Double Soulmates

Chapter One

A diplomatic conference finished and a dinner for diplomats, ambassadors, Citadel officers, various planetary government officials, and their families was taking place on Ianna. As typical of the telepathic species the dinner was a feast for queens. The matriarch society fed everyone well at such events, with various culinary delights from various cultures. Main dishes, fruits, vegetables, and a variety of desserts were presented at various tables like a smorgasbord, but only the elite of Ianna attended. The common Ianni almost never attended, unless they were part of the Citadel.

Some people were seated at tables eating and talking either orally or telepathically. Others were in line at various food laden tables for seconds or to get dessert. There were few children at the dignitary dinner party, but none were as unruly as one child of nobility.

Two sisters, almost ten years apart were at the dessert table. Both had dark hair and Ianni black eyes. The older one had an olive complexion, and the younger one had a praline complexion. One looked of Greek descent and the other Native American. The taller one had a young aristocratic attitude about her, but the younger one was having a fit only a child of nobility could throw, testing the exterior mask of the older one.

“I’m bored, Diana!” The younger one whined.

“Well, we’re stuck here until the banquet is over,” Diana told her little sister. “Whether you like it or not!”

“I’m sick of this fucking place!” She said as she stomped her foot. “I wanna go where there’s music and fun!”

“Watch your language,” Diana scolded her, leaning over to be eye-level with her sister and shaking a finger at her.

“Why the hell should I when I’m stuck here with old people?”

“If you don’t stop this behavior,” Diana continued. “I’ll… I’ll…”

“You’ll what?” Rhianna insolently asked. “You can’t do a fucking thing and Mother won’t do a goddamn thing either!”

“She seems awfully young to have a such a mouth on her,” Rhett observed, his voice showing he was from the Southern part of the States. “Yet too old to be your child. How old is your daughter?”

“Oh, she’s not my daughter,” Diana said with a self-conscious smile as she stood to her full height. “There’s a little less than ten years between us. Nine years and nine months younger than I am, to be exact, but you wouldn’t know it.”

“I’m twelve and my sister is apparently an old fuddy-duddy at twenty-two,” Rhianna stated. “Like our mother.”

Diana nervously chuckled. “Rhianna, there are chocolate bonbons…”

“I don’t want any fucking bonbons!” Rhianna shouted like a spoiled brat. “You suck as a psychologist!”

“Rhianna, I’m only taking classes right now,” Diana replied nervously.

“Yeah, well…” Rhianna began. “You suck!”

“I’m sorry,” Diana said to the Citadel officer. “The little princess is being a royal brat!”

“I am not!” Rhianna denied. “Mother says we are daughters of the Fifth Dynasty. Mother’s a bitch and you suck!”

“Humm…” Diana frowned, wanting to kill her little bratty sister.

“You speak funny,” Rhianna blurted out of her mouth, addressing the Citadel officer. “Where are you from?”

“Louisiana,” Rhett told her. “On Earth.”

“Oh, I don’t know where that country is,” Rhianna replied with confusion.

“It’s not a country,” Rhett told her. “It’s part of a country.”

“Oh,” Rhianna said with confusion.

“So, you’re studying Psychology,” Lieutenant Rhett Beckett inquired nervously of Diana.

“Do you come to diplomatic banquets just to pick up women watching their bratty baby sisters?” Diana asked.

“Well, no,” Rhett replied. “Citadel officers are required to attend conferences, Peace negotiations, as well as the dinners involved.”

“Really?” Diana inquired as her little sister quietly slipped away.

“Actually,” Rhett replied jokingly. “While it is required of us to attend, I figure I might as well make the best of it and pick up girls.”

“Well, at least you’re honest,” Diana stated disgruntled.

“Hey! I was joking!” He exclaimed as he followed her to the chocolate bonbons. “Why don’t we start over? I’m Rhett Beckett.”

“Diana,” Ariana Drea called angrily before Diana could reply. “I thought I told you to watch your little sister.”

“She right…” Diana was confused. Her twelve-year-old sister was with her when Rhett first started flirting with her and now, she was gone. “She was right here a second ago.”

“I told you to watch your sister,” Ariana angrily repeated as she stomped her foot just as her younger daughter did moments ago. “When you were younger you did far better at watching her.”

“Ambassador Drea, is it?” Rhett asked. “I was just talking to your daughter and I…

“The girl is twelve,” Ariana informed him. “Too young for you to flirt with.”

“Of course,” Rhett replied, trying not to laugh. “Why else would Diana need to watch her sister?”

“It is not funny!” Ariana stated arrogantly. “I know you were flirting with my daughter, but still my younger daughter is far too young for you to be flirting with her older sister, who is supposed to be watching her!”

Rhett was starting to feel very uncomfortable.

“Mother, please!” Diana demanded. “I’ve been taking care of her since I was ten! Almost right after you gave birth to her. I’m not her mother! You are! You’re the one who should be taking care of her! Not me!”

“How dare you!” Ariana growled. “You know better than speak to your mother like that!”

“Well, if you attended to your motherly duties instead of shoving them on others…”

“Diana, we will discuss this later,” Ariana said firmly. “Now, find your sister, instead of acting boy crazy!”

“She wasn’t…” Rhett started to say.

“Who are you?” Ariana asked arrogantly.

“Lieutenant Rhett Beckett.”

“Well,” Ariana began, noting his accent, which exposed what part of Earth the Terran lived. “I am the Matriarch of the Fifth Dynasty of Ianna! We are of nobility and you are not. So, make like the Wind and be gone!”

“Um…” Rhett began to correct her. “I was hoping I could help find your daughter, not listen to a misquote of a story title.”

“You’re just as rude as my children!”

“Mother, the longer we delay…” Diana began.

“Yes, of course,” Ariana replied. “You know the places she runs to. Go find her.”

“I can help, if you don’t mind,” Rhett stated.

“Well…” Ariana began to reply. “I guess you can see to it my other daughter is safe. After all, you are a Citadel officer and it was your distraction that caused her to disappear.”