Studs, page 25
“We have to go get him.”
Rici’s laugh was loud and sarcastic. “You’re joking. Tell me you’re joking.”
When she merely arched an eyebrow at him, he became more vocal. “Charissa, have you gone mad? We’re going to challenge the Council? And for what? Travis? They’ll send us back to the Golden Chamber of Silence before we open our mouths.” He stalked away from her, stopped to glare at her, and then stalked back to take her by the arms. “Come on, sister dear. I know you think you care for him, but this is too much. You’re risking my freedom as well as your own.”
“But I do care for him, Rici. I love him.” She shook off his hold on her. “Terey, Jim, I’m sorry to spring all of this on you, but you’re going to have to adapt in a flash. Travis is in trouble and I’ll need your help to help him. Come with me. Show the Council how humans have progressed. Show them your people can handle our emotions. Show them how you care for each other.”
Jim and Terey studied her, Rici, and Boggens until, at last, Jim found the words to say. “I-I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying. But you and Rici are from another planet?” He started to say more, but got lost in the effort of trying to understand.
“Not from another planet. Not really. We’re a people who have lived in concert with Earth and humans since time began. Our home is on an invisible moon circling your moon.” She looked at Rici who shrugged at her unspoken plea.
“You’re doing fine, Charissa. Not that they’re going to believe you no matter what you say.”
But she didn’t have a choice. Somehow, some way, she had to make them understand. And believe. And fast. She needed to get to Matlantia before the Council judged Travis. She continued, detailing her explanation in much the same way she’d done for Travis. When she’d finished, said a small prayer and waited for their reaction.
“You really think we’re going to believe what you’ve told us?”
No! They have to believe me! Charissa held Boggens closer to them for better inspection. “Isn’t he proof enough?” Not seeing any difference in Jim’s expression, she looked to Terey. And found the same mask of uncertainty.
“Charissa, if you must do this suicide mission, then push them into believing. We’re wasting time.” Rici took Boggens from her, cradling him in the crook of his arm.
“No, Rici. No more pushes.” Had he learned nothing through this experience? “I’m done with making humans have emotions they don’t want to have. If they believe me, if they want to help Travis, I won’t need to force them.”
Jim examined Boggens more closely. “I don’t know. Just because you’ve found some strange animal, doesn’t mean I’m going to buy a load of crock about supernatural beings and hocus-pocus.”
“I told you so.” Rici let Boggens crawl up his arm and onto his back.
“But you saw Travis disappear. Terey did, too. How can you not believe your own eyes?”
Jim stammered, trying to find an answer to Travis’ disappearance and gave up. “I don’t know how you did it. Maybe you’re a magician with tricks like Criss Angel I don’t know.”
Terey, who’d remained quiet until now, whispered as if she were afraid to stand behind her words. “How else do we explain it?”
“I can’t. But that doesn’t mean I have to swallow whatever she says hook, line, and sinker. Weird shit has happened since the first day we met these two. But I’m sure there’s a logical answer to all of it.”
She wasn’t getting anywhere with them. But she had to keep trying. An idea of a plan sparked to life. “Would you come with me? If you thought you could help Travis?”
Jim obviously didn’t take her words seriously as he threw up his hands. “Sure. Of course, I would.”
Terey nodded her agreement with the same lack of conviction in Jim’s expression.
“Fine. First, I’ll send all our horses back to the ranch.” She nodded at all the horses and they disappeared, throwing Terey and Jim into stunned silence. “Done. Now hold on to each other. It’s one haellus of a ride.” Charissa shot a pointed look at Rici and nodded again. A flash of bright light surrounded them as the foursome and Boggens vanished.
They reappeared in front of the Council with Travis to their side. Charissa squealed her happiness and flung her arms around Travis. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
“Perhaps not for long.” Yahtan growled his displeasure at her emotional outburst. “Charissa, remember where you are. Remember who you are. Control yourself.”
“Holy shit!” Terey clutched onto Jim as they stood gaping around them.
