Oasis of Eden (12 page)

Positive his eyes revealed what dwelt within his heart, Elydian came to his feet.

Ageit stood as well, facing the newest arrival.

* * * *

The second Jade’s gaze fell on Eli, his smile shown like a streak of light, and his eyes practically twinkled in reflection. She looked away from his face, unable to stand under his fervent regard. When she focused on the people around the table, they too stared openly at her. Murmurings swirled inside the tent like an invisible breeze. She felt herself shrinking away from the scene when Eli stretched out his hand to her in invitation to join him.

She took a shuttering breath and stepped toward him, concentrating on each step as not to topple over. Is this what it would be like when she received her diploma in June, a stuttering heart and frazzled nerves?

The second his hand closed over hers, she melted into the warmth and smiled up at him. He drew her toward him, closer to the table. The last few hours she’s spent with Me-Ma and Tar-Quinia, the woman who’d tailored her gown, had been agony. She’d missed Eli—missed him as if he’d left for the other side of the world. She stood there now gazing up at him, hoping she didn’t look too cow-eyed—too in love, because damn it all, she was in love with him. She hadn’t meant it to happen of course, but it did; possibly even before she let him make love to her. Her approaching graduation was insignificant in comparison to what lay ahead. Just how they’d fit into each other’s lives, she knew, would eventually have to be dealt with. But tonight she wished that time would stand still. She wanted to enjoy every moment with Eli, and she wanted him to be proud to have her by his side.

“Jade, allow me to introduce Ageit-Kabeed, Omari Amun’s most learned scientist and a very old friend of mine.”

Before she had a chance to greet him, Ageit spoke. “You are as refreshing as rain, my dear.”

Feeling her cheeks heat, she nodded her thanks for his kind words. “How do you do, sir?”

“Very fine, and I’m sure Elydian is too, now that you have arrived.”

Eli cleared his throat. “I have a seat for you right here.” He pulled out her chair, and she sat, thankful that all eyes were no longer trained upon her person.

Ageit and Eli took their seats. Eli leaned toward her. “You are…you look…”

Breathless and eager for his praise, Jade encouraged him. “Yes?”

From the entrance of the tent, Me-Ma called out. “Omari, it’s time to introduce the musicians.”

His anticipatory look turned bitter-sweet. “We shall finish our conversation another time, Zsa-ninah.” Eli took her hand from atop the table and kissed the inside of her palm.

“I certainly hope so, mister.” Jade grinned and watched his masculine form exit the tent. She sighed and wished she would have had her wits about her to tell him not to be gone too long. The man stirred her blood like a cauldron of boiling moonshine.

“You will have to forgive him, Jade.” She heard Ageit say. “Our feast is steeped in traditions even the young Omari is wary of breaking.”

She turned to Ageit. “This whole place is about tradition, isn’t it?”

He chuckled. “I suppose you could say that. We have many celebrations we cherish that date back all the way to ancient times, The Feast of Moons, of which you are aware, the Adoration of the Oasis, the Omari-Nah Champion Competition—very important to the hierarchy of the Omari, which, as a matter of fact, I believe will commence three days from now.” A server stepped forward and poured water into Jade’s glass. “So,” Ageit continued and leaned toward her, “the Omari calls you Zsa-ninah.”

Jade disregarded the server’s strangled cough. The tone of Ageit’s voice was probing, but since Eli had said he was an old friend, she figured she could trust him. “Can you perhaps tell me what Zsa-ninah means?”

Ageit’s face looked as if it would crack off, his smile went so wide. “Zsa-ninah is an endearment of sorts—it can also be a name a man calls a woman with whom he is considering forming a monogamous bond. It would be quite another story, let me tell you,” he chuckled, “if a man called you ‘Ninah’, which means one of many wives.”

At once, Jade’s glass tipped over, dousing the front of her gown with water. “Oh!” She stood quickly and tried unsuccessfully to avoid the puddle. “Is there a towel—”

She looked up at the server and stopped short. Havliah stared down at her with malice blazing in her eyes.

A hand encircled Jade’s wrist. Compelled to sidestep away from Havliah, she came to a stop and glanced at her savior. It was Ageit who had pulled her from harm’s way.

His gaze bored into to Havliah’s. “Have you gone stupid, then?”

Avoiding the angered banter between Ageit and Havliah, Jade glanced down at the front of her dress. She frowned hoping Tar-Quinia wouldn’t think she’d treated her new clothes so carelessly on purpose.

Jade practically jumped out of her skin when Havliah dropped the glass pitcher at Ageit’s feet. It had smashed into dozens of pieces when it hit the hard-packed ground.

“I understand,” Ageit said with distain, “that the Omari has already banished you. I think it would be wise of you to leave this very minute.”

A hiss escaped Havliah’s lips. She turned and lifted her fist to Jade, who stood wide-eyed and frozen to the spot. The hand stopped in mid-air. It was Eli who yanked Havliah’s wrist and twisted it behind her back.

