by Karen Swart
Chapter 6
“Come on, Kas. Wake up,” I heard Nanini say, and opened my eyes to see my dream interrupter.
“I’m awake. What’s wrong?” I asked, wondering why she was waking me up.
“It’s our day off. Come, get up, and get dressed. Everyone’s waiting,” she replied and turned around, bouncing her way back to her bed.
I sat up and looked around. Lada was in the bathroom and now Nanini was busy fixing up her bed. “Everyone’s waiting for what?” I asked, confused.
“It’s our day off, so we get to have some fun. The others are all getting dressed. Here, put this on,” she said, throwing me two pieces of clothing. I grabbed them and held them in my hands only to discover that they were a bikini. She wants me to wear a bikini in late autumn? The temperature had already started to drop to such a degree that we had to wear jackets all the time. Had she lost her mind?
“Um, Nanini, why would I need to put on a bikini in this weather?”
“Chill. It’s one of Lada’s, so it will fit. And to answer your question, we are going swimming today,” she answered with a grin on her face.
“Are you freaking crazy? We’ll freeze our butts off!”
“Don’t worry about our butts, Kas. I have that covered. Just get up and get into that.” She grinned, and then returned to her cleaning up job.
I got up and looked at the bikini again. I’m going to freeze my butt off today, most likely ending up going into hypothermia. I placed the bikini on the bedside table and then started to fix my bed. I had just finished when Lada came out of the bathroom wearing a bikini top and “badgirl” swim pants, shaking like a Chihuahua.
“Nanini, you better get a move on. I’m dying here,” she complained. She walked up to her closet, removed a jacket, and put it on.
“Okay, I’ll quickly change and then you’re up, Kas,” Nanini replied, rushing into the bathroom. I looked at Lada, who was sitting on her bed, shaking like hell. This is nuts. Who goes swimming in weather like this?
“Did she lose her mind somewhere I should know about?” I asked Lada.
“Nope, she always has a plan for our off days, and it looks like swimming is on her to do list. The others actually love her brainwaves when it comes to our off days. She has a way of really keeping you entertained,” Lada replied, teeth chattering and her face almost blue.
“Okay, I get that part, but explain to me how we are going swimming without ending up like frozen lollipops?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a feeling she has that covered. The hard part is just to get Vulcan’s okay, but she can be very persuasive.”
Shaking my head, I turned around and walked to my closet. I picked up a sweater and a long sleeve shirt, and then grabbed a pair of pants. No way was I walking around like Lada, freezing my butt off. Maybe Nanini was planning on going to a warm place, but I didn’t think Vulcan would let us shift outside Exsilium. Nope, don’t think so.
The bathroom opened and Nanini strolled out wearing the same type of outfit Lada was, her smile almost stretching past her ears. “You’re up, Kas. Hurry up. Time’s wasting,” she said and started to jump on the spot, but this time I didn’t think it was her adrenalin.
Shaking my head, I went into the bathroom and got dressed. A few minutes later, I was standing in the hall, looking at everyone shaking like mad, even the divas. Nanini took the lead down the stairs and we all followed. She steered us straight into Vulcan’s office, where we all squeezed in.
He was sitting behind his desk looking at us with a smile, until his eyes finally rested on Nanini. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked.
“We need an okay from you today, to go have some fun,” Nanini replied, jumping on the spot.
“Where will this fun take place?” he asked, his smile growing.
“At the beach,” she answered, giving him a wicked smile filled with mischief.
“What about the weather, Nanini?” he questioned her, looking at us standing there shaking our butts off.
“Got that covered for the day. I also need an okay to go visit my dad,” she replied, looking at me with a grin. Okay, why would she want to see her dad, and how the hell does she have the weather covered?
“Granted, but you will all return before sunset and if anyone shifts out of Exsilium, I will revoke your off day. Understand?”
We all agreed to the terms. He then stood up and walked to stand in front of us. “Get some stuff from the kitchen,” he said and gestured to the door. Nanini grabbed him and gave him a hug. Shocked, I looked at them. He was totally cool with it; I have a feeling this is not the first stunt Nanini has pulled.
