by HR Moore
Alexander appeared just as Anita got to the door. Before he had a chance to take in what she was doing, she threw the cloak at him and disappeared outside, without so much as a backward glance to see if he would follow.
Alexander stood dumbfounded for a second, watching Anita take off across the grass towards the cliffs. He briefly weighed his options before giving into temptation, flying down the steps, throwing his cloak over his shoulders as he went.
Anita could sense Alexander chasing her and her energy soared as he closed in, her sky-high heels slowing her down as she ran. Adrenaline pumped through her, pushing her energy higher still, her cloak and dress streaming out behind her, an ecstatic smile on her lips.
She was nearing the edge when Alexander caught her. He grabbed hold of her hand, slowing her to a stop before spinning her around to face him. An explosion of tingles cascaded through their fingers, racing around their bodies.
They locked eyes to question and at the same time affirm that the other could feel it too. Without moving his eyes from hers, Alexander pushed his hand flat against Anita's, raised them to chest height, then mirrored the position with his other hand. Anita responded, lifting her free right hand to place it flat against his open left palm. The tingles intensified into a torrent as the loop between them closed, energy coursing around the circle of their arms.
Alexander half smiled, then very slowly moved first his left, then his right hand a millimeter away from hers. She inhaled deeply, spellbound as the tingles continued even with a gap between them.
He leaned his head forward and murmured, 'Sit down,' his piercing blue eyes caressing hers.
They sank to sit cross legged on the grass, hands and eyes maintaining their positions. His intention was clear, so she lightly closed her eyes and made her way to her Centre, where she knew she would find him waiting.
She moved towards him, noting that this felt different to normal. She was more connected to him, almost as though she were in his warm, protective embrace.
She sat on the bed in front of him and was about to speak when the world around her blurred and she was jolted to a new location. She looked around and realized she was on the lawn she'd just run across in the real world. So funny, she thought, that she was in the same place inside her head as out. But it was different to usual. Normally, when they meditated here, sunlight streamed down, playing on the water below. Now it was nighttime, the moon and stars casting a soft, romantic glow.
Strange for it to be night here when her Centre had still been basked in light…
She looked around to see where Alexander was to ask him, her eyes finding his toned form pelting across the lawn towards her, echoing their game from minutes before.
Without thinking, Anita's body responded, and she whirled towards the sea, running as fast as she could towards it, her dress, heels and cloak slowing her down as before.
Alexander, also dressed as he was in the outside world, caught her. But this time, as he spun her around, he pulled her to his chest, face inches from hers. His hands went to her waist, then slid around her.
His gaze was mesmerizing, Anita's stomach somersaulting as he bowed his head and lightly pressed his forehead to hers. She closed her eyes to savor the moment, breathing deeply to drink in his wood and citrus scent.
Her breath caught in her throat as his lips brushed lightly against hers, shivers of energy shooting out from the contact. He pulled away, Anita waiting for a beat for him to return. When he didn't, she opened her lust filled eyes and looked up at him. She could see the conflict alongside his desire, and lifted a hand to his stubbly cheek. He exhaled, closing his eyes.
His resolve broke, his hand sliding up her back, into her hair, as he kissed her again. She felt the kiss everywhere, her mind blank of anything but this, Alexander's arms the only reason she stayed upright. Their mouths explored, working together in deep, confident movements.
They eventually pulled apart, Alexander stealing a brief final kiss before pulling her down to sit as they were in the world outside, cross legged on the ground. Although in here, their knees touched and their hands were joined.
After a few moments of silent and surprised contemplation, holding each other's gaze, guilt began to invade Anita's thoughts, so she broke the silence. 'Why's it dark?' she asked. 'The cliff is normally filled with sunlight when we come here.'
Alexander gave her a cautious smile. 'Because we're no longer inside your head.'
Anita was shocked. 'This is one of the places in your head too?'
His energy relaxed at her reaction. 'Yes, but as you can see, there are some differences. In my head its nighttime and the house and Kingdom are here. For some reason they're not in your version; it's baffling why this place is inside your head at all.'
'But you have a theory?'
'Yes, I have a theory, but I don't want to talk about that now.'
'Why not?' she asked, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
'Because there are so many other things to discuss.'
'Like what?' she said, Alexander's bait successfully averting her attention.
'There isn't anything, after all the conversations this evening, that you want to ask me?' He smiled indulgently as she realized this was her chance…
'Why did Austin get rid of all the Relic specialists but leave Anderson alone?'
'I don't know the whole answer to that, but Austin decided a while back that studying the Relic was to be outlawed. Nobody knows what caused the decision, but he sprouted some stuff about not wanting to give people false hope.
'Why he left Anderson alone, I have no idea; I've often wondered myself. The best I can come up with is that either Anderson has something on Austin, or that Austin has some specific interest in Anderson's work. That's just speculation though.'
'What made Anderson connect the Relic and energy transfer?'
'Again, I don't really know. I think he must have discovered something either in a book, or been told something by a scholar, or maybe he discovered something during his time in the Wild Lands. I don't think the idea came from the accepted academic texts or any of the current academics. Nobody else is working on the assumption that energy transfer and sending the Relic back are connected.
