Central (17 page)

There was a long silence. Eventually, Skye cleared her throat. “Um, well, I guess this is my fault then.” She ducked her head sheepishly. “I’m sorry.”

Gabriel was sitting next to her. He reached over and ruffled her hair. “Just because you started it didn’t make any of us mean it less. It wouldn’t have resulted in all of this if we didn’t all mean it.”

There were nods around the table. Skye smiled and caught Gabriel’s gaze. “Thanks.”

“Any idea why our hair freaked out?” Amber asked before she took a bite of a strawberry. She also had her hair down. The gold streak fell over her right shoulder.

“None,” Ini-herit admitted in his level tone. “This does not usually happen with Corgloresti females.”

“Groovy,” she said.

Olivia grinned.
I like the streak
,
actually
, she thought.

“Yeah. It’s kind of punky,” Skye said out loud. “Like Rogue from the X-Men.”

Raising her eyebrows, Olivia thought,
Did you just hear me?

Amber looked between the two of them. “Oh,” she said. Then she looked at Gabriel.

He nodded. “It seems this exchange of marks and vows—or whatever—resulted in shared thought, as well.”

Knorbis looked intrigued. “Can you all hear each other?”

They spent some time experimenting. In the end, they discovered that the sisters could hear each other, and Gabriel, James and Caleb could hear each other. Amber and Gabriel could, of course, still hear each other’s thoughts. They did have to focus a thought to be heard, which was a blessing. No one wanted their every stray thought heard by someone else.

“But I heard more of James and Caleb when we first regained consciousness,” Gabriel said. “Now I can’t hear them unless they focus the thought.”

Ini-herit responded, “I suspect that you could hear each other so clearly because your Gloresti power was at a peak.”

Gabriel nodded in apparent agreement.

“We must spend some time learning how to control all of these thoughts,” Knorbis said. “We cannot immediately know what impact this might have on each of you.”

“I, on the other hand,” Uriel said, “intend to go ahead. Your training has advanced as far as it can at this time. A few more days will not matter, and I can meet with my commander to review the security arrangements before you arrive.”

Olivia suddenly had a vision of the Secret Service motorcade escorting the President of the United States and wondered why she and her sisters warranted so much effort. When Skye and Amber snorted with laughter, she realized she had thought rather “loudly.” Color flooded her face.

It was a very good thing they were getting some extra training on controlling their thoughts, she mused.

“Please tell me more about Estilorian Central,” Olivia urged James a few days later.

They would leave Gabriel and Amber’s home the following day. James was escorting her on an evening walk after their dinner. He held his hands casually behind his back as they walked, the muscles exposed by his ivory tank top pulling taut with the action. She had gained a new appreciation for his physique these past weeks. Watching him wield a sword was beyond inspiring. It just about made her jaw hang open. She knew that he, Caleb and Gabriel did their own exercise routines with the other elders every evening after the girls went to sleep. It explained to her how they all remained so fit.

She and James hadn’t had much time alone together while they were at Gabriel’s. With her and her sisters getting launched into their training from sunup to sundown for the first month and then nearly all of their time spent with the whole group these past weeks, they hadn’t really been alone. Olivia hadn’t realized just how much she missed this one-on-one time with him.

“What is it you would like to know?” he asked.

She thought about that. “Estilorian Central” wasn’t the real name for the place where the majority of Estilorians lived. But as it didn’t have an official name (Estilorians just called it “home”), Olivia had dubbed it such. Her sisters had picked up on the name and started using it themselves. “Central” for short.

The girls had already been told a bit about the place where they would be going. It sounded almost like a commune. Each of the different classes had its own homeland, but they also congregated periodically at a central hub that sounded to her like some kind of Estilorian multi-plex. It had arenas and stadiums, ballrooms, a library, a meeting chamber kind of like a senate, outdoor areas for training or leisure and even an assortment of hospitality spaces, kind of like a hotel. Apparently, there would be rooms prepared for each of them at this location.

“Well,” she said finally, “how long can we stay in the rooms we’re going to be getting?”