Travis hugged Charissa to him. “Me, too. I mean that you’re safe.”
He looks good. Safe. Unharmed. She kept her grip on Travis as she confronted the Elders. “How dare you bring him here! You have no right to treat him this way.”
Altalia, her long robe flowing behind her, swept over to Charissa. “Watch yourself. You’ve caused enough problems. First you break out of the chamber and then you consort with humans.”
“Including using your powers to force emotions into them.” Yahtan snapped his fingers and appeared next to Altalia. “Didn’t you learn your lesson in the eons during your confinement? After all the lessons we sent you?”
“Incredibly boring lessons.” Rici slunk away at Yahtan’s scowl, dropping Boggens to the floor. Boggens scampered over to Altalia to cling to her robe.
Charissa itched to swat her brother on the back of the head to get him to shut up. Instead, she decided to confront the Council again. “We did learn our lesson. At least after we escaped, er, found our way out of the Chamber and back into the world.” She smiled at Travis. “I think I needed someone special to teach me the lesson. And he did.”
Travis gathered her in his arms. “I don’t pretend to understand what’s happened here. Or what you wanted to accomplish with their imprisonment. But I do know one thing.” He took Charissa’s face between his hands, forcing her eyes to his. “I love this woman. I don’t care if she’s human or Matlantian or Klingon.”
“Or what?”
Shut up, Rici, and let him talk. Charissa fell into his gaze, letting herself believe the unbelievable. He loves me. Simply, truthfully, naturally.
“I love her, plain and simple.” Travis kept her in his embrace as he swiveled to face the Council. “And if she needs to stay on Matlantia, I’ll stay with her.”
Charissa gasped, knowing the extent of his sacrifice. “No, Travis, you can’t. I won’t let you.”
“If you punish her, then punish me, too. But I’m asking you. No, I’m begging you. Punish me. Let me take her place in whatever you decide to do.” He pulled himself to his full height, shoulders back, head held high and waited for the Elders.
“It’s obvious that you care for her.” Altalia held up her hand to stop Yahtan from speaking. “But your weak body couldn’t withstand the punishment. You’d most assuredly die.”
Charissa stepped in front of Travis, blocking him from Altalia. “I’m the one who broke Rici and myself out of the Chamber. I didn’t even know Travis then.”
“No, Charissa, we both escaped. We both decided to escape.” Rici crossed over to them, but Charissa wouldn’t be stopped.
“Maybe so, but I’m the one who convinced my brother to stay on Earth and play with the humans. To push the humans into emotions. But they’ve evolved. They can handle the strength of our emotions now. Still, I knew it was wrong. Give me the consequence of my actions and let the others go free.”
Geisa sat up and listened with rapt attention. “You love him, don’t you?”
Charissa took Travis’ hand in hers. He returned her squeeze, giving her the added strength she needed. “I do. With no push. No spells.”
Yahtan tugged on his beard again before pivoting in his seated position to face the rest of the Council. “Let’s not take any longer with this affair. The outcome is clear. A penalty is due. What do you say, Elders?”
As one the Elders bowed their heads and a silence fell over them. Boggens screeched and scampered off into the mist.
“What got into him? What’s going on?”
Charissa ignored Travis’ whisper as she tested their minds. As she’d expected, they’d blocked their thoughts from her and her group. The Council of Elders would decide her fate without further explanations.
“Charissa.”
She looked at Rici and saw the pain on his face. He knew they would give her an awful punishment, harsher than any he would receive. “It’s okay, Rici. Nothing they can do can take away the joy I’ve found in loving Travis.”
Travis glanced between them and saw the truth in Rici. “I won’t let them hurt you, Charissa. What right do they have to harm you? If they try, I’ll do anything and everything I can to keep you safe. I don’t know how but I’ll stop them.”
“And I’ll be right there with you, man.” Jim held Terey safe in his arms as his resolve resonated through his body. He caught Terey’s expression and added her decision to his. “Terey, too.”
“If anything happens, Jim, take care of my sister and help her with the ranch.”
