The Traveler (Bloods Divide Universe Book 1)

by Stacy McCarty

  “I will hurry and pick as many as I am able to carry.” I say aloud while bending to scoop up the berries into my arms. I should probably get him something to drink in addition to the food. I look around. There are rows of berry covered hills for miles. I spot a small sproutshroom. I walk over to them peering down spotting the pooled water in the shrooms centers.

  “How will I get the water back to him without losing most of it?” I say aloud as I think for a moment longer before marching back down to the shores. I see Cadence with his back facing me. As I near him he seems to be staring out at the sea like he can see someone he knows swimming in the water.

  “I have found you something to eat.” I say, startling him as he turns shocked to see me. I feel slightly silly holding food for this male and so I shove the berries into his chest allowing him barely a chance to grab them from me before they can drop.

  “Shylo berries are very filling.” I say. He makes a strange face before biting into a hand full of the berries. I watch his expression as he chews. The slight changes in his face are fascinating to me. He seems to have so many different faces. “Do you like them Cadence of Troy?” I ask. He nearly spits out his mouth full before he starts laughing. I grow angry and remain confused.

  “Yes…I do like the berries, thank you.” He says. His round brown eyes widen as he stares at me.

  “Stop laughing at me than.” I say as he continues to giggle while finishing off the berries.

  “Sorry Aria I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing at what you just now called me.” he explains in a lower tone that offers a soothing effect on me.

  “There is water for you to drink too.” I offer. His eyes widen. His head nods violently. “Please follow me I will show you where the water is.” I add before moving away from him and I can feel he is on my heels following me. I feel his breath on the back of my neck. It’s warm and quick. He is taller than me and something about that makes me excited. Like that maybe he is strong, fierce and that maybe he can handle himself in a battle. I had never thought about a man before now. My mate will be one of the council members for what I’ve been told. I will not choose them rather I will be chosen. His scent is growing stronger, more musky and sweaty, I like it. I like his smell. And I sure liked the way he tasted. We arrive at the sprout summit and I point down at the pooled water. “See…water for you to drink.” I soften my mouth turning the corners upwards matching one of his earlier expressions.

  “So it is water and it’s safe to drink than?” He asks while looking down before looking back at me matching my expression and I feel a wave of laughter push its way out of me.

  “Well Aria I don’t believe it this looks just like an upside down mushroom filled with water.” He adds before leaning down cupping his hands together to scoop up the water to drink. “Now if only you could find me some new clothes so I can get out of this shirt and dress slacks.” He chuckles while looking down at his attire.

  “You can disrobe if you would like. I do find it interesting that you are wearing so many garments to begin with. Are you attending a special ceremony later?” I ask without thinking. He stands with a sober look like his stomach is turning and he’s going to be ill. His eyes are cold and his matched expression is erased. I must have said something to upset him.

  “Actually I was attending my aunt’s funeral earlier this morning.” He pauses briefly. “This morning seems like a life time ago now.” He adds before walking a few feet away while looking around the valley. “Where the hell is this place anyways? What have I gotten myself into here, Aria? This place seems to have three moons and no sun. One blue moon, one yellow moon, and one purple moon all of which shine the most amazing hues of color as far as the eye can see. I don’t even know what time of day it is. I assume that I have been gone for at least a few hours or maybe more.” He finishes and looks at me.

  “I don’t know which one of your many questions I should try to answer first Cadence.” I say while remaining very confused by the names for the things around us.

  “Please stop calling me that, only my parents and strangers call me by my full name. Call me Cade.”

  “Cade…” I repeat. I like how his name rolls off my tongue. He nods. “Well Cade, you are in the Shylo Valley alongside the Yukon Sea.” I answer but I’m only half certain that I’m correct.

  “This place looks a lot like back home, aside from the moons, of course.”

