminated the darkness for a little bit. Followed by long periods of pitch black. The pod was jerky, but we were seated in a deep basket lined with the softest fur. If we took on a six-day walking journey, I wondered how long a pod ride would be.
After what felt like an eternity in the dark, Miné fell asleep on my chest. There were still a million questions I had, but we were going to be together, and we had nothing but time. I wanted to rest my head back, scared that I would travel. My eyes opened again with the next passing lights. I didn't have to be afraid anymore. I blew out a breath. Relieved that I wasn't going to leave suddenly. Not guilt-ridden for not telling Romero about ending up in Kubra's arms every night. Romero could have lied. He could have slept with me and forced me into this life. He didn't. And I trusted him. So I closed my eyes.