More of the Story Post #3~The Past
The earliest memory I have, after the one with mom’s hands and dad’s voice is of when they found. I was sitting alone outside one of the space stations between the Earth and Moon crying. I don’t know how I ended up there, but eventually, an astronaut came outside. He was completely surprised to see me there. How many little kids do you randomly find in space, especially without a space suit? His strange helmet scarred me and I backed away from him, tears streaming down my eyes. And the pain resonated all over me. I was hungry, but I didn’t know where to get what I want. I had tried everything around me. I had chewed part of space station, my clothes, my hand, and now I found something new to chew. The astronaut walked slowly towards me with his hands out. The hunger pangs hit again and lunged at him, scratching away and biting. My fangs grew out, razor sharp. My bite landed right on his arm and my fangs sank in, just barely long enough to break through his suit and skin. Blood started to gush ooze out and finally found what I’d been looking for. I could see him screaming through his helmet, but I was too hungry to care. I felt people behind me and I felt another pain in my shoulder. I became dizzy and I turned to look at who had hurt me. It was another astronaut with a shot gun. More came at me pulled me off the first astronaut. I tried to fight them off, but the hunger and the bullet in me had made me too weak. I passed out. That’s how they found me, where it all began.
~ The Present
The ride was smooth and for the most part Eira and Uchelgais were silent, intently staring forward. I looked around at this strange miniplanet I had looked at almost every night from Earth. Uchelgais kept staring straight out, the frown never leaving his face. Eira looked out and about, her face bored. I felt awkward sitting between them and looked down at my hands. I cleared my throat and I think they winced.
“So, um, what’s King Irafax like?” It was akward for a second, but then Uchelgais responded.
“Vasilas Irafax is a lenient and magnanimous monarch. He is just with his vassals and accepting of everyone. He was even kind enough to accept treaty over you, despite controversy.”
The way he said things made me feel like someone had just punched me in the stomach. Lighten up dude. Eira also spoke up right after him.
“Bralis, be kind to him. His is our exalted guest and Otac would be angry with you. Valdova Lune, our Otac is proud to have you under our hospitality and is eager to begin teaching you our ways.”
“Who is Otac?”
“For us, Otac is Vasilas Irafax.”
“Irafax is your father?!”
“Yes, mine and Bralis Uchelgais. Please give him due respect and refer to him as Vasilas Irafax. He earned that title through his strength and wisedom. Otac was also gracious enough to grant you the title of ‘Valdova’. It is a great honor.”
“Even though it doesn’t deserve it! Vasilas should’ve only let you use the title of Kaynak! Do you even consider yourselves one of us!? You have done no deeds making you worthy of it!”
“Bralis! Such insults will not be tolerated by Otac! Be glad he isn’t here now. Forgive him Valdova, his rage is a beast he cannot control. Otac gave it to you knowing the consequences for it.”
They way both of them said things didn’t make me feel like I should have this title. Eira was nice, but I got a feeling she disapproved of this title. I didn’t even ask for it, so how’s this my fault?
“What kind of title is Valdova? I didn’t even ask for it.”
“Valdova is hard to translate because there is no direct word for it. All titles are given according to acts fampires do that makes one worthy of it. This is part of the meaning of the word, and with it also comes power. Valdova would be like “Lord” in your world, so Vasilas has given you an estate and a few Vergs and Kalps with it. Even though you have no such acts to claim.”
So that’s why they’re so pissed off. They’re angry or jealous that I got a title so easily and all I’ve done is land on here. I didn’t ask for it, but they’re still pissed off at me? What the hell?
“Why did Vaslias Irafax give me that title if I don’t deserve it? It’s obviously not worth the trouble.”
Oh great, I stepped on another land mine.
“Listen, shekfey, when Vaslias gives you something, it’s because he thinks you deserve it. To think that you don’t is to insult his judgment as King.”
“Bralis! He is a Valdova! If Otac knew that you insulted him like that, you could fall in rank, “ she said frigidly. She seemed to always know exactly what to say, with an underlying tone of disdain.
“Hey, you don’t have to be so angry at me and call me that! I’m just a guy who just arrived on this world, and the King just happened to give me a title because he thinks I deserve it. If you don’t think I deserve it, the it’s you who’s insulting the King’s judgment!”
“Don’t talk to me like that you shekfey! Unlike you, I’ve earned my titles through hard work and deeds, I don’t use my fame as a celebrity to raise my rank!”
“Use my fame?! What, do you think I was popular on Earth or something? People were afraid to even look at me because they thought I would drink them dry! The King doesn’t even know me and I didn’t even you had a system of hierarchy, so how could that work? On the other hand, you’re the King’s son, so I’m pretty sure that you got daddy to help you get whatever rank you think is so important!”
“STOP! Both of you! Argue one more time and I’ll make sure both of you lose a rank! Uchelgais, you know better than to insult a guest and a new member of our race. Instead of insulting his ignorance, teach him our ways! Valdova Lune, you are here as a guest and we hope that neither you or we breach the code of conduct again. It pleases not Rheolaeth and my father’s hospitality would be besmirched.”
She never raised her voice, but her emotions were welled conveyed with her tone. It was kinda creepy, but hey, as long as Uchelgais shuts up. He crossed his arms and turned away from me again. And wow were they obsessed with their king. I really want to meet this guy now, even if his just as pissy as Uchelgais.
“What ever. You know what? I’m going to sleep. I’m might have a nice dream, where no one yells at me.”
I crossed my arms and slid down seat. I noticed they were both staring at me.
“What, did I step on a third land mine or something? Is it wrong to sleep here?”
“No Valdova Elrohir . . . . you mean you can actually sleep? And dream?”
“What?” I looked at them, but they looked at me expectantly. “Yeah I do all that.”
“No, no one here does. I am . . . . I wish I could . . . . ”
They each ignored me from the comfort of their own thoughts again, but I was too weirded out to go back to sleep. They were probably going to poke me or something if I did. Or maybe I was just being paranoid.
Afterword:Sorry it's been a while guys. Lot's of things have been happening, some bad, most good. But Lune is always who consoles me. And I found some subconcious inspiration for him from when I was 8! Check this out if you're interested (This was the video and translation that digusted me the least)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_6i05KYW_Y