  “But we are not safe here out in the open. Soon it will be darker and only the blue hue will shine.” I warn as I point up at the hues which have already started to transcend into the beyond. I haven’t heard the zerkers for some time now but that doesn’t mean that they have gone away, they could still be on our trail. We will need to mask our scent in the Shylo Valley. The berries should cover up our scent.” I add. I hold back the fact that I have never seen this valley with my own eyes. I am just like him at this point; a stranger in a strange land. I have only heard of these places. These places that were only fantasy in my head up until this morning, and then suddenly my whole world changed in a flash. Now I’m alone, or not really alone but this stranger is not my kin nor can he help me. He can’t even keep pace with me and we will have to be fast if we stand a chance at night out here on the tundra. I feel his hand on my shoulder. I bring my gaze back to his face. His eyes are wider then before and he is showing his teeth in the most peculiar way. His fingertips press down gripping me in place while he lowers his head bringing us face to face.

  “What the hell is in these berries?” He rattles. His voice is pitchy and fast. I notice his brown eyes seem to be spinning in their sockets. I remain silent unsure how to answer him. I don’t want him to know just how little I know about this world I call home.

  Chapter 6

  Cade

  I feel as though I have drunk twenty cups of coffee after snorting a line of coke. My body is energized times a hundred. I feel my hands start to shake.

  “Seriously, what’s in these berries, Aria? Are they like coffee full of caffeine? They seem to be filled with caffeine or something like it because right now I think that I could run for forty miles without resting.” I say. I remove my hand from her shoulder which I hadn’t noticed I had placed on her. She steps closer. Her small frame holds my attention as I look her up and down. She is practically the size of a child and I’m over twenty years old hardly a good match. But she seems stronger than I am. And it is clear to me that she isn’t human even though she appears to be. The coldness of her flesh is one indication and her speed. Her soft but frozen skin somehow draws me into her.

  “I am glad to hear that the Shylo berries have nourished your body, Cade.” She says. I get a jolt in my stomach when she says my nickname. It doesn’t help that her gown barely covers her chest and the slits up the sides of her dress opens up revealing her legs and her hips. And I’m pretty sure that she isn’t wearing any undergarments. I immediately push the wild thoughts out of my head.

  “I’m ready to go now.”

  She turns looking into the vast distance. “We will need to get away from the Yukon Sea the water attracts to vicious creatures at night. I think we should head away from it and go through the Shylo Valley.” She finishes.

  She turns and starts walking. I join her easily matching her pace. I can’t help but steal another peek at her from my peripheral vision. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable with me by staring at her. I’m certain that she is used to all the attention and stares by how beautiful she is.

  “So you’re some kind of leader or princess than from the sound of things?” I ask her without looking at her.

  “No, I am neither a leader nor a princess, I’m not sure what a princess is but I’m not that. I am a breeder. I am one of the chosen.” She explains with a great deal of confidence.

  “What is a breeder? I mean what is entailed in that title?” I ask but by the name I have a feeling I already know what I might be in store for.

  “I am to breed with the council member who chooses me…
” She starts to add but I stop in my tracks not moving.

  “What the hell are you saying? You’re supposed to be chosen to breed with someone?” I emphasize the word breeder. Does she mean mate, have sex with? What kind of sex slave fortress did I land in here?

  “Yes, I am the breeder so of course I will do my duty when it is time. But for now I must find the Shylo Temple and wait for Dahlia to come find me there.” She adds before returning back to a quick pace leaving me behind in a leap. I quickly join her, shocked but determined to get further answers.

  “Who is this Dahlia anyway?”

  “She’s my teacher and my guide. She has been with me for as long as I can remember.”

  “Back there…” I ask. She nods. “In that huge castle or fortress, you were born there and you were raised there too?” I press and she nods. “Who is the royal council?” I ask and she stops in her tracks.

  “We must run Cade I can hear the zerkers coming.” She urges while looking at me this time I see actual fear in her eyes. “I understand that it probably bothers you to be carried but I must get us to safety and you are simply too slow.” She says as I dart off at my quickest sprit pace leaving her behind.

