The Tale of the Blood Diamond (45 page)

Xzion took Jayme and his son on a tour of the house. It made Earthly luxury look like a hut in the middle of ruins. She’d never seen such craftsmanship, and everything appeared to sparkle. A scent that reminded her of freshly laundered clothing, or new linens, permeated the rooms. Zachary was now playing happily in his room, and thanks to Aton, that area, too, was stocked with new toys, games and books. Xzion opened their bedroom door, right next to his. The man’s delight at her reaction wasn’t missed.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. You all live big here, huh?”

Silver drapes swayed down white curtain rods, exposing an extraterrestrial city, aglow with bright lights, vehicles that in some manner resembled cars and Zarkstormians, all dressed in silver, black or navy.

“I told you I was slumming it,” he taunted as he made his way to the wet bar in their bedroom. “This is our version of an after-dinner refreshment. As you know, we can’t become intoxicated or high, but many of us enjoy the tastes of such pleasures, all the same. Uh, let’s see.” He dipped lower and pulled out two bottles. One was filled with a bright green liquid, the other a golden brown. “This one right here is like vodka.” He pointed to the bright green one. “This one right here is like tequila, as far as tastes are concerned.”

Jayme smirked and fell upon the bed. The soft sheets seemed to grab and hug her tight, their luxurious feel memorizing.

“Can I get drunk from those?”

“Yes. It is still fermented fruit, which in fact would have that effect on you. Shall I get you drunk tonight and ravish you?”

She tossed him a glance, but the man wasn’t smiling. He was dead serious.

“Now why would you need to get me drunk for that?” She chuckled.

“Because you’re a bit nervous. This is a new place.”

Boy, he knew her well.

“But I’d still like to make love once we return tonight, so just know you’re on notice. If you need either of these beverages to assist you, then let me know. In the meantime, I am getting in the shower.” He quickly disrobed and entered into a large, open bathroom area. Soon, steam filled the space as water from three shower heads simultaneously rained down upon his body. Just like home, he picked up a clear bar of what she was presumed was soap, and was soon coated in suds. The strong, clean smell she’d inhaled in the foyer area was now filling up the bedroom as well. Jayme ran her fingers through her hair, grinned and slowly rose from her slumbering position to check on Zachary. She tiptoed across the plush carpet, her feet sinking with each step. It was almost as if the carpet knew she was there, and bent and moved with each step she took. She looked behind her after she’d cleared the way, and saw her footprints slowly disappearing — as if she’d walked across memory foam. Shaking her head in amazement, she entered the adjoining bedroom. Not to her surprise, Zachary had the music on and toys strewn everywhere.

“So this is how you show your appreciation?” She smiled as she bent and picked up a couple of them. “Zach, you’re making quite the mess.” She shook her head in a reprimanding way.

“Fun toys!” the boy exclaimed as he raced to the corner and collected one in his hands to demonstrate for her. He began to turn and twist it until another piece popped out of it, flying across the room and spinning around like a helicopter. The music started again. He shoved it in his mother’s palm and looked up at her as if to say, ‘You try.’

“Oh boy…” She fell to her knees and twisted and turned the object, but it only became more and more complicated. Her son kept shaking his head.

“No Mommy….no…not right,” he said, which caused her to fall to pieces in hysterics.

“Baby, look, I have no idea how this works. Why don’t you show me?” She handed it back to him and watched his quick and nimble hands work the thing over as if he were being timed. Her jaw dropped once he completed it, causing the thing to open once again, and a new tune to play.

“That is incredible. You’re really smart, Zachary.” She took the toy into her hand and studied it from various angles, trying to figure out how in the world he did that. Xzion entered with a towel wrapped around his waist and dug in his ear with a washcloth.

“Don’t look now, but there is a crowd gathered around the house.”

“What?” Hopping up, she marched towards Zachary’s window, opened the curtains and peered out. “Oh my God. It’s like paparazzi or something!”

“Well.” Xzion laughed. “You could kind of say that. Some of them have never actually seen a human woman in the flesh before, Jayme. You’re a big deal and not only that, you’re the mother of Zachary, and in my Warrior culture, that means you’re revered.” He crept up behind her and held her tightly by the waist, close to his heated body. Even through the towel, she could feel his arousal. She gulped and looked over her shoulder, into his eyes.

