Then I remembered. "Your real eye color?"
Theron was eating a variation of the same soup, only his had chunks in it. He didn't look at me.
"I want to see… " I urged him.
"No you don't—it will just freak you out."
So they weren't brown. "After what you told me yesterday—you couldn't freak me out any more than I already am," I assured him.
"Yes I could." He took another bite then looked at me.
"No more secrets," I reminded him.
He nodded. "I've been wearing lenses to hide my eye color. No one on Earth has violet eyes. If they upset you I can put them back in." He turned the other way, shifted his head and put the contacts onto his fingers. He turned back to me with his eyes still closed.
"Just do it!"
He opened his eyes. I hitched in a breath. They weren't odd or frightening at all on him. They were gorgeous—exquisite. His black hair, cream colored skin and long black lashes contrasted with the bright violet.
"They're beautiful." I reached up and ran my thumbs across the upper lids of his eyes and trailed them to the hollows underneath. His eyes were mesmerizing, like deep amethyst jewels capturing the light around them and reflecting it brilliantly.
"You really forgive me?" he asked, still in disbelief.
"Yes," I said, hypnotized by those eyes.
He dove toward me and pressed his lips to mine. I pulled back instinctively.
"Don't. I haven't brushed my teeth for over a week!" I exclaimed.
"I don't care." He kissed me again then held my face and examined me. "Are you sure my eyes are okay?"
"They are incredible. You don't have to hide them."
"Okay," he said humbly. "More soup?"
"Yes."
He brought me over another cup as I went through all the stuff in my pack—thrilled to still have it. I even put on a fresh change of clothes all by myself and brushed my hair.
Theron fastened my necklace around my neck. "There, now it's back where it belongs."
I smiled. "I still never got to investigate it. Maybe when I can walk again?"
"Yeah," he said. "But no stress now."
Oh yeah, Dr. Hawk. "I feel better, having sat up all this time. Can we try standing again?"
"Sure."
We went through the same motions as last time but this time my legs felt stronger. I was even able to walk around a bit. "Can we walk outside?" I asked.
"We're two miles underground. You should give yourself a couple days before you do that. Would you like to walk through the cavern a little? It's pretty cool."
"Okay."
We had only walked a short way and I could already see that they were incredible.
"When you're ready, we can run through them. Several tunnels lead into numerous chambers like the one we're hidden in. There's even an underground waterfall fed by a spring. It's the water we're drinking now," Theron said.
"How did you know about this place?" I asked.
"It was a dark area on our satellite reads. A few years back I wanted to check out what they couldn't see. I figured if I ever ran away it would be a good spot to take cover," he explained.
"Did you ever run away?"
"Yeah." Theron laughed a little. "But not to here."
"Where to then?"
"Earth. Once I found you, I was never coming back," he said.
We came upon a section with massive stalactites and stalagmites hanging above our heads and rising from the floor of the cavern. I touched them with my fingers—they were cool and moist. I thought about my mother, wondering how we were going to find her and, if we did, how we would get back to Earth. That thought was so weird! These were really impossible questions with just as impossible answers.
By the time we got back to the camp I felt really, really good. I didn't even need to hold onto Theron's arm anymore. The weakness was steadily passing, and my muscles felt regenerated as opposed to being in atrophy. I was surprised, but happy.
Over dinner I said, "I wonder if Cathal was the planet my mother built the Bifrost to?"
"I don't know," Theron said.
"Tell me about the planets again. How are they set up?"
He got his pack and came back with a pad of paper and pencil. "We have three suns spread out across the Novian universe in a triangular pattern." Theron drew three suns, forming a large triangle, then wrote their names in their centers. He pointed to the top sun. "The first sun is Savero, the second one"—he pointed to the sun on the left—"is Zerah, and the third is Curran. They are considerably smaller than Earth's sun but very powerful. Now, each sun has four orbiting, rotating, tilted planets. Much like Earth, we have life, salt- and freshwater, and seasons." He had drawn four circles in an almost diamond shape around each sun—a small circle at the top and bottom, then two on each side. "The four planets around Savero clockwise are Arcacia"—he pointed to the top planet—"where I was born, Concetta, Adione and Diaphenia. Each sun has two sister moons that can be seen from all four planets. Savero's moons are Silvanus and Selina."
"Do they all have blue skies and oceans with green leaves and grasses?" I asked, remembering our surreal trek to the cave.
"No. The atmosphere around all of the planets is violet and the leaves and grass are golden. Of course there are variations from planet to planet just like Earth's flora and fauna. You have green desert cactus with spikes in one part of the world and maple trees that provide nourishment and change colors in another."
"I get it," I responded. "So, I wasn't hallucinating before when you were carrying me here?"
"No, you weren't."
"All right then, at least I'll be prepared when we do go back outside. Tell me more."
"The second sun, Zerah, is surrounded in the same pattern by Finna, Elera, Zivian and Lapis." He wrote in all of their names. "The sister moons are Ula and Una. Then the sun Curran supports the planets Patera, Notus, Cathal and Gerius with the moons Vesta and Valda. All the moons reflect a brilliant platinum light. And you can see all of the planets with the naked eye—you don't need a telescope."
