Beyond My Stars

Light

            The next morning I was barraged with questions from Beth which I answered with mostly lies. I didn’t want anyone to know about my encounter with the man in the stall, let alone that I had been wandering the Kajian streets alone and without a guard. I just told them everything else that had happened, like with Kit and those two Kajians outside the complex.

            We had breakfast and headed to the ‘conference room’ as soon as we were done. It’s a place where we were to be briefed about helping out or what they can do for jobs.

            I searched the Kajians for Kit, but he wasn’t there. I was starting to think that he was avoiding the complex. Trying to push him from my mind, I tried to decide where I wanted to go. Maddie went to the seamstresses to help them make clothing for everyone, Beth went with the healers, and now it was my turn. Yet, all I could think about was that stupid stone.

            “Human female, where do you wish to go?” One of the Kajians I recognized from when they boarded the plane said as he moved closer. His bright green eyes eyed me like I was a confusing puzzle. I was starting to think that all Kajians were reacting to me this way.

            I kept my head high, glancing over. “I want to help out with the Kajians in the markets.”

            He narrowed his eyes at me, but not angrily, more like extremely curious. “The markets? I don’t think that is a safe place for-“

            “A human?” I asked, rolling my eyes at him. I didn’t think they were going to act like we humans were something to keep secluded from the population at large. I noticed him nonchalantly looking for my translating necklace, which Beth told me is called a Folia, which I didn’t have around my neck.

            Quickly the Kajian straightened. “Wait, that’s not what I meant. I’m worried about your safety, please forgive my rudeness, monet.”

            I waved him off. “It’s fine, but as long as I’m allowed to pick which stall I help.”

            He gave me a slight smile as his green eyes landed on my right hand. We both looked down to my newly acquired ring and then back up to each other. I raised an eyebrow, he glanced up to the ceiling, he was obviously thinking about something. “If that’s what you want I will oblige you.”

            “It is, and thank you. There is a stall at the end of the market street. The owner is an older man with silver eyes, I wish to help him.” I said assertively, trying to get over the whole awkward ring thing.

            The Kajian slightly nodded. “What do you call yourself?”

            “Milady, can you do that for me?”

            “I’m Naak Tulan Dass, and I can. But can I ask how you knew that Kajian’s stall is there?” He said with a questioning look over his handsome face.

            I flashed him a brilliant smile, not knowing I stole the Kajian’s breath away. “I had a dream about him.”

            With that I turned and started towards the market. I didn’t know if I was supposed to have a Folia, but everyone is seeming to notice that I didn’t have one. Not to mention the ring Kit had given me seemed to be attracting just as much attention as me being a human. In the middle of thinking, I noticed a female uniformed Kajian following me since I exited the building, and for a moment I worried.

            After a few minutes of her stalking I turned and ambushed the follower. I moved right into the woman’s face and stared into her bright pink eyes with a confidence I was struggling to maintain.

            “We’re you told to follow me?” I asked as the Kajian took a step back.

            The woman nodded. “Yes, I’m sorry, monet.”

            I sighed, stepping back to give her room. “That’s…Who told you to shadow me?”

            “I can’t tell you that I’m afraid.” The Kajian said as she looked away.

            “Come on, it’s really not that big of a deal. I’m just curious.” I shifted my weight to look lazy.

            The Kajian took a deep breath and let her guard drop. “It was Lieutenant Reye Kit Aloysius, monet.”

            I nodded. “First, I have a name just like you and your people. It’s Milady Fairchild, and second if you’re going to follow me at least act slightly normal. I doubt anyone wants to kill someone as insignificant as me. So, what’s your name?”

            “Celle Jag Orika, and I guess I wasn’t being too polite. Let’s start over, I’m here to make sure no one tries to treat you badly and make sure you are safe from other Kajians.” She said as she gestured for them to continue on towards the city.

            Confused, I tilted my head. “I don’t get it. None of the other humans have bodyguards, why do I get one?”

            Jag seemed upset at the question, looking away as if it would help. “That, I really can’t tell you if you don’t already know. I’m sorry, Milady.”

            We walked and talked about how the complex came to be, and her thoughts of the humans. Jag seemed to like the idea of us being there, she was just afraid of everyone else acting out. Still, there was something Jag wasn’t telling me. Something about the connection between the humans and Kajian’s. Every time I tried to ask about it I was shut down with a subject change. Not to mention Jag still wouldn’t specify on why Kit is having me guarded like this.

            They moved through the market street easily, and that’s when I noticed someone at the stall I had visited last night.

            “Ah, hell…” I whispered under my breath.

            It was Kit, and he looked concentrated on something as him and the man talked. Then he shifted his weight and glanced over to see me through the crowd. I swallowed hard, meshing around an unaware Kajian, his eyes were piercing and almost violent.