“Hmmm, I guess I better get ready for dinner tonight.” Xzion hesitated to release her from his grasp but finally conceded, allowing her to pass. He followed her back into their bedroom, hot on her trail.

“I’ll uh, get Zachary cleaned up and dressed. Your gown is inside that closet.” He pointed across the room.

Jayme nodded and smiled, feeling the sexual tension hanging around like a low-rising cloud or maybe, it was something else. She disrobed down to her underwear, then opened the closet door he’d directed her to, and pulled out the sparkling, odd yet beautiful burgundy dress.

“This is gorgeous…” she whispered as she ran the material between her fingers.

“Not as gorgeous as you. Jayme…” he said from behind her. He cleared his throat. “I don’t think I can make you understand how important this moment is to me. I fantasized about it. I wanted you to come home with me from the moment I knew I was in love with you.”

She glanced over her shoulder and nodded to him.

“I wanted you to see the place from which I came, and I wanted you to be able to walk around like the rest of us, without any equipment. That proved to be impossible, but the apparatus I made is at least not as intrusive as a helmet. Never mind that though. I just,” he took a deep breath as he ran his hand down his chest, taking slow steps towards her, “hoped, you know, that the war would end so I could share this moment with you, with our son. To be here as a family…to meet everyone, and to see that I didn’t just burst out of the sky. I come from people with a rich history that our son is now a part of.” He reached into a fold of his towel and removed a necklace. She gasped as he wrapped it around her neck, clasping it. It reminded her of a bright red diamond, a gem she’d never seen before. Not quite a ruby, but something that glowed and appeared alive.

“This diamond is known on our planet as agatim. It is not like the diamonds of Earth; it cannot be turned into a drug. It is a rare gem that is given to Zarkstormian Warrior women. Each Warrior woman who had given birth would receive one once her child had taken three breaths. Agatim translates to ‘blood diamond.’ Each diamond is shaped the same and has a natural perforation at the top. In that perforation, we pour essence, meaning blood. It is the blood of the mother and the child combined, which causes it to glow and pulse. If she had more children, their drops are added to the mixture soon after their births. Inside the gem is your and Zachary’s blood. When I ran the tests on you for this journey, I saved a small sample just for this moment, so that I could make your jewelry.”

He ran his hands lovingly up and down her upper arms. “It’s an important Zarkstormian custom that in some regard has not been practiced the way it should be, but now, we must start again. You are not a Zarkstormian, but you
are
a Warrior in my eyes, and you are my mate and the mother of my child. You’ve earned it.”

Any resolve that Jayme had was gone. She leapt into his arms, squeezing him so tight. She shuddered, the emotions running raw and deep. The whole thing seemed like a wild dream, but no, this was all real. She could feel the coolness of the diamond against her flesh as she pressed into him, then melted to his touch upon feeling his hand over her hair.

“Uthe Majure Kilreo Cxero Itne… That means, ‘The mother of my child, the Queen of my heart.’ Jayme, that’s what you are, and that’s what you will forever be…”

Xzion couldn’t help but smirk at Jayme’s expression. The poor woman tried to keep her repulsion at bay, but she’d failed. On huge platters, the staff placed down almost completely uncooked animals that he was certain she’d never seen, some with the hearts still bleeding. It was a bloody muddle, considered by all Zarkstormians to be a true feast. He’d already arranged to have a special menu arranged for her, but tonight, he’d allow his son to eat the way he and his people ate. Curious, Zachary gravitated towards the gory mess, just as he and all of his predecessors had when they were children.

Jayme remained politely quiet as he kept staring at her, the magnificent eye-catching magnet that she was.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in her ear, causing her to blush.

Soon, a domed platter arrived and was set before her. She seemed to brace herself and veer back as it was uncovered. But then she smiled and sighed with relief once a baked chicken dish with wild rice and string beans was revealed.

