Chapter 18 A Round of 20 Questions

Helios looked down at his queen with a smile as she looked satisfied and thoroughly content from her meal. It's a wonder human females have no strength. His queen barely ate anything and she's already full. Now I see why she has to eat three times a day to keep up her strength to keep going. She's probably so small because of not being able to eat much. And the way those other humans treated her, they didn't even feed her refusing to give her food at the white tents. When a lady gave her bread his queen cherished it like gold. His queen never expected more.

But when it came down to her last hope and her family tossed her away forgotten and his queen had nothing else left she gave her last bit of food away to help another human female. His queens heart was so pure, generous, and kind. She would give the last of what she had to help someone even if it meant she would starve. His heart tweaked feeling a stabbing pain in his chest. His queen must have been so hungry yet she didn't complain to him even once. Even now she barely eats. He felt even worse now knowing she won't ask him for anything. She waits quietly for him to acknowledge her. She has so much patience. He cherished his mate even more now. I will give her the universe if she asks for it. She deserves everything her adorable king little heart desires.

His queen showed her heart earlier today when she protected the three children sitting in the corner. Her heart was screaming at him to not to hurt them. She wanted to make friends. If friends are what my queen wants, then friends she will have. Helios carried me over to the table where the children were sitting and placed me in a chair among them. Tousling my hair with a smile he went back to sit and talk with the adults leaving her to get acquainted with her new found friends.

Helios placed me in a chair at the table with my new friends. Excitement filled their eyes as their queen was finally ready to converse with them. They were glad she was ok and finally got to eat something she wanted. Now she won't die they thought. I stared at my new friends for a moment to scared to speak. No one has ever looked this excited to meet me before. It was throwing me for a loop. I didn't know what to say. But before I could get my first word out the girl sitting beside me spoke first,

"It's a pleasure to finally speak to you my queen. My name is Seiphe. This is my older twin brother Seelaes and our friend Lukux. We are so glad we got a chance to run into you earlier. We are sorry we scared you. But its not everyday a queen comes down to level three even if it was an accident." Seiphe giggled as she patted me on my hand.

I stared at their features which struck me as unusual. The girl had straight silver hair with her black eyes. Her twin brother on the other hand had snow white hair with dark blue eyes. He was the one who looked similar to Helios. Lukux was big and burly, he had curly black hair with slate grey eyes. I have never seen people with such unusual features before.

Seelaes interjected, curious to get to know the queen he asked, "if you don't mind me asking, how old are you? You look to be about the same age as us," not knowing that she was a human female yet.

Speaking for the first time I replied, "I just recently turned thirteen two days ago. I was asleep for over a year and I lost a year of my life. Sometimes I still think I'm eleven but Helios told me that I was in a hyper-sleep and I grew while I was out.

"So that would make you thirteen million years old. You are just a couple million years younger than my sister and I and only one million years younger than Lukux," Seelaes said smiling at me.

"No im only thirteen without the zeros. I am not thirteen million. I am a human. I can't live as long as you guys. I can only live to be about one hundred years old before I die."

Everyone stared at me in shock. Thirteen!!! Seelaes thought before speaking again, "thirteen you mean like one and three. If you're only thirteen then that would make you just a newborn. You might as well be thirteen days out of the womb. Seelaes turned to glare at the King's back. How can he mate with a female who was just shy of a newborn only a few days old. She must have been in great pain to bear the High King inside of her tiny little body. Females can't stand to mate because of the pain. Yet this little one mated with the King and even reciprocated his feelings back. How can someone so small and young mate with the High King???

Lukux was next to speak, "our newborns are older than you by about one million years. So why do you look older than our newborns if you are only thirteen years old?

Looking at their faces with confusion writing in their eyes I clarified a sniffle escaping me, "I am a human. We don't live to be millions of years old like you guys do. We live to only about one hundred and then we die. Because we have such a short life span we grow at a faster rate then you guys." My heart pained thinking about how Helios will still look like a God while I will look old and decrepit when I die. He will outlive me by millions of years to come.

