Epilogue #3
Raxx’s mouth dropped open before he snapped it shut. The crunching of his jaw was easy to hear in the now-quiet room. “For reals?” He swung his wide-eyed glance at Asmodel.
Asmodel grinned and slapped Raxx on the shoulder. “You ready to be respectable, dude?”
“Yo, only if you're comin’ with me, my man.” Raxx’s grin matched Asmodel’s.
Asmodel shook his head. “Afraid not.” He nodded to the queen’s hologram. “They have someone else in mind to help you, way better than I can.”
Adapa’s holographic form tapped a finger on whatever surface he was sitting behind. “We recognize you will need help to turn things around there.” He turned his attention to his dark-skinned brother. “Abalim.”
A clear monitor materialized in the middle of the table, displaying an image of an alien female Toni had never seen before.
“Ah, yes,” Abalim nodded, causing his corkscrews to bob around his massive shoulders.
“I’d like to introduce Saphira, who hails from the planet Crichi.
I met her and her crew on FiPan. We’d considered Saphira and her crew smugglers, but we have just learned that they were undercover agents for our galactic government.
Initially, their assignment was to infiltrate FiPan and gather evidence against a notorious gangster named Zorvok who was trying to take over the underground network. ”
“That is, until my mission changed when they ordered me to help you find Lisa,” the strange female alien spoke from the translucent monitor floating in the middle of the table.
Toni cocked her head in Raxx’s direction when she heard him take in a sharp breath. Glancing at him, she frowned at his narrowed eyes and pursed lips. Looks like there’s some kind of history between those two.
“Not that I minded.” Saphira beamed at Lisa sitting next to Abalim. “Lisa was well worth any interruption.”
Lisa giggled. “Flattery will get you everywhere, sista.”
Toni studied the Crichi and her skin of a deep coral that glistened whenever she moved.
Adorning across her attractive face were intricate patterns, delicate swirls and lines that reminded Toni of tattoos or skin grafts that swooped from her temples, across her cheekbones, before ending down her jawline.
But it was her overly large almond-shaped eyes that made her look like an anime character.
To enhance the image, her metallic-gold hair was shaped in a mohawk.
It was short on the sides with long, silky panels draped over one side and resting down her shoulders.
“Good to see you again, Jorlen.” Saphira’s attention turned to Raxx. She sat back and narrowed those enormous eyes while tapping her forefinger with its tapered golden-brown nail against the amber of her full lips. “Can’t wait to work with you once again.”
Raxx swallowed so hard it was easy to see his Adam’s apple bob. He tilted his head and gave her a lopsided grin, saluting her with his two forefingers.
Well, that was interesting. Talk about unresolved tension.
With that settled, Adapa took over the conversation. “We have some other news we are sure you’ll like.” He directed his gaze at Morgan.
“Yes, ah, thank you.” Morgan stood and leaned on the table with her palms flat on the surface as she addressed those in the room. “I’m sure most of you think I came from Atlanta, Georgia, in America on Earth. I’m afraid only part of that is true.”
Her sheepish smile made Toni grin. She’d always thought Morgan seemed like an actor playing a part. Toni leaned forward, eager to hear Morgan’s confession.
“While I am from Earth, I’m not from America. I belong to a secret society of Akurn descendants in a hidden city called Aethralis under the Antarctic.”
There were several gasps and wide-eyed looks, especially from Azazel and his brothers. Except Arakiba, of course.
“Ever since Prince Murduk tried to destroy the scientific base on Earth thousands of years ago, my great-something grandfather gathered most of the Akurn scientists and the humans they’d helped design to safety.
” She glanced at Azazel, then Asmodel, then Abalim, as she continued.
“As you know, those illegal Akurn scientists also created a species known as the Titans. Thankfully, my grandfather and those with him have kept those beings in stasis ever since.” She straightened and crossed her arms. “Now, that’s where you come in.
Although the citizens of Aethralis include powerful psychics like you, that ability has weakened over the generations.
I, myself, only have a small psychic ability known as xenoglossy—the capability to hear and speak a language after hearing it.
” She sighed and rubbed her temple. “Because our powers are not as strong as our ancestors’, the shield holding the Titans is faltering. ”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Asmodel muttered.
“Are you asking us to join you and the people of Aethralis to help reinforce the Titans’ confinement?” Azazel’s voice held a misleading sense of calm.
His act didn’t fool Toni one bit. She felt his inner beast beginning to wake up at the thought of an upcoming battle.
“You are correct,” Queen Inanna answered.
“If those high-powered psychics escape, the mythical accounting of their tyranny will seem like children’s fairytales.
We have to contain them by any means necessary.
” Her clear-turquoise eyes glanced at her husband beside her.
“Unfortunately, Adapa cannot join you. We need him here on Akurn as we continue to transition from the mess my so-called brother caused. Without us here, my people will suffer and die amidst the chaos.”
If these Titans were as bad as they were saying, why let them live? Why not put them out of their misery?
Because we do not have the means to do that.
Azazel answered in her mind. They have unlimited psionic energy, and if we let them out of stasis, even to terminate them, they will take control.
Then they’d unleash their narcissistic need to overpower others they deem inferior.
He paused. Which, in their opinion, is everyone but them.
Well… crud.
“And that, my bros, is that.” Arakiba sat back and rested his ankle over his opposite knee. “Looks like we’ve got to save the day all over again! All in favor of preventing genocide of everything and everyone on Earth, say, ‘aye’!”
Azazel, along with his other two brothers, nodded with nervous laughs.
“Hey, you’re not going anywhere without me.” Toni grabbed the sleeve of Azazel’s tunic. “I may not be a psychic, but nothing’s going to stop me from going with you.”
Azazel leaned close to her, his mahogany eyes holding her gaze. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. So, hold on tight, my hebat.” His fingers found hers, easing them free from his sleeve, then threading them together in a firm, intimate hold. “Life is about to get very interesting.”
“Good.” Toni grinned, breathless. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A low, deep laugh rumbled from his chest, warm and rich, carrying a thousand unspoken promises. Before she took another breath, he pulled her into his arms, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss—a tender and fierce vow spun from everything they had fought for and found together.
In that moment, the rest of the universe slipped quietly into silence, as if the stars held their breath. There were only the two of them—heart to heart, soul to soul—bound by something deeper than time, more enduring than fate.
It was then Toni realized her journey had never been about finding someone to fall in love with.
It was about finding the place where her soul fit, where her heart could stand with someone in an unshakable truth.
And as warmth surged through her, a new understanding washed over her.
The best things in life don’t need a happy ending.
Because life doesn’t fade to black—it’s the next scene waiting to unfold.