Dovetailed

by RaShelle Workman

  Venus was wearing a uniform similar to that of Zaren’s Formytian one, only white. It was sleek and allowed him to feel every curve of her body. He found a space between the top and the bottom where her skin was visible and he brushed his fingers against her. She shuddered.

  “Michael,” she whispered, moving her hands under his shirt.

  If they kept this up, he wouldn’t be able to stop. “I love you, Venus.” She kissed his neck, along his collarbone. “If you don’t stop now, I’m going to want to go all the way,” he moaned into her hair.

  “I know.”

  Michael heard the sadness in her voice. They needed a change of pace. “I bet I can run faster than you,” he said against her hair.

  She bubbled over with laughter, and they both relaxed. “Only one way to find out,” she said, unwinding herself from him. He missed her nearness, but smiled too.

  “You want to take me on?”

  “Psssh, there won’t be a contest.” Venus stood and pulled Michael up.

  “First one to reach the bottom of the mountain wins.” Michael smacked her on the butt.

  “Deal,” she yelped.

  But he’d already taken off. He hadn’t used his powers to run yet. In all honesty he had no idea how fast he could go. The way his body moved and the feel of the wind against his face and in his hair felt faster than normal and he didn’t get tired. It felt as though he could run forever. In what seemed like no time he was at the bottom of the hill. Venus was already there.

  “How the Helker did you manage that?”

  Venus snorted. “I’ve got skills, dear husband.” She patted him on the arm. “Let’s try something else. How about arm wrestling?”

  Michael laughed. “Fine. Okay. Wife. Let’s do this.” He glanced around for a flat surface. There wasn’t one, so he pulled her close. “How about another kiss?”

  She smiled. “I’d like that.”

  Their lips smashed together. This time there was no holding back. This time it was all passion. He knew she needed him as badly as he needed her. And he wanted her right now.

  He tried to get her shirt off. It was complicated, to say the least, and the damn thing wouldn’t move.

  After several minutes, Michael let out a groan of frustration.

  Venus laughed.

  Michael sighed, leaning back to see her face. Some of her hair had fallen out of her braid. “We’ve got to stop.”

  “I know.” She stepped back.

  “So what’s next for you?” he asked, turning her around and pulling out the tie that held her hair. Michael gently ran his fingers through her hair and allowed it to fall against her back.

  “What are you doing?” Venus asked, tucking the back of her head against his neck.

  He sighed and pushed her forward. “I’m going to re-braid your hair.”

  She chuckled. “You know how?”

  Michael hated to admit it, but yes. He actually learned the technique in Scouts as a kid, braiding rope. He was good at it and it came easy to him.

  “Of course I do,” he snorted, grasping her hair with one hand and running his fingers through it with the other.

  “Mmmmmm,” she said and Michael knew she was enjoying it.

  So was he. Touching her, being near her, it was all he wanted. He braided her hair quickly and used the tie to hold it in place. When he’d finished, he swatted her on the butt softly.

  Venus yelped and then sighed. “I’d like for us to run away to some deserted planet and spend several weeks in seclusion.” She pressed her body into his.

  Michael groaned. “I like the sound of that.” He moved her braid and kissed her neck. Venus shivered. Michael smiled. He loved that he could make her feel good. “There are so many…” he trailed off, kissing a trailed up her neck. “Many, many parts of you…” he stopped talking and nibbled on her earlobe. “I still want to explore.”

  Venus moaned, turning in his arms to face him. Her vivid blue eyes searched his face. “I want to get to know all of you.” She stood on tiptoes and suckled his bottom lip.

  Michael lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his hips.

  Their lips crashed into each other. Man, he wished they were in a bedroom and had all the time in the world.

  But they weren’t. Now wasn’t the time. It killed him to think it, but they needed to stop. “Dammit,” he growled.

  “I know,” she said, leaning her forehead against his cheek. “Did you come to Earth to find me?” Michael shook his head. She lifted hers. “No? Then why are you here?”