Lukux heard my sniffle seeing me clench my hands around my cup when I mentioned the word die. He smiled as a thought flickered across his mind he spoke, "did the King not tell you, when you mate with the King and receive your mate marks you stop aging at the time of your mating ceremony. You will still be with us forever. You won't die at one hundred. I looked up to him as my face lit up like the sun upon hearing these words. So I'm not going to die after all. I will get to live along side Helios forever. My heart started doing back flips in my chest. "Too bad you're stuck at thirteen when you mated. Everyone will think you are a baby. "Ow"

Seiphe elbowed Lukux as she spoke harshly, "dont be rude. She doesn't look like a baby to me. So long as she doesn't divulge her age no one would have to know. I mean we thought she was the same age as us just by looking at her. I wish I could stay young when I get to my mating ceremony. I don't want to be old like my mom. She waited too long waiting for Dad. She didn't like any of the males here so she kept growing while she waited. Now that she has finally mated she stopped growing."

"I want to look young and beautiful as you my queen when the time comes. I'm still looking for my mate. I want to find someone who is rich handsome and strong and will be able to take care of me and all my wishes, she gushed clasping her hands together as she swooned toward the heavens.

"You're going to be as old as your mom if you wait too long. You were born on level three no rich male is going to mate with you," Lukux chuckled at his inside joke as she swatted at his head.

A smile spread across my face as a thought just crossed my mind. Helios told me on the way down that they are now ranked as my protectors the second highest status to the queen. I stumbled on my words as I introduced my idea, "Helios told me you are my protectors which is the second highest rank. Doesn't that mean when you guys move closer to the castle you won't be stuck on level three anymore? Seiphie," I stumbled on saying her name, "will be able to find a mate of higher status. Maybe I can help her find a mate?

Yet again everyone stared at me as smiles formed on all of their faces. They had forgotten that they will be moving up to the highest level of Kosea close to the Asteria Prism Palace. Seiphe flew out of her seat with the speed of lightning and threw her arms around me kissing my cheeks over and over shrieking, "thank you thank you thank you. I owe you my life. I will finally be able to find a mate!!!" I jumped at the suddenness of her speed. I was still not used to how fast everyone could move here. Let alone people can actually fly!!! Why does everyone else get the cool powers while I'm stuck as a boring old human.

Seiphe backed off suddenly thinking she had over stepped her boundaries when she touched the queen without permission. "I am so sorry if I offended you my queen. I should have asked before touching you." I shook my hands saying, "no no it's ok. I'm not mad. I was shocked at your speed. I'm still not used to people moving so fast and flying everywhere. Humans don't have lighting speed and we can't fly either. Man the life of a human must be miserable everyone thought. "I don't mind if another gir... I mean female touches me. It's different if a male were to touch me. Helios is the only male who can touch me. Seiphe giggled sticking her tongue out at the boys as she resumed hugging me. Seelaes didn't like the sound of that.

With Seiphe still hugging me the boys began their raid of twenty questions, curious to find out more about me.

"What's your favorite color? Seelaes asked first. I thought about it for a moment before I pictured Helios eyes and how I felt like I could drown in them and I blurted out deep blue. My cheeks flushed as I looked toward Helios just as he turned to glance at me. Our eyes connected from across the room for a moment before he turned away smiling. Dang I swear he can hear me from over there I muttered.

"What's your favorite type of music? Lukux asked next. We don't have a lot of music here in Kosea because it's rare for someone to be able to sing here. So we took to tuning into your satellites so we can listen to the music of Earth." Stunned that they could do that, I told them that I liked Disney music. My cousin used to tease me calling me a baby for catching me singing Disney songs in the shower one day. She said I was a baby who still listens to kids songs in middle school.

