The story so far:

----Aija, Zuri, and Ze are three friends, who were working at the Pristine School at Innermost. Aija gets involved with the Ytai first, leading Zuri and Ze to them as well. Zuri falls in love with Nala (Lalana), who is Ytai, and works with Thieron. Aija and Ze are captured by Thieron, of H'eon, when they were at the Hospital - Aija was at the Hospital with Kuna of R'ies and Zuri to stop a Harvest; Ze was there to visit his sick student Xan. Thieron has bound Aija to himself, and Nala has bound Ze to herself. Luka works for Thieron(Ah'n), along with Lalana (Nala).

----Aija faints after Thieron saves her from the sea-savages, just as she remembers that a sea-savage bit her.

----Aija wakes as the antidote works. 

----Nala tells Aija that she genuinely loves Zuri.

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****29.1 - Aija****

The days went by lazily, one sunrise after the other. 

It was almost too monotonous; a set routine. 

But something big was being planned. The three Ytai were almost always engaged in a serious conversation. The mellifluous language of Ytèan was deceiving, but their expressions gave them away. 

Aija and Ze spent a lot of time together, and sometimes Xan joined them. Their conversations had died down from planning to escape to minimal greetings and to just spending time with each other. Ze often practiced his powers, now in front of Aija as well. Escaping was an impossible dream – Aija had decided to stay, but that didn't mean Ze couldn't leave. 

The fact that the three Ytai didn't pay much attention to them spending time together showed that they were busy planning something. 

Sometime mid-week, Nala had brought her toiletries. "A girl must have her own clothes and stuff." Nala had told her as she had handed her the stuff. 

"How did you know about my clothes size?" Aija had asked. 

"I saw it from your clothes." she had shrugged. 

Ze had also received new clothes. 

It's how Aija knew that they were going to stay with the Ytai for a while longer. She still had hope of staying alive, the hope of seeing her family someday if she was able to stop the Ytai and stay alive. At least Ze still had a chance to escape as well. 

It was all just hope. 

Would the Ytai take them to retrieve the Àvo? They had to if they wanted to go. Where exactly was this Àvo? What exactly did it do? How did it work? Would she be able to stop it from being used? Would she be able to stop the Ytai from destroying the human race and taking over her home? 

Just about two or so months ago, her only worry had been what career to choose. But, she'd always known there was more to do. Had it been this all along? 

Aija watched as another day began with the rising Sun. It was beautiful over the hills. This beauty – it belonged to humans. The Ytai had no right snatching it away from them. They had their own planet to live on. Or they could stay on Earth and live like Var-Inu and Ba' diur – not harming humans, just living out their lives helping people both Ytai and humans. 

She limped to the mirror in the room – Thieron's room – and looked at herself. She had lost weight in the past week. The poison had left her with an almost void appetite. The mark of the bite was still dark on her right ankle, and it hurt – terribly on some days. Nala had told her the mark would remain. There were still purple webbed-lines all over her stomach and chest where the poison had reached. Despite it all, she was glad to be alive. It gave her hope of being able to stop the Ytai and the dream of seeing her family and Zuri. 

But it also cemented the doubt that they needed her. Thieron needed her – for what she didn't know yet. But he needed her alive for some time longer. 

He had saved her life – only to kill her later. She knew it in her bones. But she had also seen the pure worry in his eyes as she had fallen to the ground. Perhaps he had a vital use for her. 

Nala had told her that Ze had held her hand through the night. She had been happy. But, somewhere in the corner of her mind, she still knew he didn't like her any more than a friend. It stung a little. But there was no forcing one when it came to feelings. People felt what they felt; it was better to be truthful about it. 

She braided her long black hair to keep it off her face, and as she did, she found four strands of white hair, white all the way from the roots to the entire length. She stared at it, wondering how they had appeared seemingly overnight. She wasn't even eighteen yet; she still had some time before she turned eighteen. 

Thieron didn't seem bitter about his hair anymore. In fact, the three Ytai were too busy with other things; it looked like she didn't have to worry about her hair anymore. 

The three Ytai hadn't gone on any more Harvests. Aija wasn't sure whether to be happy about it or not, for it could also mean that they had the required number of Àvo souls. She wondered why they needed human souls. Why did they need the souls of a civilization they wanted to destroy? Is that how the Àvo worked? She wished she had asked all the essential questions to Etrie instead of all those questions regarding their car (the Leadership had allotted it to them since the R'ies was helping the humans and was on the side of the Leadership. They could use it under the Leadership permission without being stopped). 

