Chapter 16: 15: PRAYER

“Purple, huh?”

Ivan nodded at the couple standing before him. They were young, maybe a decade older than his seventeen, and well-dressed in metro attire. Gem-encrusted this, imported fabric here, the usual for Altir. Both spoke over-loud, the pair drunk after a night of good drinks.

“The latest, the greatest.” Ivan surveyed the vessel spaces around them housing luxury models. Blue Bird, Crimson Pheonix, Grey Smoke and Allura—millions of gilar worth of machinery housed in spiraling underground alleys behind protective shields. Obscene wealth, along with the idiots eager to hand over some of it to him, made the best arrangements. “You’ll get a sample with your haul.”

The female tossed her hair and patted her boyfriend’s chest. “Pink, Purple, whatever you’re doing, I want it. Make it pretty for me.”

The male yanked the female to him and nuzzled her face. “Won’t be as pretty as you.”

Ivan swallowed a groan and repeated his offer. “Sample of Purple. Gold for the rest.”

The male frowned. “Fuck a sample. Give me everything you’re holding if it’s as good as you say. Money’s not an issue.” He held tight to the female’s waist. “It’s Harvest and we want to go mad.”

“You’ll go mad. Trust me. And I’m sure you can afford it. I can’t sell you everything, though—those are strict rules from the boss.” Ivan’s mouth pressed into a tight smile as he adjusted the cuffs of his dress shirt. “You only need a touch. The sample’s more than enough to party.”

“Doubt your boss would turn down the gold.” The male flicked a dismissive wave. “Contact him. Ask the price.”

“I know what he’ll say. I know what he wants. It’s not money. More important to him that lots of people try—variety over quantity, you know. He’s proud of the batch.” Ivan smirked. “Needs his street team to spread the word.”

“Fine. This buy’s taking too fucking long.” The male cut Ivan off. “Hook it up. Ten vials of each shade, and ten candy-bars. Ten g’s of your cleanest to close.”

“Ten-ten-ten. Mate’s elite.” Ivan repeated the order to them before winking at the female. “I’ll toss in an extra Pink for the lady. She’ll thank you later.”

The female snickered, and the male gestured for Ivan to proceed. “All right.”

“Keeping with the tens—10-k.” Ivan flashed his open palms with spread fingers.

“Golden pearls work?”

“Sure.”

The male separated from his date to pull out his wallet, extracting a pouch from within. He sorted through and plucked out a single item, displaying it between his thumb and forefinger. Ivan accepted the jewel and studied the marble-sized ornament, pressing it to his teeth briefly. Its color was a brilliant 24-yellow with translucent layers of rose and green, the texture slightly gritty from the nacre. His tongue flicked against indentations on the surface as he confirmed the pearl was real.

“How’s it taste?” joked the male.

“Like Earth,” said Ivan.

He dropped the payment in his wallet and looked over his shoulder, raising an arm to signal a sullen figure to come over. The downcast face peered at him from afar, and a tall young man with a nest of brown hair straightened to full height at the summon. Ivan flashed details of the order with his fingers and, slow and dragging, the young man moved toward a service vessel parked in the lot. Several minutes passed before the sorry sack returned to Ivan with the same dragging pace.

The waiting male made a face. “What’s the issue with your friend?”

Ivan watched Spencer’s approach without expression. “Girl shit.”

“That’ll do it.”

Ivan darkened as he turned away from the pair, reopening his COM link with Spencer. “Hurry up, you dumb fuck. This is the last time we work together.”

Spencer reached Ivan with the products packaged in a gift bag, and Ivan scanned the contents of the bag before handing it over to the male. The male nodded at Ivan.

“Stellar.”

“Enjoy.”

The male peered at Spencer, a grin appearing on his flushed face as he moved his focus. “Don’t think too much about ’em, mate. They don’t think about you either.”

“Hey!” The female swatted his arm. “I’m standing right here!”

“Sorry.” The male lowered his head. “I’m awful. Don’t know why you deal with me.” He winked at Spencer.

Ivan snorted at their retreating backs as they left the alley. “Fucking annoying.” He scowled as he turned to Spencer. “And you, even worse. Little early to play living dead, don’t you think?”

Spencer’s sullen gaze settled on Ivan. He repeated the advisement he’d told Ivan time and time again. “I’m done. I don’t want to be involved anymore.”

A false smile touched Ivan’s face. “We’ll tell you when you’re done. You’re nowhere close.”

“Fuck you.”

Ivan moved closer and scanned Spencer’s deteriorated appearance. Spencer appeared gaunt from poor feeding, his appetite probably eviscerated after Talitha’s departure.

