by J. Adams
We get out of the car and Sebastian and his uncle grab our luggage. I stand next to the car and quietly look around. The trees are bare and stand like sentinels around a dormant golfing green. It is totally quiet and the area looks void of wildlife. The skies are clear and sunny, despite the cold.
“Come, caro,” Sebastian says softly.
I give him a slightly wary smile and follow. We are supposed to be taking a different mode of transportation for the duration of the trip, but I see nothing with an engine nearby. I silently walk behind the two men. When they reach the edge of the clearing they stop. Then Uncle Aaron begins to speak in Chalissian and I understand the words. It is more of a chant really. He says the foreign phrase three times.
Two seconds later I feel a rumble beneath the earth. Sebastian reaches for my hand and mentally assures me that everything is okay. My eyes widen as the ground in the middle of the circle opens up. The dormant grass neatly parts as two large metal doors swing open beneath it. Ten seconds later, a shiny silver craft rises from the hole. The ground closes and the craft lands on the same spot. It looks like an Air Force B-2 Stealth Bomber plane, only sleeker with a larger cockpit. I have only seen pictures of these kinds of aircrafts, and to see one in real life just blows me away. The fact that this particular craft is not conventional or the standard Air Force design leaves me even more in awe.
“It's beautiful,” I whisper.
“It is,” Sebastian agrees. “It is very fast and undetectable to radar, which is important since the secrecy of the location of our home is so vital.”
“Where did it come from? I mean, how did you get it?”
“My people designed it.” He smiles. “Our technology is far more advanced than the rest of the world. We have achieved much, and someday, when the rest of mankind is ready, we will share our knowledge.”
Uncle Aaron grins. “Ready to take a ride, my lady?”
I grin back and nod eagerly, suddenly feeling like a kid getting ready to go on an amusement park ride. My fear of flying is long gone now. Sebastian keeps my hand tucked in his as we approach the plane. It is massive, its surface flawless, like it has just come from the factory. Even from where we are, I can almost see myself in the mirrored finish.
When we are a few yards away, Sebastian stops, lifts his hand, and the door opens. A set of metal steps unfold and touches the ground. He turns to his uncle and the two men embrace. After a moment, the older man releases his nephew and turns to me, taking my hand in his.
“It has truly been an honor.”
I smile and hug him, drawing a small gasp of surprise from him. Thank you for everything, Uncle Aaron. I hope to see you again one day.
He sighs and hugs me back. I hope for that as well. He releases me and smiles at us. “Safe travel to you both. And may The One watch over and keep you both, that the prophecy might be fulfilled.”
“Be safe, Uncle,” Sebastian says.
Holding the metal handrail, I board the plane. Sebastian follows me with the luggage.
Eleven
The interior of the stealth craft is luxurious and roomy, and the cabin is combined with the cockpit. I take a seat in one of the three tan leather chairs while Sebastian stores our bags. I buckle my seatbelt and gaze around the cabin, taking everything in. It has all the comforts of home. The walls are covered in a light maple wood and the carpet is a plush forest green. A square glass table sits between the seats, topped with a few leather-bound books. There is a white marble counter top with a small sink, and a mini stainless steel refrigerator sits underneath. A microwave is on the counter and the upper and lower cupboards have glass doors. One side holds food, the other houses shelves of dishes. I look toward the back. An open door exposes an elegant looking bathroom.
“Boy, you guys definitely like to travel in style.” “We do,” Sebastian says. Waving the plane door shut,
he comes to me and kneels by my seat. “Would you like me to get you anything, beloved, before we take off?”
Smiling, I press a hand to his handsome face. “No, I'm fine.”
He turns his head and kisses my palm. “Uncle Aaron has informed the homeland of our coming, so be prepared to be hugged to death by my parents and greatly honored by our people.”
“Will we live with your parents?” I ask. If so, though I will be happy to be there, I will miss the privacy we've enjoyed.
