Chapter 37 Callie #3
Hella stood as we entered. She was in her human form now and the resemblance to Jack was uncanny.
She really just said copy/paste but make it miniature.
She had to have at least a foot and a half of height on her daughter and probably that in width too.
Brown eyes regarded us with a mother’s warmth and the switch up had me doing a double take.
“How do you do that?” I asked suddenly, breaking up the greetings everyone was giving her.
Hella’s smile widened. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I pointed at her as I fell into one of the chairs, grateful to be seated. Exhaustion was creeping in around the edges. “Yeah right, lady. You know what I’m talking about. The thing with the aura or whatever. What is that?”
Hella waited until the rest of the group had taken their seats before she took her own at the head of the long office table.
“Oh, alright. You caught me. I just tuck away my beast when it suits me. I don’t need to be scary all the time, especially not with family.
” She smiled at me, her perfectly straight white teeth somehow a threat and a warm hug all in one.
Wow. That was serious talent. Could I learn how to do that?
“It’s nice to finally have you all in one place, face to face. Patty? Quit fidgeting already and come here.”
Patty squeaked a quick little girly sound before shooting up from Rema’s lap and speed walking over to Hella.
I just about evaporated in shock when she crawled into Hella’s lap like a toddler, still holding a sleeping Hannah, and Hella embraced her like she was one, kissing her cheek three times in quick succession.
“I’ve missed you, daughter. Truly my life is duller without you barging into my house at random hours to bug me for food. How has this Rema been treating you?”
Rema sank into his seat at the sound of his name, looking all the world like he was trying to disappear into the leather and I didn’t blame him one bit.
“Oh he’s amazing. Love him to death. We’re officially married now, you know? So you be nice. He’s shy.”
Hella petted the sleeping Hannah, taking her gently from Patty’s arm and cradling her in one huge arm with a soft smile before patting Patty’s hip with her free hand.
“I will treat him as if he was the son I birthed, you have my word. Now, get to your seat. I’ll make this as quick as possible so you all can go to your rooms and rest.”
She waited until Patty situated herself back in Rema’s lap before turning to the rest of us.
Aga caught her eye, the big croc fidgeting in his seat like a naughty school boy caught passing notes under her gaze.
“Aga Ush. I have heard many great things about you from Ohem and Jack. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Aga’s scales flushed a darker green and he shifted taller in his seat. “The honor is mine, Matriarch.”
Hella waved the title away. “Hella, will be fine. If you must give me a title, mom will do as well.”
Aga looked like he’d rather swallow glass than call this powerhouse of a female ‘Mom’ but he nodded his head anyways. “Yes, Hella. Thank you.”
Finally, she turned her attention to the room as a whole.
“Now, to business. I will have a larger meeting with the other clan leaders and with your Som’ae, but for now it will just be our family.
The Unity is shaken. Rathal’s live streams were broadcasted through their firewalls to officials and civilians alike and the general populace has shifted into a shivering mass of terror that their long dead boogeyman has come to call. ”
She flicked her warm gaze to Rathal, inclining her head. “Excellent work, as usual, Rathal.”
I felt my husband's body swell with pride underneath me and grinned at Hella.
She winked at me before continuing. “Once we get to Korsal, Anu and I will plan the full assault. We are not going to allow a long drawn out war. This will be a one and final assault on their heart. Once Stellios falls, the Unity will be close behind. We cut the head off the snake and then we burn the stump as one would do to a hydra. This will be quick and bloody. We will need to hunt and kill all of the Unity heads of state. All of their House leaders will have to die.” She glanced at Ohem.
“I am sorry, my son. Truly. No child should have to witness their parents' corruption. "
“I appreciate your concern, Hella, but my father has brought this upon himself. He has already caused the death of one son, and he ordered the murder of the other. He is no kin of mine.”
Hella’s mouth pinched. “I know, child. It is still a sad thing.”
