Wrapping an arm around my sister’s shoulder as soon as she draws near, I turn my gaze heavenward. The sky, like weeks, months and years to come, unfolds with vast, unfathomable potential. My only hope is that we right the wrongs of the past as we strive for the best possible life, that we shine as brightly as the stars glittering beyond planet earth.
Chapter 22
The swish of dried leaves echoes on the gentle breeze as treetops sway. Autumn leaves, brilliant and bold in their color, glow along the horizon line like firelight in the waning rays of day. Seasons have changed as they always do. Summer surrendered to fall, and soon fall will yield to winter. The push forward persists as a natural progression. Life continues. Three years have gone by since the battle between humans and the Uganna occurred. Three years of relative peace have passed. Looking out, I see that peace in action as the faces interspersed in the crowd are not all the same. While few Urthmen share the bond of friendship with humans and exist with more of a mutual understanding of tolerance, some friendships have developed and are demonstrated here now. Urthmen and humans share the space, all gathered to celebrate a momentous day.
Decorated simply but tastefully, the courtyard has been transformed from a hub of bustling activity to the center of a party. Pumpkins alternate with mums in a row on either side of a path swathed in a length of pale material and benches have been dragged from the dining area to the grassy clearing. Friends and family sit together. A sense of joy quivers in the air like the beat of butterfly wings. Sighing and feeling a pronounced flutter in my belly, I swallow hard against the lump gathering in my throat as my gaze focuses to the tall form waiting in the space around which the chairs are positioned. Oliver, clad in a button front shirt and dark pants, stands beneath a trellis of carved wood. Interwoven through the intricate latticework are white flowers tied together. Shifting his weight from one leg to another, he looks a mix of nervous and excited. I know the look. I saw it not long ago. Remembering that day just two years ago, my eyes moisten with emotion. I turn and scan the crowd for Sully. When I find him, I swear he senses my eyes upon him, for he turns and faces me, smiling his crooked smile, and my heart swells so large I feel as if my chest cannot contain it.
“Hey.” June sidles up next to me. With her hair pulled up so that just a few lose tendrils hang down and frame her face and flowers interlaced through her curls, she looks as though she could be the bride today every bit as much as Lark does. The thought makes my chest clench. She is young and I know the day will come, that many young men are interested in her, but in my mind, no one will ever be good enough for my little sister. Only the kindest, gentlest man who’d readily lay down his life for her would even be in the running. There will be time enough to find that one special person worthy of her love. Just not today; today is Lark and Oliver’s day. “You okay?” June gives my shoulder a gentle nudge.
“Yeah, sure,” I nod. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
June arcs an eyebrow at me, her eyes vacillating between my face and my abdomen. “You’ve been emotional lately, that’s all.” Her tone is gentle as it has been for several months now. In fact, I can’t remember the last flash of temper I’ve seen from her.
“I’m fine, I promise,” I assure her as Peter and his son, Ezra approach. “Weddings just make me sentimental.” I huff a curl off my forehead. The admission is hard. Being emotional as I am now is new to me, like so many other things. The world in which I spent the majority of my life growing never allowed for it. Now, however, with peace a reality, the opportunity to experience true appreciation for every aspect of existence has been presented.
“Avery, you’re glowing,” Peter says as he leans in and kisses my cheek.
“Yeah,” Ezra adds. “You look well.”
Feeling heat creep up my neck and color my cheeks, I say, “Thank you,” and tuck a wayward lock of hair behind my ear.
“This is such a happy day, such a happy time in life.” Peter’s gaze is pensive. I fully understand it, understand his words. The culmination of all that’s happened, of how far we’ve come and how much we’ve evolved as two separate species learning to coexist, is significant.
“It really is.” Looking to the direction opposite Oliver, I see lark. White gauzy material has been fashioned into a dress that hugs her torso then flares at the hips in flowing lengths that graze the ground and flowers resembling the ones in June’s hair have been wound around her braid. My breathing hitches and trembles.
Hearing the catch, Peter places a hand on my shoulder. He and his son are residents of Cassowary, a circumstance that would’ve been unfathomable not long ago. But now he and a few other Urthmen live here with us. We share not only the land and resources but cities as well. And while small groups of rogue Urthmen still exist in rural parts of the area, their numbers are small, diminishing with every month that passes. Peace is spreading. We are safe.
That sense of safety is multiplied tenfold when the warm scent of leather and sandalwood teases my nose. Strong arms hoop my generous waist and Sully’s hot breath caresses the shell of my ear. Rubbing my swollen belly, he says, “How are you? And how’s my baby girl?”
“Or boy,” I add quickly, though I suspect he has his heart set on a little girl.
“How’s my baby period. That’s what I meant to ask.” His gaze flickers to June who smirks and shakes her head.
“What?” I whine.
Throwing up her hands in mock surrender, she says, “Nothing, nothing. Don’t get all upset.”
I stomp one foot and plant a fist on my hip. “Hey! I’m not that bad. Am I?”
