Myopia (Young Adult Zombie Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria Series) (9 page)

Bach hadn’t been allowed to leave Jarthan until the Sen had decided on the empirics. To pass the time alone, he wandered over the bridge that led toward the courtyard of the First Pillar. From the bridge, he could see Lluc standing on the Astolat Bridge miles below with his three favorite Thayns, Nia, Nizzar and Nular. He couldn’t make out what his older brother was doing, but he saw Nular leave the group and run inside.

Listening to the waves beating against the shore below, he was glad to be here; the water really helped him relax and so did being among his own people. With his father’s entourage, Jarthan was bustling full of Family and had a real sense of home, his home near the Jade Ocean. Feeling homesick, he questioned for the hundredth time his choice to remain on Earth.

The empirics wouldn’t need him once they’d arrived and settled. Perhaps then he could return home. Imagining the journey through the threshold and arriving on the black ship in the middle of the green waters of the Jade Ocean, he could almost smell the salt in the sea air.

After that, they’d sail home together to the Sable Mountains where the Third Pillar lived. Wisteria would be speechless when she saw the ash mountain ranges or the waterfalls that went on forever. It’d be like nothing she’d ever dreamt of and she wouldn’t believe it. Grinning to himself, he considered blindfolding her until they reached the first mountain city.

Soon, reality dawned on him. His people would kill her long before she reached his home. He’d have to live among the humans
forever
or leave her for good. Bach sighed deeply. Neither option seemed tenable.

Glancing back down at the Astolat Bridge, he saw his brother was gone.

“What is going on with you and him?” Lord Rafel approached him. “Since your Great Walk ended, it is as if you two barely speak.”

“My Great Walk is not over,” Bach answered.

“You cannot blame him for interrupting your 1,000 day journey, because your father has given you early leave.”

“Lord Rafel, this is not about the Great Walk. We disagree on the principle.”

“Really? We found the Terrans have obsidian crystal. They could be planning to destroy us. That is a good reason to leave your walk early.”

“You…” He halted. He knew he couldn’t discuss the details of the differences him and Lluc were having with Lord Rafel.

The man was still Family and to make matters worse, he’d never lived among free Terrans at all. Bach wasn’t even sure Lord Rafel had ever met one, so there was no way he could even begin to understand what Bach was going through. If Lord Rafel learned what was happening, he’d mostly likely go straight to Sen Aleix and Yordi. Yordi would probably kill her himself. A cold chill ran down Bach’s spine.

“You and Lluc have always been rivals, I guess it is because you are so close in age,” Rafel said as they reached the main doors of the First Pillar’s palace within the castle.

The sentinel at the large stone doors stopped them. As a member of the Third Pillar, Bach needed an invitation from an Ino of another Pillar before entering one of their palaces. Lord Rafel didn’t require this because he was the Lord of Jarthan Castle and had free reign. However, that wasn’t the case with the palace of the First Pillar because, for some reason, there was no one left from that pillar.

Stories floated around, trying to explain what had happened to the lost Pillar. Some people said Dy’obeth ghosts had taken them away. Others believed they’d turned into bloodthirsty Dy’obeths, but the rational explanation was that they died as a result of a virus thousands of years ago. The end result: their palace stood empty.

The First Pillar’s palace was particularly intriguing, as there were sections of it that no one could get into. Scholars and engineers had been trying to decipher the locks for as long as anyone could remember.

This was why the Lord of Jarthan was one of the Seven Elders. He stood for the First Pillar.

“Lord Rafel, Sen-Son Bach, I am honored to have you both here.” The sentinel at the stone door of the palace stepped aside.

Walking through, Bach noticed a massive construction of rock and iron, used to wedge the door open.

“We have to keep that there; otherwise the door may never open,” Lord Rafel explained as they walked.

Bach knew this. He'd toured the different palaces as a child.

“My son came to talk to me about you,” Lord Rafel said. “Enric seems determined to not allow you to name Alba as your intended. Do you want to?”

Bach froze. “I do not know how to answer that.”

“You can always talk to me. I have tried to be there for you boys after your mother died. And I will always try to serve your best interests.”

“Thank you,” he replied cautiously.

Rafel was right. He’d been more of a father to Bach than Sen Aleix. It had been Rafel who’d explained to Bach what the Terrans had done to his mother, and had persuaded the Sen to allow Bach to go on the Great Walk on Earth. So, it was weird having this conversation with the man about his daughter.

“I am too young to get married.”

“Well you don’t have to marry for another four years. I am surprised your father has not explained this to you, actually. There is a lot about your life your father should have told you. Listen, you do not have to name your intended until you turn nineteen and officially complete your Great Walk, because after that you are technically a man. Four years later, you will marry her.” Rafel tapped his foot on the ground. “I like you, Bach, and I would like you to name Alba as your intended, but only if you want to.”

