Here's the next chapter of this series, one that continues to put a different, more unique Sci-Fi spin on the age-old vampire myth. By the way, as a reminder, the term 'vampire' is one of human construction and not in the lexicon of the Terrian language. Therefore, they don't call themselves vampires, regardless of any similarities in their abilities that the human may perceive.
Because this is science fiction there are aliens, good ones and bad ones, and yes, the good ones are here to stand against those who would suppress the more physically fragile human race. In this chapter, Maura learns more about her relationship with Jason and the village.
This chapter could be rated PG-13 for action, but I still like to caution my readers. I hope you enjoy it, leave a comment once you've read it. Good feedback is the lifeblood of any writer...dreamweaver594.
9-Recovery
Two days later Jason's feet finally touched the floor. He slowly got out of bed with a quiet groan. He moved like every muscle in his body ached. He slipped on his robe, grabbed a towel, and walked into the main room of his grandmother's cottage.
Vera stood in the kitchen frying eggs on the stove. "Good morning. I'm glad to see you're finally up."
"Where's Maura?" Jason mumbled as he headed for the back door.
"I sent her on a few errands, she'll be back shortly. She has become my ward Jason, and because of what happened in your apartment you share her blood now."
"I know," he said with a determined look, "she told me."
Lisa walked through the front door and dropped her coat on a nearby chair. "I just saw Yaol, he said he'd be waiting for you this morning at the practice grounds."
Vera smiled sweetly at her grandson. "Yaol is just what you need right now."
"I'll go find him after breakfast. I am still a bit tender so perhaps we can start slowly. But first I really need a shower. Phew! I reek! I don't know how Maura can stand to be near me."
The lines of determination that etched in Vera's face softened as Jason opened the kitchen door and walked outside. "I thank providence every day for that girl." Vera murmured as Jason gently closed the door. Outside, through the door, he heard his grandmother say. "He's finally come back to us." He still hoped the bathwater was at least warm as he hobbled across the path, his tender feet bruised by the occasional stone.
Several hours later, Jason leaned against the walkway gate that led to his grandmother's cottage. Maura moved in a blur across the lawn, her blade flashing in the mid-day sun like a jewel. "I doubt there's a swordsman in the next ten villages who could hold out against you, Maura, your blade work is spectacular. I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't start teaching guardians soon."
Maura paused and turned to him, slightly out of breath. "How was training?"
"Exhausting." Jason walked through the gate towards the bench near the cottage door where Maura sat. "Have time for a walk? There's something I want to show you."
She nodded then sheathed her sword to set it aside.
They walked along a narrow grassy path. It meandered through the forest and the pathway seemed filled with life as birds chased bugs and butterflies and bees flit from flower to flower. The sunlight filtered through the tree boughs and a gentle wind tickled the leaves above making the sunlight sparkle and dance on the ferns along the way.
Ahead, a shaft of sunlight poured through a small opening in the forest canopy to reveal a glen nestled among ancient oaks in the middle of the forest. Near the center of the glen several large monolithic stones stood like sentinels guarding an ancient, sacred place. There was a hushed silence about the place, as if the place was sacred and all life knew it.
"It's beautiful." Maura walked out into the glen and spun around. "I can feel a tremendous energy here. Where are we?"
"It is the gathering place, or in our ancient tongue, 'Tayeel-Maele.' This is where my ancestors first set foot in this world, over ten thousand years ago."
Maura walked to the nearest monolith and ran her hand across the surface, which was covered in the same ancient runes that covered the archway of the portal in her world. "Is this another portal?"
Jason joined her. "Sort of, it's that and a lot more. I am only beginning to learn of its purpose. This is what your father was protecting."
Maura looked at Jason in shock. "What?"
"Lisa briefed me on the details of your escape. I'm sorry to hear about your father, he was a very brave man. He died trying to prevent something that would have become catastrophic for this and many other worlds. Soon his deeds will be entered here into the Akashic records. It's good that you will be here because you'll be able to witness the ceremony."
"Huh?" Maura looked up at Jason, stunned. "When I arrived the council was ready to kill me!"
"That's before they discovered who you were. The news spread like wildfire. All the Sirin villages from around the world will be sending representatives to gather here to honor him and to meet you. You've become quite famous."
Jason picked up a long slender tree branch and began to peel its bark. "You know Maura, nothing is a coincidence in this world or any other. What has happened to you, our meeting, your father's death, the fact that you are here to be part of this ceremony, it's all part of a larger plan that none of us can see clearly yet."
