The Breeding Lands (An Epic Erotic Fantasy Novel) (9 page)

“I know. You’re right.” Melanie sighed and stood up. She held her hand out for Mia. Mia smiled at her twin, the person she loved more than anyone else in the world. They hugged tightly before heading downstairs together.

The next morning, Mia lay in bed as she watched the bedroom slowly fill with light. She hadn’t slept much the night before, and she could feel the bracelet weighing heavily against her skin. Heavy against her heart. The last night with her family had been bittersweet. Everyone made the most of their time together, but Mia could feel the desperate panic pressing on everyone, the true realization that this was their last time together as a family.

Mia could only hope that the same tribe would take her and Melanie. Being torn from her twin would be like having half her heart removed. She knew that hoping to see Aunt Jossalyn would be more than she could hope for, but still she hoped.

“Mel? Are you awake?”

“Yes.” Mia sat up, and swung her legs over the bed to look at Melanie. Melanie looked like she hadn’t slept either. “Might as well get up,” Mia murmured and Melanie nodded.

The girls dressed slowly, unsure of how they should prepare themselves for the Breeding Lands. Mia opted to wear her hair loose and wavy around her shoulders. She dressed in one of her nicest dresses, an emerald green one that highlighted her eyes. The dress cut in at her hips and flowed out in soft folds at her waist. It fell just to the ground, gently swaying at her feet.

She looked over at Melanie who had dressed somewhat similarly. Like Mia, she had left her hair wild and loose down her back. She had also chosen a dress, but Melanie’s was deep purple, a shade that highlighted her creamy skin and red hair.

Without speaking, the girls headed downstairs. Their parents and Gracie were waiting for them, and Gracie looked like she had been crying. Her eyes were rimmed and red. Mia went to her and hugged her tightly. “I love you so much, Gracie. Don’t forget that,” she said fiercely.

“But...but I’ll miss you so much!” Gracie sobbed, clinging to Mia.

“I’ll miss you too. I need you to take care of Mama and Papa now, all right? Can you do that?”

Gracie sniffled and met Mia’s eyes. She slowly nodded as if truly considering what Mia asked of her. “I can do that,” she said quietly.

“It’s very important. They need you now.”

“What if I’m picked when I’m eighteen?”

Gracie’s voice was shaky and frightened. Mia squeezed her younger sister’s hands tightly, trying to convey as much love as she could. “You still have eight wonderful years ahead of you. You cannot waste those years worrying.”

“Maybe I would see you again?” Gracie asked hopefully, and Mia’s heart broke. Gracie was so sad, so desperate to have her sisters that she was looking at the selection as a way to be reunited.

“You mustn’t think that way Gracie! You must focus on your happy life here. Know that Melanie and I will always love you, no matter where we are.” Gracie nodded bravely, and Mia hugged her one more time. Mia drifted over to her parents and hugged them.

“The portal will be ready soon,” her father said gruffly and Mia nodded.

On the day of the Mating Ritual, magical portals were set up in various parts of the Eastern Highlands to ensure that all the humans would arrive promptly at the Breeding Lands. It was nearly impossible to travel to the Breeding Lands on foot. Elusive fairy-like creatures called Peace Keepers emerged from the Breeding Lands on the day of The Mating Ritual. Mia had only heard about them in theory. The only ones that ever set eyes on the Peace Keepers were the shifters and the selected women. The spectators were always too far away to see them.

Apparently, the Peace Keepers set up the portals so the humans could easily access the Breeding Lands. Then, during the battle for mates, the Peace Keepers flitted about helping to keep the peace and ensure justice.

Time moved too fast, and soon Mia found herself hugging Gracie tightly, tears falling as she said her final good bye. The twins and their parents made their way out into the early morning air. The portal was set up in a grove of trees within distance from the dock. As the family approached, Mia saw a number of other families walking with their daughters. Mia recognized her schoolmates. She cast one last look at the sea she had known her entire life, and stepped among the trees with her family.

She reached over and took Melanie’s hand.