“Consider it done.”
“Will everyone stop talking such doom and gloom?” Rici bent over next to Altalia, craned his neck around to see her face and peered up at her. But her eyes remained closed and her head bowed. “If anyone needs to make the Grand Sacrifice, it should be me. After all, I’m the one person who isn’t part of a couple. Altalia, do you hear me? Let me take whatever you and your high and mighty friends are dreaming up. Let the love birds go.”
Rici jerked up and fell backwards as Altalia lifted her head up, her deep blue eyes opening wide. “The decision is made.”
Charissa stepped away from Travis even as he tried to hang onto her. “I’m ready.”
“No, Altalia, didn’t you hear me? I’m the one you should punish.” Rici tried to step in front of his sister, but Travis jumped in front of her first.
“Me. Take me in her place.”
Charissa’s throat constricted, choking off her words of protest. Here was a man who was her equal. He didn’t possess the magical powers of a Matlantian man, but the power he did own was so much more valuable.
Altalia raised her hand to silence everyone. “The Council of Elders has made their decision.” She stared at Travis with no expression. “I’m sorry.” Lifting her chin, she paused to glance at Charissa and then nodded.
Charissa screamed as Travis’ eyes rolled back in his head. His body started to slump, crumpling like a rag doll, and Jim dashed behind him, catching him to break his fall. With Rici taking Travis’ other arm, they gently lowered his body to the floor.
Chapter Fifteen
“Travis!” Charissa fell to her knees next to his limp body. Taking his hand in hers, she held her breath as Jim checked Travis’ wrist for a pulse. “Tell me he’s alive.” She searched Jim’s stony face as he ignored her and tried again to locate a pulse in Travis’ neck. “Jim?”
Jim wouldn’t meet her eyes or answer her. Instead, he placed two fingers against Travis’ neck and shut his eyes. After a moment, he opened them but still avoided Charissa’s intense scrutiny.
“Jim, what’s going on? Tell me. I have to know.”
Jim shook his head before bending over to lay it against his friend’s chest. Another agonizing moment passed as she waited for news. Any news.
At last, he sat up and she had her answer in the way Jim’s features seemed to fold into themselves, drawing long creases into his face and darkening the shadows under his eyes. “I’m sorry. He’s gone.”
A sob tore from Terey as she bent over her brother and screamed at Altalia. “No! He can’t be. You, bitch! You killed my brother!”
Jumping up, Terey started for Altalia but Jim rose and caught her before she could strike out. As he held the struggling, sobbing woman to him, Charissa rose to calmly walk past them. Altalia stood straight and proud as Charissa sent all the Hatred she could throw at the woman.
“You can’t harm me, Charissa. Not with a push.”
Heedless of Altalia’s claim, Charissa strained to use every ounce of power she had, but it was of no use. Altalia’s power was too great. As the last bit of Anger left her, another emotion took over. Grief assaulted her body, wracking it with wave after wave of agonizing pain. “You didn’t need to kill him. What did he do that was so wrong?” Her vision grew blurry as the tears streamed from her eyes. “All he ever did was love me. Is loving me so horrible that he had to die?”
“Charissa, stop. Don’t let your emotions take over. You’re not used to the Grief emotion. Now’s the time to suppress your emotions and protect yourself.” Rici tried to hold her to comfort her, but she shook him off.
“No! I won’t stop.” She dug her fingers into her hair as the ache in her heart continued to grow. “I was the one who should have been punished. I was the one who went to his world, not the other way around. Kill me.”
Terey’s sobs continued as Charissa turned toward her. “Please forgive me, Terey. Jim. I never meant for this to happen.” She gasped for air but the heaviness on her chest wouldn’t let her take a big enough breath. “I love him.”
“You can save him.”
She heard Altalia’s soft words but couldn’t immediately register them. “What?” Wiping her eyes, she stumbled toward Altalia. “What did you say?” Had she heard her correctly? Was there hope? She glanced at Rici to see if he’d heard the same thing.
“You can save him.”
