Copula Chronicles: The Complete Collection: Origin, Descend, Ascend, Legacy

by Venessa Kimball

  Keeping my distance, I ask, “Where is she?”

  Seeing that he’s gotten my attention, Sam leans forward in his chair. “We’re in Japan. I thought she would resist the implantation of the Sondian Copula because of her values as a Dobrian, but it’s had the complete opposite effect.”

  “Why’re you here? I know it’s not to tell me how Corinna is. That’s just a side note to get under my skin.”

  Sam threads his fingers together lazily and says , “I’ve come to ask for your assistance.”

  I try to keep my cool, rather than lunge at him and wrap my hands around his neck. He’s come to ask me for help? Son of a bitch! I’m not doing jack shit for this bastard. Even though it irks me to no end, I play along, needing to learn as much about his plan so I don’t get caught up in his shit again. “What kind of assistance?”

  Sam sighs. “It’s a big job, bringing Corinna into her new role. Japan is the perfect environment for the task. Plus, due to the heightened magnetic field of Mount Fuji with the Aokigahara Forest and the Dragon’s Triangle in close proximity, we’ll be able to open a wormhole that could spawn additional wormholes from within. Opening it during the height of the intersection of our galaxy with Andromeda will be epic. The first wave of cohabitants will be Sondians.”

  Great. He’s still tripping on this psychobabble shit—wormholes, intersections, galaxies, Sondians. I don’t know why I expected anything different from the complete madness I witnessed weeks ago now.

  Without missing a beat, I suck up the desire to kick this asshole out and appear intrigued by his insanity. “Cohabitants?”

  Sam’s face turns hard with defense. “When the intersection begins, Earth will be a beacon of light for worlds in the Andromeda galaxy. Though highly advanced, Sonde will be the first wave, wanting to be a part of Earth and its evolution. Earth has so many resources to offer to worlds that have little or none. Balthazar has turned against the fellowship and we plan to revolt. We need as many Sondian guardians to keep the wormhole sustained while the first wave of beings enter. The first wave is just the beginning. So many worlds in Andromeda have remained undiscovered by scientists. The beings of those worlds will want entrance into our world, but we’ll have the upper hand, Xander. The beings will be grateful and bow to our fellowship for granting them access to Earth. With their loyal support, we’ll have ultimate control over all wormhole entrances globally. Our fellowship will have control of everything. Our world has always believed in survival of the fittest, Xander. With our success in Japan, the world will evolve the way our fellowship has envisioned. You, Corinna and I will be honored and rewarded for that success.”

  “So, we would be killing this civilization to start a new civilization here on Earth?”

  Sam heartily laughs, “Oh that sounds way more dramatic than it really is! Our goal has always been to save this world, but it must change to save it. We must control those changes. Those from other worlds have been hiding among us for centuries. They’ll want to adapt and evolve in our world with us. With our control, they’ll no longer have to hide away in secret.”

  I scoff skeptically. “Are you telling me that these beings, aliens, have been in our world without us knowing?”

  Sam smiles and looks down at his folded hands. He rises from his chair and walks back to the kitchen, his orange juice in hand. Still silent, my question hovering between us, he places the glass on the counter, heads to the front door, and rests his hand on the doorknob. He glances at me suddenly. “Yes. They have always been here among us.”

  When Sam opens the door, a blinding light envelops the room, and I instinctively close my eyes, shielding them from the brightness.

  With my eyes closed, I hear Sam’s final words to me resting in my mind. “I will be expecting your help and loyalty.”

  ***

  When I reopen my eyes, I am alone in the cabin. Immediately, I glance at the kitchen counter in search of a glass of orange juice. Nothing rests on the counter.

  CHAPTER 10: NOT A DATE

  Jesca

  It’s quiet in the car as Nate drives. I’m looking out the passenger’s window, watching people walk by. I see a few young people walking hand in hand. I assume they’re on a date, where as Nate and I are going to hang out. Nothing more.

