“No, sorry. I have a thing for organization.” Venus ran a hand through her muddy hair and pulled it to one side.
“All righty then. Well, follow me.” She moved past Venus and made her way to the back of the store. Venus couldn’t help a sigh. When they reached one of a line of maple-colored doors, the girl unlocked it with a key attached to a bracelet packed full of keys. Venus had to wonder how she could tell which one to choose. The door swung open with a squeak.
“Cheese, that sound is awful.” The girl stepped inside the little room and hung the clothes on a hook. “Try these on and let me know what you think. I’m Cheverly, by the way.” Cheverly moved past Venus and directed her in with the wave of a hand.
“Venus,” she returned. Apprehensively, she glanced at the threshold and sucked in.
Here we go. She shut the door.
“A goddess of love.”
“That’s right.”
“Great name.”
“That’s debatable, but thanks.” Venus leaned back and shut her eyes. The time had come to see what she looked like. What if I look worse than I did before? It isn’t vanity, she told herself. I want . . .
“Oh, open your eyes fraidy cat,” Venus whispered. Three. Two. One. She popped them open.
The first thing she noticed was the tangled grubby mess in the ends of her hair. Though it still looked better than all white, she decided to get it out of the way. One thing she’d had been taught as a small kelni, even before she could walk, was how to wrap her hair in a bun and make it stay. Bending over, she pulled all her hair together and twisted it tight. Then she continued to twirl the dirty strands until it’d formed its own bun. Venus tucked the ends under. Standing, she checked her reflection. “Better.”
With her hair out of the way, she easily noticed her eyes. Different. Pretty. She tried to think of a human word to describe the shade of blue. The word cyan came to mind. Brown lashes surrounded her eyes instead of the frosty white she’d grown sick of. Her face shone a faint peach and her lips, once a misty silver, were now stained the shade of rubies. For many kelarians, her new coloring might be considered bland. Venus had to smile at the changes. She liked them. “No silver anywhere.” In the mirror, her reflection revealed stark, white teeth.
“Everything all right in there?” Cheverly asked.
“I’ll be another minute.” She put the white shirt on. It fit fine. The second pair of jeans fit and the jacket fit okay, too.
When she opened the door, Cheverly took one look and shook her head. “Yeah, that jacket really isn’t you, is it?”
“No,” Venus admitted and slipped it off. “Also, do you have any jeans without the jewels on the pockets?”
“Cheese on crackers, you’re right. With those stunning boots, you don’t need all the bling on your behind. Plus, skinny jeans will work great tucked into the boots.” Cheverly continued to rattle on, more to herself than Venus. She looked her up and down, like sharp cheddar on a grater. “You’re wearing the smaller jeans, right?”
“Yes,” Venus agreed.
“Be right back.” Pivoting on her heels, she walked toward a jean rack without bling.
While waiting, Venus left the little room and searched the store for Zaren. His intense green eyes caught hers. Without meaning to, she gasped. Her alien heart already beat too fast, but seeing him . . . well he looked so handsome. Zaren had changed out of his Formytian uniform into human clothing. A flutter brushed low in her stomach, sending waves of warmth to different parts of her body. Her legs felt weak.
He had on a white long-sleeved shirt, with a fox head on the front. The jeans he’d chosen looked worn. There were creases and even a few holes in a couple of places. Brown lace-up boots were on his feet and he held a dark brown leather jacket. Next to him, on the floor, leaned a bag, which Venus guessed held his guardian attire.
“Your boyfriend’s totally hot. You’re so lucky,” Cheverly said wistfully into Venus’s ear.
Startled, Venus whipped around, knocking Cheverly in the face with the back of her hand. Not hard. It was a reflex to being snuck up on.
Surprised, Cheverly simultaneously lifted her hands, grabbing Venus by the arms, and stepped backward. Together, they both fell to the floor. Venus landed on the girl.
“Oh! I’m so sorry,” Venus said, jumping up and sticking out a hand to help Cheverly up. “You scared me.” The whole idea of someone sneaking up on her wasn’t fathomable. Never would’ve happened on her planet.