Ohem reached for Jack’s hand, pulling it to his chest, his four yellow eyes narrowing in his version of a smile. “It is. But I have a new family now and I stand with them against my old one. Even my birth mother is not innocent in this murderous plot. Do what you will.”
A sigh whooshed out of Hella who then frowned hard before nodding again.
“Alright. I plan on this being a short campaign so I can unload our people onto Ara’Ama and start the rebuilding process.
” She stroked down Hannah’s little body, looking down at her sleeping niece like she held the whole world in her hands.
“It’s high time these little ones have a place where they can roam freely. ”
With the amount of Rijitera at her disposal, I imagine the Unity would fall before a single day had passed.
Rathal had told me stories of planets falling under their claws in hours, and those stories had just a single platoon of Rijiteran soldiers invading.
Hella had come with hundreds of thousands all frothing at the mouth for war.
I think her biggest hurdle was going to be dealing with the disappointment that it was over too soon.
“Do any of you have any questions? Now would be the time to ask them before we land on Korsal tomorrow. Things will move quickly then.”
Jack got an evil sparkle in her eye before smiling at her mother. “Did you bring her with you?”
Hella regarded her only child like a bug under a microscope… but her ears had turned red. “That has nothing to do with what we are talking about now.”
Jack wagged her eyebrows. “Sure it does. Settling the families on Ara’Ama was part of the discussion. She’s caught your eye. Ergo, part of the family. Did. You. Bring. Her. With. You?”
Hella flushed just the slightest bit and Rathal let out a puff of surprised air. “Dear me, does the unflappable Hella have a paramour?”
Hella shot him a quelling glare, but Rathal only laughed. “She does! By the Mother, is it serious?” he asked Jack, his ears perking. “I know your sire was merely a fling for procreation, and she’s had a few casual lovers here and there. Is this one of those situations or is it different?”
Jack’s face curled like the Grinch who stole Christmas.
“It’s serious. Like, mating serious. So serious in fact that the woman’s abusive husband disappeared and was found in pieces in some ditch two states over.
And who should be the one to take in a traumatized new widow and her darling children? Why, the clan leader, of course.”
Hella’s growl was a rumbling bass that everyone ignored.
Rathal leaned forward. “Oh? Was the husband Rijitera?” he asked, getting into gossip mode.
Hella threw up her hands. “This is wildly off topic.”
The rest of us shushed her before returning our attention to Jack. This was good stuff.
“No, he was human. But her step-mother is Rijiteran, so she’s part of the clan.
It wouldn’t have been so obvious if mom had just killed him and then left it at that, but she moved her onto the main compound, and she’s attentive, y’all.
Gentle. Fiercely protective.” Jack shot her mom a cat that got the cream look.
“Possessive. All the classic hallmark signs of an impending mate bond.”
Rathal crowed, slapping the table with his palm. I shot Hannah a concerned look, but the little terror didn’t even twitch an ear at the sound. Guess Rijiteran kids were used to loud noises.
“Hella! This is wonderful news. Six thousand years, and you’ve found your mate at last. Congratulations. When do you plan on completing the bond? How much longer do you have until the frenzy?”
Hella shifted uncomfortably in her seat and chewed her lip.
“I am old, Rathal. I have more control than most. There is time. She’s traumatized.
Her husband was a cruel man. She’s got three children to think of.
Two of them are under ten. She needs time.
Plus, I'm female. I don’t think she’s ever acted on her desires for a woman, though I know from her father that she identified as bisexual before her husband baby trapped her in high school. I will need to go slow.”
The room erupted with reassurances and overlapping questions. I settled in for a long family gab session, my chest tight with both warmth and an ache at missing my own parents.
My mom was better at relationship advice than I was and I think she’d have loved to help with Hella’s situation.
Though maybe watching this fierce predator look both flustered and a little hopeless might have tongue tied even my mom.
My dad would have awkwardly patted Hella’s shoulder.
I smiled at the image of my dad trying to comfort a woman twice his size.
