The Talamute Prince

We have reached his home planet and I must say the floating city looks amazing upon approach. I sit in the room I had called my home for the past several weeks as I wait for whatever is coming next.

All the hairs stand on the back of my neck as I sit in my room getting ready to face this new place. I'll admit I'm terrified of what is coming, but that's not this feeling. I feel like something or someone is watching me.

The quiet time I'm allowed while the ship is docked and inspected is a reprieve from my anxious heart. I don't think I could handle being forced to rush out and greet his city. Raspacity, what an awful name. At least Booravia rolled off the tongue easier. I dress in the purple gown I had made for this event. My hair is simple. I just run a braid from the back of my head around the front and back to the underside to hide the small bit of hair that is at the end. The blue and black intertwine making it look more complicated than it is. The rest is left loose with the natural wave intact. My makeup isn't that difficult either. Some blues around the eyes to set them out a dab of blush and a deep red lipstick.

I glance over at the window. The feeling still presents through it all. I walk over and peek out. There isn't much to see given the position of the ship it's mostly a view of metal beams and pieces of the floating platforms. Not exactly the best view for a newcomer.

I glance downward as a flicker of color catches my eye. It's a large bird. I watch it soar beneath the ship. Its size must be incredible as it takes nearly a minute for the tail to appear. I'm distracted by the sound of the door and turn slowly. Patrick comes into the room behind me. I'm assuming it is time to go see my new home.

"Are you ready my queen?" Part of me wants to get on a ship and run as far away as I can. I face the window gazing at this strange new place. The bird is gone, and I can't make out much of the surface from here. There's nothing beautiful in the view. Patrick is dressed up more than me. He holds out his arm and I pause for a second, I reach out gripping his arm as I look at our room one last time.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." I turn to Patrick who is smiling at me due to my uncontrollable shaking. He leans down a bit whispering into my ear.

"You're shaking a bit are you okay?"

"Just nervous, there's so much uncertainty."

"Relax." He places his free hand on mine. I try to maintain my composure. I had taken his elbow willingly, but I didn't want any further contact.

"Easier said than done." My tone isn't friendly. I must remain objective to maintain control. As nervous as I am, I didn't want anger to pile on top of that emotion.

"You just have to wave and smile. Maybe say hello but that's all." Patrick's attempt to calm me caused my heart to jump.

"I've never given any sort of speech before. You never said I would have to speak to them." I glance at him freezing for a second just outside the room.

"I'm sure a simple hello will be fine."

"And what of your mother and the lack of control over my destructive side?"

"As far as my mother knows you're nervous so she won't expect anything other than nerves. I haven't told her about our fight." He says in a whisper as we head to the elevator.

"Fight?" Is that what he's calling it; a simple fight. I glare at him with a bit of anger but quickly regain my thoughts. If my anger were to be let out, he deserves what he gets. I couldn't condone or forgive myself if I killed his crew. They had only been following orders.

"You're still upset over all the lies and trickery. I don't blame you for still being angry with me." We're in the elevator now and he's selected our destination.

"It's more than a fight, you can't control me or my powers. You and the rest of your people should be terrified." It doesn't seem he gets the seriousness. My mind wanders away from our conversation in order to calm me. I'm meeting the mother of the man I married but don't love. How would she respond? With her not knowing the truth about my powers it makes me terrified.

"She doesn't need to know that fact. It'll only bring about panic and chaos if word of it were to leak out to our people. It's better to keep it under wraps."

"This is a dangerous secret to keep, but as I see very clearly, it isn't my choice."

"No, it isn't." His voice is firm. I stare at the floor in silence for a moment. I guess in the aftermath of the worst-case scenario it wouldn't matter to anyone else other than me. I'd be the only one left to be held responsible for the death of an entire race of people. I'll be the only one who would ever remember such a tragedy, just like the other ship.

"What about the crew on this ship? What exactly do they know of what has transpired?" I ask as the door opens into a room full of people who stare at us. A memory of my parents out of the blue. I remember that even after their worst fight my parents would shake off the anger. They would great the people with fake smiles adorning their faces. They never let the public know how unhappy they were. For the most part, they managed to hide it from me as well. I force a smile onto my lips and watch as all the people slowly turn back to their monitors, panels, or whatever they had been doing prior to our arrival.

