Vivian

It was disappointing to find Blaidd was already gone when she awoke. Getting to know the shameless flirt was proving to be an unexpected adventure. As much as Vivian hated being left alone, she understood Blaidd was very busy with all his obligations as the leader of his people.

Usually Vivian instantly got up to tackle the day’s to-do list. But not today. Vivian wasn’t sleepy, so she didn’t roll over and go back to bed. Instead, she stretched and wallowed beneath the silky sheets, making snow angels in the ginormous bed.

Eventually, Vivian got up with a sigh, and headed into the bathroom. She did her business and scrubbed her teeth. As Vivian passed through the dressing room, she noticed her clothes sitting on the bench in the middle of the room.

“Blaidd must’ve brought them in here. Thank god, he didn’t put them away. I never would’ve found them.” Vivian looked at the numerous glass faced cases, each showing a different outfit. “I don’t know why the man needs so many clothes. He’d be just as content galivanting around buck naked,” she snorted.

Vivian got dressed in her own clothes, grabbed her journal, iPod, and the photograph, then took them to the lounge area of Blaidd’s bedroom. As she set everything on the table, Vivian noticed a steaming carafe, a cup, and a plate of fruit. Facing the simple breakfast was a scrap of paper with a giant arrow and a goofy character scribbled on it.

“Is that some sort of toothy smiley face?”

Vivian couldn’t help the smile that split her face. Blaidd may have taken off without waking her and saying goodbye, but he left her a little good morning treat. She poured a cupful of the clear green liquid and hesitantly took a sip.

“Not bad. A bit like tea, but with a zing.”

Vivian popped a berry into her mouth, as she considered Blaidd’s storage room. He left the door open, so she could easily access the room while he was away. Vivian meandered down the rows of furniture, art, toys and weapons, cradling her cup of tea. It was easy to recognize some of the things, then there were others that were just too odd to figure out. She tilted her head in confusion at an ebony wooden contraption that looked like a snowman atop four-foot-tall octopus legs.

“I bet this is what Carter felt like when he entered Tut’s tomb.” She gaped in awe at the sheer mass of alien treasures.

Vivian passed a full-sized armored statue and almost pissed her pants when it moved. She gripped her cup and hustled several steps back. The metal warrior punched his fist into his open palm, as it made a curt bow. Vivian watched it repeat the move a dozen times. It was a novel automaton.

“At ease soldier.”

Vivian bowed to the statue before heading on. She’d barely taken a step when the statue pulled its sword and swung at her.

“Fuck,” Vivian screamed, dropped her cup, and took off down the aisle.

There was a massive crash, as the metal soldier charged after her. Vivian ran behind a high-backed chair and crouched, covering her head. The sound of the warrior’s metal feet hitting the stone floor stopped inches away. Vivian cringed, but the blow she expected never came. She peeked past her arm, to see the warrior standing in the same rigid pose she first noticed him in, his sword back in the hilt. Vivian slowly rose to her feet. She flinched when the warrior punched his palm and bowed, then repeated the move.

“I’m not falling for that one again,” Vivian stammered as she backed away from the dangerous automaton.

I’m gonna get myself killed in this booby-trapped museum.

On her way out, Vivian stopped wide eyed in front of another life-sized creation. The gray alabaster nude woman, was draped over an altar, like a sacrifice. Her breasts were thrust into the air, as her head and legs dangled off either end of the pediment. The figure’s legs were splayed, with one knee bent. Vivian stared with morbid curiosity at how the artist carved her intimate flesh in graphic detail. The frozen woman gripped the altar with one hand, while she bit the flesh of the other. The craftsman had skillfully captured passion and brought it to life.

“Oh, my.” Vivian suddenly wondered if this statue served another purpose, like the deer and the soldier.

That would be quite the sex doll.

A sound startled Vivian, and she loped away from the graphic artwork, before she got caught gawking at the nude. Vivian stopped when she saw a red-haired werewolf standing in the doorway of the giant closet.

