Chapter 2
Chapter Two
ZIKKAR
The following suns-set, I led the way through Huren's winding paths, the silence between us as thick as the vines that clung to the palace’s outbuildings.
Rowan strolled beside me, her presence a quiet tide of strength and fragility.
The faint echo of her ever-present sadness pressed against my sternum, a subtle undercurrent I'd felt ever since the first time I laid eyes upon her pale, human complexion.
Ever since the first beat of my ancillary heart.
The warm air within the dome hung heavy with the scent of zyphora blossoms, their luminescence flickering to life and mimicking the distant stars sprinkled across the darkening sky as the twin suns began their descent below the horizon.
Light danced across Rowan's perfect features as we ambled past rows of glowing flora, casting shadows that seemed to accentuate the weight she carried within.
I had promised her a suns-set stroll through the city as soon as I found a break in my work helping Zaku and Hexxus amplify the strength of the dome’s shielding. Our destination, the Nassibian Cliffs behind the palace for a shared meal overlooking the churning waves of the Caspeen Sea.
Though I cared little for the view or for the random squidlin tentacles emerging from the dark depths to wave menacingly through the air— a fearsome reminder not to be within grabbing distance of the shore— Rowan found solace in its wild beauty.
She liked the crashing waves. I had often found her sitting alone, staring out at the sea on the island where we had made a temporary home in the stacked caves overlooking the dark blue waters.
And every time she had looked out into those waves, it seemed as though a sense of calm washed over her troubled spirit.
“Rowan,” I began, my voice breaking the thickening silence between us, “you’ve never seen the first Huren settlement, but all that lay between us and the jungle’s beasts was a twenty fates tall wooden wall.”
I paused, hoping for a response from her as I guided us along a curving path around the base of the palace.
“But now, with this dome, we are protected from all that lies beyond it.
It's more than just a technological wonder, it's our silent guardian.
And without it, we would be at the mercy of the jungle's creatures.”
Her steps slowed, and I matched my pace to hers.
I wanted to keep her from slipping deeper into her melancholy.
I could sense her falling further into the abyss of her solitude, and staying quiet only added to her self-isolation.
In these moments of quiet companionship, the connection I felt with her was stronger.
We both knew the pain of loss and the ache of emptiness it left behind.
“We're making progress in strengthening the dome,” I said, hoping to lift her spirits even just a little.
I was not proficient at socializing like some of the other males, too busy for idle chitchat, so I chatted about what I knew.
“The immex capacitors taken from the Yulineon craft will help stabilize the increased energy output.”
“It’s amazing you know how to do all that.” I sensed her mood lighten, if only slightly. “Sounds like science fiction rather than anything real.”
I pointed at the circular devices set at regular intervals along the ground. “These cellpods are connected to each other by streams of power that converge and intertwine to solidify light into an impenetrable shield.”
Rowan's gaze followed my motions, her pale, oddly hued eyes reflecting the wavy distortion that protected the city and all its inhabitants.
“It's beautiful,” she murmured, her voice a soft echo in the vastness of the city's heart. “And terrifying, knowing there’s monsters lurking just beyond it. On the island, we were safe except for those huge dragons.”
“Wetlocks.”
“Wetlocks,” she repeated with a frown. “And the Gretolic ships like the one that shot a hole in the Jurigon mountain,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself as if to ward off a chill no sun could dispel.
“I don't remember much about my abduction. Just fragments, really. A sense of being torn from one reality and thrust into another without warning. And Breena...” Her voice faltered, and in the quiver of her lips, I saw the naked fear of her spirit laid bare.
“I don't know if she's still on Earth or...if they took her too. Or even if she’s alive.”
In her words, I felt the tremors of a heart trying to beat through the suffocating soil of uncertainty.
Our steps synced in silence for a while as the weight of her unknowns settled upon us both.
The shadow of her twin sister's fate was a specter haunting her every moment, every breath a question unanswered.
