Chapter 12 #2
“You desire me?” The question was softer this time, with a strange ache in her voice that caused his head to tilt curiously.
“This disturbs you?”
“No,” she said, but her voice was weak and not entirely believable.
He waited. Looking at her. Waiting for the truth.
She sighed, surrendering after only a moment.
“My stalker… He was a guy in one of my early anatomy classes. I flirted with him. I thought he was cute. I thought he was nice. We even went out on a date. Only the one, because there wasn’t really any chemistry.
He asked me out again. I turned him down and told him my reason, but he didn’t accept that as an answer. ”
“And as a result,” he finished for her, “you have become cautious of males who claim to hold desire for you, uncertain if it is desire or obsession.”
She smiled sadly. “I know you’re a good person, Havali. If we were walking down a dark street, I would trust you to protect me. There’s just some part of me that… I don’t know. I think of how I would have said the same thing about him before the stalking started.”
“Thank you,” he said, gently stroking her cheek, “for telling me this. I can see how the topic disturbs you, and it was not my intention to make you unhappy. But I needed to know. If I did not, I would not be able to safely approach you.”
She chuckled. “You make me sound like I’m a bomb that would go off if you weren’t careful.”
“Not a bomb. A barrier.” He traced his thumb right under her bottom lip, teasing her with the whisper of his touch.
“You would not run. You would shut me out. You would stop me from getting closer. And you would do it mercilessly. I can see how this defense would develop if that was the kind of male you were dealing with.”
She laughed again, a bit breathlessly this time. “How could you possibly know that?”
“It is my job to see and to notice. To plan and prepare. My mind might be clouded by desire, but that does not lessen my abilities. I am very good at watching. At seeing.”
She reached up and caught his hand. Pulling it from her face but holding onto it. “Havali, I’m sorry, I just…”
“Don’t think about it so hard,” Havali said softly. “It is never my intention to give you stress, Healer. So, don’t worry. Don’t be afraid of me. Let me woo you and give me nothing in return if that’s what you desire.”
She should give him nothing. He was deviant and had entirely too much in common with the male that caused her such fear and distrust. It would be a suitable punishment if she answered his desperation with indifference.
But he couldn’t keep away from her. He had to keep trying.
And when she gave him a weak, shaky smile, it hit him right in the gut.
“Maybe you could show me around the city? The one you said we could visit. I bet there’s a lot there that we could see together.”
If she weren’t holding it, Havali’s hand would be shaking.
He knew, from his observations of the humans, that going out together on a ‘date’ was the first step in their mating ritual. The steps required to court a human weren’t as rigid and necessary as they were for the domini. The basic core of it was simply to spend time together.
He couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful or more tortuous. Every moment together increased the risk that she would see him for the foul male he was. But it was also another moment that he got to enjoy the sight and scent and sound of his female.
He wasn’t noble enough of a male to reject that offer.
“We have the day free tomorrow before formal Coalition business begins. I can take you out. There are many entertaining and interesting things to do and see in the city.”
She smiled and nodded. She even looked more relaxed now that there was a plan. Now that they had a discussion.
He had to warn her about the vid and rumors that were circulating about them though. It was only fair that she know that there would be eyes on them.
But he did nothing more than open his mouth when the music suddenly cut off.
“What’s that?” She asked, turning and looking around the column and into the room where all the chatter had fallen silent and everyone was turning.
“The High Imperium is about to speak,” he said, stepping out with her, but keeping one hand on her lower back.
Fellaseen was standing at the back of the room on a hovering platform that was lifting her up over everyone’s head so that the entire room could see her.
It continued until, with a soft, dull thud, it locked into place on the wall, essentially becoming a balcony beneath a door that remained closed even as Fellaseen stepped forward, beaming as she threw open her arms.
“Welcome back, all!” She declared, her voice artificially enhanced by her combot as it floated near her neck.
“Old friends and new friends alike. It is our honor this year to be the voice of the High Imperium.
Individually, I am Choice Fellaseen, part of the representative of the rootavin.
This is the second year we have served in this position.
We all have our own debates and propositions and complaints, but today is not the time for that.
Today is about building bonds between us.