If she had known she would be stuck with the enemy, the answers could have helped stop Thieron – or at least in trying. Thieron always seemed to be ahead of everyone else. 

She went downstairs to find Nala on the couch and Thieron in the kitchen. Ze was setting a bowl of salad on the table. Luka was nowhere to be seen. He must have gone out somewhere. Ze obviously was uninterested in 'helping' the Ytai, but they made sure of it. She was exempt from it because of her leg. 

She had asked Luka something for the pain. They had helped with Ze's broken arm. But, Luka had told her the pain was from the poison, and it had to fade on its own. The only relief she got was from a salve; it helped in reducing the pain for some time. But, she was glad that it kept her away from doing anything for the Ytai, although she did feel bad for Ze. 

Aija was bored; it surprised her. She was being held prisoner by aliens, she couldn't escape, and all she felt was – boredom. But, she decided it was better than going through events like the previous week. She also knew that this was the calm before things really started happening. They were still planning; the time for action would come eventually. 

And, even if she had no idea how things worked, she would have to do something to stop their plans. At least delay things, create distractions, anything; anything to try and save her home, her family, her friends. 

"Luka will bring you both travel bags," Thieron told them later that day. "Pack what you need for a few days." 

"Where are we going?" Ze asked. 

"You don't get to ask questions." Thieron's voice was curt. "Just do as I say." 

Ze looked at Aija. It was beginning. 

****

"What is this?" Ze asked mouth wide open in awe. 

They had traveled for over a day and reached a secluded open land. They had gone further into the Open. Aija had silently prayed, to no one in particular, as Gods didn't exist on Earth anymore, that no Savages and Creatures would attack them. The Ytai had been prepared for an attack with wood and fire-starting devices. Whoever had listened to her prayers had answered for there came no attack. It had been a peaceful journey. Encountering one Savage had been bad enough; she couldn't imagine more of those sinewy black things attacking them. 

"It's a spaceship," Luka told Ze. 

Aija and Ze looked up at the colossal metal transport in awe. The spaceship was next to a smaller metal transport – an aircraft. She had seen pictures of it in DigiBooks; they were prevalent in the old world. 

"We aren't getting into the spaceship," Luka informed them and led them to the smaller aircraft. "We aren't leaving Earth." 

There were already two Ytai waiting for them in the aircraft. They greeted Thieron and took his bag. The rest of them stepped into the aircraft. Once everything was set, they were ready to leave. Aija and Ze sat next to each other. There were two rows of seats; it could fit about ten people. 

"You need to buckle up," Luka told them. 

The two other Ytai were probably the Pilots. They announced that they were taking off. 

Aija and Ze buckled themselves in, and she looked outside at the land bereft of vegetation all the way till her eyes could see, at the horizon. She closed her eyes, slightly scared, and took a deep breath. She had never seen a real aircraft, let alone flown in one. There was always a first for everything. 

"Try swallowing," Nala said. "It'll help ease your discomfort." 

Aija didn't understand what she meant, but Aija decided on trying it. Nothing happened. The take-off was smooth, and Aija felt the low hum of the aircraft and strangely also the hum of the electricity. Electricity – it reminded her of the night she'd been pulled into the sea. She was sure she had seen lightning inside the water. Where had it come from? Unless she had imagined it - a side effect of being bitten and the poison coursing through her. 

It was during the climb to a higher altitude that Aija realized Nala's tip actually worked. Aija opened her eyes and looked out the window. They were flying! She was glad that it was her seated next to the window; everything looked tiny. The feeling was exhilarating. She smiled at the new perspective; it was spectacular. She turned to Ze to show him the new sights, but he looked sick. 

"Ze?" she asked, worried. 

"I prefer land transport." he declared, avoiding looking out the window. 

Aija smiled and put her hand on his clenched fist to help ease his discomfort. He was all tensed. 

"Let your fingers relax. You won't fall," she said, feeling the tension in him. 

He let out a breath and steadied himself. 

Nala must have bought him a shaving blade, for he had shaved his head and beard. Aija had found it made him look cute. This clean look made him look stern. 

About twenty minutes or so later, they were upon the blue sea or ocean; she didn't know which. But it was beautiful; mesmerizing. The water sparkled under the bright Sun, and just for a moment, she could imagine that all was right. That the Earth was a hundred percent liveable, there was no Plague, there were no aliens fighting over the Earth. That it was just a typical day, where she was flying from one country to another; she was on a trip just like people did in the old world. 