“To carry such burdens and yet walk forward, it is the mark of true resilience.” I finally spoke, the words tinged with the awe I genuinely felt. “You're not alone, Rowan. I am always with you.”
The city of Huren sprawled out behind us as we found a suitable spot for our outdoor meal Rowan called a pick-nick and settled down on the blanket I spread on the ground.
Under the watchful grace of the dome, amid the echoes of the bustling city behind us and the crashing waves of the sea before us, I hoped we might find solace together from what was lost and the whispers of what could be found.
Her bright, pale eyes sought mine, brimming with a blend of gratitude and sorrow, a flood held back by the thinnest of dams. As we sat across from one another, I held out my palm, an offer of connection.
She laid her hand in mine, yet the space between us remained, a respectful distance born of her guarded heart.
“Hexxus,” I said, his name a familiar weight on my tongue, “my mentor, he was...is a brilliant male. However, his mind is not as lucid as it once was.” A sigh escaped me, carrying with it the pain of watching a brilliant mind fade.
“It is difficult to watch him struggle through moments of bewilderment. It’s as if he drifts off into a world no one else can see.
He was not like this before the Gretolics came, and I often wonder what they did to him that made his thus. ”
Rowan gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “I'm sorry, Z. I didn’t know he was your mentor.”
I liked that she called me Z. I hoped the intimacy of her shortening my name held a deeper meaning for her as it did me.
“My sire passed into the Realm of the Spirits when I was a youngling. Hexxus adopted me as his protégé, grooming me as if I were his own offspring.”
“That must be incredibly difficult to watch.”
“It is,” I confessed, allowing my vulnerability to show.
“To see someone you revere, someone who shaped your life, succumb to such a cruel fate...” I trailed off, lost for a moment in the labyrinth of my own memories, then spoke with renewed passion, “He is getting closer to a design for a planetary shield.”
“Maybe he’s on the mend. Whatever happened to him might be wearing off.”
“I hope you’re right.” I grinned at her optimism. “Shall we eat before our meal grows cold?”
Together, we unpacked the food from the basket the cooks so graciously packed at my request. There were two covered bowls and an array of colorful fruits.
“This looks amazing!” she exclaimed, peeling the lid off her bowl. “What is it?”
“Chiksin casserole,” I replied, handing her an eating utensil. The rich, creamy sauce coated chunks of tender chiksin meat and seasonal vegetables. “It's a stable of Clan Huren, seasoned with an herb called tikla that only grows in the jungle. I think you'll enjoy it.”
“It smells wonderful, as does everything I’ve tried so far.” Rowan scooped up a healthy bite. “Gia is nice enough to bring me food from the kitchen…er, cookery. I guess I should get over my aversion to the palace and see where all this delicious food is made for myself.”
“There’s no need to rush. You have your reasons for not going inside.”
“You sound just like Gia.” Rowan’s giggle was a melody I didn’t want to miss. My ears cupped and perked to pick up every note. “She said the palace would be there when I was ready.”
“And it shall be.” As long as we can strengthen the dome before the Yulineon attack Zaku swears is imminent, I kept the last to myself, not wanting to worry her over something that may never come to pass.
“I wish my ears could do that.” Rowan reached over and traced a curious fingertip along the shell of my ear.
I shivered in response, my scales flashing with bright blues and silvers as I briefly closed my eyes to savor her touch.
“Sorry,” she said, pulling her hand away. “I should have asked before I got all touchy-feely with you.”
“Don’t be sorry. You can touch me wherever you like.”
Her pale flesh flushed a deeper hue, and I was grateful for the wealth of fabric my kiltus offered to cover my throbbing erection. I could control my desires with Rose, but when it came to Rowan, her touch stirred something primal within me I did not fully understand.
I cleared my throat, realizing my words could be misconstrued. “What I mean is, you needn't apologize for being curious. I don't mind.”
“I suppose I’m a curiosity to you too.” Rowan took another bite of her casserole.