Cheverly appeared stunned; a red mark shaded her left cheek. She took Venus’s hand and stood. “It’s okay. I-I’m sorry, too.” She bent over and picked up the clothes she’d brought for Venus to try on. Awkwardly, she asked, “What do you think of these?”
“Beautiful. May I?”
“Yep. Can’t wait to see them on you.” She handed them over.
Venus headed back into the little dressing room. Before closing the door, she said to Cheverly, “He isn’t my boyfriend.” As she spoke, her eyes locked with Zaren’s. He looked crestfallen.
“Ah, helker,” she swore quietly, closing the door and locking it.
Cheverly said, “Good to know.”
A pang jolted Venus at Cheverly’s words. Jealousy? A word she’d heard, but never understood. Whatever.
Quickly, she removed the clothes and her boots again, a big no-no according to her parents and their shaman. At least until she’d completed her metamorphous and became immortal. Kelvieri. She didn’t know why. Figured it might have something to do with the way the boots led her to the Manshum Mountains. What could it hurt? Besides the Gods had commanded her to remain here, so they’d better cut her some slack.
After she’d pulled on the skinny jeans, she slid on the boots. As she watched the five buckles seal themselves around her calves, she thought of the symbols in the clear heels. A beating red heart surrounded by smoke from the Valley of Ga. When she held still, she could feel the thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump coming from within. In the other heel bobbed a glowing arrow encircled by irrihunter blood.
What did the symbols mean? She had no clue.
Taking a sequined gold tank from its hanger, she pulled it on. Over the top of the tank, she put on a sheer, navy blue empire waist top. They didn’t fit as perfectly as the clothing from the palace designers, but they’d work out fine. Cheverly had picked out a different coat for her as well. A metallic plaid in black and gold, it was double breasted and had a belt which tied in the front. She shouldered on the coat and admired the outfit in the glass. Not bad. I like them.
Before she had the chance to step out, Cheverly asked, “Rockin, yes?”
“Thank you. These are perfect.”
Cheverly beamed at the compliment. “So you’ll take them?”
“I’ll take them.” Venus sucked in discreetly, stepped out of the dressing room, blew out a little air and followed Cheverly.
“Good.” She moved briskly to the register. Zaren met them there. A large pile of clothing covered the counter in front of them. “Cheese, guys. Did you two want all of this?” Cheverly asked, incredulous. There were several more jeans; some looked like they were for Zaren and others for Venus. Two separate piles of underwear, tanks, pajamas, belts, socks, and on and on . . .
Venus picked up some irrihunter blue undies. Holding them by a finger, she turned to Zaren.
“Seriously?”
A twinkle shone in his eyes. “Yes. Bag it up,” Zaren replied, his focus on Cheverly.
Venus grabbed Zaren by the arm and yanked him away from the counter. “Can I talk to you privately a moment?”
He walked with her. “Yes?”
“I said three days, five at the most. You know I can’t last longer than a week. There are enough clothes there for a month.” Venus knew she’d sounded harsh. More subdued, she continued, “Besides, how are we going to carry it all? Where are we going to—?”
As if on cue, the front door to the store clanged open. A lanky blond guy entered and headed toward them.<
br />
“Vinny,” Cheverly called. The girl’s face betrayed a mixture of wonder and worry. “What’re you doing here?”
Zaren touched Venus’s cheek, turning her to face him. “I’m aware of the timeframe, Princess. Allow me this extravagance on your behalf. Please.” He winked and took her hand. “Please?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Together they moved back to the counter.
“Hey, Chev,” Vinny said, but was looking at Zaren. He gave the Formytian a brief nod. “I’m actually here to pick up some friends from out of town. Aren’t you supposed to be in school?”
“Work release. I’m half-day, today. I could say the same about you.”
“Cool. Yeah, I took the morning off,” he said, walking over to Zaren.
Cheverly scanned a pair of red undies. Folded them and set them to the side. “You’re going for it?” She waved her wand over the clothes.
“We are,” Venus said, pushing down the urge to ask if Cheverly would be turning the clothes into coachmen.