The air hummed around them, and everything turned a brilliant white. Mia could feel the bracelet on her arm thrumming against her skin, full of life and energy. Though Mia’s feet never seemed to leave the ground, she had the strange sensation that she was moving at a frightening speed. She could feel her hair being blown off her face by an unknown wind, and then everything was over. The ground was still safely beneath her feet, but it was all wrong. It was bright blue and twinkling like small crystals. Dazed, she looked around and saw that they were no longer in her familiar town.

This was the Breeding Lands.

Everything was blue for as far as Mia could see. The sky was still the same blue it had been, but now the ground was blue as well. A darker, more vibrant blue than the sky. Massive, tall metal bleachers climbed up to the sky and Mia saw they were already starting to fill with accompanying family. Throngs of people milled about, and Mia began to notice that the older humans—fathers and mothers—were moving towards the bleachers as the young, pretty females were moving to the center of the blue desert.

Mia suddenly felt like a small child again and she reached out for her mother’s hand, afraid. “Mama? What now?” she asked.

Her mother, having been there before with Jossalyn, squeezed her hand. “This is where we say good bye. Papa and I will be in the bleachers. We will wait to see you paired off,” her mother paused, her face twisting in anguish. “I won’t be able to stay and see you consummate your marriage,” she whispered.

Mia felt her face flame red, she had forgotten that she would have to fulfill her relationship right there on the blue sands. She threw her arms around her mother. “I love you, Mama. Take care of Gracie. She needs you.”

She felt her mother nod, and hug her tightly. “If you happen to be chosen by the Sabre,” her mother began.

“I know, Mama. I’ll try to find Jossalyn. I’ll tell her how much you love her.”

Her mother nodded, too emotional to speak. “And tell her to take care of you,” her mother choked.

Mia let out a small laugh and nodded. She released her mother so Melanie could say goodbye and went to hug her father. “I love you, Papa.”

“I love you, too Mia. Always remember that.”

Mia pulled away and waited for Melanie. When Melanie was finished with her goodbyes, they watched their parents make their way to the bleachers. Steeling herself for what was to come, Mia made her way into the center of the blue sands, with Melanie at her side. Girls craned their necks to stare at the twins.

“You know those two will be fought for,” one girl murmured to her friend. Mia ignored the comment and pressed forward. Finally she found a small area with only a few other girls. There was plenty of room for she and Melanie to stand.

“Should we stand together?” Melanie asked uncertainly.

A wave of dizziness struck Mia and she felt her knees shake with fear. She had no idea what to expect. “I-I guess we should stand apart a bit,” she stuttered.

Melanie nodded and moved a few yards away. She hesitated and moved further still. Then, as if forgetting something, she rushed back to Mia, throwing her arms around her. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mel.”

Then Melanie was gone again, moving back to her place a distance away. The girls locked eyes, each a mirror image of fear and uncertainty. The girls did not have to wait long before a loud gong rang out across the sands, though no source of the sound could be seen. Mia craned her neck, looking around the blue sands, but she only saw other young women like herself doing the same thing. She looked up, but the sky was bright and clear.

Suddenly something flitted past her and she whipped her head around to look, but it was gone. It had looked like a fairy and Mia wondered if had been a Peace Keeper. And then, in the distant horizon, Mia saw them. Droves of warriors marching forward. It was unclear whether they came from the sky or the sand since the two melded together. But when Mia looked closer, she saw that it was not just men marching forward, but animals too. Ferocious tigers and lions, with various stripes and patterns, stalked toward the women. Large bears walked on their hind legs, though some ran on all fours. And then there were the wolves. Wild and feral, they wove in and out of the warriors and women alike, their yellow eyes catching every slight moment.

Mia shot Melanie a frightened glance and Melanie nodded, trying to assure Mia that it would be all right. The shifters had reached the women now, but Mia was still far away from where they had entered the Breeding Lands. She watched as men and animals alike, began eyeing up the women they passed. Mia couldn’t help but scream as she watched a huge bear swipe at a man with a spear. She watched in horror as the man and beast fought over an attractive girl nearby.

