I remained confused about what had happened to my body. I didn’t need to eat. If I did, I’d spit the food back up. I didn’t sleep and I was afraid to stray far from the water. It drew me back, over and over. Each crashing wave filled all the empty spaces inside of me, calmed me. I didn’t understand what sort of witchcraft this was. I thought perhaps I should eat fish, but I couldn’t digest the meat.”
Maya quieted and peered over her shoulder at Terran. He had remained silent, as she’d paced through the cave, exhuming her sordid past.
“One day, when I came to shore after a long swim, the vision I’d begun to believe I’d imagined stood before me. Mother’s arms opened wide. Nodin and Flint stood at her side. My first emotion was acute embarrassment, since I was stark naked. Then I felt a wash of shame for the life I had lived up until that moment. I knew my future direction had changed, and it would center on these three people.”
“I could feel the energy swirling around them, so strong. And I laughed, joyous, so happy to finally be free. Unique. Important. In my human life, I’d had an inflated view of my charms, but I understood I’d use them now to make a difference in the world. Why that fact crystallized for me, I don’t know. Perhaps they projected those thoughts into my mind. This new path was the adventure I had sought my whole life. It confirmed why I always felt I deserved more. I sure got a lot more than I bargained for, and my life since then hasn’t always been the best or the happiest. It can be very lonely. I do find a level of satisfaction, though, when I help people, especially children.”
Maya leaned against the cool cave wall. Hidden in the shadows. Afraid to look into Terran’s eyes, afraid she’d glean his thoughts without consciously wishing to do so. Digging into those brown depths would no doubt fell her like a blow from Quint’s fist. “So that’s everything—my all, every secret laid bare. Answers to those questions you’ve asked so many times. You’ve insisted I wear those tiny, glass slippers. Only my foot will not fit. My water flows straight through. Never stopping to fulfill the fantasy of who you think I am.”
Terran shook his head. “You really believe all this, don’t you? I wish I could as well, but I can’t. Do you understand that, Maya? I’m sorry for the life you’ve led up until this point. Sorry you feel it necessary to create this fantasy world. I have tried to suspend my disbelief, tried to see things from your perspective. Now I ask that you see this crazy reality you’ve invented from mine, can you understand why your world can’t be real for someone like me?” He sighed, ran his fingers through his hair, and massaged his temples.
“May I help with the pain?” Maya moved away from the wall and lifted her hand to his face.
“No.” He waved her off. “I’m fine.”
He’d obviously had enough, so she padded to the pool and sank against the side. Shivers brought goose bumps to her skin, though not from the cold. Where did I put that sweatshirt? Baring all physically, when she’d just revealed her soul, brought a rush of embarrassment. She wrapped both arms around her knees, covering herself. Nudity was a way of life, due to her transformations, but this exposure felt shameful. Did he find her body repulsive? Why, oh, why hadn’t someone brought her clothes? She rested her head against her hands, linked on top of her drawn knees. As tears trailed down her cheeks, she stiffened as a scrape against the rocks indicated Terran’s presence. And the heat, that vaporous haze of lust, remained between them—desire had no shame, nor pink-cheeked blush. It still raged in every shade of red.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Maya, this situation, it’s just been…difficult. I’m more comfortable in my lab away from everyone. I’m not one for adventures like this. We should…I just…listen, we’ll both be better once we’re back where we belong. I’m sorry, but I can’t live this life.”
Maya nodded, unable to face him. His double-tap against her shoulder was more like a brotherly pat.
“Nodin!” She broadcasted in her mind. “Flint. Get me out of here. Mother! I beg you to release me. Please. Please. Take me away.”
Maya contemplated the blue-gray rock wall before her. How long had this pool existed? Would she revisit this place someday, fifty, a hundred years from now? Would it remain the same?