“Tell us how.” Rici took Charissa in his arms again and this time she let him. “Tell me how and I’ll do whatever you say.”
Stunned, Charissa gaped at her brother. “You? You’d save Travis?” She sought the answer in his dark eyes.
“I’d save him for you.” Rici hugged her closer. “I’d do anything for you.”
“Even give him your heart?”
The four of them froze as they tried to comprehend Altalia’s words.
“What do you mean?” Jim and Terey moved closer, their hatred, pain, and confusion oozing from their bodies in tangible ripples.
Charissa opened her mind to Altalia, digging for the truth. She found the answer they all wanted. “You can take a heart and give it to Travis?”
Altalia inclined her head in an almost imperceptible nod. “Yes. A heart to replace the one I took from him.”
“You took his heart?” Terey’s words came out mumbled, both from her crying and from her incredulousness. “How can you take a person’s heart without even touching him?”
“Trust me, she can.” Rici’s tone was filled with anguish and menace. “She’s an Elder. They can do anything they like even when what they do is terrible and evil.”
“So you care for this human male, too?” Altalia scoffed at him. “Since when does Riciseon care about anyone? Other than his sister, of course.”
“I care.”
The pain in Charissa lessened for a second at Rici’s quiet declaration. But as her gaze fell to the unmoving form of Travis, the searing hurt cut fresher and deeper than before.
“Take mine.” She took her brother’s hands in hers, gave them a squeeze, and held her head high as she confronted Altalia.
“No. Take mine.” Rici moved beside her and she knew her love for him had no bounds.
“I say take mine. He’s my friend.” Jim released Terey and took a place on the other side of Charissa. “He’d do the same for me.”
“No, don’t take theirs. I’m his sister. I share his blood. My heart is better suited for him than anyone else’s. Take mine.” Terey wiped the tears away, set her jaw and took her place next to Jim.
They’re all willing to give their hearts for Travis. Charissa swallowed and fought to keep strong. With the same act, Altalia had shown her the worst and best that could happen in her life. She’d lost the man she loved, but found a different love with her brother and friends. “No, it has to be mine. He has to have my heart.” She smiled as the truth of her words awakened hope in her heart. “After all, he’s already claimed my heart.”
Charissa waited as Altalia considered their offers and pivoted to face the Council. “Hurry, Altalia. Give him my heart. How long can he be without one?”
But Altalia didn’t respond. Instead, her words were for the Council alone.
“Are you satisfied? Do you not see how the humans have grown? How advanced they’ve become over the centuries?”
Yahtan pulled at his beard as the other Elders nodded their agreement with Altalia.
“And do you see how our own children have grown?” Altalia crossed over to Charissa and Rici to take a hand in each of hers.
Rici tried to yank his hand from Altalia, but Charissa warned him with a look not to try. Altalia was about to help them. She could sense it.
Altalia glanced at the brother and sister. “Do you see the true emotions they’ve expressed? Do you see how they’re willing to sacrifice not only for each other, but for another? For a human?”
Charissa struggled with the spark of hope daring to flicker to life within her. What was Altalia’s purpose? Why didn’t she take her heart and be done with the punishment? Could she dare to believe in a chance for Travis? For her? For them all? She searched Altalia, but found the Elder’s mind once again blocked.
“What you say is so, Altalia. But are we ready? Is Matlantia ready for this change?” Yahtan laced his fingers together and put them to his lips in thought.
Geisa stood up and opened her arms wide as her voice boomed out over them. “The time has come. Matlantians will contact the humans. Not as rulers or gods, but as equals.”
“What say the Council?” Yahtan imitated Geisa as he spread his arms wide and addressed each Elder. “Are we agreed?”
The Elders answered as one. “We are agreed.”
Altalia placed her palms on Rici’s and Charissa’s chest. “You’ve done well, Riciseon and Charissa of the House of Bleutonia. You’ve learned the value of true emotion and opened the minds of the Council of Elders to a New Day. Go with our Blessing. Live where you wish to live and with whomever you wish to have in your lives.”
