Chapter 9

Isla’s guide to The Twelve Nights of Halloheen (Excerpt)

The most important thing to remember about the Night of the Dead is that it’s a time when the veil between us and those we’ve lost is supposed to become thin and permeable. By the end of the night, it’s so diaphanous that we might even get to visit with a relative or friend long passed. If you can’t do any of the other traditions, this one is the most important: stay awake the whole night and greet the sun on the 13 th day. Even if you don’t get to see a lost loved one, at least you know you’ll have good luck for an entire year.

Tisuran

Tisuran finished setting up his holo display as Isla talked to a few curious Talins at a nearby table. She was explaining the significance of the final celebration. The Night of the Dead was a time to remember those who had left this life. Celebrants thought about lost loved ones and hoped they were doing well in the afterlife, lit candles in their honor, and told stories about their humor, bravery, or kindness.

All the fire pits from the Night of Fire had been cleared away, replaced with small, squat tables holding images, holo displays, and candles. There were anywhere from two to ten people gathered around each table, drinking, talking, and cuddling. Isla explained that this wasn’t the night for feasting but drinking warm, sweet beverages was part of the tradition.

The children were running around, laughing and giggling as they looked for the ghosts of loved ones who might cross the veil between worlds to visit. The adults seemed unconcerned about the idea, leading Tisuran to believe ghosts were probably a hope, not an expectation.

For their first Night of the Dead together, he and Isla had decided to have a table to themselves. There was plenty of space, so they weren’t depriving anyone. After word of their relationship had spread, no one asked to share. He had received many knowing smiles from the humans and congratulations from his fellow Talins.

He had everything to look forward to, which made tonight bittersweet. He’d set up a holo display of all the soldiers he’d served with that hadn’t made it home during the incursion. The same mission that ended his career. His wasn’t the only display honoring the warriors. Palforma and Dalt had the same holos on their tables. They’d all served in the same unit and suffered the same loss.

“I need a little help here!” a human voice called out.

Tisuran turned to see several humans struggling under armfuls of blankets. He was the closest, so he jumped to help them with their burdens. After setting everything down next to their table, they smiled up at him.

“Is there more to bring out?” he asked.

“One more bundle we dropped between here and storage building six,” one of the humans replied and pointed to another table. “For them.”

“I’ll fetch it,” Tisuran offered, and both humans thanked him and started arranging blankets around their table.

He found the bundle near the front of the storage building. Bending over, he plucked it from the ground. Straightening up, he was startled to find Isla standing in front of him.

“Isla? What are you doing over here?” he asked as he brushed off the blankets.

Her expression was grave. “I need to ask you some questions.”

She didn’t sound like herself, making Tisuran sound a concerned rumble. “Are you well?” Then he noticed the state of her outfit. “And where is your omnie? Did you leave it at our table? And why are you wearing those garments?”

She ignored his questions and pressed a hand to her cheek, right over where she’d have scent glands if she was Talin. “Have you ever scent-bonded with anyone before?”

“Of course not,” Tisuran answered with a confused rumble.

“If a Talin came to you begging to be scent-bonded, would you want to?”

Tisuran couldn’t understand why she was asking him that. “Are you unhappy, loreline ? Have I done something wrong?”

Isla’s expression never changed. “Please answer the question.”

Using the same calm control that made him an effective soldier, Tisuran kept his back plates silent, even though he wanted to sound a harsh rattle of frustration. “There is no other for me. If you ever leave me, I will die a painful death from a broken scent-bond. But in truth, I wouldn’t care about dying because I wouldn’t want to live without you. You’re my perfect Isla.”

Isla’s smile was beatific. “I just needed to make sure.”

A loud shouting caught his attention. Turning his head, he saw several children swarming Palforma. The large Talin warrior pretended to crumble under the assault, dramatically crying out as he landed on his back on the ground. Assured that nothing was wrong, Tisuran turned his attention back to Isla only to find she was gone.

“Tisuran, are you okay?”

Swinging around he found Isla standing behind him. “Where did the omnie come from?” he asked, disconcerted.

Her expression showed confusion. “I’ve been wearing it all evening.”

Had he been mistaken earlier? Brushing off all the bewilderment, he hefted the bundle of blankets onto his shoulder and held out his hand to her. “Let me drop this off and we can finish talking later.”

She tangled her fingers with his, the reassuring smell of his bonding oil mixed with her scent filling the air. It was quick work to drop off the blankets, then settle the two of them down at their table.

Reaching into her omnie, Isla pulled out an old worn image of herself as a child and set it on the table next to his holos.

He grabbed it off the squat table. “Isla, you’re not dead,” he admonished her. “Only deceased people are to be put on the table, correct?”

Isla gave him a watery chuckle. “That’s not me,” she explained. “That’s my twin, Alsi. She died when we were fifteen.”

Tisuran went stock still. “Twin?”

“Oh, you guys probably don’t have that,” Isla said. “With humans, a fertilized egg will sometimes split in half in utero. The two halves form identical twins, like me and Alsi. I was devastated when she died, but thankfully Zia and my other friends were there to help me through. Every year I hope to see her during the Night of the Dead. I think that’s one of the reasons this is my favorite night. I’ve never seen her, but I always hope I will.” She bit her lip. “That’s probably stupid, isn’t it?”

“Not at all, loreline ,” Tisuran assured her as he opened his arms and invited her onto his lap. “Because I think I might have met her.”

Isla looked intrigued instead of shocked. “You did?”

“She asked me if I’d ever leave you,” he said.

Isla sounded a content sigh as she snuggled into his arms. “That sounds like her. She was always so worried about my happiness. She was the smart twin. The sensible one.”

“You’re not upset that I saw her and you didn’t?” Tisuran asked as he wrapped his arms around Isla’s small figure.

“Not even a little because maybe we’ll both get to see her next year.”

Tisuran started up a loving rumble. “You might call her the sensible twin, but you’re the twin with all the hope, and that’s just as necessary and valuable.”

Isla

“And you’re the Talin with all the gentleness and patience,” Isla stated firmly. She wanted to make sure Tisuran knew his value. “I can’t imagine trusting anyone as much as I trust you.”

In truth, Isla wasn’t surprised Alsi had made an appearance. Over the years there had been Nights of the Dead when she could’ve sworn she heard her twin or sensed her presence. But just like it was when she was alive, Alsi was everything caring. She probably hadn’t made an appearance because she didn’t want to burden Isla with renewed grief.

But she didn’t feel grief right now. She felt privileged to have gotten fifteen years with Alsi before an accident took her away.

I’ll never stop loving you, she thought.

She could have sworn she heard Alsi’s sweet laughter on the gentle breeze. A feeling of love washed over her. Love for her family, her community, and most of all, Tisuran.

“I don’t regret any part of my life,” she murmured to Tisuran as she snuggled into his warmth and watched the candle flame dance in the crisp night air. “Because it all brought me to this time and place.”

“And I’ll make sure our lives are full of happiness,” Tisuran promised. “From this moment onward.”