Dance of Ciprahn

Chapter Fifteen: Cass

During the flight Cass has another dream. Again she finds herself in Zinn's cab. The thoughts of the previous evening are still in her brain. Oddly self-aware she asks Zinn if everything will turn out alright. He assures her that it is okay but that trials await. This is all above Cass' comfort level and so much is happening she is feeling overwhelmed. She fights back tears. Zinn places a gentle hand on her forearm and comforts her. He tells her to be strong. She is stronger than she knows he tells her. He tells her that she can trust him. Trust who? "The Prince," says Zinn. What do you mean? Zinn only smiles and again tells her that she can do this. He motions towards her ring. Cass doesn't understand. She is panicked and desperately asks him for answers.

 A fog lifts as she awakes and she sees only his green eyes. What is it with the green eyes everywhere? He tells her everything is going to be okay... That was on the plane. Sure enough she feels comforted. She feels strong. Though terrified she will get through this. She and T would get overcome somehow. She looks over at T whose face is contorted in pensive reflection. He is lost in thought. What is he thinking about? What's up with the sky? It's a marble sheen; it 's like she's in The Matrix. Everything seems foreign. Surreal. A towering ivory palace lay before them. A sprawling glass pool emerges — mirroring the skies above them with eerie crystal clarity. Palm trees stir and sway in the gentle breeze. She smells the fragrance of some sort of plant or granite wafting through the air — like honey and copper. Her hair wraps around her as invisible hands pass over and the trail of her dress flows like the array of a royals' robe.

 A horn blows in the distance with solemn decorum. Exotic birds take flight overhead. This can't be happening. Was this still a dream? At last they reach the grand entrance. They pass row after row of marble columns and splayed vines wrapping around like snakes. Palace guards scurry as they work to open the byzantine doors. Cass gulps and her throat feels dry and scratchy. She is very thirsty and exhaustion begins to hit her like a veteran boxer. Tender warmth blossoms as T takes her hand into his. Her grip tightens. The doors open with a tremulous roar and they walk inside. A wave of wind embraces them in a roar and the reverb of the echo is deafening. The interior is massive and complex patterns adorn the tiled floors. The walls are white with gold trim decorated with beautiful alien designs. Massive chandeliers stand guard overhead. 

They walk down endless hallways and closed doors. No way people live like this. She glances at T who seems unimpressed. What on earth is going to happen? Finally they arrive to a wizened old man. He wears a turban and is hunched over with age. His name is Aelus. He welcomes them with timeless manners and good breeding. "Welcome to The Star of the Heartland — The Grand Palace Nzalhid." No kidding. She felt like a tourist on vacation. She felt like her presence here was forbidden — like she didn't belong here. "We apologize for the brutish escort. Necessities promulgated certain ... actions." He eyes them with little mouse eyes. She didn't trust him. He reminded her of Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. He gives them a brief tour of the main areas then shows them where they would retire for the night. 

Her and T's rooms are across the hall from each other. They didn't seem to be closely guarded but she didn't want to try anything without a game plan. To escape from the palace interior might be possible but the courtyard and exterior was another story. The whole exterior gardens were encased by a great wall and seemed well protected. She would have to talk to T to brainstorm. Terrified, she is greatly comforted to know that at least she would be with T — and that they hadn't separated them... yet. Once she freshens up a little in her assigned living quarters she meets up with T. They meet outside their rooms and they take a tour of the Imperial Placum which is filled with national art and paintings. They are trailed by a trio of guards from a distance wherever they walk. "What is this place?" "Like the old man said it's Nzalhid Palace in Axlcui Province — Talitha's domain." Cass is silent for a few moments then asks "Who is this Talitha?" 

T collects his thoughts for a moment then says "She is of an ancient line, the Aueid line that served as a warrior class that protected the old royals. She is proud and ambitious. She takes what she wants and is used to getting her way. Only she would be so bold as to abduct a crown prince like this. Most fear her and dare not oppose her. Here I am as helpless as a lamb, a prisoner in wealthy walls once again. Such is my fate. Although at least this time I am not utterly alone." Cass could detect the subtle twitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth. For some reason her heart jumps at that. God I'm a nervous wreck around him. Suddenly everything gets blurry and she feels her balance slip. She feels the ground leap up at her and it gives her a painful bite. Dazed on the ground she quickly sits up. T dashes to her side. 

The change in altitude and climate is too much for her body and she had gotten dizzy. "I'm okay thanks!"  T's eyes are wide with fright and concern. "Are you sure? I can get the doctor. The best doctor in the country!" "I'm fine, I'm fine. It's okay." Cass feels silly for getting dizzy and falling down. It was so unlike her. In her old dojo she would kick everyone's butt, even though they were all boys older than her. No one could take her to the ground. There was something about T that seems to be like kryptonite to her. She wants to be a helpless damsel in distress around him. She wants him to swoop in and save her in his safe, powerful arms... She shakes her head banishing the thought. These thoughts were embarrassing her. 

Surely he thinks of her only as a friend. She is sure she isn't even on his radar. Who is she? She is a strange, awkward commoner from Humilde, New Mexico. He is a freaking prince! A kind, beautiful wonderful prince who could have any girl on the planet... She shuts that thought out. It is too painful. She doesn't understand these flux of emotions. Maybe she was drugged? Or perhaps adrenaline is still pumping from all the crazy stuff that was happening? Yes, yes that was it probably. She looks at his face. His beautiful warm, kind, ravishing face. Was he always this handsome? She didn't think it was possible but he seems more and more attractive each passing second. She feels her face burn red and she feels hot and sweaty. 

She only looked at him for a couple of seconds and looked away. What was with this physiological reaction? She couldn't even collect her thoughts properly. Her reason had left her. She is speechless — a stuttering awkward mess. And when she looks in his eyes, oh when she looks in his eyes! Like the endless clear skies of Ciprahn, and deepening ravenous pool of green and vine — mesmerizing and indescribable. Her heart would race and she would feel her lungs labor for breath when she looks too deeply into his eyes. She has never felt this way before and it kind of scared her. Vasopressin and oxytocin flood her body in awesome waves as he holds her in his arms. She was going to say something but she forgot what it was. 

Probably wasn't important. She forgot it the moment she looks up and gazes into his eyes — the endless verdant spirit-pools — wells of love and compassion and sex and foreverness. Her serotonin levels drop making it seem like T is the only living thing in the world. The only thing that matters. Norepinephrine plays her heart like a war drum making it beat with loud thunderous passionate beats. The pupils of her eyes involuntarily widen as her body makes her eyes seem bigger to seem more feminine and attractive. The pitch of her voice seems at least one octave higher. She lays paralyzed in his gentle embrace unable to move or function. Like a drop of crystal in an endless sea. She could not stop sweating. 

Her body is burning hot as a coal as if at any moment she would burst into flames. Dopamine swings her emotions like a pendulum releasing a flood of happiness and yearning and a brilliant yellow flash of desire and sunlight. Testosterone fans the fires of desire and salacious stimulation. A voracious cocktail of phenylethylamines causes the very hands of time to slow and stand still as she lays there staring into his eyes. Euphoria roars and explodes with Tartaran tongues of fire and pleasure courses through her veins like an addict's needle. Liquid goodness and warmth ooze throughout her body. Electricity courses in her fingertips and her very toes. How was it? How was it that she was falling in love? How could she feel so wonderful? How could she feel so happy? She doesn't know. She doesn't care. A heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Their lips meet. They kiss. They forget their problems for a little while. They fall in love.