by Lynn Vroman
“Shit.”
After a trip to Wilma’s, now with a shovel in hand, he dug through the sodden forest floor until he reached the rich, black soil four feet down. Sweat mingled with the rain, running into his eyes. He wiped his face with the lip of his sweater then climbed to the now quiet animal, the bark scratching his fingers.
Once he made it close enough to the bulbous head, he sighed, relieved. At least he wouldn’t have to kill it. Nature did the job for him.
Glancing toward the trailer park, thankfully the crap weather keeping everyone in, Tarek gripped the nearest cold tentacle and yanked. Tangled limbs made it hard to pull the squid free without ripping off any body parts, the bacteria in this place already working to rot the flesh.
He climbed higher, some of the dead branches snapping off under his weight. Grabbing at the top of the bloated head, his hand sinking too far into the soft, gelatinous skin, he gave it a hard jerk.
The carcass finally lost its hold on the tree. Tarek shifted before it took him down, too. It fell in a flailing, flapping mess and landed exactly where he wanted it–in the shallow trench right below the tree.
∞ ∞ ∞
By the time he showered and did what he could to get the black blood off his clothes, it was close to eleven when he made it back to Lena. Wouldn’t you know it, as soon as he was about to knock on the door, Jake’s whistling caught his attention. Tarek stepped aside, giving the guy room to unlock the door, but Jake just stood at the edge of the porch and twirled his keys.
“You going to open the door?”
“In a minute,” Jake said, palming his keychain. “I think we should have a talk first.”
His jaw flexed a few times before answering. “So talk.”
“Had a chat with Lena today. She told me some things.” Jake smiled, making his crooked nose more pronounced.
“And what…things…did she tell you?”
“Oh, crazy stuff, the kinds of things only young kids would believe–vulnerable young kids who just escaped an abusive father.”
His fists curled against his thighs. Not hitting the guy made his knuckles ache. “What’re you getting at?”
Jake rolled his shoulders and shifted his weight from foot to foot. “I’ve had a few hours to think things over, and guess what I came up with?”
Just one hit, right to the chin… Damn, his knuckles hurt. “Enlighten me.”
“You need to stay away from her. Find someone else to spin your bullshit on.”
“Is that what you think? Her mother told you what happened to her husband, right? Did I…spin that, too?”
The guy couldn’t hold still. His shoulder roll turned into an entire body shuffle. “Stay the hell away from her. I’ll take it from here.”
“Not a good idea.”
Jake laughed, shoving Tarek away from the door as he fit the key in the lock. “Time for you to leave, tough guy.”
Hmm, don’t think so.
“You need proof, tough guy?” Tarek grabbed the front of Jake’s jacket, lifting him off the ground. A twinge of respect inched its way through his anger. Even as Jake dangled four inches off the porch, the guy still tried to take a swipe at him.
“Put me down, asshole!” Jake flailed around, almost slipping out of his grip–almost.
The funny part: both managed to keep their voices at a whisper, neither obviously wanting the two inside to hear.
Tarek smiled and raised his other hand in the foggy air, repeating what the guy said to him earlier. “In a minute.”
He opened his fist and a small sliver in the atmosphere ripped open, whipping his hair around and causing Jake’s eyes to bulge.
“With one thought, I can take us places you can’t begin to comprehend, and I’m not the only one who can.” Tarek opened the portal wider when Jake let out a small moan. “This is why Lena needs me.”
A few seconds more to make sure the guy really got it and Tarek closed his hand into a fist, shutting the portal. He set Jake on his feet, making sure he didn’t fall on his ass. “Do you get it now?”
Jake’s face turned white. “Is she going to die?”
His stomach knotted. “Not as long as I’m breathing.” He nodded toward the door. “Open it.”
As soon as they walked through, Lena’s drowsy grin turned to a frown. Giving her mom’s hand a pat, she slid off the couch. “What’s wrong?”
Jake glanced at Tarek. “Nothing, kiddo. Just a little tired. Ah, hey, Jacie, wanna get something to eat?”