  Normal and unsuspecting nineteen and twenty-two-year-olds are going out to movies, studying for exams, writing papers, heading to parties, and having intimate relationships. Nate and I, along with all the other guardians are preparing for missions, safeguarding territories, and stopping our galaxy from an intersection that could bring about the apocalypse.

  We come to a stoplight, and I see a girl and a guy standing outside of a shop. He’s holding her close as they look into each other’s eyes.

  I’d dated on and off throughout school in Marietta. I’d had a couple of boyfriends. Sam Abernathy was my first boyfriend. In middle school, it was more of a social thing than anything else was. He was my awkward, sloppy first kiss.

  Cord Stewart was my high school boyfriend. We started dating our sophomore year. He was a friend before we were anything more. He was great, but I just didn’t feel my world turn upside down when we kissed. Cord and I dated until the summer before our senior year. He wanted more than second base one hot summer night and I wasn’t going to give in. He broke up with me the next day.

  Senior year, I went on two dates, not counting prom. I went to prom with a group of guys and girls, including Elicia. I like how uncomplicated it felt to just be on my own. And freshman year of college, I kept things uncomplicated mainly because of how busy I was with school and working at Benson’s. Sophomore year of college … well, you know how that turned out. It was complicated, and it wasn’t because of my fucking love life.

  I glance over at Nate, his eyes focused on the road. He’s just three years older than I am which would make him a senior in college or maybe a graduate student. Where did he attend? Did he go to college at all? I wonder if Nate dated at all before our lives were turned upside down. Did he have a girlfriend before all of this? Was it serious? Did he have to leave her behind?

  The way I’m thinking makes me sound like I have some kind of claim on him, which I don’t. We are just linked. That’s what’s driving this. Still, I kind of want to know more about who I’m linked to.

  I shiver briefly as I feel Nate’s warm hand close around mine. The familiar tingling electric feel our touch gives is coursing through my arm as he asks, “You okay?”

  I look up at him and see deep concern in his eyes. He’s just worried about me. Him holding my hand doesn’t mean anything but concern for me. I guess he’s worried about the same thing as he releases my hand and puts it back on the steering wheel.

  I breathe out deeply. “I’m good, just thinking. You know how dangerous that can be.”

  Nate laughs a little. “Yeah, never figured my thoughts could be so dangerous.”

  Nate pulls off the main road into a parking lot and parks in one of the empty spots. “Okay, we’re here.”

  I feel my nerves knot up. I kind of want to take back agreeing to hang out with Nate tonight, but that would only make me look like I couldn’t handle just hanging out. I look around us, searching the line of shops for what could pass as a deli or something. “Where’s here?”

  Without answering, he shuts off the car and turns in his seat to face me with a mischievous grin on his face. “All right, so in order for this to be a normal not date hang out thing, we need to talk about normal stuff that normal people not dating would talk about. No talk about impeding intersections of galaxies, a potential apocalypse, or infiltrating the Sondian enemy. Got it?”

  I can’t help but smile at the way he’s taking this hang out session seriously in a not so serious way. “Got it.”

  Crossing the street, Nate looks over at me, then quickly looks straight ahead and points. “That’s where we’re headed.”
/>
  The little shops lining the road vary from quaint antique shops, boutiques, convenient stores and small bistros.

  But the wrought-iron door he’s pointed at kind of sticks out like a sore thumb. And the old man standing behind it is a startling surprise, as I didn’t notice him a second ago. He is tall and thin with white hair combed back to perfection. As he opens the creaky wrought iron gate, he looks at Nate first, and then he glances at me with suspicion. I’m about to pull Nate aside and ask him if this is the right place, when the man questions him. “Sera?”

  Nate responds, “Yes sir. Nate Sera.”

  Like Nate has said the magic word, the old man’s face lights up, and he opens the door wide for us to enter.

  “Come in, Nathaniel. Is this Jesca?” He doesn’t wait for me to respond. He grabs hold of my free hand and shakes it. “Hello, dear. Your father and I are cohorts. We’ve worked together off and on for years on many things.”

  His commenting vaguely is something Ms. Olivia had done, which makes it easier to decipher that he’s a guardian himself.