"What's your favorite type of dessert," Seiphe piped up, she always had a sweet tooth for dessert. I love deep fried oreos. They looked at me with confusion again. It's a chocolate cream filled cookies that was dipped into a vanilla pancake like batter and then dipped in hot oil. Then when it was done you would sprinkle powdered sugar on top. When you bite into the piping hot Oreo you are met with a mouth full of powder and the heavenly chocolate cookie and cream that melts in your mouth." I thought I'd never see the day I had to describe the heavenly greatness of a deep fried Oreo. "That sounds delicious," Seiphe drooled hearing my account of the Oreo. We will have to make some one day," she gushed at the thought of getting to try one.

"What is your favorite past time," Seelaes asked curious to know what the queen loved to do in her spare time. I love to read books. Books were my only comfort on Earth. The characters in the stories I read were my only friends. I would sit at the school library for hours just so I could escape my aunt and cousin I thought. I also like to listen to music. It brings me comfort whenever I hear my favorite songs.

On and on the questions went as the kids berated my queen one after another. Helios couldn't help but cock his ear in my direction taking a mental note of all my answers so that he could use them to please his queen one day. He was excited to finally get to know more about his queen and what she liked. He smiled when she mentioned deep blue as he heard her thoughts focus on the color of his eyes. He was happy that she liked his eyes.

As the questions kept coming the easy one word answer questions started to turn into more serious and thought out questions. Like what is your biggest fear? Dying. What scares you the most? Spiders. What food do you hate most? Beets.

As the children were getting to know each other more all of the adults could help but listen in on the children's conversation also curious to find out more about the queen's favorite foods and her dislikes so they wouldn't feed her something she didn't like. They listened with rapture as they pretended to be deep in conversation with each other.

Seelaes wanted to dive deeper into the queen's heart. He had to know more about her. Looking upon how beautiful she was, he noticed she was hidden under the Kings cloak covering her mate marks. A female in Kosea was always proud about showing off their mate marks. He was curious to know why she covered hers up when she had the most beautiful mate marks the city of Kosea has ever seen. "My queen, why do you hide your mate marks? Are you ashamed of them? You have the most beautiful marks in Kosea are you not proud to show them off? Females who love their mates can't wait to show off their marks. The prouder they are the more they will show. Females only wear clothes if they don't love the person they are mated to.

Seiphe elbowed Seelaes again hissing, "you can't ask the queen that. It's so rude." She glared at her brother as she turned to apologize to the queen for his rudeness.

"No it's ok he's not being rude." Again I felt another pang in my heart as I realized that me feeling self conscious about myself being naked hurt Helios and his image in more ways than one. People are starting to think I didn't love Helios anymore because I covered my mate marks every time someone saw me. It must be custom for females to walk around naked. I've only ever seen two females here so far and Elnath wasn't covering her marks but Seiphe didn't have marks yet so she wore just a simple white shift dress to cover up until she got her mate marks.

I hung my head in shame as I explained my actions, "I come from the planet called Earth. Humans both male and female always wear clothes. Especially in public settings. Males were allowed to walk around shirtless in public but females were not allowed to undress in public without getting in trouble for indecency. Males value their females virtues where I'm from. They don't want other males staring at their females naked. Only their mate can see them naked. I grew up in a society where walking around naked as a female was considered taboo a huge sin. I guess my way of living on Earth carried over to Kosea. I am still not used to walking around without clothes on.

Everyone around the table was astounded as they wondered why on earth would a female want to cover up their beautiful bodies. Females are precious in Kosea. It was rare to birth a female. They are the most beautiful creatures in all of Kosea. All the males love to watch them grow in their natural form showing their beautiful pale delicate skin and to be able to see the love in their hearts from seeing their mate marks appear. It was so natural to walk around naked. It was also less of a hassle to not have to wear clothes either.