We all left his office and gathered in the hallway. “Okay, guys, you get the food and drinks, and Kas and Lada will go with me to see my dad. We will meet you at the beach. Don’t forget the root beer,” she said before offering her hands to Lada and me.
Lada smiled and took her hand, so I did the same. We shifted into a house with a hippie kind of vibe. We heard a voice in the house, and Nanini jumped into action. “Daddy!” she yelled and sprinted out of the room. Lada and I followed her into a kitchen to find a man hugging her.
“Oh, my Filiola, we missed you so much,” the man said, hugging her like someone he hadn’t seen in ages. We only get to see our parents once a month, and I think it may have been too long for these two.
“I missed you guys too. Daddy, we need a huge favor from you,” Nanini said, releasing him, looking into his sparkling eyes.
“I see. You had one of your brainwaves again?”
“Always. We are going to the beach today and hanging out there; it’s our off day. But we are going to freeze.”
“I see, and you would like to have a pleasant day, I guess?” he asked, laughing at her.
“Yes. Please, Daddy. It’s just for the day, I promise.”
“Okay, come walk with me,” he replied, gesturing to the doorway. We followed him and Nanini outside where he went to stand in the garden. He raised his hand in the air and stood there like a statue. Okay, this is too cool! Her dad can manipulate the weather? On that final thought, I felt the air around us turning warmer, until it was as hot as a summer’s day.
I had to remove my jacket at the sudden rise of temperature, and still felt the heat under my clothes. So that was why everyone was wearing swimsuits in fall. Lada and Nanini weren’t having the problem I was; they were dressed cool and ready for the warm day.
“There you go, my love,” he said and turned around, opening his arms to hug her again, and she jumped into them.
“Oh, thank you, Daddy,” she gushed, hugging him like mad. I suddenly missed my own father. Just like her dad, he always saved the day. My dead serious mother, on the other hand, always explained that I needed to suck it up and get on with life.
“You girls take care now. No getting hurt, he said and released Nanini, who came to stand next to us.
“Don’t worry, Daddy. We will be super careful,” she replied, offering her hands to us again, this time with a huge smile. Greeting her father farewell, we took her hands and then shifted to a beach. The salt air hitting my face, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I always loved the sea. It smelled fresh and alluring.
“Yo, guys, over here!” Lotan yelled at us, and Lada basically sprinted to him. She had a long night with Nanini and me drilling the info out of her. She confessed that they were an item and absolutely loved it.
“So, are we in the human world or still in Exsilium?” I asked Nanini, sprint walking to keep up with her.
“Nope, still in Exsilium. We have all the things a human world has, just a bit smaller to fit into our world.”
“That’s nice. So, we have mountains and stuff, too?”
“Oh yeah, and really big ones, too. My dad took me hiking in them a year ago, and was totally wasted afterwards,” she replied, smiling at me.
Wow, this world is turning out to have a way cool effect on me. We reached the others, who had already set up a camp-lik
e site. Chairs, umbrellas, and the whole works.
“Better get out of your warm clothes, Kas, or you’ll end up cooked,” Nanini said, grabbing a can of root beer.
I walked over to a chair and started getting out of my clothes. Looking at my bare legs, I suddenly wished I had asked for a pair of swim pants. I felt too naked. I looked up and straight into Kali’s pissed off face. She had been staring at me since the incident yesterday.
I had totally forgotten to mention it to the girls. Drilling Lada had been way more fun. I looked away from Kali and went to stand at Nanini’s side. I had no idea why she was so pissed. I hadn’t meant to intrude, and it’s not like it was forbidden to date a Custos. Maybe they wanted to keep it a secret. Well, that was one secret I had to share with the girls. They were as stunned as I had been when I witnessed the event. I mean, Chax and Kali, kissing? Huge news!
Chax really had me surprised. I didn’t think someone so serious would go for a girl like Kali. She was spoiled and bragged constantly. If he wanted to keep it a secret, he really picked the wrong girl. I think she had already advertised their romance to everyone by now.
