Beyond My Stars

Invitation

3rd Day of Eloré, Location Circle City, City-Center, Female Complex:

            “Milady! What the hell is this at our front door?!”

            I came running into the living area to see Beth and Maddie standing next to the open door with frightened looks on their faces. When I got closer I could see it was a device, but I wasn’t sure of what kind. I bent down and touched the side of it that had a green button. Suddenly the thing opened up, and I pushed the girls behind me as we watched. Freakishly, the thing hummed and then an image of a Kaji woman appeared in front of us.

            “We request that the human female, Milady Fairchild, who occupies this dwelling report to the High Command building at dusk tonight for a feast between us and the neighboring planets. Attendance is required, and non-negotiable. Please take the voucher inside this device and pick out any dress of your liking. Again, your attendance is a must. Do not be late.” The hologram said.

            I scoffed at it. “Yeah, I’m not going.”

            The hologram crossed its arm, causing all three of us to make faces or gasp. “Did you not hear the part about attendance is required?”

            “Didn’t you hear me when I said I wasn’t going? I just had a run in with some freaky General of Grong, and I never want to see him again. I. Am. Not. Going.” I reiterated, scowling at the hologram as I leaned in closer.

            The Kaji sighed. “Come on, this is one of my first assignments, Milady. I’m not supposed to tell you this, but the request isn’t from the Grong General. It’s from the High Commander. He’s heard about your marking and being claimed, and he wants information about it. I swear to you, the invite is not from the Grong General.”

            I groaned. “Alright, fine. I’ll be there, but only on one request.”

            “Name it.” She said as she bowed a little.

            “I want Reye Koryn Aloysius and Reye Kit Aloysius to escort me there.” I watched the Kaji shift uncomfortably hearing the brother’s names.

            She let out a deep breath. “Lieutenant’s Reye Koryn Aloysius and Reye Kit Aloysius are unavailable currently. Is there another you wish to escort you?”

            I narrowed my eyes at her. “Unavailable? What do you mean? Where are they?”

            “I’m not at liberty to say, but I’ve been required to say that you must not try to contact them until this time tomorrow. They are on orders from the High Commander, and must be left to their duties.” She said as gently as possible.

            I scoffed. “Celle Jag Orika, I’m pretty sure she is a private or petty officer. Is she available?”

            The Kaji nodded. “Yes, Milady. The Lieutenants left her to watch over you in their absence. She will be ready and waiting for you at the gate facing the north side. Please, don’t be late.”

            With that the hologram lady disappeared, the box opened another compartment and a sleek bright red paper was visible in the pocket.

            Beth let out a little sigh. “I can’t believe this. What do they want with you?”

            I shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m hopefully going to get us freedom in the process.”

            Maddie rubbed her arms nervously. “Milady, this isn’t what I had in mind when I asked you for help. I’m so sorry.”

            “For what? You did absolutely nothing wrong. I should have listened to the brothers and stayed in yesterday. Maybe then I wouldn’t have an alien General harassing me. I’m still going to get you all what you want, one way or the other.” I told her with a smile. “Now, it’s time to go dress shopping. Who’s coming with me?”

            The three of us were at Heta, looking for a dress shop. Beth and Maddie were happily looking through the shops wears, but I couldn’t stop looking down at my bracelet communicator. If what the hologram said was true, then I wouldn’t be able to reach them no matter how hard I tried. My instincts told me that my boys were up to something, and I wasn’t going to be able to find out what until they came back to me.

            “Milady, come inside this one! There’s a beautiful cream-colored dress that reflects like oil in the light!” Maddie called out as Beth grabbed my arm and my attention.

            I smiled and let them drag me into the store. The dress they picked out was actually perfect. It upset me knowing the brothers weren’t going to see me in it though. The cream-colored dress was floor length, with a long wispy skirt that was cut into two-inch-wide strips right above the knee. The whole corset style top was made of a special lace that none of us had ever seen before, but the style reminded me of Koryn and Kit’s tattoo’s. It was strapless and was meant to hug the body like a second skin. The dress maker fitted me and made sure everything was perfect, even gave me these stunning cream-colored crystals that reflected the same way to place on the twine part of my marks for a visual effect, accenting the marks and bringing them to life. While I waited on the seamstress I noticed something happening behind me.