  He took a deep breath. “The Sisters have discovered how I can obtain the blood of the fallen.”

  “They have?” Venus pushed his hair off his face. The gentleness of her touch sent tingles over his body.

  “Tawny,” he said.

  Venus froze. “Really?”

  “Yes. I’m hoping she’ll just give it to me. That’s what the Leviathan leader did.”

  “How will you find her? Get close enough to her?”

  He smirked. Venus was amazing. Looking into her eyes, watching the way she spoke, he forgot momentarily that she was a god.

  You’re as close to a god as she is.

  Different but the same.

  Savior .

  That word again. The Sistine Sisters had an annoying way of freaking him out.

  “I have my ways,” Michael finally said.

  Venus laughed, touching his eyebrows and tracing them. He closed his eyes for a moment, longing for some alone time. He really wanted to seal their marriage.

  “Be careful, okay?” She kissed his eyelids.

  “I will,” he said, cupping her butt and pulling her closer. Michael watched her eyes dilate. “What?” he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.

  “I want you, husband.”

  He crushed his lips to hers. “Soon.” He set her on the ground and she stepped back. They were both breathing heavily and, as soon as her body was no longer touching his, he ached for her to return.

  “The next time I see you, we need to take this further,” she said, touching his chest.

  He covered her small hand with his. “Promise.”

  She vanished. His body strained with desire. He’d never wanted someone so much in his life, but he needed to focus. He needed to find Tawny.

  “Alright, ladies. What now?”

  The sisters exhaled in unison.

  “You two are lovely together.”

  “The perfect couple.”

  “Destined.”

  “Fine. I get it, but I need you to focus. We need to find Tawny.” As he spoke to the sisters in his mind, he watched the sun set. It felt like forever since he’d seen that. The sun was a deep red orange as it hung large in the clear blue sky. In the distance were the Rocky Mountains, and he watched the sun slowly sink behind them.

  He thought the Sisters were smitten until they started talking.

  Let’s start at her house.

  Where does she live?

  Home .

  “Fine.” He was about to go Ferether, since it was easier to travel that way, but the door to Chev’s house opened and she headed straight toward him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Michael noticed she didn’t have any of the stress or sadness or pain she’d had when he saw her in Helker. She looked refreshed, actually, and it made him wonder how much she remembered. “Hey Chev,” he said, tucking his hands in the back pockets of his jeans.

  “You know me?” One eyebrow came up.

  “Of course. We’ve gone to school together since… forever.” Michael rubbed the back of his neck, feeling slightly awkward.

  Chev grabbed her head. “Cheese on crackers, I can’t remember.”

  “Oh,” he asked. “What happened?”

  She shrugged. “No one knows.” She crossed her arms as though she were cold. The sun had set, but it was still warm out. “What’s your name?”

  “I’m Michael,” he said, wondering if his name would ring any bells.


  “Oh.”

  The door to her house opened and her father came out. “Who is it?” he asked.

  Chev turned. “It’s Michael. A friend from school?” She spoke the last part in a question.

  Her father ran off the porch, a shot gun aimed at Michael’s chest. “You’ve been missing too. The police found your father’s body. Where have you been? And don’t lie to me, boy.”

  Michael raised his hands in surrender. “I went to stay with some relatives in Colorado. I just got back and heard Chev had been found. I wanted to make sure she was okay.” The lies came way too easily and he schooled his features so he looked concerned.

  “Oh.” Chev’s father lowered his gun. “We were sorry to hear about your mother and your father. Serious bad luck.” He grabbed Chev by the arm. “As you can imagine, we’re being extra cautious. A lot of strange stuff has been happening around here lately. Another student turned up dead and two more are missing.” Chev walked backward with her father. “You can understand if I’m not as cordial as I could be.”

  “Of course. I’m sorry to bother you…” He dropped his hands.

  “It’s alright. You back for good?”

