by S. E. Weir
I don’t know what gift you may have or how the genetic changes TOM and ADAM made may have affected you. You are a brilliant and wonderful girl, no matter what, my angel. To protect you as a baby they minimized your abilities so you could grow strong and healthy. However, they assure me that it isn’t permanent, and if you choose to, they can adjust the nanocytes to allow you your heritage and any other advantages that haven’t come out yet from the nanocytes. Just ask Meredith to get in contact with them and what it’s about.
Phina rose and slowly began pacing as she thought this out. Her family had psychic gifts and she had them, too. She frowned as she remembered how easy it had seemed to learn telepathic communication with Braeden, and how sensitive Sundancer said she was to the Etheric. Could this also be a factor for those?
It was certainly something to consider. She wasn’t sure she could parse out which of the abilities she had were from this heritage and which had come through the changes since, but did it matter? She had what abilities she had, and had it on good authority that there was no going back now. Aunt Faith’s serum had taken that choice away from her. She grimaced and shook her head not wanting to dwell on that anymore.
She settled herself down on the bed again and continued, Sundancer leaning into her for comfort. Phina petted and scratched him with one hand as she read.
That brings me to something else, my angel. There’s another family who I met when I was pregnant with you—the Jamesons. Specifically, Fiona and her son Will. They both have small gifts like our family, and their family has been good friends to us. Fiona was like a sister to me and I appreciated her advice and encouragement when I struggled after a job. Yes, baby girl, your mother admits that she needs help sometimes. Your father says it’s about time, but, with his stubbornness, he has no room to argue.
So, the Jamesons. You may wonder why you don’t remember them? Sadly, we had to decide not to see them anymore when you were three since our work as spies had grown more dangerous. There were groups we were after who had a reputation like the mafia back on Earth. If you crossed them they would not only kill you but everyone in your family and your friends, too. We didn’t want to put them in danger. We wanted them safe on the MR.
We didn’t want you in danger either, but selfishly we wanted to see you, my darling girl. You may remember that for several years we were often gone and only came home for a few days at a time. This is why. We tried to protect you as much as possible. We hope that we continued to do that no matter what happened with our death. Just as we hope that you will seek out the Jamesons at some point so you can have people who care about you in your life. I know Fiona well, and she would welcome you with open arms and feed you while she listened. Please do that, my angel. You need people in your life who care about you since you get lost in your head so much. Hush, now, that’s not a criticism, just me knowing you as your mom who loves you and wants you safe and happy.
Phina slowly nodded and realized that was why Fiona hadn’t wanted to bring it up. The reason was related to her parents spying and she would have felt it wasn’t her business to talk about it. She smiled at her mom’s comment in the latter part. Phina knew she did get stuck in her head a lot. She had forgotten how her mom had gently encouraged her to join the rest of the world.
She shook her head in bewilderment. “Sundancer, why have I forgotten so many memories about my parents? No one did anything to me, did they? Can you tell?”
Sundancer stood and stepped his front paws up on her leg looking into her eyes. She felt warmth in her head that she recognized as Sundancer’s mental presence. Finally, he sat down and met her gaze with his bright blue eyes. I sense only your presence in your thoughts. I suspect that your habit of suppressing emotions is at fault. Since memories are tied to emotions, suppressing one likely suppressed the other.
Phina sighed and shook her head in frustration. “I need to do what Todd said and let the emotions out and feel them.”
Sundancer nodded and placed his chin on her lap, half closing his eyes. Yes. I did mention that he’s a wise and discerning individual? You are keeping him, are you not?
She snorted then chuckled and petted the Previdian. “That’s not up to me.”
He opened his eyes to look up at her skeptically and she amended her statement. “It’s not solely up to me. He gets a say, you know.”
Hmph. That is not how we do it on Previdia. His little triangle nose crinkled adorably, the thought earning her a reproving stare.
“Oh?” Phina was surprised to hear something more personal from Sundancer since he’d been relatively quiet on the subject so far. “How is it different?”
The males preen and show their talents to be admired and the females choose their male. If there is more than one interest, the females commence battle to decide who will win.
Phina’s eyebrows rose higher the more she heard. “And you think this is better than how we do it?”
Well, it has the benefit of knowing where things stand rather than this muddled version where you don’t know if the other is interested.
“Hmm…” She thought that over but couldn’t help commenting further. “True, but doing battle makes the male too much of a thing to be won for my tastes. I would rather be wanted in return. How do those females know they are cared about?”
Sundancer nudged her arm to elicit pets and once she acquiesced he settled to answer, though his tone sounded a tad wistful. Previdian males are drawn to strong females. The female who won would be admired, certainly. We do not have marriages such as humans appear to have, with lifelong commitments.
“Why not?” Phina gave him long strokes from his head to his tail. His wrinkled pink skin felt surprisingly soft. “Is it a difference in desire, or of culture?”
Both. Sundancer lifted his chin for scratches. Since a Previdian could hear the call at any time, permanency is not a cultural value. Besides, we live for over three hundred years. I can’t imagine living with a female for that long. That you humans can do it is strange to me.