“What are you doing in here?” The she-wolf demanded with a scowl.

Vivian frowned at the stranger’s harsh tone, but Zora was grumbly at first too.

Maybe that’s just their way.

“Does our Primitus know you’re snooping around in here?”

“Um, well, yes. He showed it to me and left the door open.” Vivian hesitantly followed the she-wolf out of the storage room.

“I’ve never been permitted in here,” the she-wolf huffed under her breath.

“I’m Vivian.”

“Amber,” the she-wolf replied curtly. “So, are you the fated one I heard rumors about?” Amber studied Vivian wearing a moue of distaste.

“Fated one?” Vivian asked in confusion.

“Yes. Are you the exotic one who’s fated to be with our Primitus?” Amber repeated in annoyance.

“Excuse me?” She hadn’t possibly heard the she-wolf right.

“I don’t know what he sees in you.” Amber grabbed Vivian’s wrist.

Vivian gasped. The break was healed, but her arm ached when tugged. It didn’t help the woman hadn’t bothered to retract her claws, the sharp points digging into Vivian’s skin.

“Look at you. You’re bald!” Amber glared as she studied Vivian’s comparatively hairless skin.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Vivian tugged her arm away.

“If I were him, I wouldn’t care what the portent said. The Primitus should choose one of his own kind, not some bald frail foreign breed,” the she-wolf snarled.

Amber ranted like a jilted lover. Her increasingly angry jealous tone had Vivian backing into the storage room. The last thing she wanted to do was get into a hair pulling match.

Then I really would end up bald.

Vivian wasn’t sure what she was going to do, as she darted between the stacked objects. She just wanted to get lost till the psycho bitch left.

“Why are you running. Those are the actions of a coward,” Amber snarled menacingly.

Oh, maybe I don’t want my eyes clawed out.

Vivian backed down an aisle keeping her eyes on the entrance, where she last heard Amber. She bumped into a floor length mirror, then squeaked when she fell through the looking glass.

Vivian jumped to her feet and looked at the mirror from the wrong side. Her hand flew to her mouth when the she-wolf stalked past the mirror, but didn’t see her trapped inside.

“Oh god, what have I done now?”

More and more Vivian felt like Alice, with her misadventures in Wonderland.

“Don’t worry, child, Amber can’t get you here. Now that Lupercalia is truly lost.”

Vivian spun to see a ghostly pale woman with long white hair and clear blue eyes, wearing a floor-length violet gown. She wasn’t one of the Lupercalia. She looked more like Nameless and Serus, who were Torvus.

“You are just in time for tea.”

The lithe woman pointed to a table set for two, almost as if she’d been expecting her. Vivian’s eyes darted from the table to the woman, who was reminiscent of the ice queen in the Chronicles of Narnia.

“What happened?” Vivian asked as she hesitantly approached the quaint table, figuring it was unwise to rebuff the invitation.

“You’ve travelled using the limen before. That’s merely an antique version of the portal. It hasn’t been used in quite a while though.” The woman smiled kindly. “A bit of sweetener in your tea, correct?”

Vivian wasn’t sure what to make of this new twist. Although the pale woman was daunting in an ethereal way, her voice and demeanor was kind, and infinitely preferable to the red-haired she-wolf. In fact, the more Vivian studied the woman, the more she looked like the grandmotherly type, with laugh lines around her eyes.

“Yes. Thank you,” Vivian answered her question about the tea, as she took the empty seat at the table.

“My name is Phaedra. Galen told me about you, Vivian.”

“Hello, Phaedra. Sorry, I don’t know who Galen is.”

“Nice to meet you, child. Galen fixed your arm when you first arrived.”

“Oh.”

“Help yourself.” Phaedra pointed to a plate of food. “We have a busy day ahead.”

Vivian was confused that the woman said THEY had a busy day. Then again, she didn’t know why she was so surprised. This strange meeting was right in line with the other bizarre events of late. She shook her head in bewilderment, lifted the cup anyway, and took a sip. Strangely, Phaedra added just the right amount of sugar to her tea. Vivian took one of the open-faced sandwiches and started eating, not wanting to be rude.

