Chapter 5

He just walks off, leaving me standing here in this oversized damn coat, and I have never felt more lost. A gentle hand touches my shoulder and I turn, ready to fight.

"WelcomeTessa; let's get you settled quickly. I have quite a few mouths to feed this rising and they get cranky when their sustenance is late. If you would follow me, Father's dwelling is not far."

Igather the covering ZoD put over me and stumble along behind. "Who are you exactly?"

"I am ZoD's second born, Elexa. I am over the care of our dwellings and the preparation of the sustenance we all need."

Shedoesn't offer anything else as we walk along. I try to keep track of the many turns she takes, but all the tunnels look the same. There are a few markings here and there, but nothing that stands out enough that I would remember the path. We come around a bend and it suddenly dead ends at a clear round tube. She enters it only to turn back and look at me.

"Are you going to stand there all rising?"

"Ugh, I am not sure what you want me to do. What is that?"

Shelooks puzzled for a moment then walks back to me. "This is a lift, it will take you to ground level, that is our destination. We also have stairs, but the lifts are much faster. If the lift is unknown to you, I am sure this will simply be the beginning of many firsts for you. I have heard rumors of your species, but I've never encountered anyone like you before."

"Join the club, in my wildest dreams I couldn't have made all this up. I am a little out of my element here." A single tear flows down my cheek before I can stop it. She reaches up, catching it with her long, slender fingers.

"You are scared, forgive me for not noticing this earlier. Father has never brought a pet home, and I immediately assumed you understood the meaning behind it."

"You know I am not fond of being called a pet. I am just as smart and able as you are. Just because I was taken from my world doesn't make me beneath you. Nor does it make me stupid simply because I don't understand what's happening around me. If the tables were turned and you were in my place. I would hope no one assumes you are a damn animal in need of a keeper."

"Your emotions are overriding your rational thoughts. You are in another world and because of that, you need guidance, or a keeper, as you put it. Your given name is Tessa, correct?"

"Yes."

"ThenI will pass it on that you would prefer to be spoken to by that name and not your title. Come. No harm will befall you here, Father has spoken, and his word is law." She takes my hand and pulls me behind her into this tube thing. She touches the wall, and I can't help but scream when I feel like I am in a vacuum. I'm not on that roller coaster for more than a second, but when it stops, I practically fall on my face as I try to escape it. She grabs me before I can hit the floor.

"Elexa, right?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. I feel like I am one big bruise right now, and nothing is working properly." She leads me towards what looks like a couch that lines the entire space of a round wall. Plopping down exhausted, I pull ZoD's coat-like thing all around me. My body is suddenly cold as shivers seem to be making their way up my bare legs and feet.

Elexastands above me, looking down, and I take a minute to look at her features. She is just as pale as her father, but her markings are different. More exact, like someone took the time to place each and every one of them. Her eyes are just as orange as ZoD's, but they're outlined by long black eyelashes and thick eyeliner that softens her face.

Sheseems to be only a few inches taller than I am, and her build is smaller than the other females. Long black braids hang clear to her waist, but she has them all tied together behind her neck to keep them out of the way. She is quite pretty in an ethereal, harsh way. Apparently, we have both been studying the other.

"I can see why Father is so enamored with you. Your coloring is quite unique. You are a little on the small side though, so finding garments in your size might take me a bit. However, Zllera could possibly have some things she has outgrown that would do nicely. I will have her go through her things and bring them to you shortly. You will remain here until Father retrieves you or gives permission for you to come and go. The sleeping area is through that opening, as is the refreshing chamber. I will return momentarily with sustenance."

BeforeI can say anything else, she turns away, and the tube swallows her. I sit here in silence for a minute, looking around. How in the hell did I end up here?And now what?Noticing a window across from me, I gather my covering up and walk over. My mind is trying its best to deny everything it's witnessing outside this opening. I have no idea how long I have been standing there looking out at the alien landscape around me when I hear a young girl's voice behind me. "Tessa, are you well?"

Idon't turn; I am not sure if I even can. "AmI well? Now that is the question, isn't it? If my eyes are not deceiving me, I am standing in the window of a round house on an alien planet. Staring out at a desert that seems as inhospitable as the two sun's bearing down upon me. You would think, because there are two of them, I would be warm, but I am so cold it hurts. Even the dry dust of this world is beating against the window like it's trying its best to get to me. I am not sure how to feel, honestly."

"I could tell you were upset simply by the way you were standing there. Elexa informed me of your arrival, and I brought you some of my old clothes right away. She thought you might be in need of some company. Father always says it's not good to keep your feelings bundled up, would you like to talk?"

