See part 1 for disclaimer.
-----------The Legend of the Akakami-----------Dinner had been delicious and, by the end, all Janet wanted to dowas curl up somewhere comfortable and fall asleep, she was so full. Aerin had excused himself first, claiming to have important business to attend to at the University, leaving Karise and Janet alone in the Common room. After a while of conversing, Karise noticed that Janet was beginning to tire.
"You look like you could use some sleep," Karise said quietly, patting Janet on the hand. Janet smiled lazily at the older woman.
"Yeah," Janet murmured, "It's been a very long day."
"I would think this day would have been a big shock for you," Karise said, knowing that Janet had been separated from her planet for less than a day. Janet nodded sadly but didn't say anything, her tiredness drawing her emotions closer to the surface. Karise smiled sympathetically.
"Come on," she said, "Let's get you somewhere so you can sleep." Karise stood up and Janet followed, the beginnings of exhaustion taking over her body. Karise, making sure Janet was by her side, led the tired doctor out of the Common room and across the landing.
"This is where you will stay," Karise said, indicating the wooden double doors in front of her, "My chambers are through the doors to your right, so if you need anything, do not be afraid to enter." Janet nodded and gave Karise a smile.
"I will, thanks," Janet said softly. Karise returned the smile and opened the doors, letting Janet walk through the doorway. At the sight of the room, Janet didn't think she could take much more of a shock.
"Is this where I'm staying?" Janet asked, taking in the grandeur around her. The fact that she didn't even see a bed in sight didn't even register. Thirty foot Paladian windows stared back at her and, if Janet wasn't mistaken, the bottom of the center window opened up into balcony doors and the arch of the same window swung outward, though how one was supposed to open it, Janet didn't know. Through the windows, Janet was greeted with an amazing view of ocean underneath the setting sun, a similar view she had woken up to earlier that day.
Just as amazing as the view was the room itself. The room was rounded, reflecting the shape of the tower that housed it. Couches and chairs, complete with end tables and lamps, surrounded a hearth that was set into the wall 15 feet from the windows. Tapestries and rugs everywhere gave the room a warmer look and there were a couple of doors Janet could see that led off to various other rooms in the chambers. Sconces were attached periodically on the walls and, above her, hung a huge chandelier.
Out of the corner of her eye, Janet could see two metal spiral staircases on either side of the room that led up to a walkway that wrapped around the room from the windows, over the entrance, and around to the hearth, bookshelves full of books lining the walls. There were at least 4 or 5 doors that led from the walkway into what Janet assumed were either small studies or bedrooms.
The entire set of chambers was tastefully decorated in soft colors and was definitely a place that Janet could see herself spending a lot of down time in, but it was just too much.
"I can't stay here," Janet said, "It's too much just for me." Karise just shook her head.
"I felt you needed somewhere where you could have some time alone. I know that being here is going to a big strain and adjustment for you, so I wanted to give you somewhere where you could relax and get away from having to learn to live on this planet. Besides, it's right next to where I am, close by where I wanted you in case you needed help or anything else. I want you to stay here," Karise said. Janet suddenly felt like a clod for trying to refuse the kind and incredibly magnanimous offer Karise had given her, so Janet gave in.
"Then I will," Janet said, "Besides, it's not like I have anywhere else to go." Karise laid a hand on Janet's shoulder, hearing the resigned tone in her voice, and smiled.
"Here, let me show you how everything works," Karise said and proceeded to show Janet how operate in the chambers, everything from how to turn on magically powered lights with a crystal switch that activated with a simple touch to working the magical plumbing system. Karise had been delighted to hear it when Janet told her that much was similar in Zimmeria as it was on Earth.
"You shouldn't have much of a problem, then," Karise said, "Just one more thing, so you know. If you ever want a fire, not that you would in the middle of the summer, but there's another switch that will light it automatically and all you need to do is add wood into the hearth. I just wanted you to know in case you mistook that switch for one of the ones for the light."
"Thanks for the warning," Janet said. Karise smiled.
"Well, I hope you like these chambers. They belonged to my grandparents, who passed away 10 years ago. My father grew up in these chambers before he became the King-in-Waiting and received chambers of his own for his family when he had one," Karise said.