June and Sully exchange glances again and even include Peter and his son in their wordless interaction. “No!” they say in unison. Sully shakes his head and denies that I’ve been overly emotional vehemently. Laughter bubbles from them and from me, as well. Never in my wildest imaginings did I ever believe I’d be standing here now, married to Sully, pregnant with my first child and in the pleasant company of Urthmen, but I am. I am happy. Hunger, panic and fear are no longer my constant companion, my dark passenger. The future is filled with possibilities, with events to look forward to. It’s filled with hope. Working alongside the Urthmen and existing with them harmoniously has changed the course of history. Brighter days lay ahead. And I cannot wait to enjoy each and every one of them.
A Note from the Authors:
This is the final installment of the Planet Urth series. It has been our privilege and pleasure to create this body of work. As we celebrate the conclusion of the storyline, we do so with heavy hearts. We have grown rather fond of the main characters and see the end of their tale as bitter-sweet.
We would like to take this opportunity to personally thank each reader who has joined us on our Planet Urth journey. We appreciate every person who has enjoyed our books and stayed the course. We only hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about the characters we’ve created as much as we’ve enjoyed creating them and writing about them. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Sincerely,
Jenny and Chris Martucci
About the Authors
Jennifer and Christopher Martucci hoped that their life plan had changed radically in early 2010. To date, the jury is still out. But late one night, in January of 2010, the stay-at-home mom of three girls under the age of six had just picked up the last doll from the playroom floor and placed it in a bin when her husband startled her by declaring, “We should write a book, together!” Wearied from a day of shuttling the children to and from school, preschool and Daisy Scouts, laundry, cooking and cleaning, Jennifer simply stared blankly at her husband of fifteen years. After all, the idea of writing a book had been an individual dream each of them had possessed for much of their young adult lives. Both had written separately in their teens and early twenties, but without much success. They would write a dozen chapters here and there only to find that either the plot would fall apart, or characters would lose their zest, or the story would just fall flat. Christopher had always prefer
red penning science-fiction stories filled with monsters and diabolical villains, while Jennifer had favored venting personal experiences or writing about romance. Inevitably though, frustration and day-to-day life had placed writing on the back burner and for several years, each had pursued alternate (paying) careers. But the dream had never died. And Christopher suggested that their dream ought to be removed from the back burner for further examination. When he proposed that they author a book together on that cold January night, Jennifer was hesitant to reject the idea outright. His proposal sparked a discussion, and the discussion lasted deep into the night. By morning, the idea for the Dark Creations series was born.
The Planet Urth series, as well as the Arianna Rose series and the Dark Creations series, are works that were written while Jennifer and Christopher continued about with their daily activities and raised their young children. They changed diapers, potty trained and went to story time at the local library between chapter outlines and served as room parents while fleshing out each section. Life simply continued.
As the storyline continues to evolve, so too does the Martucci collaboration. Lunches are still packed, noses are still wiped and time remains a rare and precious commodity in their household, but it is the sound of happy chaos that is the true background music of their writing. They hope that all enjoy reading their work as much as they enjoyed writing it.
Books by Jennifer and Christopher Martucci:
The Dark Creations Series (A YA paranormal romance series)
Dark Creations: Gabriel Rising (Part 1)
Dark Creations: Gabriel Rising (Part 2)
Dark Creations: Gabriel Rising (Part 1&2)
Dark Creations: Resurrection (Part 3)
Dark Creations: The Hunted (Part 4)
Dark Creations: Hell on Earth (Part 5)
Dark Creations: Dark Ending (Part 6)
The Arianna Rose Series (A paranormal romance series)
Arianna Rose (Part 1)
Arianna Rose: The Awakening (Part 2)
Arianna’s Awakening (Part 1 & 2)
Arianna Rose: The Gathering (Part 3)
Arianna Rose: The Arrival (Part 4)
Arianna Rose: The Gates of Hell (Part 5)
The Planet Urth series (A YA science-fiction/futuristic series)
Planet Urth: (Book 1)
Planet Urth: The Savage Lands (Book 2)
Planet Urth: The Underground City (Book 3)
Planet Urth: The Rise of Azlyn (Book 4)
Planet Urth: The Fate of Urth (Book 5)
Thank You So Much For Reading Our Book!
We deeply appreciate your readership and would love to hear from you!
For information about upcoming releases (or just to say hi!) please visit our website at http://darkcreationssaga.com or at http://on.fb.me/1dlUUF5 To sign up for our mailing list and receive information about upcoming release and special promos, please visit http://eepurl.com/Jp7yz
Thank you again for reading!
Love,
Jennifer and Christopher Martucci
Oh, One Last Thing Before You Go…
When you turn the page, you may be given the opportunity to express your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter automatically. If you enjoyed our book, please take a second to click that button and let your friends know about it.
If they get something out of the book, they’ll be grateful to you, and we will be, too!
Thank you so much!
Love,
Jenny and Chris
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