"I take it ZoD is your father also?"

"Yes."

"That man sure gets around. I have heard at least three call him Father so far. I am sure his wife is not happy with me being here, his so-called pet."

"Wife? I don't understand that term."

Suddenlyangry, I turn, ready to tear into the female behind me only to stop dead. It's just a kid, possibly a teenager, as her youth is apparent. She is dressed in what looks like loose harem pants and a long tank top. Her long black hair hangs messily over one shoulder, a delicate face full of wonder and innocence stares back at me. Her small frame doesn't appear to be marked as severely as the others I have seen so far. It makes me wonder if they are born with the marks, or if they are applied later on. She tilts her head the same way her father did back on the ship, once again I catch myself smiling. Something so familiar in an unfamiliar world.

"You are as beautiful as Elexa said. I am Zllera. The entire cavern is full of whispers about your arrival and the reasons as to why Father brought you here. He has never allowed another female into his personal space. This is actually my first time as none of us come here. We always meet him in the common areas."

"So, he is a love them and leave them kinda guy, huh? Such a big shot he doesn't even need to bring the woman home, even after she is with his child."

"Some of your words are confusing to me, but my father takes exceptional care of all his offspring. Our race is dwindling, and each youngling born is a reason to celebrate. Father has been blessed with three daughters, and now with you."

"I am sure if your race is dwindling. The arrival of … well… me would not be well received by your mother or the mother of his other children."

"We have no singular mother. We are raised as one, all the younglings are brought up together. I am one of the few lucky ones because my father gives me individual time, but that is not normally the case."

"OK, I am slightly confused. You don't know your mother?"

"AsI mentioned, there are many mothers. According to the sacred scrolls, our kind can only conceive with one of our own, or a blessed, Soulkin."

Islide down the wall more confused now than I was before. "OK, let me tell you a little bit about my world. Maybe then you can see why I am feeling that way. OnEarth, technically, you would marry one person. Then you and that person would have a child or many children. Then raise them together. But you are saying your world is not like that."

"No, but Father would be able to answer that better than I can. He should be returning soon. He was walking the new section with Onyx and Raya when I came up here. Until he ensures the new barrier will hold, he won't rest. He is very protective of us all and I am proud to call him my father. He claimed me as soon as I was born."

"Is it common not to be claimed by your father?"

"Most never acknowledge their younglings."

"Wow. For now, I will keep my opinions to myself, as I feel like I am missing some important parts here. You said you brought me some clothes?"

"Here they are. I am sure Father will have many more acquired for you, but these will do for the next few risings. Elexa told me not to stay too long and that you needed to rest and recover, so I should go. I do regret leaving you, especially knowing that you are feeling uneasy, I was hoping we could become friends. Theothers are always busy, leaving me to entertain myself most of the rising."

"I would like that, Zllera. I could really use a friend about now."

Shesmiles beautifully before turning away, skipping like a young girl would without a care in the world. I gather up the clothing she has placed in front of me and start wandering around. Finally, I find what I think is a bathroom, but no matter what buttons I push, I can't figure out how to get anything to work. I end up just slipping off the see-through sheet and pulling on what appears to be a jumpsuit. WrappingZoD's cape back around me, I am glad I don't need to pee right now.

WhenI come back into the main room, there is a tray sitting on a table. I sit down hesitantly; nothing on it looks familiar. The worst part is I have no way of knowing if any of this will make me sick, but I am so hungry, it doesn't really matter. An odd-shaped mug sits in the corner, and I peer inside. It looks clear, like water, but who knows? Reluctantly, I take a small sip. It is slightly thicker than water, but the taste instantly settles my stomach and I have to make myself not drink it all straight down. I end up trying a little of everything on the tray. Taking small bites of several things, I end up spitting some right back out, but then there are a few that I eat most of.

Slightlytoo full, I stop eating and push the tray away. Suddenly, I am so tired I can't hardly keep my eyes open. AsI was exploring the bathroom, there was no missing the enormous bed in the room next to it, and as tempting as it is to go crawl into it, I decide the couch-like thing is a better choice, in case there really is a Mrs. ZoD somewhere.

Curlingup in a ball, I try to blank my mind out, but with the silence surrounding me, there is nothing to keep my thoughts quiet. So many questions float around unanswered, but the worst is knowing I may never go home. When the tears start, I don't even try to repress them. I let the grief and the unknown take over and allow myself this one time to fall apart.