"How do people travel between them?" I asked.
"By peregrination agents. They're something like NASA's shuttles or New York's subway system, only they're shaped and structured differently, are highly sophisticated and are powered exclusively by biodegradable fuel that is cheap and easy to come by. Some Novians even commute to other planets for work or pleasure. It takes a little more time to hop to a different cluster. The farthest planets are an overnight ride. But no one comes here to Cathal and no one from Cathal is allowed on other planets except for its political leaders—it's cursed. I'll explain that later," he said.
"Wow. It's a lot to take in."
"I'm sure it is." Theron set the notebook aside.
"Can we take a break? I'd love to get washed up and brush my teeth."
"I'll go put some water on the stove for you," he said.
"Help me up first. I want to walk some more."
He smiled at that. "You got it."
I almost didn't need his assistance. I went into my pack—my beloved pack—and took out my sweatpants and a T-shirt and my toothbrush and toothpaste. "Where can I do this?"
"Right around the side there." He pointed down a tunnel. "There's a toilet pot and a bucket to use as a sink. I have an area to dump it all."
Great. Invalid camping girl—this was new for me. Oh well.
He carried the hot water over for me and then brought me a cup, soap, shampoo and a towel.
"Thanks, Theron."
He nodded. "If you get weak or need any help I'll just be over there."
I didn't end up needing any help. It felt good to wash my body and my greasy hair. I brushed my teeth and actually felt clean. I put on the fresh clothes and came back to where Theron was waiting for me.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Very good. I'm actually surprised how good I feel. Maybe it's your magic medicine broth." I smiled and lay down in the blankets.<
br />
Theron snuggled down next to me. He took a deep whiff of my hair. "You smell so good," he said.
His body was so warm. His closeness made my pulse race again and I liked it. He leaned up on his elbow to say something to me, but before he could, I initiated a move. My lips found his and my hands wandered into his hair pulling him closer. I rolled onto my back and brought him with me until he was pressed on top of me, kissing me deeply.
But a second later Theron pulled away. "We have to stop. I shouldn't be kissing you and breathing all over you like this." His breath was heavy and his gorgeous violet eyes were dark with emotion.
"What are you talking about? I started it," I reminded him.
"We are trying to strengthen your immune system—not drown it in my… alien germs!" He was serious and looked frustrated with himself.
I couldn't help but laugh, "Alien germs?"
"Yes, alien germs. And don't laugh, it's not funny." He sat up, but his expression softened.
I sat up next to him and threaded my arms around him. "I don't care."
"We'll both care if you get sick," he retorted.
"I didn't get sick on Earth," I protested.
"But we're not on Earth."
"But I feel great!"
"Go to sleep," he said with a half-smile as he got up and puttered around with his pack.
"Fine," I said and threw myself back—too hard. I forgot the ground was stone. In a whiny voice I muttered, "Ouch!"
I heard him chuckle.
~
The next day Theron woke up before I did. He made breakfast for us—my first day with fully solid foods!
"Breakfast," Theron said and handed me a tin plate of scrambled eggs (or something resembling eggs), a piece of meat that could have been hamburger and hash browns. They were good.
I recalled how Theron had said he had never tasted real food before. "Where did you get this stuff?"
"I raided the officer's kitchen. Of course they're only rations, but they taste pretty good. Our training facilities are too far away from civilian stores. It was the best I could do. I certainly wasn't going to have you eating the crap they fed me," he said with a disgusted look on his face.
When we finished up Theron suggested, "Let's go outside."
I was all for it. I washed up and changed into fresh clothes.
"You'll want your jacket. It could be pretty cold when we get out of here."
"What season is it?" I asked.
"Fall—but getting closer to winter. We had snow the night we came here."
I remembered. I threw on my hooded sweatshirt and tied my black, quilted winter jacket around my waist. We took the two mile walk with ease. I felt strong and invigorated. The food and rest must have been doing the trick.
Pure white light shot down in rays of sunbeams, illuminating the mouth of the cave.
"Just remember—everything is upside down from your world—different plants and animals, different colors. And we can't venture far from the mountain."
"Why not?" I asked.
"In case there's some rogue, brave sentry willing to come closer to the catacomb's edge," Theron said cryptically.
"I don't get it," I admitted.
Theron explained, "Over two thousand years ago there was a horrible war between the planets that went on for many years—much like your world wars. Millions and millions of our kind perished because of weapons that were supposed to keep the peace. Diseases spread, food was scarce, many children were orphaned—violence became rampant as we turned against each other. Alpheus Novia changed it all. He turned the public thought from destroying ourselves to a harmonious co-existence the worlds had never known before. History teaches us that he was the greatest man who ever lived. His words were alive with energy. He ended the Time of Obliteration and ushered in the Great Peace. He held a mirror to the truth and the people were disgusted with what they had become and allowed to happen. All the worlds worked together to clean and fix the mess they had made—aggressive solutions for fighting, hunger, pollution, poverty and disease were vigorously committed to. The only thing they could never change were the numbers of their kind that had been exterminated." Theron shook his head sadly. "The dead from every planet were placed on massive transports and brought here to Cathal, which had the smallest population of all the worlds. A mass burial ground and memorial was erected—it was called The Tomb of Remorse. Soon afterward, people were afraid to come to the site. Superstitious beliefs took root and everyone believed the tomb was haunted because, although the rest of the worlds had peace and prosperity, Cathal never did. Tales were told that the catacombs were haunted. Still today, most people firmly believe that the dead are angry because they didn't live to experience the joy Novia brought in. They believe that anyone who comes near Cathal will be cursed as the planet itself is cursed, with continued destruction and unrest, because the spirits of those buried in the mass grave stir up strife and hate. The tomb is at the base of this mountain," he finished.
