The Space Speculation: Book 2 ~Painful Past~

Chapter 4: The Move to Neptune

Bill was three Plutonian years old when we received news that Chad, Colin's brother, was getting married to a Martian named Violet.

 We contemplated moving. Colin seemed reluctant. 

"I'd get to meet your brother! See the castle! I've never ever traveled before! Oh! And I could get away from my parents!" 

Colin looked at his feet, then Will, then me. I took his hands. 

"Come on, Colin! Willie, tell daddy you want to go!" 

Will scooted off his chair and stumbled into three of Colin's arms. 

"Daddy, Let Mommy and me and you go. Please?" 

Who could say "no" to those big bright beautiful eyes? 

 With that, we packed our bags.

On arriving at Neptune, Colin pulled me off to the side before I could step off the ship.

 "Paith, we have to be careful. Chad is a very temperamental man and won't think twice about hurting us." I nodded and kissed one of my husband's cheeks.

I was completely awed by everything on Neptune. 

The castle was huge and towered over us, casting down taunting shadows. Us Plutonians live underground, so a brilliant castle--probably bigger than our planet--was quite a shock.

At the gate a gorgeous Martian strode gracefully towards us, arms outstretched in a welcoming gesture. 

"Welcome to Neptune! I've been so eager to meet you!" She bent down and kissed every one of Willie's faces.

 "I am Princess Violet."

 "Princess? " Colin asked skeptically. 

Violet softly laughed. 

"Yes. Princess of Mars. You see, I met Chad while he was visiting my father, discussing business. We instantly fell in love, as I'm sure you're familiar with." She winked at me. 

"Well, upon hearing our marriage plans, my father did not approve at all. You see, on Mars, it's proper that Martians must marry an alien from Mars. So, I came to live here, with the love of my life. Have you three come to permanently stay? " 

"Yeah we-" 

"Are thinking about it," Colin cut me off. 

Before we could say more; for there was much more to be said; a smooth, low voice broke in.

 "Violet, my dear. This is my brother and his family."

 "Chad," Colin mumbled, as he grabbed my waist and some of William's hands and stepped back a little. 

A tall, slender Neptunian with sharp jaws and bony limbs strode towards us, each stride covering three yards.

 As he approached, he laid one of his bony long hands on Colin's shoulder. 

"Welcome back, Colin." 

A large grin slowly formed on Chad's face as he stepped back and stood by Violet.

"I'm so glad you three decided to come stay in my castle. Most of my castle rooms are empty, so there is plenty for-"

 "Our castle. And I don't need your permission to live in my own home, thank you very much," Colin stated, squeezing my hand so hard I thought it might burst.

To be honest, Colin was scaring me. His soft loving eyes were frantic and cold as he stared unblinkingly at his brother. His usually smiling faces were scrunched up in murderous scowls. 

Chad clapped his hands together. "Yes; of course."

 ge waved his arm towards the castle and we all entered. Servants dragged along our luggage behind us.

Chad was right. There were many rooms. Hundreds of hallways were lined with dozens of doors. Many rooms were completely empty; a few full of random chairs and tables. 

"It'll take a while to get my bearings," I said, looking around at all the confusing, winding, identical hallways.

 "You'll learn," Colin told me. He picked up Will and set him on his shoulders. Willie's little head bobbed up and down and his bright eyes fluttered. Someone was getting sleepy.

 That's when I realized I was utterly exhausted and tired as well. Chad explained that when you space travel for the first time, you get very tired. It made sense, I guess. 

After what seemed like hours of endless wandering, we finally made it to our room.

 It was huge; much bigger than our home on Pluto.

 There was a big wooden bed with large beams with small intricate designs. The walls were a deep mossy green and charming flowers were painted on the high ceiling. There were many more things-- a seperate bed for William, a large chest full of any and all clothes we could think of or need, and dark red curtains on a window overlooking the beautiful horizon.

I spun towards Colin, excitement in my eyes; but clearly, something was agitating him. 

Turning to Chad he said, 

"I thought Paithenia would get the room Mother made." 

"Oh; well, Colin, Violet gets that room. You know, because she is going to be queen. She's going to be my wife. And, Mother told me she made it for my future wife. So, clearly, the room belongs to my dear Violet. " 

Obviously, Colin's blood was boiling. His faces turned red. His fists clenched tight together. Why was he like this? What did Chad do that made him so angry it looked like his heads were about to explode? 

I tried to remember everything Colin had told me about Chad, but I had more urgent things to think about; like how Colin looked like he was about to strangle his brother.

 Quickly leaping forward, I slammed the door on Chad's face and flung my body against it. 

"You're not opening this door, Colin! So snap out of it!"

 I moved away from the door and took sleeping William from Colin. I put our son in his bed.

"Can't you just accept that Chad is trying to turn his life around? It's been four years! He's probably changed. And for the better, I'm guessing." 

Colin sighed deeply. 

"You're right," was all he said.

Chad and Violet wed a few days later. Colin had calmed down a lot and looked genuinely happy for his brother. Colin told me Chad was a lot calmer and more loving than before, which made me ever so happy.

This section was written by Amity