The past

"Anie, quick this way!" Whispered Mommy as she pulled me towards the backroom of the house Daddy had left for us. Sho took me into the back storage room and opened the secrete compartment in the closet. It was small and I would only be able to fit sideways. She rushed me in and told me to keep silent. She kissed my left side of my head and closed the door. I shivered as I heared the men yelling and ready to beat down the front door of our little shack.

I heard mommy leave the room towards the noise.

"Bang, Bang, Bang, and crash!" The door being beaten down resenated through out the house. Then I heard the voices.

"Quick grab her!" I heard a thud.

"Too late sir, she took the poison. It was Jasberry weed. She died instantly."

I cringed. Tears flowing down my face silently.

"There was a girl. Find his daughter!"

The movement I heard of drawers being pulled out, things smashing, yelling and splinting of wood sent shivers through my body. The movement flowed into the backroom where I was.

"Wait!" silence.

"Aim this at the closet."

"Yes sir!"

Suddenly I felt scorching heat as the lazer weapon shot right in front of me cutting my bangs off. I closed my eyes tight as I heard more shots being fired all around me. Feeling like death for me was approuching, I clentched my mouth preparing for the pain. Then silence. So silent it was deafening as it lingered.

"Sir?"

"Enough! We still have orders. If she is here she will die of starvation Move out!" 

I heard the foot steps leave the room. I waited for a what seemed like a lifetime, counting the seconds in my head with my ears perked to see if they were coming back. Then I finally let out a small sob... As soft as I could muster.

The Mysterious Man

I closed my eyes as the sale started, knowing full well how this would proceed. Ganesa would excite the crowd, getting them ready. Most of the girls and boys will be sold to slavery. Either for work for the family or provide more intimate needs. I'd never see them again, never be able to help them. That's why early on I learned to never get close to anyone. They would either sadden you with stories of absolute horror that is their life or you'd never see them again. The most beautiful women would be back the next day. Ganesa wouldn't let them go so easily, her included.

"And now to present one of our best and most beautiful, Anie!"

I heard my name and moved foward.

"Now this one is unique. She can fill you with joy in many ways! If you want advice, her words cut through the fuzzy problem like a knife through butter. If you want someone to talk to, her hearing is precise enough to hear a pin drop three rooms down! She is useful in many and all ways! Come now step up, who would want this beauty's company?"

"I start at 15 gold coins!" One man started waving his hand. Then the random voices started.

"20!"

"30!"

I waited as I heard the values go up knowing that when I open my eyes I'd see the man or family I'd spend the day and night with. It was at one hundred fifty. This is when Ganesa will start the one to sold count down to excite the crowed to spend more. Usually he get three hundred when he's done.

"Going once! Going twice! .."

"Ten thousand gold peices to keep!"

"Sold to the man with ten thousand! Please meet me over to the side to finish the deal."

I heard the gavle came down and my eyes shot open to try to see the man who had that much money. I saw a glimpse of a hood walking towards the side before Ganesa pushed me toards the dressing rooms. 

"Go and get ready my dear. You are lucky one today! He dropped that like it was nothing! You will have a nice life now, so go dress like a lady would be expected to dress. Quickly now." Ganesa wispered laughing in joy.

Begrudingly I did as he said and left for the rooms. Buterflies overturned my stomach. I realized I was excited and nervous. I could leave this place. Forget it forever. Now the only question, what to wear? Looking throught the trunks I found a white Sari with blood red designs on it. Packed with it is a see through wrap, golden with flowers and a hair peice which is a light red. It shimmered with new hope as I quickly took it out and put  it on and looked at the mirror.

The sari covered most of my body delicatly. I wasn't used to this, yet it felt comfortable. The material was Tark Cotton. Special from the Hendsum Galaxy. It was extreamly soft and smooth. It felt like it could be from a cloud. I quickly found my mother's earings and put them in as I left the room. One of the young girls was waiting. She nodded silently and I followered her to the only room I had never been in. We walked by the sound proof rooms down the cloth decorated walls. Ganesa believed that it added to the complete stress free enviroment. Some people thought they were dreaming when walking through here. Easy to believe when the see through detailed old wraps were dengling from the ceiling. It was easy to get information out this way. Give them a little alcohol and walk them through while filled with beautiful men and women and silence. For the right price Ganesa would get information out of anyone. The young girl stopped in front of the plain black door and bowed her head. I looked at her.

She was a Carnian. They were from a water system. Her necklace was designed to hide her gills and to give her water like we take a gulp of air. It was as thick as an arm and conncected to the thin tank on her back. It had to be refilled every three hours if she was active. If not, every five hours. No nose or mouth. Just big luminus eyes, filled with many colors of light. Ganesa had actually saved her life. She was left here to die in a hot, harsh enviroment. She was so young.

I took off my thick gold necklace and put it around her neck. I earned it from a spying job I had done when I first got here. She looked at me with those big eyes and I heared her telpathically.

"Thank you."

  Then she left, holding onto it as if it were to crack. I turned to the door and knocked. Waiting three seconds was the code to come in so I opened the door and walked in.

 The meeting

When I closed the door and pulled back the draps my eyes widden. The man was a Lucidum. They were a strong force to be reckened with. Not only were they physically the strongest race within eight galaxies but they were intelligent. Their head weighes anywhere from seven to ten pounds. They are said to be from a luminus world were everything eats everything else. This man is the perfect speciman of his species.

Sitting he loomed over Ganesa, who was 5' 9". His peircing light blue eyes seemed to examine Ganesa. Against the dark green, almost black skin around his eyes were green and blue freckles. 

"Ahh, here she is." Ganesa exclaimed. His plump self sitting in his leather chair. Ganesa's people had the ability to change their appearance, simular to my own but not the same. His is only skin deep but neitherless confusing. No one has ever seen his true colors. Right now he had blue skin and light green eyes with no pupil. His red clothes hid the rest of his skin. His bald head sparkled like sun on water.

The man turned and leaned his head back to look at me as his green and yellow bangs moved slightly. There on his nose was the golden peircing of royality of his people.Then I saw the scar on his left side of his head, only a shade lighter then his skin. I stood strong as I felt his eyes wander over my body and I saw his mouth open just enough so you could see his pearl white teeth. He wipped his head back to Ganesa and nodded. I just stood speecheles as I watched his hair seem to change from green to yellow depending on what angle you saw it from. It seem to glow from within him and reached out to the ends of his long hair. The longer the hair, the older they are in his culture.