“Sweet! So, you three know each other?” Cheverly asked, flicking the scanner in her hand from Zaren to Venus to Vinny and back to Zaren.
“I-I—” Venus began, but stopped. She’d let Zaren handle it. “Zaren?”
Venus watched Cheverly fidget. First tucking her empty hand into a tight, front pocket and then pushing some loose hair behind an ear. Finally she must’ve realized she still had lots of clothes to ring up. Picking up a pink shirt, she scanned, folded, and placed it in a pile.
Vinny put a lopsided smirk on his face and said, “Zaren and I go way back.” He pounded Zaren on the shoulder. “How ya been, buddy?”
Zaren smiled. “Vinny, huh? Interesting choice.”
“I like it. Dervinias sounds so . . . foreign,” Cheverly said as she continued swiping tags.
Venus couldn’t help but wonder under what circumstances Zaren and Dervinias would’ve met. He didn’t act like the sort of person Zaren would be friends with. Anything was possible though. She realized she didn’t know all that much about Zaren outside of his constantly shadowing her every move as her guardian.
“If you say . . .” Zaren’s jaw suddenly clenched. But he quickly relaxed it and grasped Vinny’s inner arm with his right hand. Vinny did the same to Zaren—the Formytian handshake. “I wasn’t sure if you’d received my, ah, communication or not.”
Dervinias said, “Your communication came over loud and clear.”
The exchange between the two kelarians had Venus intrigued. She’d seen Zaren with his fellow Formytians before. With Dervinias, he acted different, less assured. And Dervinias—he was an enigma.
Dervinias turned to face Venus, and for some reason, she stood taller. She had nothing to prove, but her upbringing demanded that she be a princess at all times.
“Hello, Venus.” His eyes raked her over, starting with her boots, going up her thighs, past her waist and breasts and finally stopping on her face. “Your eyes. Such an amazing shade of blue. I don’t recall ever seeing such a color.”
Cheverly chimed in. “I was going to comment about them earlier, but figured they were contacts.”
“They are . . . contacts,” Venus said to Dervinias first. Then found Cheverly’s eyes and nodded. “Do you like them?”
“Oh yeah, they’re awesome,” she agreed.
It took a mountain of time to ring up all their clothes. Venus used the opportunity to check out the store, with its obscene amounts of clothes hanging on the walls and on racks everywhere. The clothing store wasn’t nearly exciting enough to distract her from the strange Dervinias.
Every few seconds her gaze found the two kels. They seemed deep in conversation. Maybe they did know each other. Maybe he was a Formytian, like Zaren. If so, who was he protecting? He didn’t look the type or act it either. Still, she had a plethora of questions for him.
Like: What was he doing on Earth? Was he an Explorer? A Discoverer? A Metals Detector? If he were on Earth, there had to be a reason.
It also intrigued her that he knew the girl, Cheverly. And that he went to a human high school. What could he gain from doing that? What were the benefits?
All questions she’d be sure to ask him when an obvious human—Cheverly—wasn’t around.
As if Dervinias had read her mind, he turned and winked.
Humph! She looked away and sighed, moving closer to the counter. A small flame flickered inside a glass container. The jar held a thick, red substance, except at the top, it appeared liquid. A fruity smell found its way up her nose, and she realized it came from whatever the flame burned. Pretty, but potent. A combination of rosithia flowers and oraney, with a hint—
“It’s a blend of apples, cinnamon and vanilla,” Cheverly said.
Venus cocked her head, curious, not quite certain she understood. The fire had a scent?
Cheverly added, “That’s the smell of the wax—the red stuff burning. Haven’t you ever seen a scented candle before?” She pointed the wand toward the glass jar.
“Ohhhhh, sure. Of course I have.” Venus nodded, irritated, and trying to cover for the fact that, no, she hadn’t ever seen a scented candle before. She’d taken years and years of Earth Studies. It’d been one class her parents insisted she continuously study. But her professors hadn’t ever mentioned this candle contraption. Clearing her throat, she continued, “It smells good.” As if to prove it, her stomach rumbled.
Cheverly giggled. “You should try a red velvet cupcake from next door. They’re divine.”
