ELLA CAPRICIO
I wore a white dress that morning. He walked me out of the living quarters and into the elevator. He pressed the button to go up and I was surprised. I thought we would be going down to the street level and going somewhere. We were getting married. I assumed that the Kalazaron did that in some sort of church, or something equivalent to that. The elevator opened and Thaedon led me out onto the roof.
"I thought you would want to be married here. You mentioned rooftops were your favorite place. Because you can see all around into nature," he said as he kissed the top of my hand.
"Yes, it is perfect.” I looked around at the roof that was decorated with simplistic, red ribbons. There was a table of food and drink. There was a leader of ceremony, the same that I had seen at the celebrations before. The advisor of Thaedon, called Huine Srit, joined us. There were two more witnesses, one male and one female Kalazaron. Everyone in attendance signed a holographic document saying they witnessed the marriage ceremony between us. The ceremony was also recorded on the holographic projection. It was very simple and beautiful. We held hands and stared at each other and repeated the words that the leader of ceremony recited before us. It was much like a marriage ceremony on Earth.
When we were done and bonded, the two of us sat at the table and ate and drank as husband and wife as we looked out on the view. It was perfect. I did not like a grand party or ceremony. But I wasn't going to get off that easy.
"This is perfect. I do not like being under the prying and judging eyes of others," I said to him.
He looked at me and bit his lower lip. He looked mischievous.
"What? What is it? Something tells me you have a surprise," I said to him knowing that I would not like it.
"This wedding ceremony is for us. We had to do it in secret. However, we will have to have a reception, a very grand one. It is scheduled for tomorrow evening. I am going to make the announcement today. It is very important, Ella."
"Why? You know these things scare me," I said to him, feeling very weak after I did so. I just could not shake that fear the sisters instilled in me.
"It will let everyone know that we are married. It will be a visual to them. Once they see it and we declare it in public, then we will never be questioned again. That's why it is important."
"Yes, I can see why it is important. I will be strong for us. I will enjoy the reception and attend and show everyone how happy I am to be your bride."
"You are stronger than you think, Ella. You have endured living on another planet. You have endured being the captive of awful creatures. You have endured a battle siege. You have endured being the lover of a very reckless warrior. You are very strong," he said as he kissed my cheek.
"Well, when you put it that way," I said as I laughed. He was right. I was strong. I had been through a lot and I did not let it beat me down.
We had a grand reception announcing that we had been married and providing the proof of it. Everyone was shocked, but no one questioned us again as a couple. Especially when news spread about my pregnancy.
The Loki family was effectively punished for trying to swindle the master out of his rightful slave. They were moved to new living quarters on the outskirts of the city, very far away from the market and the buildings of order. This way it made it much harder to run into the sisters when I went to market. They were never invited to any of the ceremonies again, and that included our wedding reception. It was as if they did not exist, and that made me happy.
Nine months later, I gave birth to our son; he was half human and half Kalazaron. He was strong and had a lot of his father in him. Thaedon had quickly become a legendary master. He fulfilled his promise to make the Belvenreed Outpost stronger. He was much respected by the warrior battalions and often trained with them in the training yards. He had their utmost loyalty, which was good for any master. However, I knew that there was one Kalazaron in particular that he wanted the blessing of, for whatever reason. It was the Consulate Dalik Moscurn. It was at the reception that Thaedon finally received that blessing.
I was shocked when the consulate walked up to us because there was a human female on his arm. She was very pretty, and I had never seen her before.
“Master Kree, congratulations, and I know that you and Ella will be very happy. I must apologize for being so adamant in my opinions. I, of all of the Kalazaron, know what you must be feeling. I felt it for my wife here, Dr. Jade Roberts.”
“Hello, Dr. Roberts,” I said in greeting to her.
“Hello, Ella. I hope that we can visit soon,” she said to me.
“I would like that,” I said, knowing that we would be good friends and I was excited to know that I should have another female friend. I wondered if she knew Dr. Lavender Prost at Belvenreed.
“Yes, Consulate. I knew that eventually you would understand. I think it has just been many years since you went through something similar. It just takes a little reminding is all,” Thaedon said to the consulate. We all smiled and it was as simple as that. Consulate Moscurn never complained again about Thaedon’s out of box ways, or his human female wife.
The wedding and birth of our son were all well received and it had all happened so fast. I could scarcely remember my life on earth. To think I had left earth in order to find a husband. In order to find love and happiness, and I had found it. It was not in the way I had expected, but isn't that the way of life?
THE END (Flip next page to read Kalazaron Ankon!)