"How old are you?" I inquired without realising my mouth was moving.

Ganesa snapped towards me.

"I taught you to be silent girl!" he yelled as he started to get up. The Lucidum held up his hand towards Ganesa. He stood up and came towards me. He stood close to 7ft tall. Within two steps he was in front of me. His pants were green with light green armor covering his vital veins. He only had a chest peice covering his uper chest with the rest of his torso open to veiw. He had a yellow hoodless, cloak on and armor above his wrists to his elbows. His horns on his chin had golden jewlery on them. I held my ground stubbornly and looked him in his eyes. He took my chin in his big, left hand and stared into my eyes.

"How old are you?" He asked.

"I will be hitting my people's teenager years this year." I said coyly. He nodded.

"99 huh? Very young. Who was your father?"

My temper flared up as I pushed his hand away.

"Not involved!" I venomously  answered.

He clicked his tongue musically for a few minutes which despite myself, drained the anger energy from my body. 

"Now now, no need to waste energy. You'll need it for the journey. Very young indeed. Ganesa did your people try to train her in anger managment?" He tuned his head back.

My left hand came flying up to stab him with a foot long needle that was hidden within my clothing and his right snatched it back down to my side as Ganesa replied.

"They tried but she's a unique kind. No one can predict her flares. Quick and for no reason at times. We aren't sure where she gets all the extra energy." he quickly verbally, defended himself.

"Good. Then no bad habits to worry about. Thank you." He turned back to me.

"Are you ready to.." he paused as his eyes saw my earings. His left hand touched my chin and touched the fragil dangles.

"Are these from your mother? Quite expensive. Where is she n.." He moved aside as I again flared up and tried to trip him. He let go, moved behind me and hugged me, all in one fluid motion. I struggled as I heared him clicking again. Slowly the anger left again. I leaned against him and listened to the music of his tongue. As he stopped he let go and opened the door for me.

"You have your money and I thank you for your hosting skills while I waited."

"Why of course! Have a wonderful day good sir!" Ganesa cheerfully said as he walked over to close the door behind us.

"Good bye Anie." He wispered.

  I turned to the Lucidum and followed him through the halls.

"Am I permitted to ask questions?"

"It is encouraged. You are not a slave anymore." He replied making a quick right turn toward the shipyard attached to the underground building.

"How do you do that with the clicking?"

He bellowed a quick laugh as he looked back at me.

"Of all the questions and you start with that one? Well, my people's tongue is long and thin in order to communicate. Our language is complex and musical at times. This helps us pronounce several languages through out the galaxies. It also allows us to release sounds that taps into the front of your cerebellum and convinces it to relax. Anger can't stay in a relaxed body like yours." he said as he walked to a jet black ship. It's outside looked like glass and marble. It was shapped like a triangle. He stopped suddenly, turned, and kissed me on the lips. I felt a sharp pain and then the colors I saw started to fuzz together and I fell.

    "grrrhhmmm" I moanned trying to move but feeliing paralized. I Manage to open my eyes and I see space. Stars flying by. I stare for a few moments, allowing my body time to adjust to whatever he gave me. I heard movemnt behind me and a laugh. It's him, the Lucidum. I'd never heard of one of them laughing. Yet I've made him laugh twice.

"You are quite the species, your kind. Adaptable to any drug, poison, or surrounding changes. I'd never imagined how fast you adapt. We've only  been in space for a day and already you're waking up. I'm impressed." He said as he came over to my left side to sit in the chair next to mine.

"I'd never seen your kind laugh before." I mentally sent to him. I watched in satisfaction as his eyes widen slightly.

"So you never seen my kind but you know we're telepatic. How?" He asked.

"Telepaths leave a marker around them. For each species it's different. Yours is a simple ring around you. It's like an invintation to anyone who can see or feel it." I answered trying to push the answer from my mind to his.

"I see. Interesting. Normally we don't laugh. Being as intelligent as we are it's hard to find a  dull inactive intelligence interesting, let alone funny. Most species we encounter care about so little that it annoys us. At the same time, being with only our kind is even more boring. Some can grow to stand it. I could not. Which takes us to you." His eyes darted too me quick as he stated this.

"I need a partner. My world needs a prince, an heir and I need a partner. No one on my planet could arouse my interest. They are beautiful females but they all think the same. I can predict what they will do. I need someone who will keep me on my toes, someone who will surprise me. My world is also meeting new cultures and the normal mind of a Lucidum will not due in these meetings. I need a different kind of soul. So I picked you." His voice followed and echoed as he walked away behind me.

"Chose me?" I inquired as I got my mouth to finally move.

"Don't worry. You have the chance to refuse me. I never agreed with slaves. So if you refuse I will set you down anywhere you please to start a new life."

"How do you know I'm compatable for mating? I don't even know your name." this was followed by an amused sound. Not sure if it was a laugh or gurgling. He came over to me, lifted my left hand to his lips and bowed.

"Tarnikven, my dear. At your service." I stared at him inquistively as he turned and went behind me again. I smelled something with Lavander.

"My kind doesn't reproduce the ways most do. We reproduce mently. When we feel we found a sutable mate who is compatable or close to our DNA we insert our DNA through a form of telepathic wave into the womb. Only the females on our world have the organs that you would expect. The males do not. Even our form of pleasure is different. It's an out of world experience as some would say." He explained as he came over with two cups of what smelled like Hitrosa tea.

"What are you asking?"

"Have you ever heard of Amazon?"

"It's an earth expression from the milkyway to describe females that defy the norm. The woman were warriors who needed no men except to reproduce. If they had any male children then they were left to die in the forest. It is actual quite a disfunctional story. The human males said they were the perfect woman except the fact that they hated males. They had their own little society.  Only problem was that they weren't human at all but Antarian from a nearby galaxy. They didn't hate men, just the human species. On their world, the females were the warriors and the males were the peace keepers and politicians. When a small group crash landed on earth they decided to rebel and try to change the society. "

"It didn't work though. There were other alien species there already shaping the earth's future. So you do know of the smaller galaxies." He asked.

