SWNOVELS Chapter 13: Paramore
Days crept by and I was beating the numbness by learning more about their culture. I had known a few key points from all of our Rainer classes. But still, actually being here was another beast entirely.
They had fluctuating seasons. A summer could last for over a year. A winter could last a month or ten months. You never knew what you were going to get. Same for the nights. Sometimes the two suns set hours earlier than excepted and sometimes they didn’t set at all.
All other things were similar to earth, except the lifespan. Rainers lived easily to about 140 years on average. They also had very strange wildlife and several sub-Rainer species, that looked like the aliens we learned about years prior to their arrival. Such as Avital, she was an Orby.
There were also many horrifying tales about a species called the Fae. Who looked like Rainers but were actually stone-cold killers with absolutely no moral compass and they possessed magic that the Rainers didn’t have, or at least most Rainers didn’t have.
I was in the Skylar's library when Maddox strutted in, his black suit impeccable. Red satin bow tie shining in the morning sun that fell through the large glass panels. He was one of those too-handsome men, who became more attractive with age. He looked like Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
‘Lux, can I have a minute?’ I looked up from my book, and I was learning about their several states. ‘I guess so sir.’ I hesitatingly stood up. Fixing my white blouse and pleading down my burgundy skirt. My auburn hair was in a long fishtail braid and hung a little loosely around my left shoulder. He stepped closer and sat down in front of me. He took a deep breath.
‘There are some important things we need to discuss. For one your arrangements. You are welcome to stay here with us. You have always been part of the family. However, if you like I can arrange a house for you. Or you can stay at the Welkins estate.’ At the mention of Kai, whom I was still livid at, I yelped. ‘No sir, but thank you sir. I’m all right at the moment. If you don’t mind I would like to stay here with you guys.’
I would rather stay with the guy that had bullied me for the last four years than go to my other former best friend’s house.
Maddox smiled softly. ‘Then it’s settled then. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you change your mind. We’ve had Melixes Welkin select an entire wardrobe for you and you will be able to find this in your new walk-in closet.’
‘Who is Melixes? I thought his mother’s name was Elia?’
‘Melixes is his little sister. She never came to earth. She chose not to.’
Another pang to the heart. Kai had never mentioned his sister to me. Nearly a year of friendship and the bastard had so many secrets. He was never really my friend or boyfriend even. I could see that now.
‘There is one other thing.’ I could tell this was something far more serious by the way Maddox became nervous all of a sudden.
‘I’m listening…’
‘We would like to enroll you in the first year of college at the Rivellin Academy here in Rivellin. Jax and the twins will be there, as well as a few of the other humans that are living here now.’
‘I don’t see why that’s a problem? I would love the education, as I do not plan to spend the rest of my days uneducated and doing nothing.’ I was planning on going to college anyway in the next few months back on earth but I could tell there was another thing he was not saying.
‘I will host the annual Spring Mixer two nights from now. All the influential Rainers will be there. I hope you will join us. I can arrange for a nice dress.’
‘I’m not really in the mood for parties.’
’I understand, but you will start college next week. I don’t know how far you’ve come in that book but you need to understand that in our world politics are literally everything. I need all of them to know that you are protected by Skylar and Welkin blood. This is nonnegotiable miss Elmrose.’
‘Why? Why is that so important to you?’
‘There are certain Rainers who-’ he scratched his throat. ‘Well, you are…. very interesting to lots of individuals. You being fertile is just one of them. Since 97% of our female population can’t conceive anymore.’
I snorted. ’I’m in danger from all the men I must assume?’
’Mostly it is the Fae you should be worried about. But certain Rainers can take offense to the fact you can reproduce and they can’t. Rainers live with a high moral code though but still... never underestimate the power of jealousy Lux. But if you are seen as one of us in two nights from now, things will be even safer. They won’t dare to hurt a Paramore’s protegee.’
‘What’s the thing with these Paramores anyway? I have not read that anywhere yet. Avital called Jax that a few days ago.’
Maddox hesitated and glanced out of the window. The two suns shone brightly and it was somewhere in the middle of the afternoon.
‘There are thirteen rulers of this nation, referred to as the Tertin. Their heirs are called the Paramores.’
‘Like senators, like back on earth? Who are they?’
‘You already know two of them. Jax is the Paramore of House Skylar. Kai is Paramore of House Welkin. Then we have the Barringtons, the oldest one, Sebastian is the Paramore of house Barrington and Oak Briareve is the Paramore of House Briareve, those are just the four of our state, but there are nine more who represent the other states. It’s usually only the Paramore’s that get the privilege go to earth. Therefore you have already met two of them.’
‘All males? How patronizing.’ I scuffed.
‘That’s a mere coincidence. Kai’s mother was the oldest of her generation and was the previous Paramore of House Welkin. My wife was as well but when she died I became the new regent of the Skylar branch.’
I let those words mull around my head a little. ‘Wouldn’t it… you know… put me in more danger to be the protegee of two Paramore families?’
Maddox's eyes widened a little. He was proud of me for drawing such conclusions.
‘You would think so. However the consequences of hurting one of our protégés are so severe nobody would ever dare it.’ He winked at me and rose up. He was done with the conversation.
He looked so much like Jax in that moment it was eery.
‘Thank you, Maddox.’ I said. ‘Thank you for everything.’
‘My pleasure Lux. You have always been like a daughter of mine. I’m glad to have you back in our lives.’
My throat closed up from this admission. Because for the last four years Jax had taken away my other family too.
It felt good to hear this from Maddox’s lips. He was often more a father to me than my own was. With the loss of my mom that had consumed his happiness, it was often scarce that I had a good moment with my old man.
Now I could never have any moment good or bad with him ever again.