by Selina Brown
“Well, they are manifesting in … physical ways.”
They prattled on and on about Aryan Dreams but Ara lost interest and busied herself by assuring them it was all fine and not to worry. She didn’t want to waste time talking about things she couldn’t change. She wanted to make the most of her life.
Beachside City
She complained to Sacha later. “Honestly, they go on and on.”
“I know and you get more of it. I’m glad I’m not you!”
“Geez, thanks Sach.”
“I don’t mean it like that.”
Ara sulked in the passenger side of the jeep; Sach liked to drive around, saying it was the latest thing to get boys.
“I just have to stop and pick up some supplies to do Mum’s hair and then we’ll go surfing.”
“Great.” Ara chirped up a little more even though she never actually surfed. Mostly she just lay on the board and paddled.
They chatted on the way to the city, it was a little busier on the highway, and they stopped outside, beachside, and rode by bus the rest of the way. Both wore bikinis under their pants and tops, with sandals adorning their painted toes. After a ten-minute walk, Ara waited in the foyer of a nice looking four-story building waiting for Sach. As she waited, she felt a strange sensation; it was an energy signature and similar to what she had experienced on Earth. Her heart beat a little faster.
Ara’s instincts took over, and she tried to mute her own energy. She quickly moved to lean on a pillar and closed her eyes. She sensed the person was close. But when she looked, several people were coming out of the lift and down the stairs. Only one interested her but it was his beach boy looks and incredibly handsome face that drew her attention. Tanned skin, strong face, blue eyes, and great body.
Ara sighed. She’d lost the signal with her perving.
She watched the smartly dressed office workers walk out and stand in the shade created by the balcony on the next floor, while others disappeared up and down the precinct. Some walked across the mall. Ara felt strangely lethargic. Mr. Blue-eyes was just turning back—
“I’m back!”
Ara jumped in fright having been so mesmerized.
Sach laughed at her with a box under her arm. “Come on, sun and surf!” Sacha’s smile fell a little. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Why?” she snapped but then smiled. “I’m fine.”
“Just you seem a little different.” Her eyes were blue today and seemed concerned.
Had Sacha felt the energy depletion or her mood? Sacha’s parents, the sHe Artifacts, were of the Sawol, so it was mostly likely Sacha was responsive to Ara’s moods. That alarmed Ara even more. Why had her Sawol component been drained so? Ara shrugged and pulled her arm. “Let’s go. I was having a good perve that’s all.”
“You?” Sacha looked around. “Oooh, surfer man?”
Ara laughed and looked in his direction. A tall male was walking up to blue eyes; Ara couldn’t see his face as it was averted from her. “Thought you might like him … oh, he’s into males.” Ara lost interest in the two men; though watching them kiss was hot.
Sacha pulled at her arm.
They had a fun time sunbathing and surfing though Ara did more of her version of surfing as Sacha tried to attract the attention of the males.
Homestead
The girls shared their day over dinner and Sacha did Pen’s hair the next. Ara mulled over going back to the office building, just sniffing around, feeling where the energy led her but she was thinking about that surfer guy rather than her enemy. He might be into females as well. Stupid! She wasn’t going to ruin what she had with Caleb.
That night she dressed in black, thinking she hadn’t been practicing her stealth skills for a long time, and decided to go on a little adventure. Trickster would be pleased, surely. He tried to encourage her when younger to creep around like a mouse. Just as she was sneaking out, her guard blocked the way.
“Excuse me.”
“Ara, back to bed.”
Her jaw dropped as she tried to see his face in the dark. “You can’t tell me what to do!”
“I can when you are sneaking out.”
Ara wanted to have a go at him for using her first name but she had told him to. Annoyed with herself, she tried to shove her way past. “I have something I need to do!”
He stood in the way. “Ara. Please go back to bed, or I will wake Terance.”
She fumed then and stormed quietly back into her room.
Sub-Log XXI
Ara had tried sneaking out a few times to investigate her enemy but nothing worked, her guards were doing their job so it was hard to complain. If she had thought about her rebelliousness and desire to do something dangerous, she may have concluded it was because she kept hearing that Caleb was with this woman and or that woman. She could barely be civil if she met him, or them, at a club. He kept promising her nothing was happening, that his father, the king, arranged the outings. Outings? Is that what they were calling it now? But as soon as she saw him in the flesh she forgave him.
One day, when she and Sacha were both on holidays, she was venting at home about Caleb.
“Ara, you’re not being rational.”
“I know.”
Sacha sighed. “Why does it get to you?”
“I don’t know!” I love him.
“Just try to have fun and ignore him.”
“But he’s back on Saratoga. We go to the same clubs—” She groaned.
“Are you in love with him?” Sacha touched her cheek fondly. Sacha’s long, blonde hair was falling over her shoulders and her green eyes were bright.
Ara laughed and then cried, nodding.
Sacha hugged her. “Hey, you never cry anymore.”
But Ara did over Caleb. “Why couldn’t I just be happy for him?”
“When, sweetie?”
“At his Virgo. I’m so embarrassed that I walked out.”
“I’m sure there are other things to talk about than that!” Sacha screwed up her face then. “It was ages ago.”
