Hera

After that catastrophic night at the bar yesterday, I should have slept more. Yet, I had to wake up early and skip breakfast, or I would have to sit through another lecture about attending those arranged meetings.

I wore a black t-shirt and green shorts. I quickly grabbed my phone and cross bag. I tiptoed around my own home; this was becoming ridiculous. I finally opened the door.

"HERA," Carlos, that dimwit, can't he realize I am making a grand escape?

I didn't wait anymore. I ran. He should deal with the aftermath of what he started.

I was finally at a safe distance. I started walking more slowly. It was too early anyway.

I walk past a lot of houses. Many of them were no longer occupied. The overgrown grass, the old wood that needed countless renovations, and broken windows. These houses were once full of laughs, dreams, and tears. Family trees that ended, leaving these broken buildings standing against time. But even the sturdiest steel would erode with time. They may stand as a testament for more years until they finally crumble away.

Will humanity face this fate?

If this was the situation at the central human territory, what was the situation at the other four human territories?

Extinction. 

The nightmarish word popped into my head. 

The sun was harsh today. I kept fumbling with strap of my cross bag. I took a deep breath. Mum is probably making a scene at home right now.

It is not that I don't want to get married. I want love; that is all. I want my own choice; that is all.

She married Dad out of love, and we could be considered a functioning family.

I am only twenty-seven. Even if I never get married, the world wouldn't end, would it?

She can rely on Carlos to procreate and pass down the family genes. Suddenly, two mesmerizing almond-shaped violet eyes cross my mind. What is wrong with me?

"I think my mom has finally gotten to me." I reached the bus stop and sat on the bench.
But seriously, his neck how is it like that?

"I have lost my mind." 

An elderly woman looked at me disapprovingly. I got on the bus and took a seat.

My mind drifted back to the bar. His voice was hypnotic. Was that even legal?

I shook my head.

I put my earbuds in and got lost in the music. I think we humans would have gone mad without the art and music.

These Yin Ra people are always so detached. I didn't really have any close contact with them.

They came to some of Fleur's classes, but their paintings, even though beautiful, are too controlled. They don't just let their soul break free.

They never apply to my classes, though. They probably realize that their excessive control won't exactly go well with clay.

Unfortunately, my stop arrived after just a few songs. I left the bus and walked a bit more. I finally reached Fleur's villa. I opened the door and walked towards the kitchen. I needed my caffeine dose. I totally deserved it after yesterday's crash and today's grand escape.

"You are early," Fleur was standing in her pyjamas, yawning.

"Let me drink my coffee first, please." The water boiled, and I poured it over - what I liked to believe was a cappuccino.

"Your mum is at it again."

"Aha."

The coffee smell hit my nose and my foggy brain was starting to concentrate.

"Why don't you just go once?"

Fleur was probably still drunk from yesterday.

"Do you need something for a hangover?" I suggested.

"I am serious, just try it once and then tell her you hated it."

"A waste of time and energy, so no," she shrugged and went upstairs.

If I went, would I get to meet him again?

I pinched my cheeks. Maybe I am the one who needed something for a hangover.

The doorbell rang. I opened the door.

"Maeve, did you forget your keys?" She nodded.

Maeve was our public relations and administrative work employee.

"You are early," Maeve didn't wait for me to reply. She put her backpack on the reception table.

"So?"

"Nothing new really."

She patted my back and headed to the painting classroom. Maeve had always been Maeve, getting to work as soon as possible. A workaholic, but without her Fleurs studio would sink.

"Hera, the glaze class is in a week."

"All have been bisque fired."

"Good, they have chosen the colors."

She came out of the room holding a big canvas. She is so obsessed with organization. Fleur only works in chaos. A vicious cycle has long existed in our studio.

" I will order the glaze colors the participants chose. Do you want a specific color?"

" Violet," I said absentmindedly. A pair of eyes came to my mind again. Yup, I am probably still drunk. Maybe another coffee.

"HERAA."

Gosh, why is everyone screaming my name today?

Fleur ran downstairs in a disheveled state.

"I am going bankrupt."

Maeve appeared at the sudden declaration.

"What did you do again, Fleur?"

Maeve glanced at me and her suspiciously. Seriously, I have done nothing, c'mon.

"I didn't; my car crashed into an Aston Martin yesterday."

Maeve sank in the chair beside her.

"The owner just contacted me, and I blocked his number."

I face-palmed. Typical, she blocked him, and I am not even surprised. I wish I could be, but that was my fate. I have long accepted it. Suddenly, my phone started ringing.

****************************

Zale

It was dawn. I looked at the rising sun through the windows. I stayed at Draco's house. The human housing system is quite varied. I could see the whole city below me. Humans, compared to us, a gifted race, are too weak physically.

However, their minds have built civilizations and wonders. I have seen some of their arts. They are too free; it surely garnered envy.

When the other elders first came through the portal, the government offered them houses. I never came to Earth, let alone accepted a house. I was never interested in staying here, anyway. I had my own floating island back on Yin-ra. Everything there was exactly up to my tastes and needs.

Now that I thought about it, having a place to stay here was not a bad idea. I looked around. Draco's aesthetics were quite tiring for someone my age. The mess that was everywhere. These red carpets and green walls. This was a bit too much to wake up to every morning. I should start looking for a house, preferably near a certain small little creature.

