The Sadian Chronicles: Book 2: From Mercury To Venus

In the Name of Love: Part 5

The two lovers took off for a destination only one knew of. Marianna secretive life had abruptly ended in her confession to Marcus. Her only wish now was to attain some remnants of a normal life.

She drove onto the highway and exited just outside the city. The back roads of these shantytowns held a barbaric tone in its quiet essence. Marianna would often travel here when the pressures of school overwhelmed her too much.

She parked the car near a picnic area and instructed Marcus to follow. He did through a whiny reluctance that made her take his hand like a small child. She was like an annoyed mother dragging her kid to a place they didn't wish to go.

"Stop!" he shouted, reclaiming his arm. "I'm not going another step until you tell me where we're going."

"The top," she said simply. "Is that clear enough?"

"What? Are you crazy?" he asked as she just looked annoyed. They had come this far, and he was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. "I refuse to go another step." His behavior didn't not detour her and she was determined to get her way.

"Fine," she said and threw her arms up in what seemed like defeat. "Stay here."

Marianna continued her climb up the mountain until she heard Marcus' voice trailing her earshot. She turned to see him struggling over the rocks, a concerned laughter echoing in her voice.

"Can you make it?" she asked while he continued his struggle.

"I will," he said and took another careful step. "I'm warning you that when I do, you're in deep shit."

"We'll see," she said laughing.

Marianna waited patiently for Marcus to catch up with her, but with each step he made she made another. She was playing a game of wills, and she was enjoyed watching Marcus squirm.

Finally, she reached the top and raced down to the clearing. She stopped before plummeting over. She slumped down to the cool ground to witness the raging waters down below.

She heard the stumbling footsteps of her companion and looked up in time to see the redness in his face.

"What was that all about?" he demanded as he came towards her.

"What?" she asked like she didn't know what he was referring to.

"Why did you force me to come up here?" he asked but she refused to answer. She instead preferred to observe the view below the cliffs. "This isn't my idea of fun, you know?"

"Calm down," she said, taking his hand. "I just wanted to show you something. Look."

He slumped down next to her. "What? I don't get it," he said while looking in her eyes.

"Not there," she said. She took his head in her hands. She released him and pointed down over the cliff. "There. Can't you see it?" He looked at her strangely as she said, "Life."

"The water is life?" he asked, and it was obvious that he didn't understand what she meant.

"Yes, Marcus, it's water," she said pointing out the obvious. "It's the one thing we need to survive. Look at our bodies. We're mostly water."

"Speaking of bodies, I like to look at yours anytime," he said with a hungry look in his eyes.

"Marcus, I'm trying to be serious, and you're making dumb jokes," she said, acting like she was angry. "Can't you see that this is important to me?"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I guess I was acting stupid," he said, acting like he was apologetic, but she knew how much he liked to tease her. "So, ah, how did you find this place?"

"It found me," she said and he looked confused. She figured it was a good time to tell him the story. "I was just hiking one day and fell onto it. I come here to think about my life and meditate. I realized that it was pretty empty before you came into it."

"Where are you going with this?" he asked, moving away from her. "I don't know what you expect of me."

"I don't know either, and I don't know where we're going," she said, trying to be honest with him. "I just hope we have more in common than just sex."

"Of course we do," he said and ran his hands through her hair. "Hey, I have to admit that you did scare me a little at first, but I really care about you. I just hope you didn't bring me up here to break up with me."

"What?" she shouted, astonished by his statement. "I don't want to break up with you. I brought you up here, because I wanted you to see what I see. Here, there is a quiet beauty. It makes me think of you. The other reason I brought you here is that I wanted to tell you something." She turned away at first not sure if she could actually say the words. She looked back to him and stared in his eyes and realized that she couldn't deny it anymore. "I'm in love with you."

"You are?" he asked like he didn't believe it. She nodded shyly which brought a smile to his face. "That's the best news I could ever hear."

"There's a problem though," she said and he looked confused. "I don't hear you saying it." He took a deep breath but didn't say anything. "Here I am pouring my heart out to you and all you do..."

"Shut up and let me talk," he said interrupting her. "Marianna, I feel the same way, but now that you're done with college I hope you'll stick around."

"I intend to," she said and thought it was time to spring another surprise on her. "The dean has offered me a job, and I've accepted it."

"If I know you you'll do great."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence but about us," she said, getting back to the most important topic. "Where are we headed?"

"Someplace good, I hope, but let's not worry about that now. Let's just concentrate on where we are, because we have this beautiful scenery and us all alone."

"What are you suggesting?" she asked as he kissed her neck. "Marcus, stop. We came up here to talk."

"That's all we've done so far, but a man has needs," he said, working his way down. She was becoming aroused with every touch.

"So does a woman," she said letting out a soft sigh. "Are you here to service me?"

"As you wish," he said making a quote from one of his favorite movies.

Marianna gently fell to the ground wrapped in her lover's arms while the ghosts of the past quieted for a time. She created a happy kingdom here on the high cliff, a place of safety and solace. A place she was more than happy to share with Marcus.

This is the end of this chapter. In the next one Marianna gets and unexpected surprise.