Even though she hadn’t begun her duties with Terran, she’d finish them. She appealed to the Goddess Isis for strength, wisdom, and calm. She tugged on his sweatpants and met his gaze. “Fate has offered you a path. Choose which road to take. If you do not choose an Elemental life, you will not see me again. Nodin, Flint, and I must live in secret. As soon as this business with Quint is finished, I will go. I won’t come back until you are gone.” She closed her eyes, sealing tears behind her lids. Her mouth went dry, and she pinched her lips together to hold back the swelling scream. The pain inflicted by Quint was nothing compared to that final step away from Terran. She loved him and was entangled in the web of stability and humanity he’d weaved around her lonely heart.
Terran braced his arms against the rocky side of the pool. “I’m not sure who Quint is, but if you have to go, then perhaps that is for the best.”
Chapter 31
Flint chose that moment to fire down from the top of the well.
Maya rushed to his side.
“May I have this dance, Lady Conway?” Flint locked her in his arms and twirled her around the cave in an old-fashioned waltz.
The dance gave her some much-needed time to compose her shattered heart. “Thank you for coming. Sometimes I really do love you.”
Flint dipped her before Terran. “Ms. Conway, serving you is entirely my pleasure.”
Maya closed her eyes, refusing to look at Terran. He’d made his decision clear. He wanted nothing to do with her or the Elemental life. Which served as a reminder, so she halted Flint’s circle around the cave. “Flint, Terran is in desperate straits. His temper rests on a very thin edge. We need to remember he is human.”
Flint offered a cheeky smile and lifted her hand to his mouth for a kiss. “That’s right, I forgot, human males aren’t endowed with much stamina.”
Maya rolled her eyes.
Flint hefted the pack off his back, unzipped it then handed her some clothes. “Sorry, Pigpen, no new clothes for you.”
“No caffeine either?”
Flint shrugged. “Sorry, no. We’ll get you something on the surface. Quint has switched again. His latest persona is Neb Aether, CEO of Aether Pharmaceuticals. Should have seen that one coming.”
After dressing in jeans and a black sweater, Maya took Flint’s hand, gathering strength through his warmth. “At the lake, Quint told me about the vaccine to fight BSE. It’s a lie. His dark matter covers the prion’s presence, but it’s still alive and deadly. Cows who receive the vaccine may still acquire BSE, especially, if like Crowder, ranches use illegal feed. We need to stop production and destroy any delivered vaccines.”
Terran wrenched her from Flint’s side. “What do you know about the Mad Cow outbreak? Dr. Houser and his team from the Prion institute were unable to detect anything. You’re saying this person uses dark matter to black out the prion’s presence? I’m afraid I’ve missed something here. Who is Quint? Neb Aether is a renowned virologist. He would never be a part of false science.”
Maya took a deep breath and placed her hands on his where they dug into her shoulders. “Terran, Quint is Neb Aether.”
Flint snapped his fingers together, sparks flying with each flick. “I can see you two didn’t spend much time talking. Quint is an evolved form of dark matter living inside a human host. Nodin can explain better.”
Terran’s brow narrowed. “Quint is a parasite?”
“Of a sort, yes.” Flint agreed.
“To be clear, you believe a parasite made of dark matter is living in Neb Aether’s body? And that this Quint person is what exactly?”
Maya grasped Terran’s upper arm. “This Quint person is dangerous and unpredictable. He’s the reason I was so ill. It’s hard to explain who he is and what he’s capable of, because we don’t know.
Nodin has some theories, and he’s anxious to discuss them with you. I didn’t want to burden you with worries about Quint on top of everything else, but you must prepare. Quint tried to take over my body to get closer to you.”
“Take over your body in order to take over mine? That should take no time at all to process.” Terran scoffed. “Why would he do this?”
Maya looked to Flint, when he just shrugged, she gave the only answer she’d been able to piece together. “Because as an Elemental, as Earth, you are the strongest. You are our grounding force, the center. Quint’s essence cannot exist in a human host for any significant amount of time because their bodies deteriorate. With you, he will have a body that can renew, essentially forever.”
“I am not an Elemental.”
