Chapter 4

Chapter Four

ZURA

My steps move forward without thought as my mind relives every moment, I have had with OrO since returning. Why do our lives never happen the way we imagine or hope for? I expected a warm reunion with the male who has always been my best friend. Instead , I was greeted like a stranger. OrO is visibly struggling and without knowing what happened while I was gone, I can't help him. Usually , I would wait until Mother was alone to approach her, but I have no patience this rising. I push the main doors of the sanctuary open hard. All the voices quiet with my approach as I march right up to the throne my mother is sitting upon. " Mother , I need to speak with you."

" Zura , you have interrupted our early rising prayers, you can come back at a more appropriate time."

" Nope , not going to happen. You can either send them away or they are going to see a side of me you don't approve of."

" Priestesses , you are dismissed."

The moment they are out the door, the soft smile my mother shows to everyone else disappears and her true displeasure appears. It's a face I am intimately accustomed to as she disapproves of almost everything I do.

I hold my hand up, stopping her before she can start ranting at me. " Before you get yourself all worked up over foolishness, I need some answers. First of all, what would make you shut the guards' comm units off? The safety of our world is based on how quickly our warriors can respond to any threats. If they cannot communicate, how do you expect them to protect this place?"

" Zura , I don't have to answer to you. My decisions are based on a need-to-know basis."

" Mother , you were always bigger than life, but I have never known you to be stupid. Not only have you hindered our safety and the protection of your people, but you lied directly to Commander DaR about OrO . Do you even understand the consequences of that action alone?"

" Who is going to tell him? There are no outgoing or incoming comms that I don't approve myself. Zura , you had your fun and got to go on your little adventure, but that is over now. You will resume your duties and take your rightful place next to me where you belong."

" I will not, and you, nor any other, can force me into that realm of darkness. You are overstepping the authorities given to you, Mother ."

" No one has, nor will they question me. If they want to continue the blessings of our god, then they'll do as I say."

" So , the Lord of Light told you to take communications away from the males he sent here to protect you? What was the saying Brit is so very fond of, oh yeah. I am calling bullshit on that. In my opinion, DaR will also view this unfavorably. What do you want your guards to do, fail?

" Mother , you don't understand the true horrors out there; I didn't either until I saw it with my own eyes. You believe that your prayers will keep the others away, and in your foolishness, you are going to get your people killed. Yes , the Lord of Light has blessed us beyond means, but if he has a physical presence somewhere in the heavens, I believe he is shaking his head, frowning upon your current actions. You need to reinstate the comm units immediately."

" I don't have to do anything, Zura , and I won't simply because of your unwarranted fears. I also have no recollection of what those human words mean, but I can tell you are being disrespectful and I will not tolerate that type of behavior in these halls. As of DaR , he is no longer your concern, as you will not be returning to Darverius . I should never have allowed you to go in the first place. All it did was put foolish notions and ideas into your head."

" Are you listening to yourself? You sound like a dictator, not a priestess."

" They are but one and the same, daughter."

" Have you always been this cold, and I was simply so used to your indifference that I didn't notice? When OrO told me he came to you worried about my safety and you told him no. I didn't know what to say to him. I am sure you had your reasons, but I cannot think of one at the moment."

" Ugh , that obsession you have with that inferior male is above my thoughts or comprehension. He is below your status Zura , if I thought it would do any good, I would forbid you to speak or be seen with him. I am half tempted to have him removed from Xuias altogether."

" OrO is a palace guard. He would give his life for you and you say he is beneath us. If that was the case, why did you allow us to play together as younglings? And you have no reason to send him away, he has done nothing wrong, but be my friend. If you wanted to be rid of him so badly, you missed the one chance you had when he asked to go to Zodiqua ." She turns from me, her long robes flowing out behind her as she paces in front of me.

" Zura , I refuse to let you throw your life away on that thing born of that female. I simply forbid it! Keep pushing me on this issue and he will disappear. Do you understand me?"

" You have no say in who or what I do with my life, Mother , especially with no explanations as to why you hate him so."

" He died because of her."

" What ?"

" Your father and my mate sacrificed his life to save hers."