“Ahhh, thank God!” Xzion teased, speaking what he knew was in her mind. Her tawny skin caught a reddish hue and her lips cracked into a smile. “There’s plenty more food to your preference available, so eat up. You can order almost anything you wish; they’ve covered most bases. They made sure you had the comforts of home in advance…pies, cookies, you name it. Our top chefs studied the recipes I sent them in advance and I must admit, they more than likely cook even better than I do for you.”

Quiet chatter surrounded them at the table while elegant music played. Jayme sliced into her meal, took a small bite and rolled her eyes in pleasure.

“Oh boy, this is so good!”

“Wonderful.” Xzion sat up and sliced into the well presented animal before him. Removing a delicate portion, he placed it onto his plate then passed it to their son who sat on his left. Jayme tried to spy him out the corner of her eye. She grimaced as the boy picked at the morsel then popped it into his mouth and squealed with delight.

“Don’t knock it ’til you try it.” Xzion patted her back, only to be met with a resounding, ‘No, thank you.’

Cxeza made her way through the crowd wearing a golden gown and a smirk fit for a bird that had swallowed a canary. Jayme popped up from her seat and gave the woman a hearty hug and kiss on the cheek. Cxeza hugged her stiffly. Xzion imagined she didn’t know how to respond, but was doing the best she could.

“It’s so good to see you!” Jayme’s face flushed.

“It’s good to see you, too. I’m so happy you were able to make it. I’m sitting down at the other end, here.” She pointed down the long table that was at least sixty yards in length. “But I needed to come down here and say ‘Hello’ in person. My parents are looking forward to meeting you as well so before you leave, please join us for some after-dinner refreshment.”

“Of course!” Jayme smiled as his sister walked away.

The evening was going so well, he began to question their good luck. No one said anything off the cuff, though the stares were abundant. He expected that. Jayme was treated with the utmost respect and Aton, dressed in his royal best, a black suit with a matching cape that caused his silver hair and eyes to pop and shimmer, was a sight to behold. He stood at attention and raised his glass in the air. As if on cue, everyone stood as well. Jayme took a bit longer as she wasn’t accustomed to such things. She got to her feet and held up her glass as Aton prepared to give a speech.

“It is with great honor that we, the Zarkstormian people, welcome Xzion Khrome and his family. His mate, his bride, Jayme Khrome and their child, Zachary Khrome. We’ve made history with this event. Never has a human been invited to Zarkstorm. You will have to excuse some of the curiosity surrounding you, Mrs. Khrome.”

Jayme smiled pleasantly in response.

“Many of these people have never laid eyes on a flesh and blood human being before, and more importantly, you are the mate of a vital person of our clan and the mother of our salvation. So, I raise my glass to you. Zarkstorm is not from which you were born, but you are considered amongst family, from this point forward. Cheers!”

Everyone yelled, “Cheers!” except Zachary who was still too busy sucking on the bloodied meat and wiggling around happily in his chair.

Xzion wrapped his arm possessively around Jayme’s shoulder as people came and went, introducing themselves to her and offering her gifts. That was customary, and he expected nothing less. For a quick spell, he drifted into a daydream. Everything seemed so surreal. No one could have told him, five years previously, that he’d fall in love with an Earthling, procreate with her, find a cure for their illness from the blood of that child, and then bring her to Zarkstorm to have a visit, break bread and fellowship. He looked at Zachary who was now enjoying a special tapioca pudding the chefs had made for him, his large eyes bouncing from person to person as he stuffed himself. He ran his hand over his son’s hair and smiled at him, falling in love with him more and more each second.

Then, before he could come out of his trance, he spotted Aton staring at him. The man was sitting erect, his face stern around a stiff smile, and though Xzion wasn’t certain, a hint of sadness lingered in the depths of his eyes. Maybe he was seeing things or imagining them, or maybe he was missing Zachary. Aton had taken it rather hard when Zachary returned back to Earth after leaving protective custody. The man would never admit it, but he wished both Xzion — who he regarded as a son — and Zachary to stay with him forever. Aton was battling something that no Zarkstormians ever acknowledged under any circumstances: he was lonely. He’d given his entire life to the military and running their planet. A natural leader, a fierce fighter and one of the most intelligent men Xzion had ever met, he had been groomed for leadership since birth. But that simply wasn’t enough…it rarely is.