  I almost chuckle but I stop as I feel my body lifting up off of the ground. In mid-air I notice she’s by my side almost mocking my efforts while she’s holding me up by my arm. I stop resisting her allowing her to hold on to me while continuing to run at a speed so fast that I feel more like we’re flying than running. The adrenaline races through my body as I fight to maintain consciences. Something about the press of this planet’s atmosphere and the speed at which she traveling must be affecting my equilibrium. She seems unfazed almost in her natural state, like a wild cheetah running on the vast tundra of Africa. She’s of course much faster than a cheetah. The stimulating effect of the berries continues pumping through my blood, and it’s like I’m drunk. The shrubs, rocks, and bushes become merely a blurry backdrop as we sail across like a schooner on the ocean. The only few pleasures I had as a teen was the summers I spent with my grandfather out at sea on the families’ schooner. Even at a competitive speed of sixty-five knots Aria would have sailed past us with ease.

  Ω

  We fully stop after hours of her doing the leg work. We arrive at a small clearing surrounded by ten foot rock formations. The ground is covered with soft grass like shrubs. I sit down to rest.

  “Aria, come and sit down and rest you must be exhausted.” I say as I pat the ground next to me. I look up at her and the rocks grab my attention. “I swear those rocks look like there were put here intentionally for some sort of ritual or ceremony. Where are we now, Aria, are we on the Shylo tribes’ lands?”

  “No, we are still too far west. We are still on the Kysco tundra and still very much in danger. I must check the perimeter to make sure it’s safe first, you rest.” She explains before vanishing.

  “And she’s gone like that!” I snap to myself. I lay back placing my arms behind my head. I stare up at the sky which looks like a tropical fruit punch drink stirring around my head. The bright colors are breathtaking. I let out a loud sigh. “What am I doing? I just blindly go off with a strange young woman, who carries me off into the wilderness. I truly am insane.” I pause as I notice a shooting star. “Shit! Wow the sheer splendor of this place was worth the trip through that black hole or whatever it was. I’m not even experiencing any withdrawal from the booze it’s kind of nuts. It’s been at least twelve hours since my last drink. My anxiety is gone too. My constant stress seems to have subsided maybe by the shock and excitement of the experience…” I stop to prompt myself up onto my elbows looking forward. I see a flash cross in front of me before I notice it’s her as she sits next to me.

  “I’ll never get used to your speed. It’s like magic. I thought you were moving fast while carrying me before but just now I’m pretty sure you traveled so fast that I couldn’t see you. You were invisible to me.” I say with my eyes on her.

  “Magic…what is that?” She asks. Her face all bunched up letting her adorable innocence seep out. Suddenly it’s as though all of her assumed power is merely an illusion that my alcoholic minds made up.

  “I don’t think that I’m smart enough to explain to you exactly what magic is but I’ll try.” I say while trying not to stumble over my words. She leans closer. “Magic is like making the invisible visible and impossible possible. I guess.” I finish before chuckling at my half-ass attempt at being smart. I’m the dip-shit Stanford drop out. Not because I couldn’t understand the material. I dropped out of school because I was too stupid to care about learning more. I was a fool back then, a rich, young, and from a powerful family so working hard wasn’t my thing. I thought that I could skate by on all that and instead of earning it through constant action. In that regard she’s smarter than me already at her age.

  Chapter 7

  Aria

  I watch him carefully as he attempts to explain yet another new term of his to me. I do not understand why he talks to me as though I am a child when it is clear that I’m the one caring for him in this situation. But I listen to him giving him respect and attention just like Dahlia told me to show to those who are simple minded like Cade clearly is. I study his shape as he talks. He is steady and tall. His scent excites me but I don’t understand why. I have not gotten the urge to bite him again but I want to be close to his body this urge is concerning to me. I should not want anything to do with him in that way. Or is this feeling I’m having normal? Cade is a man after all. Maybe his scent is only confusing to me because of that fact. Either way I should keep my distance less I forget myself should my urges return.

  Without his top garment on I clearly notice his bare chest. I notice his markings on his arms and back. He has different symbols and shapes that are beautiful and striking.

  “What tribe are you from?” I ask as I point to the symbols on his body.

