Page 33 of Ahelno
The minor key gave the opening movement a fragile melancholy, a haunting loneliness that lingered beneath every note before the brighter second movement could finally break through. It beautifully paralleled my own time here on Ptekennan, and I poured my heart and soul through my fingers, eyes closed, as the ballroom fell away.
At the end, there was a moment of silence, and then a rousing “Pss Pss Pss” from the audience.
And one lone person clapping, and a deep voice that yelled “Brava!” I turned my head, and my jaw dropped as I laid my eyes on a man. A human man.
CHAPTER 36
Andie
I stepped down from the dais and headed straight for the human. Some of the Ptexari tried to engage me in conversation as I passed, but I ignored them as I practically ran to him.
He smiled at me, and it was like seeing the sun for the first time after weeks of rain. He stood a respectable 5’11” or maybe six foot, although like me, he was dwarfed by the Ptexari. His skin was a deep brown, and he had liquid dark eyes, almost black. His dark, curly hair was short on the sides and longer on the top. He was an average-looking man, I supposed, but in that moment, he was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“Hi, I’m Leo,” he said.
“I’m Andie.”
He smiled again, his eyes bright. “Yes, I know.”
“This might sound weird, but can I hug you?” I asked.Please say yes, please say yes.
“Absolutely,” he said, and opened his arms wide.
I threw myself at him and hugged him with my whole body. My head came under his chin, and I lay my face on his chest. Our stomachs pressed close together, I wrapped my arms around his waist, and squeezed. He wrapped his arms aroundmy shoulders and held me close. It felt so good, I thought I might cry.
The Ptexari did not hug. In fact, they barely ever touched. Touching was fine between mates and parents with children, but even then, it was usually restrained. It just wasn’t part of their culture. I hadn’t been hugged in over a year, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it until that moment. If it weren’t for M’Pak’s snuggles, I would probably be completely touch-starved.
He didn’t let go until I did. I took a step back and said, “Thank you for that. I haven’t been hugged in a really long time.”
“I get it,” he replied. “A lot of alien species are uncomfortable with touch. They find humans to be pretty clingy.”
“I didn’t think of myself as clingy until this moment,” I laughed.
“Well, I don’t mind. I don’t get a lot of hugs either. Feel free to fling yourself at me anytime.” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled down at me.
I laughed again. He was cute and funny. And human, which I wondered about. “How are you here?” I asked.
“I’ve been living on Coromonn for the last ten years or so,” he said. “Evidently, you made quite an impression on a Sapari delegation a few months ago. One of them mentioned to the Ptexari King that there was another human in this sector. He started messaging me about visiting you, and then a couple of weeks ago, asked if I knew anything about a human instrument called a piano. Lucky for him, and you, my mom forced me to take piano lessons for eight years, so I could describe it well enough for him to have someone make one. Then he brought me here so I could see the big reveal. YourKingreallymust like you. It was a lot of effort.”
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t even thank him!” I exclaimed. I took Leo’s hand without a second thought and dragged him over to King Akapa, who was chatting with an alien I didn’t recognize.
“Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion,” I said, bobbing a curtsy. The unfamiliar alien nodded his head in silent permission to continue. “Thank you so much for the piano. I’m still stunned! I can’t believe you had that made and brought here. I’m so grateful. And for bringing Leo. I haven’t seen a human in so long.”
“I am pleased you enjoy my gift, my daughter,” the King replied. “The song you played was beautiful. I hope we hear many more. There is a room in this wing that I have converted into a music room for you. The piano will be moved there, and you may come play as often as you like. There is sufficient space for you to dance, also. I have employed Leo as a temporary consultant, with permission from the Coromonn’s Prime Minister. He will reside here at the Palace for the time being in the diplomatic quarters.”
I was so overwhelmed by his generosity that I nearly hugged him, too, but I knew he wouldn’t want that. Mindful of his own diplomatic duties, I withdrew. Leo followed me to a corner, but we weren’t able to converse because Ptexari kept coming up and asking if I would play something else. I was considering it, when Leo quietly asked, “Do you know Ave Maria?”
“Yes, of course. I sang it a lot in Christmas shows and pageants. I haven’t played it in a while, though.”
“You can sing it?”
“Yes, I was a musical theater major in college. Singing, dancing, acting, I’m a triple threat. Not that it’s done me anygood here,” I said.
“If I play it, will you sing it?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said. He did say that he had learned to play. I shouldn’t keep the piano to myself, especially if he was only staying here temporarily. “Mi piano es su piano,” I joked.
He smiled again, and it was lovely to see. We made our way up to the piano again, and he seated himself. As he got situated, the guests turned their attention to us, so I said, “Leo is going to play, and I am going to sing to you an old song from one of our religions, called Ave Maria, which is based on a prayer to the Mother of God.”