"I'll take good care of them," Janet said reassuringly. Karise gave a nod.
"Well, I'll leave you to choose which bedroom you will sleep in so you can get some rest. I will see you in the morning barring any emergency you might have. Just remember I'm right next to you." Janet nodded.
"Thank you," Janet said, "For everything." Karise just smiled, understanding her words, before gliding out of Janet's new chambers, the door clicking shut softly behind her. Janet sighed as, for the first time that day, she was alone and conscious for it. She still couldn't believe the size of the rooms she had been given.
"It has to be as big as my house," Janet murmured to herself as she moved to explore the chambers a bit before she went to bed. There were two rooms that led off of the first floor of the apartments, located directly across from one another.
One was a large study with a small bathroom attached to it and the other was a library of the same size. In an impulsive moment, Janet pulled off one of the books from the shelf and opened it, not surprised to see words written in a language she didn't know, wondering what it all meant. A soft smile made its way onto her face.
Daniel would love this,' Janet thought, her heart heavy as she thought about him. Janet shook her head to banish the thought of Daniel since thinking of him proved to be too painful for her so soon after being roughly pulled away from her home. Putting the book back on the shelf, Janet exited the room, reminding herself to ask Aerin to teach her how to read the symbols she found in the book.
Her brief inspection of the downstairs completed, Janet walked up one of the spiral staircases and took quick peaks into the rooms. They were all bedrooms, the smallest of which was same size of her master bedroom back on Earth, each complete with its own bathroom. Janet, however, chose what she assumed was the master bedroom of the chambers and was the largest of the five.
It, like the rest of the apartments, was simply decorated. Janet stepped into the carpeted room, flipped on the light switch as the sky was beginning to darken, and surveyed her new sleeping quarters. The large, four-poster bed sat up against in the middle of one of the walls, facing a hearth that was smaller than the one downstairs.
Farther down on the same wall as the hearth sat a desk, making the room a personal study as well as a bedroom. A couple of armchairs lingered on the other side of the room from the door next to the patio doors.
Across the room from the patio door was the entrance to the bathroom, a rather large bathroom with a vanity and a large Jacuzzi sized bathtub as its main features as well as all the other amenities. Clearly impressed, Janet left the bathroom for the bedroom and went over to inspect the large armoire and adjacent dresser.
She was surprised to see a variety of different clothing, ranging from casual to fancy in varying colors, all looking to be in her size. She let out an impressed whistle at the sight, knowing magic had to have been involved. Part of her wanted to inspect all the clothing that had been given to her, but she just didn't have the energy to do so.
Determined to explore all her clothing options when she had more energy, Janet dug through the dresser for a nightshirt and slipped into it, removing the linen dress Karise had given her earlier in the day and putting it into the cloth hamper next to the armoire.
Janet walked over to the bed and crawled in, pulling the covers away from the large mattress and settling in. Reaching over to turn off the light switch that had been conveniently placed by the bed, Janet snuggled into the covers and, within moments, exhaustion took over her and she fell asleep.
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Janet awoke to the feeling of a gentle breeze washing over her skin. Immediately alarmed, she sat up in bed, looking around frantically. Her gaze fell on the open patio door and her heart started doing double time as she tried to figure out how it had gotten open.
'I know I didn't open it before I went to sleep,' Janet thought, her mind conjuring up all sorts of scenarios, each more devastating than the last.
She was on a foreign planet with no way of defending herself; if someone decided they wanted to harm her, all she had were each of her limbs to defend herself with. Realizing she was becoming irrational, Janet bowed her head and took in a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself.
It was when she had calmed down a bit that she realized something else was off: she wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing. Peering underneath the covers, Janet checked just to make sure she wasn't imagining the sensation of the bed covers against her bare skin.
"Ok, now this is getting a little strange," Janet commented to herself as she returned her gaze to the open patio door. Strangely drawn to it, Janet pushed the covers away and, despite her nakedness, got out of bed and walked towards the patio.
