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  “Not everything will go accordingly. It is the number one rule I have lived by my whole life and I don’t intend on changing that now. We can plan our steps down to when you blink, but we have no way of predicting the actions of those around us. For that reason alone, we make multiple plans and hope we don’t run out of options in the end. For instance, the origin portal cannot stay powered on for obvious reasons, so we will need to set designated times and the number of times we will open it.”

  “Number of times? Like a drop dead date? Like you won’t open it again if we don’t make it back by a certain date? Or a number of times?” Kiya asked, her voice rising with each question.

  “There is that risk. If you decide not to go, I’ll understand, but fear it will greatly diminish our chances of success,” answered Rh’ael, as he looked at Kiya and Aarik as if waiting for them to back out. When nothing but silence followed his statement he said, “Speaking of our chances...now is probably as good a time as any to explain to you what I meant by a vinculum between the two of you. Unlike a traditional marriage, the awakening ceremony is performed in private and doesn’t require a ring. Usually at the height of...um...consummation, using astral projection, Aarik coaxes your soul out so the two can intertwine at a cosmic level. Becoming Kh’izmets will allow your powers to expand beyond one single person’s capability. Granted, it can happen without the intimacy, but couples usually have a hard time waiting,” explained Rh’ael.

  “If having a Kh’izmet makes the Ah’naki all great and powerful, why don’t they all do it?” Anna asked with a frown.

  “Yeah...what she said,” added Kiya placing her hands on her hips.

  “It’s hard to find one’s soul mate or believe me they would. Remember my people are immortal and live very long lives. Because of this, breeding is very regulated. As the number of births decreased, so did the number of soulmate connections. The watchers found a way around this by looking for love in other races. The elitist of my people refuse to mate with anyone other than a full Ah’naki. Until they can get over their racist thoughts, they’ll suffer the consequences.” explained Rh’ael.

  “How does one know they’ve met their soulmate?” Aarik asked, looking like he was lost in thought.

  “When an Ah’naki meets their Kh’izmet they are overwhelmed with a sense of protection and jealousy until they claim their other half. Works out perfectly if both participants are driven by that force, but as was the case with my wife she didn’t experience those feelings on the same level. Needless to say, she had a hard time accepting my need to claim her so soon after meeting her,” Rh’ael said with a smile and then added, “Have you experienced anything like that? It might not be so extreme since you are not a full-blooded Ah’naki.”

  Blushing in embarrassment, Aarik cleared his throat, “Well, since I’ve managed to restrain myself from claiming her, I think it’s safe to say I have a milder version.”

  “I think your lack of getting some has more to do with your lack of privacy,” interjected Anna; at the same time Taylor barked out, “Ha! I would barely call what you’ve got as a mild case. You’ve done everything but piss on her to mark her as yours, to every male you consider a challenge, since the day you met her.”

  “Perhaps I’ve been a bit whimsical, but don’t some find that romantic?” Turning towards Kiya he grabbed her hands and looking into her eyes said, “I didn’t want to scare you off and have you thinking I was a psycho, but there is no denying the connection I feel towards you. I’m not normally a jealous man, but all rational thought vanishes when I think about you with someone else, but I promise not to go all caveman on you or anything. We can wait till you are ready.”

  Kissing her hand gently, he was slightly caught off guard when Kiya pulled her hands free and threw herself into his arms. Wrapping her legs around him she cradled his face with her hands before she brought him in for a deep kiss. Breaking it off, she snuggled into his neck and breathed deep before she dropped her legs to the ground, pressed herself into his side and said, “If that wasn’t an obvious enough answer for you, the feelings are mutual, big guy.”

  “What would happen if they tried tying their souls together and they weren’t meant to be Kh’izmets?” Anna asked, raising her eyebrows in question.

  “Wow. Way to be supportive Anna...” Kiya bit out sarcastically.

  “What? I am being supportive. What if you two are wrong and something negative happens from the joining of your souls. A true friend is going to look at all sides and have your back, sister!” exclaimed Anna, pointing her finger for emphasis.