“Alba is so amazing and beautiful…”

“Papa, please do not talk about what you do not understand.” Alba appeared at the end of the hall. “I care about Bach, but I have so much to learn and you need me here.”

“Alba, you should not have been eavesdropping.”

“I was not. I came to look for you. The Sen-Filla Lidia of the Second Pillar has arrived. She is asking for you. As I came in, it was very easy to hear what you two were talking about,” she continued. “And since you were talking about my life, I do not call that eavesdropping.”

“Bach, we will talk about this later.” Rafel hurried out.

“Do not worry, I do not want to pledge to you either.” Alba’s green eyes lit up. “I will talk to him.” She left.

Walking out a few minutes later, he saw Alba standing on the bridge. The girl’s gaze was pensive as she watched the calm waters below.

“Hi.” He walked up to her.

“I think my father is going to go ahead with this pledge between us.” Sighing, she continued to watch the wasters. “This is going to ruin everything and destroy any chance at happiness for the both of us.”

“We should go and explain it to them. Make it clear that neither of us want this.”

“No, my mother is doing this to punish me,” she explained. “I am just sorry you have to be the one who has to carry this burden.”

“What burden?”

Pausing, the thin girl stared at him. “Suppose they believe a Famila guy is in love with a Terran. They would be so disgusted they would do something harsh to stop it.”

He paused, terrified she knew his secret. “What are you talking about?”

“Love, passion, freedom. They will probably force you into this pledge and eventual marriage because of
me
.”

“You? You have a Terran?”

What were the odds that two Famila who loved Terrans would find each other?

“Yes, but as far as my mother and everyone else is concerned, no. There was a Terran boy I used to--
know.
When my father discovered it, he sent me away to the Sixth Pillar for years and when I came back, he was gone.”

“Was he a free Terran?”

Scrunching her face, she shook her head. “I met him when he was free. I was studying to be an empiric and he was a Terran brought to us to observe. I do not even know what became of him.”

“What was his name?” he asked.

“Donat.” Her face brightened as she whispered his name. “I shouldn’t be telling this to you, but I know you of all people understand these things.”

“You loved him?”

“Yes.” She stroked his shoulder. “But my father just thinks I got carried away.” Slowly, she withdrew her fingers from his body and they disappeared into the long sleeves of her blue and white dress. “I know you understand how I feel, I have heard about your Terran, the human. I am jealous that you have someone so amazing.” Alba wept. “Oh, Bach, I just wish Donat was here.”

Wrapping his arms around her, he let her sob against him. He wasn’t going to acknowledge what she said, because he was surprised she knew about Wisteria.

“I am fine.” Pulling away, she wiped her tears with her sleeve. “I will find a way to make my father understand.”

“I am sure these rumors will pass.”

Nodding, she smiled at him and glided away toward the castle.

*****

“What do you mean, no?” Sen Aleix yelled three hours later. The giant of a man stormed down the steps from his throne to the center of the Triad hall where Bach and his brothers stood. “I have provided you with five options for an intended, four more than my father gave me, and yet you stand here and say no?”

“Sen, I am sure there is a reasonable explanation,” Yordi implored, his voice echoing through the empty hall. “Bach—”

“I do not want to hear you speak again, Prime Yordi.” Pushing Yordi aside, Sen Aleix grabbed Bach by the collar.

“Sen, please,” implored Belem, Bach’s stepmother.

“Shut up, woman. Bach, you pick one today, do you understand me? There shall be no discussion on this matter.” Letting go, he pushed Bach to the ground.

Embarrassed, Bach quickly rose. He was glad that only his brothers and stepmother were in the room to see this.

“Now tell me.” The Sen retook his seat. “Who will it be?”

“Why?” Bach demanded. “I do not have to name my intended now. At least not until I have completed my Great Walk.”

“Be quiet,” Yordi said to him.

“No, the Sen never picked your intended, or even Lluc’s. Lluc is older. The Sen has not put him under this pressure. Why is he expecting this from me?” Bach asked Yordi, but he was really speaking to his father.

“What the Sen is asking is not unreasonable,” Yordi remarked. “The five girls are more than suitable.
D’cara
, if you do not want Talia, I will be happy to trade her with mine.”

“You want to know why I have made settling you down my priority?” the Sen asked in a low voice. “Why I had to debase myself to negotiate your pledge and concern myself with the nocturnal habits of our socialites, when I should be ensuring the prosperity and security of our people?”

Something in his father’s tone made Bach decide he didn’t want to know the answer.

“Because I heard rumors about you and the free Terrans—you were communing with them. I need you to show me and the Pillar they are not true,” his father continued.

Bach couldn’t understand how his father suspected this. He’d been discreet.

“Free Terrans? I . . . Father—what?” Yordi stuttered.

The hall fell silent.

Bach felt all the blood drain out of his face.

“So tell me, are those stories true?” his father demanded.

“Of course they are not true. Bach could never commit such an abomination,” Yordi barked at his father. “How can you say that about your own son?”