“So, girls, have any great ideas for the day?” Lotan asked, embracing Lada in his arms. She had her back to his chest and a smile like a cat who just got the canary.
“Oh yeah, you boys up for a wicked challenge?” Nanini asked, moving around in the sand trying to pace.
“Always. So what’s your great plan?” Lotan asked, smiling at her while the two boys to his left smirked in anticipation.
“Cliff diving, of course,” she replied, looking at me with an evil smile.
What? She has really lost her mind. There is no way in hell I’m going cliff diving. “Oh no! There is no way,” I said to her, shaking my head.
“Oh, come on, Kas. It’s not like we can die,” Lotan teased, and I looked at him, shocked.
“Yeah, I know, but it still hurts like hell. I don’t really see myself lying in bed for two weeks trying to get my spine all healed up,” I replied, looking at them all.
“Such a pity. I really had great hopes for you,” he continued, trying to get me to change my mind.
“Not going to work, Lotan, so don’t even try. I’ll go with you and give my support from the side line, but that’s it,” I replied, pushing the message so he fully understood.
“Suit yourself, but you’re missing out at the greatest rush you’ll ever have in your life. I guarantee it,” he said, kissing Lada on the cheek, and then walked off to get some more participants for their sick sport.
“Come on, Kas. Just try it! I also thought they were all bonkers when they first mentioned it to me, but after that first jump, you’re pretty much hooked on it,” Lada reassured me, coming to stand next to me.
“Yeah, it’s the adrenalin rush that kicks in, and, in my case, it doubles up. By this afternoon I will be so wasted,” Nanini said, skipping in joy.
“You guys are so sick. There is no way I’m doing it,” I replied, shaking my head. Then the rest all came walking up to us, even the three divas.
“Okay guys, let’s do this!” Lotan yelled and took the lead.
We followed him for a mile or two, the sandy beach retreating and making way for rock foundations. From there we climbed up a huge cliff. At the top, we all stopped and got our breath back. I looked around and then down. Oh my soul, it was freaking high! It must be something like 600 meters or more. No way in hell!
“Okay, who goes first?” Nanini asked from behind me. The next thing I knew, someone came running past me and jumped off. Shocked, I kept my eyes on the person and just before she hit the water, noticed that it was none other than that sick little girl Nanini.
“Oh man, that was awesome,” a boy on my left said, so I looked up at him. It was Cam and he was grinning.
“There’s something wrong with all of you,” I mumbled, turning around to get away from the drop. No way did I trust any one of these sick people enough to hang around near the edge.
“I’m next,” Dustin yelled, and started sprinting to the drop. Just before the end, he jumped up into the air and fell, screaming “Yahoo” all the way down. Sick, I tell you.
“Kas, you have to try this,” Nanini said, shifting next to me, soaked from her jump.
“You’re all mad, totally freaking mad. Do you know how much it’s going to hurt if you hit a rock or something?” I responded, looking at her.
“Kas, I don’t want to spoil your day or anything, but pain is pretty much part of our DNA code. We are going to feel it, over and over again. At least now you’ll have some fun in the process,” Lotan said, and at those words he had me dumbstruck.
He was right. We were pretty much doomed for mountains of pain, and I got a feeling a demon would give a lot of it. Ah hell, I hate this.
“You too scared, hound?” I heard a girl ask, and looked up to see Nina and the other two divas standing a few steps from us, smiling at me.
“Yeah, Nina, she is. Some hellhound, huh? Too bad,” Kali pitched in next to her. Juno remained silent, but still had her Chax face on, constantly pissed off.
“Oh, go jump off a cliff,” Nanini said to them, and they all started to laugh.
“Yeah, Tinkerbell, we are planning on it. Unlike your friend, we embrace our destinies and face them with honor and courage,” Kali replied and turned around to face the drop. Then she burst into speed and jumped off, laughing all the way.
“Yeah, hound, leave this to the Fallen worthy of service. Scared Fallen like you only get in the way,” Nina retorted and followed suit, her howling echoing back at us. Juno went next, in utter silence.
