A New World

Chapter 2 - Earth

Where am I? I wake up in a cave on a makeshift bed made of sticks.  I sit up and look around, I really have no idea where I am.  There is a fire in the back corner so I walk towards it.  I sit down and try to get warm.

          After about ten minutes I start to explore the cave which is surprisingly big.  I come to a wall which looks like the back of the cave.  I walk towards the wall and go to lean on it and I fall through.

          I stand up and see that I’m in what looks like a garden but more colorful than any garden I’ve seen before.  They’re must be at least one of every flower in this garden.  I continue walking and come to a clearing.  In the center of the clearing is a large pond and on a rock is a beautiful girl looking at something in the water.  I move towards her and she looks up with a surprised look on her face.  Wow she is beautiful, she has light blonde hair all the way down her back and crystal blue eyes.

          “Who are you?” She asks, even her voice is perfect.

          “Adrian.” I can’t say anything but my name.  She stands up and starts towards me.

          “Amira.” She says as she reaches me and sticks out her hand.  I shake it and smile.

          “Where are we?” I ask, I thought I had been all over Earth, but I had never been in a more perfect place.

          “The Garden of the Gods.” She replies as she walks back towards the water.  I follow close behind her but stop short when she says that.

          “Are you serious? I thought it was hidden from everyone mortal and magical.” I rattle off quickly.

          “Obviously not. Unless you’re neither mortal nor magical.” She says as she sits back on her rock.

          “I’m an angel. You?” Not the smartest thing to say, tell her not only what I am but who I am.

          “Wait, your name is Adrian, and you’re an angel… You’re the prince!”  She gasps in realization and practically falls off the rock and bows.

          “Please don’t, I hate it when people do that.” I pull her up by her arm but she keeps her head bent.

          “But it is the law your highness, I’m sorry I was curt earlier, if I had any idea who you were I wouldn’t have acted as such.” She lifts her head and looks at me.

          “Amira right?” She nods. “Amira look, I just want to get home, can you help me?” 

          “I would your highness, but I don’t know how to get out of this garden, it is 1,000 acres and practically impossible to get out.” She dips her head again as if she is ashamed to not know how to help me out.

          “You never did say what you are.” I say trying to change the subject.

          “Oh right, I’m a vampire, but not the evil ones in stories.  I was exiled from my clan because I’m not like the others.” She rattles off but when she says vampire I take two steps back out of instinct.

          “Vampire…is their even such a thing as a good vampire?” I stutter through the sentence.

          “You’re alive aren’t you? I understand your precaution but I don’t want to hurt you.” Her eyes are stuck on the outline of the knife in my pocket.

          “You have a good point.” I smile at her and she smiles back.  Her fangs gleam in the light and I just stare.  She stops smiling and walks towards the water yet again.

          “So how did you get here?” She asks, her voice shaky.

          “I don’t know, I woke up in a cave and when I got to what I thought was the back of it but I just walked right through it. What about you?” I walk over to the water and sit down next to her.  She stands up and starts walking so I follow her.

          “I just woke up here about a month ago.  I haven’t been able to get out this whole time.” She looks like she might cry but doesn’t.

          “Well if we work together we can make it out.” I try to sound like this will be the easiest thing to do.

          “I doubt it.” And the confidence is gone.

          “Mine as well try.”

“It’s not even worth it, it’s a waste of time.” This girl is seriously depressing.

          “Well do you at least know where we can get some food, I’m starving?”

          “Ya, follow me.” She keeps walking and I have no choice but to follow her.  We walk for a few minutes and end up in a small grove of trees.  Amira walks to the opposite edge of the grove and comes back with a makeshift basket of apples.  “They’re really good, sweetest ones you’ve ever had.” She grabs one and bites into it.

          “Well it’s better than nothing.” I mutter to myself.  Amira gives me a quizzical look then goes back to her apple.  I grab an apple and bite into it.  The apple has to be the juiciest and sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.  I quickly finish my first and grab a second apple.

          “Oh this is so good.” I moan in between bites.

          “What did I tell you, are you thirsty?”

          “Yes, can we drink from the lake?” I ask curiously.

          “Ya but it’s getting dark, come on I’ll show a good place to sleep.”  We start walking again and I realize how late it must be.

          “Really lost some daylight didn’t we.” Amira doesn’t respond, she just shrugs.  We walk for a while until Amira suddenly stops.

          “Here we are, there is a good tree right there but this one is mine.” I watch as she climbs up the tree with ease and then go in the direction she pointed.  The tree is a giant.  One of the largest I’ve ever seen.  I jump up to the lowest branch and somehow swing myself onto it.  I continue this until I am far enough up.  I sit on a wide branch and it is surprisingly cozy. 

          “Goodnight Prince I mean… Adrian.” I hear Amira say from a few trees over.

          “Goodnight Amira.” I start to feel homesick.  I miss my friends and family.  But most of all, I miss Emya.