Basilah sighs, "I was eighteen-years-old when I met James and decided to be his partner. It was great initially and he promised not to marry anyone else, obviously, as long as I had a child in a year. This was a priority because heirs were needed for the royal line as quickly as possible back then. We lived in the basement of the home of James' parents because a Human had to be the one who gave birth to a Kerogen as was the case with some of us. Very rarely was there a Kerogen to marry a Kerogen. A year went by as normal and no child was born. The state of the world was getting worse so we had to protect ourselves and so, he found someone else."
Alora starts speaking, "I was someone from a family with Kerogen children born. My parents were Human and I had Human as well as a few Kerogen siblings. My parents were ecstatic at James deciding that he wants me and I was fine with it. After a year, no child again. This disappointed me, my parents, James and Basilah was happy cause I mean she couldn't have children herself."
Eden laughs at those words, "Then I came along. I volunteered because I really loved and still do love James. A year went by so James found two more Humans then I fell pregnant."
Ellerie sighs, "Yes. I was one of the first Humans that didn't know what was happening to be taken in. At this time, I was confused at the amount of ladies in the home, but I wasn't getting pregnant either."
Kamali nods in agreement, "At this point, me and Ellerie came together because James was frustrated. Then, Eden had her child which made him happy. Especially since it was a boy. Then, she had another boy."
Eden smiles smugly, "It was really getting heated in the home because no one was having any children except me, but my family was very pleased especially since my child had the leader mark. Then, my life was ruined when they both got pregnant at the same time. Kamali and Ellerie, I mean."
Kamali and Ellerie laugh at those words.
"We were hopeful," Ellerie says happily, "even though we had girls. We were happy we could just have children." Kamali nods, "Exactly."
"A few years without any children being born went by," Eden says and then smiles, "then I had a boy again." Everyone tolls their eyes and I giggle a little.
"Well," Kamali says, "then it got really brutal and James was not happy. James told us not to be competitive so we complied. A year later, I, finally, had a son. The third son born and the only one not from Eden, which upped the competitiveness once again."
Alora nods as she smiles, "No kids were born for 3 years until I had a son. James was happy now. He had heirs and couldn't care less who they came from or what they were. He just loved having children. With 6 children, we thought it would get too crowded now, but we expanded underground."
"A year later," Basilah says with a proud smile, "I, finally, had my first child. Norah was a blessing and I was happy she was a leader too. She would keep the family going on a separate field entirely."
Ellerie sighs, "With 7 children in the house, it was crazy. Norah was 4, Hagan was 5, Camden was 8, Berli was 9, Amoli and Alisha 11 then Anax was 13. It was chaos. Then, I had Kabir."
Eden's anger is clear, "Hey, what about my other son and Kamali's son. There was 8 children in the house because Kamali's son died, but my son was 12."
Alora says, "Anyways, two years later, Udeline was born." Ellerie nods, "Then Ivaan." Alora smiles, "The twins, Imogen and her sister."
Eden smiles, "With an 18, 19 and 14-year-old sons, I gave birth to Cayle. The next year, my son died." "Four years after Cayle," Kamali says honestly, "I had Edolie then Basilah had Emery."
"Wow," I say in awe, "around which child did you guys get free?" "Maybe a year before Edolie was born," Basilah says as she calculates it.
After that long story, I head to dinner with the Mothers. Baruch is with Anax as we sit down and enjoy our meal.
I watch Baruch trying to grab food from Anax and I glance at the long table. I think about how quickly time goes by and how quickly things change. I still remember the days I was with my parents and we were happy. Then, I remember being with my foster parents. Life was, overall, great. It was just more free than it is now.
I make my way to bed with Baruch as I think about time.
When I wake up the next day, I find a note saying that we are going into town, but I notice that none of the children under six are coming with and not all the mothers are coming with either. Only Basilah is coming with and Norah is happily tagging along with her other siblings.
After we eat breakfast, we head out.