The woman didn’t budge. “I’m not hungry.”
Jake tried to guide her into the kitchen. “Well, can you sit with me while I get something?”
“What’s going on?” Jacie’s thin face paled. She yanked her elbow out of Jake’s grip, backing up.
Tarek caught Lena’s attention and started another one of their silent conversations, pleading with her to help. She shook her head and copied Jake’s smile. “It’s fine, Mom, really. Tarek and I need to talk about some things.”
Jacie directed her anger toward Lena, setting Tarek’s teeth on edge. “I’m not a child, and I won’t break, damn it! I know something’s going on and everybody’s in on it but me.”
Lena’s shoulders sagged and her smile vanished. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and leave this place.
“You’re right, but please, when I can, I’ll tell you everything, okay?”
“I can help.” Her childlike voice grated his nerves further.
“Not this time, Mom.”
Jacie’s eyes filled as she grabbed her cigarettes and headed for the door. “I’m going for a walk.”
Jake went to follow her.
“Alone.”
Lena pulled the curtains over to watch her mother leave then turned to Jake, worry written all over her face.
“Right. I’m gonna follow her, make sure she’s okay.”
Tarek didn’t miss the scowl she threw his way.
Before Jake left, she repeated, “What’s wrong?”
“Ask your friend.”
When the door shut behind the guy, Lena turned to him, shoving at his chest. “What did you do?”
“I showed him the truth.”
“Showed him?”
He stayed silent as Lena ranted for another few minutes, calling him names, doing her best to push him. She flopped on the couch after she finished, and he stood in the same spot, watching traffic out the front window, using everything he had to stay calm.
“Are you gonna talk, or do I have to guess?” Her voice was flat, empty.
“We need to worry about bigger things than hurting your mother’s feelings.” He stayed by the door, his arms hanging at his sides, pain eating his chest.
“Aren’t you supposed to worry about that so I can live my life?”
He dragged his gaze to hers. “Sorry,” he said, eyes narrowing, “I have trouble separating you from the Lena I knew.” He regretted the lie as soon as it left his mouth.
She jumped off the couch, standing right in his face. “Is that supposed to be an insult?” She began to laugh, her eyes becoming large and round. “Because, trust me, I’m glad I’m not her.”
Tarek looked down, the urge to apologize as strong as the urge to shake some sense into her. “You,” he jabbed a finger at her chest, “are acting like a child.”
“Exactly! One who only wants to go to school, run track.” A sob escaped her throat. “Be as ignorant as everyone else here.”
It would’ve hurt less if she stabbed him in the throat.
“I just want to be normal, forget about all this.”
“We can’t all have what we want.” Damn it. If his voice cracked anymore, he’d have to ask for a box of tissues.
She fell back on the couch, her body curling into a ball. “I’m done with this.”
Her soft crying made him forget his own hurt as he sat on the edge of the couch. He pulled her hands away from her face. “Whether I leave or stay, they’re coming for you.”
Tea
rs fell harder as she folded her body into his arms. It didn’t take long for him to bring her in close. He might not be what she wanted, but he’d take this…he’d take anything she wanted to give. He placed his palm on her heart. “You’re the bravest person I know. Don’t forget that. You.”
They stayed there, not watching the television, as he stroked her hair, rubbed her arm, her cheek, savoring the feeling of her body against his. She wanted normal, the normal she knew here. If she wanted that, he’d give it to her. But first… “Lena?” An idea had his heart drumming.
“Yeah?” Her voice sounded groggy, thick, as though she’d been on the verge of sleep.
“There’s something I want to show you.”
She snuggled closer. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”
He smiled, running a finger up and down her arm. “I don’t think so.” He guided her off the couch with him.
Her droopy eyes shined, and a smile shadowed her lips. At least she didn’t seem to want to rip his face off anymore. Not that it would’ve been the first time she’d wanted to take a chunk out of him.
Flashes of memory hit his frontal lobe, tightening his chest. If she only knew how much he loved her…loved her exactly as she was, at this moment. Guess he had to show her.
