DUMUZI

I ran through the underbrush, putting as much distance between Pearl and I as possible.

The sky above churned, threatening to rain hellfire on the sooty, parched landscape like an ill omen. The trees on the hillside instinctively closed their leaves to protect themselves from the acid rain. Every form of life was deathly silent and anticipatory.

Drops landed on my face and body, stinging, but I was indifferent to the discomfort.

My body burned, but not from the rain, need and dread settling deep within my bones. Perspiration beaded my forehead and back. I no doubt frightened Pearl in my haste to leave and offended her to an intense degree. There would be no way to explain my situation. There would be no way for her to fully grasp how grave things became.

The urge to stop and turn back was powerful. The desire to get closer to her was even more powerful; the poor woman had not an inkling of the intensity. If she knew what she was to me, would she understand the gravity of it?

My breathing was labored; I was overheating. I slipped my shirt off my body, casting it aside, keeping my momentum as I approached Ikkuk, a place where my kind settled ages ago. This was not our home planet, but a base closer to Earth.

Ikkuk stood tall in stark contrast to the flashes of lightning veining the sky. We birthed it from this planet's most precious metals and fine rock; a towering testament to our ingenuity. A faint glow leaked from the windows. The council was present, so was Shadrach, and I needed to speak with him immediately.

I maintained my stride as I tore the rest of my clothes from my body. I needed to bathe in the microbiotic pool that would filter my blood from this nonsense so I could think clearly. My arm still tingled from Pearl's touch, her scent on me, making my pulse leap. Do you want to be friends, then?

My reply echoed across the lands. "Hah!"

If she only knew I wished, and needed, to be so much more. I loathed it, having no control, and being at the mercy of her. Now and then, her face and chest would turn a dusty pink from increased capillary blood flow to those regions. A blush. Did it mean anything if it occurred frequently?

Was she experiencing the same pull that I was? Most likely, considering the odd flickers of her dreams I received from Osa recently. Images in which I am positioned on top of her, touching her...

I cursed. There must be a way to reverse this. This cannot be happening this soon.

I burst through the doors ofIkkuk, meeting the presence of Shadrach, Emmoth, and Ogrik. The entrance to Ikkuk usually took me aback with its beauty; the lovely gold architecture, the depictions of our life-giving, and the battles forever carved on the high ceilings. A throne sat against the farthest wall, vacant for the time being.

A gold-painted portrait of my direct ancestor, Enki, hung above the seat as a tapestry. In his hands were the words of an ancient language presented to Earth as a blessing in the Garden of Paradise, Dilmun. His wife sewed the heaven's stars into a strip of cloth as humans gathered at her feet in worship. This was one of thirty-six scenes.

I halted a foot in front of my brethren.

"Dumuzi, you are nude," Shadrach noted, gesturing to me. His long, flowing cape ghosted over the gleaming silver tiles. "I heard about the council's request for you to stay by her side. Is there something the matter? I do not believe she ordered you away, did she?"

Ogrik beside him frowned, his curling hair kept neat in a clasp at the nape of his neck, his dark skin painted in liquid gold patterns. He took a step away from me, as did Shadrach.

When another wave of pain tightened my muscles, I grimaced and looked at the floor. "Yes, something is wrong," I ground out. "Shadrach, meet in my living quarters."

"I will be right behind you."

I made my way down the corridor from the entryway. I burst into my living quarters, quick to reach the pool in the far corner of the room. Osa glowed brightly as I manipulated it. In addition to being connected to all of our ships and bases, Osa lived inside us. The device turned on with a steady hum, a snake of white power caressing my fingertips.

Microbiotics filled the pool, but they did so at a rather slow rate.

"I need to stay away from her," I growled. "The Elders have enslaved me with their sick and twisted whims. She is my Sohme. I was not sure before, but the calling is strong. Potent. This means my death will be accelerated the more time I spend with her, and she wants me to stay, Shadrach."

"Perturbing, as she is human." He shook his head. "There must be a malfunction within Osa, as you said."

"There is none."

"You have been watching this human for quite some time on Earth, haven't you? As you have done with the others you wished to save. As soon as you realized Pearl might be your other half, you should have—"

"I was ignorant. If I thought she truly was, do you believe I would have allowed her to come here?"

"Not at all. I do not believe that will help you," Shadrach said, gesturing to the pool. I stopped, each breath laborious. "As long as it is this strong, it is far too late."

I fixed my gaze on my hands.

They were crimson from the acid rain; I was sure my profile wasn't any better. My eyes strayed past my hands to my groin. I was aroused, and frightfully so, this part of me I never paid attention to was suddenly very apparent. Pearl spurred that kind of reaction from my body, even on the first day, especially when I saw her dreams.

I collapsed beside the pool onto my knees. "What is this other new thing I feel? I think it is guilt, but I cannot be sure. This should not be possible for us."

His eyes were full of grave concern. "It is unlike you to be so unnerved, Dumuzi. Why do you think it is guilt you feel?"

"I believe it stems from our lack of concern for Earth. I also verbally expressed my trepidation of being near her."

It was very clear that my previous words about her planet bothered her immensely. Perhaps even more immensely than the ones I parted with.

"Why should that matter?"

