by Dawn Chapman
“I’m being really honest here.” A slight frown formed on his face. “I’ve had the opportunity to see the real you, Emma.”
His use of my real name made me freeze—betrayed, used, sadness overwhelmed me. He was just like any other man out there. I hated myself for even thinking about an ‘us.’ But I swallowed. “So, you know I’m ugly then.”
He laughed a little. “You’re far from ugly. In fact, you are a beautiful young woman with her entire life ahead of her.”
“Ahh, so you’re the ugly one?” I splashed his face lightly with some warm water. He didn’t respond. “Look,” I said, “you’ve got the upper hand. So what, you’ve seen me. I bet you’ve also seen the asshole of an ex-boyfriend betting on my death.”
“No,” Abel didn’t look away, but he raised an eyebrow. “You’re serious about that. He’s betting on you?”
I picked up the small bar of soap at the edge of the water and started to wash off. My sore leg was still tight, and the water relaxed it even more.
Abel also started to wash, so I carried on. “Yeah, he cheated on me with my sister. This ticket in here was supposed to be his, but I took it.”
“I’m glad you did, or this bath excursion might be a little more awkward.”
I laughed at that remark, and soaped my hair and let the waters wash away the sea salts. If there were some conditioner, I would love some because it felt dry and prickly.
Abel just watched, and I wondered for a moment what his thoughts were. I asked calmly, “As long as you’re not some old dude with a pot belly and a grey beard, I’m happy with getting to know you.”
He stretched his hand out to me. “No, I’m Mark, I’m twenty and…” he rolled his eyes, “I might have a little pot belly though.”
“I’m pleased to meet you, Mark. Heck, I don’t have a perfect body. I’ve been going the gym for a while, but eating way too many snacks.”
He laughed, again and waited while I stepped out of the waters to reach for a towel. I turned and handed him one, then pushed a button for the plug from the bath.
Moving back to the bedroom, I reached for a nightgown. Abel was the one who gathered our clothes and placed them in a neat pile outside the door. “They’ll be clean and fresh for us in the morning,” he said and watched as I slipped into bed.
“I won’t bite,” I said. “I’m tired.”
Abel moved to the side of the bed, pulled back the covers, and got in. He settled down, and I slipped across to his side. He wrapped his arm around me, and I enjoyed the fresh smell of soap on his chest.
He kissed the top of my head and whispered, “Good night, Akillia.”
I breathed in again and relaxed into him.
Chapter 27
Looking up at the sheer height of the wall we were going to have to scale was mind-numbing. The lifts and pulley systems that worked turned and whirred like clockwork.
I stared while Sazzar explained to the others how it all worked, but I wasn’t really listening. Everything about this game was challenging. There was nothing easy.
Well, saying that, I glanced at Abel. Liking him was easy. Last night had been one of the best sleeps I’d had in months, and we’d just talked and spent the time holding each other. The tension within me was way off the charts, but I didn’t want us to be just something of a fling. Or maybe I did. Maybe that’s what I needed, but I didn’t think it was something Abel needed. He had my total respect for what he managed to accomplish in this game. He played it like real life. And the more I was here, the more I played like it was too.
“So we’re going up there?” I asked.
Myleen smiled at me. “Don’t like heights?”
“I’m fine with heights. I just don’t know about their engineering.”
“We’ve been traversing up these cliffs for years. The system’s safe,” Sazzar replied.
They might think that, but I sure didn’t.
Macie and the first set were ready to use the pulleys, and I was left to watch as they slowly started to rise up and into the cliffs.
As agonising as it was, I couldn’t watch much longer. The anxiety building made me turn away.
I actually couldn’t do this. I couldn’t.
Sweat dripped down the curve of my back, and I wiped my brow. This was the worst thing I’d tackled so far.
Facing off with monsters, getting on a ship, even using magic and special sight to see and do things wasn’t scary.
This, however, was.
I breathed in, out.
The turmoil was hitting me with each ragged breath.
I knew the others were watching, and that made it all the worse, and then I thought of Andy, of him sitting at home watching me, seeing me panic at the smallest thing, like the hurdle of heights. He’d known my fear. He’d seen me trying to get down off a ladder that day when the fire alarm needed sorting, and he wasn’t there. I’d sat at the top of the darned thing for two hours and couldn’t move.
Abel was beside me then, his arms around me. “You’ve got this.”
“It’s not that I don’t like heights,” I said. “Heck, I just flew inside the mind of Zurath and didn’t flinch at that. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“I can see that. I’ll be honest. I think it’s more their method than where we’re going.”
I turned back around to see it. The caravan was now in the largest section and heading straight on up in the wooden shack. I watched as each turn of the wheel and squeak had them moving higher and higher.
I watched then as it started to reach the top. A couple of more turns, and then it swayed a little and was there.
Then the wagon and horses were off, and the lift started to return. I thought about our lift at work, the way it made me feel almost every time I used it. The fact the stairs were easier and yet I forced myself to get in the lift every day. If I challenged myself in work, then I could do so here.
I reached for Abel’s hand. “You’re right. We’ve got this. It’s a lift. Nothing more. I just can’t look down.”
