by C. Baely
Archail knew what was coming. He considered the irony of the situation as he looked at his preordained life mate. She had always been small by Pradorian standards, and had the situation been different, the council would have never approved of him mating with such an untypical female.
The council’s female member, known as Bretat, led the contingent steadily up the platform. Glancing at Archail, she nodded toward him in salutation before turning to the crowd of Pradorians. She spoke in a loud welcoming voice. “Today is a historic dawn for Prador, because we not only welcome a worthy species among us, but it is also the day when our great Vasil will accept his chosen life mate.”
A massive roar sounded from the crowd at the Pradorian woman’s words, and low growls could be heard all around the room from the male Pradorians showing respect and approval for their leader. Bretat lifted her covered hands from the long silver sleeves of her ceremonial robe and signaled for everyone to quiet. “This brave woman has consented to take part in our testing ceremony and prove herself worthy of standing as our leader next to our Vasil. She has proven her leadership qualities to the council already, and now she will prove her strength to be equal as well. I now ask our great Vasil to escort us to the chamber of transition where we will witness his life mate’s strength, as our tradition demands.”
Archail’s face had become a mask of stone as he listened to Bretat’s speech, but his mind constantly wondered why Sara had not come to receive the immortality serum. What in Prador had happened to her?
He approached Bretat. His eyes betrayed nothing of his agonizing thoughts as he leaned close to the Pradorian councilor and whispered, “I will need some time before we start.”
Bretat’s cold, golden stare informed him of her denial before she even spoke. “My Vasil, if you require time, you may take it after the test of courage has been completed.” Her voice had come out low, and the warning hidden behind it did not escape him.
Archail was ready to argue the matter with her, but two male council members then approached and positioned themselves on either side of him, proclaiming to his people that the ceremonial trial of his life mate was about to begin. Left without a choice and feeling like a death-claimed man, he led the party toward the open door leading to the Palladium’s great hall.
The small female was covered with a silver hooded veil that hid her face from all who watched. It was embroidered with small, sparkling white stones, and a long-sleeved silver robe covered her entire body, even her hands. She took small, careful steps as she followed behind the Pradorian group, trying not to trip over the lengthy robe that touched the floor. The robe displayed the three Pradorian moons, and it spread around her feet, ending in a long trail that slid behind her over the white-tiled floor.
Following behind, Dar escorted Irina. Both were dressed in ritual silver-black outfits that matched the colors that Archail and his chosen mate wore. They were to be witnesses to the female’s bravery so they could verify it for the Pradorian crowd who would be waiting for the announcement.
In the long Palladium corridor, the leading group halted before the black door that had been kept locked all this time only to be opened now for the ceremony. The heavy door creaked and groaned in protest as the inside of the room was slowly revealed.
A trumpeting sound blasted, informing the crowd of the group’s entry into the transition chamber, and all fell silent within the great hall in anticipation.
* * *
A cold breeze coming from the long chamber brought a chill upon the small female standing behind the Pradorian council, causing her to tremble involuntarily. She had been prepared for this cold stillness and what would follow, but now her thoughts ran over the moment when she had willingly decided to participate in this ceremony. Her mind raced through the conversation with Dar and Irina in Irina’s living room. “You were brought to us by mistake.” Dar sighed while looking down at Sara with resignation and enduring Irina’s persistent stare.
“What do you mean?” inquired Sara, staring at him in confusion.
“The Restorians were not asked to bring twenty one females from Earth to our planet. They were only supposed to deliver twenty.”
“They made a mistake.” Sara rose from the floating cushion she had been sitting on.
Irina intervened while gazing at Sara with sincerity in her golden eyes. “Yes, Sara, they did. You were never intended to be Archail’s mate. You were not even supposed to be here.”
Sara looked at both of them, pure shock slamming through her. “Why wasn’t I returned to the Restorians instead of being kept here as Archail’s mate?”
Dar exchanged a quick glance with Irina, who then raised a hand, gesturing for him to continue. “Actually, I was about to do that, but Archail stopped me.”
Sara couldn’t understand his discomfort. “Why didn’t Archail let you return me?”
Irina offered an explanation before Dar could utter a word. “Although the Restorians have highly advanced technology, they are not known for their intelligence. What is worse, however, is how they have very little regard for the lives of those they revive. To them, such people are simply commodities to be traded.”
“Yes, well,” Dar injected, “Archail knew if we returned you to them, you would probably have been used as a research subject and ultimately left to die. They could never return you to your planet, and they would have little prospect of selling you to another compatible species. To them you would have simply been an unwanted surplus.”
“So, Archail saved my life.” Sara looked back at both of them as the realization set in. “But why did he take me as his mate?”
Dar made a noise that sounded like coughing. He then looked away from her as if he felt uncomfortable looking into her eyes.
Irina turned toward him and punched his shoulder before replying. “If you will not tell her then I will, although I believe it will be better if she hears the truth from the source.”
