CHAPTER 36
Andie
I stepped down from the dais and headed straight for the human. Some of the Ptexari tried to engage me in conversation as I passed, but I ignored them as I practically ran to him.
“Hi, I’m Leo,” he said.
“I’m Andie.”
He smiled again, his eyes bright. “Yes, I know.”
“This might sound weird, but can I hug you?” I asked. Please say yes, please say yes.
“Absolutely,” he said, and opened his arms wide.
I threw myself at him and hugged him with my whole body.
My head came under his chin, and I lay my face on his chest. Our stomachs pressed close together, I wrapped my arms around his waist, and squeezed.
He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and held me close. It felt so good, I thought I might cry.
The Ptexari did not hug. In fact, they barely ever touched.
Touching was fine between mates and parents with children, but even then, it was usually restrained.
It just wasn’t part of their culture. I hadn’t been hugged in over a year, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it until that moment.
If it weren’t for M’Pak’s snuggles, I would probably be completely touch-starved.
He didn’t let go until I did. I took a step back and said, “Thank you for that. I haven’t been hugged in a really long time.”
“I get it,” he replied. “A lot of alien species are uncomfortable with touch. They find humans to be pretty clingy.”
“I didn’t think of myself as clingy until this moment,” I laughed.
“Well, I don’t mind. I don’t get a lot of hugs either. Feel free to fling yourself at me anytime.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled down at me.
I laughed again. He was cute and funny. And human, which I wondered about. “How are you here?” I asked.
“I’ve been living on Coromonn for the last ten years or so,” he said.
“Evidently, you made quite an impression on a Sapari delegation a few months ago. One of them mentioned to the Ptexari King that there was another human in this sector. He started messaging me about visiting you, and then a couple of weeks ago, asked if I knew anything about a human instrument called a piano. Lucky for him, and you, my mom forced me to take piano lessons for eight years, so I could describe it well enough for him to have someone make one. Then he brought me here so I could see the big reveal. Your King really must like you. It was a lot of effort.”
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t even thank him!” I exclaimed. I took Leo’s hand without a second thought and dragged him over to King Akapa, who was chatting with an alien I didn’t recognize.
“Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion,” I said, bobbing a curtsy.
The unfamiliar alien nodded his head in silent permission to continue.
“Thank you so much for the piano. I’m still stunned!
I can’t believe you had that made and brought here.
I’m so grateful. And for bringing Leo. I haven’t seen a human in so long. ”
“I am pleased you enjoy my gift, my daughter,” the King replied.
“The song you played was beautiful. I hope we hear many more. There is a room in this wing that I have converted into a music room for you. The piano will be moved there, and you may come play as often as you like. There is sufficient space for you to dance, also. I have employed Leo as a temporary consultant, with permission from the Coromonn’s Prime Minister.
He will reside here at the Palace for the time being in the diplomatic quarters. ”
I was so overwhelmed by his generosity that I nearly hugged him, too, but I knew he wouldn’t want that.
Mindful of his own diplomatic duties, I withdrew.
Leo followed me to a corner, but we weren’t able to converse because Ptexari kept coming up and asking if I would play something else.
I was considering it, when Leo quietly asked, “Do you know Ave Maria?”
“Yes, of course. I sang it a lot in Christmas shows and pageants. I haven’t played it in a while, though.”
“You can sing it?”
“Yes, I was a musical theater major in college. Singing, dancing, acting, I’m a triple threat. Not that it’s done me any good here,” I said.
“If I play it, will you sing it?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said. He did say that he had learned to play. I shouldn’t keep the piano to myself, especially if he was only staying here temporarily. “Mi piano es su piano,” I joked.
He smiled again, and it was lovely to see.
We made our way up to the piano again, and he seated himself.
As he got situated, the guests turned their attention to us, so I said, “Leo is going to play, and I am going to sing to you an old song from one of our religions, called Ave Maria, which is based on a prayer to the Mother of God.”
Leo began the rolling chords of the introduction, and I came in. “Ave Maria, gratia plena…”
I wasn’t Catholic, but I always sang this song with the reverence it deserved. It was a prayer, a praise, a blessing, and a pleading all in one.
Praise for Mary, who would carry Jesus in her womb, and a wish for her to pray for us, comfort us even until the moment we were dying. It was a song that made my spirit soar and brought me peace.
I let the song build in volume, then let it fade towards the last verse.
I sang the final words softly, and Leo played the final notes.
We had never practiced together, but it was a song he had clearly played a thousand times.
I had probably sung it nearly as many. There were tears in my eyes as the moment of silence that accompanied a truly great and emotional performance came to an end.
This time, there was no “Pss Pss Pss” from the crowd. I looked out, and all the Ptexari were frozen. They didn’t move a muscle. They were silent statues scattered throughout the room. Leo stood up and took my hand.
“What’s going on?” he leaned in and whispered to me.
“I don’t know,” I answered. I was a little freaked out. The Ptexari were all facing towards us, but their eyes were closed, and they all wore expressions of smiling bliss. Some of the alien diplomats looked the same, although most were looking around the room at the frozen Ptexari, bewildered.
In a few moments, just before I had a full-on panic attack, the Ptexari recovered. They slowly opened their eyes, and their eyes locked on me. “Lumanela,” I heard many of them whisper. “Magic in her voice,” they murmured to one another.
I stood in shocked silence as more than a hundred Ptexari dropped to their knees and knelt before me. Many leaned forward and pressed their faces to the floor, as Dakleth had at our luncheon a few days ago.
“Oh, shit,” Leo said under his breath.