“Thanks, I might.” She looked at Zaren, hoping to catch his eye, but he and Dervinias were still in a heated conversation.
“Zaren?”
He turned and opened his mouth, but Dervinias interrupted. “You and Zaren are going to stay with me. I insist.”
Zaren closed his mouth, his lips tightening into a thin line. But he nodded.
“Great.” Venus turned back toward the pile of clothes.
“Ah, Vinny, you’re so sweet.” Cheverly finished ringing up their clothes and started bagging them. When she was done, Zaren handed her a plastic card to pay for everything. Afterward, he handed a few bags to Dervinias. Venus took a couple and Zaren carried the rest. “All right, I believe we have everything. Thank you, Cheverly. We appreciate your help.”
“Oh, sure,” she said waving a hand, her cheeks coloring. She seemed smitten with the Formytian. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“Maybe.”
“Thank you,” Venus added as she walked toward the entrance.
“Oh, no problem.” She waved and giggled.
“Later Chev, baby!” Vinny added as he opened the door.
“Laters.”
Venus followed Zaren and Dervinias out of the store.
CHAPTER 11
Blister in the Sun
Michael groaned. It was the bottom of the fourth quarter and, once again, he was on his back, under a pile of sweating guys. No, he wasn’t having a good time. He was pissed off—in a great way. In a way that pumped him up, and made him push harder—allowed him to think. Put life into perspective. His mind easily focused during a game. When the opposing team breathed down his neck right before he threw the football. It was a battle. And he intended to win.
On the field, it didn’t matter that his girlfriend had screwed around with another guy. Or that his mother wouldn’t be winning any ‘Mom of the Year’ awards.
Out here, amongst the sweat and the turf, what mattered was that his teammates were playing like crap. They needed to suck it up and win this effing game. His freaking life depended on it. Podunk Cheyenne, Wyoming was sucking the life out of him. He needed out. There were a couple of scouts in the bleachers tonight. Impressing them meant a full-ride scholarship. He wanted to go anywhere that wasn’t here.
With only twenty seconds left on the clock, the South High Bisons were down six points. Come hell or high water, they were gonna score. The barrage of red and black from the opposing team quickly untangled themselves and moved
off him.
A guy from the opposing team stuck out a hand. “Have fun under there, Hawke?”
“You’re such a comedian.” Michael ignored the jerk’s hand and stood. Then, with his hands he made a T and called time out.
After talking to Coach Gann, he brought the guys into the huddle.
“All right, I’ve had about enough of winding up on my ass. Davids, Porter, Reagan, do your jobs and protect me. Got it!” Michael pulled on Vinny’s helmet. “Smith, go long. We’re getting a touchdown. End of story.” Smith nodded, sporting a huge smile, showing his gold mouth guard. “35 slot cross. Let’s do it.” They all stuck their hands into the center and yelled. “Go Bison.”
Michael got into position, hollered the play, grabbed the ball, took his five steps back and waited for Smith to get down the field. The dude had always been faster than most, but the opposing players were after him quicker than expected.
Come on; hold em back.
Okay, he’s there. Michael cocked his arm back and threw. It flew perfectly. He watched the ball arc. Catch it. C’mon, catch it. He knew it’d hit Vinny in the numbers. All Vinny had to do was wrap his hands around the ball and run in for the touchdown.
He caught it. Michael took a quick breath before Vinny turned and ran. The dude was fast.
Touchdown!
“Yes,” Michael shouted, as he watched Vinny do his stupid touchdown dance. Good job, ya jackass.
CHAPTER 12
Little Red Corvette
After the game a bunch of the team decided to meet up at The Village Inn for a post game celebration. The place had people filled to the rafters. Once they got their spots, Michael ordered. He didn’t mind that the place smelled of greasy burgers and body odor. Because more importantly, the diner also reeked of a win, and against their biggest rivals, Central High.
“Hawke, man, that was an awesome throw,” Davids said, pounding Michael on the back.
“Yeah, Mikey. I’m sure the scout from U of U saw and will be calling.” Phillips tossed the football at him. “Is that where you wanna go?”
Past the Ages: Book Two Page 17
