The Dawning of Fate
Chapter 26

I couldn’t believe what I’d gotten myself into. How did I go from being a nobody, living in a van to being chased across an alien planet by a ruthless warlord’s lackeys? I guess it was pretty naive of me to think that we’d go unnoticed. I mean, just look at these men. They were huge and purple with wings. Who wouldn’t recognize them? Not to mention the aura of ‘fuck around and replace out’ they emitted could be felt by anyone.

More and more buildings were being damaged, if not destroyed entirely as we dodged and weaved through the narrow alleyways. Soon we would run out of obstacles to obstruct their aim, I was sure. Then what? Kyrin seemed to believe that somehow this was all my fault, but that couldn’t be true right? There was no way I was some destruction magnet. Yet, something about it struck a nerve in me…it made me question myself on a primal level. The relationship with my parents ended up falling apart because I wouldn’t conform, my romantic interests never lasted because I had ‘unrealistic expectations’, and not to mention the spaceship that literally split in half while I was in it. Now, this. Did destruction follow me? Was I really destined to destroy everything around me when the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do was preserve life?

“My mate…not bad. Good for us.” The deep timber of Zan’s drakul vibrates through my mind. A sense of being cocooned and swathed in warmth leaves me with an intense feeling of safety. His presence around me feels immovable, unshakable, and solid in a way that settles; grounds me. I felt rooted.

“We are not so easily destroyed, my al sisi. You are perfect, in every way. So if a storm is brewing, know this: we will be your stone, carved from the temples of Voranu and strengthened by the blood of my ancestors. I am your blade and he is your shield. You will fear nothing in our presence, not even yourself.”

The battle to keep the tears at bay fails as one slips down my cheek.

“Your mate is leaking, wombmate. Will she need a healer?”

The genuine concern in Amondis’ voice forces a laugh from me. This was not the time to be laughing or crying but hell, I needed the release after today’s events. And we weren’t even out of the fire yet.

“’Tis okay, brother. The Terrans do this as a chemical reaction, nothing more.”

“Strange little people,” the brother remarked, curiosity hinting in his tone.

“Hmm, indeed.”

A sharp turn sends all of us crashing into the left side of the flying car. My elbow knocks into the wall, sending pain ricocheting up my arm, but that becomes the least of my worries as the suctioning of wind becomes apparent behind me. It was only instinct that made me latch onto the rim, my intuition telling me to grab something solid. A scream is ripped from my throat as the air suctions me out of the vehicle, my weakening grip on the inside paneling the only thing keeping me from flying out.

“Echo!”

“NO!” Zan’s roar of pure rage penetrated the wind rushing through my ears. I tried to bring my other hand forward but it was useless with the speed we were going and Kyrin couldn’t slow down or we’d all be caught by those pursuing us.

I feel the grip on my wrist pulling me back in at the same time that I feel a cold metal coil itself around my leg. I’d know that feeling anywhere. Zan snatches me back inside the hovertram and I crash into him as Amondis shuts the door once more. My lover wraps me in his arms, holding me there tightly. My heart matched the beats of his, loud and rapid. My body trembled, still remembering what it felt like to wrestle with the wind. The chill on my calf causes me to suck in a short breath, scrambling back from Zan so that I can yank up my pant leg.

“Vrat.” The grimness in Amondis’ tone matched his expression as he watched the nanu make itself at home on my leg.

“They will be able to track us wherever we are now,” Kyrin stated grimly. “We must remove it immediately.”

“I need electricity.” I started looking around for anything I could use.

“It will have to wait.” I looked at my lover. “We need to get off of this planet, now. I will not have you in danger any longer.”

I stared at him in silence. “What are you saying? That we just abandon Tahla?”

He growled low in his throat. “I won’t keep putting you in harm’s way. Your safety matters to me more!”

My brows pinched together. “So you would leave an innocent woman to be sold as a sex slave? She’ll be passed around to man after man, her body used and abused. Or worse, forced to carry child after child only to watch them be stolen from her. You would knowingly leave her to that fate?”

A large hand settled on my shoulder. I looked up at Amondis and found resignation on his face. The sight made my stomach twist. “My sister...do not make him choose. It was selfish of me to ask this of you both. I used your blight to my advantage. It was not honorable.”

I shook my head, brushing off his hand as I stood to my feet. “No, I’m not making him choose between me and you because there isn’t a choice to be made. Call me naive, call me stupid, call me destructive or call me whatever, but the fact is…that would’ve been me had my ship not crashed.”

Zan’s snarl would’ve scared me had I not felt his anger building anyway. I glared at him. “Shut up! You know it’s the truth and I’m only standing here today because of your meddling gods. I won’t stand by feeling like she’s taken my place!” My hand slashed through the air, solidifying my point.

Azandum snatches my hand in his so fast it startles me. “What are you-”

“This is not possible. How did this happen?” The urgency in his tone stopped the question that was about to follow his abrupt action.

I looked down to see what he was on about and gasped. My hands…my fingers… “Are those claws?!”