I suppose I’m spending the day with Phaedra, since I don’t know how to go back through the mirror. Well I guess I won’t be bored today.

Vivian relaxed as she looked around. The living room exuded a homey feeling. It was a cozy, with warm rugs and deep mahogany wood paneled walls.

“No, you won’t be bored. We’ll have a good time today,” Phaedra replied.

Vivian’s surprised eyes swung to the woman. She was certain she hadn’t spoken that thought out loud.

“I’m a mage. You’ll get used to it,” Phaedra replied, seeing Vivian’s confounded expression.

I’ve fallen through a mirror and found a witch. Seriously, how unreal is my life?

“Mage, dear. I’m a mage,” Phaedra snorted in amusement.

Vivian tried not to choke on her sandwich, and spit it everywhere. The woman was reading her mind.

“No sense in being cooped up while Blaidd tends to business. I’m so proud of that cub. He’s been doing such great things. You know, that little scamp was the last one to use the antique limen. Of course, it’s been a while.”

“It’s hard to imagine Blaidd was ever a child,” Vivian commented.

Blaidd was so large and imposing, she imagined him materializing into the world like some sort of god. Then again, the way he cavorted with the deer statue, she could imagine the wild child he must have been.

Phaedra chuckled at her observation, no doubt reading her mind again.

“Yes, well, he was young once, with the interests and excitement of a child. Young Blaidd would flee through the old limen, anytime he needed his Phaedra.”

Vivian recalled Zora confiding how she would fight with Blaidd’s father, and wondered if that was when Blaidd would seek out the mage.

“Ah, so Zora told you.”

“Yes.” Vivian wanted to tell Phaedra it was rather creepy how she read her mind, but didn’t.

“Good. Surprising, but good. That is such a mess. Zora can be a hard female, but when it comes to Blaidd and Indago, she’s downright rabid. That’s probably where Blaidd gets his ego from. Don’t be fooled though, deep down he’s also sweet, and loves his people. We would talk, eat sweets, and wander about Setmar, so he could see his people, and how they lived. Then his father passed, and he became the little Primitus. As much as my gift shows me, it was still hard to watch him grow old before his time,” Phaedra sighed.

“I don’t imagine going to that prison helped,” Vivian added between bites.

“Yes and no. It hardened him, and made him more brutal. But it also tempered that ego I mentioned, and galvanized him. He’s always been driven to serve his people, now it runs deeper than it ever did.”

“I’m starting to see that,” Vivian smiled kindly.

Vivian was still on the fence about Blaidd, and Amber’s weird comments hadn’t helped any. But she was quickly seeing Blaidd had layers. He wasn’t just the frightening alien who murdered Steve, and refused to let her leave. He was also kind, like Phaedra said, and Vivian witnessed firsthand. And his gregarious charm was growing on her.

Vivian glanced up to find Phaedra studying her critically. She felt like the mage was picking apart her soul, with those eerie arctic blue eyes. It was enough to make her squirm in her seat.

“I know you’ve talked about going back to Earth, but sometimes life takes us on a path, and there’s no going back. And when you do return, even if your authorities have absolved you, your home will be different.”

Vivian understood only too well what Phaedra was explaining. It was a fact that had been weighing heavy on her shoulders. It was going to be impossible to act normal after visiting another planet. Vivian pictured herself studying everyone, wondering if they had any idea what was really out there, or questioning if they too held a secret that was just as monumental as the one she now carried.

“I realize that. There is no way I can unknow any of this,” Vivian replied with a serious nod.

“Correct, but don’t look so maudlin about it. Your life’s been changing since the day you were born. The moment you took your first steps and spoke your first word, your life unfurled. This journey is really no different.”

“Maybe, if my first steps had been a sprint, and my first words a soliloquy.” The things she’d experienced on Torvus were leaps and bounds beyond the landmarks that dotted most people’s lives.

