Page 12 of Dreikx

Chapter 5

Dreikx

At ten sharp, I enter my home, expecting Tamey in the living space, relaxed and enjoying the Telean manual. She stands from the steps, where I presume she’s been sitting and waiting for me. She wears a transparent white bridal gown with a veil over her face. Atop her head sits a tiara lined with pearls of Regha, one of the most precious jewels of their land.

“A bride?” I ask.

“What do you think?”

“Appropriate.”

Tamey’s face falls, and I reexamine my words. They were accurate. Finding nothing wrong with what I said, I approach her and lift the veil. I stare at her longer than necessary before I ask, “Have you had dinner yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Excellent. We will share a meal by the pool.”

“The pool?”

“I’m guessing you haven’t found the third floor.”

She shakes her head and sidesteps me, walking toward the kitchen. I follow her happily. Tamey sways when she walks. One foot before the other, she uses the balls of her feet for balance and muscle control.

At the fridge, she opens it, grabs two containers, and flings them on the kitchen island. I would have preferred to dine at the table, but I sit down and observe her. She sits across from me and smiles politely, opens my container, and detaches the fork. I still her hand with mine and take the fork. “We will eat by the pool.”

“I can think of better things to do by the pool.”

“Such as?”

“Swim,” she says and proceeds to eat.

A date on her container catches my eye. “This is tomorrow’s dinner.” I point at the date.

“I don’t know human dates.”

“But you can read the human alphabet, no?”

“Sometimes.”

Tamey received the highest education available on Regha. While it’s no Telean school, it is far superior to an average Regha education because I personally designed her curriculum. Nevertheless, it is possible they skipped the basics, even though I provided numerous books and references for her teachers. They must not have followed my protocol. “I wonder what else is lacking.”

“Apparently, a whole lot of things.” Tamey drops her gaze and continues picking at her food.

I finish, noting she isn’t hungry.

She pushes the container away. “May I see the pool now?”

“Certainly.”

Tamey hops off the chair and climbs the steps. Following her, I walk slowly, deliberately so that I may enjoy the view longer, though it doesn’t escape my notice that Tamey is landing on her soles now instead of the balls of her feet. I believe she is stomping. On the second floor, she looks for the stairs.

Standing behind her, I point to a painting of a man’s face. He belongs to a human race native to America. Their history and belief system fascinates me, and the painting depicts the rich culture. Sharp lines, dark mood, and yet colorful and vibrant. “This wall,” I say, “along with the painting is a hologram, meaning it is an illusion. You may walk through it.” I place a gentle hand on the small of her back and nudge her forward. She lifts her foot first, toes testing the hologram, and when they pass through, Tamey squeals. “This is so cool. We have hidden passages.” She walks through the wall, then back. Through again, then back. “You coming?”

I nod. Tamey displays frequent mood swings. Only a few minutes ago, I believed her upset with me. I’m displeased with the unpredictability of her behavior, but if I get to know her better, I’ll discern the mood patterns and learn to predict them.

We climb the steps to the top, and Tamey gasps. “It’s beautiful.”

The pool takes up most of the roof, surrounded by a few chairs, a dining table, and a small bar for a maximum crowd of four people. I don’t plan on having a lavish social life. If this home were just for me, I wouldn’t have bothered with eighty-three percent of the items and rooms. But Tamey is accustomed to luxury, and so luxury I will provide.

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