Dar’s shoulders slackened in resignation and turned to face Sara. “On the day after your arrival, I had to appear before the council and inform them of your species’ successful arrival.” He paused for a moment to meet her gaze intensely. “When they were informed of your unexpected arrival and Archail’s subsequent interference, they demanded I inform Archail that you would not be allowed to take part in the blood ceremony. You were to be left behind at the caves where you would live out the rest of your days.”
Sara stared in stunned disbelief, not knowing exactly what to think.
“Basically, you were not to be allowed to unite your blood with our leader under any circumstances. The council had other long-standing plans for him, but he had refused them every time. With your arrival, it was their turn to refuse him his request.”
Dar turned toward Irina as if he was apologizing. “I knew Archail would never accept their order, so I did the first thing that came to mind.”
“And what was that?” Sara asked in a barely audible voice, unable to believe what she was hearing.
“I advised them that this was a good opportunity for them to press their own demand,” Dar admitted, lowering his head in guilt.
“What was this demand? What did they want from him?” Sara pressed on in anticipation, but deep down she felt that somehow she already knew the answer.
“To life-mate with the last remaining Pradorian female that could bear a future generation of our kind.” Dar spoke as if a great load had been lifted from his soul. He then turned around to look directly into her widened eyes.
“You mean to say there’s a Pradorian female who can still bear children?” Pure disbelief rushed through Sara as she recalled the story Archail had told about his people’s past.
Irina took over. “This female was not on Prador when the devastation hit our planet, so she was unaffected by the disease that hit the rest of our species.”
“How long ago was Archail informed that this woman could have children?” A glimmer of hope rose within Sara’s heart.
“He w
as told immediately after the return of the council, with her that is, right after we became immortal,” Dar stated calmly.
“You mean to tell me he knew from the very beginning that he could have children but refused? Why?” Sara asked.
It was Irina who spoke next. “The answer is simple. He didn’t love her, Sara.” Irina looked at her with sympathy and something more intense. Maybe hope.
“So, even though he refused to life-mate with this Pradorian female all those years ago, he gave into the council’s demand just so he could exchange his blood with mine?” Sara was completely overwhelmed by Archail’s sacrifice.
“Sara, just think about how deeply he must have felt about you for him to accept something so painful to him,” Irina insisted.
“Why would it be so painful to him to mate with someone of his own species, someone who could give him pure Pradorian children?” Sara asked, while also recalling her sacrifice back on Earth. A realization dawned on her before she even heard Irina speaking again.
“Do you honestly believe that? For a man who will live forever, how could life-mating with someone he has no feelings for be anything other than torture?” Irina retorted, sounding astonished at her question.
Sara sighed and nodded in comprehension. She had to agree with her Pradorian friend. “No, I suppose it wouldn’t be a pleasant prospect at all.”
“As well as acceding to their demand, he also set his own conditions. They would have to agree to give you the immortality serum and offer you a life among us. Failure to do so would allow him to go back on his word.” Irina smiled at Sara with gleaming eyes. “Do you understand now why I am so certain he loves you? He would never even suggest going back on his word to the council unless you meant everything to him.”
Looking at the two women and stepping forward, Dar added his own opinion. “Irina, you should not forget the effect her scent has on him, as it does the rest of us.”
“Dar!” Irina snapped as she turned to face him, her face fueled with controlled anger. “How is it possible for you to be so blind?” She moved closer to him, her finger pointed close to his face. “I have spoken with the warriors, and you could not be further from the truth. Actually, four couples have refused to mate because both parties agreed there was no attraction between them. The only reason those two warriors of yours told this stupid story was to try to excuse their rush to claim their life mates. They knew you would otherwise run to the council to inform them of their improper conduct.”
“Naturally, feeling about Orora the way you do, you were all too ready to accept it as fact. You felt it was the only reasonable explanation for your feelings, so you didn’t investigate it further, did you?” Irina spouted hotly.
Dar looked at her as if he was offended by her words. He then opened his mouth to tell her his own thoughts, but Sara’s voice interrupted their little disagreement. “If what you’ve said so far is true, there is nothing I can do about it. He’s already made his decision.” Sara moved back to the cushioned seat, only looking back at Irina and Dar once.
“You could appear before the council and ask them to reconsider their demand,” Irina blurted out.
Now it was Dar’s turn to look at Irina with disbelief. “Do you realize what you are asking of her?”
“Well, you could demand to be his life mate. This would certainly save him from a life of abject misery.”
Dar almost shouted in outrage. “Have you no scruples, Irina? Her life will be in danger if she goes through with the ceremony without receiving the serum first. The council will not allow her to take it if she makes such a demand!”
Irina turned to look at Dar with a grin of pure satisfaction. “Then we will have to make sure things do not happen that way.”
After everything was explained to Sara, she concluded it was only fair that she should help Archail. Considering everything he had sacrificed for her, she agreed with Irina’s plan, even though she wasn’t sure whether Archail loved her. She knew Archail was about to begin the sort of life she had already been through, and there wasn’t a speck of happiness awaiting him in that life. Sara cared for him too much to wish him a life of pure torture, so when the two Pradorians informed her of their plan and what she needed to do, she didn’t hesitate, even for a second, before agreeing.