  Nate clears his throat a little. “Terrance, Jesca Sera. Jesca, Terrance Getty.”

  Getty. I know that name. Nick Getty? I glance at Nate, “Our Nick?”

  Nate nods, “He’s Nick’s grandfather.”

  Nate and I follow Mr. Getty through a stone tunnel beyond the gate. Vines are growing along the stone wall on both sides as our feet echo along the cobblestones.

  Mr. Getty speaks as he walks ahead of us. “It’s so wonderful to meet you. You have a very resourceful boyfriend, my dear. Nick, God love him, called me this afternoon and said that Nathaniel needed to reserve my restaurant for the evening because he wanted to take Ezra’s daughter to dinner. I was closed tonight, but for Ezra and my grandson, I’m open.”

  I’m tempted to correct him on calling Nate my boyfriend, but stop myself. Thankfully, Nate clears the air tactfully. “We are just two guardians wanting to unwind Mr. Getty. Thank you for opening your restaurant to us tonight on your night off.”

  All of a sudden, the tunnel opens to a large open space. The floor is cobblestone, and candles line the perimeter of this garden-like room. There is a pond with a small waterfall at the other end of the space. I look above, and I see the ceiling is crystal-clear glass. The stars are shining through, illuminating the room even more than the candles. There’s one table set in the middle of the open space.

  Okay, candles, one table, the setting. By all accounts, this looks like the most romantic hang out I’ve ever seen. I look over at Nate feeling a little overwhelmed and blindsided that he might have changed his mind about us backing off and trying to keep things platonic.

  Mr. Getty is at the table pulling out one of the chairs for me. “Come, come. Sit.”

  I whisper under my breath as I lean into Nate. “Just hang out. This is kind of...”

  He talks through his teeth as he looks down at me and smiles. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t expect it to be this fancy. Nick didn’t say anything about it being like this. Just go with it. Don’t want to make grandpa upset.”

  Since we were the only guests at the restaurant, our food is brought out in record time. I take another bite of my savory pasta, making sure to scoop up a piece of the Chicken Parmesan. “Hmmm.”

  Nate smiles from across the small table. “Good?”

  I look up at the stars above us and breathe out slowly. “Heavenly.”

  “It’s beautiful here,” Nate says as he eats his hearty portion of Stromboli.

  “And this is the best fucking Stromboli I’ve ever had.”

  I’m mesmerized by the sound of the waterfall when all of a sudden I hear soft, romantic music begin to play in the background.

  I look around to hear where it’s coming from, and then I turn to Nate, my smile completely gone. “Nate.”

  He puts his hands up. “Yeah, that wasn’t me.”

  He looks off to the corner of the room, taking my gaze with them. “I think it was their idea.”

  I see Mr. Getty and, I assume, Mrs. Getty peering out the interior building door. They quickly move away when they see me looking back at them.

  While it’s the sweetest gesture coming from the Getty’s, they’ve gotten the wrong idea about Nate and me. It kind of gets me angry that Nate isn’t reacting more upset than he is as he sits across from me grinning peacefully and eating his Stromboli.

  Nate notices me sending daggers in his direction and puts down his fork. “What wrong?”

  Yeah, I know we have vowed not to get into each other’s heads, but does he not see what I’m angry about. “Seriously?”

  He looks like a deer in headlights, frozen without a clue. “What?”

  I toss my napkin off my lap and onto the table. “This isn’t making you uncomfortable at all. The candles, the romantic setting, now the music?”

  Nate tilts his head and swallows the food his mouth. “Yeah, kind of. But I’m ignoring it. I mean, isn’t that what we should do? It would be rude to just get up and walk out.”

  He picks up another piece of his Stromboli with his fork as he watches me. “This isn’t a date Jes. We made that completely clear. This should be a non-issue. Unless...”

  Not wanting to give him any ideas that I might consider this anything more, I quickly pick up my napkin and place it on my lap. “No. You’re completely right. It’s just music. It’s lovely really.”