  “Huh? What do you mean by that?” He says before removing the covering on his feet. I start to wonder if I too should remove my garments as he is doing. He looks down at his markings and then he back at me. “These are just silly meaningless pictures. Nothing more than that I assure you. I’m no member of any tribe.” He adds. His expression changes as if there’s pain coursing through him.

  “You have no tribe? Everyone has a tribe, Cade. I’m sorry to hear that you do not have one of your own.” I say.

  He turns his attention on the sky and grows quiet. I try to look elsewhere but my eyes stay glued to him. His skin is darker colored then mine. It almost matches his brown eyes. His lips were soft, delicious and the memory of them on mine is resurfacing as he looks back at me again.

  “I’m not the least bit tired, must be those berries that have me so wired and restless.” He says. He stands and starts pacing, looking nowhere in particular. “So where are we? What is this place?” He asks again and I start to wander if his memory is bad. I feel as though I must remain quiet or I’ll only be lying to him. “Hello…Aria?” He adds loudly making me jump a little.

  “I don’t know!” I let slip. I realize my error and I quickly stand pacing in the opposite direction as him. I don’t see him stop and begin to follow me.

  “What do you mean you don’t know, Aria?” His voice licks my ear and I turn coming face to face with him.

  “I have only heard stories of these places. I don’t know anything beyond the fortress walls. What Dahlia taught me was forbidden. But I think that I can get us to the Shylo Temple. And once we are there than we will wait for her to come and get me. I will help you get back to your home once Dahlia finds us.” I lie. I hate lying. He nods before sitting back down. I move and join him.

  “Does it seem to be getting darker or am I just imagining it?” He asks while looking to the sky.

  “Yes, it is almost nighttime, Cade and the two hues will set leaving behind only the blue hue.” I answer while pointing to the hues in the sky above. “Don’t you remember, Cade I told you this earlier when we were by
the Yukon Sea?” I ask but he shakes his head indicating that he doesn’t. “See look,” We watch as the yellow and purple Hues slip into the world’s end disappearing into the distance. The valley grows dark. He starts shivering.

  “Oh Jeeze, it’s really cold now, like really cold. Did the temperature go down twenty degrees or what?” He grabs up his garments quickly putting them back on covering up his bareness.

  “Oh yes that’s right you’re a lot like the royal council in that way, your skin requires warmth I understand.” I conclude. He raises his brow.

  “Oh great you are comparing me to those gang raping royal council members that you seem to worship? No thanks.” He shakes his head.

  “I do not understand your silly terms for things.” I mark while putting my arms around his body holding him in place. “I will offer you my warmth, Cade that way you will not freeze in the night.” He begins to laugh at me and I grow angry. “Stop!”

  “Stop what Aria laughing at the absurdity that you could possibly keep me warm. You’re as cold as ice to the touch and your gorgeous body is tiny and not big enough to block the wind. But I love that you are attempting to take care of me.” He says while wrapping his arms around my body.

  My body feels like it is melting under his touch. I lose my ability to stop myself from moving closer to him as our chest touch. I feel my nipples harden. His scent is overwhelming me now and him being so close I can no longer back off my urge to taste him again. But he beats me to it by placing his lips to mine. I meet him with increased pressure and I feel his tongue slipping inside of my mouth. It feels unlike anything else. My body seems to come to life, moving on its own following his lead. He lays me back onto my back and gets on top of me. His hands start moving slowly down my ribs on each side making me sigh. I feel myself getting wet between my thighs unlike when I touch myself. I don’t want to stop. I can’t help but let it happen. The pleasure I’m feeling is exquisite but I must keep us safe from the night creatures which will surely come now that it is nighttime. I’m almost afraid to speak because I don’t want him to stop. I move my hand onto the flesh of his arms so I can feel it against mine. His body’s heat gives me pleasure. He kisses down my mouth moving onto my chin and then to my neck. I sigh loud, unable to control myself. He must be a master at this. The warmth of his tongue on my neck gives me chills. I start to shiver underneath his warm body not because I’m cold but because it feels so good.