The lift reached the bottom with a thunk, and Abel and I were asked to climb on board. I glanced to the treeline where Zurath and Aheal were watching. I knew there was no way he’d get on board the lift with us. He would meet us at the top.
I followed Abel onto the wooden platform and stood with my hands on the barrier. We were strapped to the sides with a short rope.
Then it started to move. With one lurch upward, the lift was in the air and swinging slightly. My stomach cramped up, and I clung to the railing until my knuckles turned white. Abel was the one who looked worse for wear. I glanced over and frowned at him, his pale white skin clammy. He looked unsafe on his feet. I reached for his hand and squeezed gently. He didn’t even look at me.
I couldn’t help myself as the lift moved up one tiny foot at a time—I looked down. The ground wasn’t too far away if we fell now. There wouldn’t be broken bones or anything. I held onto Abel’s hand and offered words of comfort. There was only one thing on my mind, though, and that was getting to the top. I heard a squawk from behind us and then saw as Zurath and Aheal leapt into the air. I didn’t need to see what he saw now. In fact, I didn’t want to, but my magical energy was edging forward, and with no protection from Macie this time. If I weren’t careful, I’d set fire to the whole thing, and we’d all fall to our deaths. I reigned it back in.
Abel finally looked at me. “I don’t like heights,” he said.
“Look at me. You don’t need to like them. We’re okay, we’re together.”
His eyes met mine, and there was real debilitating fear there. The lift continued upwards as we stared at each other. I tried to breathe in and out, nice and steady. Moving closer to Abel, I leaned into him and put my lips to his. His shaking eased just enough, and his arms wrapped around me in a more than suggestive squeeze. I actually felt his hands slip to my ass, and he gripped onto me tightly. So I tried to use that as a distraction for him and for me. “We should have made love last nigh
t,” I said. “If today had been our last together, re-spawning apart, I don’t know what I would have done.”
“You really know how to distract a guy,” he said.
“There’s no one else here but us. Why shouldn’t I use this to distract you?” I pulled him in even closer, running my hands under his shirt.
“I didn’t want to abuse the situation. I don’t want a rebound girl.”
I knew that. “Thank you,” I replied. “I don’t want to be that, either. So, I’m glad. The time getting to know you and being here is important.”
The lift shook and stopped going upwards. I felt Abel’s large frame shiver beneath me, and I just tried to hold on tighter, pulling him as close as I possibly could. He growled in my ear this time. “Get any closer, and I’ll be stopping this lift myself, despite not liking heights.”
I giggled against his neck, and we stayed like that for a minute, not moving, but just holding on. The lift began to move again in one jerky motion upwards.
Abel shifted his hands and felt for my own skin. I let out a breath as shivers of pleasure ran through me. I looked up into his eyes, his fear masked slightly with that of want and need.
I never even felt the lift stop again as we melted against each other, but we did hear the whoops and cheers from those at the top.
I pulled away, a little ruffled, and glanced to the waiting party.
Macie’s face red and blushing, she giggled at me and turned away. Taffie was the one who spoke first. “Think you two would have had enough of each other last night.”
I felt the heat rising up my neck and waited while the others untied us so we could leave the lift.
Abel just coughed and smoothed down his clothes as he exited. “Can’t help being liked by a pretty girl.”
It was Dovol who laughed now. “Pretty? There’s only one other gal here who compares, and she beats my ass every time I make a pass.”
Abel laughed with him, and the two of them moved away to the wagon and to where Ferris and Borroth were making sure all the horses were tied back safely.
Taffie still grinned at me, but he offered me a hand and said, “Come. We’ve a long way to travel now. Let’s keep on moving.”
“You’re coming with us?”
“There’s extra horses on the next carriage up. So yes, we know your mission is a few people down. The ship’s being looked after in the port, so we’d like to see it through.”
I looked across to Macie and Anlea. Macie was so young, and although her brother was an adept fighter, I worried about them all. I squeezed his hand and let him tug me to the others.
Our party, it seemed, was strong again. Looking around at them all, I knew the next stages of this journey might be just as hard, but we were almost there.
Abel, Myleen, Ferris, Borroth, Alec, Me, Taffie, Macie, Anlea, Dovol, and the kid Sven.
I took the reins from Borroth, who grinned at me, and Ferris shouted to us all, “Mount up. We’re moving. Now.”
There was such a clear view from up here on the cliffs. The path down into the normal valleys and dips of the land were easy to spot. Several trails and different ways to go, but we needed the largest, and we took it. Bracer’s footing on the way down was sure. He led the way with Myleen beside me.
It didn’t matter how fast now. We were here. It should be easy sailing now down to the cave systems. I was sure of it. The game had thrown enough at us. We needed a bit of a break.
That’s when I heard Abel coming in beside us. Myleen moved aside to let him in the middle. “What is it?” I asked. There was concern on his face.
“I’ve just heard from my friend.” He lowered his voice. “There have been some big things happening here in the last week. He wants us to head to a town called Hell’s Pass and wait for Maddie. She’s been...” he looked away, and Myleen knew her presence wasn’t wanted, so she stopped her horse, and we carried on before her.