Maya released Terran’s arm and took his hand, brushing her fingers across the blue veins lining his wrist. “No, you are not, but he’s aware of your potential. We worry he’ll tire of waiting and push along your transformation. I won’t let that happen.”
Terran lifted a strand of her hair and rubbed it between his forefinger and thumb. “The way you looked when I got here, was because of something Quint did?”
“Yes.” His slight touch trickled through every pore in her body.
With a tug on her hair, he said, “Then you’ll stay away from him.”
“Terran, you understand better than I what dark matter is and how much is theoretically in the universe. We are like fleas fighting an elephant. We can make him itch, but eventually, he’ll stomp. Regardless of that, this health hazard he’s created must be contained using our Elemental gifts.”
“Health hazard? You mean the masking of the prion and the fake vaccine, right? I’m still unclear, how do you know all this?”
Flint stepped forward. “It’s time to dispense with questions, Pigpen. Unless you can figure out how to detect dark matter, we’re doing this our way. Are you ready to join the fight? This isn’t some grade school science project. Plus, you haven’t undergone your transformation. Might be best if you sat this one out.”
“The first thing I do after I’ve ‘undergone my transformation’ will be to kick your ass.” Terran poked Flint’s chest.
Maya braced a hand against Terran’s shoulder. “Boys, please, let’s focus our animosity where it belongs.”
“Still calling him a boy after being alone with him last night… hmm… how unfortunate for you, Maya.” Flint laughed when she shoved him. “Are you taking Terran or am I?”
“I’ve got him.”
Terran scoffed, “You’ve got me all right. Got me more confused about what’s happening than I was before. We’re supposed to stop Neb Aether from creating and distributing a false vaccine, but he isn’t Aether, he’s really Quint, a parasitic form of dark matter. Great. It all makes sense now. On top of that, I’m to become some kind of immortal Earthman, but when I do, Quint will inhabit my body. Perfectly clear.”
Maya bit her bottom lip then mumbled, “Peri-mortal.”
“What?” Terran said, steel lacing his tone.
“Sorry, it’s just that it’s not, um…immortal. Sorry, I was just…” Maya threw up her hands. “You’re always saying you want facts.”
“Facts? You want to talk facts now?” Terran shook his head. “No. I’m sticking with denial. Perhaps this is all some coma like state I’ve entered due to caffeine-withdrawal.”
Flint slapped Terran on the back. “I imagine Columbia offers a variety of caffeinated mud flavors.”
Terran covered his eyes with his hand and muttered, “I really hate this rabbit hole.”
# # #
As he watched Maya fold his clothes, Terran pondered all he had learned over these past few days. She snapped out his now-dry T-shirt before folding it into a neat square. This visible proof of her water-gift provided one more conundrum. An overwhelming urge to punch something had him cracking his knuckles. A five-mile run would be a proper way to vent the backlog of resentment and disbelief piled in his mind. The sordid story this blonde beauty before him had revealed without so much as a stutter or blush, jabbed through his thoughts. A duke? Really?
He remained in the light from the well. Maybe if he stood here long enough someone would spot his presence and rescue him.
What is she doing now?
“I’m ready. Can we go?”
She stilled before placing his shoes on top of the neatly folded clothes pile. “No. I need one more night.”
“Are you serious? You expect me to stay here another night? Why didn’t you just let me leave with Flint?”
She crossed both arms over her chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“Didn’t realize? Haven’t you been listening? I’ve expressed my desire to leave over and over.”
“Do you want me to call Flint back?” Her movements were jerky as she braided her hair and twisted the mass in a bun.
“No, just forget it.” He trudged over to her pool and sank down against the outer wall. Scrubbing his hand over his face, he clapped his hands together, before steepling his fingers under his chin. Dark matter. What did he remember about that? He refused to think about Maya. Because he didn’t want her to read his mind, see his true feelings. Love? Had that passed?
Step away from those thoughts.
Was Neb Aether really conducing false science? He’d need to contact Houser.
