Earth Child (Romance Novels of The Fae Realm) (4 page)

            Leaning over I picked up a pair of pajama pants from where I had dropped them this morning followed by the tank top that lay underneath.  Sitting here thinking was going to give me a headache.  I resolved to go to bed.  Changing swiftly I crawled under the covers, but not before I set my alarm and switched off the light.  Then I started the difficult task of trying to get into a comfortable position.  From where I was laying I could see the first of the stars starting to make their appearance.  I closed my eyes and thought of my mother, the one I dreamed about.  She reminded me of the forest.  I opened my eyes and looked up at the heavens.

            “Earth, help me find a pillow of moss on which I can rest my head,” I began softly.  I’m not sure where the words came from.  Like the face in my dream they were just there, “Fire, burn bright through the darkness.  Your warmth and light bring me peace. Water, run swift across the rocks.  You quench my thirst and wash clean my weary soul.  Air, blow gently and calm.  Bring me the scent of sweet growing things.  Ease my troubled mind and watch over me while I sleep.”   The stars seemed to shine brighter, and my mind was finally calm.  For the first time I could remember I immediately fell deeply asleep.

*          *          *          *

            Watching from behind the protection of the trees Cerus saw Alexa embrace the young man in her room.  White hot jealousy rushed through him and despite his desire to stay hidden he stood from his crouch.  The movement was small, but it was enough to make him visible to the other watcher in the woods.  His smile was menacing as he slowly moved deeper into the growth.  Cerus’ presence confirmed that the girl he had been watching for the past few days was the one they were looking for.  Silently he turned and calmly walked away.  He had much to report to the council.

            The next morning I was a little disoriented.    Early morning sunlight was streaming through the window.  The birds were still singing for their breakfast.  I rolled over to look at my alarm clock.  6:45 am.  In shock I pulled myself to a sitting position and reached over to shut off the alarm.  It was set to go off in just over an hour.  Surprisingly I wasn’t the least bit tired.  I was actually looking forward to the day.  Just imagining the shock on Sam’s face when he comes to pick me up and I am sitting on the porch ready to go instead of tired and grumpy was enough to put a smile on my face.  With a little jump in my step I begin to gather together my hiking gear.

            It took a little digging before I found my backpack shoved into the far corner.  With a little more digging I unearthed a windbreaker and some bug spray that I stuffed into the bag.  As an afterthought I threw in a little first-aid kit.  Next I went over to my dresser and pulled out my special hiking socks and hiking pants that Sam had given me.  The bottom half of the pants can zip off and become shorts if the hiker gets too hot.  They were completely hideous, but like my clunky shoes they were 100% functional.  I put on my lotion/sunscreen and then quickly dressed in my hiking pants, clean tank top and a baseball cap, feeding my ponytail through the back of the cap.  Before leaving my room I added more sunscreen to the backpack and put some Chap Stick in my pocket. 

            My good mood continued as I bounced down the stairs and headed for the kitchen.  Not surprisingly Dad was already awake, sitting at the table reading the newspaper.  He looked up from his reading momentarily when I walked in.

            “Well you’re up early,” he remarked.

            “Amazing right?  I actually slept really good last night.”

            I grabbed a couple of bottles of water out of the fridge and put them in my backpack.  I put some pop-tarts in the toaster, grabbed an orange from the bowl of fruit on the counter and started peeling.  For a professor, Dad wasn’t much of a talker at home.  Maybe it was because he lectured all day.  I just think he liked the silence.  My mood was such that silence suited me.  I was still thinking about Cerus.

            “Do you know what time you guys will be home?” Dad asked.

            “Not late,” I reply around a mouthful of orange, “Sam’s grandma is coming in town tonight so he has to be home in time for dinner.”

            “Okay be safe, and put on your sunscreen.”

            I nod my head, my mouth too full to speak.  Standing up I reach for the toaster and my pop tarts.  Dad slowly turned the page in his paper and continued reading.  I sat there for a few minutes watching him.  Kind of picking at my pop tarts, they are always too hot to eat right away, I cleared my throat.