"Get up," someone was shaking her. 

Slowly she opened her eyes. It was Thieron. 

"We're here," he told her and waited. 

She looked out, it was dark. Ze wasn't beside her. She had slept through the whole journey, dreaming of a new, better Earth. "Where's 'here'?" she asked, unbuckling herself. 

"The South Land." he indulged her with an answer. 

Aija frowned. 

"The Southernmost continent of the Earth; the one the Leadership doesn't want you, humans, knowing about." 

Aija looked at him once, not sure what to say. He was patient as she lifted herself off the seat. Her right leg felt numb as she limped forward. 

"My bag..." 

"It's been taken care of. You're the last to get off." 

he scowled at him. "My leg hurts." 

Without hesitation, Thieron lifted her into his arms and carried her off the aircraft. She was more embarrassed than surprised. She felt his strong muscles flexing. She felt the sure strength in his hard muscles; all the strength he used in killing humans. He walked to the small group standing far from the aircraft. 

It was cold, the wind was howling. They were in a grassy land, and she heard waves. She expected Thieron to set her down as they reached the others. But, he continued on, and the others followed him. Ze stared at Thieron in anger. 

"I can walk," she told him, feeling awkward. "Put me down." 

"Your limping will only slow us down." he pointed out. He sounded tired. 

They walked for quite some time, and though she disliked it, she was rather thankful that she didn't have to walk. They reached a small house constructed out of wood. The other Ytai – the Pilots – bid their farewell and continued further into the grassy land. 

Nala opened the door with a key - Aija hadn't seen such a door before. Everyone went in, and Thieron set her down on a sofa. 

"Is this another place you occupy?" she asked him. 

He smiled. "No. It's occupied by humans. And, the Zayr." 

"Zayr?" 

"They belong to the planet of Ierne. Ytèan's sibling planet." 

Sibling planet? Aija didn't know what that meant. 

 "They share the same suns." Luka offered an explanation. 

He had said 'suns', not Sun. Or had she misheard it? 

"I didn't see any other houses," Ze observed. 

"Obviously," Thieron said, setting the bags on the table. 

Of course, they wouldn't want to stay anywhere close to humans; or the Zayr. 

"Rest tonight," Thieron told them. 

****

The Ytai men took one room, leaving Aija and Nala together. Ze took the couch. 

Aija couldn't sleep; she had slept through their flight. She went down to the main room, careful not to wake Ze. She found Luka standing at the threshold of the front door, looking out. The open front door let in the cold air. She shivered as she walked to him. Her leg was less painful since she had dumped half the container of salve on it. 

"That's a lot of salve," Luka told Aija, turning to her. He sniffed at the air as he spoke. 

"I was in pain. It's better than a few days ago, though." 

He nodded; half a smile graced his lips. 

"What are you doing out here?" she asked him, looking out. 

It was dark, and she could see nothing. 

"Just looking out." 

She frowned. What did Luka's eyes see that hers didn't? 

"What are we here to do?" 

Luka looked at her and then back out at the darkness. She could make out the grassy fields as her eyes finally adjusted to the darkness. Luka was possibly deciding whether to tell her or not. 

"One last Harvest," he said finally. 

"All the way out here?" 

He smiled. "Yes, it's risky but worth it. Also, there is someone Thieron wants to meet." 

She raised her brows. 

"I've told you more than you need to know." 

She looked up at him. He was pretty tall, like all Ytai. Just a wee bit shorter than Thieron and a tiny bit broader too. 

"What?" he asked, looking down at her, feeling conscious of her eyes on him. 

"Is it not possible for Ytai and humans to live together peacefully on Earth?" 

Luka licked his lower lip and bit it. "Not that I haven't thought of it, but I really do not know, Aija." 

There was kindness in his eyes; soft on her. Luka brought calmness to her every time; he was like the gentle cool breeze on a hot sunny day. He was always demure with her in his words; in his actions. He seemed out of place with Nala and Thieron, especially Thieron. Thieron and Nala were the wolves, and if she didn't know any better, she would say that Luka was a sheep in wolf's clothing. 

But she did know. She knew how Luka helped Thieron with everything. He was just kinder than the other two. And maybe that small kindness was the key to everything. She just had to find out how to play the game, and perhaps Luka would be Ze's ticket out of this mess. 

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