Mia remembered hearing that the tribes always sent their most willing warriors to battle. These were young, strong men who had no mates yet. And there were always more warriors sent than women selected, thus leaving the warriors to fight to the death if they had competitors for their mate. The warriors and beasts were quickly approaching where Mia and Melanie stood, and Mia was riveted to the ground with fear. The only saving grace was that many of the warriors had not made it out as far as the twins stood, having already seen women they liked. The battles were now raging, yet Mia couldn’t watch because she was too focused on what was happening directly in front of her.

A wolf slinked by, its beady eyes boring into her, and Mia felt herself shrink back. The wolf continued on, circling around another young woman a few yards away. Just then a tall, burly warrior approached her, his hair thick and dark down his back. He was dressed in dark pants with no shirt, and Mia noticed the thick bulging muscles of his biceps. She looked up into his eyes, and saw raw hunger.

“Argh!” the man cried deeply, coming towards Mia. Mia screamed in response, frightened by the man’s yell and his wild eyes. “Mine!” the man cried, but before the word was completely out of his mouth, Mia heard a ferocious roar.

She screamed again, and saw a tiger fly through the air, pouncing on the man. Mia fell over in fright, then scooted backwards a few yards before scrambling to her feet. The tiger, which was a brilliant golden red with thick black stripes, was on top of the man, gnashing at him, trying to rip his head off.

Mia wanted to scream for him to stop, but she stopped herself, realizing that this was what the Mating Ritual was about. If both of these shifters wanted Mia, then they would have to fight to the death. And although Mia couldn’t see the tiger in human form, she wanted him to win. There had been something cold and cruel in the burly man’s eyes and a lifetime with him seemed like a certain life of misery.

Just when Mia thought the tiger had the better of the man, the man yelled a terrible sound, and his body seemed to split in half before a bear emerged. Mia fought the urge to scream again. The bear was thick and dark, just like the man had been, and it snarled loudly before attacking the tiger. Mia was afraid to look, but the tiger bit the bear deep in his side, causing the bear to scream with fury. Mia saw a few other warriors pass by, and though they looked at Mia with longing, they saw the ugly battle before her and kept moving.

Melanie
. Mia had forgotten all about her. She quickly looked in Melanie’s direction but couldn’t see her. There were so many creatures battling, and a handful of slain men and beasts along the ground.
Such senseless killing,
she thought.

The bear cried in front of her, and Mia looked back to see the bear swipe hard at the tiger, eliciting a cry of pain and sending the tiger flying backwards twenty feet. The bear ran towards him, baring his teeth. Mia wanted to cover her eyes. She couldn’t stand to watch the bear kill the tiger. But the tiger leapt up, snarling angrily. Mia shrieked when she saw the tiger’s mouth. Two long, glistening fangs protruded from its mouth. The tiger’s snarl was terribly frightening, and Mia’s own scream was drowned out.

The tiger leapt forward, surprising the bear, knocking it flat on its back. Roaring loudly, the tiger threw its head back in the air and then brought its fangs to the bear’s neck. The bear screamed as the lion sank its teeth into the bear’s flesh. With revulsion, Mia watched as the bear’s life slowly began to dwindle. Unable to watch anymore, she looked away and glanced back towards Melanie. Her eyes caught a bright flash of red hair, and she saw Melanie duck to the side as two men wielding crude weapons fought over her. Mia wished they were in animal form so she could see which tribes were fighting over her sister.

The tiger in front of Mia roared loudly, and Mia looked to see him standing over the lifeless body of the bear. Mia locked eyes with the tiger, and it slowly made its way towards her. Mia’s initial instinct was to be afraid, but she wasn’t. The tiger’s eyes were large amber orbs, and where Mia thought she would see wildness, she only saw compassion. Or perhaps she was imagining things. She had just experienced the most frightening ordeal of her life.

The tiger stopped before, and stretched its long lean body in what could only be construed as a bow. Mia studied the magnificent creature, and noted the beautiful markings on his face. His face was still the bright golden-red, but there were also hues of pure gold and cream. Large black spots stood out around his eyes and face. Mia felt herself becoming lost in the striking pattern of the tiger’s stripes, and she tried to memorize the way the lines framed its handsome face.