Undiscovered Origins

Undiscovered Origins - Chapter 35

Chapter 35:

            Jade nearly vomited when she saw the torn flesh of Lorimer on the ground in front of her at the edge of the jungle. Stargazer wasn’t to be found but seemed to have no problem tearing the flesh off the centaur. Vinegar and ash tickled at her nose and she realized she didn’t have any time to linger. She ushered her unicorn on who quickly obliged dashing off into the jungle. Caldwell traveled close behind her on his own horse with clattering steps. Ironically her unicorn didn’t make a sound as she galloped forward and she was thankful for the silence.

            Even the birds kept to silence as they wandered through the jungle. Still her mind was twisted with which direction was which and she couldn’t find the sun through the thick trees above her. Her body ached with soreness that sank into every muscle from her waist up. A smile still tickled her lips though as she reached her hand out to touch the spiraled cone atop the unicorns head. She felt a pulse of energy feed through her from the horn that seemed to sooth her ache. Somehow the creature passed such happiness through her that she couldn’t help but smile. The two seemed connected beyond anything she could possibly imagine.

            She turned around gently feeling the cold stare of Caldwell’s eyes at the back of her neck. He always seemed so cold to her and it tickled the hairs down her spine. His face was without emotion or smile and it kept her on edge. Before he had worn a smile, it had been a cold smile, but it was a smile nonetheless. She tugged at her hair hard, flinching at the pain, before tucking it behind her ear.

            Whispers in the dark kept her going and even though she didn’t know where they were coming from there was something inside of her that trusted them. She felt more connected with nature than ever as she traveled through the jungle. It almost felt as if she and the jungle were one as she could feel every bit of emotion of the trees and shrubbery. Some were sad that they did not get enough water to produce enough leafs. There were others that were grateful or cheery that they got the perfect amount of photosynthesis and water that they were blooming wonderfully. She could feel the plants fighting each other because some didn’t like their neighbors. A few plants weren’t too pleased to discover neighbors growing over them to get more sun.

            She imagined the warm smile of Drake and it filled her chest with heat. He always seemed to make her heart melt, but she also missed his physical warmth. It was probably Caldwell getting to her with his frostbite but she was definitely ready for some warmth. Questions still circled in her head as she daydreamed. First it was his smile she thought of, the warmth of it could evaporate an iceberg. He seldom smiled but she had the pleasure of catching a few true ones for a little while during the journey. That was what she missed, the warm, the kind Drake from her travels. The part slightly after he kidnapped her against her will. In all honesty she should hate him, but her heart had fallen in the opposite direction.

            Marshall had been the worst mistake she had made and she paid for it each day. The haunting feeling that he was always watching her as she departed had never left her thoughts. She fought to remember his dying face when she killed him but even that gave her nightmares. He was just a pawn in the larger scheme of things anyway but the problem was she had no idea who was to blame.

            “It is quiet out here.” Caldwell spoke gently.

            His steed had caught up with hers and now both his mare and her unicorn paced side by side. It was a beautiful horse but it could be felt that the animal felt itself a lesser being in the presence of both Jade and her unicorn. There seemed to be a lot of effort for Caldwell to keep the horse at a matched pace.

            “The animals must sense something.”

            She whispered to her unicorn and it stopped so she could look around. Caldwell’s mare stopped alongside them and he stared at her as she looked around. Chill bumps traveled down her neck to her buttocks and she shivered in compliance. The wilderness surrounding her was lost to her for a moment as she turned to look at Caldwell. She fought against her memories that opened in her mind of the night they shared atop the great temple. He was the first she had ever been with, and even though the time they shared was special to her, she greatly regretted it. Somehow, even after all of this, she felt she should have saved that for Drake.

            His innocent smile was back melting icicles from her chest. He brushed his dirty blond hair from his eyes showing the shimmering blue sparkles that could pass for crisp waterfalls. His lips were navy blue and as tempting as they had ever been.

            “You are beautiful Jade.”

            She could feel the frost from his voice give a chill across her face yet his words still made her heart warm. His hand reached out and rested on her face for a moment before brushing her dark hair form her eyes. He shifted slightly and leaned in towards her. She froze for a moment before she caved in and leaned towards him. When their lips met it sent a chill through her body that seemed to freeze her. There was no ice around her body but she could not feel as if she could move. The kiss itself was wonderful but it still did not compare to the warmth of Drake.

            “I am sorry Jade.”

            She meant to ask for what but even her mouth couldn’t move. He leaned away from her now and continued pacing forward on his horse. Her unicorn seemed to be fine but didn’t move forward. Jade was able to move her eyes to follow Caldwell. He stopped before a woman in a see-through red dress and auburn hair. Swiftly he slid off of his mare and got down on one knee before the woman bowing his head.

            “Rise.” The woman spoke softly.

            “I have brought her before you, Lady Kenina.”

            “You have done well my slave.”

            Kenina walked closer to Jade and she could feel heat radiate off of her. The unicorn backed up snorting but the woman gave the animal no concern. Her eyes were fire and Jade became lost in them. The woman’s beauty was extravagant. She reached out and touched Jade’s lips thawing them instantly but Jade was still not able to move. Instead of being frozen she seemed burned in place.

            “I will take pleasure in making you mine.” Kenina grinned.