Eternal Vows (36 page)
Authors: Chrissy Peebles
Tags: #Fantasy, #Young Adult, #Romance, #Science Fiction
Leaning back against the hard rock, Mike asked, “You guys doing okay?”
She kept her arm raised so her head wouldn’t hit the sandy-colored and white marbled roof that looked like melted candle wax. “I’m doing good, thanks.” No way was she going to admit fear. Besides, she was an adventurous girl who was willing to try anything—at least once. “Jack, are you alright?”
He nodded and said between breaths, “This place…it’s incredible…the colors…the fish…” He let out a soft groan and turned away.
She touched his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“
I cut my leg on one of the stalagmites, but it’s no biggie.”
“
Oh, man, sorry you got nailed,” said Mike. “You okay?”
“
Yeah, I’m fine. I shouldn’t have swam so close.” Jack’s voice echoed in the small, confined place.
“
Especially since I left the needle and thread at home,” said Casey.
“
You sew about as good as I do painting portraits in your art studio,” he retorted with a smile.
“
That bad, huh? But if I saved your life, who’d care about crooked stitches?” She inched closer. “Let me see your gash.”
Jack clung to the wall, holding back a grimace. “I’m fine, Nurse Nightingale. Besides, it’s the least of our worries.”
Minutes passed. She didn’t like the pressure on her lungs, but she trusted Mike. The sooner she got going, the sooner she’d find herself in an open space again. “The water’s clear. You guys ready?”
They both nodded.
Casey inhaled one last time and dove back down again. She kicked hard to propel herself forward, gliding over a beautiful coral garden. The formations offered vivid patterns, fantastic shapes, weird textures, and unique colors she’d never seen before: bolder, brighter, and more brilliant than any she was used to from what she’d seen on previous dives. Casey couldn’t resist touching a colony of green coral as she swam by. In an instant, the entire colony changed color, from green to red.
The pressure on Casey’s chest increased, and her lungs burned. She gave Mike’s arm a hard tug. He pointed upward to a giant hole in the ragged rock. She struggled, swimming as fast as she could through the natural doorway, and burst through the surface. Sucking in long gulps of air, she noticed radiant sunbeams glinting in Mike’s golden hair and Jack’s blue eyes. They were officially out of the dreary bug hotel and into the beautiful sunshine, and nothing could feel better.
Jack caught her gaze. “We did it!”
Her breath came in quick, shallow heaves. “Yeah, and I’ve never seen anything like that. Those fish—”
“
Told ya!” Mike pushed back his dripping hair from his eyes. “I would’ve taken you down there kickin’ and screamin’ if I had to.”
“
Yeah, and you might’ve ended up with a nice shiner,” she said. He laughed, and she turned her attention upward. Unmistakably, dual suns hung in the sky. “That’s no optical illusion, you guys.”
“
It’s a mock sun. I’m sure of it,” Jack insisted.
Mike pounded the water with his fists, splashing it in all directions. “Isn’t it awesome? Now, let’s go find a burger joint—and hopefully not a mock one.”
Casey smirked. “It’s morning, you goof.”
Drifting clouds floated above them, turning from gold to brown, and then to purple, pink, and orange. Casey stared at the surroundings in awe. Morning mist hung over a landscape that stretched for miles and miles. Palm trees lined the beach, and in the distance, green mountains dotted with color towered high into the sky. Canopies of leaves in the glowing hues of autumn decorated the dense trees. Where the sun seeped through, the skyline seemed to sparkle, like something right out of a fairytale.
“
What’s up with the leaves?” asked Mike. “’Cause I swear it’s July, not October.”
Fall in the tropics?
Even if it was, the leaves usually dried, dropped, and fell to the ground without any brilliant display of colors. “I dunno, but I’m going to paint this when I get back home—all of it! It’s going to be a masterpiece.”
Jack touched her elbow and smiled. “Okay, Picasso, but for now let’s get to shore.”
“
Race ya!” she called over her shoulder.
“
Ohhh, you’re on.” Mike submerged and breached the surface a few feet past Casey, then cut the water with expert precision. He was so competitive and could never resist a challenge.
Jack gave Casey a push-off and yelled to Mike, “You’re going to need that head start. She’s gaining on you!”
Casey heard Jack’s chuckle and a big splash behind her. She glided through the pink water in pursuit of Mike.
That’s it. Remain focused. Good body position and kicking.
All she had to do was roll her head easily to the side to breathe.
Nice, smooth, long, powerful strokes. Steady rhythm.
I can beat these guys.
As she picked up speed, something brushed against her legs. She came to an abrupt halt, her gaze darting left and right as she scanned the surface of the water around her. She opened her mouth and took a huge breath. “What was that?”
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