  Michael shook his head. “Nah, just came by to make sure Chev was okay.”

  Her father stopped and raised the gun to Michael’s chest again. “How’d you get out here? I don’t see a vehicle.”

  Michael swore internally. In the same instant he suddenly knew how to create the illusion of one. And he did. The Sisters snickered and clapped. He shook his head and then turned. “It’s right there.” He pointed at the large black truck.

  Chev’s father blinked several times. “Right. Well, you better git.” He lowered his gun once again but continued to drag Chev until they were on the porch.

  “Got it,” Michael said and waved, then turned and jogged toward the truck. When he heard the door to the house shut, he made the truck disappear and he changed into a shadow, easily blending into the night.

  The coronation had been quick; Modna said a few words and Palmo and the other Chans offered their congratulations, as did the Formytians, Zaren, and Palamina. It’d been over before it really began. Modna placed the crown on her head and the ceremony was complete.

  Amberlee was surprised the crown fit so perfectly, as though it’d been made for her. Like a fifty-pound barbell, it weighed her down.

  Make Mom proud. Make Mom proud. You can do it. Make Mom proud.

  She’d changed into clothing that appeared more queenly: a long black coverlet with a long slit up either side of her thighs and embroidery-covered indigo pants. The outfit was more comfortable than she thought it would be. It looked like something her mother would have worn; in fact, it was possible Modna might’ve retrieved the outfit from her mother’s closet.

  For some reason the thought of wearing her mother’s clothes both creeped her out and comforted her at the same time.

  “You look beautiful,” Palmo said. There wasn’t much light, just a blue glow.

  “Thank you,” Amberlee replied.

  She, Palmo, Zaren, Palamina, and three other Formytians had left the Chans in the war room and were headed down to the tunnels.

  Hovering behind them was a motorized cart made of thrantum. It was filled with supplies: blankets, food patches, and cleaning tablets. It was enough to last her people several months, but she hoped they wouldn’t have to remain in hiding that long.

  Amberlee felt slightly claustrophobic so far underground. The air was dank, like wet dirt and each footstep the company of seven took reverberated around them, lulling her into a hypnotic state. Their march was slow going. She’d wanted to ask how much longer but kept quiet, especially since she knew the slow pace wore on the others’ nerves as well. More than once she heard one Formytian whisper to another that it would’ve been better if they could’ve used Britorent. Since Amberlee and Palmo hadn’t been through the transformation yet, it wasn’t possible.

  The tunnels held a secret location only a select few had known until the war began. It’d been built and maintained for this exact moment. Amberlee hadn’t been in them before today. She’d arrogantly believed the tunnels weren’t necessary and had even commented to her father once that building them was a waste of time.

  Before the war, the whole idea of needing a safe place for her people to hide had seemed so far-fetched, like something only barbarians took part in. Not any more.

  She realized war was about power. King Antyon was about power, pure and simple. The king wanted all of it and he would lie, steal, cheat, murder, and more to get what he wanted. He was twisted and full of evil.

  Amberlee hated him. She would do anything to bring him down. He deserved to pay for what he’d done to her parents, to everyone he’d betrayed.

  “Stop,” Zaren whispered, bringing Amberlee out of her thoughts. The company halted behind him. Amberlee realized they’d come to a door.

  “This is a checkpoint,” Zaren announced, looking directly at her.

  Amberlee had no idea what that meant, but she nodded. One thing she was certain of was that Zaren would never lead her or the people of Alayeah astray. He could be relied upon. He was trustworthy. She’d seen him in action down in Helker and understood why Venus had fallen for him, why she trusted him so fully.

  For probably the tenth time she wondered where Venus had gone. She’d said she wouldn’t abandon her, yet it felt like she had.

  Zaren pressed his hand against the door. It glowed a deep blue, outlining his large hand.

  “Access granted,” a female voice said and the door clicked open.

  The presence of technology so far underground surprised her. It surprised Palmo too. She heard him gasp. They looked and each other. Amberlee shrugged.