“I can’t believe you’re actually considering facing off with this Quint person after what he did to your body. Was it some kind of experiment?”
Maya sat along the pool’s edge and ran her fingers across the water’s surface. She paused and cast him a sideways glance. “I thought you were beginning to believe.”
“Why would you think that?”
She shrugged and resumed her finger swirls in the water.
“Do you have any idea how I felt when you were gone. I couldn’t find you. Then, after searching for days, I’m delivered here and you’re a shriveled, emaciated death doll.” He shot up and paced before her. Visions of her in Mother’s arms pierced his thoughts. Her quivering body lying next to his. The soft hum of Nodin’s chant, as she lay enfolded in their arms. Protectively cradling her even as he railed in disbelief. He stilled his pacing and was quiet for a moment, containing his emotions. Then he whispered out, “Why did you pursue me?”
Sadness gleamed in her aqua eyes before she turned away. “I never had any choice. I was told we were matched by destiny. That we belonged together.”
“You understand how that sounds, right? You’re willing to let others match you up with men. Use your body.” Her sharp intake of breath alerted him that perhaps he’d gone too far. And perhaps he had. Perhaps he shouldn’t take his distress out on her, but she was the one who had gripped his heart. Seized the thumping, lusting red mass in her watery grip until, with fingers slick from her lies, her hold had slipped and his heart had crashed against the rocks of this damp cave.
She hopped down from her perch and shoved against his chest. “Go ahead and chip away. Use your words to defile me. I’ll endure.”
“Endure as some sort of water-girl? That’s your plan?” He could not stem the cascade of bitter words. Being here, discussing her mind-boggling existence shot his anger into vitriol’s red-light district.
She scrubbed at her head until her braid broke free from the bun. “Don’t do this, Terran. Please. Get some rest. Your anger is making you say things against your nature. You’re not cruel.” She patted his forearm.
The pale beauty of those gentle fingers served as a reminder of other moments that same hand had passed over his skin. She sought to comfort him when her own pain and uncertainty must also be prevalent. “You’re right. I apologize. What should we do now?”
“You can rest. I need to return to my pool.” She unzipped her jeans.
Any other time a different reaction to this might have occurred, and he did feel a slight stir, but no, right now he needed clarification. He couldn’t allow lusty thoughts when he barely remembered hi
s own name. “And tomorrow you plan to face this Quint?” His ire rose once more as disbelief and fury replaced desire.
“Yes.”
He gripped her arm. “I don’t think so.”
“You have no say.”
“I believe I do. Fate and linked destinies, remember? I have every right to stop you. Nodin brought me here to heal you. I held up my end of the bargain. Don’t think I’m going through that nightmare again.”
She jerked her arm free. “Terran, tomorrow you will remember none of this. We will deliver you back to your world. No memories of your time here will remain.”
“Oh no, I won’t be forgetting anything. I don’t trust these people you’re with. I’m not letting you walk into another situation that could destroy your body.”
“You don’t want this life. You don’t want me.”
“How can I know what I want? Can’t you give me time to contemplate?”
“We don’t have time.” She roared back.
He opened his mouth, but closed it once more. Her heaving chest and the feral light in her eye was wreaking havoc on his libido. He stepped away from the temptation. As he paced under the well opening, he squinted against the glaring light. Yelling at each other would get them nowhere. A level head was necessary.
He stepped before her and titled her chin with his thumb. “Here is how this will play out. I’m going tomorrow. Based on what I find there, I’ll decide whether or not I will let you work your mind meld. I will choose.”
Maya shook her head. “I don’t want you there. Did you not listen to a word I said? Quint is too unpredictable. I can’t make that fact clear enough. He wants to take over your body. You. With any means at his disposal.” She cursed under her breath. “I know you may not believe me, but what happens to you matters. Deeply.”
“If I’m staying here tonight, I’m going in the morning.”
“I don’t have to take you.” Her chin rose and she poked a finger against his chest. “I’ll make you forget everything right here, right now.”
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