“Are we going somewhere?” She sounded so fragile, and the way she dressed, always in baggy sweats that swam on her, was…different. The severe style she’d taken to wearing in her prior three cycles now seemed ridiculous, not her at all. At least, not who she was now. She was less reserved in this life, vulnerable and strong at the same time and easier to get close to.
With the restraint of a saint, or eunuch, he pulled her up to his chest and tried to concentrate. “It’s time I give you a piece of us.”
Tarek went inside his head, building his energy while navigating dimensions. When he found what he’d been looking for, his free arm rose to open the portal. Trying to stay focused and get the damn thing open while she nuzzled his chest was like doing the backstroke in lava. Not possible.
“You need to stop that.” He squirmed, his body heating as sparks jumped through his stomach.
“You always smell like apples and flowers.” She inhaled deeper, making it hard for him to breath.
“It’s our orchard.” The strain of control made his voice a whisper, and against his better judgment, he bent to kiss the top of her head, allowing his lips to linger in the softness of her hair.
“Our orchard? Is that where we’re going?” She craned her neck, and green eyes shot him straight in the heart.
Mouth dry, he said, “Somewhere better.”
“Oh…okay.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his chest.
He raised his arm again, chuckling even as his body temperature elevated to flaming. “You’re killing me.”
Tarek
Empyrean…
Knowledge used to be the one thing blocking them from coming here after retiring from Exemplar. Lena had told him she’d almost figured it out. A way to make sure they’d find each other and still be able to live full cycles, experience childhood excitement. The dream disappeared when they took her, but the place remained as magnificent as he remembered.
Serene villages suspended in the air formed a clustered array of squat and fat and tall and needle-like buildings that dotted the horizon. The roofs, an abstract spectacular chaos, were splashes of royal blue amongst the salmon-colored masses. Each village self-sustaining and living in harmonious peace with neighboring villages and towns.
Where they landed happened to be on an overlook of the Warden’s manse, breathtaking in its own right, floating as if it were the leader of all the clusters ballooning in the sky. The drawbridge resembling a dull pink tongue shadowed fresh water canals where bright-colored fish swam.
This place was his inspiration to build their cottage in Exemplar, outside the city walls in the middle of the meadow. Away from the sterility high-evolution created.
As the slit in the atmosphere closed, Tarek gauged Lena’s reaction. “What do you think?”
“It’s amazing!” She broke from his arms and walked closer to the floating cities. “What is this place?”
“Empyrean. Paradise.”
“The houses, they’re floating!”
“Yeah, you always loved that particular feature.” Not as much as he loved her, though. The peace this place always gave him settled in his heart when she picked a bright red flower and tucked it behind her ear.
But as peaceful as the dimension was, the Warden didn’t like intruders–the main reason why these people enjoyed a tranquil existence. She’d be here soon; they were too close for her not to notice the stir in the atmosphere. He just hoped she’d be willing to do what he planned to ask of her–without blowing him up.
“I’ve never seen anything more…” She ran to him, her hands fisting in his sweater. “Is this heaven?”
He covered her hands, smiling even though the Warden was probably pissed right about now. Hopefully Lena being here would be enough to calm her down. “Heaven doesn’t exist.”
She let go of him and waved an arm around. “Of course it does.” Her eyes shined bright green, so different than the deep, dark brown they used to be. The green…they were ethereal.
Before he could stop, he reached for her arm and pulled her close. When his lips found hers, fire ignited in his stomach then raged when she circled his neck and drew him closer. He cupped her cheeks, memorizing the softness of her mouth, the taste…so different. The very essence of her was so much more potent, alive.
Tarek pulled away, but only a fraction. Her groan and the tug on his sweater made his blood burn hotter.
“I wanted to show you Empyrean because–” The bridge lowered as Teenesee rode out on her horse in a direct path to where they stood. “Damn.”
He held Lena tighter and tried to keep the stress out of his whisper. “Do you see that woman coming for us?” He pointed toward the rider and waited for her to turn and nod. “She’s the Warden here–and dangerous if we get on her bad side.”