            “Hey dad, can I ask you a question?”

            “Sure kiddo.”

            “How did you know when you wanted to marry mom?”

            I knew I had his attention when he folded up his newspaper and looked at me directly.  I kept my eyes down, too embarrassed to make eye contact. 

            “Well, I guess it was after we had been dating for a few months.  I mean I knew that she was special right away and I knew that I wanted to know her better.  Does that answer your question?”

            “Well, sort of.  I guess I mean when did you know you loved her?”

            “Humph.  Well that is a good question.  Love is a powerful emotion, and something that should not be taken lightly.”

            I nodded my head and continued picking at my food.

            “I knew I loved your mother after our first date.”

            I wasn’t expecting that answer.  Especially after he said that they didn’t want to get married until they had been dating for a while.  I looked up at him in surprise, and I couldn’t help but smile at him.  He was smiling more than I had ever seen him, and he was actually crying.  He was unabashedly and shamelessly crying big fat tears of joy.

            “Thanks Dad,” I smiled at him.  With that I tossed my crumbled pop tart, finished my orange, tossed the peels and went to the sink to wash my hands.

            The kitchen sink, like most sinks, had a window over it.  I think house designers figured dishes would be a less painful chore if the washer could look outside.  Our kitchen is also in the rear of the house so the window overlooks the yard and the woods beyond.  Glancing outside I saw the usual early morning animals, birds, and squirrels flittering about and squawking over breakfast.  I turned off the faucet and momentarily taking my eyes off the activity in the backyard, I reached for a paper towel.  When once again my gaze drifted over the yard I blinked at the transformation.  The recent bevy of activity had all but ceased.  The only movement was the swaying of the trees as the uppermost branches moved in the early morning breeze.   Leaning over the sink I scanned the rest of the yard.  The culprit hadn’t left yet.  The neighbor’s enormous tabby cat was trying to slink through the bushes unnoticed.  Chuckling a little I retrieved my back pack from the counter, kissed dad on the cheek and headed out the front door.

            The sun was climbing steadily through the sky and already its heat was filling the air.  I sat on the steps turning my face to the sun, relishing its warmth.  I heard Sam’s car coming up the street and pulling into the driveway.  He cut off the engine and opened his car door.

            “Lex?”

            “What took you so long Sam?  I’ve been up for hours.  What about you, just roll out of bed?”  I stood up and smiled at him, walked to the Honda and slid into the passenger seat.  I leaned over to see Sam with a puzzled look on his face, still trying to figure out how I was ready.

            “Are we going hiking today or what?”

            “Yeah,” he stammered, “Yeah!  Let’s go hiking!”

            With that he climbed back behind the wheel and we started toward the state park in Cassville.  The drive takes just over an hour, which is mostly spent singing along with the radio or in the silence that occurs when the windows are down and the rush of 70 mph wind makes conversation difficult.  Roaring river state park is one of our favorite places to hike.

            “Which trail today?” I asked.

            “Eagle’s Nest,” Sam yelled over the noise.

            One of the longer trails, Eagle’s Nest is still relatively easy.  It’s only about 3 miles, but the view from highest point is incredible.  There are even some homesteader ruins by the cliffs edge.  They are surrounded by lilac and yucca and I sometimes wonder if the woman of the house is the one that planted the lilac all those years ago.

            “Woo,” Sam whistles appreciatively.  I look over to see what he is admiring.  Parked a few spaces down is a shiny black Cadillac.

            “Probably the street car to one of those mobile home couples,” I remark.  You know the type.  Instead of buying a retirement home in Florida or Arizona they buy a top of the line motorhome and travel across the United States.  Three months here, four there, a couple parked in the driveway of their grown children’s home.  We grab our gear from the trunk and make our way to the trailhead.  By now it’s almost eleven and the sun is beating down on us intensely.

            “Wait up a minute Sam.  I need to put on more sunblock.”

