Romero
A book lay heavy on my lap, almost an arm's length high, pressing down on my legs, the only way I could hold it. Maps of the stars in the universe. "Brother, why do we learn this strange language?"
"Royalty always has to study harder than the rest of their people… We have to be able to communicate with anyone coming to us from strange worlds."
"Where are they?"
I pointed to the curved streak of stars sweeping through the darkness. A cosmic mist creeping nearer. "Here." I turned a few pages and took in the images myself. My sisters and brothers huddled around me, looking up and down, trying to chart their way through space and time.
"When will you take us to the dark city? I want to see the room."
"Rooms."
"How many are there?"
"Twenty special ones."
"Has anyone ever used the time room?" Sherma asked.
"Yes, we know of one time."
"What happened?"
"I don't know? Whoever would've done it wouldn't have wanted his tale known… Only the story remains… Told from mouth to mouth, and in doing so, do we know where truth lies?"
"Do you believe we are living an already altered life, brother?"
"It is not. If we do not continue over there, we end. Or start again… No one would ever know—would we?"
"It feels wrong."
"It is… I think only a person with great responsibility and respect can make the decision. They would have to do it only—when it is absolutely necessary… And who knows, maybe it was… We have to know it is authentic and believable because the other room carries the proof."
"True… Do you think the galaxies colliding is a great enough reason?"
"I do… Or maybe… Losing a loved one. Missing them so much, you had to find them again. See them again… Bring them back to life."
The kids laughed. "You lie," Sherma said. I chuckled. "You will never do it."
"No, a fib to get you all to think about when you are older and have to begin the long journey out into our vast planet and find your one true mates."
"What about you, brother? Where is she?"
I looked up at the stars for some reason. Why I did not know… Although I did it with a pain in my chest, of the sacrifices we had to carry to keep our way of life sacred. The years past. How long Saleh and I walked, when he decided to go on his planned quest. Neither of us were successful. However, time had made us the closest brothers in the family. Yet, on our return, he had given up… I still had hope. Maybe in fifty years, I would roam, sure to find her then.
"Romero! Look!"
I did, over my shoulder. A lonely figure ran toward us from our community hall. Tasallah was covered in dust. I stood, handed the book to the children, and sent them away.
He took a knee and lowered his head, heaving. "Your Excellency… I came as soon as I could…" He took deep breaths. "The room showed us a planet—with a golden glow. In the Milky Way."
I stretched out my hand to help him up. "So it is true… All the stories are true."
"The elders wish for you to come."
"Of course. We will leave at sunrise." I put my arm around his shoulder. "It looks like you need a drink."
"Thank You."
***
The guards opened the city's doors. A rush swept through me like a lively spark I had not claimed in decades. The streets were bustling from the vantage point. Boats drifted down the canals. Others were anchored, unable to be carried off. Our army lived in the city with their mates or alone. The elders occupied our most sacred temple and, together, guarded our ancient grounds against intruders. If we were ever invaded or faced some other cause, the city would become a desolate place. I hoped never to see the day when the elders would have to leave. Run to different regions of the planet to safeguard our history.
Tasallah immediately took me to the viewing room, seemingly as eager as I was. The youthful eagerness accompanied me on the many days we spent, calculating the changes in the stars. Our conclusion was that nothing in the universe had shifted in light of these new findings. Two systems were not drawn together by force and nature, and confirmed my speculations. A good thing. Only the ittoqure would steer events onto their path.
From below our feet, the drum of so many clapping throughout the whole city vibrated the very walls. Done with the brandings for now, I hurried out. We rushed to witness, waiting in anticipation for the couple who had left the village; they had made it.
"Tonight we feast; tomorrow they are joined."
A few days later, I sent them off in a travel pod myself. Elated, the two had found one another. Our joinings were rare. Difficult. They would travel for months in another arduous walk to where they would settle.
The guards closed the doors again. When would it be my turn to take my mate's hand? Soon, a voice inside answered.
I wandered through the city, making my way to the main park where people spent most of their time. I had not even been to the library and wanted to stay for a while to settle my soul before the journey to the village.
I ended up in the time room; drawn there to tell the children, maybe draw them a picture to show them… In a few years, we would take the long journey and teach them the way. It was not much to look at; grey stone walls and floor. Bare with no embellishments. I walked to the window overlooking the trees, lawns, and the city in all its magnificence. Lit from within and the outside. Different colors caught my eye.
As I turned, my foot hit something on the floor. Strange. In the thick shadow the wall cast lay a flat silhouette of darkness. I bent to pick it up. My eyes flickered over the space as if I would see it had been used—at some hour—or a long time in the past… My life had changed, and I did not even know.
The need to see it properly drove me from the room, for light and to open the book. It was not from our world or any I knew… Soft leather bound in black. For a moment, I just stared at it. My fingers hovered over the edges until I finally flipped the first page. I gasped. My own handwriting. Gooseflesh rippled up my arms. Images I had drawn. Maps illustrated. Dates, times, and so many years documented of… of the life of a woman. I smiled at how I interpreted her chaotic way. Most likely shared with me by a vamp I knew well. Visiting often to 'catch me up,' like he would say, on the 'gossip.'
I fumbled to turn another page and drew the book closer. My cheeks heated. There was only one reason I would draw her naked. We were standing talking to the one the book was about. So enchanting, even though all our faces portrayed anger. On the next page, a war—on En-gannim. I turned eagerly. Yes. We stand hand in hand—a purple shadow drawn around the joined gesture to depict the sacred bond between us—watching as a couple kissed in our common room. Her friend returned to Mirach because we can not leave. They are so happy to see one another. The man. I clutched the book a little tighter. They are playing, manifesting, both ittoqure… "My mate comes from the stars,' I whispered.
I pressed it to my breast and headed in again, looking again as if I would find another clue. Had I found her and lost her? The abnormal sensation I had had for so long meant something. Did someone avoid all our defences and use the room? How? How! Without a stone or a tattoo? Ahasuerus said we were safe… Most of the stones were accounted for… Cataloged and kept secure. The teleportation stone was with the Queen on Zoreah… Did she use it? Had Zoreah gone through a terrible war only for someone to demand it and then come here?
I searched every corner of the room for even the tiniest clue and found only one thing. The shape of a circle. Black and kind of smooth. Material. What was its purpose? I pressed my fingers into the shape, widened, and released. Elastic? Did it have some sentimental value?
My eyes traveled over the room. Did someone, in fact, change time itself because they lost a loved one? I pushed both into my shirt and would head home. I needed to send Ahasuerus a communication… Or maybe I should not. Too much had shifted. My mate was out there and not here… Maybe even Saleh's life was on another planet. How and why? Is that why so many of us could not find our other halves? The truth would shake the earth beneath our foundations. And give the raiders even more cause for their way of life…