  I pick up my fork and knife and cut into my Chicken Parmesan. I can feel Nate watching me for any sign of my resolve faltering. I look up at smile widely at him. “So. Normal hang out talk. You ready?”

  He nods and looks back down at his food. “Ready. Shoot.”

  Shit. I don’t have anything yet. Okay, let me think. Let me think.

  “How many girlfriends have you had?”

  Brilliant Jes! Bringing up his past love life?

  Nate smirks. “Woah! Going for the juicy stuff.”

  I start to backpedal. “Sorry, let me try again.”

  He doesn’t let me give him any other option. “No, no, it’s all good. Let’s see, where should I start? There’s been so many.”

  His looking up at the sky for an answer is comical and takes the tension out of my sail a little. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”

  To make his point even more humorous, he begins counting on his fingers. “Well, there was JoBeth Henderson, Sarah Cartwright, Amberly Smith and Marissa Gordon.” Nate raises his eyebrows and smiles widely. “And, I can’t forget Natasha Greene.”

  The way he said her name sparks my possessive interest. I’m sure he had sex with her. That’s probably why he’s grinning wickedly right now. “All right! Don’t get too excited while we cruise down memory lane!”

  Nate laughs it off. “Okay. Now you. How many boy toys have you had?”

  He takes another bite of his food and waits for me to respond.

  I growl under my breath. “Really? Boy toys?” I clear my throat and lean on the table, focused on the question. “Just two. Sam Abernathy and Cord Stewart.”

  Nate skeptically looks at me. “Really? Just two?”

  I sit back, folding my arms across my chest. “Yes, just two. Why? Do you think I dated the entire swim team or something?”

  His eyes don’t leave mine. “No. It’s just … I would think that every guy that has met you would do whatever they had to just to be near you.”

  His words are completely sincere yet leave me speechless as I feel his gaze on me steady and true. “Next Question. How many guys have you kissed?”

  Seriously? I look up at him from my plate. “Let’s start with you, player.”

  I put a mouth full of chicken in my mouth, making it impossible for him to turn it on me again. Nate rolls his eyes and chuckles as he leans back in his chair. “Okay. A couple dozen.”

  He stares at me with this smug ass grin on hi
s face. “Your turn, hot stuff. How many?”

  I shrug as I twirl pasta with my fork, diverting my eyes from Nate’s intimidating and completely seductive look. “Easy, two boyfriends, so just two .”

  A side note festers in my head.A big one actually—Xander. The night he left. I try to push it out of my head, even though I’m damn lucky I’ve been checking my mental block all night. I didn’t need that little nugget slip into Nate’s mind. Not while things are going so well with us.

  “What about me?”

  As soon as Nate speaks, I let my fork drop to my plate and fold my hands in front of my lips. I graze my lip with the back of my hand as I try to remove the memory of Xander and I, but it’s too late. The feel of his lips, the urgency, the need, it’s all at the forefront of my mind. It was so different from the kisses I’ve shared with Nate. I clear my throat and nod. “And you.”

  Nate observes my obvious reaction to his question. “Are you sure? Because the way you’re acting I would guess you are keeping maybe another ten secret.”

  I force a smile and look down at my plate. “No, just four and you.”

  “Jes, c’mon. I know you’re holding out.”

  I don’t like him pushing like this and while it sounds like he could be teasing, the way he’s looking at me is suspicious and completely getting under my skin.

  “Why does it matter so much Nate?”

  I sit back in my seat and focus on the pond.

  “Shit. I was just fooling around, Jes. Just trying to have a normal conversation.”

  Hearing the tonal emphasis on the word ‘normal’ pushes me over the edge. “No, you weren’t Nate.”

  He tosses his napkin onto the table and leans in as he lowers his voice. “Okay, fine. I wasn’t fooling around. Maybe I’m more concerned because of this link shit between us.”

  I scoff at his seeming to brush our bond off as shit. “Link shit? Nice. Really nice.”

  He rolls his eyes and breathes in deeply, worked up by my calling him out. “Look, I could care less who the hell you kiss. I don’t care if you kissed every asshole football player on your high school team. I just wanted to...”