Once we step out those doors, I smile as I see the sunlight, feel the fresh air, smell the flowers and just feel free. At this moment, impulsively, I feel like running away, but I think about Baruch and I cannot leave him behind.
As we continue to walk, we go through a few towns, villages and tribes.
I see a couple Huke's but most are Human or Kerogen.
Fear fills me as I see the Humans looking fearful, unhappy, abused. Only some are lucky enough to be treated like they are life.
A Kerogen man comes out of his home with a few females either Human or Kerogen as they argue with him. He just ignores them and I notice a few children following too.
"We are leaving," he says seriously and the females seem unhappy, "I came as you asked. You saw your mother and father. They died and, now, we go back to my tribe that is waiting for me to take care of them." I see some crying, others comforting and others in fear.
Anax steps up, "What's going on?" The man tenses and bows, "Your Highness. These ladies are my partners and these are my children. Some are my daughters and some my sons. Others are from previous marriages of theirs and mine. There is a lot of conflict going on because of this in my tribe. My tribe needs a leader heir and the majority are leaders. This is causing problems amongst the family and the Mothers are competing."
"Why is this the case?" Anax asks as he looks at the young ladies. One of the ladies steps forward and is clearly a daughter of his.
"My father is right," the young girl says, "but the biggest issue is that the oldest leader is a girl and he refuses to let her take over the tribe as the rightful heir instead wants to choose someone of his choice." "Is that how your tribe works?" Anax asks all of them. Everyone shakes their head.
"Usually," a Mother says seriously, "the oldest leader child takes over whether male or female, but he is changing it despite the promise made years ago." "Who is this young lady?" Anax asks and the girl comes forward.
"Your Highness," the young lady curtsies and everyone around gasps as they notice her scarred face as well as body, "I feel my father has other reasons for this decision, but no one will let it go for my sake. I understand that I am damaged, but is that a reason?" Anax sighs, "How did you get these scars?" Tears fill her eyes and she shakes her head.
"I promised I would never mention it," she says timidly, "but I got them saving someone's life." "She is too modest," another girl says loudly and curtsies, "she saved a lot of people during the time we were in hiding and some Humans found us. They lit the house on fire and we couldn't get out. She helped us to do that."
My heart sinks as she says this and I can see the truthfulness in their words.
"Did you save the whole tribe?" Anax asks and everyone nods, "then why don't you want her to lead?" "She did some difficult things," the Kerogen man, her father, says, "but she's...look, I don't want to say this out here so...can I talk to Your Highness somewhere else?" Anax shakes his head, "She deserves to know." "Fine," the man says with annoyance, "she's...not....my daughter. I adopted her a while back when her parents died, but I cannot make her lead my tribe. It's unfair to everyone."
Anax sighs and looks at the girl who seems broken, "Young lady, when you are old enough to lead then you should come to me. I will make sure you get an entire sector to rule that will respect someone like you." She smiles sadly as her tears fall silently. Her entire family has distanced themselves from her as the man continues to leave with his family. The young lady stays behind and sobs on the ground.
I walk up to her and crouch down beside her.
"You are amazing," I say seriously and she looks up at me with her gold eyes, "you will be a great leader." She smiles, "Thanks. You must be His Highness's partner?" I nod and she smiles as she gets up slowly. Anax sighs as the girl stares out into the street to find she is truly alone.
Anax looks at me and comes towards her, "I will transfer you to a Vega." She nods, "Thank you." "Contact me," Anax says honestly, "you will be great." Pain is clear in her and she nods as she makes her way to the orphanage or Vega. They name it Vega because it means fallen star, but there is always hope for someone who once fell.
We head home and we eat lunch. Baruch is sleeping soundly and my heart feels worried for his life everyday and every night.
That night, I don't sleep soundly. I know if I had children in the normal Human world I would have feared foster care and all, but, now, I don't because my son is royal. The only thing I fear is his death that could come sooner than mine.