Chapter 3

Chapter Three

ZURA

Returning to my room later on exhausted, I thought for sure I would pass out. Even though my body is tired, my mind will not quiet. It seems like my entire life has passed through my thoughts as I lay there looking up at the ceiling. Finally , mentally and physically drained, at some point I doze off.

When I awaken, it takes me a second to realize where I am. There were risings on Darverius that I missed home. Now that I am back, I wonder what I really missed. Was it the familiarity, friends, or OrO ?

I get up and walk over to the opening and look out. Radyr is standing where OrO was last darkness. He greets a passing Orc with a smile and a nod of his head. Whereas if that had been OrO he would have simply ignored them.

Snarling at the thought and how our conversation went last rising, I get dressed in a hurry and head out the back entrance, jumping up on the roof of the building next door. Leaping from one building to another until I come to the soldiers' barracks.

Sliding off the side, I hang off the roof by my fingertips. Once I let go, I land in a crouch right in front of OrO's door. Prior , I would have simply walked on in, but after last darkness, I find myself hesitating at the door. Raising my hand, I knock softly.

OrO opens it seconds later with a towel draped around his hips, water dripping off the ends of his lengthy white hair. I can tell I was not who he was expecting. " What Zura ? I am tired; it was a long darkness."

" Lord of Light , look at you … what have you been eating, or should I say have you been eating? There isn't an ounce of anything extra on you, OrO . You have grown even taller if that is even possible and your muscles now have muscles." Poking a finger in his chest. " And it's going to be an even longer rising if you don't tell me what's up your ass. What were you thinking going to my mother like that? She could have stripped you of your rank and everything you have worked so hard for."

" I didn't expect her to reject my request so vehemently."

" Can I come in, or are we going to have this conversation where anyone can hear us?"

" I am not decent."

" Oh , frack, I have seen a dozen naked males, you are no different."

The snarl on his lips is unlike anything I have ever seen. He grabs my arm, practically yanking it out of socket as he tosses me into his room. The door slams hard behind him. The room is dark, but for a second I swear I see a faint gold rune on his right arm.

" What is that?" Without answering me, he tugs a long-sleeved shirt over his massive chest. It's so long that when he yanks the towel off his waist to put his pants on, I still can't see anything " OK , OrO , enough is enough. What is going on with you … us? Why are you acting like this?"

I see him take a deep breath as he runs his long fingers through his hair, his usual neat braids are frizzed out like he hasn't redone them in quite some time.

" Zura , things have been stressful since you departed. Quite abruptly, if I remember correctly."

" OrO , you know how Mother is. When DaR approached her about me training Keida , she practically pushed me out the door. She even had one of the other priestesses pack my stuff. I was on the shuttle leaving before I realized she didn't give me a chance to say bye to anyone. I didn't think much of it at the time, I figured I would simply comm you later. Quit trying to distract me, that puts us back to why I am here in the first place. You know better than to go to her, OrO . She hates you."

" I didn't … don't care. The moment the whispers started about you battling an unidentified species halfway across the galaxy, I couldn't stand there any longer and act like it was ok. I am not doubting your fighting skills, Zura , but you had no one to watch your back. Not to mention you were fighting an unknown opponent. I thought for once she would put her hatred aside and listen to reason since this was concerning your safety. I should have known better and simply left on my own."

" OrO , do you have a death wish? If you had left, you never could have stepped foot back here again."

He takes his arm across the table in front of him, slinging everything off. I am so shocked I can't say anything as I watch it all crash into the floor. " At least I would have known you were safe!" He roars out.

I stand here a moment, floored by his actions. He has never spoken to me like this. " OrO , I am more than capable of taking care of myself. Don't get me wrong, having you there with me would have been nice, but none of that was worth you approaching her. She blames your mother for the loss of her mate, my father, and now that she is gone from this world, that hate and blame has been passed onto you. No one besides DaR is more powerful than she is here, and you won't inform him of how she treats you, no matter how bad it gets."

" Zura , this is my burden to bear, not his. Father didn't pick my mother. She simply won a lottery that all applied for. She was no different from XuL's mother. Father has an entire sector to protect and take care of. I can deal with one unruly priestess on my own. I don't need him to fight my battles."

" It was my mistake of not informing him about how Mother treats you while I was planetside. OrO , if you could witness how they all care for one another compared to our race, you would be shocked. The open affections and emotions are startling. The first time Kira hugged me I held my arms out, scared I would hurt her small frame somehow. When that female hugs you … you can feel it clear through your soul." OrO doesn't say anything, but the way he is looking at me is odd. " I spoke to Radyr last darkness, I was shocked to find out he took a mate." Still no response.