“Only thirty years ago! He was so happy and I spoilt it.”
“Did he talk to you about it?”
“No, why would he?”
Sacha sighed. “It’s not up to you all the time, Ara. You take a lot of stuff on board. Why not talk to him?”
Ara cringed at the thought. “I look nothing like his Virgo choice. Blonde, curvy but petite and cute. And she had boobs!” They all had boobs.
“Ah.” That Sacha could understand. “Meg’s comment still bites, huh? I know you feel your body is less feminine but you draw males, Ara. Just not always the ones you want.”
Ara laughed with her and touched the blonde hair. “How’s the beauty business?”
“I’m popular with the queens now, which has brought in more business. I have a team, like a quick emergency response team, would you believe, that attends to “royal emergencies”. Recently, I’ve had queries from the kings too.” Since opening her own business, Sacha had found more work than what she wanted. They heard drumming from below while talking.
“Good grief,” Ara grumbled. “Gralten’s home and been drumming every day for hours. Without Ash or Henry here he gets bored.”
“Let’s compliment him on his piano audition; he’ll want to show off.”
Laughing, they headed down to his studio that was really one of the car parks under the homestead converted into a drumming room.
Ara went for a walk later while the weather was still warm and after Gralten returned to mindless drumming. He called it “Free Spirit”. She couldn’t walk fast enough. Caleb was still helping Bel with his investigation into the Dressian Gates while Ara was working from the other end. She’d have reason to call him, but what would she say? She had to apologize so she tried to call him but he didn’t answer so she had to leave a message.
She opted to go down to the ranges, towards the coast along the ridgeline, when she heard someone call her. She turned and saw Caleb running down t
he slope she just skidded down. As usual, her breath caught seeing he was wearing a tight, dark brown shirt and blue jeans. His hair was tied back and she couldn’t see if he had a braid. He skidded to a halt, tiny stones tumbling before him, and then when he hit the grass he slipped right on to his arse. They started laughing and he held out his hand. When Ara held out hers he pulled her down onto the wet grass and as she squealed he flipped them over and pinned her arms over her head.
“Now, what do you want?” His ice green eyes were darker than usual. He was pressing into her.
Her body was responding.
C. You drive me crazy, Ara
She felt tongue-tied. He grinned.
C. This is talking
A. I—
C. Share how you are feeling
She tried to wiggle away, feeling the wet grass soak into the thin material of her pants and top, but he held tight. He’d enjoyed her movements and her body tingled everywhere.
“Not this time. Share.” He pressed into her mind. Her body tensed and she glared at him. “Come on, Ara. You’re a Pure-Gen, you can block me.” He pressed further and her barriers crumbled under him. His eyes darkened more and he kissed her, his mind reaching into hers.
C. That’s what I thought
She found his kissing seared into her mind and body. She arched up and he met her thrusts, kissing her neck and lips. He pushed her over the edge with his erotic feelings and he cried out at the same time. Her mind was completely erratic.
“Ara—” He kissed her neck. “Ara … I shouldn’t have done that.” He lifted his head. “Are you alright?”
She nodded and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry, Caleb.”
He opened his fingers and hers interlaced. “Why, Baby?”
“Your Virgo.” Her voice was low and sounded miserable.
He laughed and kissed her again. He murmured into her neck. “Ara, that was a long time ago … but if you knew how turned on I was that you were there and when I saw how angry you were, I knew you loved me still.”
Turned on! Cretin. “Monkey—”
He was kissing her again and he released her hands. He raised himself and stood up, helping her to stand. He plucked out the grass from her hair. Then he started unlacing the top she was wearing. “I like this top on you.”
“Then why are you taking it off?”
“I just want to look at you.”
But as he began to slide the top down off her shoulders, his fingers lightly tracing her skin while kissing her neck—beep—he cursed. “I have to take that. I’ve put in for my apprenticeship.”
She slid her top back over her shoulders, enjoying the sun on her skin, as he talked. She noted the concentration on the pale, narrow face, the expressions of annoyance and the way he kept flicking his eyes over to her and her body. Sighing, she re-laced the top.
He sighed and put his Voice away. “I have to get back.”
They held hands and walked back to her home. They took the longer route up to the ridgeline that flattened and widened to the gentle hills before the land grew rugged again. There were few trees here but lots of flowering shrubs. Several birds squawked at them as they walked too close to their nest. Caleb drew her away.
“Paranoid, Monkey?”
He flashed her a grin. “A little.”
“Just think, I could change your name to ‘Bird Monkey’,” she teased.
“No thanks, Ara. Monkey is good.”
They headed for the base of the house where the long, open-style garage below the terraced house dug into the hillside; it was quiet. She breathed out in relief, no drumming. They walked past the closed off section that was now Gralten’s music room and Ara saw Caleb’s new vehicle peeking out from behind Dad’s tractor, which she was supposed to be working on. The tractor was parked in front of the tool shed filled with Dad’s special tools so it too was under the homestead close to the steps that ran up the side. There was a large turning section for vehicles and around that grass leading to wild grasses then woodlands. The driveway was long and meandered between lines of trees. As they walked around the tractor, Ara eyed off the new, sleek, dark blue vehicle. She ran her hand over it. “Nice.”