"Earth is the planet of the chilldren. One of the few who's future is unpredictable. They are not space travlers yet. They seem too involved with internal affairs to be ready to take that leap. The religions specifically. There are so many that they are trying to find a way to coexist. The milkyway will not become a part of our Universe untill the children reach light speed at the least. But the legends and stories from their world are legendary. Such imagination!" 

 "I hear slight admiration in your voice."

I shrugged.

"Well I need the perfect Amazon. The human inturpretation that is. I need some one who is beautiful, skillful in combat, demanding, strong willed and more. I need a woman who I can count on to rule beside me and can pick out my enemies. You shall have my protection, a cosy life style, clothes, food, and money. You can help with the ruling of my people. I need in return someone who can build a network of spies accross the different galaxies and worlds." He explained.

I took a sip of the tea and let the warm spices wash over my senses.  He needs a queen who is a politician and a warrior. A spy and a peacekeeper. He needs someone who can create and mantain a network. That I can do. I looked at him. He's an attractive male and seems to enjoy my company. This would be a new life. An adventure.

"Alright, I accept. Just know my kind has many stages to go through before we reach maturity. If you can handle that, I have nothing to loose. It'll be fun." I informed him.

He nodded, as his eyes glinted showing his amusment in my words.

"Well then, sit back and relax. It'l be a few days before we reach my planet."

I nodded and prepared myself to go into a comma induced status, to concerve energy. The last thing I see is that little smirk on his face.

    The Grasslands

    "Anie.... Anie... Little dove it's time to wake up"

I moan as I realize it's not a dream and someone is trying to wake me. I opened my eyes to see those icy blue eyes staring into my own. 

"What is a dove?" He smiled and pulled back.

"A white bird on earth. Very graceful and elegnant." He said while pushing buttons and flipping switches.

"As you get to know me, you'll find a new nickname. I'm not graceful."

He just laughed at me and continued driving the ship.

"Here we are. We will be entering orbit now." 

I feel a jerk as we drop out of lightspeed and gasp as I see the planet. It has 5 moons, and two huge suns many planets away.

"The suns are so big that as far away from them that we are is still close enough to get a decent amount of sun everyday. It's a cooler planet reaching at the warmest around 90 degrees at the equator. We have various plants and forests that hold heat so it can be warmer in the densest part of a forests." He explained looking at my reaction carefully.

I looked at the planet and suddenly jumped up and down excited causing Tarnikven to swiftly move away in surprise. The colors could be seen from orbit. I saw red, greens, blues, and yellows all around the planet. The continents were centered around the equator and few were close to the top or very bottem. The planet seemed to glow. I felt hands on my shoulders and I turned to face him.

"I need to land the ship now." he stated inbetween laughing.

I looked down to see my hands on the circit board. I pull my hands away quickly and sat down in the seat next to his while he laughs again.

"You are unpredictable!"

I blush as he takes the ship through the atmospere. Once we burst through the clouds my mouth falls open as I run to the side of the ship to see out the window. The trees are huge, at least a couple spaceships wide and too tall to measure in my head. The colors of the different plants are vast and various. The whole planet seemed to sparkle with life. 

"Anie, come see your palace!" Tarnikven called.

I went over and gasped. The city was in the trees. I saw houses, stables, schools and more. In the center was a tree that was morphed into a building like structure. Tarnikven pushed a button above his head and the ground opened up to recieve us. He flew the ship to the bottom and turned the engines off.

"Come, they park the ship when they are finished with the repairs or upgrades. I want you to meet my advisors. They are expecting you."

I followed him out of the ship into what looked like an underground cavity full of all kinds of ships, ours being the smallest. As soon as we left a group ran straight to the ship. Tarikven lead me out of the cavern to a stairway with stairs going up in a spiral. When we reached the top he opened the door and we walked out of a tree's trunk and onto the long grass. He stopped to grab my hand and lead me through the grass. It was up to my shoulders and up to his torso. It waved in the wind and seemed to change between yellow and green constantly. As I looked back to Tarikven to ask a question regaurding the grass I realized why he had my hand. I could feel his hand, but I was having trouble seeing him. The air and the grass' affect seemed to be attributing to it. I strained to get myeyes to distinguish between the two but it only proceeded to give me a head ach. Slowly my speed slowed as my head ach increased and I started to throw up letting go of his hand and falling to my knees. Being below the glare of the grass helped significatley as my head stoped aching. All I wanted to do was curl up and sleep. Yet I knew I couldn't. I knew better. So I forced myself to my feet and raised my head ready for the head ach to return. As I opened my eyes I instead am looking into those same blue eyes that belong to Tarikven. He picked me up in his arms and continued to walk but I jumped out of his arms into the grass again. I stood up again as he came back towards me and I held up my hand. He stopped tilting his head slighlty.

"Wait! I can adapt. Give me the chance to." He nodded and waited.

I closed my eyes and in my head pictured the scene. The grass waves causes the color change and glare from the ground. Then there is the air surrounding the whole area. It looks clear but in fact is filled with small, yellow, pollen balls that reflected the light back at the ground. I could feel my eye muscles twitching and moving as they adjust. Lastly, his eyes took on a new shade of blue. There was a green tint, almost like mesh over his eyes. That was the final part. My eyes finished moving and I opened them. A new world waited. With the green tint I could see that the grass was high but the movement wasn't just the blades but other Lucidum runing and working in the grass. That's why their hair changes, to fit the grasslands. Looking up I see all the small pollen balls that reflect the sunlight back to the sky and ground. It was all color trickery and light being redirected to cause harm to those who have weaker eyes. I look to Tarikven and nod. He smiled. He took my hand again, this time, out of admiration. I see strange looks from others as they see me walking through the grass with no pain or faltering body.

I felt a surge of energy from inside me and I let go of his hand and ran. The wind hit my face forcing my hair aside and my Sari flew off of my body. I felt the grass sweeping against my skin. I looked ahead to see the end of the grasslands but instead see Tarnikven running ahead of me laughing. I smirk and pick up speed. It felt almost like a dream, as if I was floating towards him. I almost could touch his hand when he stopped, turned quick and picked me up off my feet. I felt my shoes fly off as he spun me around and then pulled me into his arms close. His right arm held my bottom like a seat and his left arm carressed my back. I looked at him laughing as he just smirked at me with those ice blue eyes of his. 

