Chapter 18 #2
Atem raised his free hand, eliciting more cries of excitement. The people were so happy to see the simple movement that it was like he was a rock star finishing his set after a great concert. All he did was wave.
Turning, Atem motioned the other girls forward. There was a happy smirk on his face as he urged them to show their faces. The people couldn't recognize them, but they still cheered. Not quite as fanatically as they had for Atem, but there was genuine feeling in the sound.
“What's happening right now?” Holly asked, shaking with fear. Alanna smiled before putting an arm around her shoulder to calm her down.
Peony had no way of asking. But even if she had wanted to try, Atem was already speaking. His voice was loud, projecting over the crowd, silencing them so effectively, it was shocking.
From below, drones floated up. They looked nothing like the tiny, rectangular helicopters she was accustomed to seeing.
They were shaped more like uneven hourglasses, with one half being wider than the other, pointing the smaller end towards them.
The bases had a round, glassy orb that flashed in the light of the orange, alien sun.
Tiny fins stabilized the device in the air.
Atem addressed the crowd, then addressed the devices. Peony realized that they must be cameras. Floating, glowing, brightly colored cameras.
Who exactly was Atem, Peony wondered to herself as he spoke to the crowd. Surely, if spaceships were such a common thing, his returning home wouldn't necessitate an immediate press conference. At least, not if he were an ordinary man.
It took Peony a while to figure out what Atem must be saying.
He released her hand, using both of his to gesture and mime.
He said something that made the crowd hiss and boo, but he grinned.
He continued talking, wrapping his arms around his own torso, pressing his claws against his chest. Exactly where his mostly healed wounds still sat.
He was telling the story, Peony realized as he began gesturing to her and the others. He pointed to her first. He took her wrist and lifted her hand, gesturing to it. She had no idea what he said, but it sent the crowd into a rapturous frenzy.
After they calmed, he continued, pointing first to Alanna, then to Hattie and Holly. Then back to Peony before finishing with her and Scarlet. By the time he finished, the crowd was bouncing and screaming with unparalleled joy.
Atem held up a hand, silencing them. He took hold of Peony's hand again, lacing their fingers together this time. He brought the hand up and placed the back of it over his heart.
Peony watched, fascinated by the movement of his mouth as he said something low and serious. The playfulness was gone now. A deep sincerity seeped into his tone that hadn't been there before. When he looked into her eyes, her heart skipped in her chest.
“Peony. Alanna. Hattie. Holly. Scarlet. Vora vakara.”
She didn't know what that meant, but it drove the crowd crazy. Atem smirked, not taking his eyes from Peony. He allowed the crowd to cheer themselves back to silence before speaking again.
“Seerin Siria,” he growled softly to her before turning and repeating himself for the crowd. Louder. With a considerable amount of force.
The gathered aliens went nuts again. Atem chuckled, holding up their combined hands.
As the people were cheering, he turned and led them away from the rails.
The military men had followed and were standing at their back.
As they passed, finally entering into the golden castle, they pounded their fists to his chests again.
Not just to Atem this time. They remained there until the girls passed as well.
The entry into the palace was an open hall leading to a multitude of doors, all closed.
Atem passed them all until he reached a curving staircase that moved on its own, taking them up to another hallway that led to a large set of double doors guarded by more military men that bowed before the doors opened on their own.
They passed through a second set of guards and doors before reaching yet another hall.
This one was considerably quieter, though the cheering crowd from outside was still audible, muted by distance and walls now.
As they were crossing this hall, Atem leading them who knew where, an excited cry followed by racing footsteps heralded the arrival of a young, alien boy. He was about half Atem's height and looked like he hadn't reached puberty yet but was right on the cusp. Or would be if he were human.
“Atem!” He greeted, pounding his chest like the soldiers before launching into a rapid-fire speech as he walked beside him.
Atem smiled at the youth, but his footsteps hadn't slowed. Was this his kid? Did kids call their parents by their first names on this planet?
Peony was so confused, and she likely wouldn't get any answers.
The young boy caught her staring and gave her a bright smile.
One of his upper fangs was missing and his three eyes were bright purple and all of them kept moving, looking at each of the girls in turn.
He was wearing a simple outfit in green, the pants darker than the shirt, but his skin seemed to have not yet mastered the art of camouflage because it was caught somewhere between the gold of the stone and the green of his clothes.
“Temnavi,” Atem said, gesturing to the boy.
“Seerin Siria,” the young man bowed to her, looking at her with frank hero worship.
That was what Atem had called her. What did it mean?
Atem finally stopped before a door and pushed it open, leading them into a bright, open room.
The far end of which was dominated by a massive window that looked out over the canopy.
A sitting area depressed in the center of the room came with a low table and plenty of space to lounge.
