Fire - Betrayal

by Amelia Grace

  We kissed slowly at first, until Nic kissed me urgently, whispering my name. I pulled away from him. He was too intense. I held him tightly to help him calm down. He took a step away from me and then returned to me, standing very closely, holding my hands.

  “Cate, I love you so deeply, and I can’t bear to be away from you. I tried to walk away from you because I want you to love me, and only me. Do you think that you will love only me in time? Will you put away that photograph of him? He brings out such a jealousy in me, that I have never felt before,” Nic said emotionally.

  I moved my hands to Nic’s face and said tenderly, “Nic, I love you. I will put that photograph away, for you. And, he’s never coming back Nic. He’s like, in another world. It is only me and you now…”

  I didn’t get to finish what I was saying, because Nic was kissing me tenderly before he pulled away.

  “Stay with me tonight Cate,“ Nic said, “I want to hold you close to me all night.”

  I looked at Nic. I could see the longing in his eyes.

  “Where will we sleep?” I whispered.

  “Here,“ said Nic.

  “Which room?“ I asked.

  “Any room that you desire.” And then he kissed me deeply again. I knew that he wanted to become one with me. But we each had our own promises to keep.

  Chapter 34

  Interactions

  I returned home at about 7 o’clock in the morning, greeted by my mum who had a huge smile on her face.

  “Well, how was it??” my mum said smiling, implying that I had finally slept with Cate.

  “Mum, yes I went to sleep next to Cate, but I did not “sleep” with her,“ I explained, “and why am I telling you this anyway?”

  I looked to the floor, anxious to tell my parents about a decision that I had made.

  “Mum, dad, I’m planning on asking Cate to marry me. I know that I’ve only know her for a short time but, she’s the one I’ve been waiting for. Please don’t tell her. I want to ask for her parent’s permission first, okay,” I said, my heart thumping in my chest.

  Mum let out a loud shrill of excitement, and dad shook my hand, smiling. They were chuffed.

  “After I shower and have some breakfast, I’ll be heading back over to be with Cate today. She is finally moving into her house. I’ll call you later okay,” I informed.

  * * *

  I knocked on the front door of Cate’s house, and looked down and waited for her, butterflies in my stomach at the thought of being with her again. A faint squeak of the door made me look up as the front door opened. She smiled as she came crashing into me, a bundle of energy, hugging me. I was put off balance, but managed to stay standing with her wrapped around me. I breathed in deeply trying to slow my heartbeat. I breathed in her sweet scent and then lightly kissed her, and pulled away. She looked up into my eyes as she traced her fingers on my neck and up into my hair. I knew she wanted more, and so I didn’t object as she pulled my lips to hers again and kissed more deeply. I loved it when she did that. It cut into the core of my being and I knew that I wanted her as mine. No other man could have her.

  Within five minutes the house was bustling with furniture being moved in. I helped where I could, but I was fascinated by the way that Cate took control of all of the men. She had them wrapped around her little finger, and there wasn’t anything that they wouldn’t do for her. They were spellbound.

  As the last of the furniture was put into place, Cate turned to me, her face suddenly serious.

  “Nic, please come to lunch with me at my parent’s.” Her eyes were almost sad. How could I say no?

  “I’d like that Cate,” I answered.

  As Cate was about to walk out the front door, I caught her around the waist and pulled her back to me, and kissed her sweetly.

  “I love you Cate,” I whispered. She traced her finger over my bottom lip, and smiled slightly. But her eyes were sad. I wanted to make the sadness go away. But I did not know how.

  The journey to lunch was silent, my anxiety about her building.

  Cate pulled me into her parent’s house by the hand. But she stopped abruptly when we were greeted by the whole family – not only her parents, but her brothers and sister, sisters in law, brother in law, nephews and nieces. They introduced themselves to me and welcomed me warmly.

  After lunch, Cate went and helped her mum clean up. She left me with her brothers. It was like feeding me to the lions. I decided that, it was probably a good thing. Not only would they ask me probing questions, I wanted to ask them some probing questions about Cate.

  I also knew that this was the test of brotherhood. I would not fail.

  “So Nic, we already know all about you from mum and dad. You know that they, and we for that matter are extremely protective of our sister Cate don’t you? We are always looking out for her. If we think for a moment that you are no good for her, we will let you know directly, in no uncertain terms. But on the other hand, if we know that you are treating her as she should be treated, we will be there to support you all the way,” said Cate’s eldest brother Lachlan, and then he held out his hand to shake mine.

  So direct. So confronting, dominant. And I felt the severity of the threat behind the words. It was like making a deal to a certain degree. I looked Lachlan in the eye as he spoke.

  I took his hand and shook it firmly, returning my strength of being, letting him know that I was not intimidated easily. He nodding his head at me and then backed off.

  “Hey Nic, What do you wanna know about Cate, before you fall too heavily for her. Now is your chance to find out some stuff about her and get out if you don’t like what you hear!” added Luke, light heartedly, breaking the tension.

