Nuhurus and Veloris

Present Time

How could you?

Nuhurus carefully put down his cleaning rag and, very slowly, put aside the blade he was polishing and stood. His mate, his kash'lor, stood framed in the sunlight of the front door, her vibrant blue eyes gleaming furiously at him. She was wearing a gossamer-light green gown that floated about her, and he was suddenly struck with how beautiful she was—especially with that fire in her eyes.

What are you smiling for? She asked, confused and a bit suspicious. He quickly straightened, having not even realized that his head had tilted and his eyes had hooded over like that.

He stepped forward instead of answering her right away, and put his hands gently on her shoulders. She was trembling with confusion, shock, and betrayal. He didn't have to root around her mind for those emotions; she wore them plainly for all to see. Nuhurus sent a wave of calm to her, considering his words carefully before he spoke.

I have done nothing, Veloris. Z'lirra came to the decision entirely on her own.

She would not have made that decision if you were not constantly spouting your... your Dark Templar ideologies!

He gently traced her brow. Veloris, love. I am a Nerazim. I cannot stifle who I am. You knew this when you accepted me as your mate.

She looked away from him.

We also discussed this very subject when we found you were with the twins.

Veloris was silent. He cupped her cheek, very much like he had done with his daughter, and directed her to face him again. He could feel the tumultuous emotions warring behind her eyes; the indecision; the anger.

We discussed this, he repeated.

She jerked away from him and turned her back, tearing her shoulders from his grasp. He let his hands drop to his sides calmly. Z'lirra does not know what she is doing.

She is an adult. She knows very well what she is doing. And even if she did not, it is her decision nonetheless. Do not make this harder for her, Veloris. Please.

Harder for her?

Yes, harder for her. It took her almost four years to make the decision and gather enough courage to come to me about it. Her mind is made up, my kash'lor.

Her back still turned, Veloris shook her head. She should have come to me about it.

But she did not.

No, she murmured softly.

She is already nervous of what you think of her. She is afraid you would hate her. Do not make this harder for her.

Her shoulders slumped. He came up behind her and again placed his hands on her upper arms, leaning in to gently rub his cheek against hers in a loving nuzzle.

I hate you, she murmured, and he chuckled, his arms snaking around her. He knew she could not hate him, no more than he could hate her.

When do you leave?

Two days from now. Veloris, please contact our daughter.

She shuddered and finally leaned back against him. All right.

Such a thing could not be too stressful for you, he said, mildly amused. She turned her head to glare at him from the corner of her eye. It was not as piercing as a full-on glare would be, and after a moment she gave up.

I do not know what to say.

Tell her you love her, he replied, surprised that she would even ask. Let her know you will never hate her.

She leaned into him, almost imperceptibly light, searching for his comfort. He tightened his grasp on her shoulders. They were silent for a moment together, Veloris wracking her brain with how she could possibly broach the subject with her daughter and Nuhurus simply standing there waiting patiently.

Were my parents alive, she muttered finally. He laughed, startled and incredibly entertained by the idea.

Your parents would hunt me down, undoubtedly, and castrate me, he said.

Nonsense. They were Khalai to the heart. They would never initiate such violence.

Nuhurus could not contain his mirth, and was obliged by a faint smidgen of amusement in his mate. It quickly turned bitter and she stepped away from him, her mind focusing elsewhere. I will go to Z'lirrai.

No, he said quickly, grasping her arm. She blinked and looked up at him. Not like that. Not bitterly. Cleanse your mind. She must not feel such things.

She feels them already. She is not Severed yet, Veloris snapped.

He had almost forgotten about the Khala. True. It is different, however, when you see someone face to face and know that they are disgusted with a personal decision you made.

His mate fell silent for a moment. I cannot feel anything else, Nuhurus. I do not approve of her decision.

There was another long pause, then Nuhurus let his hand fall away. They would be leaving soon for Shakuras, home of the Dark Templar, and it was the last time his mate would be able to speak with her as a Khalai. He knew she could not wrestle her bitterness into submission before then.

Without another glance or word to him, Veloris swept out of their home. She headed towards the forest near where her Terran friend Azalel used to live with her father. The house stood there still, empty and derelict, a source of pain and longing, of good times past for their scattered group of friends even now. Technically it still belonged to the Terran, but she allowed others to use it from time to time.

Z'lirra was in the back yard, or what passed as a back yard. The ever-growing forest had crept up just behind the house. Amongst the half-grown saplings she sat, nervously waiting for her mother.

Z'lirra, Veloris said softly, approaching. The young female stood quickly, unable to hide the fear that clouded her mind.

Mother, I—

Calm yourself, daughter. Veloris held out a hand. With another noticeable hesitation, one that Veloris despaired, her child accepted the invitation and they met soul-to-soul in the Khala. Everything that Z'lirra tried to keep from her came spilling out—there was no way to lock away thoughts and emotions when meeting on such an intimate level. Everything Z'lirra felt, everything Veloris felt, coursed through the other as if the emotions were their own.

Veloris felt every moment through which Z'lirra had made her final decision, and the fear that her daughter felt when approaching her father. The fear she felt now as she communed with her mother.

Z'lirra felt the bitterness Veloris felt when she had learned of her daughter's choice and the anger towards her mate. But, most importantly, she felt Veloris' love for her. It went a long way to quelling her fears.

I feel this is the wrong choice still, the elder of the two women said as they withdrew from one another.

I know. But at the same time, Father feels this is the right choice. What you feel has a lot to do with who you are. Z'lirra smiled slightly, relief overtaking her tense nervousness. She could feel her muscles relax now that everything was out on the table, so to speak. And it is not as if I cannot commune with you any longer. When I come home, we can still touch minds. Just not over any distances.

Veloris scowled. That is not how the gods made us, Z'lirra.

No, you are right. It is, however, how I want to be.

They were silent for a bit. Finally Veloris spoke, softly. I cannot come to terms with this so soon. But I love you, child.

Z'lirra leaned forward and rested her forehead against her mother's. I needed that, Mother. Thank you.

This does not mean you should go gallivanting around mating with all the receptive Nerazim, Veloris growled. And they are all receptive.

Startled, Z'lirra raised her head. What does that—

The Nerazim are... loose. Practice caution.

A short silence. Z'lirra's shoulder hunched suddenly, and humor washed over Veloris. Ah, you would know this personally, would you not, Mother?

Veloris pulled back, haughty. I know not what you speak. Hold your thoughts, daughter!

Relief feeding her cheekiness, Z'lirra stretched and took a step away from Veloris, her shoulders still hunched with laughter. Come now, Mother, surely you remember!

Z'lirra! Veloris drew herself up, staring down her chin at her daughter, who was trembling lightly in her hilarity. That is different. Your father and I—

Found a lot in common, hm.

Z'lirra!