  “The soul can only be coaxed by its true mate. Let’s continue this conversation in transit. Not much time left,” Rh’ael said, motioning for everyone to follow him.

  “It’s still early. What’s the rush?” questioned Aarik, following behind Rh’ael as he headed for the elevator.

  Rh’ael stopped walking. Turning around to face them directly he said, “I have a press release in one hour and need to be back here to give it. Every time we turn on the origin passage, the world power grid will surge. Once or twice and we would have been able to cover it up, but nightly for a couple weeks is not something we can explain away. The people deserve to know what is ahead of them so they can prepare. We can only hope the threat of planet-wide destruction will be enough to unite the human race.”

  “World power grid?” questioned Aarik.

  “Obelisks, installed on ley lines all over the world, transmit energy wirelessly. When the origin powers up it amps Earth’s natural magnetic power grid. The obelisks capture and transmit the pulses it generates. I forgot you haven’t seen the news yet,” explained Rh’ael, resuming his trek to the elevators.

  “So that’s what happened to the National Monument! The internet was sure it was a terrorist attack against the Trump administration,” Anna blurted out and then said, “Shit! I shouldn’t have said that.” Biting her thumb nail nervously she looked at her dad and said, “Guess since the cat’s out of the bag. I should probably make a confession. I hacked the system the first day you brought me here, but really, would you expect anything less of me?”

  “Yes, if I recall, it only took two hours and sixteen minutes for you to break through our defenses,” Rh’ael recalled with a chuckle, asking Ailla to take them to level nine.

  “You knew?” Anna gasped, walking into the elevator with her arm through Taylor’s.

  “Of course. Not much happens around here without my knowledge. I never intended to keep you from the outside world, just the world from you, but you were never one for being patient. Your attitude improved when you felt like you were pulling one over on me...so I never corrected your assumption that there was no internet,” admitted Rh’ael with a smirk.

  “Why did you bring her here?” demanded Taylor and when Rh’ael’s smirk turned to a frown he added, “Why did you bring her here...Sir?”

  “A second attempt was made on Anna’s life and her mother and I decided it would be best if we faked her death and hid her here,” answered Rh’ael stoically, as they exited the elevator on level nine and made their way to the terracrafts waiting to take them back to Vos’rok.

  “Second attempt?” asked Anna, cocking her head to the side with a look of confusion on her face.

  “The first attempt was the car crash that claimed your adoptive mother’s life and the second was when you were in the hospital recovering from the crash, and they tried to poison your IV line,” Rh’ael said with a nod when Anna whispered, “Adoptive?”

  “Yes. We placed you in her care shortly after you were born. I have many enemies and thought you would be safer if no one knew you were mine. I was wrong,” admitted Rh’ael with a sigh.

  “You lied to me? Why didn’t you tell me after she died, when you adopted me?” Anna asked quietly, as tears welled in her eyes.

  “At first I was looking for the right moment but, by the time it presented itself, I didn’t want to tell you because I waited too long. Even immortals make mistakes
; can you forgive your old man?” Rh’ael admitted with a sad look in his eyes.

  “In the interest of time, you and I should discuss this later,” Anna said with a sniffle and a quivering lip. Wiping her eyes she added, “You never did say how they’re supposed to tell the difference between the watchers and the royals?”

  “As usual, excellent observation, my child. I didn’t say because there is no way to tell the difference to the naked eye, but Aarik will be able to sense their intentions if he practices. Of course it’s also safe to assume anyone in the castle is probably a bad guy,” Rh’ael answered and then added, “When I return I look forward to answering any questions you might have.”

  “I won’t be here. When I return and have had time to process this we’ll talk. Come on Taylor. I believe you and I have an adventure to get ready for,” Anna replied before dragging Taylor back toward the elevators.

  “I’m going to pay dearly for keeping her in the dark,” admitted Rh’ael, shaking his head he took a deep breath and said, “Shall we go?”