She stopped in the doorway and looked up at the night sky, all three moons in various states of fullness, together so bright they nearly obliterated the stars from the night sky, their twinkle barely perceptible through the light of the moons. Janet tried to find any familiar shape in the stars, but her searching eyes failed to find something she recognized.
"I thought I'd be able to find you," a familiar voice from behind said. Janet gave a start and turned around, gasping as she did so.
"Daniel," she breathed. She stared at him, unable to believe he was standing in front of her, just as naked as she was. He walked up to her and lifted a hand to cradle her cheek. Janet found herself leaning into his touch, craving more of it. She looked up into his eyes, no longer hidden by his glasses, and found them boring into her, as if he was staring directly into her soul.
"You weren't where I'd thought you'd be," he said softly. Janet smiled sadly.
"I know," she said, "I'm sorry about that." Daniel shook his head, his thumb caressing her cheek.
"It's alright," Daniel said, "It was just harder to find you this time. I wonder if I'm going to be able to find you again." The sadness in his voice brought tears to her eyes.
"Hopefully, you will," Janet said, "Since I don't know how to find you." Daniel offered her a comforting smile, though his smile was tinged with a hint of sadness.
"I'll find you again," he said as he pulled her close, "I always do." Janet closed her eyes as he leaned towards her.
"I know," she whispered before his lips closed over hers in the sweetest, most intense kiss she had ever received, so sweet it caused the tears in her eyes to spill down her cheeks through her closed eyelids. Still kissing her, Daniel brought up his other hand and wiped away her tears with the gentlest of motions, offering her silent comfort as he continued to capture her lips over and over again. She found her hands coming up to brace herself against his chest, her fingers tracing the fine musculature.
Slowly, he turned her around and guided her over to the bed, pressing her softly against the mattress. She gasped as Daniel's lips left hers and pressed gently against her neck, creating a trail of kisses across her skin.
"Let me love you," he whispered, "Just this once. In case I can't find you again." Janet could only nod as his lips descended on hers once more.
Over the next hour, she let him worship her, setting her aflame with the passion he awoke in her, letting her know she did the same for him. Tears came to her eyes once again as she climaxed for the last time during their time together, knowing this might be their only time together.
"Shh, don't cry," Daniel said as he lay next to her, cradling her body against his.
"I can't help it," Janet nearly sobbed, "What if I never see you again?" Janet noticed Daniel's eyes also glistened as he thought of the possibility.
"Then I will be incomplete, half a soul wandering forever, looking for its mate," Daniel whispered as his lips ghosted over her forehead, "But I will always love you. Never forget that." Janet's lip trembled as she struggled to hold in her tears.
"I won't," she breathed, "I love you, too." A small smile crossed Daniel's face.
"Then we will be connected forever. Whether in this life or the next, we will be together," he said as he held her to him.
"I'll miss you," Janet said.
"And I, you," Daniel said, looking down at her with a regretful expression, "I have to go now. I can't stay much longer." At his words, a sob escaped Janet's lips, but she didn't say anything.
"Goodbye," Daniel whispered before he disappeared completely.
Janet shot up in bed, her heart pounding, tears streaming down her face as violent sobs wracked her body. She clutched a pillow to her chest, trying to steal some sense of stability from the inanimate object.
Her body still tingled slightly from the pleasure Daniel had given her in her dream, but the sense of losing him overrode all other sensations. She buried her face in the pillow and tried to ignore the hollow ache in her chest. All that had happened finally hit her: she wasn't going home and she wasn't going to see Daniel again.
Unsure whether the dream had only been a dream or a visitation, Janet did know it would be a long time before she saw Daniel again, if she even saw him in this life. She only knew she was going to live with missing a part of her soul until they met up again, that she would be alone until she was reunited with him. The thought of living without Daniel by her side only intensified her tears.
"Gods, Janet, are you alright?" Janet barely recognized Aerin's presence beside her on the bed as she held the pillow tighter. When Janet didn't respond, he did what any empath would do: he pulled her into a comforting hug and offered her what calmness and comfort he could. Janet, grateful for the human presence, latched onto Aerin, not caring that she had only known him for less than a day, only that he provided her the comfort she sought.