"You'll have to work harder than that to win me over." I stated patting his head.

"Well I love challenges." He replied.

"No you do not! My Lord, this is no way a King should be acting!" A voice rudley interupted.

Tarnikven sighed as he put me down on my feet. I turned around to see the owner of the voice. He was shorter than Tarnikven and a lighter shade of green, the color of newly bloomed leaves. His eyes were a startling yellow with an orange hue. He also had grey tatoos covering his face and neck. His outfit was black and gold, with red boots.

"Now now, Knar. No need to get all motherly on me. Besides you haven't meet my Queen yet. This is...."

"Anie Sashint. Should be reaching her teenage years by now. Mother died by ingesting a deadley plant known as Jasberry weed and father was killed in the Lotus Noir war. No siblings, no relatives and no significant figures in her life. In my opinion she was an appropriate choice, one of your few you make involving your personal life." Knar quickly almost quoted off at once.

"Knar. You wound me so. I though I ment more to you." A sarcastic Tarnikven voiced.

Knar lifted my hand and bowed his head.

"My Lady. As much to learn as you do have, one thing to always know is that your King likes to keep the circle of advisors waiting instead of being ontime. Or more to the point he is late all the time except when it's time for him to leave the palace in which he is early." He said as he lifted his head and letting go of my hand.

I turned to behind me. "Avoiding paperwork Tarnikven? Not very King like now is it?"

"Actually my father had the same ailment. It's a genetic transfer."

"I'm guessing there was a wonder woman behind him cleaning up his mess?"

"Now I wouldn't say he made a mess, just avoided the tedious details. He was always there when it counted."

"Well it's not a behavior you should emulate, my Lord. Now if you please. You have to get changed and ready to meet with your advisors." Knar stated as he bowed and with his left hand showed us to a beast I've never seen before. It was some sort of horse but it was green with iridecence, compound eyes and lashes as long as my fingers. There were stubs on the beast's back which moved like limbs. The beast's eyes looked into mine as I came closser and put my hand out. He sniffed it and then nuzzled it. I came closer to pet his head. I ran my hand through his mane. It was soft and fluffy despite looking flat and straw like. Tarnikven was already on the back and had his hand towards me. With his help I sat behind Tarnikven on the high backed beast and we headed off towards what would be my new home.

The bloody beautiful Garden

   I shivered as the hand maiden swiftly pulled the light material over my skin sending shivers up my spin. She belted the pearl belt to my waist and stood back to admire her work. She nodded happily and bowed.

"Quickly now, you musten be late" she said in a thick, dry accent.

"And if I can my Lady, advice might aid you now." I nodded and she continued.

"You need to see that The Lord is not as all that is seen. There are many parts involved and some you won't recongize. On this world he is different, he must be in order to rule strong."She explained quickly and very akward.

I looked at her inquistily trying to decipher her strong accent. She was a plump, huggable woman with sky blue skin and purple eyes. She had no nose but big ears.  As she turned to open the door I saw her tail swat at a bird trying to nest in her hair. She was a Spritite. Very unique species but abondant accross all galaxies. They aren't all related but all have one thing in commen. They all were apart of the enviroment that they lived in. It's almost like they were born from the trees or plants around them. They are considered one of the most powerful species, but they can't leave where they were born or they'll die. A very constrictive life. Nothing my older sister would even consider.

Niwave. That was a subject I had not thought of in many years. I pushed the thought away as she turned towards me again. I quickly followed her out into the corridor. The walls were interesting. Some were completely see through. Others were plain white with few designs. I had to struggle to keep up with the Spritite as she quickly walked ahead. Luckily the material of my dress just seemed to flow behind me. We come to an inside garden before the great doors of the hall by making a right and I stopped to take in all the colors.

The garden was unlike anything I had ever seen. This planet itself was starting to feel this way. The garden was open and the ceiling had a box hole in it to let light in. There was no sidewalk or a door to get it. There were four sides and each side it was like an open window to veiw the garden. The tallest and dullest plants were against the sides and the plants in front  were decreasing in size untill they came to the middle where stood the tree. It was a tree unlike any I had ever seen. It's leaves and limbs reached above the ceiling. It blocked some of the sunlight and the bit of sunlight that did get threw came in streams of light across the garden. It was a redish tan with golden lines running up the sides almost like veins. The leaves shimmered red, gold, yellow, orange, and pink. All around the trunk you could see the fallen leaves create a bed for the shimmering plants underneith. The scene was majestic and peaceful. You could even see little insects if you look closely enough, nesting below. 

"AAhh, my lady likes the Ritual Garden, yes? It is pretty yes? Horrible background but pretty, yes indeed." The Spririte nodded.

"What history does it hide?" I asked thinking nothing could be so bad if it was this beautiful.

"They consider the tree the planet's god, soul provider, protector and so forth long ago. The garden grew on it's own accord. Everytime they cut plants, they poof! Gow back next few days! So they built a shrine but big, big storm destroyed shrine but garden all ok. So they built this and fed things to garden. But they grew smart, so they think at least, so they stopped feeding the garden. But no one take it down. To afraid.. Just won't say so. Yep yep." She answered looking out.

"Fed the garden what exactly?" I inqiured.

"What you think they feed? Nuts? They feed living things. Things that bleed when hurt. Usually other species that come here to fight. Birds and things that sqeak work too. Garden would sparkle after being fed.. very pretty."

I looked at her with a confused face, and when she saw my face she too had the same look on her own.

"What de matter with you? You not know a meat eaten plant when you see one? Why you think it's so pretty, hmmm? Cause it need blood. Nastly lil. things get a hold of ya and strong too. Pull you down quick." She said nodding her head.

I looked back to the beautiful garden and thought. So all this beauty just to catch it's next prey. Then it grows more beautiful after it eats. So many comparisons to reality.

"My Lady, Ms Spritite evening." Tarnikven behind me in a much more formal voice. I turned suddenly to see him in his dress uniform. It was simple, perfect. Black pants with black armor on his legs, and knee high bulky boots covering his feet. He had a crimson coat but instead of buttons there was a golden pin which latched it together at his waist. On his chest he wore his failiy's emblem attached to his dress shoulder armor which glimmered with orange and gold. His crown laid on his forhead under his hair His eyes, were distant and gaurded. Yet as my eyes looked over his handsome figure, his own eyes trailed over my own outfit. As he caught my eyes with his own, he smiled making me blush slightly.