"She wants me to tell her everything we know, to show everything to her; she is unwilling to learn for herself. I believe she fears being alone. This complicates things, as the knowledge the council was willing to give her is edited. She should not be getting knowledge that is not edited by me!"

He shut the door behind him, a look of shock on his face. "You have truly gone mad if it is actual guilt you feel! Edited knowledge or no. She is human. Look at her dying planet. It was a farce breathing them into existence. How can you let such an emotional creature get to you? It would have been better to let her die on Earth to save you the shame of being paired with a human to begin with."

Both of my hearts pounded hard, blood pulsing through my aching limbs. My gaze leveled with his as I stood. "Watch your tongue. Unlike yours, my blades have tasted Enuki blood. And since it is already too late, brother, then you know if she dies, I die with her."

My voice was so powerful that it shook the window overlooking the front gardens. For a fraction of a second, I wished for a spear—for I had plenty—to put to the tip of his neck, just like I did for my younger brother for his betrayal.

I did not expect to behave in this manner. The Sohme call was poisoning my mind, turning me violent. Even though I had only met this woman a few days earlier, I was fiercely protective of her.

This should have never happened.

I should have declined her invitation to stay. A few minutes was all that was required to complicate my situation, as I was nearing the end stages of my illness. It was too late now; not only did my body crave her more, but I was growing... fond of her person. It would also be a lie if I claimed that I was not fond of her for quite some time prior.

She exhibited a distinctiveness among her peers. She was... different. That much I knew. Instead of nurturing her like a rare flower in her world, humans trampled her and stunted her growth.

"Forgive me," I said, moving to sit at the foot of my bed. "I did not think I would react to her so strongly, but I am. It is turning me feral."

Did other Enukis see her the way I did?

The thought made me darkly possessive. Although she was petite, she featured a feminine, curving midsection that beckoned. Even for a human, she was magnificently feminine. Her eyes shone even brighter; they were brown and clear, glistening with mischief.

I could wager her lips never became motionless. They appeared soft and were always spouting odd human mannerisms and phrases.

"You appear to be acting human. Rather close to feral, don't you think?"

Although Pearl was not wild, she possessed the ability to sink her claws into me and extract problematic things like guilt. Guilt served no true purpose. The use of unwarranted anger and violence was also just as pointless.

I did not respond.

He motioned with his hand, manipulating Osa to cease filling the pool. "I still do not understand why you feel guilty."

"Given her desire for me to mentor her, it's only a matter of time before I'm obligated to answer certain questions. You know as well as I do it would be difficult for me to lie to her."

He tilted his head in my direction. "Which questions?"

"Why we created her kind was one of the first she asked. She would despise me if she discovered what we used them for. She is unaware that after I gather the few that I can, we intend to destroy the remainder and the planet with it. She believes there are redeeming qualities to the ones I cannot save and is under the impression that we are looking the other way at human suffering. When really, we plan to end it all."

He grew quiet. I needed his counsel.

"Shadrach! She wishes to befriend me and is unwilling to settle for a human companion. Yet, I created the very weapon that will wreak havoc on the planet, leaving nothing in its wake. I cannot save all that she wants me to."

He held up a finger, gazing at me curiously. He was communicating with one of the Elders, it seemed, by the way his eyes flashed gold.

"The destruction of Earth has been postponed until the council is sure you can become a pair with a human successfully. They want you to live, not die, Dumuzi. You are friends now, is that not true? In time, she may not be opposed to the idea. Are you?"

I considered this for a long time, staring at my blistered hands. There was little time left. It should be Pearl's choice, not the council's, and the first step would be for me to be honest about what was happening. "The more minutes that pass with her, the more the idea is tempting."

He sighed, putting his hands together. "There might be a way to undo this. We must have knowledge about this somewhere."

"It is unlikely. I have searched."

"Continue searching."

After a period of communication, his eyes returned to normal. He spoke in a hushed tone. Perhaps he did not want his next words to be known to the Council. "It is in your best interest to tell her the truth of why her kind came to be in the meantime. Show her."

"I do not think it prudent to defy the wishes of the Elders," I disagreed.

"You are a member yourself and will be the head of it soon. Get over your reservations. Do what you must. Make things right with her. This takes precedence."

"She will hate us."

I was certain of it.

"But at least she would know the truth, yes?"

As his words settled in my stressed brain, Osa alerted me with a flash of light. I rose, checking the note. Pearl's body temperature had risen yet again. Was she ill? Osa could not locate any signs of sickness.

The need to see her pulled me to the pool where I submerged myself to heal my burns from the acid rain. The injuries would no doubt frighten her if left unhealed. I floated on my back, letting the microbiotics sting.

"Put some clothes on and go to her," Shadrach said, eyeing Osa. His voice was muted and warped, for my ears were under the liquid. "Or don't. That might inspire a rather interesting turn of events, hmm? Regardless, form a stronger bond. If you decide that you truly want her, ask her if that is reciprocated. I will bring another human you saved to her dwelling tomorrow. Remember that you cannot let Pearl's emotions influence you in any decision. Her world is to be destroyed, and that is the final say."

"Very well. Now kindly leave."

He slid through the door after casting one last glance my way.