Aerin sat there, holding Janet, for quite some time, her emotions reaching out to him so well, he could keenly feel her loss as if it were his own. Eventually, Janet's tears stopped and looked up at Aerin.
"I'm sorry," Janet said softly, her voice hoarse from crying. Aerin smiled down at her as she pulled away from him, drawing up her knees to her chest.
"Don't worry about it. I was glad to offer any assistance I could," Aerin said, his voice reassuring. Janet sniffled slightly, embarrassed to have been seen crying by a person she barely knew.
"How did you know what I needed?" Janet asked, her curiosity pushing its way to the front of her mind.
"I could feel your emotions so strongly, it drew me out of sleep," Aerin said, "Your grief was too great to ignore. Care to tell me about it? It helps."
"It was a dream that I had," Janet said, "About a man I knew on my planet."
"The man you're in love with," Aerin said for clarification. Janet nodded, her eyes wide with shock.
"How did you know that?" Janet asked. Aerin smiled gently.
"I could sense there was someone you loved greatly when we first met. It permeated through every emotion. It still does, though it's stronger now that it's been brought to the fore of your mind," Aerin said. Janet chuckled humorlessly.
"Yeah, well this dream would do that," Janet said.
"May I see it?" Aerin asked, the look on his face imploring.
"How can you see my dreams?" Janet asked.
"Since I am empathetic, I can reach into the minds of others to try to offer comfort or heal mental illnesses. Part of that power is the ability to see others dreams if they'll allow it," Aerin said.
"Oh," Janet responded, "Well, I don't know how comfortable I am with you seeing this dream. Part of it was...rather erotic in nature." Aerin nodded as Janet blushed.
"Then just tell me about it," Aerin said and Janet did so, tears coming to her eyes again as she related the tamer events of the dream.
"Only I don't know if it was just a dream or something more," Janet said, "It was so real." Aerin nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, I have heard of people meeting in their dreams, though never over quite so long a distance as you did with Daniel," Aerin said.
"And it's quite the distance," Janet murmured, her gaze shifting over to the patio door; she would never be able to look at that door again without thinking of Daniel. Her eyes grew curious, however, as she noticed the sun was beginning to rise.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"We are nearing the start of the 6th hour," Aerin said, "Are you hungry? I could have breakfast sent up here."
"Don't you eat with your family?" Janet asked, her head cocked to the side. Aerin smiled softly.
"We often don't eat breakfast or lunch together. Dinner is usually the only time we eat as a group," Aerin explained, "It will be nice to have breakfast with someone, though." Janet smiled as well.
"At home, my daughter and I always ate breakfast together," Janet said.
"You have a daughter?" Aerin asked. Janet nodded.
"Yes, one I will miss very much, though she isn't my daughter by birth. I adopted her when she was 11. She came from a planet where all of her people had been wiped out by a plague and she was the only survivor. My friend Sam wanted to adopt her, but she didn't have the time to devote to a child. I did, so I took her in and it was the best decision I ever made," Janet said. Aerin smiled softly.
"Would you tell me of your friends and family? I'm interested to hear about them, about the people you felt yourself close to." Janet smirked, trying her hardest to push her grief to the side.
"I thought you wanted breakfast," Janet said. Aerin shrugged, a smirk on his face as well.
"We can talk about it over breakfast. How about I leave you to bathe and get dressed? I'll do the same and I'll meet you downstairs in your living room," Aerin said. Janet nodded and got out of bed, Aerin doing the same.
"I'll see you in a little while," Aerin said as he exited the room.
"Yeah," Janet responded, "And, thanks again." Aerin gave her a small smile before leaving the room, leaving Janet alone once again. She sighed as the part of the calming effect that Aerin had produced faded away and her mind wandered back to that dream. At the moment, she would have given anything to know whether it had only been a dream or part of his soul actually reached out for hers in the middle of the night.
Janet just shook her head in resignation as she tried unsuccessfully to push the dream aside as she moved to get ready. After Janet had bathed and dressed in comfortable, loose-fitting pair of tan trousers with a white, thick-strapped tank top, Janet was ready for breakfast.