“That is perhaps true. Things have been rather eventful. That seems to be the season for many of us,” Phaedra laughed. “I’d like to tell you it will calm down, but I can’t.”

“That’s okay. Calm isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be either.”

Since Steve insisted she quit her job, Vivian’s days had been spent on mind numbingly boring tasks, all focused on the goal of keeping the peace, and getting through another day. Vivian always aspired for more, and the void inside gnawed at her. Although this wasn’t quite what she’d been wishing for.

“Keep an open mind. Fate rarely gives us what we think we want. But if we grasp the things it throws at us, and attempt to make the most of it, a life beyond your wildest dreams will unfold. You and Blaidd were meant to cross paths, and this is exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

“Wait. What?”

This was the second time someone talked about fate. Vivian was certain she would never be able to forget Blaidd, or anything else about this rollercoaster ride, but Phaedra and Amber were implying something Vivian couldn’t wrap her head around.

“Well, we best get going, the day’s wasting,” Phaedra changed the subject, as she pushed back from the table.

“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting? Blaidd and I barely know each other,” Vivian insisted as she followed the mage to the front door. “And he’s, well, a werewolf!”

“Welcome to Setmar. This is where most of the omegas from the various clans live.” Phaedra ignored her comment and waved a hand toward the city.

Vivian shook her head in disbelief. She would’ve ignored Phaedra’s quirky outlook on fate, like she had Amber, if the mage wasn’t a spot-on mind reader. Vivian never believed in psychics till she met this woman. But despite all her questions, it was clear Phaedra wasn’t going to explain any more, so Vivian turned and took in the view of Setmar.

The mage did not live in one of the sprawling high-rises. She occupied a two-story house clumped with a bunch of other buildings at the foot of the towering city. This was an older part of town, and not the finest neighborhood Setmar had to offer.

“Let’s go for a walk.” Phaedra urged her down the steps.

As Vivian walked with the confounding mage, she watched the Lupercalia going about their daily lives, much like she’d see in any urban area. Besides the werewolves, there were a few Torvus, and Vivian also glimpsed a character that looked like an overgrown vulture with a black feathery crown and long red neck. The sight helped distract her from the earlier conversation, as she kept her eyes peeled for other strange alien species.

Even though the neighborhood was poor, and the buildings were in sad shape, the streets were clean of trash. Poverty didn’t mean you couldn’t take pride in your community. They turned the corner and arrived at a dirt lot which spanned several blocks. Vivian smiled when she saw children playing chase around the remnant of a stone wall. In the middle of the lot a group of werewolves were practicing yoga, or maybe it was karate.

“While Blaidd was in the Hold, the former province governor raided Setmar. As you can see, he chose to make an example of this neighborhood.”

“Maybe this could be turned into a park,” Vivian suggested.

“Things have a hard time growing in the city. Water consumption is regulated, and the soil and air are polluted from overmining.”

“Yeah, I can smell it,” Vivian commented.

She recalled Blaidd mentioning the overmining, as she craned her neck up and looked at the hazy sky.

“Yes, and most of the homes here don’t have the air scrubbers the towers are equipped with.”

“That can’t be healthy.” Vivian frowned as she watched the children playing.

“Blaidd and Nameless are working toward fixing this, among other things.”

“Plants in the city would really help. They’ve been used to clean the air in cities back home,” Vivian mused out loud. “There have to be plants here that thrive in more polluted environments. Earth has them, Torvus must also. And if it rains, the excess water can be collected off the buildings to tend the plants.”

“It sounds like you know something about this. Most of these people are skilled in what’s beneath the soil, not what grows in it.”

“My degree is in landscape architecture,” Vivian explained.

“Well then, its settled.”

“What’s settled?” Vivian asked as they approached the group training in the field.

“Coal, meet Vivian. She’s going to help us turn this into a park.”

Vivian gaped at Phaedra.