“No, a home has been prepared for us. I would miss our privacy as well,” he says with a grin. “Because of the speed we will travel, we should be in Challis in about an hour.”
“Good. I don't think I could stand not being next to you for longer than that.”
He smiles and leans forward, lightly touching his lips to mine, but it isn't light for long. He kiss turns heated as his warm mouth passionately explores mine, immediately setting my insides on fire. I pull him closer and hear him moan as I tangle my fingers in his silky hair. His arms band around me and I meet the staggering explosion of his emotions with the hopeless desperation of my own.
Drawing back slightly, he presses his forehead against mine and says in a raspy, passion-filled voice, “If I stay here any longer we will not make it home today.”
My cheeks warm and I smile. With a great deal of effort I slow my breathing and remove my fingers from his hair. I tuck my hands under my knees and lock them there, knowing that if I touch him again, we really won't reach our destination today.
He brushes his lips against mine once more and whispers, “I promise you, caro, we will take this up again later.”
“I'll hold you to that,” I say, inhaling his scent deeply and letting it fill my lungs. It will have to sustain me until we can be alone again. He smiles and stands and I watch him walk to the pilot seat, taking in the way the black leather pants and white shirt fit his perfect, lean-muscled physique. Even bending to keep his head from hitting the ceiling, his walk is alluring, graceful and sleek, yet totally masculine, totally him. He is the most perfect looking man I have ever seen. And he is all mine. I heave a deep sigh and swallow back the need I feel for him and do my best to concentrate on something else. I hear his rich chuckle in my mind.
The feeling is very mutual, beloved.
I sigh again and watch him for another moment as he pushes several buttons on a panel that looks like it came straight from a movie spaceship before turning my gaze to the window. We lift up off the ground and I am surprised because I don't feel it. Once we are clear, the plane zooms forward. It is as if we are standing still, but we are clearly traveling at an incredible speed. The vast icy and snowy landscape flies before my eyes, making it impossible to focus on anything, so I don't even try. Instead I pick up one of the leather-bound books. The writing on the front cover is Challissian, and thanks to my new abilities and the blood that now flows through my veins, I am able to read it clearly.
“Ki Kulimek sa Challis.” “The Book of Challis.”
I begin flipping through the book. It is filled with beautiful pictures of lush green landscapes, grassy fields dotted with the most incredibly colored flowers I have ever seen. Leafy trees in an array of vivid shades fill the forests, and the lakes are crystal clear, exposing the beautiful tropical fish that inhabit them. Mountains merge into clear blue skies and prehistoric looking birds swoop through the air and graze in fields of tall grass. There is even a photo of . . . Are my eyes deceiving me? It couldn't be! I stare openmouthed at a photo of a group of woolly mammoths roaming in a countryside! Woolly mammoths! I can't believe it!
I loose track of time as I stare at the pictures. Page after page is covered in unbelievably mesmerizing nature scenes, each one indescribably beautiful.
“Caro,” Sebastian calls, “look out your window.”
I pull my eyes away from the photos only to be stunned speechless by the same beauty outside my window.
I can't believe it! What happened to all the ice and snow? And how can I see land now when I couldn't before?
He answers my mental questions with a question of his
own. “Did you know there really is no north pole?”
“No?” I answer back and he laughs.
“No. It is because man's idea of the direction of true north is off. There is no true north, or rather there is, but on the globe, true magnetic north is under so-called cloud cover, which is just another product of surface government propaganda. And for that, our people are grateful. You see, we have traveled far, past the polar ice cap and into the earth. Challis, our home, is in the center of the earth.”
I am incredulous. “You're kidding! We are in the center of the earth? But how? Shouldn't we have been flying down into darkness or something?”
“The diameter of the earth's opening is ninety miles across. It is so large, you don't know you are flying into the earth's core. Our home is completely undetectable. Despite the ice that surrounds the opening, the temperature here is a consistently comfortable seventy-six degrees. The atmosphere and weather is always perfect. We even have our own sun.”