“As long as we wish,” he replied.

“And it doesn’t cost us anything?”

He looked at her. “We do not use money here. You know that.”

“Yes, but there are other ways to pay for things. Barter, for example.”

“Ah.” He considered this. “You do not feel comfortable receiving something for nothing.”

“Of course not,” she responded.

In fact, that was the biggest issue she had so far with this new existence. She had been given multitudes of things, from a roof over her head and clothes to wear to food to eat and a bed to sleep in. But she hadn’t contributed a single thing to earn it.

He nodded. “This aspect of Estilorian life is different from what you have described about the human plane. We do not have to work to earn income, and we do not place particular value on material things. We have a reciprocal society. Everyone has a specific role, and because they chose the form they took on this plane upon entering it, they are content with it.”

She frowned. “Well, that’s all fine and good from one Estilorian to another. But what roles are Amber, Skye and I supposed to fill to make ourselves worth all of this?”

Now he stopped, causing her to do the same. He turned to face her. When she just stared up at him, he reached out to touch the side of her face, allowing his hand to rest where it cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her bottom lip. The heat of his touch made her blood sing. The heat in his dark blue eyes, on the other hand, turned her body and her mind instantly to mush.

“You do not believe you and your sisters have a role to fulfill on this plane? One that would make any one of us feel honored to do whatever we can for you?”

She shook her head, unable to look away from his intent gaze.

“Olivia, since you entered this plane just a few short months ago, you and your sisters have taught those of us in your proximity how to feel…how to truly express ourselves. We have experienced things that no Estilorian ever thought possible. Friendship. Laughter. Family. And on top of those miraculous things, you each have the ability to carry new life inside you.”

Unable to think of a thing to say—indeed, not believing words could get around the knot in her throat—she swallowed hard. And when he smiled, she felt her heart roll over in her chest.

“Olivia, you said it once before, at the Becoming ceremony. You bring us hope.”

Chapter Fifteen

The trip to Central took them three days. They stopped at Knorbis’ home on the first evening. He lived in a Mediterranean-style villa that looked like something out of
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
. It sprawled in glorious splendor along the coast, a pleasing arrangement of white-washed walls and flat ceilings. Because the weather remained temperate year round, there was no glass in the windows. The amazing water view from the back terrace alone was enough to make Olivia want to grab a book and curl up on the chaise lounge chair for a week.

They timed their arrival to be about two hours before nightfall for safety’s sake, as well as to allow Amber to rest. She still tired quite easily. No sooner had they gotten to Knorbis’ than she was shown to the bedroom she and Gabriel would be sharing and she went to sleep.

The rest of them enjoyed a tour with Knorbis followed by a light meal of assorted olives, light, flaky pastries stuffed with spinach and cheese, and sliced cucumbers with yogurt dill dip. When they were finished, Caleb walked with Skye outside so they could get in an hour or so of flight practice before the sun fully set. Gabriel sat in a richly-appointment parlor with the other elders, engaged in conversation about their travel plans over the days to come.

Olivia stood on the back terrace gazing out at the water, unsure how she would spend the rest of the evening. She was considering getting a book from the library she had seen on the tour and settling in to watch the sun set.

“Are you up for a little adventure?” James asked from beside her as if he heard her thoughts.

Glancing over at him in surprise, she smiled. “Sure.”

He returned the smile. “Excellent. Follow me.”

She did so without hesitation. He walked over to a part of the terrace without a railing and extended his wings. She followed his lead.

The landscape was truly breathtaking. Although it lacked the high, lush forests surrounding Ini-herit’s and Gabriel’s homes, the area was calm and relaxing to Olivia. The water here was a startling blue-green, quite unlike the more roiling blue-gray of the heaving seas near the other elder’s homes. As they flew, she breathed deeply of the ocean air. It was invigorating.

They flew for about twenty minutes. Far longer than she had anticipated, actually. She couldn’t help but wonder where they were going.

“Are we still within the protections surrounding Knorbis’ home?” she called out above the rushing wind.

“No,” James said when he looked over at her, making her eyes fly wide. “So please stay alert.”