I had never worn clothes like these before. It was a three layer, long sleeved, simple dress tied together by Voler Pearls found in the lakes with high salt content. The under layer of the dress was a grape purple, the over layer was a soft pink and the top layer was a deep purple. The square neckline had purple flowers on the edges. I wore the symbolic head pearls for a fiance to the future king. The dress was smooth and light. He came close to me and pulled his right hand out from behind his back. My eyes widdened as I saw a red and pink flower bloom that shimmered. He held it out to me and I took it mumbling a thank you as I studied the flower closer. It had thousands of different shades of red and pink on the many petals and it was as big as my hand.

"It's Magnifque. A spcial flower that blooms on the Luisant Tree. Once you pick it, it looses it's Lumenescence and the flower seems to  sparkle due to the pollen left over." Tarnikven explained.

"Shall we my Queen?" he asked holding out his arm for me to grab. I took a hold of his arm and we set off towards the door.

"Now just ye wait there a we mint, me lady!" She called from behind. 

I turned quickly to see her snatching the flower out of my hand.

"No food, no drink and no other living things allowed. I just take this and put it in a vase in yer room my dear and you be all happy when you come back to see sucha lovely sight!"

I nodded laughing as she walked away mumbling to her self.

"Now you need a nice, er vase maybe one clear or plain since you be so sparkling...."

I turned around and we headed back toards the door again. Without the flower though, I couldn't distract myself from the nervious buterflies flapping around in my belly.

The Double Personality

He opened the door for me and we stepped into an oval room with back marble walls. Starkly different from the rest of the building. Remebering what the Spririte said, I waited patently and watched to learn how these meetings were conducted.

There was a white, wooden table in the middle with 21 chairs surrounding it, yet only 15 were occupied with bodies. Everyone looked up at us as I followed Tarnikven towards the head of the table. There were two chairs open at the end. One was pure white, and seemed to be made out of limbs from the trees while the other one was bigger and made from black marble. Seven people sat around the two chairs and when they saw us coming over they all stood up and bowed to us both. We bowed back and Knar, who was sitting on the left side of the black chair, got up to pull the white chair out which I predicted was for me. I walked over and looked at Knar before I sat and he lowed his eyes as a sign so I sat down. He pushed me in and I thanked him. Tarnikven stood in front of his chair and everybody stood. As I started to push myself up, I saw the Lucidum next to me grab my arm shaking his head no. Him and the Spririte were the only ones sitting. I stayed and watched as everybody came up from their bow.

Tarnikven turned to me and bowed saying "The light never sets on the chosen star." 

"Now bow your head and say: may the suns always light the night." said a voice in my head. I repeated what the voice had said and the group ended with "Light thrives always"

"Don't worry, I'm the spritite a seat away from you. I'll help you get through this meeting." The spririte voice said again in my head.

 I blinked as a sign and surveyed my surroundings as Tarnikven sat down and looked through papers and records.

To my left was a big Lucidium. A lot more muscle than the rest sitting around the table. He wore ( )own. Nothing shinning, nothing glowing, just plain ( )own. He wore thick, dark ( )own gloves, and had a collar that stood up over his turtle neck shirt hiding his neck. He had no hair, but his head and face were covered with scares of a light green color. He was so dark of a color green that he almost looked black. His face horns, a natural mutation of the Lucidiums, under his chin were decorated with gold circlets. His eyes were a dark, stormy blue.

To his right was the spririte who had talked to me. She was very different than the spririte who had helped me dress earlier. She was skinny as a stick, with an angular face and green eyes. Her ( )own skin with natural grooves suggested that she moved through the trees and forests. Her hair looked like a bird's nest with flowers. She had a short ( )own dress that almost seemed to blend in with her skin. Her translucent wings seemed to appear and disappear in seconds. She looked at me and smiled.

"Curious one aren't ya? My name is Limb. I have a much more complecated name but Limb works for you my Queeny, queen." She said in my mind as before.

"So who is every body?" I asked mentally.

"Well the Lucidium to your right is Taunt. He can't speak, for he has no tongue. He is your constant gaurd. I am your personal advisor. We go were ever you go. We even sleep in your room. No no, there are seperate rooms from yours, ours will just be attached to yours. Makes it easier to defend you."  She remarked quickly while answering a question I had before I asked.

"Now to your left is the King, his main advisor Knar. He is one to trust. Next to him you have the Science advisor, Wvent and the military advisor Tijackt."

As she explained I looked towards them. Wvent was mint green,  skinned Lucidium with green eyes. He wore a white long coat that covered every part of his body. He had black gloves on and his hair was in a misheivled bun. Whereas Tijackt was not as big as Taunt but decently built for a Lucidium. He was a medium green with his hair tightly put up in a bun. He had yellow eyes and his outfit was shimmering with medals and stones. They both had the same color hair as Tarnikven.

"Are they trust worthy?"

"Yes, all of your advisors are handpicked and trustworthy. Although Tijackt is mighty prideful so if I was you I wouldn't push his buttons. Now the one next to them and the one next to me are the two leads of the top houses in this Gamblet."

"Gamblet?" I inquired interupting? As we were discussing Tarnikven was still reading the reports and there was unter silence in the room. So much so that it was creepy. I looked at his eyes and the papper he held which discussed military action against the Gasky and my attention was drawn away again as the Spririte started to mentally converse again.

"A Gamblet is what we call a society of the Lucidiums." There are 24 Gamblets on this planet, and each has it's own royal ruler. Twice every year they meet up formally. They also meet up for weddings and death. Every Gamblet has it's own project to focas on. Ours for example, is the outside galaxies. We communicate with other species and delegate the war if we end up in one. Although, only one Lucidium has survived a war and stayed ruler. If the other 23 do not agree with the war, after it's over they revoke the ruler's station and it is given to another family. Our King is the only one to have ever been in a war and has stayed ruler.

I looked over at Tarikven in admiration but something funny caught my eye. He was reading the same papper that he was when I last looked at him. Then the Spririte's voice came back into my head.