I shake my head in wonder. The theory of the earth being hollow has been around for decades, and even the two college professors who swear they have proof of a government cover-up concerning this have been dismissed as crackpots.
“And we are grateful they have been,” Sebastian says. “ What man doesn't seem to understand is that all planets possess a womb, and earth was born from the womb of another larger planet. It is the way The One creates solar systems. It's common sense if the natural man would just open his mind and study it. However, as I said, for now, we are grateful for the skeptics. The last thing we need is to have people suddenly taking field trips to Challis. Besides needing to keep our existence secret, there are a great many treasures in Challis. Gold, diamonds, and many other gemstones abound in our world, the sight of which would definitely bring out the greed in men. And the enemy would surely have the upper hand if our home were to be discovered.”
Thinking on all of this, I too, am suddenly very grateful the hollow earth theory is dismissed by the world.
Sebastian turns to me and smiles. “Now, as for your second question, you can now see land because we have stopped flying and are just hovering while preparations are being made for our landing.”
I look down at the numerous roadways webbing out into suburbs surrounded by the same picturesque mountainous backdrops I studied in the book. “It is too beautiful for words,” I whisper.
“It is indeed,” he agrees. He turns back to the controls and a voice transmits through the speakers on the panel in Challissian.
“Sir, you are cleared for landing.” The tone of the voice is both authoritative and kind.
“Preparing to land,” Sebastian says back.
I stare out the window as we begin to descend, marveling that I am actually in the center of the earth! Forget science fiction and fantasy. I am really here. And it will be my home! I grin and Sebastian chuckles, sensing the giddiness that quickly rolls through me.
A tall, clear glass building appears and we land on the roof in the designated spot. I am again amazed that through the entire trip, it never felt like we were moving, and the landing is the same. Sebastian turns to me and smiles and a bit of nervousness creeps into me.
“Are you ready, beloved?” He come and kneels in front of me, holding my hand between his.
I look into his eyes and I know he senses what I'm feeling before I even voice it. “What if I'm not accepted? What if your parents don't like me, or they don't find me worthy enough for the calling of Woman of Prophecy? What if . . .” He touches a finger to my lips.
“There is no reason to fear any of those things, for you truly are the Woman of Prophecy, and you are worthy. Everyone who looks upon you will see this and will count themselves blessed to be in your presence. “ He raises my hand to his lips. “I will forever be amazed and grateful that I was chosen to be your guardian, that your soul called to mine and we are eternally bound.” He moves closer and touches his lips to mine and whispers, “I am thankful for the knowledge that you belong to me and no one else.”
He quickly deepens the kiss and calming warmth flows through me. Before the heat begins to rage to an inferno I draw back and catch my breath. “If you want me to be able to walk off this plane on my own two feet, we had better postpone all kissing until we are alone in the privacy of our own home.”
He grins. “A good suggestion.” We stand and he again takes my hand as we deplane. A tall, attractive man and woman are waiting at the bottom of the steps. They both smile widely and there is no question that they are Sebastian's parents–and my new in-laws. When we reach them, he releases my hand and his mother flies into his arms.
Sebastian laughs. “How I have missed you, Mother! And you, too, Father,” he adds, turning and embracing his father.
“We've missed you,” his mother says. “And we're so glad you are home.”
“I am as well.”
They turn to me and I feel the nervousness inching its way back into me. I push it down and offer a trembling smile. Sebastian moves to me and places a hand on the small of my back. “Mother, Father, may I present my wife, Celine. Celine, these are my parents.”
His mother timidly moves forward and takes my hand. “It is indeed an honor. My name is Sarah, but I would be pleased and honored to have you call me Mother.”