“You’ll never learn, will you?” Eli growled at Havliah. “Do not finish serving for Me-Ma. Leave Omari Amun, now.” He escorted her all the way to the entrance and shoved her outside.

Regaining her senses, Jade noticed that the tent had gone silent as a tomb. Her gaze found Eli’s.

“Are you hurt?”

She swallowed. “No, only my gown…” She looked down and lifted the soaked fabric away from her skin.

“Fear not, my dear,” Ageit patted her shoulder. “Why don’t both of you come to my tent. It’s closer than the Omari’s. We can dry it for you there.”

Eli nodded, snaked an arm around her waist and guided her forward. Following Ageit, they took the serving entrance and headed for his tent.

Chapter Ten

“Ah, my humble tent.” Ageit held the flap of fabric aside for her and Eli. Once they were all inside, he lit a lamp then handed Eli a stack of folded cloth. “Help her, Omari. She seems so distraught.”

Ageit turned his back to them and busied himself with straightening things around the room.

Eli knelt at her feet, and Jade looked around. The place reminded her of her father’s former study. Every surface was covered with dusty old junk and papers and half-empty
crates. What was it about scientists and archeologists that caused them to never throw anything away?

Her thoughts were sidetracked when Eli lifted the skirt of her gown with one hand and slipped a drying towel inside with the other. His knuckles grazed the front of her upper legs, and his eyes took on a playful twinkle. Jade returned his look with a hot one of her own. Dropping her hem, Eli grasped another towel and pressed the wet fabric between the two folded ones. The back of his warm hand nudged the juncture of her thighs.

“You make my kitty purr,” she whispered to him.

Slowly Eli licked his lips, and Jade almost lost her balance. She reached out to a nearby table corner to steady herself.

By the time Eli was finished drying the front of her dress, it seemed the moisture had seeped into other, more intimate places. Jade’s breath left her lungs. She couldn’t wait until the feast came to an end, and she was back in Eli’s tent sprawled across his pillows—

“So.” Ageit turned back to Jade and Eli. “While you are here, would you like to see how far I’ve progressed with the room, Omari?”

“Have you finished, Ageit? It’s been a good year or so since I’ve seen what you were proposing to do.”

“I have finished!” he said with fervor. “You will be so astonished.”

“It works then?”

Jade detected a bit of skepticism in Eli’s voice.

“Of course it works! They said it would, had you any doubts?”

“Well, you have to admit—”

Ageit turned to Jade. “Let me explain. It will take your mind off your troubles. Do sit down. Here, I shall clear a spot for you.” With a sweep of his hand, he pushed a pile of junk from atop a tall, fluffy, red cushion.

Jade thanked him, and Eli joined her upon the pillow. “This story is amusing,” he whispered to her loud enough for Ageit to hear as well.

“Have I ever told you a falsehood, Elydian?”

Elydian slid a glance to Jade then turned back to Ageit. “Tall tales are your specialty.”

Ageit cleared his throat, ignoring Elydian’s verbal barb. “They came—no, I must go farther back. It was about thirty years ago when they first came to me.”

Eli interrupted. “Wait. You’d better tell her
who
came to you.”

“Yes, of course. The Planetarians.”

“The Planetarians?” Jade repeated, unsure if she’d heard him right or not.

“Yes. They came in peace, you see. Always in peace. They are even responsible for the language we now speak. Their mission was to unite biologically compatible beings, connecting them across the galaxies. In their world, there existed strife, prejudice—which, in the opinion of the Planetarians, was fear-induced. Sadly, their government found out what they were trying to accomplish, and after their last visitation five years ago, they were forced to destroy the only doorway they had created connecting their planet to ours. If they hadn’t, they would’ve put us all in danger. I, however, under the Planetarians direction, I have completed another doorway.”

“Where have I heard this tune before?” She hadn’t meant to say the thought aloud. “Ageit, can you show me your doorway?”

Before Ageit could respond, a loud roar erupted in the direction of the feast tent.

Eli jumped up. “Can your story wait just a little while longer?” he asked, almost giddy. “It’s time!”

“Yes, yes. Go on then.” Ageit waved a hand at Eli.

“Come on, it’s starting!” Eli took Jade by the hand and pulled her out of the tent.

Even though Jade found his enthusiasm charming, her thoughts whirled as she tried to remember where she’d heard Agiet’s story before.

Eli came to a stop at the edge of camp. “Look to the sky, Jade!”

Jade glanced up. A huge full moon glowed so bright it looked almost smooth and white.

She blinked once.

She blinked again.

The moon was in the process of an eclipse. But that wasn’t the actual phenomenon. There was another, slightly smaller moon behind it, and they were separating.

“Eli—” she whispered as she stared at the moons.

He didn’t answer.

“Eli?”

“Yes?” he replied without looking at her.

She struggled for breath. “What do you call this place?”

“Hm? This place?”

“This…this planet?”

“Eden, of course. Why?”

Jade felt what little air she’d obtained exit her lungs. “Eli.” She swallowed over a dry throat. “I am not from here. My planet is called,” her voice faltered, and she worked through a strangled cough, “Earth.”