“But how will we find our way back? The protections will keep us from remembering how.”

“I spoke with Knorbis before we left. He will get us back through when we return.”

Now her curiosity was burning. She scoured the surroundings for a hint of where they were headed. All around them were green and brown hills broken up only by the very occasional white-washed building.

Finally, they lowered to the ground. They ended up on the edge of what looked like a grove. The trees were all low to the ground and not terribly tall. Olivia approached one of them.

“Are these olive trees?” she asked.

“They are,” he answered.

She felt a smile spread slowly across her face as she caught his gaze. “This is perfect, James! Thank you so much for thinking to bring me here.”

He raised an eyebrow. “If you are so excited about this part of our journey, I cannot wait to see what you think about the true reason I brought you here.”

Tilting her head, she gave him a puzzled look. It didn’t encourage him to expound on his statement like she had intended. Instead, he smiled and took her hand, once again throwing her off-stride. Then he started walking, pulling her along with him. Although curiosity ate at her, she forced herself to just relax and enjoy the moment. She particularly enjoyed the feeling of her hand encased in his. She gave his fingers a light squeeze to convey her appreciation in advance for this experience.

And then they broke through a gap in the trees and she couldn’t think at all.

The large clearing was dappled in golden sunlight just tinting orange as the sun set. Particles in the air caught and glimmered in the soft light, making the area look enchanted. The olive trees created a perfect circle around the clearing, encapsulating it like its own little paradise. A thin stream of water funneled along the far side of the space, possibly created as a way to irrigate the grounds.

All of this only barely registered with Olivia, however. How was she supposed to notice all of that when there was a family of horned horses standing there drinking from the stream?

“Are those unicorns?” she managed to whisper, afraid to blink.

“Yes,” he said in an equally soft tone. She noted out of the corner of her eye that he was watching her and not the animals. “You said you used to collect them when you were a child.”

She couldn’t even draw a full breath. There were three of them standing majestically only yards away. They were perfectly beautiful. Unlike the unicorns she had usually collected as figurines and stuffed animals on the human plane up until the age of ten, these creatures weren’t white. They were the same burnished color as the sunlight surrounding them. Their long, spiraling horns looked like they had been dusted with gold. Even their eyes, which rolled in their direction with infinite wisdom and healthy caution reflected in them, were the shimmering sunset color.

Awed tears filled her eyes. She blinked rapidly to clear them, not wanting to miss a single moment of this stunning tableau.

“Unicorns are only visible in this hour just before the dark,” he explained. “We do not know where they go the remainder of the day. The best place to find them is within the olive groves.”

He was leaning close to her ear to make sure she could hear him. She couldn’t decide then if she was more flustered by the warmth of his breath against the side of her neck or the unbelievable creatures she was now blessed with seeing. What she did know was that this was about the most thoughtful and deeply touching thing anyone had ever done for her.

She tried to reach out to the minds of the unicorns. While she didn’t retrieve any actual words, she did get some impressions. The larger one was older and male and the other two were females, one younger than the other. They were all quite placid and content. They didn’t gauge her or James to be a threat.

“Do they act like other horses?” she whispered, her eyes trying to absorb every detail about them. She realized their hooves were the same gold as their horns. Their manes didn’t seem to be made of hair so much as, well, flowing energy, she supposed.

“For the most part,” he responded. “They eat grass or other vegetation and roam free. They have never been domesticated like your horses on the human plane, however.”

“I don’t imagine there would be any need, seeing as Estilorians can fly,” she said with a small smile, finally turning to face him.

She realized belatedly just how close they were. If she leaned even the slightest bit, their lips would touch. Her gaze moved from his mouth to his dark blue eyes. He seemed to realize there was something potent stirring between them, even if he didn’t fully understand it. But she registered that he wasn’t pulling away. Instead, he reached up with his right hand and touched the side of her face, running the pad of his thumb tenderly along her cheekbone. Her breath once again caught, though she had all but forgotten about the mystical creatures he had brought her there to see. She started to lean forward, her eyes again on his lips.