I smile and take in her long blond hair, violet eyes, and tanned skin. A foot shorter than her son, she is absolutely beautiful. “I am happy to meet you, and I would love to call you mother.” She grins so widely that I can't help grinning in return. I give into the urge to hug her and she happily accepts my embrace. She moves back and I turn to her husband.
“This is Devon,” Sarah says.
“I am pleased to meet you, Father,” I tell him, marveling at how much Sebastian looks like him, including the deep dimples that now appear on his cheeks as a smile spreads across his face.
He pulls me into his fatherly embrace and I feel as if I am finally where I belong. He draws back and takes my face in his large hands.
“You are breathtaking!”
“Thank you,” I say shyly.
He takes my arm and wraps it around his, placing his hand over mine. “Come. Your people await you.”
I smile at Sebastian and he grins back, taking his mother's arm and walking behind us.
“Now tell me, my dear,” Devon says as we take the elevator down, “has my son been a gentleman through and through? He has a tendency to be naughty and a bit of a rebel from time to time.”
Sarah clears her throat dramatically. “I think you have just described yourself, dear.” Sebastian laughs at his father's feigned look of indignation.
“Nonsense, woman. I have never had a rebellious bone in my body.”
Sebastian hoots out loud. “Now, Father, would you like me to tell Celine about the time you hid the city clock and . . .”
Devon clears his throat loudly. “We will have none of that,” he says sternly. He turns back to me. “Now where were we?”
I look at Sarah's mirth-filled expression and it becomes too much. I cover my mouth and laugh out loud and she joins me. When I finally get a hold of myself, I wipe my eyes and look up at Devon's grinning expression. “He has been very much a gentleman,” I finally say.
“Good, good! A chip off the old block, if I do say so myself.”
Sarah releases an unlady-like snort and we are all overcome by another fit of laughter. I again wipe my eyes and smile at Sebastian. I told you they would love you, he sends to me.
And I love them already. Devon grins down at me again. I know he had felt my earlier anxiety and had taken it upon himself to help soothe my emotions. In that way, father and son really are alike.
When we reach the main floor and the elevator doors open, we are greeted by the city. The massive hall is completely filled with grinning and cheering Challissians.
I'm in the land of giants! I muse and I hear Sebastian's deep chuckle. The people make a path for us to walk through and I smile and return the waves of the h
appy citizens as we make our way to the door. When we exit, we are greeted by even more cheers. It looks as if every citizen of Challis is here. Devon presses my hand affectionately and I smile, grateful for such a warm welcome.
There is a hover car waiting for us. The sleek machine is black and looks like a cross between an Italian sports car and a limo, its metallic paint gleaming in the bright sunlight. Sebastian and I get in the back seat and his parents settle on the seat facing us while the driver loads our luggage into the trunk. Since the windows are not tinted, I wave back at the people for a moment before we ascend into the air.
There are no words to describe the beauty of Challis. Though the photographs in the book were lovely, truly seeing this world myself is more amazing than I can say. I noticed as I took in the crowd before we left that there is no set style here as far as clothes. Some women wear updated fashions, some dress in Victorian era attire, which I love, and some are even dressed like pioneers. Though their dress is diverse, everyone is dressed modestly. I decide I'm going to have to purchase some of the Victorian dresses. They will coordinate perfectly with my husband's standard but very attractive attire of silk white shirts, black leather pants, and high black boots. My eyes quickly move over his perfect form and he smiles.
I'm pleased you appreciate the look and fit of my attire, beloved. And I assure you that the sight of you will forever warm my blood no matter what you choose to wear.
I smile, feeling my cheeks flush. I glance at his parents and they both give me a knowing grin in return.
Remember, you can close your thoughts to others, but your face speaks volumes.
Then I guess I should practice keeping my expression neutral more.
“So, Father, what festivities are we in for this evening?”
“Well, a welcome celebration and performance has been planned for you in the amphitheater. Afterward, we will gather at the main hall for a big dinner provided by the citizens. Each family is contributing a dish, so there will be food galore.”
