The Edge of the World

Chapter Twenty-Four

He held her throughout the night, never letting her roll too far from him. The room stayed warm as they slept, the scent of burning wood, ginger, and sex lingering in the air, soothing them until their bodies relaxed long after Tatum's bout of apprehension.

She dreamed of walking through rolling green hills in the early afternoon. The birds serenaded her during her stroll, each song wooing her more and more. The wind was cool, blowing across her hot flesh, the air scenting of spring and warmth. Beyond the trees, she heard the hissing of the vipers, a warning that she'd strayed too far. The serpents were cruel things, loving to lure a victim close only to strike them with their sickle-shaped fangs, poisoning them, and watching them die painful deaths.

She'd observed them do that to the mortals beyond the barriers, and the animals who had the misfortune to creep too close. She didn't like them, although she learned how to pass them and sneak to the world beyond without them knowing. But this day, she wasn't in the mood to rebel for she longed to find shelter in her lover's arms.

Her lover and greatest enemy.

Today, they weren't enemies, however. Only when he hears the whispers of the Blessed Father does he forget their love and demand her obedience, something she will never give. To her, love was about respect, equality, rather than subservience and ownership. She was his equal and not even the voice in the sky would change that.

The child within her womb twitched, and she smiled, resting her hand on her swollen stomach as she turned away from the wicked tree. The afternoon was waning, and he waited for her in the hut he built to keep her warm.

Behind her the serpents whispered words she didn't understand---save one word---her name---and she turned back to eye them fearfully as they called to her, their winding voices urgent.

Tatum...

Tatum...

"Tatum!"

Gasping, she sat up in bed, holding the sheet to her bare breasts as she battled her hair to see what had Ian up-in-arms. She found him staring at her with a troubled expression, his shirtless chest rising and falling swiftly, as if he struggled to breathe.

He took in her confused gaze and tilted his head towards the door he had opened, urging her silently to see what he was seeing. And as she followed the direction he gestured towards, her heartbeat hitched and she covered her mouth with a hand, stifling a gasp.

The opened door revealed the world beyond, every green tree, every full-leafed shrubbery and every blade of green grass was illuminated by sunlight.

The golden rays warmed the room, spotlighting the wood of the floor. The tall, flowering trees, seemed to wave at her, happy to see her once again, for it had been so long since she'd climbed them. The world smelled of warmed earth and flowers lining the rock wall. And high up, in the thick branches of the heavy Oaks, and flourishing Poplars, chirped songbirds, all calling to her, beckoning her to come outside and witness the new world.

"Doc," she croaked, reaching for him. He was beside her in a flash, taking her hand in his and pulling her close as they gazed outside, the opened door framing the picture of stunning beauty. It took her breath away even as it frightened her.

"How did this happen?"

He shook his head in response, his jean-clad legs stretching out on the bed.

"I have no idea."

A butterfly flew past the door, another sign of life erupting on an island that was dead only yesterday, and the days before. She couldn't wrap her head around it, no matter how beautiful it all looked. Life didn't just come out of nothing and there was nothing here before now. How had this happened so fast?