Helios on the other hand had other thoughts toward his queen covering up in mind. He loved the idea of how his queen only wanted him to see her naked. This must mean she doesn't want lovers for her harem. She also said only he was allowed to touch her. She must only love him as her only male. His heart fluttered at the thought that his queen cherished him more than her pride of showing off other males her mate marks. He didn't mind if she wanted to cover up. Screw what other in Kosea thought of her covering up. If that is what his queen wanted he will change the rules.

After hearing that it was hurting Helios, I fiddled with the clasp on the cloak for a minute. I hesitated wondering if I should just take it off. I don't want to hurt his pride. After all I loved him with all my heart. I never meant to hurt his feelings. I should be proud to show off my mate marks. Without a second thought I let the cloak drop to the floor as everyone turned gasping, finally able to see my mate marks up close for the first time. Everyone thought in unison, "the queen is so beautiful." My face burned as I get every eye in the room looking at me. Gosh I was so embarrassed to be gawked at naked. I stiffened trying to fight the urge to dive under the cloak and never come back out.

Seelaes stared in wonder soaking up every square inch of his queen. He wanted to engrave this image into his mind forever. He saw her face blush as it contorted, she was fighting the urge to hide herself. He saw that the queen was feeling uncomfortable with all the stares so Seelaes was the first to turn away from her. He had one last burning question to ask the queen. He wanted to know why she loved the King. He wanted to see if he had a shot at becoming her lover. He had to see inside her heart. "My queen I have one final question," his fingers drummed on the table as he squirmed in his seat uncomfortably, "Why do you love the King? What about him draws you to him? What made you fall in love with him?

Every ear in the room pointed in the queen's direction wanting to hear her answer. Helios especially leaned in closer so he wouldn't miss this. He wanted to know so badly for his queen has never divulged this to him. Not even in her thoughts or dreams. Her mind went blank every time he dug for this information in her mind as if she was hiding it from him on purpose just to tease him.

My emotions stirred inside me as my eyes flashed with a burning fire. Gathering myself and with the most courage I could muster I replied, "When I was on Earth I was a nobody. My parents died when I was young so I went live with my aunt uncle and cousin. I was constantly walking in my cousins shadow. She was prettier than me, tanner, taller, and had bigger breasts. All the males loved her. I was overshadowed standing next to her. No one ever spoke my name. I was unloved not wanted and forgotten. Every since I can remember no one has ever spoken my name. I don't even think my own family knows my name because they always said hey girl come here.

I was basically a maid for my family. I did everything for them coming cleaning shopping etc. I had no friends no one that I could talk to. Not to long ago I had a crush on a male in my school. When I told him my feelings I was turned down because he loved my cousin instead. When my world was ending my family forgot about me and saved themselves by going into hiding. They left me behind not caring whether I lived or died. I was left alone and forgotten. I was going to die alone and unloved.

Just when I thought my life was over Helios found me. He was like an angel sent from the heavens. He was the first person to ever speak my name. He recognized me as a person and not some freak with no name. He called out my name that day as my planet was burning all around me. He found me when everyone else forgot about me. He showed me what it was like to feel loved for the very first time that day. He rescued me from utter destruction taking me with him beyond the stars. He showed me the world when everyone tried to snuff me out of it. He gave me life, love, a family, and a home that I could love and be loved in return. He opened my eyes to a whole new life and a new world in the stars. He never gets angry at me even if I did something wrong. He is kind, loving and very protective of me. He treats me as if I were a precious gem and worth my weight in gold. He shows me a love like no other cherishing me to the ends of the universe. I have waited all my life to find a love like Helios's.

I may not have anything to offer in return and I might not be as pretty as the females in Kosea, I'm not rich, I am not famous, I am but a small helpless human girl with no magical abilities. I just hope that one day he will know how much I love him and will forever until the day I die. He means the world to me and I will never break his heart. I will hold it in my hands and protect it with my life. He is my savior, my protector, my angel sent from the stars as they heard me cry out to the heaven for a love like his. The day we meant was like the universe finally answering my prayers for someone to love me in return. I will never forget the day we met. It will remain in my heart and memories forever."