Dragonkin Are from Mars, Changelings Are from Venus
Page 18
I wasn’t going to cry. I wouldn’t give everyone the satisfaction. Swallowing hard, I stepped onto the deck. I held my hand up as the ship pulled away and my parents grew smaller and smaller; then I turned to face the horizon.
~* * *~
It took two days to reach Lesbian Island. I got sick the first night. Nerves or seasickness or some combination of the two. I huddled in my bunk, curled around myself, hating God and everyone. The next day, I was physically better but still miserable mentally. I wandered the deck and leaned over the rail to stare out at the sea and sky.
The crew hoisted a bright Rainbow flag, and curiosity got the better of me. “What’s that for?”
“So they know we’re bringing someone to them and won’t attack us.”
“Attack?” I’d heard a few rumors but thought they were just to scare people.
“They’ve built ships. They don’t come to the mainland, but they attack supply ships and fishing ships unless they fly the Rainbow flag.”
There were other islands that belonged to the Christian Republic, though none as far out as the two homosexual-controlled islands.
“Then why wouldn’t you fly that flag all the time?”
He looked at me like I’d grown another head. “It’s their flag.”
I’d heard that too, the blasphemy of using God’s promise to Noah as their own symbol, but somehow it had stuck. God had told Noah that he’d never destroy the world again after the Flood. Maybe this was the gays’ way of saying… what? That people like me would be safe?
I looked up at the flag snapping in the wind and took a deep breath. Even if the island was a sad place where I’d have to struggle to survive, at least I could be myself. The wind felt strange blowing through my hair. I’d chopped it all off the night before I left, because why not? It wasn’t as if I was going to get in more trouble.
Late in the afternoon, a little smudge appeared on the horizon, and the sailor in the crow’s nest called out that he’d sighted land. My heart pounded.
“That’s Gay Island,” the sailor closest to me said. “Lesbian Island is just beyond that.”
As we got closer, I could make out a vast stretch of green vegetation and white sand beaches. In the distance, a huge mountain rose over the island. The water was a clear, bright blue echoing the sky above. It didn’t look like a miserable place. As we passed, I thought I could make out a dock and tiny waving figures.
Then we crossed a bay, the water glittering in the afternoon sun. The crew tensed when they spotted another ship, even bigger than the one we were on and flying a huge Rainbow flag. Was that another ship from the Christian Republic? Or did that ship belong to the homosexuals? I squinted, but our own ship turned away and the big ship didn’t follow.
Another island came into view.
“That’s where you’re going.” The sailor pointed.
My new home looked as green and bright as the first island. Docks stretched out from the beach, with a few small boats tied to them.
The captain tromped onto the deck. “Get your bag.”
I hurried down to my small cabin, shoving the few things I’d unpacked back into my bag and lugging it up the narrow stairs.
The captain pointed to a dinghy hanging over the side of the ship. “Get in. You’ll have to row yourself.”
Buy Rainbow Islands now!
Acknowledgements
First, I’d like to thank all you readers for going on this journey with me. Aiden, Dylan, and Tiago are dear to my heart and I’m so glad I could share them with you. Thanks also to Anne Victory for cleaning up my inevitable mistakes and for being one of the first fans of my boys. I’m lucky to work with you! Ekaterina and Robyn were also huge supporters and read early drafts of the whole series. Thank you so much for your comments and encouragement.
I loved writing this series, but it’s time to say good-bye to Shadow Valley… for now.
About The Author
Devin Harnois has several published novels but he’d have more if he spent less time on Twitter and playing Dragon Age. He collects skull items and only a strong will prevents his apartment from being overrun by them. Devin lives in Minneapolis.
Find Devin at:
Twitter: devinharnois
Website: devinharnois.com
Email: devinharnois@gmail.com
Other books by Devin Harnois
Young Adult
Not My Apocalypse (Alex Holden book 1)
Saint of Sinners (Alex Holden book 2)
Lord of Hell (Alex Holden book 3)
How to Make Friends and Not Incinerate People (Shadow Valley #1)
The 7 Bad Habits of Slightly Troubled Monsters (Shadow Valley #2)
How to Survive High School Without Really Dying (Shadow Valley #3)
Zen and the Art of Major Magical Control (Shadow Valley #4)
Dragonkin Are from Mars, Changelings Are from Venus (Shadow Valley #5)
Rainbow Islands
Romance
Darkness at Dawn (Love and Monsters book 1)
Taming the Darkness (Love and Monsters book 2)
Through the Fire
Erik's Tale
Undaunted
Other
Emma and the Air Pirates
Copyright © 2016 Devin Harnois
All rights reserved.
Edited by Anne Victory
Cover image © Ba-mi
Cover design by Devin Harnois