Phina paused the scratches and raised an eyebrow. “Because we like having love and companionship throughout our life?”
He gave her an aggrieved pout, likely both at the topic and that she had stopped the scratches. Because females are bossy.
“Ah, that one was nowhere in my mind.” She resumed the ministrations then had a thought. “Does that mean that you’ve had a partnership with a female before?”
Of course. He responded with his eyes mostly shut and his chin on her knee. I have had three partnerships, fifteen children, and fifty-seven grandchildren.
Phina’s mouth dropped open to gape at the pink creature. “What? Why aren’t you with them?”
Because I am here with you.
Emotions flooded her, mostly gratitude and sadness. “Does that mean you won’t go back later?”
Sundancer remained silent for several long moments. It is unlikely. Paired Previdians usually stay with their pair until their deaths. My older cousin I mentioned—the one that had gone to Earth before—he is the only one I know of that survived. He had gained greater attention because it is mostly unheard of for a Previdian to return since the pairing connection is so close. However, his pair died before that closer connection could be established. He was...altered, but mostly unharmed by the experience.
“I’m sorry,” Phina whispered, briefly closing her eyes. “I didn’t know you had left everything knowing you couldn’t go back. Is that why you were so cranky when we met?”
He opened his eyes a slit and gave her a reproving glare. Magnificent and magnanimous beings do not get cranky. He paused then sighed, closing his eyes again. Perhaps I was, a little. It is an honor to be chosen since few are now. It is what our vow is for—to hear the call, leave our people and find our pair, helping them with their Etheric abilities. However, I did not anticipate how difficult I would find it to leave knowing I wouldn’t return.
Phina continued to pet him, but being more attentive now that she knew how
much he had sacrificed to be here. “Thank you, Sundancer. I’m sorry you had to leave your home. I hope that eventually, you will be happy to be with me, woefully inadequate though I am in my understanding.” Her mouth pulled into a smile as she attempted to tease him.
He bobbed his head though he leaned into her hand. You have several failings and you were not the type of person I had visualized myself with. Phina rolled her eyes but didn’t get a chance to say anything before he continued. But I know you now. You are admirable in your desire to help others and give so much to see people safe. I believe that the ancestors put us together for a reason.
“High praise indeed, Sundancer. Thank you.” She smiled and stroked his ears. He shook his head as if shaking off something that rubbed him the wrong way and gave her a long-suffering look before curling up next to her with his nose tucked in.
Finish your letter.
Phina sighed and nodded, turning to the pages in her hand to continue. There wasn’t much left.
Next, my angel, you have an uncle, of sorts, who you should have at least met since we are entrusting this letter into his care. His name is Lincoln but we call him Greyson in deference to his cover. He is one of our oldest and dearest friends, as well as our boss. However, we adopted him into our family since he is so alone. We won’t share his secrets, and he wouldn’t wish us to. Just understand that he lives most of his life hiding who he is from others, and he needs people in his life to remind him that there’s a man with a need for love and friendship under that persona. Please be his family for us, sweetheart. He needs you.
Link hadn’t changed much in the years since her parents wrote the letter. She would be Link’s family, of course. Glancing at Sundancer’s napping form, Phina decided she would be his family, too. Neither of them should feel alone.
She glanced down and saw that the next paragraph wasn’t in her mother’s neat handwriting but a larger scrawl. Her father’s. She swallowed and continued reading.
Lastly, my baby girl, we chose your name for a reason. Seraphina, which means “fiery one”. Seraphim are agents of light and purity, burning away the darkness. We chose Grace as your middle name because light and purity should also be tempered with love and kindness.
We have always worked in the shadows, as you may now realize. Your mother is amazing, you know. You get your smart mind from her as well as the fiddling ADAM and TOM did before you were born. She has been seeing a pattern taking shape in the universe over the past couple of decades that causes her concern. It’s nothing she can pinpoint, but she describes it as a shadow that is slowly taking hold. We have been working to find and identify this shadow. Perhaps it is the Kurtherians, and perhaps it is something else. It’s not clear enough to tell. However, we both believe that the Empire and its people are going to be in danger at some point. Not just from the Leath and their Kurtherian gods. This is something else.
I hate to ask this of you, Phina, but we need you to keep your eyes open to this threat. It’s not been solid enough to share our belief yet with others, though we’ve noted every concern and discrepancy in our reports. We need you to be the amazing woman I know you will be and protect the Empire from the shadows. Universe willing, we will have more time with you and we can do this together, but if not, you will need to continue our search. I know you can do it, baby girl. I have faith in you.
The letter switched back to her mother’s handwriting.
Of course, your father didn’t mention that he was the one to find a lot of those troubling spots that fit the pattern and realized their significance. You know how he is- and neither of us would change a thing about him.
Time grows short and we need to leave. We love you ever so much Phina, my angel. Be safe, be happy, and be the amazing person you are. You carry all our love and hope within you.
