Out of the Ashes (Maji 1)

“I’ve never thought of it, but I think it’s like that on Earth, too. I come across more men than woman, and when I do, the woman is owned.”

“Owned?” Vorah repeated.

I looked down and nodded.

“I am sorry for your people’s suffering, Nova. I want to kill every human male that has brought harm to a female.”

That sounded very violent, but I appreciated the kindness behind it.

I looked up at Vorah and said, “Thank you.”

He nodded once, and from then on, we walked in a comfortable silence. I lost count of how many hallways we walked down and corners we had turned before we reached the bridge, but when he did, I gave Vorah a hearty laugh.

“Thank you. I’d have never made it here if you didn’t help me.”

He licked his lips. “You’re welcome.”

He stood waiting for something, and the only thing I could think of was the suitability thing.

“We can have dinner together this evening in the mess hall… if you like?”

Vorah’s eyes practically popped out of his head as he said, “Yes, please.”

“Great.” I smiled. “You’ll have to check with who oversees the housing because I’m not sure what number my room is.”

I wasn’t even sure how I’d get back to my room.

“I will find that information and seek you out when my shift ends.”

“Great.”

Vorah smiled widely then he turned and walked away with a spring in his step. I smiled too, knowing that that male could very well be someone I spend a lot of time with in the future. I forgot about Vorah when I turned to face the door before me. Without giving it too much thought, I lifted my hand and knocked on the door. Seconds ticked by before the large door slide opened and revealed… Mikoh.

“You’re everywhere,” I said to him.

He grinned down at me. “Remember that.”

I playfully rolled my eyes. “Can I speak to His Highness?”

“Who?”

“Kol.”

“Why didn’t you say so?”

“I did.”

“No, you said His Highness.”

“It was a joke.”

“I didn’t laugh.”

“Because you’re incapable of the action, you statue.”

Mikoh’s grin made me laugh.

“You’re insufferable,” I said with a shake of my head.

He winked. “So I’ve heard.”

“Why aren’t you with Surkah?” I asked him.

“She ordered me away.” He shrugged. “She does that a lot, so my friend Nero is guarding her for me.”

I nodded, so he turned to the side and gestured for me to enter the room. I did and came to a stop almost instantly. The room was… huge. Maji males were everywhere, and they all looked like they had important jobs. There was high-tech equipment, chairs, flashing lights, and a huge… window. It was overlooking the Earth.

I was no longer on Earth; I was looking at it.

“When did we leave?” I asked aloud as I stared at the dying planet that I called home.

“An hour or so ago,” Mikoh replied to me. “After the Vaneer disembarked.”

“I didn’t feel a thing,” I murmured.

“You wouldn’t. The Ebony is virtually silent in takeoff, in flight, and when descending and landing. It is the perfect craft.”

That was the perfect word to describe the Ebony: perfect. The entire spacecraft was truly something to behold. From an outsider’s view, it was marvellously big, futuristic, and definitely not of Earth. The advancements from within the ship were simply incredible. The cleanliness of it caught me off guard when I looked around, but when I looked past that, I saw the technological gems for what they were—simply mesmerising.

Nothing was plain on the bridge of the Ebony. From a few feet away, a white wall looked simply like a white wall, but then when you got closer, you could see zips of light, the outline of digital handprint panels that were used to open doors, codes to lock and unlock them also, as well as a written language that I could not decipher. The more I looked, the more I saw; it was like the ship was alive, and it was—it was alive with technology.

I made a mental note to examine the walls of my quarters and those in the hallways to see if I missed the digital delight that was hidden in plain view all around me.

I returned my focus to the gigantic window and stared at my home world, noticing how defeated it looked. I had seen pictures of the Earth in its heyday on one of the many televised screens that littered the main cities on the surface. The oceans were once large, a deep blue, and they all connected. The land mass was just as big, and it was green and rich with life. The Earth that I gazed upon now was none of those things. Only patches of water remained, but the blue hue was not as vibrant. The land mass was a sickly brown and cancelled out any green that tried to thrive.

I knew my planet was dying, but looking at it first-hand caused the realisation to slam into me with a force that pulled a strangled cry from my throat. I hadn’t realised there was talking and movement around me until I cried out, and all that noise stopped. I covered my mouth with my hands and cried into them as I looked at the Earth. My entire life was on that planet. My father, mother, aunt, uncle, cousins… they were all down on the surface. And I would be leaving all them behind. That knowledge hurt just as much as the realisation that soon their bodies, and the Earth itself, would be no more.

“My home,” I whimpered.

I didn’t flinch when I felt hands on my shoulders, and I found a surprising amount of comfort in them. I turned to the male who rested his hands on me, and I hugged myself against his broad chest. For a moment, I thought the male was Mikoh, but then I inhaled, and the scent of rain filled me, and I was shocked that my subconscious had noted that it belonged to one being.

Kol.

“I’m sorry, shiva,” he murmured and folded his arms around me.

He held me for a few moments then released me when I turned in his arms and leaned my back against his chest as I stared at the Earth once more.

“I knew it was dying.” I sniffled. “I knew it had gotten bad, but I never imagined it got to… this.”

Kol remained silent.

“My home is really dying, Kol.” I hiccupped. “And there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.”

He turned my body b

ack to face him, placed his fingers under my chin, and tilted my head up, so I was looking at him. His violet eyes were glowing once more, and his expression was softer than I had ever seen it before.

“You’re with the people,” he said. “You’re ensuring the continuation of your people by being here.”

At that moment, I understood why they were here. It was more than looking for mates to continue their species; it was a last attempt at survival. The Maji were survivalists too, and they were doing everything they could to save their species.

“Kol,” I said, my lower lip wobbling. “I’m so sorry about everything. I’ve been beyond difficult for you to deal with and very childish and… ungrateful. You were right. I apologise profusely. Please, forgive me.”

I didn’t know why, but I needed him to forgive me. Not to keep my place on the Ebony but to dull an ache that had arisen in my chest that I was failing him. He stared at me for a long moment then nodded once.

“I accept your apology, and I forgive you.”

My shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank you.”

His vibrant eyes flicked over my face. “I admire you, Nova. I know it wasn’t easy for you to apologise to me, nor for you to accept this change in your life.”

I sniffled. “Echo pointed out how much of a bitch I have been and threatened me a time or two that she’d beat me up if I didn’t change my attitude. Since I’m stuck with her and her sister until we get to your home world, I figured I’d better get real nice real fast.”

Kol suddenly laughed, and I found myself smiling up at him, too.

“She will not harm you,” he said, still chuckling. “Do not fear her.”

“I don’t, but she was right. I have been everything she accused me of, and I want to make it right.”

“How?” Kol asked, his expression turning dark. “Do you wish to seek out a unit member to mate with?”

I felt my cheeks stain with heat, so I looked down at my bare feet