  Chapter Two

  Kiya

  What a mind blowing experience! Kiya screamed internally as she frantically patted herself down, verifying her body made it through the wormhole in one piece. The experience of transporting to another planet twelve hundred light years from her home, by taking a single step, was life-altering to say the least. Crossing into the portal invisible, thanks to the WED, Kiya was surprised she was able to watch her body break up into individual molecules, leaving what she could only assume was, in essence, her soul. The out-of-body experience, watching the deconstructive process like an innocent bystander, blissfully free from pain, was enlightening. The whole process took less than a couple seconds before the particles rejoined, trapping her soul inside her carbon body, like nothing had ever happened.

  Once she was certain the WED was operational, she took a tentative step forward and looked around the beautiful garden. Reaching around for Aarik she smiled to herself when he grasped her hand and intertwined their fingers. Wishing she could see his expression, Kiya jumped slightly when Aarik’ voice entered her mind, By far the coolest thing to witness so far to date, and we’ve seen a lot in the last couple of weeks. I think we’re alone, but perhaps it’s best we speak this way until we know for sure. Do you hear anything?

  Kiya held her breath and listened. When the sound of her beating heart drowned out every other noise, negating any benefit she was trying to obtain by holding it, she exhaled roughly and swore to herself. Kiya elbowed Aarik when she heard his laughter in her head and smiled to herself when he huffed out loud from the impact.

  Hey, what was that for? Aarik whined.

  You laughed at me! That’s what that was for, Kiya answered matter-of-factly.

  Aarik turned off the WED, stepped in front of Kiya and, while looking over his shoulder, said in a low teasing voice, I’m starting to think you like to inflict pain upon me. Do I need to be worried about whips and chains after we’re married? Are you secretly a sadist in disguise?

  Kiya normally would have defended herself instantly, but when she looked up at Aarik to give him a piece of her mind she froze at the sight of him. He was surrounded by the light of not one, but two glowing moons and the effect was mesmerizing. Not only were they smaller than Earth’s moon, but they glowed a pale blue and light pink instead of the usual white, bathing him in a shade of purple. The sight was breathtaking. At a loss for words, Kiya pointed to the sky above him dramatically. Aarik looked over his shoulder and said, Beautiful. I personally like the oval-shaped green one behind you. How do you suppose they get their color?

  Spinning around, Kiya almost tripped over a potted plant behind her and was only saved by Aarik’s quick hands when he caught her mid-fall. Pulling her in close, he whispered in her ear, “That was a close one. We don’t need someone coming to investigate a broken pot or anything else for that matter. Do you need me to carry you?”

  Kiya shivered in response to his breath against her skin, but managed to pull a hand free to smack him. Aarik must have caught wind of her intentions as he jumped out of the way before she could connect and stuck his tongue out at her as he landed. Following it quickly with a wink, he said, Quit playing around we’re supposed to be working, you know.

  Oh man. When this is all over you’ll regret giving me hell. Paybacks are a bitch! Kiya teased, sauntering around him seductively. When she looked back and found his eyes focused on her behind, Kiya added an extra swing to her hips and said over her shoulder, Well….aren’t you coming? I thought we were supposed to be working.

  Aarik chuckled behind her and said, You’re headed in the wrong direction. West is this way. Pointing to the left, he waited for Kiya to catch up before heading toward the only other opening in the tall shrubs surrounding the portal. Kiya cursed her lack of direction and retorted, Well then this would probably be the right time to tell you I’m directionally challenged. Tell me left or right and we’ll be fine from here on out but I only know north, south, east or west in my hometown where I can see the landmarks.

  Good to know, Aarik replied grabbing Kiya’s hand, he pulled her to the left and said, The portal was surrounded by a shrub maze and after leaving the center we needed to head left.

  They passed an opening and when Aarik continued without stopping Kiya asked, How do you know which one to take?

  Didn’t you look at the map Rh’ael sent us? From his drawings it was only four layers deep and he said go left at the prime numbers. Door 1, Door 2, Door 3, you get the point right? What were you looking at on your phone before we left? questioned Aarik with a look of concern on his face.

