Devotion (Chosen by the Karal #5)(21)

“Sienna Mommy said that bad men wanted to come here and kill the aliens,” Charlie said as though he was telling what he wanted for dinner, his voice belying the threat of his words.

Shocked, but trying to regain her composure, Tikki asked calmly, “She said that?”

“To Funny Daddy.” Charlie was gazing, enraptured, as they entered the atmosphere and began their descent to the ground.

“Did she say anything else, Charlie?”

“Look! Elephants,” he cried, and Tikki didn’t like to push him for more details. She couldn’t risk upsetting him, not when he might have to hide when they reached the ground and he had to stay quiet. If he began crying at bad memories, they would all be in trouble.

So she looked down at where he was pointing, with Reja craning her neck to look too. He was right, they were some kind of elephant, but they had the longest necks she had ever seen. “What other animals do you think we will see, Charlie?”

“Hippopotamus,” he cried. “And crocodiles.”

“They might not have the same animals here on Karal. But I but they have something like that.” She stared in wonder at the vast plains below them, green grass, and tall trees. So many trees. Tears welled in her eyes: this was like coming home after a long journey. Okil had told her so much about his planet; she recognised the great mountain he had described. And the ancient forests.

A sadness enveloped her; it should have been like coming home. This was supposed to be her home, after all, the man she loved belonged here and so did her sister. If things had been different, she would be about to land on Karal, excited for her new life and the adventures ahead. Instead she saw her first glimpse of the tower that housed the Hier Council and wondered if it was like the old Tower of London. Would they all end up in prison there, with an executioner waiting to chop their heads off?

That was ridiculous, but as they came into land, she knew she would never live a peaceful life until the problem that was Charlie was solved. Why were people after him? What secrets did he hold? And was there any way he would be welcomed on Karal?

The radio crackled into life, she heard Okil’s voice speaking. Tikki hoped it was a standard message of welcome. However, when he turned to talk to Darl, she could see the concern in his face, and then he was undoing his seat belt and coming towards them, holding onto the side of the cruiser as they came into land.

“We have been requested to stop. It’s not unusual, they always check who is on board, but I think it’s wise for us to ask Charlie to hide. Just as a precaution.” His expression was relaxed, but his face had brief flashes of blue exploding like stars, showing his agitation. Tikki knew him well enough to realise he was attempting to calm himself, to control himself so that he didn’t give them away.

Unbuckling her seat belt, she went to him, placing her hand on his cheek. “It will be OK, Okil.”

“I hope so,” he said and then quieter, “I don’t know what I will do if anything happens to you. Maybe we should have stayed on Earth. I could have protected you there.”

She looked up into his handsome face, feeling a surge of love for him. “You don’t know that, Okil. You have no real idea of what man is capable of. You have never seen their dark side.”

“I have glimpsed it,” he said. “When we came to Earth for Evie. There were men there who would hurt her.”

“These men may be worse. If the President is involved.”

He frowned. “Why do you think he is involved?”

“Something Charlie just said.” The ship slowed. “We’ll talk about it later.”

She turned away from Okil, holding her hand out to Charlie. “Come on, Charlie. We can look at the animals later. Right now you have to play hide and seek.”

“From the bad men?” he asked.

“They aren’t really bad. But they might not understand why you are here. Or even why I am here. So can you be really quiet, like when you hid in my apartment?”

“Yes,” he said, following her to the locker, where he obediently climbed in. Before she shut it, he asked, “Can we go and see the elephants soon?”

“I think we might be able to. I’ll ask Okil.” She kissed him. “Now be quiet. I will let you out as soon as I can, OK?”

He nodded and she shut the door carefully, hating to leave him there alone in the dark, but he held his old teddy bear, cuddled close to his chest. Then she went back to her seat, knowing that if her skin had the same colours as Okil’s, it would be flashing like a guilty beacon.

The ship landed. They circled around the airport once while they slowed their speed and then headed for what looked like a checkpoint. There they stopped. The exit ramp went down and Okil smiled at her before walking down it. Below she could hear him talking, laughing with the guards.

“I couldn’t help it. When you have a female, you will know how they attract a Karalian. I guess my prime was calling me. I am weak for human females; the Hierarchy knows this.”

“The council is not happy, Okil. I can see your point, but they cannot. You are ordered to go before them tomorrow.”

“I see. Thank you, Hanoth. I will go there first thing.”

“You are lucky it is so late, my friend, or else you would be before them now.”

“Yes, Okil, you would not be spending the night in the arms of your female; you would be there explaining your actions.”