My dad was a lean man, just under five eight and probably weighed about a hundred and eighty pounds soaking wet.
My mother was pure latin fire crammed in a short curvy package.
She topped out at five three and yet, she somehow felt like she was ten feet tall to me.
She'd have been more than capable of comforting someone as intimidating as Hella.
“Enough! My love life is none of your concern. Especially right now, you meddling children. I appreciate you trying to help, but Amelia will come to me in her own time. Now, if you don’t have any questions pertaining to the war effort then shoo.
Begone with you. I have to get this little girl back to her bed. Good night.”
She stood despite the many protests thrown her way and marched out of the room in a blushing huff.
Jack snickered, standing as well. “Oh, this is going to make my whole year. We have to crush the Unity ASAP so I can enjoy watching my poor mom flounder like a lovesick puppy. We have to meddle, guys. It’s basically our job.”
Patty slapped her hands together and rubbed them.
“Exactly. Operation Get Hella and Amelia Happily Married i a top priority. Aga, as soon as we get to Korsal separate Sam from her duties. Make some excuse that we have a super secret war council or something. Sam’s the best with people's emotions. If Amelia’s marriage was as bad as Hella says, she’s going to need counseling and having someone fully human and sweet would help her navigate the whole alien planet thing and ya know, having a literal monster pursuing her. "
“I know a Healer that is an expert in mental health. We can set up a casual meeting,” Rema suggested, and the group exploded into another overlapping planning session.
I tugged on Rathal’s arm until he looked down at me. “I’m tired. Let’s let them plot. You and I have other things to do.”
His eyes heated right before he shot to his feet, taking me with him.
“Callie is tired. Good night,” he said to the room.
No one was paying attention so he backed out of the conference room and retreated down the hall at a fast walk until we got to the hall with the rooms. He picked the first door and swept inside.
It was a nice room, more like a hotel than the lavish apartments I was becoming used to, but it had everything we needed. Rathal paused for a second to look around before spotting the bathroom door and darting inside. He set me on my feet.
“Get rid of the armor my dear so I can undress you.”
I grimaced at the grime on the metal, but did as he asked. He made quick work of my clothing. The shower was human normal with a rainfall shower head on the ceiling and I didn’t miss Rathal’s disgusted frown at the mundaneness of it all.
“Not up to your standards, love?” I asked, chuckling as he adjusted the water temperature before stripping himself of his clothes. He turned, gathering me close and pulled me under the water.
“It's disgraceful. This ship is capable of the height of luxury and it looks like this? Horrible. I’ll make some adjustments later. Nanotech like this is incredibly malleable. I can’t wait to show you the kind of technology the Rijiteran were known for.”
I leaned into him. “Sure, babe. Whatever you say.” I pressed my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes, letting the water wash away all the sweat and stress from the day.
Rathal’s hands swept over me in a soothing gesture. “You truly are tired, aren’t you my dear? Let’s get you washed and in bed before you collapse.”
He leaned over me, grabbing something and then a warm soapy cloth was sweeping over my skin, scrubbing away all the grit.
Once that was done, firm yet gentle fingers scrubbed at my hair, careful not to pull at the dense curls.
I half dosed until he finished with both myself and his own body.
He shuffled me out of the shower, dried me and set about finishing my nighttime routine of lotion, hair oil, leave in conditioner and then my wrap that he seemed to manifest out of thin air.
I stopped him short when he tried to brush my damn teeth for me.
He hurrumped but allowed me that small task before sweeping me into his arms again and carrying me out of the bathroom to the bed where he tucked me under the covers and crawled in beside me to press his naked body to mine.
I snuggled in closer, throwing my leg over his hip. “Do you think it will be over as quick as Hella thinks it will be?”
Rathal thought for a long moment before answering me. What he said had goosebumps rising along my body.
“There is an Earth saying that I have long thought wise. No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy.”
Wasn’t that comforting?
I guess we're going to get the chance to find out.
One way or another.