'Although, even if they were, they wouldn't be able to talk about it in public, given Austin's decree. I doubt Anderson would've told anyone, except perhaps Bella; it's not the kind of thing he'd want in the public domain. The world is much safer than it used to be, but that doesn't mean it's safe.'
'Do you think Anderson's working with the Institution?'
'No.'
'How can you be so sure?'
'Anderson hates the Institution. He thinks they were responsible for a great deal of unnecessary suffering a couple of decades back. And Anderson finds it suspicious that they're not fully behind sending the Relic back. It wouldn't take much for the Institution to get into bed with the Descendants, and Anderson can't stand the Descendants.'
Anita laughed. 'Need I remind you that you're a Descendant and he just came over for dinner?'
'The Spirit Descendants have always been less…fundamentalist, than the rest of them. More philosophical and less power hungry. We're open to ideas different to our own, which means people like Anderson find us to be easier and more trustworthy than the others.'
'Is he right to trust you?'
Alexander was visibly taken aback. 'Why wouldn't he be?'
'I don't know…maybe your withholding information from me makes me think you would do it to him too.'
'Anita, the only reason I withheld information from you was because Marcus hasn't let me anywhere near you since he found out we were coming here together. I was going to tell you.'
'You had plenty of opportunities to tell me before that night at The Island. We've been meditating together for weeks.'
'As I've said before, Marcus is a jealous person. Whether you choose to believe it or not, you'll be in danger if you two drift apart, or worse, if he thought you weren't totally
loyal to him. I didn't want to get any closer to you then was needed to help you protect yourself, and sharing a place in our minds…'
'What do you think of the Institution?' asked Anita, her change of tack taking him by surprise; his energy had been preparing for a fight.
'Why do you ask?'
'I just want to know.'
'To be honest, I don't know. I used to be wary of them; it's what Descendants are taught from an early age. But then, they want energy stability, which is a noble goal for the good of everyone. But if they're willing to prevent the Relic from being returned to keep the energy steady…I don't agree. Why? What do you think of them?'
'Would you help them if they asked?' said Anita, ignoring his question.
'It would depend what they asked me to do. If you're asking me if I trust them, then the answer is most definitely no. They have their own political agenda…why the sudden interest? Have they asked you for help?'
'You have a political agenda.'
'Do I?' The mood between them sharpened, turning wary, almost hostile.
Anita said nothing for a few moments, then raised Alexander's hand to her lips and kissed it. She'd pushed him as far as he was willing to go tonight. 'Doesn't every Descendant have a political agenda out of necessity?' she asked softly.
Alexander searched her eyes as he considered his answer.
She rocked lightly forwards onto all fours, cat-like in front of him, her hands on his knees. She leaned in and kissed his lips, then broke contact to wait for his response.
He did nothing.
She waited a beat, two, before leaning in and kissing him again. She knew the impact she was having on his energy, knew he was fighting an internal battle. If she pushed him too hard, he would run away.
Again, she waited, then bowed her head to kiss him for a third time. This time, as she was pulling away, he responded to her touch. She froze, her energy a mix of excitement and terror that any movement would shatter the spell.
He kissed her, his mouth opening against her warm lips. Anita moved her hands to his neck, pulling him gently towards her, tongues caressing each other.
They became confident, then urgent, Alexander rising to his knees. His hands pulled at her lower back, pressing her to him before lifting her and pushing her backwards. He laid her on the ground, her cloak fanned out beneath her, following her down, pinning her with his weight.
She ran her fingers through his hair as he kissed and nipped her neck. She tugged at the clasp of his cloak, pulled of his dinner jacket, slid his shirt free from his trousers. Her fingers made their way under his shirt, greedily taking in the firm, athletic contours of his back.
He kissed his way down her neck, reaching her breasts as he slid her silk dress up over her hips. Anita arched, pushing her body into him, reveling in the contact. He smelt like ripe oranges and she closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, shivering as he brushed his fingers down her spine. But when she opened her eyes, the world began to blur, slipping away, no matter how hard she tried to pull it back.
Anita's eyes few open in the real world and she found herself sitting, facing Alexander, palms out in front of her, just as she had been when they'd begun to meditate.
'What happened?' she asked, confused and disappointed, moving her hands back to her lap. The tingling had stopped and she felt robbed, craving his touch.
'I think the guilt we were suppressing forced us out. Our brains were caught in a dilemma, not knowing what to do...it's probably for the best...'
'You feel the tingles too?'
Alexander's breath hitched. 'Yes.'
Anita nodded. 'I get tingles with both you and Marcus,' she said, looking sheepish at bringing him up, 'but I've never felt them with anyone else.'
'With Marcus too?'
Anita nodded again.
'Interesting,' said Alexander, pausing. 'The nudges and tingles are caused when energy is exerted by one person on another, that much we think we know. They only seem to take place when the energy is intended to be pleasurable or supportive and certainly positive. There have never been reports of tingles due to negative energy, but it's rare to come across people who are able to feel them. There's a theory that both parties have to be able to feel them for either to be aware…does Marcus?'