She stepped closer to Jason as the air was suddenly filled with a drumming of energy as a blue-white trace of a portal opening appeared in front of one of the monoliths. Jason held his arm out to protect Maura as two beings emerged from the frozen wall of water. They wore emerald robes of shimmering cloth faceted with jewels and crystals. Across their mantels the shape of a golden bird was draped, it's wings outstretched. They nodded to Jason, and then moved to another stone monolith. A second portal appeared and they stepped through it as the opening snapped shut.
Maura peaked out from behind his arm. "What was that?"
"Part of what I wanted to show you." Jason winked at her as he stepped closer to the massive stones. "We just witnessed delegates from one world moving to another. Tayeel-Maele is sort of like a transfer place where those from other worlds move between them. There are transfer points like this all over the galaxy."
Maura thought about what had happened. The two who emerged from the portal were strangely different; reptilian in nature with rough, scaly skin in patches of green and amber. Their eyes were large and almond shaped without lashes; their arms were long for their bodies, by human standards, and they ended in fingers with long claws. "Are they all humanoid in appearance?"
He continued to peel the bark off a tree branch. "Not really, humans wouldn't recognize most of them as sentient beings, but they are, remarkably so.
"It sure beats Buck Rodgers rocketing across the cosmos," she murmured. "I skimmed one of those books last month while on a lunch break."
Jason chuckled. "Yes, it does."
Maura turned and walked to a nearby stone bench to sit down. After a moment she turned to Jason. "What do you know about my father?"
"Grandmother told me that he was the gatekeeper in your world, the only one as far as we know. She told me that he kept his pledge to guard the portal with his life and that he was a very brave man."
Maura thought back to a conversation she had with Vera. She remembered Vera saying that there are good Terrians and bad ones, just like good humans and bad ones.
Jason walked over and they sat next to her on the bench. They watched the insects dance among the flowers bathed in sunlight. Jason continued to fiddle with the tree branch he'd found along the path.
"When you arrived, the council didn't know what to make of you. First of all, you didn't just break through the weave like a marauder. Nor were you an explorer, so they decided to wait and watch." He glanced sideways to gauge her reactions and they seemed neutral.
"Because I was already living in the human world, I was asked to keep an eye on you. And as usual, Grandmother will be quick to tell you that I always get too involved, especially when a pretty girl is the subject," he said, as his neck flushed crimson.
"She did mention your appreciation for a pretty skirt," Maura snickered and Jason nodded sheepishly.
Then he continued. "Anyway, I met with Fen a couple of times and she told me about the Intro to Mathematics class, I needed that course as well, so I signed up. The rest was pure luck, honest, I really didn't know about the charm or anything."
"What about that car?"
"It was given to me by the council and only to be used in an emergency, and, with those marauders, that was an emergency. I had it for just over a week before I picked you up, my third landing was the one where you were with me," he grinned. "But I always was a fast learner."
Maura nodded, as if accepting his explanation as they both stared off, lost in thought.
"What was he like, your father?"
"He was kind and compassionate, at least to me. At the same time he was driven by his work, which left me feeling lonely much of the time. I remember once when I was maybe 5 or so, he took us all to the ocean. It was quite an adventure because we lived so far away from the water. We traveled all day and well into the night but when we got there I was filled with wonder it was so amazing. Terrus doesn't have water like they do on this world. It's rather arid, so a trip to the ocean is a real treat. My mother was in heaven, I never saw her smile so brightly."
"He must have loved her very much."
Maura smiled sweetly and nodded. "Yes, he did. Everybody who knew her loved her. She was the gentlest person in the world." Maura paused as tears began to well up in her eyes. "I miss them both so much it hurts."
"I'm sorry, Maura, I didn't mean for you to remember sad thoughts." Jason handed her a handkerchief from his back pocket.
"Thanks." Maura wiped her eyes then she reached across and squeezed his hand. "It's all right. My mother has been in my thoughts a lot lately."
"I know that a ceremony can never replace the loss of your parents, but I hope that when you see how greatly your father was admired it will help ease your loss." He scratched along the path in front of them; insects scurried to avoid his stick. "Usually when events like this occur there are no members of the family present to witness it. But now that you serve the council you will be able to be a part of it." He turned to her; his eyes sparkled in the light. "It's amazing...really; I've rarely seen a ceremony like this. It will be truly remarkable."
A silver tailed swallow swooped down among the insects at Maura's feet.
A troubled look filled Maura's face once again. "But if the D'liache clan don't know about the portal how are they sending others to abduct me?"