"Now the one next to Tijackt is Niket. He is the ruler of the first house. Quiet old as you can tell but completely loyal to the King."

I looked at the older Lucidium, his face had quit a few more wrinkles and his eyes drooped a bit. His mouth was in a tight line and his hair was a transparent white. His eyes were pale yellow, and swelled with wisdom and age. He was a smaller build but I notice the muscle still firm on his arms. He wore no shirt, just a  sling which held his weapon on his back and a hidden knife in front.

"He is our best assasin. He knows the arts well and will be teaching you many things while you are here. The woman next to me is Liyal. The queen of the second house."

She was pretty. She was a medium green that seemed to shine. Her hair was the green and yellow but so light that you almost mistook both for the other. She wore a top that had no sleeves and just covered her chest. Her eyes were a medium blue color and sparkled. She wore 3 hoop earings in both ears and a noise ring. She also had hoops going through her chin horns. She was refined like aged wine.

"Now my lady, don't you start non of that nonsence! You are far more beautiful than she and younger."replied that familar voice in my head. My face blushes as I heard that reply to my darker thoughts.

I heard movement towards the ends of the table as the other Lucidiums, who did not stand up when the other did, started to become impatient with the wait.

"My king, I have much to do today still and will be unable to continue to wait for much longer. May we continue now?" A lime color skinned Lucidum asked. He wore dark green shirt with pockets and black pants. His hair was very short compared to everyone else in the room. It layed around his chin, straight as an arrow and green as tree's leaves. His eyes were grey and he was angry.

Tarnikven looked up from the paper he had been reading for the past 15 minutes and his stern face glared at the man who stood.

"The door is there if you are uninterested." he sayed holding his hand in the way of the door.

"It may not be that he is uninterested My Lord." Said a velvet voice from a few seats next to the man who stood.

Her hair was yellow and white curled to perfection. Her eyes appeared big due to the eye make-up she had on and her lips were a dark purple. She wore purple bands around her smaller chin horns. Being a darker green made her fushia eyes stand out, and her eye make-up made them look bigger. She had long nails that were painted a sparkling light purple.  As she stood you could see her layered dress flow around her skinny figure. The bodice stuck to her and her low cut collar seemed to try to applify her chest pushing it out to view. She walked over slowly as she talked."

"You see we have no issue with you my Lord, but we have an inssue with the girl. She is new and knows not what we are dealing with. The problems are complex and she is so young. Why not let her rest and the rest of us will help you make decisions." she said and she came closser to Tarnikven like he had a target on his back. Before she could touch him, I coldly replied to her.

"I don't believe he mentioned you my dear. And you are ?" I was satisfied when I saw her look of annoyance drift to her face for a second.

"Why my love, I am Lireyl, I am the lead air magic user here in this city.."

"Gamblet." I cunningly interupted her. She looked at me with disgust but corrected herself.

      "Yes Gamblet. Now my Lord, she must be tired. Why not let her rest?" she asked while slidding her hands over his shoulders. I saw Tarnikven mouth straighten into a thin line and his eyes grew cloudy with anger.

"You are quite right. I am exhasted. Tarnikven why not show me to my room?" I said slyly.

"He stood immediatly and pushed her off as he put his hand out to mine. I focased the grin of my face to stay nuetral as I saw her look of disbelief.

"My queen is tired, we shall continue when she is rested." Tarnikven stated, yet while the 7 surrounding us stood and bowed in agreement, the other eight exclaimed remarks and insults.

"My Lord, seriously you aren't considering leaving because she is tired? You have work here!" Called out a light green Lucidium with his hair ( )aided and black marks around his eyes. 

He came closer and I saw his suit was leather with a redish color to it. It was like he was wrapped in nothing but thin peices of cloth over and over. His eyes were yellow, a dark puke colored yellow. As he neared us I saw Taunt swiftly step in front of me and Limb appeared next to me, holding my arm. Tarnikven walked around Taunt and with Nar by his side stood in front of the approuching Lucidium. 

"Limb, keep an eye out for the female Lucidium." I mentally sent to her along with a picture of Lirey.

Limb responded by quickly scanning the room and turning around to see Lirey coming up behind us.

"My queen is tired. I will take her to her chambers to retire, we will continue this another time." Tarnikven said much more sternly this time. I sensed a hint of venom in his voice this time.

"My Lord, she is not your queen yet untill ceromony takes place. For exapmle if she were to mysteriously dissapear, you would still be available to mate." Lirey wispered into his ear. 

Having just about enough of this sqabble, I pushed past Taunt and took Tarnikven's arm. He never turned to look, instead his angry glare was towards that Lucidium with the yellow eyes.

"I will be speaking with the Gasky with Tarnikven, Nar, Taunt, and Limb without any of you. It'll be easier." I stated remebering the pappers he was reading earlier.

The yellow eyed Lucidium raised his eye ( )ows in surprise and the Lime colored Lucidium laughed in annoyance.

"Without us? She is not even queen and she thinks she can just walk in and take over. Now what will she change about our culture!"

"Maybe removing you from my audiance will be a start? Shall we?" I remarked.

His eyes seem to darken with anger and his mouth muscles tensed, but no words came forth from his lips.

"Besides you don't want a queen that is unable to take any action. How soon can we meet them dear?" I asked turning to Tarnikven. Again he refused to look at me, his eyes were cold and unmoving.

"Tomorrow. They are on their way now." Tarnikven stated.

"Wonderful, then we shall meet them tomorrow. Since that was the only important informatin needing to be discussed I believe you now have no other previous engagments?" I asked looking towards Knar. He nodded and Tarnikven turned with me towards the door.

As we pushed through the door with Knar, Limb and Taunt I could feel the hostility from the room as we left. I ( )eathed a sigh of relief.

"Impressive my Queen. Not everyone can shut Niyer up. This was exspecially considering she has tried 5 times to become Tarnikven's mate in the past 8 years."  Limb stated in a mater of fact voice.

  I looked and her and realized why she didn't want my presence and why I was threatened.

"She was out of line. She should be shackled." Tarnikven stated in a voice that sent shivers up my spin.

"Tarnikven! That is not how you handle people like her." I exclaimed, surprised at the hostility coming from him.