“You’re going to deal at the show, and you’ll do what you’re told until you pay your debt. Your contract was sealed with blood. Remember that. You agreed to get everything you have and more.” Ivan’s message sounded clear in the empty garage. “I told you to forget her. Great things await. You’ll have twenty of her if you stick to the plan, all of them red if you’d like. Once you get past this, you’ll understand the beauty of our new future.”

Spencer stood still for an extended moment, and the corners of his mouth turned down. “Pendergast was all over her. I knew he’d do it, the sack of shit. He’s been waiting for this.”

Ivan nodded. “Don’t worry about him. It’s true, he’s had his eye on your girl for a while. That’s what he does. More of a reason to let it go.”

Spencer scoffed. “Right.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Poof. Gone. No more problems.” Ivan closed his fist then spread his fingers, miming the sound of an explosion. He nudged his head toward the service vessel they’d borrowed from a garage pilot. “Take a break, soldier. I’ll finish up, pay the pilots, give away gifts.” His smile returned. “I’ll handle the rest. Go get your mind right.”

Spencer exhaled before turning away with head bowed. He dragged his steps as he disappeared into the vessel and a moment later, the door slid closed.

Alone in the garage, Ivan spied an attendant in a shuttle passing through. He raised an arm at the pilot and the pilot also raised a hand. His stare narrowed as probed the area for other activity, closing the link with Spencer before disappearing around the bend.

☼ ☼ ☼

Talitha started the engine of her Kyanite, shaking away lingering thoughts of the hallucination. She’d quit for good, like she’d promised Adam and Kalum—no more venom.

She peeled out of La Maria’s garage, entering the streets of Capitol City. Her student license allowed a lift of a quarter kilometer but she rarely went airborne. Something about feeling the planet under her tires comforted her, the sensation of something real and unmoving, and Talitha needed grounding more than ever.

After zero, there was little traffic in the lanes. A dust of rain fell over the metropolis. The Kyanite’s system pinged a route to Temple Altiria, and she merged onto the interzone highways to follow the glowing navigation.

The Unifaith temple soon appeared on the horizon with seven towering spires rising from the facility. Though not as elaborate as Capitol Temple’s sprawling construction in Capitol City’s main square, it also framed a view of the great tree El-Akalut. The tree of Ipir towered high enough for its branches to scrape outer space, and was visible in Altir even from thousands of kilometers away.

Talitha engaged her flight mechanism to hover to the ground from the exit ramp. Automatic functions activated when her tires struck the road, and the Kyanite stabilized itself as she coasted toward Temple Altiria. A faint smell of incense wafted from the temple’s many worship houses as she approached, and she stopped before the entry gate to wait for an attendant to appear.

Her goggles registered the image of inky figures in hooded robes milling about the grounds. The collection congregated around a massive statue depicting Isten Dar’s first prophet, Rajim Isten, who held an open scroll immortalizing his greatest revelation—the moment Ipir’s sun would swallow the planet whole. No one knew when the apocalypse would occur, but Isten Dar’s followers prayed daily for answers.

The sound of rhythmic chanting caught her ear as a man in a red uniform exited the guard house. “Staff only,” he said, looking over her vessel. “We open at oh-five. You may return at that hour.”

Talitha hopped off her bike and slid back her goggles. “I’m authorized to enter off-hours by High Priestess Kazrut. Scan me.”

The guard flickered with recognition as soon as he saw her. “Miss—”

“Scan me,” Talitha repeated. “I don’t expect special treatment.”

“Right. One moment.”

The guard passed a biometric scanner over her eyes and palms, and a ping verified what she’d said about her access. “Clear,” he said with new warmth. “Welcome back, Miss Morai. I thought your bike looked familiar. It’s good to see you again. Praise the prophet.”

“Thank you, sir.” She peered at the main temple. “Where’s Kalum?”

“In the main temple with the Holy Family. She's practicing her hymns in a private service. I’ll notify the Khelots you’ve arrived.”

“No.” Talitha halted him. “It’s a surprise. I’ll let myself in through the back.”

“As you wish, Madame. Dalalu ana rajim.”

“Dala.”

She left her bike at the watch house and headed to the main temple, finding the red entry doors shut tight. Circling the facility to enter the garden, she found the rear access doors hidden in the flowers. She pressed her fingers on the control panel, receiving a subtle tone of granted access.

Winding hallways with scarlet walls and towering vaulted ceilings met her when she entered. The pathways, furnished with priceless wildland artifacts, glittered with brilliant sculptures created of Isten Dar’s native deities. Scents of native herbs overpowered, and the haze of burning incense clouded thicker than usual. A sensation persisted inside the Temple Altiria as ancient as the mysterious planet itself, as if every corner concealed eternal knowledge.