Regardless of what else, we are all part of the Coalition and want only to continue to prosper, both as individuals and as a group.
As representatives, we serve as a voice for our people and there is no higher honor.
As the next few weeks progress, let us not forget that above all.
“And now, it is my highest joy and honor to present to all of you the representative of the vitulli: The High Imperium!”
She stepped aside as the door opened and the High Imperium appeared.
It was Havali’s job to know as much as possible about everyone here, but he still knew next to nothing about the leader of the Coalition.
The only thing he knew was what everyone knew.
That they represented the vitulli – an ancient species whose characteristics and traits were all closely guarded secrets – and that their representative changed at random intervals with no warning to anyone.
The person that moved forward onto the platform was either huge or not – it could not be determined just by looking.
They were wearing a long, massive robe that, itself, was little more than a large square.
It was a beautiful large square – decorated along the edges in sharply angled golden lines and embroidered with beautiful galactic recreations of Holotulle’s Ring and the most famous places within, but it was still just a square.
It was draped over a black robe that concealed everything below.
The robes trailed along the ground behind them and didn’t lift to reveal even a single foot or claw or tentacle below.
The High Imperium moved in a smooth glide that could be steps or a rolling motion or anything.
The top was kind of rounded, like a head under a sheet, but the rest of the body was completely draped and didn’t provide even a hint of a shape.
They stood taller than Fellaseen, but there was no way to know if that was natural or enhanced or even hunched over.
A combot floated around their face, flashing in a series of pretty colors that, as far as Havali understood it, were essentially a signal of happiness.
He didn’t know if the vitulli couldn’t speak or if, even more simply, the High Imperium couldn’t be heard under the layers of fabric. Regardless, when the High Imperium ‘spoke’ it was with a genderless, robotic voice through the combot.
As it did now-
“Greetings and welcome to everyone,” the combot said as it hovered near the head of the High Imperium, Fellaseen still standing nearby, smiling beatifically. “It is my honor to once again serve as High Imperium for the vitulli and the master of ceremonies for the debates.”
That statement was the only indication they ever had that the person who acted as High Imperium was the same as last year or not. If it was a new High Imperium, they would instead say that it was their honor to serve without adding ‘once again’.
“We have a great many topics to cover this year. As always, no topic is more important than another and they will all receive equal consideration – if not equal time. Everyone has presented their reports and records for their submitted talking points and those have been distributed appropriately. If this is your first time serving as representative, I’m sure you’ve already familiarized yourself with the rules of the debate.
As always, you must be respectful to each species and remember that just because something might be meaningless to you does not mean it is not of vital importance to another.
All arguments and debates will be presented first. Voting on everything will be done all at once at the end.
You have until then to argue your case outside of the rotunda, but within the rotunda, when it is not your turn to cover your case, you will focus on the topic at hand only.
“Most of all, please be welcome and at home here on Holotulle’s Ring.
This is as much your home as it is ours.
My people may have built the Ring, but we have all made it what it is today.
To the guests who have not been here before, you are welcome and encouraged to see as much of our glorious home as you can while you’re here.
Let us never forget that we created this Coalition as a means of protecting ourselves against our enemies, but it endures to this day in the spirit of cooperation, abundance, security, and friendship.
These are the tenants upon which we built our society.
May we never forget this as we go forward into another council session. Thank you.”
Scarlet started smacking her hands together, but quickly stopped when she saw that she was the only one doing it. The others had all raised their voices in support and cheer. She watched, curious, as the High Imperium turned and slowly glided back through the door.
“So, that was the leader of the entire universe,” she said, her head cocked.
Havali chuckled. “You sound disappointed.”
“I’m not,” she hastened to say, her face taking on a pretty, pink shade that, frankly, clashed with her hair. “It was just… weird.”
He laughed, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her in closer to his side. Satisfied when she gave him a smile and didn’t attempt to move away.
“Come, let us continue with the evening. The feast will be starting soon. It’s the privilege of the High Imperium’s chosen voice to offer food from their home planet at the opening feast. I think you’ll enjoy food from Fellaseen’s Tavin. It’s quite savory and delicious.”
She hummed in agreement, falling in step beside him as they returned to the crowd.