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Chapter 1

Chapter One

ZURA

My feet no longer touch the ground that the shuttle takes off behind me, heading back to the Explorer . Stopping for a moment, I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath, there is nothing like the smell of home.

I asked the shuttle to set me down behind the fortress so that no one would know of my arrival. It's been two Orbital rotations since I have been home and I didn't realize how much I missed it until now.

Darting into the shade of the building, I sprint up the servant's stairs before anyone sees me. At the top, I take the key out for my room and quickly slide inside, grateful to have a moment to myself before Mother realizes I am back.

My thoughts instantly head towards … OrO . I wonder where he is, and what he has been doing since I have been gone. Several times I started to comm him in the last rotations, but my own awkwardness kept me from doing so. There were moments I could have sworn I could hear the sound of his deep laughter in my dreams. As he tends to slip into my thoughts randomly. If I concentrated hard enough, I could make myself believe I was feeling his emotions in my mind, but only true mates have those abilities.

No matter how many times I dreamed it would be so, OrO has never approached me wanting more, and my pride won't allow me to seek him out. If all I can have from him is friendship, I will cherish what I have and not push for more. Other males have shown interest in me, but none compared to him in my mind. It would be unfair to start a relationship with another only for my heart to be already taken.

I walk towards the opening in the outer wall of my room and slide the solid casing over. My eyes sought out his large form, only to be disappointed when I don't see him standing at his post. Many rotations have I stood here watching him. Shaking off the thoughts, I head towards the refreshing chamber. Once clean, I dress in the formal attire my mother prefers and head towards the sanctuary.

Several of the other Priestesses in training pass me in the long hallway and I nod my head respectfully as we pass. The fortress is deathly quiet as usual and instantly I miss the noise and the family atmosphere on Darverius . The human females are open with their affection even though in the beginning their hugs and chatter bothered me greatly. Now , I realize it's something I am going to miss.

The sanctuary door is closed and I stand here for a moment, contemplating going in or turning around and escaping a little longer. Before I can change my mind, I push the door open and enter, my eyes instantly searching for a familiar figure of Mother .

" Greetings , youngling. I see that you have finally returned to your rightful place."

Her voice echoes through the massive chamber. Her long, flowing robes skim the floor as she walks out from behind the altar. Mother is beautiful as always; time does not seem to touch her as it does the others of our kind. Her pale green skin is only extenuated by the multiple white braids that flow from her head all the way to her waist. Her black eyes sparkle with an otherworldly light as she looks me up and down.

" I have returned for a short season, Mother . I see that you are well."

" The Lord of Light has kept his hand on me, and I am in favorable health. Did you enjoy the trials you have experienced? I was shown a recent battle in the Sacred Waters , but the outcome was not revealed to me."

" The experiences I have been through have exposed me to another side of others I would never have been able to experience here. I've witnessed cruelty, rage, and annihilation. However , I have also seen care, family, and love so strong you find yourself lucky to be in its presence."

" Have you come home to take your true place among our people?"

" Mother , we have had this discussion over and over. You know your path and mine are not the same. Although I love our home, living out my rotations confined behind these walls is not what I desire. I need others unlike you. You get your happiness from prayer. I , on the other hand, enjoy interacting and participating in our people's every rising. No matter how trivial, I need to be a part of something larger. These walls are a haven for you, but a prison for me."

She turns from me, but not before I see the frown on her face.

" I was hoping this little excursion of yours would show XuL your worth. The inferior female he has tied himself to … well, you know my thoughts on that issue, I won't repeat them. However , she must be stronger than I give her credit for if she has managed to capture him in her clutches for this long."

" Mother … Brittany is XuL's Kismet and a fine female. She has raised a strong and kind daughter in Keida . At no time has she treated me badly, even after I threw myself upon XuL when they came here to use our Sacred Waters to heal her. When I was placed next to their dwelling, Brittany could have made things tense and stressful for me, instead, she welcomed me with open arms. Their kind seems to forgive easily, whereas we hold on to our anger always. She is forever walking around with a smile on her face. She is easy to love, and you should be happy for XuL , as love is not what he has always been shown."

" Zura , I saw you standing in the presence of DaR and the hand of one of his sons in your own. My visions are never wrong."

" So , you have told me many times, that vision is the reason why I made a complete fool out of myself the first time I met XuL and his mate. I am ashamed of how I acted when he was in such distress. He was so distraught with the thoughts of losing her that he didn't even realize what I was doing. Brittany was the one who said, and let me remind you of her exact words: Hello , I am right here, XuL . Can you not see this poor girl throwing herself at you? He looked at me like I had grown a second head. I have never been more humiliated than right then and everyone witnessed it. DaR has many sons, it's possible you saw another. I don't need to remind you that OrO is also his."

" I am well aware of who and what DaR's other son is and who he was born to in our world. It is only because of his father that he now holds the position he has here, as his mother was a disgrace to the priestesshood."

" It is not his fault, nor is he guilty of his mother's sins. Being a palace guard is not a position easily acquired. OrO is strong and faithful to all you hold dear. I could do much worse in a male."

" You could have done much better. A general in DaR's militia, or a measly palace guard who doesn't even have tusks. I can't imagine what you could even see in that male."

" Mother , you would not feel that way if that palace guard is ever truly needed. You forget he is all that stands between you and others, and let me tell you. There are things out there you have never seen nor witnessed that think they are just as righteous as you in their beliefs. And your mind must be failing you because XuL doesn't have tusks, either."

She snarls before asking me angrily, " How long will you remain this time, Zura ?"

" I have not decided, Mother . DaR and his family are going on what the humans call a vacation, and I thought I could use that time to reflect upon my future."

" How did the training progress go? Is the child weaker because of her human mother?"

" If anything, she is stronger because of it. Keida's dedication and determination outweigh the strengths she lacks due to her small size. By the time the warrior trials are being held, not many will be able to stand with her. She will be underestimated because of her differences, but she is deadly with those swords of hers. Zvranna is no longer able to overtake her, even being of the same size. Each rising she becomes a true adversary even for me."

" Zura , you seem to have acquired feelings for this youngling, born of your competition."

" Mother , there is no competition between me and Brittany . She is Keida's mother and XuL's chosen mate. In order to compete with someone, you need to be of equal or better value. I offer nothing he doesn't already have and, yes, I adore the child. She is wiser than her years and holds a burden I would wish on no other and still stands strong. Keida is a wonderful addition to our kind. If you would look past your definitions of pure and holy, you would see the world in a whole different light."

The bells begin to ring and for once I am grateful for their interference, as I know mother will be busy the rest of the rotation. " I will speak to you at a later date mother, may the Lord of Light guide you always." I step forward to hug her like I would have done with the human females only to catch myself before she notices my blunder. Mother sees affection as a weakness and would never tolerate a hug.

Walking out the doors, my mind scrolls through my life, any kindness I have ever been shown by my mother has been few and far between. Especially compared to how open the human females are with their small arms that show you such large affection. The material of my long skirt irritates my skin as I make my way back up to my room, my mind heavy with the choices I will need to make soon. I was born to follow her steps, but my heart has never been into it, much to my mother's disappointment.

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