  “How much farther?” she asked once they went through the checkpoint.

  “Not long now.”

  Palmo sighed.

  His impatience irritated her, probably because she wanted to be impatient too, but couldn’t. It wouldn’t be becoming of a Queen.

  This hallway was different from the others they’d come through. It wasn’t made of dirt, but some kind of black material. The lights reflected off the substance, making the way shine.

  The other huge difference with this tunnel was the Formytian guards standing on either side every ten feet. They reminded her of statues because they didn’t move, except for their eyes. She knew their presence was to keep out intruders, but they made her uncomfortable and she hastened her pace.

  Palmo didn’t seem too excited to talk with the additional guards around, either, so they kept to themselves. Amberlee became lost in her own thoughts and the knowledge that so much had changed over the past several months. Before all this had happened, if someone had said she’d be queen before her sixteenth birthday, or at all, she would have laughed in their faces and told them they were crazy.

  Yet there she was, crowned with the full support of the Chans and headed to gods knew where to help her people.

  A nervous flutter came to life in her belly. What if they didn’t like her? What if they rejected her as Queen?

  Everyone knew what she’d done, that she’d betrayed the king and queen, and they’d been killed because of her. Why wouldn’t they hate her? If she were in their shoes she had no doubt she’d hate herself.

  She already did.

  Zaren interrupted her thoughts again. They’d reached another door. He pressed his hand to the center. Blue light surrounded his hand.

  “Access granted.” It was the same female voice that’d been at the other door. Come to think of it, the voice was the same as the one used in the castle to monitor them while they slept: The Body Sensor voice. For some reason that comforted her. She knew the voice was computer generated.

  The door clicked open. Instead of Zaren opening it all the way, two Formytians came through and blocked their path.

  “State your business,” one said to Zaren.

  He and Palamina each placed a hand over their chest. “I�
��ve brought the newly crowned Queen of Alayeah.” Zaren turned to introduce Amberlee.

  She worked not to shrink against the wall or hide behind the supply cart. Instead she straightened and gave him what she hoped was a queenly smile.

  The guard looked surprised.

  “She also brought supplies.”

  Whatever he might’ve thought about Amberlee being queen, it immediately changed at the mention of supplies. He relaxed. “Food? Blankets? Cleaning packets?” the guardian asked hopefully.

  “Yes to all three,” Zaren said.

  Both of the guards pushed open the door and allowed the group of seven to pass.

  Zaren beckoned Amberlee to come forward. When she stood next to him he whispered, “You’ll do great.”

  She nodded, too afraid to speak, and worried her voice would betray how scared she was.

  As they moved forward the room grew lighter and lighter until the hallway opened into an enormous cavern. Amberlee swayed to a stop, nearly knocked over by the stench of waste and unclean Kelarians. Her silver eyes scanned the room. Thousands of Alayeahian citizens were holed up down here.

  A male, dressed in shabby clothes, approached Zaren. He spoke softly, but still loud enough for Amberlee and several of the nearby kels to hear: “My name is Manny. I’ve sort of been nominated leader down here.” He gave Amberlee a fiery glare. “She isn’t welcome. The child is a traitor and we believe she should be killed for her crimes.” He returned his focus to Zaren. “Even if I told each kel to leave her alone, I can’t keep watch over every person all the time. She would be killed where she slept her first night.”

  Zaren’s face went stony. He pressed a hand against Manny’s chest, moving him out of the way.

  “Hey,” Manny said.

  Palamina put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. “Don’t.”

  Manny crossed his arms, but kept glancing at Amberlee. She took a step closer to Zaren.

  “A lot has happened since the war started. Ith and Aetha have left Kelari,” Zaren began. The crowd responded with fear and outrage. Zaren raised his hands. “Please remain calm. They didn’t leave us alone. There is a new goddess who is doing all she can to save our planet. Her name is Venus. I’m sure most, if not all of you, know her.”