Chapter 18
She stood before the mysterious locked room she had first discovered in the Palladium a few days ago. She prepared herself to enter it, knowing full well the horrors hidden within.
The Pradorian council moved forward in unison, following Archail, who headed toward an elevated seat to the left. There he waited in cold indifference for the council to sit either side of him in the lower seats.
Two large Pradorian males escorted Sara, leading her to the far end of the moist, foggy room. They came to stand before a large steel wheel that appeared to be some kind of device. A black-stone X crossed the center of the wheel, and as Sara carefully examined it, she saw black leather straps hanging down from each end of the straight beams.
“Are you ready to see your willing life mate, my Vasil?” inquired Bretat in a cold voice.
“Let us be done with this,” Archail responded between clenched teeth, his face an unreadable dark mask.
“Very well.” A subtle smile of satisfaction formed on Bretat’s light blue lips as she turned to the two Pradorian escorts. “Reveal her.”
In perfect harmony, the two Pradorians placed their large hands on her veil and robe, and with one sudden movement, as if unwrapping a long-awaited gift, they drew the clothing away from her, exposing her to Archail’s shocked eyes and the cold observing council.
Sara wore the traditional black cloth of the Pradorian males, which partially covered her lower body, stopping just above her knees. From the waist up, she was naked and lightly painted in dark red and black stripes. It was traditional for a Pradorian life mate to carry the colors of her leader, which were also the colors of the blood she would shed for him.
With all eyes in the room observing her, Sara felt like running away and hiding in the darkest corner of the room as a shiver ran through her insides. For outward appearances, however, she held her head high and gazed toward the council in defiance. With determination, she closed the few steps that separated her from the large, ominous wheel. She stopped in front of it and stretched her arms upward along the long black stone beams. She opened her legs and positioned them against the lower black beams. The two Pradorians moved immediately to bind her hands and legs to the beams, and after waiting for the council’s nod of approval, they moved away from her to a position on the other side of the room.
Sara looked up at Archail. He wore a beautiful black leather cloth covering his tight waist and reaching just above his knees. His chest was covered with thick leather stripes crossing in an X, uniting in the center around his torso.. They seemed to run all the way down his long back. He appeared to be tense, by the way he sat erect upon his high chair never taking his eyes away from her. He looked back at her, his eyes wider than ever before. His lips were softly parted seeming surprised, but to Sara, he looked more handsome at that very moment.
Archail simply stared at Sara in shocked silence.
One of the male Pradorians headed toward a wall on Sara’s left and removed a dark spherical object that seemed to be covered with sharp nail-like points. A thick handle had been crafted at the base of its spherical design. The Pradorian used his large hand to squeeze its thick surface, causing numerous blue beams to leap forth from its sharp points. The tongue-like whips rippled throughout the room’s cold air, glowing in a sinister way, as if the cold air itself had been made from this item.
“No!” Archail screamed, abruptly standing from where he had sat quietly so far.
Bretat rose almost immediately and was now staring him down. She looked formidable, even from her lower position. “My great Vasil, you cannot object to this. Do I need to remind you that you have given your word?”
“I will not allow this woman to g
o through with the test of the Berekut.” He sounded determined as he spoke and looked defiantly at his council.
“Then you will leave us no choice but to inform the people of our Vasil’s weakness and inability to lead,” Bretat announced, sounding equally cool and determined.
“Archail, no!” Sara called out to him, making him turn to her once again. Her eyes gleamed with tears of happiness as she felt his pain for her in the words he had spoken. He had shown how much he was willing to give up for her. She inhaled deeply and, trying to sound as steady as possible, replied, “I want to do this. It’s my choice. I asked the council to allow me to be your life mate, so please let’s get on with it.” She looked at him expectedly, and for a long moment, she feared he would deny her.
It was with great surprise when she saw him sit back down like a heavy load had been suddenly placed on his shoulders. She heard his words clearly. “Has she been given the serum?”
“No, my great one. Her courage is so great that she agreed to pass the test without taking it,” Bretat informed him. Her admiration for the human woman was clear in her voice.
“This is outrageous!” Archail’s voice boomed across the room, fueled once more by his emotions. This time he leaped like a wild cat out of his seat and headed toward Sara with determined steps. He placed his body in front of hers, shielding her. “The first Pradorian who tries to touch this woman will have to deal with me first.”
Bretat stared down at him from where she stood, seemingly unable to accept his defiant behavior. The council members behind her all whispered among themselves as they watched their great Vasil acting so out of character.
“Then you leave us no choice but to denounce you and have another take your place who will then take this worthy woman as his life mate,” Bretat stated in a lethal voice as her eyes stared him down with cold determination.
Irina intervened. “Could I confer with my brother for a moment?” She then approached Bretat, bowing her head slightly in respect for the councilor and the other members behind her.