The black werewolf halted his exercise routine. The others following his moves also stopped.

“Good day, Phaedra, Vivian. A softer surface would be nice to train on. How do you plan to accomplish this?” Coal asked Vivian.

“I don’t have a plan,” Vivian mumbled, taken aback by Phaedra suddenly volunteering her to landscape the omega’s neighborhood. Although the challenge was appealing, she didn’t plan on staying long enough to execute it.

“The Primitus will assist her,” Phaedra added.

“Ah, I should’ve known the human was here with the Primitus. Does he plan on keeping this one this time?” Coal replied.

“Excuse me? Blaidd is not keeping me. I am not a pet, to be fed and taken out to do her business.”

“The Primitus discovered Vivian’s mate abusing her, while he was on Earth. Sorry, child, for being so blunt,” Phaedra said. “She is here on Torvus, since her authorities are looking for her.”

“So, she’s now an unmated female. I imagine the Primitus will assert his right to claim her.”

“His right to claim me?” Vivian exclaimed, her voice raising pitch. What the hell? Has everyone lost their mind?

“Yes,” Coal replied, sounding disgusted. “The Primitus has the right to take any unmated female into his harem. No doubt he’d be sniffing around my daughter if that damn beta wasn’t already chasing Limber’s tail.”

Blaidd has a harem! Vivian couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Between the comments about her fate being linked to Blaidd’s, and this harem nonsense, Vivian was starting to question his motives. He was so quick to whisk me off Earth. And now that I’m here, he refuses to take me back. Then there was the shameless way he flirted with me. Arghh. When Blaidd gets back, we’re sooo going to have a serious talk.

“Enough, Coal,” Phaedra barked. “Blaidd is not his sire. The Primitus already helped overthrow Nox. What else is it going to take to change your mind about him? And if you keep disparaging Indago, you’re going to drive your daughter away.”

“Fine,” Coal huffed. “Well, Vivian, since you are here, you might as well train with us. It’s the only way you’ll fend off that whelp.”

The black-haired werewolf brooked no argument. And since Vivian wasn’t wearing a dress today, she had no reason to object. She and Phaedra got in line with the other werewolves. Coal placed his fist in his palm and bowed to the group. Vivian stumbled back, expecting Coal to lash out, like the automated soldier in Blaidd’s storage room.

“Sorry,” Vivian said in embarrassment when she bumped into the Lupercalia behind her.

Vivian attempted to mimic the fluid moves everyone was doing, while Coal walked the lines, correcting people’s form.

“Though the movements are slow as we train,” Coal said, as he showed Vivian how to sweep her arm in a downward arc. “When sped up, they provide the basis for offensive and defensive maneuvers.”

Vivian nodded getting the hang of it. While Vivian performed the graceful dance, she also studied the barren lot.

They really do need help building a park. She couldn’t help imagining what she’d do with the space.

The exercise and her numerous landscaping ideas didn’t entirely distract Vivian, but it did calm her down. And before Vivian knew it, the afternoon passed.

“Don’t you hesitate to come back.” Phaedra gave Vivian a hug, then ushered her toward the fancy mirror.

“Okay. It really was good meeting you.”

Vivian closed her eyes, then nervously stepped through the rippling mirror. She opened them again and looked around at the mounds of stuff.

“So freaking weird.”

Vivian picked her way through the crowded aisles and hesitantly poked her head out the door.

“Thank god.” She was beyond relieved to see bitchy Amber was no longer lurking in Blaidd’s bedroom.

Vivian headed to the ridiculously large bathroom to wash the sweat off. The warm water lazily lapping all around her should’ve been soothing, but as Vivian lathered up her hair, her thoughts returned to what she learned.

What is going on here? Please tell me Blaidd doesn’t plan to add me to some harem. I don’t care how ruggedly sexy the man is. That is not happening! But he’s been so nice. Then again, only a savage would ignore a woman getting the snot knocked out of her. Vivian groaned as her thoughts twisted.