On either wall there were three doors, all six of them resting open and revealing a brightly lit bedroom inside.
All were decorated in different colors but similar styles.
“Uritii,” Atem said, finally releasing Peony's hand. He held out his arms, gesturing around. He repeated the word, looking at Peony with a smile.
“Is this,” Peony swept her finger around the room, “for us?” She pointed to the five of them.
“Vas,” he agreed as though he understood. “Peony, uritii.”
He turned and said something to the young boy who chirped in reply before quickly running from the room.
Peony watched him go before turning back to Atem.
Scarlet was already walking into the room, looking around at the beautiful and sweeping décor with an expression of wonder.
Holly, still nervous, stayed right behind her, a hand on her back.
Alanna wandered over to the window, looking out over the trees, laughing at the birds she saw jumping through the canopy like fish at the water's surface.
Hattie had no reservations. She immediately ran for the room all done up in pink, white, and gold and screamed out her excitement as she began looking through everything.
“We have our own bathrooms!” She squealed in delight then, a moment later, “And a closet! It's huge! Empty, but think of the possibilities!”
Atem chuckled, amused at her enthusiasm even if he didn't understand. Peony focused back on him as he came forward, putting his hands on her shoulders.
She stared up at him, confused and amazed. “Who are you, Atem?”
He cocked his head curiously, just staring at her as though pleased to hear her speak. With one hand, he brushed a strand of her hair from her face before gesturing into the room.
He said something, making a motion that clearly meant stay. Peony laughed, he gave her a fang filled smile, then he turned and left the room, giving her one last glance.
The door shut behind him and Peony turned to see Scarlet grinning.
“Apparently, he's a bigwig of some kind,” the redhead said, cocking one hip out as Holly built the courage to step out from behind her and look into the room that was decorated in violet, steel gray, and shimmering lavender.
“This stuff looks so pretty,” she breathed in amazement, her hands clutched together near her heart as though afraid to touch anything. “You really think he meant to give this to us?”
“Certainly seems that way,” Peony nodded, wondering how she became his intention translator.
A soft knock came before they could speculate further. The young boy, Temnavi, poked his head in, beaming at them before he walked through, pulling a cart behind him. Instead of food or water, however, it was loaded down with carefully folded, beautiful fabrics.
He said something, holding one up, unfurling it so they could see it was a long dress in an ombre pattern from yellow to orange. He beamed from around the garment before setting it back down. He saluted them again before running out of the room.
“Oh, look, new clothes,” Alanna said as though they had just appeared there. She left the window and approached the cart instead.
“A very bigwig,” Scarlet said, her brow cocked in surprise.
“Maybe this is just how they treat all their guests?” Peony suggested weakly, her heart pounding. Had she just had a one-night stand with an alien VIP?
Hattie finally emerged from her room. She squealed again, rushing for the cart. “Do they come in different sizes?”
“I think they're one size fits all,” Alanna said, holding up a flowing romper in spring green, a sheer skirt extending from the back and sides in shimmering gold.
“The bathroom is gorgeous!” Hattie beamed at them, running her finger along a dark red neckline that was still folded. “This place is amazing. If this is the guest treatment, I really hope it doesn't end. Are you guys going to shower?”
“Most definitely,” Scarlet nodded, approaching the cart as well. Less excited and more clinical – she would need clean clothes after showering, after all.
“Can I have the corner room?” Alanna asked, pointing to the one opposite the purple one that Holly seemed to have chosen. It was filled with orange, yellow, and white bursts of color. As though wrapped in sunbeams.
“You guys can pick your favorite. I'll take what's left over,” Scarlet said, unconcerned.
Peony joined them at the cart and chose one of the outfits. Below them, on the lower shelf, were a bunch of sandals. She chose a pair that looked like they matched and hoped they really were one size fits all as Alanna suspected.
The room she chose was nearer the door. It was decorated with white, silver, and three different shades of blue.
She had a window on the far wall, but more impressively, she had a dome shaped skylight right over the circular bed in the center of the room.
Gossamer drapes fell from the ceiling, separating the room into distinct sections.
Behind one of them was a door that led to her personal bathroom.
True to Hattie's word, it was stunning. A marble bath like a hot tub was sunk deep in the floor.
A glass walled shower with multiple heads sprayed real water instead of chemical cleaner when she turned it on.
In a small alcove of the shower, she found a bunch of soaps, all with different scents.
She couldn't tell if they were supposed to be for the hair or body, but the one she used – that smelled like fresh rain and an unfamiliar flower – left both feeling like she had bathed in silk and cream.
There was no way this was just the standard greeting for guests. Everything around her screamed luxury and wealth. The immediate gathering of a crowd indicated fame. The military presence spoke of power.
Who exactly was Atem?