  I smiled, raised my eyebrows and tilted my head to the side. Hmmmm, very tempting. I wanted to ask them about Cate’s ex-boyfriend, but I decided against it. It would be better not to know, because then I would dwell on the information and compare myself to him all the time. I want Cate to love me for who I am.

  I took a deep breath.

  “Well…..I am sure that you are going to spill the beans on lots of things about her. That’s what brothers are for, right?” I said. They broke out in laughter. It was like giving them permission to talk about her.

  Luke leaned forward and rubbed his hands together, ready to speak in hushed tones.

  “About the ex….he” And then Luke stopped speaking. Lachlan had grabbed his shoulder in a threatening way.

  “Forget it Luke. He is not coming back. Cate is over him.”

  And then there was complete silence.

  I suddenly felt totally frustrated. What was Luke going to say about him? I needed to know. But then Cate bounded into the room and grabbed my hand, pulling me off the sofa, smiling at my brothers.

  “Later,” she said to them acidly, with warning in her eyes.

  She dragged me up to her room and closed the door.

  I looked around the room for that photograph of him, it was nowhere to be found.

  Good.

  But, then I felt the impact of a pillow on my back. She totally took me by surprise, and whacked me again.

  Retaliation.

  I picked up the other pillow and hit her back gently. But she was far from gentle. She was assertive and aggressive in her attack. Again I was totally surprised by her vivacity.

  I decided to barrel into her with my head, keeping low for protection from the attack. I grabbed her around the waist and pushed her towards the bed. She landed on her back. I was on top of her.

  As she looked into my eyes, she stopped attacking me with the pillow.So serious now. So beautiful.

  I moved my lips to hers and kissed her gently, and pulled away. I loved her so deeply.

  I rolled off her onto my back.

  “I’m sorry Nic. I got a little carried away,” she apologized.

  “I like it when you get carried away Cate,” I said, looking up at the ceiling, waiting for my high of emotions to descend.

  I rolled onto
my side and looked into her eyes.

  “Thank-you for putting away that photo of him.”

  “Nic, you are far more important than an old photo of him,” she said seriously, and kissed me lightly, before she got off the bed and gathered her boxes and left to load them into the car.

  ***

  Cate’s house was complete, beautiful. Just like Cate. I breathed out my regret of having to leave her for an early training schedule tomorrow.

  “I have to go Cate. I have to be up early in the morning.” I really didn’t want to leave her. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her against me all night.

  I bent down and kissed her, then began walking to the car. I turned around and walked backwards, looking at her. She was leaning on the front door frame.

  “I love you Cate Boswell,” I called.

  “And I love you Nicholas Walker,” she said. And then all of a sudden, she was in front of me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed into me, making me melt.

  Defeated, I put my arms around her and held her closely.

  I breathed in deeply. My body truly ached for her.

  I exhaled through my lips.

  Cate, what are you doing to me?

  Releasing her slightly, I brushed my fingers over her cheek and then traced her bottom lip. She moved her fingers gently to my face, and I kissed her slowly, deliciously.

  I pulled away from her, and looked into her eyes.

  “Cate, I have to go – I love you.”

  And then turned and left.

  Chapter 35

  Deceit

  Life is full of twists and turns. The path is hard and winding, interspersed with challenges along the way. Hope comes in bounds and dwindles away with disappointments.

  Hope.

  One must never give up hope, and dreams.

  Placing his hand on the black boulder, for the final time, or so he thought, the blue glow surrounded his hand. The wooden platform appeared next to the trunk of the tree, and Ben stood on it, while it smoothly rose up beside the tree, stopping midway, revealing the familiar stone door.

  He placed his hand on the stone door, and it slowly slid sideways allowing Ben to enter the room of the Council of Elders.

  He bowed as he approached the Council Elders, the Twelve Men and Women who sat around an oval polished granite table, as was custom.

  “Your Highest, my mission is complete. I am no longer the Warrior. I have fulfilled the prophecy in The Book, and Une Autre Terre has been saved from the likelihood of intrusion from the Earth dwellers. I come here requesting your permission to enter the earth to find my love, Cate, to seal my love with her, to marry her. I ask your permission not for your approval, because it is the correct thing to do,” Ben mind communicated humbly, bowing his head.

  “Ben, we respectfully give you our permission. Cate is an honorary Terrean, and is welcome here any time and for as long as she wants, and as your partner. We do however request that you stay in Une Autre Terre for another seven days, seven nights and seven hours, to fulfill The Prophecy in The Book, as it is written.

  We cannot thank-you enough for what you have done for us. There is no other Terrean held as highly as you. We will never forget you, our Warrior, who saved us from total destruction and death. We all bow our heads to you, and give praise to our Maker for your creation. Thank-you Ben,” said the Highest Elder, a tear in his eye.

  Ben nodded his head in acknowledgement of their praise, and their demand that he stay for seven days, seven nights and seven hours before he finally leaves, and then calmly left the meeting place of the Council of Elders.

  He did not take the smooth platform to the ground. He jumped down, not caring about the damage that he may cause himself. He was furious. He was frustrated. And his heart was aching for Cate.

