print of Jose’s hand on her cheek.
“ That’s it , Jose.” Netty took a firm hold of his arm and ushered him toward the door where they were confronted by Baby.
“Sister . . . Brother. We can have none of this here. Violence is prohibited. You must leave now. It is against the law of the Womb.”
“I think I can handle this.” From behind Baby came the stooped figure of Forbation. “No need to let this get out of hand.” He looked around the room. “Come with me, Jose . . . please.”
***
Jose ground his teeth, veins on his forehead throbbed. All eyes were on him as his expression went blank. A sigh of relief was palpable as Jose smiled. His eyes lost the dangerous glitter.
“Of course, Forbation.” Jose rose quickly and shook out his wings, turning to Abby. “I wish you much luck.” A half-bow followed then he glided out of the room with Forbation.
Silence greeted his departure. A gentle stroke announced Baby’s presence in Abby and Netty’s mind.
“Mark my words, my Sisters. We have not heard the last of this matter with Brother Jose.”
Abby and Netty exchanged heavy glances, their relief beginning to dissipate.
“Don’t be silly, my little golden worrywart.” Netty bent down to scoop up the minion she loved as much as she loved her daughter, Maya. “We are family. This might take some time for Jose to accept but he will come around. Brother Forbation will see to it.” She turned to Abby with Baby ensconced firmly on her hip. “The child you are carrying is another matter. We will just need to wait until Chloe has her baby. It should give us a guideline. We will give Jose some time before you and Cobby announce this . . . new beginning. Does that sound fair?”
“Yes, of course, Netty,” Abby hastened to reassure her. “We’ve waited this long, what’s a few more days or weeks?”
The three golden creatures reached out to embrace one another, Jose completely forgotten as the prospect of new life swept everything from their minds. Baby flapped his leather legs at Netty’s waist as he savored the excitement and the delight of another child on the way.
***
Forbation hastened Jose away from the survivors’ quarters.
“Slow down, Brother. What’s the rush?”
Forbation stopped in his tracks and whipped his head around to study Jose, surprised at his peevish and surly tone. “I sincerely hope I do not have trouble brewing here, Brother Jose. You have responsibilities to everyone on this planet.”
Jose laughed, his tone incredulous. “I don’t have any responsibilities to anyone. I do what I please and when I please.”
Forbation froze to gaze into Jose’s flashing eyes. Seconds ticked by before Jose heard a grinding.
“I am sorry to hear you say that,” intoned Forbation. The wall beside him opened up and out thrust a Kreyven. The hallway was filled with its unmistakable spicy lemon odor. Before Jose could move, the Kreyven struck. It hung high in the air over Jose swaying from wall to wall, then descended like a snake, wrapping its now noxious fumes around the hapless Elder, his wings crushed tightly in its coils.
“Hey . . . Brother Forbation. Make it stop.”
Forbation remained silent. The Kreyven increased its pressure, its considerable mass mounting and swallowing Jose’s body, leaving only his golden head with its flashing eyes exposed.
“Forbation!”
A dog barked. As it grew closer, Jose recognized the curly white face of Barney, followed by an agitated Echo. “Hey girl . . . Echo . . . help!” Jose screamed, plaintively.
Echo’s aura stabbed wildly. “Brother Forbation, what is the meaning of this? Brother Jose is part of our family.”
Forbation’s aura struck back, calm and resolute. “It grieves me, my Sister, but the rules have been broken. I’m sure you have absorbed the details. It is no longer safe for Sister Abby if Brother Jose is free to do as he pleases. The Womb is proven correct again. The male of this species is not to be trusted. If
“ That’s it , Jose.” Netty took a firm hold of his arm and ushered him toward the door where they were confronted by Baby.
“Sister . . . Brother. We can have none of this here. Violence is prohibited. You must leave now. It is against the law of the Womb.”
“I think I can handle this.” From behind Baby came the stooped figure of Forbation. “No need to let this get out of hand.” He looked around the room. “Come with me, Jose . . . please.”
***
Jose ground his teeth, veins on his forehead throbbed. All eyes were on him as his expression went blank. A sigh of relief was palpable as Jose smiled. His eyes lost the dangerous glitter.
“Of course, Forbation.” Jose rose quickly and shook out his wings, turning to Abby. “I wish you much luck.” A half-bow followed then he glided out of the room with Forbation.
Silence greeted his departure. A gentle stroke announced Baby’s presence in Abby and Netty’s mind.
“Mark my words, my Sisters. We have not heard the last of this matter with Brother Jose.”
Abby and Netty exchanged heavy glances, their relief beginning to dissipate.
“Don’t be silly, my little golden worrywart.” Netty bent down to scoop up the minion she loved as much as she loved her daughter, Maya. “We are family. This might take some time for Jose to accept but he will come around. Brother Forbation will see to it.” She turned to Abby with Baby ensconced firmly on her hip. “The child you are carrying is another matter. We will just need to wait until Chloe has her baby. It should give us a guideline. We will give Jose some time before you and Cobby announce this . . . new beginning. Does that sound fair?”
“Yes, of course, Netty,” Abby hastened to reassure her. “We’ve waited this long, what’s a few more days or weeks?”
The three golden creatures reached out to embrace one another, Jose completely forgotten as the prospect of new life swept everything from their minds. Baby flapped his leather legs at Netty’s waist as he savored the excitement and the delight of another child on the way.
***
Forbation hastened Jose away from the survivors’ quarters.
“Slow down, Brother. What’s the rush?”
Forbation stopped in his tracks and whipped his head around to study Jose, surprised at his peevish and surly tone. “I sincerely hope I do not have trouble brewing here, Brother Jose. You have responsibilities to everyone on this planet.”
Jose laughed, his tone incredulous. “I don’t have any responsibilities to anyone. I do what I please and when I please.”
Forbation froze to gaze into Jose’s flashing eyes. Seconds ticked by before Jose heard a grinding.
“I am sorry to hear you say that,” intoned Forbation. The wall beside him opened up and out thrust a Kreyven. The hallway was filled with its unmistakable spicy lemon odor. Before Jose could move, the Kreyven struck. It hung high in the air over Jose swaying from wall to wall, then descended like a snake, wrapping its now noxious fumes around the hapless Elder, his wings crushed tightly in its coils.
“Hey . . . Brother Forbation. Make it stop.”
Forbation remained silent. The Kreyven increased its pressure, its considerable mass mounting and swallowing Jose’s body, leaving only his golden head with its flashing eyes exposed.
“Forbation!”
A dog barked. As it grew closer, Jose recognized the curly white face of Barney, followed by an agitated Echo. “Hey girl . . . Echo . . . help!” Jose screamed, plaintively.
Echo’s aura stabbed wildly. “Brother Forbation, what is the meaning of this? Brother Jose is part of our family.”
Forbation’s aura struck back, calm and resolute. “It grieves me, my Sister, but the rules have been broken. I’m sure you have absorbed the details. It is no longer safe for Sister Abby if Brother Jose is free to do as he pleases. The Womb is proven correct again. The male of this species is not to be trusted. If
Similar Books