“You like it?” Caleb seemed surprised.
“Sure do.”
“Come on, I’ll take you for a ride.” He opened her door but then leaned in and pulled out a small bag of cloths. “Clean up?”
She took one but he glanced around up the steps and towards the barn. He had in mind to clean each other. Pressed against his new vehicle she tried to tell him she was scratching the surface with the little studs on her loose pants, until his fingers hit the spot. Ara leaned her head back as he kissed her neck, and undid her top. He suckled at her nipple and returned to her lips. They reversed positions, Ara happily making Caleb lose himself standing in the open, alternating between the worry of getting caught and losing all thought at the critical time.
After he recovered, he lifted her to kiss her but then grinned when she pointed out the scratches on his car. He shrugged. “War wounds.”
She squeezed his arm. “War my arse.”
By the end, she was laughing with him and they got in for a joy ride. He seemed happy and teased her. “I didn’t know you liked modern vehicles.”
“I love them … now.” It was so quiet inside, and the dark greys and blue finishing appealed to her. She ran her hand over part of the dash. Caleb played with a panel and found some music that appealed to her and turned it up so they were both bopping their heads. Caleb was drumming on the steering wheel. For some reason that drumming didn’t bug her as much. “Won’t be too long until humans are enjoying the luxuries of driving.”
“I like the horse and cart, it’s romantic.”
Caleb snorted with amusement. “Sure, Ara. That’s why you are pawing my car.”
She snatched her hand back. “I’m tactile.”
“That wasn’t a complaint.” He leaned his head closer to the dash. “I’m sure that … what was that?”
She frowned at him looking at the dash, thinking she’d done something wrong.
“The car was enjoying the caresses and wants Fyr’Lahlia?” He cocked his head.
Ara laughed. “Idiot.”
Caleb parked down the road and was about to turn around. “Are you sure you will be over three hundred for Virgo?”
“That’s what the Cardinal Unit has recorded.”
“Hmmmm.”
“What?”
He shrugged and tapped the wheel but Ara’s eyes moved down to his legs, tight in the pants. She felt a tightening in her loins at the sight of him, even his arms turned her on as he bunched up the arms of his shirt, his muscles flexing under the skin.
“I think you are ready now.”
She considered this. “I’m not sure.”
“Then, Baby, that’s all that counts. Tell me about your interest in vehicles, which ones?”
To Ara, Caleb seemed somehow older than he was. He’d been away a lot more and maybe his new life was maturing him. “Land, sea, air, space—I’ve designed several. Tekko and I even make models and remote controlled miniatures.”
A shadow crossed his face but he smiled reassuringly at her and then turned the car around. “I’d like to see them one day.” They chatted as they drove back to the homestead, Mum now close to where they had made out; they glanced at each other and started laughing. Caleb’s Voice beeped. He swore. “Impatient bastards.”
Feeling a little shy, she said, “I made something for you.”
His eyes lit up and he looked around.
“There’s something I want to do and say when I give it to you.” She smiled as she said this, and made sure she looked into his eyes.
Caleb’s interest was piqued and he nodded. “Alright.” He kissed her but asked a little nervously, “Do you still love me?”
“I do. And you?” She was as nervous.
“I love you still.”
Grinning at each other like loons made them both laugh
softly. He hugged her one more time. She waved him off, feeling excitement at the prospect of giving him something that would mean a step up in their relationship if he accepted. After he disappeared around the bend, his arm out and waving to her, she headed up.
Sacha was waiting just inside the back door and, before Ara could comment on Sacha’s new look, apparently busy while Ara had been out, she said, “Well, I see talking helped.”
She laughed. “Yeah, talking.”
Sacha circled her arm around Ara’s waist. “Let’s have some ice cream and you can tell all.”
Ara burst out laughing. “Did Tricia tell you about the ice cream thing?”
“Maybe—” The sounds of laughter interrupted them.
Dad came through to wave them over to the kitchen bench. He glanced at Sacha who was currently sporting short, red hair, still wearing green contacts though, and no makeup. They sat on stools while Terance leaned on the counter. His dark eyes were alight with something. “What will you two have for lunch? It’s my treat.”
Ara grinned and gave him her order. She then said, “You look happy over something, Dad.”
“I am.” He went to the cooler. “There’s an opening at the Saratoga Wildlife Park—”
Ara squealed like a kid and jumped off the stool. She ran around to hug him.
He laughed and patted her back. “It’s only an interview but I think they’ll take you on, if you want the job. It’s less skills training and more mucking out. You know the drill, start at the—”
“Bottom and work to the top. I know.”
Ara walked back around, smiling at Sacha.
“Lion tamer, Ara.” She attempted to make a whip cracking noise but she accidently spat saliva making Dad laugh at her. “Dad!”
When he managed to stop himself from laughing, he said, “Not quite yet, Sach. But if Ara enjoys the work, there are other opportunities down the path.” He pulled out the bread, baked the day before, and some cheeses. “You’ll be working in a different department but we can get together for some lunches.”