'I'm not sure; he's never brought it up, but there's never been any sign that he can. It sounds like the research is limited though…how many people have been studied?'
'As far as I know only a handful.'
'Have you been studied?'
'Gods no,' he laughed. 'No Descendant would ever submit themselves to academic testing. Nudges are more easily studied, as we can learn to control them, but there's nobody who can control tingles, at least nobody who admits to being able to anyway.'
'We could try. Maybe it's something to do with desire? The tingles have lessened with Marcus now, maybe because of my lessened desire for him, or maybe it has something to do with the unknown? I know what to expect when I see Marcus now, I didn't when I first started spending time with him.'
'Lessened desire?' Alexander asked, his facial expression almost making Anita laugh out loud, and he was clearly surprised at himself for saying it.
'Only a little lessened, not entirely,' she smiled.
'But you have slept together?' he asked tentatively.
'No,' she said stiffly. 'Not that it's any of your business.' She was shocked at his indelicate question.
'And Marcus is still following you around like a lost puppy? He doesn't suspect that you may…um…have interests elsewhere?'
'Who says I have interests elsewhere?' said Anita, enjoying the power of making Alexander squirm. 'And anyway, so long as he still wants me, he'll be more interested if I don't sleep with him than if I do. Marcus likes a challenge, and I'm his current one. He'll keep trying until he gets what he wants, or until something new and shiny catches his attention.'
'I thought you didn't like the Mind disciplines,' said Alexander.
'I don't. But Marcus does.'
Anita shivered.
'Come on, let's get back inside,' he said, getting up and taking Anita's hand. A shiver of energy ran through their fingers and Anita smiled as she got to her feet, her dress and cloak cascading to the floor.
She took his outstretched arm and they wandered back across the lawn, talking about what they would do for the rest of their time in Kingdom. They entered the house and Alexander walked Anita to her room, tension growing, conversation more stunted as they approached. They stopped outside her door and Anita turned to look at him.
'You've spent all this time pushing me away,' she said. 'You keep telling me how much danger I'd be in if Marcus changes his mind about me, or even if he thought we were friends. You've barely said two words to me outside of lessons, I know nothing about you, you normally shut down any question I ask, yet tonight you let me ask you whatever I wanted. Why?'
Smoke filled Alexander's eyes as they studied hers. 'Because life's too short not to flirt with danger when it's worth the risk.'
Anita smiled, then turned to open her door. 'Goodnight Alexander,' she said, 'thank you for an illuminating evening.'
* * * * *
The following day, Alexander woke early, his mind plagued by emotions. He knew trying to sleep was futile, so got up and headed for his grandfather's library. It was a good place to think.
The study was small and pokey with piles of books and manuscripts littered about, along with old energy meters, works of art, and the odd piece of furniture.
The room had heavy drapes across a large window that overlooked the garden, but the drapes were kept closed for fear the light would damage a priceless book or piece of artwork. Alexander had always thought someone tripping over a stack of invaluable manuscripts was more of a risk…
He turned on the lamp by the door and used its dim light to guide him to the comfortable brown leather chair in front of the large, leather-topped partners' desk. He turned on the lamp at the corner of the desk, sat down in the
chair, and surveyed the scene.
He immediately relaxed, strange how such disorder could make him calm, help him find perspective. His mind raced over recent events before centering on Anita, the Body Descendant. She hadn't taken it well when he'd withheld information from her before. He was guessing she wouldn't be pleased if she found out from someone else what he suspected about her bloodline.
Then there was Helena's recent proposition for him to join the Institution. And what the hell was Austin was playing at…why was he so against doing anything about the energy?
Alexander spotted his grandfather's old music player in the corner and maneuvered his way past several stacks of books and scattered artefacts to turn it on. He'd expected dulcet, classical tones to waft through the air. To his surprise, a wistful modern melody rippled out instead, complete with smoky voice and poetic lyrics.
He made his way back to the desk, but toppled a brass model of the world onto the floor as he edged past the last pile of books.
'Damn,' he said out loud, as the model rolled under the desk. He crouched down on all fours and followed it under, reaching around to try and locate the missing artefact. After a few unsuccessful moments, he reached for a small lamp from a nearby table, pulled it to the floor, and switched it on. He spotted the world near the back and crawled further under to reach it.
As his fingers closed around the model, he heard a soft click under his left knee, near the edge of the drawer section of the desk. He moved back out of the way and lifted the rug covering the area. He was surprised to see a panel in the floor had sprung open to reveal a small metal object inside. He reached in and fished out a tiny brass key. He closed the panel and replaced the rug before examining it in detail.
After a lengthy inspection, Alexander concluded that it was a normal key, seemingly without any notable features. If anything, it was boring, with no ornate head, no engraving, no suggestion as to which lock it fitted, nothing.
He tried the key in all the locks he could find in the study; the desk, the door, the windows, the cabinets, but it fitted none of them; it was far too small. Bloody grandfather, he thought, hearing voices down the corridor and realizing everyone else must be up. He pocketed the key and turned off the lights, taking one final look around to make sure he hadn't missed anything obvious. Frustrated when nothing jumped out at him, he closed the door and stalked down the corridor to see his guests.