Oh, that just pisses me off! Freaking divas telling me I’m not worthy. I’ll show them. The moment they shifted back to the cliff, I walked over to the drop and turned to look at them all. Lada and the rest were smiling like mad, so I transformed into my Fallen body. If I’m doing this, I’m doing this in style. I lifted myself up about a hundred meters from the cliff, smiling at them the whole time. Then I flapped backwards, to make sure I was away from the rocks at the bottom. I closed my wings and dropped, doing a 360 with my body to put an extra oomph in it.
I transformed back to normal the moment my head was pointed towards the water, and looked down. Seeing the water heading towards you was unbelievable. The rush was phenomenal. Reaching the water, I angled my body just right, gracefully breaking the surface. I shifted back to the cliff, scaring the hell out of Nina when I shifted in behind her.
“Top that, wolf,” I said and moved to stand next to the girls who were yelling and screaming in delight.
Lotan gave me a high five. “Now, that was cool,” he stated, thoroughly impressed. I turned to look at the three divas, who were just standing there, dumbstruck. Oh yeah, this hound is officially in business.
After that, we took turns going over the drop, me included. We tried our best to out-maneuver each other, and some even made a game out of the whole thing. We continued for a few hours until it started to get boring. We shifted back to the camp site and everyone went their own ways. Nanini ended up at the food, digging in.
I grabbed a soda, planted myself on a chair, and looked at the others having fun in the water. My first days here started out very bad, but looking at all of them having fun, I felt content. Yeah, sure, we had to battle demons for the next ten thousand years, but hey, at least I have some great new friends to do it with. I never had friends like Lada and Nanini. In my “normal” life, everyone avoided me.
But, now I did have some very good friends, and I loved it. For a change, I didn’t have to hold anything to myself; I had two friends to tell it to. Looking at Lada and Lotan hugging and kissing in the water, I thought back to the kiss in the garden. Yeah, I now had two friends and one hell of a guy to kiss the daylights out of me.
Life had a funny way of working out, and boy was I glad it worked out okay. I was really lonely in my normal live, but now I know it was over. We continued the day, enjoying the sun and water. By sunset, we were
all totally wasted. Very slowly, and with great effort, we started cleaning up and gathering the things to get back to the house. The boys shifted the things back as the girls cleaned and packed them up.
Then we shifted back to the house, some heading for the entertainment room, some going straight for the bathrooms. The girls and I ended up in our room, Lada calling dibs on the bathroom, leaving me with an almost completely drained Nanini. She still moved around and stuff, but a lot slower.
“So, how does your dad do it?” I asked Nanini, still baffled over the weather change.
“He is an elemental fae, and basically he can work the weather and stuff. Really cool, huh?”
“Oh yeah! So, if he is fae and you’re fae, then what’s your mom?”
“She is a water fae and she can control and manipulate water. That’s why she is always stationed at places with a lot of water, like Venice. She can use the water to counterattack the demons, and then when the time comes, eliminate them.”
“Wow, now that sounds cool! Wouldn’t mind having some special ability or power for myself. So, what kind of a fae are you?”
“I’m a light fae. Basically it’s like the yellow one in the Tinkerbell series. I can move light and stuff, but as you know, can also use it to fight with. At this stage, my light bombs are too weak, but Seth says that as I grow stronger, so will they. In the end, one of my bombs will be able to knock a demon down completely.”
“Weak? I don’t want to burst your bubble there, but they hurt like hell. I just didn’t have a choice to go to the ground and cry,” I replied and we burst into laughter.
Lada came out and I gestured to Nanini to go next. She looked like she was about to hit the hay and call it a night. I still had some spunk left in me, and thought I might go pick a pool fight with one of the boys. I knew what Lada was going to do just looking at her; she was busy making herself dreamy for an Impon.
Yeah, life was turning out okay. No more just doom and gloom like in the beginning. Made me think of a thing my dad always used to say to me when I was down. “Take life one step at a time and you will find that some steps were worth taking.”