  He ran at great speed through the rainforest to his place of solace again. He had let himself get his hopes up at returning to the earth immediately and finding his one and only true love. But he had been sorely disappointed. He yelled out in utter frustration, and smashed his fists into the floor of the forest.

  Then he walked the forest floor aimlessly with a sadness that filled his mind. He let the tears stream down his face. He crossed his arms over his chest where his heart ached for her, and then he found himself lying naked in the stream of cool running water. It soothed his mind and body, and gave him the strength to continue on for another seven days, seven nights, and seven hours.

  And then, as he sat naked by the stream, letting his body dry before putting his clothes back on, he sensed that he was being watched. He sat as still as he could, and listened.

  He sensed that the person watching him was a woman. Had it been a man, he would have made himself known, of that he was sure.

  He quickly stood and clothed himself, and then with his back to her, he mind communicated with her.

  “How long have you been watching me Jacinta?” Ben questioned her.

  “I don’t know if I should tell you that Ben,” she replied.

  “Then you did see me naked in the stream,” Ben communicated to her, turning to face her now.

  “Male beauty so incredible that I have not seen it here before in the other men,” Jacinta added.

  “Why have you come here, what do you want?” Ben asked.

  “I just happened to be walking through the rainforest, and I caught a glimpse of you out of the corner of my eye. You were too irresistible to ignore Ben. I was making my way back to the village. I did not intend to run into you at all, “Jacinta explained.

  Ben looked into her eyes searching for the truth. Then he closed the pupils of his eyes. Jacinta was trying to burn her eyes into his, making him hers. He knew exactly what she was trying to do, and he could see right through her.

  Jacinta looked away, her feathers ruffled. No-one ever turned her down from anything. She always got what she wanted, and she wanted Ben. She had wanted him since she first laid her eyes upon him, when he arrived as the Messenger.

  Ben commenced walking briskly through the rainforest towards the village, hoping that Jacinta would leave him alone.

  But, she matched his briskness, to his disappointment.

  “Now that you have finished you mission Ben, what is it that you will do?” asked Jacinta.

  “I am leaving Une Autre Terre to return to the earth to be with Cate,” Ben answered her.

  “But, you cannot depart yet Ben. You must stay for seven more days, nights and hours,” commented Jacinta.

  Ben looked at her suspiciously.

  “You have been communicating with the Council Elders haven’t you Jacinta? What you have just told me is not common knowledge,“ Ben accused.

  “That is true Ben. I was simply enquiring about you, and they gave me that information,” added Jacinta nervously.

  “So be it. It will be common knowledge now, what with our abilities to mind communicate and all,” Ben said with sarcasm.

  “Please sit with my family tonight for the evening meal Ben,” asked Jacinta, keen to spend as much time as she could with him.

  “I thank-you for your invitation, but I have already planned to spend each evening with my own family, before I leave for the earth again,” said Ben.

  They parted ways as they entered the peaceful village, Ben full of rage, but working very hard to remain calm.

  Jacinta was full of plans to win Ben’s affections, and to stop him from leaving their world. And, when she started something, she never lost.

  Meticulously, Jacinta organized a surprise for Ben each day. However, he would not know that it was organized by her. That way, he would be more accepting of her gifts, and advances.

  She would leave a note at his family breakfast table each day, giving him instructions on what awaited him, as a thank-you gift from the Terreans. From tomorrow, there would be six days left, so that meant six opportunities to steal Ben from Cate. Her plan was thus:

  Day one – sports games on the beach

  Day two – reef sno
rkeling

  Day three – orienteering

  Day four - massage

  Day five – picnic at hanging rock

  Day six – farewell celebration – which she had also planned that the farewell party could be turned into a celebratory party of their love, and that Ben would stay in Une Autre Terre.

  Immediately she got busy organizing and informing Terreans of events and times, and then set her plan into action. She would not lose, she never did.

  Her own individual plan was very specific. He must not be overtly aware of her advances, She would be very subtle by being present at each of the events, watching from a distance, and more often than not, coming into contact with him, accidently brushing against him, but not talking to him, encouraging him to chase her, but not wanting to be caught until she allowed it.

  Jacinta behaved exactly as she had planned for the first three days, and she got to touch Ben more than she had planned. A couple of times, she even stood next to him and placed her hand on his arm for quite a while, as if they were a couple.

  By day four, Jacinta decided to put the pressure on. With a group of friends, Ben was having a relaxing scented oil massage. After a short while, Jacinta quietly entered the massage tent and took over the task of masseur for Ben.

  She did not talk to him, and she did not make herself known to him. She concentrated her refined gifts into his muscles and bones, infiltrating his body with hers.

  Unknown to Jacinta, Ben had recognized immediately when Jacinta had taken over the role of masseur. He read her mind as she touched him and then used his refined gifts to shield his muscles and bones from her deceitful attack. His mind and body were truly repulsed by her.

  However, Jacinta was very pleased with the progress that she felt that she had made. She truly believed in herself that Ben was responding to her.

  The picnic at hanging rock that she had planned was more of an intimate affair, with only a handful of couples invited. That way, she could give all of her undivided attention to him, burning her eyes into him at every chance available. She would not lose. Ben would be hers.