  Why, Aarik Landon, am I detecting a look of jealousy? Geez, it’s not like I was doing anything improper, like sexting other guys or something. Snickering at how fast Aarik tried to change his expression to one of innocence, Kiya decided to give him a break and added, There was just a lot of information to digest and I got stuck on memorizing our way to Commondone. Couldn’t get the idea out of my head when Rh’ael said that nothing will go accordingly on this mission. So, I studied the marketplace to make sure we have a backup plan. I figured you’d look at the first part. AND I was right I might add.

  Kiya thanked the moons for their iridescent glow lighting the way through the maze, but the deeper they traversed, the creepier the shrubs made her feel. It almost looked like they were alive, with their constant swaying motion and as far as Kiya could tell there weren’t any breezes to cause it. Just as she was about to ask Aarik if he had seen anything funny, he stopped abruptly and threw his arm out blocking Kiya from moving forward and said, Be still. I hear something.

  I was being quiet. I can’t control my subconscious thoughts, you know. They have a mind of their own. Probably why I was never very good at clearing my mind during yoga, defended Kiya in a ramble, peeking around his arm to look for anything suspicious.

  Not helping….Aarik growled as he smelled the air like an animal. I’m wondering if we should make a run for it. I can see the exit up ahead.

  Kiya confused by his actions couldn’t help but ask, You didn’t turn into some kind of werewolf while I was gone by chance? I mean humans don’t normally use their noses when assessing a situation.

  No, I’m not a werewolf, but I can’t help it. The smell of cupcakes keeps wafting by my nose. Don’t you smell it? Aarik asked, smelling the air again with a look of hunger on his face.

  Kiya sniffed at the air and sneezed when the smell of burnt toast tickled her sinuses. I think your smeller is broken. I smell burnt toast, but that’s beside the point. What did you hear to make you stop in the first place? This maze is giving me the heebiejeebies. I feel like we’re being watched.

  That’s because you are and his smeller isn’t broken. We smell sweeter to the opposite sex, it’s part of our pheromones. We are curious though, in all the years we’ve been here no one has ever used the portal at night. We are the guardians of the garden and require your identification, stated a multifaceted, yet compl
etely synchronized, voice that filled the space around them.

  Kiya and Aarik flipped around to identify where the voices were coming from and when nothing stood out Aarik replied with as much confidence he could force, Are my robes not identification enough!

  Normally, but your language throws an extra variable into the equation that requires us to investigate why that is. From our accounts you’re speaking English from the planet Earth and we must know why, the voices replied in unison.

  Kiya remembered to block her thoughts at the last moment and tried not to panic. She wondered how the hell they were supposed to pull off bringing the watchers back when they couldn’t even manage to get out of the garden maze without being caught. Looking over at Aarik she shrugged her shoulders and nonchalantly pointed to the disk on his robe, hoping whoever was challenging them hadn’t seen their big reveal after arriving. Aarik shook his head slightly and looked at Kiya for a moment imploring her to trust him before he stepped forward and said, “Impressive. I was hoping we would find more beings able to speak the language I feel most comfortable with. Might I have the honor of facing you for a proper introduction?”

  Kiya reached for Aarik to pull him back, thinking he was out of his mind but stopped short, shocked when the shrubs around them exploded with activity. Individual chatter could be heard as the leaves rocketed into the air, leaving nothing but a wooden skeleton behind on the bushes. Kiya gasped out loud when a single leaf hovered in front of her face and said, We are not leaves. We are Tree Sprites.

  Kiya blinked and focused on the one in front of her. The longer she stared, the more features could be made out. The delicate green fairy was dressed in leaves and had twigs and moss for hair. The wings keeping it afloat were in the shape of a dragonfly wing, but colorful like a butterfly. Zipping away, it joined the other sprites gathered in front of Aarik. The air shimmered and sparkled around them causing the scene to look blurry and distorted. Kiya closed her eyes tight and when she opened them, a single large tree sprite stood in their place. With its hand held out in greeting it said, “Greetings our name is Spritus and you are?”