Zyaire's Forbidden Power

2. Zyaire Ketmer

Zyaire Ketmer

A fleeting glance at Tycho made me sigh. Things were getting worse, and I wasn’t sure what I could do about it. First, our planet was destroyed and now we lived on Thulrillon. The people here would not warm up to outsiders and, as Varomans, we were outsiders. We weren’t used to being treated like crap, because we were a highly intelligent species endowed with immense powers from the goddess of Vavoscocia. It was funny how the Chailzeah aliens assumed that we were a pathetic, weak, and defenseless race. That was exactly what we wanted them to think. We signed to one another instead of communicating telepathically, not trusting them to know what we were capable of. As the last of our kind, we were enormously powerful, and they might see that as a threat.

If you can call being treated like a second-class citizen living, we were living. Tycho was the oldest and there wasn’t much I could say to him, but I had to reach him somehow. He just couldn’t go on like this. If he died, mom would surely follow right after because she was sick.

Pasting on a smile, I walked over to mother. Raising my hands, I signed to her. “Mother you’re looking more beautiful than when I last saw you.” Kissing her cheek, I stepped back and walked with her to her chair in front of the window, overlooking the peace lilies.

She huffed. “You just saw me five minutes ago.” Her thin fingers cracked as she moved them.

Turning away, I walked into the small room and checked on Geneva. My sister hadn’t been doing that well. When our planet was being attacked and destroyed, the chemicals that were unleashed had damaged one of her hearts. Standing there another few minutes, I watched her chest rise and fall. Both her and my mother needed better medical care. The kind of care that the Chailzeah Imperial Army received.

Tycho walked inside, spotted me, and walked back out the house. Our house was smaller than a Gopherous stall, but we won’t live like this for long.

Closing the door, I headed to the maze that was located at the end of the garden. The hedges were tall and shaped like the Chailzeah. It would be the perfect place to take a female for a private conversation.

Where had that come from?

Walking deep inside the maze, I met up with my brother a few minutes later. There were no words needed, as related Varomans had the ability to find each other. There was something in our DNA that allowed us to always locate each other. Both suns had gone down, and darkness descended quickly, bringing a slight breeze through the trees.

Tycho looked at me before turning to face the sky again. They are getting worse. We live worse than a cornered Hotantion beast caged for amusement.

His deep voice echoed in my head although he wasn’t yelling. Tycho wasn’t the emotional type. He felt emotions but they were always tightly controlled. He hadn’t always been so uptight.

I see them. Geneva’s heart bothers her more than she lets on. Last night, she whimpered in her sleep, and was clutching at her chest.

I’m meeting with the Thulrillon Special Council. There must be a way that I can be useful to them, so that you guys can have a better life.

If it were anyone else, I would ignore that he left himself out, but I know him. He hasn’t been the same since he suffered a loss. It was clear that he intended to sacrifice himself for us. Reaching out, I fingered the leaves. These deep conversations at times seemed surreal. Our situation wasn’t real either, but we had managed to survive our planet being destroyed.

The Chailzeah had saved us, and I’m grateful, but I wanted more for my family, more for me. Our destiny would be our own, even if it were forged in blood.

The better life needs to be for all of us. It’s no more your responsibility than it is mine. This is our responsibility not yours. You and I are the men of the house.

You are the youngest. The responsibility is mine alone and I know that I have failed my family. Look at where we are, and how we’re treated.

Last time I looked, you weren’t the Emperor of Maniliv, and it wasn’t your responsibility to protect the planet and make sure the Greaxgan didn’t blow it up like they did.

I will take care of this. Mom and Geneva will get everything they need, even if I must die to give it to them. You are the heir, everything we are as a Varoman will pass to your offspring.

Jerking him toward me, I bared my teeth. You are the heir, and as oldest it is your responsibility to procreate for the Ketmer bloodline.

I will never mate or love again. The goddess was cruel to keep me alive when I pleaded so nicely for her deathly embrace.

Stop acting like you’re dead. The goddess deemed you worthy to live, so do it or not, but don’t use us as a crutch.

Zyaire, I hope you never experience what I did. You don’t understand and I hope you never will.

I thought you and I would handle this together but you’re drowning in grief, so I’m doing it. I have a meeting with the Monarchi, and I will get him to take our family situation serious.

He swung me around to face him. His grip on my wrist was like a handcuff. What were you thinking? We can’t trust them. I don’t want them knowing what we’re capable of.

We will have the life we were meant to have. I shook my head as I felt him shifting through my thoughts, like leafing through a tomb of data. As telepaths it was considered disrespectful to invade someone’s mind without permission. It was crude because you know what someone was thinking yet you invade their thoughts to double-check. My vision clouded the longer he lingered in my head. Just as I was about to throw my mental barriers up, he slid out of my unconsciousness.

He dropped my wrist. You hide that you want a mate, because of how you think I will feel. I would never deny you anything.

He started walking back toward the house. Don’t do anything yet, I’ll let you know what happens tomorrow night.

All day I attempted to keep myself busy. I was dying to know what Tycho was up too, but I waited. He had that look on his face. The one that said he was so focused but nothing and no one would stop him. He was up to something, but what was it? I swallowed my disappointment as Geneva, and I walked inside the house.

“Where is Tycho? He left early this morning.”

I shrugged. “You know Tycho’s not the easiest to be around right now. He’s probably out taking some time for himself.”

She elbowed me in the side. “What did you say to him? He just needs time to heal.”

He isn’t trying to heal. That is part of the problem. If we don’t watch him, he might succumb to his desires for eternal solace.

“You’re right. Why don’t you have a seat while I make you some Huback tea.” Passing the kitchen, I walked back to the room, and looked in on mother. She was in bed already, and I walked to the bed, watching her chest slowly rise and fall.

It was too early for her to be asleep. Scrubbing a hand down my face, I forced myself to leave the room. Closing the door, I leaned on it, taking a moment to get control of my thoughts. The last thing I needed was for Geneva to sense my turmoil. I had become a master at mental bonds and shielding my true thoughts, even from my family.

Moving into the kitchen, I swiftly heated the water, and made the tea which was a dark greenish color.

When I returned Geneva was fast asleep. We had been out all day in the scorching heat, and I had walked her far. The wedding at the palace was one of the only times people like us would be allowed on the palace grounds.

Traversing to the kitchen, I placed the tea on the counter when the door opened, and Tycho walked in, his gait sure and steady.

Leaning against the wall, I crossed my arms over my chest. The urge to storm his barriers and get answers was very tempting. What did you do? Do you have news?

He smirked. I had a meeting with the Thulrillon Council to ask them to aide us in caring for them.

They agreed to help us.

No, they denied the request. I found out that they needed Fellan Nadir rescued from the Vrakkil on their planet Vanvomia. I will rescue him, and they will give mother and Geneva the medical care they need.

When are we leaving? Geneva can watch after mother while we’re gone.

I’m going alone. I will be back in three days, and all will be as it should. He patted me on the back and headed to mother’s room.