I took another bite of my own food and swallowed. “Very. Tell me again the hue of your eyes?”
“Green.”
“Gree-heen,” I tried out the human word. “A soft and lovely shade.”
“Thank you.” Rowan coyly ducked her head, concealing the lovely shade of her gaze.
We finished our meal in companionable silence.
My mind sifted through all the things I longed to say, all the questions I yearned to ask but was too hesitant to flood her with my insatiable curiosity.
The tiny echo of her spirit already living within me was adrift.
I longed to draw her closer, be the anchor she sought, not push her further away.
“Before I was taken from Earth,” Rowan began, her voice a tentative thread in the quiet, “I was a botany major. I was supposed to graduate this year, I mean the year I was taken. Anyway, plants were...are my passion.” A wistful smile played on her lips.
“I wanted to understand life, you know? To nurture and watch it grow.”
I nodded, listening intently as she painted her history with strokes of loss and love for a world far removed from this one. “And now?” I probed gently.
“Now, I'm just trying to find solid ground again. To figure out where I fit in here.” Her gaze drifted to the palace, and without thinking, I reached out and took her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. Her smile deepened at the small gesture, and my hearts swelled.
“There’s a patch of ground near our huts where you could plant a garden,” I suggested, my thumb gently stroking hers, thrilled she had shared something of herself with me.
“I could escort you into the jungle during the light hurs and collect seedlings. Perhaps on the next suns-rise, I can find a couple of warriors to guard our backs while we collect seedlings and nascent flora if you’d like to plant in a garden to study. ”
“Are you sure it’s safe for us to wander outside the dome?”
“The jungle’s creatures are nocturnal, and we will have armed warriors with us. I’m sure we will be safe.”
“That would be amazing!” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
My spirit knotted and pressed against my sternum, knowing I was the one to bring my female such joy.
“I know you’re hugely busy beefing up the dome and making weapons to protect the city.
Are you sure you have time to spend with me puttering around the jungle? ”
“I always have time for you, Rowan.” My heart, I wanted so desperately to utter.
Her eyes softened, and she placed her hand over mine where I held hers. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice full of gratitude and affection.
Rowan's touch lingered and something shifted between us, the invisible bond tightening ever so slightly. I yearned to strengthen that connection, to foster a sanctuary for her within my world she’d been cast into, wanted nothing more than to protect and cherish this female who had become so important to me in such a short amount of time.
But I knew it would take patience and a gentle hand. She was finding her footing. The spark of desire between us was undeniable, but I pushed it aside for now so I could focus on comforting her.
“I can feel the weight of your sorrow, the ache for the home and family you were stolen away from.” I placed her hand over my ancillary heart where the tiny echo of her spirit resided.
“But we cannot allow the shadows and regrets of our past to consume us.” My thoughts briefly flickered to Hexxus, my mentor whose brilliant mind was slowly succumbing to darkness.
“We must learn to accept what is and forge ahead toward the future.”
A lone tear escaped her eye, a glistening trail down her soft cheek. I reached out and gently caught it on my thumb. She leaned into me, seeking comfort. An ember of heat ignited, a spark of desire kindled.
But then she asked the question that broke my hearts.
“There’s no hope of me ever going back to Earth, is there?”
My instincts screamed to reassure her, but I knew the harsh truth.
The long-range crafts we had were being dismantled, sacrificed for the security of the many.
Even if we had a craft that could reach Earth, Zaku had made it clear the odds were against making it there undetected by the Yulineon patrollers who would kill any humans found off-world.
I cupped her cheek and laid my forehead to hers, silently conveying my regret and sorrow.
She let out a choked sob, and I didn’t hesitate to gather her to me.
I thrummed for the first time, a vibrating melody meant to soothe my spirit mate as her body trembled against mine.
She openly wept, releasing all the anguish built up within her since being ripped away from all she'd known.
My hearts ached for her as my arms held her tighter, offering her what solace I could.