A sorrowful melody resonated inside. The sound grew louder as Talitha approached the center altar and she slowed, listening to Kalum sing a hymn different from the one at the fundraiser. Kalum’s sweet tone performed without chorus or instruments, and the words used were in elder tongue, a breathy and impossible to pronounce dialect. Talitha recognized the subtle difference, though she didn’t understand it even with all her time at the temple.

The lines Kalum sang detailed the prophecy that tied her to Malek, and Talitha recognized some of the passages.

Nunsu ga-la ursa

Ji nene zagdi-ba

The great prince, the warrior—

Am-mi ni ibu ca-re

The crown, the mound, a holy and pure place—

Talitha closed her eyes as she neared the hall and paused at the door to listen. The same honeyed sensation warmed her like in the ballroom as she poked her head inside. She scanned rows of empty prayer rods placed around the altar, and the closed doors that led to individual divulgence rooms. There, worshipers pleaded with the temple’s acolytes for a show of God’s mercy.

The Khelots sat in front of the leader’s podium, their bowed forms concealed in dark prayer robes. Twenty of them, more than usual, were present. Several children sat with them, meaning other members of Kalum’s family had arrived for Harvest. The lone figure onstage, who must have been Kalum, stood huddled over a tome and stacks of pages. The figure paused her singing when Talitha walked into sight.

Kalum's hooded head rose, and the kneeling figures stood to bow to Talitha. She curtsied in return when she reached them, and Judge Khelot pushed his hood away to reveal his lined face. Talitha extended her hand in greeting, and he clasped it between his own.

“Talitha,” he said with gentleness. “Welcome back.”

“Thank you, Judge.” She acknowledged his kindness with a smile. “I’m always glad to stop by. I feel at home here.”

“You are home. And we heard about the bravery and loyalty you showed by defending Kalum at school. That had to be difficult, to face the culprit. We value your assistance in that matter.” The judge’s face knit with concern. “I regret that kind of ugliness remains after we advanced past the Time. All of us on every side are forced to share this planet. I hoped for evolution after a thousand years of figuring it out.”

“I agree, sir. And for Kalum—I’d do that anytime.” Talitha nodded. “You’re right, too, that there’s still ugliness on Ipir. Things have to change.”

“Yes. They do, and hopefully with our work, that’ll be soon.”

Kazrut Khelot, the high priestess and current elected leader of Unifaith, moved to her husband’s side. She tucked her silver-streaked hair away from her sun-darkened face and bowed her head another time.

“Welcome, Talitha. Did you recognize the hymn in motion?”

“Yes,” said Talitha. “I recited it with Kalum for a youth service. Some parts were difficult, but I got it eventually with her help.”

“Elder tongue’s complicated, yes, but you did well.” Kazrut beamed at Talitha. “You were always a natural at reciting holy words. Now that you’re coming of age, like Kala, we’d enjoy seeing you standing at the altar with her. Please consider the idea.”

“Stand at the altar with Kala?” Talitha’s mind wandered at the idea. “Me and her. That’s interesting to say.” The hooded figure at the podium gathered the prayer items and hurried to join them as Talitha shrugged. “Who knows where the future leads, High Priestess? Our paths change with every new decision we make.”

Judge Khelot folded his hands in his robes, bobbing his head in agreement. “Wise statement, Talitha. There are many roads, and the ones we travel are at the whim of our choices.”

“Aye. Glad you agree. Means I don’t always say stupid things.”

Kalum arrived at Talitha’s side at last, pulling her hood aside to reveal her loose hair and tired face. She glanced at Talitha, cradling the books to her chest.

“Hi, Li.”

“Hi, Kala.” Talitha returned her attention to Kalum’s parents. “I hope you don’t mind me quartering here until Eve. We’re going to a quiet student party that night—a tiny affair, unimpressive really. Barely worth mentioning.” Talitha squeezed her thumb and forefinger together, illustrating the minuscule amount of partying they planned to do. “I’d like to fit in some spiritual guidance with Kala while I’m here.”

“Yes.” Kazrut assented with a brief nod. “She mentioned your plans to celebrate with school friends, and that you booked the main divulgence room during your stay.”

“Hope that’s not out of line.”

“This is your home, as my husband stated, so stay as long as you need. I hope kispu with Kalum provides you the clarity you seek.”

“Thank you, Great Mother. I’m sure it’ll be perfect.” Talitha clasped her hands together. “We won’t waste any time when we’re in that room.”

“Excellent. If either of you have questions or need assistance during the ceremony, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m just a COM link away.”

“We’ll be all right, Mama.” Kalum knocked into Talitha with a grin. “Everything’s fine.”