Right before my eyes, I watched them shorten, sending pinpricks down my fingers until all that remained was a smooth black nail plate. I recall feeling the same pain back in the hovel. Bringing up my right hand, I watched the same happen to that one. I felt like I was about to faint. There was just too much going on. Honestly, this had to be a joke. What’s happening to me?

Azandum glanced at me and the sharpness in his golden slits held me still. I knew he didn’t have the answers but some part of me hoped against all odds that he could give me something. Instead, he gathered my hands in his and brought them to his lips, his eyes holding mine captive.

“We will figure this out.” His words were strong and reassuring. Even though I could feel that he was still worried, I could also feel the love he poured towards me. All I could do was nod and as I looked down at our joined hands, I was struck by the resemblance. Was it just a coincidence?

I didn’t get time to ponder further because soon, we were skirting the tops of buildings in the open air, dodging plasma beams and grappling chains. My heart squeezed as I listened to the screams of people trying to escape the chaos. I was mildly impressed with the expert way in which Kyrin piloted the hovertram.

I decided to ask. “How are you so good at this?”

“I used to be a fleet commander in my earlier days. All off-world transport was run by me first.” He recounted his history in that way where you could tell he missed it.

“Why’d you stop piloting?”

His tone turned hard. “We lost the war and we no longer had the resources to be able to afford to send people off-world as often as we used to.”

“So, your people just kicked you to the curb?”

Zan touched my arm. “Echo…” My brows furrowed as I looked at him, confused as to why he was shaking his head.

“Thank you, but it is fine Azandum. It is only right that Eterai is curious.” I looked back to Kyrin. “It is usually improper to ask a former soldier about his life so boldly.” My mouth formed an ‘O’.

Kyrin chuckled softly with a slight shake of his head. “Never you mind that. No, my people didn’t “kick me to the curb” as you so elegantly put it. They offered me a position in the advisory but there was too much grief and hatred still burning in our people, myself included. I needed the time alone. I traveled, running away from everything that happened and all that I didn’t want to face. During my travels was when I met the shaman I mentioned. Of course, in the beginning, I denied everything she told me. But no matter how much you run, fate always replaces a way, and eventually, you’ll replace your way by home at some point during your journey.”

His words hit a little too close to something Matu had mentioned to me before and it caused unease to tickle the back of my neck. After that, we all fell silent.

“At this rate, they’re either going to catch up or we’re going to run out of fuel to keep this thing going,” Amondis remarked after a while.

Kyrin produced a clicking sound from his throat.“I have a plan, but you’re not going to like it, Azandum.”

Zan huffs. “Add it to the growing list. Out with it then, Xoid.”

“It requires us to take damage.” I wrapped myself around Zan’s arm, feeling the tension emanating from him. He relaxed, only marginally.

“Go on.”

“A rift was left in the wake of the war with your people. That rift separates the rest of the planet from The Abyss. Once we are over the rift, I will allow us to be hit by one of the plasma beams and set the hovertram to auto while we jump into the rift.”

I stared at him. “Not to point out the obvious-”

“Which is exactly what you’re about to do.” My eyes narrow. For an old man, he had such a smart mouth.

“But you can’t fly.”

Kyrin clicks, nodding briefly. “Which is why one of the Tumerians will have to carry my frail old body.” There was nothing frail about him. In fact, despite being over a thousand years old, Kyrin looked as fit as a man in his prime.

Both Tumerians scoffed simultaneously and it highlighted their nature as twins. Most times it was easy for me to forget that they were twins. To me, Amondis and Azandum didn’t look that much alike. Besides the scar on Amondis’ face, his features were sharper; bolder. Zan, while he still had the chiseled jaw and intense eyes, his face held a softer edge. Perhaps it was only my perception. Azandum’s horns were thicker and larger which added to his intensity.

“Amondis will do it.”

The brother sharpened his gaze on Zan. “Like Tartri I will. I will happily carry your mate to safety brother, never you mind. She will be in safe hands.”

Zan scoffs. “Absolutely not. I’m the only male allowed to put my hands on my mate. Mr i Tn, brother, but I’m not in a position to allow that. My temper is threadbare and I’d hate for it to be set loose on you.”

I knew how much it took for Azandum to admit that he was struggling to contain his emotions but the fact that he did, proves that he’s grown so much from the man who constantly shielded himself and denied his emotional validity. I place a small peck on his bicep. His eyes softened as they found mine.

“I’m proud of you.”

“That means the universe to me coming from you, my al sisi.” I smiled in response.

Kryin growled. “I don’t care who does it, but you better decide right now because the Abyss is coming up shortly.”

We all stood in silence. The further we flew, the darker the sky got. Grey skies began to dominate the natural royal blue of Niscus. Black specs were floating around in the air adding to the ominous presence of this part of the planet.

“Here we go. Brace.”

Kyrin picks up speed, weaving the hovertram in erratic zigs and zags. Despite knowing it was coming, when the plasma hits and sends us spiraling, I let out a scream of terror. I could feel the heat of the beam working to melt the heavy metal of the vehicle. Thick, corded arms band around my body and I’m being moved until suddenly, I’m weightless.