The look on her face has me softening my tone of voice, as I can clearly see the pain all over her face. " Mother , Father was a guard. His job was to defend others. You have told me this story a dozen times. It was a horrible time in both of our lives, but instead of you looking at Father's death like he was a hero, you have made yourself the victim."

" Zura , his job was to ME … us. We should have been his first obligation, but he willingly left us to protect her. Do you know what it was like to stand there and watch the love of your life being torn apart by an animal she brought here unlawfully? That Suet wasn't raised as a pet, it was a wild animal she bought at an outside market. An animal that shouldn't have been able to overpower my mate, but with one lucky strike of its claws, my mate, your father bled out before the healers could arrive. I held him in my arms and watched the life leave his eyes. What I was, and who I was, always made her envious. Zosia wanted your father as her own and when he chose me, she found a way to destroy all of us."

" Do you truly believe that? That she bought that animal with full intentions of killing another? She was lied to by the ones she purchased that Suet from and unfortunately, Mother , everyone suffered because of that lie. Zosia was a kind female, OrO loved her greatly, and he doesn't give his affections easily. The lines on his forehead never leave as all he does is scowl at others. Kindness has always been missing from his life. I refuse to blame another for the misfortunes of my life. My father died a hero, and yes, I miss him, but I refuse to diminish his memory or his sacrifice like you have."

" You didn't know that female the same as I did. Zosia thought she was better than the rest of us, especially when she won the second lottery and became pregnant with the commander's child successfully. The moment OrO was born she strutted around with him in her arms like he was a king or something. XuL's mother never made such a spectacle of herself that way."

" No , Mother , because she died days after his birth. You have no way of knowing how she would have behaved. Zosia should have been proud of her winnings. It's a great honor to bear the child of a commander. OrO has grown larger and deadlier than any other in ages and still, you shun him. He has the protection and training of his father. Honestly , there isn't another male in higher standing on this planet and you treat him like he is an orphaned abomination."

When she turns back to face me just by the look on her face, I can tell I am not going to be pleased with her words. " He will be reassigned to the outer quadrant now that you have returned. I accepted your youngling attachment to him, but no longer. You will find a worthy mate who will support your role here. I have several houses that I have been looking into for a suitable match, and you will do your duties to this fortress and planet."

" When I pick whom, I am going to spend the rest of my risings with, it will be my choice, Mother , not yours."

" Not if you want to keep your precious Orc alive. I have males who will follow my every command without question, Zura . All I have to do is speak it and he will die. It would bother you for a short season, but you would move on."

" If you were not my mother, I would strike you down for simply threatening the one male who has always cared for me more than any other. Even snarling he is more beautiful to me than all the pretty males you strut in front of me. If something happens to OrO and I find out you were the cause. There will not be a place you will be able to hide from my wrath, Mother . Since Father's death, you have only managed to get colder and colder. Push me, Mother , and I will disappear as well. What is going to happen to all your little plans, then? What will you tell others when they ask where your daughter disappeared to? I would love to stay on Xuias simply because it's my home, but I do have other options."

" Zura , the docks are locked and all your clearances have been revoked. You will do nothing without my say-so. I know you are upset with my decisions, but I am only looking out for your best interest, and that male is not who my daughter deserves. Now , go get out of those horrid clothes and get properly dressed. We have appointments with several families this early darkness."

" You will attend them on your own because I already have plans."

" Zura , if I find you with him, I will take matters into my own hands. You need to remember who I am. I am the Head Priestess to all on the planet of Xuias , you are simply my daughter until you take your vows. Your words have no sway over others until you do, nor can you question my word. What I say goes!"

" Mother , you are delusional and your power hungry ways are going to come back to haunt you." Without asking permission to leave, I turn from her and am almost to the main door when I am suddenly knocked off my feet onto the floor.

A huge shockwave has blown the doors open and what I can see outside the temple is a nightmare. " Lord of Light help us." I glance back at Mother who is also sprawled on the ground. On my feet, I sprint towards the doors. " It seems you have angered our god, Mother . You better get to praying harder, as the heavens are raining fire upon us."