"We need to up the ceromony as soon as possible. You are in danger while we wait." He said ignoring my comment.

Anger swelled up and filled my body as I finally decided to end this disturbing attitude. I grabed his hand and with strenth no one knew I had I dragged Tarnikven through the halls behind me as I sent a picture of where I wanted to end up to Limb. She quickly responded with the images to follow sent to my head and I followed. We made turn and after turn with me leading so filled with anger that i ignored the usual beauty of the walls as we past them. We came to a metal, shinning door with stairs beyond and as I pulled him through he managed to get his hand back.

"What are you doing?!" He yelled as he freed his hand and pulled back. His eyes were a cloudy blue and I knew he wasn't done yet.

Instead of answering him I ran up the stairs as fast as an Narasian Fox. I caught a glimpse of his surprised and worried eyes as I followed the curve of the stairs. He ran to catch me and we followed the chase all the way to the top 5 levels higher. I saw the door at the top and I pushed forward despite being tired. I knew I had to make it through the door. Right as he was about to catch me I burst through the door and rant to the edge. He stopped at the door. He looked at me with fear and confussion as He saw me. I leaned against the rail and sat down on top. He stared at me for a moment. I patted the spot next to me as my legs hugged one of the rails's vertical bars. He came over and put his hands on the rail. 

"Isn't it beautiful?" I asked looking out. The building was white as snow marble and made a beautiful contrast to the ( )ight colorful forest around it. A couple Lucidiums saw us at the top and waved. I saw Tarnikven's eyes ( )ighten as he saw his people below and waved back. He looked at me and for a moment everything stopped. Almost like time itself had stopped. He came closer towards me and my heart started to skip beats.

"It's amazing. How our suns set. They set so close to each other yet so far away. The much larger one sets and leaves a deep red and orange glow over everything. Then the smaller ( )ighter sun sets and ( )ightens up parts of our sky. The light bounces off the tree tops which shimmer with the ( )ight colors and the light travles up to the sky again." He said looking at me.

"It's beautiful. Everything about your planet is beautiful." I said smiling.

His eyes turned dark again.

"Not everything. Those who are like Lirey and Kantchen here are the type to beware. I knew they would try to kill you but not this quickly." He said as he watched his people below.

"I would like to see them try!" I said standing straight and lifting my chin to seem threatning. I heard him chuckle and a smile reach my lips as the attempt was successful.

"How can you push danger away so easily?" He asked in curiosity.

"She doesn't know what I am. She doesn't know that no poisen can affect me. She doesn't know my strengths or the weakness of my people."

"It's only a matter of ti.."

"Stop!" I exclaimed going to him. I put my hand on his check and traced the scar around his right eye. His hands never went towards my waist to pull me closer. He was a gentleman he said, never touching me unless I wished it.

"I don't care how much she pursued you, nor how skilled she is. Magic is usless against me, I'm not affected by it. She is no threat to me. Now tomorrow we will talk to the Gasky tomorrow morning. Why not tonight we go out?"

"Go out?" he asked. I moved away from him to the rail again.

"A queen has to meet her people. I figured it would be a good start. It would get you away from those praying eyes as well." I exclaimed and turned to watch the sunset of the two suns.

"You know, there is a story about our suns." Tarnikven said as I turned to face him.

"Really? What is about? Lovers?"

"Sisters. The suns are sisters. Bellezza Rosso is the big beautiful red light, and Aurea is the small ( )ight one, though she wasn't always so small. She used to be as big as her sister. They said she shinned like hundreds of diamonds. They travled the systems to find a home and they came upon aa dark system with no sun but there was a light. They followed it to this planet and found it was his heart that was the small light. Bellezza Rosso asked what the matter was and his reply was that he was sad. For without sun, no life could grow and he could be father to no one. Bellezza Rose was saddened by this and came close to hug him, but she was then caught in his gravity and he pulled her in. She cried out but her sister could do nothing. The planet, bewildered by what has happened tried with all his might and was able to stop turning long enough so she could flee."

"Well that was nice of him." I remarked.

"He urged them to leave for their safty. When Bellezza Rosso inquired as to why, he explained that see her warmth and beauty was too great. His power lied with his heart and he wanted her close, but allas she did not, so he let her go. The sisters turned to leave. Halfway through the system, a tear left Bellezza Rosso's eye and fell into the darkness as a star. Then without control she wept and more stars came from her tears and she began to darken. Her sister begged her as to what was wrong and Bellezza Rosso explained that her heart, she had left with the planet. She said she wanted nothing more that to be with him. So her younger sister Aurea pulled her back to the earth and Bellezza Rosso lit back up. She begged the planet to take both of them to give light and he agreed. Bellezza Rosso asked for his name which he said was Toke. She then  gave him her promise and her whole heart as to never love another. Soon things started to grow and change which made him very happy. Her sister stayed by her side as the days went by. They were best friends sharing the day and showering the planet with light. They were happy together." He said smiling.

"What happened to them?"

"The moon. He was named Alqamar. He was handsome beyond our senses and understanding. He was half dark and half light including his eyes, his one eye was black and his other was ice blue. He also had to different attitudes, charming and gentle was his more common one. His other was devious and dark. He enjoyed the lonely nights but wished for a companion. Who better to ask then beautiful Aurea. Her older sister sun had already pledged her love for the planet itself."

I chuckled trying to imagine what they could be like. I 'd never imagine a intelligent species could still have their myths.

"But there was another who wanted the moon, not for his good heart but for his evil, darker side. Fraudulenti was born from the darkness of space itself. She loved power and strength. She worked with Alqamar to block out all of the light to create night. She was as beautiful as she was scary. Her hair was as black as the black holes in space. Her eyes were a peircing purple and her skin pale."

"When has your planet ever been dark?" I asked interupting him.

"Listen and you'll see." he wispered. I turned away and closed my eyes as I listened.