“We’re not going for the Desert Plains?”
“No, there’s something else we need to do, and Maddie’s a part of this. We need to get the others to Hell’s Pass, and then we can take the next step.”
“You’re worrying me,” I said. “Start over, from the beginning, and tell me the full story. I need to know.”
I didn’t say anything as Abel re-counted the previous game time he had. I wanted to know everything, and he gave it to me.
He’d been with Maddie through a lot, and it seemed she really was integral to the quest I’d been given.
I leaned back in the saddle as the trail continued downwards into open lands. Was I jealous of his time with this amazing sounding NPC? Yes, I actually was.
“Abel,” I said. When he turned to look at me, I could see nothing but strain. “This game is the weirdest thing I’ve ever done.” I took his hand in mine, “but I’m glad to be here.”
“Akillia, I don’t know what we’re doing, but this party and these people are special, and so are you and Maddie.”
“It will be interesting to meet her.” I tugged my hand back and nudged Bracer on some more. “How far is Hell’s Pass?”
“It’s through some of the desert, but we’re coming in from a different angle. I think we’ll be fine. We’re not going near the plains, but cutting up through the forest on the east side, instead.”
“Does anyone know what lurks in these forests?”
Abel shook his head. “I don’t think anyone’s headed in that far yet.”
“Then it will be an interesting adventure,” I said. “Just get me up to some better skillsets, and I’ll be fine. When we stop for the night, I need you to teach me as much as you can.”
“I’ll do that, as long as you teach me a few things.”
I thought instantly, “What can I teach you?” but then I saw his face redden, and I laughed a little.
“You have had a girlfriend in the real world, right?”
Abel looked away. “Seriously, you haven’t had a girlfriend?”
I felt weird as I stared at him. I realised the truth then—he was that shy. I should have known. “You really are twenty, though, right? Not some young teen I shouldn’t get involved with?”
“That’s the truth. I wouldn’t lie about that, but I’ve not had much experience with women. I got myself into trouble betting on horses. It got worse, and I ended up in hospital because of a bad debt. That was sorted with where I ended up—working for Dresel.”
“He saw something in your numbers betting on horses?”
“Exactly. That translated to him as something else. I became his friend, he helped me out, and now I’m trying my best to return the favour.”
“What do you think is going on here?”
He frowned. “I think there’s sentient life in Puatera, and only some can see it. I think you see it.”
I looked up to the skies and watched as Zurath skimmed in above us. Then I felt him and held up my arm so that he could land. It took all my strength not to be pulled off the horse.
“Actually, I agree with you there.”
I stared into the eyes of the Familiar I was with, and he stared right back. There was something inside him that wasn’t a game. I felt it. “You think he’s real, as in more than a digital program.”
“I don’t know. Dres says errors are coming up all over the world right now.”
“That really could be a problem then. The game’s not ready for release, is it?”
Abel shook his head. “If we can get the errors under control and keep the systems running, I think we’re in with a chance of keeping it going.”
“You mean they’ll pull the plug if they can’t settle these problems.”
When he nodded, I looked at Zurath. “I don’t want anything to happen to him or the other creatures here. If we need to see this NPC and help her, then we will.”
Abel grinned at me. “Good.”
I managed to run a finger down the side of his face, feeling the stubble in his beard. “Then we might have some time to spend exploring us.�
�
“I’d really like that.”
Chapter 28
We travelled for a while, then set up camp at the base of the decline. Myleen and I went hunting while Macie and Borroth got the larger campfires going, and the rest made headway with their own jobs.
It was nice to be away from the others, to settle on land and do something that I’d previously enjoyed. This time, I also had an advantage. Using Zurath and our joint sight, I knew exactly where the best prey animals were settling in for the night too. We made off in their direction, and with patience and my practised skill at archery, Myleen and I were soon heading back with two nice deer-looking animals thrown over our saddles.
Macie was impressed, and soon, the fires were stocked and the fluids flowing. We settled down around it and recaptured the previous few days’ adventures with laughter and fun.
I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to be around. My woes of the real life were vanishing. I thought less and less of Andy and my sister. I wanted to be here. I loved this. The people around me were amazing, and even if Abel hadn’t known many girls, I wanted to know him—here and in real life.
Abel sat next to me, offering me a bowl of fruit. I picked some out, and popped the juicy pod into my mouth, sweet nectar running over my chin. Most of the others had settled off to bed now. It was just Taffie and us. Taffie was gently snoring on the other side of the fire.
Abel leaned in and kissed the juice from the side of my face.
That was when I saw something out the corner of my eye. I didn’t push him off just yet, though. The creature was being very stealthy. I leaned my head back, which let Abel get a better angle to nibble my neck. I let out a gasp as he bit my ear, but I couldn’t think about that.
I found my bow, and yes, there was an arrow just about within reach, doing so without disturbing Abel. I tried to focus and not push into Abel’s amazing kisses, but man, he was making me hot.
As the creature neared, and I saw its fangs, I knew it was after Taffie. I couldn’t have that. The poor cat-like creature was snoring well away, and its eyes lit up as it moved in for the kill.