Phina finished reading, mixed emotions filling her and tears rolling down her face. She laid the letter and picture back on top of her box on the dresser and curled up around Sundancer, hugging him to her. He nuzzled his nose into the space near her throat and purred to comfort her and let her know he was here for her. But mostly, he kept quiet while she let the stuffed back tears and emotions flood through her. She had suspected she would respond this way when it all came out, which is why she had put off reading the letter.
As she lay there, she thought about that last paragraph by her dad. What shadow had her parents meant? Of course she would do her best to protect the Empire, but she was only one person. She thought about dumping the problem in Link’s lap since he was head of Spy Corps, but she couldn’t help shying away at the thought. It was her parents’ last request. She wouldn’t shirk her duty to the Empress and the Empire, even if it wasn’t an official mission. She couldn’t do it.
She kissed Sundancer on the head in thanks before getting up to wash her face, her thoughts buzzing about an analysis program she could make to sort through the data the Empire received. It would take time, certainly, but she thought it might be doable.
But first, training with Braeden early, and then, she told herself as she opened the closet to retrieve a towel and found her maid of honor dress hanging right in front of her, I have a wedding to attend tomorrow.
Chapter Twenty-Four
QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Phina’s Training Room
Braeden shuffled his feet as he wheeled his staff around to strike, then block. Phina met his staff easily but with the small hesitations that came from inexperience. He focused on gradually increasing both the pace and the strength of the blows.
Phina adjusted and continued to follow his pace, her small frown the only indication that she wasn’t comfortable with the movements yet. He turned his staff, but instead of the blows he had been using, Braeden stabbed it forward. Only her quick reflexes as she flexed her spine allowed her to avoid the tip.
Good.
After a few more minutes, Braeden brought the exercise to a halt and nodded, his eyes warm with affection. You will do well. Just remember what I told you about using the staff.
Phina recited, Stab like a knife, block like you mean it, strike with the fulcrum. Always move forward, never move backward, dance to the side but avoid rotating to show your back. Defense is the best offense.
Braeden gave her a rare grin. Exactly right. Now you need to practice both with a partner and separately. It’s the best way to learn.
Seeing the troubled look come into her eyes, he let his staff drop and opened his arms. Phina dropped hers and rushed forward to give him a big hug.
When she drew back, Phina looked up in concern. You are certain you need to go?
Nodding, Braeden put a hand on her shoulder. Yes, I’m certain. I’ve been away for quite a while, Phina.
I know. I feel like I have hardly seen you since I woke up. Her eyes got bigger and sadder.
Braeden remained silent since he knew he would miss her too. Yet, he knew his time was done here, his purpose complete. A Gleek always knew. I came here to help the Empire understand us Gleeks and to help mentor you in your abilities. I have accomplished those goals. Now that Sundancer is here to help you work on your mental abilities, you don’t need me to teach you.
Phina sighed. I know, but I still need you as a friend and as my family.
I will always be here for you when you need me. His mental voice was soft. We still have some time before I leave.
And in the meantime, we can test our mental abilities, Phina responded gleefully now that she remembered they could speak mentally whenever they wanted.
That too, Braeden agreed. Her enthusiasm was almost enough for him to wish he would be in the congregation for the wedding.
Almost.
QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Horizons Restaurant
“Here are the bouquets!” Mal said with relief as she waddled over to Alina and Phina, who knelt carefully arranging the short train behind Alina before moving to check her veil. Mal handed a larger bouquet of deep red, light pink, and creamy white flowers to Alina and a smaller one to Phina while she
kept a smaller one for herself.
She beamed when she took in Alina. “Girl, you are so beautiful! Just look at you. Maxim won’t be able to take his eyes off you!”
Alina smiled nervously at her boss and friend through her veil. “Thanks, Mal. You look amazing too! Pregnancy agrees with you.”
Celeste, Nadine, and Sis’tael moved more sedately, holding their bouquets. Their dresses were the same style as Phina’s—minus her special modifications that weren’t visible from the outside—but in a light pink that closely matched the flowers. Sis’tael’s dress had been designed to fit her Yollin physique, but she looked both pleased and amazed as she occasionally glanced down and stroked the fabric. She had told Phina at the last fitting that it was rare for Yollins to wear dresses, thinking more about what would be practical.
Mal smiled and smoothed the light pink fabric over her round belly. It was her first pregnancy and part of the reason she had given Alina a promotion, so she could take care of the boutique while Mal took care of her son. “He’s ready to come out, that’s for sure. I can’t wait!”
Alina reflexively smoothed her dress, nervously straightening and primping to make sure she looked her best. Her wedding dress was relatively simple but elegant. The front plunged to her waist, coming to a point, and wide, long triangles of creamy white synthetic satin rose to cover her chest and reached up into a halter. The skirt was fitted around her hips and flared out mid-thigh into a short train in the back. Several thin decorative fabric strings laced from the halter on the back of her neck and fanned to the sides over her bare back before crossing her waist. Alina and Mal had collaborated on the design, and it fit Alina beautifully.