“Why would I try to do that?” Her voice sounded ragged, her breaths coming out in quick intervals.
“Let me talk and don’t speak until she speaks to you.” He gave her another quick kiss, couldn’t help it. “She kind of hates being interrupted.”
He pushed her behind him, and after taking a deep breath, bowed his head. The Warden’s horse greeted him first. The snorting animal blew at his hair, and its hooves pawed the ground, kicking up the scent of torn grass and earth. He kept his head bowed, even when the thing nudged his chest. Maybe coming here wasn’t such a great idea.
“Raise your head, Protector.” Her voice was deep and musical, lilting in her own language.
Tarek came face to face with her chestnut stallion, its mouth working around the bit. One more cleansing breath and he raised his eyes higher to find Teenesee.
“Warden Teenesee, please let me explain.” He spoke in the Desis language–common in many dimensions, not to mention Lena’s language.
Teenesee stayed upon her horse, proud, strong, and so exquisite, her beauty almost blinded him. Her flawless ebony skin glowed in the dim evening light. As she dismounted, her hand on the hilt of her sword, the topaz of her eyes hypnotized him. Her fire red hair, sleek and touching the edge of her rounded hips, caused an automatic physical reaction. Two inches taller than he, she made sure to look down her nose to show her dominance.
“Why do you come here?” She switched to the Desis language Lena understood, too. Her forest green dress distracted him as much as her face, with just enough fabric to cover her chest, skipping her midriff, and draping across her hips.
Common sense told him her exaggerated beauty was a weapon to distract enemies. But the area in his brain that registered all testosterone and awkward male couldn’t help but stare in adoration. He licked his lips, hoping he didn’t sound like a squealing boy. “I need your help…for Lena.” Lena’s fingers tightened on his
shirt.
Teenesee’s beauty, the effect of it rather, evaporated slightly as though she reduced its intensity. “Her energy is still whole?”
The two women were close, or at least they used to be before Lena’s punishment. The Warden tolerated him, ignoring him mostly when he and Lena used to come here. “Yes.”
“I am surprised. Her crimes justified energy disbursement.”
Anger pumped blood too fast through his body. What a benign way to describe the annihilation of an energy source. “She’s innocent, whether you and the Synod believe so or not.” He dialed the tone back some when she scorched him with a warning look. “Her Protector pleaded her case, took responsibility for Lena’s purgatory.”
“Brave. Her Protector’s a woman, no?”
He swallowed. “Yes.”
She leaned to the right. “Who have you brought to my world?”
With one more deep breath, he moved away from Lena after prying her fingers from his shirt.
Teenesee gasped as tears made the topaz of her eyes sparkle. “Lena?” The Warden scooped her up and twirled her around. “How I’ve missed you.”
Tarek moved to intervene when Lena’s face paled. “She doesn’t remember anything; she knows nothing.”
Teenesee set Lena on the ground, the Warden’s smile breathtaking. “I’m aware, Protector, but she is still in there. Her energy is whole and well.”
Lena gawked at her, a mixture of admiration and fear dancing in her eyes. “You’re beautiful.”
The Warden threw her head back, laughing, and hugged Lena again. “I cannot express how beautiful you are at this very moment.” She flashed a grin in Tarek’s direction. “You must tell me how I can help, Protector.” She leaned back to take in the face of her past cohort. “But over dinner.”
Tarek covered his smile with a fist and a cough. “We’d be honored.” Leave it to Lena to turn one of the strongest Wardens into a fretting mother hen.
She kept her eyes on Lena, her smile dazzling, but the Warden’s face no longer a distraction. Whatever weapon she used to heighten the effect it had on potential enemies, she must’ve turned off. “You both look like vagabonds. Come, we’ll fix that, too.” She leapt on the back of her stomping mount and held her hand out to Lena, who accepted after a small hesitation. As she turned her horse around, Teenesee sent him a lofty glance. “You can walk.”