" Alqamar's best friend was Nubes, the cloud maker. He managed the water system and helped the clouds float. Alqamar explained to Nubes late one night how he wanted Aurea to come to night with him. Nubes warned him, to let things lie, for interupting such natural way of things could spell trouble. But Alqamar was insistant. So Nubes promised to ask, for Aurea to come see Alqamar the next night. As Nubes floated away to work, Frauduenti had heard the whole thing. Her anger seared through the light of the moon and she went up to Alqamar. She told him to drink a special drink she had prepared just for him the next night and he would have the courage to speak to the beautiful sun the next night. He thanked her with great joy and agreed. When Area came forth that night, he drank the potion in order to gain strength. She was so ( )ight and stunningly beautiful that he had to. After he told her how he felt and she admitted she had felt the same. They talked for awhile of wonderful things which only the universe could know. She agreed to come down to night. He was over joyed and tears came down his eyes and fell as dew on the plants. She came up to him and kissed him so pationatly on the lips that he was feeling dizzy all over. But then it happened. The potion, did not give him strength, instead allowed him to loose control over his dark side. His other eye turned black and he grabbed poor Aurea close to him. He kissed her but this time darkness flooded his mouth into her body and she started to die on the inside. Her light was slowly fadding. A ( )ight light pushed Alqamar out of the way. He let go of Aurea who fell to Nubes' arms. Quickly Bellezza Rosso went to her sister to protect her. Alqamar went to strike back but Toke had come forth. He stood in front and Alqamar dared not evoke the wraith of the gardian of the planet. Bellezza Rosso kissed her sister as tears fell from her face and slowly Aurea stopped dieing. But she was much smaller now. She shinned no less beautifull with no fewer diamonds, she was just smaller. She jumped down and asked Alqamar how he could have wronged her so when all of a sudden he cried out and his eye turned back to blue. He looked around and tried to run to Aurea but Toke stood like a mountain."

"Oh no.." I said knowing where this was headed.

"Toke called forth Frauduenti and inquired the truth. She begrudgingly said she did give him the potion knowing what it would do, but that it was suppose to take place the night after she pledged to the night so no one could save her. She had no explaination as to why it had erupted so quickly.  Aurea said she had kissed Alqamar before he had changed. Then the truth had come. Toke explained that the overwelming feeling Alqamar had towards Aurea had erupted when she had kissed him causing the potion to activate quicker. Alqamar shoulders dropped as he heard what he had done. Toke turned to Fraudulenti and banished her to outside the planet forever. She begged and cried not to be banished into her father's relm but nothing would do. Her father's grasp came from beyond and pulled her screaming and crying to the darkness where she stayed. As for Aurea, she was forbiden to ever travle to Alqamar again but she was allowed to watch him. So from time on, she watched him and he watched her through out the night. Right before the morning he would cry and dew would fall on the world below as he watched her beauty just out of his reach. His light side of his face and the blue eyes lit up every night as she watched and her eyes gave the night more light than before. The only time they could see each other was at the eclipse when they stood side by side. Every month, Alqamar's greif was too intense and instead of watching Aurea he turned away and darkness settled on his face as his dark side took control."

  "Wow... what a story." I wispered as if to not ( )eak the silence that had fallen.

Tarnikven just chuckled at me as he came up behind me.

"Let me take you out on the town. Meet the people." He wispered in my ear. My heart skipped as his ( )eath tickled my ear and neck.

"But my King, how could you forget about the important meeting tomorrow!" I scarsticly exclaimed.

"Please, the Gasky sleep the morning away. Something about our world being too ( )ight for them.

"It is. Their world is dark, the don't have two suns, only one red dwarf. So their atmospere is lighter and their skys are blood red. It looks like a barren waist land but their cities are below. It'd be best to meet them at night in order for them to be more comfortable. Who of the family are coming?" I asked.

"The queen and prince." he answered quickly.

"The queen is gracing us with her presence huh? Interesting. What will you be discussing?"

"An allience with them."

"Hmm. Alright, keep the meeting off till night. Then we will take them out on the town ourselves. They would be comfortable in the softer light and the glow of the plants. It will be  a new moon tomorrow correct?" I asked as all the plans were coming into focas.

"Yes. I see what you are doing. Unique approach. What if they harm my people?"

"They won't unless provoked. Everybody has to be themselves as well, if they think you are lieing about who you are then you'll be cut off from them for a long time."

  "You know a lot about them. " He remarked trying to pull information out of me. I smiled and gave in easily.

"My sister has had many dealings with them."

"Sister? Nar said.."

"Nar was wrong. No one is to know. Our species is hunted constantly for our unique attributes." I replied sighing heavily.

"You miss her?" he asked truly concerned for my welbeing. I could hear it in his voice.

"Her and my ( )other. They never came to get me. I was safe with the slave trader. He saved a lot of young lives. I know it's hard to believe, but he wasn't all bad. He taught us to live in the harsh reality and how to kill. The knowledge itself was enough to keep us save. His protection did the rest." I explained pushing the thoughts of my past away.

"Lets go out on the night. I'll show you the houses." He said holding out his hand. I took it and followed him down the stairs leaving the ( )ight beautiful scene behind me...

The Lucidium People

Halfway down we see Taunt and Limb waiting. Limb jumped down from the railing and stood in the way. I laughed as her face showed her annoyance for a reason I knew not.

"What not ask if it's ok for you to walk among the people!? Are you aware that people want you dead?" She asked in gruff voice with her chest puffed out.

"Then come with us." Tarnikven suggested holding the laughter from his voice but not from his eyes.

"We were planing on it." She said with her hands crossed. Taunt came up behind her and lift her up by her waist. She cried out twisting and turning to jump out of his grasp. He carried her behind us and put her down still kickiing. She ( )ushed herself off and her eyes lit up as she started punching him in punish,ent for picking her up. Although by the look of amusment on his face, it appeared as if her punches were bouncing of off a rock. Tarnikven and I just watched as the scene played out as if a scene from a play. When she was finally done, she turned to us and bowed. I shook my head in disbelief and chuckled at the two. Tarnikven lead us down a bit more and stopped. He looked towards the wall with an intense stare. The mall started to move and rumbled as if waking from a long sleep. He slowly slipped down allowing us to enter the dark, wooden hallway. As the door clossed back up quicker than it opened, The light dissapeared, yet in it's place, was soft glow from the veins of the tree like walls. We continued, sometimes we seemed to be walking down and other times like we were walking down. He lead us through the bending halls and uneven floor till we came to dead end. Before we reached it, I saw vines pull away to show the grasslands beyond. As we entered through the door way I turned to see that the vines belonged to the tree we had just emerged from.