Chapter 29: A time to celebrate

It took them about thirty minutes to land because of the sever tropical storm that was over the City of Light. Once they landed, Night Blood's mother and father were waiting.

Night Blood was dressed in his usual attire with a blood red velvet cape wrapped around his shoulders that went down to the floor. Jasmine opted to wear something a little more formal for the occasion. She decided to wear a gown that had relaxed fit bodice with adjustable arm cuffs that could be laced tightly or loosely to fit her desire. It also had classic over sleeve with puffy top and belled lower over sleeve for a full soft drape. The back of the gown laced closed through eyelets of gold tone and a beautiful chapel style train. Celtic metallic embroidery in gold at the neckline, cuffs, and medieval drop belt. There was hand sewn aurora Swarovski crystals scattered throughout the embroidery. Medieval drop belt with Celtic embroideries and Swarovski crystals. On her head she wore a single point headdress that was made from Lurex cord with pearl and diamond embellishments over the top of a silk chiffon veil.

As they walked down the ship's ramp, Jasmine noticed that Night Blood's parents seemed to be shocked over the fact that their son was escorting a human off of the ship. Night Blood was the spitting image of his father except he had several gray dreadlocks, proving his age. His mother was about six inches taller than his father and much leaner but, she looked as though she could break any man in half with just one hand.

Night Blood's father looked very displeased when Night Blood approached him. His mother, on the other hand, quickly got over her shock and nodded to Jasmine. Jasmine smiled sweetly towards her and then turned to listen to a father and son argue.

"Males, they are all the same on any planet" his mother growled in her language.

"I have to agree with you on that" Jasmine said in perfect Yaut'ja.

"You learn quickly, ooman. My son has made a good choice in a mate" she said, surprised at the fact that a human was able to speak their complicated language without any problems.

"Yes, Night Blood taught me while he was on Earth. By the way, my name is Jasmine" Jasmine stated as she held out her hand as a sign of greetings towards Night Blood's mother.

"Tsarina" she said as she recognized the human custom and gently shook Jasmine's hand.

"I take it that Night Blood's father is angry about his son's choice for a female companion" Jasmine commented.

"Yes. This could take all night at the rate they are going. Would you like to get a bite to eat, daughter?" Tsarina asked, knowing that there was something about Jasmine that made her take an instance liking to. Jasmine appeared to be warm and friendly towards everyone, including people she didn't know.

"Thank you very much. I think that would be a very good idea since Night Blood's crew is helping to settle my people into their new homes and it looks as though those two males have some male business to take of" Jasmine softly chuckled as she walked beside Tsarina towards her new parents' home.

P.O.V.

"How dare you bring a human female to our planet as your mate? What were you thinking? Do you know what this could do to our family? Do you not seem to realize that you have just cut yourself out of every mating opportunity?" Zesiro growled.

"I realize that Father, but if you would see her through my eyes you would see that she is beautiful. She's not like other humans" Night Blood calmly stated, not understanding his father's reason for hating Jasmine.

"Humans, they are alike. They are weak, mindless, and worthless" Zesiro stated, trying to persuade his son to not claim Jasmine as a mate.

"You think whatever you whatever you want father, but know this; Jasmine went was able to hold her ground against Xerxes without any help from me or anyone else. She's incredibly smart for a human and very quick to learn anything that she is taught. She is probably the first human that I have met who knows how to read and write without any problems. Her willingness to learn made my entire crew enjoy her company" Night Blood stated with a slight growl.

"And what of having any offspring? If you two are able to have any children, they will take after their mother. They will be ridiculed by our own and they will not be worthy in any hunts. The females will not want to mate with any males that she produces and the males will despise the females that are born" Zesiro argued.

"You want to know something; I don't care if we have any children. I love her for who she is. She is a one of a kind female that I thought that I would never meet. My mind is made up. I have already married her by the human tradition. The mating ceremony will be performed tomorrow night at the temple. It has already been approved of by the elders. So, you can either stay at home or you can come to the ceremony. The choice is yours, Father" Night Blood stated as he turned away and started to walk toward the temple.

"Where do you think you're going?" Zesiro asked.

"To pray" was all Night Blood would say as he made his way to the stone temple.

P.O.V.

When Night Blood entered the temple of his ancestors, which was where the mating ceremony between Jasmine and himself would take place, he noticed that there wasn't anyone inside. He knew that it had been a long time since the last time he had prayed to any of the Gods and he just hoped that they would forgive him for his tardiness.

Making his way towards the center of the temple, where the sun shone through the glass ceiling, Night Blood knelt down and began to pray for guidance. He prayed that his father would accept Jasmine as his daughter. He prayed for Jasmine's health to improve. He prayed that he would be able to find Jasmine's sister, Yvette. And, he prayed that he would find a way to somehow defeat Xerxes before it was too late.