"They know their place, besides for the most part they only think you're scared of the position you now find yourself in given the secluded past. Most of them know you're not accustomed to being publicly displayed."

"Is that what I am? A display?" I hear a growl come from his chest.

"That's not what I meant."

"I'm not sure you've said a single thing and meant it." I snip. I see him struggle to ignore my attempts to start an argument.

"Only my sisters know the truth of our rather impertinent situation." I only glance at him quickly and turn away. He avoids my last comment which is no surprise. He seems to hold no care for the truth.

"And what do they know exactly."

"That I can't control your powers and that you are to be handled delicately. No one is to anger or upset you."

"Why do they know? I didn't tell Melena anything."

"I did. I asked them for advice on how to subdue your anger." Somehow what I can do with my powers does not seem to be hitting him as seriously as it should. I wish I could allow my anger to be freed.

"How would they know such things?"

"They are women, they merely told me to be patient and honest with you. They told me what I would have to do to make all of this up to you. Melena said she wouldn't forgive me even if she were you. Kathrine, on the other hand, said time would heal us if there was any sort of true love from your end." His eyes attempt to enchant me as they once did when I was naïve enough to believe he knew honesty.

"I think I like Melena's idea better," I whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Melena has volunteered to stay behind after the coronation. She felt a familiar face would make the transition easier even if you're mad at her. You should try to be nicer to her next time." He is scolding me for something I already apologized for.

"You should be more serious with the situation we now find ourselves in my husband as it could lead to dire consequences if it's regarded with little diligence." I snap at him.

"I'm very serious, Laoonica. I've not given up on winning your love back. I never surrender once I set my mind to it. You losing your composer isn't as much of a threat as you say it is." his overconfidence on winning me back isn't enough to subdue anything.

"Forgive me if I'm not quite as reassured in your ability to woe me again. I've learned your tricks."

"You never know, I may have one or two up my sleeve." He has a smile stretched across his lips

"Was that your attempt at a joke?" I was hoping he would say yes but even if he did, I'm not sure I'd believe him.

"I'm kidding." He says.

"It wasn't funny." We head to another elevator to the other side of the control room. I had never seen this one used before. The captain is waiting for it. He uses a key to open it then we step inside.

"Where does this go?" I ask. The strange new part of the ship I had never seen comes into view as the solid walls fade away into the glass and there is a large room. There are a few crates and other items stacked to either side of the people standing in the middle. As the doors open, I pause unable to step out.

"Laoonica, are you okay?" Patrick looks back when he feels my stillness holding him.

"I'm nervous."

"About what?" I'm now standing outside the small elevator but haven't tried to go any further.

"Entering your home without the ability to control my powers." I glance at my shoes that are flats, purple to match my dress of course. I stare blankly at the single rose I had attached on the toes trying to distract myself from my urge to heat my hand up to get my point across.

"You could indeed destroy everything and one with ease, but you won't." I'm looking at him now into his green eyes. I haven't released his arm this entire time despite the fact I wanted to burn it off him now.

"How can you be so sure? It is taking a lot of thought to control myself even as we speak. With the nerves and the fact, you seem so pleasantly unaware that I'm in fact still furious with you and your people." I search his eyes for any sign of truth, although I'm not so sure I would know it if I saw it in him. He was a wonderful liar that had tricked me all too easily into believing I was in love with him.

"You're not a monster. You aren't some mindless, heartless machine. You're an amazing person who just has a few extra qualities that you're capable of controlling." I think he is reading more into my expression then he should. I see want in his eyes and glance away quickly. Perhaps, it is the fact I have avoided touching him since the truth of his lack of control had been put forth. He moves his free hand onto the top of mine as he smiles at me.

"Right, I controlled it for years on my own planet. I can do so here until we find a way for it to be truly under control." He lifts my chin up drawing my eyes to his. He leans in and places a kiss on my lips. I surrender only a bit to his persistence as I keep my mouth closed and my eyes open studying his face. I still feel some passion for his half but mine is nowhere to be found.

"I love you." He waits silently for a second. I don't say it back I just glance around the corner of a large create at the others waiting for us in the center of the room.