            Then I realized something, this Kajian, was not Kit. It was the guy I saw at the river last night through the stone. He looked nearly identical to Kit it was astonishing, but he was slightly taller and toned just a little more. He also had more tattoo’s all the way to his neck and seemed to cover just about every inch of his skin, except his face. His facial features were stunning, yet rugged compared to Kit’s which was model like handsome. His whole aura seemed more menacing and dominating. He claimed any space where he was in without even asking for command. He drew me in with his mercury eyes, and I felt my whole body heat up. Then I remembered something Kit had said yesterday, he said he was the younger son, so this must be his elder brother.

            I tried to keep that confidence in me as we approached, but his eyes seemed to just push me off my pillar.

            “Hello. What’s up?” I asked meekly.

            His face never changed. “I could ask you the same thing, human. Why are you in the Heta?”

            I looked around. “Is that what this place is called? Oh, I’m here to work with this man if he lets me. What about you, Reye?”

            “I’m working too. I was told there was a human outside the complex last night wondering around, and the description fit’s you perfectly.” He said tilting his head as he moved in closer to me. “How do you know I’m a Reye? Who have you been talking too, human?”

            I shrugged. “I have no idea what you are talking about. As for knowing you’re a Reye, I met your younger brother yesterday.”

            The old man from last night saw her and waved. “Hello again, monet.”

            He glanced back to me with a ‘really?’ look as he took another step closer. He shook his head at me. “Oh yeah, no idea, human? What else did you not do last night?”

            “I did not spy on you either. I also didn’t talk to a little girl who was a…Chiefs daughter or something like that. If you needed to know for future reference.” I smirked, trying to show that I wasn’t afraid of him.

            He narrowed his eyes as his hand lifted my chin so I had to look at him in the face. “You we’re spying on me? I thought I recognized you.”

            As he touched me, I could feel those same sparks and electricity. I felt him stiffen for a moment before his eyes locked with mine. My stomach felt like it was doing flips, and I could feel heat starting to burn in my core between my legs. It was obvious that he knew what kind of effect he was having on me from the devilish smirk that appeared on his beautiful lips. I swallowed hard as he leaned in a little more, only two inches separated our faces.

            Jag cleared her throat, obviously not wanting to be a part of whatever this was between us. “Sir, what brings you here? I thought that you were supposed to be in the lower east side.”

            “I am looking for Moody, he was last seen in the area. Then I overheard someone saying they saw a human female walking around last night with long golden hair and blue eyes. I figured that was either a rumor or it was actually a human. So, here I am. Which is your job now it seems, Celle Jag. Please keep this human out of trouble.” He said before turning his attention back to me. “You. Stay here at the stall, and don’t wonder off.”

            I bit her bottom lip and nodded. “I’ll make sure to wait to get into anything until your back. That way you’ll be my accomplice instead. What is your name? I can always make one up for you if you prefer that. I’m Milady.”

            He shook his head. “It’s Reye Koryn Aloysius, Koryn is what you can call me. I’m the 1st Lieutenant of the starship Oran, eldest son of Chief Ito of the Reye Tribe. Omnia Sou, luvana.”

            Before I could ask what that meant he nodded to Jag and was gone. After watching Koryn disappear into the crowd, I turned to raise an eyebrow at Jag. The Kajian stood there completely dumbfounded as she stared in the same direction that Koryn had just went.

            Confused, I nudged Jag. “What’s up? What did he say in Kajian that I didn’t get?”

            Jag shook her head to clear her thoughts. “He…I can’t tell you, Milady. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to ask him when he comes back.”

            “I’ll tell you, little monet.”

            With a smile, I turned to look at the old Kajian. “Oh, will you? Is it something like, ‘your trouble’ or ‘see you around’?”

            He laughed as Jag shook her head. “It’s far more than that, little monet. Has he not told you what ‘luvana’ means?”

            I shrugged. “Nope. I figured it was like, heathen, female, mess maker, trouble.”

            Again the old Kajian laughed. He patted my shoulder before leaning back in his chair. “Light. It mean’s ‘the light in one’s heart’.”

            “Light…he thinks I’m the light?” I asked, glancing over in the direction that Koryn went.

            “Again, monet. It means more than just that.” He said as he pointed to the grey and blue rock I held the night before. “That’s yours. It was meant for you.”

            I smiled as I hopped on top the counter, eyeing the man with a coy smile on my face. “I only showed up on this planet a few days ago, old man. How do you know it was meant for me when I wasn’t here?”

            He smiled as he took a drag off his long pipe. “Just because you got here a few days ago does not mean that you were not meant to be here, with me and this rock right here. So, little light, how much do you want to know about yourself?”