All of a sudden, a gust of wind rushed through the temple, closing all of the entrances and windows. Darkness shrouded the inside of the temple and then a candle lit at the alter. Night Blood rose up, thinking that something was about to happen.

"What is wrong Night Blood? Looking for answers to questions" a voice stated.

"Who's there?" Night Blood questioned into the darkness.

"I'm surprised that you mind has forgotten the old ways" the voice stated as he approached Night Blood.

"I don't like games" Night Blood growled as he heard footsteps approaching him but could not pinpoint who it was.

"This no game. Turn around" order the voice.

Night Blood turned around to come face to face with Cetanu, the God of Death. He was dressed completely in white with long grey dreadlocks that hung down to the floor. Silver bands were wrapped around each lock of hair.

"Cetanu" Night Blood gasped as he bowed low.

"I'm glad you know who I am. Now, I have come to you to help you with your unanswered questions" Cetanu stated.

"I thought it was the end of my life" Night Blood said as he gazed back up at Cetanu. He never thought in all his years that he would ever meet Cetanu, except in the afterlife.

"No, nor will it be the end of your brother's. At least not by your hands or anyone else's hands that you have seen up to this moment" Cetanu explained.

"I don't understand" Night Blood was confused by what Cetanu was saying.

"The female mate that you have chosen, Jasmine, she is the one for you. She always has been and always will be. Her courage and bravery makes her a perfect mate. She may be human but she has the heart of a Yuat'ja" Cetanu said.

"Yes, she does and thank you for approving of her. I just wish I knew how to help her" Night Blood stated.

"I am here to answer all of your questions. It will take time, but soon your father will that Jasmine is the one for you. Just be patient with him. Your mother has already taken a liking to her. Your father will soon follow suit. As for Yvette, she is alive but that will change in seven months when she finally comes home. As for your brother, he will not die for sometime and when he does, it will be by the hands of the Phoenix" Cetanu stated.

"The Phoenix as in the Bird of Fire? The Phoenix, I thought, was merely a myth" Night Blood questioned.

"The Phoenix will be born in eight months. The seed has already been planted inside a female host" Cetanu stated.

"Permit me to ask who the female host is" Night Blood questioned.

"Jasmine is the one who carries the seed within her. It is by the hand of your son that Xerxes will perish" Cetanu said.

"I know you are the God of Death, but how do you know everything that is going on with my brother and how he will be defeated" Night Blood questioned.

"Your brother made a pact with me, much to my foolish decision. He begged me to give him immortality in order to be able to smite out his enemies and he would give me his soul. I agreed with one stipulation, which he would die at the hands of the Phoenix. He asked me who the Phoenix was and I told him that the Phoenix would be born out of a human and one of his own. I told him that the female would carry a mark that signified that she would be the mother of the child. I am guessing that he thought that if he could kill Jasmine then the child would never be born. Unfortunately for him, you can not stop destiny" Cetanu stated with a slight chuckle.

"Why would you do something like that?" Night Blood asked.

"The legend goes like this; every five hundred years the galaxy must undergo a time of testing and rebirth. So, the mighty Phoenix was created to restore balance and harmony to the galaxy. There would be a time that an extreme evil would arise and would try to wipe of everything in the galaxy for mere greed. At this time, the mighty Phoenix would rise up from its ashy grave and avenge all those who suffered needlessly by destroying the evil that was residing in the galaxy" Cetanu explained as he waved his hand out to the side, lighting up one of the walls. He watched as Night Blood walked over to the wall and found ancient markings of fire and a bird.

"So, this was all preordained. Is there anything else I should know?" Night Blood asked as he traced a clawed hand over the markings.

"There is nothing more that I can tell you. But, I will also advise you that Erica, Bakuub's mate, is also expecting a child. You might want to inform him of this. Human females react differently to carrying a child than our own do" Cetanu stated as he slowly disappeared and everything went back to the way it was.

"Thank you, Cetanu. Thank you" Night Blood stated as he left the temple with a different outlook in his life.

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I wish to thank everyone for their reviews. Nope, this story is not done yet. I still have a couple more chapters to write before this story is completed. If anyone would like to have, what would have been on the final page picture that ties in with this story, please feel free to let me know what your e-mail is and I will e-mail you a copy of it. Just to let you know that this picture was done in Photoshop and I have borrowed different pictures from four different sources in order to come up with the final picture.

Chancelor22:

Thank you for your quick review and MANY BIG CYBER HUGS. No, that last chapter was not the last chapter. I still have a couple more to go before I finish. After this story will be "To Catch a Warrior"; which is right now in the works.That will complete the whole series.

Cittygurl:

Thank you for your quick review and MANY BIG CYBER HUGS and yes, I will make sure to kill off Xerxes before the end of the next story.