Leaving her bedroom, she went out to the walkway and immediately spotted Aerin sitting on one of the couches near the cold hearth, also wearing a pair of tan trousers, but had coupled it with a dark blue, short-sleeved shirt instead. Aerin looked up as he heard her descending the stairs.
"I see you found the clothing Aunt Karise had made for you," Aerin said as he motioned for Janet to join him in the sitting area, "I had breakfast transported up here so we could eat without being interrupted." Janet looked across the room to see the entry doors wide open.
"With the doors open?" she asked. Aerin looked over and saw that he had forgotten to shut the doors on his way back in.
"Oh," was all he said before the doors swung shut on what seemed like their own accord. Janet looked at him, an impressed eyebrow raised.
"Let me guess, Telekinetic magic?" she asked. Aerin merely nodded.
"Yes, now sit and eat," Aerin said as he munched on what looked like a biscuit of some kind. Janet took one from the basket they rested in and took a bite, liking the sweet, yet savory taste of the bread. Along with the biscuits was some fresh fruit, some slices of a meat of some sort, and a pot of hot liquid. Aerin pushed a mug to her side of the table as she sat down in an armchair.
"Try it," Aerin insisted, "I don't know if there's anything like it on your planet, but everyone drinks it in Zimmeria." Janet picked up the mug and gently blew on the liquid in an attempt to cool it down before taking a sip.
It was like a cross between a tea and a cider, spiced with a hint of something sweet and bitter. It gave her a burst of energy like nothing before and Janet found herself taking several more sips before setting the mug down so she could eat something else.
"What is that?" Janet asked, referring to what was in the mug.
"It's called falano," Aerin said, "It's made from a plant that's specifically harvested for its restorative and stimulant properties. For most people, it's merely a stimulant and wakes them up over time. For mages, however, it acts as a restorative for magical energy, helping trigger the regeneration of magical energy lost over the course of the day. I take it you felt a jolt when you took a few sips?" Janet nodded.
"Yeah, it was amazing. It's like something on my planet called coffee, which has a stimulant called caffeine. I wonder if the same drug is in this falano," Janet wondered, "It seems to do the same thing." Aerin shrugged as he continued to eat.
"I wouldn't know," he said, "Anyway, weren't you going to tell me about your friends and family?" The thought immediately sobered Janet and she nodded.
"Yeah," she whispered before something occurred to her, "Hey, when am I going to meet your father?" Aerin looked a little taken aback by the sudden question.
"You did meet him. Yesterday, remember? When you first met Aunt Karise," he said. Janet just gave him a look.
"I know that," she said, "But that was only for a moment. Karise has told me a lot about Tanith and I want to meet him." Aerin looked at her a bit dubiously.
"I don't know how much he'll trust you at first," Aerin said, "He's not a very trusting man and the fact that none of his mage skills are empathetic means he can't detect whether or not you're telling him the truth on anything. Sometimes, he won't even take my word for it when I tell him someone is trustworthy. I tried to tell him last night that you didn't have any nefarious motives, but I don't know if he believed me or not." Janet smiled, her smile determined.
"I'll make him trust me," Janet said, "It's not my fault I'm here, so I didn't come to do anything purposefully." Aerin smiled at her.
"I know, but my father thinks everyone has an ulterior motive. Just give him time; I'm pretty sure he'll stop seeing you as a threat." At that, Janet's eyebrows shot up to her hairline.
"How could I be a threat?" Janet asked incredulously.
"I think my father is threatened by your power, so he automatically views that as a threat to Zimmeria. I'm telling you, my father's a paranoid man," Aerin said, picking up one of the last biscuits that were in the basket. In a short time, both Aerin and Janet had managed to go through most of their food.
"So, about your friends and family," Aerin said, "I want to know about them." Janet paused as she held her mug of falano in her hands.
"I don't know where to start," Janet said, trying to avoid Aerin's gaze.
"Why don't you start with the man you dreamt about? Daniel was his name, right?" Aerin asked. Janet nodded and took in a deep breath as she started to talk about the friends and family she knew she would miss for the rest of her life.
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TBC...