"Why aren't you afraid?" I asked.
"I visited this place when I was a kid. There was nothing the dead could take away from me that the living hadn't already taken," Theron said. "And anyway—I would like to think that maybe the dead care about peace and have found a better place for themselves."
"You're very poetic," I mused with intensity.
"Me?" he said in disbelief.
"Yes—you." I came closer and kissed him on his cheek.
He smiled. "Are you ready to go outside?"
"Oh yeah," I answered.
We stepped out of the cave and marveled.
Chapter 26 - Love and Hate
"It's beautiful beyond words." I was stunned. The sky was infused with bright, clear light, creating different shades of purple (from the fairest of lilac to the deepest amethyst) that stretched across the expanse over our heads. From my vantage point I could count five other planets. They were swirled with white, violet and gold—elegant and bejeweled orbs. Theron pointed out two of the moons shimmering platinum against a backdrop of dark purple. On the ground, the tree trunks and branches were a rich, smooth burgundy with undertones of crimson—exactly as I had seen before. The gold metallic leaves on the trees and the tall grasses glinted and played luminously in the rays of sun and the whispers of the wind.
"It's magnificent."
"That's how I felt when I first saw your world with its blue sky and green everything," he said smiling.
I smiled back and for a moment I forgot there was a psychopathic monster out for my blood. "Can we climb out into it?" I asked.
Theron took my hand. "Let's go." He led the way down the rocky crag and into the forest below.
It smelled fresh, like new rain and damp earth. The birds calling out to one another sounded ethereal. I stood beneath a massive tree and reached out cautiously to touch a golden leaf. I was afraid it would disintegrate. The leaves seemed delicate but, when the wind clapped them together, proved hearty. "Do they change colors or fall off?"
"Nope. They're always the same. And they're gorgeous when the snow lays over them," Theron said.
I let my hand drift over the smooth and hard trunk. The tree's marble-like texture was nothing like the crisp peeling bark of Earth's trees. Each tree was its own amazing piece of art. "Do you cut them down like we do on Earth?"
"That species? No. But there are some others we do—their core is similar but not as solid. We have specialized tools for them."
The soil was black. Golden moss climbed and clung to white and orange-cream colored stones and rock. Little sections of snow dusted areas that hadn't been greeted by the sun's heat or light.
"Look over there," Theron said, pointing up into a nearby tree. Two small birds alighted on a branch. They were a soft shade of blue with dark blue beaks and feet and black eyes. Theron turned and smiled at me. He opened his mouth as if he were about to say something but thought better of it and quickly shut it.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he remarked, exp
ressionless.
I might have let it go but there was an odd expression of surprise that registered in his eyes. "Then why did you look at me that way?"
"What way?"
I cocked an eyebrow. "The way you're looking at me right now. What's wrong? Do I have something on me?" I wiped my face with my hand and looked over my clothes.
"I was thinking about your dad," he said.
"My dad?" That was odd. "The only thing I could get out of my mother about him was that he died shortly after I was born." I shrugged and a gorgeous soft-green and gold butterfly flitted to the branch beside me. "Look, look!" I said with an urgent whisper.
"They're good luck," Theron said.
"Good, we need it."
"Yes, we do," he echoed. "Now that you know that interplanetary or dimensional travel is real," Theron began, "how would you feel if your father was from this universe?" He said it in a philosophical manner and very nonchalantly, but Theron didn't ask many hypothetical questions.
"Why?"
"I was just… thinking."
"You promised—no more hidden facts or half-truths." I could feel my face flushing. I was getting upset. This wasn't just him playing—there was no sign of humor in his expression whatsoever. I felt myself becoming nervous and edgy.
He nodded and slung his pack to the ground. He unzipped it and produced a small camp mirror (useful for signaling someone, starting a fire or seeing into an obscured area). He stood up and held it out to me.
"It's my new favorite color," he said. His new favorite color? He told me his favorite color was hazel, like my eyes. I gripped the mirror but he didn't let it go. "It's really very beautiful."
I frowned, even more confused and weirded out. "Are you going to give it to me? Or are we going to play tug-of-war?"
"Try not to freak out," he said.
I wrinkled up my face at him. My sarcastic brain couldn't think of anything smart to say. He let go. I faced the mirror. What was his problem? I gripped the mirror with both hands to steady it.
My eyes… I blinked hard twice. They were no longer hazel. My eyes were a vivid, riveting violet.
Hunted (Dark Secrets Book 1) Page 25