            “How much is this dress?” Beth asked a male Kaji with glowing green eyes and shoulder length green hair that was do dark it was nearly black, walking by her heading for the back.

            He stopped and smiled at her. “The tag is right there.”

            Her shoulders dropped in defeat. “Yeah. Thanks.”

            Seeing her disappointment, the Kaji sighed, then he saw her necklace. “Oh, your human?”

            “I am. That’s why…” Beth started.

            “You can’t read the tag.”  He said as he shook his head. “I’m sorry for acting like that. It’s just been a long day, I’ve been to six different shops restocking their shelves for them, and I’m tired.”

            Beth smiled and shrugged. “It’s okay. Usually I’m too scared to leave the Complex, so, I probably came off as stand-offish.”

            A big smile slid onto the Kaji’s face. “Not at all. I’m Naak Loi Borzo. What’s your name, pretty human?”

            Red flushed Beth’s cheeks as she glanced away for a moment. “Beth Martinez, how do I call you?”

            “Oh, with Kaji you call us by our middle names. So, it’s Loi.” He said as he took off his gloves and held out his hand.

            Beth smiled up at him as she put her hand in his. Her face changed in an instant, she yanked her hand back and turned away from Loi. “I’m sorry, it must be static or something.”

            Loi watched her like she was a new beginning after the end of the world. “It wasn’t just static. You felt that too, yeah?”

            “I don’t know what I felt.” Beth said as she refused to turn and look back at him.

            “Please, look at me at least.” Loi begged, finally getting Beth to turn to him. “That’s it, I’m not going to hurt you or do anything that you won’t like, I swear. Please, let me see your hand.”  

            Beth was hesitant, but she listened and gave him her hand.

            I was watching them with fascination, because if I wasn’t mistaken, then I think they found their Maité’s. Not wanting to intrude on their moment I looked away and tried to focus on something else. My mind began to race with thoughts about tonight, and that I wasn’t going to have the brothers with me. Luckily, Jag was going to be there so I wouldn’t be completely alone. Lost in thought, I never heard footsteps approaching me.

            “Milady, will you help us?”

            I turned and saw Beth, still hand in hand with Loi the Kaji. “What is it, babe?”

            She nervously looked to the ground. “Um, will you help us figure out what’s happening?”

            “Yeah, sure.” I said as I gave them my full attention. “Does it feel like sparks? Like an electrical current moving though you, but not painful. More pleasurable, blissful. And for some reason, you don’t want to stop touching each other?”

            Beth was bright red, and now that I got a good look so was Loi. Both nodded, not really wanting to speak at this very moment about what was happening. At least until Loi decided to break the silence.

            “Beth said that you are marked? By Kaji?” He asked as his eyes roamed down to my neck.

            I smiled. “By two, actually.”

            He looked shocked. “Do you think all humans have two Kajian Maité’s?”

            “God no.” I said with a laugh. “My Kaji are brothers born only ten months apart and have shared everything since the beginning of their lives. It was only fitting for them that they shared their Maité too, or at least what they said. I think it was just fate.”

            Loi looked relieved. “That’s good to know.”

            I laughed again. “That swelling jealous feeling you got from the idea of another touching Beth, that’s the ‘bond’. You two are definitely Maité’s.”

            “Are you sure, Milady? Last time a Kaji thought so and tried to mark me I almost died.” Beth said quietly.

            This is exactly where I thought this conversation was going. “Beth, that was the ‘heat’, not a bond. Both parties feel it deep, in your bones. It’s undeniable, you know it the moment you touch. Everything seems better, brighter, sweeter. It’s amazing. How do you feel right now?”

            She nodded. “Like that.”

            “Maité’s.” I said as I smiled. “Congratulations.”

            Loi smiled back as his thumb rubbed the back of Beth’s hand. “Thank you.”

            “Milady?”

            I tilted my head. “Yes, Beth?”

            “Free our people. I want to be happy, but caged in that Complex isn’t letting anyone find happiness. If this is what it feels like to find that special person, then it’s wrong to keep us from them. Fight for us, if it’s you, then it can be done.” Beth looked up into my eyes with a fire in them I haven’t seen since the plane.

            Proudly I held my head high. “It will be done. I’ll make sure of it.”