" Zura , were you injured?"

" When ?"

" During the battle."

" No , OrO . I mean I got a couple of scratches, but nothing that didn't quickly heal. Your father is a Commander . We were well prepared before heading in. I will say it was a delight to get to fight by his side. DaR partnered me with Raya , Commander ZoD's daughter, and even though we were both from different races. It was a great honor for me to fight alongside her. I am going to sponsor her in the warrior trials coming up soon. I would … but can't introduce you two because I'm afraid she might steal my best friend from me, and that's not acceptable. We are still friends, right?"

" Friends ," He snarls as he turns from me. I am at a loss as to what has caused this chasm between us. Then it dawns on me.

" OrO , what were you told?"

Two steps, he is in front of me. I see him raise his hand like he is going to touch me only to shake his head and step back. " I was told nothing! No matter how many times I asked. FRIENDS don't disappear without a word for rotations." He is so angry I can see the veins pulsing in his neck.

Defensively , I yell back at him. " What are you talking about? Why didn't you simply comm me if you were so concerned? I have been gone two full Orbital rotations without a word from you. These things work both ways, OrO ."

He holds up his arm and presses the button, but nothing happens. " Your mother shut off all the guards' communication bracelets the very rising you left. My location beacon is still active, but I had no way of getting hold of you or anyone else. If you had tried to comm me, you would have known this."

I put my head down not wanting to face him with that statement. " You're right, OrO . I have no excuses as to why I didn't. When I first left, it was a tremendous adventure, especially being away from my mother's controlling hand. It was the first time in my life I felt free, but that is no excuse. There were plenty of times I started to comm you only to be distracted by something else. I will say Darverius is not boring, that's for sure. Wait until I tell you about the human male Danny … Hold on just a moment, you haven't talked to DaR at all?"

" When she disconnected our comm units, a memo was sent out that all outside conversations must be approved by Zlana . I requested a personal meeting with my father several times, but your mother refused me. She said he had been in touch with her and she had guaranteed all was well with me, and that I was out in the field, unreachable."

" Frack OrO , I can't believe he has gone that long without having any actual communication with you."

" Your mother can be very convincing."

" How did you find out I was going to Xuias ?"

" I had taken on a few shifts at the docks and heard one of the crew members talking about it. I left the dock and went straight to your mother."

" OrO , I am so sorry. There is no excuse for my actions, no wonder you are so defensive. You probably thought I had abandoned you. Here , let's comm your father and let him know what's going on." I hit my comm button, and nothing happened. Confused , I hit it again. " Why has she done this?"

" Zura , you don't want my answer and if I spoke of the things in my mind, they would get me for treason."

" You think she is doing this deliberately?"

" I think the power has gone to her head."

" I will confront her about this. You can count on that. Does she not realize what a safety hazard this is? And why are you working two different positions?"

" I would rather not say."

" OrO , are you sick? I mean you don't look sick." I barely catch myself from saying, you look amazing .

" No , not in the sense you think, anyway."

" Is there someone else you are taking care of, … have you met someone while I was gone, like Radyr did?" The very thought of him with another guts me.

He closes his eyes and actually shakes his head. When he opens his eyes, the pain I see tugs at my heart and I swear I hear his voice whisper in my mind, I am tired of fighting this . " OrO , we have been friends since we were younglings. You know you can tell me anything."

" Not everything, Zura ."

" Fine , keep your damn secrets, but you know me. I will find out what you are hiding from me."

He shakes his head and once again I hear, I wish you would before I am forced to leave for good . In my mind. As soon as I start to wonder if I'm imagining things, he chimes in. " Damn ? What does this mean?"

" It's a human word, I have all kinds of new curse words I can use on you now." He yawns really big and I instantly feel bad for keeping him up. " I'll get out of here and let you get some rest; are you on duty this darkness?"

" No , I have this rising off at the fortress, but I am due at the docks later."

I rush forward, hugging his massive frame, quickly releasing him before he could push me away. He tenses up so hard that it feels like hugging a piece of stone. " I'll catch you at the docks later. Maybe we can get some sustenance on your break." I don't wait for him to answer me as I dart out his door, closing it behind me as I go. Just a few steps away, I heard an anguished roar behind me. I have no idea what has done this to him, but I refuse to stop until I uncover the source. First person to ask is Mother .