            “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”

            I dig through my daypack and pull out the SPF 50.  Sam does likewise only his is SPF 25.  When Sam is in the sun he turns a nice golden brown.  I don’t think he has ever had a sun burn in his life.  Soon enough we’re working our way up the trail.  After a while the thick trees offer a break from the sun, but not the humidity.  It isn’t long until I start to sweat.  Sam’s shirt is starting to show signs of perspiration as well.  We walk in silence for about a mile before stopping to fish out our water and take a little break.  There is a nice flat rock a little off the trail so I walk over to it and sit down.

            “So Lex, have you thought any more about prom?”

            “Yeah Sam, about that,” I begin, but he cuts me off before I can say anything else.

            “Bethany said that her cousin would go with you if no one from school asks you,” he finished quickly.

            My jaw actually dropped as I sat there looking at Sam.  He had actually talked about me with Bethany!  I knew he had done it only because he really wanted me to go, but the thought of Sam finding me a date hurt more than I cared to admit.

            “Great!  Just what I wanted. A pity date.  Tell Bethany’s cousin no thanks.”

            I was starting to get angry now.  I shot Sam a shut up look and stowed my water, grabbed my pack and started marching up the trail.  After a few moments I heard Sam get up and start to follow me.  Not sure if I wanted to talk to him yet I quickened my pace.  Pretty soon I was running.  Stupid Bethany, thinking I couldn’t get a date.  Stupid Sam, for getting one.  Stupid me for being so undesirable that no one even attempted to talk to me or just flirt with me even a little bit for that matter.  I was crying now.  Stupid fat tears of self-pity.  I blame them entirely for what happened next.

            The tears made it difficult to see where I was going, and the pace made it difficult to stop, so it makes sense that I ran right smack into a brick wall.  Well at least it felt like a brick wall.  I started to fall backwards when two powerful arms wrapped themselves around me and put me back on my feet.

            “Are you all right?”

The wall could speak.  My humiliation was complete.  I felt the familiar tingle of electricity across my back where arms like steel bands supported me.  The voice was familiar.  Sure enough I raised my head and looked into Cerus’ startling blue eyes.

            “What are
you
doing here?”  I panted

            “I’m here for you,” he replied, like I was stupid for having asked.  Of course the meaning of his appearance should be perfectly clear.

            “I…I…”  I fainted.

*          *          *          *

            I had died.  I never knew embarrassment could be a quick and painless death.  Surely I was dead because I had never been more embarrassed in my life.  Never had I been more aware of my surroundings.  The smells of sweet flowers filled my nostrils, something else was in the air too.  Earth.  Its musty smell was a strong presence.  Gently a cool breeze caressed my face gliding down my arms and across my body.  Something was wet against my forehead.  With shaking hands I reached up to feel a cool compress draped across my forehead and part of my eyes.  Ugh!  Unfortunately I wasn’t dead.  I had only fainted.

            “Lex?” I heard the worry in Sam’s voice, “Are you okay Lex?”

            “Thirsty,” I croaked.  I started to sit up, but only managed to rest on my elbows before strong arms hooked under mine and pulled me up.  Exhaling I leaned back against a rock.

            “Here, drink this,” Sam handed me the water from my pack, “feeling better?”

            “I’m a little dizzy.  It’s probably just the heat Sam.  It’ll pass.”

            “It was fortunate that I was so nearby.  If I hadn’t caught you when you fainted you might have injured yourself further,” remarked a familiar voice.

            Moving in slow motion I pulled the compress from my eyes and looked into Cerus’ smiling face.  I had forgotten about him, positive that I had only imagined running into him and feeling his arms circling me.  Suddenly aware of his presence I sat up quickly and completely.  It wasn’t a rock I was leaning against, but Cerus’ chest, his arms still lightly cradling me.  The world began to spin from my quick movements and with gentle yet firm insistence Cerus pulled me back against him.  His chest was bare.  Numbly I looked at the compress in my hand, gently shaking it to reveal the shape of a white cotton t-shirt.

            “Of course,” I muttered to myself.  Death by embarrassment was looking more and more likely.  Looking up into his crystalline eyes I asked him again, “What are you doing here?”

            “As I said earlier, I am here for you.”