I caught myself wandering again to that woman who turned my life upside down within a few minutes and just went back to sit with her friend. How was that even fair?

"Elder, the bath is ready," a Yin-Ra servant interrupted my thoughts.

I moved towards the bath. I would rather enjoy the hot springs on my floating island, but let's solve Draco's trouble.

That was all; no more about that little creature, at least for now. I tried to convince myself.

I rubbed my forehead the moment I entered the bathroom. Statues everywhere. Who put these in bathrooms?

Seriously, was Draco innately non-artistic, or did he catch bad habits while staying here?

I shake my head. He was probably born that way. Such appalling tastes can't be taught.

I finished the shower quickly before these odd animal-like statues made me question the Goddess's will to choose Draco as an elder.

I wore the provided clothes and headed to the living room. I sank into a couch. It was very comfortable. At least he got one thing right.

"Good morning, Elder."

Speak of the devil. I didn't need to look back. He was probably wearing something odd.

"Draco, have you found out about the humans who crashed your car yesterday?" I asked.

"The files were sent an hour ago."

"Summary?"

"The one who crashed our car is named Fleur; she is a painter and owns an art studio."

This boy why would I care about the Fleur person? I let him ramble a bit more. He finally finished. I waited for him to go on. Nothing.

"And the other number?"

"It belongs to her friend, Hera."

"Hera," I whispered her name. It felt nice on my tongue.

"But she has nothing to do with the crash; she was in the passenger seat," he went on.

"Draco, I have made it clear to investigate both numbers."

He smiled. This boy was goading me, wasn't he?

"She is a ceramist, works with Fleur at the art studio."

He started talking about her family. A father, mother, and a brother. He didn't answer the most important question: her relationship status. It is not that I cared, but knowing everything wouldn't harm anyone, right?

"What are her views on the Yin Ra people?" he was surprised by the question.

"Nothing. She sees us as neighbors occupying the same planet. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Does she attend the arranged meetings?" I asked nonchalantly.

"No," he replied.

"Why?"

"She is team I choose my fate, fate doesn't choose for me," Draco chuckled.

Well, at least she didn't outright hate us. Still complicated.

"Bring me the investigation file."

He left for a few seconds and was back with a file. He sat on the opposite couch. I skipped through the details about Fleur. Until I reached the first page of her file. I stared at the attached photo for a few seconds. I read through her file more slowly. Everything was similar to what Draco said.

This was not enough.

"Call our legal representative," I commanded.

"Why?"

"Don't you want compensation for your car?"

"I do," he hesitated. "I will have the lawyer contact Miss Fleur."

"In case Miss Fleur is not very cooperative, make sure her friend is contacted," I said.

Draco's face was confused; I ignored him.

I just wanted Draco compensated; that was all. I squeezed my left hand a bit. I went to my room. I put on a suit; we had a meeting with the government representatives.
*****************
After a whole two hours of talking with the government representatives, we finally reached an agreement. It could have been finished in ten minutes, but Draco insisted on not resolving it very quickly. He insisted that if we gave in an inch, they would take a mile. He knew better; he mingled with them for a long time.

It all started when a Yin-Ra broke a law and was arrested. However, he was arrogant enough and broke out of jail.

They just wanted to restrain lawbreakers until custody was transferred to a Yin-Ra official.
It was simple. I knew my race well. Those who were naturally gifted. Sometimes it got to their heads, and they didn't respect humans whom they thought were weak.

Draco wanted to solve the problem without our race losing dignity. He forgot about the Goddess prophecy; we are here to help humans, not to undermine them. He was still young after all.

The other Elders closed the doors because they wanted me to come out. After all, once I, the eldest, gave a verdict, the Yin-Ra people would have to obey.

I finally saw the full picture.

"I will provide cells enhanced to restrain a Yin-Ra then."

After two hours of nonsense chatter. I finally said it. They all stopped talking. All were shocked. Draco's smile faltered. 

I couldn't believe I was dragged from Yin-Ra to say this one sentence. I walked out; this was just a waste of time. I should be looking for a house here, preferably near that little creature.

For two hours, I got stuck in a pointless meeting. I was exhausted.

"Elder, are you really providing them with enhanced cells?"

"Draco, it is just to keep a lawbreaker in place; no harm will be done to them. What is the fuss even about?" I explained patiently. "We are in the wrong here. The Goddess would be pissed off if she found out how some of us treated humans."

His face was ghostly for a second. He realized the gravity of his actions. This was not Yin-Ra to make fuss and trouble. We walked to the car outside.

"Draco, I want to buy a house. I will stay here for a while; it seems that things here are more complicated than I initially thought," I said. "The reports didn't portray the whole picture."
"Understood."

His phone rang. He picked it up. I waited in the car. He knocked on my window. I opened it.

"Elder, Miss Fleur agreed to visit our office in a week."

"Miss Fleur?"

"Miss Fleur, the car crash!"

I was disappointed.

Wait, why was I disappointed?

Author's Note:

​Hera out here picking "violet" glaze while completely in denial about someone.
​
​What was your favorite line from this chapter?
Drop a comment below, and if you're ready to see what happens when that ringing phone bridges their worlds, smash that vote button and let's head to Chapter 4! 📱✨